tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182389482024-03-13T01:01:32.780-07:00Meli La GringaI am a hobbit-sized girl who writes about the things that make me go hmm.Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.comBlogger181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-17436258355988994712012-11-02T10:44:00.000-07:002012-11-02T10:44:14.213-07:00¡Viva la Legos for Ladies Revolution!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9ALkltiifuU2Mv0VAGY-0VLbLdxSnoqWVpoQgpm9V49HouXmavzSMEAwqJFIZfiel74Vk-nzS6c2-5p8HhrDAVC1pGtxRupBZw0oN0y3oZpUno0q-hxE2-Sd4-PKxlfFH8bOLw/s640/blogger-image--316618084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9ALkltiifuU2Mv0VAGY-0VLbLdxSnoqWVpoQgpm9V49HouXmavzSMEAwqJFIZfiel74Vk-nzS6c2-5p8HhrDAVC1pGtxRupBZw0oN0y3oZpUno0q-hxE2-Sd4-PKxlfFH8bOLw/s640/blogger-image--316618084.jpg" /></a></div>
This kind of thing drives me crazy... Why Barbie doll shoes for girls?!?! Why? Why not Legos? Who doesn't love Legos?!? <br />
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The messages being sent are as follows:<br />
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Hey boys, be creative. Build things. One day you might be an architect.<br />
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Hey girls, be pretty. Dress up in shoes that warp the shape of your feet and back. One day you might be pretty enough.<br />
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As a woman looking at raising children in the near-ish future, I've become very aware of the messages being sent to my future girls. Here's a message for girls everywhere: You deserve the f*ing Legos! You are capable. You are powerful. You are worthy of love. You can play with as many Barbies as you would like to, but just know that you don't need to wear heels or a dress to be beautiful. You were born beautiful. You were born with as much potential as anyone else. You are rad!<br />
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PS For the boys out there: All of the above applies to you too. :-) <br />
¡Viva la Legos for ladies revolution!
Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-27403680506981564962012-06-13T09:43:00.000-07:002012-06-13T09:43:14.405-07:00Adoption<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In cleaning up my blog (after a year or more of neglect), I found multiple drafts titled "Adoption" and decided that if it's been on my heart for this many years I should devote some time to actually finishing a post about adoption. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Olq2vumqX3Ut-Cfyr2WpGyY8hp0SJKIlAL-CwMXegt9FiYtlDMeKOJRw0fDTBm6jAVNecoc_mFiqmARuw2NdyHJQNXN-HuXEoKOKykdSUUXFqxPqGiE1hsSrTARJn1OZsZBs-Q/s1600/brockhaus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Olq2vumqX3Ut-Cfyr2WpGyY8hp0SJKIlAL-CwMXegt9FiYtlDMeKOJRw0fDTBm6jAVNecoc_mFiqmARuw2NdyHJQNXN-HuXEoKOKykdSUUXFqxPqGiE1hsSrTARJn1OZsZBs-Q/s320/brockhaus.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My darling friend <a href="http://www.tinygreenelephants.com/" target="_blank">Amy</a>, her husband Andrew, and their precious <a href="http://www.tinygreenelephants.com/2012/06/today-we-met-real-life-angel-our-angel.html" target="_blank">Masha</a> were my inspiration for finally getting around to posting this today. I read their love story this morning in bed and cried sweet tears of joy. A heart replenished... a young girl who KNOWS that she is loved... a family that is blessed to participate in her life from this day forward... I cried knowing that love is a great thing and that it makes miracles possible. I cried longing to love my babies wherever they are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I met Chris I liked a lot of things about him... I loved a lot of things about him, but I clearly remember the moment when I knew that I loved his heart... when I knew that I could trust my heart in his hands. We were in the car talking about this, that, and the other. I started talking about a book I had started reading. The book is by NPR's Scott Simon and is his <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129375629&f=13&sc=tw&cc=freshair">adoption story</a>. I said, "I would love to adopt one day. Having my sisters in my life has been such a blessing and I can't imagine not adopting children."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chris responded with, "I'd like to adopt but..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have heard that "but" a hundred times before and I thought I knew what was coming next.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'd like to adopt but... it's too expensive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'd like to adopt but... those kids have issues.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'd like to adopt but... I don't know if I'd be able to love a child that didn't come from my loins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I made a lot of assumptions in the millisecond that it took my future husband to finish his sentence and say exactly what my heart needed to hear. "I'd like to adopt but I'd rather adopt older children because it's harder for them to get placed in homes."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm sorry. What?!? You don't care about your loins being represented in this whole thing? You don't think it's only worth it to adopt if it's a baby and comes with no baggage? You just want to love the ones that need it?!?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I cried. I looked out the car window and tried to hide that I was crying. I was overwhelmed that I had found a man who shared my heart... a man who was ready for the crazy kind of love I wanted to share. I was sure that day, after only a few months of dating Chris, that he was the man that I wanted to walk beside for the rest of my life. He loves sweetly and with absolute devotion. I know that our future children will be blessed to call him Daddy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We have some time ahead of us before we're ready to adopt... but we're moving that direction and making sacrifices now so that we can bring our kiddos home. So today as I read about Masha finally meeting her parents, I cried and thought of our kids and was overwhelmed with thankfulness. I am so very glad to have found my husband and we can't wait to find our kids wherever they may be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">"Do you want to do something beautiful for God? There is a person who needs you. This is your chance." </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">- Mother Teresa</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I’m only one. But still, I am one.