Who is John Galt?

Just finished my second Ayn Rand book in a little while and I have mixed feelings. As someone with a Lit background, I hate to admit that I can't bring myself to savor, much less just plain read, every single word she writes in her 1000+pg novels (I'm beginning to think Ayn Rant would be a suitable moniker). However, the woman has things to say that make me think.

A couple months ago I read "The Fountainhead" (1943). Besides the fact that the novel begins with a man in his birthday suit plummeting off a ledge and diving into a freezing cold lake, there were several other factors (besides a repeat) that kept me turning pages. Rand, as doubly evidenced in "Atlas Shrugged" (1957), knows how to develop characters (perhaps a bit exhaustively). They are all extreme representations of her philosophy, Objectivism--and although what her protagonists do or say becomes almost painfully predictable by around page 150--you can't help but keep reading because these characters, even in their hopeless inevitability, are a compelling and uncomfortable reminder of too many people in one's own life.

I loved the "Fountain Head" and have recommended it since to several people. Roark is inspiring in his rebellion against mindless and comfortable conformity, yet his self-defeating nature is foiled by Rand's need to redeem him by ultimately making him a hero in the public's eye (which pretty much undermines what Raynd tries to establish in the first 800 pages). I guess I expected Roark to fail simply because I though the whole premise of the novel was to prove just how impossible it is for someone like Roark to exist in the world's current state. Either I was wrong, or Rand just didn't have it in her to make her (anti-)hero suffer the same kind of martyrdom that any one like Roark would experience in real life.

Hidden within the verbose paragraphs are some great quotes and if I hadn't made a personal pact with myself to never hold a pen in my hand when I'm reading for leisure, I'm sure I"d be able to reference a few. Regardless, I think Rand is most convincing (and enjoyable) when she doesn't try so hard at making her characters simply regurgitate her philosophy for her readers through long-winded monologues. I thought her use of architecture in "The Fountainhead" was ironically reminiscent of Milton (though his usage was of course much more subtle), yet effectively original and appropriate, precisely because architecture, in it's practicality, is easily disassociated from art and history and its implications of conformity.

Now, I've said I liked "the Fountainhead" but I must admit, I've begrudged Rand's disappointing anti-feminism (at least aspects of it-- I would agree in large part with P. Shwart'z article, "Feminism's attack on Objectivism-- if I could figure out links, I'd put one here...). For a woman who is herself in many ways an anachronism (she was after all writing in the 30s, just a decade after women;s suffrage was granted in America), she is surprisingly incapable of creating a woman character who does not need a man to put her into submission (psychologically or sexually) in order to recognize in herself the kind of value any other male protagonist in "the Fountainhead" or "Atlas Shrugged" seems to be just born with. It would have been interesting to be able to talk to Ayn Rand about her thoughts on being a woman and Her role in Rand's philosophy -- although I'd love to celebrate her utopic vision and embrace the kind of person she believes it takes to create that kind of existence, I have a hard time believing she thought a woman could be that person. I hoped that because it was written later, that "Atlas Shrugged" would have redeemed what I interpreted as Rand's (unconscious?) anti-feminism, and if there was a character who would have done it, it should have been Dagny Taggart-- but alas, I was disappointed again by Dagny's pathetic behavior towards the end of the novel when she finally meets The John Galt. I don't want to give it away for those of you who haven't read it, but, man! What a disappointment when she is reduced to willingly ironing and cooking and cleaning for a man, who not only has made it his sole purpose to destroy her precisely because she is the most successful capitalist the world has ever known (and a woman to boot), but who leaves her only wanting the title of wife when she could have perhaps saved the world from its own lack of self-respect.

Am I being too harsh?

I will say, reading "Atlas Shrugged" was the perfect book to read at this time in my life when my family consistently finds itself asking, "Where are those people who want to make their lives better and understand that working hard is the answer? Where are the people who aren't looking for ways to take advantage of someone who has found success and would rather get something for nothing, rather than do more to get everything?"

