I'm 24+ hours away from my trip home ... Hooray! There is so much to do, like pack for a month full of festivities and different parties. I also have to pick up some presents and run around town, the usual errands one must run before flying 5,000 miles away (yikes). Just my luck, the Santa Rosa storm reared her ugly head today. Every year around this time (the 30 of August to be exact) the Southern Hemisphere is faced with this huge storm of heavy rains and strong winds due to the meeting of warm and cold fronts as the seasons begin to change. Today is perfectly cozy and wonderful in that sense, but not when I have 10 things to cross off my To Do list. It makes me feel less guilty about taking a taxi home, however, since I make sure to walk as much as possible when the weather is nice.
I cannot wait to be poolside and soak up some sun. This ghostly pale look I am sporting is not ok and I refuse to be photographed in my cousin's wedding with such a pasty face. Although Deb has been saying that there are 3 hurricanes headed for the East coast this weekend? Is that even possible? I hope not ... If anything (or anyone) tries to interfere with my sun routine I will be upset. Even more fun than getting tan - Wedding dress shopping!!!! I am so excited to try on dresses. Kind of nervous (not sure why) but I think it will be so fun to finally start looking for something for the big day. It's been a long time (relatively) since we've been engaged and I am so anxious to get the wheels in motion.
While opening a piece of chocolate I temporarily blinded myself in one eye. Those wrappers are really sharp! I do not recommend opening while walking around the house with a mug of steaming hot tea in the other hand.
I think that's it. Still in need of some nude heels ... gotta start trolling Zappos and other shoe meccas.
31 August 2010
28 August 2010
True Story
There is a huge accident on the 25 de Mayo highway, and on the news they are showing how people are going in reverse on the highway (which isn't shut down) in order to back up to the previous exit to avoid the congestion. Seriously. About 5 cars are doing it as I write this and the commentators are just saying "Oh yeah, we're so impulsive, us Argentines! Har har" - yeah ok.
Where do I live??
Where do I live??
26 August 2010
Preppy Follow-Up
Deb sent me a photo of the puzzle that I had mentioned in a previous post. For those of you that know my mother, you can vouch that Constance Brooke Pellington and Deb could be sisters!
Not sure if the text is legible but I absolutely die over the hilarious descriptions of each infallible wardrobe element.
Dapple or Frenchie?
Decisions, decisions ...
I really hope we get a dog in the near future. As much as I would love to have a giant animal living in Basavilbaso with us, I think a smaller dog is the best place to start. Now I just have to narrow it down ...
25 August 2010
Random Bits
Today at the gym, a girl walked in wearing the same ever-present Nike shorts as I had on. Slight wardrobe variation: she was wearing black tights, the two-toed Nike amphibious-looking Mary Jane sandals, and a t-shirt that looked more Urban Outfitters than Sports Authority. To each her own...
Walking back from the gym (same day), I got several stares and comments from passersby: "Aren't you freezing?" "Crazy girl! It's so cold out! Why is she in shorts?" - It was about 60 degrees. Everyone else was bundled up and I was in my gym clothes, with a little jacket.
I am convinced that the pigeons here are out to get me. They only swoop to attack me, they only completely terrify and paralyze me, and they only seem to bother me. Sigh. The last thing I want is to be the target of an angry, obese army of urban pigeons. The thought makes me shudder.
The other day I made a delicious homemade raita (the yogurt sauce used in Indian cuisine to temper hot dishes). Not that it's super difficult or anything. But I was proud of my mini-effort to chop, dice and blend basic ingredients using one bowl and one spoon. Small victories, folks.
I've been pretty bored without a friend in the house to keep me company/to listen to my ramblings. José is really good about that. It's not as much fun talking to my plants (a former hobby of mine).
Proof that the runner's high exists: After working out, I went to pick up the fabric that was supposedly ready (for recovering the dining room chairs). Bernardo told me that it hadn't arrived and they were hopeful that tomorrow it would be straightened out. I've never been one to yell at salespeople or anything, but I would have maybe copped a little 'tude (unfairly), making some comment about how it's impossible to get anything done on time here. Instead, I just smiled and said (in a very bubbly tone) that it was no problem and that I will be sure to call him tomorrow to make sure everything is OK. The only thing to explain my random outburst of super-joy is that I had just been on a run. Blast.
That's all.
Walking back from the gym (same day), I got several stares and comments from passersby: "Aren't you freezing?" "Crazy girl! It's so cold out! Why is she in shorts?" - It was about 60 degrees. Everyone else was bundled up and I was in my gym clothes, with a little jacket.
I am convinced that the pigeons here are out to get me. They only swoop to attack me, they only completely terrify and paralyze me, and they only seem to bother me. Sigh. The last thing I want is to be the target of an angry, obese army of urban pigeons. The thought makes me shudder.
The other day I made a delicious homemade raita (the yogurt sauce used in Indian cuisine to temper hot dishes). Not that it's super difficult or anything. But I was proud of my mini-effort to chop, dice and blend basic ingredients using one bowl and one spoon. Small victories, folks.
I've been pretty bored without a friend in the house to keep me company/to listen to my ramblings. José is really good about that. It's not as much fun talking to my plants (a former hobby of mine).
Proof that the runner's high exists: After working out, I went to pick up the fabric that was supposedly ready (for recovering the dining room chairs). Bernardo told me that it hadn't arrived and they were hopeful that tomorrow it would be straightened out. I've never been one to yell at salespeople or anything, but I would have maybe copped a little 'tude (unfairly), making some comment about how it's impossible to get anything done on time here. Instead, I just smiled and said (in a very bubbly tone) that it was no problem and that I will be sure to call him tomorrow to make sure everything is OK. The only thing to explain my random outburst of super-joy is that I had just been on a run. Blast.
That's all.
