On squirrels and Spanish

There are squirrels which live outside my house and I'm dying to catch pictures of them on my digital camera. Unfortunately, like most squirrels, they're nimbler than the speed at which I take pictures, and these furry little buggers run pretty damn fast. This is also why you never see a dead squirrel in the middle of the road, despite their tendency to lurk in the middle of those damn roads. In fact, if there was one way I would describe squirrels, I suppose "Born to play Frogger" would be a pretty good description.

Elsewhere, my Spanish homework continues to drive me mad. However, I'm safe in the knowledge that I'm being graded for completion - and not accuracy. I'm actually feeling pretty torn about my approach to the class. On the one hand, I want to get my Spanish in order and actually speak it properly by the time I go back, but on the other hand, all that time could be devoted to World of Warcraft. If only life were easier.

On a somewhat more serious and sombre note, I'm totally addicted to Juanes' "A Dios Le Pido". This song was actually introduced during one of my Spanish classes (yes finally something worth not cribbing about). There's a certain poeticness (is there even such a word?) to the lyrics which I personally find a fantastic combination of romantic, haunting and yet succint, from a socio-political commentary point of view. As a background, Juanes (or Juan Esteban) hails from Colombia and he lived through a period where his best friend was shot dead in a club, while his father died of cancer.


Que mis ojos se despierten
con la luz de tu mirada
yo a Dios le pido...

Que mi madre no se muera
y que mi padre me recuerde
a Dios le pido
Que te quedes a mi lado
y que más nunca te me vayas mi vida
a Dios le pido
que mi alma no descanse
cuando de amarte se trate mi cielo
a Dios le pido...

Por los días que me quedan
y las noches que aun no llegan
yo a Dios le pido
por los hijos de mis hijos
y los hijos de tus hijos
a Dios le pido...

Que mi pueblo no derrame tanta sangre
y se levante mi gente
a Dios le pido
que mi alma no descanse
cuando de amarte se trate mi cielo
a Dios le pido...

Un segundo mas de vida para darte
y mi corazón entero entregarte
un segundo mas de vida para darte
y a tu lado para siempre yo quedarme
un segundo mas de vida
yo a Dios le pido...

Que si me muero sea de amor
y si me enamoro sea de vos

y que de tu voz sea este corazón
todos los días a Dios le pido
que si me muero sea de amor
y si me enamoro sea de vos
y que de tu voz sea este corazón
todos los días a Dios le pido
a Dios le pido.


That my eyes awake with the light of your life
I ask of God

That my mother doesn't die
And that my father remembers me
I ask of God
That you stay by my side
And that you never leave my life
I ask of God
That my soul doesn't relax
When my love for you is like the sky
I ask of God...

For the days that I stay
And the nights that I don't arrive
I ask of God
For the children of my children
And the children of your children
I ask of God...

That my home doesn't shed more blood
And my people arose
I ask of God
That my soul doesn't relax
When my love for you is like the sky
I ask of God...

A second more of life to give you
And deliver my entire heart to you
A second more of life to give you
And forever I'll stay by your side
A second more of life
I ask of God...

If I die, it's for love
And if I love, it's for you

And that this heart would be of your voice
Everyday I ask of God
That if I die, it's for love
And if I love, it's for you
And that this heart would be of your voice
Everyday I ask of God
I ask of God.