A year filled with moments

I am a very present person, and sometimes I don't want, or, got used to not looking back, but somehow I was reflecting on the moments that made up this year 2010 and I am amazed on how much and yet, in more than one occasion I could hear myself "where did this year go" , "It went so fast" etc, now I think I said it more out of habit, and since I am now aware, is is very unlikely that I will be using any of this phrases ever again, at least in that context.

In this year we welcomed Kora Lena, Vanessa Goz's baby Girl in June; in August we welcomed Andrea Luna, Ely Sandoval's Baby girl, we also had to say good by to my godfather Simon Cardenas and shortly after to his wife of many year America. Mireya's abuelo Juan Torres also left us.

I made new friends, reconnected with some other friends and family and lost contact with a few. Got to spend time with my father also for the first time in many years. Most of the year had Girls Friday night out, or wee night.

Got a great new job, new coworkers, new city and with that, a new home.

The kids came back home after tasting independence and responsibility for a while.

I went from living by myself for the first time in my life; an experience that I enjoyed while it lasted, specially the silence, the neatness and the "me" time. To sharing a house "part-time"for the first time in my adult life, with a person I just met, Sophia Dandrinos and her Dog "Max". In a new city that was lost in my mind, and that I could barely remember from my teenage years. With this relocation I met new people and established new relationships.

I visited Paris the city of lights, and there reconnected with Rosita Mucura and Rebeca Sanchez. Olena Prykhodko, Emmita and I had a wonderful time, we eat exquisite food in great company. I got to see the Code of Hammurabi and was amazed by The Winged Victory of Samothrace.

I went to the suburbs of Chicago and got very close to see the lake, I will leave that for later on. I also Visited Greenville S.C. and had a great time bonding with teammates on the road.

Paid off my car and I am practicing Yoga every day.

My mom and I made Hallacas and they came out really good.

Julian discovered his shadow and Cybele had one too.

I got to work from home for a bit while our office is undergoing renovations.

I think I can summarized this year by a comment I overheard in a B-day party from one of my former coworkers and friend, he was telling someone how the company we worked for together decided to close the branch in October 2009 and let go of most of the employees and he was saying, "I was one of the lucky ones" and I overheard and said I think you have that reversed as "I am the lucky one".

I discovered Yoga

A few years ago I bought a Yoga DVD with a title somewhere along the lines of Yoga for absolute beginners. I didn't like it at all, so much that I gave it away soon after, never sought about Yoga for a while, until we were talking about Yoga at work and one of the comments was that theYoga instructor in YMCA was a man, and how the other instructors made fun of him.  After that I was reading Dara Torres' book and she talked about this stretching method based on Yoga. Soon after we were in a meeting and one of my coworkers said that during a difficult time in his life he was practicing Yoga so I decided to give it another try.
 I did some of the exercise TV for a bit and went to the library and gather all the books and DVD I could get my hands on; Among the DVD's I took from the library there was one called Power Yoga by Beryl Bender Birch, it was long and I was unable to get most of the poses but I loved it so I decided to start with BKS Inyengar, but it was hard for me, to see the pictures and try to follow the sequence. My the way that book is very good, it will give you pictures of the poses viewed from every angle but it wasn't what I was looking for. At this point I was already feeling my body changing, my mind calmer, the pain dissipating. I look for classes and I found Yoga on the Beach and I tried that but it wasn't for me. It was cold and my body doesn't handle cold and exercise to well. Also I felt it was more like a workout for the instructor and you just tried to follow along, I was looking for more feedback. So I decided to try back home again.

I started reading the Power Yoga book from BBB and it all stared to make sense. You have to warm up. Actually she uses the term you have to be hot to be able to stretch and I think she is right, I started doing only the sun salutations and for the first time in years I wasn't following anyone, I was working at my own pace keeping records of what I'm doing and remembering the sequence. This by itself is a workout. I realize I am working my body, my mind and believed or not the effect I least expected and I am most happy about is the workout I'm giving my eyes. For year I been working out my my eyes closed. In this sequence you have to look at some points and its actually working the muscles in my eyes. Its even working my internal organs.

