I’ve always flirted with becoming a vegan or at the very least a vegetarian. It’s so hard though. One of the greatest things about being Mexican is the food. How could I possibly say no to birria, or tacos de lengua or menudo or posole? You just can’t! 
Anyhow, I am trying to modify my diet so I can drop some excess baggage if you know what I mean. I got the running down, now I just need to modify the diet. First and foremost I have to stop drinking soda. Soda for me is like cigarettes for others. Mexican coke is especially addicting. I’m not sure what they put in it but it tastes different than the soda here in the states. When I am over there I tend to stop by one of the stores and buy a coke and a bolillo (delicious). Uhh, but that’s neither here nor there. La novia is always on me about the soda. It’s incredible that she hardly ever drinks it and if she does it’s usually because I offer her some. I’m such a bad influence. Many schools have already done away with peddling soda to kids because of the strong link between soda consumption and obesity.
The other stuff that I have to limit is my tortilla, and dairy product intake. Interestingly, I really don’t eat sweets. I mean if someone sticks a Foster’s Freeze banana split in my face I’ll eat it but other than that I tend to keep away (We’ll see about that today! It’s Halloween don’t ya know). I also don’t drink milk much anymore. I know the PETA people are a bit exaggerated but they make good points. Why are we so dependent on cow milk when it’s high in fat, cholesterol, apart from the complementary stuff like hormones and who knows what other chemicals. PETA plays the gross out factor by saying that pus and blood also goes into milk. Yuck!! It all makes sense though when you realize that cow milk is meant for calves and not human babies or even adults for that matter. Even though sometimes I think I have more than one stomach we don’t and cows do. Hmmm, maybe this shit can be bad for us. 
All the hoopla about stronger bones and quien sabe que mas is also debatable. A Harvard study found no correlation between milk consumption and stronger bones. On the other hand there were some indications that perhaps milk can lead to osteoporosis and other diseases. So the only milk that we should drink is human milk…but only as babies. For some reason, I learned in my criminology courses that breastfeeding should be mandatory for babies for many reasons from bonding between the mother and the child (don’t wear perfume!) to important health benefits (such as getting sick less), to the cognitive development (smarter kids) of a child.
Anyway, back to me, I got a wedding in December (not mine) and I need to be in tip top shape. Wish me luck raza, cause November is going to be a tough month physically. I’m going to try to push myself the farthest I possibly can. In the end it will be worth it because I will look better, feel better (mentally and physically), and be healthier (scare off the fucken diabetes that affects my family but has yet to inflict me).
Besides the impending arrival of the bird flu that’s supposedly going to make calacas out of many of us, these are my main health concerns right now.
It’s always interesting to see how Mexican culture is being accepted in the United States. It’s awesome that slowly but surely we are truly becoming multicultural, multilingual and much more. We are really privileged to be around so much diversity. Don’t resist it, embrace it!
The Day of the Dead dates at least 3,000 years back to rituals practiced by the indigenous peoples of Latin America, such as the Aztecs and Mayans. A monthlong celebration, El Dia de los Muertos, as it came to be known, used to take place in what is now the month of August. It was condensed and moved to Nov. 1 and 2 after Spanish conquistadors arrived in Central America in the 16th century, forcefully converting the locals to Catholicism and aligning the festival with the Catholic All Saints and All Souls days. That remains the case in Mexico today, with the commemoration of deceased children on All Saints Day (Nov. 1), and deceased adults on All Souls Day (Nov. 2).
For some Americans, celebrating the Day of the Dead begins to shatter that mythology, allowing people to celebrate the deceased loved ones in their own families as well as other lost lives.
“This idea that you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps. You can be born in the ghetto and become president of the country. It seems to me that some of those very American cliches are tied a little bit to a sense almost of immortality. There’s something in the belief system that fools us into thinking that things like death are optional. Obviously we have lots of experience telling us that’s not true, but one way to keep the myth alive is to avoid cemeteries, to avoid talking about death, not to be present when somebody dies. With the times we live in and the state of war and a lot of anger, a lot of people are embracing this tradition to spread love and convey hope and to come together.”
