Last night, around 6pm, Arp and I were just getting ready to make some quesadillas when the invasion occurred.  Walking across the kitchen floor, I spotted what I initially thought were a few of our regular brown ants.  I was thinking how it seemed a little early in the evening for them to be coming out, and when I tried to step on one, it flew.  I mentioned to Arp how weird that was.  Then, as I walked into the living room, I spotted a few more.  And more.  And …

Just yesterday, here is what one person said to me: “Frankly, I think the value of the service I provide is worth a lot more than…(long pause) a website (said very derisively)!”  This person, a health care provider, was comparing her job to that of my husband’s (web designer).  So tell me, dear readers – would you agree  that some people’s time and efforts are simply of more value than another person’s?  And who is to say which person’s work is more worthwhile?
Here in Costa Rica, I sometimes see workers …

And they call Arp by his first name too.  M at age 6, and J at age almost-4 have been calling us by our first names for years now.
It not a big deal in our house, but I’m sometimes caught off guard when other people question it.

I’ve been reading about various governmental reviews of homebirth midwifery in Australia for some time now, and feeling fear in my heart for all the women and midwives in Australia that want to keep it going.  But several recent blog entries, here and here, are making my blood boil.  I want to cry for the women and midwives of Australia that are under seige.  I’m really hoping that the midwives and supportive families can pull together and change things before it’s too late.
I’d like to see a world in which …

Whew. I’m so glad it’s over. After leaving our old house in New York on Sunday night, it was a hellish journey that lasted until Wednesday, when we finally arrived in our new rental in beautiful Atenas, Costa Rica.