 Sonja Gustafson Trautman - SonjaG | All Comments |
« back 1 next »
Comments | |
| 8th July 2008 Joanne H. | Thats my boy Steve! - From: Wildlife (two, four, and six legged) of Semuc Champey Sounds like my kind of adventure! I have read that the smaller the pinchers, the stronger the poison in the scorpion's telson (stinger thing). Grace and Lucas should do a scorpion research project, they are actually amazing.....how long can one stay alive underwater? Have them look it up! (Yikes! I sound like a teacher!) |
| 19th June 2008 Kristin Bryant | Thanks! - From: Saying goodbye to Guatemala after all this time... I'd have to second Eilene's comments. I've so enjoyed your blog. Scott and I and the kids have laughed numerous times over your descriptions. (Brendan was just telling a friend the other day about Lucas' fashion show appearance!) We're jealous of your year together and of course wish we could have made it down to visit. Hope to see you soon! Love, Kristin and crew |
| 17th June 2008 Eilene Glasgow | The end of your trip--thanks for sharing! - From: Saying goodbye to Guatemala after all this time... Dear Sonja and Trautmans all--What a wonderful year you have had, and thanks for sharing it so eloquently (and with humor), Sonja. The pictures have been gorgeous and it has been great to hear about your incredible experiences. I've looked forward to every new adventure--it has taken me away from the mundane affairs of the everyday. Hope to hear from you upon your return. Bon voyage! Love, Eilene |
| 8th June 2008 Tamara | great story - From: My excellent honey purchase Sonja- what a fantastic story. Thanks for sharing - I look forward to calling you to borrow some "vodka" soon. Safe travels home. |
| 14th May 2008 Sally | I second that! - From: Rio Dulce with a gaggle of cousins Hmmm...those sure do sound like great cousins ;) Couldn't have asked for a better week together. Thanks to the two host cousins; You Rock!! ~Sally :) |
| 18th April 2008 Eric | - From: Tikal and Yaxhá - see both if you can! I was there! |
| 21st March 2008 Monica | Hi Mary! - From: Steve and Mom visit Tikal and Yaxhá That looks like so much fun! Thanks for taking the time to write about your adventures and show us photos! |
| 17th March 2008 Kristin Bryant | Today show - From: Thanksgiving in Rotorua - plus the day of Zorb I recently saw someone riding in one of these on the Today show (Meredith?) so you guys are really hip! Just thought you'd want to know! |
| 9th March 2008 SonjaG | That would be awesome! - From: On to the North Island - Aukland to Rotorua I'd love to be the Icebreaker rep! I can totally see a great store in University Village - I could even walk to work. How perfect that would be... |
| 7th March 2008 Roger Blair | Icebreaker - From: On to the North Island - Aukland to Rotorua Does anybody but me seeing someone angling to be the North American rep for Icebreaker? At least we'll be getting one of the first in Portland before the franchises get sucked up in Seattle and the rest of the PNW. Kristin - get your name in for Bozeman. After all, you knew the brand first over there. |
| 4th February 2008 Mary Deaton | Long, but slow - From: Run, little turtle, run! Yes, the video was long, but I am not sure I would characterize that as a "race." Doesn't race imply speed? What a wonderful experience. |
| 28th December 2007 Chris | Happy New year - From: Falstaff and the Paca - a perfect match Your opera outfits are almost as good as the story about how they came about. Wonderful. Can't wait to hear the Christmas stories. I was in Nicaragua for a couple of weeks just before Christmas in about 1996. It was so much fun to see how they celebrated. Hope yours was fun. All the best from our end of Burke/44th. We miss you all and can't wait to see the photos when you return. Keep up the great Blog. Chris and Eileen |
| 20th December 2007 Eilene Glasgow | Muy elegante! - From: Falstaff and the Paca - a perfect match Wow! You guys look GREAT! You ought to get an official family portrait down there. Your blog has been so fun to read. What wonderful adventures you are having and what indelible memories you are making. Have a lovely Christmas! Love, Eilene |
| 15th November 2007 smithlights | Steve Motorhoming - From: I looked that penguin straight in his yellow eyes and ... He WAS born to do that... in fact, he DID do it. Only, it wasn't a classy motorhome. It was a school bus, remember? Glad you hear you're having fun! |
| 14th November 2007 Mary D | Where are the pictures of... - From: I looked that penguin straight in his yellow eyes and ... The Home? I am trying to imagine the four of you in an 8 x 8 camper van for 12 days. Or is it bigger? I am so incredibly jealous. Isn't watching a penguin dad throw up Junior's dinner one of those 100 things you have to see before you die? |
| 11th November 2007 SonjaG | Response to my own response - From: I looked that penguin straight in his yellow eyes and ... The clock rings once a day at 2:30 only! |
| 11th November 2007 SonjaG | Sonja's response - From: I looked that penguin straight in his yellow eyes and ... Nice data, Eric! Always good to have an astronomer nearby... We came thiiiiis close to taking the Harbor Bridge Climb. In fact, we walked up to the base station and saw the line of people paying scads of money to walk up it, and, given the drizzly weather and overblown prices, we decided instead to visit the Queen Victoria Centre, which has an amazing clock that rings once a day. We arrived at...2:20! So our timing was perfect and I think we got the better deal of the day. |
