You Guuuys!!

I ain’t much of a fan of remakes. I prefer to watch the oldies, no matter how corny or fake they may seem compared to today’s cinematic standards. Then again, I have no taste in movies but I’m perfectly happy like that…hence my choice in this ‘movie review’ I bring you tonight.

btw, I read there was a remake  in the making....biiig surprise

Recently, I had been bugging a variety of people to find me a copy of Monster Squad (1987). No one came through, not that I really had any expectations, soooo I had to do it myself. The way in which I found this copy is irrelevant. I’m just ecstatic to say that I did it aaaalll by muuh-self and it’s a terrific copy.

Last time I had seen Monster Squad had been in the late 80s, perhaps very early 90s. My tio showed my brothers and me this flick and it instantly became a kid favorite. The whole story line, back in the day, was a unique concept. Well, at least to us, it was.

A group of kids, with overactive imaginations, get together to form a monster club. Lo and behold, monsters actually pop up and it’s their quest to save the world from the hands of Dracula. Ta-Da! Yea, the plot wasn’t all that complex but it worked for us back then, and I ain’t ashamed to admit that it kept me entertained when I saw it a couple of nights ago.

I even came to understand where my fondness for Stephen King’s books came from. Within the first couple of minutes into the movie, the main character comes out wearing a t-shirt that states: Stephen King Rules. Wow. Talk about a moment of clarity. Life makes a lil bit more sense now.

A couple of other things that stood out, seeing the movie now as an adult: I now understood what a virgin was (didn’t learn about that till middle school). My brothers totally stole the Mummy’s walk for yeeears. They’d be walking around with a hand clutched to their chest and dragging a foot behind all the friggin’ time. Oh, and  I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Wolfman wear such tight-fitting jeans before or after this movie. I mean, they’re not even torn or stretched out…nada. I think, it even did ol’ Wolfy some justice. Aaah, and I came to find that, should I ever need to, kicking a Wolfman in the groin will actually buy me some time to escape (classssic scene).

So there goes my crummy, simple review of a back-in-the-day fav. I even got to share it with my daughter, who totally got a kick outta it. Sure, might be a bit much but now with Spongebob being dangerous to kids her age, I’d say Monster Squad won’t do much harm. For anyone looking for a short flashback to the 80s, check out the movie. It’ll definitely be worth the experience.  

One last thing:

Lately I’ve been on a search for classic horror movies. Don’t get me confused with DeLaredo’s current project terror, I’m doing this more cuz Halloween’s around the corner and I wanna check out old favs. There’s one particular movie that I’ve been searching for. Even googling  hasn’t helped me find the answer (I know, I’m dumbfounded too). It’s a movie about an evil Jack-in-the-Box. It’s not Demonic Toys, since I already looked into that and it’s not the same Jack. The ‘Jack’ was more puppet/human looking and it was after a child (boy or girl I don’t remember). The only real scene I remember is the last part: The child’s in the hospital after escaping from ‘Jack’ and a huge teddy bear is brought to him/her and propped in a corner of the room. Inside the teddy bear, Jack’s hiding and eventually tears outta the bear and….I don’t remember the ending.

Anyone have an idea of which movie I’m talking about, ”can you help an old altar boy”  out (high five to whoever figures out what movie that line came out in). 

West Side Advertising

I was in my own little world, when I passed by this place of business on San Bernardo near my dear ol' alma mater. When I saw the sign, I figured I had just read it wrong...I mean, no one could really make a mistake like that, right?

Well, me quede con la espinita and decided to turn around and give it another glance. Nope. I had read it right the first time.

GOING OUT FOR BUSINESS SALE

I dunno. Maybe it's not a misprint. Perhaps they meant it like that. Maybe they're out recruiting new customers. They might be exercising some new advertising strategy that hasn't caught on yet. Then again, maybe it was a misprint and since the banners were already paid for, what else could they do? Or maybe, that was the message that was sent to the printing company in the first place. O ala mejor, estoy mal yo. 