I after about a month of practice I can say that I love yoga. I am very far from being an expert, I learn every day and discover a new benefit and I feel better than ever.

Why I’m looking forward to November

From the desk of T. Boone Pickens

Army, I'm sure you're getting a lot of emails and receiving a lot of phone calls right now with the upcoming election.  As a result, you're probably looking forward to the day after Election Day.  Well so am I.  And here's why. Throughout the year, legislation in support of using natural gas to replace OPEC oil has been proposed by Senators in both parties—most recently another bill to accomplish that goal was filed by Senate Majority Leader Reid for consideration in mid-November when Congress returns for a brief legislative session.  This bill represents a potentially important step to address our ever-escalating dependence on foreign oil as well as to help reduce our trade deficit, generate new jobs, reduce pollution and remove a critical national security threat.  This bill contains many elements of the original NAT GAS Act (H.R. 1835 and S. 1408) that we've been advocating for more than a year and enjoys deep, bipartisan support.  It provides for incentives for purchase of natural gas vehicles; grants for the development of NGV infrastructure; as well as incentives for electric vehicles.  Many Members of Congress from both political parties have supported policies to get off OPEC oil and onto American natural gas over the past two years.  They've been cosponsors of the NAT GAS Act or integrated elements of its policies into other pieces of legislation.  They know that our continued reliance on foreign oil presents a national and economic security issue for our nation and continue to work together to get this important legislative process over the finish line. We can get this done this year if Congress finishes what it started when it returns in November.  We can't afford to wait any longer—every day we don't act is another $1 billion spent importing oil from overseas.   I'll be back after the election to ask you to take action—because I think our time is coming. -Boone

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Happy Birthday to OPEC...not so happy news for us

Army: This week marks OPEC's 50th birthday, but instead of celebrating, we're keeping in mind that OPEC controls oil prices by controlling production, and forcing the rest of the world to drill for the most expensive oil. In his monthly update on the amount of foreign oil the U.S. imports, T. Boone Pickens said that based on the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Energy EIA, the U.S. imported 63% of its oil, or 382 million barrels in August 2010, sending approximately $29.3 billion abroad. In related news...at the National Clean Energy Summit that recently took place in Las Vegas, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said "we've got to start getting the things done that we agree on."  Watch his remarks in the video below. The Pickens Plan is something that has wide bi-partisan support and we can – and should – get it done now.  Have you signed the petition?  http://www.pickensplan.com/whatsyourplan - Team Pickens

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Energy Independence

While running for office, President Obama promised that if elected, he would get us off OPEC oil within 10 years.

Two years are gone and we still don’t have a plan. In fact, there is some evidence that we’re going in the wrong direction. In July 2010, we imported 388 million barrels of oil. That’s the single largest import month since President Obama was inaugurated.

The NAT GAS Act will create jobs, clean up the environment and improve our national security by providing tax incentives to organizations which operate fleets of vehicles that are fueled with imported oil to be replaced with vehicles that run on domestic natural gas.

Election Day will soon be here. Those who are running for office—be it open seats, incumbents or challengers—need to take a look at this legislation and make promising to reduce our need for OPEC oil a central part of their campaigns.

Spencer Cohn AUCC

This is a long overdue post. I am so grateful to Spencer Cohn that I think someone in need may benefit from this review.

I first heard from AUCC when my son was denied unemployment benefits after he lost his job back in May 2009. I received a yellow card in the mail along with other two advertising to appeal the decision of the unemployment commission. The first thing I did was google for information on all 3 offers and I decided to go with Spencer Cohn as on the information I was able to obtain, I understood that his area of expertise was representing the ex employee.

Somehow I am under the impression that more and more individuals are denied benefits just because the official unemployment rate is measured by the people collecting unemployment benefits, not by the real number of people unemployed. In other words, if you are not collecting unemployment benefits, officially you are not unemployed, you are just someone on vacation that happens to be looking for a great employment opportunity. So the tendency, and this is just my opinion, is to denied the most claims so the numbers look better.

