Im Back

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures. Well it's a long story, but I actually ended up losing my digital camera in Mexico, so by the time I got to Vallarta, I had no way of taking photos. So a quick trip to Sam's Club fixed that. These were taken with a disposable camera, so I apologize for the lack of quality, but hopefully you will still enjoy them. (Click on the Pic to Enlarge...duh)

Monday August 22, 2005: Arrive Puerto Vallarta. Pics of the street taken outside my uncle's apartment.





For the rest of that day we chilled out, and later that night ate at a great Italian Restaurant. Yummy.

Tuesday August 23, 2005: We visited my favorite place, Las Caletas. It's about an hour ride by boat (and only accessible by boat) from PV. Here are some pics when we were leaving PV for Caletas:









And we arrive to Las Caletas. We exit the boat, walk off the dock and are there. This is the first view of Caletas you see when you get off the dock.





A short walk up the trail you get to the main part of Caletas. It's a small cove with beaches on either side.













Me and Iliana:



More of Caletas:







Some Wildlife Pics:



Me with Mango the Monkey



Iliana with Parrot



Iliana and Mango



More Caletas Pics:

Iliana



From the Top of Caletas





Me in Heaven



Tuesday Night: Ate dinner with the familia.



My Cousin's Daughter Michelle



His Son Johan



Wednesday August 24, 2005: Highlight of the day, after 3 years I was FINALLY reunited with my favorite food on the planet. La Marisma Shrimp Tacos. This is my favorite place to eat in the world. Others need fancy dining and expensive ambiance, give me a taco cart and a mexican coke anyday.



The Cart



Gifts from Heaven



Me and The Miracle Workers (the cooks)



My other Cousin's son Kalani



Karate Kalani



Leaving Vallarta, going back to Guadalajara:









Blue Agave plants. You can't really see it, but the word SAUZA was spelled out in agave. If you live under a rock, agave and blue agave is grown to make a little drink called Tequila.



Valley Town with Blue Agave surrounding



Yes, it's a actual town.



Mountain at Dusk



Thursday August 25, 2005: At the airport, My sis and Iliana.



That's all of them, hope you enjoy'd them!

Im not back yet...

