Mas películas

Alatriste is the most expensive movie ever made in Spain. It is going to be realesed very soon in Mexico, probably we could not see it in S.D. I'd love to watch it ( a trip to Tijuana sounds fine), because I enjoy movies with swords, situated in historical context (in this case the war between Spain and The Netherlands) . Las Aventuras del Capitán Alatriste are a series of books (novel), very popular in Spain, now made into a movie.

Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings) is Alatriste. I have read, this is not such a good movie, but still appeals to me.

What I found really cool is the bicultural "style" of Mortensen, he was rised in Argentina and Venezuela, and when he speaks spanish is like any other spanish speaking movie-star.

Watch the trailer.
Watch an interview with Mortensen (in spanish).

Babel or The Departed

I had the opportunity to watch Babel and The Departed, I liked them both. Great performances in both movies. Leonardo DiCaprio, finally got a credit from me as an actor (as if he would care about it...). I liked The Departed very much, I enjoy this kind of drama-intrigue, good guys against bad ones. But... I have to say I liked more Babel.
It is nothing about being Mexican and thinking the Oscar had to go to a Mexican, but really it is a good movie. And if you think about drama, Babel got it in much quantitiy.
I saw González-Iñarritu, in an interview, talking about the loss of a child, he himself suffered the death of a son, probably at baby age, because Babel talks about it. In this movie he dives in those feelings, the loss of a love one.
I laughed at what Gael Garcia Bernal replied to the boy, when the kid talked about what his mom had sayed, that Mexico is dangerous, - Si.. está lleno de Mexicanos-.

Miguel Bosé... Papito.

Miguel Bosé, the Spaniard singer, is celebrating his 50th birthday and his 30 years as a singer and he got a new album called "Papito". It is sooo coool! he sings duet with many people (Shakira, Juanes, Ricky Martin, etc). In one of those songs, and by the way is my favorite, he sings along with 80's Spaniard famous, Alaska. Now, of course poor Alaska doesn't look in pretty shape, but she brought to me so many memories before the global warming and the Iraq war (even the first one).

I'm going to tell one: Pepe used to train swimming in the mornings and after it he and his friends hanged out with the taco lady. At that time he and I barely speak to each other. He started to grow his hair and he used to wear a big rain coat (I don't know, ask him).

One morning I came to him while he was eating his morning burrito, and ask him: hey are you growing your hair as Miguel Bosé?.... He looked at me... no expression on his face... and returned to eat... of course it was an insult to him. What I didn't know, is that he was fan of Alaska, he was a punk inside. At that time Miguel Bosé and Alaska looked from different worlds, but now they sing so happy together, take a look Amante Bandido!

This is for Pepe, Alaska in the 80's Ni tu ni nadie.

This is it!!!

This is the new place for San Diego Cooperative Charter School. Every body is so happy to have a nice place for our school! Thanks to the people that made this possible, all the ones that worked so hard to get it.

¡¡¡VIVA LA LENGUA ESPAÑOLA,.. VIVA EL ESPAÑOL!!!

¡Si! qué viva esta lengua madre, qué viva... y esto lo digo yo, porque así lo siento. Hoy dió inicio el IV Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española con un homenaje a García Márquez. El mismo relató que no tenía los 83 pesos que costaba el envío de su borrador de Cien Años de Soledad, desde la ciudad de México hasta Argentina y optó por mandarlo en dos partes, aunque por equivocación primero despachó la segunda.
Una lengua de unidad, se dijo en Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Este es mi idioma, la lengua que uso para pensar y decirle a mis amadas lo mucho que las quiero.

Felicidades Pepe!

Un año mas para Pepe, aunque no este en casa, Aitana, Bidane y Daleth le mandan saludar, lo esperaremos en casa con un pozole.

Del lado Gallego.

What my daughters and I have to do with St. Patrick's day or Ireland? almost nothing. But we went so happy to the parade and wore green shirts yesterday and today just because is San Patricio.
There were tons of people doing the same along sixth ave. Today.
As I know, St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, he introduced Christianity in that country. Lately the festivity evolved around more Irish folklore, which is fine with me, because I simpathize with the Irish, and Celtic culture, that is why, we went to the parade.
But, somewhere along the parade, there were people with banners saying the other gaelic.... gallegos.... That is it...!
Los Gallegos is another Celtic people living in Spain, in Galicia... so... If this St. Patrick's day is about the Celtic culture, fine. One can never know if some of my relatives traveled from there (ven ustedes que valiente soy, al decir que algun pariente mio puede ser gallego?) or maybe Asturias, to Mexico, hundred of years ago, and now legitimately I can celebrate San Patricio.

Felicidades Chicas de Marzo

Aida & Indi

Indi & Aida


Aguas de Marzo para las cumpleañeras, please click

El misterio de las canas.

