Roadtrip? Yes please!

Provided by: 10 Coolest Small Towns in America 2011 The winners in our sixth annual celebration of great hometown escapes may be short on people, but they’re long on personality. By Budget Travel Staff Greensburg, KS Courtesy of Michael Mohr More from BudgetTravel.com 10 Gorgeous Pools You Won't Believe Are Public 4 Most Common Reasons Airlines Lose Luggage 12 Places With Sensational Views More from Yahoo! Travel Find Special Offers & More Savings Check flight deals now! Tips for Wellness on the Road Once in a while, you discover a town that has everything—great coffee, food with character, shop owners with purpose. Each year, the Budget Travel team celebrates these places with our "Coolest Small Towns in America" competition. It starts with a call to you—our readers—to nominate the most interesting towns you know with populations of less than 10,000. From there, our editorial team whittles the selections down to the three most promising contenders. It's then up to you to vote on your favorite. You won't find a more charming slice of small town Americana than you will right here. #10 Greensburg, KS (pop. 777) The Real Emerald City When you pull into Greensburg, you may well think you're not in Kansas anymore: Elegant wind turbines and LED streetlights have replaced cornfields and barns. After a 2007 tornado destroyed 95 percent of Greensburg, those who stayed vowed to build the ecofriendliest town ever. "These are not hippie-dippy concepts," says Stacy Barnes, director of the 5.4.7 Arts Center. "These are the same tenets used in pioneer days—south-facing windows in chicken coops to increase sunlight, reusing everything like Mennonites do. We got lazy over the past century." The gallery, named for the day the storm hit, houses contemporary art from around the U.S. Many businesses here pay tribute to the past. Green Bean Coffee Co. serves milkshakes to fill the void left by the destruction of the old soda fountain (shakes $3.50). Nearby, you'll find innovations both high-tech (solar panels) and low (banisters made from tractor parts) at the Silo Eco-Home B&B . Just goes to show: It's not so hard being green after all. Ripon, WI Courtesy of Daniel Shea #9 Ripon, WI (pop. 7,733) College Town Perfection In some college towns, the locals and students get along like rivals at the Michigan-Ohio State football game. Not in Ripon. The professors sit on the local school board. The students sing in the church choirs, and church folk welcome the school's 1,000 or so students with a potluck every fall. Friday evenings in summer, across from the college president's office in the old public library, townies and academics alike turn out for concerts on the Village Green. "My favorite is Tuba Dan's polka band," says Professor Mary Avery, who oversees a student group that helps local businesses, such as the Watson Street Sub Shop, create financial plans. Watson Street in turn lets the students use its storefront for fund-raisers. "We are the quintessential college town," says David Joyce, president of Ripon. "Or maybe it should be the quintessential town with a college?" Cedar Key, FL Courtesy of Stephanie Adams #8 Cedar Key, FL (pop. 896) Unspoiled on the Gulf If someone asked you where to get the best New England clam chowder, you might be inclined to say, "Duh, New England." You'd be wrong—by over 1,000 miles. For the past three years, the Great Chowder Cook-Off in Newport, R.I., has been won by Tony's Seafood Restaurant of Cedar Key. In fact, the town is America's second-largest producer of farmed clams, one of many surprises in this two-square-mile hamlet 130 miles north of Tampa. Despite its prime location on the Gulf of Mexico, Cedar Key has escaped the pull of developers-its spit of beach isn't long enough to attract large-scale building projects. Instead, it still feels like a ramshackle, old fishing village straight out of Hemingway. "People always say it's like Key West 30 years ago," says innkeeper Ada Lang. Built in 1919 and restored in 2004, Ada's Wabi Sabi Cottage is a time-capsule example of a "Cracker" cottage, a style of wood-frame house popular in the 19th century. Newtown Borough, PA Courtesy of Jean-Paul Bernard #7 Newtown Borough, PA (pop. 2,384) Amish Country Charm Newtown Borough isn't the kind of place where you'd expect to see millionaires tooling around in a fancy car. In fact, the rural Bucks County burg is close enough to Amish Country that most of the convertibles around these parts are horses-and-buggies. It's home to the nation's oldest movie theater, Newtown Theatre, a 375-seat, red-brick treasure that's been in operation since 1906. The Brick Hotel, built in 1764 and still looking sharp decked out in hunter green shutters and striped awnings, is one of the few places that can honestly claim that George Washington slept here. And director M. Night Shyamalan likes the look of Newtown so much, he filmed Signs here in 2002. Phoenicia, NY Courtesy of Paul Bernard #6 Phoenicia, NY (pop. 309) A Riverside Retreat Phoenicia may look like a one-street river town sandwiched between hills in New York's Catskills—it does a wicked tubing