My Latest Adventure

I had a lesson with Ash yesterday morning, and I got scolded. He was trying to get me to connect two letters, and I couldn’t remember how to do it. “Think!!” he said. Then my head started to hurt, and I just couldn’t get it. Then he went through and demonstrated what he was talking about.

I said, “You never taught me that.”

“Yes, I did,” he responded. “Don’t say things like that. I don’t like it.”

Then he commenced to pull out my file and pointed to the exact spot where he had demonstrated this once before. It apparently didn’t click with me at the time, and I have continued to do it wrong. I apologized profusely, and now we’re friends again.

What I find very interesting about Ash is that he is one of the few calligraphers who does Engrosser’s Script, and he is pretty much self-taught because there is no written instruction on this type of script. He just looked at the old records and figured it out geometrically. His script is so beautiful. The concept he was trying to get me to understand today was one he had to figure out on his own. He said he was elated when he figured it out.

Ash and I talked again about the possibility that I might visit India at this time next year. He is very excited about that. And now, my friend, Patty Walker, said that she may want to go as well. He said that he would be happy to Zoom with us and discuss our plans and make recommendations. Fun!

Ash asked if he could use our house sometime during the winter so that he can experience our climate. Dan and I are both fine with that.

And this is what you get when you give a neighbor a handmade Christmas card:

Cheryl also gave me this butter to try, and I so hope that it is allowed on the plant-based diet. I’m not sure about some of the ingredients, but the taste is great. I’m going to have it on my Hawaiian baked potato soon.

Betty took me to Bulk Organics today. I’m set. Now all I need are the fresh veggies.

I had a Zoom meeting with Carin yesterday, we agreed to do a Zoom conversation, which she will record and then play at church. Works for me. Nice and easy.

Can’t remember if I already posted this, but I just booked our room (the last one available!) at Las Lajas for Jolene’s visit in January/February. Barb and I are going to pick Jolene up at the airport in David and go right to the beach. We will spend three days there and then come back here and explore Boquete for the last two days. And Las Lajas has a beautiful vegan menu, but I’m still taking my own coffee.

I left my door open for a little bit yesterday morning while I was talking to a neighbor.

I sent Cathy a text and asked how she dealt with this. She said to just open all the doors and windows. I opened one door, and it flew out.

And then…

My first scorpion. He was crawling along the bathroom vanity. I used my tried and true capture method with drinking glass and card stock. I think the entry point is the shower drain. It is now covered. I can see no other possible entry point. We’ll see.

There are just a couple of the beautiful flowers I saw on my walk into town the other day.

I’m using up ingredients in my refrigerator to create soups and stews. I was shopping at Garden’s Gate in Hartland a number of years ago, angsting over what flowers would go together in my window boxes. I shared this with the woman who kindly came up to help me. She said in her very sweet southern accent, “Honey,

I’m using up ingredients in my refrigerator to create soups and stews. I was shopping at Garden’s Gate in Hartland a number of years ago, angsting over what flowers would go together in my window boxes. I shared this with the woman who kindly came up to help me. She said in her very sweet southern accent, “Honey, God duhn’t make anything that duhn’t go together.” And that’s what this stew is: onions, garlic, radishes, beans, bok choy, carrots, red bell pepper, sweet potato, tomatoes and rice.

Yesterday was the birthday party at Gloria’s for her and Betty. I was able to give them their gifts and hand out the Christmas cards I made. I didn’t know beforehand who got the cards with the mistakes. There were two. Nancy said she got the one that said “Happy Holiays.” She said that is was fine, that it just made it more of an original Christine piece. Aww… Not sure who will get the other. I still have a number of them here to hand out on Christmas Eve at the Kinnears’ party with the Chiriqui Progressives.

The flowers are quilled with centers of Italian glass beads.

The party was fun. It is nice seeing people again…and trying to remember names.

I met one new guy named Jamie. I asked him if he was with someone or if he was single. I asked it only to see if he could share with me the name of a partner whom I did not yet know at the party. Then I awkwardly realized that it sounded like I was hitting on to him. He said, “No, I’m single.” Then awkwardness continued as I said, “Oh no, I didn’t mean to ask you that, I don’t really care… No, it’s not that I don’t care…” Please just stop talking.

He handled it very well, and when I told him I was trying to remember the name of another woman at the party whom I met last year, he said, “Well, maybe you should return to the site where you met her, and her name will come back to you because memory is context dependent.” He then launched into the research that supported this. Really very interesting, but I’m not going to do that because I can’t remember where I met her. Cute guy though. So many nice people here.

