Month: February 2023

I have a bit of time before Lois and Buzz arrive for dinner, so I thought I’d get caught up here.

On Saturday, I had the gang came over for breakfast. I promised them that it would not be vegan and that we could experience the VR. They loved it…the VR and the food. We had scrambled eggs, bacon, pain perdu (french toast), juice and watermelon. It was nice to have the french toast again. I haven’t had it for a long time.

So, Beth met the gorillas in the forest. I wish I would have gotten a picture of her kissing the baby gorilla. The others watched the National Geographic Elephant Encounter. i wonder if Netflix has any VR movies. I’ll have to check.

And this is Bailey, Nancy’s dog. I am taking care of him while the gang is at Las Lajas. It’s nice having a dog around the house. He’s a sweet boy.

So, just as I’m getting used to having a dog around, I got this message from Lois (my neighbor):

“Chris, Cathy asked if we could Foster these dogs for the month of march. We’d like to do it but I think it’s going to be difficult with our friend coming in from the 7th until the 23rd.
Because we’ll be doing things in the daytime with her. Do we want to Co-foster? Just an idea. What do you think about it?”

Then Cathy sent the same message to me, with this addition: “All of the other pups in the litter died before she was rescued. Just has this 1 left. “

My response:

“Hello. Yes, Lois just texted me these photos and the message. My first reaction is, “I don’t think so.” I’m getting a dose of doggy responsibility right now, and it’s enough for me. I can easily predict that a month with a puppy is well out of my comfort zone right now. I know what puppies are like. But I have to admit that puppy face hit a chord. He looks so much like a dog I used to have. Her name was Jemma. Sorry I can’t give you a better message, but my gut is telling me, “Bad idea.”

Then:

Cathy & Larry Doig: Understand completely. 😊💕
Christine Kunert: And I just want to say that I am so happy you asked. I know it would be the very best world if they had the attention of a single human. Have you tried Dog Camp or Aniimales? That is probably a stupid question. They are not likely your first choice.
Cathy & Larry Doig: Dog Camp is overbooked. They were spayed yesterday at the clinica. The person that rescued them is a renter and the landlord won’t allow. Maybe give Lois & Buzz the puppy and you care for the mom! 😍
Christine Kunert: I’ll let her respond…

Lois will be here soon. I’ll see what she has decided.

I am very excited that Marianne Williamson is going to announce her candidacy on March 4. I feel more goosebumps now than I did when Obama announced. I emailed Betty and Barb to see if anyone wanted to get together to watch it. I know that is Movie Day for the gang.

“So on Saturday, March 4, I will formally announce my candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president. I hope you’ll join me for the official kick off of my campaign, either in Washington DC or via live-streaming,
 
The times we’re living in are challenging but they will change if we are willing to change them. I have a lot to say about where I think our problems came from, and what I feel it will take to solve them. I feel my forty years spent close and personal with the trauma of so many thousands of individuals gives me a unique perspective on what is needed to help repair America.

Transactional politics are inadequate to the challenges of this time. We need a transformational politics – one that treats not just symptoms, but cause. One that does not base itself on the crass imperatives of endless corporate profit, but on the eternal imperatives of our principles and values. Einstein said we wouldn’t solve the problems of the world from the level of thinking we were at when we created them. It’s time for a new beginning, and this will only happen if we’re willing to look at the world in a different way.

If we neglect a child today, we should expect to see more prisons later. If we don’t provide for people’s needs today, we should expect a mental health crisis later. If we don’t preserve the blessings of democracy today, we should expect the threat of authoritarianism later. 

Some have already said of course, Well obviously she can’t win. Or Well that’s good; she’ll add to the conversation. But since the election of 2016 it’s odd for anyone to think they know who can win the presidency. And I’m not putting myself through this again just to add to the conversation. I’m running for president to help bring an aberrational chapter of our history to a close, and to help create a new beginning.

