Memories on my wrist

Not that I have that many jewels, but I finally went through (most) of my jewel boxes and came up with many charms. I separated them into three groups: the golden ones, the silver colored ones and the religious ones.

Each group of charms was turned into a wonderful bracelet. You might remember my talented friend, Maribel. Thanks to her, I don't have to keep my charms hidden in a box, but I can enjoy all the memories that each one of them brings me. Most of them have been gifts, others I got as a souvenir from some place that I have visited and others represent a milestone of my life (like high school graduation). I absolutely love this idea!

Chronicle of my birthday

I mentioned before that my birthday celebration this year was to go out with Ishan last Saturday night. We went to my favorite place in Erlangen where they play Latinamerican music and I had a couple of Baileys...yum!

On Monday evening Fabi had surprised me by singing "¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Mamá! while playing with the balloons that Alonso had left for him the previous day.

Tuesday 13th, the actual day of my birthday, was really special because it was Fabi's first day at his playgroup. Jetlag is officially over and it was the day when we got up the earliest since we came back from Costa Rica. We headed for the Mütterzentrum and met Fabi´s playmates. There are eight children in total (including Fabi): 4 boys and 4 girls. The group includes a pair of 3-yr. old twin girls (who speak Russian and German) and a pair of twin boys (who speak Urkrainian and German). They will get together every Tuesday and Friday from 9:00am to 12 noon. Since it was the first day, I stayed with them the whole time, but I will slowly start leaving Fabi alone until he realizes that he can stay there by himself and then I come back for him at the end of the session.

Fabi did a watercolor painting, had a snack and played outside in the sandbox. As we were leaving, he was proudly showing his work of art.

Check out my birthday card:

After Fabi´s playgroup was over, I was going to head towards Subway to have my birthday lunch, but we happened to walk by McDonald´s and Fabi managed to change my mind: I know the Happy Meal is healthy there (milk, salad, fruits and fish sticks) - and we get a toy!

After lunch we crossed the street and Fabi spent some time in the children´s section of our favorite bookstore while I browsed the calendar section. It was getting cold and so after a short visit to the Arcaden, we waited for the bus (no. 287) that would take us home again.

We came home just in time to have a chatting session with Fabi´s family in Mumbai. At the same time Masaladad came home, packed his bag and left on a business trip to...India!

One of the things I really enjoyed was getting messages from friends (some whom I hadn´t been in touch with for a while). So many nice birthday wishes came in the form of phone calls, e-mails, e-cards, blog comments, messenger lines, Orkut scraps and Hi-5 messages!

As you can see, it was a nice, blessed, memorable -albeit cakeless- birthday!

sechs und dreißig

I came back to Germany a week ago. During this past week, my brother was here visiting us. Now he has left and I feel as if I actually just landed in Erlangen. I still have to finish unpacking. It feels as if I´m waking up after a long dream...and now I have to face the reality of our German life here:

• I must do something to improve my German;
• the drastic change to cold weather;
• Fabi will be starting a playgroup this week!

On top of that, Ishan is packing for a short business trip to India, we´re in the process of extending our visas here and it´s very likely that Ishan will be in China during most of the month of December. With all of this in mind...I forgot about my birthday!

It´s because I already got a couple of e-greetings from some of my friends that I am now aware of today´s date. My motto this year is: "Remember my birthday, forget my age!" (Not that there´s anything wrong with being 36!)

Anyway, I did manage to "go out on a date" with Ishan last Saturday (while my brother -bless his soul- babysat for Fabi). That in itself is such a rare thing that it counts as a nice birthday celebration! :)

Happy "13140th month", Masalamom! :o

Hace una semana regresé a Alemania. La semana pasada mi hermano estuvo de visita por acá. Ahora que ya se fue, siento como si yo acabara de regresar a Erlangen. Todavía tengo que terminar de desempacar. Siento como si me estuviera despertando de un sueño muy largo...y ahora tengo que enfrentar la realidad de nuestra vida en Alemania:

Tengo que hacer algo para mejorar mi alemán,

el cambio drástico al clima frío,

¡Fabián empieza esta semana a asistir a un grupo de juego!

Además, Ishan está empacando para un corto viaje de negocios a India, estamos en medio del proceso de prolongar nuestras visas alemanas y es muy probable que Ishan pase en China durante la mayor parte del mes de diciembre. ¡Con todo esto se me había olvidado que era mi cumpleaños!

La razón por la que sé la fecha de hoy es porque desde ayer he recibido varios saludos de felicitación por Internet. Mi lema de este año es: "Recordar mi cumpleaños y olvidar mi edad!" (Aunque no hay nada malo con cumplir 36 años!)

De todas formas, el sábado pasado logré tener una cita con Ishan (mientras mi hermano -Dios lo bendiga!- cuidó a Fabián). Esa concesión fue tan exclusiva que cuenta como una buena celebración de cumpleaños! :)

Time Travel

I just love these coincidences.

Befreit

I had been secretly dreaming about getting a hair cut lately. Céline´s new look and the fact that Irfan said he would also go for a trim today made me get into action. MasalaDad´s shock will hopefully wear off in a few weeks hours.

Celebrity Look-Alikes

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY TO ¡Masala Fabi, Pura Vida!

I started this blog one year ago today. In the true style of 'traditional blogging' -narcissism aside- I thought I'd celebrate my first blogging anniversary by posting '101 Things about Me'. As part of the celebration, join in the fun and let me know '101 Things about You'...or just 10, 5 or even 1!

