NYC Tax-free week: January 31-February 6
You know the drill- Basically all items of CLOTHING/SHOES under US$100 are exempt from the 8.625% tax that we are all obligated to pay.
Take advantage of it...I know I will :D
Monday, January 31, 2005
Friday, January 28, 2005
The real meaning of indecency
WQHT–FM Radio (aka- hot 97) in New York City was denounced by public officials (among others) for its production and repeated broadcasts of its so-called "Tsunami Song.” The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was also called upon to investigate the matter and impose penalties.
Here are the words, sung to "We Are The World", as sick as it is:
"There was a time, when the sun was shining bright
So I went down to the beach to catch me a tan.
Then the next thing I knew, a wave 20 feet high
Came and washed your whole country away.
And all at once, you can hear the screaming chinks.
And no one was saved from the wave.
There were Africans drowning, little Chinamen swept away.
You can hear God laughing, 'Swim you bitches swim.'"
[Chorus]
"So now you're screwed. It's the tsunami,
You better run and kiss your ass away. Go find your mommy.
I just saw her float by, a tree went through her head.
And now your children will be sold. Child slavery."
Personally, the idea of censorship of the media is not something that appeals to me in the very least; however, I think that considering the way the FCC manages to find faults and flaws in things that are so natural like consensual sex between adults or a random display of the human body (I still don’t see the big deal about Janet’s “wardrobe malfunction”… is not like she is the only person out there with breasts!) all in the spirit of “decency”, I think that they should look for faults where they are, like in this song. Not even a month ago two hundred thousand people died, many children were left orphaned, many lost every earthly belonging they ever had and in good ole’ NY there are DJs (Miss Jones) who think is funny to play a song with those lyrics to the music of a song that was intended to bring hope. Now THAT is indecent.
It is indecent to use such offensive racial slurs to refer to people who have gone through so much, and it is my belief that if Clear Channel Communications is going to get fined because Howard Stern talked about sex, then Hot 97 and its parent company, Emmis Communication, should get fined for promoting hatred, showing intolerance, and disrupting the peace. This is what I would define as indecent.
Here are the words, sung to "We Are The World", as sick as it is:
"There was a time, when the sun was shining bright
So I went down to the beach to catch me a tan.
Then the next thing I knew, a wave 20 feet high
Came and washed your whole country away.
And all at once, you can hear the screaming chinks.
And no one was saved from the wave.
There were Africans drowning, little Chinamen swept away.
You can hear God laughing, 'Swim you bitches swim.'"
[Chorus]
"So now you're screwed. It's the tsunami,
You better run and kiss your ass away. Go find your mommy.
I just saw her float by, a tree went through her head.
And now your children will be sold. Child slavery."
Personally, the idea of censorship of the media is not something that appeals to me in the very least; however, I think that considering the way the FCC manages to find faults and flaws in things that are so natural like consensual sex between adults or a random display of the human body (I still don’t see the big deal about Janet’s “wardrobe malfunction”… is not like she is the only person out there with breasts!) all in the spirit of “decency”, I think that they should look for faults where they are, like in this song. Not even a month ago two hundred thousand people died, many children were left orphaned, many lost every earthly belonging they ever had and in good ole’ NY there are DJs (Miss Jones) who think is funny to play a song with those lyrics to the music of a song that was intended to bring hope. Now THAT is indecent.
It is indecent to use such offensive racial slurs to refer to people who have gone through so much, and it is my belief that if Clear Channel Communications is going to get fined because Howard Stern talked about sex, then Hot 97 and its parent company, Emmis Communication, should get fined for promoting hatred, showing intolerance, and disrupting the peace. This is what I would define as indecent.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
A stick figure is the standard!
Last night, while I was walking home I passed La Perla, a lingerie store on Madison Avenue. Being the shopping enthusiast that I am, I stopped and without much thought I went into the store to see what they had. Well, the first thing that caught my attention was a particular mannequin that they had on display.
As if societal pressures to stay thin aren’t enough, this mannequin was beyond thin. You could see the outline of where every bone would be: the hips, the ribs, the collar bone, the spine and the shoulder blades. It was really sickening. Basically, it looked like they had taken a pre-pubescent girl who had grown too fast and made a mold from it so that they could play dress up with it. Needless to say, it was hard to imagine being sexy wearing their lingerie when not even their mannequin looked like it could pull it off. They might as well have hung their stuff on a hanger. In any case, I left the store without buying a single thing; but I brought home with me a very bothersome feeling about the kind of person I am expected to be (or look like at least).
As someone who wasn’t born thin, and who works EXTREMELY hard to look the way I do, I felt appalled in different ways for the two kinds of people I have been: the kind of people who, like me, felt like they would never measure up, and then the kind of people who, like me, no matter how thin they get they never feel thin enough.
Growing up, I remember going to stores with mannequins that were always size 4. For me, being a size 4 embodied what the perfect woman should be like. While I was dieting, my eye was on that ball. But then, as I got older and I left a society where eating wholesomely was a joy, not a guilty pleasure, I noticed that a size 4 isn’t the ideal anymore. Ironically enough, in a society where women on average are a size 14, the ideal is either a “small 2” or a 0. I practically drove myself to anorexia to meet this ideal, which I did, and then up until the moment I stepped inside of this store, I lived a life for the sole purpose of upholding this ideal. Now I don’t want this anymore.
I would like to thank La Perla for making me realize just how ridiculous society’s expectations of the human form are getting. For making me aware of the fact that even if I can already see most of the bones in my body, there is someone out there who will always try to make me feel like I should be able to see more. I would like to thank La Perla for showing me how unsexy a simple, flat, body can be (though this I have always known-hence the reason why I own VS chicken cutlets). Last but not least, I would like to thank La Perla for leading me to Baskin Robbins to eat the first non Tasti D’ Lite ice cream I’ve eaten in three years. I had forgotten what real ice cream tastes like, and how much pleasure one can get from it.
As for me, I am not going to go out and be on a mission to regain the weight I worked so hard to loose; but I will definitely try to shake this obsession with thinness that has taken over my existence. For a while there I forgot that beauty comes in all different sizes and that at the end of the day, real beauty comes from within. Plus I just want to be healthy, you know?
Oh! and in protest, I will not buy anything anymore from vendors that continue to push such beauty standards on consumers.
As if societal pressures to stay thin aren’t enough, this mannequin was beyond thin. You could see the outline of where every bone would be: the hips, the ribs, the collar bone, the spine and the shoulder blades. It was really sickening. Basically, it looked like they had taken a pre-pubescent girl who had grown too fast and made a mold from it so that they could play dress up with it. Needless to say, it was hard to imagine being sexy wearing their lingerie when not even their mannequin looked like it could pull it off. They might as well have hung their stuff on a hanger. In any case, I left the store without buying a single thing; but I brought home with me a very bothersome feeling about the kind of person I am expected to be (or look like at least).
As someone who wasn’t born thin, and who works EXTREMELY hard to look the way I do, I felt appalled in different ways for the two kinds of people I have been: the kind of people who, like me, felt like they would never measure up, and then the kind of people who, like me, no matter how thin they get they never feel thin enough.
Growing up, I remember going to stores with mannequins that were always size 4. For me, being a size 4 embodied what the perfect woman should be like. While I was dieting, my eye was on that ball. But then, as I got older and I left a society where eating wholesomely was a joy, not a guilty pleasure, I noticed that a size 4 isn’t the ideal anymore. Ironically enough, in a society where women on average are a size 14, the ideal is either a “small 2” or a 0. I practically drove myself to anorexia to meet this ideal, which I did, and then up until the moment I stepped inside of this store, I lived a life for the sole purpose of upholding this ideal. Now I don’t want this anymore.
I would like to thank La Perla for making me realize just how ridiculous society’s expectations of the human form are getting. For making me aware of the fact that even if I can already see most of the bones in my body, there is someone out there who will always try to make me feel like I should be able to see more. I would like to thank La Perla for showing me how unsexy a simple, flat, body can be (though this I have always known-hence the reason why I own VS chicken cutlets). Last but not least, I would like to thank La Perla for leading me to Baskin Robbins to eat the first non Tasti D’ Lite ice cream I’ve eaten in three years. I had forgotten what real ice cream tastes like, and how much pleasure one can get from it.
