El vestido colgante

Mas baile

2011-04-13T19:12:00.001-07:00

Meses atras, YMCA organizó una presentación con diferentes números de baile en donde partició Vernetta's dance studio a donde van mis hijas a tomar clase. Mi nena partició en el, junto con parte de la compañia de jovencitas. La instructora de baile quería que lucieran un cabello muy espectacular y conociendo la textura lacia y rebelde del cabello de mi hija, le compré un "postizo" que até sin ningún problema y vualá, resulstado instatáneo. Pero mejor tomen un momento para ver el video. Trabajaron muy duro para un buen resultado de la coreografía, crean esto, meses. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5_cRXH0Wq0

Y lo que sigue...

2011-04-07T08:46:00.000-07:00

Aquí les presentamos, a petición popular... Waltz

Cha cha

Waltz, Chacha and Merengue

2011-04-02T16:51:00.000-07:00

Queremos compartir la competencia en la que participó A. Ella y su pareja de baile ganaron el 3er lugar. Sin duda mi niña no tiene dos pies izquierdos como sus padres. Y sin mas preambulos aquí va...

The perfomers.

2010-02-15T12:02:00.000-08:00

I almost forgot. My Nena had a birthday Jan. 15th, she turned 12. I asked her almost a month before -what do you want for your bd?- She wasn't sure, didn't come with a single idea, so I suggested to go for whale watching. She was very pleased, since I have to say, she is an animal-lover, but not just in the cute kind of way. She really is a savvy of many things, so she enjoyed the adventure a lot. I hope one day we can go to Baja California Sur for a closer encounter with the gray whales.

So far, it was good.

And now. About the posting's title.

When I was a girl, school girl, I made it into several plays. I liked to perform, even I was kind of an artist. But I think my girls go beyond what I was or intended to be. Both are really good writers and like to dance, which wasn't my strong talent. Aitana is even a good drawer and very creative doing so.

The last projects for both of them was a video clip, Bidane made it for water conservation concerns and Aitana danced as a fire for a school project, to demostrate the wild fires destructions and consequences. -Lucky girls- Pepe knows how to use this devices to video clips.

The best of 2009

2010-01-04T20:58:00.000-08:00

One of my resolutions for this year is to re-take my blog. I started to let it go before facebook, but now I think I should post regulary. It is kind of fun and my writing can be extensive, instead of small message like -my nose is bleeding or my zuchini soup is so delicious-. But I'm going to add one twist, every time I post something I'll announce it through facebook.

2010 is here, I'm very happy for this, every new year is a good thing and having reached it is even better.

But I have to say last year was a good one for me, I learned new things, I made new friends, and visited family in Mexico. Ah yeah, and I've being learning classic music and opera over-hearing this new hobby for Pepe. By the way, Mahler is kind of confusing and tortured guy.

One of the highlights of 2009 was Guanajuato, city of frogs in central Mexico. A very rich mining town during the colony time.

If you wondered what the name of this blog means, vestido colgante. You should know that's the title of my favorite painting by Frida Kahlo, my dress hangs there. We found an interactive exhibit of Frida Kahlo's work in one museum of Guanajuato.

Thanks to Isaura, Pepe's mama and Elliott that invited us.

Tan chula.

2009-05-01T10:37:00.000-07:00

Just because she is soooooooooo beautiful! Its amazing to witness

the growth and development of my daugthter, I can't believe it.

She is becoming under my eyes, the most sweet and intelligent creature on earth, very talented, centered girl.

XXXXXXX my love.

O.k and in other order of ideas....I should re-take this blog, right? At least to post our experiences. I've been very happy and bussy these days. For example, last week we celebrated earthday and the 5th graders organized a nice fair at school, this beautiful young lady had a booth with a friend and they educated boys and girls with an animal game. The school-garden had a booth too and we invited an expert on seedballs (co-worker of mine), to show the kids an effective and better method of planting.

Just a week ago, the girls and I went to help clean up Chollas Creek and made restoration by planting native plants and getting rid of the invasive ones. -Very cool-

Also, we had the opening season of Vernetta's dance studio. As every year, the girls participated by dancing tap.

Guacamole, Obama?

2009-01-23T13:53:00.000-08:00

Obama, Obama, RA.RA.RA. That was just a Mexican Cheer song.

I'm happily impressed by Obama's extended family, people of different "origins" but every body making one. So colorful, so rich.

And one more thing that reflects Obama rich culture is his food preference, that happens to be MEXICAN. But not what is common in this country, "burritous and taquitous". -No, pues- he likes the real thing. I just read he goes to Topolobampo, a Chicago restaurat owned by one of my favorites Chefs, Rick Bayless.

Rick Bayless is a researcher and creative of Mexican cuisine, so probably Obama has tasted better Mexican delicatessen that my self. So, Obama, -buen provecho-.

Feliz cumpleaños

2009-01-15T11:00:00.000-08:00

Este año he visto como has crecido, aunque siempre veré a mi bebé en esa carita.
Te quiere, mamá.

My bag catalog

2008-12-12T12:33:00.000-08:00

As many of you know we had the Winter boutique at School, Amy and I shared a booth with our creations, she made beautiful aprons and I made bags.

I suggested my girls to name each bag with flower names and plants, the result was really cute.

Up is Tiny Tim, which is now my personal bag.

This is Rose
Rosemary
Lupin
Ivy
Lavander
Almond
Blue Bell
Snapdragon
Blackk Eyed Susan
This wasn't named but I would call it Lilac, I made it as special gift for a 40th birthday.

By this time you probably are thinking, did she sell anything? well yes I did, but if somebody out there is interested I can make another one. Soon I'll post 2 more.

The story behind a hat.

2008-09-29T18:17:00.000-07:00

I sewed a hat for Lauren's birthday as a present, after I failed making a backpack (for her too). That backpack project made me almost cry. Although it taught me how to put a zipper and how to use a very nice sewing tool called seam ripper, but it didn't turn fine anyway.
It took me several days to recover my sanity and start sewing again, in the mean time I learned she got from friends of her, one Obama's bag and other leather bag, which made me think to change my present to another thing that she could use, as a hat for her girl's soccer games. I used a fabric that she has told me she liked it, because I used it before on one of my girls poncho, a thick cotton that could make a "body" to a hat, I lined it whit a stripe cotton fabric and used an interfacing for the visor to stiff it a little bit.
She was very kind to post her hat to her fellows flickers. Thank to all of them who complimented the hat, although it is entirely hers, I'm happy people liked it and she enjoys it.

Don't think I'm dead.

2008-09-26T16:52:00.001-07:00

No, I'm not dead. I'm still alive. I know I'm still on this planet, because I'm feeling things that I never experimented before, nothing to do with sex, drugs or another exhilarating stuff. It is called pre-menopause, I think.
But, yeah, I'm still here... And I don't plan to go anywhere soon.
A new beginning is about to start, after 11 years living out of the working world, I'll start earning some bacon, which put pepe very happy. -Aunque sea para mis chicles-.

The walled Maya port, Tulum and Coba, ruins under trees

2008-07-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

It is hot today in SD, the girls and I just came back from my aunt's house in L.A, where I rested and had long fun talks with her. Now in "my" reality with no air-conditioning, a house that needs cleaning, a garden asking for water and my last effort to finish the planting that I wanted to do since last week, well I start to feel depressed....not to mention the sewing projects I not finished yet.
Anyways, feeling the mood of the heat I feel like just posting pictures from our Yucatan tour, about Tulum and Coba.

Tulum

Coba

I wish to have a cenote in back yard today. AND if you noticed, the date of the post is from a week ago, but I publish today. A week ago, I just wrote a title, prove of my madness these days.

What is up there? Otoch ma'ax yetel kooh

2008-07-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

The Popol Vuh an important book for the Maya people of Central America, describes that the Gods, in search of creating a mankind made several mistakes. Before "us" it was a kind made out of wood, that were destroyed and became monkeys afterwards. As well this council book tells about two hero twins, with two older half brothers, named One Monkey and one Artisan, these brothers were jealous of the youngest brothers, when the twins were old enough they started showing their power, they made climb up One Monkey and One Artisan a tree, and this tree started to rise, higher and higher, the older brothers then were transformed into monkeys.

I'm not a historian, or a Mayan scholar, not even have read it all the Popol Vuh, but I can assume that for this people, the monkeys were important figures, as well as key presence for the health of the rain forest as seed distributors.

In our trip we visited a Spider Monkey Reserve, called Punta Laguna or Otoch ma'ax yetel kooh (House of the monkey and puma in Maya language). This reserve is a big effort of the local community
to preserve their forest. Mostly farmers (campesinos) and chicleros (getting chewing gum from a tree), these people organized themselves in a cooperative to run their eco-tours, and maintain the place, their beautiful habitat as nice as it can be. The guides, Mayan origin people are very friendly and reliable. The women sell their art-crafts in a system where they share the days of the week

They provide guided tours along the forest paths, their facilities are rustic, but very clean, and of course as this village doesn't have total access to electricity or other urban commodities that tourist are used to and in many cases are harmful to the environment, is important the reserve maintain at the minimum bad effects of the so called "civilization" activities.

Visitors can see the spider monkeys just as they live in nature, they are not in any confined place, they are not in a controlled weather facility, they eat, play, sleep and mate free in their home.

We were lucky to spot a group of 12 monkeys with 3 babies, our guide, told us, the babies were born in spring, we spent a long time just looking at them, as they playfully throw at us some fruit from the tree.
We continued our trek, Jose Alfredo, the guide, explained us about the Maya ruins located in this place and about the Chewing gum tree, the way they collected the juice from the tree, he showed us their medicine plants, explained us how to use them. He pointed to us the tiny entrance to a cenote, just a hole on the floor, the altar that takes care of the cenote and the big lake that put the name to the reserve.

Left: Chewing gum tree
Right: Cenote entrance

Supporting this kind of efforts is very important to the communities of people trying to preserve, to the wild animals, as these are one of the few natural refugees to them. Punta Laguna is not just for spider monkeys, on the other side of the lake, there are more wild animals, as the name of the reserve in maya is said, even house of the Puma.

Please, if you are visiting Yucatan or have friends going to this magical place, don't forget Punta Laguna.

Refreshing swim

2008-07-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

We were very curious about cenotes. Since we had a fiasco trying to get the cenote close to Chichen Itza, we couldn't miss the opportunities the Riviera Maya offers. The Yucatan peninsula is a flat land composed mostly of porous calcareous rocks, this rocks play a roll as a sponge, so all the water received during the rainy season is collected under the surface. The cenotes are some kind of caves, some are semi-open caves, some caves with just a little hole to the earth surface, others totally exposed, (a dictionary definition says, they are natural sinkholes in limestone filled with water. Geologists tell us that sinkholes begin as underground caverns dug out of the limestone by naturally acidic ground water). Every cenote has water, fresh, beautiful, perfect clear water.

