now that was a good birthday!

It is going to be a great year- I can just feel it. I am basing this not on any scientific data or astrological predictions. Not even based on how many good players you can find for the age you are (although Jackie Robinson is about as good as it gets). I am basing my prediction on how good my birthday weekend was- straightforward enough isn't it?

It started at school- me planning on keeping it low key- I think I said something to my students along the lines of "if any of you forget my birthday you are going to repeat 5th grade twice!" So I wasn't expecting much. The students were all hiding under desks when I entered (which strangely enough is quite common) and busted out a huge "HAPPY BIRTHDAY". They then proceeded to ask me if I had brought them a cake. I hadn't but was saved not a few minutes later when a very nice mom sent one huge chocolate cake in- she must have known I have no baking skills.

A very nice day with students and colleagues, then after a dinner with the family at my favorite restaurant La Veranda (worthy of its own blog post) I went to the airport to pick up my mom. It has been a crazy week here in Caracas (check last post) and part of me was a wee bit apprehensive of getting my mother into town safely. But after asking numerous locals and the school's security head we figured it all good. (Plan B was to have mom skip the flight and stay in her layover stop of Aruba) It also helped when our friends offered up their bullet proof car to drive down. Ezequeil is a great guy who drives us to the airport quite often and he was really excited to drive a new set of wheels

The roads were empty and calm- and we got home with no problems. I had given my mom a small wish list (hey, it was my birthday) and she came through big time! Thanks mom.

The rest of the birthday weekend was great. Had a nice little bbq with friends, took mom to el Hatillo for lunch and a look around, saw a very peaceful happy march, and then ended the night with the eating of the Roxanne's cookie that I have been saving since I brought back in December- pure bliss.

I am lucky to have such an amazing family and incredible friends. Here's to a great 42nd spin around the sun. 

Just hanging with Symon. Well when I can't find Hayes, Bolivar will have to do.

Mojito, Margarita, and Love for lunch

Wilder and Winehouse

hey this gives me an idea for my next painting project

My first thought was "sugar street" but I guess "sweet street" isn't a bad name either

Nonna's first devil dance lesson went well.

This line stretched for over 5km! People just out showing support for the opposition- waving, honking, singing, cheering. It was nice. The one unfortunate thing was the guy who made a sign that said " no mas colas" which I think meant no more lines and referred to the insanely long lines people have to stand in to get basic staples like milk, flour, and sugar. Unfortunate as he was standing in a 5km long line and may have sent a mixed message.

Best cookies on the planet- if you ever visit us in Colorado I will buy you one.

Thank you MSR for continuing the Zulia for your birthday (now a) tradition. Have already started searching for your next one.

Thanks Mike and Stacey Simpson- with your present I have now sworn my alliance to my new Caracas soccer team. Now if only I had a track suit to wear over top of it.

Dad why are they marching?

Its been a tense week in Caracas. We have largely been going about our lives and routines: school, after school sports, frozen yogurt on a Saturday. On February 12 students and citizens of Venezuela marched in the capital and other cities asking for change- security, food, financial hope. A much better account has been written by our neighbors Shayne and Diana that is well worth the read if you need to better understand the situation. Another well crafted piece is this video a young girl put together called: whats going on in Venezuela in a nutshell

Our school had a few early releases so students could get a jump on traffic caused by the marches and we cancelled after school activities a few days as well, but other than that I hadn't really discussed it much with my children aside from saying "people want a change so they are marching."

Sometimes as a parent, in my hope to protect and shield my kids from things, I forget that their ability to understand situations, make sense of events, and empathize with other people's feelings often surpasses my own ability. So there we were strolling down into Las Mercedes looking for lunch and ice cream this weekend when we came across a march. Compared to the one the day before in the same area- this one was quite small- but something about my body language must have been enough to get both kids into a hyper-alert state of readiness- they were ready to double back and run! But we watched from a distance and Luca asked "Dad why are they marching? Venezuela is awesome." I certainly realized he was getting more than I thought- and that he was probably fine to talk more about it than I had been. So Wilder, Luca, and I walked a bit closer, had a seat and talked about what changes the people wanted, we talked about how frustrating it must be to want change and not be able to get it, we talked about how many Venezuelans also think their country is awesome but not what is happening to it right now. The march went on, the traffic resumed, and we had lunch. The kids probably moved on to other things as it seems like I am the only one that dwells on stuff sometimes.
I'll leave those dwellings for another post- till then if you persisted long enough to read this long post then I ask you to keep in your thoughts the community here that so wants change and a different more positive future- and also think of your own community- no matter how small- and what action you can do to make it better, no matter how small.

more beer shenanigans

As mentioned in an earlier post about beer, plethora is not the word that comes to mind when describing the variety of beers here in Caracas. Never ones to shy from a challenge the beer club had a meeting and the goal was to bring something from... well somewhere else.

