Katherine's Poem

Thoughtful Me.

I am a thoughtful child.

I wonder if wars are going to have violent ends.

I hear everthing in around me in a different way.

I see things from a different perspective.

I want to be understood.

I pretend to be a hero for everyone.

I feel sad when people die of hunger or sickness.

I touch just to feel the textue of something.

I worry about the world and its pollution.

I cry when people die.

I am proud of myself for trying new things.

I understand the way people feel when they are sad.

I say "Don't feel bad" when people get sad.

I dream of a happy world with no fighting.

I try to be a peaceful person.

I hope that my wishes come true.

I am a happy person.

Economic Lessons

I am watching a country fall apart.

It is one of the most fascinating things I have ever had the chance to do.

I have never considered myself a student of politics or economics, but I find myself captivated by what is happening here in Venezuela. I am living in a country with some of the richest natural resources in the world. I am also living in a country with a democratically elected man who is bankrupting the country, giving away its wealth, and driving the best and brightest of its citizens away - all in the name of protecting the poor.

Currently, Caracas has the highest murder rate in the hemisphere and Venezuela has the highest inflation in the world. The basket of goods that the poor here live on went up 8% LAST MONTH. There are few jobs. Crime is skyrocketing. Robbery and kidnapping is an industry and NO ONE is ever caught.

I wonder why this does not happen in the United States. Why are we so lucky? I find this story a cautionary tale for Americans.

I read this article this morning - if you have no interest in politics, please don't read it, but if you do..............

I pasted the text below, but here is the link: http://devilsexcrement.com/2010/05/17/interview-from-el-nacional-with-moises-naim/

The current situation in Venezuela is as complex as the words of Moses Naim are clear and strong to analyze it. His unmistakable style has always remained clear during his long career in the area of international political economy. On this occasion, he wishes to talk about the consequences of the policies implemented in the country, rather than recommendations for their solution because he is convinced that the President will further deepen his devastating policies. “Chavez will not hear anything different from what he believes, even though the reality will send strong signals that he is wrong.”

- What is the economic diagnosis of the country? -
The same that all Venezuelans have. What more need be said of a country that has simultaneously extraordinary oil revenues and the highest inflation in the world? Not even African countries without governments and devastated by war have higher inflation than Venezuela. What can we say about the management of a country with the largest energy resources in the hemisphere, but that forces its inhabitants to live in a constant nightmare of blackouts and energy rationing? A country whose policies have the effect of driving away massive amounts of capital overseas and the best of its human skills, and whose government gives to other countries and without the permission of anyone the nation’s wealth while the vast majority live in misery? The cruelest irony of all this is that the President who says he understands the situation and suffering of the poor is the one that has imposed the most devastating policies for those same poor. There is no “mision“, grants, gifts, subsidies or other handouts to be given to the people, that can offset the impact on the poor of the combination of inflation, unemployment and murders in which it has been condemned to live.

- Capitalism or socialism, market or state? -
I believe in a strong state and that it executes well the things that the market and the private sector can not do or should not do. Police, justice, defense.

The market will not solve education, health, or the insecurity of people in the neighborhoods. That has to be done primarily by the state. But to be effective, the State must be selective. You can not do everything. The Manichean debate between state and market, between capitalism and socialism is a waste of time and serves only to deceive the unwary. It is obvious that it takes both. It is not one or the other, but how to cleverly combine government and market.

- What do you think is the most serious problem in the economic sphere? -
There are many and well known. But perhaps one of the main mistakes President Chávez has made is to fall in love with an economic model that depends for its success on what this country has the least: efficient public officials. When the President nationalizes companies right and left, they are handed over to officials who don’t have the faintest idea of how to efficiently manage such activities. And what we’ve seen is that despite the efforts and good will, or sometimes simply because of laziness or corruption soon these nationalized companies collapse. And if the staff are efficient, why distract them, forcing them to produce sardines or operate cement industries? Top officials should be put in public activities which are a priority for the country, those that if not done by the state are done by no one else. If the state does not produce sardines, rice and cement, others can do it. But if it does not ensure that no one is kidnapped or killed when returning from work, then who will? Protection and personal safety is a service that the rich can buy from the private sector. But the overwhelming majority of Venezuelans depends on the government to protect them and their family.

For Venezuelans it matters less who is the owner of this or that company, that the fact that they are killing their children while the President does not seemed to be too concerned.