What is often considered “politically qualified” for the presidency is simply the ability to do what the system does – essentially, to perpetuate itself. My qualification is not that I’m experienced at running that system, but that I’m best qualified to help disrupt it. The status quo will not disrupt itself. Washington is filled with good political car mechanics, but the problem is that we are on the wrong road. As someone who has worked with thousands of individuals and groups – helping them not only to endure chaos but to transform it – I’ve had exactly the kinds of experiences one needs to have had in order to make sense of these times.
 
My announcement will take place in Washington DC next Saturday at 2pm ET, and will also be streamed live on all my social media channels. You can either join us live in Washington DC, or watch the announcement online.

It’s time for a generation of Americans to affect a course-correction in our nation’s history – and we’re it. I hope you will join with me in creating this historic possibility. Your donations, you volunteering to help with the campaign – and always, your prayers – will help create a wave of change that brings a new day to America. 

Let’s do this…

With love and gratitude,

I had a great time at Barb and Murray’s party on Sunday. They throw great parties. They are a a well-oiled machine. I met a number of new people. Let’s see if these names ever show up again: Rich and Lela (I need her recipe for the coconut flan with maracuya). Tim O’Connell said he was sure it must be illegal is some countries. Michelle: Here by herself, a transplant from Montreal. Ed, the guest of honor. He is Irish, from Massachusettes. He said I reminded him of his cousin (I think – Maureen Sullivan). He showed me a photo on is tablet. I had to agree. I will not see Jeannie and Charlie again. They are moving to Malaga soon.

I am so happy I brought these with me:

They make chopping so much more enjoyable. I made the hummus using the little Cuisinart food processor that I borrowed from Nancy. I burned out the motor. Sorry, Nancy.

I have a whole lot of replacing to do before I leave: glassware, saucers, food processor…

So, I ended up making the salsa by hand. I thought it turned out very well. The fresh ingredients make such a difference in a salsa. Although, Pascual (the chef), shrugged his shoulders when I asked him how he liked it. But Kitty came over later and told me how much she loved it. And she shared with me her stories of burning out a blender motor while making Margarita’s for her daughter’s new family at the wedding rehearsal dinner. She was meeting he new in-laws for the first time. She bonded with the new mother-in-law over Margarita’s. I told her I would like the recipe. I’ll have to compare it to the one I use from Ken Klauck, who used to make them for our Spanish class.

Yahaira came today to clean. We were talking about my prospects for a rental next year. She knows Jose at Villa San Miquel, and she thought it would be a great place to rent. She told me, however, that if that doesn’t work out, to let her know. She said that she and her fellow cleaning friends know of lots of places for rent during the months of December through March. It’s good to have friends in high places.

What a coincidence! I decided to walk into town this morning, pick up a few things, and take the bus back, hoping to encounter the same bus driver I had on Sunday when my phone went missing. As I was walking down the hill, the bus was coming up. He stopped and gave me my phone! What a great experience.

Here’s another sweet experience interacting with the locals. I was chatting on WhatsApp with Jose from Villa San Miguel about renting a place from him for next year. At one point he said, “Tu me caes bien!” In English: I like you!” I had been struggling with that phrase. Now I will never forget it…well, one hopes. The way I will remember it is, that a more literal translation to English would be saying, “I fall well with you.” I love that. I can imagine falling into the other person and just loving how that experience feels.” I think many people want to do that.

He said he liked my energy, and I liked his. How can I not love a businessman who responds with a sticker of a puppy with a bowtie giving a hive-five? I am hoping there is a place available there for me next year. I anticipate a good time. It already feels like a great opportunity to speak more Spanish.

I took a shower with a scorpion this morning. Last weekend, when the power was out, I was going down the stairs to pee. With my flashlight, I spotted a scorpion on the step. I figured I was not going to try my capture routine with no light, so I just put a glass over him and explained that he would just have to live there for the night. When I got up the next morning, and went down the stairs again, the scorpion was gone. It had escaped through one of the tunnels created by the grout in the tile.

So, when I went to shower this morning, I noticed the foot mat had fallen to the floor. As has become my practice, I picked it up and shook it over the shower stall floor. Sure enough, he fell out. The water was already on, and he hightailed it (literally) up the shower wall. He curled up in a little ball, and there he remains.

