Lemons Are Delicious: Day 29

Best part of the day: coffee, cookies, a blanket, and dulce de leche on the balcony tonight, in Joshua's sweatshirt, fresh from the laundromat.

Worst part of the day: really wasn't anything downer today. Worst I guess might be having an evening alone. I've been so blessed with company recently!
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Woke up ready to take on the world this morning. I had an agenda.

LAUNDRY PICK UP. HUZZAH! Mmm, love how that place smells. Couldn't be more convenient, either. It's less than a block away, on my own street. Perfecto, they call that.
Next up, the gimnasio. Again, super-conveniente, six-block walk, and I gave them my card and found the bike. Of course, for less than a dollar a day, the equipment's not muy impresionante, impressive, but it works and sure makes you feel the burn. You know, that burn that I enjoy SO much! :) I was very happy. Half an hour on the bike, half an hour on the eliptical, checking out the other machines around the whole time to pick what to do tomorrow. After I was done, I had to stretch. I picked a spot with space enough in between two unoccupied machines. Definitely, I had an audience. The guy using the leg machine across the room (few meters away), plus other guys in the general vicinity. Thing was, as I stretched, the guy stopped doing anything at all. Literally, he just watched. ?  So I'm flexible and bend in half, so I happen to be wearing tightly-fitting workout pants. No me mires, dude.
That moment of hilarity/depravity of the males in the gym brought me to think once again on how incredible the young men here are that can control themselves and maintain purity of mind and body. Namely, those that I know. :) They are in all senses of the word surrounded, bombarded by soft porn--magazines, movies, flyers, posters, even billboards. It is incredible that they can have a regular friendship with any woman ever. I am extremely impressed, guys. Keep it up. You are treasures in this world--glory to God. :)
After all that sweat, stretching, and thought, I got ready to head to the church. I sent the business the hiring form that they asked for, and we are still hoping that I start work on Monday!
On the subte, I did some homework for Bible study. It doesn't seem like the best place or moment for introspection, but in reality, it is. Everyone's so intent on where they are headed, on guarding their bags or other possessions from everyone else, on their texts/phone calls/iPod, that they have no time to worry themselves with what you're doing. Oh, yeah, they are always looking at you, but not really to find out anything; just looking to look.
Once at the church, I sorted donated clothing with C. I love organizing things, so this was a treat. We had to root through, and take out and trash the clothes that were too far gone, then fold the nice ones and place them in suitcases and bags for easy portability. It was fun! And what made it better was the occasional visitor who would come into the office for conversation. Every day of the week, that church is a hopping place. I love that.
On the way back to the subte station from the church this evening, I had my eyes peeled for J, another of the youth here I know through the church. On Sunday he told me he'd seen me walk past his work last week; he works in a mattress store. Today I was determined to see him--and I did! It was fun to be assimilated and accustomed enough to be able to greet a local while on my way to the subte. No big deal. :D
Subte ride home was uneventful. So was the walk from station to apartment. I then stopped by the produce shop on my way, and bought soup veggies. These are generally butternut squash cubes, onion slices, celery chunks, and whatever else they felt like grabbing before it went bad, chopping up, and refrigerating to sell for soup. That + beans + quinoa + chicken broth = tasty, warm dinner. I like to cook, I have decided. I look forward to having a more regular schedule so that I can actually do it on a more regular basis. I kind of find myself with people or at their houses during mealtimes, so I am rarely home for dinner. Not that I mind the social time...
I spent a little while on my balcony this chilly evening, enjoying my post-dinner coffee, cookies and dulce. The laundry I finally got back included novio's sweatshirt, which I decided it was time to wear. I do like to just sit, listen, watch people's interactions, and watch the motorcycles pass. The city never sleeps, and I am used to that now. It'll be weird to return to Wheaton; moreover, Winter Wheaton, when it's all even more muffled and silent. But I'm nowhere near ready to leave yet, so I will continue to enjoy the city life.

Hope you liked the photos! Make sure you check them out if you missed them. Chao! Un gran abrazo!