9-11 - In Memory..

I am sure everyone remembers where they were on 9-11 of 2001.

I remember clearly I was in-between apartments at that time and was staying at my parents' house. I was up early getting ready for teaching when the phone rang. I heard my mother answer it and say in a concerned voice I rarely have heard uttered from her, "Ohhhhhh..okay, okay we will turn it on. It will be okay, Sweetheart." I knew it was family from that tone of concern and I immediately was by her side to inquire what happened and which sibling of mine had called.

It was Sara and she told us we were under attack. My parents and I ran upstairs to the television and turned it on to see the billowing smoke and the new images of the 2nd plane that had also impacted. It was a sight so extraordinary and frightening. I thought immediately of my actor friends in NYC and called up those whose numbers I had. Some answered, some didn't, although all would check-in eventually throughout the next couple days, gracias a Dios.

My heart was in my throat as I knew I had to go to work and only had minutes to watch the TV. I quickly called up my boyfriend at the time. Mark, a freelance writer and editor, tended to sleep in after staying up late writing. I knew he was unaware of the Twin Towers attack or he would have already called me. He answered drowsily at my calling him so early in the day -- "Is everything okay, Babe?" he asked with confusion. The tears fell, unchecked as I sobbed and somehow choked out, "No, Mark - New York..has been attacked by terrorists - many have been killed - turn on your TV. I will call you back." It was better for him just to watch it and hear the news reports as I was sobbing by then and didn't know much myself.

I remember the couple first images of people with no other recourse than to jump to their deaths. The first was a business woman, literally straddling a blown out window. They were able to zoom in so much on her that one could clearly see her brunette hair and color of suit. Suddenly she jumped out. The camera pulled back and panned her almost the entire way down. It is needless to say that is a very long time to pan down. I remember gasping in disbelief at what I had seen and very aware that people who knew her could have recognized her. Luckily, they stopped showing those images very shortly on the news as someone high up must have deemed them too much to bear.

I'll say....


I went to work that day with the administration huddled around the lone TV in the teacher's lounge. Many teachers didn't come in that day and it was a bit stressful and confusing. NOBODY wanted to be there. People were even scared that our military town of San Diego would get attacked. Many people just wanted to be home where it was safe with loved ones. The jr high students didn't really have a clue as to the magnitude. In fact, true -to-youth they seemed more excited to gossip excitedly at it and describe the blast, the violence, the images...

Mark later told me he stayed glued to his Black and White, bunny ear antennae TV for the next 10 hours straight.

I would have done the same, had I been able to.

In memory of this 9-year anniversary, I felt compelled to note my memory of that fateful morning. As many have said since then, "We cannot forget." We cannot forget that day and how many it affected. My prayers and thoughts go this day with anyone affected first-hand..and for our troops whom fight overseas as we speak - - almost ten years later.

God Bless America.

Family videography

Some video taken at the weekend with the Familia -

Here I am BUSTED! I was supposed to be watching the baby and she is so quick that while filming her she gets into mischief!

Bay-Area Araiza-Love

I had the good fortune to visit some extended family in the Bay Area a couple weeks ago. I stayed with my Aunt Nora and Uncle David at their garden villa in Oakland - - just l-o-v-e-l-y and so relaxing. They became grandparents (insert angel chorus “ahhhhh” here) this year when both their children became first-time parents with their spouses.

In addition to wanting to see all of them and their babies, my other cousin Maddy also had her first baby and lives nearby. I got such a kick to see my closest cousins as parents. These cousins to me were practically my best friends growing up – that’s what happens when you have strict, protective parents who don’t let you hang out with school kids or at the mall like others did or spend the night at friends' houses. Which is fine in this case – my childhood with these cousins was fun, wonderful and full of laughter and fond memories!

Very special to me this particular weekend was that I also got to spend a lot of time talking with my sweet Aunty Nora and my generous Uncle David – who not only put me up but threw a garden party for all the cousins, spouses, and babies to come. Also visiting were my sister Sylvia and her husband Tim who brought along some of his family who live nearby.

