Electrons and Protons

By: Andrea fuguet

The only thing we have in common is the blood that runs through our veins. You can even say we look a little alike though I will tell you I don’t see it and roll my eyes.  All the resemblance I see is the pale skin that we both have. I say he’s paler and he says I am suddenly we get into fight number one million (that’s probably accurate). My mom steps to mediate and calm us down before we end up calling each other names that aren’t exactly lovely.

We don’t agree on anything. We are polar opposites. I’m a proton and he’s an electron. I’m the sky and he’s the ocean. I’m a woman and he’s a man. He’s a man of logic and I’m a woman of emotions. He’s my brother and I’m his sister.  At times I would have sworn he didn’t have any emotions.  Only thing that can get a reaction out of him are the things that defy logic and he has, needs to explain them. Daniel questions everything even the simplest of things. The day I saw a tear leave his eye I knew he wasn’t made of ice he just pretends to be.  Emotions are for weak people and he has to be strong no matter what.

He’s studying to be a doctor. Science has become second nature to him like writing has become for me. His idea of TV consists of documentaries about history and science and messed up movies no one can understand and his idea of fun is going to the internet to find out what the hell was going in the director’s mind when filming the movie. Well, that and a cold beer with his closest friends and his girlfriend.

Daniel is the smartest guy I know he can tell you all about the smallest virus, about history and stuff that you haven’t even heard of and don’t really care to hear. He will tell you anyways because he thinks that this information is cool and you just have to know. You roll your eyes and hopes he shuts up (You also want a dictionary since you didn’t catch anything he said).

I’m a writer, a dreamer, an intellectual while he’s this logical creature obsessed with perfection. He wants everything, everybody to be perfect, to be beautiful, and to be unreal. He’s a perfectionist and at times extremely critical. The bad part? His annoying perfectionism is what makes him so good at whatever he does. He doesn’t stop until it’s perfect and in the end it is.

He’s not expressive at all. He won’t tell you he cares, or that something hurts him or bothers him. He bottles it up. When he tells you something that has some emotion he means it and you can help but keep it with you.

“He really hurt me bro. He broke my heart in pieces and I didn’t deserve that.” I cried helplessly.

“That’s because he’s stupid. You’re a queen and you need to know that,” he said staring at me in the eyes. “You need to believe you’re a queen. You’re better than you think.”

This from someone who told me a week earlier that I was adopted because there’s no way in hell we were related.  

The only thing we have in common is the blood that runs through our veins and the love that runs through our hearts. And that’s okay.

Short "stories"

This are a short "stories" I wrote for class
"That changes everything...."
His fear is rising in his spine and is transforming into small drops of sweat that escape his forehead at an increasing speed. His hands make a trip to his mouth and his nails encounter his teeth. They meet a bitter end as he bites them as if they are his favorite food and the world is running out of ingredients. You can see the skin now. He refuses to look at his hands. Seeing the remains of his once shiny, man manicured (as he calls it) nails made him more nervous. What other things will have to die? What other things does he have to give up now that life has played him such a mean trick? 
Granted, they are just nails and other people, not him, would be extremely excited that this happened to them. Not Hunter. Not at nineteen, when his life is at its peak and just beginning. Other people would be at stores shopping and planning for the big day. Not Hunter. Hunter was at home trying to balance his checkbook while promising the world to Jamie. Jamie so beautiful and fair like the way Shakespeare describes Juliet, a fair maiden with soft grey eyes and brown hair. Okay, Shakespeare didn’t describe her like that but what does he know about Shakespeare? Hunter is lost in his thoughts now. His hand is shaking so he returns it to his mouth.
“It’s a girl,” the doctor says stepping out of the room. “The C section went as planned. Come in to see your daughter.”
Her soft blonde hair, like her dad’s, and her grey eyes like her mom’s drown his fears into a pool of joy. No fear, no regrets. He is a dad now. And that changes everything.


"The Married Couple..."
Life wasn’t easy for the McLaren’s. George McLaren was the president of a large company his father founded. He was a trust fund baby or so they called him. His major duties involved delegating his responsibilities to the poor individuals with job positions less important than his. 
When he wasn’t dealing with tedious work related issues, like exploiting his employees, he was playing golf or hunting. Enjoy life to the fullest, living like you’ll die tomorrow sort of thing. He sounded like a cheap fortune cookie. The McLaren team, like George called it, was composed of two girls and two boys plus his wife. Mona McLaren was the definition of housewife or at least she tried her hardest to be. To Mona, life was about appearances, how others saw you and the amount of luxuries you had. Some said luxury others said overindulgence. No one understood the necessity to have a house with 12 bedrooms, 23 bathrooms and 10 kitchens. George understood that  the bigger the better. Bigger meant more successful, it meant happiness to himself and his family. For Mona it meant more space for her to clean her pain away. She would hide her resentment, her hatred for life and the empty feeling on the pit of her stomach in every surface she dusted, vacuumed and polished. She was a true housewife. Her resume said so. “I don’t need a maid”, she said, “I can do this on my own.” Every day for ten years, Mona painted on her face a fake smile full of pearly whites for everyone who came to her “humble” abode. The kids were oblivious of their mother’s unhappiness and the bitterness she harbored in her soul. They only opened their mouths to ask for what technology had decided to throw upon us that month. George was too busy with his 21 year old mistress to notice. He didn’t even noticed how his wife found out the day of their anniversary and how she pretended to ignore it. But Mona was a trophy wife she had a part to play. Mona cracked one day. As the blade hit and pierced through her veins full of life, she understood what she was giving away, a life full of pleasures. But she knew, yes she knew, they were just hiding the pain.

Soltando mis Espinas

By Andrea Fuguet

No quiero herirte con lo que escribo pero tienes que saber

Todo lo que has hecho y que ya no puedes deshacer

Yo se que las espinas no se deben tragar

Que las palabras hay que decirlas o te pueden asfixiar

Pero como hago yo para sacar años de desilusión

Y todas esas cosas que dijiste que aun guardo en el corazón

Si supieras la verdad que eres la culpable de mi frialdad

Tu actitud fuera distinta y no de superioridad

Si supieras lo que yo siento cuando me vienes abrazar

Que mientras más me alejo tú te quieres acercar

Pero es un poco tarde para que vengas a curar

Algunas heridas que por ti para siempre van a durar

Hubo un tiempo que te necesite que en mi había un vacio

Pero todo lo que encontré fue de ti el más helado frio

Te busque por mucho tiempo y también te espere

Pero ya no puedo hacerlo, quede sin fuerzas, me canse

Lo peor de todo esto es que aun espero tu aprobación

Que alguna vez me digas algo desde tu corazón

Pero la verdad es que tengo miedo de escuchar lo que digas

Pues como las rosas tus palabras tienen espinas

Me han pinchado muchas veces y me han hecho sangrar

Aunque ya a estas alturas ya no hay más que cortar

Ahora ya sé porque siempre me trataste diferente

Quizás para ti nunca fui lo suficiente

Tal vez querías que yo fuera perfecta y no lo fui

Tal vez querías grandeza y no fue así

Ya soy una mujer madura con mucho por crecer

Con logros y con metas que tengo que vencer

No soy la más musical ni la más inteligente

Pero sé que soy alguien entre toda tu gente

Ahora entre tú y yo solo existe falsedad

Con hipocresías y mentiras para no decir la verdad

Te dejo mis palabras por si algo te hacen pensar

Solo quería que las escucharas ya no las pude callar

Lo siento ser tan franca y hablar tan fríamente

Pero todo esto lo tuve guardado y lo tendré para siempre

Guitar Strings - poem

 His fingers lightly strumming the guitar

melody echoes music plays

songs of peace songs of hate

while I think of the strings

of the strings of love

The strings of my heart which no longer make a sound

chordless and broken silent and still

the musician wonders why he can't repair

those strings of love

His fingers softly play tune by tune

I stare and pray it'll be over soon

they sound so much alike and I can't help but fight

the memories that come

The guitar is dull with broken strings

the sound is wrong if you are not the one that sings

makes no sense makes me mad

but there's no strings for my guitar

His fingers continue with a life on their own

while I'm wrapped in the song that feels  too long

He doesn't know doesn't even have a clue

that I'm faraway traveling and thinking of you.

The Black Rose poem

By Andrea Fuguet

The beauty of the black rose she never noticed

It blossomed for her

A petal fell to the ground

She ignored it

while the rose withered

Other flowers were always more beautiful,

the gardenias are my favorite she thought

The black rose stood silent

for her attention she always fought

The sunflowers needed more water 

the dandelions needed more sun

what the black rose wanted

was a little bit more love

Another petal fell

 the black flower

was giving up

she still didn’t see her

she still didn’t know

The black rose got tired

of the love she never got

her last petal fell

since she always forgot

She ran to the black rose

willing her to live

She chose to ignore her

she didn’t notice the beauty of the black rose

until it was too late and she was gone.

