This I Believe

love revisited

2009-03-24T18:00:00.000-04:00

I believe in love. I believe God has a hand in it. I believe it's virtually unpredictable. It happens. I'm here to tell you that it happens.

My adult imagination....

2009-03-18T01:21:00.009-04:00

Is it wrong to want to believe in Sea Monkeys?

I know they do exist as a sort of brine shrimp

but I much prefer to imagine them as happy alien-like families with agreeable personalities.

I whole-heartedly believe a little fantasy is

necessary in life, especially when death and

financially difficult times hit.

Look at their long toes & dorky smiles.

Gracias a Dios

2009-03-08T20:06:00.004-04:00

I don't believe in coincidences. I believe God narrates these pages of our existence. Our lives are the best stories ever created: all of them layered with foreshadowing, sorrow, the return of people from years past, success and fuckloads of joy.

I don't believe it's easy to walk through the shitty times. Waiting perturbs me.

Voy a ver Lola Montes con Esteban.

2009-03-01T10:54:00.005-05:00

I believe Lola Montes will rock me like a hurricane. I'll be back later to update you on the aftermath.

Your Grandma: Life Objectives, Part II

2009-02-16T21:24:00.007-05:00

I believe my third life objective is to be a kiss-ass grandma. I'm no knitter but I know tacos & delight in painting little finger nails.

Film crunch

2009-02-15T11:15:00.012-05:00

I believe there are a plethora of excellent movies to see

in NYC this long weekend. In fact, I think there are too many great films to see.

Film Forum is showing Godard's 2 or 3 things I know about her. This is a *must-see.*

Tangentially speaking, the au naturale popcorn decorated with Baleine sea salt at Film Forum is such nifty hipster snack.

The MoMa always has amazing foreign films. Last night I saw The Flower Bridge and today I have a ticket to see Shadow of the Holy Book, a Finnish film.

Over at IFC, they're showing Gommorah. I can't wait to see that either. I've added an already hackneyed image of it for you. (You get it: semi-naked guys with guns & muddy sneakers.)

I believe the most titillating film among all these is Serbis. Down to the Angelika I go to see this Filipino flick. (By the way, if you tell me Filipino is not one of those words you have to double check the spelling of a dozen times, I'll never believe a word out of your mouth again!)

I believe we should all vote on an amendment to add three more hours to every weekend day.

Check yes or no.

Life Objectives

2009-02-10T21:27:00.007-05:00

I believe I have about four major life objectives.

I don't feel the need to rank them in any sort of order. One objective is to live in South America long enough to need a visa. Another objective is to make someone a U.S citizen through marriage. (I know, the person who doesn't believe in love is spouting off on marriage.)

I don't know who I'll make a citizen: Be he a Canuck, a Mexican, a Chilean, or an Italian.

Welcome to the land of Starbucks, Obama, Hollywood and Wall Street.

I believe in like.

2009-02-08T00:03:00.004-05:00

I still believe love is fictional.

I still believe love is over.

I believe people confuse lust for love.

I don't buy romantic love. It's a great trope for movies and it works particularly well in films like The Princess Bride & Angel Baby. In some films, love is a lie.

I believe in liking people.

The Test is Over.

2009-02-07T09:15:00.004-05:00

It had been a long-ass time since I believed anything. It usually doesn't behoove me to wear the jaded New Yorker jacket though. Here are my newest beliefs.

I believe seeing the Tindersticks show in Brooklyn on March 6, 2009 will renew my soul.

When I purchased the tickets, I had a set person in mind to join me but alas it probably won't happen. Let's see what God has in mind for that particular night.

I believe in French butter. A crumpet turns into art, slice of toast is no longer bland all thanks to the magic that is French butter. Yes, I believe in the the beauty of slight things.

I had been battling God for a week or more but as the Flaming Lips say at the end of Fight Test, "The test is over."

Jackshit

2009-02-04T16:57:00.006-05:00

I haven't believed in anything for the longest time. Let me know if you need an image to accompany this sentiment....I think you get the picture.

Pink Sky

2009-01-29T22:06:00.006-05:00

I don't believe in romantic love anymore. It's fictional, people.

Ursula in Uruguay

2009-01-25T10:11:00.002-05:00

I can't believe I've been to Uruguay. It seems so surreal & lofty. There is empirical evidence to prove that I was there: my credit card statement, an oversized t-shirt with a Uruguayan flag on it in my possession, photographs I took, a clear passport stamp, spare coins in my bag and dozens of memories.

