Why Not .... Learn about PhotoBooth?

Wait,, Wait,, Wait,, I’m not ready!

Anyone who has even met me once knows this picture is the true me.  I am one of those that wants to try everything, sometimes without reading the instructions.  I have been described as a “seat of the pants” sorta person at times.  This picture is the epitome of this description.  I just thought I would share.  I love pushing buttons to see what happens, this photo is the result!  I had been so sick for so long that I thought I would have some fun with the computer and try the photo booth icon on my IMAC.  Enough said.  Why not... read the instructions first.... nah....

Why Not Stay A Little Longer?

Paula Da Pena working on her new shirt for our Hot Tin Roof Designs production. We spend days getting the test shirt ready, making sure the hand sewing and the applique is just right. This wonderful girl learned so quickly to sew, then could not wait to get into the designing of stencils and other applique to apply. She produced, shirts, skirts, dresses, beach dresses and tried her hand at fabric art jewelry. She left to continue her traveling, but we stressed there is the family you were given and the family you get to pick,, she is a keeper.

We welcomed her from a web site called http://www.workaway.info it is a site that you can register as a host house and you exchange room and board for 5 hours per day of work. You also can register as a worker and stay in all different countries while you work for your room and board.  We asked for help learning Spanish and to advance my production in hand made plus size clothing. We got so much more from them than a few hours work, we got laughter, friendship and beautiful personalities that we had trouble letting move on. They stole our hearts, especially Paula, who stayed the longest.  I kept asking her, "Why not.... stay just a little longer? " "You have stolen a place in my heart."

How Many Bags Can You Fit In A Tracker?

How many suitcases can you fit in a Tracker?

The best laid plans are the most dangerous. We had conversed with Bryan and Becca who were from Denver and were expecting us to pick them up at the Quito Airport at 11pm on Thursday. We got the car into the garage to make sure that everything engine and below were up to snuff… we left in plenty of time to be there for their arrival. We never figured that we would miss one turn off and the Burma road that we needed to take to get back to the main road would be full of cement sewer squares that stuck up from the dirt about 18 inches and the Pilsner beer truck that was in front of us would hit one and buck until it pitched itself on it’s side in the middle of the road! We backed up and hit a few really deep holes in the road but got back to the start of the road without incident. Well, that is not exactly truth, we lost our headlights.

Yes, we only had lights if we were doing about 60 km per hour and going down hill. When we were going uphill we lost the lights. We stopped and tried to wiggle everything in the engine, had a few choice words for the mechanic that we paid $280.00 to for the suspension check, and the tires and engine go over.. but was he within shouting distance, no.

So the moon was bright, our route filled with good road and great street lights and we were lucky enough to get to the airport sans police.

We picked up our newest group of Ecuadorian retiree wannabes and explained the situation. They were good enough to listen and hear us out and decided that we would chance the pull over, all they wanted was to get out and away from the airport and start their journey.  We stuffed all the bags in and put one on top and away we went.

Remember that many of these newbies never have been out of the United States, so to travel at night, your imagination takes over on what you are seeing pass by in the towns you go through.

The Quito Airport is way out of town, and I mean way out of town and is just beginning to have gas stations and stores on the route, it takes a good one and a half hours in no traffic and a lot more in traffic to reach it. We travel down the mountains to the airport and into the mountains when you come back,  so at night you can be in the clouds with a hit and miss view of barrios and small tiendas. You really start thinking, where did I come to and what did I get myself into. I know because I too had these thoughts as we raced through red lights and booked through towns in the cloud cover that engulfed them when we were arriving for our retirement. I saw graffiti and walls and gates and wondered where all the beautiful scenery went that I saw on the blogs and on the internet that promised idilic retirement and stress free living.

We assured them that there are good and bad sections, we assured them that they would learn just like we did and mentioned that we were almost at the end of the trip.  Just then we rounded a circle at the local mall (about 7 kilometers from home),  there were about 8 cars pulled over by the police and we lost our lights again. We too got the high sign by the policeman that was standing next to a car to please pull over, and Juan our partner decided to floor it and pretend like the police man was waving hello.

My heart was in my throat, I immediately got sweaty hands along with a very dry mouth, when Juan said, “This is Ecuador, they will not do anything, they will just tell us to put on our lights.”  Well, I was not going to tell him to go back and prove that statement, so he kept driving and I kept making stomach acid. I spent the time looking in the rear view mirror with the word, “Tranquillo, Denise” from Juan in my ears.

I kept looking at Becca and Bryan wondering if they would ever believe that we did have all their best interests in mind all week before they arrived or that we had the car to the mechanic or that we weren’t some fly by night organization.  JED Ecuador cares and loves their clients!

In the end they arrived safe and sound as we did on our arrival last year, with an adventurous beginning and a whopper of a story to tell and retell about their arrival in Ecuador.

Why not... just enjoy the adventure?  

Let's talk about the new neighborhood, why not?

I now live in Mitad Del Mundo,( for English speakers), The Middle of the World.  I moved from the house in La Pampa that leaked like a sieve and had a landlord that didn't understand that we were renting his house and that made it not his to use when he wanted to come and work in the studio.    But that folks is another story for another time.

The new house is between two churches, one is a Christian and the other is Jehovah Witnesses, so on Saturday and Sunday, we get our share of singing at the top of the lung capacity and because most of the women wear only skirts, all the time, I get my share of stares too.  I just go into the house and turn on Bob Marley or Bruno Mars to drown them out.  

