Friday, April 29, 2011

sick day

I called out of work today for the first time in nine months! I haven't gotten sick since I've been back from Spain (NYC agrees with me), BUT this morning I woke up with a stiff neck. Sucks. I get this a lot, Im sure its the way I slept last night... arg.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

running for cancer

I have a VERY EXCITING announcement to make, that I am leaking on blogger first!

I AM SIGNED UP FOR THE 
ING NYC MARATHON 2011! 

On November 6th 2011, I will be running in honor of my aunt that passed away two days before my wedding from Cancer, Joan Rodriguez Sabella. 
I've pledged to raise $3,500 in her name. 

It's definitely going to be a challenge, but I am up for it. 

Here's the link to my personal page (which is not yet set up), but is ready to accept donations.

Mendozas personal page


This is extra special because I will be making my USA Marathon premier (after two international marathons) and running in my home city!
Thank you all for your support. My heart hurts just thinking of my aunt, but I know I am helping to make a change for the future, with all of your support of course, one step at a time.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

back to work

After 12 days of Spring Break, NYC, 2011 (woot-woot), I'm heading back to teaching tomorrow. It was great while it lasted. I lived it up as best I could in NYC while keeping true to myself (time alone) and my race training. I also took a mini vacation to DC, spent time with friends, went to new places in NYC, celebrated my dads birthday, continued to go to my Spanish classes and ran a race in the rain. Not too shabby... looking forward to the summa!


Continued with the Spanish traditions, patatas fritas, aceitunas, y cerveza en la casa.


my dads birthday at Basueros en Astoria, Queens

Salsa and Bachata dancing at 809 Club in Inwood, uptown Manhattan
McSorleys, East Village, NYC

Easter 2011

I had the honor of cooking and eating with close friends and a professional chef at a friends house in DUMBO, Brooklyn! Yes, you heard me correctly, a chef, a real chef, haha. He gave us tips, and pretty much delegated tasks, IRON CHEF style! It was pretty freaking cool. Really unique Easter and obviously the food turned out amazing, we were fighting over bringing home leftovers! 

I think it's my first without my husband or family, in other words, its my first Easter celebrating with friends and I'll never forget it.

Okay, I'll stop my Easter rambling, hop hop hopity hop...











Sunday, April 24, 2011

2nd race in a 5 race series, getting faster

Quick blog: I ran a 4mile race yesterday in the torrential freezing rain and I clocked in at 32min 51sec, thats 8min 13sec PER MILE! I'm getting faster and faster and I LOVE it! Me and my long-time friend ran (not together together because we don't run at the same pace). But I'm so proud of myself. We ended soaking wet, like drenched, it was CRAZY! My next race is in 3 weeks, and I want to run under 8 minutes per mile. That would be awesome! HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE, I'm so busy hopping around! haha.



Friday, April 22, 2011

The oldest bar in NYC- McSorleys, SPRING BREAK 2011

"Established in 1854 - McSorley's can boast of being New York City's oldest continuously operated saloon. Everyone from Abe Lincoln to John Lennon have passed thru Mcsorley's swinging doors. Women were finally allowed access to McSorleys in 1970!", states its website.


During the 6th evening/night of SPRING BREAK 2011 (woo hoo) we ventured into history, and became part of it in the oldest pub in NYC! It's 157 years old! There are wish bones that soldiers left dangling from the light fixture in the bar before leaving to fight in WWII, they left them there with the anticipation that they would take them down when they returned, but they never came back... the wish bones are still there waiting.


Interesting NYC history, I'm so happy that I experienced and learned about it.


 the wishbones: 

(then we went out to a more modern place after, haha)


Wednesday, April 20, 2011

If it's good enough for Obama, it's good enough for us: SPRING BREAK 2011

WASHINGTON DC: the beginning of Spring break 2011
full of monuments, great times with a close friend, history, politics, parks, movies, sun and sunsets:

absolutely wonderful

the white house:

the white house with a long-time friend that lived on two separate continents with me, how special:
brunch in the sun across from the white house:
the white house from the back:
the Washington monument:
xo:
WWII memorial:
the Lincoln memorial:






The Washington monument:
The Jefferson memorial:
The Jefferson memorial:
A darling little canal:
the Georgetown waterfront:
I indulged in a personal pizza on the Georgetown waterfront:
the Potomac river:
a charming street in Georgetown:
the state capital building:

I'm taking full advantage of my time in the USA.
Next up? 
The Grand Canyon and Las Vegas!