Book Review

Okay recently I have been reading two books.

The Devil wears Prada by Lauren Weisenberger?

and Living to tell the Tale - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Living to tell the Tale is a biography by one of the greatest living South American writers, it is full of colorful stories about prostitution, famous authors, politicians etc. The Devil wears Prada is chick lit about powerless abused 20th somethings who are tortured by a maniacal boss. Guess which book I like?

Of course the fluff! Despite the fact that I am currently studying Latin american literature, I can barely make it through Living to tell the Tale desite the fact that every Colombian I know has raved that they "Read their lives story in that book". I've been reading it for like months but I was able to read The Devil wears Prada in like 3 days. I like to comfort myself in thinking that at least I aspire to be culturally classy I mean I even tried to read something by Umberto Eco, but still if you gave me the choice between finishing Living to Tell the Tale and reading Bridget Jones Diary for the 53rd time I would pick Bridget everytime.

However if you are smart, Colombian or have a burning desire to be an author, I bet you would really like Living to Tell the Tale. If you are twentysomething and in the process of being crushed by the realities of worklife read The Devil wears Prada.

Shout outs to new posters my cousin Randy Clover and Vega. You two help me not feel like a lunatic for having a blog.

And Miss Sonia Vega, I was only taking Nyquil last night, you know you are still the only who can get me to have more than one mojito!

Quote of the Day (from Cookie Monster) "I have Chinese balls stuck in my throat" And don't be dirty Vega, she was talking about the round supplements our accupuncturist was giving us. As a disclaimer, she begged to have that quote posted. Ahhh... everyone wants to have their 15 sec on Maghanoy.com!

If you are not watching "So you think you can Dance" you should, it's amazing.

Warning - This post is being written under the influence of sedatives. Well it's not very exciting news, but I'm sick. Why? I have no idea but it is so inconvenient. Also I don't have Dayquil so I went to San Bernardino today under the influence of Nyquil. I practically fell asleep during my meeting, stellar program manager that I am. Although I am grateful that I am not so sick that I can't get out of bed, it is annoying to be somewhat mobile but unable to do anything besides work. i.e. Go watch Superman! I've got to say their marketing must be great because I've recently developed an irrestible urge to go see that movie.

It's back down to the 90s in Sactown, which is not enjoyable but at least it's bearable. Last night was the first night I could sleep without airconditioning... Ugh.

Instead of the regular recap I am going to tell everybody why they should love Seattle! Here goes!

Things to love about Seattle...

1) My family! (Duh)

2) Alanna (Double duh)

3) Dora's a-dora-ble smile (Seriously, triple duh, the package.com speaks for itself)

4) Clean air - looooong summer days that are not 10000 degrees.

5) My aunt and uncles awesome downtown pad.

6) The evangelical devotion to coffee (Go clover coffee maker!)

7) Pike Place Market- Kerry Park - Greenlake, the list goes on and on.

8) Even though I didn't realize this till after our trip, Tacoma is very close to Seattle. People who think their trips through could visit their bitter zoo friends there. :)

9) Yummy, yummy food. I reccomend Baguette Box.

10) Did I mention how cute Dora is?

Fotos posted in the album.

If you are into home decorating... www.apartmenttherapy.com

I think that our new house might be trying to kill us... This happened as we were leaving for work on Friday morning. The fan wasn't even on! Caramba!

It just makes you think, life changes so quickly. :) One minute your ceiling fan is not a problem, the next minute it is crashing to the floor in a hail of shattering glass. One minute your favorite priest is puttering around in Vallejo and the next he is going to Orland! Orland! Medio de la NADA! Good grief. Nando, I miss you already! If he is so far away who is going to feed me, or book weddings for me, subject me to obligatory spanish grammar lessons and most importantly baptize my non-existant children?

Hmmm... what else? Animated by Sage and Randy's enthusiasm about this blog I am attempting to update more frequently but am overwhelmed by the task of writing. What to include, what to cut? It's almost existential, the decision making... but I swear I am going to try.

Also in Sacramento it is suicidally hot. I desperately miss the Pacific Northwest.

Website of the week: www.dailydancer.com I feel strangely inspired by the daily dancer... 

Seattle was fantastic...



And I think this picture says it all... 

We're in Portland, I don't want to come back home.... ever. I am going to run away to the City grill and stay there forever.

More narcissm from the Perez's..

Today is Arnold's and I fourth wedding anniversary! Woo-hoo Arnold and Amelie 4-ever!
We are now officially graduates from the University of Newlyweds! Rock on!

And as we turn our tassels we're also celebrating Arnold's two job offers for this fall. Things are looking up, I think it's going to be a great summer.

Denver, Stop 1 of the Baby Tour

A couple of weeks ago we hopped on Southwest to visit my family in Denver. I like to call this "Baby Tour Part 1" as we had meeting my baby cousin Rowen on the agenda. I have to say he is quite cute, with his big bobble head and penchant for throwing himself around suicidally in whoever has the luck to be holding him in their arms. The trip to Heidi's house didn't fail to entertain either there was an exciting beagle fight for pre-dinner entertainment!

As always my Aunt and Uncle were generous hosts opening not one but two of their homes to us. We got to see the best of Denver from their downtown flat and the best of the mountains from the McOtter creek ranch! I have to say, I defenitely didn't want to go home... ever, but alas one can only impose on those we love for so long. If I am really honest with myself though I'm not sure if I can handle the pace of life of my Aunt and Uncle, by the fifth day I was comatose in the guest bedroom. I'd like to blame it on the altitude but the truth is they are just more fun than I am and fitter than I am.

Some of the highlights of the trip included a narrow-gauge train ride , country style Japanese food and an incredible hike in the Gore Mountains. Sure my retiree Uncle kicked my ass climibng through the mountains but I can take the humiliation in stride seeing as I've never claimed physical fitness as one of my fortes. Pics have been posted in the Photo Album. Stay tuned for the Baby Tour Part 2 later this summer!

Today I just started editing the fotos we took in Denver, as Chhimi-Gad has been mercilessly harrasing me to see them and I realized something. Arnold and I are photo sluts, I mean there are hardly any photos of other people even though we visited my cousin's adorable baby for the first time ever. I mean sure there was a dramatic beagle fight when we went to visit and we took 99% of the pics in Otter Creek when the baby wasn't around, but stil? Anyway a recap and pics to come of our Denver adventures! I am admittedly slow to do this since we've been back for more than a week, but still I'm still in a post-Denver depression. Vacation is always so much better than work.

But anyways....

Thank you to my new blog reader "Bitter in Tacoma" Let's talk about him for awhile.

How much do I love my friend "Bitter in Tacoma"?

He just moved to Tacoma to work in a zoo, a zoo! How cool is that? I don't know what he does, despite the fact that he told me at some point. I save most of my memory power for remembering to hit people when I see VW bugs. Also he's hapa so we have that in common, and he know all the words to Lady Marmalade, including Little Kim's rap, plus I think he is the only person who is as good as me at making everyday interactions sound four times as dramatic/interesting. Now that I think about it, maybe we should battle next time I see him to see who can exagerate more, actually that is a bad idea, cause I think I might lose, and as anyone who knows me can attest, I detest losing which is why I refuse to paricipate in anything that I am not at least reasonably good at, thus the non-participation in group sports. Also he was part of the Swalsa BS which is currently on summer vacation so he came to the crapartment a lot... to sacramento... sometimes as far as from my hometown in C-o-n-c-o-r-d- Concord, Concord, Concord High! Oh, sorry, it was a high school flashback. Anyhoo, bitter is great and I just realized that if I can continue blogging at this time of night I will officially become a nerd. Night y'all!