la misma luna.

we saw this a week or two ago. and yes, it definitely did tug at our hearts + made our eyes well up in tears for a moment. it wasn't the best film i'd ever seen and could have had much more substance and intensity. it lacked something for me. however the issue explored - highly relevant not to mention heartbreaking-

my big disappointment?

its just the ending seems more fantasy-based than realistic. i don't know that i believe it would have played out like it did. it would not have been that easy.

MARCH 19, 2008

The emotional side of a hot political issue

CURRENT CINEMA: Under the Same Moon

As this election year promises more long-winded debates and endless talking points, expect to hear a lot about the thorny subject of immigration. Sometimes it’s hard to look past the rhetoric to the real lives and families affected by new laws and policy. Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna; opening today in select theaters), a new and powerfully poignant film, gives a face to this complicated issue.

Directed by Patricia Riggen, Under the Same Moon is about a 9-year-old boy, Carlitos, left in Mexico while his single mother struggles in Los Angeles to earn enough money to have him join her. When his grandmother dies, Carlitos decides to find his mother on his own. The journey brings unexpected terrors — from airless car trunks to INS raids in dusty Texan towns. It’s no wonder, given its fine performances, good humor, and deeply emotional center, that this film received a thunderous standing ovation after its 2007 Sundance Film Festival premiere.

the trailer for Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna)

the website for Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna)

Ask.com for Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna)

to a friend

the VeryShortList.com archive

30 days can change the way you think.

proponent \pruh-POH-nuhnt\, noun:

One who argues in support of something; an advocate; a supporter.

We have watched a Morgan Spurlock 30 days show series recently which I've watched before, all of them are moving + you learn. Actually I've watched the entire series. There are 2 or 3 seasons and 2 or 3 discs to each season with 3 or more episodes per disc. All of them are worth watching, wonderfully valuable, and extremely smart, intelligent, conscientious + moving.

As M. Spurlock is extremely intelligent and interested in politics and govt as well as our rights in america and the constitution, his shows deal with throwing two families/people together with often EXTREME and/or disturbing opposite views together in order to teach each side something about the other side. Usually the one side's ideas featured are the most radical in thought and very rigid, very closeminded, and very little room to see another's point of view- very stubborn.

So, despite the fact that both people and/or families are rigid in some way or extremely closed minded to the other side- by the end of the show both learn to feel mutual respect for one another. They live together for 30 days and have to do some of what the host family does just to see what its like and learn about the other side [its like wife swap in a way but focused more on controversial issues and politics/beliefs]

30 Days by Morgan Spurlock is one of my fave shows which I had introduced to J a yr or more ago. Its my dad's fave show also. This is a show that will move anyone with a heart. both sides usually cry or are extremely inspired by each other by the end, no matter how much rigidity and tension exists at the start. Ive nearly cried everytime I have watched an episode of this meaningful show

Morgan Spurlock's shows have tackled topics like: pro-life, animal rights, gun owners who hunt/kill for sport/fun, the jail/prison system, what its like to hold a minimum wage job and survive as a couple w/o health ins. [basically what its like for people lower class], middle east taking away US jobs, religion vs atheism.

alexcia sweet alexcia, you remind me of me.

below back in july, a few pix of alexcia my niece and grammie [my mother] when we paid them a visit at my brother corky's in clearwater. he is not featured in the pix, my bro as he hates being in any! the last few are jimmy with alexcia that are quite adorable.

little alexcia has decided to give him and everyone massages whenever we come over now. she started doing this two visits ago and her new thing is to do give us foot massage and then back massage. she is so gentle, loving, cute, innocent and nurturing- warm.

of course my bro was getting mad at her for being so loving to jimmy as she is always kissing him and touching him. my bro kept repeating that she didn't belong touching anyone and that people would take advantage of her or hurt her down the road.

i understand his alarm and fears however he is the one who puts on inappropriate films and licks his lips and wags his tongue asking alexcia if he can have that girl wearing the thong or next to nothing clothing!! his taste in women are stripper, cheap porn looking hoochie type women. it makes me disgusted, to be quite honest and hate to have alexcia subjected to that at six yrs old but there's nothing u can do.

i am sure in america this is the norm of people -both men and women - in our current generation. all you have to do is take a look at whats out there in the latest reality tv shows and then you can see why people are how they are and why they glorify, put so much worth into women who are slutty, strippers, porn types. the simple truth is sex sells and sex is money.

i just think kids are overexposed to too much today and it really does unsettle and disturb me. and i'm not a prude really - i just have values and want to protect my own self worth.


