Summer.
Jacknowitz family picnics , I remember a park with a lake. Everybody came, there was food and more food. Grates on fire pits filled with aromatic sizzling stuff. Family, Great Aunts and Great Uncles, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins to the fifth degree. A loud yelling mass of people, all with an opinion. The loudest no matter how convoluted the logic won. Always.
The men wore grey slacks, the older men's were baggy, I mean down to the knees baggy with belts and suspenders. They had to, these men were the roundest most barrel chested men you'd ever met. All had pug noses and pugnacious personalities. It seemed to me they were Lumberjack thick with big ham fists and fingers. I would look at my Great Uncle Jacks hands with five sausages on one hand and four on the other. His thumb was missing a fascinating mystery to me. Bald, all the old ones were strands of hair away from shiny baby bottom bald. When they spoke their voices were gravely, deep, heavily laced with a New York-Queens dialect. All sucked on cigarettes and cigars constantly, while the woman sported cigarette holders. Some of these were down right funny looking, like sawed off chop sticks with rhinestones and fake seeded pearls embedded. There were real ivory exotic Marlena Dietrich styles and maybe a few tortoise shell and Bakelite. It was supposed to keep the face from looking like a smoked white fish, but they were a Kabuki sign language prop. Punctuations, Grunts and sneers, silent curses and poxes swirled from these smoking sticks as surly as Merlin swung a magic wand. Body language experts would have cried and thrown in the towel, the HOLDERS said it all.
Now, my G-Uncle Julius fit the physical description, although his body was softer and he hadn't the power. He was the artistic one. Everyone in the family marveled at his vision, his art, and they all made sure he could follow his talent. In this family of blue collar workers, with a pharmacist thrown in he was an anomaly. He had a light voice. Often he crooned little songs to us with a soft trill. His most memorable tune with lyrics of "al a lululu, al a lululu...Lu lu lu lu loo..." On rare occasions my Grandmother Etta was heard to croon this as well. It is my secret put the baby to sleep weapon, never fails. Julius told the best stories, I can remember half listening, my whole being drawn towards his pink tongue forming the words with a delicate swirl and flourish, he seemed to relish and taste every word. He imitated every character with vocal cues. Even his animal sounds had a special artful panache to them. This tongue, was a moist river bed of fissures and cracks. All the Greats had them. I wonder how many Doctors fainted when they exhorted,"stick out your tongue". I have one also, my fissions are small and relatively simple. I don't know if any other cousins sport this, I also have the family allergy to Cinnamon.
The men's ears were big as well, with wonderful lobes, rounded mounds, free from any attachment to the head. They were not handsome, their faces were strong and dogged, their intelligence shining through. Their bodies contained undiminished vitality, and you knew who you wanted with you in any kind of emergency or fight. When ensconced within the pack a feeling of safety, caring pervaded.
My family argued over politics, possessions, cards, money, the weather, food, anything. G-Uncle Julius argued always with his sister Great Aunt Eva. Everyone argued with Eva. She was the youngest. In a family of twelve youngest was something. Julius's voice would get higher and higher as they insulted and shouted at each other. "You're full of hot air, you don no what you're talking about, believe ME I KNOW. Wher'd ya hear that, you don know what..." He'd pleat and fold a napkin in the most intricate designs over and over as his pink tongue spit his words at her. His beautiful artists hands fingers tapered. He wore his nails just a little longer, the tips filed to a discrete point, they fairly quivered with sensitivity. When he was put out he'd open the napkin and smooth and smooth.
Julius and Eva were prodigious eaters as was most of the family, with a few out-law exceptions. G-Uncle Izzie, was a tiny thin man who shook with nerves. He had the kindest eyes, sweetest disposition. A gentle soul with a voice that any Cantor or Chazzan would cry for. Izzy's tiny body would render this enormous voice, his delivery had so much emotion it would transport you out of your body. His heavy Austrian/Jewish accent sounded so different. My Greats were Yankees, New York through and through. I listened carefully to his inflection and rhythm. My mother thought it crazy that I loved opera and Classical music, but it was G-Uncle Izzy who handed me that love.
My dad and Grandpa Herman out-laws both, wore smart cloths, pants with knife sharp pleats and narrow stylish belts. They were both tall and lean, each had a full head of hair. I thought them snappy. The others wore white shirts long sleeves. As a concession to the heat, or open fires, eventually they rolled the sleeves up. I never saw Uncle Izzies arms, not once no matter how hot.
The women were mostly beautiful, with their snub noses and lacquered hair. They wore nail polish and makeup. Thick penciled brows sometimes two shades darker, sometimes three shades lighter. This may have been a political statement, I was too young to fathom it. Like President Reagan parting his hair first to the left and then while in office parting it to the right. Mascara, was applied liberally out of a dry cake with lots of spit and swirling a stiff black brush around and around. Some of the women's hair had gone a funny reddish color, (my mom still a stunning brunette at this time) Many were fair a few even blond. Grandma Ettas' eyes were hazel, Aunt Pats' green. My dad and Herman's eyes were blue the former Robins egg blue the latter a deep blue. The ladies all seemed to have extraordinarily wide tiny feet. These extra wide feet were in cased in the smallest and most up to date shoes. A few wore Granny type shoes but these were the rare unsporting ones. Poking out of the top of the shoes was the hump of foot that could not fit. Looking closely you'd see around the toes the outlines, of corns and thickened blisters. My Grandmother and her siblings trilled their threes, sticking the tip of their tongues out against the palette and upper lip. Then it would snap back into it's little house. My Grandparents did not have the tell tale accent. The Jacknowitz/Jackman (Anglicised) clan said earl for oil and berl for boil.
