Great things are happening

Several good and bad things have happened since March started. One of course is that my First Year VIVA took place last Friday. It went as expected, lousy. There was a point I thought I would be returning home in April.

Back in Mexico, other great things are happening. My very best friend from my uni is getting married. After the third try he finally convinced a girl to tie the nought. I wish him the very best. Also, the small research group I was part of, PDPA, is celebrating this coming Friday there 15th Anniversary. So, they are having this great big party with all ex and current students. It would have been cool to be there with all my friends and remember old times.

Finally, the best is reserved for last; my sister is coming to visit. At this very moment she is already in Barcelona with one of her friends; but on Saturday approximately at 16:00 hours at Paris Orly airport I would be hugging her for the first time this year. We will be in Paris for four days, then travelling back to Manchester and before she heads back to Mexico, we will be visiting London.

If all goes well, by the end of this month I would get cash back from my mobile company. This means that my bank account will not be in red number, after all that travelling, hehehe.

I am a Horse

No, it’s not another post of a book or movie like the one I posted a few month ago about “I am the Cat”, this actually is an annually event with the exception that each year the animal changes. Like in Occidental world we have the New Year’s governed by the solar rotation; the Chinese New Year is counted on the moons cycle. Each Chinese year is represented by an animal; the person personality is influenced by the year which they were born. So, googleing my Chinese animal I found out I’m a Horse. A nice horsy; who loves its freedom and roaming about, hard working and graceful. The good stuff heeeeheeee…now I’m really sound like a horse, :).

I leave you with some characteristics that resemble my personality and are most convenient for me.

Horses crave love and intimacy, which is a double-edged sword since it often leads them to feel trapped. Love connections tend to come easily to Horses, since they exude the kind of raw sex appeal that is a magnet to others, ;).

An impatient streak can lead Horses to be less than sensitive to others' needs….The lone wolf inside the Horse can at times push others away, but this also makes this Sign stronger and is a key to its success. Horses are self-reliant and, though they might lose interest fast in a tedious, nine-to-five day job, are willing to do the work necessary to get ahead.

Horses tend not to look much at the big picture; instead they just follow their whims, which can result in a trail of prematurely ended relationships, jobs, projects and so on.

What else can I say, this description is quite complete. Another interesting fact is that Mexico is considered to be a Horse country, so I suppose all Mexican have a little horsy inside.

The Pursuit of Happyness

I have led a worry free comfortable life. Apart from the occasional financial worries (which are not that big), frightening moments of planning for the future and scarce scary and nerve breaking dreams; my life has been good. So, when I see this kind of movies, it makes me feel like an ungrateful, lazy, good for nothing, complaining, whinnying, pampered and immature grown woman.

Solution: Avoid watching this kind of movies and try not to compare your not so very exciting life to a movie... even if they are based on true and real stories. Hollywood tends to exaggerate anyway.

BTW, I recommend you watch this movie it's good.

Alternative Ending

Usually every Wednesday friends from Uni and me go to the cinema. Orange Wednesday promotion and now StudentBean 2 for one makes it a lot cheaper, but today was the exception. So I’m in front of my computer writing this post which will refer to a movie I saw yesterday One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

The movie stars a young Jack Nicholson, a very hairy Dany DeVito (yes, Dany DeVito has hair) and the always crazy Christopher Lloyd among other loony characters. The film takes place in a mental institution back in the 1970’s, I won’t go on about the movie because if you haven’t seen it I will spool it for you and I recommend it very much.

Continuing with the reason being of this post; yesterday, that was actually today very early in the morning, when I finally went to sleep my subconscious not pleased with the ending of one of the characters, Billy Bibbit, decided to reinvent it to its liking.

So, I leave you with my subconscious alternative ending which is much nicer.

At the end of the movie Billy Bibbit escapes from the mental institution
with a girl, which is much younger then him. Destiny takes them to
incorporate in the music industry, where Billy has a hidden talent
as a composer. The unknown girl interprets his songs and both become
multimillionaires. With the unexpected success and multimillion earnings
they buy a house in remote and far away place. To get there, you have
to cross through a mountain region which was a mixture between the
Pennine region in England, the Himalayas and the Alps from Europe.
The scenery created by my subconscious was amaaazing and breathtaking.
When they get there, their neighbours are fishing on an opening of the
mountains where the sea comes in. One of them gets swept away; Billy
goes to the rescue and saves the day.

