NY-Sept 2009

NY Sept-- 2009

Now that I am on facebook and writing assignments for my class my blog entries are taking a back seat. I go back to Costa Rica the end of November. In Costa Rica, we now have our own telephone chip in our name so it will be easy (I think) to add data transfer service which is what we need for internet. Here in NY, I am researching phones which act as modems and software to make it possible to have Internet on the mountain—2 other people have it and I think the hard part is getting the chip, which we now have!

After 50 applications on Craigslist and at least 2 people trying to scam me—asking for money to be wired before seeing the apt--, I found a 3room apt in Astoria for $600 for the week of Joe and Andrez visit in mid –Sept. They were here for NY Craft Beer week, saw God of Carnage on Broadway, and discovered a wonderful up-and-coming street music group who played songs from the 20’s and 30’s.. It was great having them here—sometimes I joined them after work but usually I would hang out with them in the morning and go off to work on the 3-11 shift. Most weeks, I work 6-7 shifts because the work is there—the week they were here I only worked 5 shifts.

My new roommate is great—a dancer from Turkey. She has a Turkish friend staying with us now. I had a 21 year old here for a while and she was great too. Sharing living spaces has its advantages in meeting people and learning about the city. And people here are so busy there is plenty of privacy and time to myself.

A magazine called Health Care Traveler has accepted an article I wrote about being a travel nurse. I just signed the contract, I may or may not be compensated, but it is a start. I love my writing classes. I just completed a 6 week class on writing non-fiction and next week I start a 6 week creative writing class. Learning to write is at the very least turning me into a good reader. I just finished James Joyce’s “The Dubliners” and have some anthologies I am going through.

We may have lost the place in San Carlos. The people were under the impression that we had the money in hand even though we told them over and over that all our assets are tied up with our current place. We still are hoping to sell the house in Nosara this season and we still think San Carlos is where we want to be—we are not sure about the pub—we want to do it but only if it is practical and feasible financially. It rains a lot in San Carlos so we may look at Atenas, which is advertised as having the most perfect climate in the world. Both places are close enough to medical facilities, San Carlos may be safer; Atenas has been discovered by the Gringos which means it is likely to be more expensive. We will see. Selling our house is the next big project.

So this is the time to visit if you can. I think I have some friends coming for New Years but any other time. Clean air, warm breezes, lap pool, blue skies, pub, views of the ocean and the valley and the ocean 3 miles away. Paradise.

Write when you can. Or post on facebook. Or call—numbers on top of blog…Love Helena and Joe