The Trixie Diner

We went out to hit a bucket of rocks at the range today and afterwards, we hit the Trixie Diner for a burger (ok, hamberguesa) and a beer. Between the two of us, we throw 8 clubs into one of those mini-bag/quiver things. The range is a 13 peso taxi ride away, right on the water and right under Runway Uno of the Jorge Newbery domestic airport - something like McCall Lake in Calgary BUT A LOT NOISIER!!!


The golf balls at the Salguero range are very unforgiving, as I had said once before - in Argentina, range balls are rocks with dimples on them. But no mind, it was great to hit a bucket of balls, practice some putting.............and then head to the Diner for lunch.


Trixie's is right out of the movies - stainless steel, neon, great burgers, shakes and awesome onion rings.

We witnessed the construction of a ginormous chocolate sundae that would require us to bring at least 4 friends to finish it.

We have put this on the 'if we ever get into a routine around here, this would be good Saturday afternoon activity' list.

Now it's time for the post-burger nap.

B.

P.S. We were sitting in the Diner and I looked at my Blackberry, we received a note from our son, Jake - it said 'Call me on my cell'. That didnt sound good. So we called right away - it was to tell us that John Kucera, a Calgarian had just won the Downhill at the World Championships at Val d'Isere today - a good thing.

We have friends who are there as Olympic observers in advance of Whistler 2010, when it will be their turn. A great day to be a Canadian in Val d'Isere!

I am going to be an Abuelo!

And Mimi is going to be an Abuela!

When Jake & Kelli arrived here at Christmas (at 5 am after 12 hours of flight delays), they sleepily handed us a small package to unwrap.

Here is what was in the package....

We couldnt be happier.

The little one is due in August. That will be right in the middle of 'winter' around here. A good time to visit Calgary.

Mimi is already booking flights.

B.

Argentine aristocracy

It's a Saturday evening, we didnt have plans so we decided to go across the street to the Alvear Palace hotel to have an early dinner in the lobby lounge and 'people watch'.
The Alvear Palace is a grand old hotel. The lobby lounge is marble columns, chandeliers and the largest bouquet of fresh flowers we have ever seen.
True, the beer is expensive relative to many other places in town but they do a healthy pour of wine and the people watching is 'o so interesting.

Last night was one of the best - things were slow until 8 pm (that's when the crowd of folks staying in the hotel agree to meet for a pre-dinner drink and then an hour later, the place is practically empty as they all leave to make their 9 o'clock dinner reservations).

We often end up in conversations with several of them because many speak english and are travelling from all over the world. We share with them that we live here, they tell us stories of where they have been and where they are going.

Last night, and older couple came in for a glass of champagne. They were speaking English. We figured them for being on a cruise and were spending a couple of days in BA. He had struck up a conversation with two ladies at another table (should have been my first clue). Mimi was on her way to the washroom and mentioned something to them and within 30 seconds, they were engaged in a full conversation. I get waved over and before you know it, the four of us are having champagne together and sharing stories....and theirs was quite a story.

Turns out, he is 92 and she is 86. They are dating. They have 26 grandchildren between the two of them. They were both born here, as were their parents. They are of British descent. The British had come to Argentina to build the country's infrastructure (railroads etc). They both have substantial landholdings (I think substantial would be an understatement) including estancias (ranches). Her farm produces wheat, soy and corn. I am betting its a realllly big farm!
He still plays tennis. They are off to Punta del Este today for summer holidays with their children and they wanted us to join them for a few days. I said I had to work (damn!).

What I didnt learn until later was that old Ricardo (but you can call me Dick) was hitting on Mimi the whole time. I was chatting with Helen and he is saying 'I could kiss you all over' to Mimi.

She lives just up the street from us and his home is in San Isidro.
What a great couple. We hope that our paths cross again.

I will sit BETWEEN Ricardo and Mimi next time.

B.

Technology sure shrinks distances!

Yesterday, I was in the office a bit early and up pops a skype text message on my computer from a friend in Australia.

