Happy Halloween!

We're back from Trick or Treating...Jake was a most awesome Indiana Jones! Lisette is still out at some haunted houses, hopefully she'll return and be nightmare-free tonight. Nicole went to the Homecoming football tonight, they lost but it wasn't the washout they were prepared for.

Xandra's staying the weekend, Nicola's heading to Georgia for her Dad's birthday. So we're still a full house but a content house.

We're set up for a mini-move to get all of our shopping sent back to La Paz. Thank goodness! So I definitely need to finish my Christmas shopping this weekend.

Mostly I was frustrated today. Spinning my wheels, hitting more than a few walls. Lisette did get an application for a scholarship out today - got it out at the last minute, which was an annoyance in its self though a relief to be done with.

Occupied Week

My mom arrived on Monday - thankfully I'd spent the early part of the day cleaning up the results of a fun weekend! So the house was in decent condition when she arrived just after lunch. We spent the last few days running the roads, shopping and getting some things arranged for our move back to La Paz. Sadly, we had to say "au revoir" this morning. She's on her way to her Snowbird site for the next six months in central Florida.

Yesterday I went to the doc's for some pretty bad heal pain I've been having for the last month or so. An x-ray revealed a big, nasty, pointy heal spur. Since I can't have surgery right now, we're hoping some anti-inflammatory treatment will relieve the pain. I've also had some spikes in my blood pressure over the last few years (stress, my life? Nah!) but it was perfectly normal yesterday so I'll just keep checking it and make sure it stays that way!

Today is more prep work for our return. I'll probably do a little search for better shoes for my heals too. If I have to... :-)

Looking Forward

I can't wait to get back to Bolivia. Today I received an email about the Attache Spouse Tea for November...in Spanish but still. :-)

The countdown has started. This includes a great deal of money spending. I'm working on finishing my Christmas shopping before we leave and I've already made good headway. It's amazing how much stuff is out there when you start this early!

Last night Nicola and the kids slept over. With all the beds in this house, we were still at capacity. We watched "Casino Royale" which was sooooo good. I'm not a big fan of 007 movies but I really enjoyed it. Jake (my roomie) turned the ceiling fan on over the bed in his room and I almost froze to death. Like father, like son.

This morning, we all headed to church and then came back to dump of some kids. At 10:50, Nicola sent Elena and Jake out to play on the beach for half an hour...I told them they had to stay outside until noon and they threw a fit. I explained that I was much more mean than Nicola - too bad for them. They requested some breaks and/or to come in for a drink of water from time to time. I agreed only to water breaks. Then they proceeded to go play without any "breaks" - really, what kids wouldn't have a blast out on the dunes?

Right around noon, Nicola, Nicole, Xandra and I went shopping in Destin. Didn't spend too much money but managed to find some Christmas gifts. Okay, I said that for John's sake but it really wasn't too much money!

Happy Happy

We're officially going home! The State Department has lifted the evacuation order - memo is published but not in effect until Monday.

John had a party at the house last night...thankfully for him, the Bolivian's party differently than the Argentines...they were only there until 1:30. Dominga stayed over night to help with the clean up and John had to "order" her to sleep in the girls' room, she wanted to sleep on the rug in the maid's room. I'm horrified! We'll be buying her a bed the second I get back if John doesn't get the chance to first. I'm so freaked!

Last night we piled all the kids into Nicola's van and headed into Destin for a movie. The youngest five went to see "High School Musical"...they loved it! Us older folks went to "The Secret Life of Bees" which was absolutely awesome. I read the book years back but that may have helped me lose myself in this movie.

Prior to movie madness, the Alvari went to buy hiking boots. We're officially ready to return to Bolivia.

The Waiting Game

So now the word is that the State Department will lift the evacuation order by tomorrow and the Department of Defense Memo (basically our green light) will be issued Monday or Tuesday. I'm already in contact with the base here with the request to make reservations now. Waiting for a return phone call.

Yesterday I went to a friend's house to order some lovely Christmas Hostess Gifts, dropped off some lab work at the clinic for John, returned a Halloween costume at Target and while there bought our Christmas pajamas (a holiday tradition), did a small grocery run and then picked Jake.

