Just Another Mad, Mad, Day...
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Day 335 | Saturday, November 28 | 2009
Guitars...Went for a six mile run this morning at 7:55 pace. Other than it being bitterly cold, it was a nice time. I was wearing shorts and several t-shirts and a cotton sweat shirt but probably could have benefited from the more 'advanced' technologies such as the dri-fit pants / shirts they sell at running stores. I actually bought some pants not too long ago (and a shirt too) but I didn't think to bring them with me.
Today has been a really good day. Went running, spent some time with family / went out to lunch, spent most of the day at the Pimentel & Sons guitar shop, and then played a concert with Hector Pimentel (one of the guitar instructors at the shop) and my Uncle Jim in downtown Albuquerque. Being in the shop is a revitalizing experience -- feels like I am walking around in a nursery, potential for life, mist, and songs. The Pimentels ought to be written about more. So says their website:
Pimentel handcrafted custom guitars that are world renowned. The intimacy of these stringed instruments reflects the careful transfer of craft knowledge across spans of time not experienced by one life. Guitar making is a mellow craft of excellence at Pimentel & Sons, and your visit would become a fond memory.
Day 334 | Friday, November 27 | 2009
Sapphire...Here is the one-eyed dog that my grandma has had for about 10 years (or more?). Her name is Sapphire because of her gorgeous blue eyes. Are sapphires really blue?
Update: I verified that sapphires are really blue.
Anyway, Sapphire is such a sweet dog. She is really calm and mellow and very people-friendly. Unfortunately, she recently has lost vision in her left eye.
Today was a good day -- watched a movie with Grandma, spent time with family, went to the Pimentel guitar shop with Jim, met Robert Pimentel for a drink, and then dinner with uncle Jim at a place called The Sweet Tomato. It was pretty good.
Day 333 | Thursday, November 26 | 2009
Familia...Today is Thanksgiving day and I spent it with my wonderful family here in Bernalillo. Mom and I made some vegan food -- vegan cornbread, curry stew, and a pumpkin riscotto that was all so good. We made the food on account of the fact that there wouldn't be much vegan options for me to have during dinner. There were a couple but not too much. It's okay. It doesn't matter anyways.
So, we spent the day mostly at my Aunt Patty's and her boyfriend Manny's house. Patty is pictured far right, my aunt Syl is in the middle and then my grandma Virginia is on the left.
It's nice to be around family and I am so thankful for them and everything they have done for me in my life. Really!
Day 327 | Friday, November 20 | 2009
Packing...Tomorrow morning, Dad, Mom and I will leave to Austin, Texas to meet up with my brother Dustin (and Uncle Jim) to go to my cousin Stephanie's wedding on Sunday. It doesn't seem real that this is all happening -- I've been looking forward to going to Steph's wedding all quarter because Austin is one of my favorite places on earth -- but it would be a whole lot better if I didn't have to write a 5 page explication on Spanish Romanticism by Tuesday. One part of me is telling me to bear the brunt of it and do a lot of work tonight and another side of me is telling me to just retire to bed.
Today has been a long day -- two finals, packing, driving, and then more packing. It's been a hard day too personally and I realize that I have a lot of work to do in my life. We all have handicaps for sure and I need to focus on trying to get well in one specific area of life. I am lucky to have those around me who love me despite my flaws and imperfections. I would feel lost without them...I especially am lucky for Caitlin. Her love is deep, honest, and strong. When I feel like my head is in the clouds, she is always there to bring me back down to earth and hold me in her warm and loving arms. I really love her.
Day 256 | Saturday, September 12 | 2009
Highway 32 Revisited...Today has been a wonderful day. Woke up early to get to Cincinnati by mid-morning with Caitlin. Once we hit the road we blasted Like a Rolling Stone in all its dawn-breaking glory -- it was quite great actually. The perfect song for the moment one gets onto the highway.
The day was mostly spent visiting loved ones we haven't seen in a while -- my brother Dustin, my Mom and Dad, Lee and Lea, all of my brother (and my) friends and their families, and then the Almer family. We are about to eat dinner now and are going to watch Ohio State football versus USC. Normally don't really care about football but what the hell. I just want to see my brother happy!
Day 242 | Saturday, August 29 | 2009
Fantastic Cat...I am not sure what her name is but this is the cat that is always hanging around outside of my place. She is incredibly friendly (for a cat) and follows me around wherever I go when I see her.
Today...
