Best Part of My Day

Buying GIANT Avocados from Tucumán on the street, 2 for 5 pesos. These puppies weigh about 1 lb each, no joke. I clearly bought 4, because one can never have enough guacamole in this life. I'm wondering if I will even be able to consume it all before I go into an avocado-induced coma.

That is all.

Well

I know I am a bad Página and have not been bloggifying lately. Oh well, my reasons for absence are all good ones, I promise.

Work is insane which is good, but also mildly annoying as with each day that passes I am more and more dumbfounded at how stupid some people can be. But that is fine.

Due to the high volume of arrivals, Javier and I are having a very serious phone relationship. He calls me every time someone arrives at the airport and is in the car to their home stay. One day he called me 6 times. Yep. We're in love. He tends to call at 8 or 9 in the morning, when I am still sleepy and in bed, so that is just another fabulous facet. He now calls me Darling and I just call him Javi and I wonder if one day we will meet in person .... Le sigh. It's hilarious.

I have been growing a curry panza lately and I think I have honestly gained 5 lbs of basmati rice and garam masala in the past 3 weeks. Also, it's fine. I am happy and spicy.

Tomorrow we will be throwing a fabulous Mexican Feast at my depto here in Belgrano. I am wondering if sombreros will be mandatory attire. Tequila should be served instead of water. TGIF.

Now I am cleaning my house finally and washing some clothes. I can't believe I paid 2 pesos in MONEDAS to wash them. Wow. That's desperation. I have kept track of my monedas expenses this month and I tell you, it's not pretty. That is some serious metal that I am putting in the hands of the Chinese syndicate.

I don't really have anything exciting to say except that I listen to Shakira every 3 minutes and that I have managed to keep my 2 orchids, Magdalena and Isabel, alive. This is a big achievement, especially after Mint decided to die after 4 days under my supervision. I even bought A SPRAY BOTTLE to keep my orchid ladies happy and hydrated but not drowning. Baby steps, people. Baby steps.

Ummmmm that's all. Maybe we'll all talk in August when there aren't what seem like HUNDREDS of mildly hopeless american students roaming about Buenos Aires more or less under my care and concern.

To Celebrate Monday's Holiday

Strikes will abound all over Capital !! Yaaaaaay hooray.

1. Banks
2. Meat refrigerator people
3. People in the food service industry
4. Long-distance bus companies

Are going on strike, some of them the whole weekend. What a wonderful way to celebrate 25 de Mayo than with less than stellar infrastructure and more discontent? I can't wait for the taxi drivers to go on strike again. That will be really fun.

In better news.
The colectivo card is almost here !! Today I was basically ecstatic when I saw this smelly old man paying for his bus fare with the magnetic card thing rather than with coins. Yep, Buenos Aires still hasn't caught on and people can only pay for the bus with spare change. Not even paper bills. No sir. Anyway, on the 68 today this old man had one, and I saw another man with one on my way home.

But of course there is a catch ...

Only certain bus lines are using these cards. And each bus line has its own specific magnetic card. Therefore you can't use the same one to ride both the 68 and the 152. They're apparently doing this as a "temporary measure" until the "official" and supposedly universal magnetic card comes out. Sometime in the next 10 years I'm sure.

So I guess it's not the best news in the world, but it's a start.

I wish I had my little poncho to drive around town, even though I can't drive.

Brophy on Inflation in Buenos Aires:

"You gotta get paid in dolares so you don't feel the dolores."

Well said, Broph.

FYI

Next time you try to order Pollo y Papas at a ( supposedly ) lovely place called Punto Fresco ...

MAKE SURE IT'S ACTUALLY CHICKEN
AND
NOT
TRIPE

Because they are apparently incapable of LABELING THEIR FOOD PRODUCTS CORRECTLY

Fall

Ok so I love Fall and chilly-ness and wearing coats, but I really hate how pale I am becoming. It's sad that I still care about this kind of stuff.

Anyway, today I did this genius computation:

25 /2 = 17.5

I could have sworn it was correct. Guess not. Goodbye MBA hello Law School.


I enjoy things like little black dresses and eating medialunas to keep warm. I also enjoy bothering my neighbors because all I do is listen to Shakira on repeat for hours, and hours, and hours.

It's fine.

Another O'Hern-ism

"In prosperity, our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends." -- John Churton Collins

Chilly Brisk Crisp

Man, I forgot how much everyone in Buenos Aires LOVES to embrace Autumn. Today was kind of cold, actually, but it's like no matter what the temperature, now that it is officially Fall, everyone is in boots, coats, jackets, scarves, etc. I think they just love the unofficial fashion show that happens on every block since all other women seem to do around here is judge others around her.

