Bilingual In The Boonies » Miami

Miami: Que Rica Vida

Carrie — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:09:33 +0000

Miami was delicious. I was there to witness the unveiling of General Mills’ revamped Que Rica Vida site. It was awesome. General Mills comes off of this looking genius in the way it has smartly reached out in such a huge way to Latinos, Latino media and Latina/os who blog. Plus, my father just called from Miami to tell me he got a Que Rica Vida magazine delivered in the mail today. Que Smart Son!

I’ll write about it more later when I detox from fried food, pastelitos and cafecito y mojitos. But, some highlights…

How to make me happy: Cafecito.

My Tiki Tiki Blog partner and amiga querida, Marta, and me at the Que Rica Vida event in Miami

The beautiful, funny, smart, talented, powerful Latina blog publishers I met in Miami during Que Rica Vida.

Pescado enchilado at La Habana Vieja, Coral Gables.

My new career: Showgirl. Taken at Cuba Nostalgia.

One day, I will parody Maria Elvira Live! Until then, the latest Tiki Tiki video essay

Carrie — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:28:00 +0000

One day, I am going to get really, really good at this video essay/post thing and I am going to impersonate Maria Elvira Live!

“Ay, dios mio, tiene un traje de scuba!” the TV host said — or something like that — last week while showing pictures of the Bearded Dictator’s son.
“That suit looks Italian!” she said, or something like that.
Like it is a shock that a Dictator’s son lives the good life in Italian wool?

I was watching the show with my aunt.
“You watch this crazy crap?” I asked.
Indeed, it turns out my whole family watches.
“This stuff makes people crazy, Tia.”
“No, it does not, Cary.”

As my brother-in-law (the one who just immigrated here) noted: The Cubans in Miami spend more time thinking about the Bearded Dictator than the Cubans in Cuba. They don’t have time. Too busy trying to find the next meal, a decent pair of shoes, a simple limon.

I’m not saying the shady goings-on of the Bearded Dictator and his brood are not worthy of talk and gossip, and maybe the islanders should spend more time dealing with their Dictators, but it is pure, air-wave-killing down there in The Homeland…in my humble and gringafied opinion.

Again, why spend an hour talking about how big the Dictator’s family’s birthday cake is? Of course, they’re going to have the biggest piece of cake on the island. Why? Because they’re the Bearded Dictator’s Family. That’s how dictatorship (and royalty) works. If not, what would be the point?

Maybe this is where I am more gringa. Give me facts, give me movement toward change. I just want to shut out the blah blah scream scream wave finger wave finger blah blah scream some more. And seriously, the thought of another 50 years of obsession and yelling makes me quake.

And so, until I get good enough to be Maria Elvira Live! here is my latest Tiki Tiki video post. It is my special honor to post with my Maria Elvira Live! addicted Tia. It turns out we had similar experiences over the same asset.

If you haven’t spent time over at our group site, Tiki Tiki Blog, I encourage you to. We have a lot of fun over there.

Latin flavored. No finger wagging.

Miami in January: Gordita maker

Carrie — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:27:00 +0000

Let me just say that it currently does not look like this outside my office window. Gray is the only word to describe it. Opposite of the bright blue we just left.

Above is Maria on the beach in Miami. Quite thrilled with the game of run from the surf and quite unhappy a few moments later when we had to drag her wet and sandy self away from the chilly water. (We are not Canadian, I told her. We do not swim in the ocean in January.)

And so, we are home. And, despite the gloom outside, happy to be so. Home is home.

In Miami, we inspired Abuelita and helped her through the mend. We took night-time walks, we hung out with the tias, tios and primos — there is nothing like cousins. Nothing. We also went to fun parks, we fed the ducks, we ate too much roast pork, pastelitos and muchas media noches.

On the day we went to the beach, we also had a fattening and nostalgic lunch at the Morro Castle, right next door to my old school, La Progresiva, and where I used to sneak to to buy hot churros and mamey shakes. (I think I gained five pounds during my stay in Miami last week and if I still lived there, I would certainly be una gordita.)

And now, back to la routina…

Many thanks for the good wishes for my mom. I know every good thought helped.

Miami in January: Gordita maker

Carrie — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:27:00 +0000

Let me just say that it currently does not look like this outside my office window. Gray is the only word to describe it. Opposite of the bright blue we just left.

And so, we are home. And, despite the gloom outside, happy to be so. Home is home.

And now, back to la routina…

Many thanks for the good wishes for my mom. I know every good thought helped.

Life is good

Carrie — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:15:00 +0000

I have been to Paris in April and it was indeed, lovely. I am convinced, however, there is nothing like Miami in January. Big, puffy white clouds, endless blue skies and gentle breezes. It’s especially delicious when you’ve been living in lined mommy jeans in Nashville.

We are in Miami for a few days not for touristy pleasure, really, but for family.

My mom has had her cancer surgery and I am joyous to report she will go on to joder Cuban Mother-style for many, many years.

All is good.

All is very good.

Will be back in touch pronto…after a few more days and a trip or two to El Palacio de los Jugos.

Life is good

Carrie — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:15:00 +0000

We are in Miami for a few days not for touristy pleasure, really, but for family.

My mom has had her cancer surgery and I am joyous to report she will go on to joder Cuban Mother-style for many, many years.

All is good.

All is very good.

Will be back in touch pronto…after a few more days and a trip or two to El Palacio de los Jugos.

Simply Delicioso

Carrie — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:32:00 +0000

I don’t run into too many Cubanitos from Miami here in the Boonies on a regular basis, but this weekend I did. Met two muchachos at a local celebration of cultures fest this weekend. One guy lived in Louisville, the other guy lived here. Exiles of a different sort, si?

Anyway, it is always nice to run into your tribe.

And while Ingrid Hoffman is Colombiana, not Cubana, listening and watching her on her new show, Simply Delicioso, on the Food Network yesterday, I got all warm and fuzzy for the Miami accent, bright colors and fabulous ceviche she cooked up. And, they filmed part of it on the beach. Break my heart.

La Ingrid will now be fighting for time in the DVR with Diego and Monday Night Football.

Tonight, I am cooking a vegetarian rice pilaf. (Fighting las libras!) So not very tropical. Pero oh well.

Simply Delicioso

Carrie — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:32:00 +0000

Anyway, it is always nice to run into your tribe.

La Ingrid will now be fighting for time in the DVR with Diego and Monday Night Football.

Tonight, I am cooking a vegetarian rice pilaf. (Fighting las libras!) So not very tropical. Pero oh well.

Scene from Mi-jami

Carrie — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:46:00 +0000

In the grocery store check-out line. The lidded flan pan I want won’t scan. Checker can’t read the small UPC numbers.

“Ño! Pal carajo! Esto nadie lo ve. Pal carajo.’’

Rough “nice” translation: “Damn. Hell. No one can read this. Hell.’’

Me thinking: “Ay, I can’t believe she’s cursing in front of me.’’

Pal carajo. I must not be used to this anymore.

We just returned to Tennessee from Miami, where we celebrated the landmark 40^th year with mucho primos and tios. Bocaditos and pastelitos were served. Sweet merengue was consumed. The beach was supremely enjoyed. My kid played — and fought — with her third cousins and my 92-year-old great uncle was clearer than the rest of us.

Pictures to come.

Right now, I’m just enjoying the silencio.