Super Lens

Lookie what arrived via Priority Mail today! A 16-35mm Super Lens II.
I can pee in my pants from the excitement.



And before my hubby s**ts in his pants, I didn't buy this bad boy. When I saw the hefty price, I decided to rent it (one can buy a Canon 40D for less than this lens!).

Photos to come...

Best Shot Monday

I was lucky enough to capture a little *sunshine* this week.
There's no sound like the laughter that my daughter squeals while swinging in her hammock.

Ay Papi!

This is Javier.
I fell in love with this photo which my prima, Yvonne, just finished working on.



For those of you who have heard all the crazy stories about pranks Yvonne and I would pull growing up, this is the master we learned from. Javi spends most of his time traveling and working throughout Mexico doing maquillaje permanente, but resides in my border hometown. A visit from him always leaves us in fits of laughter and more wonderful memories.

Spanish for your Nanny

Spanish for your Nanny

With the recent posts on my blog on Spanish translations, I couldn't help but share this.

*Warning* Contains explicit language. And it's a joke, so I don't want any hate mail. If you can't take it, don't watch it.

Translating Services - Part II

So, I come inside from our morning outdoor play and see 10, yes, TEN! missed calls on my cell phone. I start panicking wondering who died or what kind of accident Domi has had at school. I look at the history and see that the ten missed calls are from only two people.

Mari and Mandy's husband.

First call-

Mari (in a stressed out voice)
"Señora Andrea, soy Mari. Hablo para preguntale si Doña Mandy quere que limpio la casa... me toca limpiar ahora, pero no me dejo la llave, no se que pasa...ay, por favor llama me...no me dejo la llave... habla a Dona Mandy para preguntale si es ahora or que, puedes hablar me, no se que pasa con la llave... ay, por favor llama me Senora Andrea."

Translation:
Señora Andrea. It's Mari. I'm calling to ask you if Miss Mandy wants me to clean her house. Today is my day, but she did not leave me the key...I don't know what happened...ay, please call me...she didn't leave the key... can you call Miss Mandy to ask her if today is the day or what....please call me...I don't know what happened with the key, ay, please call me Señora Andrea.

Mandy's husband (in a stressed out voice)
"Hi Andrea, this is Paul. I forgot to leave my key under the mat for Maria to come clean the house today. I came back to the house and left the key. I'm wondering if you could contact her to see if she can come back. Please call me."

So, I call Mari to let her know the hubby forgot to leave the key and if she can go back. Says she has already picked up her daughter from the babysitter, but she can go tomorrow if they want. I tell her to go ahead and do that.

I call Mandy's husband back to let him know that Mari is already back home but she will come tomorrow. Paul reminds me that they will be getting their carpet cleaned tomorrow. I ask what time. He does not know. I tell him to have Mandy call me when she gets off work.

I call Mari back and tell her they are getting their carpets cleaned tomorrow so it probably won't work if she's there, unless they are cleaning carpets in the afternoon, then she can go first thing in the morning, but to wait until she hears back from me for the go-ahead.

10 minutes pass...

Mari calls again.
Tells me that her husband is now back home and that he will be going with her help clean Mandy's house right now so it's done before the carpets are cleaned tomorrow. I tell her I will call Mandy's husband to let him know.

The End.

P.S. I'm going to start charging not only for my referral services, but also for my translating services. I was the token bilingual teacher at my school and was constantly pulled out of class to translate for someone in the office, or to make a phone call for the nurse.

When I worked in a docs office (infertility specialist, I might add), I was pulled in to translate for the doctor to the Spanish-speaking only couple. I'll never forget when I got stumped on the word, ovaries. I just ended up saying something to the effect of "cuando los huevos salen de aqui" (as I pointed to my groin area).

Hehe...

P.S. Love ya Mandy (even though I know you don't read my blog)

Bad Karma or Bad Sense of Humor?

So my friend Mandy calls me tonight and the dialogue goes like this:

Mandy: "I need your help!"

Me: "For what?"

Mandy: "I need Spanish help."

Me: "Translating?"

Mandy: "Yes, for Maria, the cleaning lady."

Me: "You mean, Mari?"

Mandy: "Yes. I need you to tell me how to tell Mari that there is going to be a man coming over tomorrow to look at our air conditioner and not to get scared when he lets himself in. I want to write it all down on a note for her."

Me: "Ok. Mañana va venir..."

Mandy: "M-a-n-a-n-a...with a tilde right?"

Me: "Yes, a tilde over the first N."

Mandy: "Ok."

Me: "...un hombre a la casa...."

Mandy: "-u-n h-o-m-b-r-e ....." [she continues sounding out the letters]

Me: "a ver...hmmm...I don't know how to say air conditioner. I just know conversational Spanish, slang, and all the curse words, and air conditioner just hasn't come up in my convo spanish. Ask your husband, he's Mexican."

Mandy: "How about Aire Conditionado?"

Me: "Sure. She'll figure it out. Or you can look it up on an english-spanish dictionary online and see what pulls up."

Mandy: "Ok, I want to finish with "Thank you for all you do."

Me: "Sure. Just sign it with "Muchas Gracias Pedorra."


Am I BAD or WHAT?

A Muddy Day at Casa T.

A fun mud discovery. Self Applied.

Los Pompis

Wanted to share this cool shot that my friend Mel snuck of yours truly.

Some Of The Many Places We Like in Austin

I'm all about supporting local business. Domi and I love these spots when we can make our way to Central Austin.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

Made some Chia Caterpillars with the O'Mamas and their kiddies today, to finish off our caterpillar theme. The kiddies will be able to spray water their chia pets and see them grow. We had planned to finalize the theme with a butterfly release next week, but it looks like all our larvae succumbed before they could complete their metamorphosis. Oh well. Maybe next time.

Rábanos

Lookie what we pulled from our garden today.
Radishes!

I can't believe how quickly they went from seed to this.


The peppers are well on their way.


As well as the blackberries.


The fig tree is also showing signs of swelling buds. We are going to have tons of figs this year.
Anybody want to trade food this summer? A co-op from our own gardens!

Best Shot Monday

This is the little slice of heaven I have to share this week. From our camping this weekend in beautiful Central Texas.



For more shots, visit Mother May I.

Palmetto State Park

Went camping this weekend with the familia and were accompanied by my cousins and some friends. And it was nice. The weather was a bit cooler than expected in the evenings, however, since we were at a state park, we were within driving distance of stores. I considered it 'easy camping'. The boys enjoyed the trail walks, the canoeing, and the campfire. Sophia was very calm and quiet too.

There was a 'episode' with canoeing (when the boys went off on their own). Luckily, Doug decided to accompany them. The boys saw a water snake, which was 'standing up' a few feet from them, and according to Domi, it whipped his head around, and gave them the stare down, which was followed by a Domi panic, which resulted in a tipped over canoe, and some dunked and soggy teenagers. It's not a real camping trip, unless someone falls in the water.

Notes to self:
Learn how to pack lighter.
Make sure you have a compatible air pump for your air mattresses.
Don't choose a campsite smack dab in front of the playground. That was ALL the kiddies wanted. ;)

I don't know about everybody else, but I'm ready for some more camping.








































Improvising and Adapting.


There's nothing like a warm cup o'jo the morning of camping.

Wild Connections

Joined my playgroup for an outing to a butterfly farm and nature center. Wild Connections was created on the 'No Child Left Inside' philosophy to educate children about the wonders of nature. In recent years, children just don't know how to be outdoors, and Wild Connections has chosen the butterfly as their ambassador. It was a beautiful day, and the butterflies decided to come out and play. Even Sophia's Papa was able to join in on the outdoor fun.