What about Blog?

Ye who read this...

2011-03-29T21:24:00.001-05:00

I have started a new blog on gardening and parenthood. I think have a a brown thumb in each. :)

http://growloveinaustin.blogspot.com/

I am still alive...

2011-03-15T22:28:00.005-05:00

Like a zombie coming back from the dead, here I am. Only I am not eating peoples' brains.

For the past eight months, our household has been perfecting a daily routine so that life can efficiently revolve around a now 23-pound Cruzilla. That routine did not include blogging, unfortunately. (So if you're looking for an update on the little dude... he reached every milestone on-time: crawling, walking, feeding himself, etc.)

Things are changing though and our little system is in upheavel, led by a vocal, very willful, and very cute toddler. His naughty ways are easily endearing at the sight of the best smile on two little feet. He's on the move, and so we go.

Where? No one knows. But I will gladly follow.

Confessions of a MOMaholic

2010-07-19T00:04:00.004-05:00

This post is part chain letter, part self reflection. I saw this on a friend’s blog and am following suit. So, I post 10 guilty mom confessions and then you judge me. GULP.

Dear Cruz:

1. Before you came along, I made Dad agree to have a dog before I would even THINK about having a baby. You’re lucky he’s a generous man.

2. In the first week of your life, you cried so hard at night. I think we were both delirious from lack of sleep. I looked down at you in frustration, trying to figure out what to do, and at that moment I started to cry with you. I think that’s when I really fell in love. (When I said I loved you in the hospital when you were born, I loved you, but I wasn’t IN love with you. :))

3. Once, and only once, when you were a wee baby, you were nursing and I had to go potty so bad but couldn’t bear to put you down. Everyone was sleeping and I didn’t want you to cry, so I brought you with me, and you continued to nurse, oblivious of why I could only hold you with one arm. (Does that make you a "wee wee" baby? lol)

4. Because I was stuck to the recliner a lot (and when I say a lot, I mean 24-7. You were still too young to be put down, a.k.a. you would cry bloody murder if I tried), I sometimes had to eat with you in my arms. After having what I thought was the best sandwich of my life, I looked down only to find the best sandwich of my life’s crumbs all over your poor little head. I kept eating.

5. It was like heavenly rays of sunshine pouring through the rain clouds when you started to sleep through the night at 3 months. But when you did, I missed you dearly, and I still do. But, when you wake up and I see your smile, it makes everything better.

6. When you were only 4 months old, I booked us a weekend trip for Aunt Pam101’s 30th birthday. When Dad decided he couldn’t go, I rebooked so I could come home to you earlier since I was nursing full-time. When I found out that I accidently rebooked for the same exact flight as the original, I was secretly happy and ended up having a blast w/o you and Dad.

7. When I busted out the formula for the first time after 5 months, I cried. It took me another month to actually start using it.

8. I took you to the pool and dunked you under water when you turned 6 months old. I promise I don’t have post-partum depression! You had fun, trust me.

9. When you started the “wounded soldier crawl” a few weeks ago, I was not only excited but also secretly dreading the fact that I’d have to keep a closer eye on you. You are one fast little sucker.

10. Sigh, 8 months later, I STILL haven’t taken enough photos of you. Your Dad made a really cute photo book from mobile uploads. And I never carry your photo book around to show people. Aaaaarrrgghhhhh! I’M SO LAZY! I can’t even bring myself to post photos to go along with this blog.

Not unrelated to these mom confessions, I AM guilty of not updating my blog more often. It’s tough work being a “M.I.L.F.” In all honesty, I am really glad this came about, because it actually gave me a chance to stop and think about why I love my life so much!

Can you feel the love?

2010-05-06T21:40:00.001-05:00

Originally uploaded by {Francis Joseph Photography}phillip ino

Here we are celebrating his great grandmother's 80th bday in Houston. He was such a trooper that night! Thanks bro for the awesome capture.

From Our Favorite Cougie

2010-04-27T16:05:00.003-05:00

Look what Aunt Pam101 got Cruz for his baptism! It had a note attached reading "Happy Baptism! Help Aunt Pam get into Heaven."

From Baby Boo to Aunt Pam: You know my mom fails to send thank you cards, but I will put in a good word to the infant baby Jesus for you anyway. Yours truly, Baby Boo, aka Team Jacob.

Lazy-Eyed Longhorn

2010-04-03T12:05:00.002-05:00

Oh no... It has been brought to my attention that Cruz' left eye might be lazy. Now no one will ever want to marry him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who want's to marry a guy with a lazy eye!!!?? Guess he'll just have to stay with mommy forever.

Meet Cruz' new friend

2010-04-02T15:27:00.004-05:00

The uber cutie Santiago Robert Boswick! A neighbor and friend, he's one month old and currently enjoys eating, pooping and sleeping. We will be sad to see him leave the awesome neighborhood of Crestview, but we congratulate him on his new digs in the boonies of Austin, Cedar Park! :)

Take it easy on your mom, Santiago. She's good people.

PS - Santiago is a Buckeye!!!!!! Gasp!

Show some Sophie-Love

2010-03-31T23:42:00.002-05:00

Here she is, the girl we know and love!! Sophie is totally awesome. I wish I was as cool as her:

Originally uploaded by {Francis Joseph Photography}phillip ino

She play's Mah Jong, loves JT and the Jonas Brothers, has talent shows dancing to Vampire Weekend, plays the fiddle, crochets flower pins and sews her own dresses, is growing her hair to donate to charity, is the youngest girl in her class because she started school early, has a friend who's named after Jane Austen (way cool!), brought dog poop (a dessert) instead of cupcakes to school on her birthday and apparently is the Queen of funny faces.

More from Phantom

2010-03-31T19:55:00.000-05:00

You know you're at an A-list event when:

-the chic to my left was wearing a glow in the dark skeleton T-shirt
-the chic to my other left (haha ) is wearing stripper heels
-one girl walking by was wearing a dress as short as a t-shirt

Live Blog from Phantom of the Opera

2010-03-31T19:50:00.000-05:00

At Bass Concert Hall to watch the Phantom of the Operaaaaaaaaamuahahahaha.

The real action began when walking in, one hipster (or foreign exchange student, the verdict is still out) had the most graceful dismount off his bike, back first onto the ground. 'Twas a windy night in Austin, TX.

Dax is trying to flirt with me and bought me a white wine-classy. The bartender didn't card me, much to my chagrin, but Dax tipped him anyway.

So the show is about to begin, but more to come later when Dax will be playing the role of Leonidas tonight :) (Name that movie!)

Beach or Bust!

2010-03-31T12:39:00.001-05:00

beach bed
Originally uploaded by myflickrLC

We just booked our annual Tulum trip!! Sorry Cruz, you can't come! :)

Boo101 update: There's a Were-Cougar on the Prowl

2010-03-31T12:09:00.001-05:00

Boo101 update: There's a Were-Cougar on the Prowl

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"This video will change your life." -- Mr. Boo

2010-03-31T10:05:00.002-05:00

Screaming like a Chic

2010-03-31T09:33:00.002-05:00

Holla! I'm four months old!

2010-03-30T14:20:00.003-05:00

Things I like to do:

- look cuties

- scream like a girl

- suck my thumb

- splash around the tub

- karate

- take Lizzie to the park

- watch Twilight

Felicidades!

