In the Middle of the Street

SUMMER IS FINALLY HERE!!!!

2008-06-30T00:46:00.003-07:00

2 days ago summer finally arrived! ALELUYA!!! but guess what.... now it's too cold.
In the last 2 days the temperature changed about 18 degrees. It's hot, it's gorgeous and it feels like Acapulco. Because we had such a long stretch of cold weather the skin really feels the bite of the sun, I am already tanned.

Last week I went to Whislter for a few days and came back all bruised up, with a very swollen ankle and red like a lobster. Went river kayaking...so much fun! and the sun was OUT thought the breeze was cool, my legs and arms looked raw. At night it was cold. I also went mountain biking and had a major freak out, so I got off the bike and stepped onto the ground but it wasn't solid, it was a bed of dry leaves and I twisted my ankle good! It popped and it hurt. I ignored it of course, but the following night it got hugh and purple.

On Sunday we went to the Jazz Festival at the David Lam park, it was a perfect evening of dancing, listening to music, seeing crazy people and watching Carlo play, yell, scream, dance, cheer and clap. He is so much fun to go out with!

Summer in Vancouver, that's what we all live for in this city. I hope it lasts for more than a couple of weeks, though I hope it's a little cooler!!

PLAY TIME !!!!

2008-04-09T22:46:00.005-07:00

I spend as much time as I can with Carlo. That child is the funniest, cutest kid on earth. It's true that kids keep people young. We play a lot, doing silly things, he is not big enough yet to ride on my back, inevitable he holds on to my hair and I feel like a real horse. The thing is that...it hurts!!

He likes to have a blankie in his mouth, I guess is his "coco", and when he is teething we assume it sooths his gums. Anyway, lately he likes to share his "trapo", yuck! but that day Bea and I stole it from him, the little guy couldn't believe it.

ROBIN HOODA or ROBINA HOOD??

2008-04-09T22:18:00.004-07:00

Several weeks ago I went to an archery class. It was a lot of fun, it's hard. My arrows found places that nobody had reached before....HAHAHA, very talented, but as the evening progressed so did my aim. I was able to shoot about 6 arrows in pretty close to the bull's eye and one was just outside, so not bad for an archer wanna be.

There is an archery club in Richmond, I am hoping to take the elves there sometime. It's a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon, particularly when it's cold, raining and miserable, which has been the topic of this town for the last several weeks. I NEED THE SUN!!!

PILLULLIS FIRST B-DAY!!!!

2008-02-11T23:50:00.000-08:00

he really doesn't like any kind of hat on his head!

I put the table cloth that my mom embroidered for us and was at all our bday parties

Feb 1. Pillu turned 1 .... I can't believe how fast time goes. I can't believe how this little guy came and changed our lives forever...for the better! He's delightful, and handful at times but when he does those little baby giggles, extends the little arms to greet me or tries and tries again to stand, well, I'm mush, what can I say. They came back from Chile on the 31 and Carlos bday was on the first, so I was so happy to throw him his first bday bash.

I invited Bea's girlfriends and their kiddies in the early afternoon. We had snacks, and chocolate cup cakes. I had 8 little kids (all just turned 1) at my place, the rugrats crawling around, it was a bit surreal I have to admit. But it was really nice. I really like kids that age, they are so funny.

Carlito was born into a party so he had fun. He liked the candle and the duckies on the cup cakes. It is cute. He was cute. I love parties so I hope the enanos let me do this every year if I can.

After the "mom's" party, I had an adult party. First party I have at my place. It was cool to have our friends to come and celebrate Carlito. But the poor guy didn't last very long. He went to sleep, and well, he didn't go back home after the party, way to go baby!

GOSH!! THIS WAS SOOOOO SPOOKY

2008-01-25T16:39:00.000-08:00

This morning, around 4 I woke up with a bad stomach ache (had McDonalds for dinner, go figure!). I got up and was walking around and had a sal de uvas picot. I was walking around and sat down to read because I was wide awake. I was listening to some music, and thinking about my next class. Around 5:45 I went back to bed to make myself fall asleep. So I turned the lights off, the radio, closed my book, fixed my pony tale and there I was concentrating to fall asleep, I was thinking to do some meditation ....
as I was thinking "i want to sleep, i want to sleep" I felt 2 hands grabbing me by the ankles, I heard and felt breathing very close too face, a hand fixing my hair and the radio was turned on.

I FREAKED OUT. I thought that for sure I was going to be killed, that someone was in my bedroom. I didn't move or anything mainly because I was frozen! Then the radio turned off and I finished freaking out. I sweated like if I had been doing 30 hours of kickboxing.

At about 7 am I was able to move and got up. There was nothing there, nothing was moved, went to check the rest of the depa and everything was normal. I fell asleep again around 8 am.

That is one of the freakiest things that have ever happened to me. I wonder what it was.

CHRISTMAS 2007

2007-12-31T23:23:00.000-08:00

This end of year was a bit weird. Many of my friends left for 1, 2 or 3 months on holidays and on top of that the Enanos left as well. They had the nerve to take Pillu from me for 2 months. So I was panicked about the holidays. Lady Juani invited me to spend Xmas with them, so after looking forever for a ticket I found a good deal and went. I needed to go and be with my sisters, to wake up and say good mornign to someone and to have dinner every night at home.

I did NOTHING except watch TV, mall and sleep! now, sleep was the highlight as I've spent so many months sleeping maybe 2 or 3 hours a day, my brain was mush. Then, Cecilia and Eduardo decided to go as well, so we had an impromptu family Christmas. It was a lot of fun, a nice, quite fun. We spent almost every night playing cuban dominoes, we laughed a lot! We ate cookies, and pineapple. Cecilia and Eduardo were so super kind to me, they even took me shopping, WOW!! that was great, thanks cunado! and Piti! Poor Juani and Brad were working everyday, and not sleeping much, with the 3 domino addicts playing until 3-4 in the morning.

It was sunny but cold, in the picture above, it was the only "warm" day

Another cool thing was that we went to visit some friends from many years. We haven't seen them for eons. Our parents were friends. Fedra and her family moved to San Diego after enduring some pretty heavy duty things in Mexico City. It was really, really nice to see them again and to catch up with our lives.

I didn't even go dancing, didn't want to. Last time I was in San Diego I went salsaing and I didn't enjoy it that much, the crowd....well, mmh, lots to be desired.

Ana Laura watches a mexican soap called pasiones. The cast is full of HUNKS! so I watched it, at the beginning I was laughing my head off hearing the tough pirates talking with the typical Mexico City accent of the mouth full of straweberries..... gosh! hard to believe the roles, but after I got used to the sound I got hooked on the soap. They have TIVO so we could watch it whenever.

One day I went with Brad downtown to watch the big balloon parade. It was really cool to see all these humongous ballons and there were the typical american bands playing. That night there was a big game, Texas vs. Phoneix, and the bands were dueling at the end of the parade. It was very fun to watch that.

Oh! it was so cool to see the Star Troopers in the parade, I mean, they protect our galaxy, it's about time that they do their civic duty of parading around...it's real after all! hahaha

So Christmas was all it was meant to be, a time for family, of reflexion and relaxation. I'm so happy I went. Thanks to Jonibonis. Thanks Piti and Eduardo.

Before the enanos left for Chile I gave Carlito his first Christams Gift. I know he won't remember any of this, but I think all gets stored in the memory chip somehow, if not that 's what the pictures are for, don't you think?

For New Year of course I went dancing salsa. I was wearing a strapless dress and at some point my boob came out to say hello.....hahahaha! I guess strapless is not a good salsa dress. There were lots of non-dancers that just go and stand with their drinks at the dance floor, spill the drinks, make the floor sticky so we can't dance and it ruins the shoes....other than that it was a really fun party and it was nice to start the year again with my friends and dancing as I just love it. So new year, new day, new everything. I'm happy that this year it's over, again. I hope 2008is way better.

SEATTLE SALSA CONGRESS

2007-11-26T23:59:00.000-08:00

Yes, there is such thing as a SALSA CONGRESS!!!

There are salsa congresses all over the world, the next big one is in Acapulco. This year the Vancouver congress was cancelled, apparently the whole thing is a big mafia...surprise surprise, so they had it in Seattle, and my friend Irena and I went. Of course we had to go, we are addicts, you see??

It started on Thursday but we didn't go until Friday after work. We arrived to Seattle around 9:30, checked in, had showers and headed to watch the shows. During the four days there were performances from teams from NY, Puerto Rico, Mexico, several places in California, Vancouver and Washington. Some of the shows were simply outstanding and some were poor, but still I can appreciate the effort and the guts to stand there in front of an audience to dance. Some of the customs were soooooo pretty and sexy, and some well....let's say that there were some boobs coming out to say hellloooooo! HAHAHA, poor girls, but they should wear a bra or body tape.

We danced until 4 in the morning. I danced with several new guys, and well, struggled a bit but was able to follow most of the time, some of these guys were amazing leads and tons of fun. Saturday, at the perfomrances, I saw about 4 of them, performing!!! I'm so glad I danced with them before I knew that they were actual professionals, otherwise I would have been to self-conscious. I'm also glad that I didn't "correct" them....LOL, better to smile and look pretty.

It is so much fun to dance with the super advanced guys. That's the best way to improve, learn and loosen up. Unfortunately in Vancouver I don't dance w/those guys very often, they never ask...I guess I'm not good enough.... arggh, that is so sucky, but well, that's what it is. In a way I understand, it's more fun to dance w/people at your level or better, but at the end of the day nobody gets good unless you do it, right?? so I guess those stuck up advanced dancers that only dance w/advanced girls have forgotten that at some point they also sucked!!

Saturday we took workshops all day, about 6 hours of dancing, then we rested and danced again until 4 am. On Sunday, we went shopping and then danced until 2 am.

There were a lot of people from Vancouver, so I got to dance with some of my friends as well. Met a few people and mostly got inspired by some incredibly talented dancers. One couple in particular were simply amazing. I'll see if I can find some video clip of them and post it. Mexican guy, israely girl from California.

The workshops were tough, taught by dancers from NY, puerto rico, cuba, and california. Most of the classes were On2 (I have learnt salsa On1 - that is the count, on one the emphasis is on 1/3/5/7, on 2 on the even numbers, On2 is usually for Mambo). So learning routines on2 is confusing like hell, because all the steps are mirrored. So it was very challenging and also frustrating, but it's good to try new things.

We had some excellent styling classes. I want to focus more on that. I still suck, but I'm much better than a year ago for sure. I need dance shoes! nothing fits thought, my "tamal" feet are really problematic, though I am glad I have them, hihihi.

It was a very fun weekend, tiring, my feet are definite hamburgers, I'm in desperate need of a good foot massage.

I will start planning to look to the Italian Salsa Congress, rumor says that it is one of the best in the world....and well.....dancing salsa and bachata with the hot italian guys....mmhhh, I guess that alone will make it the best!

WORK EXPERIENCE ANYONE?

2007-11-21T23:54:00.000-08:00

I was reading my Raul's blog and I got an idea for this post. I've always done a million different things so here we go, starting from my earlier memory of making a buck.

a) I've sold things since I was 6 - my first merchandise were GRASSHOPPERS. Even then I knew the value of design in the business world: I took a shoe box and "designed" it so it would be "attractive" to the boys that were paying $1 per grasshopper so they could give them to the girls.....HAHAHA, I don't remember what story I told them about them. I've sold oranges, candies, tortas, purse hooks, you name it.

b) I've taught: math + physics tutoring, when I was hired during secondary school summers by one of my teachers; aerobics at the Echegaray Spa Lady during high school summers; and design since 1999 at the uni where I studied and now doing some corporate training workshops, not bad. I like teaching.

c) Office stuff: was a secretary during the first year of my first business, 2x making $22 p/h very good for 100 years ago. For a couple of years I worked as an interpreter and translator...the money was very good. During college I worked at the Library shelving books 3x week 7-9 am.

d) Other: have babysat, cleaned houses, painted houses

e) Design: the last 15 years design has been my primary job, from silly things to some really good corporate work.

So I guess all my life the same themes keep repeating. I start things, I create things and HECK~ I sell things......mmmhhh....... I can't believe I got away w/being an interpreter...I don't even have a ticket...HAHAHA

so i want to hear anybody telling me that I don't work......

HALLOWEEN 2007

2007-10-29T00:39:00.000-07:00

I love dressing up. On Friday I was Punk Girl, on Saturday BatGirl and on tuesday maybe Flamenco Girl or Pirate. On Wednesday I will be teaching and then coming back home to have a spooky night infront of the TV.

WEDDINGS AND INTERNET DATING

2007-10-29T00:32:00.000-07:00

While in Mexico I saw a few of my friends. I was telling them that I was on an dating internet site and they were all horrified, LOL.....first I become a salsa dancer and then I am on-line dating.... I'm sure they are wondering if I have lost my mind.

Well, the dating thing sucks. I've met some nice guys but most of them are boring, no gump, no joie-de-vivre...although everyone on the profiles say they are the last coca-cola in the desert....well, maybe they are but not for me. But to be honest, at least in Vancouver there are quality guys on the net. In fact, one of my best friends here, Renee, met her future husband on the net, that was a year ago after 2 years of being very diligent and dedicated dater. Ana Laura my sister met her husband on-line, I know of a few of such cases. So, eventhough I'm not looking for a husband, I think it's time for me to start dating, or at least thinking about it.

But in the meantime, I wish Renee and Wayne a short engaement and congratulations to you both!!!

CONGRATULATIONS LULI AND PABLO

2007-10-29T00:21:00.000-07:00

Luli is the youngest of my cousins from my mother's side. Pablo is the son of my mother's best friend since they were 10 or 11 years old. They met 6 years ago while I went with my cousin and my aunt to visit Margarita, (my mom's friend), Euge (Pablo's sister) and Maria Emilia ( Euge's daughter). Pablo saw Luli and maybe it was love at first sight, or at least interest at first sight. After that they went on a date and 6 years later they got married. We've known each other forever, so it's nice that now we are "related" somehow. I'm sure that my mom was dancing of joy.

The wedding was beautiful, maybe one of the nicest weddings I've gone to. I was a bridesmaid, it's only the 3rd time in my life I do that. I've missed a few weddings, sniff, sniff. The whole thing was in an old Hacienda. The religious ceremony was in a part of the Haciend that had very high stone celings, surrounded by gardens. The priest was very light and modern. When Luli offered her bouquet to the Virgin Mary, she sang the Ave Maria....what a suprise, I knew she was part of a choir, but had no idea that she could sing like that. I think everyone cried. That was beautiful. She looked beautiful.

The reception was in a big colonial hall in the same Hacienda. The dinner was very nice and the band a lot of fun. We danced all night. I was so cool to see all my cousins, aunts and uncles and all of Pablo's family. It's so cool to call Eugenia "cousin", and the Ordonez "relatives". It was a very happy occassion. Most of the family came to the wedding. The only thing about this events is that it's hard to have any kind of real conversation with anybody.

I spend a good lenght of time with Lourdes, my cousin from Monterrey. We are the same age and both on our own. Her son, Sergio, was totally fascinated with Carlo, and Carlo fascinated with him. It was sooo sweet to see these two boys enjoying each other.

Euge and Pablo have been my friends forever, and now they are my cousins too, isn't that great!??

I wish Luli and Pablo and long and happy marriage!!!

MEXICO, MEXICO, RARARA

2007-10-28T23:20:00.000-07:00

I haven't been to Mexico for 2 years. I went there last weekend on a flash trip. The airport is finished now, it's simple and uninviting. All those telcel billboards on the walls are ugly and a good example of visual pollution. There is one mural somewhere that is nice. The whole place smelled like sewage and gosh! that makes a very bad impression!!

I love flying over the city at night, it looks soooo big. I like to see the rows of traffic in the main avenues. One line of red line and one line of white lights, the cars stuck in traffic....it's nice! and the lines are endless. While we waited for the bus to take us to the hotel it started raining..... MEGA RAIN!! that was cool. I have kind of forgotten that. In Vancouver it rains 8 months a year, but never like those flash heaven-baths! We had a really nice dinner with Erwin at the hotel's restaurant. I asked for Mole at 11 pm...it was de-li-cious and BIG, of course I ate it all. The service was excellent and all the staff very, very polite and helpful so, for a quick stop in Mexico city near the airport keep in mind the Ramada Aeropuerto.

Next day took the bus to go to Cuernavaca. Very organized, clean, punctual and friendly service. We arrived to Cuernavaca and it was HOT!! I forgot it gets hot there. LOL. We checked in the hotel and went to find beauty salons to get ready for the wedding and then went downtown. I LOVE downtown. So festive, crowded, colourful, inviting, energized, buzzing, busy. All the typical street vendors: chicharrones, corn, balloons, magazines, soap bubbles, masks, candies, shoe shine. People walking up and down the Portales. Music everywhere, mothers with lots of kids, young girls strutting their stuff, old men with deep wrinkles and worn hats. Blue sky, hot weather, bright green trees, traffic, restaurants and everything you can think of for sale. This is the Mexico that is so fascinating and intoxicating. I learnt to enjoy that while growing up and now as a "tourist" I enjoy it even more. And that is the thing about Mexico, everything is Mega. Is as if the volume is to the maximum there. Here is tight. There is loose. Here is quiet. There is loud. Here is slow. There is fast. Here is green. There it is colourful. Not that one is better than the other. Is just that it is different.

The pace of the city is insane. The energy is almost palpable. And to me that is what makes it special and wonderful. But I have grown used to the more relaxed atmosphere of this town. I don't know that I could live in Mexico again. Maybe I could, is like everything, just to get used to the sense of greatness and the speed of life.

RITES OF PASSAGE

2007-10-14T23:06:00.000-07:00

Through life, we all celebrate different rites of passage to mark important stages in our lives. Baby showers, baptisms, first communions, confirmations, bar mitzvahs, birthdays, graduations, engagements, anniversaries, first dates, marriages, promotions, retirements, and deaths.

Different cultures and different religions have their own celebrations.

In my life, besides all the ones mentioned above we also had some embarassing ones, like every time any girl in my family got their period, our mothers would call all the aunts and then we would get "the phone call" of congratulations! you are now a "senorita"!!! ARGGGHHH! that was embarassing, I didn't like it when I got that silly phone call, but looking back is a celebration and a nice welcome into womanhood from all the other women in the family.

Weddings, I love weddings. I think they are very important for everyone. It is a big deal to intend to committ to love someone for the rest of your life. It involves everyone close to you. When in love it's just so great to say that to the whole world. Too bad that too many people think marriage is a wedding, but well, that is another post.

Death: the only thing that we KNOW is going to happen. When my mother died I hated the funeral, and everyone in it. Again, the feelings of that day are worth another post, but in hindsight the funeral marks a turn in life. A change in life for everyone involved. At least in Mexico everyone goes to the room, have coffee, act sad and depressed and then leave. Here, the wakes are a big party. People dress up, watiers serve food and drinks, caterers deliver good food, I've seen "wake planners"...I kid you not!!! My mom died on Dec 30, so for some reason many people showed up to our house on the 31 for new year's dinner. I hated them all, I sat under the table for a couple of days. But I've heard people saying that for them having people around after a dead in the family was the best for them. So, anyway, it's up to each person.
So, all the big events in life that are marked by a celebration of sorts is generally a big and happy occassion (except the funerals). Now, what happens when someone gets a divorce, finds out they are very sick, go bankrupt....? These are also times in life that change things forever for everyone involved....so, thought I don't see them as occassions to celebrate, I think they should at least be acknolwedged.

