Week in the Life 2018 | Tuesday (Photos + Words)

Day 2 of Week in the Life is over and I am here - two days in a row. Yay me!

The day started out quite cold, so I decided to wear a warm sweater with a turtleneck and boots. It turned out to be a good decision.

The view out the window is cloudy/foggy but at least it isn't raining. Came down at 6:10 to get the boys' water bottles ready and heat up some coffee for me while I wait for the boys to come down so we can leave.

Getting shoes on. Agus has a hard time waking up and says he's a "zombie".

Love how he walks out to the car with hands in pockets. Daddy has already brought all his things to the car so he's traveling "light" this morning.

Pulling out of the conjunto in back of our neighbor "Pepito", who goes oh-so-very-slow, but which leaves time for a couple of quick car selfies.

Often the first two or three hours of work are quiet. Today placement exams start at 9 a.m., so it will pick up around 8:30. Until then, we just check email, check the news, do anything that was pending last night, and always with 80s music (courtesy of the secretaries) in the background.

First cup of coffee in the morning. This is essential. Mostly because I appreciate the warm mug in my freezing cold hands. 52 degrees

Working on my blog, getting pictures uploaded and posts written. Feels good to be back here.

First reheating of the coffee of the day. I took two pictures - one after I realized the chair back was in the way. After seeing the full-body picture, however, I decided it was better with my backside covered. Sigh. Someday I would just like to not cringe when I see myself in the mirror. I know it's my story - and I own it - but it doesn't have to be, yet I feel powerless and helpless to change it.

We've been thinking about (for quite some time now, granted) selling some of the kids' old toys, to make space and also to update their rooms into something more suitable for teens. Andrés was checking out a type of Craigslist for Ecuador. Hopefully we can get (or WILL get) this taken care of before our summer trip.

I spent quite some time this morning catching up on Amy's and Jennie's blogs. So fun to see Amy's posts about Disney World, since we were just there as well. Quite depressing to read about Jennie's struggles, but I'm glad I did and so glad she's writing honestly about them. I imagine it is somewhat therapeutic, but it's also painful and raw (as she herself says). She's really a great writer and I felt like I was swept up in a memoir or something. Really she should write a book, she's got some talent. Anyway, I feel such compassion for her and Tom and what they are going through and have decided to intensify my prayers and good vibes (whatever works). I totally emphasize with her and I'm not sure I would actually be taking it as well as her. Sigh. Real life is a real b**** sometimes.

Feeling guilty that I haven't gotten much "real" work done, I go back to my desk to work.

Making thesis corrections and suggestions for one of my students.

Notes taken. Ideas given.

A break from corrections in order to contact the chat desk of TOEFL iBT. Scheduling problems with upcoming administrations. 

Some days lunch can't come soon enough. I had some mixed nuts for a snack but was still hungry at lunchtime. I had leftover mashed potatoes and gravy (purposefully no meat - not a huge fan). Andrés and I went up to the computer lab to eat (everywhere else was too crowded). 

Another one of my hang ups is that I feel guilty eating. All I can think about while I'm eating is that I'm eating too fast, eating too much, not eating healthy enough foods. After I eat I feel sick and guilty, like I did something really wrong. Yet obviously the feeling isn't strong enough to stop me from my bad habits or from eating again or eating differently. I'll get home and eat crackers and peanut butter or open a small bag of chips or make popcorn - because I'm hungry - but then I will eat too fat, too much and the cycle will start all over again. It feels like an eating disorder, although it isn't one. But this relationship with food is complicated and terrible and I hate food but I love it. Geez. I should just exercise and not worry about the food - but that doesn't seem to work either. I don't know what's wrong with me. Probably it's my lack of uterus. Or the altitude. (My two go-to excuses for everything in life.)

The ride home. Pretty much always 45 minutes, unless there is a detour because of rain/flooding/bomb threats (all of which occurred last week). Great! No rain or flooding or bomb threats today. Oh, but the road by work is closed for repaving (really this is overdue) so we must take a 20-minute detour in the opposite direction (because of all the one-way streets + traffic). Still, we ended up getting home around the same time, so not too much complaining (last week's flooding added 1.5 hours to our commute).

