Tala HA si - Here We Come!

At 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, Sweetie drove into Miami.  At 5 a.m. the following morning Babushka was driving to Orlando with him and my 7 year old grandson.  Here started my week with  El Dr.- an adventure I look back at with smiles, laughs, and gratitude for family, cafe, y multi-vitamins.

Of course from 9 - 11:30 pm we had to shop for supplies.  Queee???  BB go on a trip without her Popa purse full of snacks? JU SO FONII!!!  Pobre Sweetie had never gone on a trip shopping spree with Babushka PLUS he had never had children, so add the supplies needed for that to our spree.  Talk about baptism by fire!  Don't know if his eyes were bulging because of the long hours he had driven or because of the final shopping tally.

The next morning El Dr. was so excited about his trip to Tala HA si, that a 5 a.m. wake up call was greeted with smiles and no objections.  His dad said we should have videotaped that as proof during the school year that he WAS capable of waking up early.  Now BB, though just as happy as my grandson to be going back home to Tala HA si, needed some extra energy, and since breakfast is the most important meal of the day...

Ok si, maybe not what the nutritionists would prefer we have, but between the sugar & the fresh cafe, 

I knew the drive was going to be sweeter on every level.

Now El Dr. tried to follow suggestions to sleep

but instead kept us entertained and awake with questions and stories.

Not sure if it was excitement, or the knowledge that he had a captive audience, but the child didn't stop for 2 hours.  De veras.  We clocked it.

And we loved it.

El Dr. brought a new dimension and meaning into our lives and routine. 

Imagination, curiosity, and innocent, loving, never ending energy.

Questions that took us by surprise by their depth and honesty.

Stories that had us smiling, sniffling and stupified.

Grandparenting- it ain't for the slight of spirit.

Camping/Sleeping in our room in Tala Ha si

Matter of fact, when I asked the newly initiated Sweetie how he liked being called "Grandpa"  he said-

"I liked it.  I think I'm gonna be a good one."

MyCountrycottage.net

After a week of full time grandparenting,

El Dr & BB think so too.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S. Tala HA si  is how El Dr. pronounces the city of Tallahassee, the capital city of Florida. Not quite where BB and Grandpa Sweetie live, but close enough.

P.P.S. This is the final post on my week with El Dr. Go back and read Part 1 & Part 2, because you know you can't get enough of my grandson's cuteness.  ; )

Keeping My Cool with Seaworld

Free entrance tickets, but this post is all BB. Ok, si- and del Dr.


HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!!

As you well know, Babushka does not do heat.  Not too convenient considering I live in Florida, pero I do have ways to combat that heat aversion.  Queee?? JU SO FONII!!!  Si, I do leave the house once in a while- if it's worth it, and making a grandbaby smile is sooooo worth it. But it does have to be BB style. 

I needed a place that was cool in every sense of the word- and I found it in ANTARCTICA.

SeaWorld Orlando

Cool huh?? 

Ok si, it's in Orlando and not real ice, but this was the week of escaping the real and facing fears. 

 El Dr. was up to the challenge- as a matter of fact, it was his idea!

He decided to meet his fear of roller coasters, heights, and fast rides. 

Ejemplo: In the Empire of the Penguin ride you could choose a mild or "wild" ride. 

He chose the "wild".

Stock pictures yes, but very true to experience.

Here's El Dr. in one of the entrances to Antarctica. 

Luckily for us the day was overcast, not many people were there, so we saw almost everything.  Suggestion, bring comfortable shoes and time to see it all.  As I said, it was late and had been raining so many had left- otherwise, I'd suggest at least 2 days to really appreciate all that's available. Continuing.

El Dr. bravely wanted to overcome his fears, but he started off slowly- at  Shamu's Happy Harbor.

 My grandsons brave, not bobo.

Unfortunately the same can not be said of BB-
those little cups are not made for Cuban Cabooses.

'Nuff said.

El Dr. Fearless in Seaworld



Once he had conquered the kiddie portion, my grandson decided it was time for the big guns.

Sky Tower- 400 Ft high

Journey to Atlantis

Ok si, another stock picture, pero in my own defense, I didn't take a pic because I was shocked that he truly wanted to ride this, but ride we did.
He taught Babushka a lot that day, but he learned a couple of things too.

Not only did he learn a lot about himself and the creatures of the sea,
but he learned about his Babushka.

Thankfully, he says she's kept her Cool.

; )

"Having the time of my life!"

ESO!!!

I couldn't have agreed more.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.


P.S.  This trip was made possible by the Maravilloso people of  VisitOrlando and Seaworld.  
Mil Gracias for the entrance tickets y'all, and for helping to make this summer a good memory for El Dr.  
These are my sincere thoughts and opinions written with mucho, mucho gratitude.

P.P.S.  Este post is part 2 of My Week w/El Dr.  Here's part 1 in case you missed it.

P.P.P.S. Check out BB's YouTube Channel & Feibu page for more videos and photos of the trip.

♪♫Singing with the Sponsors♪♫

HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!!  

Ok, last post we danced with the brands, the work of pitching ideas with sponsors- this time we sing and have fun with sponsors.  

Have a looksie and enjoy la musica. ♪♫

Target Lounge

As I mentioned in my first Hispz13 post, there were VIP's all over the place, and you can't get much more VIP than Emilio Estefan.  Joining forces with Target, they had us dancing and listening to the sounds of the Latin Billboards with their #SeHablaMusica campaign via Emilio's newest inspiration- Sound Machine by Monster Headphones.  ESO!!!  The Rhythm is gonna get ya for sure with these!  heje Sorry, couldn't resist that one.

