Please Vote!!

Ale has asked me to vote for his sisters video project in the Enel (Enel is the biggest power company in Italy) Digital contest, so I thought I would pass the word on to those of you who might have a few minutes to vote for Loredonna's video. You can click on the British Flag on the top right hand corner of the web page for the English version.

Go to http://www.enel.it/digitalcontest/login.asp?

Then register (it only takes a few minutes) and look for video number 119.

Thanks! Grazie from Ale and Loredonna!

iTunes Tuesdays

This song is called "Can't Stop" and it's by one of my very favorite bands called "Ozomatli". I took Ale to their concert when he was here in Portland. I'll post about that later. Enjoy and feel free to get up and dance!!

On Dressing for an Interview...Liberal Oregonians!!

I was finally given the ok to go back to work by my Doctor, so I immediately started my search. This past Saturday I went to a job fair for Wells Fargo Bank. On Friday I bought some nice slacks and a nice top to match. I figured I'd pair them with my high-heeled boots. The interview suit I have was a little too tight. The meds I'm on have made me gain quite a bit of weight, so I had no choice but to buy something new. The job fair was from 11am to 3pm. I got there at 11:05am, fashionably late. So, there was a small queue and I must have been like the eighth person. They shuffled us into this big room where there were about 50 people already waiting. OK. I have to tell you, I couldn't believe my eyes. People were wearing jeans, tennis shoes, Birkenstocks, and cleavage hanging out all over the place. One guy was sporting a beany and looked like he was ready to walk on to a construction sight. Another woman was wearing a slip dress, yeah, a slip dress with no nylons, gold open-toed slingbacks, and a tattoo on display.

There was a hip-hop star with his pants hanging off his ass. The lady sitting next to me was wearing jeans and she brought her husband! Yeah! They were kissing at the job fair! I mean come on!! As much as I love my Ale, I wouldn't be caught dead smooching with him at a job fair AND I would leave him home. Is it gonna kill ya to be without him for a couple of hours?? It could wait for later, don't ya think? My Mama always told me dressing up for a job interview is a must. I love how liberal Oregon is but sometimes liberals have to use common sense. Although the people doing the interviews didn't seem to mind. Maybe they are used to it?? Have you ever known anyone that dressed like a slob for their interview and got the job?

Come on Oregonians. Go out and shop for that winning outfit. There's no sales tax, remember?

iTunes Tuesdays

This one is called "Abrazame" which means Hug Me and it's by Mexican pop group Camila. I love these guys! Definitely one of my favorites. I'll dedicate this one to my baby Ale. Te amo chiquito!

Rosca de Reyes

Tonight I was invited to my friends Javier and Belinda's house for "Rosca de Reyes". This is a Mexican tradition for Epiphany.

The Rosca de Reyes, "kings ring" is a crown-shaped sweet bread decorated with pieces of candied orange and lime resembling the jewels of a crown. It is often filled with nuts, figs, and cherries. Into this bread is baked 6 small plastic dolls symbolizing a secure place away from Herod´s army where the infant child could be born. As each piece is cut with a knife, symbolizing the danger in which the Baby Jesus was in, everyone carefully checks their slice, hopping they didn't get the figurine as they will need to host (I found 2 in my piece!), Candelaria or Candle mass day. This day, February 2, is exactly, 40 days after Christmas when the Virgin Mary was purified. The nativity scene is put away and the baby Jesus, in the form of a porcelain doll, is clothed in his christening gown and presented in church.

Traditionally in Mexico, Three Kings Day was the gift-giving time, rather than Christmas day. In some rural regions of Mexico it is customary for children to leave their shoes out on the night of January 5, often filling them with hay for the camels, in hopes that the Three Kings would be generous. Mexican children would awake on January 6 to find their shoes filled with toys and gifts. Today many will write a letter to the kings (or choose one king as their favorite) asking for their special gifts and will leave the letter on the eve of Three Kings Day in an old shoe, under a bed.

What are your traditions?