We had a washing machine at the old house, so when we came to look at the house, I questioned the owners wife about where would I put my machine as the house definitely didn't have space inside for it.  She replied that there was space just outside the bedroom window and pointed out the drain hole in the wall.  Well, we hooked our $400.00 washer up and within 7 days we got a call saying we had to figure out a new drain situation, as the neighbor was getting our soap suds on his lawn.  I knew when she pointed to the drain it went over to the neighbors I cannot for the life of me figure out why I didn't point that out to her, but the language difference would have made it a mute point anyway.  Now we have a Rube Goldberg set of plastic drain tubing, building blocks, and wooden runways that has a real back woods feel to it when you get to my front door.  Talk about classy.

I also asked if the roof leaked and got the reply, "No!"  It seems to be the standard reply.  Today during the thunder storm, we had a puddle in the kitchen.  I was less than surprised, but not alarmed.  I got a pot and will call the landlord about the discrepancy before it turns into a third shower.

We also have a pop off spigot in the kitchen.  The water pressure at night, when we are sleeping is just the bomb, unfortunately during the day, it is so bad that we have to use the water one person at a time.  You know,, don't flush the toilet and expect to get water for a cup of coffee.  Don't water the lawn and expect the washer to fill up.  That is Ecuador, not just this house, except for at night.  If you go at midnight and get a cup of water from the sink, you get a shower from the water that looks like a sprinkler broke when you turn on the water.  The water spigot in the kitchen can blow about two feet straight in the air, you can actually catch it but you do have to try to turn the water off before you try jamming it back on with more teflon tape and hope it stays.  The landlord will replace that soon too.  Manana.

The first month here I was sick so I really didn't leave the house, we left shortly after that for Colombia for our new visas.  I was sick after we came back with bad bacteria so I really didn't feel much like exploring, in fact I was rather enjoying not doing anything for once.  All good things must end and I got better.  The exploration of Mitad was about to begin.  We only live one block away from the main street, the bus station, restaurants, shops, and bread stores with cakes and cookies and ... bread.

There are so many great places that I have discovered on my walks, a video store that sells great movies for 2.00 for one or 3 for 5.00.  Paper stores for paper towels or toilet paper or paper stores that sell pens and pencils and all offices supplies and school necessities.  The street vendors that sell vegetables, clothing, hats, shoes, blankets, rugs, you name it you can probably get it in Mitad.  I love it.

We have a store named TIA, which is a very small version of a Target,  we bought our DVD player there for 29.95 and have enjoyed watching the movies on a much larger TV screeen versus our IMAC.
I had my hair frosted at the Colombian peluqueria (Hairdresser) with a frosting cap, ouch!  I got to hear, Mamita, por favor!  No Tocar!  I kept telling him, Stop, it hurts,, he kept telling me, Mommy, stop, don't touch.   It was an experience I will not repeat and it will take a long time for the broken hairs to grow back, but I will never forget it!   I will go to the mall for the next treatment and use the aluminum foil for color streaks.

We rented the old house with furniture, I am glad to report that we now have a living room with a tv and a surround sound speaker system.  We have furniture and a coffee table to relax in it too!

We were gifted with a large round table for dining that we still use the plastic lawn chairs with, but that too will get rectified in time.

So you see we are settling in our new neighborhood after all.  Why not?

Today is MOOOOOOOving day,, a few more grey hairs. Why not?

     Sharkey does not care a hoot what day this is... as you can see by his back to me it is dreary today I plan to sleep through it position.

     Ed and I have another version of this,, we couldn't sleep last night thinking about the rain that might happen when we try to move our king size bed today, we then consoled ourselves with the fact that this current house is rented with furniture and we have only been here for 7 months so how much junk have we actually accumulated?  

Well....

     You forget about all the dishes, juicer, blender, iron, cleaning supplies, pool supplies, toaster, etc, that now goes with the 10 bags you brought.  Ed and I had promised ourselves to live more minimally in Ecuador, and we are really trying, but to look at all these boxes it seems like maybe we need to reassess one more time.  

     I think about the girls that stay with us doing world traveling and they can travel with a backpackers kit and a small personal backpack with their lives belongings in it.  They seem so happy with what they have and use it until it is used up and then and only then replace what is worn or just do without because it was more than they needed.  I admire them and am striving to be more like them.  

     Well, needless to say that is my 2014 work of the year, downsizing.  Meanwhile, we are packing and stuffing our possessions into boxes and buckets and garbage bags for the interesting trip to Mitad Del Mundo approximately 4 miles from here.  I still hear Ed singing, "Our house is in the Middle of the World, Our house is in the Middle of the World."  Along with "Our house is a very, very, very fine house, with 6 dogs in the yard, life used to be so hard.  Now everything is easy cause of youuuu......"   off key, but happy.  

     We are happy, and busy and are moving one more time.  I will include more pictures on the next blog of the move and our new home.  Move?  Why not?

Why not try turning 60?

Look, getting old is not for sissies.  There is no dress rehearsals to help you adjust, it comes and you deal.  Luckily my birthday is in January, so I have all year to work through it.  I realized today that when you are 20 and one of your friends passes away it is a tragedy, but when you start into the 60's all of the sudden the tragedy is the acceptable norm.  Well, you can see that I am fragile today,, all it will take is a good nights sleep and a gin and tonic to help me get over this.  Tomorrow I will be bright eyed and bushy tailed not able to contain myself again because we are shopping for a kitchen refrigerator, a cook stove and a washing machine for our new rental house.  I am saying that it will be exciting, the truth is we have been living with items that were in the furnished house we rented and it will be nice to know they are mine not borrowed, nor will I have to explain a scratch or dent or negotiate a new one if it breaks.  I will just go out and get another one no messing around saying it was old to begin with or that it needed maintenance.

So... that is the update for today,, I am working through my new number due to my birthyear and day, I am going to get a cool refrigerator and cookstove and a washer that is going to be all mine and I think I will be too tired to worry about a number tomorrow.  Wish us a good hunt!

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Wish me luck.

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