Because I'm Happy...

I have been grinning from ear to ear since yesterday afternoon.  In case you have not heard, my Houston Astros clinched the American League West Division on Sunday afternoon.  That's right.  The Astros are going to the playoffs and this girl right here is beyond herself with excitement!  The last two innings of the game I was so nervous I couldn't sit or stand still.  And I was home alone watching the game.  Let's just say, I scared my neighbors with my yelling and screaming.  Don't worry, I apologized.  For those not familiar with my blog, I am a hardcore, die-hard Astros fan.  I have been since I was probably eight or nine years old. Thanks to my dad, who schooled my siblings and I on the love of the game and took us to so many baseball games at the now vacant Astrodome, that the ushers and attendants knew us by name.  -Totally true story.  Yesterday was a good day. Today was even better.  Except, the playoff tickets sold-out before I could purchase mine.  Not to fret, I WILL be at game one, one way or another. 

Right after the last out.  The players all hugged and celebrated.

The banner this morning inside Minute Maid Park -home of the Houston Astros

It's Monday bloggies, have a great week.  I know I will. 

-peace

A City Under Water

The rain won't stop.  It's now a little past midnight on Sunday or early Monday morning rather.  By now, I am certain that many or most of you have heard that Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas Gulf Coast.  It made landfall between Port Aransas and Port O'Connor.  Approximately 200-210 miles from Houston.  While Rockport, Texas was hit hard by the landfall, the remnants of the tropical storm was saved for us. 

As of now, my family and I are safe.  We are all scattered throughout the city in our own homes, but everyone is safe.  The rain won't stop.  The incessant warnings coming from the tv screen and the cell phones sound like curdling screams.  We have been under tornado watches, tornado warnings, flood watches and flood warnings since last night.  Earlier on Sunday, the water kept inching closer and closer to my front door.  In a panic, I filled trash bags with towels, squishing them together until the bag resembled a cheap bean bag.  And I plopped them along the entry way and my front and back door, hoping that they will keep the water out.  I don't know if it will work yet because thank God the water started receding when the rain let up.  I sighed relief but it was short-lived.  The rain started again in the late afternoon and has not stopped.  I keep looking outside the window hoping that I don't see the glistening of the water as it falls into the rain made lake that has taken over our street.  From my window I can see the neighbors house across the street.  Their yellow fluorescent porch light shows me that the water is up to the tires of their cars. 

My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach.

Please God, keep our homes free from water.  I check on my family and friends throughout the day.  We all wish each other well and hope for the best.  And I watch the 24 hour news coverage.  The images that I have seen are heart-breaking, gut-wrenching and tug at your heart until you have your own river of tears flowing down your face.  So many people stranded.  Chased out of their homes by the torrential rains.  Families leaving their homes with just the clothes they were wearing.  Imagine seeing people huddled atop the roofs of their homes, waiting for air and/or water rescue.  Some of those people are still waiting.  Alot of those people have children of all ages with them.  And I can't help but think, "there but for the grace of God, go I" 

Indeed.

The silver-linings in this chaos of a storm (there are several) are heart-warming.  The news reporter that put his mic down while doing a live shot, so that he could help lift an elderly gentleman into a boat because he was not able to lift his legs over for himself.  The humanity of total strangers, just showing up with their own boats, trucks, tools, food and clothes donations ready to help out.  The outpouring of love and support and solidarity not only from our surrounding states but from across the country.  This.  This is what we are about.  During catastrophic times such as these, we see the best in people.  It made my heart smile. 

We've seen quite a few hurricanes and tropical storms before..  This is not our first rodeo, after all.  However, this is the first time that our city was literally taken hostage by the aftermath of such a horrific storm.  We have been crippled, brought to our knees.

The meteorologists are forecasting more rain for at least two more days.  TWO.MORE.DAYS.  Lord help us because aside from the rain and flooding jazz.  I've been cooped up with my mom and my aunt since Friday.  What's wrong with that?  Think The Golden Girls but on caffeine.  #sendxanax

Well it seems the rain has stopped for a bit.  I'm about to check on the flooding situation and then pass out on my bed.  Maybe.  I only slept two hours last night.

