Here’s another photo I took at the hockey match. This player was trying to cool down a little in the 80 degree weather during a rest break. I can’t imagine wearing the pads and all the clothes they do in this hot weather.

Today, I also went to the ciclovida. The street wasn’t closed yet, so people were walking and biking around the hockey rink. I did some laps and then watched some hockey, also taking photos. It was probably about 80 degrees out. The hockey players were sweating a lot and drinking lots of water. The teams had young and old players, male and female. I always like to watch hockey when I get a chance. When I was in high school, I played hockey a couple of times on a frozen lake at a camp in the Colorado mountains. I wasn’t the best ice skater, but I had a good time playing.

This afternoon, I went with some couchsurfer friends to El Ecoparque de las Garzas, where we joined others. It is an eco park for herons. It’s a neat place. There is a lake and river and lots of trees. I took this photo of a garza. There were a lot of them in the trees. Our group met to listen to music from a couple of guys. They played a guitar and an oboe. The idea was to hear good music in nature. By the time we all got there, it was about a half hour until the park closed. Afterwards, we left and went across the street, where we sat and shared all the food we had brought with us. It was a nice time.

I’ve been going through my photos from Bocas del Pala and finding a lot more that I like. In this photo, I think the one guy is pinching the woman to get her to smile. I think they are two sons with their mother. Anyway, I like the photo.

A few days ago I saw something that upset me. I was standing on a street corner talking to a guy I know. He had his large dog on a rope with him. A woman and a little kid were walking by. The little kid reached out to pet the dog and the dog lunged at her, nearly taking a chunk out of her face. The women screamed that he should control his dog. Then he yelled at her, cussing and saying she should control her kid. He said he won’t be responsible for the hospital bill if she didn’t. Another woman passing by on the other side of the street, saw it and said something to him. Then, he yelled at that woman, cussing her out up and down. I was ashamed to be standing next to him. He later told me they don’t know what American they are messing with. The guy has a respectable job as a teacher here. He’s American, but has parents of different nationalities, I think. He is married to a Colombian woman. He was a Marine in the Vietnam war for at least four years, maybe more. He is not a nice guy. Even though I know him, I don’t consider him a friend and, for sure, I don’t feel that he’s a very good person. He’s told me that he’s bought guns here and sometimes carries one and wouldn’t hesitate to shoot someone if they caused him any problem. His behavior often embarrasses me. I try to be friends and friendly with everyone I come into contact with. With him, it’s difficult. I guess we’re good acquaintances. I hope I give the Colombian people a good impression of American people, even though there are so many Americans that rub me the wrong way.

As of today, la Biblioteca Departamental (Cali library) has a copy of my book. Today, my friend, Juan Carlos, and I had an appointment at the library to talk about our project. We want to have an exhibition of photos and a little history of the village where he teaches. It’s a small town or village of all black people along the Cauca River. It’s called Bocas del Pala. We met with a woman we know that works at the library. After about an hour of visiting and small talk, we got down to business. Juan told her what we have in mind. We showed her my book. She was very enthusiastic. We met a couple of other people. One was the man in charge of the historical photos for the library. He also liked the book and wanted a copy for the library. So I gave him one. He then had me sign it. My book has a permanent home in the Cali library. Pretty cool! After spending about 2 1/2 hours in the library, it looks like we will get to have a show of my photos next May. Juan also wants to put together a book with my photos and his information on the town. Right now, there is flooding in the town so I may go with Juan on Monday, when he goes to teach in their small school. I want to get some photos of the flooding. We also plan to make another trip for a couple of days, staying over night to get photos of the everyday life and work of the people there. This will be exciting. I’ve had several photo exhibits at the Longview Public Library in the town where I used to live in Washington. Now, I will have my first exhibit in the Cali library. They have exhibit space on two floors and receive many visitors to the shows. The photo of me and the book was taken by my friend, and former coworker at The Daily News in Longview, Wa., Brenda Blevins McCorkle, in a Longview Starbucks coffee shop.

Today, there was a little excitement in my barrio. I was just leaving the gym this morning when I heard two shots fired. I looked outside and saw people looking up the street where I walk to go home. Cars were stopped and nothing moving except pedestrians. I didn’t hear any screaming so I figured no one was shot. I quickly left the gym and headed up the street to see what happened. I soon saw a small white car with a large hole in the rear window where it had been shot at. The car’s right front tire was gone and the rim was on the ground. I learned from people standing nearby that a couple guys had stolen the car and the cops were chasing them. The cops fired two shots, one hitting the rear window and one the front tire. The two guys were apprehended. The cars were soon moved, traffic flowed again and life went back to normal.

Lately people just seem to be going in different directions, like in this photo from last Sunday’s ciclovida, where they were skating on the outdoor hockey rink. For a long time, it seemed like things were usually operating about the same here. I had a good group of friends and there were not a lot of changes. Lately, it seems like something’s up in the air. Friends of mine are all of a sudden in relationships or leaving relationships. Friends are moving to other cities or thinking about it. I have some friends I see a lot and others I hardly ever see. People are not busy and have free time, then all of a sudden they are so busy that it seems like they dropped off the face of the earth. I think because I’ve gotten closer to people now, I know more about what goes on in their lives. But, all this change keeps making me reevaluate my situation here. I keep wondering if I should keep living here or if it’s time for a change. I hope I know the answer by July or August. Maybe I’m just a little restless. I think I need to go on a trip. I’m working on that. At least, lately, I’ve been able to work some in my friend’s video/internet shop. That has been fun for me and I’m learning more Spanish by listening to all the customers that come in. I try hard to understand everything. This week I’ve worked quite a bit and the week has gone by quickly.