The Los Angeles Times
The family received very disappointing news this past weekend. It’s not the first nor the second nor the third, nor even the forth time this has happened. What gives? What is it with teens in the valley getting pregnant? Why does Tulare County have the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the state (74.6 births per 1,000 births)? It shouldn’t be that difficult to understand. If you don’t use protection you are going to get pregnant or get a disease. If you are going to take part in sexual relations (sounds so formal) then do it the right way. Thinking that it will not happen to you does not make you immune to getting pregnant. Use your head damn it! Don’t you realize that having a child is a major responsibility? It’s almost as though valley youth can’t look beyond the valley. There is big beautiful world out there with places to see and people to meet. You greatly limit yourself when you get pregnant at such a young age. You don’t have a job. You don’t have any work skills. How are you going to clothe and feed your family? Is your man going to take care of you or are you planning on moving him into your parent’s house? Who’s going to pay for all the pregnancy related expenses? Are you going to now be a burden on the government? Don’t you realize that what you’ve done will make it twice as hard to do things such as go to school, travel, etc., (don’t even think about the parties and dances you were so fond of) because you now have family obligations. It’s not about you anymore it’s about raising your child. Don’t you get it? Don’t you understand? Can you not learn from the past? Can you not see what has happened to others around you? Perhaps we can spread blame around. Maybe it’s the parents that didn’t talk enough. Maybe it’s the church that forbids the use of contraception. Most likely it’s you though that takes most, if not all, of the blame. You’re right when you say it’s your life, but don’t be so damn selfish. You think this just affects you? It affects everyone from your parents, to your aunts and uncles, to your cousins. And selfish you are. All you thought about was yourself. You probably didn’t care about the pain your parents must feel. You surely never realized that you serve as a role model to your own siblings. Why couldn’t you do things the right way? Mexican culture (and the Catholic Church…they go hand in hand) dictates that we do things a certain way. It’s alright to disagree with a lot of those things but could you have at least done it for your parents? You know those parents that came to the states so you could have a better life; those two individuals that worked hard so that you never had to work so you could concentrate on your studies. Why can’t anyone in my extended family do things the right way? Is it so difficult? Nobody is telling you not to have sex. If you want to get married then get married don’t get pregnant as an excuse to leave your house. Now you are “free.” Hopefully you have no regrets.
There’s nothing sweeter than a Raiders victory on a Sunday afternoon. Especially a much awaited offensive outburst by the Silver & Black! Not all was right though. The team lost Charles Woodson to a broken leg and will probably be out for two months. It sucks I know. The schedule has got a tad bit easier and next week the team plays the Titans. Maybe there is still time to turn the season around.
First off hat’s off to the White Sox for beating the Halos. No offense to all you Chicago South Siders but I had to root for the Halos because they were the last Cali team representin’. Originally, I thought it was going to be a good series but Chicago’s catcher AJ Pierzynski single handedly managed to disturb the natural balance of the universe by running to first base after he struck out. Why is that rule even in place? You should be embarrassed that you struck out and run to the dugout, not to first base! This was most definitely another case of umpire activism (ha, ha). Come on now, give the pitcher the benefit of the doubt. He just struck out the batter but then you give the hitter (did I mention that he struck out?) first base? Simply uncalled for!
Being a Raiders fan you’re just used to putting up with all the crap that the refs do to your team. In Sunday’s game there were numerous bad calls against the Raiders, but these three hurt the most: 1. Obvious pass interference on a long pass play to Randy Moss (the one in which he got hurt) and yet no yellow flag. 2. Midway through the game a phantom pass-interference call on Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha 3. A fumble by L.T. in the fourth quarter, which the Raiders recovered but was reviewed and the original call was reversed. The play was reversed even though there wasn’t “indisputable evidence” that in fact it wasn’t a fumble. In the end if the Raiders would have won I wouldn’t have cared about the bad calls but since another “L” was added to the loss column, and the season is already on the verge of heading towards the Reggie Bush/Matt Leinart sweepstakes I have to vent.
