The Baby Registry is Close to Happening

Dan and I decided to grab a bite to eat and head out to Babies R Us to check out what we're actually picking out for the baby. I will admit that I was overwhelmed looking at everything and Dan was having a blast. He already picked out the stroller and looked very comfortable pushing it around the store (actually he looked very much like a dad). We had a blast looking at the stuff. Unfortunately, the store closed and we kind of got kicked out. I think we're going back either tomorrow or Sunday and actually register. We're getting enough people asking us to register (so we will). I'll keep you updated!!

Not Feeling Great

My in-laws were up for the weekend, which let me tell you was non stop going out. I'm still tired from it. We all had a great time (I hope they did, too), but man are Dan and I exhausted. If I could fall asleep (and stay asleep), I would be feeling better by now. I can't begin to tell you how horrible I slept last night. Part of the reason is that I now have a bad sore throat. My father-in-law was sick this weekend. Even though I tried to stay away from him, we took plenty of pictures together. Of course now I'm sick. Hopefully, it won't progress further than the sore throat.

The heat has already had its effects on me. I became so hot in the subway yesterday on my way to work that I thought I was going to pass out. Poor Dan, he looked so worried. The cart had no air conditioning and it was packed with people (not a good combination). For the next few days, it will be in the mid to upper 80s and I'm not sure how I'll cope with it.

My belly is also bothering me at night. At least twice a night, when I move around in bed, my belly really hurts. I don't know if I'm moving too fast or what, but man does it hurt. I'm not a happy camper. I'll ask my doctor about this today to see if I'm doing something wrong.

On a great note, Will has been moving around tremendously. He totally responds to Dan whenever he grabs my belly. Dan gets such a kick from it. Let me tell you, whenever he's hungry, he lets me know. He starts kicking me hard. After I'm done eating, he also kicks around, but it's not as hard. He's so yummy!

By the way, yesterday marked my sixth month of pregnancy. I find that time is going relatively fast. It seems so long ago when I found out we were pregnant. Three months from now, we'll have a little baby. We really can't wait!!!

We've also finally agreed on his full name: William Daniel Diaz. I convinced Dan on the middle name (with the help of everyone else that heard the name). I find the name to be strong and flows perfectly. Now, he'll have his father's name, too. My side of the family loves it and so does his. Perfect!!

Well, got to jump in the shower. Wish me luck on my throat!

How Will You be Defined?

I found this on someone's blog:

Xiomara -- [noun]: An immortal 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Is this fitting for me or what?

A Lot Could Change in a Week

On Thursday, the tenth, Dan mentioned to me that his company needed a temp to cover for a guy that's out on medical leave for three months. It would be the same position he has except it I would be dealing with commercials instead of news like he does. We would also be sitting not even ten feet from each other. He told me that I'm getting too tired working my bar shift on Fridays and with the tutoring, it would be a great gig. So, how could I say no?

He said he would talk to the head of that department to see if there would be any conflicts since we're married. The boss thought it would be a great idea and since the job would last three months, it would be perfect for me (he already knew about my pregnancy). He asked Dan to have my resume in on Monday and that I would probably interview on Tuesday.

On Monday afternoon, I get a call from human resources asking me to come in for an interview on Tuesday at 10:00. I graciously accepted and then became nervous. What if I mess up or don't get the job right and make Dan look bad? Dan assured me that none of that would happen. He said the job is easy and I would be fine. That calmed me down. Now, all I did was wait.

Tuesday comes around and I get myself ready for this interview. I show up and meet "the boss" and he's very nice. We talk for a bit. He's staring at my resume, but not really asking me questions. Basically, he describes the nature of the job. He also tells me that I don't have the job yet because they have to consider other candidates (I figured I would be told this so that I wouldn't be smug about the whole thing). I then get sent to human resources and talk to the lady for another bit. She doesn't ask me any questions, but describes what the job is like.

I have to meet with the other boss again. Human resources tells that I would most likely find out if I got the job tomorrow. I said fine. As I'm waiting to be brought back in to see the boss, the lady from human resources comes back out and asks me if I have any plans for the day. I tell her that I don't. She then asks me if I could stay for a few hours and says "Oh yeah, by the way you are hired." Of course I said I would stay.

Dan is now staring at me and so are the other guys from his department (I know them all) wondering if I'm training or what the hell is going on. I finally get to go to lunch (they can't say no to someone who is pregnant) and I go with Dan (it was his lunch hour). As we're walking toward the elevator, he asks me what's going on and I told him that I'm working. He was very excited for me.

Dan was right about the job being easy. I actually enjoy it. I wish it weren't a temp job and that there was more money involved. I've gotten the hang of it pretty quickly and my boss now wants to teach me how to edit, which was what Dan use to do. I'm all for it. You never know what comes out of this.

I'm still doing the tutoring. That goes on until June 20th and begins again once school starts. Depending on how my job prospects go once I go back into the work force, will determine whether or not I'll continue tutoring. Honestly, for right now I'll finish the student I have. I'm quite disappointed with the tutoring company I work for because I'm still waiting for the text books. So for now, I'm providing all of the materials for the child. I really detest that.

Friday was my last day at the bar job, which I'm so happy about. I couldn't keep working there for much longer. In fact, the only reason I stayed there was because I had no other source of income. I would come out of work so exhausted that I'd wait at least an hour before I left the restaurant because I couldn't move. It was just daunting. Then I would get home and pass out on the couch for hours. Luckily, now I have a job that I sit all day. It makes all the difference.

So within a week, I went from having two part time jobs (well one day a week at the bar didn't really count) to a full time and a part time job. This will hold me through the summer and once Will is born we'll figure something out. I always have the option to return to bartending. I'm not that worried about working. Something will always come up. Now, all I have to do is wait for Will to be born.

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope all you moms get to spend a wonderful Mother's Day. I'm celebrating too!! Dan has the day planned out for me. I wish all of you the best day ever!

I Hope Will doesn't Inherit my

Clumsiness!! Boy, did I make a mess today. Let me start off by saying that I couldn't get to sleep until 3:00am. I tossed and turned until I got out of bed and went online. This time around, I wasn't angry. However, I did manage to wake up at 6:45am, had breakfast, and discovered that Louie was bleeding. He gets these bumps on his back (which have shown up more since his infamous pit bull attack). He's been licking it and we've been keeping on eye on it. Well, it managed to explode. Luckily, the bleeding stopped and he hasn't looked at it since (which is great because that saves him a trip to the vet, stitches, and antibiotics).

Anyway, that's how my morning started off. I did manage to get some more sleep, which was wonderful. Once I got up, I ate lunch and kind of vegetated around the apartment. I decided my eyebrows needed some waxing. This is when it gets fun. After I was done waxing, I drop the wax machine into my sink! I panicked and immediately ran the hot water. I tried scooping up wax with my bare hands (not fun). My hands were completely covered in wax and I couldn't grab on to anything because I would stick to it. Luckily, I managed to get the cap off of the baby oil and got the wax off my hands.

The sink was another story. I had to call my super because now it was clogged. For sure I thought he was going to yell at me. Since I'm pregnant, he's been super nice (he's always nice, but sometimes you catch him on an off day and it's not pretty). Turns out the wax came out easily, but there was actually a deeper clog. He even has to go to the apartment next door (our bathrooms are connected) and fix those pipes.

So Will, if you're listening to your mom, please don't inherit my clumsiness. I don't know how much your father could take two of us always messing things up. And if you do turn out to be clumsy, I will still love you and so will Dad.

Foul Mood has Exited the Building

Soon after I went to bed (after my ranting), I fell soundly asleep. I didn't even wake up to go to the bathroom, which is an acccomplishment in itself. That morning, I woke up and was back to my chipper self. Man, was I miserable! I hope that awful mood does not return (and if it does not as bad). It makes me wonder how people who are normally in a bad mood function. It really interferes with everything around you.

Anyhow, I am happy to report that we finally got our iMac back last night. Although I did manage to borrow a laptop while the computer was at the shop, it doesn't compare to having your own computer. Once Dan finishes all the little details that need to be done, I'll have my own side with all the stuff I look at. I have to admit, I felt lost without my computer. Maybe, I've become to dependent on it.

Random: So my Earth Day plans didn't work out. I ended up throwing away my peanut plant. It was full of bugs that are now flying around my apartment. I tried drowning those little suckers out and put the plant on my fire escape (I know, ghetto), but nothing seemed to work. On top of that, the plant looked sick. I had no choice, but to get rid of it. I never made it to buy another plant either. I'm sure I'll get to it eventually. My other plants are doing wonderful.

Sorry for the boring post, but not much has really been going on. Last week, I hit my five month mark, which I'm excited about. I no longer fit into my regular pants and definitely have to wear maternity clothes. I found that out yesterday as I was trying to put on my corduroys and could barely button them. I guess I'll wear them next fall/winter (actually, I hope they're too big for me to wear). Well, that's it!

