WELCOME to Familia Dominguez: Our newest addition to the family, Giana Evalyn!

Giana celebrated her actual birthday today: Day of Birth!

She is a gorgeous baby.

May G-d's love and light always shine upon you, little one!

Our family is extremely elated and overjoyed by your birth.

The legacy continues...

Baby Gamboa: 

Giana..."Ready for the World!"
Thursday, January 22, 2015

The proud parents: 

Rudy and Veronica

with Baby G.

(Thx for sharing the pic, Rudy 

a.k.a. "the proud daddy")

I posted this to show-off my brand new great-niece's family.

They are sitting down and includes my nephew, Rudy, and his family.

L2R: Rudy, his daughters Gracie and Gabby, and his wife Veronica.

And of course standing are my sisters and I with other family members.

L2R: My sis Betty, my sis Josie, my niece Michelle, me, My sis Aurora, 

my niece Felicia, and my sis Eva.

Standing alone in the back (behind Aurora) is my brother-in-law Jabier.

Dora's Corner: Heartache: A Culmination of Love: Past and Present!

...For I am not Gatsby, but I have known a love so magnificent that mere mortals can never comprehend. I have had a Daisy in my life, but in my realm of the world, she came without a Tom.  Daisy has entered my once-happy life and cruelly swung a pendulum of so-called love right before my eyes, but just like her doppelgänger from the haunting novel, this Daisy retreats ever so mercilessly with the pendulum.  Like a thief in the night, she has denied me reciprocal love.  This Daisy mocks me, but she does it without realizing what she does, but still, I wonder...is she fully aware of her actions, yet willingly continues on a destructive path to tear up my world.  Robbing my world of a sweet love that I am certain that she has never known because she remains child-like in her rebellion of real love.  No, there is no Tom in this story who can be held liable for Daisy's crude and unbearable actions, but still, there remains so much disregard by this Daisy for the kind of love that I offer.  This Daisy continually avoids me and ignores me.  Her true beauty I am sure she does not see, perhaps she silently carries a disdain for herself which makes her unable to share her feelings and her love with another.  Poor, foolish me, it is I who must pay dearly for this Daisy's uncertainty and ambiguity which keeps her from extending any love to another.  Yes, poor me, I must also suffer in silence; silent lucidity indeed.  I must retreat or I will go mad, and I will forever be stuck in a maddening world from which there is no return.  I must continue to love in unnatural reticence.  Still, I keep on loving this Daisy regardless of where she is or how she feels - or does not feel.  It is my penance to admire her in shame, and to forever love her while I remain alone and lonely, heart-broken and heartless, hapless and unable to be happy.

Dora's Corner: +Self-Indulgence: ...Have You Any Dreams You'd Like to Sell?

...Okay, so the song goes: "...have you any dreams you'd like to sell?"
I ponder this, to whom/which lover was Stevie Nicks referring to, as if we need ask...of course, it was Lindsey Buckingham himself for whom the beautiful lyrics and song ("Dreams") were written.
If she was asking her lover (ex-lover) to sell her his dreams so that she could better understand him, then I can definitely understand her.  I can understand all too well how she was feeling.  I, too, wish that a certain person would have sold me his/her dreams so that I could better understand him/her.  But, oh, that was long ago...actually, not that long ago...the person is my muse of late.  I would give anything for the sweet, beautiful person to sell me his/her dreams.  To know the person, well, it might actually not only help me to know and like the person better, but perhaps, the person could know me and like me as much as I do.  Reciprocate, reciprocate, reciprocate...
My own dreams, the ones that could come true, are delayed, and perhaps even dwindling, because each day that my emotions and feelings are not properly addressed, I am left haphazardly alone and sad and in wonderment of "what could be."  It is a sad state-of-affairs in which I currently dwell and reside.  I wish I could tear at the very fabric of myself to find the me who was ecstatically happy, somewhat fancy-free, and steadily secure...until that glance.  
The glance that saw me crash into an invisible wall; the glance that made my knees fold; the glance that left me unable to breathe; the glance that made my heart skip a beat unlike any arrhythmia that my chest has been put through; the glance that has made my words turn awfully corny.  The one special, phenomenal, beautiful glance that I began, and you answered, on that awesome and unforgettable Tuesday morning.  I glanced your way, bid you fare salutations, you replied, and further added that the morning "was cold."  I heard your sweet voice, and I looked back...then thunder struck...the glance...the glance...the glance.  I glanced your way, and my heart you took.  Oh, the pain of it all.  I remain in an ambiguous, beguiling, and love-struck world...never knowing, never knowing, never knowing.  Should I tell you, perhaps hidden is how my feelings should be left...no one gets hurt except my need to be with you.  What to do, what to do, what to do...

