A Perfect Lie

ma, ma, MA!

2012-01-27T18:00:00.003-05:00

If you haven't checked out the "Shit ----- Say" parodies on YouTube, you're missing out on an afternoon of laughter. Almost every ethnic group, religion, and sexual orientation are represented.

One of my favorites is "Shit Spanish Girls Say'. Now of course all Latinas do not say these things, but many do. This particular video highlights mostly Puerto Rican and Dominican females. Even if you're not Latino, I think you will enjoy this parody.

Nooooo!!

2012-01-23T18:02:00.002-05:00

My dog Coda does NOT like to take a bath. If you even say the word "bath", she'll run. Taking her to be professionally groomed is a problem as well. The last time we took her to Petsmart to be groomed, she completely freaked out. When I saw this picture on Pinterest I knew I had to share this with everyone.

Laughing,
Monica

Important!

2012-01-18T10:40:00.002-05:00

*Need more info? Check out http://www.iblognet.com

Concerned,
Monica

Yes please!

2012-01-15T15:20:00.000-05:00

Besos,
Monica

2012!!!

2012-01-04T11:34:00.001-05:00

*Image found thanks to Pinterest and Tumblr*

The new me in 2012 :).

Besos,
Monica

Gracias mil...

2011-12-30T18:52:00.001-05:00

Friends are so important in your life. Mi madre always told me growing up if you have at least one person you can trust and call a true friend, then you are blessed.

I'm happy to say that I have more than one true friend, but over the years, I realize that many people in my life are just acquaintances. That's okay. It's good to have someone to just hang out with and talk to sometimes. Just remember that acquaintances shouldn't be trusted with your deepest, darkest secrets. They are in your life for fun times and crazy memories.

Your friends are who you trust, the ones that hold your hair when you're throwing up, the ones that tell you when you're acting like a bitch and tell you to stop. Your true friends would never try and hook up with your guy. They wouldn't even consisder it!

Look around at the people you hang out with over the next couple of weeks and think about who your TRUE friends really are!

Besos,
Monica

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-24T14:56:00.000-05:00

Muchos besos y abrazos fuerte,
Monica

Comparing berries to apples...

2011-12-16T12:09:00.000-05:00

I never thought it would come to this. I have loved my Blackberry phones for years. It's the perfect business phone. It allows me to do so many things. I am addicted to the Microsoft Office features and the ability to view flash enabled websites.

Enter Apple and the iPhone. The 5 people I text and talk to the most have iPhones. Brianna, Adam, Jenn, Robin, and Patti are all #teamiPhone. I'm not even going to mention the fabulous "Words with Friends" app. Okay, I'll mention it, I'm totally jealous. Everyone is playing it EXCEPT for me. Grr. The apps alone make the iPhone worth at least a glance.

Why won't I switch? Deep down I love my Blackberry. It's stood the test of time. I can conduct all my business and personal needs with one device. Now RIM may make me scream some days, but in the end I will remain #teamBlackberry.

**The buzz about the iPad 3 may sway me away from my netbook though**

Besos,
Monica

World AIDS Day!

2011-12-01T15:41:00.000-05:00

On December 1st, we observe World AIDS day. First observed in 1988, World AIDS Day began as a way to increase awareness of the disease and support those affected by it, their families, their communities, even entire countries. It provided an opportunity to fight prejudice against people living with HIV, improve knowledge about the disease among the wider population, and raise money for research. *www.voanews.com

Abrazos,
Monica

Be a part of the solution!

Blessed...

2011-11-30T12:34:00.000-05:00

Besos,
Monica

Facebook...

2011-11-20T16:39:00.000-05:00

Here is a little peak into my life. I smile whenever I log on to my Facebook account, usually. Why?, because this is what I see:

Lots of activity and posts from my family and friends. No drama, everyone I cannot stand is blocked. Pictures of good times. Yes, I know Facebook is tracking my every move and reporting my likes and dislikes to advertisers. I'm not posting or going to any places online that I want privacy rules to respect. I am a tech star, I know how to hide if I want to do so ;).

If you know me, you know I say everything happens for a reason. It does. You're reading my blog right now for a reason. Hopefully that reason is you're interested in me and what I have to say. Thank you. If you're just being nosy, thank you also. It's okay, as long as I don't have a restraining order against you.

Peace, love and light to you all.

Besos,
Monica

Privacy!

2011-11-18T12:23:00.001-05:00

There has been so much in the news and social media about privacy. Bottom line, if you're posting information on the internet, it is NOT private. I highly suggested everyone signup for the FTC's newsletter. It's amazing what can and will happen to us if we are not alert and on top of our rights and responsibilities. We are fair game for any shady company, debt collector or hacker.

"A consumer who has no problem revealing her browsing history to advertising companies targeting their pitches to her interests may feel very differently about the collection of that information if it’s going to the financial company deciding whether to give her a mortgage, or the health insurer setting her rates, or the prospective employer determining her career path."

— Jon Leibowitz, FTC Chairman

FTC

Concerned,
Monica

Photography

2011-11-12T17:18:00.004-05:00

I recently stumbled upon Rikki Mendias on http://www.vimeo.com . He's a talented photographer and the star, cinematographer, and camera operator of one of my favorite new videos:

Drake - "Marvin's Room" Unofficial Video from @IVAN_RunJuly on Vimeo.

In this more recent video he's the star and the director of photography.

Rikki's going to be my unofficial tour guide when I'm in California for Spring Break 2012. He just doesn't know it yet ;).

His videos and photographs pull you in. When I visited his website http://www.rikkspikks.com I was mesmerized with his work. Rikki Mendias is someone to get to know. You won't be disappointed.

Want more Rikki?

Besos,
Monica

A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

2011-11-08T09:41:00.003-05:00

How appropriate that this is my 100th blog post. I woke up to this nonsense on my Facebook this morning. These are the two messages that were left from my ex's "friend". I wish I could tell you that I made these up. Notice the spelling errors and the irrational thought processes going on. Thanks for the laugh!

JUST KNOW YOU STARTED THIS. I NEVER KNEW WHY YOU HATED ME SO MUCH , BUT I JUST TALKED TO N AND HIS GIRLFRIEND AND HE EXPLAINED A LOT TO US. SO I GUESS NOW MY FEELINGS OF ANGER TOWARDS YOU JUST TURNED TO PITY.
BYE MONICA ---------...
3 hours ago
J
By the way Brani, whoever you are, If this is not you then i am sorry for the following message to be posted on your page. if you have any suggestion of how i can get rid of this infestation problem i seem to have, please advise

SOOOO, this is Monica, I always wanted a desperate pet psycho bitch...you sick bitch. Well I guess i should watch my back for the scarry fat mental case who just might pull a Buffalo Bill and wear some students skin just to get close to me :/ YOU ARE A MOTHER AND A TEACHER !!!!! PATHETIC ... for your info i have never had this illusion of a relationship with N that you so desperately wanted to believe. IF YOU WANT ME TO TAKE THIS SHIT TO THE --------------- POLICE I WILL . YOU DON'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS YOU GROUPIE. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE LIKE THIS BEFORE. ESPECIALLY TO SOMEONE I DON'T KNOW. WELL PERSON ENJOY YOUR TIME HEAR IN SHITTY OHIO, IM MOVING 3000 MILES ANYWAYS, I MET A WONDERFUL SUCCESSFUL MAN ( NOT A MAN BOY STUDENT LIKE YOUR INTO) HANDSOME RICH AND LOVING. SO THIS IS IT MY DEAR PET GROUPIE IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING.... SIT MONICA SIT...GOOD DOG...WOOF !
3 hours ago
J

Besos,
Monica

A$$...

2011-11-05T15:19:00.003-04:00

This video gives me confused feelings. Good feelings, but still confused ones ;).

Abrazos,
Monica

P.S. Part three of 'Los Colores" coming soon!

I Have No Words Wednesday...

2011-11-02T10:25:00.000-04:00

Abrazos,Monica

Thank you for your support!

2011-10-26T10:34:00.000-04:00

October is an eerie month, filled with monsters, mummies, and the macabre. But while the occasional witch or skeleton might freak you out, one must concede that there are indeed more frightening things– like finding out your child will be born with spina bifida.
And yet, each day in the U.S., an average of eight families welcome a child with spina bifida into the world. Annually, an estimated 1,500 infants are born with spina bifida each year in the U.S.
I was born with spina bifida nearly two and a half decades ago. The diagnosis came as a total shock to my family, along with an entire set of secondary complications. I was also born with hydrocephalus, or “water on the brain.” During the first ten years of my life, it seemed I was in the hospital every other week with a bladder infection or shunt malfunction. I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t really scary at times.
But then, at age ten, I discovered a fantastic way to defeat my worst fears– knowledge. I vowed I would educate myself and read up on the condition that, up until that point, seemed to be taking over my life. Much like a child who imagines a ghost is in his closet, grabs a flashlight and realizes it’s only an old coat, I had come to the realization that, when you take the time to learn about something, no matter how terrifying it may seem at first, everything is less scary in the light of knowledge.
According to the Spina Bifida Association of America, “spina bifida remains the most commonly occurring birth defect in this country.” Just how common is it overall? PubMed Health, the Web site of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, reported in March of this year: “Myelomeningocele [the most severe form of spina bifida] may affect as many as 1 out of every 800 infants.”
As a 21-year member of the Spina Bifida Association of Central Florida, I’m doing my part to shed light on this condition by raising money for the Walk-N-Roll for Spina Bifida. When my parents and I moved from Puerto Rico to Orlando, Florida in search of better educational and healthcare opportunities for me in 1990, we found a support system away from our family and homeland in joining the SBACFL. My personal search for a public spokesperson for the spina bifida cause, as well as my work as a current member of the SBACFL board of directors, have helped me find my true purpose– galvanizing as many people as possible to support the spina bifida community.
So, in the spirit of shedding light on a little-known condition, and in honor of October, which is Spina Bifida Awareness Month, here are some statistics about spina bifida that might spook you a bit:

Spina bifida is more common than muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and cystic fibrosis combined.

