Música- How awesome is it that they play this in the club?

I was at a boliche on Friday night for my friend Gabi's party to celebrate completing her major. A boliche is what a dance club is called here, in the spirit of Us vs Chile vs Argentina, in Chile it is called a discoteca and in the US I don't know what it is called because I never go, my vocabulary stops at bar. Around 4:30 in the morning, running out of steam, the dj puts on "That Thing You Do" by the band formerly known as the Oneders. How sick is that, awesome thing about Latin America is that as far as music goes anything and everything is fair game. How did this get overlooked on the Mary Ann's jukebox and in our mod? (Little known fact: I used to own the soundtrack to the movie on tape cassette.)

People who I think would really appreciate the playing of this song:

- Bear

- Pat- (going out on a limb with this one)

- Jenny Driscoll

- Sabby

I like my posts to be somewhat thought provoking, so have you ever contemplated what would have happened to the Wonders if Guy Patterson never got to beat the drums and speed up the whole song? Most likely the band would have fizzled due to internal conflict and Guy would have continued to work in his father's appliance store eventually inheriting it, before passing it on to his son, but with the advent of Best Buy and the death of small business and Main Street, after a lot of mental anguish his son would eventually have to sell the business and space and move on to something less noble.

I also had a brief dance off to Thriller a little bit before this. Nobody saw that coming. When the song came on I though: WWJD- What would Jenny do? Fucking dance, that's what she would do. I obviously couldn't use my whole repertoire of moves because I was very limited by the fact that I couldn' t take my clothes off being in a public place with people I didn't know that well, although I did shed my first layer of shirt before sense overcame instinct.

giving kisses in church

I'm on a hot streak going to church, I think four weeks in a row now. The church around the corner from me makes it hard to miss because there are at least 5 masses on Sundays. One of the most innovative and ingenious things I have seen brought to the Catholic faith down here is going to confession during mass. During the mass there is a line for the confession booth which is on the side of the main aisle, people come to mass on Sundays with a purpose, ready to kill two birds with one stone. However the drawback is that you are face-to-face with the priest, no screen separating you. But, if you think about it there is no way the priest will ever get up and chew you out no matter how appalling what you have to say is because it is the middle of mass, you can go right ahead and give him your worst.

I get really awkward and nervous when it's time to share a sign of peace with the people around me. It's part of the culture to kiss on the cheek in greeting but I'm not sure if everyone does it at church, for example if you are next to another man not sure what the playbook calls for, especially it can be awkward if he kisses his wife or male friend, then I have no idea what the plan of action is. Usually I hesitate for a moment, see what other people around me are doing and then just go for it. My new plan of attack is to stand next to old ladies, I'm not afraid to go in for the smooch with them, add a little spice to their life. However, even with that fool proof plan you always have to be aware of being thrown a curve ball like a family arriving late. Last Sunday a family ended up sitting next to me and the young daughter 12~15ish was directly next to me. When we reached the part about "peace be with you . . . share a sign of peace" I ended up completely avoiding sharing a sign of peace with her, I think it was more her than me. In total I had one kiss on the cheek and 3 hand shakes, I still have no idea what I am supposed to do.

(Disclaimer: not my church)

Wouldn't even contemplate kissing this little Benjamin Button wannabe, I think I would just straight up abduct her.

And why does she remind me of Rafiki?

Shankees Baseball

Some footage shot earlier this year.

(Although it says "that's me" not in fact me)

One question. How sick is the Shankee Shuttle? Who doesn't want to ride shotgun on a beautiful Saturday morning with a broken seatbelt sippin' on Jack with the coach who wrote this children's book http://www.dunken.com.ar/web2/libreria_detalle.php?id=10336 and is either tripping on acid or high on valium? haha totally kidding. no but really.

