The Wings of the Geese

Today while working in the garden a flock of Canadian geese flew directly overhead--so close that I could hear the force of their wings against the wind.

In the evenings they fly across the valley, readying for nightfall.

Mi Sobrina y Yerba Mate

Mi sobrina le gusta yerba mate mucho!  

Tengo decirla "Basta!"

Twenty-Two Years Ago Tonight

"She's dead. Wrapped in plastic."


"Diane, I hold in my hand a small box of chocolate bunnies."


On April 8, 1990 a little show premiered on ABC and--it's almost a cliche to state it now--forever altered television. Juxtaposing the mundane with the horrific, comedy with drama, low soap opera with high drama, Twin Peaks didn't just mix genres, it created an entirely new one. For the uninitiated Twin Peaks is that weird show with the backwards talking, finger snapping, dancing midget. Yes, there was a backwards talking, finger snapping, dancing midget (that predated Ally McBeal's dancing baby by a good seven years), but let that not be its defining moment. Beyond the midgets and the ladies with logs, Twin Peaks was a show that, while proudly wearing its eccentricities on its coffee stained sleeves, had a strong narrative and an equally strong cast (Piper Laurie! Richard Beymer! Russ Tamblyn! Peggy Lipton! Ray Wise! Grace Zabriskie! David Lynch! Sherilyn Fenn! Jack Nance! Kyle MacLaughlin!) that balanced humor and pathos and mystery. At its core, the show explores how one horrific event can alternately bring people together and force them apart, tearing at a small town's psyche and revealing a dark truth hiding in the sunlight.

And pie.  Did I mention that there was pie? And coffee?

Were you watching in 1990? Was there truly a Peaks craze sweeping the world? Do you feel that it changed TV?

I was, sadly, a bit too young to watch the show. Instead, we watched Father Dowling Mysteries or Alf or Empty Nest. Or something. I do have one distinct memory of watching a preview for the show after its hiatus and my father saying, "Ugh. They brought that show back?" and then promptly changing the channel.  It was at that moment when I knew that I was in love, but, much like a purity ring, I had to wait for it.  

Lastly, a fan made trailer.  I know, I know--"fan made" screams geek even more than any of the above, but this is tasteful.  Set to the music of Angelo Badalamenti, David Lynch, and the legendary "little" Jimmy Scott.

Northwest Passage: A Twin Peaks Fanedit from Q2 Faneditor on Vimeo.

From a Food Desert to a Food Forest

A short and inspiring film about one individual's desire to enrich a community's spirit and health.

"I like to live on the edge so I plant mint where you're not supposed to."

The Dangers of the Internet Late at Night: Pink Slime

I should be sleeping. Really. But I've succumbed to the so-tired-that-I-can't-go-to-bed-because-it-sounds-like-too-much-work stage. Humph.

So instead of dreaming about empanadas or whatever it is that I dream, I'm reading up about that wonderful food-like-substance (thanks, M. Pollan!) that is lovingly referred to as pink slime. Yes, pink slime and, no, it's not what turned those turtles into teenaged mutants.  Here's the secret of this ooze, er, slime:

The company's product is made of scraps and fatty trimmings that, for years, typically had been sold off to make pet food or cooking oil because it was too difficult to extract the meat, and the meat was somewhat susceptible to contamination.

BPI uses a heat and centrifuge process to melt the fat, collect and mash the meat, and spray ammonia hydroxide on it to eliminate possible bacteria and pathogens. The final product — which is formed into blocks, frozen and shipped in boxes — is relatively low in fat and often used as an inexpensive filler.

Mmmm, inexpensive filler sprayed with ammonia hydroxide. Up until last year this was a prominent feature at those tow-colored bends. However, it's still being fed to the nation's children in schools.

I wonder if pink slime exists in Argentina? Babaza rosada existe en Argentina?

Read it here.  

Hello from Chicago

I'm staying in the Logan Square area.  Chicago seems . . . sleepy? sedated? quiet? muy tranqui?  The buses are less like raging, battling beasts and more like a lethargic caravan.  To my surprise a car even stopped for me at a cross walk, as opposed to blindly rocketing past.  Buenos Aires, you may have ruined me.

And, yes, Lauren, it is strange to hear so much English again.  In DC I had the pleasure of sitting next to a loud voiced Texan (is there any other kind?) as he complained about flying economy rather than first class.

Thankfully there are a lot of Spanish speakers in Logan Square who like to drive around blaring their music.  There are also little Mexican grocery stores and Colombian (!) and Cuban restaurants with Spanish language specials in their windows.  It's like I never left BA!

This morning I had griddlecakes and bacon at Lula's (Lauren's got me on a pancake binge).  Last night Mateo, Michelle, and I ate Mexican.  It was wonderful, super tasty and spicy.  I ate three enchiladas, rice, refried beans, and, when still starving, three steak tacos with lots of lime and cilantro.  Yums.

And look what I picked up at a local co-op called The Dill Pickle:

Beautiful Swiss chard (acelga) and kale (no existe en Argentina??)

So excited to have fresh and alive greens again!

Today it's supposed to be 81 F (27 C) in Chicago.  The high for Buenos Aires today is 75 F (24 C).  Never thought that it would be warmer in Chicago than in Buenos Aires in March.  It's just loco!

I'll write more but I think I'm still jet lagged.  Doesn't matter how much coffee I drink, I just can't get with it today.  

Last Day

The last mate on the terrazza.

I also ate mi ultimo emanada, pero no saque photo.  I ate it.

Gracias por todo, amigas!