≡ Under the Argentine Moon
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First there was a “Year in Provence” then “Under the Tuscan Sun.” Now it is “Eat, Pray, Love” Buenos Aires Style.
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SQUATTING OVER A BUCKET
UNDER THE ARGENTINE MOON
Humorous and
Spiritual Reflections
of Finding Home
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An Audio Book Recorded for WTFA r g e n t i n a.com
copyright 2008 - all rights reserved
Read by the author Patricia Gilmore, C.M.Ht., A.B.T. and “M U S E”
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intro…chap-1…chap-2…chap-3…chap-4…chap-5
…chap-6…chap-7…chap-8…chap-9…chap-10
…chap-11…chap-12…chap-13…chap-14…chap-15
…chap-16…chap-17…chap-18…chap-19…chap-20
…chap-21…chap-22…chap-23…chap-24…chap-25
…chap-26…chap-27…chap-28…chap-29…chap-30
…chap-31…chap-32… chap-33… chap-34… chap-35…chap-36
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Chapter 1
Friday Jan. 19, 2007
Little Miss Sunshine Pees in a Bucket.
Okay, not having a toilet seat at Roger and Fernán’s Obera refuge was rough but understandable as everything was under construction (and they are males). Now back in Buenos Aires one would expect life in the big city to be a bit more bathroom friendly – unless your downstairs neighbor pops by to tell you (without a word of English) that each time you flush the toilet his ceiling gets soaked. Hmmm - I think I understand but you better show me. It is fun looking inside other people’s apartments.
Listen in… chap-1
milagro – miracle
AGUA !!! – WATER !!!
piso – floor
inodoro – toilet (that one is cool – it is about smells)
balde – bucket
plomero – plumber
palita – dustpan
trapo de piso – cloth to mop the floor
And last but not least the word for …
FLUSH – there are about 15 different ways of saying it – tirar (pull the chain) caer agua (to fall water) and more.
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Chapter 2
Monday Jan. 22, 2007
Senora – Cuidado – No Es Seguro… Don’t be a PUTZ Patt.
Oh my. Being in a new place, a new country and culture is always an adventure and an environment to learn new things. Senora - Careful – It is not secure. And that is how I have been feeling lately - insecure.
The plumbers were referring to my toilet. As the floor is not yet fixed (the bidet is still on my balcony along with a propane tank to fuel the welding tools, bits of pipe and a lot of rubble) the toilet is just kind of sitting in place. But I CAN FLUSH – THE WATER FALLS – HOORAY – THANK GOD !!! I will refer these guys all over Buenos Aires but later – only after my floor is replaced and I get bolted down. Before then there is no way I am telling anyone about them. I do not want them pulled off my job.
Listen in…chap-2
cuidado – take care/careful
seguro – safe/secure – also used for sure of
remis – similar to a taxi but with a flat fee instead of a meter. Ask price when entering.
GUIA – guide
bolsilla – pocket
vino tinto – most important word in the dictionary – red wine
Mi vida es una aventura – My life is an adventure.
gracias – thank you
And finally - PUTZ – now deleted from the vocabulary list.
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Chapter 3
Wednesday Jan. 24, 2007
The Love Hotel Project Begins…and It is 4:00 in the Morning – Do You Know Where Your Children Are?
I have been sending chapters by email to friends and family. At the bottom of my last email I wrote asking if anyone wanted to be taken off my mailing list. So far no one has requested deletion. Good. In fact, I received a few truly lovely emails back. Two were from women who wrote that although their circumstances were different than mine they were dealing with the same issues. They really needed to read my words. I am happy and grateful for their posts and the opportunity to share. Yes boys and girls – we all go through bouts of getting in our own way, not feeling safe and self-talk. So let’s vow to talk to ourselves nicely okay? Si Senora Patt.
Listen in…chap-3
cascada - waterfall
arroyo – stream
pileta – swimming pool
Castellano – Argentine Spanish – lots of jah jah’s as in Zsa Zsa Gabor on the double ll’s
porteños/as – Buenos Aires is a port city – its inhabitants are people of the port
calle – street (cah jah)
abuelo - grandpa
TELO – LOVE HOTEL
albergues transitorios – more LOVE HOTELS
jajaja – hahaha
jejeje – hehehe
fantástico - fantastic
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Chapter 4
Thursday Jan. 25, 2007
Of White Clouds and Pink Feathers…and SEXUAL FANTASIES.