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">And because I cannot do everything,</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">– Edward Everett Hale</span></span>Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-85538685126663069102012-06-13T08:29:00.000-07:002012-06-13T08:29:33.301-07:00Rico El SnoozadorI don't want to call Rico lazy... but he's basically the King of Snoozeville.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIzo3QGe5XGbgm9voTlZVC6-LqlyKeayO0xXfLzhnb5ghd88HBoiG-iTNIiWMm0qIBc_z3HK-B28K9RHTSzEQwIh9TaQ05MFJ7OoRwqYhGM_MQ4Tng_H6h1dmg7hhtFiegFVENA/s640/blogger-image-260388201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIzo3QGe5XGbgm9voTlZVC6-LqlyKeayO0xXfLzhnb5ghd88HBoiG-iTNIiWMm0qIBc_z3HK-B28K9RHTSzEQwIh9TaQ05MFJ7OoRwqYhGM_MQ4Tng_H6h1dmg7hhtFiegFVENA/s640/blogger-image-260388201.jpg" /></a></div>Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-87228522151318377992012-05-13T06:23:00.000-07:002012-05-13T06:23:00.337-07:00Happy Mother's Day!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftIQT7YIukrMuwgqXcI_cIw2NzlkI6aQyXPSyTc0RgRl5L3s3zrV20PuIe1hyJBLLiQc0sHyey4nAXLeTFNc8fqK51wOBnUolydahmbpAFw9zbGiduvJpxuagOIdHIamjpGI3yw/s1600/mom.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465596624892880370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftIQT7YIukrMuwgqXcI_cIw2NzlkI6aQyXPSyTc0RgRl5L3s3zrV20PuIe1hyJBLLiQc0sHyey4nAXLeTFNc8fqK51wOBnUolydahmbpAFw9zbGiduvJpxuagOIdHIamjpGI3yw/s320/mom.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjALL68dJjdD-bDwp6VMsyUuiesuvzJN6CHUBpacMol5MOIgL_cfRaunf1i9LJkcJyyETDcoTbxt4R7ZjCDJbnZMW0Wr_WB1YMKP6ge6tgrBxBLVsDr0ueqgKyLXcWK5IoqV1BLQ/s1600/mom.bmp"></a><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. ~Oprah Winfrey</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother. ~Author Unknown</div></div></div>Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-36488153220454578852012-01-27T11:44:00.001-08:002012-01-27T11:44:12.537-08:00Best Birthday Surprise!I LOVE the Muppets! I especially adore Kermit the Frog. My lovely sister, Carmen, planned a The Muppets Movie surprise party for me. My birthday is Christmas Eve and I was so thankful to be celebrated. It means a lot that my dear ones set aside time during the busy holiday excitement to do something special with me. Thank you guys!<br />
<br />
And a special thank you to Jason Segal for making The Muppets movie happen for me. I loved it!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVb106tRuKqU6Bg02AJVzpt2GWFq1ydFPAWRwOa8J7BvNvnw3H3-TIUw45JMy3L-woO0pLm2fHBVaLDfzZsXH6F05o_4urcpMTOpbZrNzSwBxy8EIlXvLeRGf8rZIci16wXkrF-A/s640/blogger-image-1686326582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVb106tRuKqU6Bg02AJVzpt2GWFq1ydFPAWRwOa8J7BvNvnw3H3-TIUw45JMy3L-woO0pLm2fHBVaLDfzZsXH6F05o_4urcpMTOpbZrNzSwBxy8EIlXvLeRGf8rZIci16wXkrF-A/s640/blogger-image-1686326582.jpg" /></a></div>Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-38907098313039740022011-10-05T17:35:00.000-07:002011-10-05T17:36:18.730-07:00Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/D1R-jKKp3NA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />RIP Steve Jobs.Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-69099055316849875592011-06-19T06:35:00.000-07:002011-06-19T06:35:00.321-07:00Father's Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EVsxI4dVfmgJjYWYOGnWh6DhwE7VvR_AC4jRTr3ayN92wz5udGAuv4ZVPX9HtU52YXn4pk2bi20FDlpresGTrNvG3GYwrH-TK5Lxo-1JySqZf33ajs26vaBR6nqg8Hijr0yPDA/s1600/IMG_1206.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EVsxI4dVfmgJjYWYOGnWh6DhwE7VvR_AC4jRTr3ayN92wz5udGAuv4ZVPX9HtU52YXn4pk2bi20FDlpresGTrNvG3GYwrH-TK5Lxo-1JySqZf33ajs26vaBR6nqg8Hijr0yPDA/s320/IMG_1206.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618883195588986402" /></a><br />Never raise your hand to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected. ~Red Buttons<br /><br />Kids are dangerous. Thanks for putting up with us Daddy-O. <br /><br />I love you!Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-20220075043205525562011-06-17T06:00:00.000-07:002011-06-17T06:00:03.470-07:00I'm Rich!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42pnEI337TvEbINtUE494Qi1_Qu4iyqbfUW5QsDyFRXbECA5GOzaJRrZuUbYenmkyeYBvuknSh-t1dZEKdaSLLrUFftXy_qAs-P6OVIH3hqjLwvZN1JMH9jJL-CkLHsZ5yILzDw/s1600/budget-puzzle.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42pnEI337TvEbINtUE494Qi1_Qu4iyqbfUW5QsDyFRXbECA5GOzaJRrZuUbYenmkyeYBvuknSh-t1dZEKdaSLLrUFftXy_qAs-P6OVIH3hqjLwvZN1JMH9jJL-CkLHsZ5yILzDw/s320/budget-puzzle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572499931419182866" /></a><br />Recently I've been trying to be a better budgeter. It's been great fun to see how much we can buy with our alotted amount. We put our food cash in an envelope every Saturday and head to the farmer's market. (I highly recommend the one in Little Italy!) We buy what we want/need and then get the rest at Henry's, VONS, or Stater Brothers later in the week. I'm learning about coupons and am addicted to get1free.com.<br /><br />All of this thinking about money had me wondering, do I make enough? I mean I eat every day and have all sorts of fun extras like movies and date nights, but sometimes I think "I should make more." Then I came across a nice bit of perspective, <a href="http://www.globalrichlist.com/">The Global Rich List</a> allowed me to see once again that I don't only make enough, I make MORE THAN ENOUGH. So you can officially call this girl thankful and content with all I have. There is no shame in using coupons to save some dough to donate to kiva.org or to buy a new pair of toms... :-) Go ahead and type in your salary on <a href="http://www.globalrichlist.com/">The Global Rich List</a>, it will blow your mind.<br /><br />Now that we're planning the wedding budget... it's an even better slap in the face. I'm super excited to celebrate our love and the start of our life together with all of our friends and loved ones, and keeping the dollar amounts in context of the WORLD rather than the normal wedding budget here in the States is helpful. We are so blessed to have extra money to throw a party and not have to skip out on food just to make the bills.Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-48918704501371267302011-06-16T10:03:00.000-07:002011-06-16T10:05:32.906-07:00I'm getting married!!!!We've started a blog that will serve as our wedding website until November and our family blog for FOREVER!<br /><br /><a href="http://christopherandmelissa.blogspot.com/">http://christopherandmelissa.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Bookmark it!<br /><br />I'll still post here as an 'individual' and about travel stuff, etc. So don't get rid of me yet. I swear I'll be posting more very soon.Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-45490864778363357782011-03-29T07:41:00.000-07:002011-03-29T07:42:33.931-07:00Disney Lovin'This made my day!!!<br /><br /><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zp1BYzIVi0U&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zp1BYzIVi0U&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br />Expect more posts soon. I'm back in action. :-)Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-31450658153508616352010-11-25T06:00:00.000-08:002010-11-25T06:00:00.224-08:00Happy Thanksgiving<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Each moment a blessing of abundance,<br />Each breath a prayer of thanksgiving.<br />--Michael Rawls</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />Each year as Thanksgiving comes, I am overwhelmed with all of the things that I have to be thankful for. Below are just a few...<br /><br />I am thankful to live in (and have grown up in) a place of beauty. <span style="font-style:italic;">Southern California</span>, with your salty air, clear blue skies, and happy palm trees, I am thankful for you!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HBGZnbXQ0AOiRLPrPXx94TVNsy7mcedf5KO-6q7ZVv5KYA110YJ_gAtm7rownq6bB_ncV4hMFrDx6bD6CenWu27stuV9vrNmTe06YLPybzC4HwnGRqQSk9jBD8Y3xMWQg-_qdw/s1600/clouds.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HBGZnbXQ0AOiRLPrPXx94TVNsy7mcedf5KO-6q7ZVv5KYA110YJ_gAtm7rownq6bB_ncV4hMFrDx6bD6CenWu27stuV9vrNmTe06YLPybzC4HwnGRqQSk9jBD8Y3xMWQg-_qdw/s320/clouds.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542884366414908850" border="0" />Outside of my office. :-)</a><br /><br />I am thankful for my super fun roomie Esther (and sweet Bella too!). Yeah for Wheel of Fortune, Law & Order, and weird vegan cooking! You make coming home fun. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsxa49l9msj39M5X1yVWrJnNN21fUZKxPSl8x16YBkpIEfVS6s5aUpZz-w-iS4L3AWqAO74KDxOJpHNxV9pp8NbB_CUNY-fpwVF89rvfOnyYWhax3vOvfBm-4EV6rf8Xd9grZug/s1600/beer+festival.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsxa49l9msj39M5X1yVWrJnNN21fUZKxPSl8x16YBkpIEfVS6s5aUpZz-w-iS4L3AWqAO74KDxOJpHNxV9pp8NbB_CUNY-fpwVF89rvfOnyYWhax3vOvfBm-4EV6rf8Xd9grZug/s320/beer+festival.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542884490414952290" border="0" />Beer Festival = Our kind of fun.</a><br /><br />I am thankful for the most incredible family on the planet. I never laugh harder or feel deeper than when I am with my family. Game nights! Hurricane parties! Camping! Disneyland! Picnics! I love you all and am thankful for you <span style="font-style:italic;">each and every day of the year.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0wGgADMxx1o0D-3DmNexUyw717sKtqjmtHUniq6X-85ar3kcAtj0FB2ZBZt8IkYL0B6GBCua0hghTDnkS23l_zaVCKQet1LH42g7qxZVS4AfRklj1ujrtZIcxd7q74T0aHEQZw/s1600/disney+buzz.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0wGgADMxx1o0D-3DmNexUyw717sKtqjmtHUniq6X-85ar3kcAtj0FB2ZBZt8IkYL0B6GBCua0hghTDnkS23l_zaVCKQet1LH42g7qxZVS4AfRklj1ujrtZIcxd7q74T0aHEQZw/s320/disney+buzz.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542884731052418594" border="0" />We take Disneyland seriously.</a><br /><br />I am thankful to have a wonderful man in my life. He treats me like I'm a precious gift, listens to <span style="font-style:italic;">every silly detail</span> of my day, and makes me laugh until it hurts. Thanks for making my fantastic life <span style="font-style:italic;">even </span>better!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OYsMO_MQ4cSqseJjk-0_gUiEh0ai7tz4S-unJ_KkQq7lOJTWGiCUbZk4Y-JowQNdbsm2YZ0YW44Q-2FV0bK6CvlSP-QF9kF0zVuH9LMiKu_ii8J2ZgGG1m4u_l4x6MQc1GF4fA/s1600/66890_543025062660_139902064_31903558_8077789_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OYsMO_MQ4cSqseJjk-0_gUiEh0ai7tz4S-unJ_KkQq7lOJTWGiCUbZk4Y-JowQNdbsm2YZ0YW44Q-2FV0bK6CvlSP-QF9kF0zVuH9LMiKu_ii8J2ZgGG1m4u_l4x6MQc1GF4fA/s320/66890_543025062660_139902064_31903558_8077789_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542884896489533218" border="0" />Me and my delightful manfriend on a doggy walk.</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.<br />--William Arthur Ward</span></div>Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-11550226253797670232010-11-23T07:57:00.000-08:002010-11-23T16:14:10.863-08:00Brittany is my favorite!<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LPfqeRsmeEI?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LPfqeRsmeEI?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />I know that this doesn't count as a "real" post, but I've been busy. Please don't worry, dear reader, because as a Thanksgiving gift, I've scheduled a legit post and not just a video that makes me laugh so hard I cry. Until then, you will have to just sit back and enjoy this wonderful montage over and over and over again. That's what I did with it!Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-39498486781107562692010-08-09T06:00:00.000-07:002010-08-09T11:49:03.323-07:00Christmas Music... how soon is too soon?The debate rages in most offices and homes; How soon is too soon for the Christmas carols to start playing? Some people say not until after Thanksgiving... <em>Some people</em> are wrong!<br /><br />I say, "ALL YEAR LONG!!!"<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wShfXIPfB1M&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wShfXIPfB1M&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="182.5"></embed></object><br /><br />Thank you iTunes shuffle for reminding me that I LOVE Christmas songs all year long!Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-28825885457217136132010-08-07T06:00:00.000-07:002010-08-07T06:00:01.386-07:00Happy National Mustard Day!I once confessed here on this bloggity blog that I have a very, VERY <a href="http://melilagringa.