Just as I was writing this post I found out that one of my best friends just got engaged. Of course I'm thinking about an engagement party ...
In a few weeks I'll be officialy divorced....should I have a divorce party? I think not. But I'll find a way to mark that turning point in my life.

END OF A CYCLE

2007-09-29T01:35:00.000-07:00

A year ago, today, I moved out of the place that Dean and I called home. Today, I moved all my stuff out of the KUBE office. The kube as I envisioned it just didn't happen, and it sucks that Dean had to move from the space that we built together and costed an arm and a leg. The landlords are a fucking chinese mafia that arbitrarily raise the rent, break contracts and basically are screwing several of the tenants, apparently there is no protection for commercial tenants. I hope Dean continues to work on it [kube] because things were starting to gel. We'll see.

This cicle is closed.

It is very, very weird. I threw out so many things. Just keeping the most important stuff. Now all of it is at my place, not sure where I'm going to put it all. I 'm kind of wondering..... Now What???

I can't believe that at 40 I will be starting all over again. Ce la vie...right?

Noche the Bellezas

2007-09-13T00:52:00.001-07:00

Our group of "Mexican Beauties" is missing now a founding member. Marcela deserted us by going back to Mexico to continue what we predict will be a very succesful career in urban planning, she'll be a pioneer in the field in Mexico, will be refered as her urban planner excellency and we'll all know a rich and famous one!

So, on our last Mexican Beauties Night we took a few pictures posing and being goofy. We have the "picture that goes in the society section", the panthers and just us, natural mexican beauties.

Marcela! we'll miss you.

Unas fotos de Carlo que me encantan!!

2007-09-13T00:44:00.001-07:00

Seattle, WA. The night before his first plane trip to Mexico, I stayed with them at the hotel. I took him into the pool for the first time! he liked the water as you can see.

The Prince of Kitsilano PK at his first Vancouver Jazz Festival. Yours truly made him that totally cool feathered crown. Hihihi

HEAR NO EVIL, SAY TO EVIL, SEE NO EVIL???

2007-09-05T20:12:00.000-07:00

Here's the scenario:

I have 2 girlfriends. Neither is very close but I like them both and I do like one more than the other.
I get that they don't like each other or at least have nothing in common.

This the thing, I know that both are dating the same guy, both are kind of getting head over hills with him.
I don't know if either of them has an "exclusivity" agreement with the guy or not, but from what they say, and what I see it seems like it.

So, what would you do?

I've decided to do nothing. It's none of my business and putting my nose in will eventually get me in trouble. I think, so I'll keep mum, but it's hard to see these 2 women being taken by what I am starting to believe is a major jurk, though in all honesty, I've seen the guy a couple of times.

If it was me, I think I would like to know, but it would have to come from someone I trust.

SAN DIEGO

2007-08-29T01:33:00.000-07:00

Just what I needed. A beach vacation! it was short but sweet. 3 full days at the beach being a slug. Time with my sister and time with my friend Irena. We talked and ate. We had fun. And I'll post more about this later!

Having lunch at the zoo. Irena, Ana Laura and Me

Changamaranga

The Jonibonis took us to a super good mexican restaurant!!

Thank you jonibonies, we had a super great time!!!

GG

2007-08-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

Nothing like getting up and heading straight to the mountain. Veronica and I did the Grouse Grind, invigorating. I haven't done that for a long time so it was challenging. I did it in 1'35" which is not that great really, I use to do in in 1 15 or so. But oh well, It was a beautiful day and boy did I have energy to last me for 48 hrs after that. Then went to work, and then went dancing until after midnight, but when I hit the pillow....I was gone....gone, gone. Maybe that will be the only thing that makes me sleep???

IT'S DEAD - WHAT TO DO NOW???

2007-08-15T16:21:00.000-07:00

The worse has happened. My computer at home died. She had a quiet dead, in her sleep.

Of course it is at the worse time! I have a million things to work on and I'm computerless, sniff, sniff.

It is possible that my hard drive is gone too and that would be a tragedy as I have all my pictures there,
well that happens for not backing up.

Anyway, as I'll probably have to buy a new one:

should I go MAC or stay PC???
big dilemma, arggh.

I work on PC and teach on MAC. I personally don't see much difference at all, even for the kind of work I do,
but, if i'll have to buy all the software anyway, should I stay or should I go?

What are peoples experiences with this??

help!

DANCE CAMP 2007

2007-07-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

On the way to the camp!

Last weekend I went to dance camp!!! hahaha, can you believe it.

The camp was organized by the Nanaimo Ballroom Society, it was the 3rd year that they do it.

It was at an island off Nanaimo called New Castle Island. I've never heard of it before. It's a really beautiful place and it has a big big ballroom. During the 1930's it was used as a dance venue for Vancouverites. People would really dress up and get on the ferry where there were they danced to the sounds of a Big Band, they would get to the islan, the band would set up at the ballroom, and people would dance the night away, and then go back to Vancouver again, w/the big band and dancing in the ferry. So, the place has a dancing tradition.

We had the option to stay at a hotel in Nanaimo (well, really not an option as the only rooms left were over $350 p/night), so we camped at the island. Imagine! me camping! hahaha. Well, I must say that I'm very proud of myself because i was able to set up a tent! wow! At the end it turned out to be the best thing because the last ferry back to Nanaimo was at around 10:30pm and heck, I wanted to dance all night.

View of the camping area and the "dance barn" hahaha

So, my friend and I went. We danced all night Friday, all day Saturday and 1/2 day Sunday.

Most of the dancers were West Coast Swingers and many ballroom. We were only about 5 salsa people and we didn't know anyone, so it was good to go and meet new people and learn new dance styles like Tango, west and east coast swing, waltz, lindy hop, rumba, etc. The days started with a Yoga class and then workshops all day and dance at night. Good food was provided and we were incredibly lucky to have fantastic weather!!

We were about 150 people, most of them couples and the medium age was probably 42 or so. At least there were some singles, probably around 16 max so we had guys to dance with. And even the coupled ones danced with us. I learnt a few new steps and had a ton of fun. My feet don't even hurt! I discovered that a pair of casual shoes I have do the trick, I was on my feet for about 13 hrs a day and didn't get any kind of discomfort, so that's good.

This was a very fun and memorable weekend. Dancing is the best.
http://www.ballroomnanaimo.ca/NIDC/

One of the workshops, great dance floor!

CITY STRIKE

2007-07-23T16:51:00.000-07:00

As what is coming to become the usual.... Vancouver city workers are on strike! This time I really don't know the issues so I won't be commenting on the merits of the strike, whether the unions are being greedy or the city pig headed. Probably both.

What baffles me is that garbage pick up is not considered an essential service, but giving parking tickets is.

A few summers ago there was no garbage collection in the city for several weeks, in the middle of a hot summer it was disgusting!!! The city has fenced several locations so people can't go and throw their garbage there. I hope that the strike doesn't go forever, otherwise it is going to be a stinky summer, and as I face the back alley, I also see the dumpsters.

On Wednesday is the first night of the fire works, so it'll be interesting to see who is going to be cleaning up the beaches after something like 1/4 million people go there!

SAILING, THE BEST CANADA DAY!

2007-07-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

Loooooove the water, the sound and the smell of the ocean. For this Canada Day long weekend I was invited to go sailing with some new friends. I was a bit concerned with being sea sick as usual, but gravel is wonderful, though it makes you so drowsy, but better sleeping than throwing up??, hahaha.

The captain, an experienced sailor and racer organized it all. We all brought enough food to feed ourselves for many days, it would have been OK had we ended up lost in a far away island! So we left of Saturday morning for 3 days of fun and relaxation. The forecast was horrible.... rain, cloud, doom + gloom. As this is Vancouver and we had a long, wet and dark winter it was a bit disappointing but heck...that's the way things are around here so might as well enjoy it rain and all. To our surprise the weather turned out to be just PERFECT (at least for me). Not too hot and not cold at all, and it didn't rain! surprise, surprise, as usual the weather forecast was wrong....

We sailed for 4 hours to Tug Boat island, part of the the Flat Top islands. This tiny island was donated to the RVYC by a member (nice, eh?), so it's for the exclusive use of the club members. It's small, it takes about 1/2 hr to go around. It's really beautiful. There is no sand on shore, only sand stone with the best patterns and formations on them. The first time I saw anything like it was when I was in school, one of my photo teachers took us on a field trip to Galiano Island (close to TugBoat), I took lots of pictures, draw them in all sorts of mediums, made imprints from the rock, etc. I love those rocks.

Textures of rocks, barnicles, sandstone formations

On the way there Claus set up a hammock hanging off the boat. That was the best way to enjoy a hammock. Overlooking the ocean, hanging over the ocean and getting frozen all around the body at the same time - it was windy! - but freezing or not ... great! The sails came up for about 1 hour, the rest we went w/ the motor. For the middle stretch we had plenty of sun.

We had lunch on the way to the island. Yummy polsky sausage and poppy seed croissants, roasted pork loin, olives and gravol.

We arrived to Tug Boat island moored and went to explore the island. Took a look at the club house were we would go dancing salsa later on. Went for a hike, and then all of us prepared a feast for dinner. YUMMY!! Fresh baked salmon, rissoto, salad, appetizers, and for dessert fresh fruit w/chocolate and fruit tarts. It looked like tooooo much food but we managed to eat most of it! That night we ate at the terrace overlooking the dock and the island in front.

We had a spectacular west coast sunset. Once we were on our own at the club house, music came up and we danced salsa for maybe a couple of hours. It was a lot of fun! Then we went to sleep.

************

Aaaahh! I was so concerned about snoring (others and myself). Well, snoring should have been the least of my concerns. I should have been more worried about Edvard Munch....

My dreams are usually vivid, active and in dolby stereo, but for a long while I haven't had (or remembered) ANY dreams at all. And it just happened that Saturday night -perhaps I was too relaxed- I had a very, very, very bad nightmare, don't remember what it was. But I managed to scare the living hell out of my friends with an after midnight screaming show -according to them. I don't recall anything, so I guess I can have a good laugh at that. The people from the other boats probably thought there was something really kinky going on in our boat..... ;-) If they still talk to me after that one, I guess all is fine.....HAHAHAHA

************
The next day I woke up way to early. It was probably around 5. I thought it was 8, but the clock in my ipod was 3hrs ahead. So as the whole bay was asleep I went for a nice loong walk around the island. Saw some deer, and chipmunks, and a seal, and put my feet inside the frigid ocean water, and sat and just enjoyed the quietness and the smell of the fresh ocean first thing in the morning. Then I got spooked and kind of ran back to the showers, nobody was around so I was able to get ready in peace and relax some more.

A little later on I went back to the boat and I was reading my book, and then everyone else came out. We had a nice breakfast, boat-made Nutella and lemon/sugar crepes, VERY good....I've never tried lemon/sugar ones and I liked them a lot. After breakfast we went for a short boat ride to Rock...(something) passage. There we anchored the boat and just floated the rest of the afternoon....oh! the life. We were supposed to swim to shore, a few hundred meters, but it was way to cold!!! I managed to swim around the boat twice, HAHAHA, heck the water was cold! Can't wait to go to Acapulco!! The boat was slowly pivoting around and when the tide came in we were much closer to shore. Barbara swam to shore, but nobody else. I just got into total relaxation mode, maybe next time i'll go to see the oysters and mussels that live in the tiny island. After a whole day of being total ocean slugs we went back and had dinner at the pub of the adjacent island. I had fish and chips. It was yummy.

Claus and Jim moored the boat and went back to meet Barbara and I at the pub. They took a couple of dingys. It was so funny!!! One dingy had a motor so we were supposed to be towed back to our island but it didn't work! hahaha. So poor Jim ended up rowing us back. Then we danced for a little bit and went to be before midnight!! Gosh, everyone was very tired, doing nothing can be rather exhausting. No nightmares, i heard the snoring concert for a while....gosh! everyone snores, so then i went to sleep and just died.
Next morning everyone got up kind of late. We had a great brunch and then headed back to Vancouver.

We had a great weekend. I enjoyed it very much. The change of scenery was great and being out in the water, all the fresh air, the sights and the company was really good. Maybe some other time I'll have the chance to do this again.

CELEBRITY Look alike

2007-07-04T14:17:00.001-07:00

I got the link from Marcela's blog. (see column beside). It's fun. http://www.myheritage.com/

I got 74% match to Hilary Duff and 73% to some Japanese actress and about 61% to Keith Urban, HAHAHA

B-day - PART DEUX - THE PARTY

2007-07-04T12:15:00.000-07:00

First I wasn't going to do anything, but then I though....yes, do something, a marker for the new decade and chapter in my life. So I organized a party for myself at some lounge. I wanted to have a salsa party but it's impossible to find somewhere in Vancouver that let you dance... heck! what is wrong w/this people, so this lounge was the best option, and it was also good so my non-salsa friends would enjoy the time too. So I had it on June 9. I enjoyed it but i would have liked to dance! hahaha.

At the beginning of the party I was sitting w/some friends when I saw a guy that looked familiar.... I thought "gee, I'm tired"..... then I turn around again and well, the familiar guy WAS familiar, Alex, he came from Mexico just to my party!!! I was so happy, and that was the best ever super surprise I've had. WOW! I still think maybe it didn't happen but well, picture to prove it! I know I look chinese, hahaha, but couldn't stop smiling!

We've know each other since we are 9!!! Love this guy, this surprise will be hard to surpass!

At the famous party there were about 1/2 salseros and 1/2 non-salseros. People came and went and it was a good show. here are some pictures

These are my Polish girlfriends. They are a lot of fun!

salseros and not salseros

Salseros!!!

Renee and Wayne, Eric and Irving.

The Spanish (from Spain) girls! They are sooo much fun!

Salsa friends, Don and the Polskis Lechek and Silvac

Salsa and non-salsa. Vero from Argentina and Alonso (w/me, from Chile)

A little S&M never hurt anybody!

the Polskis are very animated. I got a very happy bday sond in polish

Oh! so sad, Alex was in Vancouver for 24 hours. After my party, we went to a Polish party where he danced "pajaritos a bailar" in Polish, hahahaha!!! I guess he'd never danced that nor met any crazy poles. We talked until the early morning and then went for breakfast and then I took him to the airport....
It was super-extra-special to have you here...Thank you!

The following Sunday, Vero (from Australia) took me for a delicious brunch at a beautiful french bistro that I haven't gone to yet, it was great !!

So, at the end of the day I had a great bday. It still sucks to turn 40 but well, I really can't complain much as I'm surrounded by great people and all of you made it very very special, and much easier to swallow such pain!!! HAHAHA.

MY BIRTHDAY

2007-07-04T12:02:00.000-07:00

Today is one month since I crossed the line. I've been soooo busy that haven't had time to post about my week long bday celebration.

To start, Bea, Richard + Carlo took me to Whistler on sat jun 2. We left in the morning and when we arrived we went straight to the bar for nachos and beer. Sat there enjoying the sun and the view and then around 1 pm Bea and I went to meet our group to go Zip Trekking.

They have put zip lines connecting different points of the mountain!! First they give you a little "training" at the base of the mountain and then everybody is taken to the starting point by bus. There are some beautiful canopies criss-crossing the trees that take you to the zip line. As there are many, many groups going all the time, they take the time to explain the ecology of the area, the sustainable measures they take to conserve the forest, the flora and fauna, so it's also educational.

Going down the longest, highest zip line, that was sooooo much fun!

Once you get to the "drop" zone the guide hooks all the gear to the zip line and off you go....aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!! it's is SO MUCH FUN!! highly recomended and open all year round. I want to go back during the winter, when everything is snowed! I think we did 6 lines, the longest one is i believe .5 km and it's high, I mean, it starts at tree top height and goes over the river! it was awesome. The last line we were taught how to go upside down, and of course that was fun.

After the zip line we went for drinks and dessert, and then shopping around the village and in the evening we went for dinner on our way back home. It was a FANTASTIC day and it was so nice to spend it with my baby sister who will be forty in 3 years.....hahaha, the forty year old baby!!!

DAY 2
My good friend Renee had invited me -about 1 month ago- to the spa. She said she wanted me to wake up on my bday all pretty. So, her and Wayne picked me up and we go off to the spa. Bea was bit ticked off that she wasn't included. Anyway, what to do!! So, we arrived to the SPA, filled out the forms etc and we went to the room...and SURPRISE! several of my girlfriends were there. We had a spa party!!! The room is big, with a big movie screen, a bar, several manicure and pedicure stations. We had champaign and appetizers, and we watched a couple of movies, yapped, and all the girls got pretty toes, some massages and some facials. So it was so much fun to have a spa party!!! Thanks Renee for organizing that, she did a great job! I had NO IDEA! she tricked me, but heck! i like being tricked like that.

watching a movie

With Eileen

Pretty toes

DAY 3
My bday. I got so many phone calls, it was awesome, even 2 from China, hihihi. Then I spent the day with Bea and we went for a great Mexican dinner.

with Carlo at dinner!

DAY 4

Marga designed and made my bday cake. Isn't it awesome?? Too bad you guys couldn't make it to the party! and it was delicious too, chocolate cake, YUM!

MI HERMANITA ME ESCRIBIO UN POEMA.

2007-06-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

te pongo el poema nacido de mi corazon en un momento raro de hilaridad tonta. BarbiJuani

KBayo, Kbayo
tu no tienes callos
cuando bailas lento
te ves suculento
KBayo, KBayo
que tienes terror
de cumplir 40....
estas en un error !!
Tu eres, hermanita,
muy inteligente,
ademas de amiga
de bastante gente.
Por eso, KBayo,
hay que celebrar
ponte tus zapatos
y vete a salsear !!!!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE???

2007-05-28T22:51:00.000-07:00

I love movies, I like to watch almost all movies, I say almost because there are a couple at least that I was so mad to have wasted my time watching, one was "From Dusk 'til Dawn" and the other one, similar don't remember the name. Other than that, I like even bad movies. With some of them I wonder what the heck were they thinking! others to me it seems like some friends with money get together to fool around with the medium they are familiar with and fool us into paying to see them playing; some are ridiculous; some are stupid; some are funny; some are deep; some are exhausting; some are enlightening; some are educational; etc, etc, etc. You can find anything almost anytime. It's funny how the same genre of movies come out all at once and usually the summer block busters are crap; but sometimes they are not. I can't wait to see the Pirates of the Caribbean part 3; watched Spider man 3 and despite terrible reviews I liked it and yesterday I went to watch a really good movie called Avenue Montagne (or something like that). Great french movie.

This year is the 30th anniversary of Star Wars (oh my gosh!) a movie that we all know change the way we look at movies and changed a few lives that I know of. The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Little Miss Sunshine are amongst some of my favourite movies along with Big Fish, the last 007, Bill and Ted excellent adventure (I laughed my head off w/that movie!!) and so many more. But my favourite movie of all times is an italian movie called Cinema Paradiso....

20 Degrees

2007-05-25T01:10:00.000-07:00

Today was 20 Degrees!!! And in classy, well-heeled spanish Bea and I were saying:
"'Sta Dura la Calor!!"

Jajajaja, seriously at 20C it feels HOT. Our faces are burned already eventhough we both use sunscreen. Everyone is wearing shorts and t-shirts and it feels like summer!!! YUPPPII... the mood of this city really changes with the seasons. But, in the shade it was "crispy". The breeze feels a little cold, but the sun is hot!

