I'M BACK

I returned from Singapore a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been very busy since then. But today, at last, I’m able to add a new post, my first on 2009. First, I’d like to wish you guys a great year; full of peace, health, love, and a much recovered economy. And though the year didn’t begin peacefully in the Middle East, I’m trying to be optimistic (you know what is said about positive thinking!). Now let’s talk about the trip, it was great! …I enjoyed a lot of time with my family, visited many interesting places, and got the chance to meet fellow blogger and IF illustrator Eslina Jupri. Eslina is really nice and funny, and we had such a pleasant chat that time fled by without us noticing. Here is a photo our meeting: / Ya estoy de vuelta! Desde que regrese de Singapur he estado muy ocupada, pero hoy al fin he podido agregar esta nueva entrada, mi primera del 2009. Primero que nada quiero desearles un nuevo año lleno de paz, salud, amor, y prosperidad. Y anqué por aquí no ha comenzado el año pacíficamente, yo no pierdo la esperanza de que todo mejore. Ahora hablemos del viaje…me fue de lo mejor; disfrute mucho con mi familia, visite lugares muy interesantes, y tuve la oportunidad de conocer a Eslina Jupri, quien también participa en IF y MA. Eslina es de lo más simpática, conversamos mucho y la pasamos de lo mejor, tanto que el tiempo voló sin darnos cuenta. He aquí una foto de nuestro encuentro:

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From right to left: Eslina and truly yours

(I wish I could also post the goodies she gave me but they were so delicious that we could not resist the temptation!)

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About the country I can simply say: “I (heart) Singapore”… It is a beautiful and safe place; everything is well organized, clean and green. Here are few photos of the many I took (I’ll be uploading those to facebook ) I also got some nice books and goodies, but I’ll post about that later. See you soon! / Sobre el país simplemente les digo: “Yo (corazón) Singapur”…es un lugar muy bonito y seguro; avanzado, organizado, limpio y muy verde. Aquí les dejo algunas fotos de las tantas que tome (ya las iré subiendo al facebook)

Click to enlarge

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From right to left: 1. Panoramic view, 2-3. Supreme Court, 4. Bird Sculpture by Fernando Botero , 5. Wheelock Place, 6. Esplanade Theaters on the Bay, 7-8. National Museum, 9-10. Singapore Art Museum, 11-15. Botanic Gardens, 16. Vivo City Mall, 17. City Center, 18-19. China Town, 20. Singapore City Gallery, 21 & 22. Mint Museum of Toys, 23. Restaurant 3D menu, 24. Action City, 25. Great World City Mall thematically toilets.

VACATION

I've travelled to spend Christmas and New Year with my uncle and his family in Singapore! I've just arrived today and I'm so exited!!! I hope I can meet Eslina, from Ocean and me; that would be awesome!!! I'll keep you posted!

BLOGSPOTLESS

It’s been a long time since my last post; I’ve had no access to blogger and blogspot pages from home for three weeks now. They are trying to fix the problem but I’ve no clue of how long would that take. Meanwhile I’ll try to post from the office, if I get a chance. I have not replied yet to all of you who have passed by; hope I can do it soon, thanks a lot for your visits and comments. I’ll try to pass by a cyber asap, I so miss visiting your blogs and enjoying your awesome work. / He estado mucho tiempo sin escribir, hace ya tres semanas que mi conexión de internet no me permite acceder al blogger ni a las paginas blogspot, están tratando de solucionar el problema pero no se sabe cuanto tardaran. Por ahora tratare de agregar las entradas desde la oficina, si me dan un chancecito. Hay muchas personas que han pasado por aquí a las que aun no he respondido, espero poder hacerlo en breve, muchas gracias a todos por sus visitas y comentarios. Tratare de pasar por un cyber lo mas pronto posible, extraño mucho visitar sus paginas y disfrutar de tanto talento y creatividad.

FLICKR

Hello everyone…it’s been a long time since my last post (2 weeks are so much for me) and I still have no new illustration to share as I’ve been very busy lately. So I’m passing by to say hello and let you know I’m still here, haven’t disappeared, and also invite you to visit my flickr page, hoping you enjoy some of my photos there. Not that I know much of photography, but I’m starting to like it. Have a nice week! See you soon! / Hola a todos, me he tardado mucho en colgar una nueva ilustración (para mi dos semanas es bastante) y aun no tengo ninguna nueva que compartir, he estado muy ocupada. Así que paso para saludar y hacerles saber que aun sigo aquí, que no he desaparecido, y también para invitarlos a visitar mi pagina de flickr, esperando disfruten algunas de mis fotografías (no es que sepa mucho del tema, pero me está gustando). Que tengan una feliz semana! Nos vemos pronto!

CHILDREN WITH CANCER

Some bookmarks I did a long time ago, and which I had not mailed before hoping I’d get some time to do more, but I didn’t. Though very late, I’ve mailed these along with my Garden illustration today, hope they get there on time for MissPink’s Exhibition “Artistas con Corazon” for the collection of funds and help of the children with Cancer in Spain. Algunos marca libros que hice hace ya unos meses y que no había enviado antes porque esperaba conseguir un poco de tiempo para hacer más, pero no pude. Aunque muy tarde, hoy van ya en camino, y también mi ilustración “Garden”, esperando lleguen a tiempo para la exposición “Artistas con Corazón” organizada por MissPink para la recaudación de fondos y ayuda de los niños con Cáncer en España.