Latinos have the highest incidence of spina bifida out of all the ethnic groups.

Ireland is the country with the highest incidence of spina bifida in the world.

About 50 percent of babies with spina bifida areselectively aborted after being diagnosed with spina bifida.

Doctors recommend that every woman of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily to help prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida up to 70 percent of the time. In spite of this, there are currently an estimated 166,000people in the U.S. living with spina bifida– up from just 76,000 just last year.

About 90 percent of people with spina bifida are also born with hydrocephalus. Many need a shunt inserted near the brain to drain the excess cerebrospinal fluid– and many requiremultiple shunt replacements during their lives.

Other very common secondary conditions include bladder and bowel incontinence, as well as frequent urinary tract infections.

After the onset of puberty, young people with spina bifida are more prone to clinical depression than most people. Researchers think this may be due in part to social isolation.

Being able to share this information with all of you today is without a doubt the most empowering and inspiring aspect of my life. I’d love nothing more than to give you that very sense of empowerment. Please publish this post on your own Web site(s), and feel free to add your own personal intro that will make it relevant to your blog followers. As many people as I’ve managed to rally in support of this cause, you have an advantage that I don’t–your audience. So, please share this information with everyone you come into contact with.
Below is a video that explains just why the Spina Bifida Association of Central Florida means so much to me, and why I’m participating in the Walk-N-Roll.
youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIpzk_1ICX4
I will be raising money online for Team Holdin’ Out for a Hero until October 29th, when we have our Walk-N-Roll event. Donations can be as small as $5 or as large as $50,000. (Yes, I do like the $50,000 better!) Every cent counts! Every cent of every dollar will go towards supporting families affected by spina bifida in 22 counties in and around the Central Florida region and supporting educational and awareness efforts.
Yes, to the new parent, or even to the already-grown individual, spina bifida can seem like a scary thing to deal with. But there’s a power in numbers and a strength in awareness– a strength that gives us the courage to open the closet, shine the light in the ghost’s face, and reduce it to nothing but an old coat.
Thank you for helping me conquer my biggest fear– ignorance of spina bifida.
~ Laurita Tellado, HoldinOutforaHero.org

Blackberry...

2011-10-13T14:51:00.000-04:00

I am proud to consider myself "Team Blackberry". I've owned one for the past 4 years and have had only minor issues with it. That was until this week.

My emails and browser have been either slow or non-existent. I use my phone for both personal and business needs. I rely on my BB to keep in contact with clients, family, and friends. All are equally important. No phone = no $ and no life line to the outside world.

*According to a comScore survery, Apple pushed RIM (Research In Motion) out of the number 4 spot for handset makers in May 2011. Google's Android share jumped from 33% to 38% over a three month period according to a study completed in February 2011. *information provided by CNET

RIM's stock has taken a huge hit as well. The people have spoken. Please #sortitout Blackberry!!

Shopping around,
Monica

I'm a bad girl...

2011-10-06T12:23:00.002-04:00

Amor,
Monica

Mi Vida...

2011-09-25T18:02:00.000-04:00

I went out last night with a group of good friends. We had so much fun telling stories and talking about old times. What you don't know is that I almost didn't show up.

Earlier that day I had a stress free shopping day con mi madre. That is an accomplishment in itself. While I was out, my ex called. It's strange, sometimes I really want to talk to him, see him, hug and kiss all over him. Other times just hearing his voice makes me cry angry tears.

Guess how I responded... angry tears. Later on of course. I won't ever let him see or hear me cry again. Talking to him yesterday made me remember the day he left me. The cold words and the look on his face. I remembered how he told me he was moving in with his girlfriend J and was going to "fuck the shit" out of her that night. Those words will never leave my head.

His girlfriend J has always been in his life. She was supposedly his best friend during our entire marriage. I'm guessing best friends with benefits. It doesn't matter now. I'm free of both of them. Actually they belong together, he should have never married me in the first place.

I can be strong and say all these things now looking back on our relationship. I will admit that the sight of J annoys the hell out of me. Everything on la puta is fake. Who walks around with basically a fake head? (hair, eyes, eyelashes, wrong color of make-up, over done lips) Why do I let someone so awful and immoral bother me so much? So much so that I almost missed out on an amazing night out with friends. I guess I still have a little baggage to get rid of asap. Now where's that trash compactor??? ;)

Besos,
Monica

Cumple...

2011-09-03T18:38:00.000-04:00

Today is the day before my birthday. I'm happy I'm still alive to celebrate another year. Last year at this time, I didn't think I would survive. I couldn't even spend my birthday comfortable in my own home. This year I am blessed to be at home surrounded by people who love and care about me. That's the best gift I could receive. The gift of peace and life.

Besos,
Monica

Wrong...

2011-08-17T12:06:00.001-04:00

*I can't stop staring at the lips of the man playing the piano. Ohhh, I love a man with full lips. Mmm!

Amor,
Monica

Summer 2011

2011-08-11T15:39:00.001-04:00

This has been a summer full of ups and downs. I've laughed, cried, melted down, kissed, hugged, and partied way too much. I will never forget these past couple of months and I wouldn't change a thing!

Besos,
Monica

Goodbye!

2011-08-04T13:07:00.001-04:00

Besos,
Monica

WTH???

2011-07-16T16:46:00.000-04:00

My morning began at 6:11 am EST with my dog Coda running into my room barking. I thought she had to go potty. Oh no. She wanted to let me know there was an uninvited guest in our home. A mole. Yes, a disgusting little blind rodent some how managed to get in the house.

Coda was flipping out, probably because I started screaming and slamming doors. The mole was trapped in the hall coat closet. Coda was determined to get at it. I opened the closet door and ran and locked myself in the bathroom across the hall. Claro, I continued to scream the entire time.

After a while I didn't hear anything. Coda wasn't scratching or growling. She was in the living room standing near the couch. I slowly walked over to see what she was staring at so intently. It was a DEAD MOLE. She had killed it and brought it over and put it on my living room rug! I was a mess. I ran around the house screaming again.

After about 15 minutes I calmed down and opened the back porch door and asked Coda to take the "toy" outside. She didn't want anything to do with it. I had no idea what to do at this point. I went and got a broom from the garage and crept up near the mole. I screamed and pushed at it to make sure it was dead. It was, so I chucked it near the door like a hockey puck. I finally got it outside and swept it into a large bush.

I never want to start a morning out like this again.

Still screaming on the inside,
Monica

Por favor...

2011-07-07T13:53:00.001-04:00

Please "Vote for Lola"!! This little one has stolen my heart. She's as sweet as she is cute. Muchas gracias!!!

Besitos,
Monica

Mmm Papi--Pitbull...

2011-07-04T18:29:00.000-04:00

This is one of my favorite Pitbull videos. He forgot one chica, me!!

Eye candy por todos,
Monica

Toda Pra Voçe

2011-07-04T18:10:00.003-04:00

Sempre assim, só nós dois, sem deixar prá depois

Esse amor, nunca é igual

Cada vez, mais coisa e tal

O tempo nao perdoa e a noite vai

E nunca é demais

Isso é tao prá mim

Assim eu fico em paz

E que mias eu vou querer

Sou toda pra você

Sempre assim, sem pensar

Outra vez, me entregar

Respirar, teu calor

Flutuar no teu amor

Teu corpo me estremece de prazar

Faz o mundo desabar

Me faz enlouquecer

Nao dá mais eu vou querer

Sou toda pra você

Quero te amar, prá sempre ser feliz

Sente o coraçao que sepre te diz

Nao dá mais prá coltar atrás, nunca mais

Sempre assim, sem pensar

Outra vez, me entregar

Respirar, teu calor

Flutuar no tue amor

Teu corpo me estremece de prazar

Faz o mundo desabar

Me faz enlouquecer

Nao dá mais prá controlar

O jogo é prá valer

E que mais eu vou querer

Sou toda pra você

O, nao nao

Sou toda pra você, minha vida

Nao nao

Sou toda pra você, minha vida

Sou toda pra você

*palabras de Gloria Estefan

Triste,
Monica

Today...

2011-06-29T15:23:00.000-04:00

Bad Boys!

2011-06-17T14:36:00.001-04:00

Hello my name is Monica. I cannot stay away from "bad boys". I'm drawn to them like most women are drawn to los zapatos. There is something about a man with a sketchy past, tattoos, and a smirk on his face that turns me on immediately.

I think I put out those vibes as well. It doesn't help that I happened to marry the king of all bad boys. Now that we're divorced, I seem to be fair game for the up and coming ones.

Todas las personas en mi vida have told me I am not allowed to chose my next novio. I get that. I understand why no one around me wants to deal with any more drama. Deep down I don't want any drama either, but why are bad boys so sexy? Especially a certain one with dimples, muscles, and a shy personality. Help?

Sigh,
Monica

Hmm...

2011-06-13T16:00:00.003-04:00

Read with caution. Adult language.
*I've been listening to this song today and actually hearing the words. This is totally a punk bitch way to end a relationship. "I love you enough to let you go?" I call bullshit. Some men run when things get too real. Yes, when you fuck sometimes things get REAL. Rant over...maybe. (7-4-11)

Not even a little ;)
Monica

Stress!

2011-06-07T10:58:00.000-04:00

I am under so much stress right now. I don't know how I'm even keeping myself together. Everything than could go wrong has gone wrong. I don't want to answer my phone, open the mail, or leave my room at work.