One of the many taxi cab driver I talked to, recommended us one particular cenote, he said - just yesterday I took a family over there, they were delighted by it-. So we took his word and went to this place, located between Akumal and the Tulum ruins.

This particular bird (to the right), caught our attention.

What we saw, just enchanted us. I don't have more words to describe this beautiful ecosystem, in the middle of the Maya rain forest, Cenote Dos Ojos is just awesome. To get into the cenote people need to get down by built stairs, and then the opening of the cave appears to you as a welcome to its wonders.

Around the trees, the different birds chirping and singing, flying around, some getting into the cave and looking for little holes up in the ceiling. Fishes and the most pure water I ever saw.

Every body had a blast, snorkeling, swimming and enjoying the cenote, plus, in Dos Ojos you have two different cenotes just walking distance from one to the other.

Turtle patrol

2008-07-05T08:53:00.000-07:00

We said good bye to Merida to go east of the Yucatan peninsula, to the called Riviera Maya. Our destination was the little villa of Akumal (land of turtles in Maya language), a little north of the Tulum ruins.

welcome to Akumal

We rented a nice condo, beach front, with a beautiful view of the Mexican Caribbean. This village mostly hotels and condos is located all along Akumal Bay and Half Moon bay. Even though the amount of accomodations, the extension of the community allows to have a feeling of serenity and tranquility. Also, in this place you can see an interest for care of the environment, they try to make efforts of recycling and separate garbage, even in our condo-unit there was a can for waste and other for recyclables.

But our big interest to stay here was about the "Sea turtles". Summer is the season for female sea turtles to come land, make their nests and go, they deposit hundreds of eggs in the deep holes they carefully dig. Personally I was expecting the girls to had the experience of watching a "wild life event" in real time.

click on the logo to learn more about CEA

For the turtle purpose we contacted Centro Ecológico Akumal (Ecological Center a.k.a CEA), they make a tremendous job with the Sea Turtle Program (more than one species go to these beaches for nesting). As a non-profit they welcome volunteers on their projects as well as tourists (like us) to go with them to their every day walks along the beach in search for the turtles. If the tourist group is lucky enough they can witness the hatching of the little turtles, or turtles laying eggs. Of course the CEA people make their work measuring the turtles, collecting data and marking nests and turtles.

Our "turtle adventure" began around 9:30 p.m, after watching a video in the CEA office, about the Sea Turtle program, is important to educate the visitors, the tourists and locals as well. It was a warm night with a beautiful moon (full or almost full, I'm not sure). We walked a lot on the sand behind our young "guide", until we found another volunteer waiting for a Turtle to finish her nest, she was covering it with sand, every body sat around in silence, no pictures with flash are allowed, since it scares and distracts the animals. We waited about 15 minutes in excitement and saw how the volunteers took notes about the event and helped the female find her track back to the sea. It was amazing how they try to reach the waves again strong and with no interruption until they finally get into the ocean. It was wonderful that the moon cooperated with its glare as we could see very clear all the event.

this picture was taken by CEA

click on the picture to learn more about Sea Turtles.

We put in march again, our guide received news on his radio and alert us that another turtle was ahead. We walked and walked until we found her. The moving scene was again there. Bidane started to think about it, and she said, Turtle, eggs, baby turtles, IT IS A CYCLE, THE TURTLE CYCLE. She was very excited to find out, although she cried when she learned that that very moment was the only one the female turtle would be in contact with her eggs, and she won't meet her little ones. The guides explain us the type of tracks the different turtles make on the sand, so if they are not there when the turtles lay the eggs, they can find out the species because of the tracks.

After our turtle patrol night, we found out nests are all over the place, we found one nest just out side our condo, we found others along the nearby beach. One morning Aitana spotted tracks on the sand and after seeing them closely she concluded they were from a turtle that made her nest the night before, with no witness but the moon.

Bidane showing the nest right in front of our condo.

Aitana showing sea turtle tracks.

The land of the Itzaes

2008-07-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

Our trip from Merida to Chichen Itza (ancient and ceremonial Maya city), was an adventure with a happy ending. First we planned to spend the morning in Merida's market and travel by early afternoon to Chichen Itza, visit cenote Ik kil and then go to the light and sound show at the archaeological site.

We did the first part, although the heat in Merida that day was awfully humid. We had lunch in a small "cafe restaurant", pretending after to take a taxi to the bus station. -But- taxis in Merida just take 4 people. As we were 5 we had to wait until one nice taxi driver took us there. We embarked in the 3 o'clock bus Merida-Cancun, in its way, our stop was Piste, the closest town to Chichen Itza, we figure it out that our trip to the cenote was canceled because they close at 5, as our traveling time in this second class bus would take 2 hours -they told us-.

The bus was comfortable, with air conditioning and good seats. The route it took was the state "highway" a two lined road, passing along cute and interesting little towns. The normal life in the Maya country, the little churches, rounded houses with straw roofs (techos de palma), back yard animals here and there.

The uses of a second class bus is to stop in every town, so our bus did, taking one hour more that we thought to get our final destination. The summer rain started to fall all over the place and our hopes about getting Chichen Itza dried became small.

Finally we arrived in Piste, took a taxi to the pyramid site... It was closed...the day hours of the site were just finished. The constant rain over us and some sort of uncertainty if the light and show at 8 will run, all because of the rain.

We don't know for sure, -the site worker told me-. We always are ready for the show, but if it is raining (with the normal companion of thunder and lightening), we cancel for safety of everybody. At some point we believed our only picture from Chichen Itza was the shown below.

-Oh, bother-we were frustrated, but decided to wait, in the mean time I arranged with a taxi our way back to Merida, this time on the toll high way and hopefully one hour and a half less time than the bus.

Our waiting worthed it, miraculous the rain stopped, the gate of the ancient place were open and we were in our way to see "El Castillo" the tallest building in Chichen Itza, hidden by the trees, then you see this fabulous pyramid, orange colored as its white stones reflect the light of a clearing evening. Just beautiful.

Every body sits in a designed area for the show, you are not allowed to walk around, the exciment in the crowd is noticeable. The Chichen Itza light and sound show starts, lasts more than 40 minutes and you are delighted with history and the greatness of Chichen Itza, and its people the Maya Itzaes.

For me was a beautiful experience seeing my girls learning about Mayas, Aitana was impressed with what she saw.
The light and sound show re-creates the descending snake Cuculcan, that happens every Spring solstice on one side of the pyramid.

Venus platform and the "sacred cenote".

Merida

2008-06-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Merida, Yucatan on (at, in) the evening. We traveled the whole day from one far tip of Mexico to the other. Right away we felt the warm welcoming from the city, the temperature was high as it is the use for this time of the year. The narrow streets were calm of traffic as people is waiting for the sun to be down, get out side, and enjoy their place.

We got into our B&B, a very welcoming place with a beautiful interior tropical garden and a small pool, perfect for the kids to refresh before bed. Our breakfasts there were very happy, as we shared the common dining table they have in the back porch, with other guests and amused ourselves with an iguana that make its appearances every day around 9:00 a.m

Merida is a big (safe) colonial city of near 1,000,000 people, but contrary to what you might think it is very, very tranquil, with this flavor of a nice peace, may be due to the character of its people, they know how to cool down in a hammock or to dance romantic boleros. The main square fills with people every day to talk about the day, have a little fun with the streets artists or as we did just sit in one of the ice cream shops and enjoy a guanavana sherbet, my favorite!

The architecture of down town is colonial with the Spanish urban rules of the XVI century, a great plaza with the house of the Conquistador around it, as well as the government places, the peoples houses have a narrow colorful facades with no front garden, the green spaces are awaiting inside of the buildings as "patios", like our B&B. Something really nice about this old houses, among others, are their floors, the tiles are really neat with geometric designs or motifs like plates, cups and kettles for the kitchen.

The old streets are just made for horses or carriages. (Click on the picture to connect with the original side and the many pictures they have).

In Merida people can find a variety of tours to sight see the city, very easy to find them out. We had the double decker one, that stops several times in different places, so people can go the museum or just to have a closer look around and get into the next one, when they are ready.

A great attraction of the city is "el paseo de Montejo", a long boulevard flanked with spectacular mansions, built during the big industry of the henequen. The henequen is a kind of agave used during the first half of the XX century to make robes. The rich families of the time, brought French or Italian architects to make their "homes", even they imported materials to construct them, as well as furniture and decorations once they were finished.

Now days the Anthropology museum of the city is located in one of these palaces, Canton palace. Visiting one or more museums in hot days is something I would recommend.

Something very interesting in this city is about the sign corners. In down town, right up where the walls of the buildings come together to make the corner, there is a sign, could be an animal, a tree, a person, you name it, the girls had a great time identifying and talking about this "flashcards".

(this is for a flicker side)

We had to got "una hamaca" (a hammock) if were in the land of hammocks, right? so we did. Now we enjoy it in our back yard. Bidane was very excited to have it, as you can see she was the first to try it right in the market store.

Summer, is it just starting?

2008-06-24T12:03:00.000-07:00

Wow!!! Summer time is just starting and I feel like is ending. The girls and I just returned yesterday night from our amazing trip to Yucatan and we are exhausted! We traveled - I say to them-, from tip to tip, from one peninsula (BAJA CALIFORNIA) to the other (YUCATAN).

We have so many stories to tell and remember, Yucatan peninsula is just beautiful and we had just a peek of its marvels. Very hot at this time of the year, but I think the heat was just a minus of many, many pluses we found and experienced. As many of you know we traveled as single mamas with kids, very singular because we didn't have any boy in our gang, just girls.

This experience of just girls, was very interesting, made me think how this "travel alone thing" could impact, in the future of our young girls as independent individuals. Made me realize too of the importance of their education.

Let me explain the last part. Yucatan has a big population of Maya people, and when I say "Maya" I mean people that speak this language only or are bilinguals (Maya and Spanish). As we traveled to the places we planned, or just from talking to people, I found out that the more educated the better Spanish they speak, people learn Spanish when they start going to the elementary school. But sadly we saw more women that just spoke Maya, which means they are less educated, with less opportunities. Many of them make beautiful embroidery work, but probably they can not sale their hand crafts in a profitable way because of their less education.

We visited places where women are organized in cooperatives to sale their work, like in Punta Laguna (with the help of a male translator to Spanish). I don't think the mayority of them around the states of the Yucatan peninsula can make it better if they interrupt their school (many reasons to do so, every thing to do with the poverty levels).

I never heard people talking Maya before, is wonderful they preserve their traditions. Talking to the taxi drivers, to our different guides about Maya words made me appreciate the importance of not loosing the traditions and languages of the world, it makes the human culture richer. Also it helps to understand more about the Maya civilization int this part of Mexico, which, let me tell, it comes alive when you stand totally amazed in front of those ruins.

School year "al final".

