Almost the end of my vacations

Just one full day left before I return to work. Trying to be positive and when I enter the school Friday morning it’s going to be with a big smile. I don’t know how much it is going to last but … LOL. OK no really I’m going to try very hard to make this year different from the last one. But don’t think I haven’t though about the mess inside my classroom and the fact that I’m not going to have the same help that my coworkers have having their teacher assistant full time and only for them. I don’t know if I should discuss with the principal the possibility of having a full time assistant that is not a teacher like mine. Definitely I and my kids have a disadvantage here compare with the other third graders and the other third grade teachers. In the afternoon I am alone with the 35 kids and when we have professional time my assistant does her class work not mine. Let’s see how the year goes. In this month I have done practically nothing with not much money to spend and the gasoline behind so expensive I just stayed at home. I got some rest and that’s very important. I am not starting tired. The last 2 weeks are the ones that I enjoyed the most going to the movies and meeting the Sagara’s. Definitely one of the best things that happened to me this summer. I am also happy for the phone calls that I got from my friends and that I got to talk with everyone that was enjoying dinner in Little Italy. Now that work starts again I know that this family along with my family is going to be there for me. I also know that even if we are not always “talking” John is there just an email away. Love you all people!! I’m going to see Batman tonight if it not full. And to my friend
Congratulation Paul on your grandson and Bon Voyage to Ray and  the Bells. Have fun!!

Fantasy, dreams, illusion and goals

Sometimes I feel sad for the people that go about life without dreams or goals, without an illusion. Something that they are waiting to do or they want to do. There are people like that. I know one. I’ m a dreamer, true, guilty. I have many dreams and many things that I want to do and they help get through difficult times. Knowing that one day i’m going to do those things. Seeing Mamma Mia got me to think about mine. I don’t know what it was. The music, the dancing,the passion which the people lived, how great and beautiful Meryll Streep looks at 59, the beautiful places that one day I want to see. I don’t know. It just left me thinking about my dreams. I want to see my kids marry and become what they want in life. I want to learn another language. I can’t imagine me speaking only Spanish. I would not have meet all my friends. I want to learn italian and talk like a local when I spend a summer traveling around Italy or one summer I can hop around those beautiful greeks island in the movies. I want to see the friends I have not meet and the one I haven’t see in a long time and that I love. I want to travel and continue to see the many wonders of the world. AHH DREAMS what would I do without them ??

Abba – I have a dream

I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
Ill cross the stream – I have a dream

I have a dream, a fantasy
To help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
Ill cross the stream – I have a dream
Ill cross the stream – I have a dream

I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail

I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
Ill cross the stream – I have a dream
Ill cross the stream – I have a dream

Anything can happen here

Dinner with friends

I know I have said this a lot of times before but I have always believed that God has a purpose for everything and that he works in mysterious ways. John’s blog had the purpose of bringing a bunch of people together. People that needed each other in different ways at different times. People that in so many ways are very much alike. Yes we have created a family and each one of us has been through different things during this year and a half that we been together. We have been there for each other. As Lynn and I were talking last night many people don’t understand it. But after so much time of sharing so many things even from a distance we learn so much about each other that when we finally meet in person is like we been friends all of our life. I have had the pleasure of meeting Ed and Lori and yesterday it was time to meet Miguel and Lynn. They, together with their 2 sons were waiting for me at the outside patio of the Sheraton hotel right in front of the cruise ships. After our hello’s presentation and huggos ( I remembered Ed and Ray) we walked the little distance between the hotel and El Mojito restaurant. There all of them tried mofongo which I think it was a hit. We talked about everything and we had a great time. For dessert I have brought a tres leches cake that one of  my co workers made. This cake is one of the best I have tried ever. I wanted to sing Happy Birthday to Lynn and her son which birthdays were this past Sunday and Monday so I have previously talked with the people of the restaurant. The came out with the cake and all the people present sang happy Birthday to Lynn in Spanish. The tres leches was incredibly delicious and we all enjoyed it a lot even the waiters that also got a piece. They were all very nice and I hope the family had a special time in PR. After that we spent more time with them at the patio of the hotel. We were with them for 4 hours. I’m very happy that I’m getting to know my friends. Even if it is one by one. I’m getting there. Who’s next?

How can it be??

I’m furious with the goverment here and all the stupids that are getting advantage of the situation of the world.All the Legislators and senators that are getting a really good pay for nothing.What are they doing in all the agency?? steal! Stealing the money that we don’t have. Everything is up up up. I’m furious because of the high price of the energy bill. In this house been months that we don’t have a dryer. We are no longer turning on the air conditioner on the living room. We occasionally turn on the kids air conditioner (they don’t like it and they only turn it one when it’s very hot). I hardly use the big oven. We been trying to safe as much as we can. Do you know how hot it is right now?? It’s incredible. I can’t hardly do anything. We can’t turn the air conditioner on. Last month the bill was $427.00. This month $428.00. My brother in law who lives in our same neighborhood and he is been using the drier and the air conditioner just a little more. His bill? More than $660.00 How can’t that be?? Ok this month we are making the sacrifice and we are not going to turn any of the air conditioners on. No dryer. Let’s see what’s the bill is going to be next month. Let’s see… Do you know that I also depends on were you live? ohhh the people of Guaynabo city have money to pay. Oh yeah right…. I wouldn’t be furious if I didn’t know that out there is someone taking advantage of this. And the stupid corrupt governor? bien gracias.

