Sorry for neglecting the blog. I’ve tried to write, but my brain hurts.

Thanks to Joseph Mailander for including me in a list of LA blogs you can “where you should be able to follow local politics before it happens.” Mailander also said my blog is popular (really? if so, cool!). However, he calls me Cindy Lu… and that’s not my name. Sure, I call myself Cindylu, but that’s just a nickname. For the record, I’m Cindy Mosqueda.

I went to Pittsburgh for a couple of days two weeks ago. I felt like I spent more time on planes and in airports than I actually did while I was in Pittsburgh. Still, it was interesting to be in Pennsylvania. I didn’t get to see much since my conference was at the U of Pittsburgh and I was staying a few blocks away. However, on the way back to the airport, we took the scenic route.

On a whim, I decided to accompany my parents to Guanajuato in a few days. We’re going for my the double quinceañera of my cousins Adriana and Andrea. Adriana and her family live in East LA, but almost all of their extended family is over there so it only makes sense to celebrate her birthday in Salamanca. I can’t wait. Guanajuato is one of my happy places.

I went to Chispa and Adrian’s wedding on the 28th. I arrived at 12:30. The invitation said 12:15. On the way there I hoped that the 12:15 was Mexican time and they only told the guests that so most of them would have arrived by the time the Mass actually began. I was right. I got there just in time to watch the first members of the wedding party process down the aisle. Chispa was absolutely beautiful. My eyes watered up twice throughout the day, once during the ceremony and a second time during the toasts by the maid of honor and best man.

Papá Chepe celebrated his 87th birthday on Sunday July 29th. Family came over, we had carne asada and pollo asado with the standard side trimmings. While most people stayed outside of the house in the shady front yard, all the kids (and a couple of adults) stayed inside to play Guitar Hero.

The last week has been pretty blah. I have lots of work to do, which is what happens when you’re working full time at two different jobs. I do try and unwind by doing fun stuff. I watched The Simpsons Movie. I found it hilarious, but felt it was too long. I guess that’s what happens when you’re used to 22 minutes.

I also drove out to West Hollywood for my fellow Cargarderense’s book reading and signing. Gustavo Arellano and Sam Quiñones (LA Times reporter and author of a couple of books on Mexican immigrants) talked about how their work relates to one another and of course had people laughing. I’d never met Gustavo, so that was cool.