My life is a whirlwind

Things I meant to write about, but didn't:

• Undersecretary McHale, the highest ranking Public Affairs official in the entire U.S. government, visited Buenos Aires and I got assigned at the last minute to be one of the control officers for the visit.  She had just appointed a brand new Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) and it was my job to cater to the new DAS's every whim and desire throughout the trip.  It was absolutely AWESOME.  McHale's staff really made me feel welcome and part of the team, and all the folks from our public affairs section at the embassy were simply terrific.  I don't expect that all our VIP trips will be so delightful, but at least my first experience was pretty damn fabulous.
• Aaaaaaaaaaaar!  There was a pirate party!  Seriously, kiddos, a PIRATE PARTY.  I was only one of three absolute fools that didn't believe Petra was serious when she told us to get costumes.  So I stole Monica's pirate hat and pretended to be a safari pirate.
• Two of my classmates from A-100 traveled to Buenos Aires for Labor Day weekend.  This meant that I finally got out of my apartment on a weekend for something more than brunch (not that eating is a bad thing, but even I was beginning to wonder where my sense of adventure had disappeared to).  We walked all over the city (in a sad attempt to wear Kaitlin out by walking her to death), visiting the Recoleta Cemetery to visit Evita's grave, the leather stores of Florida Street, the obelisk, the San Telmo flea market where Mateo bought the infamous "44" sign that would end up disappearing by the time he returned to Asuncion, the markets of Recoleta and La Defensa (where we enjoyed watching Matt sweat over which hand-painted wood and glass box to purchase for his sister - for at least 30 minutes)...oh, and we brunched!  ROCK.
• And, after finally receiving my HHE and attempting to unpack, I am now on a work trip to Neuquen City, in Neuquen province.  I don't return home to my baby, Maggie, until Sunday afternoon and right now it's KILLING me.  I miss Maggie (who knew?) and I am so exhausted by the end of the day that I just slink away to my room, hoping no one notices or talks to me.  This whole livng your life in a foreign language thing?  It takes so much concentration that my brain cells are seriously contemplating suicide due the stress.  Some of my contacts have taken pity on me, such as the one today that drove me all around creation and back and then bought me ice cream!  He finally deposited me at my bed and breakfast around 8:30PM.  We actually spent 8 1/2 hours together!!!  Ay, it's a crazy life I lead.  The upside?  Well, there are a few things to list, but I'll describe two highlights: 1) the owners of the bed and breakfast have a Maltese that just had puppies about 3 weeks ago.  PUPPIES.  And I get to touch them.  2) Tomorrow I am going to visit a winery and I am going to pretend that this is a vacation.

Sandra and Monica playing the part of the hot pirates.  (Thanks for the Puss in Boots hat, Monica!)

Pirates of the Caribbean, Jason and Pablito.

My favorte Somali pirate, Richie.

The captain herself, Petra, and our very own gender-bending pirate, Megan.

More pictures will be coming soon, once I get back to Buenos Aires and actually have the cable to download...