Anyway to make a long story short, I suggested to my son to call the 800 number on the card and ask all the questions regarding the pro's and con's of the process. He asked for a flat fee of $200, to be paid $100 in advanced and $100 before the hearing. My understanding is that he asked for the tapes and make his case and argue in favor of the individual before the ex-employer and the referee. We lost this one but I am always on the side that is better to try, that sit and cry. So be it and you move on.

A friend of mine calls me and said that her daughter is being asked to return all the money she has collected, so I suggested Spencer Cohn and she called him. In this case I think he charged a different amount as the work was different.

Then I started hearing about all this people being denied unemployment, and I keep referring people to AUCC when in January my daughter lost her job and was also denied unemployment benefits. I decided to call the people I recommended him on the first place and getting all this great feedback about his energy and the passion he shows defending your rights.

I decided to give my daughter the $300 to have him help her appeal her case. It took time, I think my daughter called him in mid march 2010 and she was able to get a new hearing for August 4. Soon after she gets a letter and it turns out that with the help of Spencer Cohn she was able to get her unemployment.

I will recommend anyone the services of AUCC. In my opinion it is well worth the time and the money.

Galletas caseras de avena y pasas

Para aquellos interesados en la receta en español

2 barras de mantequilla

1 taza compactada de azucar morena

1/2 taza de azúcar blanca

2 huevos

1 cucharadita de extracto de vainilla

1 1/2 taza de harina cernida

1 cucharadita de soda

1 cucharadita de canela molida

1/2 cucharadita de sal

3 tazas de avena cruda

1 taza de pasas

Pre-caliente el horno a 350•F

Bata la mantequilla con el azúcar hasta que este cremosa

Añada los huevos uno a uno y la vainilla; mezcle bien

Añada la mezcla de la harina, la soda, la saly la canela; mezcle bien

Finalmente añada la avena y las pasas y mezcle bien

Coloque en la bandeja de hornear sobre una hoja de papel encerado

hornee por 10-12 minutos o hasta que esten doraditas

Enfríe por un minuto, despegue las galletas y dejelas enfríar en una rejilla

Disfrute!

Independence Day

I have a fascination with water, and it is very hard for me to watch the news about the oil spill in the gulf. The turtles nests being moved to the east coast of Florida, the cleaning efforts of many people that are trying to help at any level. The fact that I am not seeing the devastation in our beautiful east coast of Florida doesn't make it easier to feel the damage and making me think about how responsible we as a society are and what role we play in this issue. I see blame going to the oil companies and specially BP, to the politicians, but that is the easy way out. As easy as it is to blame others, we have to look at what we do every day and specially at what we don't do to be more independent from fossil fuels. I don't have the answers, but at least I am thinking about it, and taking responsibility on the way I behave. One person at the time, one gallon of gas at the time... Changing our behavior is key.

What a beautiful day!

Today I decided to go to the beach early in the morning but I guess I was not up early enough. I got there around 9:30 am to see the most beautiful day for the beach. My problem is that on a day like this, I just don't want to leave, the water is warm and calm and I am supposed to be there only for an hour or so. The fish jumping out of the water, tiny fish swimming around bright and shinny, not a cloud in the sky, and no sun screen, so while I was enjoying the perfect moment I also had to be very aware of the sun. Anyway, I happen to be in the place that I like to call paradise for a little bit every opportunity I get to relax, and enjoy my surroundings. I love my life, I love my beach and I feel proud and lucky I get to enjoy paradise.
Click on the tittle to see what I'm talking about...

Paris, Intense, beautiful, amazing...

Intense, beautiful city... Exquisite food, amazing museums, lots of people.. Most impressive sight, the goddess Nike or Winged Victory of Samothrace, it took my breath away... The most enjoyable time with my cousin Rebeca that we met after to many year to count.

The goddess Nike or Winged Victory of Samothace, 190 BC the lighters 3 ton sculpture I have ever seen. The way the Louvre presented this sculpture is unique, you walked from the bottom of the stairs and the sight is impressive, beautiful and magnificent. It took my breath away, so, that I took only one picture, but pictures can't describe the emotion...

