Guatemalan B-Sides

Something is still certainly amiss as while I am posting this the photos that are seen above are only weird computer coded words, but let's see if I can remember what they are.

I know there's a picture of Ezra sitting on some lavish sofas: that one was taken at the hotel in Fort Lauderdale on our way to Guatemala. I wanted to stay in that hotel for much longer than the 9 hours that we occupied it. The photo of Ezra in the huge bed with oodles of pillows was also taken at the hotel. I slept on the right side of him in the tiny space between his little body and the edge of the bed. Parenthood=wasted bed space.

Yes, that hotel was pretty swell, complete with continental breakfast and transport to the airport. The transport was a little spotty however, as every half hour was really more like every hour and a half, and then when we finally got to the airport the chauffeur couldn't open the back where our luggage was! He grappled with it for at least half an hour until it finally just popped open quite magically. We didn't miss our flight, good thing we're Minnesotans who show up for everything extra, extra early just in case these exact crazy things happen.

There's another picture of a big, colorful hammock. That was a plus down in Guatemala. I miss it, I really do. There's another picture of some cloth napkins hanging from a clothes line. I think in this picture our home actually looked kind of homey for whatever reason. While we were there I had a very limited wardrobe and as I got sick of my clothes I started cutting them into different styles and then using the scraps for napkins, dish towels, rags, etc. These lovely plaid cloth napkins had previously been the upper section of a dress that turned into a skirt a month into our visit. My biggest regret is turning the majority of my pants into shorts, as now in Northern Minnesota with the looming winter ahead pants are at a premium. It's not too much of a problem at the moment since I don't have a job and could technically spend the day in my pajamas as many other people do here in Northern MN.

It's interesting to me how here in MN people seem to take a lot more pride in the appearance of their homes than in the appearance of themselves. Grimy, in pjs and unshowered for a week they'll head out from their immaculately manicured lawns and wash their cars. In Guate on the other hand if you leave the house you better be bathed, primped, wearing coordinating colors, and smelling good. However, the house is probably half painted and with random crap strewn about. I can't decide who's right, no one right, but it is an interesting contrast.

As for me, I got tired of showering everyday, but around here I wish folks would get a little dressier just for fun. I like how the 60 year old Guatemalan ladies wear their little yellow heels with matching yellow blouses and accessories. It's adorable! Like screw you I look good.

Maybe it's the weather. It's hard to get to the hilt while bundling for warmth.

I hope I sound a bit more positive, in general I feel more positive most times of the day. Today I was a little bit down thinking about what I may have to do if I can't find a job that I consider respectable, such as manage a gas station in the sticks and live in a crappy, airless apartment. Today I thought I would rather roam the land like a yogi than do that, but then there's the question of Ezra. Surely child services wouldn't handle it well. And it surely would be less zen with a little boy demanding food, sleep, and all of the things yogis don't have time for.

I guess I just wish the world were different, my life were different, Ezra's life were different. I'll get over it, see the positive, be thankful for what I've got. Uh oh I sense some negativity coming back. Maybe I should wait until I have a job and/or a house to update here again.

Ezra specific news:
Ezra had a fever today but he seems to be better. All he wanted to do was read books and drink tea, good medicine for anyone.
Yesterday Ezra helped me with my sewing project. As I removed the pins from my project I gave them to him and he placed them in the pin cushion, which is a tomato. As he placed the pins in he said he was "planting a garden." Cutie.
Ezra loves, loves, loves to play in the leaves. I rake 'em, he scatters 'em, and by the end we both have leaves in our hair.