Documento Nacional de Identidad

• is that my DNI?!

• it IS my DNI!!!

• this cheap piece of plastic only took 7 months to get...after a gazillion signed papers, photocopies, passport photos and visits to random offices :D
• I can now rent a city bike for free and travel within the country for less!
• stamped across the top = EXTRANJERO...no mistake, I am a foreigner...and ESTADOUNIDENSE....WATCH OUT!!!

3-day weekend: Día del Libertador José de San Martín

• so, increased mileage = recommended chocolate milk recovery drink = great excuse to drink chocolate - yum!
• we had 18 miles on Saturday. I thought it was a great idea to put a few podcasts on my iPod.  Jake opted against it, so for about 1h30m of our 2h45m run, I was plugged in, and Jake ran along side like a champ...so impressed
• another run complete, but definitely not without aches and pains...we were really shuffling along like ol' grannies those last few miles, but we finished
• another ice pack was purchased, because sharing the one was just wasn't cutting it
• we kindof sortof didn't get out the door for our run until 1pm, getting us home around 4pm, which meant eating "breakfast" around 5pm..haha, we are so lazy on weekends, it's incredibly wonderful
• another great reason to run 18 miles, other than the chocolate milk, is the rest of the recovery meal:

• spinach, egg, and bleu cheese omelets wrapped in Trader Joe's whole wheat tortillas (last ones! :( , cubed hash browns, mixed berries, Caribou coffee...and the ultimate puffed wheat pancake, delectably topped with dulce de leche, dark chocolate chips, and powdered sugar...oh man, a great dessert to end the meal

• we managed to get ourselves off the couch Saturday evening to see a documentary at the Green Film Fest taking place at our neighborhood cinema
• the film was called "Comprar, Tirar, Comprar" (Buy, Throw Out, Buy)
• there was a mix of Spanish, along with Catalan, English, German and French ( all with subtitles in Spanish), so it got a bit confusing: listen to the Spanish without subtitles, listen to English without reading the Spanish subtitles, then listen to the other languages, but needing to attempt to translate the Spanish subtitles...whew...
• Anyway, you can either check out the trailer by clicking on the Green Film Fest link above, or watch most of it here, below...it is quite an interesting view of something I didn't previously know much about, planned obsolescence

• a bit shocking to know that so much of this is going on in the engineering and business world, and that we are crowding our earth with so many things due to the need to replace items more frequently...
• part of the film took place in Ghana, which gave insight to the overfilling junkyards of old computers and parts sent over from more developed countries...sad to see 
• on Sunday we were able to get in some terrace time with the arrival of a little spring-like weather...
• Jake ran to get facturas (breakfast pastries) and a newspaper...
• most weekends, I think he'd like to purchase the local newspaper, but usually he has plenty of other things to read/do, so we don't always get around to it
• this particular Sunday was a newspaper day...so Jake went to the local kiosco, and found it closed so he proceeded to check out approximately 5 other locations, including a small grocery store, who informed him that the canillitas (ask Jake to explain where this name came from...something about newsies wearing short pants) were on strike...we should have guessed
• while enjoying the sun on our terrace, we noticed these little orange things growing on our "lime" tree

• our landlord's assistant had once mentioned that she thought they were cumquats...so we googled it...decided they looked close enough, then tasted one and it was delicious! (we still have not gotten sick...we'll see)
• later in the afternoon, we decided to check out the historic Línea A of the metro

a little Mafalda action underground...pondering about our earth

• the A-Line was the very first underground railway service in the southern hemisphere...pretty impressive...

• the Buenos Aires subway was inaugurated in 1913, it only had one line, the A-Line, and believe it or not, some of the original cars are still in use with their very charming slatted wood seats, ceiling lamps, hanging leather handle straps, and manunally-operated doors still in tact

• we first hopped out at the Congreso stop - we've driven by this area, but had yet to walk around
• when emerging from the subway station, the architecture alone is quite impressive

can  you spot the windmill? 

• I'm guessing this is where all the "great" political decisions for the country are made

santa hat

• so we've been seeing a lot of (what we think are creepy) carousels scattered throughout the city...Jake did some research and discovered that in the late 19th century, due to French/Italian influence, every plaza in every barrio had a carousel...then they sort of disappeared for a bit, and now some are back in action (50+ currently working in the city)
• ...someday I dream of a whole blog post of carousel pictures...I hope I don't get nightmares 

• we've had lots of rain recently...you too?

