Make it a Monday!

Yep! You read that correctly! Make it a Monday! Monday's tend to get a bad rap. But really, Monday's are weekly resets that we get for free. On Monday mornings we tend to get up and plan out the week. We are energized to conquer the world.

So what happens by Wednesday or Thursday that gets us unmotivated and dejected? Let's make every morning like Monday morning. Plan out the week. Conquer the world! Are you with me?

Let us Give Thanks

Why is it that we only focus on giving thanks in November? Let us give thanks every day for the blessings that we have. No matter how dark it may seem, if we look, every day has a little nugget of sunshine that we can be thankful for. For me, it's my wife and kids. But also, my friends, the prospect of a new career, and my creative endeavors. Sometimes, it's just making it through the day. I give thanks and I start to notice more things to give thanks for. It is a self perpetuating exercise!

So I urge you to look at your day... and give thanks.

Do you know Jay?

Hi everybody.... so how are your New Year's Resolutions going?

Ahhh... yeah, don't everyone speak up all at once.... OK, how about just all of you (us) that have decided to lose weight in 2008? Yeah, well... me too. That's OK. It's bound to happen. Especially with weight loss goals (and let's face it, we can all stand to lose a few pounds) those resolutions, although often publicly proclaimed... are often only privately monitored. Soon, they fall by the wayside and our old habits take back the lead. Sometimes, however, if we could just have a shared experience - team up with someone, go into the resolution together, or at least just connect with someone else who is trying to do this, too... then we won't feel like we are going at it alone.

Let me introduce you to Jay Martinez. I've had the privilege of getting connected to Jay through my Social Networking Tribe. Jay, like many of us has embarked on the "weight loss" trek - and he's doing it! More than that... he's motivating the rest of us to get up off of our blog-reading-mountain-dew-drinking seats and get moving, too! "I am aiming," says Jay, "to get people who have considered working out but were too lazy to do it (like me) to get up and go."

Jay was also recently featured on the popular weight loss blog, Back in Skinny Jeans. In that article, Jay shares,

"On my blog, I have a section called “The Road to 170” which is the weight goal I want to reach by March 2008. Here I track my weight and body fat percentage. I also have another section called “Workout Routine” where you can see what my basic workout routine is for the week. I even workout using a Wii!"

Thanks, Jay, for inspiring us on your Road to 170!

Happy New Year 2008

Hello Friends and Family, and Happy New Year 2008!

So what is it that is so special about this celebration of an arbitrary date change? I mean, really, we only just went from Monday to Tuesday, right? That happens 52 times every year. Yes, it's true that the date change that marks the passing of time from one calendar year (Julian calendar, btw)to the next is arbitrary, but the significance of it in our lives is more than just champagne (or "sidra") and parties. Whenever we can take a moment to mark the passage of time we pay homage to all of the momnets that we have passed through. The lives we have touched, the lives we have lost, and the lives we have created. Take advantage of the tidal wave of New Year's resolutions... it just doesn't have the same punch on March 25th (arbitrary date). Take a moment to sit down and reflect on the past year. Purge out those things that will not carry over from 2007 and get up with renewed energy for 2008.

Take time to reflect. Take time to renew. Take time to love.
Be well.

Life... ah, life.

Hi there everybody!
I had a couple of (rare) moments to myself so I thought that I would log on really quickly and post something here. November is winding down and December is coming up like a freight train (freight sleigh?) Where did the time go? 2007? What?

In a nutshell, 2007 has been challenging, definitely, but also wonderful. 2007 has brought Antonio Manuel into our lives, it has brought my acceptance and first semester of law school, and it has brought the launch of my first audionovel.

This past month I've had to make a lot of tough decisions, but that's what life is about, right? I could whine about it (no time... blah, blah, blah... waaa) but, thanks to my wife, I've decided to "put on a happy face", count my blessings, and just prioritize... and it actually works... go figure.

So, as I write this, my podcast novel is on hiatus for the time being. It was a tough decision to make, but it was definitely worth it when I took an inventory of my time and commitments.

I start final exams this week, and that will surely be an adventure in and of itself. After finals, I'll jump back behind the microphone and record more episodes of Murder by Design.

Well, I hope that this Christmas season brings you many graces. And, hey, send some my way, too! Thanks!

Status please!

Well, it has been a little while since I posted here, there, or anywhere... although I have been Tweeting regularly.

Short Version
Life is GOOD!

Longer Version
-I finished "Murder by Design" and you can order it from Lulu.com.
-You can also listen to the FREE audiobook version of it by subscribing at http://www.robsuarez.com.
-The kids are growing more and more each day... the baby is already (almost) 6 months old!
-I start Law School on Sunday... I've already had homework (a lot of reading) for a couple of weeks now. It is going to be a big strain on our time, but I am really looking forward to the experience.
-Work is busier than ever... especially since the project I am leading up is getting ready to go into mass production and we are all getting ready for our big trade show in September.

I am busy. I am creating. I am learning. Life is good.

iPhone vs. Blackberry

Help me spend money!!!

So... I received a $25 gift card for iTunes as a Father's Day gift.
What do you recommend to buy from the iTunes store?
Leave a comment and spend money vicariously through me!

Wah... wah.. Cry baby!

Yeah... I'm a big, fat, whining cry baby. Wanna make something of it?
Here's some of my current "frustrations"

1. I have a lot of work (better than NO work, get over it)
2. Everything's a mess (you have too much stuff, donate 80% of it and live a simpler life!)
3. I'm 20 lbs overweight (stop eating at the drive thru)
4. I have no time for ___x____ (set your priorities and stop ___y___ )
5. I'm living paycheck to paycheck (see #2)

Sound familiar? How are you dealing with life? (leave a comment)

Felicidades Cuqui

Today would have been my grandmother's 105th birthday.

