The Cat Sleeps In Clock

Being as that I’m not writing this from beyond the six feet pushing daisies, I survived Vegas! It was a blast of a weekend, it was such circus, so crazy it was Circus Circus (nudge nudge, wink wink, knowwhatImean?). On our first night we decided to start off at a buffet, because being a gluttonous American has its charms. The buffet was at the Paris hotel, however, as hard as it tired, I somehow knew I wasn’t in France. The idea of paiting the low ceilings like blue skies and clouds is insulting. For the designer to think that I’ll fall for that is just plane rude. (plane because I’m writing this from an airport) If anything, the horrendous ceilings make the space feel far more cramped. The line for the buffet was about 20 minutes, which wasn’t bad considering that we waited 45 for the lunch buffet at the Wynn two days later. I ate enough to make a saber-toothed tiger blush, and I don’t know if you’ve ever seen one of dem STT eat, but it’s a sight that would make a wooly mammoth blush, speaking of mammoth, I don’t care what the ski and snowboarding conditions are…so don’t tell me…hugs! After hemos comido, we made our way grabbing free drinks and picking up free players cards (with free money to gamble away). At the Mirage I made about $70 off of a free tener, which was fun. Nothing too excited else happened that night, we made our way around the strip.

The next day, we started out with the breaky buffet, because waist bands should be in the triple digits. Then on to some thrift stores, of which there are many, and many of quality. We had been put on a guest list for Blush, a club at the Wynn, but I lacked the appropriate clothes to be let in and then become the light that all the beautiful moths are drawn to. I got a chance to go to the Circus Circus gym and we got delicious pizza for dinner. We spent the first part of the evening losing money…wait check that…winning money. We had put money on the Clippers both Friday and Saturday, and they won, because they’re great, both nights. After we left the bookie (I feel so grown up saying that…and a little scared that I might get my legs broken) we just sat at a couple machines getting money and drinks before the club. By the time we got to the club I was up $200!! Thank you Vegas. To read about what happened in the club you must be 18 years of age or older, have proof of citizen (anywhere, location isn’t important) and have a valid credit card.

In my winning of $200 the night before, I had also earned enough points for free lunch buffet on Sunday. This one was at the Wynn and was by far the best food, in the best casino. Even though it was only about noon I still had pizza, sushi and plenty of deserts. Friday had rained, but Nevada gave us a beautiful Saturday, but come Sunday, Neveda had changed its mind and decided to rain on us, even harder. It rained all the way through the entire drive. We even had to stop in Barstow to buy new wipers because Beau’s old ones weren’t doing a very good job.

Now though, I find myself on my next advantage…BOISE!! Whamp whamp, what it do? what it do? I’m super excited, my last trip to Boise was only 2 nights and 3 days but this trip is 4 nights, 5 days. That’s casi twice as long. I had to stop in Pheonix for a couple of hours, and just like what I remember of Arizona, it was hot and brownish red…ergo, not my favorite.

This Boise trip is especially meaningful because I get to see Hailey, since March 2009 when she left for the peacecorps, and Sarah, now childed, since graduation. Since I’m sure we’re all a tinsy bit growed up, I know that I’ve grown up a least one Kelvin, it’ll be great to meet the new us.

Random Factoid: I haven’t wanted a dog in a long time, but now I really want one.

La Cultura Cura

We Are The Initiators

Being as it's a day, I'm drinking coffee. My mug? Well, she's a beaut! Averagely crafted with a kitten sitting amongst some flowers watching a butterfly, a butterfly that happens to be on the inside of the mug. Can you imagine, a picture in stead a mug? Merica!

We are the initiators, a quote taken from the rally call of Sendero Luminoso, who terrorized the Peruvian Andes for almost 15 years. The speech was delivered by Abimael Guzman. I've been reading, Death In The Andes, By Mario Vargas LLosa. The story talkes much of average Peruvians living in remotes areas of the Andes struggling with SL's (Sendero Luminoso) violent reign. This sparked my interest in learning more about the SL. In reading Guzman's speech, I found myself to be conflicted from sentence to sentence. I would read a sentence that contained, words, phrases, and meanings with which I identified. He calls for positive action, a time to make voices heard. But then I am in strong opposition of what he is saying, a call to action, for bullets, for blood. A communist society in Peru. Guzman spent time in Mao's China, and he had, much to my imagination, the same reaction that I had in Cusco. He feel in love, everything over there just made sense to him. So, on that front, the xenaphoria, that would be the opposite of xenaphobia, Guzman and I are like brothers, we both saw a need for change, and a desire to institute that change...but his route is different that the one I am taking. Guzman: Massacres, Jason Moss: Education....I know mines better because it has more syllables.

I had the same conundrum while reading some of Ernesto Guevara's writings. I see myself as a good person who stills to see the best in people and help everyone, through education, to reach their full potential...to the moon!! When I read, and I believe and buy into what these communist revolutionaries are saying, I question my own beliefs. I've never been pretentious enough to claim that communism is "the way." For me the struggle I feel is the beauty of reading and the beauty of knowledge. Through reading, I am challenging my beliefs and growing a stronger more well rounded system of knowledge....makings mes alls smarts.

From the abstract to the pleasures of being 21. I will be making my first Las Vegas trip since I tenia 15 years. One week after that I will be going back to Boise. Both of these trips focus on night time activities that happen in buildings that look normal but play loud music, don't have waiters but do serve drinks, and require some form of age verification to enter. I haven't really had a good night on the town, painting the town yellow, I don't want to choose red and pick a side. Peace side!

10 days after I get back from Boise I will be starting my program at USC. Janurary 10th, I'm quick excited. Being as that the program is online, so was the orientation. And it's been a doosy. I've loved it. I've actually had assignments I need to complete before I have to start my first class. In fact, I'm still not done with them all. The 2 most interesting ones are, that I need to video tape a self interview and video tape me teaching a small lesson and then my thoughts about the lesson. My professors will not be in the classrooms with me so I will be video taping a lot of my work with students and uploading online. These 2 assignments were designed to get me used to that format. I'm glad they did too. It is strange to put myself in front of a camera. Like most people, I had the sound of my voice when it's been recorded, now I have to listen to myself...for school...gross. Luckily, I'm at my most confident when I'm teaching...so that should help. I bought a super awesome Sony Bloggie camera for my filming. It's just one button and shoots in HD...which is EPIC! I've loved all the work and time I've already put into the orientation at SC. I've gone a little bonkers and have bought 2 sweatshirts, 3 T-shirts, and 1 hat all with the SC logo. I really want some athletic shorts..but all in good time my readers. Good job Trojans on winning the crosstown showdown.

Random Factoid: Clipper nation unite!

La Cultura Cura