Yet another...

Mike has been working on upping the property value. Chopping down trees to create ocean views...whitewater views at that. Reminds me of my freshman year at Westmont when my friend, Annie, and I were frightened by an upperclassman who asked us to meet him outside his dorm room in Everest to work on something for Spring Sing, and then appeared out of nowhere, shirtless and clutching an axe. He nonchalantly reported that he'd just been chopping down some trees that were obstructing his ocean view. For this reason, and countless others, he appropriately received the title, "that guy." And in case you're wondering, you don't want to be "that guy." But that's neither here nor there.

The waves have continued to be huge, extinguishing my fervor for becoming a "surfer." There is a direct correlation. My desire is still there, but I've been pretty intimidated. It's difficult to feel confident when you get pounded and put through the spin cycle when you're just body surfing. Mike did however score some larger boogie boards and fins at the Salvadorian version of Costco, so we've been enjoying that. It's quite the leg workout. My dad went out for 3 sessions the other day. And poor Mike, who was really getting back into his surfing groove, threw out his back yesterday on his last ride. Story of his life...luckily, my dad, the other resident photographer, got some good pics of him shredding before he went down. He can definitely use your prayers, as he's in a lot of pain. There was also another surfer who had to go to the hospital yesterday...he hit his head on the reef and went numb. See, these are the stories that make it hard for me to fearlessly hit these crazy waves.

I have finished 3 of my books, "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years,""The Great Gatsby," and "Naive Super." That's a big accomplishment considering my track record of being a compulsive book starter, not finisher. I enjoyed all three of them while simultaneously competing in the "tan game." Definitely making progress. Now I'm working on "East of Eden" and "Forgotten God."

Finally had my first pupusa of the trip yesterday. Just as delicious as I remembered them to be. I can't believe I've gone this long without one. Especially due to the fact that the group of us that came down last year pretty much survived solely on their nourishment. It was hard to beat the price of $0.60 a pupusa and the hospitality of the women who cook them up hot and fresh right before you cross the river. But it's different having the little ones here and with the combination of Jeanne and now, Mom's cooking, we've been spoiled with many home cooked meals.

I'll get some more pupusas when I make the trek to La Libertad with Claudia this week. Due to a series of miscommunications, illness, and the holidays, we ended up postponing our trip.

This week, a church from San Diego will be putting on a Vacation Bible School program here in El Zonte. I'm looking forward to helping with that and it'll be good for the kids to meet some other little ones around here.