The Mayan

I have so many great memories of The Mayan. I've been going there since I first turned 21 yrs old. That's 14 yrs!!

I partied there with many friends and met many people. There's a memory in every corner for me. I was there last night and couldn't stop thinking about all those memories. Especially the memory of a very special night when my friendship with a guy took a turn when he kissed me. I couldn't believe he kissed me! I had a big crush on this guy throughout high school but I never thought he would look at me in any other way than just friends. In fact he briefly dated my friend and I always thought he liked her. So that night we double dated and went to the Mayan. I went with someone and my friend and him went together. Even though their dating history was over 5 yrs old at that point I just always thought he still pined for her. So at one point during the evening my date takes my friend to dance. Not long after they leave he grabs my hand and takes me to a private corner and kisses me. I was floored! Here is my high school crush kissing me! After some intense kissing he takes me to the mezzanine level of the Mayan where we continue our intense kissing.

So what happened to my friend and my date? Apparently they looked for us and couldn't find us. We eventually emerged from the best kissing marathon I've had and went back to find them. The rest of the night is a blur. I have a feeling my date knew something was up because things were never the same with us after that night.

So what happened with me & my high school crush? Long story but as of now I see him on occasion. I just can't help but think how crazy life is and how crazy our story is.

Xoxo...

Crazy Idea

Well some people may think its crazy but I don't. I'm done waiting and "I ain't gettin' any younger."

I googled it and its within my reach. I can so do this. I will do this.

I'm feeling a little better now. Nervous but better. :)

Universe you put this idea in my head. I prayed to you and this morning I was enlightened with this idea.

I'm recording this moment right now because I feel it's important for me to look back on it. But I cannot openly share this yet. Some things need to fall into place first.

I'm happy about the possibility. :)

Xoxo

Breakfast

Yup, another breakfast picture. I love breakfast. This morning's breakfast was so simple yet delicious.

First I cut up red potatoes and fried them in coconut oil with some garlic salt and rosemary. Once the potatoes were done I made my egg scramble. Breakfast is not breakfast without an egg. :) I chopped onion, jalapeño, and tomato and cooked them for a couple of minutes. Then I added a little bit of soyrizo and two eggs. Lastly, I sprinkled a little bit of crumbled cotija cheese and warmed up tortillas for a tasty breakfast taco. I finished my meal with a cut orange to cleanse the palate after breakfast. Yum :)

This sounds like a lot of food but I pretty much made my breakfast for the week. I just toast an English muffin and warm up the egg scramble for a quick and yummy breakfast sandwich.

Nariz Aguileña

My week started off with a little self-esteem boost.  I had an older female client tell me I had gorgeous facial features.  My eyes, nose, etc.  She thought I was European and was completely surprised when I told her my background is Mexican.  At first I was a little thrown off by her comments but then I decided to accept them and feel awesome. 

The next day I had an older couple come in.  The wife had some banking to do and her husband was just their to keep her company.  While the wife was with my employee doing her banking her husband sat at my desk and the first thing out of his mouth was "You have very interesting features.  Your eyes and nose are very interesting."  At first I was like "Um okay... thank you?"  Then I switched to my usual "Yeah I know, I have big eyes."  He responded with "No I'm serious.  I'm an artist - a painter.  It's in my nature to pay attention to these things.  Your nose is called an aguileña nose. If you go visit my house you'll see that the women in my paintings have your eyes and nose. When my wife saw you she said 'Look at her, just like the women you paint'."  Oh wow, really?  Here's an artist that's telling me I remind him of his paintings.  I was totally flattered!  Um but Mr. Client, what is an aguileña nose?  The artist client of mine tells me that he's from Mexico and that my type or shape of nose is referred to that way after an eagles upper side of his beak.  Okay cool I thought.  I then told him that when I was a child I always dreamed of getting a nose job.  I hated the bump on my nose.  Mr. Client was horrified when I said this.  He said my nose is who I am.  My nose reflects my strong character and determination just like the eagle.  "There's a reason why you are here as a manager.  You likely have a strong character, sense of self, and determination."  Wow, he summed me up with just looking at my nose! Lol!  All joking aside, he really gave me a lot to think about because until that day I sometimes still wished the bump would be gone.  But not anymore.  That conversation shifted something within me.  I am beautiful enough to paint.  My eyes are beautifully large.  My nose is unique and strong and... beautiful. 