I'm even hiding from social media. I want nothing to do with Twitter, Facebook, or even Myspace right now. Yes, I'm still holding on to my Myspace for sentimental reasons. #dontjudgeme

In that past when my stress level has gotten out of control my health goes down hill fast. I'm trying to stop that from happening. All I can say is that if you don't see or hear from me for awhile, I'm trying to pull myself together. It's not you, it's me.

Mucho amor,
Monica

Everytime...

2011-05-30T07:32:00.001-04:00

Lo siento,
Monica

My "Freedom Party"...

2011-05-22T17:45:00.001-04:00

Surprise, Harold 'False Prophet' Camping was wrong and we're all still here, so my Freedom party went on as planned last night at 11:00 pm. I had an amazing time. Everyone I wanted to show up did. I was surrounded by people who care and have supported me through this rough divorce process.

The party was fabulous. It started out with snacks and Martini's with my girls, pre-gaming we call it. We then moved the party over to my friend's bar where all my other friends were waiting. I couldn't stop smiling. Lots of hugs, kisses, and soooo many adult beverages. I paced myself so I wouldn't be wasted or wake up with a hangover.

I did meet a couple of new prospects for possible fun summer dating. We'll see what happens. I'm just taking one happy day at a time.

Abrazos,
Monica

No More Drama...

2011-05-16T15:22:00.004-04:00

This video brought me to tears today during my lunch break. I've experienced every emotion Mary J is singing about. Her lyrics are powerful reminders of my past. "I don't want to cry no more." "I chose to win." "No more waking me up in the morning with your disturbing phone calls." Those lyrics were like little daggers being thrown at me. I have the rest of the year to turn things around. NO MORE DRAMA IN MY LIFE!

Soy una ganadora,
Monica

Freedom...

2011-05-15T15:14:00.000-04:00

Besos,
Monica

Respect...

2011-04-14T10:29:00.000-04:00

Respect, everyone wants it, but how do you earn it and more importantly how do keep it?

As a woman of color I was raised to be nurturing and respectful of others. Kind to my elders and to those in higher positions. I was taught to address adults as Mr. and Mrs. or Señor or Señora . This was my way of life.

My upbringing has been a double-edged sword in the workplace. My kind, nurturing nature has been mistaken for weakness. My respect for my employers has been perceived as 'sucking up' or 'brown-nosing'. Neither perception is true. I simply have class and respect. Respect for myself and for others.

I have respect for the teachers and staff that have gone out of their way to support and help the students in our building. I also have respect for my employers who deal with all the behind the scene details that make our jobs much easier.

How do you get respect and keep it? By giving it to those that have earned it through their words and actions.

Siempre,
Monica

Vee

2011-04-08T14:45:00.000-04:00

November 5, 1976 - April 5, 2010

Rest In Peace mi amigo...

Muchos besos y abrazos,
Monica

Far Away...

2011-04-06T15:57:00.002-04:00

If you're in trouble please reach out,
Monica

Mi perra...

2011-03-26T19:20:00.000-04:00

If a Man Wants You...

2011-03-19T14:53:00.000-04:00

If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away.
If he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay.
Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior. Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.
Stop trying to change yourselves for a relationship that's not meant to be.
Slower is better. Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.

If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you
deserve then heck no, you can't "be friends."
A friend wouldn't mistreat a friend. Don't settle. If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is.
Don't stay because you think "it will get better."
You'll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better.

The only person you can control in a relationship is you.
Avoid men who've got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women.
He didn't marry them when he got them pregnant,
Why would he treat you any differently?

Always have your own set of friends separate from his.
Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you. If something bothers you, speak up.
Never let a man know everything.
He will use it against you later.

You cannot change a man's behavior. Change comes from within.
Don't EVER make him feel he is more important than you are... even if he has more education or in a better job.
Do not make him into a quasi-god.
He is a man, nothing more nothing less.
Never let a man define who you are.

Never borrow someone else's man.
If he cheated with you, he'll cheat on you.
A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you.
All men are NOT dogs.

You should not be the one doing all the bending...compromise is a two way street.
You need time to heal between relationships...there is nothing cute
about baggage... deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship.
You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you...a relationship
consists of two WHOLE individuals...look for someone complimentary...not supplementary.

Dating is fun...even if he doesn't turn out to be Mr. Right.
Make him miss you sometimes...when a man always know where you are, and you're always readily available to him- he takes it for granted.
Never move into his mother's house. Never co-sign for a man.

Don't fully commit to a man who doesn't give you everything that you need.
Keep him in your radar but get to know others
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them and an entire lifetime to forget them.

**A good friend sent this to me a long time ago. I don't know who wrote this, but I am thankful that they did.

Thinking,
Monica

Furious!!!

2011-03-12T15:56:00.002-05:00

I am furious! This has been awful week. You may not realize it, but I am a sweet person. No seriously. I go out of my way to make people happy. I love making people smile. What does it get me? Nothing. NOT A DAMN THING.

I really don't help others for recognition. I help others because it makes me feel good, but for some reason I always get burned because of it. This has happened to me before. You would think I had learned my lesson. I have now. No more helping anyone else at work. Ever. I'm done.

I'm not even going to go into detail because it will stress me out. When I retire I will. When I retire this blog will blow the fuck up. I'm going to name names and tell ALL. No one is safe.

Winning,
Monica

GNO!!!

2011-03-05T14:38:00.001-05:00

This has been a stressful week. The passage of Senate Bill 5 in Ohio, the staff morale in our building is at an all time low, plus I have to make a retirement decision soon. Governor Kasich is ruining lives. This man has effectively depressed millions of public employees and their family and friends with one stupid plan. A plan that will not even balance Ohio's budget. Mark my words, Ohio will be a ghost town by 2015.

Fortunately I had something to look forward to at the end of the week. A little tradition our group of friends refer to as GNO, "Girls Night Out". We've been having these nights out for the past year and a half. There is always some sort of theme. We've had "Hawaiian Night", "Pizza, Pjs, and Porn", "Pure Romance", "Dance Party", "Bruta Fest", etc. Last night was "Welcome Home Rachel K." Our nights can be mild to wild, but always fun. Here's a snapshot of Rachel K and me enjoying ourselves at GNO.

Besos,
Monica

Real Talk!

2011-02-21T09:55:00.000-05:00

A couple of days ago I discovered a video by Chris Brown "No Bullshit". I had of course heard the song played for over a year. I never took the time to watch the video. I have an issue with Chris. I personally think he's a punk bitch for what he did to Rihanna, but that's another subject for another day.

I couldn't/can't stop watching the video. I was/am mesmerized. Almost everything sexual I like to do was featured, in hazy graphic detail. Damn. DAMN. To the detail. Lately all I can think about is sex. I feel like a teenage boy. Is this normal? Am I the only woman over 30 that does this? Help me out bellas? I'm starting to think I need therapy!

Ayudame,
Monica

All Night ...

2011-02-20T12:30:00.005-05:00

Seriously no bullshit,
Monica

Here...

2011-02-14T10:50:00.001-05:00

Triste,
Monica

Laughing Out Loud!

2011-02-10T09:10:00.002-05:00

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.   (I would do it for you. Bookmarks as well.)

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?   (NO!!)

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

9. Bad decisions make good stories. (The reason for my blog!)

10. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.    (2:05 pm)

11. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

12. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

13. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.   (We ALL do this, don't judge me.)

14. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

15. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay Jewelers. (Who's watching me? *nervous*)

16. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

17. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

18. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said? (Three. Three times is okay.)

19. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

20. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

21. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

22. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.

23. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.   (I love men, pobrecitos.)

**Sent to me via email. Author unknown.

Enjoy,
Monica

The Jersey Shore...

2011-02-03T07:56:00.002-05:00

Last weekend I had the best conversation with an Italian man. An absolutely gorgeous, single Italian man...Okay, I'm back. Somehow the show "Jersey Shore" was brought up. He told me that the show was an embarrassment to their culture and real Italians hate it. The term guido is a slur, a bad word. Not something to be proud of in any way.

I had heard rumors of this, but had never taken the time to actually listen to the reasons why. Watching "Jersey Shore" is one of my guilty pleasures. I look forward to MTV at 10:00 pm on Thursdays. I start posting *fist pump* on Facebook and #tshirttime on Twitter hours before the show starts. Snooki and JWoww are my girls. I want to do inappropriate things with DJ Pauly D. Now I have a little bit of a conscience. Am I feeding into the stereotypes? Am I part of the problem?

I will still continue to watch, but I'm watching informed. Thanks to S. Who by the way made last weekend fantastic, but that's another blog for another day. Maybe :).

Ciao,
Monica

One of a teacher's favorite phrases!!

2011-02-01T06:30:00.000-05:00

Going back to bed,
Monica

Ay Mami...

2011-01-22T14:41:00.001-05:00

I've been in love with exactly three men. All of them have "Mother" issues. Intrigued? Read on!

Let's begin with R, my first love. I've known him since we were in middle school. I had the biggest crush on him and he never paid any attention to me. He actually never paid any attention to anyone. R was super shy, even though he was muy guapo. When we moved on to high school, he made the football team and his confidence started to grow. R found his voice and started to make friends. Long story short, we became novios. I found out why he was so quiet, he was the youngest in a large family and never got any attention. His mother was a nurse and she worked long hours taking care of elderly patients in a nursing home. R loved his Mom so much, but never saw her. He always felt neglected and unloved. He bounced from girl to girl looking for the female attention he didn't receive at home.We broke up over this. R is married and still putting himself "out" there.

My heart healed and I fell in love a second time. I met S in college, the second week of my freshman year! I was so excited to finally turn 18 years old and be allowed to go to a fraternity party. My friends and I were muy borrachas so we were going house to house looking for more alcohol. I saw S sitting on the floor all by himself at the last house. I thought he looked sad, so I sat down next to him to cheer him up (I'm a magnet for a sad guy). Fast forward we dated for four years, and he's the father of mi hija. His mother spoiled him rotten. Whatever S wanted/wants she provided/provides for him. He had no idea how to do anything for himself then and he still doesn't now.