ABUELO

Desde mi jardín y con todo mi cariño, una flor para mi abuelo; quien falleció este sábado 5 de Abril (día de su cumpleaños) pero estará presente siempre en nuestros corazones. A toda mi familia; se que no hay palabras que ayuden a mitigar la pena, por eso les pido que acudan a la fe y a la infinita bondad de Dios, en la que hallaran consuelo. Yo se que mi abuelito, por ser un padre y abuelo ejemplar, y por todas sus virtudes, esta ahora en el cielo, gozando de la Gloria eterna. / From my garden and with all my love, a flower for my grandpa; who passed away this Saturday, 5th of April, but will be present in our hearts forever. I know that my grandpa is now in heaven, for being an exemplary father, grandfather, and for all his virtues.

BIRTHDAY GIFTS

Here comes Zappy to show you my favorite birthday (-Dec. 19th-) presents; all the calls I got from my family in Venezuela and the chocolate cake my mom made for me. Thank you to all of you who sent you best wishes, those emails really mean a lot to me! / Aquí viene Zappy para mostrarles mis regalos de cumpleaños preferidos; las llamadas de mi familia desde Venezuela, y la torta de chocolate que me hizo mi mamá! Mil gracias a todos ustedes por sus mensajes y deseos, esos emails de verdad que significan mucho para mi!

CHINITA DE MARACAIBO

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18th of November is a very special day in my home city; Maracaibo, Venezuela. People there celebrate the apparition of Our Lady of Rosario of Chiquinquirá , one of the many popular representations of the Virgin Mary in Venezuela, and the most venerated in Maracaibo. The story of the discovery of the virgin dates from the XVIII century; it’s said that the image of the virgin appeared on a wooden board that a poor old lady who made a living by washing other people's clothes had picked up while washing at the shores of the lake.

Maracaibo, the Chiquinquira, and the Gaitas have always been part of me. Since I came to Lebanon, I’d dreams of going back to Venezuela to be able to see all my family again, and I’d also dreams about visiting the Chiquinquira Basilica … that dream came true last year…and I’m so thankful for that!

So, I couldn’t think of a better day to celebrate my first communion, yes, my first communion ever…why after so many years…well, that’s a longer story! Today, I also wanted to share with you some images; Zappy’s offering to the Chiquinquira Virgin and some pictures I took last year…hope you enjoy them!

MY FIRST AQUARELLE

I bought a small aquarelle box some time ago but have not used it; maybe because I haven’t had enough time or simply i’ve been afarid of the results. The other day I went to visit a friend, she was painting and insisted I should give it a shot …the result??...this little bear…not bad after all ..no?!

JUMP OF HAPPINESS

I'm jumping of joy because i received my first ATCs..from Mike, Pati, Maryam and Bearuh...I'm soooooooo happy...not only because the cards are extremly wonderful...but because you guys are soooo great!...i'm so glad i met you! The image is a postcard i just did...the girl is me...this is my jump of joy! and also my first attemp of self portrait...i know it needs improvemt...but i think she really looks like me...and my mom and brother agree..haha (original colors are much more vivid...but this is the best i could get after scanning)

Monday 10, Sept ...today i received these wonderful cards from Woody Miller , his ATC is so great... love it! and i was surprised by three lovely postcards of his own design...2 of them with recipes!...thanks a lot!...

My Favourite 25 Movies

My friend Ester has tagged me for the movie meme; I’ve to name the 25 movies I like the most…and believe me; this is difficult, there may be hundreds but when it comes to selecting the 25…I can’t I barely can remember any! He recibido un movie meme de mi amiga Ester; se trata de nombrar mis 25 películas favoritas…y créanme; es difícil, porque puede haber muchas, pero a la hora de nombrarlas casi ni las recuerdo.

So, in chronological order, my favourite 25 movies are: Estan son mis 25 preferidas, en orden cronológico:

- Ratatouille (2007)
- Eight Bellow (2006)
- Francisco de Miranda (2006)
- Una Pelicula de Huevos (2005-2006)
- Leonardo da Vinci: The Code, the Myth, the Man (2006)
- Madagascar (2005)
- Corpse Bride (2005)
- Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
- The Passion of the Christ (2004)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
- The Others (2001)
- The Patriot (2000)
- Anna and the King (1999)
- Sixth Sense (1999)
- The Odyssey (1997)
- Braveheart (1995)
- Awakenings (1990)
- The Neverending Story (1984)

Now, I’m tagging 5 friends to this movie meme, and they are: Ahora, le paso este movie meme a 5 de mis amigos, y ellos son:

Emilia Yusof, Mike R. Baker, Patricia Montero, Paola , Mushroommeadows

FASHION LOCURAS

My cousin Mari, from Venezuela, surprised me with this cutie…she painted it for herself (not for year 2 year old daughter)…it seems she is a big fan of the little inky guy…You must have seen her crazy comments around, she is the only one that uses the chat box – except me off course –

Mi prima Mari, de Venezuela, me sorprendió con esta franelita tan simpático (y la pinto para ella, no para su bebe de 2 añitos)…por lo que parece que es una gran admiradora del pequeño personaje….yo creo que ustedes habrán visto sus ocurrentes comentarios, es la única que utiliza el Chat – claro, excluyéndome a mi

NAPKIN

Have a great weekend ...Feliz fin de semana!