Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Coffee With My Mother

  This is an interview that took place with my Mother.                                                       
                                                             

                                                             Coffee with my Mother
The following interview took place on the morning of January 24, 2015. The views and opinions expressed in the following are not meant to hurt anyone’s views and/or opinions.

Q: Why did you come here?

A: Well, (adjusts seat) I had the majority of my immediate family here in the United States, so I found it fitting that I come here to be with them in order to (pause) grow up with the people I am closest to.(takes sip of coffee) Many people have this idea of going to the United States in search of a better salary, better house, whatever it may be, but I came here to spend time with my family and to grow up around them. I was doing fine great in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Q: You were born and raised in San Luis Potosi?

A: Correct. I grew up in a rather urban environment. (Takes sip) I mean, many of my family were these quote on quote “city kids”.
Q: How old were you when you came to the United States?

A: I was 13. Seems like yesterday.

Q: Do you like being here?

A: To an extent.

Q: Would you care to elaborate?

A: No.

Q: Any issues upon arriving?

A: I believe the biggest issue was the language. Once I learned the language, things became much easier in terms of understanding the customs.
Q: Do you want to go back?

A: Well (chuckle) we go every other year, but there are times where I wish I could go back. Life was somewhat simple over in San Luis. Here, in the U.S, you are judged by everyone by anything from where you live to where you shop for groceries.
Q: So, in San Luis, those things didn’t matter?

A: Here, people make their own lives difficult. I’m not saying you have to forget about what you wear, just wear what’s comfortable. Something with good quality and something YOU like, not just because of the price tag.

Q: Regrets on living here?

A: I regret choosing this place (motions hand in a surrounding way) to settle. I mean, when it comes to finding a job, I was willing to take whatever I could find (takes sip of coffee).

Q: How were you treated upon arrival?

A: (Laugh) well, it was (pause) interesting. Most immigrants speak about discrimination by only whites or the majority of discrimination was done by a majority. I WAS DICRIMMINATED BY MINORITIES! ME! Treated badly by these Mexican immigrants who had been living here slightly longer than I have! I lived in a part of town where it was populated primarily by blacks, and they ended up being more discriminatory than the whites! I heard stories from some of my co-workers saying the white man was the one to be against, but there is hate within their own racial group! I was appalled and so embarrassed that these Chicanos thought they were better than me simply because they have been living in the United States longer than I have. The worst part is it’s STILL going on! That’s the sad part (takes sip of coffee).

Q: How did your personality change upon arriving in the United States?

A: I haven’t changed, do you think I have? I believe if you are strong in your culture and know what you are dealing with, you don’t need to change.
Q: You finished your education correct?

A: Yes. I graduated high school here and I graduated from beauty school in San Luis Potosi.

Q: What’s the worst thing about living here?

A: The consumerist culture the U.S surrounds itself with.

Q: What do you mean?

A: What many people don’t notice is that we live in a society that has a materialistic point of view. To these people, it’s not about what they have, it’s about what YOU have, and if you have something different, they want it. It’s not about the need anymore it’s all about the WANT. Did you know there’s this app called “I’m rich”, it costs $10,000 and it does nothing? Worst thing is, people have bought it! I hate that! Another example is this whole idea of brand. Why buy brand name cereal when it tastes the same as the other stuff? I just can’t understand that. And all that “the brand name stuff is just better” that’s just a bunch of BS. To me, all this commercialism dumbs you down. I feel that it’s all about what everyone else is doing. It’s time for people to start worrying about what THEY are doing, not what everyone else is doing!
Q:  What advice could you give to the people who will be reading this?

A:  Don’t do something just because you can. Those who do things without reason, live without reason.
Q: Any other comments?

A: I want you to keep this interview raw. (Finishes coffee) there’s enough censorship in this world. I hope you, and your readers can understand that.



Personal thanks to my loving Mother. Don’t forget to read and share.

                                                     P.E.N.T.C.I.



