27 Reflection

My life is advancing, my mind is not. Not only am I turning 27 on Monday, but I will also fall under the category of "late 20's". What have I done for the past 27 years? What have I made of my life so far? What impact have I had on the great big, yet small, world?
I shudder at the thought of how many hours I have spent inside watching TV, vegging out instead of venturing out. There are so many books that I want to read, yet so many movies that I've yet to see. Oh, and the countless video games that I don't play anymore, which I never passed either. What has become of me? Our lives just aren't what they were when we were young. My favorite pasttimes include, but are not limited to:

• Nintendo
• tag
• freeze tag
• kickball
• catch
• riding bikes
• Hide and Go Seek

My friends and I had so much fun. We played house, school, store, put on made-up plays, invented dance routines, lemonade stands, foot races...our imaginations were so well-developed. We were hardly ever bored.

I'm pretty much as carefree, but cautious and discerning, as I've always been. I attribute that to my faith and upbringing. I attended a private elementary school, and then continued on to a private high school. I mocked, scoffed, and complained about it, but now, I appreciate and love it. My high school years were some of my favorite years. Some of the most influential people in my life were met while I was in high school. My best friend remains the same, and I have some great friends who are simply irreplaceable. Here are some things that stuck:

• Proverbs 22:1 "A good name is to be chosen above great riches."
• Remember who you are and what you stand for.
• Always be honest, and don't compromise your beliefs.
  
• Jesus is the reason for the season.
• If you're messing up and someone is being hard on you, it's because they care.
• Forgiveness is not just saying "I'm sorry". It means not dredging up the past during the present.
• Sex is for marriage.
  
• Be yourself. If you're quirky, funny, quiet, odd, just go with it.
• Be the best you can be.
  
• Take a stand and make a difference. You do have a voice.
  
• Those are years that you will never forget.

I went to college because I thought that's just what you do after high school. I didn't know what I wanted to be, or what I wanted to do. I graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor's in Spanish, and minor in Religious Studies. Are you going to be a teacher? No. Are you going to be an interpreter? No. What are you going to do with your spanish? I don't know.

I still don't know. I use it, but not enough to say that I'm utilizing my degree to earn a salary. I learned in church that it's very important to focus. My brain is scattered, my thoughts disorganized. I don't make sense all the time. My mind races without taking a break to stop, and reconnect with my tongue. They don't work together. I say things that I thought about 4 steps ago within my thought process, so they end up only making sense to me. I visualize images when I'm listening to someone, and burst out with some random laughter. I've created something completely off topic in my brain, it has become some nonsensical thought of whimsy.

After college, I got married. I happened to meet my future husband while I was in college. He had already graduated from SDSU, and there was no question whether or not I was going to finish. We were "just friends" while I was going to school, and didn't become "an item" as my parents would say, until years later. I had plans. I was going to be being a business woman, in charge, running things. In a way, I run things around here. I am currently an Office Manager, and of course I run our household [cooperatively, of course]. But I have dreams of being something bigger, of accomplishing so much more. And this is the year that my dreams will start to materialize. Here are some things I learned since college until now:

• Question your beliefs. It will strengthen them.
• Challenge yourself, and others.
  
• Learn to self-motivate. This isn't high school anymore, and nobody's going to push you like they did back then.
• Converse with God, and put all trust in Him.
• Accept people...as sinners, but accept them nonetheless.
  
• Find a balance, and learn to wind down; with meditation, a hobby, in nature...
• Try things that you've always wanted to. Don't be embarrassed!
• Accept yourself, at any age, shape, or form.
• If you want it, do it. Make it happen.
• Don't frown, it makes [more] wrinkles.
• Work out your problems. Good friends are too few and far between.
• Believe that everything will work out for the best.
  
• Go OUT on your 21st birthday.
• Make a big deal out of special days.
• Love others, the Golden Rule way.
  
• Try new clothing styles and makeup, if that applies.
• Money comes and goes. Don't spend it all, but don't "Scrooge" it either.
• Share. Laugh. Smile.
  
• Go to the movies by yourself at least once in your life...by choice.
  
• Realize the power of an awesome kiss. It sets the mood.
• Read and buy books. Have a library in your house/loft/apartment/room.

Life is important, and valuable. Make the most of every moment. Live consciously. We are all here for a purpose, and to do great things.

animoto

this site is awesome.

These are a few of my favorite things

Let's begin by wishing all teachers a happy Teacher Appreciation Day. It couldn't have been better for my teacher, my husband Memo, yesterday when he received news that he had passed the RICA. For all teachers out there, you know how important the RICA exam is in the world of a teacher. It means that he can now get his credentials. I am so proud of him for working hard and staying focused. A cool part about finding out the results yesterday, was that it was also Cinco de mayo, which means we'll have another special reason to celebrate Cinco de mayo every year from now on.