Finally, just wanted to let you all know that I’ve switched feeds and I am now using feedburner, so if anyone out there subscribes to this site’s feed please update it to http://feeds.feedburner.com/GRD. Gracias!
Yesterday I forced my parents to go to see the Juan Gabriel concert in Fresno. It’s not that they didn’t want to go but rather they were concerned at how much the tickets cost. My response to that was well either you go or the tickets are going to go to waste. After about five seconds of light persuasion my mom happily agreed. Her response to the great news was giving me a bear hug and a fat kiss on the cheek. I thought to myself “No, que no” and I smiled. I had no plans of going myself. La novia was working at a health fair at a local school and I figured that it would be good for the viejos to go by themselves. About a half hour before they were to leave for Fresno, los viejos lightly persuaded me to go with them. At first my response was in the negative since we would be sitting apart. Ten seconds later I had a change of heart and I got ready and left with them. Whenever you get a change to see one of the best composers/singers of all time, a true Mexican icon you just have to go.
The concert was a blast. I was really impressed with a number of things. 1. How many people attended the concert. The concert was on a Wednesday so a lot of the raza is working the following day but that didn’t stop them from showing up in full force. 2. JuanGa gives you your money’s worth. The concert lasted nearly three hours and plus after listening to Hasta Que te Conoci I was convinced that the money I paid for the ticket was well worth it (I paid a lot…I had no choice, I bought it right before the concert started.) 3. JuanGa gets the audience all into the music…from people echándose gritos, to young guys dancing, to older ladies crying. Damn, there were points in the concert in which I would feel my own eyes getting watery (where are the onions, where are the onions)! Songs like Amor Eterno and La Diferencia can do that to anyone. 4. How good music transcends language. There were many, many people there that one could assume spoke minimal Spanish. Then again maybe they are like Oso, who has a stronger grasp on castellano than I do. The point is that if the music is good no matter what the language is people will be drawn to it.
In the end I was so glad that I went. It was a very, very cool experience. Those of you out there in LaLaLand (he’ll be there this weekend) should go check him out. It’s very well worth it! When your mom tells you that casi quería explotar (de la emocion) when he started singing, and then proceeds to tell me that later in the concert even my dad was dancing in the aisles, it has to tell you something. You have to admit that musicians are always at the forefront of the so called revolution. A singer/song-writer from Juarez was able to alter the Mexican status quo and hammer another nail in the coffin of a once dominant machista culture…to be sure no one will ever know where his true affection lies, and really no one cares, but as he once told a reporter “…lo que se ve no se pregunta.” I love this singer!
Everyday an older gentleman passes by the house selling Mexican style paletas, ringing those familiar bells as he makes his way through the neighborhood. All through the summer I would see him walking along pushing his ice cream cart, always with a smile on his face. During the summer there were many days where the thermometer surpassed the century mark, but this was merely just another obstacle for this paisano to overcome. Whenever our paths crossed I always pulled him aside and bought a few paletas para refrescar, but more importantly to help this man make some sales. At other times my brother would greet him with a glass of ice water which he always accepted gratefully. I have always wondered what this man’s story is. Is he another paisano that has left his family behind in Mexico so that he can send back those hard earned dollars? The life of an immigrant. Immigrants have to go through so many struggles in order to “make it” in this country. Contrary to what some believe, nothing is handed to them. It’s people like this ice cream vendor that remind me how much of a lazy whiner I can be at times. I am always babbling about getting a real teaching job so that I can change the world and blah, blah, blah. Oh feel sorry for me…I can’t get a real teaching job. I should just shut the fuck up. I should just fucken work and shut my mouth. I have no right to complain. Those that are busting their ass in the fields, in unhealthy heat should complain. People that are working non stop in packing houses with poor ventilation should be complaining. This paletero that probably walks like 20 miles a day should be complaining. I should NOT be complaining. Whenever I lose focus all I have to do is look at my parents, who worked their entire lives in the fields. They are still the same viejos de siempre. The fields helped feed our family but they sure did punish my parents. Both of them suffered back injuries and are relegated to taking pain medication to mask the pain. I had promised myself that I was going to take care of them financially, and I have yet to do so in the manner which I had envisioned. Sometimes I feel like screw “changing the world,” I just want to get paid.
