Showing posts with label Just Saying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Just Saying. Show all posts

Friday, January 19, 2018

La Vie Sur Roues

Ça va faire près d'un an que je voulais écrire ce post, suite à un WE passé à Paris avec ma fille de 4 mois à l'époque. J'accompagnais Bruno en arbitrage sur une compétition de karaté et je voulais en profiter pour visiter de la famille ainsi que passer une journée à flâner dans la capitale. J'ai toujours aimé me promener à Paris et j'ai systématiquement utilisé le métro pour me déplacer. Et c'était bien mon intention de faire de même, avec ma fille et sa poussette.
Et c'est là que je me suis rendue compte que même en ville, et qui plus est, une GRANDE ville, la vie n'était absolument pas adaptée aux roulettes. Et je vous parle d'une poussette avec un bébé de 4kg dedans, que je pouvais plier si besoin et porter ma fille au cou. Sauf que dans le métro, ou n'importe où d'ailleurs, les gens te voient galérer ta race et personne ne te propose de l'aide. 
Tout comme passer mon permis poids lourds a radicalement changé ma manière de conduire une voiture, avoir un enfant à radicalement changé ma perception des choses pour les gens à mobilité réduite. 

Je suis d'accord pour dire qu'à Paris comme dans d'autres villes, il existe d'autres moyens que le métro pour se déplacer quand tu as une poussette. Sauf que le métro, c'est économique et qu'on n'a pas tous les moyens de se mouvoir en taxi. Et le bus, c'est comme le métro, il y en a quelques uns, certes, qui sont adaptés pour des fauteuils roulants et/ou des poussettes mais en règle générale, à moins d'avoir l'usage de tes 2 jambes, c'est mort. 

Pareil pour entrer dans un resto ou un bar. Une fois sur 2 y'a des marches pour y accéder et une fois à l'intérieur, y'a pas de place pour circuler. 

Alors oui, je suis d'accord sur le fait que ce soit coûteux de faire des aménagements pour ces gens là, surtout quand on sait que seulement entre 2 et 3% de la population se déplace en fauteuil roulant et que les enfants de moins de 2 ans (susceptibles donc de se déplacer en poussette) représente un peu moins de 1,5% de la population française (ce sont des chiffres de l'INSEE et qui datent de 2014).
Mais ce que je me dis, c'est que ça ne coûte strictement rien de filer un coup de main quand c'est nécessaire ... 
Quelques exemples tout cons: (que ce soit pour une personne en fauteuil roulant ou une personne qui pousse une poussette)
- tenir une porte pour entrer ou sortir (parce qu'en général, les portes qui ne s'ouvrent pas toute seule pèsent une tonne et se referment automatiquement. Donc je vous raconte pas comment c'est pratique quand t'as les 2 mains prises pour mouvoir ton "véhicule" à roulettes.
- filer un coup de main quand le sol est couvert de pavés. C'est grandiose des pavés. Ça roule VACHEMENT bien!
- ramasser un truc tombé par terre ou attraper un truc en hauteur.
- LAISSER LA PLACE DE PARKING RÉSERVÉE À CET EFFET AUX PERSONNES CONCERNÉES. il existe depuis des années, des places de parking, souvent de couleur bleu réservées aux personnes à mobilités réduites et qui, de plus, ont un macaron qui l'indique d’apposé sur leur pare-brise. Alors, effectivement, ces places sont fantastiques pour 2 raisons: d'abord parce qu'elles se trouvent JUSTE DEVANT l'entrée du magasin et parce qu'elles sont larges et qu'on peut ouvrir les portières de la voiture en grand sans craindre de cogner la voiture d'à côté. Sauf que je ne vous apprends rien en disant que les gens pour qui ces places sont réservées ont BESOIN de ces facilités pour accéder à leur véhicule. Et je suis certaine qu'ils rendraient leur macaron immédiatement si on leur enlevait le handicap à cause duquel ils ont eu dit macaron.

Depuis peu, il existe sur certains parking de grandes surfaces, des places peintes en rose cette fois, réservées aux familles avec enfants en bas âge. Alors là, pareil, c'est vraiment super pratique. Tu peux ouvrir tes portières en grand pour sortir la poussette et ton gamin de la voiture, le mettre dans sa poussette sans être dans l'allée où circulent les autres véhicules, bref, ça simplifie pas mal la vie quand tu fais tes courses avec ton enfant.