It has been nice to wear my Paruolo boots again, strolling about town without sweating profusely. I do not miss those days at all. It makes my busy days less dreadful and more invigorating.

I need to ban myself from eating empanadas for the next 5 days. Not a sermon, just a thought.

Things I currently love:

- The Seda candle Deb and I got at the Amano sidewalk sale, with its deliciousness and amazingness that makes my apartment smell like Arlington.
- The Ginger Pomelo countertop spray that I imported from DC. Once again, my house smells fresh and citric. Amazing.
- Listening to AIR on my iPod
- Mentally preparing for the amazingness that will be La Casa Polaca tomorrow night for dinner.
- Being able to watch my favorite season of Project Runway ( even though I hate Jeffrey ) on People&Arts randomly this morning while I woke up.
- My penguin pitcher.
- Autumn.
- And all of the fabulous clothes that come with it.

I'm Sorry...

But the woman on the news was just talking about the 11-day mission to Hubble to do some repairs, etc. and she says:

"Ok, ok ... but what IS Hubble ???? "

I'm sorry, boluda, you should not be on television.

Goodbye.

In the Past 24 Hours

I have eaten 6 empanadas.

Chau, low cholesterol.

I Love

Buenos Aires in May.

Thanks O'Hern

1. the path is not straight.

2. mistakes need not be fatal.

3. people are more important than achievements or possessions.

4. be gentle with your parents.

5. never stop doing what you care most about.

6. learn to use a semicolon.

7. you will find love.

- marion winik

Barf

I went with Deb to her nutritionist's appointment yesterday and I saw this :

One pound of human body fat.GROSS.
bye.

Rain - Again ?

Wow, thanks.

So today I stuffed my belly with some matar paneer at Heritage with Deb before traipsing into Georgetown. I'm really proud of her because she got her first pair of Levi's and she looks pretty damn hot. Go Deb. I then got 2 cupcakes to celebrate her skinniness. They have NOT been eaten yet, but they will be before I leave. Mmmmmm yum.

I have also packed 1 of my possibly 3 suitcases. Wow. Doozy. I almost had a seizure while doing it. I think everything will fit actually, but I get so anxious about all of my lovely winter coats that I need to bring with me. I need to be surrounded by them. Warm and cozy. I am also bringing back the amazing Egyptian cotton 450 thread count sheets I got .. AT TARGET. Joy and bliss.

Now I am sitting looking at the nice rain and the orchids we have all over the house, watching a dumb movie and waiting for dinner ( Indian leftovers ).

If anyonen wants to come visit me so they can bring some of my clothes back for me that won't fit in my suitcase because I have a hard time letting things go, that would be great. Thank you.

This Could Very Well Be Me at the Airport

Hop

So I was reading the Washington Post just now and I read something from a Q&A column that I really enjoyed.

The boiling-frog legend always comes to mind with stories like this - the one that says a frog dropped in hot water will hop right out, but if you put a frog in cold water and heat it slowly enough, the frog will sit there until it dies. It's sick ( and debatable ).

It is a little sick and maybe not always a cut and dry issue. Either way, I think that is a good way of looking at things sometimes. What limits are you willing to place in life ? Are you going to hop out like the first frog or just boil slowly and end up on someone's dinner plate ?

I think I'd like to hop out and see what the other frogs are up to.

Writer's Block

I'm feeling rather uninspired lately. I do have quite a few funny anecdotes RE: the visa process, and general random daily hilarity, but I am currently without much desire to put them into bloggy words.

It has been raining for the past 6 days. Six. Seis. No thank you.

I watched the original documentary ( not the new HBO version ) "Grey Gardens" and I must say, I love those wacky blue-bloods.

After suffering from what I am calling a vitamin-induced ulcer, I am back on my Omega-3 binge. Well, not a binge, but I am hoping that they don't hurt the tum-tum anymore. That was a particularly awful day last week. I felt like it was burning a hole into the rest of my body.

There are lots of books I would like to read. I wish I had a million hours to be able to read them all.

kthanksbye

Quiero

You Know Your Family is Crazy ...

When the Vet tells your Mom that it's ok to give your Dog some Xanax because she is also experiencing the high amount of stress levels that the humans in the house are going through.

It's fine.

I hope Bella has a nice relaxing nap.

Seriously. Dogs can have 2 Xanax and that helps take the edge off.
Wow.

Do You Think

Shakira would like to be my best friend ?

I Like Keys

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