My grandma Elvira has a third grade education but she is wise beyond her years in traditional school. She is a graduate Suma Cum Laude from the University of Life, from the School of Hard Knocks. She has many quotes but one that she liked to say was my favorite "It does not cost you a penny to smile! :) I take that literally and people compliment me on the fact that I am always smiling. I find that smiling at everyone usually surprises them, delights them and then sometimes some people get a little suspicious of it...Oh well, it does not cost me a penny to smile, or to be nice.
FYI, that one can be harder for me than the smile part!
I liked the simplicity of her way of saying things. She used to bless me all the time. One day when I went to see her, she had a little red bag that smelled good and had rocks in it. She said "I want you to carry this with you all the time. There is a lot of jealousy surrounding you, and this will protect you." I was so touched by her gesture and at that time did not know where this jealousy was coming from. But she was right. It turns out that after she gave me that gift I began to notice a lot of the jealousy that I had been so confused by. Like why women did not want me around their boyfriends, husbands or even near them. Why women co-workers would be so mean. Before my grandma gave it a name, I thought there was something wrong with me. That changed later on when I got noticed by a photographer and then an agent. Suddenly I was surrounded with good looking people and I was the ordinary one! No more jealousy. Problem solved by Grandma!
My grandma was smart in so many ways. Another time that I went to see her, she wanted to make me some migas, hot chocolate, a peanut butter "sangwhich". I kept on saying no thank you, Grandma, I'm not hungry. "Mija, you're too skinny. You need to eat!" I was recently divorced at the young age of 26 and had two very small children. She sensed my depression and made me sit down to talk with her and my Aunt Birdie. I picked at the food as she talked and talked to me about my grandfather. I loved hearing about him and their life long love affair. I was focusing on her, the light coming into the kitchen alcove, the sounds of their voices but not to avail. I was a mess.
We went into her dining room and looked at old photos. She started to tell me about how my grandfather had to leave her to go pick fruit with his father and his brothers. She said "Mija, I would cry and cry for your grandfather to come home. Finally I told him he could not go the next time, that I needed him to stay here with me and the boys." She was trying to show me that loving, being in love and losing love was universal. She took my mind off my problems and suddenly I saw this little old lady as a young woman in love and missing her husband. As was I. When I left her home, she blessed me again and said when you want a man and want to keep a man, use perfume. "Always smell good around the one you love."
Years later on the day that I finally fell in love in again, I had a bottle of CK1 in my bag and every time I went to the ladie's room, I would freshen up with a tiny little spray at the base of my neck. It was a long day. I was driving a golf cart in a charity golf tournament with the man who would be my husband. It was a marathon 100 hole tourny. I was so glad my for grandmother's advice.
Just the other day, my daughter said to me, "I took your advice Mom and remember what you told me. To always smell good around a guy I like. It works every time!"
Oh Grandma, how wise you are....
Friday, May 27, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Good bye Oprah!
All things Oprah. I have watched her consistentIy for 25 years. Cried with her, laughed with her, evolved with her. And yes I had awful 80's hair too!
I follow her on Facebook now, and have recorded her last season. I watch them on Mondays, my day off.
Today, I am going to share a bitter moment I had because of the woman I so admire. I damn near came to tears when I found out on a Sunday night newscast that the Oprah Show was coming to the State Fair of Texas. Only one big problem to keep me from being there. I had a delivery to make that same day, same time and on the complete other side of town. Almost Ft. Worth.
SuddenIy, I was in the midst of a crisis. Not because I could not decide what to do, ditch the delivery or not ditch the delivery, rather because I was so mad at this predicament I was in.
I was mad at being my own boss! Here I was on my day off, making a delivery that was not even worth the price of gas and the time to help someone out.
If it had not been for this very sweet and loyal customer whose name was Hope, I would have been even angrier. She had helped me out when I needed it. And this was a fundraiser. Plus, Hope was in the Texas Armed Guard and had to leave the order details with someone while she was down on the coast helping with evacs. No way could I ditch this woman!