Eh bien comme pour les places handicapé, la connerie et la feignantise n'étant pas des handicaps, tu te gares ailleurs et tu marches. Et si tu circules dans une voiture de société et que tu te gares sur une place rose, ben t'es un aussi gros connard que si tu te gares sur une place bleue. Je ne dis pas que la vie avec une poussette est aussi compliquée que la vie en fauteuil roulant, loin de là, mais pour une fois que des choses sont faites pour simplifier la vie de certains usagers, ça ne coûte rien de faire preuve d'un peu de civisme.



PS: un truc positif sur Paris cependant ... depuis que les quais sont fermés à la circulation, je dois dire que se balader avec une poussette sur ces routes qui sont lisses comme des tapis de billard, c'est que du bonheur. 

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Stuff No One Told Me

Or maybe they did tell me and I didn't listen. Or hear. Or pay attention. Or maybe I was stupid enough to think they exaggerated!

If I might allow myself with a little piece of advice for every first-time-mom-to-be: IT'S TRUE! Pretty much everything people tell you you'll eventually endure after giving birth is true. I agree on the fact that every pregnancy is different. As every woman's experience about giving birth is different. So I won't pretend to hold the holy answers about them all but in my experience, these are some of the few things i've heard at some point but probably decided to take them lightly. Big mistake.

- If you breathe properly, contraction's pain can be "controlled".
No. It can't. You'll feel that your body is about to burst open. And that you want it all to end. And you'll wonder why on earth did you get yourself into this in the first place. And can I get an epidural already?

- An epidural doesn't hurt.
Trust me, it does. And i'm not the sensitive to pain kind of person, i'd even say i'm pretty tough when pain is involved but an epidural hurts like motherfucking HELL. Picture a needle going into your spine for crying out loud. How can that not hurt?
It's supposed to numb the pain of the contractions but your legs don't answer your commands anymore and you might as well pee or poop right there, you wouldn't know, you don't feel shit. 

- A C-section is not a real childbirth and it doesn't hurt as bad as a natural birth.
The next person to say one of these 2 things will get hit in the face. With a hammer.
I wish a c-section on NOBODY. First of all because it is, in my opinion, the worse way of giving birth. The dad can't be there because it's surgery. You, as a mom, are completely passive and you're just enduring the birth of your child feeling completely useless.
Second of all, you don't see what's going on obviously (i don't think you'd enjoy watching the surgeon cutting you open and pulling your baby out ...) but since I asked because I wanted to know ... Once the cut is made, the surgeon put his hand inside of you to pull the baby's head towards the new exit door. Then (and i felt it even though I had an anaesthesia) he kneads your belly to pop the baby out, just like you'd do to pop a zit. Then again for the placenta. Then he'll vaccuum your insides and stitches/stapples you up.

- You'll get sick and you'll most likely puke.
You haven't eaten in AGES, you have asked for an epidural, if the birth doesn't present itself well, you'll get a rachianaesthesia on top (same as an epidural but stronger), you're tired, you're in pain and since the ob/gyn will knead your belly, you'll want to puke. Except that you can't feel your stomach contract. Except that you don't have anything in to puke. So it's like at the dentist when they tell you to spit and you can't. You're lying on your back, you can only turn your head on the side. You'll drool/vomit in your neck. It's disgusting/nasty/gross/all of the above.

- You'll lose all your dignity.
I can't tell about a natural birth but as far as I've heard, it's the same. In my case, since i had to go through recovery, I didn't get to see my baby straight away. But you're in those hospital robes, with a tube in to drain your bladder, you're bleeding from down there, you obviously haven't waxed in ages (too painful) nor shaved (first because my beautician would kill me and second because you haven't been able to reach your ladyparts in quite some time!), you can't stand so you have to pee in a bedpan, you need the help of 2 nurses to try to stand a mere 12 hours after surgery, you take a shower sitting on a stool with the door open and a nurse in your room in case you fall, you'll feel like a hundred years old walking all folded up to ease the pain and you'll let the nurse check your bleeding on the gigantic pads the hospital gives you (oh, and the net underwear you get ... glamour at its peak!)

- You'll get contractions.
You thought you were done with it? NOPE. You'll still get some AFTERWARDS. I mean seriously. Isn't it enough as it is? They're less painful than the one BEFORE but still. Contractions! For crying out loud!

- You'll produce milk.
You can take all the meds you want to cut it (if you don't want to breastfeed your baby), you might thing that you're gonna get through without enduring this but no. You're in for some kick ass pain. Your boobs, all of the sudden, are three sizes bigger than usual, they're hard as stone, they're painful as hell and they leak. Yep. It feels like you have implants good enough for shooting a porn video but they're dripping milk. You feel like a cow. Honestly. And just looking at them is painful.
However (it worked for me), putting cabbage in your bra can help decongest them and cut the milk production. Not to scare you though but i read that a woman who gave birth recently is naturally programmed to produce milk and HEARING a baby scream can stimulate the production. Being in a maternity ward, i let you imagine!

