X-mas - Navidad 2006

Here are some random fotos of x-mas....

J-Fabulous.... otherwise known as me! ;)

Scary Singing X-mas Tree

Cantando Arbolito de Navidad

J-Money (my bro)

Mi hermano.

Two Cousins

Dos Primos.... parecen contentos, no?

Me and the Boys. All the Cousins

Soy la unica prima. Todos mis primos.

Taking a Bath... he was not happy.

El perro banando... no estaba contento.

Feliz Navidad! Merry X-Mas!

Off to Chicago for New Year's

I am leaving in the moring with a car full of ladies to celebrate New Year's in Chicago. I have no idea what we will do there but whatev.... something like drinking and shopping I suppose. My ride comes at 8am.

I'll be back on Monday with fotos to share.

I wish everyone a Happy New Year...

I know that 2007 will a great year for all.... (especially me!! wink. wink)!!

Mando saludos a todos. Feliz Ano Nuevo.

Besos.

A Sad Day in Suburbia...

It is sad when the police are not fighting crime... instead they are sitting in their police car controlling the stop lights with the strobe flasher to ensure that the green lights are long enough for the shoppers going from Target to the grocery store across the street and vice-versa. Imagine a perfect place (ha ha haa) where there is no crime and this is what the police are payed the big bucks to do.

Suburbia is really starting to scare... as the soccer moms get vicious during the holidays.... also a lot of men decide (reluctantly) to go to the malls, where they do not know the proper traffic laws and start cutting people off, plowing thru. red lights, going the wrong way down the isles... it is quite frustrating.... AND of course you are the one doing the wrong things. Yeah right!!

Ok... off to brave to crowds... I have to run some errands.

Chau!!

I'm Finally on Vacation...

I am freeeeeeeee until Jan 2.
I don't have many plans. Just to get oranized and relax.
I am going to Chicago on the 30th, for two nights.... that's about as exciting as it gets.

Haciendo Completamente Nada...

Terminé mis clases jueves. Tengo q trabajar esta semana... bueno, lunes a jueves. El viernes tengo una cita cortar mi pelo... va a ser 1 o 2 pulgadas nada mas.... todos saben q tengo miedo cortar mas. Y el sábado, tengo q tomar examenes para mi maestría... toda la mañana.

Hoy no estoy haciendo nada... fui al gimnasio por la mañana. A las 5pm, tengo una cita con alguien q quiere clases de español. Después... creo (si, tengo fuerza) voy a ir a gimnasio otra vez.

Mi hermano llamó hace cinco minutos... el estaba aburrido en Washington.... entonces cambio su vuelo. Viene hoy a las 9:20pm, en vez de miércoles.

Estuve pensando leer un libro. Normalmente leo mucho, pero son libros q eligieron mis profesores... ahora voy a tener tiempo leer unos libros q compre y no he leído todavía.

Bueno... mando besos y abrazos a todos.

CHAU!!

Small World

Yesterday, at the holiday party for one of my jobs... I started talking to a girl that was talking about shipping stuff to Argentina.

So, check this...

She is moving to Argentina.
She is married to a guy from Resistencia. (where I lived)
He is my age and I know his families business in the city.
She was an AFSer... to Finland... but same year, same departure.
She also has worked in the AFS office here and know alot of the same people I do.

CRAZY.



Today... instead of buying new shoes I found the cutest shirt ever. I bought it and will take a pic soon....

Two weeks until we go to Chicago for New Year's.
Less than six weeks until Rep. Dom.
I'm excited!

I'm Dooooooooooonnnnneeeee....

I survived my semester... well, at least I finished all the tasks, projects, papers and lesson plans. Whether my grades will reflect my work that is not known yet.

What is new? Nothing much. I have clean everything now... neglecting it for more than a week has made things disgusting.

I have a semi-busy week next week and then just about nothing for a week.

I have started tutoring... el chileno en ingles and a hs student in Spanish. I have a few more that want lessons in the new year.

Today... I'm going to relax buy some new talcos.... AND WORK out.... less than 6 weekks until my hot bod has to make appearences at beaches on a tropical island en el caribe. ;)

BESOTES A TODOS!!!! Chaucito.

Avoidance Tactics...

Eat
Watch TV
Make Lists of What I Need To Do
Think about What I Need To Do
Pluck Eyebrows
Read Magazines
Talk on Phone
Chat with People on MSN
Emaling

Just a few of the avoidance tactics I have used tonight.

So, let's see... it's 10:39pm... I have done about 8% of every thing I have to do by about 7am.... But I'm surprisingly relaxed and feel no reason to hurry.

I still have pleanty of time..... ;)


BTW... yes, I am officially insane... if you had any doubt.

47 Hours to go...

and I am about to go to sleep... for the next 7-8 hours. I need to sleep so, I can be productive tomorrow... when semi-all-nighter-number-two of the week begins.

Ok... no more thinking about being productive. It just makes me exhausted thinking about it.

And now I just remember I have to evaluate a whole bunch of 1st graders Spanish skills... by Friday, 11am. Yikes.... and I have no idea where I put the folder with evals. I will worry about that 8am.... Friday!! ;)

To sleepy, sleepy I go.

Numb

I am numb and just trying to make it thru. they next 60 hours....

I slept only 2 hours last night... actually I am not sure if I slept because I get nervous that I will sleep thru. my alarm....

I finished my urban field placement finally... thou. I'm pissed that he said that I'm often late. But I should not feel too bad about it as I look at the source that the critical words came from. I should not pass the blame, but I did receive the field placement 7 weeks after I was supposed and had to create a whole new schedule, take days off, drive around like a crazy lady to get stuff done.

