Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

Basic Supplies - A Visual Guide

Basic Supplies - A Visual Guide

Rotary Cutting Basics

Rotary Cutting Basics

2012

Another year has gone by and here we are at the beginning or 2012.  A time for resolutions and self promises for improvement for the new year ahead of us. 
I am hoping that this year I can get my life organized. 
I will do more to lose the weight that I'm suppose to lose and reach my goal in a reasonable time, setting realistic goals.
The rest will fall into place one day at a time!

Long time no see!!

Ok.. So I've really been neglecting my blog! I guess it's time to start posting here again...

Life and Living... heard this again today! How true!

There comes a time in life,
when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it.
You surround yourself with people who inspire you,
who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good.
So, love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don’t.
Life is too short to be anything but happy.
Falling down is part of LIFE,
getting back up is LIVING.

So long gone!

I can’t believe I haven’t been in here in so long. I’m going to try to start a P-A-D starting 01/01/2011, I know it will be hard to do, but I’ll do my best to keep up with it! I really need to get more use out of my digital cameras. Wish me luck!

What Lips My Lips Have Kissed, And Where, And Why

by Edna St. Vincent Millay

What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why,
I have forgotten, and what arms have lain
Under my head till morning; but the rain
Is full of ghosts tonight, that tap and sigh
Upon the glass and listen for reply,
And in my heart there stirs a quiet pain
For unremembered lads that not again
Will turn to me at midnight with a cry.
Thus in winter stands the lonely tree,
Nor knows what birds have vanished one by one,
Yet knows its boughs more silent than before:
I cannot say what loves have come and gone,
I only know that summer sang in me
A little while, that in me sings no more.

It's Official

I, Mary Jayne Villarreal-Bonoan, officially announce that I am seeking re-election to the office of Zapata County Clerk in March 2010. Since my election in 2006, the support I’ve received from Zapata County voters has been extremely gratifying. It has been both an honor and privilege to serve the public and the residents of Zapata County and consider myself very fortunate to have so many friends and supporters.
I am seeking re-election because I care about the reputation and forthcoming future of this office.
I started working for Zapata County in 1993 as secretary for the County Attorney’s office, and was subsequently promoted to office manager before being elected Zapata County Clerk in 2006.
Since my election, I believe that I’ve delivered on my campaign platform and together with my staff, I have implemented a property recording and document imaging system; a case management system for criminal, probate, guardianship and other civil cases; digitized, preserved and re-indexed most of our county maps. We are now converting paper and microfilm records dating from 1984 to present into digital images. I would like to continue to build on these achievements using modern technology, in order to provide the people of Zapata County a superior level of service.
The duties of the County Clerk’s Office consist of administering all county and state elections, including early voting, general and special elections; serve as clerk of the county court and the commissioners court and keep records of the proceedings; act as recorder of deeds and other instruments; record wills and last testaments for probate; issue marriage licenses; and account for all funds paid to the office by way of fines and fees.
I thank my family and friends, my staff, and the voters of Zapata County for their support of my 2010 re-election campaign. I give special thanks to my mother, retired County and District Clerk Consuelo Ramirez Villarreal, for her tremendous support and for being my Campaign Treasurer. I pledge to remain dedicated to the integrity and management of the office. I wish to continue the Zapata County Clerk’s office tradition of courteous, friendly, and efficient service for the citizens of Zapata County and the public. With this in mind, I humbly ask for your support of my re-election on March 2, 2010. Please “Vote Mary Jayne Villarreal-Bonoan” for Zapata County Clerk!
Thank you for your support!
Mary Jayne Villarreal-Bonoan
Zapata County Clerk

At the Amistad Christmas Kick-Off Dance last month!

The two of us!!!

I hadn't taken a pix with Mike since before the weightloss surgery... I think the one before this one was when he graduated from LCC!!!

My gang... on my bday!!!

One more pix of my gang on my bday... we went to eat at La Hacienda del Rey.

My Birthday 09/10

I hadn't had a chance to post these... they were taken on my 46th birthday and on the 7th month surgiversary of weightloss surgery.

6 Months and 84 pounds later!!!

This is my 6 month surgiversary update. I've lost 84 pounds since my VSG. Weightloss has slowed down now and I'm able to eat most things in tiny amounts. I try to eat several times a day to avoid making myself sick. I'm still on four blood pressure meds, but seem to be improving.

Weightloss Surgery 5 Month Update

July 10 was my 5 month surgeriversary. I've lost 72 pounds and have between 90 - 100 to go. It has not been an easy journy. My eyes are literally bigger than my stomach and I tend to over eat and make myself sick from time to time or way too often. Nonetheless, I could not have lost the weight without the surgery. I am no longer classified as diabetic and no longer take diabetes meds. My blood pressure is still on the high side and my chances of having a stroke are still high, but the improvement in my overall health is still notable.!!!

Standing in line!!!

Standing in line to go into the Alamo.

4th of July 2009

We spent this weekend in San Antonio with my brother. It was hotter than hell!!! I swore not to visit the Alamo again until Winter. I took this picture as we stood in line to enter the mission.

Picture taken with Canon Powershot SD970 IS.

Birdie!!!

I caught this birdie early this morning. Rowdy startled it and it flew up on the tree and landed on a branch that was too far for me to get a better shot. I had really wanted to get him while he was looking my way, but it was not possible today. I will try again later.

So many boats!!!

Quick shot as we arrived at the bay in Corpus Christi, TX.

Taken with Nikon D80.

USS Lexington

The Lexington is ballasted onto the bottom of Corpus Christi Bay, close to the Texas State Aquarium. The Lexington has been serving as a museum since 1992, after serving her country since her commissioning in 1943. One special treat waiting for me was one of the screws from USS Cabot, the last surviving light carrier, tragically scrapped in Brownsville, Texas in the spring of 2001.
In her varied career as an attack and then finally training carrier, the Lexington carried planes ranging from SBD dive bombers to the F-18 Hornet. Examples of many of these are found in her hangar and on deck. Unfortunately, the island was closed on my visit due to a fire the previous April, but the rest of the ship gave a glimpse into history dating back to her days as the Blue Ghost. Even with an angled flight deck and jets in sight, the Lexington carries you back to the days of Hellcats, Avengers, and the Greatest Generation.
Wander through the ship right down to the shafts, walk acres of flight deck, sit in a ready room waiting for the command to man planes. View 40mm guns and a hatchway leading to a Sidewinder magazine. See old wood still lying under the "modern" flight deck, and peer through the bullnose at the city skyline. The last Essex class carrier to retire, the Lexington spans six decades of U.S. carrier development and is an important part of America's naval history.

Taken with Nikon D80 by Mike Bonoan.
(from http://www.taskforce1.org/lexington.htm)