A Love Letter to Jane the Virgin

There are no words to describe my grief over the series finale of this show. Jane the Virgin starring Gina Rodriguez tells the story basically of a Grandmother, mother and daughter and how they navigate the world we live in, all under the guise of a Telenovela.

To say that I love these characters, this show and their stories is an understatement. This show covers so many incredibly important topics and makes them so accessible. From virginity, to religion, to love, to friendship, to sex, to ageism, to racism, cancer, everything. I kid you not, this show has covered so much and so well. It is so sad that these stories will end and we will miss out on all the magic they create.

Gina Rodriguez is spectacular as Jane. She is my best friend and we don’t even know each other. She tells my stories as a woman and I learn about her life and struggles as a woman of color. But honestly that isn’t even part of the story any more. These are just people who speak a different language but speaking the exact same language as all of us. Humanity. All they want is love, friendship, peace and a place in society. Isn’t that what we all want?

Yes, there are crazy things that happen in this show but that is also what I love most about it. The “mundane” mixed with the “crazy”, sounds like life to me. I love that there are no punches pulled, they all land squarely where they should but resolutions are always around the corner. The mysteries are twisted and complicated and I have yet to figure one out but maybe I just don’t try as hard with this show because I WANT it to surprise me and challenge me and make me yell out... and believe me I have yelled at this show many times and I love it.

I already know that just because it has Telenovela attached to it, people will choose not to watch but I implore you to just go with it. Enjoy the crazy, enjoy the amazing writing, enjoy a 7 minute uncut dialog performed by Gina Rodriguez this season... but AFTER you watch all the episodes in all the years before it. You will be blown away by her talent and that of the writers and all the other actors and everyone involved in the show. You will definitely have moments where you think they are in your head and stealing your thoughts and I relish those moments.

The love stories are the best they can be. Soulmates, true love, amnesia, familial love, all of the love. This show consistently breaks my heart but in the most delicious ways. I have cried more tears for Jane than for This is Us (and we all know how much we cry at that show). This has become my family and I will miss them so much when they are gone. The fatherly love Rogelio has for Jane is the most precious love I have seen. I pretty much just assume this is a real family and they are just filming their lives for us.

I so want the cast and crew to see this post and to see my love for them and to hear my gratitude I have for them sharing everything they have with me/us. From the beautiful sets, colors, clothes, backdrops, writing, filming and acting, there will never be another show like this. I wish I could put my thoughts together better but I don’t know how. I just absolutely love this show and I want everyone else to love it to. I want you all to see what I see and feel the glowing heart that I feel with every episode. I will miss having Spanish spoken in my house every week and seeing what my friends are up to in Miami and the Mirabella.

I wish they could just keep telling me stories and making my heart glow until the end of time. Sounds like a Telenovela...

Thank you for everything.

SDCC 2019

I am off on one of my favorite trips I take each year. San Diego Comic Con!

Lately we have been heading out early and staying with my childhood best friend for two days and then heading in to the con. It is a nice relaxing way to get ourselves acclimated for the crazy that is comic con.

This year is the 50th anniversary and our 9th SDCC. Every year we say that we won't be back the next year but then we stand in the hall and smile and realize we will be back the next year (con gods willing for tickets and hotel).

This year our friend Tony won't be having his Wednesday or Saturday parties. And while this will reduce the amount of people we will get to see during this con, I am ok with this change and the opening up of some time for us.

We both won one exclusive lottery so we have some new things to learn and we are hopeful we will be successful in obtaining our items. As for other items, we have a smaller list each year and that is good for both our house and our luggage :)

As for panels, I am hoping to support some friends who are on panels (some for the first time) and attending our annual Valiant fans panel and the animated movie premiere on Friday night (date night). There are a number of panels devoted to women in the business so I have quite a few of those listed.

It should be another amazing year and as long as I see my friends and get some hugs all will be good in the world for awhile.

Veil of Roses by Laura Fitzgerald

What a wonderful love story. Deep, sweet, intense, mysterious, and not at all what you think.

A beautiful Persian/Iranian woman comes to the US in order to find a husband and be able to stay in the US. She is a conflicted woman. She wants all the independence the US offers but she also needs to be an obedient Persian woman in order to find the right man who will marry her in a short amount of time. She has a sister and brother in law who are doing everything in their power to help her but can she find a husband before her visa runs out?

Spoilers

Until the very end of the book you don’t know if she will find a husband...and if he will be a good man.

There is Ike, Haroun, and Masoud. Ike is an American, Haroun is an Iranian businessman and Masoud who has a special secret and is too good to be true. This is a true romance novel that isn’t a romance novel. It is a full on love story but

it is really all about Tami learning to love herself, find herself and live the life she was always meant to live.

It is a gloriously beautiful story that every woman, regardless of nationality, should read. It can teach us so much about ourselves and how much we need to learn to love ourselves and put ourselves first. Her friends at her English Language class are just perfect sounding boards for Tami and for us. I want to be friends with these people. Her teacher not only teaches the characters in the book but the reader too about freedom and independence.

So back to the other love story, who will Tami choose? I so want to tell you but I would rather you read the book. I have trouble writing book reviews because I want to talk about it all but at the same time I don’t want to tell anyone anything without them reading it first. This book unfolds so beautifully and your emotions go all over and it is a just a beautiful ride. I have to leave it to you to read it and enjoy the ride on your own.

Blasts from the past

Tonight I see my favorite band in the world, Collective Soul. I love their music. I am so excited to see them. I’m pretty sure this is my fifth time seeing them, the most of any musician with Josh Turner right behind. 

Then the best part of the weekend!! I’m having lunch with a Jenny Jerkface and Snarkier Than You. These two women changed my life. Their Twilight blog was the best thing to happen to me and I will never be able to repay them. I am so happy I will get to sit and chat with them over lunch. Catch up and hopefully plan the Twitarded reunion for 2020 in Forks!! 

Tell me your plans for the weekend!! 

One more day!

Until this ... 

Those who know me, know just how excited I am for tomorrow. 

The Farmer’s Market is THE best thing I attend. 

From the awesome vendors to their incredible wares to the music and neighbors, I can’t think of anything better. 

As they say, one more sleep.