2010-03-30T13:53:00.001-05:00

Originally uploaded by {Francis Joseph Photography}phillip ino

Congrats to my big bro who just got engaged to his long-time girlfriend Lisa! We can't wait! We love Lisa and her daughter Sophie and have hoped and dreamed for this day to come.

The other day over tacos I welcomed Lisa to in-law club with Dax. It SHOULD be called the "in" club, since apparently my mom loves them more than my brother and I. :)

I am Loved!

2010-03-30T13:19:00.004-05:00

I got a surprise on my front porch today from my BFF, Pam101, in appreciation of her 30th birthday festivities. Thanks Boo!

Cruz is officially Team Jacob

2010-03-30T13:14:00.003-05:00

Look what Papa C. bought Cruz on his trip to Denver! While not an official Team Jacob shirt, I think we all know where Baby Boo's allegiance lies. Doesn't this totally remind you of Napolean Dynomite? I hope he doesn't get beat up for wearing it ;)

W Hotel for Champagne Cocktails

2010-03-27T08:35:00.001-05:00

W Hotel for Champagne Cocktails

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Live Blog From Apt 101

2010-03-27T07:33:00.000-05:00

I've been relegated to the pink powder room at Pam101s where I've been pumping for the past 20 minutes since I woke up. I haven't even used the bathroom yet, but I'm going to be flushing something down here in a minute or two.

I'm not even supposed to still be in DC, except for when I rebooked my flight, I apparently rebooked it for the same day. Pam101 says I have mom brain.

Speaking of Cruz, he would OF COURSE sleep 11 hours the night I'm not with him. And here I am, only got about 7 hours of sleep after celebrating Pam101s dirty 30.

It was a fun night and today we have another party to prep for. Let's hope this party doesn't include eating 17 pieces of French bread and a piece of birthday cake.

Live Blog from Nashville

2010-03-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

En route to Pam101's 30th.

The flight attendant has made an exception to let me deboard the plane to pump so that I don't explode and cause some national flight emergency. I have 10 minutes.

Good news is I get to cut in line to get back on. I heart Southwest Airlines - where bags and breast pumps fly free.

Here I come Pam101! Let's paint the town red. And possibly a creamy white.

The Stinker Takes a Bath

2010-03-24T22:46:00.000-05:00

SXSW Shenanigans

2010-03-20T13:26:00.001-05:00

Highlights:

Got in free (thanks to our dear friend working the door) at the Billboard.com showcase to check out Asteroids Galaxy Tour.The lead singer had this baby doll, Lady Gaga thing going on, but the music was pretty good. (Let's hope we can score a free entry in again tonight for the Estelle show - I LOVE HER! She's also set to play the Perez Hilton party.)
Checking out the Muse show on the romantic grassy knoll outside of Stubb's. Two chics were making out in front of us.
Bumping into Bill Murray who was in quite a hurry to get somewhere. He looked really really lost. And old. He practically bumped into me actually. He might have grazed my ass.

Lowlights:

It all started with my first tweet: "At SXSW on Red River. Smells like piss and hipsters."
Dax had to use the restroom RIGHT before Muse came on so I missed part of the first song while we walked back to his office.
Aforementioned lesbians tried to climb the back limestone wall of Stubb's. One made it and everyone cheered but the other fell about three stories down, hit the ground then tumbled into the creek. It was freaking scary.

Live Blog Red River

2010-03-19T23:07:00.000-05:00

No joke: Bill Murray just bumped into me as we left the Muse show.

Live Blog from SXSW

2010-03-19T22:33:00.000-05:00

Mr. Boo and I are sitting on a grassy knoll on Waller Creek in the heart of downtown Austin, just across Stubb's bbq. We're patiently waiting with about four dozen other poor festival goers who won't get into the Muse show, which starts in about an hour.While we can't technically "see" much more than the creek , the rooftop of Stubb's and the chain link fence that separates us, we are in perfect ear shot of hearing one of the greatest live rock shows that any of these stinkin' hipsters will see at SXSW. One thing does bother me: Muse is supposedly all about rising up against the system, yet here we are on the other side while hundreds of badge holders - AKA - people who have money, are waltzing through the gates. Mr. Boo and I think their street cred would have shot up had they played the free shows at Auditorium Shores to a larger crowd of fans. At least I'd have a more comfortable reason to smell like poop (it's a dog park) where I could see the band instead of smelling the horse poop from the mounted police who are camped here with us. blegh. Maybe we'll see them exit the tour us, which is about 20 feet away.

Boo101's PM Hotness

2010-03-18T14:46:00.002-05:00

Every man is probably invested in a bracket one way or another!

Baby Boo Update

2010-03-13T09:48:00.001-06:00

Baby Boo Update

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The Texas State Board of Education is making kids dumber

2010-03-12T21:53:00.001-06:00

The Texas State Board of Education is making kids dumber

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Boo101's Weekend Edition of the Hotness

2010-03-12T21:24:00.001-06:00

Boo101's Weekend Edition of the Hotness

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How many hipsters does it take to fill a photography exhibit?

2010-03-11T08:34:00.003-06:00

I was invited to a photo exhibit in Austin today, but I doubt I can go. It's too bad - I was hoping to up my hipster sightings and surpass the hubby for the record for most hipsters seen in one place. Not a hard thing to do in Austin. :)

Boo101's Song of the Day pick in honor of Women's History Month

2010-03-11T08:31:00.001-06:00

Boo101's Song of the Day pick in honor of Women's History Month

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No that's not Pam..

2010-03-11T08:26:00.001-06:00

No that's not Pam..

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BRB LOL

2010-03-10T14:10:00.003-06:00

Just a note to let you know I've been honored with the task of guest blogging for Pam101 while she is in Ireland for her 30th birthday trip. I'll try to update here, but if you're up to it, check her blog for my latest shenanigans!

The Next Generation...of Nerds

2010-03-01T21:13:00.004-06:00

I can't believe I'm about to admit this, but... I'm totally getting into Star Trek! We can thank Dax for this newfound interest in the final frontier. I thought I had reached my peak of dorkhood when I watched the series finale of Battlestar Galactica with the other pasty Battlestar fans at the Alamo Drafthouse last year.

Maybe it's the tight-fitting unitards or the fact that I have a lesbian crush on Wesley because he's so damn pretty.

Whatever it is, I'm totally hooked on Captain Picard and the crew! I want Data to feel human for Christ's sake!

I know I've said this before, but Cruz has no hope for normal life. A next generation nerd, he will be.

This one's for Pam101

2010-03-01T17:04:00.002-06:00

Go figure, the Verizon logo is the color of blood. Guess it's time to switch from AT&T. :)

From food slave to food salvation

2010-02-26T15:50:00.007-06:00

It's the Lenten season, which means a period of self-denial for us Catholics and other believers out there. While many celebrated Mardis Gras - or Fat Tuesday - last week, it seems I have been celebrating Fat Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and all the other days of the week, several times a day since Cruz was born. There was no denying my indulgence of sweets at every meal or snack - after all I was still eating for two, right? Twenty pounds and 3 months later, here we are.

Maybe I was in denial about my weight before but now I'm back on track, thanks to the resurrection of Jesus. The power of Christ compelled me to give up sweets, desserts, candy as well as red meat on Fridays.

