Brandon's Puppy

What better way to get back into the swing of things after a non-existent tropical storm named Ernesto than with a tag, from none other than Tink!

1. A Book that changed my life:
Pregnancy for Dummies. I bought this book when I first found out I was pregnant with Brandon. It's a great reference book for weird stuff that only happens when you're pregnant. It's written, like all the Dummies books, in very simple, easy-to-understand terms. Pregnancy is confusing enough without all the medical terminology to figure out. So I've got it handy for this second run at bulging wastelines and funny ailments.

2. A Book that I've read more than once:
I'm sure there's books I've read more than once, but I can't seem to remember which ones. Blame it on one of those pregnancy ailments mentioned above.

3. A Book I'd take to a desert Island:
Sheila reminded me that I have to re-read the Anne of Green Gables series, so I think that would be a lovely companion for a trip to a deserted island.

4. A Book that made me laugh:
It's a three-way tie: "My Point...and I Do Have One" by Ellen Degeneres, "Couplehood" by Paul Reiser and "Belly Laughs" by Jenny McCarthy. They are as hilarious in writing as they are on TV.

5. A book that made me cry:
"Love and Ghost Letters" by my amiguita Chantel Acevedo. Very touching story about Josefina and her battle with love, inner demons, and family, set in Cuba between 1938 and the 1960's.

6. A book I wish had been written:
"Is It Really Possble to Stop Being a Clutter Queen?!"

7. A book that should have never been written:
textbooks!!

8. A book I'm currently reading:
None, excluding textbooks. See question 7.

9. A book I'm planning to read:
I know there's some books I want to read, but again...refer to question 1 and 2.

10. Five people I'll send these questions to:
Rachel
Chantel
Claudia
Lilli
CalTechGirl

and whoever else wants to do it. =)

Baby Update

Hello everyone, and happy Friday!! =)

I had my doctor's appointment this morning. I am 14 weeks and 1 day (the ticker up there is right on the money). I heard the baby's heartbeat with the doppler, and my ultrasound is scheduled for September 7th. Hopefully baby will cooperate and in less than three weeks we'll all know if I have to convert the playroom to a girlie room, or if Brandon will have a roommate. During my next visit, on the 15th, we'll review the ultrasound report, and do the quadruple screen. I've gained 1 pound in the last month, and all is running smoothly.

Gotta get to work now, but I'll be back later...

Saturday

Don't have plans for the Saturday night? Live in the South Florida area? GREAT!!
Go see Rhett y Los Borrachos Empeñados at Jazid on South Beach. Show starts at 11 PM. Me, my growing belly, the hubby, and a few friends will be there.
There's no cover, and you've heard me rave about RYLBE!
go to www.jazid.net for more info. Hope to see you there!!

Back in the day...

I saw this over at CalTechGirl's, which I was going to blog about, but she beat me to it! Then I remembered I got the list below not too long ago by email, and saw it today as a bulletin on MySpace. So I took that as a sign to take everyone (or at least, those that grew up in the era) for a little trip down memory lane. If you can think of any more, leave 'em in the comments.

You Know You Grew Up In The 80's or Early 90's If:

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.
2. You watched the Pound Puppies.
3. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton
4. Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy.
5. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried to start a club of your own.
6. You owned those lil' Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls.
7. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom
8. Two words: Hammer Pants
9. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock"
10. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars... and spokey-dokes or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect
11. You can sing the entire theme song to "Duck Tales" (Woo ooh!)
12. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
13. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
14. You saw the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the big screen..and still know the turtles names.
15. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.
16. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.
17. You played the game "MASH"(Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)
18. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.
19. L.A. Gear....need I say more?
20. You wanted to change your name to "JEM" in Kindergarten. (She's Truly Outrageous.)
21. You remember reading Tales of a fourth grade nothing and all The Ramona books.
22. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF"
23. You wanted to be a Goonie.
24. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us...head-to-toe)
25. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.
26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
27. You took lunch boxes to school... and traded Garbage Pailkids in the schoolyard.
28. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
29. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.
30. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts.
31. Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band.
32. You thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook up.
33. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
34. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.
35. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"
36. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"
37. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.
38. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.
39. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
40. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.
41. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement.
42. You remember Popples.
43. Don't worry, be happy
44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks.
45. You wore socks scrunched down (and sometimes still do..getting yelled at by younger hip members of the family)
46. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.
47. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.
48. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!!"
49. You remember watching Rainbow Bright and & My Little Pony Tales
50. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
51. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.
52. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool...and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB"
53. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell," The ORIGINAL class.
54. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
55. You just sang those words to yourself.
56. You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.
57. Homemade Levi shorts.. (the shorter the better)
58. You remember when mullets were cool!
59. You had a mullet!
60. You still sing "We are the World"
61. You tight rolled your jeans.
62. You owned a bannana clip.
63. You remember "Where's the Beef?"
64. You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"
65. You had big hair and you knew how to use it.
66. You're still singing "shot through the heart..." in your head, aren't you!