Oh my GOD - Por Favor Pedro ! Abre la puerta ! This gorgeous kid was in my tiny bathroom cutting fat tile with a power saw with the door closed. It popped ajar and I could see a white cloud of fine dust filling the air. Please niño – open the door. Sus pulmones. He wore no mask. His adorable black spiked hairdo was thick with white dust. “No, No Senora. No problema.” Niño - Soy doctora (well not an MD but they call me Doctora Patt in the selva de Peru). Why not just inhale talcum powder for Christ’s sake? You will end up in the lung unit by the time you are 30. But alas, the more I protested the tighter he shut the door. I finally had to give up.
Listen in…chap-4
abre la puerta – open the door
niño – young male
pulmones – lungs
selva – jungle
chiste – joke
culo – fanny/bum/butt/ etc….
che – friend/buddy
abre tu mente – open your mind
charla – chat
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Chapter 5
Friday Jan. 26, 2007
Terms and Conditions – GIRL TALK MEN …and AYUDAME !
Hmmmm…She is finally discovering her neighborhood at night…
The other night the woman that owns my rented apartment invited me out for drinks and tapas. She wanted to reward me for my patience in the art of plumbing. We went to a place quite near my apartment above TUCCI on El Salvador by Malabia (take out your GUIA “T” de bolsillos). The name is El Diamante – The Diamond.
Listen in…chap-5
ayudame – help me - or in this case …HELP ME !!!
baterias – batteries
aburrido - boring
disculpame – excuse me
pero – but
techo – roof/ceiling
llaves – keys
la verdad – the truth
¡YO SE ! – I KNOW
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Chapter 6
Sunday Jan. 28, 2007
SHOPPING… being INVISIBLE… and ROME.
Saturday I met up with my friend Val and an officemate of hers Juan at Paseo de Alcorta, one of the many upscale shopping malls of Buenos Aires. We had thought about taking Juan’s car on a day trip out of the city. His company gave him a car and he has this cool GPS system in it. Boys like their electronic toys (girls do too but it is more out of true necessity – uh oh – you can already tell the mood I am in today – fellows please stop reading now. Just keep going Patt – don’t digress. OK…) Val and I wanted to go on a day trip but Juan preferred to shop.
SHOPPING. Shopping in BA is not a past-time – it is LIFE. They shop and shop and shop. Even the street signs in some areas have arrows directing you to shopping malls. And there isn’t a Spanish translation. It is written and called “S H O P P I N G” directed THAT way.
Listen in…chap-6
shopping – shopping
para probar – to try on
chaqueta – jacket
finca – crop farm as in a vineyard
paciente – patience (not one of my strongest virtues)
muy bella – very beautiful (bay – jah)
besito – little kiss
abracito – little hug
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Chapter 7
Monday Jan. 29, 2007
More Shopping…and How to Order Like a Porteña.
I am pleased to announce that I finally did buy something on Saturday. I don’t think I would have been allowed to leave the mall without a proper shopping bag. At the end of the day I purchased the perfect purse and wallet from PRUNE. I am now on my way to becoming a porteña.
Juan and Val were on a lower level at a men’s store when I decided to head back upstairs and look again in PRUNE. The bag I was interested in was in the window so being the directed person that I am I reached in to pick it up to get a closer look. Hmmm – it was the right color but wrong size so I reached in the window to get the other bag. That’s when the security guard stopped me.
Listen in…chap-7
mi maquina – my machine/computer
otras cosas – other things
De donde sos? – Where are you from?
Estados Unidos – United States
Lo siento, mi Castellano es mas o menos – I am sorry, my Castellano is more or less (I begin almost all new conversations apologizing then I just GO FOR IT!)
Es muy bueno – It is very good
Gracias – Thank you
Si, pero vos no sos Don Jonson – Yes, but you are not Don Johnson
Dale – Okay/Come On/Give it up/Lets go
pollo y tomate – chicken and tomato
arabe – arabic bread
quisiera – I would like
quiero – I want (or te quiero which means I LOVE YOU)
triste – sad
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Chapter 8
Tuesday Jan. 30, 2007
Sundays in BA…Walking Grandpa.