Enter in obligatory Catholic loophole: apparently, according to one of my sources, we get one day to be bad again, and that's on Sundays. I guess God knew it was hard work to be penitent, so he decided to let us rest on the seventh day.

Long story short,as soon as I could say "Thank You, Jesus!" my mouth was full of my mom's sticky rice pudding. YUMMO!

Snow day!

2010-02-23T10:49:00.003-06:00

While Lizzie Bennet Cruzada wouldn't go potty in the snow, nothing could keep that crazy dog from her frisbee.

"Oh my God, Becky."

2010-02-22T22:26:00.002-06:00

Look at these cheeks. They are so big.

Tw-eye-light

2010-02-13T23:43:00.002-06:00

Cruise 2007 283
Originally uploaded by myflickrLC

Tonight, my family ventured into the magical world of vampires and bad acting when we watched the best thing that ever happened to Pam101 - aka the "greatest movie of all time" - aka Twilight. My parents, Dax and my brother's girlfriend and her daughter sat around the T.V. making quips and quotes over the awesomeness that surrounds this teenage phenomenon...highlights can of course be found on Pam101's blog here, because you know Pam101 captures everything Twilight.

My favorite highlight was during a Team Edward vs. Team Jacob debate. I'm going to call it my favorite "Tw-eye-light" moment. And I quote:

Sophie (age 9): "I'm Team Edward but I'm sorta leaning toward Team Jacob."

Dad (new Twifan - aka Pam's new BFF - age 60): "Yeah, I think I'm Team Edward."

Me (potential Cougar): "I love Jacob. Edward is boring and he's not even cute."

Lisa (Sophie's mom and my brother's girlfriend, beloved by us all): "I couldn't be Team Jacob. How could you? He's got those squinty little eyes."

At that point, the whole room got silent as Dax slowly turned to face Lisa, ala the Exorcist, and we all heard a cricket or two. As his own squinty little eyes glared over, she quickly stumbled over her next words, ala Bella (K-Stew) in any movie she ever appeared in. At that point, Dax had to take his shirt off to prove there was more to him as a Jacob look-a-like than the eye could see, ala rain scene in New Moon.

God made dirt, and dirt don't hurt.

2010-02-12T10:32:00.001-06:00

And you better believe that Cruz takes his dirt seriously...

Like I said, I should be on HGTV!

2010-02-09T14:26:00.002-06:00

Doppleganger week on FB

2010-02-04T00:17:00.003-06:00

My parents think Cruz looks like Avatar star Sam Worthington. If so, my son is gonna be a hottie!!!!

"And no 'and then'!"

2010-02-04T00:09:00.002-06:00

I think that's what Cruzito was trying to say here...

Cruz talking to Grandma from laura cruzada on Vimeo.

Astrololology Shmolology

2010-02-01T20:57:00.008-06:00

When we were thinking of starting our cult, ahem, I mean family, Dax joked about how ideal it would be to have a Sagittarius, like him, whether it was a boy or a girl. So when we found out I was expecting at the end of November, I kept telling people that if it came early, you know he was a Scorpio like his mother. :) Alas, my little alien arrived on the cusp of the two astrological signs, Nov. 25. While still technically a Sag, he has the fiestiness of his Scorpian mother, who has what Dax likes to call, "hot asian blood." (In all fairness, I did throw a shoe at him once. Or twice. My bad.)

According to the tippy top authority on Astrology, the Aquarian Age Astrological Research Foundation... (lol)... "Scorpio is intense and sometimes violent." Since the little alien is only 10 weeks old, we can't yet say if he's inherited this characteristic. Although, this MIGHT be true when it comes to his BM.

Meanwhile, Sagittarius is "likely to be very social, energetic, of higher consciousness and may subscribe to the theory of ONENESS in the Universe." Of COURSE his sign had something to do with the Universe!! It might as well have said "may the force be with you."

Maybe this is why Dax insisted we register for the eighty-freaking-dollar Outer Space Activity Mat. I had originally intended to post a video of Cruz playing on it, but I took the video with my bberry and it turned out really sucky. So I'll have to renact it myself.

Cruz to play mat: "I am your father."

play mat: "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

What about B-LOG?

2010-01-28T21:16:00.004-06:00

No, I'm not just talking about the title of my blog. B-LOG, if pronounced as it looks here (bee-log), is the temporary Filipino nickname of my little alien. It means round. :)

Here are pics from week 8 and 9!

More reasons why I should actually cook...

2010-01-22T22:45:00.003-06:00

a NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWW kitchen!!!! (insert "Price is Right" voice over)

We chose a creamy granite counter top with brown, grey and red speckles to match our floors.

These other photos show off the new backsplash and cabinets (and under-cabinet lighting).

Dax surprised me this morning when a package arrived on my doorstep

2010-01-20T13:25:00.004-06:00

Does this mean I have to start baking??!! Let's hope I don't do something dumb like burn butter again. At least if I don't bake, it makes for a nice decoration in my new kitchen.

Cruzy to the Maxiburger

2010-01-12T15:15:00.004-06:00

I had to tell Cruz to stop flirting with me today. He kept smiling at me every time I looked over at him in his little lamb. I think he gets it from his Dad.

Baby Berry

2010-01-11T09:39:00.004-06:00

Here are some quick mobile uploads for all you Cruz worshippers out there :)

He's thinkin', "oooooh a lamb!.....ooooooh a lamb!.....ooooooooooohhh! a lamb!"

What you didn't see next was that he tried to moon the camera when he thought I wasn't watching.

Cruz says "Nei!" during our 2nd futile attempt at the Baby Bjorn.

Potty training -- as in mommy is learning ways to keep me occupied while the bathroom is occupied.

And I shall call it "The Six-Week Sequence"

2010-01-08T13:32:00.004-06:00

1:20 p.m.

1:21 p.m.

1:22 p.m.

1:27 p.m.

Happy 6-week birthday, Cruz!

E-V-O-OHHHHHHHhhhhhh

2010-01-08T12:46:00.004-06:00

Yesterday, my OB said I was "ready" for "action" - IF you know what I mean...

She even went as far as recommending olive oil - IF you know what I mean...

Apparently, it is a trick she also used when my turkey was done approximately six weeks ago - IF you know what I mean...

It is funny to think of EVOO as a key ingredient to the circle of life. Low fat too. Gives new meaning to the term "organic."

Rachel Ray would be so proud.

Highlights (is that even possible?) from Labor and Delivery

2009-12-30T23:27:00.002-06:00

I'm trying to remember the birthing experience (gulp!) with some levity. Call it a coping mechanism in the face of the possibility of future mini-Dax and Lauras, much to my parents' and in-laws' delight, I'm sure. Here's what I can recollect:

-Fearing the woman with the rubber glove.

-Thanking God for the epidural fairy.

-Blacking out for a few seconds every few minutes between contractions and yelling random things as I dreamt, like "I love microphones!"

-When my OB walked in and said "what are we having, a boy or girl?" less than 24 hours after I'd seen her for my last prenatal visit.

-When my OB said "Oh! Cruz Cruzada, what a good name," after asking what we will name our boy. (Not the first time this happened with her, yikes!)

-Barely coming to from the last contraction and listening to my OB and the nurses casually chat about New Moon and how Jacob is such a cutie. (It's true though. I'm totally Team Jacob.)

