Getting Close to the end

After three weeks of guests, various friends leaving the country for good, and moving places, I’m ready to get my hands dirty again. I’ve also been waiting on pictures from about half the guests down here, so I apologize for a lack of photos. It’s unfair to blame the guests really, as it’s my fault for not using my camera, but who accepts responsibility these days anyways? More pics will be up in about a week or so. Oh yeah, and now my computer is dead so it looks like all pictures are going to have to wait until may.

First and foremost: the New Years resolution. This year I will not be ingesting caffeine in any form. There were many good suggestions, but given that I will be traveling for over two months, in some cases to secluded areas, and that I will more than likely be moving at least twice, this seemed like the most logical and feasible.

The Logic: My body doesn’t handle caffeine well, but I love the taste of coffee. Since I’ve been down here and had lower stress levels, I end up having it about four times a week, and my body subsequently gets the shakes. What worries me is that this habit will continue or even grow when I re-enter (enter?) the working world.

Feasibility: Although I thought it might be relatively easy at first, I’m beginning to rethink my position. Coffee isn’t really the problem. Tea, on the other hand, is going to be tough. I love tea, especially sweet tea, and now that I can’t have caffeine (and since I already don’t drink soda, New Years res 2005) I’m very limited in my drink choices. On top of that, Chocolate. This will make snacking tough, no cookies, no granola bars, and worst of all, no trail mix (price club brand with the M&M’s). The thing I’ll miss the most, however, will be the weekend café while reading the newspaper.

Christmas at the Beach

Being young and foolish, I often don’t truly appreciate things until they have passed. There are moments, however, that are great enough that I can appreciate them in the present. Christmas was one of them. My best friend, Melinda, decided to flee the cold and spend some time in Argentina. It was hard enough for me to spend the holidays away from family that I could never ask someone to do the same. However, this was her idea and I was very appreciative for it.
Melinda had come in town after law school exams, so she was on a bit of a health kick since diets tend to go to shit during exam time. Those of you who have been down here could probably have guessed it, her health kick lasted all of 24 hours. In addition to doing the usual tour of the city, we decided to head down to the beach for the holiday.

I procured an apartment from the family of one of my students that was fifty meters from the beach, add some good music and gin and tonics and you got what many would define as perfection. A couple other William and Mary alums stayin down here, Bree and Callie, also joined us. We spent the days on the beach and the nights with wine bottles. My favorite part might have been the Beach clubs. In Pinamar you can rent a little cabana type tent, including lounge chairs, towels for four, and various other services (pool, hot tub, internet, wii, etc) for roughly $25. This little deal made our beach experience all the more pleasurable, especially since it was extremely windy near the ocean. It certainly wasn’t a substitute for a family-filled holiday, but it was definitively the next best thing.


Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot?

I had another friend in town for new years. Actually, to be more accurate, another friend and his family. Craig Carter and the fam damily descended upon Buenos Aires in late December and stayed through to the beginning of 2009. As I was currently juggling between guests and moving out of my apartment I was not able to spend an extremely large amount of time with them. The time we did spend, however, I relished. I love meeting families as I think they generally explain a lot about a person, and this rang true for Craig. Generous and fun are a few of the adjectives that first come to mind, but more than anything I’d say they are just good people. Please keep in mind I’m saying this in the old southern way, and not the plural of a “good person.” You know, like even if you were just talking about man and you said “he’s good people.” The kind of folk that would give you the shirt off their back, those that you instantaneously feel welcome with, and they made my new years great.

I generally dislike new year’s eve. I see no reason for another excuse to get drunk and often think the risks outweigh any sort of silly tradition that is celebrated at the turning of the year. It seems as though Buenos Aires agrees with me. It’s really more of a family holiday here and everyone seems to have a new years dinner here with their relatives. And since dinners start around 11, the actual new year is sort of a non-event. True, many restaurants have a fixed menu, and some bars or clubs charge extra to do a little something special, but it’s more or less like any other night. In fact, if not for the extremely large amount of illegal and unsafe fireworks…I really wouldn’t have known when the clock struck twelve. As for me, Bree, Callie, and I made gourmet pizzas for dinner that evening, then met up with various friends (Craig and some of the Carter clan included) at a bar for a drink or two, then on to a club to dance the night away until 5am. Pretty much a standard night in Buenos Aires really, and I enjoyed it. Oh yeah, and what was I doing exactly as the clock struck? Topping a pizza with barbequed chicken and caramelized onions…exciting stuff huh?






