Happy HOLLOW-WEENIE!

Soprano Soars to New Heights with Circus

http://www.univision.com/content/video.jhtml?cid=1317242&channelName=Videos&_requestid=100611

Last week was such a difficult week for many here in San Diego and other parts of Southern CA due to the fires. I have been feeling sad for so many and definitely not up to writing on my blog.

That said- it's time to bring back a little bit of joy into our lives. Yesterday I received this from the mother of a young Latina actress, Denisse Gonzalez, whom I toured part of the country for a few months back in 2000 in the National Tour of the musical, "Selena Forever". Denisse played young Selena and already had an amazing voice for her age. She is now singing with Cirque De Soleil - what an honor!! - and performing around the world. Her mother sent this video clip of her interview recently on Univision. I imagine Denisse must be about 18 now and is as stunning as her voice - but I will always remember her as the young Selena, playing with dolls, singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and making us laugh with her vocal impersonations of Cher and Celine Dion.

Best Wishes and Congratulations

THIS is Why I Evacuated at 2am...

This is what I saw of Mt. San Miguel heading my way last night. My understanding is that the Harris Fire is not completely contained and I still need to be careful tonight for shifting winds. The smell of fire burning and my sore eyes are pretty bad. I really need to get a mask for breathing - will use a bandana for sure tomorrow. Still scary to look at even in a photograph...

San Diego Fires: The Aftermath

The view of Mt. Miguel taken from the bedroom window of my 2-story house. When I decided to leave at 2am last night the entire hillside in the background was a wave of flame working its way down the mountain - I could feel the heat.

 

Let me clarify, please - - the fires in North County and east of me are still very much out of control and dangerous. This blog is only about the Harris Fire on Mt. Miguel that was affecting me in Rancho San Diego, 2 siblings and their families in Rolling Hills/Eastlake area as well as my parents' home in Bonita.

After a very long night I allowed myself 1.5 hours around 7 this morning to sleep after evacuating to my boyfriend Patrick's condo in central San Diego. By God's good grace the winds this morning in the Southbay were not as strong as they expected and firefighters were at last able to contain the fire.

At 4pm I brought Jordy-the-cat back home and took pictures from my house of the 3 smoldering spots at the foot of the eastern side of Mt. Miguel which, last night had engulfed the mountain in one giant wave of flames that led me to leave voluntarily and others imperatively.

The following picture shows a close-up of the biggest last hint of active smoke from the previous night and morning at the bottom of Mt. Miguel probably less than 10 miles away from me.

 

The newish housing community of "The Pointe" off Jamacha were mandatory evacuated. They sit below me and are separated by a canyon that leads directly to my back yard. That is why I knew if they were leaving, I needed to be careful. At the time this picture was taken - they still hadn't been allowed back in.

 

A shot of my small backyard which stops at about 10 feet embankment of ice plant (great for helping deter fires!) and then opens out to a large canyon (refer to the top picture).

 

A little after me, my brother Ben and his family received the good news that they also could return to their home. The visibility is bad, my eyes are stinging something awful but I am much more relaxed tonite and plan to sleep now that my family is out of danger. That said - there are still several fires burning out of control this evening and 1000 homes lost so far. My prayers are with my community. God Bless each and every one of us.
A very red, eerily beautiful sun shown late afternoon....

Fire Evacuation

It is almost 7am now on Tuesday (Day 3 of the San Diego Fires) - I left with my cat, Jordy, last night around 2:30am and am at Patrick's condo in North Park. As previously mentioned, I was alone in my cul de sac last night packing my tiny Scion XA car with as much as I could. I missed my family and was planning to stay up all night - alternating watching the News and surfing the Net.
As if reading my mind, I was just standing up to stretch and turn the news on again, when my mom called at 1:42am. I knew something was wrong immediately for her to call that late and my first thought was that they had to evacuate as well in Bonita (meaning this affected not only my brother Ben's family who already had headed to my mom's that afternoon, but also my sister Sara and her family in East Lake). As I answered, "Mom..." I simultaneously turned to look out the window in the small bedroom that has a view of Mt. Miguel and the Sweetwater Reservoir. I couldn't believe it - within 1.5 hours of last looking out the window, the fire (a new one, I believe) had taken over and had come alreadyhalf-way down the north side of the mountain heading directly towards my area of Rancho San Diego and Spring Valley! I was aware already that for hours it was on fire on the southeast side of it heading west with the winds towards Otay, Eastlake and eventually my childhood home in Bonita... which was bad enough - but I really had felt that I would be okay since I was close, but just northeast of those communities. I mean: I almost had had people stay at MY house because I felt I would be safe there.

