What a weekend. We realized we had a very rare no-plans-whatsoever empty space on the calendar. Friday night we actually ate dinner together, something we could never do when Jav worked in Plano.
Saturday morning we decided to take Gabriel on his first trip to the Fort Worth Zoo. Keep in mind we were thinking we wouldn't stay very long. It was around lunchtime but we had no food, other than raisins and a fruit roll-up. We get there and wait 30 minutes to get into the parking lot. Then we are told the bathrooms in the entire zoo aren't working. We had an option to turn around and go home, but decided to stick it out. We looked at it like we were filming an episode of Survivor: Zoo Day. It rained on us a couple of times, we were hot and sweaty from the high humidity, and hungry due to my lack of planning. But we had an absolute blast anyway! Gabriel really couldn't focus on many of the big, lumbering animals. But he saw some of the monkeys, the elephants, the parrots and macaws, and the zebra. He was smiling and laughing the whole time, probably just because we were outside, in a new place with lots of kids, and with both Mommy and Daddy. His favorite part seemed to be the waterfalls.
Then Jav and I spontaneously decided to have a date night, another very rare occurrence. Now you may think, oh how nice, they wanted to be grown-ups for an evening, have a sophisticated dinner out where they talked about something besides baby poop for awhile. Well, we went to see the latest Harry Potter movie. And then proceeded to discuss it over fried oysters and cold Shiner at J&J Oyster Bar. How wonderful to have a husband who will participate in silly but totally fun outings like this. And in case you're wondering, the movie was not as good as the last two. Everyone is blaming the director, but I think it's the screen writers fault more than anything. I think it would be really hard to translate the books into movies as they go on, because the books get longer and more complex, but they don't want to have a three hour movie. My biggest problem was not being able to understand what anyone was saying. They all seemed to be talking too fast and mumbling.
Anyway, this morning we went to have breakfast at Esperanza's, another favorite place of ours that we haven't been to post-baby. I got my favorite, molletes (bakery bread with beans and cheese and pico de gallo, only I had them hold the pico since I shared with Gabriel), homemade guacamole and tortillas, and a bowl of arroz con leche. Gabriel ate all of this with such relish that I couldn't keep up with him. As soon as I would cut up his little pieces, he would eat them and look at me ready for more. Jav was worried he was going to get sick, but instead he just fell asleep as soon as we drove out of the parking lot.
I feel like we had a vacation without ever leaving Fort Worth!
Private joke to my husband: Honey, I'm adding one more thing to my birthday wish list. An autographed signed portrait of Marty Feldman to hang up in the kitchen. I'm sure some Ebay browsing will turn something up.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Food Glorious Food
Gabriel is doing wonderfully with his introduction to the world of food. Tonight I made tostadas with refried black beans and chicken and avacado, plus some Spanish rice with zucchini chopped up in it. The only difference between my meal and Gabriel's was that he had soft corn tortillas and alot less refried beans. If someone had told me that I could feed him what we eat at 10 months I would not have believed it.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes
Jav started a new job this week, and we are pretty excited about it. He left Perot Systems, with their 20,000+ employees worldwide, for a smaller, privately owned company called Sonitrol. They are a security company that uses sound to monitor businesses and the occasional wealthy residence. (We actually used Sonitrol where I used to work with much success). They've been around since the 60's, and have been really growing over the past couple of years, buying up smaller security companies here and there. They have only 700 employees nationwide. Jav says the difference in the sizes of the companies is already like night and day.
We are glad about this for so many reasons. First off, Jav has his same boss that he worked very well with at Perot. She actually stole him away, which means she knows what a great employee and all-around great person Jav is. Jav already knows what to expect from her, and that she is very fair about letting him off for family things if necessary. Secondly, he has room to possibly move up here. He had pretty much hit the ceiling at Perot, unless he wanted to start over in another department. And I think he will find more satisfaction in a smaller company where his voice will be heard. And thirdly, he's closer to home. Instead of his one-way commute taking an hour and a half, in takes him 45 minutes with heavy traffic. And I know where the place is since we drove out the day before his interview to find it. (I never really wanted to see Perot. I had a picture of an almost cult-like place in my head.) It's also nice that he didn't really have to pound the pavement looking for a new job. I truly hope he will be happy at Sonitrol, and have a gut feeling that he will be.
Also, my sister-in-law is leaving her teaching position at the private Catholic school she's held for 15 years for one at a public school in Mansfield, where she's been named head of the department. I'm very glad she was brave enough to leave her comfort zone and venture into unknown waters. Go Sandra!
