Into Fall & Winter

Wow! What a summer! Lots of Adventures and Changes.

We enjoyed the Spring and Summer in and outside of the city. We did some serious traveling outside the city this season. We went to China in April, did some camping in Lancaster, and NJ this summer, went to Atlantic city, New Hope, went to a Rodeo, and spent some quality time down the shore. In China we toured Beijing, Shanghai and a couple of beautiful small villages. What an amazing trip and experience we had!

We continue to enjoy the city by going to our favorite restaurants, outdoor events and festivals, picnics and BBQs. I have been doing a lot of walking and some yoga outdoors. I have rediscovered the Delaware River this past season and have spent a lot of time there. A beautiful area to spend time by the water.  Some highlights of the activities we attended in the city this past season include going to see comedian Gabriel Iglesias live, going to hear Jordan's mentor Alexa sing at Milkboys, going to North Shore swimming pool club in Northern Liberties, attending Comic Con and J1-Con with Jordan dressed as an Anime character, did a fun Escape Room activity, and attended the Stevie Wonder pop up concert.

Jordan did a significant amount of singing with School of Rock this past season. Jordan sang at The Rittenhouse festival, The South Street Festival, and the season Rap concert and 70s theme concert. He can rap...lol. He finished his junior year well and just started his senior year. I can't believe we are looking into colleges now. I am so proud of him. He has turned out to be a great person. My baby boy is not a baby anymore.....

My mom and dad are doing well. They are both getting older, with some health issues, but happy they are still fairly independent and healthy. I am blessed they are still here and I am cherishing the moments we still have together.

Some major changes occurred in my life this summer. My love relationship ended after a few years together (give or take a couple off months) and my job with the city ended as well. Both big changes, but both a very welcome change in my life. I was going in the wrong direction both in love and in work. I was not happy. It was time to better match myself with the right love and the right job. Unfortunately, we sometimes wait too long to make the needed changes to improve our lives. However, now I am on the right track again. I have healthy love and work in my life again. The future looks brighter than ever!

These changes have also brought about some thoughts about moving. Our time in the city has been grand. However, we are changing and the city doesn't seem as attractive and exciting as it used to 4 years ago. So, we are considering a move. We still have a year on our lease, since we signed a 2-year lease. However, we are making plans to getting back to a simpler life. Once that happens, this will no longer be the "Life in the City" blog. We will keep you updated on where and when we are moving. New life adventures in a new place are in the works. In the meantime, our travels and city adventures will continue, and we will continue to share them with you.

We have some exciting travel adventures coming; a trip to Puerto Rico in October, and a trip to Eastern Europe (Hungary, Czech Republic) in March, we are also visiting friends in Aspen and Chicago.

Looking forward to our travels and the fall and winter season in the city.

Spring is coming...but it's still cold!

Wow! It's been 5 months since my last post. Lots has happened.

Jordan is doing so well. He started 11th grade last fall. He is singing with School of Rock at the season shows and with the house band. He played at Underground Arts, Hard Rock Cafe, and Voltage Lounge. He will be playing at Milkboy and Johnny Brenda's this Spring. He sang Motown, Rock, and now Hip Hop & rap. The boy can sing! We are starting to look into colleges or tech schools. Can't believe he will be graduating high school soon. Amazing! He has turned out to be such a great person. So proud of him!

My Mom and Dad are doing pretty well. They are both in Norristown and in good health. Happy that they are doing well. I visit them every few weeks.

Since our last post we have been very busy. We moved into a new apartment close to the Northern Liberties area. We had to downsize on cost, mainly because we have to be getting ready for college kid soon. It's a smaller place, but it includes parking, and an extra small bedroom. We are still getting used to it. We did love our other apt., the location and space was very nice. But change is necessary. I do walk to work a few days a week. On those days, I stop by Reading Market or Chinatown and grab some goodies. The other days I drive since I have to get back to Jordan for his extracurricular activities.

We have slowed down since the fall, concentrating on school and work. Work has been tough since my change in position. My former director changed some areas at work before she left. A new director started and she has been even more challenging. Her style of management is a bit rough and I am having a lot of difficulty. It may mean it's time for a change in my work environment as well.

Haven't traveled much since the summer. Did a lot of traveling last Spring and Summer. Been saving for a big trip to China in a few weeks with Jordan. So excited! A dream come true for us. I did take a day trip to NYC in November. Did some bike riding and exploring there. Lots of fun! Spent Christmas with family and friends.......was very nice. Jordan turned 17 this past January and we celebrated big. Part of his birthday gift was the trip to China this April. We enjoyed the Mummer's parade on New Year's Day. We also enjoy movies out every couple of weeks, That is Jordan's and my favorite downtime activity. Jordan and I tried clay studio class. We created a few bowls. It was a new experience and we loved it. I continue to enjoy painting every month or so. We did visit the Franklin Institute and went to the Auto Show. I was on an oyster kick and checked out the Oyster House in Philly. I have gone to a couple of  PAFA -Art at Lunch seminars near my work. I also attend lunch church service -hour of power, near my work as well. I did discovered a new favorite place for brunch-Silk City. Yummo!

We have been enjoying other local restaurants for lunch and dinner, also some shows, and live music. Jordan and I discovered a Japanese BBQ house where we can grill our own meat and veggies at the table. Yum! I served on a jury for an injury case for the first time in Philadelphia. It was quite an experience.

This winter has been rough, lots of ice and snow. Looking forward to the milder Spring weather to come.

Fall Is Here!

We have had a wonderful summer!

We took advantage of the nice summer weather by spending a lot of time outdoors. I spent sometime at North Shore Beach Club by the pool on beautiful sunny days, went on a few boat rides on Delaware, Hispanic Festival at Penn's Landing, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Lancaster-Camping-well Cabin Camping...lol, and a lot nice walks in the city enjoying festivals and outdoor events.  Also been enjoying Tuesday nights at Warmdaddy's-All you can eat Crabs and Blues! Also enjoyed a lot of music shows and plays through Fillaseat program this summer.

