I am an undecided Ohio Voter!

Yes, I'm one of those. I may very well be some sort of Joe the Plumber! Interestingly enough, I don't like politics. In fact, I hate politics. Now that I am US Citizen though, I feel compelled and almost my responsibility to get educated on the issues on the candidates and my options. I rather stay away from one particular party for now - I want to vote for the candidate that will make this country better.
Unfortunately, the candidate of my choice is not even running anymore (boo!) Both major party candidates are great, I'm sure they are both going to help in some way. But the major issue for me in these elections at least, is the healthcare issue. I think people are dying or going bankrupt due to having some major disease. Which is circumventing that Americans do not take care of themselves - they don't lead a healthy life and now cancer diagnosis are on the rise and heart conditions are obvious and apparent to a younger generation.
So when you get sick - what? You have to fight with the insurance companies to get the proper care that you need and doctors won't prescribe the necessary exams, screening, etc. because the insurance companies won't cover them. That's absurd and ridiculous.
A couple of years I had a cholesterol screening and it came back a bit high for my age. What I was told by a nurse at the family practice I was going to at the time was to exercise and eat better. No SH#$*()T Sherlock? In countries like France or Britain, doctors are rewarded by their government for educating people on how to lead a healthy life. They have great prevention programs so that folks learn what it is that they need to do/change to lead a healthier life.
Anyway, that's one of the issues that is close to me. I hope both candidates realize that people's healthcare needs to be a right in a country like the US. Or at least, we shouldn't be wasting millions of dollars on unnecessary programs that don't make sense and reforming the fundamentals of healthcare in this country.

It's been so long!!!

I can't believe I've taken so long to post. I don't know why - but work, family - life in general has taken a lot of my time. I decided this morning to get up and cook a hearty meal (yes it is fall so a pot roast seemed appropriate) and just enjoy fall.

I love living here in Ohio(sans the winters), but recently, we've been disheartened at our current situation with our house. While we have great jobs, our house we live in is our first house. Meaning it is too small now!! So we decided to put it on the market. YEAH - we thought - we get to move to a larger home and build some good equity. Well, with the market the way it is, our house did not sell after 4 months of being on the market. It sucked!! Sucked having to stage this house so many times, having to rush out of work so that I could clean the house and have it ready for a showing - just to hear back after the showing and find out that they didn't like the color of the wall!? Anyway, we are done with this nonsense. I am pondering whether it is just a better idea to expand this house and make it our own, or if we should try again and sell in the Spring? I don't know what the answer is, but I am determined to focus on just enjoying the holidays and making it even more fun this year for the kids.

The stress we've felt during the past months were awful. Poor DH and I had too many unnecessary arguments which added a stressful cloud over us.
We decided to take a trip by ourselves a couple of weeks ago (more on that on another blog!) and we just got back to knowing that we still love each other very much, but just the stresses of life gets to us. We came back revamped and just determined to make sure the kids have a fun holiday season!!
After all, it's not about the house, it's about the family!

The Beatles!

One of the greatest bands ever! I am trying to embed a video of one of my favorite of their songs... and this video speaks for itself !!

Changes oh Changes

So a while ago I stopped working at my previous employer (well sorta was LET GO from my previous employer) About 6 weeks later, I started a new venture with new titles and a new environment (and the best commute ever - 3 minutes!!!).
The emotions we go through when we are let go of our jobs is tremendous. Some days I felt like taking on the world and just imagining the opportunities!! Others, I felt helpless, edgy and worried that this unknown was upon our family. Once I started getting calls - even if they were from recruiters (which in the techie world they call all the time) it gave me a boost of confidence. Finally, about 6 weeks after I was let go from my 6 year professional job, I accepted my current job! It was nice to have that opportunity and even nicer to start a new venture.

I recently learned that most of my old co-workers are not going to be around that place anymore (again ... the LAYOFF), and I have mixed feelings for them. Mixed feelings because I know that most of them have worked in this place for the longest time (15, 16+) years, which makes it hard to even think about a new place to work for. But on the other hand, I feel that they do need to realize that there is life after this company. That new opportunities are not all that bad - and actually they could bring a breath of fresh air to a new company or to themselves. Sure sure, the vacation would not be the same, but companies nowadays are wonderful at giving you comp time or pretty much half days off without having to dip into your precious vacation pool.