In past chapters I have written that Sundays are for sleeping in and recovering from last week and stocking up for the next week. The hours here are long and it is a time to doze. This is true for some porteños and for others it is different. Perhaps it is a mix.
Sundays are a day for family. Many porteños schedule weekly asados and mid-day dinners with the family. It is an Italian country (and Spanish too). I like that about this place – the concept of family. In fact, I long for it.
Listen in…chap-8
asados – BBQ
choripan – sausage in bread
abuelita – little grandmother
jovenes – youths
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Chapter 9
Wednesday Jan. 31, 2007
What’s the Frequency?
So my last chapter was not a humorous one. That’s okay. But it was interesting how it came “through” me.
Most of these little chapters have a certain process. I spend much of my time simply walking the streets and absorbing. Sometimes pieces are written in my head. I have taken to bringing a notebook with me and jotting down little things. Usually the writings are long and I have to do a lot of editing. There is so much here. I walk around with most of the chapter written and wonder, “what is the last thing that will pull it all together?”
Listen in…chap-9
SUBTE – name of the subway system in Buenos Aires
DUH – neither Spanish or English – a sound when you are stupid
chalina – scarf
dar – to give
luz – light
barbaro – COOL !
sin embargo – never-the-less
verduleria – fruit and vegetable store
canales – channels
listo - ready
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Chapter 10
Thursday Feb. 1, 2007
Just Look Me in the Eyes…with Love? NAH
Disculpame – If you happen to know what tree the FLASH MAN is under (the internet company installation guy) would you please wake him up and get him over here and me off pirated WiFi? It would be much appreciated. Gracias. Heck – he is probably in an air-conditioned TELO. You will never find him.
Adelante…the chapter begins…
Last July I was at an After Office on Dia del Amigo. Here in Buenos Aires it is a BIG holiday and widely celebrated. I ran into a friend, a member of the Club Europeo and began to chat. He made a comment, “This is the biggest day for TELOs. You can’t get a room anywhere in the city – they are filled.”
Listen in…chap-10
adelante – onward
Dia del Amigo – Friend’s Day
Club Europeo – European Club
casa - house
para – in order to, for, and too many others. (I need to learn my prepositions – UGH !)
oir – to hear
cara – face
mi mano – my hand
lados de mi boca – sides of my mouth
muy grande – very grand/big/great
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Chapter 11
Friday Feb. 2, 2007
Dulces de Los Ojos…and the Leaning Tower of BA.
Dulces de Los Ojos. I don’t know if that is a real saying. I just made it up. But I like it.
Remember I wrote that I had many dietary sins except for sugar and that I would prefer to eat a hot Italian sausage sub rather than a twinkee? Well - this is an Italian/Spanish country – there are Italian men all over the place and many of them definitely look HOTTTTT. (Yes – I know the images of both sausages and twinkees are very phallic but please ladies – Be Sweet.)
Dulce - Sweet. Very sweet. Confections for the eyes. There is definitely some serious eye candy here in Buenos Aires.
Listen in…chap-11
fin de semana – end of week or weekend
dulces – sweet
ojos – eyes
camisa - shirt
suficiente - sufficient
corbata - tie
canela - cinnamon
muy guapo – very handsome
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Chapter 12
Sunday Feb. 4, 2007
First Loves…Shoulding on Yourself…and SCREW SYBIL.
All the girls just want to sigh…He’s Got Buenos Aires Eyes. And I want to PRY. What’s going on in there? Sex…more sex…even more sex…and complicated thoughts.
Note: When I started these little capitulos I vowed not to make them health lessons. I have written enough of those. (Don’t post your CV here Patt – your website is down for a reason.) On my first visit to BA I coined the expression “They Have Buenos Aires Eyes” but at the time I was talking about the dark brown circles around porteño/as eyes related to a diet of postres, dulce de leche and vino tinto – AKA SUGAR.
Now I am shifting my focus and seeing this city with new vision. I want to look into the hearts and minds of argentinos and I believe the eyes are the windows to the soul. Buenos Aires Eyes = Expressions of the Deepest Kind.
