so yeah, with a birthday behind me, and a new year ahead, i am pretty damn excited. things seem to be working out just fine, even though periodic hurdles require...well hurdling. i think thats the correct verb. regardless, things are on the up and up. i have internet at home now, thanks to TIGO. so if you want to chat with me, gmail chat and facebook chat should be on pretty regularly. i am right now workin on multiple project proposals, doing some research, and basically being a desk monkey for the next few days. and friday, well friday i get my new pair of cowboy boots. first pair in my life, and hopefully they will last me until panama.

in other news, it seems the renewable energy project is lookin good. a local NGO, in collaboration with an international one called GTZ, is interested in providing solar panels for the communities in the mountains where hydroelectric installations are not permitted due to national park law. the people will only have to pay the cost of the battery, which is a little expensive, but at the same time, if they can't pay it now, how will they be able to pay it in 5 years when the battery needs replacing? right now, 9 families have already agreed to the terms, and thats only from one town. another village refused all together, because they were expecting something free. and the last town is doing the survey now, but it seems that at least 80% will be interested.

as for petatillos, well next week the engineer will be coming to investigate the water source, measure head and flow, and then hopefully, fingers crossed, the turbine project will be underway. two weeks ago my counterpart from the town, the evangelical preacher, got a chance to go to a workshop on turbine management, all expenses paid. so that made me feel pretty good. he had never even been to that part of the country, or stayed in a hotel...so, i think that gives me some brownie points.

the horse is doing well, bit training is coming along, and i think within a few weeks i will finally have a normal fully trained stallion. fuck yeah. time to race with some locals and show off. there's this special race they do here where the riders have to hook a raised ribbon with a pencil (or similar object) at full speed at the finish, and so, i think that will be the format. i think i have a pretty good chance. i'll let you guys know if i lose miserably.

and finally as for my 24th, well it was spent in solitude. just how i wanted. it would have been nice to get together with friends and family, but here, its a little complicated. and i needed some time to myself. so i listened to music, read, worked a little on a proposal, rode my horse, and enjoyed the beautiful day. my uncle's family surprised me with a cake, this milk and banana thing, and it was wonderful. a warm gesture that came unexpectedly, so all i could do is smile, laugh with them, and share the cake. we even ate some of it this morning. every day people surprise me a little. sometimes quite a bit.

but most importantly, i think i'm slowly starting to understand what makes me tick, what makes me happy, and how i can alter the world around me to fit my needs, desires, wishes, etc. its pretty sweet to feel this way. you should all look into that. and if you already got it, well let me know, maybe we can share some wisdom, have a deep conversation, and continue learning. although all of it kind of makes me want to join a monastery where i can hit a big bell in the mornings, sit all day meditating eating mountain herbs, but hey. i doubt that will go down. a little out there, no?

hn43.

i watched a kid water a garden today in the rain.

amoebas are not fun at all, if you see them or hear them anywhere around you, you may want to vacate the premises. then again, i guess you gotta try everything once right?

horses on the other hand are fun, especially if you ride them down mountains, in drizzle, on a sunny day. very awesome.

coffee farms are not flat. in fact, they are very much extremely not flat. it's a criteria to join the coffee farmer union, and get the t-shirt.

american boot laces can not withstand the wear and tear of honduran campo. i can. eat shit boot laces.

hn42.

hey all. it's been some time, and i've been getting shit for not writing, so i think it's about time for some news, some thoughts, and well, some more useless blog entry-ness. oh and there are new photos, so check it out.

first and foremost, i am busy. finally. for the first time in months, i have a completely full schedule. the worm project is underway, although moving slowly than expected. i guess i made the mistake that may cost us the project, by not thinking ecologically. you see, reproduction rates depends on population density, and when we bought the worms, i ignored that. instead of putting all the worms in one bed to reproduce and then separate them out, i split the small quantity we bought between 4 beds, and now the worms are not multiplying as fast as necessary. and if we can't sell the first fertilizer before the rains, we can't get the pulp stored, and then the product will drop in quality, and well, you get the point. but i think its still ok to be optimistic.

two, the renewable energy project is moving along. my counterpart will be at an all expenses paid workshop on the beach all week, learning about turbine maintenance. the week after we have a meeting with a local NGO to discuss the details and costs, and I think we have two organizations to back us up. it seems like this may work. i think.

three, this coming monday about ten of us volunteers will meet with the local organization that manages Celaque, the national park, and hopefully we can start a permanent partnership and collaborate on the management of the park and its buffer zone. i may poop my pants if this works, because well, opportunity of a life time.

four, well, there's lots more. i'm back to mapping fincas for producers, doing one or two every day that i dont have something else going on. its a pain, walking coffee farms on mountain slopes, getting sweaty and scratched up, but every time is an opportunity to get to know people, and learn something new. like for example, right now is chikirin season (they're like cicadas), and they're everywhere, and they excrete water at high pressure, so if you walk around coffee farms right now, you always feel a drizzle. i had no idea until a farmer told me. go figure. walking around gettin urinated on doesnt sound like fun, but its kinda refreshing.

i am also looking into starting a garden project, but i dont even want to go into that.

and finally, the horse. ruso is awesome. as we speak, or i write, or whatever, his bit is being fashioned at a nearby blacksmith's and so by next week, or two weeks or so, he will be bit trained and ready to go faster and longer distances. right now though, all i can say, is he's just like me. hotheaded, stubborn, and quick to act. but i like that. i wouldn't have it any other way.

and in terms of life, well i think im happy. in fact, i know i'm happy. and that's all that really matters. i'm broke, i live a simple life, and for the first time in years i'm calm, not stressed, and really happy. so. you know, in terms of the ups and downs of peace corps, i'm pretty damn up.