Whatever it may be, it sure did catch my attention. Por si que I get a lot of crap cuz I graduated from la martin. I ain't ashamed of it. I love my old high school, even though it's gone through its obstacles. But this sign just don't help the situation. 

Once a tiger, always a........ya, tu sabes.

Pick My Brain

Lyrics currently on replay in my head:

When we shine
like the sun
you seen the only one
my only friend


I resigned 
from myself
took a break
was someone else


It's like I've come undone
and I've only just become
inflatable for you

I bought every single Cd this band ever made. That meant a lot cuz, back then, Cd's were 20 bucks and I still depended on the allowance my parents gave me. I bought them at the Sam Goody in the mall and I took good care of my discs.

 I've never done that since then.

Victory

The Cowboys were finally able to win their first game today. It was a close game that had me standing at times. There were even some points when I had to close my eyes and pray...well not really, but I did hold my breath a couple of times. Since the 'boys won and we were all cheered out, the family and I decided to stop the raspa truck and buy a couple of goodies. 

It had been yeeeeeeeaars since I had bought a raspa from the trocas that ride up and down the barrios. Usually I'd head to that tiny shack on McPherson to feed my raspa fix (never been to the penguins but heard it's fantastic). I really can't say why I hadn't stopped a truck in a while but I'm sure glad I did today.

mmmmm....nachos, jalapenos, and a raspa de piña

It was a great day. The Cowboys won, I indulged in some old favorites, and enjoyed some much needed rain. Even the heavens were celebrating the day.

rainbow over my dad's house (those are Halloween lights, btw.....)

Wishing everyone an awesome week.

Lesson of the Decade

I've heard friends talk about giving their children 'the things they never had'. Everyone's upbringing was different, of that I am well aware of. Some didn't have enough, some had excess, some only had what they needed. I can honestly say I've never wished to give my daughter more than what I had as a child growing up in Los Amores. It's not to say I had the newest of toys, the spiffiest of clothing, or was taken on frequent road trips. In fact, none of the above was true, but I never yearned for more.

What my friends were referring to were material things. Of course we all want to give our children endless amounts of love, affection, attention, and support. In respect to material things, I wouldn't want to give my daughter more than what I had.

we affectionately refer to it as la casita

I was brought up in this here house. It was small. It really only had three rooms-a huge living room that doubled as our bedrooms (yes, only one bedroom), a middle room that served as a dining room/closet space, and our kitchen that shared a connecting door to our restroom. That was it. Nada mas. Now, having lived in homes that were far bigger than our first home, I was blessed to have been brought up in that casita.

It was all about simplicity. We didn't have much, in terms of furniture or gadgets, but we always had what we needed. Whenever the holidays would roll around, our father would section off a wall and tack up decorations. It was nothing compared to the extravagant displays my brother now puts up, but it satisfied our need for holiday cheer. Whenever my brothers and I would ask for the newest toy, my parents would show us what fun running around outside was. My dad would sit with us and play canicas. He'd show us the rules and terminology needed to really understand the game (something I was never able to do). He taught us all the games he would play when he was younger. Sure, when cousins would come over with their newest hi-tech gadgets (well whatever hi-tech was back then), we'd gasp in awe and marvel at their toys but when they'd leave, they took our curiosity with them. Outta sight, outta mind, was the frame of mind we unknowingly embraced.

I guess I'm an old lady at heart. I yearn for the days when neighbors still visited each other. I miss the days when kids could run around their neighborhood and not worry about what was lurking in the shadows. My dad shares my sentiment...or perhaps I'm the one who shares his.

