What My Lapband Taught Me This Year

It has been a long time since I posted on my blog because of work and life I am so behind; but today I took time out to think about what I have really learned with my Lapband. I have learned that I am an emotional eater. Whenever I get stress out I eat, and whenever I am calm, I don’t eat as much. I am learning to look for the signs that my tummy tells me when it is full, and I try not to ignore them. I am also understanding that me and bread are totally over; we just can’t be together. Knowing and understanding my body will help me to set goals for 2010, that I need to accomplish, instead of trying to use a lot of weight at one time, I will set monthly goals; and try to maintain them. I will also start to use my WII more and maybe buy the dance workout game. The WII Fitness Coach has been great but again I need to make monthly and weekly goals to use with my workout. Also I am learning that I need to make sure that I keep a food journal and try to eat more at home and not out. Last week, every meal that I had was at a restaurant, which is not cool. If I am going to try and change my weight than I have to really focus and get dedicated to do it.

Happy Birthday To My Favorite BOO!!!!!

Happy Holidays To Everyone! I am so sorry that I have not been blogging....Work and life have me going but I want to catch up. Here is a photo of me and my boyfriend at Disneyland. This was my first time, and since you get in free on your birthday we decided to go.... We really had a great time. We ended up spending the weekend in Long Beach and can't wait to do it again. My favorite ride at Disneyland was Space Mountain. We also wanted to take a photo with Mickey, but we ended up with this guy instead....

New Post

It has been a while since I have been on my blog so many things are happening and work has kept me so busy! But I am back now. What is new:

Well, in the world of production I just finished up a short horror film that we worked on in the Pasadena area. The project was done for the internet, so hopefully it will get picked up. I am still waiting for section 8 to kick in on the house and it is taking forever!!!!! I hope that they have a decision for me by: Dec 20, because I could use the money. Work is work and it has kept me busy. I am also starting to take photos for the holidays which has kept me going..

Updates Coming Soon!

There is so much to post about!!!!! Updates coming SOON!

RE: The Photo

I don't know why, but I really love this photo of my little cousin! I think that it is the way he is looking at the camera!

Classmates Reunion

In case you did not know I have been in Florida for the past two weeks, triying to get someone to rent my house out. It has been a pain because this is my first time dealing with the Section Eight Housing Program. Hopefully I will get an inspection soon! While I am at home, I have had time to hand out with a lot of my classmates from high school. Here are some photos of those people. This group of friends have really made being home fun! I also had a BB!, where a lot of them showed up.

Weight Loss Update!

Wow! It has been a minute! I don’t know why it is so hard for me to blog! At the present time, I am losing the weight finally! I just had a major fill, and now I understand the power of the Lapband. With this fill I have not been able to eat: ribs, hamburgers, or any breads. I also have to really chew slowly and not talk and eat at the same time. Isn’t it amazing that for the most part, I usually eat and talk at the same time, and I was not even aware that I did that. I am posting a new photo of me with the weight loss, now if I can get to the gym, I really can see the difference.

UPDATES!!!!

So it has been a wild three months! I finally have time to catch up on my blog! Here are some updates:

Work: Work is out for the summer! Yeah, if you have not guessed by now I am a teacher!!!! I have to admit one of the best perks about being a teacher is getting the summers off. I am so happy about that.

Production Plans: Yesterday, I was watching a short film that I did in 2006, and I realized at that point, that I have not been shooting in the last two years. So I decided to change that, I got on the phone with my manager, and had her book me to produce three short films next year. Two in the fall, and one in the spring. I hope that I am able to get them done. I already have the script and will begin pre-planning in August.

Photography stuff: Wow! I started shooting part-time this year, and it has really grown to full time. I am in the process of opening up my studio in Los Angeles. To see my work you can go to: www.myspace.com/photodiva29, to see my work. My website is coming soon. I am going to try and have it up before July is over.

