Back...

I was going to title this post "reporting in" or something like that, but it was too close to Bondwalker's so "Back..." will have to do.
So I had a busy week. Tuesday before last, date of my last post actually, my boss told me I had to go to Dallas with our state team to the US taekwondo Open. Come wednesday, I'm on a bus (again!) to Dallas. Fate, life or whatever you may call it seems to have a sense of humor. Not even a month ago I wrote that it was probably the last tournament I would travel to in some time, and there I was on my way again. The trip was both catastrophic and awesome. I won't get into the bad parts, most of you who read this probably heard it already anyway. (DAMN, I have the Olympics closing ceremony on, and Avril Lavigne just started singing...wtf ?)
On the bright side it was probably the biggest tournament I've been to and I didn't have that much work so I was able to see most of the fights and actually meet some people. I saw guys and girls from Germany, Russia, China, Latvia, Australia and every other corner of the world. (take note people, a bit of wisdom here: the world may be round, but it has a bunch of corners, trust me) The competition level was pretty high, a friend won 1st and one of my students got 2nd, so all in all an excellent trip.
When finally got back on Monday I had a ridiculous amount of catching up to do at work and my french lessons, had to organize an exhibition for yesterday, I just had a busy week. But here I am, finally reporting back. The week was really tiring but the weekend has treated me well. Some R&R with a dear friend (hiiiiiii sweetie!), and a bbq last night, what more can you ask for ? Now I'm just getting ready to enjoy a lazy Sunday.
It's good to be back... read you soon !

Will you be my valentine?

Happy Valentine's day !
I'm not one of those consumists that goes valentine's crazy and buys cards for every girl he knows. A lot of my friends don't like this day at all. Capitalist economies trying to make business out of your feelings and all that. Me ? I have to admit I like it. I just don't spend a lot of money on it haha.
In Mexico Valentine's day is the day of "love and friendship." I guess they throw the friendship in there so everybody who isn't in love or doesn't have a special someone will get something for their friends anyway. The thing is, if you've payed any attention to this blog whatsoever, you should've realized by now that friendship is insanely important to me, and that I'm a hopeless romantic. So you can obviously see the appeal this day has to me :)
A perfect and almost official day to tell you're friends and loved ones just how special they are. So, to all my friends, you know you are the top of the list, whatever, whenever, whereever and however, I'll be there.
And to you... what can I say ? What can I say that you don't already know, that my eyes don't tell you everytime I see you? Thank you for being, for everything... the rest you get in person.
To everyone else, have a great valentine's !

42,000 voices ...

Ok, so it took me a while to post, but cut me some slack, I'm a busy guy. U2, what can I say ? I had mixed emotions about the experience... don't get me wrong, the whole thing was amazing, but I guess my expectations where a bit higher. Mostly I think my complaints (well, other than the fact that they started kind of late and the mike sound wasn't so good at first) are with the band. There was almost no public interaction. Bono was cool, he danced around, he took two girls on stage, he wore a sombrero and everything. He didn't talk a whole lot, but I guess the man doesn't speak a lot of spanish. The Edge walked around a bit and I do mean "a bit." And that's it ! The other two guys (I told you I wasn't a fan, I don't have a clue what their names are) barely moved at all ! No facial expression, no joy to play whatsoever ! Maybe they're just used to soldl out arenas every single place they go to, I don't know, but it would've been a lot cooler if it even seemed they were enjoying themselves.
Other than that, incredible. The music, the lights, the screens, all awesome. I count myself as a guy who doesn't know the lyrics to the songs but knows the chorus to all the big ones. And there were 42,000 other guys and girls like me out there. The sound of practically every soul in that sold out place singing, shouting "in the naaaame of looove" is just... I can't describe it. And I jumped, and I screamed, and I waved my hands like you can only do at a concert like this. And I had a blast. The whole "big concert" experience finally came to my boring town, and I went through the whole thing. And yesterday, the day after, all you could hear were stories about the concert. Which, now that I think about it, is kind of lame haha but still. Monterrey rocked, and I was there.
Now let's see if I can get some Rolling Stones tickets :D

Me too !

I realize I need to be careful with what I say around all you music lovers. I am aware that U2 may not technically be the best band on earth, you know, musically speaking. But man, they rock, and tonight my town rocks with them! It will be an awesome show ! I need to go get in line.. start the whole concert experience, I just wish Bondwalker was here to jump right along with me.
I'll let you know how it went !

"These five words..."

I have a hero complex, I don't know if I've written about that yet, but anybody that can claim to know me knows it's a fact. I like to think that it's not to crave attention or glory, it's just that I really care about my friends and I genuinely want to do whatever I can to help them. So imagine now that one of my very best friends, someone I actually love, is going through hard times and there really is nothing practical I can do about it. It's frustrating, damn it !
But I've learned that sometimes passive action can be just as important. So here I am. At least you know I'm not going anywhere, at least you know you can reach me any time at any place. For you there are no rules, no schedules. My soul, my sword at your service for whatever you may need them. Ears to listen, arms to hug, a shoulder to cry on or just my back to help you bear the weight.
It's all that I can offer and I hope it can make a difference: I'll be there for you.

Hey bro !

BTW, my brother's in town tonight!!!

Trip Recovery...

Finally a good night's sleep, it had been a week since I slept in my bed... any bed for that matter, and my back was killing me. But after some well earned rest here I am filling you guys in.
I took my students to a tournament in Galveston this weekend. I just love those trips, but they're a ridiculous amount of work. I specially like when we go to this one in particular because it's very close to a place where I spent most of my teen summers and I just can't help soaking up the memories. Now that I think of it, this was probably my last trip of this kind for a very long while. See, I'm leaving for France later this year, and I really don't know what will happen after that, but there's a good chance these days are over. I've spent more than 10 years of my life doing this, it's hard to believe it's coming to an end.
Anyway, as always, you keep great memories and you look forward to new ones. Right now I have to concentrate on getting better and getting busy fixing that whole year-in-europe plan.

Leaving on a... bus?

Tomorrow I'm leaving for a tournament on Galveston, which is the main reason I haven't been posting lately. It will be a crazy weekend, but I hope it'll be all worth it. I'll let you know how it goes !
Read ya' later !