We continued a long conversation about art and his background.   As I mentioned earlier, he's Mexican and grew up in Mexico painting.  He told me he met all the greats, the maestros, like Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Siquieros, Orozco.  He even studied under some of them.  That conversation led to a discussion about Mexico City and the beauty of it's history and architecture.  Then we continued on to writers and poets.  Which led to our last discussion topic - Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz.  The first woman to publish an argument for Women's Rights in the 1600's.  The next documented argument wasn't for more than a century.  That's over 100 years!!

I could keep going and going about our conversation and my initial research on Sor Juana but I will not.  That belongs in another post.  What I wanted to share with everyone first was how I finally came to be proud of my nariz aguileña.  Mr. Client did not leave until I promised him that I would not change my nose.  "Don't worry" I said, "I love my nose now."  Thank you Mr. Client! 

xoxo.... Nariz Aguileña Girl ;)

Late To The ________ Bandwagon.

A little bit of background: 

I'm usually late to bandwagons.  Whether it's sports, style, or music. 

Today's confession is that I'm totally late to the Lily Allen bandwagon.  "Fuck you, fuck you very, very much..."  Lol, love it! 

Okay, a few more confessions, I was late to the Regina Spektor and Amy Winehouse bandwagon as well.  Yes I'm a delayed fan, but a fan nonetheless.  I would like to give a special shout out to my bestie who tried to get me on their bandwagon much sooner but my stubborn self was... well stubborn. :)

xoxo...

Why The Tears?

This morning I watched one of Oprah's Super Soul Sunday episodes. The actor Rainn Wilson was on to discuss his project Soul Pancake. Rainn said that art or the act of art is like praying to God. At the end of the show they had two video shorts of Soul Pancake at work. One video had people on the street taking picture frames and framing something they found beautiful. The other video was of an Air Orchestra on the street. They had chairs labeled with specific instruments setup as a orchestra. Soon people from the street filled the chairs and began playing their air instruments along to background music. Seeing their initial hesitation, then smiles, then joy, to finally surprise on how much they enjoyed that experience stirred so much emotion within me. I was smiling and feeling the joy right along with them. Then when it was over I was overcome with sadness or longing and started to cry. Not just a tear but a big emotional type of crying that came with many tears. Why did this happen? Why did this huge ball of emotion grow within me so that I ended up crying like I lost someone I loved? I don't know. It's something I have to think about.

What I do know is that a couple of months ago I was at the Hollywood Bowl with friends. I didn't know the lineup but it was just a day to be with friends. The night ended up being a fundraiser night for the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA). Halfway through the show YOLA students played for us. It took me by surprise and I was immediately transported to my youth orchestra days. Those were happy days for me and I felt the same emotions then as the ones I felt this morning watching the Air Orchestra. Only I held back the tears then.

I need to think about this. I need to listen to what the universe is telling me, to what my soul is telling me. Then I need to take action.

Xoxo...

P.S.
I love Oprah ;)

Buñuelos

Buñuelos are a tasty Mexican treat that are made from flour tortillas and typically eaten during the winter holidays or in cold weather. There are many versions of this treat. You can fry the flour tortillas and sprinkle them with cinnamon and sugar and enjoy. Another version is (the one I grew up eating) you fry the flour tortillas then break them up in medium sized pieces. On the side you make a sweet broth. The sweet broth is made using water, piloncillo, cinnamon, and cloves. You pour the very warm broth into a bowl then throw in pieces of the fried flour tortilla. Enjoy!