Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Coffee, please.
How did it get to be October already? I feel like such an adult when I say things like that, or things like, "This year has just flown by, where has the time gone?" I was just sitting here at my desk, (yes, gasp, I'm supposed to be working right now not writing a quick little blog!) thinking about my life. I keep forgetting I'm thirty years old, but then I look around and I see a coffee cup on my desk instead of a 64 oz Mountain Dew. I remember I sat down and ate a bowl of Special K cereal for breakfast this morning instead of running out the door and grabbing a cookie. I look at my desk which is covered in sticky notes with "To Do" lists, instead of lists covered in ingredients to make a new drink I heard about on MTV. There are framed pictures on my desk and pictures pinned on the wall next to me of kids I have worked with over the last seven years, my nephews, my niece, pictures kids have made me, instead of pictures of me throwing deuces and taking a shot. I look around at all this stuff and it's like I just realized I grew up. So I reach over pick up my coffee cup, take a big swig, and it just seems right. Wait....when did I start drinking coffee?
Sunday, July 19, 2009
So, you're Arabic?
There are few moments in my life that have left me speechless. When I recall a speechless moment each one is preceded by a negative or undeniably ignorant act or comment made by someone to me, inevitably about my "ethnicity".
Certain memorable comments come to mind:
1. A middle aged man stopping me outside my office building in early summer a few years ago to ask me "How'd you get your skin so dark?", in quite the accusatory tone. When I stopped, turned, and said, "Excuse me?", he again repeated his inquisitive request. He then went on to ask me if the jewelry I was wearing was "Mexican jewelry", and wanted to know my dad's name, because he "...knew some Mexicans, so I probably know him."
2. I was once at a volunteer recruiting event on campus with other respectable community businesses. A professional woman had left her booth to make the rounds and scope out the competition. Upon her arrival at my booth, she noticed my name tag and asked me where I was from. When I responded with the name of my small Kansas hometown, she looked at me bewildered and shook her head a little as if I were lying to her. She then asked about the origin of my last name, and I explained Dad's family originated in Mexico. She then nodded her head with approval, obviously getting the answer she wanted, and promptly directed me to come to her booth and speak with "...a little girl I have over there from El Salvador. I'm sure you'll get along great!" I'm sorry, when did Mexico and El Salvador become the same country, and when did I ever say I spoke any form of Spanish?
3. At one point in my life I was reminded by someone I barely knew that "If it weren't for Mexicans there would be no one to clean my pool or mow my lawn." Also apparently, pool bars should only be built in the fall because "...that is when Mexicans work the cheapest."
4. Another time I was harassed by an older man at my favorite bar who argued with me that I had to be Arabic. Apparently it was not acceptable that half of my background was Mexican because I obviously was Arabic.
And finally, the comment that brought all the previous events back to the forefront of my mind...
5. "So I was working on Ft. Riley the other day and there are a bunch of roofing jobs getting done over there. I looked around and every single guy on that roof was a Mexican." (Guy turns, makes eye contact with me, nothing but a serious tone in his voice) "So Jennifer, what does your Dad do, some type of construction?"
So, lesson learned, there will never be a shortage of ignorant, mindless, or snide people that I will at some point be blessed to interact with in life. Here is what I say to them, "Bring it!"
Certain memorable comments come to mind:
1. A middle aged man stopping me outside my office building in early summer a few years ago to ask me "How'd you get your skin so dark?", in quite the accusatory tone. When I stopped, turned, and said, "Excuse me?", he again repeated his inquisitive request. He then went on to ask me if the jewelry I was wearing was "Mexican jewelry", and wanted to know my dad's name, because he "...knew some Mexicans, so I probably know him."
2. I was once at a volunteer recruiting event on campus with other respectable community businesses. A professional woman had left her booth to make the rounds and scope out the competition. Upon her arrival at my booth, she noticed my name tag and asked me where I was from. When I responded with the name of my small Kansas hometown, she looked at me bewildered and shook her head a little as if I were lying to her. She then asked about the origin of my last name, and I explained Dad's family originated in Mexico. She then nodded her head with approval, obviously getting the answer she wanted, and promptly directed me to come to her booth and speak with "...a little girl I have over there from El Salvador. I'm sure you'll get along great!" I'm sorry, when did Mexico and El Salvador become the same country, and when did I ever say I spoke any form of Spanish?