Irritated

I think I'm having one of those pregnant moments where my mood just goes from happy to irritated fast. I have to be up in a few hours to go to work and of course all the sleepiness I had just went out the window. My mind is racing with all these different things that just put me in a worse mood than I'm in. What's keeping me happy (and usually does whenever I feel this way) is the baby kicking. He's reminding me that he's here and things aren't as bad as I envision them to be.

I'm pretty cranky when everyone I could think of is aggravating me. No one has done anything to me, but right now I despise everyone. The last two nights I've gone to bed mad and not at anyone. I figure this is what people have warned me about that would occur during pregnancy. I never expected it would happen because I've been a very calm person for quite sometime. I even had a dream the night before where I was screaming at the top of my lungs at some random stranger. I was so angry. I have no idea what I was yelling about, but I was evil. I can't recall the last time I was so mean.

Please tell me this isn't going to get worse. I haven't meditated in about a month. I guess I should start again. When I don't meditate it throws me off. I can't explain why, but it works for me. Alright, I will attempt sleeping again. I just gave myself heartburn and I need to relax. Wish me luck.

Hiatus? Not on Purpose!

Our iMac had a meltdown last Saturday in which we had no choice (after Dan spent hours on the phone with Apple Care) to bring it to an Apple store for repairs. We still haven't gotten the computer back. Besides having to order parts from California, there were nine repairs ahead of us. Luckily, we have a warranty on this puppy because I'm sure this is all very expensive.

Luckily, my favorite six year old, Isaac, let us borrow his laptop. A week without internet is too much for me. I admit it, I'm addicted. I felt loss without it. Also, I thought I would get much done around the house, but that didn't happen either. Anyway, we're hoping we get our computer back either today or tomorrow (that would be ideal).

On other news, I had my second level sonogram of the baby on Thursday. This sonogram checked the anatomy of the baby. Everything is perfect. The baby weighs 12 ounces (he's a can of soda)! I was able to see his lips and little nose. He had one hand by his face as if he were sucking his thumb. His little feet are so adorable. He is so yummy and I can't wait for him to get here. I hope he knows how much I love him (and so does Daddy)!

Well, that's it for now. I know all throughout the week I wanted to blog a lot of stuff, but for some reason, I can't recall any of it. I'll either remember it or not. Anyway, I plan to enjoy this gorgeous Saturday. Dan and I have plans to go out after the pee wee game. Hopefully, it will involve a park! I'm dying to go hiking. Of course, I could only hike on level ground, but I still get to enjoy nature. I must have been part of the forest in one of my past lives because I feel at home when I go into the woods. It's very rejuvenating. Anyway, chat with you later!

Boy or Girl?

It's a boy!!!!! We're both super excited as we had some hunch (Before I got pregnant I thought it would be a girl, but the last month I couldn't stop calling him a "he"). Dan is already planning what he's going to be doing with our little boy. He's a very active baby boy so far with all the kicking he does. I can't wait! Enjoy the pic!

Today is the Day!

At 10:00 am, I find out whether it's a boy or a girl (hopefully). Even though I don't have a preference on the sex, I'm dying to know. All night long, I've been having anxiety dreams (me running, being chased, etc.). I'm even up before I set my alarm clock (I set it for 8 and woke up at 6:45). I might go back to bed just to relax a little before I get too excited. Luckily, Dan is home to share the excitement (except, he's still sleeping). I'm joining him. I'll let you know soon enough!

Great Weekend

I couldn't ask for a nicer weekend. It started off with a Peewee game that Dan coaches. Every Saturday morning for the next few weeks, Dan and Guy coach a Pee Wee league where Isaac (Guy's son) is playing. The kids playing are absolutely adorable and have been improving their game. I have so much fun watching them. I designated Louie as the mascot of the team by bringing him to the games. This is a great way to get him acclimated to kids (he kind of has to get use to it). He seems to enjoy himself very much. He quietly sits around and watches the kids play. He's even let kids pet him.

Later on in the evening, Dan and I went to Kensico Dam. We had ourselves a little picnic and enjoyed the weather very much. The dam is very impressive. It's just amazing that on the other side there's a whole lot of water. After we left the park, we stopped and had some ice cream. It was just nice and relaxing. We went home and fell asleep by 10 pm.

Sunday was also very nice and fun. We went to a Mets game (even though we're Yankee fans). We went with a group of people (including Guy, Sal, Isaac, and India) because it was Autism Awareness Day at Shea Stadium. Some of the proceeds of the tickets sold goes to different Autism organizations. We couldn't have asked for a better day to go to a ball game. We had loads of fun. I haven't been to a baseball game since I went to see the Yankees play in Baltimore, which was before I even moved down to Florida.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to many more weekends like this one. I want to be out and about enjoying the weather. I want to see if next weekend we could do a barbecue. Hopefully the weather will be just as beautiful. Well, you know where I'll be on Saturdays (along with Louie). Sundays, I'm designating as going to some type of park day. I'm also looking into the future and picturing what it will be like next spring and summer when my little munchkin will be around (I can't wait).

Well, I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend as much as I did. We all need some fun to ease out stress. There's nothing better than being out with friends and family!

Earth Day

Why can't it be Earth Day everyday? We should do something for the environment every single day. Don't we do home repairs constantly? Well, isn't our planet our home? Come on people!! I won't be able to buy a plant for today, but tomorrow morning I have to head out to Jersey. In my travels I want to buy a new plant. I've been aching for an orchid (they are my favorite). We'll see what I get. I also need to replant Mr. Bamboo. His roots are almost sticking out of the pot. I think a trip to either Home Depot or Lowes will help out my cause.

New York City's mayor Michael Bloomberg has setup a package that will have approximately 2 million trees (I think that's the correct number) planted by 2017. 23, 000 trees will be planted annually. Bloomberg is also urging the private sector to contribute. Although I'm ecstatic about the new trees, why wait so long? I know money should be allotted for this, but isn't this important?

At least we're moving in the right step. I hope everyone contributes and does something for Earth day!

Somewhat of a Quiet Week

Not much has been going on in my world lately. Of course being stuck at home because of the rain isn't much fun, but I don't mind it. I'm always very sleepy so I take advantage and nap. Since around Sunday, my appetite has grown. I'm trying to be good by eating fruits and salads, but I do reach for chocolate. Hopefully, I won't gain that much weight. We'll see!

On another note, I went to Target yesterday to do some shopping and walked out of there richer. When I walked into the store, I saw money on the floor, which I thought I dropped. It was a substantial amount ($90) and I knew I had around $120 (give or take $20). Naturally, I thought that the $90 was part of my $120. I did my shopping and walked out. When I reached my car, I looked into my purse and saw my $120! The only other money I had was in my wallet. So, I found $90!!! What are the chances? As you could imagine, my trip to Target turned out to be very cheap.

That's about it with me. I've been very saddened by what occurred at VA Tech. I've decided not to watch the news anymore because I can't stop crying. If I feel this way, I could only wonder what those students and families are going through. I also wonder what's going through the murderer's parents' minds that there son was capable of this. This is all very tragic and my heart goes out to everyone at that school.

Wonderful Saturday

Saturday turned out to be a most unexpected day. Around 4:30 pm, Dan and I decided to go out. We figured that Sunday would be a day stuck at home because of the storm. We weren't sure of where to go. I told Dan that I didn't want to go anywhere near a mall and maybe we should drive through some mountains (I love doing that; I find it to be so invigorating). Dan grabbed one of our hiking books and we were off.

Before we got to the main highway, we noticed a park that we normally drive by. It has a pretty decent size lake and a pool. We figure it would be smart to check it out. I'm so glad we did! The lake had two beautiful swans. The mama swan was keeping her eggs warm! There were so many ducks and geese. We even heard what sounded like a woodpecker! There were many people walking around.

The place is bigger than we had anticipated. It has a huge pool, three different picnic areas with grills, a large soccer/baseball field, and tennis courts. There's probably more to this park that we missed. This place must get swamped during the summer. The walk around the lake took us about an hour and it was wonderful! I definitely want to return and picnic there.

The park wasn't the end of our trip. We decided to head up north into Connecticut. The first stop was Greenwich. After we were done sightseeing, we drove through Bruce Park, which was really nice. There's also a Bruce museum that I want to check out in the future. Further north we went and ended up in Stamford. There we parked the car and decided to be tourists. We ate at a place called Lucky Burger, which resembles a Johnny Rockets. Then, we walked around the downtown area. Stamford is very nice. It has many restaurants and plenty of shops. We will have to go back during the day to check out the local shops.

After this trip, we headed back home. We loved it! There's nothing better than having a spontaneous day. It also helped that the weather cooperated with us. It was nice and crisp, which is perfect weather to walk around in. Dan and I need more trips like this one. Most of the time, you become so involved with life around you that you tend to forget there's more out there. With the nicer weather coming around (if it ever shows up), we plan to do more of these trips and you'll hear about them!