-Kolaches from Lone Star Bakery only a few minutes after my own little pig in a blanket arrived. Thanks, Mom.

-Free sandwiches in the refrigerator across my room.

-24-hours of House Hunters on HGTV on Thanksgiving day, which was celebrated in said room.

-And, of course the highlight was the arrival of my little alien. His very existence has trumped everything for the past five weeks, even celebrating Christmas (Sorry, Jesus!).

Everyone asks if I would do it again. The answer on Nov. 25, 2009 was H-E-double-hockey- sticks-NO. But today, on the five-week birthday of my precious baby boy, who may or may not be suffocating as he is so tightly wedged in the crook of Dax's arm, the answer is:

TO BE CONTINUED... :)

I should be on HGTV

2009-12-29T17:43:00.008-06:00

So when I asked my Cowboy Contractor when he thought our reno would be done, he said maybe around Christmas. So... now that we are approaching January and my house hardly has electricity or water, I am crossing my fingers that he can get this done by the time Pam101 comes to visit for MLK weekend. Who knew 400 square feet and renovating a kitchen could take so bleepin' long?! Funny note: the Cowboy predicted I would have my baby within a week after the roof was torn out. He won himself a six pack. Here are some snaps:

The foundation took about 2 weeks!!!

Howdy, y'all!

The framing went up in about 3 days.

After all the electric, plumbing and HVAC work, the drywall goes up!

I am really excited about these custom cabinets!!!!

There's our cabinet dude, Bub. I love his name. Bub.

Eat, Poop, Love

2009-12-29T01:50:00.008-06:00

Here are some snaps from our new little stinker:

Week 1: First week and those cheeks are coming in nicely...Who are we kidding? They're huge!

Week 2: It was after this photo that we realized we brought the wrong kid home and had to go back and exchange him for our baby.

Week 3: It's never too early to start pondering life's biggest mysteries. To poop or not to poop.

Week 3: Cruz' first walk. He's in there. Really.

Week 3: Crazy. Sexy. Cool.

Week 4: Proof that he doesn't ALWAYS need to sleep in someone's arms.

Week 4: Here's looking at you, stinks.

Week 5: We'll call these the Lost in Space series:

This is what the running man looks like...in space.

Yawning...INNNNN SSSPAAAAACE!

Babyness

2009-12-17T04:27:00.017-06:00

It is in the wee hours of dawn that we bring you this special presentation. No infomercials. Just a reality check.

It is 3 a.m. and it has been three weeks and more than 300 diapers since the little alien has joined our civilization. We have had in the past three days MAYBE 12 non-consecutive hours of sleep, something I should be doing right now. Instead, I am being serendaded by a melody of grunts that precede the onslaught of what one of my BFF's calls a "butt-plosion." Or will it be projectile spit up? Only time will tell...

And time is a funny thing these days. Days go by like minutes and you forget the last time you took a shower - a singularly human concept that doesn't apply to him because of his naturally and intoxicatingly sweet scent. An evolutionary theorist will tell me it is nature's way of ensuring his survival. But I know there is an even bigger reason why I'm drawn to this little creature: The Poopy Face. Zoolander: eat your Le Tigre makin', Blue Steelin' heart out.

He learned quickly that if he makes his Poopy Face, they (and it) will come. Just look at it! It is a perfect combination of us. He has my first chin (or lack thereof), and Dax's second chin. As you can see in exhibit 1, his eyes have a hint of Asian, and while I'm Filipino, I think we all know where those came from.

But, no matter where you slice it, the bottom line is that he's MINE, ALL MINE. You can't have him! (Unless you can score us free tickets to the BCS Championship in Pasadena.)

Add one more to the Food Tour

2009-09-01T10:32:00.003-05:00

I'm adding Bill Miller but not for the BBQ (even though you can get 2 chopped brisket sandwiches and tea for under $5). They're breakfast tacos are amazing! Homemade tortillas and their pickled jalapeno salsa are da bomb (in your mouth)!

Fast Food Tour - who's with me?

2009-08-28T14:15:00.004-05:00

Usually when Pam101 comes to her favorite city of Austin, we hit up our local favs, like Juan's, Chuy's, Kerbey, Magnolia. The last time she was here, I introduced her to Sonic (cue in Heavenly music), and she loved it, naturally. So the next time she comes, I decided to take her to all the fast food joints that they don't have on the East Coast - and I have an excuse to eat this much because of the little alien.

Here's the lineup so far for Fast Food Tour 09 (in no particular order):

You can't beat their half-off all apps from 4-7 EVERY day. This includes their famous seasoned curly fries (which are now waffle fries) with queso. Yummo!

Everyone should try a Sourdough Jack once in their life, and let's not forget 2 deep fried tacos for 99 cents.

Beyond having famous fried chicken, we may stop by Top Notch for the mere fact that one of Pam101's favorite actors was here once filming Dazed and Confused. Can you guess who???

Gravy and 24-hour goodness. Enough said.

So this last one might be purely selfish of me bc I love kolaches. But Pam101 has never had one, and seriously, who doesn't like a hot dog!?

The list can go on and on. If you're wondering why I didn't include Taco Cabana, it's because she actually has been there on one of her trips...

Send any suggestions!

Cougars Unite!

2009-08-27T16:04:00.003-05:00

We can thank Molicious for this amazing link to the National Cougars Convention tomorrow.

While the invite says all ages welcome, we all know who should be there. RAAAARRRRR!

I would make an exception for Pumas like Pamcakes101 who are in lurve with Eddie Cullen.

PS - my sister didn't know what a cougar was until I called her one on her birthday this Tuesday. My cousin provided the following definition:

1. ) Cougar An older woman who frequents clubs in order to score with a much younger man. The cougar can be anyone from an overly surgically altered wind tunnel victim, to an absolute sad and bloated old horn-meister, to a real hottie or milf. Cougars are gaining in popularity --
particularly the true hotties -- as young men find not only a sexual high, but many times a chick with her shit together. That cougar I met last night, showed me shit I didn't know existed, I'm goin back for more. A couple other variations of this definition here:... Read More

My ACL lineup includes...

2009-08-27T16:01:00.002-05:00

Phoenix - 1901
Uploaded by bleep1234. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Let the renovations begin!

2009-08-27T15:32:00.003-05:00

I'm so ready to get started on the remodel of our house. I think we're almost at a point where we can take on bids from different contractors. We have:

Financing - check!

First born to put down as collateral for financing - due November 30!

A great design - check!

The photo below is only one view of the new kitchen, den, dining room and office. But as you can see it really opens up the space in our house, adding about 400 square feet to the back (I think).

Cross your fingers that this plan will work and that it will be done in time for the alien. If not, Mom and Dad, if you're reading this, be prepared to make room in your house come November :)

Now, we just have to convince Dax to get us a pool in the backyard. :)

Go out and buy this!

2009-08-27T13:44:00.002-05:00

Played this game for 2 hours last night with my vball team - SOOOO fun! It's sort of like charades with words. DO IT!

Meet the Watsons

2009-08-27T09:27:00.005-05:00

These are my people. Lisa and Daryl took Dax and I in when we first moved to DC and the Watsons quickly became our surrogate family. We were so happy to host them finally in our home state!