A few of the Aunts, in -law Aunts and Cousins, were soft spoken and serene. Most were liberated outspoken women who were given a birth rite and mandate to be heard (loud), often, and to not obey held consequences beyond Dante's grasp. My mother included. I do remember that Aunt Paulie and Uncle Izzie had a serenity and peace as a couple that was enviable. The others firebrands. Eva and Gertie never married as two of the brothers George and Julius stayed single. It is rumored that George had a clandestine relationship with a married woman. My Great Grandmother Mollie was I believed a force to be reckoned with and acid tongue when needed. These beautiful woman had a propensity to being heavy, the proverbial beautiful face etc. Aunt Gertie stayed slim all her life, after a surgery she developed a tiny pooch, that she fretted over. Pictures of my Great Grandmother show a tiny multi chinned woman hair scrapped back no nonsense, of strong mettle and a twinkle of humor. Etta was a true beauty, although matronly later in life she retained a regal and elegant look. With her light hair and her butter scotch gold jewelry, slave bracelets, chunky watches, and heavy bangles, she had a refinement and polish the others never acquired. I've been told the King of Spain Ferdinand, thought so too and chased her all over a trans Atlantic crossing to Europe.
Grandpa Herman and Grandma Etta were a matched pair both beautiful people, passionate, stubborn and very much in love. They were obsessed with each other, leading to a marriage fraught with tensions and problems. Pop was as handsome a man that ever crossed the stage or screen. Black haired, white skinned, pale blue eyes, a very natty dresser. He was a straight shooter, and a fabulous billiards player. Their arguments were legendary ah, but that's another story.
Gunny sack races, potato passes and men trooping off to play soft ball in their wool slacks. Heavily oiled mitts in hand, young boys in tow with unwieldy bats. The women would sit on the benches and beach chairs yelling and arguing their hands flashing with jewels, fingers at the ready to point or crook at an offending child. Always ready to climb the next verbal rock wall with relish.
Now Uncle Julius and cousins Davey and Toby would be sweating in the center of all this with a one mindedness. Tweaking and playing the fire like a fine instrument, on the top of which a great cauldron brewed. This year there was an addition of a great garbage can sized pot namely a wok. Mind you this home made colossus looked to me like the lid of a big metal garbage can. Julius' baby. He sweat over it as a doctor does a breach birth. With finesse and an almost balletic choreography, masses of vegetables were tossed sputtering and sizzling as slowly everything was added. Celery, onion, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, chicken, broth, cornstarch, soy sauce. Finally the most exotic of ingredients, bean sprouts. This was new it was fantastic, no big slices of meat, everything chopped all the same size with pains taking care. First this and then that. Nothing gedempted here, no Kugel grated oiled baked. No, this was science, and timing, all tossed together quickly. Thin bits of white meat chicken added to the melange. A tsimmis in definition if not in practise. Chop Suey, straight from Hong Kong.
I was really little, standing transfixed as I would later when a raw boned six foot two woman on T.V. wielded a cleaver like Uncle Julius'. Eyes round watching this new kind of alchemy, the smoke fires burning my nostrils, the sounds of chaos a din in my ear. I stood shuffling from foot to foot, pine needles sending up their resin dark smells underfoot mingling with Chop Suey. In the cauldron bubbled fluffy white rice, no hot dogs and beans. It was a gastronomic awakening, an epiphany.
My G-Uncle Julius figured again in my gastronomic awaking with his Fish Souffle. Mrs. Paul, not! My Grandparents took me often when I was also very young to a French restaurant, La Champlain, Ice Cream at Schrafts for afters. Lobster was a rare gourmet treat back then and I acquired the taste at a very tender age. Fresh squeezed Orange Juice daily, Coconut from Florida in winter and Perrier water a rarity in those days, were among the many things introduced to me on Maytime Drive.
We were handed bowls, and began to line up, so many Oliver Twists with great anticipation. Licking lips and sniffling the air I shuffled along with my bowl and large spoon. Julius and Dave stood aproned and hot mitted, with giant ladle's. Toby with her rice ladle first, and then the mound of gleaming vegetables with a kind of shiny blond sauce. Gently cradling my bowl, deftly stepping over tree roots, ant hills, twigs and pine cones to finally perch somewhere. My spoon dug in, hot, hot, hot, blow, blow stick out the tongue lick the bottom of the hot child friendly spoon and tilt it in. Flavors, not just onions, it must have been garlic, ginger, bless Julius' heart. Light bulbs in my head pop, pop, pop.
