Morning Attention Span

This morning on my commute to campus I was thinking to myself-damnit, why did I schedule an 8:30am class? Not only do I have to be there at 8:30am, but I have to wake up, get ready and fight the morning commuters to cross the river to Cincy. Now mind you this isnt Chicago so there's really no comparison, however I was pissy this morning and of course, like always-sleepy.

I get to class-bright and bushy tailed. Had my cup of cafe and was alert until crash, 1pm. This happens more often than not. Its not the coffee-trust me, being puerto rican I was breastfed coffee. So I just realized that my brain shuts off entirely after 1pm when I cannot absorb any more information. It just stops. Nothing will go in or come out. Now if I was doing hands on stuff-totally different story. I decided to pick up a fashion magazine thinking for sure I would be able to absorb that info-but no. It didnt work. I can guarantee if our society allowed me to go home and nap for an hour or two, I would be okay. Its not in the cards for us, as we have to get to work after class or whatever...damnit-its so unfair. I could totally run home take a quickie nap and be at work by 2:30, but of course I wont. Its just not enough time! LOL.

Oh well. No idea why on earth I want to share this on my blog. Its a good thing this 8:30am class. Go to class, review until 1pm and then go to work. My day on a rainy Thursday in Mel's world.

Happy Birthday Mommy

Happy Birthday Mom. For those of you that don't know the facts-here they are:

Name: Nancy Hernandez Dones, RN (Apparently gma didnt give her kids middle names)

DOB: 02/22/1952

Daughter of Arcadio and Adelaida Hernandez Soto-Mayor

Place of Birth: Bronx, New York (raised in NYC)

University: University of Puerto Rico, Summa Cum Laude in Biology & Nursing

Nationality: Puerto Rican

Fave things: Juniors Cheescake, New York Yankees, arroz con gandules, traveling abroad,

Fave tv shows: CSI, Bones, and Housewives of any City...

Happily married to one of the coolest dudes I know, daddy. :*)

The Package

This posting means a lot to me. Its my mothers birthday tomorrow and she is one of the most important people in my life. As most people know, I’m very much a daddy’s girl. My dad has always been the apple of my eye. When I was younger everything was daddy daddy daddy. I would even growl at my mom if she would look at him the wrong way-so, now you know. Freud would have a great time trying to figure this one out.

There were times that I would ask myself, “whats the purpose of a mother?” I always found comfort in going to my father when I needed something, so whats a mother suppose to do. Putting all of this into perspective and really taking the time to analyze it-theses question were answered.

Everything I know is from her. Every part of my existence and biology is her. Everything that I know about life and sacrifices is her. All that I am is her.  

Moving back home after a long stint in Chicago was an obstacle, at first. To begin with, my mom and I disagreed on the whole idea of me running off to the big city. Growing up I guess you can say we disagreed on everything. But, why? I can’t even answer that, because she was right on every tiny detail. I haven’t told her yet, but one day I will.

My mother and the women that brought me up are some of the most unique creatures out there. I have yet to meet anyone else like them. Words really can’t describe who they are. Let’s just say they come from good stock. They brought me up, showing me how to love, nurture and how to have courage and when to<<which isn’t an easy task to teach. The courage part was needed recently and what would I have done without it. I would have stayed broken and confused, that’s for sure. I needed to be strong and that was the time.

The courage was my mothers spirit. I saw her face and her eyes. With no words, it was there. I knew what to do. I’ve always known what to do. Because of them, it became that much easier. So with as much grace as I could possibly manage, I got through it. She always promised me I would.

I could go on and on about this for days. I could write forever about specific examples of when these women showed me time and time again how to be and what to do. There’s no need to go on about it, because I’m the proof that it works. Their philosophy worked because I’m the product of their wisdom, teachings and love. I only hope that if God blesses me with a girl; I will devote everything in my being to show her this package of love that the women in my life have blessed me with-The whole package.
I love you with everything I am. Thank you and Happy Birthday. xox

Dating...?

Lucky me, I'm free as a bird!? Hm' not entirely. Recently felt like I'm dating my textbooks. They take up so much of my time and energy and well, lets just say they don't snuggle me at night or buy be breakfast. Oh well; I knew what I was getting myself into going back to school. Hooray!
There are many benefits getting this graduate degree, for example the career I've so wanted for so many years. To be doing what I love to do, and then to possibly do some international contract work-crossing my fingers. Until then, the sweat and tears will need to be sucked up, cuz I'm going for it.
I've reconnected with some of my best friends back home and thank God for them. Also, my immediate family has been a huge support as their passion and brains are in the healthcare profession. They've been my rock these past months and I'm so thankful. I think my mom is more excited than I seem to be at times. I'm reminded of when she was my age as she met my dad when she was 27 and had her first kid when she was 30. You know I have to hear the good ol' line..."Man what I would do to be your age again. When I went to med school, oh, the fun we used to have!" She's right, what the heck!?-I'm 27, not married, full of life and have a great support system. Heck yes, I'm happy. If this is what contentment is, I'll take it.

