Blessed

Taken after our Catholic blessing with the Cannon Priest, Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland... more to come!

Sitting Ducks, Northern Ireland

A gorgeous early summer morning at the stunning Silent Valley, County Down, Northern Ireland... August 2009

A Walk Through Irish Neighborhoods

Taking a walk through the neighborhood, Clonallon Road, Warrenpoint, County Down.

Back to Ireland

 

We are leaving first thing tomorrow for my 2nd trip to Ireland. Sure wish I was coming back married - hahaha - ahhhh soon, E, soon -- I am so blessed....

"This Magic Moment"

 

It was a very windy afternoon at La Jolla Cove. The previous day was Patrick's birthday and since I had worked 2 jobs back-to-back it had made it all but impossible for me to celebrate his special day until the day after - August 6.

I had decided to take him to dinner in La Jolla at Roppongi - but first we wanted to take a walk and take pictures - the norm for us. Nature and pictures.

I love a good sunset, any sunset actually. Even on this strangely windy afternoon. Kicking off my heels for some flipflops and a jacket we walked along the coastline eventually stopping at the overlook shelter by the seals. I've always loved that spot - the waves seem to crash even more there. I've been there so many times and always loved it - anytime of day, anytime of year.

Now even moreso...

Patrick set up my Canon camera to selftimer on my tripod so we can take some pics together in the humid wind. After we took a few with my hair all over the place and laughing impromptly, he then hugged me and with my arms still wrapped around his neck I felt him fish in his pocket - - I felt the tears well up as I realized what he was doing - - "You know I love you very much, baby" - he started - - I couldn't lift my head but kept my face buried the whole time in his neck. "And I am very happy, will you marry me, Elsa?" I still couldn't lift my face up but nodded 'yes' into his neck. He laughed and asked me, "is that a 'yes'?" I could only nod my head into his shoulder.

I knew better to stand in his way this time.

He knew me. And knew exactly how to do it. He knew what ring to get me - - dainty, clean and perfect on my tiny child hands. He knew how much more it'd mean to me to propose out in Nature, at my favorite time of day.. and by the sea that he loves so much himself.

Alas ring on hand.

Trip to Ireland in a few days.

The only question remaining is shall I bother using a hyphen on my last name with his?

God is Great!

click on slideshow below!

Engagement - August 6, 2009

I wish I could say it's a 'Gag Reel'..

...but it's not. HAHAHHAHA

I am very self-deprecating - gives me some of my charm and sense of humour.. so I thought I'd post this.

I just found a video of myself on youtube that my San Diego modeling agency posted recently of me. I am not thrilled about it. It was for a specific convention client coming into town - and they requested the spokesmodels they liked to be put on film. That said, my agency decided to post it just as a general tape of me for other prospective spokesmodeling clients.

I don't agree with their using this tape as a general audition tape. I obviously had to tone down my spontaneity that I am known for in my commercial acting and modeling for this specific conservative client. Ahhh, well - - - -

Watch the better video of Terrence, my actor friend who really got to "sell" himself in his acting, personality, even doing a runway walk at the end - - much more entertaining! (And why the heck did HE get music in HIS background??)

Published!

What a gas: one of my photos I shot last Thanksgiving in Maui was asked to be published in an online travel guide "Schmap" for the Maui/Molokai issue.

The photo is alright - nothing great or compared to the shots Patrick captured. It wasn't even taken with the Canon camera I have now - just with my pocket-sized Pentax P had gifted me on our first trip ever (Oahu, 3 summers ago).

Here is a widget for it - - let's see if it works - I do completely agree with the author that this is a must-do activity in Maui - the drive to Hana is fabulous, with many picture-taking opportunities - a nature, plant and green-lovers' delight!

Happy 4th of July!!

From 4th of July 2 years ago at my Uncle Alex' house - - happy to report that everything and nothing has changed here - - :)

San Diego Yacht Club

I love being outdoors. If one hasn't noticed.

In early June my dear friend, Jaimie, invited me to Wednesday night sailing with him and friends. I, of course, said 'yes'.