3. At one point in my life I was reminded by someone I barely knew that "If it weren't for Mexicans there would be no one to clean my pool or mow my lawn." Also apparently, pool bars should only be built in the fall because "...that is when Mexicans work the cheapest."
4. Another time I was harassed by an older man at my favorite bar who argued with me that I had to be Arabic. Apparently it was not acceptable that half of my background was Mexican because I obviously was Arabic.
And finally, the comment that brought all the previous events back to the forefront of my mind...
5. "So I was working on Ft. Riley the other day and there are a bunch of roofing jobs getting done over there. I looked around and every single guy on that roof was a Mexican." (Guy turns, makes eye contact with me, nothing but a serious tone in his voice) "So Jennifer, what does your Dad do, some type of construction?"
So, lesson learned, there will never be a shortage of ignorant, mindless, or snide people that I will at some point be blessed to interact with in life. Here is what I say to them, "Bring it!"
Monday, June 22, 2009
Weekend of Parties
The party was great. My friend Travis made a wanted poster that was hanging on the door of The Kathouse, and every where it could possibly be inside the bar, even on the bathroom door. I wish I had a copy, I would post it on here. It looked like and old western wanted poster, with a picture of me, Jennifer "El Zapato" Anguiano, wanted for "Crimes against Pomtinis", and a bounty on my head of $63.50. It was also clearly stated on the poster I was not allowed to pay for a drink on my own all night, which is exactly what happened! The place looked great, and it was just so nice to have so many of my close friends and family there to help me celebrate. A million thank yous to Becky, Sarah, and Travis. The three of you are so special to me and such a big part of my life. I appreciate all the time and work you put in to make this a special night for me, you mean the world to me!
Sunday it was time to head home and celebrate Father's Day and have another birthday celebration with my parents and my sisters and their families. One of the many things I love about my family, is every year we get a birthday dinner and the birthday honoree gets to pick the menu. Mom usually wants chicken and biscuits; Dad always has homemade tamales, enchiladas, fideo, and re-fried beans (this is one of my favorite days of the year for many reasons); Kari has enchiladas and fideo; Natalie always picks homemade bierocks, soup mac salad, and occasionally carrot souffle, and since my birthday is in the summer we usually just grill out and I must have my Grandma Wetzel's macaroni salad. This year was no exception, with the added birthday dessert of homemade lemon meringue pie. It was a delicious meal, just like always.
After gorging ourselves on all the yummy food, we gave our presents to Dad for Father's Day. I think TheYankeeYears was a hit, and I requested he begin reading it first so he could then hand it over to me. My parents and sisters then gave me wonderful gifts for my birthday. Mom and Dad gave me my first string of pearls, which are beautiful, along with some bamboo bracelets and sparkly flip flops, Kari, Tim and the boys gave me a Oregon Scientific weather radio, and Natalie and family gave me the Melody Gardot record, My One and Only Thrill, which I cannot stop listening to.
It means so much to me that every year I get to celebrate my birthday like this with my family. We have such a strong family, and we have had our hard times, our up and downs, our arguments and ugly moments with each other, but we come through it every time, stronger and wiser, and never doubting the love and support we have for one another. My family has created a base to my life that will forever be sturdy, it will never sway, and it is something I never have to worry about losing. I am grateful every single day I am a part of this family.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Beginning of a new decade
When I was younger I would shut myself in my room for hours on end and just write. I would make up stories, I would write about what was important in my life, my family, my friends, when I would get my first kiss. It was my escape, my release. As I got older I continued to write, I have three journals filled with the trials of a pre-teen, a teenager trying to figure out where I fit and who were my friends, does he really like me, and a young woman starting out on my own trying to figure out how to control this new found independence without losing sight of what it was I wanted my life to be, and then trying to figure out exactly what I did want my life to be. I recently reread some of those past entries and they all brought me back to the exact place and time in my life I was writing about. Some very happy moments, some sad moments, some life altering moments, but all vital to forming me into the person I am today.
On Monday, June 15, 2009 I hit a milestone in my life and turned 30 years old. I decided this was worthy of documentation, I should preserve what my life was like at 30 so when I’m 40 I’ll have this along with my middle school years, high school years, and twenties to reread and reflect on and share with the people in my life. So that’s how this lovely blog came about. I cannot guarantee how often I will write on here or that it will be a chronicle of some whirlwind single life living on the edge every day, but it will be my life, the only one out there.
