Bombs away

Today was really fun at the Pewter Factory and then lunch until...

Mike called and asked where we were and if any RSO was in attendence (Regional Security Officers). Of course that led to a why. Today there was a transportation strike and some demonstrations (a continuance from yesterday). So the FARC, still pretty po'd about the rescue of the prisoners this summer, thought this would be a good time to display a show of force. Not sure if this is all they've got or if it's just the beginning Keep your fingers crossed that this is all they can muster now that Uribe has pushed them way back and captured and/or killed many of their leaders. Back to my story... Mike tells me 2 bombs have gone of in the Northern section (where we live) and one of the bombs knocked out the first 3 floors of windows in one of the attaches apartment. Okay... that's scary. A few minutes later 2 more... The RSO suggested we stay at the restaurant until it was determined the safest course of action 1. return to the embassy or 2. have the drivers and bodyguards escort us home. In the end we were escorted home. All the kids were let out of school early too and everyone was advised to stay in their apartments. I got this e-mail when I finally returned home. Needless to say more than one of these was within 5 blocks of my house!

RSO has received reports of five minor explosions in different areas of the city:
1) Calle 80 with Cr. 5
2) Behind the McDonald’s at Salitre Mall
3) Calle 142 and Cr. 7
4) Calle 98 and 9A
5) Car. 10 con Calle 88

All personnel are reminded to remain vigilant and avoid large crowds, particularly given today’s on-going strike/demonstrations. Avoid and report any suspicious items, persons, or activities. Please ensure that this information is passed to your family members.

RSO recibió información sobre cinco diferentes explosiones en varias partes de la ciudad:

1) Calle 80 con Cr. 5
2) Detrás del McDonald’s del Salitre Mall;
3) Calle 142 con Cr. 7
4) Calle 98 con 9ª
5) Car. 10 con Calle 88

Se le avisa a todo personal que se mantengan alerto de su alrededores y se mantengan alejados de grupos grandes, particularmente debido a la huelga de hoy. No toquen ni se acerquen a artículos, personas, ni actividades sospechosos. Favor de asegurar que sus familiares estén enterados de estos eventos.


V/R, Lucia RSO Secretary

Things that make you hmmm...

It's never good when you get the automated messages from the Embassy. Typically it's about a riot, someone missing, bombs in a grocery store etc. Today was no different. The message said tear gas had been deployed near the University. Which one? Well, I'm not sure because YOU CAN'T REPLAY THE MESSAGE! One shot is all you get. Thankfully I wasn't planning on going anywhere far from the house today but still...

Sugar

Interesting factoid: The cereals in the US have more sugar than other countries. I mean the same cereal, like MulitGrain Cheerios and (yuck) Fruit Loops, will have 25% more sugar. CRAZY! And people thought I was a food nazi for not letting my kids have it but turns out I am double right, or at least 25% more right than I thought!

Party at the

Spanish Embassy. Seriously ya'll, if your hubby is a Marine he NEEDS to get this job. Soooo much fun. Free booze and food and lot's of friends. The attache's from all over know each other and everyone is soooo nice. A fellow Canadian wife ;o), Isreali wife, Mexican wife and few American wives and I were having so much fun I forgot Mike was "working". And FYI, if anyone ever tells you that stuffing a mini pie in your mouth and eating it all at once is better than taking bites and getting crumbs on your suit... DON'T BELIEVE THEM!

For Liz

Booger Fruit!

Here is one open and one closed. The skin is not very thick and you just take your fingers and pull it apart. Americans and Colombians alike refer to it as booger fruit because, frankly, it looks like boogers.

Up close. See the snot mixed with seeds. YUMMY!

But seriously, it is really sweet with crunchy seeds. If you can get past the appearance :o)