Ireneo (Neo) Gutierrez, Jr

Vicarious living has become more and more important to me, and it becomes extra special when I hear from friends like ex-Laredoan Sara Puig Laas, now near Austin , who just took a trip to Paris . And she fulfilled my request for her to tell us about her adventure. She flew from Austin to Houston a few weeks back, on a Thursday and then non-stop to France on an all-night flight, arriving Friday morning. Because of the time difference of seven hours, she slept as much as possible on the plane; then she stayed up all day to avoid jet lag. All actions a sign of a seasoned traveler, of course.

She tells us: I fell in love in late October. With Paris . What a fascinating city! It was the kind of trip I love best–living like a local. No tour buses or schedules. I stayed with my niece, Marta Mueller-Guicciardini, and her two teenagers in their apartment on Rue de Universite. During the day Marta is a Senior Financial Analyst at the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank, while Lorenzo rides his motor scooter to classes at the Sorbonne and Ottavia is a senior at L’Ecole Francais. Except for the weekend and a holiday, I explored Paris on my own.

Sara continues: Under Marta’s guidance, I quickly learned it isn’t true that the French are rude and anti-American. They are delightfully friendly and helpful as long as you start any and all conversations with “Bon Jour”–just as we were taught as children to always say, “Buenos dias” when shopping in Laredo .

Marta’s apartment is centrally located in the lovely section of the city designed by architect Baron Georges-Eugene Haussmann between 1853 and 1870 under a commission from Napoleon III. It was Haussmann who gave Paris its wide boulevards, expansive parks, and lovely bridges across the Seine River . He also designed the adjoining acres of six-story buildings that exude an air of serenity, with their metal mansard roofs, walls of stone, and massive wooden doors, even as their street-level shops teem with activity. The next four floors contain apartments with tall windows that make it great fun to watch people below go about their daily lives. The top floor provided small garrets–traditionally for use by servants, or by artists and writers who could afford only the cheapest rent. The pleasant vistas make it a joy to walk as much as possible in Paris , checking out both the shops and the gardens as you go.

And walk I did, five to ten miles a day, although I rarely passed a boulangerie, or bakery, without popping in for a “pain au chocolat.” From Marta’s apartment within view of L’Assemble National, I walked a few blocks to a bridge across the Seine . A few more steps and strolling through the Gardens of the Tuileries, pictured in so many impressionist paintings, and on to the Louvre. The centuries come together at the Louvre, aptly exemplified by the classic stone buildings with a central courtyard dominated by I.M. Pei’s class pyramid. The museum trove of treasures spans the centuries, too, from ancient Greek sculptures to DaVinci’s Mona Lisa to contemporary modern art.

Sara continues: Another day, I traipsed to the Eiffel Tower on “our side” of the Seine . I was tempted not to wait in the series of long lines to buy a ticket, to ride the train to the level atop the four “legs,” and then to take the elevator to the top. The process took two hours, but I decided to stick it out in memory of my grandparents, Laredoans Valentin and Bruna Ortiz Puig, who had also ascended the tower when they went to Paris, together with his brother an her sister, Baldomero and Emilia Ortiz Puig, for the Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) of 1900. My trip to the Eiffel Tower was 111 years later, on 11-1-11, so I decided not to ignore the lineup of numbers.

Signs in several languages warned visitors to beware of pickpockets, and I wondered if that were the case in my grandparents’ day as well. But now, as in 1900, the view from the top of the 81-story tower absolutely takes your breath away. And in the evening, as Lorenzo and I walked the family Golden Retriever, the lights that cover the tower could be seen for miles. I had not known that they twinkle for the first ten minutes after the hour, and watching the dancing lights proved a special treat, indeed.

