Souvenir Photo Studio, by Al Bourassa: November 2018

Friday, November 30, 2018

Friday Nov 30, 2018 Cleaning

TRY SUBSCRIBING ON THE RIGHT AGAIN > > > >

It appears that it is working again. THANK YOU all for your patience and support.

Please see more of my artworks for sale at my websites: http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/ or http://saccc05.tripod.com/

******

Friday Nov 30, 2018

I didn't sleep much last night and heard a huge thunderstorm that started somewhere around 2 am and went on for about 3 hours. It wasn't until later that I realized that I have forgotten to take my usual bedtime Gabapentin and Melatonin. It is sad to have to need these drugs. The poor dogs also missed out on their morning walk.

It is now 2 years since my bike accident where I broke my neck. Outwardly there is not much visible change, I am just a little slower and more careful in my movements. Luckily my reflexes are still pretty sharp but there are a lot of things that just don't work 100%, especially my nervous system. I still experience a strange electrical tingling to anything in contact with my skin, .. like clothes, chairs, and even the wind. Since there has only been minuscule improvement in my condition in the past year, I am learning to just live with it.

I tried to do an International transfer via Internet Banking as suggested by my bank, but... they do not seem to have any spots to input the intermediary bank's information. Then they have to send a verification code to my phone number, which is, of course, my presently useless NetTalk, so I am hooped... I sure hope that NetTalk arrives soon and i have no trouble setting up the new Duo.

Omaira came to clean today along with son Jhorman who had a great time playing tug-of-war with all the dogs. Then, again, we had no water... We made do for a while but then ran out of our stored water. So we made a long trip to the river but after the heavy rain overnight had the river running high and super dirty so we just turned around. We decided to head to the faucet at the cemetery and were headed home to pick up some flowers that Lina had delivered to our place. As I turned the corner by the park I saw a workman twisting a long pole in the ground which I knew was a water shut off. He confirmed that we were getting the water back, which we did... Boy, do we ever miss water, electricity or internet when they are not working.

I just checked to confirm that my monthly pension translates into about 3,500,000 pesos per month, which is more than I thought, but the conversion rate is high at the moment. It sounds like a lot, but it really isn't, although we should be able to survive OK on that. It is now time for us to stick to this budget.

I wanted to get away before the coming storm hit, and Omaira and Jhorman probably got wet going home on the motorcycle although it looked sunnier up north. We wanted to meet Lina at the cemetery with her flowers at 5pm but that didn't happen because we got hit with very dark clouds and a deluge that caused watermains to back up and a little lake in our backyard. We also had 3 places leaking in the house, 2 of which were supposedly recently repaired.
I had to go out anyway to get the food for the dogs but I didn't mind, except that, when I got home and opened the door, 3 dogs came running out... Grrr. Anyway they didn't go far in the rain and came back in easily. The rain is continuing...

I hope you enjoy the pictures. That was the day’s excitement.

******

If you want to borrow a picture to share with family and friends, Facebook or whatever, at least PLEASE give me credit for the photo.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

Omaira cleaning the long hall

Dark at 5pm with heavy rain

The car got a wash, so expect more rain.

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Thursday Nov 29, 2018 Rest

TRY SUBSCRIBING ON THE RIGHT AGAIN > > > >

It appears that it is working again. THANK YOU all for your patience and support.

Please see more of my artworks for sale at my websites: http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/ or http://saccc05.tripod.com/

******

Thursday Nov 29, 2018

After my chores and feeding the rabbits this morning I saw that an orange had fallen from one of the 3 trees, so I brought it in and decided that I was going to eat it raw. The oranges here go from green to a light yellow, never orange, so I have been reluctant to chance it, but I am glad I did. There are a lot of them turning yellow so we should have some nice juice for a while. While they aren't as sweet as Navel oranges for instance, they are still juicy.

Cristina finally found her Username and password she used to access internet banking for Bancolombia. I went through the rest of the process to get the security questions done, etc, which were required and did not leave me a lot of flexibility to pick, or make my own.

I waited all morning for Omaira to show up for cleaning and Cristina then decides to tell me that she is not coming until tomorrow. We have to work on this communication thing again. So I took a little rest with a few of the dogs.

Then I got into the final chapters of "The Mammoth Hunters"and was near tears at the sad, then happy ending. I recommend that book.

Cristina is quite happy to let me go to the ex-in-laws on my own to get the dog food now, which is OK with me because I do not have to sit around and visit more than is necessary. It is such a nice treat for our canines and they are happy to step outside for the daily feast.

I still make my healthy salad every day starting with cabbage and adding cucumber, tomato, granadilla, and green apple. Then I top that with seasonings, oil, vinegar, mayo and guanabana (soursop). I never get tired of my salads. Most of my family are rabbits too.

Once I finished the book it was too early for much, and you can only watch Forrest Gump so many times, I decided to take a walk with the dogs. It is such a pleasure to see the happiness they derive from these little walks. I really have to do this more often. Returning from the last walk we were nearly run over by 2 girls on a scooter, no helmets, and both were texting! Crazy! At least they had their lights on which 50% of them don't.....

I hope you enjoy the pictures. That was the day’s excitement.

******

If you want to borrow a picture to share with family and friends, Facebook or whatever, at least PLEASE give me credit for the photo.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

6 of the dogs hanging around at lunchtime

We need to start enjoying our own oranges

Lousy photo, but a great salad,.. and so healthy

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Wednesday Nov 28, 2018 One Year

TRY SUBSCRIBING ON THE RIGHT AGAIN > > > >

It appears that it is working again. THANK YOU all for your patience and support.

Please see more of my artworks for sale at my websites: http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/ or http://saccc05.tripod.com/

******

Wednesday Nov 28, 2018

In the morning I was up early as usual and noticed that I needed to add some security around the edges of the doorway. Zip ties are really the next best invention to zippers and Velcro.

We finally had the repairman from HomeCenter, just a kid really, come to check out why the 5th burner was not lighting. We took off everything above and he tried to move the venturies without success but it was enough for it to begin to work!! I guess I should have tried the age old remedy of a swift kick.

Then we finally got an update from USPS about my NetTalk that it had been held up at Customs and was on its way to be delivered... I thought for sure that it was lost (stolen).

I worried for nothing. Cristina has shocked me with her stoicism once again, taking everything in stride, with no breakdowns of any kind. I had been dreading how she might react to the one year anniversary of Christian's murder, and this would also have been his 23rd birthday.

In the late afternoon we went and met her sister Adiela and mother Ana Julia at the cemetery. There were lots of birthday balloons and the like already adorning the grave. Cristina had picked up a little pinwheel effort to be our contribution to the busy site. We spent quite a while there, talked and played some of Christian's favourite music. Today I did not mind at all since it was just a gorgeous day and the views spectacular. I spent most of the time trying to chat with Ana Julia about the birds there, and more. I was surprised that she lost her Mom at around age 4.

We almost stepped on an albino frog when leaving there. We moved it off the sidewalk. It is a good thing that Cristina spotted it. This thing seemed almost like a chameleon, blending in with its surroundings.

We drove Adiela and Ana Julia back to Tulua and had some "arepas con carne" (the most tasteless pita-type bread in the world, with beef). By adding some pepper, it is actually edible.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. That was the day’s excitement.

******

If you want to borrow a picture to share with family and friends, Facebook or whatever, at least PLEASE give me credit for the photo.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.