MAY 15 (1993)

2007-05-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

Dean and I when we had just started going out in 1987 - 20 years ago. Gosh! we've aged.

Today, 14 years ago, I got married. Today, I'm single, homeless and jobless. Nice going, eh?

Amazing how life throws these curveballs that leave the head spinning at 1000 miles per hour.

As the saying goes: "the road to hell is paved with good intentions"..... so, is the road to heaven paved with bad ones??....hahaha... I guess now it's time to start looking ahead and not have so many good intentions.

BEBEKE

2007-05-03T02:24:00.000-07:00

Carlo....will he be an art director??

Learning to hold his bottle....!

The most beautiful raton and mom too of course!

With Dean showing off how he likes to stand.

With his little friend Baby Andrew.

THE COWS

2007-05-03T00:04:00.000-07:00

Time to be going somewhere, not much traffic and there it is....a Cow in front and a Cow besides, and then I'm trapped unable to move anywhere. So many cows actually stay withing the granny speed limit in this city which is 50kph. 50 is ridiculous. And COWS abound. They always show up particularly when you need to get somewhere quickly. Sometimes I think they are angels preventing me from speeding and crashing. But the COWS cause road rage, gosh! I know so many swear words....hahaha.

In Mexico if someone was doing something stupid while driving the typical thing I remember people saying was: seguro que es vieja!!!..... aqui es.. seguro que es chino!!! en serio que los asiaticos en general no saben manejar. Son peligrosos y generalmente son las VACAS mas notorias.

on HO's and PIMPS

2007-04-16T23:23:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I wrote about how disgusting it was to see all the young Mexican girls behaving like little hookers at the clubs. On Friday I went out dancing with some friends. We went to a very nice club called Caprice. Nice facility, great dance floor and pretty good music. Mind you, I had to leave before my friends because it felt that my ears were going to burst and bleed any second.... (age??).

A lot of the music that was played was rap, hiphop and regattone. I don't particularly like regattone mainly because the lyrics are usually vulgar. But the rhythm is kind of contagious, the same w/some rap and with hip hop. The club had big screens where they were showing videos. I was dancing and having fun but at some point I started observing....
On the dance floor...girls, young and beautiful, dressed with really small clothes some looking stunning and tastefully dressed, some looking horrible but nevertheless very little clothes, hahaha. Some beautiful, some ugly, skinny and fat, Indian, Latin, white, Asian.... but most behaving like idiotic vulgar "ho's". I hate to say that because that is doing exactly what is bothering so much.

Often I turn the TV on much music and just listen to the music. I rarely sit down to watch the videos and I don't usually pay attention to the lyrics (that's why I invent my own songs!! hahaha). Anyway, on Friday I did both, payed attention to the videos and the lyrics. And I was shocked. I know it sounds ridiculous but that is somewhat how I felt. A great majority of the videos that were shown depicted women as whores, scantly dressed, behaving like sexual objects. The men in the videos all UGLY, fat and tacky. The lyrics were all about "fuck, bend your ass, shut up 'ho, bitch", and all possible combinations of those few words. Watch video - watch dance floor.... reality imitating "art" (of course I'm being cynical here!). And I thought...damn it!....I've become my mother, I'm officially old!!

But old or not I find it disgusting how women are degraded in these "music". And I find it even more outrageous the impact that it has on actual bone and flesh women. I think that degrading anyone is shameful and it shouldn't be tolerated. But the reality is that these things don't survive without a market. I was looking at the girls and guys and most of them new the lyrics and were happily singing them. The girls singing "bitch, fuck, ass, etc..." while grinding their hips against the guys crotches -and that just to start.... with any guy .... why do girls accept to be devalued like that??

I have nothing against sexy, young, free, sexy dancing, even little clothes (if you don't wear them when you're that age, forget it!). It's sad to see all these young women objectifying themselves like that. Now, not ALL reggaeton/hiphop/rap is degrading, not ALL videos are about pimps'n ho's, but on Friday at that club that is all they showed. Today on Oprah they had a show exactly about that. Their focus was more on African-American women, but I think the effect is far reaching. As I said, at this Vancouver club there were girls from all over the world behaving the same way. It's sad.

So, I want to think that this thoughts are because I'm "old" (in my times we didn't do this/that....), but I think it goes beyond age. When did respect become old-fashioned? Is it really?

HAPPY EASTER

2007-04-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

Was the first year in my life that i didn't get a visit from the bunny....sniff, sniff. But well. I got another bunny.

In the middle of the brunch Carlo sleeps like a baby....mmmhhh...he's a baby! hahaha

.... the newest celebration:

2007-03-31T01:29:00.000-07:00

FELIZ DIA DEL TACO!!!!

In Mexico, March 31 has been assigned
as Taco Day....it was about time don't you think?

Hay tacos de carnitas, de frijoles, de aguacate, de sal, de papa, de queso, de guisados. Nada como ir a una taquiza. O para muchos esos [horrorosos! ] tacos de canasta. Pero los taquitos de pollo, d0raditos, con harta crema y queso encima, y su lechguita y el acompanamiento de frijoles refritos y guacamole, lo unico mejor que eso son taquitos al pastor, with lots of pineapple and cilantro and salsa after a good party on the way home way after midnight.

I'll have to go and buy tortillas and make tacos of something. Ohhh!! I have CHILORIO....YUMMY!

ON AUNTIEHOOD

2007-03-23T00:54:00.000-07:00

Carlo is almost 2 months old and the little tyke has already touched so many lives and changed ours too. For the parents it's all the immense changes of everything in their lives. For me, the auntie, is the absolute best experience in the world.

I am glad to report that I have changed some diapers....imagine....ME changing diapers, who would have thought? ahhhh The other day I was folding Carlo's clothes and he has this blue set that was a gift from aunt Bertha, it's the tiniest thing I saw it and I almost cried, he doesn't fit in it anymore, now, one of his teddy bears is wearing it! I love babies and with the little nephew I've discovered a very soft part of myself. Uuuuh, he already has me wrapped around his little finger. He's so cute, and he's a really really good baby, and he smiles and I melt like butter on a hot frying pan. Bea makes fun of me that I'm so "barco".

I don't even mind if I'm called "aunt or tia". I wonder how he'll call me? well, no rush really, babies should stay that small for much longer [i can see all parents rolling their eyes.....] but hey, they are just adorable. YYYYIIISSS and just want to squeeze him.

BUT IT'S ONLY 1 VAN.....

2007-03-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

I don't go to Starbucks because I don't like companies that exaggerate their "social" awareness, I try to buy local, drive the least possible, recycle, etc. I know it's just a grain of sand in the big picture but I'm trying to do what i can. I think that goes the other way too. My good friend the other day showed me a van she wants. It's a massive monster thing, it's only her. I asked her....Why do you need such a big thing, it only pollutes, uses resources, etc?....she said, hey Carolina, it's only ONE van.....needless to say we got into a heated conversation about the power of one - for better or for worse.

I think ONE is a lot of power, because lots of ONES are millions and millions. I think for many things it's time that people stop thinking ONE, it's never one, everything is connected.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

2007-03-08T15:01:00.000-08:00

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.... for more info check:
http://www.internationalwomensday.com

I think it's great to have this day, to recognize women of all works of lives doing all sorts of things all over the world. Nothing more inspiring than being surrounded by amazing women and to see others succeed in their careers, personal lives and just having them in my life. So to all of you, the ones i know and the ones i don't ... i'll have a double martini to cheer all the women in the world.

i've not included so many of you,but can't find pictures, i'll update it when i get all my pics loaded! or send me one!

JAYWALKING IS A CRIME

2007-03-05T23:21:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm guilty of jaywalking, I guess that makes me a criminal. In Vancouver it's illegal and you can be fined $25 for it. I found the following somewhere, i guess a paper (?)

"I have heard some people say we should be out doing more meaningful work like catching bank robbers," he says [instead of fining jay walkers}. "I have a response for that. The last time someone was killed in Vancouver by a bank robber was 1968."

Davies says 183 people have been killed while jaywalking in Vancouver in the past ten years. Another 3000 have been injured.

Despite the statistics, jaywalkers remain unconvinced and unrepentant. "I think I'm quick enough too," says one, "but it is dangerous if you don't really know how fast the cars are going."
And this from another violator, "You get to wherever you go a lot quicker, and usually I think I'm pretty good at it."

Jaywalking when trying to catch the bus is kind of common, if you walk all the way to the corner you'll probably miss the bus. Many bus stops are kind of in the middle of the street. If you jay walk you will save some time, make it to the washroom on time, catch that last movie ticket, save those precious 56 seconds! Whatever!!! Although i try not to do it when I jaywalk, I RUN, I'm fast!

I can't believe those jaywalkers that cross like if they were taking a stroll around the park in the 1890's, for god sakes..... move it people, and please don't jay walk on dark, rainy nights wearing black!!! so easy to hit someone, in the last few weeks I almost kill a couple of people that were doing just what I mentioned, had I been driving any faster and I would be in jail now. And heck, when it's dark and raining I drive like an old gramma, so maybe I wouldn't have killed anyone, but at least injure them good. So, don't jaywalk, jayrun wearing something highly visible, if you can't run and keep the vampire look, walk to the corner and wait for the crossing ligh!

I KNOW, I KNOW

2007-02-15T23:57:00.000-08:00

For all of those of you with children or 25 nieces and nephews perhaps this baby thing is not that interesting, but for me, being a new aunt is a major life event.

I have not been around kids at all. The last babies I am related to are 27 and 28 years old. My friend's girl, Lorena is the one I've seen develop the closest, and now Andrew, Daniela's boy. But it is amazing that this kid came out of my sister. Oh! yes, I like being the aunt and I am already enjoying this bundle of joy so much. It is so neat to love someone just because they are, just because they breath. Imagine! I'm even willing to maybe sometime change a diaper, although I think I do need to go and buy some gloves, not good with those things... but heck! I'm the lucky one that will have the chance to be close to Carlo, see him every day, so maybe changing the diaper (yuk!!) is a privilege :-)

So another time I'll finish all the story of the birth and will post some pictures of the baptism. I've asked for permission to start a Carlo blog, so we can post his pictures and all that, I mean, he's a 21 century baby, born in the age of communication and blogs, so, looks like he's going to have his own.

Anyway, YES, I've lost my mind and my heart to this baby boy and guess what....makes me so happy! hihihi

A PICTURE TELLS A THOUSAND WORDS

2007-02-15T23:34:00.000-08:00

The new family. New baby! maybe only 2 minutes old! Good Job Enanos!! and Bea, WOW!!

Bebeque siendo revisado por la doctora

Un Bebe Perfecto!!!

A proud Mama!!!

A proud Papa!!

The new Grandpa!

ME! with my precious!!

Que bonita familia!!!

MY BIG FAT MEXICAN-CHILEAN-CANADIAN BIRTH - part I

2007-02-09T12:57:00.000-08:00

The arrival of Carlo to this world was nothing short of comical and dramatic, I think great material for Lino’s comedy show.

Bea started w/contractions while cruising around Granville Island w/ Richard, my dad, Jacqueline and Ana Laura. Nothing happened. Then they went home and I arrived to visit and was talking with my friend Bridgitte about going dancing. I decided not to go so I could spend time with my family. Around 9, B started to get this horrible contractions and she looked in pain, so the whole Burron Family started getting the camera, the video, the pillows, lalalala, all walking around the apartment like little chickens about to be beheaded.

We arrived to Women’s Hospital in Vancouver which is supposed to be the best in women’s care in western Canada. B&R went to register but “there were no beds”, so poor B was just walking up and down the corridor. CNN (aka as Ana Laura) got on the phone to announce we were at the hospital. My dad and Jacqueline sat quietly as we all saw B pacing up and down the corridor. At about 10:30!!!! They put her in an observation room, put all sorts of plugs to monitor her pressure and the baby’s heart bit and the contractions started to hit strong! B had requeste the epidural. They said “they can’t do it in this room”.

We asked for the doctor (the one in turn) and the damn *&^%#&^ doctor didn’t show up until midnight, eating chocolates and laughing. The nurses were having a convention and the cows forgot to bring B any pain killers. As the contractions got worse, the level of stress of the family went up – As B was doing an incredible job of focusing while the contractions hit, by pushing against the wall, squatting and breathing, Richard and I were fighting with the head nurse, the nurses got all upset because we called another hospital and the other hospital called them to ask what was going on; the doctor kept eating chocolates and telling B what a nice pedicure she had; my dad was yelling “Carolina, do you have a good lawyer??” Jacqueline kept going through all the things that can go wrong, mind you she gave B great tips for breathing, AL reporting from Vancouver would come into the room walking like the Pink Panther, pushing the curtain for a bit and inserting her tired little head between the wall and the curtain, “peeling” her eyes and walking back to the waiting room (like the Pink Panther) to calm my dad down. Carolina and Richard kept barking at the nurses and the doctor. When Richard decided to move B to another hospital a bed “miraculously” appeared. By this time it was almost 3 am, B had been having horrible contractions and all of us were suffering with her.
To be continued….

Bea a punto de parir. Despues de casi 2 horas de pujar y de mas de 10 de estar en el hospital

BABY IS HERE !!!

2007-02-02T16:14:00.000-08:00

In this picture, Carlo was not even 24 hours. Isn't he just a cutie??!!

Beatriz finally "popped" the kid!!

CARLO was born on February 1, 2007, at 8:44 am.

3.3 kilos or 7.6 lbs
55 cm
lots of black hair
fair skin
big blue/grey eyes
mouth like his dad
6 perfect fingers on each hand and 4 toes on each foot (LOL)
makes the most melodic and cute noises ever
puts his little hands besides his head for a good sleep!

I'm so, so, so, so, happy I can burst out of my seams!

The whole birth process was nothing short of brutal, I'll talk about
it some other time, but I had the privilege to be with my baby
sister during the whole process. I saw baby coming out and even
filmed the whole event. It's a miracle and I'm so impressed, grateful,
touched, and in total awe of nature !!

I love that kid to pieces and well, I think he's just so cute and adorable.

Welcome baby !!! I wish you a very, very happy life!

The new crazy AUNT! hihihi

EL AGUACATE SE HA PASMADO!!

2007-01-29T10:10:00.000-08:00

Ja, ja, ja, si, me refiero al bebeke. No mas no sale. Ayer quedamos en que se salia a las 3 am de hoy lunes, y yo aqui sigo esperando a que suene el telefono de que ya hay que ir al hospital!
Pero nada, ya les avisaremos cuando pase algo!

Bebeke holding on to his mother's gut! haay, why leave the womb if it's so nice, warm and cozy?? MMMhhh, smart kid! I'll let you know when something happens.

COUNT DOWN AND WAITING...!!!

2007-01-18T16:52:00.000-08:00

<span >OK, Bea is about to POP!! oh yeah, I know that is not a very classy expression but seeing her big, big, belly gosh, it's the only word that can describe what it's about to happen. She has a bunch of tiny little clothes that look so cute and adorable, and the other day someone mentioned that soon those tiny, little clothes are going to be filled with a tiny, cute, little elf!!

Well, I must admit that I am very nervous about this whole thing so I can only imagine how B&R are feeling. I get grossed out really easy so maybe changing diapers won't for me, I'll need to buy a space suit of sorts so I don't end up pucking on top of the baby, LOL!!!

The whole family is coming too, so that will be nice but freaky too. I just can't wait to see if it's Victoria or Carlo or the Pink Panther!! There are so many babies being born all the time, but this one is the closest one for me, so the experience is different. I think it's going to be a ton of fun, can't wait!!! and also, because I'll enjoy the little tyke and then it goes to his/her parents home, and they are the ones that will have to feed it and wake up every 5 minutes. So cool to be the aunt!! hihihi

So baby, come out soon, we are all so anxious to see you and start spoiling you, besides, you have your first party to attend on February 3, and it's not a good idea to let the guests down! HURRY, HURRY, just don't come out when I'm at school, OK??

FINALLY....2007!!!

2007-01-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

Good morning new year!

THE POLAR BEAR SWIM
What a weird way to celebrate the beginning of the New Year!

Reagardless of the weather, people go to different beaches and take a swim. People wear customes, there are fund raisers and just plain crazy people. The ocean here is COLD ALL YEAR, so I never swim, but this year, I finally made it to the swim. The water burns because it's soooo cold. The body goes in shock, frozen, then warms up and then you don't feel anything. I got frozen a few hours later. But Bea had the good sense to take a big thermos with coffee and Bailys to warm me up right after I came out of the water. It was raining, cold and miserable as you can tell from the pictures. I'll write more about it later.

END OF THE YEAR....

2006-12-31T00:53:00.000-08:00

2006 is about to end, and I'm so glad about it. I think this has been the worst year of my life overall. The beginning of the year was great, full of adventure, surprises, special new people but somehow 2006 still managed to be a bad, bad year for me. Well, I guess everyone has bad years where nothing seems to work, when many doors close, some are slammed right on your face; where all that is dear and close to your heart ends and when suddenly you're standing in the middle of the road thinking: how the %^&#^%% did I end up here???

Well, that kind of sums up my year. At the same time, I recognize the many, many blessings send my way everyday, and in the big skim of things I know I'm still lucky and being taken care from above.

So for all of you that had a great year, I wish you an even better 2007! and for all of you that had a bad one, I wish you a GREAT 2007! May all your pain and sorrows and doubts and fears stay in the year that is about to end. Life can be bloody harsh, but at the end of the day it is beautiful.

I will be receiving the new year doing something I love.... dancing. There is a big salsa party and of course I'm going. It will be even more fun because the very pregnant elves are coming too, so it will be nice to hugh my sister and the baby and the cuñadito when the 12 bells ring. I am hoping that something happens in my brain and for it to start functioning again ... I have a lot ahead of me next year and I really don't have a clue of what is coming my way.

Dancing with Richard!

The Polish Salseros! Lechek, his cousin, me, Barbara, Silvac + Carolina, Ella

So, Happy New Year, Feliz Año Nuevo and all the best for 2007!!

Con Bea y Richard

DECEMBER 30, 1988

2006-12-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today is 18 years that my mom died.
Seems like yesterday.

Miss you, love you, thinking of you. Always.

EXECUTION

2006-12-29T23:46:00.000-08:00

Well, by now the news of Saddam Hussein's execution is world wide news. He was sentenced to death after the trial of the 1982 Dujail massacre, but that trial didn't include Genocide against the Kurds, the Shiits, etc, so the death sentence for what happened in Dujal does not fit the crime (?).

A horrible, brutal dictator to many, now that he is dead he is not accountable anymore for any of the alleged brutality. Executing him will make him some kind of martyr and/or hero in Irak and probably for many others.

I am opposed to the death penalty, to killing anybody. It would have been better to keep him locked up, to make him dig holes and build roads? to share a cell with others? to have him spend the rest of his life humiliated and relegated to be just another prisoner? Maybe then he would have been forgotten, and he would have had to stand trial for all his other alleged crimes.

If all "world leaders" were going to be measured by the same stick than Saddam, who would be next?? would any of them be spared?? How about George W. Bush? aren't fake wars also crimes against humanity? Is there going to be a world wide day of "kill the bastards that kill people for oil, diamonds, gas, water, money: Power? There can be a podium displaying the flags of the countries, and when these leaders show, their anthems can be played, and then....plop, open the trap door so they can all hang and swing at the same time? If the death penalty is supposed to instill the fear of God on the offenders or future offenders, I wonder if today's leaders will start walking a straigther line...

