MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010: FROM SARA, DORA AND CATY!

Birthday Wishes: To our niece, Micaela Ryan!

Micaela "ROCKS"!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR NIECE, MICAELA.

We hope today is a very special day for you and 

that you have lots of fun and get lotsa presents.

Wishing we could be there with you all to celebrate.

We miss you, you are always in our thoughts -

never far away!  See you soon!

Love your favorite Tias Sara and Dora!

RIGHT ON BILL!

A Tortilla Too Quemada To Eat!!

My apologies for not having posted something new.  I won't bother with an excuse.

Today's post is about my immediate family and, for those of you who don't know me, I have been estranged from my father, mother, and two sisters for at least 20 years.  Thankfully, I still maintain a relationship with my maternal grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Also, I have an extended family in Dora's family.  Last week (Wednesday), I received a phone call at work from my sister regarding our so-called "father."  She said, "I hate to call you at work, but I felt you should know about our father.  I know how you feel about our parents and you have every right to have those feelings.  But I feel obligated to tell you that he is in the hospital and he is not going to make it."  Agitated that she called me in the first place, I immediately asked, "And how does this concern me?"  She replied, "I knew you would feel that way, but like I said, I felt obligated to tell you because I know no one will do it."  I said, "Johnny [our father's name] does not concern me."  For the rest of the day, I was livid but put on a "poker face" of sorts to not alarm my coworkers. 
I have been "dead" in my immediate family's eyes for eyes.  Why trouble me with trivial things now?  I didn't matter before, why now?  My sister has been wanting to re-establish a relationship with me since the passing of my Uncle Mike.  I'm thinking:  "What for?  Is it because my mother decided to sever her ties with my sister...et once again?  It's not happening!  No way!  No how!  It took me a few years to fill the void my family left when they decided to "write me off."  It's been too long.  I have learned to bury the past and I'd like to leave it there.  Trust me people, I have honestly entertained the idea of a "sister reunion," but in the end, the thought pisses me off, puts me in a immensely dark place, and I hate the feeling.  I don't want it and I won't have it!
Then, on Saturday, my father's brother calls me and leaves me a voice mail message:  "Sara, I really need to talk to you concerning your daddy.  Call me back if you don't mind."  I thought, "You're fuckin' kidding me!  'Daddy'--since when was my father a 'daddy?'  He was a monster.  He was a self-centered asshole!  Give me a fuckin' break!"  Needless to say, I did not return the call.  He called again shortly thereafter.  I ignored it. 
The next day, my Uncle Rain called me to relay some information he received through my aunt and grandmother.  My so-called "father" passed Saturday afternoon around 3:00.  I guess my father's brother was calling me because time was short.  Once again, I thought:  "And all of this concerns me HOW!?"
Dora found out Sunday that a rosary was held Sunday evening.  Dora found the obit, which was published in the Odessa American:
 

ODESSA Johnny Salcido Ornelas, 60, died Saturday, October 16, 2010 at Hospice House of Odessa.

Rosary was said at 7:30 pm Sunday at Acres West Funeral Chapel, followed by a memorial service. Services were by Acres West Funeral Chapel and Crematory.

He was born in Balmorhea. He was Catholic.

SURVIVORS Daughters, Sara Ornelas of Midland, Jeanette Ornelas Alvarez of Odessa and Leslie Bernal of Odessa; sons, Jonathan Benavides and Nicholas Benavides, both of Odessa; brothers, Smiley Ornelas and Larry Ornelas of Roswell, N.M., Juan Salcido and Manuel Salcido of Pecos and Dennis Webber of Odessa; sisters, Connie Orona, Margarita Rodriguez and Lecha Dutchover, all of Odessa; and five grandchildren.

Allow me to make two things perfectly clear:
1.  I HATE HAVING MY NAME ATTACHED TO THIS MAN!  I AM NOT HIS DAUGHTER!  WHAT A COMPLETE FARCE!
2.  JOHNNY SALCIDO ORNELAS WAS A HORRIBLE HUSBAND, AND AS A FATHER, HE COMPLETELY SUCKED EVEN WORSE!  HE WAS A MANIPULATIVE S.O.B. WHO ONLY THOUGHT OF HIMSELF AT ALL TIMES!  HE MAY NOT HAVE PHYSICALLY ABUSED HIS DAUGHTERS, BUT HE WAS EMOTIONALLY ABUSIVE, WHICH IS JUST AS BAD, IF NOT WORSE, ON CERTAIN LEVELS.  BRUISES GO AWAY.  EMOTIONAL BRUISES DO NOT. 

Is there anything I would say to him now?  Abso-fucking-lutely!  Johnny, though you had your family around you in your final hour, you deserved to die alone!!!!!

There...I have said my peace!

7e272c49-18d4-4e2a-b2f2-c90cd47bb086

1.03.01

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Another anniversary of my birth...I'm getting older, but am I getting wiser?  I'd like to think so.  And what would I like for my birthday.  You can't go wrong with great reading material.  And, as you see on my blog, I do include an Amazon widget for those of you who are stumped about what to get for me.  Anyone who knows me knows I always appreciate a good book...like the books featured to the left of this post.  The Moral Landscape is Sam Harris' latest book.  The End Of Faith is an older book, which argues science has a universal moral code and there's no need for religion.  

What else would I like for my day?  Super-strength duct tape would be nice...and brown paper bags.  What? you ask.  It's simple really!  I want the duct tape to cover the mouths of certain people--Christine O'Donnell, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, everyone at Fox Wanna-be-News, and the Tea Baggers, as well as every extremist "bible-thumper" who feels compelled to shove their religious propaganda down our throats.  The brown paper bags?  To cover their heads!!! 

So far, my day has been peachy!

Happy 52nd To "Little Nonni" or "Esther!"

