A Lady's Lavish Linguistics!

escribir libre

2011-04-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

con ayuda de google translate, quiero aprendir y practicar vocabulario.

no es facil, pero quiero intentar.

freewrite

2010-11-05T21:46:00.001-07:00

It's been SO long since i've wanted to write. well, when i've been at the computer at least. i get the urge, but then get lazy. even though i keep a notepad with me at all times it takes some effort to pull it out of my bag an d stop a moment. to take a breath out of life instead of just trudging through on my way soemewhere else.

netflix lit up my nostalgia with Swan Princess. i really do think i'll be getting rid of cable. there are so many movies and tv shows i can watch commercial free, why should i bother with channels i jus t flip through to numb my mind? man, i love As Time Goes By.

Nice and easy weekend coming up. Going to see Billy Elliott tomorrow afternoon then figure out how i'm going to make a banner for the marathon runners on sunday. They will be right outside my window ^___^ streamers, shiney ribbons and some other things to welcome them to harlem.

i love supporting people that are striving for a goal. the structure gives me peace.

i'll try to write more this weekend - nice and easy.

Focus (not so freewrite)

2010-09-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

Okay... so, where will this career come from? Where should i lay my focus. There are a few things that make my heart leap that i could do for a living:

- Work in Anime/Manga promotions/marketing
- Become a singer
- Work in the Video Game industry

(perfect timing, Billy - The Stranger is just how this feels)

The jobs above are highly competitive, as am i. They also don't promise lots of money. But working hard, could i be happy with just that?

I find that i'm more fortunate than others and must help them when i can. is this an arrogant sentiment? Should i not feel that way and let that dictate where i want to take a possible career? Or should i learn from my previous relationship that i'm not really helping but spoiling others where they cannot help themselves?

should i take on a bit of selfishness and do something completely for me? i don't know if i'm ready for that. an opportunity has presented itself and i'll see how things turn out in October. ^_^

to sing would be wonderful, but my fears are these: this relies solely on the voice. should that go away, the career is done. also, temporary issues like cold sores, getting sick and other things that keep me away from performing can hurt my image which that industry depends on.

marketing anime and manga is almost as important as marketing new york city. the art work is amazing and it's a bridge across cultures that cannot be ignored. unless there is another war (let's not jinx it), this demand cannot be stopped. though marketing is very cut throat, unless there are wholesome companies out there that have some inch of compassion for who they are marketing to.

and of course video games, my other love would help get in my writing muscle. writing storylines for games would be absolutely amazing. it would be an honor for someone to play my story and enjoy it. though would i be crushed if they didn't?

it's a hard path to choose as i'd love to do them all. we'll see what happens in october. smooth and steady, patience rules all.

essay freewrite

2010-08-23T20:49:00.001-07:00

i was in the shower when this idea came to mind. it really wasn't a new idea, but one that i've had for quite a while now. i've had a strong disagreement with the way children, and adults are being diagnosed with behavioral problems in the last 10 or so years. i guess it all started with the popularity of ADHD in the news and teachers that felt they had the right to diagnose children themselves. It started there and went onto other ailments that we see as "problems." My feeling is that maybe these instances could be human evolution. The problem is that our society, in it's need for permanence would never consider the possibility.

For starters, i'm not trying to make any medical statements, these are all pure observations of those around me and a few definitions i've looked up. My theories could be naive, and i understand there have been years of study to back up other facts, but as the title says, this is a freewrite and it's my blog. :P

Now if we look at ADHD on WebMD, there are several different symptoms that even the website says many children exhibit. There is a lengthy process to try to diagnose a child, and to rule out if any other major change in lifestyle may have led them to act a certain way. Wouldn't that mean it's almost impossible to detect if a child has these symptoms? Just to name them for the record, they are: fidgeting, trouble enjoying quiet activities, excessive talking, runs and climbs where not appropriate, blurting out an answer before the question is done, waiting for their turn, interrupting, careless mistakes at school, trouble focusing, trouble organizing activities, losing things needed for a project, etc.

It's always been my understanding that our parents and school teachers taught us these things. Parents taught proper manners and showed us how to wait our turn and how not to fidget. Quiet time was meant after a good play outside or fun time with friends and family. Running and climbing were to be done at the park when our parents took us there. We went to school to learn how to be organized, how to correct our mistakes, how to focus by doing fun things. With the busy lives of parents and underpaid school teachers, maybe that's not being done anymore.

Previous families used to have one person working and another to stay home. Children were looked after, had someone to help with homework and had a person they could talk to. Dinners were had all together, at the table, and the day was discussed over their meal. Now both parents work, they get home late, sometimes have the children fix dinner and talk about all the problems they had at work. Of course each scenario is different, but i feel like the harder the parents work to bring in money, the less time they have to work at being better parents.

Teachers are often times limited by their funding and the school's structure. For the generous teachers out there, some i had when i was younger, they did all they could to make class exciting and to cater their teaching style to the way the individual student learned. This is the largest problem i feel we have with the American school system. There is only one way to teach. If the child doesn't understand the material by using that one way, they will fail.

So where am i going with all this? I'm rounding my way over.

Parents have no time to teach their children on their own, so either a secondary person is offered, or no person at all. This leads a child to make up their own standard of learning and what each lesson is. They look to what's readily available - TV, Radio, the Internet and Video Games. This information is coming to them at such a pace, they need to change the way they think in order to try grasping this overload.

Imagine this year after year after year. With children with access to these resources getting younger and younger. Wouldn't you say this is a behavioral change to survive? What if ADHD was a way to absorb the information that's obviously infinite? We only pick out things that are important to US, and let all else slip away? What if our way of acting in public, the way we speak to people, treat them and teach them is no longer acceptible in this age of too much information.

There are probably some children who suffer so drastically from this that they may need medication. But we'd never truly know unless they were placed in an environment that accepts them and adapts to them. You never know, they may be the future.

communication is beautiful

2010-07-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

Had one of the most meaningful conversations of my life today. I told someone how i feel for a change. He listened - he didn't yell, he didn't berate me, he didn't tell me what i was doing was wrong, he also didn't agree at times and said how he felt.

It was amazing!

