A City in Postcards

One of the things I am anxious to do is to get rid of the boxes of possessions I couldn't bear to part with when I left Los Angeles in 2001. I used to collect postcards of old L.A., especially the places/buildings which no longer exist. I've got over 250 of them, along with some postcard books.

I took some photos and here are a few examples:

15 black and white real photos from 1926

Lookout Mt. Inn--Mulholland

Angel's Flight and the Elks Building

Sunset Park, Santa Monica

Chutes Park--where was this incredible place?

The Hollywood Bowl on Easter--long before the shell

The beginning of my favorite L.A. place--Farmer's Market

The Palisades incline to PCH, 1928

Eastlake Park with swans!!

My favorite:

Caption reads: "The watercress seller," Los Angeles, 1868

Dancing With Cigars

http://www.carascissoria.com/

 

I hate to mention it, but in all fairness probably Bill Clinton should be included in this collage.

I am overjoyed that I never had to dance with anyone smoking anything!

Charlas Con Coquito

I talk a lot with my bird; in fact, we often have great conversations in which I'm able to express my negative opinions, my feelings, to confess all in English or in bad Castellano, and he always listens carefully. He stops chattering his chirpy chirpy sounds, cocks his head, and fixes me with one beady eye and gives me his full attention (unlike most males when I talk). I can go on about anything with Coquito, no subject is taboo, no theory is too outrageous.

And then he always cheers me up when he says, Dame un beso! 
Beso, Coquito!! Beso, papa!

I love Mirasol, my Argentine cat. While she's no Phoebe the Expat Cat, then again she hasn't traveled with me to three countries. She's loving...what more does one want from a cat?

When I talk to Mirasol, she answers, Meow. Sometimes she initiates the conversation, with Meow?

Now Coquito not only asks questions--How are you? Okey dokey? 

But he answers them too--Te quiero, mama! Birdie Boy! Cookie!

I feel a little more sane to charlar con mi pajarito. Do you think? It beats conversations with myself.

Summer Sunday

To all who know him, Ruben Aybar can be bigger than life--personality, energy, jokes--he can take up a lot of space in a room. Basically, believe it or not, he is a shy man who's motivation is making others around him happy.

View of Boedo from the Terrace by Sergio Stellato

This is never as true as when he is the host of a gathering, whether it's at a milonga or at home.

And it's also true that he likes to show off his cooking. So these qualities work really well together, and especially for me, because when we have people over, there is really very little for me to do until I do the washing up afterward.

Last Sunday began very hot and humid. We arose early to prepare for the "Bloggueras Barbecue" we had planned for that day. Lunch was for 1:00, and so the fire must be started by 9:30.

Photo by Sergio

While I dithered around looking for tablecloths and enough glasses and making chimichurri, Ruben was swabbing the terrace with detergent and cleaning the parrilla. Steam rose from the tiles and the hot metal grill even before he put any charcoal in it. Then he brought out the patio table and chairs, which I wiped down, and lowered the awning.

An Argentine's parrilla is sacred and quite scientific; the charcoal is lit in one location and added to the barbecue as needed; the grill is raised and lowered appropriately, and attention is constantly paid.

Just as the coals were beginning to blaze, a huge wind came up, blowing sparks all over the terrace and onto Ruben, who was working in his shorts. He got a few burns but paid them no mind.

He can scrub the vegetables while I'm just thinking about it, and he hurried to get them on the grill first, as the potatoes take the longest to cook.

Photo by Sergio

Everything was ready as scheduled and we sat down to enjoy an asado of beef, pork, chicken, chorizos, provolete (barbecued spiced cheese), red and green peppers, onions, potatoes, and a new item since our trip to Brazil last year, grilled fresh pineapple.

Photo by Sergio

The gale wind died down, but in its place were dark clouds. All of a sudden, like at picnics around the world, the sun was gone and the sky turned black. Then the hot steaming skies released buckets of water. The three men moved the table indoors and lunch continued while Ruben tore through the salon pushing the barbecue on wheels over the polished hardwood floor out to the quincho. He returned with more platters of food.

Photo by Sergio

The awning filled with water and tore, releasing another waterfall. Ruben remarked that he was glad he had watered the plants a couple of hours ago.

Conversation in three languages flowed like the wine without a break as we cozily watched the downpour outside.

Photo by Sergio

Photo by Sergio

Photo by Katie Metz

Photo by Katie

Ruben and I had a great time, although he never ate anything. He says that when he cooks, he gets filled up with the aromas.

By the time we had danced, eaten ice cream, drank coffee, and the last guest departed, it was a gorgeous clear evening, beginning to get hot again.

The blogs represented are SallyCat's Adventures, Seashells and Sunflowers, and Tina Tangos.