so im back right? wrong! im not. actually right now im sitting in my uncle´s apartment here in Puerto Vallarta typing this blog post. I guess I could have waited till i got back to the states, but much like last year´s trip i decided to post a entry "while" im on my trip. so lets get all of you up to speed shall we? well our plane left extremely early on last wednesday, and i ended up spending the night at my sisters house so I would make sure to wake up on time. turns out i only got about an hour of sleep that night, so i didnt have to wake up much anyways. the plane ride was relatively short, only being 2 hours from SA to Phoenix, but it seemed like forever. I remember when the plane rides would be so exciting and fleeting, but now they just seem to last forever. I´m by no means scared to ride on the plane, but just the fact that I have sit there for 2 hours and do nothing just bugs the living beegeegee´s out of me. I took my mp3 player with me for entertainment, but its hard to hear any music when the engine is roaring just outside the paper thin walls of the plane. we arrived in phoenix and had a 2 hour layover before catching our other 2 hour flight to Guadalajara. So finally as we touched down here in the mother land i felt at ease, as I always do for some reason. We met up with Iliana, and went back to her house to leave our bags. We toured the city a bit, and then later on that night got on bus to Mexico City and then to Queretaro. Now I can´t sleep on planes, and well I can´t sleep on buses either. I think I maybe got another hour or two of interrupted sleep that night. We stayed in Mexico City for the day and then in the late afternoon made our way up to Queretaro. By this time I was pretty tired, but I still couldnt sleep on the stupid bus. We got to Queretaro around 9pm and checked into our hotel. I hit the bed and was out very soon after. Queretaro was nice, but yet again the haunting irony followed me there. See last year, me and "her" went to Queretaro. So this year, as I was with Iliana and her friends, we ended up going where? To the Plaza de Almas, the same exact square that me and "her" went to last year. I saw all the places that me and "her" walked around last year, even the same little hole in the wall place that sold gorditas. So that was a bit odd. Seeing the places we ate and walked together, but now in a differet light with a different attitude and a different circumstances. I think it was good for me though. I was about to look at it and say "you know? I remember this place, this fountain, this plaza. And how much of a idiot I was back then!" I really have changed since then, I know I really have. So that was a good reminder, of that past that I have chosen to learn from. After Queretaro, we hopped on the bus again and made our way back to Guadalajara, which we got to lastnight and spent the night at Iliana´s house. This morning we left early for Vallarta and got here about 2pm. We at a great restaurant right on the beach, great food with great atmosphere. The only bad thing? It´s pretty darn hot and humid here. This afternoon it rained a good amount, and that cooled things off, but over all its pretty darn hot. The highlight of today was I got to talk to my cousin Jaime, who I hadnt got to speak to when i was here 3 years ago. So that was nice, we did a lot of catching up and chatting. I also got to talk a lot with my uncle joe, who I swapped musical trivia and taste with. Seems he loves Elvis and Willie Nelson as much as me, he told me some stories about my mom that I didn´t even know. I told him its funny, because I know my mom loved elvis, but I didnt know she came home crying from the movie theatre after seeing "love me tender" in which Elvis dies. I told him listening to Elvis and being here in Mexico helps me to somehow get to know her better, because I didnt have time too get to know her much. He agreed and said that I didnt, and that told me some more about how she got him listening to Elvis. That was a great thing, to get to talk to my mom´s own brother, and get his perspective on her. And what better place to that in than Vallarta? Somehow, when I´m on this side of the border I feel like I know her a bit better. Call me crazy, but that´s just how it is. Well after that we came back and picked up my sis and her husband and my aunt and went to a great italian place down by the beach and the malecon downtown. Vallarta has grown, and they have built many new things, but its still the same old town, it still has that charm. So now tomorrow as I go to Las Caletas I have a day of fun in the sun and relaxtion. Finally. So to all I hope you are having great days out there, I´ll be back soon and will right more. Until then, take care of yourselves.

au revoir

well it's that time of the year again. time to head down south for my yearly trip to mexico. the mother land. the place of my familia, (well half of it anyways). this is the third year in a row that I have made my pilgrimage and things are truly different this time. No longer do I have to worry about going to Mexico City to see "Her" and there is no longer anything called "us" It's actually pretty ironic, because it seems like only yesterday that I was writing this. How things have changed since then. But it's for the best, everything that has changed, has changed for the better. It took a little getting used to, but altogether it's better this way. And this time I say that without trying to fool myself that I'm right. Because I know it is true. So here I am again, one year later almost to the day, leaving for Mexico. Guadalajara this time. Seems I can't escape Mexico City though, as I will be there on Thursday for a short visit. Then back to Guadalajara and finally to my beloved Vallarta. My second home that I would prefer be my first. The ocean, the sunsets, the La Marisma Shrimp Tacos. I shall be reunited with my shrimp tacos, and as I promised I will hug the lady who makes them for me. I love you shrimp taco making mexican lady. I know the days will go fast, so I will try to slow down to mexico time, which seems to move twice as slow. I plan on enjoying myself, finally parasailing in Vallarta, and taking lots of great pictures to I can fully remember it. And with a new trip comes new possibilities in the senorita department. My intention for going is not to be on the prowl, but if I meet a nice female then all will be even better. Can it happen? Sure. Will it happen? Don't know. Either way, I will have fun and enjoy myself. I will be back on Thursday the 24th so until then I bid you all adieu. Take care of yourselves out there, whereever on this earth you may be.

About Me: R.K.B.

A little about me.

