Nino Qincompoix

After talking about my cousin Cris I thought it was only fitting to talk about Nino next. Now for many of you who have watched the movie Amelie you might be thinking that I am going to be writing about the male lead in the movie but I am not. He is named after him though. My cousin Cris and her sister Connie always give the best presents so for my birthday in 2002 they wanted to take me to Build a Bear workshop. To be honest with you I didn't really want a build a bear. I collect way too many things and I have way too much stuff I had to draw the line at stuffed animals. They said this was different that I would have fun so they insisted. So on September.10,2002 we went to Build a Bear at Downtown Disney. It was crazy. I picked a Read Teddy Bear because it promoted reading and I love books so that was an easy choice. I looked at all their faces to pick just the right one then we moved on to stuffing. I did the little dance and made a wish as I put his heart inside. I don't really remember why I chose a boy. Then I chose an outfit and shoes. I was really stumped on a name for him. I wanted something special. Then at that moment I heard people next to me speaking in French. Nino Qincompoix! The name from one of my all time favorite movies. Perfect. As I took him home I thought he would just sit on my bed and be another fixture in my room but that so wasn't the case. In comes my friend Jinny who knows I am crazy and loves me anyway but can't really understand my need for so much stuff. I explained to her the story and how he got his name. She had already watched Amelie so she understood why I would choose that name. I don't remember who came up with the idea but I remember it was a Thursday afternoon and we were hanging out like we usually do when we decided to take Nino with us as we ran errands. Again you would have to watch the movie to understand but there is a gnome in the story that travels to different countries and is photographed at different monuments so we thought it would be fun to do that with Nino. We started taking him with us everywhere and taking pictures of him. At the grocery store, the library, and the movies. Everywhere we went and at first it was just Nino in the shots then it was Nino, Jinny and I and then as people were more curious we started taking pictures of Nino with strangers. That was so much fun because people actually wanted to play and we had some really nice conversations with people. I think it is so funny that even the people at my job who in the beginning thought I had completely lost my mind have joined in the fun and if I don't take him with me they ask for him. It has been almost ten years now and Nino and I have been on many adventures. He has been to New York twice, North Carolina twice, Chicago, and Hawaii. Now that my cousin is gone he is even more special to me.

Cris

It's about 5:30 in the morning I can't sleep anymore my back won't allow it. I'm up and my mind is going to town. Today is my cousin Cris's birthday. She would have been the big 38. It is still so strange to me that she is gone. I don't pick up the phone to call her anymore but it still doesn't seem real. I officially met Cris in Junior High. I did not have a good time in Junior High. It was the worst time in my life. I was a total dork with no confidence or self esteem. I didn't have friends and I was punked. My memories are not good ones until 9th grade. I was asked to be in Cris's Quincenera. We are like third cousins so I knew she was my cousin but I had never talked to her. I had so much fun and I met a lot of friends. As we went on to highschool I became closer to Cris. We hung out at school and talked on the phone every night. She was always there for me. Listening to me whine about the boys I liked at the time and how they didn't like me. She made me feel special like I mattered like I was important. She encouraged me and inspired me. My cousin was born with a disability. She had some form of muscular dystrophy. I can't really explain it to you because we never really talked about it ourselves. She never limited herself by it. She never let it hold her back. She was a regular rebellious teenager. I know I must have really annoyed her because I would always take her parents side in our discussions. Anytime she wanted to do something I would bring up her parents she would be like can't you just be on my side. As we grew into adulthood are relationship stayed the same maybe we didn't talk as much but I always knew that I could count on her for anything. When she became ill I was so foolish. I was so in denial. I just thought she was going to get better even as she went in and out of hospitals. We never talked about dying. I knew that she was getting tired and now that I think back my poor cousin suffered so much but selfishly I never thought that she would leave me. I still needed her. Then she was gone. My only solice was that she knew I loved her. I am happy that Cris no longer has to suffer she is in heaven with Jesus. I will see her one day. I still miss her though. When things happen I think oh Cris would have gotten a kick out of that, or Cris would understand, or I wish I could tell her about that. I also feel I sense of guilt and anger in a way not about her but about myself. She had so many dreams and goals. She was fearless she didn't let things stop her. Here I am in my little world still afraid. I owe it to her to myself to be better. I will try and accomplish something today on her birthday. I love you Cris and I miss you so much...

Barbies

I love Barbies. I've been in love since I was a child. It makes me so angry that Mattel ruined them though. I have been really angry for quite a few years now. I am TOTALLY against her new body type. I hate that her boobs are smaller and her hips are bigger. They say that it gave girls the wrong impression. That they were striving to be something impossible. I think that if you are looking to Barbies as your model for real life then you have issues. I guess because I am Mexican I never looked at Barbies as being real because they never looked like me. I think it is ridiculous the way Barbie is portrayed now she can dress like a skank, break up with Ken, get tattoos all over her, and dye her hair different colors but she can't have big boobs and small hips. I mean if we're looking at the way society is today Barbie would have already gotten breast implants anyway. I just wish they would change her back and parents get involved in your child's life and talk to them about using their imagination going to the land of make believe like in Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. If I am ever blessed with a daughter I will show her how fun it is to play Barbies but she will have to get her own because she will not be playing with mine... Thanks for listening Abyss.

