Religious Lesson from a Four Year Old.

What a 4 year old told me today: "Do you know why it rains? The reason that it rains is because God is going potty." I love doing observations.

Books for the Little Ones

I've decided to let the world know just how much I LOVE Sandra Boynton and her books! Mamas, pay attention. Your little ones will love these silly books. Available at your local library. Hehe.

Here are some of my top ten favorites:
1. What's Wrong Little Pookie?
2. Night-Night Little Pookie
3. Let's Dance Little Pookie")
4. The Going to Bed Book
5. Snuggle Puppy
6. Fifteen Animals
7. Moo, Baa, Lalala
8. Birthday Monsters!
9. Hippos Go Berserk!
10. Belly Button Book!

Buttercup

In the past, I've been compared a lot to Buttercup from the Powepuff girls. Now I know why. Read her bio below. Haha. Oh, but hey. I do take showers.

Buttercup
Buttercup is "the tough one". Her signature color is light green, and she has short black hair in a flip. She was named because "Buttercup" begins with the letter "B" like her sisters, much to her chagrin. She is a tomboy and is easily enraged. Sometimes her aggression gets the better of her, making her reckless and stubborn. She possesses a mean and somewhat vindictive streak not shared by her sisters. She has, however, shown a softer side in several episodes. For example, in the episode "Cover Up", she had a soft green blanket that she was obsessed with that she would hug that gave her the confidence to be a better fighter, and she is quite protective over her sisters. She hates baths and loves getting dirty.

Interestingly, Buttercup is the only Powerpuff Girl without special powers (Blossom has her ice breath, and Bubbles can speak several languages). However, for not being special, she is the toughest. In "Nuthin' Special", it is revealed that Buttercup is the only Powerpuff Girl (and Townsville citizen) who can curl her tongue.

Reasons Why I Love My Dog

I saw the movie "Marley and Me" for the very first time today. I haven't read the book, but will probably borrow it from the library sometime soon.

I was in tears by the end of the movie. I couldn't help it. Everyone knows how much I love animals, especially my pets. I was hugging my puppy for a very long time after the movie. Just like Marley, she is quite the little terror.

She's not a bad dog, she's just one big ball of puppy energy. She doesn't mean to chew things up, she does it only because she's a puppy. She doesn't mean to scare the cats, she just wants to play and doesn't realize how big she is. I value the time when I can just sit next to her and watch her happily chew on a stick, a bone, or a ball. She has bad breath, and gets pretty stinky from rolling in the mud. She runs into walls, furniture, and people because she doesn't know how to put on the brakes when she's zooming all over the place.

I adopted Charlie two weeks after ending my eight year relationship. She has helped me tremendously in my transition into my new life and moving on. I am indebted to my dog for the companionship, trust, and unconditional love that she provides me with. The next man in my life will have to be able to appreciate my dog and my relationship with her. He will need to understand how much I love my dog, and how much she loves me.

I think that the author of the book, John Grogan, summarized it best when he wrote this piece which was read as a monologue at the end of the movie:

"A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbol means nothing to him. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his. It was really quite simple, and yet we humans, so much wiser and more sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not. As I wrote that farewell column to Marley, I realized it was all right there in front of us, if only we opened our eyes. Sometimes it took a dog with bad breath, worse manners, and pure intentions to help us see."

John Grogan

KTVU Channel 2 Nostalgia

So I'm fairly sure by now that everyone has seen the video footage of the fight aboard the Muni. I viewed the video and wanted to see what news stories accompanied it, which led me to KTVU Channel 2's web site.

I haven't watched KTVU's Channel 2 in a while. I was surprised that the only two names that I recognized from their list of reporters were Lloyd LaCuesta and Mark Ibanez. They look old now compared to what I remember!

My grandma/Lola and I used to watch the 10 O'Clock News together. I still remember Dennis Richmond and Elaine Corral. My Lola's favorite part of the newscast, however, was Sports with Mark Ibanez. She and I loved watching A's and Niner highlights.

Sigh. I feel really old now. I miss the days of watching baseball and football with my Lola.

Dig Dug Dog

Busted! Look who I caught burying her bones in the backyard. I think I might know what happened to all the tennis balls now. Yes, we have a sandbox.

Sonnet 17 for the/my Future Husband I Haven't Met Yet

Sonnet 17

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.

I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way in which there is no I or you so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand so intimate that when you fall asleep it is my eyes that close

Pablo Neruda

Romantic, but not hopeless.

So I was recently asked the question if I still believe in love?

Of course I do. No doubt about it. Love is what keeps me motivated and hopeful. I am energized by my family, friends, and communities who love me.

I still believe that I will fall in love again. I'm not in any rush, and I don't have any plans to start looking for love. I believe that love will find me when I'm ready...when the time is right.

For now, I am learning to love myself again, but not in a selfish kind of way. I'm just enjoying learning about myself again, important aspects of my being that I lost in my relationship with Voltaire.

You see, I spent eight years of my life investing true and genuine love in someone who I thought was worthy of it. Putting the pieces back together takes a lot of healing, especially when more than just your heart was broken. It takes a toll on your soul and your spirit too.

But I remain a romantic at heart. I don't think anything will ever change that. But I'm not hopeless when it comes to love.