- Last but not least, you'll get tired. And stressed up but mostly tired.
And by tired, I mean EXHAUSTED. You feed your baby every 3 hours, and in between two feeds, you also have to change him/her, wait for the burp and try to get some rest as well. Needless to say that whether you're at home or still at the hospital, sleeping in slices of a couple of hours is not enough. The slightest thing to do becomes an insurmountable task, you'll cry a tremendous lot because you're desperate for some sleep and some rest, you'll lose your temper, you'll feel guilty like hell about it, you'll want the baby to go to hell for a few hours just so you can rest, you'll feel guilty about having such thoughts. And you'll stress up and worry about everything. Is the baby hot? cold? hungry? is the diaper full? is it the right color? is she eating enough? too much? is a burp not out and hurting her tummy? is she tired? how can i get rid of her hick-up? why is she squeaking? does she need a pacifyer? can she breathe properly? how do i clean her nose? can she finally fall asleep so i can sleep as well?

I'll finish up with just one more thing: it's worth it. It's totally worth is. It's normal to feel helpless and oh so tired. But seeing your baby smile and make faces, grab your finger in her tiny hands, open her eyes wide to see and discover the world around her or simply watching your baby sleep makes it all worth it.

Don't hesitate to talk to friends who had babies, to ask stupid questions, to reach out for help with the simplest things. Leave the baby with the dad or the grand-parents for a little while, even if it's just for 20 minutes and go for a walk, or take a bath or make yourself a nice cup of your favorite coffee, read a book in front of the fireplace or take a quick nap. It'll make a world of a difference in your day. 
Thousands and thousands of moms around you have been through this. You can do it.


Thursday, March 03, 2016

My Rainbow Friends

I have gay friends. It's actually an understatement, i have tons of gay friends. When i was living in Mexico, most of my closest friends were gay. I wasn't making an effort for this, I don't know, i seem to naturally attract gay people. And the reason behind this is that it probably shows that whether you're gay or straight, or Black, or White, or Latino, a girl, a boy, tall, short, fat, skinny or riding a unicorn, i couldn't give a bigger fuck. I mean that has GOT to show somehow. 


In Mexico, and in Puerto Vallarta in particular (gayest Mexican destination apparently), people don't seem to mind gay people. At least, it didn't seem that way to me. I remember on my last job, two of my colleagues came out to me (separately) and i guess my answer to both was "ok, and?". I mean, really, does you being gay change something to the story you're telling me right now? Because a) i knew already and b) it doesn't make any difference. Not to me anyway. If i liked you before, chances are i'm still going to like you afterwards.

Same when a French friend of mine i found out on FB after years without any news from him wrote me back with a rather aggressive tone (or so it seemed in his mail) that he was gay and there, i had it. So i answered him in what i hope was a nice way by saying that he could very well be and do whatever the hell he wanted, i was just happy to have news from him and that was all my message was about. I wasn't fishing for intimate details of his personal life. I think it kinda shock him a bit. I mean, me being so accepting.

That's only when i got back to France and talked about it with my man that i realized (or was made to realize) that not everybody is like me, oh dear, far from it, and that in France in general, it is still quite a taboo. Something people try to avoid mentioning and if they really have to, always do so reluctantly and/or despisingly. 

Well to me, this behavior is shocking.

End of it all, gays are just human beings. Sometimes, yes, they do fall into the stereotypes of the drama queen and the truck driver but seriously, seeing a guy (OK a drag) wearing 25cm heels and dancing in them better than i can ever do with flats should put everybody in their rightful place.

I love my gay friends (as much as i love my straight friends). I remember one day, one of them told me that it was so relaxing for him to chat with me cuz i wasn't making judgements on anything he'd ever say. As i told him, well, if you ask my opinion about something, i will give it to you even if i know it's not what you'd like to hear. But i believe that's what friends are for. You'll always find tons of people ready to criticize your every move, so for me, being a friend is to stand by you. Period. I'm not saying that you should blissfully agree on everything your friends do or say, sometimes, everybody needs a little reality check, but your sexual orientation will never have anything to do with how i feel about you.

And i believe that as long as what your neighbor does with his/her life doesn't affect your life, your liberty and your safety/health, then why the heck should you care about it?