in any case, i think alexcia gets a lot of mixed messages and hypocritical lessons from my brother her father. hopefully it doesnt warp her too much. i worry about when she starts dating and becomes interested in boys. i fear she will pick someone who will abuse her or control her or harm her, violate. i am hyperaware and hypersensitive because of my past history w/ sexual abuse and domestic violence and because i see clearly that my niece isn't being raised with very strong or protective foundations / nurturance and guidance from a positive male role model and i worry. if i were closer, to her, i'd feel a little less fearful but i am too far away to make much of an impact.



this is something i worry over constantly and every day.

anyway alexcia currently in pix below! she is 6 and turns 7 at the end of september 2008! I love the way her little tiny feet are crossed under her seat and those adorable little whtie sandals she is wearing- they are so so cute and she is growing up so fast!!! sometimes i see her, i mean often i see her, and she reminds me so much of myself as a child- we look a lot alike in my opinon-

indecisiveness has brought me to a decision.

Personally I'm not a high heel type of girl and am not known for wearing them really aside from those oxford style boots or anklet boot styles that were out several years ago. Sandals never fit right and any heel oriented shoe has to be open-toed when fancy because most of them hurt my arch, heel, and toes and cause blisters and severe discomfort.

I dont have much tolerance for it but if I had to find an affordable high heel open toe sandal style with a small heel- I could push myself to actually do it.

I did try one on at david's bridal that fit good and felt comfy - more so than most high heeled shoes ive worn or owned- but i think after an hour of standing in them, they would hurt, there isnt much padding or support for the arch of the foot in this style and they arent even that nice in terms of not even being designer or leather. It seemed to be made of vinyl or patent fake leather, something like that.

I worry it would be expensive since its thru davids bridal and i was told I would have to dye it. I just dont have the money right now and am broke. Anyway I have been trying to figure it out in my head and really appreciate all the positive notes for the sketchers shoes. Actually 2 out of 9 readers were the only ones who felt that the shoes were not really appropriate or right for a formal wedding. And my matron of honor jenni's husband Duncan was questioning my choice saying he thought I wanted a formal wedding and I am wearing a formal style gown, it is floor length with somewhat of a mini/ small train.

Well, I've thought it over and although those sketchers shoes are adorable and pretty and feminine, they may not be fancy enough or well-matched for a formal gown and wedding and I feel after much internal struggle and debating in my head- that I should go with a more formal style sandal with heel either a mule style shoe or sandal with kitten heel style or something coctail- socialite worthy in style, I suppose. And these are the reasons why:

1. it is one day and I can push myself to get thru approx 8 or so hours, give or take, with heels on.

2. the ceremony won't be long and during the reception, i can always take off the heels or change to comfy shoes for dancing. during picture worthy moments like first dance with the groom, and garter time- i can make sure the heels are on, for the photos.

3. my fiance is going all out with tuxedo and shiny patent leather black shoes. i realize if anything, i would want to wow him with fancy sexy heels of some form even if not stiletto high [lol] because it is a special day for us, a monumental step for him who has sacrificed a lot to make this sort of commitment, and his first marriage. i want this memory to last forever and to blow him away.

4. if the groom is formal down to the shoes than i should be as well.

5. we are having a formal wedding and i am an all or nothing type of person, you either do it big and all the way or you don't do it at all. i don't want a half-ass wedding or to look like i have all the most fancy and elegant of weddings with a formal couture style gown, and a swarsovski gold/diamond tiara and veil and beautiful jewelry paired with mediocre shoes that are not anywhere on the same level - i just think it would look a little too quirky for my taste although i think it would be cute. i just think overall i'd stress/worry and drive myself crazy with wondering if the informal shoe is good enough. i think in my heart i know any self doubt means its a bad idea. if i feel this uncertain than i should just return the shoes and start looking for formal. i have made an appt with anna my bridal dress consultant at david's bridal for july 19th at 1pm- for jenni and i to go bridesmaid shopping. at that appt, i can explore what they have to offer in terms of formal shoe-wear and at the worst case scenario look at dept stores and shoe stores in the mall. we have two fancy rich extravagant malls in tampa that i can troll in the next few months and anna, the salesgirl at the bridal shop told me i would not have to take my dress in until september and would not need to buy the final wedding gown shoes until i take the dress in so that buys me some time and greatly reduces my worry and anxiety which has been just draining!

