Hey Tana, I always enjoy and look forward to your blog. I love to hear about your experences and the pictures are great, places I would never get to see other wise. Most of all, it was wonderful to hear you now have a clean bill of health. And hey, not all kids are holy terrors. How are you going to be the cool grandmother and sit around when you are old and tell these stories without grandkids?
holy moly Tana Tana,
sheesh!! has anyone asked you for the film rights yet????? I say, enjoy the hell out of the rest of your trip and have fun telling your stories again and again!!!
deb
Hellion on a bus... Tana,
Well, at least you didn't have to sleep on a sidewalk!
Jeezz!
How can this world be so screwed up?
I mean, if you HAVE an airline, shouldn't you RUN IT like an airline?
What?
And, if you Check a bag, shouldn't the airline CHECK to see if they have put it ON THE PLANE?!?!?!?!?
What the heck up w/ that??
Glad you made it.
What doesn't kill you makes you hate that crap, or something....
Hang in there. Think of the memories your making for when you're old!
haha
Peanut says 'meeeeep'
:^:^:^:^:^:^:^:^:^:^:^:^:^:^:
your person on the outside
Kirk
Congrats Hey sweety,
I am so glad that you're fine. And you know, in those times when we are stripped down to nothing, we find that we have the biggest treasure inside that takes us exactly where we need to go!! Just take a look inside, honey, it's there for you!!! By the way, Patches wants to get on the computer right now and say "HI" (meow)
Love ya!!!!
Most people in your situation would have just lost their mind. Life threw a curve ball and you struck it out of the ball park. I admire your determination and perseverance.
Oh my god! Tana you are one strong woman, I think I would have just crawled into a ball and died! Don't worry about the money situation though, whenever I go travelling I never have as much money as I need (or want) and yet somehow things work out. It'll all be okay. And just think, you got through this nightmare everything else should be a breeze. Rob xoxo
Thank goodness! It sucks that you had a hard time... but it's GREAT that you are healthy.... CONGRATS!... Hopefully your next post is full of fun and exciting things...
yeah, see... ...see, NOW I'm gonna kick your ass for you. :) Here's me, in Chi, thinking you're safely in L.A. til YESTERDAY, and meanwhile you've been wacketed all over hell-and-f*ck-all. Ya butthead.
So THAT was a travel nightmare for the record-books. You had to have ONE on this trip, right? And monster? Remember in college, the things we were gonna get for your key-ring, the thing that beeps so you can find them?? Might wanna get one of those for your ATM card. (And what kind of f*ckwad bank are you dealing with, anyway, that charges $75 to replace an ATM card???? Good lord, woman.)
And even though it was a freakin' nightmare, keep this in mind: you paid $500 to find out it was benign instead of $5000. So you got your good news at a 90% discount. (Seriously, I am so happy to hear it's not serious. Because if I was gonna be down a monster? I would have REALLY kicked your ass--even if I had to fly to Venezuela on a broke-ass plane to do it.)
Amazing once again! Have i told you how much i love your blogs and especially your photos? OK. The pig shots are pretty gross and I had to wonder if there were any smells associated with either the chickens or the pigs, but then decided I'd rather not know. I really love the orange flowers and isn't it wonderful that you found a kitty to love? thanks!
EEw. You know, I'm thinkin' I'd be a vegetarian too, if I lived in Ecuador and had to see meat in its earliest phases strewn all over creation without so much as an Igloo cooler to be seen!!! Because....EEEEEWWWW.
Of course, I'd HAVE to be a vegetarian, because I'd have no money left for meat, after I spent it all on textiles and yarns. Which are two of the best pix EVER, can I just say?? And the pink and orange flowers are gorgeous, as well...they should be posters!! That's what I love about your photos--you use a lot of color.
Yucca made me vomit! Hey Tana, I remember when I was in the Ecuadorian jungle and tried Yucca for the first time. I felt like I was going to be sick. I had to try really hard to keep it down coz I thought that would be rude. Keep up the great work, its really inspiring the work you're doing out there. Rob xoxo
Great Pics Again Tan,
I'm glad you are enjoying it. Everyone who sees your pictures says they never thought of going to SA on vacation and now know for sure they will never go! Your pictures are beautiful. I especially loved the sunset and the little girl carrying her sister. A friend of dad's said we should send you some peanut butter for protein. However, I doubt it would get to you and the kind that keeps is full of sugar. Let us know. Love, Mom
aw HELL no. T--Do you remember, in Charlotte, the freaking mass hysteria over ONE moderately-large spider??? I seem to remember an episode of screeching heebie-jeebies (don't quite remember if they were yours or mine, though!) And now you're out hanging with tarantulas (tarantulae? What's the plural of tarantula??) Anyway--THOSE I might be able to tolerate. But whatever that gackful...THING is on the guy's shoulder in that pic??? I would be on a plane home, just to get away from THAT. You're WAY brave!!! (Incidentally, the bug NEARLY distracted me from the hot guy...but not entirely!)