Kid pick up - outside Shushú's house. It has rained here but at the moment is just cloudy.

There they are! Man, my day is instant sunshine when these two are around. Enjoying them so much. Such a different season in life. They are not the cute little kids who say funny and sweet things or do something so amazing, but they are just absolute fun to be around, and I feel a sense of peace when they are near me. I suppose that's my Mama Bear instinct. Not something I ever thought I would have when I was young, but definitely what suits me at this age of my life.

An added plus is that they've already finished their homework.

Getting the bags into the car to go back to the house.

Nico, fluttering around the house, pumped up because BATI'S COMING, knocked over a pencil sharpener and got pencil shavings all over. He cleaned it up. This is one thing I remember he always asked to do when he was small (sweep). Nowadays, not so much. But he did it, and then asked what else he could do, so I sent him to dust the downstairs.

He was finished in two minutes. I decided to just go with it and sent him to clean out and then turn on the Roomba.

Bati came, Andrés got beer and chips and chifles, I made salsa rosada and the boys turned on the TV. Liga was playing in the Copa Sudamericana against a Bolivian team and had a good chance to go to the next stage.

Excitement. Liga is playing well. Then - the goalkeeper makes a mistake and the ball drifts s l o w l y into the arch. Liga is losing 0-1 at the end of the second half.

During half time Bati asked to see our Galapagos pictures. Nico and I talked about our trip. Second half starts but no one is very interested in the game, when Agus gets a phone notification: Liga SCORES! Game's tied up.

A few minutes later, the Bolivian team makes another goal. Then another. Liga is down by two and the celebratory vibe in the room has quickly faded. Then, in the last five minutes of the game, Liga scores! Liga still loses the game 2-3 but it's enough to send the team to the next stage of the Copa. Now everyone is happy.

Pizza is ordered (Bati's suggestion). Pepperoni and Hawaiian, and it is quickly eaten in the elation of a win. Of course, I didn't get a picture because I too was partaking of UNHEALTHY food once again. I need to get organized - all I thought about all afternoon was that I should make a salad for myself, but then it starts raining, temperatures plunge once again, our team wins, and everyone is eating pizza and so am I. Too much and too fast and then I'm mentally berating myself again.

After showers, Nico is ready to do our nightly reading. I don't remember this book starting out so slowly. He doesn't mind. He's seen the movie and he loves the story. And I think he also loves procrastinating bed time.

He never wears socks to bed. My feet freeze just looking at him.

200 pages in and we still aren't even at Hogwarts yet. I'm anxious to get to the good part.

Agus playing with SnapChat filters as Nico and I read.

The kids were in bed by about 9:30, and I was excited because this is earlier than normal and I thought: great! I'll get some reading in after a quick round of Candy Crush (you know, to decompress). An hour later I woke up to a blank screen and Andrés snoring softly next to me, so of course it was lights out.

Until tomorrow!

Week in the Life 2018 | Monday (Words + Photos)

Week in the Life started yesterday and I couldn't be more excited. I had planned out a bunch of things I could take pictures of, angles I could tell stories from, etc., but in the end I didn't take a whole lot of photos and wasn't super satisfied with the ones I took. I am just using my iPhone camera (I don't even have another camera), and not doing much in terms of editing, so maybe I will need to spend more time on that.

One of the issues yesterday is that it was dark and dismal and rained all day. There was no sun and little light, so my photos turned out blurry and underexposed and pixelated. I guess I'll go with it - tomorrow is another day and it is WEEK in the life :) So there will be plenty of opportunities to improve.

The day started cold and wet. It was raining pretty hard when we woke up (5:15 alarm with two presses of the Snooze button). Not too unusual for the time of year, but it usually stops by the time we leave around 6:15. Not this morning.

Nico continued his conversation from last night about the story he is going to write ("episodes") about Pearls (Time Pearl, Fire Pearl, "Mommy, should there be a Power Pearl?" Me: of course!). He concentrates on what he's saying as he talks and doesn't get ready quickly.

