Wackyfish

Yesterday was a big day for me. Work was crazy (But that is SOP these days) I had Power, water, a working PHONE at home and yesterday I purchased a TV and DVD player. I got home after work, talked on the phone for two hours, made a big yummy dinner and watched some of the hours of commentary on the Two Towers DVD while soaking my feet and giving myself a pedicure. It was not only indulgent, it was decadent.

I think enough time has gone by since the cyclone that the Water Authority and the EPC have recovered reliable service in my area. Although I am trying to not get used to reliable water and power. I am still considering it a luxury.

I have to thank Piza and Gary for the working phone. (Tangent alert! Gary is Piza’s husband, who looks after me like a little a big brother would look after a little sister. Have I mentioned he is a police officer and manages to show up at clubs and places just as I begin to get the mischievous gleam in my eye? He is also one of the 20 Officers joining the UN PeaceKeeping forces in Liberia. He leaves in a week. Piza and I are terrified for him, and he is really excited. He is a great guy, we will miss him a lot and pray he comes home safely in a year!) Gary has several buddies at Samoa Tel and asked them to personally take their truck up to my house and look at my phone. Then when they got there and the office was to crazy for me to leave and go let them into my house… I gave Piza my key and she took a taxi up and back to let them in to fix it. Did I mention that Piza takes good care of me. I love her and I’m not sure I will ever be able to thank her enough.
Anyway I got to talk to Mom, Dad, Deb, Max and Darc. It was amazing! (And this coming from someone who hates to talk on the phone.)

Here are a few tips if you want to call me.

1. I believe that you have to dail 01 before the country code and my number.
2. Costco (or Sam’s Club, which we don’t have in the Bay Area) has the cheapest international calling card deal. Cheaper than your long distance carrier. I think it works out to about .52c a min or something close. Most carriers are .85c a min or upwards. It cost me $6 tala a min, so if I ask you to call me back that is why.
3. I would LOVE to talk to you if you would like to call me. I am a busy girl tho so if you just send me a quick e-mail to say “hay, I’m calling you tonight” I will make sure to be home for your call.

The TV and DVD player were something that I had intended to save up and buy eventually. I was in no big Rush. But someone is leaving the country quick style and needed to sell theirs, so when I got the e-mail I made an offer and sweetened the deal by paying in US dollars (Tala are a hassle to have converted). So now I have a TV and DVD player. I am real excited about having movie nights at my place! Also I got to dust off one of my yoga DVD’s this morning. I feel great! (I need to buy a yoga mat tho, I keep slipping around on my flooring.)

I made the yummiest fish last night. It was some Yellow fin that I picked up at the fish market. I just want to say that I have come a long way from the girl who couldn’t make ramen.

And to end what is becoming an extremely long post I would just like to post an exert from a letter my mother sent me around Christmas. (I just got it on Tuesday, I got two letters from her in fact. Mommy RULES!) Just in case you were wondering where I got my sense of humor this should satisfy. My mom is a funny funny woman.
“It is with greatest regret that I have to inform you that by order of the United States Government you will not (repeat) will not be receiving any FRUITCAKE from us this season. The postal service has stated that because of it’s dangerous nature (thick, dense, chunky and solid) no x-rays can pass though it to penetrate the secrets that lie lurking deep inside. So sorry.” (In case you couldn’t tell we don’t really like fruitcake, making this funny.)