settling in...time to settle-up.

i've been spending the last few days - out of school - relaxing,working on a few things for en via (i'm helping them make some pdf thank you cards and flyers they can e.mail out), buying stuff for folks (get your list in now...), reading (garvie bought me a copy of the keith richards bio 'life' and i'm now deep into it and loving it...thanks garvie.), getting my apartment in order - which included me looking and looking and looking for my passport which i had put in a 'sfe' place so i wouldn't a: lose it b: know where it was when i needed it...um...i finally found it but it was a stressful little bit this morning as i looked around and tried not to freak out - which i did not. the days are slow and comfortable which makes getting shit done easier. i have loved my time in oaxaca but am ready to sleep in my own bed, shower in bathroom with actual water pressure and with water that's not from a tank in the garage origin unknown. i miss idle chit chat with friends. of course i miss ailsa.
i am leaving things behind that, maybe, the next student type may need and find handy. highlighters, sharpies, pads of paper, post-its, pens, tape, earplugs, etc...no need to pack that shit home. i am also going to set the main water heater to cold on my way out as a way of saying thanks for all the cold water and general lack of water while i was here. sure, it's petty but the owners have not been present when needed and are notable cheap so, maybe i'll save them a few bucks by turning it down.
tonight i'll have a snack with luiz and thank him for all his help while i was here. i actually didn't see him as much as i had hoped - his work and falling ill didn't help - but i was still very happy to have him along while i was here. he's a good guy. and he likes pink floyd. (see youtube video.)
today pattie and i are going to etla - one of the oldest settlements in the area. they have an old textile plant that has been converted into an art centre of some sort so we thought we'd go have a look - more on this later.
tomorrow will see me take a last look at the zocalo, eat some more street food, have one last run at the organic market (also a meeting with emily from en via there) and finish packing my gear and crap...
soon it's adios to oaxaca.

g. xo