Thankful

I'm thankful for many things and I give thanks everyday, but today I'll give thanks out loud for these gifts.

I give thanks for my wife and the little home that we build each day with plenty of love and laughter. I give thanks for my mother and father who even though I'm in my 36th year of life, still see me through loving eyes as their first born. I give thanks for my sister and brothers who grew up with me and share my history. I give thanks for the babies that are the next generation of our family - watching them being their own person with a little hint of their relatives mixed in for good measure. I give thanks for all my relatives who have always been there and remind me of where I come from. I give thanks for my friends who chose to be a part of my life. I give thanks for me being me with all my quirks, my talents and my passions. I give thanks for all this.

What Took You So Long?

The official waiting began on Tuesday when my sister-in-law posted on Facebook that her morning visit to the doctor resulted in her being asked back on Thursday so they can induce labor. Wednesday flew by without a peep and Thursday arrived quietly. No urgent call to my cell phone, no leaving work early - nothing. My brother indicated in the afternoon status call that they did this and they did that but ultimately, the this and the that had to run it's course so maybe by Friday there would be a new baby. So I went home looking forward to a quiet night.

Friday morning came and in the morning status call, I was told that the this and the that was still doing it's thing but were looking at a late-Friday or some time Saturday baby arrival. I decided to wait it out at work. Around 5PM, I get a call from my brother that finally the this and that was working its magic but no need to rush because it will still be several hours before the baby arrived. I said thanks for the heads up, thought for a second and decided to pack my stuff and off I went like a heard of turtles to The Valley in Friday night traffic.

An hour and forty-five minutes later, inching along the 405 traffic and still about twenty minutes away form the hospital, I received a call from my other brother. "It's a boy!" he professed proudly. And me, alone in my car and trying to slowly get onto the 101, cheered loudly and happily smiled. The freeway instantly opened up and after waiting for few hours with the rest of the family, I met my newest nephew.

Welcome baby - keeper of my grandfather's name - to the world from your Tio who is saving you a seat on the couch the next time we see Star Wars.

No Estar Gwars for Mexico?

I was perusing the newest gear at Star Wars Shop, when I saw this brand new X-Wing Pilot inspired hoodie (available November 2009.) The the hoodie looks pretty cool - not for me though. I'd look like that chubby X-Wing pilot that blew up like a punk in Episode IV. Anyway, what struck me as odd (beyond the price actually that was more like seriously?) was the shipping policy - "Ships Worldwide. Except Mexico."

What @#$% Lucas? What did Mexico ever do to you?

Hmmm, definitely Mexico's year it is not.

5:11 AM Phone Call

The appointment was scheduled for Monday, June 22nd at 8:30 AM so you can imagine my surprise when I heard "The Cantina Song" from Star Wars not as part of another Star Wars-related dream but blasting from my cell phone. It was my sister who was calling in between contractions to say that they were on the way to the hospital.

This being the fourth baby being born to our family, we have come to learn a few things about waiting. I arrived at the hospital a few hours later to find the family there. My Dad was waiting anxiously to meet his newest grandchild while my Mom ran around with the youngest (at the time) grandchild. My sister in-law was in the corner reading a book to my very entertained nieces. My brothers were in the other corner being my brothers and my brother-in-law's parents were fielding calls from relatives hoping for updates. It was a good sight.

Although it made me happy to see everyone there, that was not best part of the day. The best part of the day was a few hours later when my brother in-law strolled down the hallway towards us, with a big smile on his face only a proud papa can have. The video camera was rolling as everyone gathered around and heard him say "It's a girl!"

And that is how my newest niece came into this world. Welcome little baby. From your Tio.

My New Old Pants

Today I decided to wear a pair of pants that I have not worn in a very long time. Not because I do not like them or they no longer fit - it was just a choice. Now that the work day is almost over, here is a recap of the first outing of my new old pants... I have lost a button and spilled chocolate shake with whip cream (that I did not want in the first place - the whip cream not the chocolate shake) on them.

Maybe they were better off in my drawer.

Sold My Soul...

But sometimes it is a necessary evil. For years, I have railed against the evil empire that I have come to despise - Ticketmaster. And for sometime now, I've always made it a point to purchase my tickets at a venue box office and never through Ticketmaster. No matter the location.

