Stress...But good stress!

I'm quickly coming to a close on my first quarter of grad school. Does anyone even know I'm in grad school?
For those of you who don't know, let me fill you in. In March I was accepted into the MS program in Educational Counseling and Guidance / PPS credential at California State University San Bernardino. I began my first quarter of a three year program in April and I have been overwhelmed to say the least. Lots of work, lots of dedication, and lots of stress, but I couldn't be more excited to be a part of this program. For awhile now it's been a goal of mine to encourage our youth to go on and pursue a higher education. Through my undergrad work as a Sociology major, I learned so much about the lack of adequate mentors that minorities, especially Latinos, have while going to school. With no direction or guidance from anyone, dropping out of school, or not going on to college is often the end result.

So this is where I'm at now, and this is what I'm doing. I don't have much time to myself anymore and it's becoming harder to spend time with Annie, or at least the amount of time I would like to.
She understands, but like everyone, sometimes her understandable needs get in the way, which make things tough. But we find a way to talk it out and work it out becasue we're better than that.
I could go on but I know I've already put everyone to sleep.
So I'll end it now
More news to come soon. Must get back to school work.

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Got THE dress...

Well, the show must go on. I'm still a little out of it and sad, and sort of shell-shocked by the suddenness of my grandmother's passing away, but I know I still have to keep planning.

My bridesmaids (Celeste, Rosie, and Leana) and my maid of honor (my Ate Cristina) all took a trip to Mon Amie Bridal, highly recommended by Leana, where she got her dress, too, for her wedding to Oscar in July! I definitely understand why. Customer service is fabulous, and the dressing rooms are ginormous; all of my peeps could sit and watch me whilst I changed (not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing). Best part of all, after you choose your top 3 or 4 dresses, they stick a veil on you, and hand you a bouquet of silk flowers, and you can walk down the "runway" to just make yourself feel that much more inclined to buy and to love your dress even more. Even more special is the fact that I will be incorporating my Mom's train that she wore when she was married into my dress. Perfect. I don't know how I'll survive another year without "accidentally" showing Anthony pics of me in the sample dress.

After dress shopping, my gals and I had a tea lunch. Very fun. Very cool, because this was the first time everyone met, and it seems as if we all get along just famously. Of course, we must always include a typical Annie moment: I knocked a sammich off my plate as they were setting them down on the table. Oh well. But the important thing is that all of the girls got along, and that we had a great time. Each one of them will add something unique to our wedding.

Next up, bridesmaids dresses! We need to pick our exact colors, first.

Hey, what about Anthony, you ask? Well...tell him to post!

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On a sad note...

Please keep my grandmother and my family in your thoughts and prayers. My grandmother, Corazon Mandin, passed away last Monday. She was 87 years old. Read here.

We love you, (Lola) Mamang, and you will be very much missed.

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