What a loving afternoon we had. I felt incredibly centered just after the 2 days – and had 2 nights of some appreciated and restful sleep. Thanks, again, to the Northern Cal Araiza-contingent - I love you all very much!
Click on slideshow below:

Bay Area Familia

The Daily Burn

I love to work out to the limit that my injuries allow. In fact, I wish I could work out harder but the body ain’t willing.

So I was reading a “Shape” magazine on a Bay Area flight home and one of the things I saw was a free application for the Iphone of the daily burn. Have you ever wondered, like me, just how many calories you really consume each day? Or what is your protein ratio to carbs? Well, this is a PERFECT way to find out!

First let me preface this by saying yes, I have an Iphone now. My husband made me take his once he got the 4G one. And, to be fair, I begrudgingly needed a better phone since I go to LA and am in the car a lot and I would actually sometimes call him a couple times a day to check my email from his lab. Those who know me KNOW I hate gadgets and STINK at learning technology - - I am ready to go back to horse-and-buggy days anytime and still prefer to write by hand my daily planner just as I’ve been doing since 1990 in my freshman year of college.

The first and only thing I DID want on this blessed phone was the Tetris app and I got that on a couple weeks ago. For me to download this as my 2nd app shows just how serious I am about this website. I love it. It is very informative! You look up exactly what you ate for meals and snacks; click on it and it maintains that info. At the end of the day you have the entire breakdown of calories, protein, carbs, and fat intake. It also has a water meter- how many of the eight 300ml glasses are you truly drinking each day? Depending on my job and/or travel I don’t always make it – yesterday I only did 6 glasses. The day before I did 10. I especially appreciate that the site works with actual brands - I had hummus at lunch and when I put in the brand name as well as ‘hummus’ it popped up the exact size and picture of the one I buy at CostCo. I put in ‘Activia Vanilla yogurt’ instead of just ‘yogurt’ to get the true nutritional info. Brilliant!
I highly recommend it to everyone. Although I hate doing it on my phone – takes way too long and I think I am already getting carpel tunnel in my fingers using the silly thing (please don’t get me started on texting from an Iphone – ugh). Well, if you are like me and hate being on your phone, do it on your computer or laptop online! Much easier – que bueno!

Lastly: be honest! I even put in the tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and the little bit of feta cheese I throw on my dinner salad, heck – even the cinnamon and 10 almonds I put on my oatmeal in the morning - - it all adds up and at the end of the day I am pretty confident that my nutritional results and chart are close - give or take 10-20 calories.

There is more to the website – track/plan your workouts – I am not even tackling that part of it. But I did put in my current weight and the 5 pound weight-goal loss I’d like to lose since having a very bad injury-ridden year. It told me that for my height, age, weight, and activity level to lose my 5 pounds I should be eating about 1860 calories. Yesterday I cleared 1455 – and 300 of that was a total splurge of desert which I normally do not do. It’s interesting that with even my discipline and low fat, low-calorie diet how quickly things can add up. But that said, I am pretty sure most every day I average 1000 calories – and NOT enough protein for sure. I average 50 grams of protein per day and I need about 130grams – YIKES! More tofu and egg whites need to be added!

San Diego Sailing

We have had a very mild summer here. But that didn't stop us from taking out 2, yes: 2 sailboats to fit some of the Martinez in July. My brother-in-law now has his own boat and my brother is a member of the Yacht club and can rent one. It was very fun to be in contact via walkie-talkies and eventually meet up under the Coronado Bridge. From there we tethered the 2 boats, dropped anchor and had a great time eating, kayaking, and gabbing. It was too cold for me - I was bundled up and didn't get to sleep in the sun at the starboard like I usually do. But it was still lovely and somehow my brothers and the kids all went swimming - god bless 'em!

Click on slideshow below:

Sailing July 2010

Sailing with Los Martinez

My brother is always entertaining the kids! Awesome Tio GM!

C and E dance

It takes a while for me to upload videos onto youtube. Here is one from last November when my stepdaughter did a cheercamp at SDSU. The kids got to perform with the cheerleaders at halftime at a San Diego State football game. P and I were freezing (look how bundled up I am) but Ciara diligently practiced the whole first half of the game and therefore stayed warm in just a tshirt and shorts. I watched her so many times that the musical theater/showchoir dancer in me picked up the choreography..

