zoodles

Well first things first, Humpty, that is Mauricio, is back together again. It was “only” a second degree burn, so he will survive!!

Here they are making new friends…

I admit that I was looking forward to his trip to Brazil, being the independent and kind of solitary person that I am, as a chance for some me-time. But the weirdest thing is that I CANNOT sleep at night. I’ve resorted to a light sleeping pill, but that just kind of straps me to the bed with a groggy heaviness, but I still don’t find sleep until the wee hours. Who would have thought?!?

Well I’m off myself next week to Canada to visit (meet) my father and his family. I’m really looking forward to it, but also kind of nervous too...

This Friday I’m going to the graduation party of Mauricio’s cousin Marianella. It’s a big personal landmark here to graduate from university. Maybe it is in Canada too, and it’s just me that downplays stuff like that :o)

So, what have I been doing besides killing mice? Well, killing a fair bit of time at work. Shameful but true… But let's keep that one on the low down!

Politics are about all that goes on around here, so, though I'm not a political beast, I do get sucked in from time to time. Recent popular themes include the following:

• Gas shortage. Bolivia can sell the small tanks of gas, used for cooking, to neighbouring countries at three and four times the local price, so we have had a gas shortage for about a month now. What does it mean? That you can no longer exchange your tank at the local corner store. You have to go and form a terribly long line up in the wee hours of the morning at one of several points around town and then wait, wait, wait. Sometimes the gas truck shows up, and sometimes it doesn’t. When it doesn’t, then the weary waiters block the streets so that traffic can’t pass. (Blockading is the number-one Bolivian tool for achieving just about any objective.) But when the truck does show up, you are audience to the lovely orchestra of clinking as the line inches toward the truck, each yellow tank, one by one in a wave, lifted, advaced and then settled. Clink-clink-cli-clink... Luckily enough Mauricio’s dad recently ran this goose chase for us, so we have gas…
• Other news in politics… the marches have started up in La Paz again. A federal election is planned for December 4^th, but the regions are fighting over how many representatives they should have. Santa Cruz, the wealthy and industrialized region, is demanding four new representatives, based on the most recent population poll. The poor altiplano regions ( La Paz included) are obviously against this.
• And on a humorous (I think...) note there was a political debate on TV last night. The reporter quickly digressed from political leadership issues to awkwardly personal questions such as the candidates’ net worth! who washes their laundry!! and why one fellow didn’t yet have children at the age (god forbid) of 43!!! Then they asked if the candidates thought homosexuality was “normal”!!!! and then if the candidates had ever had homosexual inclinations!!!!! Unbelievable.

Mauricio is in Brazil to visit his best-bud Fabio. I was a bit worried about his safety; Brazil and its big cities have reputations for muggings and crime. But who would have thought it’s the hot-chocolate you have to watch out for!! Mauricio burned his mouth on a cup of hot chocolate yesterday and I’m worried :o( But before you accuse me of being a sentimental ninny, he says that his tongue is white and that it doesn’t really hurt, which are symptoms of a 3rd degree burn :o(  I wish he were close at hand and not so far away. Well, I hope that he returns with taste buds intact…