Jake had Hapkido, Lisette auditioned for the school play just for the experience and after I picked her up, we drove by our old house, chatted with our old neighbours and then picked up a book that Jake had left at a friend's house before picking him up after his class. Good thing my car came with unlimited miles!

Last night was another pow wow with the kids regarding our return trip. We've delayed our departure until after Jake's birthday. John's parents will be traveling themselves so we're having his celebration here. Good news is - we'll be here for my mom to stop by on her way to her snowbird location!!

Waiting for Official News

Word has it that we're going home! Yeah! Totally unofficial but the word has it that the Embassy will be requesting that the State Department lift the evacuation order within the next couple of days. We stand by, with bated breath!

Lisette stayed home with a belly ache today. I hit her with Pepto-Bismol and Imodium...with good results but she'll likely be stopped up for days now. :-)

No other excitement today, that's certainly not a complaint. The kids and I gathered just before dinner and laid out a travel plan. It helps to make as many of us happy as possible. I pretty much let Jake have the final say. Now we just have to have the State Department come around!

Politics...Good and Good

I voted! Yeehaw!! I almost wept...I'm such a sap!

Evo Morales has conceded to his opponents and agreed to only seek a second term. This is huge! It also sounds like the demonstration was peaceful today. Breathing a big sigh of relief.

We had to send John off today, Jake was the most emotional of all of us but then we have a better idea of when we'll all be together again. Poor Jake is really being pulled apart - wanting to stay here but wanting to be in Bolivia too. That can only end in tears.

Jake and I hit ToysRUs while the girls spent a little time in the mall after leaving the airport. Then it was the grocery store before finally settling onto our couch to watch "Ironman" (Lisette's boyfriend has somehow managed to NOT see it yet!) - we're holding Dylan hostage to ensure he see it now.

Backing up a bit, we had lunch with John's old squadron's Obi-Wan Kenobi. He's retired and living with his wife of a million years in Pensacola. They are a great couple! Even the kids sat quietly while we chatted. His stories are enthralling. The final reunion and one of the best!

Slowing Down Just a Beat

Whew! What a weekend! We haven't stopped the reunions, finishing it off today by having lunch with friends from church and spending a few hours this afternoon with friends from John's old squadron.

Tonight, Lisette went to celebrate Dylan's mom's birthday at his house, Nicole went to "scary movie night" at Xandra's and Jake had a friend over to hang out. John and I finally had time to watch "When In Vegas" - good movie! Why???? You know why! Ha!

Now John just left to pick up the girls, Jake's in the shower and I'm watching "House" - my fave. Tomorrow, part of my personal history will happen, my first presidential vote.

John's Birthday

Yesterday my sweetheart turned 46. It was crazy busy (what's new?) but I hope he still enjoyed his day.

John had to run to the base for some blood work related to his flight physical. Then we went and met Jake for lunch at his school. That's always fun!

After lunch we headed into Pensacola to extend my rental car agreement and rent John a car - being his taxi driver has been driving me a little crazy. We found out that Ron (the new amputee) has flown out to Texas for the remainder of his surgeries and his rehab - our prayers travel with him!

John and I did some clothing shopping, making a huge dent in our checking account! Then we scooted home for the big dinner at the base. John's original Air Force squadron has closed. The big get together/dinner was last night. It was fabulous to see so many old friends...it was non-stop reunions! Today was the Deactivation Ceremony, tears were shed. A piece of history has ended.

We finally got home around midnight. I finally had a chance to give John his birthday cards and gifts (which I hadn't wrapped - I'm such a bad wife!!). Tonight there's more eating and drinking to be had, after the ceremony was a lunch so we are being inundated with reunion stuff. Got the shirt to prove it too! Oh, and I bought a birthday cake for John today - we'll just have it 24 hours late!