The third time is the charm right? I put another Hello Kitty bandaid on my battered and bruised heart and fell in love again. I married N. Our history goes back a long time, just like his issues with his mother. I should have known when he told me he would trade his mother in for a watch, that we would have a rough marriage. A man that HATES his mother will struggle in any type of relationship with a woman. She's kicked him out of the house, treated him like a stranger, abused him, and played mind games with N his entire life. I don't blame him for disliking her. She is partly to blame for turning him into the person he is today.

Thoughts??
Monica

One Year Ago Today...

2011-01-09T11:55:00.002-05:00

I began this blog. I took this screen cap yesterday and couldn't be happier. Thanks for all of your support!

Gracias mil,
Monica

Esposa con un otro...

2011-01-06T15:02:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite movies came on this past Sunday morning, “Unfaithful” staring Richard Gere and Diane Lane. I absolutely love this movie. The concept is completely believable. A married woman is consumed in a steamy love affair with a younger, attractive French man. Their sexual scenes are hot and pull you in, almost like a voyeur. The ending is controversial; I won’t spoil it if you haven’t seen it.

While watching the movie, I immediately wanted to blog about female infidelity. What did my male and female friends think about the subject? Would they be willing to talk openly and honestly about this taboo topic? Oh yes. Por favor, read on you may be surprised at what they had to say.

I began a dialogue on women and cheating. I asked several questions about what was considered cheating, why and why not? If alcohol is involved does this change anything? Would you tell your partner/spouse? Then finally any other comments on the topic? *Some names and details have been changed to protect the innocente.

Las mujeres first, claro

R, Blanca, Divorced

-not easy to forgive

-admit and confess cheating because the truth always comes out eventually

C, Latina, Married

-men are less likely to forgive than women

-men tend to walk away when hurt

-tell spouse about cheating only if you want marriage to end

-no need to hurt another person just to ease conscience

F, Latina, Single

-easier to forgive a one night stand than an extended rendezvous

S, Blanca, Married

-prayer and effort from both parties necessary to forgive

-sincere repentance from person who cheated

-time helps, but doesn’t heal all

A, Blanca, Married

-kissing okay (cultural norm)

-flirting okay, but not too much, it becomes over the line

-contacting ex okay (i.e. adding on Facebook), but continuing to talk crosses boundaries

-alcohol involved kiss not cheating, would not tell spouse

-alcohol involved one night stand is cheating, would eventually tell spouse

P, Blanca, Married

-“As long as you don’t get caught, it’s okay.”

-“Lie”

-"Admit nothing!"

-sneaking out and meeting someone for sex is cheating

-kissing intimately is cheating

-intentions are what is important

-alcohol involved kissing is not cheating

-alcohol involved sex is not cheating, would feel guilty, but would never tell husband

M, Latina, Married

-kissing is not cheating

-alcohol involved kissing is not cheating either

-alcohol involved sex is not cheating and would never tell, guilt is yours, own it

-you can’t help who you fall for, situations happen

S, Blanca, Single

-came from a broken home

-would never cheat, saw first hand how it ruins a family and hurts everyone involved

-cut all ties with temptation

Los hombres

S, Blanco, Married

-kissing is cheating, unless to say hello

-basically considers everything cheating except if she is with another woman (thinks that’s sexy)

-no one night stands or ongoing affairs, immediate divorce preceedings

-counseling not an option

-alcohol involved not cheating, lack of judgment, but she must tell him immediately

-trust is the most important part of a relationship, without it he’s gone

-the media is responsible for portraying bad values related to marriage

-“Before there is a divorce there will be a funeral.”

R, Latino, Married

-physical intimacy only is cheating

-technology has blurred the line

-sexting is cheating as well

N, Filipino, Married

-kissing is cheating

-everything including looking at or talking to another man is cheating

-hooking up with another woman is also cheating

-alcohol related sexual activity kissing, sex is cheating

-hates cheating and people who cheat

-would never give a cheater a second chance

My friend S was the most passionate about cheating. He's also a young newlywed. That makes a big difference. Why you ask? He's still in the new romance phase of his marriage. Things change a bit once you've been married awhile. Ask an "old-timer". S is also a bit arrogant and cocky as most handsome men. I'm sure he thinks his wife would never even glance at another man. She probably wouldn't, but you never know. #justsayin

My other friend P surprised me the most. She was bluntly honest and hilarious with her answers. She's been married longer than I've been alive. P and her husband make a wonderful couple. They're happy and compliment each other. If it's not broke, don't fix it. Right, right??

There you have it. Now it's your turn. What do YOU think about cheating?

Muchos besos,

Monica

**Thanks to everyone that took the time to answer my questions so openly and honestly.

Siempre Los Colores...

2011-01-06T09:49:00.000-05:00

Marisol was considered una reinita of the gang. Everyone thought she was too nice and too pretty to participate in anything serious. That all changed at el parque one day.

It was a perfect sunny afternoon. Daniel was playing cards with his boys at the tables. Marisol was holding her sobrinita y talking to a group of friends. Her amiga bumped her leg and told her that some blanca was walking towards Daniel. Everyone got quiet and watched for Marisol's reaction.

La blanca started talking to Daniel like she knew him, like they were old friends. Marisol gave her sobrinita back to Ana Maria and slowly walked over to the table, just as la blanca reached over to touch Daniel's shoulder. Daniel looked up into Marisol's dark eyes. La blanca turned around to stand face to face with a girl she had never seen before.

Beautiful...

2011-01-05T15:10:00.004-05:00

Looking for that spark,
Monica

Thank you!

2010-12-31T16:37:00.001-05:00

2010 is coming to an end tonight. As I look back on the events most of it was pretty awful, but there were two wonderful bright spots, mi hija was accepted at her #1 college choice and mi sobrinito was born. Those are two awesome events. It's a shame I let myself overlook those wonderful moments.

I am hopeful about 2011. Maybe a new relationship is in store for me, or perhaps someone from my past will become an important part of my present? Will a failed marriage turn into a beautiful vow renewal? Who knows what my future will be, but I'm looking forward to the wild ride, mi vida loca, or a peaceful journey. Whatever God has planned.

I'd like to thank each and every one of my readers for your comments and support. You all keep me going, thinking, and laughing. Gracias mil por todo.

Happy New Year/Feliz Año Nuevo/Feliz Ano Novo/ Felice Anno Nuovo!
Monica

Update...

2010-12-23T20:21:00.002-05:00

No more tears, well at least for now. I guess I was just having one of those days. I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders.

I just needed some time off and a lot of rest. Stress is bad for everyone. It made me crack. I was crying and super depressed. Stress also triggered two days of flares. Ugh.

I feel so much better now. I'm enjoying life again. I'm functioning like a productive member of society. I will also do my part to stimulate the economy by doing all of my Christmas shopping tomorrow.

Besos,
Monica

Tears...

2010-12-21T11:07:00.000-05:00

It's four days before Christmas. One of my favorite holidays. I haven't done anything to prepare for it:
    -no Christmas cards sent
    -no gifts bought for anyone other than mi sobrinito
    -no food purchased
    -no plans made.

I'm sitting here on my lunch break at work bawling my eyes out watching depressing videos on AOL music. I'm so sad I can't even function. I know I have to get myself together. Christmas will be here. Mi hija is home from college. I know she's wondering what's wrong with me. Why I'm not my usual self. Why I'm not running around like crazy. Why I haven't bought any presents or wrapped any gifts.

Maybe it's because I am sad. This has been an awful year. I have been through so much. I've held it all together for so long. I've put up with so much. I've given to everyone. I've been everyone's support system. I've tried to make everyone happy.

I look back on 2010 and see a bunch of sadness, hurt, and pain. I see a man that promised to love and respect me before God hurt me and leave me over and over again. I've seen my baby girl grow up and move far away. I've had mi madre make comments that sliced my heart open. I've been near death and transported via ambulance to the hospital.

I don't know how much more of this year I can take...

Triste,
Monica

fall for your type...

2010-12-20T14:30:00.008-05:00

Hmm,
Monica

Unconditional Love

2010-12-13T10:23:00.000-05:00

Mi amorcito,
Monica

X

2010-12-03T07:46:00.000-05:00

Dear Sir,
I have absolutely no respect for you. You have made my life a living hell for the last two and a half years. Your constant financial instability, your disrespect for my house, my religion, my family, and me have been unbearable.

Everyone told me you were worthless. I didn't listen. I thought you had a heart and were worth saving. I thought you could get it together and make something of yourself one day. I thought you could overcome your demons and break through your issues and grow up. I was very, very wrong.

You have shown yourself to be a complete idiot. A lazy son of a bitch who has no desire or follow through. You blame everyone and everything for YOUR failures. Look around, see how many people you have alienated. See how many people want nothing to do with you. You say you have no real friends, have you ever been anyone's real friend? You are a liar, a cheater, and a thief.

Ask yourself how you got in the situation you're in right now. Think about everything you have done. All the people you have hurt, shot, stabbed, robbed, lied to, manipulated, physically, verbally, and emotionally abused. I'm one of them. Now leave me alone. Forever. Remember I am a child of God. He loves and protects His own.

Safe,
Monica

"Save the Best for Last"

2010-11-27T17:43:00.002-05:00

One day,
Monica

Chicago!!

2010-11-27T17:34:00.000-05:00

I just returned from a fabulous trip this afternoon visiting mi hija in Chicago. We spent a jam packed four days together over our Thanksgiving Break. I left right after school on Wednesday to be there as early as possible because the day before a holiday is typically the busiest traveling day.