Now... I am not done with what I need done for 5:30pm... but I have to go visit some Spanish classes that I am covering for a co-worker next week in a little bit.

I'm about to loose it... oh, and a whole but of people want private Spanish, ESL and Language Arts lessons like this week... now.. and I do not want to lose these potential clients.... but I really cannot take anything more on until Friday.

God, please give me the strength I need to get thru. this...

Self-Sabotage: A Reoccuring Theme

Self-sabotage is what I do. I've been doing it for years.... probably since I was 10 or 12. I don't really know why I do it. Out of fear most likely.

My self-sabotage when it comes to this moment involves my studies and projects. I didn't do what I was supposed this weekend. Well.... I only did one-half of what I was supposed to do. And now... I am hurriedly trying to throw together a big project that is due tomorrow night. Now, I think part of the reason that I do this is because it does not interest me. I know that I can do a half-assed job and get an A- or B+ and that is perfectly fine with me... I have never been a perfectionist.

Self-sabotage has been a major theme of my academic life and occasionally my personal life. I also need major work on my time management skills.... and/or motivating myself to do things with more than 24 hours to spare. Maybe I get a thrill of waiting until the last min.... seeing how far I can walk that fine line of recklessness without actually crossing it and failing miserably.

I guess I need to learn more from my mistakes and stop repeating them.

Chau!

Grrrrrrrr....

I went to see the apt... decided to move in and then decided against it. (Sorry L!)

I have a weird rash on the back of my neck.

I finished my linguistics final... though I gave up on one of the exercises when I could not figure it out for several hours.

Now I am working on a literacy 'strategy log' that is due Tuesday. My professor for this class is so annoying and treats us like kindergartners. And he thinks that his 2 credits class is apparently worth four because I am doing a shit load of work for it.

There are many more things I would like to complain about but I don't have time....

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR....

Boring Weekend...

I am studying this weekend. Working on final projects and exams. Nothing exciting just time consuming.

Yesterday, I met with a Chilean boy that I am going to start tutoring in English. He is an AFSer and having some difficulties with second language acquisition.... and needs to reduce his accent.... or so he says. ;)

Today... I continue studying. I am actually taking my studying on the road. This is so ensure that I will actually do it. I am very easily distracted in my home environment.

I am going to check out an apartment today. I am pretty sure I will take it... good price and location in Minneapolis. I will let you know of that decision later. I am having trouble making a decision as there are lots of unsure, unfinished things in my life right now and I do not know if moving is the right answer at the moment. But I do need change... and this might be just the thing I need.

Ok... I'm off.

Chaucito... y besotes a todos!

14 Bajo Cero

Hace MUCHO frio.... 14 bajo cero hoy. :(

Necesito mudar a un lugar donde hace calor porq no puedo agunatar esta termperatura mas.

8 More Days...

I need to just get thru the next 8 days... 9pm on the 14th I can finally relax. Before than I have to do about 2 million things... and really work on not procrastinating or things are going to get hellish.

8 more days...8 more days.... 8 more days.... 8 more days.........

Here.... wishing I was in the most perfect place I know

Mi Mente

Hay tantas ideas en mi cabeza. Ideas, pensamientos, sentimientos y temas cambiando cada segundo. A veces las mismas cosas; pero por poco tiempo. Hay tantas posibilidades. Nunca tengo una idea fija. Ninguna meta fija. No. No es posible. Todo cambiando. Quiero hacer tanto y poco en el mismo momento.


Cada momento nuevo.... así es vivir dentro de mi mente.

Why will you Settle?

People settle for different reasons. I mean commit to someone, via marriage. Though the common reason is 'true love,' I really must question that. In the past few months I have seen people settle for various reasons. One for age. How old will you get before you just can't wait anymore? Will you just settle for who you are with at the time for the hell of it? For fear that you have waited too long and the perfect man won't come along? And truthfully know that he is not the one. It there that 'one'?? Or are there many? Who is right? Is there such thing as a soul mate? Others seem to settle for convenience. It seems right at the time... or semi-right... and they just seem to go with it. Live in the moment, why not? You can always get out of it later, right? Others fear being alone. They are willing to stay with with someone, anyone. Just to avoid themselves. There are many of these people... who have never been alone.... since a very young age. Others never seem to settle. They fear commitment or themselves. Perhaps, the sanctity of a committed relationship. Can it really work? These people avoid a settling down for a long time or never do. Constantly running. Too critical. Afraid of failure?


So, why will you settle? For 'true love'? 'Old' age? Convenience? Money? Fear? The 'One'?

I Need to Talk to Someone.

Someone in particular.

My horoscope told me not to.

What to do? What to do?

Quede confundida otra vez?!?!

Reality

It is hard to believe that every person's reality is so different. To know that people who live only 15 short miles away from you have a totally different reality. I have lived in third world countries and come to realize their reality, daily life, reaction and ways are much different than mine. But 15 short miles away from my home is like visiting a whole different world.

A reality that involves violence, death, drugs, generational poverty, gangs, pregnancy, rape, abuse, runaways, murder, hunger, disease, lack of education, lack of understanding, anger, resiliency and basic survival. Where on a daily basis a 16 and 17 year olds have to make a conscious decision. Actually a lot of decisions... that I was never forced to make at that age. So many decisions that they should not have to be making at this age. Decisions that scare me.

What makes me mad is the people from my reality. The people that do not understand nor care to understand. They just pass the blame on the families, the schools and the communities. When the blame should really be put on their shoulders. As a member of society and a member of this city; I feel the responsibility to help, to do something.

People who really do not care. People who are stuck in their content white reality need to wake up. Some day these realities will colide and maybe not in a favorable manner if nothing is done to improve their reality today.