Now, if you have seen the movie which ending you prefer, my version or the original one? If you haven’t seen it, then watch it. You’ll enjoy it a lot and let me know which ending you prefer.

The Return of the Queen

Two whole months have past since I last wrote something in my blog. I have had several interesting things to talk about, just haven’t had the chance to relax and write. Though I can say that I have a lot of things to do at the moment, but after several peoples reproaches and complains of my last boring post, I’ve decided to finally sit down and write something new for my few but quality readers… hehehe.

After my birthday, I wanted to write something about the gifts I received which I’m enjoying a lot. Then came Christmas and I thought -I can mix my post with this one, it would be a good collage. But after Christmas I had the pressure of my first year report so I postponed writing until I finished it. Excuses, excuses… I realised that my main problem is not the lack of time (well, sort of, I’m being getting up after 10:00 am), is the lack of organization. So, I promised myself that I would post something new every week without any delay and get organised.

The solution for my badly planned life is that I have no Journal/Diary where I could see all the things I have to do, rather than trying to remember everyday while I take my daily shower and trying to wake up. Next step is to buy my Journal/Diary, I have to make it a habit of mine to write things down without going to the extreme of depending on it. Hopefully this will also help with my financial situation. If I keep a record of my expenses I could see where I can cut back (I already know, I like to dine out a lot which I’m not going to give up) and save some money.

I would continue but I just realised this is a very boring post, but it’s new… hehehe, just what you have requested THE QUEEN IS BACK.

Discovering the Scenery

When I arrive to a new place I usually look around and try to remember all the small details of the scenery. Firstly, to remember how to get back, secondly to find out what things are new, try to find places where I could hang out, or just to get familiarized with my surroundings.

I’ve been in Manchester two years and two months; I have passed the Whitworth Art Gallery everyday since I’ve been here; always making plans to come and see what’s it all about. Finally, today, after my housemate almost bullied me on going to see a recital that was going to take place in the Art Gallery, I entered the doors of the building that’s part of my daily scenery.

The quintet name is “Brass Mark 5”, it consist of two trumpets, one horn, a trombone and a tuba. The recital started with The Saints Go Marching In and ended with some Jazzy piece called Honey Pie. I enjoyed every minute of the recital (30 minutes). I had never seen a brass recital. I suppose the must common are the string ones, which I have attended quite a few, but this was a really nice first timer. The quintet manage to combine different styles of music, from classical pieces to the more contemporary Jazz themes; which gave me an idea of what you can do with this kind of instruments.

The Art Gallery has several of this recital programmed through out the year and the best part of it all, is, they are free. So for the next two Sundays between 3:30 and 4:00 you’ll find me there.

Men Rule

I want to thank those two guys that helped this independent, intelligent and charming girl, with some heavy loads today. And keeping my promise to one of them, this post is not about why men are put here on earth, i.e. the general idea about men having to kill insects and mice or carrying heavy loads, etc… So, I just want to say that I am really grateful, first, that I am a woman and I can get help from strong healthy men to carry my stuff and secondly, men rule when they act like gentlemen!!!!

October rules

October is over, the best month of the year. Do you know why it’s the best month of the year? The answer is very simple, because I was born, my both grandma’s where also born in this month, so as you can see, beautiful people joined your existence in October…

My birthday party was quiet cool, I’m sorry to say not all the people I would have like to share it with were here, but I know they were thinking or remembering me (it’s so hard to forget someone as charismatic as myself, hehehe).

Rapidly changing subject, today, I am finally half way through the distance of the England Channel. Yeap… I have swum 11 miles, still have 11 to go. It is now getting harder to get up in the mornings; the temperature in Manchester is dropping, when I hear the alarm clock go off, an internal struggles starts –to get up and face the cold weather or stay in the comfort of my warm cozy bed. Usually, my bed wins, but as my previous sub-objective of doing this charity swim has failed (lose 4 kilos), I should persevere in concluding the whole 22 miles.

