The Summer So Far

So I am now officially on summer break from work. I feel happy and liberated, and am ready to have another fun summer.

I have already started on the fun. This week alone I have not rested much at night since Monday.

Tuesday night I was visited by Miss Wendy and Ariel. They were in the neighborhood and dropped by the house for an aperitif. I then joined them for dinner at The Brite Spot, which is not the most ideal dining place but Miss Wendy wanted a good salad.

Nonetheless, it was great seeing them together.

Wednesday was the last day of school for my students. That night I went to the Greek Theatre with Karina and her friends to see Nelly Furtado perform. It was a free ticket, and I had no idea the night would end up being so much fun. Ms. Furtado is quite the performer, and for nearly 2 hours she kept us entertained singing all of her greatest hits.

Thursday was my last day of work. At night, I got together with some work friends. We went to Dockweiler State Beach to see the sunset and enjoy a nice bonfire. We brought plenty to eat with us. I made a nice big pitcher of sangria, which we all enjoyed. And our friend Julio provided the music with his i-pod and a set of speakers he had for it. It was also fun to lay in that beach and see so many airplanes fly above you. Dockweiler is just west of LAX...

Friday during the day, I was a total bum, and loved it! I read the newspaper. Went online frequently. Watched a DVD. And talked on the phone all day. At night I got together with friends from work again and went to see this Spanish band named Ojos de Brujo perform at Watercourt Plaza downtown as part of the Grand Performances summer series. It was a lot of fun. I have been going to see shows there in the summer for over 10 years now. And it amazing how these shows get more popular every year. I love it!

Yesterday, I relaxed most of the day again. I watch another movie at home and at night I went to Raquel's birthday party. Something I am looking forward to this summer is watching as many movies at home as I possibly can. With Netflix I like to have mini film festivals or retrospectives of certain directors' or actors' work. A couple of summers ago I rented a bunch of Cary Grant, Bette Davis, and Katherine Hepburn movies. Last summer I watched at least ten Hitchcock films I had never seen before. I also learned that Elizabeth Taylor at one point was indeed the prettiest girl in the world. I've also brushed up on Luis Buñuel, François Truffault, Federico Fellini... It is almost like taking a film history class.

Anyway, I leave you now with a clip from a movie by French auteur François Ozon. He's been called the French Almodovar. His films are a little darker however... Next to Almodovar, Ozon is one of my favorite directors living today. Enjoy!

Water Drops on Burning Rocks

Personality Test

I recently took this online personality test and this is what it said about me:

Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion |||||||||||||| 60% Stability |||||||||||||||||| 76% Orderliness |||||||||||| 46% Accommodation |||||||||||||||| 63% Interdependence |||||||||||||| 56% Intellectual |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Mystical |||||||||||| 50% Artistic |||||||||||||||| 70% Religious |||||| 30% Hedonism |||||||||||||||||| 76% Materialism |||||||||||||||| 63% Narcissism |||||||||||||||||| 76% Adventurousness |||||||||||||||| 63% Work ethic |||||||||||| 50% Self absorbed |||||||||| 36% Conflict seeking |||||| 23% Need to dominate |||||||||||| 50% Romantic |||||||||||| 43% Avoidant |||| 16% Anti-authority |||||||||||| 43% Wealth |||||||||||||| 56% Dependency |||||||||||| 50% Change averse |||||||||||||||| 70% Cautiousness |||||| 30% Individuality |||||||||||||||||| 76% Sexuality |||||||||||||||||||| 90% Peter pan complex |||||||||||| 43% Physical security |||||||||||||||||| 76% Physical Fitness |||||||||||| 44% Histrionic |||||| 23% Paranoia |||||||||| 36% Vanity |||||||||||||| 56% Hypersensitivity |||||||||| 36% Indie |||||||||||||||| 66%

Take Free Advanced Global Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

And it also said that I am:

social, outgoing, worry free, optimistic, upbeat, tough, likes large parties, makes friends easily, rarely irritated, open, enjoys leadership, trusting, dominant, thrill seeker, strong, does not like to be alone, assertive, mind over heart, confident, controlling, feels desirable, likes the spotlight, loves food, social chameleon, hard working, concerned about others

What do you think?

"Porque Te Vas"- Jeanette

Lately (Again)

Last C.D. I Listened to:

I just got Air's POCKET SYMPHONIES on the mail from Amazon. I put it on to listen to it as I worked at home, but was not too impressed. Maybe I need to listen to it some more and the record will grow on me. Normally, I am a big Air fan!

Last Movie I Saw:

On D.V.D.: I watched Alfred Hitchcock's MARNIE, starring Tippi Hedren and Sean Connery. It was really good. Hedren and Connery have wonderful chemistry together, even though Hedren's character continuously rejects Connery's. They are both incredibly attractive in it.
At the movies: I went to see SHREK THE THIRD two weekends ago with my friend Joanne. I have to admit I don't go to the movies much these days. I see almost everything in D.V.D. nowadays. I found this third installment better than the second one. My favorite characters remain Donkey and Puss n' Boots. They crack me up!

Last Thing I Watched on T.V.:

This morning I watched GOOD DAY L.A. as I always do while I am getting ready to go to work. But last night I got together with friends to watch the final episode of THE SOPRANOS. It was great. I loved it!!!

Last Person I Talked on the Phone With:

Carmela Pimentel (not Soprano) :)

Last Time I Had to Deal With an Ant Situation at Home:

An hour ago! We had the dryest winter and spring this year. As a result, ants have been invading my bathroom, my kitchen counters and cat food three months sooner than normally expected. To keep ants away from the cat food, I put a saucer with water under the dish that holds my cats' food and that usually keeps them away . But all it takes is for my cats to spill one tiny kibble on the floor for ants to be everywhere. If I spill water on the floor, around the sink, or on the counter, ants will be there. I am tired of killing ants!

Last Time I Had People Over:

Saturday! I had a barbecue at home in honor of my mother's 59th birthday. My sisters, Frank, Francisco, Victoria, my aunt Consuelo, and KIndred Gottlieb with her partner Antony and their new almost-month-old baby Genevieve were all here to celebrate with my mother. On the menu we had: chicken shish-kabbobs, carne asada, arroz con frijoles negros, grilled zucchini, peppers, and scallions, corn on the cob, and cake from Queen's Bakery in Chinatown. It was quite a feast. I also made a big pitcher of sangria...

Getting Fit For Summer...

I joined an exercise class at the Silver Lake Recreational Center. It is three days a week, and for the last three months I have been pretty good about trying to go to class regularly. Monday nights we do Pilates. Tuesday night's class is step aerobics with Yoga stretching exercises in the end. And Thursday nights our instructor, Maruca (I love her name!), incorporates Latin dance into her aerobic routines. I absolutely love this class! And I am happy that I look forward to going to each one.