The people from my reality are quick to critically judge the people from the other reality... but not offer help, alternatives, ideas. This is maddening. Whether black, white, brown, yellow, purple or blue; you deserve an opportunity in this country. You deserve an opportunity to succeed. An opportunity to improve your reality, your life experience. You should not be stepped on. Forgotten. Left alone to destroy yourself or others.

Maybe I'm naive and young. But I want to make a difference. I want to give them that chance they deserve. The chance I was given. Education is a right. I believe that as a society we should not make excuses but try to fix the problem. It will take many years but we have time. The problem is getting bigger not smaller. Their reality will only get worse over time.

I know I will do what I can. After spending time there I see the hope in their eyes, the enjoyment the feel, the success they can obtain in one short hour. A safe hour where most are taken out of their reality and are in a safe place whether it is to learn or just be.

So, as I sit in my safe, warm, stable reality. I can't help but wonder what people are facing in a this evening 15 miles away. What decisions are they making that are going to affect the rest of their weekend, week or possibly life?

Noviembre Sin Ti

La tarde se aleja,
el cielo esta gris
la noche aparece sin ti,
callado en la playa
te lloro en silencio otra vez
Me ahoga esta pena
no puedo vivir
las olas no me hablan de ti
sentado en la arena
escribo tu nombre otra vez

Por que te extrano
desde aquel Noviembre
cuando sonamos juntos
a querernos siempreme duele,
este frio Noviembre
cuando las ojas
cain a morir por siempre..

[Estribillo:]
Noviembre sin ti
es sentir que la lluvia
me dice llorando que todo acabo
Noviembre sin ti
es pedirle a la luna
que brille en la noche de mi corazon
otra vezz.. otra vez..

Quisiera decirte que quiero volver
tu nombre va escrito en mi piel
ya es de madrugada
te sigo esperando otra vez
por que te extrano desde aquel Noviembre
cuando sonamos juntosa querernos siempre
me duele, este frio Noviembre
cuando las ojas caina morir por siempre

Estribillo 2x]

Noviembre Sin Ti por Reik

Me Voy

Porque no supiste entender a mi corazón
lo que había en el porque no tuviste el valor de ver quien soy
porque no escuchas lo que esta tan cerca de ti
sólo el ruido de afuera y yo
que estoy a un lado desaparezco para ti

No voy a llorar y decir que no merezco esto
porque es probable que lo merezco pero no lo quiero
por eso me voy que lastima pero adios
me despido de ti me voy
que lastima pero adios me despedio de ti

Porque se que me espera algo mejor
alguien que sepa darme amor
de ese que endulza la sal y hace que salga el sol
yo que pense nunca me iría de ti
que es amor el bueno de toda la vida
pero hoy entendí que no hay suficiente para los dos

No voy a llorar y decir que no merezco esto
porque es probable que lo merezco pero no lo quiero
por eso me voy que lastima pero adios
me despido de ti me voy
que lastima pero adios me despedio de ti

Me voy que lastima pero adios
me despido de ti me voy
que lastima pero adios
me despido de ti me voy
que lastima pero adios
me despido de time voy
que lastima pero adios
me despido de ti
me voy

Julieta Venegas - Me Voy

1st Post from my Nuevo Laptop!!

Yay. I just went and got my new laptop. I drove over to the UPS warehouse and picked it up. It was a ways away but I rocked out to my newly burned CD (gracias hermano) and drove 70mph+. After 5 and a half years of my other dell... I was really ready for a new one. Now I have to start officially switching every thing over. And get organized.

Let the fun begin.... actually there will be no fun until Friday... as I have a huge load of homework, lesson planning and materials to prepare.

:]

My Beautiful Brown Eyes...

Today I was told by one my autistic students that I have the 'most beautiful brown eyes'... 'beautiful very dark brown eyes'....

I enjoyed the nice compliment as most everything that comes out of his mouth is negative... which was what he said next... an insult....

AHHHH, the joys of my job! ;)

P.S.... if you want to check out my 'beautiful brown eyes' for yourself... they are featured a few posts down.

Chau! Besotes.

Procrastination & Pain

The two p's....

I have a major procrastination problem... major. I had a long weekend with really basically nothing to do but study. Did I study? Hell, no! Then Monday night... I took my time sitting down to study. Went tanning, to the gym, ate dinner... and then finally thought I might try to study. I accomplished basically nothing... and by 9:40pm... realized I better go to sleep and wake up early to do my stuff. Now, I woke up at 4:25am... showered... and am slowly getting ready. I'll have sometime throughout the day but I think I am depending on that too much.

Pain. I am in pain.... for several reason. Mental and physical. Though the physical is what is I am feeling the most... my mental pain, confusion and anguish is something I can't really write about on here. I have two major wounds on my feet... one from the gym and the other from dancing and my heels on Saturday night. One on each foot... equally painful and infected (yuck!). I have been over doing it a bit at the gym... I decided that when it comes to the treadmill, the pain is just mental. Like marathon runners or runners in general... it's a mental game that you are playing with your body and you just have to push thru. it. Well, the problem is I am neither a runner, let along a marathon runner. So, I should not really apply weird wisdom like this to my workouts.... because I hurt.... Especially my hips. I knew it was bad when I awoke to go to the bathroom in the night and contemplated for several mins. how I would get up with the least pain. Oh yes, and the most annoying thing of all... I have been sick almost the entire month of November.... and just when I was almost back to tip-top shape, I have a really sore throat and now this morning it is really really really sore. :(

On a happy note....

• 3 more weeks of the semester left
• I have leads and several private ESL and Spanish tutoring/instruction positions
  
• I get to spend almost two full school days at my urban field placement.... instead of working at my middle school
• I am going to Chicago for New Years
• I am feeling slightly optomistic (this is not a normal feeling for me)

Ok... must study... must stop procrastination... must go now...



