Going Up

"If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask?" — Scott Adams

Friday I headed down to the Valley for the weekend after work . My friend Christina decided to take the weekend to visit her family as well, so I gave her a ride. We left around 5pm and the trip down went by much faster with someone to talk to. I really appreciated her coming with me and the company. To save me the trip from McAllen to Hidalgo, her sister and brother met up with us at Burger King near their house for the last part of her trip.

I got home to Edinburg soon after and visited with my mom for a while and then headed out to hang out with my friend Rick at Roosevelts. I really like that bar in downtown McAllen. They have a beer selection I have yet to fully try out. Christina, her sister Adriana, Enrique and his fiance Luptia met up with us there. I went to Cornell with Christina and Enrique, which made hanging out with then in the Valley feel like a very mini reunion. I had a fun night and good conversation was had by all. I even got to listen in on a legal debate between Rick and Christina. I learned about the importance of sound girls in a theater production as well. I don't always make the best first impressions, but at least I make an impression. We had planned to try out some other places, but last call came before we knew it.

Saturday morning I visited with my father for lunch. Mainly we just caught up on how things were going. A lot of car talk. Then I went with my niece Rebekkah to pick up her sister Jamie. I took them to the car wash with me, in which I appreciated the company, but am sure it was boring for them. I genuinely enjoy spending time with them. We then dropped by my sister Eliza's house to visit. Then it was time for a late lunch. We we debating between Chinese or El Zarape and well I won out. I just love that place and try to make it there whenever I'm visiting. I know there are better Mexican places, but this place is quick and cheap and I like the menu.

So I have never seen a movie in 3D. I don't know how I have gone this long, but I have for some reason. So I saw UP 3D this weekend. I was very impressed, not only with the movie, but mainly with the 3D. It wasn't red and blue like I expected. I wonder what you do if you are wearing glasses. Maybe put the 3D glasses on top? I look forward to checking out another movie in 3D. Now, I have to try out an IMAX theater. Never done that either.

I was able to check out some really cool bars in downtown McAllen while I was home. El Cine del Rey, Speakeasy, Dive Bar and Rhythm and Brews to name a few. I like what they are doing down there. I can't wait to see how that part of town develops.

I had a date on Saturday night. I think I'm going to keep my comments about my personal life to myself right now though. It was a good experience.

My grandmother came into town on Saturday night. I visited with her on Sunday morning. She lives in Ft. Worth now and it is always great to see her when she visits. After having lunch at home, I went over to my sister Eliza's house again and spend the afternoon there visiting with all the kids. Ana and Sarah were out of town for a trip to San Antonio.

So I convinced my mom to take my nieces to go and see My Sister's Keeper. I had heard a lot about the book and movie and was actually looking forward to seeing it at some point. They really enjoyed the movie and from what I hear. Maybe it is something I'll rent at some point.

Christina and I made our trip back to Austin somewhat late. On the trip back we talked to my friend Maria from college on speakerphone. It had been a while since I heard from her and it was great catching up. It is always nice to check in and see how friends are doing. She is always in such good spirits. So I'm also heading back to the Valley for the 4th of July weekend. I'm looking forward to that. Christina and her cousin Caro are too.


So the other day I saw a sign for the play Wicked coming to Austin. It is playing in August, but tickets are selling out right now. This is a play I have been really wanting to see since I had first heard about it from a person I know who was originally from the Boston area. I have the audiobook, but haven't listened to it yet. For some reason I want to see the play first. It has been a while since I have been to NYC, so I haven't had a chance to see it.



There was a lot of Michael Jackson news this weekend. I have never heard Thriller played so many times. Of all the things I remember, here is the one that made an impression on me growing up.



Michael Jackson's memorable Simpsons stint
But when I think of MJ on TV, my mind will always drift to his memorable appearance on The Simpsons. It was the first episode of the third season (all the way back in -- gulp -- 1991), in an episode called "Stark Raving Dad." Homer is thrown in a mental institution for wearing a pink shirt to work. In there, he meets a huge galumphing patient named Leon Kompowski, who happens to sound like Michael Jackson. Leon leaves with Homer (he's there voluntarily) and helps Bart write a stirring birthday tribute to his sister, "Happy Birthday Lisa."


I actually really liked that episode as a kid. That year I sang that song to my sister on her birthday. It wasn't as touching since she didn't get the reference. Man the Simpsons is such a great show.




I think driving and texting is really becoming a problem. Everyone seems to do it. I even may have done it myself from time to time. Here is an article that puts it in perspective.


Road test shows texting slows reaction time Car & Driver runs a real-time test of the reaction speeds of drunk versus texting drivers. Let's just say the results are kind of scary, especially if you see a lot of TWI offenders on your commute. [CNET]


Four Reasons Women dig Geeks
This is a decent article written in a very logical way which I found enlightening. My favorite part is about how sex is rated with personal fitness types. Read it and then check back here. Ok, so the problem with this article I think is that she (the author) has to logically make a case for what she calls the "nerd." I've never seen an article about "why girls should like the bad boy." The reason being that even though it logically doesn't make sense, it does makes sense instinctualy for the reasons she raises in the article. Also, you have to look at who is writing this article. It is an intelligent woman who assumes other women are excited to be challenged for example on their foreign policy views. I wonder if she knows how few women (or men for that matter) want to talk about foreign policy over dinner. I think she describes a good fit for her, but I always feel like when you need to sell something, there must be a reason. The points are well made though, but I have a feeling that sometimes instincts win out of logic.


