Half Full or Half Empty... Or Twice as big as it needs to be?

This is being transferred from handwritten...

"So, it wasn't the best idea in the world to bring Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath with me to the bus terminal in Portoviejo, which is where I am now. I'm writing this blog entry into a $1.50 notebook I just bought on a whim, trying to find something constructive to do during my 5 hour wait. I'll transfer it to computer in Quito, which is where I'm headed tonight at 11:00 pm. Time now, 8:29 pm and counting...

"The reason why I'm headed to Quito is because I have lost my 2nd phone the Peace Corps has given me in 7 months. I had my phone in NC for 3 years (you know the one.... Stairway to Heaven ringtone, fliptop, scratched and silver...) I never lost that one. EVER. 7 months and 2 gone...

"But I have to say, maybe this day long trip to Quito will be a good thing. Lots of things can get accomplished in the capitol city of a third world country (although, province capitols like Portoviejo, not so much)... For example, I can get my taxes done online in the PC office. (NOTE: It totally bites that PCVs have to pay taxes on the crappy living allowance we earn. I'm just saying...) I can also pick up my much needed medical supplies (sunscreen, bugspray, dental floss...). And the best benefit (to me at least) is that I should be able to find an AC adapter for my computer as the other decided to end its life at 7 months. Let me just say, being without my computer as I have for 2 weeks, without being able to upload photos, listen to my music, or watch the boot-legged movies I bought in Portoviejo (Personal Note: what is the history behind the phrase "boot-legged"... I think that'd be a fascinating tale...), HOW DO PEOPLE LIVE LIKE THIS? Haahaa, I'm joking... (but only a little).

"I'm so bored..."


Yeah, it's the morning after now. I'm frozen solid all except for my fingers which are doing the typing. I'm sitting in the Peace Corps office in Quito where I have been for the last 3 hours, although I was just able to start using the internet about 30 minutes ago as the system was down. On that note, te cuento que I think I'm having a run of bad luck... I will fill you in.

1. My mirror broke. In some cultures, it is believed that this causes the bad luck. I however believe that it came included in the bad luck run and not as the precursor, especially because these cultures believe that if you break a mirror you will have bad luck for 7 years. Let's just say I'm not prepared to wait that long. Besides, I didn't break the thing... it was the wind, gravity and the floor conspiring together...

2. Got pick-pocketed and lost my cell phone. I think this explains itself.

3. Trying to avoid going to Quito (like the last time I lost my cell phone and wound up spending Christmas alone) went to the province capitol to try to recover the cell phone chip which is what holds all the mulah and phone plan. Ecuadorians can do this. I can't. They tell me nothing can be done until I get authorization from the Embassy of the United States of America (which, guess what?! Is in Quito.)

4. Friends of friends tell me they know who did it. Went to talk with the cat that took the phone. Swore that he didn't.

5. Oh yeah, my AC adapter. C-a-p-u-t.

6. I have this little music device Mom gave me for Christmas. Need a computer to charge it. See #5.

7. One of my best friends moved away this past week. (He'll be back to visit, but still... oh, and I also had his phone number saved in my other phone. See #2)

8. I'm in Quito right now. This is unlucky because 1.) Had to pay 11.25 to get here and 11.25 back, not to mention taxis and meals, and I make a pitiful living as it is. 2.) It's FREEZING. 3.) Internet didn't work this morning, so I spent hours doing absolutely nothing.

Let me say, there's more stuff that I don't particularly want to go into here. But whatev. With a little positivity (is this a word?), I'm sure I can kick this.

I'm safe, alive, and well in Quito. I'm warming up with the sunlight. I'm charging my music thing-a-ma-bob. I found the last 2 Harry Potter books in the PC library which I'm taking back to site with me without shame. (Oh, #9. Brought The Grapes of Wrath with me to not be bored. Ha.)

HAAHAA! Forgot, #10. Broke my key in the lock of my Peace Corps locker this morning. They'll probably be charging me for this.

You know, I'm going to leave this blog here and do something really fun, like my taxes. I think after that I'll get a root canal, and break a bone...

FUN TIMES!

Love you guys! (Just in case the bad luck gets worse...)