December 11, 2005

December 2005 update

We are just back from Grenada, Nicaragua. It was great— colonial architecture, cafes, good restaurants, cheap internet. We went there to keep our tourist visa current so that we can drive legally in Costa Rica with our US license. We have to get our CR license within the next 3 months while our tourist visa is still active.

It was great to be in Nicaragua for the Xmas season. We spent most of our time in the city square at cafes and watching the festivities. Besides upcoming Xmas, we were there for a 9 day celebration of one of the feasts of the Virgin Mary. There were early morning and nightly fireworks and we saw one procession/parade with a marching band and the priest on a float where every so often he would be risen up on an electric platform and would bless the crowd with the host and crucifix. It was amazing to watch—I grew up Catholic with holy somber processions—nothing like this. We met an English couple who were doing extensive traveling and it was great to hang out with them.

I found help for my computers. Dan Shields, our local computer expert, was here and told me I have the wrong cell phone for Internet access and also that the power supply of my desk top is fried. He will help with both problems. I told him about how we recently lost a microwave and coffeemaker to power surges—the power supplies of these fried also. I learned that you have to actually disconnect all your appliances and electronic devices—it is not enough to turn them off. . This is part of the adjustment to living in the wilderness. I am now leaning about voltage regulators.

We finally bought benches in the hardware store. We had been trying for two weeks to buy them. This time, Joe did a mock performance in Spanish of how we have the money; they have the benches, we have been getting the runaround for two weeks, why can we not buy them. I, in the meantime, in Spanish, asked for the boss saying we had a problem. Before we knew it we had 5 people helping us and we bought the benches and arranged for delivery. Joe thinks his humorous tirade made the difference and I think it was me asking for the boss. We really don’t know. Arranging for delivery was another process. I visited the hardware store twice and then waited while they called the delivery person and stayed to watch the benches being loaded into the truck. We now have 2 benches in our garden and they look great.

My other big news is that I got my job in San Leandro, Calif. I had a telephone interview the other night night. I will be working for 13 weeks on the day shift on an inpatient unit where I have agreed to float to Psych Emergency. I will be there from Feb 13th until mid May and will work every other weekend. My next big challenge is working the logistics—flights, where to stay, and to make sure I make enough money that it is worth the traveling. It will be hard for me and Joe to be apart —he may actually visit-- but it will also be good to work and to bring in regular money. People should feel free to visit Joe while I am away or wait till I return. The key phrase is “feel free to visit.”

Construction is nearing completion and there is still a lot to do. We are hoping to open the pub in January and to have a party before I leave for my 3 month hiatus. We look forward to our friend Len visiting in January and there is also a possibility the English couple we met in Grenada may stop by.

Weather continues warm and sunny, the sunrise has shifted a bit to the north and with no clouds, there are more colors in the sky in the morning. Because the rain has ceased, the foliage is browning out. There are more monkeys. The roads have been repaired and are getting dusty. And the winds are here—still mild but building. Temperatures are from 70-90 and it will get warmer. Pura Vida. It is beautiful here all the time. Love Joe and Helena