Rally Draws to a Close

Rally Draws to a Close
Originally uploaded by NessandFilo.

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Cesar Chavez Rally

San Jacinto Plaza, Downtown El Paso

Si se puede!

Today is Cesar Chavez Day, so community college had the day off. I decided to celebrate the holiday by attending a rally and march in downtown El Paso this morning. The event was to recognize Cesar Chavez, but it also was very much about the recent immigration debate. People in other cities have been rallying against immigration legislation being reviewed in the House and Senate in the past week. Protest first reached El Paso this week in the form of high school students walking out of class. There have been walkouts for about three days; today, those student protesters joined up with this downtown rally/march.

One local news channel emphasized how many of the students didn't know who Cesar Chavez was or didn't understand the immigration issue. I'd like for reporters to ask various adult El Pasoans those same questions and compare the results! They seem hell bent on portraying the student protestors as rowdy and ignorant. I've read emails sent to the station's website that overwhelmingly are against the walkouts and demand that these students be punished.

I think it's exciting to see young people show interest in a pressing national issue. As a community college instructor, I yearn to see students get excited about anything at all. I try to inspire my students to think critically about historical and curent events. This type of thinking shouldn't just start in college because, frankly, many Chicanos aren't even getting to college. High schools need to work on waking up young people and encouraging them to ask questions, read the newspaper and figure out how the issues affect their lives. The student protesters took that last step and chose to show their outrage through peaceful protest. Even if they don't initially understand immigration reform or know of Cesar Chavez's accomplishments, the rally's speeches and banners will educate them in a way that standardized exams never will.

The energy of the crowd at today's rally was special. Rally's aren't enough, though, and I'm glad that many speeches encouraged everyone to take up this issue with their elected officials. There are plenty more national issues that directly concern Latinos. Maybe immigration can open up those for debate, too.

Love & Marriage, 1999

While ironing this past weekend, I watched My Best Friend's Wedding with Julia Roberts circa 1999. The movie felt dated by 2006 standards. For one, JR uses a cellphone that is enormous in size and looks like it weighed a lot, especially in comparison to the little ones we have today. Besides the cellphone, JR's character makes a deal to marry her best friend if neither are married by 28. JR doesn't look anywhere near 28 in the movie, but nevermind that. It got me thinking: Was 28 the age people expected to get married for the late 90's? Seems awful young. And, hey, I'm almost 28!

I don't think 28 is the prevailing marker for "spinsterhood" anymore. It's been moved to at least 35 or late 30's--I think Sex and the City definitely played a role in the change, but that's another post.

I realize the age thing in the movie is to help the plot move along, which is that JR's best friend is marrying too-perky-for-words Cameron Diaz. JR realizes she is losing her safety net husband, so she moves in and tries to disrupt the wedding. We learn that JR's character has always had trouble with men and relationships, never had one longer than two weeks. She uses men, is a bit of a cold fish, and used all the extra time to focus on YES, YOU GUESSED IT! her career. She embodied the perfect woman for the best friend and even Cameron Diaz, but perfection and career doesn't keep you warm at night, soooo comedic hyjinks follows as JR tries to woo the best friend back.

The movie devolves into your basic women-MUST-marry-to-feel-fulfilled-yada-yada-yada formula. Even the film's soundtrack emphasizes this message. Songs culled from 50's, 60's girlgroups are a major part of certain scenes. Perfect example is the opening montage of a group of (brunette) bridesmaids worshipping at the feet of a (blonde) bride while singing that "Wishin and Hopin" song.

In the end, JR does not end up with the best friend, he marries Cameron Diaz. She ends the night dancing and laughing with the friend/confidant who would be perfect if only he wasn't gay. Too bad.

Some sort of warning should be attached to the film's opening credits: Little Girls, beware! Working on your career doesn't mean you sacrifice love, or vice versa. You don't have to give up yourself in order to couple!

Unfortunately, I don't think anything has changed in the seven years or so since the movie came out. Same expectations, only now you get a couple of more years before feeling like a loser

Oh yeah, that's why I shouldn't drink...