I have a number of fun events coming up. I’m having the gang over for breakfast Saturday morning. We are also going to play with the Virtual Reality. I so want to put Beth in the jungle with the gorillas and Nancy somewhere in a Disney setting.

On Sunday, Barb and Murray are having a pizza party to introduce everyone to their friend, Ed, who is visiting from Massachusetts.

On Monday evening, Lois and Buzz are returning from Panama City, and I’m having them over for dinner.

On 3/5, I’m having dinner here with my neighbors: Lois, Buzz, Jude and Cheryl, as well as Betty.

On 3/6, Natalie invited Sally and me to her house for a luncheon playdate

I was putting off having people here because I don’t have a dining area, but it seems that the huge couch and coffee table are working out. I’m getting my fix. I’ve been hearing people talking about “love languages.” I don’t know what they all are, but I think mine is feeding people.

Two movies I highly recommend: The Wonder and The Father. The former made me very happy I escaped Ireland when I did, and the latter made me love Anthony Hopkins even more than I did before. I have informed Dan not to watch this second one. Hopkins’ character not only looks like Don, but his behavior was almost exactly like Don’s.

There is a scene where he walks into the living room and asks a man sitting in a chair, reading a newspaper, who he was and why was he in his flat? The man in the chair was his son-in-law. I remember one day sitting on a couch with Don, and he turned to me and said, “Who are you?” My heart sank.

As painful as the movie was, however, I’m happy I watched it. It was recommended by my Soul Matters class. The title of this month’s packet is The Path of Vulnerability. It is such a good human lesson to accept our vulnerability at every stage of life. I even felt a sense of it while watching the movie because it intentionally confuses the viewer. This movie reminded me of reading Tuesdays with Morrie. I almost wrote Tuesdays with Murray, that would have been a completely different book.

Wow! That turned into a longer post than I expected. I just felt like writing. I’m finding that I am enjoying it more and more.

I was putting off blogging because I was hoping my phone would show up so I could download my photos, but then I discovered that they were in iCloud, so I can access them from my Mac. Lesson learned here: Make sure my phone is connected to the Find Me app. I think it was not. My iPhone did not show up in a search, only my Mac.

So, I texted Spectrum, and they locked the phone. My last attempt at trying to find it will be to speak with the bus drivers tomorrow. That’s the only other place I was on Sunday that I have not checked. My friend, Joyce, called the central bus office, but they didn’t have it. I’ll just try the drivers. In the meantime, I will contact Spectrum again and see if I have any coverage for a replacement in case of loss.

It’s been a great week. Last Thursday I went with Barb and Murray to a social hour for the Chiriqui Progressives. We met at the Villa San Miguel Cabins. I love this place. I met Kitty and Pat, friends of Barb and Murray’s who are plant-based eaters, and we exchanged ideas for a while.

I’ve decided I’m finished talking about it. I’m bored. I’m going to collect my own personal data and see where it takes me. Bottom line is that one size does not fit all. I have learned that I need to figure out what is best for my own body genetic makeup. Individualized treatment seems to be the direction of healthcare.

Prior to the party, Barb picked me up and took me to her house to show me her recently refreshed orchid greenhouse. I was enthralled. This video is six minutes. I’m sure it doesn’t do it justice. It lacks the humid feel of the air and the mild scents. It is an engaging work of beauty.

Barb has a new friend who lives nearby and is an orchid expert and has been helping them with the greenhouse. He is also very creative with wood. I laughed out loud when I was studying this wooden image and realized it was a likeness of Murray.

He also made the bench that Barb and I are sitting on.

Barb’s plants are so happy.

I am exasperated trying to get my photos figured out. I cannot find the cute picture I had of Adrianna and Charlie. I went to their place on Friday. Totally broke my diet plan. Not a problem. Having prosciutto and manchego was delightful.

I did not realize that they had moved to a new condo in Boquete Country Club. I just had Fernando drop me off at the condo I rented from them two years ago. A strange man answered the door and said he didn’t know who Adrianna and Charlie were. Then his wife, Heather, came to the door. He introduced her, and I asked her, “Are you a friend of Natalie Kelly’s?” She said she was. How strange to meet her like this. I’ve been hearing about her from Natalie for a while now.

