Friday, May 13, 2011

Loyal And Loving Friends.

Ever since I was a kid I recall having a pet in my household, I may have been 5 or 6 when we had 2 cats, Gitana (Gipsy) she was long haired with beautiful white, black  and gray hair  and Payaso (clown) the second one got that name because of his colors and this big white patch around his left eye, they were a lot of fun, they were like the babies of the house and we used to play with them all the time,. one time when we went on vacation left the cats for a neighbor to watch them and when we got back, they were gone, both were taken by someone and we never saw them again.

After losing our cats our mom decided to get a dog instead and months later we got this gorgeous female German Shepherd we call her Pantera (Panther) she was the most friendly and playful, we love that dog, as the years went by Pantera got pregnant and had, I believe 8 poppies from which we kept one and we called him Guardian (Guard) and he sure guard the house real good, that little guy could fight another dog without nattering the size, he also protected us kids, whenever a stranger or someone he wasn't familiar with approached us, he would start getting ready to attack, which was a problem for my teenage sister because Guardian would scare away her pretenders.

As the years went by we had several dogs,. after we lost Pantera and Guardian ( most of our dogs died from poisoning, animal control in El Salvador killed dogs on the streets, even when they were wearing their tags.)
My Parakeets Catherine and Gregory
We also had a parakeet, his name was Goyito and he was my moms joy, he was a funny little fella, he would whistle and dance, there was always music in my house, TV could be off all day, but music was never absent.

Our next dog was Negro (Black) Dad gave him that name because he was dark shiny black and we also got an unusual pet, A Piggy.! was a piglet, so really cute and we called him Muneco (Doll) the most amazing thing was that the dog and the pig became the best of friends, I don't think that Muneco felt as a pig, I really believe that he tough he was a dog, those two used to go to the park every afternoon and play, run, and Negro always kept people from coming to close to Muneco, since pigs in El Salvador are not seen as pets, but like pure food.!
they slept together and had their food station next to each other, they both went for a walk when nature called, it was fun having them.

The last dog we had in my family was Yesca (Tinder) he was a very good dogie, didn't go out that much, liked being at home, he was all the time following my Mom around the house, he was only 3 when we lost him in an accident.

Catherine and Gregory
We didn't get any dogs or cats after that, things change around my home, my older sister had left, my brother moved to live with my father in America and in the early 80's my other sister follow, being just Mom and myself and two businesses to attend, there was not time for caring for a pet, I started traveling frequently due to my modeling career and years later my Mother's health declined, life at home was totally different from the early years.

Was until early 1992 that I had pets again, now I was on my own, my Mother had passed away and the rest of my family was living in different cities of America, my brother gifted to me two parakeets and I named them Catherine and Gregory, they were good company, every morning they were singing and swinging their heads, was nice having the company of those two, they really put a smile on my face every day.

Brooklyn as a puppie
later that year I adopted a doggie, mixture of Collie and English Shepherd, I named him Brooklyn, by the dislike of my neighbors who were Jehova Witnesses and claimed that Brooklyn was the city were their religion had been started and had religious significance for them, however I did not change his name and as the time went by, they became very attached to that dog.
Sadly I lost all my pets during the invasion of the terrorist groups in the City of San Salvador,. there were bombings and grenades, many houses were destroyed and people forced to leave their homes with nothing, but the clothes they were wearing.

Little Miss Sophia
I moved to America short time later and after 16 years living in this country I have a pet for the first time in my new life as an American Citizen and is a kitty, her name is Sophia and she's a rescued cat, we adopted her from the Humane Society and she has brought so much joy and happiness to our lives that is unbelievable, Sophia is 9 years old and so playful, her favorite play time is 3:am, she runs, jumps and grabs things and trow them on the air, she also comes around the bed every morning when she hears me getting up and jumps on the bed and meows at me like if she was talking to me, maybe because I talk to her all the time.! as playful as she is, her favorite toy is a simple piece of paper, when she finds a paper to play with, she's happy.!
Sophia will be having a birthday in June, she was also featured in the 2011 calendar of the Humane Society for the month of June.





Sophia with her toys

Sophia's morning daily moment looking out the window.
I think everyone should allow themselves to have a pet to love and be loved by,. is worth the effort and expense, they are loyal and love you no matter what..!
my love for all animals was inherited from both my parents and I thank them for that,.. this tale of animal love has been For Your Eyes Only.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

The Glory of Old Latin Films

It has been nearly impossible for film makers in Latin America to overcome the quality of the Gold Era in Mexican and Spanish Cinema, from the felt performances to the action heros of the 40's and 50's when actors like Pedro Infante, Maria Felix and Sara Montiel filled the screen with masterful performances where the delivery of the lines came as poetry in motion from their mouths and made the audience to believe the suffering of the moment or enjoy the cheer of facial expression of the actor.

Luis Aguilar and Pedro Infante "A Toda Maquina" 1951
We all cried with 'Pepe El Toro' and 'La Chorreada' when their house burned to the ground killing their toddler "Torito" and we also laugh when 'La Tostada' y 'La Guayaba' enter the scene barely keeping their balance y talking non senses for being so drunk.

Pepe El Toro & La Chorreada after losing their baby in a fire.

"La Tostada Y La Guayaba'
Acting during those days was a serious delivery of emotions transmitted by the actor to an audience who captured the feelings of the character being played, sensing the moment thru the worlds and body language of the actor, German Valdez "Tin Tan" was able to make the audience laugh and feel the need to dance when seeing his Mambo movements on stage, for their part Ninon Sevilla and Tongolele were the pleasure of men eyes and envy of women, the classic Bedettes of the cabaret shows during the 40's when exotic dancers entered the stage on over the top outfits and voluptuous bodies, dancing and even singing,. In the case of Olga Bresking during the 60's she was also playing the violin.

