Prospero Ano Nuevo

Franklin
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

Music: Ribbon in the Sky by Stevie Wonder

Mood: Content

Happy New Year! I borrowed Franklin from my friend for my first 2005 blog and hope that he'll bring good luck in the new year. Prospero Ano Nuevo translates to "Prosperous New Year" and besides health, happiness and love don't we also want more Franklin's in our wallet for prosperity. I'm not talking about wealth above and beyond our means but just enough to make life a little easier on us all. So here's to 2005!

In and Out

Music: Waiting 4 Stars 2 Fall, Ottmar Liebert
Mood: Sentimental

Well, here we go...another year in and another one out. Why is it the older you get the faster they go? I remember being in school and the days never went fast enough and now that I'm out of school I don't know where they go...they seem to travel at the speed of sound. Just today, my niece and I were talking about Y2K. lol
Here it is...New Year's Eve-Eve and driving home from my brother's I was doing an assessment of sorts of what was lost and gained in the past year and what will be in an out in the coming year. Here are just a few of the thoughts that came to mind.

Lost
-20 pounds: (yeah) Finally! Still have another 20 to go--although I feel as if I've gained 10 these past two weeks.
-a few friendships: some that I thought were close but in the end I realize it was me always reaching out. There is one that I'm puzzled about and need to find a way to reach out to this person again. I don't want to throw away 30 years even though he might be ready too.
-another year w/o a house: it will be at least another year living in an apartment but this is my choice...I have a chance to travel to Spain this summer and well...the house can wait.

Gained
-a new job/promotion: (yeah) Finally!!! After 10 years in the same department it was time to make a move and it's been a perfect match. I'm enjoying my new job and my co-workers. No regrets! Just a time for New Beginings!
-a new car: traded in my lease and finally bought...well making payments on a car that will be mine for quite some time to come-I hope! I love my Santa Fe.
-a blog: quite frankly this has been the 2nd nicest surprise of the year. I'm enjoying my blog and meeting other bloggers who I consider my special friends abroad and I want to thank them for making my world a little nicer.
-digital camera: another nice surprise/investment that has paid off tenfold. The magic of technology never ceases to amaze me.
-new hair color: finally, I did it! My hairdresser was so happy.

There is so much more to be thankful for and regretful for at the same time just as there is much to be sad and happy about. Sad about the current affairs in SE Asia, the needless war in Iraq, another four years of a Bush WhiteHouse and a few other things that I'll keep secret for now. Financially, I'm doing better but still a few major bills that need to be taken care of in order to secure that house I want. Luck, please be a lady in 2005...by letting me win that lottery. Of course it would help if I went out and bought a ticket! I'm not greedy...I don't have to win the big one...I'd be happy with 10K. :-)

Here are a few things that I hope will be in and out with the new year...

Ethan's Cancer-OUT

A baby for Michelle-IN

A new boyfriend-IN

Maria's wedding-OUT (she's too young)

In the meantime, as the midnight hour on the 31st draws near, I will be looking to the night sky waiting 4 stars 2 fall and making wishes as well as a toast that there continue to be more gains than losses for myself, friends, family and loved ones.

"My Buddy Hippo"

Ethan
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

This is just the cutest lil baby (Ethan) w/his stuffed Hippo. I'm posting here w/o his parents consent but I hope they won't mind. He's the son of one of my coworkers. He's been ill and has been diagnosed with cancer but he's being a trooper and if you believe in prayer he and his parents as well as I would be appreciative.

XmasHeaven

Heaven
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

Look what Santa left under my Christmas tree?! ONLY in my DREAMS!

Sharp Dressed Girl

Sharp dressed girl
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

New Ug boots from Aunt Luz.

JingleChulo

JingleChulo
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

All tuckered out from too much Christmas excitement.

AlbinoXmastree

AlbinoXmastree
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

My mom's latest, ugly Christmas tree but hey 20 years ago the aluminum trees were considered ugly and now they are a collectors item selling on Ebay for between $400 to $1000 dollars.

ChristmasEve

ChristmasEve
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

Music: Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
Mood: Happy

Look what Santa brought for the very first time to Houston on Christmas Eve? Yeah, I know it's not much but still it was pretty to see and beautiful to hear the snow falling. I kept pinching myself thinking I was dreaming but it was real!!

Warmth

From thousands of miles away

A stranger reached out

And placed tears in my eyes

And a gentle hand

Upon my shoulder.

And knowing that someone's

Thinking about me

Makes the world

A little less colder.

from Lone Pen

Right back at you at Lone Pen...for your words have brought a tear to me just as I have to you.

