Never thought I'd say this...

Thank you Colin Powell. (No, people who know me well...I haven't lost my mind). Thank you for making an extremely valid and honest statement. I say it all of the time - and so do people I know - but we do not gain international attention. You do. The current trend of conservatism in our country is alarming and hateful. It is downright scary. So much of it comes from people who claim to have found God too. It is pure fanaticism. Peace!

P.S. I will never call you a sell out again.

Scary Palin Clip...WOW

Please click the link below to watch a scary clip of Sarah Palin being interviewed by Katie Couric. I never thought I would say this...but it can get worse than DUMBYA. It is true that if she is elected, she is one heartbeat away from being our president. UNBELIEVABLE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8__aXxXPVc

My Telenovela Happiness

So the telenovela I am currently ADDICTED to is Fuego en La Sangre (Fire in the Blood). I have been watching it now for about six months. I love Mexican Telenovelas because the experience is very much like reading a juicy novel on a warm summer night! It reminds me of when I was a pre-teen and my sister and I would spend our summers reading Harlequin Romance Novels that we bought at the thrift store for a dime. There is always an amazing main actress. In this case it is Adela Noriega - my favorite protaganista! There is always a strong and GORGEOUS leading man (hello Juan - yowza). Always a villian, or two, and tragedies and challenges along the way. And with almost all Telenovelas, their love conquers all. That is usually how it goes. I love the scenery. This novela was filmed in Puebla, Mexico. Beautiful. I love the language -so romantic. The entire cast is talented and passionate. What I love most is that it is on five days a week and it ENDS. It is not the ridiculous lifelong committment like U.S. Soap Opera watching. These last 5 - 9 months. The final episode is always epic and very much like the last chapter of a novel. When I watch a Telenovela I forget about everything else. It truly is like getting lost in a good book. I fall in love with the characters and I feel like I get to be part of their lives for a time. When the Telenovela ends, I actually feel sad that the characters are gone for good. The only thing that makes me feel better is the prospect of the beginning a new Telenovela. It is one of my simple pleasures. I am so glad that I allow them. I even added the theme song for your listening pleasure!

Sofia and Juan in "Fuego"

My Dad

Yesterday was my dad's birthday. He would have been 75. Luckily he lives in my soul so I was near him all day. I sure would have loved to grill him a ribeye though. He loved a good grilled ribeye. I stared out at my courtyard last night and was stuck by its emptiness. It is filled with plants, flowers, trees, and vines. What was missing was my dad smoking his cigarette staring out at the beautiful summer evening sky. He always stepped out in the courtyard and did that when he visited and I like to think that it is his courtyard. Sometimes I would join him and he would say, "You know mija..." He always started with that when he had a thought. He would then talk about a world issue or a fact from history or something. He was always thinking. I was sad for a moment and then immediately comforted because it was a beautiful summer evening on his birthday and the sky was glorious to look at. He would have loved it and I know he would have been there staring up at the summer sky last night if he were alive. I thought of a few of his hilarious stories throughout the day and it made me laugh too. He could be so hilarious at times. My main comfort is my dad was firm in his belief about where he was going after this life and he was ready for it so he is where he wants to be. I ended the day laughing to myself because I remember something my cousin Patricia said the day of his funeral. I was so devastated that day and she made me laugh hysterically. She said she could just hear my mom in heaven when she saw my father appear. She imagined her saying sarcastically, "Lalo, what are you doing here?? I thought you were going to give me a little more time before you came! I needed more rest." I loved that and I still do. What a fun way to end his special day.

The world is changing or I am old...

