Yesterday we tried to do the unthinkable – getting 3 things accomplished! When we first moved to Costa Rica, we were “warned” that if we got one thing on our list accomplished, to think of that as a successful day.
I had a dental appointment at 2:50 p.m. in Escazu; went smoothly except I have to return next Tuesday to see a Root Canal Specialist and then meet with the dentist afterwards. Between you and me, they can pull the tooth….not relishing the possibility of a root canal. First thing accomplished. Loud applause, please!
Then off to CIMA for a bone density test. Got registered for that and paid for it; waited a bit to be taken back for the test. Just as they called my name, Joni called and said your appointment with Dr. Arbaca needs to be changed, he had an emergency. That office only speaks Spanish (except for the Dr.) and I can muddle through it; however, on the phone is just too friggin’ challenging for me! Enter Joni!!!
So as I’m being walked to the “bone density room”, I’m trying to come up with a time for the new appointment; settled for 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
So, 2 of 3 things were accomplished and it was a very successful day in my mind!!!
Living in Costa Rica means you just have to go with the flow – if you are unable to do that, this might not be the best place for you! LOL
Pura Vida…..it’s another gorgeous day on the mountain side!
Happy May Day!
Posted on: May 1, 2013
- In: Alajuela | Atenas | Costa Rica | Holidays | Living in Costa Rica | misc. stuff | Politics | Retirement | Uncategorized
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Back in the old country when I was but a wee lass……May Day, May 1st, was a great holiday. We spent the week before May 1st making May Day baskets. Then we would fill them with candy, spring flowers, etc. – on May 1st, you would deliver your May Day baskets, hang them on the front door or your friend’s homes, ring the door bell, and run like hell so they wouldn’t see who was delivering May Day baskets to you! Sort of signified the coming of spring in Michigan (for us, anyway).
I kept up the tradition with our girls for awhile too….of course, by then, people had no clue what was going on…hmmm, perhaps that’s the beginning of dumbing down America! LOL
Here in Costa Rica it’s ”labor day” and most things are closed.
With President Obama coming here on Friday, traffic will be a worse mess than normal; except for the closed roads. We live on the side of a mountain where planes coming in to land at Juan Santa Maria airport, make their wide turn in their approach. We are hoping to see Air Force One make that approach!
I had wanted to go and see the “parade” but decided to heed the warnings of traffic delays, etc. , so we’ll just stay home and watch it on TV.
Welcome to Costa Rica on Friday, President Obama…..too bad you can’t come to Atenas and meet lots of ex-pats!
Pura Vida!
- In: Knitting
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Some friends, Frances and Peggy, went to Nicaragua last week for a few days of R & R and to feed the street dogs and to put flea and tick stuff on them. Frances has Animal Lighthouse Rescue in Atenas.
When they returned, I got a text from her saying she brought home a Momma and two babies and one of the babies was for me! When do you want to come get her? My panic mode goes into gear because Mark has been adamant about saying “NO MORE DOGS”!
Sofi had an appointment with Dr. Douglas on Friday so I decided we would go after that. Mark was not interested in going!
I called after Sofi was done and we headed out to Frances’.
We were greeted with a chorus from all her dogs – not sure how many she has right now, must be at least 10! Sofi is not usually intimidated, but she is when she goes there! LOL She doesn’t want to get down and is content to be held the whole time.
After a little bit of talking, Frances said, “well, come meet your new baby.” So we went to the garden area of their front door and lo and behold, look what was waiting for me.
Frances had purchased a large Momma giraffe and two babies and one of the babies was mine! I got goosebumps, a lump in my throat, could have shed tears…..all over this giraffe!!! I so need a fix of visiting some live ones! LOL It’s been cloudy the last couple of days so I don’t have picture of Mollie, my new giraffe, in sunlight! Maybe tomorrow.
I have the best friends in the world!!! She said when she saw it, she knew she had to bring it to me….I am so happy with her. She said people would look strange at their vehicle because one of the giraffes was looking out the window!!! Said there were lots of smiles and waves on their way home.
Maricela, Dylana and Nazareth will absolutely go crazy when they see her!!!
Thank you so much Frances….you’re the best!
Pura Vida from “giraffe manor”.
