Comings and Goings
Much has happened in the last few weeks. My dear friend Erin got married in a beautiful ceremony, and the first floor of Willard/1116 Foster reunited for the first time since graduation to kick off the dancing at the reception - to Madonna's Like A Prayer, of course. The matron of honor's husband asked me if Argentina is a "tropical island." Temporarily stunned speechless, the best answer I could muster was "No, it's like a country," so I'm not doing the geographically challenged any favors. On the way back from Chicago, I was stranded in Washington D.C. for a full day, and United Airlines lost my luggage. When my suitcase arrived in Buenos Aires, it was missing $300 worth of personal belongings. Angry letters have been mailed to the airline and I'm still waiting for a response.
Meanwhile, two new interns have arrived at the office. Amanda's website has gone live and the e-commerce component is being installed soon, so check it out and buy some high-quality leather accessories. Harry Potter was deemed gay, and then not. Simone's play got a rave review in the Chicago Sun-Times. Cindy and Michael left Buenos Aires and I inherited three pairs of shoes, a purse from Ann Taylor, Mexican spices and some Febreeze. I saw Wedding Crashers and was disappointed. I saw Crash and was so impressed that I invited Laura over and watched it a second time.
The last highlight would be my trip to Uruguay this weekend. Six of us headed to a little town called Punta Gorda, which is about 18 kilometers from Carmelo and right on the Río Uruguay. "Little town" is actually an overstatement, as the only thing in Punta Gorda is the hotel and a small, deserted beach. We sat on the sand, reveled in the first truly springy weekend of the season, laughed together and played poker. I learned Texas Hold 'Em and even won a game! And I ate a lot of chivito, which is a popular Uruguayan dish and a particular obsession of mine. Chivito is a flat little piece of goat meat or beef, topped with ham, cheese and a fried egg. All of this rests on a bed of French fries, and it's served with lettuce and tomato and a Russian salad. Bread is optional. I tell ya what - Uruguay doesn't have too much going on, but chivito is one of the finest foods ever conceived. I could eat it every day...until I keeled over from massive heart failure, of course.
After a long weekend in the Uruguayan countryside, it was a shock to the system to return to the bus exhaust and crowded streets of Buenos Aires. But I would wither away without city life, and it is always eventually soothing to get back to the noisy rhythms of work and home and play. I have two weekends until my next trip back to Chicago. If you'll be at my brother's wedding, I'll see you there!
Meanwhile, two new interns have arrived at the office. Amanda's website has gone live and the e-commerce component is being installed soon, so check it out and buy some high-quality leather accessories. Harry Potter was deemed gay, and then not. Simone's play got a rave review in the Chicago Sun-Times. Cindy and Michael left Buenos Aires and I inherited three pairs of shoes, a purse from Ann Taylor, Mexican spices and some Febreeze. I saw Wedding Crashers and was disappointed. I saw Crash and was so impressed that I invited Laura over and watched it a second time.
The last highlight would be my trip to Uruguay this weekend. Six of us headed to a little town called Punta Gorda, which is about 18 kilometers from Carmelo and right on the Río Uruguay. "Little town" is actually an overstatement, as the only thing in Punta Gorda is the hotel and a small, deserted beach. We sat on the sand, reveled in the first truly springy weekend of the season, laughed together and played poker. I learned Texas Hold 'Em and even won a game! And I ate a lot of chivito, which is a popular Uruguayan dish and a particular obsession of mine. Chivito is a flat little piece of goat meat or beef, topped with ham, cheese and a fried egg. All of this rests on a bed of French fries, and it's served with lettuce and tomato and a Russian salad. Bread is optional. I tell ya what - Uruguay doesn't have too much going on, but chivito is one of the finest foods ever conceived. I could eat it every day...until I keeled over from massive heart failure, of course.
After a long weekend in the Uruguayan countryside, it was a shock to the system to return to the bus exhaust and crowded streets of Buenos Aires. But I would wither away without city life, and it is always eventually soothing to get back to the noisy rhythms of work and home and play. I have two weekends until my next trip back to Chicago. If you'll be at my brother's wedding, I'll see you there!