Holidays at the farm

Christmas Eve and Christmas were spent at the farm... card games (hearts, spades) and a new game - Loaded Questions... which brought lots of laughs.  The traditional Julie French Christmas Eve supper with her clam chowder, cracked crab, pea salad, lefsa (!!), potato rolls... In lieu of gifts this year, we did a "gag gift" of sorts which brought more laughs (a common theme).  Christmas Day started with a wonderful breakfast followed by said games, movies with dinner of ham, sweet potatoes, deviled eggs (somehow forgotten on Christmas Eve - unclear how that occured the family's love of said eggs), green salad with spinach, mozarella and craisans.  Yum, yum.  Food and laughter - certainly worse things in the world.  Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Joel, me, Gramps, Alison

The family (Molly, TJ were in Yakima)

Ski masks from Big R (I went retro with my gifts to the kids!).  The Magic 8 balls were a big hit as well.

Me, Alison, Mum (just before sitting for Christmas Eve supper)

Schweitzer ski day with the family

This was the day before Christmas Eve so the Eve of Christmas Eve I suppose... Dad and Grace, Preston and Keegan came to ski and see Santa on the Slopes. 

Additional renovation photos

Another look at the dining room and my office - fantastic view of the lake, marina and mountains every morning!  Hard not to be inspired when starting the work day at 430AM

Snow shoe trip to Picnic Point

Great exercise today ahead of the feasts on Christmas Eve, Christmas... stunning day at Schweitzer

Winter sunrise at Schweitzer

Mornings at the cabin are always awesome - waking up in the dark, working and watching the sunrise and the mountain slowly come alive. 

The WoW cabinet

The renovation / design of Camp Bunga Bunga has been an incredible ride so far... what has made it even "cooler" is working with local artists / craftspersons here in Sandpoint (buy local, stay local).  Such talent.  This WoW cabinet was done by Stillwater Woodwork - it is 22' tall and the sides are backlit onyx pieces.  Stillwater also made some of the furniture in the house - including the side tables for the master bedroom, the console table in the master bedroom and the dining room buffet table that sits under the Pyrene painting. 

Camp Bunga Bunga renovation

Phase I is almost complete ... this is so exciting - but admittedly, I have yet to sleep in my own bedroom.  It's just too pretty and I'm afraid I won't be able to re-make my bed as it is presently!  More photos to follow as made available. Phase II will be done Spring 2012 and include the Camp Bunga Bunga opium den / hide-away and the terrace. 

Lake Pend Orielle (winter)

Looks a bit different in the Winter than in the Summer.

Floating dock is floating on sand and snow.



I'm back....

It's not necessarily the BIG UNWIND ... but I am back in the US - and it is time to start tracking my "big events" in Sandpoint and the 2012 ski season, social season and the list goes on... stay tuned - as I am still needing to unpack (and that is where the camera is located).

Cold as .....

As much as I am enjoying the new house in Palermo... I must admit I am an official weather boob now.  It is COLD.  Hace MUCHO frio.  Sigh.... that said, in my treks to learn the neighborhood, one has a tendency to walk quite quickly... so I guess that is good for the metabolism!

In short... it's been a rather lovely, pleasant start to this next chapter in BA.  I've seen old friends and have met the potential of new friends.  I am absolutely in love with the house here - COME VISIT.  I think that has helped immensely rather than return to an apartment in Recoleta.  My neighborhood is "adorbs" and I am frequenting the Asian bodego down the street where I buy my fruits and vegetables (have I mentioned the house has a juice - fresh squeezed orange juice and grapefruit juice every morning!!)

There is Voltaire coffee & cafe down this quiet street ... and I see them every morning for my "supa" cafe con leche (I need as much coffee as I can get in the morning given my sleep cycle is still off ... I will be buying Tylenol PM when I return to the US for Labor Day weekend!!).  It's also a great place to listen to reggae ... read the latest New Yorker and just enjoy the sun from inside. 

I have also discovered that most of my favorite restaurants are within walking distance from the house... Olssens, Green Bamboo, El Manto, Osaka, Pride cafe and the list goes on.  As well... I can cross the railroad tracks (which is always entertaining) and be in the heart of Palermo shopping / Plaza Serrano within 15 minutes.  That is - unless I walk in the wrong direction (which happened on Sunday) and I spent the better part of 2 hours winding my way back.  That said - I did find where they fix the taxis around here.  I'm not sure what many thought to make of me walking around with my backpack in my little Lacoste jacket and jeans... but not needing any car parts, machinery or other tune ups!

I have also started shooting some of the graffiti that adorns many of the walls in BsAs.  Some of it is hysterical and witty and funny.  Other is outright destruction / anger at the government - which is too bad as it mars some of the most beautiful architecture I have seen.  Here are a few photos below.

So in a nut shell ... I find that the Big Unwind is still unwinding... albeit south of the equator and being done in a foreign tongue, but there is something incredibly exciting and inspiring about it all.  There is a rhythm and a flow here - and it makes me just smile...

Railroad "crossing" area for pedestrians (it's like a chute at a cattle lot... just expressing my uber-ag nerd side)

Grafitti (really?  yes - I realize I was just paging "Captain Obvious")

This is my favorite taco place so far in Argentina ... and they are actually very good!

Wheels up to Idaho next Monday - greatly looking forward to the return of warm temperatures.. but firstly, this weekend - it will be a trip down Memory Lane.  Going to return to Villa Maria - where I first went with all the boys that fateful late May 2005 trip.  A great place of discovery and self-knowledge.  Hoping that it still is as magical ... oh - and there is still the horse named Colorado who was such a beautiful animal to ride across the estancia!

Water slide at the Ramada

Similar to - "why climb the mountain.."  Answer:  "well... it was there...."

Why go down a highly chlorinated water slide (indoor) at the Ramada Spokane Airport.  "well .. it was there"  (and possibly another photo opp).

Mur showing his stuff.

Anddddddd ..... END SCENE

Ummmm .. the picture is terrible as we were laughing so hard ... but this is Meg - face down - crashed on the eve of Day 6 on the ottoman .... you really cannot make this sh*t up.  GO TEAM. 

So now you have to ask yourself - "who wants an invite to Camp Bunga Bunga and Ruby the Heart Stealer" next season.  Oh yes ... it's on like Donkey Kong.

Day 5 or is it 6 or will Camp Bunga Bunga ever end?

We are now at the Ramada - Spokane airport... Bud Light Lime $2.50.  Done and done.

There is a lot to update ... but I think I have finally hit the imaginary Wall ... it's that last .2 miles of the 26.2 mile marathon (not that I would know what that is about... ).

Here are some photos to update all you lovely followers ... and will write more about it after we start the flight back to BA tomorrow AM ....

Mom, Dad and their new friends ... there is a story there - something about getting lost in the boat going to the Light House ... another boat dead in the marina .. a broken co-pilot chair in the boat ... and me finally getting to the Bridge only to have Dad "growl" (that is being tremendously kind...) at me after he had been growling at Mum ... the night ends with Mum, Dad stopping by Camp Bunga Bunga so they could make sure their "new friends were okay..."   It was awesome - but about that time, I just wanted to sleep.

I'm sure I'm telling another fabulous "this one time at band camp...." story.  The camp counselor has gotten tired.  Very, very tired.

Dad and Meg flexing their guns... this is before the co-pilot seat was broken (it's all my fault ... I was chasing Mum, Dad in their boat and goofing off and did the "sharp dip" - Mur went flying and landed in said seat.... Whoops).

Give me "10"

Camp Bunga Bunga poses for yet another beer commercial.  Who's fabulous and we are still asking "who do we get to yes"

M&M with Meg in her "safety" gear ... it brings me memories of Safety Bob. 

That's all for now ... more blogging on the 24 hour venture back to BA tomorrow!

Day 4 .... we are all still alive

900AM ... slow start at Camp Bunga Bunga.

920AM ... Me to Mike:  "are you going to get ready?"  Mike:  "why...."  Me:  "um - the Long Bridge Swim."  And it's out the door just a bit later to walk and meet up with the family.  Dad is swimming the Long Bridge

945AM .. we are still walking on the Long Bridge and have to see Mom or Dad in the water.  Not only was it a slow start to Camp but it was a poorly planned opening set with no sunscreen, lacking water and it was going to take a lot longer than we had thought.

