Comeback kid

Wow, I cannot believe I was able to recover this account. I have attemptet to gain access to my blog for a decade with no success. There has been no power for the last four hours so I picked up my IPad and started fidgeting with it. It was unbelievably simple --this time-- to get back in and here we are again! Woohoo! Who knows when or if I'll be able to write here again, but I will keep trying and will jot down a few lines before I end this note. So much has happened that it's difficult to decide where to begin. Major highlights in this last decade include: 2015- I married my childhood sweetheart, whom I had not seen in 35 years! 2016- Michelle graduated from college and I retired from my City of L.A. job! 2017- Michelle married Chris Poenisch in a beautiful destination wedding in Baja, Mexico! 2018- I welcomed my first grandchild, Eli Nikolas Poenisch! 2019- My dad passed away and Michelle moved to Utah 2020- Adry and I both had Covid virus 2021- I welcomed my second grandchild, Cole Avery Poenisch! 2023- I welcomed my third grandchild, Joy Love Poenisch! 2024- Tía Soco passed away 2025- We started practicing intermittent fasting 2026- We added a modified Keto style to our fasting I will go into more details at a later post. In the meantime, I just want to express how glad I am to regain access to this blog and how much I look forward to use this writing tool again. 'till next time...

Missing my Person

After struggling during the last couple of years with various debilitating conditions and the excruciating pain they were imposing on her, my dear friend Rosita left this world six months ago. It has taken me a long time to really get that she is gone forever and I will never hear her voice again. I lead such a busy life, specially in the summer time, that I hadn't paused as I did today, all day, to think about our shared moments. There were plenty, as we shared a friendship that lasted almost a decade. She was my "person" and I don't know if I will ever make room for another. When I met her, she had recently lost her husband of 30+ years as well as her dear puppy "Cookie" and she seemed very sad. We met at a seminar and I was drawn to this tall woman who had what I called "Betty Boop" eyes. She was a beautiful brunette, standing in a room full of people, not hiding her sadness. I approached her to talk about the benefits of the seminar and it was like talking to an old friend. It had been over 20 years since the last time I had allowed myself to have a close friend. The commitment phobic that I am tried to keep her away, but she never gave up on me. At the beginning, I would let days, weeks and sometimes months go by without returning her calls. With her infinite patience and understanding, she won me over and found a permanent place in my heart. Eventually, we did all the things that close friends do. There was a period of time when we called each other not once a day but several times. We shared laughter, victories and sorrows, exchanging stories about my daughter and her two children and enjoyed many meals together. Without meaning to, we became each other's "person." Like me, she hadn't had a close friend in a very long time. She was the one I would have the urge to call when I wanted to share something. As the years went by, she taught me many things. She was funny and wise, kind and generous to a fault, and a great listener, not to mention the best cook alive. It was because of her that I discovered my passion for anything culinary and I cannot tell you how many times I called her in the middle of cooking something, seeking her guidance. Even if I watched her cook countless times, I could never attain quite the same results when I tried to replicate her wonderful creations. It was with her that I participated in feeding the homeless, joined a diet group, and returned to church after 30 years of absence. I was with her at the end, seeing life gradually seep out of her on that hospital bed until there was no choice but to let her go. She brought out the best in me and took a piece of my puzzle when she left. No longer in denial, reality has set in and my world is not the same without her. May you be flying with the angels, my sweet Rosita, and may I see your beautiful "Betty Boop" eyes again one day. 'till next time.

Por Fin

I finally finished the last of my CWIC coursework for the University of Virginia certification. It is incredible that I have invested all this time and effort but I finally got to the finish line. I only hope that after this last exam on Monday, which I of course hope to pass, I don't have to present any more work. This year of so much school work has left me exhausted and I am ready for a break. The problem is that I know tomorrow or the day after, I will start another project that keeps me in the mental gym I love to be in. This Christmas I gave myself the opportunity to really enjoy my family, both the one here and the one from Mexico. The only missing ones were my people from Ciudad Obregon. Por fin terminé el año de cursos para la certificación de la Universidad de Virginia. Es increíble que haya invertido tanto tiempo y esfuerzo en estos doce meses y por fin lo logre. Solo espero que despues de este ultimo examen que tome el lunes, el cual espero pasar, ya no tenga que presentar mas de lo mismo. Este año de estudios me ha dejado exhausta y estoy lista para un buen descanso. El problema es que se que mañana o pasado emprendere otra cosa/proyecto que me mantenga en el gimnasio mental en el que me encanta estar. En esta Navidad que acaba de pasar, me di la oportunidad de gozar a mi familia, tanto la de aqui y San Jacinto, como la de Mexico. Solo me falto ver a mi gente de Ciudad Obregon para que estuviera completa pero no se prestaron las cosas para que asi fuera. Pero algo que ha quedado mas claro que nunca. Deseo pasar mas tiempo con ellos y muy especialmente con mis tios. Es un placer conversar con ellos y de verdad ponerme presente a la contribucion que han sido y siguen siendo en nuestras vidas. Hasta la proxima......

