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Perezoso lento (slow-moving sloth). Perezoso is also a word for lazy in Spanish.
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The predominant theme for the last several days has been yet more new animals. Our generous friends Valerie and Dan offered to hold down the fort at home while Erica and I headed out for a night on the town. Turns out that the most exciting event was on the way into town when we saw a car stopped on the road in front of us, with its headlights illuminating something laying still on the ground. Expecting the worst, I hopped out of the car to go offer some help. To my great surprise, it wasn't a child that had been hit by a car but instead a two-toed sloth laying in the street, apparently unharmed. The guys in the car in front of us had seen it slowly crawling out into the street before it stopped. After a couple more folks showed up, it was easily convinced to grab onto a branch so it could be escorted to the side of the road where it crawled off into the forest. Apparently sloths come down from the trees once a week with the intent of having their weekly bowel movement. A fascinating story on its own. Our margaritas were tasty but anticlimactic.
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Really cool insect in need of a name
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The diverse parade of insects to our patio continues with fervor. The creature above was actually found camouflaged brilliantly in our front yard on a palm tree trunk. At first glance it resembles a spider or possibly a shrimp but when its underside is examined or it moves, it looks much more like a grasshopper or cricket. Even though he spent a couple of nights in our insect B&B, we still can't identify him.
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Chicarra (Emerald Cicada)
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In contrast to the 17 year cicadas of our youth in the midwestern United States, the locally famous Chicarra appears annually in May or June and heralds the onset of the rainy season, as we're told. They can be extremely loud and the whistling teapot-like sound from several of the insects harmonize into a pulsating buzz that is really impressive.
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No worms welcome here
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Yesterday, all the kids in Henry's class were given two pills to take without any obvious explanation to him. Sullivan's teacher sent home a pair of pills for him to take as well. Apparently two times a year, a nurse comes from the town's health clinic to the school and gives a dose of abendazole to the kids. From what I can tell this is for prevention (maybe treatment too?) of parasitic infections in the kids. At least we know that some of us will be safe. Tomorrow will bring yet more exams but more importantly, my mom and dad who are coming to visit for two weeks.
Henry certainly looks as if he enjoys his sessions w/ those girl study buddies. In the dental chair Sullivan looks grim but acquiescing. I have read about sloths, mostly in sessions w/ elementary and middle school kids. They seem fascinated by the once weekly toileting. I don't remember anyone openly wishing for a similar physiology.
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