And another good thing that happened, in the now passed month, was that one of my dearest friends of Mexico came to Manchester, and brought with her “una cocha” (sweet Mexican bread), yummy. In conclusion October ruled this year for several good reasons.

Who says you can't be in two places at once!

Last month was my dad’s birthday. My mom organized a small gathering with their closest friend to celebrate another year of my dad’s life. My eldest sister came over from Tijuana to be there, one of my mom’s brother also travelled to be with him. And where was I? Do you have any clue?

Yeap you guessed right, I was in Manchester, pretending to study. But that could be solved. Amongst my various qualities, I have the capacity to be in two places at once, the proof is just here.

BTW, let me introduce to you my sisters, Itzel and Nikté.
And before I forget, let me tell you about another quality I have, the gift of mind reading. So I am sensing your asking yourself: Are they really from the same parents? The answer is YES. There's no doubt about that.

Little Joys

The other day I was watching Amelie for the n^th time. One of the things I like about this film is the way the director introduces the characters, by what they like and dislike. The ways each of them find little joys in life, e.g.: by plunging their fingers on a bag of lentils, waxing the floor with a pair of slippers, taking old wallpaper of the wall, the sound water makes in a glass bowl. On the other hand, there are the ones that make you go mad: wrinkles on your finger after a bath, people who crack their fingers, etc. The uniqueness of these peculiarities makes you identify yourself with the movie. Well, at least I did.

Some of these little details that you enjoy or dislike tend to change with time. When I was growing up, the things I disliked were:

• People with cracked lips. I used to carry an extra lip gloss with me, in case anyone I saw had cracked lips. At first people that did not know me would be suspicious, especially boys, but as they realised it was part of my tics they will consent on putting it on.
• The sleeves of trouser (pants in American English) sticking in sneakers.
• Squeaky sounds (it does not include my voice).
• The smell of ketchup or tuna.
• People hugging me when they are sweaty.
  

Things I still enjoy:

• Smelling other people's clothes.
• Mushy textures on my hand, especially mud.
• Sitting on a coffee shop and watching passers by, when I was younger, it was on top of a tree.
• Finding different shadings of light.
• Skipping the cracks or separation on the floor.
• Walking on the ledge of the boardwalk.
  
• Putting my head on my dads belly and hearing all the sounds his stomach makes.
• Laying beside my mom when she is reading a book.
• Finding new hiding places.
• The face of people when I tell them my age, it cracks me up.
  

As I am writing this, I am wearing a scarf with my mom's smell, under the reflected shading of my nightlight covered by a palm hat, drinking a comforting cup of tea. Could this get any better?

Right in front of you.

For some time now i have consider that men cannot look for things around the house. They could live there, but that doesn't give them any reason to know where things are kept. I will give you some examples of my experience with men and there lack of capacity to search for things.

Example no. 1. My Dad.

Dad: Nalleli could you get me some batteries.
Me: Yeah dad, I'll be right back.

5 minutes later, my dad is nowhere to be seen. After waiting for more than 10 minutes for him, I decide to leave the batteries some where it would be obvious he will find them, INFRONT OF THE THING HE NEEDS THEM FOR (do not remember what it was).

30 minutes later

Dad: Nalleeeeeeeli (screaming), where have you been? Where are the batteries I asked for half and hour ago?
Me: Dad, I left them in front of the thing.
Dad: Well I can not find them (angry tone).

I walk to the place, very slowly pick up the batteries and hand them to him.

Dad: mmmmhhh ( blank look). Well, you should have told me you where going to leave them there.

As always they find an excuse to blame it on someone else.

Example no. 2. New Housemates.

Yuca: Where is the DVD control?
Mex: I do not know.
Yuca: I had it a minute ago, help me look for it?

10 minutes later

Yuca: where could i have put it?
Mex: Did you check under the sofa?
Yuca: Yes, i even moved it, and check between the cushions.
Mex: Well, we can not find it, it will reappear.

5 minutes later

Me: Did you find the control?
Yuca, Mex: NO
Me: But you did look for it?
Yuca, Mex: Yes, we just couldn't find it.