I understand that it must be so hard for people to come out. And i'm sorry to say that my homecountry of France is no exception to this. It shouldn't be that way. You don't decide one morning that oh, nice weather, let's be gay today. No. It's like your eyes color or your skin tone. You're born that way (no pun intented and no Lady Gaga quote either even if the song is stuck in my head now ...) It broke my heart last year when, at a friend's gathering (class of ... kinda reunion, 15 years without seing eachother for the most of us), my previously mentioned gay friend was never asked how his life was going. I mean we all knew he's gay. It's not a disease, it's not contagious. I was the only one sitting with him and asking him, so how's life going for you? Your travels, your job, your love life, you're seeing someone? Oh, you mean that guy i always see yourself pictured with is not your man but a friend, ok, cool. Sorry you had your heart broken last year, the right guy will come up, just like for the rest of us ;) Everybody wants to be accepted. And asking him the same questions i asked my girl friend some time prior was a natural for me. And i can say that he was only too pleased to answer me.

sorry couldn't help 3:) jijiji


Saturday, January 10, 2015

Can You Tell Someone: Your Baby Is UGLY ?

Facebook is the tabloid of people you know. And the most amazing thing about it all is that they're their own paparazzi. If your FB friends (please note the emphasis on Facebook friends since probably 90% of them are not real friends, if not more) were actually famous people, they probably wouldn't publish half of what they actually publish. Note the probably. When you see what celebrities publish via their twitter or instagram account, you can't help but think that they must like the attention ... But i digress.

I'd be lying if i said i don't publish personal stuff on Facebook because i do. I generally publish stuff that is either inspiring, funny and/or that make fun of me. The world is hard enough as it is, i've never taken myself too seriously and i like laughing about stuff that happens to me. And i've come to realize that i made some of my friends laugh at my crazy little adventures and it kinda make it all worth it.

But again, i digress.

Some people on FB (and obviously, you can all imagine that they're part of my contacts otherwise, how would i know about what they do, say or publish) are so obnoxiously self-absorbed that it's almost painful to see a publication coming from them. A couple of "friends" of mine (i mean they're a couple as well as FB friends of mine) used to be vomiting their love for each other all over their wall. I mean i don't mind you being madly in love with your spouse but you don't need to convince me you are because:
a) i couldn't care less
b) it's very intimate
c) what are you trying to prove?
d) who are you trying to convince? 
Oh, please, don't try to shovel down my throat that your life is so perfect with the absolutely bestest husband/wife in the world in it. Nobody is perfect, life is a bitch (if not all the time, at least from time to time) and your better half can be a bitch/dick just like any other ass in the world.

Well that same couple, still vomiting their love for each other by the way, is now happily married (obviously) and also recently reproduced (oh sweet mother of god). Needless to say that they're not only vomiting their love for eachother, they're also doing so with their newly born, who's now 54 days old. How do i know that? Because damn it, they publish a picture of that baby every single damn day with its age in days. Talking about months for a baby is annoying enough but in days, i don't even know where to start. 

When i think about another friend of mine who waited until she was 6 months pregnant to tell the world that, "oh, yeah, i almost forgot, i'll have another baby in about 3 more months" and that we have seen only ONE picture of the cutie pie since he was born!

But the thing is, i don't really mind that they're posting a picture of their beloved baby every day. OK, yes, i do. I swore i will never do that when i'll have my own little creature but i can understand that you feel like your baby is the most beautiful living thing that has ever set foot on this planet, that he's shining heavenly light from every single of his pores. Problem is (and sorry to burst out your bubble darling): he's not.

Nothing shines out of nowhere on that baby and dear god, am i the only one who think that it's an ugly baby? Do you actually say that kinda thing out loud? Can you tell the parents, i'm sorry, i don't think your kid is beautiful i think it looks like an old man. And an ugly one with that!
So i never sent my congratulations to the "happy" couple for bringing their descendance to the world since i wouldn't know what to tell them. I can't lie. I can't just tell them what they're expecting to hear, nor what everybody has been telling them. In my humble opinion, your baby is ugly as fuck and it makes me cringe every single time i see a picture of it appearing on my newsfeed.

With that say, i'll go back at my practising to get my own most beautiful and perfect-in-every-way baby! 

Cutest baby on the planet ... yep, that would be me! :D



PS: i've googled "ugly baby" to find a suitable picture to illustrate this post but oh my god, i'm gonna have nightmares! Ok my friends, your baby is ugly, but he doesn't get the prize for ugliest baby! Lucky you!

Friday, January 09, 2015

The Reason Behind It All

I started this blog quite a few years ago, i believe in 2009 ... As i mentioned it in one of my first post, it was after 2 guys told me to do so. I obviously enjoyed writing but didn't know how to share it. 
I've always tried to keep this blog as "apolitical" as possible. Politics are not my thing. Never were and probably never will be. I just wanted a support where i could express myself freely about very light stuff that either makes me laugh or makes me cry but things that create a strong feeling within myself. And i'd say that so far, so good.

