Pia Villanueva Pulido

Peek at the Week News January 30th, 2012

2012-01-31T07:43:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents,

First and foremost, thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and generosity in sharing a wonderful celebration of my birthday last week! The Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake (heaven!), gift cards to Target (my happy place!), balloons, and other treats definitely left me feeling loved and pampered. Thank you. I will post pictures taken by Mrs. Vargas as soon as I can.

Unfortunately, I have no time to give you a detailed blog with pictures of our countless activities today as our main focus has been measuring 3rd grade students' the middle of the year DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) benchmark goals.

There is no need to practice/study for the DIBELS testing. The DIBELS measures were specifically designed to individually administer and assess 3rd grade skills, such as:

ORF - Oral Reading Fluency: Assesses your child's skill of reading connected text in grade-level material word.

WUF - Word Use Fluency: Individually administered to test vocabulary and oral language skills.

A printout of results will be available sometime next week.

~Mrs. Pulido

"The Melancholy of Age" - A Writing Prompt Collaboration via Facebook Friends

2012-01-25T09:33:00.000-08:00

Looking back five years ago, seeing the world through her eyes is a little different now. She sees not through the theories of a solid education, but through the eyes of a unique experience. Five years ago, as she made her way sleepily from her bed past the doorway, she witnessed something singular which stopped her in her tracks: her mother levitating a coffee cup almost casually making a miracle in her kitchen.

Ever since then, her filter changed. The fog of sadness left her, and she began to unfreeze. Movement replaced sadness. Passion replaced complacency. Still there was no happiness because there was still pain, and the struggle continues. From the horrible shock of her lasik surgery gone wrong to the point of almost incurable blindness to witnessing something magical, the past five years have become a distant memory. But not the pain.

Today it crossed her mind quite distinctly, in fact, that when she was young, she had a strong sense of infinite possibilities. Travel the world and make her mark? Of course! Write a Pulitzer Prize winning fiction? Only a matter of time! Create positive change in children’s education? Naturally!

But the melancholy of growing older had blurred her shared vision with her companion. The back pains, the headaches, and the tired feet were all too obvious tell-tale signs of her reaching a certain age. Her tears flowed and made way for that painful longing to crawl out of the long, dark tunnel. Feeling the weight of everything and carrying the burdens of her family, she is perpetually exhausted. The only reason she gets up in the morning to fulfill the mundane list of daily tasks is because of that coffee cup. By habit, the first thing she would do is to make coffee and stare at the very same cup, hoping to accomplish the same act of miracle that she caught her mother doing. It hasn’t happened yet. There must be something else missing.

Short Story Writing Exercise: From the Writer’s Tool Box "Finder's Keeper - The Bracelet"

2012-01-25T08:59:00.000-08:00

“Your mother lied to you. That’s the truth.” His words were like venom. She didn’t appreciate his tone at all, but still she sat there waiting for him to lash out some more.

“She said she wanted you to have it all, but really, she just wanted to punish you; make you work for it and see if you would survive the whole thing. You can’t even begin to know the damage you’ve caused from your complacency. ”

It was always her fault. Now her heart pounded loudly, and she wanted to throw her vodka tonic to his face and break the glass on his head. Instead she bit her lip. Breathe, she told herself.

She didn’t say a word at all. She sat there listlessly and took out a crisp fifty dollar bill, which was enough to cover both of their drinks, plus a generous tip to the bartender. She looked at him straight in the eye, put her coat on and walked out the door. She never looked back.

She may be young but she’s not stupid. She knew when someone was baiting her. It was obvious he was just waiting for her to react a certain way so that she could lose it. She almost did, but she didn’t want to play that game with him. Especially not him. He was a skilled manipulator, and she’s fallen for his tricks before. She couldn’t do this to herself now. She needed to get away from him. Years of verbal abuse made her distant, and that was to her advantage. She didn’t look back. She was going to go ahead and do it anyway. It was her call, not his. Nobody could make her change her mind; not even him. He no longer had power over her. She no longer allowed her feelings for him to take over. She was now the cold, distant bitch that he had always called her when he was in his tirade of insults.

She rememebered her happier times when she would tell him, “You could make a living doing that kind of thing.”

“I suppose I could,” he responded, sheepishly. “But I never thought about it, until now.”

She realized now that he knew all along what he wanted to do for a living, but he, as a master manipulator, wanted her to think that she was the one who came up with the idea in the first place. He really was a snake, and she should have listened to everyone else who saw this coming. She felt so stupid, but she couldn’t regret her choices now. She just needed to keep walking. In the cold busy streets, it was loud. Everyone’s pace got faster each step she took. She couldn’t catch up with the rest of them.

After walking several blocks, she finally decided to hail a cab back to her loft.

“35th and 5th, please,” she called out to the driver.

She leaned against the window but felt something peculiar in her seat. She dug under and realized that she had found a diamond bracelet in the back of the car.

“Excuse me, sir,” she called out to the driver. But he kept driving. The foreign radio was loud and he stared straight ahead.

She examined the jewelry a little bit closer. Maybe it’s CZ. Nobody would miss this. She hoped it was the real thing, though. It could be just her ticket out of this mess. She needed to pay them back soon as the deadline is fast approaching. She didn’t want to mess with the loan sharks. She needed the money. They came to a stop light.

She hurriedly threw a few bucks at the driver and said, “This is my stop after all. Keep the change.”

She walked into a shady pawn shop and immediately asked how much she could get for it. The store owner quietly inspected it, looked at her, and then brought in an expert. “I’ll buy it for two grand.”

“No way,” she said instinctively. “This thing is worth 7k at least. I’ll sell it for 4.” She was a skilled negotiator. She watched her mother make deals and haggle with merchants when she was very young. It really helped her later on in her life, so she walked out of the shop without the cash that she desperately needed. She held out for more and held on to the diamond necklace. It will come in handy.

On the following Friday, she packed her bags and planned her escape. With some of the liquid cash she stole from their bank account, she could disappear and lay low for a couple of weeks before anybody noticed. She packed as little as possible and made her way to Grand Central Station. She planned to buy a one-way bus ticket to as far away as possible. She needed to get away from there, and she didn’t care where she went. She had to leave. It didn’t matter where. She would just figure it out from there.

She got on the bus and placed her bag in the overhead bin. She couldn’t erase the memory of the stain on the wall. It was too much to forget, yet she knew that in order to move forward, she needed to face her demons. She didn’t mean to hurt anyone. She had enough of being a pushover. She was so tired of always having to be pleasant and happy towards others as was expected of her. They didn’t know that she was dying inside. She wasn’t happy. She was miserable and needed to find a way out of it. She considered killing herself but that lasted about a minute. She knew she simply wanted another life. Another way out. Nobody else could help her but herself. She had to do something drastic, but she didn’t know she had it in her to assault a man twice her size. She took the money, grabbed the bracelet, and ran out of the pawn shop. She wasn’t going to die that way. No way.

She settled herself in a window seat in one of the back rows. As soon as she sat down, she put on her headphones. Closing her eyes and drowning out the mundane chatter around her, she slipped back in time remembering her happier moments.

It was a cool, fall morning. Traveling overseas for the first time with her mother, she was nearly six years old. During their month-long trip from California to New York, they went to a park overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge to take a few pictures. She marveled at the rows of trees and stopped in awe of autumn leaves. They were an amazing blend of red, orange, yellow, and brown. Having lived in the Pacific all of her short life, it was the first time she discovered that leaves could actually change colors. In her country, where the season stayed the same, the leaves always stayed green. Her heart always felt a little lighter whenever she went back to that momentarily delight as a little girl. It made such a lasting impression on her. There was something so pure with the simplicity of jumping on a pile of crunchy leaves for the very first time with a clear view of the Brooklyn Bridge. A couple of years ago, when she cleaned out her mom’s house shortly after she passed away, she found pictures of that sweet moment. Hidden behind some of those pictures were beautifully pressed leaves, leaving a faded blend of the brown and red. She saved them for her, after all those years because there really was something magical about them.