Last weekend I spent my pre-birthday weekend with my two beautiful friends Brooke and Molly. Brooke flew down from Denver, I flew out of Kansas City, and we converged on Molly’s house in Dallas for the weekend. It is rare for Molly, Brooke, and I to be able to enjoy each other’s company together so we spent the majority of the weekend drinking wine, smoking cigarettes, catching up on each other’s lives, and of course dishing on all the hometown gossip. We enjoyed a spa day, for the most part, until the pedicure lady sprayed glue on my feet instead of the quick dry, and my manicure peeled off the next day, we shopped, and went through all of Molly’s wedding plans. The girls also surprised me with a beautiful birthday gift, a delicate star necklace from Tiffany and Co! And the only reason I mention the Tiffany, is because it was my first little blue box and white satin ribbon (some of you ladies know what a big deal this is). It was a wonderful, relaxing weekend with two of my favorite people in the entire world. These girls have been a part of my life for over half my life. They are amazing women and true life long friends. Thank you, I love you!
Saturday, in two days, two of my other favorite people in the whole world, my dear friends Becky and Sarah, have planned a 30th birthday celebration for me. I know they have worked very hard putting this together, and have been quite secretive about what is to be expected so I’m a little anxious about it, but so excited to have my friends and family together to celebrate this birthday with me. Then on Sunday it will be off to Abilene to celebrate my birthday with my parents and sisters and their families; and of course honor Dad on Father’s Day. (I got him the The Yankee Years and tried to read it all before I gave it to him but I did not make it, now I’ll have to wait for him to read it!)
It’s been a birth-week instead of a birthday really, and I think that is completely appropriate given the fact I turned 30! I celebrated with Molly and Brooke, was taken to lunch by my co-workers, got a sweet herb garden from my co-worker Kay that I cannot wait to use, was inundated by calls and emails from my friends and family members, and still have two parties to go! I am a lucky lucky girl.
On Monday, June 15, 2009 I hit a milestone in my life and turned 30 years old. I decided this was worthy of documentation, I should preserve what my life was like at 30 so when I’m 40 I’ll have this along with my middle school years, high school years, and twenties to reread and reflect on and share with the people in my life. So that’s how this lovely blog came about. I cannot guarantee how often I will write on here or that it will be a chronicle of some whirlwind single life living on the edge every day, but it will be my life, the only one out there.
Last weekend I spent my pre-birthday weekend with my two beautiful friends Brooke and Molly. Brooke flew down from Denver, I flew out of Kansas City, and we converged on Molly’s house in Dallas for the weekend. It is rare for Molly, Brooke, and I to be able to enjoy each other’s company together so we spent the majority of the weekend drinking wine, smoking cigarettes, catching up on each other’s lives, and of course dishing on all the hometown gossip. We enjoyed a spa day, for the most part, until the pedicure lady sprayed glue on my feet instead of the quick dry, and my manicure peeled off the next day, we shopped, and went through all of Molly’s wedding plans. The girls also surprised me with a beautiful birthday gift, a delicate star necklace from Tiffany and Co! And the only reason I mention the Tiffany, is because it was my first little blue box and white satin ribbon (some of you ladies know what a big deal this is). It was a wonderful, relaxing weekend with two of my favorite people in the entire world. These girls have been a part of my life for over half my life. They are amazing women and true life long friends. Thank you, I love you!
Saturday, in two days, two of my other favorite people in the whole world, my dear friends Becky and Sarah, have planned a 30th birthday celebration for me. I know they have worked very hard putting this together, and have been quite secretive about what is to be expected so I’m a little anxious about it, but so excited to have my friends and family together to celebrate this birthday with me. Then on Sunday it will be off to Abilene to celebrate my birthday with my parents and sisters and their families; and of course honor Dad on Father’s Day. (I got him the The Yankee Years and tried to read it all before I gave it to him but I did not make it, now I’ll have to wait for him to read it!)
It’s been a birth-week instead of a birthday really, and I think that is completely appropriate given the fact I turned 30! I celebrated with Molly and Brooke, was taken to lunch by my co-workers, got a sweet herb garden from my co-worker Kay that I cannot wait to use, was inundated by calls and emails from my friends and family members, and still have two parties to go! I am a lucky lucky girl.
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