Travelling through 2009

2009 was a great year filled with travel and changes impossible to foresee at the start. So here is my year in review.

January Highlight: This was definitely hosting our "Party Like a Barack Star" Inaugural Celebration.
It was just nice to let our hair down after a very difficult and bitter eight years and a bitter election cycle. Hope isn't a bad message to celebrate either. So even though I feel the potential has not been capitalized on, a year later, I'm still happier than before, and yes, still hopeful - in our own action.

February Highlight: Hopping a Plane to Uruguay & Argentina:
I can't say enough about our two weeks in the Southern Cone. A stay in Buenos Aires with the rest of the Touro-Trash was new and urbanly delicious. A little road trip up the coast of Uruguay was dreamy - the best meditation of my life - and all our own. Feeling like I'm home again, where I belong, where I have roots deeper than I'll ever know, reuniting with family after 6 long years to find changes in beautiful and sad ways - isn't that the way of life? - and picking up right where we left off, leaving even closer than before, with hopes I'll return before I miss too much, with hopes I'll return before I forget too much.

March Lowlight: Downsized from work:
Saying goodbye to work colleagues and friends I've worked with for 4 years - but not for long - in June we cross paths again.
March Highlight: Vegas with the Ladies
An unexpected and last minute opportunity to reunite with some of my friends from my NY/CT Nanny Days - because of aforementioned work downsizing! A phone call to Sheyla & Emily spiraled into a road trip for four and a quick plane ride for me to meet somewhere, almost in the middle. Being back with people who knew you before you became the person you are today is liberatingly honest. Picking up right where we left off makes everything so easy. Some of us decided to go play craps - and we won big, making me believe I didn't have to worry about money post layoff, and making for a pleasant, mostly stress-free fun-employment.

April Highlight: April's Blown Out Birthday Party - we're experts at it:
No matter how hard we try, April can't have a perfect birthday party. Maybe that's because she is the black hole of perfect, everything else gets sucked up by her perfection and all you really need is April's presence, for a perfect party. I'm most likely sucking up here - but seriously! Tina made a quick visit too. And despite the perfect weather the rest of April, April's birthday weekend was just too windy to have a bonfire party celebration. We really tried! Thankfully Myles rode to the rescue! A perfectly last minute birthday bar-b-q instead!

May Highlight: Sunrise at Joshua Tree:
May was a busy month. Dad visited, Jenny & Damon's birthday party, Ray & Zenida had a bar-b-q to kick off the summer. But the highlight was definitely a spur of the moment decision to go to Joshua Tree to watch the sun rise. April & I were on the sunset strip, watching a friend play solo at the Whiskey. While drinking a weak cocktail, we decided to go home, grab the dogs and drive the three hours east. We got to the park right before the sun rays started to penetrate the night sky. We watched the stars disappear while the sun rose over the desert, while listening to, what else? U2. Oh, and we discovered the back of my Prius can sleep two 5'7 girls and 2 dogs comfortably!

June Highlight: Back to work & Montreal again:
June started the momentum that would carry us through the events of the remaining year. The first week of June would prove to be my Sync "Manifestation" Week. Thoughts of moving and travel to Spain over drinks (seriously!) were conceived this week, after I got a new job working with my old boss and friend again. The opportunity to get a new place and go to Spain for practically free, arrived at our doorstep with barely a wishful thought, a week later.

Back to work for a new company, also based out of Montreal, meant a trip up north, traveling with Phil, just like old times, and reuniting with my previous colleagues and meeting new ones. Summer in Montreal is lovely! It included reunions, dinners, playing pool with new work friends, a return to Stogies, watching a protest in support of the Iranian protesters and buying a new bag.

July Highlight: A New Place - Oh What A World It Could Be!:
After moving once a year, every year for 5 years straight, we stayed in West LA for 5 years - probably a couple years too long...but with inexpensive rent and a great location, shifting momentum was difficult. But by June it was a sealed deal and we moved July 4th weekend into our new place a couple of blocks to the beach, in Playa del Rey. The Playa is an old beach town, an island paradise in the sea of Urban Los Angeles. Surrounded on all sides, by the marina, the wetlands, the ocean and LAX, the Playa is sheltered from other beach town woes of tourists and glitter! A little run down, yes, but its a dog town, and its my town now. I think I've found my LA Home - 9 years after moving here!

August Highlight: Definitely the Six Man Surf & Volleyball Tournament:
Brilliantly AWESOME. I finally get the South Bay thing. No, its not because I'm older - Six Man is like spring break threw up over Manhattan Beach! It was so much fun I can't even do it justice. But lets just say costumes, fine tequila shots, hot guys running around in wigs, a dj spinning in someones front yard, cheese-heads, cowboys, waves, sun and sand, were all involved.