Now I was never a real fan of Chop Suey but my little road map tongue got the taste for something and was never quite happy with just peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Velveeta again. Oh, as far as the rest of the family picnic, kids got spanked, and picked up from the dust, younger ones got rocked and passed around. Bottles of blowing bubbles were handed out, bubble gum blown and later roasted marshmallows. The adults yelled and insulted one another as they laughed and played cards, smoked their cigarettes and cigars, topped off with tons of fire roasted coffee out of giant enameled pots.
Eva always got the last word. Or maybe it was the mosquito's.
Baby doll jammy clad I dreamt of fires and cauldrons in the sticky heat of my room, and waited for next summer and a family picnic by the lake.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Hitting the Open Road
We did arrive on Saturday evening as planned, everything else was a bit of a bollocks. Be that as it may, the hotel is very comfortable, and Callie and Piper were troopers. I now know what music to play for a yipping sometimes howling cat to sooth her nerves. Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme, god bless them.
I have to have a moan here, actually more than a moan, a diatribe. I hope gas hits $6.00 or more a gallon. During the whole trip SUV's in particular with or without trailers, boats and cars hitched, on an average drove 85-90 miles an hour. We are talking over horrible bridges with speed limits (visibly posted many times) of 45mph, and 50mph construction zones. Not one person drove anywhere near the speed limits and the aggression on the road is breathtaking. We are in the middle of a protracted war and I am in particular very aware of this. We as Americans behave as if there is no reason to hold back or change any habits of excess. We complain about the cost of goods, gas etc. but we continue to drive and spend as if there were no crisis. No reason to obey laws, or be civil. As a nation we are spoiled and insulated to the realities of the world around us. What will it take before we become stewards, preservers and conscious of the finite resources our children are dying and fighting for. Where are the rationing lines of the seventies? Why don't they print the EPA standards on the ads for new cars, when they continue to feature big FAST cars and SUV's, when do we start to grow up, and smell the coffee. The gov't would have us still drink the cool-aid of complacency. Where are the gathering masses, who are ready for change who are willing to roll their sleeves up and get to work on being part of the solution not contributors of the problem. Please slow down, vote, give a damn.
Okay, you really don't know the half of it but I feel a little better. We went house hunting with Mary our broker yesterday, and I will go again on Wednesday. We were invited to spend Thanksgiving with Barry's boss and family bless her.
Counting my blessings and waiting for the Turkey...
I have to have a moan here, actually more than a moan, a diatribe. I hope gas hits $6.00 or more a gallon. During the whole trip SUV's in particular with or without trailers, boats and cars hitched, on an average drove 85-90 miles an hour. We are talking over horrible bridges with speed limits (visibly posted many times) of 45mph, and 50mph construction zones. Not one person drove anywhere near the speed limits and the aggression on the road is breathtaking. We are in the middle of a protracted war and I am in particular very aware of this. We as Americans behave as if there is no reason to hold back or change any habits of excess. We complain about the cost of goods, gas etc. but we continue to drive and spend as if there were no crisis. No reason to obey laws, or be civil. As a nation we are spoiled and insulated to the realities of the world around us. What will it take before we become stewards, preservers and conscious of the finite resources our children are dying and fighting for. Where are the rationing lines of the seventies? Why don't they print the EPA standards on the ads for new cars, when they continue to feature big FAST cars and SUV's, when do we start to grow up, and smell the coffee. The gov't would have us still drink the cool-aid of complacency. Where are the gathering masses, who are ready for change who are willing to roll their sleeves up and get to work on being part of the solution not contributors of the problem. Please slow down, vote, give a damn.
Okay, you really don't know the half of it but I feel a little better. We went house hunting with Mary our broker yesterday, and I will go again on Wednesday. We were invited to spend Thanksgiving with Barry's boss and family bless her.
Counting my blessings and waiting for the Turkey...
Texas South
Well Brownsville reminds me a bit of Spring Hill, although Barry laughs at this analogy. However, I had visited there a few times in the early days when it was still very horsey, and farm. There are areas that also remind me of route 19, where all the big stores and commerce are. The History of this lower Rio Grand area is interesting. They call it the Valley, and was Mexican Territory even when Texas was made a state. In about 1836, this defaulted to The U.S. and somehow became part of Texas. There have a Pirate history very similar to Tampa Bay as well. Although much drier here, there is still farming and cattle ranches, are a large part of the economy. This was the Largest shrimping area in the states until a few years ago. Now the shrimping fleet has disappeared. It is over whelming Mexican in influence and we are clearly the minority, a very funny feeling. However everyone has been kind, and I feel very safe, as there does not appear to be this large divide in areas. Pickups and SUV's are huge here and our small Hondas a bit out of place. Saturday, a large number of Mexicans cross the border to shop, and the stores were very busy with Holiday shoppers, the mall was slammed and Sam's club was pretty hectic. We ate at Koi last night and had Sushi. It was different, I did like the seafood soup, but was not as enamored with the fish. It wasn't quite what we are used to. There is another place for Japanese to try so I'll let you know. The service was good and the restaurant was beautiful so I might try the cooked Japanese next time.
We have not gone to the old town yet, this area does have a much poorer population and is very unsafe I believe. So forewarned is forearmed. I think Beau and I will take a ride this afternoon. There is a significant Jewish population in relation to the general population. Most are of Sephardi's and Latino extraction. Although there is only a Cantor at the moment he is Orthodox and services are mixed, Friday night reform and Saturday morning Orthodox/Sephardi's. So it should be a hoot.
