The good news is that the parts have arrived in Ecuador!!! Yeah!!! Nothing like that Fed Ex Priority shipping which rushes it here in 15 DAYS at some exorbitant price. The real kicker is that the government is now trying to charge us 98% duty!!!!! Which is ridiculous. We knew that they charge 43% on incoming merchandise but they seem to be making a special exception for us...lucky me. O wants to pay it, get our parts, get moving and then dispute. I want to get it sorted now instead of chasing money. I will not go down without a fight. I swear, when I found this out yesterday I was almost physically ill. The constant fighting and haggling over money is getting really old. I have yet to visit a place where I don't feel like I am being totally ripped of f in some way, it gets old. This however, pretty much takes the cake....98% what a joke.
On a happier note, yesterday the kids and I hiked ( I had to carry Sam on my shoulders because someone stole his shoes) to a pretty cool beach. We were the only ones there except for 200 sea lions, 20 marine iguanas (strolling the beach and swimming in the bay) and tons of turtles. The kids made a cool fort where we hung out. Ben wanted to play explorer . Upon telling us how to play he screamed "I get to be Charles Darwin". I couldn't help it ,I burst out laughing, it was so adorable. How many six year olds are vying to be Charles Darwin????
As I looked around me at all the wildlife, had make believe tea and sat with Charles Darwin, I realized that this is what it is about...moments like that is why we are on this crazy, often frustrating, miraculous journey . I need to let the rest go (although I will fight that duty), and not let it overshadow the good stuff. So, that is the new attitude.
Signing Off for Now
The International Human Cash Machine

FYI: Since we have been here many of the kids things have 'gone missing'..here's a quick list...Sam's shoes so now he has no shoes that fit him, their beach truck, nerf football, soccerball and Diego doll. The kids have always shard their toys with the local kids and we have NEVER had a problem with getting them back except here. The other day the kids were playing and Sam had his backpack full of toys that he was sharing with the other kids. He went to the bathroom and O went to pick up the backpack when he caught an eigthy year old woman with her grandson putting all of his toys into her bag!!! O asked her what she was doing and she said " Oh I didn't know".....and took all the toys out of her purse. It was a good thing O caught her and not me because I honestly have no more patience for it. I WOULD NEVER steal from anyone and I expect the same consideration...
OK...Rantings of a crazy woman signing off....