Color my World with a Rainbow!!!

When the tough gets going the going gets tough...is that what the saying says? well you know what I mean and if you don't oh well; not my problem...haha!!!

Anyhow, this post is about an event I went to recently; the color mob!! I decided to write about it because I was recently reading an article on some home magazine (don't ask because I don't remember the name) about peoples' bucket lists. The article offered suggestions one of which was to do a marathon like a 5k but more specifically, a fun one like the more famous, Color Run. I personally haven't participated in this one but I noticed one is taking placing at Dodger Stadium in L.A. on Feb 2nd and at Candlestick Park in SF on March 2nd. Well regardless, this one is a fun 5K that gives some proceeds to pre-selected charity; which is cool. 

Like I said, I participated in the 1st Annual Color Mob, which some call it a knock off of the Color Run.  I am glad I signed up and went especially since I almost changed my mind for I was going through a lot that weekend. It actually brightened my mood.  That's not to say the ordeal getting there. Traffic was backed up for miles luckily I cut through by taking the toll road to Irvine Lake.

I ended up meeting up with 4 others and we had a blast. Our team's name was "Team Spray Me"... loved it!! We took out our anger and frustations on each other and other strangers. We blasted each other with colored cornstarch. Everyone was doing the same and at one point we couldn't see at all because it was rainbow dust all over the air. It was all in good fun. Would I do it again? SURE!!! I was a kid for nearly two hours and lost all inhibitions in the name of FUN!! I haven't had this much fun in such a long time.

So I totally recommend that you all do it!! You will thank me when you've done it. Look for deals on Living Social, Groupon and Gilt City. I found out about Color Mob on Living Social. I paid $25 instead of the regular $50 admission. Regardless of the price, it is so worth it!!  Hooray for Rainbow fun!!

Update: i will be participating at the Color Run in L.A....YAY!!!  

A Great Feel Good Story

Folks, I here will present to you a feel good story, well, at least I felt good!!

About a month and a half ago, I was visiting a friend. We were chatting as usual and she, all of a sudden, says to me, "You know Lupe, if I am to die to tonight or tomorrow I am ready. I am ok with it."  This statement caught me by surprise. I was like, "WTF is going on with her?  Is she mad? I know she's been through a lot, but come on now!"

So I asked her, "wait, what? come again?"  She proceeded to repeat herself, and I asked her, what brought this on?  She reminded me of her long bitter divorce and the fact that she is having money troubles.  I continued, to tell her that others had it so much far worse than her.  Others, are homeless, without a steady income and have no one in their lives.  She has her children, who are grown up, and has her mother, and her job, her home,  but somehow that wasn't enough to her.

This reminded of me some time ago. I kinda knew what she was going through, granted I wasn't going through a divorce since I've never been married; but I knew about that void.  When that void hits you, its ugly and causes you to get all nutty and depressed.  I know, I went through it.

I continued to listen to her and then thought, not only is she depressed and feels that void, but she is going through that "i am no longer needed syndrome."  I don't know how that feels but I can imagine it sucks.  I then decided her to invite her to volunteer at Burrito Project South Pasadena. She was curious and I explained.  I got to admit, I wasn't expecting her to accept or especially go through with it.  She told me usually watches her Spanish novelas.  I then challenged her to drop her novelas for that night and I sacrifice my precious sleep and go as well.  I wasn't planning on going because I had to wake up at 5am and usually that chapter finishes really late at night and then I get home late and hardly sleep at all...blah blah...

She accepted that challenge. The day came and I so wanted to back out because I was exhausted and hadn't slept well for over a week, but I made that sacrifice and went with it. I picked her up and she was nervous and excited.  I had already warned her she probably wouldn't like it. Delivering at Skid Row is quite an eye opening experience and not everyone has the character or strength to do it.

Her daughter with her friends also showed up and everyone was excited. Finally the rest of the Burrito Project group showed up and we started.  I was constantly watching her reaction and her demeanor and she seemed okay. I have to admit, I was concerned.  The delivery was a bit long but successful. She was excited to do it again.  WOW!! I was shocked and happy at the same time!

She and her daughter went again and sadly I couldn't join the group this time. I visited her later in the week and asked her how she was doing. She said she was feeling good about herself. And I told her, that it showed. She looked chirpy and seemed more alive.

She then thanked me for giving her this opportunity to feel good, needed, with a purpose in life, and a better relationship with her daughter.  I was so happy that a tear fell down my face.  I couldn't believe I helped someone feel alive again. She no longer wants to die that quick and wants to do so much. She is working on some personal stuff and has set goals.  WOW!!

The moral of the story, you never know when, where or how will you change a person's life to a positive one. In this case, I felt it was my duty to show her that there is so much more in life than what she was going through and that someone else has it worse.  We have so much to be thankful for in this life and we have so much to do during our stay on earth in this life.  Man, after I heard her, I felt good and ready to tackle life again!!  I hope this story touches you as it did to me!  xoxo

Shameless plug: South Pasadena Burrito Project

Are you experiencing that void? do you feel like something is missing? are you constantly feeling down? do you think that if you do something selfless that perhaps you will feel better?  Want to know what the selfless act can be?  well look no further, South Pasadena Burrito Project!!! 

South Pasadena Burrito Project is about helping the hungry and the homeless. We don't promote religion we promote helping the needy because we want to. Our motivation is to help the needy for the greater good; that is all!! 