24 August 2010
I Love My Scarf
A dear friend sent me the link to the new Hermés website today - I Love My Scarf - and I thought it was just so perfect. I love browsing the polaroids and ooh-ing / aah-ing over the girls' incredible style and retro charm. Don't you love the leopard print coat featured above? It makes me want to head straight to Av. Alvear to pick up a few scarves of my own! Le sigh ...
Brandon Flowers
I have been a fan of the Killers for a while (when home in DC for Easter, I actually found an old ticket stub from 2004 when I saw them in Boston!), and I am anxious to hear Brandon Flowers' new solo album. How can you not be a fan of his oft-quoted "I don't understand why people don't wear more sequins"? Bored and roaming YouTube, I thought I would check and see if he had released a single/video yet. Lo and behold, I found it! (Granted, this could have premiered 6 months ago and I'd have no idea - I am blissful in my ignorance, thank you very much)
YouTube link to the video for "Crossfire"
A Good Year
I love the movie "A Good Year" and just die for the incredible scenery and beautiful mood that the entire film paints. Who doesn't want to move to France and frolic in the vines? Swoon. Hopefully this will be our life in the near future ... José is currently in Catamarca (Northwest Argentina) looking at vineyards and - fingers crossed - everything works out! Can't really provide too many details because I don't want to jinx it, but I would love to move out to wine country and get a dog, breathe fresh air, and just kind of figure things out in a beautiful setting.
The area is more of a desert landscape but it's still stunning and the mountains are just beyond impressive. I would have liked to have gone with José this trip but I would probably be bored (or drinking tons of wine) while they do business things like due diligence and things with the agronomy guy. Oh well ... next time! I will frolic and play and bask in the sun.
23 August 2010
Ode-a to Yoda
I am semi-bored, drinking a g&t while watching NatGeo and I just feel that the perfection that is Yoda needs to be shared with the world. His mami, Frances Fontaine, is pure victory and I hope you all visit her blog and witness her amazing eye for all that is chic and marvelous. We love her, and we love Yoda.
22 August 2010
Sunday
"Almost Famous" is on tv and I am happily perched on the couch watching and reciting every line after a fun weekend.
Yesterday it was sunny and 78 degrees. Gotta love winter in BA. We went up to Peru Beach and sat in the sun; I had lunch with a friend while José did some climbing. I got tan! Victory. It felt good to soak up some Vitamin D and to breathe in some suburban air. There's nothing more peaceful than sitting with a cold beer, looking out over the river, and just enjoying some peace and quiet.
José and I went to see a new Argentine film called "Igualita a Mi" starring two well-known actors, Adrián Suar and Florencia Bertotti. Basic idea: Suar is a 41 year old bachelor who loves nothing more than going to Tequila every night and enjoying his unrestricted liberty, free of any real responsibilities since he has neither a wife/girlfriend nor kids. One day he meets a 20-something girl who has some rather surprising news: she is his daugther, the product of a one-night stand while he was on a graduation trip down in Bariloche. It's a funny and endearing film and I hope that it comes out in the States so you guys can see it!
Bonus points for the movie theater - at the new mall, called Dot (why, why, why does it have that name? No idea), there are the regular movie theaters and then there are 2 "Premium" theaters that are basically the equivalent to flying First Class or having a VIP table at Crobar. Sure, the tickets are twice the price (we lucked out, if you bought online with a Citi card, you got 50% off!), but the whole concept is cool - there is a little lounge/restaurant area with a full menu where you can order before the movie if you don't have much time. They also bring you anything off the menu to your seat if you would rather eat during the movie (strange, but I guess kind of cool. Unless the guy next to you randomly thinks it's a good idea to order grilled salmon). The seats are giant recliners that are so comfortable I'm surprised I didn't fall asleep. It was great! We called it the oligarchical cinematic experience. 10 points, for sure, and I'm not sure if I will ever go back to normal movie viewing again.
I also made insanely good guacamole last night. I had a hard time finding onions though. Who would have thought? I always figured onions were like the ubiquitous root vegetable that can be found anytime, anywhere. Wrong. Apparently winter isn't onion season (that feels counter-intuitive to me) and since Argentina doesn't have any of their own onions, we usually get them from Brasil. Sadly, Brasil doesn't feel like sending us any more onions so all we have left are the soft and squishy ones that have probably been sitting at the bottom of the onion basket for quite some time. I did get cilantro and avocados though, so we'll consider this a victory.
Other great news. Ayres has finally released their Spring/Summer line and I am (sadly) beyond excited. It's so odd, I feel like 5 years ago I really didn't care much about clothes - I will thank my all-girls Catholic school experience for that, and I don't think that's a bad thing - but since living in BA it's been like "bah control yourself and stop shopping!" I guess that's kind of sad but whatever, it is what it is. I picked up some adorable pieces today before the movie and am sure I'll be stopping by again before I head home to DC! Hooray.
Which reminds me. Desperately need nude pumps. Cannot find them anywhere here yet since the new stuff is sort of trickling into the stores. Zappos scares me (not sure why, but I feel like their website is unnecessarily ugly) but I guess I will have to take the plunge.
Hoping we'll escape off to both Punta in October as well as either Bariloche or somewhere up North. Am dying to get out of the city and enjoy some fresh air.
Tomorrow off to the gym, to the fabric store to buy the materials for the dining room chairs and my little bench, and maybe I'll finaaaaaaally pick back up with The Reader again. Blah.
Yesterday it was sunny and 78 degrees. Gotta love winter in BA. We went up to Peru Beach and sat in the sun; I had lunch with a friend while José did some climbing. I got tan! Victory. It felt good to soak up some Vitamin D and to breathe in some suburban air. There's nothing more peaceful than sitting with a cold beer, looking out over the river, and just enjoying some peace and quiet.
