Sometimes it rains

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Patt and I were walking Deuce around the block a day or so ago and got caught in a rather brief, intense rain "event?" .  See Deuce looking toward me and Patt standing back out of the rain and wind.  Rain is a bit difficult to pick up with a camera shot — try it sometime, but it is the gray looking stuff in the photo.  

 we are not above the clouds — the gray is rain and it is falling think and fast.  Fills the streets and gutters full in a hurry.

 on another day we were on the deck at the Kooziez office / Stephen and Jen's apartment after-close-of-business and a storm rolled in from the east I think.

 It got real dark, dramatic looking,  The black building on the far side of the mirrored building is the Tower Bank Building and is another of those landmark buildings in town and this one we do walk by often — it was the subject of a post last year too.

 wind was picking up

 and the sea had that "angry" look— when the rain started everything just looked gray.

 thought I needed a baby picture to brighten the post.  and this little guy sure does that.  He does some serious sleeping too, just not in long stretches — apparently he is quite fond of naps of just a couple of hours each - without regard for day or night - according to Jen, so when he should be up playing, he is napping.   and napping - short really sweet little naps

This is another of the gray looking rain shots out our bedroom window toward the Tower Bank building — it is the gray looking thing sticking up out of the rain just to the left of the apartment in the foreground

 and here is another view out our bedroom window on a clear day and the Tower Bank building is rather distinct.  (this shot is framed a bit to the left of the one above- but basically the same view)— So rain in addition to the heat is a part of the deal here in case you did not know.  We do live next to the jungle.—  and not just concrete- .

though there is plenty of concrete and more and more of it.— note the KFC and Pizza Hut - lots of exotic food here too.

Balboa Union Church

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Sunday afternoon Patt and I went to church with parents of one of Stephen and Jen's friends.  They have lived here a little over a year and go to Balboa Union Church built in 1917 - it is getting on up there in years..  

 It is in the old Canal Zone in the middle of the old military district and once had quite a large congregation of American military and civilian engineers associated with the canal.  Now the congregation appears to be multinational about 30% Panamanian, and is not very large.  The service was in English and Spanish- the preacher a German Lutheran who has been living in Argentina.

 The building is not air-conditioned, but has very high ceiling, is on top of a hill and has lots of windows and fans.

It is interesting to go into the old military zone around the canal.  Lots and lots of big stately buildings that appear to be either empty or only partially used, and in a gradual state of decay.  Man of the obvious barracks type buildings are now apartments and officer's quarters private homes.

Our apartment- and neighborhood.

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Patt and I and then Fa and Jim are renting an apartment on the eighth floor of Parque Marbella.  It is in the Marbella section of the City (clever name for the apartment huh). and quite nice.

 The view is very very nice, gets a great breeze some of the time.  This sea breeze, v land breeze — here though it is jungle breeze and hot.  Don't know if I have mentioned that Panama is hot or not but it may be a good time to do so.

 The living / dinning room is quite nice, see Pacific out window and neighbors too.  The A/C is a savior.

 The kitchen is well appointed and looks into the living room

 the other view of the living room

 and down the hall (seen through the bay to the kitchen in the photo above) are two bedrooms and two bathrooms.  Photo below is master bedroom — the large bath room has a large closet too.  Did not mention but just off the kitchen is a maids quarters in case you traveled with one.  (it is not furnished)

 street view in front of the apartment looking away from the ocean.  note school busses on the left.  We are alado de Escuela Japonesea de Panama.  Makes for easy direction telling.

 The view back down the street.  The red flowered tree really is pretty — school busses on the right in photo below.  (note the "twisty building in the background) At the Red flowering tree we make a turn when walking to Stephen and Jens and walk up a rather narrow street lined with apartments and single family homes.

 It is a pretty street with several trees left standing in the stree with little circles around them.

 as shown in this photo.

 and then you get to Calle 50 a major business street with lots of traffic and sites of construction.  Note the tall building in the distance on the right. it is the same in the photo   looking down the street away from the ocean.  It will show up in a number of photos of the skyline - it is distinctive and from our location it is just in a central location though we do not go directly past it, it seems to often be in our line of sight.  Jen calls it the twisty building.—

did I mention photogenic and patient

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See the little baby, see the little baby sleeping.  Such peaceful rest, so oblivious to the pending chaos about to break around him.  His father was away on a business trip and Raleigh was enjoying a quiet early afternoon.

 Into that afternoon walked the most pleasant of young English ladies with a cute English English accent who brought in a ton of photographic equipment.  Raleigh's Grandfather did the cowardly act and went to the buy a phone card or something leaving the poor guy.