To deal with the anger, I did what I typically do, block it out. All day long, however I simmered with anger, all day long I was on the verge of tears. Here was my idol, my TV BFF in my home town taping her show and I had to miss out!
I tried to retail therapy, tried exercise. Still no relief. I decided to let it go as best I could. Late that night while taking out the trash, I could hold it in no longer. I sat heavily on the bumper of my truck and began to cry. My shoulders shook as I cursed my bad luck and my awful timing, which still plagues me to this day.
All of sudden , my son was there. "Mom what's wrong?" I heard the worry in his voice, the concern. How could I tell him?
I struggled to tell him that missing the Oprah show, a once in a lfetime opportunity was like watching my life pass me by. That this moment would never happen again. I suddenly realized why I was so upset. Missing that opporunity had reopened the wound. My eternal wound of what coulda, shoulda or woulda been had I not married so young and had my children so young. Here was my son, my grown up handsome musician son and he was there wondering why his mom was outside crying after 10:30 at night.
My truth above all policy kicked in and I struggled to tell him gently what was bothering me. I saw the confusion in his face, saw him try to make sense of what I was jabbering about. I was glad that I was so upset that I could not talk coherently because I could have hurt his feelings.
"Mom, it's just a TV show, it's not that important, go in and go to bed, Mom."
He was right in a far more fundamental and wise way than I could see at that moment, the fact that I missed that show taping was really not that important.
But he was wrong about it just being a TV show.
Oprah, we are all gonna miss ya, girl. Thanks for helping shape this Texas woman, mother, wife, artist, writer, small business owner and community activist. Thanks for entertaining me, guiding me, informing me but most of all, I thank you for giving me permission to be what ever the hell I wanted to be. And you did that by example.
Vaya con Dios......We love you.
I follow her on Facebook now, and have recorded her last season. I watch them on Mondays, my day off.
Today, I am going to share a bitter moment I had because of the woman I so admire. I damn near came to tears when I found out on a Sunday night newscast that the Oprah Show was coming to the State Fair of Texas. Only one big problem to keep me from being there. I had a delivery to make that same day, same time and on the complete other side of town. Almost Ft. Worth.
SuddenIy, I was in the midst of a crisis. Not because I could not decide what to do, ditch the delivery or not ditch the delivery, rather because I was so mad at this predicament I was in.
I was mad at being my own boss! Here I was on my day off, making a delivery that was not even worth the price of gas and the time to help someone out.
If it had not been for this very sweet and loyal customer whose name was Hope, I would have been even angrier. She had helped me out when I needed it. And this was a fundraiser. Plus, Hope was in the Texas Armed Guard and had to leave the order details with someone while she was down on the coast helping with evacs. No way could I ditch this woman!
To deal with the anger, I did what I typically do, block it out. All day long, however I simmered with anger, all day long I was on the verge of tears. Here was my idol, my TV BFF in my home town taping her show and I had to miss out!
I tried to retail therapy, tried exercise. Still no relief. I decided to let it go as best I could. Late that night while taking out the trash, I could hold it in no longer. I sat heavily on the bumper of my truck and began to cry. My shoulders shook as I cursed my bad luck and my awful timing, which still plagues me to this day.
All of sudden , my son was there. "Mom what's wrong?" I heard the worry in his voice, the concern. How could I tell him?
I struggled to tell him that missing the Oprah show, a once in a lfetime opportunity was like watching my life pass me by. That this moment would never happen again. I suddenly realized why I was so upset. Missing that opporunity had reopened the wound. My eternal wound of what coulda, shoulda or woulda been had I not married so young and had my children so young. Here was my son, my grown up handsome musician son and he was there wondering why his mom was outside crying after 10:30 at night.
My truth above all policy kicked in and I struggled to tell him gently what was bothering me. I saw the confusion in his face, saw him try to make sense of what I was jabbering about. I was glad that I was so upset that I could not talk coherently because I could have hurt his feelings.