He might have deserved to be hanged after being skinned .... but , will that help Irak? will that make that county better? I found it interesting that an American judge denied the appeal to stay the execution, again, it is all circus!

On Vegas, Babies and Christmas

2006-12-26T21:52:00.000-08:00

VEGASI was a bit desperate to get out of Vancouver to a nice, sunny place. I found some great packages but the day I decided to buy ...and found a friend to go with, the prices had doubled. So instead I headed to Las Vegas with my 2 girlfriends Barb and Renee. It was so much fun! we drank, danced and ate. We went to some great places for dinner, they shopped a lot and it was just nice to spend time with the girls. It was cold though, no sunny destination.

We stayed at the Wynn hotel, very nice, our room was bigger than my apartment now. The washroom had a big soaker tub, shower, 2 sinks and a flat pannel TV. It is cool having a shower and watching a video! The view from the room was nice too, the golf course and the waterfall. That's what's amazing about Vegas, a waterfall in the desert. We went to the Wynn's club Tryst which apparently is the new hot place in town. I think it's the nicest, coolest joint I've ever been too. The music, well, lots of hip hop, rap, stuff like that not my cup of tea but we danced all night and had a lot of fun. Another night we went to Light at the Bellagio and it was disgusting...the place, the music and the people, so we stayed only 1/2 hr or so, the next night Sunday, we tried to go to ... forgot, at Mandalay Bay but I guess us not wearing a tiny Santa Bikini didn't go well with the door asses... so we left and went drinking elsewhere. To the lounge of Mix, wow! gorgeous and the best view in Vegas. We danced and met a bunch of guys that seemed quite nice until one of them starts talking about his pro-bush pro-war bullshit, that killed the evening. Barb and I ran! Oh! and I didn't win anything in the machines, o wait, not true, I made a whole 10 dollars at the aiport, enought to pay my taxi share and buy a drink!

It was a lot of fun!

++++++++++++
BABIES

Before Vegas I went to 2 baby showers, one for Daniela and one for Bea, both organized by the Mexican Beauties club. It was nice and fun. Daniela's baby decided to come out 1 week earlier so Andrew was born on December 23, imagine, what a Christmas gift!! It was so great to see the little guy...it's amazing to think that we all started the same way.

Daniela and Bea comparing bellies and balloons

La nueva mama con el nueve bebe llamado Andrew!

And it just made it a lot more real, the thought that Bea's baby is a month away from popping out, saying hello and changing their lives (and mine too) forever! I love babies, I'm not that patient when kids are older but the little things wrapped like tacos totally make me melt!

"otra de las futuras mamas comparando panza, en el shower de Bea"

"and always love, support and fun by the Mexican Beauties"

CHRISTMAS

And then, Christmas. In Canada Christmas dinner is on the 25th, Renee hosted this year, it was a very nice, nice evening with friends, my sister and lots of laughter, good food and conversation. She has a martini fountain with lights and everything so the drinking was quite good, the trick is to stick to only 1 kind of alcohol, and vodka well, that is always my choice.

I got a few calls from my friends in Mexico and the USA and that made me sooooo happy! Thank you!

And on Christmas Eve, Dec 24, I made dinner for Bea and Richard. We spend it together, the 3 of us. I made a simple dinner that didn't burn so as you all know, that is quite the accomplishment for yours truly. We ate and talked until 1 / 2 in the morning. I guess it was the first Christmas that was just 3 of us, it was a bit weird at first but at the same time it was really nice and enjoyable.

The year is coming to an end and I'm soo happy for that. But, well, I hope the rest of this week doesn't go to fast as I have a lot of things to settle before the New Year. I'm hoping that when the 12 bells finish their annual ringing, I will have some idea of what the heck I'm going to be doing next year. I'm wishing for some sort of miracle idea to drop into my head.

I hope all of you had a very Happy and Merry Christmas.

IT'S SNOWING!!!

2006-11-26T22:51:00.000-08:00

It's been really cold in Vancouver for November.

Last night it started to snow and it's now 11 pm sunday and it just stopped. The whole city is
white, the trees are heavy with dusty white powdery snow and it's just beautiful (hard to drive though!)

I love the snow!

LOS PUBERTOS BABOSITOS!!!

2006-11-07T23:01:00.000-08:00

Bueno, como en esa respuesta de Ana Laura si me oi un tanto violenta y me han llegado varios mails para contar la historia, hay les va.

Todos los martes hay salsa en un antro de Vancovuer que se llama Atlantis. Como fue Halloween hubo fiesta de disfraces. Y claro que fui. Pero cual fue mi sorpresa de que antro fue secuestrado por bolas y bolas de estudiantes de ingles, en su mayoria mexicanos, aunque habia latinos por todos lados.

Primero, las niñas. Unas muy guapas, otras fellonas, otras normales, pero TODAS con unas boquitas pero que de carretonero gañan. La mayoria vestidas como prostitutas y portandose como tales. Aclaracion, no disfrazadas de prostitutas. Bueno, pense, son jovencitas, se ven bien, es halloween, whatever?

Ya tiene un rato que traigo toz de perro viejo, en una de esas fui al bano y estaba atascado de pubertas fumando. En Vancouver fumar en lugares publicos es ilegal. Yo tociendo y con el humo peor. Cuando hacia pipi, un grupito de taradas que estaban ahi empiezan: hay, si a esa vieja le molesta tanto el humo que se vaya, y una de majaderias ..... Ya que sali de hacer pipi se hecharon otro comentario en espanol (claro que criticaban a quien entrara) y les respondi en ingles que tuvieran cuidado de quien hablan y que para su informacion era ilegal fumar en lugares publicos. Como buenas peladitas se ponen flamencas en espanol, hasta que me hartaron y les dije "go back where you come from" pero ya en espanol. Se les abrio la boca y se callaron. Pero era una bola como de 7, bien que me hubieran podido dar una paliza.

Despues todos los tontitos borrachos hasta las chanclas, las niñas haciendo unos shows que dan pena y lastima; los comentarios que les hacian los "ninos" y como ellos hablaban de las mujeres en la fiesta; aparte de que la mayoria de estos inquilino NO sabe bailar... el caso es que fuchi, fue fiesta de pubertos.
Obviamente me fui temprano.

Realmente no creo que TODOS los padres de estas gentes sean unos irresponsables que no les importen sus hijos/hijas. Pero es dificil no pensar eso viendo la falta de educacion, de clase y de auto respeto. Es una tristesa ver a tanta nina "bien" comportandose como pirujas baratas, con un sentido de que se merecen todo y pueden hacer lo que quieran sin importarles absolutamente nada mas que ellos.

Por un momento me preocupe y me dije: Carolina, ya envejeciste...estas hablando como anciano. Y despues reflexionando creo que no, para nada. A mi toda la vida me ha fascinado el reventon, hasta la fecha (que yo se que varias gentes me dicen a mi la puberta!) pero me vale, me gusta bailar, salir, divertirme, la gente etcetera. Creo que es crucial y muy importante que los jovenes se diviertan y se revienten y que hagan tonterias y necedades (yo las hice, y casi todos los que conozco!). Pero esa falta de respeto, ese "venderse" como bisuteria barata, la groseria y la vulgaridad....bueno, eso me repugno y me molesto muchisimo. Es triste realmente y despesperante. Me imagino si nos padres de estas gentes saben como se comportan sus hijos cuando estan solos. Y que ni me digan...yo y un grupo de 30 pubertos viajamos y estudiambos ingles en Canada, yo hice eso, o sea, no me lo platican. Y esa vulgaridad no habia. Hice tonterias...claro! pero al menos habia respeto y clase.

Los que se aparecieron el martes en el Halloween deberas estuvieron de MIEDO!!!

ABUSE AND WOMEN

2006-11-07T19:01:00.000-08:00

In the last few months I have been meeting a ton of people, most of them divorced, separated, etc. Many of these people are women and I have heard stories that I thought were only on TV, or things of the past.

Seems that spousal abuse (whether the women are married, co-habitating or just dating) is common and rampant. It seems that it doesn't matter if the people involved are white, asian, hispanic, educated or not, wealthy or not. It's like, if you are in a relationship where the guy doesn't hit you...you are lucky!!! Well, I NEVER had to deal with that kind of issues, but it really breaks my heart to know that it does exist. In fact, on Friday's newspaper, the headline was: "A-G calls for fight against "cancer' of spousal abuse".

The article talks about a fourm organized by a Surrey based radio station called Radio India, as an emergency community response to the brutal murders of 3 women in the last 3 weeks. About 2,000 women - Indo-Canadian - one by one they stood up to tell tales of being beaten, slapped and thretened with knives and guns, etc. For some of us that might seem like extreme cases by stupid, fucking macho religious fundamentalists that hide behind religion to abuse women. But that 'cancer' is not only in the indo-canadian culture.

I know of plenty of women that are or have been the victims of abuse: physical, mental, emotional and/or financial. One does not have to be beaten to be abused. Cheating is abuse, emotional unavailability is abuse, financial control is abuse. When I hear guys constantly telling their wives, girlfriends or even daughters: you are fat, you are stupid, you are ugly, you are a bad mother, you don't know anything; ect, etc, that is abuse. The effects of abuse on women and children are immense and under studied. There is a lot of data on physical abuse, but how is emotional abused measured: I mean, you can't go to the police and say: my husband calls me fat all the time, can you please arrest him?

Now, of course there are plenty of women abusers, however, female being abused by males is more prevalent.

Do you know anyone being abused? do you care? What are we, as a society supposed to do about it? At the end of the day, the only ones that have the power to stop the abuse are the victims, however, they are the ones that have the least power to do so. The fear, the absolut lack of self-esteem and the little sympahty and support out there makes it incredibly difficult for these women to leave those relationships. I myself have thought many times: well, if she stays, she must like it! but really, that is a very judgemental assesment of the situation as nobody likes to be abused. Thought we have all those sayings like "aunque me pegue, lo quero".

HOw is it that truck loads of intelligent, beautiful and educated women end up in abusive relationships? I think the justice system should be HARD on those men. I think in Canada now the women don't have to press charges if they are beaten, anybody can do it for them. But that will only help the cases of physical abuse. How about emotional abuse? Who are those men anyway? I think mothers have a BIG part of it. I see so many moms spoiling their precious little boys and not teaching them how to be good men, not the intention, but definately the outcome. I've heard mothers telling their daughters: if you were nicer, thinner, not so demanding, etc, etc...: he wouldn't get so angry; he wouldn't drink that much; he would be better with the kids....FOR 2&^%%^^ sakes!! what message does that send to women???

All this came up for 2 reasons: first, a woman had been missing for a while, she was pregnant. They just found her charred remains along some truck route. This woman was a teacher, a wife, a mother, a sister. How can a woman (she was 4 months pregnant) be burned to death in this day of age? Apparently the husband and the brother in law are in custody. second: yesterday BB and I went to a movie (marie antoinette, i didn't like it that much, i really don't like sophia coppola's style), anyway, on the way out, you have to validate the parking ticket at the cashier. I've been going to that theatre for years, that's the system. The guy at the cashier first ignored me for about 5 minutes, then told me something that I didn't hear, and then he yelled at me and told me to bring the car. I go and get the car, get off and go again so he validates my ticket so I can get out. He dismissed me with a hand gesture and told me to go around....i was pissed off (pardon my french!). So I go around, and then I see a Hummer (obviously a guy driving) and he let them out, then another car with 2 guys returned to that till and he let them out, so I got even angrier and went back to that till (there was a loooong line up to get out the other way). The cashier again dismissed me like if I was invisible, or worse, like if I was a nuance of sorts. So I told him, YOU VALIDATE THIS NOW OR ELSE, he looked at me with rage, and ignored me. I started yelling him, and told him I had a pregnatn woman in the car and was trying to get out for over 20 minutes now. He tood the damn ticket and magnetized it and then threw it at me....I yelled at him again and left. The guy was east indian, damn fucking chauvinist bastard. I am PMSing which doesn't help, but if I could I would have just jumped him and given him a good beating....argghhh!! the total disrespect, it's unbelievable. He was letting men out, but he was making me stand in line for almost 25 minutes (AND there are 2 exits, it's 2 different parking lots, so it's not like I was trying to jump the cue).

Learning about the burnt woman made me sick, it made me sad, and it made me wonder how each one of us, as members of the human race living together on this planet can contribute to stop this??? And having to deal with such a bastard at the theatre's exit enraged me. And it is this big feeling of being powerless. All the parking garages in VAncouver are attended by east indians, so, who do I complain to. East Indian women are made by their families to not report domestic abuse "to save face". Gross, gross and disgusting.

by caring, by raising boys and girls with healthy self-esteem, by not blaming the victim, by demanding our governments to really punish these men (and women when necessary), what else.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

2006-11-01T10:35:00.000-08:00

NYC halloween

Just came back from New York, one of my favourite places in the world. I love that city!
The neat thing about going back to one place many times is that you start seeing it through different eyes. The first time I was there my mouth was opened 24/7. This last time I noticed things like how crowded it is, and how noisy it is. One day I was walking to the conference at aroun 7:30 am and my ears hurt...the traffic noise!

I don't know if it had anything to do with the fact that I've been high on cold medication for about 2 weeks. I met several New Yorkers and it is amazing to hear their stories about living in the big apple. Salaries there don't seem to be that great -unless you are a high ranking executive - and the cost of living is ridiculous. I met a few MTV designers and a few have to have roomates in order to be able to afford their rent...many live in New Jersey, cheaper and quieter.

My friends, Mette, from Denmark, David from Seattle, and Marc from North Carolina

I went to the bi-annual GAIN conference presented by the AIGA (american institute of graphic arts). I love this conference because it focuses on the business part of design. The theme this year was "Design means business". I wish this kind of conferences were more geared to business people than to designers. It is always refreshing to hear that the perception of the real value of desing is not clear to the buyer of design...even in New York. So, in less sophisticated markets the challenge is even greater.

One presenter, Moira Cullen, design director for Coca-Cola NA, really inspired me. She talked about the evolution of brand collaboration and the strategy behind synthesis of brand and design management. I want to be like her when I grow up, and she was wearing this incredible Prada suit.

Another one that I loved was Michael Conforti, Ph. D. His presentation was on Archetypes, Image and Design from the perspective of the Jungian school of thought. He argues that visually and conceptually, what we know about life we learn from the patterns around us and those we create, that there is a universal and mythic dimension to images, and undestanding these allows us to be much more discerining when working with brand logos and designs. I think this was my most favourite lecture because many things clicke in my head with respect to the validity and importance of the work I do. At the reception that night I had a good conversation with the guy, and bought his book "Field, Form and Fate: Patterns of Mind, Nature and Psyche", dedicated the book. oooohhh, ahhhhh
I also had a short and intersting conversation with the guy that wrote the "Brand Gap" a must read for anyone interested in branding, designer or not.

Ji Lee, "The Bubble Project" was excellent. I love design anarchists that make a brainy statement. A guy with attitude BUT nice, intelligent and articulate. Check this out at: http://www.thebubbleproject.com.

And I thought one of the best presenters was Scott Williams, chief creative officer ( I LOVE that title) of Starwood Hotels and Resorts. He gave a very inspiring talk about "the obvious". His talk made something in my brain click, I love it when my brain clicks with things because it's like opening a door and all these ideas start to flow.

The conference was very good, but it wasn't as great as the one 2 years ago. Some of the presentations were boring or poor and really, for an event like that it's not acceptable.

I stayed at an amazing flat on the 39th floor of a building MidTown. WOW! the view. It is so nice to have very succesfull friends in high places that have access to those perks, and I was so lucky that the place was available. So thank you! I'm scared of heights, I spend the first night thinking how I would escape in case of fire, earthquake or break/entering, and I couldn't come up with anything. The only thing was that I'm glad I'm mobile and could run down the stairs, and in case of eathquake I would be on top of the people in the floors below. 2 nights the wind was HORRIBLE, at some point when I was walking back to the condo, it (the wind) threw me against a wall, now that is freaky!! and I could hear the wind roar and i thought the building would just collapse. then i fell asleep and I woke up and everyhting was just fine.

Awesome place, thanks Alex!

Drank copious amounts of alcohol, ate little and walked a lot. Saw friends that I met at the last conference and made some new ones. But I wasn't at my best at all, so everythink took a ton of effort and I came back more exhausted than when I left. My feet are not hamburgers any more. I hope to be back to the new apple again soon!

Mette and Carolina at some Soho bar

shampoo

2006-10-06T23:17:00.000-07:00

I just realized my last blog was over 1.5 months. Have not been inspired at all to write anything. But right now I can't stop thinking about shampoo.

There are so many shampoos out there. For straigh, curly, fuzzy, coloured, damaged, frizzy, dry, long, short, growing hair. With vitamins, proteins, herbs, fruit extracts, weird chemicals. some will make your hair shine, grow, go blonder, redder or blacker; some are good for winter, some for summer, some if you swim, it is very hard to buy shampoo.

I was standing at London Drugs for over 1/2 hour the other day trying to decide which shampoo to buy. Bought nothing. Now I have greasy hair but it is shiny. It is straight but it is really curly, though it's not fuzzy. I want it blacker but I don't want the indiscrete few white hairs I had gotten in the last few weeks, so maybe i should find something that gets rid of white hairs - ahhh! I don't think that exists yet, the hair companies are missing on a great idea...now, that would be useful! So, what shampoo should I buy? Maybe I'll try that Ice Shine by Pantene. Winter is not here yet, so it might be good to try a shiny shampoo before the cold hits the town.

20th YEARS !!!!

2006-08-30T23:09:00.000-07:00

Immigrating was not something that I planned, it just happened, effortlesly. Sometimes I wonder why I ended up here. Sometimes, when I see 19 year old girls i think...they are SO young...maybe my parents didn't love me...why did they let me go? I am grateful to them, it took a lot of guts and trust in God and in me to let me fly like that, if i had a kid I don't know that I would be that strong.

End of August 1986. I was sick for a couple of months that summer. At the airport with my mom, my sisters and my best friends, Edith, Cato, Gina, and (at that time) Adriana. I was about to embark in an adventure that would change my life forever.

That day, after that picture, I boarded a JAL flight that took me to Vancouver. I was to start school there. Foundation Year, to learn about art, painting, sculpture, creative processes and mainly Life. I left, all excited and with a determination and thirst for adventure that to this day surprises me. At the same time I was so sad to leave so many good things behind, but heck, it was an adventure. I arrived in Vancouver and it was HOOOOT!! Next day I go to school and it was WEIRD...everyone dressed in sandals, and holy t-shirts, and me....dressed like a good Anahuac Design girl, dress, high heels, HAHAAH. I was able to spik englich, no problem, not until 2 weeks later when I couldn't say anything except Yes, with the goofiest smile on my face. Went to my first party....oooh! welcome to the first year students...in the basement we are providing entertainment....great! a smorgasboard of drugs, mariguana, hash, and god know what else. I had a beer. (and still wearing pretty clothes and high heels and make up....LOL!). Living in the most horrendous place ever, with the most toxic people I have ever met. Missing my family so much, Missing my sisters and missing my country. Spend the weekends on the bus, knowing Vancouver inside out. Started making friends.