Recently, I was hanging out at his house. We were sitting outside enjoying the current change in evening temps when he asked me whether I had noticed what was missing. I quickly looked around for my daughter, thinking that's what he was referring to. He told me to take a giant whiff of the evening breeze and asked again, "Do you smell what's absent nowadays?" I was clueless as to what he was talking about and asked him to enlighten me. He went on to explain that when he was a child,  every evening, while he was outside playing with his siblings, there would be an hour when the smell of freshly made tortillas would dance through the barrio air. He said it was like clockwork, someone's mom would be making tortillas for the cena. Que padre! There was none of those wimpy, ready made tortillas that sit in plastic packages at the store. I swear, I really grew up in the wrong time period.....

A lot much has changed since I was a kid. I get scared. I worry about the future my lil girl is going to have. There's no innocence anymore. Kids aren't naive; they know way more about things that they should never have any knowledge of. There are no morals, respect is pretty limited, and sincerity really is a hard nugget to find. I'm not saying that only pertains to the kiddos; more often than not, the adults are a bit worse than the youth...hence the reasoning behind why kids are the way they are. The ways things are going, it makes me think that perhaps this 2012 hoopla really does have some truth to it.

So, going back to the original topic before I totally leaped off it, do I wish my daughter had more than what I had when I was little? Nope. If she grows up experiencing the same kinda childhood I had, she'll be just fine. The lesson my parents instilled in us was that it's not the quantity in life, it's about the quality of life.

I might be the only one thinking like this (well, aside from my dad) but it's what I believe. Sure, it'd be a hard feat to accomplish what with technology taking over and school influences becoming a factor, but as long as I try, my lil girl will be just fine.

But if I had to point out one toy that I really wanted and never got when I was a kid...it'd have to be this one...

of course it was in English....and seemed a lot cooler

Manic Monday

I'm still nursing the wounds left from the Cowboys' loss yesterday. I mean, really? Really?! I should be used to it by now. It's a given that Romo is gonna choke when they really have a chance to win. I'm still gonna watch every game, but from now on, I'll try to keep my feelings in check (riiiiiight).

Anyways, what better way to start the work week than having dear ol' Dad make a lil carñita and bring out the his big ol' TV to watch some Monday night football. For some reason, I don't think those slim HD TV's would capture the same feel as one of the more bulky original boob tubes.

Here's hoping ya'll have a fantastic week....and praying the tascados have a win on Sunday.

the simple life in the barrio

Mis Chanclas

I was visiting with my friend this past week, and I'm not too sure what we were talking about, but the saying 'la chancla que yo tiro, no la vuelo levantar' came up. Yes, I did grow up on the west side and attended la martin but I hadn't heard it before. It was fitting for the occasion but really, how true is it?

I ain't getting rid of these chanclas any time soon....no, I don't have an attachment issue

I have my favorite chanclitas. I've had them for a while and the thought of throwing them away makes me wonder if I could ever find another pair like them. I've had to wash them more than a couple of times, and there have been mornings when I'm hesitant to put them on for fear of there being a spider waiting to attack my big toe, Arachnophobia-style. I guess that movie left an impact from way back when.

Anyways, let's dissect this here phrase, middle-school-English-class style. It's not referring to any tangible article of shoe wear. It's talking about once something is let go, not going back to 'pick' it up (i.e. leave it in the past and not bring it to the future).  I guess the topic of conversation, that gave birth to that moment of clarity, was relationships. We weren't necessarily talking about romantic relationships, more like relationships in general.

How many times do people say 'Ya, it's over. I'm gonna let go and not go back to that again'? Then the next time you run into them, they're still in the same exact situation you left them in. It's more than just stubbornness and not knowing when to let go. It's all about hope...and the fact that it's familiar.

We're hopeful creatures by nature. I'm speaking generally, here. El dicho, la esperanza el lo ultimo que se pierde, can pretty much sum it all up. Most people hang on to the glimmer of hope that one day, it'll be different. One day it'll make sense and all the obstacles fought through will  have been for the best. Uh, sometimes, most of the time, it won't be like that. Sometimes it is better to let the chancla lay where it may fall and never go back to pick it up again. Familiarity also makes the bond to any negative relationship stronger. Everyone is weary of change; no matter how stagnant the relationship, it's easier to stay there because one already knows how it is...and how it's gonna be. Rarely is this the most healthy choice for any sane person.

