I’ve got a lovely bunch of glasses

Feliz cumpleaños Dad! Skype us when you get back from walking Jed,

Cheers

I used to be vegetarian, but those days are long gone. The BBQ’s back in action in our back garden, we brought it out of hibernation when bert and his dad, David, arrived last saturday. Tasty. I’m going to use Flickr to host my pictures for a while and talking of which, I have one more Pro account to give away. I signed up before they got taken over by Yahoo and slashed their prices and increased their services, so they’re giving me 2 free accounts. I’ve offered one to me Dad, still waiting for him to accept. The other’s for the next guest mappee to add themself. Don’t forget to include your email address. If you’re already on there, just email me asking nicely. First come, first served.

Fruitful, sleepy day today. Am now 95% officially a US permanent resident, just have to wait for me green card to arrive. They stamped me passport in the meantime. It’s a much more efficient system now, instead of queuing up at 5am and hoping to get in, they’ve got an automated online appt system. I was in and out within 15 minutes. It would have been less but I had to go back to the car to leave my PDA there cos it can take photos which could be disastrous for homeland security apparently.

anyroad, below is a 9.5 second file of Monday evening in Ciao bella with Bert, his Dad, Sita and me. In the clip it’s just bert looking suspicious then the camera panning up to see the ring of redwoods which the outside dining area’s in. It’s a bit dark and as ever, dial up users may feel a little dissappointed. Bert and co headed south yesterday, you may see them keeping well within the speed limit in one of the following places in the next few days: Monterey, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara, L.A., Palm Springs, Las Vegas. It was grand to see them, I just wish I could have taken some time of work to spend relaxing with them. But that will come soon. He blogged cryptically…

CiaoBellawithBertandRedwoods.asf (585k file) I think ASF is fairly universally recognised. Comment me if not. Cheers- gwyn

My scrabble rating’s at 995 after a quick succession of blinding games. Maybe this weekend will be the watershed millenial game, or i may just plunge back to the 800s. It depends how late I’m out tonight with the usual crowd. Last night Sarah, her sister Betsy, Sita and me went to a few cantinas. La Fuente, (de rigeur on any cantina trip), La Maestranza, (for all your bull fighting memorabilia and 90s indie pop needs) and Los Molachos (named after the original owner who was indeed molacho , or missing lots of teeth). Still managed to make it to another productive day at work. They finally read over what I’ve been doing and are suitably impressed. Go me! (he wrote in a fit of self-congratulation). Business cards tomorrow and next week there’s going to be a sales person on the case, as they’re hiring a pushy young lady to go out and rain make or whatever they call it in marketing parlance. That would be good… Other plans: Tonight, more cantinas. Tomorrow, Tlaquepaque craft & photography, possible fiesta in the evening, Sunday, Laid back philosophical discussion, gauloises and strong coffees or maybe The Pink Panther remake. Whatever it is, you’ll read it here first. And last.

The Artichoke place was nice enough, but unfortunately a few hours later I suffered a night of what has now become a fortnightly bout of gastric fun… If I’d know about CEPE’s new scatological bent they’d’ve been very interested. At times this house seems a home for sick gringos…

Anyway, all better now, thanks and heading to the place where Guadalajara was founded the second time, “The place where the sun rises”, Tonalá to go wardrobe shopping with M & D. That’s shopping for wardrobes, not things to wear… Sita’s up to her eyeballs in academia again so she’ll not be coming along but might tag along for jeans shopping in Plaza del Sol this avo. We also decided last night that next weekend we’re going to Barra de Navidad for a change. I’ve not been there for 10 years or so, it was the first time I saw the Pacific Ocean. There were waves and I managed to take the skin off my stomach when I got plunged into the beach by a Pacific breaker. I still vaguely harbour ill feelings toward the waiter at the restaurant who recommended I put salt and lime on the wound to help it heal. Strange how searing pain can help your memories… Anyway I’m older and wiser less young now (nearly 32…) so I’ll not be taking waiters’ advice on matters medical this time round.