Thursday, November 20, 2008

TWILIGHT EVE!!!

T'was the night before Twilight and all through the house, Beach Mama was surfing and moving her mouse.

Can you believe tomorrow is TWILIGHT! I am so there! I might have to see it twice this weekend! EEEKKK!

If you haven't purchased the soundtrack then GET ON IT! I love love love it. Listening to it all the time.

Here is a new music vid of one of the songs!
Enjoy!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

BOOK CLUB!!!!

Hi All,

My good friend Sabrina suggested we start a book club. After getting turned on to the Twilight Series, and my entire family catching vampire fever, I feel a hankering for another good book.

Hence, the BeachMama Book Club is born!

Our first official selection is... REVOLUTIONARY ROAD by Richard Yates

I've scoured the web and the cheapest copies are available at Amazon.


And, as an added bonus...

It's been made into a movie starring KATE WINSLET and LEONARDO DiCAPRIO!

Slated for release December 26, 2008!

Preview the movie/book here!

So get your copies! We begin reading October 17th!

Cheers!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Getting Healthy!

Ok, so here is a talky blog...


Links:

Reach your Goal with Self :http://www.self.com/goal/welcome

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Clay's Gay and I'm Happy


Wow, what a week! I finished my first paper for my US History class. I'll publish it here for all to read. But first...

Clay Aiken announced to People Magazine that he is Gay. Ok, so maybe this is a big deal to the world b/c the rumours have been circulating for years. Maybe it's because so many people are surprised that someone would stay in the closet for 29 years. Maybe it's because so many people are backward and need to get a life.

So Clay is gay. So what. I like him. I always have. I always will (unless he becomes a serial killer. It would be difficult for me to be a fan of a serial killer.) I don't care who he dates, what cereal he eats, or how often he clips his toe nails.

So grow up people. This is the 21st century. People are queer, they're here, so get over it!

sheesh...

Now on to my paper...

THE MARROW OF TRADITION BY CHARLES CHESNUTT

If you haven't read the above book, DO IT. You will have your eyes opened to race relations in this country. It was written 100+ years ago and is still as valid and important today as it was when it was published. You can't fully see our present or look into our future without knowledge of our past.

Did you know that in 1898, the only successful coup d’état of a government in the United States of America occurred?

Out right murder and massacre flooded the streets of Wilmington, NC. And it happened the day after the November election.

And you know what?

No one did a single thing about it.

Not the government.

Not the military.

No one.

And the legacy lives on…

It made the Rodney King riots of 1992 look tame. The death toll is still undetermined, these 110 years later. Unknown numbers of African Americans were murdered in the streets by white supremists. The majority that were left, were run out of town.
Here's my paper... I may edit it once I get feedback from the TA. Please don't plagiarize my paper. Stealing is beneath you...

The Marrow of Tradition and the Use of Novels as Historical Sources

In the Marrow of Tradition we follow three families; their experiences and intimate beliefs on race and society. The book covers a pivotal turn of racial politics in United States History.

These three families: the Carteret’s, Delamere’s, and Miller’s are forced to examine their long held beliefs in deeply personal ways through violent environments. They are exposed to their own hypocrisy as well as their own noble (or ignoble) truths.

Through these families, American readers, being a multi-racial people, living in an immigrant country, are able to freely examine our own deeply ingrained feelings. The medium of the fictionalized historical novel allows us to do this in a slightly less intimidating way allowing us to safely and honestly examine our own attitudes. In essence, Chesnutt allows us to be the lynch mob as well as the lynched.

Fictional Wellington is a city on the dawn of integration. The absolute power that white plantation owners and the white wealthy families once held has been diminished and given over to a more wholly democratic system. Former slaves and free men have been enfranchised and now hold some political offices.

The emasculated southern white men, who have lost a war, and now some of their power, are searching for reinstatement of their full authority. They soon find that violence and anarchy is not beneath them. On Election Day a coup d’état is planned and it quickly spirals into a murderous riot. All the families are affected. They each experience the full
horror of the day (though perhaps none so much as the Miller family) and are painfully forced to re-examine honor, equality and humanity.

The Rape Myth


At this time, in turn of the century America, the rape myth was an incredibly powerful rallying theme for uniting white Americans and especially essential to the white man’s perception of his own supremacy. Chesnutt demonstrates through his writing that as dominant as the rape myth is, it is, it is still, truly a myth. He expertly conveys a range of views within the white race regarding black men – from Quaker raised Ellis, and moral Old Delamere, through the range of the spectrum to its darkest fringes with the crude and violent Captain McBane. The belief of the deep ingrained savagery of the black race seems to be at the root of the white characters predjudice, in varying degrees, excepting the Philadelphian, Dr. Burns and the honorable Old Delamere.


Major Carteret:
Mr. Delamere had grown old, and had probably lost in a measure his moral influence over his servant. Left to his own degraded ancestral instincts, Sandy had begun to deteriorate, and a rapid decline had culminated in this robbery and murder,--and who knew what other horror? (181)

Lee Ellis:
…but as to negroes, they were as yet a crude and undeveloped race, and it was not safe to make predictions concerning them. No one could tell at what moment the thin veneer of civilization might peel off and reveal the underlying savage. (119)

A powerful example of the influence the rape myth held is seen in the reaction of the ‘Big Three’ (Major Carteret, Gen. Belmont and Capt. McBane) to an editorial about lynching and consensual inter-racial relationships published in the local black owned newspaper.

"This article," said Carteret, "violates an unwritten law of the South. If we are to tolerate this race of weaklings among us, until they are eliminated by the stress of competition, it must be upon terms which we lay down. One of our conditions is violated by this article, in which our wisdom is assailed, and our women made the subject of offensive comment. We must make known our disapproval." (86)

This article referenced above, is based on the true-life editorial written by Alexander Manly in 1889. In it, Manly denounced the concept that sexual violence was solely a black phenomenon. He also goes on to write what many readers of the day would find to be highly explosive comments, “We suggest that the whites guard their women more closely, as Mrs. Felton says, thus giving no opportunity for the human fiend, be he white or black.” (Alexander Manly” 407) and then again, “Don’t think ever that your women will remain pure while you are debauching ours. You sow the seed – the harvest will come in due time.” (“Alexander Manly” 408)


The ire raised in the novel by the article coupled with the robbery and murder of Mrs. Ochiltree explodes when attached to the idea of the rape myth. Conclusions are immediately drawn when a black man is accused of the crimes. “The criminal was a negro, the victim a white woman;--it was only reasonable to expect the worst.” (182)


Throughout The Marrow of Tradition, Chesnutt offers readers his own wisdom in the form of the omniscient narrator.


for knowledge and wisdom are not impartially distributed among even the most favored race. There were ignorant and vicious Negroes, and they had a monopoly of neither ignorance nor crime, for there were prosperous negroes and poverty-stricken whites. (79)


African American Diversity


The diversity within the African American community in Chesnutt’s Marrow of Tradition is vast. He seems to like to play on names. We have Janet Miller, an educated woman of mixed racial background, contrasted with Jane Letlow, an uneducated emancipated house slave. They are vastly different in appearance as in their speech. Janet Miller is a virtual mirror twin of her fully white sister Olivia Merkell Carteret. Olivia is held up throughout the novel as the picture of ‘Southern White Purity’, and Mammy Jane, as refered to by the whites, nearly worships her and the whole Merkell family; never is this made so startlingly clear as at her death. (297) She has bought into the notion that the black race is inferior and should be subservient to the noble high class white race. Jane is, not surprisingly, racist against some within her own black race. She has ingrained this into her son, Jerry, who succumbs to skin and hair bleaching in an attempt to be white. (244)

While Jerry Letlow might try to bleach away his blackness, another black character, Josh Green, revels in it. He is a proud black man, courageously defending his honour and that of his people, even to the death. (309)

In stark contrast to the working class black characters, Janet Miller’s husband is a highly educated doctor. Arguably the most educated person in all of Wellington. He works tirelessly to lift up his people and the community. Interestingly, Chesnutt has made Dr. Miller very light in complexion. “In the dusk his own color, slight in the daytime, would not attract attention.” (294) We know that Dr. Miller is the son of a free man, grandson of a slave (who bought his own freedom) and that he could probably pass for white. This coupled with the fact that his wife, Janet is often mistaken for her paler half-sister, Olivia Merkell Carteret, could be argued in evidence that a colour line is really an illusion. It lends credence to the idea of a specter for humanity where one can find solace in many colours and creeds, rather than the impossible and unsophisticated theory of separation between black and white.