In any event, I pulled out my phone (which I still had at the time) and saw that Adrianna had sent me a message on WhatsApp giving me their new address. So, Heather drove me over. It wasn’t far, but with the wind being fierce, it was nice not having to walk.

Their new condo is very cute, but Adrianna is moving on yet again. She told me that a new “aparthotel” is being built in Boquete Country Club, and she is buying a unit there. She encouraged me to do the same. She said to buy a unit, live in it for the four months I am here, and then have the management rent it out the rest of the year. Adrianna was working hard to convince me, but the $300K is more than I can deal with – not even the thought.

Another “thank you” for technology. Once at Adrianna’s, I realized Fernando would not know where to pick me up. I sent him a text in WhatsApp and sent a pin of my location. Beautiful. So much less angst and stress when these things happen.

I actually messaged Jose Arbeldo (?) this afternoon. He is the owner of the Villa San Miguel cabins where the party was on Saturday. He took the photo of us that is posted above. He is trying to sell the place, but he said that we could talk about the possibility of my renting there next year. I looked on booking.com, and the price was nearly $10K for four months. I asked if he could do better for a four-month rental. He said:

🤦🏻‍♂️hola Christine! Lol… Noo absolutely that wont be yiur price! Lol… I will give you a Special price. Long term is a diferent rate😊 , including jubilado discount🤣
When you are ready you can come and we make good numbers for you👍🏻

Barb is going to take me over on Tuesday. Yoly and Mike stayed there a few years ago and liked it. Jose is a very sweet man. I told him I hope the place doesn’t sell.

It would be a great place. It’s not downtown; it’s actually in the area known as Alto Boquete, which is a couple of miles south of Boquete center, but it is near a couple of very nice grocery stores and a few of my friends. It would also be very easy to get a good walk in. So, we’ll see if this one pans out. The possible rental at Betty’s complex, Valley of Flowers, fell apart because a short-term lease is at least six months.

I got less than six hours sleep last night because I had a sleepover at Betty’s. She made an excellent vegetable curry, we polished off a bottle of red wine, and talked until after midnight. We were going to watch a movie, but that never happened. Maybe next time. Love our visits.

So…off to bed.

So, I was so on board with Andrew Huberman’s podcast that even minimal alcohol taken in chronically is a problem, even my one glass of red wine a day. Yesterday, I had lunch with Sally and Peter. Peter is a neuroscientist and says it’s baloney. What’s a person to do? I think I’ll stick with my plan of just having a glass now and then socially. It works. I feel better psychologically. For me, it’s all about relationship and habits.

The lunch was a lot of fun. I felt like I was back in school again. Peter wrote a book called What is Health? Allostasis and the Evolution of Human Design. I was immediately intrigued by the word allostasis. I know about homeostasis, but I had never heard this word. Look it up on wikipedia, and you will see that Peter is the creator of this word. I had a list of questions for him, and while the others were out touring their beautiful property (which I did last time I was there), Peter indulged me. I came away with a pretty good understanding, but not complete. And I’m not going to try to write about it.

I also came away with doubts about some other ideas that I may have accepted too readily: the benefit of using psychedelic drugs to treat mental illness and the ideas about how and when the brain stops developing. I do believe Peter’s book said the brain continues to develop well into our 40s. I’ve never heard that. I’ve heard mid-20s, but…you never know. Now I have to look at these things more deeply. I know that it can change, via neuroplasticity, until the day we die. Not sure if he is talking about something different.

I spent most of my day today working on homework for my Soul Matters class, which I love. I am preparing both for my own personal group, which I facilitate, and one offered by Scott Tayler, the UU Church creator of this program. His class will be a practice run of next month’s class. It will provide practice for me on how to navigate the waters as a facilitator.

One of the options for his class is to watch two movies and respond to questions. I chose Lucky with Harry Dean Stanton and The Father with Anthony Hopkins. They both received very high ratings from Rotten Tomatoes, and I love both of these actors, so my choice was easy. Tough homework.