Do me a favor, if you pray, pray for us..  Or meditate.  Or send us your positive thoughts.  Whatever it is that you do, do it, please. 

An Eclipse, A Hurricane and Bronchitis Walk into A Bar...

Well this has been an exciting week eh?  It started with Monday's epic total Solar Eclipse and then my pneumonia that turned into bronchitis (fun times), and then by mid-week we had ourselves a Tropical Depression which turned into a Tropical Storm and is now Hurricane Harvey.  And? He's headed to Texas.  Specifically, Corpus Christi. Which is not Houston but we will still feel the effects and get the dirty side of the storm.   All that means is that we'll get the all the rain and storms and crap like that.  Did I mention it's not even Friday yet? Oops now it is, I just glanced at the clock.  I will be paying for it in the morning for sure.

So back to my weird week. 

I got sick last week, was diagnosed with Walking Pneumonia which may as well be called Walking Dead because that is how I felt.  I thought I was getting better but had a horrible weekend, with a visit to the local Urgent Care on Saturday night. (hey who says I don't know how to party?)  This is when they told me I now had bronchitis.  -I'm so lucky.  Well, I went to work on Monday and felt better actually.  Or maybe the eclipse had something to do with it. ;)  Speaking of the eclipse.  Was that not the most awesome thing ever?  We were fortunate to have one of our attorneys take a pair of the solar glasses to work.  We took turns sharing them and also sharing the cereal boxes that a few of us had made.  Hey don't laugh, those things actually worked.  I was giddy.  I loved every minute of it.  We were nowhere near the totality effect but it was still pretty amazing.  And hey, in 2024 Texas will be in the totality view of the next Solar eclipse.  That's exciting right?  Of course it is.  -Don't judge me.

And finally the massive Hurricane that is headed our way.  The storm is predicted to make land-fall on Friday night, early Saturday morning.  Our stores/gas stations/Targets/Wal-marts were all out of water and batteries and bread even!  Oh and even the liquor stores and wine aisles were barren.  -Hey we know our priorities.  There is talk of heavy flooding.  Again.  I'm fortunate (knock on wood) that my neighborhood is not flood prone but so many other people are not as fortunate.  I just hope and pray that we come out fairly unscathed.  And don't lose power.  Especially that.  I mean, it's AUGUST in HOUSTON.  Need I say more?

So to say that this has been an eventful week, is putting mildly.

That was my week.  How was yours?

Love is Love is Love

There is a saying in Spanish that says: "Donde hubo fuego, cenizas quedan"  Which loosely translated means: "Where there was once fire, embers remain" In this instance, the "fire" represents passion and the "embers" represents the love that never left, the love that remained.  In what has got to be the most romantic and craziest reconciliations I have ever heard of, I would like to tell you nay sayers and Debbie/David downers to open your heart up a little.  Drop the cynicism and believe in love.  And to all of the romantics (yours truly), never give up on true love. 

Let me tell you a little story. For the sake of brevity and privacy, I will not go into specific details nor name any names.

A little over 25 years ago a boy met a girl and they fell in love.  The boy says it was love at first sight and he knew that night he met her that he was going to marry her.  The girl says that he is the love of her life. They became inseparable from the day they met.  Neither of their families had ever seen either of them so happy.  Years later, they did indeed marry and had two children.  Years after that, there was an ugly and bitter divorce.  It was a sad time for them and for their children.  Each of them went their separate ways.  Life took both of them through many roads, some rough, some smooth and some just too painful to mention.   And yet, almost ten years after the divorce, through what I can only call Divine Intervention with Cupid's help, the boy and the girl, re-ignited those embers that had remained through the years.  The love that they had for one another, blossomed once again.  They re-married this summer and I've never seen them happier.  It took all of us by surprise to say the least.  Maybe even them. Ha!  Good ol' cupid being sneaky like that.  Their families are over the moon excited and happy for them and pray that God blesses their marriage for a lifetime. 