September Highlight: Trip to Morro Bay:
For Labor Day we decided to take a road trip up to Morro Bay. We, being, April, Elida, Dogs and Me. Wine tasting, amazing lunch, elephant seals, back to Gorda for dog runs on black pebble beaches with dolphins frolicking in the surf, sunsets over water, sad little aquariums, luffa farms, cowgirl lunches, Solvang and country roads. What could be better?

October Lowlight: Miguel Passed Away:
My old, dear, friend, Miguel, passed away. We became friends the first month I worked at Ascent - early 2002. Miguel can be summed up in four words: A lust for life! He was A Friend Always! Genuinely Nice, Always Smiling, Never a bad thing said, Like Switzerland, Always up for a party, good cook, GREAT Bar-B-Q-er, Lunch Compenero, always busy, loved to travel and see the world and Loved People. And he was so much more than this. And I wish, wish, wish when I think of him. Wish for more time.

October Highlight: Trip to Spain:
Finally our trip to Spain arrived. A flight into Madrid and we were off and running with the rest of the tourists. Museums, tapas, sangria filled our days and nights. Then it was off to Figueres, to the Dali Museum (a highlight!) and a road trip up the Costa Brava and back down to Girona, and Barcelona for some AMAZING Tapas, too much wine and a brutal hang over the following day. But who cares - with one day in Barcelona, we saw a lot of architecture, art, museums, shops, the Mediterranean - the world was at our feet! And then it was back to Madrid for a lovely -tourist free stay, with wine, cava, food, parks and more museums. It was delicious!

November Lowlight: PT's stroke:
Phil had a stroke and it threw everyone for a loop, and we all ended upside down, still struggling to right ourselves.
November Highlight: Hosting Thanksgiving with friends and family:
We were so excited to have Thanksgiving at our place, now that we have a place that is big enough to have people over around a table! April did most of the cooking. Tina & Eric came into town - Yay! and Julia brought her friend over. Damon, Lu & Mason completed the family-friendly diners. Everything was delicious and we played card games into the night. The next day it was off for a long lunch - in Morro Bay, where the wind blew through.

December Highlight: Phil comes home well on the way to a full recovery! And a Roadtrip to end the decade and start a new one:
December was busy with holiday parties, trimming trees, and Mom came into town for Christmas, which was great. I had the last week of December off so we got in the car with our dogs, and took our last road trip of the decade, and the first one of the new one. What could be better? Well, it was the best way we could think of to welcome in 2010...with new, surprising, beautiful experiences, adventures, family, happiness & travel, just around every corner!

Its All About March Madness

March is supposed to arrive like a lion and leave like a lamb. I don't know about that. It feels like March has been a whirlwind all the way through, and may even continue into April. A lot of March was really great with a few expected and unexpected reunions with family and friends. And then there were some changes - expected but still disappointing.

Hanging out with Mason
I can never get enough of my Mason. He is changing so much in such short periods of time. We spent a Saturday day with Elida, Damon & Mason, first at the farmers market and then at the house, watching movies, trying to play guitar hero, and trying Elida's new corn chowder. And of course I couldn't pass up an opportunity to watch Mason after work too.

Stanger Reunion in Hollywood
Angie, Jason, Jayden & Carter were in town, on the Disneyland/Park Circuit. On their way back to Anaheim from Universal City, they were good enough to meet us at the Hollywood & Highland complex. Driving to Hollywood is always a bit of torture, because there is no quick way to get there from the west side - no highways, just side streets, for miles & miles. They didn't mind our tardiness, because the Return to Space Mountain Movie Premier was happening across the street at El Capitan Theater, and they ran right into Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and got autographs and pictures. We had dinner at Wink and then did a quick walk through the rest of the tourist sites by H&H, after which we returned to our respective part of town.

Spring Break - Rich and Co visit LA
Richard, Cynthia, Collin, Elise, Andrew & Marcus all came to LA for spring break! March weather is always unpredictable but they didn't care...it was still much warmer than the UT. Richard wanted to spend time on the beach, even though it was cold and windy. So we went to Playa del Rey - our favorite beach spot - and had lunch at The Shack, followed by fun, games and yerba on the beach. April, Lu and I, got cold far earlier than the rest and ended up cutting the beach trip a little short, to Rich's dismay.

The kids had blue lips but they were disappointed too :(. We ended up warming up at our place, playing the wii, taking naps, and watching kid shows before heading out to dinner at Gate of India in Santa Monica, where the clowning around really started. Elise and Andrew slept over, and after having breakfast and watching some Scooby Doo, we headed up to Lu's to reunite with the rest of the gang, for more chats and laughs. Only Tina & Eric were missing :( but maybe one day!

