O.k., we all have them. Some are more embarassing than others. We usually don't like to admit them 'cause we don't want people to think less of us. But we have them nonetheless.
I have to admit that I don't watch as much t.v. as I used to, but I have given in to some pretty bad t.v. lately and you know what? I love it! It's my "mindless" time. My time to just sit and not think. Here are some of my current faves: (no judging please)
1) "What I Like About You" - yeah, I'll admit it, I'm a Jenni Garth fan. I used to randomly catch a snippet of an episode or two until I decided to set my t.v. to tape the show and I really enjoy it. It's funny, Jenni's hair changes, she's got cute clothes, and it's silly fun.
2) "Dancing with the Stars" - I initially wanted to boycott this show because the premise seemed so ridiculous. Although "Skating with the Stars" made this look like HBO's "Angels in America." But guess who's on this season...Jenni Garth! And you know what, it's really entertaining. I mean, how do these celebrities juggle their "careers," family life and learning the tango? Plus, that Cheetah Girl can freakin' dance!
3) "The Bachelor" - Yes, I know it's degrading to women. Yes, the whole rose concept is ridiculous. Yes, every time they head into the rose ceremony we're supposed to stay tuned for "the most surprising rose ceremony in bachelor history." But it's delicious fun! To see these women fighting over a guy, complaining that they don't like competing for a man, and crying when they don't get a rose is just too good to miss.
4) "The Hills" - Man, talk about good t.v. To see into the life of these young, hip rich kids and see what their problems are makes me realize I've never had it so good!
Alright, I'm gonna go see who dropped fifty pounds this week on "The Biggest Loser." I'll just do it after dinner...
Friday, October 19, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
I am what I am.
I was talking to a friend today about how we define and label ourselves. And how sometimes it’s very difficult to embrace those definitions, either because they scare us or because we don’t want to be stereotyped or pigeonholed. I am a person who has lots of interests and aspirations. If I could, I would want to make a living as a painter, an artist, a writer, a theatre reviewer, an actor, a daycare worker, a singer and anything else you could think of.
When I was in college, I had the hardest time coming up with a major because there were so many fields I could see myself working in! I took those career courses and they said that about eighty percent of the people who graduate don’t even end up working in the field they majored in. AND, on average, people change careers about six or seven times throughout their lifetime. I felt a little more at ease after hearing that.
I still have so many interests and I am so blessed to be able to either work in, or express, almost all of them in some form or another. When my friend and I were talking, we each had a certain thing, or things, that absolutely encompassed who we were. But in the end, I realized that I am that and so much more.
I still have a lot to learn about myself, but these are some of the things I know I am, right now (in no particular order):
- Daughter
- Sister
- Aunt
- Girlfriend
- Writer
- Actress
- Singer
- Movie-goer
- Artist
- Yogi
- Reporter
- Wine enthusiast
- Friend
- Advisor
- Part-time IT person
- Photographer
- Painter
- Reader
- Organizer
- Knitter
- “I Love Lucy” buff
- Disneyland fan
- Latina
- Cousin
- Researcher
- Event planner
- Confidante
I know I am so much more, and sometimes I’m just some of these things. But in the end, I’m just Gaby, a woman made up of many layers and many likes. And a person with a lifetime to express them.
When I was in college, I had the hardest time coming up with a major because there were so many fields I could see myself working in! I took those career courses and they said that about eighty percent of the people who graduate don’t even end up working in the field they majored in. AND, on average, people change careers about six or seven times throughout their lifetime. I felt a little more at ease after hearing that.
I still have so many interests and I am so blessed to be able to either work in, or express, almost all of them in some form or another. When my friend and I were talking, we each had a certain thing, or things, that absolutely encompassed who we were. But in the end, I realized that I am that and so much more.
I still have a lot to learn about myself, but these are some of the things I know I am, right now (in no particular order):
- Daughter
- Sister
- Aunt
- Girlfriend
- Writer
- Actress
- Singer
- Movie-goer
- Artist
- Yogi
- Reporter
- Wine enthusiast
- Friend
- Advisor
- Part-time IT person
- Photographer
- Painter
- Reader
- Organizer
- Knitter
- “I Love Lucy” buff
- Disneyland fan
- Latina
- Cousin
- Researcher
- Event planner
- Confidante
I know I am so much more, and sometimes I’m just some of these things. But in the end, I’m just Gaby, a woman made up of many layers and many likes. And a person with a lifetime to express them.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Coke...Zero??
O.k., so can anyone explain to me what makes a Coke Zero be zero? I mean, I know it has zero calories, but it tastes EXACTLY LIKE REGULAR COKE! So what does it have?
Then again, there's a part of me that almost doesn't want to know. It's one of those too-good-to-be-true things. It tastes good, it's got zero calories, do I really need to know anything more? So it may be rotting my insides...eh...insides-shminsides. I once heard someone say that if you pour a Coke down a drain it basically does the same as what pouring Draino down the pipe would do. So I'll have clean "pipes"! How's that for looking at the glass half Coke Zero full? ;)
Then again, there's a part of me that almost doesn't want to know. It's one of those too-good-to-be-true things. It tastes good, it's got zero calories, do I really need to know anything more? So it may be rotting my insides...eh...insides-shminsides. I once heard someone say that if you pour a Coke down a drain it basically does the same as what pouring Draino down the pipe would do. So I'll have clean "pipes"! How's that for looking at the glass half Coke Zero full? ;)
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Birthday Fun in the Sun
O.k., so my actual birthday was about two weeks ago but since I was doing a show, "Anything Goes", I didn't really get a chance to celebrate with my friends. So Jessie planned a "Birthday Beach Day BBQ" for me and it was amazing! A group of us piled into a van and we headed to Huntington Beach fo the day. The weather was great, the beach was not crowded at all and we just hung out and had a great day.