I've gone sailing before. My brother, Gabriel, is a sailor. Not by profession hahaha. But he knows how to sail boats up to 40 feet or more - I cannot recall. We have had some nice times out with him, family or friends throughout the years.

I also used to learn back as a kid to sail - waaayyy back when one Summer in 4-H club.

Well, what J failed to tell me was that every Wednesday are the SD Yacht Club RACES (!) This was no pleasure sunset cruise - but an actual RACE. I am not against pulling my weight and know basics about rigging and tacking but man, there was pressure due to its being a competition.

I brought my camera and got a few shots, but really..they just put me to work onboard. HA ha/

Good times. Thanks, J :)

Click on slideshow below to see my beautiful pics!

Sailing Sunsets

Sunset Drama

Earlier this month I had driven out to the desert to 'get away' 2 weekends in a row. I have been working so much, even Saturdays - - that to get away after work even though for only about 24 hours - was so good for me.

I actually love long drives out in Nature - the first weekend I saw the amazing desert valley sunsets and revelled in it. It is my favorite time of day - going back to as a kid riding my Arabian horse and staying out as long as possible before having to return home at dark. I love that magical transition from day to night. Always have, always will.

The following weekend I did not fail to bring my camera. Sitting on the passenger seat next to me on the way home I pulled over to shoot and then simply breathe in the sky.

I followed the lowering sunset as long as possible in my car that Sunday...eventually losing my race with it as it disappeared quietly behind the mountain range.... Beautiful. Alone and basking in that kind of glory of Mother's Nature utterly feeds my soul...

click on slideshow below -

Desert Valley Sunsets

Another Night at The Casbah

Click on Slideshow below!

Manual Scan Gig

Last Friday, once again, brother Morgan drummed for the 80s pop band, Manual Scan. Fun, danceable, driving music - all their songs are 2.5 minutes - making them fun and quick, to the point - Jaimie and I noted watching Morgan tear it up on the drums that he must play with them because with such quick songs their is hardly any just him keeping the beat steady - instead he really gets to work it out and show off - really mad skills - awesome to watch!

Flight of the Conchords Unplugged

My boyfriends Brett and Jemaine (no 'r' - he isn't African-American) AKA known as the Kiwi duo "The Flight of the Conchords" came to visit and play for me in San Diego tonite at UCSD.

I decided to allow a few hundred of my other friends and a few hundred more of THEIR friends to fill up the Rimac Arena - you know, just so my boyfriends would feel the love even more.

I have written about these boys before. Patrick and I had discovered them on HBO and instantly became fans. (see my previous blog about them here)

Quirky, handsome, deadpan humour - these boys are so funny it hurt. But as good as they are comically playing off each other, and with such an intelligent wit -that is so sexy to me - so much more than most stand up comediennes - I also want to point out that they really are pretty darn good musicians. Playing several different instruments and singing - Jemaine, especially - with his natural bass low speaking voice can sing all the way to a high falsetto range that is so good and believable it's funny. Think Prince - Prince does that too. (But he black).

Opening with "Too many dicks on the dance floor" the crowd went crazy - - and ending with me and several others yelling in request the Bowie song - the night was fantastic and well-worth it.

Cheers, boys -

I leave the rest of you with their show-stopping "Sugar Lumps" much different played acoustically in concert - but you catch their drift. The boys lost it on stage - going nuts, jumping into the crowd, and pointing and gyrating to their sugarlumps - some woman lost it and took her top off exposing herself and running to Brett onstage - - (er umm.. she was one of my friends' friends)... ;P

Brother Gabe's Bday shout-out!

Today is my big brother's 43rd bday - - (as well as my sweet nephew, Isaiah) - love to both of them - - here is a funny short video I found of Gabe fooling around with the camera when he had lost his voice - but is CLEARLY stating to his adoring nephews and nieces, "Tio Gabe is #1" - - priceless!

Dove Street years

I've got to get rid of old folders containing pics on my laptop as my new camera takes us so much space with it's large megapixel format. So, I am posting onto picassa web album old pics from another time in my life.

