Back on land

Nothing saddens me more than the end of a great vacation. Yesterday, my family returned from our cruise to Ensenada, Mexico, and once again, we had a great time.

For those of you who have never been on a cruise, it's a five-star experience from beginning to end. Considering what you pay for the cruise, you get your money's worth in food alone. Seriously.

On this particular cruise, we went from San Pedro on Friday to Ensenada on Saturday. The ship was docked in Mexico all day and my family decided to get off the boat to enjoy some genuine Mexican food. Last year, when my family took the five-day cruise to Catalina Island, San Diego, and Ensenada, we got off the boat in Ensenada to experience La Bufadora, one of the three natural blowholes in the world. Visiting La Bufadora was great and shopping in Ensenada was fun, but this year's visit to Mexico was even better. After sharing a plate of carne asada tacos at a cafe, we headed over to Tacos Locos, where we enjoyed chips and salsa, virgin pina coladas, blended margaritas, and live music. There wasn't anything in particular that was so special about this place, but it was just the atmosphere that made for a great time. The live band played a variety of music, from oldies to 80's to motown. My family knew almost every song and sang along and there was even a time my parents got up to dance together. It was just a great day all around.

Before I continue on with the rest of our trip, I think you should know about what happened before we got off the boat in Ensenada. Long story short, when I went to get a dress out of my closet, the hanger caught on to one of the room's two sprinkler heads. I tried to remove the hanger carefully, but it wasn't enough to keep water from spouting from the ceiling all over the room. So there I was yelling at one brother to get me towels from the bathroom and the other to run and get help. I was able to cover the sprinkler with towels, but before I knew it, the towels were drenched, and so was I. Finally, one of the floor's stateroom attendants came to the rescue and while he and my brother were holding towels to the ceiling, I was making phone calls to the proper people to shut off the water. Needless to say, it was an interesting morning and my parents thought - and still think - it's pretty comical how it was me - their 24-year-old daughter - who caused the incident, and not my brothers.

Moving on...

We left Ensenada on Saturday evening and spent the rest of the day and all of Sunday at sea. It's a majestic feeling standing on one of the ship's decks and seeing nothing but ocean. In many ways, it makes you realize just how big this world is and just how much there is to discover. Sunday was spent rock-climbing, swing dancing and playing a round of "Name That Classic Rock Tune." Oh, and of course, lots and lots of eating. We got airbrushed tattoos, watched the "Belly-Flop Competition" at the pool, and spotted a school of more than 100 dolphins or so while taking pictures at sunset.

And while at dinner, I noticed that the little butter packets used for the dinner rolls were from the Rockview plant located in Downey. Out of all the places in the world to import butter from, it was interesting to see they were from Downey. A little piece of home was with us right at our dinner table.

Everything from the food to the entertainment to the accommodations were great. And my parents have already booked their next cruise - a seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise that stops in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. I'm a little jealous...

~Brooke

Cruisin' to Mexico

Last summer, my family decided to board Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Sea for five days and four nights for our annual family vacation (An article I wrote about our vacation was featured in The Downey Patriot).

This past June, my parents decided to board the same ship (this time for four days, three nights) just the two of them. While on their cruise, they caught word of Royal Caribbean no longer offering the three- or four-night cruises starting in October. The rumor was true, as Royal Caribbean will be sending their Monarch of the Sea cruise ship to Florida next month. Upon hearing this information - and without hesitation - my parents bought tickets for the whole family to enjoy a weekend on sea one last time.

My brothers and I didn't find out until they returned from their trip and we were all sitting down eating dinner at El Torito. It was such a great surprise and I couldn't believe they did that for us.

All that to say that we are boarding the Monarch of the Sea one last time today on a venture to Ensenada, Mexico. Although we already took our family vacation this year (we drove up the coast to Monterrey Bay, Carmel, San Jose, and San Francisco), I can't wait to spend the weekend with them again. And I have all intentions of taking a book and getting some down-time.

Have a great weekend!

~Brooke

San Pedro Magazine

The October issue of the San Pedro Magazine is hot off the press and hopefully on your doorstep if you live in the area.

For those who aren't residents of the city, be sure to check out their Web site - www.sanpedromag.com. I was fortunate enough to contribute two feature stories for this month's issue. Long story short, I met the magazine's editor, Josh Stecker, while reporting at an event for the Patriot (Josh used to also produce Downey Magazine, which has since ceased publication). Upon hearing about my departure from the paper, Josh asked me to write for the magazine, which is funded and published by the Press-Telegram.

I of course took him up on his offer and right away Josh assigned me two stories. The first is about John Mavar, a Palos Verdes resident who has restored and maintained a beautiful eco-friendly home. John and his wife Holly were extremely welcoming and could do nothing more but rave about the changes they made to their home.

The second feature is a profile on Dr. David Speiser, who in his own way is a guru of sorts. The well-known and much-respected doctor specializes in gynecological laparoscopy, a minimally-invasive surgical technique primarily done through the belly-button. To put it simply, he delivers babies and removes uterine fibroids, pelvic masses and ovarian cysts, amongst other things. I was immensely impressed by Dr. Speiser, as he met with me shortly after delivering twins.