Brrrrr....

Why is it so cold? I have to go down to Brooklyn and then into Manhattan and I'm dreading it. I'm also going to be traveling with my best friend's son, which I'm afraid will be too chilly for him. It is suppose to go up to 50, but right now it's 35. I'm going to hold off going to Brooklyn for about an hour to see if it warms up.

Anyway, this chill has me very cranky (especially this morning). Because of my limited wardrobe, I'm stuck wearing either corduroys or jeans. I have other maternity clothes, but they're more for warmer weather. Of course, I need to do some laundry today because I'm totally out of things to wear. I just want to sleep!

Speaking of sleep, I want to sleep through the night. Last night was horrible. I don't think I slept much. I woke up thousands of times from nightmares, one bathroom run, and tossing and turning. This is why I'm so exhausted during the day. I don't sleep at night. My naps aren't that great, either. However, yesterdays was wonderful. I was stuffed from having Easter lunch/dinner with my parents. I think it's the most I've eaten in one sitting in a really long time. It made me feel uncomfortable and sleepy. When I got home, I knocked out. I think I was out for two hours. I slept right through (now if I could extend this at night).

The Baby Kicked!

It was around 2:30 pm when I crouched down and felt a nudge on the side of my belly. My little five ounce munchkin is communicating with me! Throughout the rest of the day I felt slight movements, but not like the first one. I look forward to feeling more of his/her kicks. I can't wait until Dan is able to feel them, too!!

Gingrich Tries to Apologize, I Think

Dear Newt Gingrich decided to do somewhat of an apology and post it on YouTube. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find the video, but supposedly he talks in both English and Spanish. If anyone happens to run across this video, post the link as a comment. Since he didn't outright apologize, I think he wasted his time talking in Spanish. Why would you try to learn the language of the ghetto?

I'm still furious about this whole thing. Spanish is a beautiful language that I am going to teach my child. It is very important to who we are as a people to continue showing our descendants our heritage. I am very proud of being Spanish and Cuban and I'm also very proud of being American. Now that Gingrich is learning Spanish (as he claims), maybe he'll understand that learning a language allows you not only to speak a different tongue, but get a glimpse of what the culture is like. Granted, the Spanish language represents many diverse cultures, but you get the idea.

No one should ever criticize another language. Knowing different languages is a wonderful thing. I took French in college and wish I knew it better. People are always afraid of diversity, but it's really a wonderful thing. I want my child to learn as many languages as possible (as long as he/she wants to). It will open up a world of opportunity. Do I agree that you should know English in this country? Yes. It would be unwise not to learn the language. What I find ironic is that those who usually criticize others for not knowing English only know English. I would like them to learn a different language and see how easy it is.

Baby was Shy!

We didn't get to find out the sex, but in three weeks we will. I'm a little disappointed, but the baby is not ready to let the world know what he/she is. That's ok, another three weeks won't kill me. The appointment went well. I got some more blood drawn (something I'm use to by now) and everything is going really well.

From way before I was pregnant, I knew I probably have a big kid. My mom, who is only five feet tall, had a 9.7 lb. baby (not me, my sis). My sister's kids were all big. It's only natural to think I would have big babies. I was a little concerned that I haven't gained weight. Well technically, I've gained three lbs. Not that I'm complaining, but I want to make sure the baby is growing fine.

So after the sonogram was done, my doctor took a look at the pictures and said "You have a very big baby. It weighs five ounces." At this stage of my pregnancy, the baby should be weighing around two and three quarter ounces. I'm obviously eating enough for the both of us. He/she is sucking up all of my nutrients, which is why I'm probably not gaining weight. It also hasn't helped that I've been sick.

Here is my little tyke. The first picture is of his/her left arm. The middle is of his/her face and body. The last one you could see his/her spine. The baby's heartbeat is at 154 beats, which is very good. My doctor told me that I have nothing to worry about. She says that I'm eating very healthy and to keep it up. Eventually, I'll gain the weight.

I had kind of figured that was the case, but you could never be sure. My body lets me know when I'm hungry. As long as the baby is growing, I have nothing to worry about. I hope you enjoy the pics as much as I did (daddy too). In three weeks, we'll find out if it's a boy or a girl!!

An Exciting Day thus Far!

Well, today I enter my fourth month! I'm beginning to enjoy the pregnancy more as my nausea (except for this morning) has pretty much disappeared. I'm no longer sick, which is great. I did end up at the doctor's office last week and he told me that I had a viral infection. Luckily, that's gone. My sleep is still weird. There are nights that I sleep through (of course I do get up to go to the bathroom) and other nights I can't sleep a wink. That was the case last night. All in all, I'm doing great.

Another exciting thing that happened today is that I found a job!! I still bartend once a week and technically, I'm still a loan officer. I found a job that is suited for the upcoming baby. I will be tutoring kids! I make my own hours and it pays decent. As long as money keeps on flowing, we shouldn't have any problems. I want the baby to stay home at least for the first year before he/she goes to daycare. This job will facilitate that for me. I could work when Dan gets home and even tutor on Saturdays when Dan will definitely be home. If we get strapped for cash, then I will have to figure something out. For now, it should work.

So I hope all of you are having a happy Tuesday because I sure am. Tomorrow, I'll have more pictures of the baby and hopefully I'll get a peak at whether it's a boy or a girl. Since Dan can't come with me to the appointment, I'm going to have the technician put the pic in an envelope (if she's able to see anything). Once Dan gets home, we'll find out if the baby will be William or Violet (those are the tentative names; nothing else has come to mind). Wish me luck!!

I'm Going to get a Little Political

I've decided a long time ago to put politics in the back burner. I've realized over the years that it only brings hate. Candidates rarely make things better, but usually let things go. Anyway, I have to take issue with certain things. Newt Gingrich must have said the stupidest comment I have heard a candidate say thus far. He made a speech to the National Federation of Republican Women about bilingual education. His stance is that it should be abolished. Alright, some people don't agree with bilingual education. They feel it undermines the English language and the country.

Let me quote you exactly what he said:

"The American people believe English should be the official language of the government. ... We should replace bilingual education with immersion in English so people learn the common language of the country and they learn the language of prosperity, not the language of living in a ghetto," Gingrich said to cheers from the crowd of more than 100.

Since when does having another native language is the "language of living in a ghetto?" Are you kidding me? How many people who speak the "language of prosperity" live in a ghetto? I only knew Spanish when I started school. I'm American, meaning I was born here. I never took bilingual education because my parents never thought I would need to. I was also 4 when I started school (my birthday is in September) and learned English just fine. But let's say I would not have been born in the United States and gotten here when I was older, I would have needed bilingual education.

Should everyone learn English? Absolutely. There's no question about it. The problem is that people who come from other countries are usually poor and need to work more than the regular 40 hour work week to support his/her family. If minimum wage was viable, than they would have the time to learn English. Children who do not speak English are not stupid. They just need a little help with the language. Remember that some of these kids have never heard English until they have stepped into a school. How would you feel if you didn't understand what your teaching is saying?

Has Newt Gingrich lost his mind saying what he said? There are millions of people who speak other languages and are not ghetto or living in a ghetto. Has Gingrich not stepped into the prominent neighborhoods of Miami where everyone speaks Spanish? Or in other neighborhoods throughout the country that speak only Korean and are not in ghettos?

I'm furious with his tone of hate and how he's insulted what makes this country work. All throughout American History there have been immigrants that speak other languages and make this country strong. There are countless children of immigrants that have sacrificed their lives for American wars. How many Puerto Rican men who did not speak English have been whisked away to war without even knowing why they were fighting to begin with? How dare he insult us?

So in my anger, I decided to google Gingrich and came across his website: newt.org. Guess what I found on his site? A Spanish tab! Why? This is what he said on that same speech: "Citizenship requires passing a test on American history in English. If that's true, then we do not have to create ballots in any language except English," he said. The three Spanish tabs available are his biography, frequent questions, and op-ed. In frequent questions, the first question is how to obtain an autographed picture of Newt Gingrich himself. Yup, that's exactly what I want after learning about his speech. Get the Spanish tab out of your website! There is no point of it according to your speech. Do not cater to the Spanish community if you're going to insult us. You are a disgrace and none of us appreciate your hateful speech.

So Much for Feeling Better...

I'm either sick or have severe allergies. I haven't figured it out yet, but one thing is for sure: this sucks! The only thing that has me leaning toward being sick is that my right gland feels somewhat swollen. If I press on it, there's a slight pain. Maybe it's a combination of both. I have no idea, but it needs to stop. I am so miserable. Sneezing has also become a fiasco where it hurts my entire insides when it happens. I'm walking around with a mega toilet roll as my tissue box. Please make this stop!

Eating and Feeling Better

I was finally able to eat some real food, yesterday (although I did have a bit of Chinese for dinner). My stomach was going crazy with food in it, but it worked with me. My aches and pains have gone away except for the one on the side of neck. Unfortunately, it seems that I may have some kind of throat thing going on. My nose is very stuffy, which makes breathing a pain.