Something terrible happened in France 2 days ago. 2 armed guys rushed into the buildings of a French satirical newspaper called Charlie Hebdo and cold-blooded killed 12 people, harmed 11 more, 4 of which critically. Amongst them, journalists, cartoonists, humorists and a few non-press related people, a cleaning guy, 2 policemen and people who had the misfortune to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. 
Regardless who those people are and how famous they may or may not be, the act itself is horrendous. 

An entire nation has since rised in support of what these people (and this newspaper) represented: the freedom of speech.

And with that in mind, it reminded me of the main reason of why i started this blog in the first place.

I was then living in Mexico and working for one of the biggest tour company in the country. We were 700+ employees there and one day, a guy in charge of who knows what suggested that it would be nice to have/make a little internal newspaper. And i immediately thought: fuck yeah. As soon as he asked for volunteers, i signed up for 2 columns. One was interviewing the oldest employees (by oldest i mean the people who were working there the longest, basically since day one ...) and the other one was something i called: "me and ..." and it was kind of a prototype version of what this blog was going to be (so not so much in direct relation with the company but something funny and light-hearted to read)

Well, he probably thought highly of himself since he censored me pretty much from day 1. And i don't like being censored. I don't like censorship in general. There was so many little details he didn't like, i couldn't write what people were telling me in the interviews because it made either Big Boss look bad and/or the company better in its old days than what it was now. So i ended up giving up the interview column after just a few interviews. And for my second column, it was even worse on the censorship when i had the bad idea of writing about Mexico City's insane traffic (he was from there you see).

Anyway, i won't write about this old story again, mainly because i did so already in this amazing post of mine ... but also because a great deal has happened since then and i honestly don't hold grudges for that kind of insignificant things.

Or so i thought.

Ok, grudge is probably a bit over-the-top, but i remember perfectly the feeling i got when he censored me and when he completely modified my text. It was infuriating, it was frustrating and the only thing it made me want to do was to keep on writing to show him that nothing he could do or say could/would stop me. And that's exactly what i did. 

As i said earlier, this blog is not very commited. Of course, i do have my opinions on things happening in the world and i sometimes ramble about things and raise my voice pen about it. But given the recent attacks on that newspaper which can be totally said as an attack on our freedom of speech, it reminded me that our greatest power against religious radicalism and extremism is culture. Words are more powerful than any weapon. And as long as there'll be words, then there is still hope for this world to become a better place. 

It's been amazing how people have stood united. I believe last time it happened was in 1968. Maybe there's a new revolution in the making. It's about time we stand together against oppression and for our liberties. 

France, you kinda make me proud to be one of yours today. 

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Shut Up And Give Whatever You Got

I have been crossfitting for just over 4 months now and even though I saw the changes on my back and arms spectacularly quickly at first, the changes I was so looking forward to see on my hips, thighs and stomach have yet to show up. I have now reached a plateau and I don't know how long it's gonna take for me to see any more changes. Obviously, going to my parents or my in-laws every second week-end is NOT helping (they tend to stuff ourselves every time with gigantic but delicious meals!!)

What I really like about crossfit is that it's not a competition. Well, it is for some people but for normal folks like myself it's not. Well, it is. But not against someone. It's against my own worst enemy, a.k.a. MYSELF. It's about finding the time but above all, the WILL to do it and outdoing yourself. And that, for me, is the hardest.

My man is also my coach. And let's be honest, if he hadn't pushed me at the beginning, I would never have gone that far. I don't need his cheering to get off of the couch anymore. He still does my program but I find my own willpower to get in my outfit and give my all. I believe that's the hardest to deal with. Finding the willpower to START. Once you've began, it goes down easily. Well, some days more than others!!!

My motivation is the picture I built of what i'll look like some time in a (close I hope) future. And THIS, is gonna be me soon:

When I do squats, I picture this:

When I do abs, I picture this:

When I do push ups or bench press, I picture this:

Trust me. It's a hell of a motivational silent speech.

But let's be honest. I do it 5 days a week for a maximum of 30 minutes a day. And most of the time, my actual workout doesn't go over 15 minutes. The rest is for stretching. I've done it in the morning, I've done it in the evening. Sometimes, I had to DRAG myself out of my comfy sweat pants or PJ to do it but I've always done it. And I've never regretted it. Even the days I was feeling heavy, or sick, or exhausted, I did my workout. Slowly but surely. The competition is only against yourself. I've read before that it takes 4 weeks for you to notice your body changing and 12 weeks for the rest of the world to notice it. I'd say it takes 4 weeks to get used to it and 12 weeks to get addicted to it. After 17 weeks, I don't question it anymore, I do it because it has to be done.

