March 2012

I leave for the first world in a couple of hours. I will be working as a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Laconia and Plymouth NH with adult and geriatric clients in an outpatient behavioral health setting. It seems to be a very good job and I am looking forward to it. I will be living in a Marriott hotel. I have a day or two to adjust before I start work on Monday.
I am still working on my writing.…I know what I need to do—I hope the discipline will kick in when I am ready. I may take a poetry course to study language. But I also have to study psychopharmacology and other things for my job. It has been very hot in Paradise. I have had to wear covered shoes when I ride my quad—otherwise my feet burn. I love not being able to do things because of the heat…pure tranquility…Joe said it is like being bit by a teetzee fly… I call it “pure being”. My peace was interrupted by a whirlwind trip to the States to get fingerprints for my license application for New Hampshire. That two day trip wore me out. I had a cold for a few days and stopped my noon swim..
Mid-February, we celebrated the 6th anniversary of the Black Sheep by having a Costa Rican beer festival. Joe and Gunter went down to Malpais to pick up a keg from a microbrewery down there. We have also been getting beer from Volcan Brewing company in the Arenal area. We do have a website; www.blacksheeppubeuropea.blogspot.com I posted a few pics and will try to do more. Joe has been contacted by John Howells about updating the new “Choose Costa Rica”. There is a section about Joe and the pub in the book. And check out the write-up in Thirsty Pilgrim. www.thirstypilgrim.com We are “the pub at the end of the world”—the March 8th entry.
Mark and Cheryl were here from New Orleans. Cheryl made a video and took some amazing pictures, to be posted soon. Mark brought a red plastic trombone. We wanted him to play at the anniversary party but the music was very disorganized. But people danced and enjoyed the beer—it was a good but crazy party. And we heard Mark play on and off all week.
We had our big Saint Patrick’s Day party. Alejandro arranged a rock band from San Jose. Joe’s nephew, Chris, and a friend visited from the states. About 200 people. Lots of dancing. Six beers on tap. Lots of conversation.
We are still looking to sell our paradise here and move inland where it is cheaper. Now we are exploring the Lake Arenal area. Best sites for lots, so far, is www.arenalbuyersrealty.com But first we have to sell here—and if we can’t sell, we will stay in Paradise forever. We are the pub at the end of the world, after all.
My next post will be from New Hampshire.. Stay in touch. Love Joe and Helena