The results were, dare I say, astounding! I brought back some "old chub" scottish ale from Colorado, MSR found a delightful "grandmas pecan pie nut brown ale" from Los Angeles. Koffi had some Guinness from Togo! but drank it all before beer night (can't say I blame him it was Guinness after all), Nadjib actually found Pauliners in Venezuela! thats like finding whole milk, TP, and white flour on the same day at the grocery store- hard! He also fashioned us with bottle moustaches- very nice touch. Mike was not able to travel during the christmas break (something about having a baby) so we found a case of the fine Chilean "Kuntsman" and bought it for him. Adding to this impressive list was a new playa in the VZ beer arena- homebrew. Our friend Cesar (soon to be really good friend) has found some Caraquenos who are making some really good stuff. Might be fodder for yet another beer post.

We did find one main difference and its not to do with taste! Venezuelan beers are in small cans -10oz or so, maybe 8. Compare this with a 16 oz merican beer and you find that drinking beer here makes your hands look HUGE!

Nadjib the DJ and Michael the Commissioner

So thanks for another good night- MSR, Nadjib, Mike S, Koffi, Ian, myself, and Old Man Fox in the rocker.

a year to try new things

Sometimes when I am sitting in my spanish class trying to piece together a sentence and sounding like Enrique the caveman I think I can honestly feel the little hamster wheels turning. As hard as it is seeming to be for me to learn spanish though I find that I am absolutely loving it. And it makes me apply that to the bigger picture of what (and why) our family is doing this for. I like trying new things, I would certainly enjoy and be able to keep safe in Caracas and not put myself out on a limb, but I don't think I would get nearly as much out of it. All I'm really risking is looking and sounding like a fool- and hey, I've been doing that all my life.

My list of new things to try this year:

-Spanish

-Caracas marathon (well half of it)

-Capoeira (will need to be a whole other post)

-Seeing a sloth (it will happen)

-Painting. Sure I was just copying from a projector but its been something I've been meaning to do.

So lets see what else myself and the family can add to the list this year... maybe some salsa dancing?

here is the progression of my painting (banksy did his with a can of spraypaint I know)

1) Project the image

2) Trace the image

3) Paint the image

4) Add flowers

5) finish flowers, and just in time for Valentines Day!

Luca nails it!

As mentioned in a previous post, beisbol team alliances are very important here. Wilder and I threw our lot in with el Tiburones from La Guaira. Lisa went hometown and follows el Leones from Caracas, and Luca chose to go for the Navigators: El Magellanes from Valencia. The season just wrapped up and it seems Luca nailed it. Here he is with Felix the day after they won the title. Just watch your back Luca and Felix- the season begins again in September.

Cars I would like and other things

There are some  fantastic cars in this city- just pure beasts! I had been trying to capture a few- so here they are... along with a few other random things that we saw along the way. 

It starts, as a few of our Sundays have, in El Hatillo. We were heading up there for lunch and coffee. So far this has been our best source for really good coffee as the supermarket stuff just ain't up to snuff. I love this little place- always something to see- and see we did! Check out these wheels:

and it was for sale too! I didn't even write down the number because I would most likely call

 

After lunch we heard a noise, then saw the processional. It was the birthday of Maria Reina. Fun to watch but what really struck me was the nod to another patron saint up in the top left corner of the photo. Ho ho ho.

Not sure what the purpose of these dancers were to the festivities but the 2 on the left are not quite as they seem! Those aren't damas!

And here for your viewing pleasure are a few more choice sets of wheels that we have come across, enjoy.

This one is not so much about the cars as it is the parking lot. This apartment complex must have the best communication system in the city. If you are parked on the bottom of the photo- no problemo. But what do you do if you are in the top and in a rush. I guess don't be in a rush.