some recent update highlight sort of activity:

-going to mercado cuatro, a giant market, and walking through rows and rows of knockoff brand clothing, an entire section of fruit, fish in variety stages of being filleted, and animals of every variety (like a turtle and a duck sharing the same box, even a little bird which i was told was a "dodo". i think my spanish may have failed me on this one though, since i am pretty sure those went extinct a wee while ago)
-the christmas differences: the paraguayans give gifts after christmas to celebrate when the three kings arrived, the mall is decorated as an "enchanted christmas", mostly purple with magic mushrooms to accent the tree. seriously! eliana was singing "o christmas tree" in german, but changed the words from "o tannenbaum" to "o mangobaum". she got a bit confused and began singing "o tangobaum" at the end... a little more argentina than paraguay though if you ask me.
-speaking of mangobaums, it reminds me of my new favorite fruit- the paraguayan mango. they are all ripening, and the trees are loaded down with them. the locals aren't as keen on them, and there are so many that most will just rot on the road. hearing that, i have been helping myself to road mangos. it's like little presents from heaven, as long as they don't hit you as they fall. then it's a bit more like lightning bolts i suppose. i know what you're thinking, dad, and this is not the same as dumpster diving... if anything it's like eating roadkill, without the kill part.
-i am actually so hot right now if there was a body of water anywhere near, i'd be in it. but i've never been so happy to have swass and swack, hearing that there's supposed to be a bit of a cold spell at home this weekend. i've been cutting hair at a childrens shelter and i think today they were pretty grossed out by the sunburned, sweaty hairdresser, but what's a girl to do?

on that note, i am going to go and maybe i'll even locate some ice cream. yes, a wonderful idea!
hopefully this finds you peacefully getting ready for the holidays. sending some magic mushroom holiday love your way ;)