20 November 05
Bees took over the rooftop patio today. I was downstairs listening to the loud hum of the bees feeding on the flowers, when Kathe yelled. "Crorey! Come here!"
Just a note of panic in her voice. I ran upstairs, and immediately saw the source of the concern. Honeybees were swarming everywhere. The cats, who had been sunning themselves five minutes earlier, decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and took up residence at a safe distance. The bees swarmed for about an hour, then settled down and started building a hive. In the bougainvillea. On the roof.
Not the best scenario. I finally started a fire in a brazier that I placed directly below the new hive. The bees hung out for a while, then began to disperse. But they came back, and are now firmly ensconsed, and have taken up residence in Jeanne's house just as surely as I have (see attached photos). I think the same thing draws us both - the gorgeous flowers on the roof. Evicting either of us will likely be difficult...
The week has been a wonderful one for sunsets (see other attached photos). Matt, who has been staying here since late last week (getting a new passport, etc), joined us out on the roof to watch a particularly spectacular one that culminated with a serious explosion from Fuego, the volcano to the SW of the city. Nothing could be felt where we were, but the smoke ring vaulted into the sky with pretty amazing force. Gentle reminder that a city that has been hit by massive earthquakes numerous times is not safe now no matter how pretty it is.
Nature sure is beautiful, but is not without its stingers.
Speaking of getting stung…
Two weeks ago, Kathe and I were walking around and slipped into a jewelry store here in Antigua, and were immediately presented with an impressive display of really beautiful pieces.
In one of the display cases, Kathe spotted a beautiful coral and antique silver necklace. It was beautiful and looked great on her. But money is more than just a little tight, and so as she shelved it, so did we.
Matt, as I mentioned earlier, came this past week to get some things taken care of in the highlands. He is replacing his lost passport, and dealing with a couple of health issues – an ear infection and a couple of broken teeth. And also getting his head on straight to face life in Petén again. He also brought some reimbursement cash from the move we made in September that I helped pay for. The money he gave me was exactly the amount the necklace cost. Without letting Kathe in on the fact that I had this money, I snuck out of the house and made a rare foray into Antigua without her, heading straight to the jewelry store.
The necklace was not there. There was a large exhibition in Guatemala, and that necklace, along with some others she had liked, was on display in the capital.
The next day, I made another foray "to find her" when she went to get her hair cut across the street. That foray just happened to coincide with the location of the jewelry store, where I proceeded to pay for the necklace. They asked me to come back for it later (they were still unpacking things) and I agreed, but only on one condition.
"My wife will be with me," I said, "and I don't want her to know about the necklace. So please tell her that it was sold to a chapin weeks ago. So I will pick it up while she is looking at one of the other pieces."
The owner got a kick out of that. "We'll lie through our teeth! And we'll package it in an old, ugly box so that she won't know what it is, and won't be interested in opening it."
And later that day, Kathe and I 'happened' to walk past the jewelry store. We went inside, and the cashier, recognizing me, went back to the desk, fiddled with something and walked over to show Kathe some other pieces. And, just like promised, she lied, and said that it had been sold long ago. Meanwhile, I am wandering around the store, and spot my box on top of the desk. It is an old cardboard jewelry box with a torn edge and some scribbles in pen on the cover. Making sure that Kathe is looking the other way, I slip the box into my pocket, and write a quick note requesting that the earrings be set aside – I'll be back later.
At this point I am busted; Kathe asks me what I think of another necklace, and sees me finishing the note. I demur, and she starts looking at something else. I take up residence elsewhere in the shop, and am looking at another display.
"Don't buy the earrings." from just behind my ear.
"What?"
"I know you are disappointed that the necklace is already sold, but don't just buy the earrings. They won't go with anything that I have… it's sweet of you, but don't buy the earrings."
I did my best to look innocent.
I got home, and after an appropriate amount of time, I started looking for a place to hide the Christmas present. Just before stashing them in my computer backpack, I opened the box to glance at them.
Six keys. I had stolen the keys to the display cabinet from the jewelry store. Perfectly disguised in an old box with pen marks on it. Rats.
So I had to sneak out of the house yet again. I fled the four blocks to the store, and when I got there, the owner was there, all smiles. She had the box for me. I explained the situation, returned the keys (she was more than a little surprised, but saw the humor in the situation), and got my own package (wrapped in an old light fixture box), and ran back to the house. And, as far as I know, did not get caught.
So long as Kathe doesn't read this site.
On the analysis front, a number of things are happening. The amount of material is truly overwhelming, and I have recently gone to my committee for help. They are very supportive, and have made some good suggestions on how to streamline the process. They are also all pretty concerned (and with good reason) that I am submitting paperwork to do some salvage excavations at the amazing lithic site of La Estrella (see the other photo). The information we will get from excavating it will be amazing, comparable to data available from very few sites ever studied by archaeologists. Fortunately, I can hold off on the analysis of the material for a while, leaving the bulk of analysis for a post-doctoral study.
What I cannot leave for later is the excavation of the site. The area has been divided up into lots of small lots, all of which will be turned into tiny summer homes by the end of next year. It is already being dug for building material; parts of the site have been destroyed. So I am asking permission from the government to dig, but only enough to salvage some information before the site is destroyed. We'll see how it goes.
And we will be heading back to the US in a little more than a week. We head to SC to pick up the car, then drive back to the land of the curbside refrigerators.
For that, and for so many other things, I am thankful this year. I hope that you all can spend the Thanksgiving week with people you love.
