Flowing with Ford

You know the saying, "Go with the flow"?  Bueno, that's exactly what BB did when she won a trip to the Ford Fusion event in LA.  During Hispanicize, the Ford Latino folks had a blogger contest and the three finalists would win the chance to go to LA.  Ya tu sabes, the winning post had to be in Spanish and you know my expertise there, yet the flow said to go (actually it was an invisible inner push) and give it try.  Well, I did, and I was a finalist- and in shock, but ready to ride with the waves.

For the first time in over 15 years,Babushka flew on an airplane. An adventure in and of itself, believe me. On September 19th I landed in LA to return to Florida on the 20th. Si, it was fast and furious, pero fabulous!!  Ok, ok, the pun was intended- but it was so true.

Starting from the Airport Greeting/Pick up 

To the hotel


Casa del Mar 

Gorgeous verdad?
Did you notice that double staired entrance???
Didn't know whether I should start singing Hello Dolly or Tara's Theme, but either way I was definitely left singing!!

To the room

The view, the furnishings, the choice of books, the café!!

Y the tortoise shaped soap and rubber ducky- which you know BB called to make sure I could take.

The details were perfectly perfect.

But Ford knew a couple of things about details too.

2 collectable toys

Hotel Key w/pouch


The detalles were just starting; it was time to go to the event.

Woah. What a visual right?

The sign with the hashtag made me feel right at home.

Now- the food I could speak a little bit about it, estaba rico, but the cars???

Thankfully I had Mr. Lee, one of the engineers of the auto as my co pilot and guide.

BB w/Mr. Lee, the brave soul who'll let me drive him around in the Ford Fusion.

What a nice ride the Fusion was!  

Participants got to try out three different models on the first day and the hybrid, this model here, is the one I preferred. 

 Quee??  Does that mean I'd say  no to any Fusion I may find in my Christmas stocking?  

JU SO FONII!!!  

My querido Stan the Man  has earned his retirement Santa Ford y  cualquier modelo, any model is welcomed.  

Just sayin'. 

; )

It was a lovely trip up to this point and Ford had much more in store for us , but Babushka was bushed and it was time for a quick siesta. 

Time to recharge the batteries for a noche of niceties, nice people, nom nom and the brilliance of nature.

 So much still to tell y'all, but what's the fun in a quick bite when you can savor a feast?

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S.  A quick video entitled  "Ford Fusion Event a la Babushka"    is on my Feibu page.

P.P.S.  If you want to read my Spanish (kinda sorta) winning post it's on top- "Una Familia Pa' Ford"

New Traditions- Thanksgiving 2012

"When a father gives to a son both laugh.

  When a son gives to a father both cry."

~Shakespeare

Hola Hola Hola My Beautifuls!  This year Babushka and La Tata spent the holiday at my son MarineMac's home with his lovely wife, her mom, her SIL, her brother's 5 children and my 2 grandsons.  Yep, a full house- and my son couldn't be happier.

MM- My son MarineMac

Our gracious hosts with their grateful guests.

La Tata glowing w/the family love- and her second cup of wine.

I promise you, there's a pie underneath that.

The love of this holiday was passed on from my mom to me and then to my trio.

A wonderful time was had by all and my son has started his own family traditions. 

And now I understand the Old Bard's quote.

MM is grown and it's time for Babushka to let go.

JU SO FONII!!!

Let go? BB added a new tradition- a family movie after the cena.

A new tradition to calm the crowd and the digestion.

They liked it so much they asked for an encore the next morning.

And so a new tradition was born and I am secure in knowing my son remembers holidays past and will instill the tradition of family gatherings for his family.  

What traditions do you follow? Who comes to mind?  

No matter the how or why memories are celebrated, it is the joy of the memory that brings about traditions. 

 It's the love of the moment that make traditions and brings life- and life,

Life; it is Bueno.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving, it was a feast between strangers to celebrate and give thanks for all their blessings and for having survived the year.  BB will now put on her feather and her giant shoe buckles- multi cultural creature that I am, and share her bounty and thanks with you My Beautifuls.  Y'all have allowed me to speak my peace and piece of mind, and because of that my life has been richer.

I've   traveled and had new experiences

HISPANICIZE 

AMERICAN LATINO HERITAGE FUND ROADTRIP

BRADENTON       and     CAPTIVA ISLAND

PUSHED MY COMFORT ZONE

I wrote in Spanish, conducted interviews, made videos

Queee? Doubted my heat aversion?? 

JU SO FONII!!!