Too many people here in Guatemala are complacent. Too many people think it's enough to show up to work and get a pay check that helps them barely get by, when instead they could be striving for something more. My dad's company has through the years fostered several different employees who have wanted more for themselves than the kind of life someone who simply cuts threads all day long can look forward to. My dad's plant manager was one of those people: she began as a "despitador"-- she had a 3rd grade education and cut threads that the sewing operators failed to do themselves. She worked up the ladder and after 10 years was making $60,000 a year, learned English, traveled back and forth to the States with her family (because she qualified to get a Visa), bought a home, several properties and her kids went to excellent schools. Now, this story doesn't have a happy ending since when my parent's closed down their big plant, she took the company car and ran away with it, BUT the point is, at least she had at one point that vision for herself and her family that pushed her to be more than what was perhaps expected of her.

This county has so much potential but it is unfortunately a perfect example of the kind of "looters" Rand talks about in "Atlas". Too many people clocking in, just waiting for the clock to hit 5 o'clock so they can go home and get a paycheck at the end of the week. It is so hard to motivate people here! We are now paying all benefits in every paycheck to our factory workers so as not to have to pay in June and December, 2 full month's worth of paychecks that were not earned through production (it's a national benefit system). Usually what happens is that companies can't afford to cut checks for $100,000 two times a year so the payments get spread across a couple months, or in worst case scenarios, it doesn't ever get paid. So we decide as an extra incentive to get the best operators, we will put this into every paycheck, so whenever an operator gets paid, they actually get an additional 43% (yes 43%!) on their paycheck to cover these benefits. So what happens? Yes, we get great operators. Yes, they are happy. But where is the production?? The majority could care less about exerting themselves and hitting efficiency goals because they are getting the biggest paycheck they've ever gotten and it's guaranteed. It is so frustrating-- especially since this is money they would be getting any ways! So essentially, it's better to pay minimum wage with production goals and then not pay them their benefits come June and December, then follow the law, guarantee them their benefits, and pay them the money up front. It's ridiculous. I tried once to explain that if they could hit their goals, they could put aside an extra couple hundred dollars a month and get a substantial savings to buy some property, get their kids to a good school, etc, but it falls on deaf ears. And those who do want something better are stonewalled by the rest of their production team. It's frustrating, really frustrating.

I have learned so much in the past couple years and not just about running a business. Dave and I always find ourselves saying that life here is REAL LIFE. That the lives we lived in the States was void of the kind of experiences that 99% of the world experiences every day. We have seen just about every thing you can think of here and have witnessed the entire spectrum from the best to the worst of humanity. We have learned so much and have probably been, unfortunately, hardened because of it. Nonetheless, I'm grateful for the experience. I know Dave and I have learned HOW TO WORK and the frightening and onerous responsibility one has as an EMPLOYER. I think Ayn Rand understood this too and I am grateful that she had the vision and talent to put it into words that are for the most part, a great read.

Highs (and lows)

To celebrate the great week we had, we decided to cave into the twins' demands and finally take a trip to Antigua. It's one of our favorite cities and it's just 40 minutes away. It's an old colonial town that is flooded by tourists but is otherwise a place with great history, food, and of course, photo ops for the twins.

The twins love Antigua because it's a great opportunity for them to run wild get wet, and really, what more could a couple of 2 year olds ask for? When we came a year ago, the twins got soaking wet splashing around in the town square fountains and it was funny because all of these Guatemalans crowded around to warn us that if we didn't get the twins changed out of their wet clothes immediately, they would die. seriously, death was actually mentioned.

Here is one of the twin's favorites--you can just hear Linda saying, "Look at that lady's boobies, Mommy!"
Although this one (Linda) was delighted to be around the fountains, there was some hesitation at first...
Expecting it to take a minute for them to get a little more comfortable with the water, I turned my head to soak in the beautiful scenery. When I glanced back, I saw this:



And when we told them that they had mistaken the fountain for a pool, and that they could only splash, and not swim in the fountain, we saw this:


The twins then proceeded to find ways to still get soaking wet while not technically swimming in the fountain.

Such determination lead Lucy to discover this:


The day just got better and better for the twins and pretty much peaked at the horsey-ride around the park. They hopped on Napolean rode with no fear. Linda, in front, never took her eyes off the path, and Lucy held on fiercely, and both enjoyed every minute of this fantastic adventure.
My mom walked beside them as I took pictures, and Dave walked around the park giving them someone to waive at every 100 yards or so...


