My break so far...

So far?. Aren't you done yet you lazy bum?. (some of you may be thinking). Well, I am not in no way done and to be quite honest, I feel that the best is yet to come. He he he. See?. One of the advantages of working in a University is that, there is not much point in being there when there are no students or teachers, is there?. So we all get pretty good breaks now and then.

So, although this next Wednesday night I shall be driving to Puerto Vallarta along with some friends, towards what I believe will be quite a memorable weekend / new years party. For the moment, I will write a little about how things went this last week.

I had a family vacation. That alone should say a lot. We went to Puerto Vallarta (can you tell it's like the -place to go- when you live in Guadalajara?), and had quite a family week. It's been some time now, years actually, that my parents let us both invite friends over to this trips. They kind of figured it would be boring otherwise, so it was quite common that we even got two full rooms to pack them with friends. And those were good times.

This time though... That didn't happen. And as much as we would have liked to invite people, holiday season is kind of hard to do that. Very family oriented and all. So it was going to be just Victor and I. (And my parents of course).

We got there safe and sound after a decent trip. While getting there, I read the 1st tome of "the invisibles" by Grant Morrison. Great comic (vertigo, great script, so-so art). I got goose bumps several times as I read it, it really is worth your time. I specially liked how they deal with reality and dreams. Anyway...

Where was I?... Oh yes. So we got there. And the usual guy is a the front desk. With the usual smile he greeted us, and asked us to wait. Then, he said
"I have one bad new, and one good one"...
Ooook...
"Bad?... I have no room for you".
O.o. WTF?!. Ok... The good one better be great!.
"The good is that, if you are willing to be on a smaller room, I'll give you all-inclusive for free, to compensate"...

(mind going way too fast: free food 24-7, free drinks 24-7, that is good right?... But... Sharing a bed with my brother?... On a bed right next to my parent's?!... Argh... But... Free food and drinks?... Oh well, what the heck?).

We went for it.

Did you tell I said "the usual" guy and all?. Well, the thing is that we have been going to that same hotel for the longest time, since I was in high school actually... We know the place, it's corners, etc. And the place is packed as well with memories of all this times that we were there, of the friends we invited this or that year, etc.

At the end, sharing a bed with my brother, a queen size bed, was more than what you could ask for. So I decided that the floor was much better. I slept on it all through the week. (I don't mind at all, I actually did not want a bed in my room, I wanted just whatever to make the floor a bit soft and warmer, but I like hard surfaces and all). Apart from that, we managed to make it through fairly well. Sharing the room with my parents wasn't as terribly bad.

Now... Have you seen "Wild On" on E?... When they go to Puerto Vallarta and show all this great bars with people "dancing" (more like making out with -rythm-), girls showing boobs, etc?. Well... None of that happened. At all. Not when you go with your parents. And not when you only party mate is your brother Victor... -sigh-... Oh well. It's not like I am a party animal myself. Actually, it has happened that we have gone, only friends, and as geeky as we are we, never really go partying even once. Still, the doors were open. This one time, no way to even think about it. (Having the chance to "wishful think" makes a difference you know?).

It was a nice quiet week. A lot of walks by the beach, a lot of reading. And a couple of good talks. I got to read for the second time straight "The Art of Loving", this time though with a marker and almost taking notes. (You MUST read it). As well, I finally indulged my self reading "Memorias de mis Putas Tristes" by Marquez, and "High Fidelity"... Both great, great books.

Now, it could be that I am in that one stage in which "love matters" in quite an important way. But I honestly think that those three books talk, basically, about the same thing. The need we have for love, the need to share our lives with that special someone. And how hard it is to actually find a "proper" special someone, and keep her around. We really are complicated beings. Or I am. O.o

Either way, I know how books work. And most likely, if I read them later on, when something else is on my mind, I shall get some other messages from them. Taking aside whatever the book is trying to "teach you", the stories are quite great, and they all deserve posts on their on. Maybe later. For now, know that "the art of loving" deals with love in a philosophical way. "Memorias de mis Putas Tristes" deals with it from the perspective of a 90 years old man who knows his days will be over soon, but refuses to stop feeling young and takes on quite an amazing journey towards love and deeper meaning. "High Fidelity" discusses the matter in a crude, raw and hilarious way, from the perspective of a 36 years old dude that knows nothing at all of where his life is going. (Besides knowing that, well, it is kind of going nowhere).