For me, the hardest thing has been leaving my co-workers. Not to say that I haven't found a wonderful group who I currently work with, but my old peers were unique, in that they fostered me (this fresh out of college girl!) and helped me get through 6 years at a tough company. I made great friends along the way at my old job and I will try to make every effort possible to keep in touch with them.
It's tough going through changes - specially job changes. But I think one of the maturity traits for a human being in this day and age is to be able to adapt to change. Change is inevitable, and we need to embrace and jump to new ventures with both feet. Because this world is full of surprises - and even though I don't like surprises, I accept them and enjoy the ride!

Denver, CO

Ok so now I can turn my iPod on BUT I can't hear my music that I have bought from iTunes! Why oh why do they do this to use the users!!
I just got back from a trip in Denver CO. I didn't realize the altitude sickness would actually get to me. It did - maybe it was because I was nervous about presenting in front of so many customers (yes it was a work trip and I got to present a class twice!) or maybe it was because Denver is about 5,280 feet above sea level!
We went to the Red Rocks Amphitheater, Invesco Field and stayed in downtown Denver during the conference, met some really interesting people and made a few friends along the way!

Anyway - I'm going to bed. I've had a loooonnnnggggg day!!!

My Music My taste- do I have one?

Well, I'm so PI#$ED right now! My iPod won't boot up, nothing NADA!! I want to listen to about $50 worth of songs I've purchased from iTunes, and I can't ARGH! No- I don't want to listen to them on iTunes, I want to listen to them on my iPOD! I've tried everything the Apple site tells me to do, but it hasn't worked (sniff sniff)

So back on topic ... My music. So you must wonder what kind of music I like. I wonder what kind of music I like. It's funny, I usually list the genres I don't like, since I like so many types of music. I know I don't like RAP, Tejano and Country music. Other than that I pretty much enjoy anything else. So I guess a good way to talk about what I enjoy is what I have on my iPod. My ELO music!! What? You don't know ELO!? Come on!! Livin Thing? Mr. Blue Sky? Telephone Line? All Over the World? Last Train to London? Come on!! One of my all time favorite bands! With my favorite song being Livin Thing!

Then there's Soda Stereo! Best Rock En Espanol band ever, although some people might argue La Ley is better ... that's up for discussion! Then I LOVE Bossa Nova - Joao Gilberto, Sergio Mendes, Bebel Gilberto! That music just puts me in a GREAT mood.

For dancing I am currently into Daft Punk *their Discovery album* not that new crap they came out with recently! Then I like ABBA (yes I admit!), Fergie, Black Eyed Peas, Donna Summer, Janet Jackson, George Michael, Elton John!

I love to relax to some Jazz! I don't know many Jazz artists by name, but I love the music.
Then my all time favorite Latin singer - Shakira! She rocks - but not her latest stuff, her early spanish songs!! That's Shakira! Look it up if you ever get a chance.

Then there's my platonic boyfriend - Miguel Bose!! With his Amante Bandido!! Yikes, if he were 15 years younger .. boy oh boy!

Then I really enjoy classical music - specially Chopin and Tsaikovsky!
Well, so I like everything in my opinion! At least of what I've been exposed to.... I need to fix my iPod!!! BOO!
I also love to dance and get out as much as I can with my also dancing loving husband! I just hope my kids inherit our dance moves and enjoy just having fun dancing!

Spring!

Well, it's almost over here in Ohio! I love Spring - every spring ever since we moved to this house, we have taken a picture along the yellow tulips right in front of our house. They are beautiful strong tulips - which were here before we moved. Enjoy the picture slide show - a chronological transition of our family!

Updated the newest pictures :) - I love my family (that include the tulips!!)

So it Happened ... Jackie turned 5!

My little baby!! She was so tiny when we brought her home! Just 5 lbs 11 oz. Now she's a beautiful smart and energetic little girl! Her party was at a local party place, where lots of kids attended(pretty much everybody that was invited was there). Just take a look at the picture, there they are ... well most of them, some were wondering around and didn't make it to the group picture.
We had a lot of fun, with over 30 kids running around, the party seemed a bit stressful to me. Bottom line though, Jackie had fun, even Julien had fun! Parents were pleased that the kids were so tired, most likely they took a super long nap after this!

I don't know how to feel yet, my daughter is growing up right in front of my eyes, and she is doing things that amaze me every day! She is reading beginner books, writing with a beautiful handwriting (for a 5 year old) and saying things that are hilarious! She helps with her little brother, and is always talking ... ALWAYS!

Next thing I know, she'll be going out with her friends (eeeek) and I don't even want to know the future ... I'm just enjoying every minute with this fun, loving and beautiful little girl!