Listen in…chap-12
capitulo – chapter
postre - dessert
dulce de leche – a sugary, very sweet addictive substance
turno – allotment of time at a TELO – an hour, an hour and a half??? (I need to do more research.)
muy rico – very rich
ingrediente – ingredient
picante – spicy
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Chapter 13
Tuesday Feb. 6, 2007
The Bus ROCKS…and Avoiding Going Postal.
God I love this city ! The males start adoration young. Maravilloso! Monday I had a late afternoon appointment near Bulnes SUBTE stop but it is so close that even with the threats of rain I decided to walk. I brought my paraguas to be safe. I walked the back streets. At one spot I crossed the street by a school bus. I was in my bike shorts and an Argentine striped v-neck top and my Nike zapatillas. I was deep in thought as I had just passed a guy/girl. I would not have looked twice (more on Getting Checked Out later) but the tattoos and face did not match the denim mini-shirt and tight camisa. Hey chico/chica – nice legs. The Adam’s apple gave him away.
Listen in…chap-13
maravilloso – marvelous
paraguas – umbrella (for water – such a practical word)
zapatillas – sneakers
mamita – hot looking woman
maletita – little bag
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Chapter 14
Wednesday Feb. 7, 2007
More of a Reflection (than a chapter).
Driving down the road outside of Boston I saw my most favorite bumper sticker of all time.
BACK OFF ! I AM MENOPAUSAL AND I HAVE A GUN.
I cannot tell you how difficult it is to not slide into writing about women’s health. It is what I have done for the last 11 years and it is a big piece of me. I am making a very conscious effort to stick to chapters on life in a new country and culture but it is hard sometimes to keep quiet.
Listen in…chap-14
Whoops ! There isn’t any vocabulary.
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Chapter 15
Thursday Feb., 8 2007
She’s Not a Dumb Blonde…She’s just Blonde…and Don’t Let Her Touch Your Gun.
Have you ever gotten to a place where even the simplest things are just too complicated? Demasiado? Well I am residing there right now. I think I might be in information overload. Between el idioma, la cultura and technology I think that possibly I have blown a fuse. I don’t think the synapses are firing off correctly. In fact, I know I have phone messages on my apartment phone and I do not know how to retrieve them. Me. Who would have thunk? Patt has become a DUMB BLONDE. Let’s hope it is just temporary.
Listen in…chap-15
demasiado – too much
el idioma – the language (one of those words that ends in an “a” but is masculine)
la cultura – the culture
caja – box
ocupado – occupied, busy
verde - green
un cambio – a change
bancos – bank
hermoso – beautiful (masculine version)
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Chapter 16
Sunday Feb. 11, 2007
Love Potion No. 9…The CALL…and You Are My Vehicle Baby !
A charming little chapter.
My goodness it was HOT on Saturday. It was a sunny afternoon and everyone I called was either out of town or busy doing normal Saturday things like errands and house cleaning – you know – life maintenance. My friends are not tourists. They are porteño/as. I would have to wait until the evening for company.
I so wanted to get outside and to the parks so I decided to go out by myself. I also decided not to be invisible. “Today,” I thought, “I will be VERY VISIBLE and see what happens. I decided to wear my short biking unitard. It is a skin tight, show every curve, zippered in the front, black little number with racing stripes on the side. Donned in my “sporty runner duds” including black push up bra and my zapatillas I hit the streets. Well actually I was wearing one more thing. Let me explain…
Listen in…chap-16
mercado – market(place)
Las Tiendas de las Brujas – the stores of the witches
manos – hands
mono – monkey
fluidos - fluids
la paz – the peace
armonia - harmony
dinero - money
prosperidad - prosperity
muy caro – very expensive
venes – you familiar conjugation of venir – to come
mostaza – mustard
Si, Ella vive en Palermo – Yes, She lives in Palermo
futbol – soccer
Pato – technically it means duck – here it is a nicname for Patricia.
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Chapter 17
Tuesday Feb. 13, 2007
Mercury Retrograde…The BIG BAMBOO…and Cupid Was Out A Day Early !
