School and More Growing up Puerto Rican

Hi Everyone
I know it's been a long while since I last wrote. So much going on. As much as I would like to write about my growing up years I thought it would be better to write about school. My website www.10greatways-2stopatruck-hottips-for-coolfamilies.com is going to have a page about school. Time is getting closer you know. Many families are down on home school they say it isn't good for social development. That may be true of many but not all and it isn't right to kill an idea because it doesn't work work for some. If our kids needs social skills then it is up to us parents to do something to provide it. I have many ideas for get togethers, supervised by parents that would work beautifully. My daughter goes to an internet school. They provide the computer, printer etc and pay for the internet bill. It is a public charter school but they also have a private school sector. By now many internet schools must be around but I have her enrolled in CAVA and I love it. She has a great teacher and they also provide extra tutoring in all subjects so she is never left on her own when she gets stuck. I have developed a relationship with enough parents so that she can have a healthy social school environment even though its home school. Check it out I believe the address is www.cava.org. Since my website touches on trucking families and getting an education while on the road I will be posting more information on it. Unfortunately I don't have the link set up from this side so you'll have to type in the address the good old fashioned way until I have more time to set it up. (Oh my God I did it. It is embarrassing to see how easy it is to link to my web site. Well live and learn.)I will have the website part set up by the 1st week of August. But until then if cava.org doesn't work try www.caliva.org.


More Growing Up Puerto Rican

I promised a while back that I would give you a little information about each of my sisters a little at a time. So by the time I did start my stories they might make more sense. So sister number 2 I'll call "I don't know" (idk) simple because I really can't come up with something right now. She never liked being the second in command but that was life there was someone else already born. She has her own little world of making crafts and telling her stories, cooking and keeping herself busy. But if I have to share with you one thing about her its this: She really wanted to be the oldest one and back in the good old days when "Planet of the Apes" came out we went to the drive in to see it. Boy we were excited. Well idk insisted on telling the girl at the ticket booth who all was in the care. My parents.....2 adults. I had just started the 9th grade and we were having a fight in the back seat about who was more mature or whatever. The 3 younger.....3 kids. She cuts in real fast and says 4 kids to bug me of course. Then she says about herself and 1 "Senior Citizen" Because she is in a senior high school now. The lady in the booth asks well where is she and she just can't see her. The lady hangs outside the booth and practically crawls inside our car. She says "I just don't see her where is she?" idk says well its me I'm in.....the lady starts laughing. She says "No dear senior citizen is an older person in their 60's" God it was funny. Now its funny to think of how dumb we all were but back then it felt good to see idk turn deep red. But that's my family........fighting...not fighting.....back and forth all our lives. She dated a mercenary so my mom's virginity story didn't fly with idk like it did with Elvira...sorry idk and your husband & kids. But they knew already.............I hope.

I know its been a while since I last wrote. I was on a roll wanting to give little excerps of my childhood years. But all along I kept thinking about my situation and the people I have talked to in the trucking industry. I'm the wife of a truck driver and of course you already know I'm a mom. But even in my address I ended it with the word "plus". Because besides the two these I mentioned I'd like to think I am more. We wives of drivers are unique in a certain sense. We are both married and single. The singer Garth Brooks has a song from quite a few years ago. It's about how his daddy was a trucker and his mom was a good looking woman. His daddy loved his family and really loved his wife. Every single night he would stop where ever he was at and call home. And every night she would be waiting for that phone call. But having a relationship with the phone just wasn't enough for her anymore so she started to have an affair. Well the truck driver husband found out on one of his trips home. He found out what motel she was at and drove the big rig right throught it......he was a jealous man. So the song goes something like "mama is in the graveyard, daddys in the pen." Sometimes being unhappy or tired of your situation can make you make changes......not always good ones. And even though this is just a song it happens more often then not.

So I decided to open a website to help us all with being families of truck drivers and using this blog to get involved in things that are more productive then destroying your family.