Ha ha ha - knock yourselves out - it's the Past, not the Present - and I always have chosen to remember the good memories :)

Click on slideshow below:
table style="width:194px;">Dove St. years

MEXX band

MEXX AKA "The Mario Escovedo Experience" plays my fave Bar Pink in North Park on Cinco De Mayo. Just down the street from my pad, I reach for my camera and saunter over after my modeling gig. Click on slideshow below and check out the many facial expressions of Chuck - hehehe

5deMayo

I90 Band

Chuck's 90s grunge band, Interstate 90 (I90) played in April at the SurfnSaddle in Solana Beach. I was coming from a party and had my new camera in the car, took it out spontaneously and voila - my first live band, low-light shoot -

click below for slideshow:

I90

E has a New Love -

dark, sleek, - a total Rebel - he shoots things like a Canon firing from my hands...

Creativity

Happiness

Joy Joy Joy!

Click below for my first pictures I ran out and took once the battery was charged - hehehe

New Canon Camera

Day After Araiza Wedding photos

I just came across photos I didn't have ready until now to post. They are from November, the day after my cousin Matt and Heather's wedding (see blog here). They are beautiful photos and worth posting, even late :)

Click on slideshow below:

Heather and Matt Day After Wedding Party

L'Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio

ahhhh - I just watched one of my new favorite foreign films from Italy, "L'Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio." I am on a high right now, feeling the music of this Roman Orchestra made up immigrants from Tunisia, India, Romania, Egypt, Hungary, Cuba, Argentina, Ecuador, Senegal, North America..to name a few...

The film is a low budget, perfect documentary shot over a couple years in Rome when the founder, former Italian pop musician Mario Tronca was the brainchild and leader in finding immigrant professional musicians as a challenge to the post 9/11 government and it's sudden, radical anti-immigration laws and protests. Overcoming financial, language and ego boundaries it is just an amazing story and if you are a world music lover, a musician, or just love people uniting (something that happens much more in the Arts than anywhere) then this movies is a must-see! By the time they put on their first concert in November of 2002, (with only 1 week of group rehearsals) I am willing to bet you will be so happy and amazed at their success - I was literally clapping and dancing on the couch with Fred-the-Basset at the gorgeous and lively music. The story is just amazing and inspiring - - not only were they able to track down topnotch musicians barely surviving in Rome working in kitchens, etc. but to write an orchestral score including all those different kinds of world instruments is a feat in itself. The collaboration is something to put the UN to shame.

I am ill that only a few short weeks ago my friend Heidi invited me to a performance of them (they now have 2 CDs out and are touring the USA in conjunction with the film) - - neither of us could make it at the time and I deeply regret experiencing that ... That said: the film is in my heart and their multi-cultural plethora of music will soon be purchased and supported by me! :) Simply wonderful stuff...

Pride 2008

 
I noticed while perusing my photos on picassa stored on my laptop that I have pictures and memories that I still have yet to blog about. I kind of would like to get them up and stored on my picassa google web albums so that I can delete them off my hard drive where they take up space and memory. So, please excuse the tardiness - here goes:

 








This was from Gay Pride parade in Hillcrest from last July. I was working like a fool last summer and pretty much went out twice all summer - I am not exaggerating. So this was a beautiful, warm day for me to have fun with my galpal Richele. We ended up not watching the entire parade as it nears 3-4 hours in length nowadays and I had to go back to work that afternoon. So we ducked in to our fun and fabulous Baja Betty's gay bar - the one-time site of major mischief back in the day - - including a very inebriated Richele once trying to pay for a whole round of drinks on her Banana Republic card. Or our friend Joanna who was 9 sheets to the wind and her boob kept popping out of her spaghetti strap tank top. But nothing tops the memory of when our old friend Bubbachunk, Danny, my ex Mik with Richele and I stole a pinata and a huge punch bowl FULL of margarita from the back patio where we crashed the thank you party for the volunteers for the Rock and Roll Marathon. Bubba got his bright obvious yellow Xterra car, pulled into the alley behind the patio and the rest of grabbed and went out the emergency exit fence and sped off with the booze jostling and spilling everywhere. We were laughing so hard I am surprised we did not crash and although Richele and I have both moved on for personal and sanity reasons from that group I have no problem acknowledging how funny that incident was. (and oh yes, the manager of Baja Bettys vaguely knew T and recognized his big head and tracked him down calling him the next day telling him to bring it all back...) HAHA HA - busted!