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-biggest-fear.html">deep fear of mayonnaise</a>. It really and truly gives me the creeps, BUT my fear does not extend to <em>all</em> condiments. In fact, I also have a VERY deep love and appreciation of mustard. I adore its yellowy goodness in just about any and every type it can be found. I have, at this point in my life, never snorted it in its powdery form... but I <em>never say never</em> about anything... so there is still a chance I might find the opportunity and take it.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmebwOZqgPo4m2PZ43UcQhmVPxd1riDLOcgmKlLs4wEhRgT5J6QNE4HLE-9piu0aV7XFksAqAtqaF1avzdPMfTv74cDF3_CmZy364cH8v3S61vrXj3EkyfX2ilRHvQFCJKco_wA/s1600/mustard-2509-13dec05-399w.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 228px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502074920278744802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmebwOZqgPo4m2PZ43UcQhmVPxd1riDLOcgmKlLs4wEhRgT5J6QNE4HLE-9piu0aV7XFksAqAtqaF1avzdPMfTv74cDF3_CmZy364cH8v3S61vrXj3EkyfX2ilRHvQFCJKco_wA/s320/mustard-2509-13dec05-399w.jpg" /></a>Fact: The more mustard, the better! </div><div align="center">This statement remains true at all times and in all situations. </div><div align="left"><br />My favorite brand of mustard is <a href="http://beavertonfoods.com/inglehoffer.php">Inglehoffer</a>. I normally have three bottles in my fridge, just in case I want to send a guest home with a bottle after they have fallen head over heels in love with it. (Quit snickering at my melodramatic ways! It <em>has</em> happened before and I refuse to be found unprepared <em>when</em> it happens again.) One of my new life goals is to visit the <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128823724&sc=fb&cc=fp">Mustard Museum and Poupon U</a>. On this most holy of days, I would like to wish my dear readers a delightful day of mustardy decadence. I leave you with the fight song of the auspicious Poupon U.<br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center"><em>On our hot dogs, on our bratwurst, mustard is so cool.<br />Never mayo, never ketchup; they're against the rules.<br />Gleaming gold and mellow yellow; smooth, rough, sweet and hot,<br />Fight, POUPON U! We'll fight and eat some lunch. </em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502074798111195586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy6G2yE1XdzKR8bxsU-a2q1U7CrxvXE9GuI97VYBEeyAQOfEAXW852woMvw9T7oD5zw9jj9aNhTkse3VqEy-NC6hp_8Djonikr97EYVz8IVe2rPP5J5txhqbCG01nl_TxXRnrog/s320/hot-dog-mustard-small.jpg" />Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-30238141530713140712010-08-04T17:05:00.000-07:002010-08-04T17:05:00.403-07:00CA Prop 8 = UnconstitutionalJudge Vaughn R. Walker's conclusion:<br /><br />"Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite sex couples are superior to same-sex couples. Because California has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional."<br /><br /><em>My Thoughts:</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Your church</em> can make any judgements it wants to about peoples' lifestyles. It can decided to offer them membership or not based on their sexual orientation. That is your right. <em>You personally</em> can have any opinion you want to about who I have sex with and who I choose to make a commitment to. You can decide to be my friend or not. That is your right.<br /><br />BUT GUESS WHAT? <em>OUR government</em> cannot! <em>OUR government</em> cannot offer benefits to those who are married, at the same time limiting who can enter into a marriage contract. <em>OUR government</em> is called to "establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity" for ALL citizens of the United States of America. So on this day I celebrate that the rights of ALL citizens have been defended... that justice has been served... that domestic tranquility can and will exist. I raise a glass to liberty!<br /><br /><em>Why I care:</em><br /><br />I cried when the ruling came down this afternoon... I cried, because I knew that equality had won... I cried, because I believe that love has triumphed. I believe in a lot of things. I believe in a god who doesn't make mistakes and who loves more than I can imagine. I believe that freedom is not just about eagles and stripes... but also about living and loving with no limits. I believe that truth will always win... given enough time and enough appeals. I believe that we will look back in shame at our close minded attitudes in dealing with others. I believe that tomorrow will be an even better day. I believe in love.Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-38705642135139483152010-06-16T06:36:00.000-07:002010-06-16T09:36:23.520-07:00Holy Crap<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSTs00yNX998cJ_6Y67C0oM_z5BCr4LqIJj16CdPUBXZJXSBTUyAIjzrlqdv1Bv66KAvg9ioaagq4PvrjHCUIt1zteBihcbyXLp3YDldd5nUiuGJcjdODxbmvO_iFTLvhU-P0Gg/s1600/4468906425_d79494fc8d.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 202px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468309650678858018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSTs00yNX998cJ_6Y67C0oM_z5BCr4LqIJj16CdPUBXZJXSBTUyAIjzrlqdv1Bv66KAvg9ioaagq4PvrjHCUIt1zteBihcbyXLp3YDldd5nUiuGJcjdODxbmvO_iFTLvhU-P0Gg/s320/4468906425_d79494fc8d.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pargon/sets/72157623594187379/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/pargon/sets/72157623594187379/</a></div><div> </div><div>This kind of stuff drives me crazy...</div><div>The mispelling is priceless. If we follow Mayor Chester Stranczek's rule, he has to leave too. Works out well for everyone.</div>Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-86475641889162803872010-05-26T07:40:00.000-07:002010-05-26T17:16:40.551-07:00Things that I LOVE on this lovely Wednesday1.)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOK8U6c2jdeccPCn05hlrzJllCBmT28NOMr9E5kTr2tgtnaIhleUNmQcBxqXm8OhZ6cibl9wSRLgpzzFg0qTzsKQiYGJWmgiWmo1EXX17dBCo1z4hIg8Fiaw6DmMPhi3Tr0LB7wQ/s1600/01_drawers_052610_rect540.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOK8U6c2jdeccPCn05hlrzJllCBmT28NOMr9E5kTr2tgtnaIhleUNmQcBxqXm8OhZ6cibl9wSRLgpzzFg0qTzsKQiYGJWmgiWmo1EXX17dBCo1z4hIg8Fiaw6DmMPhi3Tr0LB7wQ/s320/01_drawers_052610_rect540.