What makes Goldfish happy?

Recently, I picked up the book I had been actively avoiding for some time now. Why, you ask, would I avoid a book? Well, in all honesty, because it was popular. I frankly couldn't imagine why I would want to read a book that everyone else in America seemed to enjoy.

On the recommendation from a friend that I love very much, I started reading it. It was 50% off when I bought two books. Pretty good deal. The other book that I bought was Forrest Griffin's new book "Got Fight." I wanted that because he's one of Chris' favorite fighters (but, really that title goes to our very own Carlos Condit) and because it looked fun.

I was going through other random books and had decided on getting some other book. Then my brother called me (yes, on my phone) in the bookstore. He was a few isles over and couldn't find me. As I walked back the way I came after finding my little brother, I saw it. I saw the book that I wanted. "Eat Pray Love."

It doesn't sound like me at all. Pray in the title? Really? OMG, don't ever NOT buy a book just because of the reasons I just mentioned. This is probably one of the BEST books I've ever read...the plot line is simple enough and very good, but the real reason I love the book is because of the writing. It's amazing. She is inspiring with every word on the page.

Not to sound cliche, melodramatic, etc., but within the first 34 chapter, it has literally changed my life. And I hate the word 'literally.'

Not that I'm a newly divorced, then newly heartbroken 30-something that has some amount of money from her amazing writing (enough to travel for a year), but the take home messages are clear enough. The message from the first 34 chapters is becoming a mantra to me this month. Find what makes the Goldfish happy. What the hell does she want? What makes her lose her mind in fits of happy giddy silly sunniness? It's different (a lot different) from the first list I put on here.

And actually, in my own humble opinion, way more interesting.

It starts with a new found addiction for language. And not Italian (which is the author's favorite), but the less "traditionally beautiful" languages. I love Spanish and Hindi and I love listening to the guttural German and the awkward sounding Gaelic. For now, I'm learning (or in the case of Spanish, re-learning) the first two.

Spanish: Because, what the hell; I'm a Martinez whose dad speaks Spanish, lives in NM, has a large number of students who speak it, and has already taken years of it (don't act so surprised). Hindi: See my last blog post that went something like this- "Wa wa wa, I want to go to India real bad. Wa wa wa. Must go or I will lose my mind." Accurate enough?

I found these sites with video lectures teaching these languages for free! Oh what a day and age we live in. I'm making it a point to become fluent. I have now programmed 101.3 La Kalle into my car stereo right next to 97.7, 93.3, and 104.7. I think that my brother's station of choice may still be there as well (that thick carnival type Mexican music). And I will continue to order my horchata as mediano horchata porfavor. Since there is no Hindi station I'm going to have to rely on my sanskrit book, the website, and the set of CDs Chris was so kind to give me for Christmas.

This new found fascination with being happy also somehow includes my love for my city. I'm not actually sure if it's because I love Albuquerque or just the way it looks. I found this amazing blog of the best Abq. skylines while looking up photos of the Big I. This actually came about when I realized that I should probably keep my eyes on the road while driving the big circle from 25 N-40 E instead of ogling what I find to be one of the most beautiful and interesting projects in our grand city. But, I digress. Here's the website: http://www.city-data.com/forum/city-vs-city/243120-best-skylines-each-metro-size-14.html

Maybe you won't find it as enchanting as I do. Maybe you are jaded against all those red light/van tickets. Maybe, like my father, you think of the Bank of the West building as grotesque and old. While Chris is telling me to look at the scenery (meaning the mountains- and don't get me wrong, they are what makes the skyline gorgeous), I'm way more interested in my trip away from my foothills home. The first thing I see on my way down Copper is that damned Bank of the West building glinting gold under the rising sunlight. Oh how I love that picturesque view. Sure, I'm crazy, but that's the kind of stuff that makes us different.