• the school buses are orange here...and they come in large, medium, and small

• I think this was the graffiti seen at the Puan stop...grows on us more and more

• we experienced a different form of transportation, the tram (Línea de Tranvías Históricos in Caballito
• operated since 1980, we took our little *free* 2k loop around the tram track and learned a bit about its history...our tram, pictured below, was a gift from Belgium

LOVED the lady in the back with the red hair...like a cartoon character!

our trusty conductors

I think the grey tram in front of the yellow one is from Argentina

• graffiti on the walls near the tramway

• we later attempted a visit to the famous Las Violetas at the Castro Barros stop, but due to the long line for a table, and the fact that we were more so craving real food instead of pastries and desserts, we decided we'd come back someday...
• and instead headed to the Mongolian BBQ, Gengi's House in Recoleta

• yum, yum, yummo...a big plate of your choice of noodles or rice, meats, and veggies, with a good ol' Quilmes beer for $50 pesos/person (~US$11)
• and as if we didn't get enough Asian cuisine, we hit up Sudestada on our feriado Monday to celebrate José de San Martín (we get lots of holidays to celebrate here)
• now, I first must say that I was VERY disappointed that they wouldn't allow us to take advantage of their FABULOUS M-F lunch deal (since it was a holiday) but USUALLY you get a drink (beer, wine, juice, etc.), soup or salad, and a main dish for only $50 pesos!!! it's nuts
• otherwise their menu is way over my budget...but we stuck around anyway and split this appetizer (funked up Philippino lumpias) with lychee juice

love all the fresh greens they use

• and this amazing medley of vegetables, chicken, and rice

• we left feeling satisfied...I guess it was worth the few extra pesos...
• I <3 THREE DAY WEEKENDS!

anniversario segundo, corriendo, y olímpicos

• 9 days of subway striking = super crowded buses = mess for commuters, including Jake...he even walked home from work on Monday, and ran home Tuesday (luckily we're just about 4 miles away)

Jake's bus line....60 people deep

• hopefully an agreement is reached tonight at midnight...we're not really that hopeful

Tu 8.7.12

• we celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary!

• went to dinner at La Dorita, a well-known parilla (~steakhouse) that has a location in our neighborhood...was very delicious salad, papas fritas, and bife! 

• although, I think our favorite was the dessert: some sort of merengue cookie, ice cream, whipped cream and berries

• we've planned a trip to wine country (Mendoza) in November...can't wait to celebrate more!

F 8.10.12

• Jake and I ran an 8 miler before work...so, super early for Argentinean standards! so early that the hookers were still hooking in the park we ran past, just a few miles from our house...
• very strange to see "women"? (we were told that trannines like to hang around these parts) lined up along the road, spaced every ~100 meters, scantily clad in high heels and short skirts

Sa 8.11.12

• Jake beat his previous longest run record by running 17 miles on Saturday...it rained 90% of the time...which I think actually gave us the energy to finish the 2.5 hour run...

completely drenched (p.s. we didn't plan to match)

• minor aches and pains are still there, but not as bad as a few weeks ago...gotta keep icing and stretching!
• favorite thing about training, especially long runs? spending the rest of the day recovering...hot shower, sweats, good food/coffee, ice, Olympics, nap...
• ...then out with friends for dinner at an Armenian restaurant
• the place even had a traditional Armenian dance show...our table was right next to all the action, so Jake and I got pulled into some of the dancing...lots of fun! (there from 8:30pm - 1:00am!)
• Happy Wedding Anniversary mom and dad...34 years!

Su 8.12.12

• Olympics are over...so sad, but proud of all the athletes, especially USA...was interesting for us to view from Argentina...
• to see how another country covers the games, and to hear the comments in Spanish...and to speak with co-workers/students about their thoughts and feelings...
• Argentina earned 4 medals in: tennis, sailing, taekwondo, and field hockey...fun to cheer them on!

Juan Martín Del Potro - bronze in tennis

Lucas Calabrese and Juan de la Fuente - bronze in sailing

Sebastian Eduardo Crismanich - gold in taekwondo

silver in women's field hockey

• I think there was less messing with showtimes here...many of the events were shown live, but from what we heard, a lot of the events in the US were adjusted to be shown in primetime...having the coverage live was fine, but without a DVR I missed a lot of the events that I wanted to see, including gymnastics, because I was at work...and we're unable to see replays on the internet because we're outside of the US...boo
• OK closing ceremony...you should probably end soon so I can do my lesson plans and Spanish homework!

HALF WAY!

• 9 WEEKS DOWN
• 9 WEEKS TO GO!!!

"Doesn't it feel it little bit more like home with our Brita?" Jake

• we went home...and it was wonderful
• most schools here had a winter break from July 13th-29th, so that's when we planned our ~10 day trip back to the States...a little too short in my opinion, but that's life
• we had a quick stop in Chicago for a couple days...when we got into the city Wednesday morning, I was bursting with excitement and happiness!!! (so cheesy, but true)

• look how excited I am to have a Dunkin Donuts iced coffee and donut...(I don't even really like Dunkin that much...)

• we dropped our bags then headed to lunch...been craving Thai food for weeks now
• yes, I post a lot of pictures of food...but check out Joy's Noodles chicken pad thai! oh yum...