2008-06-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

Almost the end (just a week to go) to finish this school year. A very especial year with lots of things and experiences.
The School had its first year in its new location, that little by little is taking the personality of our coop.
In a personal way I took part of a fabulous project, the School Garden. I never have thought of myself as a green thumb person, but with the advice of the greatest gardeners Annie and Amy, we raised vegetables that the kids actually ate. Even, we had time to plant a second round with kitchen herbs and some flowers.
We spent lots of after class hours planning our trip to Yucatán and talking about new ventures, that hopefully can be a reality very soon.
Thank you every body to be part of this wonderful community that nurtures and embraces our kids development.

I told you no more...

2008-05-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

What is the life of a Mexican mom if she doesn't have her blender any more...My long friend "the blender" died today of over- exercise -I think-.
-Yeah- No more, no more, she said for several weeks. I didn't pay attention and she just stop working.
Linking to my last post, Tita, the heroin of "Como Agua para Chocolate" used a "molcajete" '(kind of a mortar) to blend and make her concoctions of ingredients, a hard job to make salsas and moles. The blender took the place of the molcajete and made life much easier and cooking time adjusted to " modern times".
I used the blender to make the basic salsa (tomatoes and onions) for the red rice and alphabet soups. If you add garlic you have salsa to cook meat or chicken, I used it too for the succhini soup, the cauliflower soup, the potato soup, to hydrate mole, pipian and adobo pastes, and for salsas with chile or tomatillo. I guess I have to buy a new one, but that was my very first blender ever, since Pepe and I started our life together back in Mexico City.

Changing topic and still talking about mothers issues. How is the self esteem of a mother, as a person, damaged for a constant negative responses from her children?.
If I ask for an accomplishment of chores, I get a no, If I do recommendations, they better believe what their friends tell them. How is that I have to do complete lectures of facts, when their friends just say something and they believe it just as an act of faith.
And I won't go further with matter of the "lunch"... I like this, I don't like that; why I didn't have today lemonade, but just plain water; I don't like salami in squares, I prefer it in slices... Maybe I can do as the blender: no more and stop working.

I'm a human being, trying to make a healthy lunch for her kids. That is why I post this song from "Aterciopelados of Colobia", Bolero Falaz. The song talks in some parts of my situation, bad if it is yes, bad if it is no, better do do not ask...my part is when she sings with the flowers' guitar. Now, my self esteem can have a musical indulgence.

P.S. On my girls defense, they do what ever I ask, chores or homeworks and so, but I'd love not to explain and repeat myself so many times.

Values, passion and mothers.

2008-05-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

Mamá....Pasala bien.

I missed posting a Mother's day congratulations to all of you, Mamas. I know -you girls- had a wonderful day, and it seems that every body appreciates a cozy day at home, school made cards, breakfast and some extra "help" around the house. FELICIDADES A TODAS.

As a tradition, in Mexico, El dia de las Madres, is a big, big deal. Families get together, they eat something as mole poblano or other traditional dish, celebrating a la madre, with music, presents and dirty dishes (because at the end, guess who cleans the kitchen). I wanted for this year to celebrate my-self cooking something like that, and have a cake. In short as we say: putting a long table-cloth. But of course nothing like that happened because I didn't planned it in advanced and no desire of dirty dishes for me.

What wonderful would it be to have some body that cooks, when I'm not in the mood. Then I remembered this fabulous book called "Como Agua para Chocolate", that became a Mexican classic movie.

In the novel, Tita the youngest daughter of a family of three sisters plus the mom, became the cook of the household, and through her cooking she tries to connect with her lover, that by the way, marries with her sister.

The mother in the novel is a horrible woman, selfish and authoritarian, a picture of the anti-mama, but yet the person where the household world spins around. Her lack of comprehension leads the whole story, even after her own death. Luckily for Tita she had her "nana" to support her, even too, after she dies. Mother is a deep feeling for somebody, as the feeling of the "nana" for Tita. Tita herself protects and cares for her sister's children during times when they needed her the most.

As a mother, I try to connect with my children in different ways. One of these is cooking for them, so they feel at home, as well I want to transmit to them the enormous culinary culture we are part of. But definitely I don't look forward to be the center of their world.

Where is the number 7?.

2008-04-30T21:43:00.000-07:00

Does somebody have information about a pre-menopausal woman lossing her mind or ability to focus, concentrate or put attention to things? Because these days I have been in a stage of stupidity never faced before.

Years ago, I could remember every thing, for example I never had to write down those days of the month. Today if I don't do it, I'm totally lost, thank God I don't plan to be pregnant again, otherwise I'd have so much trouble trying to figure out my due date.

I never used an agenda, because I knew all my day with no problem. This year I got an agenda for those duties of helping remember and planning a week, but of course I don't remember using it. I have forgotten to pack sac lunches for field trips, I have gotten to school and noticed that Bidane had a book presentation and I wasn't there, just because I didn't read with attention the class newsletter.

And talking about not reading well information, I just got a number 7 out from where the bachelors like to live... -you know when they say: I need my space-. I'll explain my-self better.

On Puppy Heart we read about a Wedding Anniversary. Well, I just assumed that it was a number 7 instead of 6. Why? I don't KNOW. I even had the face to say, -hey is it not a number 6, the one you needed to put instead of a 7? The secure writer replied, I'm sure it was a 6, then I thought maybe she is right...

Maybe it could be a good idea to write a diary, a journal and see if something pops out, or at least I can wonder what is going on...Maybe I just need calcium or potassium, meditation, to practice the warrior pose or just relax.

Performance day!

2008-04-25T18:26:00.000-07:00

The girls had performances . Circo para Bidane, obra teatral para Aitana.

First Bidane and her class had Circus presentation, with all kinds of acts, very cute. She and her partner Benjamin made the juggling part.

Bidane y los malabares.

Another participant of the Circus Company, showing his skills.

Wow!!! I kind of made a draft of this event on friday, and until today, wednesday I'm posting it...
Maybe I need some rosemary essential oil to boost my mind. -Hijole-

My little ones.

2008-04-18T11:44:00.001-07:00

When I see my friends with small children and all the work they represent, I'm always in surprise how I forgot what is having a little one.
Is fantastic to see small kids being in awe of everything they see, how they experience the world in a total "explorer attitude".
I have to confess that I'm a natural worried person -ask Lauren about forks and spoons during camping-, so being preoccupied for my children safety, food and stuff like that, blocks me some times of having fun with them and recognize their own experiences with their surroundings at the moment things are happening. Now watching my friends with their little ones, brings to me memories of my own girls and help me to treasure them in a even more joyful way.

No hay grasa en las tortillas

2008-04-06T17:10:00.000-07:00

- There is no fat in corn tortillas- I like to read Cooking Light once in a while, it depends how thirsty I'm in the store, because instead of spending 3 dlls. in a beverage I do it in a magazine, although is a little more expensive. Anyways, I wrote the last sentence just to make my three readers roll their eyes and think -this woman, so frugal- a little fun in the middle of my second cold in a month, that is not funny.

As a conscious magazine they explain calorie counting for their recipes and other interesting facts about food, among those things, they wrote that corn tortillas have fat, definitely it is not true. Corn tortillas do not have fat, no lard, no vegetable shortening or anything related. If you fry the tortillas then is different.

Tamales and flour tortillas have some fat, in the traditional way lard is used for that purpose. If you are scared of lard (even though it has less cholesterol than butter) and like to buy these products, check the label, now you can find tamales or flour tortillas made with vegetable shortening or even olive oil

Baja California Sur trip's journal

2008-04-02T08:47:00.001-07:00

Last week we traveled south of the border, back into our country, just looking for beach fun and camping momentos. It is not we don't have beach here in San Diego, but those calm and lonely beaches of Baja sur await visitors with its calm and transparent waters as well as almost untouched desert's wild life.

If you look at the map, Bahia Concepcion is situated between Santa Rosalía and Loreto, by the Cortez (California) Gulf coast side.

Parallel 28 divides the peninsula in two states Baja California and Baja California Sur.

South of parallel 28 is Bahia Concepción where the beaches have not "sand" derived from rocks, but from pulverized seashells, named biological beaches. Bahia Concepcion has several enclosed beaches rather than one big beach, this special beach where we camped is the last beach, Playa Armenta.

The kids had great time collecting things, snorkeling or just swimming in the calm waters, no worries about waves.

The children found this Sea slug, squishy guy as they called it.

What else to do when it wasn't time for water? enjoy the sunset, of course, but throwing shells out to the water to make them jump, was a big hit among the kids.

What time is good to start getting wet? just after waking up is a good time, isn't it?

I love the road, although the way back was a little tired, but the scenic of the Baja California peninsula is stunning. Spring time is just wonderful, the fabulous desert colors are everywhere, red carpets of tiny flowers, yellow fields, cactus, cirios, elephant trees, palm trees in the Oasis, nude round rocks, volcanoes, and layers of sedimentary rocks that looks like chocolate and cocoa cakes.

Mas de las vacaciones aquí.

Vacaciones de Primavera

2008-03-31T16:54:00.001-07:00

Our two weeks of Spring Break vacations ended with lots of experiences and fun memories (well, we had to skip one week of school :) ).

We started with a short trip to the mountains (Mount Laguna) to have a late winter chill, the girls had a blast sliding the snowy slopes with their boogy boards. Then we headed towards Julian to have a nice dinner, where by the way, we were object of the most strange and nice touch of somebody we don't know. For some reason we are not aware of, a guy sited in the table next to ours, payed 20.00 of our bill just because he is nice...We couldn't even say thank you because he left not letting know anything about his altruism.

As winter birds we directed our wings south to have a lovely time in our almost "private beach" with our friends "Los Pollos, a.k.a Arredonald's, we settled a camp over there in Playa Armenta in Bahia Concepción, Baja California Sur. So much fun. Of course the kids didn't leave the water from morning to evening, they did snorkel, gather seashells, made a little aquarium with marine pets in a bucket (later released safe and sound), and play non-stop, occasionally bothered by the local bees. But nothing beat the view of dolphins jumping and playing right in front our eyes, the vultures resting and drying its wings right over the cactus, and falcons catching fish, the colorful fishies, the ray, star fish and the rest of neat things.

OOOOPS! FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS A MI HERMANA RUTH.

Felicidades.

2008-03-19T09:25:00.001-07:00

Despierta mi bien despierta, mira que ya amaneció.... ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió...

Féliz cumpleaños a mi mejor amigo, gracias por compartir la vida conmigo, por lo menos ya llevamos la mitad de nuestras existencias juntos, que haya muchos dias de San José para tí.

Today is Pepe's birthday, I'm very happy we can reach it together, although he is in Seattle right now.

Ay, ay, ay...

2008-03-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

After a horrible week of bad health I realize how wonderful is to feel fine, or at least kind of "normal".

Everything started with a flying piece of plate in my eye, when they say household accidents are more likely to happen that other type of accidents, is true. Have you ever imagined that putting away clean plates can hurt you?.

Then a horrible cold that lasted for days and as a dessert (I hope) a bad wise-molar day turned in a whole nightmare, extractions and soup diet.

My husband has been a big help to me, I complained of him the day I went to the dentist, but I have to say the following day he interrupted his working day when I called him in a desperate situation and stayed home.