In all honesty, Jimmy was the one who suggested those shoes and helped me pick up the style and color - he was with me and he thought it was okay to wear with a formal dress and said he actually thought they were pretty and he liked them. He doesnt see what the big deal is about me wearing heels but I think in general its not a big deal to him or the most important and he genuinely saw the sketchers shoes i bought as "pretty" enough to pass with a formal gown and it matched perfectly.

You cant see it in the picture, but there are subtle plaid design on top of shoes with thin pretty gold thread sewn in - and it compliments the dress nicely and gives it a touch that makes it look a little more glitzy and feminine.

I will figure something out and for now am deciding against the sketchers, although I surely do appreciate all of your thoughts and comments/feedback on my shoes in the previous entry. I even feel really bad and guilty for changing my mind. I guess its that old fear of disappointing those who really loved the idea and the shoe style and the fear of annoying everyone or coming off as indecisive and overwhelming. I feel guilty for asking for people's opinions when I went and changed my mind in the end and am afraid people will think I wasted their time. I guess sometimes I really am a people pleaser at heart although I have overcome most of that and learned to be assertive in most situations. But there are times where guilt and shame rule me for no reason at all. Normal people would not understand but those who have been abused always know where I am coming from and exactly what I mean.

fireworks + roller-coasters are not for me!

july 4th is one of my least fave holidays. i absolutely hate fireworks and remember as a child how they scared me, how they were too loud and how worried i might get burned or killed by the fireworks. i remember being scared of everything and loud things like this for as long as i can remember.

to this day, i dislike fireworks especially the loud 4th of july kind. thank god i saw none this year but last yr my fiance and i were at his best friends home and they [his best friend and the wife] took us to a firework show across the street at a park. i absolutely hated it and i could tell they thought it was weird that i didn't like it and my fiance didnt get it either. it seemed everytime one went off, i'd shrink ..backing up further and further away until i was several feet away from where everyone i was with was at. i couldn't wait to get out of there and when we did, i was never so relieved. i felt panic.

hearing fireworks is like hearing gun fire to me. it makes me jump. it scares me. it makes my heart race, panic ensues. i don't feel safe and i want to get out of there. i often wonder how so many young children can be so in awe and have so much fun at events like this. it is beyond me. but i guess doing adventurous fun things that most normal children and adults love is not for me. i know it is due to abuse i've been thru and a rough past. in many ways, i often feel and react skittish like a scared tiny kitten when intimidated or confronted by loud, abrupt unpredictable things.

i am definitely one of those people who hates rollercoasters and does not understand the thrill or enjoyment that people say they get out of that kind of contraption [my fiance included in this who loves rollercoasters and does not get or understand why i don't.]

one reason why i hate roller coasters or scary rides is that i was forced on scary rides by my father [tilt o whirl] and uncle [roller coaster that went high in the sky, back n forth and upside down] as a young child and tricked into it and then terrified and then angered that i had been tricked and to this day people pressuring me into anything that unsettles me or causes discomfort, causes me to blow up, get extremely pissed off, and pushes me further away from doing what they want. i don't like to feel controlled, pressured or pushed into anything.

as a child i felt i had absolutely no control over my situation/choices/ and environment and now as an adult i can be rigid and stubborn on some counts due to the fact that i never want to be in that vulnerable place where i am forced, talked into something i regret, or pushed beyond my comfort zone to do things that cause me distress.

i can be a bitch when pushed because i refuse to tolerate being controlled by anyone or talked into anything i disagree with or causes me discomfort. i know what i like and what i don't. i know what i need and what i don't and most of all i know what i want and what i don't want. i am not an indecisive person. things have to be on my terms otherwise i feel controlled and cornered like i was as a child.

i never forgot the two above experiences and when i tried to go on one roller coaster in junior high/middle school on a school field trip in catholic school- space mountain on disney- i nearly thought i would die. the horror and terror and anxiety/panic/fear i felt was overwhelming. ever since, ive never been able to handle any intense roller coaster or scary adrenaline inducing rides.

at this point in my life, i've had enough roller coaster rides of emotion to last a lifetime and don't need any other simulated ways of being on a "rollercoaster" i don't find it fun, thrilling, or exciting like others. i find it overwhelmingly distressing and feel its akin to torture for me. i simply cannot understand how anyone can enjoy such a feeling of tension and fear. i avoid feelings like those at all costs and would never pay for such torture LOL

felt like this every day he was gone.

listless \LIST-lis\, adjective:

Having no desire or inclination; indifferent; heedless; spiritless.