Technology. Love it when it works and try your best to laugh when it doesn’t. It is not always easy. Many of us have become a bit – I take that back – A LOT dependent on it. We communicate with family and friends from near and far. We do important business over the internet. We have important connections over the phone lines. We are by nature creatures that need to have contact, to not be so isolated. Technology helped build my business and move me to places far away from my birthplace. I bless technology and am trying really hard as of late, as it is not working for me, not to scorn it. For what seems like a very long and definitely frustrating time I have been in a semi-void. And I shudder to think it will get worse before it gets better.
Listen in…chap-17
tormenta – storm
nalgas – buttocks
Parque del Centenario – Centennial Park
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales – National Museum of Natural Science
colectivo – bus
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Chapter 18
Thursday Feb. 15, 2007
Little Envelopes…and Let Angels Guide Your Way (They Like to Have Fun).
It was Valentine’s Day yesterday but I had no draw to the Parque de Centenerio. Curious but hey I fly on angel’s wings. I let them navigate.
After standing for a very long time at a Caja Pago Facil at COTO (it is posted facil not rapido) I went back to my apartment to “feel” out my next move. No postman today? No. I felt I needed to go in another direction. I looked at my plano and saw an area not yet explored. There is an area in Palermo with many parks and I have not checked them all out so after I had some lunch I began my adventure.
Listen in…chap-18
Caja Pago Facil – Easy Pay Cashier – a place you can pay your utility bills
rapido - fast
plano - map
feliz dia – happy day
parapente - paragliding
cabina – place to make phone calls
Vos tenés una habitacion? – Do you have a room?
Soy sola. – I am alone.
dos noches – two nights
yo voy – I go
casamiento - wedding
La Esperanza – The Hope – Jose’s estancia originally loaned to the catholic church now vacant
Tierra de Luz – Land of Light – the name of my retreat center project
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Chapter 19
Monday Feb. 19, 2007
Visions…Flying…And There Are No Coincidences.
I had such a good time this weekend. It is difficult to put it in one chapter so I will do my best to capture the essence, some background and not so many details. In short, El Aguila re-discovered its wings.
For many years my close friends have known that I have a very special connection with the eagle. It is my bird, my soul connection to the spirit and animal world. People that can see into other dimensions look at me and see the eagle. (Don’t get freaked out this soon…keep reading.) I do not consciously collect images of them. They collect me. Like angels they have wings and wings take you to the most amazing places.
Listen in…chap-19
un aguila – an eagle
patera – midwife
semillas – seeds
consultoria – office/treatment space
acupunturista sin agujas – acupuncturist without needles
manchita – little spot
El Alquimista – The Alchemist
Manual del Guerrero de la Luz – Manual of the Warrior of the Light
cima – summit/top
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Chapter 20
Tuesday Feb. 20, 2007
Chivalry is Not Dead…Take a Walk on the Safe Side…and Etiquette Tidbits.
It is the little things that endear me to Argentina. Last July when I lived further down closer to the Scalabrini Ortiz SUBTE stop I saw something that struck me. I was by the corner of Güemes across from Lucio’s which is my favorite pizza café in the area. It has large windows and white table cloths and it is a lovely place to go and have coffee or a pizza. It has a certain casual elegance. I used to frequent it often. Now I go only occasionally when I wish to meet someone from outside the vecino for coffee and conversation. It is better for meetings as it is closer to the SUBTE.
Listen in… chap-20
un hombre – a man
la puerta – door
los ascensores – the elevators
la mujer – the woman
asiento – seat
sin palabras – without words
los hombros – the shoulders
barato – cheap
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Chapter 21
Wednesday Feb. 21, 2007
3-2-1-CONTACT…A Little Help from My Friends…and Just Listen.
Well it happened again. Go there. NOW.
Last night I had no plans to go out. I was not sure what I was supposed to do. There is a big seminar brewing in me so I sprawled out on my bed with paper and pen and started to jot down some notes. Things can swim in your head but until you put them to paper they feel as if they do not have any substance, any structure. So I wrote. Then a little voice in my head said, “Stop. Go to the store and buy a bottle of wine.” “But I don’t want to stop and I should not get wine. I need to work.” “Go – GO NOW – to the Chinese supermarket.”
Listen in…chap-21
So Patt…Where’s the vocabulary? None today?
