Coban Imperial

We spent two days in Coban and wandered around the city. The rains fortunately only really came after we had returned to the hotel for the night. Nathan wanted a Coban Imperial soccer jersey and so after much wandering we made it to the team office and they only had youth jerseys. However, they did have a player jersey laying on the table that they were willing to sell for about $15. Then we took a bus with grandpa to Guatemala City and headed to Panajachel.

Getting Back to the Mayan Ruins

Lots of parasites on a tree.
Views of the temples in Tikal

My brother Nathan in front of the Gran Jaguar

After the wedding in Mexico City, Nathan and I headed to Tikal in northern Guatemala. We started there, in order to make sure that nothing kept us from visiting the ruins. :)
We spent 6 hours wandering through the jungle in search of all the temples, there were paths, but we didn't get a map and a few of them are rarely traveled. We stayed in Flores, which is a tiny island on a small lake. From Flores, we moved on to Coban to spend a few days with our grandpa.

Wedding Fanciness

The groom's family.

In the garden after the ceremony for cocktails.

Mexico City Wedding

My brother, Nathan, one of the groomsmen.
A photo of me!
The chapel where the wedding was held.
A view of the convent where the wedding was held.
The groom's son and best man.

Nathan and I had a friend get married in Mexico City 28 June, 2008. We traveled there for the weekend and Nathan was in the wedding. The wedding was at 12oo at a convent in a national park and there were cocktails in the garden next door afterwards. Then we moved to the reception at a Museum in the city. A 4-course meal was served, the band played for 5 hours and then the mariachi band started at 10 pm after a light snack. We left the reception at 11 pm. An impressive long party.

From there Nathan and I moved on to Guatemala.

The Dog

What Could She Possibly Be Doing?

Dad at Gettysburg

The Basilica in Baltimore
Nathan attempting to heat sugar on Creme Brulee

Aaargghh, not much interest in keeping up with my blog now that I am in Albuquerque, but I shall try.

I arrived back in Albuquerque just after the new year with dog in tow. I am starting my second week as an indepedent contractor at a counseling center. Actually holding a therapy job since getting my licensure, amazing. :)

I am enjoying it so far, working evenings - trying to get out of bed in a timely fashion and be productive during the morning. One nice thing is that I have all my energy for doing some of my activities instead of coming home too tired from work.

I have been working on expanding my cooking skills which I am sure Nathan enjoys, although he laughs at how I am always discussing critiques of the food. Last week I baked some bread. And working on gathering the material to make some cheese.

Vuyo is almost 9 months and doing great. At the end of February I will have him assessed for possible training in search and rescue.

South Africa - I submitted an application to register as a psychologist and now I have been staying up late to phone and emailing to find out what the decision on that application was (decision was made the end of November). Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get a response or have my contact answer the phone. Keep trying.

No Folderol Here

A window at the National Library of Congress
My mom and I at the National Gallery of Art
I read that a dog's nails should be cut once a month, apparently Vuyo didn't need his nails cut, because we cut the quick on the first one and bandaged it up.
An enclosed phone booth at the National Gallery of Art (not in the gallery, but for people to use) :)

Six weeks of holiday with my parents in Maryland. My brother arrived over a week ago and so we have begun going places. Last Tuesday, we went to Washington D.C. for my Dad's work Christmas party and stopped at the National Library of Congress for an exhibit of the first map with the name America on it (1515). After the party, we went to the National Gallery of Art for a snapshot exhibit of people's snapshots from the late 1800's until the 1970's.

I have been attending the young adult Bible Study at my parent's church. I was asked to lead the group one night, we are studying John along with the church and that week was John 10-12. We looked at God as the Shepherd and as sheep knowing God's voice, God's silence leading to greater things and being generous.

Since I am on holiday (although my brother says I am destitute) and the library is just over the bridge, I am racing through books and am about to finish reading Country of My Skull by Antjie Krog. She writes of her two years as a radio journalist covering the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, including narratives presented.