Felicidad. Paz. Amor.

Long fin de semana...

mi primo Eric y su perro.

La otro mascota de Eric... es un ferret....

Eric y su querida mascota Marcelis. El animal tiene un oler fuerte y feo. No entiendo como el puede vivir con algo asi.

Fuimos de compras viernes a las 6 por la manana... el amanecer... y el shopping/centro comercial ya llena de autos(carros). El viernes despues del Dia de Gracias, se llama 'viernes negro'... todo esta en liquidacion.... y las tiendas abren a las 5am.

Mi hermano vino de Washington, D.C. por el fin de semana... el estaba molestando el perro.

cocine... :/ sin receta...Nadie gusto... acepto de mi!

Salí sábado con Lena a Loring Pasta Bar... noche de salsa presentado por Salsa Police.
Tuve una sola meta para la noche... bailar con MEXICANOSS!! ... ;)
Llegamos temprano... y quedamos tarde. Bebemos cerveza... yo Coronas, Lena varias otras. Una colega de mi trabajo estuve ahí. Hablemos con ella para un ratito. La noche fue llena de hombres... primero un guardia/miembro de seguridad q empezó hablar conmigo. Medio dominicano (del Cibao), medio puertorriqueño. Mi dijo q no sabia q bailar (MENTIRA) y pregunto si yo podía enseñarle (NO).
Después bajamos a buscar mas para tomar. Hablemos un poquito con Christie (mi colega) y su amiga. Pusieron un poquito de reggaeton bailamos... yo con un Ecuatoriano.... :[ después toco mas salsa... entonces tuvimos q esperar para algo mejor... y TOMAR MAS CERVECITAS!! Fuimos arriba otra vez... pero el hombre de seguridad no me dejaba en paz... que pesado q fue este hombre.
Lena y yo tuvimos q bajar a bailar cuando empezo Merengue y Bachata.... baile con varias hombres de Honduras. Ningún hablo ingles, todos trabajaban en construccion o fabricas... uno olia de marijuana... mucho marijuana. Después un moreno colombiano quería bailar. Vino de Chicago para el fin de semana largo... fue simpatico, bello, muy alto, educado... y no fue illegal como los otros. Nos invito a una fiesta para ano nuevo en Chicago después q decirle q íbamos estar ahí. El tiene mi numero ya llamo varias veces.... PELIGRO!!
En el fin no baile con ningún Mexicano :( ... aunque unos hombrecitos me preguntaron bailar... yo dije q no (si, soy mala)... Lena bailo con unos. YO no... quizás porq puse mis talcos q tiene 3.5 pulgas de altura... quede re alta... mas alta q todo ellos.
PERO nosotras disfrutamos muchooo.... mexicanos o no!

disappointed

I am disappointed. Yeah. By an incident that happened in my state last night.

I think that an apology is in order. I apologize on behalf of the people of Minnesota.

I had hoped that the people of my state, airport and airline officials would not stoop to such a low and dark place. Apparently, people are more ignorant and blatantly racist than I thought.

And to the person that passed the note to the flight attendant. You should be ashamed of your self. Have you ever heard of freedom of religion, Islam, people of other cultures and races?? Don't over react next time. You wasted time, money and tarnished the image of six honorable Muslim men.

I would boycott US Airways too. They refused to give them and/or sell them tickets in the end.



Something needs to be done. NOW!

OR people's ignorance will continue to blind them.

Nada. Nothing. Zip.

Nothing exciting is happening. 68 days until I go the Dominican Republic. Yesterday, I called a few of my friends there. Nothing much happening... except, my friend the lady doctor is getting married in December. And... no, she isn't pregnant! ;) Im sad that I cant go for the wedding but plane tickets are really expensive around the holidays. My other friend, apparently thought I was Canadian. Yeah, we're close. Can you tell?!?! Actually, its because I often say that Im from Minneapolis. And people give me blank stares... so, then I usually say well.... I live in the north central part of the US... near Canada. This is where people start to believe that I am actually from Canada. This is not the first time it has happened. In Argentina at the beginning many thought I was Canadian. It's hard when people outside of the country only know a few cities, such as New York, Miami and Los Angeles. But hey, can you name more than 3 cities in most countries you have never visited? I do not think I can. I am going to try to call another one of the drs but he is apparently working in the middle of a rural oasis with no electricity or phone reception... so, I doubt the call will go thru.

Besides, that nothing new. I am avoiding homework as usual. I am about to go to the gym. I already have one injury. You see... my entire life I have had issues with shoes, sandals, basically anything I must put my foot into. So, my left heel decided it didn't like my shoe... and now I have a large gapping wound on my foot. Lovely. I don't know what my foot's issues are but it's annoying. How can a pair of tennis shoes make you bleed? I think I just have over sensitive feet.

It's only a three day week!! If that... no morning Spanish this week. Though I get to go to the ghetto instead to observe for grad school. Yippee.

That's it for now.



mando paz y amor a todos

Gracias a Dios llego Viernes...

Hmmm.... nothing much new. Nada nuevo.

Hoy tuve que llevar mi mama, tia y abuela al aeropuerto. A las 6 de la manana! Ellas van a Las Vegas para el fin de semana. Mi tio va tambien... pero mas tarde hoy va juntar con ellas en Las Vegas. Mi tia cumple 50 anos... van para celebrar... creo.

Hoy empiezo ir al gimnasio... :( La verdad es que me gusta... pero no tengo mucho ganas ir en este momento.

Que mas... hay una possibilidad que puedo hacer mi 'student teaching'... bueno 10 de las 16 semanas este verano en otro pais... tengo que fijar donde me mandaron... que cuanto cuesta. PERO si hago eso no puedo ir al pais dond estuve pensando pasar mi verano.