The AX Drops followed by Chasing Luck in Vegas
The ax dropped the third week of March, but I still feel lucky. I spent the day relaxing, meditating and packing for a Vegas weekend trip. I decided that if I won in Vegas, everything would work out fine, but if I lost, I better worry. May not be the best bargain to strike with yourself after losing your job, but going to Vegas right after you lose your job may not be the best idea either. Either way, it made me feel better and have a better attitude about being unemployed.
I took my flight out and got into Vegas around 9PM, where I reunited, last minute, with Liz, Ruthanne, Emily & Sheyla. We went to dinner at the Paris, tried to dance at a lame dance club, before heading back to the hotel. Ruth, Sheyla and I went to the casino to play my favorite game, Craps. They had never played before so it was ON! Sheyla caught on very quickly, having the best roll of the night - for over 1/2 an hour she was rolling money in for everyone at the table. High Fives and laughter and money - not a bad way to spend an evening. Sheyla is an aggressive gambler, and so won big. I'm a moderate gambler so won enough to feel like I didn't have to worry :) And Ruthie was a cautious gambler, so she won only a little bit - but didn't lose anything! We ended up staying at the craps table until 5AM. We were so tired after being up all night, we went to breakfast, relaxed in the room, went to the Venetian for Sephora shopping, went to Freemont Street to try our luck again - we weren't feeling it, went to Top of the World Restaurant at the Stratosphere for dinner and spent the rest of the night hanging out together. Sunday I had a flight to catch by noon, so it was a "quick" breakfast, hasty goodbyes and rush to the airport to find my flight delayed. I didn't get back to LA until after 9PM At least I didn't have to worry about getting up for work the next day :)

The rest of the days and nights were all about enjoying time with friends and family that reside nearby. We had a girls night happy hour at the World Cafe in Santa Monica, where we were treated to a night of comedy and magic , and chatting and heckling. One of the funniest days of the week was Forbes Treasure Hunt in Santa Monica with Elida, Damon, April & Mason, which we lost but had a great time accruing points at all the bars on third street. After wards we headed up to Lu's to watch a movie - but for the life of me, I can't remember which one. Hmm. Oh - and Ask Damon about some bite marks! LOL!

Home Sweet Home

Following a 12.5 hour flight, plus customs and immigration time, Elida was kind enough to pick us up at the airport at 7AM. We were so happy to see her and reminisce about our trip. Its always a little strange coming home. Everything is so familiar and yet, my heart and mind are elsewhere. Its the only time I ever experience regret...Regret I'm at home and not where I just was.

We went to Swingers for a quick breakfast and were planning to hop in the car and head to Mesquite, an hour north of Vegas, so we could reunite with Dad & Tina to get our dogs back. However, my dear car had a battery issue, requiring Triple A - which rocks - to jump my car back to life. Finally, finally we were off, with Elida joining us so we could get caught up.

It took us 5 hours, but finally we made it, where we reunited with all, had a Mexican lunch, and of course lots of laughs, and then we had to turn around again...for the longest drive home EVER! EVER! EVER! All in all, we were traveling 22 hours. After all that time in planes and cars its easy to be happy we're home.

The remainder of the month of February was filled with work, family and friend time. I had lunch with Phil, tapas and wine with Jenny and babysat Finley. We took a trip to Gordon Ramsey's restaurant for a surprising and tasty brunch for Elida's birthday. And of course we hung out with the dogs as much as possible. But mostly we just tried to recover from our jet lag.

Back Home Southern Cone Style - Uruguay and Argentina

FEB 6 - And so the Adventure Begins
The last time we were in the Southern Cone, it was 2002. Too many years have gone by, with wishes to return popping up almost every day. And still, only now, have we made it happen. We have two short weeks to breath in our second home, our family, our other country and maybe, hopefully, discover something new along the way.

FEB 7 -Buenos Aires, Buenos Vidas
After a long flight of 14+ hours we finally arrived in Buenos Aires at 8AM local time just to be exhausted. We fought through the pain, and although we were tired we walked down to Puerto Madero for some great Rodizio and wine. It was a struggle to make it back to our hotel, where we both longed for a bed and some rest. After a nap, it was back to Puerto Madero to walk around the port, take in the sites and smells of Buenos Aires and finish with a pizza dinner. The city was quiet with practically no locals. They were all out in the country or beach side to escape the city heat, while we tourists took over the city. One little find was political stencil graffiti all over the city. I couldn't get enough of it!

FEB 8 - Tourists in La Boca
We got up for breakfast, and decided to take a walk to Florida Street - a big tourist shopping area, and the Mall there. We walked through an Art Exhibit, had lunch in the famous Tortino's Cafe - which, of course, was filled with tourists, and then grabbed the bus to the tour - which took over 4 hours. The tour briefly mentioned the Disappeared and alluded to some spots where people were kept prisoner but it was a short mention. The tour focused on the soccer stadium and La Boca, the colorful poor section of town, once fulled with immigrants, now another tourist destination. Every corner of the city was filled with tourists from Australia or Europe. We went out at midnight to try to find some Portenos, and sure enough, there they were, drinking their mate and just hanging out enjoying the warm evening under the full moon light.