“Eva? Eva Ling?” She was startled at the voice that woke her up. It had been so long since anybody called her that name. She had been used to “Evelyn,” the Americanized version of her name that she herself made up on her first day at work in the gallery a few months ago.

“Irene?” The lights had already dimmed in the bus, but she noticed her signature blonde streaks that highlighted her hair.

Irene didn’t bother to ask if the seat next to her was taken. She just took it, which was an old habit Evelyn got used to when they were roommates at NYU.

“Where are you going?” She asked. It was as if she had already dismissed the chance meeting and made it seem like it happened to her everyday.
“I’m not sure yet. Probably the last stop.”
“Forget about the last stop. Come with me.”
“Where are you going?”
“Doesn’t matter where. It’s what I’m going to do.”
“What is it?”
Squealing with youthful delight, she said, “I’m going to seduce the world!”
“I thought you already seduced the entire rugby team!”

Irene laughed and took it as a compliment. “Eva Ling, your insults always crack me up, but no, honey, it’s more ambitious than the rugby team this time. It’s time to put the sexy on!”
“Time to put the sexy on?!?” Eva Ling forgot that people actually talked this way, but she had to admit to herself that Irene was a welcome distraction.

Irene laughed to her heart’s content.

More Creative Writing Workshops Available through Irving Arts Center!

2012-01-16T13:06:00.000-08:00

Theme: Summer Art Olympics 2012

Course Description: Exploring the world of visual art is a reliable source of inspiration for writers. Incorporating the theme of the 2012 Summer Olympics, this Creative Writing Workshop will complete fast-paced lessons in different genres such as areas of fiction, memoir, and poetry while learning about legendary athletes, heroes, and Greek mythology. Students in visual arts will develop skills as creative writers, inventive artists, critical thinkers, and collaborators through this workshop. This session will combine writing and interdisciplinary arts in which students produce text-based visual arts projects and oral reading performances.

More details coming soon!

Descriptive and Narrative Writing Classes Available

2011-09-09T12:41:00.001-07:00

“Telling the Tales of The People: Chinese and Indian Folklore”

Instructor: Pia Villanueva-Pulido

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Through a study of of various oral tradition stories from folktales around the world (in particular Chinese and Indian folktales such as “One Grain of Rice” by Demi, etc.), participants will investigate everyday human qualities and characteristics that influence society. As students discover that each culture from around the globe has a unique response made richer by details and stories from its society, participants will understand that there are still many common elements that connect human beings with each other, in spite of their multicultural differences.

Whatever the messages or moral of the stories convey, folktales have been told and cherished for countless generations that fire our own imaginations. As students hear different folktales, they as young writers, are encouraged to ask themselves: What do I think is true, or fair, or good, or beautiful? How would I tell my story? Participants will write an original folktale using the writing process, and then illustrate their tale and create a storybook.

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS:

At the end of the 6-week session, students will be able to:
Listen to folktales read aloud by the instructor
Discover the elements of a folktale genre
Learn how to analyze literary narrative (plot, character, moral of the story)
Practice descriptive writing skills and dialogue
Create and write an original folktale using the writing process
Enhance and foster creativity through literary arts

Literary Arts Classes Available from Pia Villanueva-Pulido

2011-09-09T12:34:00.000-07:00

Writing Reflections: Inspirations from the Harlem Renaissance”
Instructor: Pia Villanueva-Pulido

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Exploring the vibrant literary techniques of Harlem Renaissance writers (Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Anne Spencer, Zora Neale Hurston, Paul Laurence Dunbar, etc) participants will discover the purpose of poetry and prose to convey the prevalent social themes of this particular time period. Understanding that poetry comes in many forms (narrative, lyrical, sonnets, ballads), students will write poems and short narratives to help them deliver in-class lyrical reading performances, articulate poetry interpretation, and participate in group discussions. Harlem Renaissance artists, musicians, and writers will give participants the visual/auditory imagery and inspiration to compare and contrast the present social issues within their own experiences in their communities.

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS:
At the end of the 6-week session, students will be able to:
Develop an appreciation for poetry
Understand different poetic forms and poetry writing skills
Interpret, compare, describe, and analyze poetry
Become acquainted with the works of various Harlem Renaissance writers
Become familiar with lyrical poetry and recognize the personal nature of the lyric
Enhance and foster creativity through literary arts

What is Academic Language Therapy?

2011-07-07T12:32:00.001-07:00

Academic Language Therapy follows an intensive reading intervention program designed to meet the needs of those with learning differences and other reading-related issues. There are times when children are in need of additional written language instruction, and academic language therapy can benefit children and adults who have been diagnosed with dyslexia (and/or related disorders such as dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, or ADD). Dyslexia stems from a problem with neurological wiring in the brain that makes it more difficult to learn to read, write, spell, and speak. With treatment, dyslexics will achieve success in all areas of their lives.
Language therapists use multi-sensory teaching techniques appropriate for all language learners, even individuals who do not have dyslexia. Children who have difficulty acquiring basic literacy skills, but are not dyslexic, also benefit from academic language therapy.
Mrs. Pia Villanueva-Pulido is currently under training and learning how to become an academic language therapist with the guidance of McKinney Christian Academy's new Directed Studies Program for Multisensory Teacher Training and Language Therapy. Following the direction of her qualified instructors at McKinney Christian Academy, Mrs. Pulido uses the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital's Take Flight Program, a comprehensive intervention for students with dyslexia, which offers one on one private or small group sessions for elementary and junior high students with written language weaknesses.
In addition to reading and writing intervention, Mrs. Pulido is also available in providing middle school students with writing and/or organizational skills. She takes pride in report writing and regular communication with parents and teachers, and inviting others to take the opportunity to learn more about the Multi-sensory Orton-Gillingham based Language Skills Program. Mrs. Pulido offers language therapy either individually or with very small groups. Benchmark measures and mastery checks are used to continually assess student progress. Results of the benchmark measures are used to make instructional decisions based on each student's individual needs. For more information, please email piav_pulido@yahoo.com.

Reading Facts: The Impact of Literacy

2011-06-18T10:05:00.000-07:00

Don't have time to read? Be grateful you can! Take the time to understand these facts and read to your kids. Take the time and teach them how to read.

-- 2.3 million Americans lack the reading and writing ability to handle the demands of daily life.
-- 237 billion dollars a year, in unrealized earnings, is lost by a person lacking basic academic skills.
--60 to 80% of illiterate people move outside the law because they cannot find legitimate work.
-- We spend 6.6 billion dollars yearly to keep 750,000 illiterate people in jail.
-- Aspirin bottle instructions are written at a 10th grade level.
-- Understanding an insurance policy requires a 12th grade reading ability.
-- An 8th grade reading level is needed to follow directions on a frozen TV dinner.

Source: North Carolina ACLD August 1983
Southwest Multisensory Training Center

Some Helpful Instructional Tips for Teaching Adult Literacy ESL

2010-03-08T18:49:00.000-08:00

Dear ESL Volunteer Teachers,

Here are some helpful instructional strategies for teaching your adult literacy ESL Class:

1. "Too Many Words" Vocabulary is an important component of reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension skills. It's a tedious task to teach a huge chunk of words in such a short amount of time, but teaching vocabulary does not necessarily mean having to translate every English word for your students.
Instead: Try teaching vocabulary-building strategies and independent learning. You can still keep your momentum and cover the basics with good techniques.

