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I'm up way too

I'm up way too late. The house is quiet though, and I'm getting a lot done. The Nate Saint school board had a special meeting yesterday to decide what to do in light of the fact that we don't have a principal right now. When there are just over thirty kids in the school, that's not such a big deal, but still, there's a lot to be done, and most of us already have plenty on our plate. So, exactly what am I getting done? Going through my e-mail inbox, responding to things relating to tasks the principal would normally do, and trying to farm out most of the responsibilities of the principal. As the school board president, I'm just a little involved in all this.

It's getting towards the

It's getting towards the end of Wednesday afternoon. Both Bruce and I are getting ready for a day in the jungle. Tomorrow we each fly out to separate villages and do some work. He'll be installing a VHF radio at a village called La Libertad. I'll be setting up a HF radio e-mail server in Makuma. I've had this server out there before, and it didn't work the way I wanted it to. I've had some time to tweak it, and now I'm going to try it again.

I'm going to pack a toothbrush and change of clothes just in case. Friday is a holiday, and there are no flights. If I can't make it back on Thursday, I'll have to be prepared. Fortunately there are missionary families there in Makuma who can take me in if I have to stay.

It's been a warm

It's been a warm morning. I started out the day in the attic of the hangar, pulling the last two wires for our computer network. Since I've come back we've upgraded to a new network. Of course, I picked a sunny morning, so the heat build up in the attic was considerable.

I was just getting ready to sit down at my desk when I heard the recess bell ring at the school across the street. I'd been meaning to play Purple Man with the kids for several days, so figured as long as I was hot and sweaty, I might as well run across the street. So for ten minutes I chased kids and they chased me, back and forth across the cancha. Now I'm back trying to cool off enough for the first cup of coffee today.

Tomorrow we have an

Tomorrow we have an extra school board meeting. Our principal has stepped down, since she will be having a baby soon. There is nobody to fill the position, so we're going to have to improvise for the rest of the year.

When I arrived home

When I arrived home shortly after 5 PM, Dustin and I went out for a short run. We ran half a mile, the distance he is working on for the Presidential Fitness award. He managed to cut about 50 seconds off his best time. We did the run in drenching rain. But it was warm, our run was short, and we enjoyed the rain.

I've had a miserable evening fighting allergies. I didn't have allergies our first year here, but this time around I do. Ellyn has had allergies for years, and times like this allow me to relate a little more with her misery.

I didn't put anything

I didn't put anything in here from the weekend. We had a bit a rain this weekend, and I found myself laying on the bed reading a good book. Or if I wasn't, I was trying to figure out why the network changes I made on Saturday didn't work. Because of the changes, mail on the e-mail system went out to the States, but nothing came in. With the help of another MAF guy in Mali, I was able to solve the problem. That didn't happen until about 1 PM this afternoon.

Saturday Ellyn took they boys to a pool in Puyo, while I was at the hangar working on a go-kart frame. I can tell it's going to be slow going, but we made a good start.

Things are calm on

Things are calm on the computer front at the hangar today. Outside my door, the hangar is full of guys working on planes. There is always a lot of maintenance to be done. It sometimes seems the planes are being worked on more than they fly! Dave has a long combination with many landings this afternoon. I'll bet he's getting quite a workout, loading and unloading his plane over and over in the hot jungle sun.

Sandy just made it

Sandy just made it in. He ended up doing the instrument approach. I think he's glad he has the day off tomorrow. The guys have a pilots' meeting now, and I'm heading off to help a client with a modem connection problem.

The plane weighed at

The plane weighed at least 50 pounds more than it did the last time they weighed it. They didn't like seeing that. First, because they can't explain it, and second, because it means they can't carry as much. Guess the plane needs to go on a diet.

It's been raining since

It's been raining since before lunch. Even though it's brown bag lunch day, when the kids eat at school, Taylor walked home. He took his mom on a date to a little merienda up the street. It's a little restaurant with no menu, and everyone gets whatever the plate of the day happens to be.

I don't know if the rain will stop this afternoon. I like it, but it's not always good for the flying operation. Right now Sandy is circling overhead, looking for the weather to clear a bit. He may have to head back to Makuma to wait for things to clear. Meanwhile, the other four planes are in the hangar. Dave, John, Dan, Mateo, Oscar, and Panchito are weighing HC-BMO.