This was my favorite Valentine’s Day surprise. It was sent by Natalie Kelly, one of my kindergarten playmates. Natalie is one of the brightest new spots in Boquete.

It elicited such fond memories.

I remember how much I loved writing all of my friends’ names on the envelopes and really struggled with whether or not to send one to Robert Szmurlo.

I also loved the little candy hearts with the sweet sayings…Be Mine…:) Okay…but not Robert Szmurlo.

And last, but not least, today’s play:

Things have turned around for me emotionally. I’m back to me. I came so close to going home. But all of the human connection the past few days has cured me. I discovered that I love solitude, but I do not have the countenance of a hermit.

I spent two days playing with friends. One day Sally and Natalie came over. Sally brought her watercolor project. She did two very similar watercolors of a forest image. Then she cut them is slices and wove them together. They are beautiful. I will ask her to send me some photos.

Natalie learned how to do Zentangle. She chose the leaf pattern (Nefi) and loved it. We spent a lovely day.

Another day, Nancy picked up Kathy and me, and we spent the afternoon at her house. I again worked on Zentangle, Nancy worked on her parrot image and Kathy crocheted. Love these times spent with women. It reminds me of reading about women getting together for quilting bees. It was a great opportunity for them to leave their families behind for a short time and spend it in the company of other women. It was likely a huge support for them. AND…they were still being productive, so who could complain???

Nancy asked me if I would take care of Bailey while they are away at the beach. Hmm…let me think about that… It will be such fun to have a dog around.

Speaking of which, I think my brother, Tim, is going to get a dog, and I believe I tangentially contributed to that. I posted this video on Facebook, and he said, “That’s it! I’m getting a dog!”

He misses his Champ. I hope this works out. I did dissuade him a little bit when he said he might adopt his friend’s Dalmation…let’s not be too impulsive. He’s going to “meet” the dog tomorrow (I think) with no expectations.

Friday night, Betty had the gang over for dinner and to watch In and Of Itself. It was my sixth time watching it. I think I’m done. But I still love it, and I especially love all of the responses to it. People begin to ask themselves questions, not just “How the heck did he do that,” but, more importantly, I think, “Who am I?”

Equally as entertaining are the conversations between Stephen Colbert and Derek Delgaudio. They are both so amazed on how this came about, the meeting of their minds. Consciousness works in very interesting ways.

Speaking of which…my latest favorite video:

Don’t be put off by the name or the robes. This man is a great connection between the eastern and the western mind. He has lived in both. I especially love his teaching about the importance of habits. Changing your habits, changes your brain and your mind. It reminds me of the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. We are our habits. They are talking about the same thing.

I also learned that the monks wear orange because it is the color of freedom. (Nancy?)

Yesterday, Barb picked me up, and we spent the afternoon at Kinnears’ for Amy’s going away party. It’s actually more like a going away party for them all, but Joyce didn’t call it that. Joyce and Scott are moving to Puerta Vallarta, and Amy is returning to California and will live in the family home there with her uncle. Big changes. The Boquete community will miss them. Joyce has been a rock for the liberal community, taking the lead in keeping the community informed, especially on Covid, and providing opportunities for like-minded people to socialize without much conflict. Sometimes that a good thing.

At the party, I met a couple of new people: Trish and Mindy. Trish lives in a place called Las Armuelles, which is southwest of Boquete, probably an hour drive. It is on the beach. Trish said it is a nice community with a mix of expats and Panamanians. Don’t have to drive. Close to groceries. Like being at Las Lajas 24/7. I’m going to ask Barb her opinion about the area. I’m guessing she has one… Barb? I know right now she’s saying, “You bet I do!” Oh, one thing I already know – snakes. Lots of them. Trish talked about picking them up. I asked, “Do you feel inclined to do that?” “Oh yes,” she replied, “I love snakes, have since I was a kid in West Virginia.” Mmmm…..

Mindy is thinking of moving there. She is by herself here in Boquete and just thinking Las Armuelles would be more economical.

And then of course, beautiful laundry day:

and loving my clean sheets:

Yes, these are important things to post. They evoke a very happy feeling for me. And that’s what it’s all about.