Quick Vocabulary Building Strategies:
A. encourage your students to bring Spanish/or other native language/-English dictionaries to class. During breaks or beginning of each class, they can be working on looking up words and how they translate in their native language (this allows them ownership of their learning). You can also grab a copy from Half Price Books and bring it with you as part of your own classroom materials to share with your students, if you wish.
B. Teach Phonemic Awareness (the ability to hear and identify sounds in spoken words) by allowing students time in class to pronounce the vocabulary words in small group practices. Allow students to break away from the whole-group classroom and break them up for at least 15 to 20 minutes during your 2 hour class. This gives all students a chance to speak (especially those who are typically shy or uncomfortable speaking in a larger group). Walk around, monitor their conversations, sit with them, and practice the activities with them.

2. "Classroom Interaction - Don't Depend on the Book to Liven It Up"
In a good classroom environment, the textbook will not be the center of classroom interaction. Textbooks are typically dry, but they are designed to meet the assessment and the standards of the curriculum. They do little to help liven up the classroom, but they still remain one of the most important tools to meet the standards. Don't depend on the textbook to be creative or lively.
Instead: Adopt the principles of collaborative learning. In this type of learning, the teacher designs a learning problem or a task (this is where you as volunteer teachers can get creative outside of the book), and then assigns small groups of students to address the problem collaboratively (I can give you specific examples for each lesson if you want). The purpose of collaborative learning is to enhance learning and achievement by peer-to-peer interaction with careful guidance from the teacher.

3. "Pick Up the Pace" - Since a huge part of the Level 1 course is designed to build vocabulary to the ESL learners, the classes can be a bit redundant. Don't despair! Change the pace of the lessons by breaking things up a bit and move away from doing one activity straight after another.

Instead: Allow time for something different (pronunciation work, brainstorm sessions, creating a chart, practicing conversation, etc). Also - "wake them up" by giving them a short quiz (oral or written) on last week's vocabulary. See how well they do!

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my passion in teaching! Teaching ESL is not just about teaching a language, but more so about teaching others how to learn in a manner that is meaningful and relevant to their lives. Remember that you are all doing something that makes a lasting impact.

This is how we roll on NYE, multi-cultural style!

2010-01-01T00:37:00.000-08:00

I've been fortunate enough to have spent my past New Year's Eves, in three different countries, three separate continents, and it's pretty neat to observe different traditions. Thanks to Google, Wikipedia, and other sites that helped me put these words together because I can't pull out my “mad Asian writing skillz” right now....But I also added some of my words, so I still got the skilzz and mojo, ya know? Here's a little “edumacation” on our traditions....

ASIA PHILIPPINES
Traditionally, most households stage a dinner party named Media Noche in their homes. My mom used to do this and her typical dishes included pancit, lumpia, and hamon (jamon in Spanish, ham in English). If we celebrated in Manila, we would have lechon, which is roasted pig, and it is usually considered as the centerpiece of the dinner table. Barbecued food is also an integral part of the menu. Most Filipinos follow a set of traditions that are typically observed during New Year's Eve. Included among these traditions is the customary habit of wearing clothes with circular patterns like polka dots, this signifies the belief that circles attract money and fortune or other colorful clothing to show enthusiasm for the coming year. Throwing coins at the stroke of midnight is said to increase wealth that year.

EUROPE SPAIN
It is traditional to eat twelve grapes, one on each chime of the clock before midnight. After spending NYE 1999 in Barcelona with my sister and brother-in-law, I've kept this tradition with my own family. Additionally, the Mexicans also follow similar traditions, but Michael and his family never did this. They pretty much followed the same American traditions.
Anyway, when I asked the Spaniards why they did that, I think they were too busy drinking and partying to explain the whole history to me, so I had to look up the following information on Google:

This tradition has its origins in 1909, when grape growers in Alicante thought of it as a way to cut down on the large production surplus they had had that year. Nowadays, the tradition is followed by almost every Spaniard, and the twelve grapes have become synonymous with the New Year. After the clock has finished striking twelve, people greet each other and toast with sparkling wine such as cava or champagne, or alternatively with cider.

They also wear red underwear for New Year's Eve. I was given a brand new pair as a gift when I was celebrating in Barcelona. I remember asking why they do this, but I don't remember what they said. Perhaps it was the vino....but anyway, once again, I looked it up and here is why: wearing red underwear dates back to the Middle Ages when it was not allowed to wear red garments. The color was associated with blood, evil, and witchcraft. However, people wore red anyway because in the dark winter, red was a symbol of life. They wore red undergarments to avoid the major punishment of wearing red – the gallows! Plus, I think red is a sexy color!

NORTH AMERICA USA
When I was ten years old, I got to spend NYE in Times Square with my whole family. It was crowded, scary, and fun! That was my first taste of the American New Year's Eve tradition! Now eating black eyed peas is my taste of the American New Year's Eve tradition, and it's supposed to bring good luck, too, right?I guess their shapes look like coins, which symbolized gaining wealth.

CHINESE NEW YEAR
Last year, I got to celebrate Chinese New Year in Manila, which included lots of percussionists on the streets wearing their Dragon costumes and just dancing and being wild on the streets. The dragon dancing was pretty cool, and the red envelopes or packets they gave contain money of even numbers, usually given from the elder to the younger. I think I remember getting a red envelope last year, but I don't remember getting any money! HA! But that was a fun experience.

IRVING, TEXAS NEW YEAR
Tonight the Pulidos are honoring our multicultural traditions by doing a little bit of everything. We ate some black eyed peas, we got our twelve grapes prepared, we're going to throw coins, and we're wearing red or red-like undergarments. We're going to watch the ball drop and then pass out into the New Year. The kids will play some Nerf wars and make a zombie video, and Mommy and Daddy will drink their Mommy and Daddy juice. Let's hope 2010 brings all of us a year of peace, prosperity, blessings, and much love!

Happy New Year, Maligayang Bagong Taon, y Feliz Ano Nuevo to all ya'll!

"Galaxies Away" from I've Had Enough of This: A Collection of Short Stories by me!

2009-11-25T14:01:00.000-08:00

Prodded by her powerful desire for fame and fortune, she typed away at her manuscript through the brink of dawn. It felt lonely knowing something or nothing might come of this, but like someone standing at the edge of a cliff waiting to jump, she inhaled deeply and let the thrill of the unknown get to her.

Breathe deep, mama, breathe deep and take it in. Now let GO!

The room spun around her, galaxies rotated on their axis while the stars moved in their millennial ruts overhead. A car horn beeped outside, and the fall wind rustled the leaves, sending the curtains eerily swirling into the room, but she didn’t even notice.

Two hours later, or maybe it was a mere two minutes, she lost track of it, her hands slowed on the keyboard like a fading song. Blinking several times before looking around, she shook herself off the seductive trance and looked at the screen. It started with the desire for fame and fortune, from the hungry writer eager for the next commission, racing furiously to get to the finish line. A marathon. But now? Now it was a masterpiece. It was real. She sat there with content, staring lovingly at the work of art that has come to life and clicked on ‘save.’ She stood up, stretched, yawned, and crawled into bed, smiling as she drifted off in her peaceful slumber.

* * * * *

I’m really looking for a new client,” Anthony said matter-of-factly. Two years ago, he launched his independent record label that reached moderate success last year. He already had three major accounts in place, but the retainer fees still hadn’t come through, and it was already Thanksgiving week. “If Dave can’t close the deal with Tracks Recording by end of day today, then I’m definitely not going to get my commission before the end of the year.”

His jaws tightened as he glanced at the alarm clock, his nemesis. He even wrote a song for it that a little-known pop singer had sung into an independent label one hit wonder, and aptly named it “Reality is an Alarm Clock.” It was a good song, upbeat and catchy, but it didn’t quite deliver well with the public. Sometimes, he explained, even with the perfect packaging of a singer’s looks and talent, a producer’s skills and musical arrangements, and a kick-ass marketing platform, there was always that one little quirk, like a performer’s cheesy dance moves, that would nearly kill the entire album. So he was always busy looking for the next big thing.