French People

I'm guessing you might be able to guess where this is going. My French roommate Sarah came back to the apartment with a friend and they sat down with me at the dining room table. I started talking to my sister on skype partway through the encounter:

[10:50:57 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: Danielle

[10:51:12 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: one of my rommates is french

[10:51:16 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: she is cool

[10:51:17 PM] danielle.modz: nice

[10:51:20 PM] danielle.modz: NICE

[10:51:31 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: her friend is a HUGE FUCKING FRENCH ASSHOLE

[10:51:50 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: and I have not wanted to punch someone in the face so bad in a long time

[10:51:57 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: soberly

[10:52:07 PM] danielle.modz: so what are you goig to do

[10:52:10 PM] danielle.modz: dont punch him

[10:52:15 PM] danielle.modz: youre in a foreign country

[10:53:01 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: He's such a french condescending little bitch

[10:53:09 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: he keeps making me toast

[10:53:30 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: to shit even if the stuff makes fun of me

[10:53:35 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: in a snide way

[10:54:06 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: oh man oh man

[10:54:12 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: i tell ya i tell ya i tell ya

[10:54:35 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: the tension is palpable and now it just feels awkward as hell

[10:54:54 PM] danielle.modz: why is he being so mean to you

[10:54:56 PM] danielle.modz: and making you toast

[10:56:24 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: i have no fucking idea

[10:56:36 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: i think he feels really superior n idea why

[10:57:02 PM] danielle.modz: hmmm

[10:57:09 PM] danielle.modz: can u say something to your cool roommate

[10:57:49 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: oh ya, i'm gonna tel her i think your friend is a desuch

[10:57:59 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: u could tell she knew it was awkward

[11:00:29 PM] *** Call to danielle.modz, duration 01:48. *** (at this point they left the apartment, I thought maybe for good and I was able to call my sister, however soon after they came back and I had to hang up)

[11:03:23 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: g' f'in damnit

[11:03:38 PM] danielle.modz: whats the scene

[11:03:45 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: and he bought a beer bottle

[11:03:52 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: now i can't get up

[11:04:30 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: This is a comedy of terribleness

[11:07:35 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: He just poured the new beer in my orange soda cup. What the Shit.

[11:08:02 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: my beer cup and soda cup are next to each other and he clearly chose my orange soda cup

[11:08:34 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: however, that being said the taste isn't all that bad

[11:13:34 PM] danielle.modz: you really think he is doing all of this on purpose

[11:15:02 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: he wants me to tell him something crazy about myself

[11:15:08 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: buddy, not gonna happen

[11:18:27 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: now he is getting in to american politics

[11:20:10 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: and each time i look at him he has another button on his shirt undone, it's like a nightmare

[11:22:36 PM] danielle.modz: this seems SO odd

[11:29:30 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: He wants me to now ask him about his life

[11:30:01 PM] danielle.modz: why doesnt he just hang wth your roommate

[11:30:05 PM] danielle.modz: do u think he is gay

[11:30:10 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: "you don't want to hear anything crazy about my life"

[11:30:27 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: duuuude, i'm starting to get that vibe

[11:31:05 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: he did say earlier, "sometimes i feel like a girl" i thought he was joking at the time

[11:33:10 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: and he did go lip to cheek when he first arrived in greeting, usually guys just go cheek to cheek, if that

[11:33:23 PM] danielle.modz: get out

[11:33:26 PM] danielle.modz: get to your room

[11:33:30 PM] danielle.modz: asap

[11:33:43 PM] danielle.modz: i am now playing in 2 hockey leagues

[11:33:45 PM] danielle.modz: BOO YA

[11:34:06 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: Oh shit, she just went to the bathroom now it is just us

[11:35:28 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: i am about to burst out giggling due to the awkwardness, at least i no longer feel violent.

[11:38:18 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: and this is why i never leave my room.

[11:38:19 PM] danielle.modz: yes

[11:38:27 PM] danielle.modz: but wghat if he makes amove

[11:38:35 PM] danielle.modz: you will freak and it will get violent

[11:38:40 PM] danielle.modz: remove yourself from the situation

[11:38:44 PM] danielle.modz: im going to bed, good luck

[11:38:52 PM] danielle.modz: im sure there will be a blog post about this

[11:38:59 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: thanks

[11:39:14 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: i'll let you know how it turns out.

[11:39:28 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: and i really have to pee now, don't know what to do

[11:39:37 PM] danielle.modz: go pee...

[11:39:39 PM] Stefan Modzelewski: goodnight

[11:39:41 PM] danielle.modz: an then go into your room

[11:39:46 PM] danielle.modz: night

Annnnnnnd I started to record it. A small sampling of Frenchness, (Don't worry if you don't really understand it, I also did not really know what he was talking about) Just enjoy the sweet accent:

(I had to delete the audio, the site thinks it can give a virus, I agree French vaginaness is contagious, I can send the audio via email on request, it's like a 90 seconds)

Joga Bonita

Hellllooo. I went to a River Plate soccer game on Saturday. River Plate is a professional team here in Argentina and they were playing Racing in what is termed a "clasico." It seems to me they call everything a "clasico" but I guess these are two of the oldest and most succesful teams in Argentinean soccer. For the record, the atmosphere of professional soccer games in Latin America shits on anything I have ever attended in the United States as far as sporting events go.