"Mom, it's just a TV show, it's not that important, go in and go to bed, Mom."
He was right in a far more fundamental and wise way than I could see at that moment, the fact that I missed that show taping was really not that important.
But he was wrong about it just being a TV show.
Oprah, we are all gonna miss ya, girl. Thanks for helping shape this Texas woman, mother, wife, artist, writer, small business owner and community activist. Thanks for entertaining me, guiding me, informing me but most of all, I thank you for giving me permission to be what ever the hell I wanted to be. And you did that by example.
Vaya con Dios......We love you.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Let's Talk Tamales .....Tales from a Tamale Lady
If you've read my first blog, then you know I love New Mexico. For me, the Land of Enchantment is my get away, my dash to serenity. My bundled up nerves start to unwind and unravel after we pass Amarillo. Tucumcari Tonight, as the road signs entice the weary traveler to stop and rest there. My husband always pushes on to Sante Fe. He's in a hurry too, because he knows how happy it makes me to see this city again.
But, I digress...it's Tamales we are talking about here. Best Tamales in New Mexico were this year's. Leaving Santa Fe, headed to Taos, we are just outside of Espanola about to wind our way up and climb the last little piece of mountain before the gorge. That is the Rio Grande Gorge I am talking about. It is fourish in the afternoon and the rush is to get to town before the sun sets and the cold makes your bones brittle.
I see a yellow, then a hot pink poster board stuck on the side of the road. The frst one says "Hot", the second says "fresh" and my husband in his rush plows ahead. "Wait" I grab his arm....."turrn around". "I said "Tamales!" my husband said "where?!"
"Back there, turn around honey! " We turn around, the five of us packed in tight with the luggage our many coats, gloves and scarves and the family dog, and saw that I was right! The third sign had somehow turned backwards and it did indeed say Tamales.
We pull up on the side of the road, a pinion wood fire burning, children running in and around the temporary tent that he had set up as his Tamale Headquarters. The Latino man with the rosy cheeks was smiling as he informed us that he only had a dozen red Pork and a half dozen green Chicken left for the day. My husband said "we'll take all that you got left'"
He of course asked us where we were from. I guess my country girl Texas accent gave us away. We pulled out out and immediately dove into the zip lock bag and I passed the still steaming tamales around our SUV. I guess being cold made those tamales taste just that much better! Yes sir, they were some darn good tamales. I am real glad that guy is all the way up near Taos. He would give Dallas Tortilla and Tamale Factory a good run for our money!
Lucky Luna the Labrador from Lewisville made the 2010 New Mexico Run and yes she did have some Tamales!
But, I digress...it's Tamales we are talking about here. Best Tamales in New Mexico were this year's. Leaving Santa Fe, headed to Taos, we are just outside of Espanola about to wind our way up and climb the last little piece of mountain before the gorge. That is the Rio Grande Gorge I am talking about. It is fourish in the afternoon and the rush is to get to town before the sun sets and the cold makes your bones brittle.
I see a yellow, then a hot pink poster board stuck on the side of the road. The frst one says "Hot", the second says "fresh" and my husband in his rush plows ahead. "Wait" I grab his arm....."turrn around". "I said "Tamales!" my husband said "where?!"
"Back there, turn around honey! " We turn around, the five of us packed in tight with the luggage our many coats, gloves and scarves and the family dog, and saw that I was right! The third sign had somehow turned backwards and it did indeed say Tamales.
We pull up on the side of the road, a pinion wood fire burning, children running in and around the temporary tent that he had set up as his Tamale Headquarters. The Latino man with the rosy cheeks was smiling as he informed us that he only had a dozen red Pork and a half dozen green Chicken left for the day. My husband said "we'll take all that you got left'"
He of course asked us where we were from. I guess my country girl Texas accent gave us away. We pulled out out and immediately dove into the zip lock bag and I passed the still steaming tamales around our SUV. I guess being cold made those tamales taste just that much better! Yes sir, they were some darn good tamales. I am real glad that guy is all the way up near Taos. He would give Dallas Tortilla and Tamale Factory a good run for our money!