On Saturday and again on Thursday, I tagged along with Maria as she shopped for fresh vegetables and meals at the open-air market. The portable stalls open at 7 a.m. and must be packed up and gone by 1 p.m., so we quickly chose from the incredibly fresh selections of salad greens, vegetables, fish, meals, mushrooms, cheeses, herbs, flowers and more. No wonder French food is famous around the world! Later we were on the bus to the famous Paris Flea Market, where a stew of offerings awaited us, from vintage clothing to antique furniture, from chandeliers to jewelry to tacky knick-knacks. A nearby brasserie provided a respite later with a marvelous salad of tomato, fresh basil, and marvelous mozzarella–to my surprise, made from bison milk from Italy . Bisons? In Italy ? Delightful surprises everywhere…

Saturday evening we were off to the symphony to hear an orchestra from Leipzig, Germany, play works by Beethoven. On Tuesday, a ballet drew us to the Opera Garnier. Built in 1869, it’s both a wonderful venue and a trip back in time, as you wonder which notables may have sat in the gilded box seats, gazed at the chandelier suitable for the Phantom of the Opera, and admired the huge circular mural by Marc Chagall that surrounded the chandelier. The ballet costumes, by Parisian fashion designer Christian LeCroix, did not take a back seat to the ambience and were memorable in their beauty.

On Halloween Day, my great-niece Ottavia was on fall break from school, so the two of us had a different kind of adventure. We took the subway–Le Metro, in Paris –to a costume shop in another part of town. We met a school friend there, and shared a hilarious hour as they tried on outfits for a party that night. Ottavia decided to go as Wonder Woman, an appropriate costume in my view, since Ottavia and her brother are fluent in French, English, Italian,
Turkish (after living three years in Istanbul), and Spanish. Marta speaks those five languages and Russian as well, as her work with the IFC often takes her to Moscow and the Republic of Georgia . In that state of mind, it made perfect sense to treat the teens to lunch at a Japanese bistro in the neighborhood.

Sara aptly concludes: You cannot go anywhere in the world these days without finding traces of Laredo ; this trip reinforced that rule. Marta and I enjoyed an exhibit of photographs by ex-Laredoan George O.Jackson, Jr., at France L’Amerique Latine Agency. The featured pictures came from his vast collection of photos of Mexican indigenous festivals, but I had not seen them at the Smithsonian or San Antonio Museum of Art exhibits. Beautiful and dramatic work, as always, and I was delighted to introduce a fine example of Laredo ‘s creative talent to my niece. So many places I didn’t go– Paris is a temptress, and will not show you everything in a week, which was the length of my stay. But even a peek at France ‘s City of Light brought pleasure to last a lifetime.

Many thanks to dear friend Sarita for sharing with us that marvelous travelogue! But it’s time to go to knitting…in my training as a teacher, I remember learnIng that repetitive activity was good for students. Look what’s happened with the repetitive action involved in knitting: A Maryland lady’s contribution to society has taken her to teach a weekly class in knitting in a prison for men. And the demand for her class has soared. The reason is simple: the repetitveness gives the prisoners a calming effect! Her program is proving to be an invaluable rehabilitative tool at the Maryland prison’s Pre-Release Unit in Jessup. Lynn Zwerling, the teacher, is a retiree who believes in the effect on prisoners of the clicking needles and the repetitive motions. She started knitting after retiring from selling cars, and she became an evangelist. And that’s how she got to try her idea: she wanted to teach men in jail how to knit. Not a social worker or an educator, she believed in what the process of knitting provides–setting goals, completing a project, and giving to someone else. The knitting instruction program is so popular with prisoners that men beg to get in her class. There’s actually a waiting list! The warden notes that there’s lower rates of violence among the prisoners who knit. So the lesson for today: if you’re feeling hostile, try knitting!

Let’s close the year with a great note from Laredo ‘s gift to Hollywood , Julia Vera, who just came back to LA after spending a month in Laredo . She tells us: Laredo is amazing. There’s always something exciting going on. LULAC had its annual Tejano Achievers Award, and Mrs. Estela Kramer was one of the honorees, and she invited me as her guest. Then I ran to TAMIU to attend the Laredo Theater Guild fundraiser. When Ronnie Ramirez sang “The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music,” I was moved to tears. Then Joe Arciniega sang “The Unreachable Dream” and for the first time in my life I understood the lyrics of that powerful song’s message. The venue was fully attended, and it was very moving to see so many Laredoans show their love for the arts. My next highlight during my Laredo visit was the Martin/Nixon game. The dedication of the new Shirley Field was the big reason for the attendance of so many past football players. It was truly impressive and inspiring when they paraded onto the field holding up the year they fought to defend the goal. So many friends were there, and we sat together: Elsa Pena Herbeck and husband Walter, Carlota Guerra Pina, Priscilla Garza, Elias and Rosa Mendiola, JJ Gomes, Carlos Mejia, and Anabel Uribe Hall. Indeed, once a Tiger, always a Tiger! It was a great break for me, since I was in Laredo to build an RV park in Asherton. The small towns around Laredo are booming with the oil/gas discoveries. I loved the project. Hard work. Many trips carrying material, but it was all worth it.