José and I went to see a new Argentine film called "Igualita a Mi" starring two well-known actors, Adrián Suar and Florencia Bertotti. Basic idea: Suar is a 41 year old bachelor who loves nothing more than going to Tequila every night and enjoying his unrestricted liberty, free of any real responsibilities since he has neither a wife/girlfriend nor kids. One day he meets a 20-something girl who has some rather surprising news: she is his daugther, the product of a one-night stand while he was on a graduation trip down in Bariloche. It's a funny and endearing film and I hope that it comes out in the States so you guys can see it!
Bonus points for the movie theater - at the new mall, called Dot (why, why, why does it have that name? No idea), there are the regular movie theaters and then there are 2 "Premium" theaters that are basically the equivalent to flying First Class or having a VIP table at Crobar. Sure, the tickets are twice the price (we lucked out, if you bought online with a Citi card, you got 50% off!), but the whole concept is cool - there is a little lounge/restaurant area with a full menu where you can order before the movie if you don't have much time. They also bring you anything off the menu to your seat if you would rather eat during the movie (strange, but I guess kind of cool. Unless the guy next to you randomly thinks it's a good idea to order grilled salmon). The seats are giant recliners that are so comfortable I'm surprised I didn't fall asleep. It was great! We called it the oligarchical cinematic experience. 10 points, for sure, and I'm not sure if I will ever go back to normal movie viewing again.
I also made insanely good guacamole last night. I had a hard time finding onions though. Who would have thought? I always figured onions were like the ubiquitous root vegetable that can be found anytime, anywhere. Wrong. Apparently winter isn't onion season (that feels counter-intuitive to me) and since Argentina doesn't have any of their own onions, we usually get them from Brasil. Sadly, Brasil doesn't feel like sending us any more onions so all we have left are the soft and squishy ones that have probably been sitting at the bottom of the onion basket for quite some time. I did get cilantro and avocados though, so we'll consider this a victory.
Other great news. Ayres has finally released their Spring/Summer line and I am (sadly) beyond excited. It's so odd, I feel like 5 years ago I really didn't care much about clothes - I will thank my all-girls Catholic school experience for that, and I don't think that's a bad thing - but since living in BA it's been like "bah control yourself and stop shopping!" I guess that's kind of sad but whatever, it is what it is. I picked up some adorable pieces today before the movie and am sure I'll be stopping by again before I head home to DC! Hooray.
Which reminds me. Desperately need nude pumps. Cannot find them anywhere here yet since the new stuff is sort of trickling into the stores. Zappos scares me (not sure why, but I feel like their website is unnecessarily ugly) but I guess I will have to take the plunge.
Hoping we'll escape off to both Punta in October as well as either Bariloche or somewhere up North. Am dying to get out of the city and enjoy some fresh air.
Tomorrow off to the gym, to the fabric store to buy the materials for the dining room chairs and my little bench, and maybe I'll finaaaaaaally pick back up with The Reader again. Blah.
20 August 2010
The Grass is Always Greener
It's funny, because obviously I am more than excited to be in DC for September.
But, I am missing in BA:
-The Banff Film Festival (which was already in DC in February so it's not like I'll see it there)
-Crystal Castles at Crobar
-Diana Krall
Clearly this is not the end of the world, but it's just funny how these things tend to happen. I also wish I could see Jenny and Johnny at the Black Cat but it's already sold out.
'Tis fine. I will have my belly full of Pho and lots of fun wedding decisions made! Hooray!
But, I am missing in BA:
-The Banff Film Festival (which was already in DC in February so it's not like I'll see it there)
-Crystal Castles at Crobar
-Diana Krall
Clearly this is not the end of the world, but it's just funny how these things tend to happen. I also wish I could see Jenny and Johnny at the Black Cat but it's already sold out.
'Tis fine. I will have my belly full of Pho and lots of fun wedding decisions made! Hooray!
18 August 2010
Things That Annoy Me
Today:
1. People at the gym who do not respect the (annoying) 25-minute limit on the treadmills. I know we all want to get a longer workout in, but when there is a line of 5 people waiting to run, it's really annoying when you finish your 25 minutes and then sneakily start back up for 25 more. I am watching you and next time, I will tell.
2. Living in a city that reeks of cigarettes. Seriously, I spent the majority of my afternoon walking around OUTSIDE and I come home with my hair smelling of smoke. How is that possible?
3. Not being able to remember the password to my online banking.
4. Running out of naan at the Indian restaurant and being too cheap to order more (it should be free, thank you.)
5. Going to the grocery store and seeing that it looks like the end is near: barely any produce, greens, cashews, yogurt, skim milk. I know I live in the Third World but come on people let's work on the inventory here.
6. Dumb/Slow walkers who take up the entire sidewalk and wander zig-zagging around.
1. People at the gym who do not respect the (annoying) 25-minute limit on the treadmills. I know we all want to get a longer workout in, but when there is a line of 5 people waiting to run, it's really annoying when you finish your 25 minutes and then sneakily start back up for 25 more. I am watching you and next time, I will tell.
2. Living in a city that reeks of cigarettes. Seriously, I spent the majority of my afternoon walking around OUTSIDE and I come home with my hair smelling of smoke. How is that possible?
3. Not being able to remember the password to my online banking.
4. Running out of naan at the Indian restaurant and being too cheap to order more (it should be free, thank you.)
5. Going to the grocery store and seeing that it looks like the end is near: barely any produce, greens, cashews, yogurt, skim milk. I know I live in the Third World but come on people let's work on the inventory here.
6. Dumb/Slow walkers who take up the entire sidewalk and wander zig-zagging around.
17 August 2010
"I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library." - Jorge Luis Borges
image via Concurring Opinions
image via Concurring Opinions
16 August 2010
Sunday/Monday
Today is a holiday so it's kind of like Sunday. Even though Sunday doesn't mean much since every day is a weekend for me. Yesterday was busy with lots of fun festive gatherings - went out to Valle Claro for an asado which was delicious and meaty. Then after a brief interlude I was cooking up a storm in the kitchen preparing for a night of curry with my Anglo friends (well one true Anglo and another quasi! but equally fabulous) and José. Luckily I've made the dishes so many times that by now it doesn't involve too much catastrophe and it was a really fun evening. Too much wine though, as today was a bit rough and tumble in the AM. I haven't been too productive and I feel bad about that, but only slightly.