From the left, Bryce (middle child), Hunter (eldest), Lisa, yours truly, Daryl, and on the floor, little Collin who used to fit in a kitchen drawer when we first met him, and of course, little Lizzie.

Pregnant Phat or Pregnant Fat?

2009-08-26T10:59:00.002-05:00

At Barton Springs the other day, this little girl comes up to me and says, "are you pregnant?" With a big, proud smile on my face I reply, "Yes I am."

Little Girl: "I knew it. That's why I told them (her friends) that it was OK you were fat. Because you are pregnant fat."

Me: "You son of a...."

Ok, I didn't really cuss her out after that. But I was mortified! I had to practice my calming technique to stop from spanking her - something I will need to perfect before my alien gets here.

Expanding

2009-08-26T10:23:00.003-05:00

Dax and I have been looking into a new addition to the house to make room for the alien in my expanding belly. We had a designer over here yesterday to take a look at our plans and start working on something that the engineers can work with once we choose a contractor.

The guy was nice enough - we asked him to come in at 8:00 to talk and we ended up hiring him and he stayed for a few hours to work on his design. In true Laura style, when it came time to hand over the dough, I asked him if we needed a contract. See, at the beginning, he mentioned his hourly rate in the context of clients constantly changing their designs and that he needed to be fair and charge for his hours of iterations. He said we didn't need a contract and that I could fire him whenever I wanted. Fair enough.

So, I finally ask how much I owe him. His answer: "Well, I was here for 5 hours, that would be $375," to which I reply, "Well technically, you WERE here at 8 a.m., but my husband and I didn't actually hire you until 8:30 and you worked until 1 pm." And it's true, he talked for about 30 minutes about his life story and why we should hire him. I did not mention to him that he took about 5 smoke breaks in between work on MY TIME.

His reply, "Well if it makes you feel better you can give me $337.50."

YES that does make me feel better, thank you very much. If he's padding time right under my nose, I can't imagine what our bill will be like when we get the final design.

I just died and went to geek heaven

2009-08-25T09:37:00.002-05:00

Dorks Unite! There is a new Ren-Faire in Texas! We passed a teaser sign on the way to Houston last week.

http://www.sherwoodforestfaire.com/

Live Blog - as boo would call it - from P street NW

2009-08-06T08:21:00.000-05:00

Just hopped off the bus to work and started walking when I realized I got caught up in the commuters' rush and started walking waaaaaay too fast for myself. I normally walk at a snail's pace - much to Dax's chagrin - in what I call the Austin pace.

Note of advice to the gayborhood where Pam lives and my office is located: slow the eff down and enjoy your stroll to the office! You know you won't take time to get fresh air at lunch!
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The Joys of eating... and cooking... and working with my team

2009-08-05T17:35:00.004-05:00

CulinAerie cooking class was awesome. I hated the cooking but loved the eating ;) I burnt butter twice. How does that even happen!?

Days in DC

2009-08-05T08:15:00.003-05:00

I Love Love Love pretending to be a DC commuter. If that's what you can even call it - Pam lives about 10 blocks away from my office here (nevermind that I took the bus for 5 of them. I had to, it's too muggy out.) I'm here for the whole week to work at the office before I can't travel anymore this year.

Highlights from my trip so far:
- I get to dress up and work in a real office with real people. I love my kitty and puppy who normally keep me company during the day but this is really refreshing.

- I've eaten about 10 cupcakes in 2 days! This always happens when I'm in DC. Chocolate with white icing, funfetti with chocolate icing and funfetti with whipped icing.

- Office threw me a shower which included cups with customized Twilight stickers and Rock Band! Baby got tons of presents!

- I woke up this morning at 8 a.m., got dressed and headed to Starbucks for coffee and a croissant. DELISH! (Note: Croissants in the US are 4 times bigger than Buenos Aires! No wonder we Americans are fat.) I loved sitting by the window watching and feeling the energy around me: the buses, taxis and commuters smelly from the hot air outside. Always wanted to live in the city while in DC.

- Watching Twilight 2 nights in a row at Pam's house. On the 2nd night, we decided to write our own sequel to the first book. Stay tuned!

Today, we are doing a day-long communications planning meeting with a break in between for a team building exercise. We are headed to cooking class at Culinaerie!

Ta Ta for now!

2009-08-04T15:09:00.001-05:00

Headed to my "surprise" baby shower at the office featuring cupcakes from @pamcakes101 and Rock Band!!!!!

2009-07-28T16:55:00.001-05:00

Dax has a fever. :(

PS

2009-07-25T18:11:00.000-05:00

Todd #1 als said he wanted to spoil me woth food and money. I said done!
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What I learned today from gay Todd #1:

2009-07-25T17:53:00.000-05:00

1. I am glowing

2. My boobs are lookin' good (replace boobs with the "t" word)

3. I'm SO chinese

4. He loves me

5. I'm a bitch

6. I can visit him anytime as long as I leave my kid at home

7. I have a heartbeat (he actually pressed his head to my chest)

8. He loves me, again

9. He tans better than I do

10. There is one gay bar in Puerto Plata if I want to go. (He obviously didn't read the "gay for pay" section in Frommers)

Drunk, sloppy gay men are fabulous. :)
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Highlights from Dominican Republic so far

2009-07-24T18:31:00.000-05:00

Everything is cool so far! Weather is hot and humid, no rain. Being with Dax 24-7 rules. Here are more highlights.

1. Never have any idea what time it is and love it! Time is moving slow, which is how I like my vacations.

2. Halfway done reading New Moon after starting this morning. While I thought I would really feel more of Bella's despair, I'm stll enjoying it.

3. The Todds - we befriended a nice couple from Pheonix. Yes, they have the same name!!! :)

4. Who wouldn't like a buffet that has hot dogs?

5. Baby is alive, well and kickin' at all hours of the day.

6. The buffet is open until 2 am!!!! Holla! (PS-they pronounce the "t" in buffet.)

7. We are only down 5 bucks at the Casino. Betting on all black tonight :)

8. All inclusives really are all inclusive! I think I've eaten ab 5 times in 8 hrs.

9. The mosqiutos remind me of Texas. Pam calls it the state bird :)

10. Literally running away from the time-share hounds who can smell Dax's vulnerability.

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Vacation = Pro-literacy

2009-07-13T13:14:00.002-05:00

Exactly 10 days until Dax and I go on our last major vacation before our lil' shorty gets here, so that means I get to catch up on lots of reading.

Just ordered this book from Amazon for like $5 new!

From The Washington Post
Reviewed by Mameve Medwed
Lionel Shriver's wonderful new novel, her latest since the prize-winning We Need to Talk About Kevin, creates parallel universes that indulge all our what-if speculations. Spared any fork-in-the-road choices, Irina McGovern, a children's book illustrator, can have her beefcake and eat it too. A professional, independent woman not enamored of feminist bumper stickers, Irina admits, "The only thing I can't live without is a man." In this case, Shriver grants her two.

The first, Lawrence Trainer, a sweetly geeky terrorism expert, offers tranquil domesticity; Irina fixes nightly bowls of popcorn while they watch BBC snooker tournaments, cooks voluptuous if economical meals and enjoys reliable same-side-of-the-bed, same-position sex. Though not officially married, so entrenched are the pair they might as well be. "Some friends regarded Irina-and-Lawrence as a factual matter," Shriver writes, "like the existence of France."