And I love every second of it.


Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The Famous French Administrations

I'm calling them “famous” after all I've heard about them. After so many years away from France, needless to say I had quite a fair amount of administrative update to do. And all my friends had been unanimous: you are going to go through HELL.

It's not that I had to do a lot of stuff, but all of it depended on a different administration: a new ID, a new social security card, change the paperwork of the car I was inheriting from my mom, update my professional status (and at the same time add my name to the already long list of unemployed people in France) and go to set up my unemployment allowance.

Listening to everybody, this would take me at least a month. And my dad to add that I wouldn't be able to find a parking spot anywhere close by so i'll have to walk miles!

I called the city hall to ask what I needed to apply for a new ID (mine had expired some 15 years prior LOL). I brought them what they needed, was attended in 5 minutes, had my digital prints taken, they told me I would take 2 months to get it, I received it 2 weeks later.

I then called the Social Security offices for the same motive: the list of paperwork I needed to apply for my new SS card. I drove the 20 km I had to, found a parking spot right in front of the office, took a number, and sat down in the waiting room. Expecting to wait a good half hour, I started to organize my papers so spread myself all over, and was about to take my book out when my number was called. I hadn't been sitting for more than 2 minutes. The guy checked my stuff, said everything was in order, told me it'd take about 2 months to get my card. I received it 10 days later.

And again with the Prefecture for my car's paperwork. I was in and out there in about 10 minutes and got my “carte grise” (that's the car's ID) less than a week later (and my new licence plate on the spot …)

The unemployment office is called Pole Emploi in France so i'll call it PE from now on. Went there, they told me i'd have to do it all over again once i've moved to another region (as I was planning to) so I hold it up for when i'd be settled down. Called for an appointment, got the operator in 2 minutes, an appointment for the following week, met my counselor  found out I could get an allowance for being a French citizen coming back from abroad, had a list of paperwork to bring back for that. When I got back a few days later with all they needed, I was in and out in less than 5 minutes.

And last but not least, went to set up my unemployment allowance (I never understood why it's not at PE that you do that but you know, why simple when things can be complicated?). Again, list of papers to bring back and a form to fill up. Went back a few days later, and again, was in and out in less than 5 minutes.

So I must say, i'm either extremely lucky or French admins are not that bad... I normally don't believe in luck. But maybe I should buy a lottery ticket! LOL

Saturday, July 14, 2012

I Have a Whole New Understanding of Mechanics

When we crashed the car last year, i had to acknowledge the fact that before meeting dear-beloved, i really hadn't taken a good care of my car. It's not that i'm reckless, i just tend to not care about stuff like that. If it works, good, if it doesn't, i'll take it to the mechanics. What i never realized is that had i taken it to the mechanics BEFORE it needed to, it would have cost me half of what i ended up spending on that car.

I then swore to god that i would care for my next car the way it should be taken care of.

A year later, riding a bike on a regular basis and leaving my man the infinite pleasure of driving "my" new car, I've come to realize that taking care of your everyday vehicle is of utmost importance. And i realized that riding my bike actually!

Un-freaking believable.

When the chain is not oiled or the tires are not pumped up, the amount of energy i'm asking my body to produce is multiply by at least 10. I suffer through the entire way to work and the entire way back. I arrive on each end twice as tired as i normally would and the bike is making noises that feels like it's going to fall apart.

So I've deducted that, on the bike, I AM the power source to get moving. And if a 10 kg bike with a tire a bit low on air or missing a few drops of oil on the chain get me, the engine, into so much trouble and such harder work, i can only imagine what the engine of a 1.5 ton car car go through.

This has completely changed my view on it all. And I've realized that there is no better way to understand something or someone than to put yourself in their shoes.


Sunday, May 29, 2011

Don't Take Things For Granted

I know i am stating the obvious but a good reminder can do no harm.

Why is that we think that all that we have is a solid fact. I only realized today how lucky i am to have an exceptional man in my life just because we fought this morning. Over something stupid of course but we had our first half heated argument. It's not even something that bad but my ego got hit in the face and i over-reacted.

Anyways.

After i took him to work, i was thinking about it all and i realized that, damn, it IS true that we only realize how valuable things are until we dont have them anymore.

For those worrying about me breaking up, no, don't worry, the argument wasnt THAT bad! LOL. But it made me realize that my man is a wonderful person who treats me like a queen and makes me feel oh so good. I knew that already but a quick reminder, as i said, never hurts anybody.

And then i started realized that we do take a lot for granted. Your health, your wealth, your well being, your job, your friends, your house, your food, your car, electricity, running water, clothing ... and the list goes on ...