That said - Richele and I found ourselves much more composed, sharing the huge plate of nachos there and enjoying a couple of their 'Kick-ass Margaritas' -that is really the name, when we were eventually joined by Shannon and another friend.

There is so much fun in people watching and support - always a good, colorful time - plus it's nice to see the community and families come out and support. Tolerance must be taught and exemplified.

Hopefully next year I won't be working that day at all so I can enjoy it more... :)
Click on slideshow below!

Pride08

New Years Blessings 2008

Tonight is New Year's Eve 2008. In true Elsa-fashion my mind is going a mile-a-minute reflecting on all that has happened this past year and my dreams for the rest of my life.

I have so much to write about in my heart that it is overwhelming and I am just going to say that I remain exceedingly grateful for any positivity, goodness, health and love in my life.

May God grant me the strength and Grace to be an even better person this year to come...

Retro Elsa

Modeling for quite a few years now I've had my hair and makeup done in many ways. Not all of it works well with my ethnic features (read: my Basque nose and big bedroom eyes). But once in a while the stars align and voila! I come out with something that tickles me pink!

 

This video was shot after modeling bridal gowns all weekend in Orange County. I returned to have dinner at my parents and where I am caught on camera (oh man - I didn't mean to sound bossy - I was being silly) modeling my 1920s 'do and makeup.

Upon returning home to Patrick he broke out his camera like he usually does when I come home full of hair and makeup to shoot some impromptu shots. I love these shots as they remind me of an old picture I've seen of my grandmother Araiza looking as glamorous as possible in the heat and dirt of Mexico posing Hollywood style for the camera = = I obviously got a little bit of flair from her - amidst the modesty we were brought up with heheheh :) I'd also like to thank Patrick for his shots of me - they are fun and show a bright side of me that doesn't shine as often as it used to..
Click on slideshow below for more!

RetroElsa

Holiday Goodies!

 
  I would like to thank the very playful and talented Shannon and Richele who spend about 20 hours and a couple hundred bucks baking an assortment of 13 (yes! 13!!) cookies, fudge, peanut brittle... dare I go on??? They annually make it and give deliver a big tin to I'm thinking around 30 friends(?)! I am very lucky to be on their friend list and Patrick is very lucky to be dating me as he helped me the very first night to 1/3 of it! UMMMMMM....!!

*editor's note - oh, don't let the pictures fool you - that was from one of my old house parties years ago - they've grown up nicely since then :P

A Bonitacasa Christmas

Again, this video is from last year (2007) but I barely got it off my folks' camcorder in September and now onto Youtube - it took over 2 hours to load 8 minutes onto Youtube - so slllooowww!

That said: this video is quite amusing. You see a typical day at my mom's house - a lot of people talking at once (there is a reason why I speak so loudly, ya'll - - it is just to be heard!!); kids playing and running around, animals running around, and my mom's ever-present knack of shooting the ground when using the camera.

If you can stick watching it though, it's pretty funny. Starting with my mom's opener: "It's Christmas 207," and brother Gabe corrects her, "2007, mom..." - priceless.

Then if you can look out the window you see Patrick's dog, Fred-the-Basset chasing me and the kids around randomly while my niece recounts Fred visiting her dog, Lucy.

Also note that when Aunty Elsa takes over the Big Wheel Green Machines that Santa brought the kids for Xmas - I always liked those things as a kid - I am out for blood - - when you see me crash, I really am in pain landing on my tailbone... and what is funny is that no one pays attention to me but skips my injured body face down on the concrete to pay attention to the escaped Chihuahua named "Weeny" that ran into our yard from the neighbors to play with Fred...

Total pandemonium - that is why we are a lively bunch in our family! :)

Holiday Fashion

  This was actually a show from last December (2007) - - I only got the pictures 6 months ago, though hehehe. I will indulge myself posting them as this was such a fun show (although I can't remember who it was for). Partly it was fun because I got to open it (!) and also because fashion guru and the shows producer Leonard Simpson had the sense (ha ha!) to let me walk alone for most of it - which is infinitely easier to work the garments and have less stress than matching strides and turns with a walking partner(s) who are taller than giraffes...

