Image source: Wrightslaw

Does anyone read blogs any longer?

You may notice that after a long hiatus, my web site was recently renovated (by the talented, eagle-eyed and economical designer Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey). Now that I am a little more animated to contribute to this more frequently, I have been told that blogs are passé, having been entirely supplanted by Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, and Twitter tweets written by people as odious and reprehensible as the current POTUS. I'd like to know what you all think: Shall I continue to post? Is anyone out there reading anything longer than 140 characters?

Versailles in downtown Mexico City

I've written on several occasions about why I like cantinas. A few afternoons ago, I was at La Vaquita, a traditional watering hole on the corner of Mesones and Isabel la Católica in the centro histórico. Lots of botanas were on the menu that day, among them paella, breaded cauliflower in tomato sauce and tuna croquettes. I was with a couple of friends who pointed out, almost as an afterthought, that there was a mural of Versailles along the back wall. I have visited La Vaquita literally dozens of times and had never noticed it before. I wasn't sure why -- I'd noticed the altar to the Virgin of Guadalupe, the old talavera tile, the juke box. But never the mural. Was it because I always position myself facing the swinging doors to the entrance, rather than the wall? Was it because I, um, drink a little too quickly when I'm there? In any case, I asked my friends to take a picture of me with Versailles in the background. Diego, the exemplary waiter who took care of us (and who is a lot more cheerful than his expression suggests) asked to get into the photo with me. Happy New Year, everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving

  I often tell people that one of the things I like about living in Mexico City is that it allows me to skip Thanksgiving dinner. A long story: I come from a very conflicted family, and I've never been a big turkey guy. However, I confess that I try as often as possible to think about how much I have to be thankful for. My work as a mitigation specialist, which gets me very close to families that have no resources -- neither financial, emotional nor practical -- makes me think about what my family, difficult as it may have been, was able to offer me. I hope those of you who are in a similar position will reflect on this, not just on the holiday but whenever you can.

And yeah, that's my thumb in the photo. One of the things I can't be very thankful for is my talent as a photographer.

In the centro, the mighty centro, a lion sleeps tonight

  Accepted wisdom is that you have to be careful around certain streets in the centro histórico. Is this what they're talking about?

Hello New York

If anyone's reading this in the Big Apple, there are several events connected with the publication of One Life this coming week -- coincidentally around the Days of the Dead, pertinent given the book's subject matter, which is life and death. On October 31 at 4 PM, I will be part of a panel speaking about the border between Mexico and the United States at the Graduate Center at CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue, Room 9206. On November 2 at 2 PM, I'll be interviewed on a radio show called The Write Stuff, on WNYU Radio at 89.1 FM. And on November 3 at 1 PM, I'll be on The Leonard Lopate Show, WNYC, 93.9 FM.

I'll also be reading from the book, and in a dialogue with esteemed novelist Daniel Alarcón, at the Strand Bookstore on November 3 at 7 PM. If you can make it to that one, I'll also be signing books -- and there will be some wine with which to celebrate. Please come and say hello.