I'VE MET MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE & MADE NEW FRIENDS

Maria de los Angeles

Jeanne Muchnick   Pegine Echevarria

Ricardo Rodriguez-Long     Chaz Mena     Lynn Ponder

I've gone to conferences and became a member of great groups

Hispanicize Memorial Day 

Hispana Leadership Summit 

Social Media Club South Florida  

Latism South Florida Chapter  

I've been able to spend time with my family 

La Tata's 90th Bday   

Oogieloves Premiere    

SuperWhy Live Tour     

 BB Celebrates her 50th Bday    

Rinquincaya turned 4  


But above all, I've been able to be Babushka without qualms, without restraints.  
And that is because of you My Beautifuls.
Thanking all of you for being a blessing in my life.

May your Thanksgiving Day, feast and love be plentiful.


Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen

Mixed on McDonald's- La Gallina Vieja's 1st Guest Post

Hola Hola Hola My Beautifuls!  Today Babushka is letting La Gallina Vieja write her first post- y por supuesto, it's a bit confrontational.I've known her my whole life so BB assures you her heart is in the right place, she's just more opinionated than Babushka.  Queee??  JU SO FONII!!!  Ok si, BB definitely has opinions, but LGV is more vocal about them.  Continuing.

MIXED ON MCDONALD'S  by La Gallina Vieja

While in Miami, I usually stay with my grandmother, La Tata in Little Havana.  Along with many other things, Little Havana had a neighborhood McDonald's that really was a neighborhood McDonald's.  The architecture was Spanish style shingles,they served Cuban style coffee, the menu was bilingual and the playground a nice diversion for children with no nearby park. FUERA! GONE! Totally demolished and rebuilt to match everyother cookie cutter McDonald's they're making across the nation.  Well, before I continue w/the tirade let me share the good times-because we all know there's good/bad in everything.

Grandsons w/their best "Ok Grandma,
we're smiling for this picture- now can we go play?"

Funslide, Face Painting and Frisbees 

not to mention a Funky Ronald-

Fun times yes, but fleeting and fragile.  In a community proud of its' Hispanic roots they've totally removed everything Spanish- except for the employees and the cafe con leche which is the only Spanish item left in this McDonald's.  The language isn't the only thing missing from our culture.  Latins have a very strong sense of community and that includes knowing what everyone else is doing- they've taken the prior configuration where you could see everyone and compartmentalized the place. Ciao Chismeria and socializing.  Another very essential part of our upbringing is being good hosts and sharing whatever we may have.  Anyone who's ever been to a Cuban's home knows the first thing asked is "Would you like anything to drink?"

So you KNOW this is so WRONG.

Also wrong- how can you put calorie count on the now all English menu, especially stressing how health and weight concious your brand is and then turn around and take away the playground?  And adding insult to injury you've now added a video game section, further immobilizing our youth and curtailing their physical and social skills.  Que? Our children don't get enough of that?  Is that what your ultimate goal is?  To have a world that looks all the same with drones who follow blandness because individuality is not welcomed? Easier to control huh?  Bueno, so sorry con escumi but not here.  We've already lost our individuality somewhere else,  and I for one don't take this lightly.  

White bread is fine for others, but in this neighborhood bring me my pan Cubano. 

 Obviously it's all about the buck for you Mickey D,

therefore I'll be going to a place where my culture is King.

Hasta la proxima- LGV

further info:  http://www.littlehavanainc.com/Mcdonalds.html

LGV  facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Gallina-Vieja/297314457051368

30 STRAIGHT Days of Blogging- SMCSF 30 day blog challenge

Always thought those who blogged daily were courageous and crazy.

to be loved you must love

the victory is in the knowing

I've always thought it, said it, and now gracias to the Social Media Club South Florida, I've proven it.  Daily blogging is not for the faint hearted or feeble minded.  Woah and Wow.  It truly was like exercise- something you should do, complain while doing it, but end up satisfied when you look at the result.  Actually, it WAS an exercise, both mental and physical.  For 30 straight days Babushka had to find a topic, find pictures (because studies show people prefer posts with pics) and still remain true to my voice. Not that I ever write in any other, but you know what I mean.  As a matter of fact, if we're talking truth...you know how songs get stuck in your mind sometimes? This is the one that popped up on some days of the challenge.

But BB persisted,finished & completed the challenge. 

As I said before, this was an exercise for Babushka, and we all know how BB feels about that.  

 However, as in exercising the end result shows the effort.  I made new friends, discovered great new sites, and am part of a Feibu group where learning and sharing are the main idea of membership.  For this I am very grateful and plan to keep in mind many of the lessons learned. I need to organize my writing schedule, posts don't need to be lengthy- just true to Babushka, there are many people who love to help, and lastly, I CAN write daily.  

Kudos to the daily bloggers. 