As for me, I am not going to go out and be on a mission to regain the weight I worked so hard to loose; but I will definitely try to shake this obsession with thinness that has taken over my existence. For a while there I forgot that beauty comes in all different sizes and that at the end of the day, real beauty comes from within. Plus I just want to be healthy, you know?
Oh! and in protest, I will not buy anything anymore from vendors that continue to push such beauty standards on consumers.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
I should sell my body parts...
OMAHA, Neb. (Jan. 25) - A Web-page designer who auctioned off the use of his forehead for advertising space is letting it go to his head. Andrew Fischer, 20, of Omaha, who put his forehead for sale on eBay as advertising space, received $37,375 on Friday to advertise the snoring remedy, SnoreStop. Fischer will display the SnoreStop logo on his forehead for one month.
But there were limits: He refused from the outset to be the conduit for any message or product deemed tasteless or unacceptable in traditional advertising formats.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.
But there were limits: He refused from the outset to be the conduit for any message or product deemed tasteless or unacceptable in traditional advertising formats.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.
Woo Hoo!
One of my all time favorite movies, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, received two Academy Awards nominations this week: one for Kate Winslet as best Actress in a Leading Role, and the other for Charlie Kauffman for Best Original Screenplay. Woo Hoo!!!
i love this movie
I am also very excited about Natalie Portman's nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Shrek 2 for Best Animated Feature Film. Oh! and for the songs, I am rooting for Accidentally in Love by Counting Crows (which will most likely loose, but I love it anyway) also from Shrek 2. :)
shrek 2
Good luck to everyone!
May the best win!
i love this movie
I am also very excited about Natalie Portman's nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Shrek 2 for Best Animated Feature Film. Oh! and for the songs, I am rooting for Accidentally in Love by Counting Crows (which will most likely loose, but I love it anyway) also from Shrek 2. :)
shrek 2
Good luck to everyone!
May the best win!
some people suck
November 25, 2004
Dan came over last night and brought Charlie, his new dog, so we could be properly introduced. Although I was originally against the idea that he should get a dog because he is a very busy person with a very active social life, after learning that he had adopted a grown dog (he is 3 years old) who is relatively house broken, I feel more at ease about the whole thing; especially now that I know him.
Charlie is awesome!
Charlie is a something-or-other-bull-terrier (I forget). He is black with some white spots.
dan & charlie
Anyway, Dan adopted him from the ASPCA last week. According to the people there, Charlie was seriously abused by his previous owner (he has plenty of scars to prove it) and had he not been adopted, he would have sooner or later been put to sleep.
That is so sad...all of it!
How can someone be mean to a dog?? Last night we were playing with him, and he is such a lovable (and loving) dog! We liked each other immediately. I can’t imagine why someone would feel the need to inflict harm to such a helpless creature that can do nothing but give love and companionship! People like that suck. Actually, they don’t suck. They deserve to be in the ninth circle of hell.
I think that people like Dan, who adopt dogs with a history of abuse, are heroes. And I am not just saying that because Dan is my friend. Very often, dogs that have been mistreated can become violent because they have never learned that it is possible for people to be good to them. They see people as the enemy and as a result, they are often afraid, which can make them aggressive. Dogs, like people, have feelings and they learn from experience. It is great when good, loving people can take care of a dog that has never been taken care of. The same goes for the adoption of children, but I won’t get into that now.
Anyway, when most people think of getting a pet dog, they often want a cute new puppy who has never been previously owned (I was one of those people- every dog I’ve ever had, joined my family before they could even bark properly), and they don’t think that there are plenty of dogs out there who need a loving home. After learning what I have from Charlie, and giving this a lot of thought, with this posting, I would like to encourage anyone who is even considering the possibility of adding a new “member to their family” (a dog or a cat), to explore the possibility of adoption. You can get information on this at your local chapter of the ASPCA, as well as at your local PETCO, and/or any animal shelter.
By adopting a pet, you are making a huge difference in a helpless animal’s life, if not saving a life. If I had more time, more money, and more space I would go and adopt a pet (well, a dog. I am strictly a dog person), but since I don’t, all I have left to do is hope that good people who can have pets will choose to do so and make a difference in a life that way.
As for Dan, well, you rock ;)
xox-
Ana
Dan came over last night and brought Charlie, his new dog, so we could be properly introduced. Although I was originally against the idea that he should get a dog because he is a very busy person with a very active social life, after learning that he had adopted a grown dog (he is 3 years old) who is relatively house broken, I feel more at ease about the whole thing; especially now that I know him.
Charlie is awesome!
Charlie is a something-or-other-bull-terrier (I forget). He is black with some white spots.
dan & charlie
Anyway, Dan adopted him from the ASPCA last week. According to the people there, Charlie was seriously abused by his previous owner (he has plenty of scars to prove it) and had he not been adopted, he would have sooner or later been put to sleep.
That is so sad...all of it!
How can someone be mean to a dog?? Last night we were playing with him, and he is such a lovable (and loving) dog! We liked each other immediately. I can’t imagine why someone would feel the need to inflict harm to such a helpless creature that can do nothing but give love and companionship! People like that suck. Actually, they don’t suck. They deserve to be in the ninth circle of hell.
I think that people like Dan, who adopt dogs with a history of abuse, are heroes. And I am not just saying that because Dan is my friend. Very often, dogs that have been mistreated can become violent because they have never learned that it is possible for people to be good to them. They see people as the enemy and as a result, they are often afraid, which can make them aggressive. Dogs, like people, have feelings and they learn from experience. It is great when good, loving people can take care of a dog that has never been taken care of. The same goes for the adoption of children, but I won’t get into that now.
Anyway, when most people think of getting a pet dog, they often want a cute new puppy who has never been previously owned (I was one of those people- every dog I’ve ever had, joined my family before they could even bark properly), and they don’t think that there are plenty of dogs out there who need a loving home. After learning what I have from Charlie, and giving this a lot of thought, with this posting, I would like to encourage anyone who is even considering the possibility of adding a new “member to their family” (a dog or a cat), to explore the possibility of adoption. You can get information on this at your local chapter of the ASPCA, as well as at your local PETCO, and/or any animal shelter.
By adopting a pet, you are making a huge difference in a helpless animal’s life, if not saving a life. If I had more time, more money, and more space I would go and adopt a pet (well, a dog. I am strictly a dog person), but since I don’t, all I have left to do is hope that good people who can have pets will choose to do so and make a difference in a life that way.
As for Dan, well, you rock ;)
xox-
Ana
Monday, January 24, 2005
A woman's right to choose...
In 1970, Norma McCorvey, a pregnant woman from Dallas, Texas, first challenged the constitutionality of a Texas abortion law. Using the pseudonym “Jane Roe,” McCorvey sued Dallas County district attorney Henry Wade to be allowed to have an abortion. The Texas law banned abortions in that state, except when the pregnancy threatened the life of the pregnant woman. Roe’s pregnancy did not threaten her life, but as a poor, single woman she did not want to bear a child she could not afford to raise. In addition, she did not have the money to travel to a state where abortions were legal. Roe and her attorneys asked the federal district court to declare that the Texas abortion statute violated her rights under the Constitution of the United States. They also asked the court to enjoin (forbid) the district attorney from prosecuting anyone else under the Texas abortion law in the future.
A three-judge panel in Texas ruled in favor of Roe, mostly on the grounds that the law violated her constitutional rights to privacy. The court ruled that the 9th Amendment and the 14th Amendment of the Constitution guaranteed privacy rights that were broad enough to protect a woman’s choice to have an abortion. However, because the district court refused to enjoin future prosecutions for abortion, Roe and her attorneys appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Wade also appealed the decision.
The Supreme Court heard arguments for Roe v. Wade in December 1971. After a Court ordered second round of arguments, in January 1973 the Court decided 7-2 in favor of Roe.
Last week, Norma McCorvey announced that she was formally asking the U.S Supreme Court to take her case and to reverse Roe Vs. Wade, or at least, order a trial on the merits. On January 18, 2005 a petition for writ of certiorari filed by the Justice Foundation, reached the Supreme Court to hear the case.
