Good Exhaustion

Being home has been a complete whirlwind! I've worked 30+ hours in a week and a half (I know its not much but getting up early and having responsibilities even after just a short break is hard!) I've gone to the beach with my grandparents and Fortner cousins for 2 days, gone to the So Pas Farmer's Market, seen 2 plays, reunited with friends and more family and made my first summer pie! It was tart because I made it with fresh berries, but it was still yummy! And...the top crust was inspired by the Martha Stewart Valentine's Day issue last year!

Today I also hung out with Becca, Niko and a surprise appearance by our old friend Ryan! It was a truly ideal summer day and I loved every minute of it.

It ended with Stitch and Pitch (the Dodger game where we knit!). This is my little panda friend that I'm making for my friend Amanda's birthday 3 days after mine...in one week!!!!!!

Even though I have not been this exhausted in at least 5-6 months, it feels so good to know that I have people to love (and therefore spend time with) and people who love me enough to spend time with me. I think this is the worthwhile exhaustion.

P.S.-I'm reading Sula by Toni Morrison, which is beautifully written, as always. Next up: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (7) by J. K. Rowling. I am so excited to get to read soon...after all the newness of being home wears off! These are easily my 3 favorite authors of all time!

Let's Stay Together

After the whirlwind that was my last week in Argentina, I spent the past 4 days in Spokane, Washington and Sandpoint, Idaho for my cousin Sara's wedding to Rob! They are really awesome people and seemed so happy together all weekend long, throughout all of the stress! I've really come to look up to them and am so happy they are in my life, and that we were able celebrate their special day with them.

The wedding party on Schweitzer Mountain!

The view from the ski lift we rode up to the wedding!

All of Sara's cousins! The ones in the front are mine too! :)

Mia and I at the rehearsal! The view was spectacular!

I love weddings, especially because one can take hints and tips on what would be ideal at yours! This also was my first weekend back in the states, and it went by very fast and it all felt very surreal. I don't see my cousins very often from Spokane, so it was a treat to spend some time with them. I just got home to S. Pasadena, and that return has been the weirdest. My house and my room seem like artifacts from a previous life! I'm sure by tomorrow I'll feel right at home again, especially after I visit Grandma!

Happy Father's Day

Watch this.

Love you Daddy!!! I am so lucky to have a father who encourages me to see the world and live life to the fullest!

Last year Uncle Mickey said it the best, something like Thank you for all the people who guided us, who were fathers, who are fathers and who have been leaders for us in our lives.

Espero que no lloren mucho mis tías, tenemos que agradecer el tiempo rico y lleno de amor que tuvimos con R.V.D.!!!!

Papa-I'm so glad you're driving again and doing well! Have a great day!

Kidneys

Riñones have become a pretty big part of my life in the past couple of years. What they do, what they stop doing, what diet is better for them, how important they are.

My Grandpa (maternal grandfather) essentially died from kidney failure. His heart couldn't handle dialysis anymore after 8 months and so the doctors did their last dialysis and in less that 5 days he left this life. (Dialysis is a magical fascinating thing that sucks your blood out of your body and puts it through a machine that acts like a kidney and filters the icky stuff out of your blood, and then it gives your blood back = pretty intense process!) Let me also add a random fact--that my grandpa was just randomly born with one normal sized kidney and one smaller one.

My Grandma (maternal grandmother) had cancerous matter in one of her kidneys so that one got taken right out about 3 years ago and the other one has been "the kidney-that-could" since then. Its finally ready to take a break and is asking for that magical and yet straining machine to do its job for it. So, most likely my Gramsey-goo will be starting dialysis soon.

My Papa (paternal grandfather) is having part of his kidney removed on Tuesday because of some sketchy tumor. (Prayers!)

So all of this makes me think about kidneys and how important they are. They take the pee out of your blood. What a hard job and what an incredibly necessary job.

Click here to read some great info about kidneys!

I've also looked up tips on keeping your kidney's healthy and found a couple hard to pronounce vitamins that we should all take, but I think that just general health is advised.

Good thing I'm going on an "Urban Biking and Kayaking" day tomorrow on a nearby island called El Tigre.

Teatro Ciego and Easter in a Box

Last night the crew and I went to see a play put on by the Teatro Ciego (Blind Theatre) company. It was called "La Isla Desierta" and it was truly a magnificent theatrical experience. We entered the big venue filled with anticipation of the unknown when two people introduced themselves and told us to form single filed lines of 10 people and put our hands on the shoulders of the person in front of us, so that we could be lead into the completely dark theatre.

When I say dark, I mean dark. You opened your eyes and closed them and could not tell the difference. It was exhilarating, scary and thoroughly entertaining. The play started with sounds of typewriters coming from all different parts of the room. None of us had any idea how the room was set up until the lights came on at the end of the show, and so the fact that the sound was coming from all angles of the room was overwhelmingly mysterious and awesome. The sounds and smells they created throughout the show were so realistic.

It was a beautiful introduction to new theatrical possibility--darkness and all that entails for the audience: the anticipatory nervousness, the automatic trust you must put in the performers, and the opportunity to let your imagination soar as you create the visual pictures on your own. I also loved the idea of adding a Smell Designer into the crew of a show. My love for theatre and happiness that I changed my major grow with every production I see!