STUDY: Many Women Become Obese After Getting Married
Did they really have to study this? It just seems like an old cliche, letting yourself go once you get married. I think a distinction is made between married people and people in relationships. I wonder if women take offense this article?

The other day I decided to look up my name on Facebook. I wondered who shared my very same name. It seems like most people with my name are from Argentina. Maybe I'll go google myself again, it has been a while.

There are good feelings in life that I enjoy. The problem is that sometimes positive things have the downside of being only one side of the coin. I guess either you can have hope or fear and well we all know what the better choice is.

same place, different reality

Unproductive Lately

"The remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he really is very good, in spite of all the people who say he is very good." - Robert Graves (1895 - 1985)

This has been a quiet week. Things are getting back to normal with Rino and Abram being back in town. The house is no longer as quiet, and the scamper of pets is back. It is definitely summer. I know the weather isn't a topic that one should write about, but after so many 100 degree plus days, I have to say, man it is HOT. I'm definitely in Texas. I am looking forward to some rain, but man the summer has just begun. It is going to be tough.


So here is some great news. The other day I mentioned how responsible I was going to be and not go and see Bill Maher when he came to town even though it pained me. Well to my pleasant surprise, my friend Christina (most awesome friend) got tickets to the comedy show and invited me. How great it that? I am really looking forward to it. It will also be one of her last weekends in Austin before she moves away. I am really happy about watching this show.

This weekend I'm planning to go the Valley. I haven't decided yet if I'm leaving on Friday or Saturday morning, but it should be a good trip. I still haven't decided what I'm doing on the 4th of July yet, but I am really looking forward to it. I guess I'm just taking things day by day right now.

So I heard that the movie My Sister's Keeper comes out this week. I have not read the book, but yet know a lot about the plot. I don't see myself rushing out to see it, but I may have. I'm sure I'll rent it at some point. So far it has really good reviews.

I don't know how to exactly explain this article. http://thestimulist.com/resolved-shes-just-not-that-into-you/ is a really good read, but it isn't what you would expect. Forget that silly book and check it out. There were some parts that really hit me. I wish I could more clearly express what I think about this, but I can't since I don't fully know. I don't relate to it literally, yet at the same time I really relate to parts of it. If you know me, you'll understand I think. Here is my favorite part:
By the time you’re on your second drink, she’s already uncovered your parent’s divorce, your fifth grade crush, your ex’s faults, your early retirement pipe dreams. There’s just something about her that makes people talk. And talk. And talk. And she knows it.

I never would of thought Republican sex scandals would out number the Democratic ones. I hope this can finally stop being a political issue. (I still want healthcare.) People lie and people cheat. Just don't use government money for your personal problems and we will look the other way. Carry on. Nevertheless, there are some interesting articles that have been written about this.

Sanford’s Adultery May Be Criminal Under South Carolina Law
This is silly and I don't agree with it, but still makes you wonder about all those weird laws on the books.
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) didn’t just “let down a lot of people” when he spent the last week in Argentina with his mistress, he may have committed a crime. Under South Carolina law:

Any man or woman who shall be guilty of the crime of adultery or fornication shall be liable to indictment and, on conviction, shall be severally punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisonment for not less than six months nor more than one year or by both fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. . . . “Adultery” is the living together and carnal intercourse with each other or habitual carnal intercourse with each other without living together of a man and woman when either is lawfully married to some other person.

Fortunately for Sanford, it is not entirely clear that the South Carolina justice system has jurisdiction over an apparent crime that he committed while traveling abroad in Argentina.


Later in the day I read: Why men cheat -- his version - I enjoyed this non related, yet somewhat related article, but you have to get to the end of it to truly understand its meaning. Almost makes me want to rethink my entire approach to life.

I talked to a friend about hate crimes legislation today. It was a good debate. She was completely wrong. I like debating people who are knowledgeable on subjects. You sometimes can leave learning something new. I need to debate more topics to stay sharp and really understand what my views are on things.

So I have decided to learn new knots for my ties. I think I learned how to do it in the 7th grade and once I got it, I never changed it. The problem is that the type of knot I have used isn't the best one and honestly I don't even know the name. Today I learned the Sheby and I liked it a lot. More about this in the days to come.


So here is some of Christina's artwork from her bar review class. I post it, not to chide her for not paying closer attention to the speaker, but to say how impressed I am that she can draw this well. The cool part is the back story I think, since this is the deer she almost hit on her way to Barbri that morning.

Update: I'm not a very good friend I'm told because I do a bad job of listening. This was not the picture of the doodle. Sometimes I just like the stories I make up in my head better.

This article Clunkers...Where's my $4,500? really makes a good point. Not withstanding, I'm still excited about the law and am hoping to use it to help my father trade in his 92 Van for a decent car.

Update: Michael Jackson died today. I used to have his cds when I was little.

Killing time, then trying to hold on to it.

