From an away message...

Pick her up and pretend you're going to throw her in the pool, she'll scream and fight you but secretly, she'll love it. Hold her hand while you talk. Hold her hand while you drive. Just hold her hand. Look her in the eyes when you talk to her. Protect her. Tell her stupid jokes. Tickle her, even if she says to stop. Slow dance with her. When she starts swearing at you, tell her you love her. Let her fall asleep in your arms. Get her mad, then kiss her. Tease her. Let her tease you back. Stay up with her when she's sick. Kiss her forehead. Let her wear your clothes. Kiss her in the rain. And when you fall in love with her, tell her.

New Favorite Poem

Thought I should share with you, my dear imaginary audience... my new favorite poem.. Claudia Romeu recited it tonight at the Latino Symposium... and after reading it again when i got home... i realized that it in fact has some resemblance to my life right now... Enjoy.

Rima IV

by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer

the English Version..

Do not say that, treasure depleted,subjects lacking, the lyre sits silently:

There may not be poets, but always there will be poetry.

While waves quiver excitedlyat the kiss of light;

while the sun paints shameless cloudsin fire and gold;

while the air holds in its lapperfumes and harmony;

while in the world there is spring,there will be poetry!

While the discoveries of science do not reachthe sources of life,

and the sea or the sky holds an abyssthat resists calculation;

while ever-advancing humanitystill doesn't know where it's going;

while there is a mystery left for man,there will be poetry!

While we feel joy in the soulwithout our lips smiling;

while we mourn without tearsclouding our eyes;
while the heart and the headbattle continually;

while there are hopes and memories,there will be poetry!

While there are eyes that reflectthe eyes that gaze into them;

while lips respond sighingto lips that sigh;
while two souls in a kisscan mix confusedly;

while one beautiful woman exists,there will be poetry!

Highligts from DC and Harrisonburg

• i got to drive through the Appalachians
• we underestimated our trip times by: 2 hours, 1 hour, 3 hours
• i saw my godmother cuddled and drank with her
• i went to the model united nations 4 years too late
• chipotle made me sick
• We wasted nearly an hour walking around the campus of GWU looking for a bar and met the sons of two argenine diplomats....
• We discovered that everyone in DC speaks Spanish, everyone.
• An "unidentified object" (read bomb threat) at the Holocaust Museum split up Janaki and my friendship forever . . . and then I made a joke and things were back to normal.. and then we talked about how good it felt to survive this confrontation
• we were nearly blown away by the wind at the base of the Washington Monument
• we crashed the linconln memorial
• I met Becca
• Becca took us to the top of Reddish Knob, and I thought it was weird being on the top of a mountain and not being able to see the ocean...
• I was exposed to the wonder that is warm cookie dough
• I fell in love with Kings and now i want to play it every day
• We found the edge of the Universe/inspiration for Final Destination/Bermuda "Triangle" near the edge of Virginia. It was scary.
• I tought Janaki very useful Spanish/Puerto Rican words, such as "hookiar" and "pendejo" and "puta can can can can can can"
• We drove in the mouth of a wolf and i did not know where to put myself
• We nearly ran out of gas twice and now hate Southern Illinois . . . estupidos.
• We almost crashed into a car 1 exit away from Wash U

Spanglish with Isabel

So, I've decided to make my own Spanglish/Puerto Rican Dictionary. Enjoy.

babysit
Lorena tiene babysitting por la noche.
bonche (bunch)
me falta leer este bonchesito.
break
Dame un break!
bill
Lo unico que me llega por correo son billes.
carpeta (carpet)
Tengo que limpiar la carpeta.
checkiar (check)
Tengo que chequear si tengo algo que hacer.
cheri (cherry)
Yo puedo hacer un nudito con el palito con la cherry.
cheesebegel (cheesburger)
Dame un cheesebegel plain.
clickear (click)
clickea aqui para visitar mi site.
diler (dealer)
aquel tipo es un diler de drogas.
eskipiar (skip)
voy a eskipiar mi primera clase
freezel (freezer)
mete la carne en el freezel.
ganga (gang)
voy a hanguiar con mi ganga.
likeo (leak)
tienes q arreglar el likeo del techo.
lockel (locker)
en highschool tenia un lockel.
mapial (to mop)
tengo que mapial la cocina.
palking (parking)
palkeate alli.
pari (party)
vamos pa'l pari del sabado.
pompiar (pump)
tengo que pompiar a isaura.
ponchal (punch)
Poncheame el ticket del palking.

to be continued.... all feedback welcome! :)