Bleh.... that sounds so flat. I'm invigorated from our words. I feel ten times better than Maria when she was dancing in the dress shop. Things still have to be worked out, each of us has things we have to deal with, but we're doing it together and we're doing it in love.

That's all that matters.

May good communication spread to all of you out there.

~marj ^__^

Blogging...

2010-07-22T20:45:00.001-07:00

It's been quite a while since posting here. With Facebook and other social sites, it's easier to instantly add pictures and comments and rants in one click. The need for immediacy renders the blog almost too time consuming for those with busy schedules.

For a while now, i've thought about settling down, trying to steer away from technology and go back to a simpler way of life. With my profession, it may seem impossible, but i'm trying to find the time and resources to do it.

Here's what i've been up to lately.

Just joined the Tenant's Association at my apartment complex. Since i've signed on for another year's lease, i think i'd like to participate more in what goes on around me at home. I've gone to some of their meetings already and it looks like we may get some work done this year.

One of the members of the executive board has also set up mentoring programs for young men. He received interest from women as well and i've signed up for that too. I consider myself a successful professional. I also come from a mixed ethnic background and can relate to some and share my experiences with others. If i can show 1 person that working just a little harder than average will get them soaring, just imagine what they'll do when they go above and beyond?

I've also joined an arts and craft Meetup group that donates their creations to different charities and organizations. This will help me schedule some time around work and get me out of the office so i can do the things i really enjoy. I don't want work to consume me any more.

Every weekend i will also try to attend the crochet meetups in my neighborhood. I always have fun when i go and it's a shame when they meet by my apartment and i can't make it.

I'm not trying to brag or display anything other than my need to do something more with the resources only i have to give.

Even though i post all this with some edits, i still feel i can speak more freely here than on any other site. Writing in diaries has always been with me. You can't tweet that.

^_^

2010 - First Post

2010-01-23T22:56:00.001-08:00

Strange how writing in this blog doesn't give the same sense of "spilling" my guts anymore. The use of MySpace, then Facebook really took the place of writing longer, more meaningful posts here. Perhaps the need for attention was better fulfilled through the other networking sites.

Writing... writing has been on my mind, more so than usual, but the want and will has seemed to leave again. But it's like going to the gym. If you don't go at first, you'll just end up paying month to month without using any of the equipment. When you DO go, you can start a schedule, get used to going and really make use of the money you're spending. I suppose i'm fortunate that i can be in a position to have that decision to make. I really shouldn't take advantage and waste money that way.

There are several things i want to do for myself this year. They are not really new year's resolutions because i plan on taking action with each:

- go to the library more
- practice my violin
- join a choir
- start up bowling in a league again
- take better care of myself
- write more (if not something every day)
- sleep more
- enjoy life more...

There are so many things around me that i see with limited view. Sure, i can find the simple pleasures in them, but i give excuses of why i can't find out more about them. Why i can't make a story of an inspiring stairwell. Why a bold red door wouldn't be enough to write someone's back story.

I HAVE TO KEEP WRITING. My heart craves to get the stories from my head on paper, but my brain wants them all to herself. She wants to live in the fantasy of having several situations to be in and feelings to experience. I really want to share all that with the world. Then the editor in me comes in to take away the creativity by claiming there are limitations and copyrights and so forth and so on.

i want to create things. Sure they've been created before, but not by me, not in the way i would create it. that's what would make it special. that's what would make it enjoyable for all. I just have to keep on myself.

Dave encourages me to write. He knows how much it means to me and he reminds me (so far it's only been once) but i love him so much for it. Can i hope that someone has really come to accept me, in all my faults? Wow... shows what's really on my mind.

i only hope i offer as much and he doesn't tire of my ways. to have another get bored with me would be.... i'd devote my entire life to service.

Didn't mean for this to be so dramatic, but writing brings out the things that sometimes i don't even want to admit. And with that weight slightly off my shoulders, i bid all a good night.

long time no write

2009-08-21T19:59:00.000-07:00

so i figured i'd do a freewrite tonight. esquire.com finally acknowledged the contest if is over(from august 1st :P) but i guess that's how writing contests wrk. i really have to start entering more, but i have to figure out how to get more money into writing.

it would really help if i had a higher salary... or maybe i have to start giving up some of the things i'm paying for. hm.. time to study my budget again.

not really up to writing much. this weekend will be a moving weekend so long as the hurricane (bill) doesn't get in the way. we'll see.

good nigh all.

freewrite

2009-06-15T20:47:00.000-07:00

i love these little impromptu freewrites. today was a good day. not too much coming from the manager - i had a chance to step off the desk and wrok a litle on my own projects.

most of you problably don't even know what i do.

i'd say i'm a technician, but that's too plain. not really just a technician, but.. cbecause i also do customer srevice. my title is service desk manager, i handl eall the forward facing issues.

my fingers are just not typing waht's in my head. hahahaha

think of it this way. you're working on your computer, typing away when the A key stops working. what do you do? if you were working in an office, you'd most likely contact your local Help Desk. But do you remember the number? Of course not, you haven't had to contact them since the previous month when your password didn't work. there was no reason to keep that number, you could manage on your own.

so, with thebroken A key, you look through your phone books to see if the number is written somewhere. did you write it on a post-it, was it published with the rest of the phone directory? probably not. But! A-HA! you have their email address. so, you send them an email, incorectly spelled because you're missing one of the most commonly used vowels in the english alphabet - the only thing worse would be to miss an E, when you couldn't spell out the email address at all.

anyway....

I'm the person that receives the phone call or email. carefully reading every word, i gather all information related to the problem and come up with a few solutions before i give you a call. you notice i'm calling and a sense of relief lifts your shoulders. Marj is calling.

my voice is soothing, i understand your worry, listen to your description of what might be wrong with the computer (even if it has nothing to do with the troubleshooting we're about to begin) and want to hellp you as quickly as possible so you can make that deadline.

with effortless tranquility, we walk through the steps to rebooting your computer to see if that helps bring the A key back. typing out your username, we test the a and the A and both are working perfec tly. i assure you th e issue was on our end, nothing to worry about and that we'll monitor the issue through the rest of the day. if you have any other questions, you now have the number to call and know that Marj will be there to help.

did that just sound incredibly arrogant? hahahaha sorry for the sarcasem. there are so manyissues that arise from working with people who are goo dat what they do, just not good at using the equipment meant to make their jobs easier.

thank you all and good night ^_^

~wyn

The freedom of saying goodbye...