Home Alone

"If hard work were such a wonderful thing, surely the rich would have kept it all to themselves." - Lane Kirkland

I had a good weekend, mainly because it was the weekend. I had originally planned to go down to the Valley for Father's Day, but that didn't work out. I did call my father though. He had a good day with the rest of the family. Saturday night, I went out downtown with my friend Christina and Caro. I had never been to the 7th and Red River part of downtown before. It was an interesting area to say the least. Austin has a very diverse bar selection. We went to see a band they knew. They were pretty good, but had no singer. I guess I'm just not very used to that. As Caro said, it is always good to try something new. It was a fun night, except the part on the way home where the people who had been drinking were driving crazy in my lane, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE POLICE STATION. I made some gestures, but then they got out of their car. I wasn't ready to test ignoring consequences at the level they had already shown, but was relieved to see they were picking a fight with some other car they seemed to have gang issues with (multiple people from multiple cars.) I decided to stay out of it and was happy to see traffic moving again once they got back in their cars.

On Sunday, Abram left for the Valley. Rino was still out of town, so that left taking care of the dogs to me. Nothing I can't handle, but man it was a hot day. Lots of water. That also left me at home alone. It is times like this I imagine what it would be like to live by myself. I wonder if I would like it or if I would feel bored and lonely. It is not too bad and I think I could get used to it.

I have been following the Iran Election protests online and on the news. I went to Twitter and searched for #iranelection and the posts and videos where both heartbreaking and inspirational. I think most people agree that the election was a sham and as an American I support the protesters, but we can't just go in there and invade another middle eastern country. I think what these people are doing is very admirable and watching the violence coming through the holes in the media blackout is hard.

I think this morning conservative Joe Scarborough put it best:
SCARBOROUGH: All we would do is undermine those people in the street, who the second that they are attached to the United States of America, the country after all that’s been known in Iran as the great Satan since 1979, we will undermine their cause … It’s so shortsighted I find it stunning. […]

At the same time you can argue that that has already happened.

Speaking of Twitter, I have an account (hyadus), but I don't twitter much. I probably use my facebook status more often like I would use twitter. I finally set up my fb status to update my twitter account, so maybe that will help me try it out more. It feels like a lot of noise.

Bill Maher: Democrats Have Moved To The Right And The Right Has Moved Into A Mental Hospital (VIDEO)
"Shouldn't there be one party that unambiguously supports cutting the military budget, a party that is straight up in favor of gun control, gay marriage, higher taxes on the rich, universal health care, legalizing pot, and steep direct taxing of polluters? ...What we need is an actual progressive party to represent the millions of Americans who aren't being served by the Democrats, because bottom line: Democrats are the new Republicans."



NBC came out with a new show this week called Merlin. A little research showed that the show was actually released on the BBC about a year ago and was picked up by NBC. I saw the first two episodes on Sunday night it looks promising. I'm still mad about Kings. Have I mentioned what a good job they did of casting the princess?

Do you know what I still have on my Tivo? The last 4 episodes of Prison Break and the last 4 episodes of Brothers & Sisters. I guess even when I don't have anything to watch, I still haven't watched those episodes. It is funny I think because I'm just watching Prison Break because I have come this far. This is just a mental note to watch them.

I can't get away from weddings no matter how hard I try. Here is an impressive -- wedding invite -- I ran into this online and I thought it was a pretty cool wedding invitation. I don't understand why the guy just didn't move to where the girl was, but I admire him for being patient and waiting for her to come. Double click the image or the link to the original to read it.
(via Matt Dorfman)


This is a very mundane fact, but this weekend I got all of my ironing done. I bought a clothes rack where I hang my shirts after I wash them so that I can iron them before putting them in the closet. Well the rack became my closet and I would just pick shirts that were "ironed enough" to wear. My whole idea of this middle ground so that I wouldn't have shirts hanging up on door knobs and door hooks all over the room failed. So Sunday night while I was catching up on some TV, I decided to iron everything on the rack. I am not a fan of ironing, but it had to be done. I have so much clothes that I'm too lazy to wear because I don't want to iron it.

John Hodgman at Radio & TV Correspondents' Dinner.

He was the headliner at the Radio and Television Correspondents Association dinner Saturday night. I found his discussion on nerds very funny.

On a completely unrelated note, I think a lot about my lunch break. I really wish I worked near home, so that I could go home, run on the treadmill, shower real quick and be back to work. That plus a microwavable meal would be a good use of my lunch break. Alas, that is not the reality that exists and I don't know if an hour is enough time to do all of that anyway. Maybe if I keep thinking about it I'll figure something out that I'm happy with.

So right now I'm trying to get through the next few weeks to get back on track. The problem is that Bill Maher is coming to Austin on July 10th. That is a comedy show I would have loved to go to. Normally I would of just bought 2 tickets to the show and found someone to go with me. But instead, I'm going to be responsible and pass on the show.

commitment is a big deal

Reasons to Celebrate

"The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it." - Franklin P. Jones.

Thursday I got the good news that Abram got the job he applied for. This was great news and a very well deserved hiring. I don't know a lot of the details about the job, just that he will be working for the state. I hope it is a good fit and that it leads to even better opportunities. We went out Thursday night to celebrate.

Here is a list of things we all celebrate in small ways I think: making the yellow light, it being lunch time, Friday afternoon, the first sip of any drink, finishing a workout, a very good date.

So my sister Ana got a Palm Pre. I was super excited for her. She had told me that her Centro broke and she was getting it fixed. I told her she should consider getting a Palm Pre, but she said that even with the upgrade, it would cost her like $300, a price too high to justify for a phone when she can just fix hers. Well maybe my comments struck some kind of chord, but a few hours later she told me she worked out a deal where she could get the Pre at no upgrade charge. How cool is that? I hope she enjoys the phone.