Today was coolddd... so what else is new right ? It has been freezing here in Columbus, OH. Temperatures at night get as low as 1 and minus 5 with the windchill. An example outside of my house.

My Little Baby is turning 5!

I can't believe it! I am happy and sad! My little baby is now going to be 5 years old soon! Where does time go!???

Cool Slideshows

Cold Cold Days!

This weekend we decided to take a trip up to Cleveland to visit family. Well, it was about 0 degrees and about -10 with the wind chill! BRRRR!!! My poor kids, I felt like a bad mother taking them out of the house in that weather in addition to taking them to the coldest area of Cleveland!! We were on the east side, right where the snow belt starts... yep right where the lake decides to blow air! The roads were a mess and visibility at one point was really bad - so much that we could not see the car in front of us! We survived and stayed for the weekend, mainly indoors.
Most schools around this area closed today, due to the cold weather. Day cares though are open, since there is no bus system the kids need to wait for!

Anyway, I doubt I'll go anywhere this weekend or the next or the next. I think I'll stay around here and hang out till this weather decides to warm up :) !!!!

Now I gotta go break up a fight between my almost 5 y.o. and my 15 month old! YAY!

My Background - My Schools!

I was actually born and raised in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Born in 1978(YEAH YEAH) and lived a great childhood with my family. My grandparents owned an elementary school to which I did not go to for some weird reason. My sister and cousin did though. I actually attended a school settled and partly funded by a Christian group from the US called Pable Menzel. The education was excellent, however religion was pounded into you with the whole attitude that they are right and everybody else was wrong!

For high school, I was transferred to another religious school - a more open one! That was La Salle (graduated 1995). I loved that school, people were great, teachers are amazing and open minded, and the education is out of this world. To this date considered still the best high school in the area. I should not say high school, because it actually is Secondary School (7th through 11th grades). I have many fond memories from the school, but some that are not fun to remember. In any case, going to that school made me who I am today and I appreciate it!! The school is religious (Catholic), but we did not have weekly or daily masses. Just for special occassions. My sister also joined me there when it was her turn, and it was nice to be in the same school for a change! The classes were strict, the teachers were serious about teaching and giving students a chance. However, when we broke the rules, that was baadddd! We wore uniforms, and if they were not at an appropiate length (the skirts for the girls I mean!) they would either send us home so we could change or take scissors and undo the hem of our skirts! We also were not allowed to have long hair for the boys, or shaved heads (unless it was a medical condition). The girls were not allowed to wear makeup, any jewelry or anything crazy on our hair. Oh the days!

My sister got in more trouble than I ever did, I always kept a low profile and tried to study a lot to get the grades that I needed. I was a really good student .... really!! Didn't graduate top of my class, but certainly I did really well!

I miss those years, I would have made other decisions now looking back, but then again I may not even have the wonderful life I have now ... who knows!! It's been 11 years since I graduated, and I still keep in touch with my friends from La Salle. They will always be my friends and my partners!! I love you !! You know who you are!!! (can we say lemon tree!?)

What a Week!!

It all started really nice, with MLK Jr. Birthday. On that day Jackie and I stayed home, went shopping and met daddy for lunch (to LeChatelaine, my favorite little French cafe). We even went online to have her listen to Dr. King's "I have a dream" speech. Jackie was well aware as to who Martin Luther King was - she's 4!! So Tuesday Jackie has no school again, I had already took a day off to stay home with her, and she wakes up complaining that she has a tummy ache. Well, I usually trust her, as she knows her little body really well. The vomiting started at 2 PM on Tuesday and it got worse by the hour.


On the other hand we had to work hard between my dh to keep our 1 year old away from this horrible stomach flu. She didn't even want water, and at one point was throwing up bile (sorry, I had to say so you get what happened next). So we took her to the Pediatric Urgent care close to home, and they sent us to Children's Hospital with a recommendation to put her on IV for a little while, since she even stopped going to the bathroom. I have to say, I am so lucky to live so close to such an AMAZING hospital. Although I do not wish anybody to have to take your child there, if you HAVE to, this hospital is welcoming, the staff is amazing with the kids, and there are doctor's galore. She had an IV dripping within an hour of us arriving, and finally some color starting coming back to my daughter's cheeks. In the meantime, my dh dissapeared for about 30 minutes .... he has been stuck in the men's room with vomiting as well! OH FUN! 2 kids to take care of now. (My son stayed home with my sister, so that both my dh and I could take Jackie). It was so tiring, we came home at around 2 AM, and both Jackie and I went to sleep with no problem. DH stayed up a while ... I think!



