¡Feliz 9 de Julio! On this day…

In 1816, folllowing Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, representatives of the provinces of Argentina met in Tucumán to discuss the future of their country. On July 9 the delegates met in what is now the Casa Histórica de la Independencia to proclaim their independence from Spanish rule and to form the United Provinces of South America, later the Provincias Unidas del Río de la Plata. (About.com)

For more on Argentine history, click here.

I am celebrating today by… working. My office voted to take tomorrow off instead of today to give ourselves a long weekend. That won’t stop me from partaking in a 9 de julio tradition: trying locro for lunch. Mmm… can’t wait.

My mom is in Guam.

My dad, sister and boyfriend are in Rome.

I am in Buenos Aires.

Right now, it’s raining in all three places, and I feel closer to them.

The swine flu is spreading like crazy in Argentina. Some theories:

1. The communal mate gourd. It’s tradition to pass around this highly-caffeinated herbal tea in a single cup with a single straw.
2. Dance floor make-outs. Argentine men consider it a dance step.
3. Besos. Instead of shaking hands, Argentines kiss on the cheek when meeting new people and seeing old friends.

Urban dictionary definition: Most likely originated around the time of Hanson’s “Mmmbop”; an ear worm refers to any song that is so catchy, and at the same time extremely annoying, that it feels like a worm has crawled into your ear and eaten the intelligent parts of your brain so that you hum the song all day long, no matter how much you hate it.

So far, so good. After the Michael Jackson wake-up call, I’ve been a lot more active this week. Some of my finds:

1. Club Museo. Peru 535. Famous Wednesday night after-work party, 7-3. The male uniform is a striped button-down with the sleeves rolled up. Pumping dance floor. Lots of disco faves.
2. Spanglish @ Quiroz Soho. Malabia 1510. Like speed-dating, but with conversation partners. Not as awkward as I thought it would be, especially after two very-full glasses of Malbec.
3. Thelonious Jazz Club. Salguero 1884. Intimate, discrete and around the corner from my apartment. Funky furnishings and amazing jazz. Ring the doorbell to get in.

This weekend: dinner parties, tango lessons and many goodbyes. I’ll try to spend some daylight hours awake too.

When it’s cold, I make excuses to stay in and take it easy. This is an awful habit, and I need to stop. I took this sheet of paper, posted outside my Palermo apartment’s front door last week, as a sign to get off my ass and live my life. Thank you, MJ, for the wise words.

I’ve been in a definite writing rut, so I’m decided to shake things up a bit. I’m changing the appearance of this blog, as well as some of the content. From now on, expect shorter, but more frequent, bursts of info: impressions, quotes, photos, videos, links to interesting articles. Long-form  blogging has been getting me down. It’s time for a change. Hit me back with feedback, if you will.

A sampling of the adorable birthday poems from mi familia:

Oh to be 23

and feel so free!

Now you’re in B.A.

The same degree you earned

Just one short year away

Can’t wait for your return

To be with friends and fam

Once again in your glam…

Happy, happy birthday to our girl Jess!

Who knows how to do with style and much less

When she travels to Vietnam, Peru and Buenos Aires,

Thailand, NYC, Italia, Beijing, and Paris.

After all she’s done we must confess

We can’t wait to see what you’ll do after dos-tres!!!

She once called herself Miss Thattica

When she lived on the Bay near Attica

She now lives in Buenos Aires

And is older than Miley Cyrus.

Happy Birthday, dear Jessica…

Buy yourself a new dress-ica…

Or hang out in Buenos Airess-ica..

‘Cuz you’re not a pup!