And on that note, with great wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone, it’s time for, as Norma Adamo says: TAN TAN !

SO–ARE YOU A TYPE A OR TYPE B PERSONALITY ?

By Dr. Neo Gutierrez

The first time I learned of Type A and Type B personality was in Dr. I.I.Nelson’s educational psychology class when I was a teacher trainee at UT Austin over 50 years ago. Most recently the topic came back to mind when comparing Schwartzenneger and Weiner’s public behavior. To recap: The A/B personality theory first became known in the 50′s. Type A is that of the high-strung individual, in comparison to Type B, which explains the easy-going person. Originally, the theory was that which type you are could raise or lower chances of developing coronary heart disease, but who knows. So, what are the characteristics of both types? Type A people are multi-taskers tightly-wound, time-conscious, preoccupied, impatient, highly competitive, controlling, business-like, aggressive, and ambitious. Delays and ambivalence irk them. Type B persons, on the other hand, stand in perfect contrast to Type A’s. They are lacking a sense of urgency, they are easy-going, relaxed, and generally patient. A Type A might think of a Type B as being non-involved and apathetic. And, of course, there’s a Type AB personality, for those who cannot be listed exclusively in either category. If you want to take a test to find out which type you are, google the topic. I came out as a Type A, of course.

But grab on to your seats…now with the Arnold/Weiner cases so prominent in the news, psychologists are blaming their behavior due to the fact they posses the Type T personality. I had never heard of Type T. As it turns out, the main characteristics include a need to express power, a love of conquest, and they are probably victims of narcissism, which is excessive self-love. Public officials are a good target for Type T because of necessary risk-taking, which doesn’t have to be a problem till the characteristic spills over. The “T” stands for “thrill.” Many of our country’s success was accomplished by Type T individuals. So, it can be a desirable quality, until it spills over into negative behavior, such as drug use, bad sexual affairs, and/or crime, or a combination thereof.

Larry Flynt, publisher of Hustler Magazine, a “free speech” advocate, has made Weiner an offer. Flynt writes: I would like to make you an offer of employment with Flynt Management Group. As a Congressman you are known for your intensity and perseverance, and I believe this attitude will make you a valuable asset to this corporation. This is not in jest. We are willing to pay 20% more than your previous salary, we will pay relocation costs.This offer is not made in jest. To show our sincerity, Flynt Management Group, LLC is willing to pay twenty percent more than your former Congressional salary, ensuring that your medical benefits would be equal to what you were previously receiving. While you will have to relocate to our corporate offices in Beverly Hills , California , we would pay for all relocation costs. While this employment opportunity is being offered in large part due to your qualifications and clear passion for making a change, I feel that your unfortunate resignation is a prime exanmple of unfounded political pressure and the hypocrisy that has invaded democracy in Washington D.C. I hope your will sincerely consider this offer, and I look forward to your response. (End of Larry Flynt message.)By the way, Larry Flynt’s high rise building is 12 blocks from where I live. He lives in the top floor, and in the back of the bulding there’s a beautiful huge larger-than-life sized bronze of John Wayne on a bucking horse.