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475732046724810754" /></a><br /> This <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/roundup/repurposed-orphaned-drawers-roundup-117869">drawer set</a> (which I found on my new favorite website <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/">apartmenttherapy</a>) is BRILLIANT!<br /><br />2.) The "Time After Time" duet with Cyndi Lauper <em>and </em>Sarah MacLachlan is rocking my world. Isn't it the best when iTunes shuffles to a song that you forgot you were in love with? :-) <br /><br /><object style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/B_mHHYKOIwQ/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B_mHHYKOIwQ&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B_mHHYKOIwQ&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br /><br />I flipping LOVE it! Two magical voices in one <em>time</em>less song. <br /><br />3.) Glee and all things Gleekalicious...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghD5EnMARZBorrpb5l4cE3BJLr3DNa7bIed355qTGApis1dekt9sNYvHqrSu0VUWmg3cU5gc9CG5vPWBoUjB-dKkol8VdWm0KRbVOBiODpaWFvnjQ1miJvlvGsXvIMn4-5abiN7w/s1600/Glee_logo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghD5EnMARZBorrpb5l4cE3BJLr3DNa7bIed355qTGApis1dekt9sNYvHqrSu0VUWmg3cU5gc9CG5vPWBoUjB-dKkol8VdWm0KRbVOBiODpaWFvnjQ1miJvlvGsXvIMn4-5abiN7w/s320/Glee_logo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475736621579874610" /></a><br />Last night's Theatricality episode was wonderful. I laugh. I cried. I screamed in shock. ***SPOILER ALERT*** The vampire scene was HYSTERICAL. "Asian vampires are the most vicious of all the vampires!"<br /><br />4.) Life. I just love life.Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-47223207763672798732010-05-01T06:33:00.000-07:002010-05-01T06:33:00.985-07:00A Thought for the Month...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“Even where you are sure, seem rather doubtful; </span></span></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">represent, but do not pronounce, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">and if you would convince others, </span></div></i><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">seem open to conviction yourself.” </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">- Lord Chesterfield</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">...A lesson in humility and effective diplomacy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">As a result of running into this quote the other day, my goal for May will be to speak with humility and to listen more often than I speak. </span></div><br /></div>Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-50965087055383555222010-04-30T06:43:00.000-07:002010-04-30T06:43:00.791-07:00Sayōnara Wisdom TeethToday is the day...<br /><br /><div align="center">I'm going under the drill to get my wisdom teeth removed this morning. Here's to hoping for being <em>greatly</em> affected by the anesthesia... I've charged the camera battery and given my mother clear instructions to capture <em>anything</em> that may be YouTube worthy... perhaps if all goes well, I'll be the next David After the Dentist... </div><div align="center">(Oh man, my life would be complete if my dental surgery was such a hit that people autotuned it!)<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/txqiwrbYGrs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/txqiwrbYGrs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Truly though, I'm just hoping for a quick recovery and to not end up in a similar situation to this poor fellow.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrVNUXFeYKMGp1ktXru8l-AFebo8_RvikLXpjvuGDy1vi38k01E3JkYVl29tVEvsI4ijVwsQ5aBrKzsaa3C-6jZGWT4JZbYnf2crb-uWnBDtZIsRtWKblYutxfpbAPUn210oMng/s1600/article-0-034B9396000005DC-526_468x608.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465327295356067218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrVNUXFeYKMGp1ktXru8l-AFebo8_RvikLXpjvuGDy1vi38k01E3JkYVl29tVEvsI4ijVwsQ5aBrKzsaa3C-6jZGWT4JZbYnf2crb-uWnBDtZIsRtWKblYutxfpbAPUn210oMng/s320/article-0-034B9396000005DC-526_468x608.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center">Something more like this will work just fine for me...<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwK_9uXvPAUnQW_SMNO-MWcFfXCsM4_hbbsHVa-fmk6qntooAnkzzCldEyE3wVjEi7Tc_uU4v4RglraItZwgeDWBeE6dc7FW_sUPccCxJ5YkX2UzMgywtcSpXDrsh98-zBL-7QQ/s1600/WisdomTeeth.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465327701814596386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwK_9uXvPAUnQW_SMNO-MWcFfXCsM4_hbbsHVa-fmk6qntooAnkzzCldEyE3wVjEi7Tc_uU4v4RglraItZwgeDWBeE6dc7FW_sUPccCxJ5YkX2UzMgywtcSpXDrsh98-zBL-7QQ/s320/WisdomTeeth.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a></p>I'll see y'all on the YouTube...Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-21298423657106972902010-04-28T01:20:00.000-07:002010-04-28T01:48:37.774-07:00Bucket ListSo my <a href="http://melilagringa.blogspot.com/2010/04/why-would-you-jump-out-of-perfectly.html">skydiving adventure</a> has inspired me to share some other entries I have on my bucket list...<br /><br /><b>- Drive Route 66 </b><div>My sister and brother-in-law leave this weekend on a cross-country adventure. (Follow them on their <a href="http://kavanaghadventures.blogspot.com/">blog</a>!) Hopefully one day I'll be able to follow in their interstate tracks and make the trek myself... If anyone has an extra <a href="http://www.airstream.com/">Airstream</a> hanging around that they want me to take with me, please don't hesitate to send it my way.<br /><br /><b>- Soar in a Hot Air Balloon</b></div><div>A little more sedate than skydiving... but I imagine it is breathtaking!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>- Walk on the Great Wall of China</b></div><div>Part of me wants to walk <i>the length</i> of the Great Wall of China... but then I think, "Melissa, quit it with all of your crazy talk." It's not that I don't <i>want</i> to walk that long of a distance... it's more like, I don't think I'd want to devote that large of a portion of a trip to China on walking. I'd rather visit more places and eat more food. ;-)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>- See the Northern Lights</b></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVuSqbGN0vCS1qEtjxvTkmuObuTj6mOevwjXJmF3Zfzv7eJpRwm6wxTDrcGmvj3u7FLkp7JWfLloqV0oXxAQZ90ux51GNwmXTblzfLgW_tDMs1aD51Qpd5RpojdKSRh9MfP8A8Q/s1600/northern-lights.