Nope. Just a message…
You are not alone. Also you are not schizophrenic when a little voice whispers or a feeling compels you to call someone, go somewhere, write something. Just do it. Listen then act. Someone or something might be just around the corner waiting to bump into you.
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Chapter 22
Thursday Feb. 22, 2007
Passages…Acceptance…and Wisdom.
Wow – a way too serious chapter. What came over Patt last night?
Listen in…chap-22
vulnerabilidad - vulnerability
honestidad - honesty
fe - faith
bondad - kindness
serenidad - serenity
sabiduría - wisdom
gratitud – gratitude
aceptación - acceptance
And…
saber la diferencia – to know the difference
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Chapter 23
Friday Feb. 23, 2007
So Here’s to You Mrs. Robinson…and Shooting Fish in a Barrel.
This morning while I was taking out la basura I had a thought – do they ever stop? Yes – sometimes they do. Sometimes I can get into this amazing peaceful state and just watch the pictures behind my eyelids and simply observe and wonder who those people are. When will I met them or when did I meet them? And where is that rock? But that is another chapter.
Listen in…chap-23
basura – trash
bolsa – bag
bolsita – little bag
nariz – nose
socios – members
mensajes – messages
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Chapter 24
Wednesday Feb. 28, 2007
If Life is Like a Box of Chocolates then Love Must Be Like a Tennis Match.
Pelotas. Our hearts are volleying like two pelotas and I feel like I am shagging balls.
Sunday morning discussion, “I am not in love with you. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“It’s okay. I am not in love with you either.”
Sunday night – “I can’t get you out of my head.”
Listen in…chap-24
pelota – ball
Cristo ! Ja. Ahora hoy soy la pelota – Christ ! Ha. Now today I am the ball.
su obstaculo – your obstacle
angeles – angels
conejo – rabbit/bunny
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Chapter 25
Thursday March 1, 2007
101. LOVE is a Frequency…YOU MATTER…Come On Up !
God gave us rain so I could write another chapter of Squatting Over a Bucket.
I am having another amazing day and I have barely gotten out of bed. No, I am alone (actually I am never alone) it’s not that. And the only batteries I have purchased recently have been triple A’s for my bicycle light.
I have not received a response from the junior light-worker in my life. Process time is needed so it is okay. I did however receive a few mails from other people. One friend sent me a list of 100 quotes from the DVD “The Secret” which is about manifesting. I have not seen it. I don’t think I have to as I have all that material already stored in my consciousness but getting her list was great. It was more validation and little pieces of the new seminar have arrived. I will post the list at the end of this chapter and add one more line to it 101. LOVE IS A FREQUENCY.
Listen in…chap-25
Uh Oh – I did it again. No vocabulary.
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Chapter 26
Friday March 2, 2007
Love Disconnections…Illegal Aliens…and We Cannot Brush Your Teeth for You.
A quick chapter of Under the Argentina Moon as Patt has to get busy.
Oh I am having a difficult morning. Por que? I had a wonderful time last night. I re-met a very nice photographer from Italy with a show at the Borges Cultural Center. He had some truly lovely images of Argentina and it was joyful to see them. Then I went to a fiesta at my old house. I got to see and talk with Lucio for a long time and it felt great. I felt love between several friends. There was a lot of good emotion going around. But with the highs also come lows. The saying of GOODBYE to people who have left and who are leaving – the feeling of loss and of love. The feeling of loss is a feeling of fear which really comes from a feeling of love disconnections. It need not be that way. Love is never lost.
Listen in…chap-26
por qué – why
fiesta – party
yo tengo dolor – I have pain
mi corazon – my heart
mi espiritu – my spirit
mi alma – my soul
And …almuerzo – lunch
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Chapter 27
March 6, 2007
The Dichotomy of Life in the City…Living in the Now…and Damn Good Stew !
Oh my – My norteamericano friends – I AM BECOMING ARGENTINA.
So what has Patt been up to? Dinners, Rainy Saturday Alone with Brazilian Jazz, Counting Her Blessings and Loving it, Sunday Lunch and Shopping with Carolina, Monday Bouncing off the Walls. Normal stuff for Patt.