I am: Robert Kendall Bell
I know: life can be unfair.
I have: no job. working (pun) on that.
I wish: my little bit of debt could suddenly erase.
I hate: people who lie.
I miss: my mom.
I fear: God.
I hear: nothing right now.
I search: for simplicity in life.
I wonder: about everything.
I regret: taking so long to let "her" go.
I love: mexican coke.
I'm lucky because: I'm alive.
I care: about my family and friends.
I always: sleep with my arms wrapped around the pillow.
I am not: macho.
I dance: when no one's looking.
I sing: in the car.
I do not always: think ahead.
I should not: have gone after Gaby Lara.
I am: what I am.
I love: the outdoors.
I write: to vent.
I fear: the SAPD. kinda.
I win: less often then I lose.
I lose: more often then I win.
I confuse: futon with tofu.
I listen: to all kinds of music.
I go: to the gym everyday.
I am glad that: I got probation.
I am happy about: going to Mexico next week.
I am obsessed with: music.
I should be: reading.
I want: to live a happy, simple life.

btw, thanks go to Freebird for the list format.

Finally....

Finally, some closure. Some relief. Just a bit. Well a few days ago I got some good news. Which is obviously good. Things seem to be on the up and up once again. Finally. Yesterday was a bit stressful, as I returned some DVD's to blockbuster I walked back out and started my car, and it didn't start. No juice, nothing. I thought to myself the usual. Why? Why always me? With everything finally starting to look hopeful, now this? But I remained calm and checked the battery. A lady next to me was nice enough to offer a jump, which was to no avail. So I thanked her and walked across the street to Auto Zone (thank goodness it was close) to check the battery. They lent me some tools and I got out the battery to be tested. I was hoping it wasn't something more then the battery, because that tends to get a little more pricey. After the test though, the machine just plainly stated "Bad Battery" which was a relief. So $55 dollars later, I reattached the new battery and my car started up just fine. Big sigh of relief. So today as I do my laundry, I'm a bit happy and relaxed. Things are coming to a close, and hopefully only good things will be to come. We shall see.

"Crazy but I'm relieved this time
Begging for sweet relief of blessing in disguise"

"Everything that we survived
It's gonna be alright
Just lucky we're alive
Got no vision I've been blind
Searching everywhere you're right here in my sights"

D.O.A.

hehehe....this song gets me all giddy. some songs just hit the nail on the head ya know?

Yeah, you know I did it
It's over and I feel fine
Nothing you can say is gonna change my mind
Waited, and i waited the longest night
Nothing like the taste of sweet decline

I went down and i fell, i fell so fast
Dropping like a grain in an hour glass
Never say forever 'cause nothing lasts
Dancing with the bones of my buried past

Never mind there's nothing I could do
Bet your life there's something killing you.

It's a shame we have to die my dear
No-one's getting out of here alive
This time
You're away to go but have no fear
No-one's getting out of here alive
This time

I'm finished, i'm getting you off my chest
Made you come clean in a dirty dress
A promise is a promise you kept in check
Hard to cross a heart that beats its fist

Take a good hard look for the very last time
The very last one in a very long line.
Only took a second to say goodbye
Been a pleasure, but the pleasure's been mine all mine

Ain't no way
D.O.A
Ain't no way
D.O.A

Take a good hard look for the very last time
The very last one in a very long line
Only took a second to say goodbye
Been a pleasure, but the pleasure's been mine all mine


It's a shame we have to disappear
No-one's getting out of here alive

my current crush of the moment...

Natalie Portman in "Garden State." Why can't I find a girl like her character? I'd take her in a second, helmet and everything.

does it get any better then this?

sitting here. blogging. eating peanut M&M's. listening to "perfect day" by lou reed. yup lou, you were correct. it's perfect.

late night ramblings...