All of these characters are essential in The Marrow of Tradition, as are the diverse array of white characters, to reinforce the verity that character, integrity, morality and honour are not divided along racial lines. They ebb and flow throughout humanity, heeding no notice of race, gender, or class.


Relationships between Whites and African Americans


The inter-racial relationships are complex, confusing and contradictory in turn of the century Wellington. However, I believe that they are quite realistic and historically accurate. Chesnutt himself is of a mixed race heritage and having lived in both the North and the South throughout his life, and perhaps at times, being mistaken for a white man (my own conjecture based on photographs) he may have experienced both sides of this complicated relationship. For example, Major Carteret’s feelings on the black race range from annoyance to dreams of genocide (245) to wishing to rescue his house servant from death in exchange for his own life. (305) The sincerity of his wish is questionable. Certainly his actions in the preceding 300 pages seem to indicate he would behave otherwise!


It seems the majority of the white characters in The Marrow of Tradition either look upon the black race in general with distain, and are most comfortable in keeping black society as subservient as possible. There are of course the exceptions to the rule. Old Delamere rescued his servant Sandy’s family and eventually freed them, before mandated with the emancipation proclamation, and loved and raised Sandy with pride and respect (I suspect a benevolent ulterior motive here: with Old Delamere’s grandson and Sandy looking so much alike as to be interchangeable when ‘made up’ similarly, could not Sandy be Old Delamere’s grandson too? (173)


Interestingly enough, some of the older, former slaves, seem to count their former Masters as friends, even discounting others within their own race. It would appear they’ve exchanged a racial divide for a caste system. Jane Letlow feels many within her race are beneath her and others need to be kept in their place. Her son, Jerry, advocates the lynching of an innocent man and feels more respect for Major Carteret, than the more liberal Mr. Ellis, because he refuses to shake Jerry’s hand.


Mr. Ellis had once shaken hands with Jerry,--but Mr. Ellis was a young man, whose Quaker father had never owned any slaves, and he could not be expected to have as much pride as one of the best "quality," whose families had possessed land and negroes for time out of mind. On the whole, Jerry preferred the careless nod of the editor-in-chief to the more familiar greeting of the subaltern. (29)


The more educated and middle class African American characters seem to tread a fine line. They are in a constant struggle to better the lives of their fellow African Americans while staying safely within the rules and boundaries of southern white society and occasionally crossing into dangerous territories as necessary.


Dr. Miller:

It was a veritable bed of Procrustes, this standard which the whites had set for the negroes. Those who grew above it must have their heads cut off, figuratively speaking,--must be forced back to the level assigned to their race; those who fell beneath the standard set had their necks stretched, literally enough, as the ghastly record in the daily papers gave conclusive evidence. (61)

Dr. Price:

It had been easy to theorize about the negro; it was more difficult to look this man in the eyes--whom at this moment he felt to be as essentially a gentleman as himself--and tell him the humiliating truth. (74)

Dr. Price:

He really thought him too much of a gentleman for the town, in view of the restrictions with which he must inevitably be hampered. There was something melancholy, to a cultivated mind, about a sensitive, educated man who happened to be off color. Such a person was a sort of social misfit, an odd quantity, educated out of his own class, with no possible hope of entrance into that above it. (75)


"That is the situation," added Miller, summing up. "Their friendship for us, a slender stream at the best, dries up entirely when it strikes their prejudices. There is seemingly not one white man in Wellington who will speak a word for law, order, decency, or humanity. Those who do not participate will stand idly by and see an untried man deliberately and brutally murdered. Race prejudice is the devil unchained." (194)


The inter-racial relationships are thorny at best, inhumane at worst and prickly in general. One topic I wish to address is something that I found simultaneously offensive and odd from Mr. Chesnutt’s novel. All of the educated African American characters are light skinned and many could pass for white, while the more subservient and subversive characters are of a darker complexion. I can’t help but wonder why he would do such a thing. Perhaps he can relate more to this physicality because he himself was fair skinned. Yet it almost seems to play into the white supremacist belief illustrated throughout the novel by the very characters we are supposed to dislike. Why do the most successful, educated, kind, patient black characters come from mixed heritage, or at the very least have very light skin? I am uneasy with this representation of the successful black person, and wonder if Chesnutt is trying to imply that lighter skin is somehow superior. I hesitate to fully embrace this idea, since it is at such extreme odds with what he is trying to convey throughout novel.

The Marrow of Tradition as a primary historical source


While Chesnutt’s novel is a work of fiction, I feel it serves an important purpose for relating history in an easy, entertaining and memorable manner. His text is rich with characters and powerful prose, at times almost lyrical and poetic. Once read, The Marrow of Tradition will stay with you for the rest of your life. It is an incredibly effective teaching tool. As a primary source, it relates the complex social structure of the early 20th century South through the use of characters and their relationships. Chesnutt wrote his novel shortly after the massacre on which it is based, and within two years The Marrow of Tradition was published. Nearly all the public events, the article that helped to incite the southern whites, unjustified lynching, the public massacre and government overthrow are historically accurate. Chesnutt had strong ties to North Carolina, the state in which the massacre occured. He was born in North Carolina, raised in North Carolina, and taught in North Carolina. The day after the Wilmington, NC riot he wrote to his publisher:


Nov. 11, 1898


Dear Mr. Page:-

I am deeply concerned and very much depressed at the condition of affairs in North Carolina during the recent campaign. I have been for a long time praising the State for its superior fairness and liberty in the treatment of race questions, but I find myself obliged to revise some of my judgments. There is absolutely no excuse for the state of things there, for the State had a very large white majority. It is an outbreak of pure, malignant and altogether indefensible race prejudice, which makes me feel personally humiliated, and ashamed for the country and the State. The United States Government is apparently Powerless, and the recent occurrences in Illinois in connection with the miners strike to emphasize its weakness. (Browner)


Once he decided to write about the Wilmington riot, Chesnutt was in an advantageous position for he could interview his own relatives who had survived the massacre. Thus having been given a first hand account he has provided us with a detailed description of that day, and the atmosphere in Wilmington leading up to the disaster. (Merriman, par.7)


It would be misleading to assume that The Marrow of Tradition is a perfect representation of the past. It is written by one man, with no official collaborators. It is a fictionalized account, that is to say, not historical truth. And as un-biased as I’d like to believe Charles Chesnutt to have been, no human is perfectly un-biased. After all, this is a highly personal tragedy as evidenced by his words in the above quoted letter.


That said, The Marrow of Tradition, I believe, passes any historian’s litmus test as a useful primary source, so long as it is used in conjunction with other primary sources and historical events referenced within the text.


Works Cited
.
Browner, Stephanie. “The Wilmington Riots.” The Charles Chestnutt Digital Archive. 2001.
.
Chesnutt, Charles. “Alexander Manly.” The Marrow of Tradition. Eds. N. Bentley and S. Grunning. Boston: Bedford/ St.Martin;s, 2002.
Chesnutt, Charles. The Marrow of Tradition. New York: Penguin, 1993.
Merriman, C.D. “Charles W. Chesnutt.” The Literature Network. 2006.
.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Matt Damon on Sarah Palin

I have to agree with Mr. Damon on this one. It is terrifying...

