IT’S FIXED!!!

I must make note of this at the top of the blog today. I’ve been taken to task for being remiss in recording ALL of my experiences. This morning Jerry reminded me that in an earlier blog I said I liked him a lot, and I would like him even better when the toilet is fixed. Jerry is now reading the blog, so he noticed that this detail was missing.

Yes, the toilet is fixed (and has been for quite a while). It was an “advanced” problem. The entire inside pump mechanism had to be replaced because of a gasket that cannot be sold separately. Yes, so it is now very nice to be able to flush when necessary without a bucket, AND I don’t have to listen to it running every 10 minutes.

It’s interesting how some noises just drive me nuts. A leaky toilet is definitely one of them. I had the same issue at one of my other places here. Tolle says that it is not the sound that’s driving me nuts; it’s my thoughts ABOUT the sound. I can see that being true in some cases (like Dan tapping his spoon on his cereal bowl) but not this one. The annoying sound is a startle to my peace. I don’t care for startles if I can do anything about them. So, my first choice is to try to get it fixed. If I couldn’t get it fixed, I’d have to move on to phase 2: acceptance. Thanks, Jerry for making it unnecessary for me to have to move into that very painful stage.

So, now…WE HAD A BLAST! That was going to be the title today. Las Lajas was as beautiful as always. Barb and I had to stay at a different B&B the first two nights because Las Lajas was booked. We stayed at a place called Le Villette, a very basic place further down the shore, not nearly as nice, but adequate. We only slept there. We spent our days with Kathy and Dan at Las Lajas and then the final two nights we were booked there. There are so many things I love about this place:

• The rooms are huge and air conditioned. So sleeping is very comfortable. All of the rooms have two king beds and a twin. $90/night.
• I think there are only a dozen rooms, so the resort is comfortably populated.
• There is a huge lawn area with palapas (thatched-roofed umbrellas), chairs and loungers.
• Big swimming pool. It was lively with kids while we were there, which was a nice part of the ambience.
• The beach is very expansive (probably half a city block) when the tide is out. A walk can go in either direction along the shore for a very long time. And the beach is decorated with unique patterns from the wildlife, shells and pieces of wood – and even a beautiful fish skeleton – right Barb?!
• The water is nice and warm. Sandy bottom all the way out. Perfect waves for boogey boarding or just letting the waves try to knock you down. I’ve done both and like them equally well.
• The menu has improved greatly over the past couple of years. There is now plenty of variety to keep one happy over (at least) four days. Vegan and vegetarian as well. All extremely fresh.
• The bar/restaurant is very colorful in pinks and blues with large Edith-Ann type chairs. I could sit at a table all day long doing calligraphy or Zentangle without feeling like I was using up dining space. The music is a nice mix of traditional latino choices and American rock.
• The staff are delightful. They know me by name and also call me Querida. I’m good with both. I am going to make them all name tags in calligraphy.

We spent our days reading, writing, Entangling, wading, eating, drinking and laughing. Kathy and Dan got to know Barb, and, of course, they loved each other. Barb and I were on the main floor, and Kathy and Dan rented the upper suite in the bottom right photo.

As I said, the food was great. Here are just a couple of photos. I don’t see captions showing up, so clockwise from URHC: Thai salad, red bean nachos (plate was pretty much licked clean at the end), Ceasar salad, fish tacos. Vietnamese spring rolls. Fresh!

A bit of a dinner serenade:

My first image in Jolene’s Zentangle gift book.

Barb and I left Las Lajas at about 5 am on Friday morning so that we were sure not to encounter the bike race on the highway to Boquete. So, needless to say, I was useless the rest of the day and pretty much just read my book, Poisonwood Bible. Not a bad way to spend a day.

Today was the Craft Fair. I went with Betty, Linda and Beth. I saw Barb there for a short time and was able to introduce her to Betty. I think they’d like each other.

I usually don’t buy much at these things, but I saw three things that I liked a lot and bought them.

The framed image and the necklace are made with broken pieces of china. The apron won me over immediately because of the hibiscus and the colors. I’ve also been wanting another apron at home, and this one is very well-made.

After the fair, we had lunch at a new place called Cafeto Arabica on the southern edge of town. I just had a smoothie, but the others all loved their crepes and pancakes. I bought coffee to try for pour-over.

And now I’m wrapping up my day, having just returned from a delicious dinner made by Jerry and Linda: Salad, anastazi bean soup with fabulous cornbread and chocolate cake (forgot the name) for dessert.

Tomorrow is back to “reality” for me. I’m going to print out the first edited draft of the book and do some re-writing and organizing. Kathie also wants an epilogue. I asked for a break until 1/26, and she agreed. We will then start the second draft. So, back to “work!”

And last but not least, my latest calligraphy practices. Ash said he was going to give me feedback (as in corrections on my work). We’ll see if it happens. If he doesn’t, I’ll just keep moving forward on my own. It’s just tough to get feedback from anyone, and…he still owes me two classes. Certainly no urgency with any of this. I guess it’s just a personality thing, I like to know that I’m making progress and doing it properly. It’s part of the art of it.

I would eventually also like to get back to painting and doing Zentangle to make new cards. I’m completely out.

I’ve been hearing from friends and family in Wisconsin about the heavy snow.

It’s funny that I’m thousands of miles away and still kind of involved. My neighbor, Ann, texted me that a tree had fallen across my driveway. My sister, Michele (in our house), didn’t know it yet, so we all texted, and Jay helped clear it away. Then other friends, Kerry and Matt Duma, sent an email that they were looking for a generator. I told them I had one, but then Michele let me know that it was too heavy to get out of the house and into their van. So, I can safely say that I’m not missing much, especially the -24 wind chill that is on the way. It’s 72 here. 🙂 Just saw an email from Kerry that their power went back on! Yay!