The day started at

The day started at 6:30 AM when Dustin and I went for a half-mile run. He's really not into running, but is working towards his Presidential Fitness Award goals. I've been running instead of biking since our return in early August. I used to run miles and miles when I was in college, but that was many years ago. It's been hard to return to running, but slowly I'm doing better with it. Maybe I've mentioned this before, but the reason for the running is to get in shape to climb a couple of volcanoes in January.

Ellyn has driven into Puyo to run some errands. She took Pam with her. Pam and Mike are new here this year, and Mike took my place teaching grades 7/8.

HC-BQV just took off

HC-BQV just took off heading to the selva (jungle) with Dave and five passengers. Two of them are Lou and Dorie, a small work team here from a church in Fullerton, California. The rain has finally stopped and it's clearing up. The guys may get a bit of flying in after all.

Rain again so far

Rain again so far this morning. The boys and I rode to school and work and it started soon afterwards. The planes are all in the hangar. Two are down for maintenance, and the other two aren't flying because of the weather. Sandy is in Sucua with a plane, but I don't know what he's up to. The weather might be fine where he is.

It's late in the

It's late in the afternoon. I can turn around, look out the hangar door, and see the 17,000' peaks of Altar cushioned in the the brilliant late afternoon clouds. It was rainly and cloudy over much of the jungle this morning, and none of the guys took off before 10:30 AM. I have spent the day helping two people with computer issues, getting more organized, and preparing for some changes I want to make to the network.

I'm hoping to go out for a run at 6 PM, this time on the runway. This morning I went out for a couple miles on the road. I think Ellyn and the boys will come out and walk, run, and/or ride bikes.

We had a relaxing

We had a relaxing Saturday. I made waffles for Taylor and Ben this morning. About 11 AM took a two hour nap. That was so nice, and so out a character for me. Of course since we didn't go to bed until after 1 AM because we watched a movie I was very tired.

I'm thinking of building a go-kart for the boys. I went over to the Burk's house this afternoon to take a look at theirs. We'll put something together that's simple, and small enough for both boys to be able to drive. Mateo, an Ecuadorian mechanic for MAF, is going to sell me a 5 HP engine. I guess it's time to learn to weld, and I think Sandy will be willing to teach me.

About 4 PM Harrison called and wanted to go to the river. I had been thinking all afternoon how hot it was, so I didn't hesitate to say yes. Joel came, as well as Dustin. It was a small group as far as river trips go, but we all enjoyed the cold water.

Tonight Dustin is sleeping

Tonight Dustin is sleeping over at Craig's house. After dinner Taylor, Dustin, and I climbed in the truck we have the use of. Dustin's comment was that it reminded him of the States to get in a car and drive somewhere at night. He doesn't do that very often here, and it was interesting to hear him say that.

Taylor is asleep in his room, and Ben is with him. Ben is in Tay's bed, and Tay is on the top bunk, which is Dustin's bed. This is big for both of them, and they were so excited.

Walked out the gate

Walked out the gate to come to work. The three garbage men had just pulled garbage bags from the compound and had put them in the back of their truck. But, they didn't drive off right away. Instead they were opening the bags and going through them, looking for anything interesting that the gringos had thrown out. Meanwhile, I dodged the trucks and busses and walked three minutes to the hangar.

Tay lost a tooth

Tay lost a tooth yesterday. Ellyn noticed it when we were at the dinner table. Taylor didn't even know it was gone! He was eating a hog dog at lunch, and said he spit something out that was hard. Maybe he can go back and find it today!

The hangar was full

The hangar was full this morning. Normally there are five planes in the hangar. Yesterday the Quito plane came down, and the pilot spent the night, as there were some meetings to attend. Six planes did fit in the hangar, and they were cosy.

I washed my coffee cup outside with water from the rain barrel this morning. There are two 55 gallon drums that get filled with rain from the roof. I think the hangar must be at the end of the Shell water system, because for the past couple weeks we've had many days with little or no water pressure. It's been dry here lately, and I think the water system is running low. That might seem hard to believe for a place that receives over twenty feet of rain a year, but things do get dry here sometimes.

