Here I go again

A year has past and here I go again....but this year is the "year", right?  Talk about adjustments, being flexible, expect the unexpected, well 2011 was it.  Big changes at work, new bosses, my oldest moved out to his first apartment, I welcomed new friends into my life and sadly old friends exited stage left, had a life changing surgery and took a vacation of a lifetime.  I recommitted myself to my faith, and have witnessed God's favor right before my eyes.  What goes around comes around right? 

I'm just thankful......thankful that my boys are wonderful successful young men in what they do, thankful for my parents, I'm so blessed they are still here by my side each and every day, thankful for my sister (who's had a hell of a year) she proves to me everyday what integrity and not letting "anything" get you down, thankful for my job, thankful I got my health in order, thankful that I am where I am on my on accord and on my own merit.

So here I am months before the big "50", its just a number but a milestone in life.  Where you look back and really look forward.  Can't wait to see what's waiting for me !!

Happy New Year

A couple of weeks ago we were all preparing ourselves for the New Year.  Many New Year traditions are done by different ethnic backgrounds, In a Spanish/Cuban/Puerto Rican blended house, that means a good "limpeza" (house cleaning), and especially a good mopping by filling a bucket of dirty water to be thrown out the front door signifying that bad karma is out of your house.  We prepare cups with 12 grapes, to bring 12 months of good luck.  Wear red undies for good luck with love, tie a yellow ribbon to keep our friends close at heart, take our suitcases out and walk around the block for a year of travels, write down things we want gone from our lives and burn it and by the time the first 15 minutes of the year are over we are ready to party or just too tired and ready for bed.  For me my New Year started just the way I wanted, in the company of my two sons.  For those of you that know me well, spending time with them, because “they want to” is special.

So the next day is upon us and the next thoughts on our minds are about our resolutions.  We all know the number one resolution for women is losing weight –so of course I’m on that bandwagon.  So what does a Latina do for a plan – well first we are miserable (and I say this lightly) because there goes the white rice, yucca, platanos maduros, the Cuban bread with butter, pastelitos, croquetas, café con leche, flan and the list goes on and on. 

Other resolutions include getting fit, exercising, just moving….we all enthusiastically start, but the minute the weather starts getting muggy in Florida, we Latinas start weaning off outdoor activities and hit the “air conditioned” gyms of America

The third most popular resolutions, is financial, to be debt free or really close to it.  To be able to move forward the remainder of the year without creditors calling you, being able to pay your bills on time and have that extra Ca$hola to spend “just because”.  Some of you are probably sitting looking at January’s bills going “why”?  

So after sitting, midway through January, with a big plate of white rice and fried egg, a glass of great wonderful J. Lohr’s cabernet wine (what a combo), sitting on my dear reclining sofa (of course mentally exercising) what should I look forward to this wonderful year 2011?  I decided the following:

·         I will not diet.   I will eat what I want in moderation.  I will strive to stop when my belly is full and content.  I will continue to have my glass of “red” to contribute to a healthy heart.  I will try (T-R-Y) to use bake instead of fry when appropriate.  Eat more veggies, smothered in butter (lol).  Will visit Vicky bakery once a month and my daily café con leche will be cut down to a cortadito. 

·         I will “move” more, I’m not saying exercise, but I may start going to the gym purely for the social environment.  Go back to my leisurely walks on the beach on early morning Sunday, and nightly walks around the wonderful Baptist Lake with my friend Elisa.

·         I will not get stressed over the little things, if there is a dirty glass in the sink left overnight, I can wash it in the morning. 

·         I will cherish the moments when the boys rush in and out of the house, the noise, the friends chillin’ at home, and mom can you please moments, as they are becoming less often and moments of peace are now too often.

·         I will have balance my life – I will seek more time with my faith, walk the walk even though at this age I’m still bumping into walls and have regrets.  I will do justly to others, love more, show mercy and walk humbly

And lastly, as I continue this journey to “mid-life”, I will continue to cherish my time with friends and family, embrace curiosity, laugh more, cry less, travel more, read more, dance more, smile more, and hug more.  I will not let the grey hairs take over my head, I will not let the pouch in my mid section not let me buy the new pair of jeans (I love muffin tops!!). 

I will not let others define who I am, but define myself! 

More random thoughts coming soon!!!  Love you all (I really do)!

Hello World - It's Me !

Well here it goes, my first attempt at blogging.  Everyday a thousand crazy thoughts go through my head and they always end up in the mental file cabinet under lock and key until I explode or have "diarrhea" of the mouth.  

So here I am to share my random thoughts from questions like "why me and at this age" to "my brain thinks its 30 and my body is ready for bed"; to that moment all I want to do is dance but my feet would just rather dance sitting down?   I want the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (size 14+ and over the age of 45) and I want my smaller size friends to wear my jeans (hahaha).  I want to end up in Greece with my BFF's, throwing plates on the floor, dancing on tables, drinking ouzo, yelling OPA and singing ABBA songs, have my Eat, Pray, Love travel moments (skip India, I'll take Bali if Javier Bardem would spend it with me), and kiss a French man (or men) under the Eiffel Tower.   Talks about why I went through hell getting my hair just right and now with menopause all I want is a "curl" a "flip", a "wave" - anything!  What about, why am I getting pimples....now?? Night sweats and sweating all the time and from places I didn't think could sweat.  When you have friends that talk about the new product in the women's hygiene section called "Poise" and your so happy of this new invention! Come on I know you sneeze or cough and cross your legs at the same time.  What is the real meaning of "real women have curves"?  I call that "rollitos" in Spanish, the spare tire in English, curves when we just starting dating someone new and he looks at your belly after dinner, puts his hand around your waist and says something stupid like, "I love your curves" yeah right!!!

I walk the road towards the second half of my life obviously older, wiser (I hope), a good head on my shoulders (pero sin pelo en la lengua) and with no inhibitions.  All beginning with the road towards the age of 50  (17 months to go) but whose counting.  Taking roads less traveled (through Hialeah) and roads that we take that we lose ourselves along the way.  Random thoughts, real life stories, real drama.  So join me, get your comfy shoes on and enjoy the walk with me.