business in the summer—but it's got a bookish, cosmopolitan vibe in its soul. "It's not just crazy guys with cars in their yards," says Michael Koegel of Mama's Boy, a hip little cafe and smoothie bar. Like Koegel, many Phoenicians came from Manhattan, and they've brought a healthy dose of quirk with them. For instance, former New Yorker Alan Fliegel, sells locally made clothing and underground comic books—and runs a well-stocked communal art gallery upstairs. Yet like its library that loans fishing poles, Phoenicia hasn't lost touch with its down-home roots. If you spend the night at the cozy Phoenicia Lodge, you may feel like you've woken up in Mayberry. You certainly will after breakfast at Sweet Sue's Restaurant . The pancakes (pumpkin, pineapple-coconut, and 20-plus other varieties) are legendary, as are the lines waiting to get inside. La Pointe, WI Courtesy of Daniel Shea #5 La Pointe, WI (pop. 309) A Superior Hamlet It's called the Island Wave, and to the folks on Madeline Island—a quiet, North Woods enclave of artists on Lake Superior—it means you greet everyone, even when you're driving. It's a lovely idea, but in summer it can get, well, dangerous. That's when La Pointe, the island's only town, swells with visitors. "The line goes out the door for hours on July 4th," says Marie Noha, owner of the Mission Hill Coffee House. Eureka Springs, AR Courtesy of Michael Mohr #4 Eureka Springs, AR (pop 2,073) Honeymoons and More Sure, you could sleep in one of the Queen Anne-style B&Bs, visit the monumental 67-foot-tall hilltop Christ of the Ozarks, catch a Branson-style show, or hunt for ghosts in the historic downtown. You could easily spend a week on the tourist circuit in this late-1800s Victorian spa retreat. But you'd never get to meet the real Eureka Springs. Eureka Springs may be the honeymoon capital of the Ozarks, but don't let the kitschy, heart-shaped Jacuzzis fool you. The biggest surprise of all may be the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa, a palatial ivy-covered grand hotel with claw-foot tubs and manicured gardens. From this perch, you'll be inclined to look back to see Eureka Springs, but the leafy Ozarks keep the valley all but hidden from view—an apt vista for a town dubbed Tree City USA. Clayton, NY Courtesy of Stephanie Adams #3 Clayton, NY (pop. 1,978) A River Runs to It Clayton sits on a peninsula that juts out into the St. Lawrence River, so far north that the fire department's boat flies the American and Canadian flags. One of the benefits of that isolation is that the river itself is like a neighbor. In the summer, the old ferry terminal, where wealthy visitors once caught rides to their cottages on the Thousand Islands (birthplace of Thousand Island salad dressing), now hosts concerts. Out on the water, the family-run Ferguson Fishing Charters offers morning fishing trips followed by picnics on a private island, where a guide cooks the day's catch over a fire for lunch (half-day charters for a group of four $325). Back on dry land, K's Motel & Cottages' two-night "ship watch special" includes a room, a two-and-a-half-hour boat cruise, admission to the Antique Boat Museum, and two meals. Astoria, OR Courtesy of Justin Bailie #2 Astoria, OR (pop. 9,477) Pioneers on the Pacific Astoria has always been on the frontier, both the Lewis and Clark variety (they set up camp here in 1805) and the geographic (it sits both at the mouth of the Columbia River and in a teeming temperate rain forest). Sure, the place has prettied itself up nicely since those pioneer days with the addition of aging Victorians and craftsman-style bungalows, but the folks in sleepy coastal Astoria have never lost touch with their rough-and-tumble side. Even the city's swankiest design hotel, the Commodore, embraces a decidedly masculine and nautical aesthetic. Reopened two years ago after being shuttered since 1966, the property pairs modern furnishings with sly nods to the city's history as a seaside cannery hub: thick braided ropes, nautical charts, and fishing floats. Lewisburg, WV Courtesy of Michael Mohr #1 Lewisburg, WV (pop. 3,830) Arts in Appalachia A small town is usually lucky if there's a decent one-screen movie theater, maybe a community dance troupe. But a Carnegie Hall? This speck on the map in the Greenbrier River Valley lays claim to one of only four in the world. The 1902 building now serves as Lewisburg's creative control tower, attracting an unlikely band of artistic characters, back-to-the-land types, and retirees. Jeanne and Michael Christie embody Lewisburg's blend. The duo run the Davenport House B&B, where guests can bottle-feed one of the property's baby lambs after taking coffee and breakfast on their private patio. Michael is a painter whose work has shown in New York City's Hoorn-Ashby gallery, and Jeanne is the former director of front-office operations at the Greenbrier hotel, 10 miles down the road. "You know, you always think of the ideal American town, where the kids are safe, the streets are clean. We have that, but we also have Wynton Marsalis coming through," says Jeanne, who'd just finished a morning of shearing sheep.