I have seen this video before, several times. At moment like this particular one in my day, or my life, on which i needed a reminder, i watched it again.

Maybe you can spare 3:27 minutes as well ...

Appreciate what you have!

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

I'm Not Dead

At least not yet.

My parents are in town, staying at my place, living me with close to no time at all for myself. And since my mom is already freaked out about the amount of time i'm spending online, i dont want to give her more reasons to freak out than the ones she already has ...

In a few more days, i'll blog again, hopefully with something spicy, witty and funny =)

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Monday, June 21, 2010

It's Summer !!

Today is summer's first day. In the northern hemisphere that is. Down south, it's their first winter day. Longuest day of the daylight of the year, 193 days to go for 2010.

It is sunny, warm, quiet. And since it's also "la Fête de la Musique" in France, I'm listening to the oh-so-appropriate Louis Armstrong's Summertime song.
How can things go possibly wrong today?



Makes me smile to see what images "represent" summer for us occidental people. Sun, lounge chairs, flip flop, palm trees, beach, sea shell ... I got those year round ... :)

Summertime and the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high
Yo' daddy's rich and yo' mama's good lookin'
So hush little baby, don't you cry

One of these mornin's you gonna rise up singin'
You gonna spread your little wings and you'll take to the sky
But 'till that mornin' there ain't nothin' gonna harm you
With yo mama and daddy standin' by

Now it's summertime and the livin' is easy
Them fish are jumpin' and the cotton's 'bout waist high
Yo' daddy's rich and, ya know yo' mama's good lookin'
Now hush little baby, don't you cry

Summertime
Ah, said it's summertime


  

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Lady Gaga & Me

Guess this post will not fall in the category "me and ..."
Anyway.

Hello, hello, baby; You called, I can't hear a thing.
I have got no service in the club, you see, see…
Wha-Wha-What did you say?
Oh, you're breaking up on me…
Sorry, I cannot hear you, I'm kinda busy.
 
Lately, i have been obsessed by Lady Gaga. Especially that "telephone" song of hers! OK i admit i listen to it like 20 times in a row (now playing as i type). Can't stop watching all her videos, listening to all her songs. My obsession is more on the person she is than what her songs talk about or her music is all about. She is so very intrigating. To me at least but i dare say to a lot of people as well.

K-kinda busy

K-kinda busy
Sorry, I cannot hear you, I'm kinda busy.

I dont like all her songs but i admire how much she dares doing crazy stuff. I mean we all are neurotic crazy freaks, some more than others but i mean she takes freakiness to a whole different level. And for that, she gets all my respect. And admiration. Not that she really needs it but she gets it anyway ;)

Just a second, it's my favorite song they're gonna play
And I cannot text you with a drink in my hand, eh…
You shoulda made some plans with me, you knew that I was free.
And now you won't stop calling me;
I'm kinda busy.



So now i am desperate to get "telephone" as my ringtone but either i'm a complete idiot and cant find a free way to do it, or it's really not available. Yes i know i have a blackberry and NO FREAKIN' CLUE! Pathetic. Oh well. Up until recently, cel phones were just that, CELLULAR PHONES. Not bloody radio station, camera, DVD player and laptop with internet. So all the extra curricular assets of a cel phone, well, i'm not quite there yet. The only thing i figured out pretty damn quick was the chat. My dear beloved chat.

Stop callin', stop callin',

I don't wanna think anymore!
I left my hand and my heart on the dance floor.
Stop callin', stop callin',
I don't wanna talk anymore!
I left my hand and my heart on the dance floor.



But back to my issue here. I NEED LADY GAGA's TELEPHONE SONG AS MY RINGTONE.
NOW.
ANY help is welcome.
But i NEED this ringtone.
ASAP.

My phone rings non-stop on cruise ship days and that would be nice to have a song actually saying: stop calling, i dont want to talk anymore. Very appropriate. I'll probably miss all my calls just to listen to that song which has been screaming in my head for the past week 2 days.

Stop callin', stop callin',

I don't wanna think anymore!
I left my hand and my heart on the dance floor.
Stop callin', stop callin',
I don't wanna talk anymore!
I left my hand and my heart on the dance floor.

And now her new video Alejandro is out, it got 3 MILLIONS views in 24 HOURS and guess what?
I CAN'T WATCH IT.
Because of that stupid internet.
So i'm frustrated.
Again
ALL OVER AGAIN.
Especially since it apparently brought a lot of controversy, and a lot of buzz, and because i'm curious now i want to be like the other 3 millions crazy asses who're fascinated by Gaga's insane audacity.
 
Not that I don't like you,

I'm just at a party.
And I am sick and tired
of my phone r-ringing.

