Weekend Update. That’s probably plagiarism, huh?
This weekend, we drove around what felt like most of San Diego and looked at what felt like 87 apartment complexes. It’s all expensive, but some of it is pretty fabulous. We’ll have time to visit soon–as in, as soon as we’re done looking at apartments, pick one, and start living there, which will be nice.
We looked at one place with this really nasty landlord, Pearl. I think she was an alcoholic. (Caution: This link is not for the faint of heart, people with children, people with a soul, or those who typically do not enjoy Will Ferrell’s work.)
I’m actually working on my dissertation today–1,000,000 thank you’s to Andrew. Be careful with all those thank you’s. They cost me a bundle.
And just because I keep telling Paul I’ll forget the story if I don’t write it down: Several weeks ago, we were at Jiffy Lube. As usual, they were trying to charge us for anything they could think of– “Your alternator needs flushing and massaging…” –and the guy told Paul our air filter was ‘dirty’ and might need replacing. Paul asks to see this so dirty filter. The JL guy shows him our wreck of an air filter–only slightly dusty–and Paul reaches in, pulls it out, and walks outside the service area. He bangs it on the wall a few times while a homeboy gives him the ‘Das rite, ese’ nod and Paul returns our now nearly pristine air filter to the service technician. Ha.
Also, that is in fact how you spell ‘ese.’ I had to look it up. It’s slang for ’southerners,’ or gang members living south of Delano, CA. So technically I guess we’re all eses, especially me since I’ve been to Delano. So buy a blue bandana, and don’ never talk to no Nortenos, vato.
April 17th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
you have a funny husband. thanks for writing your funny stories down so we can all read them. God’s speed on your dissertation work.
April 17th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
haha, so what is a vato?
April 17th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Vato (also Bato) is Chicano slang equivalent to “man”, “dude”, pal, or brother. It can also be used to refer to a fellow gang member. According to the Chicano poet Luis Alberto Urrea, the word originated in Pachuco slang of the 1940s, and is derived from “the once-common friendly insult chivato, or goat. It had a slightly unacceptable air to it, which the Locos and Weesas of the Chuco world enjoyed. They were able to take the sting out of racism by calling themselves a bunch of names assimilated ‘good Mexicans’ didn’t like.”
The bato loco, (”crazy dude”, “cool guy”) is someone who is “fully immersed in la vida loca” (”the crazy life”). According to Rafaela Castro[citation needed], “He may be a gang member, a drug user, or just an entertaining street person”. Some scholars have characterized the bato loco as an archetype in Chicano culture.
See also
* Cholo
April 17th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject. So you know you are getting the best possible information.
–Michael Scott
April 17th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Haha, an office reference. Great job.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:21 am
Get an apartment that allows cats. As of 10pm, 10:15pm, 10:45pm, 11:00pm, 11:30pm and 11:45pm last night, I have some available.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:40 am
We are looking at cat friendly-places, although we’ll definitely have to charge the cat at least $50 rent. What were your cats doing to gave rise to their need for relocation? Mine used to wake me up 5 or 6 times a night to go outside or come back in.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
just guessing, but maybe kevin’s cat had kittens. . . 6 of ‘em.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Judy wins!!! Your prize? A free kitten!!!!
April 18th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
YAY JUDY!!!!!
April 18th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Wow. I’m dumb. 6 kittens? cute. i’m minus a cat, so you might be able to talk me into one. or five.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
3 boys and 3 girls. I’ll have better pictures up on my blog soon.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
I’m gonna have to decline my prize, Kevin, but I bet they are really adorable. Thanks for that YAY, Amy. It’s always nice to be cheered
Somebody slap Denise (the PhD candidate) for calling herself dumb. Ha, that’ll make her feel better!