Andrés got the car packed up with the kids' bags and homework and projects and posters (done over the weekend), and then pulled out and waited by the curb for everyone to be ready. He has to punch in by 7:15, so he is always trying to get everyone moving quickly in the morning.

I sat on a chair in the dining room waiting for the boys to emerge from the upstairs. Finally one of them came down.

Agus has gotten so grown up and tall this year. He is almost as tall as me. I hope (and assume) he will continue growing.

His uniform is too small. We bought new ones but the uniform lady didn't have his correct size, so we had to go with it. At this point in the school year it probably isn't worth getting new sweaters - besides, I doubt the lady would have them in her stock since she was "out" months ago. So, in this case, hopefully his growth spurt will take place after June is over.

This one came down a few minutes later, being nagged repeatedly to "HURRY UP!" He put his shoes on in a blur and was out the door.

We dropped the kids off at their grandparents' (only a block away), in the rain. No picture for that since everyone was in and out quickly, trying not to get wet.

The temperature was 50 degrees F and stayed that way for the rest of the day. I put the heat on in the car but Andrés was not amused.

Got to work at 7:05 and Andrés beeped us in.

The punching in and out has been happening for a few months now. He is not a fan, but there is little choice. The machine records a picture of him as well as his fingerprint. High tech. You'd think we worked at a top security institution.

My first stop is COFFEE. Love this machine that dispenses hot, filtered water. Sometimes (like today) it is cold and I need to heat it up in the microwave to get it hotter. Then I add instant coffee. I don't mind instant, if the brand is good, because I can make it as hot or cold as I like.

Breakfast at my desk. There is no way I'd have time to eat at home before we come. Plus, I have to wait an hour after I take my thyroid meds before eating, so it is just much easier to do it here. Usually it's quiet enough, although once in awhile teachers or students catch me with my mouth full.  Oh well.

While bringing my coffee into the teacher's lounge in order to heat it up, it splashed out. It reminded me that Jennie always complains about this - there was only a half inch of coffee in there! I wet down the carpet and tried scrubbing and drying it. It made a mark anyways. And, as Andrés pointed out very quickly, it is not the first time I stain the carpet with coffee. Although it was probably the smallest stain I've made to date, he was not amused.

Working at my desk, putting in my UTA students' final grades. I received some very kind emails from them. I think they enjoyed the course (they were all repeating it since they had failed the first time around - with a different professor - which didn't help motivation much. But they turned out to be a really nice and friendly group).

Another coffee warm up (and another cup). It's still 50 degrees out (and in).

My jacket is still on. Some days it stays on all day, although I've been bringing a blanket to put on my lap while I'm at my desk. It might look silly but I don't care. I prefer to be warm than to look good.

10:47 am and I was able to take my jacket off. It's still raining. Very unusual for Quito to rain so steadily for such a long period of time.

Real life is that I've been quite uninspired lately. I have ideas for projects but I procrastinate or don't bother with seeing them through. Part of it is that there is little extrinsic motivation anymore at work, and so I suppose that translates over into this feeling of restlessness and dissatisfaction. Another reason probably has to do with the fact that the more vocal and "seen" you are, the more you have a target on your back. I've enjoyed the last few months without having teachers talking about me, sending email campaigns behind my back, without having authorities question my "right" to work because I am a foreigner, giving ideas to have them be shot down - then having another co-worker suggest the same thing a few months later only to have it accepted among applause and pats on the back, etc. I hate the fact that I have to sit like a piece of furniture (what I criticize many workers of doing), without being the one to make a change, but sometimes you need a break from the drama. I'm taking my break. Andrés would say that I am being too negative and I probably am. But it's just this feeling I've had for the last year or so (probably more) and it's been really hard to shake. I feel like I've lost my "mojo".

I did get inspired to clean out a drawer in my desk and file cabinet to make room for things. This happened because it overflowed and make a huge mess.

All of these books need to go back down the the Teacher Resource Center and be filed properly away. I know this is something I will procrastinate doing and wonder how long they will be here stacked up, waiting for someone to do something with them.

One of our teachers was having her cycle presentations. As usual, I was invited. I always try to make it to a few. It's fun to see what the students come up with. They get really nervous when a gringa comes to listen to their presentations.

