another week flying by

I think that I spent the Sunday night in Monoloco being freezing cold because my clothes were slightly damp and it was just cold. I had a wonderful soup and was reading a book waiting for him to finish up. I spent the night at his as there was no point in going to see the kids. I was too tired and had to arrange my move properly.

Monday we couldn't really sleep in since he had to work at 10am. So we had a quick breakfast and tried out the bread that I was given from Ema - being Danish with lots of grains - it isn't very liked here o,))) It was fun trying it out with his family who are like me lets try everything once ... Elmer didn't really like it too much and happily left it to me. He had to rush off to work since he was late and I finished my breakfast with Marisol. Suddenly her aunt showed up to say hello so I got introduced to the next family member. After breakfast I stopped by Funky Monkey hoping that Morgan would be there but no such luck. I called him and asked if I could come by and collect my bag. He said sure. I went by and met Benny who was staying in the room that I was taking over. He gave me the house key so that part is sorted. I could move my stuff into the room. Xela the dog likes me and always wants to come in to visit and lick my hands. I left and went back to Jocotenango on my way I meet Marisol who had picked up Maria Fernanda from school. We chatted most of the way and than I took the bus home to Ema. I had a nice lunch and than packed my last few belongings which tend to get more and more here. I settled my bill with her for the laundry but she couldn't change it all so we said that I would stop by next day and settle up and get the last few things. The rain stopped when I was ready to go so I took the bus and walked the 390 minutes to my new place. I settled kind of in and than I had to get the essentials for which I had compiled the list with the help from Ema. Not only what I need but also what brand to buy and what is good and what isn't. I also wanted to buy fresh things on the market so I quickly stopped by Elmer's place. I asked Marisol if she could tell me which part of the market would have the best things ... Her husband Vincenzo asked her why don't you join her and show her where to go. So in the end we went together and Maria Fernanda joined us as well. She loves the market. I got to know where to buy stuff, when is market days to get fresh things, what are the prices, when to haggle ... I bought a very big bag to carry all the stuff (Sara bought one also and had to pay 15Q while I only had to pay 5Q). In the end we had bought everything and were hunting for some good bananas inside. That place was also selling "dulces tipicos". I asked them what is good and in the end I bought the family something and I got to try a whole variety and found out that some stuff is edible and others is just too sweet for my taste. At her place we sorted the groceries out since she had also bought some things that she had forgotten earlier. I carried all the stuff home and than had to rush to Monoloco to meet Elmer when he got off work. I had already bought some things in the supermarket but not everything. He had said that he would help me carry the things home. When we were ready to leave the supermarket the street was a river and the only way to get home would be by tuc-tuc. In the end we got lucky since a friend of his took us along. We arrived home in my place and got soaked just getting out and in. Once I had arranged everything in the cupboard space and in the fridge we started preparing dinner. It was good fun to do it together. His sister was dying laughing earlier about the fact hat he would cook since I got to hear that he wouldn't be able to do more than an egg or pasta. As a matter of fact that isn't quite true. He is very good and putting all the stuff and overseeing what is in the pan. We fixed ourselves very tasty pasta with sauce and as dessert mango and to drink a smoothie. We were both pretty beat and watched a bit of TV but didn't go out. Well, in the end he was zapping through the channels which drove me insane so I went off to bed. He came later and we both slept kind of bad the first night. For me the strange new sounds, different smells etc. and for him it was not his bed. Oh I forget to mention that we were in for a surprise which neither Mike nor Morgan had mentioned. We were both ready to freshen up with a shower but no water at around 10pm. The shower was one thing but not being able to brush teeth... no way it just had to be done with agua pura.