Other friends came and went as the day went on, but the original core of us, Jessie, Kass, Anna Maria, Javiera and I, all stayed the entire time. We had a picnic on the beach, played Catch Phrase and frolicked in the water. Kass even choreographed a dance for she and I. At one point we got to see a small plane fly nearby with a sign that read, "Lisha, will you marry me. Dave." It was so exciting and we just hoped she said yes! It was just a ton of fun.
Later that night we moved over to the barbecue pit and had a bonfire. Jessie brought all the fixings to make hot dogs. So we roasted our dogs and huddled together to keep warm. We watched an amazing sunset and just had fun laughing and telling stories.
As if the night couldn't get any better, on the ride home, everyone in the van got a chance to say what we liked most about each other, thanks to Kass's creative suggestion. It was amazing and the perfect way to end the night. We laughed, we cried and we were all touched by what we heard.
I couldn't have imagined a better way to spend the second celebration to my birthday. Jessie did an amazing job organizing the day so that I wouldn't have to worry about a thing. What touched me the most was that I realized, once again, how blessed I am to have so many truly wonderful people in my life. They are each so special to me and hold a unique value in my life. The fact that they all made the effort to spend the day with me meant so much. We all got a little bit closer that day and I think we all felt more grateful for being in each other's lives.
And to Jessie, thank you for making me so happy and for making my birthday just what I had hoped for!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Gabriela Camacho, Writer.
An editor I used to work with at In Style, and I, were talking about bylines one day and she said something that seemed so simple yet so true. She said, “There’s nothing like seeing your name in print. No matter how small or big the article.” I get a nervous, yet excited feeling every time I see my name printed in a magazine. It makes me feel “official.” It makes me feel proud.
The first byline credit I ever got was for a small Latin publication. More than the article itself, I felt more accomplished at seeing my name in black-and-white on that page. I had reached a goal. And in that moment, I couldn’t help but think of my maternal grandmother, my abuelita Estefana. She was a writer, and a good one at that. She wrote various articles and even a song that was eventually recorded with her permission. She was over seventy-years-old at that point! As I held that magazine in my hand for a few moments with my eyes glued to my name, I dedicated that achievement to my grandmother. She had since passed, but I knew she would be as proud of me as if it had been her own.
In the recent months, I’ve written and reported for various magazines but I knew at least one of them would be out this month. As I picked up the copy of Tu Ciudad with the “Hip, Hot, Now” cover, I flipped to page 42 and there, again, in black-and-white was my name staring back at me. Another goal reached. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I picked up two copies and walked around the store feeling a little taller.
I know I was pushing my luck when I went to find Nick Magazine, another book I had recently reported for. Yet I was equally excited and surprised to see that I had another byline in another issue! I can’t begin to describe the feeling as I carried those magazines around the store. I wanted to buy a copy for everyone I saw!
As I went to the cash register to pay, I fought every urge to tell the cashier, “My name’s in here!” for fear of getting that “You’re kooky,” look back at me. But there was a part of me that wanted to ask where I thought my magazine signing table would look best as I signed copies of the magazines in the store. I mean, after all, I am a published writer.
But I didn’t. I just walked back to my car carrying my accomplishments and realizing, once again, that it’s official. I’m a writer. And I know my abuelita is looking down on me just as proud.
The first byline credit I ever got was for a small Latin publication. More than the article itself, I felt more accomplished at seeing my name in black-and-white on that page. I had reached a goal. And in that moment, I couldn’t help but think of my maternal grandmother, my abuelita Estefana. She was a writer, and a good one at that. She wrote various articles and even a song that was eventually recorded with her permission. She was over seventy-years-old at that point! As I held that magazine in my hand for a few moments with my eyes glued to my name, I dedicated that achievement to my grandmother. She had since passed, but I knew she would be as proud of me as if it had been her own.
In the recent months, I’ve written and reported for various magazines but I knew at least one of them would be out this month. As I picked up the copy of Tu Ciudad with the “Hip, Hot, Now” cover, I flipped to page 42 and there, again, in black-and-white was my name staring back at me. Another goal reached. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I picked up two copies and walked around the store feeling a little taller.
I know I was pushing my luck when I went to find Nick Magazine, another book I had recently reported for. Yet I was equally excited and surprised to see that I had another byline in another issue! I can’t begin to describe the feeling as I carried those magazines around the store. I wanted to buy a copy for everyone I saw!
As I went to the cash register to pay, I fought every urge to tell the cashier, “My name’s in here!” for fear of getting that “You’re kooky,” look back at me. But there was a part of me that wanted to ask where I thought my magazine signing table would look best as I signed copies of the magazines in the store. I mean, after all, I am a published writer.
But I didn’t. I just walked back to my car carrying my accomplishments and realizing, once again, that it’s official. I’m a writer. And I know my abuelita is looking down on me just as proud.
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