Halfway through my day Amy sent out some texts and videos of her with Davis and Charlie. So fun to see Charlie crawling and saying "uh-oh" with Davis in the background reading with Grandma Chris. Made me realize I need to make some phone calls tonight when I get home.

3:45 - time for Andrés to punch out, pick up the kids at their grandparents' and go home. The good news - they had finished their homework by the time we got there.

First thing's first - at home, time to do the breakfast and lunch dishes.

Got a visit from this guy. He comes home and immediately changes into sweats or "comfy" clothes. Lately, I've been wearing my work clothes until bed. Mostly because I am too lazy to put away two sets of clothes at the end of the night, and 4:30 pm seems a little early to put pajamas on. And since I haven't been exercising...

Washing my shoes. My shoes and jacket get so dirty in Quito. It's incredible.

After work and homework and making beds and getting bags and uniforms ready for tomorrow, this is a common sight. Nico on his laptop (he bought it with his Christmas money) and Agus on his phone (he bought it with birthday/Christmas money). Both playing Minecraft. They'll have 1-2 hours of screen time before Daddy will lose his patience and tell them to get off and "play with real toys". He is not amused by Minecraft.

After cleaning up a bit, with the kids on their devices, and I decided to scrapbook for a bit. Excited to get our Galapagos story told.

I made phone calls to Grandma Bauer (nice to hear from her - she washed her car HERSELF today), Grandma Chris (told her all about Galapagos and heard about her challenges keeping her candy drawer full), and Grandpa Dan (no answer - he was leaving tonight with Maureen for their Iceland/Finland/Russia trip so I think I missed him before he boarded the plane).

Dinner started without me while I was making my phone calls. Andrés made it and cleaned up and then I stayed downstairs for a bit more prepping tomorrow's breakfast while the boys took their showers. Real life is that I'm thinking about (always thinking about) needing to get healthier, eat better, exercise more (or even at all), etc., but never really doing much to go in that direction.

While I was upstairs after dinner doing some last minute Project Life and clean up, Agus and Nico came up after showers to see what I was up to. Nico got "inspired" and sat down to draw. I had CNN on and he watched for a bit, particularly interested in the news about the volcanic explosion in Hawaii.

Agus got excited to take one of the Photo Life albums from other years down to the orange chair to look at while he listened to music. It was the 2014 album, which is the year Agus went to Galapagos. Nico made him show him the Galapagos pictures before he went downstairs. He was surprised at the number of sea lions we had seen that time. (There are a lot of sea lions on San Cristóbal, not so many on Santa Cruz or Isabella - that we saw of course.)

Nico eventually went downstairs to wait for me so that we could read. We are currently reading Harry Potter #5 before bed. We usually get through about 8-12 pages a night. 

I found him in bed under the covers snuggled up with Daddy. He was telling Andrés about all of his past nightmares. I let them talk for awhile before interrupting them.

Meanwhile, Agus was on the orange chair. This is a typical scene (minus the album). He listens to music while me and his brother read (he is no longer interested in reading before bed with us). While he listens he bops his head and taps his fingers in tune to the music.

Later, after night prayers, Agus told me that he loved me (and Daddy) so much, and not because we are his parents, but because we protect him, feed him, take care of him, etc. and that we are "really good people". It came out of nowhere but was the best thing of the day. Such a sweet, awesome kid.

It never warmed up. Not that I would it expect to be warmer at 9 p.m.

I ended the day watching a couple episodes of Brooklyn 9-9 with Andres in bed (on Netflix on our iPad). Our Netflix (Ecuador) account got updated with some new shows and movies we are interested in, so I expect for the next few months we will be using it more.

I hope to get each day up on my blog in order to make the album come together easier in the future. I will be documenting this whole week, and then work on the album. I've never actually completed a Week in the Life album, although I've played along many years. Hopefully by getting things documented each night I will set myself up for success.

The posts may be a bit long this week, because of that. I'm also filling out the Story sheets each day, where I can record hour by hour and also record some of the shorter stories and surprises of the day.