If I would know, that removing 4 dental pieces was such a big, big and painful deal, I never would say, o.k doc., do it. I know common sense tells you that is awkward, mostly if you just have problems with one. But in such pain, the only thing you want is help, your neurons kind of shut down and the last thing to come to you is common sense. Believe me, I felt better when they removed my gallbladder.

The crisis in Latin-America

2008-03-08T11:25:00.000-08:00

Latin America faced a war-crisis (see the picture sequence to have a better idea) this week, when Colombia attacked a guerrilla camp posted in Ecuador. Although "la guerrilla" named FARC has its issues against the Colombian government and has its "military" influence in territory of this country, they had a camp in Ecuador close to the border with Colombia, trying to be safe from possible attacks from Colombian army. So Ecuador considered this military incursion as a threat and invasion. Then Venezuela and Hugo Chavez moved army to its border with Colombia as well, as a support to Ecuador.

But, as Latin-Americans, the passion has a lot to do, they insulted one against the others and accusations came and went back and forth, until the reunion in Dominican Republic, where all the Presidents of the region sat together. Some raised the voice and so on, until a big hug at the end. It seems that they solved the problem or at least, slowed down the war threats.

At the beginning of the video, is the President of Ecuador saying, - as a country they agree to get over the conflict-, then the President of Colombia goes and hugs the President of Ecuador, after, he hugs Hugo Chavez from Venezuela, and every body claps in joy.

I could go deeper and say, ideology has to do in this conflict, the right against the left, is the FARC a terrorist organization or not, is it true the U.S made up every thing and supported Colombia to attack the guerrilla in other's country territory, so Hugo Chavez would go mad and to have an excuse to so something towards him. Why Hugo Chavez was so angry at the beginning threating Colombia? and then being so conciliator in the reunion... he even sang.

Anyway, I'm glad they agreed and hugged and probably after that, they went to have some drinks, -the Latino way- ¡ a brindar!

Meet the gang
Presidents of Latin-America

President of Argentina in blue, President of Chile in red.

Presenting....

2008-03-02T20:29:00.001-08:00

We finally put together the schedule for our trip to Yucatan.... yay! Please take a look to our "flyer", click to enlarge.

click to enlarge.

Ballenas a la vista!

2008-03-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

Here we go...

Sailors arguing.
Yes... they were over there....

My girl and I, of course.

Is it a Magician, is it a Gnome, is it a Divination?

2008-02-25T13:57:00.000-08:00

Uxmal, a great Mayan city, where some of its majestic buildings still stand in the middle of the Yucatan territory.

This pyramid among other ruins in the Uxmal complex, is a beautiful and attractive building of 117 feet tall, some papers call it the Magician pyramid, but in Mexico this is named after "the one the practices divinations" (La piramide del Adivino). The Legend says that when a certain gong was sounded, the town of Uxmal would fall to a boy "not born of woman". One day, a dwarf boy, who had been raised from an egg by a witch, sounded the gong and struck fear into the ruler, who ordered him to be executed. The ruler promised that the boy’s life would be saved if he could perform three impossible tasks, one of which was to build a giant pyramid in a single night. The boy achieved all the tasks, and became the new ruler.

Uxmal is located along the Puuc route. Since puuc is a mayan word for hills, we can imagine this area of the Maya world as the most "hilly" among a bast territory of flatness that the Yucatan peninsula represents.

Along the Puuc route we do not just find Uxmal, but another cities as well, Kabah, Labna and Sayil. The Puuc cities represent a great deal of Mayan architecture, the buildings festooned with religious icon, reliefs and carvings.

Climbing this pyramid and exploring the other ruins in this archaeological site, would empower our curiosity as the past explorers and archaeologists did, when they did find for first time this footprint from the ancient. A big respect and admiration for those civilizations.

Cenote Ik Kil

2008-02-24T13:13:00.000-08:00

I wouldn't come to you with definitions of what is a Cenote, since you can have a better one following the link. But this appealing natural pool is some of the wonders of the Yucatán peninsula.
Yucatan along with part of Central America was home of one of the greatest civilization, the Maya, the Mayan considered this water reservoirs sacred places as the only resource of water they had.
Today many cenotes are open to the public for a refreshing swimming or snorkeling, this particular cenote is called ik kil and is located close to the great city of Chichen Itza.
We hope we can be enjoying its clear waters this summer, on our "Ruins and beaches" trip to Yucatán.

El dia del amor.

2008-02-14T14:01:00.000-08:00

Valentine's day, is an special celebration where people wish to each other LOVE, that is fine with me, even my Snape's inner spirit allows that. When my girl started pre-school I remember not knowing anything about Valentine's cards, until I asked Lauren what was that, and then I understood the big deal that this celebration means for kids, I bet is for the candy treats, because they pay little attention to the written cards.
I like to look at my children bags of Valentines when they come back from school, I think they reflects lots of the giver personalities, even if the parents buy them for them, I'm sure they look for something that goes with he/her thoughts. Some ones make them at home (like A&B, last year, but that was an art-craft for a non-school day).
Anyways, I got and email from some body I don't know, but I suspect Eduardo does, because my address is part of a large list where he appears. Talking about San Valentine's alternative day for guys, I replayed with all the sarcasm I usually use when talking with El Pollo because I thought I was writing to him, but noticed that I sent the e-mail to this guy I don't know, if he speaks spanish, then he would think I come from planet Vinager, (see how important is having sense of humor or knowledge of reallity?).
Oh well, I've been busy these days reading and planning a Yucatán trip-project.

Eres un amigo de Obama?

2008-02-10T20:52:00.000-08:00

Chico!!! Action, now the new Amigos de Obama, (BUTt, they need to put caption in Spanish of his speeches) let's see if that works for him, in the race for Voto Latino!

The hispanic wall and Obama

2008-02-06T19:57:00.000-08:00

The Newspaper El Pais from Spain says something like this, Obama faced a wall not anticipated, the hispanic wall, here something from an article I just read, I know is in Spanish, but you can use a translator to have an idea, try to read the whole thing too. I have to add that Obama didn't get close to the Latino community, I didn't hear in any news how Obama talks to Latinos, just that he sang "Mexico Lindo" in some radio-talk show, and something else, Obama and his speeches resembles a lot to old and all times Latin-american politicians, lots of promises and hopes and at the end (for our countries), nothing to be true or worst. We don't know if that is the case with Obama, but Latinos fear for a not happy ending.
But for all of you Obama followers, "El Pais" is making a poll, Obama or Clinton.

"El rechazo electoral a un candidato negro es un asunto que preocupa mucho a los portavoces de la comunidad hispana y cuya explicación exige un análisis muy profundo. En las últimas semanas, este periódico ha buscado en dos Estados de gran presencia latina, Nevada y California, algunas de las razones de este nuevo fenómeno y ha encontrado respuestas sensatas y creíbles: la competencia de negros e hispanos por los mismos puestos de trabajo, la guerra que las pandillas de las dos comunidades libran desde hace años en los barrios de las grandes ciudades, el trato despreciativo que algunos negros han tenido hacia los hispanos durante mucho tiempo, las enormes diferencias culturales entre las dos etnias... Los expertos y los líderes políticos hispanos se niegan a hablar de racismo. Aseguran que se trata de desconocimiento, de prevención o de venganza, pero no de racismo".

A very happy Snape

2008-01-26T18:53:00.001-08:00

Today I dragged the entire family to watch U2 3D, it was awesome, awesome!!!!!. Bidane was happy to be my company at the first place, but she was the first to protest after the first song, but decided to make it easy and fall asleep. For Aitana was a little bit noisy, but I'm sure she enjoyed it and will remember it when she grows up. She denies knowing all the songs from the concert, but I'm pretty positive she has heard all of them, many times.

(click over the image)

Maybe my husband doesn't remember but I think the first movie we watched together as a couple, even he got my ticket, was Rattle and Hum with U2. This time I was very moved, I cried with the song Beautiful Day. Another moment was when Bono sings Miss Sarajevo and makes the opera part of Pavarotti. -So beautiful.- LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THEM. I won't put words talking about Pepe's experience with this movie, or which was his favorite part, but as me, he enjoyed.

A lot of episodes of my life are linked to their music, from the beginning of my relation-ship with Pepe, my pregnancy with Aitana. Bidane as a toddler saying to people that her dad was in Vertigo, instead of telling that he was working some place in the world (I don't remember where), just to talk about few things.

Even better than the real thing.

La pequeña hortaliza.

2008-01-21T09:57:00.000-08:00

En la escuela de las niñas de nombre SDCCS, tenemos un proyecto de hortalizas y jardinería, que ha resultado muy interesante. El viernes pasado los estudiantes tuvieron la primer oportunidad de cosechar lechugas y rábanos del cajón de 4to grado, al cual pertenece Aitana. Para el interesado en ver lo hermosos de las lechugas, los brócilis y el perejil, etre otros, click aquí, al blog de Lydia.

Mama Snape

2008-01-20T11:29:00.000-08:00

Have you seen Harry Potter movies or have read the books? I bet you have... if not, well this is Severus Snape, the potion Master at Howgarts. I have said to my girls that I feel sympathy for this character, he is almost my favorite one, even though, he "seems"not to be a good guy, I like his style.

Well, recently I went to have a hair cut, the stylists girl, insisted on me to dye my hair back into my "natural color", because I had "redish" resembles from last January. I said - o.k dye my hair girl- so she did. The kids immediately noticed that, insisting I really look like Snape, as if that was my intention, looking Snapy some other member of my family of four said...You can figure it out who HE is.

Confession

2008-01-17T19:40:00.000-08:00

I never, ever give up to books, specially if I borrow them from the library, the due date helps me to focus. 0nce I put myself to read, I finish, even if I don't like what I'm reading; but this time, I'm sorry to tell you, and if Isabel Allende happens to read my blog (ha-ha), probably she will feel uncomfortable knowing that somebody just put away what she created with lots of care (I think), and on top of things criticizes. That is the reason I read from beginning to end most of the books in my hands, - for respect to the author-.

But this time...this time I just couldn't, the book was in Spanish no reason to get tired in the English comprehension, the worst is that I left like 50 pages untouched, I almost got it, but the due renewed date came, I didn't have the mood to go to the library and have a chat with the librarian to change from one card to another, besides it was overdue, I was deep in my effort to finish it, that I never noticed it was overdue. Feeling angry and frustrated I thought,- come on, you are not going to finish it-, night after night I found my self fallen asleep, waking up later to turn the light off probably after 1:00, I don't think my husband with jet lag from his long trip from Australia would feel happy with that.

Every reader is different, and the circumstance of the reading time is not the same for each of us, probably you would enjoy it, as many people did. But I found the narrative rather boring, it talks about the way El Zorro, became El Zorro, his adventures to do so are non-sense, he joins a secret society of justice, a group of gypsies and is inspired by a pirate to get his out-fit. I came to the conclusion that Isabel Allende got the character and his abilities, as good athlete, good with the sword, and then thought about an spectacular almost from the circus way to get his "heroic powers". I'm o.k that she choose the period of Diego de la Vega to become El Zorro, it is just the way: too big ears, he needed to cover them with the mask... Is this a joke or what.