Derek Jeter

I know I know I just did a blog about the Yankees and now I am writing an entry about Derek Sanderson Jeter? I kind of feel like they should go together. I guess I just feel like I need to explain to you my love for him because it's NOT just because he is handsome. If that were the case I would also talk about Alex Rodriguez which you will NOT happen! I told you before I became a fan in 1996 during the World Series but after I saw him on the cover of Kids Sports Illustrated I really began to love him. I bought the magazine and every other magazine I saw with him on the cover. He would talk about his parents in every article. He would say that he couldn't talk about himself without talking about them. He also said that he would watch the Yankee games with his Wella (Grandma). How flippin cute was that. Well that's what made me fall for him. I love my parents. They aren't perfect in any way but I love them and to hear someone have so much love and respect for their parents kills me. Then I read his autobiography when it came out and that sealed it. At that point I became a fan of his parents too. They were so encouraging and supportive. I mean at 8 years old he went into their bedroom and told them he wanted to play shortstop for the Yankees and they didn't tell him he was stupid or that it would never happen. They were probably tired from working all day and just wanted to go to sleep but they sat him down and talked to him about his dream and what he would have to do to achieve it. He did work hard and had to sacrafice a lot but he accomplished his dream. I admire him so much for that. I have dreams and goals but I don't have focus and determination. I need to believe. His career shows me that dreams do come true. So when he hit his 3,000 th hit I was crying along with his family. I pray he continues to have a great career and I will continue to watch as I strive for my own dreams.

Why I love The New York Yankees

Hello Abyss, I guess to understand me you must understand my obsessions or my loves whatever you want to call them. I will start off on an easy one. My love for the Yankees.
     It all started in 1996. The Yankees were in the World Series against the Atlanta Braves. I didn't start out knowing this or really caring about this. I was into my two nephews playing baseball at the neighborhood park. They were pretty good and I would go with my sister to practices and games just to keep her company. That's how it started but if you have ever gotten involved with kids and sports that's not how it finished. I was one of those parents that got loud and passionate. I would curse under my breathe and would get louder when someone was talking crap about one of the kids. I couldn't handle it. My nephew was a pitcher and I would pray and cover my eyes. I'm seriously surprised I didn't get an ulcer. My nephews were also into the movie The Sandlot at the time so of course I wanted to be the cool Tia I watched it with them and remembered all the lines which I still use at the baseball games "Get two Yeah Yeah! Get two!" or "Long Ball Porter!" or "Throw the Heat!". I can go on and on but you get the picture. When we would get back from practice my Mom and Dad were watching the World Series. That's one thing with my parents they always watch the World Series even if the Dodgers or Angels aren't in it. So I actually sat down and started watching with them. I automatically started rooting for The Yankees. I LOVE NEW YORK but that is another entry for another time. I fell in love almost instantly they had the magic. They were the under dogs they were told they didn't deserve to be there and still they were. It was really easy for me to dislike the Braves they were so cocky and sure of themselves. Their fans are the same. I HATE THE TOMAHAWK CHOP WITH A PASSION! Any way there were two players that caught my eye. Andy Pettite because to me he looked like what a New Yorker was supposed to look like. That stare that he had before he would pitch and of course Derek Jeter. I am a woman what can I say. I fell in love with all the drama Joe Torre's brother getting his heart. Wade Boggs never having a ring. Just the magic of it all the history the house that Ruth built. I cried like a baby when they won. I was hooked. When I was little and we would watch games I would always pick a team I liked but when they would loose or start to loose I would switch sides and root for the other team. I can say I never did that with the Yankees. People may think that I am a band wagon fan because I got to enjoy the really good years and got to enjoy the championships but I don't care my passion is real and so is my love for them. I have my brother in law to thank for that he took me to my first Yankee game at Angel Stadium and for years after that. I went to New York twice. I got to see five games at the old stadium and I got to take a tour the year before they moved. I did tear up when I sat in the dug out and toured monument park. I know you either love them or you hate them. I am a lover. Pinstripes forever baby. Thanks for listening Abyss.  

total dork

Well Abyss in my defense I did say I was bad at punctuation and grammar I guess you can put spelling on that list. I realized that when I got to work this morning that it's not "El Dolce Vida" it's "La Dolce Vida" I was so mad. This is not the first or the last time that I will be getting moded on this blog.

     Well I will tell you about one of my obsessions. I consider it more of a sickness. I get really into shows where you have to vote. I bring this up because it is killing me that I am not watching X Factor right now. I just feel so stupid sitting there watching commercial after commercial. I don't have cable, that is a whole other blog. I get too into these shows Dancing with the Stars, Biggest Loser, American Idol, and the Sing Off. I become obsessed with voting. Until it is narrowed down to one clear favorite I have to vote for my top 10 favorites so they don't get knocked off and if they do I take it personally like they are my friends or something. I get my friend really mad because the people I vote for aren't necessarily the best it's like the whole package if they are talented but if they have a good story, personality, and if they are humble. If they are arrogant or if they feel they deserve it I won't vote for them and I will vote harder for the people I do like. That's why I gave up almost all the shows this passed year. I haven't watched Biggest Loser, The Sing Off, or Dancing With Stars. I burnt myself out after AI I voted for Scotty over 600 times! I'm even ashamed to say it. That's why I need to let go of X Factor too. I am so sorry Leroy, Drew, Josh, Rachel, Chris Rene, and Marcus. I need to hold onto my sanity...

let's get started

Well Hello Abyss! This is scary and exciting all at the same time. Why have I decided to start a blog you may ask? Well sometimes I just like to get things off my chest and my family is pretty tired of me talking about things that aren't exactly important to them. My Mom says I get angry at too many things. My friends that do care to listen are busy with their own lives and their families to listen to me babble on about things.
     I should tell you a few things first so you know what you are going to be reading. I'm not very good with punctuation and grammar I usually just go with how I feel. So that would mean a lot of run on sentences. I am going to be posting random things about what I am into or what I am going through or what got me pissed off. I am going to be talking about Jesus, movies, music, tv shows, sports, fears, makeup, and what ever else I think of that day but those are the main topics I will probably stick with so If you like any of those topics stay tuned....