Tomorrow I'll be back on the saddle and get back to the gym, call the upholsterer, order fabric, etc. which will keep me busy and out of trouble. How is it already mid-August? What is going on? Don't you remember being young and the days seemed eternal? And bed time was never a welcome event but something you fought against as you blinked the sleep out of your eyes? Now I wish I could sleep 12 hours a night. It would feel so good and be so luxurious!
Our cleaning lady was supposed to come today, but she reminded us that it's a holiday so she wouldn't be stopping by to save me from the kitchen mess that I abandoned last night. Not fun with a hangover. We did it in stages and now it's all nice and clean, smelling of grapefruit & ginger thanks to my fabulous cleaning spray that Deb got me when I first moved into my own apartment. It gets all of the grease off of everything but leaves the house smelling amazing instead of like a janitor's convention. It always feels good to spruce things up a bit.
I think I will try to find the Salvation Army in BA and plan an excursion there - I could use a creative starting point to find new things for the house that aren't guaranteed to cost an arm and a leg. If only I can convince José to join me on such a quest ...
Tomorrow I'll be back on the saddle and get back to the gym, call the upholsterer, order fabric, etc. which will keep me busy and out of trouble. How is it already mid-August? What is going on? Don't you remember being young and the days seemed eternal? And bed time was never a welcome event but something you fought against as you blinked the sleep out of your eyes? Now I wish I could sleep 12 hours a night. It would feel so good and be so luxurious!
Our cleaning lady was supposed to come today, but she reminded us that it's a holiday so she wouldn't be stopping by to save me from the kitchen mess that I abandoned last night. Not fun with a hangover. We did it in stages and now it's all nice and clean, smelling of grapefruit & ginger thanks to my fabulous cleaning spray that Deb got me when I first moved into my own apartment. It gets all of the grease off of everything but leaves the house smelling amazing instead of like a janitor's convention. It always feels good to spruce things up a bit.
I think I will try to find the Salvation Army in BA and plan an excursion there - I could use a creative starting point to find new things for the house that aren't guaranteed to cost an arm and a leg. If only I can convince José to join me on such a quest ...
13 August 2010
Preppy Reboot - Vanity Fair
I remember flipping through my mom's Official Preppy Handbook when I was young and wondering if she had, in fact, been used as a model for the illustrations. I also put together a jigsaw puzzle featuring a "Prepette" that literally is Deb. From the blonde highlights to the pearl earrings and white turtleneck with little gold pin, it's ... my mom! So much so that I glued the puzzle together and it still hangs in our basement on a bulletin board.
Hence my enjoyment after reading this article from Vanity Fair, "The Official Preppy Reboot" celebrating the 30th anniversary of the book's first publication. I love anything with a healthy sense of humor and a good dose irony, and found this to be a fresh and funny piece that is both retrospective and contemporary at the same time. I know it's quite long, but below I am including some of my favorite excerpts:
Fashion Rules
We know that many of you understand the principles of preppy style. But just to be sure, let's review them again.
We wear sportswear. This makes it easier to go from sporting events to social events (not that there is much difference) without changing.
We generally underdress. We prefer it to overdressing.
Your underwear must not show. Wear a nude-colored strapless bra. Pull up your pants. Wear a belt. Do something. Use a tie!
We do not display our wit through T-shirt slogans.
Logology
When Juicy Couture arrived, emblazoning bottoms with the word “juicy” on its pricey sweatpants, we were dismayed when our daughters thought they wanted them. We steered them back to sanity. We believe that the Juicy Couture tracksuit phenomenon signals the end of civilization as we know it. Nothing less.
Travel
In Europe, we learn how to kiss people on both cheeks, how to do math when we convert the dollar into the euro, and how to make ourselves understood in adverse conditions. We get to practice the little bits of foreign languages we've retained from school, and to see that Italian men can carry off the sweater-around-their-shoulders look easily.If you cannot stay at the wonderful hotel with the famous bar, you must at least drink at the famous bar. Lunch is also lovely there. During holiday, we always drink at lunch, and, of course, we “walk it off.” Lunchtime drinking is not an obligation, but, well, yes it is. You're on vacation, the ultimate in prep experiences!
Prep Careers for the New Millennium
Dog-walker entrepreneur. Accommodates Lake Forest, Rollins, and dropouts.
Party planner/publicist. The perfect job for girls who won't be working after they get engaged.
Ne'er-do-well. Uncle Tony.
Caterer. Use Mummy's recipe for chicken potpies as your signature.
Decorator. Who doesn't love chintz?
Residential-real-estate broker. Sell Bradford a lovely house; marry Bradford, and decorate your new house.
Golf pro. Self-evident.
Curator. Requires many trips to Europe.
Au pair. How Princess Diana got her start.
Vineyard owner. Ultimate career move.
Preps Need Not Apply
Doctor. Presumes caring about strangers. Exception: Orthopedic surgeon.
Research doctor. Atrophies your God-given social skills.
Computer scientist. No.
C.P.A. Really no.
Missionary. See “Doctor.”
12 August 2010
Ant Massacre
Life has been interesting lately. I am literally dumbfounded at the ants' capability when it comes to invading my house (the master bath to be exact). Not cool at all. We've had a permanent layer of baby powder on the floor and along the seam between the floor and wall in hopes that they will either all die of suffocation or at least learn their lesson and pass the message on to their ant buddies. I'm glad that no one has to see it except us because it's quite pathetic.