Since I hadn't eaten much in the past few days, I've lost some more weight. A friend of mine told me that she had lost 20 lbs. when she first got pregnant, but gained it later on. I'm sure at one point I'll start gaining the weight. I just hope it's something manageable. If I continue with my current appetite, I don't anticipate much weight gain, but what's necessary for the baby.

As for my belly, it's getting a little bigger! I've been bad and haven't been taking weekly pictures. My coworkers are beginning to comment on my belly, though. You might confuse me for being overweight, but I'm proudly strutting my stuff. I've also never been much to care what others think in the first place. Well, that's it for now!

Being Pregnant and Sick

Is horrible! I, again, have some type of stomach virus or flu. The two times I attempted to eat breakfast yesterday resulted in me violently throwing it up. My food choices: white rice, mashed potatoes (no milk or butter), and gatorade. On top of the vomiting, my body ached as if I were getting a fever. Luckily, I am able to take Tylenol, which helped me in that department.

The worst thing that did happen to me last night was taking my prenatal vitamin. I hadn't thrown up since breakfast and figured that I was safe. Boy, was I wrong. I take my vitamins right before I go to sleep to avoid any discomfort (vitamins have always messed me up). As I'm laying in bed about thirty minutes after taking them, I got this burning feeling from my stomach all the way to my neck. I got up and ran to the bathroom and the rest is history. That vomiting burned my throat. It's still sore this morning and my voice is raspy. Can you believe that?

I feel better this morning and just had some non-saltines with a little bit of butter. I need to eat! Hopefully, that will stay in my stomach. The worst feeling is not being able to eat. I get so light headed and feel guilty about not feeding the baby. He/she didn't get any vitamins last night either! I'm sure it will be fine, but I still feel guilty.

I think I'm going back to sleep. Last night, I slept with the pillows propped up and didn't rest enough. Even though I just got up, I can't keep my eyes open. So, back to bed it is.

Spring Teaser

The temperature climbed to 70 degrees this week, but spring is still far away. Our week is ending with a snowstorm. I was excited about the warmer weather. On Tuesday, I met Dan for lunch and walked around Manhattan for about an hour or so (I quickly realized how badly I need to condition my body to walking; I got tired fast). On Wednesday, I went out and did a little shopping. I was loving these days!

Thursday came around promising to be just as nice temperature wise. It was suppose to rain, which is not really a big deal. The temperature reached around 67 degrees. By early evening, it was in the 30s and it was snowing/raining. The snow hasn't stopped! What happened to my delicious weather? What a tease!

I know the weather will get warmer eventually, but this snowstorm has really put a damper on my spirits. Spring hurry up!!

Bye-Bye First Trimester!

Today is the last day of my first trimester! How fast time is going! The next thing I know, I'm giving birth. My nausea has subsided and hopefully does not come back. My belly is getting harder, which is a little weird. As soon as my belly button pops out, I'll start looking pregnant instead of fat. Other than that, things are moving right along!

I still need to work on my energy levels. Now, I'm having a bit of a hard time sleeping and it has nothing to do with my comfortable new bed. I don't think I'm resting enough. If I'm home, I end up taking a nap. On days like yesterday that I was out all day, I couldn't take how tired I was. I went to bed around 11pm. Unfortunately, I woke up a few times throughout the night. My dreams have also been very anxiety driven. I guess I need to meditate for longer periods of time.

Well, that's it! Bye first trimester!

Big Day Yesterday

So I had my two doctors' appointments and they went very well. Dan came along with me to make sure everything was fine. I can't really describe how I felt seeing my little munchkin bouncing around all over the place. As the technician put it, "This baby is rockin' and rolling." It was just amazing.

I could have laid there all day looking at this little baby. By now, the baby measures 2.3 inches and his/her heart rate is at 163 bpm. We were able to see the tiny hands! He/She had his/her hands over the face. It looked like he/she was sucking his/her thumb. How precious! I really can't wait until we meet the little one. Babies are wonderful.

If you take a look at the pictures above, you could see the difference in size since last month. In four weeks, the baby should measure 4 inches. They really grow fast. Oh, I love this little one!

The test went fine. I'm waiting on blood work to come in to be 100% sure. Everything is growing the way it should and I'm happy with that. My morning sickness has subsided and next week I enter my second trimester. This is suppose to be the better part of my pregnancy and I plan to enjoy it as much as I can. Once the weather gets warmer, taking long walks will be a priority. Walking is an exercise that is easy and fun to do. Please let it get warm soon!! I can't stand walking on a treadmill (it's so boring).

Well, that's all I have for now. I can't tell you how excited I am. Now, it's time for me to lay back down in bed.

A Little Bit of Everything...

This week has been good so far with morning sickness. The last time I threw up was Friday. I've also noticed that my appetite has grown. I wonder if the lack of morning sickness has anything to do with my increased appetite. I'm not complaining! Last week, I spent eating ham and cheese sandwiches. Now, I'm eating other stuff. Although, I have to say that last night's dinner kind of bothered me. I'm not sure if me being extremely hot had anything to do with it, but I thought I was going to hurl. I didn't! What I did do was pass out on the couch for a few hours, which ruined my night. I couldn't fall back to sleep.

One thing I can't live without now that I'm pregnant is ice cold water. It's insane. I drink more water now than I ever had. If it isn't ice cold, than I don't want it. Weird. Occasionally, I drink soda, but I just don't like it. Water makes my stomach feel better. Not a bad thing to be hooked on. I drive Dan crazy with this ice water thing. At least he now knows not to give me water without ice.

I've always had vivid dreams. In fact, I still remember dreams from when I was young enough to still be in a crib. Although, there is one particular dream I thought was real. I remember being awake and seeing King Kong out my window. I called for my mom and of course she didn't believe me. That vision has always stayed with me. Anyway, I digress. I don't think my dreams have been more vivid lately, but I remember them more clearly. A lot goes on in these dreams. I enjoy them.

Next Wednesday I have to see two different doctors. The first one is for the first trimester screening, which determines if the child has down syndrome. That's a big one. I haven't thought about it much, but it does linger in the back of my mind. The second one is my monthly check up. I'll probably get another sonogram. This doctor I go to has the machine right in the office. I'm eager to see how much the baby has grown. Genitalia drops at twelve weeks. I may be able to get a peak. Chances are I won't see anything, but it would be cool if I did.

So that's all that's been going on with me. I'm feeling better each day as I reach the end of the first trimester. We're getting a new bed delivered this weekend, which I hope improves my sleep. Other than that, I'm good. As long as I don't throw up anymore, I think I'll be fine. Chat with you soon!!

I am Eleven Weeks!

I'm getting closer to the end of my first trimester. I haven't thrown up since Friday, which is a good sign. I've been feeling better and my appetite is growing. Hopefully that means that I'll be able to eat better. I've been having a hard time eating because everything just bothers me. Now that I'm a little hungrier, I find that food sits better with me. We shall see!

It's been tough getting use to the changes in body. My stomach is sticking out. I don't look pregnant, but I do look a little fat. I don't care either way. I show off my belly. Sleeping has been a pain in the butt. An old injury of mine (my left hip) has resurfaced. It has also turned into a sciatic nerve thing. In other words, I'm having a hard time sleeping. Although, I do admit that last night I end it up sleeping on my hip the entire night without moving. I woke up in the same position. I must have been tired! I try not sleeping on my left side, but it's my favorite. We did buy new a new bed, which we get delivered this weekend. I hope this improves my nights. Our bed is just too old and uncomfortable.

Another change that has occurred is with my hair. It has become very soft to the point that I'm considering not using conditioner. I'm guessing it's from the vitamins. I only put on a small amount of conditioner and leave it on for about a minute. I use to leave it throughout the whole shower and then put on a leave in to calm my fly aways. Amazing!

We'll see what else goes on!!

I've Been Wiped Out

I know, I haven't posted in over a month, but I have my reasons. First off, I just don't have any energy when I get home from work to do anything. The job takes a lot out of me. On the weekends, I'm so busy catching up on rest that I barely check my email. I need a little vacation, soon!

Well, there's a reason for all of this tiredness. In fact, a huge reason. Besides getting use to this new job and still bartending, I have other stuff going on with me. I AM PREGNANT!!!!!!! Yup! As of yesterday, I am ten weeks. This explains the lack of any energy I've been experiencing. I've known for about a month, but wanted to wait on blogging about it.

My pregnancy is going well except for some morning sickness I'm experiencing. It really hasn't been bad. I am having trouble eating. Everything grosses me out and doesn't sit well with me. I've come to the conclusion that the only things that my stomach could handle are ham and cheese sandwiches, strawberry jello, ovaltine, and bread and butter. Yup!

I am also having a hard time dealing with the lack of energy. I just can't move my ass anywhere. When I get home from work, the only energy I could muster is to lay on the couch and fall asleep. They say this changes once you're in your second trimester. I hope this is true.