There are many things we have to do by ourselves because our mates are gone. We have to keep the house running, pay the bills on time, see to the needs of the children, and maybe even hold down a job. And that might be all you can handle. But if you want to try something a little different. Something just for you. Something you can get excited about. If you have never learned how to sew and would like to check it out then that could be it. What I like is that we don't have to stick to the same thing. Once we've learned or accomplished something we can get more involved in it or simply try something new. What about bringing out your artistic side. There are many ways to do that. Yes you can create a painting on canvas, or carve a figure out of clay. But you can also create a beautiful scene in your yard through landscaping or create a window or mock window out of stained glass. You can volunteer at your local animal shelter. Some need you to take the dogs for a walk or foster one thats recovering from some sort of injury. These animals are the coolest because they deeply appreciate the time you give them and they just want to love you back.

So I'm going to encourage you. Each week depending on the challenge we will select something together. We all have our own hometowns and it'll be interesting to see how we do and how fulfilled it will make us feel. For now to get started lets all go to the animal shelter and pick up an application to volunteer. It can be for once a week or once a month. If you want you can invite your older kids to join you. After all they are part of a truckers family too. Just get the application, if you aren't sure bring it home with you read it over. Talk to the person there in charge of the volunteers. Watch "animal planet" on TV. Especially the episodes like "Animal Cops Houston" or "Animal Cops Miami". National Geographic channel has a show called "Dog Town" and "The Dog Whisperer" There is more but I think you got the idea. Write me back let me know how this working for you.

Special note I want this blog to be a positive experience, with positive feedback. If we need to talk and sometimes vent thats okay but nothing mean spirited, attacks on our character, or recommending anything that would be inappropriate. Until then I look forward to hearing from you. And don't forget, I'm not the only one that is allowed to bring up ideas. Share yours with me.

Where do I start?

I think back on the years and all the things we did, said, learned, etc and how I would write about it. It occurred to me that since I babble I probably won't make much sense when I get caught up in a memory. So what'll help me just write? I guess start from the beginning. But the beginning of what? My existence that would mean me and my sisters. But my life that would be me and my children. One isn't more important then the other of course but one came 20 years before the other so that part started back in 1976. Those 2 people make it the best
I thought it would be cool if I told you a little bit about my sisters so that you can better understand me and why I say the things I do. So here goes in chronological order.
Maria: Much older. Mami's first marriage. Only one of us actually born in Puerto Rico. Raised in New York. Perfect older sister always taking care of her baby sisters. She had a tendency to remind me of Elvira so that's what I called her. Tons of kids and yes she never ever had sex either. I found out when I was about 14. She overheard Mami reminding me of Elvira's holiness. When I was in the car alone with her she turned to me and said "you didn't actually believe all that did you?" By then she was on her 4th kid I think. I sat there quietly and did the math and wondered if it was one time per kid. Cause she was averaging a kid a year. Then I thought of my then brother-in-law and man did I get grossed out. But she was cool. She helped me so much in my transition years, going from elementary school into Jr. High. If it wasn't for her I would have been......I don't know blackballed from humanity. She died a few years ago and I miss her so much. But we got stuff...I'll share sometime. Right now their are 4 more but I'll tell you about them later. A couple get pretty darn interesting. I've been thinking about food so I decided to give you Mami's recipe for Arroz con Pollo. It was like pulling teeth to get it out of her. Not because she was unwilling but because of how she gives a recipe in the first place. She started by saying "well nena just put rice and chicken and whatever spices you like". "Mom you can't say it like that I need to know what spices and how much." So I'm gonna give it to you the way she actually gave it to me. Here goes. Ingredients: Rice-long grain, oil-3/4Tbl.; onion-1/2 small; bell pepper-?; garlic-fresh diced and powder; capers-1/2ts.; green olives with pimentos; cumin 1/4ts; paprika 1/2 ts.; Adobo-to taste very salty; pepper-to taste; chicken(optional). I said "Mami how can the chicken be optional when its Arroz con POLLO." She got into the cooking channel the week before and heard the word so wanted to use it. And their you go...the child has become the parent. Okay lets keep going. Its easy now.
Grab a big pot like a dutch oven. Layer the bottom with oil get it hot. Place cut strips of chicken, diced onion & bell pepper and saute. Throw in the fresh garlic, capers, olives; when onions are soft put in 2 cups of rice. Mix all together. Add cumin, garlic powder, paprika (or bijol if you like it) adobo, pepper mix everything again and everything has always been on a continual slow saute mode. Using the same cup you used to measure the rice.....measure the water. She never used actual measuring cups but coffee mugs. Anyhow put in 3 cups of water, (add an extra cup for the rice). Bring water to a boil over medium to high heat depending on how thick your pot is. Once it comes to a boil give it a one time only stir. Let water evaporate as it boils. When it does then lower the flame way down to way low and cover the pot. And for the life of you don't lift that lid for the next 20/25 minutes or you'll die!!! After that you can. Let it sit for a few minutes, fluff and serve. This is really neat cause its a one pot meal. You can serve with salad and/vege's but sometimes this is enough. And of course even though its dinner so later in the day it still goes down well with "cafe Bustello". Try it; tell me what you think.

