Hmmm. . . Not what I had in mind, but okay. Sunday came around and we hadn’t purchased any: Hooray! I told Hugo we would just make them at his mom’s house. “Okay.”

Hugo, his mom and I set to work washing potatoes and preparing the sauce. Hugo came in and out as his mom (Lucia) and I had taken charge of rolling out the dough, cutting and making the fork impressions on each. Once we had enough to boil Mom called out, “Cook #3, where are you? Where is cook #3?” I found him watching the kids playing video games and dragged him in to boil the noodles while Mom and I continued with our portion. After much labor we had made an enormous mound of noquis and a delicious sauce. Hugo and I sat at the table with his parents and ate while my brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces and Lizet gratefully took their much awaited meal to the other room.

Cali and Lucia Making Noquis

After eating and resting a little, we set to making homemade bread with anis. While kneading the bread we talked about food (we talked about FOOD while making food?! Yes.) and I told stories about my mischievous dad. We tried putting it all in a breadmaker to cook but couldn’t figure it out. . . so we put it in the oven. It smelled so good as it cooked!!  Can I just tell you I LOVE this bread? I love bread with herbs and spices, but most of all I really enjoyed doing something–learning–with Hugo’s mom. Thank you, Mom Centurion!

Recently the owners of the land have returned (this is the second time in the past few years) and tried to get my in-laws to sign a sneaky contract that would basically kick them off the land without enough recompense. Because they have been on the land so long, they have certain legal rights that keep them from being removed (possession is 9/10s of the law sort of deal). The farm is their livelihood and they have never taken legal action against the owners for lack of payment, they would simply like the law to provide for them. Cross your fingers all works out well for them in one form or another.

Hugo Luisa Lucia and Brisa

On the other side of the law, a woman known to be connected with thieves, if she is not a thief herself, decided to use the same “possession” tactic to take over someone else’s home. The owner of the home decided to make improvements before actually moving in and has spent months doing so; a new brick fence, new tile floors, etc. At some point the thief decided the house was nice enough for her and moved in with her toddler, putting a lawyer to work at securing this home for herself.

Because the woman has a child, is not married and was “homeless”, she could easily be given home even though it in no way belongs to her AND the owner has obviously been making improvements to the home–recent visits/activity on the property. The thief was ensured by her lawyer she would be given the home and to not worry about a thing so the thief sold the property she owned–yes she was NOT homeless and actually was not without a husband (common law), either, which is another point that would work for her. This story has actually seen its end and the thief was removed (kicking and screaming after a 10-day extension) from the property because it was found out she actually DID own property and someone testified against her (Hugo).

I was remarking to Hugo yesterday that I was glad to see justice take its course–the thief received her due dessert–and we don’t always get to see that in this life. Sometimes people are able to avoid the law. I expected him to jump in with me but he surprisingly quieted and, even though he had spent weeks saying his neighbors were cowards by not helping each other and testifying against this woman, and only replied with a question trying to confirm he understood what I was saying. He in no way was trying to give me an “aha” moment, but he did.

Hugo’s parents need that law in order for true justice to be served to them. This thief tried to use the same law to steal from someone else. Dumb law? Not for Hugo’s parents. Noted: it is more often the people and not the laws that mess things up. As for justice being served, I have never stolen clothing from a store or really committed any serious “crime” worthy of jail or prison time, but I have done things I shouldn’t, whether according to the laws of the land or my own beliefs.

I speed. I do. I know I shouldn’t, but 65 mph doesn’t seem fast enough. I also have accepted “free music” from friends. I think speaking like a pirate is great, but I shouldn’t be pirating things. Not nice. All the hardworking musicians out there are wishing justice would be served on US.

A note to Justice: I will try to be better, but will you please forgive me this time?

An easy 90 degrees out; 85 in the shade, which is where I am. To the right is a young mandarin orange tree leaning a little to far toward the house and chinese rose plants topped in red. To my left another slightly older tree and tall green and red grasses shading my workspace for the day. The birds are chirping high above in the trees and butterflies flutter through and around my “cubicle”. You could easily say this is one of those “happy places” they tell us to find when we are huddled inside our offices during the winter.

Blessed Argentine spring! . . . As long as we keep the fan pointed on me and can shower several times per day.

Good-bye U.S. Hello Argentina.

The plan at this point:

Leave the country quickly, passport in hand. Arrive in Argentina. Marry Hugo twice. Civilly in Buenos Aires. Again in the temple. Parents return home. I travel onto Presidencia Roque Saenz Pena where Hugo lives. I stay for a bit. We start the paperwork to get Hugo and Lizet into the U.S.

What do you think? Wanna come? I hear Argentina is lovely in the springtime.

From a senior missionary couple:

“My favorite memory of Hugo was when he was the president of the Obreo branch, of our church {LDS}. There was a family of little children who were regular attendees. They were very poor and came to church barefoot. One little girl about 4 years old stepped on some broken glass and cut her foot quite badly. President Centurion picked her up and placed her in the bathroom sink, washed her up, bandaged her cut and combed her hair.”

