ode to lovely

sappy and emotional

I have finally set a date. I leave on June 4. Less than two weeks. I'm kinda freaking out. Sometimes in a good way. And sometimes in a "i'm a fucking crazy lady" way. You plan, and you plan, but when there is a legit end in sight (and a taiwanese visa in your hands), it starts to get a little too real to handle.

I've had to say a lot of goodbyes lately. Some more emotional than others, but all hard nonetheless. It's even harder when people start giving the "stay strong, live your dreams, I'm so proud of you" type speeches. Oh man do the tears start welling up just thinking about it.

Another thing that has brought me to tears is the idea of international shipping. I finally have my address in taiwan so I drafted up a mock order over at scrapgal just to see how much it would be. Um...$24.50. Holy expensive. Looks like I'm just going to have to re-define the whole "using your stash" concept.

I'm off to a sewing class. Someone is finally going to teach me how to use my new Bernina. Which means that the completion of my sister's quilt is in the near future. More soon.

un, deux, trois

This was our very first picture taken together. This is where our crazy Mattalie adventure began. On a random saturday night out in Adams Morgan. I look back on this picture and see two kids who barely knew each other. Two co-workers who enjoyed passing the work day by sending funny emails and sneaking out for soda breaks. Two people who happened to be at the right place at the right time.

We don't really have an anniversay. But this random saturday back in 2005 is the closest thing we have to one. An evening filled with dancing, drinks, and our very first kiss. Yes, corny, but I felt the need to share.

I love you baby. Happy May 20.

hello saturday

I went to Target this morning. With the intentions of buying:

• Neutrogena Summer Glow, SPF 20, Medium Skin Tone
• A shadow box for a belated mother's day present
• CD wallet, for approximately 60 CDs
• A sports bra, preferably a fun color, like cerulean or fuschia

Instead, I walked out with this:

No regrets or anything. But the thing is....that I promised myself I would stop buying DVDs about 3 months ago. So, with the purchase of this delightful and witty movie ends my collections of DVDs. At least until I watch everything I own, or win the lottery. 

words to live by

These words ring so true to my life. I embrace change. And I welcome it daily.

My dear friend Maggi sent me this card. I think I want to frame it. I just love it THAT much. She is so incredibly supportive and I don't know what I'd do without her.

I will miss you Maggs. But I know that I will be seeing you soon. Whether I come to colorado with my snowboard, or whether you come across a few oceans with yours. I love you BFF. Miss you every single day.

a super fast one

• Home. Happy to be back. I desperately need to shower. Even my cat doesn't want to get near me.
• My boy felt the earthquake in taiwan. Scary for him. But so sad for all those who lost lives.
• I seriously think mother earth hates us humans right now. Too much crazy shit going on in the world.
• I got really sick on sunday and got rushed to the ER. I'm ok now. Thank god because puking when you're sober is so gross.
• I have a date with my DVR. Must catch up on LOST. I hear last week's episode was a 10.
• I didn't take a single picture this trip. Not one.  No regrets either. I guess I was enjoying living in the present moment.
• Marce, if you're reading this....you're my favorite cousin in the whole world. Thank you for taking such good care of me. You get a gold star. And now you are on my list of people that I plan to kidnap and take to Taiwan with me.

Shower. Lost. Food. Nap. Unpack. Food. Sleep. In that order. Love you blogland. Adios.

winding down

Not much to report. My days all feel the same. Yet different.

Other random findings:

• Even though I love bolivian food, I am missing american food.  But more so than american food, pf changs comes to mind. 
• I am internally annoyed with a certain selfish person. I swear there is nothing less appealing that selfish attitude and behavoir. Ugh.
• I stayed in last night to watch Pushing Daisies. Loved it. Will have to rent season 1 dvds when I get back.
• I got accepted to a language school in taipei. Soon I´ll know how to say more than ¨ni hau¨ in mandarin. Can´t wait.
• I met a scrapbooker here yesterday. We are everywhere, I tell ya.
• There is probably more whisky in my future. And also another lazy sunday.

Only 3 more days here. Sad, but true. Have a good weekend.

from one feria to the next

Apparently Cochabamba has a Feria too. Definitely not as cool as Sevilla´s, but still cool nonetheless.

So we went to Feria on Saturday night. And here in Bolivia I tend to hangout with mostly boys. All of my cousins are boys. Most of their friends are boys. And boys here drink whisky.  So when in Cochabamba, do like the Cochabambinos (such a funny word).  Let´s just say that waking up sunday morning was not a pretty sight. 

And you know what else isn´t a pretty sight....me working out at the gym. The damn altitude is killing me. I ran for half a mile and I seriously thought I was going to fall off the treadmill and then later appear on america´s funniest home videos. Sometimes I take living at sea level for granted.

That´s all for now. Off to eat homemade Fricase for lunch. Google it if you care to know more.

the first of may

Hello May. Hello new month. I love the first of the month. I always make fruitful declarations on the first (although maybe fruitful isn't the right word here). I say things like, "I will start working out." Or " I will stop drinking caffeine." Or some other lame thing that I tend to do for just the first week.

Today is my brother's birthday. The big three-oh. I can't believe he's 30. It makes me feel older knowing he's getting older. Good thing he doesn't look a day over 21.  So, my dearest Mauricio, happy birthday.  I wish you a day of happy thoughts, good friendship, and lots of chocolate cake. Love you, even though you punched me this morning!

Let's see...other things.

I got new glasses yesterday. I tend to get plastic frames. But this time I decided on metal ones....In a sad attempt to look more sophisticated. Did it work?

Sophisticated in a sweatshirt. What was I thinking? Ha.

I have been playing Mario Kart on Wii. But playing alone is not nearly as fun as playing with the boy. I miss that boy of mine. Sigh.

And I'm leaving today. Headed to the motherland, as I like to call it. Time to visit the family in Bolivia. Time to tell them I'm leaving for Asia. Time to say farewell, because who knows how much time will pass before I can go back. Sad stuff people.   

I hope to update from there. Somehow, someway. Wishful thinking considering that internet there is slower than the dial up I used to have back in 1998. Gotta love third world countries. But I'll figure out something. Because I am wonder woman. Or so I tell myself.

Once again...leaving on a jet plane. Goodbye lovelies.