Lucky Luna the Labrador from Lewisville made the 2010 New Mexico Run and yes she did have some Tamales!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Go Mavericks!
A quick and fun recipe for game night. Tamale Pie. What with the Dallas Mav's in the playoffs and baseball season in full gear, Tamale Pie is easy and delicious, perfect for game night with the fam or the friends! Here is your recipe: Let's Go Mavericks!
Ingredients:
A dozen Tamales from Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory
1 bag Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory Chips
1 red or green salsa from of course, Dallas Tortilla
1 8oz can of Rotel or a cup fresh cut tomatoes
1 stick Velveeta Cheese or Rico Can Cheese ( 8-10 oz)
Jar of jalapenos
I use plastic Nacho Boats but you can substitute bowels or paper plates.
Shuck the tamales and break into pieces of 2-3. Put aside in bowel. Put a blanket of chips on the bottom of your container. Spoon a bit of cheese on the chips, add several pieces of the tamale. Drizzle more cheese, then a smaller drizzle of salsa ( Your choice red or green)
I prefer red. Top with tomatoes and jalapenos.
I prefer the Rico Cheese since the Velveeta sticks, does not heat as well and hardens up too fast!
Makes 8-15 servings.
Total Cost : $23.50
Cheap enough to afford some beer to go with!
A good meal on game night. Priceless
Ingredients:
A dozen Tamales from Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory
1 bag Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory Chips
1 red or green salsa from of course, Dallas Tortilla
1 8oz can of Rotel or a cup fresh cut tomatoes
1 stick Velveeta Cheese or Rico Can Cheese ( 8-10 oz)
Jar of jalapenos
I use plastic Nacho Boats but you can substitute bowels or paper plates.
Shuck the tamales and break into pieces of 2-3. Put aside in bowel. Put a blanket of chips on the bottom of your container. Spoon a bit of cheese on the chips, add several pieces of the tamale. Drizzle more cheese, then a smaller drizzle of salsa ( Your choice red or green)
I prefer red. Top with tomatoes and jalapenos.
I prefer the Rico Cheese since the Velveeta sticks, does not heat as well and hardens up too fast!
Makes 8-15 servings.
Total Cost : $23.50
Cheap enough to afford some beer to go with!
A good meal on game night. Priceless
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Thief of Hearts. This is for you Detective Gomez
What is more of a crime? To take someone's property, their reputation, their life or their love? While listening to some old Madonna that I have loaded on my laptop today, I heard the song "Thief of Hearts". With a great uptempo beat and a "I'm gonna come kick your @$$." vibe, I am really surprised it did not do better. Reminds of all the type of songs that talk about the topic of another woman honing in on something that does not belong to her. Who could forget Dolly Parton wailing out "JoLene, JoLene, please don't take my man." Recently, Carrie Underwood in a couple of her songs addressed a similar topic, the cheater. There is a difference I believe! The man/woman who is not happy in their current situtation and wants some different action. Then there is the woman who seduces another woman's man and seeks to be a thief of hearts. "Little Miss Thinks she can get what she wants in a blink of an eye." "Please arrest her because what she does is crime"
We want transparency in everything, lately our food ingredients and now our politicians. Today, the former Gubernator, came out with his lies. Ten years of them to be exact. I am wonderging what happened. Please forgive me Maria. Was there a "thief of hearts" involved, or was there a bored, listless heat seeking (fill in the blank, here)
A friend of mine is a detective on the late night thriller "Cheaters " shot here in the DFW area. That show is addictive. There is an endless supply of people willing to sneak around, lie, cheat, take or break hearts.
An unlikely topic for me, but not really. Transparency is the way I grew up. I lived with a woman (My Mother) who held the belief that the truth was paramount. And no matter how brutal or ugly it could be or get, the truth was absolute. Hard to live with at times, no doubt, but glad my momma taught me the importance of being honest. If you ever get to meet me or for those of you who know me already, what you see is what you get. Be careful when you ask me my thoughts or my opinions on something, I will tell you what I honestly think or believe.