Raleigh was photographed and them photographed some more.

Photo below was the back drop to a little kid trying to get in a nap.  In lower left of the photo see the little basket with the blue blanket, and the little child.

Somehow he managed to continue to sleep. Patt and Joanna who also were taking pictures report that he did sleep most of the photo shoot which from what I have heard went on quite some time.  (I witnessed only a few minutes of it- pretty much just able to get the photo of "the big picture" above)

Raleigh is rather photogenic

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Been a while so just to get in a little update from baby land.  Raleigh remains a central part of what we are doing and looking at.  

 Much discussion on exactly who he looks like and right now consensus moves around a lot.  I am thinking he might be looking mostly like Raleigh.  He does look a lot like Stephen around the nose and eyes.  Jen thinks his expressions also are like his Dad's.  (the various crinkly face ones that match emotions) (and body functions?)

and Grandmama does think he holds very very well.  Especially in the little ball he curls himself into at times.  

Yesterday was Laura's birthday so we called and had delightful visit via Skype

 The two newest of our grandchildren got to meet for the first time.  However, both Luke and Raleigh, in their Mom's laps, were more interested in their Mom's than visiting across the internet.  Perhaps in a few years they will not be such mama's boys but right now they are just that.

 except for a bit of Dad time catching a few zzzz's on the couch.

nine photos nine minutes

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A few minutes ago I went up front to "Kooziez Central" to see if Yanna had a phone charger that would match the phone I had, (someone has lost our charger).  Anyway Central was hard at work.  Stephen's desk is left foreground in this photo and back left in the second.

 To the extreme right of this photo at 90 degrees is the location of all the construction last time I was here, now it is primarily behind me in this photo and out the kitchen window.

 Anyway, back into the back of the apartment, Patt and Jen are at work.  Patt doing real work for back home, and Jen making a list, because Jen makes lists.

 Photo below was my station, and note the baby monitor next to my computer.  I could both see and conceivably hear Raleigh, should he complain

This was to verify that all of perhaps eight feet away around a door way - not closed, he was indeed just fine.

 About that time, door bell rings, Deuce gets somewhat excited, she stands, ears perk up and she walks around - perhaps paces would be more flattering.  Joanna has returned from grocery shopping.

 Lou is preparing lunch - coming soon.

 Out Lou's window, ahhh the sweet sound of jack-hammers, and construction machinery

 and meanwhile back at the baby monitor- all is well

So goes nine minutes.  and if he -Raleigh fusses, I got him.



This afternoon, I am going to the gym.  That is after Patt and I go grocery shopping, we gotta get settled into our apartment too.  It, by the way is very very nice.  We like it very much - we moved in yesterday.

today sure was quiet

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Actually today started very very early -- Stephen, Raleigh and I watched the Spurs beat the Clippers in the late NBA game - those west coast games sure do end late - even in Panama.  Anyway, Raleigh got an introduction to the value and elegance of Wake Forest players Tim Duncan (Spurs) and Chris Paul (Clippers) play.  Well perhaps he will have to look at the highlights on Sports Center.  I too may have to watch for some of the highlights as the closer to midnight it got, the harder it was for me to keep awake.  The warm little lump on my chest sure was nice though.

 The next day, he did get a bath, Jen is really good at getting this done, and Raleigh does as previously reported like it.  Joanna has been observing and documenting too.

 The brain trust at work below, getting Raleigh ready for his post bath activities.  They pretty much consist of being held.

he seems to like being held, as in likes it very very much - even more than his bath, Joanna here, holding him,— note - he is sleeping, sometimes he stirs ever so slightly .  The blanket in the background here, the blue and white on is the one Patt made.

 As you can see, here Raleigh continues his sleep.  When he stirs to much, Jen nurses him and then back to sleep he goes, we are talking major difficult child here.

 Patt does like holding him too and I think he did get in quite the nap.  On  this day, visitors were nil, and outside activities were for the first time accomplished.  At the time this very photo was taken Jen was out-of-sight-and-sound-and-ready-reach of Raleigh for the first time.  Sure-nuff —  Patt here is Raleigh's first baby sitter (sorry about that Fa).  (it was Joanna's fault,)   Joanna  convinced Jen that she could trust us while the two of them went to the near-by (block and a half  away ) drug store for more pampers.  

And per photo evidence above, Patt did keep Raleigh safe and sound the entire 45 minutes Jen was gone.  Just think soon he will be off to college.