Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Big City Update

I can't believe it's been almost a week since I last posted. Time flies!

It's been a good week here for us. Here are the highlights:

Driving

I love driving. Driving gives me a sense of independence like nothing else does. Always has, since I kicked my dad out of his car minutes after getting my license the day I turned 16.

So, I am happy to announce that I have ventured out and am driving the streets of Big City. That is no small feat, let me tell you. Driving is CRAZY here, but I love it.

Maid Service

Monday our new maid started. Having a maid isn't my favorite thing in the world, but I hate cleaning and I'm pregnant, so it was kind of inevitable.

She cooks. She loves to cook. You all have been listening to me whine for the last month about how I can't eat, can't cook, can't shop, etc. Tonight, I ate so much of what she made that I couldn't take another bite. My stomach is still distended. It was that good.

And, she loves to do hair. So, poor Margarita whom on most days looks like she doesn't have a mom, (despite Steph's great post on hair-dos which can be located in her May archives) got a new do tonight. I was expecting some little pony tails or something. She came upstairs looking like a veritable princess.


So, I think we'll keep her (the maid, not Margarita. I always knew I'd keep Margarita).

Church

Just pretend you can hear me give a long, happy sigh in this category.

Don't get me wrong, church in Small Town was very educational and I loved the people. But, it was a dang lot of work. We have entered into a ward full of "alpha-Mormons" as aptly put by one member. Four mission presidents, two G.A.'s and a handful of "retired" bishops. All English. All the time.

Best of all, I was called to be the Relief Society secretary. Can it get any more cush than that???

Juan Carlos's Future as a Linguist

And finally, I found a cute little Montessori school for Juan Carlos (3 yrs) where they will let him attend just 3 mornings a week instead of 5. Here he will learn not only Spanish and English, but also French. And have chess classes every week. To that I say "Good luck!" He's just now starting to grasp Candyland.

And two sad things:

1) My car is in the shop. Its transmission was not doing so hot. It was only supposed to be gone for 7 days and now it's looking like it will be longer than 2 weeks. :( I miss my car.

2) My screen of my new laptop that Guapo got me for my birthday died this week. All of a sudden it just went white. Now we have to get it to the States somehow to get a new screen. Who knows how long it will be before I can blog from the comfort of my own bed. :(

All in all a very good week.

20 comments:

utmommy said...

Sounds like Big City is working out for you so far. I hope everything continues to go well for you.

Sometimes I wouldn't mind someone to cook for me!

Karla said...

Great update. I love Margarita's hair. My poor daughters often look like orphan's when they leave the house too. Sometimes I send them to school with a brush in hand. It's kinda like leaving the vacuum out, so people think you are just about to get to it. . .

Code Yellow Mom said...

"Alpha Mormons" cracks me up.

I'm loving the updates - glad you are eating!

Awesome Mom said...

I would be creaped out a bit by a maid but I think I could get used to it lol I hope that your car gets fixed soon. I hate being without my car so I know it must be hard for you.

Anonymous said...

After small town, you deserve a great area, especially a ward full of Alpha Mormons. Great description!

Lana said...

I've always wanted to the be secretary of something! Enjoy :)

Kristine said...

It does sound a bit cushy there in Big City...are there any homes and jobs available nearby? I'll be there in a heartbeat.

I am glad to hear things are going well!

Valarie said...

it sounds like things are really coming together there. I hope your car is back in working order soon for more big city driving adventures.

Millie said...

LOVE the hair, and I read Steph's post just a couple days ago. Could she be any better at doing hair? My 10 year old refuses to let me do anything to her hair, so I have to do Roz's (which isn't fun because she's 2 and cranky).

So glad that life is going well in Big City! Sounds like a lot of nice stuff happening - especially your ward. Your new calling sounds cushy indeed. :)

Julie said...

It sounds like things are going absolutely wonderfully for you in the Big City. YEAH!!!

Anonymous said...

You win some, you lose some. But all in all, sounded like a great week! Just being able to eat must be a real treat! Loved M's hair.