I arrived at the Cleveland Hopkins airport breezed through security (no x-ray scan or groping session) and found a comfy seat and waited for my flight to board. Little did I know I would be in that seat for the next four and a half hours! The United Airway flight from Cleveland to Chicago was delayed to to weather. It was a nightmare. I watched grown people act like small children. One women had a meltdown because she was getting married in the morning, cutting it a bit close chica.

Finally our flight was called and we had to board IMMEDIATELY. That gave me pause. Why the rush? If it was a small break in the weather, what would happen if the storm came storming back? I left it in God's hands and boarded the airplane.

The flight scared about five years off of my life. I've never experienced such turbulence in any flight before. I thought to myself, "at least I"m closer to heaven". When the pilot announced we were landing in Chicago I felt like a new person. Never mind I had to do this all over again in four days...

Sonrisa,
Monica

Cruel Intentions??

2010-11-13T15:13:00.001-05:00

Yesterday my soon to be ex called me and asked me if I wanted to have sex with him.

Yes, you read that right. He has some HUGE cajones on him to try that shit with me after all he's put me through lately. I guess he thinks I'm that desperate and lonely. Umm, no. I have absolutely no desire be anywhere near him any time soon. I guess I didn't make that clear enough. Maybe I was too nice, should I have chased him out of the house with a machete? a hot pot of grits or masa? How do you make an ex truly an ex? Any suggestions??

Abrazos,
Monica

Grrr!!!

2010-10-20T14:42:00.000-04:00

Disappointed in your behavior then and now,
Monica

OUCH!

2010-10-17T15:06:00.000-04:00

My night began as any other normal weeknight. Come home, fix dinner, play with the kids.

I then had the thought that would ring painfully in my mind for the next few hours:

"Maybe I should pull the waxing kit out of the medicine cabinet."

So I headed to the site of my demise: the bathroom. It was one of those "cold wax" kits.

No melting a clump of hot wax, you just rub the strips together in your hand, they get warm and you peel them apart and press them to your leg (or wherever else) and you pull the hair right off. No muss, no fuss. How hard can it be?

I mean, I'm not a genius, but I am mechanically inclined enough to figure this out. (YA THINK!?!)

So I pull one of the thin strips out. Its two strips facing each other stuck together.

Instead of rubbing them together, my genius kicks in so I get out the hair dryer and heat it to 1000 degrees. ("Cold wax," yeah...right!) I lay the strip across my thigh.

Hold the skin around it tight and pull. It works!

OK, so it wasn't the best feeling, but it wasn't too bad. I can do this!

Hair removal no longer eludes me!

I am She-rah, fighter of all wayward body hair and maker of smooth skin extraordinaire.

With my next wax strip I move north.

After checking on the kids, I sneak back into the bathroom, for the ultimate hair fighting championship.

I drop my panties and place one foot on the toilet.

Using the same procedure, I apply the wax strip across the right side of my bikini line, covering the right half of my hoo-ha and stretching down to the inside of my butt cheek (it was a long strip)

I inhale deeply and brace myself....RRRRRRIIIIPPP!!!!

I'm blind!!!

Blinded from pain!!!!...

OH MY GAWD!!!!!!!!!

Vision returning, I notice that I've only managed to pull off half the strip. CRAP!

Another deep breath and RIPP! Everything is spinning and spotted.

I think I may pass out...must stay conscious...must stay conscious.

Do I hear crashing drums???

Breathe, breathe..................

OK, back to normal.

I want to see my trophy -

a wax covered strip, the one that has caused me so much pain, with my hairy pelt sticking to it.

I want to revel in the glory that is my triumph over body hair.

I hold up the strip!

There's no hair on it.

Where is the hair???

WHERE IS THE WAX???

Slowly I ease my head down, foot still perched on the toilet.

I see the hair. The hair that should be on the strip...it's not!

I touch. I am touching wax.

I run my fingers over the most sensitive part of my body, which is now covered in cold wax and matted hair.

Then I make the next BIG mistake...remember my foot is still propped upon the toilet? I know I need to do something.

So I put my foot down.

Sealed shut!

My butt is sealed shut.

Sealed shut!

I penguin walk around the bathroom trying to figure out what to do and think to myself "Please don't let me get the urge to poop. My head may pop off!" What can I do to melt the wax?

Hot water!! Hot water melts wax!!

I'll run the hottest water I can stand into the bathtub, get in, immerse the wax-covered bits and the wax should

melt and I can gently wipe it off, right???

*WRONG!!!!!!!*

I get in the tub -

The water is slightly hotter than that used to torture prisoners of war or sterilize surgical equipment - I sit.

Now, the only thing worse than having your nether regions glued together, is having them glued together and then glued to the bottom of the tub...in scalding hot water.

Which, by the way, doesn't melt cold wax.

So, now I'm stuck to the bottom of the tub as though I had cemented myself to the porcelain!!

God bless the man who had convinced me a few months ago to have a phone put in the bathroom!!!!!

I call my friend, thinking surely she has waxed before and has some secret of how to get me undone.

It's a very good conversation starter "So, my butt and hoo-ha are glued together to the bottom of the tub!"

There is a slight pause. She doesn't know any secret tricks for removal but she does try to hide her laughter from me.

She wants to know exactly where the wax is located, "Are we talking cheeks or hole or hoo-ha?"

She's laughing out loud by now...I can hear her.

I give her the rundown a nd she suggests I call the number on the side of the box.

YEAH!!!!! Right!!

I should be the joke of someone else's night.

While we go through various solutions I resort to trying to scrape the wax off with a razor .

Nothing feels better than to have your girlie goodies covered in hot wax, glued shut, stuck to the tub in super hot water and then dry-shaving the sticky wax off!!

By now the brain is not working, dignity has taken a major hike and I'm pretty sure I'm going to need Post-Traumatic

Stress counseling for this event.

My friend is still talking with me when I finally see my saving grace....the lotion they give you to remove the excess wax.

What do I really have to lose at this point?

I rub some on and OH MY GOD!!!!!!!

The scream probably woke the kids and scared the dickens out of my friend.

It's sooo painful, but I really don't care.

"IT WORKS!!

It works !!" I get a hearty congratulation from my friend and she hangs up.

I successfully remove the remainder of the wax and then notice to my grief and despair....

THE HAIR IS STILL THERE.......ALL OF IT!

So I recklessly shave it off. Heck, I'm numb by now. Nothing hurts.

I could have amputated my own leg at this point.

Next week I'm going to try hair color......

*Originally sent to me by my friend Monica See. I just had to share it.

**Okay guys, I know you looked. See what kind of shit we go through to look good for you!!!

xoxo

10 days...

2010-10-06T10:16:00.002-04:00

Praying,
Monica

No me ames...

2010-09-23T07:54:00.000-04:00

Sola,
Monica

Venting...

2010-09-17T15:10:00.001-04:00

Things that make me mad!

-My classroom is extremely hot. People stop by all day to remind me. The next time someone comes in my room and says "Wow, it's hot in here!!" is going to get punched in the neck.

-Due to my many health conditions I have a limited diet. The workplace is full of food. Especially chocolate. I cannot eat chocolate. I am offered brownies, cookies, and cake all made of chocolate every week. I say no thank you. The reply is always "Why?" I respond, "I can't have chocolate." Person looks at me with a sad face, "Oh you poor thing, I would just die if I couldn't eat chocolate". *sigh*

-All of my friends are obsessed with their cellphones. A former friend never, EVER lets it out of her sight. She even sleeps with it.We all know this about her. Well we all started to notice that whenever one of us would call or text her she wouldn't pick up or reply. Her response would be *giggle* I didn't hear the phone ring or I never got that text. Whatever. We know you miss nothing. You're just ignoring us for your latest novio. When you finally get that diamond ring, we'll be ignoring YOUR calls when you want bridesmaids.

Ahhh, that feels better.

Besos,
Monica

Shall I Teach You How to Dougie?

2010-09-09T14:29:00.003-04:00

Bailando,
Monica

Eminem - Love The Way You Lie ft. Rihanna

2010-08-22T17:17:00.002-04:00

Some scars are on the inside...

Taking one day at a time,
Monica

Nozze

2010-08-19T13:18:00.001-04:00

My first year of teaching was hectic. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I admit it. No clue. College does not prepare you for anything that will happen in a realistic school day. Student behavior, psycho parents, inept administrators, backstabbing teachers, lack of supplies, etc.

Those are just the negative happenings around a school building. There are many, many more positives. The messy little faces that run up to you for hugs at the end of the day. The piles of interesting gifts on your desk around the holidays. A parent that stops by just to tell you that you're her child's favorite teacher.

During my first year of teaching I met a student who did not speak very good English. Her name was Pina. I read her file and discovered that she always came about 2 weeks late into the school year because she was in Italy on holiday. The day she arrived I knew she would be special to me.

Pina stayed with me during recess everyday practicing English and helping me grade papers and clean the classroom. I always tried to encourage her to go outside, but she never wanted to go. She did this the entire school year.

The next year we both changed grades. I was now teaching a higher grade and Pina had made friends over the summer. We still kept in touch all through her schooling. I was there for her communion, her high school graduation, and her college graduation. If you know anything about big Italian celebrations, you are made to feel like family. Plus you don't leave until you are FULL. Mama says so!

Pina was recently married in Italy to the love of her life on August 4, 2010. I was invited to go, but I was sick and could not make the journey. I told her I was there in spirit. Teaching is so much more than just a paycheck.

Complimenti,

Monica

Speak Up, Speak Out!

2010-08-11T15:47:00.000-04:00

Mi Madre...

2010-08-03T00:30:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was my mother's birthday. She didn't want gifts, just her children y su nene over for dinner. Sounds simple right? It should have been.

My Dad picked up chicken from some unknown place and my Mom cooked a bunch of sides. My new meds don't allow me to drink soda, so I couldn't drink anything and I wasn't hungry. She was immediately offended and proceeded to make comments under her breath for the rest of the dinner.

