You can call me Daddy's Little Girl. I was just that, afterall.
Wednesday morning, I met with one of my dad's best friends for coffee. I wasn't really active in my dad's life when he became friends with this man. He's a local attorney, and, from what I can tell, has always been a nice person. After a few Facebook posts, we decided to meet up to talk about my dad. It has been about 13 years since my dad passed away of a heart attack.
My father was really involved with the local community. He would help out in our Catholic church and we were all part of the choir for Sunday Spanish Mass. Our town was fairly small at that time (pop. 5,000). If it were up to me, I would have NO part in it, but everyone I went to school with went to church there, and helped out someway or another.
My father didn't always live this way. The first half of his life, he was an alcoholic and ladies man. He wanted a boy, and got me instead. I was his little sidekick.
His story is so incredible, a Mexican illegal immigrant eventually getting his citizenship, starting an AA Chapter, taking us along to meetings and anniversaries up and down the State (CA), bringing politicians and to our small town for housing development for the poor. Honestly some impressive stuff. I'll share tidbits later.
Back to coffee... I was holding back the tears for most of the hour. We spoke about how they first met through our Catholic church. The priest at the time was always trying to help the poor in our community. Our family was among the poor, but my dad and our family would still give back to our community (which annoyed the CRAP out of me. I was a selfish kid; sue me.) Our priest and the lawyer set one day a month to offer free consultations to our parishoners. My father would help immigrants and their families with the paperwork to become citizens. There was a part of the process where an attorney would be needed in some cases, and that's where my father was unable to help these families.
My father's friend told me that my dad approached him and asked him to take on these cases. Since the attorney was not an immigration attorney, he was not able to take on the cases himself. Still wanting to help, the attorney began to make some calls and was eventually connected with a female immigration attorney in California. She ended up being a relative of Cesar Chavez, someone who lived to right the social injustices and worker's rights for Hispanic farm laborers.
My father and the attorney, Ron, became very close friends after this. They both worked closely with our priest, Father Garcia. Ron and I were able to share a few funny stories and a little about how my father's sudden death affected us. We agreed to meet more often to share more stories. It's a way for us to keep my dad's memory alive and to find out what kind of man he was in someone else's eyes.
Ron left me with one profound statement. He said, "If there is only one thing to be said about your father, it is that 13 years later this gringo attorney still thinks of him and misses him often."
Yeah, tear jerker. And the flood gates opened...
Friday, January 27, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
2012, The Year of the Mayan
... or something like that. Since my last post back in June of 2011, I moved... again. Francisco bought a home, and we moved out of my apartment. It was a hard transition to let go of something that was mine to move into something that's... not? I don't know. I guess I've been on my own for such a long time that it's hard for me to not have 100% ownership in where I'm at. On the bright side, I'm not homeless! (I'm sure I'm coming across as ungrateful, but honestly I'm just a control freak.)
Business is going good. Busy with a lot of clients: Buyers, Seller and Renters. The entire process is much slower than I am used to from years past. I expect everyone to be on it and communicate, but no such luck. These days it takes about 3 days to get an email, text or call back. I'm making the best of it. I'm not working on workaholic mode like I would like to, but I'm handling it.
My 18 year old daughter was accepted into a private college here in the Bay Area. She had the majority of her tuition covered through scholarships and grants. She finished this past semester with a 3.97 GPA while working her first part-time job.
My 16 year old son got onto the JV Soccer Team and played on a competition team during the summer. Unfortunately, he didn't listen to Mom and failed miserably this semester in high school. No soccer for him this year. He seems to think that everything in life is easy, and that he can just breeze by. Not in my house - hahaha! I have been having to look his homework over like I used to when he was in elementary school. I am hoping he will take the initiative and work hard on his own because HE wants to succeed.
Getting out to San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley just isn't as easy as it once was for me. My time is limited to work and baby these days. I was feeling complacent, and that was bothering me. I finally left the safety of suburbia to go to an Art Show in Oakland this past weekend. I thought it would awaken my inner need to be creative and do something with all these thoughts and feelings. I just need to do it.