As much as I think the Pre is a cool phone, I could not give up my iPhone. I got the iPhone 3.0 software for my phone on Wednesday. I had to give up my jailbreak, but I can probably just re-jailbreak it soon enough. There are a lot of small changes, but I'm very happy about cut and paste. I can't wait for TomTom and I thought I would be more excited about the landscape keyboard. There doesn't seem to be much room for the text messages in that mode, so I'll probably just go back to what I'm used to.

On Tuesday, I hurt my finger. In retrospect, the cut wasn't that bad and it healed fine, but the fear of what could of been did shock me a bit. Abram and I were putting the new gym equipment together when we were trying to get a metal pole through the weights unto the floor. It was jammed and much like putting your hand in a garbage disposal I put my hand under the hole to feel where the jam was so that I could help it through. Well Abram was pushing down and when it made it through, it caught my index finger between the bottom of the pole and the concrete on the floor. The blood wasn't as bad as the pain from the crush. I was lucky because I think more damage could of been done if he was pushing down harder. I feel better now. I feel like those comic book characters that heal really quickly when they are hurt, but in super slow motion in my case. The body is neat that way. Here is my visual representation. Oh Art school, such wasted money.

I also hurt my back on Tuesday. It really wasn't a good day for me overall. It took me a while to figure it out since I didn't do much of a workout because most time was spent working on the gym equipment. I had to do some mental detective work to figure out how I was hurt. I noticed it that night when I tried to lay down. The right side of my upper back was just killing me all the way to my neck. I figured I must of had my neck at weird angles while working on the equipment. But the pain was very focused. I felt around and pin pointed the exact place I had the pain and tried to move as to recreate the pain. As I did an imaginary pull up with my right arm I started to feel it. Then it hit me. So I decided to show Abram a cool pull up he could try which involved going up to the right and then to the left. Well I only showed him to the right. Well I'm not in shape enough to do those and I must of injured a muscle in my back. Now it is Friday and it still hurts, but at least it is getting better. That put a hamper on my workouts for the rest of the week. See what I get by trying an exercise I've never done before.

I finally got to see the movie everyone is talking about, the Hangover. It was pretty good and I enjoyed it. The credits were great, but I kind of expected more explanation during the credits. It is a very funny movie and I recommend it. If I am ever going to marry a woman like the girlfriend of the dentist, don't let me.




Arlington: The Rap So I ran into this link a lot the past week or so, especially on Facebook. I feel like I should of been more entertained by it. Maybe I have been gone from VA for too long.


I have a list of sites I visit daily. Mainly, my two comics, news/political blogs and some tech blogs. I decided that I need to add to that list since I'm starting to feel like the internet is shrinking on me. So does anyone have any good recommendations? TMZ is NSFW so I don't go there. Just leave a comment with a great place to waste time on the internets.



So this guy parked really close to me. From the look of his side mirror, it wasn't the first time he has done it. I hate when that happens.

So Thursday night we went out to celebrate. It was a long night, but it was fun. I'm very much paying for it right now. Going out on weekdays is such a bad idea. Yet I'll probably continue to do it.

So even though there isn't much TV on, there is some TV news: Katherine Heigl STAYING On 'Grey's Anatomy' As Knight Leaves


So I had planned on going to the Valley this weekend and I was very excited about it. Alas, I will not be going.

how many times can you make the same mistake?

Hanging On

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." -Franklin D. Roosevelt

So I just found out that an old friend of mine from high school got married in late March. I had no clue, though I can't think of why I would. She was younger than me, but was one of my really good friends in high school. We kept in sporadic contact once I left for college, but lost contact maybe 6 years ago or so. I would wonder how she was doing from time to time. So I was procrastinating online today and I came across some pictures from her wedding on her sister's page. She made a very beautiful bride. It is such old news, but I'm happy for her all the same. I guess if I lived in the Valley I would run into engagement announcements. She is one of those good hearted people that bring joy into a room. I'm glad I was able to have this time to reflect on past friendships. Memory lane is a good place to visit sometimes.

I'm a big fan of craigslist. I'm sure most of you are too. Whenever I want to buy anything for the house, I look there first. Sometimes if you look hard enough and are patient enough, you can find just what you want at the right price. That being said, I had been looking for a squat rack and dip bar for the garage to complete the gym. After weeks of keeping track, I find a workout machine in perfect condition for a super low price of about 100 bucks. My brother Abram and I picked it up on Monday. It is a multipurpose machine with with pulleys and weights, including a dip bar. We had to take it apart to move it and even though we have the instructions, it is going to be a real task to put it back together, mainly because of all the pulley wires.

So Monday after work, Abram and cleaned and reorganized the garage. We put together the machine in a shell so that we could find the right spot for it. Our first idea didn't work out too well, so Tuesday evening I hope to give it another shot. Once we put on the weights it is going to be impossible to move.

So Abram should be finding out this week if he got the state job he applied for. I'm really looking forward to get the news. He really deserves this. I feel bad for people looking for jobs right now. It must be so discouraging.