Here's to a great week!

Hello, December

It's crazy how fast time goes...like sand through the hourglass, so are the Days of Our Lives. (LOL, I had to make the reference, even if it dates me!)

Lots of craziness going on around here, which doesn't help the frenzied feeling usually associated with this time of the year. Trying to remember to slow down, and doing an OK job of it so far. In fact, because we will be in Florida for the holidays, I suspect that things might actually be smoother - no big cookie plates, no big meals to plan, no need to clean the house for upcoming family gatherings (although I will miss all those things).

Some of this, I think, is contributing to a feeling of disconnect with the holiday, however. I feel like it isn't really affecting me, like I can't really get excited over it. I don't like that feeling much, because this is my absolute favorite season. I suppose once we are in Disney World I'll be singing a different tune, when surrounded by all the lovely holiday-ness and the promise of lots of wonderful SHOPPING!

Speaking of shopping, we basically have our holiday shopping already taken care of (I guess this would be another reason why I don't feel all that stressed and worked up). We are doing it the 21st-century way, a la Amazon. There's something interesting about shopping online (finding things easily, paying electronically, then later getting the product and being surprised all over again), but there's something largely unsatisfying for this Generation X-er as well. I don't really like not being able to hold, see, touch, manipulate the product before I buy it, and stress and worry (A LOT) about getting the right thing, making sure it is what I think it is, etc. I know people in the States and other parts of the world don't worry - you can always return it, right? - but when you just get one shot (and a one-week window for delivery) to get it right (no Amazon returning from Ecuador, that's for sure), the stakes sometimes seem really high.

Nico, age 11, at Quicentro Shopping

We celebrated this guy yesterday, for his "santo" (San Nicolás). We went to T.G.I. Fridays with Bati and Gaby, then went for ice cream (although now Nico says he "doesn't like ice cream and never has" - hmmmmm). The kids, of course, didn't have school since there was vacation for the Foundation of Quito, but we had to go back home to work on projects, which are due soon, so not much play time for us! The good news is, we finished the projects. Yay for us!

I tried to get a picture of all the food, but my dish came late and everyone had already dug in!

In addition to all this, there was a huge landslide yesterday in the south of Quito which is blocking the city's water supply. It isn't affecting our house, but is affecting more than a half million inhabitants, and is affecting our university. After much debate - and conflicting information online- CEC (not the university, however) decided to stay open. The building's cistern is expected to hold up over the next few days. Fingers crossed!

Finally, I'm wrapped up in my December Daily project this month, and loving the whole process. Sometimes I look at a page and just think - meh - but once it's all done and put together I'm always sooooo glad to have done it. I will admit, however, that with the kids being older and not so into all the traditional "Christmas-y" things we usually do, I'm having a hard time "finding" my story for the day. Most of them have nothing to do with the season, which in fact is OK. Some day I will look back and remember that this perhaps was the year when the kids outgrew some of our previous traditions, but more than likely it could also be the year that starts new ones!

Mad project skillz

Maybe later this week I will get a chance to post some photos of my progress :)

Here's to a wonderful season!

All the love

All the love for these two guys. They make me laugh. They make me smile. They make my heart full.

One thing I love is bringing them little treats for after school. Today it was a box of fancy cookies from Hansel & Gretel, which they scarfed down almost immediately. Last week it was a package of Nerds (for Nico - he's the candy/sugar-lover) and a Hershey's Cookies-n-Cream candy bar (for Agus - he's the chocolate lover).

Right now they are into lots of Kindle play and Minecraft. After homework's done, lunches are packed, uniforms laid out, and homework signed and put away, we often get the question, "Can we play on our Kindle?" Usually the answer is yes, and depending on the time, they may get up to an hour before it's time to eat supper. They usually sit together, playing together and giving each other advice.

This weekend at the beach they brought their Nintendo 2DS (because there would be no Internet access) and on the way home Nico said, "I forgot how fun my Nintendo is!"

If they aren't on their Kindles, they are on their iPods/iPhones, texting Bati and listening to music (especially Agus - he'll sit for hours just listening to all his favorite songs. Apple Music was definitely a good buy for him!). At the beach they both would wake up early (around 7 a.m.), and go put on their respective headphones and just listen to music until the rest of the house was awake.

