Panama ladies

A picture from Patrias that just made it's way to my inbox. When dressed in full traditional garb, the Panamanian ladies stand like this for hours taking pictures.

in front of the Canal backdrop at the Patrias festival

The actual Panamanian ladies are naturals.  

Goodbye Frank Sinatra

Today I had to put you to sleep, after nine years together. I am so glad I found such a handsome boy at the shelter, even if your Siamese ancestry led to 3am yowling outside the bedroom door. Everyone commented on your tiger-like markings. I called you my supermodel, because you were beautiful, demanding, skinny, and  puke a lot. You were a lap cat, loving nothing more than cuddling for hours during netflix binges.  Lulu and I will both miss you a lot, and hope that Cat Heaven is full of vanilla ice cream, CatDancers with purple feathers, dark enclosed napping places, and many laps for you to warm.

A-Team Wedding!

This weekend, two former ISP teachers (Ashley and Austin, aka the A-Team) got married, and the rest of us used their wedding as a lovely excuse for a reunion.  We all flew to North Carolina for a weekend of great food, bikes, and awesome friends.

from left:  Kim, Rob, Austin (groom), Ashley (bride), Laura, Carolyn, Leo (who was with us in-utero in Panama), and Nick

It was a great time, but made me remember how much I miss all of them. *sigh*

Lake Bayano Caving Adventure

Julia, Tammi, Laura, Morgan

We drove 2 hours into the Darien Gap (with a car accident on the way there, but that's a story for another time).  The Darien is the untouched land b/t Panama and Colombia.  It's all rainforests and caves and wildlife.

After a 30 minute boat ride on Lake Bayano, we passed the indigenous K-12 school house (only accessible by boat), and started hiking into the caves.

There were underground rivers with hundreds of bats squeaking and flying above, there were snakes and dart frogs and huge spiders, there were lovely open spaces full of sunshine, and spots so dark you couldn't see six inches in front of your face.

It was an awesome Panama adventure.   We even got to swim in a natural swimmin' hole at the end of the hike.

tiny little dart frog- black body with lime green dots.  About the size of my thumbnail. 

like a booby trap just waiting for Indiana Jones

Pinned!

When Lulu wants her spot on the couch, she takes it, regardless of whomever may be there.  And apparently, when she talks, she is a Russian spy...

"Vot, you seenk I eez cute fatso?
 No!  I eez taagh-as-nails bozz-lady.
Vere is de vodka?"

Payday in Panama

The entire country gets paid on the 15th and 30th each month. Many Panamanians do not have bank accounts, so cash their entire paycheck on payday. The normal bank lines on payday afternoon rival bank runs of the Great Depression. But the Panamanians peacefully wait- if only that patience carried over into their driving.

Here are some photos from April 15, 2015 payday. This check also contained XIII Mes (13th month), which is a built in 30% bonus that is spread over 3 paychecks- so everyone was very eager to start buying new flatscreens and fancy sneakers. 

Scotia Bank

Banco General

Banistmo

Boston 2015

I

co-chaperone Mateo and I at TD Green after the Celtics lost miserably to the LA Clippers

Meg and I after a fabulously indulgent meal at the Cheesecake Factory

The ISP girls and I touring Wellesley College