Phew ... what a Wednesday. At least Jackie was not throwing up anymore, she's keeping water down, but still not eating. DH is having the same stomach issues, OK but he is easier to take care of. Friday rolls around and I get up with my son (he's 15 months old) his one eye is really swollen ... hmmm PINK EYE!! Oh my goodness, off to the pediatrician at 8 AM to get the official diagnosis, and YES he has PINK EYE. In the meantime the pediatricians are letting me know how they would let me know later in the day about my daughter's test they had to do the day before. THANKS! So my poor son has pink eye, my daughter is getting over her stomach flu, dh is in the peak of that bug and MOM ... well Mom is trying to keep everybody happy at the same time feeling terribly uncomfortable. Why you ask ? Well, it ended up that I also had a little infection coming on ...so off I went to the doctor and he comfirmed it. Gave me antibiotic and now I'm feeling a lot better!
So Today, Sunday, kids are doing good (no goop in the eyes, no throwing up from anybody) there is snow on the ground, and the air is cold and crisp!!


Now isn't it fun when the whole family shares and nice quiet relaxing day of health!? I feel like not going out this next coming week, in fear of getting anything else out there ... .

My Little Ones

Cool Slideshows

Cameron Mitchells Restaurants

I have to say that living in Columbus has grown on me. I have been here for about 10 years (started as a Freshmen at OSU), I hated the weather, the culture (too stiff) and the college for that matter (too big). However, once I started getting comfortable with my surroundigs, made friends (found love) and learned how to dress in layers, I liked this city. My husband (then boyfriend) and I, had our second date at Cap City Cafe back in 1999. One of many Cameron Mitchell's restaurants Cap City is themed as a cafe with a menu featuring sandwiches and subtle seafood dishes. It was a Spring evening, with the heaters around the patio and some good wine and food.


Cap City certainly is one of my favorites romantic spots in Columbus, for a laid back, relaxing atmosphere. But!!! You need to go to Cameron's, it is definitely my favorite restaurant in Columbus,OH. Why you ask? Owned by Camerom Mitchell, Cameron's is his oldest restaurant in Columbus in the small section of Linworth, OH, Cameron's offers an eclectic menu of Americana Cuisine mixed with excellent cocktails and wonderful customer service. I loved the dessert so much, the waiter actually brought the recipe for me to make at home. The restaurant is small and quaint, and my husband and I have enjoyed many nights together chatting about our life and how much we enjoy food.

Another wonderful restaurant that Cameron owns, is Mitchells. This is a steakhouse, fully integrated with all that a steakhouse needs (a Somelier for one!). This restaurant offers an amazing menu that features and presents the main ingredients without the fuss and buzz of sauces and too many spices. It features the best Filet Mignon I've had outside of my house, and a wonderful selection of wines.

Please Please Please, go to a Cameron Mitchell restaurant if you get a chance. I still need to know how Columbus Fish Market and what the newly renewed Ocean Club offers. Need to check it out and see if it pars up to Cameron's and Mitchell's Steakhouse!



Now, I have lamb chops ready to be made tomorrow. We will enjoy them with a delicious Shiraz. That will certainly will go well with the wind we have here in Columbus this weekend. The meat was bought at Whole Foods, and I've not been dissapointed yet with ther produce!!! So that will certainly replace the experience of having not been to a Cameron's restaurant in a while.

MTV Latino Music Awards

AH! So I can't watch them, I need to seriously get Direct TV or Dish Network! But is it worth it ...maybe after I'm done with this post I will run to the phone and order the service.

So tonight are the MTV Latin Music Awards in Mexico City and one of my all time favorite rock en espanol artist is nominated for Artist of the Year. Although I did not realize that Gustavo Cerati is the age he is, he still ROCKS! If you do not know who Gustavo Cerati is, let me give you a quick introduction from my perspective. He was the lead singer of my all time favorite Rock Band "Soda Stereo".



Soda Stereo was one of the most influential bands in the 80's and 90's. They propagated all throughout Latin America with their unique sound (a mix of pop, ska,sould, reggue, rock) and Gustavo's unique voice and poise. I know there's a story about the fact the band came out soon after the dictatorship in Argentina ended in the early 80's and that was a huge influence in their message. You'll have to do research on that or let me know here if you find more info.



What I want to blog about is the sound and music of Soda Stereo. The voice, the rythm, I have bought several tunes of them, specially live ones. This band knew how to play the music without any gimmicks or special effects. It was them, their instruments, and their voice. One of my favorite phrases from them said at their most famous "El Ultimo Concierto" tour was "Gracias ... Totales!".




