Why we live in downtown L.A. (one reason)

We moved downtown because Linda works at the Central Library, about a 15 minute walk away.

Now, most everything we need is now within walking distance or accessible via public transportation: the Metro or DASH. I needed to retrieve something for Linda from the library and figured while I was out I'd stop by one of the two local drug stores nearby -- Walgreens and Rite-Aid -- and then finish up at Ralph's for some last minute grocery items.

Instead of walking, I took the car. Mistake. I couldn't find parking, anywhere. I drove back to the parking garage and ended up walking anyway. Ended up taking me twice as long. Oh, well.

A shot from the rooftop some time this summer, in the evening. Another reason we live downtown:

Latinos Are Using Smartphones and Tablets - Some Data For You

I'm doing some research on the usage of smartphones and tablets among U.S. Latinos. Lots of interesting information. Here are a few nuggets:

"Mobile serves as a key source of connectivity within the Latino community. They are more likely than the average household to have cell phones with Internet (55%) and video (40%) capabilities. With smartphone penetration of 45 percent, Latino cell phone ownership matches that of Asians."
- The Nielsen Company, April 2011)

- “Hispanics More Digitally Engaged Than General Population” BIGresearch® Simultaneous Media Usage® Survey (SIMM®17), Apr 21, 2011

One quarter (25%) of wired Latinos access the Internet through a cell phone and use it as their primary device for connecting to the Internet. Among those leading this trend are Latinas with 30% them reporting that their cell phone is the primary device used.
- "Hispanics Online - US" (Mintel International Group Ltd., April 2011)

I have more recent info, but I'm saving it for my client.

Not all Latinos have access to computers, so they are connecting to the Internet more frequently than other ethnicities with portable devices like smartphones and tablets. Why? To keep in touch with friends and family and download information anytime, from anywhere.

I have in iPhone; Linda has an iPad. We both use them to stay connected with our kids and friend via email and social media apps, get info from websites, listen to music on iTunes and other music sites, watch videos and movies from Netflix and other movie and TV sites ... much like a lot of other people we know. Oh yeah, and to do research every now and then (me, particularly).

How about you? Do you access the Internet on your smartphone and/or tablet?

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Had a birthday on October 15. Celebrated my wedding anniversary October 16. The celebrations began early, and continue:

My colleagues at the Mexican Cultural Institute threw me a "surprise" birthday party last Friday. Actually, getting me down to the location wasn't working out, so one of the planners sent me a text early that morning to let me know so that I would show up and not spoil the fun. I did show up, put on my surprise face, and it was fun.

Here's a photo of granddaughters Ryanne, Valentina, Mila and Jewel celebrating.

The next day, on my actual birthday, my daughter Ana and son Michael brought their families over to our home and we had leftovers from the night before: enchiladas, arroz, frijoles, salad and cake from Las Anitas at Olvera Street, plus another cake and some great wine. Here's a photo of the cake Samina made, topped by a Lego figures sent to me by my son Cristofer, who is currently stationed in Iraq:

The next day, the 16, Linda and I celebrated our anniversary by driving out to the desert. Our first stop, the Integratron. Please click on the link. Hard to explain. But we did the Sound Bath thing, and it was marvelously crazy and fun. Here are a couple of pics:

We drove down to Palm Springs, our traditional anniversary getaway, and spent the night at Los Arboles Hotel, a refurbished hotel on the north end of the city. Great location, relaxed atmosphere and a nice restaurant - El Marisol - on the property. Sorry, no photos.

On Tuesday, Lalo Alcaraz came down to the MCI to take down his exhibit: Lalo Alcaraz Heritage Month: 500 Years of Art/Comics/Satire. He gifted me with a painting and T-shirt depicting his homage to Steve Jobs. You can see them on the table in the foreground of this photo (that's Lalo on the cellphone):

Today, my in-laws, Lou and Kenny, took Linda, Samina and I to the Original Fish Company in Los Alamitos. Actually, it was pay-off for when we took care of their cat Sam and dog Suzi during some time they drove down to Las Vegas, but they saluted my birthday and our anniversary while we were there. Pictured, the remains of the free dessert:

Also, we used a gift certificate we got from Ana at Octopus in downtown L.A. We also have a gift card for the Cheesecake Factory we got from somebody. And Ana's boyfriend Cris and his family are treating us to dinner tomorrow.

Not a bad haul, not at all.

¡Gracias!

Just Roll the Dice

I've been a bit ill the past couple of days, with a headache, stuffy and runny nose, coughing, fever ... the classic cold/flu. Over-the-counters I've been taking have helped me sleep, but the dreams the induce are crazy.

One from last night: Bruce Springsteen reaches out to me, hands me a pair of dice and says, "Roll the dice!"

That's something I've been doing practically all my life. I don't know much about playing craps or poker or roulette, etc. In other words, I've never been a gambler in the traditional sense. But in life, I've never been averse to taking chances in careers, places to live, experiences and really life-altering adventures.

I like Bruce, although I'm not a fanatic. Never even been to a concert and I've only purchased a couple of the albums. But if The Boss tells me to "Roll the dice," I suppose I should.

A warm day, a new blog, let's hope it lasts

I've tried blogging before and it just doesn't seem to stick. More to the point, I don't stick with it. So I am trying again. But just so you know that I've made an effort, you can look at my previous blogs. Just click on the links:

Blog de El Editor de LatinoLA
Atypical Latino Grandfather
Downtown Lalo

Each one corresponds to one facet of my life. Yes, I am El Editor de LatinoLA.com. Yes, I am an atypical Latino grandfather, at least I like to think so. And I do live in downtown Los Angeles and my nickname is Lalo.

I am hoping that this blog is more reflective of the complexities of my being, the multiple circumstances I find myself in, the wide range of interests I dabble in and with, and the many interesting people I interact with on a daily basis. In other words, I have a whole lot going on, so I figured there should be one place to fit it all in.

So if you are here, now, come on back soon. I will do my best to write, post, link, stream, and/or publish frequently, regularly, consistently. Or maybe not. We'll see.

With that, here's a photo I took just this afternoon of my eldest granddaughter, Samina, who is 14 and currently living with my wife Linda and I in downtown L.A.:

She was decorating a sugar skull at the Los Angeles Central Library, where Linda works. It's almost Día de los Muertos, and it seems like all of L.A. is getting ready for it.

Here's a link to a review I read in the L.A. Times about the group Calle 13. I have one their songs, Atrevete y te, on my iTunes somewhere and I really like it.

And here's Photoshopped image given to me for at a surprise party the day before my October 15 birthday:

¡Qué viva la revolución!

Y hasta la proxima.