Jordan is doing so well! He finished 10th grade with a 3.2 gpa. He has been singing at every seasonal concert with School of Rock, and now joined the School of Rock House Band, playing real gigs for the school. I am so proud of him! He has a beautiful voice! He also switched from Jiu Jitsu to Aikido. But we are looking for a new place for him to attend now that we are moving to the east side of the city, near Northern Liberties from the West side of center city. Now he is practicing for his SATs, working on his graduation project, and we are looking into college, tech school, or music school.

We went to see Wizard of Oz Show at The Academy. We also went to Comic Con and Jordan dressed up as an Anime character. Don't ask me who, have no idea how to pronounce the name...lol.  We went to see the Marvel Show at Wells Fargo Center. Very cool stunts!

I have been painting about once a month. I really enjoy it. I think I found a new creative outlet.
Did some serious traveling too these past few months. Went to Miami, South Beach, and Key West, New Orleans, Coney Island and Brooklyn, Orlando-Disney, Las Vegas & Grand Canyon, and Baltimore.

I also got my first tattoo this summer! The OM symbol on my back shoulder. Looks pretty cool! Started salsa dancing again too...love it!

I have also met someone special........enjoying it!

At work I had to take a lower position, with less responsibility, less stress and pressure, but same pay including an annual raise. Worked out well even though it was a very stressful time for me at work. Got through it!

Now we are looking forward to starting anew at our new apartment, and enjoying the fall weather, by slowing down our pace and enjoying the pre-holiday season.

New Adventure!

Wow! It's been February since I updated my blog. So much has happened. I went on my dream trip to Fiji, Steve and I finally called it quits, Jordan sang in a Spring concert and is preparing for another one this summer. He is finishing 10th grade, taking his finals this week, and is looking forward to the summer. We have two trips planned for the summer, one to Miami, and one to Disneyworld.

We took my dream trip to Fiji in February. It was heavenly. We stayed on Treasure Island for 5 days. Check it off my bucket list. We even got to spend a day at Universal Studios in LA before returning home from our trip to Fiji. Jordan loved it. I got to see a Flamenco show live at Merriam Theater, which I loved. I discovered all you can eat crabs at Warmdaddy's on Tuesdays...lol. We celebrated my mom's 66th birthday in March. I went to The Barnes for a native indian flute music event. Joined fillaseat philadelphia and now get tickets for a lot of cool events. What a great deal! I took a singles trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and had lots of fun! Saw Charlie Murphy (Eddie's brother) at Helium Comedy club, very funny guy and not as dirty as his brother. I have spending a lot of time with friends and family now as a single gal. Looking for a new love baby...lol. Or maybe not, enjoying my freedom to the max.

Went to Latin Night at the Kimmel Center and danced the night away! Discovered Reserve Wine Bar in Chinatown, they have Jazz meetup events. Tried Acupuncture for the first time-it was ok, nothing special. Spent weekend in NY-saw Motown Musical, Awesome performance! Joined North Shore Beach club in Northern Liberties. Love it!  I can spend some time there this summer by the pool. Signed up for bartending refresher course and hopefully get job placement right after. I went to Jazz event at Hotel Monaco with my pal Jeff. Took a Haunted Harbor tour on the Delaware and saw Roller Derby live for the first time, brutal..lol. I also took a paint class and it was so much fun! I have a painting in my bedroom..lol. I definitely want to do that again.

At work I went to a housing project opening where Jon Bon Jovi was a speaker. Discovered noon church service on Tuesdays close to work. Wow! Great stuff. They call it the "Hour of Power" and  it is that indeed. Having some difficulty at work, and may have to start looking elsewhere for employment opportunities. I love what I do, but my personality is more collaborative and easy-going, while others seem to be aggressive and confrontational, almost like sales, which I don't like. They seem to get ahead and are in good favor with superiors though. Oh well...we will see.

So much has happened. Looking forward to more adventures to come and perhaps falling in love again very soon. There's someone now that may be up to par...lol.

What a winter!

It's been quite a cold and snowy winter. We have had very low temperatures and lots of snow and ice these past two months. Lots of school closings, and some office closings. I understand there's more to come too.

We had a very nice holiday; lots of good food, family, and nice presents. We spent a quiet New Year's Eve at home with the kids. We had a nice party at work and spent Christmas Eve with mom. We went to see Dave Chappelle at the Tower Theater. I enjoyed his opening acts more than I enjoyed him. I attended a very nice Christmas Eve service downtown. We went to see the Pompeii Exhibit at The Franklin Institute, learned a lot about Pompeii. We went to a Comedy Sports Show with the kids. They loved it! We also took them to a monster truck show in Trenton. We were full of dirt and dust at the end...lol.

I visited a chiropractor out of curiosity. Interesting experience. Not sure that I would go back unless I had to. I did get to go to dinner with middle school classmates and my former middle school English teacher. We celebrated his 70th birthday. It was a wonderful experience to see them again after at least 25 years.

We celebrated Jordan's 16th birthday at Arnold's Family Fun Center in Oaks, PA. We rode go carts, played laser tag and lots of  arcade games. We had tons of fun! A week later we went back to celebrate dad's birthday and tried bowling. What a great place! They even had live bands playing both times we were there.

Work has been very busy, but good. I enjoy my work very much.

Jordan completed his first semester of 10th grade with very good grades. He signed up for a spring concert and will be singing Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty songs. He stopped going to Karate. The place we go to has changed their schedules many times. We are  looking for a new place for him to start in March, or have him try out another activity.

I set some New Year's resolutions, including; working out at least 4 times a week, reading a book for leisure a month, eating healthier, travel more, start writing, and do more things I enjoy doing. So far so good. I read a book in January, "The Hot Zone." Wow! Scary book about Ebola virus. Started a second book this month, " The Places that Scare You, " about Buddhism. I have been working out at least 4 times a week. Been feeling very good and energized. I did come down with a cold this past week and trying to recuperate. Will start working out again this weekend. I have been eating much healthier, healthier snacks, lots of veggies, leaner and smaller portions of meats, with a sweet or salty (bad) snack once in a while....lol. Can't go cold turkey. I also started writing, mainly my own story. It would be nice to give to Jordan before I die, so he knows where his mother comes from, and why she is the way she is.