there has been some thoughts bouncing around in my head and I have been meaning to write them down. so here goes a try. I was talking to a friend the other day and somehow we were talking about people's perception. well that's what I think it was about. I told her that sometimes it amazes me how people's perception can change, or how it can be bias by whatever influence or whatever knowledge they have of a person. I guess thats when you start forming opinions and make judgements of people. for instance it can be something as simple as your name. From what I have heard, when I was born, my mom had wanted to name me after one of my grandfathers. Either Roman after my mom's dad, or Robert after my dad's dad. Well obviously she picked Robert for me, instead of Roman. Why? I have no idea. And I can't ask her. Was I too pink and she thought that I didn't favor the Mexican side? Did she think I would have had a hard time with a name like Roman, which is obviously less common then Robert? Whatever the reason is, it is unknown to me. So when I tell this story to others, they automatically say "Oh well I can't picture you named Roman. You don't look like a Roman." Which is true. But what does a guy named Roman supposed to look like? Latin? See that bugs me. The reason why they can't "picture" me as a Roman, is because I have never been and they don't know any different. They can't visualize me with a different name, because for the most part they never have, and will never have too. I will always be named Robert. And even if I went tomorrow and changed my name to Roman, it still wouldn't fit. I'm sure they would forget and call me Robert. And that's what bugs me. How people's perception is affected by what they know and by their own judgements. See if I was go up to a person who has never met me or I was introduced to someone and said "Hi, my name is Roman" they would probably say "nice to meet you." Would they say "hmmm...you don't look like a Roman." Why not? Cause they have no prior knowledge of any other possible name I could have. They have no preconcieved knowledge or me, they have no information to tell them otherwise. And what bugs me isn't the fact that I think I should have been named Roman. That's not the point. The point is, you can judge someone from what you know, and what you know may be hear say or completely false. What if you heard something about someone that you had never met? And then when you did meet them, would that come into your mind and have any bearing on how you would treat them? To a point I think it would. And that's what just gets me. How someone's perception of a person or a situation can be completely off. How people act and react off of what they know, when what they know might be crap. How easy I think it is to percieve something that is not there, something that maybe was never there. I was once asked what my favorite word in the english language was. I would have to say my favorite word is "seems" because of what the definition is.

seem ( P ) Pronunciation Key (sm)
intr.v. seemed, seem·ing, seems

1.To give the impression of being; appear: The child seems healthy, but the doctor is concerned. 2.To appear to one's own opinion or mind: I can't seem to get the story straight.
3.To appear to be true, probable, or evident: It seems you object to the plan. It seems like rain. He seems to have worked in sales for several years.
4.To appear to exist: There seems no reason to postpone it.

What other word's meaning might not mean what it is at all? I don't know maybe it's just me, but that just fascinates me. And that brings me back to perception. How things can appear or how someone can percieve something, but depending on what they know or how they feel, it might be completely different then what someone else sees. I guess when it comes down to dealing with other people, perception is something that should be used carefully. It's true that some people can "read" others very well, that some can use their "perceptive powers" to really see the real person. To some that means seeing a beautiful person in a ugly exterior. And to others it's seeing the vice versa. But I think we have to be careful. To try and see someone, to try to precieve them, we have to be careful not to be bias or use our on opinions and judgements. "Judge not, lest you be judged." I think when it comes to humans, we will never have that down pact. We will never be able to judge someone without having bias or forming an opinion, no matter how hard we strive for that, it will elude us. But on a happy note, there is a positive side. Because all of us do see things differently it adds that much more to the picture. I think the fact that we all see different things in a situation, we can help each other. I'm sure someone at sometime has made you think of something in a way you hadn't? That's the beauty of humans being different, that we can help one another. As long as we don't judge and put our peceptions out there to influence people. Hehe...kinda like I'm doing now. Hehe. But am I influencing people? Who knows? I think a person will be influenced if they want to be. They have to agree to be in a way. Either way, I think I try not to pass judgements on people, because they might pass judgements about me. I guess there really is only one judge, and I'm glad, cause he will be fair. No not Judge Wopner. A little bit higher then him. So I guess that's what I needed to say. I actually have another rant about "they" but that will come later. Thanks for listening to me, you can all wake up now.

countless hours...

well it's another thursday. the day before what is supposed to be the last day of the work week. too bad my week is just a week, not a work week. sometimes I just sit and wonder if I will ever get hired anywhere! I faxed another resume to another place today for a help desk job, and my cousin actually works there, so maybe he can put in some pull. but that's still uncertain. my thoughts of moving up north are getting more consuming. I guess we shall see. until then i have countless hours of thought, and yes, writing too! because of popular demand I have been working on the story of "her" but I have no idea when I will be done, its even longer then the first story. I will keep you guys posted though. hehe, posted. i need a vacation, i need to get away from here, but yet that sounds funny, a vacation from what? i guess i just need to clear my head.