Today on my way home from lunch I stopped off at the hardware store in need of some serious sealing product to plug any and all holes where these jerk ants have been sneaking in. I almost passed out from the fumes but I think I got it all. Then I realized I had glued my fingers together which didn't seem to be a good sign. While trying to un-stick my fingers I spotted rogue ants trying to escape and I smashed them with my baby powder & glue mix and yelled at them in both Spanish and English, just in case any of them are bilingual.
It's funny how once you start looking for things to fix, you find more than you were expecting. I am ready to find out how I can rent a bulldozer and basically just start many things from scratch. I also want to throw away everything ever. I wonder if I could have a bonfire of the ugly cream rug in the dressing room. We also need to paint the bathtub. I hate mold/mildew. I also hate harsh overhead lighting. I found these amazing pillows made of rugs from Turkey but they were too expensive for me to buy all 4 for the couch. Sigh.
What else? Oh, I'd love to know since when Argentina ceded Buenos Aires to Brasil. It was a long and slow siege, but wow, have those Brasilians really taken to swooping in and taking over the city! It's actually insane. Calle Florida, one of the busiest pedestrian streets in BA, is known for its slew of leather stores, tourist traps and the Galerías Pacífico mall, among other things. It's kind of a zoo no matter what time of day you're there. Imagine the most claustrophobia-inducing place, with people trying to sell you tango shows and boat tours in Tigre, a sort of sensory overload due to the horrid advertisements and gigantic signs on each shop. Now, add the most annoying people in the universe there. (Sorry to anyone from Brasil, really. I am generalizing but I think it's fair since everyone hates on Americans.) Gigantic, robust and obnoxious Brasilian tourists who meander aimlessly through the street, without any real direction or purpose, juggling their shopping bags and balancing on their sky-high stilettos. They shout and scream in their strange language, and although I do wish I spoke Portuguese, I can't help but furrow my brow when I try to understand them/take them seriously.
Like I said before, I only feel like I have a license to do this because I get so much heat for being American and therefore associated with the Ugly American stereotype. I think Brasilians take the cake on this one. Since it's winter, they're all kind of dressed in like a faux aprés ski gear, with white puffy jackets and black quilted leather boots. They're actually insane.
After I endured the swarm of Brasilians, I was attacked by pigeons. I have a really intense fear/hatred of them and anytime one comes near I have to remove myself from the area. Not joking. The other day we were eating lunch in Plaza San Martín enjoying the balmy sunshine, and some idiot thought it would be fun to throw some bread crumbs to the evil birds. It didn't take long for them to come waddling over to where I was happily enjoying my sandwich of parma ham and fresh mozzarella. Hmph. My joy went out the door when the pigeons started swarming me! I had to get up and run away. Mind you, everyone and their mother was having lunch in the Plaza so I really looked like the village freak. I'm OK with that. As long as the pigeons don't fly around me, I'm fine with whatever.
To ease my current mental suffering I went to Rapsodia and bought a fabulous leopard print top. It is the cure for what ails me.
Today on my way home from lunch I stopped off at the hardware store in need of some serious sealing product to plug any and all holes where these jerk ants have been sneaking in. I almost passed out from the fumes but I think I got it all. Then I realized I had glued my fingers together which didn't seem to be a good sign. While trying to un-stick my fingers I spotted rogue ants trying to escape and I smashed them with my baby powder & glue mix and yelled at them in both Spanish and English, just in case any of them are bilingual.
It's funny how once you start looking for things to fix, you find more than you were expecting. I am ready to find out how I can rent a bulldozer and basically just start many things from scratch. I also want to throw away everything ever. I wonder if I could have a bonfire of the ugly cream rug in the dressing room. We also need to paint the bathtub. I hate mold/mildew. I also hate harsh overhead lighting. I found these amazing pillows made of rugs from Turkey but they were too expensive for me to buy all 4 for the couch. Sigh.
What else? Oh, I'd love to know since when Argentina ceded Buenos Aires to Brasil. It was a long and slow siege, but wow, have those Brasilians really taken to swooping in and taking over the city! It's actually insane. Calle Florida, one of the busiest pedestrian streets in BA, is known for its slew of leather stores, tourist traps and the Galerías Pacífico mall, among other things. It's kind of a zoo no matter what time of day you're there. Imagine the most claustrophobia-inducing place, with people trying to sell you tango shows and boat tours in Tigre, a sort of sensory overload due to the horrid advertisements and gigantic signs on each shop. Now, add the most annoying people in the universe there. (Sorry to anyone from Brasil, really. I am generalizing but I think it's fair since everyone hates on Americans.) Gigantic, robust and obnoxious Brasilian tourists who meander aimlessly through the street, without any real direction or purpose, juggling their shopping bags and balancing on their sky-high stilettos. They shout and scream in their strange language, and although I do wish I spoke Portuguese, I can't help but furrow my brow when I try to understand them/take them seriously.
Like I said before, I only feel like I have a license to do this because I get so much heat for being American and therefore associated with the Ugly American stereotype. I think Brasilians take the cake on this one. Since it's winter, they're all kind of dressed in like a faux aprés ski gear, with white puffy jackets and black quilted leather boots. They're actually insane.
After I endured the swarm of Brasilians, I was attacked by pigeons. I have a really intense fear/hatred of them and anytime one comes near I have to remove myself from the area. Not joking. The other day we were eating lunch in Plaza San Martín enjoying the balmy sunshine, and some idiot thought it would be fun to throw some bread crumbs to the evil birds. It didn't take long for them to come waddling over to where I was happily enjoying my sandwich of parma ham and fresh mozzarella. Hmph. My joy went out the door when the pigeons started swarming me! I had to get up and run away. Mind you, everyone and their mother was having lunch in the Plaza so I really looked like the village freak. I'm OK with that. As long as the pigeons don't fly around me, I'm fine with whatever.
To ease my current mental suffering I went to Rapsodia and bought a fabulous leopard print top. It is the cure for what ails me.