We are getting ready for a once in a lifetime vacation. Another one of my resolution's is to do more of what I love to do, which includes travel to new places. We are going to Fiji in about a week, one of the places I have always dreamed of visiting. Very excited! I hope the weather cooperates.

Holidays 2013!

Its Christmas Time!

Enjoying the holiday season.

Some highlights of the two months; Jordan and I went on a segway tour of the city. We had a great time, even after I fell off ...lol. We also went to State Penn haunted Tour, which he closed his eyes through the entire walk and kept stepping on my boots. We watched some fun movies like Thor, Gravity, Bad Grandpa, Best Man Holiday, & Captain Phillips.

We all went to bbq at Steve's friend's house in Reading, PA. Ate a lot of food and had lots of fun. We tried a new Korean place,GIWA,  for lunch. It was very good. We enjoyed Bobby McFerrin in concert at the Kimmel Center. We attended the "Taste of Philly" event and tried a lot of yummy food. We went to dinner and good music at Warmdaddy's. We even went to see Beauty and the Beast show and had a nice dinner at Ruth Steakhouse. We got to see the Christmas tree lighting at Love Park. We joined the running of the Santas. After we went to Chinatown and bought some fresh lobsters and crabs for dinner. The apartment building hosted their annual holiday party with lots of good food and prizes. Dad has come to stay with us a few times and spent some quality time with us. We had Thanksgiving at home and just finished the last of the Turkey leftovers...yum. I went to visit mom a few times and enjoyed having dinner with her. I also spent some time working on the house prepping it for new renters.

Our area has been getting some snow and we are enjoying the wintery look. But we are missing the nice weather. I decided to book an exotic vacation for February to celebrate Jordan's 16th birthday. We are going to Fiji for a week...yippee!!

Work has been good and busy. I have attended a few ribbon cuttings, trainings, and conferences. We hired 3 new people in our unit and are training them now. Work hosted a great Holiday brunch with good food and music.

Christmas is only 10 days away! Wow! 2014 is upon us. I look forward to the adventures and experiences that the new year will bring. 

It's October!

I can't believe it's Fall and soon will be Christmastime again!

Some of the highlights the last few months include enjoying a menu sampler at Morimoto. We visited beautiful Longwood Gardens.  We went to see the show Wicked on the last night in Philadelphia and got to see them loading the trucks. We enjoyed a Northern Liberties neighborhood Festival where some of Jordan's music classmates were doing a concert. We took a couple of walks in Chinatown and through the Fairmount neighborhood. We attended a Blue October Concert and visited the Barnes Museum.

Jordan sang at two concerts in August for the first time. Jordan also spent a week at Zoo camp and had a great time. We also went to the Renaissance Fair. Some movies we watched include The Butler, Insidious 2, The Conjuring, and Cloudy with Chance of Meatballs 2. Jordan just started 10th grade and is doing very well.

I did some refurnishing of the bedroom, which created more space and organization. I did have some dental issues this past two months and had to get two root canals. Awful! I hope I don't have any more of that for a long time. I am getting ready to rent my house again. The last tenants just moved out.

Work has been great. I attended a meeting at the Horticultural Center and enjoyed a nice walk in the area. I also attended two trainings, which were really interesting, Sexual Harassment and Labor Relations.

I am looking forward to the holiday season and some hibernation time. 

Summer in full swing....

Summer is in full swing! Lots of great activities and experiences have come our way.

We met Robert Irvine from Restaurant Impossible, a show on Food Network. Steve's boss gave him tickets. We had a great time! We got to hang out with Robert and his construction guy Tom, all evening. Tried a new place in the city called Lukes Lobster for lucnch with great lobster rolls. We also tried the breakfast buffet at the Sofitel Hotel...great spread! We finally tried Percy Street BBQ for dinner, and I am still full from it...lol. Went to Vango for dinner as well, love their calamari salad. We went to Cirque du Soleil for the first time....WOW! That's all I can say about that. We also went to Comic Con for the first time. Lots of fun! Jordan loved it!

Family activities included going to Clementon Park for some fun rides! We enjoyed going to the movies to watch Man of Steel, Pacific Rim, Grown Ups 2, Now You See Me, and Monsters U. We also went to a Big Time Rush Concert  which Jordan enjoyed very much, especially with all the screaming girls....lol. We even went to pick out 2 live chickens to make for dinner at a place on Spring Garden! Who would've thought?? Jordan said he wouldn't eat them knowing they just killed them for us to eat that day, but once the chicken was cooked, he did not back down..lol.

Jordan will be singing in a concert on August 9th and 10th. I am so excited! He has been practicing and sounds great! He continues to take guitar and voice lessons. He also continues to do karate twice a week. He will be participating in teen camp week at the Philadelphia Zoo the end of August learning about all the animals.

We took a nice vacation end of May and went to Paris for 6 days. It was great! We did lots of walking, touring the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, the Catacombs, Champ Elysees, Arc de Triumph, Notre Dame, Versailles, and nearby neighborhoods, eating yummy french food every chance we got like crepes, escargot, macaroons, and french bread. We also had some adventures on the metro, trying to find our way around. I need to plan to take nice trips like that more often.

Been trying to walk more in the city since I like to eat so much. On real hot days though, I try to climb the stairs in my office building instead. It makes me feel like I am walking off all that yummy food I eat. Yes......I have gained 15 pounds since I moved to the city. I can't imagine why though....lol.

Still have about 6 weeks left of summer and plan to enjoy every bit of it! Hope everyone else does too.

3 Months later....

I can't believe it's been three months since I last posted. So much has happened......