Well, there was no doubt it was time to go. Between me and the fire was just dry brush of the rest of Mt. Miguel, then the small, but welcome, Sweetwater Springs Reservoir body of water, then the small 2-way but main road of Jamacha - which the fire would easily jump across - - leaving a small housing community of about 50 houses before it would reach the dry canyon that literally ends at my backyard.

Time to go.

Jordy was not happy - he hates his cat carrier and I usually need 2 people to get him in there. I could hear people down the street honking and getting in their cars, as I finally pushed his head down and zipped him up in the soft bag.

As I left my street and headed towards the stoplight next to Monte Vista High School, I gasped to see how close and large it really was. I hadn't expected it! I knew the Santa Ana winds were blowing to the West - I still don't understand why a new one started my way.

There were definitely people on the road and leaving my area but the freeway 94 heading west to downtown was just fine at that time. I got to P's around 2:30am and have been watching for news of my area as well as the Harris fire right next to mine that was endangering my brother Ben, sister Sara and their families and pets as well as my parents in Bonita.

My mom had informed me that they all were simultaneously evacuating and heading to different places - my brother Gabe's large house in Point Loma (the coast) and my dad's CPA office in Chula Vista.

My mom, God Bless her - informed me that she had gone in my old room and didn't know what to grab but packed a couple of my photo albums - I have many and had already packed most of mine at my own house. But she didn't need to do that. "Mom - I have all that I need here, just go!" I fought back the tears at her unnecessary thoughtfulness when she and my father certainly had enough to remember.

** Before I had left with Jordy I ran back one last time to my house - I glanced at my beautifully decorated house and beloved piano - so proud of what I had achieved on my meager salary. I ran upstairs and grabbed from my jewelry 3 necklaces and put them on - the silver Irish pendant my beloved had gifted me last Xmas, the Cross my father had bought in Spain for "all the women in his family" also gifted last Xmas, and lastly: my gold small cross that my mother had gifted me at 18 to keep me safe when I entered college. I had worn that cross daily for 14 years...

I paused at the gorgeous larger engraved cross that my mom had bought through an Art museum catalog a few years back. I always had loved that cross and had tied it with a beautiful purple ribbon and hung it up in my house. I reflected that although I love it: I'd leave it behind, along with my stain glass portrait of The Virgin Mary I placed both at the glass door facing the fire to bless my home and keep it safe.

Thoughts during the Fire Crisis

It is 9:45pm and I am watching the news on TV with bunny ears antenna (I don't have cable). My faithful cat, Jordy, is peacefully curled up at my feet tapping his tail lightly along with the flickering television light.

I spent an hour packing my tiny car with things that I deemed important and necessary in case of evacuation. It was a surreal time packing it. My car is a very small hatchback. But I knew exactly what to pack -some clothes, shoes, my photo albums (can't replace those), my important paperwork (thank God I'm organized so I had all of it in 1 box), a lot (not all) of my piano and vocal sheet music, medicines, my laptop and a handful of my favorite cds (music that is not easily replaced). That is it. An easy decision.

It is eerily quiet in my cul de sac - I noticed all 3 of my neighbors left a couple hours ago with their dogs. We haven't been evacuated yet (not even voluntarily yet.) But they left once they saw the red glow of the fire over the hill behind us within our view of the Proctor Valley/Sweetwater Springs area (the Harris fire).

I would have left as well to either Patrick's house or my parents in Bonita - although my brother and his family of 6 and dog have already been evacuated and are there, so it's pretty full. That said, it is hard to leave because of my cat, Jordy -who is terrified of being in cars and doesn't do well just plopping him into a new home. So I am not leaving until we have to, IF we have to.

I have emailed a few friends whom were evacuated - offering them to stay at my house with their animals. I guess it's just as well they are in hotels. It will be much more comfortable as I only have one bed and would have stayed myself on the floor with Jordy in a sleeping bag.