So yesterday, I got home and we went for a bike ride through downtown to Seaport Village, down the Embarcadero a little way, and back through Seaport Village to home. Whew, I was kind of tired. We rode for about an hour. It was about 7pm, and we put our bikes away, grabbed sweatshirts and I got my purse, shoved some leftover Costco pizza in it [which was wrapped in foil], and headed out on foot toward Horton Plaza to go see "Iron Man". It started at 7:30. Perfect, another opportunity to use a coupon out of our Entertainment book. I didn't think it would be a big savings, but it was. Instead of $9.50 for a student ticket, each ticket came out to be $7.50! I love a savings. We got a large Coke Zero, some sour patch kids and muddy bears [for $1 each], and went to find a seat.

I really enjoyed the movie. I didn't think I was going to, but I loved Iron Man's suit, and I enjoyed watching Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow. RDJr. was hilarious in the movie. I wouldn't call his character cocky, but more like, in the limelight and reveling in it. Watch it, and you'll understand what I mean. He looks super thin. I hope he's not hittin' the pipe. It was Memo's pick to see it, which was cool because it was his celebration day! I want to see "Smart People", so that'll be next time. We love going to the movies, and enjoy watching the big screen while snacking on a tasty treat, or a full course meal. We were at a Regal Cinemas, but we especially love AMC theaters because they will not harrass you for bringing in your own food; take-out or from home. It's the best when you can sit and eat some Panda Express or Sarku Japan while watching a movie that you've been dying to see.

After the movie, it was about 10pm, and we still had to go home to watch Gossip Girl, and One Tree Hill, which we had DVRd. It was another late night at the Gomez loft, but well worth it. Gossip Girl was a scandal, which is to be expected considering the name of the show. One Tree Hill was good, about the same as every week.

Oh shoot, it was like 12:30am, and way past my bedtime. Ughh, I'm going to be so tired at work tomorrow. Quick, brush my teeth, floss, and hit the sack. Ughh, again. I forgot to turn the light off. Click. Night night.

Super Sunday

Wow, what a weekend! Because the title of this post is, "Super Sunday", one would assume that its content would have something to do with the specified day of the week to which the title refers. Guess what? It does. In history and America's holidays, there are some BIG Sundays that we celebrate and honor. You should know that yesterday was a BIG Sunday for my husband and I. In order to spend more time together, get more physical activity, and enjoy the outdoors a little more, we headed west toward the beach to a little bike shop on the corner of Mission & Felspar, called Bicycle Discovery. I had done a little research before actually choosing my bike, but, let's face it; the moment I test-rode my Electra Townie Art 21 on Saturday, I knew I had to look no further. I was sold. However, to appease the masses, I went home and Googled the bike, did some comparative shopping, checked prices, specs, features, and all that good stuff. Remember, I was already sold. I thought about it all day Saturday, walking around spurting, "I want to ride my bike, I want to ride my bike".
Sunday began a fun day, early in the morning when I woke up around 9. Said "Hi" to Jesus, but then couldn't leave out the Father or the Holy Ghost, so then spent the next 2 minutes greeting the Trinity, and every other possible combination of the 3-in-1 God. Whew, after I was done, and feeling good, my dad called me up on my iPhone wanting to know if we wanted to go to Barona [a buffet frequently visited by the Peterson's and Gomez's]. We most definitely wanted to go, so we hiked up our britches and ventured out.
We arrived at Barona while my parents were already eating. No offense taken since I had instructed them to go ahead. We all ate, fellowshipped, shared stories, and congratulated my dad on his new purchase. He upgraded from a Honda Goldwing [older, year unknown], to a 2002 shiny, shimmery black and red Harley Davidson. The man bought himself a hog! Now, I'm not sure if my padres are going to pimp themselves out in orange and black licensed apparel. But whether they do or not, my mom says that, "He works hard. He deserves it". And now my mom can be the biker biotch that she's always wanted to be!
When they drove off into the sunset, or into the mid-afternoon horizon, Memo and I hopped into our hooptie, a.k.a. the "Green Toaster", and headed off to the bike shop. We arrived, with our burning wallets and determined minds. I was the only one who was going to get a bike, but had bookmarked some good looking ones that might suit Memo. When it was all said and done, my bike was suped up with an Electra bell, "I ♥my Townie", a black rack, a headlamp, and taillight. Memo scored an upgraded brown leather seat and Ergo grips at no extra charge!! We were stylin'. We rode out; me on my Townie, and Memo on his!! We enjoyed the afternoon riding up and down along PB, and then later around downtown; the place we call, "home". It was a most definitely Super Sunday, and I can't wait to ride today.

My new friend

I met him outside of my office. It was God's way of saying "hello",
and " hang in there. The day's almost over".

The trees are green...