1 minute later

Me: Found it.
Yuca: Where was it?
Me: Under a piece of paper... (with a big smile).
Mex: What type of paper was it?
Yuca: But, we did look for it. (Bewildered complexion.)

Searching for somethings doesn't require any physical strength. They moved sofas and coaches to look for the control, when they only thing they needed was to move a piece of paper, a baby could do that.

Example no.3.

Sailor: Land ahead.
Crew: Hurray!!!

Cristopher: Where are we?
officer: I think its India.
Christopher: Why do u think it took us so long to get here?
Officer: dunno

A few hours or weeks or months later.

Christopher: I think this is not India?
Officer: So, where do u think we are?
Christopher: dunno.

If it wasn't that the damn continent was so big, I think America wouldn't have been discovered. Ohhh...but i forgot, they where not looking for that.

Men can be helpful: fixing things around the house (though if you want a good job, call professional help), killing bugs and carring heavy loads; but the moment you tell them to look for something, their observation skill and patience just isn't enough.

Good Beginning

After a week of changes in my residential status, thing are starting to settle down. I have a lot of work at school and I seem to make no progress. My new house is now taking the shape of a home and I am getting acquainted with my new housemates and their friends.

Today, after two, three or maybe four months of being a couch potatoe (pronounced like tomatoe with a british accent) i went for a swim. I have joined a charity thingy (to lazy to look up the name of the thingy). The goal is to swim the equivalent distance of the English channel in three months, 22 miles. I proudly can say, I swam 1200 m or 0.75 miles for non-metric folks, that leaves 34000 m (21.25 miles) to go.

If anyone is interesting in supporting this noble cause and give me some money, i will appreciate it. It will help with your Karma. And to prove to you that I am not conning you, I'll attach the page of the thingy.

http://www.aspire.org.uk/channelswim/

Nomad

I’ve always hated packing, I mean I usually just throw everything in my luggage, shake it a couple of times to make room for more stuff and throw more things in. But, it doesn’t work like that. My mom or my younger sister normally would prepare my luggage. My little sister did it because she’s an organized freak and anything that has no order or symmetric pattern will cause a nerve to pop (you wouldn’t like to be near my sister when one of her nerves pops), so seeing that my luggage was a total mess she would voluntarily make my bags.

I do not understand, after living in 8 different houses in a period of 3 years, this would make me and expert in packing, as they say: “practice makes perfect”, in any other case except in mine. So, knowing the complete mess I am, I decided to start packing with time (last week); make a list of all my things (never happened), arrange every item by category, separate and tag luggage and boxes, etc… It’s Wednesday and all my stuff is on the floor, gosh, how I miss my sister and “mi ama” (mum).

Puppet

How does our mind work? I question I often ask myself. I was getting off the bus on my way back from school; I suddenly realized that I am bribable. I mean I always thought I had strong convictions and in a situation where my moral fiber would be in question I will succeed and overcome the circumstances. But it’s not true; there have been a lot of times I’ve been persuaded in doing things I disagree with.

Manipulated, seduced, talked into, brainwashed; how often this occurs on a daily basis? How many times I’ve modified my way of acting, to make my parents happy, to be liked by my friends, to impress my boss, to be accepted by society, some people will call this flexibility. I’m just the weak link in a long elastic chain.

Weekend Summary

It is 30 minutes to midnight. This week was quite busy doing absolutely nothing. If you read my previous post u will remember that I came back from Amsterdam, and being, as always, paranoic (or paranoiac) about my work, I erased two weeks of work with no way (por wuey) to recover it. Friday, was great though, getting an early star at the weekend, not so early I woke up at noon. Eating junk food, which was disastrous for my stomach, kept seeing a black spot everywhere I turned, followed with 2 hours of surfing the net, and searching for useless junk, that was quite useful. I discovered that I have read 30 books of the 200 best books of the BBC list. Though it helped that 5 of them where the Harry potter one’s. On the other hand, it is quite depressing that I still have to read 170 books more before they change the list, mhhh… I ended my Friday celebrating my friend’s b-day with tequila. Saturday was the proper celebration and quite unexpectedly it was already Sunday, which is about to end in about 10 minutes, if I can read through my post, find all the mistakes, correct them and post it, before Monday.

