NY, NY

Well, this is it...the last journal from Guatemala until July 24th.

Tonight I have a midnight rendezvous with New York!

I fly out of Guate at 5pm on TACA Airlines (or, as we like to call it: Take Another Chance Airlines) and arrive at 11:59pm.

(Now I have to go buy some Guatemalan coffee and chocolates, so my family will actually let me sleep inside the house.)

Tags: Guatemala, New York, TACA

To-Do List 2

Ten (More) Things I Want to Do in New York and New Orleans During My Trip Home

* Spend some quality time with my good friends Ben & Jerry.

* Wake up one morning and completely ignore the international news.

* Drink an enormous iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts.

* Have a cannoli and a cappuccino at Caffe Roma in Little Italy. ("Liddul Itlee")

* Drink a Hurricane or two or tree or furrrr with Karla at Pat O'Briens in New Orleans (N'awlins).

* Spend long hours soaking in the Perri hot tub.

* Take a long walk in the woods. Exhale all the residual smog from my lungs.

* Enjoy some relaxing reading and damn fine cappuccinos at the Peekskill Coffee House.

* Meet the locals at the Clover Grill with Dad, Barb & Karla.

* Eat an everything bagel with veggie cream cheese on the deck for breakfast.

* Play Frisbee in the backyard with the guys. Burn off all those calories!

Tags: New York, New Orleans, travel

How About You?

My boss, Quique, just gave me a terrific present: a CD entitled "The Legendary Sides" with the music of Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra. I guess he just wanted to get me in a New York kinda mood. (Like I wasn't there already!)

The last song, "How About You", really struck home. (Well, except for the Franklin Roosevelt part. That's just bizarre.) Here are the lyrics:

HOW ABOUT YOU

I like New York in June, how about you?
I like a Gershwin tune, how about you?
I love a fireside when a storm is due,
I like potato chips, moonlight
And motor trips, how about you?

I'm mad about good books, can't get my fill
And Franklin Roosevelt's looks give me a thrill,
Holding hands in a movie show
When all the lights are low may not be new
But I like it, how about you?

Tags: Dorsey, Sinatra, How About You

N.Y. & N.O. To-Do List

Here we go:

Ten Things I Want to Do in New York and New Orleans
During My Trip Home

(In no particular order... and more to come over the next few days!)

* Walk barefoot in the green, green grass.

* Go to Playland with my niece and nephews. Dragoncoaster, yay!

* Have dinner at Aunt Ruby's in White Plains. Mmmmm, green bean casserole.

* Visit the Daguerreotype exhibit at the International Center for Photography.

* Down some raw fish and sake at Hanada Sushi with Mom and Bob. WASABI!!!

* Have coffee with Vicki at Magdi's. Sorry, sis, I mean: Coffees (plural!)

* Shop for many magazines at Barnes & Noble. Just the thought of the photography section makes me misty-eyed.

* Eat many, many Beignets at the Café Du Monde with Dad and Barbara. A 24 hour coffee shop? Sounds like love to me.

* Say "hey" to the neon pig at SouthBound BBQ with Andy, Marisa, and Andrew.

* Have a snowball fight with my nephews. (Doh! Wrong season.)

Tags: New York, New Orleans, travel

Adios bye-bye

Next week at this time, I'll be on a plane making final preparations for landing at JFK airport in New York City!

I always look forward to my trips home. But this vacation is coming at a particularly crucial time for me. Forget, for a moment, about the hurricane warnings, minor earthquakes, crackhead neighbors, and exploding military bases. It is the city itself that has been sucking the soul right out of me!

The part of Guatemala City that I live in, zona 1, is a broken concrete mess of vendor-invaded sidewalks and streets choked with black-exhaust-spewing buses. If honking ever becomes an Olympic sport, Guatemala is guaranteed to win a gold medal.

Of course, if it ever does win the gold, Guatemala won't be able to wear it in zone 1 for fear of being mugged.

Am I exaggerating? Last Monday, while heading out for a post-work / pre-journaling cup of coffee, I had to step around the glass laying on the sidewalk from the store window that had been shattered by the gunfight just moments earlier. Sadly this wasn't an exceptional event, by any means.

Just to clarify: I love my job. I love my coworkers. I love my friends. I love this country. And there are even things to love about Zone 1. (Or, as one traveler raved about his half-day visit here: "I didn't really hate the place.")