I guess I expected, upon arrival, to become a dusty gaucho or a carnivorous candombe musician.

McDonald's

2009-01-22T21:35:00.003-05:00

I believe children are the funniest people on the planet. They don't even try to impress. Many just exude cool humor.

Tonight I was talking to a three year old boy. I asked him to write his name on a paper and he wrote something which resembled the scribble you see to your left.

I complimented his name-writing to which he responded, "You think that's my name?" (Snort.)"...that says McDonald's."

Silly Ursula.

¡Qué vergüenza!

2009-01-19T22:59:00.003-05:00

I believe it's rather shocking how many words I hesitate pronouncing in public.

Sure, I can totally play my ESL card but this is a bit absurd.

Here are a few words I practice saying to myself at night:

- irascible

- triptych

- traipse

- conscious (LOL. I know....)

Naturally I know what these words mean but my tongue hates them.

Dear Brazil

2009-01-17T21:10:00.002-05:00

I believe Mutum might be my new favorite movie of all time. It's definitely in the top five films. It's painful to watch at times but when Thiago laughs there is nothing better in the world.

I can't believe I met the director Sandra Kogut tonight @ the MoMa. We hugged and I even got strands of her hair in my mouth.

I believe there are no limits to what people can create (when not living on the internet) and was so inspired to hear what Kogut went through to make Mutum a reality.

Note to self: get your ass off the effing internet. Start writing again. Ok, ok....

Humans have many dimensions.

2009-01-13T21:26:00.003-05:00

I believe the following passage found on page 112 from Many Lives, Many Masters by. Brian Weiss, M.D :

"Patience and timing.... everything comes when it must come. A life cannot be rushed, cannot be worked on a schedule as so many people want it to be. We must accept what comes to us at a given time, and not ask for more... Humans have many dimensions. But time is not as we see time, but rather in lessons that are learned."

Basically the fabulous shit I've been banking on can't happen until I learn what I am to learn. My favorite part is a "life cannot be rushed, cannot be worked on a schedule ...."

I believe in past lives.

Pairs

2009-01-10T13:25:00.004-05:00

I believe certain things are best when paired together. In the morning, there is nothing better than eating oatmeal and listening to the Flaming Lips.

On weekend mornings, what could be better than coffee and journaling? When at a bookstore, I either buy two books or nothing. I wait until I need two books rather than bring a single book home.

Believe it or not, this post has provided me with troves of insight into myself. More about pairs and pears in the future.

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-01-07T21:03:00.009-05:00

I believe the worst part of living NYC will be saying hasta luego to Christopher and all our Wild Things. Who will roar their terrible roar, gnashed their terrible teeth, roll their terrible eyes and show their terrible claws?

God, if only I had been sent to bed with no supper tonight.....

Why actually I do have a reservation....

2009-01-05T18:35:00.002-05:00

I don't believe 2009 is worth living unless I can catch tonight's season premiere of Anthony Bourdain's show No Reservations.

For the love of Jesú Christo, he's going to be traipsing all over my motherland- México.

Tacos, mariachis, piñatas, cerveza, and everything else that requires a glorious accent mark!!

Gatos

2009-01-03T19:48:00.001-05:00

I believe cats are divine. In the future when I have a house, own furniture and all the other adult stuff, I'll have a legion of felines.

Return to Gotham

2008-12-30T17:39:00.000-05:00

If this map is to be believed, I'm currently among a handful of conscientious people. Even though I'm in the land of king-size Texas, I evidently prefer my maps tiny and almost illegible.

In 24 hours time, I'll return to my NYC niche where I'll be surrounded by neurotic people who are open to new experiences.

That sounds about right.

The Cove

2008-12-26T17:53:00.004-05:00

I believe any place where you can simultaneously do laundry, entertain yourself in an arcade, eat fish tacos, enjoy a car wash, play ping pong, listen to live music, and drink beer is a place worth visiting.

For that reason, Kate and I are on our way to multi-sensory fun.

Who says San Antonio is lame? Psshh...

Family Tree

2008-12-24T19:41:00.002-05:00

I believe being around family is the most beautiful & heart-wrenching experience.

You love them yet wince at their shortcomings. You sprung from your parents but aren't them at all. Being at home equals nostalgia mixed with boredom. In your room, you find dozens of relics of who you were years ago, pieces even you had forgotten but are delighted to revisit.

These days are too long yet this life is too short.