The news station I am watching is close to a fire and they said they are probably going to lose signal very soon as they smell smoke even in the studio at this point, I guess I will turn to the radio.

It's weird, I realized I was starving - having not eaten much since breakfast. I made myself one of my delicious vegetarian pizzas and even allowed myself a coke - something I never do. And I actually thought to myself, "It's going to be a long night, I might as well let myself eat well and drink some caffeinated soda pop."

I had booked 2 great paying modeling jobs this week, too, but I imagine it won't matter my eating a pizza and coke since they will probably be cancelled anyway.

They said if you are close to one of the several fires all heading west that you shouldn't sleep tonite - or take turns - one listening to the updates in case of evacuation. It's only me, so I'll be staying up. I really feel alone.

"It's okay, Jordy..." I informed my kitty, "I am watching out for us..."

Prayers Needed

A prayer to those who are evacuated and/or have already lost their homes in San Diego due to the fires... It's a hard time for many. May God Bless and watch over us all...

This Magic Moment

This magic moment
So different and so new
Was like any other
Until I met you
And then it happened
It took me by surprise
I knew that you felt it too
I could see it by the look in your eyes

Sweeter than wine
Softer than a summer's night
Everything I want, I have
Whenever I hold you tight

This magic moment,
While your lips are close to mine,
Will last forever,
Forever, 'til the end of time

So why won't you dance with me?
Why won't you dance with me?

This magic moment
So different and so new
Was like any other
Until I met you

And then it happened
It took me by surprise
I knew that you felt it too
I could see it by the look in your eyes

Sweeter than wine
Softer than a summer's night
Everything I want, I have
Whenever I hold you tight

Learning Spanish

My full name is very hispanic. But I am of a growing hispanic minority born in the USA that didn't grow up speaking Spanish. My bilingual parents spoke it a little between themselves. And my mother did try to teach us a little bit. But, let's face it - they should have spoken it all the time to us at home because all of us kids greatly suffered in our personal and professional lives' at our not being bilingual. And, as children, it's the easiest way to learn languages - for you soak it up like a sponge. As an adult, one becomes self-concsious at making mistakes or having a bad accent. Point blank - I have suffered learning this language but have a lot of pride that I did so on my own. People just assume all latinos speak spanish. I am 3rd generation born American - I can assure not all of us are bilingual.

Here's a little walk down Memory Lane:

It was my first year of college, at the age of 18, that I really started yearning to learn more about my Mexican heritage and its romantic language. I became involved in the hispanic student organization MECHA to meet the few latinos who attended UC Irvine in the early 90s and sometimes wrote articles for La Voz Mestiza - the hispanic student school paper. But, mostly, I made a herculean effort to learn Spanish on my own. Interestingly, I mostly learned it through my huge love: Music.

I started listening to spanish radio all the time. I bought spanish-music tape cassettes (this is pre cds and mp3s). I would listen for hours to music and try to write down the lyrics in a notebook that I still have at my parents' home. I became a huge, screaming fan of handsome crooner Luis Miguel who was my age and a HUGE singing star. He was my favorite. I also started watching telenovelas (soap operas) during my vacations back at home in San Diego. The first one I watched was called, "La Picara Sonadora" - I even got my sister and mom to watch it with me. When I say it was the 'first one' I watched I refer to the fact that spanish-language soaps actually end after a few months. And they almost always end with a happy ending of the poor girl getting her prince *I mean rich, handsome man.

You can imagine, thus, that my spanish, from listening to music and watching over-dramatic novelas - was full of vocabulary about love, nature, revenge, romance and pain. HAHAHAH. Very dramatic. But not very useful, every-day language, one can say.

I needed to do more, then. So I decided that I could only have crushes on Latino boys. That way I could practice my spanish. Now, I was the biggest virgin in high school and college - and PROUD of it. But I had crushes, sure! And Latin men are muy romantico..... Spring Break of my freshman year - I was en route to having my first heart ache by a Latin man. I went with Diana, my roommate in college (and mentioned in the blog a few times) to Tijuana, Mexico for the first time to go dancing. We went with my younger cousin, Maddy, who was already highly-seasoned at going even though she was only in high school. She was also in a latin identity faze as well. She took us to where the real Mexicans were - not the bars full of drunk underage American kids and sailors. She took us to the OTHER end of Calle Revolucion ("Revolution Street") the main drag of bars and discos in TJ where there was a huge club called, "Las Pulgas" - The Fleas. I was in heaven with the spanish pop and roc-en-espanol on 1 floor and more traditional mexican music and dance on another.