We visited the Franklin Institute and saw the Titanic Exhibit. I managed to do my taxes in February. I try to get them done as early as possible, especially if I expect something back. We went to the Home Show at the Philadelphia Convention Center. We also went to the Helium Comedy Club and Sportz Comedy Show for some good laughs. For Valentine's Day Steve and I went to a Dinner Theater Show at Bistro Romano. We went to Spring Mountain tubing for a day. We also attended an A Cappella Choir Concert at the Kimmel Center. We have been spending as much time as possible outdoors at parks enjoying the spring weather. We enjoyed the PIFA events outdoors with lots of food and fun activities for all. We also watched some good movies including The Phantom, The Call, Evil Dead, and Oz. I have visited some good restaurants like the Oyster House, Morimoto, DiNardos, Rose Tattoo, Joe's Crab Shack, Tony Lukes, Fratellis, Spiga, Cracker Barrel, and Morris Cafe-Outdoors.

I did some out of the ordinary things this quarter....like did a sexy photo shoot. It was lots of fun! We toured the Masonic Temple downtown. We also booked a trip to Paris for the end of May, which I  have been dreaming of returning to for a few years now. I also tried a hypnosis session, which I have always been curious about. It was an interesting experience. We also crashed a party at Rooftop thinking it was a spring scheduled public event. We ended up having a buffet dinner and drinks on the conference taking place there!

Work has been busy, good, and stressful at times. I am working on phasing in new housing programs and an implementation of a new database system. Lots to do in a short amount of time. We celebrated Emily's birthday with cake and a pinata and Secretary's day for Amirah with a Dammit doll and cupcakes...lol. I also attended a two-day housing conference in Harrisburg recently, which I enjoyed very much.

Jordan continues to learn guitar, karate, and is now also taking voice lessons. He was just asked to be part of a show by the director of the music school. He is a bit shy, but has a great voice. He has made a good friend at Karate and is spending time with him at his place and at our place. He also spent some time with his friend Allen in Norristown. He will be starting tutoring this month once a week to help him get ready for the annual high school state tests.

Allergies have been acting up but not too badly. I am enjoying the good weather by eating outdoors, taking walks and spending time in the park. I love the mild sunny days of Spring. I do look forward to warmer weather, but don't enjoy the heat and humidity.

Looking forward to the coming vacation, summer, and opportunities for more adventures and joy. 

New Year!

The holidays were good. We spent it with family and friends. We celebrated Jordan's 15th birthday early January with family as well. I took him to see Jeff Dunham at Wells Fargo Center as part of his birthday gift. He loved it! Jordan got a new Android/Samsung Galaxy phone for Christmas...ouch, not cheap. We went to NY for Christmas Eve, visited the Natural History Museum, Central Park, and Rockefeller Center. As we were getting back on the bus to return to Philly in the evening it started to snow. It was a great day! We spent New Year's Eve at Warmdaddy's, eating good food, listening to great music, and dancing the night away. The singer, Amazing Grace, even sang to Jordan and tried to get him to sing along......lol. We went to a Sixers game and they actually won! I treated myself to a massage and facial this month, which I think has helped relieve some stress.

Jordan continues to take guitar and voice lessons. He is in "like" with one of the girls who is taking guitar lessons. We continue to visit one of my favorite spots, DiNardo's, where Jordan gets a NY strip steak and I get the garlic crabs....Yummo! We visited the Helium Comedy club this month for some good laughs with friends. We have enjoyed watching movies like: MAMA, Zero Dark Thirty, Django, Today is 40, Haunted House, and Le Miserable.

My job is going well. The program I manage is growing and it's very exciting. Three people from department are retiring January-February so we have had/having 3 luncheons to wish them all well and thank them for their service.

As the winter is in full force, I think about what I want to accomplish this year; some travel, excel at work, help Jordan be more independent, and a few other things. I pray that 2013 is full of adventures, love, and lots of wonderful experiences.

Happy Holiday!

Happy Holidays!

So much has happened since my last entry. We continue to enjoy some of our favorite things like going to DiNardo's and Joe's CrabShack for dinner, going to movies and saw- Cloud Atlas, Lincoln, Life of Pi, and Skyfall. Jordan started taking voice lessons, continues his guitar lessons, and goes to Karate twice a week. He has finished his first school semester with a bit of struggle, but is working to improve. He is interested in a cute gal that takes guitar lessons also. He is trying to build up the nerve to ask her out. It's so cute to see him learning how to relate to girls. He is a good and decent kid.

Highlights for the last two months include going to a Halloween local play, visiting MerryMead Farm for a hayride, going for dessert to Silk City in the evening outdoors, meeting Andrew McCarthy at a book signing, listening to M. Night Shyamalan talk about his movie Signs and his new project-New Earth, going to dinner with coworkers to Buddhakan, going to see former President Clinton at Univ of Penn before election, going to Laff House and seeing Tom Green at Helium Comedy Club, going to Thanksgivng Day Parade, trying out South Street Diner for the first time, enjoying The Christmas Village at Love Park, especially the crepes, funnel cakes, and bratwursts, going to see a former classmate's new play at the Walnut theater, finding a great lunch vegetarian place on Chestnut Street with yummy hummus and falafel, and trying out Monk's Cafe for the first time, which pretty good.

We held out well during storm Sandy. We were lucky, but others weren't. Work has been busy. I am working on phasing in new programs within our unit, lots of meetings and planning. I get home pretty tired, but satisfied that I am working and contributing in a meaningful way. We have a holiday luncheon, holiday dinner, and Pollyanna planned.

As 2012 comes to a close I reminisce about the past months. 2012 was quite a stressful year for me due to my lay off, unemployment, new job, and a troubled relationship. However, I have managed to enjoy every minute possible by doing some of my favorite things and having new adventures.

I vow to do more traveling, more socializing, and have more adventures with those I love in 2013. I also vow to take better care of my health in every way. I look forward to an exciting new year.

Fall is in full bloom....

So much has happened since I last wrote in my blog.

Jordan has been pretty busy. He finished a summer music workshop where he participated in performing a new soundtrack to the movie "Nosferatu" with the School of Rock kids. He seemed to enjoy that a lot. He started a new school year via PA Virtual Charter School. He is doing very well so far. He has Algebra, Earth Science, English, Technology, and PE. He gets PE credit for attending karate twice a week. He also gets credit for Music for taking guitar lessons.