Monday, September 15, 2008

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin = FREAKIN' HILARIOUS

Hi Bloggers,

If you haven't seen this, watch it. Try not to pee your pants!
xo
BeachMama

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Twilight Saga Shopping

Ahhh....

Edward...Bella...Jacob...Bella...Edward...Bella...Jacob...Edward...Bella...Jacob...Edward...Bella...Jacob...
I have just finished Breaking Dawn!

Don't worry, there are NO SPOILERS HERE.

If you haven't heard about Twilight, or Stephenie Meyers, Google it or search her on Amazon.

Or if you are too lazy click here:

Twilight ... $6.04




New Moon ... $11.99











Eclipse ... $10.99

Breaking Dawn ... $12.64

Stephenie Meyer official website











Okay...

Now for those of you who are into the series and the new converts I've driven here...

Check out these unique handmade Twilight inspired items, made my fans and available for purchase at Etsy.com. Each item has a link to the shop where you can buy it.

Bella's Bracelet
$20.00

link to Bella's Bracelet


Made by BeachMama
Exclusively at Etsy








Inspired by Bella's Bracelet


Sterling Silver Necklace
$24.00


Link to Necklace

Made by BeachMama
Exclusively at Etsy


Necklace Detail














Eclipse Ring $90 Link to Ring

Sterling Silver Oxidized texture with a 14k golden moon...
Top concave disc is about the size of a quarter.
Size 7 1/2 May be sized up to 8
Custom sizes happily made.


Made by Emaa Jewelry
Available Exclusively at Etsy

Vegetarian Vampire T-Shirt $21.99
Link to T-Shirt


embroided in the twilight font in silver surrounding the double V "fang" logo on a black Jerzees t-shirt.

Sizes available: S, M, L, XL

Made by Bowed Over
Available Exclusively at Etsy







Twilight Series Quote Pendant $22.99


Link to Pendants

All quote necklaces are done in the same format with silver toned chain and vibrant red fresh water pearl "blood drop"

Made by Wicked Gems
Exclusively at Etsy














Run with Vampires Bracelet $30.00

Link to Bracelet

Sterling silver chain with a sterling silver oval tag engraved with "I run with Vampires".
It also has a red enamled apple.

Made by Millie5328
Exclusively at Etsy



These are just some of the best of the best of the Twilight inspired items on Etsy.
I may post more soon, but be sure to read the books and search on Etsy for more!

Happy Reading!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Creative Juice

While visiting my mom we've been watching a show on th DIY network called Creative Juice. It's one of those crafty shows that I want to hate, but just can't. Yes it's campy and the hosts can be a little corny, but that is all part of it's charm.

Today, Mom and I made bling rings. You know the rings that have loops on the top and you attach all sorts of beads and charms... I never made them before b/c i thought that I wouldn't like to weat them. WRONG! So fun and very cute, and we learned from our good friend Cathie Filian at Creative Juice.

Curious about Cathie, I googled her. She has a fun blog here at blogger: http://cathiefilian.blogspot.com/ and she is a fellow Etsian: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5105005




Cathie, if you're out there and come across this blog, you have 2 new fans!




Your Virtual BFF!


Beach Mama

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Blame Stephenie


Okay, I know I was supposed to post a video for your reycled paper purse, and I made the video... But something totally wonky happened to the video when it was downloading from camera to computer and now it is completely messed up. I was so bummed that I haven't been able to bring myself to recreate the thing.

Plus

I saw Stephenie Meyer on Good Morning America.

Where have I been?!

And if you don't know who she is, where have you been?



Apparently she's written a series of books about a love struck couple with some serious issues. Okay, he's a vampire. But it's not a freaky weird creepy series. It's actually very good and very addicting.

I've spent the last 3 days speeding through Twilight (book #1 of the 4 book series) and now am on to New Moon. Ahhh.... So good. So fresh. So unique. Pick them up, you won't be dissapointed.

I cannot wait for the movie. 12/12! ARGH! so far away. And based on the previews it looks awesome and so true to the book. The lead is Cedric Diggory from Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire movie. I had a crush on him then and now my heart is all aflutter!

So i will get the video started on the paper folding soon. And with any luck I won't encounter the same technical difficulties as before.

Read the book y'all! TWILIGHT! It's a little slow at first, but stick with it, you'll be glad you did.



ciao for now!
xo
BeachMama

Thursday, July 31, 2008

July 30, 2008 - Pool Day

Wednesday

Dad’s Dinner Night

Every Wednesday night is my Dad’s night to cook. Mom has the evening off and Padre-man brings something home. Tonight we had Chinese. Move over Campbell’s, it was Mmm Mmm Good!

I’ve mastered the paper folding purses and will begin to teach you tomorrow.

In the meantime, you need to cut 288 pieces of paper.
144 of these are your purse colours (try to use ads and pictures from magazines that don’t have a whole lot of white or text).
The other 144 pieces of paper can be text or anything else, you won’t see them at all.
You also need to cut 144 pieces of cellophane.

All of these pieces of paper should measure 2 ½ inches x 6 inches. For the cellophane, you can use crystal clear page protectors. If you use standard size protectors you will be able to get 12 pieces of 2 ½” x 5 ½” rectangles.

Cut these out and once you are finished cutting, grab a roll of scotch tape, a giant plastic needle or giant rounded tip embroidery needle; and either embroidery floss or fishing line.

In summary you need:
144 pieces of colourful magazine paper; 2 ½” x 6”
144 pieces of paper, 2 ½” x 6”
144 pieces of page protectors, 2 ½” x 5 ½”
Scotch Tape
Embroidery Floss, or fishing line
Giant Plastic or Rounded Tip Embroidery Needle

Meet me back here tomorrow and I’ll teach you how to fold your paper and start weaving together one of these AWESOME pocketbooks!

Ok, so back my life in Charleston…

As many of you know, my dear Mom has been getting really healthy. I am trying to follow her every move, b/c I desperately want to get healthy too. I weighed in Sunday morning at 255 ½! OMG! PEOPLE! That was a shocker. Remember, I’m 6 feet tall, but DAMN! That’s a lot.

Monday I weighed in at 252 ½ , Tuesday I forgot to weigh in before breakfast… and today I was (drum roll please!) 249 ½! Woohoo!

I’ve been more active here, but I need to step it up. I’m dying to get on my bike and ride to the pool and round the ‘hood. Haven’t gotten it together for that yet. Yesterday we packed the kids to the beach. It was so hot! Whew! Plus I was the family pack mule. I swear, I carried 95% of our stuff, including, chairs (4), umbrellas (3), a bag with towels (4) sunscreen, water (3 bottles), and extra clothes, beach toys (think multiple buckets, shovels etc…) It is a miracle that I made it. Sheesh! We parked ourselves too far from the water, it was low tide and it was like a mile from the dry sand to the water, okay not a mile, but a really long way and I was already pooped from dragging this gear from the car, across the street, down the boardwalk and into the sand. It was a beautiful day, but next time we are definitely bringing less crap and setting up shop closer to the water.

Today we checked out the pool.


It was so nice! I think we will have to make a daily trek to the pool I can def. bike there. It’s in the ‘hood so there are no real busy roads. The Pool is actually 3 pools: a little 1 foot baby pool, a 3- 4 ½ foot amoeba shape pool and a large rectangular lap pool. We hung out mainly in the big amoeba pool. The Little Mermaid swam, actually swam, and without complaint! Little Dude had fun going form me to Grandma and back again. And he found particular pleasure in following Little Mermaid around and annoying her. But she secretly loved it, you could tell, it was her entertainment. At one point, Mom and the kids had a mini conga line going. Very cute.

