criplomats

It was a fairly uneventful week other than a lot going on at work. We have a team in from Washington doing some upgrades on our computers, so I went in for a while yesterday to do some testing.

John and I had dinner out at Carneros this past Thursday which was a nice switch-up for us! The rest of the week was pretty low-key.

I finished reading “Chip Wars,” and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. This weekend I read “The Forgotten Girls: A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America,” by Arkansan Monica Potts. Thanks to Jackie for the recommendation – it was interesting and depressing, basically a chronicle of the author’s friendship with her childhood best friend and her friend’s decline into poverty, early motherhood, domestic violence, and drug use — and not a flattering portrait of our home state (probably deserved). John and I are watching “The Lincoln Lawyer” series and also started the Indian crime drama, “Kohrra,” which started slowly but has drawn us in.

I made two more shopping runs this weekend for newly arrived families Saturday and Sunday mornings. It’s great to see our friends Lydia and Cesar again – you may remember that we dog – sat their Chihuahua Honey in Islamabad for a few months when they got stuck out of the country when Lahore was evacuated. Sadly, Honey died last year, but we have fond memories of her. While the new folks shopped, I enjoyed a latte in Starbucks and read “Chip Wars,” an interesting account of the history of semiconductor development.

Lea is back from leave (thank goodness!). We had brunch at the great vegetarian restaurant Marti on Saturday. John and I took a walk later in the day to see the doggos for adoption – a good restful weekend!

We went back to La Rural this morning, again arriving early to beat some of the crowds on the last day. We picked up a few more things, watched some of the cow judging, and had another steak sandwich from the parrilla pictured above. I stayed a bit longer than John, hoping to see some riding competitions but it looked like the emphasis was on cattle today. I bought a great merino sweater (sheep farming is big in Patagonia) and came on home to enjoy the rest of the day.

My new boss Aaron arrived this week – transition season at the embassy is in full swing. I spent some amount of time getting him settled in his office, taking him to his first Country Team meeting, and briefing him on some imminent issues. John and I were also social sponsors for a new family, and went to their new apartment after work Wednesday to leave groceries for their arrival the next morning. I took them for a big grocery shop yesterday afternoon after my hair appointment.

Argentina signed the Artemis Accords this week during the visit of the NASA Administrator Bill Nelso and former senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson. I participated in a briefing for her – although my part was small, it was fun to be at the table with someone I’d only seen on CSPAN before. At age 80 or thereabouts, she looks exactly the same and was quite sharp.

John and I watched this week’s episode of “Hijack” (love it) and finished “Deadloch,” which we really enjoyed and laughed at. I finished “Elena Knows,” by Argentine author Claudia Piniera.

A few more photos from today’s outing:

John and I went to the big livestock expo at La Rural today – big fun. We got there before the big crowds arrived so we were able to sit and have a delish grilled steak on a baguette at a picnic table, and visit the provincial pavilions to see the arts/crafts/wines/foods. We enjoyed seeing all the animals! It was really a fun day and we were pooped by the time we got home.

I chatted with Ann, Pam, and Jackie this afternoon. John and I have been watching the raunchy-but-funny Australian series, “Deadloch” this week. I finished reading “The Book of Charlie” and “Lessons Learned and Cherished: The Teacher Who Changed My Life,” and started “Elena Knows,” by an Argentine author.

I love these trees in Recoleta – the internet says they are gum/rubber trees (“gomero” in Spanish). They are massive! I stopped to photograph this one as we were walking home from a yummy vegetarian brunch at Marti, where Lea and I have gone a couple of times. It is chilly but sunny today, and lots of people are out at the weekend arts and crafts fair by the cemetery and at a gastronomic fair at the nearby French Plaza.

The same was true yesterday – we stopped by the annual coffee fair across the street from the embassy. Lots of coffee shops set up tents to sell food and coffee – it was good people- and dog-watching. We also went to Villa Crespo neighborhood to walk around a bit – the leather stores were open but nothing caught our eye.

Earlier this week it was cold and rainy, so the sun was welcome. We had a farewell event for my boss on Friday at Bosch Palace — champagne and cake — before he takes off next week.

I had a great chat with my friend Nomi yesterday.

I binged on a podcast called “Scamanda” this week (really? fake cancer to get donations?), and John and I are binging on the series, “The Lincoln Lawyer.” We also watched this week’s episode of “Hijack,” with Idris Elba. I finished Jeannette Walls’ “Hang the Moon” and started “The Book of Charlie: Wisdom from the Remarkable Life of a 109-Year-Old Man.” And I was glad to see Alcaraz win Wimbledon today – I saw him play at the Argentine Open last December.