Lucy is better and at home

My mom is doing better. She is still in pain because of her lupus but she is home now and sounds really good. If you have met her, then you know that she has a really amazing attitude and a positive outlook on life. Hopefully the medication she was given will control the over activity of lupus which is causing her joints to swell. She said it feels like her skin is on fire when the medication isn't working. I've had a few people ask me what lupus is so here is some information:
*it generally affects women and to boot, women of color
*Diagnosis occurs during child bearing years - ages of 15-45
*there is no cure, just lots of medication
*my mom was diagnosed with lupus in September, 1992
*my Tia Gloria (in AZ) was diagnosed with lupus a few years before that (I don't remember the year but it was a few years before my mom was diagnosed with it)
*because lupus shares similar symptoms with other diseases it takes on average 4 years to diagnose someone with lupus.

Do I have Lupus info sheet?
http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/lupus/tengo/english.htm

Lupus Foundation of America
http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html

Semana de examens

This week has been busy and crazy. My mom was hospitalized for lupus. My aunt and Andy have been with her. It's been tough but she is doing better now.

I had 2 tests at school this week. Test 1 was in Culture/History of Mexico. I am pretty sure I passed. I also had a grammar test which I am pretty sure I failed. The subjuntivo is not my friend. The teacher is also not my friend. She's mean.

Other than that, it's been cold. Very cold.

Barra de Navidad, Cuastecomate and Tenacatita

We had a really nice weekend in Barra. It was so beautiful!

Barra is located about 5 hours from Guadalajara. We left on Friday afternoon and arrived nearly 6 hours later on the camino libre. It was a very windy ride through the mountains and we were constantly driving behind a commercial truck. Daniel would pass one only to be behind another...

We arrived late, checked into to our hotel, ate a big meal at Veleros (awesome seafood) then went for drinks at Rocktavids. It was a very fun and interesting night out at Rocktavids. Actually, I should clarify that it started out fun, then ended interesting-strange. There were a lot of strange people at the bar. Maybe it was just the alcohol but there were a lot of freaks out that night. A LOT of freaks! The band for hire covered the Doors and Van Morrison. So there it is: tequilla, the Doors, Van Morrison, the beach, a cat on a leash, traveling hippies, an ex marine and our super friendly and fun waitress Yudy who took care of us that evening.

We really loved Barra and the surrounding area. I highly recommend. It was great fun and so so so beautiful!

http://sparks-mexico.com/costalegre/barra.htm

Sabadazo - Guad Slang

So I recently learned that if you get a DUI over the weekend then it is called a "sabadazo." Sabado means Saturday so as you can imagine a sabadazo means you had a really jacked up Saturday and Sunday in jail.

Just thought I'd share some Guadalajara slang.

We are headed to Barra de Navidad this weekend. I will post pictures once we return.

Avenida Mexico...

Sarita and I just had a fabulous meal at El Sacramonte. Then we wobbled home and as we approached home, (3 blocks fro G and S's place) we saw some poor motorcyclist flat on his back on the corner of Pablo VillaSenor and Avenida Mexico. His motocycle was hit and I just hope he is OK safely in the hospital getting treatment.

I'm telling you crossing major streets is scary.

Thursday and counting...

Hello-

Next week I have 2 examinations and am terrified of failing. My grammar course has been going...going...gone! I hate the subjuntivo. I really do! I also have to produce a paper in the next 2 weeks. Holy hell, not sure how I'm going to pull it off.

Anyway school has been time consuming. I'm so tired all the time. As you may know, I am not a morning person yet I'm out the door and in class by 8AM everyday. It's a horrible ritual which I dread daily. I wake up, contemplate not going to school, talk myself into going to school, try to find pants that fit, think about eating, decide I'm to tired to eat, walk out the door and hold my breath as I cross Avenida Mexico. For you see, the pedestrian cross walk does not exist here. There are no green or red a-sexual electronic symbols at the other end of the street informing you whether you can walk across the street safely. I either follow some other person, run across the street solo hoping to outrun the car or patiently wait until all the cars have gone by before crossing Avenida Mexico. I don't like it. I hate crossing the street. I wish there was a bridge so that i could avoid it all. Cars don't stop and people drive fast. Once I get to school, I'm greeting by a board that asks for my shit. It is once again, the great American-Mexico diarrhea study. The sign today said that if we are experiencing 3 soft stools within 24 hours to contact them. I don't know what to think about this anymore.