He he it ain't brain surgery but I suppose there is some need for it to be done:)

Click on Slideshow below!

December 2007 Runway

Christmastime is Near

 

I have in my head right now the Harlem boys chorus' recording of "Christmastime is Here" on the famous Charlie Brown Christmas TV special. I love how the boys, although blessed with lovely, angelic voices (that only kids can have) still don't quite always make it to the pitch of the notes they are singing. It comes off as flawed, and slightly out-of-tune - - and, yet: it is perfect in its warmth and intention - out-of-tune notes and all :)

 

I am posting these pictures from last December of us decorating at P's house with his daughter and dog. It's a year late, but I actually never even saw these photos until about 2 months ago as Patrick has so many pictures now that he never gets around to showing anyone. I think they are lovely and worth posting.

 

We were fooling around with one of P's cameras (perhaps it was new, I don't remember). My man had on his pea coat that showcased his rugged handsomeness and I managed to get some photos of him that I thought really captured a lot going on behind his dark eyes and demeanor - something that every photographer should aspire to, I think.... :) Happy Holidays for now!
Click on slideshow below!

Xmastime 2007

Xmastime at Bonitacasa

It's quickly approaching Christmas 2008. I seem to be stuck in a rut about not getting done all I want to write about. But I will try to segue my blog subjects into the holidays a little bit more. Here is video from Xmas Day 2006 at my parents' home. It is late in the day, and almost eerie how everyone is so quiet and low-key in my family which is usually at least 50 in the house and the decibel level is great. I am fooling around with my Dad's new camcorder and am such a spaz, but it's fun...

Mow-weeee

Definitely back-blogged, I do not have the time or strength to fully detail our Thanksgiving trip to Maui a couple weeks ago. (he he I know some of you are sighing a breath of relief). Essentially this was it: we did a lot of driving and sight-seeing all around the island where we found a great hidden away beach spot on the northern side with a place to camp should we ever return; had our own special sunset pullout beach spot that we stopped to on 2 different days. We loved the old whaling town of Lahaina and its huge twisted trees offering shade in the center square. We also took a fun whale-watching trip from there our last afternoon.


We got a flat tire at dark (a little scary) after I suggested we go off-roading to the lava fields to see the sunset - past cell phone or electricity coverage. Thank God, P knows how to change a tire in the dark - we were both a little wary at our predicament and he came through like my Knight in Shining Armour on that one - phew! Unfortunately, P had the bad luck of losing his wallet on the last day - within 2 hours of our returning to the airport for our redeye flight. We figured it dropped out of his baggy cargo short pockets on our final sunset at a roadside beach where he was crouching taking long-exposure pictures of the sunset. Other than that - we did the freezing early morning drive up to the crater Haleakala where Patrick insisted it couldn't be as cold as I remembered it - - at 40 degrees and biting winds that almost made picture-taking impossible - yes... it WAS . :P

Then there was Turkey Day dinner down the street at Fred's Mexican Cafe (the chain has 2 locations in San Diego that we are familiar with). Yup, we opted out of a restaurant with an overpriced turkey flown in from the mainland and had some tacos and margaritas instead - not too shabby, indeed :P



Since I had been to Maui previously (see blog here)- I wasn't in major picture-taking mode. P took his real equipment with 2 different cameras and will post at least a couple on his flickr account when he gets around to working on them. In the meantime you can see mine on the slideshow below:

Maui2008

"Get out of the way, Tourists!"

shouts Patrick the Photographer as he prepares for some shots at Ke'anae Bay. It is our first day in Maui and we spent the day doing the drive to Hana Bay, stopping at various trails, waterfalls, and beaches.

Aloha and Happy Thanksgiving!

Alas, P and I are off today to Maui (my 2nd time, his first). I am very excited and look forward to such gorgeous beauty of plantlife, trees and the beaches. We won't be having Turkey on Thursday, but I will miss my family's huge get-together and am thankful for all those in my life that better it in some way. I hope to do the same.. :)

Macys Runway - part 3

Okay, allow me to point out 2 things on this clip of the Macy's INC Spring Trunk runway show from last May.

1). You may have noticed from the other clips from the same show on this blog that the person recording (mi querida mamma!) kept zooming in on my face - hello!!! When I finally saw these clips months later while trying to empty her camcorder - I exclaimed to her, "Why didn't you get more of my outfits?? Every clip is about my face - the show is about the clothes - not my face... And why not shoot more of the other girls???" Ahhh, it's the thought that counts :)

2). Also note the one girl she DID get footage of (only because the gal was almost always right behind me in the lineup order) was one of the 2 plus-size models from my agency. I want to point out that this is a true plus-size model. She is well proportioned, great face and personality and works a lot, I am sure (although she is a little short - shorter than me, even). When I think of that lame excuse of a size 8 "Plus-Size" Model Whitney who won Cycle 10 on America's Next Top Model - it makes me angry for all the true plus size models out there who represent plus size (which is a size 14 and up - not a size 8!!) It was like Tyra Banks thought she would be real PC by finally letting a plus size gal win - but Whitney was NOT plus size!

okay, I have spoken... good day ya'll :)

Star Trek - another 'New Generation'

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/startrek/large_trailer2.html
Firstly I have a soft-spot for director/producer/writer JJ Abrahms as way back when I was really pursuing an acting career in Hollywood, I heard of this very talented young guy my age who had a new TV series that people were really excited about and everything was hush hush about. The show was "Alias" with Jennifer Garner and ended up being a huge hit for 4 or 5 seasons.

Casting director April Webster called me in for one of my biggest TV role auditions ever - the recurring role of 'Ana' - a latina villian who would reappear here and there throughout the series. It would have been huge for me to get a role in such a critically-acclaimed show - not to mention just being a cool, kick-ass spy show. I didn't get it, but it was groovy just to be called in to the NBC Studios to her casting office.

JJ Abrahms went on to then create the amazing and still-running "Lost" - which I knew would be even bigger than 'Alias'. Needless to say, I am a huge fan of his and now, even more so since he helmed the soon-to-debut next "Star Trek" movie!!

If you know me and my family my sister Sara and brother Gabe are total Trekkie nerds. I do not have the (dubious) honor of being crowned with the same title, but I am definitely a fan. - Heck even my cat's name is Jordy - after Jordy LaForge - although, it was my Sara who named him (and ALL her cats) after Star Trek characters - the Trekkie nerd...

In any case, the above trailer link that Gabe sent to me, my siblings and nephews is looking awesome! I see they cast an impossibly good-looking cast to play the younger versions of our favorite original cast members. Good move - Abrahms had the insight to rope in a newer, younger generation with that kind of casting.

It's going to be awesome and I can't wait to go see it with my Trekkie siblings!!!

Macys Runway - part 2

So what the heck are these short videos of runway? They would be the Macys Spring INC Trunk Show back on my 36th bday in May 2008. I barely got them off the camera a couple months ago and am barely getting them on utube. I find them fun as they are not high-fashion but a good lesson in down-to-earth runway walking - meaning playing to the crowd, having a good time, and being able to have personality - Tyra Banks and Americas Next Top Model fans take note: as she got more established she was able to get away with standing out and having personality instead of 'straight modeling'. In San Diego with most of the runway shows we do here they actually like a lot of personality - which is, incidentally, the biggest reason I get work in shows down here - super tall and super skinny and super young: I am NOT, but personality and being able to 'sell the clothes' - I can do...
Click on slideshow below!

Macys Spring Trunk Show

Love me Some Irish

I really think the kid is talented, at the very least entertaining - props from elsamart!

he he he

Macys - Fashion Valley Mall - Spring 2008 INC Trunk Show

Veterans Day 2008

Sunday was a rainy afternoon, where P and I cuddled on the couch with Fred-the-Basset and watched the movie, "Pearl Harbor". I had even seen it before. And it almost focuses more on the romantic love triangle than the war itself. That said, I still cried during the war attacks scenes. And it quickly made me think back to my first trip with Patrick early in our relationship, to Oahu, where we visited the USS Arizona Memorial. Patrick rolled his eyes at my crying but war films have always made me cry. I remarked to P, "There is no way I could watch any war film if I had family that had directly fought in any of these wars."

