criplomats

I had a great birthday this year! I was so surprised to get these gorgeous Dutch iris delivered to the apartment from Ann – thank you, Annie! The night before was book club at our house (including takeout Pims Thai food) – it was fun to spend the evening with Lea, the two Rachels, and Bhavna and they surprised me with a great cake.

For my actual birthday, John took me to dinner after work at Carneros where we had great steak and wine.

Last Sunday, John and I went to lunch at a fun restaurant a little outside of town, La Ferroviario. It’s a big fun place and filled with huge tables of three-generation families. Afterward we went to La Feria del Mataderos where I bought a beautiful handmade tabla and some items made of cow horns (salt & pepper shakers, napkin rings, etc).

Friday, a few of the EFMs took me to lunch at a nearby parrilla – so nice of them! Saturday, Lea and I had hair appointments with Linda, then she took me to a nice birthday lunch at Villegas Resto – delicious BBQ ribs!

John and I watched a good movie, “Black Bag,” and we’re catching up on “Astrid” and “Hacks.”

Meanwhile, the organizing for packout painfully continues!

I love autumn in Buenos Aires – the weather is perfect! We were off for Labor Day on May 1. John went to a friend’s to play board games while I organized my closets and drawers. I’ve almost over-organized — when I went to lunch with Lea yesterday I had to scramble to find something to wear because I’ve prepacked so much! We had lunch at a cute boutique hotel yesterday and at Aldo’s last weekend. I’ll miss our weekend lunches.

Lea, Dan, and Patrick (my two deputies) took me out for dinner on Wednesday – so nice of them. I’ve been lucky to have them to work with.

I’ll also miss Flavia’s vet here – she came on Monday to give Flavie her annual rabies vaccine. I love not having to put Flavie through the stress of going to the vet. Leticia says Flavie is doing great and can’t believe she is almost 21.

In between organizing, John and I started watching “The Four Seasons,” which we’re enjoying. I read “Hold the Line,” by Michael Fanone, who was a police officer beaten up at the Capitol on January 6th (thanks to Joan for the rec). I’m now re-reading Adam Ross’s “Mr. Peanut” and watching “Friends and Neighbors.”

John and I walked through the massive book fair yesterday – it’s a huge event that attracts thousands of people. Huge tour busses parked everywhere bringing folks to the annual extravaganza of books. I’ve never seen so many books in one place! It was fun to see, even though all the books (save for a few) are in Spanish. The Argentines are definitely a book-loving people and John was in his element! Before the fair, we had a nice lunch at Roa Bar, and after the fair we did a quick run to “big” Jumbo to pick up a few things.

This week wasn’t a full moon, but it felt like it! We seemed to have crazy visa cases all week. Also, it’s employee evaluation season and everyone is trying to get theirs submitted on time. It’s stressful! Luckily I don’t have to do one this year for myself and I finished drafting my last one for my employees last week. That is one thing I will not miss!

John and I have been bingeing on “The Capture,” a fun British thriller. Flavia has just been being Flavia, living the good life!

I spent the long Easter weekend starting to get organized for the movers, going through drawers and bathroom cabinets. Earlier in the week, they came to pack up a small shipment heading to Hot Springs. I sat on hold with Delta for a long time on Monday to get seats for Flavia and me sorted out.

One deputy and I were the only managers in the office this week. Thankfully it was a slow week.

John and I are watching “Wolf Hall,” “Matlock,” “HIP,” and “Ludwig.” I watched Nicole Kidman in “Holland,” and binged on “North of North.” I also started “Friends and Neighbors” with Jon Hamm (it makes me so nervous!). I finished reading “From Here to the Great Unknown,” by Lisa Marie Presley and her daughter Riley Keogh, plus the short but sweet “Oscar and the Pink Lady.”

John went out for gaming Friday night at a co-worker’s house, then today he had Mike, Lynn, and Frank over.

We got John’s 4Runner back from having the paint touched up and dents taken out (our corkscrew entrance to the garage took its toll on both cars!), so we have wheels again. We’d been walking and taking taxis to get around the last couple of weeks (since I shipped my car already). The truck looks like new – it certainly doesn’t look like a 2008 model (albeit with only 40,000 miles!).

I tried to take it easy this week since I was recovering from a cold, but we were busy at work. Our post was chosen to do a “chat” with the consular chief information officer in DC – that was fun and interesting. I also got to interact with my good friend Scott in a couple of calls to DC and my friend Bill, as well, on other topics. And I spent time working with the officer of overseas buildings to look at our consular operations here, helping plan for the section’s future. It’s employee evaluation time, so I’m trying to get all of my reports done for the people I directly rate — luckily I don’t have to do one myself this year – hallelujah!

John and I finished watching “Zero Day,” and have started the new season of “Wolf Hall.” I finished (and enjoyed) the new season of “White Lotus.” This morning I started reading Lisa Marie Presley’s memoir.

Yesterday I walked up to meet Lea for lunch at Roa; John and I had a fun lunch out in San Telmo at Grandes Carnicerías de la Plata today.