Happy Updates

Well, there are some new paintings on the website that you all can browse. I am happy to say that there is more to look at with the help of Ivy Mills my site designer. Snaps to Ivy and around of applause.
Here life is a happening since I last blogged, our son had his birthday here, 14 years old, hard to believe. Had a great time, enjoyed his age, went to the park, opended presents, had diner and cake. We will take him to the hot springs and maybe get him a massage too. Life is good here.
Went to the Jungle, had a great time and had a few drinks there with the traditional ¨Salud and ching ching.¨ Paul and Susanna took us with them, including the dog, and both Dane and the dog really enjoyed the monkeys. They love to steal mosquito repellent (those intelligent varments know what it is for), and love to raid the restuarants, quite fun really.
We basicly learned that if it has more legs than you it bites, if it is very small, it bites, if it is fuzzy, it bites, if it is quite large for a bug, it bites. And they are biting therefore pack the bug repellent.
We went to the market in Tena, where in a plastic bowl large, moving larva were for the eating. Yikes, it was like survivor. Then a little old lady, for a buck, ate one, I almost ralphed. ching ching to the little old lady. Went to the Zoo, very cool in Tena saw a wide varity of animals and we were followed by a cotamundi (long nosed racoon) a very natural environment, but it frickin rained and I mean rained, the whole afternoon. We all agreed it is called the rainforest for a reason. Went for a jungle tour and a Quechua local gave us a tour of life here and went on a bit of a canoe ride. The river was very high and the problem with that is the undertow is amazing and very dangerous. Apparently, it is like an iceberg and underneath is where all the stumps and debris is pulling things underneath. Yikes. Paul and Susanna took us along to the rainforest with them, they are fantastic, so here is a shameless plug for their hostel. TIMARA, here in Baños. They have been fantastic and very patient with us, we are finally able to buy there house here in Baños. And now the fun begins. We probably be visiting them often.
The Spanish lessons are great too, Mario is amazing, he is taking time out for teaching us with his busy schedule of being the principle of one of the local childrens school to teach us. We will enjoy volunteering for the school helping with english or whatever they might need.
With regards to the house, the problem with transferring money here is that they are much like doctor dolittle with regards to addresses. they basicly say, on this street and that street and round about between the two of them sort of. This made our bank a bit nervous, especially for that kind of money transfer. Needless to say the money is here and well and now we can go ahead and buy the house, and furnature and possibly are vehicle. We did after all promise him time to go surfing and I like to keep my promises.
Had a bit of a to do with the dog. She learned from the hostel´s dog to go into the garbage and swallowed a bone. So off we went to the vet in Ambato to get help, she was just fine, throwing up alot though, and we saw the offensive bone in the X-ray. So with patience and meds, out she came. The hostels´dog ¨Gringa¨, got the shot for the morning after, She had a party with a bunch of other dogs in the street (with out protection I might add) and probably got knocked up. Shameless hussy. So in the very near future she is going to have an operation. The cost of our dog (plus X-ray´s) $72.00 and Gringa $125.00 great hey.
I have to go now and get ready for my spanish lesson. It is getting quite interesting trying to write in english. I keep doing the spanglish thing. Sorry if it gets weird trying to understand but the blog will keep me in English.
Talk with you all soon.
Robin