Sidewalk Cafe

This is one of my favorite places to get a great breakfast and lunch. Their breakfast bacon and country-style hashbrown are to die for.

I tried the Grilled Chicken sandwich with pesto sauce the other day and it was the most tender and aromatic grilled chicken I ever had.

But you know what? The best part of the experience was having my meal in this nice patio area!

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Cohabitation

I love seeing architecture, nature, cars, bicycles, and people cohabitating, sharing space, like a multi-color, multi-texture tapestry. This kind of co-mingling is what makes a modern development like this outdoor shopping center ever so appealing.

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Meet My Friend Salina!

We used to meet here for coffee every sunny weekend morning. Since I moved away, we don't get together that much any more. I miss our weekend tradition.

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Posting From My Droid Phone

Well, I'm just trying out the Blogger App on my Droid x. Let's see how it does.

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Ahh, Wanderlust!

Wanderlust Yoga and Music Festival 2010

I attended my first yoga retreat ever this past weekend. Wow, what an experience!

I am now officially a trained yogini. I mean, I have been practicing on my own learning from multiple teachers via DVDs, but this is the first time I actually took classes with live instructions.

I was so lucky to share this experience with Elle, my new yoga friend and companion. She is a yoga retreat veteran and a seasoned yogini, so it was nice to have her as my guide.

We had such a wonderful time, being sore and all. :)  I took 8 classes and she took 10. We were so fortunate to learn from the greatest teachers: Elana Bower, Jason Nemer & Jenny Sauer-Klein, Shiva Rea, Baron Baptiste, Sean Corn, Vinnie Marino, Brock & Krista Cahill, and Chris Ray. We learned Hatha yoga, self-massage with balls, acroyoga, hip openers, and Anusara yoga. We event participated in the Yoga Aid Off The Mat Benefit.

We decided to skip the Rock n Roll concert though. It was too crowded any noisy. After each long day of yoga classes, we just wanted to relax back at our hotel to get ready for the next yoga-filled day. The loud music seemed counter-productive on such a tranquil journey. We love Rock n Roll, but we'll save it for a separate occasion. This time, all we wanted to hear was the steady sounds of our pranayama.

With Jupiter and Uranus in Aries conjunct my Sun and Saturn and Mars in Libra on the opposition, ganging up to square transiting Pluto in my 4th house, I am ready for change, and this yoga journey is the perfect manner of traveling. Namaste!

"Bad Romance" by my daughter and her friend David

Meet my daughter Deanna and her friend David ~ a two-man band called "Fiesta Hat with Your Name on It".

Fiesta Hat with your Name on It ~ they picked this name because they wanted to be free to have fun with their music. Funny thing is they have not played any Spanish song so far!

Both David and Deanna play acoustic guitar covering popular songs that they and their friends like: Taylor Swift's "Forever and Always", "Bring It" (Snakes on a Plane), Here Comes the Sun, In My Life...

So far, though, their most applauded performances have been Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance".

They won first prize at their high school talent show performing "Bad Romance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s1n2Hh0K9I

They were asked to play at the school rally the day after the talent show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxheOhK6Iic

The amazing thing is that David has not had any formal guitar training and Deanna self-taught herself how to sing. They both see music as a natural means for self-expression and it just shows. They are superstars in their own environment, and it's wonderful to watch the unfurling of their potentials.

Check them out on their Facebook Fan Page:  http://www.facebook.com/fiestahatmusic

Perspective

My daughter and the Bermuda sand ~

Holding the world in her hand

The Love I Found

Head to head  ~  heart to heart ~ when will I find my true love?

It was the day before Valentine's Day and I was busy feeling sorry for myself, wondering when love will find me again. I mean real love - love from a real human being, that is, not someone from my imagination. One who is crazy about me. One whom I love and respect. One who shares my spiritualism and understands my hope and dreams.

Well, I know that I am loved by a lot of wonderful people. My family. My friends. My daughter. My colleagues at work. But I'm thinking about that special someone. I mean: "The One".

When will he be here? When will he arrive with open arms, showering me with hugs and kisses, keeping my bed warm at night, greeting me with the morning sunshine, loving me with the same passion as his love of humanity. But staying. Committing. Celebrating our attachment. Not hinting to leave. And being there - no matter what. And definitely, not needing a button to push in order to love me.

Of course I realize that I am being too idealistic. Afterall, what human can possibly satisfy all my idealism and dreams?

It all seems so hopeless. I'm hopeless. So, I should just focus on growing gracefully into a lonely old maid...

