Blog: Pablo Morales

My Childhood Home

2023-12-20 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

snow

I flew back for the holidays to my hometown in Nebraska. When I'm on the plane ride home, various memories run through my head as I am excited to visit home. I think about the things I need to get done while I am home. I'm excited to see my friends and most importantly, my family.

My hometown is quiet. There's enough to do. There are stores, parks, movie theaters. Just enough. There are subtle things I do miss about my hometown. It's the place that saw me grow up. A place where I am familiar with.

Something happens as I enter my childhood home. I spent most of my childhood in this house. When I step into the home, so many many memories flood my mind. It's like I unzipped a .zip file and the entire folder just spills. Every step I take and every time I turn my head, flashbacks come to me as well.

There are so many moments that make me feel happy. I remember it was here I got my first computer. It's where I learned to ride a bike. I remember helping my mom study for the U.S Citizenship Test everyday afterschool. I remember numerous times packing and unpacking for/from Mexico. I remember the moment I learned I was accepted into university.

My bedroom was a place of safety. A place where I could be myself. The place where I learned. I took apart my first computer. A place I recorded my first audio note. A place to allow my emotions to run free.

We didn't live in the best house but it was our house. We had a roof over our heads.

I reflect back on all this and it brings a smile of joy. So much has happened. So many things happening in the background I didn't know were happening.

I'm here now rearranging my room. I feel happy that I can still make it my own and still have a place of safety.

Watching the Nebraska Volleyball Game

2023-12-17 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

I don't know anything about sports but its fun to be around people I love. Volleyball seems cool.

Reply to Artist Dates by Tracy Durnell

2023-12-16 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

In reply to Artist Dates by Tracy Durnell

I wrote a post on taking myself out on a date where I go do various activities by myself. This is something I don't do often and it seems important for self-care. I have a habit of staying at home and not venturing off as much as I used to. Not often do I get to enjoy myself out and about.

What is an Artist Date?

Tracy responded to my post and shared something really cool. She introduced to me the idea of Artist Dates. She provides some great insight on how she's done Artist Dates. First, I had no idea that Artist Dates were a thing. Secondly, have I been going on Artist Dates and not knowing it? I'm mind blown right now.

The idea is going somewhere inspiring or exciting on your own regularly once a week. This seems to be the general consensus based on what I read. I really enjoyed Tracy's approach on Artist Days as she "framed solo activities more as Adventure Days". Carpe that Diem! That is such a positive way of seeing them. I like adventure and it motivates me to just do them! Adventure Awaits!

I really love photography. It's a thrill! You know what isn't? Taking photos in my apartment. It isn't ideal and I have to go beyond the walls. I plan on continuing to improve my hobby. What better way than to walk around the streets of Sacramento or taking shots from a tall building in New York City to capture moments in time.

I like spontaneously getting tickets for events. Sometimes when a colleague at works offers tickets to a free game or show, I attempt to snag them to attend an event I normally wouldn't attend or forget that exists. Whether it's a soccer match or a broadway show, I know I'm happy. I'd probably not be doing anything anyways.

Not all Artist Dates need to be planned. Honestly some of the best ones I've done were unplanned. Simply get up and leave. I also need to find out what things are happening in my city. Planning ahead for one event would lead to me discovering more things about the city I live in.

I found this blog post from 2010 called, 101 Artist’s Date Ideas that has such a great list of Artist Dates that I could go on! I love how simple or complex the suggestions could be! The possibilities are endless.

A Few Stand Out to Me:

  • Spend some time outdoors with your journal, sketchbook, craft supplies, etc
  • Write a letter to your parents. Tell them what you are grateful to them for. Send it
  • Make a list of thirty things you’d like to do before your next birthday

2024 will be the year for Artist Dates and more time to appreciate myself and break out of my comfort cycle. I am looking to find more joy in my life. This will be the year to just do it!

For now, I'm back at my hometown in Nebraska, so I will see what Artist Date I can find. I will start in a familiar place. I have a bad habit of staying at home and not showing my face in public. On Monday, I will ride my longboard or go on a run, depending on the weather. Either way, Nebraska.

Tracy, a risograph printing class sounds so tight! Please share what you've created.

Reply to: Where Do You Call Home? by Jason Kottke

2023-12-16 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

In Reply to Where Do You Call Home? by Jason Kottke

Jason Kottke asks the following question and starts mentioning his struggle with the concept of home. He also asks his readers to answer the question

Where do you call home? And why?

I’ve been struggling with the concept of home for the past several years.

On the surface, this seems like a very simple question to answer but the answer can be be complex. For me, I take the complex route. I too have been struggling with this question. Home is where major moments have occured in my life.

I grew up in Nebraska which was home for 25+ years. I say this is one place I call home is due to the fact this is where I grew up. It's where I learned the norms of the Midwest and how it influenced my persona. Nebraska is home because this is where many of my friends I made in university still reside. I have many deep connections with others. I somehow always end up here such as the holidays and other important events. It's a very special place to me but it is not the place I cull my current home.

Mexico is also my home for the fact I've lived there on an off though out the years. I learned what is was like to be around non-Americans. Living in Mexico, I got meet so many family members. I learned more of the traditions of my people and how live in a community. I learned that this was a place of rich culture and rich gastronomy. I learned to not take things for granted. It's a place I call home because it allows me to be different person compared to my American self. For the record, I don't go to resorts, I stay in rural Mexico. This is a home I return to often. This home is important to my identity.

The home I consider currently now is in California. This is the first place I moved away to where I didn't go back to my parents' home after an extended leave such as a trip or going to university. I work here now and I have built out new relationships. I'm still pretty new here. Living in California has allowed me to be more of myself and allow me to express myself. This is home because I get to work on myself as well. When people ask me where am I based out of or where is my home is, I always say California.

I also ask the same question, "Where do you call home? And why?"

Liked: Walking the Heck out of Thailand

2023-12-16 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

Liked: Walking the Heck out of Thailand by Craig Mod

It was hot. I was sweating. We — were sweating. Had we ever sweat so much before? Did it matter? Our sweat had sweat. We were a moving swamp. The fabric bits on our backpacks had turned sentient. I wanted to apply bleach atop my sunscreen. Wanted to order replacement toenails. Because: we were walking. And by god, were we talking.

Such a great post! I felt like I was visualizing what was all around Craig and his perspective of the walk. Talk about a good boy (dog) that followed them for most of their trip to their final destination. What a beautiful story. I hope to write like this with so much elegance and detail. The post even share the .kml file to map out in Google Earth.