Ninon Sevilla in the 1940's

German Valdez "TinTan"

The action hero of cinema back then was the regular guy, A cop on a motorcycle such as Pedro Infante in "A Toda Maquina", the landowner, The fight rooster breeder, the ordinary citizen soldier during the revolution as in the case of Maria Felix in "La Generala"
Blanca Estela Pavon "La Chorreada" 1946
Without the need of especial effects or body stoners the directors and actors were able to deliver a masterpiece of classic quality films that has survive generations, as audiences of all ages are still enjoy and embrace this movies and characters such as "Juana Gallo" " "Tizoc" "Pepe El Toro" "La Soldadera' and many more.

Silvia Pinal as "La Soldadera" 1966


Mexican Diva Maria Felix
Glory of those days went to actors who to this days are and will always be the pioneers of acting on the big and small screen, many of them are gone now, but their legacy will survive for many generations to come,. We all give a stand up ovation to those who made us love The Movies:
 Silvia Pinal ( La Soldadera, Viridiana, La Hermana Trinquete, etc) Blanca Estela Pavon ( Nosotros Los Pobres, Ustedes Los Ricos, etc) Maria Felix ( La Cucaracha, Tizoc, La Mujer Sin Alma, etc) Jorge Negrete, Evita Munoz 'Chachita', Katty Jurado, Dolores Del Rio, Sarita Montiel, Carmen Montejo, Andres Soler, Sara Garcia, Silvia Dervez and many others.

Marga Lopez 1950

Maria Victoria. famous for her starring role in "La Criada Bien Criada"



One of the Eternal Classics of Latin American Cinema



Temperamental Diva from Spain Sarita Montiel.


I feel privileged to have been able to enjoy their art and felt the emotions that many years ago they perpetuated for an eternity beyond their own existence,.and very much will remain after my own,. this visit to the Gold Days of Latin Cinema has been For Your Eyes Only.

Monday, May 9, 2011

MEDIA INFLUENCES

Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman
As I remember my childhood the influences of Television, Magazines and the movies was already there,. however the impact was nowhere near of the way is this days, I grew up with regular toys, comic books, sports, crafts and Radio,. I remember seating around the Radio to listen the stories told in the afternoon,. the same tales from Disney,. but on the Radio, Cinderella, Snow White and the 7 dwarves and other more local such as Epaminonda, 1 Ojito, 2 Ojitos,. 3 ojitos etc.
Lindsay Wagner " The Bionic Woman

I was also a day dreamer kid,. had my heros that I followed such as Wonder Woman, ( Loved the Outfit.!) The Bionic Woman ( I wanted her strength and beauty.) The Hardy Boys ( Shaun was just too cute.!), Angie Dickinson as 'Police Woman.' and the funny Mexican hero 'El Chapulin Colorado' I loved that show with the cowardly hero who always solve the crime by pure luck.
Roberto Gomez Bolanos as El Chapulin Colorado

 But I was mostly into cartoons, some of my very favorites were: Namor God Of The Seas, he was so strong and wore a speedo, Birdman, Spiderman, The Flintstones, Every day at 4:pm I was religiously watching The Flintstones, I can't remember my childhood without them, the whole Hanna Barbera saga was a must watch for me and my siblings,. later I got into Bugs Bunny, Bugs cough my attention when I saw him in drag, wearing a blonde wig and a black gown trying to fool Elmer, and I thought he was just too cool.!
Birdman.

I also enjoyed Heidi, the swiss little girl who comes to live on the Alps with her grandpa and gets taken away to Germany,.Man.! that story always made me cry.!
Scooby Doo gang and The Mystery Machine.

Then of course Scooby Doo was just such a different type of show with the mysteries, Plus the 'Mystery Machine' and monsters and I loved the song at the beginning, I think that's how I got started into Horror movies, which I totally Love.!

The Flintstones
In the movies the very first movie I ever watched was "The Thief Of Baghdad" I remember loving the bright colors of the outfits and the heroine long pony tail.
I grew up in a time when computer was not around in every household and cell phone was matter of fiction we used to see in the James Bond movies, people was not so involved in celebrities lives, and fashion had a much more glamorous stage than designer name and price tag, it was about a personal style and learning to carry yourself to project your personality instead of a brand name written across people's chest or repeated in a busy print all over a hand bag.
The One and Only 'Daisy Duke'

I guess that as I became a teenager I identified better with shows such as Chip's, seeing Eric Estrada in those tight  pants was just too appealing, and then The Dukes Of Hazard with their tight jeans, but I must confess that my favorite was Daisy Duke, so sexy and beautiful.!
Eric Estrada and Larry Wilcox "Chips' "

When the Charlie's Angels showed up the whole nation was blown away with these three Awesome detectives who were so damn beautiful and brave,.man and women of all ages wanted to be part of The Angels Era, men had erotic dreams while women copy their fashion and hair styles.


Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith " The Charlie's Angels

Namor (left) Prince Of The Oceans

Heidi The Little Girl of the Alps



When the time came for me to be taken as an adult (14 years of age in my case.) I had fashion sense, an opinion, sense of humor and was also a good listener, I don't think that I copied any of my heros, but I absorbed some of their style and sometimes when I was modeling I would take reference of Jamie Summers or Kelly Garret, why not.? I even was daring just like Namor in the deep sea, I could see myself as a Super Hero,.. Honestly my living role model was always my Mother, I have never met anyone as determined and brave as she was.
So this are some of my childhood influences that I still enjoy watching sometimes,. The heroes and Heroines that we all seek in life,. This is For Your Eyes Only.