Crossing the pond

Fabi and Masalamom will cross the Atlantic pond Ocean -yet again- tomorrow. See you on the other side...

I've got lots of things I want to write about...but for now I have to go and finish packing and the next few days will be excitingly busy.

Nos preparamos para "cruzar el charco" una vez más! Nos vemos del otro lado! :)

Updated:

I think I just broke a record: I have finished packing and I still have about 10 hours before my flight! I think I might even sleep for the remainder of the night! It's been raining cats and dogs here. I hope the weather has improved by the time we have to takeoff.

Hace exactamente una semana empecé a empacar. Me sentía muy tranquila con todo lo que llevaba adelantado. Hice una lista de todo lo que quería hacer y la pude completar. Sin embargo me dieron las 11:00pm del día antes de mi viaje de regreso a Alemania y por fin pude terminar de alistar el equipaje. Llevo una maleta más de lo que traje :) Regreso a Alemania muy feliz porque aunque llegué aquí bajo circunstancias de emergencia, me voy en condiciones muy diferentes, de alegría, de paz...Luego escribiré acerca de esto más en detalle.

Early Love

Short after Fabi and I arrived in Costa Rica about a month ago, MasalaDad asked me if Fabi had already met his girlfriend. "Who's that?", I asked! Ishan meant little Ximena, which we finally met again today. Unlike little Rodri, Fabi's girlfriend lives half a world apart. Thank goodness for Internet these days!

Cristina is Argentina's new president!

Wild Hair No More

A bank in Delhi

I think this is cool!...

Via Boing Boing

Time Travel

I just love these coincidences.

Happy 'Thirty-first' month, Fabi!

One month older! Already?! Yikes! Times *DOES* fly when you're having fun! And "having fun" is Fabi's especiality!

In the past weeks, Fabi has become a real fan of his "amigos" who show up on Discovery Kid's Channel. He dances to their tunes and just as he gets REALLY excited when the show is on...he can get REALLY disappointed when it's not. He knows the names of several colors and actually recognizes a few of them as well.

Fabi can be really soft and cute, giving out hugs and kisses to his mom and grandparents, charming strangers by greeting them, or dancing whenever he hears a tune (regardless if he's in the car or in a shoe shop). But if he doesn't get what he wants -and he has not had his daily nap- he can be...hm...what's that word....agressive. I wish I could show you the huge bruise I have on my left arm after he bit me because he didn't want to leave the shopping mall a couple of days ago.

The picture above shows Fabi in his pj's and puffy red eyes during the "worst cold of his short life". He survived it and came through like a champ!

Whenever he's getting ready to go out, he makes sure he takes along his blue cap ("gorra azul!").

Overall, it's just amazing to discover the world along with him, hearing him talk ("¿quieres bailar?" he asked me the other day while I was having my breakfast) and enjoy the things that otherwise I would not even notice without him. For example, the other day I enjoyed jumping and sliding down an inflatable castle at one of the shopping malls. Fabi and I had the whole castle to ourselves and I can't explain well enough how FUN that was! As we were leaving, a group of very young high-school girls wanted to jump there too, but they were told that it was only for children (2 yr-olds and above). Apparently I was allowed to go in, to "take care" of Fabi, but I ended up having quite a thrill as well! Fabi would have liked to stay there forever. Maybe I can understand why he bit me after all...

The picture below shows Fabi at 31 months old - in all his glory. Yes! He does need a trim!

Musica

At least we know Fabi's uncle -Alonso- is making the most out of his trip to London. Hope he enjoys THE concert!

UPDATE

You're right, Rong: the concert was at the Wembley Arena...! Here's a cellphone shot:

Linen Anniversary -- Updated!

On the day of our wedding - four years ago - Ishan and I gave out these "Indian Elephant" keychains* as party favors. The tag reads in Spanish:

Thank You

Mariluz & Ishan

October 18th, 2003

Heredia, Costa Rica

Happy Anniversary, Ishan! Thanks for the past 48 months of love and happiness! XOXOXO

*Those "Indian Elephant" keychains were bought in the "Crawford Market" in Mumbai. They were a real hit as all of our guests loved them!

UPDATE!

I wrote this post early in the morning, exchanged greetings and congratulations with Ishan through a quick chat (he was in office) and then I was minding my own business getting ready to have lunch with my parents while Fabi slept his nap.

Then the door bell rang and I received not one...but two!...beautiful flower arrangements. Roses and sunflowers...and a bottle of German white wine, which is now chilling in the fridge.

An unforgettable anniversary indeed...despite being "half across the world" away...for the second time...in a row!

Ishan: You're too much!...I love you!

Blessed Birthday!

¡FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS, Mami!

¡Qué Dios te siga dando tanta alegría, fortaleza y salud!...

La linda foto de arriba fue tomada la semana pasada, cuando mi Mamá celebró su 37mo aniversario de bodas. Hoy ella celebra un cumpleaños muy especial y lleno de bendiciones. Mi Mamá no sólo se está recuperando satisfactoriamente de su salud, sino que también tiene la dicha de disfrutarlo con su nieto.