Self-Indulgence: Simply...Thinking of You!

Thinking of you, thoughts of you so provocatively innocent

If only you knew my heart and who I could be

Maybe it would envelope your heart with the love I have

I would gladly give it and ask nothing in return

Only wanting to listen to you, to see you, to tell you

Words are blocked by a lost soul that just wanders

Not knowing your world seems blasphemous

Being allowed to linger would be best, but doubtful

For the moment I remain enraptured by thoughts of you

Maybe one day my dreams might awaken a certain truth

The truth is what I have always feared, for you are so far away

Must it remain that way, such trepidation to never know

You are often so close, but my heart deems you linger too far away

The unknown is what truly terrifies the essence of me

That you see me and find emptiness as your heart seeks another

I remain your secret aficionado and protector of innocence

One day perhaps clouds will guide your way to forever see my heart
Time always the enemy...I remain silent and still...still thinking of you

Dora's Corner: Plagiarism Story Continued: Literary Pirates Invade the College!

So, the story does continue.
Last week, before the morning lecture began in English class, the prof told us that some students had plagiarized, and that she was extremely disappointed at the fact that it had occurred.  Frankly, dear prof, this person was just as disappointed (perhaps not severely as you were) at those handful of lazy and aloof students.  Not only did their fragrant act of plagiarism hurt them, but it hurt the prof, and their fellow classmates [us] who arduously work at learning how to properly cite other people's work.  The basics of citing is not so difficult to learn.  IMO, it is another English-writing art-form that can and should be learned.  For those of us moving on to other courses that require a lot of writing, learning how to properly credit others for their work is extremely important.  For those not moving on to courses that will require them to learn how to properly cite, they need only think of plagiarism this way...if you wrote a song, painted a picture, created a tatoo, or anything which involved hard work, and was solely your property because you -- and you alone -- created it, you would be extremely pissed off (*) if someone took it as their own and proclaimed that he or she had created it.  And, might I add that I used the word "pissed" in the preceding sentence because, chances are, that the people who do not think twice of stealing other people's property (and a written work of art IS tangible, thus, property) are probably the type of people who understand things when it involves the usage of an expletive.  Pardon my blunt-force usage of this thing called physiognomy or the judging a book by it's cover, but if you steal someone else's work, I strongly disagree that much, if any, respect is due you.
Anyhow, the English prof appeared as if she had lost her best friend upon the announcement of the plagiarists in our class.  There were many of them, which further added to the disgust and disappointment!  I do not believe that the act of plagiarism should be noted as a reflection of the prof because she is an excellent instructor who takes time to teach each student in her classroom how to correctly write essays and how to cite other people's work.  She offers each student an opportunity to meet with her in her office or in the writing hub/lab.  Furthermore, the writing hub has plenty of other highly-qualified tutors and (convenient) hours of operation through-out the week for anyone interested in getting extra help.
Personally speaking, my writing skills have improved through my own hard work and sweat with the addition of working with the prof whenever I could, and by taking advantage of the hub.  Frankly, it is beyond me why students do not take advantage of any lab because our hard-earned tuition has already paid for the usage of several labs.  If sporting events were paid for via one's tuition on a community college level, such as it is on a university level, then students would take advantage of the opportunity.  So, why not take advantage of the labs when you (or your parents) have already paid for them [rhetorical].
I would no soon steal someone else's literary piece than I would steal something in a store, and I would no soon put up with someone else stealing anything from me either.  I would especially not put up with anyone stealing my own literary art.  I would seriously hurt someone for that.
I plan on speaking to my prof about this.  I mainly want to convey my own appreciation for everything that she has done for each of her students [includes moi], and that the lazy and careless students are not representative of who we are holistically as a class nor of who she is as an individual and a great instructor.  She did not fail any of her students, but rather, a few jerks in class failed her.  

