Moonless Nights

It doesn't matter if you had a good or a bad year, a new year begins in a few hours. Whatever you didn't get to complete in 2017, go ahead and work on it in 2018 to get it done. If you did well in 2017, continue to do well in 2018. I wish you a good year full of interesting new adventures.  Happy 2018!

"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." -Paulo Coelho There is no better way to explain how my life is going right now other than with a quote by Paulo Coelho. It seems lately that just a little effort can take you a long way. It's all about opening your mind to new things. You need to think that it's possible to achieve your dreams and you are half way  to complete them. After doing some research and applying to a program, a door opened giving me the opportunity to pick up my career goals where I left them. I'm grateful for the opportunity and excited to begin a new challenge in my life.

After a long November 30th where I wrote over 7,000 words, I completed my novel for 2017. I don't have a title for it but I will soon decide.  Just wanted to share & I hope everyone had an amazing  National Novel Writing Month 2017!

National Novel Writing Month has been wow! I have four days left to finish my 50,000 words. I'm sitting right now at 33,000. I have no doubt I will finish. But I realized this time around that maybe having a break down of the chapters isn't working for me. I find that it kind of holds me back. I started breaking down my chapters because I would sometimes forget certain details or names of characters but I'm not writing as freely anymore. I feel like I can't expand on what's already written for some odd reason. I think is better if I just sit down with a blank page and write whatever comes to my mind. I have been doing this for the last few days and I feel a lot more comfortable in my writing. This NANO year has been good for me.  I have learned about myself as a writer and I'm not feeling discouraged anymore. I think after I lost John I lost motivation because he was always pushing me forward. But I've found within me all the motivation that I need to conti...

On a rainy Sunday, I got to meet Nicola Yoon! Wow, she's amazing. What an inspiration! I didn't know much about her except that she wrote "Everything, Everything" and that a movie was made about the book. I really enjoyed the movie and actually read "Everything, Everything" in one day.  One of the things that captivated me the most about her was her honesty and how truthful she was as her experience as a writer. It made me realize that my process is common. The struggle in the middle of the novel and just finding the correct way to ending it.  She told me to make sure I finished my novels and signed my books. She was just a joy and this was one of the best experiences when meeting a writer.

October 31, 2017 I had a title for my book until I developed my chapters in short excerpts. Now, I have chapters of a book without a title. So, moving on. National Novel Writing Month begins in a few hours! Let's definitely get excited about something good!-Dances- Happy Halloween!

October 28, 2017 I changed the title from "Ten Days" to "Ten Days With You". Is it any better? No. But the story behind it is a lot like the story I originally had in mind. I want to mix romance with mystery somehow. Is it going to be challenging? Yeah. Is it going to be worth it? Absolutely.

October 27, 2017 I have been working all afternoon on a title for my novel. I have four days before the writing part of my novel begins. I finally decided on "Ten Mondays" but I have nothing else to go with it. I can't yet figure out my characters or what the plot is going to be.  I have multiple ideas but they don't fit together into one great plot. At least the title is a great beginning...-sigh-

"Never loan your heart to hatred; it pays you back with self-destruction. Majority of people living are not aware that anger is an acid that destroys its own container." -Israelmore Ayivor

I was finally able to see Sin Bandera in concert. Ever since I heard their first song "Entra en mi vida" I have been in love with their music.  When the band separated I was heartbroken, I didn't think I would ever get to see them live. Yet, here they were in Indianapolis for the first time in their career. I simply couldn't let this opportunity pass. I immediately called a friend a bought some tickets.  It was amazing! They played their own instruments, which, is awesome! We get to enjoy the music more. They also sing wonderfully live. There is nothing worse than going to a concert to just to find out the artist can't really sing. It was also great that the crowd was so very much invested in the music. ~It was truly a dream come true to me.~

When I was told that we were going to ride gondolas, I was sure I would not be able to do it. My fear of heights immediately kicked in and my hands were sweating before I even got close to the place. But then I remembered something a friend texted me: Here's the passage:  "'The most important quality on the spiritual path is courage,' said Gandhi. The world seems threatening and dangerous to cowards. They seek the false security of a life with no major challenges and arm themselves to the teeth in order to defend what they think they possess. Cowards end up making the bars of their own prison. The warrior of light projects her thoughts beyond the horizon. She knows that if she does not do anything for the world, no one else will. So she fights the Good Fight and she helps others, even though she does not quite understand why." The Manual of The Warrior of the Light: Paulo Coelho I told myself at this point that I was going to ride th...

I took this picture in Pennsylvania.  July Road Trip I have been traveling a lot this year. It's wonderful to go to different places and look at different people and realize there is so much more to life. We are so small compared to everything the world has to offer. I love it. I love driving around the country or flying to a different destination. It really humbles me and it makes me think about how insignificant my problems can be compared to how much is out there. I love it.

When something happens that you weren't expecting and you are hurt about it, don't you feel something just sitting on your chest? Your stomach hurting and your head spinning? For a second there you feel like you're in a dark place. It might be you over thinking things and looking at everything in a negative way, but it sure feels like it's the end of the world. You have feelings of regret, anxiety, anger and even fear. You have all of that bottled up and you have no one to tell it to. You want people to say it's going to be alright even if it temporarily makes you feel better. You also don't want people telling you it's nothing because it's something to you. So, what do you do? That's when knowing yourself well helps you at most. You have to take control over your brain, your emotions, and your body. This is the time to work through your anxieties and fear. Think about the situation with an open mind and from another point of view. Find a way to...

