Archive for November, 2009
Where Can I Get a Bible Bound?
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve got an old Bible that is coming apart. I left it with friends in the capital for a few months who assured me they could get it re-bound, but in the end they told me that no one in the city does this kind of thing.
I don’t need a world-class job done, I just want it put back together so the backing isn’t falling off and the pages aren’t coming out. I even thought of taking it to Pastores and giving it to one of the bootmakers; surely they’re skilled enough for something like this.
Any ideas?
It’s For the Children
Posted by: | CommentsUsually that’s the ridiculous, final argument offered by leftists who want you to support their latest effort at abridging civil liberties or raising taxes. However, over at Semillas de Amor, it really is all about the children. I’ve been there, seen their facility, seen the kids and the quality of care they’re getting, and heard the horrific stories about governmental interference, incompetence and corruption (and you all know I’m equal opportunity when it comes to my opinion of governments):
From Nancy:
Dear Supporters of Semillas de Amor,
Please read and respond to the post below from Futuro de los Niños, this directly impacts the children of Semillas de Amor and many other Guatemalan children. Please be involved, the children need you.
This is the most urgent cry for your love and support we have ever put out!
Please read this TODAY and put us on your calendar for Tuesday December 1st and Wednesday, December 2nd. We are launching a mass email and phone campaign that could change the future of many of the children waiting to join their permanent families.
We need you to be part of our collective voice to bring children home this Christmas!
Please go to www.futurodelosninos.org or www.guatemala900.org to learn how you can change the lives of hundreds of children!
With Love and Gratitude,
Ellora
Ellora DeCarlo • President & Co-Founder
www.futurodelosninos.org
Don Marco’s Special Thin Crust Pizza Recipe
Posted by: | CommentsYou can go to Domino’s and get a predictable pizza for about 100Q, or go to Papa Zito’s or El Pescador Italiano and get a nice pizza for about 150Q, or you can stay home and cook a killer thin crust pizza with your favorite toppings for about 30Q each. This recipe has been updated and improved over the original after substantial quality-control experiments. Here’s how it’s done:
Don Marco’s Special Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (makes 4 pizzas)
1. In a bowl, have a kid combine 4.5 cups of flour, 1 3/4 TP salt and 1 TP yeast.
2. Add 1/4 cup olive oil and 1 3/4 cup room temperature water.
3. Instruct the kid to mix thoroughly and then knead. (This is a great activity for a teenager with aggression).
4. Enjoy a glass of red wine.
5. Tell teenager to continue kneading.
6. Begin to assemble ingredients for Don Marco’s Kick A$$ Pizza Sauce
Don Marco’s Kick A$$ Pizza Sauce
1. Find an obsessive kid and tell him to add 6 oz of tomato paste (or for an adult version, use leftover Don Marco’s Special Salsa), to 6 oz of water. Mix.
2. Add 1 TBP minced garlic.
3. Add 2 TBP honey
4. Add 3/4 TP onion powder
5. Add 1/4 TP oregano, marjoram, basil and black pepper.
6. Add 1/8 TP cayenne pepper
7. Add 3 TBP grated parmesean cheese
8. Add some salt.
Tell the obsessive kid to stir the mixture slowly but consistently. At this point, you’re going to need to take a break from watching the kids work and have another glass of wine.
When you return, the teenager should be done pounding kneading the dough. Have him cut the dough into four equally-sized portions and then begin to spread the dough into pizza shapes on a pizza sheet you’ve greased with olive oil.
The kid with the pizza sauce should be tired by now, so tell him to start grating 1/2 lb cheddar cheese. I prefer a mixture of mozzarella, sharp cheddar and Parmesan. Usually the ratio is 1 to 1/2 to 1/4. Mix thoroughly.
The dough should be ready on the pan now, add approximately 3 TBP of sauce to each pizza dough, then sprinkle cheese liberally. Suggested toppings include pepperoni, salchichas, onions, peppers, mushrooms, jalapenos, sliced tomatoes and basil, or whatever you have on hand. Poached chicken with alfredo sauce, chopped tomatoes and onions can also be good.
You should have already figured out that the oven should be pre-heated to 375F, or if you have a Guatemalan oven just set it to ‘4′. The rack should be on the lowest level-so put your pizza in for 15 minutes or tell a kid to start counting.
Go drink another glass of wine.