And, my Dad, at the ripe old age of 63, was promoted from Assistant Principal to Principal. He will head up Jo Kelly (sorry about the previous mispelling-I assumed it was named after a man), a wonderful school for severely disabled kids. I think my Dad is great, of course. But it really does take a special kind of person to want to care for these kids. It can be very stressful, and upsetting (dealing with their private lives), and I am so proud of my Dad for not only achieving this post, but for wanting to change to a career where he is making a difference in so many kids' lives.
We are glad about this for so many reasons. First off, Jav has his same boss that he worked very well with at Perot. She actually stole him away, which means she knows what a great employee and all-around great person Jav is. Jav already knows what to expect from her, and that she is very fair about letting him off for family things if necessary. Secondly, he has room to possibly move up here. He had pretty much hit the ceiling at Perot, unless he wanted to start over in another department. And I think he will find more satisfaction in a smaller company where his voice will be heard. And thirdly, he's closer to home. Instead of his one-way commute taking an hour and a half, in takes him 45 minutes with heavy traffic. And I know where the place is since we drove out the day before his interview to find it. (I never really wanted to see Perot. I had a picture of an almost cult-like place in my head.) It's also nice that he didn't really have to pound the pavement looking for a new job. I truly hope he will be happy at Sonitrol, and have a gut feeling that he will be.
Also, my sister-in-law is leaving her teaching position at the private Catholic school she's held for 15 years for one at a public school in Mansfield, where she's been named head of the department. I'm very glad she was brave enough to leave her comfort zone and venture into unknown waters. Go Sandra!
And, my Dad, at the ripe old age of 63, was promoted from Assistant Principal to Principal. He will head up Jo Kelly (sorry about the previous mispelling-I assumed it was named after a man), a wonderful school for severely disabled kids. I think my Dad is great, of course. But it really does take a special kind of person to want to care for these kids. It can be very stressful, and upsetting (dealing with their private lives), and I am so proud of my Dad for not only achieving this post, but for wanting to change to a career where he is making a difference in so many kids' lives.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Mexico
I knew that our trip to Monterrey would be tough. I've been with Jav's family once before, and had a little nervous breakdown about halfway through the trip, sobbing and telling him, "your family doesn't do things like my family". This is in no way a condemnation of his family, all of whom are wonderful, nice people who have accepted me right from the get-go. This is just a statement of fact, and one that I am learning to get around.
First off, everything starts later. You get up later, you eat later, you stay up alot later. And no one seems to be in a big hurry to do anything. This is probably alot healthier than what we do in the U.S., which is to rush, rush, rush everywhere everyday. When you are invited over to someone's house, it is not for an hour or two, but six or seven hours, plus an hour each way for traffic. (It takes an hour to get anywhere in the whole city, which I can't quite figure out the math on). So if we were supposed to head over to Tio Arturo and Tia Rosi's house for a meal, I had to bring two meals and a snack for Gabriel. I also learned that he would need at least one nap while we were there. The first day this didn't go very well. It was really hot (100 degrees+) and most people do not have air conditioning in the living areas. The good cool air is saved for nighttime sleeping. Gabriel was just too hot and uncomfortable to go to sleep the first day. But the other days we were led to the air conditioned bedrooms just as he was getting sleepy, and he did ok. I was greatful to have the opportunity to be in a cool room while he slept. By the last day I was sleeping with him, which meant I had finally accepted the Mexico mentality.
Another thing that stresses me out about these trips is the fact that I don't speak fluent Spanish, and I'm not confident enough with the book Spanish I know to try and have conversations. But by the end of the trip I am always surprised how much has come back to me (total immersion really does work), and this trip I actually tried it out a couple of times and was successful. I have so much I'd like to say, or questions I'd like to ask, though, and it's difficult to not be able to communicate except through Jav and his sister.
One constant problem the last time we went to Monterrey was the fact that no one is in a big hurry to eat. Well, (and I know Jav gets sick of hearing me say this), I have low blood sugar and have to eat something pretty substantial or I will first get a nasty headache, then become sick to my stomach, then possibly pass out. I finally learned the solution to this problem is to carry around granola bars and cheese crackers in my purse everytime we leave the house. I would just go in a bathroom and munch on my snacks so that it wouldn't seem rude, and this would carry me over until we had a big meal. Which, by the way, were all muy deliciosas. We had homemade tortillas that would melt in your mouth, chile rellenos stuffed with raisins and veggies, beef with rice and summer squash, and arroz con leche for dessert. Real Mexican food is so much better, and better for you, than Tex-Mex.