”6:15, crap. We’re going to be late. The children’s book launch meeting is at 7:30.” He jerked up from the bed, and she missed him by a hair when she leaned closer to his side of the bed for her kiss. Ugh, why does he have to be such a mood killer? She pulled up the covers and shunned away any form of light in an attempt to recapture her writer’s high.

She refused to get sucked into this big ball of stress. She was lonely again. Or maybe she was longing for something else. Forget that, she thought. Just focus on you. Don’t let him get to you. As she recalled her intergalactic writing experience in her office, she realized with a smile that she had the power to rid herself of that solitary feeling. Each scattered idea flitting through her mind was a friend, a lover, a companion. Each was a moment that she wanted the world to share with her. Each bridged the space between the desire to create and its fulfillment.

“Shana, you need to get ready for your meeting. I can’t do this by myself because I’m not the one who wrote this book. You did!” His tone was harsh, like he was reprimanding a child who didn’t do her homework. She rolled her eyes at his unmistakable sense of urgency.

“We have plenty of time, Tony.”

“Yeah, if you don’t do that Picasso thing on your face with the make-up, then maybe we’ll make it on time!”

“Whatever, I’ll be quick.”

Where did my galaxies go? I need to get away. Far away from here.

2009-08-04T23:26:00.000-07:00

I like this piece a lot....

"Uniquely American" -6/24/03 Pia V. Pulido

Every summer, when the heatwave prickles through my skin, I think of that place where I was born,

In a tropical archipelago made up of 7,000 islands

On the side of the Pacific Ocean

Where a unique blend of east and west make up its people and culture.

Every summer, the color of my skin gets darker-

The evidence of my Malay, Chinese, Spanish, and Arab roots.

Whenever I think of that place, I remember devouring a yellow-red freshly picked mango,

Plump and cold with the juice dripping down to my elbow.

I remember hopping over the papaya and banana leaves scattered in my mother's old backyard,

I remember those sweet, familiar scents of summer sun mixing with tropical heat.

On long hot summer nights, I look up to the skies and close my eyes

And dream of this one small island.

A beautiful place it is, it is the island of Boracay

At the northwestern tip of Panay,

A butterfly shaped isle filled with palm trees, white powder fine sands and turquoise waters.

The waves overlapping each other, swaying back and forth,

Lulling me back to my native tongue.

But my daydreams of that place

Always takes me back here

Where I live

Where I belong

Where I've become...

A freedom lover

With a powerful voice,

Standing tall with independence.

This is no dream,

For every summer around the Fourth of July,

I celebrate myself

As uniquely American.

"Breathing Life"

2009-07-19T15:53:00.000-07:00

© 2009 Pia Villanueva-Pulido

The best spot in the house is the corner bookshelf in what used to be her mother's formal dining room when she was growing up. Now she converted the room into a mini-library filled with all kinds of books she has collected since her undergrad years as an English/Lit major. Those were the years when possibilities like the Great American Novel followed by a Nobel Prize were within reach. HA! What a joke.

How do I get out of here? She thought to herself, shaking her head, as she longingly glanced at the row of paperback Shakespearean tragedies. She walked away from her books, as if avoiding a temptation that would be impossible to resist if she dared to take another step forward, left the room, and didn't look back.

Walking past the small dining area and a narrow kitchen led her to another “best spot” in the house. When she was 12, it used to be what her mother called a “game room” where she had all her daycare kids and grandkids play during the day. Her mother quit the daycare business to take care of an elderly aunt, so it became a laundry and storage room. By the time she was out of college and married, it became a music studio. But the original homeowners used it as a garage. For her family, it had been anything but a garage.

She entered the room and heard her husband rhythmically counting and snapping, “1, 2, 3, 4, 1,2,3,4,” as a student attempted to follow his beat on the drums. She knew better than to disturb the fast-forward pace of his lessons, so she shut the door and walked back to the kitchen.

“Mommy, I'm hungry!” Her four-year old daughter announced, rubbing her belly exaggeratedly. Moments later, his metronome counting and the banging on the drums faded.

Oh, eternal gratitude!

But before she could even catch her breath to take out the toaster and some ham and cheese, she heard the electric guitar and his familiar three-chord progression technique he always used on beginner students. “It's a universal three chord trick,” he lectured to the little second grader. “If you practice just five minutes a day using these three chords, you can play any song you want.” That was his hook, and it always worked. The kids always walked out of his music lessons excited and passionate.

Excerpt #2 from the Big Six Contract (language edited to be suitable for young adults)

2009-07-17T17:53:00.000-07:00

"Yes it did. It explained my behavior. I already told you, it really was my period. I told you I was sorry and I’m exhausted. Let’s just watch the movie.”

“No!” His tone changed from affectionate teasing to passive-aggressive. “When it’s not convenient for me to talk, like when I’m working, you call me and make me listen to you whine and complain. Now it’s your turn.”

“That’s very mature of you, Carlos. An eye for an eye, the basis of our marriage. I thought we already outgrew that.” Eunice got up from the couch, removed the movie from the DVD player, and turned the television off.

Carlos knew that when she turned off the TV, she had every intention of extending the conversation to equal the same amount of time for a full-length movie. He looked at the clock behind him: 2:17. In about five minutes, he is going to shut down everything around him so that he can remain calm, cool, and collected. He did not want to listen to her taunts and insults. Actually, he did not want to listen to her at all. Eunice was known for her razor tongue, and she would attack without warning. He closed his eyes and recalled the night they met.

“Not once did you tell me I wasn’t being true to myself. You’re the one who lied to yourself when you said you were successful in your career back when we were dating, and how much money do you make for this family now?” Her voice trailed off as he thought back to the night they met.

It was at Brews, a downtown pub, where all the frat boys and the beer-bellied alumni rugby players hung out to drink the imported specialty beers. Beer snobs. Not where he belonged, yet he found himself driving over there to meet up with his shady friend Larry who was a lot of fun to party with.

“Dude, I found an after party tonight, but I gotta meet this chick at Brews first. I am going to hook up with her tonight," Gary said matter-of-factly. It was no secret what he did for a living.

“Why don’t you meet me up there?”

“No, thanks, man. I’ve gotta work early in the morning tomorrow and my son’s gonna be looking for me in the morning.”

“Isn’t that why your dad’s living with you? So he can take care of your son?”

Carlos laughed. “Good point. But I’m already in bed, man.”

“The after-party, Carlos. I heard DJ RJ is spinning tonight.”

“Oh really? He’s playing house music?”

“You know he will.”

Carlos found himself getting up out of bed that night and telling his dad to watch his son. No, he didn’t feel badly about leaving his son to go party. After all, he gave up everything so he could raise his kid, even though he didn’t want one. Unwanted pregnancy. Unwanted woman. Then she had to go leave them both. He felt entitled to a break once in a while, and tonight was his opportunity. He had to seize it before it slipped away again.

The day Jeffrey was born was the day he gave up on music and the band, but he couldn't resist music altogether.

Driving downtown was like coming home. The clubs and the streetlights were familiar, and the drum and bass from the music clubs was throbbing in his ears. People were laughing and drinking, and someone’s getting her belly button pierced at the tattoo parlor. He felt alive again. What a horrible year it has been – with Jeffrey’s mom leaving him and two years of his life wasted, tonight, he felt like he finally was able to start picking up the pieces to move on.

He pulled the old Buick up to the curb and parked his car next to the meter. I’ll only stay for 30 minutes, he thought to himself, as he put in a few coins in. Just enough time to drink a beer and go.

He walked into Brews and instantly felt nauseous. He was surrounded by the same dorks that he and his cousins used to hang out with in San Antonio. Those were the guys that used to be stars of their high school football and talked about what losers the non-football players were. They were the guys who drank overpriced beer.

They were all here together in one place. Ugh, he was gonna get sick. Where’s Larry? I gotta get outta here.

He finds Larry surrounded by several young women, all of whom were giving him their undivided attention. Larry could charm anybody’s pants off, even a middle aged male bartender. He was just Larry, and everyone loved him.

