Beautiful Drunk Mexicans and Portable Hollywood

Let me just say, my family is beautiful. We may be a bunch of ghetto eaters, drinkers, and loudmouths, but I love my loud family with everything I've got. Yesterday was another Christmas with them. See, Christmas is also my grandma's birthday (Happy birthday, Grandma! I love you!), so my family has a huge blowout every year. Tamales, beans, rice, cookies, cakes, beer, liquor--you name it, we've got it. For some people, Christmas is their favorite time of year because of the holiday spirit or they get to see people they don't see all the time, but for me, it's my favorite day because the whole family I've grown up with gets together, puts bullshit aside, and just parties in my grandparents' small house on Eastside. I can't put into words what Christmas is to us.

So, I read my poem, Austin Chicano, for them, and had teary eyes in the house. That's how I know it's good. :p I'm known for making my family cry. When we had my sister's going away party a couple years ago, I read a piece I had written for her. Every damn Mexican in the house was crying. I figure, if I'm gonna cry, then everyone's gonna cry with me, damnit. ;) But, I am very proud of my poem and the family loved it. It just might see publication one day. :)

And now I'm in my last week in Austin. :( I started thinking about it this morning and got all anxious. I know, I know, I have responisibilities in San Diego, but Lord... My heart is in Austin. Sunday will NOT be a fun day. BUT, until then, I still have a week in Austin, which I'm very happy about. And I get to say goodbye to 2005 here. 2006 WILL be a good year, damnit. I'm going to make it a good year. In the famous words of Noxema Jackson: I'm going to make Hollywood wherever I'm at.

Let's all make it Hollywood next year.

Love Y'all,
Joseph