10AM .. find Mom and see Dad in the water.  We walk along to cheer him on.  Mom, Mike and Mur walk ahead to meet up with Molly and TJ (where conveniently, they have PBRs).  Meg and I continue to walk along and cheer Dad on.

1150AM .. Dad finishes the swim!  Go on Gares!! 

1200PM ... We all walk together with Dad sipping on his congratulatory Gold Medal - I mean... Coors Banquet Gold.  Jeff walks up to me:  "Def Lepard called - they want their jeans back..."  Laughter ensues - I just look at him and say nothing as it was too funny and I am now too hungry to speak for fear of what might come out of my mouth.  Blood sugar tanking hard and fast.

1230PM .. load up the boat and head out to the island ... a quick stop at Sweet Lou's for some seriously needed nosh.  It is unclear if it was the food or the beer - but suddenly we are all feeling much better. 

Out to the island to hang out with Mom, Dad and Alison, Charles and their 2 kids.
 

Our tribute to Willy Nelson (good job Mur on packing some of the greatest props for this trip along with Fox schwag to give out to the French clan).

Burgers off the grill and a bon fire later it was time to depart for the homestead ... no noise complaints (victory). 

Theme of Camp Bunga Bunga:  "how do we get to YES?"

Day 3 ...Fate collides

Day 3 Bunga-bunga recap - fates collide.  Okay - and perhaps a few strings pulled and twisted here and there, but that's not the point.

500AM ... Mike, Mur are awake and working.  Meg and Mur's blackberries are now banned form having alarms turned on. 

630AM .. I wake up.  It's a brand new day but my body doesn't feel like it.  Sigh ..... aqua fria here I come.

650AM ... Day 2 blog written - no work done... why work when you can blog?  I don't think that equation will work long but "when in ..... do as......"

700AM ... Mur delivers one of the best, best, best present I have ever received in my life (it will always be almost impossible to "out-do" the Big Wheel for my 4th birthday).

800AM - 1200PM .. it's all a bit hazy but activities included pool, aqua fria, getting splashed by parents throwing their kids in the pool to down cannonballs and so on.  I need a nap already.

1200PM .. into GI Jane we go and off to McDuff's Brewery for lunch ... another BLA samwich and Idaho cut french fries await as does a Root Beer.  Everyone is starting to feel more human.

100PM .. off to Super 1 for more sustenance

200PM ... to Memorial Field - sight of concert venue - oh wait .... there are chairs in a line.   Let's put the 2 we have out ... and that's where we learn about literally the most random, complicated number scheme to get into the concert.  Okay - whatever... it's an "experience"   The gang makes friends with people in line.  We will just call them Mr and Mrs Gin.

300PM .. receive numbers 131 - 137.  Okay - cool... now it's time to go back to the pool.

400PM .. showers and get brandi-fied ... wait - I mean beautified. 

500PM .. arrive to line up and await the call to "bunch"

530PM .. Gares and Jules arrive.  We are still bunching

550PM ... gates open and the picnic begins.

730PM ... opening act starts humming and strumming.  Good times .. sipping on wine with sweet anticipation.

830PM ... kick arse drum solo and then it's Brandi and the twins!  Nice.  Some of the new songs (fantastic - cannot wait for the tour), Folsom prison, cover of Patsy Cline "crazy" ... and the list goes on.  Time goes too fast and Brandi kicked out some coverage of 1980s tunes ("An eternal flame" - Meg and I finish the song for her).

1015PM .. back stage passes and fate collides.  We will use pictures to highlight. 

Meg and I taking a picture with the lead singer of the opening act ...

Oh wait ... here comes Brandi (peace out lead singer dude)

Meg meeting Brandi

Yup ...

So this one time at band camp....

Did I tell you the story of .....

And then ....

At some point in time get home and then Camp Bunga-Bunga attendees have to relive and re-hear the entire experience once more.  This is a testament to true friendship and true love.

830AM (Saturday) ... Mike comments "I was afraid when I woke up there would be a Post-It note saying "I've gone to Canada" (that is where the next concert dates for BC were).  I think to myself "I'm really glad no one suggested that last night... because there probably would have been"

Day 3 at Camp Bunga Bunga concludes and we are set for Day 4 of activities to include the Long Bridge swim and more.