Inching my way towards graduation

I start school this evening, and I'll be taking two courses in Management this semester, the first being Advanced Organizational Behavior:

Through case analysis and other relevant exercises, theories are applied to specific situations in organizational settings.

Then, next Tuesday, I start The Organization and Operation of the Small Business:

The opportunities for the organization and operation of the small business. Organization, location, financial planning, records, unit costs, merchandising, credits, and personnel are discussed. Opportunities in various other fields are also considered.

Both sounds pretty interesting, and once this semester's over, I'll have TWO CLASSES LEFT and I can graduate!! And I just found out that I can take courses while I'm on maternity leave since it's an excused leave. The original plan was to walk in the ceremony in May, and finish up my remaining six credits over the summer, since I'd be on maternity leave during the spring semester, but now it looks like I may actually be able to walk in the graduation with all my courses completed! I am soooo excited!!

Then, Now, Later

Got this from my buddy Claudia:

20 Years ago I...
-had just spent the traditional two weeks at the Hilyard with my family
-was looking forward to the start of 5th grade in Mr. Westlake's class
-still had a crush on Tony Arnabat
-met my best friend Marilyn
-loved going to Riverboat Playhouse (the "Chuck E Cheese" from back in the day...)

10 years ago I...
-was working full time and going to MDC part time.
-wasn't sure *exactly* what I wanted to study, but was on my way there anyway.
-was hanging out with friends from my brother's Tae Kwon Do school and going rollerskating every Friday.
-was thinking about moving out on my own, but was too chicken to do so.

5 years ago I...
-was broken up with Eric.
-went to Cancun for my big sister's bachelorette party/Memorial Day weekend.
-walked my sister's wedding.
-went on a cruise with my family to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, and had a fantabulous time!
-was still living on my own in my great little apartment in Coral Gables.

3 years ago I...
-was enjoying my first summer with my little boy, and trying to get used to being back at work after maternity leave.
-had been married to Eric for a year.
-met my beautiful nephew Mikey, who was born on August 11, exactly 7 months after his cousin.
-had bittersweet feelings about going back to school in the fall, but I had finally started UM. I'd dreamed of going there since I was a little girl, and so I had to make that dream a reality.

One year ago...
-we went to NJ, for my cousin's wedding.
-we was in NY, enjoying the sights.
-we went on a trip for the first time without Brandon.
-we were living in our very first owned home.

Yesterday I...
-dropped off Brandon at pre-school.
-went to work.
-went to Wendy's for lunch.
-left work.
-drove home.
-I picked Eric and Brandon up at home and we went to Boston Market for dinner.
-then did some groceries.
-got home, took a shower, and went to bed.

Today I...
-dropped off Brandon.
-went to work.
-left work.
-picked up Brandon.
-got home.
-made dinner.
-am sitting at the computer typing this as I eat dinner.
-will go shower, watch Sex and the City reruns and Rescue Me, then go to sleep.

In the next year I will...
-celebrate my son's 4th birthday.
-give birth to my second child.
-graduate from the University of Miami.
-enjoy my maternity leave as much as I can.

(Sorry for not posting pics with some of the entries. I'm too tired to rummage through my photos, scan and upload them. Maybe next time...)

