Saturday, May 29, 2010

Paqueta

I am officially an idiot. Surfing all day with no sunblock...what was I thinking? Once I figure out how to add pictures using a foreign computer you will see. I am the one that looks like a sundried tomato. Even my fingers are burnt.
Our Good Deed. We adopted a kitty named Paqueta. She looks about 3-4 weeks old, fits in the palm of my hand, and was abandoned at a ferry port (pictures forthcoming). There is no town there, no people, no other animals and she just appeared there the day we arrived. She adopted us and we could not leave her behind....she would have died. Our plan was to get her to a vet, get her papers so we could fly home with her. Unfortunately, this is not the states. There aren't vets where we were. There are no PetSmarts, Walgreens, or anywhere we could get her supplies. We were able to feed her milk from a soda lid, but taking buses was tricky. Where can she go to the bathroom? On my sweater is where. Yesterday we took her with us on the beach as we searched for the surf classes we wanted. Once we got there, the kitty didn't want to leave. She kept running back up to the little house. Luckily the people there loved her too and said they would take care of her. We spent last night with her and took her back there today. I am sad. We only got to keep her four days. She was the sweetest little thing with the biggest personality. She scared all the stray dogs.
Tomorrow we leave Samara and head up to Nicaragua. We are all anxious to reach Guatemala and settle in there. I am glad we visited Costa Rica, but Guatemala is home (sort of). Once there I will figure out this picture thing.

Friday, May 28, 2010

What day is it, anyway?

So much to say, but the sun is calling my name. It finally stopped raining today, but it is too late for our clothes. They are all moldy. After our beach walk we will be doing our laundry. I can't get away from it even on vacation. But here are a few hints about our travels...mango tree, tiny kitty, wasps nest, midnight hike. Perhaps tomorrow or the next day will come a story. What day is it, anyway?

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Costa Rica Day Two

What happened to day one, you ask. Well, I will tell you. Day one began on an airplane over Nevada. Our seats didn´t recline, they charged us for water, and although it was 2am we couldn´t sleep. Our flight connected through Fort Lauderdale where we had a three hour layover. My husband and I were planning on walking around the airport to get the circulation back in our legs, but we couldn´t leave the terminal without passing through security. At least there were lots of people watching to do.

We reached Costa Rica at 11:30 am. After a bus ride, wandering around San Jose for several hours, another bus ride, a ferry, a taxi, and another hour of walking we finally got to a motel. It was 10:30 pm. Did I mention that it was pouring down rain? And yes, we were walking. It didn´t bother me because I have traveled with my husband before and I knew what to expect. We go from one motel to the other trying to talk them down to a cheaper rate. Our buddy who is travelling with us was not prepared for all the effort so by the time we finally got settled he was cranky. Too bad for him. Cranky doesn´t help.

This morning after a great night sleep I was able to see where we landed. Free internet!!! And the most delicious breakfast ever. And it is still pouring down rain. Today we will try to make it to our final destination, but with the roads in such bad condition from the rain I don´t think it will happen. Well, that is part of the fun. You never know what you are getting when you travel with my husband.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Computer Vacation

I have been so glad that school is out for the summer that I haven't even touched a computer. I have spent my last week at the gym, visiting my family, and working (not very hard). Although I have missed my blogging buddies, I haven't missed sitting at this desk helping my husband study. Tonight we leave for Costa Rica for three weeks. I will probably be more consistant blogging there than I have been lately because it will be my connection to reality. See you there!!!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

I LOVE SUMMER

Thank goodness today it is all over. My husband took his final this morning and already has his grade for the class. We now have 6 weeks of stress-free living before it starts up again, but they will be the best six weeks of the year. Three of then will be spent in Costa Rica and three at the gym, enjoying the sun, and beach. I LOVE SUMMER!!!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