We visited a couple of his favorite places this past month, Longhorne Steakhouse, and now DiNardo's, where he gets a nice big steak, and I feast on crabs! Yum! He recently broke up with his girlfriend, and was a bit sad about that, but he is focusing on all the other fun things in his life and is doing very well.

We visited the "Magic Gardens" glass art museum on South Street. What a great place to visit! We also went to see the " How to Train Your Dragon" show at the Wachovia center. He loved it! I like that he still enjoys live shows. We may go to see "Spiderman" on Broadway for Christmas. He's been wanting to see it for sometime. I went to a child support hearing with Jordan's dad, who has been very detached from his life. He, unfortunately, has not made much effort to keep in contact with Jordan. Thankfully, Jordan has a lot of love in his life and he is doing well.

I have been enjoying the city this past month. I have visited a couple of regular places I enjoy like the Clef Club for great live jazz music, and the Erotic Salon for some live erotic poetry readings. I have tried some new places to eat including Drinker's for tacos, El Rey for spicy corn on the cob, La Famiglia for good Italian food, and a new BBQ place on South Street for some awesome pecan pie. I also checked out the Memphis Tavern in Northwest Philly, which had a nice pork and watermelon salad, and Silk City for some great weekend brunch. We have gone to Joe's Crab Shack in King of Prussia a couple of times and have enjoyed their spicy crab bucket. One of the highlights this past month included going to see and hear Sheila E. at Penns Landing. She's still rocking! We also went to a screening of the movie "Midnight In Paris" which was being held at the Art Museum.

We have seen a lot of movies, one of our favorite things to do, this past month, including, Timothy Green, Posession, ParaNorman, Total Recall, Loopers, and Hotel Transylvania. A nice mix of kid-friendly and not so kid-friendly movies.

Work has been great! I am growing into the position, learning the politics, policies, and programs. The job requires constant networking, collaboration, strategic planning and development, which keeps me very busy. I am pretty exhausted in the evenings and on Fridays, when the work week wraps up. I am happy to be working with people who are dedicated and skilled in what they do. I am
also learning about people's personalities and quirks, and how to best work together. I was able to go to Harrisburg and attend a conference, and I have been working on implementing a new database system for our unit. We also recently hired an administrative assistant, who we needed desperately to help support our unit.

Near work I have been trying to find good spots for lunch. I found a great Asian Fusion place undergroung, by Suburban Station, where they serve yummy Ramen soup with a ginger salad. I also like to go to a little park around Chestnut and 17th Street on good weather days and take a packed lunch. The park has a water fountain and plenty of seats to enjoy lunch outdoors. I also got to meet mom and my aunt for lunch one afternoon while they were in town. That was a nice treat!

I need to start taking good care of myself, work on taking vitamins and calcium. I hurt my back twice this past month cleaning and twisting. I also got a bad cold that I am just getting over. Need to focus on keeping healthy and strong as the year wraps up.

Looking forward to the holiday season!



 

New start...

It's August already. Starting to think about the coming school year for Jordan and the winter wardrobe needs now that I am back working.

We have enjoyed our summer by spending lots of time outdoors, at Penns Landing music events, by the pool at North Beach Club, in the park, at the movies, and by the beach. We enjoyed a movie outdoors by the Museum steps, a great concert outdoors by Penns Landing, and July 4th weekend by the Parkway with great food, music, and fireworks. We celebrated Nicky's birthday at a beautiful creek in New Jersey with lots of good food and fun times. We visited our favorite fish (Kilimandjaro) and chicken (Federal Donuts) place a few times this past month! Delish! We went to see the new Batman movie, which was great! I tried Silk City Diner for dinner, a great place with yummy ecclectic food. I also tried Rose Tattoo Cafe, good food in a cozy atmosphere. I also went back to Joe's Crab Shack after about a year. Delish! They have a spicy version of seafood bucket, to die for! We visited Philly 50 Diner in New Jersey, which has good food with large portions! We took a nice drive to Ocean City, New Jersey for the day this past weekend. The weather was great, good food, good music, and nice walk on the boardwalk.

I have been busy fixing and prepping my home for a new family to live in it this week. It's nerve-wrecking to think someone you don't know is in your home, but they seem nice and I hope they take care of it, and love it as I do.

We have been spending lots of time with my dad. He comes and stays with us every couple of weeks and spends quality time with Jordan. Jordan has been busy with Karate, guitar lessons, and the Summer Music Workshop. No news from Freire School where he is on the waiting list after a mishap with paperwork. I checked and he is far below on the waiting list. I guess it's not meant to be at this time. We will continue to homeschool for now and look at other options as we start 9th grade school year. He has spent some quality time with his girlfriend at the park, at the beach, and at birthday parties. He seems to be enjoying the experience. I have to keep an eye on him though. He is growing up so fast.....

We have attempted to contact his dad, but he has been very hostile. He even wrote an email stating he can't wait till he doesn't have to pay child support anymore and be done with it. How can you feel that way about your child. You don't have to care to deal with me, your ex, but your kid is still your kid. He knows what he and his wife have done to alienate us, but we still attempt to have him spend time with Jordan. I know having a new family and keeping up with your other children is a lot of work, but people do it. I guess he finds it too difficult, especially since his wife is so against it. Someday he will realize what a mistake he has made not being part of his life, but it may be too late for him then.

I started my new job! It's been quite an adventure. I love the type of work I am doing in housing with the city of Philadelphia. I have always been passionate about helping people, and this job makes me feel like I am making a significant contribution. I like the people I work with. They are very committed and dedicated to the work they do. It's great to be around people like that. I spent most of my time in meetings and assisting in implementing and working towards expanding the housing program. It feels great being back to work. I try to take a couple of days a week to eat my lunch outside since I find I am so busy during the work day. Sometimes I go underground around Suburban Station and the Comcast Center, where there are a lot of places to eat lunch. They have some great healthy options too.

So much going on. Looking forward to enjoying the rest of the summer as we start getting ready for the new school year.

Thank you for sharing in my experiences, my joys and my sorrows...

More changes.......

Lots of fun and some changes in the last month.

