Rambles

I haven't blogged for a while - we've been busy and it's only going to get worse as we get ready to leave this place. But I wanted to share some things. Static casually mentioned over dinner the other day that he would be performing in a lunchtime talent show. Apparently his school had asked for volunteers and he signed up. We were able to make it to see him play. He played a classical piece I'm not familiar with - not Mozart, but way beyond the one-handed "Rubber Duckie" I struggled with as an early piano student. More amazing than his apparent musical talent, though, was how he seemed to have no fear of getting up in front of the lunchtime crowd to play this complete 2-part composition from memory. I enjoy being a dad.

On Monday, all the children were acting up so I put them on the couch for a 5-minute time out. Smiley retaliated by urinating on the couch. Later that evening, he climbed up on the buffet, grabbed a miniature Chinese terra cotta warrior that we had bought in Beijing and dashed it against the floor. On Thursday he pushed a rolling office chair down the stairs . . . his momentum carried him down with it. He's okay, but still showing bruises on his face. Then today, he climbed up this lattice-style concrete wall in our living room, pulled off a glass votive and dashed that to the ground. He then played with the shiny pieces and cut his thumb. He's pretty tough, though. Instead of crying and running to us, he started to climb back up the wall. When he noticed the red marks he was making he then began to finger paint with his own blood. I was playing the piano and hadn't noticed until She came in the room and asked what was on the wall. He's bandaged up now and sleeping fine, but whew, what a week.

My apologies for no pictures - our hard drive with all the photos is dead. Also my apologies to the friend to whom I just wrote the preceding story in an email - I had to share it with everybody else.

Some Photogs for a Change

This is Smiley.













This was a phase Paz went through for a couple of weeks. She'd stuff her clothes with blankets and towels and then go to sleep.













I don't know what to say about this kid.

Running to Stand Still

I've taken up running again. It hurts as much as it used to and I remember why I stopped. I run home from work on Tuesday and then back to work on Wednesday morning. This week on the morning run back to work, a car ran into me, but only a little bit. It was a little shocking--certainly not as traumatic as when a car ran over Her last year. I've experienced very little personal physical violence in my life, so it always catches me off guard. I was bitten by a dog once, punched twice, hit by a car while biking once and now hit by a car while running. Thankfully, all have been pretty minor incidents. Anyway, the collision began the morning on a weird note that wasn't at all alleviated by the crab that showed up in the bathroom while I was showering at work. I've showered with cockroaches before, but sharing that experience with a crab is something entirely different.

I should have known something was off kilter this week when I ran home on Tuesday. Once again I saw the guy who likes to stand in the busiest street and kick cars as they pass by. Luckily I spotted him early enough that I was able to avoid the reach of his lanky right leg.

Clueless

Static interrupted a lazy Sunday afternoon nap with a knock on the bedroom door and mumbled something unintelligible. I thought he said, "Paz smacked me in the head with the light saber." She thought he said, "There's a man at the door who wants to give us something." While I was closest, we were both wrong. It turns out that Paz smacked his head in the sunroom with a snake.

Millie

We have this gecko. We call her Millie. She crawled in through our bedroom window shortly after we arrived and has made our house her home. She's welcome. She just hangs out on the ceiling and looks for ants to eat. She's great to have around. I took this photo of her. I know it's not that great a picture, but I didn't want to take any more because I think the flash is too much for her. Kind of like taking photos of a newborn baby.

November 2, 2008

Last night she wanted to try out a Chinese restaurant she'd heard a lot about from acquaintances. With a borrowed car from work we headed out to the restaurant near the city limits at the Marina Hemingway. She and the kids waited while I went in to order the food (they don't take phone orders). There were a couple of pool tables near the door in a basically open room. To the left was a small bar and then tables along the wall opposite the door. A group of four ate at one table, while a man stood at the bar. The only visible staff were a couple of ladies sitting on the other side of the bar. I requested a menu and ordered white rice, fried rice, sweet and sour chicken and mixed vegetables. They told me there was no chicken, so I ordered sweet and sour beef instead. A few minutes later they said they had none of the mixed vegetables and suggested the Chinese Seasonal Vegetables dish instead. I agreed and they asked me to sit at a table and wait. The bar patron had watched the exchange attentively and followed me to the table, asking if he could sit. I consented. There was a bit of small talk - where am I from, that sort of stuff. He was listening to rock music on his phone. He pulled an earphone out of his ear and let me listen - Bon Jovi. Not bad. He offered me a beer - Bucanero is the local favorite malt liquor. I told him I didn't drink. Coke then! He had them bring me a cola - the national brand. I forget the name, but it's not bad - better than Pepsi, anyway. She came in with Paz to use the restroom and left again. My new friend then challenged me to a game of pool. He wasn't that good. I was worse and he beat me soundly. Then he told me I owed him a dollar. I told him my religion prohibited this as well. He let me buy his beer instead. Finally, the food was ready. The hostess opened each box to show me. Turns out the Chinese Seasonal Vegetable was cabbage. I settled my bill and left. We'd been there about an hour. Static and Paz were asleep in the car and she was changing Smiley's diaper. We drove home in the rain. It was a dark and stormy night.