The healthcare debate is finally picking up. Like I have said, this is the one issue that is more important to me than most. My friend Rick told me about an article the President has mentioned in his speeches about the healthcare problems in the Valley. What a Texas town can teach us about healthcare. As of this writing, in all honesty, I've read only part of it (not including Rick's summary) since it is a well thought out longer piece. I should finish it when I get a free chance today. So far I find it really interesting. Now this weekend, Bill Maher gave an editorial about this topic which I really agreed with. Here it is.
Bill Maher Takes On Obama: "This Isn't What I Voted For" (VIDEO)
This is very much how I feel right now. I'm such a big fan of Obama, but I want him to make the correct progressive changes and not water down everything just so that he may be liked by people that are not going to like him anyway. This is too important.

On a somewhat similar topic, STUDY: Sleep Helps Us Let Go Of Negative Emotions
I need more sleep I think. Sleep seems to be great for a lot of things. This probably explains why I like it so much.

True Blood on HBO is back on. I have to admit, it is a show that I don't really like, yet watch every week. That is how I started with Big Love and have yet to miss an episode. They must be doing something right. We will see how this season sits with me. In a time with very little TV on, I'm happy to have something new to see.

I got paid on Monday and I was doing my bills today. I was just about breaking even, when I noticed I had totally forgot about a bill of a grand I owe. That is a huge accounting error on my part. So I went from feeling like I made it one more month to month to finding out that I need to make more cuts to keep up with my bills and spending. Now my weight machine purchase doesn't feel as wise, though it was a deal I still wouldn't have passed up. I'm writing about this mainly because I have to make it real to myself. Step one, make real, step two, make a plan, step three do the plan. I'm glad I have a job.

My cousin Rino is out of town on a trip to Colorado with his special needs kids. I hope they are having a good time.

the end of the story

Jon & Stacy Cantu - The Wedding

"Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence." - Oscar Wilde

This weekend I attended the wedding of my friend Jon & Stacy Cantu in Victoria, Texas. I took Friday off of work and made the 3 hour drive to Victoria Texas. It was originally going to be in Buda, Texas where I live, which would of made the commute awesome, but they ended up finding a better place in Victoria. The wedding and reception were held at Schroeder Dance Hall, the second oldest dance hall in Texas. Second to Gruene, which I have been to as well.

I met Jon in the 3rd grade at Canterbury elementary school, which at that time was still Central AALP. We stayed good friends from that day forward. We have a lot of stories from high school ranging from lunch to spring break. Once we left for college, Jon to Oklahoma, I didn't see him too often. Jon decided to stay in Oklahoma after graduation where he works now. I met Stacy over Christmas break and you couldn't meet a nicer person. They shared with me the story of how they met and they really hit it off. I was honored to be asked to be one of the Groomsmen at their wedding.

Thursday night I had went out with Oscar for Danny's birthday. Friday I woke up a bit hungover from the night before and packed and got ready to go. My trip to Victoria wasn't as long as I thought it would be. It went by pretty fast. The first thing I did once I got in town was go and pick up my white tuxedo. This I was nervous about, I mean it is white. Everything seemed to fit well enough, so I headed to the hotel to check in. I didn't yet have socks to wear with a white tux/white shoes get up, so I figured I'd go shopping for them later.

I met up with Rick (whom I've known since the 2nd grade) and his girlfriend Kate and we car pooled to the rehearsal at the Dance Hall. I got to see where the wedding was going to be held and got to meet the other groomsmen, the bride and her family. Everything seemed simple enough and then we all went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. I think the rehearsal dinner is one of my favorite parts of the occasion. Jon got use engraved beer pilsner glasses as gifts, very thoughtful.

After the rehearsal dinner, we went back to the hotel and then to a bar for the night. The bar had a nice outdoor area for us to sit. We met up with Jerry (friend since Jr. High) and his girlfriend Leonor. I hadn't visited with them in a while and it was great to catch up. Leonor had a Palm Pre, so I was very excited to check it out and play with it for a bit. It is a very nice phone. After much drinking, we called it a night.

Saturday was the big day. I woke up a bit early, but knew that I had a lot of time until the wedding in the evening. Staying at a hotel by yourself is a bit lonely. I went to Target and purchased a the pair of socks I needed. They didn't have white, so I did my best. I then went to the Henry's house where Jon was having a BBQ for the groomsmen. Jon couldn't see Stacy all day, so everyone had to be extra careful they didn't actually see each other. After the BBQ, I went back to the hotel for a good nap. Drinking takes a toll on you I think. I wanted to be rested for the night to come.

I finally woke up and it was time to get ready for the wedding. I put on my white tux and tired to look as presentable as I could. I then met up with Rick and Kate again and Rick drove to the wedding.

So here is my Jon & Stacy's Wedding Pictures Album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hyadus/sets/72157619653604095 I posted a few on Facebook, but all my pictures are stored on Flickr.

We got there and started to take wedding pictures. At one point both Jon and Stacy were in the hall taking pictures and Jon had to make sure his back was always to her side of the room. It was pretty funny I think. This was his wedding and he was going to do it right.

The wedding ceremony started and it was very nice. It was outdoors beneath some trees and the minister was a friend of Jon's. There were some woodwind instruments playing and overall it has a very nice outdoor look to it. After saying I do, everyone applauded and Jon and Stacy walked away as man and wife. The lawyer in me wonders when you are legally married. It it when you say "I Do," when the marriage certificate is signed, or when you turn it in to city hall? I probably should know this. I have to say, neither of them at any point seemed nervous. Both where just happy and excited to be getting married. I was probably more nervous for them.

After we took more pictures and then the Reception began. We had assigned seating, which a lot of care and thought had went into.