Yes, people, it is that time of year again...a holiday in our household--the lady (and she IS a lady) from Bay City, Michigan is turning 52 on Monday, August 16th!  52?!?!  Yes, dudes and dudettes, fifty-fuckin'-two and she looks younger than me!  I wonder, will I look that good when I turn 52?  Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADONNA!  If only you knew how much your music has meant to me all these years.  If only you knew how you helped me through the growing pains as a teenager trying to find myself.  If only you knew how you helped me through the rough spots as a young adult trying to find my place in this dog-eat-dog world (and everyone's wearing milk-bone underwear).  If only you knew how much I admire your talent, your zeal for life, your determination, your desire to make the world a much better place, your dedication to the causes you champion, your refusal to compromise your artistic expression, and your knack for pushing the right buttons at the right moments (even in the face of harsh criticism).  I remember when Madonna first became famous and a picture she had taken for a Playboy shoot surfaced in the media.  Hah, the media thought they had her cornered!  What was Madonna's response to the pics?  "So what!"  And that, as Paul Harvey used to say, was the end of the story.  By the way, those pics were legit.  She had posed for Playboy because she needed money (this was before she became famous and was living in a slum, bathing from her kitchen sink, and living off of tuna and popcorn).  THAT WAS THEN!!!  If Madonna wants to eat tuna and popcorn now, she can eat it because SHE CAN...not because she HAS TO!  Her legacy?  She has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and is ranked by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) as the best-selling female rock artist of the 20th century, and the second top-selling female artist in the U.S. (behind Barbra Streisand).  She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility (2008).  In 2006, a new water bear species, Echiniscus madonnae, was named after her.  She's also described as "America's smartest businesswoman...who has moved to the top of her industry and stayed there by constantly reinventing herself."
Madonna celebrated her birthday last night in London with a party at the Shoreditch House, which is a private members' club.  She included her 24-year-old boyfriend, model Jesus Luz.  Lourdes arrived with four of her school chums.  Madonna's son, Rocco, turned 10 last Wednesday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADONNA!!!!! Picture below:  Madonna and Lola arriving at Madonna's birthday bash in London.....

{Just an endnote to the names "Little Nonni" and "Esther" included in the title of this posting.  Madonna's mother's name was Madonna as well.  "Little Nonni" was a nickname given to Madonna to distinguish her from her mother.  "Esther" is her Kabbalah name.}

Whatcha Gonna Do?

Okay...okay...I know I have been extremely lax in maintaining my blog.  Sue me...but you won't get much!  Anyway, allow me to finally make it official.  The job search is over!  Yes, I was offered a job with The Home Depot (THD to those of us in "orange") working on the Merchandising Execution Team as a Merchandising Execution Associate.  It offers an excellent work schedule, benefits, and pay.  Merchandising is a field I have enjoyed being a part of for the past eleven years.  At the risk of sounding a bit cocky, merchandising is something I am most familiar with and have a gift for...to say the least.

But (and there's always a but, isn't there?), I have yet to find my dream job.  This statement in no way, shape, or form implies that I hate my new job--quite the contrary.  But my dream job is out there...still.  I looked for it after graduating from grad school with no success.  My dream job?  Teaching history at a community college.  I am extremely passionate about higher education and I love history.  I wanted to make a positive difference and still do.  I did get formally invited by the Selection Committee of Austin Community College in February 2010 for a FT history faculty position.  I was interviewed for about thirty minutes.  Then, I presented a 20-minute teaching demonstration on the Progressive Era.  They both went rather well, but (and there's always a but), the position was offered to the other candidate and the lucky candidate accepted.  Most recently (in June), I was called for an interview with Midland College for the Associate Registrar's position.  The initial interview went well as I was called back for a second interview.  I was introduced to the staff in the Registrar's office, Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Services, and Academic Advising.  Then, I was taken to lunch by the VP of Student Services, the Dean of Enrollment Management, and the Registrar.  At this point, I honestly thought I had nailed the position.  Two weeks later, I get a phone call from the Registrar informing me that the position was offered to the other candidate and the offer was accepted.  I was devastated.  I was rejected by my alma mater!  I was floored.  It took two days to get over the shock and sadness I felt.  And speaking of alma maters, in 2009, UTPB called me for an interview for the position of Admissions Counselor.  I was rejected by them, too.  At this point, you can venture to say that I had developed a complex.  Both of my alma maters did not want to give "one of their own" a fighting chance to demonstrate their talents and potential.  To add insult to injury, MC sent me a formal letter (on MC letterhead) two weeks AFTER the over-the-phone-rejection to inform me that, although my "experience and credentials are impressive," they decided on another candidate.  More recently, (a week ago in fact), I received a letter from UTPB asking me...ME!...for a DONATION to their scholarship fund for their new Mechanical Engineering program.  The first words uttered from my mouth were:  ARE YOU FUCKIN' KIDDING ME?!?!  UTPB won't offer me a job, but they're asking me for my money?!  I don't expect a faculty position, but they won't even offer me a staff position!  So there you have it...in a damn nutshell.  Don't get the wrong impression folks, I like my job at THD and it's a great opportunity because there is plenty of opportunity for career growth.  And I don't think my education is a complete waste AT ALL!  I know many young people are jaded by today's economy and often wonder if an education is worth the hassle.  Granted, I am not teaching history at some community college, but I am proud of having reached my personal goals--goals that had been on my "bucket list" since graduating from high school.  And I did it thanks to those around me who supported me.  And trust me, being able to say "I did it!" does wonders for your psyche!  One thing is clear:  The tassle is worth the hassle!  So whatcha gonna do?

KUDOS to Mayor Bloomberg (NYC) for defending Islam's right to build a center near Ground Zero!  Those who oppose the building  are nothing more than bigots.

