New Year...New URL

My amazing year full of adventures, 2008, has ended.

I decided to change my blog web address one more time.

It is http://moniandthecity.blogspot.com/.

Thank you to EVERYONE for all your love, support and prayers in my move to New York.

First Christmas Away From Home

I didn't go back to Texas for Christmas. I thought I would be ok and was most of the time but I did get emotional a couple days ago. My spirits were lifted once I arrived to the UWS to p33b....where my bff clan lives.

Also! I a puppysitting Madison, my good friend Pegah's doggie. He is a cutie pie and soooo good. He's very easy to take care of and everyone here loves him. Plus, Mari and Nick are dog lovers like me so we are loving on Madison big time. I feel bad cuz Pegah is going to pick him up on Sunday and he might be a little spoiled. Oops... He's been playing with 6 people for 2 days! That's a lot of attention. Sorry Pegah :-/

We (Mari, Carolina, Nick, Neil, Krista and Nira) did secret santa and I received a very nice gift of Victoria's Secret perfumes from Nira, Neil's little sister. On the 23rd I received a very sweet card from my parents and sister and leo with a very generous amount of Best Buy gift cards to purchase a tv. I'm just debating on purchasing a tv because I spend a lot of time at Carlos's so I'll feel bad if my new flat screen is just sitting alone on Staten Island.

So I'm thinking of other cool gifts.....

• the Wii - very cool for obvious reasons but has cons..... I will have to pay a little extra after using the gift cards; I will spend more money when purchasing games, especially Rock Band (which I'm dying for); I may lose my social life as I might get addicted. Haha
• the George Foreman 360 - awesome for cooking and I'm cooking more now and want to cook even more in 2009 and so on
• a slow cooker - same reasons as grill
• a food processor - same reasons as grill
• and I can buy the last 3 items with my gift cards!

I know...sounds domestic. :-/

Anywho....

Merry Christmas!

I love you mom and dad! And Cathy, Leo, Noah, Ava, and Leila!

10 Month Anniversary

Yesterday, the 17th of December was my ten-month anniversary living in New York. It is so hard to believe! Time flies when you're having fun.

I am getting used to living here and forget sometimes that I live in the best city in the United States. I sometimes don't notice the Statue of Liberty or realize I'm walking by the most famous street that has been a part of the economy downfall, Wall Street....I no longer think it's cool that I am walking down to the subway or 'surfacing'. BUT when I am watching tv shows like Dirty Sexy Money I think I am so awesome for recognizing NY locations or even better, thinking ' I was just there!'

So, ten months and still living on Staten Island. Will I be moving into the city soon? Probably not because I have some large financial goals for the next 2 years. I've become more patient with the ferry.....ok, I haven't really but I do want to prioritize these financial goals.

Only 2 months left for a year!

First date and I knew my dating spree was over...

In the beginning of September two things happened; 1) a best friend, Winnie got married (great great wedding) and 2) the spring romance had ended (for the better because for the obvious reasons)..... So I thought and discussed with my love guru, my sister, Cathy what should a girl do?

Actively date! So i joined Eharmony. LOL. I don't mean to laugh but I do every time I think of it just because it is different but still a very normal thing to do in this day (online dating that is). I debated it of course because of the way online dating looks. Some might think it's dangerous or desperate or like you're trying too hard. I have never thought those things because, well, maybe because I'm young and I know people who have tried it; not necessarily have succeeded in it, but have tried it.

And I thought how is it more dangerous than meeting someone at a bar or at work and going out after? Just because you kind of know them? No. And I thought if anything, I will get my money back tenfold because I will get free drinks and dinners. LOL....so bad.... but the truth. Ha! So I did some research and figured the more expensive online dating site would be best because...umm....I have reasons but they'll sound stupid so I'll leave you guessing.

Eharmony was fun. I went on many dates with very nice guys and always had a good time. These guys and I had a lot in common so we had things to talk about. And I was having fun going on dates because of the good conversations and free drinks and dinner. Again, ha!

Oh! And I was being as safe as possible. My sister and Mari knew about every date (locations, time, what I was wearing, etc). Plus Cathy had my login info so she could see pictures.

Who did I go on dates with? Social worker, attorneys, architect, teacher, movie producer, and other occupations. THEN I had a date with a real estate broker, Carlos.

I was very excited about this date because I had already felt a nice chemistry with him over emails. I really liked his profile and our guided communication. I liked his pictures too :-) And Mari was even excited for this date. (She and I would look at the profiles of my matches).