This baby will be my birthday present!! He or she is due on or around Sept. 18th. My birthday is the 20th. I was my mom's birthday present, too. Her birthday is the 27th. How cute is that? I can't wait.

Well, there you have it. There's my big secret!! We're very excited about this. I'll keep you posted on how I'm feeling and how the baby is doing. Wish me luck!!

Here's a sonogram picture at 7 weeks:

It's Snowing!

I love it!! Technically, last night was the first snowfall. It was more like a mixture of snow and rain. There are big flakes coming down this morning, but it will probably turn to rain. I love it when it snows. Of course, it's not pretty when you can't get around, but a little bit of snow is nice.

It's been a mild winter so far. I know winter has been around for about a month, but this is the first snowfall. In fact, only this past past week has it actually felt like winter with the temperatures dropping to the 20s. No complaints here! I should probably crochet or knit up some gloves/mittens before the weather gets really cold. I realized that the two pair of gloves that I have are these old hand knit gloves I bought when I was a senior in high school. Ya! Time for new ones.

You know what? It's already turned to rain. I guess that's it for the snow today.

An Actual Three-Day Weekend

Can you believe it? Boy, did I need it. I decided to take a few days to relax because I was burning out. I couldn't handle working six days a week. I needed a break. My job situation has to change soon, very soon. Friday night, I went to sleep at around 10:30. I woke up a few times throughout the night (I never sleep the entire night through), but didn't get out of bed until I think 11:00 in the morning. Later on, I took about a two hour nap. Yup, I definitely needed the rest. It was so nice to actually take it easy for once. Today I stayed home because I wasn't feeling all that great (I guess I'm just tired). Now of course it's two in the morning and I can't sleep. Whatever, I can't complain.

I'm thinking that I have a few more weeks of working six days a week. Hopefully, I'll start making money at my new job pretty soon. I need this job to workout because I'm tired of bartending. I don't want to be on my feet anymore and I want to have weekends off. Two days off together makes all the difference. I'm able to get stuff done. With my current schedule, I only have Sundays to get things done. Of course, nothing ever gets done because I don't have enough time.

Alright, let me try going to sleep. I do actually have to go into work tomorrow. Good night and wish me luck on making some cash (pleeeeaaaaaassseeee).

Does Your Name Suit You?

I got this from my lovely sister-in-law, Sandra.

X: Never let people tell you what to do.
I: Is always there for their friends.
O: Dead sexy.
M: Makes dating fun.
A: Likes to flirt.
R: Popular with all types of people.
A: Likes to flirt.

I think that pretty much sums me up.

A: Likes to flirt
B: Likes people
C: Is wild and crazy.
D: has one of the best personalities ever
E: is a damn good kisser
F: People adore you.
G: Never let people tell you what to do.
H: Has a very good personality and looks.
I: Is always there for their friends.
J: Lives life for fun.
K: a big tease
L: Either Hated or Loved
M: Makes dating fun
N: Best kisser
O: Dead sexy.
P: never ready
Q: A hypocrite.
R: Popular with all types of people
S: Easy to fall in love with
T: crazy/hyper
U: Really likes to chill.
V: Not judgemental.
W: Very broad minded.
X: Never let people tell you what to do.
Y: One of the best damn gf/bf u could ever ask 4!!!!
Z: Always ready to f***.


Repost: Does ur name suit you

New Looks

In more ways than one! I've been contemplating whether or not to change the look of the blog. It will be three years that I've been writing and felt it was time for a change. I'm not sure if it will remain this way. I might tweak it some more or might change it all together. Who knows?

The other new look is my hair. I chopped it off! I don't have a picture of it, but I can't pull it back. It's short! I've been itching for a haircut lately. My hair had gotten way too long and it was looking flat and boring. The haircut was a spur of moment thing. SG and I went to the diner for breakfast. Four hours later, we each had new hair styles. I don't regret it one bit. I hope Dan doesn't either. He hasn't seen it yet!

Just Stuff

Restaurant work has slowed down to a screeching halt. My cue to really get things going at the other job. Well, I'm already working hard. I'm staying late calling people all day long. Once I get the laptop working (or buy a new one), I'll start calling people from home. Besides helping people out with their finances, I'm able to work from home, which I love.

Changing the subject, I've been in a bad mood the last few days. I wake up cranky and remain that way throughout the day. The good thing about this is that I try to tone it down and I don't let it bother me so much. This makes a huge difference on how I interact with people. I'm still laughing and smiling. I don't let my bad mood control me. In fact, whenever I get a bad thought in my head, I release the thought. If I can't get it out of my head, than I deliberately begin thinking about my new job. I'm so excited about the prospects of this job that I begin imagining myself talking to people constantly.

Let me tell you, it works. I immediately begin seeing the difference. I believe that like attracts like. I've mentioned this before in other posts. When I'm in a bad mood, stupid stuff happens all around me. For instance, the other day I couldn't get a seat on the train going into Manhattan. My stop is the second stop to Manhattan. There's no reason why I would be able to sit. I got to work and everything was misplaced, the dishwasher wasn't working, and I spent sometime reorganizing the bar before I began working.

I got over being mad and began thinking up scenarios about the other job and the day went smoothly. I got out early, went home, and relaxed. I'm telling you, whatever is going through your head affects everything around you. So, I'm working on my bad mood. I haven't been able to shut it off completely because I'm even having bad dreams. I do know that it will eventually leave and I refuse to let it control me.

Anyway, that's about it with my life. Besides being very tired, not much else is going on. I'm working on my meditation (although last night, I completely fell asleep on the couch). In fact, I'll let you go. I think I'll meditate for a bit this morning.

How Did You Start off the New Year?

I had a great start to the New Year. I actually slept in until 10:30! My knee that was killing me the night before to the point that I could barely go up the stairs was fine. In fact, I woke up with my legs bent (I sometimes cross my legs in a weird way while I'm sleeping). I relaxed all day and then went out for some shopping.

Lately, I've had the knack to find great deals. I stumbled across a Nine West outlet store (I love 9 West shoes) and found a pair of boots that were originally $100 for $31! Can you believe that? I should have gotten two pairs. I might go back today and see what else I find.

When we got home (Dan and I), we sat around and watched the Fiesta Bowl. I'm getting the hang of football ever since Dan has patiently been explaining it to me. Of course, I didn't stay up to watch the whole game, but I knew what was going on. Dan kept on yelling (he was rooting for Boise State). It was really nice to hear him having fun.

I did get to do some major meditation last night, which was great. If you haven't meditated before, I suggest you start even if it's five minutes at a time. I love how it feels. I go to sleep so soundly afterwards. I bet if every single person took time to look inward, there would be less violence. I want to start doing a morning meditation, but that one might be difficult for me. I'm afraid I'll fall back to sleep. It's something I need to work on.

Tomorrow there is cause for more celebration! It's Dan's birthday!! I'm taking off work and we're doing whatever he wants. That's right, I'll have an extra day off this week. It's suppose to be gorgeous tomorrow. We'll be in Manhattan all day hanging out. Happy Birthday Babe!!!

I'm looking forward to the rest of 2007. Personally, I feel that it will be a tremendous year for me. I hope that all of my goals come true. I'll be working on them. I wish that all of you feel happy in your own way. Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I decided I would go back and see what my New Year's Resolutions were last year to see if I followed through on any of them.

1. Workout (which I do now anyway, but I want it to be more of a routine)
2. Loose 15 lbs. (even though I don't feel fat in any way, I want to loose those last 15).
3. Take the stairs the majority of the times (I live on the fourth floor, which in NYC is really the fifth floor because the lobby doesn't count. This will definitely help me with resolution #2).
4. Meditate more (I need my quiet time).
5. Be more giving.
6. Pursue my calling.
7. Expand my knowledge of crochet.
8. Learn how to knit better.
9. Read more books.
10. Gossip less (I try not to talk about people, but sometimes I find myself doing so)
11.Be grateful.

Let's see how I did. Well, my exercise routine came to a screeching halt when I messed up my knees and hip (btw, I hurt my left knee at work again). I definitely have not lost any weight. Actually, I've gained about five pounds (of course I weighed myself after having my mom's Xmas dinner). I haven't been taking the stairs at home at all, but since I take the subway all the time, I do take the stairs then. I have not increased my meditation time. I do, however, take a few minutes at night before going to sleep and thank all of those higher beings that help me throughout my day to day activities. I have been very giving, but you could always do more. My crochet and knitting have improved, but lately I haven't been able to dedicate much time to it. Although last night, while I was icing my knee, I did do some knitting. I've been reading plenty of books. I'm not sure I've increased my reading, but I've bought plenty of books this past year. Reading is a form of meditation for me. So, I try to get my hands on as many books as I can. I have made an effort to not gossip as much, but I still find it difficult. I don't mean gossiping like "Oh do you know what this person did?" I mean commenting about other's situations if the conversation comes up. I have to work on that one. Last but not least, I have been incredibly grateful. Like I mentioned before, I give thanks about everything.

