Even the rigid timeline doesn't stop the silly hour, with its early morning waves of inexplicable hilarity, from creeping up right on schedule. I'm evaluating submissions for the "Agua" group when I come across a drawing of what appears to be a cowboy riding an ant in the ocean. Given the context, it is the funniest thing I have ever seen. I am not alone in my hysteria, as everyone seems in acuerdo, needing comic relief after too much time with no relief. I think the editorial team will be the last to fully appreciate the image, as it (unfortunately?) didn't make the cut for the final report. However, I think it has been burned into my memory, pencil-colour lasso and all...

In addition to playing fine art judge, I have voluntarily taken on the role of group masseuse, as necks and shoulders tend to get a little stiff after 18 hour days in plastic chairs in front of computers and flip charts. Needless to say, my services have been much in demand. I don't mind the energy transfer, but I'm a bit peeved that took off my silver ring, the one I've been wearing since high school, to do some choppy-type strokes and it disappeared. I know that Mexico is known for its affordable silver, but there's something about the sentimental value of a piece of metal I've carried around to every continent I've ever visited. Oh well.

Probably the funnest (I know that's not a word!) part of the work is getting to help Ixchel, the artist/designer charged with illustrating the themes. We're painting re-used cardboard (tissue, film, and cereal boxes, etc.) with various designs, which she is then chopping up and assembling into 3-D montages of stuff like climate change, natural disasters, etc. to be scanned into the book. It's super cool, and I am realizing how much adults miss out on when we give up arts & crafts time.

Oh, one more thing... People here are popping whole fried crickets and little fish (widely sold in plastic bags and flavoured with lemon and chilly) like they're honey-roasted peanuts or something. I think it's pretty yucky but they seem to think it's yummy... That's cultural relativity for ya, I guess!