El Chapo was arrested on Saturday. Some of you probably don't even know who that is and couldn't give two shits, but if you live in the Americas or Europe, you should and you should.
Joaquín Guzmán Loera aka El Chapo (Shorty) is a Mexican drug lord who was so successful in drug trade that he has been ranked on Forbes magazine's list of the most powerful people in the world every year since 2009. He was the head of the Sinaloan drug cartel which imports more cocaine, meth, heroin and marijuana into the US than any other cartel in the world.
Not only do I try to steer clear of discussing the cartels for my safety but I tend to avoid drug-war coverage in the media for my own sanity. In 2010, at the height of the violence in Juárez, it was difficult to convince myself that I was safe when I was getting a running report of the day's homicides every evening on the news. So I stopped watching the news and just read selectively online. But the news of El Chapo's arrest could not be avoided. I first heard about it while scrolling my Twitter feed on Saturday morning. Twitter is my go-to news source on the weekends because NPR comes in all fuzzy on Gordo's old boom box and like I said, I'm not really a fan of televised news anymore. There is was, plain as day.
BREAKING: US official: Sinaloa drug chief 'Chapo' Guzman arrested by US, Mexican authorities in Mexico.
Hold your applause.
I am not happy with his arrest and I am not sorry to say so. The Mexican and American governments want to thrust their clasped hands in the air on the podium as the crowd cheers for their victory. Screw that.
My initial reaction is to feel that it's only a matter of time before someone else takes his place, and this may mean little more than a new slew of bloody turf wars for Mexico to deal with. Border cities in particular. I do not doubt that there is a plan already put into place in the event of his capture, but take a minute to think about that.
Let's say you work for a company that has a plan set in place in the event that your boss is out ill. Let's say all of the daily duties have been assigned and everyone knows what they are supposed to do. Does everyone follow the plan? Probably not. One guy doesn't like the tasks he was assigned but never mentioned it before because he never thought he'd actually have to do them. Another guy really likes your boss but isn't a big fan of the person who's in charge today so he's just going to go work to the beat of his own drum. And then you've got the guy who thinks he's been under-appreciated this whole time and should have been given more responsibilities from the get-go so he's going to take matters into his own hands.
Are you following me here?
Someone else will put on Chapo's twisted business suit faster than we can count to 3 and there's going to be plenty of disagreements throughout the drug world in the process. And violence will escalate once again. It's a hard pill for me to swallow considering my querido Juaritos is just starting to put the pieces back together from the last war. Although I suppose that war never really did end.
I saw journalists and politicians on Twitter praising the DEA and Mexican officials for this arrest. They were calling it a "win" against the drug war. But if you ask me, this wasn't a win.
A win would be redistributing tax dollars and making improvements to the educational system in Mexico by providing free public prepa so that all children have the chance to get a quality education. A win would be the US ending prohibition and shutting off the demand for other countries to import narcotics illegally. A win would be setting up job placement programs for young men and women so that they have career opportunities and aren't compelled to join the cartel or immigrate to the US illegally out of financial desperation.
The line getting back into Juarez was really long tonight. Nothing unexpected for a Friday. Even though I raced from the office to the bridge, it was already backed up a couple miles by the time I arrived.
I was in a good mood as usual because it's Friday. Duh. I was posting videos to Instagram, listening to some music and just kicking back. A friend commented on one of the videos saying that they don't know how people could cross daily because it seems so stressful. It's almost funny to me now because the line rarely stresses me out anymore. If someone would have told me 3 years ago that I would ever get to this point without sedatives, I wouldn't have believed them.
Nowadays, I'm just so thankful to even have a vehicle to cross in that the wait doesn't really bother me anymore. So of course, whenever I see a car broke down in the line, I feel horrible for that person. Not having a vehicle is awful but breaking down in the middle of the line gives awful a whole new definition. Just imagine... 5 lanes of bumper to bumper traffic, hundreds of anxious and impatient border crossers who are in a hurry, and your old beater just gave out on you in the midst of it all. It's happened to me twice so far.
Worst feeling ever.
Luckily, in both instances, I had friends who came to my rescue. But what if I didn't have anyone to help me? What if I had to rely on the kindness of strangers? That is the situation that played out tonight for one woman. She was broke down on the side of the road, a couple hundred feet shy of the US Border Patrol checkpoint. From a distance, I could see that she was approaching each car as it passed, saying something to the driver. The people kept passing her by.
As I drove up to her, she looked at me with desperation in her eyes and timidly asked if I could push her over the bridge with my car.
