Ted and Tommy

January 5th, 2025
Tommy, Ted

I was thrilled to see Ted and Tommy Harps after 40+ years — they were in town on their way to an Antarctica cruise and made time to come visit us Saturday afternoon. They were exactly the same and I was really happy to see them. And bonus: Tommy’s daughter Lauren, her fiancé Jesse, Tommy’s son Cameron and his wife Becca also came over, so I got to meet the kids for the first time ever. They were just delightful and we enjoyed a couple of hours yakking and catching up.

It’s hard to believe it’s 2025! John and I were tucked into bed well before midnight and spent New Year’s Day at home. We enjoyed a morning bike ride and had to laugh at all of the young Argentines still roaming around in groups looking a little worse for the wear at 8AM. I also had a nice chat with Ann.

I finished reading “Challenger” and thoroughly enjoyed it, despite its grim topic. It was an excellent overview of the space shuttle program. I was reminded of watching the Columbia disintegrate overhead in 2003 when John and I were in Dallas – 17 years after Challenger exploded after liftoff.

We continue to watch “The Agency” and “Dune,” and also started “Shogun,” which we are enjoying.

I was sad to hear that my friend from Hot Springs James McCully passed away on Christmas Eve. We had spent a couple of Thanksgivings together when John and I lived in DC.

2025 will be full of changes and I’m ready to get that party started!

Pachamama

December 29th, 2024
Pachamama

After having lunch with Lea at a great little cafe called Evelia, I finally stopped in a little shop called Facón that’s been on my radar for a while. I brought home a ceramic Pachamama from northern Argentina near the Bolivian border. Pachamama is an Earth Mother type goddess worshiped by the Inca – I like to think she’s settling in to her new home with us!

We were off for both Christmas Eve and Christmas — both were quiet days for us. I was thankful for my annual Audubon calendar from Ginger, plus a donation to my favorite animal rescue, Out of the Woods. (Thank you, Ginger!) John cooked up some Kahlua Pig on Christmas. Christmas doesn’t seem to be such a big deal here and it’s hard to get in any Christmas spirit, but we enjoyed the days off. We also went bike riding on Christmas morning – lovely! We also got out again this morning – lots of fun. The bike paths are good and there are lots of parks.

This past week I read two books by Jane Campbell: “Interpretations of Love” and a collection of short stories, “Cat Brushing.” She is an older author, in her 80s, and while some of the stories are quirky and a bit odd (with a spoonful of science fiction thrown in), I do like her writing. This morning, I started Adam Higginbotham’s “Challenger,” about the 1986 space shuttle disaster.

John and I finished the second season of “Shrinking” and are enjoying “The Agency” and “The Day of the Jackal.”

As I write, John’s got several friends over to play a board game – he’s in hog heaven!

Throwback to Africa

December 22nd, 2024
With Luc

A former co-worker from Monrovia was in town on his way to an Antarctic cruise, so we caught up over dinner Tuesday night. It was fun to hear what’s happened since we left! I met him downtown at the Parilla Aires Criolla, one of our favorite little steakhouses.

John couldn’t join us for dinner because he was attending a work event at Bosch Palace honoring a group of scientists heading to Antarctica, plus Star Trek’s William Shatner (Neil deGrasse Tyson missed due to a delayed flight – darn!). John was thrilled to visit with astrophysicist Brian Greene and his wife Tracy Day – I guarantee you John was the only one there who actually was familiar with Greene and his books and sought him out to chat.

Flavia has had spells of not eating this past week but seems to have bounced back (again!) today.

John and I watched “Black Doves” (I wasn’t a fan), plus “The Agency” and “Dune.” I’m enjoying season two of “Bad Sisters.” This week I finished reading Paula Hawkins’ “The Blue Hour,” as well as David S. Tatel’s memoir “Vision.” Thanks to Joan for that recommendation – I really enjoyed the book. Tatel spent 30 years on the D.C. Circuit Court (he took RBG’s seat) and is also blind – fascinating insights on both the Court and blindness. Made me wish we had more judges like him on the Supreme Court!

Holidays are coming

December 15th, 2024
With Puri and Lea

We had our holiday get together at work this week – pizza lunch, bingo, cookie decorating, and fun glasses! It was a nice way to end the week!

John and I pulled out our bikes yesterday and went for rides yesterday and today. We had so much fun and need to do it more often – we just get lazy! I also had lunch with Lea and Rachel at a really good vegetarian restaurant, Chui, yesterday.

John and I are watching “The Agency” and finished the second season of “Shrinking.” Last night we watched the fun (but tense) “Carry On” on Netflix. I finished reading “The Blue Light.”

Here’s most of the consular section at our holiday party:

On my own

December 8th, 2024

John was in Mexico City all week for a conference (where he got to see some old friends, including Jimmi). He arrived home late last night full of stories and news.

Today I went to my first polo match – Lea got us tickets for the finals. It was an interesting cultural experience – we were in the VIP tent, and everyone seemed much more intent on chatting and visiting than watching the match! But I saw enough to see how incredible the horses and riders are – it’s fast and looks dangerous! Very beautiful and the weather was outstanding!

Groom getting the horses ready
Thundering down the field

Yesterday I walked to an arts and crafts fair nearby, then wandered around the neighborhood a bit – I bought some watermelon and cherries at a local market – I’ve been eating watermelon a lot for dinner with some blue cheese and prosciutto – delish! The strawberries also look gorgeous and I could literally smell them as I walked by a fruit stand. I also checked out the rotating exhibition at the Fine Arts Museum and saw these wonderful pieces by Joaquin Torres Garcia.

Adam and Eve
Wood block toys

Thursday night I hosted book club – we had a big time eating delivery Thai food and discussing “Wanted: Toddler’s Assistant” by Stephanie Kiser.

The weather was perfect for a walkabout and the city was really showing off!

Near our apartment
Don’t forget to look up!

While John was away, I started Season Two of “Bad Sisters” and think it’s really better than Season One. I also re-watched “Primal Fear” from 1996 or so – Laura Linney, Richard Gere, and the really incredible Edward Norton. John and I caught up on “Shrinking” and “Man on the Inside” tonight. I finished “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous,” by Ocean Vuong yesterday and started Paula Hawkins’ “The Blue Hour.”