Just Rambling About

In addition to flowers, I also bought herbs and other plants at the Flower Mart this weekend. I've planted more rosemary, oregano, lavander, and rue. I alos bought some more succulents. My yard looks better than ever.
I have been enjoying using avocados and lemons from Oscar and Jerry's trees in my cooking. I can never grow sick of avocados. It is so good in almost everything I prepare.
For dinner the other night, Serene made the best briquet and two delicious salads. One salad had arugula, and red and golden beets. The other salad had fava beans, onions, garlic, and avocados. For dessert, Jerry prepared an incredibly rich and moist chocolate flan, using Chocolate Abuelita. My contribution, wine, didn't required any preparation. We all had a fun night, which we ended with a few rounds of French Poker.

Here's more evidence that Myspace is such a playground for the very young. Last week I found my two youngest sisters (from my dad's third marriage---Don't ask!) on Myspace. Ever is 25 years old and Barbara is 16. Needleless to say, I have now "added" them as friends. I have also "added" Yolanda Cruz's youngest siblings: Papio, 19, and Raquel, 22. All four are active members and very popular. I shouldn't complain about Myspace so much. I was telling Wendy the other day that when I am online I check Myspace first, before checking my e-mail!

Last week's playlist during all my housecleaning and yard work included C.D.s by:
Belle and Sebastian, Sandro, Miguel Bose, Madonna, Sufjan Stevens, Abba, The Rapture, Jacques Dutronc, and Goldfrapp among others...

Happy Easter

Once again the Flower Mart brightens Rafi's day...

Ten Things I've Been Up to Since My Return

1. After returning from my bereavement leave, I went back to work for a week. And now I am on spring break.

2. Robert B. surprised me by treating me to a manicure and a peticure. My feet and hands feel so luxurious. Thank you, Bobby!!! I, in return, treated him to margaritas and appetizers at el Conquistador to thank him for picking me up from the airport on a Sunday night.

3. I am pissed off with CBS for switching "The Amazing Race" from Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. to Wednesday nights at 8 p.m., opposite UPN's "America's Next Top Model." I need TiVo!!!

4. I went to a Hollywood movie premiere... My friends' friends are the producers and director of the new movie, HARD CANDY. The cast was there, including the much-prettier-in-person Sandra Oh. I didn't love the movie, but am happy for my friends' friends' accomplishment...

5. My mother is back from Guayaquil, Ecuador. She stayed down there for an additional 6 days. I've been to her house twice since her return. And have spent time with my sisters and niece and nephew at my mom's.

6. I went to Akbar on Friday night with friends, for the first time in 2 months. And then we went to Cuffs... My first time there in at least six years...

7. I had a fun Saturday! I left the house to have breakfast with Serene, Oscar and Jerry around 9:30 in the morning... And I didn't get back home until 8:30 at night...

8. I've been trying to clean house every day of my spring break, so far. I've swept and mopped my floors. I cleared half of my back yard from weeds and shrubs. I fixed, cleaned and arranged my bookshelves. And I have been creating and filling up the pages of new photo allbums. In the process of doing this, I spent several hours looking through old albums. It is always incredible to do this. I love looking at old pictures. And I enjoy cherishing precious moments from the past. Reminiscing... I also marvel at how in the last three years, pages of my albums are now filled with new photos of my niece and nephew, both of whom I adore.

9. I've read two books in the last 10 days. And I have been trying to keep up with my New Yorkers...

10. I bought flowers at the Farmer's Market on Sunday. They totally warm and cheer up my house...

On The Eve Before My Return Home

Guayaquil, Ecuador

1. I love the iguanas I see everywhere. Parks and waterfronts everywhere have them. Iguanas to people in Guayaquil are as common as squirrels are to most North Americans.

2. I love how the city of Guayaquil is surrounded by water. There are rivers, estuaries and little swampy areas. The area that is Guayaquil today, as far as I understand it, used to be a swampland. They call them manglares here. It is quite lovely, actually. When you drive or walk by them, the smell or scent is like no other. It is not completely pleasant, but it is intoxicating. Jaime Nebot, the current mayor of Guayaquil, who is in the middle of his second term, has been doing a lot to make Guayaquil more lovely, to fix it up. There's been many renovations here. And the mayor is aware that there is something enchanting about the all the water that surrounds this city. Among other things, in his quest to revitilize this city, he's created many riverwalks, parks, and malecones alongside most rivers and estuaries.

3. I am glad that I found time to take a road trip to the coast. The nearest beaches are an hour away. On Thursday, my mother, my cousin Ivonne and I took a daylong road trip along the coast. It was a fun drive. I got to see some small beach towns I hadn't seen before. I also ate the best octopus dish I've ever had in my life in this little town called Manglaralto.

4. There's great Chinese food in Ecuador, folks! Chinese restaurants here are called chifas. Wednesday night, I spent the night at Ivonne's house to hang out and play Rummy-O, Gin Rummy and French Poker with her sons Frane, Nikola and Ivan. We had chifa delived to us, and it was delicious.

5. My mother is doing well. We had a little rosary reading, prayer with some of the more Catholic members of our family. It was quite comforting and serene for my mother, as well as for me.

6. I was called Don Rafael by my godmother's maid. It was quite funny to me. I felt old, actually!

7. I bought a couple of great Ecuador hardcover picture books, which I cannot wait to feature on my coffee table at home.

8. My relatives think I'm a hippy because I am not more conservative with my appearance or my ideas.

9. Mosquitos love my ankles...

10. I love Guayaquil, and I love Ecuador, but I am happy to be returning home (God willing) tomorrow night.