I still remember it like it was yesterday. I set my eyes on a tall, Mexican boy across the room - I was a virgin, but I knew how to flirt! The girls nodded in approval. He was wearing jeans, boots, a shiny belt buckle, and a button down shirt and drinking a beer. His hair was straight, thick and longer on top - pushed back with a little gel.

I said to the girls we needed to walk past him and his boys so I could make eye contact (who knew this goody-goody was such a natural??!!) Well, we paraded past them and when I walked past, I gave him a sideways look and smile over my shoulder and he literally ran after me to catch up with me.I always thought he looked a bit like a Mexican Elvis. For he had full-lips and a handsome but baby-face that Elvis had. Even the hair reminded me of his circa 50s' look.

He asked me in spanish, "Como te llamas?" What is your name? And little did I know my life was to change forever. He was my first latin man. And my first heart break. Efren would figure in my life for the next several years - setting my even-nowadays standard of really trying with someone until they have absolutely killed me and there is truly nothing left of Elsa to give and cling onto.

By now, Diana is rolling her eyes and fanning herself over the memories and nightmare that would be my knowing him those many years. God bless her - she accompanied me many a night to TJ to meet him down there or to go to his baseball games.
And she stood by my side through the pain as well.

Was I in love with him? No. I knew we were young and inexperienced (he was my age). But I wanted to eventually be in love with him. I was crazy about him. He sang and danced mexican rancheros with me, literally sweeping me off my feet. "Six foot two, and all for you," he used to say, grinning that boyish grin of his. We met at 18 and he left my life at 28. We will eternally be remembered as young and stupid.

Too bad, with him, I set the precedent at being involved with men who can't commit and take but don't give much back. It's amazing when I look back now at 35 that I have always given much more in my relationships and continue to still do it. I know it's a latin trait in women - we are extremely giving. But, I've gone to hell paying for it and continue to suffer even now for possessing that character. A character that is so generous it is actually a negative fault when it comes to me and men.

I will say one thing though. Dating someone who speaks spanish was a great way to really accelerate my learning! Do you like elsamart's novela? Stay tuned for more. I figure something has to come out of all the memories in my head...

This is it: BLOG ACTION DAY!!

I saw this notice last week on blogger homepage and immediately signed up to participate in it.

On October 15th, bloggers around the world will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future. With 155,000 blogs and 12 million readers this is all about mass participation - and it's very exciting to elsamart!

Wanting to put my 2 cents about promoting awareness, I'd like to put something out there. TEACH OUR KIDS.

I have been working with teens mostly, but also younger kids depending on the project, for the last 10 years. I have seen first-hand the rewards and, sadly, the damages of this generation of kids not being taught many fundamentals by their families. None of you who are not in some sort of teaching position can remotely decipher how BAD it is and how WORSE it is getting each year.

But the one constant remains: no matter what the subject is - if we don't teach our kids to respect, love and be concerned for our environment and Mother Nature - then their really is no hope to help save it.

I do not blame the kids, folks - it is the parents that I'd like to address. It is simple. Teach your kids to turn off lights. Teach them to take a 10 minute shower - not 20 to (horrors!) 40 minute ones. Teach them to turn off the faucet when they are brushing their teeth - do you know that 2 gallons of water is wasted each time by people brushing their teeth leaving the water running?

Perhaps instead of them sitting around (a whole other epidemic) playing video games, watching too much TV, on computers or their cellphones or IPODS why not designate one day of the week to be "Fun Day with NO Electricity".

Take them to the park to play, make them play outside in the yard, teach them to make mud pies in the dirt, play in the snow, take them on a beautiful hike by the beach, in the mountains, in the desert, ride bikes, roller skate, go for a run with them, teach them to fly a kite (I know so many kids who have never TOUCHED a kite in their lives), play with their dogs or cats, go to the zoo, read in a hammock outside, plant a flower or vegetable garden in your yard. Watch a glorious sunset.

The ironic thing is that all the above are things that some of us and our parents did ANYWAY on a daily basis as after-school entertainment. Lamentably, it is foreign to many of our youth in America nowadays. And only by our suggesting it, forcibly designating it and hopefully participating in it WITH them - can we teach our kids that their are OTHER things out there to be aware of besides being plugged in to the latest overpriced gadget.

