Xocoatl (Ho-co-attle)

Yup, chocolate comes from México!

Etymologists trace the origin of the word “chocolate” to the Aztec word “xocoatl” (ho-co-attle) which referred to a bitter drink brewed from cacao beans. 

The Latin name for the cacao tree, Theobroma cacao, means “food of the gods.”

Molé is a spicy Mexican dish made with chocolate.  It’s called ‘molé poblano’, and it’s quite unnerving when you try it at first. It’s chocolate, but not!  And altogether quite delicious. Chocolate on fire!

You can view and appreciate the complexities of Mexican cooking and the cuisine by visiting the link here by Roberto Santibañez.

CDMX - Ciudad de México

The story behind Mexico City has always fascinated me.  I mean it’s as surreal as a Carlos Castañeda peyoté-driven dream.  Add some mescal and tequilas to the mix and the mariachis playing in the background...

You may all know the story, but here it is anyway...
The Aztecs from the last great Mesoamerican empire - trekked overland from their northern homeland Aztlán, (wherever that was - this IS stuff of legends). I was told this was a multi-generational migration.
Around 1320, their tribal god Huitzilopochtli (Hweet-zill-o-pockh-tlee) told them to make their camp, pitch their tents - and make their city wherever they saw an eagle perched on a cactus devouring a snake! This omen and symbol (depicted on the Mexican flag) was seen by them on an island in a lake - and that then became the site of the city of Tenochtitlán,  now Mexico City!

What are the chances of those series of coincidences? That really knocks my socks off...
This is the reason some parts of the city structures are sinking - building atop marshy stuff is not a good idea, (and for that, you’d have to blame the Spanish Conquistadors and their lust for gold), ironic really, because the Aztecs really prized obsidian!   Eagle, snakes, cacti, islands, lakes!   Wait till I get to my favourite Mexican god - Quetzalcoatl (Ket-zahl-quah-till), the oh so beautiful feathered serpent...

BCDMX,  IS a beauty, that city.  And it’s been too long since I’ve been back...
I have a schoolmate Carlos Mora, from my San Francisco Art Institute days who is from there, and I’m looking forward to connecting with him.
Edmond Williams, another SFAI dude and great friend will come from Manzanillo to meet us. Oboy! Maybe we can locate our mutual friend Pepé Ruvinskis who’s dad owned a great Argentinian restaurant - El Rincon Gaucho. His dad would wander around the guests doing clever seight-of-hand tricks. He pulled a silk kerchief from my collar, wouldn’t let me keep it...
I found out that there’s another friend Hiromi Nagata who’s currently the principal of the Japanese School in Mexico City. We will definitely catch up with Hiromi & Sumeya. And we’re trying not to ukeep it too frantic...
Voy mi practicar en español!

Backwards!

I know the jury is divided on the films of Woody Allen.  I think his droll introspection and myopic view (on himself) and on the human society is pretty refreshing.
And anyway it’s pure storytelling, and compelling.  Also, Woody Allen plays the clarinet on Mondays in New York with the Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band.  Surely that in itself is redemption.
Here’s a unique perspective and a nugget from the man.  I had posted this some 9 or 10 years ago..

In my next life I want to live backwards.
You start out dead and get that out of the way.

Then you wake up in an old people's home
feeling better every day.

You get kicked out for being too healthy,
go collect your pension, and then when you start work,
you get a gold watch and a party on your first day.
You work for 40 years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement.

You party, drink alcohol, and are generally promiscuous, 
then you are ready for high school.

You then go to primary school, you become a kid, you play.
You have no responsibilities, you become a baby until you are born.

And then you spend your last 9 months floating in luxurious spa-like conditions with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters every day - and then Voila!
Bam! You finish off as an orgasm!

I rest my case.

Seven Years On..

Yup, it’s been seven years since my last post. Seven freaking fuckadoodledoo looong years.
It’s amazing to be picking up the thread, and I’m all pumped up. And, it feels good to be writing in a little longer form than my cryptic tweet-bursts. (outbursts?)
The old blog posts from 2011 were definitely hacked with all kinds of garbage - from penile enlargement persuasions and calisthenic acrobatic sex addled artistes, and that same chap from Nigeria still trying to please, please use my bank to kindly park his £15 million...

I had to go in and clean up a lot of it, so it’s littered with broken links, and I finally decided to just leave it as is and move on. Living in the ‘now’...

So definitely the way I write will have changed over the years, I’m sure. I really hope so. Evolution is change. Change is good. Possibly it may reflect some abandon, and a sense of new adventures.
And speaking of adventures.... in a few days all of us are off for a long overdue family trip together.
Mexico 'May-hee-co' and the US. They better watch out. Hang onto your hat! And follow along if you please.