Self-Indulgence: I ♥ the College Playoffs! The Inaugural NCAA FBS Football System - Explosive!

Read the story on my sport's blog: Dora's World of Sports!

Dora's Corner: Plagiarism is Still Plagiarism Even If You Didn't Mean To...: Literary Thief!

“Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal.” 
― T.S. Eliot, The Sacred Wood
(The above quote was Eliot's stint at humor, parody, and satire)
...Sadly, there remain too many people who think that they can copy another person's literary piece sans giving the originator(s) proper credit via a simple in-text citation and works cited bibliography of sorts.  A story, a quote, a song, a poem, an essay, an idea, etc...it's all still flagrant plagiarism when you deny the appropriate and applicable credit be given to the original author of the work!  By a simple and oh-so arrogant misdeed of stealing their work followed by an incredulously stupid action of not citing the work, you are denying someone who did all the hard work from receiving the proper credit that he or she deserves.
A thief by any other name is still a thief, and he wreaks of literary theft!
More on plagiarism and why I chose it to be today's topic post when I return...

Self-Indulgence: Thanks For the #Fan-ta-bu-lous Evening!

       ...Twitter (yeracd2007): 

...Happy #Saturday! Incredible evening last night 
w/DPS co-workers #XmasParty2014...
Thx 2the fab D.J. 4the remixes:

It was truly an incredible evening: 

good food, great company of friends, and excellent music!

....................................................................................D.D.C.

Dora's Corner: The Art of Matriculation! Then Comes Winter Interim!

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.” 
― Bernard M. Baruch
...Well, the end of the fall semester is just days from being over.  "Finals Week," is almost upon us; however, there are a couple of classes that allowed students to take their final this week.  So, that's two down for me, but two to go.  And, let's just say that the angst, that is accompanied by the torture of preparing for exams, is hitting everyone hard; for me, it is especially hard.  Not because of the studying required, because I can "hang" with the best of 'em, but because of those damned feelings I have been experiencing - the freaking melancholy.  I am taking an honor's online course this winter interim, and I am excited for that; however, it does not really replace the actual interaction one has with other students and instructors.  But, as I like to say often: "it is what it is!"
Regarding the winter course, it is going to be difficult because it is going to go fast, but I knew what I was getting into when I was asked to sign up for it...and when I agreed to it.  If I do well, then good for me (and kudos to the awesome prof who is teaching the course), but if I fall flat on my face, then no one is to be blamed but me and my stupidity and overreaching ways.  #ROTFLMAO
I will be writing a research paper for the interim course.  I love to write so it will be fun, but it will be equally challenging as well because I have to start the research first by assuming the role of an instructor, per se.  I have to come up with a survey, questionnaire, or form of communication with one student from each of the four courses I was enrolled in this fall (including my fall flex course).  I was fortunate to have gotten the full cooperation of four students who I think highly of...not only because they are serious and studious, but because they are well-rounded individuals who appear to have their act together (my English prof would end up with an ear worm (sort of)  if she read that idiom I just wrote...it's all good - it's just a blog, which is why I am also using contractions...my bad, dear prof.).
I must admit that the last student I needed from the computer-related night class that we took together, well, she was the most difficult to get to agree to this.  Not because she did not want to at first, but because she is quiet, perhaps reserved, and because she did not accept my previous invitations to partake in group activities away from class (mostly study group activities).  I love talking to people, and maybe the fact that I am too chatty made her leery of past invites.  Again - I must say: "it is what it is!"  The only thing that matters is that she is on board now, and she has especially complimented the awesome group of students who will be making the winter interim research paper easier for me to get through...knock wood.
Life is good, people are good...when you have the opportunity to have both, take it, and enjoy the hell out of it! ~ D.D. Carey