We are all getting a little tan, in spite of the sunscreen.

Ok, going now.
Don’t forget your supplies!
XO
Beach Mama

Sunday, July 27, 2008

McDonald’s McDumb@$$

Today was the last day I will buy anything from the fast food establishment known to the majority of the world as McDonald’s. Yes, you heard it here. Feel free to point at me and scream if you see me even eyeing some greasy fries. I have HAD IT! McDonald’s has long been my least favourite of the fast food franchises. Today they have solidified their placement at the bottom of the list. In fact, as I inferred, they are not even ON said list.

What has happened that this mecca of fried would be deliciousness has so disgruntled Beach Mama as to be banished from her world? Well, it began years ago, when on a road trip. This first egregious incident happened at 8:30 in the morning. We pulled into a McDumb@$$ for some quick drive-thru breakfast. The Dude and I had been extolling the many virtues of a certain breakfast pancake style sandwich and decided to pick one up. Remember, it is 8:30 am. We were informed by the barely coherent attendant that they were no longer serving breakfast. WHAT!??!!?!? Yes. This particular restaurant began serving breakfast at some ungodly hour and decided, that, well, 8:30 am is a fine time for lunch. What – you don’ crave a floppy grease soaked fish sandwich at 8:30? How about a Big Mac. But, by all means, DO NOT try to order a egg and cheese biscuit and heaven forbid you want pancakes.

Ok, so that is what began my loathing that is McDonald’s, now known to me and my faithful bloggers as McDumb@$$. I decided to write this off as a twilight zone-esque anomaly.

Onto today…

We slept in a bit and by the time we were packed and ready for travel to Charleston, SC it was after 11. So the Dude and I decided to drive through a McD’s for some LUNCH. Little Mermaid got a Happy Meal, and Dude and I got sandwiches. Little Dude also got a Happy Meal. First, we nearly didn’t get our drinks b/c the window cashier was shirking her responsibilities. Then, we parked to check our food. Good thing too, b/c we were missing an order of fries. So Dude went back into the grease bucket to get the fries. When he got back we realized we were given any napkins. SHEESH! Good thing I had some extras stashed in the glove box. Oh, I also forgot to mention that the health code rating was a mere 90. That’s out of 115 folks. Yup. You KNOW we sucked down some e-coli with our cokes.

Ok, whatever. It wasn’t until we stopped for a bathroom break that Little Mermaid discovered she never received her apple dippers with her UN-Happy Meal. ARGH!

So we carry on. Later in the afternoon Dude was thirsty and Little Mermaid was hungry, still upset about her AWOL apples. So like a good father, Dude pulls into a McDumb@$$ drive-thru to order said apples. He also orders a vanilla milkshake for himself. Notice I wrote ordered and not got… We are pulling onto the road when Dude goes to take a satisfying slurp of his coveted VANILLA shake. Wait. Not vanilla. STRAWBERRY! UGH! NO! SAY IT ISN’T SO!
It wouldn’t have been SO bad if these last 2 incidents had happened on different days. But for this to happen in 2 separate McDumb@$$’s, in 2 different states, on the same day?! No, it’s fate. I’m clearly not supposed to buy from these people. I can quit while I’m ahead. No bolt of lightening needed. I get it. Moving on…

Finally we get to Grandmum-mum and Grandpa-pa’s house in Charleston. The Dude and I unpack the car while the G-rent’s play with the G-kids. We have sandwiches for dinner. I brought my first vegetable from my organic garden. A beautiful green bell pepper. Aahh! So good! Should have taken a picture. Oh well.

Then my Mom (aka Mamasita or Grandmum-mum) had planned a mini birthday party for me. Complete with hand delivered invitations to the Dude, Little Dude and Grandpa-pa (aka Padre-man, my Dad). We took pictures and Little Dude helped me blow out my candles. Some were trick candles, yeah, those never get old. The cake was funfetti. G-d I love those. So colourful and happy. I opened cards and presents. Got a cool candle warmer. Looks sort of like a mini crock-pot and it holds those great big candles in glass jars. I never, almost never, light candles. I too often forget their lit so now I use warmers to melt the wax and get all the scented loveliness in the air. I also got some warm vanilla sugar scented bath goodies in a super cute basket. And school supplies. I love school supplies, and I’ll actually need them this year, as I’m going to be taking a class at UNCG this Fall.

The Dude and Padre-man played Bocce Ball, Little Mermaid served play tea and I cut out paper strips for that paper purse project. Oh yes folks, I’m on the verge of a break through!

It’s been thoroughly great evening at the ‘rent’s house in SC. Mom and I hit Wal-mart for some groceries tonight and now we are all going to bed. I’m pooped. One of these days I’ll catch up on my sleep…

Later Gators!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

What a busy day! After running around in a whirling dervish looking for kitty Dramamine, getting the van packed and kids ready, and parent’s lawn mowed and an attachment for the stroller at the store, and being denied kitty Dramamine from the vet’s office after looking at EVERY pet store in Winston Salem and checking the cats into the hotel we FINALLY made it to Carowinds Theme Park.

We caravanned with the V-C family, Sabby, Big D and Little C. Also, Jack the Dog. He chilled with our cats in the La Quinta. We stopped at the Wendy’s outside of the park, b/c it was lunch time by the time we drove up to the park, and why pay $15 for plain stale hotdog when you can get Wendy’s for 1/3 the cost? Huh? Why? WHY I ASK YOU!

You know the economy is bad when someone steals fast food. The Dude picked up our order and as he was filling the cokes SOMEONE ACTUALLY STOLE OUR FOOD! What is the world coming to? At least Wendy’s replaced the food for free. Good Grief!

Then we had to park in lower Slavonia because every single other spot was taken! Except for the VC family, someone happened to pull out of a primo spot, right next to the handicap parking. So we had to hoof it, but they had to wait for us.

The men split to ride roller coasters and the women and children chilled in the kiddie section. We rode the Dora the Explorer train; I rode the Flying Dutchman’s Revenge (think Sponge Bob Square Pants.) with the Little Mermaid. She also rode her first roller coaster! GO HER! I was so impressed! I HAD to buy the photo of us on it, as evidenced below.


I am so proud!

The weather was great. Overcast, warm, not hot, and just enough spritz and sprinkles to keep the locals at home and the lines short, but not enough to close any attractions. By the late afternoon Sabby and I were sticky from the humidity so we made our way to the water attraction side of the park. We met up with the men and hit the big wave pool the kids wore life vests and bobbed along with us (yes Mom, we held onto them – they weren’t just free floating on their own!) The Little Dude LOVED it. He was having so much fun, he didn’t even complain when an unexpected wave smacked him in the face!

We stayed at the pool for a long time, until about 5:30 and then the men split for some water slides and the women and children marched on to the neighboring sprinkler park for the little-uns. The water park closes at 7, so after the guys showed up, we took turns going into the locker rooms to change back into dry clothes. Now it was the mama’s turn! Sabby and I left the kids with the men and skipped over to the best roller coaster at Carowinds – After Burn (formerly known as Top Gun). I don’t know why they changed the name… my esophagus hurts just thinking about the word after burn. Like heart burn or something else equally unpleasant.

We met up with the men and the lines were so short we took turns watching the kiddies so we could ride the roller coaster with our hubbies. I got a great pic of Sabby and Big D. We rode in the front, and now I’m spoiled. It was AWESOME! I felt like I was flying!


After much more walking and then forcibly removing the men from the extreme rides we began the long trek, cross country to our van. Since we were staying in Charlotte, we wanted to go to our FAVOURITE NC restaurant… Mert’s Heart and Soul. The BEST cornbread and soul food EVER! Don’t believe me? Come and try it. Go on. The cornbread will make a believer out of anybody.

Now it’s midnight. The VC family is on their way home. Little Dude and Little Mermaid are asleep and I can barely keep my eyes open.