It’s very unfortunate that Ms. McCorvey is trying to reverse a decision that has been pivotal in the women’s rights movement. She who was a role model (even if for selfish reasons) for women everywhere, has become someone that by her change of attitude and lack of faith has become someone anti-women. I fear that the reversal of such an important decision as is Roe Vs. Wade can bring us back even further than we were in 1970.
I am not going to say that I am someone who is pro-abortion, because I am not. I am, however, pro-choice and I believe in my right to choose weather I am ready, willing and/or able to be a mother. Nobody should dictate what my life should be like if I was raped, if I was sick, if I was broke or if I just flat out made a mistake. Besides, since when is a potential person more important than a real, already living person?
The world is a strange place. It really is. And you never know what could happen. To allow other people to make a decision for you, as if every situation is the same is completely ridiculous. It is hard to be a woman, and it must be even harder to be a woman in the position of having to make that kind of choice. We don’t need someone to dictate what it is that we need to do.
The way I look at it, abortion saves lives because someone who is desperate enough to seek an abortion will stop at nothing to get it, and if there are no laws to regulate those procedures, women are going to be exposed to dangerous practices that could potentially lead to not only an aborted fetus, but to death.
I have never had an abortion, and I hope that I’m never in the position that I need to make that choice; but I also hope that if I have to make that kind of decision (in the United States, and I’m too broke to be able to get anywhere else) that I won’t have to go to a dirty apartment in some abandoned building so some guy with a hanger can solve my problem because some Republican (they are always republicans!) decided that I was not allowed to choose.
A three-judge panel in Texas ruled in favor of Roe, mostly on the grounds that the law violated her constitutional rights to privacy. The court ruled that the 9th Amendment and the 14th Amendment of the Constitution guaranteed privacy rights that were broad enough to protect a woman’s choice to have an abortion. However, because the district court refused to enjoin future prosecutions for abortion, Roe and her attorneys appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Wade also appealed the decision.
The Supreme Court heard arguments for Roe v. Wade in December 1971. After a Court ordered second round of arguments, in January 1973 the Court decided 7-2 in favor of Roe.
Last week, Norma McCorvey announced that she was formally asking the U.S Supreme Court to take her case and to reverse Roe Vs. Wade, or at least, order a trial on the merits. On January 18, 2005 a petition for writ of certiorari filed by the Justice Foundation, reached the Supreme Court to hear the case.
It’s very unfortunate that Ms. McCorvey is trying to reverse a decision that has been pivotal in the women’s rights movement. She who was a role model (even if for selfish reasons) for women everywhere, has become someone that by her change of attitude and lack of faith has become someone anti-women. I fear that the reversal of such an important decision as is Roe Vs. Wade can bring us back even further than we were in 1970.
I am not going to say that I am someone who is pro-abortion, because I am not. I am, however, pro-choice and I believe in my right to choose weather I am ready, willing and/or able to be a mother. Nobody should dictate what my life should be like if I was raped, if I was sick, if I was broke or if I just flat out made a mistake. Besides, since when is a potential person more important than a real, already living person?
The world is a strange place. It really is. And you never know what could happen. To allow other people to make a decision for you, as if every situation is the same is completely ridiculous. It is hard to be a woman, and it must be even harder to be a woman in the position of having to make that kind of choice. We don’t need someone to dictate what it is that we need to do.
The way I look at it, abortion saves lives because someone who is desperate enough to seek an abortion will stop at nothing to get it, and if there are no laws to regulate those procedures, women are going to be exposed to dangerous practices that could potentially lead to not only an aborted fetus, but to death.
I have never had an abortion, and I hope that I’m never in the position that I need to make that choice; but I also hope that if I have to make that kind of decision (in the United States, and I’m too broke to be able to get anywhere else) that I won’t have to go to a dirty apartment in some abandoned building so some guy with a hanger can solve my problem because some Republican (they are always republicans!) decided that I was not allowed to choose.
Sunday, January 23, 2005
my glass is ALWAYS half full.
January 23, 2005
This weekend has been an adventure. I swear! So many inches of snow later, I'm happy to report that I survived the cold, the snow, and everything else that came with it (unless of course you count that fall I had in the middle of Lexington Avenue tonight on my way back home from the coffee house).
Anyway, I went to my first philosophy class Friday night and I loved it! It wasn't anything like the philosophy class I had in college which was based entirely in theory. This class focuses on the application of philosophy in real life settings. The whole prospect of it is very cool because it allows me to take what I know, expand on it and then use it on my daily life.
Because of that class, I was once again curious about exploring my spirituality, which I hadn't done since my days as a Wiccan. I went back and looked at Michelle's blog and thought to myself that maybe in some level she was onto something with that active exploration of something so abstract as is spirituality. So I decided to try this out for a little bit. Because I have so many issues with my religion, Catholicism, I decided that I wouldn't waste my time trying to fulfill my spiritual needs there, and decided to stick to modern variations of ancient thought. Yesterday, before the storm, I went to Barnes and Noble and picked up a book my mom has been recommending me forever by Deepak Chopra called The Path to Love and made it my companion through the long snowy weekend.
I am nowhere near done reading the book because I am trying to really assimilate what's being discussed, but so far I like it a lot. There are some passages in there that really hit home, and the Rig Veda (which I read back in the day, but hardly understood) explained better and put into context, makes A LOT more sense. I am not going to get into it now, but I will definitely dedicate a posting to this book once I am done with it. Oh! And I have already selected the next author to help me in my spiritual quest: Osha.
Onto other things, my very good friend Sonia wrote to me again this weekend. She told me that she had decided to join the Air Force upon completion of her college education this May, in order to train to become a linguist. Although I don't necessarily agree with her decision of joining the military, I have to say that I really respect her for that. It takes a lot of courage to go out and join the military during a time of war. I will really miss her though, even more than I do now. Meanwhile, Jonathan, my VERY good friend who is already in the military is leaving for Jordan on Wednesday. I wish he didn't have to go so far away, but looking at it on the bright side, I'm glad he is once again getting out of Boise, ID.
Anyway, today I got to hang out with some really nice people I met in my neighborhood recently. Who would have thought that by hanging out around here more I would find people I would want to hang out with! I feel like this is a very good thing: I am finding my first set of "adult" friends. Let's see how this develops.
Oh! And Dan got a dog. I know I was totally against it for a number of reasons, but since he already got it I figured I should be supportive. Plus Charlie (the dog) is house broken, and no longer a puppy so he won't be kept in the closet which is VERY good. They are coming over tomorrow so I'll take pictures of him then.
On a side note, I have also received some very nice emails regarding this blog. A lot of the people I invited to read what is very personal to me (this is after all like my journal) have shown real appreciation for my writings, and I am really happy about that. I hope I can continue to lead a somewhat interesting life so that I will always have something to write about...Even if this is something that causes some people stress :)
In any case, I am off to continue my conversation with Carlos now. I'll write again soon :D
xox-
ana
This weekend has been an adventure. I swear! So many inches of snow later, I'm happy to report that I survived the cold, the snow, and everything else that came with it (unless of course you count that fall I had in the middle of Lexington Avenue tonight on my way back home from the coffee house).
Anyway, I went to my first philosophy class Friday night and I loved it! It wasn't anything like the philosophy class I had in college which was based entirely in theory. This class focuses on the application of philosophy in real life settings. The whole prospect of it is very cool because it allows me to take what I know, expand on it and then use it on my daily life.
Because of that class, I was once again curious about exploring my spirituality, which I hadn't done since my days as a Wiccan. I went back and looked at Michelle's blog and thought to myself that maybe in some level she was onto something with that active exploration of something so abstract as is spirituality. So I decided to try this out for a little bit. Because I have so many issues with my religion, Catholicism, I decided that I wouldn't waste my time trying to fulfill my spiritual needs there, and decided to stick to modern variations of ancient thought. Yesterday, before the storm, I went to Barnes and Noble and picked up a book my mom has been recommending me forever by Deepak Chopra called The Path to Love and made it my companion through the long snowy weekend.
