The project beckons

but in the meantime:
Lovelovelovelovelove!

More pics

More pics from M's wedding, shamelessly stolen from S.

With B.

Giving the toast

With S. So cute!

Again, with B.


And now for the ugly sweater party pics:

Wedding pics

So one of my favorite girls got married this weekend. A few wedding pics - hopefully there will be more to come:

Do it.

Tomorrow's the big day. I mentioned Barack Obama here in early March of 2007, which pretty much makes this the longest campaign EVER. That's about a year and a half ago! But this is the last day of that longest political season, and to be quite honest I'm ready for it to get there.
I already cast my absentee ballot, and I know countless others who have done the same. For the rest of you, go out and vote! Y'all know where my sympathies lie, but the important thing is to actually make it to your polling place and vote. Whatever your politics, whatever your issues, take your stand. It does matter; the last few races have been a testament to what a few thousand votes can do.
When I think about all that people have suffered in this country so that they could vote, it makes me feel like voting is not just my privilege, but my responsibility. As a woman, I have to recognize the long battle of the suffragettes who marched and were often arrested to have their voices heard. As a woman of color, I have to look at the struggles of African Americans who were disenfranchised first by slavery and then by Jim Crow laws that prevented them from exercising their legal rights. Theirs was a double struggle, and we should honor that as fellow minorities, by voting. Finally, as a Latina, I feel like it is important for me to vote because so many of my people cannot vote because of immigration issues or citizenship issues (not exactly the same thing). I vote for the millions who came before me who could not. I vote for the millions around me now who still cannot.

Besides, I'm ready for change. ¡Sí se puede!


Here, Ben and I demonstrate a little Democrat/Republican tension; though this is not our actual situation, I would like to say that I still talk to staunch Republicans on a daily basis, and they're not all bad people. ;) There's hope for bipartisan conversation!



Represent! Gotta give it to Obama's marketing team - Puerto Ricans love ANYTHING with our island and our flag on it. I begged for this shirt, folks. That is dedication!

Boston in the fall

Pics from the recent trip to Boston/Lynn, MA. Good times, good times....

There was fun with hats:










There were street performers:








There were historical sights, 294 steps, sweet views, and some stretching:










There were things couples do:

















Oh, and this:

Parents

B. and I just had round 1 of Meeting the Parents, preceded by rounds 1 and 2 of Meeting Friends.

In a reversal of tradition, his parents were first. I was nervous because I have never had to meet parents before; I've usually dated guys whose families I already knew. Thankfully, all went well and we had a good time hanging out in the city and exploring.

A few pics:

All of us at the Japanese house and garden in Fairmount Park


He looks so hot in this pic.... B. in the bathroom at the Japanese house, obviously too tall for the stool.


Modeling my sexy paper slippers


The Magic Garden on South Street - If you're in Philly, check it out, the place is unbelievable!


B. and I reflected on the ceiling in the basement of the Magic Garden


Bonus: Butterfly at the Horticultural Center in Fairmount Park


Next weekend: Round 2 of Meeting the Parents; easier for me, more nerve wracking for B....

Muévelo

We went salsa dancing Friday night - such a good time!
B, Me, and N before the dancing begins:

B, J, and N

The crew after a night of salsa, merengue, and bachata. Good times!

Brotherly love

Just got back from Philly not too long ago. We spent a long, lovely day in the city, and I have to say, I'm liking it. We did typical touristy things: the Liberty Bell, a tour of Independence Hall, eating Philly cheese steaks and water ice.... You know, the usual.
We also did a good bit of walking, just wandering around the city. It felt good. I miss city life.....
I'm kind of struggling with NOT being in MY housing because I never heard from anyone about it, and while I feel like there's some God-ordained reason for that, I'm struggling to love Wayne. I'm thankful for my house, you know, and my roommate, but I do miss MY type stuff. I've always found so much beauty in broken sidewalks and people in close proximity....

Anyway, a couple pics for your enjoyment. Hopefully there will be more on the way...


The only picture I took when we saw the Liberty Bell. No pics of the actual thing.... Ha, ha.


Me, Joyce, Seth, Ben, Courtney, and Elise, as taken by Rachel.

Our house, in the middle of our street

Pics of the apartment, as promised.
Me with my roommate at the front door

The view from the front hallway

View of the living room from the back hallway

The kitchen


And now for my room:
My bed

My desk - by the foot of my bed - and my dresser

My "reading nook"

The front window and bookshelf. You can see the curtain that I hung all by myself.


And finally, my attempts at hanging pictures without a level:
Some above my bed - obviously crooked and off-centered.

Some more in my reading area, looking better.