The Flotilla is Coming!

Click to enlarge
This photo was taken today at 5:00 p.m.
Don't you wish you were sailing?
(This one's for you, Akin!)

A Tribute

Above: The first and last pages of the Daily Journal of the Senate of the State of California.
This was not requested by the family. My brother and his wife received
formal notice of this gracious act today.

Delay ...

Yes, I know, I know.

It's been too long since the last blog entry. But, gee whiz! I spent HOURS creating the perfect video of the footrace to the top of Mount San Antonio, and the blog site won't accept it!

Every day I try again, and every day it won't post. For a while I said (quietly to myself) ... "I won't post anything until I get that darned video posted!"

I'll give up soon and just watch the video (again) myself, then blog a description of it. How's that?

A Day at the Beach

Turn up your speakers, relax, and spend a day at the beach with me and my neighbors . . .

Superhero

I really don't recall anything about the dream, but when I awoke on Friday something provoked my comment that I'd like to go to Superhero Training School to sharpen up my powers. Kristy suggested sitting at my desk and shrinking the queue of exam answers awaiting my critique. Okay, maybe next week.

But that dream and that brief conversation, sparked the thought that maybe I have some psychic powers. How else do you explain that within hours, we needed a superhero ... and found one in our apartment. Not me.

After walking Mahlee, Kristy returned to the apartment with her nose twitching. "Do you smell smoke?"

"No."

"I do."

So we exited the apartment and begin sniffing. Hallways, elevators, each other ... until Kristy's keen olfactory sensory neurons went into action. She discovered that the large covered trashcan in the stairwell had been used as an ashcan ... ...and the contents were smoldering! Eegads!

We quickly brought the noxious item to the attention of the building authorities, who whisked it outside, added water, and dumped the no-longer-hazardous crud into the community garbage bin on the curb.

Kristy's nasal superpowers saved the entire city!

And she makes some darn good banana muffins!

No Tequila

Remember my question about the identification of the plant we found while walking last week? (See recent blog entry.) Some folks really know their flora!

Emma Heilner ... you were the first to correctly identify the plant! "I believe the plant in question is an Agave. They grow here in AZ and I also believe they bloom only once." Good work!

Delise Fisher was also right: "I believe that plant is a century plant. We have had one for 5 years now and it hasn't bloomed Sigh! another 90 years to go I guess."

And Kate Apple ... you got it right (Agave) but with a slight twist: "Tequila is made from the agave as you know, so perhaps on your next walk, you should bring an ax!" No ax necessary, as you'll see from the end of the explanation below.

Here's what we learn on the information superhighway:

The century plant or maguey (Agave americana) is an agave originally from Mexico but cultivated worldwide as an ornamental plant. It has since naturalised in many regions and grows wild in Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Its common name derives from its habit of only occasionally flowering, but when it does, the spike with a cyme of big yellow flowers, may reach up to 8 m (25 ft) in height.

It is also known as the American aloe, although it is in a different family from the true aloes.

If the flower stem is cut without flowering, a sweet liquid called agua miel ("honey water") gathers in the heart of the plant. This may be fermented to produce the drink called pulque. The leaves also yield fibers, known as pita, which are suitable for making rope, matting, coarse cloth and are used for embroidery of leather in a technique known as piteado. Both pulque and maguey fibre were important to the economy of pre-Columbian Mexico. Production continues today to a much lesser extent. Agave nectar (also called agave syrup) has recently been marketed as a healthful natural sugar substitute.

Tequila is made from a different species, Agave Tequilana (also called blue agave or tequila agave).

Thanks to Wikipedia for the technical information above. Visit the Agave page on Wikipedia for many photos, that seem to confirm that this is the correct answer.

What in the World is This?

This week during one of our rambling Rambla walks, Kristy pointed out three trees/plants that she had discovered earlier. All three appear to be from the same family.

I thought I was looking at a variety of cactus. So today I visited Cactiguide.com. After looking through lots of cacti mug shots, I've come to a tentative conclusion that this plant is from outer space.

Because that didn't seem to be realistic, I'm offering you these pictures ... and asking that you send me a note when you identify the plant. Okay? (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Thanks. dt.uy.07@gmail.com

More Music!

I found another free streaming music site.

The site is "181.fm" radio. 181.fm provides over 50 high quality music stations. So far, I haven't heard a commercial. 181.fm tries to please everyone with the spectrum running from classical to punk. Guess which I prefer.

Here's a site to download from. Instead of the large radio player at that site, I opted for a little widget from this site. The little widget (pictured) pops right on to your computer's desktop. That is, it did on my computer. I'm running Windows 7.

As I've mentioned previously on the blog, when I'm working I listen to music ... using headphones so I don't disturb Kristy with my loud Mozart ... and so I can react quickly to incoming Skype calls. I'm always looking for music alternatives, and this is my first good discovery of 2010!

No Swimming in Montevideo!

