Interests:music, sports, tattoos, scuba diving, reading, running, and more. Expertise:I work in Public Relations! Occupation:Marketing Industry:Entertainment
This accompanies yesterday's post about Mexico. It's a video of the drive from Organ Pipe National Monument (about 20-30 min from border) to Puerto Penasco. Enjoy!
In less than a month I will head south to Mexico for my annual birthday trip. Last year I was lucky enough to go twice to Puerto Penasco, and in the past I've gone as many as 4x a year. Unfortunately, lately it has not been cost efficient to do so, therefore my birthday trip is something I look forward to starting from the day I get back.
Puerto Penasco, also known as "Rocky Point" to the gringos, is a small fishing village on the Sea of Cortez about an hour from the American border. I first started going to Rocky Point in 2002, after I graduated college. Back then, there were few hotels and a couple high end condos for rent. We used to rent space in an RV park on the beach and camp for $17 a night. They had a restaurant, bar, gift shop, store, and brand new, clean bathrooms on-site with 24 hour security. It was awesome!
Then I started attending the bi-annual (now annual) Circus Mexicus concert with Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers. Most of the fans stayed over closer to the venue, so we started renting condos over there too. As the years passed, the venue moved from the dirt lot next to the Sunset Cantina to a sandy field behind 5-star condos on Sandy Beach and now, this year the concert will take place directly on the beach. As it has moved, so have we. We now stay in those 5-star condos directly on Sandy Beach. They are amazing- granite counter tops, huge patios, walk in showers, ocean views, flat screen tvs, etc- for cheap. This year 4 of us are sharing a 2 bedroom/2 bath condo for 5 days/4 nights for $150 each. That's $37.50 per person, per night, for the kind of opulence you'd pay $200+ a night for in America. This year we are staying in Bella Sirena, and I can't wait to watch the NHL finals from the swim up bar!
The question I get time and time again, especially from people outside of the Southwest, "Is it safe?" And after I'm done rolling my eyes, I explain why YES, Mexico is safe.
The first thing you need to ask yourself is, do you really believe everything the media tells you? If you say yes then you have bigger issues. But the majority of us with common sense know to take what we hear through the media with a grain of salt. Hell, I've been a member of the media and I know they don't tell the whole story, usually because they can't due to time constraints and sometimes because it doesn't suit their vested interests (let's face it-- fear is appealing. If you're afraid, you're watching).
The second thing you need to know, is the truth about the violence in Mexico. Are there brutal, violent deaths? Yes. But the media is only giving you the what (violence) & where (Mexico).... not the who or why. Tourists are not being murdered in Mexico, it is people who are involved in the violent, cartel-run, drug trade. Tourists who get involved in the drug trade by purchasing or using drugs in Mexico can find themselves involved, but if that were really happening, it would be far more sensational than what the media is giving you now. I follow a pretty simple rule in life: Don't go looking for trouble & you won't find it. Good rule in America, good rule in foreign countries.
The truth is, Americans are less likely to face violence in Mexico than at home. True story- get the facts here: Are you safer in Mexico or America? Millions of Americans go every year, they all come home. Even Malia Obama went to Mexico for Spring Break! I have never felt unsafe in Mexico, and I have walked alone, drunk, and at night. Hey, maybe not the smartest thing, but I didn't feel unsafe and I got home in one piece.
Now, as many of the Americans have moved down the beach to the Sandy Beach condos in Rocky Point, the area that I used to stay has gotten a little seedy. A funny story: On Christmas Day, Loverboy & I went to the tequila factory (thank you Jesus for agave), and after our tasting and purchasing 2 bottles, we were told that one of my old favorite bars was recently reopened. Loverboy said he had never been to Manny's Beach Club, so I decided we had to go right away. As we walked in, it looked empty except for a group of people clustered in the middle. I went directly into the bathroom and told Loverboy that I would meet him at the bar. When I walked out, Loverboy was still waiting for me and asked, "Where the hell did you bring me? Federales with masks over their faces and machine guns just ran by, and I'm pretty sure there's a cock fight going down over there." I looked over and noticed the bleachers. "Cock fight?? Really?" I asked, and as we were leaving a waiter approached us & apologized he didn't see us walk in, he was "watching the roosters." I politely declined and we left. I couldn't stop laughing as Loverboy was freaking out about the places I used to hang out in Mexico. I explained that just like in America, there were good places to go, and bad places to go. I don't think I'll be returning to Manny's any time soon, but I have fond (non-cock fight) memories from there.