Ultimamente, he tenido problemas en el colegio donde trabajo con los chicos con autismo. Es un trabajo dificil... y una de las professoras priciapales q trabajan ellos es horrible. Y por eso los chicos piesan que puedan ser asi conmigo... no tener reglas... no es asi. Tiene q llevar un lapiz a clase... no me importa si van a llorar. Son basante intellegentes y gustan dejar la impression con son muy incapaz... para que no tengan q hacer NADA. Y la profe y tambien los chicos piesan quizas q yo estoy en octavo ano... y ellos no. Quieran yo hago su tarea, toman las notas, trabajos escritos tooooodo. Y me molesta que ya hice este ano en el colgeio ;) y ellos completamente pueden hacer lo necesario. Tengo un problema GRANDE con eso... y no puedo aguantar la profe ni los estudiantes que son asi. Pero el otro dia hable con unas colegas queridas... y ellas hablaron con la profe que no me guste... Y cosas estan cambiando rapido.

Que mas.. NADA. He pasado una semana y media enferma... primero el gripe despues estuve muy muy refriada... por fin casi estoy bien otra vez.

Bueno.... ADIOS.

paz y amor.

I Need a New Laptop...

Any Suggestions??

Can't spend more than $1500.

Give me some ideas. Presently looking at Dell. I really only use MS Word, Excel, Power Point and need a lot of pic and music storage... that's about it. I'm not very complicated... i guess.

Ok... tell me what you think... or hate... or love when it come to laptops.

Gracias!

One Word: Confused

Blah!

Nothing new... just my yucky sickness continuing.
I was dizzy. Very very dizzy all day.
I got a head rush just sitting still.
It was like sitting on a non-stop roller coaster.

Tomorrow is pay day for one of my jobs. I might quit a different job. I am thinking. And trying to consider the +/- though at the moment every seems like a plus... like getting my sanity back... but hey who needs that, right?

Ok.... I'm going to go to bed. Yes.... at 8pm.... this is now three day in a row. Pathetic. I know.

Chaucito!

I'm Sick! :(

I have a bad cold.
My throat hurts.
Cough. Cough. Cough.
My head hurts from coughing so much.
My eyes are blood shot.
My body aches.
I'm weak and shakey.
I'm tired.
My voice hurts.
I'm sad.


Leave me some lovein'


Besos a todos.

La artista loca y su perro....

Soy una artista (ja ja ja)... aqui son unas de mis piezas q estoy haciendo en este momento...

3 estrellas... las vean?

rojo y negro... voy a poner un espejo en el medio.... para mirar mi bella cara..

tapas... tome mucha alcohol para tener tantas tapitas... y no soy alcoholica... y bueno, no lo creo...

Y eso es Ranger... mi maldito perro... encontre el en mi cama...

El no queria bajar... el enojo... pobre estupido perro...

ok.. nada mas.

Paz!

Blanca Nievas, no mas! Y unas fotos.

Llegue a mi punta mas blanca del invierno... hoy empece tomar sol artificial en una cama solar
Nada mas esta pasando. Me duele la gargantua. Este fin de estoy preparando para mis clases de espanol y estudiando... aburrido!

Abajo baje unas fotas de la semana...

blana nievas... soy!! PERO NO MAS... voy a ser bien bronceada en una semanas....

sol mierocoles... despues q las democratas ganaron las elecciones en EE.UU....

Caribou Coffee tiene sus tazas descartables nuevas que dice 'Paz en la Tierra'... me gusta....

Viernes... por la manana... habia nieve en mi auto/carro.... :(

Sol por la tarde... que raro en noviembre

El centro de negocios de la ciudad de Minneapolis...

mis nuevos talcos llegaron... 3.75 pulgadas de belleza!! Ahora tengo q buscarme un jugador de basquet!!

Mi ensalda... pase mucho tiempo preparando la... y en el fin no lei la botella de salsa... y no pude comerla...

Quise poner mas fotos... pero el sitio no me deja!! :(

BESOS a TODOS!!!

Hoy es Martes... Martes, Martes, Martes

5:15am... must vote.... today...

6am... cafe

me.... wearing my 'education is a right' not just for the rich and white shirt

9:07am.... scenic route to the middle school... driving around Lk. Minnetonka... its kind of foggy...

Stupid Republicans.... miles of illegal sign placement pissed me off

10:15am... voting....

VOTE. VOTE. VOTE.

Vote for change today.
Your vote is your voice.

We fought for this right.... for a say in our country's policy... now use that right to force change.

Su voto es su voz.

Hoy es lunes... lunes lunes lunes

Lunes. Monday.

6am....chocolate caliente....

6:30am....Pissed... the internet didn't work this morning.

7am.... Calm down Srta. Gerber... just drink another 30 oz. of cafe.....

7:24am....shit.... im late.... but first i must find earrings.....


earrings.... oh so many choices.... i forgot the backs to them and they almost fell off in my first Spanish class of the day....


9:15am.... after hanging out with 15 6yr olds... I needed more cafe.....


5pm.....avoiding homework....

7pm.... ready to work.... diet coke, water and my 4th HUGE cup of coffee for the day........ ;)

Avoiding HW

Posting here in attempts to avoid a linguistics assignment and... oh, yes... Several assignment for my 5-12 literacy class.

Nothing too exciting or new today... um... i was annoyed with one of my jobs as usual... but that is my fault to continue the position though I am quickly being drove insane.

Alright... back to the libros...

Chau... besostes a todos.