It says 'Do you want to listen in on the timing shack at Kitzbuhel?' Now, Kitzbuhel is the site of the world famous Hahnenkamm downhill in Austria. The race going on at the moment was the World Cup SuperG. Five Canadians were in the event. Another friend, a Canadian is the head of the timing crew at Kitzbuhel.

I look around the office - things are pretty quiet - my first meeting isnt for about 40 minutes, so I pop on my headphones, Eric skypes me into a conference call and poof - I am listening in on the timing hut conversations as the timing crew go about their work doing the timing and data for the event.
I then log on to the FIS Live Timing website to track the racers through the event....and voila, I can hear the race announcer screaming outside, I can hear the conversations inside the the timing hut and and following the Live Timing tracking of results. I also did some spreadsheet work on field oil storage that we are using.

While this is going on, I send a text message to Eric asking if he is at Kitzbuhel in an official capacity or 'slumming at the event as a celebrity'? He sends back - 'Hell no, I am home in Australia in my PJ's listening to the event on skype.' I was in a skype conference call linking a guy in Austria with a guy in Australia with a guy in Argentina....pretty cool (geeky but cool). It was also fun to re-connect with ski racing and follow a world class event.

I have visions of ham radio operators decades ago linking the world in a similar way.

It's great that technolgy works to keep friends connected - we dont feel so far away!
B.

More things that make you laugh...

I was on my way to work today and saw a dog walker with about 8 dogs and I had to chuckle. It reminded of situation we had when the kids were here over Christmas.

We were all out for a walk and I mentioned to them that I didnt think many dogs get neutered down here. In fact, all the dogs 'have their balls'. Katie thought this was pretty funny and then after that, all anyone saw was dogs 'with their balls'.

Then later in the week, Katie says - 'Hey, that dog's been neutered!'. I said, 'No Katie, that's a female dog'.

I guess you had to be there....



I miss having the kids around to laugh at my jokes.
B.

Air conditioning - it will change your life

It is certainly changing our sleeping patterns.
Being from Calgary - we are not big 'air conditioner' folk. We have a separate air conditioner in each room. We dont keep them on all the time. They can be a bit noisy. For the one in the bedroom, we typically turn it on for a bit, knock down the heat in the room and then turn it off. The heat builds up, you wake up because it gets uncomfortable and then you turn it back on again. A bit of a cycle - except Mimi and I are different temperature cycles - so there are overlapping on's & off's.

When I started working here, I was always curious as to why people kept their lights off - in their office, in their houses, their apartments. You very quickly come to realize that anything that generates unwanted heat is avoided. So if the glow of your computer screen is sufficient, then that's all the light some people have in their offices.
I am finding myself doing the same thing.

B.

Summer time!

Slowing down even further....

Yesterday was one of those days where you reassess your plans. It meant walking even slower to work and avoiding direct sunlight and seeking out the shade.

I knew right away that it was going to be a warm one. By the time I got to the office I had to stand in front of my office air conditioner and dry off.
In Calgary, we would rejoice at the opportunity to sit outside to enjoy dinner (and not have deck heaters making it tolerable!). There just arent that many days/nights where it stays warm enough to do so....here in BA it is a completely different story.
Mimi and I went out for a late lunch yesterday and took the opportunity to sit on the patio of the restaurant. Halfway through my first beer, we were looking for a spot INSIDE the restaurant. I was just sitting there and my shirt started to change color. It went from a light blue to a sweat stained darker blue. I wasnt even moving, we were sitting in the shade and I was still dripping in my salad! I know I am going to miss these warm, HUMID days!
The city really is quieter in the summer. Many shops close for weeks at a time in Jan & Feb and it is the time when many locals head to the beach for their annual holiday.

Speaking of holidays - we got an email out of the blue from a friend at Bearspaw. Turns out a bunch of couples from Calgary are here on a golf holiday. We are having them to our apartment this afternoon.
They were probably expecting golf carts at all the courses in BA but there are only 2 courses in the city that have them. Having a caddy is great but a 4 hour walk in 37 degree heat is a whole different game! I am looking forward to hearing their stories.

B.