Time for bed.
Ciao for now!
Xo
BeachMama

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Birthday Girl!


Monday is a blur. We woke up at 4:45 and got home in the USA after midnight. We had a great visit with Banana, the Dude’s sister, at the Washington DC airport.

Oh, here’s a quick and dirty story about our return. On the flight to DC from Bogota, the Little Mermaid spilled a full cup of orange juice all over herself. We had checked the bags in Manizales so we wouldn’t have to deal with them on the way back home. This means that we had no clothes for the poor Little Mermaid to wear. I gave her my huge (even on me!) Juan Valdez hoodie. Yes, his face is TOTALLY on the front. It was a big sacrifice on my part. But, as Ned Kelly said, such is life.

When we got to DC, after going through customs, getting our bags and re-checking them, going through security and walking to the ENTIRE other end of the dang airport, we were able to look for new clothes for the Little Mermaid. Why didn’t you just get some clothes out of the bag once you picked them up – you ask? Well, the baggage guys in their infinite wisdom zip corded our bags shut. We didn’t have any scissors and were unable to open them! ARGH!

So, we were looking for clothes. Did you know that there is an entire men’s suit store in the DC airport? Look in the B gates, like B 40 something. BUT there is not 1 article of clothing for the lower half for ANYONE else in the ENTIRE FREAKIN’ AIRPORT. I know. I looked. Thank goodness I have mad skills when it comes to clothing design. My mom would say that I have mad skills at rigging myself up, but I disagree. It’s art Mom. Art. I looked for the cheapest t-shirt I could find. $9.99 at a newsstand. Yup, I bought it and asked the cashier if she had any scissors. She asked the manager and the manager went back into the secret room where they scan your retina to make sure can you be trusted with scissors in the airport and then came back with a pair for me to use. What I’m going to tell you next is shocking – at least to the ladies at the register. I unfolded that bad boy and cut across the body of the shirt, just under the armpits. Then I cut a strip off the raw edge of that newly cut tube. I snipped the strip so that I had 1 long strip and a tube of shirt. I shoved the cropped off top in my shopping bag. Then I cut a little hole in the hemmed bottom of the t-shirt tube. I threaded the strip through that already turned over and hemmed bottom, flipped it upside down and viola! The Little Mermaid had a skirt! TA-DA. Then I got her a shirt and she was ready to take off that screaming hot Juan Valdez sweatshirt hoodie.

The Little Mermaid was very happy with her new ensemble and modeled it all over the airport. You would have thought she was wearing Versace!

On to my birthday…

On the drive home from the airport, the kiddies were asleep and the Dude and I sang Happy Birthday to me. We quickly crashed and slept until late the next morning. I woke up to the sweet smell of Colombian coffee. Then we went to our local pizza place, the Mellow Mushroom for lunch. Ah, so good! AND there is a new frozen custard shop on 4th street! So of course we hit that. Did you know that frozen custard has half the fat of ice cream? It tastes so much better too!

The Dude surprised me with a trip to Greensboro! UNC-Greensboro! I got information on starting towards my Master’s in History. As of today, my application is in and my transcript has been ordered!!! I’m a college girl again! Check it out. The school colours are blue and gold, like my first high school, and the mascot is the Spartans, like my graduating high school. See, it was meant to be.

Then we went to this super cool bike shop and got a chariot for my bike. This way I can stick it to the man and ride my bike with the kids to the grocery store instead of driving and buying gas. SCREW THE MAN!

PLUS, I got both Barack Obama books on CD, read by Grammy winner and Future President Obama himself. And the Dude got me the Netflix attachment so we can watch the free Netflix movies on our TV instead of crowding around our laptop! CHA! SEE?!?!? THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! Plus a Lemon Charlotte Royal cake from Whole Foods. It tasted like a combination of cake and Lemon custard. AHhhhh! AND pink champagne!

I didn’t even care that we had a major storm that knocked over tons of trees blocking street access all across Winston Salem! Or that our power was out until the next morning! I had the best dang birthday ever!

Neener neener.

Colombia Soy Yo!


Domingo

July 20th is recognized as Colombia’s Day of Independence. There were marches and gatherings for peace all over the country. In the center square of Manizales throngs of people marched in celebration of liberty and in protest of the FARC – demanding the release of all hostages. We watched the speeches and the beauty of a mass dove release. It was beautiful; the doves rose in a mighty swell before the imposing Manizales Cathedral. While blank eyes of stone saints saw the people’s prayers ascended to heaven, silence filled the square.

In the late morning we decided to spend some of our last day in the country. A friend of CC had a small farm with animals so we drove 45 minutes to Santagueda. One of the highlights of Manizales is the weather. It’s really perfect. It never gets too cold and never gets too hot. Santagueda was freakin’ HOT! As we drove through the area, I was starkly reminded of the tacky touristy section of Myrtle Beach. CC confirmed my suspicions. We passed horse back riding, open air fast food style restaurants, a mini water park, go karts and 4 wheelers. After a short ride down a very bumpy dirt road we arrived at CC’s friend’s house.

A few changes had been made since CC last visited. The animals were gone. All of them. Not even a dog. In their place was an outdoor snack and drink bar with a tented area to sit in the shade, bouncing castles, a pool (which had been there before) and a large slope roped off containing a giant clear ball, large enough for a person to fit inside. They decided to sell off the animals (although a hint of their scent still lingers) and convert their country home into a summer fun bed and breakfast type inn. It looks like a great place for a little weekend get-a-way with the kids. But my G-d it was hot! Little Mermaid bounced until she just couldn’t bounce anymore. She was a hot sweaty mess! And the Dudes played with a sort of tetherball-ping pong apparatus. Thankfully, we didn’t stay too long, or we would have withered away from heat exhaustion. After about an hour we drove home for lunch.

Lunch was the Colombian Soup we’d had at the Lady in Red’s house (minus the capers). It was good, we even had some rice pudding, that Sandra had made (the family’s housekeeper). It was PHENOMENAL! I’ll have to google it and try a few different recipes. I was totally stuffed and took the Little Dude upstairs to nap. Well, no nap happened! The Dude came up and we hung out and watched the end of Fool’s Rush In on the television. I played on the computer and edited some more videos.

The rest of day was very low key. Everyone sort of hung around and relaxed. Just as I began thinking that it might be about time to settle the kids in for the night, a crowd of people bombarded the house! Nearly every person we’d met over the last 10 days came to say good bye to CC. It was so sweet. Both her brothers, the Lady in Red’s family, the Good Witch’s family, and the Sister in Law with Izzy and the Little Dude’s girlfriend. (as it turns out Izzy called home crying, begging her mother to drive the 3+ hours to pick her up and bring her home. She wanted to see her auntie one more time, CC thinks she wanted to play with the Little Mermaid again!

I had just burned 2 cds with all our photos from the last 10 days for CC. The house was hopping; I just couldn’t let the opportunity pass without documenting it for CC. People kept rolling into the house. It’s was a like a scene from It’s a Wonderful Life! I finally had to get to bed around 11. I mean we ARE leaving at an insane hour tomorrow for our first of 3 flights home. As it is, it’s 11:22 pm. The Little Dude is asleep, I think the Dude and Little Mermaid might be in bed and I can still hear people downstairs visiting. But I recognize almost all the voices, so I think it’s just family now.

Time for me to hit the sack. It’s going to be LOOONG day tomorrow!

Adios!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Tio's Menagerie

Saturday

This morning I worked on videos while the kids watched Spanish Disney and the Dude and CC went to a cobbler to have his new sandal adjusted. The back strap kept sliding off. When they returned we loaded into the car, with Abuela – CC’s mom and drove just to the outskirts of town where her uncle, her father’s brother, lives.