Right away I met Nicky. We became fast friends, we were roomates for a while, after graduation started our first business together. She graduated from Photography, then went on to do her master's in Religious Studies and now she is off to Montreal to do her PhD. She was my first friend here, and now she is leaving. OH! she'll be doctor Nicky, and we met 20 years ago when we both were trying to be artists!!

After toxic place i moved out and lived on my own for the next 6 years. It was a good time in my life and it was the worst time in my life as well. I became insecure in lots of ways, i became so strong in other ways. I became invisible and at the same time I shone. I grew up. I fell in love. I became my own person. I took things too seriously. I was alone and had no one to rescue me if i screwed up.

I broke my foot, my mom died, that semester I did terrible in school. I kept making friends, i kept learning, i started to feel part of my new city. I graduated, started a business. I got married, i missed Mexico and everything that it meant to me. I missed my family. I kept learning, and having fun. Dean and I travelled and enjoyed life. Bought our place, B&R move here and my life takes a turn for the best, started yet another business, get the canadian citizenship; learnt jewelery, painting, yoga; started teaching; missed my Mexico; vancouver becomes my home; more turns; more fun; become canadian; more work, travel and friends.

Now, 20 years later heading for a new beginning, starting all over again. God only know what's in store for me. It's been an amazing ride. 20 years!! it has gone so fast and so slow. Now this is my home. Mexico will always be my first home, my first love, my grounding path, my roots, my identity, my soul. I ended up here permanently because of love, very romantic, very true, and now it has become part of me. I belong here, I no longer feel invisible.

I arrived here by some fluke of life, to go to school. I remained here to be with my Dean, for love. And now I stay here by chioce

Oh, yeah! i'm thinking about that Serrat's song, don't know the name, but it includes "....al andar se hace camino, y al volver la vista atras, se ve la huella que nunca, se ha de volver a pisar, caminante, no hay camino, sino estelas en la mar..."

FAVOURITE TEACHER

2006-08-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

I was a pretty good student, school was just easy for me. Never studied. though I know i was considred a Nerd, hahaha!

For me teachers are some of the most important people in one's development (besides family of course), but if you are lucky enough to have good teachers early on that teach you to love learning, it makes a difference. I had such luck. In Pre-primaria, Miss Cristy was that teacher, she made learning fun and challenging and she was a very loving woman, not mushy, just whole. Then, grade 1, Miss Paquita, WOW! to this day I really love her! I remember sitting in class, listening to her and the way she spoke about things made a mark in my tiny impressionable brain. So I was set, I think, at that point to learn quickly and to love it. Then came Miss Malena and Miss Mary, both amazing teachers in their own right. And then in Grade 4, 5, 6 the good teachers seized to exist except for my grade 5 english teacher, Miss Lupita, she was another one of those teachers that inspire. All through Secondary school, Maestro Negrete, I loved Math because of him. He had a gift to teach students, he was well liked and was very strict. Though, sometimes he was rude as hell. One time he punished my two friends Legos and Omar and they had to do all the equations of the Baldor, they did them ALL and then Negrete just threw the body of work in the garbage! what an ass, but Math we learnt! Then in High School, Lydia, the psych teacher, she was so young, but she taught me lots of things besides psych theories. And in college, the best one, Rick C, he made "design" fun, light and practical. So I guess those are some people that I will always remember with love and gratitude.

Whenever I see them, I always give them a hug and thank them.

L E A R N I N G

2006-08-09T23:46:00.000-07:00

Yep, learning, sounds nerdy eh? That is a passion of mine, together with travelling. I wish I could retain 1/10 of the things i read and like, but I think I am definately having a torrid affair with that german guy, what's his name? Al Zehimer? Anyway, I would like to learn Japanese, archery and calculus (again). I find that dancing has helped established new thinking paths, now it is so much easier to remember dance routines and steps (though really, kind'a useless if the dancing partner is not a good lead). I have the famous BALDOR book that Catito brought me, I think that those times when I don't have much to do, I will be doing equations. Does that sound sssseeexxxxyyyy? hahaha. Archery? I found a group on Sundays, maybe I will check it out this fall. and Japanese, well, i just like how it sounds, I like how japananes men talk, like in the movies, so rude and threatening and the women kind of cackle. I'll try the male version and the female version, I think that will keep me amused.

When I teach I see it a form of learning. But the truth is that sometimes my students drive me bananas...they don't have the passion or even the interest to learn. They are ther to get a paper, to "pass". They put no effort, have no enthusiasm or even curiosity. That makes the teaching process somewhat like torture, but I am determined to change at least one person, at least a little bit. The group that is presently giving me such trouble is the must uninspired group I have ever had. There are a couple of people with some talent, one very passionate [who "hates" design ! - but is coming around, and actually works very hard!] and the rest are lazy, unmotivated, passionless, not at all curious, nervous, aggressive, confrontational, rude, and painfully mediocre. In contrast I have another group that is almost the exact opposite. I enjoy so much those sessions. But with the bad group, I enjoy the challenge and I enjoy that even if they don't get excited about target groups, budgets, deadlines, strong concepts, excellent typography, clear messages and modular grids, I do and somehow, perhaps out of desperation, still manage to get excited about such things.

Anyway, maybe I'll learn how to cook. I think I have made myself allergic to vegetables, that's kind of all I ate lately. Well , good night all.

Gay Pride Parade

2006-08-09T22:46:00.000-07:00

During the long weekend the first week of August is the Vancouver Gay Pride Parade. This year there was an estimated attendance of 180,000 souls. I love going to this parade for many reasons.
First it's the only parade in Vancouver where this many people go. There is a Remembrance Day parade to which I've never gone, and a new Christmas parade that happens sometime in November when it's cold, rainy and miserable and all the "Surrey" people show up. And it isn't that good anyway.
Second, I like that it is a family affair. There are kids, couples, singles, groups of friends, old people, etc.
Third, some of the floats and customs are very creative and fun; though must of the floats are very basic and you can tell not much money went into the and I find that cute.
It's hot, and eventhough the sun was very, very hot, it's nice to be out on the streets, dancing, singing, clapping, laughing and trying to collect the endless amounts of give away junk.

There are dozens of organiztions that participate, from govenrment bodies to banks, clubs, bars, gyms, public services like Firemen, First Aid, teachers, parents, native groups, churches of all denominations and all sorts of organizations and associations.

That is something I love about this city, something that makes me proud. I like to live in a city where there is acceptance for people of all walks of life, it's a city of Intersections. It always moves me when the Associations of Parents and Grandparents of Gay and Lesbians walk down with their children (yound and old) ; when different churches are open about ending prejudice about homosexuality; when the bankers, or Starbucks employees, or teachers or firemen, old and young, canadians/mexicans/brasilians/koreans/indians/or any ethnic gorup you can think of, can walk proudly without having to mask who they are. Some people say: but so what, if they are gay/lesbian who cares....in a way that is true. Personally, I don't care one bit about sexual preference, I care about the quality of the human being in question. But, it is a fact that homosexuals are marginalized, critiziced, demonized in Vancouver, in Canada and the rest of the world. I really don't understand the "fear", in my opinion is just judgment that comes from ignorance.

Knowledge breeds tolerance, and tolerance spawns good will, so when I see hundreds of thousands of people celebrating the differences amongst us, in peace, in fun, in an effort to foster good human relations I think it's fantastic. Bea and I were talking about all the children that were there, we were saying, these children will grow up without prejudice about homosexuality, thus they will be more open minded, more tolerant, more peaceful... we think, we hope.

So, I leave you with some photos of the flamboyancy and crazyness of this parade. Looking forward the next one.

BLOGGERS BLOCK

2006-08-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

I have major bloggers block.

I am sitting down pondering about my next post and nothing seems to agree with me. What do I want to write about right now? misery, disappoinment, heart break, fear, loneliness? mmmhh, that is not very cheerful is it? dichotomies? perhaps, then it would be about misery and/vs. joy, love and/vs. hate? Maybe I should write about happiness, my latest theoriy, "nobody is happy" - all is misery with random explosions of happiness....mmmh, so bitter and not really what i think. Or about what I think vs. what I feel vs. what I believe? mmhhh, isn't all that supposed to be the same, and happiness pops when all those are aligned? Or I could write about gratitude, what the hell is gratitude anyway. It is so easy to be greatful for the good things in one's life, but, how about being greatful for the bad, sad, hard things that happen in our lifes. Now, that is hard, but well, if everything comes with a lesson, then I should be greatful for all the shitty stuff going on. Maybe I should actually do that, maybe that's a lesson I need to learn. Maybe I should just keep writing and working through this inpsiration block. Maybe I'll find something that moves me, for good or bad, and then, my little fingers will get going and going and going.....

THE MAKINGS OF AN AUNT

2006-07-18T16:23:00.000-07:00

I am easily amused by the simple things in life. I find joy in the mundane and the sound of the ocean gives me a soul "lift" everytime. Chocolate, mmmh, nothing like it; spending time yapping with my friends whether it's deep and philosophical or just babbling about nothing; a good meal; when I master a step; lost a pound; made a buck; came up with a great design; had a good laugh or whatever, in general perhaps I can say that I am happy.

But when my sister told me that I was going to be an aunt, it was like a popcorn machine exploded in my soul or heart or somewhere, wow! that was joy!

The few friends that have children have always talked about that joy, "children are wonderful" they say, "if you only had one you would understand". Well, now I think I got a peek of that feeling. Can't imagine what it feels to actually be "baking" one in your belly. But for now, I love my "popocorn heart".

I already love that baby so much. Poor Enanos, because I know they will do their best to be good parents and the baby will only get spoiled rotten by the aunts. Parents educate, aunties spoil, jijiji! So what is the role of the Aunt?

Well, I just think about my own aunts. I loved Lourdes to death, the highlight of the week was to go to my granparents house and spend some time with her, she was kind of our idol. And those summers with Bertha, she screamed and yelled and made tamales, but she would give me those heart felt hughs that still resonate. And Tia Lupita, well she still knows how to spoil me, everytime I see her she makes my favourite foods and never misses a birthday. And Rosita, besides passing me her beauty and wisdom and distracted brain when I was baptized, her pragmatism is always a good thing to rely on. And my aunt Edda, always ready with a hugh, a compliment and those great balloon piñatas, and Yolanda with a that great sense of hospitality and family. So I was blessed with lots of great aunts. Now it's my turn to be one and I hope I am a good one. I'll take the kid skiing and sky diving; teach it about the world and perhaps take her in my travels; of course i'll share my passion for all aesthetic and soccer, and politics and world affairs; and good shoes, and good friends. I won't be able to teach her how to cook, but I can teach her how to paint or just relax at the beach counting how many waves come our way. But the truth is that I have no idea of how it will be, all I know is that it will be the beginning of an excellent adventure.

So baby, take your time eh? don't come out before hand, there is a life time ahead! See you in January.

PS. I say her because I think it will be a girl...the famous and most awaited Victoria. But if he's a boy, well, that's great too. I'll try not to dress him up like a girl, as I did with my cousin Fernando! jajaja

UNTIL 2010 !

2006-07-10T19:06:00.000-07:00

Sunday July 9, 2006. The much awaited World Cup final was finally played. I would have liked it if the final was Brazil vs. Argentina. Even better, Mexico vs. whoever and have Mexico win, yes, the eternal optimist or rather diluted. Anyhow, France vs. Italy. Mmmh, OK, I'll cheer for Italy, I do like to support whatever I identify with and I tell you, I love Italy and the italians are so yummyliscious that it is good to support what God put in that land mass, hihi.

In Vancouver, Commercial Drive is where everything latin happens, from Brazilian carnavals, to Mexican celebrations, Italian national day, Dia de Muertos parade. It is a vibrant part of town that is ecclectic and unpretentios. People that are "from the Drive" have a particular style...there are so many weird fashions, and plenty of lesbians. So of course, it is THE place to go and watch such a match. We got there early enought and were lucky to find some floor room at a Salvadorean restaurant. I was going to cheer for Italy, but I got really turned off by all the yahoo, naco, canadian-italian behaving like jerks and sporting horrendous thick gold chains and facial hair. Not to mention some real unfriendly women. Maybe I was just sleepy and tired but I decided to cheer for France, eventhough. So I cheered for both teams, getting all sorts of looks of "disgust", though I must confess that after Zidane did his little tantrum I went back to cheer for Italy. The truth is that they played very well, both teams. I missed that passion for the team, I enjoyed the matches way more when I have made up my mind as to whom I want it to win. Perhaps next world cup.

After the match everyone there went out to the street and celebrate. It was a VERY hot day, I think I got a bit sunstruck. There were people from all walks of life, tooons of flags, it was very fun. So here are some pictures.

I wonder what happened with Zidane, I would like to know what the other player told him to piss him up so much to not care to be kicked out of the team, in the last 3 minutes of his retirement game. El gato was telling me that it was probably some racial slur, he's Algerian, and he probably didn't care anymore. I would like to know. But, it was still very unprofessional I think.

So now I will be able to concentrate on other things and won't be watching so much TV and spending a lot of time worried with the futbol. But for sure, I am looking forward the next one in 4 years!!

NOT BAD FOR A WEEK

2006-07-07T15:27:00.000-07:00

Pregnanices, separations, reconciliations, divorces, weddings, baby showers, raises, new business, closed ventures, failed attempts, success, laughter, wells of tears, amazing weather, relocation, expatriation, fraude, winnings, loses, new ideas, heart ache, pure joy, relocation, new homes, brilliance, stupidity, effort, passion, laziness, certainty, confusion, excitment, reunions, visitors, love, new eras, times gone, hope, despair, adventure, creation, solace, intimacy, seclution, joy, depression . . . boring? nah! all but that.

WORLD CUP GERMANY 2006

2006-07-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

It's almost over...and all my favourite teams are out, however, the Cup has a great hold of me and I am still watching the games. Now I would like Portugal to win eventhough most of the games they have been dirty players, except for the one with Holland. Luis Figo is such a "bonbon" that seeing him run like a wild horse is inspiration enough for me to keep watching.... Anyway, I am so glad Germany got kicked out today! good for the Italians, it was a great game, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and 2 goasl in the last 2 minutes.....o my gosh! to bad I didn't watch it...... we left with only 12 minutes to go~ but, well, at least they won.

Let's see what happens tomorrow France vs Portugal.

After Mexico was disqualified, I was rooting for Brazil [always!] and Argentina. After Argentina lost, Brazil only hope and then the cariocas played and they looked as if they were dreaming, just looking at the ball, no display of that Brazilian magic with the ball, I thought, whaaat on earth are they doing? the thought that they probably got payed hugh amounts of money to lose crossed my mind....that would be such a shame

CANADA DAY

2006-07-01T18:06:00.000-07:00

It's so cute that this celebration formally known as Canada Day is not even 25 years old. It's a sign of such a young country. For years we have celebrated the day by going to one of the government organized festivities and then gathering with friends at the beach for the Canada Day picnic. We dress in red and white and put maple leaf tatoos on the face, leg, arm or wherever you like. This year we went for the housewarming party of Lorena and Andres, and had KFC, cupcakes, junk food and lasagna in company of friends. It was the first time that we are all CANADIANS, and there were actually 5 "original Canucks", and a guest from Spain, so again, truly multicultural in the true Canadian spirit. As July 1 was Saturday, people get Monday off, so it was a great long weekend. The weathe was incredible, not a cloud in the sky, bright hot sun and sparlky ocean. Sunday was a day to spend at the beach, lying on my Canada flag towel, looking at the ocean, fab bods, and mainly sleeping. Monday pretty much the same. WOW! summer in Vancouver, amazing, though to be honest a bit to hot for me! I love Canada, and even though in my heart I am always going to be Mexican, beign Canadian is like a bonus, so it's also destiny, I am proudly Mexi-Can.
Below a bit of history about Canada Day, FYI

On June 20, 1868, a proclamation signed by the Governor General, Lord Monck, called upon all Her Majesty's loving subjects throughout Canada to join in the celebration of the anniversary of the formation of the union of the British North America provinces in a federation under the name of Canada on July 1st.

The July 1 holiday was established by statute in 1879, under the name Dominion Day.

There is no record of organized ceremonies after this first anniversary, except for the 50th anniversary of Confederation in 1917, at which time the new Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings, under construction, was dedicated as a memorial to the Fathers of Confederation and to the valour of Canadians fighting in the First World War in Europe.
The next celebration was held in 1927 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation.
Since 1958, the government has arranged for an annual observance of Canada's national day with the Secretary of State of Canada in charge of the coordination.
Another highlight was Canada's Centennial in 1967 when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II attended the celebrations with Parliament Hill again being the backdrop for a large scale official ceremony.

The format changed in 1968 with the addition of multicultural and professional concerts held on Parliament Hill including a nationally televised show. Up until 1975, the focus of the celebrations, under the name "Festival Canada", was held in the National Capital Region during the whole month of July and involved numerous cultural, artistic and sport activities, as well as municipalities and voluntary organizations. The celebration was cancelled in 1976 but was reactivated in 1977.
A new formula was developed in 1980 whereby the National Committee (the federal government organization charged with planning Canada's Birthday celebrations) stressed and sponsored the development of local celebrations all across Canada. "Seed money" was distributed to promote popular and amateur activities organized by volunteer groups in hundreds of local communities. The same approach was also followed for the 1981 celebrations with the addition of fireworks displays in 15 major cities across the nation.

On October 27, 1982, July 1st which was known as "Dominion Day" became "Canada Day".
Since 1985, Canada Day Committees are established in each province and territory to plan, organize and coordinate the Canada Day celebrations locally. Grants are provided by the Department to those committees.
www.pch.gc.ca/progs/

WORLDCUP - GERMANY 2006

2006-06-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

I am a world cup fan. It is the greatest competition and the best playing most times. I usually root for the underdog and in this world cup I hope that it stays in LatinAmerica. Brazil always my favourite, but after Argentina's game today I would root for them too, and one to watch and hope for Ecuador.

Mexico, Mexico, RaRaRa.....what's wrong with us! the story is the same all the time. The game today was lousy! slow, unorganized and sloppy. We know they can do it, so what happens? Too confident from their 3-o win, that they were going to play Angola? arrrgggh. I hope they got the kick in the ass they need so they give a much better performance on the 21 against Portugal.

MY HOROSCOPE

2006-06-08T23:41:00.000-07:00

Be proud of what you have to offer the world...
Be courageous in your dealings with others
and express yourself fully in a creative manner.

The one above applies to everyone!