Monday, January 26, 2015

Who thought? (UPDATE #9)

Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of Me Talking. I just wanted to give you guys a quick little update on whats going on right now where I'm at. To be honest, I'm kinda busy with school work right now as I'm sure many of you are, so that explains why I haven't been able to post in such a while. Sorry for keeping you guys waiting but I know you understand, which is why you guys are pretty cool I guess. Besides school, I'm currently under a little project at my home that involves a lot of paintings and moving stuff around, so you guys can imagine how "awesome" things are right now. I will probably post about it some other time with you guys. I just don't want you guys to think I abandoned you guys or something. Well, I better get back to it. Time to pour myself another cup of coffee, take out another assignment, and work. Oh, by the way, I'm thinking about doing a sort of live Q&A with you guys so leave a comment of e-mail me with ideas on how I should go through with that if you guys want me to go through with that. Thank you for reading this quick update, don't hesitate to check out the ads that interest you on the sidebar, if you want, and I will talk to you guys later. 

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

THE DIALOGUE OF THE DAMNED

The following is a short piece created by Rodolfo Perez.
The Dialogue of the Damned
In the fiery caverns of Hell sit two men. One, an adulterer, the other a murderer. An out of tune train whistle blows, signaling the beginning of their lunch break, so they stand. They wear no clothing, and as they walk together they speak:
Adulterer:
Lunch comes faster everyday doesn’t it Jacoob?
Murderer:
I swure if they serve me one more snake Imma, Imma-
Adult:
Get angry I reckon?
(Pause as they walk in silence for a few moments)
Murderer:
Yas.
Adulterer:
I saw my step bother yesterday.
Murderer:
That’s not good.
Adulterer:
Yeah I didn’t think he would make it here.
Murderer:
Who?
Adulterer:
(Pauses) I forget.
The pair enter a rather large lunchroom. A large square with no tables, only small, low benches. They each grabbed a tray. As they wait in line for their small portions of food they speak to each other again:
Adulterer:
Hey, do you ever wonder how many people are here?
Murderer:
No.
Adulterer:
Me neither.
The pair continue to speak about small topics as they near the food counter. For the adulterer, he gets a small bowl of smashed up trout, a side of raw potatoes, and a small cup of mixed pudding. The top half of the cup was apricot. The bottom half was chocolate with brownie pieces. The murderer gets a deep fried snake, a side of chicken nuggets, and a small serving of breakfast hash. Each of them pick up a small carton of fat free milk. They find two seats near the door. They eat their lunches hungrily. They finish before everyone around them, so they stay seated, each smoking a cigarette. After a few moments of silence, the adulterer speaks:
Adulterer:
They never have what I want to eat. You would think they know I hate apricot.
Murderer:
How does this place not recognize I don’t eat meat? That I’m a vegan?
Adulterer:
Were.
Murderer:
Shut up.
Adulterer:
Maybe heaven isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Murderer:
Yeah (takes one last drag and puts out cigarette) heaven sucks!
Adulterer:
Right you are.






A silence fills the room.








Adulterer:
What are you doing after this?
Murderer:
I gotta clean the boss’s car.
Adulterer:
Don’t leave a scratch!
Murderer:
I’m well aware of that.
(Pause)
Murderer:
Well, see you tomorrow!
Adulterer:
See ya.
The lost souls shake hands, and exit though opposite sides of the room.


THE END
Anything you think is a mistake, isn't.
P.E.N.T.C.I.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