It's not so much that I'm a pessimist, nor a realist, just an experienced person who has thrown her own chanclas and gone back to pick them up again. I understand, the what if's are tough pills to swallow. And there really is nothing better than experience to deter you from ever making the same decision again (in most cases, not necessarily all).

I just thought the saying was pretty cool and it came at a time cuando me cayo el saco. I've been cleaning out my internal closet lately and there's been a lot of stuff that I've thrown out. Those proverbial chanclas are already in the trash pile and I'm working on not taking them out again. Yea, they're comfortable but there's nothing wrong with change. Perhaps a new pair will give me more support. A new pair might add a lil pep to my step.

Quien sabe, pero por horita, I'm gonna leave you with this here song. I know Antonio Aguilar was probably the first artist to sing the chancla song but I like Ana Gabriel's rendition better (do you really have to ask?).

'Un orgullo solo tengo

Que a naiden le se rogar

Que la chancla que yo tiro

No la vuelvo levantar'

Laredo's Infamous Beer Run

My blog is fairly PG-13. Sure a couple of entries have pushed the censors a bit but for the most part, it's a fairly boring site. Therefore, I find it kinda funny when my blog gets hits from people googling the drive-thru: Mami Chula's. 

it might not be like Cheers where they know your name BUT they know what you want

If you've been following my blog (it's totally okay if you haven't) back in April I posted up a piece on an Easter drive-thru that I ran into on Saunders. I jokingly referred to it as Mami Chula's competition. So now, when people search for that respectful establishment, they run into my random entry on bunny piñatas and Easter baskets. Nada que ver with the drive-thru that has caused the city so much controversy. I'm sure they're totally letdown with what they end up finding on my wimpy blog. Sorry, I ain't gonna be posting up their music video or pics. I'll leave that to other hardworking bloggers to showcase.

While on the subject of that famed drive-thru, a friend recently told me about his first visit. A little piece of needed info before the story: my friend works for a business that provides a variety of services to the youth in the community. He's a respectable man, but like most curious beings, he wanted to find out firsthand what the whole hoopla was about this beer run.

He got in line and waited for his turn, all the while, seeing the ladies work (dance). When he finally drove up to one of the ladies, he asked for the beverage of his choice and the girl asked him what the logo on his shirt stood for. Apparently he had gone to play a game of basketball and had worn a t-shirt with his business' logo on it. He explained a lil about what he did: work with kids and teens on helping them deal with a variety of issues. The girl then exclaimed, "Oh my God! That's what I want to do! I'd love to work with kids and help them out!"

Had this conversation taken place elsewhere, my friend wouldn't have found it awkward BUT this young lady was wearing nothing but a teeny-tiny bikini top and an almost-invisible g-string. The girl continued, "I so want to go back to school to study that. I find it so cool. Do you think you could help me find a job there?" My friend really didn't know what to say. All his reply was, "Well, I dunno if they're hiring right now but you can check at anytime for position openings." The girl replied, "I'm gonna give you my number and please, please call me tomorrow. I really want to work with kids. I want to help them deal with their problems!" My friend didn't know what else to do but take her number. He still couldn't comprehend what had just taken place. He paid for his goods and before driving off, the girl again exclaimed her eagerness to help the troubled youth of Laredo. Then she sashayed to the other car and went back to work. 

You see Laredo?! You can't be quick to judge these ladies that work in these establishments. They have goals, dreams, aspirations, hopes of having a brighter future. It's just a means to an end like those other hard-working women that maneuver steel poles for a living. They're people, just like you and me!

Ok, I'm being a bit sarcastic there. I dunno. I'd say having Mami Chula's Drive-Thru be your previous employer might not make you the best candidate to work with kids and teens. Then again, it might make you seem more open-minded and give the impression that you can get down to their level...

Whatever it may be, tip of the hat to those ladies working underneath those neon lights. It takes a tough woman to tend to those thirsty (for lack of a better word) individuals. Admit it people, if there wasn't a high demand for those beer runs, they would've gone down the toilet a long time ago and they're still going strong...city ordinance or not.

Oh, if you're wondering, my friend didn't end up calling that girl back. Apparently there were no current openings at his job for her. Maybe she'll have more luck next year...when's she hung up her bikini top and thong for good.

It's Daaaaaaamn Hot!!

Summer is almost over...almost, right? Nights like these make me forget that I live in Laredo and that there are only two seasons in this town. Hot as hell and not that hot. I should be used to this by now, having lived here for most of my life, but I'm just not.

I've lived three hours South and it's not as hot as here. In the evening, you can feel a breeze no matter where you might find yourself in the Valley. I've also lived in Idaho. Seasons actually exist there! Even during the summer, there will be some nights when you have to wear a sweater cuz it can get kinda nippy. It's been a while since my last visit over there. Things might have changed, what with this global warming going around, but Laredo is freakin' hot.

According to my dad, we've gotten used to the luxury of having air conditioners readily available. Back in the hay-day, the temperature wasn't much different between the inside a house and outside. I guess your body would get used to the weather and going outside wouldn't be as much of a shock as it is now. I disagree with dear ol' dad, though. I say it's hotter today than it was back when we were little. I haven't researched it but I'm pretty sure there's some science out there that proves me right.

A while back, La Guera del Norte, wrote a piece about how she started using a sun visor in her car. I too shared her sentiment that visors were more often used by an older generation and weren't really necessary by the younger crowd. Uh, I've recently started using that thing too. It's amazing the change in temp when that thing's in place. Now I don't burn my hands on the steering wheel. Don't get me wrong, it's still scalding hot, it's just not that scalding hot. Like Ms. del Norte, I too have gotten burned by the belt buckle thing. The sun visor is now my friend.


Oh well, I ain't complaining, I'm just saying. I'm looking forward to the fall and winter. Well, whatever fall and winter is in Laredo. Until then, I'm gonna make sure not to leave anymore unopened soda cans in my car. Recently, I had left one in my cup holder. Well, this is what I found when I returned to my car after a full day's work.

it didn't stand a chance against the Laredo heat

I've heard of cans exploding in the freezer but cans popping from the heat? Hasta eso, it didn't really burst cuz there was no splatter anywhere. I dunno, just might have to research it, but now I know: use the sun visor and don't leave anymore soda cans in the car.

Hang in there Laredoans...the worst is almost over.

Home Sweet Home

There are few places in this world where I feel safe. I'm the kinda person that seeks familiarity; a sanctuary where I can center myself. For me, my reprieve comes at my dad's house.

We moved into that house back when I was starting the fourth grade. It was big back then, and it's even bigger now due to the fact that only my dad and youngest brother live there. Even though my dad has never liked it (even though it was built the way he asked for), it's been home base for over seventeen years.

Recently, he's been prepping it to put it on the market. Because of the fact that he's never felt comfortable in the house, and most of us have moved out, he wants a smaller house. My brother is helping him paint the rooms, one at a time. My room (well old room) was no exception.

work in progress, but it's not mine anymore

My haven had been painted Pepto-Bismal pink since the time I moved in. I had glow in the dark stars that decorated my ceiling. I remember nights when I'd lay in my bed and stare at those stars for hours until they dimmed and disappeared. Well, it all went away and my room went back to being sterile, bland, and white. The only imprints of my existence are the thumb tack holes on the walls. I can't deny that a feeling of panic set in knowing that I really can't go back home. But then again, knowing my dad, he'll make space for me somewhere.

