custom Baldo comics bags

Check it out. A comics fan is making individual, hand-crafted purses using Sunday comics pages. Here is the link:

http://cheekygreendesigns.typepad.com/cheeky_green_designs/

Seems Kristi Hekker is a Baldo fan and will probably even take special requests to include a Sunday paper featuring Baldo in your purse or bag. Give her a click.

Hector

Ok… despite the chance someone is surely bound to find offense to this post, I’ve decided to post it anyway. Why? Because, I think it’s funny as hell. I’ve gotta dig up a few more of these.

The teacher told Pepito to use certain English words in a sentence.  Here are Pepito’s replies:

1. *Cheese* -  Maria likes me, but cheese fat.

2. *Mushroom* -  When all my family get in the car, there’s not mushroom.
3. *Shoulder* – My fren wanted to become a citizen but she didn’t know how to read so I shoulder.
4. * Texas * – My fren always Texas me when I’m not home wondering where I’m at!
5. *Herpes* – Me and my fren ordered pizza. I got mine piece and she got herpes.
6. *July* – Ju told me ju were going to tha store and July to me! Julyer!
7. *Rectum* – I had two cars but my wife rectum!
8. *Chicken* – I was going to go to the store with my wife but chicken go herself.
9. *Wheelchair* – We only have one tortilla left, but don’t worry, wheelchair.
10. *Chicken* *wing* – My wife plays the lottery so chicken wing.
11. *Harassment* – My wife caught me in bed with another women and I told her honey harassment nothing to me.
12. *Bishop* – My wife fell down the stair so I had to pick the bishop.
13. *Body wash* – I want to go to the club but no body wash my kids.
14. *Brief* – Maria fart in my car and it stinkie so bad I could not brief.

If you come across any more of these, by all means share them with us by posting them on the comments section. If you’re offended by these and want to rant, feel free to voice your displeasure… though I won’t be reading them.

The current Baldo diabetes story line has been getting quite a bit of positive attention lately, which is of course fantastic and we couldn’t be more pleased. The goal after all is to build awareness of a condition that hits Hispanics disproportionately.

So as you would expect it’s been a hard topic to break away from lately. Add to the mix that my mom has type 2 diabetes and she’s vacationing with us in N.C. during all this… well, we’ve discussed it quite a bit. Anyway, yesterday we got to talking about the things she does to manage her glucose levels, diet, exercise, blood tests… that last one is the scary one for me as I have a serious phobia of needles, the longer the scarier.

Anyway, she asked me to take the blood test, you know the one, the home version where you prick your finger, put a drop of blood on to a little test strip and viola… 5 seconds later you have a reading. The one she uses is the OneTouch Ultra. Now while the needle in this thing is very small, I gotta be honest, it was still freaking me out and I really wasn’t going to do it.

My wife, being the brilliant woman that she is suggests we can video the process and share the results with our readers. So all of a sudden there was a bigger purpose, and I was ok with that. Unfortunately, I had to get the test done twice because my wife hadn’t pressed the record button the first time they drew blood. Yeah, I now…

Anyway, it really wasn’t bad at all, I hardly felt anything. I’d like to thank the National Alliance for Hispanic Health in partnering with us. They’re a fantastic organization with an incredible team of great people. We look forward to working closely with them in the future.

Here’s the video.

Welcome to the Carlos News Network

I recently drove down to Atlanta, GA from N.C. where I’m currently vacationing, and had the privilege of being interviewed by the wonderful and gracious (not to mention beautiful) Xanthe Tilden of CNN En Español about the diabetes storyline which ran in Baldo last week. We’re proud to have partnered up with the National Alliance for Hispanic Health on getting the facts straight and the message out.

The interview was set up by the dynamic duo of PR and TV production, Carmen and Charlie Cruz of Effective Media Group. They even put us up for a night, took us to dinner and showed us around the Atlanta area. Xanthe even gave us a personal tour of the CNN studios.    Thanks guys! ;  )

We had a great time despite that fact I was all nerves (my Spanish isn’t at all the great). It made me realize just how far my Spanish had slipped and that I really needed to make a conscious effort to improve it beyond just casual conversation. I know I’m not the only one struggling with this issue. There are many second and third generation Hispanics who have a very weak handle on their mother tongue, if they still speak it at all.

Baldo on CNN En Español

Needless to say I’m watching more Spanish TV and making a conscious effort to speak only Spanish while at home. Besides, it’s better for my kids as well. I grew up learning two languages at once and never gave it much thought. I need to more consistent in enforcing the Spanish only at home rule with my own kids.

How about you? Have you or your children lost connection with your native language? If so, are you okay with that, or are you doing something about it. Let us know.

Having Some Fun with Xenthe Tilden

Carmen Cruz of Effective Media Group, myself and Xenthe Tilden

Nervous laughter as the thought of me screwing up her whole career flashes through her mind.