I hope you enjoy the stories just as much as I enjoyed writing them. The topics are worthy and the people are priceless and I'm anxious to share the stories of more individuals and businesses in San Pedro.

~Brooke

Tickets are now on sale!

Tickets are now on sale for Sebastian Sidi's upcoming concert on November 14 at the Downey Theatre.

The show will begin at 8 p.m. and is a guaranteed success for any occasion - family night, date night, girls night out, group outing, etc.

Tickets are affordable, ranging from $20 (balcony) to $30 (orchestra). Family and group rates are also available. The concert's timing couldn't be better as it's right before the holiday season, so if you don't know what to give those you love most or share an office with, then tickets to Sebastian's show is a sure way to impress - and maybe even score some brownie points!

The event is sponsored by Philly's Best and Mambo Grill, the later catering the event at intermission. A meet and greet will follow the concert, giving fans the opportunity to meet the band, take photos, and get their coveted autographs. Location of the afterparty has yet to be decided.

To purchase tickets, visit Sebastian's Web site.

Hope to see you all there!

~Brooke

Week in review...

Okay, so it's been awhile since I last blogged...what can I say, I'm a busy girl.

Anywho, here's a little update of how my week went:

My mom and I had a great time at Sebastian's concert last weekend. We left for Temecula Saturday morning and spent the majority of the day shopping at the Temecula Promenade. While there, we stumbled across a store called C28, a Christian clothing store that sells one of my family's favorite brands, Not Of This World (you may have noticed a NOTW sticker on the back of my car). We were immediately greeted by friendly faces and genuine smiles and it didn't take long for my mom and I to wish there was a store closer to home. Upon paying for our merchandise, the most amazing question was asked: "Do you need prayer for anything?" (I must admit I was taken back by this - how often do you get that asked while shopping at the mall?) My mom expressed an area where prayer was needed and right then and there, the sales rep held our hands and prayed for us. It was an experience my mom and I will never forget and I am thankful for those employees who, without fear, boldly proclaim their faith to those that enter the store.

Our weekend continued at Sebastian's concert, where there was great music, delicious wine and beautiful scenery. The following day, on our way home, we stopped to grab lunch and a movie in Long Beach, where we saw The Women.

There is so much about that weekend that I will always remember, but the thing I will always hold near and dear to my heart the most is the time I got to spend with my mom. We had such a great time and I can honestly say that there is no one else I would've rather spent the weekend with. I love you mama!

The rest of the week was business as usual. On Monday, my family ate dinner at Chick-Fil-A as part of a promotion they were hosting (Buy all the food you wanted on Sept. 15 and get the same order FREE on Oct. 15 when you bring the receit). So needless to say, we pigged out. My brother and I then headed over to our church, where a basketball league is being held every Monday night - a quick reminder of how out of shape I'm in.

My mom and I spent Tuesday evening in Hollywood for a movie screening of The Duchess. In walking Hollwood Boulevard to find a place to eat, I soon realized that a person really hasn't seen it all until they've walked the streets of Hollywood.

Wednesday I got a flat tire. Need I say more?

I attended our church's young adults group on Thursday night. Let me say one thing, it was extremely difficult for me to go to this group alone as I knew no one. But everyone was very friendly and I plan on going again this week.

I then spent my Friday night with 17 high school girls for an all-nighter. We ate pasta, went cosmic bowling and watched Ocean's 11 (our idea of a chick flick because, duh, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and George Clooney!). We had a blast and ironically, the adult leaders stayed up later than the girls. But then again, Saturday morning was yet another quick reminder of how I just can't handle all-nighters like I used to.

My Saturday evening was spent at a friend's house playing games and watching movies, which always makes for an eventful evening. And finally, yesterday was spent at my friend Dena's wedding, a beautiful ceremony and reception, to say the least.

This week may not be as busy but I hope it goes by fast...I leave for Ensenada, Mexico via cruise ship on Friday!

~Brooke

Thelma & Louise

I can't wait until tomorrow! My mom and I are taking a little road trip to Temecula, where we will watch Sebastian Sidi and his band open up for Martha Davis and The Motels.

The day will start with tons of shopping and delicious food and will end at the concert, which is at a winery, so you KNOW we will be enjoying a glass of wine, or two!

Although I'm looking forward to getting away for a couple of days and seeing Sebastian and The Motels in concert, I'm REALLY looking forward to spending the weekend with my mom. She is the best mom around and I have the most fun with her. As you can tell from the picture above, we make quite the dynamic duo!

~Brooke

We will never forget

I was a little saddened when I woke up to a gloomy day today. I guess it is fitting, however, considering today's significance - the 7th anniversary of when our beloved country was attacked.

It may be cliche to blog about the events that took place on Sept. 11, 2001, but the day should never be forgotten, nor should the chilling images I - and many of you - will forever have engraved in our minds.