What May Have Been The Craziest Weekend of My Life

I’d say about once a month here I have a big night. As a typical night out here usually last at least until three or four, by “big night” I mean 7am. I’m too old, not the clubbing type, and generally like my sleep. After my guest exodus, however, I wearily realized that it was my friend Katie’s last weekend in Buenos Aires. As we have been good friends since high school and enjoyed our time together down here, I wanted to make sure to spend as much time with her as possible. It should also be mentioned that Katie had three friends in town for this final weekend. The events are as follows:

FRIDAY:
Started out like any other, a few drinks at a chill outside bar. It was actually a bit odd as apparently the entire population of Buenos Aires flees the city in the beginning of January so much was closed down. As it was Craig’s final night in town, I wanted to make sure it was a good one. We head to a salsa club and as we are on our way, I text Katie to let her know. Two random dudes at a salsa club who don’t know how to dance salsa could be a bit of an awkward situation, but Craig and I made the most of it. At around 2/230 or so the have dance leaders come up on stage and lead everyone in something that I might describe as over-sexualized line dancing with a salsa twist. I think Craig may have put it best with his title of “epic latin salsa sex hiphop linedancing.”

The girls arrive shortly thereafter, which is perfect timing since Craig and I are now drenched in sweat. I shouldn’t have been surprised since Katie is quite attractive, but these girls are stunning, and of course immediately attacked by every Argentine guy in the club. Seriously, half the night felt like a ho down because I would have to swoop in and save them from various swarth machines. The other half of the night was pure magic as I was “in the zone.” I mean, I hesitate to use the word “dance machine” as I’m not actually part robot (not yet at least). I may have been, however, the maniac of the ball, dancing like he’s never danced before. This of course, could not have been done without suitable dance parters* so a thank you to all of the lovely ladies who put up with me.

*the two notable exceptions being Kevin Bacon’s punch dancing scene in Footloose and the unforgettable Johnny T in Saturday Night Fever


SATURDAY
I am a morning person, and sometimes I hate it. I seemed to have been on a streak of waking up at 1030 in the morning, almost exactly, for about four days straight. The fact that I was out until 6am did nothing to change that. After collecting myself I make my way out to meet the ladies for lunch, where I proceeded to make fun of myself and swear that I was done with clubs. I spent the later afternoon seeing the Carters off, and then pretending to nap.

You know when your body is giving you overwhelming signs to change something? Well, later that night I completely ignored those as I headed to yet another club to meet the girls. I love watching Katie interact with Argentines as he mix of Spanish, English, and frustration is ever apparent and tonight was no different. After making my way in the club I had a very hard time paying for drink as all her friends were very generous. Added bonus: some of the guys the had met previously were there and got a table with VIP and bottle service. Now I’m not the clubbing type, so this sort of thing really through me out of my element, but I made the best of the situation with a repeat performance of the night before (though the dancing was not as good as the music wasn’t as good)
My two favorite parts from the night were as follows”
1) The DJ stopping all of the club music to play 80’s rock around 3am. Literally the entire dance floor stood still and watched us Americans rock. This would have been awesome had it only been one song, but since it went on for about a half an hour it was AMAZING
2) As we’re leaving the club around 6am, Katie decides to run away. After texting to make sure she’s ok, I then direct the cabbie to take the girls and I for some late night pizza (as they are screaming it in my ear). Various poor choices were made at the restaurant, the key one being ordering more beer. As exhaustion took us all over I’d imagine just about everything we said was non-sensical and would love to hear a tape of our conversations. Bed time: 7am.

Sunday Night

Can’t be big right? It’s Sunday after all. It was Katie and the girls official last night out though so we had to try. We head to a cool little area, Las Canitas, for dinner. The girls just happen to run into the international French playboy type fellow that they had met previous. Our dinner ends up combining about four different groups of people, and then, amazingly, we head out to another club. The fact that a club is open on a Sunday night in January is absurd, even more so than the bottle service these folks were ordering.
One of the girls and I, however, had had enough of the crowded and loud club scene and made our way to a bar to just chill for a bit. Thinking we made the right decision of a “lower key” night, I walk the girl back to Katie’s place around 530am. The other girls, however, had not made it back yet and there was no spare key. I convince the security guard that our friends are coming and he allows us to wait in the lobby, where we proceed to pass out. Finally the girls make it back, I’d guess a little before 8 or so.

Overall during this three day period

Average bed time: 7am
Average hours of sleep per night: 4
Average alcohol consumed: too much

A ton of fun, though not something where I’d like to have a repeat performance.


SHORTS
-Leading up to New Years Argentina had a add campaign against fireworks. It showed a damaged child and said something to the like of "You don't have to use fireworks to celebrate, but if you do use them make sure you do legally and in a responsible manner." I think it was the battered child that really hit home for me, but talk about a mixed message. If you were to carry the same approach to let's say drugs, it might read "don't do heroin, but if you do make sure you use a clean needle and buy the good stuff." Pick a message, either say don't, or say be responsible, when both are said all messages are lost.

-I was on a travel bus for the trip to the beach. Towards the end of the trip I went downstairs to use the bathroom. I tried twice but couldn't get the door open, and for some reason looked around after my failed attempts. About half way down the bus some old man was giving me the "don't go in there" sign. Upon receiving this sign, immediately walk away. Don't question as to why, no pondering involved, just walk away...when you get that sign, there's never going to be a positive outcome.

RANDOM THOUGHT

Life gives you lemons, start hucking lemons at people. Making lemonade takes too long.