Closing the Books...

Scotty in Peru...hasn't been the norm the last 12 months like it once was. Have made a handful of trips here since June 08...most recently April/May of 09...now I'm starting the second of two weeks here. Most likely my last trip down. All is old hat down here. The same sights and sounds, except there's more vertical steel these days. The marine pile driving is 95 percent complete...should be wrapped up in another 2 to 3 weeks. A great experience for this engineer. Many things learned.

Only regret is that I will not get to mountain bike in Huarez before I split. Something I've wanted to do for some time...a trip for somewhere down the line.

I went through some of these old posts over the last week or so. Can't really describe anything new...everything's already happened! Hopefully this blog thingy doesn't shut down...some grand memories archived here.

Will strum a few chords on some borrowed strings and then call it a night. Closing out the Peruvian blog experience...Perhaps I'll get the gumption to blog some other adventure that the future may hold. Considering I'll probably be the only person to ever read this...I'll wish myself good night. But just in case...Peace and love.

Scotty

This Is A Rant...

Hola, folks.

How's it kicking tonight? Well, for me it's tonight...up there I suppose it is evening and maybe even still afternoon. The sun's been long gone for nearly the last two hours.

To follow through with my previous post, I did wind up making the risotto. Considering the circumstances, it actually turned out good. I didn't have any white wine on hand, so I compromised and tossed in a few swigs of Pisco instead. Not too shabby.

I learned how to say a phrase in Spanish today...."Tengo suficiente balogna"...which essentially translates into "I've had enough of this baloney". Yep. My bubble's burst...I've hit the wall...my screws have come loose. I'm working with a contractor that baffles the behoozle out of me and a client that after over a year doesn't know what we do. I won't bore you with the details, but being up for 22 hours straight this weekend broke this camels back. Fargin bastages I say! I've got less than two weeks to go and I'm thankful because this isn't floating Scotty's boat anymore....Tengo suficiente balogna.

So on a lighter note...Microsoft Office 2007 is a pain in my ass. For as smart as those people are supposed to be over there, I can't believe they've got the nuggets to release such a terrible product. I'm in the middle of trying to figure out why in the hell one of my workbooks went apesh*t on me and why everything on a particular spreadsheet went to hell. I had to look for the help menu for about 15 minutes and when I found it, it sent me to a website loaded with a bunch of non-related junk. How the hell do you get help if you don't have an Internet connection? What a scam.

Today was one of the few days this rotation that I really wanted to run and exercise, but my body is just not right. Perhaps some residual sleep deprivation, but I just don't feel (and haven't felt) fresh or spry for a long time. Maybe this getting older bit is starting to catch up with me?

Holy smokes...what a bunch of belly aching! On the flipside, I've got a hot bowl of pasta in front of me and Jose to shoot the breeze with. That's not too bad. Some other good news is that we have a champion and home run king in the Zajac family. My nephew Joshua's T-ball team went a perfect 17-0 and Josh led the league in round trippers...Seven long balls for the little squirt. Congratulations to Josh and the Bengals!

On that happy note, it's time to scarf the "whole-wheat" pasta down. A quick Latin lesson therafter and I'll be ready for bed in no time!

You kids have a wonderful night.

Scotty

Whole Latta Natta...

Good daye, folks.

What's buzzin on your Saturday evening? Perhaps you're enjoying a long weekend get-a-way or got the grill fired up right now for some burgers, brats or steaks. I took a look at the weather for my old stompin grounds in St. John a little earlier this afternoon. 70s and sunny. Very nice. I got to say a few syllables to my sister who's in FL celebrating Britt's graduation and she talked of swimming pools and hot weather. It looks like the summertime weather is one more thing to look forward to here in a few more weeks.

Let's see...lazy, unmotivated and sloth describe my Saturday afternoon thus far. The last three or four days have been pretty intense on the business end of the pile driving effort here in P-roo. Having the afternoon off has been nice, but there's not a whole lot going on in the foggy, thriving metropolis of Cerro Azul these days now that summer is out and winter is in south of that equator thing. I've tossed around the idea of whipping up a batch of risotto with makeshift cooking utensils and limited foodstuffs just to humor myself, but I'm not sure I'm in the mood for the possible botched dinny...then on the other hand, it can't be much worse than the potatoes they had at the canteen for lunch today.

I mentioned above that my niece, Britt, graduated high school. Congrats and good luck in the next chapter of life's grand journey! So much to learn...so much to experience...Eighteen years old...good grief...that crux between being so young and really starting to grow up. Knowing everything inside the safe confines of Mom and Dad's house...and perhaps realizing for the first time that there's a lot more to everything outside the front door...Eighteen years old...

I suppose it's time to leave you all back to your backyard BBQs and fierce Memorial Day yard jart competitions. I'll fill you in on the risotto experiment if I find a way to peel my carcass off the couch.

I'll close with a great line from one of my favorite movies...

"Well folks it's time to call it a night. Do what you feel and keep both feet on the wheel. You don't have to go home but you can't stay here. So till next time..." (Joliet Jake, The Blues Brothers)

Scotty

The Start of the Finish...

Hey folks. Good morning to you all.

I made it back to Peru on Friday night after spending about two weeks in Seattle. I got moved in and pretty much settled at the apartment. All I need is a book shelf. Four week rotation this time...wait...make that three weeks and 5.5 days to go...

I stopped by the site yesterday to check in and get a feel for things again. Thankfully there is no production driving until Monday, so I got to sleep in today. I was one tuckered out kid. Whipped up a big vat of oats and am now spinning tracks from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Glenn Miller to set the mood for the day.

For some reason my back is a bit sore...not sure if it is residual soreness from moving or from trying to ride my bike as if I hadn't been off of it for a year. Either way, I'll try to get a run in later today. My running regimen went off the rails the last two weeks due to travel, moving and being sick (again). Hopefully I can start to get into a groove again except I was told that the yellow fever shot I got this past Tuesday is supposed to kick in next week and there's a chance I'll feel like doo for a few days. We shall see.

Special request: There are few folks that can use an extra prayer or two if you have the time. One close friend is battling a neurological ailment with quite a few question marks surrounding it. Dealing with the unknown has been difficult. The other request goes out to several couples who are having very difficult and trying times starting a family. Please keep these special folks in your prayers.

Thanks for your time and God bless you all.

Scotty

Quick Hola...

Hey, everyone.

I'm in Lima now. Just got back from an awesome four days in Cusco and Mach Picchu. Got to meet a bunch of interesting and fun folks from all over the planet. The views were spectacular and much fun to be had. I uploaded a few pictures here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/sdzajac/CuscoAndMachuPicchu

My trip to Cusco was MUCH better than my last few days onsite...sleep deprivation and nighttime driving accidents.

I'll make sure to catch up with you all when I get back to the US of A. Till then, take care and God bless you all.

Cheers,

Scotty