Besitos Locos!

Ruben and Coquito have a thing going. But I'm not jealous--I love them both!

British Tango Cherry

Some years ago I discovered two Bhutan monasteries named Tango and Cheri. A Bhutan monastery tour usually includes them both, a total Tango Cheri experience!

We all know that the word tango is used to sell many products, most that have nothing to do with music, dance or Argentina. It's just a sexy marketing ploy. Now I discovered there is a British soda pop with the name Tango Cherry. For expat Brits who miss their Vegemite and other delicacies, they can order from obliging websites like this one.

While I love the idea and name of Tango Cherry soda, I'm not inclined to order any. But I'd love to know if it's delicious as it should be with that name, right?

Tangocherie's 2009 Tweet Cloud

Thanks to Tina for her example of Life in a Word Cloud on Twitter, so I made one too.
The thing is that I'm not really Twittering all that much as I seem to be more of a Facebook person, whatever that means. But here's my year 2009 as seen by Twitter:







This was generated based on the words I used most on Twitter this past year. If you use Twitter, go here to make your own tweet cloud.

BOO!

Play your cards right and dance well this weekend! Or else...
El Guazon will give you a Tarjeta Roja--Expulsion!!--from la pista!

(Are you scared yet?)

Uniting and Reuniting

After two weeks in Los Angeles, I couldn't wait to go to the milonga. Holly brought another blogger along to Los Consagrados, Esther Hartwig, who I had the pleasure to meet for the first time in person; I've been a fan of her blog, Not Just Another Brick in the Wall, from the beginning. Esther, or Coogie, was passing through Buenos Aires before leaving today for her home in Germany. She hopes to return one day to Argentina.

















My L.A. visit also was rich and full of reunions. I feel so incredibly blessed. Here are some photos so you'll see what I mean:





My librarian friends always meet for our traditional Mexican dinner whenever I'm in town. I've had the pleasure of working with all of them in one library or another and they are the best people, real good folks, whose friendship I treasure through the years and over the miles. (From the left are Roy, George, Pearl, Cathy, me, and Sheila.)








Another day, another reunion, this time of bellydancers who performed together in The Perfumes of Araby. We are all still active dancers (MaryAnn on the left is also a librarian), despite the passage of several decades since we first donned our veils. (To my right are Donna and Denice.)






Here are my dear L.A. tango friends who I see in Buenos Aires whenever they are in Argentina, and in California when I am there! (From the left are Flo, Howard, me, Dee, and Manley.)










Gorgeous Marita and I first met at our apartment building in Los Feliz in 1994 and have had lots of adventures together through the years. Here we are with her new husband Noah and her parents, Manuel and Helga, visiting from Arizona.









Of course a big Chateau Rodney reunion was inevitable. We ex-tenants and good friends met for a Sangria Sunday at ChaChaCha on Hyperion close to our fabulous old building in Los Feliz. When our apartment building was sold in 2001, we all had to go our separate ways, but we bonded forever during the years we lived there. We were one united family whose doors were always open to each of us; we shared Thanksgiving, celebrated Soltices and Equinoxes, birthdays, went on rafting trips and art walks, had barbecues, supported each others' performances, and cried together when our "family" had to split up. It was so good to be with them again! It was like we had never been apart.




Chateau Rodney Forever!
(The building is featured in the new film, The Ugly Truth; in fact, my old front door is shown clearly with the address, 1930 1/2.)





















(Front row from left: Marita and Noah; second row: Mitch, Steve, Jessica, me, Steve; back row: Chris, the Virgin, Daryl, and Jason.)



















But the main reason I went to L.A. just now was my son Jason's 40th birthday--that's a big one and I had to share it with him as it's a big day for the mom too. And I'm glad I did. His older brother Adam drove down from Sacramento and we saw each other for the first time in over three years!







Adam, Connie, me, Jason


Naturally it was also wonderful to reunite at home in Boedo with Ruben and Mirasol the cat! And with all my friends in the milonga.

I am very blessed indeed.

Household Origami

It's amazing the amount of things to keep you entertained on cruise days at sea. Evidently towel & napkin origami is de rigueur on cruises. Who knew? Being a neophyte, I laughed with surprise at the first towel animal on our bed at night, and kept laughing as they got more and more elaborate. Our final night on board we had a gorilla hanging from our ceiling, wearing Ruben's dark glasses.





So classes were held in how to fold towels and napkins into fancy shapes. We didn't do the classes, but enjoyed the results. It's a strange life that has time to make elephant towels.

















Here's a video for your folding pleasure. It's ok to try this at home.

New Stars on Broadway!

Hope you enjoy our April's Fool!