Toques, Halos, Cloches & Peach Baskets

2008-12-21T12:58:00.001-05:00

I believe hats are like pets in that they have the ability to transform your mood.

There are days in which I switch hats two or three times. I have friends who claim to have never seen my hair.

I also believe in wigs.

Ziggy Stardust

2008-12-20T10:09:00.004-05:00

I believe people who listen to & love David Bowie are avant garde.

Buddha

2008-12-19T09:32:00.001-05:00

I don't believe Osamu Tezuka read Herman Hesse's novel Siddhartha. I say this because book 1- Kapilavastu of the Buddha series was massively disappointing.

I'm not certain how a writer, even a graphic novelist, can treat the subject matter with almost comical reverence.

It's likely I'll read book 2- The Four Encounters in hopes of redemption.

I believe women graphic novelists tend to write the most poignant tales while men graphic artist tend to draw the coolest shit. David B. can usually manage both though because he's a talented motherf***er.

Peeping Toms

2008-12-17T16:41:00.000-05:00

I believe people may be reading this ridiculous blog after all. I don't believe many people are visiting me but perhaps a handful of you might spend a minute of your day here.

I don't believe or expect anybody will leave a comment until 2009. Ya'll are just doing some peeping tom shit.

I don't believe you are all men with long noses and side parts.

Pumpkin & Beer

2008-12-15T22:48:00.002-05:00

I believe I'll have a rocking time in San Antonio next week.

Between drinking beers while playing pool with Kate, chatting/laughing with my grandmas, catching a Spurs game with Chris and Brenda, noshing on tacos and pumpkin empanadas, watching movies at the Bijoux and not worrying about rent, how could I not have the most amazing time ever?

I'm so effing sick of NYC right now. Get me out of this charmless rathole. Somebody speak to me in Spanglish!!

Innocence packed a suitcase.

2008-12-15T18:57:00.003-05:00

I believe all my Sapphic days may be behind me. My days of dalliances are dunzo. Bring on the pirates or metrosexuals, either/or.

¡Que asco!

2008-12-14T21:01:00.000-05:00

I believe men who oogle woman at the gym are gross.

Today at the gym a meathead checked out my ass while I was blowing my nose. There was absolutely nothing sexy about that situation.

Morbid Magnets

2008-12-13T23:29:00.002-05:00

I believe I have a future in the morbid magnet business.

My best gems include the following:

---Life was smooth sailing after his lobotomy.

---She wondered if her flexing spending would cover her electroshock treatments but was too self- conscious to inquire.

I believe I best be patenting these treasures.

Personality Genome

2008-12-12T20:10:00.003-05:00

I believe a handful of the findings on birth order. As an only child, I tend to abuse superlative language and live at the poles. I am the best or the worst. Mediocrity is still the stuff of my nightmares.

Much to my credit, I never believed in the silent treatment.

Hanukkah

2008-12-11T15:21:00.004-05:00

I believe there are probably a thousand spellings for the Jewish Festival of Lights.

Hanukkah - Chanukah - Chanukkah- Hanukka- etc....

As a part-time neologist, spelling and names fascinate me.

Te quiero

2008-12-10T23:09:00.002-05:00

I believe Spanish is a much funnier language than English. Words like pinche & joder have a built in hilarity to them that their English equivalents lack. What about pendejada? I can't think of a more amusing word in any language.

I also believe Spanish is a more sensual language because I want you can mean I love you. It all depends.

Names

2008-12-09T20:17:00.002-05:00

I believe I'll always prefer the sound of masculine names that end in o.

Cupid was an asshole

2008-12-08T20:39:00.007-05:00

I believe romantic love is mythical.

I believe if aliens came to our planet and visited our museums they would leave thinking everyone that ever walked the planet was white.

I believe in honesty.

Phoenix

2008-12-07T20:35:00.004-05:00

I don't believe being the only chick in the graphic novel section of the bookstore makes me a dork. I believe it makes me magical.

Hard on the Heart

2008-12-06T16:52:00.005-05:00

I believe moving into a new apartment or house is hard on the heart.

I believe Wi- Fi is a gift from the Gods.

It hurts so good.

2008-12-05T20:56:00.007-05:00

I believe I eat wasabi peas so that I'll have a legitimate reason to cry.

I believe I'm 23 % adult & 77 % teenager.

Begin with beliefs

2008-12-05T14:12:00.004-05:00

I believe in the warmth & style of hoodies.

I believe not in Santa Claus but in God.

I believe sleep is rejuvenating.