Paris - here we come

Finally after almost a year of planning, we are headed to Paris, city of light, city of love... I enjoyed the reading, the learning, the language lessons, the expectations, now it time to enjoy once more all we envision. 

Everything is going so easy and good friends are joining us for our adventure. I am looking forward to meeting many interesting people and exchange point of views and ways of living...

Au revoir

Day 5 *Musée du Louvre *

The Louvre opens on Wednesday's until 10 PM, since there is so much to see this is the best day for us, and it's also cheaper. We have some must see, The Mona Lisa, Near Eastern antiquities  specially the room of the code of Hammurabi, (room 3)  The Greeks, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities and if we have time The Egyptians 

From their web site

Passing on Knowledge

Through writing, the Near East gave rise to a culture that handed down a dual heritage to the Western world: the biblical tradition on the one hand, and the transmission of Greco-Roman knowledge on the other. The exile of the Jews from various countries of the region to Babylon in the 6th century BC did have a positive consequence in that it enabled the people of the Holy Land to assimilate the store of knowledge that had developed in Mesopotamia since the 3rd millennium. With the rule of Alexander the Great in the late 4th century, the Near East from the Mediterranean to India became Greek, while retaining its intellectual heritage, which it bequeathed to scholars of various cultures. Greek and Hebrew authors, theologians, philosophers, and mathematicians thus safeguarded a tradition that is thousands of years old—despite the fact that the civilizations that created it have completely disappeared. Furthermore, in the Near East, this ancient knowledge was transmitted in written texts by Arabic, Turkish, and Persian scholars, who endeavored to conserve ancient texts from Babylonia and the Greek civilization. www.louvre.fr/

Day 3 * 3/8 ** Bus #69 tour

On Monday we plan to take the tour bus # 69. have a picnic in the Champ the Mars overseeing the Eiffel Tower. I think I want to do at least 2 picnics in Paris, the other choice will be somewhere overseeing the seine. While in Paris become a Parisian at least for a week

Day 2 * Sunday 3/7 * Versailles *

On our second day in Paris and after a relaxing Turkish bath we are going to be traveling in the RER to Versailles, the essence of Louis XIV. My expectations are to connect and walk the same rooms that he did 400 years ago. I can wait. I read that this king was so charming and special that when he got older and start loosing his hair he started to wear a white hair wig, and everyone else liked and did so. That it were the wig that George Washington and so many after him have the custom of wearing a white wig. I guess his successor were not as charming and powerful as Louis XIV, the Sun King as soon after the French Revolution changed everything...


A bit of history from chateauversailles.fr

Louis XIV

THE SUN KING (1638-1715)

The “Grand Century” of Louis XIV was marked by the image of an absolute Monarch and a powerful State. Installed in his royal functions at a very young age, and educated by Cardinal Mazarin, the Sun King built the foundations of absolutism around his own person. In 1682, he moved with his Court to the Château de Versailles, a palace that was a better symbol of his power and his influence in Europe.

Known as “Louis-Dieudonné”, Louis XIV was born in 1638 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Crowned king at the age of 5 on the death of his father Louis XIII, the young sovereign received from his mother, Anne of Austria, and from Cardinal Mazarin, his godfather, a complete education. Mazarin was officially in charge of introducing him to politics. His mother ruled as Regent; it was the time of the Fronde (1648-1653), the rebellion of the upper nobility and the people of Paris against the monarch. The young Louis felt humiliated by the arrogance of these nobles and threatened in his capital: he would remember this.

The royal family
In 1660, Louis XIV married his first cousin Maria Theresa of Austria, the Spanish Infanta, in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Their union reinforced the reconciliation between France and Spain. The King and the Queen had six children. Only one survived, Louis de France. In 1663, the King secretly married Madame de Maintenon who succeeded his first ‘favourites’, Mademoiselle de La Vallière and Madame de Montespan, with whom he had several legitimate descendents.

