Hola!  Como esta usted?  Es no muy bueno.

This is your friend, Arturo Jiminez.  I am writing because I am scared: scared for my cousins back in Mexico:  according to news reports, there is an outbreak of swine flu, and it may "reach pandemic proportions", according to the health people.  It's already become epidemic:  over 60 people have died, according to the latest information.

Businesses, schools, churches, everything is closing because people are scared they may be infected with this flu next.  It is a form of the swine flu; it can be passed from los animales to mankind.  It is very contagious; es muy malo!

Here, we are okay, but I worry we may get sick with this flu.  We are taking every precaution possible to make sure we don't get it.  We don't have any food imported from Mexico in our house (if we did, we got rid of it, pronto!), and we make sure we are kept up to date on our shots, particularly the flu shots.  It could come here to America; it's arleady hit two states now:  Texas and California.  More states may be added to this list; it is a very scary time here today.

School isn't much better:  the estupido gringos, they keep calling me bad names about my Mexicanness.  I'm sorry; I can't help I'm a Mexican; it was what I was born to!  I am more than ready to quit school; I've had it clear up to here with their stupid behavior or catcalls!!  I'm about ready to start bashing some heads in, they get me so frustrated!!!!

We have maybe a month of school left; it can't come soon enough!  I'm more than ready for summer vacation; that way, I don't have to put up with the stupid kids or the dumb teachers!!  I swear, some of them need to go back to school themselves; they don't know nothin'!!

I am glad it's the weekend:  I got up at noon, about an hour ago.  Still lyin' 'round in my room, in my pjs, with no plans to do anything, not if I can help it!  I just hope mami and papi don't call me; I'm bein' muy floja today!

Well, nothin' much is going on other than worryin' about my cousins back in Mexico; I pray they make it through this flu outbreak in one piece!  I pray it doesn't come here; I already have enough to worry about now; why add flu to the mix?? 

Take care, I am going to get my grub face on, then decide what I am going to do next.  Maybe I'll annoy my mami, she looks like she could use some cheering up!  LOL  Vaya con dios, muchachos, adios!  Hasta luego!

~Arturo.  :(

~To be continued.~