Quien me puede decir, cual es la cosa con las canas? Que se creen estas intrusas... brotan de 3 en 3 o de una en una, o salen mas cuando estamos enojados y frustrados o las retiene uno cuando esta contento.
O simplemente las canas llegan para quedarse y van poblando la cabeza poco a poco hasta ocupar todo el espacio. Cual es la cosa con éstas, por que a mi me gustaria saber de a cuantas me van a tocar este año o si podré estar tranquila por los siguientes meses y esperar un regimiento de ellas para el verano o el otoño.
Yo al menos vivía tranquila de estas intrusas, hasta que de repente y sorpresivamente empezé a localizarlas, además claro que ellas no disimulan su aparición, se plantan como grandes divas y ahi se quedan. Las puedo desterrar temporalmente quitandolas de mi vista, pero no por mucho tiempo.
Habrán vitaminas o suplementos alimenticios que las frenen? si alguien sabe, DIGALO, porque me gustaria darles una sorpresa de supresión y contensión, para que dejen de molestar.

Fajas y corsés, tal cual.

I found this in the "El pais", newspaper from Spain. Is a short- film-documental, about a little store which sells bras, stockings, women's underwear in general.
Lately I've been thinking a lot about Spain and what this country brought to Mexico since the 1500's. It is surprising to me that even this kind of stores, are so similar at both sides of the Atlantic, and of course nothing to do with "La Conquista".
In my hometown there is a shop almost identical to that one in the video, I think I've walked in, just once. It is a shame, I'll do it next time I'll be there.
They do not know about Victoria Secret or Oprah's bra, but they sell in a personal way, they show to you their stuff, and make a little chat about the fabric and comfort of the piece. As in the video, you can see piles and piles of boxes... and the smell of the store, is not lavander-lilac-shimering-whatever, it is just new cotton, maybe silk.
A person can forget that little worlds like that exist, that malls and Victoria Secret are the hot places to buy. Probably my middle age is producing this nostalgia, I'm glad I see things with more appreciative eyes.

Niñas... niñas.

Fotos del 2003

Bautizo de Bidane, Aitana quiere soltar la risa ante el inminente llanto de su hermana.

Cumpleaños
dos de Bidane, Ciudad de México.

San Francisco, Aitana está asustada que papá no suba al trolley, Bidane no entiende la conmosión.

Tigger & Easter bunny.

Mala, resbaladilla...!

Bush is intelligent ...but

Bush is intelligent, but not in an academic or intellectual way. His small eyes reflect he could be a very bad guy, and wrinkles on his face denotate he is alone when he takes decisions, red nouse excess in alcohol consumption.
I just translated a little bit of an article by a feng shui expert in Mexico.

Ruta 94

Tomamos carretera para visitar los lugares cercanos a San Diego, inaugurando el 2007, año de las exploradores Marti-Huerta.

Para iniciar la ruta 94, el puente Sweet Water. Estamos investigando el tipo de plantas que crecen junto al puente, parece romero, muy oloroso.

Potrero Park, no mas de una hora de San Diego, encontramos este lugar para acampar. Ya esta en nuestra mira para pasar una noche o dos.


No podia faltar un rancho de caballitos, favoritos de Aitana.

Frida Kahlo y Lila Downs

Que tienen en común Lila Downs y Frida Kahlo? ambas son "artists", una canta, la otra pintaba. Ambas tienen padres "non-mexicanos", pero madres con orígines en Oaxaca. Aunque si nos fijamos bien, las dos visten casi igual...pareciera que Lila Downs toma ideas de la pintora mexicana.

No es de sorprender que Lila Downs parezca Frida Kahlo, las dos mujeres se inspiran en aquellas del Itsmo de Tehuantepec, las Tehuanas. Lila Downs por su lado, estuvo en contacto directo con esta cultura, ella creció en parte, en aquellas localidades, su familia pasaba temporadas en México.

La madre de Frida Kahlo tenia origenes Oaxaqueños, sin embargo no estaba directamente relacionada con el Itsmo de Tehuantepec. Frida Kahlo empieza a usar ropas de Tehuana cuando le quiere dar gusto a su esposo Diego Rivera, quien ensalsa y reconoce la cultura Tehuana.

Creo que para estas dos mujeres, vestirse de Tehuanas, les ayuda a abrir su creatividad, a reconocerse como mujeres, ya que se dice que las mujeres Tehuanas ejercen una especie de matriarcado, además estos trajes étnicos les proporcionan y afianzan a estas dos artistas, la identidad mexicana, ya que recordemos son hijas de padres extranjeros.

Féliz cumple a García Márquez.

Primero que a García Márquez, felicito a los cumpleañeros a los que no me referí en este blog desde enero: mi hermano Eduardo, luego mi hermana Eblyn, y a mi suegro Don Vicente.