But life in Guatemala City can all-too-easily result in a thickening of the skin, a dulling of the senses, and a straining of one's sanity.

There are, thankfully, many different ways to cope: I enjoy reading, watching movies, listening to classical music, lighting candles, and occasionally drinking rubbing alcohol straight from the plastic bottle. (No, no... I'm just kidding. I actually prefer jazz.)

So while the day-to-day struggle involves seeking out that which is renewing and refreshing, while minimizing the soul-crushing aspects of life in the gray city, sometimes you just have to say: "I'm outta here."

That's why I'm so eagerly awaiting this trip to New York. Even though I'll be working from home for two first two weeks, it'll be time spent with my family... and far, far away from Guatemala City!

Tags: Guatemala, City, crime

Guate goes BOOM!

I left the office fairly late last night. (Updating the journal is tough work, ya know.) I stopped at Cien Puertas, a small café right next to my apartment building, for a quick snack of cheese-covered garlic bread and a large, fresh-squeezed lemonade.

By the time I reached my apartment, I was one step away from zombiehood. I fell into bed so hard it that it seemed to shake the entire building. Just as I was about to knock on the door of deep sleep... Boom! the building shook again.

"Fireworks?" I thought, as the haze reluctantly lifted from my tired mind. But why? The fútbol team didn't win tonight... they didn't even play tonight. (Although, that said, their chances of winning are slightly higher if there isn't actually an opposing team.)

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! "Fourth of July, perhaps?" I wondered, before remembering that I was still in Guatemala, not the US of A.

Even the metal sheets on the roof began to dance with the shockwave of each Big Bang.

I thought perhaps my neighbor with the major cocaine habit was having another one of his 3am bashes where his state-of-the-art sound system would cause the entire 16th floor to tremble with a booming bass beat. Then I remembered, with a quick smile, that the building administration had kicked him out just days earlier.

BOOM! "Well", I sighed to myself, "what with this being Guatemala and all... those booms could be caused by damn near anything. I wouldn't even rule out an alien invasion, à la War of the Worlds."

And with that, exhaustion reached out its long arm and pulled me easily into a sound (and soundless) slumber.

This morning I discovered the truth behind the BOOMs. It wasn't the aliens attacking, per se, but rather the Guatemalan military blowing itself up!

Explosions rock military base on outskirts of Guatemala City in possible munitions blast

By Juan Carlos Llorca
Associated Press

June 18, 2005

Guatemala City – Huge explosions rocked a weapons storehouse on a military base north of Guatemala's capital early Saturday, lighting up the night sky and spewing toxic smoke over neighborhoods, officials said. People living in a nearby slum were urged to evacuate.

There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries. The army sealed off access to the base and refused to allow journalists to enter.

The blasts at the Mariscal Zavala brigade base on the city's outskirts began just before midnight and lit up the night sky like fireworks for about three hours. Thousands of city residents gathered on rooftops and in the streets to watch.

Base spokesman Maj. Marlon Mayen told reporters outside the facility that the blasts apparently were confined to a weapons storehouse at the sprawling military installation and no soldiers appear to have been injured.

But he said full information would have to wait until an inspection could be made later Saturday.

"It's very dangerous to go in there and investigate," Mayen said. "We don't know what happened, whether it was an electrical short circuit or what."

Interior Minister Carlos Vielman said people were urged to evacuate a slum near the base, called Barrio 18, because toxic smoke was headed their way. However, some residents expressed fear about leaving their homes late at night in the crime-ridden area, so extra police patrols were sent into the neighborhood.

"The smoke is very dangerous," Vielman said. "We have stepped up security in the areas to be evacuated."

A blaze sparked by the explosions was largely brought under control early Saturday, about three hours after the incident began.

While the explosions rattled windows and walls for miles around, and somewhat smaller blasts continued intermittently for about three hours, the biggest danger appeared to be the dense smoke.

Radio reports said the accident was releasing white phosphorous gas, a toxic ingredient in some munitions.

"We are evacuating everybody who lives around the base," volunteer fire brigade official Mynor Cholotio told local media. "The smoke contains white phosphorous, which is highly toxic and causes respiratory problems."

By early Saturday, some people began returning to their homes, though many were severely shaken by the incident.

Tags: Guatemala, explosions, military

CAFTA countdown

The vote to approve CAFTA in the US Congress is rapidly nearing, and the Bush administration has cranked up the P.R. machine, touting all of the wondrous benefits that will fall on both sides of the border, like neoliberal manna from heaven.

