Movie Monday: Big and Small Screen

Tomorrow is the Big Day, as my family and take off to my Dissertation Defense!

Meanwhile, we actually caught three films on DVD during THANKSgiving weekend:

• Aloha
• Ricki and the Flash
• The Age of Adeline

Initially, I only was interested in Aloha, mainly for the Air Force (not to mention Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone who I especially liked as Gwen Stacy from The Amazing Spider-Man, and Rachel McAdams from The Notebook that we watched on our first Movie Night with my parents as empty nesters a decade ago) ~ but I ended up sticking around with my folks for the rest to make the most out of our time together (and ended up getting hair inspiration from the other two movies ~ especially from Blake Lively as Adeline, a.k.a. Amanda and Jenny).

After I present my sports study, these are the *NEW* football flicks that I must catch that are relevant to my research:

• My All American ~ recently released last month’s Friday, the 13th

• Concussion ~ coming this CHRISTmas!

Workout & Working Woman’s Wednesday: V is for …

* Veterans * Victory * Virtue

Please join yours truly as I salute and pay tribute to

• my hardworking heroic father from the *United States Air Force* while approaching the retirement of his post-military career in aviation
• my Great-Uncle Terry from the *U.S. Navy* before he reaches nine decades of life
• my *Airman* cousin Jeryl who’s safely and soundly back Stateside from his deployment
• my Bro Ryan from the *United States Marine Corps* who now is expecting my first niece/nephew with my sis and attending MBA school
• my *Airman* brother-in-law Eric in his second tour in the ROK
• my many friends who’ve served the great *US of A*

This also is a special Veterans’ Day as I passed my full faculty defense according to GOD’s perfect plan!

While our military heroes engage in rigorous physical training, with PT tests that time:

• 1½-mi. runs
• ### push-ups
• ### sit-ups

I did my share of high impact activity to prepare my energy for this AM’s event …

Just like I’ve connected almonds with energy for my full marathon as an analogy for my multiple regression statistical analyses, I’ve tied in what worked for me on the days I passed my previous rounds:

• I hit the track after my Holy Hour at our ♥Adoration♥ †Chapel† right before my committee conference call
• I’ve done more HIITs and toning up to ease my test anxiety up until today’s full faculty meeting

Here’s my training session from yesterday to work both the lower and upper bod:

2 for Tuesday: Double Whammy beyond the Moons on my Hammy

Simultaneous Moves for 20 reps/set with body weight or light resistance (ankle or wrist wraps, dumb bells or bands)

• Squats (legs) & Shoulder Raises (delts and traps)
• T-Bird Dead Lifts (booty) & Rows (back)
• Extensions 2 Ways ~ Standing (quads) & Overhead (tris)
• Curls 2 Ways ~ Standing (hams) & Upward (bis)
• Trunk Twist (core) Curtsy Lunges (legs)
• Ab-duction (inner thighs & waistline)

CHEERS to ALL of our service men and women in uniform who’ve

• fought for our freedom, both in the States and overseas
• bled for our country, earning themselves the Purple Heart
• died for those freedoms, earning themselves the Flag

 as well as ALL of our military families who experience the sacrifice.

Thank you, GOD, the Saints and the Angels for watching over us!!!

Sports Sunday Fun Day: Maligayang Bati, Papa Jun!

♪Happy ☼Birthday☼♫ to my Dad today!

Go, *Dallas Cowboys* this NFL ☼Sunday!

Throwback: Papa Jun & I en route to our *Dallas Cowboys* game against the Philly Eagles during the ‘BOYS‘ first season at its new home field (then-Cowboys Stadium/now-AT&T Stadium)

Just like any fortunate child who has grown up with a father or paternal figure, I feel extremely †blessed† and grateful to still have mine as a constant part of my life.

Throwback: Papa Jun & I have a good view of *America’s Team* and *America’s Sweethearts from 6 rows behind the end zone!