The City of Lewisville, Texas and US politics are in a current state of Blurred Vision. Hard to make out what is really going on. No amount of Visine is gonna help us. Too much sneaking around going on.
Not sure how he manages to do it, but Detective Gomez still believes in love. I do also. But, I am wondering if some people including the former Guv knows what that is.
We want transparency in everything, lately our food ingredients and now our politicians. Today, the former Gubernator, came out with his lies. Ten years of them to be exact. I am wonderging what happened. Please forgive me Maria. Was there a "thief of hearts" involved, or was there a bored, listless heat seeking (fill in the blank, here)
A friend of mine is a detective on the late night thriller "Cheaters " shot here in the DFW area. That show is addictive. There is an endless supply of people willing to sneak around, lie, cheat, take or break hearts.
An unlikely topic for me, but not really. Transparency is the way I grew up. I lived with a woman (My Mother) who held the belief that the truth was paramount. And no matter how brutal or ugly it could be or get, the truth was absolute. Hard to live with at times, no doubt, but glad my momma taught me the importance of being honest. If you ever get to meet me or for those of you who know me already, what you see is what you get. Be careful when you ask me my thoughts or my opinions on something, I will tell you what I honestly think or believe.
The City of Lewisville, Texas and US politics are in a current state of Blurred Vision. Hard to make out what is really going on. No amount of Visine is gonna help us. Too much sneaking around going on.
Not sure how he manages to do it, but Detective Gomez still believes in love. I do also. But, I am wondering if some people including the former Guv knows what that is.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Recipe Rescue, Retirement and Rain
Promised you folks some recipes but as the rain has been on my mind this afternoon, I got a late start on my blog. One recipe today: For you salsa lovers, try this if you like a citrus taste. My cousin Debbie, my sister Lisa and Cliff Harris love my Tomatillo Salsa.
Dallas Tortilla's Tomatillo Salsa
5 Lbs Fresh Tomatillos
1 bunch Cilantro
One Half Onion
1 TBSP Garlic Powder
1TBSP Onion Powder
1TBSP Salt
1TSP Black Pepper
Directions: Boil the tomatillo's down. Approximately 30-40 minutes. When you can see the pulp and they are mushy, they are done. Turn off heat, drain all liquid except 1/2-1 cup. Let cool.
10-15 minutes.
While waiting, pick off leaves off the cilantro bunch. Should have about one cup of cilantro. Blend tomatillos and all other ingredients. Blend well - about 1-2 minutes on high speed. Some blenders have a salsa button. Mine does. Black & Decker. A great product.
Serve warm with our Chicken Tamales or our Lower Fat Green Mole Chicken Tamales. Add Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory All Natural Nacho Chips and you have a great Authentic Mexican Meal.
The rain is diminishing but I still have my purse ready to dash and dive into my "safe" hallway here at the shop. Writing about my salsa recipe reminds me of the time I stopped by the Marsalis location to say hi to my Dad, where I found him wearing an apron, safety goggles and with his blender out on the table.
"What's up Dad?" "Hello, Mija, just in my laboratory working on my salsa recipes." I laughed at his goggles and said "Why the goggles?" "Because Mija, these peppers are so hot, they could take an eye out." I remember him giggling at what he said and how delicious the fresh salsa was. But, boy was he right! His Salsa Verde is hot!
My Dad is still at the counter at lunch time, greeting and waiting on his customers. He loves people, loves to work and laughs along side with them. Sometimes he talks of retiring, I think more when he is tired. But most times, he likes to talk about my grandfather and how he died before he quit working. He likes to say, "You are going to have to carry my body out of this place, mija." And yes, Dad, I believe we will have to.
And I hope it is not soon! Never would be the best, Dad....