I'm taking my health serious these days. Drinking has bored me. And made me fat. Well, ok, not FAT, but muffin top-ish. I'm not into super skinny, I just want the muscle and definition. The pounds aren't melting off, but I can feel my legs getting stronger. My arms and shoulders have never been hard to tone quick.
And with that I am off to Zumba. Yes, my friends, Zumba. I am now a part of the Zumba cult, thanks to my dear friend, Dianna. It only took her a year to convince me (brainwash me). It's ok, this instructor is really good and I love her music selection. Gotta beat the crowd, those Zumba folks are almost like Nancy Kerrigan and Tanya Harding. If I ever get clubbed in the knee, it was the Zumba cult...
Business is going good. Busy with a lot of clients: Buyers, Seller and Renters. The entire process is much slower than I am used to from years past. I expect everyone to be on it and communicate, but no such luck. These days it takes about 3 days to get an email, text or call back. I'm making the best of it. I'm not working on workaholic mode like I would like to, but I'm handling it.
My 18 year old daughter was accepted into a private college here in the Bay Area. She had the majority of her tuition covered through scholarships and grants. She finished this past semester with a 3.97 GPA while working her first part-time job.
My 16 year old son got onto the JV Soccer Team and played on a competition team during the summer. Unfortunately, he didn't listen to Mom and failed miserably this semester in high school. No soccer for him this year. He seems to think that everything in life is easy, and that he can just breeze by. Not in my house - hahaha! I have been having to look his homework over like I used to when he was in elementary school. I am hoping he will take the initiative and work hard on his own because HE wants to succeed.
Getting out to San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley just isn't as easy as it once was for me. My time is limited to work and baby these days. I was feeling complacent, and that was bothering me. I finally left the safety of suburbia to go to an Art Show in Oakland this past weekend. I thought it would awaken my inner need to be creative and do something with all these thoughts and feelings. I just need to do it.
I'm taking my health serious these days. Drinking has bored me. And made me fat. Well, ok, not FAT, but muffin top-ish. I'm not into super skinny, I just want the muscle and definition. The pounds aren't melting off, but I can feel my legs getting stronger. My arms and shoulders have never been hard to tone quick.
And with that I am off to Zumba. Yes, my friends, Zumba. I am now a part of the Zumba cult, thanks to my dear friend, Dianna. It only took her a year to convince me (brainwash me). It's ok, this instructor is really good and I love her music selection. Gotta beat the crowd, those Zumba folks are almost like Nancy Kerrigan and Tanya Harding. If I ever get clubbed in the knee, it was the Zumba cult...
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Down Came the Rain
... and washed the spider out...
It's the end of June and it's pouring rain AND we are having a thunder and lightning show. On days like today, I like to stay home and make a nice stew filled with vegetables, or bake chocolate chip cookies. Fresh ground coffee or a nice brewed hot tea would also do the trick.
I've crashed my laptop twice in the last 30 days. Not fun. I'm having to use Francisco's laptop, and it's super slow and the buttons are all messed up. In April, I met with a personal trainer from my gym for a free consultation. They are trying to get everyone to step up their weight training. I cut back on my cardio by HALF and by the end of May, I realized I gained easily 10 pounds. Now I'm in the gym almost daily to try to lose this weight so I can fit into my clothes comfortably, and to look good for summer.
My daughter turned 18 and chose the college she will be attending this Fall. I attended 3 of the college Welcomings with her and was impressed by all of them. The University of San Francisco was DEFINITELY the epitome of what the rest of country thinks of the Bay Area: environmentally aware, culturally diverse and socially involved. The cafeteria on that campus blew me away with the number of different "kitchens" in there. They had the typical sandwiches and such, but they also had a sushi bar and juicer/smoothie station with wheatgrass everywhere. You won't find elevator music streaming through the cafeteria speakers. No, instead it was loud club music - haha! Garbage receptacles are in three's throughout the campus; one for plastics, cans and glass, the other for paper/cardboard and the last for anything else. I don't think my daughter was impressed.
