Posted 4 years, 6 months ago in the wee hours by oso
I can’t imagine a more meaningful gesture from one blog buddy to the next than the tattooing of a blog URL on one’s arm. I present you with the forearm of my dear compadre, Armando Franco (AKA catarf):
Beginning tomorrow morning there will be parking outside my house again, which I guess means that summer is over. My friends who are in their various graduate and professional schools are all back in classes. Some of my other friends who were abroad traveling for the summer are now coming back in waves and wanting to show pictures over coffee. Coincidentally, my mother will be coming back into the country on Wednesday as well. Life has that illusory sensation of folding back the stiff cover of a new book.
Speaking of which, I just finished Almost an Island: Travels in Baja California, which Chris loaned me and am now starting White Liberals, Black Rednecks, which HP was kind enough to loan me. And to top it all off, tomorrow I will finally buy an Apple 12-inch iBook – something I’ve been threatening to do ever since this blog was born.
It will be a lengthy process of moving into my new abode: pictures from Picasa to iPhoto, reformatting my iPod, installing a gang of drivers for various external hardware, and generally cleaning up what has become a very sloppy digital life. But I admit it will also be fun – like the distractions with old high school yearbooks when you’re supposed to be filling boxes for a new apartment.
It’s been a strange summer for me. Like always, it’s gone by far too quickly. I certainly did not expect to be back here in San Diego. But doing so has had it’s unintended rewards. Being an instrumental part of my sister’s life has probably shaped me more in the past two years than anything else. It’s taught me a lot about my own life as well as what is a healthy amount of influence to have over someone else’s. Being in San Diego has also allowed me to get back in shape (something I definitely wasn’t in Monterrey), which culminated at the Imperial Beach Triathlon a couple weeks ago with my friend, Mario. Attacking a giant tofu burrito with a morning Negra Modelo at Pokez afterwards, I think we were both filled with a sense of elation and accomplishment that only triathletes can know.
Also, I’ve been able to hang out more with friends who were previously “virtual.” Whether it’s fish tacos with Chris, politics over Vietnamese food with HP, or a fun party at Cindylu’s, it’s been nice to get to know the non-digital side of all of them.
Global Voices has also steadily been taking over a larger and larger domain of my life with each passing week. I’m thankful for the friends and knowledge it’s brought me as well as the doors it seems to be opening.
Illusory or not, tomorrow’s going to feel like a new chapter and – choose your cliché – I hope to live it to the fullest.
Man, that’s some love for your site right there–what did catarf do use an eraser to burn that onto his forearm? I’m glad to hear you’re making the switch amigo. In fact, I’m jealous, ‘cos you’re going to have Tiger! Have fun with the little iBook and i’m looking forward to a name.
de nada !!!
cuando quieras !!!.. de hecho voy a hacer una pa hipocratico…. rolandog, chicaregia… y otra vez uno para ti, porke ese no se nota bien.
Saludos y cuidate.
As much as I love and appreciate the genius that is el-oso.net I don’t think I’ll ever go as far as a tattoo. That looks rather painful. I might wear a tshirt. I could do that.
Thanks for coming out Saturday night. I never knew a white guy could dance so well, even in chanclas. I think Isa is smitten…
Welcome to the cult, Osito. Email me if you want migration tips.
WTF, that guy needs a free Oso T-shirt or something, that is some loyalty.
Btw, I’m thinking of getting a Mac too, let me know how you like it, I know all these engineers at work love macs, and I was looking at one at the mall this weekend in Austin, since I was stuck without internet access, and they felt and navigated really well. I especially loved Safari…
Let me know what you think of the book by Sowell, “Black Rednecks and White Liberals”, i’d be especially interested in your thoughts since the book seems to be personally dedicated to you, being a white liberal and all. LOL We can talk about it at our next Pho dinner.
EMC,
Yeah, catarf has some sort of skin condition, which – when it flares up – reacts to anything that irritates it. And like you said, he used an eraser for this one. Which, if I may say so myself, turned out better than the others.
I’m on constant high. I think I’m developing an unhealthy crush on my laptop. The field of names has narrowed down. I’ll make an official introduction soon. My sister recommended “stuart” so she’s obviously no longer part of the committee.
catarf,
Eres muy amable. Yo creo que la mia fue mejor.
Cindylu,
I have to say, I am a bit jealous of Eduardo’s new stickers. (and the fact that he has a gazillion more readers than we do.)
Thanks for inviting me to the party and letting me bring the posse. The next morning there was universal agreement: “that party was awesome.”
Elenita,
I thank you. And i’m sure i’ll be bothering you soon. For now, I can hardly keep up with all 43Folders is telling me to do.
HP,
You should be the venture capitalist investing in el-oso.net merchandising. Completely suits you.
The toughest problem I’m having on here is deciding between Safari and Firefox. Safari has much better usability – especially for rss – but I’ve come to depend on so many firefox plugins.
Can’t wait to talk about Sowell’s book over pho. God forbid we talk about something I bring up.
43F is addictive., but I really only suggest following Merlin’s instructions once you know your way around the system.
And, yeah, I have a crush on my Powerbook, too. That’s a normal part of the culthood.
Oso wrote: “Being in San Diego has also allowed me to get back in shape”
Get you a$$ back in that gym!