I went to the game with my friend Emanuel. On Thursday he went to the stadium at 3:30 in the morning to get in line for the tickets which went on sale at 10 (I offered to go with him but he said it was ok, good guy). The game started at 4 o'clock on Saturday, so we started to make our way over to the stadium on the bus at about 2ish. The stadium itself was sweet, it seats about 70,000. Getting in was definitely an interesting experience. You have to go through about 4 or 5 security check points and you get frisked by police at each one. Funny moment getting in was when Emanuel got pulled out of line by an officer and since I didn't know anyone else I obviously followed him. The officer had him take a breathalyser test and since I followed him out of line I also had to take it. We both tested positive on the initial breathalyser so what then happens is you have to take a second that reads the actually blood-alcohol level. I think Emanuel blew like a .02 and I got a .05, apparently you are not allowed in the stadium with above a .08. We had sausages before going in, It would have been interested to see how close to .08 I would have gotten without that sausage.

Everyone arrives in the stadium BEFORE the game starts, a very novel concept unknown in American sports. We were in the upper deck in the section with the "hinchada" which is where the die hard fans set up shop. While waiting for the game to start and throughout the game since alcohol isn't sold and impossible to bring in everyone just smokes a lot of weed. Other awesome thing: everyone wears wind pants and sweat pants to the game, so I fit right in in that respect. If there was a popped collar there is a good chance they would have been stabbed (that is the literary device of 'hyperbole' in action).

It's so awesome how it all works, the stadium is just covered with massive banners and flags and everything that people make and bring and hang everywhere, it's pretty ingenious the bottom of the banners are weighted down with water balloons that I believe they make in the bathroom before the game starts. The part of the stands where we were, I guess can be described as the heart of all the action. It's in the second deck behind one of the goals and banners are strung from the bottom to the top and across sections of the stands. The fans of this area are called "Los Borrachos del Tablon." It translates directly to "The drunks of the table." This is the Hinchada for River (every team has a hinchada some much larger than others) and it is just an unbelivable place to be.

Smack dab in the middle is a section for about 12 guys with drums that are used to beat out the rhythm and coordinate the singing of all the songs for the stadium. We were probably about 15 or 20 rows above them and we ended up holding one of the banners, the big blue and white which says "Somos Argentina" (We are Argentina) near the top. Ironic? or I still don't know how to use the term?

I spy . . . (Look at the very very top right corner of this photo. I'm holding the banner between a large man in a navy blue t-shirt with baby blue sleeves and a smaller guy (Emanuel) in a black t-shirt. I am in a white t-shirt. click on it to enlarge).

All the guys standing up on the rails are basically like the captains of fans, help lead everything. Also if you look carefully you will see that their faces (and the faces of the drummers in the picture before) are blurred out. I'm guessing these guys don't have the cleanest records and the police keep an eye out for them and their association with the hinchada.

This is what the whole game is like:

Again, when I say that there is nothing like this in the world, I really don't think there is. The whole game is one big celebration. Not once during the duration of the game does the singing stop. You can really feel the momentum of the game too with all the cheering and chanting. When there is a swing in momentum and the team is getting close to a breakthrough, the whole stadium, not just the hinchada is on their feet jumping up and down belting out the words to the songs.

Across the stadium in the upper deck behind the other goal the opposing team has their hinchada. The Racing hinchada is, "La Guardia Imperial" (The Imperial Guard). Their section is fenced in with barbed wire seperating them from the rest of the fans. They also are allowed to bring all their flags, banners, and drummers and they get equally rowdy, especially knowing that they are outnumbered in the stadium 5 to 1. I would say they had anywhere from 10 to 12 thousand there. You are probably wondering how the people under that big flag in the picture see, it only gets unfurled during certain moments.

One of the funniest parts was when the game ended and everyone just sat down. It turns out for security reasons the entire stadium has to wait for all of the opposing teams fans to leave before allowing anyone out of the stadium. Apparently they have there own entrance/exit gates that no River fans are allowed to use so as to avoid violence. So everyone just sat there for about half an hour after the game as the Racing fans made their way out. It took awhile especially because the Racing fans embrace making the River fans wait. As the police slowly funnel them out of the stands they keep on singing and playing the drums to the very last moment.