It's not him... it's you poem

By: Andrea Fuguet

People try to tell me that he’s been on my mind

That it’s about time that I left you behind

That my cheeks blush when I see this man

All I see is that they don’t know. They don’t understand

People tell me that he makes me smile

That this one will surely be worth my while

That there’s no way you are coming back

But things are not always white or black

Until I can’t take it anymore

And tell them oh you are so wrong

Things are still they way they were before

This lie has been going for far too long

There’s something they must know

And I’ll say it really slow

This is what is actually true

It’s not him but always you

My heart is a shade of gray

I still haven’t been able to find my way

At night he’s not the one I dream about

You were the one that left me in doubt

He’s not the one that keeps me up

The one whose picture I scream I’m done

 The one who left me all messed up

He’s still here and you are gone

So they’ll know, they’ll understand

That for me there’s just one man

 The one I thought loved me too

It’s not him, it always been you

Anoche Grite tu Nombre- poem

Por: Andrea F uguet

Anoche grité tu nombre

sin darme cuenta sin sospechar.

El me miraba con sorpresa

más por tristeza decidió callar.

“Dime algo por favor” le dije

“¿Aun lo amas?” me preguntó. 

Preferí la verdad a la mentira

el prefirió la ira y se marchó.

Anoche grité tu nombre

en un momento de locura, de confusión.

Me dijo “Ya es hora de que lo olvides

pero tú no decides si no tu corazón”

Un nudo se me formo en la garganta y le conteste.

“Por favor mi amor me tienes que escuchar.

Perdóname no poderte amar como te mereces

ya han sido muchas veces que lo intentado olvidar”

Anoche grité tu nombre  

el se fue sin decir nada y ni una lágrima cayó.

Yo se que se fue con el corazón herido

el no lo había admitido, fueron sus ojos los que lo delató.

Me quedo sola en mi habitación

pensando en ti y en mi dolor.

Recuerdos atacan mi mente

Hasta que de repente me di cuenta que me quede sin amor.

Solo porque anoche grité tu nombre…

Cerrado Hasta Nuevo Aviso- poem

Un poemita que escribi....

Cerrado Hasta Nuevo Aviso

Andrea Fuguet

Yo era de las que hablaban con las aves, de las que nadaban por los mares y soñaban con volar.  No me importaba imaginar y volver a mi niñez.  

Yo era de las que entregaban el corazón, de las que no necesitaban una razón para darlo todo entero. De las que corrían con el viento, regalando sentimientos y buscando sencillez.

Me basto tropezarme en el camino con una piedra llamada destino que cambio mi vida sin querer. Me basto tropezarme contigo para perder mi equilibrio y quererte conocer.

Crecí de un solo golpe,  ya mis mañanas eran noches y empecé a pretender. A pretender que no me importabas, que no me lastimabas, que todo era igual que ayer.

Me robaste mi dulzura, mi cariño y mi soltura.  Ya no era niña sino solo una mujer.  Te metiste en mis sueños, de mi corazón te hiciste el dueño sin darte cuenta y sin querer.

Me cambiaste los pensamientos por tristes resentimientos de los que no me puedo deshacer. Ahora no tengo nada, sino lagrimas en mi almohada desesperada por volver.

Ya no hablo con las aves pues ellas ya no me escuchan, ya no entrego el corazón  pues hace tiempo que no funciona. Ya no vuelo como antes por miedo de chocar, ya no sueño como antes por miedo a despertar.

Le pido a sol, a las estrellas y a la luna que si tienen conciencia alguna que yo no me vuelva a enamorar.  Y que mi corazón iluso, que ahora es un recluso, no se deje ilusionar.  Ahora está cerrado con llave para no dar paso a nadie y de nuevo comenzar.

Detras de tu Ventana - poem

                                                           By Andy Fuguet

Detrás de tu ventana de cristal impenetrable existe un corazón herido

que por más que este perdido tu lo quieres encontrar.

Tú caminas por las calles con unas cicatrices viejas

que por mucho que estén secas son imposibles de cerrar.

Tú que engañas al mundo con tu sonrisa imaginaria

tan dulce y solitaria. Ella es tu arma mortal.

Mientras te escondes como un cobarde

detrás de tu ventana de cristal.

Detrás esa ventana existe un hombre confundido

que aunque mucho lo he intentado olvidarlo no he podido.

Es la curiosidad de descifrar el misterio del cristal

¿Qué es lo que hace uno para poder entrar?

Tú que eres como un libro abierto esperas a tu princesa

a esa que con su belleza te vaya a deslumbrar.

Esa que con su inteligencia te cautive, te impacte y te ilumine

que te lleve a otro lugar.