- What will be the result of all these policies? -
When a credible accounting of what happened in Venezuela these last ten years is carried out, we will discover that we live in one of the most important episodes in the economic history of the world in terms of wealth destruction, loss of productivity and waste of resources that the country desperately needed to lift people out of poverty. There are many wars that have produced less damage than the economic policies of these times. Today there are more murders in one weekend in Caracas than in Kabul.

-If you had the power for deciding measures an taking decisions on economic matters, what would you do?

One of the paradoxes of the situation we find ourselves in is that it is not even worth talking about what should be done on economic matters. What good is it to talk about the devastating effects which has the fact that the Government steps with one foot on the accelerator of consumption , while at the same time pushes strongly on the break of supply. It maintains an aggressive monetary policy and of public spending which stimulates consumption , while at the same time announces every day a decision which puts the breaks on providing the supply for that consumption. We see constantly how the President thunders against speculation and and the corrupt and following that announces measures that everyone knows will stimulate speculation and will provide even more ample and lucrative opportunities for corruption. He suffers for the poor while his Government is once again the most efficient machinery for the production of poverty.

-Do you think the Government will abolish the capitalist system and replace it with a socialist system? Do you think it will be able to achieve it?

I only know what the President of the Republic says. And Chavez is sincere, repetitive and emphatic with that. Why should I not believe him when he says he hates capitalism and adores socialism? It is one thing for us not to like it, but it is something else to refuse to listen to what a leader says, who has up to now maintained all of his promises on matters of public policy, even if they don’t work and lead him not to fulfill his promises about the results.

-Why do you think the President is so committed to policies that have not worked?

Because he suffers from ideological necrophilia. He is in love with dead ideas. I don’t know what are the psychological motives that lead him to be in love with a vision that he has proof have not worked anywhere. And he does not need to read history. It is sufficient for him to see what is happening to him and the country. At the beginning, the socialist promises and the rhetoric of resentment, racism and taking revenge gave him political dividends, but the bet on fundamentalist socialism has not been won by anyone in the world and at the end those attempts have always created suffering and the political failure of the fundamentalists that promote them. I don’t know if the love for those dead ideologies that the President has are chronic and addictive. Perhaps he will fall out of love with those bad ideas that he is infatuated with once he sees at last that nothing works for him. But for now that love has blinded him. It is a pity that millions of Venezuelans have to pay the immense human cost that Chavez’ passion have had.

-How do you judge the performance of the Venezuelan opposition?

With frustration, understanding and hope. Frustration, because it is difficult to see how it makes mistakes over and over again. Understanding, because the opposition to strong regimes is always fragmented, clumsy, easily sabotaged by the regime and prone to score goals against itself. And hope, because there is no doubt it has matured and learned from its errors. It is admirable to see the persistence and disposition of many to continue their fight despite the risks that implies. How dangerous and costly is to be part of the opposition and how easy and lucrative it is to be Chavista! And it is quite revealing that despite this there is opposition everywhere: in the universities, the high schools, the workers movement, the businessmen, the farmers and cattle ranchers, in the world of culture and science. From the statements of some military that we have read recently even in the Armed Forces. And even within Chavismo. Even the Cubans that come here end up being anti-Chavez.

-What are your projections for the parliamentary elections?

That the opposition will have more representatives in the Assembly that at any time during the Chavez era. It will be interesting to see how he will adapt to a situation in which he no longer controls everything and everyone, all of the time. In a decade the muscles you don’t use can easily become atrophied. And the President has spent too much time without exercising the muscles that allow you to compromise with those that do not share your ideas, the negotiation with opposition politicians and the search for agreement with other social forces. All od this is known in other countries and in the old Venezuela, as democracy…

Shopaholic

I was recently home in Galveston for a mammogram followup (blog to follow). I flew into Houston from Caracas and Heidi picked me up and we drove straight to Victory Breast Diagnostics. My friend Susan Gaskill is the radiologist there and after several scans and an ultrasound I was given a clean bill of health. Nothing to worry about, not sure what they saw in Caracas, go home and have fun. I had scheduled enough time on my trip home for consultations, biopsies, etc... and found myself giddy with three more days ahead of me with basically nothing to do but celebrate.

The next day was a beautiful in Galveston. I was childless, husbandless, soaring with the knowledge that I did not have breast cancer, and a red hot credit card burning a hole in my pocket.