My friend, Yamilet, is in a new relationship and moving to Cartagena. She has been one of my favorite dance partners. She is always so enthusiastic about everything and is such a great dancer. We have had some amazing dances, en linea or LA style. We also often chat about things on FB. I will miss her.

Last Sunday was the 3rd anniversary of the date when I was laid off from my photography position at The Daily News in Longview, Wa. The newspaper was downsizing in actual physical size of the newspaper and in the size of it’s staff. That’s when things started changing for me. I eventually found a renter for my home, got rid of a lot of my stuff and moved to Cali, Colombia. I have called it my home for over 2 years. Losing my job was a blessing and provided me with new opportunities.

Most of the time, I like living here and I feel it’s a normal place to live. I’m used to the ways things are here. I have things to do and people to do them with. But some days, I get melancholy or feel a little down. Sometimes, it’s explainable and other times, it just seems to happen. Yesterday was one of those days. I was in a funk for most of the day. Once in awhile, I wondered just what the heck I was doing here. I started thinking of my options for the future. And then, today was the opposite. I felt great. The day started with a good workout. I did everything that I wanted to do and seemed to have good energy. Later, when I went to my friend’s video shop to make a phone call, she asked me if I wanted to work. I said sure. So I ended up working about 4 to 5 hours in her shop. Also, during the time there, she asked if I could drive her daughter home. I said sure. It was the 2nd or 3rd time that I have driven her car. It’s a small and older Fiat. It’s a little hard at first to drive in traffic. Not because of the laws and regulations, but more because there aren’t any. Not that I mind. You just have to watch all sides to make sure you know where and what the other drivers are doing. They are apt to pass you on the right or on the left at any time. But, I always enjoy the challenge. I got Daniela to her house okay. Since Astrid’s car is old, things are often going bad and need to be repaired. I understand that. I used to have cars like that. I also have to go slowly over the bumps and holes in the roads, since the car has no working shocks. I don’t want to jar anything loose. But, I’m always up for adventure, so I thoroughly enjoyed it. So, all in all, it was a good day.

The photo of the two boys was taken last November in Bocas del Palo. My teacher friend, Juan Carlos, has an appointment set up for us this Friday at the library to talk about a show there. I am to bring my book and we are going to talk about our project. We want an exhibit to show people about the life in a small river town inhabited by all black people. We hope our plan is accepted and look forward to an exhibit in the spring or summer. We plan to go back to the town for two days and a night to get photos of the everyday life of the people at work and at home. I enjoyed my first visit there and I’m anxious to go back. I hope the library is interested in the project. The gallery space is on the first floor a little ways past the entrance. It always has a lot of people visiting the shows. They usually have good and interesting shows.

I like to take cat naps too. I spotted this cat sleeping in a shuttered window of a house on one of my walks today. Often, by mid afternoon, I’m ready for a 30 minute to an hour nap. Especially, with my gym workout in the morning and a good walk during the day.

I got some good news today. My friend, Juan Carlos, said he got us an appointment at the library nearby to talk about a photography show. He wants to do a project on the small town along the Cauca River where we spent a day once. We will need to go back and spend two days and a night photographing people at work and at their homes. That should be fun. The town is all black people and Juan and two other teachers go there each day to teach the kids in their small school. The library has a lot of great exhibitions. The gallery is on the main floor as you enter the building. The shows get a lot of traffic and good publicity. If it works out, maybe the exposure will lead to another show of my Colombia photos or a show at another gallery in Cali.

Today, only Alejandro, Guillermo and I showed up to climb Las Tres Cruces. Alejandro and I wanted to beat Natalia Restrepo’s record time of 30 minutes. Unfortunately, we failed. We kept a steady pace to the top, not stopping to rest or take photos. I was breathing pretty hard in the steep parts. It was hard work. Alejandro was first up in a time of somewhere between 36 1/2 to 37 minutes. I was second with a time of 37 minutes. Guillermo arrived soon after. The location of this rock on the way down makes a good spot for photos. It’s also a good spot to rest if you want to. Going down, it’s always fun to run a lot of the way. Sometimes, in the steep parts, you’re not so apt to slip if you run using a zig zag route. After, I got back to my house, I left for the ciclovida. But, it wasn’t happening today. Instead, lots of people were walking and riding bikes on the track around the outdoor hockey rink. I joined them and did 8 laps, then went for a cholado and later lunch.

I never watch tv here, but this afternoon, I checked to see if the football playoff games were on here. I found them and watched a lot of them. I was disappointed in the end to the first game. Now, I’m watching the Giants-49ers game.

Yesterday was Natalia Restrepo’s birthday. She is a friend who is living with a family in the states now and taking care of their children. When I was in Arizona in October, she came to see me. Last night, a group of friends and I went to Guillermo’s house to chat with her on Facebook chat. We could all see her face on the computer, watch her reactions and listen to her speak. We all visited with her and then, sang her happy birthday. She was so excited to be able to share with us.

Last Friday, I finally got my new glasses. They are so much better than my last ones. My total bill for the eye exam and my new anti glare lenses with all the prisms was about $375. With no insurance, I’m sure it would have cost me a lot more in the states.

I’m not taking my Spanish class this semester. I decided I didn’t want to spend the money. I have been meeting with a friend, Beatrice, occasionally. We have a Spanish lesson for me and then, an English lesson for her. It’s fun and I’m learning quite a bit. One night, I learned two songs, one by Grupo Niche and one by Juanes. Beatrice and I sang along to the videos.