Friday August 16, 2013

Friday August 16, 2013  update #545

I was determined to get out and do some good today, starting with shopping, etc.   Bella was heading off to her charity knitting and crocheting at the Weaving Store, and we had reasonable weather, so why not?

My first stop was to the store where I bought a mouse for the computer last week and it was defective, not able to scroll properly.  The guy dug out a replacement and I continued to see if he had 2 other electronics cords I wanted, but he didn’t.  I was packing up to leave when he started demanding $7 for the new mouse…  I said this should be a straight exchange because the other is defective.  He said No, pay me another $7.   So I gave him back the new one, flipped the old one behind him and walked out.    So, even though it was a nice day, my mood was soured and, as a result, the camera never budged again today, sorry.   However I did find time to process a few more pase Del Nino photos for you this evening.

I continued my quest, checking every shop that handled any electronics, and I probably hit a dozen of them at least before I found one that had the proper 3V adapter for my wireless headphones.   I bought a new mouse at another shop too. 

I tried several movie shops after the one I wanted was closed for their late lunch.  I picked up eight movies at one shop and another 4 at another.   I had been directed by several folks to the Sony store on Sangurima for a patch cord for my camera remote but they were closed too.

After being on my feet for 4 hours I was happy to catch the #50 towards home.  At the last second I decided to get off at the Monay Mall and go get the patch cord there.  I found one for 68c that I thought would work but I found it was too big when I got it home.

I was really pleased that I was getting good sound out of the wireless headphones after attaching the new 3V AC adapter.

I guess we are watching a movie tonight.   Bella said there were 7 or 8 she would watch.   I nearly fell off my chair because they are 90% action…

That was today’s excitement.  Cheers, Al   

Please see all new photos at http://souvenircuenca.blogspot.com/

Thursday August 15, 2013

Thursday August 15, 2013  update #544

Today was another frustrating day overall.  So many balls in the air, and with no indications as to where they would land.

I had received an email wanting me to send my photos from yesterday to one of the Ecuadorian brass of our Coopera protest group so I complied.   Part of the email also asked if myself or Rob would agree to be interviewed on the radio at 6:30.   I replied that I would agree if Rob was not available.   I asked them to phone me if they needed me.

I tried to go for a haircut and the place was closed.  So I came back and did all my chores and went back about 11:45.  I got a quick short haircut and now I definitely look like an eccentric retiree with an unruly grey wig.

We were also trying to arrange a meeting with Villa San Carlos about the Christmas Gala and to coordinate this with everyone’s schedules.  It seemed this afternoon was the only time that would work for everyone so I went ahead and booked the appointment for 3pm.  Luckily everyone was able to show up, on Ecuador time, and we had a very productive meeting indeed.  More on that at a later date.

There was another meeting of the Coopera group at the Prefect’s office at 4pm which I had to pass on and frankly, I needed a short break from that issue.   However the Coopera situation is always on our mind, especially when I wanted to be mentally prepared if I got suddenly called to show up for the radio interview.

Well, I am listening to that interview online as I type this now, and am happily surprised that one of the speakers was Trish LaPlaca who speaks good Spanish, and the other was lawyer Carlos Heredia who is fixated on revitalizing Coopera.  Since everyone is talking in Spanish I can only pick up the gist of what is being said, but at least our message is getting out there.   I also read the reports in two newspapers online about our protest yesterday.   There is talk of a hunger strike Saturday and a trip to Quito Sunday night to try to get the ear of President Correa.   Saturday is Fried Chicken at Joe’s Secret Garden so a hunger strike is not in the cards for me very likely.

Well this twit is now on Twitter just so he can barrage President Correa with Tweets to intervene in the Coopera mess.  I am feeling more like a looney bird every day.

The camera never left its bag today…

That was today’s excitement.  Cheers, Al   

Please see all new photos at http://souvenircuenca.blogspot.com/

Wednesday August 14, 2013

Wednesday August 14, 2013  update #543

Frustration is the name of the game lately in Ecuador.  Today we started off with another protest rally at the MIESS, the Government department that oversaw the Cooperatives prior to SEPS jumping in and liquidating ours.   The lawyers and the Prefect again went in and came out almost an hour later with nothing more concrete to add.