I like horoscopes. Some are really philosophical,
others don't say anything, there are love, sex, career,
health horoscopes, but the best ones are the
shoe horoscope, well, if you are going to be trivial,
go for the whole "enchilada", jijiji (in spanish) hihihi (in english).

good to be able to have bilingual laugh!!! LOL

CONFESIONES DE UNA MUJER MODERNA

2006-06-08T20:01:00.000-07:00

Este es un e-mail que esta circulando. He tenido esta conversacion con Bea y muchas otras mujeres -de diferentes nacionalidades y profesiones, todas exitosas, educadas, viajadas, casadas, divorciadas y solteras -numerosas veces y aunque se que es lo mas antifeminista, anticuado y mucha gente dira que mediocre, diluido y hasta traicionero a mi si se me hace de lo mas logico. Alguna vez lei en algun lado que la liberacion femenina simplemente libero a los hombres. Yo veo a tantas y tantas mujeres, amigas, familia y conocidas, en Mexico, Canada, USA, Europa y Sudamerica que trabajan como burros, llegan a sus casas a cocinar, planchar, arreglar a los niños, haciendo trabajo de voluntarias en las escuelas, organizando cenas de negocios del marido, pagando la mitad de las cuentas...y si, tienen a sus mariditos que se paran mucho el cuello porque les "ayudan" a lavar los trastes. Si van a ser las cosas 50/50 pues deberian de ser asi en todo no? desde el dinero hasta la lavada de ropa, cocinada, cuidar chamacos, ir a juntas de escuelas, lleavarlos a las clases, etc. Con esto no estoy diciendo que los maridos de las susodichas sean unos flojos o desobligados o hijos de la porra, no, la verdad la mayoria de estos señores son tipos lindos, trabajadores y responsables, pero sin duda las que llevan el hogar y la carga diaria son ellas, las super-mujeres. Y claro que si uno dice que si preferiria quedarse en casa, cocinar y pintar y trabajar de vez en cuando.....uuuuyyyyy que horror! una es tachada de princesa, floja, desobligada y de pilon....abusona! hazme el favor. Y la verdad no tengo yo en particular mucho de que quejarme, ya que como esposa fui muy, muy consentida y el de lo mas considerado y aparte super chambeador. Viviendo en otra cultura en las que las mujeres quieren y deben trajabar fuera de casa al parejo que el marido, es una dinamica dificil cuando una viene de una cultura en la que el hombre es por definicion el proveedor. Aqui se me hace una cosa rara y hasta ridicula en que muchas mujeres trabajen basicamente para pagar una nana o el famoso "day care". Cual es el punto en aquello? Tambien, yo entiendo perfecto que vivimos en una epoca en que muchas tenemos que trabajar, no queda de otra, entonces, los señores deberian de ser mas activos con el trabajo casero y las mujeres menos "super woman" y dejar a los señores hacer las cosas, a su modo sin estarlos criticando y dirigiendo a cada segundo. Habiendo dicho eso, si alguna vez termino matrimoniada otra vez, le cocinare a mi mariditio, pero hay!....no se cocinar....no hay problema...te lo juro mi amor! aprendere, me encontre unas clasesitas para aprender a cocinar todas tus comidas favoritas....en Italia! y los postres que tanto te gustan....otra clase de lo mejor....en Paris! - he dicho.

Son las 6:00 A.M. El despertador no para de sonar y no tengo fuerzas ni para tirarlo contra la pared. Estoy acabada. No querría tener que ir al trabajo hoy. Quiero quedarme en casa, cocinando, escuchando música, cantando, etc. Si tuviera un perro, lo pasearía por los alrededores. Todo, menos salir de la cama, meter primera y tener que poner el cerebro a funcionar.

ME GUSTARÍA SABER QUIÉN FUE LA BRUJA IMBECIL, LA MATRIZ DE LAS FEMINISTAS, QUE TUVO LA PUTA IDEA DE REIVINDICAR LOS DERECHOS DE LA MUJER, Y POR QUÉ HIZO ESO CON NOSOTRAS, QUE NACIMOS DESPUÉS DE ELLA.

Estaba todo tan bien en el tiempo de nuestras abuelas: ellas se pasaban todo el día bordando, intercambiando recetas con sus amigas, enseñándose mutuamente secretos de condimentos, trucos, remedios caseros, leyendo buenos libros de las bibliotecas de sus maridos, decorando la casa, podando árboles, plantando flores, recogiendo legumbres de las huertas y educando a sus hijos. La vida era un gran curso de artesanos, medicina alternativa y cocina. y DESPUÉS SE PUSO MEJOR, TENÍAMOS SERVIDUMBRE, EL TELÉFONO, LAS TELENOVELAS, EL INTERNET!!! CUANTAS HORAS DE PAZ NOS TRAJO LA TECNOLOGÍA Y LAS CHACHAS!!!

HASTA QUE VINO UNA PENDEJITA, A LA QUE NO LE GUSTABA EL CORPIÑO A CONTAMINAR A VARIAS OTRAS REBELDES INCONSECUENTES CON IDEAS RARAS SOBRE "VAMOS A CONQUISTAR NUESTRO ESPACIO". ¡QUÉ ESPACIO NI QUÉ LA FREGADA!!!

Si ya teníamos la casa entera!!! Todo el PUTO barrio era nuestro, el mundo a nuestros pies!!! Teníamos el dominio completo sobre los hombres; ellos dependían de nosotras para comer, vestirse y para hacerse ver bien delante de sus amigos. Y ahora... ¿donde están?

NUESTRO ESPACIO!!! ???? Ahora ellos están confundidos, no saben qué papel desempeñan en la sociedad, HUYEN DE NOSOTRAS COMO EL DIABLO DE LA CRUZ.

Ese chistecito, esa gracia, acabó llenándonos de deberes. Y lo peor de todo, acabó lanzándonos dentro del calabozo DE LA SOLTERÍA CRONICA AGUDA!!!

Antiguamente los casamientos duraban para siempre. ¿Por qué, díganme por qué, un genero que tenía todo lo mejor, que sólo necesitaba ser frágil y dejarse guiar por la vida, comenzó a competir con los machos? ¿A quien jodidos se le ocurrió?

MIREN EL TAMAÑO DEL BÍCEPS DE ELLOS Y MIREN EL TAMAÑO DEL NUESTRO. ESTABA MUY CLARO, ESO NO IBA A TERMINAR BIEN!!!

No aguanto más ser obligada al ritual diario de estar flaca como una escoba, pero con tetas y ass duritos, para lo cual tengo que matarme en el gimnasio, además de morir de hambre, ponerme hidratantes, antiarrugas, padecer complejo de radiador viejo tomando agua a todas horas, y demás armas para no caer vencida por la vejez, maquillarme impecablemente cada mañana desde la frente al escote, tener el pelo impecable y no atrasarme con las mechas, que las canas son peor que la lepra; elegir bien la ropa, los zapatos y los accesorios, no sea que no esté presentable para esa reunión de trabajo. No me falta más tener que decidir qué perfume combina con mi pinche humor, ni tener que salir corriendo para quedarme embotellada en el tránsito y tener que resolver la mitad de las cosas por el celular, correr el riesgo de ser asaltada, de morir embestida por un microbús, instalarme todo el día frente al PC trabajando como una esclava (moderna, claro esta), con un teléfono en el oído y resolviendo problemas uno detrás de otro, que además ni son mis problemas!!!

Todo para salir con los ojos rojos (por el monitor, claro, por que para llorar de amor no hay tiempo). Y mira que teníamos todo resuelto!!!

Estamos pagando el precio por estar siempre en forma, sin estrías, depiladas, sonrientes, perfumadas, uñas perfectas, sin hablar del currículum impecable, lleno de diplomas, doctorados y especialidades.

NOS VOLVIMOS "SÚPER MUJERES" ... PERO SEGUIMOS GANANDO MENOS QUE ELLOS Y DE TODOS MODOS NOS DAN ORDENES!!! ¿QUE PEDO?

¿No era mejor, mucho mejor seguir tejiendo en la silla mecedora?

Quiero que alguien me abra la puerta para que pueda pasar, que corra la silla cuando me voy a sentar, que me mande flores, cartitas con poesías, que me dé serenatas en la ventana. Si nosotras ya sabíamos que teníamos un cerebro y que lo podíamos usar. ¿¿Para quééééé había que demostrárselo a ellos?? Ay, Dios mío, son las 6:30 am y tengo que levantarme... ¡Que fría está esta solitaria y grandísima cama! Ahhh ... quiero otra vez que mi maridito llegue del trabajo, que se siente en el sofá y me diga: MI AMOR, ¿NO ME TRAERÍAS UN TEQUILA POR FAVOR? o... ¿QUÉ HAY DE CENAR? ; porque descubrí que es mucho mejor servirle una cena casera que atragantarme con un sandwich y una coca-cola mientras termino el trabajo que me traje a casa. ¿Pensáis que estoy ironizando? No, mis queridas colegas, inteligentes, realizadas, liberadas...y abandonadas ! ESTOY HABLANDO MUY SERIAMENTE. ESTOY ABDICANDO DE MI PUESTO DE MUJER MODERNA. ¿¿ALGUIEN MÁS SE SUMA??

OOOOOUUUCH!!

2006-06-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

The inevitable happened yesterday, June 4, my birthday!

I love my bday but really, as the years go by I am starting to have mixed feelings about it.It's like, arrrghh, no longer belonging to the "young" crowd. I have girlfriends that are in theirmid-twenties that have told me they would like to be like me when they grow up! imagine! I amthe one that usually said those things. But well, really, better to keep accumulating bday cardsthan not, otherwise I would have to be practicing flight patterns before my daily tea and cookies(of course, in heaven) or, maybe I would be dancing salsa in hell?? either way, I rather have bday parties. This year was like a kiddies party. People came for brunch at 10:45 where we had waffles, and little boxed juices and chocolate milk, and bagels with cream cheese and salmon,and looooots of fruit salad, ice cream cake with princesses on it and chocolate cake.

From there, we all went bowling to a very old 5 pin joint where the lanes are in a basement all painted black, with fluorescent ink planets and they play disco music. When we arrived it was full of 9 and 10 year olds! imagine, I told you, kiddie party The funniest is that we are all highly unskilled at bowling, Veronica had the highest score at 120 points! Renee's boyfriend was impressed, by our lack or skill, as his 10 year old daughter scores over 150 per game. But well, bowling is not a necessary skill, though I wondere why the ball doesn't just hit all the pins, c'mon it's very simple...........hihihi. It was a really fun day!

I got some really nice gifts, flowers and several calls from Mexico, ahhhh, that always makes me soooooo happy. o yes. So next year I have to think about a big way to start the new decade, or perhaps I should justignore it and pretend it didn't happen

Marc from North Carolina

2006-05-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

My friend Marc came to Vancouver to run the Vancouver Marathon and visit. We met in New York a couple of years ago. I always enjoy showing foreigners my town. It's like having these really nice clothes that you can brag about. He was lucky to have a few days of sunshine, though on marathon day Vancouver showed it's true colours: grey, wet, windy and cold! ayyyy, poor Marc, when I drove him to the Stadium at 6 am it was a very miserable day, I let him of the car and then went back to the arms of Morpheo in my warm, comfy bed, hihihi.

He ran 42.16 km (26.2 miles) in 03:42:43, not his best time according to him but to me it sounds awesome, I think that I will never run for that lenght of time, my knees would be dust afterwards! After the race we roamed around the stadium for a little while, listen to the band and then went to celebrate with some strong Margaritas!! later that night we went dancing until 2 am.

The following day we went skiing to Whistler and I am so impressed with Marc that he didn't just dropped dead. At Whistler we met this really cool old guy who taught us how to ski, yes, I've skied before but one hour of Teo's lesson was more helpful than all the other courses I have taken. Marc had only skied once before and by the end of the day he was able to go down pretty smoothly. So if any of you are coming to Vancouver to learn how to ski, I'll be more than happy to recommend Teo to you.

It was a lot of fun to have Marc coming to Vancouver, we can talk and talk and we like a lot of the same things. I took him to Yaletown and we found this really funky store where he bought the coolest pair of shoes and shirt.

After a few days in Vancovuer he went camping to the Garibaldi Park for a true Canadian experience, camping in the snow! how cool is that?

So I hope to see you soon! I really enjoyed your visit! the guy from North Carolina visiting Carolina del Norte, jijiji, o sea, YO!

ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER

2006-05-10T16:25:00.000-07:00

For many years I felt sort of liberated not to have to do the whole mother's day thing, though since my mom died I kind of avoided it and with time I started to think about it as a nuance. But the truth is that I would love to have that kind of nuance in my life. This year, on the 30th of December, it will be 18 years since my mom died. Well, losing my mom left a huge hole in my heart. The wound has healed but the space will always be there. I miss her terribly. I wish she was around so I could take her to an overcroweded, overpriced restaurant, buy her flowers, sit and talk and perhaps listen and sing all those Chabela Vargas and Elio Roca records that she loved and we grew up with. I wish I could have a fight with her or a simple short heartfelt phone call to/from her once in a while. But that is not going to happen so I will use this blog to give her some sort of a homage on this day.

She was beautiful, a bit nuts and crazy, I think excentric. Definitely ahead of her time, for god sakes, she fed us soya meat 30 years ago! did not eat carbs. Sometimes I think that she knew she was going to go early as her way of raising my sisters and I was, to say the least, "intensive". At the time I did not understand her but as I grow older I see that many of the lessons were for me to be learnt many, many years later. It is rather odd really.

She collected quirky little toys, liked to sing, was very affectionate, loving and playful, though sometimes the games not all that fun, like putting pillows over our heads or squeezing the head. She cleansed our eye balls with lemon, arggh! a bit of a nut I told you. Her standards were high and she was determined to raise strong women. She was direct and now I know that she carried a lot of sorrow in her heart. It sucks to know that I will never have those woman-to-woman conversations with her.

She loved us, she loved my dad, she loved her family particularly her youngest brother German (who died last year) and her youngest sister Lourdes, she adored both of them. She loved the waves and being buried in the sand. She loved to sew.

From her I learned the true value and meanining of friendship, she had friends that were part of her life since they were children. She had this admiration for Manguito and great love for her and all the rest of that group of remarkable women.

Mom and Manguito, her best friend. Her friends. Gorgeous her.

She used to drive us to music school 3 afternoons a week for years, she learned it too; if there was a lot of traffic and an ambulance went by, she would accelerate and drive right behind the ambulance to arrive a little early all the way to the IMAN (by the Olypmic Village - we lived in Satelite!). She treated all the maids and workers with love and respect and dignity. Once she got a perm and they curled her scalp, really! so a lot of her hair fell off and she looked liked a chicken. We started calling her "pollo". She was a tough cookie, never complained of being tired or sick, I only saw her in bed twice: after she had a mini-breakdown once I got lost in an Independance Day parade downtown and when she had a histerctomy. I wish she had cried and gotten sick, maybe then she wouldn't have died.

She sang with Mariachis in the Puerto Vallarta sea wall; got thrown out of a Garibaldi bar as she opened the bar swing doors imitating a western movie and the bouncers thought she was another "drunk gringa"; she danced flamenco at some crowded bars, she said that as long as it was love gender didn't matter; she was a chemist working at the INAH (National Institute of History and Antropology) and when she got tired of science she started a business selling artisan cheese. We ate together at the table everyday. She used to spike our breakfast shake with rum or whatever was at hand. She loved shoes and was not very good applying her make up, though whenever my parents went out on a fancy date, she always looked gorgeous. She wore heels everyday and was always really well put together. She read alot and loved to travel.

She had dignity and she had fire. She loved life. She was compassionate. She wanted us to be the best, whether we were maids or presidents. She loved us so much, of that I have no doubts. I now know that things were not rosy at all for her the last few years. She seeked refuge in religion, I wish she had done some things differently, but what consoles me is that I really feel that she did the best she could, the best she knew. As a teenager I sometimes felt that I hated her as we failed to see eye-to-eye in some issues, totally normal, but I can only imagine how a parent must feel when a child tells them that you hate them. I was fortunate enough to have the time and chance to straighten things up with her. The last two weeks of her life I was with her and we had so many wonderful conversations.

She was so sick, she was in a lot of pain. The chemo and radiations did a number on her. She lost her hair and got so thin. Her arms were bruised by the radiation. She could taste everything that she ate and the flavours were very intense for her. She knew she was dying but waited for my sister and I to go back home at the end of the school semester. We spend a really beautiful, quiet Christmas together. She was in pain but her eyes had this spark and sweetnes that to this day comforts me when I think about it. I was with her when she died. She lost her sight at the hospital. She was a bit mortified, but when the machine flat lined, she had a smile in her face. I think she went in peace and that to me is the most important thing. When I die, I want to have that look of serenity and peace on my face.

She died of a fulminant cancer at age 51. My mom left an immense hole that has become part of me, part of my life. I am so grateful that she was my Ma.

I still miss her.

So wherever you are, know that I love you, always.

Last picture with my mom. December 26, 1988

MOTHER'S DAY - MAY 10TH

2006-05-10T16:19:00.000-07:00

In Mexico, Mother's Day is always on May 10th. In Canada it will be celebrated on the 14th as it is the weekend. My friend Cato just told me that Mexico today is dead as everyone is with their mothers. How nice. Some people complain about dates like this as hyper-commercialized etc, etc, and it is true,as the consume, buy moto drives the occassion. I always feel sorry for the mom's that get any kind of household appliance ... just to make them work more the rest of the year. Unfortunatelly I guess that for thousands of mothers, this is the only day when husbands and children show any kind of consideration or give them any kind of special attention, so even though it is a commercial day, well, at least thousands of women have at least a day to look forward to.

So, If you are lucky enough to still have a mother don't buy her a blender or any of those damn fricky gifts (unless she is a total gourmet cook), she should have the awesome appliances anyway. Write her a poem, do a dance, offer to clean and cook for a week, don't bitch/complain/demand for a day, tell her you love her and send her to the spa, massage her feet, or do something for her that she wouldn't do for herself, but something special, OK.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all my friends with children: Lorena, Edith, Mathaba, Betty, to all my cousins, aunts and anyone that is a Mom. Keep up the good and brave work of mothering!

RUNNNNNING

2006-05-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

This September is 20 years that I live in Vancouver. Most of that time there has been the Vancouver Sun Run and the Vancouver International Marathon, two events that I had never attended, mainly because they are way to early (for me) and because it is usually raining and miserable, so Sunday's it is always better to sleep in, yummy!

But this year my sister Beatriz and 3 other friends, Marcela, Daniela and Bryan were running in the 10Km Vancouver Sun Run. So I made a big sign and went to cheer them on! WOW! I was really inspired by all the 55 thousand runners and walkers that took part on the event, which is also a fundraising for literacy.

Bryan and Daniela crossed the line way before BB and Marcela. It was the first time that Bea had run so we all suffered with her training stories and knowing that the girl was getting up early and going out in the rain and cold to keep up with their training. Both Bea and Marcela finished the 10 K run in a little more than 1 hour! Imagine! that is awesome. Maybe next year I will try that myself, but I will just walk, I have very bad knees. It was a wonderful experience to go an cheer on the athletic people of my town and I am glad that I left the comfort of my wonderful warm bed to participate in an event that is so ingrained in this culture.

So good for you!!
Las corredoras

It was also lots of fun to see people dressed up and running, it added to the fun and cheerfulnes of the event. Two friends were running dressed up like PacMan and another one had a plastic "fat lady" custome. A couple of women where dressed like cows and I say an old guy, I am sure 200 years old running at turtle speed, but running nevertheless.

2 weeks later....
My friend Marc from North Carolina came to run the Vancouver International Marathon! 40 km!!! oh my God. We drove the route that he was going to run and I WAS tired just from driving, and he ran it in 3 hours and 25 minutes (I think!). Unbelivable, this time I also went to cheer on the athletes as I have a better understanding of the passion and commitment required to do it. I'll post more about Marc's visit to Vancouver soon.