Bees took over the rooftop patio today. I was downstairs listening to the loud hum of the bees feeding on the flowers, when Kathe yelled. "Crorey! Come here!"
Just a note of panic in her voice. I ran upstairs, and immediately saw the source of the concern. Honeybees were swarming everywhere. The cats, who had been sunning themselves five minutes earlier, decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and took up residence at a safe distance. The bees swarmed for about an hour, then settled down and started building a hive. In the bougainvillea. On the roof.
Not the best scenario. I finally started a fire in a brazier that I placed directly below the new hive. The bees hung out for a while, then began to disperse. But they came back, and are now firmly ensconsed, and have taken up residence in Jeanne's house just as surely as I have (see attached photos). I think the same thing draws us both - the gorgeous flowers on the roof. Evicting either of us will likely be difficult...
The week has been a wonderful one for sunsets (see other attached photos). Matt, who has been staying here since late last week (getting a new passport, etc), joined us out on the roof to watch a particularly spectacular one that culminated with a serious explosion from Fuego, the volcano to the SW of the city. Nothing could be felt where we were, but the smoke ring vaulted into the sky with pretty amazing force. Gentle reminder that a city that has been hit by massive earthquakes numerous times is not safe now no matter how pretty it is.
Nature sure is beautiful, but is not without its stingers.
Speaking of getting stung…
Two weeks ago, Kathe and I were walking around and slipped into a jewelry store here in Antigua, and were immediately presented with an impressive display of really beautiful pieces.
In one of the display cases, Kathe spotted a beautiful coral and antique silver necklace. It was beautiful and looked great on her. But money is more than just a little tight, and so as she shelved it, so did we.
Matt, as I mentioned earlier, came this past week to get some things taken care of in the highlands. He is replacing his lost passport, and dealing with a couple of health issues – an ear infection and a couple of broken teeth. And also getting his head on straight to face life in Petén again. He also brought some reimbursement cash from the move we made in September that I helped pay for. The money he gave me was exactly the amount the necklace cost. Without letting Kathe in on the fact that I had this money, I snuck out of the house and made a rare foray into Antigua without her, heading straight to the jewelry store.
The necklace was not there. There was a large exhibition in Guatemala, and that necklace, along with some others she had liked, was on display in the capital.
The next day, I made another foray "to find her" when she went to get her hair cut across the street. That foray just happened to coincide with the location of the jewelry store, where I proceeded to pay for the necklace. They asked me to come back for it later (they were still unpacking things) and I agreed, but only on one condition.
"My wife will be with me," I said, "and I don't want her to know about the necklace. So please tell her that it was sold to a chapin weeks ago. So I will pick it up while she is looking at one of the other pieces."
The owner got a kick out of that. "We'll lie through our teeth! And we'll package it in an old, ugly box so that she won't know what it is, and won't be interested in opening it."
And later that day, Kathe and I 'happened' to walk past the jewelry store. We went inside, and the cashier, recognizing me, went back to the desk, fiddled with something and walked over to show Kathe some other pieces. And, just like promised, she lied, and said that it had been sold long ago. Meanwhile, I am wandering around the store, and spot my box on top of the desk. It is an old cardboard jewelry box with a torn edge and some scribbles in pen on the cover. Making sure that Kathe is looking the other way, I slip the box into my pocket, and write a quick note requesting that the earrings be set aside – I'll be back later.
At this point I am busted; Kathe asks me what I think of another necklace, and sees me finishing the note. I demur, and she starts looking at something else. I take up residence elsewhere in the shop, and am looking at another display.
"Don't buy the earrings." from just behind my ear.
"What?"
"I know you are disappointed that the necklace is already sold, but don't just buy the earrings. They won't go with anything that I have… it's sweet of you, but don't buy the earrings."
I did my best to look innocent.
I got home, and after an appropriate amount of time, I started looking for a place to hide the Christmas present. Just before stashing them in my computer backpack, I opened the box to glance at them.
Six keys. I had stolen the keys to the display cabinet from the jewelry store. Perfectly disguised in an old box with pen marks on it. Rats.
So I had to sneak out of the house yet again. I fled the four blocks to the store, and when I got there, the owner was there, all smiles. She had the box for me. I explained the situation, returned the keys (she was more than a little surprised, but saw the humor in the situation), and got my own package (wrapped in an old light fixture box), and ran back to the house. And, as far as I know, did not get caught.
So long as Kathe doesn't read this site.
On the analysis front, a number of things are happening. The amount of material is truly overwhelming, and I have recently gone to my committee for help. They are very supportive, and have made some good suggestions on how to streamline the process. They are also all pretty concerned (and with good reason) that I am submitting paperwork to do some salvage excavations at the amazing lithic site of La Estrella (see the other photo). The information we will get from excavating it will be amazing, comparable to data available from very few sites ever studied by archaeologists. Fortunately, I can hold off on the analysis of the material for a while, leaving the bulk of analysis for a post-doctoral study.
What I cannot leave for later is the excavation of the site. The area has been divided up into lots of small lots, all of which will be turned into tiny summer homes by the end of next year. It is already being dug for building material; parts of the site have been destroyed. So I am asking permission from the government to dig, but only enough to salvage some information before the site is destroyed. We'll see how it goes.
And we will be heading back to the US in a little more than a week. We head to SC to pick up the car, then drive back to the land of the curbside refrigerators.
For that, and for so many other things, I am thankful this year. I hope that you all can spend the Thanksgiving week with people you love.
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