KUDOS to the federal judge (Vaughn Walker) for striking down California's ban on same-sex marriage.  Whatcha gonna do now Obama since this court decision poses a formidable threat to your strategy of relegating divisive social issues to the back burner.  Yeah, yeah, Obama was opposed to Prop 8 and he made his opposition clear on many occasions.  What hasn't been clear is how he squares his position for equality with his REFUSAL to embrace ACTUAL equality in marriage.  Evan Wolfson of Freedom To Marry said it best in The New York Times:  "That's [Obama's refusal to embrace same-sex marriage] an unsatisfying position that does nothing but frustrate those of us who look to him as the champion he promised to be...He's not gaining anything, and Judge Walker just made that crystal clear."  Obama's spokesman, Ben LaBolt, said Obama "has spoken out in opposition to Proposition 8 because it is divisive and discriminatory.  He will continue to promote equality for LGBT Americans."  Really Obama?  Equality?  REALLY?  DO YOU?  WILL YOU?  I challenge you to put your money where your mouth is Mr. President.  Granted, my Bill (Clinton) signed the Defense of Marriage Act into law, but he has now called for overturning it, and supports freedom to marry, joined by people like Cindy McCain and Laura Bush.  Yes, folks, Cindy McCain and Laura Bush...you're not seeing things!  You read the posting correctly.  I ask, once again, Mr. President, WHATCHA GONNA DO?

A New Look...And It's PERMANENT Baby!

Tortillas has a new look and, needless to say, I LOVE IT!  Thank you Dora for finding the awesome background and incorporating her song "Human Nature" into the blog.  The song is perfect for the blog:  "Express yourself, don't repress yourself"...and with no apologies!

I own the featured book to the left.  I purchased the book a few years ago (Dewey:  The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter).  Dora was feeling under the weather at the time (and would be for the next few days since being released from the hospital) and I thought the book would bring her a ray of sunshine.  Yesterday, I decided to take the book off the shelf and begin reading it myself.  So far, it has been quite entertaining...and inspirational.  And, if you are a pet owner, you would love this book as much as I do.  From one pet owner to another, I don't have to tell you how pets seem to know when you need love and encouragement.  My cat--Caty--always makes me feel better when I'm experiencing a rough day.  I guess they have a sixth sense.  Whatever it is, I welcome it.  The main character of the book is Dewey Readmore Books, the Library Cat, who was found by the library director one cold winter morning.  Apparently, Dewey had been shoved into the library drop box one night....and he was only an 8-week-old kitten.  He was found cold, hungry, and weak.  His paw pads were suffering from frostbite and it took them days to heal.  The library in Spencer, Iowa adopted him--in fact, the whole town did.  Spencer was one of the small, rural towns hit extremely hard by the economy in the 1980s.  Farms were being foreclosed left and right.  Remember Willie Nelson and Farm Aid?  Hmmm, bad economic times...foreclosures...sounds pretty damn familiar.  

Here is a reading sample (one of my favorite parts...it made me teary-eyed):

"Then into our laps fell Dewey.  I don't want to make too much of this one turn of events, because Dewey didn't put food on anyone's table.  He didn't create jobs.  He didn't turn the economy around.  But one of the worst things about bad times is the effect on your mind.  Bad times drain you of energy.  They occupy your thoughts.  They taint everything in your life.  Bad news is as poisonous as bad bread.  At the very least, Dewey was a distraction.

But he was so much more.  Dewey's story resonated with the people of Spencer.  We identified with it.  Hadn't we all been shoved down the library drop box by the banks?  By outside economic forces?  By the rest of America, which ate our food but didn't care about the people who grew it?

Here was an alley cat, left for dead in a freezing drop box, terrified, alone, and clinging to life.  He made it through that dark night, and that terrible event turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.  He never lost his trust, no matter what the circumstances, or his appreciation for life.  He was humble.  Maybe humble isn't the right word--he was a cat, after all--but he wasn't arrogant.  He was confident.  Maybe it was the confidence of the near-death survivor, the serenity you find when you've been to the end, beyond hope, and made it back.  All I knew was that, from the moment we found him, Dewey believed everything was going to be fine.

And when he was around, he made others believe that, too."

I highly recommend the book.  It has been a joy to read...and inspirational.  Makes me want to hug my cat!  Wish they would make the movie! 

Dora is officially 44 and now we enter July!

Dora's birthday dinner was a success.  Thanks to Josie and their mom Eva for their help in preparing the meal and their company.  We all had fun.  I invited my former professor and advisor from UTPB--Dr. Martinez.  Dora and I have developed a friendship with her and we always have a blast with her.  We feel as if we have known her forever and a day.  We all have a great deal in common.  And now, I will share the pics....

Time to open the gifts.  Pictured around the table (l-r):  Dora's mom Eva, Dr. Martinez, Dora the birthday girl, Dora's niece Alex (in black), and Dora's sister Josie (in red).

Dora is thinking:  "For me...all for me...really...for me...only me...and no one else....gosh."

Dora is reading her birthday card:  "Fourscore and seven million years ago, you were born...."

Dora and her mother...She loves her mama!

HAPPY 44TH BIRTHDAY TO DORA!  WE ALL WISH YOU MANY MORE TO COME!  Pictured (l-r):  Ana, Dora (seated), Dora's and Josie's mother Eva, Dora's sister Josie, Dora's niece Alex (Josie's daughter), and me.

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS TO REMEMBER:

1.  July 13th:  my Aunt Fina from Pecos, TX

2.  July 23rd:  Dora's niece Erica from Big Spring, TX

3.  July 25th:  Dora's brother-in-law Philip Sr. ("Wero") from Coahoma, TX

4.  July 30th:  Dora's great-niece Gabby from Midland, TX

Preparation is key!

Just a FIFA World Cup update:  The team I'm supporting (South Africa) is not doing too well, but they're not doing badly either.  They're in Group A with 4 points (same as Mexico, who's in the same group).  Uruguay leads our group with 7 points.  France is at the bottom of the group.  Argentina leads Group B with 6 points.  Slovenia leads Group C with 4.  Ghana leads Group D with 4.  Netherlands leads Group E with 6.  Paraguay leads Group F with 4.  Brazil leads Group G with 6.  Chile leads Group H with 6.  It's been an interesting tournament.  D keeps up with it better than I do, as she has been a fan of World Cup play far longer than I have.  She's been reading Dr. Catsam's Foreign Policy Association blog since he is lucky enough to be in South Africa for the tournament.  And in case you didn't know, Dr. Catsam is my former professor from grad school and is the husband of our very good friend, Ana (a.k.a. Dr. Martinez-Catsam...also a former professor/advisor of mine).  Needless to say, he is having a great time across the pond.