We had our first date at the House in Gramercy Park. He walked in and I thought 'great'. Then we had a wonderful time. He's funny; very funny. We had great chemistry; no one would have guessed it was our first date. I didn't want the date to end.

Second date was a week later. Third date was 2 days later after the second. Fourth date was the next day. And for the first 3-4 weeks we saw each other every other day. And for the last month it's been almost everyday. I know....rushing into it? Maybe. But we're not tired of each other and still want more time. Haha....all cheesy.

What is our status? We're exclusive. It surprised us both. We both signed up for Eharmony around the same time and didn't think this would happen. We have no complaints though :-)

What I love about Carlos and our relationship.... We have A LOT of fun - all the time. The fun never stops and that's because we both have a lot of energy and are goofballs. I can be my absolute true colors with him. I mean - I am silly and if I were this silly in front of people, including most friends and family, they'd think I was weird. But not Carlos. He likes it and laughs. On a serious side he's sweet, ambitious, affectionate, has a lot of friends, loves his family and has a strong relationship with them, has a good career, is amazingly talented in playing the guitar, and much much more.... And he's so good to me.

My parents met him during their visit and they liked him. So yay! It's very important to me that my parents, family and friends like the guy who I have fallen for. AND I have met his parents just this past weekend. They are in the states for a month; they live in Peru. I was so nervous I wanted to vomit. haha...which is weird because I never get THAT nervous. We were walking around the city and I was all shy but as soon I was alone with them I was fine. I think I was nervous because of Carlos which is weird. I liked his parents for many reasons but my favorite reason is that they hold hands or have locked arms when walking, just like my parents. That is SO nice.

OK, ending this posting with these pictures of Carlos and I.

Below...my goofball boyfriend that I adore.

My Parents Visited!

My parents visited for Thanksgiving and it was GREAT. I was homesick for them so having them here was so wonderful and I knew I would be sad when they left but I surprised myself by crying like a baby. Haha.... We went all over NYC and when Sunday evening came around we were exhausted.

My favorite part of the visit was the personalized tour my dad gave me of his and mom's NYC. They showed me where they first arrived when they got here from Colombia (separately), where they lived as singles, where they lived once married, where my mom told my dad where she was pregnant. It was great. We laughed a lot that day!

We had dinner that first night at Lombardi's, the first licensed pizzeria in the nation or maybe just in NYC, I can't remember. Either way the pizza is yummy! And my parents met Pandora. WHOA. Big deal. Parents met the guy I am dating. It was a success!

As I am unemployed I decided to try to say yes to my parents when they wanted to buy me something. Hahaha.... I got many early Christmas presents...the brown boots I wanted, new NIkes for working out, some sweaters, new jersey bedsheets, and grocery shopping. My parents are thoughtful and generous. I am a very lucky girl :-)

We went to Queens and saw some of my parents friends that they haven't seen in 25 years! I met my mom's best friend and I couldn't believe it. They hugged like crazy bears and then we sat down and they began talking. Like no time had passed. So incredible how people share special relationships and love and can pick up from practically nothing.

We also saw my dad's family. I've been seeing them since last year when I visited NYC but my parents have not seen them in 25 years or so. Crazy I know. Don't ask me how so many years passed.

It was sooo nice to see my parents and I miss them terribly. When they were leaving I kept hugging them and crying. I then walked back into my studio and cried until I fell back sleep. And when I woke up I was all happy to have my privacy again. Hahah. I danced around while getting ready. I miss my parents but getting my space back was nice. Hopefully one day when they visit I will have a larger apartment.

Which reminds me....they loved my little studio and landlords. They hated the ferry. They thought it was clean and was impressed with the security and flow of the schedule BUT they said Monica, move into the city asap please. I agreed.

Here are some pictures of the great visit.

THANK YOU MAMI Y PAPI!!!! I love you and miss you!

Times Square on Friday, after Thanksgiving

On the Upper West Side. This is where my dad held my mom's hand for the first time when they were dating. Aww....


In Queens on Saturday. This is the neighborhood, Sunnyside, where my parents lived once they were married.

On Friday at Rockefeller Center.

The Upper West Side. The building driectly behind the street pole is where my mom lived with roommates and my dad lived in a 1-bedroom.

First stop in Manhattan. My work building.

My parents on the Staten Island Ferry. The Statue of Liberty is right behind them.

My dad's family. Thanksgiving.

The stoop of the building where my parents lived separately.