A look at the new year

It has been a good year filled with so many life altering changes. I got engaged to a wonderful woman, we bought our first home and have a great job. I am very grateful to the Lord for all of the wonderful things he has given me in 2009.

But now I look at 2010. This is a year with even greater challenges but even better rewards. This is the year I get married, furnish our new home and transition to working in communications once again. It’s easy to be blinded by the silver lining but it’s important to remember that as you move up, you are just in position for the next step. As soon as you stop giving your best, you will stop growing. No matter what you do, people are watching and either you are being productive or not.

So when you look at 2010, I encourage you to look at this coming year as an opportunity to shine, to start pouring your best effort into everything you do and prepare to be amazed by the great things that happen when you do. Even if it is just the satisfaction of a job well done, which should be your main reason in the first place, there is always something great to be gained by giving your best.

The Beginnings

The cold pre-dawn chill seeps through the walls and into my sheets. Not even the few hours of sleep shielded me from waking to the frosty sensation that envelopes me this early morning.

There's something to be said for waking up with the cold. It wakes you up faster than a shot of espresso or a slap in the face. Suitcase, toothbrush, the sudden realization that I haven't packed. We're off to the lake today!

I know it was a little bit long for a preamble to such a short announcement but really, it's just another of the great things that have been happening. I'm engaged to a wonderful and beautiful woman, we just got our mortgage approved for our future home and I got the dream job that I had applied for.

They say that good and bad things come in clusters. After the last couple of months, I'm almost inclined to agree! I wish you all as many blessings as I've received and that you'll pass it along to someone else who needs it.

Merry Christmas to all

Coughing, sneezing and wheezing , these are the sounds of my office today. It seems that over the merry Christmas holidays, people have forgotten to bundle up and stay warm. So now, with air conditioning at half throttle, people everywhere are dealing with runny noses and watery eyes.

But it was a merry Christmas for me! Friends, family and loved ones all around, joined in spirit, if not in body. My family is a spread out one, through countries and continents. We rarely cross paths but when we do, it is a thing of beauty. Family unseen in years, aged and different, yet fundamentally the same. It is always a joyous reunion, generously laden with shows of affection, and the occasional promise of contact.

This is my family, these are my friends. I would not change them for anything in the world and can only hope that they grow in numbers and in variety.


- Seth Mariscal, enjoying life since 1983.

Catching some fish at Utz Tzaba

Today we went to monterrico to see hotels for the big wedding. Saw a couple of places, and everything was pretty good so we stopped for lunch.

Here's a picture of my choice of lunch and I've got to say, I was blown away! At the Utz Tzaba hotel I had one of the best fish fillets that I've had in years! Even Susan, who is definitely not a fish lover, actually liked it too!

That was good enough for me, any kitchen that is putting out food that will blow me away like that, has earned itself a chance to be the place where we are to wed.

- Seth Mariscal, enjoying life since 1983.

BlogPress and iPhone

Let it not be said that I do not make an effort!! Yes, I've been MIA and while my lone reader may not actually remember that I have this blog I will prevail! Writing is a joy in and of itself so I will try to keep up with myself through here. I figure that if I can do facebook, why not my blog?

So here I am, with my recently downloaded blogpress app so that not being at my computer can no longer be an excuse!! More posts are sure to follow and. Lot of food to be discovered. Bon voyage!!


- Seth Mariscal, enjoying life since 1983.

Madame Butterfly and Parenting

I went to watch Madame Butterfly last night and it was absolutely amazing. It was everything that I think Opera should be.

The stage management was brilliant, the singers were absolutely fantastic. The musicians were very good as well. The orchestra was the municipal youth orchestra who did a very good job, though there were a few misses.

Some people cried, other people cheered but I think we all felt it. If ever I have been to a show that was worth it, that was it.

On the other hand, I used my Sunday to make a little demonstration of After effects parenting to demonstrate to Susan and to make the explanation of how it works a little easier.

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, Parenting is a function in after effects that allows you to link one layer to another to allow natural movement such as one layer could be a hand that's attached to an arm. It has it's own movement but also fallows the arms movements.

Well, you can watch the clip and see for yourself. The heart actually get's attached and unattached as needed. This allows this kind of "attachments".

Here's the link to the clip:

http://tinyurl.com/dbkuh3

OK, so wow, it's been a while! Work has been really hectic but it's good to feel useful and productive. And to make money. The other day we had our "insurance" explained to us. The fact that it's in quotes should tell you more than something about what I think of this "insurance!".

In an effort to remain positive, I'll move on to other things. My car, as of today, is still in the shop and getting painted. Even if I did have it, I wouldn't really get to use it too much because I don't yet have parking at work. Fingers crossed though, maybe soon! I heard on Friday that there'd be a spot opening up these days, but wasn't really assured that I'd get it. As you might imagine, I'm not the only person around waiting for a spot to leave my car. Lord willing, it will be soon!

In an interesting twist, I got a call from a friend last Sunday (during church, go figure) which then turned to texting (because I'm not missing the sermon to talk to anyone)and he wanted to get some pictures done. So I grudgingly agreed, mostly because I'm pretty much helping him along with some photographs here and there to use for different self-promotion purposes. He's kind of making a name for himself in the LA (that's latin american) christian music scene. So, good friend that I am, I'll shoot his pics on a Sunday. And yes, my freelancing/photographer friends, I do charge him. He's the one up there.

In other personal news, my suspenders came in and I am LOOOOOOOVING them!!! you have no idea how comfortable they will be until you actually start using them. As I am not a small person by an stretch of the imagination, suspenders are just what the doctor ordered! I'll be sure to share a pictures of them ASAP.

Well, that's about all I've got going on right now (that I can think of). Hope y'all have a great night and a great Sunday (at church ;) I'll assume)