That was the night they met.

He saw her talking to Larry. At first, Carlos thought she was the girl Larry was talking about over the phone, but it turned out that she just happened to have smashed his drink earlier that night.

As he walked towards them, he could hear her telling him, “I totally didn’t see it. I’m really sorry about that. Let me buy you another one.”

Before Larry could agree to the free beer, Carlos walked up to them and interrupted. “You don’t have to buy Larry a beer. He doesn’t even need another one. Don’t worry about it. It’s his fault anyway.”

He gave her his sexiest grin, but it didn’t work. In her innermost snotty attitude that she still throws around from time to time to this day, she asked, “Who are you… and why are you interrupting us?”

He fell in love with her instantly.

Excerpt from the Big Six Contract

2009-07-12T00:53:00.000-07:00

You know who you shoulda married?” They were sprawled comfortably on the living room couch, their legs intertwined on the ottoman, and his arms were wrapped around her. A movie was on, but it was what he liked to call a ‘chick flick,’ so he chose this moment as the perfect time for him to talk because she was quiet.

“That tall white guy – what’s his name…the guy who was pissed off at me at your birthday party that year when you were so drunk at Dave and Buster’s.”

“Ohhh, Jayden!!” She recalled fondly with a smile. “Honey, that was years ago, like during the time we were straight outta college.”

“Yah, but that’s the kinda guy you want. You should’ve been true to yourself and just married him instead.”

Eunice scrunched her eyebrows and looked at her husband curiously. Even after he gained twenty-something pounds since their wedding day five years ago, he was still irresistibly handsome with his sharp chin, his perfectly symmetrical nose, and those sexy brown bedroom eyes with unbelievably long eyelashes. She wanted to just straddle him right then and there and attack him with kisses. And more. Everywhere. Instead she attacked him with words.

“What the hell’s the matter with you? Where did that come from!? I AM being true to myself! I married you!” Her chest tightened and she could feel her heart beating so fast. Her heart felt like it was coming out of her throat. Deep breathing techniques where are you when I need you most? In with your nose, out with your mouth. Breathe in, breathe out with your nose, in with your mouth. Relax, she said, just forget what he said. He’s just talking smack, she thought. But she couldn’t. Forget the meditation technique. It’s just for sissies. Whatever.

“Okay, here we go again!”

She took the DVD remote and searched for the PAUSE button, threw it hard on the floor and it smashed to pieces. This was not unusual behavior for either one of them during a heated argument. They knew they could get psycho with each other, which is probably part of their unhealthy attraction towards one another. Breathing heavily, she positioned herself carefully to face her husband before returning to the conversation.

“You know, this is a rare moment for us. It’s a quiet Sunday afternoon, just the two of us, while the kids are out shopping with your mom. No distractions. Do you really have to bring up some random relationship issue from the past right this very moment? Jayden was not even a boyfriend. He was an old college buddy. We lived in the same dorm. That’s it.”

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. Eunice reached for what was left of the remote to continue the movie when he replied, “It came from what you said yesterday. Do you not even remember everything you told me while you were in tears, crying and hysterical? And don’t blame it on your period. It had nothing to do with your period.”

More Information on the Creative Writing Summer Camp 2009 in DFW area!

2009-06-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents:

Thank you for expressing an interest in my Creative Writing camp this year. It is parents like you who support the cause and keep teachers like me motivated to do more! It speaks volumes about how much you care for your children and their education.

Just a reminder that registration is due to secure your spot. As of now, I have closed the dates on Session 1 (June 15th-June 26th MWF 9AM-2PM) and it is no longer available, but I do have plenty of room for Session 2 (July 6th-July 17th MWF 9AM - 2PM). For those of you who have already registered, thank you for allowing me to work with your children this summer and I look forward to plenty of fun and exciting adventures!

Materials are provided but please bring a sack lunch and drink, plus a snack. We will have "mini-field trips" on Fridays (a walk to the nearby park, a visit to the local bookstore or coffee shop to perform an oral reading of our work). At the end of our camp session, we will schedule a date to showcase our masterpieces (the date is TBD)in front of an audience (the parents). Please secure your spot and turn in your registration form attached and payment as soon as possible. You may contact me via email or phone at 972-523-6246.

CREATIVE WRITING COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This year's theme is "Securing Our Future: The Children's Perspective."
Following the basic structure of common writing traits, participants will hear short stories each day relating to their lives and how certain choices affect their future. Using group discussions, participants will identify common elements and brainstorm how these elements can be adapted to their own stories. The brainstorming sessions will help them develop a perspective of their own personal future and the world's future. Using writing prompts and illustrations, participants will create a story of what they hope to see and become, and what impact they want to make to secure our future.

As always, please do not hesitate to call me or email me if you have any questions or concerns. Have a safe and happy summer!

Peace and Blessings,
Mrs. Pulido
http://www.google.com/profiles/piavillanuevapulido

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1fWZ7Tmcac

Writer's Digest Writing Prompt #16

2009-05-19T15:03:00.001-07:00

Writer's Digest Prompt: Three boys decided to go have some fun at the local swimming hole. Shortly after they arrive, something terrible happens.

We called our band Infamous 3 because the teachers said we were "just the sweetest 3 boys" on our own. Put us together and trouble found us. My dad came up with the name, and he was the one who got me to play with the two Angelos. Angelo A. played the guitar and lead vocals, Angelo V. was on the drums, and I played the bass.

We got really good at our instruments after we performed our first gig at the talent show. My dad even produced a music video for us to put on Youtube, and we already received 42 comments about it since we posted it. My favorite one was from SallyRoxUrSox09. On November 13th, she wrote: "Kevin, is your bass an Ibanez? :)"

Most of the comments were good like the one from Sally, but some were mean. Those comments were anonymous, although I've had my suspicions on who left them there. On December 26th, Anonymous wrote: "Ur band sux and I'm taller than 3 of u put 2ogether." I didn't care. I thought the band was the best thing that ever happened in 6th grade.

Our band started when my dad decided to rebuild his studio at home. He already owned must of the good equipment that most professional recording engineers used, so it was really easy for him to set it up. The hardest part was getting Mom to go along with the plan.

My mom, who was my former 4th grade teacher, was always concerned about everything. She would cross her arms and say stuff like, "I'm concerned with your grades, Kevin." She said this just about everyday when she would see me in the cafeteria after her students left for recess.

Most recently, she was concerned about the name of our band.

"The Infamous 3?!?" She asked irritably over dinner. “Why would you even suggest that it's cool to get in trouble with your friends?" She already jumped to this conclusion, but Dad just rolled his eyes. We both stayed out of this conversation because we knew she had a razor tongue that could rip apart even a cold-hearted soul.

But we made it through the school year without a hitch. My mom was content that we had enough money to pay the bills, plus extra for shopping and entertainment, so she stayed out of our way during rehearsals. My dad smiled more often after a flock of music students enrolled in May since the Camp Rock craze happened, so things pretty much worked out for my parents.

Things didn't work out as smoothly for my band, though. We kept getting mean comments from the same "Anonymous" person on the music video, like, "How about you change your name to The Dorky 3?! LOL!"

The two Angelos got fed up with it. They said it was time to teach Too Tall Trevor a lesson. I told them just to block him from making comments or report the abuse to the web administrator, but they didn't listen.

So on Field Day at Joe Pool Lake, the two Angelos came up behind Trevor gave him the biggest wedgie before we shoved him into the water. Everybody laughed, including me, because it was hilarious! Trevor almost choked on his own tears of humiliation, but nobody felt sorry for him. Not even the girls.

Mrs. Walker ran up to us and yelled, "Why would you boys do such a thing?!" We told her about the comments Trevor posted online, but he denied it, so he was pretty much let off the hook.