Choices

We all have to constantly make big and small choices. Some are obvious, like to brush your teeth or hair. Other choices we must make are much more difficult or seemingly impossible. Some choices we make are based on our morals and world views. Others are based on our feelings at the moment, be it lazy or energetic. Choices are something that we will always have and something that may not seem big at the moment... will in the future.

Choices to hold on. To let go. Choices to keep going. Or not go at all. Choices to see the truth... or walk blindly in ignorance or bliss. Choices to see things how they are. Or ignore it. Choices to travel. To stay grounded. To continue your education. To broaden your horizons. To meet new people. Or choices to stay the same.

It is okay to choose to be confused?

Choices is what we face day in, day out for our entire lives.




Love is knowing someone cares about you even though you are both not in direct contact at the moment.

Latinos vs. Gringos

Ok... estoy hablando de hombres. Nunca he gustado gringos. Hay algo que ellos faltan que tiene la mayoría de latinos. Bueno, anoche... salí con mi amiga a un clase de bailes Caribe... pasamos la hora aprendiendo bailar merengue, que ya sabíamos bailar. Entonces... te digo que primer los hombres que estaban allí fueron tan asqueroso que casi no lo podía aguantar. Uno tenia un oler fuerte de frijoles y el otro un oler horrible... peor que mi perro. Mi clase de baile confirmo que los gringo son horribles... porq?
Falta confianza. Falta personalidades. No saben ser un líder. No saben bailar para nada. No saben tratar un mujer. Son insoportables.

Horrible pase mi experiencia... ahhhhh... donde esta un hombre latino cuando necesito uno!! ;)

VOTE BK ON NOV. 7TH!!!

My past political efforts may pay off... two years later....

Two short years ago at this time, I was working for a man who was running for U.S. congress. Bryan Kennedy. Though we worked efortlessly to get him elected. Unfortunatly it was not his time... it was really no democrats time in the 2004 election cycle. Jim Sensenbrenner was who we was running against. An entrenched Washington Congressman... who did nothing to benefit WI's 5th district.

I was Bryan's Deputy Campaign Manager and before that the Volunteer Coordinator during the 2004 election cycle. I also know Bryan on a personal level... he was my favorite professor while pursuing my undergrad at UW-Milwaukee.... I think I had him every semester.

Anyway... unfortunatly I cannot be in the Milwaukee area this year. I may try to make it down to Milwaukee this weekend... if I can find somewhere to sleep. I want to help. If I cannot make it I will donate some money... I dont have much but the little I can give may help inform a few more voters.

So... why I am so excited about BK... he was endorsed by the Journal Sentinel... this is the first time in 24 (or is it 26) years that they have not endoresed Sensenbrenner. I agree that now is time for a change.

If you can donate money, live in WI's 5th and vote the 7th... know that BK is the right man for the job.

And for Bryan... Te mando Beijos y Muito Sorte Profe. Voce esta em meus pensamentos. Voce vai a ganar. =)

A Case of the Mondays....

It's Monday. Yuck! I need coffee. I have a full week with all of my classes this week. No holidays, conferences, nada this week.

I start a new class tomorrow night.... 5-12 Literacy.

Wednesday... I start a Caribbean dance class with LENA!! We will get to do Bachata, Merengue, Rumba and something else... I forget.

That's about all that's going on. Besides that I talked to a lot of my hispanohablante friends on MSN last night.

Ok... Paz.

Weekend in Review

Some fotos of my weekend... nothing too exciting

Driving into Downtown from NE Mpls. Yes, I was taking pictures while driving.

Minneapolis... la ciudad

Aguante Argentina! Laura and I and the Orono International Fair Friday evening.

One of the Mexican boys I talked to that evening... he wanted a picture of him wearing the sombrero... his older brother was sooo cute and told me... 'Estoy en Kinder y I speak en ingles todo el dia'. Que presioso.

Being confused... also apparently I look like I'm on crack... according to an unnamed friend.

Mad! I'm toooooo white now. I lost my tan. I am trying to hold out to go to the tanning beds... but I doubt I will make it much longer.

Dinner. I can cook. My colorful dinner or chicken, homemade red spicy sauce and aguacate.

New Heels. Top View. =)

New Talcos. Side View. I love new shoes.

That's my weekend... or at least some of it. Now I am cleaning ang studying. NOT FUN!!

Chau. Besos a toods.

Day & Night, Night & Day

Today is going to be interesting... I will spend the entire day at my urban school placement in Minneapolis. It in NE, an area which has gangs, extreme poverty, and a lot diversty generally associated with it.
And then I head out to the suburbs... not just first or second ring... we are talking third or fourth. My Argentine friend and I, have a booth at the International Fair in a suburban school where we teach Spanish. It should be interesting.

I will let y'all know how it goes... maybe share fotos.

Chau! & TGIF!

Falta 3 Meses Hasta Q Llegue en RD!!!

3 meses
92 dias
sol
mar
descanso
amigos
musica
comida
baile
paz

Counting the Mins. Until 9pm...

I slept for 3 hrs. It's my fault. I take procrastination to an extreme. I always have. My linguistics exam is due today... I had two weeks to do it. Last night at 8:30pm... I finally decided to sit down and do. I was majorly avoiding... most likely out of fear that I did not know what was going on. I finished it at 12:30am. Went to bed at 1:30... well, kind of. Its kind of hard to sleep after drinking a pot of really dark Dominican coffee.

I am up again. Already showered... trying to pull stuff together for tonight. Secondary Methods class. It is taking up so much time. Too much time. But I am half way done. So... Im working on that until 7:15am... when I go teach my first ronda of Spanish of the day.

