A little XMAS spirit

Going through my facebook account I found out that there is a group of "bear" guys in a band call "Bear Force One", their videos are really funny to me and I though I would share two of them... here they are!

Words words…

I’m waiting on the “words” or thoughts come to mind… I can’t, is like there is so much I wanna say, but at the same time I cannot describe it.
Too much going on man! It just reminds me when I told my friend Donald… “I think I need to be exorcised” one thing over another, and then another, and then another… non-stop… it’s like I’m finally going to breathe get a little gasp of air… but then…. There it is… it’s like someone is saying in a sinister cynical way “you? Trying to relax? Ha ha ha forget it!”
Just think about it, recalling some of the things…

1st my relationship was in jeopardy

2nd I hurt my back, neck and muscles… was in pain for a few months

3rd the car is gone

4th my mom gets a heart attack and stays on the hospital for a week

5th I’m involved in a car crash and it’s my fault

Latest… ita gets hurt (don’t know how) but after coming from work I found her with a somewhat bad puncture like wound…

Right now at this very moment… im dizzy, my head hurts, speechless… tonight, im going to pray like never before… I feel lost… I need help…. Am I going crazy?

(sigh) ... Here I am

I feel like this is year is going event faster than the last. I remember yesterday was spring and tomorrow is winter again (if you know what I mean)… Every beginning of the year I keep telling myself the same thing “this year it’s going to be better” and then Fazzz!! Things happen. September… oh my… dear September… I feel like I have been working a lot in different special projects, and a lot of the time I feel underappreciated…

I thought August would be the last busy month for me but I was very wrong! On Sep, as some of you know I worked and fundraised money for our organization and that was just a lot of pledging preparing and coordinating for the AIDS walk, which was not the only big and “special” project I was working for, besides the AIDS walk, there was the open house a week after the walk. And then comes October with a big gift! Let’s make SURVEYS everybody! (I have to coordinate four people including me to do 400 health related surveys) and finally because of my BIG mouth the haunted house… (sigh) Some other things not good happened… Do you remember her?? She was supposed to have gone to a good house, I knew the person that had her and she was nice and even gave me the feeling that my baby was going to be in great hands… She even was the one that I was happy where she ended… but one never knows… After last month flooding around Desplaines I received a call from this person… First thing she says is… “Rolando, I’m afraid I can’t take care of “Osita” anymore” I asked what happened and she said her house got severely damaged by the flooding and that there was no way of her being able to have a pet anymore… she added that she didn’t have time because she went back to school and her kids were at school… blah blah blah…

I immediately without thinking about it, told her to just give her back to me that I would take care of her… I was super sad when I saw her for the first time since I gave her away… I really thought she was in good hands… Osita was, super skinny, wouldn’t trust people (bit me four times), was full of lice, oh man… in general in bad shape… Almost a month after she is one of the most loving, caring, and sweet dogs. (With a little twist lol!) I think she is getting used to us, and to the way Candy and Bonnie are trained now…
Osa doesn’t bite anymore (only barks a lot!) and she is getting healthier by the minute hehehe my intentions where to find a loving home for her (or at least try to) but mom is super attached to her now and she wants to keep her… oh well our family just got bigger hehehe

Talking about my mother… Three weeks ago she gave me the scare of my life. All started with her complaining with a discomfort on the left side of her chest and she would complain of running out of air sometimes… she also mentioned that this “thing” she was feeling was mostly at night…
First we didn’t think that she had nothing serious but three days past and the discomfort grew to pain and she started to not get sleep at night… on night six she woke with a super strong pain that made her cry and that’s when I knew something was seriously wrong… she has been taking strong pain medicine for her arthritis and other conditions she has, at first I thought she was having a reaction or something… poor my mom didn’t sleep that night because she said she was afraid one: of the pain and because it came stronger while she was sleeping and two: because she was afraid she wouldn’t wake up. Well first thing in the morning a called the doctors office and made an appointment. When at the doctor he told us that we shouldn’t be there, that at my mom’s age chest pains are only to be taken seriously… and that’s when I started to get more anxious and worry about what was going on, the doc immediately sent us to an emergency room, I thought everything was going to be alright and it was going to be nothing serious, my mom was even arguing with me because she didn’t want to go to the hospital for several reasons… but there was something inside of me that wanted to know what was going on…
Well we went to the hospital and as soon as we were in the registration room and the nurse was checking her blood pressure everything went like a flash! They (nurses) got me out of the room, put my mom on a wheel chair and took her in the ER right away… … … now… as I’m writing this I’m realizing how affected I’m still are by this… I’ don’t know if you have ever felt like this but… the feeling of strange people taking your most beloved being on the world away without knowing what’s happening, it’s horrible… I admit it! I am a chicken for these things…
I cannot and will not ever be ready to loose someone I love so much, specially my mom. One of the nurses told me that I had to wait at least 15 minutes before I could go in to see my mom to the ER room the put her in. 45 minutes passed and they wouldn’t let me in, until I for the 100th time asked them to please let me in to see her… The whole experience was just a nightmare… we were told my mom was having a heart attack and that her condition was serious and she had to go through some tests to see if her heart was having other problems…