We had to go to summer school for a week for “bullying”, even though we didn't flunk any of our classes. Angelo A. even made it on the Principal's Honor Roll, but the principal decided that he would make us clean all the desks in the classrooms.

I thought my dad would be cool and take my side, but he just shrugged his shoulders. I guess now he was too busy with the solo recording artists like Sally, who already finished three songs he wrote for her debut album.

By the end of the summer, our band broke up. Angelo A. moved to Ecuador, and Angelo V. went back to public school. I ended up playing guitar for Sally because Dad made me do it. At first, I didn't want to because her songs were too girly, sort of like Gwen Stefani's No Doubt stuff, but she smelled nice and I liked how her hair bounced when she walked.

“Breathing Life” © 2009 Pia Villanueva-Pulido

2009-05-13T04:18:00.001-07:00

The best spot in the house is the corner bookshelf in what used to be her mother's formal dining room when she was growing up. Now she converted the room into a mini-library filled with all kinds of books she has collected since her undergrad years as an English/Lit major. Those were the years when possibilities like the Great American Novel followed by a Nobel Prize were within reach. HA! What a joke.

How do I get out of here? She thought to herself, shaking her head, as she longingly glanced at the row of paperback Shakespearean tragedies. She walked away from her books, as if avoiding a temptation that would be impossible to resist if she dared to take another step forward, left the room, and didn't look back.

Walking past the small dining area and a narrow kitchen led her to another “best spot” in the house. When she was 12, it used to be what her mother called a “game room” where she had all her daycare kids and grandkids play during the day. Her mother quit the daycare business to take care of an elderly aunt, so it became a laundry and storage room. By the time she was out of college and married, it became a music studio. But the original homeowners used it as a garage. For her family, it had been anything but a garage.

She entered the room and heard her husband rhythmically counting and snapping, “1, 2, 3, 4, 1,2,3,4,” as a student attempted to follow his beat on the drums. She knew better than to disturb the fast-forward pace of his lessons, so she shut the door and walked back to the kitchen.

“Mommy, I'm hungry!” Her four-year old daughter announced, rubbing her belly exaggeratedly. Moments later, his metronome counting and the banging on the drums faded.

Oh, eternal gratitude!

But before she could even catch her breath to take out the toaster and some ham and cheese, she heard the electric guitar and his familiar three-chord progression technique he always used on beginner students. “It's a universal three chord trick,” he lectured to the little second grader. “If you practice just five minutes a day using these three chords, you can play any song you want.” That was his hook, and it always worked. The kids always walked out of his music lessons excited and passionate.

CREATIVE WRITING SUMMER CAMP 2009

2009-05-11T22:04:00.001-07:00

Pia Villanueva-Pulido, a published freelance magazine writer, children’s author, novelist, and an upper elementary school teacher, will offer creative writing workshops for youth to develop their writing ability over the summer break. The two-week session covers:

Character Creation and Development
Finding Inspiration Through Imagination
Structure in Writing (a little bit of grammar mechanics)
Oral Reading Fluency

Tuition: $150 per student for 2-week session
$10 registration fee
Materials will be provided
GET MORE INFORMATION – 972-523-6246 or email piav_pulido@yahoo.com

Session 1: June 15th – June 26th 9 A.M. To 2 P.M. MWF in Mrs. Pulido's home
Session 2: July 6th – July 17th 9 A.M to 2 P.M. MWF in Mrs. Pulido's home

Sponsored by: Timidsoul Productions

REGISTER NOW

Student Name: __________________________

________ Grade:____________

Address: _____________________________________ Phone:______________

Session Dates: _____________________________ Parents' Names: ___________________

Please include registration fee of $10 to secure your spot and session preference by Friday, May 15th 2009!

To Parents and Future Parents – What You Should Know About Your Child's Teacher

2009-05-02T16:12:00.000-07:00

Helpful Tips for Parents with school-aged children written by a mother and teacher

Next to a child's parents, the single most important person in a young child's life is his/her teacher. As parents, many of us rely on the schools and educators to “do their jobs.” Teachers are held to a higher moral standard because they are paid to be role models and they represent moral codes. Thus, we respect their authority and put our trust in them so much that we leave our children in their care for 8 hours a day, five days a week and hope that they do their jobs. But how can you tell if your child's teacher is doing his/her job?

We all know that the salary of a teacher compared to the working hours he/she spends in and out of the classroom hardly makes the job worth it. In this case, we see apathetic teachers who are burned out and bitter because he/she did not want to be in the classroom in the first place. Despite master's and graduate degrees and advanced certifications, no amount of professional development would make them better teachers if they lack passion and purpose for what they do.

It is very important that we as parents step up and be our children's advocates. Becoming a proactive parent in a school community doesn't just mean attending PTA meetings and participating in fundraisers. Proactive parents realize that they are the primary educators of their children and they work in partnership with their children's teachers. Good teachers realize this and are open to the parents' participation in and out of the classroom.

Here are some qualities you should look for in your child's teacher:

PASSION FOR TEACHING – This should be a no-brainer, yet if you carefully observe any school, you will find the passion as a rare form as it steadily declines in the schools. Passionate educators consider teaching as a vocation and not just a job. They are open to learn new things and try new strategies instead of using the same worksheets over and over again throughout the years. Passion for teaching can manifest in so many different levels, but more importantly, that passion will transfer into your children in hopes that they will become passionate lifelong learners. You'll recognize that passion when you feel the excitement from your children.
CONNECTION WITH THEIR STUDENTS – Teaching is definitely not a popularity contest, but listen to your children when they talk about their teachers. They are observant and expressive, and they can pick up on whether a teacher “likes” them or not. I've seen teachers who clearly knew their stuff and taught everything they needed to teach. Their students learned everything they needed to learn in the curriculum, yet there was a big missing piece to the puzzle. The kids didn't feel loved! If the teacher's classroom management style is fear and intimidation, then these teachers are NOT who I want teaching in my children's classrooms. I, like all of the other loving parents out there, want the teachers to make my children feel special while firmly disciplining them. This is a fine balance that many teachers have to master.
COLLABORATION WITH PARENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS - Some great teachers like to do their own thing, but in order to expand their purpose, they need to work in partnership with the community. Parents are the #1 supporters for their cause, so great teachers will want parents to be as involved with their children's education as they possibly can. Great teachers will actively seek out skilled parents to volunteer as guest speakers on career day, volunteers for art classes, coordinators for field trips, etc. to enhance their students' learning experiences. Teachers should be open to these resources and realize that well-intentioned parents are willing to help teachers out in any way they can.

I could list many more qualities of a great teacher, but I know that kids will know it when they feel it. That's the passion I'm talking about....

I’ve Had Enough of This: A Collection of Short Stories written by me

2008-07-14T21:32:00.000-07:00

"The End of Good Times" short story by Pia V. Pulido

Sunkissed77: This is what happens to people when they burn out.

She told me over instant messaging. Another message popped into the screen as Eva continued to make me understand why she is leaving him.

Sunkissed77: They go to work, they come home, eat dinner, go to sleep. Rinse, repeat. People just have to find something to keep them distracted from all the bullshit in their lives.

So I guess Sergio was her distraction. A three-month distraction, so far.

KerriLynn: What about the kids? Send.

I guess she had already thought of that because I could tell from the other side of the IM that she is typing and deleting, typing and deleting, furiously, like a madman. Blimp. A new window was blinking again. Blimp. Blimp. Blimp. Wow, three consecutive blimps. The woman had something to say, most definitely.

Sunkissed77: My daughter will be with me. I have a clean record, a stable income, a house that’s paid for, and no shady background lurking around somewhere. The judge will see that. There is no question there. I have police reports filed from a year ago when he was disturbing the peace. Remember how he shoved the front door wide open and knocked down our little daughter? It was an accident, but for fuck’s sake, it was our little girl. She turned out fine, obviously. Just a mere scratch on her foot, but I had to call the cops on him. Somebody had to calm him down, and it sure as hell wasn’t gonna be me. I can’t believe I stayed with that piece of shit a day longer after that. Sure, I’m not a good housewife, I can’t cook, and I hardly ever clean, but I do know how to raise kids, you know, unlike some drama mamas.