Por favor, me puedes empujar sobre el puente? I give 10 dollars.
My front bumper already has a couple of scratches, and once a man actually reversed into me in line as he tried to switch lanes and smashed in my license plate holder. Fuck it pareja.
Si. Te ayudaré.
I agreed to help her but told her to keep her ten dollars. I explained that I had broken down in line a couple of times and was blessed to have people who were willing to help me so I was happy to finally be able to return the favor.
The concept seemed simple enough but the stop-and-go traffic and gargantuan speed bumps that USCBP recently installed made it slightly complicated. After the first speed bump a Border Patrol officer with a crazy AK-47-looking weapon burst out laughing at me. He explained that I needed to wait for the cars in front to clear the area and then press harder on the gas to give her a good hard push over all the speed bumps. I thanked him for the tip and did as suggested. It worked out much better than my original technique.
I pushed her over the bridge and we immediately caught the attention of the Mexican Aduana. They asked her to pull to the side which was just silly because obviously her car wasn't working. They pushed her into one of the stalls that they inspect vehicles in and gestured that I needed to be on my way. I was a bit surprised because I had expected that I would need to get out of my car and help push her through the winding maze that the Mexican military created out of cement road dividers just after the crossing.
I gave a friendly wave to the woman, trying to convey well wishes I suppose, but she didn't seem to notice. Obviously, I don't know what happened next and I'm not really sure why they made her pull to the side. Hopefully she isn't having too rough of a night and her car is easily repairable.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, car problems are the worst.
Now I just have to listen to my husband lecture me for a week or so about how our front bumper was already loose and that this tiny little scratch is going to bring down the resale value of our truck. #Yawn
I had an amazing Valentine's Day weekend, don't get me wrong. We bowled and drank and danced and laughed and binge-watched more Netflix than any sane person would ever admit to. But my mind kept drifting. Behind the laughter and wine and oily bowling balls, there was a slight twinge of sadness that would overcome me now and then.
I have a large network of people online that I am very close with. People who have been there for me through the ups and downs, time and time again. And I'd like to think I've been there for them too. I may not be able to point them out if I saw them in a real-world crowd, but they are people who know the significance of numbers like 601 and 212. People who know the emotional weight of acronyms like EWI and NVC. These people came into my life unexpectedly and continue to do so each day. And most days, I feel like they are the only people who will ever truly understand me or my family or our "situation."
Many of these people were separated from their spouses on Valentine's Day. And for many of these couples, this wasn't the first time, and it surely won't be the last.
You see, some people feel sorry for me because I was forced to choose between my marriage and my country. Some people feel pity for a gringa in Juárez. But most days I tend to think that pity is ridiculous. I feel pity for the people that can't move because they have children from a previous marriage and their ex won't allow them to take their children outside of the country. I feel pity for those who can't move because they have an ill family member that they must care for on a daily basis. I feel pity for people who have illnesses that can't be properly treated in a 3rd world country and prevent them from leaving.
Those are the families that are hurt the worst by the draconian immigration laws in the US. I don't mean to make light of people who are in my shoes, because it's no walk in the park. But I'd rather be in this place than where a lot of others are. I'm glad my family had a way out, a way to be together.
My heart goes out to those who didn't get to spend last Friday with their husband or wife. I don't consider myself to be especially romantic, but on a day that can feel like an endless cluster-fuck of Hallmark cards and teddy bears and Facebook feeds full of bouquets of roses and pink balloons, I would imagine that separation is just a little harder. I know that every day apart is beyond difficult, but I imagine that it stings just a little more on the 14th, even for the strongest couple.
I want you to know that I thought about you guys. I hope this was the last Valentine's Day that you will be apart. I hope you can all find your way home, or at the very least, a way out.
I have three things working against me here. The first is that my husband is an undiagnosed hypochondriac. The second is that IMSS hands out medicine like it's fucking candy at a home & garden show. The third is that I don't buy any of it and I definitely don't like hard, dollar store sucking candies that aren't even worthy of my grandma's purse.
A couple of weeks ago Ray made an appointment at the local hospital (just a regular doctor's visit really) because he felt like his stomach was abnormally hard and it had become difficult to breathe. This is not the first time he's had these complaints. Given our diets the last couple of months, my response was that he/we should just eat less crap and more whole foods, drink less alcohol, and suck it up buttercup.
However, after his visit tonight, he was told that we need to desparasitarnos. Basically, take medication to clear our bodies of parasites. "If your family doesn't all do it together, it won't work," the doctor explained.