Every other day, I'll go to my dad's seeking a break. Being a single parent leaves you with almost no breathing room. Work and my daughter are both full-time jobs, so I go to my dad's to let mija play outside and visit with her 'dad', tio, and tia. While she's running around at full speed, I'm allowed time to sit down and visit with people that understand me better than I understand myself.

love love love the conchas

There's another sneaky reason why I love to visit my dad. He already knows more or less what days I visit so he makes sure to have pan dulce at the ready. Our favorite bakery has always been El Mejor Pan so as soon as he's outta work, he'll jet over to the bakery, buy our favs, and head home before I get there. He always makes it seem like it was just my luck that he went to buy bread. Dad just has that kinda heart.

who needs Whataburger?

Second part to that reason, my dad makes some awesome food. Since we were kids, my dad never liked eating out. We were allowed to eat out one day outta the week and that was usually Fridays. Other than that, it was home-cooked meals all the way. So there will often be times when I get to his house and he's made carñe guisada, picadillo, fideo, arrozo, or pollo en el orno. His frijoles are the number requested food at all family gatherings; they really are delicious. When I get there, he'll always say "Mija, sirvete pa que comas. There's more than enough." Believe me, there hasn't been a time when I resist.

Going to my dad's is my connection to sanity and to the way things were before. For example, last weekend, my brothers and I got together there to re-live a Friday from back when we were kids. We ordered Pizza Hut (the only fast food luxury allowed back then), crowded around the TV in the living room, and watched The Thing (1982 version). That's definitely our definition of a perfect weekend evening.

Dad's evolved over the years. He's become softer, even though he'll deny it till the bitter end. My lil girl has him wrapped around her pinkie. They both adore each other. He was beyond strict with us but I guess that's what we needed. My mom's in the picture but things are different with her. She's still my absolute best friend, but divorce is a nasty, nasty thing. That's a topic for another day and time.

my barrio has been home for my entire life

If you ever wonder, where F in L is spending her weekend, I'll be at my daddy's house...trying to find answers in the past. I haven't had much success but the search has been fun.

Late Night Blogging

It's been kinda slow around here lately. There ain't really much to write about so I've been kinda grasping at straws. I've also been dealing with a series of headaches that I've been trying to fight by going to sleep early so it doesn't leave much of a chance for writing.

See, I blog at night; after my baby finally goes to sleep. Blogging while my kiddo is awake is nearly impossible and I really don't feel right not giving her my full attention. So often times, it'll be way after midnight when I finally start posting things.

Therefore, please, please excuse my grammar mistakes. Most of the time (at least, I think) I'm able to catch the mistakes before I publish. But there have been a few times when I re-read entries and mistakes will litter the page. Since I'm kinda a perfectionist, I will go back and correct them, but since now you know what the deal is, I won't freak out and feel the need to go back and edit.

I minored in English but that really don't matter much since I don't really use it on a daily basis. So my sincerest apologies. Hope you understand.

Oh, and I know the Spanish is horrendous....mil disculpas.

Current Playlist

Music makes me happy. It makes me reminisce about the good times, the not so-good times, and makes me optimistic about what possibilities tomorrow can breed. Contrary to popular belief, I’m not really a pessimistic person. I really am not, I swear. Sure I don’t embrace the rose-tinted glasses as often as I should, but I try to remain upbeat and music makes that goal a little bit more attainable.

As told in prior entries, I grew up listening to whatever my father liked. He always listened to the oldies: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, The Bee Gees, Moody Blues, and Elton John. My mother’s taste of music left one huge dent : Juan Gabriel. I was so in love with him. I’d listen to his cassettes and sing my heart out. I’d imagine that he was crooning those words to me. Of course I had no idea what he was saying and didn’t have a clue that I would never be his type. What a cruel world it is…..anyways…my childhood was ruled by the 60s. There was a teeny, tiny period when the 70s captured my fascination. Donna Summers, KC and the Sunshine Band, ‘take me down to funky town’….come on, the dancing episodes were spectacular!