Every who knows me knows I am under dietary restrictions. If I don't know where it came from and what it's made of, I don't eat it. I don't make a big deal about it either. I stay quiet and eat what I can, when I can.

Time for dessert. There were two choices, a double chocolate cake and an apple pie. No chocolate, but the apple pie would be okay as long as I ate a small piece. I guess my piece wasn't so small to her. In front of everyone she says, "Oh, I see what you're eating, sweets. Obviously you have been eating SOMETHING over there". Her words were like a hot knife cutting through my wrist. Her ojos full of disappointment.

I am so hurt and saddened by her comments. I can't even look at myself in the mirror anymore. First mi esposo emotionally and verbally abuses me and mi madre finishes me off. There is only so much a person can take.

Why am I so hurt? Mi madre has always been thin her entire life. Even after having her babies. She was so happy that I was thin as well. Until I got really sick in 2007. After that she constantly makes comments about my weight. My sister-in-law is super thin, so at the table I looked like the elephant in the room.

I've finally snapped. I haven't eaten much of anything since Sunday. It makes it easy since I have zero dolares. I've lost interest in everything and everyone one.

Triste y sola,

Monica

The perfect man...

2010-07-14T13:18:00.000-04:00

If I could create the perfect man here's how he would be:
-honest (I almost always find out if you lie)
-spiritual (know that there is Someone all knowing and powerful in our lives)
-loyal (to me, to himself, his job, and others)
-tough (can kick ass if necessary)
-employed (we're in a recession gente)
-good sense of humor (if you make me laugh, you've almost won me over)
-faithful (sharing is NOT caring)
-sensitive (hug me when I cry, enjoy cooing at babies in the store)
-affectionate (I LOVE to kiss, besame mucho)
-good hygiene (a soapy washcloth, hot water and deodorant should be your best friends)
-respectful (you must have respect in order to truly love another)

I'm not asking for much, just the basics.

Amor,
Monica

Who Rules the World?

2010-07-08T19:01:00.003-04:00

While perusing the trending topics on Twitter today, I kept coming across a name, Kat Stacks. Since I'm naturally inquisitive it was my goal to find out who this woman was and why she stirs up so much controversy.

Imagine my shock when I googled her and found out she's a gold-digger who is proud of sleeping with and/or giving blowjobs to famous rappers and athletes. When she didn't get her way or was having some kind of mental breakdown she posted sensitive information about some of these men on her Twitter stream.

It gets worse. Now there is a video going around that shows her being intimidated by a group of men. The comments posted were shocking. Many were cheering these men on. These are some of the same screen names that wanted to burn Chris Brown at the stake. Domestic violence is wrong, always.

I'm afraid for our youth, los jovenes. Women like Kat Stacks and Nicki Minaj are popular right now. These are not role models. Just because someone has a dick doesn't mean they rule the world. Young women AND young men get off your knees. Show some self respect.

Concerned,
Monica

Latinas only...

2010-07-04T23:00:00.001-04:00

THE PHONE CALL...

La Mama: 'Hello?'

La Hija: 'Hi Mama. Can I leave the boys with you tonight?'

'You're going out?'

'Yes.'

'Con quien?'

'With a friend.'

"I don't know why you left your husband. Siempe te queria and he was such a good man.'

'Mom. I didn't leave him. He left me!'

'You let him leave you, and now you go out with these anybodies and nobodies.'

'MA, I do not go out with anybody. Can I bring over the boys?'

'Ni una ves te deje to go out with anybody, except your father.'

'There are lots of things you did and I simply refuse.'

'Que quieres deceir?'

'Nothing, I just want to know if I can bring the kids over tonight.'

'You're going to stay the night with him? Pues que va decir tu esposo?'

'MA!!! HE'S NOT MY ESPOSO...HE'S MY EX HUSBAND!! I don't think he would be bothered considering the day he left me, he's never slept alone!'

'So you're going to sleep over at this loser's place?'

'MOM, HE'S NOT A LOSER!'

'Un hombre no debe salir con una mujer divorciada y con ninos? No tiene verguenza!'

'MA, I DON'T WANT TO ARGUE; SHOULD I BRING OVER THE BOYS OR NOT?'

'Mis pobres nietos with such a mother.'

'SUCH A WHAT?'

'Sin estabilidad!!. No wonder your husband left you.'

'ENOUGH MA!!!'

'No me grites! You probably scream at the loser too!'

'GREAT MA, now you're worried about the loser?'

'AH HA! VES, I TOLD YOU...HE IS A LOSER. I SPOTTED HIM IMMEDIATELY!'

'GOODBYE, MOTHER!'

"ESPERATE...DON'T HANG UP! QUANDO VAS A TRAER MIS ANGELITOS? '

'I'M NOT BRINGING THEM OVER! I'M NOT GOING OUT!"

'AYE DIOS MIO!!! IF YOU NEVER GO OUT, HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO MEET ANYONE?

Besos,
Monica

Wordless Wednesday from Coda

2010-06-30T10:04:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday...

2010-06-16T19:04:00.000-04:00

Smile of the week!

2010-06-08T15:02:00.002-04:00

New show I happened to discover on Hulu. Enjoy!

Laughing out loud,
Monica

Friends...

2010-06-04T12:29:00.000-04:00

Mi madre always drilled in our heads, "You will only have a few true friends, but many acquaintances". As I get older, I've come to learn that she was right. Then Twitter came into my life and flipped the script.

As many of of you know, this has been a rough couple of years for me. My health, job issues, a failed marriage, and too much stress have equaled an ongoing nightmare. I don't like sharing my pain and problems with others. I hate to feel like I'm a burden, but then someone in Twitterland sends me a DM or a tweet, because they...care!

The number of quality people on Twitter amazes me everyday. I have found support, laughter, a little flirting, and an outlet to vent and be myself. The real me! I can be overly talkative, naughty, sad, happy, angry, and weepy and someone will be there for me through all my ups and downs.

I can't tell you how many times I have been so low I've wanted to run away and never come back. On those days I've logged in made some mysterious tweet and *BAM* I feel better within the hour.

Thanks to each and everyone of you that have made me smile, cried with me, been inappropriately bad with me, and most of all put up with my rants. I don't want to make a list and leave someone off. You know who you are, and I'm sending Twitter love to all of you.

Hugs, kisses, abrazos y besos,
Monica

Already done the "Un-thinkable"...

2010-05-24T10:02:00.000-04:00

*sigh*
Monica

Mi corazon

2010-05-22T14:46:00.002-04:00

I'd like to introduce mi corazon. My nephew was born on May 17, 2010 at 2:30 am. He already has my heart in his little hand.

Smile of the week!

2010-05-17T08:53:00.000-04:00

Unconditional Love!!

Besos,
Monica

July 13, 2007

2010-05-13T13:06:00.000-04:00

This is probably one of the most difficult blog posts I will ever have to write.

On July 13, 2007 I woke up excited. Mi esposo and I were going to a Def Leppard concert with two of our close friends. I had always wanted to see them in concert. I'm a HUGE fan of 80's hair bands. That morning I woke up and got out of bed. I fell on the floor when I tried to stand. I got up and tried to take a step and fell again. Strange. My legs felt like jelly. I called to mi hija and mi esposo. We all thought is was funny and that I would be fine shortly.

I wasn't fine. After a few minutes we all knew something was terribly wrong. I had lost the ability to walk over night. Mi esposo rushed me to the ER. The staff ran several tests and discovered my CED rate was almost 200 (that's really bad, it's supposed to be around 20). All my blood work was off. I was admitted, given all sorts of medical exams and more testing. After a week I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called Undefined Connective Tissue Disease, UCTD.

UCTD happens when your immune system attacks your connective tissue. In my case it attacked the muscles in my legs. I suffered severe atrophy of those muscles and had to take lots of Prednisone (a steroid), pain medications, and Plaquenil (to calm my immune system).

This is a disease that cannot be cured. In my case it was brought on by extreme stress. I'll briefly explain what was going on during the middle of my 2006-2007 school year.

In January of 2007 I was verbally and physically assaulted by someone I work with on a regular basis. He accused me of something I did NOT do and hurt me at work. I told my principal at the time, who has since been fired for misappropriation of school funds, and she took a full report. Nothing was done. It was my word against his best friend, the woman he was sleeping with and of course his version.

I was told by the administration not to go to the police or I would lose my job. I am the only health insurance carrier for my family. I had no choice. I needed my job, so I 'sucked' it up and continued to work with this person. It was a nightmare. I was always waiting for something else to happen (I still am). I had to talk mi padre and mi esposo down on a weekly basis from taking any sort of action against him.

Fast forward to the present. I still have UCTD. It affects every part of my body and was partially to blame for the cardiac event I suffered on Tuesday. I have to use crutches on a semi-regular basis and take 8 pills a day to keep me going. I have a permanent handicapped placard on my rear view mirror. I'm still here though. I'm still trying to smile and be my old self.

Taking one hour at a time,
Monica

In My Mind...

2010-05-03T11:01:00.000-04:00

(hmmmmmmmm...)
Imagine seeing him on the town holding another hand.
She's staring me down so I figure that he told her who I am
But it don't matter either way
what they do or say
'cause ain't nothin' changed
he's standin with her
but his soul is callin' out my name.

In my mind, I'll always be his lady.
In my mind, I'll always be his girl.

Saw his momma just the other day
said he'd been through a spell (well, well)
had a bad breakup
thinks he's on his way up
it's hard to tell

She said i think it'd do some good
if you call him every now and then
you see he's been through some things and
I'm thinking he could really use a friend

Chorus:
In my mind I'll always be his lady. (I'll always be)
In my mind I'll always be his girl.
Only time will tell if I'm his lady ( Only time )
But in my mind I'll always be his girl.