Opposition to CAFTA in the States is based, understandably, on the negative impact that the treaty could have on certain U.S. industries (sugar, textile) and workers (especially those in the manufacturing sector).

Very little is said about the harsh impact that CAFTA will have on the lives of the Central American poor. Which, let's face it... would require a level of insight and altruism not normally found in your average politician.

Truth is, though, you don't exactly need a crystal ball or pack of tarot cards to see what the future holds for the campesinos (small farmers) of Guatemala and the other countries of Central America. Just take a look at CAFTA's evil older step-sister NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement) to see how badly Mexican farmers got screwed! (And I should add that Mexico's economy is far more developed than Guatemala's.)

A movement is gaining traction in the Mexican Congress to roll back a section of the North American Free Trade Agreement that lifted tariffs on corn and beans. "With NAFTA we had promises of economic prosperity, and now we have facts," Victor Suarez, a representative for the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD). "NAFTA was a failure for the farmers and it failed to slow down the migration that was already under way."

One-fifth of Mexicans still work in the agricultural sector, which has lost 1.3 million jobs -- many of them in the production of white corn -- since the mid-1990s.

According to Oxfam International, the U.S. government pays export subsidies of between $105 million and $145 million to its agricultural sector in trade with Mexico. This has not created "a level playing field," as NAFTA claimed to do.

Suarez also opposes the Central American Free Trade Agreement on the grounds it could wreak similar havoc among farming communities in Central America. "CAFTA will be more of the same of what happened to the rural sector in Mexico," said Suarez. "Millions of Central American farmers will not be able to remain competitive with a flood of imports from the United States and will have to migrate within the next five years if CAFTA goes into effect."

Mexican moves to renegotiate NAFTA
Eliza Barclay, World Peace Herald

And here's a final quotable quote for you. What is CAFTA really all about? Let's ask Mr. Thomas:

Democrats are unusually united in their opposition to the pact, and many cite the labor provisions as too weak.

But Representative Bill Thomas, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said that on the contrary, the labor provisions were the best of any United States trade agreement. Moreover, he said, the United States needs "to have low-cost labor" in nearby countries.

Talk of Linking China to Latin Trade Pact
Elizabeth Becker, New York Times

There you have, the new Free Trade bumper sticker... CAFTA: Guatemalans going cheap!

Tags: Guatemala, CAFTA, NAFTA

Article: Guatemala Mudslide

Guatemala mudslide kills at least 21 people

A huge mudslide killed at least 21 people when it buried houses and cars in a Guatemalan highland town, and the government fears more may be dead.

Torrential rain pushed thousands of tonnes of mud and rocks down a hill above the town of San Antonio Senahu, northeast of the capital, on Wednesday night.

"The reports are worrying," President Oscar Berger told national radio as he traveled to the town on Thursday.

Officials said at least 45 people were injured and an unspecified number are unaccounted for.

Benedicto Giron of Guatemala's disaster prevention network, Conred, said the death toll could rise much higher.

"Many houses are destroyed and if many houses are destroyed, there could be many more victims," Benedicto Giron of Guatemala's disaster prevention network, Conred, told Reuters.

"Because of the magnitude of the mudslide, we fear that more people are buried," he told Reuters.

A rescue worker at the scene told local radio that the force of the mudslide buried 21 homes and dragged several cars into the town square.

Guatemala is at the height of its rainy season. Heavy rain continued to fall on the town on Thursday afternoon but authorities played down the risk of further landslides.

Relief services were unable to reach the town until dawn on Thursday due to power outages, communications failures and another mudslide that blocked an access road.

A mudslide buried 10 houses and killed at least 14 people in the same town five years ago.

San Antonio Senahu is in the Central American nation's coffee growing region of Alta Verapaz.

[Reuters]

Tags: Guatemala, news, mudslide

Quote

If we are to reach real peace in the world…we shall have to begin with the children…and not by passing fruitless, idealistic resolutions, but by going from love to love and peace to peace, until at last all the corners of the world are covered with that peace and love for which the whole world hungers.

-- Gandhi --

The passing of a Guerrillero

Sad, sad news.

Rodrigo Asturias, also known as Comandante Gaspar Ilom, passed away from a heart attack this afternoon.