At 9pm... more like 9:30 when I get home... I get to relax and not work until Monday. Tomorrow... I get to spend the entire school day in the 'worst' school in the state. The most urban, colorful, troubled. Most cringe and tell me I shout buy a bullet proof vest. There is a bad name that goes with this school. Most are scared of the place... I actually like it. I am not scared and I really don't get the off hand comments of why I will be possibly 'never' be speaking with people again because I am spending time observing in this school. Yeah... people goes as far to tell me I will be dying in this school. Whatev. I just try to take away my own experience. Others negative thoughts should not influence me.

My goal of the day... not drink soooo much coffee that I make weird sound effects and talk to myself constantly. Yes, I am now officially insane from the amount of caffeine I am drinking.

Algo bueno en la oscuridad...

Reflections... Good things in the last week have happened....

'Obsidian'... Caribou's new dark blend

50 degree day... in late October

Sun... there was sun today... it hurt my eyes but I didn't care

My Spanish classes going well... only a little blood and some tears (for real... 1st graders are dramatic & andan como locos)

Beisbol... the tight pants the latino hotties wear

Barack Obama's beautiful face

So many middle school kids saying 'Hi' when I'm too distracted to say 'hi' first

Quitting one job... and feeling a big weight come off my back

Loud music en espanol

Cute latino boy a the uni... asking me if i 'want to race' up the stairs... random

Hope I see in my grad school 'urban' school placement... yay for only colorful faces

For GWB being un pendejo y mentiroso en la tele... falta 14 dias hasta los ciudadanos votan

Mosicas mirrors that I am making

For the International Fair this Friday... Nuestra mesa sobre ARGENTINA va a ser buenisimo

Stong Democratic campaigns and candidates

Visit to the International Market on Lake/Chicago in Mpls with a pal

For one of my students not understanding what it meant to bring his dirty gym uniform home to his mom and actually going and physically putting it on to 'wear' it home to his mom. Too funny.

For my K-1 espanol class getting a major kick out of labeling themselves as 'yo' in the pictures they were drawing of their families.

For Anthony... the hot man that works at the Target I frequent

For getting paid in a few short days!! yippee.


OKKKAY.... I need to do my linguistics midterm... its due... TOMORROW. I've been avoiding it.

Chaucito srs y srtas... besotes enormes a todos

Demasiado Café y Poco Tiempo

Café. Café es como sobrevivo en este momento de la vida. Pro que? Tengo demasiado para hacer. Por que? Es mi culpa. Pensé que podía hacer todo. Pensé que podía ahorrar dinero mas rápido. Aunque estoy correcto... y tuve intenciones buenas... ahora tengo demasiadas cosas hacer. Trabajos, reuniones, clases, estudios... no paro. Quiero tener tiempo a hacer nada. Completamente nada. No tengo tiempo respirar, ni pensar. Y como que es parte de mi vida... Siempre dejo todo hasta la ultima.... y suma mas estres. Máximo tengo ocho semanas mas de la locura. El 14 de diciembre todo termina. Tengo desde esta fecha hasta el 5 de febrero descansar. Casi dos meses sin estudiar. Estoy contando los días... hasta que llego al sol.... son 94 días!

Bueno... casi son las ocho. Tengo q estudiar... y hacer mas café. Cafeína es mi droga.

Chau. Besos. Y saludos a tudos!! ;) Y están en mis pensamientos... aunque estoy tan ocupada... no dejo de pensar en mios amigos hispanohablantes... NUNCA!!

Stuck? Lost? Or Some Where in Between?

Things seem weird lately. I'm mentally lost.... perdida. Things seem rougher than normal. I think I have too much on my plate. I dont like being over whelmed. I tend to shut down. I have too much on my plate now or maybe too much of some things and not enough of others.
My problem lies in my double life. America me. Foreign me.

The America me has issues... She has long standing issues with trying to understand her environment and the people around her. In white-wealthy-mostly-suburban America. Too much insensitivity. Over consumption. Ignorance. Money. Whiteness. Purposeful blindness. It disgusts her on a daily basis. She tries to justify things she hears. People she deals with. But she sees things going wrong for so many others... when for them it is going right. She hears statements that make her cringe. And now the problem with being busy and having too much on her plate is she cannot even talk and speak to the people (and kids) that she needs to talk to. She can't. She always get too involved. It is either all or nothing. Another issue. Trying to justifying the work. The sadness. Just a few more months. The money. That's how she is currently justifying what she is doing. Can she take it much longer without loosing it?

Foreign me. She is sad. Reminiscent of better times. And times to come. Of possibly a lost dream.... but not forgotten. Of someone she cannot get out of her head. She sits dreaming of foreign lands. People that lead simpler, yet fuller lives. She wishes and wonders when her time will come. When she can go back. Be simple again. She constantly compares... which is better, worse, different. She is willing to justify almost anything or anyone from her patrias adoptivas. She tries to make America me and Foreign me work together. Make things better. Spice things up now... but she cant get her head out of the clouds can't stop thinking about Mr. 'A' She is lost in the past and in the future.... she does not live in the present when she is in America.


Perdida. Completamente perdida... trato andar con esperanza.

Don't get on my bad side... or you will be sorry!

I took the ACTFL oral Spanish exam/interview today. For my graduate program I needed to get a minimum of 'advanced low' in Spanish... upon completing the exam... which took about 45 mins.... the woman that was administoring it, said the following: 'I usually do not tell anyone what there score is after the exam, but you easily passed the neccessary level for you university'!! YAY! That made me feel good, as I have been in a slight email fight with some A** HOLES from my graduate program this week... but as anyone who knows me or who has pissed me off... or even slightly ticked me off or a friend before.... I AM A FIGHTER! I don't take shit from NO ONE. So, I don't think they were ready for me... and they tried to back me into a corner and make me take several exams in the next weeks... to cover up for an error they made. BUT it is back firing as I keep emails, papers, document things, and am basically the shiznit... so, yeah. Obviously they are going to crash a burn... not me.