I am nowhere near done reading the book because I am trying to really assimilate what's being discussed, but so far I like it a lot. There are some passages in there that really hit home, and the Rig Veda (which I read back in the day, but hardly understood) explained better and put into context, makes A LOT more sense. I am not going to get into it now, but I will definitely dedicate a posting to this book once I am done with it. Oh! And I have already selected the next author to help me in my spiritual quest: Osha.
Onto other things, my very good friend Sonia wrote to me again this weekend. She told me that she had decided to join the Air Force upon completion of her college education this May, in order to train to become a linguist. Although I don't necessarily agree with her decision of joining the military, I have to say that I really respect her for that. It takes a lot of courage to go out and join the military during a time of war. I will really miss her though, even more than I do now. Meanwhile, Jonathan, my VERY good friend who is already in the military is leaving for Jordan on Wednesday. I wish he didn't have to go so far away, but looking at it on the bright side, I'm glad he is once again getting out of Boise, ID.
Anyway, today I got to hang out with some really nice people I met in my neighborhood recently. Who would have thought that by hanging out around here more I would find people I would want to hang out with! I feel like this is a very good thing: I am finding my first set of "adult" friends. Let's see how this develops.
Oh! And Dan got a dog. I know I was totally against it for a number of reasons, but since he already got it I figured I should be supportive. Plus Charlie (the dog) is house broken, and no longer a puppy so he won't be kept in the closet which is VERY good. They are coming over tomorrow so I'll take pictures of him then.
On a side note, I have also received some very nice emails regarding this blog. A lot of the people I invited to read what is very personal to me (this is after all like my journal) have shown real appreciation for my writings, and I am really happy about that. I hope I can continue to lead a somewhat interesting life so that I will always have something to write about...Even if this is something that causes some people stress :)
In any case, I am off to continue my conversation with Carlos now. I'll write again soon :D
xox-
ana
Friday, January 21, 2005
the world is a strange place...
I am so glad this week is finally over! Although it was only a 4 day work week, it felt eternal! This past week I’ve been swamped with work. Between the show, Miller buying Presidente, and that campaign thing my work days have extended far more than necessary and although it’s been fun, I can’t say I am happy about it. But my work has gotten way better so far this year and I’m thrilled about that. I really like what I do, it’s just a matter of doing it, you know?
I have also had some issues to work through this past week which have been rather unpleasant and unnerving. My grandma is sick. The doctors found a tumor on her breast, and although they have said that it’s not malignant they have stressed that she needs to remove it because it has potential to become cancerous. Grandma refuses to go in for surgery. What can one do? My mom was here, and she met with grandma and my aunt to try to talk her into it, but in my experience is kinda’ hard to talk someone into doing anything if you don’t really believe in what you are saying. My mom is of the belief that when faced with the possibility of terminal illness, one should always choose quality over quantity. From the looks of it, grandma agrees.
I hate this.
I also hate that someone who has probably been the most influential person in my life outside of my family although we have had our share of ups and downs is hurting. A few years ago she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The last time I spoke to her, which was a few days ago, she told me that she was in some kind of steroid therapy that involved her keeping a needle in her arm for a number of days.
This is the kind of stuff that pisses me off. It makes me so angry to know that there are so many things out there over which we have no control. It’s also very upsetting to know, that these diseases which affect mostly women continue to be a permanent staple in our lives because no matter how much research is being done, it doesn’t seem to be enough. So what can we, regular people, do? I do my part by participating in fund raisers and stuff, but I wish there was something else for me to do if not to cure them, to make their lives better. To help them live a long life free of pain. It's gotta be frustrating to know that you are living with a terminal illness before you are even 25...
The world is a very unfair place it seems. Good people suffer, and when it seems like nothing will ever happen to us or to the people we love, it does and not only does it serve as a reality check, it makes you wonder what did they do that was so wrong that they had to be punished in such a way? I’ve thought to myself that I’m lucky that it’s not me who is going through that, but then I think that I wish it was me and not them. Life will sometimes put us in a strange place.
But what can we do, except keep on living and try to make our lives worthwhile. To find comfort in the people and things we have in our lives so that we can provide comfort to those who need it. And we can also hope. I hope that one day in my lifetime, neither my grandma nor my friend nor anyone else will be afflicted by such diseases.
I have also had some issues to work through this past week which have been rather unpleasant and unnerving. My grandma is sick. The doctors found a tumor on her breast, and although they have said that it’s not malignant they have stressed that she needs to remove it because it has potential to become cancerous. Grandma refuses to go in for surgery. What can one do? My mom was here, and she met with grandma and my aunt to try to talk her into it, but in my experience is kinda’ hard to talk someone into doing anything if you don’t really believe in what you are saying. My mom is of the belief that when faced with the possibility of terminal illness, one should always choose quality over quantity. From the looks of it, grandma agrees.
I hate this.
I also hate that someone who has probably been the most influential person in my life outside of my family although we have had our share of ups and downs is hurting. A few years ago she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The last time I spoke to her, which was a few days ago, she told me that she was in some kind of steroid therapy that involved her keeping a needle in her arm for a number of days.
This is the kind of stuff that pisses me off. It makes me so angry to know that there are so many things out there over which we have no control. It’s also very upsetting to know, that these diseases which affect mostly women continue to be a permanent staple in our lives because no matter how much research is being done, it doesn’t seem to be enough. So what can we, regular people, do? I do my part by participating in fund raisers and stuff, but I wish there was something else for me to do if not to cure them, to make their lives better. To help them live a long life free of pain. It's gotta be frustrating to know that you are living with a terminal illness before you are even 25...
The world is a very unfair place it seems. Good people suffer, and when it seems like nothing will ever happen to us or to the people we love, it does and not only does it serve as a reality check, it makes you wonder what did they do that was so wrong that they had to be punished in such a way? I’ve thought to myself that I’m lucky that it’s not me who is going through that, but then I think that I wish it was me and not them. Life will sometimes put us in a strange place.
But what can we do, except keep on living and try to make our lives worthwhile. To find comfort in the people and things we have in our lives so that we can provide comfort to those who need it. And we can also hope. I hope that one day in my lifetime, neither my grandma nor my friend nor anyone else will be afflicted by such diseases.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
my dreams and their reality
Last night I had a really weird dream I had some months ago:
I dreamt that I was driving down Houston Street in this really old, beat up Toyota Corolla, and that I got into an accident with my friend Michel, who was driving this really old, beat up Toyota Camry. In my dream we didn’t know each other. Anyway, we both pulled over and I was furious so I started yelling at him because it really was his fault. He, on the other hand, was telling me to relax because in his words, he had REALLY good auto insurance. So he pulls out his cell phone, made a phone call and within minutes, three of those Progressive SUV’s showed up to take a look at the damage. After about an hour the people of Progressive decided that the damage was so bad that we should get a new car. Michel and I were really excited, so I stopped yelling at him. It was then that another one of those Progressive SUV’s showed up towing a brand new Porsche Cayenne for us. So we looked at each other and then at them wondering why there was only car, and that’s when the insurance people said that we were getting one car for the two of us; That they were replacing two crappy things for one very good one.
What does this all mean? I wonder….
Anyway, it’s been an interesting couple of days. Let me start by saying that it’s been f*cking cold! It’s been so cold that my motivation to be out with the rest of the world has diminished greatly. But luckily, these days when I’ve lacked motivation for anything, I have managed to push myself to do whatever it is that I’ve needed to do.
My mom came to NY Monday afternoon, so after hanging out with her for most of the day, I met some people at DT.UT (although we had originally planned for Balthazar) and had a pretty good time. It was so cold out that it seemed like a better idea to drink tons of coffee- which we did- than any kind of alcohol. My favorite part though was this kick ass oatmeal cookie…Yummie!! (I know…so much for my diet).
After work yesterday, I had planned to go sign up for a philosophy class over at the School of Practical Philosophy, but I didn’t get around to doing that because I wasn’t feeling very well so I just stayed home and went to bed early. I will definitely go today though. This is something that I really want to do.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how I have let work pretty much take over my life, and how it often seems that most of my outings are work related (or to the gym) and I don’t like that very much. Now I have decided that I will go out more, I will work on expanding my circle of friends (although my current friends are good, I want more diversity in my circle) and I also want to do more things to challenge my ideas and broaden my mind.