I remember the day like it was yesterday: It was the second week of school my senior year of high school. I was running late so I got ready without the TV or radio being on. I jumped in my car, popped in a CD and made my way to school. It wasn't until I got to school that I had heard what had happened. I was scared. I was confused. And I didn't know what was going to happen next.

The first time I saw images of the planes plunging into the World Trade Center was in my second period class, where my math teacher cancelled the day's lesson to mourn our country's most devastating attack. I couldn't believe my eyes. I wanted to look away, but wanted to watch at the same time. How could someone do this? Who did this? And what are we doing about it?

I remember seeing the buildings collapse and watching people falling to their death. I remember thinking how brave our uniformed men and women were (and still are) as they tried to save as many lives as possible, all the while risking their own. And I remember crying - balling - when people were being rescued from under the rubble.

Then there was our flag: One beat-up tattered flag flapping to and fro in the New York wind, vibrant and striking considering the circumstances. And that's when it hit...we ARE America and we WILL overcome the very things that are trying to destroy us.

~Brooke

Shut Up Already!

Sunday is always spent at home - it's the one day a week our family is guaranteed time with each other. A typical Sunday usually goes like this: we go to church together, enjoy a home-cooked meal (which in the summertime means my dad firing up the grill), and the rest of the day is spent watching football, reading a book, or in many cases, watching a movie together. Oh, and I can't forget - most Sundays, if not all, are concluded with a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies, compliments of Mama Karli.

So tonight we all decided to gather with cookies in hand to watch the 2008 MTV Music Video Awards, where I was personally looking forward to performances by Paramore and The Ting Tings. We survived Britney Spears' opening act (which, by the way, I was very impressed with and am glad to see her a little more put together this time around) and got through Rihanna's performace of "Disturbia," a disturbing twist to Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

Anyways, the show's host Russell Brand - who himself admitted he wasn't popular in America, but rather in the United Kingdom - ruined the show within the first five minutes of opening his mouth.

Here is what he had to say:

"People of America...please elect Barack Obama...on behalf of the world. Some people, I think they're called racists, say America is not ready for a black president, but I know America to be a forward thinking country, right, because otherwise would you have let that retarded cowboy fella be president for eight years...We thought it was nice of you to let him have a go because, in England, George Bush wouldn't be trusted with a pair of scissors."

THIS JUST IN: Award shows are NOT open forums for political nonsense. I HATE when celebrities talk politics when delivering a monologue, performing a song, or accepting an award. It is NOT the time nor place to discuss such things. I watch award shows to be entertained. But then again, MTV lacks entertainment in their regular programming so why expect more for their annual awards night? (Tell me, when did Music Television turn into reality television?)

And before I go on, I would be just as upset if Brand was promoting McCain, because again, it's not the time nor place. What upset me more is that Brand crossed the line, bashing the Republican candidates, referring to McCain's running mate Sarah Palin as a "VILF: Vice- President I'd Like to Fumble, Fondle." Brand continued by poking fun at the teenage father of Palin's unborn granddaughter, saying he was thrust into the Republican Party because his lack of protected sex with Palin's daughter was now the GOP's latest publicity stunt.

Ugh...shut up and go back to Britain!

We couldn't believe what we were hearing and decided to watch something a tad more honorable and respectful: ABC's America United: In Support of Our Troops.

~Brooke

Eat, Pray, Love

I just finished a great book by Elizabeth Gilbert titled "Eat, Pray, Love." In summary, Elizabeth was in her mid-thirties when she decided to end her marriage, leave her home and career, and travel throughout the world for one year in search of herself.

Her journey begins in Italy, where she spends four months in the "Pursuit of Pleasure." While there, she learns Italian and slowly finds that she is content with being alone. Oh, and she eats a ton as well, claiming to have found the best pizza in the world.

Next, she goes to India, where she spends four months in the "Pursuit of Devotion." Elizabeth lives, eats, and works in one of India's well-known Ashrams, experiencing divinity through meditation and the act of cleansing her soul. It is in India where she meets one of her best friends, Richard from Texas.

Finally, she finishes her journey in Indonesia, where she spends four months in the "Pursuit of Balance." Her visit to Indonesis is essentially her return to a medicine man, who years prior, said she would return to Bali to live with him. Although she didn't live with him her second time around, she visited him regularly, experiencing the works of a medicine man. She meets wonderful people while in Indonesia, including Felipe, the man she falls in love with and the man she is currently married to.

We may not all have the ability to travel across the world in search of ourselves, but one thing Elizabeth did make clear in her book is that you MUST find yourself, no matter your age and no matter how you do it. Her struggles may not be in line with our own, but she found a way to be happy reagrdless - granted, it was through eating her way through Italy, meeting God through meditation in India, and falling in love in Indonesia.

Talk about a life story...

~Brooke

Waterworks

Did you know water could write? Seriously! Check it out - you have to see it to believe it!

~Brooke