Today, I am preparing for tomorrow evening--D's birthday dinner.  It's not a big shindig--just a quiet, intimate dinner with a few people.  Her sister will be helping me with it, which is generous.  D will be 44 years young...the big double four.  Hopefully, everything will work out nicely.  I'm sure it will since I'm preparing for it.  Preparation is key!

I would really like to have a big bash for her 45th birthday, but we shall see.  

Maybe I can get Raider Red to come to the dinner tomorrow!  Damn, if only I had prepared more in advance, Raider Red could have come down from Lubbock to eat vittles with us.  Yeah right!

                                                                                                                                                                                 

I'M SICK AND DISGUSTED!

Anymore...when I tune in to the news, I get sick to my stomach and I just want to scream!  First of all, let me begin with topic #1 of 2:  I heard the following remark..."I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians.  They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance.  May that day come soon."  This remark was made by Helen Thomas, who received much criticism for her comment earlier about Jews going back to Poland, Germany, ect.  First of all, I believe her comment was NOT anti-Semitic.  Who among us does not have strong feelings about the endless warfare in the Middle East?  Personally, I agree with her!  And I don't think she should have apologized for expressing her opinion.  Besides, the rabbi who asked Helen the question knew exactly what he was doing and what to expect for a response.  The purpose of this story is to make everyone forget about what Israel did to the ships trying to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.  The rabbi and the rest of the press controlled by the Jewish lobby swiftly and effectively killed the story.  DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE SHIP AND THE PEOPLE WHO DIED TRYING TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN AID TO THE PALESTINIANS?  DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THAT THE PALESTINIANS ARE TRAPPED IN A GHETTO BY THE ISRAELIS?  Ms. Thomas' comments are her honest opinion and what she said was not out of line.  Granted, the Palestinians have blood on their hands, but my point is this:  WHY IS THERE NOT MORE OUTRAGE AGAINST THE LOSS OF LIVES PERPETRATED BY ISRAEL?  WHY IS THERE SO MUCH OUTRAGE FOR SPEAKING HONESTLY?  WHAT ISRAEL IS DOING IS NOT ONLY OFFENSIVE, IT'S REPREHENSIBLE.  ISRAEL IS THE PROBLEM.  NOT MS. THOMAS. 

What is WRONG with us?  When are we going to become independent of Israel?  When is the U.S. going to stop being Israel's bitch?  How has this little nation managed to hijack our foreign policy?  When are we going to grow a pair?  Israel has become America's tapeworm--it habitually spies on us, has killed Americans, siphons billions of dollars in aid from us, spits in our faces, has attacked our navy (remember the USS Liberty?) and its admirers keep harping that Israel is our friend...oh how sweet.  Give me a damn break!  To my family and friends, if you have any doubts that Israel controls our country, either directly or indirectly, I challenge you to find a magazine article, newspaper article, a Hollywood film, or TV news item that condemns Israel, or takes a compassionate view of the Palestinian victims. 

Think about it, Helen Thomas makes a point.  I, in no way, shape, or form, have anything against Jewish people, but the fact is that Israel was created at the expense of the Palestinians, who had been living in the territory for hundreds of years.  Put yourself in the shoes of a Palestinian.  If someone showed up at your house and tells you that 2000 years ago, this house and the land it sits on, belonged to their ancestors.  They ask you to take your belongings and leave the house and land with no compensation and no right to dispute these claims in court.  And their strongest evidence of their claim is that they have a book they consider "holy" that tells them to expel you from your house.  How would you react?  Would you agree to simply leave your house and your land?  I think not!

Moreover, Israel has not negotiated with the Palestinians in good faith, i.e. the continued building of new settlements; the new building taking place in Jerusalem in the portion where the Palestinians should have their capitol as part of a "two State solution"; the fact that Israel is the one who did not live up to the last truce agreement but instead invaded Gaza on a trumped up excuse; the fact that Israel is starving the people of Gaza with the blockade.  The U.S. should cut off all aid to Israel until it negotiates in good faith for a two-State solution.  I support Ms. Thomas and it's sad to see such a tour de force retire. 

Final topic:  the oil spill in the Gulf....it makes me sick!  I saw a clip of the Matt Lauer interview with President Obama.  Matt asked him (in so many words) why he didn't drop the calm, cool, collected attitude and just kick ass.  Obama's response?  "A month ago, I was meeting with fishermen down there, standing in the rain, talking about what a potential crisis this could be.  And I don't sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar.  We talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers, so I know whose ass to kick."  Big talk from the guy who had to be told it might not be a good idea to go partying for the Memorial Day weekend in Chicago instead of visiting the Gulf.  Guess what Renegade?  Your response is NOT GOOD ENOUGH!  Your statements are useless, especially when I see the devastation on TV and see the images on the web.  To be sure, BP is ultimately responsible for the disaster.  The fact that there were reports of faulty equipment on the offshore rig should have told you not to totally trust BP to resolve the problem.  I will always believe you acted WAY TOO SLOW!!!!  You chose to have your meetings with the experts, wasting precious time.  You should take a lesson from a firefighter.  Firefighters don't call in the arson investigators until the fire is out.  And now....a few disturbing images...BP is public enemy #1!!!!!!  I had tears in my eyes with the last image.

The images remind me of the fact that humans just love screwing things up.  And people wonder why I have more respect for animals....humans are the beasts of the earth.  How can we categorize ourselves as "human" when the consequences of our actions are inhumane?  I digress....

Sex Is Almost Here & I'm Drooling Already!

If you're a "Sex And The City" fan, you know what I'm talking about, but if you're not, indulge me while I introduce you to my ladies from the Big Apple.