Si se Pueden!!!

Hopefully this is just the beginning para mi gente...

DREAM Act Passes in California!

By Damarys Ocana | 09/01/2011 - 15:00 |

Thinkstock

California is one step closer to making the DREAM Act a reality. The State Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that would allow undocumented students to apply for financial aid and scholarships from the state.
U.S. Secretary of Education Says DREAM Act Critical for Realizing the Country's Goals
Under the bill, which the State Assembly is expected to approve next week, passed 22-11 along party lines in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Once approved, undocumented students will be eligible to apply for state money after legal residents have done so, if they attended California high schools for three or more years. Governor Jerry Brown is expected to sign it if and when it clears the Assembly.

But the state is hardly the first to forge its own legislation in the absence of federal comprehensive immigration reform or passage of the federal DREAM Act—a bill that has languished in Congress for a decade (the latest version passed in the House in December, 2010 but stalled in the Senate). In 2001, Texas became the first state to pass legislation allowing in-state tuition for undocumented immigrant students, followed by California, Utah, New York, Washington, Oklahoma, Illinois, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Maryland and Connecticut in the decade since.

EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Luis Gutierrez "I Will Fight Like Hell for the DREAM Act"

Under these state laws, undocumented students are eligible for in-state tuition if they graduate from state high schools, have been state residents for at least two years and apply to a state college or university. Some laws require students to sign an affidavit promising to pursue legal status. Maryland’s law, passed this year, requires students to complete 60 credits at a Maryland community college and to prove that they and their parents paid income taxes for the previous three years.

At least one state, however, has done the reverse. In 2008, Oklahoma ended its in-state tuition and financial aid for undocumented students and allowed them to enroll in colleges only after meeting special requirements. Since 2006, several states have banned in-state tuition, including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, South Carolina and Indiana.
DREAM Act Reintroduced Before Congress!

Books, Poetry, and Stories worth Browsing (HHM edition)...

Growing up I always loved escaping somewhere, in or outdoors, and curling up with a good book. Nowadays with my super hectic schedule I don't get to read as often as I'd like, but I make time to get lost and take a break from reality whenever I can. Here are some of my favorites, just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month, I hope they provide you with some peace, serenity, and maybe a few laughs.

Jubana! is by far one of my favorite books and has singlehandedly inspired my popular nickname as well as many other aspects of my life. Gigi Anders talks about growing up as a Jubana (Jewish Cubana) in Cuba and then the United States and how she adjusted to being a Cuban American. Her story is filled with anecdotes, laughter as well as some sadness, and touching prose that reinforces my love of all that is the Cuban Jewish culture.

 Acclaimed by critics, beloved by readers of all ages, taught  everywhere from inner-city grade schools to universities across the country, and translated all over the world, The House on Mango Street is the remarkable story of Esperanza Cordero. Told in a series of vignettes – sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes deeply joyous – it is the story of a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago, inventing for herself who and what she will become.

Warning! Make sure you have a box of kleenex with you before you start reading this book. In the Time of the Butterflies is a tragic and inspiring story of Las Mariposas, a group of sisters living in the Dominican Republic. In this extraordinary novel, the voices of all four sisters—Minerva, Patria, María Teresa, and the survivor, Dedé—speak across the decades to tell their own stories, from hair ribbons and secret crushes to gunrunning and prison torture, and to describe the everyday horrors of life under Trujillo’s rule. Through the art and magic of Julia Alvarez’s imagination, the martyred Butterflies live again in this novel of courage and love, and the human cost of political oppression. 

As a first generation Cuban American, I've always been enamored in all that is Cuba and Cuban history. This novel is one of the most telling and similar to the stories I've heard from my Abuelos.  Dreaming in Cuban is the dreamy and bittersweet story of a family divided by politics and feography by the Cuban revolution. It is the family story of Celia del Pino, and her husband, daughter and grandchildren, from the mid-1930s to 1980. Celia's story mirrors the magical realism of Cuba itself, a country of beauty and poverty, idealism and corruption.

It's a long way from Santo Domingo to the Bronx, but if anyone can go the distance, it's the Garcia girls. Four lively Latinas plunge from a pampered life of privilege on an island compound into the big-city chaos of New York, where they embrace all that America has to offer.

In this addicting, can't-put-it-down novel of six friends-each one an unforgettable woman in her late twenties-you'll meet: --Lauren, the "caliente" columnist for the local Boston paper whose love live has recently led her to her boyfriend's closet...to catch him in the act with someone else --Sara, the perfect wife and mother who's got it all but who is paying a high price --Amber, raised a Valley girl without a word of Spanish but who is becoming a huge rock en espanol star --Elizabeth, the stunning black Latina whose TV anchor job conflicts with her intensely private personal life --Rebecca, hyper-in-command in the world of her glossy magazine, Ella, but totally at sea when it comes to men --Usnavys, fabulous and larger than life, whose agenda to land the kind of man who can keep her in Manolos almost prevents her finding true love.

Learn something new everyday...

 

Via http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1BMbMB/pete.com/view/learn-something-everyday-part-4

Words of wisdom when times get tough...

75 Reminders for Tough Times

When life gets stressful, we often forget the things we should remember, and remember the things we should forget.

Here are 75 reminders to help motivate you when you need it most.