Papa Jun is one of the most well-rounded people who I know and admire:

• He was a hardworking country boy in his side of the family’s province in the Philippines 
• He served over two decades in the *United States Air Force* both Stateside and overseas
• He continued his almost two-decade aviation career after retiring from the military
• He stays active as he plays tennis and roots on our football and basketball teams
• He taught me many fundamentals, from math to car maintenance to politics

Even as an adult, I still keep learning from my Dad, who always enlightens me everyday, through his example and his wisdom as a prayerful soon-to-be first-time grandfather with whom I attended Church today. Cheers, Pops!

Maligayang Bati, Papa Jun, at ♥Mahal♥ Kita!

✌ R.I.P., Flip Saunders of the NBA ✌

Sunday Fun Day: Mini Holiday Vacay

¡Biénvenidos de … El Paso!

I found this fortune while cleaning my classroom after our fall finals!

This past weekend, I took a rare break off to travel to the westernmost tip of Texas ~ visiting my Air Force brat bestie for her hubby’s and another fellow AF brat/veteran’s graduation from The University of Texas at El Paso with their degrees in Criminal Justice!

While there, I toured Fort Bliss, the largest Army post in the U.S.

Plus, I had more photo opps at the WWII Veterans Memorial!

Then I returned home just in time for the second ½ of my Dallas Cowboys game at their NFC East Rivals, the Philly Eagles!

C is for (clockwise from right) … CHRISTmas * Cats * Cowboys ~ CHEER for ALL of the Above!

¡Saludades a los Estudiantes! ¡Felicidades a los Graduates!

Beauty Tuesday: Concert Clothes & Costumes

†GOD Bless the U.S.A. Happy Belated Memorial Day♥

I hope that you all took the time to toast tribute to our service men and women who sacrificed their lives for the sake of our nation’s freedom! My favorite veteran, my dad, was the Airman with whom I commemorated our fallen military members, along with my mom, my sister and her Marine/my brother-in-law. Our late paternal great-grandfather actually was a soldier, and my great-uncle, who is my late maternal grandmother’s only surviving sibling, was a sailor man…

This past weekend, my mom’s birthday celebration continued with the Journey concert in Dallas on Memorial Day Eve. Joanne, my sis, actually bought our family tickets before the holidays last year! Since the show that opened with Tower of Power and also featured the Steve Miller Band was outdoors, I just wanted to be laid-back and down-to-earth. However, I now reminisce about other concerts that I attended and will present to you my get-up for a few of them…

Pat Green ~ Abilene, TX (2005)

Instead of getting dolled up like this Baby Doll beside me, I sported a Pat Green baseball tee!

“It came upon me Wave on Wave” ~ Pat Green

Blaine’s Picnic ~ San Angelo, TX (2006)

All I needed at our Texas Country Music Festival was my cowboy hat & a smile! {Stars & Stripes Bikini by my former employer, Old Navy}

Blaine’s Picnic features Texas Country‘s finest!

Evanescence ~ Hidalgo, TX (2007)

Evanescence visited el Valle on Halloween, so I dressed in USAF BDUs while Asia gave out candy! {Camo Sandals by Steve Madden}

Evanescence’s lead singer, Amy Lee, was the sexy bombshell Scarilyn Monroe {my camera wasn’t allowed on site back then, so this is from the site @ bottom right}

New Kids On The Block ~ Hidalgo, TX (2009)

I repped my fave childhood boy band, New Kids, on my block as I rock out this NKOTB Breast Cancer Awareness tank top! {Shorts by Abercrombie & Fitch}

The moment I’ve been waiting for for 2 decades: NKOTB takes the stage!

My fave part of the NKOTB concert? Jordan Knight singing “I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)” en español to put the personal touch to us fans en el Valle!

Hangin’ Tough! NKOTB hail from Boston, baby!

My fave NKOTB member, Joey Joe, sings, “Please Don’t Go, Girl“… I felt like J-Mac was macking on me!

George Strait ~ San Antonio, TX (2012)

I had to cowboy up to see the King of Country!

The Cowboy Rides Away tour also included Martina McBride & Miranda Lambert

My buddy got me this Georgie shirt: LOVE is Everything

Journey ~ Dallas, TX (2014)

I shot for casual & comfy to see Journey! {Dream Cotton high-low tank by Express}

My mom the Birthday Girl & my dad were hyped with Gexa Energy for Journey!