Lap band stuff: Ok, so I was recently bummed because I had gain a lot of weight back after my surgery. But on Monday I had a fill, and I can see that we are going to see the pounds really fall off this time. I had a hard time eating all this week, so I am back on liquids, then soft foods for the rest of this month. So far I have been able to keep soups down, and that seems to be helping.

Summer Break: Well, I was all excited because I was on my way to Vegas, for a week to stay at Mandaly Bay, when I got a call from my tenant (I rent a house), letting me know that she was moving out, which means a CHANGE OF PLANS FOR ME!!! Now, I am on my way to Florida to get the house ready for the new person. I am hoping that it won’t take me long, and I can resume my plans to go to Vegas. I so need a vacation!

Ok, I think that is a good enough update! I promise to post more, this summer

Wow!

I am not even going to say it! I hate it when I am not on my blog, but I have been so busy and sad at the same time. My weight loss is moving very slow, so that has me a little down. I am going to try my hardest not to stress out because that is making me eat a lot more. Also there is so much to say, but I will post later. We had my school's film festival in April and I had the opportunity to meet two very talent actors: Eddie Gonzalez and Regina King. Here are a few photos of me with them. I promise more to blog is coming soon!

Where Have I Been Again????

I can't believe I have been gone from this blog for a while. Things have been really crazy I just got back from a trip to New York and then I went to Las Vegas for a wedding. Had a great time, but as soon as I get back my job has been CRAZY!!!!!! Well, I don’t like to talk about the people I work with so I will move on, but I just hope that they gets a live, and keep it MOVING!!!!! Here is a photo of me in New York…..

FYI: I am going to upload photos soon of my weight loss, they are coming!

My Friend The Motivational Speaker!

DVD RENTAL WEEKEND!

So this was one of those weekends where you don’t have a lot of money, and so I decided to stay home and a catch up on a few movie rentals:

Step Brothers:
This movie was very funny! The thought of two men in their 40s still living with their folks and addicted to teen stuff (toys, pornography, etc….) seems like the formula foa a funny movie! Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are comedy are so funny in this film, that you cannot help but laugh at them. This movie had me in laughing from beginning to end. If you are looking for a good flick to make you laugh until you cry, this is the rental for you!

Changeling!
I have to admit that I did not want to rent this move, but once I saw it I was glad that I did. This was an emotional and powerful piece that was directed by Clint Eastwood. Angelina Jolie’s performance was outstanding! the Universal release looks poised to do some serious business upon tentatively scheduled opening late in the year.

This story is based on the disappearance of a child and his mom’s search looking for him. What follows is a serious look at police corruption during this time.

Eastwood does an excellent job unfolding a shocking story, while creating suspense that keeps the viewer sitting on the edge of their seat from start to finish.

Wow! Here I go again!

I don’t know why it is hard for me to keep up with posting! I can’t believe that I have not been on lately. Here is an update:

Weight loss: I have lost at total of forty pounds, so far, but I still have a long way to go. My goal this week is to work out for the rest of the week. I did work out on Tuesday with the trainer and that went well. I am going to do my best to stay on that goal. I also had my first fill on Monday, and my stomach feels a little tight, but not bad.

Photo: Wow! This business is going really well, I am booked Friday and Saturday, and to think that I have not even had to advertise yet. Next week I am shooting a really, really “cool” music video so I will be taking time off.

Valentine’s Day: Well, let’s just say that we celebrated on Sunday instead of Saturday, by the time we went out to dinner, of course everything was full, so we ordered take out and went out on Sunday. I was cool with that because I think that everyday for us is Valentine’s Day!

Movie Update: Well, I have not had time to see anything but that will change this weekend.

More updates coming soon!

Sundance 2009!!!!

As you know I just got back from Sundance, and it was great. I was a little upset that I did not get to see the film, “Push,” but I did get to see the following:

Don’t Let Me Drown: In a post-September 11th world overflowing with fear and hate, two Latino teens discover that sometimes the only thing that can keep them from drowning is love. Gina Torres was “Excellent” in this film.