Tough times never last, but tough people do.
- Robert H. Schuller

1. You never know how strong you really are until being strong is the only choice you have.
2. Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.
3. You cannot change what you refuse to confront.
4. Nobody is perfect, and nobody deserves to be perfect.  Nobody has it easy.  You never know what people are going through.  Every one of us has issues.  So don’t belittle yourself or anyone else.  Everybody is fighting their own unique war.
5. Crying doesn’t indicate that you’re weak.  Since birth, it has always been a sign that you’re alive and full of potential.
6. No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.  (Read Unstoppable.)
7. Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.
8. Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness.  Let it go.
9. Making one person smile can change the world.  Maybe not the whole world, but their world.  Start small.  Start now.
10. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
11. Never let success get to your head, and never let failure get to your heart.
12. You have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life.
13. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.
14. You can learn great things from your mistakes when you aren’t busy denying them.
15. Give up worrying about what others think of you.  What they think isn’t important.  What is important is how you feel about yourself.
16. When you stop chasing the wrong things you give the right things a chance to catch you.
17. When other people treat you poorly, keep being you.  Don’t ever let someone else’s bitterness change the person you are.
18. You have to accept that some things will never be yours, and learn to appreciate the things that are only yours.
19. Sometimes it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one in the world who’s struggling, who’s frustrated, or unsatisfied, or barely getting by.  But that feeling is a lie.  And if you just hold on, someone will find you and help make it better.  Because we all need a little help sometimes – someone to help us hear the music in our world.  To remind us that it won’t always be this way.  That someone is out there right now.
20. Don’t be afraid to move out of your comfort zone.  Some of your best life experiences and opportunities will transpire only after you dare to lose.
21. Sometimes we accidentally allow small problems to escalate and dominate our lives.  If we get overcharged a few cents, it is irritating, but don’t let it ruin your day.  There will always be small issues that irritate us; the secret is to be able to give them the miniscule level of importance they deserve.
22. Giving up doesn’t always mean you’re weak, sometimes it means you are strong enough and smart enough to let go.  (Read The Dip.)
23. Ask yourself whether each of your relationships drags you down or lifts you up.  Surrounding yourself with positive, loving people is half the battle of living a happy, successful life.
24. Spend more time with those who make you smile and less time with those who you feel pressured to impress.
25. There are few joys in life that equal a good conversation, a good read, a good walk, a good hug, a good smile, or a good friend.
26. Don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future for too long.  Right now is life.  Live it.
27. No matter how cautiously you choose your words, someone will always twist them around and misinterpret what you say.  So just say what you need to say.
28. In order to be creative, we must lose our fear of being wrong.
29. Not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of good luck.
30. To be great does not mean you have to dominate others.  It means you have to dominate your own potential.
31. If you are passionate about something, pursue it, no matter what anyone else thinks.  That’s how dreams are achieved.
32. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.
33. Forgiveness is one of the primary keys to happiness.
34. The best revenge is happiness, because nothing drives your adversaries more insane than seeing you smile.
35. Stay positive when negativity surrounds you.  Smile when others frown.  It’s an easy way to make a difference.
36. If a person wants to be a part of your life, they will make an obvious effort to do so. Don’t bother reserving a space in your heart for people who do not make an effort to stay.
37. Don’t regret intimate relationships that don’t work out.  Because they will only help you find the right partner for you, and better appreciate them for everything they do and everything they are.
38. What lies before us and behind us are tiny matters when compared to what lies within us.
39. The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists.  It rewards people who get things done.  And the only way to get things done is to be imperfect 99% of the time.
40. Never lie – not even a white lie!  When you steer away from the truth, you steer away from your soul.  Be honest, be real and tell the truth.  This awareness forces you to make better choices and be a stronger person.
41. Feelings, good and bad, always come and go.
42. Don’t get caught up in wasted potential from years past.  Potential is all we ever have.
43. We are not alone.  No matter how bizarre or embarrassed or pathetic we feel about our own situation, there will be others out there experiencing the same emotions.  When you hear yourself say “I am all alone,” it is your mind trying to sell you a lie so you will continue to feel sorry for yourself.
44. It is okay to be angry.  It is never okay to be cruel.
45. Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.
46. Mistakes teach you important lessons.  Every time you make one, you’re one step closer to your goal.  The only mistake that can truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake.
47. Money is a renewable resource.  If you lose some money, don’t sweat it.  You can always make more.  However, if you spend valuable time stressing over money, or lost opportunity, you’ll never get that time back.  Time is more valuable than money – time is the greatest constituent of life.
48. Never let people know that they got to you.  Ignore them.  Hold your head up high and pretend all their negative remarks don’t even phase you, and someday they actually won’t.
49. There is nothing to hold you back except you.  And there is only one question to ask yourself: “What would you do if you were not afraid?”  Think about it.
50. Life is way more enjoyable when you stop trying to be cool and simply focus on being yourself.
51. It’s often hard to tell just how close you are to success.
52. When you spend time worrying, you’re simply using your imagination to create things you don’t want.
53. No matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be.  Either you succeed or you learn something. Win-Win.
54. You must see things how they are instead of how you hoped, wished, or expected them to be.
55. Even when you feel like you have nothing, someone else likely has far less.  Find them and help them.  You’ll see why.
56. Laughter is the best medicine for stress.  Laugh at yourself often.  Find the humor in whatever situation you’re in.
57. If you want to feel rich, just count all the great things you have that money can’t buy.
58. Forgiving yourself is far more important than getting others to forgive you.
59. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
60. You can press forward long after you can’t.  It’s just a matter of wanting it bad enough.
61. It’s not about getting a chance, it’s about taking a chance.  You’ll rarely be 100% sure it will work.  But you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work.  Sometimes you just have to go for it!
62. If it were easy everyone would do it.  This is why get rich quick schemes will never be true.  If it was so quick and easy then everyone would be millionaires.  Accomplishing great things is hard work, but well worth it.
63. Notice and cherish life’s surprises.  Just because it’s not what you were expecting, doesn’t mean it’s not everything you’ve been waiting for.
64. Be vulnerable.  Allow yourself to feel, to be open and authentic.  Tear down any emotional brick walls you have built around you and feel every exquisite emotion, both good and bad.  This is real life.  This is how you welcome new opportunities.
65. You must create and look for opportunities.  Opportunities rarely ever come knocking on the door of someone who’s not seeking them.  You have to create and seek opportunities for yourself.  You have to take the initiative to get the ball rolling and the doors opening.
66. If it’s out of your control, why fret about it?  Concentrating on things you can control is how you make good things happen.
67. Saying “no” to right people gives you the time and resources required to say “yes” to right opportunities.  (Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.)
68. No matter how much progress you make there will always be the people who insist that whatever you’re trying to do is impossible. Or they may incessantly suggest that the idea or dream as a whole is utterly ridiculous because nobody really cares. When you come across these people, don’t try to reason with them. Instead, forget that they exist. They will only waste your time and energy.
69. If you spend 80% of your time focusing on the problem and only 20% on the solution, what do you think is going to happen?
70. No matter how badly you think your life may be going, or how messed up you think you are, there is at least one thing you are doing right in your life or you wouldn’t be alive reading this.
71. A problem is a chance for you to learn.
72. The greatest struggle is to be something different from what the average man is.
73. In times of great stress, it’s always wise to keep busy, to plow your anger and frustration into something positive.
74. One thing is for sure: Regardless of the situation, life goes on.
75. Everyone wants a perfect ending.  But over the years I’ve learned that some of the best poems don’t rhyme, and many great stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, or end.  Life is about not knowing, embracing change, and taking a moment and making the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next.