Will Babushka be joining your ranks anytime soon?

JU SO FONII!!!

; )

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S. BB is back on her Wednesday & Saturday blog posting. For now.

P.P.S.  A fellow participant had said only a fulltime blogger or someone who didn't have a fulltime job could do this challenge easily. 

I can see why they'd have that impression, but honestly I find it's like anything in life, you have to really want it.

Tuesday November 6, 2012 US Presidential Election

Hola Hola Hola My Beautifuls!  Only 4 things to say and I hope they'll be enough.

Go vote if you have the privilege.

Picture the country as you would like it to be.

No matter who wins.

And never lose faith in the dream.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

Groaners 2- Day 29 of SMCSF 30 day challenge

Groaners- You know them and secretly love them.  Those jokes that are sooooo bad they're funny.  Babushka figured, since it's a Monday, which in itself may be stressful, and the holiday festivity preps are beginning, it would be a good time for another round of these.  Of course for those who didn't see the first round or who want to enjoy them again, Groaners.  Enjoy them and even feel free to chuckle.

I saw you.  You rolled your eyes, but you smirked while doing so.

Cheesy wasn't it?

Betcha animals are so glad they can't read this.

Only the King of the Jungle could eat that much meat- and speaking of the King of the Jungle...

Now go ahead and share this with your friends.  You know what they're gonna say right?

JU SO FONII!!!

; )

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

GSG- A Mother's Prayer Day 28 of SMCSF 30 day blog challenge

I've enjoyed other versions of this song, but as a mother and grandmother this version filled my eyes with tears and my heart with gratitude and knowing.Truly a prayer we've all said, but never as beautifully. 

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.


P.S.  If you don't know the story of  Susan Boyle's rise to fame please click on the link.  For those who thought she was too old to achieve her dream-

JU SO FONII!!!

Pushing My Comfort Zone - Day 27 of SMCSF 30 Day blog challenge

A Universal Truth.

The situation or the subject may be different, but living, truly experiencing life, 

can only be done out of our Comfort Zone.

The exhilirating moments we overcame a fear, went beyond our self imposed limitations,

the situations we can look at and say

ESO!!!

Living life means always learning, growing and taking chances. 

Babushka won a trip via Ford Motor company because she pushed her comfort zone and in turn literally experienced true comfort and appreciation.

 I share with you a video BB made expressing the obvious manifestation of Pushing the Comfort Zone.

and BB would soooo rather be Pushing the Comfort Zone and say I lived

than get to be Pushing up the Daisies and wish I had.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

Civic Duty & Pride - Day 26 of SMCSF 30 day blog challenge

Yesterday Babushka did her civic duty and voted. 

Early. 

With Pride.

Quickly, look at the picture and what do you see?

Two Flags.  

The American flag and the Marine Corps flag.

My tagline- JU SO FONII!!!

BB's picture and website.

Do you know what Babushka sees?

Two Flags.

The country that welcomed my people and those who would give up their lives for that welcome.

My tagline.

The freedom to say what I believe in.

BB's Picture and website.

I don't need to go into hiding.  I can express myself without fear.

And though I believe in being an individual and following one's dreams, I believe in something else even stronger.

 In a country of individuals there are times we must think of the whole.

It's a privilege to be able to live here. 

Our "Right" to vote is a privilege too.

You only need go 90 miles off Florida's Keys to relinquish that right.

Go VOTE My Beautifuls.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

Costumes of Tri-Co-Tree 2012- Day 25 of SMCSF 30 day blog challenge

Sooooo??  How was it??  Did you get lots of candy?? Did you have to hide some away?? Are you ready to send some to Babushka??  heje  Ok si, it was in the middle of the week but I know that didn't stop My Beautifuls from having fun and getting caramelo!!  I was looking on Feibu and saw quite a few of you and your children in great costumes.  Queee?? JU SO FONII!!!  Of course I have pictures of my grandbabies in their costumes.

Rinquincaya & PicaPica at JungleIsland


I think Spidey scared the parrot- it looks like it fainted!

Then there are the other two grandbabies

La Princesa


Not even as Minnie can she stand still!  
But  BB loves her- especially since she's 9 hours away.

My eldest Grandbaby- 

who has been wearing the same costume for 2 years because he still loves Transformers

El Dr.

Steady Freddy is this one. 

And their mother- My biggest baby, The Eldest of my trio

Personally I think she should have won her office party's Halloween Costume Contest.  

In an election year this may not have been the smartest choice,

but I think she carried it off so well.

; )

What did you do on Halloween? 

Share with BB the activities and the costumes- I'd love to see them on my Feibu wall!   

Feliz Tri-co-Tree!!

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.