So, what do I expect from myself for the new year?

1. Enjoy more of life with Dan.
2. Be more grateful.
3. Meditate more.
4. Set aside time for my hobbies.
5. Go away with Dan more often.

I shortened my resolutions because life should be simple. As long as I'm enjoying life, everything else should fall into place. I hope you all have a great new year. Have fun tonight!

Xmas Eve!

Christmas Eve it is! I can't believe how fast time is flying. My mom and I were talking about this the other day. Either we're extremely busy or time is going by faster. This has been compounded by the fact that today is my first day off this week and I'm not done with gifts! My apartment is a mess, which I should start cleaning now. My poor pooch needs a bath that has to happen to day. He's looking pretty yucky. Since Dan began working on Saturdays, we haven't been able to take him to the groomers. There's just not enough time!

Anyway, I'm sure I'm not the only that is pressed for time. With all the cleaning and shopping I need to do, I plan to take it easy. I've become stressed to the point that I'm having nightmares. Two nights ago I was screaming for help at the top of my lungs in a dream I was having. Last night, I dreamt that the televisions in my apartment turned on by themselves and I became really scared (if anyone knows me well, they know I don't get scared over spooky stuff). A chill pill is in order.

Well, I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! I hope everyone gets what they've been wishing for!

I'm Pooped!

We are very near that time of year where holiday stress is way up. I am not exactly stressed about Christmas, but I'm tired. So as a result, I've kind of lost the Christmas spirit. You can't blame me, the next day I have off from work is Christmas Eve. I'll actually have two days off together and all I could think about is staying home and relaxing. I'm not in the mood of celebrating. I won't even have time to prepare for it. On the 23rd., I'll probably pull another ten or eleven hours, which leaves me exhausted for Christmas Eve celebrations.

It's already happening. On Sundays, I try to go out and only last about two or three hours. Yesterday, we went out to get some gifts and food shop. While we were food shopping, I got cranky and wanted to get home. The night ended well because I got to watch one of my gifts. Dan and I never wait for Christmas to give each other gifts. He got me "The Lost Boys" on DVD (I have it on VHS), which is one of my favorite movies of all time. We sat down, ate popcorn, and watched it. After the movie was done, I went straight to sleep.

I don't know how Dan is doing it because he's been working six-day work weeks for seven weeks now. He holds it together better than I do. I've only been doing it for almost three weeks and I'm falling apart. I suck! I give him lots of credit for working so hard. We deserve a vacation and we won't be taking one anytime soon. We'll have to do a little weekend getaway soon (of course we'll have to stop working weekends).

I'm Getting my Butt Kicked!

I am sooooo tired! The minute I get home from work, I eat and fall asleep on the couch. I just did it now. It was about 6:30 and I fell asleep on the couch and woke up about twenty minutes ago (9:40). The same thing happened to me last night. I knocked out for a few hours and woke up. This is going to be a tough week for me. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, I won't have the luxury to nap. Those are going to be long days for me. I might go into the office tomorrow super early and leave early. I was able to escape today because of a seminar I had to go to. I don't let's see.

By the way, I am really liking this job. Granted, I haven't been on the phone with anyone, but the challenge of the job excites me. For the past two days, I've been dreaming (literally) about different scenarios. I told one of the guys at work about it and he laughed at me saying that it's sinking in. I would love to take the plunge and quit bartending, but Christmas is less than two weeks away (not to mention Dan's birthday on 1/03). I can't walk away from cash right now. I'm hoping that by the middle of January, I'm done. That's my goal.

I'm going to be licensed in about 37 states. Most importantly, though, I'll be licensed in NY, NJ, CT, and FL. The last one being very important. I travel to Florida very often so getting loans down there shouldn't be a problem. So my dear Floridian readers, you know who to go to if you need a mortgage. Distance is not a problem. I feel this is the best move I've ever done career wise. I've never been excited about a job and I've never liked one, but this one gets me fired up.

Well, got to go. I have dishes and sleeping to do!

Well, I've Been a Bit Busy

Let me start off by saying that work has completely overtaken any free time I basically have. I'm not saying this because I'm swinging both jobs. The hours I'm spending at my bartending job have increased and not because I've been picking up any shifts. The place is mobbed from when we open up until we close. On Friday, I spent ten and a half hours there and yesterday was twelve. I'm not complaining because I am making really good cash. I'm just tired.

Today was our first day off (Dan is also pulling six-day work weeks). We did a little shopping. I'm upgrading my wardrobe for the new job. I have to say that I've gotten plenty of clothes for little money. With all the coupons and sales stores are having, I can't complain! I've gotten four sweaters, three pairs of pants, and two blouses for about $170 (and I actually spent less because I had a $75 gift card from my birthday). Can you believe that?

By the way, I think I've gained some weight. I went up a size, but my old clothes still fit me. Nowadays, designers are cutting clothes so differently that I end up trying a bunch of different sizes. Every store is different. Low rise pants fit me horrible because they don't take into account my big ass. I'm not being mean about myself. I've got back. I'm not ashamed of it, either. Those low rise pants are not meant for Latinas like me. I've got curves and lots of them. And you know what? I love my body.

I realized this today in the fitting room. I don't have the best looking legs. I could definitely flatten my belly. My arms say bye-bye every time I wave, but whatever. I'm happy with the way I look. For a long time, I hated how curvy my body is. Nothing fits right, but that's not my fault. They make clothes for women that are suppose to look like boys. Very few designers make clothes with us in mind. Those that do are Daisy Fuentes and J Lo. There is a brand called Apple Bottoms, which I've only seen ads for. I'm not aware of any other brands that help me out.

There you have it! I do need to work out again. My knees and hip have stopped hurting. It's time I hit the pavement. I just need some free time. Since I'll be making my own hours at this new job, I'll make sure I schedule workout time. I love how my body feels when I workout. No matter how much I workout, I'll still be curvy. Even if I shrink in size, I'll still have a hard time buying pants. Whatever, whatever, whatever...

Updated Xia

It's 1:30 am, and I'm not even remotely sleepy (big problem since I have to work tomorrow morning). I'm hoping a little blogpost will help me relax enough to want to close my eyes.

So, here are a few things of interest to me:

1. I love waxing!! Back in the summer, SG and I decided to go half on a wax warmer, wax and strips (we live next door to each other, which makes it easy to borrow). I've always gone to get my eyebrows wax and actually been doing it myself for quite some time (microwaveable wax). Ever since I got my own warmer, I've been adventurous from waxing my bikini, to my arm pits, to my legs!! I just finished my legs (I only did the bottom; my thighs aren't a problem). It took me two hours, but I'm not use to doing it yet. My legs have always been a problem for me because I could shave in the morning and not have smooth legs at night (that's the European side of me I could give thanks to). Bye-Bye rough legs! Hello smoothies!

2. I got a second job! I put this as #2, not because waxing is more important, but because I'm still a little shocked about it (hence the no sleep part). While I waxed my hairy legs away, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I'm not sure if I'm excited about it (and believe me not in a bad way). It hasn't hit me. The new thing to add to my resume is Mortgage Specialist. I have a friend of mine that does this and is so great at it that they want to make him a branch manager. In order to do so, he needs to develop his own team. We actually hadn't spoken in awhile, but he asked one of my friends to contact me to see if I would be interested.

I met with him today and to my surprise my new coworkers were welcoming me to the office (nothing like a little pressure). I spoke with the branch manager and he seemed very friendly. One of my other friends started about two months ago and really likes it. He is in the same dilemma that I'm in because he hasn't left his other job. The company pays for your training and licensing, which means you need to come in on your own time and learn the tricks of the trade. He was very excited about the job and sees the potential. The friend who asked me to come is doing very well.

I took the job. It seems like something that I wouldn't mind doing. Once I get the hang of things and close on loans, I'll be able to quit my bartending job. If I can't find a decent job in my field, I need to branch out. I don't like sales, but I do it everyday. It's the same concept as a restaurant. People come to you. It's a win-win situation. Let's hope I like it and make plenty of money!

There you have it! Two new things going on with me. The latter being the most important. This is a big change for me. Wish me luck!

Coolest Thing I've Ever Seen

I come out of my building with Louie and on a window sill is a black squirrel (I've never seen black squirrels before until I moved to NY; they're so pretty). Louie is doing his thing and I'm watching the squirrel. It jumps on to a tree branch and then jumps back onto the window sill. From there it does something I've never seen before. It jumps onto the fire escape ladder and does a 360 on the rung!! It then quickly runs up the ladder.

Can you believe that? A 360? What a little gymnast! I wish I had a video camera for this. Man, it would have been great to catch that on film.

