Dapple Dachshund

I need one in my life.

Punta Part Deux

Escape to Punta

After the monsoons of Buenos Aires wore down every nerve fiber of patience and acceptance of bad weather, we have escaped to Punta del Este for an end of summer getaway to take advantage of current unemployment.

Yes, that is right. I am now jobless and actually quite relieved. Change is never easy for me, and I had many sleepless nights over whether this was the decision I needed to make. However after weighing my options and my hopes for the future, I realized now was the moment! Seize the day! To be honest, I feel great, if not occassionally nervous when I wonder if anyone will ever hire me again.

I am taking advantage of this newfound free time and mental peace to indulge in my newfound (or rediscovered? Wasn't it Socrates, or Aristotle, who said that we're in an eternal process of remembering the things that we have already, and always known?) - passion for design and the process of creating a beautiful home & surrounding myself with beautiful things. When I was young I was always involved in some kind of creative art summer camp or special art classes. I used to batik when I was 9 years old! I used to be cool. I plan to work to re-embrace that creativity and love for all things peaceful, beautiful and pleasing to the eye.

Starting with my mini project of re-doing the downstairs powder room, I hope to discover wonderful trinkets and finds all across Buenos Aires and share them with you.

Now my biggest dilemma is wondering if we'll extend our stay in Punta by a few days since Sunday and Monday were cloudy. Currently I'm looking out over the balcony, pondering the waves and the greenish blue sea, and I'm thinking that perhaps all I need right now.

DNI Destiny

I have finally achieved status as a documented non-Argentine in this country. I will detail the insanely corrupt and hilarious process later, but I just wanted to post photographic proof.

Please note that they hand-write everything inside. And they glued my photo in there with a glue stick.

Out of focus, oh well

I Also Have a Social Life

On the way to a birthday party. Not involving puzzles or talking to plants. Proof that we attended said birthday party.

My Summer - In a Nutshell

Happy Valentine's Day

It's been a very happy and love-y weekend in BA. Yesterday I did a little climbing and unleashed my inner hippie/crazy person (the things you do for love) and actually enjoyed it. Well, I had a mini panic attack the first time I got up on the wall and realized I was about 15 feet above the ground. But the following attempts were quite fun. I stuffed my face full of Indian food and we tried a new Torrontés (Miraflor, not nearly as good as Colomé but I digress), celebrated a friend's birthday and all around had a great time.

Today also got off to a fantastic start, with a couple episodes of House followed by a good run in the Rose Garden up in Palermo. The sun finally came out so I took it as a sign to get my daily Vitamin D intake and basked in the glow of a fine February afternoon surrounded by incredible roses.

We also saw a little frenchie (who looked exactly like Yoda) roaming around and chasing sticks and birds through the park. It made my day.

Until I got home.

To find out that we were suffering from a massive ... ANT INVASION.

I'm not kidding. These things were streaming out of this random thing in the kitchen floor. I lost it. I started spraying Off on them and bitching and swearing off these miniature beasts. It was like I was in one of the Biblical plagues but I wasn't wearing a tunic and José didn't have a massive beard. I was on the war path. Luckily we had bought some ant killer because they come out of the dirt we have in our plants and get in little holes in the bricks outside and watch me brush my teeth in the morning.

I was ready to kill. Some of the poison was already prepared in some old cleaning product bottle and I literally went to town. I sprayed like I had never sprayed before. We opened up the opening in the kitchen floor (it's like a little drain or something, covered with 2 layers of metal tiles) and I was in disbelief at how many ants were just hanging out in there !

So I took it upon myself to ruin their Valentine's Day. And it felt good. I hope they learned their lesson. I guess it's better that they were ants and not rats or cockroaches. But COME ON.

In other news, Happy Chinese New Year. I'm a Tiger. Rowr.

Gwyneth Paltrow Annoys Me

I was just watching the PBS special with Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow on a random channel, and wow, she is such a wet blanket.

Here you are, in the middle of culinary paradise in Spain, with one of the most fabulously gluttonous chefs of all time, and you're wasting valuable airtime whining about how you don't understand people who don't eat lamb?

Don't even get me started on her thoughts on bacon.

I think she should be sent to macrobiotic, GOOP-y, too self-righteous for anyone's own good, time-out.

Floral Weekend

My little forget-me-not friends

My amazing arrangement for this evening.Meet the newest member of my cactus family (on the left).

Un Viejo Almacén

Is my new favorite store. It is my dream store; it's everything from el mercado de pulgas but not covered in dirt and old stuff. El mercado is the greatest but I don't really have the time or the energy to restore my own furniture. So I turned to Un Viejo Almacén to solve all of my antique cravings.

I am absolutely in love with the old pine and oak desks and tables, the old apothecary bottles, ceramic jars, and everything in between. If only I could convince Josey that this is clearly better than man/modern/stark - it's too lonely !! The house needs to be filled with happy objects that have a long history. I feel like there are little old people in the house (wow I sound creepy) telling me stories.

Maybe I should see someone about these visions.

My Sister is Cool, Part Deux

She's in Manchester (In my mind I say it "Manchestah") at some pervy cool wallpaper exhibit. It is cooler than it sounds. Look - LINK

Home Design Project

I will soon be undertaking a lovely little domestic project - re-doing the downstairs powder room. Hooray ! I love being domestic. 'Tis such great fun.

Will need to rip off the existing wallpaper (nausea-inducing paper), and paint. I'm thinking a nice neutral color like a fab beige or, my newest fascination (thanks Frau and Liz) - a nice cool grey. I also want to get an intricately detailed mirror; I won't be getting a new sink/vanity since the current one is fine.

Mirrors that I randomly Google image-searched and like:

the end for now.

Bella, the Snow Poodle

Bad Bloggah

I need to get back on the blogging train.

I promise I will.

I also want a turtle, and I will name him Felipe.
My jasmine plant has now fried in the sun and it won't bloom for another 10 months. Tear.
I am moving on to Forget-Me-Nots, thanks to Deb's semi-illegal importation of the seeds via a friend. I cannot wait to see how they bloom and flourish.

Also, I got this great old Ginger Ale advertisement framed and it looks incredible. The green background goes exactly with the kitchen color. I am ecstatic.

Big changes coming up in the life of Pagina. Those who know, already know. But I am excited.

Also I like Josey.