This past summer Hugo was telling me about a neighbor woman who approached him in tears. Her husband left her and his three young boys for another woman, but took major household items, including the stove. (Yes, her stove.) Hugo, being the Deseret Industries of his neighborhood with one of his rooms dedicated to the storage of unwanted, useable items, gave her a camp stove and his spare tank of propane among other miscellaneous items.

All of the missionaries who have served in his area that I’ve spoken to always say how well Hugo treated them. He was (and still does) always feeding them, cutting their hair, doing their laundry and accompanying them to teaching appointments. He is extatic to be serving as the ward missionary leader again. Might as well have the title if you’re doing the work, right?

In 2008, while Hugo was in Buenos Aires for a while, he picked up odd jobs to earn money for his sister to have a much needed surgery performed.

Hugo also helps his mother run errands in town and has gathered his brothers and constructed an indoor bathroom and kitchen for his mother. Yes, “indoor” meaning she hasn’t had either before. Hugo even gave his mother his own refrigerator and microwave so she would be properly outfitted.

Can you tell I kind of like this guy? I kind of really do. Actually, in my nephew David’s terms, I like Hugo “10″, which is lots.

Here's a recent photo of Hugo from his cell phone. He was sick this day.

Now that I’ve gone on and on (again) about how wonderful he is, remind me to tell you about what a TEASE he is. Yeah, remind me to tell about the lizard.

Do you ever see something that you hadn’t noticed before? Perhaps a rhinoceros is charging a clown face? Or maybe you see a cute lady bug? Where? Well in the texture of your ceiling, of course!

Ha ha. . . Well, I suppose I am a bit crazy, but that’s to be expected from me–for those who know me well. In the event you’d like to see if you are crazy, too, here’s a fun texture to find shapes in:

There's gotta be SOMETHING in here!

The only other girl in the office asked today, “So has anything changed since you were here last?”
“Nothing except the lack of organization, which is driving me crazy.” I have taken time here and there over the past couple of weeks to do everything from clean the desk to organizing the desk drawers and tackle the scary office supply closet. I even ventured into the conference room file tornado.
I share my position with someone else and upon discovering the miraculous state change of the desk drawers, he said to my boss, “Look! Cali organized the drawer so now we can find things!” My boss replied, “That’s what she does. Cali demands a certain level of organization and we just sit back and enjoy it.” It’s been kind of funny how appreciative the guys have been about my need to have things straightened. It’s nice enough to have me smiling a pleasant sort of smile even now.
Speaking of smiling, the guys encourage it. They tell jokes, harrass each other or otherwise are quite entertaining after about one o’clock each day. When they’re not on stage, they are flattering me: “Cali, have I told you how nice it is to have you back?” If money isn’t what makes the world go ’round I’d choose sincere compliments as the currency. It certainly has deeper and longer lasting value than what we currently use to pay our bills. “Compliments: The Currency of the New World.”

In other news, don’t be surprised if you see some metal and ice gracing my left hand. I am wearing an engagement ring. It’s all becoming more and more “officialized” as time goes on. Now if we could just get them here!

That’s the news from the Frontrunner, where all the men talk to themselves, the women read and the children . . . are above average.

I take the train into town, then switch to the lightrail. A couple of weeks before I started work we did a trial run to see exactly how to make the transfer and then how long it would take to walk from the stop to work. How did it go? Well, I missed the train! Yeah, I was late and they were on schedule. I ran and they. . . well, they left. Ha! Melina got a good laugh from it all. We tried again the next day and I actually made it. Phew! I was a bit nervous for the first few runs but now I’m quite enjoying the time to read. What shall I read next? . . . .

Work? Work is great. I can tell it may be a bit tricky at times because I’m splitting the position with someone else. He’s there for some conversations I’m not and vice versa. I’ve also done A LOT of cleaning up and organizing of the desk drawers and supply closet. Hopefully it’s a welcomed change. I just couldn’t stand the clutter anymore. My boss asked me on Friday afternoon how everything was going and I said, “I love riding the train; I love walking to work; and I love that I am working again. It’s wonderful!” Yesterday as I was hard at work on a PowerPoint presentation I thought, “I’m at work. . . Yay!” It really is wonderful to feel like a productive member of society again.

Being back at work I can see I have changed since I was last there. I am much less self-conscious and, if I do say so myself, lots funnier. So, if you’re Downtown sometime, call me a day in advance and we’ll do lunch

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is doing awesome!.

Crunchy numbers

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has 296 steps to reach the top. This blog was viewed about 1,100 times in 2010. If those were steps, it would have climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa 4 times

In 2010, there were 25 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 39 posts. There were 54 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 35mb. That’s about 1 pictures per week.

The busiest day of the year was August 20th with 40 views. The most popular post that day was Negligence.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were facebook.com, en.wordpress.com, etsy.com, bmadsenfamily.blogspot.com, and tvrizor.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for envelopes, swirly line, cute envelopes, wax sealed, and cute envelope.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

Negligence July 2010
1 comment

Valentine Envelope Chair Backers January 2010
5 comments

Yes, I’m stuck on Illustrator February 2010

Happily Distracted May 2010
2 comments

American Girl Doll Birthday Bash April 2010
1 comment