busy as a bee

Again, I can't believe how time has flown right on by since my last post. Life has been hectic and much to my surprise, weeks have gone by feeling like mere minutes. Can it already be November ? OH MY!

Some of the things that yours truly has been up to:

Since my school books seem to be the only thing I have time to open, I have found myself enjoying books audibly on my ipod at rapid rates on my daily commute to and from work. The last have been:

• Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl - I swear, people were staring at me like I was a crazy ass because I couldn't help but cry during the last chapter during my morning commute. Even though I knew what was coming, this story never fails to touch my heart and soul.
• Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems - After watching the Dog Whisperer on Cable I felt compelled to read this book and see what the guru had to say about helping my crazy ass Taz. Needless to say this book was a very informative guide to understanding my hyperactive, headstrong mutt. I'm still struggling to be his pack leader, but am trying. I have to add: on a side note, that I think Mr. Milan's Latino accent is very sexy so listening to this book was especially captivating. Hee hee.
• The Secret - This was the most disappointing selection of the bunch. So disappointing in fact, that I didn't even finish it. Usually, I'm not really into self-help books, and this was no exception. However, I have heard a lot of hype on the book so I figured I would see what all the excitement was about. The central premise of the book was that positive thinking makes all the difference in getting the things in life. If you think you have something, and truly believe you do, lo and behold: the universe gives it to you. While I wholeheartedly agree that positive thinking is a powerful and necessary component to happiness, I just think its absurd and STUPID to "think" your way thin or rich. It just can't be done. IT takes hard work for many people and this book just ignores that fact. Instead of focusing on the books negatives, I will say that it did remind me that a little positive thinking can go a long way and to NEVER say NEVER...

Also keeping me busy of course, is school. I am happy to report that next week is my statistics final. And after I finish that horrid test and final lab, I will be class free until January of next year. Needless to say, after the final I will commence a lovely celebration laced with tequila and dancing with a few classmates. Hee hee.

In other fronts, my slipped disk is somewhat improving though sometimes I fear my back will never be the same. I definitely need to start focusing on working out again on a regular basis to ensure that my back and stomach is strengthened and stays that way. Hopefully, my workouts, coupled with this wonderful contraption, and a little more TLC from physical therapy and I will be 100% again.

During the course of the year, I have also fell more in love with knitting. Through time, TLC and lots of patience, as each project evolves, it somehow retains a piece of me with it and I truly do fall in love with each project I take on. When I do give out something I made with my hands, I do it with pride. I'm so addicted that I even started a knitting diary where I attach a swatch of my work to the pattern instructions and make a photocopy of a portion of the actual work. This way, I can always reference back something I have done in the past. Currently, I have 3 knitting projects I am working on. Two of them are x-mas gifts and one is FOR ME! I am currently working a grey Chevron scarf for my brother, a tan-ish brown checkerboard scarf for my sister-in-law, and a pair of fun lavender socks for me. After working on the baby blanket for so long, the scarfs are simply a cakewalk for me. I could be doing them in my sleep and should be done with them in no time.

I am also patiently waiting for the next 5 weeks to be over so I can indulge in 2.5 weeks of vacation. I am so looking forward to de-programming, sleeping in, and just enjoying life as much as possible. What a way to ring in the new year!

book sluttin around town...

Within the past week and half I have read two wonderful books.

The sociologist in me thought Two in a Bed: The Social System of Couple Bed Sharing was a fascinating look into how couples deal with the complex task of sharing a bed (which by default is such a personal space). While sleeping is not usually considered something social in nature, the sheer act of sharing a bed/sleeping with someone else is a social interaction, albeit an extremely personal one. In any case, I think a lot of people can relate to the range of topics discussed: hogging the bed (or sheets), snoring, the overabundance of annoyances such as leaving the TV on, being a night person while your mate is a morning person...the list goes on and on. While the book doesn't offer any insights on how to solve these annoyances, it does report on how other couples do try to cope with their partners habits. The topic is so unique that I think I might actually write a paper on this for class.