When the timer goes off, or when the kid has counted to 900-take the pizza out of the oven and put the second one in. Enjoy with a glass of wine and raise your glass in honor of “Don Marco, Virile, Vigorous and Potent Conquistador, Exploiter and Pizza Chef”.
Just like I like 'em; spicy, hot, thin and mouth-watering...
Calling All Mules
Posted by: | CommentsI know lots of you have offered at one time or another to haul things down here for my family or
Don't worry, requests are always under 50lbs!
other expats and with Christmas approaching many of you have plans and many of us have wish lists, so if you or someone you know is visiting Guatemala and might have room in your bag for a book, a pair of size 12 socks, molasses or similar exotic type things, please post or email me at:
mark AT guateliving DOT com
Thanks in advance!
English Language Library in Antigua
Posted by: | CommentsFor months I’ve been meaning to get over to the American Legion library to check it out. I finally did the other day and was pleased to find more than just trashy romance novels (although there are a lot of those, too). In fact, on my inaugural book check-out I found “Churchill, Hitler & The Unnecessary War” by Buchanan, “The Silmarillion” by Tolkien, “Gods and Generals” by Shaara and “Over My Dead Body” by Rex Stout, whose stories were the inspiration for the A&E series ‘Nero Wolfe’. (That’s a great series, if you’re not familiar with it).
I saw a lot of books in there on Guatemalan history as well, but I want some recommendations from readers so I can avoid the pinko-commie leftist revisionary tomes and stick with the trustworthy versions.
The library houses more than 30,000 books and is tucked into a little home on 4th Ave Sur Final, on the east side of the street (that’s your left if you’re looking at Agua), near the parking lot for Hotel Antigua. They’re open 9-3 Mon-Fri, and membership allows you to check out 4 books at a time, per family member, for two weeks. I understand that if you’re late returning your books, you will be flogged with a wet tortilla.
Membership is only 130Q annually for a family, or about the same price as parking for a few hours would be at most downtown libraries in the US. However, I have strongly encouraged the administration to raise prices since they’re not even covering their rent, so you might want to join quickly. My proposed fee schedule would be: 150Q individually or 250Q per family. This new rate structure would allow the Legion to actually pay the rent and not run a deficit. Besides, this strategy is perfectly in line with GuateLogic; when you’re not selling enough of something, raise the prices!
The American Legion does charity work here in Guatemala, including providing water filters to schools, arranging pensions for widows of veterans who didn’t know that being married to a service member entitled them to benefits, and high-nutrition breakfasts for at-risk children, so in addition to getting a great deal on a library, you’re doing some good. Stop by and checkout the library sometime!
New Comment Functions
Posted by: | CommentsI discovered this morning that hundreds of legitimate comments were stuck in one of my several spam folder, so I’ve made some more changes. Let me know how it works!
New Money
Posted by: | CommentsSometimes the money I get from the ATMs around the park is fresh…so fresh they stick together and smell like new money. Although there is still no sign of the 200Q bills one reader promised us, there are some new 100Q designs floating around. Take a look at this one:
What new security features do you see?
I’ve long suspected the Quetzal is easily counterfeited. I noticed four new security features on this new money which will give printers counterfeiters a few design challenges. Of course, if you think like I do, and you wanted to go into the printing business, you could just design a slight modification to the currency, such as the one above, make sure you had the necessary tactile feature on the good Bishop’s left shoulder, and print a few million Q worth. With nothing else to compare it with and a few press releases announcing a new design, you’d be in business. By the time you were done circulating your inventory, you could be off to El Salvador and begin again.
If you want to look at a scan of some old money, go here. List what you see and if you find something I don’t, I’ll buy you a drink at RumBar or pay for an online Spanish class at Academia Colonial.
I Love Antigua, Reason #109
Posted by: | CommentsThe weather here during the winter reminds me of the weather back home in Phoenix, with the beautiful days and cool evenings. Looking west towards the mountains in the evening reminds me of being in Tucson and looking towards Mt. Lemmon, except that normally it’s not on fire. A few years ago there was a massive fire on the mountains that destroyed the road and left a an entire community stranded up there, where it’s 70F when it’s 110F in the valley.
Anyway, I was reminded of all that b/c of a post by Kara and Brad, who are spending a year here. Go check out the pics on their blog.
Loading ...