Work has been MAJOR crazy for me, but being in commission sales means that the money and the sales are not guaranteed. In addition to that, the time, gas, and money spent is not reimbursed. All I can do is continue getting clients in the pipeline and working smart. I know it will eventually pay off.
I miss not being able to blog and catch up on blogs I subscribe to. I'm still a year behind on my blog-reading and my PerezHilton.com reading. This blog that would normally take me 20 minutes or less to write, now takes about an hour with all the interruptions from Frankie.
I attended my first Gay Pride Parade in San Francisco last weekend. Although I wasn't able to stay as long as I wanted, I was glad I was able to go and watch all the families in the parade and standing next to some funny guys providing commentary on the sidelines.
Until next time... Peace, love, respect :)
It's the end of June and it's pouring rain AND we are having a thunder and lightning show. On days like today, I like to stay home and make a nice stew filled with vegetables, or bake chocolate chip cookies. Fresh ground coffee or a nice brewed hot tea would also do the trick.
I've crashed my laptop twice in the last 30 days. Not fun. I'm having to use Francisco's laptop, and it's super slow and the buttons are all messed up. In April, I met with a personal trainer from my gym for a free consultation. They are trying to get everyone to step up their weight training. I cut back on my cardio by HALF and by the end of May, I realized I gained easily 10 pounds. Now I'm in the gym almost daily to try to lose this weight so I can fit into my clothes comfortably, and to look good for summer.
My daughter turned 18 and chose the college she will be attending this Fall. I attended 3 of the college Welcomings with her and was impressed by all of them. The University of San Francisco was DEFINITELY the epitome of what the rest of country thinks of the Bay Area: environmentally aware, culturally diverse and socially involved. The cafeteria on that campus blew me away with the number of different "kitchens" in there. They had the typical sandwiches and such, but they also had a sushi bar and juicer/smoothie station with wheatgrass everywhere. You won't find elevator music streaming through the cafeteria speakers. No, instead it was loud club music - haha! Garbage receptacles are in three's throughout the campus; one for plastics, cans and glass, the other for paper/cardboard and the last for anything else. I don't think my daughter was impressed.
Work has been MAJOR crazy for me, but being in commission sales means that the money and the sales are not guaranteed. In addition to that, the time, gas, and money spent is not reimbursed. All I can do is continue getting clients in the pipeline and working smart. I know it will eventually pay off.
I miss not being able to blog and catch up on blogs I subscribe to. I'm still a year behind on my blog-reading and my PerezHilton.com reading. This blog that would normally take me 20 minutes or less to write, now takes about an hour with all the interruptions from Frankie.
I attended my first Gay Pride Parade in San Francisco last weekend. Although I wasn't able to stay as long as I wanted, I was glad I was able to go and watch all the families in the parade and standing next to some funny guys providing commentary on the sidelines.
Until next time... Peace, love, respect :)
Monday, May 2, 2011
BYOB... Wheel
Bring Your Own Big Wheel, or BYOBW as the cool-folk know it, was how I spent the last half of my Easter this year. My 16 year-old son was baptized in the Catholic faith (15+ years a little late) that morning after Easter Mass. Since my older 2 kids were going to spend Easter with their father's side of the family, I really didn't have any plans. I decided to head out to San Francisco and see how crazy this BYOBW really was.
It was a gorgeous sunny day out in the City. No fog, no traffic, no idiot drivers. Perfect.
My friend Lisa turned me on to this event. Every Easter Sunday afternoon in San Francisco, people get dolled up and ride Big Wheels, toddler bikes or anything with wheels down a narrow, curvy street. I found a great parking spot facing downhill within a couple of blocks from the end of this race. Once I parked my STICK-SHIFT car and turned the wheels inward in a 90 degree angle, it hit me. SHIT. I have to get this thing out of reverse without stalling or hitting the car in front of me. DAMNIT!