A King with a passionate interest in the arts
The king was interested in a great variety of subjects and excelled in many fields. His contemporaries gave him credit as a good musician (he played the guitar), an excellent dancer and organiser of ballets, and a brilliant rider. He loved hunting, outings, fencing, putting on shows, and playing parlour games, billiards in particular. He surrounded himself with good judgement with the best artists of the period, including Molière, Lully and Racine. In the Château de Versailles, he had the Court playwright stage comedies, while the musician Jean-Baptiste Lully put on his operas and organised brilliant festivities.

A MONARCH BY DIVINE LAW

Louis XIV chose the sun for his emblem. The sun was Apollo, god of Peace and the Arts; it was also the heavenly body giving life to all things, the embodiment of regularity, which rises and sets each day. Like the Sun God, Louis XIV, the warrior hero, brought peace to his people; he protected the arts and dispensed all the graces. Through the regularity of his work, his public levers and couchers (morning rising and evening retiring ceremonies), he insisted on the resemblance, carved in stone: the decor of Versailles was filled with the depictions and attributes of the god (laurels, lyre, tripod) on all the royal portraits and emblems.

The absolutist regime
The monarch resided in the central part of the Château, on the first floor where three vast apartments were reserved to him. He impose his Etiquette on the Court, the rules of precedence to which the nobility had to submit. From Versailles, Louis XIV ruled a centralised and absolutist State which was built around his person. With Colbert, he directed the administrative and financial reorganisation of the kingdom, as well as the development of trade and industry. With Louvois, he reformed the army and accumulated military successes. Monarch by divine right, the king was the representative of God on earth. During his coronation, he committed himself to defending the Catholic faith. To fulfil his vow and preserve the kingdom’s religious unity, he led the struggle against the Jansenists of Port-Royal and the persecutions against the Protestants. The forced conversions and the emigration of two hundred thousand Protestants led him to cancel the edict of tolerance: this was the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1785.

Weakened by 72 years of rule, Louis XIV died on 1 September 1715. He was buried in the Basilica of Saint-Denis and bequeathed the throne to his great-grandson Louis XV, then aged 5 years old. He remains the man of the “Grand Century”, symbol of the pomp and ceremony of Versailles and the influence of France.

Hamman

Arrival day in Paris - Hammam de la Mosquée de Paris- Saturday 3/6

We plan on our first day in Paris.

Knowing that jet lag most likely will hit us, and I learned from previous experiences that if you take a nap that will kill your vacation, it is better to stay awake until at least 9 or 10 pm and start a Sunday fresh and in tune with the new time zone. So our plans for that first day are to go to the Turkish Baths an Oasis in the middle of Paris

Hammam de la Mosquée de Paris

Here we'll be rejuvenated in the Turkish baths on the grounds of the Paris Mosque, built in recognition of the the North African soldiers who enlisted with the French during World War I. The steam baths are meant to be a mental and physical escape from the natural world, and indeed they are. You may also enjoy some tea and snacks from the restaurant on-site. It's altogether a bit of an Oasis from the rest of Paris.

So, at the end of the winter we are planning on taking our bathing suits. 

Metro: Place Monge. The somewhat hidden Hammam entrance is behind the pastry counter in the mosque's charming courtyard café. 

Men and Women have separate hammam days: for women, Mon, Wed, Thurs and Sat 10 am—9 pm, Fri 2 pm—9 pm; for men, Tues 2—9 pm and Sun 10—9 pm. 

We happened to get there on Saturday so, it will be perfect. I will keep you posted...

Paris, city of light, city of love...

Paris, city of light, city of love... 

I have a long overdue date with this beautiful city. A few years back I was planning a trip with a dear friend and before we were able to go she past away and I never thought about going after that. I have the misconception that I don't like big cities and after some research I realized that Paris is not that big. I also told myself over and over that I was unable to understand French, even though I always had contact with the language with many dear people in my life. So I think I overcome all my own barriers and I decided that I was going and that I was to learn French. I went to the library and took a couple of courses and I am surprised how easy this language is to me. Is not a foreign language at all. As I am fluent in English and Spanish, it is a matter of awaken a listening comprehension and just try to speak with my best French accent and that guttural sound that I learned from my Dutch lessons.