Comandante Gaspar's "nom de guerre" was based on a character from the book Hombres de Maiz (Men of Maize) written by his father, Miguel Angel Asturias, a Guatemalan novelist and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Rodrigo Asturias joined the guerrilla movement as a young man in his 20s. In 1979 he founded ORPA (the Revolutionary Organization of People in Arms). In 1982, together with Rolando Morán and Pablo Monsanto, he help found the URNG - the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity - which brought together the country's three different guerrilla groups and the Guatemalan Labor Party. He was a negotiator and an architect of the Peace Accords signed in 1996, that ended the 36-year civil war. He participated in the previous elections as the URNG's presidential candidate.

I feel privileged to have known Gaspar, a guerrillero leader dedicated to the struggle for social justice in Guatemala.

My fondest memories of him, without a doubt, are from the 1999 electoral campaign. I was working with the URNG Press Office, taking photographs of all the campaign activities for our homepage, the local newspapers, and other publicity materials.

Gaspar invited me to ride with him during the many trips into the Guatemalan countryside. While traveling from campaign stop to campaign stop, we'd share stories, drink vodka, and even take concurrent naps during the long stretches of open road. As we arrived at each new city, town or village, we'd shake ourselves awake, look at each other, and laugh. And then hit the ground running with renewed energy and excitement!

Comandante Gaspar was a gentle, affectionate, and dedicated revolutionary. Today Guatemala has lost one of her true heroes. And I have lost a dear friend.

No more!

Well, folks, I'm beat.

And while there's plenty to talk about (wicked rain storms, child labor reports, Survivor: Guatemala, etc.) I'm afraid it will all have to wait until tomorrow.

My big plans for this evening: make dinner, open a bottle of wine, and watch the next episode of Lost.

Hardly the stuff dreams are made of... but sometimes you just have to curl up on the couch and sigh: "no más".

P.S.

Just an aside here:

Since the President was going to speaking in a rather tiny conference room as part of the "Global Action Against Armed Violence" seminar, security was very tight. Before entering the area, I was stopped by security guards.

Guard: "I need to search your backpack."

Me: "Sure, whatever."

Guard: (after casually flipping through my stuff) "Are you armed?"

Me: (smiling) "Are you asking if I packed a pistol to an anti-gun conference?"

Guard: (Stares. Doesn't blink at all.)

Me: "Um... no. No gun."

Guard: "Go on in."

Ah, Guatemala: home of the surreal conversation. What had me laughing in the end, though, was the fact that the gun search was a Q&A session. Those are some trusting bodyguards, eh?

And, thankfully for all concerned, I restrained myself from uttering the silly line: "Nope, no gun... I do all my shooting with a camera!"

Violence & Women

Last night I attended a seminar that was part of the "Global Week of Action Against Armed Violence" in Guatemala. President Oscar Berger, during his brief and stunningly content-free speech, held up an enlarged photocopy of a newspaper clipping that heralded the fact that on Wednesday no-one was stabbed or shot to death in Guatemala City.

Which, I agree, is certainly good news.

What I don't agree with is that this somehow marks a turning of the tide in Guatemala's struggle against violence. An average of 5-10 violent deaths are reported each day in this tiny territory, the size of Tennessee.

One of the most tragic consequences of this violent day-to-day reality has been an increase in the cruel, brutal, and savage murders of Guatemalan girls and women.

Yesterday, Amnesty International UK presented a report entitled "No protection, no justice: Killings of women in Guatemala". Here are some excerpts from the press release. Links to the report and related documents are included below.

Guatemala: Hundreds of women murdered while authorities fail to act

Over 520 women were violently killed in Guatemala last year and killings of women continue to rise, according to a new report launched in Guatemala yesterday by Amnesty International.

According to the Guatemalan authorities, 1,188 women and girls were murdered between 2001 and 2004. Many of the victims have been raped or sexually abused and in a number of cases the bodies were mutilated and disfigured.

According to police records, women accounted for 4.5% of all killings in 2002, in 2003 11.5%, and in 2004, 12.1%.

To date, according to the Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office, only 9% of the cases have been investigated.

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen added:

"The lack of proper investigations and convictions in cases of killings of women and girls in Guatemala sends the message that violence against women in the country is acceptable. The true dimension of the killings of women in Guatemala remains unknown, which underlines the lack of attention given by the Guatemalan authorities to the issue."

"Official inaction and complacency has intensified the suffering of the families whose pleas for a proper criminal investigation to be carried out have frequently gone unheard."