Linda y hermosa niña cumple 10.

2008-01-14T21:08:00.001-08:00

My little girls is 10 years old, she is the most sweet and beautiful pumpkin pie over the face of this world.

She was born in the middle of a cold Canadian winter, I remember a terrible storm covered from Montreal to New Brunswick (the province where we were living at that time), but luckily for us it skipped the little city of Fredericton. Many families were out of electricity for days, and I was just very scared that we had to face that, mostly because we "Mexicans" knew very little about the cold-snowy-winter of far north.

When the doctor placed her little body over my tummy, I was surprised of how warm she was, a crying baby with lots of hair. I wish I had known better to enjoy her more, but I had no experience, and worried a lot for many things, but I was lucky with her, because she was gentle and nice with her mama, as she was aware that I needed help.

La más bonita de las niñas cumple 10 años. Estoy féliz y orgullosa de la persona en que mi hermosa "goyita" se está convirtiendo.

For her 10th birthday our family took her to the beach to have a great time around her aunts, uncle, grand parents and her beloved cousins, Gene y Jorge.

Para festejar sus 10 años nos fuimos a la playa y nos divertimos mucho!

Solo Huerta

2008-01-11T18:42:00.001-08:00

Panoramica de los Huerta.

Huerta is my last name. My sisters complain I don't post anything from my family when I come back from visiting them.

Papá y yo.

Eblyn, Ruth y Jorge (sisters and one of my brothers)

Mamá y Aitana.

The power of the kings.

2008-01-11T18:15:00.001-08:00

We celebrated The Three Wise Kings in my parents house, as the traditions says, the Kings or "Los Reyes" brought some presents to the girls, who put their shoes to be filled out. But this time (in our case), the kids get any thing the Kings want to give them, no petitions allowed.
This year the children got something special, a letter from the "orient" where the kings come from. Through this letter the "Wise Men" make some behavior recommendations, like be good and don't be too wimpy (Bidane), because really, one as a parent need some help from the big guys to support our every day sayings as, clean your room, pick up your toys, you don't need to cry for this, and so on.

By evening we had pieces of bread (called rosca de reyes) with hot chocolate, we were very happy to share this moment with my parents, sisters, my cousin Licho and my beloved aunt Luisa, who is big sister to my dad.
Tia Luisa is a great inspiration, she just have a great way to see things, you never have heard somebody describing sunsets as her. I have so many wonderful memories from her house, with banana, mango and avocado trees and she planting mint o talking with her birds, sewing or putting sugar in her coffee with delicate movements, trying not to hit the walls of her cup.

Bidane para la tia Eblyn y Papá

2008-01-09T19:40:00.000-08:00

Para Eblyn, que lo pidió y para Pepe que se perdió la diversión en la playa. Bidane decidió cantar y bailar para sus primos y tias, durante nuestra estancia en la playa, y para tal efecto, nada mejor que una canción de Julieta Venegas.

Bidane perfomes in the middle of the beach fun for cousins and aunts a song from Julieta Venegas!
By the way, I was right when I decided to introduce the girls to Julieta Venegas, now they are big fans, I love it.

Para empezar.

2008-01-09T14:27:00.000-08:00

We are back! As you know the girls and I traveled south after Christmas to visit my family, we had a great time. To open mouth about telling you our trip, I can open with a curiosity.

My guess is that "this somebody" (see the tag on the leftt, Lauren?) missed the Iowa caucus....
Instead of snow, they decided to spend January 3 on a beach town.

Stay tunned for more about Bucerias (the beach town)our traveling and my home state in Mexico.

Al fin.... relaxing Christmas day.

2007-12-25T12:56:00.001-08:00

I just want to say that we had so much fun on Christmas Eve party-dinner last night. All of our work from previous weeks worthed it.

Thanks to the Host, here with her new toy.

We represented a "pastorela", where every guest had to play a role, here you have the Angel and the Angel's helper.
The Little Demon said: it supposes we don't like each other, Butterfly.

After our funny pastorela, we had Christmas lights ( I don't know how to call them in english and I'm too lazy to investigate right now). Anyways, the children had the chance to hit the traditional piñata of the season and sing "posadas".

Christmas morning, my girls wearing the night-gowns I made for them.

Finally a little nice breakfast and that is it... I finished my Christmas work!

Bufandas para el frio.

2007-12-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

Teachers in my girl's classes are going to have home-made scarves as a Holiday gift, this year.
For this one I used two cotton fabrics for one side and flannel with strawberries pattern for the "inside" as a snuggle cozy feeling.

The multi-age class is called Love-cats, so I decided that our male teacher, can use this pattern of cats with a brown fabric as well in one side, and a flannel with doggies for the inside. I'm not expecting him to use it on his Christmas dinner, but maybe at school, where this kind of patterns are well accepted for a cool teacher.
I think it looks good though, even for a trip to the mountains.

On this scarf, I put together 3 different cotton fabrics for the look side, and flannel with little squirrels for the warm side.
I choose green fabric because her student at my home says, her favorite color is green.
I'm happy I finished these projects in less time expected (uffff).
Please, let me know your comments, some people in my house think different that I do, concerning to combination of fabrics.

Guess the song

2007-12-14T18:17:00.000-08:00

Mexican Alejandro Fernández, sings something you might recognize.

Of course this is not Mexico, but a city in Europe.

What a week!!! It is Christmas time...

2007-12-12T10:29:00.001-08:00

Usually by this time of the year I'm busy preparing our annual trip to Mexico, to visit family at three different locations in the country (we do the same in summer now, but with much more time, less people at the airport, less luggage, etc.)
I have to say, however, that I'm still soooooooooo busy, I can't believe how many things to do. At least we have our decorations.

Pepe complained in this picture, because it was more about the tree than him, well, actually that was my purpose, because I don't know when the chance would come again to have a Christmas Tree and Pepe dressed up.

Another thing we had at our home, was the visit of friends. "Los Arredondos, -little pollos- came and helped Aitana and Bidane to make cookies.

Decorating the cookies wasn't the most fun, eating them (27 cookies) had a great ranking.

Nutcracker at the Spreckels Theater , the girls had fun.

It was a nice combination, we went to watch the performance of a good friend, with the great company of a little cute and mama.

Mecano, Un Año Más

2007-12-05T18:27:00.000-08:00

We make our balance of the good and the bad...
Un Año más (One more year) from Mecano, a Spaniard "trio", that was a hit during the 80's, when Rock sung in Spanish was very popular among the young "spanish-speakers" of that time. I could say "chicos fresas", but is a very difficult term to translate, maybe the Mexicans around can help me, hopefully they do not come with insults, thinking they are not "fresas" (you know who I mean).

2008 is almost over and our road had its difficulties, I'm just thankful I'm almost there.

Paz y Amor U2

2007-12-02T15:49:00.000-08:00

You know I LOVE U2, my favorite Band, and for this Season of Peace and Love, I can't leave them out. Or better to say, after my opening with "Band Aid", I want to share with you Christmas music along this month, -for me- is a necessity turn the first page with U2, later I'll post Christmas carols and "villancicos".

It is official... Its Christmas Time!!!!!,

2007-11-30T17:08:00.000-08:00

Con esta canción de los 80's abro mi temporada Navideña, es hora de dar, vamos a dar.

Close to December the first the Holiday season starts. Since I'm not anything but a Mexican Westerner, I'm touched by Christmas. Here two version of one of my favorites songs for the season, Do They Know is Christmas Time?

This song is so powerful, its meaning priceless, Give, give, give (but not exactly those wrapped things) it's Christmas Time!.

Clooney, Clooney, Clooney.

2007-11-28T10:28:00.000-08:00

Campaigning for Clooney.
Vote Clooney as the most sexy, talented, prince charm, stylish, funny guy (from the list). To reinforce what I say, please take a look to the video below, from the Movie, O Brother Where Are Thou. That movie is pure fun.

O.k I'm tagged

2007-11-27T16:31:00.000-08:00

Para que digas, tu la traes a otros bloggeros:

1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. {or less if I already tagged pretty much every blog you know!}
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Lo raro:

1. All the way from middle school people tell me, "you are weird".
2. Because I was unusually tall for a Mexican girl, my feet were bigger too, so in 8th grade my grandma went to a shoe maker and ordered shoes for me, they turned to be the most horrible thing ever, but even though I wore them at school. Imagine the result.
3. While cheering up my High School football (no soccer) team, I was punched by a flying lime on the eye.
4. I was snorkeling in a wet suit, when I realized I had stomach issues...I made it to the shore though, Ha.
5. I didn't drive until we moved to live in San Diego, 7 years ago.
6. I think I have phobias towards mice and frogs.
7. My boyfriend with long hair, had a motorcycle and we rode a lot....Weird... He was Pepe.
Plus: my 4th grader corrects my spelling and edition.

Tu la traes Pepe

Cubierta de cristales

2007-11-20T19:00:00.001-08:00

Taking a look to "El Pais", a newspaper from Spain, I found out this: actress Paz Vega, is having a hard time getting make up for her next front page (she is covered by crystals), it is the first time she will appear nude after her baby. The baby is SEVEN MONTHS OLD!!!!!!!!!!
If you are a mother, and probably you are. I know exactly your thoughts...Or maybe not, because the first thing I said was: This is an insult... my younger girl is 6 years old... you complete the rest of the sentence here....

La nueva oficina y Pepe el carpintero.

2007-11-15T20:50:00.001-08:00

For us, Pepe and I having a "double desk" is just perfect. Now we can have both computers running at the same time, we can write on notes (instead of struggling over our laps) and even have one girl with us while we "work", or both kids can have a space here with one of us at the same time.

I have to give credit to Pepe, because he made the desk all from scratch, with one long book shelf as a bonus. "Gracias mi amor".

En sus marcas...listos....fuera....

2007-11-15T19:54:00.000-08:00

SDCCS or San Diego Cooperative Charter School Second JOG-A-THON.

It was a hot day today! but the kids had great spirits to run.

Aitana and Bidane cheering after finishing their laps.

Friends.... Everybody had fun!

Viva los amigos.

2007-11-13T18:51:00.001-08:00

It is been a week already since German departed, we feel deeply sorry for that. But in the middle of all of this, we had the support of nice "new" friends, as well as friends of long ago. Friends we haven't heard from in years, but very dear to our hearts.
My friend Magno just wrote that "we are family". He's right, indeed.
I know, I can count on you my friends, the new ones and those that have been there for longer time.

Buen Viaje.

2007-11-08T21:02:00.000-08:00

Germán murió antes de ayer buceando en la Media Luna. Esta noticia ha sido terrible y por cada hora que pasa mas dura y cruda.

Siempre fue un buscador de rutas, un viajero. Espero que este último camino lo lleve a un buen lugar. Pienso que sí, porque su espiritu se inclinó por ayudar y estar al pendiente de los demás.