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVuSqbGN0vCS1qEtjxvTkmuObuTj6mOevwjXJmF3Zfzv7eJpRwm6wxTDrcGmvj3u7FLkp7JWfLloqV0oXxAQZ90ux51GNwmXTblzfLgW_tDMs1aD51Qpd5RpojdKSRh9MfP8A8Q/s320/northern-lights.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465101936822291058" /></a>Ummmm HELLO! If you have ever seen a picture of the Northern Lights and <i>not</i> wanted to see them in person... well then I don't think I even want know you! I am pretty sure that when I finally see them it will blow my mind, my heart will swell and I'll cry... In fact, if we're going to be honest (and I think we're at the point now where we should be honest with one another) I sometimes get misty in the eyes just <i>thinking</i> about seeing the Northern Lights. Perhaps that should be next year's big trip...</div><div><br /></div><div>There are so many more things on the list, but that's enough sharing for me for today.</div><div><br /></div><div>What's on <b>your</b> list?</div>Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-14386726651949242872010-04-23T06:58:00.000-07:002010-04-23T06:58:00.336-07:00'Why would you jump out of a perfectly good airplane?'<div align="center"><strong>This </strong>is why!</div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KyKKLDwMf73evAy2zEdZSo6W2eDrnFpT64UV4ZxD2qwmJxxIkA9YRSgpjJBJbqPmoVJ26lggQg8JPlBQOF-U3NII0X39LN2OrNJacMXxYfOHlawbdQqJ_KJhUlqP9nlY7ELFSg/s1600/IMG_3571.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462686752830369458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KyKKLDwMf73evAy2zEdZSo6W2eDrnFpT64UV4ZxD2qwmJxxIkA9YRSgpjJBJbqPmoVJ26lggQg8JPlBQOF-U3NII0X39LN2OrNJacMXxYfOHlawbdQqJ_KJhUlqP9nlY7ELFSg/s320/IMG_3571.JPG" /></a><br />The most common response people have when I tell them that I went skydiving to celebrate turning thirty this year is to incredulously ask, <em>"Why?!? Why would you jump out of a perfectly good airplane?"</em> Well the simple way to answer that question is to show them the picture that I have posted above. <em>Ummm OBVIOUSLY it's fun! ...So that's why I did it (and why YOU SHOULD TOO!).<br /><br /></em></div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em></em></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">But there was more involved in the decision than simply wanting to have fun. I have <em>always</em> wanted to fly... I pick window seats on airplanes and longingly imagine that I can feel the moisture of the clouds on my face. I watch birds soar with ease and wonder, "Why not me?" When presented with the question "Which superpower would you want to have?" the answer has always been easy. I would want to fly! (Invisibility would lead to too many problems... you'd get stepped on and bumped into a lot. Super Strength could lead to accidentally hurting someone whom I loved. That would be horrible... And the people who would choose to be able to touch things and have them to turn to gold... well that's just plain stupid. How would you eat? Think it through people! Nope... Hands down, I would choose to fly.)<br /><br /> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">So as my best friend Lauren and I started to talk about the things we wanted to do to celebrate ending our 20s... Skydiving was the one idea that truly made my heart skip a beat. Sure it sounded a little frightening and every so often when I thought about it I would start sweating more than is socially acceptable... but the reality is that my goal was to conquer that fear and start living out loud. You can't miss out on the adventures because you let the <em>what-ifs</em> get in your way. The new older, wiser Melissa is ready to take some plunges... literally. <br /><br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong><em>A quick summary of events:<br /><br /></em></strong></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Sure, looking out of the open door and down 15,000 feet to the ground is a little scary... but before the fear could even truly register I just screamed it out and jumped.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmJZNw8SD66ZXtIjfjW-QVgRX4US3sta3miOzoUKNDIUYvxy0vIxdSFvkKtp1l8trzt2nmXoqU_fGMwLm5o4j4W8JIkkh32nJclIKpP5GMYpYxaLsFu-xLuPGaCaN4KA-GaoLCQ/s1600/23677_10150122745425433_506420432_11403341_6252864_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462686887917526626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmJZNw8SD66ZXtIjfjW-QVgRX4US3sta3miOzoUKNDIUYvxy0vIxdSFvkKtp1l8trzt2nmXoqU_fGMwLm5o4j4W8JIkkh32nJclIKpP5GMYpYxaLsFu-xLuPGaCaN4KA-GaoLCQ/s320/23677_10150122745425433_506420432_11403341_6252864_n.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a>Literally as soon as I was moving out... as soon as there was no option to turn around... the fear was gone and pure ecstasy took its place... sheer exhilaration! I can't even begin to tell you how awesome it is to fly!<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5vntjbr5dn3i3MOgvF2EOWI5QwqTVOObYfyuLd53nSgB3EEPg8mVqA2Kv_Rl1nwm8azn3_sINQzz6nsEPD1gbJBM6wLdJYlact18vdu-kCeGBs206cqVJxPnzXQ6utjVjJTMyw/s1600/IMG_3555.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462686015225010754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5vntjbr5dn3i3MOgvF2EOWI5QwqTVOObYfyuLd53nSgB3EEPg8mVqA2Kv_Rl1nwm8azn3_sINQzz6nsEPD1gbJBM6wLdJYlact18vdu-kCeGBs206cqVJxPnzXQ6utjVjJTMyw/s320/IMG_3555.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center"></div><div align="center">After the 60-90 seconds of free fall there were five minutes of paragliding over the most beautiful view I've ever seen. I could see the curvature of the earth. I looked out over the ocean, the hills, the valleys, and it was all I could do to remember to breath. I just smiled and smiled.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgUTx1rrQpfkn8INK8d4qOowy8heOBHvCVoHlR2VA5YFpw4XFepEfd1p7GiJmOOGNml6hbOQIx3H97ifypOy77Kpgtz3A4oC7EQtYPk9CqmbNSwPlb8Dnit66k1cNkjMs3bfmFg/s1600/IMG_3586.