HELLLLLLLLLO my friends! Sorry for the long long time gone but here goes a hell of an update----

I've been reading far too many books about writing books, something of a coincidence but in all ironic honesty I'm beginning to think myself an ESL author doing undercover research for some kind of sad comedy best seller. Playa San Miguel really does defy description, not just in general appearance and infrastructure but the societal fabric and character cushioning that pad every experience are just like whoa ok. Even if I could show you pictures the most obvious parts would be invisible, so I suppose you'll just have to read on and wait a few more months for what I'm sure at the best stories I have ever told.

A blog update in several parts:

1. THE BABY TURTLES ARE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. The baby turtles are the most important thing in my life at this time in all seriousness. I, like Clau and the volunteers, have a six hour shift of watching sand everyday to make sure the babies aren't stuck in the hatchery for longer than necessary and when they come up we put all 100 of them in a big blue bucket and walk down the beach on top of the world. This is better than the chickens and their eggs...I LOVE LOVE LOVE concretely successful things. I feel so validated actually everyday....and all I have to do is notice their coming. Delayed gratification has its advantages..never thought you'd hear that one from me eh?
3. I've probably been hanging out too much with a certain Canadian guy eh?
4. I've noticed a trend in the pictures the volunteers take that I steal and put of my computer to show you all in December....basically all the same. Beach, station house, baby turtles, sunset, bar nights, house parties, surfing, sunset, baby turtles, ridiculous rain gear, beautiful nature/waterfalls/mangroves, bar stools and gallo pinto, ect ect ect. Like some kind of parody of my life repeated every two weeks or so. I wonder how I can keep cycling through this like it were new everyday. Some things are different, things change, and I keep moving...but seriously, my life is a well documented caricature or itself. Gracias a dios I do so much yoga haha.
5. I live in a sorority house...seriously I thought that Shakespeare was ridiculous but this is worse and better at the same time...since we have no actual responsibility or occupation in general. Sometimes its loud music and dancing but seriously...there are no pants allowed. The girls that have been coming down are incredible, fun, and awesomely independent lately. I'm having the most wonderful time getting to know them and sharing life as a turtle girl in the insanity that is this tiny town. The perfect foil to our supposed sisterhood is the older divorced men that have stepped into a kind of gay/father/pimp role and simultaneously present and protect us in our various escapades.
6. I lost my voice last night to a rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody that I barely remember...I'm sure it was awesome mostly because I do remember the bootylicious Beyonce dancing the preceded it. I sound like a 50 year old who left the womb with a cigarette in hand and I feel wiser for it. I love American music and to hell with anything even remotely 'good.'
7. I watched the sun come up this morning while skinny-dipping in an infinity pool that looked out over three separate beaches from the mountain above. You could hear the howler monkeys bitching about their hangovers way before ours set in and it was possibly the best feeling I've ever had. Maybe there is something to materialism after all...it was the first house I've ever considered worth settling down for. It has more to do with the location, the people I was with, the guacamole we had for breakfast, and the immense amount of ron consumed... but I think its a pretty intense step along my twisted decent into the real world.
8. Everyone I meet inspires me to take a page out of their books...to try what they've done for myself, to work in the same way and to follow in their footsteps. I'm keeping a list and it keeps getting longer. I feel like I'm no closer to finding myself but its fun to imagine being someone else. Also...since my shoes all have holes in them (two pairs of old navy flip flops to last for 6 months of walking miles everyday) I am actually walking in their shoes that they've left behind for me. I'm often a disaster and it shows.
9. Everyone here is constantly defending their decisions to adopt a non-traditional lifestyle...makes me want to go climb the corporate ladder just to spite them. Its like some kind of religious conversion that they're trying to push on the rest of us and I'm not sure why I resent it so much. I just hate the idea that even at 40 all of them are still trying to prove themselves...especially to someone like me. I hope I never have to feel that way.
10. None of you really knew but I was in a pretty bad place a few weeks ago. It had to do with a lot of things I'd rather not post but the news for punto numero 10 is that I'm back to bliss. Things have never been better, I feel like myself, which I thought I'd lost for a bit, and life is beautiful like its never been. I'm better for going through it and I hope I never have to do it again. Sorry for the super profundo end note but I felt the need to share and I suppose that's what blogs are for.

Too much love,

Stephanie

ps. I'm going to Honduras on the 26^th to see a great friend whose diving on Roatan and to renew my visa. If anyone was planning a visit I'll be in San Jose on the 2^nd of October or so and could bring you back to paradise with me instead being forced to brave a solo bus trip into the great unknown.

Pps. My mom is coming next week! She's bringing surprises (read: new shoes and craisins) from home...Its like Christmas!!

PPPS. Speaking of Christmas...I'm thinking the party on the 23^rd of December. Save the date like it was your own wedding since its the last one until I'm done with Africa!