Pittsburgh Chica Update May 27, 2012

I haven’t posted anything in a hot minute! And, looking back at all the old posts I have to admit that I got a little teary-eyed! I just can’t believe how lonely and miserable I was! That jerk of an ex-boyfriend really did a number on me, didn’t he?

I’m glad to report that things are soooo much better! I’m still with my man that I’ve been dating since December (and that I’ve known for over a year). He’s so good to me. For my birthday this past February, he surprised me with a basket of mangoes (my favorite fruit) with balloons (I mentioned how sad I was that I wasn’t going to get my yearly birthday balloons from my sister) tied to the basket. I’m such a lucky girl.

I hopefully will graduate with dual Master’s degree in December. I can’t wait to finally finish.

I also did end up getting a job within my agency in another department. I love my coworkers. Something crazy is always happening. My boyfriend cracks up with all the stories I tell him.

I love my life.

The List of Greats January 21, 2012

The ‘List of Greats’ is a list of men I’ve dated that have made a great impact on my life. It’s not a long list either. My college boyfriend was the only man on the list. Yes, he was the only one on the list until today.

Today, I can safely say that my man (whom we will now refer to as ‘my BFF’ for the purpose of this blog) has made the ‘List of Greats.’ I adore him. We established a genuine friendship long before we ever started dating. That’s why he’s my BFF. I genuinely considered him a good friend. Heck, he still is my good friend. When I dropped everything in Pittsburgh to leave for Chicago, he showed great concern for me when, let’s be honest here, he didn’t have to. Seriously. It wasn’t his obligation. He did it out of the goodness of his heart and because he was really worried about me.

My BFF has been the first good guy that I’ve dated since I broke up with my college boyfriend years ago. The dudes in between are honestly nothing but irrelevant and faded memories. They have faded from my thoughts and heart mainly because I knew I deserved to be treated better. I wasn’t asking to be treated like a princess. I was just asking for a little respect, consideration and affection.

I’ve tried to fix those relationships. I even tried “fixing” myself. In the end, I was always left emotionally unsatisfied and blaming myself for shit I shouldn’t have been blaming myself for in the first place. Dude after dude and I was left feeling more and more inadequate.

Our friendship was always innocent, simple and true. I guess we got closer towards the end of last summer. Yeah, he was hot and a nice guy on top of that. But, the thought of dating him never popped in my mind. Things just fell on our laps and, before you know it, we were inseparable.

I guess the fact that we already established a relationship as friends worked in our favor. I think it worked more in my favor because he’s shown undying kindness to me. Undying kindness to the point where I actually do feel like a princess.

He makes me feel like I deserve it too. I begged him that, no matter what happens, to please never make me feel inadequate. I will never forget what he told me. He said, “I want you to promise me something. I want you to promise to know and realize your worth. Don’t let the past or even me to determine your worth. I know your worth. But know that you’re smart, beautiful and funny.”

My college boyfriend was a good man. We lasted for 4 years. I just couldn’t give him the serious relationship he wanted. It was overwhelming me. It was a great relationship with a great man. However, people change. I changed. And, my relationship with my college boyfriend was fading away. Our time together ran its course.

I went through various changes and various men over the years. Through all of that, I’ve never forgotten my college boyfriend. That’s what makes him great. He’s forever engraved in me.

Now, I’m dating my friend. A great man who showers me with kisses and constantly tells me, “You’re gorgeous.” A great man that finds my stories heart warming and funny. A great man who values his relationships with his family and friends. A great man who will make me a better person no matter if our relationship flourishes or gently fades through time. That, my friends, deserves a spot on the ‘List of Greats.’

All I want for Christmas is workers’ comp. November 18, 2011

My co-workers are freakin’ hilarious. I’m really going to miss this place. For those that don’t know, my contract ends in December and it’s not a guarantee that I’ll get hired by another department.

But back to my hilarious co-workers. The maintenance dudes are putting up the Christmas decorations and we’re just pretty much amused by it. They’re dropping the garland and ornaments all over the place.

One of my co-workers wants to get whacked either by the falling garland or a falling human being so he can claim that workers’ comp. My other co-worker suggested he slip on the ornament.

“It happens all the time,” he said.

“Yeah, dude. Haven’t you seen Home Alone?,” I add.

I seriously cannot stop laughing like an idiot right now.

The Midnight Monsters November 8, 2011

I’ve been having bad dreams ever since I moved to Pittsburgh. I never had nightmares but, I guess with the nerves and all, the midnight monsters have caught up with me. It has been getting worse since the summer. I’ve had dreams where my teeth are broken and falling off, dreams where I’m bleeding and, last night, I had a dream where I had these gross-looking wounds on both of my feet.

I looked all of this up in a little dream dictionary a co-worker gave me back home in Chicago. Well, actually, he let me borrow it but I never gave it back. As you can imagine, it’s not good. Apparently, the teeth dream means that I feel loss of control, the blood means a situation is draining me and the wounds mean some one has caused me pain and/or betrayed me.

Really, dream dictionary? Really? Thank you for reiterating things I’ve been fully aware of! How about you tell me something I don’t know? Like when these nightmares will stop! I hate bad dreams. Not only are they bad but they are as bad as they seem because they’re subconsciously telling reminding you about all the bad things going on in your life.