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462687124690135042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgUTx1rrQpfkn8INK8d4qOowy8heOBHvCVoHlR2VA5YFpw4XFepEfd1p7GiJmOOGNml6hbOQIx3H97ifypOy77Kpgtz3A4oC7EQtYPk9CqmbNSwPlb8Dnit66k1cNkjMs3bfmFg/s320/IMG_3586.JPG" /></a><br />And we made it out of the entire experience safe and sound and ready to go again! I can't think of a better way to celebrate 31 next year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHLScn82YUwdiBF_89Ovxuj6Lj9o8_esJebXjmABbHnasRkkBxYXC7dryGGTfxHuHUOQG32E41zgIbUp3Jfua-znkYHhAnPjnHak40J2poNqXfj9Ab3woCP13GVF3Q8ssX72xKA/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462688159998234082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHLScn82YUwdiBF_89Ovxuj6Lj9o8_esJebXjmABbHnasRkkBxYXC7dryGGTfxHuHUOQG32E41zgIbUp3Jfua-znkYHhAnPjnHak40J2poNqXfj9Ab3woCP13GVF3Q8ssX72xKA/s320/photo.jpg" /></a> </div>Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-49284050226480190792010-04-22T06:54:00.000-07:002010-04-22T18:03:51.167-07:00Bookworm? Damn right!So what if I always have my nose in a book... is that really so bad?<br /><br />So what if I take books into the bathroom with me and keep them in every purse I own... is that wrong?<br /><br />I say NO! It is <strong>good</strong> and it is <strong>right</strong>!<br /><br /><strong>Bookworms of the World Unite!</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ycxLZZGTgFXrWVNaEKpMxp_GgE9n718InaQVYN2C3NMSg0R9D6q2FTGcboNNJdg-9VEf5M-W_DosBbb2YZMbcrcQG1BAy9V4sPt9TJnixDcaXxdyodtw-ayqUvFhxVWn5CHY1Q/s1600/bookworm2.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461951150652758914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ycxLZZGTgFXrWVNaEKpMxp_GgE9n718InaQVYN2C3NMSg0R9D6q2FTGcboNNJdg-9VEf5M-W_DosBbb2YZMbcrcQG1BAy9V4sPt9TJnixDcaXxdyodtw-ayqUvFhxVWn5CHY1Q/s200/bookworm2.gif" /></a><br />Jayma started calling me Bookworm this weekend while we were away... I have to admit that I earned the title. I managed to read most of the book (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender">Ender's Game</a> = SO GOOD!) I brought with me and a good percentage of the New York Times articles on my iPhone app in the short 44 hours that we were up on the mountain. I love books. I will read just about anything that I find in front of my face. Some people craft (<a href="http://jaymamalme.blogspot.com/">Jayma</a>). Some people take and edit photos (<a href="http://www.bullockproductions.com/">Lauren</a>). I read books... it's my skill set. I just need to figure out how to get paid for it... I suppose I could read books for students and summarize them, but <a href="http://www.cliffsnotes.com/">CliffsNotes</a> seems to have that market cornered... hmmm... I'm not sure I'm the caliber of reader required for book reviewing... but perhaps. Will they hold it against me that I have been known to read a People magazine or two? I should hope not, because that information is even <em>more</em> practical than reading Moby Dick. The Lohans and Larry King come up in many more conversations than good ol' Ahab. I can't help it that I live in a fickle culture. I am just one of many and I need to assimilate somehow... so keep the People magazines coming my way! I'll sneak in the classics waiting in line at the Post Office or on my lunch break. When it comes to reading, I seriously believe that I can do it all.<br /><br />So what have <strong>you</strong> been reading lately?Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-35816619345154129192010-04-21T07:15:00.000-07:002010-04-21T13:32:01.032-07:00Palomar Mountain - Sunday Funday<div align="center">It was difficult to leave the confines of our adorable cabin. </div><div align="center">(Lauren's grandpa ordered the cabin as a kit and built it in the 1960's.)<br /></div><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462285523720873602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lI4myHsuBcm1b-GsLZjyww2L59YupYLRzHUA_hQ6jojSuDH2vkbRw_dk9A_Jq9HMQKqXmGKVv3nuVyP-g1s47Z1OGX_cMqTcJWC7-h9IVYrV1DJRDP9jh2e14KPqp5hvVzokhQ/s320/BG2.jpg" /> But by Sunday midday we pulled ourselves away from crafting/reading/editing and went on a <em>Geekspedition</em> to the <a href="http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/">Palomar Observatory</a>.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFFJrHdKOYvZgNLlBJpUVXnXzMAp6F4oqgJM4HxoCpl6ygI1GsMjcBovR9ZoGN7mGugxjG5SkPvQsCP9inKsJRsdbwnaRg17hon6Uq1TpBUZOuMsBdh0R5Tbl58CxFc1Oc0vVsw/s1600/BG7.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462287069201933794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFFJrHdKOYvZgNLlBJpUVXnXzMAp6F4oqgJM4HxoCpl6ygI1GsMjcBovR9ZoGN7mGugxjG5SkPvQsCP9inKsJRsdbwnaRg17hon6Uq1TpBUZOuMsBdh0R5Tbl58CxFc1Oc0vVsw/s320/BG7.jpg" /></a>I do not mean to imply that only geeks go to observatories...</p><p align="center">BUT I do mean to imply that we might be geeks...</p><p align="center">Exhibit A.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462285710251769698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVP8u2ecxX6uRQiZJ27CSlnKwI6dWro1kDadKeT9ge9m4dG6lmDaoYmcdnrExCjl2ClUMHZLINf56JEcsRQsTKGHh03msKwBA9R4DgBFH_Lbh3tz6w4CSvMq6uu5edw9AKynM5sg/s320/BG9.jpg" /></p><p align="center">...or possibly even tree hugging dorks.</p><p align="center">Exhibit B.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9q6CuHrbZgQEkv7S15h87n06k4Fzq_wRD75d0VjMQff2VJnt-QBEYV1g2LvVo-Q_XNqxfBGyUnwDfR8AOKEGSeqE5fOLBmxHITz7qkf6cEYAuBnHjgKxzUV6sZJYWoBaXoR5bA/s1600/BG8.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462285606922160802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9q6CuHrbZgQEkv7S15h87n06k4Fzq_wRD75d0VjMQff2VJnt-QBEYV1g2LvVo-Q_XNqxfBGyUnwDfR8AOKEGSeqE5fOLBmxHITz7qkf6cEYAuBnHjgKxzUV6sZJYWoBaXoR5bA/s320/BG8.jpg" /></a><br />We each loved our time spent at the Observatory. There were incredible <a href="http://palomarskies.blogspot.com/search/label/Palomar%20History%20Photo%20of%20the%20Week">pictures </a>and stories of how the Pyrex for the telescope was transported and then meticulously refined and polished to be usable. All of the talk of stars, solar systems, and galaxies made me think back to the days of the <a href="http://webb.nmu.edu/Centers/Seaborg/SiteSections/StudentPrograms/Planetarium.shtml">Starlab</a> in elementary school. I loved piling into the weird igloo shaped balloon and listening to stories inspired by the night sky. We would sit with our little legs crossed soaking up tales of how the stars came to be and how the Earth was made. There were sailors' stories from ships long ago... We'd look at Orion's Belt, Ursa Minor and Ursa Major. It all made the sky seem so... well magical. Currently, it's a miraculous event if I can see <em>any</em> stars above my house. The suburban lights conspire with the marine layer to block the ancient stories that the heavens have whispered. This weekend up in the mountains helped me to remember to <em>look up</em>... and make an effort to get to a place where I can see the heavenly bodies that have inspired all generations to awe, creativity, and fear... and to keep my eyes peeled for new stories to be told.