As always, GORGEOUS pictures--that one on the bottom really captures how intensely GREEN the grass is...and that jungle flower pic is like a poster! amazing... It's so great to hear that you're having a good time, even with scorpions in the shower and complicated pee rituals...keep posting! I love these blog entries!--monster
WOW! What a wonderful, challenging experience!! It seems that you are absorbing it all and enjoying every minute. Can you do anything to get more protein in your diet? I feel proud of you. I especially enjoyed the pictures of the flowers; so beautiful; breathtaking. Thanks for sharing. love to you, becky swanson
Creepy Crawleys Hi Tan-
I'm really enjoying your blog. The pictures are great! Seems like there would be some birds around to chow down on all those big bugs....then again, the bugs are so big that they might have eaten the birds!
I don't guess you get much world news out in the jungle. FYI, the world is a mess! Israel has just invaded Lebanon, the problems in Iraq keep getting worse, Iran is building the bomb and the entire Middle East is like a powder keg about to explode. Meanwhile, back here in the US of A, crime is increasing, the western states are on fire-much of souther California is threatened by wild fires and there is gang violence everywhere. I'm beginning to think that you are in a safe place by comparison. Hone those survival skills; you may need them when you come back to the states!
Be safe and enjoy--
Love,
Dad
Wow!!! Tanya,
I can't thank you enough for sharing your trip with us. I am becoming addicted to your blog entries, I'm afraid! It sounds like you are doing wonderfully, being very brave, and helping to save the world while having the experience of a lifetime. Keep up the great work! :-)
really happy for you I don't get much time on the computer but I'm glad I had some to catch up with you! It sounds like your trip has been quite an experience (much different from everyday life of a mom of 2 in Staunton, IL) No wonder you hated teaching! This is what life is all about-following your dreams. Mia reminds me of KK and Jezzabell. Even though I would never have the guts to take on such an adventure, we still sure have a lot in common. It must be the Virgo thing. Enjoy and be safe!
Jen
Uuuuuuueweee! Thanks for sharing!!!! Tan! Just know that your Dad's ol' writing buddy, neighbor Dottie
is at the end of your line snooping in too. Great Day Granny!!! I'm
enjoying the trip!!! You are so brave, girlfriend. Of course, I know
where you got that from!!
Golly! I'm proud of you. And I just can NOT thank you enough for
letting me go hiking and shakily bus riding and enjoying all those
cats, dogs and the various animals...vicariouly with youuuu!
This is already the most fascinating book. I say now.....don't change
a word.....just let them bind it in just this form because we FEEL it,
experience it and thrill in it. And DON'T lose that camera!! You
have got it right. Wow! What perfect pictures! Yes!! yes!! yes!!
Keep telling us the little things that you notice and impress you.
I know your writing this takes time but you will always be glad you
did. I can't wait til you blog again.
I don't think I even need to say it but......enjoy every single minute,
Tan!! Squeeze as much as you can out of each one.
Pulling for you and dreaming of your life!! Vicariously, Dottie
at dboatwright@sc.rr.com
Lake Quilatoa The lake looks stunning I really wish I had gone there when I was in Quito and the hostels you've been staying in sound great. take care x
Book in progress- Tan-
If you keep up this good work you will have written an interesting book by the time you get back to the USA. Start looking for a publisher that will pay you a deposit for the rights to your book!
Stay safe--
Love,
Dad
Wow, public trans!! You could be describing public transit here in the 'hood. They stop every 500 feet, fart out black smoke, vary from really nice to really broke-down, and depending on where you are, kids or adults try to sell you stuff.
So apparently, all we need are some operators yelling destinations (which in some cases would be welcome!) and/or some llamas.
(Do you remember the letter I sent you a looooong time ago, when I discovered the Dingbats font and sent you an entire letter full of cats and squiggles? That was what your keyboard comment made me think of.)
So are you a soccer fan yet?
wow! Damn, Monster, those are some GORGEOUS pix. You SERIOUSLY need to get yourself a Photographer's Market when you get home--I can see at least 5 pictures here which would be TOTALLY saleable. (And that's not even counting that adorable kittypic.) I'm glad this trip seems to be everything you hoped for, and I can't wait for the next installment!
You Rock! Your trip looks amazing. I'm so happy for you. Keep the journal entries coming... The pictures are great... you have to publish your story in something when you get back. Stay safe and have fun!
- Rory
I am borrowing the Aussie tradition, and going on a 'walk-about', to follow my passion. Stepping out of the 'rat race' for a life sabbatical, i'm chasing my long-time dream of doing conservation work in the amazon. On a whirlwind tour of South America, I will be volunteering with conservation organizations and animal sanctuaries, while seeking out all the sights, sounds and adventures I can stuff into my psyche along the way!
For more about me or my trip, visit my site at:
www.theamazontrail.com
Thank you Bon Jovi for the amazing words of inspiration:
“It’s my life- It’s now or ... full info
Debbie
non-member comment
Hey Tana, I always enjoy and look forward to your blog. I love to hear about your experences and the pictures are great, places I would never get to see other wise. Most of all, it was wonderful to hear you now have a clean bill of health. And hey, not all kids are holy terrors. How are you going to be the cool grandmother and sit around when you are old and tell these stories without grandkids?