The next day she had an Angiogram but it turns out that right there the doctors found one of her major arteries almost completely blocked and they had to intervene immediately… The diagnosis was Coronary Artery disease. My mom stayed six days at the hospital due to some complications but now, I am SO SO SO grateful to have her home. Things like this really make you realize how you most of the time if not always, take life for granted… One thing is for sure… we spend much more time together now… and I love it hehehe

Thanks for reading, and again I really wanna thank my friends for being there for me… this specific event in my life made me appreciate you even more, my love, my gratitude, and my unconditional friendship will always be yours… Peace! Sincerely, Rolando

Random Pics!

Dealing with LSD traffic everyday gives me headaches!

Music is the only thing after photography that helps me relax...

I wanna get better at taking photos... I love photography...

AIDS Walk Chicago... Sponsor ME!

I will be participating in the 2008 AIDS Run & Walk Chicago. Please support my efforts by making a pledge or joining me to stomp out AIDS on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at this critical event in Grant Park. By making a pledge to me, you help support more than 150 Chicagoland organizations including CENTRO ROMERO whose work is so critical in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

All you have to do is visit the following link to make you contribution: Click here

Thank you in advance for your support and your generosity. Because of you, I am on my way to accomplishing my personal fundraising goal and helping the AIDS Foundation of Chicago net $500,000 for AIDS Run & Walk Chicago 2008.

Sincerely,

Rolando Renteria
www.centroromero.org

Numero FOUR!!!

and last number four!
Monday! I was part (just walked) on a pro peace and anti violence march organized by the youth program of where I work, and let me tell you it was pretty cool… Kids 6 to 12 years of age walked the streets of Rogers Park chanting, singing, screaming, however you want to call it, asking for peace, no war, no gangs, and keeping families together. It was a great but exhausting experience (I am totally out of shape)…

Who wants one?

Emily and Yuri

"WAR Down"

Oh yeah don't doubt it... I was so freaking tired!!

can't believe not even the kids complained...
shame on me!! LOL

Number Three...

Sunday I went to Vic’s ex-barrio and I had a great time, we went to eat to one of our favorite breakfast place “egg basket” and I had the BEST spinach with feta cheese omelet EVER! (sigh) I’m hungry again…

Waking up... and the baby in the middle...

uhhm Puchix, Rollie is not! an accessory! LOL

Cruising and taking some pics... see below..

Surprise!!!

Numero DOS!

A lot of things are going on people, we gotta keep up with changes and stuff hehehe so everything will be divided in 4 posts... yeah FOUR posts... here is number TWO!

Friday night hung out with my friend Raul and was exited about Rollie (the Gecko) visiting again… Saturday was a chilling at Richard and Donald’s day again (like always) I had a great time. I got publicly thanks Richard though, every time I come to him with my technical photography questions, he either answer right away or sends me an email with “how to do” videos, and tutorials… he ROCKS!

Rulin getting to know Rollie...

Rollie

My good friend and ososito Richard

Sweet Donald

Cool Jack...

Number ONE!

A lot of things are going on people, we gotta keep up with changes and stuff hehehe so everything will be divided in 4 posts... yeah FOUR posts... here is number one!

Guess what?? Last Friday my friend Argelia (AKA Gelin) got married!!! Yesh you heard me, married… after 8 years of dating the same (ahem) now husband, they finally decided to settle down. With all my heart my best wishes are for you Gelin! I know (someone) is going to show you this post lol!

Gelin and Edgardo in front of the Judge...

And the ring goes to...

Awww! you could see how Argelia was super happy...

The Kiss!!!!!!!!!

We now pronounce you, husband and wife...

Cheers to another fun weekend!

I’m not going to say a lot this time… only a few things… I am super glad of having all of you as friends… you mean so much to me, I am glad this world has good hearted people still (forgetting the bitchy days we all have… hehehe) I love you all!

Vic and I @ Donald and Richard's

This two are awesome people... XOXOX

Naughty "ososito" LOL I'm sorry but I love this pic!

Super cool and EXTRA shy Mark... he is a sweet man...

Nice to see more lovebirds... Kent and Dave..
P.S. Thanks for the massage and tips Kent,
my back feels better XOXOX

Question: What's the first thing that comes
to your mind, when you see this pic?

