I was so close.

It felt so euphoric.

All I needed was for Tucker to make it.

The line was -2.5.

It went to overtime.

And the fucking Ravens did it! They won the fucking game.

I was on my to convert 200 pesos to 34,000 pesos on my parlay bet. I was so excited.

Then the 49ers and the Seahawks lost and it all went to shit.

Oh well.

I paid to feel something. And I did. That thrill is worth 200 pesos. Winning would be better. But feeling like I was about win to feels insane.

Gamblers are fucking crazy. I only do it on Sundays. And that’s enough.

---

I also lost my fantasy game. 1 win 4 losses, what a way to start the season. It looks grim.

---

86 days are left.

12 fucking weeks.

It’s October. The end of the year approaches. Winters are slow. I’m worried a bit. But I should be fine. I didn’t save money like I should have. I still don’t have a new iPhone. But rent is paid and all is well.

I have a tour this Friday. I should reply to that email.

---

Email replied.

And I had another email about jobs in my area. I’m subscribed to a bunch of those because I always say I’m looking for a job. The top job offered was looking for a dance photographer. It looked exactly like the job I did in 2023. Except this one seemed better paid and they offered more benefits.

I could do that job again, for the right amount of money.

Let’s see what happens.

I’ve barely been taking pictures all year!

---

I took some pictures yesterday at Tijuana’s Jazz Festival of Gilbert Castellanos. There are a bunch of great shots in there. It was a great concert but short.

I want to write a cover story about jazz in this city, but I’m unsure on what direction to take it.

---

My girlfriend took pictures of me with the Ballena shirt for Tijuana Adventure.

The Aloha shirt came out and sold out already (I still have one L).

Here’s the video explaining the Aloha Tijuana legend:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tijuana Adventure (@tijuanaadventure)

I haven’t done a photoshoot for it because everything is video instead of photos in 2024. But I do have the photoshoot of La Ballena. And like always, the blog needs a picture. Let’s upload this:

Low quality because my blog is running out of space.

More photos here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tijuana Adventure (@tijuanaadventure)

I need to take pictures with the Aloha shirt. I’m wearing right now… But I already wore it on Saturday.

I also need to shower and get the month going. I need to make money. Or perhaps go back to having a real job.

More tours. More merch. More getting popular and I’ll be fine. But I want to be more than fine.

---

Almost 25,000 followers in my Tijuana Adventure account.

Because of that, I get invited to places. Many times they just want to give me free shit. Many times they want a video but those cost time and effort so I tell them it costs money. Sometimes they pay. Sometimes they simply don’t reply. Sometimes they give me free ceviche. That Peruvian place owes me some ceviche.

And… I also got invited to the soccer stadium.

The Tijuana Xolos fan Xperience department contacted me and asked me if I want to go to a game for free. I asked what was included. They told me the seats, the tour of the stadium, snacks, and drinks. The drinks didn’t include beer. But that’s okay.

Because I also got a Xolos gift box! It had a Jersey, hat, stickers, autographed cards (by Xolas), and other goodies.

I also thought they invited a bunch of influencers. Or at least a big group to the party.

Nope.

It was just me and my girlfriend.

And they put me on the big screen and gave me a shoutout. “Follow Matthew on social media.”

No one knows me as Matthew.

Only as Tijuana Adventure or Matingas.

A semi-taste of fame. I hope it translates to money. A lot of money.

And the beauty of micro-fame in 2024 is that I could simply disappear. Sell my accounts or nuke them. Make money. Delete everything. Move to Washington state with my savings. Start a business there. Or work at a brewery. Something simple.

That’s sorta my target.

Though the more I grow in this city, the better for me and my brand. More people want to work with me. People with money want my input. Some told me they want to start a business with me or they need my help.

What a journey life.

In a city like Tijuana.

And the male Carrie Bradshaw of Tijuana keeps on blogging.

---

On top of all that!

I went to Six Flags!

It’s been a year and some with my girlfriend. There was a week when we fought a bunch and I was unsure why. I got complacent I think. Even if it’s been a year, you still got to do stuff for your girlfriend. I guess that’s how it works. And I still have to do more shit! All the time!

Like going to Six Flags.

I like Six Flags. Is not something that I think about or want to do often. But I do enjoy it. I don’t like paying for it. I don’t like getting out of my way for it. But I’ll go for her.

But that’s what I did for her.

Little things that we both enjoy.

Got up at 5:30 a.m. to cross the border and get a ride to Six Flags with her friends. There was no one in the park. It was like a speed run. We hit almost every rollercoaster in a matter of hours. By 5 pm we were beyond pooped.

I could have kept going a bit longer.

But the party was done.

And yeah. It’s heavy to ride so many rollercoasters in a short period of time.

It was hella fun.

Here’s a video:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matingas (@matingas_)

Every thing is a video.

It’s October!

Not much more of 2024 left.

Halloween/Spooky season is here. I’ve been playing Resident Evil 3 Nemesis re-make. Holy fuck. What a great game so far. It reminds me of a childhood. And the graphics are great. It feels like playing a classic gem. I’m enjoying it a lot.

My girlfriend dislikes it. Resident Evil games are the kind I like to play with someone watching. I’m not sure why.

I’m enjoying it alone a lot. But I think it’s more enjoyable with someone there with you. For all the holy shit moments.

---

More merch coming.

I already sold almost all the shirts. New design should be dropping soon. Making 24 of those. I’m keeping one or two. So I need to sell 22 shirts.

$25 each! +$10 shipping anywhere in America!

Buy shirts! For now, only taking Venmo/Zelle, cash or bank transfers. Soon I should make it like a real store. And by soon. I mean this month. Before 2024 ends for sure.

I’ll have three designs ready. My logo is ready. More shirts with that. Hats. Tote bags. And more shit.

After this third design sells out, I’m re-doing all three designs for a limited batch. Then the store should be ready to have more stock and more items.

It’s working. People like buying my shit. And I need to sell more shit!

Buy my shit!

Buy my books!

Buy my posters and prints!

Buy my shirts!

Follow me in all the social medias. You know the drill.

Buy my books on Amazon. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them.

Subscribe to my YouTube. The more subscribers, the more money, the more time I have to upload cool shit.

Follow me on Instagram and book me for a photoshoot!

Follow me on TikTok just because it’s the thing we do in the future.

Book a Tijuana tour with Tijuana Adventure! Still doing exclusive tours in 2024. Let’s see how much longer I last.

Read all my articles on the Reader. 

Or donate!

Oh yeah!

I published the paparazzi book in Español and deleted the blog about it. You can buy or read it here, on Amazon!

No one has bought it!

No one has donated! But it doesn’t matter because people buy other shit! Shirts sell well. And they are easy to sell and ship.

More shirts!

More merch!

Much easier than books. Special packages coming soon as well. Like a tote bag with a shirt, and a book, and a print or some shit like that.

You’ll see. It will be a nice income to have besides all my extra incomes.

But for now… I’m stuck with I DO TOURS IN TIJUANA!!!!!

Almost running out of gas for that.