Now I don't mean to be such a skeptic. I really don't. And I don't mean to discredit Mexican medicine either. But I believe there is a stark contrast between the knowledgeable doctors throughout this country and the pill-passing-physicians at the Seguro Popular.
They prescribed him 4 boxes (doses?) of Bruzol Albendazol. One for him. One for me. And... one each for Meeko and Lucy. Yes that's right, when I said "we," not only did I mean myself and my husband, but our two dogs as well.
As with every visit he takes to the local hospital, I was left googling like a motherfucker when he came home.
Great... Just what I need. More hair loss. And what about the perros?
"Albendazole has been used as an anthelmintic and for control of flukes in a variety of animal species, including cattle, sheep, goats, swine, camels, dogs, cats, elephants, poultry and others. In many countries, it is very commonly used for ruminant livestock."
Ray immediately suggested we all take them tomorrow. I told him I needed some time to investigate. I asked him how a doctor could prescribe a medication to four people (errr, two people and two animals) if three of them weren't even present?! What if one of us has an allergy?
No allergy, baby. Cada six months. Everybody. No allergy.
Shoot me now.
We've made an agreement to wait until Saturday to take these stupid pills. I am holding out hope that someone who reads this might have more info. At this point, he is convinced these pills will not only save our lives but bring joy to all bitter people in the world while simultaneously securing peace in the Middle East. I am perfectly happy with worms in my panza. They bring out my cheekbones.
Thoughts? Ayuda? Warnings?
This is me being desperate in case you haven't noticed...
How many times can you drive past a sign in Mexico that says, "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard," before curiosity takes over?
I'd been dying to check this place out for obvious reasons. I wasn't positive what Shake It Milk Shop would be like but I had some assumptions. A few weeks back I finally convinced Ray to take me there and it ended up being a really interesting experience! I was surprised at what I saw when we walked in...
It was totally not what I expected, especially not in Juárez. But I guess I should learn by now that I can't make assumptions about this city. It surprises me more everyday!
The two young ladies working were very sweet and helpful, explaining the menu to us. The possibilities were literally endless! Skittles milkshakes, Cap'n Crunch milkshakes, Ferrero Rocher milkshakes...
I was having trouble deciding until the word Nutella popped out at me. Duh.
Right after snapping this picture of Ray in front of the jukebox (his idea, I swear) we peeked through that glass door behind him. It almost looked like it was a... museum? Weird. So we ask the gals behind the counter if we can check it out and they gave us the go ahead.
Sure enough, it was the Museo del Concorde that one of my blog readers had told me about last year! Such an awkward entrance... If I was at all interested in avionics or engineering I might consider this to be the Secret Garden of Juarez.
Me still trying to get over the fact that this was what
was behind the back door of the 50's malt shop in Mexico.
After paying a 10 peso donation and watching a short film about the Concorde, we wandered the museum a bit before realizing that my milkshake was probably starting to melt. We came back to the table to find our order ready to go and the check in a cute little metal gift box.
I ordered the Bill Haley malteada which was Nutella and peanut butter. It was beyond delicious. Just imagine the Holy Spirit. In your mouth. Gordo got a Neopolitano cappuccino because he's too cool for milkshakes.
My shake was 55 pesos and the cappuccino was 30 pesos. A bit pricey for us to go on the regular but certainly a fun place to splurge at once in a while. They also serve some light meals like paninis and croissants. I loved the theme of course and the service was impeccable so we'll definitely be going back.
Whenever times are tough, I try to remember when they were tougher. I try to remember everything we've been through and remind myself that I should be grateful for what we have now. I really am trying.
When I first met my husband we were really poor. I was in the midst of my addiction and he was a fresh immigrant. Again. He had two roommates and I didn't have electricity. Money was tight and rent was more important. Food was more important, drugs were much more important, than lights. I always did have priorities.
And so I would get my quarters ready.
We certainly didn't have a washer and dryer and would go down to the laundry mat on the corner to wash our clothes once a week. It was never like that episode of Friends where Rachel feels as though she's dominated life on her own when she takes back her laundry basket from that vindictive troll. It never gave me that sense of independence. No, when we trudged down to the laundry mat on Mesa Drive and Southern each Sunday, I always felt lethargic.
It was even worse when we couldn't afford to go to the laundry mat at all. There were times that we didn't have gas or bus money and would need to use the washers inside of our apartment complex. I would get our quarters together and go downstairs and wash everything. Most weeks it was a luxury to pay for the dryer and so instead I would wash our clothes in the washing machine and then take them upstairs and hang them all out to dry on the balcony. When times were really tough, we didn't have any spare quarters. So I would wash by hand in the bath tub before I hung everything out to dry.
