Galipan in El Avila

The first thing on the agenda once we arrived in Caracas was food. We flew in Friday night and lunch Saturday was already programmed to be had up in Galipan in El Avila.

Up the mountain we went to La Posada de Teresa.

Which received us with open doors.

And lots of food. Tostones con queso blanco rayado.

Queso blanco frito.

Yuca frita (because we like our fried foods).

Ensalada de aguacate y palmito.

Arroz y tajadas.

Lomito en salsa de mostaza, hongos y queso azul.

Pollo a la Teresa.

Parrilla de Lomito.

Y pollo a la Suiza.

They had pigs, because, why not?

Antiques.

And over all a very quaint, cozy place.

With live music!

And a great view.

A great meal, Gracias Teresa!

On our way down we stop to contemplate the view of the city and take some pictures.
This, my friends, is Caracas as seen from the top of El Avila.

Now tell me the truth, if you were originally from a place like this, wouldn't you want to go back home too?

The week before I left

I've been neglecting this blog a bit lately. It's not that I don't have anything to share, in fact I have a lot I want to write about, but I just haven't had the time. As you know my plan to come to Caracas for the summer worked out well and I'll be home until the first week of September, but that meant that my last week in NYC before flying home was madness, there are so many things to do before leaving for a few months, if you could have only seen my many to-do lists.

My last week in NYC consisted of wrapping up some research work, meeting with my dissertation sponsor to settle goals for the summer, attending my last yoga class, meeting friends for drinks, lunches and dinners, leaving payments ready for the coming months, disconnecting services, running errands for my parents, buying gifts, doing laundry and packing.

But the week actually kicked off with Nick's graduation. The boy finished elementary school and is now off to middle school in the fall. Can you believe how big he is? Take a look.

Isn't he just the most handsome boy ever?

Mom seems to think so.

Dad also agrees.

Little sister adores him, so she's on board.

And tia/madrina (aunt/godmother) couldn't be prouder of the boy.

Then, as I mentioned before, there we a lot of errands to take care of and a few meetings with friends. On Thursday, the day before I left, I met with Radhika and Nancy, my coworkers, again for lunch and catching up. As we did last time, a great time was had and yummy food was shared.

This time we went to Patsy's, Frank Sinatra's favorite pizza place.

And had pizza!

And smiled a lot.

Because we love pizza!

Another interesting event that occurred during my last week in NYC has to do with my dating life. Remember back at the end of May I had decided to give the online dating thing another go? Well I did. Throughout the month of June emails went and came, there was craziness, there was randomness and then there was the discovery of the urban myth (!!!). I met a sweet guy, a nice guy which I am attracted to. A good looking nice guy!

Yeah, I know what you're thinking, I'm shallow, I go for looks, blah, blah, blah. Save it. I've tried to go out with nice guys I'm not attracted to before, believe me it doesn't work. Not a week has gone by when I find myself utterly bored and looking around for some excitement, some other guy who can make me go mmmm (remember that song? "Things that make you go mmm", remember?). Anyhow, the guys I am usually attracted to turn out to be jerks. For some strange reason looks and kindness don't mix well, so no matter how much chemistry and physical attraction there is, it ends not working because who wants to be unappreciated and undervalued? Not me, that's who.

So a week before coming to Caracas for two months I go out for drinks and meet this guy. I knew I was leaving but I was on the "let go and let God, be open and say yes when the opportunity arises" motto, remember? So I went, I met him, I liked him and went out with him a few more times that week. And now I'm in Caracas and we chat, we talk, we video-chat and a part of me wishes I was in NYC so we could spend time together. But it's ok, timing can suck all it wants, I haven't thought about a guy, a nice guy, and smiled like this in a long time, so even if this, right here, right now, is all we get to have, it's worth it.

See me smiling? : )

Is it me? No, really, is it?

My mom use to say I had a crazy magnet, meaning if there was a crazy anywhere near me, I would attract them. Apparently my magnet is as strong as ever.

[8:10:03 pm]random dude from chat:you are so pretty and feminine... *blush* i wish i could be...

[8:20:16 pm]jenmata:you wish you could be...?

[8:20:16 pm]jenmata:you wish you could be...?