I'm sure J.C. would do great in his new school. I just hope he continues his "training" for Olympic swimming/diving. Love to see more of his flips! Glad you're back blogging.

Super Happy Girl said...

"Alpha Mormons" ha ha, perfect, I shall use this forever and ever.

Too many things to comment on: you know, I knew I liked you and all, but now, fresh of spending a few days in Mexico, I know I really really like you, and have a lot of respect for you.

Driving: you are so brave. I drove in Veracruz, it was scary. And not too enjoyable

Maid: perhaps the promise of good food and having a maid would make me even consider living in Mexico. Yours sounds great. And you ate!, way to go Gabs.
My friend pays hers $75 (USD) a week (live-in), Saturdays and Sundays off. Crazy huh?

Juan Carlos: ha ha, good luck indeed :P That's great

RS Secretary, way to go

Good luck with your car. Hey, at least you can now stay home and eat,
drink real milk AND take a real shower

smart mama said...

we used to have a maid in turkey- but my mom could never accept it and could be heard running through the apt. saying- quick you need to pick up the maid is coming-- yes i can trace my lack of work ethic to that moment when the maid cleaned our 4th story windows standing on the ledges- a job i am sure my mother had intended for me!

send me to the alpha mormon ward- i'll volunteer to be the greeter!

Blackeyedsue said...

Big City sounds like a slice of Heaven. You deserve it.

I am so excited to copy Margarita's hair doo! She, well, the top of her head looks beautiful!

I am glad you can eat now.

I think "Alpha-Mormons" is going to catch on. I want to be the once-a-month sharing time lady in your ward. I would love to live in a ward where there aren't so many needs...just for a little while.

Paulette said...

Hey Gabriela,
I am so happy you are enjoying Big City. I am also happy you are not as sick. I hope your pregnacy is going well. How far along are you now? Hope to see some pics of the tummy soon!!
I love hearing about your adventures, keep it up.

Bright One said...

I haven't been able to read your posts for over a week, it was so nice to catch up (glad you didn't post much! : )
Just for the record I'm envious of your maid, your cook (I know she's the maid too!) your hairdos, and most especially your alpha-mormon ward (sadly we have no alpha-mormons in Indiana.

Kristen said...

Sounds great. All of it. (Except of course the car and the laptop.)

And Margarita's hair? Perfect! Beautiful!

Gabriela said...

my full hands: lol at sending your daughters off with brush in hand. Sometimes mine goes out after she has "brushed" her own hair. Not pretty.

Kristine: plenty of homes, I'm not sure about jobs, but it is a very nice life we have here. :)

NCS: Yay! You're back!

Smartmama: I totally worry about my kids getting lazy. It's so easy when the maid is zipping around picking up behind them.

Paulette: thanks! I am having a few good days mixed in here and there, so, it's getting better. I will do pics of my belly when I actually re-gain and then gain some weight, as of right now all of my pants are falling off of me.

Anonymous said...

Ahhh, Gabriela's driving. This is a subject hard to pass up. It started, after being turned loose at 16, with minor fender benders in parking lots. Then the pulling out our home garage and slaming into another car in the driveway. And of course, waving to friends after leaving the H.S. parking lot and slaming into a car. I can't remember the name given her in the H.S. yearbook; Something like "Crash" or "Slammer" or "Bulldog", I don't know. Then I go visit her in Venezula and notice a bumber propped up against the wall in the garage. I ask "what it that??" Then I take a look at Gabriela's car. Hmmmm! And reverse is a whole other subject, but we won't go there. The amazing thing is, Gabriela is an excellant driver and I am always comfortable in the car with her. She was extraordinary maneuvering the wild streets of Caracas and I'm sure she'll do great in Big City. I think it may have something to do with the genius mentality. If it's complicated, she'll do great. It's the simple things that seem to confuse the geniuses of the world.

Great new do for Margarita. Glad you're able to eat again!

Nettie said...

Ahh! To have a maid and a ward full of Alpha-Mormons. I've always wanted to be a secretary, too.

I'm glad you are feeling better and doing well. Bummer on the car and the computer screen, though!