A Glance At The Puerto Rican Independence Struggle July 30, 2008
I am interested to hear your comments about this internationally overshadowed social justice struggle in my island. The assassination of Ojeda Rios by the FBI was one of our most painful tragedies and one more case of the historical FBI illegal persecution against leaders and members of the independence movement.
Have you heard about this? If not, blame the media for not letting you know that this country still holds a colony and has never ever been held accountable for it! Hope to read some comments.
The video begins with Filiberto Ojeda Rios talking in Spanish and the rest of the video is in English.
White Water Rafting July 19, 2008
We went rafting the weekend of the 4th of July (no fire works heard, just the calming sound of the river) and it just simply ROCKED!
Andrea (co-worker/friend) and Bob (her partner) came with us to row row row the boat!
The camping site was beautiful and no mosquitoes hanging out, which made it bearable for James cuz he has suga’ in that blood, tellin’ yah!
We arrived Friday, set out tents, drank home made beer–courtesy of the Moksters (Andrea Mok & Bob Steiner named themselves like that… dorks), ate dinner, hanged out for a little more & went to sleep.
Saturday we spent the whole day rafting. The rapids go from class 2-5. We went through 2 & 3. Next time we are going 4 & 5 yeee!! Wannu join us?
Enjoy the photos!
My Normal Abnormalities July 15, 2008
by Maria R. Palacios
copyright 2007
The normal in me can tell you
about distracted bones
that refused to learn
about motion,
about fingers that speak
a language of tangible deviations
and feet that fell asleep
before their time.
The normal in me
is the underexposed flesh
half shown to you
as you explore my imperfections
pretending that your hands are deaf
to the whisper of my scars.
My normality
has been redecorated
as an unusual
biological masterpiece,
a human canvas
displayed in front of you
the artist who values
the rare
the sensual
the woman.
A Gift From The Past February 10, 2008
10 years later.
As the thought of cleaning things up from the past crossed your mind, the painting on the wall crossed your eyes
And made you wonder
Why was it so unclear, when he gave it to you,
An interpretation of this abstract piece of art.
Now after your wounds are healed and after appreciating it for many years,
You find a peculiar comfort in it.
You don’t know whether your interpretation of it was his actual and conscious muse,
But that piece of art goes hand in hand with the story of you two.
If he never realized the story, it is still comforting for you how in the very deep of his heart he felt the story all along.
Then as the thought of cleaning up things from your past crossed your mind, you understood how the bloody spot,
the cloudy story,
the touch of the beast,
the weak woman and
the obscure open door,
were his guilt screaming a way out.
Patricia en San Francisco February 10, 2008
My sister came to visit us at the beginning of January. Enjoy the photos by cliking on this one.
Valerie & Bergen at Amnesia December 16, 2007
Valerie and Bergen playing together for the first time at Amnesia and also the last show Z.O.N.K will have for a while cuz uncle berg is leaving to bike around the ¡Mundo!
Lots of friends joined the audience and I title myself as the VIP-front seat PROFESSIONAL video/photo taker!
Valerie Orth Band
Z.O.N.K (Bergen’s band) played afterward and they rock the place too!
Photos!
Thanks to Valerie and Z.O.N.K for such great performances!
Primero de Junio 1993 October 19, 2007
The cold floor on my feet | The skin on the feet is very sensitive | The wood part of the room is not as cold as the tiles in the bathroom | I am walking on the tip of my toes straight to the tub | Turn the water on and feel the temperature | When it feels comfortable, turn the shower | The water on my head and on my shoulders put me to sleep again | It is hard to wake up and move | Just stand there | It feels soothing | I start drying and dressing | Maybe I eat | Today is sister’s day | We cut our hair together | Where you with me that morning or did you meet me later |
The day is ending and memory is fading | It is slower | I am sleeping on her couch | Good bye aunt | Have some ice cream | It’s 6 o’clock | …
Your shirt is the white and blue with stripes long sleeve polo | I love that shirt | Why don’t you wear it more often | I take a deep breath | you ask if it hurts | It probably hurts unless they numbed me |
“no reflex on feet”
“no sensation on skin”
“no movement”
“what happened”
You are wearing that pretty shirt, you look sad | Give me some of that coke | I think you really love me | Dad says I have to get taken care of far from here | You are coming with me | You love me | I love you too | Do you remember | …
My Days! October 10, 2007
The days here have been amazingly beautiful with some chilly days too, but for the most part, it has been awesome to be free during these couple of days of heat that we get in SF every year. I have been having a very relaxing time hanging out wherever and taking photos of whatever.
If you click on the photo above, you can see more. The sun was too bright, so the photos came out a bit glary, but just an idea of the chill time you are missing if you don’t come visit me before I go back to the labor force.
