Who’s That Girl?

I was manufactured, born and raised in what used to be a sleepy beach town, Santa Monica, California.

My choice to give birth to this blog is to share my thoughts along with various stories from a memoir I’ve written. I dig meeting people and truly enjoy getting down to the nitty-gritty of LIFE. One of my favorite Tia’s calls me reportera because I’m always asking questions. What can I say, I’m fascinated by other people’s experiences. I believe through sharing we learn, grow and inspire one another.

Ever since turning forty my mantra has been that whatever idea I have that I can not stop thinking about I’m going to give it a shot. No more living that, “What if” life. I have nothing to lose but the couple hundred dollars I invested on starting this. Plus, I have a memoir that has collected dust over the past year and stares at me every day from my desk. So, why not? I asked myself.

Here I am putting myself out in cyber space for anyone to read what I have to share. Perhaps you’ll laugh out loud. Or cry. Or reminisce. Or forgive. Or accept. Or give thanks. Or release. Or heal. Or get inspired.

Everyone has a story…

Since this is my blog I’m going to do things the way I want. BIG DISCALIMER, I am not going to get caught up on if I used the proper grammar and I will occasionally use Spanish words in my writing.

I want you to know more about me because my posts will not be in chronologic order. So the following is a list of things about yours truly:

I was born with two bottom teeth.
MADONNA. MADONNA. MADONNA.
I learned to swim at the age of two.
I had a lemonade stand during the 1984 Olympics and sold “Olympic Kool-Aid” for twenty five cents a cup. I made five dollars that day.
I hustle like crazy on Craigslist and Ebay and make a nice little turn over from it.
As a kid I came in third place in our local synchronized swimming competition. I still have my Santa Monica Recreation and Parks Department Mermaid badge.
I adore vintage Chanel.
I love anything having to do with the 70’s and 80’s.
My Stepdad taught me the agony of betrayal and the passion of loyalty.
My favorite word is Tia. Melts my heart.
I married my teenage love right after he was sentenced to twelve years in prison.
I am first generation Mexican-American and super proud of my roots.
I LOVE to listen to Spanish music.
If I like you. I LOVE you.
I use to visit my Husband in prison with heroin and pot stuffed in my bra and panties.
I have one older Bro, one younger Bro and one younger Sister. I fall in the middle.
My older Bro gifted us with my first Niece (that’s what I call her along with mami, mama, mamas), my second Niece and my Nephew. I LOVE them so dang much.
My younger Bro has three girls that I DIE for. They are my everything. EVERYTHING.
My Abuelita was born in 1920 and still alive. *She made her transition 5/22/16
The minute I was old enough to get a work permit my Mother sent my ass down to the ROP office. Afterwards, I had to find a job and hand over half of my check to her. I did all three and never questioned it.
My Mother taught me to be incredibly responsible with my bills and taught me how to clean.
I performed a crazy ass detective job and tracked down my Father after seventeen years of zero communication from him.
My favorite DJ’s are Uncle Joe Benson, Art Laboe, Garth Trinidad, Raul Campos and Maria Elena Nava.
I LOVE to exercise. I go to Barry’s Bootcamp, do hot yoga and spin.
I belonged to a gang. Yup, got jumped in for seventeen seconds by a handful of girls at Memorial Park in Santa Monica.
I have 3 older half siblings that I am not in contact with, but I wish I was.
I LOVE to read non-fiction.
I got married one month before my 38th year on this planet.
I am a Scorpio. TO THE T.
My Tia Patty marched alongside Cesar Chavez in the 70’s.
When I was a kid I wanted to be a gymnast then a lifeguard then Madonna then an interior decorator. Now I want to work with women and men in prisons and with children and literacy.
I believe in Aliens.
I believe in past lives.
I believe in EVERYTHING.
I spend my Saturdays in a classroom attempting to learn French.
My favorite radio programs are Coast to Coast, The Aware Show, Thom Hartmann, The Moth Hour and Democracy Now!
I am a vegetarian.
My favorite website is Food Babe.
I am a DIE HARD Sex and The City and Golden Girls fan. NO JOKE.
I am horrible at math.
I constantly rearrange the furniture at home. Being doing it since I was a kid and bottled up in the room I shared with my older Bro.
My older Bro was a pretty popular Graffiti artist back in the day.
My older Bro hands down makes the best Fred Mc’Muffin (he named it after himself) sandwich consisting of a well toasted english muffin and a couple of fried bologna slices (his go to snack after coming home stoned on pot when I was a kid).
When my younger Bro and Sister were born I couldn’t contain the love I felt for them. I really thought my chest was going to explode. I kissed them endlessly. ENDLESSLY.
My older Bro and I always tease our younger siblings on how spoiled they were growing up (they were both giving nicknames of Rey and Reyna. I nicknamed myself Cinderella). Joking aside, we were happy they had a Father and our Mother expressing mad love towards them.
I tell my Niece’s I am a Mermaid. They believe me and so do I.
The universe hooked me up when my Husband was placed in my life. He broke down the last remaining concrete wall and won me over with his patience and genuine love. Shoot, he made a believer out of a non-believer. He married me up and made a home owner out of me. ME.

My intention is to write from the heart. I will use real names (only if I have asked the person’s permission) otherwise I will use initials. Anything and everything I write/share is my own opinion and my version of how I remember the events. My intention is to not hurt/harm/embarrass.

This is MY blog. MY stories. MY thoughts.

Made In Samo