Y sabes what else BB couldn't resist??

VisitOrlando 

Babushka's at 00:19 - 00:21

Seems like I'm not the only one who couldn't resist the fun!!

Now, for those of you who thought I was speaking figuratively about Singing w/the Sponsors-

JU SO FONII!!!

The Rad Pack at Radio Shack had it going on- mira pa' esto:

Not only did they have the coolest gear to show, they had great prizes.  And of course Babushka tried to win her some. 

That battery Enercell 6000mAh Portable Power Bank was calling to me. 

 Quee?? I didn't!  Oh Si I did!!

Betcha didn't know BB used to do a lot of musical theater did ya? 

Bueno... if you had heard me that night, you still wouldn't have known it.

::sigh::

Too many moons and too many cigarros have gone by, pero ya gotta admit something-

BB can still work it- Gozando con Gusto!!

; )

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S.  Feibu will have more pics of my 1st (and probably last) try at Karaoke.

Maravilloso Medieval Times

BB turned 50 this past Saturday. Queee? JU SO FONII!!! No, that's not the medieval times I was referring to.  The Bellas at VisitOrlando sent Babushka a pass to various Orlando attractions and I decided to go to Medieval Times. I had gone with my trio many moons ago but Sweetie had never seen it and besides, it was dinner and a show and you know BB never says no to that combination.

This is what I remembered about Medieval Times-

I made the reservations and thought it would be just a nice entertaining birthday dinner,

 little did I know the S Sisters were back at work and had other plans.

Arrive 1.5 hours before showtime, si you need that much time to visit before the show.

You will find fascinating glimpses into castle life.

BB, being BB went straight to the kitchen-

 

  

Whilst Sweetie thought this and the Torture Chamber more interesting.

 

Personally, the Torture Chamber gave me the heebie jeebies, and when I later found out these items on exhibition were actual artifacts from an actual castle... more on that later.

We did agree on how natural and good we look in these though.

  

On BB's Feibu page- in the photos, you'll see the other sections-bakery, architect's home, birds of prey, basketry, clothing. All with real artifacts and examples brought from the original castle. Original castle? Yes My Beautifuls, the original castle. This is where the sisters Serendipity y Synchronicity said Hola. 

Thanks to my baptism by fire during the American Latino Heritage Fund Roadtrip, I was no longer intimidated by asking questions or conducting interviews and armed with my new camera (bday present from Sweetie- he's such a keeper) I approached the Chancellor hoping for a pic. A pic? The S Sisters made sure the person I spoke to was wise with a wealth of information. It seems that this was not your typical "tourist" locale, but a true representation, based on a true castle. Oh yes it is- and BB was able to capture this on video.

Of course the original reasons for going are still valid. 

The delicious food and being able to eat it with your hands.  

      

All of it.

Es flaco, pero mastica bien.

The Wonderful Show

 

And being addressed as "My Lord" or "My Lady" all evening.

Por fa, you know you love it.

  

I always liked Medieval Times, thought it fun and fantasy. 

 But now that I know it's based on reality- 

as in an actual place, it's become easy to blur the lines.

 It's now magical and mysterious, not so much make believe. 

 I mean really-  doesn't Lady Babushka fit me oh so very well?

; )

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S.  And the YouTube videos continue- thanks again Sweetie!  Please take a quick look there and on my Feibu for more BB, on the side, in the dark, uncut and unedited.  Oh my.  

P.P.S.  Si yo se I mentioned VisitOrlando already, but I'm so grateful to them for helping me celebrate my 50th that I had to say it again.  Mil Gracias - son the best!  Oh, y si FCC all the opinions are my own.

P.P.P.S.  Y'all know that BB's native tongue is Spanglish- more English than Spanish right?  That I didn't start speaking Spanish until I was a tween and that my parents didn't watch Spanish tv stations, opting for PBS and "on the edge" sitcoms like All in The Family and Maude (ok, si, maybe I am almost medieval) and that we were the only Hispanics in our unincorporated part of Miami for the longest time? So although it seems ironic and pleasantly surprising to BB that so much Spanish history has entertwined with my own, I embrace it and say to the S Sisters -Pa'lante Hermanitas, I've got a lot of catching up to do!!

Very Honorable Mentions

The Exhibit & Product Halls during Hispanicize 2012 were chock full of vendor booths and chock full of coffee. (sorry, couldn't resist)  Needless to say I enjoyed visiting the hall at least twice daily during the conference , but my favs have to be:

GoDominicanRepublic.com 

My first husband (yes, there've been more than 1- here's the link-catch up!) was Dominican.

Ok, si, was my first husband, is Dominican, and the father of my two eldest children.

They are proud of their heritage and I'm glad of it.

   

Kiara Cespedes w/BB

Ministry of Tourism DR

I've visited the island and enjoyed it's beauty, food, culture and people.  Like this beautiful young lady they humored esta Crazy Cubana and made her feel welcomed.  BB will take her children to their father's homeland one day for the yearly "Encuentro"; I know they'll love it.

VisitOrlando

BB actually chased these poor Minions as they were going into an elevator. 

I was promised they'd return for a pic, and they were good to their...silence.

This one's for you My Little One!

They also gave us a chance to play dress up- Orlando style

 

Little did we know they were planning on doing this:

Babushka's at 1:08 w/cafe in hand. But of course. 

SOI TV

 Babushka unfanned!

You saw it here first- BB without her face coverup schtick, but nunca without her

"JU SO FONII!!!"

; )



Babushka Besos to all.  Cuidensen.