I've also requested gummi bears.

Today at the market, I purposely bought the cookies that Frank and the kids do not like. Why? Because they are the cookies I like, and this is the only way I can eat cookies without someone stealing them out of my hand after I take one bite. Now that Olivia says "thanks" after she does it, it's kind of cute. But Nico actually said "yoink!" the other day, so it's cheese puffs for him until further notice.

We are anxiously awaiting a care package from my mom, which I'm told contains some of our favorite, badly-missed goodies which are unavailable down here -- Goldfish crackers, Cheerios, and decent quality yoga pants. Oh, and my favorite flip flops. And here's something. Okay, so we all know that Haribo makes the best gummy bears, right? Right. So even though there's a whole display o' Haribo gummies at the Metro, my beloved bears are conspicuously absent. Also, no cola bottles. I know, right? Now I'm not saying there are no gummy bears to be found at all, just no Haribos. They just taste the best.

And speaking of food(ish things), is it weird that I have a crush on the newer, friendlier Gordon Ramsay? Maybe I'm watching too much BBC. I really like it on F Word when they go to his house, and he's raising sheep or turkeys, and his wife's all mad that the kids are out there mingling with the barnyard animals, but not really mad, and then you learn something about humanity. If you think I'm joking, you're not watching.

Right, so... off to put away the groceries, clean up the floor full of toys, wash dishes, and make sure we all have clean outfits to wear tomorrow when we visit the Animation Mafia booth at the super duper comic/animation convention. And dinner. There should be dinner in there somewhere. Gordon? Please help.

Hi, Mom!

I'm not the least bit ashamed to tell you all that I miss my mom. Tonight I made her recipe for pasta sauce -- a huge pot of it, and added some ground beef -- and the kids, Frank, and our two late-working employees scarfed it down. (insert chomping, scarfing noise here) Nom, nom, nom. Nico talks about my mom at least once a day. Grandmom this, Grandmom that, and then Livi looks at him and says 'Mom-Mom' and Nico shouts 'Grandmom!' and they dissolve into a blur of flailing arms and fists, kicks and punches, still shrieking out their grandmother's name of choice.

In other news, I'm still waiting on that new charger port to arrive from the ever-glorious United States of America. (insert Jeopardy! tick-tock music here) But here's where I've been working until my computer is revived and I get myself a fancy little desk to put in the almost-empty room next door (a.k.a. my future office). One of the great things about this apartment is that there is almost too much space. Sure, there's almost no furniture, but if we went out and got some, we'd also have to go out and buy stuff to put inside of and upon it, so... waste of time and money, basically. This spot you see here is the living room, with a little balcony overlooking one of the busiest, loudest avenues in all of Lima. The colored lights are a dead giveaway that I've recently been watching Eyes Wide Shut, and they are available here mid-October due to a lack of interest in Halloween and Thanksgiving. It seems we're big on the Catholics and Incas, but not so much with the pagans and pilgrims. Pardon the dim lighting and collection of beer bottles on the table. We've just had visitors. Also, there's a photo of the kids enjoying the balcony. Livi is shrieking, and Nico is trying to bounce a pumpkin.

Coming soon

I just noticed that it's been about three weeks since I've written any posts. And it's almost November. Not sure where all my time is going these days... we're not doing anything groundbreakingly different than we were back home, yet it's Friday when I think it's Wednesday and there are still plenty of things left undone when I go to sleep at night. Granted, I have been going to bed fairly early. Some nights I tuck myself in right after the kids fall asleep. I've also been putting a lot of effort into getting better at web design. It's so different from doing print layouts. I like it, though, and I'm figuring out the easiest and fastest ways to get things done. *fshew* Art sure is hard work.

We rearranged the rooms in the apartment and it's looking more like home. I'll be taking some pictures soon, and I promise to write you a real post to go along with said pictures. Oh! and one other thing, my computer's charger port is broken (again) and I'm in the middle of a two week wait for the part to arrive at the repair place. Sadly, there are no Apple Stores in Peru and everything for my five-year-old PowerBook has to be ordered from the US. The up side is that we accidentally found a really good Mac repair place in Miraflores, so that's something super right there. As I patiently await the new port's arrival, I'll be thinking of something dazzling to share with you when I do write that spiffy new post. Until then, hugs. Hugs!

All I really need to know about going to the doctor, I learned in Lima

Today I made the first "me" trip to see a doctor in Lima. About two weeks ago I landed a decent case of the flu and it never really seemed to disappear. A few days ago I noticed myself feeling progressively crummier, and this morning I knew it was time to bite the bullet and "head to hospital", as they say. And, boy, was it interesting. Frank's sister Carina had the day off from work and was kind enough to accompany me. She speaks a little bit of English, and is extremely well-versed in the art of making things happen. So. Off we went. First things first, when you're sick here, you go to the hospital. You might have your preferred medical professionals who might work at different hospitals, but the hospie is where you head.

After seeing a nurse for primary evaluation (after Carina took it upon herself to knock on the nurse's door without waiting in line - heck yeah), I registered, paid the equivalent of $8.66, and waited ten minutes to see the internist on duty. Much to my own delight, I was fairly competent in describing my cough, phlegm and its color, frequency of fever, and general malaise. The doctor, a very wise and learned man, proclaimed that I am ill with "broncitis muy fuerte". He prescribed a few meds. Pills for fever/aches, a botanically based liquid expectorant, and antibiotic shots. What, what? Yep. One shot immediately, and one a day for the next three days. After praising his intelligence and thanking him, we bid the good doctor farewell and headed to the pharmacy located in the hospital lobby. They filled the prescriptions and we headed back to the nurse, who kindly injected my left butt cheek with a three-vial antibiotic cocktail and sent us on our way. Wait, I forgot to tell you... the nurse told me I'd be getting the shot in my "nalga" and I looked at her and giggled. Partly because I knew it's the Spanish word for butt cheek, and partly because, well... who doesn't giggle at the thought of showing their nalga to a complete stranger?

So here I am, feeling much better already. And here is my medical goody bag which cost me $22.57. The first shot was included in that price. For the rest, I'll go to the corner pharmacy and pay about five bucks to have the tech there shoot me up. It'll be my daily thrill. You can see on the slip I am registered under one of my maiden names, since that's my family name and that's hows they works it down heres. Also, please note that the cough syrup has a handy dandy pour spout, the pills are cut freestlye with no labeled container, and I like honey in my chamomile tea.


All told, $31.23 for a doctor visit and medication at the hospital, and I don't even have insurance. Kind of takes the sting out of the ol' butt cheek shots, eh?

Curse alert, tellin' you how I really feel.

Upon unpacking my bag o' clean clothes this afternoon, I discovered my laundry service replaced my favorite white organic cotton long sleeve tee with a hideous ruffled white polyester blend turtleneck. Displeased, to say the least. I really need my own fucking washer and dryer down here. STAT.

Nico really likes trains

Nico: Mommy, can we watch Thomas?
Me: No, not right now, sweetie. We've watched enough Thomas today.
Nico: (brow furrowed) Mommy, I'm cross. Cinders and ashes!
Me: Exaaactly.