The other book I had the joy of indulging in was The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream. This was such a feel good book that I read it in one night. Though the story line is a bit unbelievable (keep in mind - it is a fable), after reading it I felt compelled to do all the things I have been procrastinating on: re-writing my resume, cleaning out my closet, and selling my house. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a quick read that just emanates positive energy and re-affirms your belief in "destiny".

The next book on my list is Dream: Re-imagining Progressive Politics in an Age of Fantasy, which I just took out from the library. The premise is that politics has become "theatre" and that progressives need to get creative in order to grab the attention of American citizens, who hunger for and are attracted to a sort of fantasy life. He dubs this mentality "dreampolitik". Hopefully, I can get this book finished by the start of next semester, which starts next Wednesday.

1984

big brother's slogan in 1984

If you haven't heard of or read the classic novel - 1984 yet, do yourself a favor and go check it out of the library. Since I have started reading the book, I can't put it down. The views and visions this novel portrays about a crazy, all-engulfing totalitarian government and it's brainwashed citizens just sends chills down my spine. Especially with the blatant abuse of power that the US government has been flexing lately, somehow the books words hit my like a gong and make the dark reality of the novel more like a horror story in my eyes.

Word to the wise though: if you haven't read the book and click on the link I gave you, steer clear of the last paragraph: it kinda gives away the ending.

book of the moment

Since the love of my life will be gone for another 2.5 days, I went and brought the book: Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything to pass some time. The book is a bit trendy (which usually just isn't my style), but once I opened up the covers and started reading Mr. Levitt's twisted genius, I was hooked. Since last night I have already gone through about 1/2 of it.

At this rate, I might need to get another book before Mike, my sexy man, comes back home.

"shortism"...just another ism that can't be smoked away

I'm reading "blink - the power of thinking without thinking" by Malcolm Gladwell. It discusses the power of snap judgments and how in some cirumstances it proves more accurate than in depth analysis. Not only this, but the book teaches you to fine tune your own snap judgment process to become more efficient.

What else can I say but that the book is truly mind blowing and (at least in my eyes) rings true in every facet of life - from business to your personal life . Needless to say, the margins in my recently brought book have been noted up and the text throughout has been highlighted yellow or orange depending on what interested me about it.

The most interesting (or shall I say distressing) factiod I picked up thus far is:

"researchers who analyzed data...that followed thousands of people from birth to adulthood calculated that when corrected for such variables such as age and gender and weight, an inch of height is worth $789 a year in salary. A person who is six feet tall but other wise identical to a person who is five foot five will make an average of $5,525 more per year...Of the tens of millions of American men below five foot six, a grand total of ten in my sample have reached the level of CEO, which says being short is probably as much of a handicap to corporate success as being a woman or an African American...."

OUCH!!! Being a "border-line midget" mexirican woman in the corporate world, no wonder there always seems to be a dragonflypurity barrier in the workplace....hmmmm

10 coffees and 48 hours later...

I finished the new Harry Poter book..all 672 pages of it! Needless to say, I couldn't put the sucker down. And, with the hook ending, it left me thirsty for more.

What can I say, its like crack!!! And I'm just waiting for that next hit of POTTER (movies not included - they got nothing on the books in my opinion).

books on the brain...

Today I'm back at work and feeling better. Turns out, as soon as I got home yesterday, I wasn't feeling nauseated anymore (go figure that!). I couldn't sleep, sit still, and there was nothing on TV. So, I had the whole afternoon to be productive. I started going through all my crap & just in my shelves in my room I have found like 20 books to sell in my Yard Sale. I found treasures like a tree grows in brooklyn, my chakra meditation cd & workbook, and the outlaws book of poetry. It kinda makes me sad to see them all go, but at the same token, it feels sooo good to declutter my life. It's amazing how many books I read in the past year or two. Seeing the books all stacked together in huge piles made me realize the sheer amount of information we store in our heads...each book we read somehow contributing just a litte to our psyche...imbedding theories, highlighted quotes, and little pieces of stories into the cornerstones of our brains. I just love reading!!! One day (when I am rich...ha ha) I will have a huge library in my house and it shall be grand.

