My favorite quotes

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

Quality means doing it right when no one is looking - Henry Ford

Even a mistake may turn out to be the one thing necessary to a worthwhile achievement. - Henry Ford

An ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness. - Elbert Hubbard

In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman. - Margaret Thatcher

Every morning I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work. - Robert Orben

Love is not blind - it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less. - Rabbi Julius Gordon

Rage is the only quality which has kept me, or anybody I have ever studied, writing columns for newspapers. - Jimmy Breslin

In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable. - Dwight D. Eisenhower

I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.- Albert Einstein

Wine makes a man more pleased with himself; I do not say that it makes him more pleasing to others. - Samuel Johnson

When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators. - P. J. O'Rourke

Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes. - Mahatma Gandhi

The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age. - Lucille Ball

A theory is something nobody believes, except the person who made it. An experiment is something everybody believes, except the person who made it. - Albert Einstein

Real heroes are men who fall and fail and are flawed, but win out in the end because they've stayed true to their ideals and beliefs and commitments. - Kevin Costner

If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right. - Henry Ford

I don't want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them their jobs. - Samuel Goldwyn

I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. - Thomas Jefferson

The secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it. - Pearl S. Buck

In the beginning there was nothing. God said, 'Let there be light!' And there was light. There was still nothing, but you could see it a whole lot better. - Ellen DeGeneres

Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. - Unknown

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. - Kenneth Blanchard

Me and Soccer

Like a year ago some girls at work started a soccer team, its name is Ateneas FC. They asked me to be part of it, but I wasn't really interested in playing soccer, my passion always has been basketball. Besides, in that time I had to go to classes so I didn't really have a chance to play.

This year, one of my new year's resolutions was to do some exercise to improve my health and lose some weight, so I gave soccer a chance.

It has been interesting, but also it has been a challenge since it's a completely new sport to me, I mean, I can kick a ball, but I can't really run with a ball with several girls beside me trying to take it away from me, it is really complicated. In addition to that, it seems to be a more dangerous sport than basketball, since the first day I played, I was hit with the ball, then somebody push me to the ground and the last time somebody hit my face with the ball, it was very bad for my nose.

The last two games we had to play with a team that seems to be more experienced (they must be because they kicked our buts) and also more violent, even though they win they started pushing, kicking and punching us, it was terrible! One of our teammates got injured in both games by the same girl!


The one in the picture is my friend Iriana, she's the captain of the team I guess, she organizes everything.

It has been a totally new experienced, since I'm not used to play with a whole team with rules and a referee and everything, I even had to buy soccer shoes, socks and shin guards.

It's been fun so far, I had had the chance to learn new things, meet new people and do some exercise which is something that really want! I just hope not to get injured ;)

Café Moro

As part of our Valentine's Day, my boyfriend and I went to a Mediterranean restaurant called Café Moro, in Barrio Amón, San José.

I must say that was a relief the food and the service were so good, because as most of you might know, on Valentine's Day restaurants tend to lose their good fame (the food is not the best and the service is terrible), due to the big amount of people they serve that day.

Café Moro was not the case, the food was excellent, the appetizers and the main dishes were really good, also the service was excellent. We asked for a plate of several cheeses and a Mediterranean medley as appetizers, a Chicken in porcini sauce and a Steak in pepper sauce as main dishes, everything was just delicious and we had Sangria to drink, of course.

Café Moro is a restaurant that worths going, it's a nice cozy place decorated in a Mediterranean style, it's comfortable and the service and food are excellent, the prices are a little high but they worth it.

I really recommend it!!

Cantera at Jazz Café

Last Wednesday, February 07th, the CEO of the company I work for, Mario Chaves, invited me and Carlos to listen to a Flamenco group at Jazz Café. I hadn't listened Flamenco since I got back from Spain, so I couldn't refuse the invitation.

From Flamenco Jazz...

Carlos and I were in charged of arriving to the restaurant earlier so we didn't lose the reservation, it wasn't very full when we got there and Jazz Café was as cozy as always and it had that particular quite environment that characterizes it. While we waited for the other guests, Carlos and I had something to drink, he asked for a Belgian beer and I had a Frozen Daiquirí, which was an excellent choice.

From Flamenco Jazz...

Around 9:30 my boss arrived, he also ordered a beer and then we ordered a pizza Jazz that was really good, excellent flavor.

When it was ten o'clock Cantera started the show, it was really a big surprise, they had excellent musicians, the guys in charge of the guitars were just exceptionals, the singer put some Spanish style to the music and the Flamenco dancer made the show even better with her hands movement and the music she made with her shoes.

From Flamenco Jazz...

The only bad thing was the group announced their break up, because their two guitarists were hired to play in some other countries, one of them is going to Spain. It's really sad because, even though was the first time I saw the show, I was really impressed with their performance.

From Flamenco Jazz...

When you have the chance, go see them ... while they are still together!!

Malpaís

Last Thursday, February 01st, I enjoyed a great concert of one of our finest Costa Rican musical groups, Malpaís. The concert was in Jazz Café Bar, San Pedro.

This is their third concert I go to, I might say it's the best, not only for the quality of it but because I could share it with some friends and coworkers.

I was so lucky I had the chance to listen, not only theirs well known songs, but the new ones, that are as good as the old ones.

These concerts really make you feel, not only because of the music and lyrics, but also for the sentiment the musicians put in their performance when they are playing their instruments. Also, the main singer, Fidel, he really enjoys when he's signing, it's just awesome.

The first time I listened to the group was in a concert at Jazz Café too, I've never listened to them until that day, but when I did, they really conquer my heart with that emotion and sentiment they have when they sing and play in each one of their concerts.

You seat their to listen to this group wishing that the concert never ends, you sing, you scream and there are even some who dance in spite of the small space and the crowd in the bar.

Yesterday, Carlos and I bought their last record, Malpaís En Vivo, I must say it's really good, listen to them playing live it's just great. I also, liked the little book that comes with the CD, it has great pictures and good texts. I enjoyed too, the voice of Daniela Rodríguez, I honestly think she should get a chance of singing more in the group, she has a great voice. Come on guys, think about it!

I really hope, they keep having the great success they have had so far, that they keep composing and giving us this wonderful music that makes us feel so proud of the Costa Rican music.

Pictures taken by Ana Garcia!