My now-husband was just fresh off the line in those times and had grandeur American dreams. The thought of his significant-other hanging out her intimates for all to see was not a part of his vision. It was practically the ultimate embarrassment for him. Our apartment complex was split into two sections, the front was the shape of a horseshoe. We lived in that front section and there was an unused pool and grassy knoll in the middle of it all.
And so when I hung our unmentionables to dry on the front balcony of our third story apartment, everyone could see. To me it was the logical solution given our financial situation. To my husband, it was the stamp of failure. The complex on Mesa Drive and Broadway in Arizona was comprised almost entirely of immigrants. Everyone was struggling. Yet no one hung their clothes outside to dry.
Except that crazy gringa.
This was the first of our cultural clashes in the US and quite possibly what made Ray fall for me and hate me at the same time. I was everything he had attempted to leave behind in Mexico. And at the same time, I was everything he strived to be. I was a survivor. Although I always say I'll be the first to die in the apocalypse (with which I am semi-obsessed) the truth is that I will most likely last quite a while. I don't know why, but I have an uncanny way of surviving through the most fucked up situations. Sometimes it's as simple as figuring out how to clean our clothes without any money. Sometimes it's so much more than that.
Life has thrown us curve balls, that's for sure. And let me tell you, Mexico has been the least of my worries when I look at the grand scheme of things. And yet I am still here, still standing, still swearing, still loving.
I am often so enamored with the delicious recipes my friend Leslie Limon is concocting over at La Cocina de Leslie that I forget about her personal blog, La Casa de Leslie, which is equally interesting. But you know... food speaks to me. You can keep up with both of her blogs on my blog roll on the right hand column. As an American woman who moved to Mexico willingly, I really appreciate her perspective and am inspired by the life she has made for her family here.
She posted this survey on her personal blog and I was quick to jack it because I am a sucker for surveys. They're so light and fun and always transport me back in time. There is a small part of me that refuses to let go of AOL and MySpace and surveys remind me so much of those good old days.
The Letter A
Are you available? I'm happily married but always available for new friends. I love to meet new people.
What is your age? 29.
What annoys you? Negativity and people who resign to the fact that life just "is" a certain way and that they don't have the power to change their circumstances.
The Letter B
Do you live in a big house? That depends on your perspective. I think it's big and feel beyond blessed. It's bigger than many houses I've seen in Mexico, but to a lot of people I suppose it's just a modest 2 bedroom.
When is your birthday? August 31st.
Who is your best friend? My husband. I have fantastic friends but he is definitely the best friend I've ever had.
The Letter C
What's your favorite candy? Almond Joy.
Who's your crush? Jaime Camil.
When was the last time you cried? Tuesday, while watching The Butler. It was the best movie I've seen in a long time.
The Letter D
Do you daydream? All the time. Lately most of my daydreams happen in line, imagining what it will be like when/if my husband can cross legally into the US for the first time.
What's your favorite kind of dog? The kind that loves me eternally! My min pin and pom do a pretty damn good job.
What day of the week is it? Saturday, is there any other day?!
The Letter E
How do you like your eggs? Scrambled in bacon drippings. #FatGirlProblems
Have you ever been in the emergency room? Yes. Once when I cracked my chin open running around at an AA meeting as a little girl, once when I had a miscarriage, once after a domestic violence attack and once for the toothache from hell.
What's the easiest thing ever to do? Give up.
The Letter F
Have you ever flown in a plane? Yes, but guess who hasn't? Raymundo! That's definitely on his Bucket List.
Do you use fly swatters? Yes. But a little 565 Plus XLO works much better.
Have you ever used a foghorn? No, but if I ever start a door-to-door business in Juárez that sounds like a great way to announce my presence.
The Letter G
Do you chew gum? Rarely.
Are you a giver or a taker? I hate to admit it but I'd consider myself a taker. I'm quite selfish.
Do you like gummy candies? No, after years of smoking meth, my teeth are way too fucked up for those kind of treats.
The Letter H
How are you? Fantastic.
What color is your hair? Light brown.
The Letter I
What's your favorite ice cream? Sweet cream. And I don't mind a little caramel. Or nuts. And fudge ripple never hurt a girl.
Have you ever ice skated? Yes although I always preferred roller skating. When I was in the 2nd grade I was determined to make roller-figure-skating a professional sport. I used to practice everyday in the parking lot next to the convent across from my house in Rockford, Illinois. My favorite song to request at Skateland was Good Vibrations.
