Rainy Day Woman #1

They shut down all campus buildings all day today and have already cancelled tomorrow's classes at UAF because of icy conditions. The official reason was actually "Anchorage Weather", though if anything it's worse than Anchorage right now. I have been doing mostly nothing all day, since there is nothing much to do. Tomorrow I might try to go running with my racing spikes, since they are telling people to stay off the ski trails. Some kids built a twenty foot snow man outside of the dorms, but the smart ones just sat around bemoaning the heat in their rooms.

Apicultura con don Elpidio

Since Tomás was gone at an event in Chalmita, I exercised my liberty and joined a group of Tomás' beekeeping friends. From 8am to 9pm I accompanied them in harvesting the honey and extracting it, interspersed with some moste delicious chile relleno tacos. It was super fun. We filled up 12 buckets of honey. The bees here are a cross between the africanized bees and the latinos, so they are much more aggressive.

The Riddler on Chester Creek

I just got back from burthened pilgrimage, faring provisions to the outpost (from thence we'll soon depart on our journey inland to the Heart of Darkness). On that wintery way, mesaw some mischief I would fain present to you in riddle:

On Chester Creek,
The trail of ice,
What did appear?
Hint: 'twas a device
Of self-propulsion.
Three guesses should suffice!

--Krampus

Pilgrimage to Annenecuilco

Today I completed my Mexican hajj and visited Annenecuilco, where Emiliano Zapata was born. I convinced Fidencio to go with me. We took the bus to Cuautla, where the big statue is, and from there we took a van/bus to Annenecuilco. The picture of me is in front of what is left of his house.

Lunes, 15 de Noviembre

After a weekend of diversions, Monday was a day to work. After chingando a few tacos in the morning, the crew assembled around the tractor and awaited the arrival of el patrón. My alabaster hue and my lack of sombrero set me apart from my companions, the índio Fidencio and the mestizo Gerardo . El patrón arrived and began distributing our machetes. Fidencio weld the giant machetote, Gerardo elected the more refined curve of the gavilán, and el patrón kept the thicker, more meanacing gavilán. I recieved a hoe. El patrón's albatross father, don Santiago, was also to accompany us that day, in fact it was at his bidding that we abandoned other, more pressing matters, and instead went to Fresno to make firewood from the fallen trees.

Arriving at the fields, the others set to work swinging their machetes while I, "el güerito" toiled under the scorching sun weeding the endless rows of beans. Several hours later, at the patrón's bidding, I returned laden with sacks of avocados, lemons, jaramau and nísperos and began to labor along side my compadres. Don Santiago sat on the edge of the tractor, shouting instructions that no one really paid attention to. Unfortunately, our actions coincided with his instructions often enough that he felt validated to continue shouting. Three trees later, the tractor's trailer was full and we gathered around the campfire to pull our tamales from the ashes and sip our obscenely sweet aguita.

Though the setting sun bid the day adieu, the work was not finished. El patrón and I still had 30 kg of lettuce to harvest.Manos de campesino

Why I don't Love Chickens

OK, so this afternoon, after exorcising the Devil from the Family Pet (see previous Post), I drove into the garage, unhooked and unloaded said Pet, gathered all my stuff from the car, and walked into the house. After putting away a few items, I happened to glance outside and caught the silhouette of a chicken in the carport. Frick, thought I. So, I put a hat on my head and my now-bare feet back into my boots and walked outside. After 10 unsuccessful minutes of trying to shoo the damn bird back into the greenhouse-turned-chicken coop, I gave up and went back into the house. The problem was that: (A) I did not want to pick up the squirmy creature, and (B) the other 4 foul were at the greenhouse door and wouldn't stay inside long enough for the escapee to get back in. I didn't have enough hands to open the door, shoo, and keep the 4 inside.

I kept going outside to keep an eye on the prodigal poultry. She first walked under our deck, then later got herself in the cramped space between the two closets of the carport. The next time I went to check for her I couldn't find her. After searching and searching, I stood still and listened and thought I could hear her but couldn't see her anywhere. Finally I had the bright idea to look up and found her on top of the coop.