And you won't stop me from going to Mexico. It's one of my favorite places on earth.
Foreground: Malecon- or Old Port, where the fish market is. Background- sun setting over Competition Hill, and to the right the condos that line Sandy Beach. Picture taken from my favorite restaurant, La Casa del Capitan, on top of Whale Hill.
My view of Sandy Beach, with a shark koozie cooling down a frosty Pacifico Light
(PS I would appreciate a "rec" if you like this post, so people can learn from someone who actually goes to Mexico, not to believe the media hype).
I'm about to return to Colorado for my final meetings as a member of the Board of Directors for the Alumni Association at CU. I've served my 3 years, and although they would like me to stay on, I need to focus my time and money elsewhere.
When I started my tenure on the board in 2009, I remember thinking how far away 2012 sounded. I was dating GH and I thought in 3 years we'd be engaged, on our way to starting a family. Now it's 2012, the time went by way too fast, I'm grateful to no longer be with GH and planning my life with someone else.
If all goes as planned, I close on the new house for Loverboy & I next Friday, May 25. My house was on the market this weekend and so far I have 4 offers. I have no plans for marriage and am not in any hurry anyway. We're happy the way things are
11 days to close. What a strange rollercoaster trip I'm on, but I couldn't be happier. If you BELIEVE in the Universe, and just go along for the ride, you never know where it will take you. Can't wait to say goodbye to my Colorado friends and later to the University... who knows when I'll be back or where I'll be at that stage in my journey, but I'm so excited for it!
There are things that drive me crazy, and then there are things that drive me crazy. This is just a list of my pet peeves, it doesn't get into my real issues like racism, sexism, close mindedness, bigotry, etc.
1) laziness! This leads to many more of my points that come later in the list. Get up, get to it. Anything worth doing is worth doing right away & getting it over with. You can sit on your ass later, when the work is done.
2) Not putting grocery cart back into the corral at the store. Yesterday this lady actually pushed her cart into the spot I was pulling into, so I honked at her and made her move it. The corral was maybe 30 feet away. Perhaps if we all took a few extra steps in our day, we wouldn't be such an obese nation!
3) Not using your turn signal on your car. How am I supposed to know you're turning or switching lanes? Manufacturers put them on your car for a reason, USE them. If not, you risk an accident. Other drivers can't read your mind & know where you're going, you have to tell them.
4) Being crowded in the check out line at the store. There is such a thing as personal space. I'm not going to check out faster because you are standing right behind me. Plus, when I'm entering my pin into the machine for my purchase, I would prefer you not looking over my shoulder.
5) Not following directions/entitlement. Is there anything worse than someone who doesn't think the rules apply to them or that they are owed something in life? I cannot stand people like this. See my recent post about the American Accountability Epidemic. Clearly we can do better and follow the rules in life, right?
6) Stubbornness. Where do I start? Ok, how about this: I used to know a guy who had never seen 'Forrest Gump.' He had decided he hated the movie without seeing it- just hearing about it. And no matter what we told him, he was convinced. Not possible to be swayed. Not even open to watching part of it. Sad thing is, that's a classic movie! It's not like we were trying to get him to watch 'Leprechaun.' (which is a good movie in it's own right by the way). He felt the same way about mushrooms and fish. He was close minded and stubborn. He was also single, in his late 30s and lived with some younger guy roommates. When you don't use common sense for your arguments or you won't even try something to see if you'll like it, you're being annoying and not really living life. This guy could have LOVED eating fish and mushrooms while watching 'Forrest Gump,' but he'll never know.
Those are the only things that come to mind right now that make me absolutely insane. I guess I can update the list later if I think of something!
You'd hear a lot of Beastie Boys. They are one of my favorite bands. Completely different from anything else, great and important lyrics, fun beats, and associated with so many memories.