FEB 9 -Leaving B.A. for Montevideo
We got up early, grabbed the BuqueBus for a 3 hour ferry at dawn , across the Rio de la Plata from Buenos Aires to Montevideo. Crashed out after time caught up with us, at our Pocitos hotel, a block from the beach, had our usual while in Uruguay lunch - milanesa al pan - as we took shelter from the heat, followed by a nap and a reunion dinner with Tia Pocha, Tania and Hector.

FEB 10 -Hopping in a Car for RoadTrip Our Way
We left Pocitos for the airport in Montevideo, got a car and drove up the Uruguay coast. We took a beach walk in Costa Azul, made a quick stop in Guazuvira to see if the black and white sand was still there, picked up two lady hitchhikers, lunched in our old stomping grounds in Piriapolis, made a quick stop in Punta Ballena, drove through Punta del Este, made another quick stop in La Barra and Jose Ignacio looking for a place to stay for the night, but found nothing. We continued our drive up Ruta 10, where the road stopped at a river. We took a free ferry across the water - the ferry being a small wood barge powered by a little fishing boat running along the side of it - continued on Ruta 10 which had turned into a dirt road - even though our car was not off road compatible - but who cares! Drove and drove and drove - the only car on the road, through Rocha, and started searching desperately for a place to stay as the sun was setting. Finally, success in La Paloma - further north than expected. We had a pretty bad dinner of gristle and bones, but wine and cookies on the balcony at the Inn while watching the rain storm made the evening a good one.

FEB 11 -Beachy King in La Paloma
After watching the sun rise over the countryside from our balcony, we had breakfast and reserved a cabana in Punta del Diablo while we were in La Paloma, a pretty populated little beach town. We tried to get money from the ATM but access to banks are very confusing for us 24X7 ATM users. We bypassed the cash and instead went exploring, where we found a white horse grazing in a field near the light house, as storm clouds filled the sky while the wind blew a summer storm our way.
We stopped along the beach, checking out the surf spots and then started north. We made our way up to Aguas Dulce, where we had camped out back in 2002 - and although it is still a dirt road beach town, there has been significant development. We ate lunch, watching the locals watch us, took a trip down memory lane before heading up to Punta del Diablo. We checked out our cabana in Punta del Diablo but had to go back to Rocha, about 24K each way, to find a bank that was open because, lesson learned, everyone renting rooms or cabanas only takes cash (no one takes credit cards in this country?). But it was worth it because by the time we returned everything was filled up, with no where left to stay. We explored the tiny beach town, filled with young, hippy style visitors from Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, drinking mate and smoking and enjoying the sun. The vibe was so chill and young.

FEB 12 -A Rising Summer Sun and Moon
I woke up early to catch the sun rise in the east. April joined me before the sun could peak over the horizon. The beach came alive with the garbage man and his horse and cart, beach bums waking up in the sand a few yards from me, all enjoying the peace of the morning as the sun's rays rose above the horizon. More than any other time in my life, this was the place that I found where living in the moment was the easiest, without worry or anticipation. I couldn't get enough of meditation - everything was all so easy.
I spent my morning reading on the beach, soaking up the sun and the spirit of freedom in youth that surrounded me. In the late afternoon we took a jaunt up to Santa Theresa. It was one of our favorite camping spots from our previous visit, and we discovered a few new places, including a beautiful old green house, that were there before, but we had missed because we didn't have a car. We took a walk through the petting farm and hung out with a large beaver like rodent, happened upon a large lizard, took in some monkeys, birds, goats and sheep. We went up to the Fort for lunch while soccer played in the background, and watched some surfers catch some waves. We had a lovely steak (of course) dinner, and I spent the rest of the evening on the patio taking pics of the rising moon in the east.

FEB 13 -Seeing the Light in Cabo Palonia
We started the day in Punta del Diablo, taking a jaunt out to the point to see another monument of Artigas, where we found fisherman and beach bums camped out, prolonging our departure as long as possible. But finally we were on our way, headed south, traveling down the coast, hoping to see every beach town possible.
We discovered tiny La Esmerelda, and took a walk on the super quiet beach. We picked up a hitch-hiker from Argentina on our way into Barra del Valizas - another tiny beach town with soccer games and red chairs and mate drinkers littering the beach sporadically. We took a jeep into Cabo Palonia because no outside cars are aloud in the sand dunes or beach town. We had lunch, took a walk to the lighthouse, and took in the seal colony before returning to the road. Back on Ruta 9 we drove through San Carlos, where we took a dip in the ocean. We were in San Carlos with Tia and Pablo during our 1998 visit, and the town was transformed from dirt roads to a fully developed beach town.
From there we headed straight into Punta del Este, where we had an early dinner, by local standards anyway - it was 10PM, followed by the Carnival parade and drums well into the early morning hours.

