Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Musical Interludes

I never know what theme is going to pop up for me when I sit down to write this blog, but today the music poured in, like sunshine, all around me and I knew that was where I had to start.
The internet is filled with the sad news of the passing of Pete Seeger.  I remember listening to Pete back in the 60's when I was a much younger version of myself marching in DC against the Viet Nam War and at about the same time, speaking out for civil rights in my hometown of Englewood, New Jersey, a hotbed of racial intolerance and rioting.  His voice was  instrumental in setting me on a path of non-violence and an advocate for those who didn't have a voice. I remember being very scared as tear gas was thrown into the streets where I marched and thinking that there are things more important than my fear.  It was a turning point for me, and Pete Seeger was a face and voice of kindness and strength, hope and determination that the world does change when we stand together for what's right.
I've spoken before about my goals for 2014 and living in Panama.  One is to learn an instrument and another is to nurture my artistic side, which I know is hiding somewhere inside of me.  2 days ago, a new friend, left his guitar for me to take care of while he is in the states, so now I'm ready to learn how to play a bit.  Thanks John.  I promised him a concert when he and his wife, Margo return in a few months.  Hoping to find some basic info on YouTube to get me started.
I've been taking some mini art classes here and there and have dabbled in Zentangle and most recently, a jewelry class to learn how to do Peyote spiral beading.  I found myself very frustrated, but have been practicing all week to get the technique down and am slowly making some headway.  But the really great news is that I was chatting with Gladys while she cut my hair (she whacked it all off and it feels great)  She did all the paintings in her shop and is taking an art class once a week above the bomberos (fire department) and invited me to join.  Not only that, the class is a wonderful mix of Panamanian and ex-pats so I get to practice my Spanish at the same time, which as you know, is a huge goal I have for myself.  I am so excited to start and get my hands dirty.
Bought my tickets today for the Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival today and am looking forward to the energy of having all these wonderful global musicians come to our little town to perform.  There will be parades and garden parties, all night jams at the many restaurants in town, and even a musical workshop/mini academy for the young people.  We have friends coming in from Bocas Del Toro to stay with us and it's going to be a very exciting time.  Last year there was an amazing girl with dreadlocks who played a wicked clarinet.  I hope she comes back.
Took another beach day last week and went to Las Olas Beach Resort.  This time, we went in style as I bought a coupon from OfertaSimple, which is like Groupon.  We stayed at a gorgeous resort with friends.  A highlight of the trip was an early morning walk along the dunes in a turtle nesting wildlife sanctuary (not nesting season however) but still lovely and serene with birds everywhere.  The other highlight was discovering a cranberry and vodka drink in a can which must have some nutritional value, right?  There's something very relaxing about floating around a pool with your preferred beverage in hand, surrounded by friends, and listening to the shore pound and rustling palm trees.  Hold that thought as you dig out your cars this week. (I love you guys.)
2 more ceilings are in.  We are still plugging along with housie things.  Today Tomas will arrive to recharge the fridge in back and I will get yet another Spanish lesson.  Pienso qu necesitamos una valvula asociar al refrigadora. (I think we need a valve to attach to the refrigerator.)
"WE WILL LOVE OR WE WILL PERISH. WE WILL LEARN THE RAINBOW TO CHERISH. DARE TO STRUGGLE, DARE TO DANGER. DARE TO TOUCH THE HAND OF A STRANGER. from the song 'We Will Love or We Will Perish.' Pete Seeger
Almost done

Finally found Olga's, best breakfast in Boquete

Las Olas Beach Resort

View from our room

Come on in

What do you mean we have to check out?

Waiting for our fresh fish dinner

So tasty

Beach transport

walking off dinner

walking back from the restaurant

Las Olas sunset

Bird checking himself out in the glass

Getting ready for morning hike

Beach shack

They look like apples, but I don't think I'll try one.

