Texas Mispronouncing*

Eldorado (El-do-ray-do)

Guadelupe (Gua-de-loop)

Manchaca (Man-chack)

Queso (Kay-so)

Salcedo (Sal-cee-doh)

The list above is an example of words commonly mispronounced by Texans. And it flusters me to no end. An area and people so rich with a Spanish-language heritage ought to know better. Exasperating. Among the worst offenders are my in-laws. My wife's maiden name is Salcedo. Alma, her grandmother and female cousin are the only ones who properly pronounce the surname (Sal-ce-thdo). As individuals with Latin American backgrounds, it's a no-brainer. Wrong-o! The rest of her familia says, Sal-cee-doh. Perturbing. There is no second e! (I would accept Sal-say-doh as a compromise.) How the mangling is reconciled when most pronounce Guadelupe without the last e, but the second syllable is said close enough to be acceptable, is beyond me. (Why are the proper names Lupe and Chuy said correctly?) All of this smacks of stupidity and the misconception of Northerners that Texans, like many in the southern United States, are uneducated rednecks.

I'm no pedantic prick! There are allowances for which I can offer no basis (e.g., Amarillo, Waco, Rio Grande, my first name), and I am learning to let these errors slide (my happiness in Texas is partly predicated on it).

Am I way off base here?

Can you offer coping mechanisms?

* Note: I'm not going to attempt phonetic symbols.

Watering Tacos

Why would anyone want to put lettuce on a taco? One might as well pour water on it.

Diego-y-Papi Day

While Alma and her cousin, Amanda, are enjoying a day at Six Flag Over Texas, Diego and I are home alone until Mimi returns from work around 4:30 pm. He's fresh up from his morning nap and playing with Tupperware before we sit down to watch Naruto Movie 3. The flick is dubbed, but at least the boy is being exposed to anime.

For lunch, we're going to munch on mac 'n' cheese, some organic apple sauce, grapes, and Alma's homemade hummus, yummus, with oyster crackers. A diet completely dictated by the missus. Then, we'll play rock band (singing included!) with the gajillion instruments in his toy chest. I'll take him outside for some swinging and walking. Before I put him down for his 3 pm nap, we'll read. Pretty full day.

It's Diego-y-Papi Day!

Slashfood Says, "Queso!"

My latest Slashfood piece, "Ques Es Queso and Why Are Texans So Enamored With It?" went live on Wednesday. In order to increase exposure—if anyone reads this blog—I'm posting here. Check it out, and leave a comment.

More of my Slashfood writing can be found here.

Busy: Work and Family

The last weeks have been busy ones. From nights at beer bars, such as the wonderful Trinity Hall in Dallas, where our waiter correctly guessed Alma's order, and dinner at an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet as well as days with my family, I've been hither and thither. Most of that time has been spent in wonderment at my son's light-speed development (photos and videos). Alma and I have also had the opportunity to go on dates (dinners and movies, lotsa and lotsa movies). (Thanks, Mother-in-Law Robin!)

My search for full-time employment as an editor has been difficult. There a dearth of postings, there seem to be little I'm interested in or with a salary high enough to decently support my family. (The main reason for uprooting the fam and replanting in the missus' native Texas is the chance to find a job I love, enjoy, something I did not back home in New York.) In the meantime, I have been writing for Slashfood, AOL's food blog and assisting a friend with the development of iPhone applications. I will also begin as a freelance editor for a University of Texas-Austin in October. My interview for the full-time position in the UT department did not result in the a job offering. However, the interview coupled with my credentials did get me an offer for a freelance editor position. That, dear readers, is a fantastic development, one that left me wondering, "Am I meant to be a full-time freelancer?" It's been a dream of mine for years. Being unemployed has given me the opportunity hunt for freelance work, and not simply as a editor. I have been concentrating my efforts on securing writing gigs, pitching several periodicals, many of which I am still awaiting a response from. But that's OK; it's expected. Much of freelancing is a waiting game, right? If I receive rejections, that just means I have greater opportunities elsewhere. Nevertheless, I need to provide health insurance for my young family. (The urge to provide not only security but everything else Alma and Diego need, deserve is a surprise to me. Never did I think I would love so much, care so much to do so much; never did I think I would, could work so tirelessly. It is a wonder.) The only affordable way is through a full-time job.

So, I continue. Happily.

A Flying Saucer Has Landed in Garland

Tonight I'm off to drink with another beer geek, the husband of one of Jessie's college friends. We'll be imbibing at the newest location of the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium empire in Garland. On a lake with an adjacent marina, the bar is, from what beer geek, JC, has told me, off to a rocky start: "The service has been VERY subpar. everything from bringing the wrong beer, to being out of certain beers, to bringing things in the wrong types of glasses." As a member of the UFO club (so many to go before I reach 200 beers) and fan of the bar's Fort Worth location, I'm psyched to throw down some brews with another guy. You see, the only other male I see on a daily basis is my 11-month-old son, Diego. I love the little dude, but sometimes a man needs a drinking buddy and a bull session. Sorry, D, but you're not old enough.

In other news, My buddy, Josh, has published his review of the steak, which I sampled along with Bitters, at the reopened Manhattan Scores. You can read it here. I'll share this much, even if the dance is free, with too much steak in the belly, it just ain't going to happen.

Hello Again

After more than a four-year absence, I have returned to my blog. With a revamped layout and new URL, regular posts will appear here, while the old Left-Field Lengua can be found here. I've missed blogging. I'll write more later. Right now, I'm preparing for a job interview at UT Autin. Wish me luck!