Smiling Brides

As I watched the Royal wedding early this morning, my childhood memories came rushing back. Those years in elementary school when, as I lived a half block from our church, I invited myself into a good number of weddings. It did not matter who the bride was, and in most cases they were people I'd never met and yet, I invariably was moved to tears. You could almost touch the love and hope and happiness in the air. Nothing compares to the smile that adorns the bride's face only on that special day. I saw that same smile today in Prince Williams' bride. I watched the exchange of that secret glance that only a bride and groom share and it was as beautiful as I remember. I sighed in recognition of that old feeling I experienced so many times in our little church in Mexico. I can't wait for the day when my little Michelle walks down the isle into the loving arms of her future husband and they exchange that same special glance. 'till next time.

First trip to Arizona

As I packed tonight for a trip I'll begin in the morning to Phoenix, AZ to attend a business conference, I was reminded of all the many road trips I have taken in the last 30 years. Most of them have been to Baja, with Michelle in the back seat while I drove watching the sun come up or go down. We had dinner together tonight when she came to say goodbye and as I closed the door behind her when she left, I wished I could turn back time. I wished for the old excitement of driving on a road for hours, enjoying the scenery. I am probably hitting what we call in Spanish slang "el viejazo" which is that subtle change when we reach the third age. It is that subtle change that we do not see but others do. It's that way of walking more carefully or a bit slower, a feeling of vulnerability that shows, a hesitation at trying new things, etc. It was painful to watch my mother and her sister get to that point. When I noticed their change, my heart sank at the sad realization that time does not forgive and can bring down someone as formidable as my mom. As I begin my long drive tomorrow, I will be present and will enjoy the desert scenery. After all, I am a desert creature and I'm sure I'll catch some great views of the Arizona skies. 'till next time.

Paraprosdokians

A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to re-frame or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect. Enjoy!

"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it." --Groucho Marx--

"A modest man, who has much to be modest about." --Winston Churchill--

"She looks as though she's been poured into her clothes, and forgot to say when." --P.G. Wodehouse--

The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.

Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Some cause happiness wherever they go. Others, whenever they go.

Goobye, little Muffin

It's Christmas time again...... my favorite time of the year. As excited as I am with everything else that is going on, this year I find myself a bit sad. We lost our dear Muffin, who was 15 years old. I remember the first time my daughter and I saw Muffin at the Pasadena Humane Society. He resembled a little wet rat and was giving Michelle and me one of his "take-me-with-you" pitiful looks that we could not resist. We just had to have him. After going through an adoption process so thorough that you'd think we were adopting a child, Muffin finally went home with us. For the next four years, he was the only game in town until we brought him a female companion, also a Terrier mix, that we named Bagel. They hit it off almost immediately and lived together well over a decade. This year, Muffin drowned in the pond. We suspect that he had one of his spells (epilepsy) and fell into the water. At his advanced age, he was a bit slow, and could not see or hear very well. His appetite; however, was excellent and he enjoyed his meals, treats, and petting enormously. Bagel took his absence really hard. She seemed afraid and subdued, not wanting to go outside at all. According to her Vet, Bagel did experience sadness and adopting a new puppy that could adapt to her and keep her busy was the best thing we could do for her. So off we went and, just like Muffin did all those years ago, this little puppy was quietly sitting in his kennel, doing that "take-me-home-please" thing that one can't resist. His name is Browny and he is 8 pounds of pure energy! Bagel came back to life and plays with him constantly. She still does not seem the same to me. I wonder if she will always remember Muffin. I know we will. Goodbye, little Muffin...... 'till next time.