What can I say? Canada is absolutely amazing. It's a beautiful country with beautiful people. 

We stood behind the police line and watched as his body was removed from the car. Everyone behind the line remained silent. Could it be? Dan Peterson had been missing for three weeks. His family were hopeful that he would return but things weren’t looking so well. The red car belonged to the Peterson Family and the body they found was that of a young white male. Rafael squeezed my hand. “I think it’s him.” Rafael had become practically obsessed with Dan’s disappearance. He had been following the case on T.V. and had interviewed a few people in the neighborhood. On his wall he had created a timeline of Dan’s whereabouts. “I don’t know.” I shrugged. I watched as the police officer cover the body with a sheet. They didn’t announce anything. The ambulance simply drove away with the body. “Come on, let’s go home.” We pushed through the crowd and walked down the block home. Mom had been waiting for us to eat dinner. “I’m glad you’re home.” She rushed us inside. “I don’t want you out af...

This flower is a reminder of the importance of helping others. It only took about three minutes of my morning (Monday-Friday) to help a parent at one of our schools and what a huge difference it made for the child. I wish Maleyah the best as she goes on to Kinder.

1.   Everything happens for a reason - Zero throws the sneakers over the bridge -> The sneakers hit Stanley on the head -> Stanley gets accused of stealing the sneakers->Stanley gets send to Camp Green Lake->Stanley meets Zero and carries him up the mountain while singing "If Only" and breaks the curse. I can go on forever! 2. It's never too late to change your life. - Stanley many generations after is able to break a curse that was following his family through generations. By doing this, he not only changes his own future but also that of his family. 3. You should never do to others what you don't want others to do to you. - If the Warden hadn't forced the children to dig just because she was forced to dig as a child, she would've found the treasure instead of Stanley. 4. Don't give up - Stanley's father was always experimenting around the house trying to find a cure for smelly feet. And he continued to try until he finally succeeded...

Los Angeles is one of those cities you simply can't just see in a few days. I can't wait to go back and experience more of it. There is so much I didn't get to do in the few days I was there. But I definitely took the time to watch the ocean. It had been a while since I was this close to this ocean. As a girl that was born in Puerto Plata, I miss the ocean a lot.  See you soon Cali <3

Let me tell you about Isha. Isha was a popular merengue singer for children in the 90's.  Oh, I just loved her cassette. It was upbeat music with lyrics that taught children to have fun, stay in school and respect their parents. (You can google Isha "Salta" or Isha "Sisisi nonono") to listen to her music.) I remember how amazing it was to see her in concert! I wish I had pictures and videos but unfortunately, I don't. All I have are my memories. When I listened to Isha,  all my friends would gather and we would dance and sing. It was beautiful to be a child in the 90's. Everyone would play outside til it was time for dinner. We listened to music and dance. We didn't have a care in the world, we just wanted to play and laugh. I didn't remember Isha for a very long time. Then one day, I searched her up and found her song. I swear I closed my eyes and I was five again.  See, everyone that used to dance those songs with m...

Capítulo uno:  Un amanecer sobre el mar “Qué necesidad la tuya de querer pintar todos los amaneceres de San Carlos. ¿Es que no son todos iguales?” Mario tomó asiento junto a Luna. La arena aún no se había calentando con los rayos del sol. Seguía un poco húmeda por la alta marea del mar. “Qué necesidad la tuya de preguntarme la misma pregunta todas las mañanas.” Luna sonrió. “Para contestar tu pregunta, no todos los amaneceres son iguales. Algunas como el amanecer de hoy está cubierto con algunas nubes en la distancia. Eso es porque viene una pequeña pero segura tormenta para esta tarde.” Luna le dio sus últimos toques a la pintura y puso de brocha sucia de pintura en una lata de agua. Mario miró a la distancia. Sus ojos quedaron distraídos por los bellos colores amarillos que iluminaban el cielo. “Yo sé que algún día Luna, vas a poder colgar todas esas pinturas tuyas en el museo de Bellas Artes.” “Dios te oiga.” La familia d...

Camp Nanowrimo begins April 1st! This is my first time doing Camp Nano, I usually just write a novel in November. The difference between writing in November and writing during camp, is simply that in Camp you set your own goals. My goal is to write 30,000 words versus 50,000 in November. If you want to join: http://nanowrimo.org

I said goodbye to my past when I said goodbye to you. I never looked back. I never wondered if I was doing the right thing. I just kept walking. I just looked forward. I was looking for something new. I wanted changed. I needed independence.  I needed peace. I was looking for myself. I was looking for inner peace. I was looking to disconnect myself from you. So, I said goodbye to you. I said goodbye to my past. I never looked back.

“The idea is that we all collaborate in this project TOGETHER. We are lacking in the team department.” Violet picked up the last issue of the magazine and raised it up in the air. “This was the last issue worth reading. After this, you guys went downhill. The University has asked me analyze your work. If I feel that this magazine is not worth reading anymore, they will shut you down.” Violet looked around the room. When nobody said anything she continue. “For those of you majoring in Publishing, writing or journalism, you will not get a letter of recommendation from the department if the magazine is shut down.” The mumbling began. As people in the room were obviously upset about the University’s decision. “Calm down, calm down. That’s why I’m here, I’m going to make sure this doesn’t happen. But I’m going to need your help.” “What a way to start the year.” Amy rolled her eyes. “I’m going to have lunch with Ben, want to join us?” “No, I can’t. I have to pick up my daughter fr...