| 11th November 2007 Eric | constellations - From: I looked that penguin straight in his yellow eyes and ... The Big Dipper "Ursa Major" is a northern polar constellation so it's not seen in the southern hemisphere. Orion is an equatorial constellation so it can be seen "down under"! I just saw a documentary on bridges. Apparently a person can walk to the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Was thinking of you guys when I saw that. |
| 27th October 2007 Jami | good story - From: TWEEEEET! Guatemalan Independence Day! (w/video) So, I'm a little behind in my reading, but I'm getting caught up... Lucas, you do tell a good story. I love that you used the word "din." Glad to hear you're all doing well! love ya |
| 24th October 2007 DE LEON | HASTA LUEGO - From: Move 'em out, dogies! I'M GOING TO MISS YOUR BLOGS. HAVE A BLAST AT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZELAND, I WILL TELL YOU THE WORDS FROM THE ROCK GROUP IN GUATEMALA "ALUX NAHUAL" "VUELVE CUANDO QUIERAS, ESTA ES TU TIERRA; PUES AQUI TENEMOS GRANDE EL CORAZON". GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR NEW ADVENTURE. MARVIN |
| 21st October 2007 Marissa | Is it a yellow sac spider? - From: What has 8 legs and Freaks.Me.Out? yellow with black leg tips: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_sac_spider |
| 21st October 2007 Marissa | Turtles and fowl signs - From: Run, little turtle, run! What a great experience to help turtles make it to the ocean! From the looks of that road sign, I'd say someone couldn't quite wait the 200mTs for the fowl and took a bite out of the sign instead! |
| 20th October 2007 gramma alice | wow - From: Lucas' entry: Rappelling Rappeling has become the THE sport for jocks, with REI taking the lead in this adventure. Our new intern minister's wife is working there because of her experience. You are also becoming a great writer, so I'd say your education away from the classroom is terrific and also fun! Lucky guy. |
| 18th October 2007 Mary Deaton | Grace is not too happy - From: Lucas' entry: Rappelling If this picture is any indication of how Grace now feels about rock climbing and rappelling, I think the answer is "not very fond." I am happy to see in the next picture she has a smile on. What a great adventure. And Lucas tells a good story. |
| 4th October 2007 SonjaG | Sonja's response - From: TWEEEEET! Guatemalan Independence Day! (w/video) Ah, but the rest of the year, in fact EVERY DAY - including this morning around 6am- the locals set forth any number of firecrackers that have long ago been banned from our state! It is absolutely their favorite way to make noise (followed closely by car-horn tooting) |
| 4th October 2007 Mary Deaton | Better than firecrackers! - From: TWEEEEET! Guatemalan Independence Day! (w/video) I am sure I, and positive our dog, would prefer people blowing whistles to people setting off fireworks to celebrate anything. It sounds like a very egalitarian means of celebrating - no cost more than a whistle and no severed fingers and hands. |
| 1st October 2007 Karen | Google - From: What has 8 legs and Freaks.Me.Out? I would buy 10,000 shares of Google stock at whatever price it is going for these days if they would just produce a Search feature that allowed you to put in a photo to find out what in the world you have taken a photo of....like nasty spiders, unknown mountains taken from an airplane, etc. |
| 29th September 2007 Eilene G. | Seattle spiders look pretty good now.... - From: What has 8 legs and Freaks.Me.Out? Very funny story! I turned the hose on the gigantic black spider who threw a shadow onto my Japanese bathwater (with me in it) and blasted it--somewhere...I'm with you, Sonja! Have you met any cockroaches yet??! I am enjoying your adventures--except maybe this one! |
| 28th September 2007 anonymous | other uses - From: What has 8 legs and Freaks.Me.Out? A great story from you and Lucas, but I would now suggest you give him an opportunity to weave a web, and you would have a great little silk thread to bring home. Or if you capture enough of the big buggers, you can send them for Christmas. What a unique gift. Mom |
| 28th September 2007 Gwen | who's afraid - From: What has 8 legs and Freaks.Me.Out? Lucas, it's quite clear from Sonja's story who is truly afraid of spiders! I'd say that story is HILARIOUS, except I'm afraid of giant spiders, too. But I'd like to see a you-tube video of Sonja's spider dance! Sounds like you guys are living the Latin American life!! I miss the sounds of your voices next door. |
| 28th September 2007 SonjaG | Comment from Lucas: - From: What has 8 legs and Freaks.Me.Out? For the record I am not as big of a wimp as the entry makes me look like. After I saw the spider on the curtan rod about 6 or 7 inches from my face, I calmly finished shampooing and condtioning my hair. Then, I sorta dried off and I went into the family room and let my parents know that there was a giant spider in my bathroom and they should check it out. Just to let y'all know, just before I took the shower there was a 1.5 inch grasshopper on my towel rack with wings longer than its body. Lucas. |