FEB 14 -Sunrises over the Hand in the Sand all the way to Suarez - Punta del Este - Suarez
We woke up early, thanks to April, and got to the Hand in the Sand in time to watch the sun rise. With the sun came the end of a trip of our own and marked the beginning of the family reunion tour. We got packed up and after breakfast, headed off toward Suarez, through the country side of rolling hills.
Heading to my cousin Sandra's house we only had a mile marker with the instructions to ask for the house of furniture. That didn't quite work out, but after a few phone calls and some luck we were happily reunited with Sandra, Juan, a very handsome Rodrigo & a beautify Sabrina. Sandra welcomed us into her home with big hugs and kisses, her amazing cooking, mate and of course cerveza. If only I spoke better Spanish!

FEB 15 -Asado in Suarez - Suarez
There is nothing better than asado at Santa and Toto's. We spent the late morning and afternoon reuniting with the rest of the Joffre family, eating meat, swatting flies, catching up. Alejandro, Daniella, Diana and Camila were all there as well. Everyone has grown up and in some cases grown old. Santa's health is failing and Toto seams lost without her.
Lunch at Santa & Toto's is all about catch up, love, news, mate, eating and happy to be back together again. In the evening we returned to Sandra's where Sabrina hosted the mate and we shared music with Rodrigo and Sabrina, while Sandra talked shop with Daniella.

FEB 16 -Last Day in Suarez - Suarez - Montevideo
Juan took us to the airport to buy our plane tickets to Rosario, dragging Rodrigo along because Sandra was worried we would get lost, even though we had driven all over the country without problems. We spent the afternoon playing Uno with Sabrina & Rodrigo. Leaving is so hard when we don't know when we'll be returning but finally we said our sad goodbyes. We stopped to say one last goodbye to Santa and Toto and then made our way into Montevideo.
Of course we got lost getting into the city due to insufficient maps and directions we barely understood. Looking back, we should have just stayed in Suarez for the night. Luckily we found our way to our crap hotel instead. I had a tantrum, but felt better after taking a trip downtown, site seeing, shopping, and finding our favorite restaurant, still open all these years later, where we had a fabulous dinner. We got reprimanded by our taxi driver for taking pictures of some kids hanging of lamp posts because he didn't want us to get beat up. :) Like that would happen. Everyone is always warning us to be careful while we are here, even strangers. Everything is always "Muy Peligrosa, chicas!"

FEB 17 -Lost in La Recoletta - Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Rosario
Not the best day of the trip, and probably the worst day. My camera broke - and this is about the time I discovered - everything comes out over exposed. Night shots were all I could take from this point on.
Also, we spent money on a flight to Rosario so we could get there quickly, only to be delayed, finding it would have taken us less time and less money if we had taken the 3 hour BuqueBus followed by a 4 hour bus trip to Rosario. We also discovered there is a direct flight from Punta del Este to Rosario on certain days of the week. Live and Learn!
We left Montevideo late, and our flight from BA to Rosario was canceled, negating the entire reason we flew. We decided to get out of the airport and take a trip to the Recoleta, to see where Eva Peron is buried. But it was too hot and I was too irritated to continue after discovering my broken camera. It was just too touristy to be worth it when my mood is so dark. At this point, I'm sure April would have thrown me in front of a cab, but it was just too hot to be worth the effort.
Finally we were on our way, in our little tin can plane, that had no air conditioner. We were laughing so hard with heat delirium while sitting in that plane roasting alive. If only we could have cracked the windows.
We finally made it into Rosario in the late afternoon, where Lorena picked us up and we all burst into tears we were so happy to see eachother. We met her Alejandro and her son Thiago, got changed and rested at their beautiful home. We headed to Marisabel & Pablo's house, the first we've seen them together, to find everyone there, with all their new kids and new boyfriends and new spouses. If only my Spanish was better! How do you catch up with 7 years of history and changes when you have to ask everyone "mas despacio, por favor"?

FEB 18 -All in the family - Rosario
We relaxed after a lovely breakfast at a restaurant off the river in Rosario. We spent time just catching up, finding our fathers have made similar decisions in their lives, and our feelings for them are the same. Our reunion is happy with a tinge of sadness. Our constant separation influences all of our conversations and I just want to put Lorena in my pocket and take her with me.
Alejandro is super sweet, taking us where ever we want to go. We meet up with the girls for "drinks" downtown, where April & I were the only ones to order cocktails. We walk the streets and find Rosario a prettier city than the last time we visited. We end the evening with a trip to the Italian Ice cream parlor.