Mamma Mia ! and a few other things

In less than 2 weeks I’m back to work again so i’m doing some things related to that. Not many things because I have done many of them before vacation but there were a few things that i have to buy.Books uniforms, backpacks agh! Im not ready!! I’m getting out a little more.This week I have a few things, go get haircuts and I have at some time go to Mayaguez. With Vivi’s work I haven’t been able to do it. This week it’s Mike and Lynn’s visit!!!!!!! Wooooo huuuuuu! We are going out to have dinner. Don’t worry I will write and post pictures about the occasion. Last Friday I took the day off and spend it with my school friends. We went to Prince Charming house from 1:00 to 10:00 pm. Just us girls. Needed that. My friend family and my family are so similar in so many things! My friend and I keep telling each other that these 2 fit together so perfectly like a puzzle piece. But what can we do? Nothing LOL We have been invited to his farewell party in August.  Hey! I’m back to hearing all those Abba songs again. i remembered how much I love them and now I keep playing them over and over in my car. Love the movie and I can’t wait to see it again.Go see it!! It’s going to make you feel good.

U.S.A. ? yes

Some of you have asked me and some of you may be wondering if I have gone to the United States and where. This is my history about that. My first trip to the United States was for……..guess it. Yes Orlando! Being one out of 5 children living with the salary of a Social Security employee and at home mom, all our money was destined to education. Here in PR is you want a good education you have to go to a private school. Public schools are not very good and specially not good if you want your children to learn English. So we didn’t get to travel all together. In fact we didn’t travel at all. My first trip was my graduation trip on the Carla Costa when I was 18 and I payed for it all with my work at a supermarket. My second trip was when I was 19 years old and it was to Disney World. At that time Eugenio’s grandparents live half of the year on their house in Orlando. Eugenio’s family was planning a trip and Eugenio wanted me to come. It wasn’t easy because I had to fight with my parents ideas of what was right or wrong and Eugenio and I were not married. Yes people, things here are very different. It’s a cultural thing. Veryyyy strong values about some things. People here always worry about what other people are going to think. If I was going, I wasn’t going alone. Remember they didn’t have the money to pay for any of this so the choice was my sister who also worked and Eugenio and I payed for my younger brother flight. So we, a whole bunch, ended up going with Eugenio’s family. It was me , my brother, my sister and her boyfriend, one of Eugenio’s cousins and Eugenio’s younger brothers. We were a bunch but my father in law always liked large groups. This time was special for him , he knew he was taking us for the first time on a plane (first time also) to the United States and to Disney World. He wanted us to see everything and we had 2 weeks to do it. We flew to Miami rented a big van there and stayed two days were we saw everything in Miami. He took us to the Aquarium and to the Parrot jungle. Then it was off to Orlando after a stop at a water park in Ft Lauderdale. We went to Magic Kindom and Epcot (it has just opened), Circus World (remember?), Kennedy space center, Wet& Wild, Busch Gardens, Sea World, visited family, shopping, everything. After this trip I have had the pleasure of returning a couple times to Florida either to catch a cruise in Miami or Ft Lauderdale or to Disney World place that this family loves. Last time we were there was on 2004 when we did a few days at Disney and a cruise on the Costa Atlantica with friends and family for Vivi’s 15 birthday. We took our last cruise out of Ft Lauderdale in 2006 when Eugenio and I went alone on the Costa Magica. Yes I love Costa ships also.

After Vivi was born her first trip was to go to my aunt house in Baltimore. We were also going to visit my brother and his wife who also lived nearby. On this trip also got to see for the first time, Washington DC, New York and Virginia to visit Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens and to Hershey park in Pennsylvania. We are roller coaster lovers. I love my aunt’s house . We have or own space there and we come and go as we pleased. Love the way of living. It is more peaceful. The last time we were there was in 2003.

I also have visited Los Angeles with my husband for a Musical Instrument Convention. I have only been there one time with him before I started to work and I couldn’t go anymore. We stayed at Santa Monica and visited many of the important places and Disneyland. This and my trip to Salt lake City that you all know is what I have visited on the United States. Next? We hope that soon we can go either to Texas because since my brother and sister move over there I haven’t been able to go or to Los Angeles because that is one of the places that Cristian wants to visit most and to go get a ship to the Mexican Riviera( like the Splendor) or to Disney again. We miss it a lot. Who knows ?