I’ve already spoken about my tejano habit back in the 90s, so I won’t dwell much on that. My early teenage years were driven by what La Mafia, La Fiebre, Los Palominos, and Selena’s lyrics dictated to me. I was cool, with my outlandish Jamaican inspired get-up (I vividly remember that particular outfit…it probably would’ve gotten me beat up in school if I wore it now), my huge Walkman attached to my hip, and those monstrous headphones that embraced my ears in a sweaty hug. There was none of those discreet ear pieces that I now own…nnnambre, I was happy with those giant ear muffs. As long as I had my musica, I was doing goooood. 

I used to own a shirt like this....you can imagine the comments I'd get

During my rebellious teen years, alternative rock was my thing. My fav store was Hot Topic and any article of clothing that had tons of chains, zippers, glitter, and the happy bunny were my staples. My rebellion was also spelled out on my backpack with safety pins and liquid paper writing on it. I had tiny pins that stated ‘you suck’, ‘bite me’, and some that declared my homage to various bands like Linkin Park, Matchbox 20, NIN, and my all time favorite group, Bush. I think Glycerine was the theme song to my teenage angst-ridden years. Gavin just seemed to understand my situation.

I belonged to that group of emo kids before it was considered cool. The only bad thing about my awesome attire was that I’d always get the chains on my pants hooked on the bus seats when I’d try to get down at the VMT (magnet school). People would also steal my pins which, although they were small, were freakin' expensive. Let me tell you, being a goth/punk kid wasn’t easy. Oh, and don’t forget the blue bangs. Yup, I was rockin' it.

My college years were filled with the classical stuff: Chopin, Mozart, Bach, Beethoven; I especially loved the piano sonatas. It wasn’t because I was a nerd (ok, I am, but that’s beside the point) but because I had read research that had found that studying while listening to classical music helped you retain information better. Well, it was either the music or my nerdy tendencies that helped me breeze through college. Also during that time period…it’s my deep, dark secret….I was a huge (BIG) reggaeton fan. Yes, it was kinda a 180 from the classics, it was what it was. I even managed to go to a couple of concerts headlining some of reggaeton’s heavy hitters: Don Omar, Daddy Yankee, Rakin y Ken-Y, and even Tito El Bambino for good measure. 

 Ah yes, my fling with reggaeton made me do some weird things. No, I ain’t referring to those weird things. I’d constantly venture to that club (rhymes with beers) cuz the atmosphere lent itself to reggaeton dancing. But that phase was just that, a phase, a fad, which eventually fizzled out. Now my taste in music has, somewhat, matured.

I’m not saying I have, or ever had, any taste in music, but I thoroughly enjoy what I listen to, obviously. One day I can cheerfully be listening to The Beatles, the next day The Cars , other weeks The Smiths, the following month Breaking Benjamin, and the next I’ll be tuned in to the 90s pop station on Pandora. Yes, my tastes are quite varied but there are two genres I won't touch: tejano and country. For some reason, I just can’t make myself listen to them. La Mafia and La Fiebre make me want to start drinking and country makes me want to cry from all the heartache.

I wanted to work on a top five all-time favorite song list but that would be extremely hard cuz there’s so much to choose from so I’m gonna list the top five songs that I currently have on repeat. So, in no particular order:

Gang of Four: Damaged Goods- To be honest, I’d never heard of them before but I ran into this song on YouTube and liked it.

Tonic: Mean to Me-A friend introduced me to this song. By the lyrics, I figured he was complaining about my being mean to him; but that’s his fault cuz he continues to stick around.

Erasure: A Little Respect- There’s a special place in my heart for their other popular song, Always, but for some odd reason this song was playing in my brain all last week. Don’t read too much into it…I guess I must’ve heard it somewhere.

Breaking Benjamin: Crawl-Sometimes I need to hear a little rock to make the day go by faster. The lyrics to this particular song also hit close to home.

The Smiths: Half A Person- There are a whole bunch of songs I could list here but this one is the one I’ve been playing often this week. My love affair with The Smiths is a fairly new thing. I gotta give it up to Pandora’s The Cure station, otherwise I’d never know of them.

There ya go, these are the canciones that make me smile.