Dallas Tortilla's Tomatillo Salsa
5 Lbs Fresh Tomatillos
1 bunch Cilantro
One Half Onion
1 TBSP Garlic Powder
1TBSP Onion Powder
1TBSP Salt
1TSP Black Pepper
Directions: Boil the tomatillo's down. Approximately 30-40 minutes. When you can see the pulp and they are mushy, they are done. Turn off heat, drain all liquid except 1/2-1 cup. Let cool.
10-15 minutes.
While waiting, pick off leaves off the cilantro bunch. Should have about one cup of cilantro. Blend tomatillos and all other ingredients. Blend well - about 1-2 minutes on high speed. Some blenders have a salsa button. Mine does. Black & Decker. A great product.
Serve warm with our Chicken Tamales or our Lower Fat Green Mole Chicken Tamales. Add Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory All Natural Nacho Chips and you have a great Authentic Mexican Meal.
The rain is diminishing but I still have my purse ready to dash and dive into my "safe" hallway here at the shop. Writing about my salsa recipe reminds me of the time I stopped by the Marsalis location to say hi to my Dad, where I found him wearing an apron, safety goggles and with his blender out on the table.
"What's up Dad?" "Hello, Mija, just in my laboratory working on my salsa recipes." I laughed at his goggles and said "Why the goggles?" "Because Mija, these peppers are so hot, they could take an eye out." I remember him giggling at what he said and how delicious the fresh salsa was. But, boy was he right! His Salsa Verde is hot!
My Dad is still at the counter at lunch time, greeting and waiting on his customers. He loves people, loves to work and laughs along side with them. Sometimes he talks of retiring, I think more when he is tired. But most times, he likes to talk about my grandfather and how he died before he quit working. He likes to say, "You are going to have to carry my body out of this place, mija." And yes, Dad, I believe we will have to.
And I hope it is not soon! Never would be the best, Dad....
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Blogs, Frogs and Troggs
Oh me, it's time to blog again. I have one fan who insists on a daily blog, but guess what.....that ain't happening! When I embarked on this blogging journey, I thought subject matter would be endless and easy. Not so. As a very small business owner, I wear a lot of hats. I know you all have heard that all before....Yawn...but, blogging is down the list of my hierarchy of chores around the tamale shop.
But to Blog or not to blog, I say.
Can't write about Politics ( makes my stomach hurt), Religion is off limits, Can't write about sex. I am happily married and I do not kiss and tell anyways! So today, I am writing about Frogs! What, Frogs, Really? Yes, Frogs. I like them. Yes, I have eaten them. Fried in a skillet. Tasty. Won't do it again though. I have frogs in my backyard. I hate it when I see one run over in the street. I like the baby tadpoles. They are SOOOOO CUTE! I bought my mom a little frog statuette that had a T-Shirt on it that said "I love my dog". (Cute huh?) I think frogs are essential for the environment, they eat flies and skeeters. I bought some money frogs in China Town in San Fran several years back. Supposed to make me rich. Not Yet. My Grandma told me Little Mexico used to be called Frog Town by the locals. "Why Grandma?" "Because Mija, there were a lot of frogs everywhere!"
I love that song "Wild Thing" by the Troggs....I love the line "You make everything Groovy."
Just talk about Tamales is what I should do. By now, most people know, we have great tamales. Hand Made with TLC in Oak Cliff, no preservatives, real corn.
Since 1950.
Taste the Tradition.
But to Blog or not to blog, I say.
Can't write about Politics ( makes my stomach hurt), Religion is off limits, Can't write about sex. I am happily married and I do not kiss and tell anyways! So today, I am writing about Frogs! What, Frogs, Really? Yes, Frogs. I like them. Yes, I have eaten them. Fried in a skillet. Tasty. Won't do it again though. I have frogs in my backyard. I hate it when I see one run over in the street. I like the baby tadpoles. They are SOOOOO CUTE! I bought my mom a little frog statuette that had a T-Shirt on it that said "I love my dog". (Cute huh?) I think frogs are essential for the environment, they eat flies and skeeters. I bought some money frogs in China Town in San Fran several years back. Supposed to make me rich. Not Yet. My Grandma told me Little Mexico used to be called Frog Town by the locals. "Why Grandma?" "Because Mija, there were a lot of frogs everywhere!"