The reception was nice and the hall was very big. We had dinner, the speeches by the best man and maid of honor and the bouquet and garter toss. The garter toss was funny because Jon's friend Stock was taunting him about throwing it well and Jon turned around and threw it right at him like a fast ball. Poor Stock. There was also the father daughter dance, the mother son dance and the couple's first dance.

At the reception I hung out with Rick, Kate, Jerry, Leonor, Juan and his wife Vanessa. Vanessa is expecting soon, and I was very happy for them. I hadn't seen Juan in a very long time. We are all friends from as far back as elementary. I had a lot of fun talking with them and hanging out.

With all the couples, it made my non-plus-one status felt apparent. Luckily, I was with friends so it didn't feel awkward. Those are weddings for you I think. A lot of drinking ensued and the night was fun. The DJ was a bit dissapointing, but we were in Victoria.

After the reception was over, all of us high school friends went to Denny's by the hotel to eat. We had good conversation and ate while my buzz was still in full effect. I think it is neat how we can pick up where we left off. I then called it a night and resigned to my hotel room. It didn't take long before I fell asleep.

Sunday morning there was a breakfast at the Henry house (Jon's new in-laws) at 9am. I wasn't able to wake up in time for it. My night was way too long. Instead, I got up, dropped off my tux with Jon's mom for her to return for me and then headed back on my road trip to Austin. It felt a bit longer, but was nothing to complain about.

When I got home, I decided to take a good nap in my own bed. I watched an episode of the canceled series Kings (why I am getting involved with a show that is gone is beside me.) I then watched the UFC fight I had missed on Saturday night. In the evening, Abram and I went to pick up a workout set I had found on craigslist. It was an amazing deal I think. We'll see if we can put it back together. We picked up some groceries and I tried to get to bed for work the next morning.

And that is it folks. I'm done with weddings for quite some time. 3 couples I know lives changed and I'm wishing them all the best. Now back to the regular world.

second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience

My Old iPhone 3G

"Beware of the young doctor and the old barber." - Benjamin Franklin.

Monday I followed a live blog from the WWDC to find out about the new Apple iPhone. I have to say I was a bit let down with the iPhone 3GS. I know the insides are upgraded and it should be faster, but there didn't seem to be much tangible change. It looks exactly the same. I'm not asking for a keyboard (though I wouldn't mind one), but maybe a different look. Either way, the new iPhone comes out on June 19th. Check out the differences in the Tale of the Tape. I almost feel more excited about the Pre right now. Too bad I won't get to test one out. So I'm not even eligible for an upgrade, so my odds of getting the new iPhone are lowered. Though you never know right. I was excited to hear about the new TomTom app. I'm sure it is going to be expensive. The holder kit they have for sale looks great, even if you don't have the app.

So now that I have uploaded so many pictures from the wedding (and that only included two sets, mine and my sister Eliza's, it didn't include Bekka's, Sarah's, my mom's or any of my cousins that have posted on Facebook.) I decided it was time I updated my Flickr photos links on the right side of my blog. I didn't know it was so out of date. I had to hand write the html, so it too some time. Man there are a lot of links there now. I'm glad I have a digital camera again to keep it updated.


Today I was going over the list of people Facebook suggests to add as a friend and I ran into a person I used to date a few years back. That happens sometimes because we will have had friends in common or live in the same area or have gone to the same schools. This person though, I have no connection to. We have no friends in common (hs, undergrad, law, work) and don't live in the same place, attended different schools and well there is just no connection whatsoever to justify the suggestion. We had never previously been fb friends either. Yet she was on my suggestions list. Makes me wonder why Facebook would recommend them as a friend and how the software works. I just thought it was weird. You know, maybe it looked at my gmail contacts and used that. That would make perfect sense. I might of just solved the mystery in writing this. Well this was a waste of a mental exercise.


Speaking of FB suggestions, it got me to thinking, I wonder if people get me on their list of recommended friends and wonder if they should add me. Do they know me well enough they must ask. I go through that sometimes. I don't know why FB is on the mind this morning, maybe because it has been a slow day. -- Update: as of this writing, I have gotten 3 FB friend requests. I guess some people actually pull the trigger.

So this weekend is my friend Jon's wedding. Wedding #3 in a month. Last one for a long time I'm thinking. I'm taking Friday off and going to Victoria. Other than that, I need to call him to find out the details so that I can perform my groomsman duties to the best of my abilities. I'm looking forward to this. Update: as of this writing, I have talked to Jon. I got a better idea of the timing and what to expect. Its seems like they have things well coordinated.

Oh Rick is back from Europe. He sent me a post card from Edinburgh. Which is pretty cool since we are from Edinburg, TX. I'm sure I'll find out more about the trip this weekend. I can't wait until I go back to Europe. I think I would like to live in (and visit for the first time) Barcelona for at least a month or so. Oh to be an adult, having missed the chance to spend months in Europe on the dime of my parents. Wait, the never really was a choice huh. Well it would have been nice if we could afford that.

I was reading Texan in the City's post i'm doomed to be single and saw that she had a cool map. I'm guessing the pink areas are where single men should live. I like how the Valley is pink. I hope the map is big enough to read.

CLUNKER BILL: House Passes Bill To Subsidize New Car Sales
I hope this becomes law. I have been trying for years to figure out a way to get my dad an affordable car and to being able to use the 92 van he has driven into the ground would be great. I have failed in this goal and it is about time I got moving on it.

