things got all turned around...

I'm extremely happy. I have relatively few complaints. Who-wha?

I just returned from a two-day trip to a little town called San Lucas that's between Antigua and Guatemala City. Norma, one of the secretaries from the office brought me and it was awesome.

Highlights:

Went to eat at TGIFridays with Isamari's foster family before my family adopted her. They were awesome. I instantly felt comfortable, that's the first time this has happened. The dad was the first and only person I've met who was certain about his voting choice (EVERY other person has said they're not sure because both candidates suck). Then I found out that he went to grade school with Otto Perez, the Patriot Party's candidate. That's cheating. He had taught the baby that they're currently taking care of to make a fist (PP's "mano dura" gesture) when commercials for the PP come on TV. I wonder if babies heiling Hitler were cute back in the day. Most likely (not saying the guy's Hitler, I'm just saying trained babies are always cute. Like trained animals doing awful things. See also: British cigarette-smoking monkey).

Another quick note about Guatemalan Friday's. Flair is apparently an international concept. Server-guy had a shitload of meaningless buttons.

I've been in Guatemala for two weeks. Things I've done include: eating at McDonalds 3 times, eating at TGIFridays, eating at Burger King, eating at Wendy's, visiting the Guatemalan equivalent to Sam's Club (Price Smart). Our world is a strange one.

Went to Antigua shopping with Norma and her kids. Her kids were awesome. I discussed the difference between "real punk" (Rancid) and "not real punk" (Linkin Park). I also went on a shopping E-spree. I am now rolling in odd trinkets. Zoe, you got what you wanted. Apparently, there's a rule against constructing new buildings in Antigua so that it keeps the "wicked old" theme. For this reason, you can find Subway, McDonalds, and Burger King inside these extremely antique structures. Weird.

Met one of the people who helped my mom adopt Isa in San Lucas. Her name is Bryslie. She rules. We hung out with a bunch of people who are adopting in Guatemala but can't afford expensive lawyers like the ones at the office. Apparently part of the reason that they're closing the adoptions is that the PGN (major adoption force) is checking on who can pay how much and adjusting the price for expedient adoption accordingly. Blackmail via baby. Brutal. Anyway, I was relaxed throughout this part of the journey, too, it was amazing!

Today, I went to a bunch of museums, some convents, churches, and other such old things. Apparently, November 1 is a Saint's Day and they fly kites to say hello to dead relatives or goodbye to recently deceased loved ones. Score another one for my tattoo. Affirmations of my rebellious teenage decision abound.

Most interesting visit was the museum dedicated to San Hermano Pedro who was this really skinny guy who went around collecting for the poor all the time in Guatemala (he's a big deal). Inside the museum there are testaments to all sorts of the miracles he's come through on posthumously. These include curing the blind (eyeglasses), the lame (like 60 crutches), and one case of lymphoma in College Station, Texas (enormous thank-you plaque in the shape of the state). The display also included his undergarments, which, as far as I could tell, were a pair of boxer shorts made of coarse, extremely loosely woven yarn. In my humble opinion, these were likely far better penance for any wrongdoing than the instruments which were also on display. Anyway, this guy looked like a pretty cool dude. I bought a hat with his face and a zombie-esque Pope John Paul II on the front, I'm having a great deal of difficulty deciding whether to keep it or to give it away.

On Tuesday I'm going to a halloween party. Where, if all goes as planned, I will drink beer! I miss beer.

Ok. For those of you who haven't jumped ship due to my recent political themes, there's some balance.

My attempts to escape Halloween have reached new heights as I've now taken to leaving the country.

Suckers.

-kevtronics