Hot like Mexico
Let's be honest. Lady Gaga is fierce and so is the video for "Alejandro." I know I am 10 years behind everyone else but I blame my 3rd world residence and sporadic lack of interest. I have probably watched the video on YouTube 10 times in the last two days. It's fine. I love her.
Adventures in Textile
Yesterday I roamed around the neighborhood with my friend from Oxford in search of fabric to recover the dining room chairs and some other things in the house. That probably sounds like punishment to most people, but every time I walk down Arenales, which has a 5 block run that is interior design stores, filled with fabrics and rugs and other fun things, I yearn for textiles. After a nice long coffee we set out on our quest. I managed to get some really good ideas for the chairs and everything else, but I was surprised at how uniform the selection was; after going to two or three places I started to see that their general selection was the same. Annoying.
At one store, we were greeted by a child who was rolling around on the floor among dust bunnies and stray scraps of fabric. Her mother was quite wrapped up in her search so she didn't seem to mind. I am always perplexed by these situations. Does anyone actually enjoy having to put up with or just plain be around children who are clearly ignored by their parents? The little ones always end up doing idiotic things like throw themselves on dirty floors and things of that nature. She kind of looked like a boxcar child or something, her face was all smudged and due to the floor-rolling she had a serious case of static-y hair.
I'm so excited for next week - on Monday we're going to dinner at a friend's who lives in the Kavanagh building. It's right across the plaza from our house so it's also a quick little sojourn. It used to be the tallest building in South America back when it was first built. The woman who lives there has these fantastic stories about Perón and the military dictatorship and all of these other crazy events ... It's so enthralling to listen to her talk about them, especially over a nice bottle of grappa.
So now I am watching Seinfeld and browsing Net-a-Porter. I am particularly intrigued by the Michael Kors cashmere body suit.
At one store, we were greeted by a child who was rolling around on the floor among dust bunnies and stray scraps of fabric. Her mother was quite wrapped up in her search so she didn't seem to mind. I am always perplexed by these situations. Does anyone actually enjoy having to put up with or just plain be around children who are clearly ignored by their parents? The little ones always end up doing idiotic things like throw themselves on dirty floors and things of that nature. She kind of looked like a boxcar child or something, her face was all smudged and due to the floor-rolling she had a serious case of static-y hair.
I'm so excited for next week - on Monday we're going to dinner at a friend's who lives in the Kavanagh building. It's right across the plaza from our house so it's also a quick little sojourn. It used to be the tallest building in South America back when it was first built. The woman who lives there has these fantastic stories about Perón and the military dictatorship and all of these other crazy events ... It's so enthralling to listen to her talk about them, especially over a nice bottle of grappa.
So now I am watching Seinfeld and browsing Net-a-Porter. I am particularly intrigued by the Michael Kors cashmere body suit.
11 August 2010
10 August 2010
09 August 2010
I snagged that puppy off of Once Wed (another fab wedding blog that features amazingly creative and unique weddings) and am waiting for an invitation to a similar party ... Starting, now. Any takers?I hurt my knee again after that stupid sub-zero race last week and after a long run yesterday it's acting up again. The tv room couch has a permanent butt imprint of mine since I spend a lot of time here now with frozen veg on my leg. It is kind of nice, I guess. I'll do anything to avoid the words "Necessary cortisone injection" being spoken in my presence.
Also we had a nice dinner at the house on Saturday night. The power went out right after everything was done, so we all sat around eating in the dark with just a few candles and it was really nice! I also got out of having to wash the dishes since the water pump doesn't work when the power is out. It takes a lot to get that water flowing up to the 13th/14th floors! It wasn't all great though because I had to throw away some stuff that I didn't think would keep in the fridge (we had no idea how long we'd be without power), so my guac (of all things, I threw away guacamole. I should have just eaten it with a spoon before bed) had to get thrown out. Then, thanks to my Diet Coke tweak session I was up reading the new ELLE in bed with a headlamp - Thank God Josey is a nature man ! He always has handy tools around the house.
Redmere is home in DC for a slew of friends' weddings and I wish I were there. They even got to scout out bridesmaids and wedding dresses today!! I was envious because I am so excited to start doing that - since getting engaged in April I haven't had the luxury of doing any fun dress shopping since I didn't really think it would be "worth it" here in BA. Dumb. I should have done it anyway, but then Deb made me feel bad since I don't want to "try on my first wedding dress without Mother of the Bride!" - well spoken words from a Madre who knows how to make her kids feel guilty (in the good way. Love you Deb.)
So much has happened since I was last in DC - Doug is on track with Rosetta Stone (holler back, cannot wait to have parents who really speak Spanish!) and even got a laptop (this is a big step for someone who has never once used the family computer since I can remember) to help make his Spanish lessons easier. He even has a gmail account! Hello 2010. Faboosh. These are big technological developments in the famiglia. Now Deb wants a laptop even though she can barely handle the iMac in the kitchen! I kid. We love her, even though copy/paste can still be a challenge. Apparently all of us are now Mac peeps which makes me happy because I imagine us with our titanium little machines humming away as we do things simultaneously when I am next home!
I'm watching a show on Nazis on the Discovery channel and I always forget how many of them came to Argentina to escape. Perón charged them a pretty penny for asylum - we all win! The Nazi soldiers enjoy relative privacy and anonymity, and Perón quietly amasses a large fortune based on the post-war spoils of racist hush money! Cheers. (Edit: I realized that this might not have the degree of sarcasm that was intended when I wrote this post. Clearly I'm not a fan of the Nazis who ran away to South America after WWII!)
I think that's all for now - Off to look for frozen green beans and hope José can come up with something for dinner tonight.
