Reflections

Emerald Bay-Lake Tahoe

                                                                     Reflecting.

Frisco Kid!

My Boo Thang and I recently moved to San Francisco. Our neighborhood is quaint, nestled between the hustle and bustle of the Mission and Castro districts. Walking through our new neighborhood you immediately notice the miles of strollers lining the streets and small coffee shops (in between the Starbucks and Whole Foods of course) and lines of people waiting to be seated for brunch. My Boo Thang and I pride our selves on supporting the local mom and pop shops with the occasional Starbucks frap in between.  During our first week we decided to explore our new neighborhoods. Walked up and down the Castro, through the Mission and settled at Delores Park and enjoyed the beautiful view of downtown. We enjoyed our Sandwich from a local hot spot Ike's Place and were pleasantly surprised by the nude man strolling by with a newspaper in tote as I took a bite of my roast beef sandwich on a dutch crutch.  We even made our way to the local Mosque for the Friday sermon and over heard a man tell one of the sisters, "He would jump all over that" and the Imam confess he longer smoked the pipe.  I must admit I am already in love with SF and may even leave my heart here when I move, or if I move. I think I can get use to the occasional naked man walking down the street as I sip on my ice coffee, or the local homeless man that pees on the sidewalk, Japanese tourist, European tourist, Latin American tourist, and maybe just maybe flamboyantly gay men with sassy walks threatening to steal my Husband.  Frisco Kid was a friend of mine.

Never Change

Growing up "hood" was the thing to be. When I was in grade school I often day dreamed of getting into a fight-wanting to fit in more with my family.  I was an outcast. I knew I was way to afraid and non-violent to actually physically harm anyone. I would hear family members brag about how many fights they had and how often they got suspended or expelled from school. I sometimes stared at myself in the mirror and fake an argument with a school bully.  I always came out victorious in this scenario. In reality I was shy, never spoke or looked people in the eye, too afraid of what eye contact might insinuate. I was the girl who held tightly to her white faux fur coat and left her brother in the dust while witnessing him being robbed for his new Starter coat and fresh new bright red high top Fila's. I was made fun of for years as coming from where I am from you were taught to show no fear. I think back to that time and laugh at how crazy I must have seemed looking into the mirror pretending to have a fight with myself. I also thought Fight Club total ripped off my idea. As we all aged I assumed we would grow out of this need to fight and hustle-but coming from where I'm from you have no choice unless you're a girl you can get away with it. Some of us moved away, had kids, had some more kids, others died and some went to prison. Now it's the new generations turn and they are having the same conversations about fights and the need to be feared or stay hustling. I try to spit game but they don't hear me. I stay out the way because you never know when there is gun play.  I fear for them and pray for them. Coming from where I'm from you have to stay surviving. Though you may get out, coming from where I'm from you will always have ties to the past, present and future. The thoughts may haunt you, sometimes make you laugh and make you feel blessed to be alive. You will always be reminded about those who never get out and never change because this life we call 'hood life' will never leave you. The memories will always take you back to time when you were a little girl clutching her new white faux fur coat so tightly it turned her fingers purple in fear teenage boys might want to take it from her .  Love you Cream Puff, First Baby, Nene, Only One, and Mijo Mijo.

I'm Mexican!

Tostada with chorizo chicken, bean and corn salad, crema, and queso= Delicioso.

Riding Tandem

So not literally more like me trailing about half a mile back while my Boo Thang looks back every 5 minutes with disappointment on his face because I can't pedal fast enough. Boo Thang recently purchased bicycles for us. At first I was a bit upset, not because I am a total torture machine and didn't want to see him have any fun or explore his new hobby but rather I was too embarrass to admit I didn't really know how to ride a bike. When it was my turn to take a spin on the bike before the purchase to make sure the bike was a good fit I refused. I pretended to be a hard a$$ so no one would notice or spot that I had no clue how to ride a bike. It was pretty embarrassing to see the 8 year old in the store hop on and start showing off and rubbing it in my face he was capable of maneuvering this somewhat foreign machinery.  I refused to be defeated by this show off. So when no one was looking I thought it can't be that bad and decided to get on and go for it. As I approached the parked truck in front of the store I lost all sense of coordination and crashed straight in to it. I thought for a second I was safe since no one saw me but I turned back to see my Boo Thang in laughter. "Haha he said as he pointed at me". For the last few weeks we have been practicing around the neighborhood and even took a trail ride. At one point there was a runner on the trail going faster than I was up hill but going down hill his a$$ was grass as I totally kicked it. I won't say I am a complete professional yet but I am getting there. I am now really enjoying myself and no longer intimidated by 8 year old kids that think they are better than others just because they may not be good at something.

Wave Hello

I remember being dropped off in high school by my mother. During this period of your life you feel overwhelmed with the need to fit in.  To avoid any embarrassing moments I would make my mother park about two blocks away so that I didn't have to be seen being dropped off by her. My mother usually agreed to drop me off a block or two away but then proceed to follow-me slowly down the block.  She would wait till I got in the front of the school and wave at me and yell out the most random things. Some of which included, "You forgot to flush the toilette and left your (insert expletive) in there".  I felt mortified walking up the school steps.   My uncle Teddy often dropped me off but refused to let me out a block away. Teddy often dressed in a silk robe and slippers smoking a cigar was highly visible from the car window. He sometimes had car trouble and had to get out to check the car showing everyone his silk robe and slippers. He sometimes yelled at kids walking slowly to get the eff out of his way or he would stick his foot in their you know what. No one really talked to me at school and I was known as the shy girl who probably liked other girls. This made the whole process easier since no one really paid attention to me. I thought I'd share this article about quite possibly the most awesome parent in the world.

http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/06/06/dale-prices-morning-dress-up_n_871815.html#s287691

I'll always love my Mama and of course Uncle Teddy, RIP.

Taco Tuesday!

Taco Tuesday at Poncho Villa Taqueria in San Mateo with my girl Jaya the Playa yesterday and we could not stop eating the freshly made salsa's.  The taco's were fresh and the meat tender.  Our Horchata had just the right amount of cinnamon and sugar. I could barely concentrate on our catch up session as I was to preoccupied with my chips and orange garlic chili salsa. I think she felt the same way because every time I would try and talk  she would not respond and point at her taco and sauce Jodi Foster style in film Nell. The orange garlic chili salsa was the boss I could down that stuff with a straw. We were also pleasantly surprised when two older gentlemen took out their guitars and started serenading the crowd Mexican style.  Taco Tuesday. Arriba!