Then I find my classroom and wait for the game to begin. It's all so exhausting.

On a happy note, yesterday was Gwyn's birthday. Sarita picked up a carrot cake and all these goodies to munch on in the evening for a few friends. Then we went to some bar/club. It was really cool inside. Sarita and I caught a taxi close to midnight since I have to wake up early for my morning ritual. Gwyn received 2 bottles a tequila and a german liquor. Daniel and I made Gwyn a "dia despues cubo" and filled it with water, beer, sal de uvas, gum, biscuits and other hangover snacks. Everyone needs a dia despues cubo once in awhile, especially the day after your birthday.

It's been a pinche week!

(Monica here)

Sorry for the delay in writing. Monday, Daniel and I had orientation where University administration discussed the various rules and regulations of the program as well as provided us with helpful tips.

Here is the breakdown:
- There is a UdeGuad emergency phone number but DO NOT CALL it unless it really is an emergency. For example, we were told NOT TO CALL this number if we were having trouble with a restaurant bill.
- If we came down with traveler's diarrhea the school REALLY wants our stool sample. Some school in Houston is working on some diarrhea study.
- Pay for all classes by the 3rd day or there will be problems.
- Free tacos after orientation.
- Please please please give us your stool sample.
- The school has WiFi so bring on the computer!
- Diarrhea anyone?

**this was Monday!

Next day, I show up for class (class 1) and I am literally the oldest student in the room. Everyone is 20 and, like, and, like, like, like, like, like. Actually there are some very nice people in the class. There is just this one student, whom I will refer to as the bad "blue lagoon boy." 2nd class is great. All we do is listen to lecture and I try so very hard to keep up. It's tough and I'm struggling.

After class Daniel and I search for apartments and had an appointment to check out a 2 bedroom penthouse. It had nice bathrooms but other than that it was not for us. We were more curious to check the place out than anything else. Sarita and Gwyn came along for the ride. It was fun. Later that evening we went to our very first Lucha Libre fight. We saw big men throwing little men; little men throwing big men; Men in shiny spandex, shiny costumes and little old ladies screaming bloody murder. It was lots of fun! We thank G for taking us to such a cool event! After the show he took us to some cantina where this weird woman named Cindy, who was all Reno'd out asked us for money. Her story cost us 20 pesos. She fell in love with a Mexican, now lives and works in Guadalajara and makes shit. Meanwhile, all I wanted was a water but the bar didn't serve water, so they brought me a coca-cola. Finished the night at a taco stand eating in the street and hoping that I wouldn't have to provide the school with a treasured stool sample.

Wed - More school, more Spanish verb tests and drills, more humiliation. More blue lagoon. No diarrhea.

Thursday - Went to school; was humiliated a little more; am continuously annoyed by blue lagoon boy. Found a great apartment in Providencia (or Provi-mierda as Gwyn's friend Jose calls it). Daniel was sick! In fact, he is so sick on Thursday that he can't even drink a beer. And I did it again. I ate at another taco stand. It was Sooooooooooo Gooooooooood!

Friday - I'm sick but not the kind of sick the University wants. I just have a cold. No diarrhea.

And here we are - Saturday. Today Daniel and I left the house early to hang out and study at Starbucks. About hour 2, Daniel's nose began to bleed. Once his nose situation was contained, we used his personal experience to further our language (in)ability. It started roughly like this: Daniel bled everywhere. Daniel's nose likes to bleed. At Starbucks Daniel bled! Finally, we ended with "Daniel's nose began to bleed at Starbucks."

That's our week! It's been exhausting.

Long Day

So we saw all 3 places and they were all really interesting. The first place was located in a GREAT neighborhood and is really cute. It's a little out of date but cute. The second place was a 2 bedroom condo (very very small). If it were bigger we'd take it. The rooms were so small and the kitchen was studio apt size. Plus the cook top was a camper portable. The third place was truly intended for students (of age 20). It's not for us but the owner was way cool. We hung out for an hour talking about her therapy practice. She invited me to the park we were at the other day (Los Colomos) for Azteca healing dance. I might go. She could tell we weren't going to take it but asked us to keep in touch. I told her I'D call to follow up on her dancing classes and she also knows of a good acupuncturist in the area so I'm keeping in touch. Then Daniel and I finished the day by going to SUPERRAMA (good grocery store). They had all this great food! We shopped and Daniel is making Tacos al Pastor tonight.