Algún amigo escribió tras recibir la noticia, algo así como: gracias por hacermelo saber, pero me has aplastado el corazón. Muchos sentimos lo mismo.

Sigue tu ruta Germán, hasta ahí donde se encutran todos los caminos. Mis pensamientos a tu familia.

Environmental disasters.

2007-11-02T18:10:00.000-07:00

In less than two weeks we had the wild fires, 500,000 evacuees. In Tabasco, Mexico, the worst flooding ever, so far, probably around 1,000,000 evacuees.

What is it? Global Warming, Corruption, People living in threatened areas or just back luck?

Unusual hail in Bogota, Colombia.

Help Tabasco.

Altar a los luchadores, Dia de Muertos.

2007-11-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

Amy posted really nice pictures about their Halloween celebration; in one of them, we can see a first grade mom in a "Mexican wrestler costume". That happen to be Blue Demon. I couldn't help it, my memory started to work, remembering my childhood.

Tomorrow November second, is "Dia de los Santos Difuntos" or Day of the Dead.

In short, this is a tradition where people remember family members and friends that are dead, in many places they arrange something called "altar". In los altares, you put pictures, favorite food, water, marginold flowers, bread and candles, because it is supposed the Dead come to visit. Among the Dead are the mythic Mexican wrestlers or "Los ídolos de la lucha profesional".

Maybe the readers do not need to know this, but for us, Mexicans out there, the Wrestling heroes, or "luchadores" are something attached to our Mexican identity. Many of us, boys and girls during the 60s and 70s grew up watching "los luchadores" on the movies or wrestling on t.v. Every body knows who is the "Blue Demon and El Santo, el enmascarado de plata" (The Saint, Silver mask). Those are the Mexican Super-heroes. People feel the same to them as for the very favorite football or baseball team, the core of the popular culture.

Both are dead now, Both deserve a tribute. There are legends around their names, their identities, since they were very good kept in secret. Who was better than the other, who was more athletic, who was more honest with his fans, who got the coolest mask. Both of them have sons wrestling as Juniors these days.

Want to hear Los luchadores song, click.
Want to see El Santo 60s movie, his real voice was covered for a more masculine one. click
Bonus

Grimm festival at school.

2007-11-01T17:50:00.000-07:00

5th graders made a really wonderful job with their festivities for Halloween, every body knows they had a short period of time to prepare everything, due to the fires, but they went through very fine.The SDCCS community was very excited when we got the new facility, now we can enjoy it and the kids put their creativity to work. 5th grades had plays based on the Grimm Brother tales. (my pictures from stage came really bad though).

Everybody enjoyed themselves, take a look:

Es nuestro aniversario.

2007-10-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

Felicidades Pepito, mañana cumples 13 años de ser tan, pero tan féliz... cierto, no? Entonces podias cargarme, ahora los huesos ya no aguantan... por no decir que el peso no ayuda.October 30th, 13 years ago, Pepe and I got married. So many things have happened since that day, we stayed, we moved, we moved again, we had two girls, and from those nice Saturdays we had lunch in our neighborhood street market, in Mexico City, to these Saturdays of the girl's dance classes, we have been together. -Por ello, gracias-.

I wish we were here in Punta Mita, for a nice celebration. We are definitely beach people.

Unsuspected, el permiso ya llegó!

2007-10-28T09:15:00.001-07:00

Maybe the readers know, that we arrived to this country just with a working permit (visa) for Pepe. I came along with him, attached to his papers as a "dependant", not even allowed to sell my art-crafts to anybody.

We left Mexico 10 years ago, as you know we moved to Canada, so Pepe could get his master degree, the visa was for a student and I was a pregnant woman. Remembering the day we departed from Mexico city, I was standing by the airline counter in the airport, we had to fill some papers where I had to write down my occupation, -I felt something heavy over me-, my occupation had to be "homemaker" (ama de casa) or some business related to the house, because my profession as Oceanologist or Environmental land-use planner was OVER.

Just yesterday I was reading a book U2 by U2 (the band), and Bono said something like this: after a long time on tour, he came back home and had to call a friend to help him to get a routine, since he did not have one, he felt lost. I know Bono and I ... nothing related. But I think I was experiencing the same in Canada (for years here too), lost and depressed for something I didn't have any more, my working life.

Years passed, we have almost 8 years here, and finally my working permit came on the mail. I wasn't expecting it, now what Am I going to do with it? I'm in kind of a shock, people wait long time (like me) to get it, some do not have it ever. I guess I need to re-think my life -again-.

I'm lucky.

2007-10-23T16:53:00.000-07:00

The whole world knows San Diego is on fire (these pictures are from El Pais, newspaper from Spain). Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from their houses, forced to move to hotels, shelters or Qualcom stadium, but we are still here, in our old National City place. I feel lucky about it.

Lucky too, because friends have offered their places to stay in case of we need, thank you all!

Scenes of fire I just have seen them on t.v, even though the Harris fire (south east) is not so far from where we live, every thing seems calm, except for the smoke cloud and little ashes. Isn't that being lucky?

We have electricity, internet, phone service, running water.

Our place is something not very far from the Sweet Water reservoir, where helicopters fill their tanks to fight flames in the southeast part of the County. Now is kind of a relief the winds calmed down a little and they can work.

This is my birthday.

2007-10-22T16:42:00.000-07:00

You know... I kind of wanted to be under a rock for my birthday, let it pass just like another day. But no, it is not a normal, usual day! it is FIRE in San Diego County.
In 2003 the Cedar Fire started a day after my BD, today the fires were more accurate (le atinaron, pues).
So everybody: If I wanted not to remember my 40th anniversary, I was wrong, I'll remember it as long as my memory runs well.
I'm glad though, one of my friends come to my house seeking shelter after being evacuated, I'm thankful I could help somebody when needed, all of that on my 40ty Birthday.
P.S If you see the picture on the left of the blog, is the place where I rather be today.

Volunteers Rule!!!!!!!! yeah.

2007-10-21T12:42:00.001-07:00

Big work yesterday in our SDCCS Garden Project.
Every thing done for volunteers that want a better school, healthy children and happy faces.
THANK YOU!
LOOK AT THE SCHOOL GARDEN BLOG.

Cuatro Décadas.

2007-10-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

So, this is how it looks a 40th birthday cake... Interesting.
NO, today is not my birthday, but as the date comes and my back still hurts, I keep thinking I want to be under a rock.
Why didn't I plan to make any celebration? Because planning a party for my-self is not exactly a fun thing to do -for me-, I stress a lot, and the hostess skills are not my strong side, that is why I don't work on Hooters. Ha!!!!!
My friends have planned parties for me in the past, but some have turned confusing. So relying on my friends is like a bad-luck-thing now. I remember one, for my 23 my fellow students in the Geology department decided to surprise me. I think it was a nice surprise-party. Every body told me about the drinks, the nice cake, the great companion, some professors joined the gathering, every body was there, except ME.
Yes. I didn't showed up for my very first and only surprise party my friends have made for me, it was such a secret that I never figured it up. Bummer!!!!! The good thing is that they kept going on their party.

Traveling is my favorite thing. I was thinking go over the pond and landing in Spain, but my Piggy bank isn't enough...I had a chance by using Pepe's air-mileage, and going "solo", because those were just sufficient for one round ticket, but frankly I would like to be along with my girls or Pepe in my trip to Spain. I spend lots of time alone here (when Pepe travels), what it is the use to be alone over there too?.

In conclusion, I'm just glad I have the opportunity to be 40, and ask I can be on this earth for a longer time.

OUCH, QUE DOLOR!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-10-17T19:07:00.001-07:00

Why bad things happens to good people? (me, in this case). I hope I do qualify as a good one. Why this had to occur exactly days before my 40th birthday?, in which I rather be under a rock,-by the way-. But is a real sign of age. And why hours before the big digging day for our school garden?
I was helping Miss Kate (Bidane's teacher) with the "Me projects" of the children, when suddenly my old back pain returned!
The first time this happened to me, was like 8 years ago in Mexico City airport, coming back from Canada, a sharp pain on my right side of my lower back, I could understood it, stroller, little girl, suitcase, trying to get every thing at the same time on those little shuttles that carry you to the plane. Than another in the shower with Bidane, while I was drying her. -Pepe had to put my socks for days!- You guessed right for the third one.
Pain killer, or else!

A very long project.

2007-10-17T18:47:00.001-07:00

I finished this summer project at last, before I start my Fall one, the Halloween costumes. And talking about those costumes, Aitana wants to be a Hogwart's student, so I need to make a robe and Bidane suits more for an Ice Princess, but the point is that, while I researched for a robe pattern, I found very incredible, creative blogs of people sewing, that just made me feel envy and shame with my-self. People make such wonderful things in an afternoon and these ponchos had to wait months to be done.

Bidane invita

2007-10-15T19:38:00.000-07:00

Bidane started a project with lots of enthusiasm, she designed invitations, wrote nicely on them, labeled envelopes and thought happily about the people she is addressing them, for trick or treat on Halloween night on Benjamin's street, is what the invitation says!
We need to ask, if any of you are going to be around the neighborhood, because we would love to join you, see?... now I invite ourselves on your streets.
My little girl would be very happy to see you and think her plan worked!

No puede ser....

2007-10-08T16:14:00.001-07:00

No puedo creerlo!!!!!!!!! Este Madrazo, PRIista de profesión, contendiente a la presidencia de la república Mexicana, (no cualquiera, eh?) tuvo que ir a hacer trampa a la maratón de Berlín, hacer chanchullo y llegar a la meta con un "buen" tiempo, incluso ganar en su categoría. Pero ya que los alemanes no son como sus priistas compiches, ellos si se dieron cuenta de su desverguenza. -Que pena con la familia- por tal acción. Quizo ganar a "forciori" el muy... fresco.
Ya en serio, si es que la seriedad cabe, Roberto Madrazo, es figura pública de México, ex-gobernador de Tabasco, ex-presidente del PRI, y candidato en el 2006 a la presidencia, hombre mayor de 50,¿Que estaba pensando al hacer trampa?...
Y algo más, todos en México (sabemos) que es un tramposo, pero hasta que fue a hacerla a un país extranjero, nos avergonzamos y exigimos disculpas.

Something about two friends.

2007-10-06T11:38:00.000-07:00

It is Saturday again and I haven't post anything since a week or so. Time hasn't been my friend these days, but I don't want to let pass the moment to say thank you to Amy and Annie for all the hard work and effort they are putting over the Garden Project at our school.
I don't have to say, they both are such a hard-working women, but they really have put unconditional love on this, they deserve all my admiration and support: Go girls!

All the way from Tijuana.

2007-09-26T21:05:00.001-07:00

Today I went "wild" and bought the latest work of Tijuana native, Julieta Venegas, "Sal y Limón". I love the way she puts together her music and lyrics, she uses the accordion. That sound always liked me, maybe, because my elementary school music teacher used to played it, sounds melancholic to me and festive at the same time, I don't know, but Julieta plays it very well.