The final difference that I have come to accept about visiting Mexico has to do with trying to leave someone's house. Once you know you are ready to go, and you tell everyone you are ready to go, plan on being there for at least another 30-45 minutes while everyone says goodbye. You will kiss everyone's cheek and have a little conversation with them before going onto the next person. This really is a charming trait, but when you are tired and cranky from 6 or 7 hours of trying to fit in, trying to understand what everyone's saying, praying that Gabriel will keep being an angel and letting everyone pass him around, and gone from totally starving to stuffed full at least two times ... this gets to be pretty taxing.
But there were so many moments during the trip that made it all worthwhile. Seeing Jav's mom with her two sisters practically fighting over who would feed Gabriel, and Gabriel's little confused face as he looked at the three of them - how did his one Tita become three? Watching Tia Rosi (Jav's uncle's wife) dance around with Gabriel so fast that his little hand had white knuckles from holding onto her shirt. Seeing Jav's second cousin, beautiful 11-year-old Anita, read Gabriel's book to him in English, her face beaming with pride. Sitting in Jav's cousins' beautiful big backyard (very few people have more than a strip of grass and some concrete), with bouganvillia blooming in big mounds everywhere and the mountains seemingly close enough to touch. Watching Jav's (single and childless) cousin David's face as he walked into his house the first morning after our arrival, with Gabriel's toys, food and baby gear scattered over every inch of it. And Jav and I getting to spend so much time with Gabriel, sleeping in the same room with him, riding in the car with him, watching his little face taking all of these new things and people in. It really was a great trip. And I'll be completely ready for it next time.
First off, everything starts later. You get up later, you eat later, you stay up alot later. And no one seems to be in a big hurry to do anything. This is probably alot healthier than what we do in the U.S., which is to rush, rush, rush everywhere everyday. When you are invited over to someone's house, it is not for an hour or two, but six or seven hours, plus an hour each way for traffic. (It takes an hour to get anywhere in the whole city, which I can't quite figure out the math on). So if we were supposed to head over to Tio Arturo and Tia Rosi's house for a meal, I had to bring two meals and a snack for Gabriel. I also learned that he would need at least one nap while we were there. The first day this didn't go very well. It was really hot (100 degrees+) and most people do not have air conditioning in the living areas. The good cool air is saved for nighttime sleeping. Gabriel was just too hot and uncomfortable to go to sleep the first day. But the other days we were led to the air conditioned bedrooms just as he was getting sleepy, and he did ok. I was greatful to have the opportunity to be in a cool room while he slept. By the last day I was sleeping with him, which meant I had finally accepted the Mexico mentality.
Another thing that stresses me out about these trips is the fact that I don't speak fluent Spanish, and I'm not confident enough with the book Spanish I know to try and have conversations. But by the end of the trip I am always surprised how much has come back to me (total immersion really does work), and this trip I actually tried it out a couple of times and was successful. I have so much I'd like to say, or questions I'd like to ask, though, and it's difficult to not be able to communicate except through Jav and his sister.
One constant problem the last time we went to Monterrey was the fact that no one is in a big hurry to eat. Well, (and I know Jav gets sick of hearing me say this), I have low blood sugar and have to eat something pretty substantial or I will first get a nasty headache, then become sick to my stomach, then possibly pass out. I finally learned the solution to this problem is to carry around granola bars and cheese crackers in my purse everytime we leave the house. I would just go in a bathroom and munch on my snacks so that it wouldn't seem rude, and this would carry me over until we had a big meal. Which, by the way, were all muy deliciosas. We had homemade tortillas that would melt in your mouth, chile rellenos stuffed with raisins and veggies, beef with rice and summer squash, and arroz con leche for dessert. Real Mexican food is so much better, and better for you, than Tex-Mex.
The final difference that I have come to accept about visiting Mexico has to do with trying to leave someone's house. Once you know you are ready to go, and you tell everyone you are ready to go, plan on being there for at least another 30-45 minutes while everyone says goodbye. You will kiss everyone's cheek and have a little conversation with them before going onto the next person. This really is a charming trait, but when you are tired and cranky from 6 or 7 hours of trying to fit in, trying to understand what everyone's saying, praying that Gabriel will keep being an angel and letting everyone pass him around, and gone from totally starving to stuffed full at least two times ... this gets to be pretty taxing.