I have always seen myself as being somewhat materialistic in the sense that I always spend money on crap that I don’t need, ya know, like the iPod, the Canon digital camera, the PS2, and on and on. It’s entertainment but it’s not like I need it to survive (maybe the iPod). Inevitably, there are people out there that are 10 times worse than me. Porterville, a city of about 50,000 has what seems to be the highest number of luxury cars per capita in the area. Not to mention all the teenagers with their “fixed up” rides rolling on 24’s with airbags (not those kind), and even suicide doors. I forgot to mention the audio system, as well as the DVD player with TV screens mounted on the back of headrests. It’s freaking crazy how much people spend on their cars. It’s funny how this all works out. It’s like a race to see who has the most toys. It’s not unusual to see cars pass by with the DVD monitors on, but nothing playing, just to show off the goods. Ya can’t help but chuckle. The worst thing though is that Porterville has historically had the highest unemployment rate in the valley (I contribute to it partly because I am underemployed!) and yet you have all these people that abide by conspicuous consumption. I’m not saying not to do it…if you have the means to do so then who cares. Like Frank McCourt, the owner of the Dodgers, who is old and rich and yet is tight when it comes to the team. Frank, it’s not like you can take it with you when you die. I digress, so anyhow, the whole point that I am trying to make is that if you are working at a fast food joint or as a bagger at a grocery store you shouldn’t spend all your money on crap that you don’t need (I gotta start taking my own advice).
All you…that know how to do things…that’s working for other people…ya’ll need to open your own business…save your money…quit paying mutherfuckers for gerri curls, quit paying motherfuckers for perms….save your money…start your own business…(Intro to Lil Ghetto Boy by Dr. Dre)
What some saw as the inevitable outcome of another losing season I see as a total slap in the face to one of the greatest Tigers ever. I really feel betrayed by the organization’s decision to fire Alan Trammell, even though he inherited a very horrible team in his first year and basically turned the team around. Last year the Tigers made great strides, and although this year (Year 3) there wasn’t much improvement over last, what can you expect? Maggs was out for most of the season as well as Troy Percival. Management slowly began to deconstruct the bullpen midseason, shipping off “Uggy” Urbina and Kyle Farnsworth, leaving us with pitchers that love to give up the long ball in the worst of situations. The Coors beer radio commercial has it right. They ask: “What would be more refreshing than…? Firing the owner instead of the manager, that’s what would be more refreshing.” There seems to be a bright future for this club. They have great talent like Curtis Granderson (OF), Chris Shelton (1B), Nook Logan (CF) and loads of potential in the minors. It is really unfortunate that Tramm won’t be a part of it. At this point I am really questioning my commitment to this team. I grew up in Detroit and this was my childhood team but maybe for the first time ever I will switch teams. I have not been to Detroit since 1985. I have lived in Cali ever since. Maybe it’s time to start supporting a team in my backyard like the A’s (I love Oaktown…it’s truly a working class city!) or the Dodgers (East LA used to be my home for a while) or maybe even the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (I like the owner…another Al Davis in the making). I feel like a traitor for thinking this way but what can you expect? The only west coast team that I root for is the Raiders but the reason for that being is that I didn’t start watching football until I was in the fifth grade, already living in Cali.
Speaking of football…How ‘bout them…RAIDERS!!! What a win I must say (even the referees couldn’t keep us from beating the Cowboys). Towards the end of them game I was getting that uneasy feeling in my stomach. I thought, “Oh no, not another Raiders meltdown,” but hey, the defense held up and we can mark one in the win column. After three losses it feels great to get a win.