Thanks to my sis who got us the tix, complete with binoculars!

During our journey to see Journey, it started to rain! {Black hoodie by Forever 21, c/o my gal pal Amy}

Selfie Sunday: My sis went all out by prepping a picnic for us & providing ponchos during the storm!

Tower of Power: strong start to this concert!

Steve Miller Band about to perform!

Steve Miller Band never disappoints, after several decades on stage!

My fave part of Journey: when Neal Schon performs rendition of the *STAR SPANGLED BANNER* for Memorial Day!

Don’t Stop Believin’: Arnel Pineda = Success Story = Pinoy Pride

Jonathan Cain rocks the stage on keyboard!

Here’s a throwback Tuesday Top 5 for y’all: Summer Vacation Ideas that include music events!

♪☼Summer Breeze … Makes Me Feel Fine♫

Veterans’ Salute, Typhoon Blues + More Bits & Pieces for You…

Happy Veterans’ Day!

In the spirit of THANKSgiving, here are my most recent Days of Gratitude…

Day 7: I’m THANKful for good company, including Auntie Mary & Uncle Ken, who Auntie Tina & I visited today (Thursday, 11/7)

Day 8: I’m THANKful for the animals in my life, especially my Double A-Team ~ Asia & Annie (whose 4-year anniversary is on the 15th) + my sister Joanne’s Yorkie Coco + my Ate Roxy’s K9s Jade & Dax + the Gunns’ dogs Sweet Pea, Minx & Blackie

Day 9: I’m THANKful for good leadership – which I’m studying for my Ph.D. – including the inspiration behind my research, Coach K, who I wrote about in my Dispo College Hoops Scoops debut (below)

Day 10: I’m THANKful for  mi cuñada, Janet, who was my best friend when I lived in the Valley, and whose children are mis sobrinitos, with her son, Justin, being the closest to a son I’ve ever had

Day 11:  I’m THANKful for our military on this Veterans Day, which I elaborate as follows…

The military in my life who I honor on Veterans Day, Military Appreciation Day and everyday in between include:

* my great-uncle Terry, who retired from the United States Navy

My fave Sailor Man

* my dad, who retired from the United States Air Force over two decades ago

Dispo Airmen

Jeryl, USAF

* my cousin, Jeryl, who just graduated from USAF Basic Training school

Military Salute

Dad, Cuz & Bro

* my brother-in-law, Ryan, who served in the United States Marine Corps
* “lil’ bro” Eric, Ryan’s brother, who is serving in the USAF
* my best friend, Melody, from the United States Army who may train to become an Officer now that she has her Bachelor’s degree

I also wrote a tribute to salute another veteran who I admire, whose leadership inspired my own research for my dissertation about coaches and student-athletes: Duke Blue Devils head basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski, who served in the Army. Bearing this in mind, here are my latest Dispo Hoop Scoops

Dispo College Hoops Scoops
* Debut: Coach K, Basketball & Life Leader

Dispo NBA Hoop Scoops
* Mavs to Strike Lightning at Thunder
* Kevin Durant Has D Best Role Model
* Vince Carter Mans Up to Ejection
* DeJuan Blair Should Start as Center
* JJ Barea Reunion at Minnesota

Also, here are my Pretty Fit posts:
Pretty Fit Elaine D
* Thursday Tips
* Friday Thigh Day
* Saturday Stress Relief

Let us pray for those who were affected by Typhoon Haiyan that just hit my native country, the Philippines. I reached out to my relatives who live there to find out whether they’re safe and sound, so thank GOD for the ones who responded to me with the affirmative!

This throwback pic depicts my homesickness for the Philippines and my former home en el Valle, the Rio Grande Valley, that is. My former student/fellow Filipino snapped this shot as I also was camera-happy at our Filipiniana gala, where I covered the story for Fil-Am Press.

¡Feliz Cumplé a mi Cuñada en el Valle hoy!

11:11 ~ make a wish!!!