The End.

So you see bloggies, anything is possible.   Their story fills my heart with hope and with, well, with love. 

Warning: Shopping May be Detrimental to Your Self-Esteem

It really sucks when one of your favorite past-times is ruined because of something someone says or assumes about you.  Kind of that moment that you realize there is no real Santa Claus.  Yeah, kinda like that.

The other day I went to Ross.  (think Target but cheaper more reasonably priced) After picking up a few things, I went to the first available cashier, handed her my items and waited for the total.  The cashier was all of 19, maybe.  She rang everything up and then looked at me and asked, "Are you a Senior Citizen?"  Wait.  Whaaaat?  Naturally, being the blurt the first thing that comes to mind kinda gal, I replied, "Do I look like a senior citizen???"  I said it with a smile on my face but inside I was freaking out.   I mean, no one and I mean, NO ONE has ever asked me that before and I still get carded at bars and clubs.  Ok, just once but still.  I immediately started thinking I looked like Sophia from Golden Girls instead of Salma Hayek. No there is no resemblance between me and Salma. I am just being dramatic again.  Anyway, the poor cashier thought I was about to go off on her.  She had this wide-eyed look on her face and began apologizing profusely.  "No mam, I, I it's Senior Citizen Tuesday and I have to ask every guest."  -uh huh, every guest.  Sure you do.  I didn't blurt out what I was thinking but instead eased her angst and told her it was ok, that I was not offended, just found it funny.  Heh.  Funny my ass.  She gave me my change and my bag of goodies and  I told her to have a great evening and walked out of the store.

Driving home I kept wondering to myself if all this time that I thought I looked great for having turned fifty, I actually looked like, like, well, like Sophia from Golden Girls, or worse, Dorothy!  Of course that would be kind of impossible since I'm only 4'10 and she is an Amazon. I know it's silly but that girl's question really messed me up.  Had I let myself go?  Did I look like those wannabe youngsters that were really middle-aged phonies?  Had I lost my hotness factor and suddenly turned into an *old woman*???  My mind went into overdrive and I suddenly became sad.

Naturally, upon arriving home, I recounted my mis-adventure to my sister, my mom, my best friend.  Basically anyone who would listen.  And basically, I drove them nuts for the next few days.  See? I am a little alot OCD.  I can't just 'forget about it' like everyone told me to.  I wanted answers dammit.  I wanted validation that I was not old and decrepit.  I wanted to be told I was beautiful and hot and not elderly at all.  But alas, no one told me those things. Well, they told me I didn't look like a senior citizen.  Meaning, I didn't look old.  But since I obsess about everything, I just could not let it go.

I poured over recent and old photos of me.  I examined my wardrobe.  I still didn't see it. I still didn't see "old" when I looked at those pictures or when I looked in the mirror.  Sure, I'm older.  Sure, I have a wrinkle or two and laugh lines.  But elderly? Me?  Not on my watch sister.  Not today and not tomorrow either. I dusted myself off, wiped the pity party tears and declared myself "old as I want to be" and reminded myself that age is nothing but a number.  And that night, I put on my hottest outfit, wore my signature deep red lipstick, flipped my hair and went out to a friend's party. Totally rocked being fifty.  Oh and got a 25 year old hottie's number too. So what if I will never call him? The important lesson here kiddies, is that we are all beautiful/handsome and sexy as we make ourselves feel.  It has nothing to do with others' perception of us. 

But I don't think I will go back to that particular Ross store anytime soon.