I hear that the Museo del Barrio is holding an exhibit this month on Latin American Portraiture and this is something that I am interested in seeing. I’ll go this weekend and write about it once I do.
ANYWAY…
I was listening to part of Condoleeza’s interview last night-specifically the part when Kerry was asking the questions and although I am not someone who is pro-Condoleeza in the least, I thought she expressed herself well and I felt bad for her. I thought that Kerry was being a jerk about the whole thing. I am not going to really get into this because like I said, I didn’t watch the whole thing, but I think that although Condoleeza is not necessarily the right person to be Secretary of State, had I been Kerry, I wouldn’t have tried so hard to put her down because at the end of the day she is an EXTREMELY intelligent and capable woman.
Now onto something a little lighter and definitely more mundane, yesterday I saw the picture of Melania Knauss’s wedding dress. WOW!
I have to give props to Dior because the dress, although far too lavish for my taste, is amazing. It seems to me that this dress valued at $100,000+, is worth every penny. I can’t wait to look at the wedding ring now! Last month, when I met Melania I was blown away by her engagement ring. I can only imagine what Graf put together for her this time!
I wouldn’t mind being Melania. Though I would mind marrying a guy who is like 25 years my senior, always wears a suit and has weird hair.
Anyway, I am out for now. I’ll write again later!
xox-
ana
I dreamt that I was driving down Houston Street in this really old, beat up Toyota Corolla, and that I got into an accident with my friend Michel, who was driving this really old, beat up Toyota Camry. In my dream we didn’t know each other. Anyway, we both pulled over and I was furious so I started yelling at him because it really was his fault. He, on the other hand, was telling me to relax because in his words, he had REALLY good auto insurance. So he pulls out his cell phone, made a phone call and within minutes, three of those Progressive SUV’s showed up to take a look at the damage. After about an hour the people of Progressive decided that the damage was so bad that we should get a new car. Michel and I were really excited, so I stopped yelling at him. It was then that another one of those Progressive SUV’s showed up towing a brand new Porsche Cayenne for us. So we looked at each other and then at them wondering why there was only car, and that’s when the insurance people said that we were getting one car for the two of us; That they were replacing two crappy things for one very good one.
What does this all mean? I wonder….
Anyway, it’s been an interesting couple of days. Let me start by saying that it’s been f*cking cold! It’s been so cold that my motivation to be out with the rest of the world has diminished greatly. But luckily, these days when I’ve lacked motivation for anything, I have managed to push myself to do whatever it is that I’ve needed to do.
My mom came to NY Monday afternoon, so after hanging out with her for most of the day, I met some people at DT.UT (although we had originally planned for Balthazar) and had a pretty good time. It was so cold out that it seemed like a better idea to drink tons of coffee- which we did- than any kind of alcohol. My favorite part though was this kick ass oatmeal cookie…Yummie!! (I know…so much for my diet).
After work yesterday, I had planned to go sign up for a philosophy class over at the School of Practical Philosophy, but I didn’t get around to doing that because I wasn’t feeling very well so I just stayed home and went to bed early. I will definitely go today though. This is something that I really want to do.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how I have let work pretty much take over my life, and how it often seems that most of my outings are work related (or to the gym) and I don’t like that very much. Now I have decided that I will go out more, I will work on expanding my circle of friends (although my current friends are good, I want more diversity in my circle) and I also want to do more things to challenge my ideas and broaden my mind.
I hear that the Museo del Barrio is holding an exhibit this month on Latin American Portraiture and this is something that I am interested in seeing. I’ll go this weekend and write about it once I do.
ANYWAY…
I was listening to part of Condoleeza’s interview last night-specifically the part when Kerry was asking the questions and although I am not someone who is pro-Condoleeza in the least, I thought she expressed herself well and I felt bad for her. I thought that Kerry was being a jerk about the whole thing. I am not going to really get into this because like I said, I didn’t watch the whole thing, but I think that although Condoleeza is not necessarily the right person to be Secretary of State, had I been Kerry, I wouldn’t have tried so hard to put her down because at the end of the day she is an EXTREMELY intelligent and capable woman.
Now onto something a little lighter and definitely more mundane, yesterday I saw the picture of Melania Knauss’s wedding dress. WOW!
I have to give props to Dior because the dress, although far too lavish for my taste, is amazing. It seems to me that this dress valued at $100,000+, is worth every penny. I can’t wait to look at the wedding ring now! Last month, when I met Melania I was blown away by her engagement ring. I can only imagine what Graf put together for her this time!
I wouldn’t mind being Melania. Though I would mind marrying a guy who is like 25 years my senior, always wears a suit and has weird hair.
Anyway, I am out for now. I’ll write again later!
xox-
ana
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
essential life experiences
3 Things You Must Do Before You Die
(according to David Wollock)
"This is the ultimate to-do list, and with a bit of luck and good blessings, you don't have to be a mad rush to finish it. David Wollock, co-author of the new book, 'Been There, Done That' says there are three things we all need to do before we die:--Face a fear.--Go abroad.--Try a new lovemaking position. According to Wollock, these three challenges are the key to feeling like you've had a satisfying life. "
Source: Netscape.com
Monday, January 17, 2005
let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
New York, January 17, 2005
It's cold and it's snowing out. Definitely not the kind of combination that will get me out of the house!! So today this last day of the long weekend, I think that I'll just be lazy and hang out at home today. My mom should be getting here at around noon and I'm looking forward to that, and my evening plans can be easily moved around so that I don't have to leave the house. I'm thinking I'll bribe people with a hot chocolate party...hmmmm
Last night I didn't hang out with the SGers like I thought I would. We had planned this perfect day, but it was timed all wrong!! So then we ended up over at Dan's for dinner eating quiche and obscene amounts of pie. I know...I should never go to Dan's when I am dieting. The problem is that his food is just THAT good. No worries though. I will start my diet again today.
Dan is currently hellbent on getting a dog. For the past two weeks I have been trying to talk him out of the idea because I feel that dogs need a lot of love and attention, which is something that he simply has no time to provide while working a full time job and maintaining a VERY active social life. Yesterday, during dinner, we were talking about his visit to the North Shore Animal League and somehow, the conversation developed into a discussion about what he was planning to do to prevent the dog from doing his business all over his apartment while he is his at work...He said that wouldn't happen because he is going to set up his coat closet (which is fairly large, i must admit) so that it could serve as a playpen so the dog can stay there all day. According to him, he read in some dog training manuals that you are supposed to keep the dog caged all day.
Now I ask, who would write such a thing???
Here is Dan.
As part owner of 3 dogs (my brothers and I share ownership)I think it's cruel and unusual punishment to leave a dog caged at home for 12 hours a day. I do understand that in order to effectively train dogs you need to discipline them and at times cage them, but to keep a dog locked in a closet for hours and hours and hours, that's just wrong. I find it hard to believe that you could raise a happy dog under such conditions.
Anyway, he got A LOT of attitude from me and, surprisingly, from Margherita, who is all pro-getting the dog but against the dog caging idea.
"Whoever says Friendship is easy has obviously never had a true friend!"- Bronwyn Polson
One of my friendships was put on hiatus today. I feel all kinds of weird about it, but I know that this is for the best. I always say that when it comes to feelings you either feel it or you don't. There isn't really a gray area when it comes to affections. Now that we stepped into the awkward territory of not feeling it, a decision has been made and we can do nothing more except move forward from here.
I will admit that I am sad because I always try to keep good relationships, so dealing with parting ways with someone who was fairly important in my life is challenging because I don't want to forget this person, I don't want to place blame anywhere, nor do I want to mold my memory so I could make myself believe that there was something bad or wrong about them. Right now I want the strength and wisdom to follow through, the clarity to be able to think of them as they truly are, and the patience to wait for things to be in their rightful place. Everything happens for a reason...Maybe this is a good thing. The medicine without the spoonful of sugar.
I must go clean now.
ciao!
