pamelonian

As an afterthought on the way home from work, I bought some Halloween candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters. I got my first couple of kids at 6:45. They were being followed by their dad (I hope) driving a van. Boris, my black cat, ran out the door as I was handing out my big handfuls of candy. I ran out to retrieve him and locked him in the bedroom. There is no telling what might happen to a black cat out on Halloween. Actually, I have only had one cat who I ever let out. That was Jones, the tuxedo alley cat. He was an adopted stray, so for a long time I could not keep him indoors. Except on Halloween.

There are not too many kids coming to my door tonight. I think it is because most of my neighbors do not have their porch lights on. My street must not seem worth the trouble. The next kid that comes might just get my whole bowl so I can be done with it. I will definitely shut down at 8:00. Any later and all you get are obnoxious teenagers. I have enough of them all day teaching high school.

I am keeping busy doing laundry and reading. I got this big wheeled duffel bag for the Bimini trip, and it is all packed. Actually, I am going to have to unpack and repack it tonight because I want to include some of the things I washed and go over the list again to make sure I have everything. I think I will transfer any breakables to my carry-on. A duffel is not sturdy luggage. I only hope my diving fins will survive the abuse. The main reason I got the duffel was to hold my fins. They are too large for carry-on suitcases.

In 2 days a new adventure begins! I can hardly believe it is almost here. All this week I have been preparing lesson plans and materials for my week-long substitute teacher. I think I am really ready, except for that unpacking and repacking tonight.

After all the Mayan ruins, we made a stop in Belize.  We went caving.  (Caving?!?)  Not what I would have chosen but it was quite an adventure hiking through the jungle, wading across rivers and finally climbing around and wading through caves up to my armpits in water.  The cave was a sacred site where many Mayan sacrifices were made.  There were calcified pots and even skeletons in this huge chamber deep in the cave.  No cameras were allowed inside after some tourist dropped one and chipped a skull. 

We finally arrived in Caye Caulker, Belize. This is a tiny island with only 3 streets "paved" with sand. Everyone instantly relaxed in this wonderful country with laid-back, friendly people.




( More photos of the island and SHARKS here. )

By now we were in Guatemala to visit the famous ruins of Tikal.



This is a representative image of what the structures here look like. We are still in the middle of the jungle. We arranged a "sunrise tour" so had to get up at 4:00, hike 45 minutes and climb Temple IV for a magnificent view of the city. Then we waited.



( Full story here with more photos. )

Palenque was a 9-hour bus ride from Mérida.  We stayed in a "hotel" that consisted of cabins in the jungle, actually quite nice.  I have wanted to visit this site since I first saw it in a movie our Spanish teacher showed us in 9th grade.  We used to bug subsequent Spanish teachers until they would let us see the movie again.  It's an Academy-Award winning 1971 documentary called "Sentinels of Silence."  Orson Welles narrates the English version and Ricardo Montalbán narrates the Spanish.  The short film featured helicopter photography of the sites accompanied by an epic, orchestral soundtrack.  It was a dream come true to see this beautiful city nestled deep in the jungle.



This first temple was later discovered to have been a tomb (see the opening at the bottom). No one had previously believed any of the Latin American pyramids had been used as tombs like the ones in Egypt.

( Please click to continue exploring. )

On the third day of the trip, we went to Uxmal.  This site was one of the reasons I chose this trip.  To go here you have to really want to see it, not like the kind of casual tourist who might make it out to see Chichén Itzá.  I think the bus would take 6 hours from Cancún, but it was only an hour from Mérida where we were staying. 

I should mention that I was struck by the dreaded Montezuma's Revenge when I was taking the van to this place.  No horrible accidents occurred, but I was suffering.  Nothing would stop me from seeing Uxmal, but I could have done better with the photos had I not been ill. 

Here's the iconic Pyramid of the Dwarf, or Pyramid of the Magician, depending on who you ask. These are only names given by people who found it already abandoned, anyway. It was my first view of the city.



The architecture here is quite different from Chichén. Also older and without Toltec influence.

Here I am in front of the main plaza for the Pyramid of the Dwarf.




( More photos behind the cut. )

Still more photos on my flickr page.

I was driving home from my parents' house into the setting sun.  The sun was in That Place where it is below the visor and you can't do anything to block it except to hold up a hand or try really hard not to look that way, which is difficult if you are headed west. 

I didn't mind tonight because it gave me a great view of the partial solar eclipse.  I could see the disc of the moon obscuring the lower third of the sun.  I knew the eclipse was tonight, but did not have high expectations of being able to see anything.  As I said, I was trying really hard not to look.  I know that one should never try to observe a solar eclipse directly.  However, I have had the full setting sun in my eyes on that drive home on more than one occasion.  I am sure my eyes are no worse off than they would have been on any other drive home at that hour. 

The view was best when seen through the trees.  (It didn't hurt as much.)  I didn't get any pictures, but I have the image burned into my retinas.

Tomorrow morning (Saturday) at 9:00AM is the Kundalini Yoga class.  It is at the Kansas Ki Society dojo at 2400 Franklin Road.  (aka 1650 rd) off K-10 east of Harper.  Bring a yoga mat if you have one or a blanket if you don't.  First class is free. 

My cats were playing with a small, grey, furry animal.  I soon discovered that it was dead.  I had hoped it was a mouse, but upon inspection, I think it was a baby mole.  They were quite proud of themselves and were disappointed when I took it away from them.  They immediately went back into the garage to try to capture another.  That brings the death toll to three skinks, a baby snake, and now a baby mole.  (Not to mention countless insects.)  I am still waiting for them to kill a mouse, but I am confident in their abilities should the opportunity present itself.  That's their job, what they are paid to do!    I am so proud of my cats!  I can't say who delivered the killing bite, because I think they work together. 

Boris, official Halloween Kitty today.


Beatrice. Just look at that chin!

I got my flu shot yesterday, plus a TDAP shot, which is tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. That's right, folks, the Whooping Cough has made a comeback. The comeback is due to lots of people who don't like immunizations. WTF? Anyway, though I had the shot as a baby, they thought I should get a booster. The shots kicked my butt, and I spent most of today asleep on my recliner. Both of my shoulders are sore, which wouldn't be a big deal but I need my shoulders to roll on in aikido. I know, wahhh! These are first world problems. I get a few hours of annoyance from some shots that many people can't even get. I will not be getting Whooping Cough or flu this season because at my level of middle classdom, I can get shots. I often think about how my income level affects my ability to deal with health issues. I can afford to get pills to curb my allergy symptoms, I can get a flu shot. I even have insurance to cover my insomnia issues. Not fair that those who don't earn what I do not to have access to health care.

Sunday is my nephew's birthday celebration. These kids keep growing up and having birthdays. Next it will be Christmas.