Christmas Bloom

Christmas Bloom
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

Here it is December and temps have been on the cool breezy side although expected to warm up today. However, there is a very cold spell expected on Thursday. I still can't believe it's December and the end of another year. Leaves have fallen off the trees and the north wind is a blowing. Birds have flown south which reminds us that December is a hazy shade of winter. Yet, there is one flower/plant that blossoms in December and reminds us that there is still life out there in the cold. I'm not sure of the exact name of this beauty but I have two of these plants in my balcony. They are just beautiful when they bloom and I tried to capture that beauty on camera.

Arbolito #1

Arbolito
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

Music: Fom Texas for a Christmas Night
by Tish Hinojosa
Mood: Glowing

"Arbolito que brillante estas! How familiar is our yearly talking. Every year leaves its traces of dreams and embraces of Christmas' past. Laughter, friends and relations, and noche de paz..." Tish Hinojosa is a singer from Texas who lives in Austin and one of my top 5 artists. When I first heard her song of Arbolito and some of the lyrics above it felt like she was writing about my Christmas' past. Every year I embrace my arbolito and yes we have our yearly talking.

Arbolito#2

Christmas04
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

Navidad 04

Navidad04
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Finally bought my usual Charlie Brown Christmas tree! All that's missing is the icicles! Remember those days back when? However, if I had to choose between icicles and flocked trees then I would choose icicles. Time to brew some hot tea, put on Ottmar's "Christmas + Santa Fe" and dream. Dream of a world with no war, only peace. Dream of a baby born in a manger on a cold winter's night. Dream of a world with no "haves" and "havenots". Dream of a warm fireplace and snow falling outside...a winter wonderland.

B Mood

Music: Barcelona Nights
Mood: Blue

B is the letter of the day....

B is for blogging
B is for the blue mood I'm in
B is for baffled
B is for bewildered
B is for blah
B is for Mr. Bluejay that I saw today
B is for the baby I wish I could hold in my arms
B is for my bleeding heart
B is for the bone I have to pick with someone
B is for the boyfriend I wish I had
B is for my bruised ego
B is for boredom
B is for bemoan
B is for the beloved of my dreams
B is for the begotten
B is for the burger I want to stuff my face with
B is for Bono (and Borya), who can eat cake off my plate anytime
B is for bogus
B is for the broom I need to sweep all the bad B's away
B is for Barcelona Nights by Ottmar Liebert
B is for bedtime
B is for all my blessings that I seem to have forgotten about today.
B is for my foolish blundering
B is for bye, bye.

Brotherly Love

Greg&Erika
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

Realized that it's been a while since I posted a picture. This pic was taken in November @ the Hard Rock Cafe where my nephew celebrated his 18th birthday. Erika is 15 and it's rare to get a picture of these two together as we know how siblings can be at this age. Nonetheless, it's become one of favorite family pictures.

For Women...

Meditations
For Women Who Do Too Much

What I am looking for is not “out there”. It is "in" me.

Solitude is not a luxury. It is a right and a necessity

It is sometimes frightening to trust my intuition.
It is always disastrous not to trust it.

Knowing when to quit may be my greatest victory.

It is not possible to live a rich, full life without friends.
I have to be one to have one.

Sometimes we just think too much.

No one else will arrange any quiet time for me.
I have to see to it myself.

When we see how funny we are,
We see how dear we are.
by Anne Wilson Schaef

I came across this some years back and actually it's on a framed poster in my office. Admittedly, when I first bought it some 15 years ago I didn't buy into the whole poem but over the years, I finally got it! Many women and men go searching for others to make their life complete. Well, my life is complete but I would like to have a partner who will complement my life. I don't think that's asking too much. Solitude is one of my biggest luxuries these days and I almost feel guilty when I hear other women who yearn for it. Knowing when to quit has become my greatest assett. After earning my Master's, I'm always asked if I will pursue my Ph.D., the answer is no. My Masters degree continues to be my sweetest victory I have earned and I'm content with that memory and seeing my name on my diploma when I walk into my office every work day. I am so thankful for my friends for they have pushed me and believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. I have a small circle of friends that I treasure and they know who they are but with the upcoming holiday season I will make it a point to thank them again.

NBC Nightly News

Tom Brokaw signs off humbly, with gratitude.

On Wednesday, NBC evening news anchor-Tom Brokaw signed off with his last broadcast. I'm not much for news but when I did watch the only channel I turned too was NBC. As I sat and watched his last broadcast, I was teary-eyed as were other millions of TV watchers across the country. I was awed by his closing remarks, which were done with grace & eloquence. Certainly important passing words for our generation:
"Brokaw said he learned "more than I have time to recount this evening, but the enduring lessons through the decades are these: It's not the questions that get us in trouble, it's the answers. And just as important, no one person has all the answers...He cited his long-standing admiration for the World War II generation, subject of two of his books. They did not give up on the idea that we're all in this together. We still are."