Amnesty International calls on the Guatemalan government to:

* Publicly condemn the abduction and murder of women and girls;

* Carry out immediate, coordinated, full and effective investigations into all cases of abduction and murder of women and girls in Guatemala and bring those responsible to justice;

* Strengthen and improve coordination and resource allocation for all state institutions dealing with violence against women – particularly the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Crimes against Women of the Public Ministry;

* Develop and implement adequate warning and protection programs to prevent the abduction and murder of women.

Read the press release (short version)

Read the press release (long version)

Read the media briefing

Read the complete report

Read an excellent BBC article

Fun stuff

I found a website for each of my punk nephews and one for my niece. (Yes, she's a punk, too.)

Adults shouldn't visit these sites. Adults are far too serious to enjoy silly nonsense such as this. Adults shouldn't spend way too much time playing these games instead of, say, finishing that report or washing the laundry. Right?

For Matt - Jackhammer Rampage

I know... chasing after the poor pink bunnies with a jackhammer is wrong, wrong, wrong. And yet so fun, fun, fun.

For Pete - Smack the Penguins

Usually I'd take a stand against the smacking of penguins with a baseball bat. But since the since the little fellows go: "wheeeee" as they fly through the arctic air... I guess it's ok.

For Sarah - Singing horses

No violence against cartoon animals here, just a quartet of melodic mares. Turn up the volume!

For Andy - The Boohbah Zone

All I can say to Moopsie's parents is this: crank the sound, and click on EVRYTHING!

For Marcello - Sponge Bob

... what else could it have been?

And yeah, OK, one for my brother too. I thought you might enjoy this one! (Sorry. Hehe.)

I love paying bills

Yesterday I walked over to the TELGUA offices to pay my phone bill. It's not an activity that usually provides me with a sense of satisfaction or any great gratification.

In fact, I only go there as often as necessary to keep my telephone from being disconnected.

A trip to TELGUA involves, for me, waiting on two lines. The first, is where you tell the person at the computer your telephone number, and they print out your bill. The second (more painful) line, is where you actually pay your bill.

I knew that I was in trouble. I hadn't paid my phone bill in something like, say, oh... two months? Maybe?

So it was with certain trepidation that I approached the woman behind the computer. "Um, hi", I mumbled. "Number 2253-3470" I added, almost apologetically.

And then I saw a strange look flit across her face. "I'm so screwed", I thought. "Heck, maybe they've already cut my phone line and I didn't even notice."

She asked me for my phone number again. I repeated it. Sweat started forming on the back of my neck. "From now on", I swore to myself, "I'm paying my bills on time. Maybe even early. And I'll even include a gratuity."

The woman told me to go straight to the cashier and tell her my telephone number. I started panicking:

"What about my phone bill? Don't I get a phone bill? DON'T I NEED A PHONE BILL?!?"

The woman (in retrospect, the beautiful woman) gently replied "No, no... that's not necessary. You only owe one quetzal."

A QUETZAL?!? WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO GET THAT KIND OF MONEY?!? I'M A VOLUNTEER, NOT A DRUG LORD, AND I....

"I'm sorry," I said, leaning forward to assist what I imagined to be my rapidly-failing hearing, "did you say 'one quetzal?'" The beautiful woman smiled and nodded.

I walked away in a haze of disbelief. When I finally reached the cashier, I slid a quetzal coin across the glass counter, and waited for her to either to start laughing or call security. She did neither. She took down my phone number and printed out the receipt.

She even said "have a nice day". And since my phone bill for the last two months ended up costing a total of 13 US cents... I did have a nice day!

There's a new warden in town

"On behalf of U.S. Embassy Guatemala, the Consular Section and the American Citizen Services Unit wish to express the appreciation of the U.S. Government and your fellow citizens for your acceptance of your appointment as a warden."

Warden Rob, at your service.

I have to admit that I was surprised when the U.S. Embassy called and asked me to serve as consular warden in zone 1. Yet, my answer was a quick and confident "Yes".

According to the information package I received, consular wardens "provide a vital service to fellow Americans in their area by distributing information of interest and assisting them in time of emergency."

It adds "Guatemala has been subject in recent history to a number of disasters: earthquakes, hurricanes, war, volcanic eruptions, airline crashes and civil unrest. The citizen registration and the resulting warden system are the keys to getting news out to the U.S. citizen public."

That would be a responsibility I'd be pleased and proud to perform.