Anywho, off I skipped with glee to witness grown-folk careen down the steep, curvy street looking like over-grown children on Big Wheels and such. I found a safe spot on the sidewalk to watch these crazies... in front of a utility pole - hehe!
--DAMMIT! Appointment to show homes to get to. Will continue later...--
(Days later - hahaha!)
Now, where was I? ... parking my stick-shift car down a narrow street within inches of the car in front of me... finding safe spot on sidewalk... Oh yes! There were TONS of adult spectators, but you would have thought they were kids on Christmas morning. The majority of us could not control our laughter as we watched in anticipation of someone biting it royally down that last sharp turn.
(This guy went down the hill in a heavy duty garbage can on wheels. I voted him Best Costume/Ride.)
The event doesn't last more than a couple hours. Winners are announced towards the end of the event as the last of the riders careen down the hill. Towards the end, we noticed riders going down the hill multiple times. I guess they don't have an issue with that, since it IS a free event. My friend Lisa and I are going to participate in this next year. I'm on a mission to find an AWESOME kids bike to deck out... and a costume.
It was a gorgeous sunny day out in the City. No fog, no traffic, no idiot drivers. Perfect.
My friend Lisa turned me on to this event. Every Easter Sunday afternoon in San Francisco, people get dolled up and ride Big Wheels, toddler bikes or anything with wheels down a narrow, curvy street. I found a great parking spot facing downhill within a couple of blocks from the end of this race. Once I parked my STICK-SHIFT car and turned the wheels inward in a 90 degree angle, it hit me. SHIT. I have to get this thing out of reverse without stalling or hitting the car in front of me. DAMNIT!
Anywho, off I skipped with glee to witness grown-folk careen down the steep, curvy street looking like over-grown children on Big Wheels and such. I found a safe spot on the sidewalk to watch these crazies... in front of a utility pole - hehe!
--DAMMIT! Appointment to show homes to get to. Will continue later...--
(Days later - hahaha!)
Now, where was I? ... parking my stick-shift car down a narrow street within inches of the car in front of me... finding safe spot on sidewalk... Oh yes! There were TONS of adult spectators, but you would have thought they were kids on Christmas morning. The majority of us could not control our laughter as we watched in anticipation of someone biting it royally down that last sharp turn.
The event doesn't last more than a couple hours. Winners are announced towards the end of the event as the last of the riders careen down the hill. Towards the end, we noticed riders going down the hill multiple times. I guess they don't have an issue with that, since it IS a free event. My friend Lisa and I are going to participate in this next year. I'm on a mission to find an AWESOME kids bike to deck out... and a costume.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
My First Album
You gotta fight, for your right
Beastie Boys' "License to Ill" was the first cassette I ever purchased... at the flea market, so it was most likely a pirated copy. It was the best of both worlds: rock & rap.
My Top Celebrity Sightings
No autographs, please...
Tommy Chong - Noticed him at a Chicago airport waiting for our flight to LAX. I pretended to read while trying to get a better look at him in the lounge. Then I walked by him in First Class while boarding the plane and gave him a nod and a grin, but inside I was squealing with delight.
Heidi Fleiss - AVN Awards in Vegas one year. Celebrities galore. But as I was walking towards Heidi, I froze in amazement. This was, afterall, the Madame herself.
Cyndi Lauper - After the Pride parade in SF one year, she gave a speech and had an after-party at Blake's on Telegraph in Berkeley. Danced with her and some fans, and brushed up against her peacoat. I was tempted to lick her coat, but didn't want my fanatacism to show.
Friday, April 29, 2011
My Most Quotable Movies
My humor is like a box of chocolates...
"Popeye's Chicken is the shizznit." - Little Nicky
"Who do you think I am, Albert f***en Trump?!" Stealing Harvard
"It tastes so good when it touches your lips!" & "Your my boy, Blue!" Old School
"If peeing your pants is cool, then consider me Miles Davis." Billy Madison
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