As we left the city I noticed that several the hillsides near residences are terraced. The slope is so steep, definite a landslide risk. But each terrace has a cement trough along its length to help move the water down the hill without saturating the land.

CC’s uncle is a priest; he and his 2 sisters live in a breathtaking house built into the side of a hill. Abuelo has 5 siblings, 2 are deceased, and the remaining 3 live in this spectacular home. One of the sisters is developmentally disabled and remains in pre-speech toddler state. Once they were able, the brother and sister took her out of a living facility to live with them. The house has detailed wood paneled ceilings, stain glass sun lights and stain glass windows.

Tío (the priest uncle) has a small menagerie of animals. He has 3 dogs, a Collie, a yellow Lab and a black mutt. Three very loud parrots, a great big tortoise, and a cute monkey named Pépe. He raised Pépe and Freddy the tortoise from babyhood. I’m not sure about the other animals.

For lunch we had a very traditional Colombian meal called ????, or ‘tray’ translated. It consists of a large plate with different mounds of food, next to and on top of each other. There is rice, beans, fried plantains, assorted meats, arepas, sweet potato slices (baked) and cheese. It was good, but a challenge with the Little Dude. After that, as if it weren’t enough, we were served a refreshing milk soup/drink with cooked corn kernels and I’m not quite sure what else. It was very different than anything I’d eaten before, but I liked it. With the soup/drink came two sugared guava fruit jellies. Like a gummy candy. Then we had café and visited. There is something about Abuelo and Tio. The Little Dude just loves them! And they’ve been charmed by him as well.

CC’s phone began beeping; it was time to pick up the Dude’s sandals. So we said goodbye and left paradise.

Later, CC and I left the Dude and niños at home, watching a movie on Disney. We had some last minute errands to run. I got some more goodies for Little Mermaid’s class next year. CC was stocking up on Colombian brands of soap etc… to take home and use in the USA. We went to 3 different stores looking for her shampoo. Everywhere we went they only had the conditioner. What is weird, is they didn’t have ANY shampoo for her brand. ONLY the conditioners. When we got home her mom started calling places to see if they carried it. She must have called more than a dozen stores and NONE of them had it in stock. Very very strange…

We had a grilled chicken for dinner with potatoes and arepas. Almost an All-American meal! Some things are just universal.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Me and Senor Valdez

Friday afternoon

CC’s neighbor owns and runs a café/ pastry shop called La Suiza. She is Colombian and her husband is Swiss, hence La Suiza (the Swiss). After the Little Dude’s nap we went to La Suiza. We each had a different dessert, The Dude had tea and tiramisu, CC had a coke and a chocolate/ hazelnut/ raspberry pastry, Little Mermaid had milk and a thick brownie and I had passion fruit ice cream and coffee. My helado (ice cream) had whip cream on top and 3 stick cookies. Little dude ate the cookies and whipped cream.

After our tasty desserts, we walked over to Juan Valdez, my new crush. Good thing for the Dude that Juan is just a character. We bought coffee beans and Dude got a polo style shirt. As Dude paid, the kids and I walked around on the café patio. There was a trick bike show and several vendors with handmade goods set up on the street level. The trick bike show was pumping Latin music with a heavy beat and the kids danced on the patio. They were so cute! Yup, I’ve got videos. I’ll be loading all that stuff as soon as I get back to the states. The internet keeps timing out on me here.

The vendors varied from lame to very cool. Some were selling candles, other jewelry. I really liked the handmade paper boxes. I think they were made from recycled cardboard, shaped and glued together. Then painted and embellished. I’ll have to try making those at home.

It was pretty dark after all our walking around so we headed home. Once there, CC, the Dude and Little Mermaid went to a local fast food restaurant to grab some food for dinner. While they were doing that, I set up some of the videos that I had edited for us to watch as we ate.

By the time we were done watching videos and looking at pictures, Little Dude was totally grumpy. It was time for bed. He fell asleep quickly and I flipped through the channels on the TV. I found The 40 Year Old Virgin with Spanish subtitles and the Dude came in to watch some of it with me. It’s pretty funny to read the Spanish translation of what they are saying!

Later gators!

Friday, July 18, 2008

Sun, Snow and Serpents

Wow! Finally! It only took 7 days, but the sun in shining, the sky is blue and it is CALIENTE! (Hot, gringos!) This morning, we took a little walk up the hill to see the 3 snow capped mountains. But we weren’t fast enough and by the time we got to a viewing place, the clouds were rolling in. I did manage a couple of pictures where you can see some snow on the mountains. Que lastíma! Hopefully we’ll get another opportunity before we leave. Snow capped mountains are called los nevados in español.

We stopped at a playground on the walk back home and the kids got to play. It was very wet and after a big chocolate lab started peeing on everything we left. Gross me out. His, and yes I know for a fact it was a he, owner was right there, just smoking a cigarette. I mean honestly, it’s one thing if a stray dog pees at the kids’ playground, but when an idiot owner deliberately brings her mongrel to a KIDS PLAYGROUND with CHILRDEN PLAYING and lets him run wild… C’MON PEOPLE!

When we came home the Little Dude and I took a shower. I wanted to take one last night but was just too tired. And the Little Dude had been stripped down to his diaper, at the playground, b/c he had mud all over his clothes. We dried and dressed and loaded into the car for a little surprise. CC drove us to a Museum and Protected Park at the top of a hill next to Manizales. Our tour guide was named, get this, Fabio. He was cute. Not like Fabio the model, but normal cute. And he gave us our tour in English. From the main building you could see all of Manizales. I took some panoramic pics. I can’t wait to be able to play with my photos!

The museum is the oldest in Manizales, 80+ years. It is very small and contains taxidermy animals and insects. 80% of the species are native to Manizales, 15% are native to Colombia and 5% are from other parts of the world.

We saw the most beautiful butterflies. Some bigger than your hand, down to itty bitty teeny weensy ones, the size of your pinky nail. And the spiders were totally freaky. I’ll probably have nightmares. We also saw a huge anaconda skin; it looked about 15 ft long. Yeah, it was a BABY! Cha! The idea is that you walk through the museum then tour the forest and see how many different species of insects and birds you recognize. But, since we’ve had rain EVERY SINGLE DAY there is the threat of landslides, so the forest is closed.

They have a little enclosed play area for los niños. They had a ball pool – The Little Dude was in HEAVEN. And an enclosed trampoline, and 35m slides. The kiddies had a blast. We took lots of pics and videos. We started to get hungry so we came home. Just as we pulled out of the Park the clouds rolled in and it started to sprinkle. Perfect timing!

So now I’m upstairs with the Little Dude while he sleeps. The Dude and CC went to her cobbler to tighten a brad on his new sandals and the Little Mermaid is playing in the other room. We had white fish (probably Tilapia) with rice and potatoes in a saffron coloured sauce. It’s called Widower Fish. Not sure why, but I love fish, so I was happy. The Little Mermaid even got second helpings on fish!

Soon, Dude and CC will come back and then CC and I will run some errands.

More later Amigos!

Cuidad y Campos

Thursday

This morning for breakfast we had Colombian chorizo (sausage), arepas, and bread. The sausage was different than any sausage I’ve had in the US. I think it might be beef sausage? Once we were all dressed and ready we headed out to visit the in-laws that invaded us the other day.

Manizales is beautiful because there are clusters of neighborhoods on the surrounding hills and mountains. Today we saw the natural beauty of Colombia. It was breathtaking. Rolling mountains; some so tall that the tops were covered with waves of clouds. Bamboo everywhere, I’d never seen bamboo growing before I moved here. And it grows throughout, covering hillsides with its soft heathery leaves. Then we drove through the coffee plantations. I didn’t get to see Juan Valdez but the plantes café were very cool.