Talking about books, if you are into books as much as I am and don't yet know about BookCrossing, check it out and thank me later. I have been part of that site for a while, but never really utilized it. But, I might just decide to release all the books I do not sell at my yard sale later in the summer.

On other fronts, I can't wait to see the HBO movie Something the Lord Made. Not only is Mof Def in it, Gabrielle Union (from Deliver us from Eva) is also there. I swear she’s just so gorgeous that I can't stop from staring at her (and I am a woman!!). There’s just something about her smile that just blows me away, and that’s especially hard for someone to do.

OHH ! And I updated my bookshelf list on the right of this page. Too many books and not enough time!!!

Anyway, boss is calling so I shall post later. Peace.

what a weekend

Not to bore you with details of my life, but this weekend totally rocked. Usually my weekends fly by with no particular interesting or even relaxing event to talk about. But since Friday afternoon, I went bowling, saw two awesome movies, read a whole book in one night (the 5 people you meet in heaven by Mitch Albom), ate some delicious Puerto Rican and Filipino food, slept in ( double yeah!), saw a prospective home, and got some wonderful BOOTY. AHHH! If all weekends could be this sweet. This is the life..

Talking about the life, has anyone seen the new Bud Light commercial with Mystic's song "the life" in the backdrop? I love Mystic's style and have listened her cd "Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom" about 12,000 times in the past few years. While she is mainly an underground mc, I am soo happy to see that she is finally getting some love from the masses. Even if it is just in the form of a BUD LIGHT (icky piss water type beer) commercial.

On another note I saw Jim Carrey's movie "Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind". I simply loved the cinematography on it, especially when he was dreaming and all his memories were simply disappearing. The movie was creative as all hell and seeing Jim Carrey in a serious role was actually a pleasant departure for me.What a way to break up with someone: just erase them from your mind. Hee hee...can you just imagine getting a letter stating not to contact your ex ever again because he or she had you erased from their mind? hee hee. I can't even imagine being that pist at someone to actually go through the trouble of actually removing them from my memories. While for some it might seem like a good idea and is definitely a sure fire way to get over an ex, but is there not something to be said about learning from past mistakes? Past mistakes include past relationships as well, and by simply erasing the whole relationship, aren't you just self consciously setting yourself up for similar mistakes and decision choices in your future relationships? I know, I know...I think about things entirely WAY too much, but my mind is much like an energizer bunny, never ending and always exploring every thought and facet of my life til exhaustion. But, the movie was very interesting and did lead itself into a drunken debate between me & my girlfriend afterwards.

I am also looking forward to seeing a few Latino independent films at this year's 20th Annual Latino Film Festival later this month. I always try to schedule at least one movie in per year and this year is no different. Hopefully, instead of me having to drag my boyfriend to it (like in the past), I can go with a group of friends who actually want to see it! Life is good.

I'm reading too many books...

I have always loved to read and write so over the years I have accumulated quite a collection of books. Looking around my cluttered room, I have to admit I'm a book packrack. I have soo many books, I actually have them in storage..boxes and boxes of everything from my old literature, psychology, and Business Law Book to self help, fiction & poetry. Half of them I have read through, another quarter I skimmed through (i.e. business law), and the last I have yet to read but plan to one day...But I do try to put them to good use. Usually, I can be reading as many as 4 books at one time. Not that my nose is always stuck in a book. I go through periods of reading massive quantities and others where it may take me 3 months to finish one.

Right now, I'm going through a slow period. I'm have been reading East of Eden since two weeks before Christmas. Not that the book isn't great, it just takes more energy tp absorb what is actually happenening.Plus, I hate that bitch Kate!!! Everytime she is described, I felt my skin crawl. However, thanks to my concurrent readings, I just finished "Running with scissors: A Memoir". It actually was pretty good and proved to be an easy and amusing read. I couldn't keep my nose out of it because I just wanted to know what other crazy shit these characters were going to get into. I really got a kick out of the bible dips. Whenever they had a pondering question (or even stupid ones like "Should I eat Mcdonalds or Burger King?) they would pull open a bible and point at a part in the bible. Then they would read it and decipher it. Anyway, I recommend it to anyone looking for a pleasant read.