Down By The River...

Good night to you all.

It's a cool and foggy night here at the jobsite. The salty sea breeze adding to the haziness. It's 00:30 right now. Put in a full day and got the call to drive piles at 21:30. I fell back asleep by accident and called in that I was running late. It worked out just fine as the contractor was still monkeying with the hammer by the time I arrived to the work deck. I debated whether or not to sleep or blog a bit as it will be another 2 or 3 hours before they drive the next pile. I figured that since I'm up, I'd shoot the breeze with you.

Was down and out most of last week with that blasted stomach debacle again. I lost count, but I think that was the fifth or sixth time I got hit with that bug. My stomach has been through hell this last year. Being sick coupled with the completely unpredictable work schedule has been hell on my running regimen too. I got to swing the kicks yesterday for the first time in over a week and I was buzzing! Wow! Though only 30 minutes long, it felt fantastic to run a little bit. I actually sneaked into the gym again tonight for another 30 minutes. All things considered, I'm feeling good as the start of May nears. That's when the official marathon training begins. My goal was to be able to do a 2 hr run and basically whistle dixie the entire time before May 1st. I should be real close.

The power went out at the apartment for about the 4th time this short month of April already. I'm not sure if it's the banditos steeling the copper wire or the goofball drivers crashing down the utility poles. In any event, I was treated to a spectacular view from my 4th floor window at the apartment. With the nearby earth surface dark, the heavens were as brilliant as I've ever seen before. I never knew there were that many stars in the sky. If I didn't have chicken burning on the stove, I could have stared towards that piece of creation above the abode all night long. Before the dinner bell rang, the lights came back on and drowned out the celestial radiance.

Looking at that crystal clear night sky made me think of something very deep and philosophical. Why is it that the weatherman says "Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with highs in the 70s" but you never hear "Tonight will be partly moony with a chance of showers, lows in the 40s" or "Mostly moony with a slight breeze out of the south"? What gives? That's the transcendentalist coming out of me...

Back to reality....Last Sunday, the project owner took all the employees out for a day of white water rafting and wine tasting. I'm not officially an owner's employee and I never officially received the invitation in writing, but after the big boss's secretary found out that I wasn't on the list, she got me in. My first time rafting...what a blast! I highly recommend it. We set up shop at a very nice hotel that greeted us with a large, lush green and well-groomed lawn. My spirits jumped up just to see some contrast in natural colors around here. Very nice and relaxing.

The rafts fit six people plus the guide. We were rafting down the Canete River, which according to the guide was running with Category 3 rapids that day...not too hard, but not too easy. There was no option of staying dry and several people from my boat just got it over with right away and jumped in the crisp, clear water. Everyone said the water was clean and I have to agree...I swallowed at least a liter of that stuff along the 7 km trek and haven't had any recent anarchy in the belly. I was in the front of the raft and had a great view of the rapids ahead. The sounds of the water running and my friends cheering...hot sunshine contrasted with the soothing chill of the water...body alert, tense and working hard to stay on course...Sensation overload the entire time! Awesome.

After rafting and eating a BBQ lunch full of red meat, we made our way to a local winery and Pisco distillery. I jumped on the party bus, i.e. the bus with no bosses on board. Beer bottles were rattling, people laughing and the good times rollin. The tour guide pulled out a microphone to give his schpeel on the sights on either side of the bus. Before he could put the mic down, I was swinging it in my hand and started pulling out classic tunes in my ruptured duck of a voice like Brown Eyed Girl, Take on Me, American Pie, Ice Ice Baby...I got some cheers but little background help with the vocals. The tour guide was not very amused and after a while I gave up on the solo effort. We commandeered the mic a few other times and pulled out a few more tunes along the way.

The winery and Pisco tour was pretty neat. According to the wine and Pisco master, everything they brew is "all natural, only the best in Peru". Apparently they make Pisco the way the natives made it centuries ago. The same guy put on a show and tell with Pisco bottles and wine glasses and tried to prove why his stash was the best in Peru. It looked more like hocus pocus to me, but the price was right and I snagged a few bottles of Pisco. When I get back home we can whip up a few Pisco sours.

After a long day of hootin-hollerin and having fun, I was completely spent...I forgot to mention that I had to work throughout that previous night...I was running the fumes from 3.5 hours of sleep that whole day. The first part of this week was rough as my body was sore to high hell from all that paddling. It was definitely worth it, though.

I uploaded some pictures from the fun trip. Click the "My Photos" link on the right-hand side of the blog to check them out. I hope you enjoy them.

It's pushing 2 am and I think I'm going to give it a go at catching some ZZZs. My shizzle is tired. Who knows when they'll start making noise again. That's all from Pampa Melchorita. Be sure to tune in next time.

Until then, take care, be safe and God bless.

Scotty

Couple two-tree things to share with ya...

Howdy, mates.

My Australian friend's lingo is wearing off on me. I hope your Easter season is going well.

Not a whole lot to blog about, at least not until the last week or so. Last week I was able skoot to Houston for a few days. It was cheaper to send me there than to pay me for being in Peru while pile driving was shut down for the holiday. Fantabulous trip! As always, a great time with friends. Ate some good grub and got in a long run with my buddy Johnny. I'm grateful to have been with with friends for the Easter weekend.

The piling project has regained some momentum and production consistency which is a welcome change. The contractor is back into a routine and driving piles about every 3 or 4 days. They're still up to their late night shenanigans, though. Last night they were supposed drive piles at midnight. I got woken up with a phone call at 3:15 am this morning and they told me they'd drive at 4 am...blurry-eyed and despondent to be up at 3:30, I readied myself for the task ahead. 4 am came and went...they didn't start driving until 5:45 am. What are 2 extra hours of sleep anyway? Missed breakfast too...Listen to me whine!

