"Quiznos Coupon Giveaway"

DSC_0218 a photo by immaculatelbg on Flickr.

Members of the community gathered as a show of support for Florida farm workers, who are asking the Quiznos company to pay an additional penny per pound for Florida round tomatoes supplied to its U.S. restaurants. McAllen, TX

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This weekend I went to the demonstration stated above and took photographs. Lately I have been wanting to take photographs in different settings and people, rather than the subjects: family/parade/randomness. This was a great opportunity and I figured I could help the group as well if they could use the photographs for some publicity. They seem to have enjoyed the pictures I took and I volunteered for any future events they may have. I think there is one on May 4th, so I'm looking forward to that (if I go, which I hope I can).
Besides the event I met with my friend to prepare for the Social Justice conference in April, held at UT Pan American. We need to get together soon since it's just about time tune up our presentation.

Last Night

I was thinking about "pocho" again and how to explain the idea of a modern day pocho. Point is I figured changing the spelling will indicate a change in philosophy/belief as well. If we continue to see it as "pocho" with similar spelling, I don't think the message is illustrated as well. I want to use the spelling of "poxo" but I realize as well that it can be confusing and difficult to pronounce. Yet, as my friend said it, "I do appreciate the idea of it representing the change of attitude toward the word. The x is sacred and purifies all with its symbolism and its uses in the spelling of mexican concepts..." Dude gets it, but he also told me it was likely confusing for others. lol 

But i am the stubborn type and i'm willing to give it a shot to see if it can catch on. But I am also concerned it doesn't reflect the audience I am trying to reach and represent, which are those who are not scholars or in academic setting. I need to think about this. I am willing to fail at my attempt. When it comes to taking risks in academics and poetry, I'm more willing to than in real life. *I just used the words "willing" and "academic" too many times.*

I was online reading some blogs also and they looked like good people to contact. Getting to know others is crucial to getting these words out. I think I might get a new website. Not for blogging, but for the "poxo" idea. I'll keep thinking of different spellings, but I like this one. I looked up some information on search engines and poxo turns up a manufacturing company of sorts as well as a lot of personal pages from persons mostly from Spain (and Chile). I can only assume they are using it with the pronounciation I am using, but I don't know how their meanings differ compared to mine. More research waiting for me.

I am going to contact a friend in Spain to see if she can help out. I hope so. Thinking and thinking to do.

Bored

is the same as being uninspired, when at work. I have plenty of time to do whatever I like, but being here (work) is to depressing. I think this is going to be a short one. It is to pessimistic.
Positive: I submitted to BorderSenses and hopes that goes well. One of the poems I changed up quite a bit because I didn't think the original poem told any type of story. I feel more comfortable with that aspect of the poem, but also felt I had to change much of the tone/sound from the original, which I enjoyed. It probably means that it is not complete yet.

I want change in my life. It's not working out as I hoped. 

Spring Break

cleaning. It's what has become of me at 31. lol But good has come from it today as I was cleaning a "memory" box in storage. I found some pictures my older brother drew about 17 years ago, during his high school years. Back then I wouldn't have identified my brother as a Chicano, mostly because I saw him as a Cholo or Break dancer. Those two weren't related for me. I don't fault myself since at that time I was barely entering my teen years. I didn't think about identity then, as I do now. But his drawings tell me a lot about him and how he saw himself. Even though I am older then when he formed this identity, I also have a sense of pride in being Pocho, although I do not believe most people would accept being marked as such. Enough writing, take a look at his drawings.

Rants & Raves

sections on Craiglist.org is interesting, mostly because of the idiotic comments that are posted. Considering I live in an area which is 90% Mexican American, I imagined more sensitivity towards people of Mexican heritage. Not quite. I have responded to a few, being polite and attempting to at least show them my opinion, but they usually keep degrading MA's. Here are some of the posts by others:

1. Car shows in the valley are the stupidest things in the world to go to.


2. The skies in the valley are not "beautiful".

You can find "beautiful" skies elsewhere.

3. Lunar eclipses occur much more often elsewhere in the world.

Stop making a list of the what-you-think is "cool" in the valley.

That list is bullshit.

Shut the fuck up and eat your own shit.

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To the man who said Mcallen has a possibly thriving arts district.


Don't sit there and say that McAllen now understands the need for  culture and art. The only thing anybody is interested in, in the valley, is  to better themselves financially.

Art and culture isn't selling pointless knick knacks on a street once a month.  Art isn't wannabe white girls dressing like a dumb fuck hipster running a boutique.

Culture isn't rude, negligent, or "valley type".

The closest culture to the valley people is the mexican culture...but god forbid you say that "tejanos" are "mexican". they get so pissed.  TAKE A fucking geography and history class and realize that Texas was mexico not that long ago.

But anyways.

Art in Mcallen, let alone the valley is run by fake ass people...who are only interested in their own life, not spreading culture and art.

You insult me saying that you've lived in California before.

I'm from LA... where culture and art is vibrant, where the people are lively and vibrant.
You need lively and vibrant people for culture and outstanding art.
Valley people are rude, selfish, and irritable.... far from lively and vibrant.
Shut the fuck up and realize that the valley needs to change one thing.

The PEOPLE

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If you want to see it for yourself, visit the site: http://mcallen.en.craigslist.org/rnr/
 
I have started to view it everyday. It keeps me from being bored and sometimes I am inspired to keep living here and trying to change that perception of Rio Grande Valley. As well as wanting to create a stable outlet for creative writing and art. :-) I can do it (with help).
 
So, wherever you are from. Please appreciate the people & the history.

I Promise Not to Vent

today. I could, but I won't. Another semi-rejection from Rio Grande Review, which is somewhat disappointing. But then I thought about the poems I submitted and I'm wondering to myself why I haven't submitted some of my shorter, yet stronger (in my belief) poems. I'll give those a try since I haven't had much with recent poems.

Biggest (& Best) news of late is my plans to work w/ my friend Gabriel in another conference being held at UTPA, titled the Social Justice and Peace Conference 2011. They deserve to be linked:

Visit SJP 2011

Previously we participated in a conference titled Pocho y Chicano: Criado por la Misma Valle, but to focus more on pocho there will be changes to the title and likely the material. At this point i'm thinking of using the title De Pocho a Chicano, y Back. I like that title, but it sounds as if I have heard something similar. I'm almost certain. If you know, please let me know because I don't want to be made the fool. lol

Now comes to the part about trying to tie this idea with social justice and peace. I have some ideas, since they are open to literature/ideas on the border. Which is a favorite subject of mine as a lifelong border resident. But also as part of my pocho identity I have to deal with borders within the United States, as in the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint. At any point trying to go up to San Antonio, Austin, etc, the checkpoint must be passed through. And even though I have never been pulled over, it always makes me feel as if I'm not a full U.S citizen unless I can pass that checkpoint without any problems. I always fumble with the questions they ask, especially "Where are you coming from", which is funny in a sense because I'm coming from down south. lol Where else? But I am always cautious of my answers, since if I say "Alton", where I am really coming from, I don't know if they will recognize the town, which will then to lead more questions. Why I have this sense of paranoia, I'm not sure, but I do remember in my teen years how my brother was asked to pull to the side so they could check the vehicle. My brother, prieto, driving a rented vehicle, with his Mexican (pero blancita) wife and their two blancito kids. Now that I'm thinking about it, having to cross a border checkpoint so you can travel to larger cities can feel traumatic. For others (many), it's a part of life. They don't question it. I understand why it's there. I don't understand why they aren't everywhere. I don't know why it feels we are the only ones.