Ahora si, Garcia Márquez está de fiesta, cumple 80 años, asimismo durante el 2007 serán 40 años de la publicación de Cien años de Soledad.

Sin embargo, aunque Cien años de Soledad vió la luz en 1967, - como yo. La novela que mas me gusta de este autor es, El Amor en los Tiempos del Cólera. Cuando la leí no pude soltarla hasta haberla terminado. Debo decir que no todos los trabajos de este hombre me encantan, como los cuentos de la Hojarasca, incluso su último libro, Recuerdo de mis Putas Tristes, -no me enloquecieron-. Pero el Amor en los Tiempos del Cólera fue un deleite para mí.

Los síntomas de amor que presentaba Florentino, el rechazo de Fermina hacia Florentino, cuando se encuentra con él después del viaje que le hizo hacer su padre para separarlos, la muerte del doctor Juvenal esposo de Fermina, acto que Florentino habia esperado por décadas para recuperar a Fermina y claro la descripción de los paisajes, que me recordaban, el verde de mi lugar de origen.

Groceries, coffee and more.

I've never been in such beautiful super-market as Wholefoods, the place where they sell the meat (carnicería) is so clean and pristine, no bad odors and those guys that get your order are more like spa employees that "carniceros", nothing to do with my hometown market, back in Mexico, where they used to kill the chickens in front of everybody eyes, (today they do it away). But as nice Wholefoods is, as well expensive, so I just go there like once every 5 years. Where I like to go and find my produce is Henry's, which was later gotten by Wild Oats. But still good prices and products.

Yesterday, I listend on the radio news, Whole foods bought Wild Oats, ergo, Henry's, and that is something my one-income-family can't bear. I know organic is better, but expensive-organic, well you know... I prefer to wash my carrots that have a super-clean and germs-free package. According to the "organic expert" on the radio, the transaction doesn't mean lower prices, even Whole foods can close some stores from Wild Oats. I will see what happens or I'll have to buy in other place.

And talking about stores, Trader Joe's is another favorite. Now you can find the fair trade coffee at good price 6.99 for a 13 ounce can, a good coffee not fair trade, is about 5 something with almost the same quantity, so drop one coffee from the coffee shop and buy this fair trade.

Trader Joe's sells chiles rellenos, or stuffed poblano peppers as they called them, un chile relleno por 3.49, and is not even covered with this mexican style batter or capeado. In the mexican store close to my house the platter with two chiles is the same price, with rice and beans. Now, if I make them one chile costs about 40 cents, plus the egg and what ever I put in, will be no more than one dollar. I see why Trader Joe's puts los chiles in first place on the grocery list, the profit is good.

Y quien le cuida a los hijos?

Es obvio que ella no ...

Who is taking care of her children? obviously she is not the one. Oh my! all this Britney "pelona (no hair)" issue is so pathetic. The result of a chain of really bad decisions from several years now.
How somebody can go from the pinnacle to hell in a short period of time, two children and various partners?
Somebody from those late-night talk show said, she is so vulnerable that he wasn't making jokes about her. He is right.
Poor young woman; personally I never was her fan or wanted my kids to sing her songs, but is not nice to see her in such condition.

Bolocco a los 41

Cecilia Bolocco; 41 años de edad, ex miss universo, esposa de Carlos Menem (ex-presidente de Argentina), lo único que no le envidio es lo primero y lo último, aunque lo primero lo pasaría si a cambio tuviera yo esa pinta...

Hey, maybe during the two years to go for my 41 birthday I can get like this, huh?.... Don't laugh please, I'm optimistic.

Maria Antoinette la película.

Yo estaba muy ansiosa de ver esta película y la verdad es que me encantó.

I was very excited to watch this movie, waiting for it at the video store, and I loved it. Sofia Coppola transmits a good story of this queen of France. As many of you know, Queens of Europe is one of my favorites subjects, because put together history, women issues, politics, some fashion, traditions, but over all understanding of persons that had a remarkable print in humandkind.
I liked a lot the ending of the movie, the way Coppola manages the sorroundings, colours and cakes!... Beautiful, bravo.

Am I optimistic?

Yes! I'm more optimistic that I thought I would be (what optimistic huh?), that is a good news for me. Today was folding day and turn on the t.v at the end of the Oprah Show, they were talking about "a secret", something related to attract the positive through positive attitude (I think I have heard of that before), anyways, after came the news and to catch some viewers already hooked with Oprah (like me), they offered something like a test for optimism, so I stayed, folding clothes and watching t.v.
And there it was the test... I took it, and yes, I have a good relationship with myself, which makes me so happy, I could be more optimistic indeed. Maybe my good humor comes from my daughters listening to Abba every day, just they open the eyes in the morning I tune myself with "dancing queen" and good memories from my own childhood come along.