flora, full moon and other ramblings

We had a great, sunny weekend, with lots of family time. We were all feeling better, after nearly three weeks of the whole family being in and out of sick bay.

Saturday, we went for a hike and Miguel caught his first fish while I continued to try to take "nature" pictures. I need to study up and be more intentional about using the digital camera. When I was a kid, I used to take rather nice pictures with my grandfather's old Ziess-Ikon SLR camera. I knew how to play with shutter speeds, Fstops etc. But with the digital camera, my biggest struggle is with light and focus. Even so, I am including some recent pics in this post.

After lunch, Michael and Miguel took a pick up truck to Banos, while I biked up the river valley. It was the first time I had done any exercise of note in a few weeks, and it felt great.  I was grateful for a granny gear, and didn't mind the slow going. It's cheesy to say, but I'll say it anyway: the sky was a brilliant sapphire set in emerald mountains. It reminded me of mid-July days back home, without the topography, of course, and I was missing our biking buddies. When is the Starved Rock ride coming to Ecuador?

Later in the day, our neighbors came over after Miguel was asleep so Michael and I could go on a date (I even put on some make up--below). We were celebrating the full moon, which signaled the end of my month of sobriety. I very much enjoyed our french meal with a bottle of rich red wine, though I wish I had abstained from the extra glass when we stopped by the Posada for dessert. I was a little cobwebby on Sunday morning, which was actually a good reminder to me of why I want to take a more temperate path in the future.

This month will be the real test--if it is a struggle to stay within seven drinks or less a week, I think I'll just stop drinking for good. But, I think I can do it. I felt great last month (well, except for the being sick part). One bummer is that, unlike the last time I stopped drinking for a spell, I did not lose any weight. I still can't quite fit into any of the shorts I brought from home, so I might just have to break down and buy some new clothes. Grrr. Is this what happens in your late 30's???

Miguel has been a peach to be around lately. Our "discipline drama" from a few weeks ago might have just been related to him being sick. But Michael and I are also doing a much better job of staying calm. One of my favorite times of the day is right before Miguel goes to sleep. First we read him a few books, or chapters of Stuart Little, which he loves for some reason. Reading this book again as an adult, I find Stuart to be a bit snobby and  I don't at all like the way he leaves home in search of Margalo without telling his parents. Nope, don't like that part one bit. . . 

Anyoo, after we are done reading, he and I snuggle  in his top bunk. If I am patient and keep my mouth shut, he will talk and talk and also ask all kinds of deep questions. Recent topics have included life and death, and what things are alive versus just being objects. "Is my bed alive?" No, it's an object. "Are Nani and Grandpa alive?" Absolutely! "Are busses alive?" No, but they can move with the help of gasoline. "Are plants alive?" Why, yes they are. Eventually I moved into the Well, what do *you* think? mode of response. He has also been tackling like vs love. Right now, he loves everybody and everything. He is uninterested in the nuance of dear friends vs acquaintances, and especially doesn't understand why we won't say that we love Bas, our upstairs neighbor, who although quite a nice fellow, just doesn't quite meet our criteria for love.

The other night, Miguel started giving me a Spanish lesson right before he drifted off to sleep. He asked me to start saying "siéntese" (sit down) and "no toque" (don't touch) because that's what his teacher says at school. I can totally imagine those being common commands in his classroom. It is a very loving, positive place, so I am not concerned that those phrases were on his mind.

Hmmm, what else can I rattle on about? I stopped writing to have a luxurious skype chat with Jessica. Been loving skype for staying in touch. I know I should unplug more often, but sometimes I get lonely for those conversations that come so easily with old friends.

Yesterday, Michael led a bike trip while I hung out with Miguel. We had some funny experiences that I will need to write about later (note to self--remember meeting the gusano man). Michael and I both got our first sun burns of the trip. We are very good about sunblock, but yesterday was a scorcher in terms of the brightness of the sun. I was not wearing a hat and I think I got a bit of sun stroke. Slept with a bucket next to the bed b/c I thought I would throw up. I am only burned a bit in my chest. Poor Michael--he has a helmet burn: white forward and red face.

Well, that's enough for now. Not very focused, but so what. I really need to be better about writing more, even if it is only to help us remember this very special time of our lives.