Time well spent!

Good afternoon bloggers,

I am back to my grind, working multiple shifts a week! I know, I promised my mom to not work so hard, & I haven't for 4 months I took it easy, working per diem @ SBMC & part time @ HUMC. I got a chance to travel to VA, FL, & Bahamas, I also was given the opportunity to get closer to my daughter, Sade & son, Shamorr.  I have even developed a real relationship with my father, I visit him twice a week & we actually have discussions.
My family &  friends seem to think that I appear more relaxed & @ peace with my life situation, & I am. But, because I live in such expensive area, I have to go back to my grind. So it begins, been working since last Thursday & only had 1 day off. I'm not complaining, I feel very blessed to be able to work the way I do. I know allot of people that are struggling to maintain 1 job! & here I am with the blessing of 2 jobs. Having those 2 jobs allowed me to afford those vacations & allowed me to spend some much needed time with those I love & love me. & although I didn't get a chance to spend time with a particular someone, but we have the future for that.
I have to say I have some pretty awesome people in my life & they have been very supportive of me & for that I am eternally grateful & loyal!
enjoy these pics of the people who matter to me:

My oldest daughter, Sade

 My baby son, Shamorr

 My middle daughter, Sasha

 My older son, Shuan

My youngest daughter, Shadasha

 My 2 sisters from other mothers: Denise & Joanna

 My partner in crime for 28 years! Denise

My half sister, Lygia

My Honduran sister, Joanna

So you see, these are my loved ones who matter to me! 

Hope

Good morning bloggers,
I was stranded in Detroit on an extended layover coming back home. Needless to say, I had time to read, write & reflect on my current experiences. Please enjoy this entry! muah

Hope
So, here it is, I'm on the beautiful island of Freeport, Bahamas, & instead of enjoying the sunny breeze, I'm reading & writing! My mind is always moving, it's like if it stops, it will die. I've always said I'm a true psychoanalyst. I'm currently reading the 5 Languages of Love by Chapman; a selection suggested by my little brother Mario. He tells me, "Twig, my nickname growing up) you've always been a strong human being, but you really need a companion who compliments all your strengths", (& they're many) so he suggested I read this book. So, being who I am, I read it in the first 2 days of the cruise. I learned that my love language consist of 3, that's right, I'm tri- lingual! Did you expect anything less? Well, I didn't, like I said my brain is always going!
But enough about my new knowledge, let's move on to the title of my entry, which is hope. I belong to a very loving family, & I had forgotten my roots. We did not have allot of materialistic things growing up, but we had each other. The reason I mention that, is because the fact that I have been hanging around my male cousin, Robert & my little pseudo brother Mario, has reminded me of my humble beginnings. Being around them & their significant others has proven to me that there are good men on this earth. These 2 beautiful men love unconditionally, & they aren't afraid to express their love towards their women.
I think God wanted me to witness this in order to give me hope. I had lost all faith in men, but when I'm around my cousin & brother they remind me that good men do exist.
I now have a new found feeling, one of hope when it comes to men. I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge those good men, who are in it for the long run, no matter what! Those who know that relationships are always a work in progress, and the best investment these couples have is each other!
So here is to Robert, Mario, Eric, Kirby, Pop (Duncan), Robbie,
Gilbert, Charles, Harry, Tarik, Jhonn.........the list is quite long, all these men have touched my life in some way or form & have proven to me that there are good men period!

If I forgot to mention your name, please forgive me ;-(

my beautiful cousin, Robert Escamilla

Mario & Shennette taking their vows

 Finally! Man & wife

 The beautiful bride: Shennette, my new sis-in-law

 Had to show off my Greek hairstyle & only tattoo: SLW to the 5th power

 Denise & me ready for the wedding

 Julie & me ready for the wedding

 The groom: my so handsome lil brother, Mario

 My brother, Mario & his daughter Bella, getting ready for the day

 being silly!

 Finally on the ship!

 Leaving Miami, FLA

 My morning power walks

 Our ship: Norwegian Sky

 Welcome to one of the many Bahamian islands

 I feel so blessed!

 Denise & me's selfie

 Me! 15 pounds to go, but my cuts are coming through!