Feb 19 -Joffre Family Time
We spent the day continuing our catch up, escaping the heat by taking a dip in the wading pool on the roof of Lorena's house. We went to the mall and let Alejandro pick out his soccer team shirt for Damon. He's very impressed with the car Damon drives. In fact, initially Alejandro expressed he had no interest in visiting us in the US. After discovering Damon drives his dream car, he's reconsidering that position.
We tried to get mani/pedi's but ended up with just manis. We make our way to Tia & Tio's house for dinner. We meet Iliana's too-cool-for-school boyfriend, catch up with Rocio and Debora and fall in love with Josephina and Joaquin all over again. Pablo and Marisabel are so in love and can't help but make goo goo eyes at eachother constantly.

Feb 20 - Loving La Familia
Our last day in Rosario was busy. We ran around getting our bus tickets, had a lovely lunch with Alejandro's Family - some of the best steak & chimi churi ever! Witness a crazy rain and hail storm.
We take a trip around Rosario to say goodbye to Rocio, Tio & Tia, followed by a quick trip to say goodbye to Pablo and Marisabel. My Macho Man is a family man now. At the end of the day we took photos of Lorena and Alejendro in their team shirts. Alejandro let Lorena dress him up in drag so we could take photos. He's a handsome man but not a pretty woman.
Finally we hop a bus back to Buenos Aires, where we found our hotel had canceled our room. We should have just stayed in Rosario!

Feb 21 - Flying Home

We spent the morning on Florida Street looking for little gifts, where, of course, at the end of the trip, I fall due to some loose cobble stone tiles (that's my story anyway). If my camera wasn't broken before, it certainly was then. We took a short plane to Santiago, with plans to dine in the city. Unfortunately the tax to leave the airport when you have a connecting flight to the US was just too steep - $300 for a couple hours - just to leave! We filled our six hours with beer and reading. Finally we got on the plane home wondering when we can return again.

25 Random Things...

So, On Facebook there is this thing going around - 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. Here's my list of 25.

1) I love road trips. I always feel like I'm me in an alternate universe, where my real life has melted away, and I have nothing to think about but what's around the next turn.

2) Really, I love any and all kinds of travel. I am currently planning to take a year off to go around the world. I'm not sure when that year will be, and I'm afraid if I don't do it in the next few years, I'll never do it.

3) I was in a small plane crash, my dad was piloting, with my parents, my twin sister, my brother and my aunt. We all survived. You have a greater chance of winning the lotto than surviving a small plane crash...so I guess I won't be winning the lotto.

4) I love animals but I'm in love with boxers. I hope to have boxers for the rest of my life.

5) I hardly ever cry. Except while watching sad movies, commercials and reading books. I couldn't stop crying while reading the Time Traveler's Wife. Right?

6) I've been a feminist my entire life. When I was little I thought it was unfair that only boys got to pass the sacrament. I thought it was unfair that all the pictures of missionaries, that were held up in primary while we sang "I hope they call me on a mission" were boys. I thought it was unfair my brother got to be outside to mow the lawn while I had to be inside to wash the dishes. That being said, I had a huge crush on a neighbor that was a polygamist, and thought that one day I would marry him.

7) I'm all about fairness. My mom used to tell me Life's not Fair. Hearing that still gets me irritated - I don't care if it's true.

8) My three favorite things to talk about are three things you never speak about in polite company: Religion, Politics and Sex. That is why I love Anthropology. Its a free pass.

9) I don't believe honesty is always the best policy. Sometimes honesty isn't necessary. I would never tell a friend that I dislike their +1/kids. This is just an example - I like everyone's +1 & kids.

10) The first time I truly understood I have brown skin was during my 15th Birthday Pool Party, when I wore a white swimsuit and discovered, even though the swimsuit had lining, once it was wet all my bits were going to show. All of my girlfriends wearing white swimsuits didn't have this problem. I learned this lesson the hard way.

11) Unfortunately, flashing the entire pool at my 15th Birthday Party, is no-where near my most embarrassing moment.

12) I LOVE Lake Powell. It is one of my favorite places in the world and most of the really great memories I have about my extended family, take place on a couple of houseboats on Lake Powell.

13) I hardly ever get mad enough to yell. I usually shut down or throw a little tantrum. When I do get mad enough to yell, watch out. When April and I, or Richard and I are fighting, run for cover!

14) When I have an argument, I never call names, as it undermines the entire argument, signals the fact that an argument could not be made on the merits, thus losing the argument. I find it really unappealing when other people resort to name calling - in any argument - not just those I'm involved in. Especially because "how low can you go" isn't an argument I care to win.

15) If I could have any job in the world it would be writing and shooting photos for National Geographic.

16) My parents didn't believe in TV when I was growing up. We didn't have a TV until I was 12. As a result I LOVE TV! I LOVE my DVR even more.