It took us about an hour to get to the next city, Pereira. We stopped to shop at the mall. CC of course found 2 people she knew! I’m telling ya, we can’t even go to another CITY without her finding an old amigo. Maybe she should run for office! After several frustrating experiences I finally found a skirt and a pair of pants, capris actually, that fit my GRANDE American frame. I really needed some pants because I’ve been wearing the same skirt for 3 days. The housekeeper offered to launder our dirty clothes, so we gave them to her. No one in Manizales owns a dryer. Every house has an enclosed area with lines to hang laundry to dry. 3 days after the wash and my jeans still weren’t dry. It doesn’t help that it’s been raining every single day! My skirt that I’ve been donning is white and it is looking a little less white after 3 days of constant wear, particularly around los niños.

We stopped at a restaurant in the mall to eat lunch, the big meal of the day. I had some grilled meat, with a few fries scattered over smashed fried plantains. CC ate a bowl of assorted grilled meats mixed with rice. The Dude had some sort of thick stew with grilled meat and fries. Little Mermaid ate….a hot dog. Little Dude ate a few papas fritas (French fries) before he over turned the bowl onto the Dude’s lap – ketchup and all! The Dude was not happy. So I quickly ate my food and then took the kids for a walk. The Little Mermaid ate an ice cream cone earlier. Chocolate, of course. And she dripped it all over her dress, of course. So she changed into a skirt and shirt we bought. Then once CC and the Dude finished their meal, we went to find a new shirt for the Dude. He was covered in grease and ketchup.

Once the shopping was complete and the Dude had changed shirts we got the car, and drove to the next town, where the in-laws live, Carteagua. Cartagua is a small town, that is known for it’s sewing and textile industry. There were vespas and bicycles everywhere, like mosquitoes! And they seem to have to regard for their lives b/c they will cut right in front of a van or car without thinking twice. We also saw several horse drawn carts in the town, though I didn’t get a picture of one. Qué lastima!

We pulled up to the house and saw the whole gang, minus Sis. She had to work! The visit sort of turned out to be a cruel joke on the Little Mermaid. Shortly after we arrived, the family (kids and grandparents) were going on a 3 day holiday to Cali, 3 hours away. They left and took the Little Mermaid’s friend, CC’s niece, Izzy, with them. The Little Mermaid cried and cried. “Why didn’t they warn us that Izzy was going to leave after we got here?!” CC cried too, because she probably wouldn’t see her niece for a year. So the two sad sacks hugged and sat in a chair comforting each other. The Sister in Law dropped the vacationers a taxi station and returned with Little Dude’s girlfriend, the 14 month old baby. We visited a little bit and got a tour of the house.

After some milk and cookies we hit the road. We had a long drive back and it was already beginning to darken outside.

Los niños slept for a good bit of the ride. The sun set and it was as dark as a road in the Pennsylvania Mountains! I got a pretty good photo of Manizales at night. We’ll have tobsee how it turns out. About 30 minutes from home we stopped to eat b/c Little Mermaid was STARVING. She ordered a plain hamburger with fries, I had two mini empanadas and the Dude ate a sandwich. Little Dude danced to the music playing over the speakers and snacked on some fries.

We finally got home and after a quick greeting to Abuela we crashed! It was a great day, but a tiring one!

Grande y Pequeño

So, where were we?

Ah sí, the Dudes are asleep. Charlotte has stopped giggling and is playing with some miniature animals she bought during our last outing, whilst watching Disney Español.

CC and I decide to hit the shops downtown. The two of us drive to pick up her friend, the Good Witch, and we all go downtown for shopping! I began to feel a little uncomfortable walking down the sidewalk with these 2 ladies. They are maybe 5’2” on a good day, and I’m 6 feet tall. Every Colombian we see is only as tall as my shoulders. So, we are walking and EVERY SINGLE PERSON stops what they are doing and looks at me as I walk by. Then every once in a while I hear some one whisper “Grande” as I walk past. On the outside I appear confident and am just going about my business. On the inside I’m having a real mental battle. Part of me wants to run and hide, and the other part of me is thinking, “Screw them! This is who I am!”

I remember when I was a young girl, my family lived in Sicily. My dad, Padre-man, has always told me to never be ashamed of my height. When we would walk around the towns and markets of Sicily we were generally the tallest folks around. Padre-man told us to keep our heads up and faces forward, not to look down at the ground and avoid people. One of his favourite sayings is from Eleanor Roosevelt, “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.”

All of these memories are rushing over me as I walk with CC and the Good Witch. The ‘screw them’ attitude won out. Everyone, and no, that is not an exaggeration, EVERYONE still stared as I walked by and I still heard grande at least twice a block. I laughed and told the girls that I was going to start saying pequeño to everyone who called me grande. (FYI: Pequeño means small) I didn’t actually say that to anyone, not out loud at least. Someone needs to set a good example.

We went to a little shop with all kinds of hand made pottery and Colombia knick knacks. I bought a couple Colombia bracelets for the kids and miniature chiga. A chiga is a bus, similar to the kind that the kids rode in VillaMaria. I’m going to make an ornament out of it for our Christmas tree. Yeah, I’m that good, and I think ahead. Most of the time. Then we hit a candy store, I bought some SuperCoco lollipops for Charlotte’s class next year. They are made here in Manizales. We also went to a grocery store for COFFEE! I bought lots of bags of different kinds, and I bought some chocolate bars used in their hot chocolate and I can’t leave out that all important ingredient, PANELA! I asked CC what exactly panela is, it is made from sugar cane. It is not refined like our white sugar, and it still has the sugar cane colour and taste. They are sold in all sorts of sizes and styles, from ‘instant’ granules to big thick cow pies. Yup, you know I bought those cow patties!

By the time we were finished with our spending it was nearly 5 o’clock and we were expected at the Lady in Red’s house for dinner. After dropping off our purchases and picking up the Dudes and Little Mermaid we drove to LIR’s house (that’s Lady in Red, amigos). All the ladies we met yesterday are college friends of CC. The LIR has a 9 year old son. He is SO CUTE! He attends a bilingual school here in Manizales and once he warmed up to us (which took all of 2 minutes. We maybe giants, but we’re gentle giants!) he began to speak in English. His English is excellent. NO ACCENT! The Little Dude loved playing with a big boy. They played with matchbox cars and transformers. The LIR is so thoughtful; somehow she procured some girl toys for Little Mermaid. At first Little Mermaid played with an anatomically correct niño (that’s baby boy, gringos). Then she switched, as she always does, into veterinarian mode and began focusing on the stuffed animals.

As an aside…
The other day I learned that CC’s father is a veterinarian and a lawyer. After he finished vet school in Colombia he attended a school in Oklahoma (I think it was Oklahoma State?) where he specialized in large animals, like cows, horses etc… Later, back in Colombia he returned to school and became a lawyer. He practiced both professions, simultaneously until he retired. Maybe he and the Little Mermaid can talk about life as a vet this evening!

Soon the LIR’s husband came home. He is a mild mannered bespectacled man, much like certain Dude I know. He’s also a doctor. Like a certain someone…

We sat down to dinner and had an incredible time. We ate a traditional Colombian Soup. It was a clear broth with a chunk of corn, some yucca and potatoes. There were bowls on the table, one with shredded chicken, one with Latino evaporated milk, and one with capers. You add as much of each item you’d like. Then mix it all together and enjoy! We also, had CC’s favourite Colombian food item – Arroz con Leche. It’s sort of like a coconut rice pudding. Muy Bien!

It was a great evening. The kids had a BLAST! CC really has some wonderful friends. We didn’t want to leave, but, everyone has work in the morning and kids to get to sleep.

Buenos Noches!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Rude Awakening

I had a restless night last night. Don’t know why. Sometimes it just happens. It’s just as well, because if I were having a good night’s sleep I would probably be really pissed right now.