Listen in…chap-27
viernes – Friday
mesa – table
conversaciones – conversations
botellas – bottles
cerveza – beer
muy serioso – very serious
lunes – Monday (especially loony this week)
Dios - GOD
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Chapter 28
Wednesday March 7, 2007
A Nurture Fest…Panchos and Shiatsu…and “Raped by Fashion.”
What a great Tuesday ! I sent out some mails and then headed into the microcenter to see Tadi – my former housemate that just had eye surgery the day before. Lucio had sent me a mail that the surgery had gone well but Tadi was in considerable pain and I wanted to assist. I have things in my little Asian medical bag of tricks that can reduce pain, alleviate depression, curb addictions – all using the same acupuncture point on the ear. The point is called Shen Men. It is really cool. People have lost weight (9 kilos in 2 months safely), gotten happier and quit smoking all by my little magnets properly placed. I wanted to give Aki a helping hand – or actually a helping ear.
Listen in…chap-28
Es muy fuerte! – It is very strong!
Yo tengo uno – I have one.
es incredible! – It is incredible!
Este es por mi amiga – This is for my (girl)friend
Ella necesita ayuda – She needs help
Kiosco – small convenience store
Pancho – long hot dog
Esta bien – It is fine
Yo hago el mismo – I do/make the same
camisa blanca – white shirt
pobrecito – little poor fellow
luego - later
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Chapter 29
Thursday March 8, 2007
Caution – Fluidos are Very Potent but the Effects May be Fleeting…and Confuse a Patt.
The last week or so has been a real energetic roller-coaster. It seems that things have been bouncing all over the place. And it is not just for me. Others are reporting it too. I go from Saturday relaxing and counting my blessings, to Sunday with the beginnings of a cold, to Monday bouncing off walls wondering why I exist, “what am I supposed to be doing?” to Tuesday’s nurture fest to yesterday’s mush. I don’t think there is a word in either the English or Spanish dictionary for it – mush is about as good as I can do.
Listen in…chap-29
mezcla - mixture
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Chapter 30
Friday March 9, 2007
Los Angeles de la Tierra…Muchas Gracias…y Las Nubes de ZIGGY.
Even the titles are in Castellano now. She is here though sometimes she wonders if she should run away. But to where? And with whom – or is it who? (grammar check please) She is never alone she always takes herself, and her angels along…
Wow. Talk about earth angels. They are with me. They are connected to me. Gracias for all the mails and phone calls. I am doing fine. I processed, philosophized and am re-energized.
Listen in…chap-30
Los Angeles de la Tierra – Earth Angels
Muchas Gracias – Thank you very much
Las Nubes de ZIGGY – the clouds of ZIGGY
brilliante - brilliant
cielo – sky/heaven
azul - blue
amarillo - yellow
oro - gold
ambar – amber
caballo – horse
cucaracha – cockroach
viento – wind
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Chapter 31
Tuesday March 13, 2007
My Date with Richard Gere…The Tellings of the Subconscious Mind…Internal GPS.
Okay Patt, it is a beautiful day. Why are you not out on the bike? Because it is Monday and I have already been up, dropped off my laundry, (7 pesos/$2.33USD washed, dried, folded) waited in line to pay the electric bill, grocery shopped and got some shower curtain hooks. Now it is time to boil more potatoes for potato salad. I am well over needing mash.
Mis Suenos - Bizarre Dreams – I had a really interesting dream last night. I had a date with Richard Gere. What does this have to do with living in Buenos Aires? Just wait…
Listen in…chap-31
mis suenos – my dreams
papas – potatoes
ensalada – salad
ceviche – type of fish salad not cooked – the acid of lime and lemon “cooks” it
HAY ! – There is
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Chapter 32
Thursday March 15, 2007
Getting Electrocuted…Vavaballoon…and Send in the Clowns.
The sun is finally out and I am on the mend. I have been feeling poorly for ten days but the last few have been the worst. I think it all has shifted though. I can take a deep breath again. Just in time for a smoke-filled After Office at Placio San Miguel tonight.
I am being proactive. My friend Geraldo came by yesterday with his big bag (mine is small) of Asian medical tricks. For a few minutes he electrocuted my right ear. Kind of cool. I wish I had brought all my herramientas to BA with me but there was only so much I could fit into mis maletas this last time. I hope to get it all over here soon.