Oh, and…
You wanna know who’s awesome?  Read the first word of this line again. 

Kids say the darndest things!

Some Children Are Quick

Written by:George's Humour

TEACHER:    Maria, go to the map and find   North America   .
MARIA:         Here it  is.
TEACHER:   Correct.  Now class, who discovered   America ?
CLASS:         Maria.
____________________________________  

TEACHER:    John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN:          You told me to do it without using tables.

TEACHER:  Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?'
GLENN:      K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L'
TEACHER:  No, that's wrong
GLENN:       Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.  
(I  Love this child)
____________________________________________


TEACHER:   Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD:     H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER:   What are you talking about?
DONALD:    Yesterday you said it's H to O.  
__________________________________


TEACHER:   Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we
didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE:       Me!
__________________________________________  


TEACHER:   Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN:          Well, I'm a  lot closer to the ground than you are.  
_______________________________________


TEACHER:     Millie, give me a sentence starting with '  I.  '
MILLIE:         I  is..
TEACHER:     No, Millie..... Always say, 'I  am.'
MILLIE:         All right...  'I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.'      
________________________________


TEACHER:    George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it.  
                   Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?
LOUIS:           Because George still had  the axe in his hand....    
______________________________________  


TEACHER:    Now, Simon , tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SIMON:         No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.  
______________________________


TEACHER:       Clyde , your  composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as your   brother's.. Did you copy his?
CLYDE  :         No, sir. It's the same dog.    
(I want to adopt this kid!!!)
_________________________________


TEACHER:    Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer  interested?
HAROLD:     A teacher
________________________________   

Ode to Mamas Cubanas

 CUBAN MOTHERS
  
The great things my Mom taught me:
  
My mother taught me about RELIGION -
 "Pídele a Dios que yo no te agarre."
  
My Mother taught me about ANTICIPATION - "Deja que lleguemos a la casa, coño!"
 
My Mother taught me about my ROOTS ?
 "Mal-agradecido, cuando yo era chiquita no tenía nada!"
  
My mother taught me about LOGIC ?
 "Cómo que por qué? Porque Si!"
  
My mother taught me about INSPIRATION-
 "Si llegas con malas notas te voy a hacer comer la chancleta"

 My Mother taught me about WISDOM- " Tú crees que te lo sabes todo y no sabes ni limpiarte el culo!"

 My Mother taught me about CONFUSION -
 "Me cago en la Madre que te parió!"
  (Wait, isn 't that her?)

 Que vivan las Madres Cubanas!!!

Via my newest obsession...pintrest!

Howdy! I know I haven't blogged in awhile, but I promise to catch you up on the sweet Jubana-goodyness and updates soon! In the mean time, here are some things that caught my eye on my newest obsession...Pintrest! (if you need an invite, message me :) )



Goodies to satisfy any Despicable Me addicts...




I feel like this fits our place perfectly! Maybe in the Laundry Room perhaps?





A Work in Progress!!



Hairy Potter



I really want to incorporate this into the wedding!

Pretty factual actually :)



I would be a proud card carrying member if we had cards




So Cute!!

 


No Caption Needed...

 



A year of love, laughter, and promise of what is to come...Happy Anniversary

A year ago today we "officially" started dating and I fell in love with the most amazing man on the planet. And to think it all started with a chance meeting online, countless phone calls and texts, followed by a dozen pink roses, a date (which got off to an albeit rocky start), and walk down by the "river" that would change our lives forever. My darling you I dedicate this blog and the song below to you as like you said it's as if it was written for us. Happy one year anniversary baby. I love you.