We had some delicious quiche at a little French restaurant and Lucy and Grandpa Holmes had a good time smelling the flowers at our pretty little table.


Later on in the day, we stumbled upon this old man who was wearing a crazy outfit and playing music on what only tourists supposed to be "native instruments," but were in fact NOT-- he was playing drums on tortoise shells for crying out loud and blowing on a trumpet that looked like it came from a stick he had found on his way over there--- anyway, it was funny because all these tourists were oohing and ahhing at him like they were witnessing this "native" moment when in fact, it may as well have been my dad out there wearing some hippie clothes just trying to find a way to keep himself busy on a Saturday afternoon.

Anyway, the music caught Linda's attention and when the girl hears music, she stops in her tracks and starts to dance. I don't know what it was she was doing-- a mix of ballet and break dancing I guess, because one moment she would throw her arms gracefully in the air and throw her leg backwards and balance on one foot and then the other minute, she'd be rolling around on the floor but stopping really abruptly in any given position just in case we wanted to take a picture (which I would have done but the camera battery had died at that point...sigh). Anyway, people started crowding around Linda and clapping for her and it was just hysterical-- she didn't even realize people were watching her because people would walk right up to her and smile and wave and she'd just ignore them completely. Lucy was so proud of her sister, too-- at the end of a song, people would clap and Lucy would yell, "hooray for Linda!" It was pretty funny.

All in all the day was great. We all had a wonderful time and I would say if not for a couple nasty incidents that occurred in the closing hours of the day, it would have been just fantastic. What happened? So this was little Linda earlier in the day:



And this was Linda at the end of the day:

Linda ate it running around the pool. I wasn't there, but apparently it didn't sound that good since you could hear her head hitting the pavement. She cried for about 2 minutes and then was fine-- no sign of concussion and there wasn't even a bump the morning after. Anyway, I'm hoping this is the first and LAST head injury we ever have to deal with...

The other incident was all Lucy.


Judging by the look on her face, I think even Lucy had some regrets about this one...

Today was a good day

Yes, it was. In fact, I will go so far as to say it was a great week. Got some great new programs from Bebe, all our orders cleared customs "paperless", goods made it into the DC on time, and the lines are humming. Dave came up with some fantastic new designs for sportswear, got our website up and running (www.textilesdelmundo.com) and we are going to start our own line pretty soon. Things are looking up, my friends, things are looking up.

And the twins...well those little rascals are just about the most wonderful things I have ever laid eyes on. I will post some pics tomorrow but they are really growing up to be just lovely little ladies. They talk all the time and often to each other, which of course provides hours of entertainment to those lucky enough to hear them chatter away. "Linda, do you want some of my lolly-lop?" "Yeah, I do, thanks, Lucy." "Um, okay, but only a little bit for you, okay?" Seriously, it is so funny hearing them master the art of negotiation. They often refer to each other as "sister" now too, which just warms my heart, except for when they say, "Mommy, I don;t like my sister." But even that is cute.

I actually said something terrible to one of them yesterday which I regretted the second it escaped my mouth. One of the twins asked me for something absolutely ridiculous, I don;t remember what exactly, but I remember what I said: " Yes, sweet heart, you can have anything you want because I love you." Seriously, you look into those big brown eyes and see how easily you say "no".

Prelude to the Week o'Fun

Well after several failed attempts to pack up our bags and go on a much needed (and deserved) family vacation, we finally decided to buy tickets to Cali and leave the next day. Some of you may be thinking, that is so cool, you can just buy a ticket and leave in 24 hours... I wish it were that exciting and romantic! It was more along the lines of that final straw successfully breaking the camel's back and ta da, adios Guatemala! Honestly, we weren't sure we'd be coming back-- it's been a rough a couple years my friends and I was beginning to think someone up there was telling us enough was enough and it was time to move back to America. In retrospect, considering that we did in deed return, I'm hoping it was more of a, "time to go and take a family vacation but then be sure to come back."