KerriLynn: You’re a good mother, I know that, Eva. But what about the boy? In the ten years that you’ve raised him, doesn’t he feel like your own? How is he going to feel when you leave him and Todd? Send.

No response. I have known Eva and Todd since they’ve been together. During our early twenties, when everyone else seemed focus on their careers and their identities, Todd and Eva worked their butts off to raise Todd’s son, David. It was a beautiful relationship, all three of them learning to love each other. Eva, being the lovable selfish brat that she was, finally had a reason to grow up. She became a great mother, and to this day, she would tell you that David was her inspiration for teaching and writing. And Todd, he seemed like a nice enough guy. He could tolerate Eva’s little idiosyncrasies when everyone else couldn’t. Todd could have abandoned all his responsibilities as a father, but he pursued custody of his son. He knew that the baby mama wasn’t going to give David a chance to grow up to become a decent human being.

They’ve gone through more ups and downs together than any other couple friends I have ever known, but they always managed to overcome their obstacles. Maybe not this time. I thought they had a genuine liking towards each other, but one thing’s for sure; they have never been happy together. It might be best for her to end it. Until today, I have never seen her so sure of anything in her whole life, which is probably a sign that she is ready to move on. She hasn’t responded to my question and I got the feeling she wouldn’t anytime soon. I changed the subject.

KerriLynn: So tell me about Sergio. Send.

Sunkissed77: He’s totally hot. He’s young, though. 25. But already accomplished so much. Earned two college degrees. Working on his Master’s, and invented some kind of watch technology for his undergrad thesis. It was so successful that he’s now a VP, but he really doesn’t have to work. He’s quitting his job and selling the technology to the company. He’ll get royalty fees for every watch sold. There is really no reason for him to work, but get this...he wants to be a teacher!

Blimp. A new window popped up. I rolled my eyes as I read the first sentence. What is she, 15???? He’s hot?

KerriLynn: WTF, Eva? I know I should be happy for you, but come on, Eva. You know this guy is probably not looking for anything but a good time. 25? He’s just a baby!!! Send.

Sunkissed77: LOL! Well, how do you know that I’m not looking for a good time, too?

KerriLynn: Because you will become emotionally attached. I’ve known you since high school, Eva. You are totally all or nothing at all. You need to be careful. You’re treading on dangerous waters. Send.

Sunkissed77: I’ve treaded on dangerous waters for ten years with Todd. I should have seen all the red flags before. But oh well, live and learn. I know you’re worried, Kerri, but things are going to be fine. You know, he’s actually nicer to me now that he knows he has everything to lose? The poor bastard doesn’t know what hit him until it’s too late.

KerriLynn: Is it too late? Send.

Sunkissed77: Ten years too late, dear. And no, I am not rushing into another relationship with Sergio. Like I said, he’s just a distraction. He makes me feel…oh, I don’t want to sound like a blushing schoolgirl. He makes me feel beautiful! Anyway, I still haven’t had sex with Sergio. We’ve made out a couple of times, but he knows I’m going through a divorce.

KerriLynn: brb Send.

I rubbed my eyes to recover from the glare of the monitor. I was getting a little tired, but I didn’t want to be rude and cut off the conversation, especially when she was trying to bear her soul to me. Deep sighs. I set the laptop aside and adjusted the pillow on my back. Still uncomfortable. I should probably fly down there and pay her a visit. We could fix it over a couple of martinis and some smokes, like we used to do, before everyone got married. Good times. I got up to go to the kitchen to pour myself a late night cup of coffee. It’s going to be a long night.

Sunkissed77: Are you there?

KerriLynn: Yeah, sorry, I had to get some water. I was thirsty. Send.

Sunkissed77: Oh, okay. So what’s new with you?

I could detect a hint of insincerity with this question. She could give a rat’s ass about what’s new with me, and besides, a single woman’s drama is nothing compared to a married woman, mother of one, stepmother of another, baby mama drama, daddy issues and husband with so many other issues kinda drama.

KeriLynn: Nothing much. Looking into taking cooking classes. Send.

Sunkissed77: Yeah, that’s probably what Todd wanted me to do. Take cooking classes instead of grad school classes. Shithead.

The conversation always revolved around her, but I didn’t mind. It kept me busy. It kept me company. It kept me sane.

How To Get Started in Freelance Writing

2008-03-10T16:41:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to my old friend Anaka, a talented writer who wants to put her words to good use!!!!

As a published writer for small and local magazines, I've been asked the same question over and over again. "How did you get them to publish your pieces?"

Sometimes, all it took was a simple letter stating my ideas. Other times, it took actually writing real articles without the hopes of getting paid nor published. The most important thing is to keep writing and to keep collecting your writing samples. Keep the passion burning, baby!

In any case, Anaka, these are some tips to get a byline in a magazine:

READ, READ, READ the local newspapers and small magazines in your area for at least a few weeks. You’ll need to get familiar with their story angles, and possibly get to know the writing of the regular reporters/writers who have particular beats.
Jot down a list of topics that you, as a reader for a particular publication, would want to read. Make sure that your ideas are relevant to the focus of each publication. For example, you wouldn’t want to write about ski resorts in Colorado for Texas Monthly magazine, which is why it is so important for you to read and become familiar with each publication’s story angles and beats.
Develop your ideas by coming up with unique/specific themes. Local magazines like seasonal things and events related to their communities, so make sure you develop a “nose for news.” Keep your eyes and ears open for any newsworthy event around the area and know your target. Who are you writing for? How does it benefit the community? Remember your 5 W’s and H (Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How)
Write a QUERY LETTER proposing your ideas to the magazine editors. A well-written query letter helps proves to an editor that you are qualified to write the piece. Then look at the masthead of each publication and find the name of the editor-in-chief. His/her contact information should be listed. Send in your letter which includes your ideas and proposal and your contact information.
Write WHAT YOU KNOW – All writers know this. Our best writing pieces come from our expertise in particular topics. You have more of a chance getting published if you write for a trade magazine. For example, teachers can write for education magazines, a musician can review local bands, etc.
Prepare to get rejected. You are lucky if you even get a response, so a rejection is better than nothing. Many editors would probably say, “We already did a story like this.” Keep trying and maintain relationships with them. You can also offer to be their freelancer if they need any particular assignments covered. Even though your ideas may have been rejected, they may still need a writer to cover a particular assignment. Gladly accept and learn from the experience!

Good luck and happy writing!

Love,

Pia

Five Wishes and Achieving My Dreams

2008-02-24T18:14:00.000-08:00

Written Monday, January 14, 2008

Five Wishes

Instead of making New Year's Resolutions this year ( "Don't hate in '08" -Rubix), I decided to make life goals. I was inspired. The book Five Wishes focuses on a certain question: If you were in your deathbed right now, at this very moment, and someone asked, "Was your life a complete success?," would you say yes or no?

I had to stop and think about that for a minute or two. Is my life a complete success right now? Could I answer that right now? I would have to say no. It's not a complete success....YET! On the surface, as I flipped through the chapters, I thought the book was a bit cheesy. I couldn't put it down, though, and before I knew it, I was finished with it.

The book asked very practical and profound questions and has a "worksheet" to help someone realize their dreams. My answers are in that "worksheet" below. I invite you, my dear readers, to copy paste the template into your own blog and share your wishes with me. It's a great self-improvement exercise!

This is mine -hard work in progress...

The Questions
I ask you, Was your life a complete success? If you answer no ask yourself the main reason your life was not a total success and write it down.

The main reason my life was not a total success is because.....
I didn't teach my children to passionately pursue their own hopes and dreams the way my mother did for me.