ACCENT REDUCTION

2006-05-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

On April 22 I went to an accent reduction class. Why? well, because I have an accent...or people say I do. It bugs me that everyday I get asked the dreaded "where are you from?" at least twice! I don't hear myself having an accent though. Anyway, the class was taught by a speech coach named Andy Krueger a native of San Francisco, CA. He said he was going to teach us how to speak "american" and I almost had a heart attack but I stayed in the class nevertheless. There was a Rumanian that new everything, Ran, my Israeli friend, a woman from Brazil, one from Peru and the other 10 Asians. Ran and I were the donkeys of the class, worse than the japanese, korean or chinese, yikes!!
We were taught how to position the tongue and open the mouth to create the right initial sound and how to accentuate the first syllable in order for the rest of the word to just "roll out", and guess what...it works!!
We are supposed to practice everyday until it becomes second nature, however, the practicing part has been a little difficult as we are required to speak V - E - R - Y slowly in order to get all the positioning right, so it takes a LOOOOONG time to say anything and you sound quite retarded, so I am thinking, do I prefer to sound like a "foreigner" or a "retard", hahaha. So I am being retarded but all on my own, perhaps walking down the street, driving around or just alone in my place...now...that is a pretty pIC-t - u - r -- e!

Another night of Mexican Beauties

2006-04-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

That time of the month. This time Marcela's mom and sister (Carmen y MaInes) are visiting the town, so we added another 2 Mexican Beauties to a night full of laughter and support and wow! awesome food...those little donuts are deadly Marga! and yuuumm,, brinquitos, directly form Mexico.

The table was set all in pink, for girls...how cute is that!

SPRING, SPRING, SPRING...!!!

2006-04-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

I remember when I was a kid, learning about the seasons at school. We had to draw them. So spring we drew flowers, summer the sun and ocean, fall the orange trees and winter the snow.

In Mexico City the seasons are not like that (as far as I remember) but here in Vancouver each season is very different from the previous one, and all those changes - the flowers, the sun, the falling leaves and the snow - are part of life. That is one thing that i LOOOVE about this town!

So here are some pictures of some early flowering trees. In a week most of Vancouver's trees will be in full bloom, and it's quite the spectacle. I find it so beautiful and happy, it's like nature's popcorn, confetti, really gives the sense of new... it looks wonderful and sometimes smells really pretty.

There are lots of cherry trees with white or pink flowers, and one that I like a lot is the magnolia tree, the flowers are so elegant and fragile, they stand up like soldiers eventhough the petals are large and heavy. When they get tired, they rest and the flower looks like a funky frisbee and then they go. I love spring!

LaConner

2006-04-03T23:29:00.000-07:00

A very happy day!

The Tulip fields in LaConner, WA. It was very cold!

CHICAGO!!!

2006-03-31T17:31:00.000-08:00

I spent the last few days in Chicago! yep, ooo getting on a plane, sooo good! even though it was not that comfortable. From Seattle to Chicago I asked for an emergency exit seat and.....they charge! can you imagine, $44 US (w/United). No wonder why airlines do so bad, crappy customer service and charging for breathing. Anyway, I got safe and sound to the windy city.

Ana Laura (my sis) was already waiting there. We went to get the car and got a mini-van, gross, they are truly ugly! but it was good to have some wheels. We stayed in a hotel close to the airport, very nice with awsome pillows (part of the Hilton), as it was late we just went to a nearby mall where everything was closed so we ended up going to a late night movie... V for Vendetta, amusing!

Next day we decided to go to Cereal City - the Kellog's plant to visit the frosted flake Tigre Tono. We saw the brochure in the hotel rack and the directions were: take I-90 and exit on #90 to a street, and it is 5 miles from there. OK, so there we go....the #$%^&* brochure didn't bother to say that it was something like 3 hours away and that you had to cross 3 states!!

Ana Laura called in the morning and they were opened until 5. On the map we found the highway and there we go, and then crossed to another state and then to another. We kept saying that we should go back, but as we didn't know how far it was we kept going. We arrived at 4:15 (left at 1:30) to find out that it was CLOSED!!! can you imagine!! we laughed (what else to do) but I sure gave the finger to the Tigre!

So we went back to town and got back at around 9 pm so we basically blew the whole day royally. We went for a nice steak dinner and as usual I had a date with the porcelain god, severe vomiting and feeling like dying the whole night. I don't know why my stomach is soooooo sensitive!

The next day we went for a good walk to half of the Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave.)
and as it was a very nice day we went up the Sears Tower...103 floors!
it takes de elevator I think 50 seconds to go from the bottom to the top1. We had amazing views of Lake Michigan and you could see over 50 miles (we couldn't see the %^&^&* cereal city....hahaha). There is a very good, fun, informative and well designed exhibit about the history of Chicago, the famous people, their industry, arts, sports, architecture, etc. So it was a very educational and informative way to spend a couple of hours.

Then we went to walk around the Mile and I wanted to go to a Piano Bar called the Red Hair Girl but it was closed (lucky for AL!),. so instead we went for Mexican dinner...lots of mexican places, there is a big MX community there as well as latin americans.

On Tuesday we took an architectural tour of "old high rises". Architectura - the architects association has this great shop with awsome thingys and all the tours are provided by academics. OUr guide was Lee, an retired professor. She explained things in a very animated, fun, informative and well informed way so it was a very fun tour. At some point in time a high-rise had 9 stories!! imagine. Chicago is like Gothic City or Spiderman's city, I know it doesn't sound like a very cultured view of it but I just kept waiting to see Batman in his car or Spiderman hanging from some modern-gothic-art deco styled building! I love high rises and Chicago has plenty of them. The downtown core is very attractive but once you are out of there is nothing very nice. All the surrounding areas are FLAT...buildings are very short and everything is brown. Of course it is still wnter but I don't think the whole of Chicagoland gets much green! The "city" is modern, happening, gorgeous buildings, nice little bridges, the lake, people are very friendly and warm though not particularly good looking nor well dressed, it's pretty "average", which I found a little weird.

There are plenty of swanky restaurants and bars, coffee and chocolate shops, blues and jazz joints and of course Chicago's famous Giordianos deep dish pizza! We had a little one between the two of us and it was more than plenty! eating one of those guarantees a major cheese ball in the stomach!!! hahaha
After getting culturized we spend the rest of the day at Marshal Fields, a Chicago's icon of a department store. Chicagoans are upset as this store has been bought by Macy's and soon it will become one. Marshall Fields is to Chicago as The Bay is to Canada (mmmhhh, and The Bay was recently sold to JC Penny's - *&%^$# - if they are going to be selling national identity icons at least they should sell them to more upscale entities like Nordstrom, buy JC Penny? arggg. OK that is another blog entry). So apparently there is much discontent that they are going to change the name and look of the store!

OK I'll continue with this later, and I'll post pictures too!

Today's find

2006-03-23T18:26:00.000-08:00

We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
Aristotle

RESPONSES

2006-03-21T11:44:00.000-08:00

Lots of times I go to my blog only to see that there are no comments! arrrgghh! it's so sad....so if you read the blogs comment! that's the whole point no? to create on-line communities, exchange ideas, say JE_LL_OU?? A little ranting is good! ha

FEBRERO LOCO....MARZO OTRO POCO

2006-03-14T19:19:00.000-08:00

We had snow last week!....can you belive it, snow in Vancouver in the middle of March. I went to visit Lorena and Andres to their new house in Surrey....beautiful place, I am soooo happy for them, but it is the Sister Republic of Surrey, about 45 minute drive (or more) from my place. Coming accross Richmond it was snowing really hard, biiiiiiig snow flakes the size of a mmmhh, Kranky on steroids and white...mmh, so Kranky not such a good example, nor like a big chunk of skin one pulls off the face or the back after a bad case of sun burn (yummy!), but maybe more like the size of a mini-Oreo cookie....big. I had to drive really slow but it looks sooooo pretty.
Didn't take any pictures, and the snow didn't stay, but the mountains are all white. So on Sunday I went for a long snow shoe trek in Cypress Mountain. Did some black diamond trails and my calfs have been in pain, not my butt or my legs, just my calfs, so I guess I am getting back in shape, fast...! of course today I had training and Alex is really a torturer, but works! so, whatever works right? I will post a picutre of Alex soon so you can see his beady eyes...hahaha.
OK to dinner and then......SALSA!!!

More about friends

2006-03-06T16:07:00.000-08:00

The previous post I was talking about what ignites a friendship? what propels us into seeking and nurturing new friendships with strangers - because all friends at some point were strangers.

I think it might be recognition at a primitive level, perhaps at an esoterical or really subconcios level (met them in my previous life), perhaps it's that you see the good parts of yourself reflected on them, I don't know, I haven't made up my mind about this one. But nevertheless throughout my life I have been blessed with excellent friends, o yeah!, how sweet is that.

In the last couple of years I've had the luck to meet some Mexican women that are all truly amazing, we are all very different in many things and very similar in others. A little group was formed and every time we get together is the Mexican Beauties Night. We talk about everything. One night the topic of conversation was cleaning, cooking, what broom you use, if we clean the toilet or the fridge, etc, etc, it was really, really funny, we laughed our heads off and as we are all educated, professional women we laughed even more at the topic of conversation. Other days we talk about politics, or our plans, goals and dreams; the other night the main topic was about violence in Mexico city and the experiences we've had with robberies, kidnappings, etc. The point is that it is a bond forming, life lines, a zone where we can be ourselves with each other, no barriers, and the best is that there is this raw honesty from all of us, in a way the quote I read when I was 9 is true, as all these women are becoming my "sisters". I talk about this particular group of women as they are my newest friends, sometimes when we are together I start thinking, OK, so how did all started? what was the glue? Perhaps it is a silly thing to try to understand "the mechanics" simply it IS, but I like pondering with those kinds of questions in my head.

Lupita(Daniela's mom), Beatriz, Daniela, Yo, Raquel, Marga, Marcela

And this other photo is a photomontage created by Marga (she is also a designer). I got it while I was travelling, when I opened the file I was very touched and at the same time I bursted into laughter as I find it to be such a great image, it captures a lot of the feeling going on with the Mexican Beauties Night...

Welcome Back Party

2006-03-06T15:37:00.000-08:00

It was really nice of David and Mariana to have this party for me. It was really fun and we spend a great evening together. They bought and renovated their place and it soooooo beautiful, attention to every detail and very, very good taste. I ate all the guacamole and edamame, mmmmhhh, yummy, and saw a few friends that I haven't seen since I came back, so great to see ya'll. I love Vancouver parties, there is always people from all over the world, this time lots of Latinamericans from Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Venezuela others from Australia, Italia, Ukrain, Israel and yep, somo of the minority group, a couple of original Canadians...Dean and David, Mariana's husband, ahhh, multiculturalism...

Mariana and Carolina

Ran, Me, Veronica, Rodolfo

Bea, Ivan, Luis

THE RACOON

2006-03-06T14:52:00.000-08:00

On Friday morning I had invited my friend Daniela and her mom Lupita to come for coffee to my place. [I just love that of inviting girlfriends for coffee on a workday morning!! hihihi]. I broke the lid of the butter thingy and there was glass all over the kitchen, so I went out to the patio to get my broom. On the chair there was this big, brown, curled up furry thing. First I thought it was a cat, too big...then a dog... to curled up and Bea told me to be careful as it might be a racoon. So we went inside to the bedroom window, made some noise and this super cute racoon kind' of woke up, looked at us like saying..."hey ladies, I had a rough night and I want to sleep", and then curled up again and went back to sleep!!!

The racoons are SO cute, I could just hugh it, too bad that they are very agressive, eat garbage and are likely carriers of rabies. But any way, here are the pictures, thinking about it, I could have made a cute little bolero jacket! hahaha
The racoon was rather large, my friend Ran suggested that it might be pregnant and when the little racoons are born they are going to think that I am their mother, I just have to make sure to wear a mask...hahaha, funny Ran.

I called Wildlife rescue and they told me to leave alone as he was probably going to leave at night, he left at around 6:50, I'm sure going to a party somewhere close.

THOUGHTS ABOUT FRIENDSHIP

2006-03-02T13:00:00.000-08:00

What is friendship really? how do you define it? is it love, compassion, company, fun, all of the above? how does it develop? where does it start? why does it start? what factors make people friends and what keeps them as acquaintances? is it all about chemistry? of course common interests, values but not necessarily goals play an important part. Why is it easier -many times- to deal with friends that with family? Is it blood? familiarity? "rights"? If your sibling is your friend as well, how is that different from a non-blood friend?

Well, I am sure that everyone has different ideas about the questions above. Once I heard that there are friends for a reason, friends for a season and friends for a lifetime....and that made sense. I have had them all...the friends for a lifetime still my friends, and some are really from a life time, some we met when we were 3.

So, going back to what starts a friendship....when a new "romantic" relationship starts, the usual motivator or hook is physical attraction, mmmhh, he is cute/she's gorgeous and the list goes on. But, what about friendships?, what is the initial attraction? what keeps us motivated to nurture and grow our friends?

When I was about 9 I read in a bood a quote that says "a friend, is our chosen brother", that really stuck to my head since then. I know why I keep my friends: because I love them, I respect them, I admire them, because I get a lot of them, different from each one and because I am able to give some of myself to them. Because in hard times you really know who is there for you, with their help, love and support and you give that in return tenfold when it's their time of need. Because there is nothing better than share the good times with them, but what starts, ignites a friendship? how does it work, maybe that is one of the few cases when incoditional love exists? What do you think? I really want to know what you think....so.....

SETTLING DOWN

2006-03-02T12:32:00.000-08:00

It is 3 weeks since I came back and I feel that I am just starting to settle down. I have been sick on and off for the last 2 weeks with some bug going around, it doesn't feel good to have so much stuff in the brain, the nose, achy body, fatigue but not feeling sick enough to just stay in bed and rest. Fresh ground ginger, squeezed lemon and honey in hot water does wonders for a sore throat.

I have seen almost all of my friends though not all of them. Got lots of good news like my friends Veronica and Rodolfo bought their first place together, Lorena and Andres finally bought a townhouse and Renee got a new pair of tatas. This Saturday Mariana and David are having a dinner party at their house, as some sort of Welcome back! that is so sweet, so I'll see some of the people i am missing and haven't had a chance to see.

As well, I will be starting a new company as I am no longer part of KUBE. That is a very hard deal for me as I have grown very attached to the company we started and I loooove my office, at least but we got it off to a good start together...so, off I go to start a new venture .... again!!
I am getting really good at getting businesses started, so I am confident that things will work out just fine. I will be going after a different target market and my company and KUBE will be able to pass clients back and forth. I will let you know all the details once I work them out as I will be needing all your support (and referals) to get this new thing going.
The horrendous thought of having to get a job is enough inspiration and gives me enough drive to get into starting someting else, I know what I am getting into and I know it's not easy.
Honestly 9-5, monday to friday, 2 week vacation after one year sounds like hell to me....gives me the hibbyjibbies!!

Back into salsa and getting better at it, dancing is such a joy. Back to the gym and with Alex the torturer (trainer), he is evil really evil man, I am in pain eventhough I am not fully back into my work outs as I have been sick.

So life is moving at a very very fast speed, I hope not to get dizzy and throw up!! But it's good to have so much ahead of me so I can start thinking t r i p again soon!

5 HABITS

2006-02-16T11:47:00.000-08:00

BB, my sister send this homework to all but I haven't done it, so here we go.
My 5 weird habits (that I can think of...)

1. If I am to wake up I MUST have a shower. In the hostal that I stayed in Rome, the water boiler broke! It was very cold outside and I still had a fricking frozen shower, otherwise, I am toast, I don't wake up!

2. When I go to sleep all the doors, drawers, etc have to be perfectly closed, othewise I can't sleep, the monsters might come out of the closet!

3. I have an obsession with hand cream, everytime I wash my hands or my hands get wet I have to put hand lotion, otherwise my hands feel like dry corrugated cardboard to me, like if the skin is going to snap.

4. I don't like eating anything that has bones or reminds me that it is a dead animal, though I love meat, it has to be boneless, skinless, no veins or tendons or hairs, groossss!!

5. I only like to eat eggs if I cook them, otherwise they can make me puke!

The other day I was driving and I noticed another habit:

6. I always add up the numbers of the plates in front of me and divide them by each number and reduce the numbers to the smallest denominator

and

7. When I listen to radio, conversations, movies, basically if I am not talking I am writing everything in short hand in my brain...thanks Edna !! (Edna was the shorthand teacher in secondary school), no wonder why I can't remember things....hahaha

LONG DISTANCE FEES WARNING

2006-02-13T19:19:00.000-08:00

To those travellers that might be reading this blog be warned about making long distance collect calls from the public phones. All over europe public phones have these stickers with an 800 number to make long distance calls. I called Dean collect twice for about 12 minutes each call, and yesterday when I opened my phone bill I almost have a heart attack to see that I owe $300.00 dollars!!!! I was expecting it to be more expensive than usual, perhpas $50, but 300?? $%^$%^#$%^#$%^&$%^&$%^, that is armed robbery as far as I am concerned, so just so you know. I should have bought the $15 euro long distance card, even if I usesd for only the 10 minutes it would have been way cheaper than this %^%^%^&((*&$&^&& bill.... be warned!!

THANK YOU

2006-02-08T16:58:00.000-08:00

Travelling, going to new places, learning new things, seeing awesome and ugly stuff, eating new food, eating lots of chocolate pane, beer for breakfast, copious amount of wine and champagne and definately not much water, wow! how fantastic, but all this is nothing without the people one meets along the way...

...each one of those persons add to the experience, most times the contact is so short but it can be very intense and honest, sometimes is just an exchange of niceties, sometimes is a helping hand, and sometimes is just a plain, simple human exchange (OK, I am not going to write all about the endless sexual harassment by males of a certain part of the world that think women are nothing....that I hated to the max -and yes, I know that hate is a strong word!!).

x

So, to all of you that I had the luck to meet thanks! because that made this trip even more special. The Jensens in denamark, the Botazzis in France, mi cousins Pelena and Eric and their friends and my little cute nieces Sara Elena and Isabel; Rina and husband in Amsterdam; the crazy Irish rugby fans in Venice, Sigrid and friends in Berlin, Albert, Jomelo, Lucia, Danny, Rafael, Neu, Randall, Steffy and Oscar, and all the others in Barcelona, the kind man in London that got off his train to take me to the airport train; Swiss Tom that we met in Prague and had a lot of fun together; Eduardo, a spanish guy that agreed to take part of my luggage so I didn't have to pay an exhorbitatnt amount of excess baggage, ERWIN for his amazing recommendations on where to go, all the people that read the blog, new friends like Giorgio, Alessandro, Marco, Salvatore, Elissa, Jean Michele, Chris, Corina, Anna, Paola, etc, for having seen my sis perform so well, I am sure I am forgetting many people, some I don't remember their names but they are all stamped in my mind!

So, until the next one.

GOING HOME

2006-02-08T16:47:00.000-08:00

So now I am home. Vancouver is my home.

I was very happy when the plane landed, I came back in one piece, lost a few things along the way like the Helmut Newton poster I bought!, 3 pairs of gloves, 1 tuck, 2 umbrellas, 2 pairs of earings, an eye shadow, the rust that had been covering my mind and soul for a long time, many fears (though got new ones, like heights), but mainly I was happy because I came back recharged, reloaded, reinspired and really, really happy.