I am struggling to find our Organic foods but have scored a few hits at Super Target and I hate to admit I went into Super Walmart, as well as Sam's. Yes, Yes I know but must needs. The HEB we went to last week was very poor but I was told to visit the other one so... Anyway Barry was in San Antonio and he scored us some Organic meat, chicken and non pork sausage for me and pork for himself. I also found Hummus and Lavash. I am just a tad lonely though as Barry is working and busy. I will go to the Library tomorrow and find a list of groups etc. I must find a place for waxing and hair ASAP, don't ask. I want to do some volunteer work, so I'll be looking into that. They have a wildlife refuge here, where a few of the Meteorologists are active. As for work, I might get involved with Yoga, there is need for it, and as for anything else I am keeping my options open for the moment. Finding a class in speaking Spanish is at the top of my list. I am told there may be one at Luby's a kind of meeting place restaurant that is big in community affairs. It is really the Wild West here, the news is awesome, as neighbor vigilantes who shoot the bad guys are on every street and are hero's. Many people pack a pistol apparently you can do so openly here. I'll let you know about that.
For now that's all that's fit to print...
We have not gone to the old town yet, this area does have a much poorer population and is very unsafe I believe. So forewarned is forearmed. I think Beau and I will take a ride this afternoon. There is a significant Jewish population in relation to the general population. Most are of Sephardi's and Latino extraction. Although there is only a Cantor at the moment he is Orthodox and services are mixed, Friday night reform and Saturday morning Orthodox/Sephardi's. So it should be a hoot.
I am struggling to find our Organic foods but have scored a few hits at Super Target and I hate to admit I went into Super Walmart, as well as Sam's. Yes, Yes I know but must needs. The HEB we went to last week was very poor but I was told to visit the other one so... Anyway Barry was in San Antonio and he scored us some Organic meat, chicken and non pork sausage for me and pork for himself. I also found Hummus and Lavash. I am just a tad lonely though as Barry is working and busy. I will go to the Library tomorrow and find a list of groups etc. I must find a place for waxing and hair ASAP, don't ask. I want to do some volunteer work, so I'll be looking into that. They have a wildlife refuge here, where a few of the Meteorologists are active. As for work, I might get involved with Yoga, there is need for it, and as for anything else I am keeping my options open for the moment. Finding a class in speaking Spanish is at the top of my list. I am told there may be one at Luby's a kind of meeting place restaurant that is big in community affairs. It is really the Wild West here, the news is awesome, as neighbor vigilantes who shoot the bad guys are on every street and are hero's. Many people pack a pistol apparently you can do so openly here. I'll let you know about that.
For now that's all that's fit to print...
Brownsville Update
"Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can." Danny Kaye
So what have you done to make your life colorful lately? Adam has taken up smoking the pipe, and touring ruined palaces, Margo has just come back from a week of touring France and Belgium, Barry's new job is, well colorful, and he is jetting to Miami as I write. As for me, I am sampling the foods of the area which are indeed colorful, getting lost with colorful language involved and learning to communicate in Spanglish with the emphasis on Anglish.
The paperwork mounts on trying to line up the sale of the house with the gov. or privately. The house here needs to go to inspection so we are setting that up asap. Found really decent Chinese food at the Lotus cafe. They have three here in town and their cousins own a few in Harlingen and McAllen. I had lunch at the New York Deli, they've been here for around 50 years, and it was very good. Sandwiches N.Y. style salads a soup of the day but no real hot Deli type stuff, like Stuffed Cabbage etc. The owner is a Beetles nut so they have memorabilia and he plays Beetles all day. I think the staff probably goes loony at night. Hell, I hear my cell phone in my sleep.
We went to McAllen yesterday, about an hour plus north of here it is a slightly larger city, with two large downtown buildings. Like Brownsville there is no real city center just a very worn out old town area. What once was the shopping hub and main street it is now very decayed and relegated to "old Rags" Ropa Viehas ( a meat dish as well here) shops, perfume discount stores, and cheap ladies undergarments. It is surround by a very depressed area and rickety homes. Driving east of main street, we did find an upscale area and the Holy Grail of Grocery stores. The HEB that has the most organics and high end food stuffs south of San Antonio. We had our coolers and stocked up. There is a Borders, and a Chico's just West of the interstate.
Rossana, is the wife of a Meterologist at B's work. She is Mexican and Sephardi. They have invited us to the Latka making party at the Temple, where all the guys make and cook the Latkas. It sounds fun and it will be our introduction to the Shul here. Amazingly I found a super Stylist/Colorist who worked for Jose Eber. She was trained in Europe before she came to the states. I went to the (Eber)salon many years ago but Rita had just moved to Vegas and was working there. She has phenomenal credentials, is a permanent makeup artist, has a theatrical makeup degree etc. Needless to say my hair looks great!! She and I hit it off, and I now have a new friend who has a very interesting story to tell.
It is my intention to bring as much color to my new home and new friends as I possibly can. Eccentricity is all it is cracked up to be.