...and the wind is a-blowin'. The whistle of the wind sings like a songbird, calling to me as I sit inside this corporate office, staring, gazing out the window thinking about what my life could be like; what my life should be like. All of my dreams, all of my desires are on hold, not for fault of anyone else besides myself. I choose to stay in the same place for fear of failing, for fear of succeeding, for fear of the unknown. The future is intimidating, the past is memorable, the present is comfortable. The steps we take to making our mark on this world start with more than the first step. We begin by putting our shoes on, one foot at a time. If we try to walk barefoot, we'll end up stopping long before we reach our goal. But if life is about the journey and not the destination, what does it matter how we start walking, just as long as we begin? I think most of the life lessons that I have learned have been lessons of what not to do, but not so many about what to do. That might just be my perception. It's a bit of a negative one. Looks like my glass if half empty, or maybe I've hit the bottom. Would someone please fill 'er up? I'm dry and thirsty.

Nobody knows that I secretly sit barefoot at my desk, when the rules strictly state that I must wear closed-toe shoes. Nobody knows that my best thinking is done at night, alone, when my body is past the point of exhaustion, but I've hit the energy high, much like the one you get when exercising. My mind races most and sensical nonsense is produced. Nobody knows that I love Post Secret because I relate to so many, and nobody knows that when I drink coffee I picture myself in a French sidewalk café, sipping java and smoking a cigarette. Nobody knows that. Nobody knows that I envisioned myself having 5 kids fathered from 5 different men, while travelling the world. Nobody knows that I only shave my legs once a week. Nobody knows which of these are fact or fiction, but that they make for a fun read. Truth is, nobody knows what the truth is.

...at this time of night...

I'm helping my husband with his final paper for a Master's class, drinking coffee, and listening to Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I'd never heard the song before I played RockBand for 360. Memo on drums, and me on the Bass.

I'm reading posts by friends, recent and older, and my perception of life and lessons learned are changing, perhaps mutating. I was the good girl, regardless of what my friends' parents thought and said about me. I was, and am. My "goody two shoes" friends are more risqué [how do you add those freakin' accents on a mac laptop?!?] and my wild friends are "settling down". I believe that I remain a constant, which would make me a great stabilizer friend in someone's life. I try my best to do what's right. My biggest character "flaws", if you will, are sarcasm and "opinionation" [You like that? That's my word, because I just wrote it]. Those get me in trouble the most with friends.

I miss my friends, old and new, but they've changed and our relationships wouldn't compare to what they were. The moment is gone, the clock has run out, the last free throw has been shot, the last dig dug, the last run ran. I wish you all well, and I'll always wonder what happened to "us". For those that left without explanations, I'll forever remain confused. It's just how it will be for me. Human nature and tendencies cause us to wonder "what we did wrong". Maturity and growth help us understand that "it's not us, it's them", and life is a cliché. [P.S. to my friend who knows what "do you want to F.K.?" means, none of this is about you! We are friends.]...[and now, the song of choice is "In My Life" by the Beatles]

Perhaps I've added mixer to my coffee. [y los que me conocen saben que no es cierto].

:)

[Con]Temporary Vegetary

Yesterday I was a vegetarian. Since this word is defined as a diet which excludes all meat, poultry, and fish and is based on plant foods, I can honestly say that for a day, I was a vegetarian. "Most vegetarians include dairy products and eggs in their diet; this type of diet is sometimes described as lacto-ovo-vegetarian". I woke up being a veghead. I wasn't going to eat any meat.

Vegan? Are you serious? I'm just trying it out. Let's take it one step at a time. No milk, moreover, no cheese??? Hell-O?!? Nachos, quesadillas...a word which has "queso" pretty much planted in it. Grilled Cheese? No eggs? Needless to say, I didn't go vegan. But I did switch my reasons for going veg all day long: I don't want to kill animals...I'm doing it for health reasons...meat has a face, I don't want unnecessary cholesterol. I ended up drinking a lot of milk [about 3 cups], had pudding, yogurt, low fat ice cream sandwiches, vegetable chow mein, vegetable teriyaki bowl, etc. and it was really good. But who says carrots don't have faces? LoL.

I went to bed a vegetarian, but wasn't sure how I would wake up.

Today, woke up, I'm not a vegetarian. Wow. Most likely I will make food choices which exclude meat, I just usually do, but it doesn't mean I'll never eat meat again. I tend to reach for the breadbasket, pick the fries, twirl the pasta. I'm a carbwhore, proud of it, and will push my carbwhore addiction on you. I'm a carbpusher. I bat for the carb team. I shop the carb aisle. I believe in "Carbs or Bust". j/k. Carbs don't have a face, and that makes me smile. If I do decide to go veg one day, for longer than a day, rest assured that I won't try to convince you of becoming one. That choice has to be a personal one.
Thanks, and I'm out.

blog source of definition of vegetarian