For more than nine years, "monogamy had been effortless" -- until the second man turns up. He's Ramsey Acton, dazzling celebrity snooker champion and husband of Irina's collaborator, Jude. Every year on Ramsey's birthday, Irina and Lawrence dine out with Ramsey and Jude. One July, Lawrence, away on business, encourages Irina to meet Ramsey, newly divorced, for the traditional birthday ritual. After four sakes, a deluxe platter of sashimi, cognac and a joint, Irina watches Ramsey play snooker and thinks, "If Ramsey didn't kiss her, she was going to die."

The rest of the story pivots on this will-they-or-won't-they as the novel splits into alternating chapters; in one, they kiss; in another, she turns away. Who is Irina's Mr. Right? In excessive, often obsessive, detail, Shriver explores Irina's life with each candidate through the quotidian and across a larger political and social landscape that includes Bosnia, the death of Princess Diana and 9/11. One chapter shows Irina as too cocooned in her love nest to notice outside events; its alternate has her relate the fall of the Twin Towers to her own predicament: "Today of all days it should have been possible to weep the whole day through, but it wasn't. The fact that she had sobbed for whole evenings at a go over the loss of one boyfriend yet now found it too demanding to whimper over the loss of multitudes for more than two or three minutes was just one of those ugly facts about herself that Irina would have to live with."

Shriver is a crackerjack chronicler of the lives of the self-absorbed; she understands the ties that bind and the ones that sunder. Studying Ramsey's depleted rooms after his divorce, Irina notes, "For women, marriages foreclosed often resulted in an accumulation of booty; for men, these failed projects of implausible optimism were more likely to manifest themselves in material lack. It was hard to resist the metaphorical impression that women got to keep the past itself, whereas men were simply robbed of it."

Shriver is equally clever at shifting around polar opposites and mirror images. Irina's book is a success; Irina's book is a failure. Ramsey's career takes off; it hits the skids. Lawrence is always loyal -- or is he? Though Ramsey can be difficult, earthmoving sex more than compensates. Soon enough, even that changes. No choice is perfect; no soulmate seizes center stage.

While the focus stays on Irina and her two men, the author serves up side dishes of politics, snooker lore and menu plans. Culinary metaphors abound: Ramsey's skin is "like one of those complex reduction sauces you get in upscale restaurants . . . and you can never quite figure out what's in it." Sentences sparkle with such mouth-watering descriptions of food that you'll want to run to the refrigerator. Lovely small portraits of Irina's larger-than-life Russian mother, her sister Tatyana and Ramsey's idiosyncratic competitors charm and enlighten.

As Irina learns that no matter what kind of man a woman picks, "she'll wonder if she wouldn't rather have the other," the accretion of details, the parsing of characters' angst, the little moments blown into big can seem like so much navel-gazing. However fascinating, the microscopic analysis of the two objects of Irina's affection can also be wearying. Nevertheless, the rewards for sticking with these 500-plus pages are as delicious as one of Irina's feasts.

Copyright 2007, The Washington Post. All Rights Reserved.

Name this quote: "96% of the earth is water. The other half is wheat. Think About it."

2009-06-30T10:16:00.006-05:00

As a friend of mine put it on Facebook, "thank the sweet lord baby jesus, it's raining." (h/t: Claire McLarty)

Rain means cooler temperatures - a respite from the triple-digit heat. Rain means no more crunchy brown grass - at least for the next few days. Rain means Lizzie can't go outside to play!!! Poor Lizzie poops.

I am a big fan of H20. It's my number one drink of choice. Dax and I have tried to do little things here and there to conserve water over the past few years that you - my kin and kith - can try too.

- Follow your city watering restrictions! They say watering your grass every three days should keep it alive. Don't ask me how my grass is doing.

- Use grey water from hand-washing dishes to water indoor plants.

- Buy a water barrel! Save up when it rains like today and use it to water your outdoor plants.

- Use xeriscaping where you can and use native and drought resistent plants in your garden.

- Don't flush every time you go #1. Wait a few times and save some of that H20.

- Hook your washer up to an outside line to let the grey water soak your gardens.

- Don't pour food or grease down the disposal! It costs more in energy and time to filter these out of our water system.

- For all the ladies out there: we don't have to wash our hair every day. If you stick to washing it every other day or every two days as recommended, we can take shorter showers. It's better for your hair and the environment.

Hope these are helpeful, because let's face it: "Moisture is the essence of wetness. Wetness is the essence of beauty." (Another hint for those who didn't get the first quote.)

Lunch-time randomness

2009-06-29T13:53:00.004-05:00

- Thank goodness for B. Springs in the summer. It is Doggy heaven!

- Bologna sandwiches kick ham sandwiches' ass.

- I could really use some regular Lays right now. None of that baked sh*t.

- Good idea to wear a hat and rash guard to the springs when exercising Lesbo.

- I now have an annoying chankla tan on my feet.

- Just updated my "about me" section with my old Myspace profile. Why write it twice?

Mi hermano

2009-06-25T13:55:00.002-05:00

My brother, who is six years older than me, is my new roommate - which is exciting. We didn't really grow up together closely because he and all my other siblings were so much older than me - I was virtually an only child. (muuuaaahahahhaah!)

I do remember one thing from our childhood - he used to HATE it when I would eat the things he ate... called me a copy-cat. I wonder if that explains our affinity for the same types of food, including Tombstone and Totino's pizza and Chicken pot pies (frozen). :) Delish! We just shared a pizza. Living with him is awesome because he cooks a lot and shares with us. I'm so used to eating on my own all the time, I normally just make little snacks for myself which is not very thoughtful!

What else, what else? If you haven't seen it, check out his blog - he's a talented photographer. I always knew he was artistic. In fact, I used to hang up artwork in my room that my two brothers did for middle and high school art class. What a dork am I???

Free Paint!

2009-06-25T12:30:00.002-05:00

A rare home improvement blog... But if you're in the market for paint, you can get a free quart by clicking here.

The page takes a while to load but stop complaining: there's no such thing as a free lunch. :)

I picked Cypress Grass... which is a yellow-ish green. Which reminds me, everything seems to think my favorite color is Sage Green. Nevermind I have like 3 rooms painted in variations of that color.

MY FAVORITE COLOR IS NAVY, PEOPLE! But you can hardly paint a room that color, can you?

Target makes the world go 'round

2009-06-19T23:41:00.002-05:00

I have said this many times: Target (and Ikea) have the uncanny ability to make you think you "need" everything in its stores. Why am I sitting here worried about how much I spent in Argentina when I can drop a deuce at Target in a hot minute??

The answer: Everything I put in my cart I absolutely NEEDED...right? A Fathers' Day present, a wall mount for my iron, a new recoiling garden hose with nozzle included....

A new rug for my sun room? YES! A new outdoor hammock? DOUBLE YES! And even clearance wall art that we'll later turn into decoupage for our baby's room? To quote one drink in Argentina, "Yes, Yes, Yes, Oh My God, Yes."

Any regrets? NEEEVVVER!!! (OK, maybe a few. When I asked my self that the first time, the little voice in my head told me not to raise my hand right away, for I had run out of shaving cream earlier that day, and I was clearly too busy buying things I wanted rather than needed.)

