True Colors

you with the sad eyes
don't be discouraged
oh, I realized it's hard to take courage
in a world full of people
you can lose sight of it all
and the darkness inside you
make you feel so small

but I see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow

show me a smile then
don't be unhappy, can't remember
when I last saw you laughing
if this world makes you crazy
and you've taken all you can bear
you call me up
because you know I'll be there

and I'll see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow

can't remember
when I last saw you laughing
if this world makes you crazy
you've taken all you can bear
you call me up
because you know I'll be there

and I'll see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show

your true colors
true colors
true colors
are shining through

I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow

- Lyrics from "True Colors", Cindy Lauper

In Memoriam - Alfred, Lord Tennyson

I envy not in any moods
The captive void of noble rage,
The linnet born within the cage,
That never knew the summer woods:

I envy not the beast that takes
His license in the field of time,
Unfetter'd by the sense of crime,
To whom conscience never wakes;

Nor, what may count itself as blest
The heart that never plighted troth
But stagnates in the weeds of sloth;
Nor any want-begotten rest.

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

Year 2010

It is nearing the end of September 2010. Thought I should add a post for this entire year. It has been a whirlwind. The babies are all doing very well. Sonic is 10 years with me this December 2nd. Rocky is 5 1/2 years old. Gracie is 4 years with our family. Everyone is healthy and happy.

I am currently in Michigan working on a feature called "This Must Be the Place". I wasn't too thrilled about coming to Michigan. Actually, I wasn't happy about leaving home but work called and I had to answer. Overall for me this year has been pretty exceptional. With so many people still struggling for work, I have been lucky and employed this whole year.

1. MacGruber
2. The Fighter (twice)
3. Hawaii Five-O (the pilot)
4. Take Me Tonight (aka Kids in America)
5. Tron Legacy
6. This Must Be the Place

Carlos and I are three years strong. It was pretty rocky for a while but I am absolutely certain this is the man that I am growing old with!

I am so grateful for this year.  It has been exceptional!

Comes the Dawn

Comes The Dawn

Author: Veronica A. Shoffstall

After a while you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning
And company doesn’t mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
And presents aren’t promises,
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open
With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,
And you learn to build all your roads on today,
Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans,
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After a while you learn
That even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong,
And you really do have worth.
And you learn and you learn...
With every goodbye you learn.

Miami Christmas 2008

Carlos and I are spending Christmas and New Years 2008 in Miami, Florida. Our American Airlines flight departed LAX at 7:40am on December 23rd. We are on our way. This is my second Christmas in Miami. I am both nervous and not, at the same time. At least this time, I know all the players. I have met most of his friends. I have spent time with most of his family. Why am I still nervous? It is a big deal. Like the meeting of the parents over Thanksgiving. It is still a big deal. I am being planted deeper into the family and in the mix with all of his very dear friends. Yup, this is exactly why I am nervous.

A few things will be different on this trip. I have met the 'best' friend who will not be part of the picture this holiday. We will meet Tio's new fiance (future 5th wife). We have decided not to go diving in the Keys this trip. Instead, we will journey to Orlando and spend some time with his cousin Sylvia Clara and her family. They have a 5-acre ranch with horses and 'peace and quiet'. I met Sylvia Clara when she came to Los Angeles for a teacher's conference but I have not met her husband or her two children. Carlos just adores Sylvia and her family. We will have a very nice time in Orlando, I am looking forward to the trip.

His mom will be waiting eagerly for our arrival. Gisela is such a sweet woman. She has been excited for our trip to Miami since she left Los Angeles after Thanksgiving. We will be staying in her house... the house where Carlos and Alina grew up. Once again, Carlos gets the living room sofa and I get the guest bedroom. It's kind of cute... !

I am excited to see the twins, Gabriela and Carolina. I can just imagine how much they have grown in the last year. Carolina looks very much like her mom and Gabriela is a spitting image of her dad. Both girls are absolutely adorable and spoiled terrors in the making (more on this later).

