Finally Fall

Anyone who knows me knows that I love Fall. It is my favorite season. The change in leaves and temperature is a great welcome. It is also a prelude to the upcoming holidays with all of that good cheer that lasts until January 3rd. But hey, I try to get as much as I can while it is there.

In Miami, Florida Fall is the place to be if the climate does what it is supposed to do. However, yesterday it was 90 degrees outside so Mother Nature and I are not on good terms. I am hoping and praying that she will cool off for a bit.

I really want to go to NYC and go back to Central Park. I went during the summer and the weather was a killer. But I bet now the leaves are beautiful. The trees are radiant and people are wearing their neutral color sweaters. I love it. It reminds me of my favorite all time movie, When Harry Met Sally. The scene where Harry and Sally share their dreams as they walk down the street or park path.

Today is my day off. I really needed it. I have had little sleep and I really thought that I would be able to catch up but luck was not on my side. Rather than throwing someone under the bus, I can tell you that I was up at 6:45 in the morning looking for something that was there all along. I went to sleep at 1 in the morning. Mike said that I was staying up to wait for my brother. Maybe he is right. The truth is I don't know the truth. He is 19 years old and I should relax more but I keep thinking that he might get hurt and I won't be able to help him. This drives me crazy. I feel better when I know he is somewhere safe. He doesn't have to be with me all the time. I just need to know that while he is in my home he will be safe.

So I am off topic huh? I doubt it. Fall is the time where I think of everything I can before the new year enters my life and makes another knotch in my lifebelt.

I will be 36 and I have to think about what I have accomplished, what I want to still accomplish and what I can kiss goodbye and realize that it won't happen. Of course, the trick is to do this without throwing myself into some dark hole of depression.

I don't suffer from depression. Thank goodness! I have enough on my plate as it is without being in a funk all the time.

I have to tell you. I try and I try to see the good in everything. Some people in my family call me a nerd or as someone so lovingly tells DUDLEY DO RIGHT but I don't mind. I think I would be rather called that then something else with a negative connotation.

Little things make me so happy and yet the big things are the ones I work so much to accomplish. What is that about? Where is Dr. Phil when you need him?

So here are the little things that make me happy. The leaves changing. Birds in a nest. A cool breeze as I take my dog out for a walk. A clean house. Cold water to drink. My bed! My dog! Entering my classroom and seeing a student enjoy my class. Not being interrupted by a thousand useless announcements over the PA system. Not getting junk mail or junk email. Playing a good PC game. Logic problems. Law and Order ( all of them!) Italian Ices! ( I love those! The real ones!) Fall! I could go on but there probably some psychological person is already analyzing this information and will email me with his/her results. LOL

My point is that there is so much to like that life shouldn't be taken so lightly. Life should be taken seriously but the events that occur in our lives should be taken less seriously.

Ok rant over !

Thank you Christopher Columbus for finding America and giving me a day off from work!
You have been observed.

Political Test for Fun

I took this test and answered as well as I could given the choices.

You are a Social Moderate (50% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (25% permissive) You are best described as a: Democrat Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Lack of Leadership

I can't find the words to express how I feel about our government and its lack of common sense. I can not believe that we are told not to fear the terrorists yet the people in our government are afraid to speak up against those who do wrong.

Let's face it anyone who thinks President Bush is not at fault for his lack of response to Hurricane Katrina is severely ill.

I am trying to take it all in, in small bits here and there. He goes on a vacation for one month. One month! Not even CEOs in the corporate world do that. Then, he doesn't appear in the area of destruction until the fifth day. Miracle! The food and water appear on the same day as well.

I read a few articles and they said that a woman in a wheelchair was found dead at the entrance of the Superdome. How sad is that!

Plenty of time to prepare for this hurricane. The city needed the federal government to help them and they were alone on this.

It seems that the apple doesn't fall far from its tree. Papa Bush did the same thing to us during the Hurricane Andrew saga. Now Baby Bush aka Shrub does the same thing to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

So I try to decide not to be too angry about it because we are the big and powerful USA . Relief should be a cinch to us, right? I guess not. Even Mexico is helping up.

Why is anyone helping us?

Are we in such bad shape that countries who need our help are now helping us?

Then here is the kicker. My school and the others in the Dade County area are preparing a water drive to collect sealed containers of water and transport them to the areas in need.

So now, we are supplying water. Basic water! The government can't get water?

What is wrong with that?

I am embarrassed. But the people who should really be embarrassed are the ones who voted for Bush again!

Where is the big leadership now?

Frankie's Gone But Not Forgotten

Frankie is gone but not forgotten. This past Sunday was his two year death anniversary. I hate death anniversaries. I know I should have called his parents. They are my second cousins but what do I say?

This Labor Day I will hopefully be volunteering at the telethon. Last year there was a hurricane warning so it was cancelled in Miami.

I miss Frankie.