We have been able to enjoy the nice weather outdoors. We visited D.C. There, we took an evening tour of the city, stopping at all the main tourist stops, including Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. We also got to visit the Air & Space Museum and the Natural History Museum. 


We have spent beautiful days walking to parks and squares in the area, having lunch there, and listening to the summer concert series.We celebrated my niece's birthday at the Camden National Aquarium. We had a great time with family. I visited the North Shore Beach Club and got to try out their pool. They have a very nice pool area and a good restaurant with Cuban cuisine. We celebrated Father's Day in Norristown by having dinner and spending time at Plymouth Meeting Mall. Jordan and I visited the Franklin Institute and saw the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. This past weekend Norristown had their bicentennial celebration with a Gospel and Jazz concert in the park and with yummy soul food. We joined them for the festivities for a bit before going to celebrate Steve's nephews birthdays in New Jersey. 


We are big on movies. This month we watched The Dictator, Chernobyl Diaries, Battleship, Prometheus, and That's My Boy. Some were better than others. I also tried some new foods. Always wanted to try Uni (sea urchin). I tried it at Doma Japanese Restaurant. It was pretty good, but not something I would crave. However, I discovered a great dessert at the Aqua Thai Restaurant, banana pancake, YUM!
Both Steve and I celebrated our birthdays this past month. We went on The Spirit of Philadelphia Dinner Cruise to celebrate. It was a beautiful day with good music, and good food. 


Two major changes in the works include my house going up for rent in Norristown and starting a new job in July. 


I have posted my home for rent and getting it ready. My ex Tony has been living in it for over a year now, but now he has to move. He has maintained it very well and made some improvements. He finished the hardwood floors and put some new lighting and crown molding. I have listed in on a few sites and have gotten lots of inquiries. I am in the process of taking applications and hoping to make a decision within the next week or so. 


Another change, I was offered a great job with the city of Philadelphia in the housing field. The job is similar to what I did with Montgomery County. I am excited about starting a new career in the city. I start July 9th and will be working downtown near my apartment. 


Jordan continues his karate and guitar lessons weekly. This summer he is participating in a Music Soundtrack Workshop. Students will be recording a new soundtrack for the movie Nosferatu. They will be performing part of it at the end of the program. I am very excited that he is participating in this program.

I will be starting my new job in a couple of weeks so will have less time to stroll the city. However, I am very excited about going back to work after 4 months off. We hope to make a couple of trips to the shore, and perhaps NY during the weekends this summer, and before the fall and cooler weather arrives.

A Month full of excitement!

The last month has been amazing! I have attended some business workshops, visited my favorite Jazz place-The Clef Club a few times where they play grassroots Jazz, took Jordan on a career field trip to a technical school and a cooking school demonstration, went to NY with Steve a my friend Trina to see a fashion show, attended a friend's Jazz Brunch Fundraiser with great music and people and where Steve won a Dave & Busters gift certificate, celebrated my sister in laws birthday with lots of laughs and dancing, met Terence Howard who was filming a movie in Philly, tried a new Chinese Buffet place-Ruby's-pretty good food, went to Dave & Busters with boys, saw the movie Avengers-Awesome movie, and just got back from Puerto Rico after a week there.

I have had two interviews with city officials for a great job opportunity in the housing department with the city before my vacation. They will be deciding and making an offer by the end of this month! I hope I am the one they offer the job to! Of course, I continue to apply and look for jobs in the housing and educational field. I would love to work with a university so am concentrating on applying there now that I am back from vacation. I have applied to a few jobs at a few universities but have not heard back yet. 

I just got back from a week in Puerto Rico. The purpose of the trip was to take my dad to visit his family. He has had some serious health issues in the last year and found the need to see his loved ones. It was amazing to see family from my dad side, see how alike and different we are, and how much love there is. Jordan had a tough time because he doesn't speak Spanish. I need to be more diligent in teaching him. We started lessons, but dropped them after he showed little interest, but this is his heritage and should at least understand the language. Steve had similar issues when we all spoke Spanish. I tried to translate most of the time, but it's hard to keep up with all the talking going on..lol. You know we Puerto Ricans can talk, and fast too.....lol. 

They both seem to have enjoyed the food, and the time by the beach, and by the mountain side. It was beautiful scenery almost everywhere we went on the island. I wish we have had more time, we would have visited Vieques Island-where the bio-luminescent lake is. I went there last year with Steve and wanted to take Jordan, but we had little time left and reservations were needed because we need to take a ferry to the island, then a 30 minute bus ride to the lake.  I also would have liked to have visited Rincon beach, which I hear is one of the most beaches in the Caribbean. Hopefully next time....

One of my uncles, lives by the mountainside in Toa Baja and he showed us a 15 pound Iguana that was eating his plants and veggies he grows on his land. The Iguana was huge! Apparently he swung his tale at my uncle a few times and hit him before my uncle got a hold of him...lol.We don't have those issues here in Philly...lol. My uncle's wife Amelia showed me some pictures of when I and my brothers were babies. I didn't recognize my mom at first, who was holding me in her arms....lol.

My dad's family met at my other uncle's house in Aguadilla where they proceeded to conduct an intervention for my dad who was just diagnosed with Diabetes. It wasn't meant to be an intervention, but they all noticed how he was not taking care of how he eats. They proceeded to take his blood glucose level then started the intervention process...lol. It was funny how it came about, serious, and I think necessary. I think it made a good impact on him and has helped in focus on eating better. Of course that was almost impossible in Puerto Rico with of all the yummy and fattening food..lol. 

We got to visit Luquillo beach and Posuelo beach while there. Both are beautiful beaches. In Posuelo we stopped by a beachfront restaurant with awesome octopus salad, alcapurrias (meat fritters), and arepas (sweet cornmeal cakes). We also made sure to stop by the street side during our trip where you find a lot of food kiosks, where we stopped for alcapurrias with land crab meat (fritters), pinchos (chicken kebobs), bacalaitos (cod fish fritters), and of course fresh coconut and mango. I even found tamarindos and tamarind juice, which is my favorite fruit on the island. We also found a kiosk that made fresh Pina Coladas! So good.!!! We got to visit the Caves in Camuy...what a site! We were all mesmerized, especially Jordan. Close to the caves we stopped by a restaurant called Tainos, which was the name of the native Indians on the island. I had the best fresh Grouper fish salad ever! I plan to go back there just for that one day. 