[8:21:07 pm]r.d.f.c:pretty

[8:22:17 pm]r.d.f.c:i am a handsome, 6ft2, strong, light beard...i just feel i have female in me

[8:23:08 pm]jenmata:interesting

[8:23:16 pm]jenmata:and you're married to a woman? (married stated as status in profile)

[8:23:27 pm]r.d.f.c:yes

[8:24:41 pm]jenmata:how is that working out for you?

[8:25:05 pm]r.d.f.c:i love her. we have been married 10 years....but she is not able to accept the girl in me....

[8:26:42 pm]r.d.f.c:i would love your choices....

[8:28:06 pm]r.d.f.c:have you had any luck here?

[8:29:09 pm]r.d.f.c:well. hugs.

[8:34:11 pm]jenmata:But then maybe you shouldn't say you're straight

[8:34:22 pm]jenmata:so that you can find what you're looking for

[8:34:24 pm]jenmata:no?

[8:35:01 pm]r.d.f.c:i am straight....but maybe bisexual. i am never attracted to men, but the girl in me is attracted to penis...a lot. *blush*

[8:35:06 pm]jenmata:My choices? I'm only attracted to straight men, are they who you are referring to?

[8:35:25 pm]jenmata:hmmm, not sure I get it actually

[8:35:41 pm]jenmata:you feel like a woman?

[8:35:43 pm]r.d.f.c:your choice to get up and wear jeans and a tank or a pretty dress and heels, the choice to be soft or strong

[8:35:54 pm]jenmata:I see

[8:36:14 pm]r.d.f.c:i just have male in me and female...

[8:36:18 pm]jenmata:I could never be as strong as a man though

[8:36:24 pm]jenmata:or would I want to be

[8:36:41 pm]jenmata:well we all do, it's just one is much stronger than the other

[8:36:48 pm]r.d.f.c:yes

[8:37:01 pm]jenmata:I like traditional gender roles

[8:37:08 pm]jenmata:I like my men very masculine

[8:37:10 pm]r.d.f.c:i have always felt both in me...which is why i am not transgender

[8:37:18 pm]r.d.f.c:i am sure

[8:37:21 pm]r.d.f.c:you do

[8:37:25 pm]jenmata:I can see how your wife would not be comfortable with the girl in you

[8:37:45 pm]jenmata:I know I wouldn't

[8:38:04 pm]r.d.f.c:yes

[8:39:35 pm]r.d.f.c:i just want a special friend, talk, baths, talk about her lovers, serve her orally, play with toys, kiss

[8:39:52 pm]r.d.f.c:walk in central park

[8:40:06 pm]jenmata:well, I hope you find what you're looking for

[8:40:10 pm]r.d.f.c:ty

What can I say, the weirdness follows me home and apparently creeps through my computer as well. Ah the joys of online dating. Tell me, how much do want my dating life right about now? You have to hand it to me though, I make you appreciate your significant other a little more every time you read this blog, don’t I? You’re welcome, my pleasure.

Focusing on

As of a week ago or so, I've adopted this as a mantra:

• Let go and let God. Allow for God's plan to flow and take its course.
• Be open to opportunities.
• When the situation presents itself, say yes.

So far, I'm doing pretty well.

Walking down my street

Yesterday, as I walked out of my building, plugged into my iPod and looking for a particular artist I wanted to listen to, a women dashed by me while saying something out loud. I unplugged myself and ask her to repeat it, as I could not hear her the first time. She was a small lady, Asian, around 60 something I would say, filled with energy and apparently in a rush. She said she was in a hurry to get to the gym and that's why she had to run by me (apparently I was too slow).

Then she turns around and asks me if I am Latin, I assent, and she goes off telling me how she has a multicultural background and how that can be troublesome at times with the families. Then out of the blue she asks "Are you single?" Yes, I answer. She stops in her tracks, lifts her arms to the sky and almost yelling asks "Why? What is wrong with you?" I, completely caught off guard, say innocently, "Nothing, I think." She scrutinizes me, looking intently into my eyes and spots the cross hanging around my neck. "Oh, I have one too!" And shows me her cross. "You have to have a man. You cannot be alone. You have to pray. I didn't have a man and I prayed everyday to God and now I have a man. You have to ask God and you'll see. What's your name? I will pray for you. I will help you. Maybe God sent me to help you. Oh! I have a friend. Yes! I'll introduce you to my friend!"