And I didn't.......
finish writing my own Language Arts (reading/writing) curriculum to implement a successful writing workshop program for children and young adults.
.
And I didn't.....
accomplish my goal in becoming a published author who has sold at least a total of 100 copies of my published book (self-published, independently published or published by a distributor).

And I didn't....
take my children and husband to see the world through extensive traveling.

And I didn't......
expand my talents and abilities in and beyond the education field.

And Your Five Wishes
Now turn those reasons into wishes. For my life to have been a total success,
I wish I'd....
taught my children to passionately pursue their own hopes and dreams the way my mother did for me.

And I wish I'd....
finish writing my own Language Arts (reading/writing) curriculum to implement a successful writing workshop program for children and young adults.

I also wish I'd....
become a published author who has sold at least a total of 100 copies of a published book (either self-published, independently published, or by a distributor)

And I wish I'd....
taken my children and husband to see the world through extensive traveling.

And I wish I'd.....
expanded my talents and abilities in and beyond the education field.

If I'd done or experienced these things, I'd consider my life a success.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Achieving My Dreams

dream (dreem)
n.

1. A series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations occurring involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep.

2. A daydream; a reverie.

3. A state of abstraction; a trance.

4. A wild fancy or hope.

5. A condition or achievement that is longed for; an aspiration: a dream of owning their own business.

6. One that is exceptionally gratifying, excellent, or beautiful: Our new car runs like a dream.

In this context, achieving my dreams is accomplishing my goals and resolutions, and I most certainly have a desire to do this. Writer Susan M. Heathfield suggested following the philosophy of Napoleon Hill, in his groundbreaking book, Think and Grow Rich, by saying, "The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat."

The next big question is - - How deep is my desire to accomplish my goals (See Five Wishes blog)? Am I willing to work hard while maintaining a full-time job as a teacher, being a wife, and mother? Will I be able to confidently break down barriers, take risks, make plans to follow the path, and commit to the discipline it takes to get there? Will I allow myself some wiggle room and give myself a well-deserved pat-on-the-back on my slow but steady progress on a regular basis? How long will I keep going? Will I give up hope?

While contemplating my "dreams," The 1994 Cranberries song "Dreams" came to mind. (Hahahaha, I know. I look at my life and add appropriate soundtrack songs to make it more melodramatic and interesting.) The first few lines are particularly striking for me:

"Oh my life, is changing everyday

In every possible way.

Oh my dreams, it's never quite as it seems…."

It's so true! Just when I think a perfectly matched opportunity falls into my lap, I am reminded by a stronger force of nature – God's plan, my destiny, my fate, or whatever you call that higher power that is beyond our control. Indeed, the path to success is never quite at it seems. Recently, I kept re-reading my Five Wishes. Did this opportunity (to make lots more money) that fell into my lap match my goals and desires? I honestly don't know. What I do know is that it takes more than opportunities falling into our laps to become satisfied with our success. I think my next step is to write a step-by-step plan of action that will allow me to measure my progress in achieving these goals - - sort of like an expanded lesson plan for myself with goals/objectives, procedure, list of materials needed, and assessment. Man, those five wishes are gonna take me forever to accomplish! Ugh………..

Livin' La Vida Latina - Food and Drink

2008-02-23T09:05:00.000-08:00

An old article I posted on TexasMonthly.com in the TexTalk section

Food and Drink Livin' La Vida Latina

posted on Friday, August 08, 2003 @ 14:17:46 CDT

By: Pia V. Pulido

"Livin' La Vida Latina"
Latin American culture is usually misunderstood because far too often, the terms "Hispanic," "Latino," and "Latin American" are used synonymously. Contrary to popular belief, Latin culture does not simply equate Mexican food. It is inclusive of countries that make up Latin America, where the Spanish language predominates. Latin America is a geographic location that describes countries south of the United States, including South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Recently, the growing number of the Latin American population in the United States has captured everyone's attention.

Originally from Venezuela, Carlos Branger, owner of Zaguan World Bakery and Cafe, is on a mission to seize the Latin explosion hype. A six-year Dallas resident, Branger discovered a good market for Latin culture, food, and music. Inspired by such hot Dallas spots that he and many fellow Latin American friends frequented such as Cafe Madrid and Gloria's, he saw the increasing trend of international culture booming locally.

He explains that Latin culture is a hot commodity because it is "very warm, very personal, very happy, and family-oriented, and it is most often expressed through our hospitality."

Zaguan became his vision. The term "zaguan" depicts the elaborate entry passage in the colonial homes popular in Venezuela, Spain, and Colombia. The zaguan is a "symbol of a literal ground marking hospitality."

Since it first opened in May 2002, Branger was determined to educate the community on Latin hospitality, while tempting the taste buds of food lovers all across town. Featuring far more than the Tex-Mex staple of fajitas and enchiladas, Zaguan offers an array of international breads, pastries, and cakes, as well as delicious hot meals and drinks. The signature Zaguan dish, "cachapas," are sweet corn turnovers grilled until the become soft and warm, then filled with cheese, ham, beef, chicken, and other items.

Latin restaurants like Zaguan, are no longer the only defining aspects of the culture. The latest Census Bureau reported that Latin Americans are one of the fastest-growing minority groups in the country, and their visibility in the U.S. has prompted business owners to cater to their buying power. Interestingly enough, however, the Latin Americans are not the only ones enjoying the trend, but it seems that people from all walks of life have embraced the culture as well.

So what is the politically correct and proper term to describe these Spanish-speaking groups that have made such a cultural impact these past few years? It does not really matter, actually. What matters is their pride in their cultural legacies that have made them become united, rather than divided.

My Name

2007-06-27T18:10:00.000-07:00

My name is.....Marie Paz del Rosario Villanueva or Pia Villanueva-Pulido. So which one is it? It depends. All of my legal documents say I am 'Marie Paz del Rosario-Villanueva,' but almost everyone knows me as 'Pia Pulido.' Why? That's the million-dollar question. I, too, get confused.

Ever since I moved to the States (at age 8), my names have caused so much confusion that whenever I am asked by a barista at Starbuck's for it, I hesitate for a few moments until I decide which of the million names I want to reveal.

I, like many other Filipinos, have at least four names: a first name, a middle name, and my mother's maiden name hyphenated by my father's last name. Hence, the names Marie Paz del Rosario Villanueva. Also like many other Filipinos, I was given a nickname completely unrelated to any of my birth names. Hence, the name Pia. For 26 years, I went by the name of Pia Villanueva. Then when I got married, I was given yet another name to add to my long list of names that already don't fit in my driver's license. By that time, I was so fed up with the confusion that I conveniently 'forgot' about my name crisis until I had the biggest trouble with a Starbuck's barista.

When the barista asked for my name so he could label my grande breve latte, I said, "Pia."

Frazzled and confused behind the counter, he said, "I'm sorry? Could you repeat that?"

"Sure. It's Pia."

He leaned over the counter and stepped away from the loud whirring of the espresso machine.

"What was it again - Pilar?"

"No. Peeeeeeee-yah," I pronounced each vowel as carefully as possible.

"Pita?"

"No. Pia. P-I-A."

No help.

"Pierre?"

Exasperated and embarrassed, I yelled, "PIAAAAAA!"

I quickly composed myself and looked behind me. To make matters worse, a line full of impatient and caffeine-deprived customers were waiting. Turning back to the barista, with his face flushed, I suddenly felt empathy for the flustered young man.

In a more soothing tone, I said softly, "Okay, just call me Marie."

Relieved, he took his Sharpie and started scribbling on the paper cup.

"One grande breve latte for...." His voice trailed off as I walked towards the other barista making the drinks. I didn't hear the name he called me, but at that point, I just wanted to get my drink and get out.

Sure enough, when it was my turn to pick up my drink, I discovered that the Starbuck's baristas have unknowingly given me another name, "Meredith." Whatever.