Saturday, May 31, 2008

I am taking a hiatus from the internet. Phone me. Nine oh two, four two five eight one three nine, as of Tuesday or Wednesday. Ok?

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Moving


I didn't burn water today, but I came pretty close: soy milk. In our favourite/only medium pot.

"Incinerated" Paul says. "It doesn't even exist anymore!" Paul says.

Yeah. I know! I'm the one who has been scraping the bottom of the damn thing for 15 minutes!

Things are a bit crazy figuring out things to take/buy/sell in preparation for moving. We have scavenged some wood to make a bookshelf out of, and have been riding the Kijiji hard looking for a circular saw, cordless phone, single bed, drill, french press and other accoutrements. Check out our new bike kart:


We will still build one, eventually, but it is important to be able to get groceries in the meantime.

COMMENT HERE/EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT MY NEW MAILING ADDRESS

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Drills

Today, I went to the dentist, and am only waiting for the freezing to dissolve to discover whether the trip's lingering effect was disaster or deliverance. One deep cavity, two baby ones, drilled out and dressed up in ceramic plastic. He said once I recovered feeling in my tooth that had the deepest cavity I might be in pain, in which case to call immediately and they would fit me in to the schedule. For what? I wanted to ask. More drilling? An extraction? A root canal? Yesterday, I signed for an $80 wisdom tooth consultation (a fancy x-ray and advice from a "professional" about which wise molars would get pulled when). I have three that need out (one which is urgent), and each tooth costs $250. Glory! I don't know if it is only dentists, but these medical examinations felt so dehumanizing. I didn't know what to ask, what to express. I almost cried in frustration at the dental surgery office yesterday, and it wasn't only the money. It just felt like something had been taken from me, in a sterile, officious way, and I was backward for wanting it back.

Thursday, May 01, 2008




I couldn't find a picture from this trip that communicated HEAT, but these two, taken together, communicate much of what the past week has been like for me, otherwise.


Different places, different people, but the general combination of a couple of people and a private place have made for many good conversations recently. Today Alexis was over (finally!), and we talked for a good chunk of time.



The heat: One day, I was talking to Julia for about five minutes on my way into the shower. Eventually, I got into the bathroom, undressed and into the stall. When I turn the water on, ten cents drop off my skin and on to the tile floor. It was hot enough that a dime would stick to me for five minutes (at least) and I would have no idea. Sometimes, you just feel so sweaty and dirty it doesn't matter, I guess. Often I rush home in between engagements for a quick turn in the cool flow of water... I feel like an addict rushing towards my fix, like I am going to die if I don't get that sweet relief in less than 5 minutes. It can be so good.

Yesterday was the only day since I have been in Guayaquil that I didn't have at least one shower. There has been rain every night, even thunderstorms, it is like the rainy season has been reborn. Yesterday I had a bad day, and I wonder if maybe it was because I was denying myself that return to freshness. Even 24 hours is too long for anyone to hold out in that climate.

There wasn't much sun today. It is a gentler existence. I still deserve my fix, though, and I am off to get that now.