The contractor has performed and is performing well below what I expected. Their engineers flabbergast me on a daily basis. I can only shake my head, double check the numbers and do the best I can technically. There are lines between the practical and theoretical to walk on projects like these...walking too far in either direction can lead to trouble...throw in an ever-changing dynamic to the client's approach and sentiment, and you have yourself some added potholes to navigate through while walking on those lines. Not to jinx anything, but the Golder team I'm a part of has been damn solid throughout. We not only identify where the potholes are, we're doing our best to make sure they get filled too.

I gave a demonstration on how to use the new spinning bikes at the site gym Friday night. A few people showed up and it was good to get on a "bike" again. I'll probably give folks a hand with the bikes in the upcoming weeks and come up with a few spinning routines for folks to try out.

I found out that there is a rule onsite that you can't wear shorts or sandals in the site cafeteria.
Are you kidding me? It's over 80 degrees outside and humid as a mug. I guess I can't complain because I only stay onsite every now and then, but good grief. They say it's out of courtesy that they don't want shorts or sandals. That's fine and dandy...are the same people that police the shorts and sandals law going to write a citation for every time a four-letter word is dropped? What's more offensive? Someone wearing a pair of shorts or Welshman Smith cracking a litany of profanity over steamed rice and leathery chicken? Maybe I'm missing something here.

I suppose the main headline is that my full-time rotations here in Peru are about end. I'll fulfill
my one-year commitment at the end of April and I'll be heading back to the Seattle metropolitan area. I was able to score an apartment in the same complex that I left a year ago. No long term lease and the rent is cheap...can't pass it up and it'll allow me move out pain free if I find a house or condo.

Aight, kids. That's it from here. Take care.

Wednesday Night Note...

Hidey ho, folks.

Writing to you on a muggy Wednesday night from Cerro Azul. The saturated, musty air is trying to circulate around the apartment but is failing miserably.

My multi-stop visit back to the US was good and definitely too short. Usually at the end of my R&Rs, I want to get back to work and/or a routine...not so much this last go around. I could have used another week. Visits to brother, sister and the folks all went well. I even scored some Kodiak cakes a couple mornings and Mom and Dad's...pure breakfast bliss! Give 'em a try with banana and some ground up walnuts...good stuff. I actually brought back five boxes with me to Peru. My plan was to hand four out to friends from Australia, Wales and Malta and let them have a go with the fifth box for me...but another buddy of mine was around and I thought he and his wife would enjoy the eats too...so...I've got to waith another six weeks before I dip into the whole-wheat goodness myself.

I actually had to buy a cheap suitcase to bring back all the goodies I snagged for mates down here...Kodiak cakes, baby Oragel, six packs of Fritos and Cheetos, a tennis racket, McCormick brand cocktail sauce, an exercise ball, and some hair goop for my buddy's wife. Everyone was happy with the goods, so it was well worth it.

The project is moving forward. Things should speed up a bit now that a HUGE bump has been wrapped up. We shall see. Looking forward to a speedy six weeks.

Planning to hit Cusco and Machu Pichu at the end of this six weeks. I held off from going last year so some friends could make the trip...So, to all yous guys...if you want to see a "wonder of the world" let me know and get yer butt down here...we'll check it out together.

That is all for now. I'll rap atchya all later on.

God bless,

Scotty

Recovering...

Hola, amigos.

Blogging from the apartment this Thursday afternoon. Catching up on sleep and trying to recover from a head cold I must have caught during the recent work escapade this week. I've got basically two more days down here and then I'm back in familiar territory for awhile...the friendly surroundings of family, friends, divided highways, fresh milk, etc. One lesson learned from this trip...no more seven week rotations!

I am most pleased to see that Back to the Future was the big winner. I don't think I even voted, though. Doh! Since a few more folks pushed the vote button, I guess I'll keep putting up polls.

Way missing bike riding/training/racing. Feeling determined to resume the training in earnest starting Nov 2008 after recovering from the running bit. I can't shake the "want-to" that came with it all. We'll see how the next 9 months pan out.

Saw a scorpion in the office last week. That was pretty narly.

Nothing else to blog about right now. I probably won't get a post out until I get back from the US of A.

You kids have a good day.

Scotty

Only a Quick Hola This Time...

What's shakin?

It's been one hell of a week and a half here in P-roo. The hours may not have been too monumental, but the times in which I've had to work those hours is another story. For example...the photo over yonder -------> was taken at the splendid time of 10:45 pm...or was it 01:3o am?

Thankfully I've got a night for myself here this breezy Friday evening. Thought it'd be a good time to say hey to yous guys.

Due to the overwhelmingly popular response to the last poll question (a whopping 8 votes!), I decided to give it another go. I have no idea who answers what, so don't let that scare you away!

I've got one of my two weeks planned for my first R&R of 2008. I'll split the first week driving my sister nuts and grossing out my neices in Abiliene then skipping over toward's the Pensacola neck of the woods to do a few runs with my brother and to teach my nephews more bad manners. The second week of the trip is still up in the air. Not sure what I'm going to do. If anyone is up for doing something March 3thru March 8, let me know.

For some of you Scotty in Peru subscribers, Next Wednesday marks the start of everyone's favorite liturgical season...Lent! Though it's not the most festive time of the year, I always say a kick in the pants is good for everyone. I'm not sure if I'll get another post in before Ash Wednesday, so, for those of you about to embark upon the journey with me, I wish for you a positive, reflective and changing 40 day experience that continues on long beyond the Easter celebration.

Methinks it's time for a shower and an icy cold Cusquena to end the day. You all take care and have a great weekend.

AMDG,

Scotty