Letters from Mexico

“The most important of these idols, and the ones in whom they have the most faith, I had taken from their places and thrown down the steps; and I had those chapels where they were cleaned, for they were full of the blood of sacrifices; and I had images of Our Lady and of other saints put there, which caused Mutezuma and the other natives some sorrow” (106).

“The figures of the idols in which these people believed are very much larger than the body of a big man. They are made of dough from all the seeds and vegetables which they eat, ground and mixed together, and bound with the blood of human hearts which those priests tear out while still beating. And also after they are made they offer them more hearts and anoint their faces with the blood” (107).

-Herman Cortes

Silencing the Past

"I want to reject both the naive proposition that we are prisoners of our past and the pernicious suggestion that history is what we make of it. History is the fruit of power, but power itself is never so transparent that its analysis becomes superfluous. The ultimate mark of power may be its invisibility; the ultimate challenge, the exposition of its roots."

-Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Phoenicia Houston

Officially my favorite groceries store, Phoenicia Specialties Foods in Houston is like a Mediterranean Whole Foods & Sam's Club combined. Half the store is comprised of regular produce and aisles while the other half provides bulk-packaged goodies stacked floor to ceiling. The place is filled with imported Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, Eastern and Western European goods. From cheese, to wine, to pickled veggies, the place also boasts a bakery of sweets. Best of all was the assembly line pita machine, where through a transparent chute, pita after glorious pita would come down puffing, piping hot from the 2nd floor to the 1st. Never seen anything like it.

Summer10

My summer NYC room with a view.

Bold Balding

Helped best friend shave her head!!!

Cardigans!

Bill Cunningham and NYC have finally acknowledged my wardrobe obsession: here's On the Street this week.

Chanel Spring/Summer '10

Love the Argentinian flair. Romantic, equestrian, rustic and city, all at the same time.

Revlon Red

Have been collecting Revlon nail polishes lately and the classic is still my number one.

Sookk

Cute little narrow strip of a Thai restaurant. Exposed filament lighting in bird-cage like chandeliers. Had a rich and creamy pumpkin curry and vermicelli seafood pad thai.