BEING ALONE PT.2

IF YOU MISSED OUT, CLICK HERE FOR PART ONE

             When I was younger, I was terrified of being home alone. I mean, I would get scared of going upstairs by myself. It was my home, I went up those stairs 25 times a day, but there was something about going up those stairs when no one was around that made the experience nauseating. There was never anything up the stairs to greet me. No terrifying beast, no mammoth accident I was going to be blamed for, and no ambush waiting for me. Looking back, I think that’s what can make being alone so gloomy to some. It’s the feeling that something may be there for you, but at the front of your mind you know there will be nothing there. You almost WANT someone or something to be there. When I’m alone at home, or I’m the first one up, I find the silence sort of gentle. Do you guys have that feeling when you’re alone? When you find yourself alone it’s almost like the problems or worries you have are in your control. I don’t know maybe it’s because I have a rather large family, and pure quiet is a rarity, but when it’s quiet, it’s almost like letting go of that urge to make a sound to be heard. The weird thing is that in a more public environment we find silence to be such an awkward thing to have. For example, and I’m sure many of you who are reading this have experienced this, I was in class one day. We were assigned one of those web-quests I hate so much. That’s right, I said it. I HATE WEB-QUESTS. Anyway, that’s another topic for another post, we were supposed to work individually because the teacher felt the class was getting too off track when we work together. So, there we were, and it wasn’t completely quiet. There were a few people carrying on their own conversations. Then, it happened. Out of nowhere, everyone in the room just stopped talking. There was not one single voice nor sound in the whole room, for once, there was pure emptiness that filled the room. Or at least it was like that until some VERY observant person pointed out the event by stating “Wow, this is like, super awkward”. After saying that, everyone, almost as if it was their obligation, started talking. The teacher quickly shut us all up, but to this day I still ask the question. Why does silence, the absence of sound, give people such an odd feeling? At least in the public setting, I’ve noticed that people feel that they have to spit out as many words as they can as frequently as they can to avoid the pause many refer to as “the awkward moment”. I’m almost 90% sure that the people who feel silence is awkward don’t make any noise when they are alone, so why just because they are sitting next to someone or across from them, they feel they have to say something? I’ve tried to sort of experiment in some conversations whether it’s over the phone, on social media, and in person. I give some simple answers to their question, and try to keep the conversation as normal as possible. On the phone (most of the time) they usually start to rant or blabber on about some random topic, or they will say something unnecessary like “yeah, well, that’s life hehe” or “that’s the way the cookie crumbles”. On social media, they will bring up some random event. I feel on social media, it’s ten to twenty different topics all in one specific segment of time. You can almost see the desperation in the way they bring up these random topics just so they can keep what little of the conversation they have alive while I give my simple answers, and my simple questions. In person, I think, was the funniest experience of all. The other people would avoid eye contact, do random things on their phone or in some cases actually start to do their work. To wrap this up, I don’t see anything wrong with enjoying company without talking. I think maybe you can understand more from a person when they don’t speak then when they do. Isn’t that really the measure of who one is? Not what you do in a public setting like school or the mall because nobody (except for a few) goes out without putting on a mask, but when they are put in a situation where they are alone or they think they are alone. You really know when you find someone worth talking to when you’re able to enjoy the silence you have the ability to achieve. Being alone is one of the best and worst experiences one can have. THANK YOU FOR READING.
                  
                                                    P.E.N.T.C.I

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

The Meek Introduction of a Trying and Dying Idealist

NOTE: First off, I just want to say thank you to all of you for hanging in there. I think that's pretty cool. I hope this year will be the year for this blog and I have big plans in terms if getting people to know what a Joliet truly is.


More to come,

Rodolfo Perez
Editior

The Meek Introduction of a Trying and Dying Idealist
LISTEN: 


            There’s no use in postponing my writing any longer. After much pestering from my brother Dolf, I’ve finally agreed to furnish his blog with a few of my ideas. I go by the pseudonym Grandfather Samuel and I enjoy reading SO much more than writing. It always seems as if I’m either too curt in my words or that I’m a verbose elitist. Is that a normal feeling for a young writer to have? I’m getting off track though. Let’s see… ah yes, I go to a public school in the “less fortunate” side of town. I like to criticize and scold, although conversely I like to be criticized and scolded (something a lot of criticizers and scolders lack). I am an anarchist and as a defense mechanism try to appear as politically illiterate as possible (forgive me Bertolt Brecht). My purpose in this blog will be to recommend any books, films, and facts that I think are noteworthy. I will also write posts like this one whenever that irrepressible sensation to write compels me. My end goal is not to persuade or sway anyone’s opinions. I’m just a guy who wishes to be omniscient. Or at least hold a conversation at dinner parties. – Grandfather Samuel



            Movie to watch: "Coffee and Cigarettes" Directed by: Jim Jarmusch
          Album to listen to: In the Aeroplane over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
            Food to Try: Meatloaf Sandwiches 


P.E.N.T.C.I