Teach them that the benefits of dedicating 1 day a week to this means they will get more exercise, they will not use up for 1 day a bunch of precious electricity, it can be a wonderful bonding time or play day between parents and their kids or teens. Tell them stories (kids of all ages LOVE stories of their parents) how you used to fly kites with your brother or how you planted a garden of flowers when you were a kid in 4-H club. Teach them that Nature and preserving it is of such great importance and that each one of us, truly: EACH ONE OF US - can do our part by being aware and not careless or lazy.

The benefits of my suggestion are boundless. Exercise, environmental awareness, actually talking to and spending time with your child or teen... come on - - there is not one single negative in this equation besides those of you who mistake my earnestness with being preachy...

Do your part and help conserve in some manner.

God Bless.

Editor's Note - I also highly recommend checking out this link about Blog Action Day.

80s Song of the Week: Howard Jones "What is Love?"

Ahhhhh... do you notice that there is hardly any feel-good music in this day and age? It's all so sex and bling-driven, it's no wonder our kids are all messed up.

Not quite with the 80s - - music still talked of love and feeling good and being romantic - - all to the tune of pre-recorded keyboard synthesizers. Here is a fine example of an 80s ballad by Brit crooner Howard Jones - his trademark orangish-peroxide faux-hawk hidden under a not so raspberry beret (alluding to another 80s phenom: Prince).

I love how he is portrayed having almost a magical power of insight and shows him do an action right before another character does it. The lyrics are beautiful and deeper than I remember giving them credit for as a teen. Perhaps it's because I've been so disillusioned myself with the subject. What is love anyway? Why does it seem almost impossible between 2 lovers, a mother and her child, 2 friends, 2 fighting countries with different religious beliefs? Only within ourselves can we find the answer...

Birthday Shoutout: Ciara

Patrick's daughter, Ciara, turned nineteen, I mean 9, on October 3.

 

After some school and home festivities it was "shakedown" time again as her parents bought her (don't remember my term? see here) a party at a place in Chula Vista.

















Ciara, some cousins and friends were able to play dress up, sing karaoke and ate some Costco pizza and cupcakes for 2 hours amidst some pink walls, and party lights - like a small disco.

 

Being very interactive with children,I surprised Ciara and her 5 friends by putting on some of the clothes and funky accessories as well and got them all to sing Gwen Stefani with me - no pictures, unfortunately, in my garb.

A fun time for the girls - Happy Birthday!

Congratulations to:

Al Gore for winning the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. I am in the Middle - but definitely leaning more to the Democrat side. That said: anyone of any party is okay by me by bringing awareness of our precious environment to the masses....

Congratulations to:

my dear friend from college: Heather and her husband Noel on the birth of their 2nd child: Jacob - born on October 3rd! He joins big brother, Robbie in their Hawaiian hut in Oahu where they reside... Gods Blessings to you all and your beautiful family!

Birthday Shout Out: Jenn AKA "Flaca"

I've know Jennifer since we were elementary-school kids. Jenn and her family lived across the street from us in Bonita, San Diego - where we spent a few years making mud pies, playing with dolls, getting kicked out of her sister's "Grease"-covered bedroom, etc. Heck! I even learned to ride a bike in her long driveway! Jenn and her family moved to Redlands, CA around 10 years of age and outside of the family Holiday card we lost track of each other until...

One day towards the end of my sophomore year of college at UC Irvine, I had the thrill and surprise of my roommate, Diana, coming home from rushing sororities to tell me that another girl who used to live in San Diego - Bonita - in fact! Di told her that her roommate and good friend (moi) is from Bonita and did she know Elsa Martinez? Well: Did she ever!!!! A half hour later Jenn came speeding up to our dorm in "Pumpkin" - der orange box-shaped car and we were reunited - going on to live together the following year and becoming swell friends again.

Being the hard-core democrat that she is, Jenn moved to DC, worked in the White House during her idol, the Bill Clinton regime, got a bill passed, met Mike, got hitched moved back to Cali - and now is a paralegal in Orange County. All this time, she is still one of my best friends making ours a great story! FELIZ birthday on this, her 34th. Mazeltaf!!!