I always find it interesting when a video, movie, book, magazine article, billboard or something someone says will seem to be directed specially at me. This video by Eckhart Tolle is a case in point. I started listening to it yesterday just because I love him, and I always listen to podcasts while I am doing my cards. He first started speaking about how the love of consciousness comes through our doing when we are just present with it, not thinking about a goal or an outcome. What we are doing is not a means to an end but a joy in and of itself (just made me think of the movie).

As I was listening to this, I was making a gift for a friend, and it gave me such joy that she would feel my love for her come through.

Tolle then proceeded to talk about being present with our challenges and not to resist them. What caught my attention in particular was his exploration of what he called “inner states.” I would call this “feeling really shitty.” Our bodies feel crappy because our fight-or-flight response is producing stress chemicals in our bodies, and they just don’t feel good. We are not using them to instinctively fight or run away; we are just stewing in our own juices so to speak. This is the difference between instinct and emotion. The brain doesn’t know the difference between a threat to your physical body and a threat to the ego. We just have to breathe through it, and tell ourselves, “This is what humans feel like sometimes,” and “No feeling lasts forever.” Eventually, if we accept what is going on, the feeling dissipates…and so it has for me.

What I am looking forward to is the last bit he talked about: something “good” always comes of the “bad.” Perhaps this reinforcement of a well-worn insight is the gift, but…you never know… I remain curious.

This is a little clip that Jolene sent me. Something about music always makes me want to cry. This clip is no exception.

I have learned about myself that when I am away from home for an extended period of time, there comes a point when I am struck with a bout of homesickness. I’m coming out of that now. I was almost thinking of going home right after Jolene’s visit, but today the feeling started to dissipate. I have turned the corner.

Lois stopped by for a bit today. She invited me to join her and Buzz to attend a fundraiser in town at the BCP. This is the blurb:  BCP Fundraiser at TapOut Sports Zone. DJ Mike spins Motown sounds and the Johnson Family performs a Motown dance number. Soul Food Cookout with BBQ pork and chicken, mac’n’cheese, black-eyed peas, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and collard greens. Dominoes and Spades games. $20 tickets at the door.

So, I think I’d better eat before I go, but it sounds like fun.

Lois is going to come over one day to learn Zentangle. Here’s my latest from today. It’s called Huggins. I love this design. It satisfies the “precision” gene in me. I’ll be making a number of these. Lots of room to grow.

I decided to go out to breakfast tomorrow morning and do movie day with “the gang.” I think it’ll do me good to get out and mingle a bit. I love solitude, but there comes a point when I know I need more human contact. So, looks like this weekend will be a cure.

I have also decided to start writing the book on the Camino. This also may be why I’ve been feeling “off.” Perhaps I’m being prodded. When I decided to do this, I started to feel a bit better. As tough as writing is for me, I have discovered a joy in it that I didn’t know in the past. What I have discovered is that I like writing just for the joy of the process, just like the artwork. I have no agenda, and I really don’t care if it gets published or not. Like the artwork, it has been a practice in releasing myself from judgment – just always returning to the joy of the process and not being concerned with where it goes or how it will be received.

I listened to a great podcast today on Rich Roll. He was interviewing Steven Pressfield. Pressfield has written a number of books, including The Legend of Baggar Vance, which is the only one I read, and I did so because it was recommended by Eckhart Tolle.

I found it interesting that when I came here in January of 2019, and I knew I wanted to write something, but I didn’t know what, I happened to listen to an Ophrah podcast in which she was interviewing Pressfield. He said, “Just start writing!” He says to just write anything, even if it is complete gibberish, and see what happens, and so I did. And so it feels strange that, just as I decided to get back to writing, I find this current podcast. Weird.

My thinking now, however, is that I cannot spend money on this. I spent too much on my first book attempt, and that is now feeling uncomfortable, like a waste of money. But I will continue with this next book, using what I learned from the first experience.

Jolene’s visit was perfect. Apart from a “bit of wind” in Boquete yesterday, I think she got a pretty good taste of Panama.

A few parting shots of Las Lajas:

And a few of Jolene’s impressions of the Glass Casita:

And a walk into town on a very windy day: