a tiny story

With all the crap in the world I want to tell you a little tiny Christmas story. Yes, it barely passed but hadn't been in the mood to share it.

It's that time of year when you want something particular for Christmas. I mean you've been good this year right. It's only fair that you get something that you want. Not something that you need. When it comes to buying gifts I really suck at it. I would like to say that I'm really happy when Christmas is over with. The shopping and the headaches that come with it. You'd think that it is fun but when the world has become materialistic it gets harder to buy gifts. I do like giving just not the idea of getting the gift. I don't like the season.  It's like hey you are forgetting why it's even celebrated. People are more rude and cranky. It's the month that has more robberies. It's also when people are really depressed.

our Christmas tree this year.

I was a little disappointed that they didn't have elderlies this year at the angel tree setups. They did however have adults with disabilities that was quite entreating to shop for. I'm thinking to buy for an adult but not just a regular adult, a very special one. My workplace doesn't really have a Christmas party like the one I'd like to actually go to. I'd see friends go to their company's Christmas parties and thought that was always fun. Tried this year to do my own Christmas party and it actually worked even though not every one showed up. It was quite fun talked the whole night till closing time. Maybe I'll do it again next year. I sometimes would love to give all the people that I work with a little something for Christmas, but I'm not set up with those kind of funds. So what I decided to do is pick two people that don't get the acknowledgment that they deserve and went out and bought them a gift. Loved seeing their surprise look on their faces when I handed them a present. People always get a kick getting what they want but how many can say they get a kick out of giving a gift.

This year Santa was my father in law. Heathers dad was Santa at the Dallas Arboretum. If you went and snapped a picture with Santa, yes that was Heather's dad so please do share the photo. We did get a chance to snap one with Santa as well, but the Santa we took a picture with had tattoos and lives in Deep Ellum. I don't think I'll ever be too old for Santa. I might be too old for his lap because he can't handle all of this, but surely a picture will do. Heather showed our nephew a picture of Santa as her dad and he looked at her with a crazy look that said, "yeah right like Santa is your dad!"

went to a craft day in Irving and found this tree among others decorated and being voted to pick the best one

I didn't ask for anything this year wasn't feeling the spirit. Bu I did ask my secret Santa for lotion. I know it sounds silly but when I don't  want for anything I go for my need, and that is what came to mind. What tickled my feather was the fact that all my sisters including my babe and mother in law ended giving me lotions and I loved it. I got all kinds of smell goods. Wonder if I can make It my own trend for the years ahead.

I said I'd share a tiny Christmas story but I think I had too many to share.

A little girl about eight barely reaches the counter with her mother and younger sister. She isn't afraid to speak her tiny mind so we hold a small conversation. She tells me how she is ready for Christmas.  She is ready for Santa to come. I smile and tell her, "me too" and she gets the giggles.  She was wearing a hijab. At that moment I realized that it's just a small child, just like any other, raised differently but with the same spirit.

When you think of Christmas what comes to mind?

no matter who you are

We didn't attend the Dallas Pride Parade this year. The parade had more cons than pros. If you are getting older, like me, I think you'd understand. We almost didn't make it to the Tarrant Pride Parade. The parade took place in down town Ft. Worth. Woke up late from watching scary movies so we were on our way to eat brunch.

I mentioned that it was late to go to the festivities but we looked at out car clock and said well it starts in 30 minutes, if we make it then it was meant to be. We live by these words. if it's meant to happen it will. We arrived and searched for parking which happened to be easier than Dallas. We did pay but quickly arrived two minutes before it started. We waited when a group of supporters approached the parade at the same time as we did but across the way they stood. When they started preaching their hate we quickly moved. Didn't want to hear hate while enjoying a pride parade for being who we are. Just to think that preaching can also be used towards hate reminded me of people in my life that are okay with having their lives preached hate and being okay with it just worries me.  At the same time what are these people taught to tell me that I'm going to hell. To tell me to repent and convert over because if not God doesn't love me. I feel sorrow for them for judging me.

Everyone was so friendly. the kind of friendly were it is more family oriented with an older more respectful crowd. People in regular attire without being naked. At least that is what was around us. I kept thinking to myself, these are the people I want to be associated with. The parade didn't last two hours like the one in Dallas does, but it was still meaningful. I forgot to time it but I believe it was close to an hour. You probably wouldn't believe me if you didn't see it but there were no beer can crushed or bo0ttles broken on the ground, There was no litter. A well kept clean parade. The parade had so many church floats just wanting to marry you. I didn't think I'd see so many preachers want to marry a person of LGBT before, felt touched. After the parade we decided to visit their festivities down Main St. There was an AARP booth and I sure did visit it. I love Dallas, but just don't tell him that Ft worth was way better.

Didn't even have to wait another hour just to leave our parking spot. What a great experience. Did I mention that with the buildings down main there was shade on both sides of the parade.

The question is did we ever eat? Yes. We did.

momento

When we arrived Monday we didn't know that it was the fourteenth anniversary of the passing of eight people in a terrible accident that occurred on the island. We knew of the people and how they passed away. But hadn't realized it had been fourteen years. Early Monday was their memorial service. We arrived in the evening so stopped today to remember them. 

left from the memorial service

Fourteen years ago a tugboat hit a column of the causeway that connects the island to main land. It is the second largest bridge in Texas. The next morning heading to work people didn't expect for there to be a void of bridge missing and they ended falling into the bay and died. Volunteers with there own boats help transport people back and forth. Due to the accident there are now lights every so many feet that will flash to warn you if something is wrong with the bridge. Stop turn around.

my lock

Decided to check to see if a piece of trinket that I left there last year was still there. To my surprise it was. A couple of years ago I started carrying locks that I painted with special words on them. Wherever I would go to a place that I loved I placed a lock there. I was happy to see that it still was. I had painted it burgundy and wrote my pen name on it because of the salt and humidity in the air it turned the lock to a rustic look. You can barely see the writing on it. A little piece of me stays there. Maybe I'll start it again. One that I left in Deep Ellum lasted three years and no longer resides there. It's a form of art for me. I share it with you now. If you ever come upon one on your adventures it probably was left there by me.

There is talk about building a second bridge that would be eight miles long. If you've ever driven on the Queen Isabella causeway and felt that anxious feeling of being on it, wonder how many daredevils would crave to try the eight mile one?

an unexpected companian

Woke up to our babies barking out the window. They sure keep us safe. It's cute when they peek their head out the window and then scare you right up with the barking. You are trying to stay in bed but they just wont let you. I wonder if they also scare the people passing by?

Picked up shells today. Tried to pick the strangely unique ones but I think others wake up earlier to get them first. Stayed on the beach as long as we could until we both started to get headaches. That's our cue. Have you ever beat the beach? Ask heather next time you see her to demonstrate how that is done.

our unexpected companion

Came back and took a well deserved nap. Heading out to the strip and Heather has been talking about this place we should try. It's called Wanna Wanna. It's a restaurant slash inn. Towards the back of the island. It was a perfect spot to sit down and eat as you look out on the beach. It felt so calming and relaxing. Found out this was the place to be. Everyone was friendly. The way the island should always be, filled with people that love to say hello and want to engage in other human acknowledgement. Once we were there we didn't want to leave. We wondered out of all the years we've been here how come we hadn't stopped here before. If ever on the island please stop here, I highly recommend it. You eat outside but the breeze of the ocean keeps you cool.

ceviche

Who would have thought that with the other people at Wanna Wanna we would have a visitor greet us by our table. How did he know Heather is a cat person. He laid by her feet. Looked like we had trained this cat to be like a dog and stay, at least that's what some people thought when they saw him.

Decided to say the heck with it and stopped by one of our first stops many years ago, a gelato ice cream shop. I had a coffee gelato and Heather had a coconut mocha drink, deliciousness. Then we ate our deserts as we reminisced on the past. We have so many memories here.

coffee gelato

Today was better than the first days. We realized that I'm getting old. I'm starting to think like the older generation. When I asked the question, do I look old?  She replied, you kind of look like you are getting there, and I felt it.

sitting outside at Wanna Wanna

Want to give a little tip from experience. If you ever seat at an eatery by the lake or beach always check your seat. I sat down not seeing the water that was on my chair and got my butt wet. Yeah someone that had just got out of the water, sat down, enjoyed a drink and left leaving a puddle of  water on the chair.

not tired at all, wink wink

doggie prints heading towards the water

Slept in today. Well more like seven in the morning. Took advantage of the complementary breakfast. It's not a full kitchen but the cereal and bagels with coffee hit the spot. The four legged baby's enjoyed the ocean water. They enjoyed it so much that they started drinking the water. Yeah the salty ocean water, had to put a stop to that quick. The water felt so good, and the beach was meant for us only. Love going to the beach on the off seasons. Right now kids are in school so parents won't take time off from work so it's like if we have become winter Texans. A winter Texan is someone of age that travels to the beach island when there isn't a sign of young hood. I love it. I don't like to travel when it's populated with people. I like to take trips during the week when I know there won't be as many people around. I contradict myself because I like meeting new people but not when I want to relax. So everywhere we have been to, we are the youngest couple. If you spend more than three hours on the beach, the island sucks all the energy out of you. When we get back to the hotel we are starving and tired, talk about a relaxing trip. Have you ever walked on a floor of shells? It's pretty smooth and neat until you step on one that got cracked. But imagine walking down the island and having fresh shells appear from the ocean, you get first pick. Today I saw an old lady carrying an Easter bucket picking sea shells. Imagine doing that on a regular basis creating gifts or art from things brushed up from the other side of what seems like endless water.

carefully walking the ground while looking for treasure

Enjoyed our food choices today. The service was better. Hit our favorite spot called El Senor Donkey, Mexican seafood restaurant. I haven't had a burger. I feel that if you go to an island you eat seafood. One thing we found out was that oysters are not in season for September and even though we are in the tip of Texas, they have to get them from Louisiana and even they are having a hard time getting them. We also came when Rosh Hashana was being celebrated so some places were closed while others closed early. All I could think about was the fact that we are in the tip of Texas and its major business owners are Jewish. Crazy how that is, but awesome. Didn't meet any friendly people today, on the contrary we meet a lady that really didn't like us. She was like is this together *enter sourpuss face*? Yes, it is.

look at all that fish

Decided to go the visitors center to get some postcards to mail out but they didn't provide any this year so I have to come up with another idea.

For a few seconds I stop to realize I missed Harvey, he loves to talk to you. He goes around the house meowing. He meows until you notice him.     

Right now it's a burn kind of night, yeah a sunburn. Is it worth it? I think it is. I can prove to you that brown skin under the sun by the salty, cool water will turn red.

what the view is for a winter Texan

Another cool fact or fiction tale is that when we stopped to a store the owner happened to mention that his store has a ghost. Creepy Awesome.

away from home

Almost backed out but decided to take the trip last minute. Packed the night before and had three backseat drivers this year. Was thinking about boarding them but decided that the price to have them with us was cheaper. Besides Sadie loves the beach and it would be Lucy's first time. Have you ever traveled with three four legged babies? They sleep most of the way and the only part that is challenging is when you stop for that pit stop. They are confused and don't know if it's safe to go.

Sadie

It always rains on us as we drive to our destination. Nothing major this time. I actually like when it rains, it cools the drive. We arrived late so the only thing we were able to do tonight was go out for dinner. Ate at this place called cap'n Roy's seafood and Mexican but I really wouldn't recommend it. It was our first time there and we didn't like the service either. But we have to try a new place every time we come. Rained again. The smell of rain with the wind blowing next to the beach is a very relaxing feeling. Don't know what tomorrow holds, just know that I'm with great company.


it includes a fumi salad, my fumi salad had ramen noodles

The only thing I can tell you is that if the opportunity comes to go out and leave everything behind for a few days, do it. Even I need a break from the city and people. One of my favorite things is not knowing what people will come across my path.

Anti Trump Rally

I wonder at times if  some of us really know the meaning if Labor Day? What I remember about this day is barbecues and having the day off from school, but as you get older you realize that as an adult you will have to work on the day that contradicts itself. Labor Day is for the laborer. A day to appreciate the hard work one does. Who actually gets this day off? I want to take this moment to thank all the working class of America. Thank you for working hard as you do. I'm sorry we don't get much appreciation, or in my case when my managers think I'm stupid or as I'm told by some of the people I help, "just do my job". But luckily I just happen to be off this Labor Day.

Dallas City Hall September 7, 2015

Went to an Anti Trump Rally today. This should tell you if I'm for him or against him. When you vote for a president you vote for someone that will always represent you. So in my case why would I want an ignorant man filled with hate to represent me. He doesn't even know me, and dislikes me because I'm a woman, doesn't like me because I'm a daughter of Mexican immigrants, and being LGBT just puts the icing to the cake. If you are a single parent he also hates you. If you are an African American he also hates you.  My partner is white from German descent and I feel like he also attacks her because she is with me. How can you stand with someone with so much hate. He represents you.  IT was a peaceful rally, no one got hurt. Just proves we are not criminals. We had people from El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Mexico, along with others trying to make our voice be heard. The only way to do so is by voting. Our Anti Trump Rally was to get people involved by hearing us loud and clear at the voting booths. If you think it doesn't effect you, think again.

a child holding a drawing he made to say no to Donald Trump

I think it's a lack of not educating yourself on the issues or what you say about yourself when you are asked if you voted. You reply by saying, "no, what for?" just be honest to yourself and say that you don't know because you just live life thinking you are not affected by it.  

I know who I stand behind, who I'm voting for, do you?

If you think like Trump then you are against me. I don't have room in my life with all the bullshit in this world and hate is just part of it.

wearing a crown to lunch

Had a birthday in the family but hadn't had time to get together to celebrate. Finally we just decided to take one hour of our busy lives to celebrate a special occasion. It's hard having a birthday in the summer time. Kids are out of school so you think that maybe an outdoor party is great but if there isn't a pool involved you have hot guests, we crossed that out. We decided to have an indoor party but the time was off, so again we postponed.

What did we end up doing, you may ask?

Woke up to finish wrapping her gift and frosted cupcakes that I made last night. Told my sisters that we should just meet up for lunch. That we were going to go ahead and celebrate on lunch. We chose chick-fil-a . When we got there we set two tables together. Erica brought balloons and tied them to our birthday girls chair. We finally sat down to celebrate Maggie's birthday. Made her day our little princess. We treated it just as special as it was meant to be. Took us almost two hours from eating to opening presents. Did I mention we all had crowns. That it was a tea slash princess party inside a chick-fil-a. Yes we had all kinds of looks but that didn't matter because it was our little girl's party. While opening presents two perfect strangers wished Maggie a happy birthday by giving her a dollar. Not only that but she even passed two police officers that wished our little girl a Happy Birthday. I hope that it was as memorable to her as it was to me. I keep referring to her as ours, not because she is our little child, but because she is our little niece.

I also want to thank the people at the Irving chick-fil-a  for not kicking us out after having us take up part of their busiest time, and by having our three year old have specially made cupcake crumbles on the floor.

Randomness only works when you have the right people involved.

a man of the law

I know I look like I am not strong, I know that it may seem as if I am not smart. I hold back, not because I like to, but because I want it to be as if looks are deceiving. I want you to be surprised when I open my mouth and fight back with words that you can't comprehend. I want you to think for a second and wonder that I didn't have it in me. I come from a background that has been fighting the fight not only for me but for the people before me. I walk in the alleys of the dark streets not because I'm a want to be bad ass but because that is where I find my adventures. I walk on the dark side of town not because I know how to fight but because those are my roots. That's what helped me not walk down the streets afraid. I always walk with my head held high not because the world owes me anything but because I deserve to walk with out fear. I am a woman, of Mexican roots, that started learning English at eight years old, born here in Dallas, city to a great Texas state. I've lived life with scares but today was a little different.

in an alley in Deep Ellum, TX.

Today when I caught what seemed to be just a regular guy in a lie he threatened me. I've been threatened before and it hadn't bothered me it comes with my line of work. I don't get scared when a drug addict or thief threatens me. It's comical. But today was different. He took out his wallet and showed me his badge. He told me he was a man of the law. I stood my ground and it made him more mad. I was by myself and didn't think much of it but then it hit me. If something would have escalated it would have been my word against his. You tend to side with the law, right?

I treat everyone I come across equally. That's where people seem to forget that it doesn't matter how you live your life and perceive it to be, it can be taken away. And that one person that you shamed will one day shame you.

feeling empty

I don't think about it I think because she is always by my side. Everywhere I am , she is. Everywhere I want to be,  she follows. I don't ever think about her not being anywhere but by my side.

I love to explore take those small adventurous new places and things that we do.

A couples of friends have told us to go to Turner Falls that we would love it. It's a small trip and that we would enjoy it. I have seen photos of their adventures to this sunny waters place but have yet to go.

One friend came to me and said I miss my husband. I know she does. I miss how we used to go everywhere together. How he would love to take us to small trips. Like the time he took me to Turner Falls. I miss him so much. I miss him at home. It gets so lonely. I know. I don't know what to do to not miss him. And I know she tries her best to hold those tears back.

What do I tell her? People want to be comforted someway but there really isn't a way to do that. Nothing I can tell her will make it better. She doesn't want to think about replacing that empty hole that she feels. She just wants it to get better. It's been a couple of months that he has been gone and she tries to cope but I know she feels alone.

I don't think about missing her I always want her to be with me. So what exactly do I tell her? What would you like to be told to you, if anything, just let me be.      

Lana what happened?

It's Saturday morning and I didn't plan anything because we wanted to save all our energy to go to the Lana del Rey concert. I bought the tickets in December and surprised Heather with the gift. A friend asked her, "hey, does Gabriela know you are in love with Lana"? Heather said yeah. We have listened to her cd in the car at least three times a week. If there were new songs that had emerged we wouldn't know of them. You either love Lana or you don't. Her music is listed under pop but I think it needs a different kind of category. It's the type of music that can make you get lost in time and makes you wander into a different era. At least that's my version.

We arrived late. Took the shortcut through the back of the arena. I've been through the neighborhood enough to know, to beat the car hold up on the highway, there is a faster way to get there. Even though we got there late the show hadn't started. The band Hole was to be the opening act. Lead singer Courtney Love. That's another reason we didn't want to be there on time because we didn't want to see her perform. But to our surprise she came on and late. She wasn't getting a reaction from the audience. She did try but just couldn't get to them. When she came out they cheered thinking it was Lana. The show was sold out and believe me the lawn was full. We wondered if it would go on but it said rain or shine. We bought ponchos and took an umbrella. We waited patiently seated on our neat sheet. When the band stopped playing it appeared as if the stage was being re arranged for the next performer.

fans wearing their flower crowns

Over an hour passed and some were already past drunk and others passed taking selfies, but still the skies were clear of rain. When an automated voice recording came on to tell us that the concert was going to be postponed due to weather. It mentioned a tornado and to take shelter. To proceed to leave and go to our cars. People started turning to their neighboring partner and asked if they heard correctly. We decided to wait and sit back down I think, because it felt like a joke. Others were ranting upset words. I don't blame them. We waited months and were over prepared to see our performer. Some drove from out of state. The audience mostly consisted of the younger crowd but there were adults as well. When some had to phone their parents to come get them it was more of a surprise. My first reaction was to ask questions, but they had closed the guest services. It's like they used all this free time to close up shop and then tell us the concert had been postponed. A guy asked when was the last call for alcohol and the hawker said ten. It was coincidentally ten minutes till ten.

Leaving was another story. Cars were at a stand still. We ended up staying inside our car for another hour before we could actually start to leave. People had her music playing on their stereos. We heard all her songs from others playing them as we headed to our car. It was a musical riot. People were mad. I was more upset at the fact that there had been no rain, not even after we left. They had claimed it was due to weather, but come to find out, she had never made it to the venue. I think that version made more sense. The fact that she was delayed and couldn't arrive on time for a sold out arena. I wonder if they would have told us before would we all have still stayed to watch Courtney. I wonder if they didn't tell us so that they could make their alcohol sales and lawn chair rentals. I do believe an apology is owed. I called the box office but haven't heard back. But I'm probably not the only one that left a voicemail. It's not a bad voicemail just me needing a question answered. A lot of people wore their flower crown and dressed their part for the night, just to have it postponed without telling us what really happened. I know I've had experiences with things back firing, but for us to sit there like we could have had better things to do. For the artist to not have shown up was just really rude.

I'm not the one in love with you Lana but if this offends you then just write a song about it.

Tia

I know it's like a poof going on in your head but I don't remember when was the last time Spanish mothers shared American mothers day on the same day. I'm Mexican I tell my mother Feliz Dia de Las Madres on the tenth in south and central America. It's funny at times when she tells me but I'm in America so I get two presents. One on the tenth and one on the Sunday it is celebrated here. I'm lucky to have my mom still with us. she doesn't like to take photos so I have to sneak one in there at times. My mother is the friendliest person that I know. She has a way with showing her smile and making strangers into friends. The word mom means something different to everyone. When I hear mom all that comes to mind is her cooking. How she always wants to cook for you. She spends the most of her time in the kitchen cooking. She prepares food just in case her daughters swing by. How her grays show more and more and she wishes she still had the strength to look young. So she does what everyone does today well just about, color their hair. My mom has lived through some hard times and if she wanted to she would tell us her stories but I think she doesn't because she herself tries to forget. One of our child hood memories of my mother was when we lived in Oak Cliff. She would invite our tia over and they would go in the back yard and make donuts for all of us. I remember we'd along with our cousins look forward to us playing while they would make a batch. I love my mother dearly just wish our bond was stronger than what she knows it could be.


my sweet mother

I ran across an ad in a child's magazine. Don't know why I read them when I see one It's not like I could relate because then I think about all the time lost just wondering, the what if. I didn't know there is a group called M.E.N.D that helps mothers with the loss of a child. That today being mothers day some mothers are without their child. I have a friend that lost her child this week and how do you comfort her knowing the pain has to be unbearable. Mothers day can be filled with joy just as much as it can be filled with sadness. With the help of social media we give thanks by showing others the gifts that are given to us but some have lost a mother already or their child. Cherish the small things that come your way. Be it a flower from the backyard to the flowers from the store.

one day they will hold each other

I am blessed to have my sisters in my life to have wished me a happy mothers day today even though I haven't been given that gift. Got a giggling video of my nephew wishing us happy mothers day.....happy mothers day to the best tia in the world. I also got a surprise hand made flower bouquet made with the picture of my first born on it. She has become very creative thanks to this pinterest
.

it's me and my sisters with my mother and one of our furry babies (Sadie)

On mothers day I wish my partner a happy mothers day because she cares for all our furry babies. She tends to them in ways you would when babies get sick. Because believe it or not they do get into situations that have consequences later. I ended buying her the Big Eyes movie, haven't seen it yet but she is my artist.

To all the friends and family that have wished us a wonderful happy mothers day, thank you. Thank you for including us on this special day. One of our friends said happy future mothers day, who knows by then we'd celebrate happy mothers day to a bottle feeder with diaper changing baby and our flea bathers one day.

With this said I give all the mothers and furry mothers a Happy rainy yet beautiful day Mothers Day today.

Sourtoe Cocktail.....excuse me.

Have you ever heard of the Sourtoe Cocktail?

this is the page in the book that made me question whether it was true or false
(Learn Something Everyday by Young)

Went to sell a bag of books to the half price book store and ended coming home with a bag of books. I didn't break even. Heather found this book for me title "Learn Something Everyday" by Young . I've been reading the very insightful useless information that only I would care to read just in case I'm on one of those game shows one day. When I came upon a page that read Sourtoe Cocktail. The Sourtoe Cocktail is a champagne seasoned with an amputated toe. Yes exactly what I said.  It is a specialty drink that is served in Canada. I couldn't believe what I saw so I googled it and to my surprise it was to be true. You order a cocktail with a human toe in the drink. Yes try sipping on your alcohol beverage and have your lips touch an old cut off toe that has been preserved in alcohol that began as a joke. You are not suppose to swallow it but pretend it's an ice cube that way it can continue to be shared with others. Although there have been instances where the toe has been swallowed. What started as a five hundred dollar drink is now twenty five hundred dollars. I wonder if in fact you accidentally swallow it does it make you a cannibal. But seriously if you knew whose toe it was would you dare drink your cocktail. If you see the happy smiles on the people that have tried it you'd be like me, eww gross. They have actually gotten toes that have been amputated in the mail. One from a diabetic amputee another from mowing the yard and having an accident. There is a club called The Sourtoe Club go become a member. You still don't believe me look it up. I know it sounds like I made it up, right? And if you still don't believe me go visit this place called Dawson, Canada. Snap a selfie drinking an old probably brownish purple wrinkled big fat toe. I'm sorry I shared this information with you but I just had too because it wouldn't be fair to keep this knowledge from you. By the way the first toe used in this specialty drink was from the 1920's to date there have been nine. Keep recycling that toe.

Holi a festival of colors

I don't know if  you've seen "Outsourced" a movie later turned to a television series but only lasted one season. I learned of Holi watching the movie. I dreamed of one day possibly getting the chance to travel to a far away country to be able to experience this Hindu celebration called Holi. What exactly is Holi? Holi is a celebration of the beginning of spring. The celebration of colors. When spring begins the colors of the earth come out from hiding and are full of life and the feeling that it makes you feel. How many of you love purple, pink, yellow, orange, green, and lets not forget red? When you need a cheer me up you pick something bright. 

I didn't get the opportunity to travel to India to experience Holi. Holi came to me. I learned of it last year, the first ever Holi festival here in the area. Didn't get to go last year due to rain. This year was it's second year and this time I wasn't going to miss it. I'll admit I was a bit nervous showing up and being the only Spanish speaking individual and Heather being the only bright skinned person but I was also excited to go.


We arrived in the parking lot and already wondering if we should turn back around and leave but like I normally do, is I pretend to know what I am doing and walk with such confidence like the phrase says "walk like a boss" into the festival ground. I knew we needed colors so walked right up to the tent where I saw people getting pouches of colors and asked to buy a whole box. The box consisted of five colors: yellow, red, blue, orange, and pink. Depending on the box is what the colors were. They are called Holi colors, spring colors. What you do is cut the pouch open and start tossing the powdered colors into the air filled with festival goers. My favorite was going up to a total stranger and saying happy Holi and touching (caressing) their face with the color. Everyone was so welcoming towards us. They were just a happy crowd. Music was playing so there was also a lot of dancing going on. Food was being sold. If we had yellow and pink but not red a person would come up to us and touch us with green. There was not a bright color missed. I felt like I was in a totally different part of the world. We stayed almost to the end and we did dance to their music.

If you have never experienced a different culture you my friend haven't lived. It was an experience well enjoyed and will be more than glad to attend next year. I don't think I have ever felt so welcomed by a different community in my life time than I had on this day. The day we celebrated spring. Holi is also the beginning of forgetting all the bad and making mends. Me being stubborn that part of Holi would be hard but to help welcome spring with my love and total strangers is my kind of life.

Look forward to it next year. Remember this time next year to say goodbye to winter and hello spring Hindu style, the best way the world could celebrate it.  I also recommend making "Outsourced" the movie a must watch on your list. I guarantee you won't regret it.


Happy Holi friends and enjoy the colors.

didn't even say hello

Was driving home from taking photos of a soon to be three year old. Took me a little longer than expected. The sun was right at the sight where if you don't wear sun glasses you would get blinded by it. Was driving home when I saw something from the ground fly up and land back down on the road. I began to slow down when I came closer. I looked to my right and saw a woman with a ghostly look on her face and a leash in her hand. I look to my right and there was a young guy with a big dog on the side walk. By this point I had made a complete stop on the street and rolled my window down and yelled to the lady if she needed me to call someone. She yelled back and said no I just live up the street. In front of me there had been  a red truck with the outline of a person wearing a straw hat. I'm going to tell you what I think might have happened.

The lady had been walking her little dog, when the dog saw the big dog across the street and wanted to get closer to say hello. The small dog pulled himself in that direction when the leash broke and  ran completely across the street. That's when the red truck hit the dog. It had hit with such force that the dog flew and bounced on the ground. He didn't get the chance to say hello. The lady stood in shock before going in to the street to pick him up. She picked him up like a small baby carrying him on his back with his feet up. She looked at him calling him but he was not moving you could tell he was gone. She carried him with such delicacy as to think that if she moved him he might be in pain. It's when I yelled to ask her if she needed help. She then hurried home. I looked over to see the guy with the big dog and we both nodded our heads and said he was gone.

The person with the red truck you ask?  They knew they had hit the lady's dog.  Wasn't going to stop but decided to slow down. The red truck finally pulled over slowly to the side and waited for some seconds before proceeding again. Not once did they get out or approach the lady. Not once did they ask what they could do. Not once did they say I'm sorry. Not once did they pretend to care.

They had just committed a crime by letting this woman see her baby die right in front of her. The red truck just stopped at the light and made a right turn and didn't look back.

I'm going to say that it was an accident because it was but why didn't they stop? They didn't just kill a stray pup. This pup had a mother that had just happen to take him out for a walk.

strength

What were you doing this morning?  Some Mondays are more interesting than others. I hear how everyone hates Mondays, but I think I might be the only one that enjoys them. I'm off from work so I spend it doing errands with my pops. Sometimes every once in a while I'll get them to myself now that he started working.

Today I woke up a little after four am. I woke up to drive to Irving to then leave by six in the morning heading to Wills Point. My father needed a little help out at the ranch before he actually worked today. He is working to get a tractor but in the meantime we use his small truck to bring out a bundle of hay. It is much easier when a vehicle is used but not today. It had been raining and it wasn't safe to use the truck so we had to physically try to pry it from being on the ground for months and try to push it out where it would be safe for the cattle to get to it. When hay is left on the ground for months it starts to grow it's own grass onto the ground so it would be like pulling a huge pile of grass with your hands from the ground. Try rolling something that has taken over the ground and weighs over five hundred pounds when wet. I would push on one end while my dad pushed on the other. We barely nudged it. I then began to pray and said God give us the strength we need to do this. It wasn't easy but He did listen. I kept yelling in my head "God help us" over and over and He finally did. By the time we were done I had mud inside my shoes. Living the farm girl life this morning.

When I realized what we had just done I thought to myself how I had managed to either have the same strength as my father or the fact that he was getting old and I now have more strength than him. How, when I was a kid, I used to think of my father as the strongest man on earth now and his strength was losing him. 

I don't always get to go the ranch but when I do I'm glad to get to visit with my sister. It's like a silent world out there were no one knows you. Where you can still pump gas first then pay. If you haven't heard of the pump first then pay it's because the world is changing and honesty or trust are values that are becoming extinct.

el dia del amor y la amistad

Did you survived another Valentines day? If so good for you. If you are like me you will get that question asked. What did you get for Valentines? Somehow it's important that another individual that is not in your relationship to know. Why ask? It's because it's more like a competition. Who got what? How did it out do their gift?

People that are secure won't brag about how the day was rewarded with a gift. When you have been in a relationship as long as I have gifts don't matter. It's what you do for your love that out shines the money spent. I don't like gift getting from my partner, she does try, but I rather get something more personal. Spending the day doing things we love and making memories is more valuable than seeing how long my flowers will last alive. Some people love getting flowers.

I have single friends and I know that they lie to themselves and say that they are better off alone when deep down it isn't. You want love. You want someone to know you exist. I want my friends to have that feeling. I know from experience. I remember going through school and not getting a Valentine while some of the popular girls got not one but sometimes up to three admiring Valentines. I would get upset and wonder why couldn't just one of them give me a share. I did get lucky my senior year and a dear friend had a rose delivered to my classroom. He gave five of his friends a rose. Our school had that program on Valentines day. I'll never forget that. 

a photo taken from the book of Hearts 

Valentines is what we call in Spanish El Dia del Amor y la Amistad. The day of love and friendship. I end up mailing my friends Valentine cards. Everyone loves getting a card in the mail. Don't think it's just for the lovers but think about that special bond you have with your friends. I don't mean the friends that only get together to drink I mean the friends that share more than an evening.

For Valentines they had people go to a museum and place a heart on their favorite art piece #heartsforart. Being art lovers we went to the Amon Carter Museum and did just that. We went through the museum and placed our hearts under neath the art piece we loved. We also visited the book store our favorite one in Dallas. We assume we will only buy one book but end up leaving with a box. While going through the books to narrow my list down I came upon a book of hearts. Ironic to find it on Valentines day. Flipped through it and saw this picture of a woman visiting her love that had passed away. Thought to myself how lucky I was to still have my partner here with me. Some of us probably cried because we didn't have someone to give us a gift on this day but what about the ones who cried about having someone in their lives that couldn't share Valentines because they were no longer living.

Amon Carter Museum

Be thankful for the loves in your life, be it your children, your friends, or your significant other.

Have you ever seen a guy buy a basket full of bears and candy at a Wal-Mart. Not only did he get a deal but her gave all his girlfriends an even gift. If you are his girlfriend be thankful he didn't exclude you from all the rest.

Happy Valentines Day Friends

only needs two quarters

How has the year started for you? I see all theses boot camp photos and gym shots and I hope it's working for you. What I don't see are the ones where you gave up carbs, or sweets. You don't have to explain I'm just speaking to myself. Keep it up I expect slimmer photos come June. What I'm trying to do myself is just eat earlier and sleep more. Getting more sleep I find out helps you be more energetic.

Have you ever had a wonderful day? No, I don't mean just four hours of the day being the best. I hadn't realized how bad my days are until I actually had a good one. My wonderful day was Friday, I'll explain...I didn't encounter any roughness or cursing at work and everything went smoothly, which never happiness. Got off work and had my car inspected and it passed with flying colors. I don't know if you had ever had the feeling of waiting to see if you car passes the EXAM and praying for your little revving engine to keep you on the road. So when the guy comes to you and tells you how much the inspection is your sigh of relief is really a thank you JESUS. I wanted to reward my car for passing so I went ahead and took it to get an oil change. Came home and a few short hours my father n law with Becky and Emma came over and fixed our shower. See how many more little blessings I'm talking about. After that they treated us to dinner. What more could I ask for. I like hanging out with them I think it's because after knowing them for so long I can actually act like myself around them. They even know the moment I'm about to cry when watching a sad movie. Enough about my wonderful day. I mean I know I wont get many of those days. Think about it, how many wonderful days have you had that didn't involve doing something spectacular?

There are small angels in disguise around us we just don't realize who they are because we don't take time to see. I spotted an angel Sunday. Someone I work with had two stuffed animals that he had just won from the claw machine (a glass see through big box that you put quarters in to have a big claw come down and try to win something inside). He saw me and was going to give me one but I said that's okay not really a big fan of stuffed animals. Two other people approached him and asked for them instead. He went ahead and gave them away. He said he wins them all the time. I asked who he gives them too, maybe he was going to give them to someone at home. He told me he gives them to the hospital for the children with cancer. So before he gave those two away I said well keep them don't give them away. He replied and said "that's okay I'll get more tomorrow". He let them accumulate once and ended up taking four trash bags of stuffed animals.  They put a big smile on those kid's faces. My view of this man changed and I told him he had a gift. He said "I never thought of it that way. Imagine fifty cents buying happiness to a child that has cancer. The small things in life that bring joy are priceless. We often see people and don't realize what they have offered this world. Here is an angel disguised as just a working man that doesn't bother anyone and just goes about his daily routine not realizing how many children he gets to make happy.

I ended bringing one of the two stuffed animals home anyways, to my stuffed animal lover. How you may ask? One of the lovely ladies that wanted one ended up with one that she couldn't quite give to her little nephew so she ended up
giving it to me. What ever it says on it is what I really mean with all my heart.  

I Love You

pay phone

Have I told you how not to break a pay phone? Wait do you know what a pay phone is? I've used them in my lifetime even checked them for quarters left in the slots before.

I'm trying to enjoy a break away from work but it's hard when you sit down and the couple next to you are speaking loudly. They have two little girls and an older little boy. He keeps his little sisters entertained as the adults are speaking. You can tell just by the boys reactions to his sisters that he has had to be an adult at times. Next thing you hear is the man getting loud and yelling at his lady. I'm going to say they are married just so that I can get some justification for myself. He then slams his fist on the table and I stop what I'm doing to look at them. I think everyone there practically froze to see what his problem was. At this point the lady gets embarrassed and immediately gets up. He blocks her from passing so she pushes her way through. Anger comes over me and my eyes won't stop drilling his back as he walks away. He leads the way then her and the children. As they walk out he continues to curse, using fowl language, towards everyone that just witnessed what he had done. I believe it to be over at this point.

As I continue to grasp what is going through my mind as to why things like this happen to women, or why they don't realize how bad it can be, I hear the boy yelling for his mommy. When they left the area I could hear along with others the boy calling for his mother and the two little girls start to cry. He had his hand around the lady's neck pinned up against the wall.  People started coming in and leaving yelling to call security. All they knew was to call security. I heard a big noise and the guy had let go and walked out leaving her there with the children.

When I got to her I saw him leave, she was okay but I immediately called 911. I figured I wanted him to pay so I just assumed to call them. When I dialed the number I had to pause because I was trying to fight back tears. So she asked me again "what is your emergency" I apologized and told her what had happened and told her what needed to be said. By this time the lady had left with her babies. When I got off the phone she had sent a signal to my phone when I didn't answer. That I learned that day. Learned that if I was really in danger and called 911 and was unable to speak that they would come to my aid regardless. When I got of the phone it told me to deactivate the signal.

I know you are probably wondering why I choked when I called 911, I guess it would be the children calling for their mommy. Picture a six year old, four year old, and three year old yelling mommy mommy mommy while they are crying knowing she is being harmed. Innocent bystanders to their parents not knowing how it affects the little ones. Not knowing that one day things will get really bad and wonder where there mommy is and why it may look like their father left them.  I use to think that things like this happen behind closed doors but I'm seeing it more out in the open. There has to be a way out.

A woman is a delicate being, why not treat her that way. A mother's love is like no other so why not protect her babies. Why is it so hard to get help? It's never easy but why not try? Take a minute to step outside yourself and look in and see if you like what you see.

My question, how do you break a pay phone? Remember that big noise? Picture a man letting the hand holding the neck of the mother of his children go, and knowing he is being watched. So instead of his wife he grabs the phone next to him and breaks it. That is how mad a mad man can get.