I am moving towards the end of a very slow recovery from last night. My stomach feels a little queasy, my head is heavy, I keep yawning and my eyes hurt.

A few weeks ago, G. and I ran into a friend from college, J. We lost touch about three years ago when I moved to Albuquerque and she moved to California. It was such a nice surprise to see her. So yesterday afternoon, she calls me up to join her for happy hour at some place on the Westside. It was totally unexpected and spontaneous. I decided to go despite heavy Friday traffic to get across town. G. stayed at home with Filomena.

I get to the bar and her group was finishing up with the happy hour. J. and I chatted about what she was up to, what I was up to, it was really fun. We decided to have dinner and then she would meet one of her friends to go someplace else and I planned on heading home at that point. Over dinner, J. and I talked a little about UTEP and shared grad school experiences. She dealt with an advisor FROM HELL who made her program really difficult and created all sorts of problems and conflicts within that department. The real tragedy is that this professor is a very well known Chicano/a historian who is a huge advocate for getting more Chicanos through grad programs. Turns out, at least from J.'s experiences, she is not very sympathetic to students that work with her. We talked about how disappointing it is as a young grad student to deal with professors who turn out to be jerks. I mean, they are like any other group of people, but for some reason, I expect more from them.

Talking with J. reminded me how much I miss my friends in Albuquerque and my two best friends who live elsewhere. I hate to use the phrase "girl talk" because it wasn't really "girl talk" (we didn't talk about eyeshadow and tampons, for instance) J. is an awesome person and talking to awesome people is one of the best feelings (and something I don't do often enough outside of G.)

J.'s friend joined us at the end of our dinner and I was so excited to be out-and-about that I decided to join them at another bar. It's about 8, 9-ish at night. They chose a downtown bar that I was pretty sure was a gay bar. That's not a problem, it just got me thinking that maybe J. had more to tell. As soon as I walk in, a former student comes up to me, "Hi Ms. M. How are you?" This is actually a fairly common occurrence for me. All I could remember about this guy was that he got a B and his name was actually three first names. I tell him that he can call me Vanessa. After all, he's an ex-student and it's just ridiculous to be called Ms. M at a bar. So, he goes away, and we find a table and order drinks. Then, he comes back and offers to buy me and my friends drinks. Sure, why not? We chat a bit and I start to wonder if he's gay (we were in a gay bar); if so, why is he being so nice to me?; if he's straight, this is a little weird; does he think I'm gay? (again, we were in a gay bar). It gets a little more interesting when he comes over again with an invitation to his birthday party next weekend and the party is at this same bar. Hmmm...J. said this guy was showing his appreciation for teaching such an great history class. Not sure how I should take it, but it was nice of him anyway and he seemed like a friendly person.

So, little by little, J. reveals that she is gay and this other friend was an ex-girlfriend. Crazy. We tried to keep talking above the music, which was really good dance music. I couldn't resist dancing for much of the night. Then it was like, oh hell, it's 2 am, I NEED TO GET HOME.

Well, I got home and promptly went to sleep, but sleep, sleep, and more sleep couldn't save me from feeling like crap today.

Sometimes, I get all nostalgic about how much I used to go out-- back when spending eight hours in a bar was no problem and I could easily rebound the next morning. What usually shuts the nostalgia shit down is the day-after a night like last night. I had so much fun reconnecting with a good friend and being social. That part was fine, it was super fun (although I really wished G. was there). Unfortunately, the social part always comes with the hangover part--not just drink, but lack of sleep. I end up wasting the day away in bed and willing myself not to throw up. Harsh reminder that I'm just not cut out for that anymore.

On the plus side, J. is my new (old) friend.

Back to the Routine

Here is little Filomena. She is acting like a very well-behaved pup these days.

Spring Break came to an abrupt end. Yesterday, G. and I found ourselves stuck in front of our computers in preparation for class today. It was a nice break, much needed, but I'm afraid it slowed down the momentum of the semester. That fear was partially realized today with very low attendance in class. Darn students!