We were then told that we were heading to the most popular radio station in Cuenca “Voice of the Tomebamba” because the SEPS rep was going to be interviewed.   We hitched a ride with and Ecuadorian named Fernando and he apologized to us for being in this mess.  It was none of his doing yet he was apologizing to us on behalf of his countrymen.   We thought that was pretty special.  At the radio station on Vegas Monoz we waited around the corner until the SEPS rep entered and then we demonstrated while he was being interviewed.  We were listening on car radios and one of the Cuencanos said to me that everything was negative.   Somehow our lawyer and prefect got invited inside and also got on the radio.  Nothing uplifting arose from that but the SEPS fellow agreed to a meeting with our groups back at MIESS with 10 representatives, in return for safe passage away from our demonstration.

So, back to the MIESS office we went.  The white faces were dwindling so I offered to be one of the 10 representatives, to represent the gringo views.   But, we were then informed that the meeting was now moved to the SEPS office itself, way further east.  Our new ride, an English-speaking spokeswoman named Elise had to drop off her friend first, further west, so by the time we arrived at the SEPS office, the meeting had begun with only the usual suspects and the results just as predictable.  The SEPS dude has absolutely no concrete numbers to work with so we are still completely in the dark,  He claims sympathy with us but………..   This is the man holding our money and he can't tell us anything we don't already know.  Ugh..

There is another meeting tomorrow at the Prefect’s office and the plan is for as large a group as possible to take private buses (about $25) Sunday night to Quito, a good 7-8 hour drive, and to camp in front of the Presidential palace/parliament because the President is known to be at the changing of the guards every Monday morning.  I suppose the hope is to try to wangle a meeting with President Correa, however farfetched that will be.   We still have not heard any results of the meeting that was supposed to have taken place on Monday.     And so, as the stomach turns…..

Bella was off to Bridge Club.

That was today’s excitement.  Cheers, Al   

Please see all new photos at http://souvenircuenca.blogspot.com/

Tuesday August 13, 2013

Tuesday August 13, 2013  update #542

I was up until midnight preparing my photo gifts and then hurriedly making a sign to bring to a demonstration planned at City hall by our combined force of Ecuadorians and Expats.  

I left home earlier to make it to my usual Fuji store to get my canvas printing accomplished.   I paid my $22.98 and was told to return at 2pm.

I walked to City Hall and met with our group and we all entered at 11am and then our “Brass” went up to try to talk to the Mayor.   The main group stayed in the lobby chanting slogans and the security guards were looking pretty nervous, keeping their hands on their pistols.  An hour later the Prefect and the lawyer came down and we marched around a couple of blocks to the Justice building before dispersing.  The Mayor had ducked us again.   I don’t think that man will ever get another expat vote.  They ended up presenting their letter to a “Commission” and got written acknowledgement of receipt, which was their goal today. 

Video of our demonstration today at City Hall  http://youtu.be/cz1DYeDdFWg  

We were then told that the Provincial Governor (surprise, surprise) did have an audience with President Correa who claimed no knowledge of our plight but promised to help.  Maybe things are looking up…

One of the head honchos, Peter, got talking to me and it turns out his folks are from Two Hills, Alberta… 

I was busy taking photographs and somehow got drafted to supply photos for uploading to Twitter and to the foreign press, like the Miami Herald.  

I had an hour or more to kill before picking up my photo so I went to san Francisco Market and picked myself up a gorgeous alpaca hoodie that is so nice and warm for $20.  Then I went to the cashmere store and picked up a cashmere pullover for another $20.   I was just heading into Chicago Pizza as the heavens opened for about 20 minutes.  It was already drying up as I exited and went back to the Fuji store.   Even though I was early, my projects were completed, and properly, so I then hopped the #50 home.

I have supplied the required photographs to our Coopera group so we hope they will help the cause.

I hooked up with my old buddy from Montreal, Jay Shink, on Skype tonight and we had a crystal-clear connection.   It sure is an awesome way to communicate.

That was today’s excitement.  Cheers, Al   

Please see all new photos at http://souvenircuenca.blogspot.com/

Monday August 12, 2013

Monday August 12, 2013  update #541

I woke up around 3am with a photo project on my brain that would not let my mind at ease until I got up and actually tried it, involving night darkness, light and pouring water.  After farting around with it for 2 hours I did not get any useable results so I just deleted it all.  Then I went back to bed.