Pride 2010

I rarely have a Saturday off – but, as in years past, I made things work out that I could attend the first part of the day in July at the Pride Parade in Hillcrest. My partners-in-crime were the usual suspects: Richele and Shannon. We do the same every year: walk around a bit to people watch, watch about an hour of the long, colorful parade and then head over for our splurge of Nachos and a Kick-A** Margarita at Baja Bettys. This has become a bit of a tradition - - it’s also the only location I let myself have a strong drink (they have their name for a reason) (!) One does me in – lightweight that I am. I had to go to work later in the afternoon – painfully lethargic after the sun and calorie-intake…

It is worth mentioning that not far after Pride here was marked the ruling in San Francisco regarding gay marriage. There may be good and bad ones, but I agree that having a good, healthy, respectful and loving matrimony should be everyone’s right to pursue. Amen and good luck to us all!

click on slideshow below:

Pride 2010

Summer 2010

This summer has been so busy that I am really back-(b)logged. Not only did we recently buy and move into our new home but what with all the flip-it and home decor shows we used to watch a couple years back, Patrick and I gave our North Park condo a complete overhaul that at times kept us there after work until late night and all day on weekends. What we thought would take 2 weeks stretched out to about 5. Although I am pretty darn proud of the work we put in (and we saved mucha mula $$ doing it ourselves) we were mighty glad when it was all done and we had it rented.

Now I love our new country house so much that I already know P and I are adapting a serious homebody syndrome - - there is so much to do, our yard will eventually boast a garden of vegetables, trees and more to compliment the several large rose bushes I already tend to. Plus, we love being out with the Bassett and Cat in the yard, enjoying the dusk's Golden Hour, and grilling and eating dinner outside in the lovely summer evenings.

That said, I HAVE pulled myself away from Casa Merritt just a little this summer for some outings that I'd like to commemorate on this blog. Some pics and stories to follow. Happy Summer, all!

Home, Sweet Home

I miss it when I don't have the time to reflect, review, and revive by writing my goings-on. I did forewarn on here a few weeks ago that things were going to get very busy this summer. I think I can almost say that things became even busier than I imagined - and that is saying a lot!

But here we are now, after a lot of hard work, blessed to be in our new home. I simply love it here. Surrounded by Nature with my rose bushes sitting in our yard on the canyon and space for my piano and P's darkroom/photography studio.

I am so utterly thankful...

Bday Love

In this year of major transition in my life I am so utterly grateful for having my newlywed husband in my life as my partner.

We've many adventures, trials and tribulations ahead, my Sweet - I love you and am proud to be your wife. Happy Birthday, P.

World Cup: USA

Nevermind the fact 2 months ago I was called in to audition for Shakira's World Cup anthem music video - - the World Cup is one of the few sports events I get into. (And, for the record: I liked Shakira better when she was plump, with her raven-hair and only sang in Spanish).


In fact, La Copa Mundial runs a very close 2nd to my favorite: the Summer Olympics - which says a lot. Having to wait 4 years for both events makes them all the more exciting. I grew up in a soccer family - with most siblings playing and my dad coaching. In fact, being Mexican and settling in horse and dairy farm Bonita back in the 1960s he was tapped automatically to coach and helped introduce AYSO youth league to my hometown. My brothers were both star players and their love and talent has been passed on to 3 of my nephews who are excelling greatly and All Stars.

I have an interest in several teams: USA, Mexico, Germany, Spain and Italy for various reasons. But, anyone with a heart loves the underdog. I am so proud of the USA team - - watch this amazing video below on the country's reaction to the historic last-minute winning goal earlier this week! Especially the boy around minute 3:40. Brings tears to my eyes :)

Check out this great MSN Video: The World Reacts To Landon Donovan's Goal

Can you..

..guess why I am so busy and MIA lately??? ;)

"Air"' spec video - final cut

AIR spec video from Noah Smith on Vimeo.

You all remember this blog here -- the final cut was sent out yesterday of our "Air" video shoot...enjoy!

