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...

Past news

OK, I forgot to mention that Pinka's team (as Pinka wisely said) won the second place on the basketball tournament.

It was a hard fought game with the other team taking a bigger lead than Pinka's team could recover from... 8-1; final score 8-5. Everybody was happy; except for one of the moms that cried; really emotional moment there.

(this was to make the score 8-5)

Anyway; I just wanted to share that with you.

See you around.

Wha....

I was about to keep ranting/writing on the theme-du-jour: "Tijuana is under water[, and then I got lazy. I drove last Monday under the rain from Tijuana to San Marcos, CA (close to 120 miles round trip) and I saw 6 accidents. Today it took me 45 minutes to get to work when usually is 20, I saw three convoys of ambulances, patrols and in one case a fire truck (which means more accidents). The Via Rapida was flooded, a big three-row parking lot full of water. I took some video, some pictures and then I was too tired to upload them. I will, just not today.

Tomorrow I am going to San Marcos again, it might keep raining. Hope not. In the other hand, I might stop by the St0ne brewery...

See you around.