HOW HARD CAN IT BE?

Las Palabras:  No hay palabras hoy - vamos a desconsar!  There are no words today - let's rest.

In spite of what I ever thought, A Word from Yelapa has a very nice group of regular readers.  Many have asked me why I don't write more often.  I think I try to have a point to my weekly posts and personally I am not crazy to read someone's daily journal.  I really don't have THAT much to say! 

As I rushed to enter last week's blog post about the Yelapa reunion in Santa Cruz, I had almost enough setbacks to make me cry.  I was really good and put the story up early in the day.  However, when I tried to upload my pictures, sent by Byron, it seemed as though everything was in slow motion - I waited and waited and waited...finally, a message came up about a problem with an add-on - whatever that is.  My computer then very smartly began to shut itself down. 

Patiently, I tried again and the electricity went out during the upload as the daily storm was beginning to quicken.  My battery always says I have 100% capacity, something like 2-3 hours.  The reality is always more like 15 minutes.  Of course my smart little laptop shuts itself off.  Again the photo download was interrupted.  Once again I began the upload and waited about 10 minutes.  In frustration, Desi and I raced down the hill to the store and back in time to find the electricity off again and the computer was completely turned off.  Power was restored in about an hour and the time for posting was fast approaching.  Stubborn Taurus that I am I began the photo upload, first to the post.  That went so nicely I tried to put the album up.  By now I don't have to tell you the power went off again.  I thought, what the heck, I will give it the battery try.  As I sat waiting on pins and needles, watching the clock, watching the little pila (battery) icon going down, I thought I was doomed again. 

Milagro!  The photos made it to the album but then due to a glitch I can't seem to change, I always have to reformat the album and add the photo titles.  Yes, they were short, barely mentioning who the subjects were, but I was on a mission by this time and rushing against the 15-20 minute battery clock and a final shutdown. 

As I hit publish now, the blog published.  Publish again and the album went on just as the beep sounded and the shut down process began its' final countdown.  I think I had about 15 seconds to close the internet and log off when everything went dark.  I gave a small grunt of satisfaction to have persevered and won that round between nature and technology but I must admit I had just spent about 5-7 hours trying to meet my weekly deadline.

Entonces, this is why I don't try to write more.  Jeez, what do real writers do?  A week later I am again sitting nervously waiting for some awful message or for the rain to increase and the thunder to begin.  This is pretty much a forgone conclusion - there will be rain, lightning and mayhem almost every day throughout September.  This is a good thing! 

I, however, am taking this opportunity to run away from home.  Desi and I have been invited to and are leaving tomorrow for San Miguel de Allende, where we will be able to attend all the Independence Day festivities at Dolores de Hidalgo, site of the first Grito - the cry for independence from Spain.  Armed with my new camera (thank you Chris, for finding me the best deal in Seattle) I will post again in two weeks, with lots of my practice photos - not that I have ever become better with a camera than my first picture.  Mostly it is a chance to leave my mop, broom and damp everything behind for a brief respite.  I could only do this thanks to my pal, Olga, who checks on my house, mists my orchids and generally keeps life mopped up for me until we return.

Hasta el veinte de September!

Maria