I love that song "Wild Thing" by the Troggs....I love the line "You make everything Groovy."
Just talk about Tamales is what I should do. By now, most people know, we have great tamales. Hand Made with TLC in Oak Cliff, no preservatives, real corn.
Since 1950.
Taste the Tradition.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Cinco de Mayo, Mexicans and Mothers....
I am not an expert at being Mexican, nor do I know all things Mexican. That being said, I LOVE being an American of Mexican descent! I am not a Mexi-Can't, someone who is ashamed of our heritage. I celebrate my beautiful golden brown skin color,(Thanks Dad!), I fumble around when I speak my Spanglish, and I can dance the cumbia! My madre was born in Mexico as was her mother and her mother's mother. Since both my paternal grandparents were born in Texas, I am definitely an American first. Yet at times, my heart is pulled back and forth between these two countries.
Cinco de Mayo is known as Cinco de Drinko to many, however I take offense at that. Sure most celebrations include libations but that is not the reason for this quasi-American holiday.
I would like you to imagine that you are a poor Mexican famer living in Pueblo, Mexico some hundred plus years ago, and the ruler of France, Napoleon III is coming to take your land. You don't own any guns, have little or no money but by golly you have your land! 6,500 of Napoleon's best dressed troops landed just off of VeraCruz not prepared for what they got. May 5th is about frustration reaching the boiling point. When you are willing to face an organized army outfitted with lots of big guns and you are armed only with a pitchfork, a scythe maybe a machete; then you are fed up and ready to affect change, wreak havoc or die trying.
When I think of those people and the uphill battle they had to face, I am proud, so proud of my heritage. I have the very same feeling every Fourth of July, when I see fireworks popping over the Red, White and Blue. What ties both of these events for me is that I love the struggle, the fight to be FREE! Because I am American, I love our country, I love our forefathers, but mostly I love the documents that they left behind for us to follow. A distinction between the two countries not lost on me.
My mother used to take me to Cinco de Mayo Fiestas in Dallas. As a child, I loved the music, the smells of food cooking everywhere, the Ballet Folklorico Dances and the Mariachis! I felt closest to my family then, because they were so happy to be amongst friends and their family celebrating what's good about Mexico and it's history.
Cinco de Mayo is known as Cinco de Drinko to many, however I take offense at that. Sure most celebrations include libations but that is not the reason for this quasi-American holiday.
I would like you to imagine that you are a poor Mexican famer living in Pueblo, Mexico some hundred plus years ago, and the ruler of France, Napoleon III is coming to take your land. You don't own any guns, have little or no money but by golly you have your land! 6,500 of Napoleon's best dressed troops landed just off of VeraCruz not prepared for what they got. May 5th is about frustration reaching the boiling point. When you are willing to face an organized army outfitted with lots of big guns and you are armed only with a pitchfork, a scythe maybe a machete; then you are fed up and ready to affect change, wreak havoc or die trying.
When I think of those people and the uphill battle they had to face, I am proud, so proud of my heritage. I have the very same feeling every Fourth of July, when I see fireworks popping over the Red, White and Blue. What ties both of these events for me is that I love the struggle, the fight to be FREE! Because I am American, I love our country, I love our forefathers, but mostly I love the documents that they left behind for us to follow. A distinction between the two countries not lost on me.
My mother used to take me to Cinco de Mayo Fiestas in Dallas. As a child, I loved the music, the smells of food cooking everywhere, the Ballet Folklorico Dances and the Mariachis! I felt closest to my family then, because they were so happy to be amongst friends and their family celebrating what's good about Mexico and it's history.
Happy Cinco de Mayo, Remember the Battlia de Pueblo.
Viva Mexico, Viva Independencia, Viva La Libertad!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Labradors, Lewisville and Love....
