Welcome, Swedes

…but then at the last minute I got an email from Karla from Laboratorios Julio inviting me along to some kind of Sony camera promo thing at the same time, so that´s where I´m off in a minute. I´m also popping by a place that transfers LPs to CDs and afterwards, probably hitting a concert in aid of the Tabasco peeps who are going through a living hell right now after the floods. Them Plastiko folks are going to be there, and since I know the words to one of their songs it´ll be worth a go.

Yesterday was a national holiday, to do with revolutions and the like. So among other things I took advantage of the relatively carless streets to cruise around on a friends bike, went to McDonalds to fully engage in the essential mexicanness of the day and then, as atonement, went to see Fraude in the cinema with young Sita. A documentary all about how Lopez Obrador was robbed. Although there was an obvious bias it was still compulsive viewing and highlights just goes to show that it´s not just the gringos who know how to rig elections. Then we got interviewed by some internet radio-podcast peeps afterwards. Sita shone, and I think I said something intelligible, but it was a long day. I´ll keep an ear out for in the interweb.

Took the car in to be serviced today before the off. It´s going to cost a fair bit to fix all the little things apparently. Anyroad, got to go. Help finance the trip with our for sale page…

I can’t believe how good the house looks after less than a week. We’ve got cable plumbed in, the phone should be connected any minute now, and I’m expecting a package from SBC Global filled with DSL goodies to get back on the interweb… Still to do this weekend: Build the bunny-containment-facility in the garage, hang up me clothes, decorate my little corner of the office, investigate 5.1 surround sound possibilities for the living room, fix the truck’s indicator light, clean/sterilise 629 Koshland way and move the plants, mow the lawn, plant some “erbs”, reestablish contact with family and friends… I’ll be busy alright. The joyous news is that next week I’m on holiday and will relish the chance to relax and get things done at a slower pace. I’m planning on sorting out my electric guitars and amp and introducing the neighbours and anyone else within earshot to solo renditions of Levellers songs. Should even fit in a trip to Downey to feast on turkey, ham, pecan pie and mashed preta (which is Irish for spuds, though the spelling may be off a tad…) . Sita, meanwhile, has 800 pages of papers to mark (grade in American) from the Hip Hop Culture (nothing to do with rabbits) class she TAs for. Eeh well, more “news” soon once the information superhighway gets funnelled into the house.

OK, that’s it, I’m having a piñata for my birthday on the 17th too. After an above par chicken and veggie soup I made with ingredients and everything, we passed by Chop, then a haphazard taxi ride to Los Famosos Equipales for mariachi cantina action and then on to La Maestranza for a bit of Toreador-themed fun. We made it back to the house and Ed got to smash the piñata to pieces with a broom handle. It’s better than the bumps every time. If I can work out how to stream video I’ll shove it up here, he looks like a man possessed.

Sita brought back all kinds of goodies from the states including spanking new trainers from her folks, the latest issues of Q, Uncut and several other music mags, a rug for the kitchen, decent cutlery, Barefoot Zinfandel from Trader Joe’s and a telephone so I won’t have to rush downstairs only to get another call from someone calling to request a song from a local radio station with one number different. And yes, she managed to swing an executive class upgrade again. Filet Mignon and fine wine apparently. I’ve got the airport run down to 22 minutes, though it’s taken me 1 hour plus to get back both times now taking the Tlaquepaque ’scenic route’.

Had a bit of skypage this morning with me mum and dad’s new handle because I can’t remember their password- please click ‘allow this person so see when I’m online’ if that pops up on yer skype thing. Somewhere along the line I checked a box saying let anyone and everyone call me and spent 15 minutes yesterday talking about the finer points of living in Mexico with someone from Toronto. I told him I enjoyed the space ride thing they had (and still have apparently) at the bottom of the CN tower. But then the soup was ready and I had to bid them farewell and hastily block people not on my contacts list, because life’s too short.

Once we’ve cleared up the papier mache remains of the chicken pinata we’ll off to the Instituto Cultural Cabanas to gawp at the murals and stroke our chins at whatever art they’ve got on display. Definitely a quiet day today. Sita’s not coming because she’ll be off there with our next visitors and she wants to avoid it becoming the Mystery Spot of Guadalajara (a place we’d take everyone who came to visit and thus ended up with 8+ complimentary bumper stickers)…

We’re heading for Puerto Vallarta soonish, despite every hotel being sold out. But maybe we can turn up and Sita can use her newfound ‘Upgrade me’ skills to get us a room. Also, Ian + family are passing by on Monday so I’m looking forward to that and all. If the blog’s a bit quiet for a few days, you’ll know why… Cheers and Bliain úr faoi shéan is faoi mise duit and Blwyddwyn Newydd Dda mes amis

Typical that a mountain of work falls on my lap just before making plans to go sightseeing this weekend. I stayed late yesterday doing as much as I could for various people. There’s graphic design, websites and translations all on the go and today we’re driving to Zacatecas. We’ve got someone looking after the house though. With a big stick. All you English-speaking, net-savvy burlgars. So there… Posts and pictures will be forthcoming but there may well be blog silence for a while… We haven’t got any decent road maps of the area north of Guad, so we may end up in Aguascalientes if the navegation doesn’t go to plan. Anyway, as per usual, you’ll read all about it here. Have a lovely weekend all : )

Oh and Feliz Cinco de Mayo if you’re in the States right now. It’s not a big deal in Mexico itself. Wait for September…

Aldo’s photos from Tuesday coming soon…

Due to popular demand, last night was spent very quietly watching the Oscars on TV. Sarah came round with wine (they’ve both gone off the tequila, strangely) and we got some snacks together. Oh how our faces fell though, when we realised it was going to be badly dubbed into Spanish throughout though… I’m not sure if Jon Stewart wasn’t his usual self or if the live translators’ timing was badly off but it was a pretty boring watch… Anyroad, we had our bingo cards with a 60 peso prize for the first line (Sita won with: First Joke about Gay Cowboys, Presenters Enter from Opposite Sides of the Stage, Honorary Oscar Given, Memoirs of a Geisha Wins Any Non-Acting Award, Jennifer Anniston Sighting) Hope she spends it wisely…
The big (150 peso) prize was for guessing the actual winners of course. Sita and I drew by getting 11 out of 24 right. And if I’d gone with my gut instinct to choose ‘It’s Hard Out There for a Pimp” rather than Dolly bloody Parton I’d’ve won. But no. So it came down to the length of the ceremony for the tie-breaker. And Sita was closest. Well done, guapa. I took the 4 peso bus money out of her winnings this morning and she made me promise to pay her back… I think the success has gone to her head…

Everything I know about World of Warcraft comes from that South Park Episode… (Thanks, Annelise) anyroad, here’s a DDR / WoW Mashup thing that brings back fond memories of this Summer round M’n’M’s house jumping around the living room to Beyoncé and friends. If this here Flash game makes you sweat and out of breath, you’re in trouble mind…

Also, thanks for your comments and well-wishing emails. Much appreciated : )