From 1998 to 2004, four beautiful women made me laugh...cry...and laugh some more--

CARRIE BRADSHAW (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) is the reason for Sex and the City.  She is the narrator of the show.  Each episode is structured around her train of thought.  Carrie is a columnist who lives in Manhattan.    The title of her column is "Sex and the City."  She writes about sexual politics.  She is the woman's woman.  Her own experiences, as well as the experiences of her best friends, serve as fodder for her column.  Why did she choose to live in NYC?  In her words:  "I'm looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love."  

SAMANTHA JONES (played by Kim Catrall) is a successful PR exec who knows what she wants, and most of the time, gets it.  She takes lust over love on any given night.  She embraces her uninhibited sexuality and is not ashamed of it.  She is the oldest and most sexually confident of the foursome.  She is confident, strong, outspoken, and calls herself a "try-sexual" (meaning she'll try anything once). One of Samantha's best qualities is her loyalty to her friends. She believes that she has had "hundreds" of soul mates and requires that her sexual partners leave "an hour after I climax."  In Season 6, Samantha's character further develops when she is suddenly diagnosed with cancer when visiting a plastic surgeon for a breast implant consultation. An operation and chemotherapy challenge Samantha, but she beats cancer and it becomes clear the experience has renewed her with a new perspective on life and love.

MIRANDA HOBBES (played by Cynthia Nixon) is a successful corporate attorney who is smart, self-assured, and proud of her achievements (she made partner in her law firm during the show).  She is a Harvard Law graduate who raises the bar for herself continually, personally and professionally.  She doesn't open up easily and, at times, can be quite cynical.  Her image softens over the years, particularly after she becomes pregnant by her on/off boyfriend, Steve, whom she eventually marries. The birth of her son, Brady Hobbes, brings up new issues for her Type A, workaholic personality, but she soon finds a way to balance career and motherhood.

CHARLOTTE YORK (played by Kristin Davis) is the character who I identify with the least.  Although I admire her optimism and idealism, she is too traditional for me.  At the beginning of the show, she was an art dealer, but then, she married...divorced...then married (2nd time was a charm).  Getting married to a wealthy, handsome man who belonged to the social elite and having a family and the perfect house was her dream.  In a nutshell, Charlotte is the more conventional woman.  She is the most optimistic of the group, the one who places the most emphasis on emotional love as opposed to lust, and is a true romantic; always searching for her "knight in shining armor" and she eventually finds it.  She scoffs at the lewder, more libertine antics of her friends (primarily Samantha), presenting a more traditional attitude about relationships, usually based on "the rules" of love and dating. Despite her traditional outlook, she has been known to make concessions (while married) that even surprise her more sexually liberated girlfriends.

NEW YORK CITY plays a character, too.  Because the show centers on four sexy women, the city has to be sexy as well...and you can't get any sexier than New York City, baby...and Manhattan to boot!

The women discuss their sexual desires and fantasies, and their travels in life and love. I loved the show's frank dialogue about women and sex. 
I (as well as any woman) identify with all four women, but here's my personal mixture:  I am 40% Carrie, 30% Samantha, 25% Miranda, and 5% Charlotte.
Overall, the show was great and I miss it.  No topic was off limits.  It shocked you.  It made you laugh.  It was frank.  It provoked conversations.  It was real.  It was about being yourself...up close and personal.  Well, at least I have the DVD collections to all the seasons and the movie.  Now, I'm looking forward to Sex and the City 2, which will premiere in theaters this Thursday, May 27th.
 
One of my favorite episodes (and I think I speak for every "Sex and the City" fan) is from Season 4 when Carrie is asked to be in a big fashion charity show featuring both models and real people.  The main idea of the entire episode is how we can look at our friends perfectly, but we can't see ourselves in the same way.  We tend to be self-critical.  So after some convincing from her friends--and when she finds out she can keep the outfit (she's modeling Dolce & Gabana)--Carrie decides to be a "model."  On the night of the fashion show, Carrie is informed there's been a wardrobe change and she has to wear a tiny pair of jeweled underwear.  She freaks, but all done up and looking fabulous, Samantha assures her she is a model.  Carrie starts her walk down the runway only to fall flat on her face.  Even real-life supermodel Heidi Klum walks over her.  After all, the show must go on.  Faced with a choice, Carrie gets back up and finishes her catwalk to cheers and a congratulations "high-five" from Heidi Klum.  The episode is inspiring.  How many times have we "fallen" in life--at times not wanting to get back up--but when we do, it builds character and strength.  And why did Carrie choose not to quit and run back to the dressing room?  "...because when real people fall down in life, they get right back up and keep on walking."

Mr. President, I'm Sweatin' You!

Yes...good question indeed...where the hell are we going?  Why do I ask this question?  Well, indulge me as I stand on my soap box.  Where do I begin?  The hell with it, I'll just begin...

1.   THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC DISASTER IN THE GULF--Experts are saying that it could be the worst oil spill in North American history.  It's what happens when lobbyists from dirty industries like oil (among others) write our energy policy.  Now it's been reported that an estimated third to a half of the 11,000 commercial fishermen impacted by the disaster are Vietnamese, yet BP and Coast Guard officials have done precious little to accommodate this community.  Hmm...not a shocker there my friends.  From hearing the reports on the news and reading about it in news websites and magazines, haven't we seen and heard enough?  I have!  Enough is enough!  I've said it before and I will say it again, offshore drilling CANNOT be a part of our energy future--for our oceans, for our environment, and for our climate!  And to think Mr. President, you lifted the ban on offshore drilling and you insist on debating the issue.  What's to debate?!  It's a no-brainer!  Thumbs down 2 U Prez!  I will most certainly sweat you on this!!!