So what exactly spurned this spontaneity? Well, for months we had been planning a trip with the Riches to make up for a trip we flaked out on last year (again-- it was completely out of our hands). Anyway, we had been pining for a getaway with these guys and it had been months since we'd seen them so it was high time we went on a little vacation together to reminisce about the good old days sans kids and responsibility, while the kids got to know each other a little better.

Well, the nature of the monster we call "work" is one which prevents us from making any long-term plans. The last 4 trips I've taken to the States have been planned 24 hours in advance, one of which entailed me showing up to the airport to buy a ticket for a flight that left in 70 minutes. Not so fun. So naturally we were waiting again to the last minute to see if we could go on what I had built up in my mind to be just about the best time I could possibly fathom. The twins too were getting excited, everyday announcing that they would be "going on an adventure with Charlie" which while it warmed my heart, also induced an astronomical sense of anxiety, tightening up my chest as I worried that this dream just might not come to fruition if something came up at the very last minute. And oh boy, did something come up.

6am and I am teaching my early morning seminary class when we get a phone call. Someone broke into the factory and stole about half our machines, drugged up our guard and that was all we knew. Besides all the machines (and not to mention our guard's life in question), we had a crazy amount of merchandise that was packed and ready for a shipment for that afternoon and if that was gone...well, I burst into tears. And my poor seminary class... and here I must regress. These kids are unreal. They are so dang good. Really, so good. So this missionary president's kid, Gabriel Martinez, looks at me in my frazzled state as I sit there mumbling about how everything that could possibly go wrong in my life has gone wrong, and that I just plain couldn't take it anymore, and he says, "Liz, do you want to say a prayer?" Bless his heart. They offered a prayer and still, I'm left thinking about how grateful I am they were there at that moment to help.

Well, a couple hours passed and what ensued is what Guatemalan's consider to be an intensely thorough "investigation" performed by the national police/mafia, accompanied by the usual threats of water-boarding for anyone who they considered a suspect. The situation promised to get uglier when they questioned Dave with, "And you are one of only three who have a set of keys, correct?" Anyone who knows Dave knows that Dave's first reaction to even hearing about the robbery was to assume he'd be key suspect, so the guys in the black jump suits with big guns and bushy mustaches only exacerbated his unsubstantiated (though otherwise entertaining) paranoia.

Once Dave was removed from the top 5 list of suspects, the investigation really started moving. Turns out it was an inside job with old Domingo the guard orchestrating it all. Nice. Regardless, we had 3 huge orders that were supposed to ship in 5 days and we were missing half of our machines. What were we going to do? I was convinced the heaven's had spoken, it was time to close the operation down, count our losses, and move back home (wherever that is...). Dave could do design, I could finish the Phd and that was that. Well, Brent would have nothing to do with that. The man does not give up. He bought as many machines as he could, rented what he couldn't and they were up and running in 24 hours. It was an amazing, admirable feat.

I was still not convinced, however, and that afternoon, I bought our tickets to Cali. We needed a break and time to think about our future and what on earth we were supposed to do with ourselves in the interim. Dave hesitantly agreed and I called the Riches with 24 hours notice announcing that we would in fact be joining them in Palm Springs. This was perhaps a bit presumptuous of course to assume that these guys still wanted us to tag along but we threw caution to the wind and we were off.

These guys are the greatest hosts-- I highly recommend you befriend them if you want at least one guaranteed fantastic vacation a year. They do get a little peeved when you beat them their own card games, but besides that, extremely gracious hosts. We actually stayed at Mike's parent's house and besides having a panic attack every time the twins got near the Ming Dynasty pottery they had in the entryway, it was truly a great week.

I'll write more about the trip itself next time, but for now let me say:

I am grateful for:

United Airlines and $450 r/trip tickets to LAX on 24 hour notice.
Fox Rent-a-car and $15 a day car rentals.
The Riches for taking us in and showing us one great time, also on 24 hour notice.
And...
Dave and the twins and the complete and utter happiness and peace I feel when I'm with them.
My parents and for their example of integrity and perseverance, and of course for letting us leave them when things couldn't possibly get worse so we could go and regroup, and spend some time with our babes.