So what have you done to make your life colorful lately? Adam has taken up smoking the pipe, and touring ruined palaces, Margo has just come back from a week of touring France and Belgium, Barry's new job is, well colorful, and he is jetting to Miami as I write. As for me, I am sampling the foods of the area which are indeed colorful, getting lost with colorful language involved and learning to communicate in Spanglish with the emphasis on Anglish.
The paperwork mounts on trying to line up the sale of the house with the gov. or privately. The house here needs to go to inspection so we are setting that up asap. Found really decent Chinese food at the Lotus cafe. They have three here in town and their cousins own a few in Harlingen and McAllen. I had lunch at the New York Deli, they've been here for around 50 years, and it was very good. Sandwiches N.Y. style salads a soup of the day but no real hot Deli type stuff, like Stuffed Cabbage etc. The owner is a Beetles nut so they have memorabilia and he plays Beetles all day. I think the staff probably goes loony at night. Hell, I hear my cell phone in my sleep.
We went to McAllen yesterday, about an hour plus north of here it is a slightly larger city, with two large downtown buildings. Like Brownsville there is no real city center just a very worn out old town area. What once was the shopping hub and main street it is now very decayed and relegated to "old Rags" Ropa Viehas ( a meat dish as well here) shops, perfume discount stores, and cheap ladies undergarments. It is surround by a very depressed area and rickety homes. Driving east of main street, we did find an upscale area and the Holy Grail of Grocery stores. The HEB that has the most organics and high end food stuffs south of San Antonio. We had our coolers and stocked up. There is a Borders, and a Chico's just West of the interstate.
Rossana, is the wife of a Meterologist at B's work. She is Mexican and Sephardi. They have invited us to the Latka making party at the Temple, where all the guys make and cook the Latkas. It sounds fun and it will be our introduction to the Shul here. Amazingly I found a super Stylist/Colorist who worked for Jose Eber. She was trained in Europe before she came to the states. I went to the (Eber)salon many years ago but Rita had just moved to Vegas and was working there. She has phenomenal credentials, is a permanent makeup artist, has a theatrical makeup degree etc. Needless to say my hair looks great!! She and I hit it off, and I now have a new friend who has a very interesting story to tell.
It is my intention to bring as much color to my new home and new friends as I possibly can. Eccentricity is all it is cracked up to be.
Hanging around
"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on" Franklin D. Roosevelt.
I think I feel more like the Hanged man on my Tarot cards, just wait patiently would be my advise, so deep breaths and wait...
The appraisals were done but they are out of the 5% variance. So now we have a tie breaker appraisal and we have to wait till they contact us etc. So it looks like at least another week or two before we know what we will be offered for the house in Tampa. We will be in housing for at least another month plus. I hope we can stay here, the cats and I are used to the place and we feel comfortable here.
Barry and I joined the Golds Gym this week, it is brand new and in a great location. We worked out on Sunday and it was very quiet. The music is lousy, but that is just my little complaint with most music today, sorry kids really but BLECH, YUCK.
The weather broke for a few days and we were in the 50's day and 40's night but just for a few days now the heat and humidity have reappeared. It's actually warmer than Florida this year. No road trips for me lately although Barry is on one today meeting and seeing the areas they forecast for (the wild west). I did have my eyes examined (a red letter day indeed) and Adam you will be happy to know, no more cheap readers from out of the 50's. I am able to get Contact lenses so I can read close and read the computer. Long distance is still 20/20. So, no more having other people read menus, posters and the like. No missing glasses, or breaking them as I sit upon. I am going for a fitting today.
The roads continue to swell with Mexicans and winter Texans, you got it, they are not Snow Birds but Winter Texans, it says so on my Library card application. For such a small town the roads are filled no matter what time of day or night, the highway traffic to Mexico is non stop. I want to say whatever I have said about New Jersey, Florida, or D.C. drivers pale in comparison to Texas. So when you come to visit you are forewarned.
The people are generally nice and polite even if they turn into wear wolves when they drive. All my life I was the one with the accent, now I live in a place where everybody else has an accent, but now I really have an accent. As soon as I say something they ask where are you from? So do I say Florida of late or New York of very late? Either way they think my accent is cute. I am also a veritable rock star here. I stand out like a well something... The Mexicans unlike there stylish cousins the Cubins, are very Conservative. They generally dress in slacks and long sleeves, shirts or sweaters, no cleavage. It was ninety for three weeks and I am the only one in my skorts, skirts, and baby doll tops. Not to mention the ersatz blond hair. I am also, wait for it... Thin. My g-d I lived long enough to be thin. We'll it is relative. Because of a diet high in corn and dairy, the Mexican woman are very large. They are shorter than my 5'3'' frame and much larger. Suddenly I am tall and thin, I promise not to let it go to my head. At 55 I am turning heads and I didn't have to starve or anything. Wait till they get a load of Margo, Goli, Claudia or the Twins! On second thought I don't need the competition stay home girls it's all mine.
Food continues to be an interesting adventure, the "good" local cafe' Gaspacho was just okay, they have a buffet daily for lunch but I just had a luncheon special, it's just too much food for the middle of the day. Las Pampas was a terrific Venezuelan style steak house Gaucho decor et. all, A must when you come to visit.