Tú que peleas con tus pensamientos que te enrollas y te envuelves buscando una señal

"¿Será ella?" Te preguntas. "¿Será ella la que rompa mi ventana de cristal?"

Second Magazine article- Home design and decorations

Decorating with Throws

H O M E S T Y L E

 By Andrea Fuguet

28 Central Florida Lifestyle | November 2011

The main job of a throw, or small blanket, is to keep us warm. But they also serve another purpose: decoration. When it comes to decorating the living room, adding a throw could add that instant color to an otherwise neutral-hued sofa. “If you want to add warmth, texture or color to your living room, putting a throw blanket over your couch is the way to go,” says Gloria Van Dusen, interior designer and owner of Envi by Design, located in Orlando.

According to Van Dusen, throws add style and interest to any sofa, even ones with brighter colors. They can be found in a variety of fabrics and can be used in sofas or loveseats. Throw blankets can be cheap or expensive depending on the type of fabric and pattern. The snuggly blankets are available in materials such as wool, cotton, cashmere, silk or eco-friendly textiles like Van Dusen has been using in her projects since her company, Envi by Design, has gone green for the environment. Cathy Sands, principal designer of Blue Daze Designs (BDD) recommends throws made out of bamboo fibers or any delicate textures that will provide the warmth and softness one looks for in a blanket.

 “Texture is very important. It has to be something you want to snuggle with,” says Sands. When decorating with throws, Sands prefers to keep it casual for that old-fashioned look. When choosing colors, Sands suggests picking contrasting tones that enhance the sofa or loveseat. She also recommends that for colder months to use darker colors like gray or brown. “It depends on the color scheme you have in mind. Contrasting colors like a burnt red throw on a chocolate brown sofa can really make a room pop,” Sands says.

 To decorate with throws, simply place the throw over the top of the sofa or chair either on the left or right side and let it fall like a drape on the back of the couch. This way it adorns the sofa while it’s easily accessible for you to snuggle with during a movie night. According to Sands, on holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving seasonal throw blankets can also be used as a way to decorate for the season. So next time you’re looking for something to add a little extra style to your living room, remember throws give a nice decorative touch and they keep you warm, too.

First Article in a Magazine

Central Florida Lifestyle magazine- My first magazine internship

Thankful Family

By Andrea Fuguet

Published Nov 2011 in the Central Florida Lifestyle magazine

For centuries, families have come together to celebrate Thanksgiving and share with each other why they are thankful. They go to dinner, feast on turkey and dish what made this year, and the ones before, extra special. For Jackie Carroll and her husband Chris of Avalon Park this is no different except they have five reasons to be grateful for: their five children, ages 3 to 11. It’s been said that hope is the last thing that should be lost. Jackie and Chris are the perfect example of this, faith that never falters and perseverance. Fourteen years ago when Jackie and Chris exchanged their vows they knew that they couldn’t conceive, but they also knew they wanted to have children someday. Before they got married, Jackie was diagnosed with a rare lung disease that affects about 1,000 women in the world. She was told that getting pregnant would be risky. A few years after the wedding, they started to look into adoption for a way to make their family grow.

“We knew we couldn’t have children, we knew we had to go through adoption. Now we are very happy and very busy. It’s a scary thing to adopt, but in the end is very fulfilling,” Jackie says.

Table For Seven, Please

In 2000, Jackie and Chris brought home their first child, a 15-month-old baby boy followed by his older sister in 2002. A year later the Carrolls welcomed a 1-year-old boy and in 2004 and 2008 the family of five grew by two with the addition of their youngest children. They are now the proud parents of five healthy and beautiful kids. “I’m so lucky to have them and my husband,” Jackie says. Jackie’s husband Chris has been supporting his wife ever since they got married and through the process of adopting. Jackie says she is lucky to have Chris to count on and appreciates the support her family has given her from day one. “I’m very thankful for my parents. They are very supportive of us and our children,” says Jackie. “No matter how frustrating things get you can always count on family.” She enjoys motherhood along with her husband, who Jackie says, works hard for the well being of Jackie and his five children. Besides adoption being a difficult process for anyone to go through it is also very rewarding. “The best part of adopting is getting past not being able to have children and providing kids with a home. Yes, that’s the best part, having a family and raising children,” Jackie says.