Target is like the abusive man you love to love. He may leave you broke and sorry in the long run, but boy does he feel so good to have on a Friday night.

U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! (chant with me)

2009-06-16T18:10:00.007-05:00

Well I’m finally back from Buenos Aires and into the good ol’ U-S-of-A. I’m cheering because only in the USA can you get an immediate food coma from the best cheeseburger and cheese fries with ranch in two weeks. All Argentinians are rolling there eyes right now.

I only post this photo as a sharp contrast to everything that I experienced on our trip to Argentina. Buenos Aires was the perfect mix of old world style and class – from its amazing European architecture to its tributes to tragic national heroes of yesterday – with the life and modernity of a city bigger than New York. It is alive with tango, technology, subways, fashion, wine, amazing food, coffee and a self awareness that is infectious yet unmatchable if you aren’t a Porteño.

Obviously, in relation to the latter, Pam and I stuck out like sore thumbs. Maybe, just maybe, we will always be remembered as the obnoxious Americans who might have slightly desecrated a national cemetery with a traveling naked doll, snorted loudly during a tango show and single-handedly jump started their economy again by spending hundreds on material objects of our affection – in one little pink store (h/t Pamcakes101 :).)

I could go on and on with pretentious little descriptions of the city and culture, but I won’t. The most amazing thing about Argentina was spending quality time in a great city with one of my greatest friends. As you might infer from the random moments captured in my blog, we did nothing but eat, laugh and enjoy each other’s company in a country that celebrates friendship annually. (Seriously, Argentina celebrates Dia Del Amigo every 20th of July!).

So, to Pam: thank you for being my friend and coming to Buenos Aires with me. You booked your flight not knowing where in the world BA was! You’re like... the butter on my Argentine bread roll. No, no wait. You’re like...the American cheese on my good ol’ American cheeseburger. :)

Disabled Passenger?

2009-06-15T17:40:00.000-05:00

Is it wrong that I went in the very short, very easy customs/immigration line for disabled passengers if it says it includes pregnant women????
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Don't judge

2009-06-15T12:08:00.001-05:00

But the Golden Arches are just as good in BA as they are in the US :)
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You're only in BA once...

2009-06-14T16:38:00.004-05:00

That's what Dax told me when I wanted to make sure it was OK to spend some $$$ during my BA trip. And whatever anyone tells you, BA is not as inexpensive as it is made out to be.

But honestly, like Dax said, just have a good time and don't worry. While I DID worry, I still actually had a good time shopping at all the little boutique stores and artisan markets around town (multiple times). Shopping for myself, yes, but also shopping for all the ones that I love. I feel like Santa!

So, on my last night in Argentina, all my bags are packed, ready to go with one-of-a-kind gifts galore. And as many times as Pam rolled her eyes when I complained about money (just watch how far they roll back when she sees her bank account), I DO have to agree with Dax: your'e only in BA once.

That is, unless you've promised you'll be back. :)

I'm addicted

2009-06-13T12:02:00.001-05:00

to Argentine ice cream. I have never before in my life - that I can remember - eaten more than a few tiny bites of ice cream at a time. Popsicles have been my thing recently. Now, in Argentina, I'm eating delicious chocolate ice cream multiple times a day!

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Kids and Pets

2009-06-12T15:17:00.005-05:00

I have a setting on my fabulous handy dandy little camera called "kids and pets," and I use it when taking photos of just that. (It basically uses a faster shutter speed to capture things that are moving spontaneously.) Here are a few from Buenos Aires:

These guys you have already seen - they were in the park holding pigeons.

Guess it doesn't matter what country you're in, dogs like to sniff each other's butts :) The universal hello... or hola!

All the public school kids in BA wear these white lab coats to school. Too cute! They're like mad scientists trying to take over the world.

There are dog walkers everywhere in BA. Apparently it only costs like 20 pesos a week!!! That's like $5 USD!

There are a billion cats that live in the famous Recoleta Cemetary. Someone from the city comes and feeds them every day.

Definitely hot librarian, no?

2009-06-11T17:49:00.004-05:00

See my new cat-eye glasses from Argentina. I cannot believe how cheap they were: the total cost was half of the cost of my lenses in the U.S. AND, I did the whole transaction in Spanish :).

What do you think?

PETA!

2009-06-11T10:56:00.002-05:00

Pam trying on Chinchilla. I might stand outside with a can of paint.

Pam is shopping for leather...

2009-06-11T10:30:00.000-05:00

At a well-known shop that makes custom jackets and stuff. Should I get some assless chaps?? :)

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Vaya con Ponch (shenanigans!)

2009-06-10T00:09:00.006-05:00

Waiting to hop on the plane to Buenos Aires...thinking about, oh you know, life.

Aren't those photos with people jumping supposed to be cool, or something?

Sun salutations in the United Nations Park in front of the giant flower sculpture that opens and closes in the morning and at night with the sun.

Una siesta...

After a quick nap, he's ready for the world!

Donde esta el baño?

2009-06-09T22:51:00.007-05:00

Have you ever heard the saying that a restaurant's kitchen is as clean as its bathroom?

Well in Argentina, that saying goes for the cafes AND the people. You can be in the cutest little coffee shop, but beware of bathroom. You've heard some my toilet paper stories, but some places are just nasty! Even our apt., which is super cute, has a leaky bidet!!!!

More disturbing is I feel like I'm in that episode of Seinfeld with Papi. Everytime I go to the bathroom, I notice that people just do not wash their hands! Yuck!

Random bathroom stories from BA:

Before the futbol game, I had to go really bad and the only thing close by was a little kiosko -imagine a mini 7-11 about the size of a kiosk in the nook of a building. These places usually are the foyer of someone's house and 99.99 percent of the time would not have nor would open the bathroom to the public. But it was all there was and I had to go really bad so I did it, I pulled the pregnancy card. First time to do so but maybe not the last. I explained to its proprietor that I was prego and really needed to go and would buy something if he let me. He didn't quite answer, but showed me the way to his broom closet/bathroom. There was no TP, not even a button to flush! But I can't really complain I guess, it was really nice of him to let me go. I bought some Ferrero Rochet so it was a win-win.

Once at Cafe Biela, I found this older woman draped over the bathroom sink in a pit of despair - only I didn't know it at the time. I thought maybe she had food poisoning or maybe was having side effects of chemo or something. It was strange. In my broken Spanish, I asked if she needed anything, wanted me to get someone or help her in any way. She looked at me and in a feeble, humbled voice and said she was having "problemas economicas." That was my cue to tell her sorry and I lickity split that bathroom in a hot minute.

Potty humor or iritable bowel syndrome? You decide...

Now here is one bathroom that I loved...from my new favorite book store in BA.

You KNOW you're obsessed with Mr. Darcy when...

2009-06-09T18:27:00.002-05:00

You stumble into a charming, old world book shop in Buenos Aires - the kind that makes you feel like you live in another country - (oh wait) and buy a Spanish version of Pride and Prejudice. Or should I say, "Orgullo y Prejudicio."

Eterno Cadencia Libros

At first glance, I dismissed the thought of looking through the book, much less buying it, bc it was the movie version (Keira Knightly on the front). (Was this a sign of my newfound snobbyness? Was it prejudice?) Yet, I couldn't resist thumbing through the literature section to see what else they carried. Alas, it was the only copy, and besides, who was I to judge?