I wish I had a picture to go with this post, but I don't. I'll explain why in a minute. Is anything private anymore? I am always surprised how little privacy people need to take care of what I believe to be "personal business". A couple of years ago I was surprised when the massage people started setting up in the middle of the mall. Then came the hair straightening people to join them in the kiosk next door. It is always strange for me to see people getting groomed or the kinks in their backs knocked out as hundreds of people stroll by them in the mall and stare. In a way, I have just grown accustomed to it over the past year. I know that I can buy a cell phone cover, straighten my hair, and get a neck massage in just 10 strides if I want to. YESTERDAY WAS THE TOPPER. It seemed to happen over night, but now the teeth whitening people have arrived and they are set up in the busiest part of the center of the mall. No partitions, curtains, cubbies, nothing. They set up several dentist chairs and dentist lights and you can now get your teeth whitened with the mall traffic watching! And people actually do it! The attendents slap huge sunglasses on people, slather their teeth with some gunk, and then direct a MAJOR blue florescent light onto your teeth. I couldn't believe it. I saw people reclined in a dentist chair doing this. They stay there for more than a half an hour (I heard someone getting a consultation). I am not against teeth whitening, in fact, I have been wanting to do it. I just don't want people other than the professionals providing the service to be watching me. I can't imagine how I would relax in that chair - doing a very personal thing - with people eating hot dog on a stick passing by staring at me. Just hearing the noise of the busy mall around me would make me have a nervous breakdown! Some people even stand around and watch it like a demonstration! What is next at the center of the mall, bikini waxing? I guess there is less and less of a need for privacy or I am becoming old and uptight. Hmmm. In either case, I wish I could have taken a picture. Believe me I was tempted. I had my cell phone (with camera) with me. Even though these people seemed to need no privacy whatsoever, I thought I should still be respectful and not snap their pictures without permission. I just had to talk about this!

Felicitaciones Elyse y Martin!

My dear friend Elyse and her handsome boyfriend Martin are officially engaged. I am so happy for them. They have an oh so romantic story...the last night of her summer vacation (2007) in a small town in Spain...eyes met...talking all night...staying in touch when she returned to California...visits...more love...Wow! Now they are engaged to be married a year later. Martin is currently going through the red tape to move out here to marry Elyse. Once he is here, they will marry within 3 months! I have no doubt that it will be a beautiful event. Congratulations Elyse and Martin! I am so happy for you guys.

Hippo Birdies Two Ewes HERMANA!

Happy Birthday Syl! Today is your special day and I hope it was WONDERFUL! I wish we could be together on your special day, however, we will make up for it when we are together again. I was with you in spirit, as always. Thanks for being a great big sis and such a support to me whenever I need it (okay, that is everyday lately). I know I can always count on you to give me hope and energy! I love you for that. What would we do without our cell phones? We have so many priceless memories together and today I thought of a few to make up for not being together. I also got to spend it with my priceless nephew, your son...one of our greatest achievements (like how I smashed myself into the formula? I know you forgive me...hehe). Here is a little list of some of the memories...

#1 I know you really are sorry for tearing my Scott Baio poster.

#2 I'm sorry I made you choke on a tortilla that one time - don't forget I was the one who beat you on the back to make you breathe!

#3 Remember when I cheered you up when you were in trouble and confined to your room? I stood in the driveway by your window and danced as you sang the "Lee-Lee-Lee" Song?

#4 Thanks for acting like you really thought I was as Nadia Comaneci. Do you remember me using that dorky Grand Canyon vinyl bag as my Olympic bag in the car and we acted like it was the Olympic van taking me to competition?

#5 Thanks for not killing Norma and I for taking your car for a "spin" when we were only supposed to pull it into the driveway.

#6 THANKS FOR TAKING ME TO THE JOURNEY CONCERT AT THE ROSE BOWL AND ALL OF THE OTHER CONCERTS LIKE AC/DC, QUEEN, VAN HALEN, AND EWF! Who cares if I was only 13 years old?

#7 Thanks for taking me dancing to Oscos and all the other clubs. Who cares if I was only 16??

#8 Thanks for all of the laughing fits.

#9 Thanks for being a great Tia to my girls and for loving them so much (that includes working to near death to help me pull of my "vision" for their birthday parties).

#10 Thanks for letting me monopolize Andrew.

#11 How would we have survived the deaths of mom and dad so suddenly without each other? I will always remember us at dad's service arm and arm as we led the way to his internment at the cemetary, knowing that our immediate family was now just the two of us.

#12 AND...I'm sorry I did not come to your defense when you bought that super jumbo ginormous styrofoam candy cane at Newberry's instead of a box of christmas decorations. Even though I knew it was a HUGE mistake, I should have defended you!

Happy Birthday Sis! I love you! You are in your prime! HAVE FUN!