Do you play an instrument? Does the recorder count? Three Blind Mice? I can play Chopsticks on the piano. Okay so maybe just part of Chopsticks. Stop judging me.
The Letter J
What's your favorite jelly bean brand? Whichever brand is 75% off at Walgreens 2 days after Easter.
Do you wear jewelry? Yes. I always, always wore a silver, motivational necklace but my chain recently broke. It read "Never give up, have no fear, leap." Several things I needed to be reminded of regularly when we first came to Juárez. Until I get my chain repaired I'm just sticking to my wedding ring and some small hoop earrings.
The Letter K
Who do you want to kill? No one, but I wouldn't mind getting in a fist-fight with Jody Claman ever since she banned me on Twitter for asking her to admit that she used a gag-gift vibrator. Come on Jody. No one is too cool to masturbate.
Do you want kids? My husband and I each have one from a previous relationship and ideally we would like to have one more child.
Where did you go for kindergarten? Christ the King in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Letter L
Are you laid back? Hell no. I am the most uptight person I know.
Do you lie? Probably every day. What? Did you expect me to lie?
The Letter M
Whats your favorite movie? The Breakfast Club.
Do you still watch Disney movies? Yes. My favorite is Beauty and the Beast. I can recite it word for word from beginning to end. Thank you Ariel.
Do you like mangoes? Nope. Sorry Mexico.
The Letter N
Do you have a nickname? I prefer Em to most. Simple enough. And when I was little my dad always called me Emi, which was picked up by many of my friends from I2US because it's my user name there, taken from my old AOL screen name from the late-90's.
What is your real name? Emily. Do people normally use fake names on their blogs? If so, you can call me Tits McGee.
Whats your favorite number? 428
Do you prefer night over day? Night. Facil.
The Letter O
What's your one wish? To make people laugh.
Are you an only child? No. I have 5 sisters. Although we aren't what most people would consider a tight-knit family, I cannot imagine being an only child.
The Letter P
What one fear are you most paranoid about? Car problems. It's a ridiculous fear, but it's the one that brings me the most paranoia. Leave me alone.
What are your pet peeves? Negativity, people who don't know the value of hard work, and writing with markers or pencils.
What's a personality trait you look for in people? A sense of humor, positivity and an interesting perspective that can make me question what I think about the world.
The Letter Q
What's your favorite quote? "Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear." - George Addair
Are you quick to judge people? No. I am a person who people are quick to judge and I would never want to do that to someone else. And I am always excited when someone shows me that they are more than what others perceive them to be.
The Letter R
Do you think you're always right? No. Unfortunately, I am almost always wrong...
Are you one to cry? Only at awards shows, America's Next Top Model, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and on days that end in Y.
The Letter S
Do you prefer sun or rain? I used to love the rain until I got in a car accident during a storm. So I reluctantly have to answer "sun." But I definitely prefer the cold to the heat.
Do you like snow? As long as the roads are properly plowed and salted, yes.
What's your favorite season? Fall.
The Letter T
What time is it? 12:36 pm
What time did you wake up? 5:20 am
When was the last time you slept in a tent? In 2010 when I went camping in Payson with one of my besties, Vanessa. It was my husband's first and only experience with camping and we had so much fun. I can't wait to go again. There aren't any camp grounds in our area but I still have high hopes.
The Letter U
Are you wearing underwear? Yes, although I rarely wore underwear in 2005 and it was quite possibly the most liberating time of me life.
Underwear or boxers? Boxer briefs.
The Letter V
What's the worst veggie? Mushrooms. For dinner or for fun. No thanks. I never did like hallucinogens anyway.
Where do you want to go on vacation? San Salvador.
The Letter W
What's your worst habit? Fixating on situations where I worry about how I've made others feel when generally, they would never do the same for me.
Where do you live? Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México.
What's your worst fear? Losing my husband or son.
The Letter X
Have you ever had an x-ray? Yes.
Have you seen the x-games? Briefly on TV.
Do you own a xylophone? Negative. Who would have guessed that "X" would be such an easy section? Me.
The Letter Y
Do you like the color yellow? I love it. And it's my step-dad's favorite color!
What's one thing you yearn for? Touching the lives of others and leaving a valuable mark in this world.
The Letter Z
Whats your zodiac sign? Virgo. I just barely made the cut-off on that one. Phew! Here's to over-achieving and over-analyzing?
Do you believe in the zodiac? I believe in believing. In something, anything.