What a day! Caitlin's family came into town, my family came into town, and we all met up at Donkey to then go to Salaam for my birthday dinner. I was showered with gifts from everyone -- I am a lucky guy (!!) -- and it was simply wonderful to have everyone there with me. We ended up going to China Panda instead of Salaam because we could not wait to eat. Probably should have put in a reservation but it didn't matter in the end. Dinner was so wonderful. For dessert, we all ordered intricate combinations of ice cream flavors and the waitress was humorously stifled.
Day 214 | Saturday, August 1 | 2009
Family...Today Susan, Mark, and Robin came to visit to pick Caitlin up to go down to Aunt Patty and Uncle Jim's in Kentucky and also they came to celebrate Robin's 17th birthday (August 4th). It was really good to see them and spend the time.
After they left, I took another practice test and this time it was my best:
Quantitative: 750
Verbal: 600
Composite: 1350
This was a paper test practice test and I find that I do much better on the paper tests than the actual computerized tests (the format I will have to take on August 14). I hope I can somehow replicate this performance for the actual test.
Day 206 | Friday, July 24 | 2009
Mom and Dad...Here is a cute photo of my mom and dad. We went out for a really nice dinner and then saw the movie Up together. Up probably my favorite movie of 2009 and it is a really poignant film. If you haven't seen it, I whole-heartedly recommend going out tonight (or as soon as you can) and go see it.
This picture is really great
Day 204 | Wednesday, July 22 | 2009
Watching TV...My mom and my dad watching The Golden Girls. It's been another long day. I did some more book work and I took another practice test in the book. I scored pretty well and I am getting excited in the possible fact that I am improving.
Not much else to say. I have been studying for about 8 hours each day and I need to get back to it.
Day 186 | Saturday, July 4 | 2009
Caitlin and Ola...Happy fourth of July!
Woke up this morning and ran with Caitlin around the neighborhood. We alternated walking and running because sometimes it is very difficult for Caitlin to breathe because of her asthma.
In the afternoon, the Kraus family and I went to the birthday party of Ola and Camille -- two fraternal twin girls (whose birthday was July 3). The girls turned one today (yesterday) and the ceremony was lovely.
It was also really nice to see some of Caitlin's family -- most of whom I had not seen since December. I enjoyed seeing Jim and Patty (Caitlin's Aunt and Uncle), Jim and Susan (Caitlin's aunt and uncle too), and Dick and Nancy (more aunts and uncles of Caitlin). It was nice too seeing Jeff and Robin (Caitlin's cousins) who are the proud parents of the birthday twins.
Pictured above is Caitlin with one of the twin girls Ola. Ola is just beginning to walk and Caitlin is helping her out.
Day 171 | Friday, June 19 | 2009
At the Ball Game...My dad had tickets he got from his work to go see the Cincinnati Reds play the Chicago White Sox today at the Great American Ballpark. It was such an enjoyable experience. The Reds ended up winning 3-2 as well. I went to Columbus today to pick up Caitlin so that it was me, Caitlin, my dad, and aunt Patty that went to the game. We all had a great time at the game but it was very humid.
After the game, Caitlin and I hung out with Nick Bascom and Ryan O'Grady -- two old friends that I hadn't seen in a while. It was nice to spend time with them and nice to introduce them to Caitlin. They took us to Arnold's bar, located in downtown Cincinnati. Arnold's is the oldest bar in Cincinnati -- if I remember right it was built in 1867. I could be wrong though.
Day 170 | Thursday, June 18 | 2009
Dichos...Here are two plaques that my family has hung in our kitchen in my parent's house in Cincinnati. The sayings are "Barriga llena, corazón contento" which translates into -- "Full belly, content heart." The other saying is "Dios bendiga cada rincón de esta casa" which translates into "God bless every corner of this home."
The plaques have been in our homes ever since my parents travelled to Spain back in 1994 (where they bought them). I think they are lovely but I find the two sayings to be pretty unrelated to one another.
Day 166 | Sunday, June 14 | 2009
Mom's bringing the popcorn...We are back in Cincinnati and the family is still here -- Aunt Ninfa, Grandma, Hector and Ceci, Uncle Jim, Aunt Patty, Mom and Dad, and me.
My godfather Hector, Uncle Jim and I went to go see that movie Drag Me to Hell tonight. It was okay. There were moments of it that were pretty scary.
When we came back everyone was watching Cold Mountain and eating popcorn.
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