17) I love reading. I read every night. I will stay up all night reading a really good book. Because I'm such a fast reader, I do end up forgetting the finer details, and some major plot points a few weeks, and sometime a few days after reading a book. I have been half way through a book before I realized I've already read it.

18) In August 2007 I started taking a picture of myself everyday, thanks to Flickr's 365 Group. After a year and a 1/2, I took a bit of a break but I'm back on the photo a day wagon, and I think I'll do this for the rest of my life. (You should too! http://www.flickr.com/groups/365days/)

19) I moved to NY to be a nanny so I could get away from my family, when I was 19. It was that or teach English in China. It never occurred to me I'd be taking care of actual kids until I met them at Laguardia. It was one of the best decisions I ever made and one of the best experiences.

20) One time a group of friends and I went up to Palmyra in upstate New York. I went because I wanted to see Niagara Falls. They went because there is a Mormon Pageant there. We got a place right in the front row so we could lay down and watch the entire pageant comfortably. I ended up falling asleep and was shaken awake by a friend who said "Wake Up, Sandy! Jesus Is Here!" I thought she meant the real Jesus Christ not the actor PLAYING Jesus Christ. I freaked out and told her "But I'm NOT ready to meet Jesus!" I'm still not ready.

21) When I was younger, Tina and I celebrated two birthdays at girls camp. Both times my dad flew the plane over the camp and bombed us with bags of candy, keeping us flush for our candy gambling habit!

22) I am constantly being told that I have said something heavily laden with sexual innuendo - and I don't even know it. Sometimes I'll finish saying something and I'll look around and see everyone staring, eyes dilated, and I'll know I've said something wildly inappropriate - but even after review I rarely get it. I don't like to ask anyone to explain.

23) I totally speak with a Valley accent like All the time. I've tried to eliminate the word "Like" from my vocabulary and it's like, totally impossible. When I speak Spanish I also speak in a total valley accent.

24) I'm really close to all my siblings. We've been through a lot together. When we all get together it is pandemonium. Most of the time we are laughing so hard we are crying.

25) 2008 was the worst year of my life. Even though I knew everything is about the attitude you have, I couldn't help it. Knowing and Feeling aren't always in sync. Looking back, I think if 2008 was the worst, I've had a pretty great life. And 2009 is shaping up to be the best year yet. I just KNOW and FEEL it!

1000 Miles in a Day

Yesterday was the craziest day of 2009 so far. We are leaving next week for two weeks in the southern cone, and that means finding an appropriate and loving dog sitter for our precious Beanie and Bruno. We don't like to disrupt their lives too much - they are rescues and do have anxiety when we leave for days at a time. They LOVE UTAH and family there, so what better place than a winter wonderland vacation for them too? Mom was nice enough to say yes when we asked. And they will be there for three weeks!

We drove to St. George, UT from Santa Monica, to meet Tina & Dad. We got to St. George in 5 1/2 hours. We had a lovely lunch in town, and ran to the Costco for an all white shopping experience, for dog food, and left Bruno and Beanie in Tina's car, with the feeling of a job well done.

Until Dad called for a chat, oh, and to tell us he had my car keys. So we had to return to Utah, meeting back up in Toquerville, UT a couple hours after our initial departure, to get my keys that had left in the opposite direction.

And seriously - it was really funny once we got over the anger and accepted it - and on the hour drive back to reunite with my keys, we thought of all sorts of funny scenarios, so that by the time we rolled up on Dad & Tina, we were laughing hysterically!

Tina was pretty angry - she looked like a bear, an angry bear, a very angry bear, with her arms folded and a deep scowl on her face. And dad was standing in the clear, keeping clear of Tina for sure, with a look of worry and warning on his face! That image will be seared in my brain forever, and just made me laugh all the harder.

Our favorite scenario we thought up on our hour drive back, was a drive by key passing, where we just rolled by each other really slowly, gangsta rap on the radio, and the keys were tossed into my car and we speed away. So coming down off that exit ramp, we had rolled down all the windows and we were yelling "Throw the Keys! Drive By Key Passing!" Of course Tina is so smart and went from Angry Bear to joke participator in seconds, running to meet the car and throw the keys! I'm sure no one else gets it, but I'm writing it here so I won't forget.

Finally, we left Toquerville around 5PM, stopped at the outlets in Primm and made it to Ray & Zenida's - LOOK SO GOOD Party by 11PM. We had a lovely time feeling good, taking pics, drinking cocktails and being tired drunk - you know that kind of drunk from being tired, and finally made it back home by 2AM.

Traveling over 1OOO miles in a day, just to end up at the exact spot we started from - a testament to all you can do in 24 hours.

Party Like A Barack Star!

Today is a historic occasion!

Jenny, April and I wanted to take some time to mark the occasion with a celebration. A celebration many, even in this day and age, didn't think was possible.

