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What a way to end the year

I am not authorized to give details here, but my 2008 is wrapping up in the most unexpected way. It goes bye bye as we write Chapter 2 of your typical boy meets girl, boy doesn't get girl and never forgets about her for 16 years, then girl finds boy. I don't know what is going on and don't know where this is going. I am just working hard to get things in a decent, comfortable position right now. But it feels awesome... some moments of the past few days have been the best of my life... like... forever!!! Just let me say that today I had lunch in a house I had seen in dreams since 1993 and with people I never imagined I would see again (and the boy who gave me a little car and a Hershey's milk box when I was at the hospital in 93 actually remembered me!!!). Sure, it is not easy. Not easy at all, and it also has been very difficult. I need this next week to assimilate things before going back to VA.
But now it's time to just be happy. I wish all my readers a very good 2009. I really do.

2008 won't let me be healthy

Damn, I am sneezing and coughing as 2008 ends. I am a mess tonight... hope I feel better tomorrow for the party at Pedrito's.

When weird is not really a bad thing

Today was a weird day.
Weird because of the activities I performed in the morning, which took place at a laundromat here in Merida.
Weird because of the company, which had been a major character of this show called my life 16 years ago, but then left the show abruptly.
Weird because the character is back in the show and seems to be playing a major role again, at least in this episode.
Weird because I just don't know where this is going.
But weird is not bad. At least not in this case.

Hanging out with the Sopranos

Well, more like hanging out with the Gualtueris, but you get the idea. Here's a pic I took of my nephew Xavier with Mr. Tony Sirico (Paulie Gualtieri) in Fort Lauderdale. He was very friendly early Saturday morning when we ran into him at our hotel lobby.

Oh yeah... and I am back in Mexico. We finally arrived today and now I think it's time for a nap. I have lots to do after being away from email for a few days. Honestly, this was the first real vacation (no computer, no work) for more than three days that I had... ever. I don't remember ever taking a real vacation (I have been working since I was 15). Back tomorrow.

Life after Disney World

Hi from Fort Lauderdale. I cannot believe I survived three days without Internets. I survived the Disney World adventure and will write about it soon. Now I have to go find some food, but here's a pic of Fernando and Xavier in Magic Kingdom.

The Merida Chronicles V (16 years in three hours)

A very funny mix of bad memory and fantasy reports told the story of the last 16 years. From Starbucks in Circuito to Sanborn's Altabrisa for lunch, things were fun and definitely worth the long wait. I won't share many details. I will keep them to myself so I can mix them with fantasies and La Paredes can forget about them with her bad memory.
We are going to Florida tomorrow!!! Next time I write, I should be in Orlando. See you later!

Extremes

It is cold in Blacksburg and it could snow today. Here in Merida it's almost 90 degrees again and super-humid. There has to be a point of balance. Orlando maybe?
Going to clean the DeLorean for tomorrow's visit to 1992. That sure was a long time ago. I hope the visit is good.

The Merida Chronicles IV (Internets at mom's and Starbucks weirdos)

I finally have internets at mom's, which means now I can do some work. It should be lots of work once we come back from Orlando after Christmas. However, that doesn't mean I don't go to the Starbucks on Circuito Colonias anymore. The other day I went walking with Xavier and we couldn't get the iPod Touch to connect to their wireless. Howevs, the new wireless at mom's is pretty decent and reliable (so far). Next week in Orlando I will be tempted again by the iPhone monsters as we go to the Apple Store. I am seriously thinking about it. Anyway... the other day at the Starbucks here I was eavesdropping on a conversation from these weirdos. They all looked like pimps in long-sleeve silky colorful shirts (in the 90 degrees here). They all had a factory of products and gel on their hair and were apparently humanoid hybrids, with their hands replaced (a la Edward Scissorhands) by cell phones. Damn, these dudes were texting non-stop. I will write one of these days about how every person in Merida seems to text while driving. Back to the weirdos. They were being very loud and the topic of conversation was how one of them "had" a credit card. I don't know if it was his card or not, but they were trying to use the card at several online and phone services without success. All I know is that it was a credit card with a US billing address, so they were trying to get services restricted to cards from the US. First, one of them wanted to get XM Radio. Poor moron, if he only knew I cancelled mine a few weeks ago because the XM-Sirius merged sucks a lot. They failed. Then they tried to buy music on the iTunes store. They failed. Then they called a number and tried to buy tickets for a show. They failed. And then the card's "owner" said "Oh well, don't burn it... I will try to pass it at a store when I go to Miami."
Kinda makes you think, on a quasi-serious note, about Thomas Friedman's theory of the American mini-mes produced by globalization. Not that these kids want to be Americans (prolly they don't know about Republicans or Democrats, Baptists and Lutherans, or even grits and corn dogs. But they want to enjoy and consume products that Americans use. I have tried to buy a Mexico-made cheapo t-shirt for working out, and all I can find are American brands or shirts made in China. Interesting fact: here in Merida, Wal Mart sells Old Navy clothes. We are a global mess, aren't we? I wonder if those weirdos want to pay my US credit card bills and then they will see shit ain't so funny from the other side of the border. Can we really blame them, tho, for wanting to enjoy iTunes and XM? Nope. Complicated, isn't it?

Michael and Jamiroquai

Today I should have my cable internets. However, after a good workout in the old/new elliptical, I am here at Starbucks checking email because it's too early for the cable people to show up (if they do). Michael Buble was singing about kissing a fool, but then suddenly he was interrupted by Jamiroquai. I am expecting Napoleon Dynamite to appear dancing any moment now. The girl at this Starbucks looks a little like Audrey Tautou but in Mexican. That has to be a good combination.

The Merida Chronicles III (Extreme makeover: Elliptical Edition)

There are two things I don't have here in Merida right now and I am going insane because of it: my internets and a gym subscription. Funny that I had been planing to have these things here since October. Alas, it didn't happen. Anyway, the cable internets should be installed at my mom's tomorrow and then I am gonna buy a wireless router next week in Orlando and install it so things can be smooth after that. And about the gym, it turns out there's a fancy elliptical machine abandoned at my mom's storing room. Yep, there's a whole room of things my brothers don't like/want anymore... and there's a fancy elliptical just like the ones I use at the gym in the Burg. Of course it has been abandoned for a couple of years and needs oil, cleaning, and a screwdriver. That will be my project for today with Xavier, who is out of school now.
Writing this from the Circuito Colonias Starbucks and... yes, Michael Buble is inviting me to fly away over the speakers.