Dare: Dare follows three very-different teenagers through the last semester of high school. Not a great movie, all the teens were “real,” adults so you did not get a good meaning of a real story.

Children of Invention: For immigrants, the American Dream has always been a symbol of success that meant achieving a new life far removed from past hardships. In his feature film debut, director Tze Chun explores this age-old perception through the eyes of a Chinese American family in suburban Boston.Single mother Elaine Cheng struggles to support her two young children, Raymond and Tina, by juggling various sales jobs. Very good. The children in this film, were AWESOME!

Also while in the airport I saw Big Boi (From Outcast), with his wife, and on the way back to LA Nas was on the plane so that was pretty cool.

Why Is This Movie Number One?

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

I cannot believe that this movie has been Number one for the past two weeks. I only went to see it after the “Big,” movie. Like most silly comedy films this one did have its moments but for the most part was very boring
( I even went to sleep). The plot was a retold story and many parts were obvious. You should wait for the DVD.

Notorious BIG!

Have I been slacking or what! I have been to, two different films, and I have not put anything up yet about them. Also I have highlights from my trip to Sundance. I can’t believe that I have been their twice! Lucky me!

The long arrival for a great film, the life and times of Notorious BIG! I really enjoyed this film, it took me back to the 90’s and all of the fun that I use to have. The film includes lots of new faces and some old ones, but this mixture is what makes the film.

The film really captivated me for the entire two hours. The portrayl of Lil Kim actually gave you an insight of what she was like. The relationship that Notorious had with his mom was so interesting to me, because I never knew that they were so close, and Angela Bassett, as his mom, was a great choice.

Te flick also showed how Puff and Big became friends, and how they were able to inspire each other. Not because of their dedication to each other, but also because you see where how Puff became the person is now, and how he had to work very hard to make Bad Boy what is is today. It was great to see how Big believed in him so much that he was able to get out of the game. This film is a must see!

Movie Review:

So I am very behind on my film reviews, so here are the latest films that I have seen recently and wanted to give some insight:

Not Easily Broken
Synopsis: Taraji P. Henson (THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS) and Morris Chestnut (THE PERFECT HOLIDAY) star in this relationship drama about a couple whose marriage is failing. NOT EASILY BROKEN is based on the book by T.D. Jakes, who also serves as a producer on the film.

Not Easily Broken, is a unique and different story. It shows the hurt and pain that relationships go through after the “honey moon,” period is over. Director Bill Duke was able to show some beautiful scenes between Henson and Lewis as the movie pushes their own relationship to a boiling point. Those viewers who take something of value from a story about self-sacrifice will certainly like this film, but those looking for action/drama should probably wait for it to come out on DVD.

Seven Pounds:
Before seeing this film, I could not figure out what it was about, but after sitting through the first thirty min. you begin to understand what is going on. This was on of the saddest stories I have had to sit through. Although the story slow at times, Seven Pounds stays the course thanks to Muccino's as director. Once again Will Smith brings his charm and easy going acting to the film. For the most part the film is very slow, but the ending is outstanding.

New Year!

Wow! 2009 is here!

The end of a chapter and a start of a new one usually comes with a reflection. Oh 2008 was a good/bad year because of this this and this.

Then you make plans for the next chapter.

What are your new year resolutions?

A few of mine:
- boost my cardio/workout
- go on a vacation to Los Ventanas
- read more
- eat healthy
- get some of the things on my “To Do List Done”

My Friend Kick It!

I have a friend that is a very talented manager/song writer. Recently just before Christmas, she got to meet Charlie Wilson and share with him some information about a song she was writing just for him. Look at her face, I guess you can see she got to pitch her song, right then and there, now she is waiting to have her first meeting with him.. And to think: she was in the right place at the right time!

Wow! He Is A Hot Guy!

Ok, Ok here is a photo of our new president. Even when he was young he was a hottie!