20

We all have the world beneath out feet. Choosing which way to walk, or run, is what leads us on our own paths and allows us to differentiate ourselves from others. Our paths define us. At twenty years old I am walking my own path, to say the least. Mexico, bold and daring adventures into the unknown, and a less-than-savory profession have defined me these past two years. I have very little regrets, but the things that stand out the most in my progress are the things I have acheived for myself, as well as for others. I think that by staying true to myself I have become very comfortable in my skin, more positive, and a good leader of myself and others.

Last night was a good night. I was very drunk and very happy, surrounded by my best friend and a few new friends that I made that night. It's not often that a night goes so well, that every thing that happens is a positive and enjoyable experience. Vance and I went to Porky's, a popular alternative club. Lots of skinny jeans and punker attire. The music is also very good, too! I got hammered and halfway through the evening was approached by a group of people that wanted to talk to me. They were extremely friendly, spoke very good English, and even bought me a pack of cigarrettes. In my book, buying a pack of cigarettes is like proposing friend marriage.

We adventured on with our new comrades, going to Younite down the street for a bit before ending up in a downtown area of Tijuana famous for it's nightlife and tourist destitions named 'Revolucion'. I inhaled about 5 hotdogs from a street vendor and we went to Sky Blue, a very tacky gay bar playing Mexican banda music, slightly remixed. We left quickly.

I woke up in my new friends' bed with Vance next to me and Christobal, our companion, on the other side of him. The butcher that occupied the apartment directly behind his was hanging pictures and the pounding of his hammer synced with near perfect rythm to my intense headache. I was horrified. I had Vance and Christobal call Simon to come and take care of me during one of the worst hangovers of my young life.  And he did come and take care of me. 

How wonderful. 

Battlestar Galactica: Best show on television!

I have never been a big fan of television. I'd always much rather read a book, or visit with friends than strain my eyes on a screen of moving images while absorbing countless hours of commercials and marketing schemes. In fact, I've never really owned a TV before. My roommates would have one, but I'd never use it except to watch the occassional film, and even that was far and few in between because I'd go to the theater if I really wanted to see a movie. However, a series on the SciFi Channel, oddly enough, has managed to install a bit of faith in television for me. Battlestar Galactica.

A little over four years ago the first episode was launched. I hadn't seen it, but friend of mine were talking about it. Some said that they would watch the next episode the previous friday, others didn't really seem to care. They all said it was good, though. It piqued my interest as I am a bit of a scifi nerd, but I got busy with school and social life and completely forgot about it almost instantly. It's funny because, that Friday I was at my friends house and he turned the station to Battlestar Galactica. He said it was "amazing" and completely un-like any other science fiction show ever made. I sat down with him, skeptical, and an hour later was completely and utterly blown away and hooked. 

I became more obsessed with BSG than an overweight and desperate nerd becomes obsessed with asian girls. I joined a forum for it, googled updates religiously, and even ordered a t-shirt that read, "Frak You". Eventually, I'd prefer to watch it alone because I knew people would talk, and then I'd get angry, and before you knew it my temper would escalate further than Leuitenant Starbucks' after a night of binge drinking. I refused to listen to people talk about the next episode if they'd read spoilers and my boyfriend at the time thought that there was something wrong with me. Just a little. ;]

Four years later I'm still a devout fan, and not the conventional science fiction fan that you'd relate to Star Wars or Star Trek. Battlestar Galactica takes a whole new approach on science fiction in that it is anchored so tightly to reality and humanity than one couldn't possibly imagine without first seeing the show. Imagine that the entire human race was reduced to less than 50,000 people and we were on a run from an impossibly huge and advanced enemy, what would you do? What kind of struggles and emotions would we be faced with, and how would we deal with them as they came? This show brings about the different levels of humanity on so many levels, the struggles and inner-strife that we combat daily, but put to work against annihilation. It's very fast-paced, the graphics are just as good as movie graphics. I have seen every episode thus far and there has not been one moment where I've thought, "they cut corners there". They use their budget to it's fullest capacity. The acting is incredible, too.

I think it's great that the writers have created a universe where the Cylons are machines, yet have a monotheistic religion, while the humans are polytheists. The show combines theology, philosophy, sociology, politics, military ethics, law, action, adventure, and romance into a work of television that has been awarded a Peabody. If there is something to watch on TV, it's BSG. It's already almost over, too. The series will be ending within the next couple of months. I think it's a good idea, as many TV shows seem to continue on for far longer than they need to. The producers are finishing the show on a good note, which is a wise move. The show will stand the test of time, I think; it will age very well, and has set a very high bar for other like it to follow. 

If you like science fiction, you will love this show- no doubt. If you don';t like science fiction, you will love this show if only for the fact that it isn't LIKE science fiction. There are no cheesy blinking lights and strange made-up cyber jargon. It's like one long and continuous movie that will leave all sorts satisfied with their experience. 

La Gloria the No One's party

I spent the weekend in La Gloria, a little town nestled in the foothills between Tijuana and Rosarito. It's a nice little place, with rolling green hills and one road that leads through it. It's the type of place you'd encounter while driving along a little state highway toward the coast, or a camping ground. It reminds me of a town called Goldendale, in Eastern Washington that I used to visit when I was little. My family owned a cabin in the hills. It had one police station, a few convenience stores, and a lot of churches, much like La Gloria. 

It was a relaxing weekend, to say the least. I was immersed in Spanish. His grandmother, aunt, parents and sister live in the house with him. Thankfully, he has his own bedroom. That's always nice. They are all very nice people- they don't speak English, and I'm still learning Spanish, but our pantomimes go quite well. 

Saturday night I went with Simon to the No One's party. It was the second such event of the year, and a bit better than the last one. I had a much better time. However, I could sense that Simon knew of my unease and he even posted about it on his blog (in Spanish, of course). In truth, I was a bit out of sorts about the whole thing. It was a huge party but everybody stuck to their own groups, talking amongst themselves and watching other people. I'm not used to that sort of thing. At parties in LA there was an exchange of information, human connections, networking, etc.. The kids seemed bored. Bored and drunk with nothing much to offer me intellectually. It was not a complete bust, though. Simon was a real pleasure to be around, and his friends were very nice. Very nice, and very drunk. 

It seems that people need more to live for these days, especially the youth. It was a huge disappointment to see so many bored young people, getting drunk and shooting the breeze about anything and everything besides what's important. I don't think it's a Mexican thing, or a geographical issue. It's affecting many people I know and in turn it has created a very selfish culture of youth. 

I'm thankful not to be so naive and innocent, and that I am open to the ways of the world. It provides a chance for true love and human connection. I suppose that alone gives me enough inclination to start a changing process, if not for everyone my age, but for some. It'd be worth it.

Tally-ho!