I will say I am home sick for my friends and family hell you're all my family, so I am just plain lonely. It will get better once we know we can move forward and have some permanency.
I think I feel more like the Hanged man on my Tarot cards, just wait patiently would be my advise, so deep breaths and wait...
The appraisals were done but they are out of the 5% variance. So now we have a tie breaker appraisal and we have to wait till they contact us etc. So it looks like at least another week or two before we know what we will be offered for the house in Tampa. We will be in housing for at least another month plus. I hope we can stay here, the cats and I are used to the place and we feel comfortable here.
Barry and I joined the Golds Gym this week, it is brand new and in a great location. We worked out on Sunday and it was very quiet. The music is lousy, but that is just my little complaint with most music today, sorry kids really but BLECH, YUCK.
The weather broke for a few days and we were in the 50's day and 40's night but just for a few days now the heat and humidity have reappeared. It's actually warmer than Florida this year. No road trips for me lately although Barry is on one today meeting and seeing the areas they forecast for (the wild west). I did have my eyes examined (a red letter day indeed) and Adam you will be happy to know, no more cheap readers from out of the 50's. I am able to get Contact lenses so I can read close and read the computer. Long distance is still 20/20. So, no more having other people read menus, posters and the like. No missing glasses, or breaking them as I sit upon. I am going for a fitting today.
The roads continue to swell with Mexicans and winter Texans, you got it, they are not Snow Birds but Winter Texans, it says so on my Library card application. For such a small town the roads are filled no matter what time of day or night, the highway traffic to Mexico is non stop. I want to say whatever I have said about New Jersey, Florida, or D.C. drivers pale in comparison to Texas. So when you come to visit you are forewarned.
The people are generally nice and polite even if they turn into wear wolves when they drive. All my life I was the one with the accent, now I live in a place where everybody else has an accent, but now I really have an accent. As soon as I say something they ask where are you from? So do I say Florida of late or New York of very late? Either way they think my accent is cute. I am also a veritable rock star here. I stand out like a well something... The Mexicans unlike there stylish cousins the Cubins, are very Conservative. They generally dress in slacks and long sleeves, shirts or sweaters, no cleavage. It was ninety for three weeks and I am the only one in my skorts, skirts, and baby doll tops. Not to mention the ersatz blond hair. I am also, wait for it... Thin. My g-d I lived long enough to be thin. We'll it is relative. Because of a diet high in corn and dairy, the Mexican woman are very large. They are shorter than my 5'3'' frame and much larger. Suddenly I am tall and thin, I promise not to let it go to my head. At 55 I am turning heads and I didn't have to starve or anything. Wait till they get a load of Margo, Goli, Claudia or the Twins! On second thought I don't need the competition stay home girls it's all mine.
Food continues to be an interesting adventure, the "good" local cafe' Gaspacho was just okay, they have a buffet daily for lunch but I just had a luncheon special, it's just too much food for the middle of the day. Las Pampas was a terrific Venezuelan style steak house Gaucho decor et. all, A must when you come to visit.
I will say I am home sick for my friends and family hell you're all my family, so I am just plain lonely. It will get better once we know we can move forward and have some permanency.
Brownsville 2008
Barry and I, along with our friends Rossana, Geoff, their children, Daniella and Josef, had a sushi feast at Uchi Monday night. We closed the resturant down and then Barry and I headed out to a Dance club. They were playing house music for the most part but no one was dancing so we sat tight. The tables were all reserved so we found a wee spot for ourselves at the end of a banquet. Nursing our gin and tonics, listening to the DJ speaking in Spanish we were unsure what to do. A gentleman introduced himself as the owner and the group next to us as his family and welcomed us. At midnight he gave us champagne, and we all hugged and greated one another. His mother took my phone number and she called me this morning! I still don't know her name though, as the music was too loud for the introductions. We will meet for coffee tomorrow. They played Latin and Tejano music after midnight and we danced some and had fun. The women for the most part were dressed for Florida standards, conservatively. I did notice of the gals who dressed up, not in blue jeans, the posterior seems to be the feature that is accessorized. The dresses were tight at the bottom with many having tight ribbons or hems taught under the "cheeks" very few showed cleavage. The anti-Florida look. A few wore very mini skirts or hot pants. Barry was happy.
Yesterday we went to the Bogorads for a Fajita dinner and I brought a home made lemon cake. So all in all we had a great start to the New Year. Barry goes back to work on Thursday, picking up a few shifts for some forecasters still out on leave.
The Library was interesting,the shelves very sparce, the DVD section very large. For the most part it was a homage' to the popular writers of the 70's and early eighties. I think Sidney Sheldon had the most books, with Jacqueline Susanne a close runner up. I was able to find a Mary Renault , Anne Ripley, and Julie Smith round out the trio. Although these books are a few years old I had not read them so over Christmas while Barry worked I was able to hole up and read. Speaking of books, Kvel time, I hope you all picked up" In the Sandbox", by Gary Trudeau, it is a chronicle of blogs written by Soldiers from the war zones. Adams' blog is heavily featured and his picture graces this wonderful book. Many of Adams' blog entries were visualized in the cartoon Doonsbury.