• then we did a lot of shopping before meeting up with friends at Schoolyard, a favorite bar and grill on Southport
• SO grateful for all of our friends who stopped by to catch up with us...really means a lot - thank you!
• below is a few of us enjoying the skillet cookie...dangerously delicious

• the next morning, Jake and I ran through our old neighborhood, past my old school and along Lake Michigan (felt a big groggy from so many American beers the night before..was just so excited!)
• later, I met up with my favorite former Greeley colleagues for coffee at Intelligentsia, then had lunch with Lauren @ Southport Grocery :)

• after visiting Aon we met up for a drink with the Argentinean couple who is doing the exchange with us (super nice, and fun to exchange stories)
• Thursday night we were at Midway for our short (but unfortunately delayed) flight to Omaha, we arrived after midnight and were greeted by my parents and (somehow still awake) little Ricky
• so great to see the kids...Alex became potty-trained while we were gone (GO ALEX!)
• here is a picture of them hanging out in the bathroom (funny, funny kids who grow WAY too fast!)

• Ricky opening his belated 7th birthday gift: a Spanish workbook (shush, he liked it), Cars pencil case, colored pencils, a deck of Boca Junior's playing cards (popular Argentinean soccer team), and lots of treats

• Irelynn enjoying her pepito alfajor (chocolate chip cookies sandwiched together with dulce de leche, bathed in chocolate)

• lots of swimming took place with 100+ degree weather back in Iowa

• SEE?!?!  they're just so darn  cute!

• Jake's parents, along with Noah and Tiffany joined us for the weekend = 13 people and 3 dogs in 1 house...wouldn't have wanted it any other way! was so much fun to have everyone all together
• check out the strawberry rhubarb pies that Jake's grandma helped Mary bake...between these and mom's apple pies, I was so sweetly spoiled!

• Irelynn enjoying her garbage Jerry's pizza while listening to the live music

• Mary spending some QT with little Evelyn

• (most of) the group at "Fridays on the Promenade", Sioux City

• couldn't get over little Jack and Alex's cute dancing

• traded shades

• lucky enough to be home for Sioux City's RockN Rods! I really thought it was going to be pretty lame, but I actually kind of enjoyed live car racing...

• ...and looking at the cool old cars was fun too...
• and seeing how some of the downtown areas have changed for the better (I even found the block where Jake and I are going to open a Trader Joe's, Fleet Feet running store, coffee shop and bakery (will also sell kimbap), and CorePower yoga studio :) ...can't wait to move back to Sioux City

• Saturday was pool party day at the Feauto house
• thank you to all who stopped by to swim, eat, and chat, and thanks to mom and dad for all the wonderful food, drinks, and hospitality...we are so lucky

• Ricky celebrating his successes in pool beer pong (minus the beer of course)

• a better view of this great game from the deck

• peaceful escape from city life

• the kids were absolutely in love with Caesar (Mary and Paul's weimaraner brought all the way from Wisconsin)
• here is Mary showing the kids his tricks (and them joining in)

(Ricky didn't get a treat for rolling over)

• mom let me pick the meals while we were home, so I chose: Jerry's pizza, cookout food (brats, cheeseburgers, salads, etc.), roast with potatoes, carrots, etc (Jake's fave...Mary brought venison roast), spaghetti and meatballs, tacos, omelets, Ricky's hibachi grill (see pictures later in the post), and desserts included apple pie, monster cookies, sugar cookies from the cookie lady, and smores
• can you guess what we had for dinner on Monday night?

• spaghetti and meatballs! (this is Ricky's very large bowl of pasta at the END of dinner...oftentimes his eyes are too big for his stomach!)

• while Mary and Paul were in town, we drove up to LeMars (Ice Cream Capital of the World) for ice cream at the Blue Bunny parlor
• then we drove home and rounded out "dinner" with popcorn and a movie

• the girls helping grandpa make omelets for breakfast one morning

• now THIS is a breakfast!

• matchers

• Grandma, Grandpa, Jake, and I took the kids mini-golfing
• thanks Megan, Jack, and Eve for joining us on this super hot, sunny day!

• ahhh...cooling off in the pool after a rough day of golf

• this is the life...poolside beer and book...falling asleep in the hammock 

• my brother, Ricky (CPA...congrats!) is an excellent chef...by request he made his famous hibachi grill styled fried rice, shrimp, steak, grilled vegetables, complete with homemade yum yum sauce!  Thanks Ricky!

• family around the dinner table

• our last night...Jake got some great sky shots around the Sioux City countryside

• so great to be home! we are back in BA safely, fully equipped with new running shoes, peanut butter, and an array of tortilla chips (and our Brita;)
• until next time...chau chau todos! besos y abrazos!!!

*special thanks to those who travelled to see us (Mary, Paul, Caesar, Noah, Tiffany, Matt, Jackie, and Matt....you guys are awesome! we love you!!!)