Thirty-plus years later, I still look cranky in an apron.
This little housewife is heading South to the Homeland for a few days. There will be mucho play and pastelitos and a little Pollitos work.
But, the apron ... it stays here.
Last night I hopped into a white van with 14 other people to tour local Latino businesses and hear from some families who have been served by the non-profit board on which I sit. The tour was put together by the non-profit staff to give the board a good look at the community it helps to serve.
When I worked as a reporter, I knew all the hot spots, the latest fabulous taco stand and the ratty apartment complexes where the trabajadores tended to live. These days, the hottest places I know are playgrounds, so it was a great treat to get on that bus last night.
These are pictures from the bakery, the clothing store and the butcher shop we visited -- all thriving businesses. The butcher shop sells 400 roasted chickens a week, the bakery expanded from 1,000-square-feet to 6,000, and the clothing store sells the fashions of hip hop and vaquero to Hispanics, Africans, African-Americans and other immigrants. They've also been robbed more than 20 times.
(I didn't shoot anything beyond a group shot at the restaurant where we ate our fill of pupusas. Too busy eating.)
One of the families who was on the bus with us is originally from Guatemala. They are lovely and joyous and grateful to be here, but they carry a sadness. Their daughters cannot go to college. The oldest was in medical school when they left Guatemala. She now works at McDonald's. The second graduated with honors in the United States. She now works with her sister at McDonald's. The third, a senior, is taking honors courses but has told her parents and counselor she's wasting her time.
She won't be able to go to college either.
University students must prove residency, or have the proper immigration paperwork to study in the United States. Approximately 65,000 young people graduate from U.S. high schools each year who cannot go on to college if they so desire.
Their best chance? The Dream Act
For the sake of this family, and for the rest, I hope it passes one day. (And por favor, no comments on the right and wrong of illegal immigration and allow me to feel bad for these smart kids, who didn't make the decision to cross the border).
There was a great story in the paper Saturday morning about Kid Music that Won't Force You to Stick Sharp Pencils in Your Ears.
The story heavily quotes Dan Zanes, formerly of the Del Fuegos, who has found success as a kiddie entertainer. His song, Queremos Bailar, is a hit around here and I have been known to sing it at the top of my lungs from the windows-up safety of my Goldfish-encrusted Accord.
Also mentioned in the story was this blog, Children's Music That Rocks. It's written by a librarian for the New York Public Library and it rocks.
The search for music I could live with, and which would not dull my daughter's Music City-born palate for good taste, is the main reason I hooked up with iTunes. (That and the ability to download Bow Wow Wow's I Want Candy.)
The only thing they need to improve is the ability to search for children's songs in Spanish. But, I did score these, which we love:
If You're Happy and You Know It by Maria del Rey
Boom, Boom by 3+2
And the most fabulous Los Pollitos Dicen version by Emilio Delgado. It is semi-performed here, just for you, by Maria Felice, then 2.5. (Please ignore the stage mother's voice)
Maria's only spontaneous Spanish today:
"Lo voy a tirar en la lata de basura.''
Ah, at least she knows where the garbage goes.
Today we also ran into Maria's former nanny, Marta, a woman I would pay a healthy salary to just come and visit with me -- visit with me every single day. I love her so. So, so, so much. Really. Maria had not seen her in about a year, but she received Marta's warm hugs and kisses with an open heart and loud giggles.
Goes to show you, love doesn't forget.
Happy Weekend.
I woke too early, and unfortunately, to the sounds of a high-pitch Winnie the Pooh song. Seems la nena had to use the potty and turn on the CD player. Checked the clock and thought it said 6 a.m. Laid there desperate for sleep while my husband faded in and out of consciousness. Got up and took the monitor blaring Winnie with me so he could sleep. He’s got a long day ahead. Much to my freak-outness, the clocks in the kitchen read 5:27 a.m.
So, I do what any modern mother does. Make sure the kid is safe and then log on. Hot coffee in my favorite mug.
But AP blares at me too: Bearded dictator reportedly in “grave condition.’’
So here, alone in the dark, I am trying _ unsuccessfully _ to wrap my head around what life would be like with that man dead. My generation does not know a life without A Bad Guy and a thick wall of separation from the familial homeland.
I have told my family I firmly believe the guy never will die. The bargain with the devil thing. But the news this morning, and of late, promises to prove me wrong.
How much lighter would life seem? How would family gatherings and conversation change? What would
What would
Friends, especially the reporter types, in
So friends, let me point you elsewhere for the reactions and information you may seek today and on The Big Day, whenever it may be.
Babalu (Be sure to check out the extensive links section.)
Miami Herald
Me? I’m going to take a nap.
So, the lovely Marta asked me a few questions...Thanks for encouraging me to think today.
Two everyday things I could not live without:
1. My laptop
2. My cafecito
(And can I profess love and devotion to PayPal here too?)
Two of my favorite songs:
1. "Little Creatures'' -- Talking Heads
2. "Black Coffee in Bed'' -- Squeeze
(Stuck in the '80s, I know..)
Two things I want to do before I die:
1. Write The Book (outline of which has been in a drawer for 10 years)
2. Spend lazy summers at Guardalavaca
Two things I worry about:
1. Raising an only child
2. Getting killed by an aggressive driver
Two stores where I (over)shop:
1. Target
2. Amazon.com
Two things that scare me:
1. The ever-present Epi Pen in my bag. (La nena is peanut allergic)
2. Tailgaters (notice the car theme?)
Two snacks I could eat everyday:
1. Ice cream, any flavor
2. Ginger snaps and green tea
Two people I would be lost without:
1. My husband
2. My daughter
(And a cheating shout out to my best friend and my best business partner, both of whom help keep me sane...)
Two nicknames I have been given:
1. Relampago
2. Araña peluda (Hi, Tia!)
Next two places I want to go on vacation:
1. La Costa Brava, España
2. Grand Canyon
Two people who should answer these questions on their own blogs:
1. Chantel
2. Amanda
Tico The Squirrel Who Only Speaks Spanish and his cacharro actually stopped me when I turned the page in this Dora coloring book. Is it me, or is something just not right here? Did the illustrator think little Hispanic kids would especially connect, see themselves, because of the Latin love of cars on blocks or something?
Tico reminds me of a neighbor we had in Perrine. He always had some junk car and he drove his three kids and me around in a car with rotted out floorboards. It was super cool to stare down at the road as we drove. Without seat belts, of course. That guy didn't talk much either and he always had a goofy grin on his face too.
I went over to Nick Jr. to find out more about Tico The Squirrel Who Only Speaks Spanish and didn't find a character description. And while I found nothing about Tico, I found a group of over-thinking parents -- like me.
For grins:
Dora needs to change clothes
Dora dresses like a ho
Who is the singing paper towel roll?
And my personal favorite:
Dora promotes drug use
Pobrecita, Dora.
But Tico, he still creeps me. And yes, I know I am over-thinking. But at least I haven't posted my rantings on a children's television network message board. Yet.
If my 10th grade math teacher were to read that I am currently involved in Los Pollitos inventory, he would roll onto the floor and laugh until he peed. Evil man that he was.
Just coming up for breath to say that I am counting and counting and re-counting and thanking goodness that we sold as many as we did in 2006, because really, this assembly line stuff is de madre and my math skills are less than accountant-like.
Ah, si...And we're planning a big on-line sale in February and looking at new designs and colors. (If anyone has any design, Latino-isms suggestions, feel free to e-mail them. We aim to please here in the hen house).
All this in between filling out Maria's zillion-page Spanish immersion pre-school application. Amazing.
Ask me what I want on any given day and the list, though often changing, is never long:
A diamond ring from Shreve in
Shoes from Goler in
A jugito de mamey from El Palacio de los Jugos in
A wholesale Pollitos account with Barney’s
A private concert with this cubanito.
What I am finding is that I would give up fantasies of fancy shoes and cocktail rings (but maybe not actual mamey shakes) for priceless moments such as this:
Me: “Subete las mangas para lavarte las manos.’’
Maria: “Are mangas sleeves?’’
She's doing more of this lately. Asking questions. The message to me is that she’s getting it, despite my fumblings. She knows we have two ways of saying things, in English and Spanish. She cares. Gracias a Dios y repetition.
(Now, should I send that Shreve link to my husband?)
Resolution least kept: “I will organize my office.’’
Repetitive office management resolution failure leads to this thought: Only the people at Real Simple have organized offices. Bitches.
Resolution 2007: Scrapbook years 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 before 2008…maybe then pictures will stop taunting lazy mother from their boxes and piles.
2007: Will it finally be “Next Year in
Daughter is hilariously sweet and funny.
Daughter also is numero uno whiner with a bearded dictator complex.
Mother not sure how to take it when best friend and family insist daughter is “just like her.’’
Getting 3-year-old to say “sorry.’’ Problem.
Did not eat 12 grapes at midnight Dec. 31 and did not mop the house to throw evil and badness out with the bucket water.
Cannot help but think: I’m screwed now.
No girl from
2007 = 40 years on earth.
A pig must roast.
Baby weight: Gone, 2006.
Culote cubano: Presente. Siempre.
Quandary: Trip to
Quandary, indeed.
Going on first mommy weekend trip: good for sanity.
Dreaming of Google keywords for business: bad for sanity.
Popular Los Pollitos Dicen keyword search: babes.
Hmm.
Blog writing: Kinda feels like you’ve finally become the crazy woman yelling into the street to everyone...and to no one.
Los Pollitos Dicen (The Little Chicks Say) now has a page on Facebook. Become a Fan!
Subscribe in a reader