Some lighter stuff: Did you see Laredoan Suzy Mayo’s grandson Nick Mayo sing/dance on national television during the Broadway Tony Awards show? He was in the first two opening production numbers! What a performer! And some Laredo music performers memorabilia… Carlos Landin, singer with the famous Rondels, is now in the Smithsonian website. In an e-mail, Carlos explains: The Rondels started around 1961, when Sammy Ibarra went on to write “Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero.” He was the leader of the original Rondels. I came in around 1962 and became the lead singer. We added brass instruments to the band and played locally until 1966, when we started to tour all over the U.S. We recorded six LP’s and 30 some 45′s. The rest is history. I was inducted into the TMA Hall of Fame in 2002 at the Alamo Dome, and I was also inducted to the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame in 2004. Then in 2009 I was inducted into the Smithsonian, for my contributions to the Chicano music of the 60′s. At the start of our era, we were all MHS Tigers. Then as traveling became more complicated for the guys in college, I got out of town members. Laredo guys were Baby Vera, Julia’s brother, as well as Joe Lee Vera, both drummers. We also had Humberto Gonzalez on sax, later a dean at TAMIU. Humberto Herrera played sax, Joe Compean, who played trumpet, has worked for LCC in the music department. Robert Alonzo played bass, Victor Garza, guitar, later replaced by Pete Gonzales, who came in as guitar player and Raul Arechiga on the piano. They were the original full band with brass from Laredo . Eventually, the band went on to have musicians from all over Texas , and we traveled more. Let’s not forget Noe Esparza was the original singer for the Rondels, the same Noe who moved to San Antonio and started a fine career with AT&T as administrator. By the way, I am now in Dallas , visiting my grandchildren, who want all my time!

Here’s a note on Mexican actress Carmen Salinas, relative of Laredo ‘s mayor. She got a huge write-up with photo in the La Opinion de Los Angeles newspaper recently. Originally from Torreon , Mexico , at 77 years of age she has spent 50 in the movies, theater, and television show business in Mexico . She says she’s lasted this long in show business because she’s always been herself. She may currently be seen in “El triunfo del amor” on Spanish television in the evenings.
And Jennifer Lopez and Pepe Aguilar will be immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with their own stars engrained onto the sidewalk on Hollywood Blvd. JLo, actress-dancer-singer, and Pepe, famous for his regional Mexican music, are the two Latinos heading the new recognition list which recognizes professionals in movie, television, and radio. They were selected from a list of hundreds of nominations, according to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Jennifer Aniston and Vin Diesel will also receive sidewalk stars this year. Television star Mariska Hargitay, daughter of Texan Jayne Mansfield, is also on the list. Jane Mansfield attended UT Austin one semester while I was a student there. And I once had lunch with Mariska’s dad, bodybuilder Mickey, at a Thanksgiving dinner at the Peter Lupus home. And on that note, it’s time for–as Norma Adamo says: TAN TAN!

HAPPY 83rd BIRTHDAY TO DELIS NEGRON, JR. !!!

ELIS NEGRON, JR., RECALLS PERIL IN THE ARCTIC NORTH AS U.S. NAVY COMMMANDER (NOW RETIRED)

The end of a year, and the beginning of a new one…makes one think about what’s important in life. For sure, we need to remember and pray for our country’s military troops in so many of the most dangerous places in the world. My focus on this came when I recently read about ex-Laredoan Delis Negron, Jr., now an 82 year old retired US Navy Commander, a fighter pilot. He lives in Huntingdon, Penn. The failed solenoid incident which follows, as he tells it, occurred in 1964 when Delis was 37: I was watching the movie “Titanic” again and the last scene when Jack froze to death in the North Atlantic, reminded me of my experience while tracking the icebergs as they travel South in Baffin Bay between Greenland and Canada. I was the Officer-in-Charge (OINC) of a detachment of USN patrol planes, SP-2H’s, that had been tasked out of NAS Argentia, New Foundland, Canada. We had been tracking icebergs on a thirteen hour flight and were at the Northern-most leg when we lost our heaters. The nearest airfield was Thule AFB, which is almost on the North West part of Greenland and practically on the arctic circle. Our temperature in the cockpit got down to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit almost immediately, and the copilot and I took 10 minute turns at the controls, while the other pilot regained his flexibility while doing brisk in place exercise. We were about an hour from Thule, which was in the midst of a heavy snow storm. Thule AFB is at the bottom of a 10,000 foot fjord, and we were brought in to a successful landing by Ground Control Authority. While we were waiting for a new solenoid to repair the heating system, I met a Canadian pilot that had a single engine airplane with landing skis, which he said was an Otter, and he was going to an Eskimo village about 100 miles north of Thule. He invited me to go with him on his trip. I agreed to go since there was little else to do while waiting for the replacement solenoid. We took off on a clear morning, and before long we had landed at the Eskimo village. We were greeted by a very friendly group of Eskimos who were very glad to see us. After my friend delivered his supplies, he showed me how to make an igloo with a hunting knife. The igloo didn’t take us long to make, and the hard snow was perfect for making it. It was amazingly warm inside the igloo, and pretty comfortable. We didn’t spend the night, but I’m sure I would have had a good rest in it. After a while, we got in the airplane and we went back to Thule. The rest of my stay at Thule was pretty uneventful, except that an AF Officer froze just outside the door to the Officers’ Club. I left before the case was fully investigated, but the consensus was that he had drunk too much and got disoriented before he could get indoors.