I've been sticking to the System. Unfortunately, I've also been eating way too many fast food meals and indulging in sweets (darn Girl Scouts and their All-Abouts!) for the past two weeks. I think the eating canceled out the exercise. That sucks. But I am rededicating myself to eating right and exercising four times a week and trying to keep my brain from imagining tasty burger and fry combos.

I drive through a very dangerous intersection every day on my way to work. The danger lies in the fact that a fast food restaurant sits on each corner, so the aroma of burgers, fried chicken, and steak tacos combine to create an enticing scent--a veritable invitation to sin.

Gotta take it one day at a time.

Have you ever experienced an adult tantrum? I have--today to be exact.

Like A Perfect Storm (the movie), the conditions for my adult tantrum developed slowly:

• AM headache
• Challenging workout where I bemoaned my love for dessert and blamed my parents for not making me play sports
• Delayed much needed shower for four hours to eat lunch, wash dishes, bathe Filo, watch Goonies (the movie)
• received very annoying phone call from my mother who asked for the upteenth time if she should get a dog
• Bed was never made
• And the final element to provoke my no-wire-hangers moment--the remote control went missing

Within moments, I erupted into a yelling, frustrated harpy. Filo escaped to the bedroom; G. shouted possible locations for the remote control from the shower ("NO, IT'S NOT IN THE FUCKING SOFA CUSHIONS"). I even started crying, no, sobbing actually and sprawled on the floor, in just the right place to see the remote control under the TV stand.

This is the type of moment that probably shouldn't be recorded in my blog (Hello future employers!) But doesn't everybody experience moments where life itself is so intolerable that nothing short of screaming will ameliorate the frustration? Thankfully, it doesn't last long--it shouldn't last long at all (and if it does, then you've got problems).

Really, all I needed was a shower.

Cranky, Crampy, but not Crunky

I never intended to take a break from blogging--it just happened. Hmm, what's been going on: I've been cranky at the weather (windy, sandy-gritty, dull). Wind plus spring keeps the pollen count super high, which antagonizes my allergies.

G. and I are on Spring Break. Very low-key break so far. We're alternating work and fun days so we can rest up, yet still be productive. Filomena is also suffering from allergies and she is very stinky. Time for a groomin', poor pup.

This morning I took a nap that was long enough for a pretty intense dream. G. and I were driving on a highway in rainy, icy weather. I remember feeling really scared because cars were driving too fast all around us. A semi-truck that was in front of us started skidding, so we were trying to slow down to avoid hitting it. Then an oncoming minivan also started skidding and we had to avoid hitting it, too. Finally, we all came to a stop. The End. Total weirdness because we've never been in this type of situation. So, was I just dreaming or did I witness something from the future (dramatic music, clash of cymbols)????

My mom says that when you dream about somebody, you are supposed to call that person. I'll have to ask her what the proper response is to a near-death dream experience. Any suggestions?

The Genius of El Vez

El Vez played on Tuesday at the downtown Mardi Gras celebration. G. and I really like his crazy, creative lyrics and renditions of popular songs. He mixes camp, kitch, Chicano pride AND politics--it's hilarious and completely right-on at the same time. Unfortunately, that brand of entertainment-with-a-message was not a hit with an audience working on achieving a heavy Mardi Gras buzz and a reason to repent for Lent.

G. and our buddy, D., were nice enought to recreate the audience reaction. The other pic is of El Vez in his evangelical preacher-immigration reform advocate get-up. And me, well I'm not sure what I'm doing.

March Madness

This whole week was a little weird. I don't remember what happened on Monday--oh, yes, I had to finish grading. Tuesday, I had a migraine in the morning, but recovered in time to see the El Vez show. Wednesday, we went to the mall and got cellphones (totally not planned). G. was barely home Thursday, Friday, and today since he's attending a conference at UTEP, so I was home alone more than normal. I didn't exercise at all, nor did I eat anything even remotely healthy.

Sometimes when one part of your normal schedule is disrupted, everything is blown off course. I think that's what happened. Things should return to normal Monday.