I had never paid much attention to my creative writing process. First, I had not found my niche (or I had not admitted it - if you have spent more than a day with me, you know that I can't help the gentle sarcasm, the joke that is very very wrong, or just trying to be witty.) Second, I am perennially distracted and impulsive, take things as they are without an analysis at the whys, not unless they keep hitting me in the face. Finally, after 6 years of getting hit in the face with Monday deadlines at the newspaper that I absolutely fucking hate, I decided to give it a thought. Why do I hate writing so much, why did I give up music with a heavy heart in 1992 and why have I not painted/sculpted/doodled anything important since graduating as a plastic artist in 1996? Why do I quit the outlets that are the most important and that are fully and almost singularly dependent on me?

Then I realize the culprit: my creative process. Apparently, to be content with a finished creation it needs to be laboured under immense stress and self hatred. This would explain why I am a professional procrastinator, leaving three 500 word articles that need to be researched and people to be interviewed for the same day I am supposed to turn them in. It is the reason why I get snappy and nervous and tell myself what a shitty less-than-human being I am just before a simple comedy sketch. A gratuitous self hatred just to push myself to doing what I am supposed to be, giving credence to the cliché of the artist as a tortured soul. Even if the torture comes from the confines of a manipulative brain and the art is sub standard. Once whatever is created is done, one cannot easily dismiss the thoughts that initiated the process. They stay there, depressing and simmering, parasitic to the creativity.

So, tell me about your creative process.

I have always walked on Hemingway's side of writing styles, and now Twitter and the Facebook status update have swallowed my desire to write here in my journal. Need to dust this at least for this year.

I am halfway through the Secondary School Teacher Program, specializing in math. There has been a strike going on for the last month, I hope I don't lose the semester. On the other hand, this strike was very much needed. The system needs to be broken. Or at least we should try our best. My old age pessimism says that we the students are in a no win situation.

We had an earthquake that lots of people felt all over the island. I was in bed, awake, and realized it was happening. Usually, they stop when I understand the situation, but this time the shaking just paused and then accelerated. That was scary, but it was nothing. We still are under watch for some horrible 7+ magnitude that could kill over 2 thousand people.

I am worried sick over Gustavo Cerati's health. Prognosis does not look good and it seems that he will sustain some kind of damage, either in language skills or half of his body's mobility. It sucks that he gets to be the first big tragedy of Rock en Español. I have always had a soft spot for Soda Stereo. We didn't get much The Cure on the airwaves when I was a teenager, so they made up for that.



Yeah, my English skills are getting rustier. No English TV watching, English book reading and no conversations do that to you.

Yahweh



Have been somewhat busy. I am now working for a lawyer part time, in addition to my job at the newspaper. The school has found a brief opening for me that consists of 1 hour daily, which I will take because I am not in the position to throw away any money.

I am considering going back to school to further my education, so rest assured it is not another BS/BA. I am going along medical lines, maybe pharmacy / epidemiology / biostatistics or something like that.

The U2 video? Oh, that's simple. As of today, I am now an Episcopalian.

The analysis indicates that the author of http://mariacotto.blogspot.com is of the type:
ISTJ - The Duty Fulfillers

The responsible and hardworking type. They are especially attuned to the details of life and are careful about getting the facts right. Conservative by nature they are often reluctant to take any risks whatsoever.

The Duty Fulfillers are happy to be let alone and to be able to work in their own pace. They know what they have to do and how to do it.

Typealizer test

As some of you know, it is that time in the Olympic cycle when I glue my butt to the seat in front of the TV and watch sports. The Olympics are one of those events that I look forward to. Or LOOKED forward to until now.
The opening was awesome, as I expected from Zhang Yimou, and no amount of downplaying (that it was lipsynched, or that parts were pre-recorded) will erase the awe and amazement I felt at all the pretty lights and explosions.
The USA athletes have always played a dominant part in the Olympics. It is a reality that I accept happily and had never bothered me, because there was always a sense that this was a world scale sports event. This time around, it does not feel like that. I am seeing minor events where the US is sure to win eclipsing important events taking place. I have seen gold medals go to other countries and the whole story revolving around the US tragic loss. I would not complain if I had options, but NBC has the Olympics by the balls. The American dudes, this time, are freaking ugly... I wanted to see more from Europe, don't make me wait until the World Championships.

Oh, I forgot: yes, the Chinese will eat anything...get over it, you NBC fuckers. If I see one more of your hosts grimacing while willingly trying out fried scorpions on a stick I will scream.

Saw the Hulk, Hellboy 2 and then Batman. Enjoyed them very much, loved the Joker, the explosions, the elf in Hellboy and SMAAAAAASH!

Painted my office cream and green, eliminating a sickly mint green that was slowly driving me insane. Must resist outside forces that want to decor everything with nauseous decals of butterflies and flowers and sickly girlie shit.

Work is boring...my contract ends in September 1. My boss is trying to extend my time there. Let's see if he is successful. I don't want to be a full timer at the newspaper, especially if it involves more interviews. I have grown more antisocial and it almost pains me physically to talk to strangers and engage them in a conversation, when I really don't have any personal reason to speak with them.

Next month is DeeDee's first birthday. Arrangements are waiting to be made. A plan will come together, water tight and all.

Music? Not anything new. So I will leave you with The James Gang. Walk Away:

On the music front, this year I went to the Iron Maiden concert. I have plans to go to the Queensryche concert in August and ohmygod-ohmygod-ohmygod-ohmygod look who are coming!!! LOS FABULOSOS CADILLACS....YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!



And of course, this one goes without saying:

Continuing with the death theme, but on a humorous note: somebody on a net forum reminded me of this. Don Ramón was the best in that show. THIS is how you explain DEATH to a kid... *Note: it is a Spanish language clip of "El Chavo del Ocho".

Today is the one month anniversary of my dog Monty's death. For the sake of completeness I wanted to post it, to keep the date in memory.

Monty, here is to you: