-I love sunny winter days, but change my mind once I remember that clear blue skies in winter means FREEZING cold temperatures.
-Yesterday was incredibly productive, as I ninja-kicked lots of little to-do's for my visa. Schlepping all over town on public transit (especially in BA which is 2x the size of Manhattan) is an exhaustive task.
-I start my new job on Monday! It's like those night before the 1st day of school nerves ... Will they like me? But most important: Will I be able to spend my mornings reading Gawker, the New York Times, and other essential online publications without reproach? Sigh ...
-Lately I've been in a big running funk. Since last August I've had this weird mental block since I hurt my knee and was out of commission for 4 months. Now that it's been nearly a year (whoa) and the same race where I hurt myself (the Reebok 10k) is upon us, I'm freaking out. However I'm trying to get back on the horse and have been running a couple of times a week. Need to find a new routine...
-Online shopping is torture to me. No one ships to Argentina (and if they did, it would be mega expensive and/or never arrive) so I spare myself the suffering and enjoy my blissful ignorance. I think it's because of this that I have to contain my nausea when I look at blogs written by people who act / live as if money were no object and just go on, and on .. AND ON about THINGS, material things, and how much they cost, and .... Ugh I can't even continue this sentence. I love nice "things" as much as the next person but to put so much value and importance into a pair of flipppin' shoes that cost more than I make in a month is just INSANE. GET OVER YOURSELVES people!!!!!!! Ok I really need to stop because my forehead vein is starting to pop.
-I make a delicious amatriciana sauce. Today will be making fresh pea soup with panceta. Weee!
30 July 2011
29 July 2011
Beep, Beep
I'm going to toot my horn right now because I feel like a quasi celeb! I was thrilled that Katie from Matchbook Magazine (also of Neo-Trad fame) emailed me requesting a photo from our wedding along with some info for Matchbook's "Just Married" section. Luckily we had just gotten the images from Leo so I was able to send along a little something. A couple of days later the issue went live and there we are! Kind of weird (in a good way), but totally fun. Matchbook has really evolved in the 6+ months that it's been around and it makes me happy to see them doing well - a strong fan base, incredible branding and fun content. Here's a screen shot of the newlyweds... (Click to enlarge, obvi) Be sure to check out the whole issue!
28 July 2011
Hamptons Fabulosity
I'm bored this morning and looking at Vogue's online slideshows of people being cooler than I am. Looking through the ACRIA Cocktails at Sunset I saw a few things that caught my eye: I love what this girl is wearing (If only I had long skinny legs! Blast.) AND I love/not really that Delfina Blaquier and her husband (mediocre polo "star" but obvi incredibly handsome) Nacho Figueras are like traipsing through the Hamptons summer. Makes sense, and when it all boils down I wish I could have been there (Winter is wearing on me, and it doesn't even snow here). I'm assuming they left their 4 kids with their nanny/maid who makes about US$4-5 an hour. (That's how much they get paid here in Argentina)
27 July 2011
Goings nuts with in "Trámite-landia"
Argentina is a country best known for red-tape and bureaucratic loopholes/roadblocks. Many paperwork-related issues can be resolved by a little bribe here or a friends in high places ... But you're still stuck with the circus that is the world of "trámites."
In order for me to be fully installed here as "legal" (again... since I've been through this before. Two years ago, for a work visa. Sadly those papers have expired since I'm no longer working legally) I need to apply for permanent residency under the umbrella of "married to Argentine citizen." Luckily when I was home before the wedding Deb and I got tons of paperwork together (she pretty much should be an immigration lawyer) that I'd need for the near future. Perhaps the most frustrating is the FBI report. If you've lived in the US in the past 3 years, you're required to have a crime report issued, which is done via the FBI. You've got to get your fingerprints done at the local police station and send them off to West Virginia. Sometimes the turnaround time is rather quick; others it takes weeks for them to return the information to you. The kicker is that the report is only valid for 3 months ! So once you get it back, it's tick-tock, tick-tock or you're SOL.
We were waiting ages for the papers to arrive ... I think it was almost 2 months. Now they are en route to Argentina and should be arriving any day now ... The documentation must be translated here, and once that's done I will be able to present it at Immigrations. However I also need some local trámites done! An Argentine crime report and a little flimsy piece of paper from the local police station that verifies my address as correct.
It doesn't really sound that complicated, and to be honest, at the end of the day, it isn't. But so many little details are arbitrary (like the time period that these documents are valid. Some are only valid for 30 days, others 3 months ...) that the timing really becomes key here. To make things worse (or better, depending on how you look at it), the availability of appointments at Immigrations varies. Thankfully you can now book a space online, saving yourself the time and stress of throwing yourself into a pack of Peruvian and Bolivian immigrants who camped outside all night to get in (Not a joke), but depending on a bunch of random factors that no one tells you, sometimes you can get in the next day, other times several weeks down the road. There's not much you can do about that, either.
Speaking to different "outlets" doesn't always clarify things. One person at one office will tell you one thing... Another day you'll get another answer. The website might be out of date, or the phone recording not clear. It's enough to make anyone mad ... Or at the very least, incredibly bitter.
I've been trying to get my ducks in a row before I start work on Monday (!!) and go from having all day to get things done to having a very small window of time. So off I go ....
Tomorrow:
-Pre-Work Medical Exam. Yep, in Argentina before you can legally work somewhere, they make you get a blood and urine test, an electrocardiogram, and a chest x-ray (damned TB!). For some reason your boss knowing if you have any type of disease is important to the work that you'll be doing. I think it's ridiculous. It's so funny how different things are here... You have to put your nationality, age, gender, marital status and photo on your resume. I never have because it's outrageous. However, this time .. Just gotta say "When in Rome ..." (Thanks Ron Burgundy. That was you, right?)
In order for me to be fully installed here as "legal" (again... since I've been through this before. Two years ago, for a work visa. Sadly those papers have expired since I'm no longer working legally) I need to apply for permanent residency under the umbrella of "married to Argentine citizen." Luckily when I was home before the wedding Deb and I got tons of paperwork together (she pretty much should be an immigration lawyer) that I'd need for the near future. Perhaps the most frustrating is the FBI report. If you've lived in the US in the past 3 years, you're required to have a crime report issued, which is done via the FBI. You've got to get your fingerprints done at the local police station and send them off to West Virginia. Sometimes the turnaround time is rather quick; others it takes weeks for them to return the information to you. The kicker is that the report is only valid for 3 months ! So once you get it back, it's tick-tock, tick-tock or you're SOL.
We were waiting ages for the papers to arrive ... I think it was almost 2 months. Now they are en route to Argentina and should be arriving any day now ... The documentation must be translated here, and once that's done I will be able to present it at Immigrations. However I also need some local trámites done! An Argentine crime report and a little flimsy piece of paper from the local police station that verifies my address as correct.
It doesn't really sound that complicated, and to be honest, at the end of the day, it isn't. But so many little details are arbitrary (like the time period that these documents are valid. Some are only valid for 30 days, others 3 months ...) that the timing really becomes key here. To make things worse (or better, depending on how you look at it), the availability of appointments at Immigrations varies. Thankfully you can now book a space online, saving yourself the time and stress of throwing yourself into a pack of Peruvian and Bolivian immigrants who camped outside all night to get in (Not a joke), but depending on a bunch of random factors that no one tells you, sometimes you can get in the next day, other times several weeks down the road. There's not much you can do about that, either.
Speaking to different "outlets" doesn't always clarify things. One person at one office will tell you one thing... Another day you'll get another answer. The website might be out of date, or the phone recording not clear. It's enough to make anyone mad ... Or at the very least, incredibly bitter.
I've been trying to get my ducks in a row before I start work on Monday (!!) and go from having all day to get things done to having a very small window of time. So off I go ....
Tomorrow:
-Pre-Work Medical Exam. Yep, in Argentina before you can legally work somewhere, they make you get a blood and urine test, an electrocardiogram, and a chest x-ray (damned TB!). For some reason your boss knowing if you have any type of disease is important to the work that you'll be doing. I think it's ridiculous. It's so funny how different things are here... You have to put your nationality, age, gender, marital status and photo on your resume. I never have because it's outrageous. However, this time .. Just gotta say "When in Rome ..." (Thanks Ron Burgundy. That was you, right?)
Biggest Dog in the World (obviously)
Thanks to Will for sending this article from the Daily Mail along to me yesterday ...
Meet George! The ENORMOUS Great Dane who is 7ft long & therefore the largest/tallest/most gargantuan dog in the world! Wooo! I mean, despite the fact that he has to sleep in his own queen-size mattress, I'm pretty sure I would love to have him in my house. He looks like a giant horse with kind little eyes. He weighs 18 stone (I have no idea what that means. Crazy UK measurements) ... How do you even fit him anywhere? He most certainly wouldn't fit in our elevator in our apartment building. I love Danes ... They're such incredible dogs. Makes me sad though, that they don't usually live very long due to their size.
26 July 2011
Squealing with Delight
Our photos from the wedding by the amazingly talented Leo Patrone are here!!! It took a little longer than I thought (he shoots exclusively with film, and develops all of the images himself) but it was totally worth the wait. It's funny - I really don't like posing for pictures (or being "serious" because I don't think I'm much of a serious person), but somehow he made me look quite good that day! So cheers to Leo Patrone - Here is just a smidge of some of the incredible shots from the day.
25 July 2011
You're in Argentina when ...
-Tiny cereal boxes that only have enough for 3 bowls is "normal"
-Your milk comes in a cardboard box and you have to cut off the corner to open it
-You don't recycle because the cartoneros (trash-pickers) do that for everyone anyway
-Women still highlight their hair using those old-school caps
-On rainy days you expect to step on the loose sidewalk tiles that splash you with dirty mud/rain
-Your milk comes in a cardboard box and you have to cut off the corner to open it
-You don't recycle because the cartoneros (trash-pickers) do that for everyone anyway
-Women still highlight their hair using those old-school caps
-On rainy days you expect to step on the loose sidewalk tiles that splash you with dirty mud/rain
22 July 2011
What Food Really Looks Like
Fortune cookie
Table salt
A shrimp's tail
I saw her work linked on Gawker but her entire website is just incredible. I want a huge print of the brussels sprout (my current culinary addiction, I love that they're in season!) in our kitchen.
21 July 2011
Summer Photos
I love The Atlantic. I'm loving these snapshots of summer from all over the world. Currently we are struggling to keep above freezing in Buenos Aires, so it's nice to imagine that sweltering heat.
Definitely head over to the link to see all of the images (they're incredible) but I posted here one of my favorites: a boy jumping into the river to cool off in Romania. His flotation device is at once ridiculous and ingenious.
19 July 2011
Cookbooks I love
We just received a shipment of some of the gifts we got at the wedding... It's like Christmas! So much fun to open up a small number of truly thoughtful things from the people we love. Some of my favorites:
-The New Brooklyn Cookbook - I will always think of my best friend Henry when I'm in the kitchen. Some of the dishes are more complicated (as in, I can't get a lot of these ingredients here in BA), but the photos, stories and details are so entertaining to read.
-How to Cook Everything (10th Anniversary Edition) - Extremely useful, amazing, all-encompassing. I worship Mark Bittman. The end.
-
-The New Brooklyn Cookbook - I will always think of my best friend Henry when I'm in the kitchen. Some of the dishes are more complicated (as in, I can't get a lot of these ingredients here in BA), but the photos, stories and details are so entertaining to read.
-How to Cook Everything (10th Anniversary Edition) - Extremely useful, amazing, all-encompassing. I worship Mark Bittman. The end.
-
Lovely Paper
Just saw this from Design*Sponge ... I adore this little notecard! I've always wanted to have butterflies on my walls (I will blame by obsession with noted author and lepidopterist V. Nabokov for that), and this card belongs in my life! Perfection.
Something I don't Recommend
Watching scary movies (like the one about girls going missing in Juárez, Mexico - starring the divatastic J.Lo ... OR "Changeling" with Angelina Jolie, basically about child murder) while your roommate/boyfriend/husband/whomever is out of town. Especially if it's pouring rain and windy as all get-out. I always do that! José goes out of town for work, and I stay up late watching intense dramas with violent storylines. Le sigh.
I also don't recommend leaving the house when it's rainy & windy (see above) without a proper umbrella. The crappy one you're going to buy outside the train station is going to last mere minutes (but you already knew that) and won't help your cool quotient either, as you struggle to keep it from turning inside out. Inevitably a bus will always pass by you on the sidewalk at full speed, showering you with a wall of disgusting rain/street water that is definitely teeming with disease. To make matters worse, you know how bad your hair looks when it rains. Those little wing-y wispies that stick out from behind your temples don't do much for you.
I also don't recommend leaving the house when it's rainy & windy (see above) without a proper umbrella. The crappy one you're going to buy outside the train station is going to last mere minutes (but you already knew that) and won't help your cool quotient either, as you struggle to keep it from turning inside out. Inevitably a bus will always pass by you on the sidewalk at full speed, showering you with a wall of disgusting rain/street water that is definitely teeming with disease. To make matters worse, you know how bad your hair looks when it rains. Those little wing-y wispies that stick out from behind your temples don't do much for you.
18 July 2011
4th of July snapshot
whisked off of Facebook. Some hot ladies showing their love for their country by wearing red, white & blue. hooray!
This Weekend ...
I enjoyed a cozy Friday night staying warm and watching movies with Josey.
The grilled salmon at Miranda sent me into a delicious food coma.
A quickfire trip to San Telmo ended in my befriending an awesome old man named Luis, who happens to sell some of the most beautiful antique crystal I've seen in BA.
I cheered for Uruguay to win in the Copa America game vs. Argentina. Don't judge. But I did. And I was glad Uruguay won.
I couldn't watch the final of the Women's World Cup game because ... IT WASN'T ON TV ANYWHERE. Not even on some obscure ESPN43+ or whatever. How come in a region where the obsession with soccer is so strong they can't acknowledge that women play as well?
The huevos rancheros at Home Hotel's brunch changed my life. Homemade tortillas, sí por favor.
The new Mercado de Pulgas wasn't as exciting as I'd hoped ... I miss the grungy old galpón and the old men playing chess out back. But it's still a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
I braised some brussels sprouts for the bazillionnth time ... and loved every crispy brown bite.
The grilled salmon at Miranda sent me into a delicious food coma.
A quickfire trip to San Telmo ended in my befriending an awesome old man named Luis, who happens to sell some of the most beautiful antique crystal I've seen in BA.
I cheered for Uruguay to win in the Copa America game vs. Argentina. Don't judge. But I did. And I was glad Uruguay won.
I couldn't watch the final of the Women's World Cup game because ... IT WASN'T ON TV ANYWHERE. Not even on some obscure ESPN43+ or whatever. How come in a region where the obsession with soccer is so strong they can't acknowledge that women play as well?
The huevos rancheros at Home Hotel's brunch changed my life. Homemade tortillas, sí por favor.
The new Mercado de Pulgas wasn't as exciting as I'd hoped ... I miss the grungy old galpón and the old men playing chess out back. But it's still a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
I braised some brussels sprouts for the bazillionnth time ... and loved every crispy brown bite.
13 July 2011
Incredible Quills
Thanks to Frances for keeping me on point with the summer trends big in the northern hemisphere. I want every item on this list - jewelry made with porcupine quills - but in particular I would love to have this amazing bracelet dangling off of my wrist right now !!!
11 July 2011
Weekend/Life Wrap-Up
It's a mild Monday here in Buenos Aires, and while the cold snap that had me shaking in my boots (and wool coat, and blanket-poncho) has passed us by, I still can't believe we're already halfway to Christmas! I'm wondering if it will snow here in BA like it did in 2007 ... I can't believe that was four years ago! Wowzers. Kinda cool though, I guess.
La dee da. Been working hard on a job search, although the more serious I get about it, the more I start to realize how much I love working on my own (own hours/from home/in charge of what I do). It would be ideal if I had my little dachshund puppy to keep me company and we could spend the day being productive + taking strolls through Plaza San Martín when we need to clear our heads. Sometimes I wonder if I'm in this position because I feel that I should have studied a more "vocational" major in college, or if this is who I am and what I was meant to want to do all along. Does that make sense? I think I took a less traditional (but by no means something that had never been done before) academic path because that's the kind of person I am. Maybe I'd be great at a serious, 9-5 kind of job ... but it doesn't really jive with what feels right to me. I've been spoiled by my work experience in Argentina - start-ups run by young people, more laid-back but with a definite strong work ethic. I'm pretty sure the ship has sailed on black suits and pantyhose in an office with unattractive fluorescent lighting.
Anyway. We received Mark Bittman's (aka God of all things Culinary) "How to Cook Everything" as a wedding gift and it's been one of my favorite things so far! It's an epic tome, with the most basic recipes to more complex and involved dishes. I love that he offers millions of variations, add-ons, substitutes and the like to several of the recipes; it feels that much more accessible, especially since I live in a land where I can't always get these ingredients that seem so "easy to find" in places like New York or Washington. I plan to really put the kitchen to use this year, if only I could overcome my fear of my oven/death trap ... (Seriously, you need to stick the entire upper half of your body in it to light it. It doesn't light on its own. TIA - This is Argentina)
So that's been my life lately - José's been traveling a ton for work, and I spend my lonely (but happy) little days making up lentil and butternut squash soups, homemade veg stock and other little tidbits. Nothing gourmet, nothing out of the ordinary, but it feels good after a reliance on delivery that can't be explained. We have two markets nearby - one is a small, local place and the other is a bigger chain that is all over the city. The smaller market doesn't always have the variety in pre-packaged goods but their fruit/veg is always well-stocked and I never have to wait more than 10 minutes in line. At the other grocery store, however, I go with high hopes that I'll be able to stock up on "hard to find" or "unique" items (aka, tortilla chips and avocados. I am not kidding) but end up empty handed and bitter because the line couldn't move any slower. Several times I have walked by the Disco and kept going because the lines were all backed up into the aisles. It's ridiculous. Hence why I'm so happy going to my other little market, where the veg man fills my cart with squash and sprouts, and they always have cilantro.
I am 99.5% done with our wedding thank-you notes. Since we had to wait for our stationery to be mailed to Argentina I couldn't really get a head-start on them, but it's been fun to get them done and ready to be mailed.
Yikes - Haven't even gotten to this past weekend, which was unreal in terms of fun. Luckily we are blessed with some incredibly hilarious and really wonderful friends in BA - plenty of Argentines but also a great bunch of Americans here for various reasons. In the past I've usually avoided ex-pat groups because so many of them are in a different mindset given their temporary status here. Happily our amigos are all here for at least a year and happen to be some of the most fun people I've ever met. We had a huge 4th of July party on Saturday (fittingly the 9th of July, Argentina's independence day) ... Basically a throwback to college in that we made ridiculous outfits/color coordination necessary and ended the night with a huge patriotic dance party. I was hoarse the next day from singing too much "I'm Proud to be an American" and "God Bless the USA." We even recited the Pledge of Allegiance. This sounds ridiculous, but when you miss your country and have been drinking sangria for 4 hours, this is what you do.
Soo that's been my life for a while. I re-discovered the amazingness of San Telmo the other day with a friend so will be dedicating a separate post to that fun adventure. Life is good!
La dee da. Been working hard on a job search, although the more serious I get about it, the more I start to realize how much I love working on my own (own hours/from home/in charge of what I do). It would be ideal if I had my little dachshund puppy to keep me company and we could spend the day being productive + taking strolls through Plaza San Martín when we need to clear our heads. Sometimes I wonder if I'm in this position because I feel that I should have studied a more "vocational" major in college, or if this is who I am and what I was meant to want to do all along. Does that make sense? I think I took a less traditional (but by no means something that had never been done before) academic path because that's the kind of person I am. Maybe I'd be great at a serious, 9-5 kind of job ... but it doesn't really jive with what feels right to me. I've been spoiled by my work experience in Argentina - start-ups run by young people, more laid-back but with a definite strong work ethic. I'm pretty sure the ship has sailed on black suits and pantyhose in an office with unattractive fluorescent lighting.
Anyway. We received Mark Bittman's (aka God of all things Culinary) "How to Cook Everything" as a wedding gift and it's been one of my favorite things so far! It's an epic tome, with the most basic recipes to more complex and involved dishes. I love that he offers millions of variations, add-ons, substitutes and the like to several of the recipes; it feels that much more accessible, especially since I live in a land where I can't always get these ingredients that seem so "easy to find" in places like New York or Washington. I plan to really put the kitchen to use this year, if only I could overcome my fear of my oven/death trap ... (Seriously, you need to stick the entire upper half of your body in it to light it. It doesn't light on its own. TIA - This is Argentina)
So that's been my life lately - José's been traveling a ton for work, and I spend my lonely (but happy) little days making up lentil and butternut squash soups, homemade veg stock and other little tidbits. Nothing gourmet, nothing out of the ordinary, but it feels good after a reliance on delivery that can't be explained. We have two markets nearby - one is a small, local place and the other is a bigger chain that is all over the city. The smaller market doesn't always have the variety in pre-packaged goods but their fruit/veg is always well-stocked and I never have to wait more than 10 minutes in line. At the other grocery store, however, I go with high hopes that I'll be able to stock up on "hard to find" or "unique" items (aka, tortilla chips and avocados. I am not kidding) but end up empty handed and bitter because the line couldn't move any slower. Several times I have walked by the Disco and kept going because the lines were all backed up into the aisles. It's ridiculous. Hence why I'm so happy going to my other little market, where the veg man fills my cart with squash and sprouts, and they always have cilantro.
I am 99.5% done with our wedding thank-you notes. Since we had to wait for our stationery to be mailed to Argentina I couldn't really get a head-start on them, but it's been fun to get them done and ready to be mailed.
Yikes - Haven't even gotten to this past weekend, which was unreal in terms of fun. Luckily we are blessed with some incredibly hilarious and really wonderful friends in BA - plenty of Argentines but also a great bunch of Americans here for various reasons. In the past I've usually avoided ex-pat groups because so many of them are in a different mindset given their temporary status here. Happily our amigos are all here for at least a year and happen to be some of the most fun people I've ever met. We had a huge 4th of July party on Saturday (fittingly the 9th of July, Argentina's independence day) ... Basically a throwback to college in that we made ridiculous outfits/color coordination necessary and ended the night with a huge patriotic dance party. I was hoarse the next day from singing too much "I'm Proud to be an American" and "God Bless the USA." We even recited the Pledge of Allegiance. This sounds ridiculous, but when you miss your country and have been drinking sangria for 4 hours, this is what you do.
Soo that's been my life for a while. I re-discovered the amazingness of San Telmo the other day with a friend so will be dedicating a separate post to that fun adventure. Life is good!
10 July 2011
Hello, July
Didn't see you creep up on me there. Dear Lord it's July 10 and I am a total headcase.
Lots has been going on - and I still want to do a mini rundown of the honeymoon, for my sake more than anyone else's - that I haven't really been able to focus on random/inane/unimportant posts. Such is life, I guess.
Here is a photo to tide you over while I think up something that's only funny to me to post.
Master Bath: Domination 2011 is about to be underway. Goodbye, ant swarms and peeling-paint bathtub. Au revoir, poor ventilation and tiny mirror that is giving José a hunchback. Hello, fabulousity. (Should have bought more than just 1 flimsy tile while in Lisbon)
[While I was writing this post, Blogger decided to stop working, meaning I had to put what I was writing/thinking on hold. Then we realized it's voting day for the city elections - we had to hop in the car and head up to Belgrano so José could vote. After an unexpected but delicious lunch of gnocchis with his parents I am officially unable to glean a coherent thought from my muddled brain. You can find me on the couch until further notice.]
Lots has been going on - and I still want to do a mini rundown of the honeymoon, for my sake more than anyone else's - that I haven't really been able to focus on random/inane/unimportant posts. Such is life, I guess.
Here is a photo to tide you over while I think up something that's only funny to me to post.
Master Bath: Domination 2011 is about to be underway. Goodbye, ant swarms and peeling-paint bathtub. Au revoir, poor ventilation and tiny mirror that is giving José a hunchback. Hello, fabulousity. (Should have bought more than just 1 flimsy tile while in Lisbon)
[While I was writing this post, Blogger decided to stop working, meaning I had to put what I was writing/thinking on hold. Then we realized it's voting day for the city elections - we had to hop in the car and head up to Belgrano so José could vote. After an unexpected but delicious lunch of gnocchis with his parents I am officially unable to glean a coherent thought from my muddled brain. You can find me on the couch until further notice.]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