I also took Jordan to see his grandmother (his dad's mom), uncle, and aunts who live on the south side of the island. They had not seen him in at least a year, and he has grown so much since. His grandmother had a video of Jordan's Baptism, when he was 6 months old. He was such a beautiful baby! We also got to watch a video of his grandfather and great uncle playing the guitar. His grandfather was a musician. He died before Jordan was born. His grandmother is such a wonderful woman, kind, and loving. We hope to see her in July when she will be visiting her daughter, Jordan's aunt and godmother,  in Lancaster.

We also spent some time with my cousin Rosita in the San Juan area, who was the woman who came up with my formal name, Ivelisse. She is an awesome person! She took us to the Camuy Caves and cooked us a great meal one evening. We also spent time with my 82 year old aunt Maria. She is a wonderful woman full of energy and love. We had a wonderful time bonding with family, something my dad needed desperately. I saw how emotional he was there on his way back home. I think he realizes now more than ever how important family is. 

Now, we are all readjusting to our regular lives back home again, which is not easy after spending a week in paradise...lol. But home is where the heart is. I love my city and couldn't do without my mom and brothers who live nearby as well. But I may consider retiring in Puerto Rico when the time is right, in 13 years or so...... 

Today is my sweetie's birthday! Steve and I will be celebrating his birthday with the boys tonight and then out to dinner with a good friend at our favorite fish place tomorrow night. I am starting to apply for other good job opportunities, while I wait for news from the city job. I am also working with Jordan on finishing up his 8th grade curriculum strong by mid June. We are all getting back to our normal routine. Looking forward to the summer, some local road trips to the beach, maybe DC, Baltimore, and NY. 

Thanks for the love and support friends and family....and sharing these special moments with me. 

New beginning......

The last month has been quite an experience. I have been getting to know my city well. Since I was laid off in mid February I've been considering different employment avenues and opportunities. I struggle with the idea of working in the educational field or the human services or financial field again. I have made some good contacts and continue to seek employment in the city. I've been offered some sales jobs, but that is not my field or interest. I have an interview with the city of Philadelphia next week for a similar job to the one I had with Montgomery County. Hope all goes well.

I have enjoyed networking, attending workshops, events, and applying for all types of employment. I have also enjoyed sleeping in and visiting some of my old and new favorite spots in the city, like Reading Market, Love Park, Kilimandjaro Restaurant, Federal Donuts, Chinatown, Freddy & Tonys, and The Convention Center. I know I've gained some weight these last few weeks, with my later mornings and meals, but I refuse to weigh myself...lol. I do make it a point to walk in the city almost daily, but I need to step it up a notch. Now with the Spring weather and summer coming, it will be one of my priorities.

These last few weeks remind me of a trip I took to Cinque Terre, Italy a few years ago. A small group of us went to hike the hills of Cinque Terre. But the temptation of food and gelato was too great...lol. We would hike for a few hours then stop for food, hike a bit more, then stop for gelato, hike a bit more, then stop for more food...lol. You get the idea! That's what it's been like the last few weeks in the city.

I spent an evening with my brother and sister-in-law for St. Patty's Day. We had a great time. We went to dinner, movies, and some dancing. It was nice spending time with them. I celebrated my mother's birthday recently. We went to dinner and did some shopping. Steve and I went to New Hope for the day. It was a beautiful Spring Day ride. We also went to the Rum Bar, a great place for tasty Mojitos. We watched some good movies this past month, including The Hunger Games, The Cabin in The Woods, Bully, Wrath of the Titans, and The Lorax.

Jordan continues with his karate and guitar lessons. He really seems to enjoy them, and I love that he does. We had some paperwork issues with the Charter school he applied to, and originally got in. Now, we have to wait to see if a spot opens up for him again. I am a bit disappointed about how that turned out, but I know all will work out as it should. Jordan took his PSSAs this past month. He believes he did well, except for the writing test. He does not like writing and wrote very little for his exam.

I will be going to Puerto Rico in May. My dad really wants to see his family. He has had some health issues in the past year, and has the need to reconnect with this family. I hope to get some beach time in as well while I'm there.

It's been quite fun in the city these last few weeks. I look forward to finding new employment and having new adventures and experiences in the city.

Life changing.......

Life changing.......

Those were the words the HR rep used. This is a life changing event today. Yes indeed it was.........After almost 20 years with Montgomery County, PA, I was laid off this past Valentine's Day. There had been significant budget cuts in the County, and with the specific programs we managed in our department. I knew things were getting tight. So I guess I was one of those adjustments to balance the new budget. I would have preferred a 2-week notice instead of a 3-day notice. But, as my former director said, they have no legal reason to do so. Others with more seniority had been let go in other departments as well. So, unfortunately, I was in good company.

Needless to say, some of my focus changed from enjoying every bit of the city, to, now I have to find a job. I have focused on being positive about the change, making contacts and networking with people and organizations here in the city, where I wish to work. I am also focusing on working in the educational field, something I've been wanting to do in the last year and half. So, the good news is that I can start over. Do something I enjoy more or have been wanting to work in for some time.

There are other changes in the works. Jordan had applied to attend a charter school downtown. He got in per a lottery, since space was very limited. Then some paperwork needed to be submitted. We received the information on the day it was due, postmarked Feb. 17th, but received it on March 1st. Why? That concerns me? Why would that happen when we have been so excited to start a new school this fall. I asked for some consideration from the admissions officer. I called, left a message, dropped in to see her, and left all the information in person the next day, March 2nd. But we haven't heard from her. I haven't figured out what this experience is about or what's the lesson behind it, but I am very upset that he may have lost the opportunity to attend the school through no fault of our own.