The only thing we buy in Caracas is food. Therefore, on trips home, I usually have a list of much needed items to bring back with me. Clothing items, food, and school supplies usually top the list. I am used to spending more money than I ever considered normal before - as I am cramming months of shopping into one visit.

I had not been to Target in four months. I walked in with my list of essentials - which may have added up to about $400 or $500 total.

Two and a half hours later, I walked out of the store, by FAR breaking my record of money spent in a single day at Target. It was one of the best (and worst) mornings I have ever had in my life.

When I told my friends, they all wondered what the heck I bought for that much money. It was hard to explain the level of shopping zen you have to reach in order to shop with abandon like that.

I walked into the store, I had my list of needs. I also had a list of wants in my brain that I thought if I saw I might grab while I was there. It was early, the store was clean, bright, and uncrowded and I had nowhere pressing to be. I had no husband to worry about rushing home to. No meal to cook. No job waiting for me. No kids screaming to buy them candy, or refusing to try on shoes. Just me, my cart, my credit card, and the muzak.

Due to the brilliant merchandising at Target, the women's fashions were on my immediate left. I did not have any women's fashions on my list, but my cart went weaving into the racks on its own accord. It seems that Target had come out with the new Liberty of London line. If you have seen it - you know how amazing it is.

Another phenomenon is that in Galveston, the cute new stuff is not immediately ripped off the shelves the first day it hits the store by planned neighborhood fashionistas. Most families on the island rebuild their homes, lives and businesses, and furniture takes priority over fashion.

I absolutely NEEDED (wanted) the new denim capris, shorts, and two bathing suits, and then I found the sleeveless cotton tops with the racer backs that I had to have in green AND white because they are just the thing to wear with the weather in Caracas and I had no idea how I had survived without them before.

Having made it past the gauntlet of the women's fashions - AND having rejected at least 5 to 1 the things I took into the dressing room, I rounded the corner and hit the shoe aisle.

I do consider myself above buying WOMEN's shoes at Target, but most of what my kids wear comes from there. There is a new line of shoes for little girls called Miss Trish. It is new to Target and to die for. The sandals are patent leather, and feature whimiscal little jewel animals on the front of each. My children, who did not need shoes, absolutely had to have two pairs EACH. Thank goodness the sports area was close. I had to have a new Yoga Mat (first thing I bought on my list) and, oh and did you see the new Yoga towels meant to go over your mats to absorb sweat for $24. Yes, I paid $24 for a towel.

It was my moment, I was totally wanton, knowing I had crossed over into shopping abandon I kept going. The kids needed new dry erase markers and, on the list were high storage cards for the camera, a new IPOD player for our den, etc. It all adds up - I kept telling myself.

The real damage came when I made it to the kids clothing section.

Ahem.

Damn the Liberty of London line with all the cute florals! I mean its TARGET for God's sake, not Neiman Marcus. I was saving money by shopping there right? How bad could it be?

On my list were shorts for Katherine. Well, Madeline NEEDED nothing, but I can't possibly buy something for one and not the other so...... shorts, bathing suits, dresses and skirts later I left the girls section and headed for the checkout.

Mommy guilt has always been my number one shopping drive. First is was guilt because I worked, but now it is guilt that I dragged them to a foreign country. Overall, it was cathartic but I did feel guilty buying so much stuff we did not need.

But, for the first time in my life (and likely the last), I went to a store, did not think about price, and bought absolutely everything I wanted. In a secret way, I am glad I did, because, I never want to do it again. It was kind of like when I went to Vegas when I was still poor and won "a lot" on the first 2 days of the trip and lost it all on the last day plus $20. I was done, out of my system, and all I want to do in Vegas now is shop, eat well, and see a show wearing cute clothes.

When I went to pay, the first credit card I swiped was rejected. I started sweating. I had worked so hard crafting my piles of needs and treasures - and though the magic of MasterCard fraud protection, I was about to loose it all.

I sheepishly looked at the cashier and asked her if I could try another card. The second credit card went through with no problem. Whew. It is also the one that immediately emails my husband with any purchase. I started sweating again.

Deciding to go on the offensive, I decided to admit my sins before I was asked to explain them. I walked out of the store, loaded my booty into the back, and called Caracas.