08 August 2010
Napoleon + Diet Coke High
I slept maybe 3 hours last night. We didn't have any water at home (the tap water is technically potable but tastes like chlorine) and the friends who came for dinner only brought Diet Coke (surprise. Welcome to Argentina). I was dying of thirst and wine wasn't doing it for me - we had spent a long afternoon with Lele & Raquel in Belgrano and drank at bottle of grappa and 3 or 4 bottles of wine, mid-day hangover in full force. So around 1 AM I drank like 4 glasses of Diet Coke. HELLO. I drink coffee (sometimes) and tea in the mornings, but I never drink soda let alone Diet Coke which to me is on a whole other level of crackdom. I was wired and wide awake until maybe 6 AM when I finally passed out after staring at the ceiling while José slept like a rock.
On the way home from breakfast I got to play with a Boston terrier named Napoleón who seemed to really like me. He scratched up my legs with his happy jumps but I was thisclose to asking the owner if I could take him with me for the day. Maybe next time ...
After a week of laziness (well, we did run a big race last week that led to semi-injury and inability to go to the gym) and complete gluttony I'll probably head out for a run to get my body moving and hopefully presentable for my trip to DC. If I'm going to be pale pale pale as a ghost I might as well have a body that doesn't closely resemble gelatin.
Things that make me wonder: Why do they sell jalapeños in gigantic packs of like 15-25 when you really only need 5 max? Especially in a land where no one is brave enough even to put black pepper on their dishes? It's strange. Then I feel bad when they get all wrinkly and I can't find enough uses for my spicy friends. I wonder if I chop and freeze them they'd retain their flavor. Any ideas?
I went to the little local framer to get some stuff done for the apartment (thinking that new furniture and all that would be too much fuss and too expensive) and was not happy when I realized how much he wanted to charge. For four photos (varying sizes, nothing too elaborate either) he gave me a bill for $300 !!! Maybe I am on crack/in denial that things like this actually cost more than I think they should but I couldn't believe it. I kind of felt like an idiot because I said OK chauchau and left his little workshop, thinking I had to accept the reality that I would spend a nice chunk of change on a stupid piece of wood. José gave me a pep talk and I went back and I worked it out with the guy and I'm going to save the piece that was going to cost a pretty penny for later. I wish I had had some hard facts about how much this stuff would cost in DC because it either would have made me feel better (if they cost around the same) or justified in being temporarily but insanely ticked off (if in the US it's much more affordable).
I realized I am using a lot of parentheses lately. Kind of annoying but I can't really help it.
Oh I should put up some photos of La Rural with all of the bunnies and cows that we saw. I think maybe one day I should have a farm - I love animals!
Happy Sunday
On the way home from breakfast I got to play with a Boston terrier named Napoleón who seemed to really like me. He scratched up my legs with his happy jumps but I was thisclose to asking the owner if I could take him with me for the day. Maybe next time ...
After a week of laziness (well, we did run a big race last week that led to semi-injury and inability to go to the gym) and complete gluttony I'll probably head out for a run to get my body moving and hopefully presentable for my trip to DC. If I'm going to be pale pale pale as a ghost I might as well have a body that doesn't closely resemble gelatin.
Things that make me wonder: Why do they sell jalapeños in gigantic packs of like 15-25 when you really only need 5 max? Especially in a land where no one is brave enough even to put black pepper on their dishes? It's strange. Then I feel bad when they get all wrinkly and I can't find enough uses for my spicy friends. I wonder if I chop and freeze them they'd retain their flavor. Any ideas?
I went to the little local framer to get some stuff done for the apartment (thinking that new furniture and all that would be too much fuss and too expensive) and was not happy when I realized how much he wanted to charge. For four photos (varying sizes, nothing too elaborate either) he gave me a bill for $300 !!! Maybe I am on crack/in denial that things like this actually cost more than I think they should but I couldn't believe it. I kind of felt like an idiot because I said OK chauchau and left his little workshop, thinking I had to accept the reality that I would spend a nice chunk of change on a stupid piece of wood. José gave me a pep talk and I went back and I worked it out with the guy and I'm going to save the piece that was going to cost a pretty penny for later. I wish I had had some hard facts about how much this stuff would cost in DC because it either would have made me feel better (if they cost around the same) or justified in being temporarily but insanely ticked off (if in the US it's much more affordable).
I realized I am using a lot of parentheses lately. Kind of annoying but I can't really help it.
Oh I should put up some photos of La Rural with all of the bunnies and cows that we saw. I think maybe one day I should have a farm - I love animals!
Happy Sunday
07 August 2010
Sunshine & Saturday
On Thursday we went to see the Argentine version of Neil Simon's "Sunshine Boys" (here called "Los Reyes de la Risa") and I really liked it! It was fun to see the irony of these two old, famous comedians whose lives have both turned so sour and left them bitter and rather humorless. A few years back, I saw another Neil Simon show here - "Sweet Charity." Neil's pretty popular here in BA.
So it's Saturday and I guess that doesn't make much of a difference to me now, only that it means I am closer to being home in DC! Hooray! I already have a list of wedding dresses that I want to try on once I'm back (sad but true) and am so excited to eat Indian (obviously), play with Bella (duh), watch classic Bravo programming and just cherish being home to plan the wedding! José is coming a bit later which will also be fun, and I cannot wait for my cousin Brooke's nuptials either - ahh so fun and so exciting. I do need to get my hands on a pair of gold heels, however ... I have a pair that I wore a couple of years ago but they're not the world's most comfortable. Ideas? Help?
What else? We slept in super late today which felt really good. It's funny how 10:15 is late to me - Sometimes I can't comprehend how people can sleep until 1 or 2 in the afternoon (unless you're bedridden and ill). I always feel dirty when I wake up that late, like I wasted the whole day or something.
I found this fun Etsy shop that I think some of you will like - Tipple and Snack must be after my own heart. A longtime collector and prop producer, the shop owner has the most insane variety of fabulous trinkets and objects for the home. Perhaps I can register at Tipple & Snack for the wedding? Hmm.... that and for a nice shiny pair of Louboutins. Thank you very much.
