Gnocchi Day

Today is the 29th, time for gnocchi, or as they say here "ñoquis". I had forgotten the date and as I walked to school this morning and passed by a pasta shop which usually has ravioli, tortellini and other pastas in the window, I noticed they had only gnocchi. Still, I didn't make the connection until Natalia mentioned in Italian class that I was supposed to eat gnocchi today. On my way home from class I stopped at the pasta shop and picked up a kilo of gnocchi (I don't know why I got so many, but I thought I'd freeze some), and I took out a container of sauce I made a few weeks ago from the freezer. I'm all set for gnocchi tonight.

I was also all set for my appointment with the meniere's specialist. I came home from school, ate lunch and was just hanging out until a time when I could wander over to where the specialist's office is - not too far from here. I thought I'd take my time walking over, and then find a cafe or something and sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather we're having.

Instead, I got a call on my cell phone which I missed, but when I listened to the message I heard "this is Lorenza from Dr. Videla's office you *had* an appointment today for 4 o'clock (and then I didn't understand... and then...) if you want, tomorrow at 5:00, please call me at this number - blah, blah, blah..."

I guessed from what I understood from the message that they were calling me an hour and a half before my appointment to cancel it! Needless to say, I am pissed, but what can I do? I just spoke to Lorenza and she explained that the doctor had a meeting. Actually, he had an appointment with me! I told her I thought it was a little late to change an appointment, didn't she think?

So, now I have to wait one more day to see what this guy can do for me. I was very hopeful and woke up excited today like I used to when we'd have class trips in elementary school. I felt like today was going to bring a change in my life if I had found someone who could help me avoid these unexpected episodes of vertigo. And now, here I am, stuck with an unplanned afternoon and not feeling like doing anything because I wanted to see this doctor. Oh well, I guess I need to just get over it.

Today's Italian class was good, partly because I think this new medicine I am taking is really helping. I haven't even felt near the possibility of having a vertigo attack since I switched to it on Sunday. I am taking it as the doctor directed - one pill at night and one in the morning. I haven't noticed any side effects, though it may make me sleepy, but I am always sleepy....

Our class was small today. Blas looked either hung over, tired, or pissed off when he first got to class and there were only three of us there. He wandered out of the room and came back and there were four of us, and he left again and when he came back there were maybe eight of us. Eventually, people showed up, but there were still a lot of people missing.

He started off asking about our weekends and as usual, he looked at me first and said, "Reeshard???" I now try to do something on the weekend so that I will have something to talk about. I told him about going to Puerto Madero on Sunday. We had a little discussion about the Ecological Reserve and then he asked me what I did on Saturday! What the #*!*&??? Well, fortunately, I had done something on Saturday too...

My buddy Hanna was not there today so I worked with another girl, I can't remember her name, but she is Asian. I wasn't sure about her background, but she speaks fluent Spanish and seems to have been born here. Later I found out from her conversation with Blas that she is Japanese, but she doesn't speak Japanese, so she must be 2nd generation. I'll try to ask her next week.

I also found out that the slightly odd guy who always comes to class late (even after the break) who Blas calls Jesus is from Bolivia. It really would have been nice if we'd had more time to get to find out about each other. The only way we do this is when Blas decides he is going to put someone on the spot. I get put on the spot a lot and don't really know why. Maybe it is because I speak such good Italian?

For some reason another student brought a cake today. It wasn't her birthday, at least I don't think so, because we didn't sing. She brought tiramisu and it was pretty good. After we ate that, somehow it was decided that someone would bring a cake for the remaining classes. As Blas tried to pin down who would bring what, he looked at me and said, "Reeshard?" Why me???!!!

I told him I would bring something in three weeks after my birthday, which is on November 16. So that means on November 19 I need to bring something. I told him I could not bake because I don't understand my oven and I don't have baking items. Now I have to think about what I can bring. I was just looking at cannoli recipes and would love to be able to make something Italian, but I just don't know.

Well, now I need to figure out what I am going to do today. I had told Raul I couldn't meet him today because I didn't know how long this appointment would last and didn't want to have to rush across town to meet him. It is a gorgeous day. Another day of low humidity and the sky is clear blue with big puffy white clouds. I guess I'll go to the gym and then come home and prepare my gnocchi.