Can't Stand the Media

The last month and half of my life has been a downhill ride for any faith I had in the media. It's bottoming out now. I'm amazed at how difficult it is, no how impossible it is to find a non-biased, honest and complete report...of anything! International news and politics being the main focus in this house. Right now, John is flipping through the news channels after the presidential debate and there's none that isn't completely one-sided. It drives me nuts! How difficult would it be to have a panel of individuals from both sides or is there anyone who can look at these things without bias? Isn't that exactly what they're paid to do? I watched most of the debate and could really see positive things about both candidates and what they had to say. Why then can't I hear some kind of fair report speaking from a place of professional journalism?

Ahhhh!

Anyway, we've finally completed the task of putting Lisette's application to FSU together. John had his flight physical yesterday and passed easily. Last night we went to see Lisette perform with her chorus class - they were awesome! Today we had lunch with good friends and then stole away for a dinner out after John went with Jake to his Hapkido class.

So now I'm ready for bed. My mind is still not quite decided on who I'm voting for on Monday but it is quite decided on the bitter realization that our media is completely out of control. If we continue to accept that, we are accepting that we are being fed partial/politically driven truths (or untruths) as our basis of knowledge. How scary is that??

Family Exchange

It was great to pick up John from the airport Saturday night! He's here for his flight physical and the closing ceremonies of his old squadron. The kids were almost as happy as I was to see him.

This morning we had to take Kim to the airport...my alarm clock didn't go off - I think it was because it didn't want her to leave either. We still managed to get to the airport in plenty of time, Jake just didn't get to go to school. Yes, the kids still had school today for some unknown reason. It was a tear free goodbye for Kimmy though my heart hurts every time I have to say farewell to her. It was so awesome to have her here to share some of our beach time together!

We've got Kathy and her daughter Lindsay (who used to babysit our kids!) over with Lindsay's two baby girls. We walked the beach and Karrissa splashed in the water some with Jake. The baby, Madison, gave me some cuddles but I soon lose her to her mommy. I'll take what I can get from her though - she's an angel!

John went on a run, came back sweaty and stinky. Madison wasn't impressed. One of the few women he hasn't been able to charm. Probably only temporary though!

Busy and With No Internet

Okay, we finally have Internet. It's been a long and whiny road. Mostly by me...don't ask. We're in a new house, it's absolutely gorgeous.

Kimmy's still here and John will be soon! Yeah! Kim, Lisette and I went to the Arts Festival tonight and danced to Latina music. It felt like home for a little while.

I spent some time with the family of Ron at the hospital. They're doing better as he's now awake and assuming a good sense of humour and keeping the pain under control.

Right now we're watching Mel Brooks The History of the World. Too funny.

Packing But Not In a Good Way

We're moving. Our rental agency was informed by the house owner this morning that he had sold the house and needed it empty...tomorrow. Holy crap! The good news is they're upgrading us to a bigger, nicer house...the other bad news is that it's a lot farther down the beach. Sigh.

John reported that we're "on" for another 30 days but that the Embassy is going to review the situation on October 20th. So I've heard the good news/bad news thing all day.

Kimmy and I went and had pedicures today. We needed the TLC after the news of the impending move. We had lunch out then came home to work on the move situation. She went with me to pick up Jake who we kept blissfully unaware of the news.

We told the kids all together - their reaction was more of annoyance than anything else...but Jake was more upset than the girls. Poor little dude! So many upheavals, so little time!

Kimmy's Here!!

She arrived early this afternoon - and we're all so happy to see her!

We brought her home, let her change her clothes and then immediately kidnapped her to the mall. Well, Nicole and Jake took her to the mall while I skipped over to the hospital to visit Ron's family. I was able to spend some one-on-one time with his fiance, something I'd wanted to do since I met them. It was a great talk.

Nicole went out to a movie tonight, she just got home. Jake and I forced Kim to watch "Ironman" with us but she's now bailed to bed...wimp! :-) It's wonderful to have her!

Trying to Say Yes

This morning Nicole was supposed to be at school at 8:30 to go to a extra study session for an AP (Advanced Placement) class. At 7:30, she asked to stay home until 10 because she still wasn't feeling well. Although I had somewhere to be, I agreed to stay home until then for her.