Yeah, bad dreams are the midnight monsters.

Let it be known… November 2, 2011

…That running into friends in the middle of the street (literally) in Pittsburgh always puts a huge smile on my face. I love life.

Dear Pittsburgh October 28, 2011

For the love of Jesus Christ and all things holy, stop smoking! I cannot stress this enough! Stop. It. Every client, every client that comes in smells like a god forsaken ashy cigarette. Not cute. And that lung cancer that’s going to pop up in your lungs? Not cute either! Take care of your bodies. Please. Pittsburgh’s pollution issue probably doesn’t even come from the cars but rather the fact that every one and their baby momma is sucking on a cigarette.

On top of that, I get stuck smelling your disgusting self and that nasty cigarette your sucking on. I even start smelling like you! It gets in my hair, clothes and even my hands. You want to know the sad part? It’s a well known fact that people with lung cancer get it from second hand smoke. So thanks a lot, people.

I know what your probably thinking. Who are you to talk you drunk party girl!?! First, I know I joke about it a lot but I only party once and at the most twice a week. And at least I don’t smell! Now get it together.

Life plan October 27, 2011

Since I graduated with my bachelor’s in journalism in 2008 and never got that tv news reporter gig I always wanted, I’ve been kind of a lost soul. I didn’t have a Plan B and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. It was literally a, “Shit…now what?,” kind of thing. Even now, in grad school, I still want to do like 15 million different things. I think I’m starting to figure every thing out though. Slowly but surely. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I’m serious about it to the point where I’m making a checklist and timeline. My friends, below is just a rough draft of my Life Plan.

Sonia’s Life Plan

•After not only feeling but being sheltered by my family, I want to live in different places, experience life and “see what’s out there.” Don’t get me wrong. I love my family. In Mexican culture, family is important. We stick together. We stay together. I’m very traditional when it comes to family. However, I felt so sheltered from the world. My parents had a heart attack when I moved out of the house at 21. I was literally 15 mins. away but it was still a huge deal. They died when I moved to Pittsburgh. I love, love, love my family but cut the damn umbilical cord. I plan to leave Pittsburgh once I finish school but, I realized I don’t want to move back to Chicago just yet. I plan live in the following places, each for a year (I’m still iffy on the order) and my parents are just going to have to deal with it:

-Seattle, WA
-Bend, OR
-Austin, TX
-Minneapolis, MN
-Montana (Don’t know where yet)
-Denver, CO

•Both my legal business/law and public relations for non-profits classes are inspiring me. With all the current law/legal issues I’m learning about and all the good I’m learning about non-profits, I really feel like I want to give my skills to organizations in need. Something that’s really intriguing me are opportunities in grant writing and reviewing grant proposals. Honestly, I don’t know where to start. I’ve never had experience in grant writing but that’s why I’m in school. I don’t know how to get my foot in the grant writing door but I’ll figure it out.

•When I’m done with the two bullet points above, I guess I’ll get married and pop out kids. Even though I’m not really into the idea of marriage & kids, I do need a daughter to pass down my mom’s ring.

“You are my son and the one true king…” October 25, 2011

Is it sad that I literally cannot get over the Lion King in 3D movie? I seriously forgot just how dope that movie was. I even forgot how hilarious Timone & Pumba were! I love how I understand it more as an adult. As a youngin’ all the talking lions and animals were entertaining enough rather than the story line. Also, I’m not afraid to admit that I cried two times during the movie: when Mufasa died and when his ghost appeared before Simba. My friend was literally like, “Are you okay!?!” I love, love, love the message the movie sends when Mufasa’s ghost appears before Simba.

Look inside yourself kiddies. You are more than what you have become. Most importantly, remember who you are! Yeah, like I said, it’s pretty sad that I enjoyed it that much.

I love us October 24, 2011

I’m not happy with my job. I do it just to pay the rent. However, there’s another reason why I don’t want to leave. The people there are just too damn cool. It’s an amazing organization to work for not only because of the services they provide for the community, obviously, but also because the employees are treated right.

They let me leave immediately for 2 1/2 weeks for health purposes and I returned with my job waiting for me. It wasn’t until then I realized I met some amazing and caring people. People I’ve known for only 5 months and they have shown great concern for me. I can honestly say I call these, about 4 or 5, people my friends. While I was at home (basically laying around until I left to get my flight back home to Chicago), my co-worker/friend offered to bring me food because I literally wasn’t eating for days.

I thought about that today as I experienced another act of kindness from another co-worker/friend. He had a big plate of chocolate covered strawberries and said, “Sonia, let’s go to the cafeteria and eat these.” Let me tell you, those strawberries were bomb.

I thought about how it’s funny the way things work out. You think you know a person. You think you can trust them. You think they mean it when they make promises or claim their loyalty. But, you really don’t know if they’re good on their word, loyalty, trust or whatever until it’s put to the test. It’s a good thing though because it weeds out the people that don’t deserve your presence, love, trust and loyalty. A little good karma plays into it as well. While you may have lost a person or two, a group of amazing individuals (even strangers) show up to let you know that they’re here for you. I have tons of stories about bomb people that have been nothing but kind to me. That’s all that matters. As my Katie bear would say, “I love us.”

Protected: Last night was funny because… October 23, 2011

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