This is going to be unfortunately brief, because I am borrowing my new host sisters computer to type it, and she wants it back. I am in my new family, and things are going well. Unfortunately, it is now my school's spring break, which means I am stuck home for 2 weeks. And guess what? They only have wireless. I would like to thank Ed for all the work he's been putting into trying to help me fix my computer, but it is still not working. And as a public service announcement to the rest of you, I know I've said this before, but just in case the people in space didn't here me, never buy Windows. Or anything to do with windows. Sure, I've had problems with my Apples before, but have I ever ever had something completely non-functioning right out of the box? Not even. This computer had never worked, and no remotely logical reason has ever been found. Complain all you want, tell me I'm wrong, but the one time I finally decided to take the plunge and give it a try, and it has royally...messed...with my life in a way I did not want or need. So, I really am sorry. I wish I could tell you more, but as in most failed endevors, it's going down, once again, to failed equipment. See you in February, unless the miracle monster strikes.

I should be able to put up a semi-coherent post either today or tomorrow, but right now I just fell asleep for five minutes on my keyboard. That said, if you want something to read, check this out. I laughed a lot. In other news, if you have got some time on your hands, start watching White Collar! For example, yesterdays episode had an interesting misuse of a motorizes wheelchair, Neil in a t-shirt (I was shocked),and then we got to see Peter chase down Harry Dresden on a commandeered (there´s no spell check on this computer) police horse. I should probably apologise to Paul Blackthorne right now, but I am never going to be able to think of him as another character. Not that he is really the Harry I think of. I always imagine Harry as Timothy Olyphant.


Actually, I have an almost complete cast of the Dresden Files on my computer. It is, once again, possible that I need a life. Somebody send me some knitting needles and yarn! I have started biting my nails again. Shame.
Wow. I really got off-topic. I completely forgot what I wanted to say when I started.
Drat.

Now that life has moved on and forgotten me, I am going to finally post the post you've all been waiting for...well, maybe not. But I'm going to try. First of all, sorry for the delay. It seems to happen ever time I want to do a post with a LOT of pictures. Because of the way I have to post pictures through Blogger, I have to do them as I come to them, or risk getting completely lost. To do this, I need an internet connection, and to get that, I have to stay hunched over a work bench with no legroom and a seat that is both uncomfortable AND too small for me. Which sucks. I am now thoroughly able to sympathize with the solitary hillbilly, out in the boonies of Kentucky, who still doesn't have wireless. Groan. Anyway, here's some of my life for the time being: I would like to wish my host brother, Louis Fernando, a happy birthday! I'm glad you liked the shirt so much. I want to once again extend condolences to the family and friends of Senor Herrera. If there's ever anything I can do, please let me know.
As some people may know, the last 2 weeks or so have been a little hectic, in a non-productive sort of way. Firstly, the power went out again for a day, and then the internet went out for another 2 (we don't know what happened, it thought it was working, but no-one could use it. Extra fun!). Also, I was supposed to be swapping to my second family. Let me slow down and explain some stuff here: Firstly, everyone here in this club has 3 host families. I didn't know this until last week, but everyone is supposed to have about 4 months with each family. I currently have almost 6 with this family. We were then supposed to swap on 4 January. Okay, I was nervous but excited, I spent a hellish day trying to get everything I own packed (not especially because I have a lot of stuff, but because I have a lot more than I brought with me, but nothing new to put it in). Then, that night, it turned out that for some reason, the other host families had delayed the process. They weren't ready to receive other kids, because everybody decided now was a smashing time to repaint the house, or go on vacation, or whatever, I don't know. So it got delayed until the 10th (after school re-started, because that'll make things easier <-this is sarcasm).
I again spent a whole 5 hours packing all my stuff, dragging it down the stairs, cleaning the room, putting all my sheets in the downstairs laundry, yadda yadda. Guess what someone finally remembered to tell me by 8pm, after I was done?
Yeah, I wasn't so pleased either. Yesterday was the 17th, obviously, and I FINALLY moved. Oh, BTW, I am typing this in school. I can't use the internet in the new house. So far, in the life of this irritating little machine (NEVER USING WINDOWS AGAIN! AAAAGH!), it has yet to function with the wireless in any private dwelling, here OR in the U.S. In Mexico, the only place I've been able to use it is in this school.
I like my room so far (pictures to follow, when I take them). It is significantly lacking in pink and dolls and little pink, doll-ish knickknacks (and a trash can and a laundry basket, but I'll live). It's definitely supposed to be a boys room (thank god), so it's blue and relatively Spartan. All the furniture got stuffed in there when they started construction on the back of the house, so none of the furniture is in a place where it actually fits, and none of the things that are supposed to be on the wall ARE on the walls. The whole room smells like wood polish (so now I do, which is interesting), and the bed is a twin, but too short so my whole body doesn't really fit on it, which is also interesting. I am so used to sleeping on the freaking giant King size bed, I need to get re-accustomed to the smaller bed. I don't think it will be that hard, I didn't like the big one. Also, the room has a giant window, but is significantly lacking in curtains. I don't mind so far, since I go to bed after the sun has set, and leave before it rises in the morning, but I imagine I will be annoyed by this by the weekend. One more week to go in the semester, and than SPRING BREAK (well, that's how it works here). 5 days to waste (i.e. sleep) how I please. Maybe. More to follow on the new house and, more importantly, the internet situation as it unfolds.
ALSO, mom managed to somehow get ahold of the Amazon.com folks and make them send me a new Kindle!!!!
I'm only telling you this so you'll have yet more proof that my mom is pure AWESOME.