About Delis: He was born in Laredo on Dec. 18, 1927. His father was Delis Negron, who was the Spanish editor of The Laredo Times. His mother was Adela Aguilar. His father was fired from the Times because of his involvement in the election of 1932, so they had to leave Laredo when his party lost the election. The family moved to Del Rio and lived there until Delis was ten, when they moved back to Laredo, where his father established a print shop. Delis went to Bruni school in the fourth grade, and then on to the old high school building (now La Posada Inn) for the fifth and sixth grades. After junior high, he arrived in high school Dec. 1941, where he graduated in May 1945. His family then moved to San Antonio, where his father was the editor of La Prensa. He joined the US Navy in 1946, and served 20 years till 1966.

And by now the DWTS mess is over, and the right dancer, Jennifer Grey won. But let’s greet the new year with some terrific suggestions from Corky Ballas, Mark’s father and son of Maria Luisa Marulanda Ballas, Laredo dance teacher around 1950. In a big spread in the current AARP magazine, Corky offers all of us help on how to dance like a star. What better way to start the new year than with his tips: You have to want to learn how to dance. If you’re doing it to make your mate happy, forget it. Listen to the music, clap and feel the rhythm. Walk to the music beat. Learn eight basic dance steps: forward and back walk, side step, rock step (transfer weight from one leg to the other), three quick steps, gliding, balance steps, and the box step. Build strength using a treadmill. Use arms gracefully by pretending to “paint” with your hands, wrists, and elbows. Learn to isolate different parts of your body. Select the first dance you want to learn, the one that excites you the most. Learn a set of five dance patterns. For variety, rotate the steps you learn. Now you’re ready to dance. And it’s time to wish all a happy new year, and for, as Norma Adamo says–TAN TAN !

Dr. Neo Gutierrez in Los Angeles is a Ph.D in Dance and Related Arts, Laredo Sr. Int’l 2008, MHS Tiger Legend 2002, and Sr. Int’l de BevHills, 1997. Recipient Laredo’s 2009 Meritorious Service Award in Fine Arts.. (Contact neodance@aol.com)

LAREDO CONNECTED MARK BALLAS BACK IN DWTS WITH BRISTOL PALIN

Several months ago I made the connection of prized “Dancing With the Stars” dancer Mark Ballas to Laredo, being the grandson of Laredo dance great from the 50′s, Maria Luisa Marulanda Ballas, now of Houston. That fact has now become part of Mark’s information on his website and famed web source Wikipedia. In those websites, Mark notes:

Mark Alexander Corky Ballas Jr., born in 1986, is an American performer who moved to London at an early age, where he began his performing career. He remained there till 2007, when he moved to the U.S. , when he began competing on the DWTS show. He is also a singer, songwriter, musician for the Ballas Hough Band, where he composes the group’s music, plays lead guitar, and sings lead vocals. Born in Houston , he has family ties in Laredo , Texas . His paternal grandparents are George Charles Ballas and Maria Luisa Marulanda Ballas, of Mexican, Spanish,and Greek background. His father, Corky Ballas, is currently competing in the DWTS contest. Mark is an only child. Mark’s grandfather, George Ballas Sr., owned and operated a 64,000 square foot dance studio called Dance City USA, known as the largest dance studio in the world. Situtated in Houston, the studio had 125 teachers. Mark’s grandfather sold the studio and later went on to invent the Weed Eater. He also owned a Hilton Hotel in Houston at one time. Mark’s grandmother,Maria Luisa, was a famous flamenco dancer who appeared in several movies and studied with Carmen Amaya in Spain . In 2005 Mark was “Performer of the Year” at the academy where he studied. Then he won championshps at The British Open, the U.S. Open, and The International Open to the World. With his former partner Julianne Hough, he won the Jr. Latin American Dance Championship and the gold medal at the Jr. Dance Olympics. After winning DWTS twice, this season Mark is partnered with 19-year-old Bristol Palin, daughter of master self-promoter and U.S. Presidential hopeful, Sarah Palin of Alaska . Mark’s current average as a pro dancer on DWTS is 25.43 of a possible 30 point maximum. For more on Mark, go to markballas.com. and wikipedia.com.