It's cold and it's snowing out. Definitely not the kind of combination that will get me out of the house!! So today this last day of the long weekend, I think that I'll just be lazy and hang out at home today. My mom should be getting here at around noon and I'm looking forward to that, and my evening plans can be easily moved around so that I don't have to leave the house. I'm thinking I'll bribe people with a hot chocolate party...hmmmm
Last night I didn't hang out with the SGers like I thought I would. We had planned this perfect day, but it was timed all wrong!! So then we ended up over at Dan's for dinner eating quiche and obscene amounts of pie. I know...I should never go to Dan's when I am dieting. The problem is that his food is just THAT good. No worries though. I will start my diet again today.
Dan is currently hellbent on getting a dog. For the past two weeks I have been trying to talk him out of the idea because I feel that dogs need a lot of love and attention, which is something that he simply has no time to provide while working a full time job and maintaining a VERY active social life. Yesterday, during dinner, we were talking about his visit to the North Shore Animal League and somehow, the conversation developed into a discussion about what he was planning to do to prevent the dog from doing his business all over his apartment while he is his at work...He said that wouldn't happen because he is going to set up his coat closet (which is fairly large, i must admit) so that it could serve as a playpen so the dog can stay there all day. According to him, he read in some dog training manuals that you are supposed to keep the dog caged all day.
Now I ask, who would write such a thing???
Here is Dan.
As part owner of 3 dogs (my brothers and I share ownership)I think it's cruel and unusual punishment to leave a dog caged at home for 12 hours a day. I do understand that in order to effectively train dogs you need to discipline them and at times cage them, but to keep a dog locked in a closet for hours and hours and hours, that's just wrong. I find it hard to believe that you could raise a happy dog under such conditions.
Anyway, he got A LOT of attitude from me and, surprisingly, from Margherita, who is all pro-getting the dog but against the dog caging idea.
"Whoever says Friendship is easy has obviously never had a true friend!"- Bronwyn Polson
One of my friendships was put on hiatus today. I feel all kinds of weird about it, but I know that this is for the best. I always say that when it comes to feelings you either feel it or you don't. There isn't really a gray area when it comes to affections. Now that we stepped into the awkward territory of not feeling it, a decision has been made and we can do nothing more except move forward from here.
I will admit that I am sad because I always try to keep good relationships, so dealing with parting ways with someone who was fairly important in my life is challenging because I don't want to forget this person, I don't want to place blame anywhere, nor do I want to mold my memory so I could make myself believe that there was something bad or wrong about them. Right now I want the strength and wisdom to follow through, the clarity to be able to think of them as they truly are, and the patience to wait for things to be in their rightful place. Everything happens for a reason...Maybe this is a good thing. The medicine without the spoonful of sugar.
I must go clean now.
ciao!
Sunday, January 16, 2005
On lo-carb bagels...
Last night Jenny, Alicia, Margherita and I decided to order in while we were watching Napoleon Dynamite (weird movie!).
Anyway, we agreed to get our food from Hot & Crusty because they are fast and efficient. While we were placing our order, we were advised that they were out of whole wheat baked goods (which is bad because I am not a fan of white bread at all) but that they would give us lo-carb bagels as substitutes.
Now I don't know what exactly was going through my brain when I agreed to that substitution, all I can say is that it was a horrible idea!!!
Lo-carb bagels taste horrible. They look like bagels but that's about as far as it goes. They have a weird texture, an even weirder flavor and then a horrible after taste.
Needless to say, I won't be having those anymore. I would much rather count the calories of everything that goes in my mouth instead of the carbs. In my experience, lo-carb equals lo-flavor.
...now I am hungry...
Anyway, we agreed to get our food from Hot & Crusty because they are fast and efficient. While we were placing our order, we were advised that they were out of whole wheat baked goods (which is bad because I am not a fan of white bread at all) but that they would give us lo-carb bagels as substitutes.
Now I don't know what exactly was going through my brain when I agreed to that substitution, all I can say is that it was a horrible idea!!!
Lo-carb bagels taste horrible. They look like bagels but that's about as far as it goes. They have a weird texture, an even weirder flavor and then a horrible after taste.
Needless to say, I won't be having those anymore. I would much rather count the calories of everything that goes in my mouth instead of the carbs. In my experience, lo-carb equals lo-flavor.
...now I am hungry...
3 day weekend...NICE!
New York, January 16, 2005
I wasn't planning on writing anything today because I decided that on this long weekend my time would be better spent out of the house doing the fun fun things I like to do on my free time; however, on a quick stop to check my email I found that I had a whole bunch of responses to my previous posting- some nicer than others- and well, I thought that perhaps now would be as good a time as any to acknowledge that I have in fact read them and appreciate every last one. Although I must admit that I never knew that MY personal description/opinion of MY own existence was something people felt so deeply about!
My response to all the comments is: if you don't like what I write, don't read it. If you don't like who I am, don't talk to me. If you think I am ugly, don't look at me. If you think you have me figured out because you read a couple of journal entries then you are mistaken. It's just that simple. Anyone who has ever met me knows that the only people in the world who I am actually out to impress are the members of my immediate family and even then that has its exclusions.
THAT SAID...
Things always work out at the end. I wanted to get out of the city this weekend but for a number of reasons I was unable to do so. It's a good thing I didn't because so far this weekend I've had a blast...even with the cold. Margherita and I have inadvertently become everyone's favorite hostesses and have enjoyed every minute of it.
Once again though, I have to swing by Crate and Barrel to pick up new wine glasses because they keep breaking. I am beginning to think it's a curse. I also have to see what I am going to do about one of my living room tables because on Thursday night, in the midst of all the fun, we didn't realize that the table had somehow caught on fire... but like they say, it's all fun and games unless (or is it until?) someone looses an eye :-)
My fire...contained.
One of my best friends from college, Jenny, is back from Rome finally after 3 years and has decided to stay in Maryland until she moves to Germany again which should be around the summer. She is in New York now and we've been having a fabulous time just catching up. Jenny and I have a lot of history and it's always nice to sit down and reminisce. Tonight we have planned to go out dinner like we used to back when we were living in Germany ( I don't know how this will work out with me being on a diet and all). Hopefully Nezi will turn up... I have to say, it's been tons of fun hanging out with SGers as frequently as I have in the past few months...
People are always making a big deal about being unable to keep friendships with people who are in far away places; but in the age of information it's so easy to keep in touch!! What has worked for me in the past is finding comfort in knowing that nobody is further than a plane ride away. I also write back, I call, I keep a blog and these are pretty much all the tools you need to not feel so far away. I remain just as close with people I haven't seen in a while but keep in touch with, as I am with those I see all the time. At the end of the day, I think that you keep relationships by making an effort. That definitely compensates for the negative things.
It's really ironic though that I lost to distance someone who still means everything to me...
My mom is coming to stay with me for a few days effective tomorrow. I hope that she continues to be as cool, calm, and collected as she was the last time I saw her. I love the woman to pieces, but I really don't get why it is that parents can't let you grow up in peace! I guess I'll find out in due time... In any case, I doubt she'll be staying very long seeing how poor Gus is having issues over in London...She'll probably go harass him.
In any case, I am off for now. This little posting has extended far more than necessary and I am nowhere near ready all the while I am supposed to be somewhere in about an hour.
I hope you are all having a marvelous day...I know I am.
xox-
ana
I wasn't planning on writing anything today because I decided that on this long weekend my time would be better spent out of the house doing the fun fun things I like to do on my free time; however, on a quick stop to check my email I found that I had a whole bunch of responses to my previous posting- some nicer than others- and well, I thought that perhaps now would be as good a time as any to acknowledge that I have in fact read them and appreciate every last one. Although I must admit that I never knew that MY personal description/opinion of MY own existence was something people felt so deeply about!
My response to all the comments is: if you don't like what I write, don't read it. If you don't like who I am, don't talk to me. If you think I am ugly, don't look at me. If you think you have me figured out because you read a couple of journal entries then you are mistaken. It's just that simple. Anyone who has ever met me knows that the only people in the world who I am actually out to impress are the members of my immediate family and even then that has its exclusions.
THAT SAID...