On my iPod I have Zoom, Ella uso mi cabeza como un revolver, El Temblor, Angel Electrico, Puente. I know the band broke up in the mid 90's and Gustavo went on to being a solo artist. He still created music so unique yet with the same catchy feeling you get from Soda. One of my favorite songs from his solo career is Amor Amarillo (you can usually hear it on AOL Radio) and Crimen.


I can't wait to see if my favorite artist won tonight! I hope he did, even though his age is catching up with him, he certainly has not lost his voice and talent throughout these years. I live in Ohio, and heard he was going to be somewhere in Virginia. I will sure try to make it out to his concerts the next time he's around here!! Go ahead and look for them if you haven't heard of them before.... Gracias .... Totales!

A test

I like Madonna and Britney Spears ... music is ok. Black Eyed Peas my Favorite! Although I've been a huge fan of Electric Light Orchestra and I do like Outkast.

Interests - Yoga

Maybe it's because I am a Libra, but I can't live without balance. I need it and crave it. I feel Yoga (Ashtanga) helps me to bring balance into my life. I spend so much time being a wife, a mother, a worker, a friend, a sister, a daughter that I forgot all about being me.
Then I walked into a Yoga class and fell insanely in love with it. The ambiance, the breath, the physical effort. I was just loving the time to myself without having to overdo it with weights or spinning or aerobics. Yoga is my way to challenge my body to the next level, to not be afraid of new things and to always remember that your subconcious takes in everything around you.

One of the things I love about Yoga is the fact that one class I may not be able to make a balance pose. In a couple of weeks I try that pose and it is just amazing at what my body can do, and how my body learns without me even noticing. I just try it and it works, it makes sense I am afraid but I can do it. Bakasana is my triumph pose, one day I just tried it and it worked!! I could balance, I could hover, my feet were off the ground and I was balancing so well. I was afraid to fall, but believed in my body for a chance and I did it!
Now if only I could jump back from Bakasana to Chataranga Dandasana ... that's my next challenge.

Movies - Ocean's Eleven

I am not going to recap the movie, I just can't possibly assume people have not seen this movie before ...


I don't know why, but I really really like this movie. Is it because it's such an interesting and fun enssemble ? Or maybe because you could see their chemistry through the camera ? Or maybe because it was simply funny with music queued exactly at the correct time and with lots of interesting cinematography views. I honestly do not get tired of watching it over and over.


One of my favorite parts is when they are all together planning the "job" in Rueben's house and are going through the steps of what they are going to do ... Saul's reaction is the best ...





Saul: I have a question, say we get into the cage, and through the security doors there and down the elevator we can't move, and past the guards with the guns, and into the vault we can't open...

Rusty: Without being seen by the cameras.

Danny: Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot to mention that.

Saul: Yeah well, say we do all that... uh... we're just supposed to walk out of there with $150,000,000 in cash on us, without getting stopped? [pause as everyone turns to look at Danny]

Danny: Yeah.

Saul: Oh. Okay.



I like Julia Roberts but I'm not sure if I liked her in this movie. She seemed so rehearsed when she was walking down the stairs (the first shot we see of her) her face seemed like she was being told something that we the audience did not hear. It was odd and I feel like she overdid it with the role.


George Clooney simply has charisma and just makes it look like he's improvising the whole time. I admire him for his talent and his comedy.


Brad Pitt is just funny, I think his character may be very similar to the actor itself. Cocky, player, funny, smart and fearless. I think he and George had incredibly chemistry and their interaction is what made the movie.


Another favorite quote:


Reuben: Look, we all go way back and uh, I owe you from the thing with the guy in the place and I'll never forget it.

Danny: That was our pleasure.

Rusty: I'd never been to Belize.

Introduction

Hello! I'm Rossina, it's funny that I don't use that name as often as it is my middle name. Some of my friends from high school might recognize me, but people from my life in the States either know me as Silvia or Rosie (there I'm public).
Don't know why I decided to do this, specially with having 2 small children, a house, a husband and a full time job at a technology company. It seems to me that I won't ever update this ... we'll see what happens!
So this are just that ... my thoughts. I envision thoughts about movies, restaurants, TV Shows (all my favorites) and maybe family life. Although I rather live my family life than sitting here writing about it.
Kids are sleeping and the US Open is playing in the TV, husband is typing away working and I'm just unwinding from a business trip.
I hope I enjoy writing and "blogging"....and just maybe venting ... or maybe this is just another working mom trying something new !