2011 ...

It is a  New Year. They say live in the present, the past is gone, forget about it. Tomorrow is yet to come - don't worry about it. The present is here - make the most of it.

I look forward to this year. Better health, better relationship with my family, friends and myself. More outreach activities. A little success in the romance department wouldn't hurt either :D. We'll see.

So excited I will going Country Line Dancing with my friends next week :D Then there is Zumba and other dance classes I am so looking forward to doing.

NYC

Going on my third night and I still could not get a hold of my cousin. It has been fun so far.

The first day I went to the American Museum of Natural History and I checked out Grand Central Station and Time Square - all in the rain and all by taking the Subway

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Day two was spent in Greenwhich Village strolling the pretty black cast iron and sepio front door combos. I paid a visit to Carrie Bradshaw's Perry street abode. Checked out some local music scene at Soho and ate at Katz Delicatessen.

Today , went to 30 Rock and go up the Top of The Rock Conservatory and the view is just AMAZING. Central park's fall colors are starting to show, the Empire State Building and the Chrysler building can be seen. Further up, the view of The Lady of Staten Island can be seen as well.

I have a nice roommate and I knwo I have new one again this time. I sure hope it's another female.

A girl has to get her Zumba somehow

I don't like it when I post without photos but I think this is one of those posts.

I love to dance. I don't care if all my jiggly bits are hanging out. I love dancing. Maybe it be hip-hop, ballroom, jazz, contemporary etc etc. My TV screen has shown its fair share of shows like Dancing with the stars, So you think you can dance and America's next dance crew.

So imagine how excited I was when I heard about this dance called Zumba in 2008 or was 2009? I have been to two different classes so far this year, within the last 2 months :D. The ones that I've been to incorporates African dance, Latin Ballroom, Hip hop and Bollywood into the routine.

As I mentioned previously, I go to the one on Travis AFB but I also go to one in Vacaville. There is either a drop in fee or a punch card fee. So far, the best deal is in TAFB - 16 classes for $50 or $4/ drop in. The rest that I have seen are $50 for 10 or $7/ drop in. There is one in Vallejo that is $60 for $10 - a little steep there, or $10/ drop in.

But the great thing about the non-Travis ones I've seen so far is the first class is free.

So I'm trying to map out my free Zumbas as much as I can - I'm a reccesionista.

Tommorrow in Golds Gym I will go to my free Zumba :D I will miss 3 Zumbas in the next three weeks because of Novena and New York (didn't think they'd go together, anyway).

Art Appreciation at the Crocker Museum

" Wow. There are alot of artistic people. Lots of artistic people.", my friend said in all seriousness as we were inside the third floor elevator waiting for the descent.

Myself and another friend laughed at this. Then paused. Then laughed again.

We were in an art museum.

By the time we stepped outside, daylight has gone.There was Salsa and Merengue music playing at the courtyard of Crocker's Museum and people were dancing up on stage.

Earlier that day, my friends and I went to the grand opening of Crocker Museum in Sacramento, CA. It's just a few blocks from the yellow bridge. I never thought I'd enjoy it as much as I did. They couldn't have picked a better time to open :10-10-10. Another great thing : free admission, for that day only though.

We walked past car-art and Greek Folk Dancers in beautiful velvet dresses, vests and "harem pants". .

We marveled Asian and European Art and fabulous stone ware collection. The older stone building houses the Asian and European Art. Beautiful wood panels are by itself an exhibit of it own, even though it was part of the interior of the older building. The ceiling itself are adorned with golden embellishments. The wooden staircase has rook-like banisters and knob-like adornments underneath it.

What got me the most excited is the California Collection in the newer building. Each brushstroke a labor love, I am so grateful that these artists were generous enough to showcase their work. The ones that stood out for me were the artworks of Susan Adan - with her black, white and halloween theme, tic tac toes and dog.

The next would be Majia Peeples-Bright's Some Echidna's Everglade. The brightness of the colors, the thick loving layers of oil on canvas and the unexpected animals on every partition of the painting - dogs, cats, ducks, porcupine, flamingo, snake etc etc.. The black and white of the Zebras balanced the other colors of piece. At first glance, I thought it was an african Savannah with a herd of Zebras with tree branches on the foreground. But upon closer inspection, painted between bumpy borders of thick oil paints of what I thought were tree branches are different other animals and flowers.

If I ever find out who did this mosaic art, I will put their name on here to give them credit. Looking through the different tiles and how each tile depicts an image may it be from the hole of Christ's feet from Pieta to the ruins of Baghdad, then collectively forming an image of George W. Bush created a very strong statement.Other tile images are skulls, ears, barbed wire, Abu Graib and a mushroom cloud.

Walking a few more feet, I came to gaze into the sorrowful eyes of a soldier in a salute with crosses as grave markers surround him. The image almost looked like a scarecrow with not clearly defined arm muscle or leg muscles but the coat and the uniform gave it away. The face, though in shadows could not hide away the pain in his eyes. I find that there were also tears in my eyes and I find myself saluting back at him. To all the heroes of the campaign and their families - I hope you find peace and thank you for your courage. This piece is by Luis Cruz Azaceta

 

 "Guess what time it is?", my friend asked me as I stood fascinated by another art piece, deep in wonder. I struggled to reach the surface to pay attention to her question.