As the warden in Zona 1 of Guatemala City (or "area GTGT01B", as it's officially known) I'll be a "point of contact between the embassy and U.S. Citizens", in this case 12 other Americans who live in my area. In fact, I'm looking forward to introducing myself to them this weekend.

So in recent days I've gone from posting photos of protestors burning American flags on my website, to forming part of the United States Embassy advisory system. Funny thing is... I feel that both are my duty as a U.S. citizen living in Guatemala!

Two - Oh no!

2-0.

That was the final score from yesterday's Mexico-Guatemala match. Unfortunately the goose-egg was laid by Guatemala.

The national team played very well for most of the match, only screwing-up defensively twice... both times resulting in goals for Mexico.

Despite the outcome, the evening itself was muy alegre. I was accompanied by my friends Marc, Silvia and Silvia's simply stunning sisters. We watched the game at Tacontento, a Mexican restaurant (oh, the irony) in 4 Grados Norte, a bohemian-hip enclave in Guate City.

And then, to ease the post-game pain, we all went dancing.

The national team's shot at redemption comes this Wednesday, when they face Costa Rica. If they can win there, it would be a HUGE step towards the "impossible dream" of Guatemala appearing in the World Cup for the first time ever!

Keep your fingers crossed...

You say "football", I say "fútbol"

Guatemala is awash in sea of azure blue and white... the colors of the Guatemalan flag.

Tonight the national team goes head-to-head against Mexico in a World Cup (that's soccer, folks) qualifying match!

So far, after three matches, Mexico leads the six-nation CONCACAF region with seven points followed by the U.S. (6), Guatemala (4), Costa Rica (4), Panama (2) and Trinidad and Tobago (1). The top three nations automatically qualify for Germany 2006.

Unfortunately, Guatemala is the underdog of all underdogs in this fútbol face-off. In the past 17 encounters between these two teams, 11 were won by Mexico, 5 were tie games, and only once was Guatemala victorious.

I'll be watching the game tonight with some friends and will give you the full report tomorrow. (Unless, of course, Guatemala loses, in which case I won't want to talk about it.)

Happy Birthday Andy!

This handsome guy is my nephew, Andrew.

Today he turned four years old.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Moopsie!

(Just to clarify, "Moopsie" isn't actually a Spanish word, but rather our nickname for him. I have no idea what it means, but I like it.)

Campero Chow Mein

First the coffee...

Then the fried chicken...

Next stop: Guatemalan world domination!

Pollo Campero is spreading its wings

By Sergio De Leon
Associated Press

Guatemalan fast-food chicken giant Pollo Campero said Wednesday it will open a franchise in Shanghai later this year as part of a massive expansion plan to eventually establish 600 restaurants in China and Indonesia.

A national icon in this country and a culinary favorite through much of the rest of Central America as well as parts of Mexico, Pollo Campero opened a restaurant to intense fanfare and hours-long lines in Los Angeles in 2002 and now has 22 U.S. restaurants there and in Houston, Dallas, Washington and New York.

The chain started quickly in the United States because of the large number of migrants from Guatemala and elsewhere in Central America living there who knew and loved the brand. What remains to be seen, however, is whether Pollo Campero can conquer an international market where Central America has little cultural influence.

Read the entire article

Vacas!

No, not "cows"... ¡vacaciones!

That's right, it's almost vacation time again.

Ok, so I haven't actually purchased the plane tickets yet, but I have already cleared the highest hurdle: asking Quique for permission to spend a month in NY.

Because he cares for me, and realizes how important my family is to me, and recognizes that I deserve some time off, and that the trip will be a restorative opportunity to recharge my creative batteries... he quickly said "Yes!"

Well, actually he said "Yes... as long as you agree to work from home for the first two weeks." (Damn, there's always a catch.) Thanks to marvels of modern technology I'll be updating the Incidencia Democratica homepage from New York. And, in case you're wondering, yes... I'll be doing it in my underwear.

The nearly-definitive dates for the trip are June 25th through July 24th. One of those weeks I hope to spend in New Orleans with Dad and Barbara! (Speaking of which... is that ok with you guys? And, um, can my friend Karla come too?)

So there you have it. More details tomorrow. And yes, the official "to-do list" is being dreamt-up at this very moment. I'll post some ideas soon... and I'm definitely open to suggestions!

What time is it?

Check out one of the coolest clocks I've ever seen!

(Man... that guy's hand has got to be sore, eh?)