I sat down on a pefectly placed love seat in the corner of the mahogany-paneled library, and I opened my favorite book of all time (hence, named my dog Lizzie). I could feel the warm feelings building up inside as I read and fully comprehended the first few sentences.

I was hooked, as I always would be. It was a timeless story in a timeless bookstore, and I loved every word of it, as I always will.

The manager of the store, looking for another edition of P&P for me was interrupted by another customer.

View from my love seat

Pam looking through some photography books in a back nook of the store

Highlights from BA post Pam's arrival

2009-06-08T18:41:00.011-05:00

SATURDAY
1. Getting practically violated by a clown playing a accordian in Recoleta. I think he wanted to Tango.

2. Argentina vs. Colombia futbol

3. Blacking out after an all-you-can eat Parillada, aka Churrascaria. The meat was the best I've had so far in BA from a place called Siga La Vaca. Nevermind I only had like 2 bites and mostly ate bread, butter, cured ham and cheese and all-you-can-eat salad. Don't blame me, blame the baby. :)

SUNDAY
1. A platter of what seemed like never-ending sandwiches, pastries, juice, champagne (not for me) and cafes con leches at Las Violetas. "The hour of tea" is a beautiful thing.

2. Antiquing on the cobblestone streets of San Telmo for hours until we could see the stars. Picture South American hippies, their marijuana and lovely handmade crafts for 15+ blocks.

3. Dancing on the streets of San Telmo with the hippies, their drums and 100s of strangers. I got stuck in a giant flag of a country I didn't recognize. It was amazing! Pam almost peed her pants she was laughing so hard. See Pam's blog for photos of the pre-flag attack.

4. Catching a late night Tango between an 80 year old man and any random woman he could find in San Telmo square.

5. Looking in the window of a small cafe only to see a face on an empanada!

6. Making the beginnings of a music video ala "Take on Me" in the deserted subways of Buenos Aires. I ran through the tiled catacombs as Pam snapped some shots that we'll pull together for y'all.

TODAY:
I should be making money by now! I am like Pam's personal guide and translator but it's really fun! I feel like I'm turning into a snobby Argentine already. Today was a sort of come-what-may kind of day. We spent most of it wandering around by foot in Recoleta, Retiro and the shops of Calle Florida. Nothing big but here are some random thoughts to note:

-All the waiters in the cafes seem to be old men and they are so cute with their little bow ties.

-Argentine churros are slighlty different from Mexican. (I like the latter better.)

-Window shopping is a good idea. Otherwise creepy little women follow you around the store.

-Everyone here has a dog and the dogs are SO freaking sweet. No one uses a leash and the dogs just never run into the streets where the crazy taxi drivers are!

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It's now about 9 pm BA time and we're utterly spent. Pam is next to me in our apt watching Twilight trailors, and like the obsessed Rob Patt fan she is, she's blushing and giggling like a school girl. She almost had a nervous breakdown because the internet connection was spotty.

As such, I'm blogging from my 4 inch phone and have severe blackberry thumb. So, I must go! Until next time....

(Post Script: photos were uploaded later.)

My new Argentine collection

2009-06-07T15:58:00.000-05:00

It is ESSENTIAL to steal napkins at every place you eat, because you just never know when you'll need them:

-I used McDonald's napkins at the soccer game bc the stadium had no toilet paper. (M had McD's one day)

-Stole a nearly finished toilet paper roll from Las Violetas bc our apt is almost out of TP.

-Pam stole a cloth napkin from Las Violetas to hide bread rolls for the pregnant lady (aka me).

-The small, parchment-like napkins from Cafe Biela have been great for dabbing our oily faces after a long day.

I ALMOST packed a full roll of TP from Austin but Dax stopped me. See, I told you!!!
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Random sleepless nights in BA

2009-06-07T12:27:00.000-05:00

Or rather, here are two more things I have done in my sleep that I don't even remember.

1. M said I woke up one night and said "baby I need water."

2. I apparently tried to snuggle with Pam last night. She rolled over.

2.
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Firsts at my first futbol game

2009-06-06T23:13:00.001-05:00

First time to cuss randomly in Spanish for no reason other than it was fun.

First time to climb out of a 6 ft bathroom stall after getting stuck (the door was broken). Hope that's the last.

First time English speaking tourists actually were interested in talking with us beyond "hello."

First time to try an Argentine hot dog (se llama Pancho or Panche). Blegh.

First time to pretend to not understand Spanish when we might have taken this guy's seats. Whoops.

First time to see Argentina play Colombia! They won 1-O. Ole!

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Gooooooaaaaaall!!!!!!

2009-06-06T16:22:00.000-05:00

Sike :) game is long.
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2009-06-06T14:59:00.001-05:00

Ole ole ole ole! Vamos Argentina!!!

Pam is here and our apt is great!

2009-06-06T08:55:00.000-05:00

So glad to have Pam here. The fun begins! We chatted on the ride home like we hadn't just seen each other a month ago or talk every day multiple times a day.

We're about to hit up some "pascial-ing" and will be back later to post fotos and notes from the day's adventures.

Ciao!

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Ah... Life

2009-06-06T06:28:00.001-05:00

I just told my life story to the taxi driver (our neighbor) in Spanish on the way to pick up Pam at the airport.

Hope he doesn't think I'm a hooker who got knocked up by some random dude.
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Buenos Aires will knock your socks off!

2009-06-06T05:30:00.003-05:00

I Love BA! The tango, the nightlife, food, the constipation after the food....(Just kidding). But you know what I love the most?

It's magic!!!! It will LITERALLY knock your socks off!

Every night I go to bed with a full set of PJs and a pair of socks because there is no central heat, just space heaters for the 40-50 degree lows. (Not to worry, I'm quite comfortable with the heater and down comforter so far). And every morning, like magic, I wake up to find my socks in a neat pile somewhere beside the bed. How can that be?? I don't remember waking up to carefully place them strategically next to me on the floor. Like, when I sleep in Austin, my socks are either in Dax's face, Milo's mouth or somewhere in the mess of sheets.

This morning it was extra magic. I was super cold last night after walking around barefoot (which felt good at the time as the cold floor soothed my aching bones) so decided to try sleeping without my socks. About 20 mins in, I was tossing and turning, too cold to sleep with my popsicle toes. And there was just no chance M would let me put my cold feet under her butt the way Dax lets me (was there?). So I decided, it was time for some serious sockage...drastic times called for drastic measures: out come to Spongebob socks. They even have little eyeballs attached!

This morning, I woke up nice and toasty, and didn't want to get out of bed except today is the day that Boo Pulkownik is coming in!! Yet, something was strangely awry.... or was it?? I noticed just then that my comfortable, thawed toes were not covered anymore by the awesome power of the Spongebob sock. Where had the gone??? I looked in the first place I could think of, next to me on the floor. No where to be found...under the sheets, maybe? Nope.

Finally, I got out of bed, dejected and in denial that my favorite socks might be lost forever. Like I said, I was getting out of bed, and realized nothing was awry after all! There they were, my comfortable little pals, right on top of me! I told you Buenos Aires is magic!

I know it's hard to believe... it was hard for me to believe too. Or is it just easier to think that Buenos Aires is magic vs. that I am actually THAT anal compulsive that I place socks into neat piles around me in my own sleep?