Bella and I were off this morning to Banco Del Austro to open her own account.   The manager is away and the  young lady we had to deal with spoke no English at all so we did not get the dual signatures on both accounts, nor did I pick up my bank debit card.  I guess we will just wait until the Manager returns.

Then we picked up a few minor groceries at Coral and walked home, where I could finish my coffee, have lunch and finish my chores.

Then Bella was off to learn Mahjong while I began my quest to find someone to print some artwork on my pieces of canvas.   After the first 5 stops I was getting frustrated.   I picked up my money for doing the photos for Rommie and Charles, then resumed my quest.  The one Fuji store said to return at 4pm, but I had this meeting with the combined Coopera bunches at 4pm so I continued looking.  Nobody has a simple inkjet printer in this town!!  The second Fuji store told me the same thing, return at 4pm… 

I went to wait at the Azuay Prefect’s office for the Coopera meeting, a block away, and remembered that the last meeting did not start until 4:30 so I went back to the Fuji store.  I finally got to talk to the technician who said they could only print it on their own canvas stock for a cost of over $11 each, and it would take 3-4 hours.  I said I would think about it….   

The Coopera meeting had the combined forces of the lawyers Quito and Heredia, the Prefect, etc.  The translations were almost non-existent this time although the Ecuadorians seemed to like what they were hearing, not so for the Expats.  The lawyers want to demonstrate at all levels of government to enlist their support, starting with the Mayor tomorrow at 11am.  Everyone is to wear white t-shirts and bring signs, and/or contribute $10 towards the making of signs.  I’ll make my own, thank you very much… at least I’ll know who I am insulting!

I got fed up with the lack of action to get to the heart of the matter, which is to just get our bloody money back.  This is pure discrimination, no doubt against the constitution, and that is where our energies should be focused.  Heredia still clings to the “Revitalize Coopera” line but we have nothing to invest if we have no money…  And why should we be buying back what is/was already ours??  To my knowledge they have not returned anyone’s membership fees.  The whole stench of politics just reeks everywhere with every politician still wanting to distance themselves from the liquidator SEPS.    Ugh…..

It was such a gorgeous day today but I was having so many frustrations that my camera never made an appearance out of the backpack.

I had sent an interesting 4 generation photo to one of my cousins which showed her father circa 1914.  She claims to have very few family photos, while I have access to several, so that was my evening’s work and I have included them on the Blog.   I always feel a little proud whenever I dig back to my parent’s common ancestor who was a famous Canadian patriot and parliamentarian.   His accomplishments were amazing.  See http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio.php?BioId=40107  If he could see his lineage now……

That was today’s excitement.  Cheers, Al   

Please see all new photos at http://souvenircuenca.blogspot.com/

Sunday August 11, 2013

Sunday August 11, 2013  update #540

Well Bella went off to play Bridge today, so that is a turning point.   She must have felt pretty good after her outing to Joe’s last night to have again ventured out today.

I got caught up in trying to make a belated wedding gift for my niece where is somehow misplaced all the wedding photos I had taken.   The only record I can locate are the small copies available on my photo blog so I had to make do with those.

I also decided on the format I wanted to do for Joe Spotts upcoming birthday so I worked on that as well.

The next issue was to try to print on canvas and, of course, Hewlett-Packard printers have a mind of their own, will print in their own formats, and wreck most of your product in the process before deciding to jam up.  Heaven help me, this is the last HP printer I will ever have.

So now I have to see I I can get the Fuji Store to print them for me, on my canvas product, that fits the small stringers I have….

There was lots of singing outside our window today so we figured it was the Purple People Parade, and yes, it was.  Bella had found out that it is some sort of religious retreat following that we used to see every couple of weeks, but it seems like months since we have seen this procession.

Tom Thumb was visiting so I took a crack at getting some shots again, but didn’t get my definitive shot yet.   Patience is a definite virtue in this game, along with spare batteries.

That was today’s excitement.  Cheers, Al   

Please see all new photos at http://souvenircuenca.blogspot.com/