As part of the reorganization process and with a view to future growth, I've moved some pages. They can be found following these links:

This page was last updated on 08/08/10.

A few years ago, I decided to expand the kids' culinary frontiers. I compiled a list of restaurants by type of cuisine. The goal was to eat at least once in a restaurant of each type. We've covered 53 nationalities, with over 72 ethnic styles and types of cuisine. I'm now writing a book about the experience, but you can view the list here.

My Dad, Francisco, JJ, and I went to see Mexico vs. Uruguay at the new Soldier Field. The Mexi-hooligans rained beer and garbage on the Uruguayan players. 3 polish sausage, 3 sodas, 37 dollars. 1 hotlink, 1 cookie, 1 deli sandwich, 18 dollars. Uruguay massacring Mexico, priceless. There are some things money can't buy…

Silvia and I are avid protesters. Two pics above are from the big anti-war rally right before Bush invaded Iraq in 2003. In March '06 we protested HR4437, an anti-immigrant bill that would make it illegal to assist an undocumented alien. 100,000 people rallied that day in Chicago's Federal Plaza.

On May 1, between 400,000 and 700,000 people of many different nationalities gathered to march through Chicago to Grant Park to support immigration reform & rights, the largest protest in Chicago history.

I was proud to be joined by my Dad, Ruslana, Pedro, Rafael, my cousin Nevy, her husband Jorge, my aunt Maria Elena, Felipa, Dr. Bassirat, Dr. Maldonado, Daisy, her cousin Joanna and friend Jonathan. Nationwide, around 3 million people marched, making this May Day the largest protest in US history.

Other 2006 highlights included my 20th high school reunions in Chicago & Cochabamba, a visit to Juan Javier in Paducah, Thanksgiving with my family and Christmas in Tampa with Silvia's parents.

On March 31, 2007, my Dad was sworn is as president of the Bolivian American Medical Society. A few pics are at the bottom below. I'll be setting up a page soon.

Being what my grandmother used to label "herejes" (heretics), we usually don't do much for Easter. This year we went to Old Country Buffet for brunch. The food was good, and we got to meet the Easter Bunny. Silvia, feeling a bit  frisky, had to grab herself a little tail...

My uncle Natalio (Nevy's dad) and aunt Maria Elena came to visit. This was Natalio's first visit to Chicago in more than 30 years (even though he lived quite a while in New York while he served as Bolivia's UN Ambassador). It was great spending time with him. We drove around in my convertible with the top down and really took in the sights. A couple of days later I worked my Dad's grill in a cookout in Natalio's honor. Then, a few days after that my Dad took us on a day trip to Galena, with a short side trip to DuBuque, for my aunt's birthday. Uncle Natalio returned to Bolivia the next day, but it was fun seeing him and it felt good paying him back a little for the great time he showed me and Danny in La Paz the year before. 

In the same tradition, my cousin Ronny (Nevy's brother) came to visit in Jan '08. This was his first trip here in decades (he's not fond of airplanes) and he came with his son Juan Pablo. I had a great time with them, and in addition to the non-stop controversial thought-provoking conversations (a Ronny trademark), we visited a number of museums and toured the city.

Silvia adopted a car from a patient who was dying of cancer. Although I don't like cats and probably never will, Salty seems annoyingly drawn to me, and I'll admit she is occasionally entertaining.

My cousin Marlene (Nevy's sister) came to visit in August '09. Although she lives in DC, she rarely gets a chance to come by. We spent a little time together, as well as with her husband Scott and son Sebastian. They're moving to Argentina soon, where she'll head to McDonald's South America division.