If I gave you pretty flowers
If I took you out to dinner
If we walked on by the river
Would you invite me in

If we sat down on the sofa
If I told you funny stories
If I moved a little closer
Would you put your hand in mine

If I told you, you were lovely
If I put my arm around you
If I touched you on the shoulder
Would you rest your head on mine

If I took you out to dinner
If I moved a little closer
And I touched you on the shoulder would you make love to me

Oh my darling I have loved you since you took me out to dinner
Since we walked down by the river over 30 years ago
When you told me that you loved me I hadn’t felt so lovely
Since the day I decided that I would marry you

Well I took you out to dinner
And I told you funny stories
And I moved a little closer
And you made love to me

If I gave you pretty flowers
If I took you out to dinner
If we walked down by the river la la la la la la la

Operation Bridal Party is Complete!

Although the big day isn't for over a year it was essential for me to ask my bridal party ASAP, especially because two out of my 5 lovelies live out of state. So here's our timeline...

March 27, 2011: The Day Brad proposed

And because so many of you have asked how it happened...here's our story...

We had been searching for months for the perfect ring and had found some great contenders but none of them were the heavy weight champ of my diamond ring world. Meanwhile Brad had been making plans based on locations (Dallas, Cstat, Austin, and San Antonio) on how and when to ask. Finally, right before I left San Antonio to come back to Cstat we decided to go check out a new outdoor shopping area called the Quarry and right in front of us sat my ring. We walked into the store, tried it on, and instantly fell in love. It was exactly what I was looking for and more. A couple of weeks later when we were back in San Antonio he decided that it was time to buy the ring. The only issue was that the ring wasn't available in SA but was available in Austin but in the wrong size. Despite this, he bought the ring and intended for me to get it resized and then pop the question at another time. So we decided to drive separately to Austin so we could see his parents and try on the ring which ended up working out perfectly because he called my Dad and Abuelo to ask for permission. Once in Austin and at his parents house we went upstairs to his room. He took out the ring and asked me to try it on. Miraculously, it fit perfectly. The next thing I knew he was on his knee asking me if I would spend the rest of my life with him. He said that he knew that I wanted something romantical, but the more and more he planned it, the cornier his ideas got. In the end, he decided that he didn't want to wait anymore to be engaged to me. Cue the waterworks!! And the rest will become our colorful and incredible history and future...

That night after I made my upteen million calls I asked his sister to be one of my bridesmaids and she happily said yes!! Hence the creation of operation bridal party...

The next person that I set out to ask was my MOH (Maid of Honor). To me this was an easy decision. When I think of Maid of Honor I automatically thought of someone who has been an unwaivering person in my life and without their help and encouragement I would have never moved back to Texas. Mindy is one of my best friends and the sister I never had but always wanted. Although we only started hanging out once I moved back I've known this girl for a long time through my brother.

I decided to buy her a cookie with a poem on it and have it shipped to her apartment. The only hiccup was that USPS delivered it to the wrong apartment complex!! For days I was calling the company trying to track down her package and finally it was delivered. On Monday, April 25th, She laughed, cried, and said yes leaving two down and three to go.

The next covert operation was highly secretive and required lots of planning and redirection. Luckily, the flight was already secured and surprises were wrapped in their little boxes, all I had to do was fight my urge to blab and wait for Memorial Day Weekend. Finally the weekend came and the girls picked me up from the airport in KC and we headed to lunch, which fell perfectly in with my plan. Unbeknownst to the girls, I bought two fortune cookies that doubled over as jewelry boxes. Each cookie had a special note inside asking them to be my bridesmaids. Once we were at lunch, ironically of all places, a Japanese restaurant (I know they don't serve fortune cookies there, but hey it was close enough), I gave them their boxes and waited for them to open them. On Saturday, May 28th, With big smiles they accepted, we hugged and chowed down on some delicious sushi, leaving me with one more target to go...

My last and final bridesmaid is my cousin Mica. I've kinda already asked her over the phone but haven't had the chance to ask her in person. I will however see her this weekend so for all intents and purposes, Operation Bridal Party has been completed!!

Now the fun begins!! I love these girls so much and cannot wait to celebrate this important time in my life with them.

Visitando La Frontera...Greetings from Aggies Reaching Out (ARO) South Texas

Salutations from McAllen! This past Sunday we made the trek from College Station (or as my Alle calls it, ECollege Estation) to the valley to work with three middle schools in the McAllen area. The ride down here was nonstop laughing, singing, and joking thanks to our awesome counselors, random walkie talkie talk,  and some albeit, inspiring scenery. After getting a slightly late start we arrived around 7pm and went straight to dinner because these college students needed a well deserved break and food in their tummies. Needless to say after I arrived to our hotel I unpacked and passed out.

My days have started around 6:30am and usually end around 9:30pm but every minute has been worth it. Our middle schools have been our second homes for the past three days and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of such an incredible program. Counselors get to shadow 8th graders for the majority of the day, interacting with them in classes and at lunch as well as after school and both groups have loved every minute.