They say if you love something
you've got to let it go (Oh----)
and if it comes back
then it means so much more.
but if it never does
at least you will know (Oh--)
that it was something you had to go through to grow

chorus:
In my mind (in my mind) I'll always be his lady.
In my mind I'll always be his girl.
(I don't care what nobody else says)
Only time will tell if I'm his lady.
(ohh yes it will yes it will)
But in my mind i'll always be his girl.
I'll always feel this way about you.
I'll always be your lady!
In my heart(in my mind)
In my heart(in my mind)
In my soul (in my mind)
baby you should know
you're in my thoughts (in my mind)
you're in my prayers (in my mind)
I'll always (in my mind) keep you there.

Yeah, yeah, yeah -----
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah----, yeah, yeah -----

*Words and Lyrics by Heather Headley

Estoy bien,
Monica

I Hope You Dance

2010-04-26T10:34:00.001-04:00

Dancing,
Monica

Smile of the week!

2010-04-23T17:46:00.000-04:00

Dogs are truly our best friends.

Kate I. Gosselin...

2010-04-20T09:57:00.001-04:00

Those of you who follow me on Twitter know exactly how I feel about the infamous star of "Jon and Kate Plus 8". This used to be my favorite show until I started noticing a pattern, Kate being a complete bitch. Everything that woman does angers me. Making matters worse, she is now on one of the best reality shows, "Dancing with the Stars". If you don't know who she is, look for the only woman that walks around to the music instead of dancing to it.

One of the most awesome anti-Kate blogs is gosselinswithoutpity.blogspot.com A key contributing member of that blog is GoPoshGo. She constructed a perfect post. Here it is:

I honestly didn't think it was possible, but Kate has actually sunk to a new low tonight: Blaming her crappy performance on the fact that "8 little friends" came to visit her in CA. WTF????? They were there on Saturday -- so what's her excuse for not practicing most of last week, when the "8" were still here in PA???? Let's not forget, she didn't return to PA this week, so she theoretically had PLENTY of time for practice in LA.

What's more, as the parent with primary custody, *Kate* had to give the nannies permission to drag those 8 friends across the country. No doubt it was to film useless footage for Twisted Kate, but this was all Kate’s doing -- funny how yet again she turns it around (for the cameras) into something that "happened to her."

The real reason her performance stunk to high heaven tonight: Leno, Seacrest, book signings, Disneyland (filmed by TLC no doubt), etc. etc. Her Highness was too busy promoting herself and her piece of crap book to be bothered with rehearsals for this week's dance -- and BOY, did it show!

I'm so over Kate and the Sheeple excusing her horrendously horrendous dancing due to the fact that "she's not a dancer." No, the truth is that Kate is not a "worker." She's simply an entitled, lazy bitch. She's putting in less than minimal effort -- no doubt because she's been guaranteed so many weeks on the show. Instead of seriously rehearsing like the other dancers, she's focusing on her usual fame-whoring -- appearing on any media outlet that will air her facade of the suffering, single mom with the dead-beat ex-husband [as an aside, when will ONE of these loser "journalists" point out the fact that Jon IS paying over $20,000/month in child support???].

And can anyone explain how that cotton-candy-quilt-of-a-dress had ANYTHING to do with the Breakfast Club?

I <3 you Posh!

Voting my fingers numb,
Monica

Modern Family

2010-04-15T10:38:00.001-04:00

Modern Family is one of the best sitcoms I have ever seen. Each episode is hilarious and a guaranteed way to brighten your Wednesday night. ABC has struck comic gold!!

Enjoy,
Monica

Smile of the week!

2010-04-04T15:27:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter...Feliz Pascua

This is one of the funniest videos I have seen on YouTube in a while. This little guy is going to hate this video when he's a teenager. Watch and enjoy!

Besos,
Monica

The Biker

2010-03-30T13:32:00.001-04:00

THE BIKER*

I saw you, hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line.
But, you didn't see me, put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday.

I saw you, pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk.
But, you didn't see me, playing Santa at the local mall.

I saw you, change your mind about going into the restaurant.
But, you didn't see me, attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.

I saw you, roll up your window and shake your head when I rode by.
But, you didn't see me, riding behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.

I saw you, frown at me when I smiled at your children.
But, you didn't see me, when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.

I saw you, stare at my long hair.
But, you didn't see me, and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.

I saw you, roll your eyes at our leather jackets and gloves.
But, you didn't see me, and my brothers donate our old ones to those that had none.

I saw you, look in fright at my tattoos.
But, you didn't see me, cry as my children were born and have their name written over and in my heart.

I saw you, change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere.
But, you didn't see me, going home to be with my family.

I saw you, complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be.
But, you didn't see me, when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.

I saw you, yelling at your kids in the car.
But, you didn't see me, pat my child's hands, knowing he was safe behind me.

I saw you, reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road.
But, you didn't see me, squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you, race down the road in the rain.
But, you didn't see me, get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.

I saw you, run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time.
But, you didn't see me, trying to turn right.

I saw you, cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in.
But, you didn't see me, leave the road.

I saw you, waiting impatiently for my friends to pass.

But, you didn't see me. I wasn't there.

I saw you, go home to your family.

But, you didn't see me.

Because, I died that day you cut me off.

I was just a biker. A person with friends and a family.

But, you didn't see me.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE US, RESPECT OUR RIGHTS TO RIDE WHAT WE CHOOSE AND TAKE A FEW EXTRA SECONDS TO BE SURE WE'RE NOT IN 'YOUR' WAY – LIVE TO RIDE . . . RIDE TO LIVE

re-posted from Monica See

**My Father-in-Law is a biker. Please be careful out there!

Amor,
Monica

No bitch, I don't want your man!

2010-03-30T12:56:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, mi esposo and I are now separated. I didn't feel right keeping my Facebook status as "married", so I changed it to "none". I didn't announce it or publish it to my wall. No fanfare or confetti, just a simple click.

It took about 2 hours for me to start getting messages from guys I went to high school with 20 years ago. At first I thought it was sort of sweet. Then it got creepy. I've posted lots of cool things on Facebook, funny videos and tearful updates in the past. No response. I'm now "available" and the men come out of the woodwork, along with their significant others...

I can see through you. I'm NOT interested in your husband, boyfriend, sex toy, friend with benefits, whatever you want to call him. If I wasn't interested in high school, trust me I'm especially not interested now.

By the way, referring to me as BOO is going to get you deleted and ignored with lightening speed.

Rant over! That felt soooo good!!!

xoxo

Monica

Joslyn James

2010-03-19T18:36:00.001-04:00

I've been sort of a hermit lately. I'm dealing with a few health issues and I'm completely negative right now. Mi madre always says "If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all". This of course doesn't apply to my blog.

Even though I'm taking a little social network posting hiatus, I'm still reading and keeping up with what's going on in the world. Right now "cheating husbands" are all the rage. Tiger Woods and Jesse James are the front runners in this disappointing race.

Tiger Woods' girlfriend, mistress, whore Joslyn James is looking to extend her 15 minutes of fame by posting text messages Tiger sent to her while they were dating, having sex, screwing each other a while ago. Others are shocked at these messages, I am not. Maybe I'm jaded?

Those of you who don't want to read the messages for yourself, I'll sum them up for you. Tiger Woods is a freak, he likes kinky sex including golden showers, threesomes, and cheating on his wife with porn stars.

At least Tiger's girlfriend was cute.

Shame on us all,

Monica

Los colores

2010-03-08T15:13:00.000-05:00

Marisol fell in love at an early age. The first time she saw him on the playground, she knew he was special. He had lots of dark shiny hair, caramel skin and light eyes. All the other kids liked and respected Daniel. He was a leader and had a way of knowing just what to say and when to say it. Marisol couldn't help smiling everytime he caught her eye.

Junior High was rough. Her parents split up when her papi when to jail on illegal gun charges and assault. Lots of people started coming to her house, at all times during the day. Marisol recognized some of the people by the colors they wore, always black and gold.

She wondered why everything changed all of a sudden. Her madre started wearning lots of gold jewelry. There was always food in the house, but now all the cabinets were full, all the time.

Marisol's hermana Ana Maria began dating a man everyone feared, his name was Juan. Juan was Daniel's hermano mejor. He was tall, muy guapo y peligroso. Whenever she saw he had a gun in one had and his pager in another. Marisol was scared of him, but was happy he when he came over because he brought Daniel with him.

Ana Maria got pregnant at the end of her senior year. She graduated and had a baby boy all in the same month. Juan and Ana Maria moved into their own apartment. Now it was just Marisol y su madre. Soon she began to spend all of the time con Daniel and his friends. All of them wore black and gold too.

One night Daniel asked her to deliver a package for him. Marisol loved him so she didn't even question what was in it. When she arrived at the building a group of girls were there. They were gang members, but for some reason she wasn't scared. One of the girls came up to her. She called herself Loca, she even had it tattooed on her arm. Loca took the package from her and told Marisol to sit down.

Loca went into another part of the building. When she came back she was smiling. The other girls started laughing and smiling too. Everyone looked at her. Loca touched her cheek and said "You did good mija". That was the first day of Marisol's new life.

LATISM!!

2010-03-06T11:12:00.000-05:00

Latism stands for Latinos in Social Media. It's a wonderful organization of highly intelligent, driven Latinos who happen to be professionals in the social media world. Through the #Latism hashtag on Twitter, I have most a group of the most wonderful people. Our conversations, charity drives, and Twitter parties keep me energized.

Right now there is a lot going on in the month of March. It's the month of the Mujer. A celebration of the fantastic Latina. A woman who can do it all and still manage to spice things up! We're also hosting a special Monday night Twitter party to raise funds and awareness for Chile. The 8.8 magnitude earthquake caused many deaths and horrible destruction of that beautiful country. Por favor, join us March 8, 2010 on Twitter at 9:00 pm. Look for the hashtags #Latism4Chile or #Latism.