101 Things about Me

1-The name on my Baptism record appears as: Mariluz Auxiliadora Bogarin Bonilla.
2-I *heart* chocolate.
3-I was an AFS exchange student in 1989. (Az., USA)
4-It was one of the best years of my life.
5-I have hiked the Grand Canyon.
6-I did a scuba diving course.
7-I have scuba dived once in the open sea (and several times in a swimming pool while training).
8-In primary school I got the nickname of ‘Gazu’*. It passed on to my high school friends and some people still call me that. *If you’re curious, remind me to tell you the story of why I got this nickname.
9-I used to be near sighted. (-5.5 L; -8.3 R)
10-Until I had laser eye surgery.
11-I love to read and have always wished I had more time to read books.
12-I went to a public kindergarden and primary school with boys and girls.
13-I went to a semiprivate all-girls Catholic high school.
14-I knew I wanted to study computer science since I was in 9th grade.
15-I remember having a computer in my house since I was in high school (The monitor had a black screen with orange bold letters).
16-I have ALWAYS hated cooking. (And I probably always will.)
17-'B'+ve: "it's my blood type, it's my motto" –Jack Gallo.
18-I've roller skated and ice skated, but I'm not a really good skater.
19-I have enjoyed bowling.
20-I love swimming.
21-I love the Internet (Thanks to Tim Berners-Lee and Vincent Cerf among others!).
22-One day I will see the Himalayas.
23-I never thought I would go to India and have my picture taken in front of the Taj Mahal.
24-I never thought of myself as a 'mom' person.
25-So far, I think I'm doing a pretty good job and I'm also enjoying it.
26-I'm not sure which is my earliest childhood memory, but I remember having a very happy childhood.
27-I used to fight a lot with my brothers.
28-My favorite color is blue.
29-My teenage years were in the 80's, but I consider myself a 90's person.
30-I love techno/electronic music. (See no. 29).
31-I remember the first time I saw snow.
32-I love dancing.
33-I would like to speak fluent German.
34-I should also learn some Hindi (and Marathi!).
35-I really admire my parents.
36-I love to travel.
37-I don't really like talking much on the phone.
38-My Dad taught me how to play chess.
39-I've never had a pet.
40-I love pictures and would like to have my own photo studio someday or print my pictures as postcards.
41-I love shopping.
42-I'm in my middle 30's and I've never owned a car. (!)
43-One day I will go to Italy.
44-I have survived several earthquakes and one hurricane (Hurricane Georges in '98, Dominican Republic).
45-My favorite childhood T.V. program is "Sesame Street" (but I'm sure you already knew that!)
46-I celebrated my 18th B-Day in USA and my 30th B-Day in Germany.
47-I've only voted in the Costa Rican presidential elections once in my life. Other times, I've been abroad.
48-I think it *IS* a small world.
49-I don't believe in luck.
50-It's 2:00 am and I'm still half way through this list.
51-I'm a soccer fan only during the World Cup Championships.
52-I will never understand why people like boxing and cricket.
53-I have never smoked.
54-I've never been drunk, but I have been 'tipsy'.
55-I took a course on 'wine appreciation'. The graduation dinner was a 'tipsy' moment indeed.
56-I love blogging. I wish to blog for a living.
57-I melt everytime my baby boy looks into my eyes.
58-Once I wished I could go to the Love Parade and then in 2003 I did!
59-I took a ride on the 'Maid of the Midst' in Niagara Falls.
60-I have gone camping twice in my lifetime. I rather go to a nice hotel.Thankyouverymuch.
61-When I was a kid, my family used to have 'hot-dog nights' on Saturdays.
62-I like to visit museums every once in a while, especially when I am in a different country than my own.
63-I also enjoy a visit to the zoo.
64-Before living in the caribbean island of Dominican Republic, I never knew the difference between the rhythms of 'salsa' and 'merengue', with this last one being my 'new favorite'.
65-Speaking of Dom. Republic, I once ran across Sammy Sosa in person!
66-I would love to learn karate.
67-I used to go to the movies with my Mom. I wish I could go the movies more often.
68-When I was in college I used to go to classical music concerts with my Dad.
69-In life, I have gotten everything I've wanted.
70-I love browsing through toy and bookstores.
71-I should practice the 'speed reading' technique I learned a few years ago.
72-I've been to Las Vegas twice, but I've never played in a casino.
73-I can't draw to save my life.
74-My worst nightmare is the one in which I dream that my teeth are falling.
75-I rarely remember what I dream during the night.
76-I rode a boat with fishermen once and came back with fish for dinner. Best fish I've ever had!

77-I tried snow skiing once. I didn't like it so much. It's hard!

78-The highest altitude ice palace in the world brings me romantic memories.
79-I've flown over the Nazca lines and have been to Ballestas Islands, Macchu Picchu and Cusco in Peru: simply majestic!
80-I prefer English with an American accent.
81-I like sushi.
82-I would like to be able to eat with Chinese chopsticks.
83-I have gone white water rafting twice (once to Pacuare River in Costa Rica and in some other river in Dominican Republic.)
84-I don't play any musical instrument.
85-I would like to be a good pool player and impress anyone who challenges me to a game.
86-"I'm a professional." ...
87-..."Professional what?" The previous quotes are from my all time favorite movie: "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".
88- I've visited Paris, France twice.
89-I'm not a fan of any movie or entertainment star. They're only human.
90-If I could design my own house the library/computer room would be much bigger than the kitchen.
91-I would be a very bad salesperson.
92-In the western horoscope I'm a 'scorpion', and in the chinese horoscope I'm a 'pig'.
93-I agree: I'm a P.I.G.!!! Pretty Intelligent Girl!
94-I'm a procrastinator.
95-I should exercise more.
96-I would like to meditate more readings from the Bible.
97-I was in Caracas, Venezuela for one week.
98-I admire people who study medicine.
99-I don't feel my age.
100-I like to receive old fashioned air mail.
101-Did I mention I love chocolate?