How sweet is this room?

The third and final leg of the "10 Dias de Democracia Global" which consisted of the meetings of the World Federalist Movement kicked off in this room in "La Casa de Cultura." Whenever I had a chance I got out my swiss army knife and chipped a little of the wall off into my pocket to cash in when gold prices rise.

There were also some really awesome paintings on the ceiling and walls. There was a description of the paintings which explained that it was a story from the Old Testament about a women who (more or less, I'm thinking less) liberated a people. I took it upon myself to stand next to the description since it was only in Spanish and whenever an English-only speaker came by to read it I would give them my personal version.

It was fun trying to match up the description with the series of paintings and the story it was telling. The most confusing part was that it talked about the Tres Gobolinos. First thought obviously was: the Three Goblins, however we eventually concluded that Gobolinos were baby-like angels because they reappeared in many of the paintings, however it didn't really make sense with the storyline. It turns out that Gobolinos is a word for "canvas" so it was explaining what was going on in the three different canvases. Interesting noneTHEless.

I started going to the gym

That is such an awful feeling when you go to the gym for the first time in awhile and you feel like you are going to throw up the whole time, that is just the pits.

This gym is just packed with massive non-sensical equipment that is connected by ropes and bike chains and stuff instead of cables and it looks more like a Taliban torture chamber than anything else. When you think about it there isn't much of a difference between a gym and a torture chamber. In both places you go there and suffer and experience pain.

Next year I think I'm just gonna rent a truck for my birthday

Good idea? No, great idea.

Buenos Aires picture of the day

It's a giant metal flower. How do you grow giant metal flowers . . . . ? (scroll down for answer)

Water, duhhhhh.

These assholes better give me a job

Witty, Creative Writers Needed (Palermo)

Competitive pay, entertaining work. Write from home.

Native English tongue required.

Contact for more info!

I applied for a job a few weeks ago with this company that was looking for a "witty" writer. *ahem* I sent them an email and was like, hey check out my blog. I figured it's Latin America, I have nothing to lose. He unfortunately said they were "looking for someone with a little more professional experience." Did they not read my post on Lorenzo the lookout and the French Fry Palace?

I just got a follow-up email from them last week, I think it turned out it was for a dating website writing profiles, I didn't reply but in retrospect I wish I had, that could have been quite amusing.

It looks like I might have to try my luck in a different writing field: http://buenosaires.en.craigslist.org/wri/2013427217.html

Bday

Alright, so it’s my birthday, cool. Not really doing much, but a good idea came to me on Friday for a perfect way to celebrate. On Thursday, October 21^st The Town comes out down here. I think I am going to try and gather a contingent to go see the movie, it should be fun because I can share a little bit of culture with them. I’m obviously going to pretend that this is what my life is really like. I also keep telling my friends from the Diputado’s office in the Congress that I will show them pictures of my house, which I haven’t yet. According to my sister our house is in it A LOT. I asked Ben and he confirmed that it is in it for a few seconds during a chase scene. Also Meghan Thompkins is one of the first people in the movie, she was an extra, what better way to look cool in front of my Argentinean friends than knowing the first person in the movie? Nope, no better way.

Apparently, the fact that I am not doing much for my birthday apparently is nothing knew, my mom said in an email on Thursday, “Re your birthday - you never did like them even in first grade but life is too short not to embrace all that you can even birthdays.” You know that this is a legit quote because the font is different. Do you remember in middle school/ high school when kids got caught plagiarizing because they were too dumb to change the font in their papers when they copied and pasted sections? Amateurs.

(sidesidenote: since BC shutdown my email for some reason all my emails are getting forwarded to my mom’s email account. She thought it was all spam, she was like, “Why does Arturo Susho Ayala Mendoza want to be my friend?” and she was like “why is Danielle Lozier trying to invite me to an event and sending messages?” I have since rectified the situation and fixed it so no more facebook notifications get sent to her. It’s a good thing she was afraid to open them for fear of viruses, especially given some of the stuff I exchange with Greg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt9ek2rMjug.)

Anyway, since I’ve been in Argentina for a while, I’m assuming people might need a refresher about what I am like. Luckily accurate information about me can all be found on urbandictionary.com: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=stefan The first entry is a little bit graphic but the rest it’s safe to say is in general fairly accurate accounts of who I am.