Guaynabo City and home part II

And now to the home part. We been living here almost 23 years. Love my house, it’s simple but comfortable for a family of 4. You all know I prefer to spend money on trips but since we moved we have expanded a little. originally the house was 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We have added the more space to the living room, space for one more car ( one behind the other), laundry, family room with a small terrace. It is well located near everything. I have never live outside the metropolitan area or P.R. I have family in the states, aunts( Maryland, Atlanta and LA) and my sister and 2 brothers (Texas and Pennsylvania) My husband has always worked for the family business until 2 years ago when he sold what remained of it. It all started with his great grandfather (more than a 100 years ago) who had a furniture business. Margarida furniture still sells very well as antiques. Later with his grandfather, father and uncle changed it to a musical instrument store Casa Margarida. It was a name well known here. At one time they had 3 stores. All was well until his uncle and grandfather decided to end it. His uncle got his own piano store and my husband and his father put a smaller store Margarida Music. My father in law got sick and died and Eugenio remained on the store until the situation got bad and he decided to sell and now we got Prestissimo still struggling to survive. What else? what else ? My car is a white Honda CRV that I love but mostly I drive the car who is behind on the garage. So I also drive my husband Mazda MPV. So that is me for all you who are curious of how I live

Ok the pics are of the entrance to my neighborhood, my street, the park on my street corner were I walk. Also I got pics of my living, dinning, kitchen( can you see all the ships mugs?). Part of my family room is on the pic were Vivi friend is. ( Now is messy) The outside of the Prestissimo (before we got it) and the inside of the store.

Nothing to write about

I want to write but I got nothing to tell you. Since I am on vacation I’m mostly at home and virtually cruising on the Carnival Splendor with John’s blog and videos and Zydecocruiser pics. Apart from that nothing much just cleaning, taking my kids to work or to the mall. Not much happening. Getting a lot of rest. If anyone has a suggestion of something i should write about please write a comment. As soon as something interesting happens I’ll write about it.

If I could

Now that i have the next 3 weeks off I would grab an airplane and go to Cinque Terre. This place along with my dreamed Amalfi Coast Is one that I really want to go. I want to spend time there not just a day visit. Not a port of call. Cinque Terre are five towns on the coast on the Province of La Spezia, in Liguria, Italy. The five towns are called Monterosso , Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Their beauty is incredible. Unspoiled.There is a trek along the coast between the towns. A place so different from ours. A place to get lost, escape and reconnect with what’s important. No stress , no rush. Three weeks!! I would go with my husband alone. After many months of difficult times it would be perfect, ideal, a dream. I can imagine myself walking alone those treks. The sun coming down. The sea. The simplicity of things. Dinner al fresco with an incredible view. Waking up early. Watching the locals. I would love that. What do you think 5 days in on the Cinque Terre 4 days on the Amalfi Coast to do all the things I always wanted to do and I also want to see some of the towns of La Toscana. Ahhhh!! If it were for me. If the decision of my next trip depended only on me this is what it would be. It doesn’t matter how much ill have to wait. I wish I could have the power to decide but for that I would have to had the money to invite. Then I would have the power to choose. Now I can only try and give my opinion. Oh well!

pero cada noche duele la distancia
y todas las paredes de sta casa parecen llorar
y me pueden ver a mi llorando dentro
echandote de menos en silencio
no te puedo olvidar…

Pedazo de la canción Sigo buscando

The power of prayer

Today I started my day with a text message of one of my co workers. One of the other third grade teachers. After more than a week her father was out of intensive care. Her father like mine had to go through an open heart surgery. Although he is 2 years younger than my father (67) his case was more delicate and dangerous. He only has one kidney and it isn’t working well. Having gone through the same thing recently I was able to give her some strength and she knew I was praying. After some complications related to his lungs, he is out of intensive and the cheery message from this morning was to be grateful for the prayers. It was funny when I read it how I was laughing with tears in my eyes. It’s incredible.The power of prayer. Not only do I know it from all my life but recently by the power of the prayers of the krewe. It’s working for us. God has a reason for everything and it still amazes me how he got us all together. I’m grateful for that. I think everyone of us needed this in some way.We are here for each other. Like it has been like this all of our lives. I got a text message from Elaine Wednesday night. We want to chat. Join us. We miss you. My other family. You don’t know how much I appreciate that. I guess if I would have the chance of going on the BC2 it would be like my 20 th class reunion. It would be for me. For me to spend with long time friends. Like children . Just happy to be there together. I think I’ll even prefer to go alone. So Il spend the time with my friends not letting behind or neglected any member of my family. It was that way in that reunion. Hey!! I’m happy I been talking through facebook with my friend’s daughters. They are the ones who just came from Europe. They left behind the yearly Disney trip because I keep recomending cruises and Europe. They left behind the fear of traveling so far. They don’t love airplanes. Slowly they have been moving forward. From Disney to cruises to New York and Washington. I was so fascinated with Europe that they had to give it a try. Took a 7 day cruise and spend 8 days in Spain. I booked them the private tours with my friend. I am very anxious to know how it went. At least the girls love it. I have to talk to their parents this night. I want all the details. Im off to a 4th of July tube steak-pool party at my nephew’s girlfriend (sister of the groom) house. Talk to you later.