Here it is April 12 already! Can’t believe how fast the month is flying by….yay!, since it’s one of the hot months! Rainy season is creeping up on us….some days it rains now, some days it doesn’t!
Yesterday was Juan Santa Maria Day – we kind of think of it as the US’s version of Columbus Day; some places closed, some places open.
We brought Nazareth, Dylana and their father, Luiz, home from town on Wednesday. Nazareth couldn’t wait to show me some school work that she got a 100% – Excellent on!!! She was so proud of that.
Knowing they wouldn’t have school, I invited the girls to come swim; however, I didn’t specify a time (live and learn); they were here at 8:30 a.m. to swim; we were still in bed!!! Altho’ Hernan came to collect for the water bill at 7:30 a.m. because Mark forgot to pay it on April 5 at 3 p.m.! LOL
Maricela was with them so I offered to make coffee; cut up some homemade banana bread also; coffee pot is done and yep! Did it again….we had the best hot water going. I forgot to put the coffee in; we both got a laugh out of that!!! So I made another pot of coffee and then we sat on the rancho watching the girls in the pool.
Nazareth likes to pretend she’s doing water ballet, which is something new for her. But then again, there’s always something new for her going on.
Dylana is busy with school work and playing futbol (soccer).
Just another day in Pura Vida land!
Our friends Bill and Sandy just returned from a humongous trip that included Singapore and India and Bali and Australia.
Don’t know about you, but just thought of planning for such a long trip – they were gone for about 8-9 weeks! I would have to plan now
if I wanted to take my dream trip to Giraffe Manor in Africa.
I’m not sure if they went to Goa, India, but if they didn’t it was one of the few places they didn’t visit on their latest and longest trip. I bet they did visit because even though Goa is the smallest of the India states, they have a huge amount of tourism because of the beautiful beaches ancient Portuguese churches and more.
Portuguese? Yes, because Goa was an outpost in India for almost 500 years!
Sounds fascinating. I’ll be looking in Bill and Sandy’s photo slideshow to see if I can spot a Goa landmark.
What a glorious yesterday
Posted on: March 29, 2013
Once or twice a month we get together with two other couples, Mike and Joni and Pat and John for an afternoon of cards, following lunch. Yesterday was that day!!! I’m always impressed how other people “cook” and make delicious things, because my love of that is so “over”!
“I’ll Buy That” card game is always fun and a cause for some good ribbing!!! Yesterday was no different! Retirement is all about friends getting together for good times and a LOT of laughs.
Mark chose to walk into town because he knew I’d be coming along in the car. He made it almost to Kay’s before I happened upon him. He looked beat!!! For those that know where we live, this was a great accomplishment!!! But I will also add, he was very happy I came along when I did.
While we were playing cards, Sebastian called and asked us to come to his house for pizza last evening. He has the cutest little girls. The youngest isn’t a year old yet, very big brown eyes and always has a serious look on her face, till you stick a camera in her face and she just grins! It was so funny! (Picks are on facebook)
Delicious salad with a dressing concoction of his; great pizza and 2 bottles of wine later, we headed home.
I was so looking forward to watching IU play basketball; what a friggin’ disappointment! But I’m sure the team is even more disappointed than I am. Sad to see their season end.
But the best part of the day, I spent no time in the kitchen!!!! Living in Costa Rica is just Pura Vida!
Need a Tutor In New York City?
Posted on: March 13, 2013
I was buzzing around the innerwebs looking for a Spanish tutor or another online course and ran across this site offering tutors in NYC.
I’m impressed.
99% of their customers are satisfied. I bet they are all young ‘uns.
But with a money back guarantee on unused tutoring hours what the hey. Maybe I can entice them to take a trip to Costa Rica and stay with me for a few weeks. If they are hanging around the house, they would be harder to ignore than the books we have laying around.
The even offer Alphabetic Test Prep… you know the LSMFT stuff. (Are you old enough to remember that? – Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco.)
If our kids were interested in advanced placement classes, I sure would encourage them to go online for their studies. Mark watched a TED talk about the Kahn Academy and we are pretty convinced that education today has it backwards. Students need to study and home and do their homework in school where the teacher can help them, rather than the other way around.
At any rate, I’m still committed to learning Espanol. Maybe I need to have Mark teach me how to use the international keyboard so I can at least WRITE it properly.
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