Is this not the most romantic story of our generation?

Romeo guinea pig causes baby boom

Homes are needed for Sooty's numerous babies

A guinea pig called Sooty enjoyed a night of passion with 24 females after fooling his way into their cage in south Wales.

Sooty wooed the lady guinea pigs, one by one, and has now become the proud father of 42 baby guinea pigs from his two nights of passion.

His endeavours left staff at Little Friend's Farm, Hopkinstown, Pontypridd, amazed at his stamina.

Park owner Carol Feehan, 42, said: "I'm sure a lot of men will be looking at Sooty with envy.

Sooty had two nights of passion

"We knew that Sooty had gone missing and we looked for him everywhere but never thought of checking the pen where we keep the females.

"We did a head count and found 25 guinea pigs - Sooty was fast asleep in the corner.

"He was absolutely shattered - we put him back in his cage and he slept for two days."

Staff at the farm park tourist attraction thought Sooty might have hit the jackpot, but it was not until 10 weeks later that his night of passion started bearing fruit.

The farm park - which is closed for the winter - is now trying to find homes for Sooty's brood of babies.

To recap:

- breaks out of his cage and into girls' guinea pig cage.

- makes sweet sweet love to 24 different guinea pigs in a spate of passion.

- falls asleep in the corner and then doesn't wake up for two days.

- now has 42 kids to carry on the Sooty family name.

- these are just mind numbing statistics.

I have so many things to say about this. Sooty basically tripled the guinea pig population of this place in two days. Also can you even imagine how nasty the guinea pig cage was when all 24 of these girl guinea pigs all started giving birth left and right? I'm so happy I wasn't the person who had to clean the cage. And do you think Sooty was around to witness the beautiful miracle of life when this all went down . . . nope, back chillin in the bachelor pad better known as his own cage.

Do you think he thought about how he would support his 42 kids and 24 wives? He's gonna be on god damn guinea pig welfare the rest of his life.

To recap via video. Sooty in human form? It matches his m.o.

Música- How do you say Beiber fever in Spanish?

Fiebre Beiber. But you would never say that because it doesn't rhyme.

Somebody get that kid a haircut.

Real life Bruce Willis from Armaggedon in Chile

I recommend reading this story, it's pretty amazing. It is also pretty funny how close elements of this story, ie. assembling the drill team and the process of drilling are to the movie Armageddon.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gNlIZNP_SZLrEIJSmfdFLwXoVRXQD9IOESLG0?docId=D9IOESLG0

(Little known fact: Armageddon was the first dvd I ever owned. It was not by choice though. When ps2 first came you could only buy it in a bundle pack with 3 games, 2 controllers, one dvd remote, and a dvd. My dad drove me to the UPS headquarters in Watertown to pick it up because there was a snow storm that was so bad they weren't delivering. I got the sports pack- Madden 2001, NHL 2001, and SSX, all phemonenal games, and armageddon came as the dvd . . . which I was too scared to watch.)

Guess Who?

So the majority of the meetings for "10 Dias de Democracia Global en Argentina" took place in the CARI- Consejo Argentino para Relaciones Internacionales. They have a shit ton of photos on display of a lot of the world leaders that have come throught the place. What I really wanted to do was play a giant game of Guess Who with the various world leaders:

Did you receive oral sex in your office and then lie under oath about it?

Could you be mistaken for a terrorist?

Would your military campaign in the middle east during the early 90's be considered by many to be controversial? However said campaign allowed for the making of the blockbuster movie "Three Kings" starring George Clooney, Mark Whalberg, and Ice Cube?

Did you use to wear a hood but now wear a hat? . . Are you the Pope?

This is why Lucy's hot

This is going to seem very mean-spirited and I'm an asshole, both things I do not deny but at the event last week there was a lady who is on the World Federalist Movement Council that is beyond words. She has absolutely no awareness whatsoever about what is going on around her, it is incredible, I honestly don't know how she dresses herself in the morning.

When she got here she got in the wrong transfer from the airport, which proceeded to charge her $100 for the ride. The next day she then proceeded to get robbed of her pocketbook with all of her money, credit cards, etc, etc. She was in one of the main plazas and in a nutshell a couple of thiefs came up to her, one tapped her on the shoulder and the other literally just slipped the bag off her shoulder and then they walked away. You can literally spot her from a mile away as someone who has absolutely no awareness of the world around her. I thought about robbing her myself it looked so easy.