2009-06-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

Went to the Upper East Side today. Guess it was a routine visit, going to a book stores tribute to Katya, a dear friend and old neighbor who is performing at Carnegie Hall June 12th. I thought since I was there before that I'd be okay.

Thanks to a single song, I was left in tears before the event.

You see, music has quite a hold on me. It always has. When I was lonely, music lent some companionship. If I was angry, a hard beat and powerful voice helped release the pressure. If I was sad, I would listen to modern day crooners, mostly broadway ballads, to help the tears flow, then I'd feel a hell of a lot better. And best of all, when I was happy, I could sing along with the rest at the top of my lungs, on key or not.

Today, a song came across my iPod playlist and made the memories come flooding back. I was an independent woman, first living with a husband, then on her own on the Upper East. I had the East River to calm me, beautiful music from a neighbor I would meet only after I moved out, and a career that had me promoting the best city in the world.

I once had that.

(ending since i got off the bus - To Be Continued...)

freewrite

2009-04-21T19:56:00.000-07:00

why did the mets lose it in the 4th....?? why, why did this possum guy let them tie the game. ah well, we'll see who comes out on top.

went to karaoke today , only a few people showedup . guess i'll invite less people next time. more people come when thehy're not invited. ^_^

time to come up with a story. i want to write about my experiences, but there is so much i don' twant to divulge. we'll see what happens when it's all written ougt. think tonight wil be a short one, i'd like to get to bed at a semi-decent hour. should find out when the next fruitsbasked ti somcing out.

we'l see. sorry tfor the short one, but there are still a few things to get done.

g'night.

freewrite

2009-04-18T05:12:00.000-07:00

didn't get a chance to write last night, so i'm filling in this morning. this time, i'm trying to tpype slower to reduce the amount of typos.... but i guess that's not the purpose of a freewrite. ah well.

very proud of my sister! she's compeleted her first "for pay:" musical, Cinderella as the fairy godmother. should wbe awesome. going to see her later today.

then there is the point that i can't go to shana's party :( i wanted to go, but the way the driving worked out, i won't be able to make it. we'll see what's to happen. i still haeve her card.

dreamt about anthony last night. he was back in the states and i let him get in th in mommy's car and we drove him home. maybe i should shoot him an email as well.

i want to start up more stories, hopefully when i get used to typing on a daily basis, i'll be able to write up some dreams or stories i think about during the day . should be a lot of tfun.

today we'll reach 70degrees. then rain later on tonight. looking forward to spending time with my dear. time is helping to heal. ^_^

freewrite

2009-04-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

have to make sure i keep writing. completely hung up on fruits basket. it's amazing how someone else can know how you feel. or how we actually relate to fictional characters. but i tguess they have to come from somewhere, right? our thoughts, dreams, experiences and feelings all pour into something we careate. of course we'll find some likeness to our own lives, some of us do anything to ifind tha trelationship.

i tend to like the stories that have self-sacrificing characters. mai hime, for instance is a story about a girl who ellearns about her super powers . she's fighting (that reminds me, i was never good at summarizing. even when i wsas in 12 seconds grade, someone asked me abuout the story's subject, or the plot orf something i and i couldn't help but go into detail. i was fastcinated that i could remember it all, and then the teacher called on soemeone else.....

i'd love to write a book. i want to write stories. i want to amake something someone else would like to read. but like another character from another fictional storiy, ,ik have a lot of learning to do to breadk create my background. AHA... i have worlds ... words coming out of my findgers that want to make themselves seen on the page while i'm trying to make a slithlgty slightly different pont. maybe if i type a little slower, my mistakes won't come up so often.

also notice how the typing looks wonderful, until i get to one mistake, then another, then they all fall down.

thank you, mr. manning for stoppyiing by. you always do so much with your blog - speak for people that may not have the voices needed t o hear their cause. it's a wonderful thing that you do.

yes, writing. i want to live in a house somewhere in the mountains and write. only come to the city for months at a time, tehn go off to my hide away place. i suppose i king d kind of thhave that now. a place to retreat to. the feeling of walking on the beach, no matter the weather - the salty air, the sun on your face, the wind in your hair even the squish of wet sand under foot, there's no mistaking it's wehere i belong. i feel at peach at peace. o no cell [phones, no arguing over cab fare, no running people over with an SUV, just water, rock, adnd air.

ha... i am aquarius after all...

Freewrite

2009-04-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

i have to start writing again. the words are being lost in my head, or on paper that's not frata transferred to an online outlet. i have to start writing again. i'll naever make it to a book if i don't get to writing. there was a facevbook or myspace application called write or die . different things would happen to the screen if you stopped typing. you could set a sercertain abmmount of time on the clok ck and then start typing away. it was fun ot see what could come out.

i'd like to write a storey from all the things i used to dream up when i was younger. i would alwrays reiwrite stories and save them on floppy discs. yes, do you remember what a lfloppy disc was? i had a story similar to beauty and the besast (tv show , not the fairytale). a woman's attacked and a hideous beast saves her. i really should find those old stories.

think i'll also come up with scenes every tniight before bedtime. my bcreative mind is starting to go away, as is my ability to speak properly. troubleshooting and reapeadint repeating myself so often really puts a negative spin on my writin g and speech.

imagine you were trying to form a sentence and you couldn't get anything past 4 hwords. that's how i feel. like i have to speekaa slowly and as clearly as possibe orthersiwise domeone won't understand my instrcutions. it's an inrcredibly interesting thing to notiece, especially when you have to speak slowly to make sure what you mean comes out your mouth.

then again ,m i don't think too many people would complain if they had the ability to speak slowly and clearly. it's all very interesting.

so i think i'll start doing freewrites or a story every night. just to get the creative juices flowing again. it almost makes me cry that i've come so far away from story telling/writing.... i really miss it and wonder how i could have ever given such a deep part of me up because i thought it would bring me closer to someone i could never have.

interesting, indeed.

freewrite

2008-12-06T08:38:00.000-08:00

i don't know if i lost the energy, or if i'm overtaxing myself, but i just don't find the need to blog anymore. perhaps it's the invention of sites like myspace an d facebook that give fgriends an option to update at a moment's notice.

want to do soo much, but nothing today. have to clean the house, eat, visit the mta transict museum, eat, crochet, eat, do laundry... auh... laundyry >_< don't want to do anythning but clsleep. maybe watch some movies. maybe i'll take a nap, eat and see how i feel.

this week i completely overtaxed myself to reach a cgoal that wea s was too last minute and probably something that will raise th e bar for my expectations.

great.

ah wel. think it's time to go back to sleep anad enjoyo my bed ^_____^

History Made Tonight.