From Berlin to London

Travelling has always been the best medicine for me, and it always will be. It is my passion and I feel so blessed and fortunate to be able to do this. I guess I started this trip trying to escape my life, but at the end I discovered that what I needed was not to let my life escape me. Travelling for me clarifies the cliche of "live each moment to the max", why? well, when a trip starts you pretty much know the day and time that you are leaving and the day that you are coming back, you have a finite, predetermined amount of time, so it's up to you to enjoy it and spend the time wisely, or to stay in the room sleeping and doing nothing, so boy , did I ever enjoyed every single minute to the max, I did, and I am so happy about it. Right now I am jet lagged, exhausted, my poor feet are in the worse condition ever..... emergency pedicure absolutely necessary!! I have so much creative inspiration, and inspiration overall.

Travelling changes you, whether you like it or not,so, we'll see how I turn out!! hahaha. I will be posting more pictures soon, and I think that I will keep this blog going, thought I don't have a clue of what I will be writing about, I'll just let it flow.

I will probably move to Europe sometime, I would really like to live there, Rome! yesyesyes, perhaps Spain or Amsterdam. Who know where the wind will take me next.

MORE BERLIN

2006-02-06T16:26:00.000-08:00

One of my favourite photographes is Helmut Newton. For those of you who don't know him he did a lot of the advertising photographs that you have probably seen, for big brands and lots of them were published in Vogue and other high end fashion magazines. He is also well known for his nude photographs of women, I really like the work as it is really intense and classy. Anyway, the museum was excellent, to see all those images in very large format, as well as a lot of the props and letters between him and his clients, the creative process etc.

There is a German department store ZeWeBe (o algo asi jiji), que es asi como el Harrods aleman. El piso 6 es de pura comida, diario traen cosas frescas de cada lado de Europa, tienen mas de 1400 variedades de queso y mas de 2000 de panes, panecillos, etc, Vinos, dulces, chocolates, embutidos, tes, y hasta Cannabis Iced Tea que por supuesto compre unos cuantos - ni me hacen nada, jijiji, Este piso es algo que uno deber ver, que maravilla, y hay barecillos de Champagna, de martinis, de vino, de te, de chocolate caliente, 2 o 3 restaurancillos y el caso es que todo se antoja. Tambien venden aguacates de Kenya, tunas, tamarindo, todos los ingredientes apra cocinar Thai, en breve, el paraiso culinario gourmet, una maravilla!

Mmmmhhh! que rico, es buen desayuno!

Tea anyone?? Each tag is a different tea and the containers have them, there are so many of them! cb2006

On Saturday evening I went to see my sis Cecilia play, it was awesome!! I haven't sseen her play solo, ever, so it was a really special treat. She was accompanied by a pianist (mexican too) and they played contemporary mexican classical music. Really the music not my cup of tea (at least the first part) but the second part was excellent. It was in a very intimate setting, like when Mozart gave concerts to the King in a room with some special guests, and there was wine, and socializing, so it was quite the experience.

Cecilia about to start playing!

Some of the people that went were other musicians, some conductors, cultural attaches of different countries and from different embassies and some just regular people. The concert was very very well received and not to brag but my sis was brilliant, I was touched and I am so proud of her. After that she abandoned me, so I ended up going to dance salsa with the pianist! hahaha, and there he met some of his classmates in Mexico that now live and study in Moscow and haven't seen each other for something like 8 years.! Imagine....it is so weird.

Sunday, just came back from Postdam, a Berlin suburb, where during tumultous times it was the most tolerant place of all Germany in terms of culture, religion and race. King Frederik had his summer palace there, beautiful grounds! It was very very cold, everything was snowed but the sun was shinning and the sky was bright blue, I think we were about -4 or so. I walked around, took pictures, enjoyed the sight seeing and went for a fancy, yummy german lunch as my farewell. For dessert I had some of the best chocolate ice cream ever (best one in Argentina and nothing compares to real Italian gelato, mmmmmhhhhh!!!).

Vista del Palacio de Prussia en Postdam. Que fillo!!!

In Berlin I stayed with Cecilia at an apartment of someone she knows, very nice place and our hostess Sigrid was wonderful, thank you! So I went back, packed and sat down with the people that were there and had a wonderful night that ended about 4 am! I had to wake up at 6! to leave at 7 and be able to catch the metro to the airport. Well, I woke up at 7!!! so ruuuuuuush, run, but I made in with plenty of time - I tell you - German precision is NOT a myth, everythign seems to run quite smooth there! So took the plane back to London (luton airport). Once there I took the train all the way to Heathrow. Once in Heathrow I left the boarding room a couple of times, I thought, I will just go to Italy and see what happens! I almost did it, but then I am not interested in going somewhere to stay as an illegal alien and wash dishes, i don't like washing dishes! so I got in the plane with a big smile on my face....I had a fantastic adventure!

BERLIN

2006-02-06T14:13:00.000-08:00

It is not a typical European city, it is big and occupies a large area, a car is necessary to get around or the excellent public transport. As many European cities Berlin was totally destroyed after the war, so even though many of the builings were reconstructed to be like the previous ones, the city doesn't feel old. Also, after the Wall came down and with the reunification of Germany, Berlin is going through amazing growth and redesign. There are dozens and dozens of new buildings, some really spectacular super modern constructions. Many Berliners are not that happy about it as they say that it just doesn't feel like "their" city, that foreigners might appreciate it but they don't.

Just some of the buildings!

Right in the middle of "downtown" there is a bombed church, it was left there as a reminder of the horrors of war. It is a real downer and boy does it help to remind you of the brutality that man is capable of. Most of my trip I have been amazed and touched about the great capacity that mankind has to create, produce and live surrounded by beauty so seeing the other side, the great capability of brutality and hate, completes the picture, it's the good and bad the light and the dark, the ying and yang. I prefer to think about the good, I think most people are good.

The bombed church

I went to Charlie's Point and went into the Wall Museum. The exhibit from the design perspective is crap, but the content is amazing, it is hard not to cry, those were really insane times and as a person that has always lived in peaceful countries is is very hard to comprehend what people went through. But, it is great to have the photographic records as well as anecdotes and documentation.

Signage. Me infront of a piece of the Wall.

I met a few people that escaped Eastern Berlin and some people that were the "helpers" on the W.Berlin side, the stories are fantastic and at this time they sound so intersting and entertaining but the reality of that time was brutal. There is also an exhibit called "The Topography of Terror", it's an open exhibit (it hasn'b been finishe, started being designed by a swiss architect but the project has gone to tender again). The exhibit is in the underground SS quarters, it is creepy, the vibe there is strong and unpleasant. I also went to see the Jewish monument of 1000 steps.

The Wall

GUTEN MORGEN

2006-02-05T20:58:00.000-08:00

So, Berlin here I am! Getting here was a royal pain in the ass but I finally did. At the train station I met Piti and off we went to the place where se was staying. It was great to have a place to stay here. It is in verz nice neighbourhood and the apartment is reallz, reallz nice and big. It is a little bit a way from the Centrum but the metro system is fantastic. It has the absolute best signage anywhere I have been, in fact, if I am not mistaken that is because it was designed by a studio here in Berlin called Meta, one of the best in design in the world, specificallz for the typography. Anzway, it is so nice not to get lost for hours at a train station due to lack of proper signage!!
So the first night we went back to the main metro station and took bus 200 which drives around the main tourst sites in Berlin, it was very dark and very cold, we got out at some spot, found a really nice reataurant and had dinner, a big sausage with potates and sourkraut, excellent! and there was a very good and animated jazz band playing. After that it was almost midnight so we went back to the apartment, it was so freaking cold!!!

The night I arrive it snowed! View from the apartment where I was staying.

on the way to BERLIN

2006-02-04T20:05:00.000-08:00

There were no trains to Berlin or anything near so I had to fly to Frankfurt. I got a cheap flight out of the Girona airport so there I go, takes 1 hr or so to get there. The plane was delayed by more than an hour due to bad weather. As it is a cheap flight thez only let zou carry 15 kilos of luggage, so I had to empty mz suitcase, and I swear i onlz left mz towel, mz pijama and underwear in and it was 15 kilos (I have a witness to this because i know nobodz will believe it!) so i put everything else in bags and had to ask somebody to please carrz mz stuff as if it was his so i didnt to have a fortune in luggage (more than the $%&/ flight itself!), so this guz was super nice and he was also going to frankfrut and between the two of us were able to snick in all the stuff. Because the plane was late the connecting bus in Frankfurt to the train station got screwed bzy 2 hours!!! and when i got in the bus with a packaged salad the §$%&%&/ bus driver didnt let me in with it, i had to put it in the luggage, he was a total ass, even a couple of people from the bus got so mad at him and at me for not fighting with him. Anyway, I got to the train stataion and the train was leaving in 13 minutes, so I had to run with all mz monsters but took the train all right. It takes 4 hrs Frankfurt - Berlin. At my arrival Piti was waiting for me so we took the excrusion to her place.

Flying over the Swiss Alps

So I will be posting next from Berlin, so far, so good.

More on Barcelona!!!

2006-02-04T04:51:00.000-08:00

Well, well, I was reading the Barcelona stuff and I have not told you about a whole bunch of places I went and saw, like for example walking around the Barrio Gotik, it has some super funky shops, there are lots of little windy cobble stone narrow streets, medieval buildings and as my friend Erwin says it is important to think that there were people walking around there over 2000 years ago! The Ramblas are reallz nice, the main one which is a major turist spot has lots of different flower and bird standas. At the bird stands you can also buy chicks and roosters!! The Rambla de Catalunya has very nice and fancy stores and restaurants, and there are sections in other ramblas that just sell whole sale stuff like for example jewellery, or t shirts, or stuff like that.

One of many different living statues on the Rambla.

At the Boqueria Market they sell fresh lobsters and crabs and humongous prawns (they have a different name) but they are so fresh that thez are still alive, and not in water but resting on ice, like at the boats in Steveston! I didnt know and the first day i saw it I thought that I was still drunk....haha, the lobsters are moving, is it me or are thez reallz?? hahaha

Candy stand at the Boqueria market

So many different kinds of eggs!! CB2006

Breakfast at the Boqueria Market. Mussels, papas bravas and a "clara" = michelada. It was coooold!!

Oh, i forgot again more things, so iäll edit this post later.

ADIOS BARCELONA

2006-02-03T19:52:00.000-08:00

Last day I went out with a girl that I met, Lucia. We are the same age and got along reallz well, went to a couple of bars and then for a great tapas dinner.

I leave this city with lots of good memories, excellent brain food, tons of inspiration and new friends. I hope that I get to show them Vancouver some time. So I will be back, and girls, the shopping here is to DIE ten times over for, mabze one day we can all come shopping together! and have a Barcelonian Girls 2 Weeks???

And Albert, Jomelo, Rafael, Lucia, Danny, Steffi, Oscar, Randall, Neu and all the others thanks for making mz staz in zour citz so special!!!

son unos lindos todos.

Rafael and Jomelo and myself after spending a really fun day. It was late, we had very alchologic coffees and I kind of stunk, so couldnt ge my coat off....to much information!!! hahaha

BARCELONA -todavia mas que contar!

2006-02-03T19:51:00.000-08:00

Well, well. Every night at around 2 or 3 am I went to have a hot chocolate to the Opera Cafe, the waiters got to recognize me and I would get mz choco right awaz, mmmhhh yummy... nice and rich and thick and so chocolatie, of course i think that mz ass is starting to show it, hahaha, but I swear that everz day I have gone up at least 250 steps, I should have brought a pedometer to record how much I have walked, it is insane!!

Picasso doodles and cathedral

There was a cold front invaded Cataluna and they had the coldest winter in the last 10 years (for what thez were sayzing), it snowed in parts of it!! so about 3 days were cold like frozen hell and raining! so it was reallz hard to go visit all the outdoor places, but as a good Vancouverian zou know, get the umbrella and start walking, so I did. I wanted to go to see the Morena Virgin in Montserrat but the place was closed due to rocks falling, gondolas not working and snow, but I was luckz enough that it opened the last day I was there so I went, it was a bit of a Japanese tour as I onlz had 3 hours to walk around, my gosh!!! oooohhh so beautiful, so quiet and so impresive, the rocks used to be under water millions of years ago so the formations are really smooth and tall and round.

Montserrat mountains.

The monasterz and the church are built withing the rocks -separate structures- and it is sooooo silent. The views are wonderful and the weather was amazing. There is a Via Crucis where you walk of a paved trail up the mountian and the 12 stations of the cruxificion are shown with big sculptures. Also, around the area athere are several religios sculpures done in very modernistic approach, and angel in the giacometi style and so on, iäll post some pictures.

Montserrat sculptures and a section of where people put their candles, mine is a red one in the bottom left hand corner. Photo. CB2006

I didnt buy he montserrat honey as my luggage monster scared me in Venezia, everytime i have to carrz I get blisters on my hands and they hurt for 2 days.

Monastery

I was having breakfast at the Boqueria market almost every daz and I would have beer at 10 with chorizo or fish or something weird but also Macedonia (fruit salad). The market is soooo cute, Granville Island super big and of course with all other sorts of things. I don´t care about eating weird things but I did trz a few like the Boquerones that Marga asked, so I did have a few in your honour and thez are so yzmmz, those are the kinds of food that scare me....hahaha but i liked them. Tapas is the best thing to eat and bocadillos and bikinis (ham and cheese sandwich), and arenques and all the delicios things.

I found Barcelona to be an amazing city, with amazing architecture and cultural life, thriving night life, excellent food and the people that I met were all great, and kind and generous and funny they have a very particular sense of humour that I really enjoyed.

The Falic buidling, isn't this horrendous, but it totally fits the crazy city of Barcelona

I will be heading to Berlin, I extended my stay bz a few days so I will have the chance to se my sister Cecilia play in Berlin.

Tu bagetas.....BARCELONA BAGETA (barcelona lives, pulses or something like that)

BARCELONA

2006-01-31T21:30:00.000-08:00

Well, well. I am not more rested than before but I have a little bit of time before the night starts.

This is a wonderful city! it has electric energy that charges even the death...or the very tired like myself. It´can be 3 am and there are people in the streets, you can eat whatever whenever and it feels generally safe in the very public places.

I have found Barcelona to be the city of details, everything is in the details. Walk for a while around the streets and pay attention and you will see all sorts of beautiful, odd, horrible but always creative detailing on buildings.

See what I mean, all in the details!!

Things like window frames, AMAZING doors, unexpected gargoiles, beautiful concrete engraving on buildings called esgraciado, art nouveau catalan por todos lados y los magnificos edificions de Antoni Gaudi.

door detail. Restaurant signage in catalan art nuvo

I am sure that his work is not everyone`s cup of tea, the aesthetic is so different and unusual and unexpected that it creates some kind of visual indigestion that needs to be nurtured with some AlkaSeltzer, ok, that sounds bad but I don´t mean it in a bad way. I love it, i love that it is is concepual, that it mixes art, craft and architecture and nature. I love the colours and mostly to me it seems unpretentious and fun, seems that the guy was just having plain fun and what is even better is that he was left alone to do his work, his way. I wonder if in Vancouver or other cities that creativity would be allowed to develop.

La Pedrera. Gaudi.

Another Gaudi building

The part Guell is beautiful, it looks like a Tim Burton movie, I wonder how much of Tim burtons inspiration comes from gaudi´s work. It is wonky, it seems that it is going to star moving at any moment.

Detalle de las banca I like that it is a ¨"mountain " park, not a flat one, and there are some sort of balconies that look they were made with wet sand "bolitas" some of them are scary, like from a scary movie. The houses, like the Pedrera are amazing. The roof top is quite something, but I could´t see it all as I got a horrendous vertigo attack. It has been getting worse, I am worried about it, perhaps it is time for me to go skydiving again.....aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh.

MAS BARCELONA

2006-01-31T12:38:00.000-08:00

Mi amiga Martha (de Espana y de Burnaby) muy linda me dio contactos de sus amigos en Barcelona. Conoci a su hermano Albert muy simpatico que me ha invitado a una fiesta y otro dia al cine con sus amigos del hiking, a group of really nice and interesting Barcelonians. Two of them took me for a Valencia dinner with cidra after the movie and we had a very animated evening! So thanks Albert!

Also, I have met 2 of Spain´s wonders: Rafael and Jomelo, another 2 of Marthas friends. They are the funniest people ! I went for a coffee with Rafael and he took me on a quick walking tour of Barcelona, showed me all the amazing design stores that Erwin so kindly recommended and then went for lunch to his place. He shares his piso with his friend Jomelo, a beautiful place and we had a great lunch served by the cook! so nice to eat like we use to eat at home. Then Jomelo, who is a developer and architect took me around to see buildings and imagine, a private architectural tour of the city by someone that knows a lot about it! well, I had a blast and learnt a lot. We went to a bar to have a bikini and a clara (ok, i had a coffee) and a clara is a Michelada by the way. Then Rafael joined us again and they took me to eat Jamon Iberico and beer and to show me the seedy part of town! more churches, the school of design, the hospital and all with explanaitons, anecdotes and a lot of laughs. We ended the evening totally drunk at some Ramblas bar .... not true about the totally drunk! Great day!!

I have gone to so many places that it is hard to remember. My brain is really, really tired. Today I went to the Guell park where I met a Kiwi and we toured around together, and then to the Tiditabo mountain where we met a great spanish couple with whom we are going to go out tonight to celebrate Oscar´s bday and the best way is to be the ACCIDENTAL TOURIST, when things just take their course amazing things happen!

Montserrat sculptures and a section of where people put their candles, mine is a red one in the bottom left hand corner. Photo. CB2006

Tibidabo is the highest point in Barcelona and there is a big church, and during the summer a fair. Right below it there is a fancy neighbourhood (don't remember the name).

View from Tibidabo

That day we were about 2 degrees in the morning and by 2 pm it was about 20! great but not when carrying 10 kilos of winter clothes!!

more view from tibidabo. CB2006

I bought a pair of Campers, the very spanish shoes that Martha always wears, they are yellow! i wasn´t to kesen at first, but then i put them on and oooooohhh, they are sooo comfortable.

OK later i will post more on Barcelona, take care.

The SAGRADA FAMILIA

2006-01-30T14:36:00.000-08:00

Stairs up to the tower of the Sagrada Familia. cb2006

This are the staris to go up one of the towers in the Sagrada Familia, I went up about 50 steps, fricked out and came back down, it doesn't have a railing and it is very narrow, spiral and high, so I was a chicken and came back down!

This is the strangest church/temple that I have ever seen. So Gaudi. His concept was the "forest" and nature, to inspire goers of any religion to take some time and pray. He was a deeply religious man. The church has been in construction for something like 80 years, nothing in comparison to many of the churches around the world, like the Dome in Milan that took over 500 years to build. It is nice to see a church "in progress", perhaps it will be finished during my life time.

Tree like columns

In order to speed up construction, they are using modern methods like making steel structures for the columns, thus, the whole church will not be recognized by the UNESCO as a monument for humanity. The only part that is is one of the facades that was built exactly as Gaudi had planned. The doors are magnificient, I think that is my favourite parte, but the tree like columns inside are not only different but soothing, perhaps is the shapes, everything inside is soft and curvy. I will be very curious to see how it is once is finished. Most people I talked to think it will be completed in the next 20 years, we'll see.

Sagrada Familia Facade

There are several sculputres of saints, and Jesus on the cross, and the Sagrada Familia which are hard to describe. But they are intriguing and one can spend hours just observing and finding new things for a long time. I wish I could do that one day, the day that I was there it was VERY cold so it was not a day to be observing the art. My favourite doors were the ones with all the type, the worksmanship and the design are outstanding.

Details of the "type" doors. CB2006