Two years ago, my friend Esteban was helping me in my apartment when I found out that Frankie died. Now two years later, Esteban came over to help me again. But this time on the anniversary of Frankie's death. I have to tell you that I thought it was a weird coincidence.

I told one of my cousins but she simply rolled her eyes at me.

It got even more eerie.

On Sunday, my dog got ill all over the floor in front of my bedroom and front door. So on the day I am supposedly moving into my new apartment, I am cleaning dog junk. Then Esteban arrives to tell me that the van broke down. How lovely!

However, Esteban is a resourceful and optimistic guy and decides that he can fix the van at least to get me into my new apartment.

I thought it was extremely kind of him to help me on his only day off. He works six days a week for at least 12 hours a day. Yet there he was with a happy smile and willing to work. I know so many people who talk the talk but very few who walk the walk. Esteban walks and talks! (not a disabled joke people!)

My brother goes to the new apartment to sweep the bedroom out and calls me to tell me that the apartment is not ready. It seems it is a mess. Esteban and I go over to the apartment since it is in the same complex as the apartment I am in now. We get there and see that it is definitely not fit to move in.

Basically, the move has been cancelled due to dog manure, van failure and apartment issues. I don't know whether to cry or scream or simply laugh at the whole situation.

Esteban said it is not meant to be today and that I will have to wait for another day. I think he can see that I am about to breakdown and tells me that he will move me no matter what even if he has to do it after his work shift.

The funny part was that the day before on Saturday, I was exhilerated and grateful for everything in my life and the next day I feel like screaming at the birds!

My cousin, Alexandra, said I needed to get out of the apartment and take a break.

Esteban leaves, Alexandra picks me up and off we go to Barnes and NOble.

I am thinking of Frankie the whole time. I look over my shoulder and there is a lady with two boys. One boy is in an electric wheelchair and the other one is walking on his tippy toes. They have MD. Today Sunday July 17th, I see two boys with MD at Barnes and Noble on a day I shouldn't even be there. Coincidence? I think not!

So that is my freaky Frankie story.

I miss him.

Great Days Lke These Should Be Bottled Up For Those Bad Days

I think the title says it all. Today has been a great day. I can't put it in words. I felt great! When I looked in the mirror I looked great! Compliments everywhere about how great I looked.

There were no huge problems today.

I had a great relaxing morning. Then when I went to work I did nothing! Absolutely nothing. Actually, other people might think I did some work but the things that they asked me to do was really nothing.

I don't know why but I am giddy and happy and feeling great!

Ok tomorrow I will write about something serious or meaningful. Today I want to enjoy the happy feeling.

If I could keep this feeling in a bottle like perfume I would dab a few drops every morning.

The magazine is doing extremely well. I can't say enough about it.

I need to find a co editor. Someone who really does work!

But in the meantime, I am ok with doing the work solo.

Ciao world!

Decisions, Decisions

There should be a reality show about a person with a physical disability trying to make it in the world. Perhaps that might help some of these able bodied people stop whining about stupid and insignificant events and obstacles in their lives.

There are people out there who thrive on drama. I watch some of these reality shows and want to gag! WHO WANTS TO BE A HILTON? Give me a break.

We should have one that says "WHO WANTS TO BE DISABLED?"

We sew their legs together so they cant get up or do anything with their legs. We allow them to keep their car but they cant drive it.

If they live in the city, they will have to deal with the sidewalks and lack of curb cuts.

Actually, we should have them live in NYC. Then we can ask them to go to the famous restaurant "Serendipity" and see how they plan to get down those steps to enter a public restaurant.

Or maybe, we can have the contestants try to get from point A to point B in NYC without using their friends for transportation.

Hmm...how many people would go for it?

Do you think we get to scream YOU'RE FIRED! ?

Where is the accountability?

I feel frustrated when I am forced to help people who somehow don't want to take accountability for their own actions.

As a teacher, I see it everyday in the classroom. Students will say they couldn't do their homework because their parents came home late. It doesn't sink in their heads that the assignment was given to them two days ago.

The beautiful part is listening to adults who have no clue why their lives are not the way they planned it. Could it be that they keep making the wrong choices?

Where did the blame game start? When did it start? Do kids learn this from their parents? When does the game end?

I am surrounded by a bunch of whiners! It is so irritating to have to constantly see adults hide from reality. I can't even be online without having to hear an old man in his 40s complain about how his life is so terrible because other people don't give into his demands. A man in his 40s who is an unemployed father. He thinks it is a big deal that he calls his son every now and then. What does he want? A cookie!

Then I have to hear another grown adult whine about how he can't meet a deadline. For goodness sake! The deadline was two months ago! Again more blah blah blah!

It is not that difficult to take accountability for our actions. If we can't do something by a certain time we shouldn't offer to do it. If we don't do what we need to do as an adult because we choose not to do it then we can't complain about like a bunch of spoiled brats.

Ahhh, I feel better.
If you don't like what I said...I can always say it wasn't me but someone else who made me do this.
HA HA HA