$24900 / 1br - Seniors, exactly the home you are looking for (Delray Beach)

Bright, spacious, airy, comfortable, updated condo. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1 guest bathroom (only sink and toilet) Screened porch, washer and dryer room. Move in condition. Sold as is. I will hear any acceptable offer. Kate 561-843-7080

Things I love about my home: The neighbors are great, the community is quiet, friendly and safe. The home is spacious, bright and very well designed with great use of space. I love the amenities that the community offers. Thearter, cabaret, classes, clubs, golf, pools, tennis, woodshop, library, sewing room, restaurant and beauty salon on premises. Cable TV included as well as bus services fo residents. There are walk trails and lakes and canals with fish and birds.

We bought this home back in 2002 and loved and cared for it since. We updated the appliances laid laminate floors in the living room, the dining room, the bedroom and the closets. The balcony is tiled and has a washer an dryer that are not new but working just fine. The bathrooms and the kitchen have good quality vinyl floor. We remodeled the closets and changed the doors. We lived through several storms and no damage was ever inflicted. The home is painted in pastel colors. The home is in move in condition. If you want the furniture we can talk about it. As much as I loved to live in this home it is time for me to move on and time for you to buy it, enjoy it, and live a happy life.

Senior citizens 55+, call me and we will negotiate. Kate 561-843-7080

Off Jog Road just north of Linton Blvd in Delray Beach, this is a quiet, friendly neighborhood. Publix and Walgreens within walking distance. Home Depot, Banks and restaurants short distance. We have a bus service for residents that will take you to medical centers, the public library, several shopping centers and also to the Club House and swiming pools is you don't feel like walking.

Jog Road and Linton Blvd at Kings Point Monaco L (google map) (yahoo map)

• Location: Delray Beach
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 1585717555

Chocolate Chips and Nuts Cookies

Convine sugar's and butter and mixed until soft

Add the eggs one by one and the vanilla

Sift the flour, grind the oatmeal, the nuts and the chocolate bar, 

Mix well  salt, baking powder, baking soda with all dry ingredients and incorporate 

Make even round balls and placed separated about 2 inches on the cookie sheet

If you have several you can be baking 2 trays at the time while you prepare more, Bake for 10 minutes @ 375 degrees 

Recipe for over 120 cookies, you may want to consider half. They are delicious..

4 sticks of butter

4 Cups of flour

2 Teaspoon of baking soda

2 cups of granulated sugar

2 cups of brown sugar

5 cups of oatmeal 

24 oz of chocolate chips

1 teaspoon of salt

8 oz of chocolate bar Hershey

4 eggs

2 teaspoons of baking powder 

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

3 cups of nuts 

Enjoy

Walking while wearing office attire

One activity in my life that keeps me younger is walking. It will clear my mind, energize my body and connect my spirit with the source. I been walking since I can remember. Some times I forget and I start getting uneasy.

I made it a habit to walk at least 15 minutes after lunch, not minding the climate conditions. I have walked in 100-degree weather and it feels just good. After sitting in front of a computer for hours and moving just enough to get the phone or a pen and maybe coffee and use the restroom, I go outside and feeling the wind touching my face, my body warming up and rapidly adapting to the change; listening to the birds and believing they are singing to me. Feeling the sun in my face and arms. It’s just great!

My brain gets oxygen and after only 15 minutes or so, I feel renewed, so I can go back to work happy and invigorated. With mind clear, my body relaxed, I’m able to perform at the best of my abilities.

I set an example for the rest of the office building as for years I thought I was alone and at first, I found a lady walking on her working clothes so I asked, and she said, “You are not alone.”

Then I noticed a large group of people walking around the parking lot with a leader, at noon for a few minutes, and by their comments I was able to perceive that they were enjoying every minute. Later I learned that they worked for the insurance company that occupies the top floor of the building.

I believed I set an example and I assumed that they are having as much fun as I am.