Mr. Perfect: This Student Hasn't Missed A Day Of School In 14 Years
I know some kids that could benefit from his example. I'm not saying perfect attendance, but you have a set amount of days you can miss, you miss that amount.

running

Adam & Kirby Plata - The Wedding

"What counts in making a happy marriage is not so much how compatible you are, but how you deal with incompatibility." - Leo Tolstoy

Abram worked Friday night, so we left Saturday morning for my cousin Adam's wedding in Ft. Worth. Adam is the son of my mom's sister Mati and is a little more than a year younger than me. We spent a lot of time together as kids, but when he was in Jr. High his family moved to Ft. Worth. I get to see him about once a year. His fiance Kirby and I have met a few times over the years and she is a stand up girl. I am very happy for them and had been looking forward to the wedding for quite some time.

Abram didn't sleep much after working all night since he couldn't get to bed, so we left a bit earlier than we had planned. He could of napped on the trip up, but I talk a lot so that didn't work out. Since it was the morning, the trip to Ft. Worth didn't feel as long and before we knew it, we were arriving at our cousin Monica's house in Ft. Worth. It was very nice of her to let us stay with her while we were in town.

My sister Ana, her kids, Sarah and JoMichael and my nieces Bekkah and Jamie were staying with Monica. Rick wasn't there, but I'm sure he lucked out since that was a lot of family to deal with. We all got dressed for the wedding and then my mom and my sister Eliza and family showed up with Monica's mom, my Tia Amelia. We drove out to the church in caravan. It was about 30 minutes away.

We arrived at the Baptist church a little before 4pm. The church was huge, which reflects the incomes in the area. We ran into everyone there and a lot of time was spent saying hello to family and taking pictures. It was great seeing everyone, it had been so long. What really got me was how many digital cameras there were. Every picture meant posing at least 3 times if not more. "Mine next." It just seemed inefficient. I didn't get to visit with Adam before the ceremony, but I didn't really have any words of wisdom to share. I found a nice seat and waited for the ceremony to begin.

The Wedding ceremony was nice. The girls wore pink and the guys wore green ties and vests. My Tio Mario read scripture. I wasn't used to the primer, "I will", but I don't know a lot about weddings. It was a nice affair. Then it happened and they were married.

After the wedding, we all went to a very nice country club for the reception. The houses in the neighborhood were amazing. The family sat together and visited as we ate dinner and then there was a lot of dancing after. This was the fun part where all the older people started asking everyone when they were planning on getting married. I heard a funny joke where someone said to their older family member, "I don't ask 'when's your turn' at funerals." It works on many levels. The highlights were the first dance, the throwing of the bouquet, where I hear it was very much contested, and the speeches. I spent a lot of time talking to my grandmother since she has now been in Ft. Worth over a year now.

Here is a picture of the Alaniz Family (Alvarez/Castro/Mendoza):

My Adam & Kirby's Wedding Pictures Album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hyadus/sets/72157619328261449/
I posted a few on Facebook, but all my pictures are stored on Flickr.

The reception and open bar ended at 10pm. The night was still young, so Abram and I went out with Laurie, Rino, Jess, Vanessa and Mario to downtown Ft. Worth. We went to a piano bar which was a lot of fun. I like piano bars, but still my favorite is in San Marcos. They are also usually really loud which I'm not as big of a fan of, but what would you expect.

At the end of the night we arrived back at Monica's house where we crashed out. I slept in a bit the next morning and then headed to my Tia Mati's house for my cousin Marissa's baby shower. She was in town from California. Baby showers are for women, but since this was also a family BBQ, and I hadn't visited with the Valadez family in quite some time, along with not yet seeing my Tia's new home, I decided to go. I was very impressed with the home. A blessing to say the least. The turnout was good and I learned about how Marissa was moving to Alaska...talk about a cold place to have a child. The food was good.

After eating, Abram, JoMichael and I headed home for Austin. The drive wasn't too bad, but seemed longer than the trip up there. I was pretty tired by the end of the trip. Ana and the kids, along with Eliza and her family showed up a few hours later. Everyone stayed the night at my place one last time before heading home to the Valley in the morning. They were going to stop by the Wildlife Ranch, which is where I went a few months back. I hope they enjoy it.

Well that was my eventful two day weekend. Other than the actual wedding and starting their life together thing, my favorite part was visiting with family. Now I have my friend Jon's wedding this weekend where I'll be a groomsman, but I'll talk more about that in the days to come.

still not ready

Sleep and Donuts

"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.” - Norman Cousins

Happy National Donut Day! Yeah, I didn't know about it either. Too bad I won't have a donut today to celebrate. I hear that some places give away free donuts today. Well the day isn't over yet, I guess we will see. For future reference guys, last Friday in June. NATIONAL DONUT DAY: Free Donuts For Everyone!

Thursday night, I was feeling sick so at 8pm I fell asleep. It had been a while since I had taken a good nap. My family came into Austin last night at 10pm or so to spend the night on their way to Ft. Worth for a wedding. I missed the entire visit. I woke up this morning, said goodbye to my Mom who was up making coffee and left for work. I saw everyone asleep and hoped they had a good night. I am feeling a little better today which is good. They left at 10am today. The good thing is that I'll get to see everyone on Saturday anyway.