If you want to see the clip of my favorite song from the track, Me voy, I highly recommend it. Don't be afraid of not understanding what she says. In Mexico and many parts of the world where people don't speak English, still they listen to Madonna, Green Day, Morrisey, who ever!

La Frida-experiencia.

2007-09-24T18:32:00.001-07:00

It's been a while that I do not put on this blog, something about Frida Kahlo, but considering our trip to Mexico happened two months ago, I think it is time to talk about it.

Just a brief story about my "passion" for Frida. All of it started when Bidane was a baby. I knew some of Frida's work and I had visited "La Casa Azul" before even my daughters were born, but at that time of my postpartum moments, something came to my mind, a question: What made Frida Kahlo dress with Mexican-ethnic clothes, why she liked to look that way?

Being honest I didn't even know that many of her clothes were part of the called Tehuanas, women from the state of Oaxaca. That I learned it after.

The interesting thing is that I thought on collect information and put together some-kind of a book, because I didn't know about a work talking about her clothes (indumentaria), but one thing that didn't came along was, what happened with all of her textiles, skirts, dresses, rebozos (chawls), huipiles (blouses). Every thing she owned, fabrics she got when she lived in San Francisco or New York. Where was all of that, I didn't see them in the museum when I visited the first time.

Of course I was unable to go further on my investigation of her clothes, but trying to do it, I had lots of fun reading books about her life, looking for pictures of her on the internet, and learning about ethnic textiles from my country.

Now I'm happy a book came out about her clothing, named "El Ropero de Frida". Couple of years ago, they found hidden in the bathroom of "La Casa Azul", the missing piece of the puzzle and the most important part, her clothes. Experts in textiles, and other experts made the investigation and edited this book. For another post I will tell about the exhibitions in Mexico city.

Bidane cumplió seis.

2007-09-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

Bidane had her sixth birthday last Friday, but we celebrated with a party-fiesta Saturday.
Big thanks to all of you that join us for the celebration! We had fun and Bidane feels very special every time she is the center of the attention.
I made her wish and baked a cake that turn to be a almost- Jiggly-Puff pokémon. Really I made my biggest effort, but I'm a terrible cake-maker... Why? I do not know. I followed the recipe, I oiled the pan very carefully before I put the batter on. I made every thing that it is supposed to do, but yet the product is not what I want. I'm waiting for the God of the cakes talents to shower me with grace and cake skills.
It frustrates me more because from my Dad's side, I have a family of very good cake-makers, my aunt and cousins are just the best. Inside of me, I hope, some day the ideal cake comes out of my hands.
So far, Bidane was happy with her Jiggly-Puff and it is all about.

Felicidades mi niña bonita, muchas felicidades, contenta con el pastel que mamá le horneó, en forma del pokémon favorito. Aunque éste no sea exactamente el que haya tenido el mejor sabor o las mas linda decoración.

Cocinas kitchen.

2007-09-18T14:04:00.001-07:00

I was posting my comment on Annie's blog, about our kitchens conversation. Since now SDCCS has one, there is an idea to make it work. I wrote and wrote, than I figure, maybe this could be a post, because is getting too long.
So, first. Wow Annie! you are amazing, I thought about the mexican-style-kitchen, as well (but have to confess that thinking came after my Jiggle-puff cake project), but you went beyond, finding a book!
They say one image talks more than 1000 words, and seeing those colors in the book she links, and if you click, and click more on the pages of the book, you find the pots and the wooden spoons, then really gets me enthusiastic about the idea.
So I think I can embark in the project... Yeah! But as Annie points: One obsession at a time.

I support Mexico.

2007-09-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

September 16th, Mexico is celebrating Independence Day (it is not Cinco de Mayo). I left my country ten years ago to live away, first Canada, now U.S. But still now, I feel home-sickness for all the things I grew-up with in Mexico.

Every time I go back, at least to the bordering Tijuana or Mexico city, I try to breath in that atmosphere, get drunk of it and come back, although many of us (Mexican living out-side), complain about the forms in Mexico, we still, love deeply our beloved country.

A country made of different cultures, people, languages, mixtures, mountains, roads, desserts, volcanoes, forests, and oceans...

I'm so happy some of you (and people you know), have Mexico in mind to have your holidays, vacations or spare time. I'm sure Mexico would please you, either you think in pleasant beaches, exotic habitat, secluded places or big cities, ancient ruins, ethnic art-crafts or just for a humble "taco".

MUCHAS GRACIAS!!!!

How to define a person?

2007-09-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

This morning I read something like this, people 30 years old and under, define themselves no longer by their jobs but by the hobbies they have, like if they do yoga or bike. -Lucky me, I'm at the door of the 4th decade-, because a hobby, according with a dictionary is an auxiliary activity, practiced during spare time... spare time, uh?
So, watching t.v doesn't count, because it is not an activity (no action involved, you know: movement), if I watch Nature every Sunday, that doesn't mean I'm a naturalist (of course).
Then I thought, well I cook, I make a little gardening as well, but it is not exactly my spare time, because I do it for the sake of my house. Running the household is my primary activity these days, gardening and cooking don't count as an auxiliary activity. Some times I sew, since it is not regular, then doesn't count too. We do yoga, but that is too, for our backs health, and after all, I just know a few poses, so... I think "nada" for yoga.
I still keep thinking, even if I wish, I'm not twenty-something. I'll put away the person definition young adults use, because for fellows like me it is something like this: Put your hobby to work and turn it into bucks. And.... that wouldn't be a hobby anymore, but a principal activity, by consequence more troublesome finding something else that defines my-self.
What do you think?

French dimpled rolls, receta para bolillitos.

2007-09-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

3 1/2 cups white bread flour.
1 1/2 teaspoon salt.
1 teaspoon sugar.
1/2 ounce fresh yeast.
1/2 cup lukerwarm.
milk.
3/4 cup lukerwarm water.

1. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Stir in the sugar and make a well in the center.
2. Mix the yeast with the milk until dissolved, then pour into the center of the flour mixture. Sprinkle on a little of the flour from around the edge. Let sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes or until the mixture starts to bubble.
3. Add the water and gradually mix in the flour to form a fairly moist, soft dough. Turn out onto a highly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap and let rise, at room temperature, for about 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in bulk.
4. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and punch down. Re-cover and let rest for 5 minutes. Divide the dough into 10 pieces. Shape into balls by rolling the dough under a cupped hand, then roll until oval. Lightly flour the tops. Space apart on the baking sheets, cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap and let rise, at room temperature, for about 30 minutes or until almost doubled in size.
5. Lightly oil the side or your hand and press the center of each roll to make a deep split. Re-cover and let rest for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, place a roasting pan in the bottom of the oven and preheat the oven to 450 F. Pour 1 cup water into the pan and bake the rolls for 15 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Notes:
Baking is an exact science, but I had to modify some procedures, to adapt the ingredients I had.
I didn't use bread flour, but white "normal" flour.
I used one envelope of dry-yeast, instead of the natural one.
Punching down the dough means: knocking it, after this knead again lightly for 1-2 minutes.
ENJOY IT!

Pokémon in Hogwarts (Just for fans of both)

2007-09-09T19:27:00.001-07:00

Imagination, what a good thing to have, at every age, day dreaming, creativity, ideas. Part of this, is the game that Bidane is inventing now. Pokémons go to Hogwarts.

My house is invaded with Harry Potter books and audiobooks about the same, since summer started. Aitana wasn't very interested on the story, until she decided it was time to start reading the books, she is finishing the third now, and since then, everything is about Harry Potter, but being Pokémon another high ranking topic in this household, well, what a good idea to combine them!

Now, Jigglypuff is a distinctive member of the house of Hufflepuff, along with Bidane; Mew is part of Gryffindor and Mewtwo will be friends with Cho and Luna in Ravenclaw. Dark Charizard would intrigue with MalFoy in Slytherin.

I have to confess that thanks to Lauren (yes, I know she is being saying that the series of Harry Potter is so good) and that we went to watch the last movie, I'm hooked too!, now I read the profiles of the characters in Wikkipedia and so far, it is been a good strategy to skip the books, it is not I don't like to read, but I need to catch every body else, at least until the fifth book.

Is wonderful how one solely person, invented a universe of characters, personalities, backgrounds, stories, good and evil battle, HOW IMPRESSIVE!, That is imagination.

Thumb down for this.

2007-09-09T18:20:00.000-07:00

Dios mío!!!!! what a movie... is very bad. As we say in Mexico, es un churro! which means worths nothing or stinks. Any way, mi marido, a.k.a as Pepe, suggested me to watch it, I said it was o.k since it is based in a Spartan battle that was actually true. I urged the girls to go to bed in order we had time to put our attention in "the movie".
Despite the presence of male casting with decent bodies, the "macho" hormones thirsty for blood, is an issue that disliked me. -Of course what could I expect with a movie about a war-. But really, the enemies are so much cliché combined with a fantasy derived from a bad dream of the producer or director. The worst is, that maybe they thought it was a great idea to have such characters.

Pan... rico pan...

2007-09-08T21:38:00.001-07:00

Today I was in the mood of trying something home-made. Since it is not so hot like the past days, using the oven is kind of a pleasure. So we decided to make rolls or "bolillos"as we call this kind of bread in Mexico, it was fun, I looked for an easy recipe, since I'm not a very good baker, (but still I try to practice).

Aitana helped mixing the ingredients and kneading the dough.

We let it rise. Here is the step that is frustrating for me, usually the dough do not rise properly, but this time I took care of the yeast I used and the way to make it rise.

After resting for one hour or so, we shaped the rolls. More rest.

Then, to the oven. 15 minutes after, cool them a little bit and eat them, mmmmmmmm, ¡Rico pan!

Sorpresa!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-09-02T10:46:00.001-07:00

Friday evening, Bidane was part of her teachers for this coming year, Miss Kate and Mr. V. tour around student's homes. I didn't tell anything to her, until she saw them standing in our front door. She was so surprised, she couldn't even say a thing.
Bidane usually welcomes people in our house with no problem, but this time her face was pale, she confessed to them and me, that she was scared.
I wasn't expecting such reaction, fortunately, as time passed, Bidane started to be more relaxed and showed them her favorites toys, her bedroom and the mural she made as summer project. She talked a little bit about our trip to Mexico and her "little fear"about meeting new classmates and the new environment of the school.

Las últimas horas de las vacaciones.

2007-09-01T11:27:00.001-07:00

Nothing is more fun for the end of summer vacations, that a nice combination of friends, water and sun.

Indi, Aida, Pablo, Aitana & Bidane having fun at our house.

Soak City with McLean.

Mission Beach with Blake, Benjamin, Chloe and Isabel (back in the water).

La ruta del sabor!!!

2007-08-29T20:39:00.001-07:00

Samples of our eating in México. From tacos al Pastor, arracheras, bife de chorizo, quesos, dobladas, carne asada, helados y nieves.

