Happy Birthday, Steven!

Today is my brother's 20th birthday. He's kind of wonderful. He laughs really hard at movies and always helps me when I'm stressed.

We're never together for his birthday, but two years ago he came over from the island, and we had an awesome night of dancing at Honey. We both passed out on the bus home, where people put their luggage.

Steven, wish I could be there, or you here! I hope 20 is the best year yet.

Taking shots

A Russian photographer took this in the President's Square of Quito when we weren't looking, and then walked over and asked if he could email it to us later. We watched him work for a few minutes. He was wearing brown and he moved very slowly to get different shots of people. He blended in quite well, but still, people noticed him.

I think that's why I'd prefer to be a writer than a photographer. To be a photographer, you have to wear the technology around your neck. Everyone knows what you are doing. To be a writer, you just have to have a memory. I could sit down and write an article about the quiet protest that was going on behind us, or a short story about the woman selling gum next to the fountain, and no one from that day would remember me taking the mental shots required to do it. Writers are sneaky in that way, I think.

Name that movie

It's not Dirty Dancing. I just like the photo.

Still sick, and still watching movies to distract myself. I am, however, learning Spanish! With Espanol subtitles turned on, I can jot down all sorts of phrases--useful phrases, funny phrases, random phrases. Today I noticed that all my little subtitle chunks make for an awesome synopsis of the movie, patchy as they are.

Can you guess what I watched this afternoon? 

(Hint: the last lines are probably the most useful)

ves algo?

no bromeo

puede ser

como dormiste?

ya regreso

te veo manana

no hay cura

otra vez

va a comenzar

mi beso

que tal dormiste?

donde vives?

ellos no saben donde vivo

quien son?

todos estan muertos

solo necesito un minuto, esta bien?

ire arriba

me gusta shrek

5 de nosotros eramos inmunes

dijiste 5?

hoy ya es muy tarde

no me ire

como lo sabes?

Dios te lo dijo?

por algun motivo

nosotros somos un legado

esta es su leyenda

luz en la oscuridad

A secret prize for the winner.