"Hello." Chris

"Hi babe!" Me

"How was your morning?" Chris

"Pretty good. I went shopping and got some of the stuff we needed at Target." Me

"Did you find the natural peanut butter I wanted?" Chris

"Target didn't have it, but I will run to the grocery store today and see if I can find it." Me

"OK." Chris

"Uh, honey?" Me

"Whats up?" Chris

"I went a little crazy at Target." Me

Silence

"I got the kids a bunch of stuff that they really did not need, but it was so cute, and I was a little shocked when I went to check out." Me

"OK, how much did you spend?" Chris

"$$$" Me

"WHAT did you buy? I did not know it was possible to spend that much money at Target" Chris

"You know, just stuff we needed, and some other stuff" Me

"OK" Chris

"I promise I will never do that again" Me

"Don't forget the peanut butter" Chris

"OK, love you." Me

"Love you too. Call me tonight. Bye" Chris

I think I got a pass on that one.

Galapagos Islands Videos!

Our videos from our recent trip to the Equador and the Galapagos Islands.

Caracas Mammogram

I had to have a mammogram in Caracas recently.

Scared, yes. Scary, no.

I found a lump in my breast in the shower last Friday afternoon. It was small, squishy and painful, so the doctor in me know that the lump was most likely not cancerous.

The woman in me, however, begged to argue that my brother had cancer, my aunt has breast cancer and I lost an uncle to colon cancer at a young age - and that is just on my Mom's side. Cancer is old friends with both sides of my family - so I know I have a better chance than most to have the big "C" bomb dropped on me.

I called my doctor and she got me in for a mammogram right away. I was to meet her at her office in the hospital at 0700. I arrived and went to her office. She had already sent her secretary to the radiology department to pull a number for me.

Yes, pull a number. Like at a meat counter.

Appointments for anything medical are pretty much nonexistant in Venenzuela. You are told to come on a certain day, and it is first come, first serve. Get there early, and pull a number and they will get to you when they can. At least in the U.S. we pretend to have appointments. Sure, you most likely will sit there all day - but have a reason to be pissed off about it.

The doctor met me upstairs in the waiting room and asked if I had on deoderant. "Of course," I said. Well, it seems that the METAL (aluminum) in the deoderants is radiopaque and interferes with the mammograms. Duh. You would think that with a degree in geology AND medicine I could have figured that out on my own.

After a frenzied dash up to the restroom in her office where I had to strip off my blouse and then scrub my armpits in the sink with water and toliet paper, then rush back down to the waiting room for my turn.

Luckily, my number had been pulled for me, so I did not have to wait long. A beautiful woman dressed in the usual Venezlano fashion - low cut blouse showing maximum cleavage, skinny jeans, stiletto platform pumps, and a trim white low cut lab coat - called my name.

"Mah-ree Aw-bear?"

"Si." I replied.

Something in rapid fire venezuelan spanish that I am sure translated meant -" Follow me please."

She was very nice and professional and chatted with me in spanish as she clicked down the halls.

"Buenos dias, como vas?" Clickety click.

"Bien, y tu?" Me

"Chevre, chevre" Clickety click.

We arrived at the exam room and there was a modern looking mammography machine, a chair, and a paper blue vest. I quickly figured out that she was the radiologist technician who would be performing my mammogram itself. I really got a kick out of her outfit then. Just the thing to wear when a woman is in freak mode about her own breasts - why not just display yours to just a millimeter above the areola?

She WAS very professional and I had no qualms about her performing the exam. I am certain she told me that she was the technician but my spanish these days falls into four categories: Delivering babies, grocery shopping, chauffer instructions, and basic greetings. I have not reached the level of being able to understand "Hello, I am your radiologist technician. I will be performing your exam today."

We got through a basic questionaire (I read WAY better than I speak) and then she told me to change. She seemed genuinely surprised and a little amused that I did not have implants. I looked around for a bathroom or closet and a robe, but she pointed to the chair. I took off my blouse and bra and grabbed the blue vest. "No, no," she said and wagged her index finger at me.

I walked up to the machine naked from the waist up. Nothing like making a woman with a breast lump and body image issues walk naked infront of another woman with a push up bra and stilletos. She competently finished all of my radiographs and THEN I was allowed to put on the robe and wait for her to have the films cleared.

She returned five minutes later and told me that the quality of the films were good and I was free to go. I walked out, paid $350 BSF (about $50), and went home to await a call from my doctor.