2008-11-04T20:53:00.000-08:00

Tonight, America voted to bring a country back together. I have never felt so proud of my country as i do tonight.

^_^

News Flash.....

2008-10-26T07:10:00.001-07:00

It finally sunk in.....

I'm a college graduate!!!!!!!

^____________^

Well i tried!

2008-10-23T16:33:00.001-07:00

Perhaps it was the chill in the air, or the fact i didn't plant it in the spring, or that it was a garlic clove... Maybe it's because it's manhattan... But my plant didn't make it. Poor thing. Maybe i should read more about planting :/

lot's happening, but i haven't been in the mood to blog about it.

On my way to CT now for some tacos at our fav sports bar. Halloween is coming up and i'm excited. Just wait for the pics ^_^

was going to blog about something, but my train of thought wandered......

Ah well. I'm disappointed with this post. Another free write that didn't even take up my train time ;_;

wah.....

"Plants need water, man!"

2008-09-16T18:38:00.000-07:00

Yay!! More growth with my little garlic plant! How i love to watch it grow ^_____^

Here is day 5:

and day 7:

i'm so excited to see how it grows - i still find it amazing, even though i know how it works. guess it helps my mind think of other things than the stress of work or bills, etc.

went to an event tonight called a business card exchange. several companies get together and mingle/network with each other at a really awesome venue. so tonight, we all met at Mars 2112.

i met an awesome doll designer and her art director and a lovely woman that puts together a nyc up & out newsletter for nyc's lgbt community. we got to talking and struck a common bond. we both worked our asses off to go to school and didn't feel we should suffer after we already worked so hard.

with that said, i'm going to try to do everything i can to try to keep my apartment (it was an issue i've been fighting myself over) while still keeping money aside to live life. in the past, i've been lucky enough to purchase a subscription to the ballet, the ny philharmonic, andreas schiff, and broadway shows. some people don't have a place to live, but i feel fortunate to have the opportunity to experience that. perhaps someday i'll be able to again. but for now, that has to be pushed aside while other responsibilities are taken care of.

i love living in manhattan. some neighborhoods are just as far away from my office building as the outer boroughs (brooklyn, queens, etc). i still have the chance to walk home if i live here. ^_^ just the fact that i have that option is enough.

since my space is limited (i know, i know, no one told me to get the full bed with head and foot board, but when i AM home, i like to be comfortable!!! :P), i decided to move the apartment around a bit. to some, it may seem like a mess, or it may be inconvenient, but it suits me and i've always wanted to put the TV next to the window, even if i have to pass the bed to sit on the couch from the kitchen. hee hee

sure i could have had a loft bed, or bunk beds, that would have made up for some space, but for once i wanted to make myself comfortable. i wanted the chance to get something special for me, just me. even then thoughts of others came into my head... making sure when people come over, they would have a nice place to sleep. ah well... i moved the stuff around and the change is good for me.

oh and on other news! my sister was cast as muzzy from thoroughly modern millie. her school (YAY SCHOOL!) is putting on the production. i'm very excited that she's singing again and can't wait to see the musical!

i've slacked a bit when it comes to bert's (brother) college experience. i'm afraid i've made myself out to be a wah nagger, but he has to work hard, and i want him to know this will be a hard, but rewarding journey. will speak with him later this week.

okay, i'm off to bed now. ^_^

~marj

My Garlic Plant!

2008-09-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

I have a need for green things in my apartment. So, i find seeds around the kitchen and put them in dirt!

Here are two pics of days 2 and 4 of my garlic plant experiment. i took a little clove of garlic and well.. look!

2 Days:

4 Days:

that's made me a little happier about my apartment.

on other news... i may have to move. student loans started a few months ago and it's killing my budget. I've gotten rid of just about everything else, but it's not enough. so i may end up moving to queens because i value my privacy - aka living in my own apartment. sharing is a good way to keep the costs down, but there are certain things i like to do on my own and a way i like to feel comfortable.

i still don't like sharing bathrooms... maybe it's a complex :P plus if i want to bake at 2:30am i'd like the choice. perhaps i'll go to queens.

the hardest part is trying to figure out what to do in the meantime. to get back my security, i'll have to stay until march. something will come up, i suppose.

also saw august rush.. wah, i just lost my energy to keep writing ;_; guess it's time to clean the house.

~marj :)

New York is changing

2008-08-21T11:20:00.001-07:00

And i guess it's been ever changing.

I'm walking down 3rd avenue and i see several places out of business. There's where brella bar used to be (where i spent an insane amount of money on 3, no 4 umbrellas). Next, a Gymboree, a pretty big kiddy clothing store. Then i come across a beautifully decorated wall. Nothing on the floor, no furniture, no light fixtures, just carpet and pretty wall paper. As i round the corner, i see the store sign "Ethan Allen". Even they closed shop here.

More to come i'm sure.

Made me sad, though. I felt like i wanted to hug the next person i saw to console them. Strange, huh?

Time to start walking again. My break to blog is done ^_^

Off to read more count of monte christo!

~marj :)

Take it back... Back to 1997

2008-08-13T17:16:00.001-07:00

Went to do my laundry last night. I have this Wonder Wash container that uses pressure to clean clothes. You fill it with hot water and a little detergent and spin it around. Normally i hang my clothes to dry, but this time, they were soaking wet. So i went to the mat ^_^

Once my pants were in the dryer, i turned around to see a gymnast on TV. I immediately switched to meet mode: Were her fingers poised properly? Point your toes, point them hard!! Execution, grace and STICK THAT LEAP SERIES! Woah, she almost fell off the beam, that would have been .5 of a point off her score. Perfect landing!

Her hair was neatly slicked back with butterfly clips and i smiled. That used to be my life, when i was a gymnast.

When i was little, i remember seeing a gymnast on TV. I loved the way she looked, flying through the air, tumbling across the mat and swinging on the uneven bars. I can't remember her name either. It might have been mary lou renner <sp?> but i was mesmorized. Wouldn't it be cool if i could flip around like that?

I think i asked my parents if i could take gymnastics, but they either said i was too big, or they didn't have the money. That was around 7 years old.

Forward time a bit and let's go to high school. We were living in islip and my music career was growing stronger. I was in chorus and orchestra and was ready to try out for the high school musical.

Just when i was getting used to 10th grade we had to move. My new school didn't have an orchestra and they only had musicals every other year... :(

but.... they had gymnastics. ^_^

At 5'8", i wasn't your typical gymnast. Plus, unlike the other girls, i'd never been trained by a professional before. But still, i spoke with the coach and let her know i wanted to try it.

She was very supportive and didn't push me to do anything i wasn't ready to. First, she suggested i go to the summer sessions to learn the basics before the season starts. I worked my ass off, learning how to balance on a beam, turning, leaping, etc.

The season began late in the summer of 1996. My coach ensured i didn't have to compete and i didn't have to fork out $50 for the crushed velvet leotard. I insisted i was serious and went on with it.

Needless to say, i had a very basic beam routine at first. But i got to twirl and fly through the air. I worked hard and made a goal for myself. Like the olympics, each event (beam, vault, uneven bars, and floor) is based on a 10 point scale. I watched the other girls get scores of 7.0 to 9.3. My goal was to make an 8.0 on beam.

My senior year, after a lot of 3 hour practices six days a week, i made counties on the vault, and on beam, i got an 8.1. ^_^

i didn't want to drag the story out too far. I should write a book someday. Wonder if anyone would read it.

all that from watching the olympics.

Good luck team USA!

~marj ^_^

VOTE FOR DAVID WRIGHT!!!

2008-07-07T05:10:00.001-07:00

Can't leave Billy Wagner in the All Star game all by himself! We need more METS at the All Star game! Please vote for Wright!

it's been a while

2008-06-21T21:38:00.000-07:00

yeah, it's been a while. i've been living my life. all the ups and downs *hahahaha have to gthing of where i left my aunti e maime dvd. i'd like to watch it again.

just watheched a great movie called "Spider". Gonna read the book . ralph fiennes plays a psychotic that goes through the memories is of his childhood. i love that stars are getting back into really acting . this movie was an independent filem and had several famous names. the art is coming out again - hopefully it woasn't driven by money.

walked the central park this afternoon. the day slipps away when you wake up so late in the day, but i got to be d late. same thing will happen tonight i'm sure. but at lseast this tim e i took a nap

beigning to feel restless again. i'm sure it's a little bit due to the weather, no that's not right. it's probably because i'm thinking too much about being alone. although i'm man introvert, enjoying life on you rown is only so fulfilling. i am my own refuge. i've been my own refuge for a very long time. i'm tired of being my own support.

that's going to change soon. ^_^

tried to make doughnuts tonight, but i don't have a doughnut pan. this was the link: http://veganyumyum.com/2007/02/mini-donut-test-kitchen/
getting back to my roots as a vegan baker.

thought of a new storyline, but i'm having trouble writing. should start doing m sty story freewrites again. at least this way i would get my mind flowing again.

i can't remember the dream i had last night. :() don't like the feel of that.

guess my life is getting a little scarttered, like this post. but then i thiink it's late, and i should follow my rule of not thinking of heavy subjects after midnight. just been a little down all day beacause i miss interaction.

nyc is probably the only place that is flooded with people and one can still be lonely....

Out on the Town

2008-06-06T22:34:00.000-07:00

"New York, New York
It's a wonderful town!
The Bronx is up... and the Battery's down.
And people ride in a hole underground.
New York, New York..... What a wonderful TOOOOOOOOOOOOWN!"

It's amazing how much charm a man has the capacity to give off.... Franky, you got me on this one!

~Marj ^_^

P.S. Time to netflix some more old movies!

saddened by those i can't help....

2008-06-05T19:55:00.000-07:00

somehow i knew he'd call today. i had a dream last night about him.
once again, in his greatest time of emotional need, my emotional threshold has been spent and i'm left to cry myself to sleep.

gotta love the past.

~Marj

The long awaited trip to Coney Island!

2008-05-27T21:09:00.001-07:00

Photobucket Album

No... Stop.... 'til Brooklyn

2008-05-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

The weather today was fantastic. A cool breeze danced with warm sun rays as I walked down Lexington Avenue. Had a nice conversation with my sis and decided, maybe it wasn't too late to go to Coney Island.

My feet already carried me from 82nd street to 51st, so I hopped on a 2nd Avenue bus and enjoyed a ride further downtown. I could catch the D or the F at Bleeker street and that would take me to directly to Coney Island. I got off the bus at 3rd street and walked to Bleeker and Lafayette. The F came shortly after.

Last year was supposed to be the last year for Astroland Park. They are renovating Coney Island and wanted to tear this down. Not so! When I got off the train, the Cyclone was whirring, the Wonder Wheel was turning, and the smell of food drifted my way. Guess we're on for another year!

One of the main reasons I wanted to come back to Coney Island was to touch another piece of history. The Parachute Ride, brought to the then Steeplechase Amusement park after the 1939-40 World's Fair, has been in my mind since I last came to Coney as a young girl. I was dying to know when that ride would open again..... My mom told me they closed it for good after the fatal falls people suffered.... It's a shame. The idea was cool!

Although I couldn't find the Jumbo Jet, the Scrambler is still here. That ride introduced me to a fear that the ride would fall apart, therefore my screams were accounted for! My dad used to tell me stories about the Hell Hole where gravity would hold you against the wall as the floor fell from under you. I think too many people got hurt on that ride too, but I'll still look for it.

