last weekend until Wednesday

Saturday I was working in the morning and didn't have all that much to eat so I send Elmer a text knowing that I would get something since he doesn't like it when I don't eat enough. Right on the mark! He brought me lunch and since it was quiet we had it together. He went off to work out and I continued work as normal. Due to the Mundial the morning shift is usually very quiet and boring which means I can reply to emails. Once I got off work I went home and freshened up and got ready to go out. I had a date with Hedda in the park for one of our last dinners. Camilla was there as well and we went to Travelers menu. This time they also got the orders wrong and the last time I thought it was because our group was bigger than 10! Their Spanish is worse than mine but hey they have a business so that is kind of surprising. The food was okay and afterwards Camilla had a date and left. Hedda and I went to La Sala but it was still pretty empty so we went to Monoloco for a drink. I talked Marcela into having a drink with us upstairs. She came and we all went to La Sala. Now it was full and they had live music. Not really my style at the start but we girls sure had fun. The guys from the dinner place where there as well and we all chatted and danced a bit. Jose looks to be my new companion when Elmer is working which suits me just fine. We all had a blast to the end and by the time I went to Monoloco Elmer was a bit worried about me since I hadn't answered my phone or replied to his text. I had a bit too much to drink and a hang over was programmed. Once he was done we went to my place. I had to knock forever on the door and make a racket since Karin’s keys had been stolen so now the place is locked up like Fort Knox. We went all to bed than and Morgan is getting sick so we heard him coughing and twisting and turning – fabulous!

Sunday, I had to let Elmer out of the front door and lock it all up again. I could sleep a bit longer since I had my date with Hedda in the park at 10am for breakfast. She brought a new roommate with her, Vinnie and we had breakfast in La Fuente which was fun. Afterwards we went to the market and I bought new sandals and rings. Gee, I still play with my fingers and don't wear any rings - so that is now taken care of! We had a date with Luis for lunch and where supposed to wait for him the park but no show for an hour and no answer to phone calls or texts. We went to Funky and afterwards to a cafe for some cake. I returned to Funky and waited for Elmer since we had to return together to my place for a shower. He had to go to work and I was meeting the others for dinner. It was kind of difficult to focus since I was so tired. They all left early so I stayed behind and chatted with Jordan for a while. I was more than glad that they closed up early and we were home before Morgan and Mike.

Monday, he had again to get up very early and I woke up with stomach cramps. They didn't leave me alone until way past mid day. I had to move all our stuff from one place to the new apartment alone. I was bathed in sweat after each walk which was only like 5-6 blocks but when you aren't feeling good it is very far. I had to rest after each one! The place was a mess when I arrived and looked only slightly better when Elmer got home by around 7pm. We both were like tomorrow we need to clean some more because this isn't nice. He was really worried about me and I got spoiled. The only surprise we were in for was that the warm water wasn't to be had so that needs to get fixed. Since I wasn't up for proper dinner I was like I'll try some noodle soup and it stayed down. He prepared his own dinner since he didn't want me to exhaust myself. I got a shoulder rub since my shoulders were aching from carrying all the stuff I had to make 4 trips back and forth with my big backpack and a huge bag as well. We watched TV and I was gone pretty early.

Tuesday, he had a staff meeting which took place very early and I set my alarm for 9am to watch the game Alemania/ Ecuador from my bed. After that I got up and started house cleaning. Rosa, my landlady, explained to me how to use the cleaning equipment so different than at home. Elmer phoned in to tell me that he was done at work and would run some errands. He asked me later on if I wanted anything and how I was. So when he came back I was in for a surprise he had bought everything that we needed to stock up the fridge. He saw that I was cleaning and chipped in right away and even washed the table cloth. For you guys that sounds very normal and what is so important about that, well, here the guys are still macho and it is very unusual that they help with house hold chores. In the afternoon we were napping a bit and I wrote some post cards - finally! My phone went off and it was Lea asking if I could cover for her today since she now ended up with the stomach being weird. I said no problem. I had some very plain pasta today and was off to work. Elmer was off to the gym and showed up before work to say hello. Today is a good day maybe because I had a good nights sleep and am generally relaxed and happy. I am making lots of tips today which I will spend in Monoloco on a soup I think today since I still don't trust my stomach although the pasta stayed down. I got to chat some more today with the regulars here and got invited for a dance later on which I happily declined. I called Ema up today though I wanted to do that for a while but every time I remembered it was way too late. She was happy to hear from me since I am like her other daughter. She has got a new student in her place. We chatted for a while and since her birthday is on Saturday I have to buy her a present and maybe she wants to come and visit me in my place her. She is really happy that I am doing okay and have a fun time here. I also got a compliment for my improvement in my Spanish. I guess talking day in day out helps even if it doesn't seem like it some day’s o,))) After I had closed up here I went to Monoloco and had a soup since my stomach wanted something to eat. I ordered and saw someone waving at me, it was Jose. I joined him and his table and after they had finished their beer and I my dinner we went off dancing in Sin Ventura. I really hadn’t intended to go since I wasn’t planning on getting soaked in sweat. Oh well, Jose and I had fun and he will stop by tomorrow in Funky Monkey for a drink together. I had given a friend my number and was in for a surprise that he called me at 1.30am to tell me good night and than bug the hell out of me today around 9.30am when I was still partly in sleepy land.

We woke up and heard the builders on the other side of the apartments since they are building another one. We talked about what we each had to take care of today. I was going to make him fix breakfast but he honestly didn’t know how to make pan cakes. I had a willing student and we managed it with very limited utensils (like 2 not very sharp knifes, a butcher knife, one fork, wooden spoons that are moldy, spoons, plates that came in plastic, no cutting board etc.). We had a discussion therefore what we should buy and where and what to do with the stuff if I leave??? He wants to take an unfurnished apartment and than at least he can use whatever we buy. Wuschel, kommt es Dir irgend wie bekannt vor? I want some more things in the kitchen so that I can fix some proper food and also store it, right now a pan will just end up in the fridge since we can’t store food in Tupperware. I also want to buy a blender so that I can mush the beans and make smoothies … very important. Further I would like a dish rack, a proper pan that doesn’t flake … would prefer my food without the ingredients of the material from my pan! In the bathroom there is no mirror for him to shave so we improvised. We took a tiny mirror from upstairs and I got to hold it – nice exercise for my arms! Today I had after breakfast something like 3.5hours before I had to be at work and change clothes etc. We went together to the supermarket and bought a few things than off to the laundry place and wash clothes with the freshly purchased soap. In the mean time while the wash was running we had copies made for the house keys. He went off to see his son and I returned to the laundry place to take my wash from the washing machine to the dryer. I left and went to get myself some food and drop of the food that we had bought. I returned to the laundry place and had some sushi – quite different but okay! Once the wash was done, folded it up and raced back to my place and just made it made it before it started raining. Quick unloading and change of clothes and race to Funky for work. I love it that I live so central now because I otherwise I could never manage it all. Tonight when I am done I can walk home by myself for the first time... fix myself a noodle soup e.g. and watch TV and either wait up or go to sleep …since he has his own set of keys. I just really love it! I love it that our life is starting to fall into a pattern and is very relaxed and easy and we are both happy which is the most important thing. We both love the stability that we have. We both don’t drink much and don’t go to after-parties. For him they are dangerous since too many people give him free drinks and than he does get drunk against his better intentions and there circulate too many drugs as well. I know some people here who are really messed up and we both stay clear of them.