well, i thought i had chosen the most stable country in central america (other than Costa Rica, which i've already been to) for our honeymoon. and belize was. no serious political unrest in 25 years.

however, belize is kinda-sorta falling apart, it seems. their telecommunication company went on strike and sabotaged all communication lines with the outside world. there were no news updates (that i could find) between april 22nd and april 25th, and the only communication anyone seemed to have was through the few internet cafes with satellite connections. now their Public Officers are planning to strike and want to take "industrial action", as are their teachers.

For Reuters assessment of the situation, the only current one I could find, look here: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N25491431.htm

They claim this is the worst violence since 1981, when Belize broke away from Britain. The most disturbing thing I've read, though, was in the National Business Review, which said "it was days before news agencies noticed that the country had vanished from the telecommunications map." How's that for feeling unloved?

Aaron now wants to go somewhere else, I say it's too soon to decide. And I think there's no better way to get your blood pumping than a good, old-fashioned creole riot.

in the same spirit as bridget's procrastination i sit down to write this missive. i just drove back from philly where i spent the week working. mucho boring meetings that really had nothing to do with me, not sure why they sent me. perhaps i'd been looking sullen around the office lately and they took pity on me.

anyway, found a spot on the comforter where vito had peed. not a lot of pee, it was a small precise amount. vito is not generally an indoor peer. this event can only mean two things: another dog has peed on our bed and vito is trying to mark his territory, or vito is mad at us. since the comforter was just washed last weekend, the first is probably incorrrect, leaving only the second. i was forced to stick his nose in it and make sure he had that 'i done wrong' look, which i hate doing. perhaps it's because it's finally sunny and warm outside (kinda warm) and he is stuck inside all day. i wish i could fix that for him....

i tried an experiment today. a spray-on tan. the jury's still out, but it was interesting. it all looks good except for the face; i was told it will look much better tomorrow, but in the meantime i can't shower. or go outside (cuz i think i look weird.) not shockingly weird, just someone who spent too long tanning. so dumb, maybe, is a better word.

my invitations are wating for me to finish my procrastination. they're being very patient, but the guests who need to receive these invitations are not. i'm about one-third done, and i think i've already spent 10 hours! uh, horrendous. what were we thinking....