Dennis looks for the Perfect Wave

Hawk grabs a tasty crab for breakfast

Don't come any closer

Hair be gone

The last piece

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Trouble in Paradise

Not really.  Just enough drama to make life more interesting.  It's been busy around Casa True for the past few weeks and nothing seemed to be blog worthy.  Then I remembered that the whole purpose for my blog is to get to know myself better through the good and the bad and see what I learn from my experiences.  The lessons have been rolling in this month.  Could it be all the intention setting I did for the new year?  Perhaps.
Most of our time has been devoted to working on the casitas.  Both roofs are done which is a huge relief, but bring more projects to the table in a kind of domino effect.  Mortar works needs to be done, ceilings are going in, and patching new holes are all on the list now.  I have finally learned to avoid looking up and noticing the holes in the ceilings that were fixed once and now call to be repatched again.  Lesson:  Be patient and don't sweat the small stuff.
Realized after 2 group meetings, that the women's group I had attended really wasn't for me.  These are beautiful and talented women, but not the focus I was looking for.  I decided that I would allow serendipity to direct my move towards spiritual connection and found a new friend in a woman who was in an art class I took a while back.  We made an immediate spiritual connection and spent a lovely afternoon creating art.  Guess where she's from?  CDA.  Lesson: Pay attention.  Everything you need is already there if you stay present in the moment.
Last week, our very nice neighbor, Larry, had a pipe come loose on his property.  We let him know (as he's a late sleeper) and Dennis helped him to reconnect it and stop the water flow.  That's what neighbor's do.  The following day, we woke up to a small lake on the side of our house and we thought our pipes had also sprung a leak.   Dennis spent the entire day digging up the ground, looking for the broken pipe and bailing buckets upon buckets of water in his search.  After about 7 hours of digging and to his credit, minimal swearing, Larry called over the fence to suggest maybe it was run off from his leak the day before.  Another 2 hours of filling in the hole, cleaning up the water and now mud mess,  it turns out we did not have a broken pipe.  Everything dried up.  We didn't need to hire a bulldozer and dig beneath the house.  Crisis averted.  Needless to say, we were very grateful.  Lesson:  Don't be in a rush to think the worse. Look at the big picture.  Positive Outcome?  My garden is thoroughly aerated and will not need watering for quite a while.
Dennis and I celebrated our 24th anniversary last week.  Neither of us remembered. I don't know if this is good or bad.  We're busy with life and it just didn't come up. Every day is a wonderful day and I am grateful for my life with Dennis.  It is never dull.   When I got a nice email from our realtor wishing us a Happy Anniversary, we both had a good chuckle.  To celebrate, we went to Mike's  Global Grill for dinner and then topped it off with a gelato at the gelateria downtown.  My tooth bothered me and I attributed it to the cold, but when it didn't go away, I quickly made an appointment with our dentist.  $20 and 2xrays later, I found out I have to have a root canal.  Oh no! Now I have to find a specialist to do the root canal.  But wait!  My dentist contacted the specialist who will come to her office and do it for me there.  I didn't have to do anything.  So now I'm taking antibiotics and a bit of non-narcotic pain medication until my appointment next week.  Due to my knee replacement, I have to be on antibiotics for a while, before it's safe to have the root canal.  Lesson:  Medical and dental care here is cheap, good, and quick and doesn't give you the runaround going from office to office and a bunch of tests. I already knew that, but still, this was a good reminder.
Ok, that's the worst of it.  The rest is all good.
 Dennis has started doing yoga and has joined me on most mornings.  He bought a yoga mat on our shopping trip to David last week, so I know he's serious.  Well, as serious as he can be.  I'm enjoying watching him slowly develop his own practice and hopefully, he will start to see the benefits.
Last week we spotted 2 men carrying an entire set of patio furniture on their backs.  We flagged them over and after a bit of negotiating (in our friend's driveway) we bought some beautiful handmade furniture for our patio and loaded it up on the car.  Everyone was happy.  The 2 men especially, as they didn't have to carry it down the road into town to sell at the fair.
Our friend's B &B officially opened and we went to a lovely open house a few weeks ago.  Their place is spectacular and really showcases the beauty of Boquete.  If you're coming to visit, and don't want to sleep on my inflatable mattresses, you will definitely want to stay there.
The Coffee and Flower festival is slowly winding down.  It's been going on for 10 days and tomorrow it will close up and the crowds of people will return to wherever they came from.  Traffic is crazy.  People everywhere and music plays throughout the night to about 3am, sometimes longer.  We don't hear too much of it, as we are out of town a ways.  Yesterday afternoon, we went to check it all out and had a great time.  Lots of vendors, families, fair food, music, flowers, and chances to visit with friends.  I met 3 ladies at the library, from Costa Rica,  who bussed over to go to the fair.  They are all teachers (English, Special Ed, and 1 principal)  and we had a great chat on education.  This is summer vacation for this part of the world.  To add to the festivities of having the fair in town, there was a political rally going on for Presidential hopeful Navarro.  I was able to take a picture as we made our way through the crowd on our way home.
"EVERY EXPERIENCE, NO MATTER HOW BAD IT SEEMS, HOLDS WITHIN IT A BLESSING OF SOME KIND. THE GOAL IS TO FIND IT."  Buddha

Open House at Casa del Montana with Manzer (in green)

Mortar mortar everywhere

Teachers from Costa Rica on vacation

My new patio furniture

Monday hike at Santa Lucia

Group waits for me to catch up

This is Target

Buying fresh meat

How is this for attracting abundance?

Cat and Mort on bagel day

Dennis and his new yoga mat

on the way to the feria (fair)

Lesia goes shopping

the gardens are in bloom

vendors at the fair

ride, anyone?

Boquete rainbow

Navarro campaigning in town