A face book friend and fellow Old Town Lewisville business owner has a black lab that had puppies last week and while looking at Layla's photos, I felt inspired me to write about my own Lab. Her official title is Luna the Black Lab from Lake Lewisville. She is my pride and joy obviously and for those of you who are loyal Labrador Lovers, you understand why we love these dogs so much. They are some of the sweetest and loyal dogs that you could ever meet, although my Luna is way too much like the "Marley" the yellow lab that was featured in that movie with Jennifer Anniston and Dallas native, Owen Wilson. Yes she has jumped out of a moving car, thank God it was my MG Midget and we were in our neighborhood going slowly. ( I had just shifted down a gear)
I taught her how to swim when she was just 8 weeks old, over at the Cove on the south side of Lake Lewisville, close to Eagle Point Marina. I put her on my boogie board and pushed her around in it. She fell asleep! That summer five and half years ago was a great summer. Every Saturday and Sunday, we would walk down to the cove and teach her to swim.
.
Now we have christened the cove, Luna's Cove. She is a swimmer! Apparently black Labs are great water hunting dogs, but not Luna! She hunts frisbees and sticks. We have quite a collection thanks to all the frisbee golfers who suck on their shots. Did I mention she is bilingual. I taught her the command "Dame un beso" (give me a kiss) and she does it. You've heard of dogs burying their bones, not her. Luna buries flour tortillas in my back yard instead. Oh yeah and she buried her piece of pizza last month in my vegetable garden. We have a gate on it now!
Another longtime customer and OTBA member, told me that up until his black lab's death, they shared a bed and a pillow! Wow, Luna does not get that much love, well she does sleep on the bed with my hubby and me.
Luna, is a dog, but more than that, she is a great listener and a caring friend. I can remember vivdly the first time she heard me crying and she ran into the bathroom where I was and started crying too, and licking the tears off my face.
The first time I had to leave her to go away with my husband, I had such anxiety. I worried so much and kept calling the kennel to ask how she was doing. She got put into "time out" for body slamming another dog while they were in their "social" time.
When we drove up into the driveway, I thought she would be asleep, as it was past midnight. The minute she heard my voice as walked into the house, she charged me and knocked me over, licking and pawing me. She gave me a bloody nose from it, but who cares? How can you be mad at a being that loves you that much?
Luna the Black Labrador from Lake Lewisville, your the best!
I taught her how to swim when she was just 8 weeks old, over at the Cove on the south side of Lake Lewisville, close to Eagle Point Marina. I put her on my boogie board and pushed her around in it. She fell asleep! That summer five and half years ago was a great summer. Every Saturday and Sunday, we would walk down to the cove and teach her to swim.
.
Now we have christened the cove, Luna's Cove. She is a swimmer! Apparently black Labs are great water hunting dogs, but not Luna! She hunts frisbees and sticks. We have quite a collection thanks to all the frisbee golfers who suck on their shots. Did I mention she is bilingual. I taught her the command "Dame un beso" (give me a kiss) and she does it. You've heard of dogs burying their bones, not her. Luna buries flour tortillas in my back yard instead. Oh yeah and she buried her piece of pizza last month in my vegetable garden. We have a gate on it now!
Another longtime customer and OTBA member, told me that up until his black lab's death, they shared a bed and a pillow! Wow, Luna does not get that much love, well she does sleep on the bed with my hubby and me.
Luna, is a dog, but more than that, she is a great listener and a caring friend. I can remember vivdly the first time she heard me crying and she ran into the bathroom where I was and started crying too, and licking the tears off my face.
The first time I had to leave her to go away with my husband, I had such anxiety. I worried so much and kept calling the kennel to ask how she was doing. She got put into "time out" for body slamming another dog while they were in their "social" time.
When we drove up into the driveway, I thought she would be asleep, as it was past midnight. The minute she heard my voice as walked into the house, she charged me and knocked me over, licking and pawing me. She gave me a bloody nose from it, but who cares? How can you be mad at a being that loves you that much?
Luna the Black Labrador from Lake Lewisville, your the best!
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