Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Tuesday December 31, 2024 HNY

 

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Older Blog:  https://cuencaupdates.blogspot.com/ 

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 http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/

or https://pixels.com/profiles/al-bourassa

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Tuesday December 31, 2024

So I got up early and, after chores, was running around trying to find zip ties, and baggage wrap, and a black felt marker.  I didn't get the type of baggage wrap I wanted, but nobody had any better...  We will make do with what we have.

Then Teresa and I practised more with Pixie so she would be more comfortable.  She was doing extremely well, then panicked and crashed it, which is a learning experience, and was luckily unhurt.  I took it to the dealer to straighten the mirrors and the left foot stand.  Thankfully, a strong customer helped me bang back the foot stand "stop" and would not take money, so the crash cost nothing but embarrassment and a few character scratches on Pixie.  It is all part of the learning experience.

I went again up the street for another meal of $1.25 burger, plus fries.  I will miss that place, and the lovely family that run it!

A big contracted truck blocked traffic for a while in front of the house and indicated to me that they would be cutting more of the dangerous, leaning old eucalyptus trees that are over a hundred years old.   It is a pity, but they cause so much damage to infrastructure and homes,... and are a danger to the citizenry.  Then he drove into the University lot next door.......... never to be seen again...

So, I am packing to leave and am planning to have only essentials in my carry-on and everything liquid, toiletries and laptop sealed in the big bag.  I do not see how I am going to be able to bring that brown corduroy sport jacket home unless I want to be stupis and wear 2 coats for 10.5 hours,... I just don't have the room... and I will be lucky if that is all I need to leave behind...

I am in the process of washing the last of my clothes and will be finalizing the packing later in the evening.

Dec. 31, 2024 has another 9 hours to go and Jan. 1, 2025 brings me to my 75th Birthday.  Sheesh!  Where did those years go??????

4 hours later, I will be in the front seat of a buseta for a 3.5 - 4 hour trip to Guayaquil airport.  Avianca is already sending messages to ask some passengers to take a later flight from Bogota and be paid $280 USD.  I have a window seat in row 6 and I am NOT giving that up!  I will scream blue bloody murder if I get a repeat of my disastrous seat changes on my COPA flight in 2023.....

So, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL, and best wishes for peace and prosperity in 2025 and beyond.  Hugs....

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

Al

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© All my work is COPYRIGHT protected and may not be used in any way without purchase, or without my permission.  

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.

 

 

Teresa practicing on a nearby quiet road.

She rides good when not flustered...

A eucalptus casualty

There must be more than 100 rings on this one

Dangerous leaning

Across the road from us

This one has 6 combined trunks!

Leaners over the Tomebamba too

New Years Eve effigies are for burning at midnight

 

 

 

 

 


Monday, December 30, 2024

Monday December 30, 2024 Washing

 

PLEASE bookmark this page and check daily.

Older Blog:  https://cuencaupdates.blogspot.com/ 

Please see my best artworks for sale at my websites:

 http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/

or https://pixels.com/profiles/al-bourassa

******

Monday December 30, 2024

The pics below, taken from the rain coming off my casita roof really tell the story of the day, as it has been raining off and on, all day......

I was lucky that it stopped enough to allow me to take Pixie to see Dr. Duane Connell, the chiropractor.

As I pulled up to the office at 9:45am, I got a call from another fellow at BitProGain promising to help me fix my Crypto.com account.  I told him to call me back in an hour.  It is now 7.5 hours later and no call....  Grrrrrrr  I had my hopes up that I was NOT scammed.  Again, I am not so sure.

After getting my bones aligned again, I stopped at Paco Lightfoot's condo to drop off his Apple hard drive that I have had for 2 weeks at least.  He thanked me again for taking the photos at their masquerade ball.

I dug up most of my clothes and jackets and washed and dried them.  It is nice to be able to do laundry in about 2 hours!  Now, all I have to wash tomorrow are the clothes that I am wearing and I can pack for the trip home.

I took Billy to my little cafe for burgers again and we brought back a burger for Teresa.  The rain had held off until we were walking home.

So, it is a down day without much interaction anywhere.

Tomorrow I will have to make sure to spend time with Teresa to familiarize her further with riding Pixie and give her more confidence.

I have a lot of time to think about my direction in life and I frankly doubt that it will include Ecuador again, but I never say never.  I am eternally grateful to Billy and Teresa for their hospitality, and for all those friends who made time to see me. 

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

Al

******

© All my work is COPYRIGHT protected and may not be used in any way without purchase, or without my permission.  

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.