2.  IMMIGRATION REFORM--Man oh man, did you drop the pelota [trans. = "ball"] on this issue.  One of my favorite bloggers commented on Ronnie Reagan's amnesty bill.  The blogger posted:  "For all of Reagan's horrible faults and actions (his foreign policy in Latin America), one thing is hard to escape:  it was he that signed a major amnesty bill."  Then, the blogger included one of Reagan's quotes:  "...it makes one wonder about the illegal alien fuss.  Are great numbers of our unemployed really victims of the illegal alien invasion, or are those illegal tourists actually doing work our own people won't do?  One thing is certain in this hungry world:  No regulation or law should be allowed if it results in crops rotting in the fields for lack of harvesters."  Good point Ronnie, but because this quote comes from you, I can't help but wonder what your ulterior motives were at the time you said it.  But whatever the motive, your Republican friends in Arizona should take to heart your words of "wisdom."  But alas, the Grand Canyon state has done it again and it's not pretty.  Governor Brewer signed into law a bill that targets ethnic studies programs.  The bill "prohibits classes that advocate ethnic solidarity, that are designed primarily for students of a particular race or that promote resentment toward a certain ethnic group."  Really?  The Tuscon School District offers a Mexican-American studies program, in addition to courses in Native-American and African-American studies.  The focus is on ethnic history, literature, and information about the influences of these particular groups.  Doesn't sound sinister to me.  But lawmakers who promoted the bill believe that these courses teach students that they are oppressed by whites.  Personally, I don't see how teaching ethnic history and literature is a bad thing.  As for minorities being oppressed by whites....uh...I'm a historian...uh, I majored in history...minorities oppressed by whites?...the history is there.  It is what it is and you can't erase it or rewrite it.  So what's the problem?  Does the burden of historical shame and guilt from the foul deeds of their forefathers who robbed, stole, murdered, and swindled Native-Americans out of their lands seem too heavy?  What about the embarrassing institution of slavery (African-Americans)?  Or how Mexicans were robbed of territory?  Or how Asians (Japanese-Americans) were placed in concentration camps during WWII?  The fact of the matter is minorities considered themselves as Americans.  The problem was that other "Americans" didn't see them as such.  For example, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo granted U.S. citizenship and other rights to those Mexicanos who chose to remain in the Southwest after the conquest.  Over time, Mexicanos lost their lands to Anglos through deceitful means and, in some cases, murder.  Mexicanos and Mexican-Americans were lynched and subjected to discrimination on the basis of  their ethnicity.  In spite of this discrimination, Mexican-Americans demonstrated their loyalty to this country during WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc.  In fact, they also did their share in the Civil War.  Yet, when some WWII vets returned home from the war, they could not get served in restaurants.  Public places displayed signs:  "No Dogs or Mexicans Allowed."  They couldn't be buried in a public cemetery because Anglos would not allow it.  Google the story of Pvt. Felix Longoria from Three Rivers, Texas. 

The focus of ethnic studies is not to promote racial hatred, resentment, or the overthrow of the U.S. government.  The goal is to present students with a more COMPLETE history of American history. 

On a more personal note, I'm a product of public schools that did not have ethnic studies, but I remember as a high school student that I was always eager to read books about Mexican-American history, Native-American history, and African-American history.  Then, I began to read books by Hispanic authors such as Rudolfo Anaya, Ana Castillo, Sandra Cisneros, Leslie Marmon Silko, Langston Hughes, and Audre Lorde.  Regardless of what one thinks about ethnic studies and whether it is a valuable discipline or not (I think it is), completely shutting these courses down will do more harm than good.  I took an ethnic studies course in college and ethnic studies is not about teaching ethnic superiority nor is it a continual lesson in being oppressed.  Its goal is to teach history.  History books already censor and omit so much that shutting down ethnic studies is a small minded solution for Arizona's public school children.  By signing this bill, Governor Brewer has only worsened the scrutiny her state faces.  And all of this started from the immigration law (SB 1070).  Mr. President, the fiasco in Arizona is getting out of control.  You were slow in passing immigration reform.  Now what?!  Thumbs down 2 U Prez!  I will most certainly sweat you on this!

3.  "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL--Mr. President, what (exactly) is the delay with the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell?"  A certain group of Americans feel extremely alienated right about now.  And you did make promises.  Something that should be so easy seems too difficult for you to accomplish...a Harvard Law graduate.  The fact that the repeal is taking this long....  Thumbs down 2 U Prez!  I will most certainly sweat you on this!

4.  ECONOMY AND JOBS--Mr. President, what about the economy...the jobs?  I have an AA, BA, and MA and with the shortage of jobs, I feel dressed to the nines with nowhere to go.  I recently read a post on the "Daily Kos" blog that I would like to share with my readers because the information is scary, yet important to know.  Here it is:

"It's been well-reported that unemployment benefits can last for 99 weeks (aka the 99'ers).  What has been almost completely lacking in the news coverage is that June 2nd is the drop-dead date for unemployment extensions.  Politicians in the Senate had no problem giving tax breaks to companies that shipped jobs overseas, but now balk at extending unemployment insurance.  Currently, there are four "Tiers" of extended unemployment insurance.  If you were laid off early in the recession, then you were eligible for the full 99 weeks.  But let's say you were laid off in the spring of 2009 and you are on Tier Three of the emergency extended benefits that runs out in July.  If you are in that boat, they you are shit out of luck.  The only way you are eligible for Tier Four is if your benefits expire BEFORE the end of May.  This applies to ALL tiers.  Thus, if you were laid off only, say, 24 weeks ago, you AREN'T eligible for ANY federal unemployment benefits when the state UI expires after 26 weeks.  Not even Tier One.  Currently, the average duration on unemployment is eight months.  That's going to affect around 7 million people.  This means that literally millions of long-term unemployed are going to be losing their last lifeline in the coming months.  There are some proposals for moving the deadline out for a few months, but nothing concrete at this time with only a week to go before the clock strikes midnight.  As for those who have actually used up the full 99 weeks of UI, there is almost no hope of a Tier Five being created." 

Well, what about Obama's stimulus?