One thing this time of year always reminds me of is that Teachers are off from school for the summer. I am so envious and I think I make this point often. I think all professions should have summers off. Now I understand your argument that we need people working during the summer, so why not give us winters off then. One day my friends, I will have this type of setup. Speaking of teachers, a "Dream Team" Of $125,000-A-Year Teachers Will Be Put To The Test . This is a team I would love to be on. I would take the job and if I didn't do well, well fire me, it could be in the contract. Hopefully this creates a new way to approach teaching. I really do think I would love being a college professor.

The Palm Pre is released on Saturday. I'm looking forward to seeing a real one in action. I see myself getting the new iPhone we will learn about next week, but I think the Pre will be a good competitior.

Jimmy Kimmel Goes Head To Head With Spelling Bee Champion (VIDEO)
This kid seems to be very smart and personable. I liked her appearance on the Rachel Maddow show. I'd like to learn the strategy her Dad used. If I had a kid, I think it would be fun to train them. I bet he could sell it. I watched the final round last week and was very impressed. Note, I can't spell worth anything.

Senate Dems: Expect A Health Care Bill Next Week - 47 Million Americans lack health insurance. Health care is a really big issue to me and it was one of the main reasons I voted for Obama. To be fair, it is one of my key issues, but his health care plan wasn't my favorite. It is why at first I initially supported Edwards (whose policy issues were dead on even if he had his own personal problems) and Clinton. What I want is pretty much Universal Health Care. There should be a standard of care provided by the government or non-profits (through private doctors of course) available to all Americans. We are the only industrialized country that doesn't have that. Now if you want extra crazy elective stuff, well then private insurance can play a role. The problem is that this isn't where our government is going. I'll probably support the bill since it will be better than our current system, but I don't understand why universal health care is so out of reach. We spend so much in taxes for war, for roads, for government contracts, why not on health care? Hopefully it will be able to pay for itself over time. Then you have the whole issue of how this would positively effect the economy and how much it would help small businesses and people seeking employment. I guess all we can do is watch.

Did you know that Fatherhood Makes You Smarter? I guess you always have more to learn.

America's Best Christian Explains Traditional Marriage to Everyone Else - Since I'm off to a wedding this seems somewhat fitting. Thanks Facebook Mark for sharing this.

hopes I would........ Wow.

Family and Birthdays

"Never ascribe to malice, that which can be explained by incompetence." —Napoleon (Hanlon’s Razor)

Last week was a 4 day week, but it didn't feel that way. Maybe it was because it was so busy at work, but it felt a lot longer. It is an interesting time in the car industry right now.

Saturday was Abram's 25th birthday. He had the day off, which is rare on a weekend for him. Once he got back from the Ski Ranch, Abram, Todd and I went to dinner on West 6th. Oscar joined us a while later as did Rino. It was a fun night, consisting of bar hopping and such. We made our way back downtown to the bar where Abram works. Abram introduced me to this pretty cool guy, who is a self made millionaire. He was a personable guy who gave me the speech about money not truly making people happy, but I figured I'd save my counter arguments for another time. As one comedian put, I've never seen an unhappy person on a waverunner. You also have so much capacity to do good when you are financially secure and doing good makes people feel better so that has to be able to help in some way. I understand the points about family and true friends of course. He was a stand up guy. As far as the night goes, Abram seemed to have a pretty good time. He ran into a lot of his work friends. The night ended late, but it was a very fun time. It has been a while since I have been out like that.
Here are a few pictures from the night: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hyadus/sets/72157619110566488/


So as I mentioned in my last post, my niece Bekkah made drum major. She was in Austin for band State solo and ensemble. I think it was so late in the year due to the whole swine flu situation. Sunday night, Abram and I picked her up and took her to dinner near campus in Austin. It was nice visiting and I'm glad she is getting to visit colleges while in high school. She told us how she is going to drum major camp at Texas State this summer for a week. That should be cool. I even took her by the Castillan apartment building where Rick lived when he was in college. I had visited a few times and liked the place and thought she might one day look into it. Speaking of, she turns 17 today, so I'd better not forget to call her for her birthday.

So all the weddings are starting. This weekend is Adam's wedding in Ft. Worth and the entire family is coming up and its almost like an extended family reunion. The plan, as I know it so far, is that my family is coming up on Thursday to stay at my place. Then they take off to Dallas on Friday while I go to work. I will join them on Saturday and attend the wedding and then leave Sunday morning back to Austin. Ana and the kids might join us in Austin Sunday night and then go to San Antonio on Monday. No matter how it works out, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.

The other day I was organizing photos on my computer and I ran into photos from when I was 18, 20, 24 all until the current day. What I find amazing is what my self image was like at the time. I always felt out of shape, not strong enough, slender enough, yet damn I was super slim and strong in some of those pictures. Even when I look at photos where I felt like an obese monster, I was so much more healthy than as of late. I wish I would of appreciated it instead of feeling so bad about myself. I know this sounds like crap you would hear from a chick, and I don't mean it that way, but I'm trying to put into words a realization I had. In any case, it motivates me to do what I can now. Luckily men get more distinguished with age.

Tuesday night I saw the movie UP. I did so because a friend of mine recommended it, I think he took his kid to see it in 3D. I have to admit that when I saw the previews I was not interested at all and since I wasn't too impressed with Monsters v. Aliens, I was going to pass. I have to say it was pretty good. Not like amazing good, but a nice watch. I too recommend it.

bankruptcy