I don't usually like to bring up politics or current events as much on this, because I am not at home so any misunderstandings can't be talked out. But this, this needs to be said:
Why haven't we heard about this?
This flooding started in JULY!! I asked around, no one around here has any idea what I'm talking about. Google it. You get 2 BBC articles and 1 New York Times piece that hasn't been updated since NOVEMBER.
This has displaced over 20 million people. The reported death toll is currently at over 1600 (and this is Pakistan. How well do you think this was documented?). I'll give you an example: Hurricane Katrina, the biggest natural disaster to hit the U.S. in almost forever, killed a grand total of 1836. New Orleans and the entire surrounding area's total population is around 1,360,436.
This is wrong.
I know the U.S. has barely enough money to take care of ourselves at the moment, but this should NOT be ignored like this. If a group of miners stuck down a hole can make worldwide headlines for weeks, why have we heard next to nothing about an ongoing event destroying the lives of millions and millions of people in an already tough part of the world which our government had an undeniable hand in dismantling?
Even if our government is not doing anything, this should not be ignored.


And I'll get off my soapbox. Have a good week!

As usual, I have a plan for a big, long, impressive post, but I haven't slept for longer than 4 hours at any given time over the last 4 days. So, rather than inflict that sort of horror on my poor, innocent, naive readers (sorry, I tried to keep a straight face), I would just like to say this:
I'm back, I'm not dead, Chiapas is awesome, I'm swapping families in 3 days (actually kind of looking forward to that), and a very happy New Year to all you sports fans!
Coming up next, a post which may or may not involve life changing events, retirements, ponies, musings on the future of my mom (don't worry, it's a good thing), many pictures, cave systems, giant-ass waterfalls, dead rabbits, food poisoning (sweet Jesus I wish I was making that up), musings on language, the end of the middle (NOT the TV show), New Years grapes, and where I am going from here.
Scared yet? You should be. Enjoy the symmetry, m4thl33t5, because the world is ending next year according to a badly misunderstood chunk of translations from a group of half-clothed crazy people whose entire system of government hinged on throwing people into large spring pools (that's a little simplistic, but I think the point still stands. Good grief, one of their major deities was the god of suicide, for crissakes!).
Anyway, Welcome to 2011, everybody!