Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

It has been raining a lot here.  Far from being bothered, I actually have been enjoying it.  After several dry years here in California, one would think the "experts" would be happy with the large amount of rainfall.  Hmmm, think again.  Watching the news yesterday, a local news station reported that the increased rainfall has not made up the difference and the reservoirs are only at thirty percent of their capacity.  I hate local news media.  Michael Moore had it right in Bowling for Columbine when he pointed out that news media personnel will chase sort of sensationalist story they can.  We get cold calls from the media almost nightly at work asking if anything is "going on".  Uh, newsflash.  Even if the town was burning down, we would tell you it's a slow night.  So you can save yourself some time and stop calling.  Even when we do have something happen, usually the facts are all wrong and distorted when one reads the paper the next day.  My friends always ask me, "Did you see what happened in _________ this morning?"  Inevitably, I have to say no and they fill me in anyway.  So a fan of local media, I am not.  Which is actually kind of ironic, because I cannot get enough of the BBC and the New York Times.  Things that make you go hmmm.

I have been keeping busy this spring with my online classes.  I will not be taking three in the same semester again.  It sounded like a good idea to start with, but my slight OCD sets in and I am constantly in fear of missing a board posting or an assignment for one course because my focus is on the other class that day.  Two classes while working full-time is just enough.  Art and US History have been decent so far, Public Speaking less so.  Gotta love those general education requirements!  

Over the weekend, I completed my basic motorcycle rider's course.  It was a challenging, but fun course that I did with a girl from work.  I am definitely hooked, much more so that I thought I would be.  When I lived in Hawaii back in the 1990s, I rode a moped for a year which I enjoyed.  I was riding a good distance everyday though and the small mopeds maxed out around 35 mph.  So getting anywhere took way too much time and the freeways were out.   Once I get my house or condo, I will probably look into buying a cheap first motorcycle and spend a lot of time in empty parking lots at night working on my low speed skills.  Motorcycles are a lot more stable than one would think.  Plus you can get all decked out with riding gear, always a plus.  I do not see the bike replacing my car as a means of transportation, but it will be fun to ride on days off and weekends.

Speaking of houses, the search continues.  My realtor and I put in an offer on a brand new condo unit not far from where I live now, but they were unwilling to bargain down from their list price.  Considering the way the economy is right now, those condos will be sitting for quite some time.  They already have not sold one since October, so one would think the writing would be on the wall.  lol.  In any case, I hope to get into something in the next month or two.  I can really use the tax break and I am looking forward to being a homeowner.

So that is what has been keeping me busy.  Hope you are all doing well.

Cuidate.   

So Much Better Than I Imagined

Hey everyone.

I got back from Mexico City last week and the trip was amazing.  The city is clean, cosmopolitan, and filled with some of the nicest people anywhere.  The dollar is strong against the Mexican peso right now too, so the food, accommodations, and lodging were cheap, cheap, cheap.  The food was some of the best I have ever had, be it from the great restaurant where Kellie and I had mole to the kid selling tamales on the corner.  I am definitely a city person in the grand scheme of things.  I am inspired by chaos, art, late night markets, people dancing and having a good time, buses, kids, dogs, and movement.  Quiet places are great for a little while, but I get nervous and anxious without some kind of action going on. 

This video is taken near an Art market downtown.  On weekends, they hold salsa dancing sessions in the local park.  It was such a cool thing to stumble across, local people just out on a Sunday afternoon having a good time with each other. 

Kellie and I are planning a trip to Asia in April, so this was a good test run.  We were good travel companions and we both love to eat, an excellent combination.  Here are a few photos I took.  If you want to see more, e-mail me and I can send you the link.

Beyond that, back to my hectic life.  I am still searching around for a house or a condo.  I am also juggling three classes currently, so that is keeping me busy in the early morning hours.  

Hope you are all doing well.  Cuidate.

Heading South

A lot has been happening lately. Thus, me not blogging. My New Year's resolution is to stop feeling bad about not blogging. I am not a blog star, millions of people worldwide are not anxiously waiting for my next installment. So I am going to chill and do what I can do.

I started my classes this week. Usually I take two, but this semester I was under some cracked out impression I could take four. It is not happening. I am compromising with three. Divine intervention came into play as the gods wisely did not clear one of my waitlists for a class. To be honest, I was not relishing the thought of taking Ethics anyway. My course load this semester now consists of Public Speaking, Introduction to Art, and US History (the first half). So far, only Public Speaking is pissing me off almost two weeks in. Not too bad, one out of three classes. Besides a couple of dumb missing credits like gym, yours truly has an associates degree pretty much in the bag. I will probably take it easy for a year or so, finish up some pre-reqs, and then transfer to Cal State East Bay. The California higher education system is really something to behold. It is ridiculously cheap not to mention technology friendly as most courses these days can be taken either online or in hybrid form meeting just a couple of times a semester. Yes, our roads are in bad shape and the state is beyond bankrupt. But I, my friends, will have a diploma in a couple of years. Sweet!

Work is going well. I got pushed back to day shift starting in July for a year, but this is not set in stone. There is some possible shuffling around to be done and I may be able to get back to my beloved overnights. Keep your fingers crossed. Mark + days = bitter, bitter on the wall, who's the bitterest of them all?

In a surprising turn towards adulthood, I am biting the bullet and beginning to look into purchasing my first home. The housing market in Northern California is not nearly as bad as it is in other areas of the country, but there are definitely bargains to be had. I suppose I have avoided up until now out of a comination of factors; fear of perminently owning something, not really understanding the process of buying a home (not that I do yet anyway!), and being priced out of the market here. So with interest rates so low and me not having any decent tax deductions, my hand has been forced. A good friend from work is taking me through the process and has been invaluable in explaining everything to me. While I am still apprehensive, I am also excited to be starting a new chapter in my life.

In the midst of all of this, I had planned a quick trip to Mexico City with Kellie a couple of months ago. I have been to Mexico City a couple of times when I was working for United, but never more than time enough for dinner and drinks. I am really excited to explore some of the town. I am a big fan of most things Mexican and we are both looking forward to seeing the Frida Kahlo house, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the Pyramids as well as eating ourselves into oblivion. I made reservations at a cool bed and breakfast and it will be nice to get away for a couple of days, even if it is not the best time with everything else going on.

So, I will be off in Mexico City for a few. Today is my mom's birthday, so Happy Birthday Mom! Still going strong at 69.

Hope you are all doing well and staying warm this fun winter. Cuidate.