Yesterday, I went to the Centro Postal Internacional to pick up a package I received! It was Easter in a Box from my dad's side of the family! Gabby knit me that adorable Easter egg, my aunt Pam collected yummy things and most importantly CHUNKY PEANUT BUTTER!
This was the makings of my first sandwich. It was delicious, it make me feel at home and I loved it. Thank you Aunt Pam and Patti and Nana&Papa and Ally and Gabby and everyone who helped pick all the yummies in this box. I opened it and felt really loved, even though you all are 6.000 millas away. Thank you so much I'm so lucky to have you all!

"The Rita Influence"

Last week was the first week that any of the classes I was interested in started. I went to Plásitca y Visión, Taller de Relizaciones II, Arte y Diseño, y Historía Escenografica. Three out of those four are at "USAL" or the Universidad del Salvador, and Arte y Diseño is offered at "UCA" or Universidad Catolica de Argentina.

Out of all four, the only one I am set of taking is Plástica y Visión--its an art class in three parts: painting, pencil drawing and figure drawing. No matter what I do to prevent it, "The Rita Influence" has no cure.

My whole life art lessons/drawing/painting was something I was exposed to and taught. Being a "recovering" perfectionist, I never thought I was artistically talented because I couldn't make mine look like my mom's.

Recently, I started going to the figure drawing sessions at Columbia and found out that I really liked it, and that I maybe did have some talent. Over winter break my mom, my brother, my mom's student Kara and I all participated in a 26 hour figure drawing marathon. Guess some of that practice paid off because last Monday at the figure drawing class, the teacher said that I'm too advanced to be in level I, so he's moving me up to level II!

I'm really glad I've been channelling the Rita in me, because I've been able to find my love of art in my own way, and I've been outgoing and confident enough to make such awesome friends here. I've accepted that I can't shake the influence of Rita, and I'm glad.

I'll tell you about the classes I check out next week at "UBA" (Universidad de Buenos Aires!)

Loss = Love

Yesterday after work at Abuelita's, my brother and I went to a Chinese Restaurant to see my mom and Auntie Cristina with 5 of their first cousins. Here is the picture of the 7 Mexican women that completely dominated the Chinese Restaurant last night.

Two of the cousins or primas live in Guadalajara, Mexico and came because my great-aunt Maria Lupe hasn't been doing well in the past couple of weeks. Maria Lupe is my late grandpa's older sister and she is almost 93 years old. This little reunion was so special, because it hasn't happened for a while, and it was meaningful since almost everyone at this table has lost one parent in the last 10 years and now had this in common.

My grandpa died 11 months ago today at 83 years old. Exactly a month from today will be his "death day" celebration and that idea is completely overwhelming. I feel him with me and in the other room when I'm taking care of my grandma, and everytime I see his chain around my neck. I always say that I wish people talked about death more because I felt somewhat alone when I was mourning in New York. I'm starting to realize why people don't though, it stings so terribly and makes us think about our own mortality, which can be scary.

Amanda my best friend since Kindergarten is leaving for Boston in two days, which means that I won't see her for 6 months, until after Argentina. I have had to say many goodbyes in 2009, some more permanent than others, nevertheless they have become much harder for me to get through. All the adventures I have had and been blessed with come with a cost since I am always away from people that I love--whether its my family and childhood friends, or my New York family.

I was happy to see my mom reuniting with her cousins because even though our lives have all recently had the pain of loss, they all stay in touch, which I think is most important! So even though I always miss people, it reminds me that I have loved people, and they have loved me, and still do, so in the end its worth it!

Home, GAGA and Christmas Prep!

I've been home for 1.5 days and been so insanely busy. Rachel the Amazing helped me pack all of my New York junk up, and I finally turned in my last final paper yesterday after I got home!

Above is the goblin from Labyrinth that I drew for Rachel. Merry Christmas! Love, The Goblins!

Making tamales with my Grandma and Aunt Mary! Some got a little burnt this year, but they're still as good as always. Grandma's house is so different now, and it was a bit surreal to be there after so long!

The Lady Gaga Concert was completely stunning. Her costumes, performance, music, sets, dancers, relationship with her audience, etc. were all unbelievable. Me, Melissa, Michelle and Maureen are all "Little Monsters" now! I love her because she is making fun of the idea of Fame, while conquering it at the same time. She also continuously shows how women are treated as objects, the best examples are in her Bad Romance video! Her biggest message is that people can be a little weird and still be awesome and accepted! She is revolutionizing popular culture, whether you like it or not! I can't wait to see her continue to shock the world and reinvent her image! See the video of Dance in the Dark below with her amazing costume of lights!

Christmas Eve morning! We are watching the Muppet's Christmas Carol and decorating cookies. My mother is always the famous holiday cookie decorator!

This movie is classic! I can't wait for tonight at my Nina's house, tomorrow and my Grandmas and then tomorrow night with my Dad's family. I'm feeling a little sick and tired, so hopefully i make it through all the festivities! Merry Christmas!