At 5 am this morning I heard a boom that brought me wide awake – immediately. Then I heard the bangs. At first I thought they were gun shots, but they were too regular, like fireworks. Then I began to hear sirens and some distant voice on a loud speaker. This continues for over 30 minutes. Little Dude and Little Mermaid slept right through it all. As the sirens and, now, honking grew closer I went to the window and asked the Dude if he was woken up by it all. He was. I walked down the hall to find CC walking up the stairs. “What’s going on?” I asked. She smiled and shook her head. Today is the day of the Virgin of CARmen the saint of conductors and drivers. It’s true folks, you can’t make this stuff up.

Well, once I’m up, I’m up. So I sat in bed, downloading pictures from the camera, typing up the previous blog, making videos that I can’t upload and watching American TV dubbed in Spanish. I did find this really cute priest on channel 5, Padre Chucha. He was talking about the FARC and the kidnapped. Sunday is Colombia’s Independence Day, and they are planning a huge rally in the city square to demonstrate solidarity against the FARC. This seems to be a fairly common occurrence in Manizales. This small city in the mountains is known for its colleges and universities. And you know how students like to rally and protest. Go on, check for Manizales on YouTube and I’ll bed you’ll find a video of an Anti-FARC rally. Pretty good thing to rally against, actually.

Ok, back to the parade. The noise continued on until about 5:45 – 6:00. Later that day, at more civilized hour I asked CC why in the world were they parading at 5 am? She answered, “Colombia is a very Catholic country and on special days people celebrate. They begin at 5 am because that is sunrise.”

After breakfast we, the Dudes, Little Mermaid, CC and myself, drove to downtown Manizales. At the main square there are two very beautiful, very historic buildings. The first is a grand cathedral. It is over 80 years old. It looks very dark and gothic on the outside. Absolutely stunning. Inside are statues of saints and loads of stained glass. I took LOTS of pictures. Now, if only I could get them loaded online!!! ARGH! Darn you slow internet!

Across the square, directly across from the cathedral, is the Governor’s Mansion. This building is about 86 years old. CC spoke to the people in protocol and got us special permission to photograph the mansion and we were even invited to the top floor where the Governor’s office is located. Very cool! We didn’t get to meet the big man though, but I was very impressed nonetheless. The mansion is more like an office building. I don’t know if there is a personal residential wing for the governor, or if it was the residence of the first governors. Now it is mostly used as a government building. I took loads of pictures. The building is creamsicle orange, maybe a little bit darker, with white trim. There is all sorts of fancy scrollwork and medallions on the walls and ceilings. The middle of the building is a courtyard with a big beautiful palm tree. Ah! So magnificent.

While we were touring the mansion, we heard another parade; I was able to video the procession. There was a marching band and a team of priests dressed in white holding tall candlesticks. And, of course, CC found someone she hadn’t seen in years and they hugged and talked. I’m telling you, the woman is popular. And I get to be her friend, nanny nanny boo boo!

On our walk back to the car we stopped at a shop and bought our super touristy t-shirts. The Dude lucked out though. He got an embroidered polo shirt. Excuse me!

We came home and had something that looked an awful lot like leftovers, which is totally fine. But it was masquerading as an entirely new meal. Basically, it was pot roast stew, minus the liquid and adding some arroz (that’s rice to you gringos).

The Dudes are napping and the Little Mermaid must be bored playing with her things, b/c she’s down here giggling hysterically while I type. So I’m going to wrap this up and I’ll type more later…

C
CI
CIAO!

Muchas Amigas

I think that CC must be the most popular person in all of Manizales. Everywhere we go at least 3 new people find her. Even when she’s driving, if we’re at a stop sign someone will holler out to her. It’s weird but cool. Like being with a celebrity.

Today was a first though. Things are always rather tranquil at the house of CC. Today, while Jack was still napping, and after CC came back from visiting her aunt and uncle, CC, her mother and I were sitting around the table when out of the corner of my eye I saw a car pull up the driveway. “Un Coche.” I said. “Donde?” they replied. “In the driveway.” (yeah, my Spanish is not THAT advanced. C’mon!)

CC went to the front door and peeked through the key hole. Then she opened the door and who should come into the house but 8 people! I recognized CC’s sister-in-law and los ninos. The entourage consisted of her parent’s and siblings. Two sisters and 1 brother. They were a lot of fun. I never felt so at home. If you’ve ever been to a meal or event with my family (and my extended family) then you know what I mean. It got real loud, real quick. Just as we were getting settled in, the door bell rang. The oldest sister (we are so much a like, I swear we were separated at birth) and I went to answer it and try to figure out how to open the door. Yes, I already told you, it IS that complicated.

Three women were standing there and Sis and I were like, ‘yeah?’ They started talking rapid fire and I began to slowly back away. Were they trying to sell us something? Convert us to some new religion? CC’s mom beckoned them in. Apparently they are college friends of CC and they just dropped in to say hi before she left. Now it got really loud. Mom – you would have loved it!

After much visitation and lots of hugs and photos someone said that magic word, OBLEAS. If you aren’t familiar with obleas, scan down and read about them. It’s worth it. Everyone packed into their respective cars and the plan was to meet on the hill where one can find the best obleas. When we got there, the car with CC’s friends arrived, but the car with the relatives was nowhere to be found. Thus begins the freak-out of 2008. CC had her friends calling on their cell phones trying to get in touch with her sister-in-law. For 20 minutes we can’t get a hold of anyone. Finally someone picks up SIL’s phone. She’s left it at the house! Turn that freak out meter up a notch. CC calls her brother but the reception is really bad and the friends are frantically dialing numbers. Well, somebody got a hold of someone. The Relative Car stopped for gas. Then SIL realized her phone was at the house, so they went back for it. By then it was getting dark, so they decided to drive home (they live about 90 minutes away).

Well, the freak-out cut into prime oblea eating, thus, we went to a restaurant to eat. Little Mermaid had a hotdog, on a bun with ketchup. The Dude ordered empanadas (not as good as the Iglesias. Maybe they were touched by G-d?) I told the girls that I wanted something authentic and Colombian. I ended up with a plate with a layer dish on it. Think pizza but oblong and no sauce. The dough was a huge smooshed plantain that was lightly fried. Then add a thin layer of patty (I think beef), add some bacon (oh yeah, this was SO NOT VEGAN!), cheese, shredded chicken and… wait for it… SHRIMP! Oh my…

I’m not sure what it is called but I ate it all. And it was good. And I don’t even feel guilty.

Plus the other ladies had them too. Except CC. She ate a hotdog.

Little Dude was inconsolable for most of the meal. We tried to feed him and offer him drinks. The Dude walked with him. I held him and walked around. I put him in the sling. Dude changed his diaper. NOTHING WORKED. Then one of the girls offered to walk around the restaurant with him. TA FREAKIN’ DA

She must be a witch. Because she cast some sort of magic spell over that baby, and the rest of the night she was the only one who could make him happy. If she is a witch, she’s a nice one… like Hermione. And she’s pretty.

After our dank (that means good, rookies.) dinner the Lady in Red (she was the friend in the Red Suit) and Little Mermaid and I walked across the street to a mini-mart. We looked at the cool Colombian candy. She told us all about the different treats. Including one that is made right there in Manizales. Little Mermaid picked a couple of things out and I actually paid. I understood the cashier and everything. I even gave exact change! I KNOW! Snaps to me.

Now we are home again. We are all going to bed. Tomorrow evening we are going to the Lady in Red’s house for dinner, or something. And I think CC is going to take us shopping again. I still need to buy coffee!!!

Oh, by the way, Juan Valdez is invading AMERICA! You lucky ducks in New York City are the first to be blessed with a Juan Valdez Café. I highly suggest you go and get some kick @$$ coffee. It puts Starbucks to SHAME!

Ok, more later!
Ciao