Tuesday morning though also no water for brushing teeth or washing one's face. Great, we had to get up really early since the whole Monoloco crew was supposed to show up at 7am at the soccer field because they had to cheer for the other team. We arrived and had good fun there and he had to go to a staff meeting afterwards and I went to the school. It was a normal working day with the kids for me. The only unusual thing was that one of the classes was in the yard and therefore they were little angels while it was time for tasks afterwards they turned back into little devils. Camilla and I were both tired but we took them to the playground. Oh boy what were we in for ... they kind of behaved while being in the playground but when we had to go back to the school they really didn't move this time except for the girls. It took us a good 20 minutes just too literally carry them off the playground. Once we were done with that and got them back to school safe and sound we walked together home until our paths parted. She told me that she will really miss Terry but she has already her life planned in Scotland without him and without her ex. I had to buy on the way home a phone card to call Ema and tell her that I wouldn’t make it for lunch but if I could drop by for dinner. Of course, no problem! I bought some more things that I had forgotten the day before for cooking. I was ready than and I called Elmer and told him that I was starving. He was like okay start of fixing lunch and I'll be there in 30. Yeah, right! He had the nerve to call me 1.5 hours later and by than I was so mad that his food had ended up in the bin. He heard that I sounded mad and decided to come by and smooth things over. He was laughing at my temper and made up very well I must say o,))) We had our siesta and than we both got ready to go. I went to Funky for a pit stop to check my mail and than onwards to Ema. He went to work. I arrived at Ema's and I always get treated like a long lost daughter now since I move out. We had lots to talk about and had a very entertaining dinner with Mario. I got to try out more cakes. Ema was a love and gave me some old newspapers so that I could stuff our shoes to get them to dry more quickly. I had to take a tuc-tuc back to Antigua and started haggling for a good price when he said wait I'll ask my colleague. They talked and the other one took me to Antigua. I was in for a surprise since the driver turned out to be Isaac - Chelsea's friend. He took me as far as he could and I didn’t' have to walk very far at all. In Monoloco I found the usual crowd for Monoloco night and it was kind of fun seeing everyone getting drunk etc. although personally not my cup of tea. I bought my drinks one at a time from Victor and he wouldn’t take my money. I guess by now I am in since I cheer for the soccer games as well o,))) I had gotten Marcela to agree to come up for one drink and than we would see what to do. I was waiting for her and had arranged a drink for her when Morgan showed up with her slightly drunk. He wanted to dance so we all went to Sin Ventura where of course several guys wanted to dance with me. In the end I got introduced to her friends and ended up with a guy who was a terrific dancer and later I found out that he was a dancing instructor. So that was really good fun until he started hitting on me and saying that I have a boy-friend didn't really impress him. I decided high time to up and leave and pretended that I had to go find someone. I escaped to Monoloco since Marcela had already left ages ago and Morgan was just too drunk. Once Elmer got of his shift we went home and gee I was in a happy mood. Jordan and I had a shot of something and that really kicked in nicely so I was singing all the way home “Singing in the rain" - very fitting as well!

Wednesday it was his turn to play soccer. I am getting better at fixing his coffee since I never taste - it is all just good measure. We had yoghurt with fresh fruit. The game was hilarious this time. The place was soaking wet. The guys they had to play against where tall and huge in comparison to them. I must say that it was like watching giants playing smurfs. The smurfs won though big style! Mauritio had to call time out and at first I didn't get it why that was. The reason: his shoe had literally fallen apart. The soles had decided to separate into 3 parts and he proudly declared that they had lasted for 2 years. The guys started making jokes about how much money you spent on buying shoes and how long they might last you ... The other thing that was also funny was that Mauricio lost his balance earlier and fell of the chair and made a spectacular fall from the stand which earned him lots of laughs. I had a good laugh when some guy told me that Gato was a good player and that I should cheer for him since I didn't know him. Kenny and the others just smirked and went no of course she doesn't know him. We had such good laughs that day! We went back to the apartment and had a bite there or at least that was the original plan instead we took a shower and went to bed since we were both so tired. Afterwards he went home to get some things and run some errands and I went interneting and nothing really exciting happened during the day. I was chilling at home for a while and watched TV. I had promised the girls that I would join them for the last round of trivia as Barbie Dolls. It was pouring when I left and I had my sandals soaked in the water so that really sucked and in the other spare shoes I was carrying my feet wouldn't get warm which really sucked. I was wearing a skirt because I was getting kind of tired of wet pants. It might not have been the best place to try it since we ended up with seats where the wind was blowing in. We sucked big time for that round and ended up last place. I was so tired that night it was unbelievable and I was sure that if I would have gone home that I would have fallen asleep and not heard him knocking or even my cell going off. I stayed and chatted with Kate for a while until they were done. We walked home and went straight to bed.