Then there is Cory. Carlos' godson and a heart-throb. He is the cutest little man!!! If I ever decide to have children, I would dearly love love love to have a little boy. Since coming to Los Angeles and spending time with us in March, Cory has taken to calling me "my Vickie" and Carlos "my Carlos". Some months later, Cory saw a picture of an Asian woman on the box of some Apple/Mac product, pointed to the Asian woman and said "look, 'my Vickie'" I just about died from happiness. Now, let's see if he recognizes 'his Vickie' when I show up on his front door step.

There is so much about this trip that I am looking forward to. Despite the warm weather, I will enjoy spending time with his friends and family. I will enjoy watching Carlos catch up with his friends and share stories of the past year. More precious than anything, I will be with Carlos and cherish spending this Christmas with him.

Thanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving 2008 came and went really fast... although it didn't feel fast leading up to the day. In fact, it crawled snail's pace until Gisela and Tio arrived. This is a momentous Turkey Day. Today, my mom and dad will meet Carlos' mom and uncle. Carlos' mom traveled from Miami and his uncle from Puerto Rico. This is going to be quite a day.


Turkey day was a success! True, the deep fried turkey wasn't cooked all the way through. True, I was an hour late to get all the food on the table. But really, did anyone notice... NO! This Thanksgiving had been in the works for a year. Not only did Carlos want to fry up a big bird but what he really wanted was a big party with friends and his family to fly in from Miami. Well, he got most of his wishes. We fried up a big turkey. We invited quite a few of his friends. But more important than anything, his mom and uncle would come to Los Angeles and celebrate Thanksgiving with us. Carlos grinned from ear to ear for weeks and weeks and weeks!

So... guess who was cooking for nineteen people on Thanksgiving? Wild guess? Anyone? Anyone? Just little ole me. As the numbers inched upwards of 15, I started to get nervous. This would be quite a feat for anyone to accomplish and I had never planned a dinner for that many people.

Thanksgiving Day morning, Carlos and I woke up at the late hour of 8am. We got up, got dressed, had a small breakfast ... cafe con leche and cereal & milk. Then we went for a nice leisurely bike ride through Eagle Rock. Came back around 11am and into the kitchen I went. And in the kitchen I remained until we served dinner at 7pm. I would go into the details of my day in the kitchen but everything happened so fast (in a slow motion kind of way). I don't think I could remember all the details except to say... chopping sage is not a fast process. Boiling potatoes is not a fast process. Although it felt like everything was moving along and I was a busy bee cooking... the dishes were not coming together quite the way I envisioned. So, when my family showed up, I immediately put my mom and sister to work. My mom rolled sweet potato gnocchi while my sister worked on the sage & brown sugar sauce. Yes, dare-devil me thought I would try some fun new recipes... just to add to the craziness of putting together a tasty menu for 19 people!!!

By far, the best-est moment came when Carlos carved into the fried turkey to find it mostly pink. Yes, correct! an inedible turkey (that is, unless you favor salmonella). Hallelujah for my inability to argue with my father and tell him not to cook that second turkey. Oh yes indeed! Ladies and Gentlemen, it was my daddy's roasted turkey that fed 19 people on Thanksgiving 2008!

Our fried turkey went into the oven for 45 minutes and was quite delicious. Although, that experiment did not turn out the way we had hoped, it was a good lesson. And, for first time fryers, we can proudly say that we did not burn down any structures (i.e., house, garage, neighbor's house, etc., etc.).

In my books, it was a huge success. Our parents met each other and LIKED each other. My parents were certainly more excited about my relationship with Carlos after meeting the 'in-laws'. Carlos' mom felt the exact same way. I know this because she asked me if Carlos could just move into my house (there is a back story but that's another blog tale).

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rock the Vote '08

It's election day today... Tuesday, November 4, 2008.
I voted this morning
I voted for my candidate
I voted for my issues
I voted so I could have a voice

I hope everyone else will do the same

Good Luck!