So What's The Weather Like?

So if you live in Southern California, specifically in the Los Angeles area, regardless of what your calendar tells you, it is really hard to distinguish one season from another. Especially this year which has been rather hot even for Los Angeles standards.

But now that the Christmas holiday is upon us, we all look for the first sign of the coming winter. Most people would think that it would be the making of the first chocolate caliente of the season but you would be wrong. Because as all good Mexicans know, it is not really cold outside until you pull out your very own, handy-dandy cobija San Marcos. Because no matter what kind of heater you may own or what kind of insulation your home has, nothing - and I mean nothing - keeps you warm and toasty like a cobija San Marcos. And as of yesterday, it is time. Often imitated but never duplicated. I have mine, do you have yours?

And before I start getting any angry letters calling me a wanna-be, I know that the picture above is not an OG cobija San Marcos. But I have a reason for showing off a knock-off blanket. It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that after over twenty years of keeping me warm, my reversible brown and tan cobija with the image of a horse and pony did not make it to another winter. A moment of silence please... So with great regret I must use this imitation blanket until I make a pilgrimage to the land of cobija's San Marcos (Tijuana, Mexico.) May my blanket rest in peace. As for those who still have your blankets, cherish the moments.

The 16th Annual Poinsettia Street Fair

When ever I have time, I like to take my mom to places or events that I think she would enjoy. Partly because it is payback for all the things she did for me growing up (read standing in line to see the original Star Wars trilogy amongst many other things.) But mostly because I like spending time with her.

And since my mom’s version of "Star Wars" revolves around plants - attending botanical gardens, buying them and tending to her garden - I thought it would be fun for us (actually her) to attend an event I saw listed in the "5 Things To Drive To" calendar section of Westways, AAA’s bi-monthly magazine. It was the 16th Annual Poinsettia Street Fair in beautiful (and far away) Encinitas, CA.

I figure with that kind of recommendation from a respected organization, it would be a good time. My mom would see a plethora of poinsettias and it being close to the holidays, I figure we could pick some up for the house as souvenirs. A win-win. So off we went on a Sunday afternoon, driving two hours towards Encinitas.

And once we arrive to the bustling streets of the 16th Annual Poinsettia Street Fair, what do our eyes behold... absolutely no poinsettias. There were a lot of people, a lot of vendors, a lot of flyers and street light decorations promoting the 16th Annual Poinsettia Street Fair but absolutely NO poinsettias to be seen or bought.

Let me explain. Apparently, Encinitas is the poinsettia capital of the world (that is what the information booth told me.) Most of the poinsettias available at your local store come from this little slice of paradise (except for the ones from Costco - those are raised on a super-farm in an undisclosed location.) So because there are so many poinsettias in the area, they thought it would be a good idea to name the street fair the Poinsettia Street Fair. They just figured everyone would get the connection.

Needles to say, although we did walk around the street fair, we returned home poinsettia-less. And I had to explain to my mother and later my father and siblings that even though I have a college degree that I should not assume that an event called the 16th Annual Poinsettia Street Fair would actually have anything to do with poinsettias. So now if you excuse me, I need to go to Costco to purchase some super-poinsettias.

Life and Death

Actually, it's more like death and life but I felt it may be to creepy for a title.

My original intentions to help celebrate this year's Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) was to attend the annual community festivities at Self-Help Graphics with my once arch-nemesis and now best friend. Later followed by building a virtual altar on this here blog to honor all those have passed before me. Like my grandfathers - whom I never met - but have always been a part of my life. Or my grandmother - the first person close to me who passed away, helping me to understand death and its traditions a bit better.

But I didn't. Not because I came home too late from the revelry. But because on the very day that was reserved to honor and respect the final sacrament we all enter into here on Earth, I was at the hospital. Sitting with my brother and father in a room full of strangers. Waiting. Waiting, for my youngest brother to burst out of a room and yell, "It's a girl! It's a girl!"

My niece was born on the 3rd of November and I couldn't be a prouder uncle. My family is growing which is the way life should be.