My dad used to work at the There haunted mansion where people would really dress as scary characters and run after you. All I could find is Dante's Inferno, but I don't think that's the same.

When I first arrived, I was starving. I immediately went to a food vendor and ordered some fried shrimp, fries and a hot dog with onions. They were gooooooooooooood. I have a very weak stomach when it comes to junk food, but I had no problems with this meal. Had to follow up with a soft serve ice cream cone, too.

So now as the sunlight is going to sleep, I'm making my way back home - excited to come back. Maybe next time I'll make it on the Cyclone!

~Marj

2008-05-14T06:32:00.000-07:00

So today has come..... I'm at Yankee Stadium, preparing to officially graduate! It's a long time coming, and I'm glad it's over. But seeing the sea of purple, the sense of accomplishment, and the support of my family and friends, why not go a little further?

^_^

Girls that bite their nails on 5th Ave....

2008-05-01T16:48:00.001-07:00

Don't follow any rules but their own.
Aren't afraid to be ethical.
Believe in themselves.
Wonder if they are losing interest in what they once loved.
Take on new adventures everyday.
Live in NYC for the closeness of it all.
Visit family as often as they can.
Would rather be by the East River or downtown.
Like to go to NintendoWorld during a lunch break.
Listen to Bollywoood soundtracks on the way to work.
Ride the train for hours to see the ones they love.

Well.... At least this girl does. ^_^

Quick Update

2008-04-26T20:29:00.000-07:00

yeah, probably a freewrite because i'm not going to correct much.

Cloverfield party at my mom's house... watching special features and easter eggs. Learning Flyff from an interested brother (Fly for fun).

Waking up at 8:21am to play Super Mario RPG after going to bed at 3:30am. getting my OS X Leopard and installing it so my mac is back to life (thank you my dear!!).

that's about it. weekend is going good so far. going to get a lot of sleep in tomorrow!

good night!

~marj :D

Those are my boys!

2008-04-16T05:52:00.001-07:00

Let's bring it back, METS...... Great job last night to Wright, Reyes, Church (let's hear it for the right field!), Pelfrey, & Sanchez.

Great job guys!!!

^_^

It's about that time...

2008-04-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

To Graduate!

Something Old, Something New

2008-04-06T15:47:00.001-07:00

Sorry if this gets emo. The past was triggered by a face and I need to write.

Hm.. How to start this off. All the ideas are in my head, but they are thought out differently than how they appear on paper.

If you're the type of person that can relate to a character, or a character trait from a movie, cartoon, story, etc... this post is for you.

Just finished watching an anime called Mai Hime. It's about a group of girls getting powers to fight off monsters to help protect the world. I won't go into too much detail (no spoilers) but I related to the main character, Mai.

When she was little, she failed to watch her little brother and he was swept away down a river. Her mother saved him, but became ill due to the attempt. She asked Mai to take care of him, then she died. Her brother now has a heart condition because of this accident.

So she spent most of her adolescent life working to make sure his medical bills were covered. Not complaining or fighting with her brother, she kept smiling so that no one would know she was troubled.

I relate to her because there are many things she kept inside while showing the world she was okay. This is NOT a healthy thing to do... And someone in the show allowed her an outlet. Of course she fell in love with him.... Hee hee but I relate.

The other character I relate to is Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket. She too wears a smile for the world, caring more for others than for her own well being.

Tohru's father died when she was young and she bonded deeply with her mother (get your mind out of the gutter!). Her mother died while she was a teen and she was forced to live on her own.

Pitching a tent unknowingly on a very rich family's property, she met the Sohma's. They had a curse! They were really the animals from the Chinese Zoodiac but no one knew.

Because of her gentle and clumbsy nature, and her great cooking, they all adored her. She came to love them too.... Especially one of them.

She goes to great lengths to see if she can try to break the curse... But I haven't finished the manga yet! O_O

I relate to her because she is so concerned about the others, she forgets to look for comfort for herself. Someone realized she needs that comfort and love and is willing to give it, though their future is a troubled one.

Having stories like these help me tremendously. I feel like there is someone out there, writing these plots and knowing what it is like to have these feelings.

So although the stories may be for a crowd younger than I, I find consolation that someone understands.

Maybe that's why writing is so important for me. It is a link to a universal understanding. No that's not the word... Writing is a bridge for those who share a similar understanding. A bridge to a very lonely island.

^_^

I-CON 27 a formatted freewrite

2008-04-05T17:18:00.001-07:00

Yes, it's been a while since I went to I-CON, but that time has come to an end. Bwahahahahaha

There is no stopping the geek from erupting.

Ahem....

Sorry, lost myself for a moment. Went to an anime/sci-fi convention today with my brother, suzuki-san. We watched all the people go by in their costumes and had some gaming fun.

I feel out of character writing like this, but maybe it's because I've denied the feelings from coming out for a while. Trying to find where I really exist, especially transitioning from one relationship to another.

Right now, I'm working at a company that applauds creativity, and given the opportunity to make decisions as a manager. Responsibility and all that stuff is fine, but am I still allowed to participate in the things I enjoyed when I was younger? Is that the difference between a stuffy executive and a creative intern?

Guess I'm thinking about this because of a book advertisement I saw on the subway. Something like "how to think, dress, act, plan....etc like the rich." if they have to be different than me, then I don't want to be rich like that. I'm happy doing things my way and living my life to the fullest.

Same goes with my position at a company. If I have to change my behavior or become someone else, I don't want a part of it. Though, some faiths teach to let go of the past self, to begin anew each time, I like me for me.

Yeah, this went totally off topic....

Gonna nap now. Only a few more hours of class..... Then, I graduate! ^_^

Have a good weekend everyone :D

Proud Sister

2008-03-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

My younger brother (11th grade), participated in the FIRST Robotics Competition this weekend. He was part of a team of high school students that learned about teamwork, engineering, and community service. Today they won the championship title with two other teams.

How can i describe this in a few words... Two alliances, comprised of three HS teams each, must use their robots to:

lap around the course
knock each other's track balls off a rack
hurdle their own track balls over the designated area
rest the track ball on the rack for extra points at the end of the round

It's easier explained when you see it and i think there is a video on the link above somewhere.