I'd like to give special WEPA recognition to the following members of Latism:
@AnaRC @ergeekgoddess @UrbanJibaro @beinglatino @LatinaBella @LouisPagan
@KetyE @LLOnlineBlogera @TheOnlineMom @IsolatedExisten @Latinaprpro
@xavierism @julito77 @OfeliaNJ @chela816 @LTLV613 @hissip @Mcontemporanea
@carogonza @lorena_vale @MsLatina @antonio @httponline @iCuevas @JaiMami
@jeannettekaplun @jennifervides @josieinthecity @kcrojas @KellyMullaney @NancyPerez
@spanglishbaby @SupaSistaLatina @TargetLatino @TikiTikiBlog @vidagirl @mikeroblescomic

Besos y abrazos mi gente,
Monica

Tattoo

2010-02-25T12:37:00.000-05:00

I adore tattoos, on myself and other people. I have one now on my arm of a Native American dreamcatcher. It's important to me because of my culture and what it represents. Dreamcatchers are tribal, they are supposed to allow good dreams to flow through and catch and hold bad dreams. I have a red "bad dream" caught in my dreamcatcher. It represents the year 2007 (another blog for another day).

I've finally decided on what my next tattoo will be and where I will put it on my body. I'm getting a blood red rose blossom on my lower back. Yep, a tramp stamp!!! I've always wanted one there but my former spouse did not approve. Now that he's out of the picture, I'm getting my tattoo. YAY!!!

Abrazos,
Monica

Whoa...

2010-02-16T10:32:00.001-05:00

Soy soltera. Yes, you read that right, I'm single. My marriage is over. It wasn't a surprise, I've detailed my marital issues before in another post. We signed the legal separation papers last week and had them notarized. We file with the court on Friday.

I've a roller coaster of emotions, triste, anger, relief, guilt, and even happiness. This man has caused me so much stress in the last year. We have been through so much and for now it's over. He moved his stuff out on Sunday. That's right, Valentine's Day. I spent Valentine's Day watching his best friend and him move all of his possessions out of the house. After he left, I cried and went to McDonald's, ordered a grilled chicken sandwich, fries, oatmeal raisin cookies and a lemonade. I drove home sat on my bed in my underwear and ate my fattening meal while watching Solitary 4.0 on Fox Reality channel.

The saddest part of it all, mi hija is heartbroken. She spends 99% of her time worrying about me. Since she's going to college in the fall she's concerned I'll be all alone and lonely. Yes, I will be alone, but I will not be lonely.

I've been attached to someone since I was 16 years old. I've had relationship after relationship. I was a single mother at age 21. Now I can be ME. All by myself. I'm looking forward to being alone and finding out who I really am inside.

Abrazos,
Monica

Coda

2010-02-10T10:31:00.001-05:00

My dog's name is Coda. Coda is a common Filipino name for a dog. Mi esposo came up with it since he is part Filipino and Irish. I never had a pet before. I've been allergic to most animals since I was born.

Mi esposo brought Coda home with out telling me one September evening. Mi hija ran into our bedroom to tell me we had a puppy. I was NOT pleased. I walked downstairs to the basement to see a little tiny puppy. No bigger than mi esposo's hand. She was a rescued American Staffordshire Terrier and only 4 weeks old.

It was freezing cold in the basement and Coda was crying. I immediately went into "Mom" mode and insisted she be brought upstairs where it was warmer. I picked her up and cradled her in my arms. She immediately peed on me. I handed her over to mi hija and changed shirts. I didn't think she would last long in our house.

I have allergies and asthma, so within a week of Coda and all her dander, I had a severe attack and had to be hospitalized. The puppy had to go. Mi esposo's friend Brian and his girlfriend Jessica agreed to take her while we figured something out. That was the worst week ever. Mi esposo y mi hija were muy triste. I decided to talk to my doctor and see what could be done.

I agreed to have a series of allergy shots to see if it would help. It did. Coda came back and everyone was so happy, even me. She was a funny little dog. Her head was the biggest thing on her and she kept falling over and crying all night long.

We all took turns getting up with her at night and bottle feeding her Espilac (puppy formula). She became part of the family. Coda is now one of my best friends. She follows me around, loves to go "bye bye", and lives for short walks around the neighborhood. Coda is sweet and kind, she loves everyone, especially children. She doesn't NOT like other dogs though. She won't start a fight, but she will finish one.

An American Staffordshire Terrier is part of the bully breeds. She is considered dangerous because of her blood connection to Pit Bull Terriers. Coda is NOT dangerous. It is the owner, not the breed. She is the most caring and gentle dog I have ever been around. BSL (breed specific legislation) is unfair and completely biased.

Coda has been by my side through thick and thin. She is loyal, comical, and part of my heart. I love her like I love my family.

Abrazos,
Monica

My Mother-In-Law Hates Me

2010-01-31T16:25:00.000-05:00

Many of you read the title and said to yourself "Yeah right, MY mother-in-law really hates me". Okay, sit back relax and see if you still feel that way after reading my story.

Mi esposo and I have have been married for five years. We've known each other for much longer. I had his younger brother in class. I met my soon to be MIL at that time. My BIL was a good student. He was smart, funny, and always did his work. He was just very social. No matter who you put him next to, he would talk. If you put him by himself he would talk to himself. Our team called his Mom in to let her know and to see if she had any suggestions to keep him focused. She had none, but was pleased we cared enough to call her in.

I was also the cheerleading coach for the district. My BIL (brother-in-law) played football, so he was at every game and so was I. MIL was there as well. She was always pleasant and said hello and made small chitchat at each game. I thought she was normal and actually nice.

Fast forward a few years. Mi esposo was studying to take his GED. I ran into him going into a store one afternoon. He asked me to help him out and tutor him so he would pass. I've done this type of tutoring before, so I was happy to help out. We met several times over the next couple of months. It was so much fun spending time with him. We got a lot of work done and had fun at the same time. When he called to tell me he passed, we went out to celebrate.

One thing led to another and we began dating. After dating for a year, he proposed and we were married. Two months before we were married my BIL met and married a stripper from a local club. The wedding was put together in 24 hours. We were all in attendance. Everyone was so happy. Mi esposo and I were not. This was a match made in Hades.

My MIL took my former SIL (yep, they're divorced) out to dinner to celebrate right after their honeymoon to welcome her to the family. SG called me to tell me how much fun they had together.

Mi esposo and I were married that July. The next month we were having dinner at his parents house (his Mom and Step-Dad). She pulled me aside while the guys were looking at a new computer downstairs. She told me that mi esposo would always love Natalie (his first love, former fiance) and she wished things would have worked out between them. I was floored. I said okay, you're entitled to your own opinion.

Needless to say, she's never taken me out for a get to know you, welcome to the family dinner. There is also a nice big picture of mi esposo and Natalie in the family room, still. They broke up in 1999.

The second year of our marriage she came over to our house and presented mi esposo with a birthday gift. It was a photo album of pictures she had put together especially for him. It started out so sweet, pictures of him as a baby, toddler, elementary school, junior high and high school. Then an entire section of pictures of Natalie and him, pictures of just Natalie and Natalie with my BIL. I said nothing, I just got up and left the room. That hurt. They argued, she left. She said it was MY fault for overreacting. I didn't overreact, I just left the room.

Things have not gotten any better. I always try to be nice, it gets me nowhere. I make sure I buy her a birthday, Mother's Day, and Christmas gift every year. Guess what she bought for me? One gift since we've been married, a gift card to a plus sized store. I'm not plus-sized.

If you're still not a believer, this will convince you. She tried to poison me in 2007. Yes, you read it right, POISON me. I try to never go over her house, one summer day I relented and we stopped by to pick something up. My MIL was being so sweet. She asked me how things were going and offered me a glass of iced tea. She came out with two glasses, one for me and one for mi esposo. I reached for a glass and she quickly said "No, this one is for you". Okayyyyyy. I took the glass, drank it. At the bottom of the glass was a white powdered substance. I started to feel dizzy. I asked what was that, she said oh nothing, just dust. Dust?

On the way home I felt so sick, we had to pull over. Twice. The next day she called mi esposo and asked how I was doing. Not one time in her entire life has she called our house to ask how I was doing. I don't have any proof, but what do you think happened?

Needless to say, I have very little to do with this woman now. Mi esposo handles anything having to do with her. I refuse to step foot in her house. Try to take me out once, shame on you. Try it again, shame on me.

Watching my back,
Monica

I am NOT your personal "Geek Squad", okay yes I am.

2010-01-29T12:37:00.000-05:00

Everyone who knows me knows that I enjoy technology. I'm always the first to have a new gadget and I also teach technology education for children and adults. These two facts have led to me become everyone's personal geek squad.

My phone rings at work and at home constantly. Here's a sample of the kinds of calls I receive:

"Help, I lost channel 4 on my Direct TV box!!! What do I do????"
Cable channels are not the same as Direct TV channels.

"I forgot my login and password, do you know what it is?"
No, I don't have everyone's password in the building. Please call tech support.

"My printer is jammed, I don't see any paper, help!"
I went to her room and opened the printer and pulled out a piece of paper.
"Oh, you're supposed to open the front?"

"I can't listen to voicemails on my Blackberry. Can you call my phone and figure it out?"
Have you tried calling *86? "Yes" What did the recording say? "You have no unheard messages."
That means you don't have any voicemails. "Oh".

"My modem won't connect to the internet. I plugged it in, why won't it work?" (before WiFi)
Do you have an internet service provider? "What's that mean?" A company that allows you to go online, like Roadrunner, AT&T, or Verizon. "I thought all you had to do was plug in your computer and the internet just came to your house." No.

These are just some of the questions I have fielded. I honestly don't mind. Unless it's after 10:00 pm or before 7:00 am. Prices triple during those times ;)