Hall of Fame kinda weekend

Today was not just any other Sunday.  Today was Baseball Hall of Fame Sunday.  A day where the baseball greats of years past, congregate and hold the distinct honor of being inducted into Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame.  A feat only a select few are fortunate to embrace.  There, in the quiet and picturesque town, the players are forever etched.  Just like I was two years ago when Craig Biggio made it to Cooperstown, today I am all kinds of happy and proud to watch Jeff Bagwell get his turn.  How incredibly proud and excited I was watching him give his speech today.  I may or may not have shed a tear or two when he spoke about his relationship with his dad and the love for his wife and kids.  A real "aww" moment.  But perhaps the real heart tugger came not from watching the ceremony, but from three pictures that my sister-in-law posted on Facebook. They were pictures of my brother Carlos, sitting on his sofa, donning his Astros cap and clapping excitedly as the tv panned to Jeff Bagwell.  The other two pictures are of him just fixated on the screen before him, as Baggy gave his speech.  I looked at the pictures and saw that little boy that used to tag a long with my dad and my other brother to the dome way back when to watch the Astros.  I saw that little boy that played his heart out in little league baseball.  I saw the amazing father that he has become to his three children.  And my heart swelled with love.  I would post the pictures but he would probably raise a big stink about it.  So, I will keep the peace.  Too bad my brother Rene chose to frolic in the sandy beaches of Mexico or else he would have been sitting beside Carlos as well.

Congratulations #5!  A long time coming but definitely worth the wait.   And I would be remiss if I did not mention the throngs of fans that traveled to Cooperstown to witness history in the making.  H-town was well represented today.  Every time the cameras panned the crowds, all you saw was a sea of orange, or rainbow colors and Jeff Bagwell's name everywhere.  Really a cool sight to see. 

Late post: Ramblings about my Dad

Today is Father’s Day.  I went shopping for a card for him yesterday and not one card felt true to me.  Not the “Best Dad in the World”, “My Hero”, “Amazing Father’ etc.  Not one inspired me to buy.  Instead I chose the simplest and blandest card ever.  The outside had a picture of a dad sitting on a couch, scratching his belly and on the inside, it just read, “Happy Father’s Day”.   I

t’s not that I don’t love my dad, I do.  In my own way.  But something inside always keeps me from truly loving him.   Oh, I know all about forgiveness and moving on with life.  And how it’s a very healthy thing to do.  Trust me, I did the therapy sessions and the self-help books for a long time.  Until one day I finally decided that I didn’t hate him and that I was tired of being angry and that I just couldn’t keep going on with myself like that or I would be unhappy for the rest of my life.  So, I forgave him.  But forgiving him didn’t mean I suddenly wanted him in my life all day, every day either.  I can only take him in doses and only for short periods of time.  Isn’t that weird?  My siblings do not understand me.  They think that I just hold grudges and am mean to him.  Maybe they are right.    I just can’t force myself to go through the motions of portraying him as something he is not nor has ever been to me.  Sure, he worked hard and made sure that we were fed and clothed (because my mom was always there for us to make it happen) and he put us in the best private schools in the city (again, at the insistence of my mom) But I guess what I am most disappointed in is that I never saw him as someone I looked up to, or felt protected by.  He didn’t respect us.  He lied and always cheated on my mom.    I remember arguments they would have that we could have easily sold tickets to because they sometimes rivaled something you would see on the tv show “Cops”.   And then there are the dark secrets that only I remember.  That only I went through with him.   And that is when I remember why I have this love/hate relationship with my father.  But even still, I do love him.  He is my father after all.

So, for this day, the day they honor Dads, we took him to a baseball game.  My father is an avid baseball fan.  He is the one that introduced my siblings and I to the love of the game and the Astros.  It had been a while since we had done so as a family.  So that’s what we did.  We did the whole brunch thing with him and then headed to the ballpark.  It was a really, really, good day.  One of those days that no one bickered but laughed instead and just enjoyed each other’s company.  I know he was happy.  I just wish that this good feeling we felt, would last 365 days a year instead of just one.  Once the game ended, we Ubered it back home, said our goodbyes and got into our respective cars and resumed our normal lives.

Perhaps one day, I will truly forgive him.