"It has its limits.  The Census has hired 1.2 million Americans, but the jobs are temporary.  They will come to an end.  Those same people are going to be laid off by the hundreds of thousands every month beginning in June.  Meanwhile, Obama's stimulus bill is over half spent and is scheduled to be drawn down by the end of September.  It's hard to miss all the talk of broke states...the current proposed California budget completely eliminates welfare, not just cutting it...Arizona is warning of a governmental "collapse"...New York is running out of money...Illinois is handing out IOU's and says there are no good solutions.  It's been observed that states will raise taxes, but higher taxes alone will not be enough to make up for the vast shortfall in state budgets.  Accordingly, 42 states and the District of Columbia have already articulated plans to cut government jobs.  As many as 300,000 of the layoffs are expected to be school teachers.  This all happens in the next couple of months."

On a more personal note, I am one of the many receiving unemployment insurance.  I have pounded the pavement since May 2009.  I have had 2 phone interviews and 5 face-to-face interviews and 3 formal tests.  I have 2 face-to-face interviews next week.  Something has to surface.  I can longer be a bottom feeder (never wanted to be).  Mr. President, you were thrilled that jobs were created for the month of May.  But what will happen when those jobs (and I bet the jobs were with the Census Bureau) are cut beginning in June?  What then?  If things continue the way they are, what makes you think you will get re-elected?  I'll admit I didn't vote for you.  I voted a straight Democratic ticket because I could not bring myself to place a check next to your name.  (I wanted Hillary and I will go to my grave believing she was and still is the better candidate).  Am I implying that I may vote for a Republican?  Hell no!  No way, no how!  Never!  But come 2012, if you haven't addressed the issues I have addressed in my post, I will think about a third-party candidate or write in a candidate of my choice.  I know you inherited a shitty economy, but pointing the finger at your predecessor is getting old.  It's time to say, "I got this!"  Thumbs down 2 U Prez!  I will certainly sweat you on this!

I know most people don't like to play the "what if" game, including Hillary, but...........

Countdown Continues....Go Bafana Bafana!

36 days and counting until the 2010 FIFA World Cup begins in South Africa with South Africa playing against Mexico in the opening match.

Go Bafana Bafana!!

And for those of you who aren't too familiar with the sport (I'm just learning myself), the FIFA World Cup takes place once every four years.  During the two years prior to the World Cup, countries compete for spots in the tournament through World Cup qualifying.  These World Cup qualifying matches are broken up into different geographic regions.  FIFA's goal in World Cup qualifying is to find the best teams in the world to play in the World Cup.  After all of the qualifying matches have been completed, the teams with the most points make it into the actual World Cup tournament.  

32 teams from the different FIFA regions are ultimately chosen to play in the World Cup.  These teams are first broken up into 8 groups of 4.  Each one of these groups is given a letter name, A through H.  Within each group, each team plays 3 games, 1 game against each team.  For a win, 3 points are awarded, for a tie 1 point is awarded, and if a team loses no points are awarded.  After all the group stage matches have been played, the top 2 teams with the most points from each group advance to the knock out stage of the tournament.  The 2 bottom teams from each group are eliminated from the tournament.  The rest of the tournament is a single elimination knock out tournament where the last standing team is awarded the world cup.

The team I'm supporting (South Africa's Bafana Bafana) is in Group A with Mexico, Uruguay, and France.  Dora will be supporting Team USA (of course) and they are in Group C with England, Algeria, and Slovenia.

Go Bafana Bafana!

And guess what?  Each World Cup event chooses an official song.  This year, FIFA and Sony have chosen Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) as the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  The song was written by our very own Shakira, who will perform the song with South African band Freshlyground.

Remember, the event runs from June 11th to July 11th.  It will be interesting to see how South Africa performs as the host country.  And it will be interesting to see which team is left standing.

Go Bafana Bafana!!!!

LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, TODAY IS CINCO DE MAYO!!!!!  And to clarify a few things, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, but it should be.  And it's not an American holiday, but it should be.  Many people get Cinco de Mayo confused with el dies y seis de septiembre.  Mexico declared her independence from Spain in September.  Remember the holiday like this:  September begins with the letter "S"...Spain does, too.  So what is the significance of Cinco de Mayo?  Cinco de Mayo commemorates the day the Mexican army trashed the much larger French army at the Battle of Puebla.  You see, Mexico owed money to several countries including France.  Benito Juarez decided to stop making payments.  The French became pissed off and decided to occupy Mexico.  At first, the French succeeded...until May 5th, when the Mexicanos defeated a much larger French army.  The French eventually occupied Mexico anyway, placing Emperor Maximilian I on the Mexican throne.  After much pressure from the U.S., the French withdrew and Maximilian was executed.  The funny thing about Cinco de Mayo is that the holiday has greater significance in the U.S. than it does in Mexico.  In Mexico, it's virtually ignored.  The U.S. observes this day to celebrate the Mexican ancestry and heritage of many of its citizens.

Spill, Baby, Spill

The oil continues to ooze from the oil well at an estimated 5,000 barrels a day.  This disaster comes at a time when President Obama proposed opening more areas of the Gulf coastline to oil and natural gas drilling.  Was I disappointed?  YES.  For one thing, offshore drilling is dangerous work, as this tragedy reminds us.  It puts our oceans at risk.  It threatens the marine life and anything else that crosses it.  Currently, the oil slick in the Gulf is threatening to poison the Mississippi Delta and the coastline along four states.  And the best solutions officials have come up with is to set it on fire?!  Jeez Louise, we have to do better than that!  How 'bout NOT drilling offshore AT ALL?! 

If you recognize the title of my post, yes, I stole it from half-governor Sarah Palin.  Remember when she shouted, "Drill, baby, drill!" while campaigning in 2008?  Hmm, she's been pretty silent so far on the latest development.  Hey Sarah, how's the cat-got-yer-tongue workin' far ya?  Where's that big mouth now you...o#@$&**^%!?  I'm with Bill Maher's tweet:  "Every @!$%# who ever chanted 'Drill Baby Drill' should have to report to the Gulf Coast today for cleanup duty."  Excuse me Bill, I will go even further.  Everyone who is for offshore drilling and who stated, "It's about time Obama changed his position on offshore drilling" should also report for cleanup duty. 