</p><p align="center"><em>Please note that these pictures are courtesy of <a href="http://jaymamalme.blogspot.com/">JaymaLew</a>.</em></p><p align="center"><em>*Editor's Note: Apparently we made it up to the <a href="http://palomarskies.blogspot.com/2010/04/winter-weather-returns.html">mountains </a>just in time.</em></p>Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-21968130416225678012010-04-20T06:41:00.000-07:002010-04-20T06:41:00.651-07:00Palomar Mountain - a Saturday delightfully spent.<div align="center">This past weekend I was able to <a href="http://melilagringa.blogspot.com/2010/04/palomar-mountain-our-thrilling-friday.html">get away</a> with some friends to Palomar Mountain.</div><div align="center">Below is the view from the porch at the cabin... not too shabby. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461970693714017410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNFh5XPQaCEcWRdZvRMX733Hz5x8h6-sORLO78biTpg1x1AcThLqC4cq3CFvpzozxY2x8V5j-g1lj9clkZ_9PlB0m9Uw1BRP6cdPd8sLwtiTlBBHaGTei0gTlfC6ZZkcK7jFG6w/s320/breakfast+view.jpg" /> <div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyesQHmpuTJJMW_XAn6zjsFNbvEMGNxlOf11rJtYs9tIJ38lZcfx_mCnHvPoYKrvR66j9nX6AXFdo_GZxje8aJx1GBx3zFHsmuEtdxZ9RfJV8s8BJgRWbhfRnLxsOFWTcKfeBVNw/s1600/breakfast+view.jpg"></a>Is there anything lovelier than enjoying a brisk mountain morning, wrapped in a blanket, drinking hot tea with a good book in your lap? (I'll answer that for you.) No... except maybe starting your morning in a hammock with fresh coffee, ocean breezes and yet another good book in your hands... Life is full of so many wonderful things. How did I ever get so lucky as to know so many tantalizing experiences? Oh did I mention the smell!?!? I LOVE the smell of a forest in the morning... or evening... or mid afternoon isn't too bad either. Sure I may be allergic to most of the things that I was smelling, but that is NOT going to stop this Happy Camper. That is why God made Benadryl... so that I could keep on keepin' on.<br /><br /><br />After a rough day of 'working'...<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461965560769344786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFD56C4uhzjzDgN1z8BsyYFQ6rxwAIseoGzwcch7Bi2JbWF9z50Llh1B5souZcWhxMYlDIKSETkkBz9ISfNphcxkbWEcnwrg_cgOLniWxGY7jv4EQcZlxRpp7cNx-rxObSMnhYg/s320/Lauren+hard+at+work.jpg" /><br />It was time for a delicious dinner!<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461971236548880498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlSrazw2NtQDXTf8SWRsr7MEsCr2r5F92gAl6PXfO-wQEu48tD9URPG7YPblWQq_p4Pv965LcWbeXlOQqycf2jIYLuj6v_M_A2NORUKEomVpl9BftOXbYXO4QQIRcGOk_FdB6SA/s320/dinner.jpg" /><br />And then a quiet evening in front of a roaring fire...<br />P.S. I built that fire all by myself... (with some assistance from my Great Uncle Duraflame.)<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461965690948996962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7upSnJjnLrTR0kzB5ERnhKlxpCKYUYC4RycUvJIVwKT-R96GY2EuVOzbtWr79_caZjSwvtye0SHhjk2-lTkgE4DBHshZRuodGDRf-oQ8ornSzaVA1F0aVG40YvokDvQWg1dTUdA/s320/roaring+fire.jpg" /><br />All in all, a Saturday delightfully spent.<br /><br /><br /></div>Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18238948.post-25438954198211116612010-04-19T07:02:00.000-07:002010-04-19T11:52:24.026-07:00Palomar Mountain - Our Thrilling Friday NightThis weekend my bestie <a href="http://www.bullockproductions.com/">Lauren</a> and I went away to Palomar Mountain for some downtime. Our dear friend <a href="http://jaymamalme.blogspot.com/">Jayma</a> drove up from LA and met us on Saturday. We all had a blast just doing our own things and kicking back.<br /><br />As I looked back on the weekend, I got to thinking about life... which is dangerous, but I do it for the good of my readers. Here is a thought that came my way:<br /><div></div><br /><strong>Singlehood = ?</strong><br />Some of my married friends like to talk as if their lives <em>now</em> aren't as exciting as they were when they were <em>footloose, fancy-free and single</em>. I hear people at work reminisce about the thrills of life before marriage and I think it's a lot like people missing the 'good ole days of high school'... They are remembering it all through rose colored glasses. Now that Lauren and I are "Thirty, Flirty and Fabulous," THIS is how we spend our Friday nights. Lauren alternates between playing Words With Friends on her iPhone and vacuuming up dead ants or spiders. I wear my Hooters jammies (They have owls on them... get your minds out of the gutter!) and read Ender's Game for book club (SUPER GOOD BOOK! READ IT!). It's not like we partied with Diddy or made out with foreign men (well not this weekend). I just want to break my married readers of the fear that they are missing out on something exciting... The single life is a lot like married life... minus the marriage part, but you get the idea.<br /><br /><em>Here we are, living the dream</em>:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvH5ZerNzJ8xsVZ8s6NOGEVEhzUYKfeBM2MwnfS5R0a2xUCx4Ke2Pgik_QW4eikj3DZp0RzosA2zC87mBR4TIFD_s5v3lAvau0-PjcxriBBa2c4bP8u2o6fuG_DgTZvcx3oxaUg/s1600/Lauren+Friday+night.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461920921413600914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvH5ZerNzJ8xsVZ8s6NOGEVEhzUYKfeBM2MwnfS5R0a2xUCx4Ke2Pgik_QW4eikj3DZp0RzosA2zC87mBR4TIFD_s5v3lAvau0-PjcxriBBa2c4bP8u2o6fuG_DgTZvcx3oxaUg/s320/Lauren+Friday+night.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84VbP8JahxINpjD-mnxXRjnGD93sgkt-b2075z3_-buEHWkLVDT_EracySLUWSC534GflZuxjj_Bhe6SqWJ83GRl9ysifrP0Hc1ETzWq6AGBue5PfvrZYHvTzmYEX4TAirQpL2g/s1600/Book+and+hooters.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461921030531693186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84VbP8JahxINpjD-mnxXRjnGD93sgkt-b2075z3_-buEHWkLVDT_EracySLUWSC534GflZuxjj_Bhe6SqWJ83GRl9ysifrP0Hc1ETzWq6AGBue5PfvrZYHvTzmYEX4TAirQpL2g/s320/Book+and+hooters.jpg" /></a>Meli la gringahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16174452035304814688noreply@blogger.com0