Working with this team seemed to inspire him to seek "a hobby for a career." maybe he was always planning to do it, but it never hurts to see the outcome of something you've worked on. positive re-enforcement all the way.

i'm very proud of him. he's an intelligent individual, creative, and knows what he wants.

Congrats ^_^

Change at Jamaica

2008-03-15T21:43:00.000-07:00

Went out to Long Island to visit my sis, her boyfriend and my dad. We had a great time playing Wii Bowling and talking. Her friend Chris kept us all entertained with his colorful language and his willingness to learn something new!

Heading home now, wishing the weekend was at least three days. Traveling really takes away from relaxing time. But the time I spend with my family is precious, and that time is something I won't set aside again.

Today's weather was beautiful! I had lunch outside and got a chance to walk around nyc. It was perfect for pictures and my subject was the statues of NY Public Library at Bryant Park.

My original plan was to get some soil and a planter for the onion that's growing in my apartment. Instead, I ended up at kinokuniya, a japanese bookstore. March 11th was supposed to bring the new volume of Fruits Basket, but I couldn't find it there.

Lurking down the block, I went to the small japanese market on 41st between 5th and madison. Found some sushi rice and seasonings for my sis and picked up a bento. I checked Book-Off to see if they had furuba, but again, no luck.

So, I took my lunch to the steps of the library and enjoyed myself.

Battery is running low.... Finish this later.

G'night. ~_~

PeoPo!!!!

2008-03-01T08:51:00.000-08:00

Peopo (pea · po) - the word my brother used for "people" when he was 2 years old. He used to sit on the floor and play with the Fisher Price Little People Garage set and talk about the peopo.

Why do i mention this all of a sudden? CBS has a saturday morning program lineup called Kewlopolis. Yes, i still watch saturday morning programming! ^________^ One of the skits between shows is called tinpo™.

These cute little four legged people run around trying to solve a problem in 30 seconds. Sometimes they take the hard way out... like cloning themselves to move a factory to line up with a truck with wheels.

Here is Duxx... he's got hazard warnings all over!

You'll just have to watch the movies for yourself. ^_^

The music and sound in the background remind me of videogame music and sound effects. That trianglewave we all know and love from Nintendo. I think i'll have to find the characters and collect them. One more thing sit on my shelf. But they're so CUET!

Searching the web, i found that their creators used to work for Nike and would pass character ideas back and forth all the time. Most of the creatures they've sold as toys were already in their heads with stories and illustrations. They just had to come up with a 3-D version. Check out the interview here.

And also, UNKL Brand's website.

One of the creators was asked why the suffix "po". He said it just seemed right and every character with the four legs would get the ending from then on. It still reminds me of the peopo my brother used to play with.

~marj :D

Orange Day!

2008-02-29T16:30:00.000-08:00

I thought it was weird while going to work, how many people were wearing orange outside. Maybe today is orange day? Who knows!

But it is a leap year woooooooo!

Anyway, I think my new coat should be orange. Perhaps a bit on the rusty side, but more like pumpkin. Reminds me of orenji-renji which reminds me of bleach. Man I miss that show. And how the hell am I going to get yakitate! Japan? Guess that will be another manga to collect.

I miss watching anime. Netflixed Greystoke (tarzan film and chris lambert's debut) and found it wasn't as exciting as I remembered. Just didn't feel the same romance... Ah well. I love disney's version.

Had a week or two to myself - boyfriend is on vacation and away on a business trip. Although I miss him, it was nice to spend time with myself. I have 'room to breathe' and that feels nice.

My apple is up, but we're still trying to get it running. Gotta find those restore discs. Think they were thrown out during my last move. We'll see Maybe I'll just get tiger ^_^

Love it at work. Being overwhelmed with positive stress is not so bad. Funny though, I had a dream that my old boss offered me a job back with them.

Strange. Think I'll take a nap now. I'll write again soon!

written with style on a treo :P

Cloverfield and a slight obsession (SPOILERS)

2008-02-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

okay... so i went with my sister to watch cloverfield (about two weeks ago). i liked it... but had NO idea the type of advertising went into it. So, when realizing there was something in the end scene that i missed, i went to google to look for scenes posted somewhere.

Apparently, there was such secrecy into releasing the movie in the first place, people have been keeping track online. One site was particularly helpful when it came to explaining everything (without spoilers). Cloverfield Clues

I seriously stayed up 2 hours to read all that was tied into the movie. Forums, myspace pages for each character, the companies that were fake and some real that were all in on the "game", and the overlying story that explained bits and pieces of the monster and how it all came to be.

The initial reading was eye opening and i felt a little sad that i wasn't able to participate in the "clues." My interest waned and i only checked the site a few times a week (instead of every day) after a while. While checking the other day, a new post was up to say Yahoo Movies put up an HD clip of the heroes running away from the monster a few weeks later. And low and behold.. they ran into a Spring Street subway station.

Hey, i said to myself, i know that station. That's right by NYU... And in that instant, i changed into adventure clothes (was in my pajamas :P) and went downtown. It took me a while to get there but it was exciting. Finally i was able to participate in the fun!

So, here are some pics i took of the location. Granted, if you haven't seen the movie, it's just more pics of NYC:

Now... for those of you that say, "Marj, that's silly, of course it's not just like new york city" well yes, this is true. But i have a fascination of visiting places from movies and video games. Just ask my sis how excited i was to visit Schloß Neuschwanstein (Gabriel Knight II).

So i'm looking forward to checking out what others have to say about my findings. Here's the post: Cloverfield Monster Revealed

There was a lot of commentary about if there was more than one monster, when Marlena was bitten, and where in the hell the smiley faces came from. I found the smiley face picture, but someone else on the comments found the artist responsible.

Here was my response (waiting to be approved):

It is possible it's from the London Police. I went down to the Spring Street Subway station to check out how close they got to the real street.... Here's what i found:

Crappy video here from my cell phone.
Pics on PhotoBucket here.