Giving Back to the Community

While adoption provides families with great joy and fulfilling experiences it isn’t always easy. It can be a complicated process and at times overwhelming. Knowing this from experience, Jackie founded the Orlando Adoption Network (OAN), a discussion group for families who are planning to adopt or are adopting a child. The network’s main goal is to provide families with strength and support they might need during the process of bringing a child home and providing them with a home as well as answering any question they may have. “It’s a difficult process. It can be expensive and tough. The group helps them figure out and navigate through the journey of adoption,” says Jackie. The OAN first meeting was back in 2006 and later in 2008 they started meeting in Avalon Church. Since every family has a different experience to share, the discussion group is there to listen and provide information about adoption. “Our group helps people go through the process and not be overwhelmed. It also helps them figure out the best way to bring a child home,” says Jackie.

Jackie and the OAN also help families realize some of the preconceived notions about adoption that they may have. “For some, adoption is the second option or plan B,” says Jackie. “What they don’t know is that adoption isn’t plan B, it’s a different plan A.” She says that the adopted baby is just as great as any other baby. Adopting isn’t a last option but a new option. The OAN discusses many topics from when to tell your child to giving information about adopting children of different ethnicities. They meet once a month on a Sunday from 3-6 p.m. Visit OrlandoAdoptioNetwork.com for more information about the group or check out their Facebook page.

             

Moving On

Jackie couldn’t be happier and luckier. With 11 years of being a mom under her belt, she knows it is difficult and she’s constantly on the go while still having time to get together with other families and provide them with the support and the information they may need. This year she’s planning a trip to the mountains. “We like the private time and not having to worry about the chores,” she says. For Jackie life hasn’t always been easy, but she moves on with a one step forward and a smile. She enjoys the fact that she gets to share her story for couples out there that would like to adopt someday. This Thanksgiving and the ones to come she’s grateful for her family. She’s proud to say that thanksgiving is her favorite holiday and that she has plenty of reasons to be thankful.

 “I have been able to stay healthy and have a family. I am truly grateful,” Jackie says.

Orlando family has a home full of love. They didn’t have

First article published...

On the Central Florida Future --- UCF student newspaper

UCF hosts forum on women's roles in leadership

By Andrea Fuguet

Contributing Writer

Published: Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Members of the UCF community gathered in the Pegasus Ballroom at the Student Union to attend "Women and Leadership: A Global Perspectives Forum" on Tuesday night.

Speakers Sarah Culberson, Zhala Sabir and Jacqueline H. Wilson addressed women's roles in leadership and how women in various part of the globe are overcoming cross-cultural challenges.

"Women roles have skyrocketed here in Kurdistan," Zhala Sabir, director of Congressional and Academic Affairs for the Kurdistan government, said. "We can tell by the amount of women in the work force."

The Kurdistan government has been trying to incorporate women into politics; given them their own voice in political affairs as well as their own lives.

According to Sabir, women in Kurdistan now have a say in their husbands' polygamy and divorce traditions. Although some issues are still at hand, such as female mutilation, extreme poverty and illiteracy, women are getting more involved in social matters.

While there is still a lot of work to be accomplished, Sabir has some hope for the future of the women of Kurdistan.

"We can see improvements being made, but there is still so much to be done," she said.

Jacqueline H. Wilson, officer at the United States Institute of Peace, expanded on the economic and political challenges women have faced throughout the decades. According to Wilson, manywomen are afraid to take that step into politics and leadership status.

"We have to encourage women to take that plunge into political positions," Wilson said.

As the defense attaché for the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, Wilson learned the importance of economic development and how it impacts women's lives.

Sarah Culberson, an actress, author and co-founder of the Kposowa Foundation, ended the eventwith a video of her life and work in Sierra Leone. The main goals of the Kposowa Foundation are to educate and restore the country from the aftermath of the civil war, which lasted 11 years.

According to Culberson, one in eight mothers in Sierra Leone die during childbirth and most are uneducated young women who dropped out of school. By keeping young women of Sierra Leone in school and giving them the education they need they could have less of a chance of becoming pregnant and a better chance to earn degrees.

"Getting an education could actually save a young girl's life," Culberson said.

The event highlighted the significant role women play around the world and at their homes.

Harriet Elam-Thomas, director of the UCF Diplomacy Program said, "They [speakers] opened our minds, our hearts and our eyes to this important issue."

The forum was organized by the UCF's Global Perspectives Office in partnership with Lt. Gen. Jay Garner.

The event was sponsored by Lawrence J. Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, the UCF Diplomacy Program, the Sibille H. Pritchard Global Peace Fellowship program, the UCF Global Peace and Security Studies Program, UCF LIFE, the UCF Political Science Department, the UCF Women's Research Center, the UCF Women's Studies Program and the Global Connections Foundation.