The Dangers of Chocolate Withdrawl

Captains Log stardate 2010, day three of the chocolate boycott. Thus far the experience has been uneventful but I sense a change on the horizon. My throat is sour and a cough is developing. As I never get a cold, I can only surmise that the lack of chocolate is at fault. I will try to muscle through this, but if I succumb to the call of the chocolate to cure the cold then I know that chocolate will be a part of my life forever. I only hope others will learn from me and not tempt the Gods of Chocolate.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Alarm clock

There is a window right by my bed that is covered with a thick blanket to keep out the bright lights of the street. The window is never opened. But, every morning when the cats decide that we have slept long enough they pull back that blanket and shine the street lights right across my face. It never fails to get me out of bed, no matter how late I fell asleep.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Fat and Happy

Not really. Fat and no clothes fit is more like it. But will I do anything about it? Probably not. Maybe just buy more clothes. Maybe start a fad diet that will end up increasing my weight by ten pounds. What I will do is hide the scale. That should help. Of course I could swear off chocolate for one month and see what that does. I will start tomorrow.....

Sunday, May 9, 2010

The Too Long Story

Ok, back to the Reality Dysfunction. The book that started out awkward, then became fascinating is now drudgery. I am almost finished with the second book and the thought of this story continuing for four more books is more than I can bear. Usually I just read the last couple of chapters when I am bored with a story so I can get "closure" but with a story that lasts 6 books doesn't give me that capability. How will I know the ending unless I plow through all those pages? Is it worth it? I will probably finish it and then sleep for a week to recover from the strain.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

I have been tagged by Niki. Since I am secretly jealous of her life I must do as she says and answer these five questions five times.

Where were you five years ago?
1. Living in Koreatown at the heart of gangland paying 1/3 of the rent I pay now.
2. Working at California Hospital learning to be a labor and delivery nurse, also at the heart of gangland.
3. Newly married to my Latin lover who had rules about me not going outside the apartment when he wasn't with me. I guess he forgot I lived there without him for three years and never got myself killed.
4. New parents to Amos and Annie (my kitties). Latin lover saw a mouse and finally agreed to a cat. I managed to convince him to get two.
5. Drowning in debt after two years of all school and no job.

Where would you like to be five years from now?
1. Living in my own place with no roommates, perhaps in Arizona where it is always warm.
2. Thinner. Even a little bit would be nice.
3. Back in school (again).
4. Latin lover out of school and bringing home the bacon.
5. Did I say I wanted to be living in my own place with no roommates? If I say it twice will it come true?

What is on your to-do list today?
1. Go to gym so I can be thinner.
2. Shop at Costco.
3. Read books (I am reading four right now. They all demand my attention.)
4. Put away laundry. The roommates clean the apartment. They even clean the kitchen so I don't have to usually have to do that, thank goodness.
5. Study Pediatric nursing with my Latin lover. That will take all day.

What five snacks do you enjoy?
1. Popcorn.
2. Oatmeal cookie dough.
3. Diet Coke.
4. Dried apples.
5. Chocolate chips.

What would you do if you were a Billionaire?
1. Take my entire extended family on a vacation around the world to see famous historical sites.
2. Pay off my student loans.
3. Buy a computer with a "u" that works every time.
4. Provide housing for my entire family.
5. Live on a wildlife preserve for big cats, preferably the size of Wyoming.

Enough about me, how about learning about these five bloggers?
Ann Best
Ann
Jayne
Faith
KarenG

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Ruins of Tikal

I love the picture at the top of my blog. It is of Flores, a small town in Guatemala. If you could pan the picture a little more to the right, you could see the place we stayed. Flores is a small island town accessable by a brige, about 30 minutes away from the Mayan ruins of Tikal. Tical is an amazing place. There are over 2000 ruins that have been unearthed with many more to resore.

If I was a writer, I would love a story set in this village. I always imagined the person in this photo was doing that very thing as he worked on his laptop.



I know nothing about the history of this place. Why is there an opening in the staircase? Inside there were just a couple of rooms...perhaps for guards.
I loved visiting Tikal. Unfortunately we spent only one day there. Perhaps with this next trip there will be time for a longer visit.