Es tiempo de sanar...es tiempo de reír. ¡Gracias a Dios!

¡Muchas felicidades a Liza, quien también se encuentra celebrando su cumpleaños! En honor a las cumpleañeras de hoy, una foto del baúl de los recuerdos: Mis papás frente al edificio de Tricom en Sto. Dgo., Rep. Dominicana.

3 a.m.

Instead of replying to all those pending e-mails, I thought I'd share these cool videos.

WOMEN IN ART

WOMEN IN FILM

¡Felicidades, Diego!

Significant dates...

...that have recently passed.

October 10th: My parents celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary. This year, the anniversary gives a whole new meaning to the part of the vows "...In sickness and in health..."

October 12th, 1492: Christopher Columbus' expedition makes landfall in the New World.
October 12th, 2007: Alonso Bogarín travels from Costa Rica to the Old World.

October 13th: One month countdown

Blogging Backlog

Having my Mother at home was already great news! Eventhough this translated into more work at home (those homecooked meals are such a task!) we were already enjoying our new routine.

Then yesterday my Mom had to go to her first medical check-up after being released from the hospital and when she came back home she was free from the VAC machine! She was instructed to lead a "normal life" and feel "free to walk" while she continues to heal. This is why Fabi, my Dad, my Mom and I went to have lunch at a nearby shopping mall! Even I felt free! So free, in fact I am able to sit down and write on my blog again.

The problem is I have *SO* much to write about...I don't even know where to start!

• First of all, let me send HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES to Golu's Aunt Priya who celebrated her day on Oct. 6th! Priya: We were working on a video to send you and the camera I was using ran out of batteries (at 11:00pm!) Hopefully, we will soon make up for that!


• Our good friend Saher and my uncle Gerardo also celebrated their birthdays last Oct. 5th.

• Today is Fabi's paternal grandmother's birthday and she was happy to hear him say "Aji" (Grandmother) over the phone several times.

Other recent events include the following:

On Oct. 3rd, Germany celebrated the 17th anniversary of its reunification.

In the southern German state of Bavaria, history will remember this as the day that Stoiber is out and Beckstein is in.

However, the real historic event of the week actually took place last SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7th as the Costa Ricans had a chance to vote on a referendum on the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA).

I've been opposed to this agreement since I started to learn about all its implications.

Unfortunately, only 48% of other Costa Rican voters agree with me and around 52% of the Costa Ricans who voted supported the deal. It's a sad time for our country...we sold it. Since this is a democracy, we respect the majority's choice. What I do celebrate is the fact that there was a referendum and that it was carried out in a way that reflects our peaceful way of living. I'm so proud of the fact that I was able to participate in the voting...even my Mom voted!

My time is up....can't blog any more 'cause it's hectic around here!

Finally...good news!

My Mom is back home from the hospital after 26 days!

This was her second stay at the hospital in less than two months. She has overcome an amazing number of obstacles and still has a lot of healing to do. Her wound is still attached to the VAC machine, which is actually a small device she carries in a bag around her shoulder. It's not a light device and it makes a whooshing sound every once in a while. We're hoping she will only have that machine for a couple more weeks, but most of all we're hoping and praying her wound finally heals.

In the meantime, my Mom is enjoying the fact she is at home, eating what she wants, sleeping in her own bed and most of all, she can't believe she got the chance to enjoy Fabi's company again. We thank God for the wondeful progress in my Mom's health.

I thank all of you who have been peridiodically checking this page for news and the ones who have sent me positive messages of hope. It has really been great to feel your support. It's amazing how difficul times like these change the way you see things and remind you to appreciate life's blessings even more.

¡Mi Mamá está de regreso en la casa después de haber estado 26 días en el hospital!

Esta fue su segunda hospitalización en menos de dos meses. Ella ha superado una cantidad increíble de obstáculos y todavía tiene mucho que sanar. Su herida todavía está con la máquina del VAC, la que lleva en una bolsa colgada del hombro. La máquina no es muy liviana y de vez en cuando hace un sonido. Esperamos que tenga esa máquina sólo por unas semanas más, pero sobre todo esperamos que su herida sane por completo.

Mientras tanto, mi Mamá está disfrutando de estar en casa, comiendo lo que ella quiere, durmiendo en su propia cama y no puede creer que haya tenido la oportunidad de disfrutar de nuevo de la compañía de Fabián. Todos damos gracias a Dios por el increíble progreso en la salud de mi Mamá.

Yo estoy muy agradecida con todos los que han estado revisando esta página para saber noticias y con todos lo que me han enviado mensajes positivos de esperanza. Ha sido genial sentir todo su apoyo. Es increíble cómo situaciones difíciles como éstas cambian la perspectiva de todo y te recuerdan de apreciar todavía más las bendiciones que da la vida.