The Night Bus to Santiago or Good Bye to the Black Sands of Pucon

Greetings William,

How was your return trip to Santiago? I assume that it was an over night trip. Were you able to get any sleep? Unfortunately I can't sleep on a bus. I took an over-night trip to Tikal in Guatemala last year. It was an interesting trip, but long. I wrote about the tri in my blog – if I remember correctly you told me the story was too long and needed photographs – not exactly a ringing endorsement, yet you were right, especially for the internet.

Things are not straighten out yet with your bank account. Hopefully it will be in the next week. Not really too much new here. Jamie Jester will be in town for a few days this week. We always look forward to his visits.

Andrew is making progress on his Eagle project – the write-up is just about ready for submission. He still has to get the sponsorship letter from the Audubon Society and make arrangement for TW Perry to pay for and deliver the mulch; and then it's off to Byron Lord. Hopefully he can finish it up in the next month. Between his project, SAT's, the ice cream shop and college visits he has his plate full.

Speaking of which, his first day back at work is this morning – he's filling in for somebody; working from 11:30 am to 3:00 PM. It'll help him get into the swing of things.

Mom and I saw a film I think you'd enjoy the other night – actually Mom fell asleep and I've seen it before, nevertheless, it's an impressive film. El Misterio Galindez (The Galindez File in the English speaking world) is the story of Jesus Galindez a Basque separatist in Franco's Spain. He is a professor exiled to Trujillo's Santo Domino in the fifties. He moves to New York writes an expose of the Trujillo family and the story evolves around the reaction. Saffron Burrows 9her parents had to be hippies) plays a graduate student writing her thesis on the disappearance of Galindez. Harvey Keitel plays contemplative scotch drinking bad guy – what more could you want in a character portrait? It is in the tradition of Costa Gavras' Missing. In fact, I think it is better than missing, the story, the acting, the entire package is better – it is much less Hollywood. El Misterio Galindez is a Gerado Herrero film. If you get a chance give it a try – I know you'll be impressed.

Mom has taken up beading. Now, when I think of beading I think of little girls and brightly colored cheap plastic beads and fishing line. No, no, no once again my impression is yet another illustration of my lack of contact with reality. Beading is a high hippie art form – much in the same way that quilting has melted the folk art with hippie culture. A beading store in Takoma Park should certify the validity of my insight if you doubt me. Mom has partnered with a woman at work to bead for peace. She has acquired the basic tools for the art – a few wire cutting tools and a beading board. She came home the other day with her first efforts. I must say, very impressive – beautiful in fact; not even a hint of the middle age art & craft culture (see attached photo). She made the one in the photo for Jeannie's birthday.

Well, I better get going, it's Sunday morning and time to get moving. Mom has already used two different vacuum cleaners this morning.

Love you, miss you, and take care down there.

Dad