Ohh… and the reason I wanted to write this post. I just finished watching “Four weddings and a Funeral”. This is the first time I see it, so I really did not know what to expect. I saw it with my housemate, Jessy, and her boyfriend. I just found it funny Jessy's comment at the end of the movie. It went something like this: “bloody Americans, she ruins the wedding and gets the boy at the end”, or something like that, hopefully I didn’t distort it, but u get the idea.

Okey…its 5 minute for a new day almost going to make it.

What if...?

I’ve just returned from my trip to Amsterdam, it was great. I had a good time, met really nice people and ate like a pig, from Argentinean cuts to Dutch pancakes, mhhh… good.

As I was coming from Liverpool to Manchester, I was thinking about my “to do list”. They were two things that had top priority and needed to be done as soon as possible. So, I decided to go to school after I’d dropped my baggage at home. I did what I had to do, and decided to get some work done. After three hours of hard work in front of my computer, I typed I wrong command and erased all the work I did today and the work I did last week.

That’s when I wonder, What if I have stayed home and just have been a proper bum?

Still here!!!!

I’m still alive. I have a lot of work. No money and planning a mini holiday to Amsterdam. I’m truly looking forward to it.

It still feels and looks like summer here in Manchester, nice sunny weather. Good for BBQ’s and hanging out in the park.

Resemblance

It has been a long time since I last wrote in my blog. A lot of things have been happening in every aspect of my life, economically, sentimentally, intellectually, existentially, etc. The good thing is that I have a lot of work, so my mind is occupied and I don’t have too much time to think about what things are troubling me. But this post isn’t about all of that. It’s a sort of a follow up from the previous one.

As a mentioned above, I have a lot of work and mainly because we are preparing an equipment for some test next week. I’m supposed to be helping out, but I really do not have the slightest idea of what they are doing; the guys I work with are quite efficient. Anyway, one of these guys (the one who is doing all the work) is really good with his hands. I like seeing how he works, chiefly because his hands remind me of someone I cared for a lot. Most of the time, I find myself staring at his hands. It’s really weird, physically he doesn’t look anything like “him”, but the way he grabs, touches and moves his hands, seem so familiar. I can’t stop imagining the other person. I think I’m in love with both their hands.

Curiosities

I find it strange sometimes, how things that have no relation with each other can have some similarity in the eyes of certain observers. Let me know what u think of the following comparison.


So what do you think, is there any resemblance or I'm just seeing things that are not there. Gooosh hope not.

Cat's thoughts. Part I.

Have you ever wondered how others perceive us; I, usually, imagine creeping up to well acquainted friends and ears dropping (eavesdroping) on a conversation about me. Normally, they speak wonders of me, saying what a lovely person I am…But, I have never asked myself, how does my cat see me? I know I wasn’t a very good owner; I was quite negligent with my 2 cats and dog.

In the new kid movies, where the main characters are animals, the qualities imprinted on them are human like. What would happen if Dumbo, suddenly, decided to make a movie about humans? What would be the outcome? Would they use sarcastic humour to describe us? Would it even be a kid’s movie?

Amongst all the different curious points of view I have encountered about my race I bumped into the following nameless cat's thoughts. He has just heard a conversation of three peculiar humans.

"I merely concluded that human beings were good for nothing except for the strenuous employment of their mouths for the purpose of whiling away their time in laughter at things which are not funny and in the enjoyment of amusements which are not amusing."

"…the urge to compete and their anxiety to win are revealed flickeringly in their everyday conversation, and only a hair’s breadth separates them from the Philistines whom they spend their idle days denouncing. They are all animals from the same den. Which fact, from a feline viewpoint, is infinitely regrettable. Their only moderately redeemed feature is that their speech and conduct are less tediously uninventive than those of less subtle creatures.
As I thus summed up the nature of the human race, I suddenly felt the conversation of these specimens to be intolerably boring; …"

Hopefully, other not feline species have a better concept of the human race, though I doubt it.