On Saturday, we headed up to San Antonio for the Penn State, Texas A&M game. It was at the Dome. Before game time we explored the River Walk. It was crazy full of fans and holiday vacationers not a spare square of space. I would love to go back and really do the River Walk, this time actually seeing IT, not hundreds of very libated patrons. So when you all come down it's on our list of must explore! The game was fun and the story that ensued is not for printed consumption, but a guy named CHUNK features very heavily. OH, and Penn state won.
We gorge - shopped at The Central Market Sunday and helped the General Market index single handedly. Foam coolers are a beautiful thing.
I hope I have great news by the end of this week about our home in FL. The gov't wheels do indeed spin slowly. We cooled down spectacularly it was 81 the other day we are in the 50's today. It has been very dry, the land is very brown and the grass almost brittle. On the way home Sunday night we saw a brush fire just yards from the road and surrounding the railroad tracks. It is fire season here and the threat is very real. Although there aren't a lot of true deciduous trees, most trees have lost their leaves and everything is brown and fairly barren. We passed many Ranches along our route to San Antonio, the flat land and wide open sky spaces are amazing after living in the crowded Tampa Bay area. Coming home with no lights around, the night sky was lit up with stars. I hadn't seen a night sky like that since the days we went camping, up state NY.
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Yesterday we went to the Bogorads for a Fajita dinner and I brought a home made lemon cake. So all in all we had a great start to the New Year. Barry goes back to work on Thursday, picking up a few shifts for some forecasters still out on leave.
The Library was interesting,the shelves very sparce, the DVD section very large. For the most part it was a homage' to the popular writers of the 70's and early eighties. I think Sidney Sheldon had the most books, with Jacqueline Susanne a close runner up. I was able to find a Mary Renault , Anne Ripley, and Julie Smith round out the trio. Although these books are a few years old I had not read them so over Christmas while Barry worked I was able to hole up and read. Speaking of books, Kvel time, I hope you all picked up" In the Sandbox", by Gary Trudeau, it is a chronicle of blogs written by Soldiers from the war zones. Adams' blog is heavily featured and his picture graces this wonderful book. Many of Adams' blog entries were visualized in the cartoon Doonsbury.
On Saturday, we headed up to San Antonio for the Penn State, Texas A&M game. It was at the Dome. Before game time we explored the River Walk. It was crazy full of fans and holiday vacationers not a spare square of space. I would love to go back and really do the River Walk, this time actually seeing IT, not hundreds of very libated patrons. So when you all come down it's on our list of must explore! The game was fun and the story that ensued is not for printed consumption, but a guy named CHUNK features very heavily. OH, and Penn state won.
We gorge - shopped at The Central Market Sunday and helped the General Market index single handedly. Foam coolers are a beautiful thing.
I hope I have great news by the end of this week about our home in FL. The gov't wheels do indeed spin slowly. We cooled down spectacularly it was 81 the other day we are in the 50's today. It has been very dry, the land is very brown and the grass almost brittle. On the way home Sunday night we saw a brush fire just yards from the road and surrounding the railroad tracks. It is fire season here and the threat is very real. Although there aren't a lot of true deciduous trees, most trees have lost their leaves and everything is brown and fairly barren. We passed many Ranches along our route to San Antonio, the flat land and wide open sky spaces are amazing after living in the crowded Tampa Bay area. Coming home with no lights around, the night sky was lit up with stars. I hadn't seen a night sky like that since the days we went camping, up state NY.
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Well, we just heard from CARTUS. The acronym should be SHTUPUS. Oy Vayh is it bad!!!
So we are lowering our price on the open market for three weeks, and then we'll have to hold our noses and grab our handkerchiefs and sign on the dotted line while we sob.
We made another trip to Dirty Al's and pigged out on Shrimp and Flounder, Saturday night. There is a really nice market here called H.E.B. another acronym, I've dubbed it the Heb. market. They have some really good bread and a decent Organics selection. But, it is the only "market" aside from the Bodegas, Walmart/Sam's club and Target.
Barry has been working non-stop, either in the office or at home. I have been reading and slowly going a little mashugana. I went with Rosanna to the Hadassah meeting and became a member again. This Thursday we are baking Cheese Cakes for the annual Deli Luncheon. They offer a lunch at the Temple for ten dollars with drinks and dessert. You get Corned Beef on Rye or Turkey on Whole Wheat,or Tuna on a Kaiser roll, all come with a pickle, potato salad, drink and dessert. The Cheese cake we make on Thursday at the Shule. Friday we make the sandwiches and serve the incoming. Barry is the designated driver this year to pick up the take away for the office. I was told to wear my sneakers and be there at 10:00 sharp. Hey is that anyway to treat a new recruit. Just throw me into the Luncheon making fray instead of the let's have a Luncheon for new members fray? My luck, and those are my brand new sneakers too.