That's what their obsessions are at this time. And in between all of this, they sometimes read, write stories (Agus) or "theories" (Nico), or play "soccer" in the little hallway outside of the bedrooms.

Like I said, all the love.

Today...

• Today I am getting excited to go to the beach for the first time in 11 months. Eleven months is too long! I am looking forward to the heat, the food (shrimp in coconut sauce and popcorn shrimp with fresh rice and plantains!), the pool, sitting outside with an ice cold beer, playing board games with the boys on the patio, sleeping with no covers at all!
• Today I am happy that I took the time to go for a walk while at work (I even brought my tennis shoes, so I was able to walk further and faster). It was a mere 3 km, but it feels good to have that "out of the way", since the rest of the day will be driving to the beach. 
• Today the secretaries are at an event in Sto Domingo, which means it has been abnormally (and almost eerily) quiet around here - no students coming to our office, no beeping from the turn-style turn taking thing, no loud music coming from their desks (the station they listen to plays the same mix over and over, I could go through the songs right now - mostly 70s and 80s - one of which is Mr. Roboto). 
• Today it was sunny and warm (although a little breezy) while on my walk but is now getting dark and looking like it might storm and/or rain.
• Today Agustín went to school nervous about his Sociales exam. I helped him study last night for the exam, and the topics were all over the place: biodiversity in Ecuador, World War I, the history of democracy, economics, how to set up a small business, deficits and surpluses and balance sheets. In all honesty he knew most of the stuff in a general sense, but if they ask too many details he will bomb that test (it was hard and I had to look some stuff up - he even had lists of the different battles fought on each of the fronts of WWI). We shall see.
• Today the boys had a school event going on so they didn't need to wear uniforms. That's always fun.
• Today I am anticipating my final Day in the Life of 2017. It will be fun to be at the beach (although boring - I expect to have lots of pool/ocean/food pictures.

It's the big things...

Some things that have me very worried and upset at the moment:

• not knowing where my "Solidarity" tax is going
• not being able to find out where the money donated and (forcefully) collected for the earthquake is going (Agustín had a homework assignment yesterday to find out where the funds are going and it was HARD to find out. I found some information on a Chinese(?) news blog, and then an article that came out last weekend stating that some of that money ($120 million) went to pay off State debts that had nothing to do with the earthquake. I don't like knowing that most of the money was probably stolen/pilfered...).
• being told that I am "corresponsible" for the earthquake. I don't understand how a common citizen of this world can possibly be considered responsible for a devastating 7.8 earthquake.
• knowing that in a few weeks I need to go to Guayaquil to teach a training course. The topic is Collaborative and Cooperative Learning and the Flipped Classroom. Mostly I'm not looking forward to being away from my family and to the plane trip. I think I will like the heat though.
• having to make phone calls. I hate it. It gives me anxiety. I don't know why or when this started, but it's real, people. And I don't really mean phone calls to my friends/family (although I DO put those off, but they don't give me real anxiety), I mean to strangers/companies. 
• the fact that Ecuador is letting Julian Assange stay in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, as long as he doesn't "reveal" anything about the country. Seems like they knew what they were doing all along, and that the plea bargain they struck with him was simply because the country is trying to cover something up.

I'm sure there is more but this is enough for today. Just some things I need to get off my chest before I can go on...

I'll be better in the future about adding pictures... I promise!

It's the little things...

Small things that are making me happy right now:

• getting a chance to open Facebook or Pinterest and scroll with no purpose for a few minutes
• my first sip of coffee in the morning
• the color of my new coffee mug:

• the selection of colors of my new felt tip markers:

• seeing the kids stumble groggily out of their bedroom in the morning
• doing the crossword puzzle of El Diario "expreso"
• my kindle (although that's more of a big thing - man do I LOVE my kindle!)
• daydreaming about working on Project Life and opening all my new goodies
• jelly beans
• a teacher colleague you haven't seen in a while who is SO happy to see you she gives you a huge hug and practically cries!