Just a quicky from Querétaro, where I am visiting Julieta and her little brother, Javier. Last night we connected with Maria J. and wandered the town, marvelling at the little things, like the way the sculptures climbing the churches look when all lit up in the darkness, then came back here and watched The Lover (good movie, incredible scenery) and ate chips and chocolate :) Goodness is it wonderful to be out of the city and enjoying simple pleasures!

Anyways, this is more than anything a shout out to the folks from whom I have been getting the worried ¨are you still alive¨ type letters, and those to whom I owe e-mails from forever ago. So sorry, but keeping in touch has been nearly impossible these days, given the time constraints at work, which is my only reliable computer access... Will try to update in more detail when I have a chance, but for recent history: I now have a permanent Mexican drivers license which, accompanied by an international license (a scam I won´t even go into now), I can use in any country (screw you to the G and L graduated licensing folks in Ontario & BC who don´t let you carry over when you move from province to province without enough time to finish your silly drawn-out money-making systems :P), am very disturbed by the recent attacks in Spain (for the victims and their loved ones, of course, but also in fear of the way the anti-terrorism thrust may be used for political interests & to instigate restrictions of civil liberties in the Latin world similar to the post-9-11 Patriot Act in the US and Bills C-35, C-36, & C-42, etc. in Canada), am planning to volunteer a forum in Puebla at end of the month to demonstrate alternative menstrual products and then travel (Taxco and Oaxaca current liklihoods) during Semana Santa, am almost done with the GEO for Youth in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Capacity Building Manual (the main reason I have been having trouble making time for any sort of on-line journaling or personal correspondence of late), and am slowly but surely getting the Capoeira basics (making me realise I really must do something about my lack of arm and ab strength if I want to improve)...

Okay, Julieta and Javier have been waiting for me for over half an hour, must get out and enjoy some pollution-free air before I get back to el D.F.

Cheers!!