Day 74: Some things you didn't know about me

1. Two brushes with fame: I had the chance to talk to Stan Lee at the '94 Comicon. When I was leaving the table, he turned to his translator, who happened to be the Vid publishing house official translator, and said "Now, you see, that's English!".

A couple of days ago, I ran into Sergio Sarmiento, a very famous political journalist right outside from my work. I said "Mr. Sarmiento" and nodded... and he nodded back at me!! (but I forgot to ask for his autograph).

2. The only thing I regret in life: not completing my bachelor's degree. I dropped out in 96, and now I've lost two wonderful job offers due to lacking that stupid paper.

3. Books: I've read over a thousand books in my life. Some borrowed, or stolen or bought, but I must confess I've found some books that I definitely threw out of the window, like "Niebla" or "Doña Perfecta". Shakespeare in English has always overwhelmed me, although I'm a pretty good reader both in English and Spanish. Last achievement: finishing "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" in 4 days (take into account I was working my hellish schedule).

4. 15 minutes of fame: when Role-Playing-Games had their boom in Mexico, I won a second-prize for game-mastering at the aforementioned 94 Comicon, I appeared on TV (in the background, but TV anyway) and in two radio programs. I retired at a 30-player game at which all characters were killed... and they still loved me!!

5. Pets: I love pets. I currently have a wonderful Maine Coon named "Fuzhienran" (the tiger-orchid in Chinese). I've had tropical fish, turtles, mice and dogs. The only ones I hate are birds.

6. Life-Time Record: 8 years of absolute fidelity and faithfulness to my partner.

7. Competition: I define myself as a natural-born-competitor. Since the cradle I used to steal my brother's milk bottles. That thirst to win at everything has taken me far in life.

8. The lone wolf: I spent half of my life trying to fit, and the other half, trying to be left alone. I work better by myself, and defend my private time zealously.

9. Collections: I collect suns, books, lions and superstitions, especially those particular to households or family traditions.

10. Things I am superstitious about: Although I define myself as a skepchick, I go crazy about money superstitions. I never place my bag on the floor or on the bed, for instance. You scare money away!

Feel free to ask any questions just in case you get curious.

Day 73: Why I hate Summer Vacations

Now that Summer Break is finally off I can express why I hate it.

Since I was a child, summer break was one of the most dreaded times of the year. In those days, Mexican schools used to grant two full months off, which meant we kids had to stay stuck at home with nothing to do, since it is not customary to assign summer homework as in other countries. It was the time of boredom. The only positive thing was the opportunity to wake up late and watch over 12 hours of cartoons, when broadcasting systems still cared about the youngest sector of the market.

Nowadays, all that has dissapeared. Kids only get 3 weeks that they spend creating havoc in the tenant buildings' corridors 'cause parents don't want them at home and TV is no longer the best nanny, since the "children schedule" has been traded for the most profitable informertials. Most parents prefer to grant their children free rein and let them sleep late, with the results you can imagine on their neighbors' sleeping schedule.

On the other hand, if I am to be honest, some of the bloggers I keep in touch with usually take vacations out from home, and thus we miss the opportunity to read the only interesting material available at the office, which makes me really sad. They usually post some great pictures afterwards, though.

However, Summer holidays are finally over. Little monsters are back at their cages and restrained by piles of homework in the afternoons, and traffic has gone back to the usual heavyness. Autumn is just a few weeks away, and a little peace has befallen the building's corridors.

Did you have a good vacation?

Day 72: It was my birthday.

Last Tuesday, August 21st, was my birthday. Now I'm 34 - one year away from "discardability age'. Some would start having the 'midlife' crisis. Not me, of course. I knew since 25 that from that point on it was going to be harder. So, at a time I feel tempted to believe everything is going to go downhill, I remind myself my creed:

Who I am: a winner.

Where I am: on the road to something better.

What I want: peace of mind, body and spirit.

Day 71: Eight things my cat has taught me.

1. Cleanliness is good, but never take your bath in front of strangers.

2. If you beg for affection, nobody pays attention to you. Be disdainful, and they’ll come by themselves.

3. Four small meals a day is more than enough to keep you healthy.

4. You want to play, carry your own toys.

5. Nap whenever you can.

6. Allow people to scratch you ears; never your belly, especially the youngest ones.

7. The silent always catches the prey (or the string, or the ball, or your master’s toe).

8. Day is dull, night is fun!

Day 70: My new car

Finally, after months and months of paying installments and waiting, last Saturday my mom delivered my new car to its new parking space, at my building's parking lot.

This car is not new, and has had his good mileage, but coming from my mother's hands, it is certainly in top condition, guaranteed to be tame and safe. It's a red VW standard Pointer 2000 edition, with a pretty sticker of a horse (one of my favorite animals) in the back. I was so happy I couldn't help but hoping up and down when I was given the keys. And my mom was kind enough as to add new floor carpets and a special vacuum cleaner as aditional traits.

I can't wait to be seated at the steering wheel, wrestling my way along the crowded and crazed streets of Mexico City, dodging suicidal public transports, shopping on my own and filling the trunk to the brim with groceries, and leaving parties at any moment we like!!

And you want to know the really good stuff about this?

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE YET!!

JAJAJAJAJA

Day 69: in the dark

I'm writing this because I saw Miao's request for updating. My dear, you just have saved a blog's life.

Not only due to the criminally huge amounts of work and a power outage that has gone on for a whole week, but a mounting depression that is fighting to conquer the good parts of my brain.

I guess it happens to everyone, even people who have managed to grasp what we regular mortals call "success"... There is a time when the only light you see at the end of the tunnel is the C train.

I must say it is not a wrist-slashing matter, neither the dreaded "middle-age crisis". No, no, no. I have that dealt with since I was in my 30's. It's being stuck in this stinky rat-hole without a chance to throw everything to the dogs just because I'm tied by my household responsibilites. Were I single, I would've quit this shitty place months ago, but I decided, years ago, that I wasn't gonna let my partner suffer for any bad decisions I had made.

But going back to the original point, I've been fighting depression for around a month now. What pisses me is that I'M NOT A DEPRESSIVE PERSON. I hadn't been this blue since my 20's, for God's sake! But still here I am, fighting with all my might these horrible sensation of having become a total loser, unable even to tie her shoes right.

Sigh) Anyway, as I said before, I'm not the only one, and people around me (well, my beloved ones, I mean) are not guilty of this. They are not foreced to bear this burden. Sooner or later, I will rise again, like the fiery Phoenix.

I'll try to keep you updated.

And again, THANKS, MIAO!