Free Cuba's Journalists

Ricardo González Alfonso; Víctor Rolando Arroyo; Normando Hernández González, Julio César Gálvez; Adolfo Fernández Sainz; Omar Rodríguez Saludes; Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez; Mijaíl Barzaga Lugo; Pedro Arguelles Morán; Pablo Pacheco Avila; Alejandro González Raga; Alfredo Pulido López; Fabio Prieto Llorente; Iván Hernández Carrillo; José Luis García Paneque; Juan Carlos Herrera; Miguel Galván Gutiérrez; José Ubaldo Izquierdo; Omar Ruiz Hernández; José Gabriel Ramón Castillo; Léster Luis González Pentó Alfredo Felipe Fuentes; José Manuel Caraballo Bravo; and Oscar Mario González

You probably do not recognize any of these names. These are 24 independent journalists imprisoned in Cuba for doing nothing more than reporting the truth about the island and the atrocities caused by castro's regime.

The Inter American Press Association has urged simultaneous commentaries demanding the release of these journalists.
The power of the pen, or in this case the keyboard, is all that's needed to stand by these individuals who risk their lives to expose the truth, not hide behind the lies of fidel castro and his cronies.
Link, Write, Email, Call who you can and spread the word.
For more info, read this and this.

Blight Baby is Here

Not many details are available, but Kelley had her little bundle of blue joy around noon today. Thanks, Shoe, for letting us know. I can't wait to see pictures and get all the info.
Congratulations to Kelley, Pete, and Spidey on their new addition!

Brandon's first artwork

Here are two masterpieces my little guy did today at school. He says the first one are circles, and the second one is a dolphin.

I love

Saw this over at Rachel's, who got it from Tink.

Blog prompt: Start 10 sentences with the words "I love..."

I love...my husband. He gets on my nerves at times, but there's a reason why I married 'im. I think. HAHA, just kidding! ;-)

I love...my children. Brandon is amazing, and I know the peanut on the way will light up our lives just as brightly as his/her big brother.

I love...my family. My family is wonderful. I have no words to elaborate...they just ARE.

I love...my house. There were many obstacles from the day we saw it for the first time to the day we closed on it, but it was meant to be ours. It's awesome!

I love...my friends. Having true friends is a rare blessing, and I'm quite lucky in that respect.

I love...Cuba. I've never seen it, nor was I born there, but there's something that tugs at me from la madre patria that cannot be denied. (I'd love a free Cuba even more....someday soon, God willing.)

I love...America. I was born and raised here, and even though I love the land my family left behind, I love the place where they sought exile. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness--that just about says it all.

I love...split pea soup. With rice. So much so that my best friend's mother will make more than enough to be able to freeze some and save it for me. I pick some up at least once a month. (Thought of this one because I had some for lunch.)

I love...Disney World. I'd live there if I could.

I love...being happy. I do what makes me happy, life is too short to do otherwise.

Happy Birthday, Primi!!

Happy birthday to my favorite cousin Mikey. I hope we have a lot of fun at your party on Sunday. I'll see you later at Tata and Abuela's house to eat cake. I love you!!

Belly shot

So, according to that cute ticker I have up on the left hand side, I'm 12 weeks and 1 day today. I remembered yesterday that I was at the 12 week mark, so I had hubby take the first official belly picture. We took it around 8pm, so I just wanted to change, shower and go to bed. But here it is:

10K

So the sitemeter just passed ten thousand, and it was someone using AOL, browsing with Mozilla. Any takers?

(I've still got a looooonnnngggg way to 1,000,000!!)

10,001 was from Orlando....hhmmm....I wonder who *that* could be???

My First Day at School

Hi, everybody!
I went to school today. I go to school with my friends Nicole and Julie. I like my school. I had a good day. The teacher read two books, a space one, and a piggy one. I took a nap, and I played in the playground. We sang "twinkle twinkle" and "head, shoulders, knees and toes" and "itsy bitsy spider again". I was put on time out because I didn't listen to my teacher, but today is only my first day. I will learn to listen and be a good boy.
Here is my picture mommy took today:

Four Years Ago Today...

...I married my sweetheart. Happy Anniversary, honey. I love you!

Wise men say only fools rush in
but I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay
would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
some things are meant to be
take my hand, take my whole life too
for I can't help falling in love with you
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
some things are meant to be
take my hand, take my whole life too
for I can't help falling in love with you

A Legacy

I thank God every day for the family that I have.

Happy Birthday...

to a special blogger and friend. You know who you are.

HAVE A GREAT DAY! See you soon!