We went first to a Jewish deli for breakfast, where I had superb French toast with a veal pancetta, then we went up Mont Royal Parc. I hate to admit it, but during my 9 months or so living in Montreal I never actually went to the park, it felt too difficult even though the […]
A very long day
And still many hours to go. I woke up early, around five, as I have been in recent days, and then had a phone meeting about a bit of work that remains very fuzzy and unclear and is due very soon. Then there was some frenzied packing – frenzied largely because I did a wash […]
Three days of sun
It has been bright for three successive days, and though I understand this is normal for September, it feels out of the ordinary after the week and a half of rain since we arrived in Puerto Viejo. My towel actually dries when I hang it out after a shower. Delightful. Two upcoming bits of work […]
The mouse that roared
I work with many mice that roar. There is a particular type of person, loud and fighty and very macho (regardless of gender) and with intense favourites and hatreds, who seem to be particularly common in this line of work. I’m quite good at handling them usually, and most of them really like and even, […]
Ouch
I have developed a very sore wrist and arm, and am worried about RSI. I suppose I had it coming, but today I took all sorts of measures. These included: Posting on Metafilter to ask for keyboard recommendations. Selecting an ergonomic keyboard, to be purchased from Canada or the UK depending on the bother and […]
Unconscionable
An unconscionably late post. (Soon I will run out of embarrassed titles for late posts and then there will be a reckoning). Not much has happened in the past week. I have been going for my lessons and finding out a little more about Colombian history and life in Laureles from my teacher. It’s a […]
Waking, sleeping
After a couple of slightly down days, when my Spanish didn’t feel like it was going particularly well, and at work the piano seemed to rise higher overhead, and it was difficult to concentrate, today was a little better. For one, I spoke to the Gentleman Friend briefly, which cheered me up. Last night I […]
Alone in Oaxaca
The following day my class was a little better and less discouraging. I did a spot of memorising, and have most of the prepositions somewhere in my brain if not always readily accessible. This was overshadowed by the GF’s departure as he left for his nearly-month long travels to New Zealand for a conference. The […]
On the fritz
I’ve been on the fritz for a couple of days, throwing mini strops, mostly silently, like a well-bottled beverage. One little eruption actually took place on Metafilter, where there has been a longrunning pair of threads on the site’s white middleclass American orientation and the moderators having only one solution: applying copious amounts of goodwill. […]
Long day
Yesterday I had a second class with the new teacher and while she is very sweet and also very good, spoke to the owner of the school that I’d prefer to return to the old teacher. At the time she said yes certainly, though we will see what happens. I was then up late at […]