The lady spoke a mile a minute, loudly, gesticulating a lot. It was a sight to see. At some point she took my palm "Let me see" she said. "Why is it open? Why is it open?" I looked hard, I didn't see anything, nothing looked particularly open to me. "Every time you have money it goes away. Let me see the other hand. But you have health, like me." I smiled and said "Poor but healthy, that's something, right?"

She took my arm and we crossed the street, well not before she stopped me to wait for the light (apparently you can get run over if you don't stop for the light) and then asked "How old are you?" I never lie about my age, or mostly anything else (unless it's about a fictitious relationship to a guy I want to get rid of, see previous post), so I said "36". She screamed "No! I have to help you. You will see." And touching her cross repeated "You will see."

I reminded her she was going to the gym and I had some errands to run. So we said our good-byes and parted. She kept on looking my way and touching her cross and pointing to mine. I smiled and waved good-bye. I thought she was good intended, but maybe not all there, of you know what I mean.

The experience wasn't scary, it just caught me quite off guard and all in all it was a little weird. Although I have to say I never felt threaten, there was a caring to it all that actually felt nice. But I'm telling you, the strangest things have been happening to me on the street lately. I wonder what it is about. Who knows? Maybe she's right, maybe I do need help.

On 92nd and 2nd

This happened just right now on my way home, walking from the bus stop to my building.

"Hey, who are you calling?"

"No one." [I was looking at my phone, but actually reading twitter and not talking to anyone...Look Sizz I'm doing it again!]

"How are we going to get married if you're already being unfaithful with other men?"

[Laughing out loud] "Well, I'm not actually talking to anyone, just reading."

"So, what do you do? If you don't mind me asking."

"I do research."

"Well, you could research me."

"Yeah, I guess I could."

"Or are you not interested in men?"

[Looking him over] "No, I am interested in men."

[He smiles] "So why don't you plug my number in there so that we can get to know each other more intimately."

"Yeah, I don't think so. I'll pass on the intimacy thing."

"Why? Are you married?"

"No"

"So then?"

"I am in a relationship."

"But you hesitated there, are you sure you're in a relationship? I don't know, you had to think about it a bit, how long have you been in this relationship?"

"Mmmm, about 5 years now."

"See? You're thinking about it, are you sure you don't want to get out of it?"

"Umm, yeah, no, I don't want to get out of it."

"Why don't you give me a break, I need to catch my breath here."

"If you need to catch your breath after walking a couple blocks, you must need to exercise more."

"Oh, come on, throw me something, I'm a construction worker, smarts are not my thing. I really need to catch my breath."

"Then you definitely need to exercise more."

"So maybe I'll see you around, I work on this site."

"Well, you probably will, because I live on this street." [approaching my building]

"So what does he do?"

"He's in finance."

"Well, the market is not doing so well now."

"Yeah, he's not too happy about that." [signaling I had reached my destination and was walking in]

"Nice meeting you."

"Have a good night."

[He blows me a kiss, I walk into my building and smile bye. Mind you this whole conversation occured without me stopping once, I continued walking while he chatted nonstop]

Tip: When you're going to lie about being in a relationship, which is the easiest and nicest way I've found to let someone down without making it about them, focus on a person who you have dated and answer all questions thinking of them. This way you won't have to make up a person on the spot and everything you say will be believable, since it actually once was true and some of it still is.

Going to Chicago

I feel like I dropped a bomb with that sex post and then ran never to be heard of again. But I'm here, really, it's just been very busy lately. I've been getting ready to leave for the Conference in Chicago and the prepping for it has taken longer than I thought it would.

Did I ever share I'm presenting a paper in a conference in a few days? I think I didn't. I was very excited several months back when I got the acceptance email, but I guess it didn't seem real then, or maybe I just didn't want to toot my horn, which is usually the case for me. I rather go under the radar than have the spot light, it's always been that way, so when there's an accomplishment to be shared I sometimes just don't. But I am excited about it and it is a bit of a big deal. I'm on the program, check it out. There's even an abstract of my paper/presentation.

So tomorrow morning I'm off to Chicago, a city I've never been to and always wanted to see. I'm probably not going to be able to roam the city too much, since the conference will take most of my time there. I'll come back with updates as soon as I can. In the mean time, don't have too much fun in my absence, wouldn't want to miss that.