rednecks and whiteout

im here in the library again, and i was checking my email when i heard a very loud "uh huh, yeah, wight tare...wight tare, uh huh." I looked over the little cubicle wall and found a blonde little boy who is maybe 9 or 10 (tops) sitting on the other side. this is no normal little boy. blonde hair, and bright blue eyes, huge ears and what i thought had to be fake teeth. they couldn't be real, they were already yellow, and spaced far apart like those plastic ones you buy when you are trying to look like a "authentic" redneck. but no, alas they were his real teeth. these huge things were what seemed to be impairing his speech, "wight tare" coming out of his mouth, when he wanted to say "right there." To top it off he already had some fake tattoos on his arms, and a Nascar "Dale Earnhardt #8" hat over messed up hair. To top it off, he wore huge bottle cap thick lenses and when he squinted his upper lip seemed to be too small for his gums, and exposed his huge teeth. And he sat along side what I could only assume was his mother, who with her female mullet and old jogging pants stared blankly at the screen. If that wasn't enough I heard the mother ask the librarian about information on where she could find online information about home schooling. Great. As if the kid wasn't already in enough trouble for his less then stellar appearance, he was going to have his ma teach him some ejukashun.

I guess Iowa is no exception to the redneck population. If anything there seems to be an abundance here. Around here I am considered Mexican not Wexican or Hispanic, but Mexican. I had some one ask me if I was a US Citizen the other day. I guess I just have to stand back and laugh, how funny the white people are here. I can see how when my cousin's cousins (who are mexican) say when it comes to girls, up here has what they call "white out" which has nothing to do with snow. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to get used to it all, it's amusing, and makes me feel even that much more brown.

I'm Here, and I'm on the Mend

Well everyone, things have changed once again. As I write this post, I am sitting in the public library in Iowa Falls, Iowa. Now I know what your thinking. Iowa? What? Why Iowa? Well as it turns out, I needed a break. A break from the big city, a break from unemployment, a break from it all. So I came here, to Iowa Falls, Iowa. It's a bit drastic change, coming from San Antonio which is about 2 million people to a town that has about 5200. But it was a welcome change, a change from the hectic life and stresses of the big city, to a more simpler, calmer life style. The weather here isn't too bad right now either, I think their definition of "sooo hot" was about 84 degrees. So then I'm sure some of you have questions, WHY? probably being the first one. Well there are many reasons, but the first one and the most important one is because I needed change. I didn't like how I was living in SA, I didn't like the people I knew, and I just wasn't happy there. I don't expect being here in a smaller town to all of a sudden be a huge source of fun and happiness, but it is a bit more relaxing. It gives me some oppurtunities that I was lacking in SA. Like work. I already have a job here, and it's been less then a week. That was one of major reasons I had thought about moving here, for work and the fact that I can actually "save" money here, where as in the big city I was prone to spend it. I guess what I'm trying to say is that my mind has changed. I am no longer all about the big city, and all the things that it offers. I just don't care about those things anymore. Now don't get me wrong, I love San Antonio, I love Texas, I love the fact that I'm from there, and I am proud of my hometown. But my relationship with the city had kind of soured lately. It's always been a love/hate relationship, and lately it had been more hate then love. So I knew it was time to go. I had a good oppurtunity to come up here for a year (yes only a year or so) and work hard and catch up on things I had slacked on. So I did it. It was my decision to make, and I made it. So to everyone back in Texas, I will miss you but don't worry I will be ok. I'm calmer, I'm happier and I have goals ahead of me to work on. So as the next year unfolds I'll still keep everyone updated, same crazy me, just now a new place. I'm sure my crazy life will find something to throw at me, it's never disappointed me so far.

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"