I do get time off for good behavior though. B' has a convention, he is delivering a paper in New Orleans and I get to go. (My air fare is little enough for him to pay so that he never hears the end of it should he leave me alone again...) This will be our first look at post Katrina New Orleans. We are signed up for a tour to see the damage etc. Many of you don't know that it was Barry who wrote those all important impact statements that the New Orleans office used when they warned of the impending killer storm. The N.O. office used that statement verbatim. So although nearly two years later it will be interesting for Barry to see where they are in terms of rebuilding. As a vegetarian on my former trips to N.O. I didn't get to explore the whole dinning experience, and I intend to make up for that as only a FOODIE on the loose can. So from Sat. the 19th till Thursday the 24th I will be renewing my love of the French Quarter and the Big Easy, Barry will have his nose to the grind stone.
The Mexican food here in the lower valley is Mexican and not Tex-Mex so the foods are just a little different. There are two Taco places that are right behind the hotel I want to try. I was told to ask for the head meat or Barbacoa. Umm I think I'll wait until someone can order for me in Spanish so I don't end up with Testicles by accident. I like that sour cream is not used on everything and the cheese is Manchego not Jack.The beef is either small dice or a larger grind then I am used to. They do not use a lot of bell peppers either and that is a good thing for me. Twice I've had Fajita's and they were served with saute' or grilled onions and skirt steak that was sliced. No sour cream, but lots of Manchego cheese, Guacamole, tomato's, lettuce, and wheat or corn tortillas. Limes accompany everything and you get either red or white rice. I see mostly pepper sauces and not the sliced hot peppers although I guess you could ask for them. Sweets are big here, I just need a tutorial on the varying types of pastry. Cinnamon is a big part of the baking, chocolate, and sauces so I have to be careful.
Margo, enjoy New York and don't get lost in the snow drifts, Craig enjoy your new raise, Adam stay safe, Goli don't get too crazy, Sandra Happy birthday again. Birthday hugs to Cousin Andy and our sister Ilene. For all the rest of the gang, be warm, dry, and many kisses from them that are "Down Under", American Style.
So we are lowering our price on the open market for three weeks, and then we'll have to hold our noses and grab our handkerchiefs and sign on the dotted line while we sob.
We made another trip to Dirty Al's and pigged out on Shrimp and Flounder, Saturday night. There is a really nice market here called H.E.B. another acronym, I've dubbed it the Heb. market. They have some really good bread and a decent Organics selection. But, it is the only "market" aside from the Bodegas, Walmart/Sam's club and Target.
Barry has been working non-stop, either in the office or at home. I have been reading and slowly going a little mashugana. I went with Rosanna to the Hadassah meeting and became a member again. This Thursday we are baking Cheese Cakes for the annual Deli Luncheon. They offer a lunch at the Temple for ten dollars with drinks and dessert. You get Corned Beef on Rye or Turkey on Whole Wheat,or Tuna on a Kaiser roll, all come with a pickle, potato salad, drink and dessert. The Cheese cake we make on Thursday at the Shule. Friday we make the sandwiches and serve the incoming. Barry is the designated driver this year to pick up the take away for the office. I was told to wear my sneakers and be there at 10:00 sharp. Hey is that anyway to treat a new recruit. Just throw me into the Luncheon making fray instead of the let's have a Luncheon for new members fray? My luck, and those are my brand new sneakers too.
I do get time off for good behavior though. B' has a convention, he is delivering a paper in New Orleans and I get to go. (My air fare is little enough for him to pay so that he never hears the end of it should he leave me alone again...) This will be our first look at post Katrina New Orleans. We are signed up for a tour to see the damage etc. Many of you don't know that it was Barry who wrote those all important impact statements that the New Orleans office used when they warned of the impending killer storm. The N.O. office used that statement verbatim. So although nearly two years later it will be interesting for Barry to see where they are in terms of rebuilding. As a vegetarian on my former trips to N.O. I didn't get to explore the whole dinning experience, and I intend to make up for that as only a FOODIE on the loose can. So from Sat. the 19th till Thursday the 24th I will be renewing my love of the French Quarter and the Big Easy, Barry will have his nose to the grind stone.
The Mexican food here in the lower valley is Mexican and not Tex-Mex so the foods are just a little different. There are two Taco places that are right behind the hotel I want to try. I was told to ask for the head meat or Barbacoa. Umm I think I'll wait until someone can order for me in Spanish so I don't end up with Testicles by accident. I like that sour cream is not used on everything and the cheese is Manchego not Jack.The beef is either small dice or a larger grind then I am used to. They do not use a lot of bell peppers either and that is a good thing for me. Twice I've had Fajita's and they were served with saute' or grilled onions and skirt steak that was sliced. No sour cream, but lots of Manchego cheese, Guacamole, tomato's, lettuce, and wheat or corn tortillas. Limes accompany everything and you get either red or white rice. I see mostly pepper sauces and not the sliced hot peppers although I guess you could ask for them. Sweets are big here, I just need a tutorial on the varying types of pastry. Cinnamon is a big part of the baking, chocolate, and sauces so I have to be careful.
Margo, enjoy New York and don't get lost in the snow drifts, Craig enjoy your new raise, Adam stay safe, Goli don't get too crazy, Sandra Happy birthday again. Birthday hugs to Cousin Andy and our sister Ilene. For all the rest of the gang, be warm, dry, and many kisses from them that are "Down Under", American Style.
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