As an advisor, I have the opportunity to see firsthand the development of our counselors as leaders on this trip and I have no doubt that they will continue to go on to do great things after this program and past graduation. Our students greet each challenge with flexibility, openness, and selflessly work with their Directors to find creative alternatives. Each counselor is unique and have different attributes and talents that make working with them an incredible experience and I know that they are making an invaluable difference in the lives of these 8th graders. Although I may not be an Aggie, but in my opinion as an honorary Aggie, these counselors are a true reflection of what Aggies should stand for, how they should act, and  I know that these students parents and fellow Aggies would be so proud of these students if they were here. Until next time, Thanks and Gig em'!

Reflections of a Post Graduate School Graduate...

CHANGING THE WORLD AND OURSELVES

INTRODUCTION

            

        Mahatma Gandhi once said that in order to change the world we must “be the change we want to see in the world.”  This quote is true and relevant to many of the issues we see today. In opening the newspaper and flipping through channels on TV, headlines about the continued downturn of the economy, fighting oversees, struggles in the streets of our neighborhoods and abroad, and other tragedies spill across the pages and screen. News of positive change, reform, and people standing up for what is right is few and far between. In order for the world to change for the better we must first change ourselves and the way we interact with others. By changing our behaviors and ourselves we can then take the first step in changing the world.  This task of change is not easy and not everyone is welcome or willing to make these changes in themselves. However, there are individuals such as Connie Rice who have inspired change in others and dramatically impacted their communities by bringing people together and finding new ways to communicate. In this paper I will focus on three communication choices outlined in the article; action in reform, maintaining status quo, and silence, describe the ethical implications and impact of these choices, and discuss how these choices can be applied to the current immigration debate.  In order to understand the impact of these choices we must first define them and their relevance to the topic of change and communication.

            In Rice’s article three main communication choices emerge; action in reform, maintaining the status quo, and silence, the first choice we will discuss is action in reform. Action in reform is in essence actively working to change or make a difference in a situation, organization, or cause. In the beginning of the article, we learn that Rice has been actively working to reform the civil rights world through litigation and her involvement through grass-roots organizations. In working with the legal system she has been able to make an impact on a smaller scale and believes that the only way to truly solve problems is through political will and action. Rice felt that she could make a bigger dent in the system by working directly with those groups involved and reforming the system little by little at the same time. Rice made the choice to go against the status quo and bring together groups that had not worked together in the past and make the change from “fighting to communicating” (Lefer 2008, 6). Throughout the interview Rice describes the difficulties and obstacles she faced in bringing a positive change to the community, LAPD, and the gang world. Rice went from suing the department for police brutality and being thrown out of the precinct to eventually helping to reform the way the police, gang-intervention workers, and gang members communicate with each other. For example, in the article she states that the majority of the problems and miscommunication between gangs and the police was based in ignorance of identity. By bringing those involved together and dialoguing about the issues, concerns, and possible solutions she was then able to help the LAPD reform their entire training system. By retraining these officers to communicate rather than use brute force when dealing with gangs and conflict could inspire more positive change and prevent future issues. One of the difficulties in communicating and accomplishing this task is seen in the second communication choice, maintaining the status quo.

            Rice has been able to inspire reform in the LAPD, however a large part of that is due to the willingness of those involved to be a part of the change. The idea of change and plans are simply not enough, one must have support from others to cause change.  In Rice’s case she was fortunate in that she had the backing of the police chief, especially in that in many cases in working against status quo this may not be the situation. In going against what is expected or the status quo can lead to push back from administration or those who wish to standby what has been done in the past, even if these changes are positive or have the potential to make organizational life easier or more efficient. Additionally, many individuals feel that by condoning change their success or position will suffer (Samuelson, 10). For example, Rice mentions in the interview that many of the officers did not want to be involved as they did not feel that, even if they were successful, their work would be rewarded when it came time for being promoted (Lefer 2008, 8).  Therefore, putting their needs and concerns over what was best for the organization. Additional push back may come from factors such as; the fear of the unknown, laziness in conforming to new ideas, or unwillingness to accept new perspectives or ways of thinking. In the end, change may lose its battle as its success relies entirely on those who support it, how much they fight for it, and who is willing to listen to their side. This aspect of listening and reflecting is powerful especially in regards the third communication style of silence.

            As they say at the movies, in the previews before the main attraction, silence is golden. In communicating with others often times more can be said by saying nothing at all. Silence can provide many functions and serve as helpful tool or weapon in times of conflict or discord. For example, being silent during a conversation can convey: 1) disagreement, 2) respect, 3) contemplation, 4) empathy, or 5) the creation of listening space (Stewart, 205). In the article Rice is able to use silence as a tool in bringing together the Bloods and Crips simply by listening and reflecting on their issues, values, and concerns. In doing so she was able to take a closer look at gang life and those involved by doing so she was able to understand the members and what values made up their identity. She found out how and why these youths joined the gangs and the situations that forced them to become involved, embracing as Lederach states, “the complexity of identity, “ realizing that the stories of the gang members were not just black and white (Stewart, 538). In speaking with them and better understanding where their identities were rooted she could help them better than before. Additionally, by building trust and credibility, Rice was able to become a resource in their world. At first they slammed the door in her face when two rival gangs were trying to come to a truce but welcomed her as “their research assistant, “ when they found that she had valuable information and resources to aid in communicating with each other (Lefer 2008, 7).  Rice took this information to the police to help as Rice states “rewrite the script” and change the perception of these groups so that the police and gang-intervention workers are more willing to work with them rather than against them. Rice continued to use silence as a similar tool in working with the LAPD. Just as she listened to the gang members and their stories, she met with the police officers to hear their perspectives and concerns. Rice also saw the importance in, as Lederach states, “trying to never ignore or talk away someone’s perception. Instead try to understand where it’s rooted” (Stewart, 538). Through these conversations Rice was able to better understand those involved, their concerns, and by embracing “the complexity” of the situation different perspectives that were ignored in the past were able to come to light, making it easier to find solutions. In working with all three-communication choices Rice was able to successfully build bridges between groups that has not worked together previously and bring about solutions that have had a lasting affect on the community. However, these choices did not come without challenges to Rice’s ethical values and integrity.