As of this writing, contestant David Hassehoff has been bumped; others competing include Jennifer Grey, who was in “Dirty Dancing” with Texan Patrick Swayze, Brandy, Florence Henderson dancing with Mark’s dad, Corky, and comedian Margaret Cho, among others. (Also, hopefully Bristol will lose 20 pounds with all the new exercise on her plate.)

The audience may not realize that besides the 10 weeks of the show, there are 3-4 weeks of rehearsal time. To maximize her rehearsal time, Bristol Palin packed up her truck and drove to L.A. all the way from Alaska . Later, she flew with Mark to Alaska to rehearse there and so he could meet her family.

But let’s jump now to some totally bizarre crazy stuff in LALA Land . Nadya “Octomom” Suleman has been conducting a yard sale and an online auction which includes selling of autographed undies, a bikini, a nursing bra, and pregnancy panties. Nadya is broke, and she is desperate for money to pay her mortgage. Mother of 14 children, she is selling the bikini she wore on the cover of tabloid magazines. She is facing foreclosure due to a balloon mortgage payment of $450,000 due this October. The sale also includes the sofa Nadya was sitting on when she found out she was pregnant with octuplets, handprints of the kids, and numerous “Octo” toys, autographed. Nadya says that at September’s end, she only has one week’s worth of money left and will do anything to avoid going on welfare. She made her September home payment with $4000 she was paid for a television interview. She has been living in the home already for over a year, and she has received several payment extensions. Nadya has written a book, but no publisher has expressed interest in buying it. Also on the fizzled list is a reality TV program about raising 14 kids, all the result of in-vitro fertilization. She has refused $500,000 to star in a porn film.

And finally Marilyn Monroe’s death-site home near UCLA has sold, and it brought in $255,000 more than the asking price of $3,595,000. The house is a 1929 hacienda type structure on more than half an acre, with swimming pool, citrus trees, and a huge lawn. Hardware is period, the ceilings are beamed, and the entire floor is terracotta tile. Only one story, there’s 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and an office in almost 2,600 square feet of living space. Marilyn, who died of an “accidental” overdose of sleeping pills at age 36, bought the house for $75,000. The most recent seller bought the house in 1996 for $925,000.

On the new movie front, I am constantly amazed every time a new Robert Rodriguez film comes out . Rodriguez, who lives in the Austin outskirts, does it all–directs, produces, and stars! For the premiere of his latest movie, “Machete,” he used the Orpheum Theater downtown L.A. , which is owned by a Beverly Hills HS ex-student of mine, Steve Needleman. True to Robert’s great showmanship, for the premiere all the stars gave up the limos and arrived instead in custom lowriders, in shades of silver, orange, and deep purple. The number of stars in the film, besides Robert himself, is outstanding: Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Don Johnson, Cheech Marin, Danny Trejo, Robert DeNiro, and Steven Seagal. Linday Lohan, also in the film, didn’t get to the premiere due to her usual you-know-what problems. Poor girl.

To close, I must mention the title of the current production of a local Hispanic theater near downtown L.A. , whose stage show is titled “La Historia de Mexico Para Un Idiota.” Asi como lo oyen…and time for, as Norma Adamo says: TAN TAN !

Dr. Neo Gutierrez in Los Angeles is Laredo Sr. Int’l 2008, MHS Tiger Legend 2002, and Sr. Int’l de BevHills, 1997. Recipient Laredo ‘s 2009 Meritorious Service Award in Fine Arts. (Contact neodance@aol.com)