I'm feelin' good... ready to pass a work free, homework filled weekend. Also, my mission is to find and buy plastic fruit. Don't ask.... well, its for my 1st graders in Spanish... talk about divertido times. ;)

Chaucito. Besotes y Saludos a todos!!

Grad School Fun... NOT!

I am working tirelessly... ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration... on an immigration unit that I would use in a 'imaginary' upper level H.S. Spanish class in the future. For some reason I decided to write everything in Spanish... well, because I think that is the proper way to approach things... but a lot more work than I anticipated. The other two people that are getting licenses in languages (one in Spanish, the other in French) are doing every thing in English. Im not sure why but whatever.
We are doing 'backwards planning'... which according to my professor is 'cutting edge'... and it is kicking my butt... most likely because I have never written an entire unit before... and I think I am trying to include too much. It is supposed to be 20 classes long.

Besides that... I need to start working on my online linguistics for language teachers class and I have to do my midterm sometime in the next week... fun time.

At least the slightly good thing is it is a long weekend... no school Thursday or Friday becuase of State Education conferences... so, I will have more than enough time to work on everything during the next week.

Living in the Present

This has been a problem my entire life. I am not one to dwell in the past or even live in the present... my mind is always in the future mind set. This has proven to be both good and bad for me. It has been good as I have goals and always am trying to work towards something. The bad part is I spend too much time thinking about the future. Planning for the future. It can be truthfully said that I really have no idea how to live in the present... even when I try. I do not know what this says about me but I think it is telling.

Ok... back to my deep dark depths of my my head.. PAZ!

El Frio me Esta Matando...

Hace frio... no... menti... hace MUCHO frio. Ayer nevo... hoy va a nevar. La temperatura es 25 grados (4 bajo cero C).... que es la fecha?? 12 de octubre... no es el 12 de diciembre ni enero o febrero. No lo puedo agunatar. Tengo tanto frio... manana cuando recibe mis cheques... tengo que ir a comprar sueters o algo q va a protejar mi piel.

NO puedo creer este tiempo... estoy en infierno.... un frio infierno q se llama Minnesota.

:(

Oh, HELL NO!!

If I wake up tomorrow morning and there is snow on the ground I am going to freak out. Seriously. I hate snow. I hate winter. I hate cold. And the weather forcasters are saying that within 12 hours the snow will arrive. It can't be. It is way to early in the season... not even mid-October yet.
This morning there was frost on my car windows... yuck... and if tomorrow at 7am, when I head out to my car there is snow this mujer is not going to be happy.

Saludos desde el frio norte a todos... ojala el nieve no llega manana. OJALA!

My Semi-Long Weekend

Friday night I went out to ACME Comedy club for Lena's 26th birthday. It was a funny show.

Saturday and Sunday I worked at my lovely retail job. The good news is I finally finished training!! YAY! No more cassettes on tape... that's enough to make me jump up and down and do a the happy dance.

What else? Think. Think. Think.

Today, Monday is Cristobal Colon Day.... so, two of my four jobs are canceled. This morning I taught Spanish from 8-9am and then tonight, I get to go work retail. I like the retail job... I am about 95% sure that I am buying a down comforter that is worth more than $180 for only $10 tonight... which is awesome.

Alright... so, off to the bank and then to Linen & Things... ADIOS!

Paz in the Middle (and Far) East.

I'm Bad.

Last night... I skipped my grad school class. I was not prepared and just too tired to handle going. I laid down at 7pm... I was just going to watch a half hour show... Betti la Fea... en ingles.... but I fell asleep by 7:20pm and slept until this morning at 7:45am.... yeah. I slept more than 12 hours. That's how tired I was.

Today is Friday... which means I get to work.... only a few hours at the middle school. NO teaching espanol today... and tonight going to ACME Comedy club with Lena's crew to celebrate her 26th birthday. Saturday and Sunday, I work retail.

The good news... I will pretty relaxed Fri. thru. Mon. YAY!!

I hope that everyone has a great weekend!!

Chau! Paz. Y Saludos a todos.

So So Tired

I'm tried. Really really tired. Got 5 hours of sleep, now I am attempting (key word) to study and get some stuff done this morning before work. I have class tonight. I am not prepared. I might come down with something... ;) Ok.... here I go.... attempting to work and get thru the next 16 hours and then it is my semi-less-stressed weekend.

Tomorrow night, Im going out to celebrate Lena's birthday. Dinner (i think) and a going to a comedy club.

Chaucito!

Wash, Rinse and Repeat

I do not wish to live life in a wash, rinse and repeat fashion. That is not what I like.... but it seems I have found myself in a short time deep in this cycle. So many people live this way... I cannot... I really do not want to like a mudane, repetitive life.... it drives me insane... and quite frankly I do not care if I earn more money this way.

So... let me begin another day... wash, rinse, repeat....

The Long Days to Come...

So, today I worked all four of my jobs. Yes, I have four jobs... and yes, I worked at all of them today. I left home a bit before 7am and just got home at 10pm. I'm really tired and about to pass out.

I wouldn't be so peeved if I would not have had to listen to cassette tapes about the store, bedding area, and now towels (i'm mid-tape) for 4+ hours. Apparently, someone had a brillant idea that they should train new ratail employees by making them watch 3+ hours of video and then listening to 10+ hours on tape. Yes, folks... I'm not even half way done. And to make it even worse you have to take tests on the tapes after... just to make sure you know the difference between stupid stuff like specially made sheets, bed sets, etc.

I have at least four more months of this madness.... Ahhhhhhhh!

Serenity now... serenity now.... serenity now...