Yesterday I once again

Yesterday I once again went flying with Rick. He has a Cessna single as well as an ultralight. The registration on the ultralight isn't complete yet, so he can't fly it around the pattern. But, he can fly it up and down the runway, at an altitude of 10-50 feet. He's decided he wants to teach me to fly it. It's a kick, and I sure enjoy it. Here's a photo of Taylor taking a ride with Rick.

I was up this

I was up this morning at 6 AM for a run. I noticed when I was that the ants had swarmed last night. Usually they only do that once a year, and that was over a month ago. These ants must have been confused. These are leaf cutter ants, and they swarm when they are looking for a new home. Back in August when I was in Makuma, I had the chance to eat some fried ants. I managed to get down about ten before I called it quits! Each ant is about an inch long.

Dustin slept on the back porch in the hammock. I know I couldn't have done it, but he stayed out there the whole night. If it had been me, I wouldn't have been able to stand up this morning.

I worked around the

I worked around the house today, cleaning moss of the sidewalk with a pressure washer. It was hot in the sun, and I was really hoping for rain. That didn't happen, so at 4:30 PM I took the truck to the river with five kids. It was so good to just sit in the cold, cold water.

We went out to dinner in Puyo tonight with a visitor who just arrived for a visit. She isn't someone we know, and she wants to see what's happening with missions in Shell. After dinner Sandy and Trish came over for dessert and to play Dutch Blitz. It started pouring rain about 9 PM, and it's been rainy since then.

This week has been

This week has been busy. It started off with a trip over to Chimborazo with Dustin and parts of two other families. We drove to over 15,000 feet, and then hiked a kilometer to about 16,400 feet. Dustin had altitude sickness and didn't do any hiking. He was cold and nauseous and just plain miserable. I've been over there twice now. I think if I go back, it will be to climb to the summit, which is over 20,000 feet.

I came home to find our internet connection was down and the server at the hanger wasn't sending/receiving e-mail. Our ISP had disconnected us, but by Tuesday morning we were running again. Things were working well enough that by 3:30 PM I was flying up to Quito with Sandy. He had an emergency flight with two patients, and there was room for me to go also. I went up just for the night so I could do some work on computers at the Quito office. Sandy spent the night and we flew down together today. We had to climb to 15,000' and use instruments to get through the weather. I sat in the back and played chess on my Palm while Sandy sat up front and sipped on oxygen. I brought a Dominos pizza back with me and was home in time to share that with the family for lunch.

The day started off

The day started off with a bit of a twist. Since I had been up until after midnight reading, I planned to sleep in. About 6:40 AM Tay crawled into bed with us. I ran out of room on my side, so I went to Tay's bed and went back to sleep. That lasted about thirty minutes before the neighbor's hound started wailing. In the end, all I got was kink in my neck from a strange pillow.

Later in the day I went over to the runway and flew up and down the runway six times with Rick in his ultralight. Each flight is only one mile, as that is the length of the runway. We reach an altitude of about forty feet before we come back down again. Once the registration paperwork is completed, he'll be able to really fly it. Last weekend both Dustin and Taylor got a ride.

After dinner the boys and I went over to the runway on our bikes. We hadn't even reached the end of the runway when it begain to pour. By then it was dark, and we turned around and rode home in the pouring rain. It hasn't rained as much as usual lately, and I really miss the rain when we don't have it.

Worked for three hours

Worked for three hours tonight with Sandy to set up a web log like this one. What a pain. Something that should have been simple took forever. In the end we didn't finish, and figured it was a problem for another day.

Dustin was at a sleepover birthday party, Ellyn was watching a movie with Trish, and Taylor was with me. He was busy playing Reader Rabbit First Grade. When we got home at 11 PM Taylor and I had a bowl of ice cream before heading off to bed. It's late, and I'm pooped. My day started off at 6 AM with a forty minute run.

I found out this

I found out this afternoon that I can read the news from the El Comercio newspaper. El Comercio is an Ecuadorian newspaper, and of course is written in spanish. Using the translation tool at Google.com I can read the newspaper in english. The grammar isn't perfect by any means, but you can get the general idea. I have often felt out of touch with the country because I can't read a spanish language newspaper, listen to the radio, or watch TV in spanish. Maybe this will help.