So school begins tomorrow. It'll be an early night since I have to be there by 8:45.

Busy Sunday

So Daniel and I have 3 appointments today to view apartments. We've seen 3 so far. Our 4th appointment on Friday did not show. The 2nd apt we saw was not worth photographing. When we knocked on her door, she wore a fuzzy pink robe and her hair was disheveled. She was creepy. From the get-go, the landlord told us her only companion was her dog. I know I can be obsessed with Chili, so I understand adoration for 4 legged animals but this was something entirely different ( I have to add perspective to my own obsession). Anyway, in order to get to the apt , you are REQUIRED to pass her front door. When we entered the apt, it was total 70's funk (in a bad way): bad furniture, TV from the 70's (some old Zenith model), hair on the floor and dark. She told us many many people were interested in it so we had to make our decision soon (as in same day). We escaped 20 minutes later. Maybe it was the pink fuzz and the yapping dog. Ur.

The next place was really clean and nice but in a big complex. The only major issues is that this place did not have a washing machine and it is near a Major steet so there is some noise. Daniel and I are spoiled at Sarita and Gwyn's place because they are centrally located yet it is quiet.

We have 3 appointments today.

Wish us luck!

San Juan de Dios

Today Gwyn took Daniel and I to our favorite spot in Guad: San Juan de Dios. It's 3 floors full of consumer goodness. They sell boots, food, shoes, knock off Gucci purses Cd's, jackets and movies (just to name a few of the items sold here). I picked up Season 1 of Big Love and Bones. I can't wait to watch them. Other than that, it's been a pretty mellow day. No apt yet.

Los Colomos Park

(Monica here). Today Sarita, Gwyn and I walked around Los Colomos Park. It's this mini forest in the middle of the city. As Sarita said, it is a sanctuary. It was really beautiful and I so enjoyed being outdoors today. Unfortunately Gwyn had to listen to Sarita and I discuss Justin "sexy back" and Cameron Diaz's breakup, and my general dislike of Cameron Diaz. Anyway it was a nice stroll around the park.

Yesterday Daniel and I looked at an apt for rent. It was nice and clean in a dolled up 90's way (post 80's pastel art...etc). It is located in a nice neighborhood, within walking distance to restaurants, shops, banks, a grocery store, the emergency room AND across the street from an animal grooming shop and a mani /pedi place. I suppose if we move there, I'll have my choice of beauty spot to visit (depending on my mood for the day or rather my reaction to the morning after). Here are some pics of the park and the apt ( 3 bedrooms, 2 bath).

Feliz ANo!
(my keyboard is still not set up for spanish characters)

Back from the dead ....

(Daniel here) Back from the dead. I felt pretty horrible yesterday. Not sure which of the 12 tequila shots was bad. All I managed to do was to go for a long walk to downtown Guadalajara.
I was definetley hung over though. Only after a while did I realize that "Cruce en la luz verde" isn't a street name. I seriously started to doubt the wisdom to name almost all the streets in downtown Guadalaja the same.
Well, today is the second and my first working day in Guad. The connection to Papa Bear (Codeword fo Oracle) is excellent. Vonage is also set up & working and I actually had quite a productive morning so far. The weather is pretty nice and mild: I'd guess it's in the low 20ies (Celsius that is, not Fahrenheit), with a cloudy sky. Hope it clears up later.

It is official - Gatos Garcia love Norwalk

(Monica here).

So I spoke with my mom and she said Chili and Woody love Norwalk. Chili spends his time on my brother's old bed and occasionally reteats outside to sit on a pink cushon in the sun. Woody also spends a lot of time in bed but he prefers the concrete in the backyard when he goes outside. My mom is combing them daily and they actually enjoy it. huh? She said she really enjoys having them around and this is coming from a woman who never liked cats (the power of chili garcia at work). She thinks Woody is so affectionate and Chili beautiful. She then told me that they already forgot about me and Daniel and not to worry about them. Forgot about us already?

That sucks.

New Year's Day

My head hurts. Note to myself: Tequila and red wine is not a winning combination.
Rather than going to the party, we stayed in last night. We had a great time - I think..... Details are a bit fuzzy. I remember that at some point I checked out Monica's nail polish - red does look good on me but Gwyn looked slightly disturbed by the fact that I painted my nails. .Also remember doing expressive pantomime dance to David Bowie.
2007 is on. Back to bed now. Did I mention that my head hurts?