Things always work out at the end. I wanted to get out of the city this weekend but for a number of reasons I was unable to do so. It's a good thing I didn't because so far this weekend I've had a blast...even with the cold. Margherita and I have inadvertently become everyone's favorite hostesses and have enjoyed every minute of it.
Once again though, I have to swing by Crate and Barrel to pick up new wine glasses because they keep breaking. I am beginning to think it's a curse. I also have to see what I am going to do about one of my living room tables because on Thursday night, in the midst of all the fun, we didn't realize that the table had somehow caught on fire... but like they say, it's all fun and games unless (or is it until?) someone looses an eye :-)
My fire...contained.
One of my best friends from college, Jenny, is back from Rome finally after 3 years and has decided to stay in Maryland until she moves to Germany again which should be around the summer. She is in New York now and we've been having a fabulous time just catching up. Jenny and I have a lot of history and it's always nice to sit down and reminisce. Tonight we have planned to go out dinner like we used to back when we were living in Germany ( I don't know how this will work out with me being on a diet and all). Hopefully Nezi will turn up... I have to say, it's been tons of fun hanging out with SGers as frequently as I have in the past few months...
People are always making a big deal about being unable to keep friendships with people who are in far away places; but in the age of information it's so easy to keep in touch!! What has worked for me in the past is finding comfort in knowing that nobody is further than a plane ride away. I also write back, I call, I keep a blog and these are pretty much all the tools you need to not feel so far away. I remain just as close with people I haven't seen in a while but keep in touch with, as I am with those I see all the time. At the end of the day, I think that you keep relationships by making an effort. That definitely compensates for the negative things.
It's really ironic though that I lost to distance someone who still means everything to me...
My mom is coming to stay with me for a few days effective tomorrow. I hope that she continues to be as cool, calm, and collected as she was the last time I saw her. I love the woman to pieces, but I really don't get why it is that parents can't let you grow up in peace! I guess I'll find out in due time... In any case, I doubt she'll be staying very long seeing how poor Gus is having issues over in London...She'll probably go harass him.
In any case, I am off for now. This little posting has extended far more than necessary and I am nowhere near ready all the while I am supposed to be somewhere in about an hour.
I hope you are all having a marvelous day...I know I am.
xox-
ana
Monday, January 10, 2005
Under the right lighting everyone is a hottie :)
Bonjour!
One would think that living with an italian person I would decide to practice my Italian, but nooooooooo...sometimes I wonder about myself. Really.
Enrique's bon voyage party was an absolute success considering that it was planned the whole of 24 hours in advance. Most of the people we invited showed up and then some. The casualties were only a wine glass, my carpet (again!!), and then a girl-she who dared bad mouth Hillary. In party planning standards, that was good. As a matter of fact, it was so good that it took me the entire weekend to recover.
He aqui los tres que tiraron a Pedro al pozo!
For more pictures, please go to my pictures.
But what kind of a world is this that you wake up on saturday morning to see on the cover of the New York Post the headline that Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston split up? I mean, I understand that in the world of celebrities that is huge news; however, it pisses me off to think that in a world full of tsunamis, famine, epidemics, etc, the only thing that the fine people at the Post will consider putting on their front page is the downfall of the Pitts. What is that? Luckily, I wasn't in the mood to think much Saturday and I went back to bed. Like I said, it took me the entire weekend to recover. Yesterday, I slowly but surely showed the resolve to get dressed and go outside to at least look at the outside world, and by last night, I was okay. Though by then I am pretty sure that I gave more money to Blockbuster than I have in months (but we should thank Margherita for that). So anyway, I wake up this morning and there is this very lively discussion on Z100 about how there is an ad looking for a stand in for Nicole Kidman. Apparently someone actually thinks that they can find another strawberry blonde who is 5'10" and 110 pounds. I mean really... although it is kind of sad that the only reason they would address this in such a public forum is that we live in a fat world where body types like that are extremely rare, it is kind of refreshing to know that the hope for bodies like this to exist is still alive. In any case, I insist that real beauty comes from within. I like the billboard that was on Times Square for a while, that had the wrinkly old lady. She looked happy and fulfilled.
One would think that living with an italian person I would decide to practice my Italian, but nooooooooo...sometimes I wonder about myself. Really.
Enrique's bon voyage party was an absolute success considering that it was planned the whole of 24 hours in advance. Most of the people we invited showed up and then some. The casualties were only a wine glass, my carpet (again!!), and then a girl-she who dared bad mouth Hillary. In party planning standards, that was good. As a matter of fact, it was so good that it took me the entire weekend to recover.
He aqui los tres que tiraron a Pedro al pozo!
For more pictures, please go to my pictures.
But what kind of a world is this that you wake up on saturday morning to see on the cover of the New York Post the headline that Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston split up? I mean, I understand that in the world of celebrities that is huge news; however, it pisses me off to think that in a world full of tsunamis, famine, epidemics, etc, the only thing that the fine people at the Post will consider putting on their front page is the downfall of the Pitts. What is that? Luckily, I wasn't in the mood to think much Saturday and I went back to bed. Like I said, it took me the entire weekend to recover. Yesterday, I slowly but surely showed the resolve to get dressed and go outside to at least look at the outside world, and by last night, I was okay. Though by then I am pretty sure that I gave more money to Blockbuster than I have in months (but we should thank Margherita for that). So anyway, I wake up this morning and there is this very lively discussion on Z100 about how there is an ad looking for a stand in for Nicole Kidman. Apparently someone actually thinks that they can find another strawberry blonde who is 5'10" and 110 pounds. I mean really... although it is kind of sad that the only reason they would address this in such a public forum is that we live in a fat world where body types like that are extremely rare, it is kind of refreshing to know that the hope for bodies like this to exist is still alive. In any case, I insist that real beauty comes from within. I like the billboard that was on Times Square for a while, that had the wrinkly old lady. She looked happy and fulfilled.
Friday, January 07, 2005
The more I know people, the more I like dogs.
New York, January 7, 2005
In the movie Frida, there is a scene in which Frida asks Diego if he can be loyal. His response to that is yes and then he proceeds to f*ck everyone in sight including her own sister, thereby breaking her heart over and over again. By the time she dies though, Diego is the only who is by her side.
What does that say about people? What does loyalty really mean?
loyal (according to Dictionary.com)
adj 1: steadfast in allegiance or duty [ant: disloyal] 2: inspired by love for your country [syn: patriotic] [ant: unpatriotic] 3: unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause
I suppose that loyalty may be a bit much to ask of some people even if they say they love you, althought it's something some people have engrained within. I think that over love I would take loyalty any day.
There once was this girl whose heart was broken over and over again by a guy who couldn't be loyal. In her life she had the loyalty and devotion of someone else who happened to be in love with her. While she was in love with someone else, she wasn't loyal-or even faithful- to him, but then she went back to him because the other guy left her with nothing and because Mr. Loyalty let her. In my book, that's a really shitty thing to do. She is to Mr. Loyalty like Royal Asshole was to her. Quite unfortunate really. What's more, I am certain that if you can't be loyal to your significant other (no matter how insignificant they might be), you can't be loyal to your friends. Now THAT is really unfortunate.
Today is Enrique's going away party and it promises to be a test of my last minute party planning ability. So far we have like 2 guests, but I figured that Enrique's friends will step up to the plate and make this gathering a memorable experience for him. Otherwise, I will have to put aside for one night my non-drinking resolve and show my loyalty to him by drinking a few too many vodka flavored drinks.
I read in Fico's blog about social apartheid in the DR and it dawned on me that there are over a million Dominicans living in NY and yet all the Dominicans I know and hang out with are those I used to know in DR. That's really sad. We are becoming like the Dominicans in Barcelona: same groups of people in a different location. Then people wonder why I don't hang out with Dominicans!
My beloved Marc Jacobs is messing with my head again. can somebody explain to me just how it is that a denim skirt and a matching jacket could posssibly cost US$600?? what's more, can somebody explain to me why it is that I am still considering buying it??
I am so glad today is friday!
xox-
ana
In the movie Frida, there is a scene in which Frida asks Diego if he can be loyal. His response to that is yes and then he proceeds to f*ck everyone in sight including her own sister, thereby breaking her heart over and over again. By the time she dies though, Diego is the only who is by her side.