In addition to these experiences we went to a restaurant as a group and when it was time to pay she just walked out assuming that someone was paying for her. We also went to a Tango night where all guests had to pay and rsvp beforehand. The World Federalist Movement coordinator told me that there were two empty spots and I could go and specifically that Lucy wasn't signed up. Long-story short I get to the tango night and there in the front row is Lucy. Lastly, at the beginning of the event each guest got a nice little laptop bag that also came with a commerative pen (swanky, I know), a flash drive courtesy of our friends at Coca-Cola, as well as a folder with all the event information. Each day she came in the morning she would ask for another bag, until by the 4th day we realized that she kept taking bags from us and we hid them.

Anyway I put this short video together as a tribute to Lucy, it's made from all of 15 seconds of footage, I planned on taking more but I was too busy and my camera died.

I have a feeling that this will be stupid as hell if you don't know Lucy:

Because this is just sweet

G'damn pirates

Mexican Pirate Attack: Eyewitness comes forward

Tiffany Hartley Returns to Scene of Alleged Attack, Asks President Obama for Help

An eyewitness has come forward in the case of the American who was allegedly attacked by Mexican pirates to claim he saw the man's panicked wife as she fled to the American side of the lake.

"I saw the Jet Ski come around an island," the witness told "Good Morning America." "There was something wrong actually. The way I saw her come around it looked like something terribly wrong happened. I mean, she was jittery, frantic. ... She was crying, sobbing."

___

Some of us used to joke about pirates on lakes. Not so funny anymore eh? Next thing you know the pirates will be conquering the last frontier: pools. They'll start out in the deep end and slowly make their way into the kiddie area. I really don't see what's not too love about all these new pirates popping up all over the world. I hope in the history books they refer to this period as some kind of pirating renaissance age, a new Great Awakening for the 21st century.

PS: I like it how people still appeal personally to President Obama for help. I'm sure if President Obama walked across the lake and made the peace sign these pirates would see the error in their ways. (and yes I said "walk" across the lake. He's Obama, did you forget his powers are limitless and he can defy the laws of nature simply by saying "yes we can"?)

PPS: The more I think about this it sounds like if you attack a person near a body of water you are called a pirate?? Can this really be considered accurate journalism? There must be some sort of idenitfying clothing to help signify that they are in fact pirates.

Música

Alright, it's time for you to put your jenny driscoll Tuesday nights at 9 booty shorts on (or black leggings, or overalls for that matter, whichever you prefer).

This was one of the more stressful song choices I made due to the fact that there are two bacan versions, one in Spanish and the above, in English/Portuguese. Because of the demographics of you, my highly valued readers I went with the partially English one. Feel free to thank me by sending me a small sum of money and/or a medium Dunkin Dontus ice coffee, cream/2 sugars WITH a hot cup.

However, because I am such a giving mood and the link is already open on my computer I will also give you the link to the Spanish version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zp1TbLFPp8 I can almost guarantee you won't like it due to how ridiculous the opening is and the whole video for that matter. They are wicked good at English.

Lastly, don't forget I made the grooveshark link so you can listen to this and all the other songs I added: http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/playlist/Usvschile+musica/36359432

This is what they do to hippies who try and protest rodeos in Chile

(be sure to watch the leftish side of the screen at the 13 second mark)

Chilean cowboys are unfamiliar with the phrase, "we shall overcome," try and save a cow and you are gonna get hog-tied. Or if you're MacMahon we might just hog tie you for no reason.

Things I google

This should be a regular section. I google some random shit mostly because my domestic skills are lacking.

This most recent google was "how to iron a shirt" because I want to look presentable tomorrow. There were too many options for this one. For example the first link was "how to iron a shirt like a pro"- No thank you. I know my limits, I'm not reaching for the stars yet. Then there was another link for an 8 minute long youtube video, again, if someone is really googling how to iron a shirt do you think they are the type of person who will watch an 8 minute long video on how to do it?? Really google, really?

Cherry tomatoes are my sunny d and rum, yum yum

I just walked to 5 different fruit stands/stores to find them so I can make arrabiata. You are probably saying to yourself, "stefan,you are a silly goose, tomatoes are a vegetable!" well I am afraid my friends that you are mistaken.