Hasta la vista Babies!

Flickr NEW record!!!

GOD! I go to see my stats on my flickr page and what a surprise!!! I have never had so many people visiting or loading the page in just one day... Now I know what you people want to see more of! LOL we are pervs!! LOL

Click on picture to make bigger...

Random internet pictures... WARNING adult content

You know you're gay when...

▪ You wear the appropriate underwear for each of your dates.

▪ You understand the immense importance of good (or bad) lighting.

▪ You can be in a crowded bar and still spot a toupee from 50 yards away.

▪ No one expects you to kiss and not tell.

▪ You can have naked pictures of men you know in your home.

▪ You can have naked pictures of men you don’t know in your home.

▪ You can have naked pictures of men you don’t know in your home and on your computer.

▪ Unlike your women friends, you can hang out in men’s locker room.

▪ Your pets always have great names.

▪ Nobody expects you to change a tire.

▪ You know how to get a waiter’s attention.

▪ At any given instant, you can recite who was gay since the dawn of history.

▪ You are, hands down, your nephew’s and nieces’ favorite uncle.

▪ You get to choose your family.

▪ You can tell your sexual compatibility with a potential partner by the way he holds his drink.

▪ You can smile to let someone know you can’t stand them.

▪ You can freeze an approaching bar troll twenty feet away.

▪ You’re good pals with women other people can’t stand.

▪ You’ve always got an opinion, and don’t mind sharing it.

▪ You’ve read the book, seen the movie, done the musical.

▪ You know how to “air kiss”.

▪ You know exactly which cosmetic surgery to consider having… and the perfect excuse to give people who ask where you’ve been for two weeks.

▪ You know how to dress strategically.

▪ You know when to move out and move on.

▪ You are the only one at the class reunion who looks better than you did in high school.

▪ You’ve got at least one framed picture of a pet.

▪ You know that being called a “cheap slut” isn’t necessarily an insult.

▪ You wouldn’t buy someone a mug for their birthday.

▪ You know which wine to bring.

▪ Sales clerks don’t mess with you.

▪ You have a medicine chest stocked for any occasion.

▪ You never hold a grudge for longer than a decade.

▪ You’ve just about defeated the accent you were born with.

▪ You know the way to a man’s heart is not necessarily through his stomach.

▪ You choose the most fabulous greeting cards.

▪ You know every film ever made with male frontal nudity.

▪ You’ve got sunscreen at every conceivable SPF level.

▪ You have the latest International Male catalog.

▪ You wouldn’t dream of dressing out of the latest International Male catalog.

▪ You can be bitchy without anyone blaming it on biology.

And “the better days” keep coming...

It really feels good to get out of that “thing” I don’t even know what it was that was sucking all of my energy out of my “precious” body LOL (I know, I should’ve been a writer) but now things are way better than before…

I’m not going to repeat all of the wonderful times I’ve been having lately (you can just read them on my other pots) but last weekend was another of those…

First off let me start by saying that my lower back it’s hurt and my whole body was super tired and sore last night. My boss was cool enough to send me home early and getting there I took the longest nap ever… I slept three hours straight. I think my body was just exhausted from all the events that had previously occurred. Just think about it, Monday night: flooding, that meant cleaning a lot and moving things around the house, a lot of lifting… Friday worked from 8:30 to 8 pm cleaning and preparing almost everything for next day event. The annual health fair that I was organizing… there was more lifting moving computers, tables, chairs etc. and finally staring at 7 am on Saturday was the final set up outside of the agency… lifting , lifting and more lifting I’m telling you, no wonder why I’m hurt and sore hehehe

Anyway the event was all a success and I was so happy when was finally over… for the first time we had over 45 providers, and by that I mean business, community agencies, clinics, and local hospitals. The best part was to know that over 400 community residents benefited from the services that were provided.

Adriana and I on her last day at work :0(

Adri, Azalea and I

Now you are asking yourself how me being hurt has to do anything with “better days”? The answer to that is easy… I have never ever ever ever (well maybe last week) LOL!! But man I had so much fun over the weekend. First off I go out with y friend Gerardo to the market days. I got to meet a guy I met a long time ago over the internet and we have always chatted but never met until then. He was cool (besides drunk) maybe that was the reason but who cares it was party time and the ambience was just screaming “Happy time”… Right the next day, Gerardo, Raul, Victor and I came back for another round of Market Days at Halsted’s own Boystown… It was a pretty cool festival and full of people. I don’t know but to me it was the best “Market Days”… aaahhh good times…

Peace!

Raul, Gera and Vic @ Market days 2008

Random Hunk guy!

An almost crack open hehehe

Pose!

Moi and Santa's little helper hahaha