I first heard the Beasties when I was 7. There was a house down the street where 2 high school boys lived and my friend and I would always ride our bikes down there to see what they were doing. I remember them listening to License to Ill. I remember the front of the cassette. I remember dancing to "Girls."
A few years go by, and Beasties dropped Check Your Head. I was 13. My friends and I were in love with the guys. They fit into the stereotype we were trying to fit- the alternative/skate scene. We all had posters of the Check Your Head cover on our walls. We were obsessed with watching their videos. We played the tape (oh yes, it was most often on tape even then) at every gathering we ever had. There were so many make out sessions with cute skater boys to that album, I smile even thinking about it.
I went to Lollapalooza music fest every year. In 1994, Beastie Boys played with Smashing Pumpkins, George Clinton and others. They played early in the day but every seat was filled. I've never experienced a vibe like that at a concert except for Rage Against the Machine, and they only matched it. Not since have I seen another band get that reaction, or match it.
I remember Ill Communication coming out. "Sabotage" was on MTV every hour. "Sure Shot" became one of my all time favorite songs. Again, all of my friends and I had the CD (we'd upgraded by this time) and we played it every where we went.
"I Want To Say a Little Something That's Long Overdue The Disrespect To Women Has Got To Be Through To All The Mothers And Sisters And the Wives And Friends I Want To Offer My Love And Respect To The End" ~Sure Shot
By the time Hello Nasty came out, I was in college. I remember "Intergalatic" being such a weird fit on the radio, but I bought it anyway. For some reason, I bought it on cassette:
I remember driving around in my friend Ellen's car one night on the ASU campus, looking for this boy I hooked up with, listening to this album. I didn't hear the "intergalactic planetary" in the background at first, but she pointed it out. Now I never miss it!
In college, my boyfriends roommate was OBSESSED with the Beastie Boys. He has everything they've ever done, including Cookie Puss and imports, on every form you can imagine: cassette, CD, vinyl, mp3. He can quote ANY song, at any time. In fact, he just had a son. He named him Mike D. I am not kidding.
When I was lucky enough to go to the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, I witnessed the Beasties receiving the Video Vanguard Award from Chuck D. I cried.
They also performed, and I never thought it would be the last time I'd see them together:
Beastie Boys aren't just another breakthrough hip hop band. Sure, they recorded the first hip hop album to top the Billboard, but they were more than that. For those too young to know and those who don't remember, hip hop wasn't prevalent in the suburbs or white communities before Beastie Boys. They were 3 white, Jewish kids from New York who could rap anyone under the table. Suddenly, white kids around the country's suburbs were paying attention. So were their parents. It was somehow scandalous back in the day. They didn't just pave the road, they bulldozed it. Beasties had punk rock roots too. They never listened to haters- if they did, we'd only be talking about License to Ill and their failure to duplicate it. Instead, they changed the game each time and gave us classics from every album. "Sabotage" was more punk than rap- and it remains one of their most famous songs.
And it wasn't just music they gave us. The Beastie Boys were concerned about what they saw going on in the world around them. Whether it was denouncing the U.S.'s military actions or Chinese oppression in Tibet, they brought it to light. As a kid I was kind of blown away by that. Reminded me of my mom's music from the 60s. It had a mission. And yet these were still the kids singing "Brass Monkey."
When I heard MCA had cancer a few years ago, I was optimistic he would beat it. After all, he was young. It didn't seem serious. In recent years I had heard he was doing better. I actually believed I could see them on tour again.
Last year when Beastie Boys released Hot Sauce Committee Pt 2, I immediately downloaded "Make Some Noise" and added it to a ton of playlists. Loverboy & I listened to it nonstop in Mexico last summer. It's on my workout playlist, and I listen to it everyday.
Needless to say, when I heard the news that Adam Yauch, aka MCA, had passed away from cancer, I couldn't help but cry. He, along with his 2 friends and DJ, contributed so much to the soundtrack of my life. I have such brilliant and amazing memories tied to their music. A true legend who's legacy will live on forever. Rest in peace MCA. Thank you.
"I burn the competition like a flame thrower, My rhymes age like wine as I get older I'm getting bolder, competition is waning I got the feeling & I'm single laning" ~Make Some Noise
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