One of the greatest things about the intersection between travel and technology is that it's possible to meet someone during your travels, someone you think is simpatico but you don't have much opportunity to chat past "hello" and "where are you from," only to return to your respective countries and discover one another over the DSL lines. This is exactly how I met, and later accidentally stumbled across, Steve Bridger of Mexicanwave. He, his wife, and two kids were on the same bus with Todd and I, as we traveled from D.F. to San Miguel. Steve and I talked about the beautiful lavender flowers of the blooming Jacarandas, a tree I told him we were fortunate enough to have in San Diego.
During my usual webcrawl of all things Mexican, I came across Mexicanwave and saw a photo of the editor. I knew the moment I saw his picture that it was the guy on the bus. What a weird feeling when the subconscious recognizes something before the waking mind comprehends it. Anyway, I sent him an e-mail and he replied that he was the guy on the bus and he remembered our chat! Funny how tiny the world has become. So, point your browser his way and check out Mexicanwave:http://www.mexicanwave.com/index.html
Like visiting Paris three times before I toured the Louvre, I am finally reading Tony Cohan's book, On Mexican Time, for the first time. For those few Mexicophiles who haven't read it, it's about the author and his artist wife's escape from Los Angeles (and all L.A. stands for) in the 80's to San Miguel de Allende high in the mountains of colonial Mexico. Cohan's bright and spicy storytelling takes me right back to the Mexico I recently visited and the Mexico that swims around in my dreams of ex-patriate life.
I constantly feel torn between staying in this country where life is too complex and expensive but all my family resides, to pulling up stakes, cashing out, and discovering the other; becoming the other. In many ways, I will always feel like an outsider regardless of where I am. So why not be an outsider in a place where the colors, flavors, arts, and traditions are so rich?
As everyone has most likely heard by now, 2 days ago California had a tsunami warning.
It turned out to be a big nothing but it was kinda fun to figure out what I would take with me to higher ground when the 45 minute warning came.
Now I bet the White House and their friends, the bible-thumpers, are convinced that California's recent string of earthquakes and the tsunami threat are evidence that the heathens and sodomizers residing in the golden state are going to get their due. And, with the California governor's recent budget cut to the mosquito abatement program, the blood-sucking insects that will soon over-populate and wreak havoc on bare arms and naked legs could be likened to a plague of locusts.
What fun neo-apocalyptic times we live in. Kinda brings to mind the warm and fuzzy Reagan years. Only worse. Much worse. And I am not talking about Mother Nature's little hiccups and emissions.
We had another 'quake this morning at about 8:41 am. Preliminary reports show the magnitude at 5.6 centered out of the Palm Desert area. I had just gotten out of bed a few moments before and when it hit I was in a doorway. Automatic earthquake preparedness training kicked in and I threw my arms up in the door jamb, crouched slightly and waited -- one eye on my dog and one eye on my cat. Funny the things that went through my mind in 5 seconds -- that it wouldn't matter if I didn't edit a story I finished writing last night. Or that it wouldn't matter that I would miss my date for margaritas with a friend this afternoon. Or that I hadn't taken a shower. Then, as quick as it started, it subsided and I went back to my morning routine. So much for my exciting Sunday.
One of the greatest things about the intersection between travel and technology is that it's possible to meet someone during your travels, someone you think is simpatico but you don't have much opportunity to chat past "hello" and "where are you from," only to return to your respective countries and discover one another over the DSL lines. This is exactly how I met, and later accidentally stumbled across, Steve Bridger of Mexicanwave. He, his wife, and two kids were on the same bus with Todd and I, as we traveled from D.F. to San Miguel. Steve and I talked about the beautiful lavender flowers of the blooming Jacarandas, a tree I told him we were fortunate enough to have in San Diego.