40 years after the assassination of Martin Luther King and Malcom X, we stand here today, having elected the first African American man to the highest office in the land.

This election has also served to mark another shift in consciousness. It was a peaceful revolution - and it was a REVOLUTION and an INDICTMENT of the administration of the last 8 years

Today is the first day of Obama's presidency. But the work is not over it is just beginning - Yes, we have a new president but politics remain the same.

Unless we become actively involved , unless we hold our representatives accountable we will find ourselves in much the same place four years from now. Where governments act slowly individuals have the ability to bring about change quickly and the momentum and desire to do so are on our side.

This election shows one man can be the catalyst for a peaceful revolution, and the energy toward personal responsibility to make change happen - that comes from the energy President Obama created during this past election.

Best of luck to us all and to the 44th President of the United States of America, President Barack Obama. VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

1/2 way thru Jan

1/2 way through January and I couldn't be happier. This year promises to be a big one. January has been a lovely, warm month so far, with visit is with old friends and family and celebrations.

Everything Changes on New Years Day - I went to lunch with Karen and Laura, where I met Karen's darling dog, duke on New Years day. It was great catching up with my pro-women!



Mason turned one years old. Mom came into town to visit and celebrate his birthday. Ray & Zenida were also there, rounding out the birthday celebration.



We escaped from West LA with a road trip up the cost with the dogs. There was such a beautiful, warm, January day in LA we had to take a drive up the coast. So we put the dogs in the car and drove up PCH through Malibu, to soak up the rays, the ocean, the freedom.



Mom & I went and got a mani-pedi during lunch, and then decided to make our way to Santa Monica Pier to soak up the warmer weather, watch the waves, take photos, while the sunset. Elida came over for dinner and to make empenadas for the party.



Julia, April & I went to the Viper room to watch her friend's band play. They were on stage for 1/2 an hour. We followed up with coffee patio side, at Mel's diner on Sunset for 2 hours.



Mom, Elida & Mason stopped by for a Thai lunch, and to say goodbye, since Mom departs tonight. So of course, out comes the camera.



We're in full party planning mode - with a few days until the big event. Lastly, I booked our trip to Uruguay & Argentina, and I'm so excited I feel high.

Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2008
Honestly 2008 has been a crap year. There have been some big and happy changes - Mason was born in January, April Graduated in May, I went to Montreal a few times, random reunions, our annual road trip, the election to shape a century - and there were smaller fabulous things too.

But all of the good stuff was overshadowed by sadness and repair. I'm so happy to say goodbye to this depressing, sad, man hating, pessimistic, hermit, emotional year. So long 2008! Farewell 2008

April and I decided to say a proper goodbye to 2008 with the finger. And then we headed to a New Years Eve party at Chris's place in the Hills where we danced and hung out and toasted in 2009, and were home by 1:30! I am really getting old!

Hello 2009!!!

So 2009 is already off to a great start! And it can only get better, right? The Utes beat former #1 Alabama at the sugar bowl in an amazing, save on Tivo forever worthy, blowout and should be #1 as the only non-losing team in the country... Right? RIGHT! 2009 is already awesome!

So, after taking a couple months off, I've decided to return to my 365 Days of Sandy - because I'm that self absorbed! LOL! And I'll be doing a random picture a day as well - which should stretch my photog boundaries a bit more.

So I'm busy planning the next couple months of my life. January 20th we are hosting an inauguration party. We got an amazing space that used to be an old speakeasy during prohibition.And we're in the middle of planning our trip to Argentina and Uruguay in February for a couple of weeks, where we hope to see family, stay on an estancia, tango in Buenos Aires and hang out on the beach. I can hardly wait for that trip! Hola 2009!

Happy Christmas 2008

April and I spent the last few days trying to perfect the French Macaroon. It's a very difficult cookie to master and mine turned out way too chewy. But still tasty. We ended up getting a few from the Little Next Door Cafe, which is where we had a French Christmas Eve dinner.
Christmas Day we made our way to the Tweedy's in Playa del Rey for a traditional English Christmas dinner, with crackers and pudding and trifle. May is a fantastic cook. We had a great time talking politics and presents and dogs.

Unfortunately we came home to disaster. Bruno found a way into the kitchen and ate all the Macaroons, bread and two bags of Chocolate Chips that were left out on the counter. You may recall that last Christmas Eve Bruno had to eat charcoal and get his stomach pumped for similar misdeeds. He pooped charcoal pallets for days.
We got him to throw up and he was sick all night, and we were up all night to supervise, clean up after him, take him out for walks. He is a very bad, bad, boy. But we can't help but love him!

We didn't send out Christmas Cards this year to reduce environmental impact but we did take Christmas photos.

Hope Everyone had a Very Happy Christmas!