But today, today in order to get tickets before they go on sale to the public, I sold my soul (just a little bit) and I purchased two tickets through Ticketmaster.com, and incurred the dreaded convenience fee that I have avoided for so long. I'm not going to lie, it hurt. But the tickets were purchased.

What were the tickets you ask? They were for U2 at The Rose Bowl on Sunday, October 25th. Section 13-L, Row 40, Seats 13 and 14. In case you wanted to say hello.

This entry written while listening to U2's newest album "No Line on the Horizon."

Mi Abuelito

I was playing with my godson who is 5-years old this morning at my in-laws house, his grandparents. In between pretending to shooting laser cannons at each other and blowing up the neighborhood, we some how got on the subject of grandparents. I asked him something about a fountain that he played in as a toddler and he happily answered with a big smile on his face "It's my grandpa's!" He then looked at me and asked me where my grandpa was?

For the very first time in my life, I stumbled for the answer. My heart hurt at this innocent question. The truth is that I never met my grandpas. They both passed away when my parents were single-digit age. The happiness in his question reminded me how much I wished I would have known them - especially my dad's dad. I could not tell him that last week, I was in Guadalajara with my family at El Cemeterio Viejo de Mezquitan, dedicating a tomb long over due. A final tribute from my father who still misses his father. I did not want to say out loud that they passed away.

I saw the happiness when he spoke about his grandpa. I see the happiness that over comes my nieces and nephew at the mere sight of their grandparents. I wish I knew that.

So I looked at him and said "He is not here, he is in Mexico" all the while my heart was aching. He said OK, and ran off while shooting me with his laser cannon.

Curiosity

I have been know, on occasions, to be a bit curious. Sometimes, a little to curious for my own good.

This morning, I was standing in line at the Torrance Post Office waiting to mail a few items that I sold on e-bay. The woman next to me was also waiting to mail out a few items - small boxes and bills/letters. She was probably in her late 40's and shorter than me. She wore glasses and had long, straight brownish hair with streaks of white that was parted in the middle. She had a blue long-sleeve button down shirt, black jeans and comfortable shoes on.

Of the various packages and letters she had in her hands, the one that caught my attention was a standard white envelope addressed in nice penmanship to:

Her Majesty The Queen

Buckingham Palace

London, England

United Kingdom

A few hours have past and I'm still wondering what she had to say or send to The Queen?

Yes We Can

In an effort of full disclosure, I did vote for him.

The realist in me knows full well that he is not the messiah that many seem to make him out and that he will not fix everything that is currently wrong (or perceived wrong) with our country. In fact, there is a good chance that he might finish his term (or terms) not completing or even starting some of his campaign promises.

But the dreamer in me knows, that if nothing else, we proved to ourselves and to the world that the American dream is still possible. It may be much harder to obtain, but it is still possible. And as my Father always told me, anything worth having is worth working for.

So, to the new president, members of his administration and all politicians who hopefully went into public service to give back to a country that has given so much - good luck.  

This entry written while listening to "America the Beautiful" by Ray Charles and "A Change is Going to Come" by Sam Cooke.

Comfort Food

The above picture is of a tasty dish called Chicken with Rice in Cream of Mushroom (pretty straight forward.) This is a dish my mom has made for me since I can remember and is one of my favorite things to eat (excluding any of the traditional Mexican dishes she is known for).

But there is something different about this particular dish. What is different about the above dish and my mom's version is that I made it myself. Apparently I can cook. So after 15 months of being out of my parents home, I felt confident enough in my cooking skills to attempt this oh so sacred dish (at least for me). And not just because it was me, but it came out good. I would even go as far as saying it was pretty good. Granted, it did not taste like my mom's version for various reasons but it will do.

Counting this dish, I have a total of 3 dishes that I can cook. Baby steps people.

Happy New Year!

I'm not sure what happened or when it happened. I was doing so well writing. A story here, an observation there. The prose was flowing nicely and then suddenly - POOF! All gone. Well, maybe not so much POOF but like a slow braking motion. Either way, the main point is I'm no longer writing.

But now that the new year is upon us, it is time to turn over a new leaf. So I'm committing to virtual paper that I will write again - and often. Both on this here blog - The Dark Monkey Chronicles - and the old fashion way, on paper in my journal. Not to mention some of the stories that I've started but never finished.

This is only one of my new year resolutions. I don't have to many but a few. Hope to keep many of them and help become a better me for 2009.