On Life, Books and Stone Farms

Finally the sun is starting to come out!  Perhaps now I will be able to dry my clothes.  They have been busy living in their own dampness for two days, so now they are on a quick wash cycle to get rid of that mildew that must have been partying, and then I can put them on the line.  As long as it does not rain...

Plenty of things have happened since the last time I posted.  Including a hiking trip that took me up to 16,000 feet, and a 12 mile downhill bike ride.  More recently though, Monday was a strange day.  I pretty much had an emotional break down, it was great!  I laid around eating chocolate, watching Dr. Who and alternating between sobbing and sleeping in bed.  Why?  BECAUSE YOU HATE ME, THAT'S WHY!  *cough*  No, that's really not why.  I'm not 100% sure, various different reasons.  But not to worry, that day is passed.

This week I'm no longer taking Spanish classes, and I don't think I'll be taking anymore while I'm down here.  We will see.  Next week I'll have to find something to do.  Perhaps I'll take classes for a couple of hours a day.  Yesterday I went into Yanapuma (the Spanish school) and said hello to some people that I knew.  The woman from the Smithsonian and I hung out for about three hours, shopping in the tourist district and having a small lunch.  It was fun playing the Devil's Advocate.

Amy: "Do I need or want this?"

Me: "Yes."
Amy: "Why did I even ask?" *proceeds to purchase*

I only got one item, but I'll be heading back in the weeks to come to slowly shop.  Oh the glories of being on a shoestring budget!

Yesterday I also booked my trip up to the summit of Cotopaxi.  A mountain that I climbed to the glacier of a few weeks ago.  The summit is 19,347 feet, and is one of the peaks that is furthest away from the core of the Earth, thanks to being situated so close to the Equator.  The bulge of the middle of the Earth makes everything in its area be further away from the center of the Earth.  So if you are planning on digging to China, start in New Zealand, or to make it easy on yourself, start digging in Tibet, just a foot away from the border.  Honestly people, work smart *and* hard!

A picture from my first trip up to Cotopaxi.  We reached an elevation of 16,000 feet.

I have read a few more books, but not as many. My Spanish classes ate up a lot of my time and mental energy. I've just finished Kitchen Confidential, which was an okay book. It was funny, crude and sad, often within the same sentence. And it made me want to think about working in kitchens for a career, instead of a living. But then it reminded me of *why* I don't want that career, and if possible, the living. The long hours, the near constant sexual harassment (in kitchens it's called good, clean fun), the heat, the stress, the mental taxation...the list is very long.

I've also been reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which is such an enjoyable read now that I am capable of analysis of the writing and the voice of the Author beyond that of the 11 year old boy I was when I first read it. I also finished Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, a revealing book that I encourage all of you, if you have any inkling towards being aware of the world, to read.

And Sarah has her fish tank (mostly) set up! It has plants, stones and now...a fish! For about a week or two it was only growing stones. We had the best crop of underwater grown stones in all of Ecuador. But now this huge 60 gallon tank has a single Beta living in it. He seems to love it, when the filter is not turned on. The filter creates a current everywhere in the tank, even two and a half feet down at the bottom. This creates an issue for those still water loving Beta. Perhaps by the time I leave Sarah will have populated it with more fish that enjoy currents. But that's a big perhaps.

Speaking of leaving, I'm going to be coming home sooner than planned. I got my tickets changed and now will be arriving home on November the 13th. Huzzah!