Still Full

Wow! My Thanksgiving was the yummiest so far. The ham that Lucy made and my turkey were phenomenal (I'm not going to be modest about my cooking; it was damn good). Lucy's mother-in-law made all the side dishes and they were also to die for. We had dessert fit for kings. We had tons of dessert including chocolate fondue. After we were all done stuffing our faces, we sat around practically passing out.

It was great!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Now we have to gear up for Christmas!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hope you all eat lots of food and enjoy your time with your families!!!!

So What Have I Been Up To?

A little bit of everything, but mostly work. I slowed down this week. I only worked my regular shifts. For the past month and a half, I've worked a total of eight extra shifts. It doesn't seem like a lot, but it is an extra week's worth of work. I want to pick up a few more shifts and then take a break before I start school (well I have to get accepted first). Dan is now working with me on Saturday nights for some extra cash. It's like old times again! This extra cash is being utilized for savings, which makes us very happy.

I actually have Thanksgiving Day off, which I only found out about it a few days ago (very rude from my employer's part). Now that I have that information handy, I'm responsible for the turkey. This year we're going over Dan's aunt's house. I'm making a pit stop at my parents' place for a bit. It's going to be a long day. I have to be at his aunt's house by the latest 8:30 to put the bird in the oven. I can't be out too late because I work the next day.

Other than that, I haven't been up to much else. My hip is still bothering me, which takes exercise out of the equation (of course). I haven't been doing any hiking either (which I'm pissed about) because Sundays have become hectic for us. I haven't used my new trekking poles that Dan got for me! We did go apple picking two weeks ago, which was loads of fun. We went out yesterday, but didn't do much. So as you could see, the past few weeks have been pretty mundane. I need to change that.

Injuries, Injuries, Injuries

Of course when I happen to mention how I've been working out for a month, I get injured. I started off with my knee hurting when I walked down the stairs, which I found out was chrondomalacia (at least that's what I found in the internet). I stopped jogging and began icing my knee. Well, that seemed to work, but now it's an old injury I had. Several years ago, I overextended my left hip, which resulted in pinching a nerve. This was very painful for me. I had a hard time walking and had to limp. As a result, I spent six months without working out.

I'm feeling that pain again. I worked out today (nothing out of this world). There was no running involved. I went on the treadmill (walked), elliptical (lasted about 10 minutes), and the stationary bike (another 10 minutes). I'm not ready for working out. I stretched out a bit to see if my back will align itself. I don't want this to ruin my hiking (like it did last time).

That's my update. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to do any of the activities I've wanted. I'm sad.

Some More Hiking

If you haven't hiked and want to try it, the first thing you need to make sure you have is a map of the area. We've never bothered doing that in the past and found out yesterday how important it is to have one. We went to Harrimon State Park to hike where we use to go hiking about four years ago. We really weren't familiar with the area even though we had hiked it before.

I realized that we were hiking two trails combined. What we didn't know was that one of the trails was the Appalachian Trail. We found out because we ran into some friendly hikers that told us where we were and showed us that map they had. We ended up getting off the Appalachian Trail and following the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail that should have taken us back to where our car was.

Unfortunately, the map was outdated. We came across a paved road, which I immediately recognized as Seven Lakes Drive. I knew if we made a right on the road we would eventually get to Lake Tiorati, but on the map it showed that by following the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail we would end up at the lake. So, we crossed the road and got back to the trail. About thirty to forty minutes into this part of the trail, we see the lake. At this point, we're not sure if to get off the trail and go to the lake or stay on course. Since we were confident about the map, we decided to stay on course.

It seemed that the trail was bending towards the lake, but suddenly it began going away from it. We ran into some racers and they told us to go back to the road or go off the trail to the lake. If we decide to go back to the road, we have another forty minutes and that does not include the time to walk back to the lake. If we decide to go off the trail towards the lake, we have no idea on which side of the lake we'll end up at. We opted for the lake because it seemed the quickest way to get back.

Going off trail was definitely a challenge. The ground was very mushy, which made us have to hop from rock to rock. Luckily, we had found some good branches that we used as walking sticks. That helped us out tremendously. My knee was really bothering me (yup, have to lay off jogging for a bit) and the branch relieved some of the stress. After probably fifteen minutes, we see a road and realized that we're on the right side of the lake. We finally get to the road and walk over to the lake for the view. We were so tired at this point that we decided to walk back to the car. We did stop at the visitor's center and bought a map. We told the guy about our ordeal and he informed us that they had changed part of the trail. So, the maps were outdated. Dan grabbed a pen and made the changes on the map.

After we left the park, we decided to drive to the mall. I needed some cargo pants, which of course I found none that would fit me correctly. They need to make pants that fit girls with curves. Anyway, we stopped in Barnes and Nobles and I decided to spend some of my birthday money on hiking books. With the map and the books we got, we will be better prepared for our next hiking trip.

Now for right knee, I had to take a bath last night and do some major stretching. I'm going to lay off jogging this week to see how it feels. I have to say that the bath worked really well. Depending on how I feel, I will go to the gym on Wednesday and workout on the elliptical machine. I think I may have to postpone the eight mile hike for Sunday (unless I get trekking poles this week). I'm not letting this minor injury set me back. I will work through this. I have already lost two and a half inches around my waist. I don't want to ruin my progress.

Why so Quiet?

I've been caught up in a "new" activity that I've been devoting a tremendous amount of time to. It has even gotten in the way of my crocheting/knitting time. If I could only get rid of work and the amount of time I spend online (I need to cut that down; it's getting in the way), then I would have all the time in the world to do both activities. The reason I'm choosing today to tell you about it is because it's been exactly a month since I started.

I was really sad and angry on September 11th. I tend to do several things when I feel this way. I either stay in bed, eat, or work out. Usually when anger is involved, I try to get rid of it as fast as possible. I don't like that feeling to linger around. The best way to release the anger is by working out. I started exercising again!!

This time around, I wanted to remain quiet about it. I'm always telling you how I'm going to workout and never do it. I'm tired of letting you down and most importantly, myself. I decided that I would start working out and once it's become a routine (which usually takes about 4 to 5 weeks), I would let you in on it. So, it's been 5 weeks and I'm feeling great! I've already lost 2 inches around my waist and don't get winded when I'm running up the stairs.

Not only have I started working out, but I've also started jogging. This is a huge step for me because I've never been able to jog. I've always been very active, but jogging just kicks my butt. I'm jogging/walking instead of hitting the gym. There's this beautiful parkway by where I live that is lined with green. People bring their kids and dogs here. Many people also jog around the area. It leads to the Botanical Gardens and if you make a left, you end up in the Bronx River Parkway Reservation. I've been taking my time enjoying the greenery. I'm loving jogging. Although, I think I might have overdone it on Monday, I've been feeling great. I'm taking it slowly so that I don't mess up my knees.

There are several reasons why I started jogging. First off, I think I might have gain a few pounds. My clothes are fitting tighter. I definitely need to take care of that. Secondly, jogging is something I've always been bad at. I need to condition my body to running. It is a great exercise to get into and it makes your legs look great. Thirdly, I'm tired of going to the gym. I love being outdoors. It inspires me to stay out longer. To be honest, exercising outside is very spiritual for me. I feel that everything around me is rooting me on. It's a great feeling. Last, but not least, I want to become fit for hiking. What better way to do it than to task my body by jogging? Hiking requires that your entire body be fit. Jogging takes care of that, especially the legs. I want my legs to be able to handle going up and down the mountains without burning. The last time I went hiking, my legs burned so much when I was going down the cliff that I want to make sure the burn lessens.

I'm going on a long hike in 11 days that I want to be prepared for. This hike will be about 8 miles long and take about 5 hours. There's a very steep ascent in the trail that I want to be prepared for. Jogging should prepare me for it. I'm sure I'll do fine, but I don't want to be the one that has to stop and turn around because my body can't take it anymore. I have six more jogs until the day of the hike. With the hours I have at work, I'm only able to jog 4 days a week. I might have to wake up early this Friday and Saturday and jog before my doubles at work. Six jogs might not be enough, but then again, I don't want to over do it.

Now that my secret is out, I want to keep you updated on my workouts. I think it will be a great inspiration for those that are contemplating on working out or are already working out but need moral support. Exercising is very important to me. Your body was meant to be worked out. It is extremely beneficial for all of us to workout. Obesity is a major problem in the United States and we need to do something about it. One thing is for sure, we need to move our asses!

Hiking!!

Hiking is the word of the day! Dan and I went to the Palisades Interstate Park and did the "Peanut Leap Cascade" hike. This guided tour was a first for us and definitely won't be a last. It was great! We had such a wonderful time. The weather could not have cooperated with us anymore than it did. It was sunny all through our hike. Once we finished, the day became cloudy.

This hike we took was a first in a few years. With how much I love hiking, I can't believe I let it go this long. Anyway, not only was it the first in a long time, but it was the hardest hike we've ever done. We've usually gone to Lake Tiorati Beach, which is located in Harriman State Park (right next to Bear Mountain). For the Hispanic/Latino readers, this place is better known as el parque de los siete lagos. Translation: the park of the seven lakes. There's plenty of hiking in this park, but the hikes that we've taken have been relatively easy. I've never had to worry about falling off the cliff or anything in that nature.