Which leads me to today's blog subject. It is Veteran's Day. And, yes, by some grace of God, my massive family has never been directly involved in a war. My father got out of the Vietnam initial draft by being recently married, and about to be a first-time father. (At least that is what my folks told me long ago). He did have to join the army and he moved my mother up to Northern California for a couple months while he trained and she had my oldest sister, Ceci born at that Fort's hospital.

But other than that stint, my family didn't send anyone into war zones to fight. Not my uncles, cousins: no one.

But I still feel a tremendous amount of emotion when it comes to military. I don't know if it's growing up my whole life in a military town. I don't know if it's because from the age of 18-23 I met many young militia going out to the dance clubs or Tijuana where my heart always held a soft spot for these young, tough, but slightly lost young men. Heck, I short-term dated 3 or 4 navy or marines in my day. And now, the Love of my Life, who is not only a retired navy vet himself.

I asked my students on Friday why they were getting today off, and sadly, most of them didn't know, or cared. It was just a holiday to them. A reason not to go to school.

For my part, I want to say, that I cannot - even with my vast imagination -begin to feel how families with loved ones who are directly involved in wars past and present feel on today's memorial holiday.

So I, in my small way, salute all the men and women, sons and daughter, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and neighbors who have fought for our country and have given up so much in order for us to live normal, free lives.

May God Bless all our military and especially be with those overseas fighting for as I type this. Keep our men and women safe, and come home soon!

"A Time for Change"

The 2008 Presidential Election is officially over and young Barack Obama has won. I am excited and scared at the same time. Hopeful as well. It's history in the making. But, what a country he has inherited to take over. We're in bad shape, ya'll. And it is going to take a lot of work, motivation, intelligent and well-intentioned people to help take our beautiful country to a new chapter.

I couldn't in true elsa-logic back up either candidate, but I was and am open to whoever the winner would emerge as. Keep praying and hoping, I say. We have a long, but ground-breaking road ahead of us.

God Bless America!

Matthew and Heather's Wedding

 

November 1 rang wedding bells for my sweet cousin Matt and his long-time gal, Heather. Set on a lovely afternoon along the La Jolla coast, it was yet another reminder of how blessed my family is to have one another.

 

Definite memories included: everyone stampeding to the dancefloor to dance to Michael Jackson; my mother taking her first shot ever of tequila ("What does it taste like? I've never had one.."); us dancing so hard that we made the power go out a few times - hehehe. Good times. Oh, and guess who caught the boquet???

 

Click on slideshow below :)

Matt and Heather Wedding

Baahhhrego Springs Desert

  A couple Saturdays ago P had his daughter and I jump in his Honda and head towards the Anza Borrego Desert for a little photo trip. We got a late start and unfortunately ended up going to a totally different part of the desert than where P wanted to go take pictures.



  That's okay, we spent some time at a community festival in Borrego Springs and then had dinner driving through quaint Julian on the way back (and yes, we did buy an apple pie to take home).

Next time? I will make sure to plan exactly where our destinations are - he he he

Happy Hollow-weenies!

I was supposed to work, but it got cancelled last minute. Then I was to go see P's daughter's costume and on to Joey's Halloween bash = but NO. I was exhausted and knew I had a wedding the next day as well as a big party on Sunday at my mom's to help with.

So I stayed in. And I didn't even have 1 trick or treater. Not even one. So instead I will post some pics from other years and costume jobs to commemorate Halloween and what everyone else in America was doing: dressing up and having a silly, fun time :)

"Happy Days"

Let me preface this with saying I am still undecided about my vote - a blog on that hopefully will follow this week. But my big brother Gabe sent this fun and nostalgic-filled video from actor/director Ron Howard. We grew up on his shows and I really think they should bring back reruns of "Happy Days" :) Good ol' 1950s Americana...

fun and quick to check it out - and god bless him and his toupees, work it out!

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

It's "Justice" NOT "Just-us"

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