And.... there was an Wooster Collective art exhibit (including the London Police smiley face) at 11 Spring Street, down the block where the station is. Perhaps it wasn't exact because they didn't want to infringe on artists rights. But the locations match up, and there is graffiti similar to the photos i've taken.

There's scaffolding now, but you can still see part of the artwork.

Here's a blog post that's even more defined while they had the exhibit.

I can take more pics if needed.

~Marj ^_^

Sorry this is so random. I'm really excited to get this posted before anyone else, and since i'm here, i'm kind of an extended arm if they want more information onsite.

And with that, i say good night. Tomorrow i'm up bright and early to help with the Giants Welcome Home parade... Guess it would be wrong to wear my Jets sweatshirt to keep warm, huh?

g'night!

~Marj ^_~

The Piano Next Door

2008-02-01T20:32:00.000-08:00

i live in a studio apartment on the upper east side in manhattan. the woman next door to me plays the piano. i smile as the notes float through the walls to fall on these lonely ears...

~marj

Edwards is out.... :(

2008-01-30T16:01:00.001-08:00

Wah.... Edwards dropped out of the race. Ah well.... Now I have to support someone else.... Where to go? Who knows?!

I think McCain may win, but anything is possible.

Living on the Ledge(r)

2008-01-23T15:40:00.000-08:00

Poor thing. He was hot, too. I won't make an assumption until the autopsy report, though. I've learned the hardway that thinking before you know the facts will burn you in the end.

---

Anyhoo... I've found a new obsession. Saw Cloverfield this weekend and found a site called "cloverfield clues". I'll give some insight on a separate post, spoilers in the comments. Maybe I'll check it out later tonigt for some updates.

---

Going to dinner with an old friend next week. I knew her in high school and we drifted a bit, but found each other again. It's fun to talk about life with adult perspectives, and still act like a kid. There's a sense of control. ^_^

Oh yeah, don't think I've told you much about myself. I'm a manager of software and troubleshooting, with responsibilities to save the day, when necessary. Although I don't have people under me (yet), there is plenty of room to grow.

The company I work for will remain anonymous, which is a shame because their purpose is a strong conviction of mine and I share their belief... NYC is the greatest city in the world!

So although I don't market, or create fantastic images, I support the technology that lets others do. (was that even english? :P) I'm the Service Desk Manager and baby, I even have a card. Ha!

This year will start a wonderful opportunity for so many, if they choose to follow their dreams. I won't put up with drama this year, and I have a feeling I'll do even more traveling. But it will be a good year!

Night!

~marj

NYC Doggies OWNZ You!!

2008-01-19T06:58:00.001-08:00

If you live in a rich, urban neighborhood, you may have seen them. Only slightly larger than a rat, a little more hair than grandpa joe, and legs that couldn't hold up a footstool we notice... The tiny dogs of NYC.

They literally come in all shapes and sizes, and I do believe they have a chance to be the next species to rule the world. Let's look at a few things that are done for these little dogs:
1. People give them baths.
2. People take them for walks.
3. People pick up their poop!
4. Some people CARRY these dogs like babies.
(i used to do this when I was...oh, 5 years old!)

Now you may say "but they can't do those things on their own." True, we've domesticated the poor dears, but to spoil them with doggie boutiques and fashion shows...they will eventually learn to speak and come to rule the world.

Hahahahaha

All this because I noticed someone holding a doggie in their coat. Poor thing, so small it must have been cold!

~Marj ^_~

Successful Utter!

2008-01-18T22:07:00.001-08:00

It's not fair... the utterz sound much better over a home phone than the cell. maybe i need a better cell phone... :P

Mobile post sent by ladywyntir using Utterz. Replies. mp3

2008-01-18T20:33:00.001-08:00

Mobile post sent by ladywyntir using Utterz. Replies. mp3

My name is Marjorie... and I'm a sugarholic.

2008-01-15T21:26:00.001-08:00

Yes, the thought of cinnamon imperials make my eyebrows raise with excitement. My feet stop when i pass a Tasti-D-Lite. And the craving for a candy apple is so great, i've been known to go on several adventures to find just the right one.

Why the obsession? Because i love sugar. ^_^

Sure it gives more calories than can be burned, and the crash is twice as deadly as the craving, but there's something about the tasty goodness of this sweet drug... Guess it's a good thing i don't like the taste of most alcohols!

I can't believe it's already the middle of January. Just got a renewal for my lease and i was going to argue i haven't been here for a year... but it just so happens i have been. Where did the time go?

Blah, i feel like i'm speaking impersonally again. Maybe i need to ease back into writing. It's been far too long. Once a week, at least. And i also have to visit some other sites, to get back into the swing of things.

School starts in Feb and that's the last class i'll have to take for my bachelor's. WHOO HOO i'm getting out. FINALLY. Wish i thought about some closer schools while i was in high school. Providence College was kind of shove down my throat, but it was nice to go away. Now i know about Waterfire, and what it feels like to forget the Star Spangled Banner at the Civic Center... that was a mess. I don't think i've been that nervous in all my life. hahahahaha

Providence was fun. The best part were the people i met. ^_^

***

Got a great rest this weekend. I don't think most girls would consider watching football relaxing, or even fun for that matter, but i love to watch patterns and learn new things, so i watched the games this weekend. If you've never watched a game... i seriously suggest watching them play in the snow! It's the best EVAR!!

Okay, this will do for now. I have to go off to bed now. After rearranging my apartment for the N-teenth time..

Have a good night everyone!

~Marj ^_^

New Year Freewrite

2008-01-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

(freewrites are posts that are unedited so i can get my thoughts on the screen. some of the posts may be unreadable, but it can also be fun to try to decipher.)

figures that now that i've created a new blog i can't think of anything wo to write. i think i started this post at least four times already and now i'm listening to teh 25th annual putnam county spelling bee. i love this dmusical.

new years is was awesome. went to a nice place with a seven course meal and stuffed my face. hahahahhaa

see ieven this seems very forced. maybe i'll come up with something to be inspired about later. basically, this blog is gong going to recflect my transition into becoming an indivitdual again. i'm almos t embarassed to wri... post this blog. but, i need a beginning. ^_^

HAPPY NEW YEAR Everyone!

~Marj :D