WEIRD FRUITS

Hi guys,


Now don't get the wrong idea from the title. This is about things you eat.(?) I promise something more salacious in the future. Speaking of weird fruits, however, I did go to my favorite gay cantina this week and sang karaoke. They really loved me!! I sang a song in Spanish and they were stomping their feet and shouting "otra, otra" which means "more, more" -- I think. I hope! A really sweet old guy came and kissed me on the cheek and asked me to sing Sinatra's "New Jork, New Jork". How could I refuse, ham that I am. I also met Josue (Spanish for Joshua). Very elegant, 40, and good English. He's the customer service supervisor for Nordstrom's in Mexico. So I have a date with Alejandro tonight, Juan Carlos is taking me to a Halloween party tomorrow (just friends), and a date with Josue on Tuesday. I know you doubted me when I said I was the most beautiful man in Mexico City. The eye of the beholder must be a little myopic here, but what the hell.




So on to the truly weird fruit. First the chayote. I need some suggestions of what I should do with this ugly thing. Keep it clean!! It's about the size of a pear and in the squash family. It's crispy and a little like jicama. I ate it raw with lime juice, chili, and salt. Very tasty. My Spanish teacher says to parboil it and add onion and cheese. Seems weird, but I'll try it anything that sounds weird

Now here's my juice lady, Lucila. I asked her for a juice that would make me handsome. She confirmed my thoughts that I was handsome, but maybe could lose a little weight. Brutal honesty is always good from your hairdresser, your doctor, and your juice lady. Apparently, the Mexican ladies don't find me as attractive as the men -- perfect!! So on her advice I have a daily glass of Licuado Verde. There are a lot of ingredients and it takes quite a while to make. It starts with a little fresh orange juice and pineapple. Then the green things start getting thrown in. Celery leaves (the stalk is thrown away), parsley, nopal (prickly pear cactus stems), and xoconostle (see picture below). She's very tolerant of my bad Spanish and really sweet. I've met all of her five kids in two weeks -- there's always one at the stand with her. Note the everpresent pictures of Jesus, the Virgin of Guadalupe, and the flowers. Usually plastic flowers, but Lucila's are real. I only go the upscale juice ladies. With Jesus and the Virgin looking over her shoulder, the juice must be good, right? Maybe tomorrow I'll ask for a Jesus juice and see what I get. It's too late for the Virgin juice, I presume.

So here's the famous xoconostle. It's about the size of kiwi and slightly tart. One of the upscale restaurants here cooks it with a heavy syrup and serves it over ice cream. Lucila told me something about them and the words gas. So I'm not sure if they cause gas, cure gas, or are the future of ethanol. If anybody knows, please write.




















I will try to update the blog every Friday. Write me or come visit, some of you could use a little Jesus juice.



Affectionately, GAGG in Mexico fmarlman@aol.com

Don't Tell My Mom

Hola Amigos,

So I'm here in Mexico City and doing OK. Moving is hard.


The first thing you need to know is that I intend this blog to be frank and unexpurgated. So DON'T DISCUSS WITH MY MOTHER!! She gets a special edited version.


To start with I thought it would help to give you a feel for where I grew up. The town is Las Animas, Colorado. I just spent a year there last week. The full name is Las Animas Perdidas in Purgatorio -- translation, "Lost Souls in Purgatory." Here's a picture of the landscape outside of Las Animas. It pretty much explains the name doesn't it?

Bleak, ain't it? This is the exact spot where my great grandfather had a country store and gas station in the 1930's -- including an illegal slot machine. He built right on the county line, so when the sherriff came to investigate, he would just push the one-armed bandit into the other county on the other side of the store. Unfortunately, they sometimes got together and arrived at the same time to smash it up. He would then just buy another one.


Here's a picture of the courthouse, kind of nice I suppose. Las Animas is the seat of Bent County. Nobody there thinks it's funny that the county is named "Bent." They also don't think it's funny that our football team is called the Trojans. Sarcasm is pretty much wasted in this little town. But the picture does show the best thing about Las Animas, the sky is always big and blue.







So are you wondering about my blog's title? Translation -- Gringo (you know what that means), Alto (tall), Guapo (handsome), Gordo (fat). Of course the acronym GAGG is funny. Gag like a joke, not like choking on something, come on!! Isn't it strange that the same word can cover both? English is crazy. One of the reasons I moved to Mexico City (not the only reason) is that I'm considered quite the handsome guy here. They like their men tall and a little chunky. Don't you think everyone should live in the place where they are considered the most beautiful?


This town is loud and confusing and sometimes a little dirty and dangerous. But it is filled with unexpected pleasures if your open your eyes and heart. As I left my apartment yesterday, I took this picture. There are 7 food stands right outside my door. Hey, a clown's gotta eat, right?




Affectionately yours, GAGG in Mexico. fmarlman@aol.com