And in the mean time I have a thought. Choosing a career or a job. If you have a good job especially nowadays count your blessings. Right now many people are helping others like I don't know extreme makeover home edition or helping animals especially ones that are victims of fights. Some of then I believe live in "Dog Town" now and are being helped. My point is that if you can choose a way that helps others it would be great. Whether you can do it full or part time. But what to choose? Write down your choices, pray about it and do the foot work. Find out which one will work for you and which one you feel God will bless. But if you want a blessing you have to give Him something to bless. Whether its helping others or simply being a contributing member of society. Thanks for listening.

What was I thinking?

"LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE" How many times have I heard this in my lifetime. You are faced with some type of perplexing decision, dilemma or situation and you have to decide. Sometimes you have time to sit and mull it over but their are times when its quick, right there and then you gotta do it Someone is standing there breathing down your neck, peer pressure is a powerful incentive. And if they have even the smallest amount of investment (whether financial or emotional) that will lean their way the silver tongue will start to work very hard. Sometimes you can see it in their eyes. They are watching you. Maintaining that eye contact, they know when to look away and let you think they're not watching it's not that big a deal but they are in control. I read somewhere a while back that even when a person seems so weak and needy, much weaker then you if they get you to do whatever it was they wanted they were in control the entire time. They got you to do what they wanted didn't they! So my point!Even if you sincerely believe you are doing the right thing because your conscience allows it, it may be one of the biggest mistakes you'll make in your life. The very prominent lawyer, very rich Saul of Tarsus stood there and held the coats of a bunch of men that were cold blooded in killing a young man Stephen for just speaking his mind. When done his lifeless body lay on the ground, Saul gave everyone back the coats and went on home, quite content with his conscience. Years later his conscience bothered him but Stephen was still dead. He changed his life in part to make up for that day. But what a thing to live with. So you can't count on a conscience based on your own moral guidelines. We need to train it with something better, higher. And when confronted with these that would put pressure have the conscience that will give you the intestinal fortitude to do the truly right thing.

Growing up Puerto Rican

Hi out there. I've been told it's almost impossible to make any mistakes when blogging but I don't know I think I made a bunch. Just this blog showing up for others to see would be a miracle but I'm gonna try anyhow.

I'm Puerto Rican as you could probably figure out by now. And I've decided to start blogging cause my family says I babble.....which I do. So now I can kill 2 birds with one stone; babble and journalize. I've bought many journals but could never really get into it so maybe this be better. I already feel more motivated.

Today I just want to say hello and let you know a little about me. I have 5 sisters, I'm in the middle. No brothers. My parents stayed married so all us girls were raised by 2 people. Very down home Puerto Rican. They decided early in their marriage that they were going to raise us with the highest moral upbringing imaginable......imagination being the key component. Out of all the cousins, friends, Tias and whoever else--- my mother was able to give birth 6 different times and not once ever having sex in her entire life. She never smoked a cigerette, drank a beer, or used foul language. She was a saint. Needless to say that when I entered Jr. High School and High School I was reminded of this so if she didn't do this then of course I had no need of it either. My Papi swore she was a miracle and never anything less. She was a fantastic cook and thats for real. From arroz con gandules to arroz con pollo it was all great. Sometimes I'll share a recipe see if you like it.....you'll have to make it first. Well thats it for now. Thanks for listening.