| 11th September 2007 SonjaG | Response - From: Hurricane: We're A-OK Not here. We have read about some violence in various areas, but not anything in Antigua. This place is quite a bit more international than some others and as such they appear to take more precautions/pride in keeping order. |
| 10th September 2007 Mary D | About that election - From: Hurricane: We're A-OK The paper today reported mobs burning down a pooling place in one town. I hope Antiqua is not experiencing that kind of "activism." |
| 10th September 2007 Mary D | Where are the graham crackers? - From: "Feels just like I'm walking on broken glass..."(includes video) And the Hershey bar? Lucas could have been the first person to ever make a smore on a volcano. A campfire at the cabin is going to hold no thrill for these kids anymore. Mary |
| 7th September 2007 SonjaG | Grace responds - From: First day of school and cell phone success thanks but no thanks!! ( good luck with this year, but I think we prepared you well for ANYTHING that may come your way!!!) |
| 7th September 2007 Meredith Ward | Buena suerte en la escuela - From: First day of school and cell phone success Grace, you look great in your school uniform. Do you think uniforms would work at Meridian? |
| 5th September 2007 SonjaG | response - From: "Feels just like I'm walking on broken glass..."(includes video) Love it! And just today I learned the word for deep: profundo! This can be used for holes as well... |
| 5th September 2007 Monica | Deep Thoughts - From: "Feels just like I'm walking on broken glass..."(includes video) You know what Earl (and Jack Handy) would tell you..."If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let'em go, because, man, they're gone." |
| 28th August 2007 Monica | What a great way to learn Spanish! - From: A fun Friday Love this blog. It's a really fun way to keep up with you guys. -- Monica |
| 23rd August 2007 Heather | Awesome Place - From: Grace's video of our house Wow! Looks really beautiful. The garden is in the house? Sounds neat. Can't wait til I get to see it. Great pictures Gracie. You may have a career in photography. Love you all lots! |
| 21st August 2007 Duncan | Cool - From: Grace's video of our house I love your house guatamala sounds fun i wish i was there Seattle is still rainy Have Fun -Duncan |
| 18th August 2007 Roger and Pat Blair | Great blog!!! - From: Meeting Catherine and finding a great deli! We are so enjoying the blog...you're doing a great job of describing your circumstances and surroundings. So proud of you for doing this...the kids will never forget it. What a great experience! We knew a lady (sister of a good friend) who lived there for years and loved it. She's passed away now unfortunately. Have a great time and keep blogging! Love, Rog and Pat |
| 16th August 2007 Marissa | Thinking and dreaming in foreign languages - From: Sunday - stroll and cell phones Thinking in a foreign language is VERY tiring! When my cousins from Mexico came to stay in San Antonio and Seattle, they both talked about how tired they were at the end of the day even if they weren't really doing things one might consider tiring. Just having to be on so much listening and translating, then forming the answer using words you know inthe foreign language--very tiring. They were glad to come home at the end of the day and have my parents and aunt with whom they could speak Spanish and relax! I never had that tired experience in Mexico, probably because I had grown up hearing Spanish around me all the time. Unfortunately I ended up ignoring most of what was said around me. I did have it when engaged in business in Asia, but not so much when wandering the locales there and in Europe. Guess the ability to tune out the language part I did not understand helped. The downside was my wandering was more directive and less exploratory. Guess I need to aim for total mental exhaustion on my next trip! The true test of approaching bilingualism will be when you start having dreams in Spanish--and you understand them. When I lived in Mexico, I used to have dreams where other people were speaking Spanish, but I couldn't understand what they were saying. I did not stay long enough to make the understanding transition, but I had a friend in college who did during his year abroad. |
| 16th August 2007 Marissa | Long list! - From: Preparation List Good thing you have all those handy product/program/project management skills! |
| 15th August 2007 Scott Bryant | This look like fun!!! - From: First day of school and cell phone success Sonja, Thanks for creating a blog, so we can all stay up to day on what you're up to. Antigua looks beautiful and the kids look so cute. There must be so many little things to deal with that you didn't expect. The cell phone story is great. We look forward to a lot more entries and pictures. Keep them coming! |
| 15th August 2007 Lynn Beebe | - From: Sunday - stroll and cell phones Glad to see you on travelblog! Your house looks wonderful...we know that part of town, and re envious to think you all living there..although LaConner Wa is pretty wonderful today... It took us awhile to get used to the big grocery store too....the market is great fun too...have you been there yet? Another thing I forgot to tell you in previous advice: it is very expensive to mail packages to the States...wish we had known before buying a bunch of textiles, that I then carried with us for the next two months! Looking forward to more blogs, Lynn |
« back 1 next »