shaki talk

Tips for Success

2009-01-14T13:32:00.000-08:00

I *LOVE* this post by Mapgirl of PFblog fame. I realized as i was browsing it that these points are exactly the checklist i go through when encouraging someone to undertake anything big, such as start a new job, start college, etc. Especially those who are themselves relatively new to this country... these are great foundation stones to start from, and will help not only the jobseeker but his or her prospective employer!

Exito! -tu Shaki ;)

Lesson 1

2009-01-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

Yeah, the pic is a political one, but i'm choosing to view it from the Credit Card crunch perspective-- even Dark Lords need to charge once in awhile!

OK, it's only the first week of 2009 (the greatest year ever!) and ALREADY i've found a way to apply the negatives of 2008 to the happenings of the new year. So... let's say you found out that a relationship which you thought was going to be fun and productive -- is turning out funky and dramatic ... and has you feeling more like you are cultivating an enemy! What do you do?

Well, in the last week or so, i have gotten so, so, SO many notices from my "friendly" credit card companies telling me that i have been a very negligent friend to them. And that they really don't like how i'm not paying them enough attention. Scratch that. I'm not paying them, period! That is, i have not carried a balance for 2 years now, and therefore, they are ending our relationship.

Hey! Now, i know you're thinking, "Well, if you haven't used credit cards, they have a right to pull the plug!" And you're right. But it still leaves me feeling, "Dude, i wasn't ignoring you! I kept you right on my desk the whole time. I've been feeling the security of your Credit Limits. I appreciate your presence, and ... by the way, the fact that i had to pay you SO much interest in the past, doesn't that count for something? Did i not spend hundreds of dollars in finance charges on you when i was digging myself out of debt?" Did i ever say to you, "Mr. Credit Card, you know, i don't feel appreciated when you charge me so much interest. I'm dumping you."

No. But dump ME they did. Because basically, i've realized, i'm too good for them! And that's the key...

They kept me around because they thought i would not be progressive. They thought that i'd be stagnant, stuck in my debt forever. But NO! Just lock the door! Don't turn around, now ... Cuz you're not wel-come anymore! That DEBT is GONE!

So, the debt is gone... and it feels so good. And seeing, once a year, that beautiful balance "$0.00" on my annual statements was utter deliciousness. But then-- Mr. Credit Card decides i'm not exciting enough for him anymore. I don't NEED him like i used to. He's too busy for ME now!

Well, guess what. Like toxic relationships, sometimes we've got to cut loose or be cut. And, even though it's hard getting cut out, sometimes one has to sit back and realize...

I really was TOO GOOD for him! :)

tu Shaki :)

¡Empieza!

2009-01-06T05:43:00.000-08:00

Of, course, that means BEGIN! Which is SO what Shaki needs to do right now. Ever have so many little dreams that none of them seems big enough to knock the others out and get itself fulfilled?
Well, i decided that 2009 is a great year, just waiting for excitement! Yes, that's what i like, i admit it. When one takes those silly personality tests, what is one thing that always appeals to me? Uh... danger. excitement. scary-ness.. (is that a word?) desafío. challenge. Even sometimes change, although change can wear me out, too. And i've had quite a load of change this past year.
La cosa bonita about change: it always teaches you something. And i should be a professor by now. A co-worker asked me, "Don't you regret those risks you took last year?" And i have to be honest, my answer was...

NO!

Why? Because #1: I gave people chances. #2: In giving people chances, i trusted them. #3: In trusting people, i showed them respect and love... and gave them a challenge, too. To trust me! #4: I forgave. How can you forgive, unless you put yourself out there to possibly get hurt? #5: After repeating #4 a couple thousand times (ok, it just felt like it!), I moved on.

To me, así es la vida. That is life. How boring would life be if we never took a chance on friends, family, loves, challenges, learning, accomplishment? I don't think we were created to be bored to death. That's why i gave away my television. That's right. You heard me correctly. I refuse to sit on my tush watching other people's lives... "Life" is a verb for me! VIDA!!!

So i hate being bored, i look forward to 2009 and some challenging goals, i learned from my --not "mistakes"-- ADVENTURES of the past, and am willing to "luchar con el angel"... work for my blessings.

