Fragment: SPAIN

Ok...so I finally accept it: I'M IN SPAIN!
It has taken me some time to finally appreciate the fact that I am HERE. But I finally realized, I am exactly where I've been wanting to be for quite a while.

Having coffee with my girlfriend every morning before she goes off to work; stopping at random smokey bars for a cafe con leche and a bocadillo; taking the metro to the city centre making myself believe I'm a local; wandering through the tiny, maze-like streets of the Gothic Quarter; eating the super lunch menu at charming restaurants (which includes 2 entrees, bread, wine and dessert); hunting for unique accesories
on which to spend my little euros; jumping of joy every time I bump into an antiques fair or any other street fair; walking around with a map and NOT getting lost (!); eating lots of bread at all hours of the day; drinking wine and/or coffee at every stop I make; fascinated by the "living statues" on Las Ramblas; photographing the amazing architecture of Gaudi at Casa Batllo, La Pedrera and La Sagrada Familia; walking through the magical Parc Güell; reading, writing and spending lots of time with myself; hostelling and meeting other wanderers (love it!); "renfe-ing" my way to Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid...hmmm...

NOT BAD, eh?

Fragment: HP image ;)

Sooooooo...to my surprise, last night a friend from college said hello while chatting through Facebook and said: "Dar, I have something for you! I had to go buy office supplies for work (mostly ink for printers) and I saw your face on the HP ink boxes! I cut it out to send it to you...it HAS to be you!"


JAJAJAJAJAJAJA...I was laughing non-stop for the next half-hour :)

So yea, I got this random gig in July 2006 while trying to live in NY/NJ...I was looking for jobs when I bumped into a casting for HP. I was like, "what do I have to lose?"...they were looking for "real people", meaning, NO MODELS! Not sure if to feel offended or happy about having gotten the job JAJA. So, I went to the casting. Basically, I wrote my name on a sheet of paper, posed for a photographer as if I were going to jail ;) (front, profiles) and walked out. Two days later, I got a call! YEY!!!!

It was such a wonderful day! A great and memorable experience! I was a REAL PEOPLE, but let me tell you that I DID get to BE a MODEL for one day!!! It was AWSOME :)

So pampered! Getting hair, make-up, nails done...the fashion stylist trying a million clothes on me as if I were a doll...she was so hyped! (and so was I!)

They did some great shots! Don't know why they only used this picture (which I actually don't like at all). But another friend of mine just told me (through Facebook, once again...don't you love FACEBOOK?!) that another friend told her that she bought a laptop and saw my face on the box JAJAJAJA... I'm intrigued if they used the same unliked-by-me picture. So, if any of you bump into one, pls let me know ;)

Anyways, apparently my image has been out in the market since April 2007 and I didn't have a clue. NICE!

Don't you just love the little, random surprises that life throws one's way?

My dad sent me an e-mail this morning saying he immediately went to the store to buy a couple of these inks JAJAJA (see? I can't stop laughing!) and said it felt so cool to go to the store and see my face repeatedly on the products. Awww, proud daddy :)

Hey! I wanna see me! Well, for now, I found this image online.

Thanks Angelito for letting me know about this ;) I think this actually made my day! JAJAJAJA!
P.S. When I get back home I'll upload like two more photos I have from the HP shoot (which I like much better).

Fragment: BLISSFUL SOLITUDE

As I wander through the charming, little streets of Madrid, I wonder: What ever happened to BLISSFUL SOLITUDE?

Everyone that knows me KNOWS how much I enjoy being by myself...whether I'm just hanging out at home or traveling around. I've never understood when friends have told me: "Please come with me! I don't want to go ALONE!" My response to that has always been: "WHAT?! I always WANT to go ALONE!"

I've always been characterized as one that enjoys solitude a bit too much. I've never had a problem with traveling ALONE, going to the movies ALONE, drinking a bottle of wine ALONE, sitting at a restaurant ALONE, having a cup of coffee ALONE (well, with a book in hand, so not that ALONE)...and all these times, I've felt BLISS. I'm always ranting on how great it is to enjoy SOLITUDE!

So, today, it comes to my great surprise, that...for the first time in ages...I FEEL ALONE...scary!

I am exactly where I've been wanting to be in, like, FOREVER! Spain! I've dreamt of walking through these tiny, cobblestone streets hunting for unique treasures...and I HAVE! But, I feel...incomplete...a weird sense of emptiness. I don't want to walk these streets and find these treasures...ALONE...and it is SOOO weird to feel this way.

Maybe...deep inside, my heart knows...I was not supposed to be here...ALONE...

"My new favorite lantern"

My little brother sent me a small treasure this morning...an e-mail that read:

"Isn't this just the best video in the world? And your in it! You lucky girl you."

...and this video:



This is me dancing with my late "tio" at a Thanksgiving party in New York, 2004. I remember this day perfectly and how I felt dancing with him. He was such a great DANCER! Just look at that turn!! Seems like we rehearsed it or something ;)

And you know what I just noticed while watching the clip? The merengue that we are dancing to is Juan Luis Guerra's "FAROLITO", which translates to "Little Lantern". You guys have read about my fascination with lanterns, especially little ones. Well, I've received today the most precious little lantern of all.

I miss you Tio...now I have a little lantern that holds an eternal image of me and you :)

Thanks, Guevs!