What does that say about people? What does loyalty really mean?
loyal (according to Dictionary.com)
adj 1: steadfast in allegiance or duty [ant: disloyal] 2: inspired by love for your country [syn: patriotic] [ant: unpatriotic] 3: unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause
I suppose that loyalty may be a bit much to ask of some people even if they say they love you, althought it's something some people have engrained within. I think that over love I would take loyalty any day.
There once was this girl whose heart was broken over and over again by a guy who couldn't be loyal. In her life she had the loyalty and devotion of someone else who happened to be in love with her. While she was in love with someone else, she wasn't loyal-or even faithful- to him, but then she went back to him because the other guy left her with nothing and because Mr. Loyalty let her. In my book, that's a really shitty thing to do. She is to Mr. Loyalty like Royal Asshole was to her. Quite unfortunate really. What's more, I am certain that if you can't be loyal to your significant other (no matter how insignificant they might be), you can't be loyal to your friends. Now THAT is really unfortunate.
Today is Enrique's going away party and it promises to be a test of my last minute party planning ability. So far we have like 2 guests, but I figured that Enrique's friends will step up to the plate and make this gathering a memorable experience for him. Otherwise, I will have to put aside for one night my non-drinking resolve and show my loyalty to him by drinking a few too many vodka flavored drinks.
I read in Fico's blog about social apartheid in the DR and it dawned on me that there are over a million Dominicans living in NY and yet all the Dominicans I know and hang out with are those I used to know in DR. That's really sad. We are becoming like the Dominicans in Barcelona: same groups of people in a different location. Then people wonder why I don't hang out with Dominicans!
My beloved Marc Jacobs is messing with my head again. can somebody explain to me just how it is that a denim skirt and a matching jacket could posssibly cost US$600?? what's more, can somebody explain to me why it is that I am still considering buying it??
I am so glad today is friday!
xox-
ana
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Dietary dysfunction
So I came back from vacation with 4 additional pounds of puppy fat that I really could do without...so I had this brilliant plan that involved me coming home and immediately start doing my yoga before work, eating like a normal human being and then proceeding to go the gym after work. Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? Just my luck, I've been tired beyond disbelief, the weather has been terrible, and now I have a temporary roommate imported straight from Italy, whose greatest joy in life is cooking stuff that I actually like, and who brought me chocolate covered goodies of just the right kind. Whatever will I do?? Just thinking about all of those things has shaken my resolve to quit smoking. I am going to need to get back to that online support group. I can feel it. Gabs seems to be in a funk today and her ultimate piece of wisdom for today (aside the whole let's move to an island, run it in a dictatorial fashion and ship off the people we don't like) is to say what we feel. Apparently she doesn't know that empires have fallen with less. Never did I think I would say this, but maybe mom was right... Not saying everything that you think really does save you a bit of frustration and heartache. So I don't think I'll be listening to her. There is a certain comfort in keeping to yourself things that won't necessarily make your life any easier if you admit them. If nothing else, it will make you more interesting. Oh the joys of game-playing...
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
yeah...i can disappear here.
I am finally back in NYC after what appeared to be the longest 10 days of my life. By the time I got home yesterday, after having survived alcohol poisoning, boredom, and the loss of a friend, I was ready to kiss the ground I was walking on and vow to myself that I would never go back to the place I saw as a safe haven.
Now I am clear as to where "home" really is. Home being a relative term of course. If we go by the whole "home is where the heart is" theory, I would have to say that my home is usually somewhere either on American airlines or Lufthansa.
I always said that it is better to be a small fish in a big fishtank than a big fish in a small tank. My theory has been proven. As of right now I don't care if I disappear here.
Actually, I want to because quite often I do. So I don't have to wait for things that never come. I thought that yesterday (literally yesterday) would be different...That I would live through it in a different way, hoping for things to be different. But I didn't and they weren't so I wished I could just hide and I made myself disappear. Though I wished I could just teleport myself to other places. Because no matter what, it always seems like I should be somewhere else. It seems that I leave too early or I arrive too late. But I hope, and hope is a very strong force, that one day I will be standing where I need to be at just the right time and that when the time comes I won't want to disappear.
Now I am clear as to where "home" really is. Home being a relative term of course. If we go by the whole "home is where the heart is" theory, I would have to say that my home is usually somewhere either on American airlines or Lufthansa.
I always said that it is better to be a small fish in a big fishtank than a big fish in a small tank. My theory has been proven. As of right now I don't care if I disappear here.
Actually, I want to because quite often I do. So I don't have to wait for things that never come. I thought that yesterday (literally yesterday) would be different...That I would live through it in a different way, hoping for things to be different. But I didn't and they weren't so I wished I could just hide and I made myself disappear. Though I wished I could just teleport myself to other places. Because no matter what, it always seems like I should be somewhere else. It seems that I leave too early or I arrive too late. But I hope, and hope is a very strong force, that one day I will be standing where I need to be at just the right time and that when the time comes I won't want to disappear.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Happy New Year...Or is it?
Santo Domingo, Jan. 1, 2005
hahaha...I just overheard my brother wish someone a Happy New Year..."another year some more drama". That is exactly true. My drama started already and I didn't even notice it. Go figure!
But you make do with what you have and then push forward, right?
So I drank the Veuve Clicquot and I even smoked a cigarette though I quit a week ago. I kissed my dogs at midnight, hell, life is grand.
My buddy is in NY having her very first special cookies and I am missing the fun. Oh what a sad world this is...But then again, it could be worse. I could have been resident of Phuket (I so get a kick out of that name!) last week. Right now complaining about something so unimportant as are New Year's celebrations is so shitty though considering that 130,000+ people are dead, and so many more lost everything...
I think I might go straight to hell for this one...
Back to the mundane.
I WANT A NEW YEAR'S KISS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll admit it. I didn't get one. Unless, of course, you count my dogs' slobber all over my face. Now although that was good lovin', it wasn't exactly the kind of lovin' I was hoping for. So to make up for it, I am celebrating the Chinese New Year this year AND Rosh Hashana, just in case. And I better get a kiss both days!
Actually, I want a year filled with lots of affection of all sorts. I want to have a year kinda' sorta' like 2004 but with more money, more good times, and without sadness, or heartbreak, or anything like that.
I want to be happy, and I want everyone to be happy too.
I want everyone to get their New Year's kiss.
And what's more, I want a new year without drama, without stress and with lots of love.
Happy New Year!
xox-
Ana
hahaha...I just overheard my brother wish someone a Happy New Year..."another year some more drama". That is exactly true. My drama started already and I didn't even notice it. Go figure!
But you make do with what you have and then push forward, right?
So I drank the Veuve Clicquot and I even smoked a cigarette though I quit a week ago. I kissed my dogs at midnight, hell, life is grand.
My buddy is in NY having her very first special cookies and I am missing the fun. Oh what a sad world this is...But then again, it could be worse. I could have been resident of Phuket (I so get a kick out of that name!) last week. Right now complaining about something so unimportant as are New Year's celebrations is so shitty though considering that 130,000+ people are dead, and so many more lost everything...
I think I might go straight to hell for this one...
In any case, take a minute to go to one of the following sites (or if you can, all the sites) and donate what you can to those people affected by the tsunamis. Start the year off right.
Intl. Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Soc.
Association for India's development
In any case, it doesn't matter where you give, as long as you do.
ANYWAY...Back to the mundane.
I WANT A NEW YEAR'S KISS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll admit it. I didn't get one. Unless, of course, you count my dogs' slobber all over my face. Now although that was good lovin', it wasn't exactly the kind of lovin' I was hoping for. So to make up for it, I am celebrating the Chinese New Year this year AND Rosh Hashana, just in case. And I better get a kiss both days!
Actually, I want a year filled with lots of affection of all sorts. I want to have a year kinda' sorta' like 2004 but with more money, more good times, and without sadness, or heartbreak, or anything like that.
I want to be happy, and I want everyone to be happy too.
I want everyone to get their New Year's kiss.
And what's more, I want a new year without drama, without stress and with lots of love.
Happy New Year!
xox-
Ana
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