S

Beautiful Xalapa.

2007-08-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

Still in route, Xalapa is the Capital City of Veracruz state, it has hilly streets, beautiful green views everywhere, and nice weather.

The Anthropology museum, has many pieces from the Olmec Civilization (Olmeca), the one preceding to the Aztecs.

Ice cream, "helado o nieve" from different tropical flavors, my favorite is mamey.

Breakfast with extended family. Mmmmmm! Ricas dobladas de chicharrón, hongos, queso....

Un dia en Veracruz.

2007-08-22T14:56:00.001-07:00

El puerto de Veracruz, historic, romantic, musical place in Mexico, where El Conquistador Hernán Cortez put foot in Mexican land, decided to take it for Spain, (But that is another story). We visited along with the Martínez, included my own little Martínez.

First, The fort of San Juan de Ulua, defense against pirates, then jail for political prisoners, in Revolution times a refugee for the President.
That day was specially HOT, ¡mucho calor!

So, we went to cool down. Of course the eating in Mocambo, leading us after all, to more eating (the real thing now). We stopped in "La Parroquia"a typical place in Veracruz.

They sell the famous "Lechero", coffee syrup with hot and foamy milk.

To feel the soul of Veracruz, we sat in the "plaza" under the shade of palms and trees, watching how the local people start gathering and wait for the freshness of the evening and the music to dance.
Fotos, cortesía de todos los fotógrafos del día.

Aire de montaña

2007-08-21T13:48:00.001-07:00

Up north of Mexico City, there is a beautiful little State called Querétaro, over there, Elliott and Isa (pepe's mom) have a nice house in the country. We stayed with them for five days. Pepe had to leave early, so he missed our little trip to San Juan del Rio, (the closest city to them) and the nice trip down to the stream. Since it rained almost every day, we could hear the sound of the water, so one day we decided to go down and investigate, and we found almost a river with falls and every thing.
Every morning the girls were always willing to take the dogs (Minka and Sherman) to walk and spend time playing with them, plus exploring all the little places in the property.

Hiking Tepic's sorroundings.

2007-08-19T21:21:00.001-07:00

The girls and I embarked in a hiking excursion around my hometown's ecological park called "Cerro de San Juan" or the San Juan hills... We took the tour-trolley in the main plaza and it put us right in the spot "kilometer X". For 50 cents each, it is not bad...

It was fun, just being a tourist in my city. Its been years... almost 20 that I wasn't in those hills, actually is an extint volcano.
We climbed up with a bunch of kids from a summer camp, and the guides explained us about the different vegetation and resources of the area, from the tropical down layer to the pines up at the hill.
Of course after the walking, Bidane decided to take a rest in the palapa they have for visitors, since then, she insists in having an "hamaca" at home.

De costa a costa.

2007-08-13T20:25:00.001-07:00

Summer vacations are almost over, our trip to Mexico ended one week ago and we are happy to be back in San Diego.
But as always, when one have a long trip, there are many things to do at home, after days of absence and so many memories to put in order, I just couldn't blog about it.

I decided then, to talk about our trip in sections, as it was. First.. our route.

We landed in the heart of the country, the capital city, Mexico, D.F, as you know our friends Caroline, Isabel and Benjamin had the courage to embarque in that adventure.

After we said good by to our guests, we headed east with all the Martinez gang, Veracruz state was our target (located in the Gulf of Mexico). We visited the famous port of Veracruz and Xalapa, the capital state, where the family has its roots.

Than, again to the central part of the country, now Querétaro, where Pepe's mom has a country house in the mountains, very relaxing...

Some days of mountain air, rain and thunder (I love it), my girls and I traveled west to the Pacific, to my home-town Tepic.

Pulgas en mi petate? Maldita sea!

2007-08-12T16:02:00.000-07:00

Desgraciadaaaaaaaaaaas, malditas, infames....FOR YOU ALL, I just wrote a bunch of insults.
Aitana, Bidane and I, got home after our summer vacation in Mexico and found fleas all over the place. Since pepe is not home, at least somebody hugged me when I opened the door. They climbed on my pants and shoes, literally hugging me, !Welcome home, you..!
See why I didn't want a cat?... And talking about the cat, he freaked out so much, he run away, luckily he came back. We gave him a bath, of course he didn't like it, but it was necessary.
Anyways, I'm glad we are home, "hogar, dulce, hogar". See you around, I'll post about our trip in a better time.

GRACIAS A TODOS USTEDES QUE NOS RECIBIERON, FAMILIA, GRACIAS, AND FOR ALL OF YOU THAT CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CAT, THANK YOU TOO.

Casi listos!

2007-07-09T17:55:00.001-07:00

Ya estamos preparandonos para nuestra visita a México. La panorámica de la ciudad siempre me trae recuerdos de cuando yo vivía en el D.F y trabajaba en el INE.

Mexico City. Yes is huge, yes is crazy, yes... is a beautiful land, and in summer time, is Grey and blue, green and red. I was remembering today, once many years ago, when this sight of the city was a constant in my way back to home, I spotted the "Plaza de Toros". It was sunday or an special event, because it was packed, and I could see from right above in the center of "el ruedo, al torero".

Is always exciting to visit family, to catch up with life over there and this time, to have a theme, a special porpoise of our visit and having guests (you know!!).

The Fighting for the TOP

2007-07-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about the voting process for the "New Wonders of the World"?
Well, I find it an absurd and suspicious. To ask people to "vote", over what they think is the most fantastic thing made by mankind, and include the most popular among a Top 7.
Why the Christ of Rio de Janeiro, would be a better Christ that this you find along the way from Tijuana to Ensenada?
This silly example, applies for the this voting thing. "Wonders" that are not included in the list, like Palenque or Teotihuacan, deserved as much respect and AWE, that the ones that would be in the top 7. Just because those in the list, probably have big corporations and Governments support, (including Chichen Itza in Mexico) that doesn't mean they don't represent a big effort of people and expression of their culture, engineering and architecture.

Yoga works!

2007-07-02T19:48:00.000-07:00

Some of you know about Bidane's back condition. We went to the Orthopedics today, to follow up and x-rays. We are so happy, because he said, Bidane's spine is better, in fact the degree of deviation she has is less now than nine moths ago!!!!!!!!!!!! So, the doctor took away the "scoliosis" term to let it just in spine deviation. I thank God (yes I do!) for this and to Bidane for her hard work with yoga.
She needs to be monitored though, until her teenage years, but Doctor said it is unlikely we face a backwards, See you Doc in ONE and 1/2 years!!!!. -Namaste-

Coyoacanense

2007-06-30T17:45:00.001-07:00

Frida in spanish words is "una Coyoacanense", which means she is from Coyoacán, she was born here, in this place of the México Valley and died in the same house where she saw light for the first time.

Coyoacán means place of Coyotes, it was the place where Conquistador Cortez made a palace for himself, it is claimed too, that he erected a house for Malinche, a girl Native-Mexican that help him win over the Aztecs.

As every town in Mexico, Coyoacan has its main plaza, Frida's Casa Azul is just some blocks away from it.

Frida had a simple life in Coyoacán, she strolled the streets when she was a child, she married in the municipality house of town, she used to go to the market, and liked to assist to the plaza's festivities like "16 de septiembre" Independence day, or make appearance in the church, even though she wasn't very religious at all.

In the Blue House she lived, she suffered, she welcomed friends and students, she painted, wrote letters and express her-self on her diary.

But Coyoacán has much more things to offer, just to prove the visitor how this environment nurtured such splendid artist.

Coyoacán with little streets and colorful houses, little plazas and gardens, old train stations now converted in stores or forgotten bridges that at once, deep in the past, it was the only way to go from one place to the other, from Coyoacán to San Angel.

Mas Verano

2007-06-29T10:14:00.001-07:00

I don't have many things to say... Just that we are having a very relaxing time these days. Aitana has the mission of making a mural in our backyard, so she started to do it with one of her favorites themes: The Ocean.

Pepe is helping Aitana with guidance about mixing primary colors.

Bidane enjoys herself with the cat and making mud cakes.
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We went to Tijuana to visit long-time friends Oscar & Rocio, is always fun to talk with them. They are very happy with their very beloved son Ivan.

We went to the beach with kindergarden families and friends. As you can see we spotted some surfers (Isabel & Don).
I couldn't get the kids faces because they were trying to have chips from Benj.

Tras los pasos de Frida

2007-06-26T13:42:00.002-07:00

Fridomaniacs? Yes we are, and I'm sure there are thousands or more people feeling the same towards Frida Kahlo. So we are visiting Mexico City and be present in the big and fabulous exhibition about Frida Kahlo's life in Palacio de Bellas Artes or the National Palace of Fine Arts (Above), the same place where she was taken when she died.

In Mexico City's downtown or "Centro Histórico" there are buildings from the past, great and majestic buildings, in one of them called "Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso" Frida and Diego met. He was in the process of one of his murals, she studying High School.
Of course the famous "Casa Azul"or Blue House, where Frida was born, lived and died too. Now a museum located in her beloved Coyoacan. In Frida's time it was a village, now part of the city.

What is inside of Frida's house? her belongings, like her bed.

La casa de Diego y Frida, this house is a museum too, not far from "La Casa Azul", it was ordered to be constructed by her husband the painter and muralist Diego Rivera, the architect was Juan O'gorman, (famous Mexican architect). As you can see the house has "organic elements" like the cactus fence. The couple lived here for a short period of time, after they came back from the U.S and before their divorce, unless I found out other things in our trip.
Diego and Frida walking around their house. They married again.

Xochimilco, Frida enjoyed the canals and produce of the "Floating Gardens" known as "Chinampas", today Xochimilco has a traditional area and an ecological park created in 1993 as part of an "ecological rescue project".

Summer vacations are here!

2007-06-21T18:40:00.001-07:00

Yes they are... Today Bidane had dentist appoinment, she was so brave, it wasn't necessary to put anestesy on her. So I promised to buy her an ice cream as a reward (contradiction uh?, a fixed molar invaded with sugar again), but the dentist office said no sugar cone this time, she felt a little bit of disappointment, but I think the chocolate flavor was enough to make her happy again. This ice-cream place is a landmark of National City.

Yesterday was the girls Dance Studio presentation in Del Mar Fair, or the SD County Fair as they like to call it now. Do not ask for pictures from their dance, because I run out of batteries for the camera and a good Mexican fellow gave me a package, can you imagine, they do not sell batteries in the whole place?.

Any way, the girls had a good time after the stage, they ride here and there, not too much, enough to feel the dizziness and enough for me, the feeling of a good parent came to me. I don't like being in the sun and waiting for them to get down, so it was a sacrifice, isn't that what parents do?

Aprovechando que las chicas tenian presentación en la feria de San Diego, ni Aitana ni Bidane quisieron desaprovechar la oportunidad de subirse a los juegos mecánicos, pasear y asolearse, con tal de divertirse. Hasta decidieron no asistir al último día de clases en la escuela.