My Favorite Week of the Year

A week from today, Hubs and I will be arriving in Zaragoza, Spain. It is a city of 600,000 people (the fifth largest in the country), and I was blessed to call it home for a year of my life.

Photo found here.

The first time I experienced the annual Pilar festival was in October 2002. Little did I know what cultural fun I was in for. Concerts, cultural song and dance, vaquillas, churros con chocolate, cachirulos (checkered neckercheifs), and great times with friends. 

The week's festivities charmed me, and I soaked up all that I could. I went back two years later, and loved it again. It's just a special week for me.

Now I'm taking Hubs back with me. It is exciting--apart from Christmas, there is little else that I anticipate with as much excitement as I do the Fiestas del Pilar. I have dreamed about taking my husband back to the city where I spent one of the most wonderful years of my life--to introduce him to my friends there, to the places where I lived and worked and hung out, to the Italian restaurant that serves the best food ever, and on and on...

To introduce the man of my Present and Future to a place from my past that played an important role in making me the woman I am.

Zaragoza, ¡llegamos pronto!

Midnight Moment

As per usual, I'm up way past my bedtime. Ever since my play opened, my night owl hours have become even later. Hubs is in bed beside me snoring away, as I sit with my laptop propped in front of me and my pillows propped up behind me. 

I just got up to get something in the next room, and walking back to bed, I saw Hubs sleeping and the glowing apple on the back of my computer giving off a gentle light. The sight took me off guard a little. It was as if I stepped outside my life for a moment and then caught a quick glimpse of it. And I liked what I saw.

Life is a beautiful gift, and I feel very blessed with the one God has given me.

Planificar: To plan, To make plans, To slowly lose your mind.

Hubs and I have decided to take a trip to visit my friends in Spain after my play closes! It is very exciting, but I'm feeling a little frazzled at the moment.

We can't wait to travel and have an adventure, but I'm suddenly remembering why I'm a spontaneous creature...planning is STRESSFUL! I know it will all be worth it once we get over there and all of our plans are already in place, but oh my stars...I'm stressed right now!

I know all of my Spanish friends would tell me, "Guapa, ¡tranquila!"

I can't wait to see them!

What a Laugh!

What Sam does in this video is nothing short of amazing!  I didn't know a 5 month old could crack up laughing like this. Of course, Nana is hilarious!

Watch it...it might just be the best 2 minutes and 35 seconds of your day!

I'm Gonna Miss This Boy A Lot

He's going back to Texas today with Jilly and Nana, and I could cry about it, but I'm holding it together.

Let's just face it...this week will be all about Sam!

We went to a local park yesterday evening and took more pictures of Samma-Lamma. Practically every time you glance at him, he rewards you with a smile!  He has me wrapped around his little finger--sweet nugget!

Sir Samsalot has a Photo Shoot - Set 2

Here are some more pics that I took on Monday!

Sir Samsalot has a Photo Shoot - Set 1

I'm having such a great time with my Mom, Jilly and little Sam! Today was a gorgeous, sunny day, and we decided to go outside and take some pictures of Jilly and Sam before sunset. I'll post some more later in the week.

(Special thanks to Saucy for the inspiration to get out my camera and have a photo shoot!)

Change of Plans...Yea for Me!!!

Yesterday, Mom called me and sounded a little panicked. She, Jilly and Sam were supposed to fly out to visit me this Saturday. However, hurricane Ike is also due to hit our city on Saturday. 

Sooooooo, after a little deliberating and a phone call to the airline, they changed their flight and I picked them up at LAX this afternoon!!! That's right! Mom, Jilly and lil' Sir Samsalot are here already!  Yea for me!!!

Sam is so cute. He's still a peanut, but he's chubbed up a lot and his face shape has changed since I've seen him 3 months ago. Today he is 5 months old.  I'll be posting pictures next week.

Until then, happy weekend to all!!!

Note: Don't worry, their homes aren't in areas where hurricane damage is expected.

¡Mirad quien cenó conmigo!

Look who I got to have dinner with a couple nights ago!

This is my friend Angie. I hadn't seen her for four years!  She and I lived in the same city in Spain during my time there. We worked for different organizations, but shared the same group of friends. And when you're in a foreign country and you find another English speaker, there is instant friendship.  :)  Lucky for me, she is in town this week for a business meeting, so we got to meet up for dinner!

We had a great time catching up on old times. She just returned to life in the States after eight years of living in España. That kind of commitment to life overseas amazes me. I was there just long enough to get my cultural feet wet. She stayed long enough to be as much of a cultural insider as you can be without being born there. It was a great reunion dinner that left me wondering why in the world we didn't hang out more during my time there!

Great to see you, Angie!

P.S. Facebook rocks!  If you don't have an account, you totally need to sign up for one today. I have reunited with friends who I had lost hope of ever contacting again!  And thanks to Facebook, I knew Angie would be in LA...thus our reunion! 

Waltz No. 8

This is a portion of a short film I worked on in May. It is called Waltz No. 8 directed by Ann Acacia Kim. It is the story of an elderly woman named Sylvia who finds an old photo of herself that brings back a memory and flood of emotion. I play the part of "young Sylvia" in the flashback scenes. It was so much fun to embody a character from the 1940s. I feel really proud of the quality of this film, and I hope you enjoy it, too.

My Nephew is Squeezably Cute!

Sammy is already learning how to relax in the big chair!

Out for lunch with his mommy:

My mom was watching Sam today, and when she went in to get him up after his nap, she was greeted with a smiling, laughing Sam! I think Nana's heart melted.

Big boy in his bumbo chair.  You can really see the red in his hair...just like his mom!

But in this picture, he couldn't look any more like his father:

I can't wait to see the little guy in just nine days!!!

I'm So Proud

Watching the GOP Convention tonight, there was absolute electricity going through the place when Governor Sarah Palin took the podium. Hearing her speak so eloquently, with such poise and conviction, was inspiring. She is a strong woman with strong principles, and she might be the next Vice President of the United States.

Watching her speak, tears rolled down my cheeks, and all I could say over and over was, "I'm so proud." 

This is a woman who walks her talk, and I am proud to give her my support.

Happy Labor Day!

I hope you're all enjoying your day off!

We had a great opening weekend, and I feel proud of what the show has become!

So far, we've had our first review and it's been a good one.  It will run in the Long Beach Gazette on Thursday, but here's a sneak peak on the critic's personal blog.