 " I don't know..(glances outside), could it be 8pm?", I said. And indeed it was.

Reluctantly we left the gallery and headed for the elevators. We stepped in with a woman and her child and a young man who stood further back. We pressed the floor number, listened to the metallic sliding of the door and the sharp elevator ring. There was no elevator music to fill the silence.

 " Wow. There are alot of artistic people. Lots of artistic people.", my friend said in all seriousness as we were inside the third floor elevator waiting for the descent.

Myself and another friend laughed at this. Then paused. Then laughed again.

 

The Airforce Base

We were too early for Zumba so my friend J was kind enough to take me on a quick tour on base and I was amazed on how knowledgeable she is on the names of the planes.

" Yeah that's a something-something, and that's a different one, that's a something-something.", I can't even remember what the names are they all look the same to me :D.

They all are gray and they look powerful.

The sun was setting which they say is one of the best time to take photos. We drove past hangars and paved roads.

" I've driven around here myself and sometimes I'm not sure if I'm even supposed to be where I was. Sometimes you can't tell if it's the runway from the road.", my friend said as she expertly maneuvered her big truck on the road.

"Well as long as you're not driving on the runway, I'm ok with that.", I found myself say and we both laughed at the idea of it.

I then heard a jet engine roar as we turned into a corner and a few seconds later I saw a one of the big big jets go airborne, gray against the orange and purple sky.It was quite a sight. It went airborne so fast, I guess it's different with commercial planes but these jets are bigger if not as big as the commercial jets.

If I could be in a commercial airline with these pilots, I know I will be in good hands.

Card-making at a Local Shelter, Mission Solano

 I pulled in The Shelter and was greeted by Tammy, another wonderful volunteer who is my team partner in making this card-making class all possible. We headed to their lounge and kitchen area and set up shop.

There were some residents in there, some still in their pajamas, happily munching their breakfast. A little 2-year-old girl by the name of A, sat with her Mom and was already making Tammy and I laugh because she has a personality far bigger than herself.

I'm so glad to put some of my card-making stuff to good use and I am so greatful to have Tammy team up with me to make it all possible. I honestly would not have known what to do without her. Her expertise and system somehow made it all easier for everyone. It was a little chaotic at first and the class was geared towards the women particularly so it was unexpected when I found myself have to guide a very adorable 4 year old boy named D, to make a card :D. It wasn't as hard as I thought as I have a younger brother and have had some experience interacting with children that age in a learning environment. I find myself enjoying the activity as much as them.Moving forward, we all learned to adapt and I enjoyed everyone's personality tremendously. These people are amazing and non-judgmental. The children are there to have fun and they are a delight.

 We figured since it was November, we made a halloween-themed card. I just cut the card stocks, bought some extra inks and envelopes. Tammy, bless her heart did and supplied the rest -  pre cut papers, stamps, inks , wipes etec etc and the card designs.

I brought some Distressed Ink by Tim Holtz and Georgia Pacific Cardstock from Walmart. Not bad for a beggining class. I wish I knew what products Tammy used so I would post it here too.

Not bad for our Pilot card-making class :)

I decided to volunteer some of my time because I want to make myself useful and I want to do something for others because I want to and not because I get paid to do it. I want to have a purpose in a way.

In a way, I do it for my late maternal Grandfather Lolo Doc. Lolo is the Tagalog word for Grandfather. His name is actually Manuel but we call him Doc because for the longest time he was in a way, the Town Doctor in this town called Arayat in the Philippines. His clinic is adjacent to the house where him and his wife, Mamay, raised their 8 children. His patients were the farmers of the town making an honest living and most of them could not afford to pay him for the services. Still, Lolo took them in and helped them in any way he can even if he knew they can't pay him back. Many years later, the neighborhood of my grandparents became commercialized and in that one block alone, there are at least 5 other medical practices but the old-timer patients still kept dropping by to get checked by Lolo.

I can write another blog about that wonderful Man. I will save that for another time.

Sure in my life I have struggles and I am also blessed. I think this is the least I could do and I do because I want to do it and if form that 1-2 hour, I can create a fun environment for these kids and their mothers, then I am very thankful of them for giving me the opportunity for the experience.

Day in San Francisco...

The heat was quite unbearable in The City but it was so much fun to spend it with business partners even if the purpose for being there was business.

Ok I do feel odd calling them business partners because I also consider them my friends.

I hope that everything will come through after this meeting. :) Can't talk much about the details just yet because I don't want to jinx it. It was so ggreat working with these people. Well, the photos will give it away. :D

After a day in chasing parking meter deadlines, driving about CoCo County I am so glad that I am home with the AC. It was also a day of venting and rreflection. I have learned to draw the line between business and pleasure. Professional and personal. a

I want to continue to do paranormal investigations and I should move forward to where my services are wanted. Management needs to do some mental spring cleaning but I wish them the best. As a very dear friend, they have always been in my prayers. I hope that my business decision survie our friendship.