Keeping the tradition alive

(Alert: Don't look at the pictures if you are one of my readers of the female variety)

Last night I had what could be described as a strong/to very strong desire to watch the BC game. Hence, I went to the gringo bar here that shows american sports. Unfortunately do to the fact that there were many better games on last night the BC game didn't make any of the TVs. However, that did not stop me from blacking out, it probably only contributed. I ended up watching the Florida/Alabama game with a couple of Florida fans.

Among the beers I drank and some whiskey, I somehow managed to get a car bomb which is always a treat. Don't remember leaving, don't remember getting home. I woke up this morning on the floor of my room with a small pile of throw up next to me. At this point I did my best to figure out if I ate when I got back from the bar. When I eventually was able to get my head clear enough to sit up I found a half eaten steak on a plate on my desk. Last night I brought new meaning to the term rare. This looked like I had cooked it for all of 2 minutes.

I then went to use the bathroom- also destroyed that by the looks of it. Among the pieces of food that I am missing/ must have eaten last night are: an apple, a hard-boiled egg, and the steak with peppers and onions.

Things to take away from this experience:

1. This marks the fourth year in a row that I have thrown up for the BC/Notre Dame game.

2. I woke up in just my boxers AND I took my contacts out, yet I woke up on the floor and I never turned off the lights-- an intriguing combination.

3. I have no idea how but I managed to not cut myself last night while cutting up the peppers and onion, we have some very sharp knives here in the apartment.

4. I should probably not make it a habit of blacking out and walking home in Latin American cities.

5. Mama Mia just came on TV down here. I watched about 5 minutes before realizing I was way to hung over and wanted to kill each person whenever they started singing. Fuck musicals, unless it is the Sound of Music.

6. I have a downstairs neighbor who is learning to play the Titanic song on the recorder.

Update 11:45 PM- To kickoff our big event which starts this week we had a welcome dinner with a bunch of the guests at an all you can eat steak house, to say the least it was a little difficult to put away the steak for me. I treated it like learning to ride a bike- if you fall you have to get right back up, face your fear and get on that damn bike.

Música- Happy Birthday Little One

Somewhere little andy is singing this and clicking his feet in the air

Did Little Andy really write this?

I'm pretty sure the answer is no, I looked into this somewhat, and I know how that meniacal mind works. Anyway, it is his birthday and I'll use this as a reminder to tell you to so send him some books! It is the deep south so try and stay away from books about witchcraft and evolution (like Animorphs).

p.s. I read through the amazon book list. Is it safe to conclude that Andy has some black students in his class?

Dear Friends, Family, & (a few) Enemies

Hi and Happy Labor Day! I hope this email finds you well and I apologize if contact with me has been difficult or nonexistent in the past couple months, but I've been incredibly busy setting up for this year and beginning to teach. Speaking of which....

As you probably know, I'm teaching 9th grade English in Southeast Arkansas. Everyday this is incredibly exciting, especially seeing these kids increase their skills as readers and seeing the potential for more and more growth throughout the year. These students have enormous potential as readers, but, sadly, many of them are far behind where they need to be in high school. Past negative experiences with literacy still hinder some of my students' ability to move forward. Many have yet to find lasting joy in reading. While my classroom library houses some classics and general fiction books (most of which were generously donated by friends and family this summer), it remains somewhat sparse in terms of the material that will really engage struggling readers.

One of the difficulties with struggling high-school readers is the gap between the books that would interest them and the books that they can read right now. In the hopes of adding to and diversifying my classroom collection, I've created an Amazon Wish List with some classics but also a number of attention-grabbing, teen-centered pieces. Please feel free to browse http://amzn.com/w/1HT0DIMIGJS9G and donate to our classroom library if you would like and are able.

I hope that this Wish List is just the beginning of our classroom library. If there is a book that really got you interested in reading--that is, if there was a book that you (as a Middle School student, a High School student, a college student, or a person who reads books) really enjoyed, that really made you want to read more, that changed your life in some way (and there probably is), I bet it will have the same effect on one of my students. It would be an amazing thing to share that book with a young reader (especially a struggling one). So if there is a book not on that Wish List that you think one of my students would enjoy, he or she would be so grateful to have access to that as well.

(Also, as you may know, my birthday is approaching [10/1] and a book or two for my classroom library would be such an awesome birthday gift to receive!)

Thank you, so very much, for anything you can give. My students will benefit because of you, and I cannot thank you enough.

Best wishes,
Andy

P.S. If you received this e-mail, that means I'd love to hear from you (whether or not you choose to send a book my way!). Please write or call sometime to let me know how you've been doing!