Mr. President, there is no excuse for you to be on the side of Big Oil and the GOP on this one in the first place.  That is NOT what you were elected to do.  Offshore drilling has been widely opposed by Democrats.  Your fellow Democrats should have let you have it when you announced that you were joining Mitch McConnell and the fine folks at Exxon on this one.  Now the chickens are coming to roost...if they aren't covered in oil!  Bust out the Dawn dishwashing liquid!

I know I have my critics asking, "Then what should we do if not drill offshore?"  Well, let's see, I'm thinking about the disaster in the Gulf.  I'm thinking about the coal mining disaster.  The way I figure it, this country should be actively trying to shift from dirty to renewable energy.  Oil and coal are dead.  Wind, sun...these things should be our future....Conservation...Alternative energy sources.  We cannot drill our way out of our energy problems.  The risks of doing so are there.  Why tempt the gods?  

Unfortunately, the worst for the Gulf Coast's economy and wildlife is yet to come.  Tsk, tsk, tsk.  The oil companies have had almost everything on their side--money, power, influence.  Everything, that is, except reality.

My message to President Obama:  RETHINK YOUR PROPOSAL TO DRILL OFFSHORE!  DON'T!

As for the mess in Arizona, I can't help but to shake my head in disbelief...still.  Now there is talk in my own state of Texas of passing a version of the Arizona statute.  My response:  No creo yo.  (I don't think so.)  Oh my gosh Mr. President.  What are you going to do about it?  You have called the Arizona law "misguided" and promised to keep an eye on it.  But when racial separation finds a foothold in any of the fifty states, you...ahem...need to do more than mildly criticize.  You should act.  In fact, you should have acted sooner.  Do you remember how the Hispanic Congressional Caucus consistently reminded you to do something about immigration reform?  You heard, but you didn't listen.  Now we have to deal with Arizona and possibly Texas.  With all due respect, you must react forcefully to the Arizona statute...before things get out of control.

The book featured with this post is Offshore Drilling (Opposing Viewpoints) by Margaret Haerens.  The title speaks for itself. 

BIRTHDAY SHOUTOUTS FOR MAY:  

We have one birthday for the month--J. J.  (May 31st).  Happy Birthday dude!!!!  We also have several members of our family graduating...two nieces and one nephew will be receiving their high school diplomas:

1.  Felicia

2.  Dominique

3.  Jacob

We have a member of our extended family who will be receiving her Bachelor's degree from Sam Houston State University and moving on to grad school (University of Houston)....Jana.

Pictures above:  FELICIA (left) and DOMINIQUE (right playing with her cell phone; her baby boy AYDEN is being held by BETTY, her great aunt [and Dora's sister])

                        Pictured above is JANA with her daughter WILLA.

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!  THE FUTURE IS YOURS!

Protection or Profiling?

During the summer of 2007, Dora and I traveled to Phoenix, Arizona on business (but took in the sights as well). In today's post, I have included some pics of that trip as a “tribute” to a state we now refuse to visit in protest to the new immigration law.

It is a sad day, indeed, for the state of Arizona. Governor Jan Brewer (R) signed the immigration bill into law. What does this law mean for our raza in Arizona? Among other things, the law allows the authorities to demand proof of legal entry into the U.S. from anyone suspected of being in the country illegally. Check out the language used in the bill. It “requires police officers, if they form a ‘reasonable suspicion’ that someone is an illegal immigrant, to determine the person’s immigration status.” 'REASONABLE SUSPICION?' What the hell is 'reasonable suspicion?'

I speak Spanish part of the time. However, my grandmother speaks Spanish all of the time. Could the fact that she speaks Spanish all of the time trigger this ‘reasonable suspicion,’ even though she was born in New Mexico? Could the fact that Dora’s mother speaks Spanish most of the time trigger this ‘reasonable suspicion,’ even though she was born in South Texas? Could someone with darker skin dressed in blue collar worker clothes be an undocumented immigrant? Perhaps an undocumented immigrant could be a very pale European who has overstayed his visa. But do you think the authorities in Arizona are going to detain him for questioning? My answer is no. Why? Because he doesn’t look Mexican…Hispanic…Latino…or whatever label you choose to use.

Interesting how Senator McCain, who had refused to back the most extreme anti-immigration measures (once upon a time), came out in support of bill hours before it was passed! What?! Did the man forget to take his frickin’ Geritol?!

There is a misconception that undocumented immigrants are troublemakers. C’mon, give me a break people! Get real! Typically, undocumented immigrants live in the shadows. They work, try to save money, send some money back home, and avoid the authorities as much as possible for fear of deportation. Why would they sabotage their stay in the U.S. by making trouble? According to Senator McCain, this isn’t the case. As I stated before, the man can’t seem to remember to take his Geritol.

Wanna know what I think of this immigration bill? Having studied the 1960s as a grad student and learning about the social unrest that seemed to permeate the decade, the present seems pretty tame when it comes to race relations. However, the signing of this immigration bill only means one thing (and I will borrow a line from the Old South): THE GRITS ARE GONNA HIT THE PAN!!!!

In my opinion, this law is a sure fire progression toward more racial profiling. Moreover, the racial divide will worsen. It is an open invitation for harassment and discrimination against Hispanics regardless of their citizenship status. And finally, the law will further flame the civil disobedience Hispanics need to get politically involved. Bring it on my Hispanic brethren. ¡Todos, adelante por la causa!

Friends, how many of you have wished to challenge the position of those angry anti-immigrant people who want millions of immigrants deported immediately?  Then the following book is for you!  In "They Take Our Jobs!":  and 20 Other Myths about Immigration, Aviva Chomsky provides you the arguments at your fingertips to counter their charges that immigrants use up our resources, take U.S. jobs, and give nothing in return.  Just so you know, Chomsky is an outspoken advocate of immigrants' rights, primarily undocumented immigrants.  She is also a Professor of History and Coordinator of Latin American Studies at Salem State College.  You can purchase the item by clicking on the book, which will direct you to Amazon (and if you do, I get a nice commission).