After a few more minutes, I went back in the house and ate a chunk of the 1-kg Chocolate Santander bar Nicky was kind enough to order for me. Later, I walked onto the back deck and saw that our little Mephisto was now on the garage roof. 

She slowly worked her way up to the peak of the roof. What a mofro, thought I.

Teeka was out on the deck at the time and she and I watched the dumb chick for a long time. Finally I went back inside the house and into my bedroom. I was changing my clothes when I glanced out the window and saw she was at the edge of the roofline, facing toward the house, standing on one leg. It was as if she realized that if she took the next step, she would step into air. Then she put the second foot down right on the edge...her little chicken toes were curled over the lip of the roof. I thought she was going to jump down to the ground. Instead she took off and flew across the yard and tried to land on my bedroom windowsill!! She couldn't grab onto it and kept flapping her wings and squawking until finally she dropped to the ground. Oh my gosh!  I ran out onto the deck and Teeka looked at me and I swear to God said "Wasn't that crazy?" and I said "Yes! What's wrong with those chickens, Teek?!" 

A minute later Max rode into the carport. I pointed to the chicken. Max calmly scooped her up and deposited her where she belongs.

OK, that's all I got.

Mom v. The Devil

Exhibit A - Teeka's Gut

After possessing Teeka for the last 4 and a half days, the Devil has finally been banished. At least for the present. On Monday afternoon (the day before Trash Day), Teeka slipped her collar and didn't return until after dark....bloated and listing slightly to the left. See Exhibit A.

She was still sick from that adventure when on Tuesday she busted out of the back deck gate, once again not returning until after dark. Wednesday and Thursday she stayed in the yard but it was clear she was possessed by Lucifer himself. Last night she (and, consequently, Max) barely slept. On the one hand I felt sorry for her and reminded myself how sweet she can be, on the other hand I was sick of her and blamed her for bringing Satan on herself. 

This morning I drove to work with Teeka and my skis in the back of the Mongoose. She had to stay there all the way through my way-too-long lunch at the Cattle Company with a client, though I did let her out for a pee about 11:30. Finally at around 2pm she and I headed out from the Elmore Parking Lot. She tried to lag behind but I gave her no breaks. We did the multipurpose/Rover's Run loop and with each kilometer I watched her get thinner as the Devil slowly  made his exit. By the time we got back to the car, it was clear she had been exorcised and was back to her Sweet Teek. See Exhibit B. 

Exhibit B - The Teeka we all know an

Score one for the good guys. (Well, I guess its Good Guys 1, Lucifer 2 for the week).

Drivel

Not much news here. Fidencio and I have spent most of the days either weeding the beans or clearing brush. The nights have been really cold, even freezing for the first time in memory in November. It warms up to about 25 during the day.

I wished I had had my camera a few days ago. There was a view that summarized the week. The volcano Popocatépetl, covered in snow, occupies the top third of the frame. In the foreground, Fidencio the Oaxacan with his sombrero, giant machete and his azadón is weeding the rows of beans bordered by avocado trees that curve out of sight toward the volcano.

I wore a sombrero a couple days ago. It made me look even more gringo. It will take me a few more months to pull it off.

Yakima

Although Fairbanks is generally not the best place to find delicious produce in November, every once in a while, life throws a curveball and you end up in Yakima with apples way better than those that your brothers have ever enjoyed:

Those are the apples that I hauled back on the plane, probably two dozen big ones. This next one is a picture taken from the race course. A private farmer liked runners so he made a running course in the middle of his apple orchard where he has hosted the GNAC Championships for the last few years. They had already picked most of the apples, but there were still some left if you had a good eye. And did I mention they were the best apples I've ever had?

The race went decent for me. I was the third UAF finisher behind David and Tyler, and maybe around 40th place. The UAA guys dominated in both the mens and womens races so we got to see what Michael Friess is like when he's in a good mood: he gave us cookies after the race, while before he refused to even look at me.

Now we're back in Fairbanks with an extra hour:

Daylight Savings

There comes a time

Just once per year

When we gain an hour

Of time so dear.

And I've already squandered the mofro.

And the temperature is back to where it should be: -11C.

Og dagen etter...

The cute little baby,

Once all milk and spittle

Turns into a Hitler,

And boy, can he hittle!

--Ogden Nash