At 9:45 I had just finished showering and dressing, went to check on her progress only to find her still sound asleep. I had to leave so she was out of luck about going to school today...she probably needed the rest anyway.

I went to the hospital to see the young AF lieutenant and his family. He was still on a ventilator but doing better medically. On the elevator ride up, I ran into a gentleman and his wife that John and I had mentored years ago and who John had emailed earlier this week regarding Ron (the Lt). They were coming to visit the family too. So I spent a few hours with the family and actually went into Ron's room to clarify some things with his nurse for the family. Seems the pulmonologist isn't communicating well with anyone...annoying at best.

On the way to pick up Jake from school, I stopped in at the county annex to look into voting while I'm here. Early voting starts October 20th and John and I are both still registered here so I get to vote in my first presidential election on Monday, October 20! Yeah!!

This evening Jake wanted to go to a Family Fun Festival at the high school. Like with Nicole, I had to somewhat make myself say yes, but I did and we had fun...well, he had fun - I was amused. We saw some "old" friends which helped with my fun level. The whole festival was supposed to be for kids - piles of inflatable slides, obstacle courses, bouncy castles, a climbing wall and some giant trampoline thingies. Jake had a blast.

An Update...Kind Of

Looks like we won't be flying back with John. Received an email outlining the issues that the guy from the Embassy has to take into account before he gives his recommendation to the State Dept. regarding the evacuation status. The recommendation is due next week, with the status order due on the 12th.

Issues our Embassy has to consider ~

1. President Morales has called for a massive protest on October 13 in La Paz, with the purpose of circling the Congress on October 15 to force the Congress to pass a law calling for a referendum on the government's draft constitution. Observers predict a situation such as occurred before, with possible clashes between opposition congress members attempting to enter the Congress and pro-government groups preventing entrance. Can you imagine that happening in the U.S. or Canada? The president or prime minister asking people to physically hold Congress or Parliament hostage to get his/her way? Wow.

2. October 17 marks the anniversary of ex-President Lozada's resignation and could prompt protests aimed at the Embassy as happened last year. Lozada is presently in the States.

3. There is a possibility that backlash from President Bush’s decision to suspend trade benefits for Bolivia could prompt anti-U.S. protests sometime in the next couple of months. The decision was announced in Bolivia on September 25 but it hasn't been finalized. If factories in El Alto begin to close, the Embassy could be a target for frustrated Bolivians.

I cut and pasted some of the info above, adding a few of my own comments so it's somewhat plagiarized but somewhat not. If it sounds intelligent, that's not me! Ha! Bottom line, we're not likely to be cleared to return until the end of October at best. Prayers please!

Lisette flew off to DC today for Bethany's birthday. Nicole was home sick this afternoon with a nasty sore, red throat. I stopped at a bookstore on my way home from the airport but then spent my evening watching the debate. My opinion - they both did very well. No surprises, I actually paid attention to most of it, got a tiny bit bored at a few parts but overall it was pretty much what you expect to hear from them and they both held their own.

Another Purpose

It's always amazing to think you're moving along on an evident route, in my case without a known destination but the route seemed clear. Then something happens that makes you raise your eyebrows and say "Okay!!" and the path becomes something quite different. That's what happened to me yesterday/last night.

John called yesterday to tell me an AF guy from Hurlburt Field had lost his leg in a motorcycle accident over the weekend. He forwarded the email he had received to me and I made some phone calls. I finally spoke to someone (Marty) at dinner time, he happened to be on his way to the hospital, the young man (Ron) was in surgery but Marty was going to sit with the family. I offered to talk to them anytime...he was going to ask them if and/or when they'd like that.

Marty called me at about 8 o'clock and said the family would like to talk to me as soon as possible. I headed to the hospital. We spent about two hours talking about what they might expect, what the future might hold, some options they and Ron had. It was a very positive discussion and I left feeling like I'd really helped them...something I couldn't have done from Bolivia. Interesting change in direction on that path I thought I was on.

Today was quiet. Since I didn't get home until about midnight, I went back to bed after dropping Jake off at school. Extra sleep helped so the rest of the day was just time to shower and read.

Still no word on our status. It's painful to keep repeating that...