Living on the 13th floor of an apartment is annoying when you want to buy new furniture, because it involves dangling things by a rope out the window and down the length of the building - too much bother for me. Therefore I think I will just play with fabric and see what I can't recover. I am annoyed that the dining room chairs and the living room chairs are done in the same fabric. ANNOYED. This was not my doing and I would like to make that clear. Hmph.
Ok that's all for now.
So it's Saturday and I guess that doesn't make much of a difference to me now, only that it means I am closer to being home in DC! Hooray! I already have a list of wedding dresses that I want to try on once I'm back (sad but true) and am so excited to eat Indian (obviously), play with Bella (duh), watch classic Bravo programming and just cherish being home to plan the wedding! José is coming a bit later which will also be fun, and I cannot wait for my cousin Brooke's nuptials either - ahh so fun and so exciting. I do need to get my hands on a pair of gold heels, however ... I have a pair that I wore a couple of years ago but they're not the world's most comfortable. Ideas? Help?
What else? We slept in super late today which felt really good. It's funny how 10:15 is late to me - Sometimes I can't comprehend how people can sleep until 1 or 2 in the afternoon (unless you're bedridden and ill). I always feel dirty when I wake up that late, like I wasted the whole day or something.
I found this fun Etsy shop that I think some of you will like - Tipple and Snack must be after my own heart. A longtime collector and prop producer, the shop owner has the most insane variety of fabulous trinkets and objects for the home. Perhaps I can register at Tipple & Snack for the wedding? Hmm.... that and for a nice shiny pair of Louboutins. Thank you very much.
Living on the 13th floor of an apartment is annoying when you want to buy new furniture, because it involves dangling things by a rope out the window and down the length of the building - too much bother for me. Therefore I think I will just play with fabric and see what I can't recover. I am annoyed that the dining room chairs and the living room chairs are done in the same fabric. ANNOYED. This was not my doing and I would like to make that clear. Hmph.
Ok that's all for now.
06 August 2010
Two Amazing Websites
I found these links from the Snippet & Ink website - one of my favorite blogs because not only does it have beautiful wedding inspiration, but also the weekend links are always a fun variety of internet randomness.
This blog, My Parents Were Awesome, is one of the most hilarious and genius ideas I have seen in a while! So simple but so fun, allowing us to realize that our parents were probably pretty cool people before they settled down and had ... us.
Another little bit of amazingness that I adore is a unique family tradition (submitted by an Argentine, no less!) - every year on the same date, starting with newlyweds (and future parents) Diego & Susy, they would take a moment and photograph themselves to document the passing of time. It's so neat to see how their family grows and changes over the years, with each new addition and the effects that the passing of time has on each of their faces. Pretty cool.
03 August 2010
When all else fails ...
Watching old episodes of Beverly Hills 90210 always pulls through on a cold winter afternoon.
02 August 2010
Sub-Zero 10k
Yesterday José and I were up with the sun to run the Reebok 10k. We did the same last year, with the same moaning and groaning, asking each other the night before "Are you suuuuure you want to do this?" secretly hoping that the other will say "Nah, let's just stay in bed tomorrow" so you'll be off the hook. In 2009 there was a ton of fog that morning, but it wasn't that cold. Unfortunately, the "cold wave" came back just for Sunday morning (after a torrential downpour on Friday, another less than ideal kink in the climate), and it was just above freezing when we left the house at 8 AM.
I have never been so cold in my life. Ok, I definitely have, back in the days of Boston when my ears would freeze while walking between classes, but everyone knows that the cold there is inhuman and completely insane. Buenos Aires has palm trees - winter shouldn't have anything to do with temperatures that hover above the freezing mark. Anyway ... We didn't even run to the start of the race (what we usually do to warm up -literally - especially since it's not too far from the house), driving halfway and walking the rest. Stupidly, we didn't have gloves, so I will accept any and all comments that have anything to do with "You are a complete and utter fool. BUY SOME GLOVES." When the race started, I have never felt such numbness in my hands and arms. I couldn't feel them for the remainder of the race, something that I think affected my time. I felt like I was moving in slow motion and that my body couldn't accelerate - a really weird feeling when you know for a fact that you're going about 12.5 km/hour (not an incredibly slow pace for a long-ish race).
All in all, we did great. We finished in 55:05, not bad for 10k - it's like a 9 minute mile. I am convinced that with NORMAL temperature conditions, I would have finished in 53 minutes, but I will use my disappointment to train harder for the next race that will come with the onset of Springtime. Unfortunately, I am so, so sore today that walking is a chore and I am currently sitting with bags of frozen peas and green beans on both of my knees! If only someone could bring me a big glass of Malbec ...
I have never been so cold in my life. Ok, I definitely have, back in the days of Boston when my ears would freeze while walking between classes, but everyone knows that the cold there is inhuman and completely insane. Buenos Aires has palm trees - winter shouldn't have anything to do with temperatures that hover above the freezing mark. Anyway ... We didn't even run to the start of the race (what we usually do to warm up -literally - especially since it's not too far from the house), driving halfway and walking the rest. Stupidly, we didn't have gloves, so I will accept any and all comments that have anything to do with "You are a complete and utter fool. BUY SOME GLOVES." When the race started, I have never felt such numbness in my hands and arms. I couldn't feel them for the remainder of the race, something that I think affected my time. I felt like I was moving in slow motion and that my body couldn't accelerate - a really weird feeling when you know for a fact that you're going about 12.5 km/hour (not an incredibly slow pace for a long-ish race).
All in all, we did great. We finished in 55:05, not bad for 10k - it's like a 9 minute mile. I am convinced that with NORMAL temperature conditions, I would have finished in 53 minutes, but I will use my disappointment to train harder for the next race that will come with the onset of Springtime. Unfortunately, I am so, so sore today that walking is a chore and I am currently sitting with bags of frozen peas and green beans on both of my knees! If only someone could bring me a big glass of Malbec ...
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