So, dating....yep its happening. Several times actually. Time-consuming, but nice I must say. Their "ringing bells with me" as Khloe Kardashian would put it. Simple boys with a plan. Unlike me, I let them share their "simple" plans with me as my eyes and mind wander around the room wondering where the dessert tray is. The reality is it can be uncomfortable when it gets to the question, "So Melissa, what do you think about marriage?" Hugh?! Shit...oh no....we'll leave that for another posting. In the meantime, let's just say I'm having fun, nothing more, nothing less. The good ones seem to understand my school/work schedule which I like. There's been one particular fellow that I really seem to like. He's different, he gets me and I get him. He likes my attitude and I like his. Not gonna lie, sometimes I envision things like doing missionary work together in a far off jungle or sailing around in the mediterranean. I can't help being a hopeless romantic...its part of my latin DNA. I'm a dreamer always have been and always will be. Thats what I find so great about not being in a relationship-I can be a dreamer. Anyhow, like I said, in the meantime, I'll continue to do the dating until the time will cease when I get hot and heavy in my textbooks next semester.....hooray!? ; P

The Plan

This is pretty much the last conventional thing that was said (texted actually-classy) to me by Mr. 40. Eat Pray and Shut the F*** Up….it was pretty awful to say the least. Moving forward, there'll be no more writing about Mr. 40 on my blog.

What's a girl to do when all she did was put her eggs in one basket? I’m not implying that putting your eggs in one basket is necessarily wrong, however lets just say it was the wrong basket. I would like to say I placed my eggs, positioned, and repositioned them several different times, and whatta you know, the eggs just stayed the same. That’s when the inevitable happened! My eggs! Oh. There you guys are, but hey where’s the basket? Oh, I get it. Eggs in hand, I set off for grad school, moved in with the padres, called all my friends and family, and thankfully everyone picked up the phone to hear the good news. With support on my back and love in my heart, I’m setting off on a simple plan to reclaim my 20’s and get back to my uncomplicated existence. : ) Seems like a perfect plan right. Perfect is such a wrong word-why in the world does it even exist in the dictionary? Perfection is never the right word. With that said, my plan is to write this blog for comfort. My comfort in writing, as I often did when I had the time and energy. It allows me to express and showcase some of the many great and not so great things that happen in…clearing my throat, The Plan.
We all have a plan I guess. Sharing it is what we do these days... on FB, Blogger, twitter. We display our education, work, relationship status and like some, our whole lives. However, what does it mean when you see a quick glimpse of someone’s FB wall? How are they really feeling or what are they really thinking about The Plan. Some of the free-spiriter's out there think they don’t have a plan, but they really do. Moreover, we rigid folks have a very detailed plan that is laid out, and yep when life takes a detour, we fall to shit. So what about us people in the middle? What about us? I think I’m that “us” that kinda plans as we go. You hear about Plan A and Plan B. I’m not referring to that, just referring to those of us, that never had a plan A. We just go along hoping for the best…right. I don’t know. All I do know is if you understand where I’m going with this, then your probably  that “us”  I’m referring to.

I recently saw the movie Eat Pray Love. Liked, ok I’ll admit I loved it. Elizabeth Gilbert even calls her success a freak show…true dat. However, the irony is not that she divorced her annoying husband to seek an adventure abroad. Her dream wasn’t necessarily to catch a plane to nowhere. I think she was just sick of the bullshit. The bullshit about our existence and our purpose.
I’m in the middle of my first semester of grad school. So far so good. The Catholic boys seem to spark my attention…so when I’m not off dreaming about one swooping me off my feet or better yet, taking me into the locker room; I like to think that I’m off thinking about whats the next thing I can do for a family member or a friend. I recently found two great opportunities-plan my friend Laura and Jackie's bachelorette parties.
I was also asked to attend the Make a Wish at Disney for my friends youngest child. I'm honored.
So my plan for this spring and summer is to be there for my friends and family and make sure they have the best time of their lives. So far so good. Oh, and make A’s in my classes this semester.  May seem expected, but its my plan-for now.