Am I back?

Let's see how it plays. I just posted something in a different blog that I am trying to start; for the time being I might post something every week. I do not want to call it a New Year resolution, but it is really close to one.

See you around.

Are you back?

Well... I am not sure.

I have been postponing post after post because of whatever reason I may have at the moment.

However, there are a couple of things that are happening right now.

For starters, my birthday is coming. And as you may remember, two years ago I started writing around this time of the year combined with…

Second reason; my college classmates contacted me. 20 years ago we graduated from engineering school and they want to get together and celebrate (and you may also remember that one of my best friends died of cancer two years ago around April).

So, there you go. I am pondering about travelling to Guadalajara (where I attended college and lived for another 4 years) and meeting with my classmates (since they are all over the world it will be difficult to meet with them as it is right now).

I am thinking also about writing again; but I am not sure. You may notice later if I did, or not…

In the meantime, see you around.

Fly, flew, flow and flu

As I was preparing to go to work this morning I got a phone call from a colleague mentioning that he was feeling pretty sick and he was taking the day off.

That did not worry me; until confirmation is provided I do not believe the flu will get me (crossing my fingers and knocking on wood; ouch!!); even if last Thursday I was in a car for 4 hours (travelling) with this colleague.

Then, a person whom we had lunch with last Thursday called me too; he is sick, he is at home, he is not going to work, he has the same symptoms!!!!!!!!

After starting to worry slightly (yeah right!) I decided to wait. I am not feeling sick (physically I mean, but you know that!); they both called back, in one case they already diagnosed a bacterial infection (strep throat?) and in the other is stress related (low body defenses making a cold seems like the flu). Phewwww...

Another flyaway scape from the sickness.

See you around.

Fall is here

After hitting temperatures over 100 ºF in September we are here in October with temperatures hovering in the high 60s, which means that people is starting to get sick; and once they get sick they start to panic with the "swine flu"...

Since I have not known of anybody getting sick with this flu I feel like people is just overreacting; I hope I am not mistaken; let's see.

Damn, it is difficult to write when time passes and just start forgetting what I was planning to write; anyhoo, I will try to keep practicing.

Until next time.

Shame on you! Well... I mean... Me!!

This summer has been unusual for us as a family. For the first time in several years we had been busy (almost) every weekend. From my birthday party (in May 30th) until July 25th we had had something social to do every weekend. Work summer picnics, kids parties, relatives birthdays, etc.

The end result of it is that I am really tired; I usually rested on Saturday or Sunday, but since we started attending all these things I hadn't had the time to rest. I feel tired now; one of the good side effects of this is that I am sleeping through the night; which I could not do in April/May, the other side of the issue is that I feel tired most of the day.

So, there you go; this is the only reason I have for not posting anything in (3?) weeks.

See you around.

Soylent Green...

In Spanish; this movie was named "Cuando el destino nos alcance" ("When destiny catch up with us" or something like that).

I have been meaning to write again; it had been 6 month of pause in the blogs; 2 months ago I started to think about time (time and time again) and came to the conclusion (for the nth time) that there is no time for everything. You can only do so many things at the same time.

And my time had been lately dedicated to my selfish interests: family, work and me. The first one is great! I haven't heard any complains; the second is mandatory (because I want it that way); I have enjoyed work a lot in this year and the third is a consequence of the first two. It has included spending time with new and old friends (and ignoring others, sorry for that!), reflecting in my life and (since I got to be 40 this past May) enjoying more what life has offered. From redescovering cigars (I know!!), to reading new things and trying (without noticing, which has been great!) to enjoy more everything I do and what happens to me.

So... a little recap of 2009:
1) We started paying of all of our debt (with the great help of my wife we are now past half way the point of paying off our mortgate!)
2) My wife was concerned about my health (her family has heart failure history) and took me to the cardiologist who said that, besides being overweight and with a little high blood pressure (because of the weight!) I was in perfect condition
3) I started walking again (taking care of my body) and I have lost 18 pounds since January (yes, I am bragging a little bit)
4) We got mixed results at work; decrease in sales but increase in profitability, which means everybody still have a job
5) I celebrated my 40th birthday (this should be a post on its own, but I do not know when it will happen) and all my brothers and sisters (together with my parents) came to Tijuana to celebrate with me; it was great to see them all!
6) I had been a better father with my daughters and become more relaxed and easygoing around them (which had been difficult before, since I was playing the "strict father" role);

and last but not least
7) I have been enjoying a great time with my wife. We have been doing more things together and on our own that had allowed for a better and improved relationship (also requires its own post).

So, on one hand I started this blog because I had many things to say, and stopped because I was saying too little. I might try again; at least once a week I will post (promise to myself). I hope you will find it interesting and if not do not worry you do not have to read it!

See you around.

So, how was your year?

Of course; if you follow the Chinese calendar or Muslim or Aztec or whatever else the question is moot. But I am disgressing.


You can blame it on the three glasses of St0ne 11th Anniversary Ale I had been drinking (in preparation of the arrival or 2009 in Tijuana; yes, I know already arrived in a lot of places already); my daughter Vicky got me a 2 liter growler full of 11th Anniversary Ale; and I got some more Russian Imperial Stout when picking it up; I think Bonita was not thrilled about it... In any case; the purpose of this post is to try to reflect on 2008 and to start getting ready for 2009.


So, how was 2008? It depends; overall it was good. And it is ending good; but in the middle (October) there was all the financial crisis, Vicky leaving the house, Bonita is about to lose her job (this might be a good thing...) and some other minor negative things. On the positive side; I got a promotion at work (February), Vicky graduated from college (Psychology), Mediana and Pinka did great at school (The Lion King and the basketball tournament) and the recovery after October had been great. Found old friends (it took one of them dying of cancer for this to happen, so... bittersweet) and we made GREAT new friends (even though there was an accident last time they were visiting).


So, it was business as usual. Hope 2009 will be kind of the same.

See you around.

P.S. And for those wondering; yes, the killings in TJ decreased because of all the guys taking time off because of Christmas, so, no explosion here...