Listen in…chap-32
herramientas – tools
maletas – suitcases
hierba/yerba – herb
supermercado de juguetes – supermarket of toys
sube – rise
bomba – pump
globos - balloons
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Chapter 33
Friday March 16, 2007
Boys SUCK…Bikes are Better…and Revolving Doors.
Okay – enough said. Nooooooo…
Ja Ja Ja ! I make myself laugh – a lot ! Well someone has to do it. It might as well be me.
It is another cool, cloudy half rainy day. I have already done my grocery shopping for the weekend and I want to bicycle off this pent up energy. The weather simply is not cooperating. I have firecracker energy today. The kind that is a bit aggressive and potentially dangerous if not channeled properly. So please GOD – let there be sun. Let there be LIGHT.
This morning I received an email letting me know about a going away party for a former roommate at my old house. It was not clear as to whether it was tonight or tomorrow so I sent a text message to confirm the day. I also included a note…”I love my friends. I am blessed but maybe I will become a nun. Boys suck.” The response back was “The party is tonight. I’ll be there around ten. You need a man not a boy !” I laughed so hard out loud. And it is so true. The truth does not need to be serious. It just needs to be true.
Listen in… chap-33
novia – girlfriend
novio – boyfriend
muy complicado – very complicated
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Chapter 34
Sunday March 18, 2007
Growing…Beauty in The Suffering…and Bleed Argentine Blood.
I spent the entire weekend alone. Well okay I am never alone – I got that. I cannot tell you how many times in the last month after muscle strength testing people that I have said that I test weak for onions but I eat them anyway knowing that I have an intolerance. I voiced it to the universe. I manifested it. I know it. I have been eating a lot of raw cebollas in all my salads – tuna salad, potato salad, chicken salad, salad salad. This weekend I was very happy that my inodorno is securely bolted down. I did not stray too, too far from home until Sunday afternoon. Great process time. I always get what I need. I say no more. On to the writings and musings of the weekend…
You cannot force Mother Nature. You cannot grow faster than the laws of the Universe.
Listen in… chap-34
cebollas – onions
dolor – pain
uña – fingernail
feo – ugly
No hay valor sin el sufrimiento – There is no value without the suffering
La tragedia del amor – The tragedy of love
tormenta – storm
mas profundo – very deep
sea paciente – be patient (I probably translated that one before but it is always good to have a little reminder without slamming my finger in the door.)
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Chapter 35
Thursday April 26, 2007
The Affects of Global Warming… It’s Time to Wake Up…and Frames of Reference.
I have taken some time off from writing my chapters to concentrate on developing my Castellano. It worked out to be perfect timing as for the last four weeks Buenos Aires has been unseasonably cold, rainy and windy. It has not been the time to wander the streets discovering new things unless of course you want to get soaked to the bone or whacked in the head with a passing umbrella. Today a miracle happened – the sun came out - so far for more than 5 hours.
Listen in… chap-35
I think these are all repeats and I do not want to go back into the older chapters to look and be stuck in English. I have to do my Spanish homework. I have a function tonight and Mario gave me a lot of homework to do.
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Chapter 36
Monday May 14, 2007
Accepting the Uncertainty…It Is No Longer Traffic Noise…and Please Don’t Ask.
I am starting to pack for a trip to the States. Similar to my last long stay here in Argentina (3 months –this one is 6 months) I am both ready to leave and not. I am vacillating in the dichotomy. On one hand I simply must get out of the city and the concrete, but on the other I will miss the friends I have made here. On one foot I look forward to seeing friends and family in the states, getting back on my racing bike, hiking in the forest but on the other foot I do not look forward to the questions.
It has been an interesting stay. I have gone through cycles, cycled both motor and bike too. I have ridden the thermals of synchronicity and had the dial shift and questioned What’s the Frequency Argentina while recalibrating. These are the times when Aguila flaps its wings to stay aloft. That is what eagles do – ride the thermals. They are joyous rides indeed. In order to move up to the next one they have to leave the comfort zone and experience the turbulence and strenuous work to get to the next even higher ride.
Listen in…chap-36
estancias - ranches
¿“Tenés una con mangas?” - Do you have one with sleeves?
cola – line (also one slang way of saying buttocks – nicer than culo)
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