Then an encouraging message came from a good friend. A message unlike the many I've received before. Though the words ring a familiar tone. Supportive. Positive. Encouraging. There is a marked difference... This time, somehow I finally listen. I finally understand.

"Felicia, you are yourself endless LOVE. You really are. The love you seek is YOU yourself...please Make no mistake. You are endless ........ "

I took me a little time to really digest the message. I was trying to understand the context of the message. I asked what actions had I taken, what behaviors had I exhibited to qualify for such a status? How? How have I been "endless love"?

Then I remembered how I have been. A constant drive to reach out to spread message of love and hope to others. How I love my family. The compassion I have for those suffering. How I respect others' rights. The sacrifices I make for my daughter. The genuine caring I give to my friends. My sensitivity to others' feelings. How I refuse to take advantage of anyone. How I love my work, earning my keep, taking care of my daughter. How I embrace my responsibilities. How I rather spend a lonely Friday night than to give someone false hope. How I still care deeply for the one lacking the loving button...

I then realize that it is true. I AM. LOVE. No need to keep searching. I've found that love from within, and it is a wonderful gift. And I am blessed.

If you are reading this. I hope that you too, have found the love within. And your loving will give you strength. Remember... YOU. ARE. LOVE. I hope by revealing my vulnerabilities I can help you see that deep down we are all vulnerable - no matter how strong we appear in the public view. But it is okay to be vulnerable. Because it is our vulnerability that gives us our humanity. It is our vulnerability that will lead us to LOVE.

~ There is no remedy for love but to love more. - Henry David Thoreau

I dedicate this post to my special friend who gave me the gift of realizing that I am LOVE. For this special gift, I am eternally grateful. Namaste.

A Little Haiku Here and There...

I watched as God painted a new day ~ and fell in love all anew.

~.~

A layer of blue ~ colors the mystic white clouds ~ Who is the artist? #sky

~.~

Lingering in bed ~ awaiting special signal ~ Sunlight through window #sunrise

~.~

Twinkle in your eyes ~ melted my heart with your smiles ~ when you were just five. #forbaby

~.~

Sleep calling my name ~ sweet dreams beckoning my soul ~ you be my pillow? #sleep

~.~

Images flickering ~ Actors and the Scenes ~ 'Twas me and you. #remminiscence

~.~

A sad melody ~ is it not our hearts aching ~ time to say goodbye. #goodbye

~.~

Such a lovely glow ~ with beauty that warms the soul ~ she wears happiness. #happiness

~.~

Time to say goodbye ~ let good memories remain ~ 'twas all but a dream. #goodbye

~.~

My heart was once young ~ fresh as Pink Breath of Heaven~ my heart was once young. #youth #spring

~.~

Anticipating ~ my knight in shining armour ~ in 2013 #anticipation

~.~

With his brillant smile ~ he walked with me by my side ~ the sun in the sky #myfirsthaiku

"I Believe"

"I Believe" ♫

I believe for every drop of rain that falls

A flower grows,

I believe that somewhere in the darkest night

A candle glows,

I believe for everyone who goes astray,

Someone will come to show the way,

I believe, I believe.

I believe above the storm a smallest prayer

Will still be heard,

I believe that someone in the great somewhere

Hears every word,

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry,

Or touch a leaf, or see the sky,

Then I know why,

I believe.

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry,

Or touch a leaf, or see the sky,

Then I know why,

I believe.

Sunshine Inspiration

Vibrant pastel blue ~ melted white marshmallow swirls ~ my cup of sunshine.

I Do Know How to Have Fun - On Occasions...

I love travel and discovery, and love taking pictures wherever I go - even on business trips! Well, this one was not a business trip.  But I was working on my perspective technique in photography!

I didn't realize that my toes can be interesting until I decided to frame this picture from their perspective.

Well, as I said in my blog title - learning how to have fun has been an interesting life-long journey for me. I needed to dispel the belief that having Saturn in your Fifth House means that you don't know how to have fun.

My Thoughts in More Than 140 Characters

Well so here I am creating a blog just so I can share my thoughts in more than 140 characters. If you are interested in my view within 140 characters, follow me on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/Saturn5th.

I will use this blog space to elaborate on thoughts that require a deeper dive than what can be expressed on Twitter. As the occasions arise, I might discuss other subjects that are different from those shared on Twitter.

I hope you'll stay with me on this new journey as I discover how to articulate productive ideas in a broader space.

Thank you for your interest!