I think a lot about my grandmother. She had lived with us for as long as I could remember, and she was always the bright light that shone in our family and the glue that held us all together. When she passed away, eleven years ago, it was comforting to see that her glue still held tight... even though she was physically gone.

She taught me that a life filled with family, service, and prayer was a truly good life. She also taught me to defend the things that were truly valuable - and nothing was more valuable to her than her family. She was the sweetest, most kind person that you would ever meet... so long as you didn't bring harm to any of her family.

I remember that she would pull me aside and ask me to play something for her on the piano. It didn't matter to her that I played horribly. It didn't matter to her whether I played Ernesto Lecuona or Elton John... she just really relished in hearing the music flow from my finger tips.

She loved my wife like one of her own grandchildren, and I am convinced that she has spoken to my eldest son well after her passing. She’s just like that.

I’m ashamed to admit it… but I’m not one to visit my loved one’s cemetery plots. They’re just… not there… if you get my meaning. Today, however, something stirred inside of me and urged me to make that special effort. As I sat down on the grass and looked down at the plaque on the floor, I prayed a rosary (one of her favorite daily prayers) and just spent some quality time with my grandmother. After all, that was the gift that she loved the best.

¡Feliz cumpleaños, Cuqui¡ Siempre te quiero mucho.

Brain Drain

So why is it...
that I can be so blessed as to get 23,492 awesomely inspired creative tidbits poping into my head while I'm carrying the baby at 3am, but when I finally get a chance to get to a computer and write them down.... *poof* they're gone forever!

very frustrating

Read-A-Thon!

Vote for Zoe!

Zoe in "Cats"

Zoe Lowen is the little sister of David Fonseca, a creative friend of mine here at work. Zoe was on the CBS morning show today on "Living Room Live, Kids Edition" where kids who can sing send in tapes from their living room for a chance to compete.

You can view the tape and vote here. VOTE as many times as you like if you like what you see!

Additionally,
Zoe also has a clip from her performance in the Weston Summer Stage performance of 'Cats' on YouTube.

Little Daffy Figure

Alex posted on his blog about a little Daffy Duck figure that just makes him laugh whenever he sees it.

I looked around my office and.. lo and behold... I have one too!

Belen Hall of Fame 2007

Saturday night was the Belen Jesuit Sports Hall of Fame 2007 Innaugural Induction banquet.
The event was very professionally done, and inducted alumni from the 1920's to present day. Two of the inductees were Eric Alvarez (my cousin and current Belen record holder for the 2mile), and Carlos Barquin (athletic director and my coach for Cross Country, Wrestling and Track).

CONGRATULATIONS!

The Next Cuban Migration

The people of Cuba (my people… “mi gente”) have always been a people “on the move”. Since colonial times, the inhabitants of Cuba have made their way across the Florida straits and spread out onto the mainland of North America. The most notable, and politically driven, migration from Cuba into the United States (and elsewhere) occurred around the events leading up to, and because of, the rise of the regime of Fidel Castro. Another wave of Cuban migration happened in the 1980’s thanks to the Mariel boat lift. It is now 2007 and we are on the verge of seeing another Cuban migration. This one, however is not politically motivated, it is economically motivated. No, I’m not talking about the impending mass-exodus from Cuba that so many are predicting will happen as soon as the dictator is pronounced dead (officially). I’m talking about the slow and quiet exile of the Cuban community from their “home away from home”.

Since their arrival in the 1960’s, the Cuban exile population (my parent’s generation) transformed a little south Florida town into a sprawling metropolis. It is such a behemoth (Cuban’s do nothing in moderation) that the County it resides in took the name of the City itself – Dade County became Miami Dade County. If we don’t do something soon, anything south of West Palm Beach will just be referred to as the State of Miami. This is where the “New” Cuban migration comes in to play.

The very city that was developed and grown by the Cuban community, is now becoming so expensive and overcrowded that almost every conversation heard at the window of La Carreta centers around somebody seriously considering cashing in on the equity in their home, packing up their family, and moving to Georgia (or Tennessee, or North Carolina). The Cuban community, albeit the second generation, is ready to exile once again in order to find a better life for their families. Sound familiar? Granted, the situation is completely different and there is no political persecution… but the shackles that bind us in this current economic situation sure cause us pain.

So now here we are, a new generation of Cubans that are seriously considering the allures of a distant land (they check your passport at the Miami-Dade/Broward border) and the promises of a better life in a calmer place. We grew up hearing stories about our parent’s struggles… but look, they turned out OK. It turned out to be the right decision for them. Who’s to say that a new migration, a new exile, out of Miami may not be the best decision for us?

Anyway, I hear that Conyers, Georgia could really use a “cafecito”.

Barbara Parker, "The Perfect Fake"

Last night I went to Books & Books in Coral Gables to attend a book signing with Barbara Parker for her new book "The Perfect Fake".

All in all it was a good event and it was presented in conjunction with the Historical Museum of Southern Florida. Barbara spoke a little bit about her writing process and told some interesting anecdotes from her time researching the novel. My favorite quote from the evening was, "No one ever writes a book by themselves." She was refering directly to the collaborative nature of her research on her various novels, and that statement really struck a chord with me, especially in light of my involvement with Ink 'n Doodles Creative Workshop and the writing of my own novels.

Here are some pictures from the event (sorry for the low quality... they were taken with my phone).

Barbara Parker

The Poet and The Author

Whoa! Big Latte!

Look! Alex's new home office!

Admit it... you wish you were MacGyver