But there were so many moments during the trip that made it all worthwhile. Seeing Jav's mom with her two sisters practically fighting over who would feed Gabriel, and Gabriel's little confused face as he looked at the three of them - how did his one Tita become three? Watching Tia Rosi (Jav's uncle's wife) dance around with Gabriel so fast that his little hand had white knuckles from holding onto her shirt. Seeing Jav's second cousin, beautiful 11-year-old Anita, read Gabriel's book to him in English, her face beaming with pride. Sitting in Jav's cousins' beautiful big backyard (very few people have more than a strip of grass and some concrete), with bouganvillia blooming in big mounds everywhere and the mountains seemingly close enough to touch. Watching Jav's (single and childless) cousin David's face as he walked into his house the first morning after our arrival, with Gabriel's toys, food and baby gear scattered over every inch of it. And Jav and I getting to spend so much time with Gabriel, sleeping in the same room with him, riding in the car with him, watching his little face taking all of these new things and people in. It really was a great trip. And I'll be completely ready for it next time.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Monday, July 02, 2007
Oh ya gotta have...friends
My high school friends and I decided to take ourselves to Fredericksburg to celebrate our 40th birthdays. This was the first trip the four of us have taken together since high school drill team trips (unless there was a trip to visit someone in college that I'm not thinking of).
We left around 2 Friday afternoon. You know, the road trip is something I have definitely missed for the last few years. The anticipation, the music, the snack food in the car. Getting there definitely can be half the fun! Especially when you are in such great company and the laughter just keeps coming and coming.
We stayed in a great B&B called Quinta Mariposa (Country House of the Butterfly), that served us well, other than the wacky layout of the house and the uneven floors that everyone kept tripping over. Oh, and the fact that they didn't serve breakfast. Why even call yourself a B&B for gosh sakes?
We decided to cook our dinners in both nights to save money, and because it's just funner. Spaghetti on Friday night, then some great games of Scene It. And of course the requisite People magazines, etc.. to thumb through - before we knew it, it was 2 in the morning. Well, I was the party pooper all weekend, having to turn in the earliest. But I was actually pretty proud of myself since I normally go to bed at 11.
We left to hit downtown Saturday morning, and had a great time in all of the shops. I decided I want to work in the Kuchen Laden (kitchen supply-I'm not sure about the spelling) store. We had a great lunch (mine would've been better with some German beer-yummy). A trip to get some roadside stand Fredericksburg peaches and a stop at Wal Mart, and as Julie stated in her blog earlier, they are so much nicer in small towns. Then back to our B&B for a late afternoon movie. We chose Animal House, which my husband was so impressed by. He thought we'd pick a chick flick for sure.
Then we had our required eating, Rotel and chips (it's become our signature dish), along with some really good tacos. We played a couple of very fun games of Cranium, then a couple more of Scene It. I had to conk out at that point, while the other girls watched Say Anything.
We were sad to have to pack up and leave the next morning. Why is it just when you're getting used to staying somewhere you have to pack up and leave? But we got to have a great breakfast at a little bakery. We left for home around 11:30. This got us to the Dairy Queen in Hamilton just in time for lunch. There is a little known Texas law that says you must eat at a Dairy Queen in a small town at least once during a road trip, or suffer the consequences.
And the funnest part of the trip was all the conversations, laughter, and memory-sharing you can only have with really good friends that you have known a long, long time. Who have stuck by you in good times and bad, and know you inside and out. This was one trip that I've been waiting for for a long time, and the actual event was even better than the anticipation.
Here are some top-of-my-head moments that I'll always remember: (Some of which we'll have the pictures to help)
the clicking burners-make it stop!
the wacky window in the bathroom/laundry area that looked into the dining room
the porch swing we spent 5 minutes in
the Alice in Wonderland dream I had about someone leaving brightly colored cookies and cakes all over the house during the night
me mistakenly using Julie's toothbrush
the shops that just kept going on forever once we got inside
that Julie forgot to pack underwear, leading to the hysterical underwear shopping and crazy hat-trying on at the 5 and dime
the peach with a couple of bites taken out that the fruit stand man wanted Jana to try
the humming, first me doing Downtown, then Auddie doing Walk This Way during Cranium
the rude woman who wouldn't get up from our breakfast table
I can't wait for the next trip!
Sunday, July 01, 2007
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