Well, I seem to be on a posting binge here. It might be any or all of the following.
no tv. no real desire to unpack. tired. lazy. by myself most of the day. I just like writing for the sake of it.....
uncensored? so you're now wondering....those previous posts were censored? of course people! I mean some things are just too weird to share or too hard to explain is more like it. But, I thought I'd give it a try today just for fun to give you a glimpse into my weird world. I think maybe I feel like I'm whining or it won't mean anything to anyone but me.
So yea. I've been in our new place almost 2 weeks. I'm back working online 15ish hours a week. So that takes up some of my time. The rest of it looks randomnly like the following.
I get up when Richard leaves the house at 7:45. I check my work schedule for the day and read email. Then I make oatmeal. It's the only thing to eat as the kitchen is in disarray. It's sorta put together, but there just isn't room for everything or I don't know how to arrange it and well, I can't cook anyway. I put water in a bowl. The water is bottled water which we buy 2 2.5L of every couple of days and hope we don't run out at an inopportune time. Then I bend down and put it in the microwave which is still in the hallway. Anyway, you get the idea. I eat my oats (that I have sewn and cooked) and get ready for work at 9am until about 11 depending on the day.
However, the last few mornings I have had to take urine samples to a lab downtown or have blood tests. So I begged Richard to drop me off on his way to work in the taxi and then I walk back. It's actually not a bad walk in the morning. It's not hot yet and the sun it's too intense and the streets are calmer. Now these seems simple enough except that of course the lab. I mean where do you get your blood work done? Dr. office? Hospital? Clinic? So here it's usually a laboratory and that's all they do. Fair enough, but how do you know what a good one is? Dunno. So ask the doctor right. So I did and she sorta told us where one is. So I find what I think might be it last week. Then I go back a second time later that week, ut it looked slightly different, it was still the second floor, but different person...whatever....it was morning. I wasn't awake yet. Nope, it was different. On the same small block there are 2 labs with exact same doors, stairs, layout. I wasn't crazy. It's a long story. I won't bore you with the details. I am now using both labs. The doctor says they are both fine. pheww.
So having your blood taken. Yea. They have a needle in a package. That's good. normal, but it goes into an open glass vial. not the kind we have with the plastic top and the stuff to mix it in and such. whatever. now to the cost. So the good thing is you can have a complete urinalysis, CBC panel and such for about $15. My glucose tolerance test will be $10. So, compared to the $$ I spent in the US for such things...it's a relief. However, the prices are not anywhere except the person working there's head. When I went with the list of tests the doctor wanted (which you don't actually have to have to get blood tests) she gave me an idea how much it would be for everything. 10 soles for this 30 for that and so on. Too funny. I am also reinforcing my motto of trust but verify to save time. So, I go and ask my questions to get an idea how things work before it's critical. Like for example that the bacteria cultivation takes 3 days (doctor didn't mention this) and that I need to buy my own specimin cup at the pharmacy for 1.50soles. No pee in the cup and give it to the lady. Anyway, the first time I went she said it would be 25. When I delievered it in the morning, she said 30 soles....I said, the girl last night said 25...and I paid 25. So odd. So much to learn.
Okay so I mentioned this water issue. I am trying to drink enough water. It is not an easy thing when you have to buy your water. I drank so much more when I was in the US in Feb. I hear the water is better in Tacna, but I don't know if that means not as hard or healthier. Either way not chancing it. Also, as in the US there are different brands and sizes of water from 1/2 liter to 20 L. I had figured out how to do the water thing in Ilo. You can get 20 large jugs of water that come out of a dispenser. It lasts us about 2 weeks. I got an extra to always have on hand so I never run out. When I went to the market on Saturdays I would take the empty container to a coca-cola depository (the only water I like the taste of is san luis, made my CC) and then do my shopping and come by to pick up a full one and put it right in the taxi. magic.
So here I am in Tacna and no idea how to get my water. So, as I said we have been buying to 2.5L bottles, but that is such plastic waste and I always feel like I'm running out. So, when I went to info Peru the other day to ask about various things in town (it's actually for tourists but who cares). She said, sure Aquax. They deliver water. Great! Let's do it. So, I call. Talk to this guy. Tell him I have 2 empty containers of San Luis. I want to refill them and want a new base. Okay great. We arrange it for the next day....here is what actually went down.
So about noon they call to verify. A lady calls. 2 bottles? yes...empty? yes...and a base? yes...we confirm the price (a good price so I am happy). Okay we'll send someone right away. Great. Well other things get delivered like tanks of gas. They have a gas truck. So I figure they regularly deliver water right? So the door downstairs buzzes and I let the guy in. It's a young kid. He lugs 2 jugs up and the base and I see.....not San Luis. uho...so I ask about it. "no, no..we have our own water. aquax water." humm. we have a problem. so in the stairwell I am trying to figure out this mess. the real issue is.....I have never tried their water. what if I don't like it? I have a base for their water and their jugs and I don't have my san luis jugs to exchange. so i try to think of various solutions. and the young one comes up with it. I'll pour our water into your san luis jug. great. just 1...so i can try it. so we cut off the top of a 2.5L bottle because i don't have a funnel and he pours in the water and he wants me to try it...from a glass cup.
verdict. it's so so...but now that I am drinking it....not a fan. i don't like my water to have flavor. it is just me. but that's how it is. so now i am forcing myself to drink these 20L. thank God I only got one and didn't buy the base. I paid $4 for the water and at least I don't have to go in search of it or bother Richard who can't believe how much I drink. Also, another note. I found a bottle of lemon juice the other day. Lemons are not found here, just limes. So this is a real find. I had to buy it and now I am using it in my water so it tastes less gross...see how things work out.
Also, I must confess that I wanted peanut butter to have on hand for protein emergencies. I haven't been eating as well as normal as I am not cooking so I can't control what I eat and what is in things and that's a whole nother story people. But, wanna know how much I paid for a very small jar of peter pan creamy.....over $6.....a crime, but that's the way it is. So when I get set up I'll make my own, but for now...life in the desert. What did you do today?
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