Not this hike!! In the description of the hike in the calendar of events, it states that there are several steep sections. When I read that, I took it pretty serious. Well, they weren't wrong about the steepness. Not only was it steep, but the sections that were steep were also right at the edge of the cliff. Let me clear things up. We hiked on the cliffs of the Hudson River. The purpose of the hike was to descend the cliff to the shoreline, which I believe is about 550 feet. So pretty much the entire time, we at the edge of the cliff. One wrong step and bye-bye.



By the time we reached the third steep section, my legs were burning so much that I worried about my legs giving in. Luckily it didn't because there were several elderly people (some in there 80s) hiking and I would have been incredibly embarrassed. When we reached the shoreline we hung out for a little bit and listened to our guide tell us the history of where we were. It was so much fun!





On our way back through the trail, we did have to go up the last steep section because we didn't have much of a choice. Now, I always prefer to go up the mountain. It's easier than going down. Let me tell you something, my heart was pounding. My legs were sore to begin with and now I had to climb. I was huffing and puffing. At one point I turned around to looked at Dan and his face was bright red. The group was pretty much quiet, except for the breathing. What a workout!

Once we got to leveled ground, we followed a different trail back to the top. We eneded up on the old 9W (that's a road that leads you through the Hudson River Valley) and walked the rest of the mile to the end of our hike. I recommend to anyone that is interested in hiking to try this out. The guided tours are great and you learn plenty of the local history. The only drawback of the tour is that you kind of have to keep up with group. So if you're interested in taking pictures, you should either do it alone or return on your own time. Missing what our guide was saying wasn't an option for us. He was great.



Check out the hiking shoes I got for my birthday:

Birthday Celebration

On Saturday, I got together with friends and coworkers to celebrate my birthday. We had a great time hanging out and enjoying some cocktails. I have to give it up to Dan's coworkers. Most of them showed up to help me celebrate! Thank you so much guys! Here is the damaging evidence:











As you could see, we had a blast. We stayed out late, which is a first for me in awhile. I'm not use to that anymore. I can't hang like I use to. I actually managed not to get anywhere near drunk or buzzed for that matter. I know, it's difficult to understand, but I didn't want to be hungover the next day. The last time I went out, I was so hungover that it ruined the next day for me. This time around I sipped on some wine (did one shot that Dan got me) and relaxed the rest of the evening. It went exactly how I wanted it to. The next morning--no hangover. I had a great time. Thanks to all those that showed up!

Since You're Wondering...

The GRE went alright. For one thing it wasn't as bad as I had envisioned, but it was still pretty difficult. I did horrible in the math section. I didn't have time to complete it. Math has always been an arduous subject for me. Oh well, it's over with. Now, I have to finish applying to school. Hopefully, once January rolls around, I'll be enrolled in school.

I can't wait for that to happen. I'm a huge nerd and love being in school. I guess I feel that way because I am accomplishing something. When I'm out of school, I don't feel as if much is going on. If I had the money, I'd be getting degrees for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

Once I'm back in school, I plan to go fast and furious, which means I'll be taking a lot of courses at once. I want to get my Master's degree as quickly as possible. Having a Master's is my ticket out of my current profession. Isn't it sad that nowadays having a Bachelor's is like having a high school diploma? I remember when I was a kid having a Bachelor's was a huge deal. Forget about having a Master's! You were some smart cookie. Now, I know people who have Master's and are still waiting tables because they make more money this way than if they were working in their profession. Hopefully, that won't be the case with me.

Little Hiking but....

Man did we have a great time! We didn't hike, but we actually did some mountaineering. It was such a gorgeous day yesterday. The day was crisp and cool, but warm enough that a jacket wasn't always needed. I love being in nature. We went to Bear Mountain State Park, which is a place I hold dear to my heart. My parents would always take my sister and I there when we were kids. We always had so much fun. The park, as you could imagine, is breathtaking and enormous. There is so much to do there.

We ended up on Perkins Drive, which is a long winding road that leads you to a tower. Once you're up by the tower, you see a whole range of mountains. The view is spectacular. I absolutely loved it. All the worries in the world just vanish from your mind when you see how perfect this world really is.



If I could live near a mountain, I would be extremely happy. My ultimate dream would be to buy a home in an area like that. The fresh, crisp mountain air calms me in such a way that is hard for me to explain. I would be able to hike in my own backyard! Someday, it will happen. Until it does, I'll keep going back and take tons of pictures.



Here's me being silly:

Guess What Today Is?

MY BIRTHDAY!! My profile shows the updated age. So, you all could look because I'm not admitting how old I am. After I take my four hour GRE, I'm meeting Dan for some cocktails. Today, I won't be making the drinks, they'll be making it for me. I'm sure I'm not the only one that does this, but I celebrate my birthday for about a week. Sometimes, the celebrations last longer. It depends on the birthday and my mood.

This time around, I started celebrating last night. I got a little pizza party and a yummy Cold Stone Creamery Coffehouse Crunch ice cream cake with my favorite next door neighbors. Tomorrow, I'm suppose to go hiking with Dan (it all depends if he could take off). Saturday, is the real celebration. I'm going out for drinks with my friends. Sunday will be a recovery day. I'm not sure how I'll be when I wake up. Hopefully, I won't be so hungover that I'm out for the day. Anyway, got to go!

Vitamins

When the directions on the vitamin bottle say take with food, make sure you eat before you take the vitamin. Wow! I took my vitamin and immediately began eating my breakfast. I would say about ten minutes later, I was overlwhelmed by nausea. The nausea was so strong that I got up and ran to the bathroom. I had barely made it in when I started vomiting. I didn't even have time to lift up the seat. Thankfully, the cover was already open, which is a good thing because I wouldn't have been able to open it. Needless to say, I had a lot of cleaning up to do. This sucks!

Now, should I take my vitamin again? I'm not sure. Technically, I have nothing in my stomach, not even coffee. I think I'll steer clear from it today. I don't want to get sick again. Yuck.

September

I love September. It's my favorite month of the year. I become completely engrossed in the cooler temperatures that comes along with this wonderful month. I love the scent of autumn in the air, which has such a calming effect on me. This is the time of year that I tend to start working out, planning for the holidays, waiting for my birthday (I love my birthday), and become very savings conscious. I don't know what it is, but that is what September does for me.

September also makes me very sad. I hate it. I hate that now I also have to remember what happened five years ago. September was such a beautiful month for me, but on this day I curse how gorgeous this month could be with the bright blue skies and cooler crisp air. It is so perfect outside today like it was on that dreadful day and it makes me so sad. I can't wait for this day to end.

Desertrae

I was going to do it earlier, but I was busy writing my entrance essay for one of the schools I'm applying to. Desertrae blossomed! Here you are anonymous!



Isn't her flower beautiful? When her other buds blossom, I'll make sure to post more pictures.

Sunday was Great!

The Sun made its presence to the North East (at least NY/NJ area). Although Dan and I got a late start to our day (we were out late the night before), we made the most of this gorgeous day. For starters, I need to show you what I was looking at through my window.



Very different view from the other day? As you all know, I love autumn. Yesterday was a perfect autumn day. We headed out to Jersey, got some gas (this time we spent $36 instead of $45), and went to the Palisades Interstate Park. This park brings memories to me from when my sister and I were little kids. My parents would take us to "el parque abajo del George Washington Bridge." The park was known to us as the park under the GWB.

I guess I was too little to realize how big this park actually is. It goes all the way into New York. Not only is it huge, but it has 30 miles worth of hiking trails! I'm such a dork. I grew up around the area and never knew any of this. What a loser! Now that we've know all of this information, we're going to frequent this place very often.

Since I asked Dan for hiking boots/sneakers for my birthday, I'll be set to hike all the trails in the area. In fact, we made a date to return Oct. 1st because there is a guided hiking tour. You don't understand, I love hiking! I haven't done it in such a long time. We did walk a trail that was about a mile long that stretched along the river. We had such a great time. I regret not bringing the camera along. There would have been a lot of nice pictures.

I was checking out their calendar of events and there are hiking tours pretty much every weekend. There's even a Halloween tour! If you're interested, check this place out. There's plenty to do.

Things of Interest this Morning

I woke up, yet again, to a crummy day. The clouds are so thick and plenty that you see them rapidly moving across the sky. It seems that today we're suppose to get the worst of this weather with remnants of Ernesto. We're expecting torrential downpours. I expect many people are changing their plans for this holiday weekend.

Here's a snapshot of the sky:



Do you see those dark mean clouds? Ughhhh.

On a better note, Desertrae is about to blossom! Unfortunately, there hasn't been any sunlight for her, but it doesn't seem to stop her!



Doesn't she look wonderful?