The Municipality of Montevideo warned about the persistence of toxic algae in the waters of Montevideo and recommend not bathing. While the algae has begun to diminish, the recommendation remains.

The Environmental Development director of IMM, Nestor Campal, said on Radio El Espectador that these algae may produce adverse skin conditions.

(Source)

TREVOR TONSING

December 13th, 1993 — December 17th 2009

On December 13, my nephew, Trevor Tonsing, celebrated his 16th year of life. The next morning, he called his mother, Anita, on the phone from the Northgate High School nurse's office. He told his mom that he didn't remember walking to class and didn't feel well. My brother, Jon, and Anita rushed to the school as the 911 emergency medical unit was summoned.

As Jon arrived at Northgate, Trevor had just lost consciousness and stopped breathing. Ironically, Jon and Trevor had recently attended CPR recertification class together — now Jon was performing those procedures on Trevor. Anita (a nurse) arrived seconds later and began breathing into her son's mouth, as her husband compressed his chest.

The paramedics transported Trevor to the hospital. By mid-week, after heroic efforts by the physicians and staff at Oakland's Childrens' Hospital, and some hopeful signs of possible improvement, Trevor's life ended.

Trevor, a longtime Boy Scout and lover of hiking, caving, and rock-climbing, had been born with several congenital heart defects. Holes in the heart and transposition of the great arteries led to three major surgeries before the age of five months.

Jon, Anita, and Kiley (Trevor's sister) were joined by family and friends on December 23 in the high school gymnasium to celebrate the life of a young man we all miss greatly.

(More at the "Rest In Peace Trevor Tonsing" facebook page.)

Coming soon ...

New posts.

I've been out of town.

Paella Gigante!

We made it through our second PAELLA GIGANTE! I was able to capture some of the highlights on this grainy video for y'all.

The Adventures Continue

A blog reader wrote me yesterday and inquired, "What, no adventures this past week?"
Well, sure!  And lots of work.
Context ...

• Nearly every one of our Uruguayo friends is employed. Actually, that's how we've met most of the folks we know here. Because of business location or our consumer needs, we've struck up friendships with some wonderful people who live and work in and around Piriápolis. Yes, as our Spanish improves, we can actually have conversations with people — that seems to be an essential ingredient in the recipe for friendship.
• Nearly every one of our non-Uruguayo friends is unemployed.   Translation: retired.   

So we live our lives in a different way than we did in the United States.  When we lived there, we met most of our friends and acquaintances on the job; and those we met in other parts of life assumed we had jobs.  Here, it's the opposite.  Because we work in our apartment, it's not apparent that we are employed.  Our neighbors and friends see us only when we're having a good time at a social gathering, jogging on the beach, walking on the Rambla, or running errands in town.  We LOOK so retired!

However, we're not.  And it's a little weird. (Ken & Marlyn ... you know what I'm talking about, right? K&M not only work full-time, but they have two terrific kids to keep them even busier!)

And some weeks the work load is heavier than others.  Like the last couple of weeks, and the next few foreseeable weeks.  My work normally ebbs and flows as students at Concord Law School need assistance.  Recently, though, I've been working with the editorial staff at William S. Hein & Co. to get the second edition of 1000 Days to the Bar — But the Practice of Law Begins Now fully written, edited, and published (in 2010).  Although I'm enjoying the process immensely, it's very time-consuming. (By the way, thanks to my friends who have offered to proofread the final manuscript, and those who have shared thoughts about the design of the new cover!)

And ... thanks to Debi Curry, whom I met while at Roger Williams University School of Law in Rhode Island, I'm almost ready to "go live" with a web site that will supplement the second edition of the book.  Debi has some magical ability to design and construct web sites ... she's done quite a bit for the law school, continually renews the style and content of her church's web site, and helped me years ago when I had a law school academic support web site up and running.  So, of course, Debi offered her help to start the new site.  Wow!  Thanks Deb!  As she does the design work and while I generate new "content," Debi's teaching me the technical stuff I need to know in order to manage the site.  I try to be a good student, but ... you know.

And guess what.  When Dennis takes on more work, Kristy writes a note to those who send her the legal transcription work that she's so good at, asking for more work, and her hours increase (because how in the world could she have fun with me sitting at the computer!) ... and she also (somewhat cheerfully) takes on more of the "errand" side of our life.  The bad news is that my Spanish plateaus.  The less I'm out chatting with friends in Spanish, the slower it goes ... in terms of progress toward fluency.  THAT target seems very distant.  Of course, the flip side of me plateauing is that Kristy gets more opportunities to converse ... and boy is she doing well!  She even talks on the telephone! 

So there.  Lots of new work = less time at the ol' blog machine.  But the adventures continue. Tune in.  I won't let you down!

Touring the Coast

We recently spent a day touring the nearby coastline with Ron & Delise.  Here are a few scenes from La Pedrera and La Paloma.  (Ron took the really good shots.)

La Pedrera was  named after the rock formations that mingle with the sand on the shore. It is a small and quiet seaside resort.  Between  winter and spring, local folks and tourists love to watch the whale migration.  In one of the photos, you'll notice a whale that didn't migrate far enough.

A popular  oceanic swimming resort  in the Department of Rocha, La Paloma ("the pigeon" or "the dove" depending upon how you feel that day) is one of the most ancient and beautiful resort areas in Uruguay.  It owes its name to the old sailors, mostly fishermen, who would visualize the silhouette of a pigeon on its shore, a shape created by the large amount of waves crashing on the coastal rocks.

El Presidente!

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – A former guerrilla fighter has achieved through the ballot box what he could never earn by bombing, kidnapping and attacking his political enemies — the power to legitimately lead an entire nation.

Jose Mujica, now president-elect of Uruguay, seemed like he could hardly believe the transformation himself in his rousing victory speech Sunday night, delivered as rain drenched thousands of supporters along the Rambla, Montevideo's coastal avenue.

Mujica repeatedly denied his opponents' claims that he would hijack Uruguay's stable parliamentary democracy and install a radical socialist state modeled on Hugo Chavez's Venezuela. He said he would seek consensus wherever possible and continue the policies of incumbent President Tabare Vazquez, who enjoys a 71 percent popularity rating as he prepares to leave office March 1.

In one typical speech, Mujica vowed in July to distance the left from "the stupid ideologies that come from the 1970s — I refer to things like unconditional love of everything that is state-run, scorn for businessmen and intrinsic hate of the United States. I'll shout it if they want: Down with isms! Up with a left that is capable of thinking outside the box! In other words, I am more than completely cured of simplifications, of dividing the world into good and evil, of thinking in black and white. I have repented!"

The Tupamaro guerrillas, co-founded by Mujica, caused so much chaos in the 1960s that Uruguayans initially welcomed a dictatorship that ruled from 1973 to 1985. Mujica spent all that time in prison, enduring torture and solitary confinement for killing a policeman — a crime he denies committing. He says prison cured him of any illusion that armed revolution can achieve lasting social change.

Mujica's victory was decisive.  He won more than 50 percent of the votes cast Sunday, compared to about 45 percent for his opponent, former President Luis Lacalle.

Mujica still has the appearance of an anti-politician, a gruff old man more comfortable driving a tractor on his farm than shuffling through marbled halls.

(Adapted from the Associated Press online article)

Nobody Says it Better than Snoopy!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Need Help?

A few days ago I recommended a "virtual assistant" in the United States.  Today?  Not "virtual." Although you can contact "Punta Personal Assistants" by e-mail, Skype, or telephone, they are on the ground, ready to help with just about anything you need help with in and around Punta del Este.

Silvana has been a friend since our first hours living in Piriápolis.  Recently, she and her family moved to Punta del Este, where she has set up shop to help North American ex-pats with household and lifestyle assistance, relocation issues, translation, health insurance acquisition ... just about anything new arrivals may need. 

Silvana (here, hugging Kristy) continues to be a great resource for us, even though we've been here for years.  She's a gem!

As We Age

Many of those who leave their native countries to live in Uruguay are older ... in calendar years, but not in spirit. A friend sent me an example of a couple who have retained their spirit, even into their nineties (thanks, Merlin!).  No, they're not living in South America, but the example is just so cool, I decided I'd share it with you.  Oh, that we all will be so fortunate as these two . . .



Fran & Marlo Cowan (married 62 years) playing impromptu recital together in the atrium of the Mayo Clinic. He turned 90 in February. The song is Old Grey Bonnet.

Great Assistance Comes from Great Assistants

Kristy and I are fortunate to have Simone in New Mexico as a "virtual assistant."  She takes care of matters for us that require a U.S. presence. For that help we turn to an incredibly talented woman, Simone Christoph.  Let me introduce you to "SimOne Virtual Solutions." (click on link)

Simone covers quite a bit of territory.  Whether you're in or out of the U.S., she's the "go-to" assistant ... not only for us, but for many individuals and businesses.

Here's a sampling of what Simone handles: administrative assistance, bookkeeping, court record retrieval, and real estate support for small businesses, large companies, real estate agents, entrepreneurs, and ex-pats. She interacts with clients using Skype, e-mail, fax, and phone. She'll take on a continuing business relationship or work on a one-time or project-by-project business. 

Kristy and I have known Simone for more than twenty years, and personally vouch for her expertise and reliability.  And she's a nice person!

Thanks, Maya

Recently I met an author I've been trading emails with ... Maya Frost, currently a resident of Buenos Aires. She and her husband, Tom, have been in Piriapolis doing some research for her next book.

I mention that because she reminded me of a quote from Mark Twain that long ago I read and found fascinating. I believe Twain got it right when he wrote, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.... Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

...and thanks, Mark.