Shaki must go... but i'll be back! :) xoxo

Can't live without a sense of humor...

2008-11-10T06:39:00.000-08:00

Tanto tiempo ha pasado... I needed some time to recuperate from some rather large changes, so please forgive the absence! If you have ever moved, you know it takes time to settle in, get organized, etc. I have a new roommate now, someone who is a better fit, and a total riot! Which makes me wonder... what is it that makes a great roommate? For that matter, what is the most important facet of friendship? I do believe that both trust and forgiveness must be the top 2 features. But a savage sense of humor makes life a ball, and i have now sworn to myself that i will never, ever live with someone who doesn't make it a priority to find the humor even in tough situations. Life is too stressful to dwell on the negative!

I walked into a cafe the other day, and overheard one of the chefs talking about me. Nothing bad, mind you, in fact he mentioned something about my cuteness... (aww... i'm blushing) But you know the strange thing? I felt very uncomfortable! I haven't been back since! Why? I'm not sure, is there something about humans in general that we don't wish to be talked about? Since then i've been trying other cafes in the area, and found a little hole-in-the-wall which has now become my new fave. Still, the question remains... can i go back and face the chef?
tu Shaki ;)

If Legs Could Talk...

2008-08-11T12:36:00.000-07:00

¡Qué dolor! Please forgive, but today my legs are talking to me. And they're not saying very nice things. Of course, I deserve it. What chick in her right mind lets a 250-lb man step on her foot? Not once, mind you, but several times. And yes, I fell right into the grass.
No, I'm not taking salsa lessons. Neither was I moshing in some superpopular concert. I must reveal... I love to play fútbol. Soccer. In the rain. For hours.
So now, of course, I'm suffering through the day with a bit of a limp. However, due to the dictates of fashion, I'm still sporting a pair of cute black wedge sandals. If I must suffer, why must my style? Shaki needs a good long bubble bath, as we all do once in a while... I'm sure even Figo indulges occasionally, don't you think? That's the great thing about being a female fútbolista... we get to play rough, but we don't shy away from pampering ourselves afterwards -- something that the *guys* don't (or don't admit that they) do.

I asked some of my male teammates last night what they did to recuperate. You can imagine the responses:

"Recuperate from what?" (This same guy needed a massive calambre, or 'charlie horse,' massaged out of his leg. Almost kept him out of the last half-hour of the game. Phoned me later that night to tell me it was still alive and kicking. I felt his pain.)
"Just keep going. Stomp the ground with that injured foot. Come on, you've got to really stomp it hard, with your talón, drive that heel in!" (After I twisted my ankle, I listened to this guy. So I stomped my freshly injured footsie into the ground. Then I was promptly told by another teammate that one should never do that. Just ice and elevation, the usual stuff. Thanks, and where were you just a few minutes ago, my friend?)
"In China, we just go home, take a shower, have a beer and fall into bed!" (Actually, that one sounded like the best answer to me, out of the three.)

Still, i prefer my Green Tea soak. Followed by Raspberry Delight bubble bath. Followed by a good rubdown. Maybe not beer, but a Banana Strawberry soy smoothie to top it off. And, of course, my left leg propped up on some pillows, with an ice pack wrapped around my foot, pobrecito. Then off to Dreamland, planning my next moves.

I must admit, one of the great things about fútbol is that it's FREE. Ok, ok, i bought a keg-sized Gatorade. But other than that, I had some free fun and exercise! The longer you play, you'll find that your fútbol playing group grows. I think we had 6 teams playing at once on three fields side-by-side. The more the merrier! I highly recommend it to anyone trying to stay within their budget, and make new friends.

Shaki's PS: just don't get hurt. Stretch out, wear the right shoes, don't sacrifice more than you have to win a gol. Winning is fun, but ending up in the doctor's office -- NOT cool. And NOT frugal. And my little smashed piggies are all nodding their heads in agreement at this moment. Ow, ow, ow...

I'll recover. But... I honestly, a girl's got to wonder what Figo's doing right now?
tu Shaki ;)

Mi Primer Día

2008-08-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

Merci, gracias, arigato, thank you... for visiting my blog. You'll be interested in what comes next... So stick around. Hágase cómodo.
tu Shaki ;)