It's been a tough few weeks. But I did manage to enjoy some of the city and events this past month. I had dinner with my friend Bina a couple of times. She is such a wonderful person, so kind and giving. I had lunch with gal pals at Benihanna, which was quite an experience. I went to Atlantic city with Steve. We had a nice evening full of dinner and dancing. We also had a great breakfast that included catfish at a homey diner there. I visited two of my favorite places to eat, Longhorn's and Freddy & Tony's. I watched some great movies; Safe House, Red Tails, and The Woman in Black. I visited the King of Prussia Mall, and got to dance to some Carnival music. I celebrated Valentine's Day at my favorite restaurant, Estia. I went to a friend's birthday bash and had lots of fun! I went to Baltimore with Jordan and visited the Science Center. I also got to go to a Sixer's game, which I had not done in a long time.

I have made it a point to enjoy these last few weeks, even though I am in transition and uncertain. I know that experience is a teacher, mistakes are lessons, and life is worth every minute, so I continue to move forward, no matter what the circumstances.

Thank you for the love and support.

2012 A New Year!

We had a Wonderful Christmas and New Year Celebration!

We had a lot of wonderful moments this past holiday season. I made a point to spend quality time with Jordan. We went to see "The King & I" at the Walnut Street Theater, saw the Rocketts Christmas Spectacular show in NY on Christmas Eve, and spent a fun New Year's Eve with Jordan, my honey, his boys, and some good friends.

The boys received a lot of fun presents for Christmas. Steve's boys love legos and they were building ships, robots, and all sorts of things with legos. At Jordan's age, we concentrated on gift cards for his favorite places. He enjoyed shopping for games and going to his favorite restaurants with them.

Jordan's 14th birthday was in January. We celebrated with a bowling party. Many friends and family members attended. We had a great time! He's becoming a wonderful young man. He is no longer my baby boy...:(. He continues to work on Karate. He participated and won his first tournament in January. He also continues to attend Philly School of Rock, taking guitar lessons there. He seems to be involved in both activities. I am very happy for him! I am hoping, if it's the right time for him, that he can attend the Freire Charter School in Center city for 9th grade, starting in September. We are awaiting news in the next few weeks. It will be challenging and an adventure for him since he has been homeschooled for a number of years. It's very exciting!

My dad has had some health issues recently, but he is much better now. We are making a point of spending quality time together as well. We went out to eat to celebrate his 67th birthday in January. He was very emotional but happy!

I continue to enjoy the city by visiting different restaurants, one of my favorite pasttimes...lol. I visited La Scala on Chestnut Street, Chop on Walnut Street, Ms. Tootsie's on South Street, Moshulu on Delaware Ave., and King of Tandoor on Callowhill. All were good experiences, but some more than others.

Now that things have settled after the holidays, we concentrate on school, work, and daily activities. I am itching for a vacation again though. The cold season makes me dream about exotic locations. Thankfully, we haven't been hit badly with the wintery weather. Right now it's 54 degrees in Philly, and it's February 1st. Crazy Right?!

I did manage to come down with a bad cold, and I'm just getting over the hump now. Looking forward to enjoying what's left of the winter season and the coming Spring season. Although I won't enjoy the allergies that often come along with the change.

Looking forward to more adventures in the city.....

Christmas Time and end of year Wrap up!

Love this time of year. So excited to be in the city to enjoy it!

The past month has been great. I've enjoyed time with family and friends, decorated the apartment for Christmas, and have done most of my Christmas shopping.

Jordan continues to work on school, karate, and guitar lessons. I'm so excited that he's more involved now. He's less homesick. We will work on whether he will attend a charter school next year, or do homeschool coop. I took him to see a new Pokemon movie, some of us watched The Muppet Movie, which was really funny. We also went hiking at Wissahickon Park, which is such a great park for hiking. We went to a Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa concert too! It was a last minute thing. While Jordan took guitar lessons a big crowd was forming down the street at the Electric Factory. Of course I had to find out who was in concert. I was able to get tickets. It was so great!

I enjoyed Jazz after 5 at the Art Museum, and got to spend some time with my good friend Teri. We visited the Christmas Village at Love Park. some really cute shops and some good German grub..lol. I'm taking pics of some of the Christmas trees and decorations downtown. I still need to visit Macy's, the Comcast Center, and Dicken's Village. Looking forward to it!

This year has been one of adventure and growth. I have enjoyed the city immensely. I've gone to theater shows, festivals, live music events, comedy shows, lots of restaurants, lots of walks in the city. So much to do...I love it! My parents and friends have asked me a number of times if I'm happy in the city. I am!! I needed this at this time in my life. Who knows how long I will be here, but right now I am where I want to be. Thank you for sharing this experience with me.

I want to wish all my family and friends a Very Merry Christmas and A Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Holidays are a coming......

I can't believe it's a week from Thanksgiving and a Christmas is a month or so away.
Wow! Time flies. We did see a little bit of snow already end of October.

The last few weeks have been full of activity. For Halloween I did get to do some fun Halloween activities. We went to Bates Haunted House in Glen Mills, took a tour of Lauren Hill Cemetery, and attended a Halloween happy hour. We watched some movies d; Puss in Boots, Paranormal Activity 3, In Time, and Rum Diaries. We went to Helium Comedy club for some good laughs. I also tried some new places to eat in the city, like Chifa, Table 31, Fieldhouse, and a couple of Thai food places. All yummy food too. We went to the Mutter Medical Oddities Museum and saw some really interesting things. Jordan did not like it much. He said it was really gross...lol.


Jordan continues to work on Karate, school work, and now he's added guitar lessons to his schedule. He's taking lessons at the School of Rock in Philly. I'm so excited for him! He also got to go to an Eagles game for the first time with Steve this past Sunday.

Those of you who know me well, know I don't drink much. Once in awhile I may have a pina colada or a mojito. But lately I've been drinking a few glasses of wine when the time feels right. I may be developing a fondness for wine...lol. Been also getting ready for the holidays. I started shopping for Christmas and I am almost done. I only need a couple of more items. Now, I can focus on Thanksgiving dinner with my parents and Christmas decorating.

Looking forward to the holidays in the city!