Mmm... I don't have a title for this one.

I don't know where my creative juices have been going. I've been working on my artshow, I finished 3 paintings right before it was time to put it up. And I finished April's painting, "Abril Amor", on Saturday. But it seems to me, it feels like at least, that I've been blocked of something. Proof of that is my photoblog. The last post was some pictures that I found while looking for something else, I found the album on the computer and I realized I had not made a post for them. But the post before that, it's like a bunch of pictures from here and there. Not really artistic, I think. I wrote a poem, but I usually write a lot when I get on that mode-- not this time, though. It was only one poem. I've spent some creativity in changing the template for this blog and for the photoblog... but that sound more like an excuse, now that I read over that last line I wrote. I've also been reading, but not as much as I would like. And I haven't played chess with Adam in more than a month!!! Even my blog writing has felt weak lately.

It feels odd. I'm usually much more productive than this, even in my not-so-productive times.

Last Friday, I didn't feel that good when I got home. It was about 5:30 pm and I decided to take a little nap... I woke up passed midnight. Needless to say, I was confused. I was turning on my bed when I opened my eyes and wondered "why am I not on my pj's?" and then I got up and look at the clock and saw the time. I changed clothes, got my pj's, brushed my teeth, and... went to check my email... the computer was on, so I thought why not?! After that I checked my voicemail and I had 8 missed calls... EIGHT! Nobody ever calls me when I'm up and running. And even though I felt good about sleeping a lot, because maybe I needed it. The point is, I want to create-- paint, take pictures, write... but lately, it's like it is just not coming out of me.

Have I lost my mojo?! hehehe I had to say that.

Anyways, here's the flyer I finished this morning. If you're around, you should come to my artshow reception!!!

A tribute to April Love

I finished the painting I was doing for April. I'm happy with the resulting painting. It took me quite some time to complete but I finally did... on time for an artshow I'm putting for me and another girl. She'll have some photos showing and I have 13 paintings.

The reception is on August 8th at 6:30 pm.

Do NOT forget!

I got a call at work on Tuesday. I answered and after I gave my name I said the usual "how can I help you?" and then the lady asked for my name again and when I said it one more time she said "I want to talk to somebody that speaks English" and I wasn't expecting that and I said, in a more serious voice with my business-smile erased from my face, "I speak English" and she "Well, I can't understand a word you said." I said hold-on and hung up her phone call.

My coworker asked why I hung up, she said the lady was mad because of I-don't-know-what. I told her she didn't have to be rude. I said "rude" but I was really thinking "racist" and other thousand words that came from my anger.

My coworker saw me and she hugged me. When the lady called back someone talked to her and defended me.

It was only a phrase.

But that phrase made me cry and angry and reminded me how I am not home here. And how many people don't want me, or my family, or anyone that looks like me to be here. In this country that would not be as successful and powerful if it wasn't for all the workers from other countries that were first brought here for cheap labor-- but when the workers started coming because of political reasons, or trying to escape hunger, danger, and poverty then, only then, were not welcome here.

And the thing is, the phrase itself was not what pierced through me-- it was the tone of the voice behind the phrase.

Change is good.

That's why I've learned to appreciate airports and planes. There's a story I read in my Essay Writting class, it was about change. About a lonely lady that lived sometime in New York by herself. The story started in an airport and it ended in one. When my professor asked why we thought the story was about changes I raised my hand and said "because of the airport."

Maybe I, more than anyone on that classroom, knew more personally the significance of an airport in that story.

I say that because I changed the look of this blog. The background is now a nice view of some of the monuments in Washington, D.C. I took this picture from the terrace of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in March of this year. I like this change. Just like I now like airports and planes and window seats.

I needed that nap.

I took a 2-hour nap today. It was good. I just wrote a poem and now I'm short on words. So let me give you this picture:

If you take me out, it would make a GREAT shot.

Mmmmm... I'll go read or do something more productive. I have to finish one more painting for the show. All the paintings are up already but I left the room for this one. It's a special one. I'll work on it this weekend.

It's been a good week. Sushi Thursday with Erin, Gigi and Jonah was great. I had a Georgia roll that was delicious. A little too expensive, but delicious.

Ja and Jo

On Sunday I had breakfast with my friends Ja and Jo. We had a good time and we laughed a lot at Neal's cafe... where everything looks so macho-man except for the pink walls... yea, real men wear pink. Whatevah. Here's this video... because thanks to myspace now I can videoblog!!! i love it!!!


Get this video and more at MySpace.com

and here's my myspace

E-M-P-T-Y

I was up until late painting. That's why when my alarm went off this morning I had a very hard time getting up and walking to the bathroom for my daily shower. I really wanted to stay in bed for a couple of hours more. I even thought about not going to class. It was very difficult to win over that temptation... I got myself together and went to school. I was a little late, about ten minutes late, but at least I was there.

While walking on that lonely summer hallway I was thinking that I should have just stayed in bed. I knew we wouldn't have a quiz because we had our first exam yesterday, and I knew that I could easily catch up on any info missed. But still I was walking to the classroom.

SO... Imagine what went through my head when I got to the classroom and found that it was EMPTY!!! Not a soul was there!!! Not even the professor!!! I was confused, I was late remember, and that added up to me thinking I had missed something-- I checked the syllabus to see if it was an off day or something, but it wasn't. So I just walked back to my car. On my way there I stopped by the professor's office and it was dark.

I don't know what happened. I guess I'll find out tomorrow at 7:30 am. I'll be on time tomorrow.

Freakin hot.

It's been very hot lately and news reports say the heat wave it's nationwide in the U.S. there's no doubt we've messed up the planet, we're killing ourselves by not caring for our forests, our rivers, our oceans, our fauna, our lives....

Everything is so ridiculously bad that you don't know what to do... laugh or cry. War across the globe is killing thousands of souls everyday, crime is getting worst by the minute in Latin America. And the Salvadoran government... Well, there's no words to describe them... Evil... so corrupt. And I say the Salvadoran government because they're my freaking people, not because they are the worst of all or anything. I'm just saying because they're the ones I know more about, they don't even let people voice their opinions anymore. Yes, that's right. If you want to do a march in El Salvador you might not live to see the sunset of that day. You might get shot by a national police man or sprayed with pepper gas by the army.

And then Bush says "shit" during the G8 summit. I don't expect good things from him, but I'm mean... can't he at least try to act right during the G8 summit?!!