Hmmm... How did this post became about books all of a sudden?!... O.o

Anyway!!...

We found us a very cool spot to go ahead and chill, read, talk, whatever. It was quite a walk along the ocean shore, and then it was there. Just a nice little cliff, nothing really special, but still, it felt good to be there. And besides, the hotels close to that spot had much better looking girls!. He he he. To be honest though, I don't think Christmas season is a party one in Puerto Vallarta. It was mostly families and kids all over the place. Not only in our hotel, but in all of them. We got to see some groups of younger people, but that was the exception. Unlike summer, when it's packed with young and restless people just waiting for a good time.

(We will see about next weekend, how it is on new years eve and all).

The days went by like that. Talking strolls around the ocean, reading, etc. I decided that just laying there to get a tan is one of the most boring activities ever (Sun bathing?). So on and so forth. Looking at a sunset by the ocean shore is just great. And I would go to the Beach any time, if it is just to see one of those. The feeling I get is quite cool. I don't think I can feel as relaxed in any other way...

The sea does that to me. And it really is the bestest weather for me. The humidity in the air and all. Just perfect for my messed up nose and allergies. I never seem to get those while on the beach... More than once I have thought that I should just move to the beach... But, for some reason, it doesn't sound super appealing to be quite honest.

So, talking about allergies... Guess what?!?!... One day I got stung by a freaking bee!!... And even today it hurts. Damn flying bastards. (Ok, I like honey, but still!).

I kind of experimented a bit there. I am super allergic to a lot of things. And supposedly I was to die if a bee attacked me, or something like that I was led to believe. So I pretty much pretended that I didn't know I was allergic. Just like that. I did let my brother know about me being stung and all. And he even decided to stick around to make sure I didn't die or something (he is cool like that). But well. I SURVIVED!!!... (for good or bad, deal with it). It still hurts a bit though, so probably a massive attack by several of those would, at least, put me in the hospital or something.

Other than that... I have to admit that the break was pretty uneventful. I mean, even Chritmass was kind of lame really. I don't really know when it happened, but at some point our Christmas spirit kind of faded away. It probably deals with the fact that Victor and I are grownups and already know the "mechanics behind Santa"... But I know that even then, we used to have a very nice time. When my grandparents were around that is. And... Hmmm... I don't know. Maybe the spirit died along with them.

I mean, holiday season is pretty cool. I love the hugs, and the posadas, the decorations, the smiles. I really really go for all that, and like it. It's just the actual Christmas eve and day. When it comes down to sharing it with your close family. It really doesn't feel like we have much to share, or motivation to do it. I mean. My dad is an only child, and my mom has only one unmarried sister. So Victor and I are the "young" crowd of the bunch...

Argh... It's hard to explain. I hope you get the picture.

I wonder if it will change the day that Victor or I have kids and all... I bet it will. Kids have a way to bring back all that magic I bet. I hope.

So, on the 25th we drove back and got home safe and sound. The ride went pretty well, not considering that I got car-sick because I couldn't stop reading "High Fidelity", and usually I can read on the road. This one time though, something happened. Still... I kept on reading!. The book was about to be over and it really is that good. And well, I am stubborn like that.

Kike was already in the house when we got here!!... He he he. Freaking guy didn't call us to let us know he was going to be around on Christmas eve, because he didn't want us to drive back just for him and all. Whatever, we would have done it no problem. But still, it was a nice gesture, and a good get together when it happened. We hugged, shared, and all that. He brought back with him a lot of good stories about his semester in Canada. So we got to hear a lot of it by the fire place in the living room.

And a quiet nice vacation, ended in a quiet nice way.

Probably some fun anecdote will pop back into my mind. If it does. I may post it. Most likely though. It won't. He he he.

So...

CHEERS!!!... :-D