GOGA by Project Runway's Gordana

 

Are you a fan of Project Runway? You don't have to be a fashionista or model to appreciate the talent (and stress) that make up each episode.

 

That said, although I only watched the first 2 seasons' in entirety before dropping cable, I have had the pleasure to model this year for 2 participants that are based in our own little San Diego. "Goga" by Gordana and Jesus Estrada's "Haus of Estrada" were in Seasons 6 and 7 of the show.

Unfortunately, I am currently limited in any professional pics or footage of modeling their clothes - hers are like wearing a piece of artwork and his are punk-tinged and fierce (!). See slideshow below for an informal modeling show by GOGA for a Greek organization last Fall at the Manchester Hyatt.

Click on slideshow below!

"Goga" by Project Runway's Gordana

North Park Neighborhood

 

(Sigh). I am sure going to miss our North Park neighborhood ;)

Besides being centrally located in town and right off the freeway - we are a block or 2 away from the urban and bustling night life as well as wonderful street festivals throughout the year.

This past Sunday we walked down our alley and 2 blocks over to the North Park Arts Festival. We didn't stay too long as we had much to do, but, as usual: it afforded us a lovely walk, people-watching, street photography ops and a pleasant time spent together.

Click on separate slideshows below for 2 festivals - -

North Park Arts Festival

San Diego Independent Music Festival

Our Red Wall

 

Have you noticed some of mine or Patrick's pictures against the same backdrop over the years? Well, it is our reddish/wine-colored living room wall. My husband and I have had many impromptu photoshoots against it.





Included are some headshots photos we shot last Fall. Always learning and fooling around with lighting and poses there have been countless times I came home from a shoot or show with makeup and hair done and P immediately grabs his camera and always says the exact same thing, "Let me just shoot you really quickly, babe".

 

Very sweet of him, eh? It always makes me laugh, however, because it's usually never too 'quick' as he will shoot a few shots from his several cameras (film AND digital).. :)

Click on slideshow below:

Commercial Headshots 10/09

AAAAAAAHHHHH!

 okay, folks - I have a ton of things to blog about, and videos and pictures to post but I cannot lie to you: right now I am very busy. P and I have some major things on the horizon and I feel incredibly stressed, although excited.

Please accept this as an explanation for the few new blogs posted, or photography posted on my flickr website for the next couple months. I love writing and doing the photography late at night, as it relaxes and creatively satisfies me, so believe me - I am going to miss it more than any of my readers will. That said, I will be around here and there before being able to return to publishing on a more regular basis.

So take what you get - -hehehe! Cheers!!

Joshua Tree 2010

  Mid-April proved to be a perfect weekend with not-too-hot days or too-cold eves for our camping trip to one of my favorite nature locales - Joshua Tree National Park. Even more special this year was the fact that my best friend, Diana and husband John accompanied us with their new baby Megan! Oh yeah - - Di and John are my types of parents - starting the baby off quickly with exposing her (literally) to Mother Nature! Whew hew!

We had a blast - with my niece along as well to accompany Ciara. I love hiking, the weather - all things about it. Sharing it with my family and best friend was more happiness than I can ask for.

Click on slideshow below for the photos courtesy of Diana:

Joshua Tree 2010

Birthday Bettys Madness

ay yi yi - Today is my 38th Cumpleanos - - and I spent it accordingly at my fave Hillcrest gay bar - Baja Bettys - with a few friends and my husband.

I arrived first with Richele = who is my #1 Baja Betty Buddy. True to her own Gift-to-Gab within 15 seconds of arriving she had already chatted up the bartender and 2 neighboring young boys that it was my bday and next thing I knew I had a free Kick-A** Margarita (yes, it is called that) and a shot. Well, okay - R knows me well and told them we needed to split it because I don't (can't) do shots.

Thanks to all for coming out and for the salt-covered brownies that Shannon made freshly that afternoon (they were still warm in the box - umm ummm ummm).

As P's daughter commented previously on our bday dinner outing over the weekend - "This is your first bday as a married woman and a mom" - - what a wonderful challenge heheheh! My blessings run deep indeed!

Click on slideshow below:

38th Bday