Drinking and Eating

I will keep this post short, a la Sheffspecial, but won't include any links or additional reading... The last few weeks have gone super fast. This was the first summer break in years I've had where I did not travel anywhere. But I have managed to keep myself quite entertained at home.

I continue to see my sisters and their kids regularly. On Monday, actually, we all got together to got to go the L.A. Zoo. We started the day by having coffee and pastries at Porto's Bakery in Glendale, a place where I have gotten together with my mother, siblings and their kids quite a bit this summer. We then drove to the zoo, which can often be depressing when you see all these fantastic animals all caged in. However, I must say that watching little Victoria and Frankie getting excited at seeing these animals was wonderful and cute.

I have not been to the beach in two weeks. I don't know what happened. For a while there I was going at least twice a week. On the other hand I have been to a few pool parties. One weekend, Raquel and I went to Francesca's mother's mid-century ranch-style house in Orange County. The backyard was like a scene straight out of a David Hockney painting. We were joined by other friends and had a fabulous pool party and drank Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio the whole time, as we swam, sunbathed and barbecued.

Last weekend Dominique and Joe had a barbecue and pool party in their home in Encino. This gathering featured more Uncle Jer's faces. The beverage of this event was a white sangria, which Dom made by using: white wine, peach juice, club soda, fresh apricots, and mint. It was so yummy and refreshing. Too yummy actually, I drank a lot of it and its final buzzing effect totally hit me by surprise hours later. I had fun.

I continue to hang out with Robert B. and Raquel... I see other friends from time to time, but not as often as I have seen these two. We've made a new hang-out out of this place called Good! on Sunset and Lucile, in SilverLake. This restaurant, brewery is located where the old The Crest (which we used to nickname The Crust) used to be... Well, Good! is actually quite good! They have great happy hour prices most weeknights, and not only in the early evening. On Mondays, for instance, they have this "Mystery Beer" special. They serve your table five random beers for ten bucks. And all of their appetizers are $5. All night! It is also a dog-friendly environment. If you want to sit outside. in their sidewalk tables, your dog can join you. The servers will bring out a doggy treat and water for your pooch. I almost forgot to mention that they make the best chicken wings!

Well so much for making this post short. I am fighting a cold at the moment. Summer is the worst time to get sick. I have to get better for the weekend. I am already committed to attend two engagements which I simply cannot miss.

Ciao...

Uncle Rafi

Today I babysat for my mother and my sister Karina for a couple of hours. My mother, who looks after my almost-9-month-old nephew most weekdays, had to run a few errands this morning. So I went over to her house to look after Karina's son Frankie. He is growing so fast and is trying to talk and is crawling already. He's got the "mama," tata," and "dada' sounds down at his young age. And he loves to laugh, loves to be tickled. My little niece, Victoria, who will be three in November, loves her young cousin. She understands that she is no longer the youngest one in our family. Since she still is in her "terrible twos," there are times when she does not like to share with Frankie. When Frankie is in his walker, she will ask us to remove him from it and she will climb in it herself. She loves to baby him, like she babies her dolls and stuffed animals, but she is also quick to scold him. If Frankie starts grabbing at her hair or reaching for one of her toys, Victoria's immediate retort is, "No, Nano (her name for him) no!" or "No touch, it's mine!" It's kind of a cute behavior to witness actually.
I forgot to mention it, but Frankie was christened/baptized last month, and Karina and Frank asked me to be little Frankie's godfather. It was such an honor for me.
I love that both my sisters have becomed parents in the last 3 years. It is so incredible! My mother couldn't be any happier to finally be a grandmother. She had been pressuring my sisters, and even gay moi, into having children. She was seeing friends around her age becoming grandparents, and was beginning to feel left out. Since she is Latin American and an old-fashioned Catholic, she was afraid that both Monica and Karina, who were 28 and 33 respectively when they gave birth, were being seeing as old maids. As for me, my mother still thinks I may have a child someday. I tell her that my cats are her grandchildren, and she frowns. She has even suggested that I have a child with one fo my many female friends. Just have a baby, no marriage, no commitment. Like in the movies, she said!. As old-fashioned as she is, she shocks me sometimes with how modern she is as well!
At the time, babies are not for me. I love my friends' babies...they are popping up all over the place. And I adore my niece and nephew. But I see what hard work they are to keep and feed and nurture and protect and tend to... I am a parent vicariously through my sisters, and friends. At the time, I am quite content with my role of uncle.