Sometimes I feel like
I live in Grand Central Station.
Tonight I'm not takin' no calls,
'cause I'll be dancin'.
'Cause I'll be dancin'
'Cause I'll be dancin'
Tonight I'm not takin' no calls, 'cause I'll be dancin'!

Stop callin', stop callin',
I don't wanna think anymore!
I left my hand and my heart on the dance floor.
Stop callin', stop callin',
I don't wanna talk anymore!
I left my hand and my heart on the dance floor.

Wooooo. And one more time before i go to bed!
Stop calling stop calling i dont want to TALK anymore!
 
 
 
 
Damn! I wish i had the balls to hang out on the street in my underwears. Even though not too sure it'd be such a good idea here in Mexico!
 
What about that outfit for Halloween? Mmm, maybe it's gonna be too cold in October! Jaja. And there is no way i could WALK with shoes this high. Ok, i rule it out then :(
 
 
 
  

Monday, June 07, 2010

Keep Trying

This is a post dedicated to my soon-to-be EX internet provider... Yeah, those very same ones i fancied shooting the crap out of a few posts back...

I have been struggling with my internet connection for almost a year now. I'm not going to enter into details about how many HOURS i've spent on the phone with customer service, how many times i've seen the pop-up screen claiming connection failed, please try again, how many times i've had interrupted phone calls or chat-conversations, how many times i've been so close to throw everything through the window and shoot that mother-fucking BAM in the eye ...
NO.
I won't go over that anger and rage and frustration again. I'm done with it.

My contract ends on August 2nd. That is in just under 2 months.
HALLELUIAH.

This morning, i decided to go check with TELMEX. I have been a customer of theirs in the past and was very happy with their internet services. The only reason why i contracted iusacell in the first place is because it was the only internet provider that gave service where i used to live. Back in the days, my neighborhood was the asshole of the world, where the wind turns around, where nobody lives, nor comes. Nobody but me. And i can perfectly live without a TV but not without Internet. If i hadnt had Internet through 2009 swine flu, i would have shot myself.

And it was fine at first ... it was very fine for the first 12 months, conveniently the 12 months your device is guaranteed for.

Now i live in a different area. In one of the most popular and mexican area of Puerto Vallarta and i know for sure Telmex gets here. I even have a phone line IN the house. It's been desactivited of course but it's there. So i know my dear beloved internet connection gets here too.
Well i decided that today was gonna be the day. THE day i pop up at Telmex's office and ask them what is that i need to do to get my line installed and my contract running.
The agent who took care of me told me: i need your passport and your address. I had both.
We did the paperwork (lasted maybe 10 minutes at the most), he gave me my phone number to be and told me a technician will be coming between 5 and 10 days. And since i already have everything i need to get going (both modem AND phone), as soon as the technician has paid me a visit, i can start using the services.

HOLY CRAP O_o

Already? That fast?
Woo freaking hoo.

Needless to say i am soooo excited about it all. And to celebrate, i tried to get online with my stupid BAM as soon as i got home. And guess what?
It's been working like a charm for now almost 4 hours straight. I havent been kicked out, nor disconnected. The connection is fast. I even talked to my parents through Skype WITH THE CAM ON to show them around my new house without any glitch.
It's like my bam KNOWS i'm changing provider soon. It's like it KNOWS within a maximum of 10 days, i will never touch it again. EVER. It's like iusacell KNOWS and try to convince me what a great provider they are. What an excellent service they're giving me. That i should consider extend my contract with them cuz look how well it works and how happy i am with my connection today.

Nice try.

Not working.



    

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Depression

I was going to put this picture to illustrate my post about depression. But then i wouldnt have been able to write about something that serious ... So here you go ... separately:




Guess i havent entirely lost my sense of humor ...









Happiness is like those palaces in fairy tales whose gates are guarded by dragons: we must fight in order to conquer it. – Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870)


 
     

Monday, May 24, 2010

Women


These words are not mine ... but they kinda shook the feminist i have in me ... Girl power at its best :)

"Whatever you give a woman she will make greater!!!
Give her sperm, she will make a baby.
Give her a house, she will make a home.
Give her groceries, she will give you a meal.
Give her a smile, she will give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what she is given.
So if you give her crap be ready to receive a ...ton of shit ... "



Sorry guys, couldnt help ... Jajaja. But you have to admit it's HIGHlarious ....

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Happy B-Day

Today, my blog is ONE YEAR old ...

And yes i am proud of myself :D

Still 3 posts shy of 100 ... But still ... not too shaby ;-)






PS: can't believe some of you still haven't read one single post of mine. You should be ashamed ...