I was going through a void about 6 years ago. I felt like my life was too good. I'd done everything I had wanted to do at that point. Nothing I was doing was satisfying me, so i went in to a state of depression then some health issues came along.  I overcame my health issues but something was still missing. At that point I realized that material things and money weren't everything. If I die the next day, nothing would matter. And most importantly I was just another being on this earth who hadn't been all that productive.  That was a harsh realization for me!! I have always been a go getter and at that moment in life I felt like a failure. It didn't matter that I finished college or that I had traveled or that I had decent job with excellent benefits, I was still just another speck in the earth that felt worthless. 

I talked to a couple of friends about my dilemma and one day I was hanging out with my friend Eileen.  She was driving down Del Mar in Pasadena and suddenly, Jason Bentley came on the radio asking the listeners to volunteer during KCRW's pledge drive. That was it!! I told her I need to volunteer there. So we both signed up and I loved it!! it was fun and met some interesting people and felt good about it!! 

Next thing I knew I wanted to do more. I needed to do something that was more frequent because the pledge drive only happens for a week twice a year.  Then one day, after not logging on to Facebook for a while, I noticed my friend Alan had just RSVP'd to this event with a catchy name (which i can't remember anymore). I checked it out, texted Alan about it, he explained it to me, and I was down!! It was the West L.A, burrito project.  I was super excited!!  We went and again I was hooked; and I continued working it.  That was back in 2008 or 2009.  

Now, due to time constraints, the WLA burrito project is on a hiatus. I hope it resumes again, but in the meantime, I am helping out with the South Pasadena chapter.  The people that go are from all walks of life and all ages, from 6 to 60 years old.  All are welcome and united by the need to want to help the needy. I welcome you all to help out with volunteering and or donations. Alan basically funds the whole thing so any help is quite welcomed.  He accepts monetary donations on the website via paypal.  

I admit, burrito project is not for everyone, but everyone should experience it as some point in their lives. Its quite the life changing experience. Again, I welcome you all to the South Pasadena Burrito Project. You can also find them on Facebook where the invite is generated from. SPBP takes place the 3rd Thursday of the month, unless there is a holiday. 

In the meantime please enjoy the following video of SPBP which was filmed by LA FORWARD last year:

No BFF's for me!!

No I am not going on some anti-friendship mission!! It's just that over the last 2-3 years, I seem to be destined not to have a BFF either because I don't know how to pick them or they are selfish human beings.  I think it's a little bit of both and possibly more. My ex-BFF:s shall remain nameless for the sake of everything.

One turned a hater of everything fun and unattractive people-for a lack of better words.  This one lost a lot of weight, which is great, but all of a sudden thought that he/she was better than me and everyone else around them.  This person would say it a lot and criticized me for not being as attractive as her him/her. I tried to be cool about it, but it was obvious I was not going to tolerate the hate anymore.  I voiced my opinion but that didn't matter.  All hell broke loose right after my birthday.  Its sad but we both had drifted apart. I was no longer as catty as he/she was; I guess I grew up!  Best of luck to that person!!

The other one just drifted away once he/she got into a relationship. I no longer mattered.  I guess I had no value once they were in a relationship...so in a way I was being used.  Gosh!! how awful!!  I wish that person all the best!!

The other one was great up until I went on a trip with him/her.  It was their idea of me tagging along this trip. This BFF had never traveled abroad and wanted me to go because we were besties, and I was the well traveled one and and I was game.  Everything was great until we were there-and the location shall remain anonymous.  We met up a friend of mine and it was all good. We did a lot of sightseeing the following day and all was good. THen we went to dinner and that comment made during dinner was nail in the hatchet.  "Oh no, you are going to have wine which means you will snore!" YES, you read correctly because this is going to come up again. I apologized and stopped drinking.  My BFF finished the remaining glass and carafe so I wouldn't snore again.

Before I go on, correct me if I am wrong, but don't most human beings snore? Of course, especially men!!  We all know this, especially those of that have cohabitated at some point in our lives. I guess my ex-BFF thought he/she is the exception to this rule.  Let me tell you he/she isn't special or god-like at all, because he/she snores as well. Yet, I didn't make a stink about it.

On to the story, well, my exBFF was so angry at me that he/she doesn't know that i know that he/she poked my ear twice in the middle of the night. YES!!! you read correctly and I was terrorized!! I mean, who in the world does something like that?  You probably think I am writing about a comedic film or am joking. NOPE!! I am telling the truth!! I have nothing to hide or lose!!  This piece of work was awful to me and has never apologized; basically we stopped talking ever since. The exBFF also doesn't know that I heard him/her cussing me out because I started snoring again. YES!! All of this happened to me.

I was going to change rooms, but it was too expensive to do so. And then I thought, "wait a minute, why DO I have to move out, when I paid as much money as them to have fun on another continent? Its not like I just hop on a plane every weekend and do this.  And I am not a money mill!!"  We never spoke or hung out for the duration of the trip.  We went our separate ways but had to tolerate him/her on the flight back home because he/she booked our seats together. No one ever listens to me. I had said early on, "I think its best we don't sit together on the plane especially since we'll be around each other the entire time." Sitting next to this person was a challenge, but I was cordial.  I rolled my eyes when my exBFF complained about the passenger next to us because he was snoring. YES again, really!!!

Not sure what happened to this person, but it almost seemed like he/she was possessed. I see no other explanation for this erratic change of behavior!! I still scratch my head trying to figure it out.  Look, I had already apologized for my snoring the night before (due to having some cocktails) and apologized beforehand in case I snored again.  Not sure what he/she expected from me, but he/she owes me an apology for being an asshole to me!! I had no hidden agenda; my only agenda was to have fun!! Well, I wish this person the best in life because he/she will need it!!

So at this point I will not be seeking a BFF anytime soon!! I will just continue to have casual friends.