 Julie & me

 @ the beach having a drink

 Denise's selfie

 Dress up night on the ship

 Atlantis, Bahamas

 Denise & me

 Shopping time

 Beach time

 Me on Captain's night dinner

 Freeport, Bahamas

 Mario & Shennette- the newly weds

 Me @ comedy show

 the last dinner I cooked for my brother & new sister-in-law

The many reasons I love my NYC

Good morning bloggers,
I've just got back from vacation, & I had this entry finished, but forgot to post it! Enjoy ;-)
The many reasons I love my NYC
1. It's the only place where the tolerance level is as high as the rudeness level!
2. Where gay & lesbian lovers can walk holding hands & nobody doesn't gawk.
3. It's not the city for the weak & narrow minded!
4. The only place I know, where you can walk 20 blocks & experience @ least 7 different cultures!
5. It has little Italy, Spanish Harlem, Black Harlem, the biggest Jewish area (that I know), little China, & the village! (Where acceptance is king!)
6. The city where the famous Madison Square Garden & Radio City Music Hall are literally minutes away from each other!
7. The place where you can see a world class ballet & a comedy show & go to a club of your liking all in one night!
8. The place where you have world class restaurants & food trucks on the same block!
9. The place where I was born & raised & was exposed to positive & negative things in life!
So you see, there are a multitude of reasons why my believe city is so dear & near to me!

Whenever I need inspiration, besides going to church, I go back to my roots- love my NYC!

Because of you/In spite of you

Good Morning Bloggers,

Here I am again burning the midnight oil. I worked overnight last night @ SBMC & had class @ HUMC right after my shift & I got all my HIV & STD testing done after class! That's right, I get tested every year, remember one can never be too safe. And, I am always safe, no matter what!
But enough of that, my topic of choice for this entry is my dad. All who know me, know that I have reconnected with my dad; I also promised my mom to make peace with him. And as you all know, I listen to my mom. But, the reunion was short lived, soon after my mom's death I started visiting my dad weekly. Our visits were brief & awkward, our conversations were short & cold. But, I kept going, even though there was no emotional connection. Soon after our weekly visits, my dad fell ill & because I am his oldest & the only child that visits him, I took him & his wife to the emergency room. I had to verbally & physically manipulate him to go to the hospital. Although this man has other children, it has fallen on me to look after him. Notice I chose my words wisely, I don't take care of my father, I look over him. I just re- entered his life after 30 years. He has met my children, but, they were already college grads & teenagers. He didn't get to see them grow up or partake in there many accomplishments. So, you see, my emotional attachment to this man, who is my father, is very faint. But, I do thank him & feel like I have to do right by him, because if it wasn't for him I would not exist.
As for the title of this entry, I ask myself did I succeed & continue to strive because of you or in spite of you? There has been some persons in my life that I ask this same question. I have concluded that it maybe a combination of both. I don't smoke or drink in spite of my father's addiction. I continue to strive because of my mother & children, I will not give up on myself, because I deserve what I want & am capable of achieving my desires. I am strong willed & determined. And although lately, I have been down & out, I'm not doing anything but hurting myself. But, I needed some time to grieve my mom's passing & now I am ready to get back on my horse & cross the finish line in first place! And I am the only one who can hinder myself. So it is with positive thoughts & faith that I continue my journey to my success!

My Dad!

The many reasons I love my NYC

Good evening bloggers,
I spent some time in Manhattan, by myself, on one of my favorite holidays of the year, Halloween. So, being there on my own threw me into the empire state of mind. I hold heartedly know deep in my heart that NYC is where I will find my happiness! So let me share with you why:
The many reasons I love my NYC
1. It's the only place where the tolerance level is as high as the rudeness level!
2. Where gay & lesbian lovers can walk holding hands & nobody doesn't gawk.
3. It's not the city for the weak & narrow minded!
4. The only place I know, where you can walk 20 blocks & experience @ least 7 different cultures!
5. It has little Italy, Spanish Harlem, Black Harlem, the biggest Jewish area (that I know), little China, & the village! (Where acceptance is king!)
6. The city where the famous Madison Square Garden & Radio City Music Hall are literally minutes away from each other!
7. The place where you can see a world class ballet & a comedy show & go to a club of your liking all in one night!
8. The place where you have world class restaurants & food trucks on the same block!
9. The place where I was born & raised & was exposed to positive & negative things in life!
So you see, there are a multitude of reasons why my beloved city is so dear & near to me!

 Times Square @ 12 midnight

 Nasdaq statuses

 Broadway

 the concrete jungle

 Empire state building

 awesome Halloween costume

Enjoy, until the next entry