Thursday is the day that I wish that I could erode from my calendar that is how bad it was! It started with Sweety calling me as a surprise - nice enough for me but not for Elmer! It put him a very grumpy mood but he wouldn’t talk to me why or what had happened. Hanna came by to give me same of her gym clothes since she doesn't need them anymore when she goes traveling. So we also didn't manage to resolve the little difference that was there and the mood was kind of weird. I had breakfast with Hanna in my place and we watched some TV and later on went downtown. She wanted to have lunch in the Bagel Barn and I had never eaten there before so I was like okay sure. It was nice enough and than my phone went off. It was Elmer and he sounded more like himself again. His parents had asked why I didn't come along and asked how I was etc. maybe that it is why he decided to call me. Who knows? It sounded as if things might get back on track. I went to Funky with Hanna to check my mail and than I went to Cafe 2000 to watch a movie but instead they didn't show any movies. So I decided time to do some grocery shopping and than I went home and was pretty bored and unhappy. I watched TV and than Mike was suddenly back from his trip; we took Xela for a walk and chatted a bit. He was relying tired and just wanted a shower some food and his bed. I must say that all I wanted was a shower to. So we took turns in screaming out you can use the other one now without stealing the water from the other one. I was about ready to go out when I got a text from Hanna telling me that e would meet in the park. Elmer and I had talked a lot in the afternoon since his plans were constantly changing due to phone calls eh received. It was all such a big misunderstanding that we both sounded very frustrated and he was in the end forgets it I am going out with my friends. I at it when he sys that since they sally make him drink way more than is good for him. The diner we had was cap since I wasn't so not paying any attention and had no hunger at all. The whole group moved on to Monoloco and I was really no good company so I left and went to Funky instead to check my mail Lea was there and said sorry for being rather curt earlier today. I was like don’t worry about it. She is like I don’t want you to think that I am a bitch so I'll tell you when you have got a minute. What she told me was horrific. She was dating Jeff for a while. I had kind of gathered that. Jeff is a real nice guy and would stop rather regularly at Funky and I hadn't seen him in a couple of days but big deal around here when people move round. She told that she had even crying 5 days straight after she had found Jeff in his apartment with a bullet in his head. I way so stunned and just couldn't take it in since he didn't seem like that kind of guy who would commit suicide. I was like I can’t stay here I have to leave and walk around a bit which I did and than I went to La Sala. I was sitting at the bar and was rather upset and was just debating if I should have a drink or not when Jose showed up. He kind of cheered me up and asked me to join him and his friends which sounded like a good idea. I was right about Elmer showing up slightly drunk. We danced for a while but my heart wasn't really in it. So we left rather early and sat in the park for a while. He told me that he was feeling miserable and I said me too. In the end we sorted it all out and went home together.

Friday 09-06-2006, start of the MUNDIAL!!! We got up on time to get a seat in Cafe 2000. The shower was freezing cold again but we were wide awake after that. We ordered a nice breakfast and watched the game. During the game it started raining again and it got a bit chilly so we needed warm drinks while other people were having beers but that at 11am or noon just isn’t my style. The game was good fun since he was for Costa Rica more because they are Latino than because he thinks that they are great. We had good fun watching the opening and than the game. Afterwards we were debating what to do first. I needed to fill up the fridge a little bit so we went to the supermarket. Walked around town a bit and than we realized that we had forgotten some very important items like a pillow, pillow case and we got lucky and found a rain jacket for him. He told me that he can't afford it right now but I was like right you just get and sick and than I will get sick to - no thanks! I'll buy it for you. I really don't care about spending money on the essentials and we don’t spend the money on ridiculous things. We had some more stops to make in town and by the end of it we were both beat and just wanted to sleep. We went back home and Mike and Morgan were out. Couldn’t overhear them coming back though! I had set the alarm for 5pm since he had to be at work around 6pm and I was going to fix myself some dinner and call the girls to find out what they were up to. Instead I got a phone call at around 4.20pm Abbie asking if I could come in and work. I was like I was just sleeping but give me 30 minutes and I'll be there. So I ended up working while he was still sleeping. Funny in a way because I left my phone and key with him, told Mike that he was in and left. Elmer came by on his way to work in his new raincoat since it was pouring again outside. He is such a sweety and happily handed me the things back. We are getting good at swapping things around since he didn't have room in his locker I got the coat to hang up and later when I don't want my backpack than I can hand it to him. I am so glad that things are back on track we are both just too stubborn sometimes, I am starting to have a temper here as well but we both are good in talking things out and making it right again and we both end up apologizing. My languages are getting a bit mixed here. I was talking Dutch the other night with some people than English with someone else and than I turned around to Jose and addressed him in Dutch, he was like what. I was like sorry and said everything in Spanish. Today when I had to explain something in Dutch the words that came out first were in Spanish. I guess that means that I am getting better at this although it really doesn’t seem that way. Camilla showed up here at Funky and can't find her friend so if she stays here until I close up than we might hang tonight until the others call me and tell me were they will be later. Right now they are all in Guatemala with Luis and Diego.