            As Lederach states, “conflict is normal in human relationships, and conflict is a motor of change” (Stewart, 533). By maintaining trust, honesty, compassion, and empathy throughout her interactions with these groups Rice was able to transform conflict into resolution and positive change. In incorporating both action in reform and silence into her strategy Rice also relied heavily on creating and maintaining credibility. By getting to know those in power, sitting down with them and talking about their leadership and opportunities to make a positive change in the community, a new sense of responsibility was created. Gang members no longer saw themselves as Crips and Bloods, they held themselves to a new ethical standard as community leaders. Police officers saw guns and brute force as the only solution to the violence. In Rice’s own words, she was “trying to clear a place where new ideas can be vetted and tested.  We have to create some safe zones for innovative people in both camps” (Lefer 2008, 10). In combating status quo Rice used her success with those in management and around her to prove to those on the fence that she was a credible source and was working in their best interest allowing the process to move more smoothly. Had Rice not built her credibility or had the buy in of those involved this obstacle would have been more difficult to get around. At anytime Rice could have given up or chose to work with one side more than the other however because of her strong communication skills Rice was able to cause a lasting positive change.  Rice proves that change is possible and political leaders can learn a lot from her and her experiences especially in regards to dealing with national issues such as immigration.

            Immigration has been a long debated topic in the U.S. and continues to be one of the hot buttons within legislation. Because immigration is not one sided and effects so many people there is not a common voice or perspective on the issue. Additionally, because of stereotypes, ignorance, and false perceptions no one wants to hear the voice of the immigrants or those who support their struggle in the debate. Decision makers and political leaders should learn from Rice’s approach. By incorporating more honest and open dialogue with those involved, actively listening to their concerns and values, and working together to find potential solutions some of the negativity surrounding the debate could be eliminated. This will not completely eliminate the issues within the debate however it is a step in the right direction and would be able to allow for some clarity and change of perspective. Rice challenges us to be open to communicating with others and take the time to really listen to them. If this can be accomplished we can together be the change we want to see in the world.

References

Griffin, E. (2006) A first look at communication theory New York NY; McGraw-Hill

Kouzes, J. M. & Posner, B. Z. (2003). Credibility: How leaders gain and lose it, Why people demand it. Jossey-Bass: San Francisco.

Lefer, D. (2008) Both sides Connie Rice lays down the law to cops and gangs; The Sun April 2008 (issue 388), pp.4-11

Samuelson, W. & R. J. Zeckhauser. (1988). Status quo bias in decision making. Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 1, pp. 7-59.

Stewart, J. (2006) Bridges not walls [9^th Ed] New York, NY; McGraw-Hill

Hermanas Por Vida Hoy y Por Siempre: My letter of appreciation and love to Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc

Dearest Sigma Lambda Gamma,

As you know, on May 3, 2002 10:36:10 pm, I along with my amazing and incredible line sisters, A'sha and Cherie, joined a sisterhood that would forever change my life. Throughout my college career (and give or take a few years after) I endured difficulties with my grades, gained and lost friends, faced confusion in regards to my future and career, battled and survived depression and an abusive relationship, and took significant steps in journeying toward the road that would lead me to becoming the woman I am today. Without the love, support, and guidance of my hermanas I would not have been nearly as successful. This is why I dedicate these thoughts and memories to you. 

   

Since graduating from college, I have lived in Dallas, Tampa, and now College Station, and no matter where I have gone I have taken SLG with me. When living in Tampa, I met some incredible sisters whom made my life and transition as a Floridian so seamless. We had some incredible times and definitely heated up the dance floor on occasion. I'm so thankful for their love, support, and welcoming me into their lives. I miss them and think of them often. 

 

Now that I've returned to the lonestar state my love for my sisters has only grown stronger. Through our incredible listserv, I was introduced to the Legendary Lambda Alpha Chapter and am now proudly serving as their Alumni Advisor. Through them I have been introduced some pretty cool fellow alumni in Houston whom I'm proud to call my hermanas.  

And although my journey still has many stops along the way to come, I know that my hermanas and the invaluable lessons that I have learned from them with forever remain in my heart. Thank you Sigma Lambda Gamma for changing my life and allowing me to be a Gamma.

Hermanas Por Vida,

Melanie "Querida" Weiser

Ship La Voz

Spring 02

The Divine Delta Alpha Chapter

University of Kansas