August 26, 2002 - Another weekend passed me by. It was a good time, but I feel like I wasn't as productive as I could have been. There was landry to do, dishes ot wash, and website maintenence to maintain. Still, I got to hang out with my bothers and that's always good.

August 23, 2002 - Just working today.

August 22, 2002 - Okay, so it turns out that huge arrest wasn't the city's doing. It wasn't even the department's doing. It turns out it was all the fault of this one police captain whose policies are now being questioned publicly. It's being investigated now.

August 19, 2002 - It's a shame what the city's tryinhg to do here. I couldn't believe it when I heard about it. Now, I asn't there, and I'm not a law enforcement expert, but this seems like it was obviously the wrong action to take on the part of the Police. I really hope they get class-action sued for this. This is plain and simple abuse, in my opnion.

August 17, 2002 - I miss doing photography. I don't think digital photography satisfies my craving. I really love what I can do with films and lenses and filters. Photoshop is similar, but still not quite the same. I also love being in a darkroom working, printing, even mixing the chemicals (which is weird because I can't stand chemicals). I really love the idea of light sensistive emulsion, though. I like the idea of making my own pinhole camera and then developing the results in a darkroom. I don't like the way digital stuff is so expensive. It would take a $1000 digital camera to come out with a print that has quality comparable to a 35mm printed 8x10. But then if you had the digi-camera, you'd need a fast enough computer with USB ports, a good monitor, and a drive of some significance for archives. Then again, for 35mm, you'd need the chemicals, running water, a place to dry the film, a good size sink or bath tub, trays, tongs, an enlarger, a print washer, and a place to dry your prints. I guess in both instances it really matters on your determination and handiness with the materials and hardware as well as it does on your capital. I seem to have none of it, though. I'm almost at some level of proficiency with maintaining a computer, but the end photography result still wonlt satisafy me enough. I geuss it's really the process of chemical photography that I have become accustomed to and that I love to do. SO no matter how effecient I may get to be at digital photography, I'll end up missing the chemical process. That's a damn shame. It makes me feel like I'm not flexible - like I can't move forward. Maybe I AM turning into a republican!!!! Shit.

August 9, 2002 - We're going to New York soon. I'm pretty excited. The last time I went to New York was really nice, so I hope we all have a good time this time. I hope that we're safe, too. It feels a little irrational, but I'm a little worried about security/terrorist activity. I've always felt a litle uneasy about plane rides, anyway. But everyone says that nothing may happen on a plane again for years. I'm sure some smart people can think of all kinds of crazy things to hurt people, so I guess we'll be involved in something someday. My fear still doesn't make me think of people as an "enemy", though. Which I think is good. The way I classify Muslim terrorists in my mind is still falls under the same classification I have for Christian fundamentalists and white supremecists; and I've had been exposed to those archetypes all my life. All are potentially dangerous to me, so the feeling is not new. I feel like there's nothing I can do about it though, so that's why it feels irrational to have these thoughts.

August 2, 2002 - La Feria de las Flores

Me gusta cantarle al viento
porque vuelan mis cantares
y digo lo que yo siento
por toditos los lugares.

Aquí vine porque vine
a la Feria de las Flores
no hay cerro que se me empine
ni cuaco que se me atore.

En mi caballo retinto
he venido de muy lejos
y traigo pistola al cinto
y con ella doy consejos.

Atravesé la montaña
pa' venir a ver las flores
aqu� hay una rosa hura�a
que es la flor de mis amores.

Y aunque otro "quera" cortarla
yo la "devisé" primero
y juro que he de robarla
aunque tenga jardinero.

Yo la he de ver trasplantada
en el huerto de mi casa
y si sale el jardinero
"pos" a ver... a ver que pasa.

by Chucho Monge

August 1, 2002 - Houston is one Fucked up place. We have people living in unsanitary conditions, couples stabbing each other, and plenty of guns everywhere. Not just guns on the freeway, but in resturants as well. Some of the worst news around the state is news about immigrants being brought across the border in such conditions. Apparently people are willing to risk their lives to live and work in the place that I take for granted, yet the lawmakers and conservatives want more controls on the border. Maybe I should make an exchange. I'll go live in Mexico and complain about this country, while someone with a work ethic that puts the puritans to shame comes across to live and work here in my place. That seems fair. Plus, I get to travel!

But maybe there's still hope for us. We get a little more diverse every day (which is especially good for me, since I'm anti-assimilation). The republicans are now even courting the Hispanic vote. Not that we need any more Republicans ;), but it's nice to know that now the democrats will actually have to DO something for us if they want to keep the Hispanic vote - not just consider us to be default democrats. They'll HAVE to act, since they can't start talking about God and taxes the way republicans do without alientating the rest of the democrats. Horray for check-and-balance inspired conflict!

Last but not least, I'm not catholic anymore, but I'm all for Juan Diego. I could go on about the doubts of his existence, the integrity of indigeounous people, and whether La Virgen de Guadalupe was an image of the Virgin Mary; but I'd rather just say "hell yeah".