Barb stopped over today. We are planning a trip to Las Lajas during Jolene’s visit in January. I got the last available room at Las Lajas. The only thing I don’t like about the place is you cannot cook in your room. You are pretty much forced to eat in the dining area. I don’t remember the full menu, but I’m guessing there are meatless options. I know I’m bringing my own coffee. Barb is going to see if her friend’s place is available. It has a kitchen.

The rest of the day I spent going over the book for the zillionth time (slight exaggeration). A reorganization scheme is coming to me…slowly. I wish I loved writing as much as I love making the cards. The cards are mindless joy. Writing hurts my brain.

And then…I created another soup. Looks like the other one, but tastes quite a bit different. So this is what’s on my menu for the next couple of days. This one is garlic, onions, carrots, celery, sweet potato, collard greens, white beans, tomato paste and canned tomatoes. Love that I can get these beautiful organic veggies from Finca Santa Marta.

Okay, time for Spanish class and hot cocoa!

Sundays are a day of rest; however, play is allowed. I got started on making some cards. I donated some for our church auction. I like to have them for personal use and to give as gifts. Last year I went home with 130 cards and have only a few left. So I have to replenish my supply.

Not crazy about the colors, but I have a pretty simple pallet. I may have to work on that. I’m not going to quill any cards to take home. They don’t hold up well to travel.

Carin, the minister from my church, emailed me recently and asked if I would consider doing a presentation at church related to the Camino. I thought it would have to wait until I got home because with the writing I’m doing, I didn’t see time. However, Carin is leaving our church and will not be around when I get back. I may do a Zoom with her. We’ll see.

So, the main event of this post is that I found the spider this morning as I got out of bed. I very calmly captured her and let her go.

Then, last night, I turned off the light and crawled into bed and noticed a light flying around the room. It was about the intensity of my phone flashlight. This morning I found this guy on the wall.

I asked in the Boquete Community FB Group if anyone knew if this creature lit up. I never got a good answer. It looks like a grasshopper. One guy said “firefly.” I don’t think so. I did get one comment, however, which made me wish I had thought it through. He said, “Put it in the dark and see if it lights up.” Why didn’t I think of that? Instead, I took it outside in this glass, but as hard as I tried to fling it, it wouldn’t let go of the glass. So, I thought, fine, I’ll just leave you out here in the glass, and you can come out when you’re good and ready.

A short time later, my new neighbor, Sue, came over to ask me a question, and she noticed the glass. It looked empty. I told her the story and then picked up the glass. When I noticed the creature was on the outside of the glass, I threw it, and it smashed against a rock.

Sue said, “Well, that wasn’t a very strong glass.” That made me laugh. I could see she was a “defender.”

I had a lovely dinner last night with Betty and Gloria. Betty is house-sitting across the street from me, where Cathy and Larry (former tenants here), moved. The place is gorgeous. As nice as my place is, their new place is amazing. Also, Cathy has done a lot of work in the garden. Gardeners love it here.

Michele and I finally connected on the FitXR virtual reality boxing workout. We did a short workout this morning, and I think we now have a system for getting into the same workout room. It’s not all that easy. I’m looking forward to doing a longer one. So, Michele and I now need to set up a schedule. Right, Michele?

I am happy to say that I did my PT routine today, which included push-ups, planks and weights. I had no problem at all with my back. Feels good to be coming back.

Also enjoying my adventure into the plant-based diet. On my next shopping trip, I’m going to go back to Bulk Organics with some containers. I am going to buy almonds to make almond milk, to eventually make yogurt. I will be so happy if this turns out well. I will definitely miss Dan’s yogurt.

I think I have a replacement for cream cheese, and now I will look for something to replace parmesan. I have collards and bok choy in my refrigerator as well as a Hawaiian sweet potato. It’s purple! So, I’m going to look for recipes to use those and buy the ingredients on my shopping day. I might wait until the Tuesday Market. I am making a hummus-vegetable-cracker tray for Gloria and Betty’s birthday party on Tuesday, so I can get the freshest vegetables possible. The yellow bell peppers are amazing.

I spent a lovely morning with Barb driving “up the mountain” to Alto Quiel to buy coffee at Café Suarez. The coffee is fresh from the roaster and only $4.25 pound.

The spider showed up today. I found it on my jacket sleeve as Barb and I were leaving this morning. So, did I say, “Oh, there you are Sweetheart. Let me take you outside,” and walk outside and shake it off? No, I did the get-it-off-of me freak out. Now I don’t know where it is again.

After the coffee run we stopped at a place called Bulk Organics, which is just what it sounds like. I want to purchase almonds from there to make my own milk and ultimately yogurt. I couldn’t buy anything today because I didn’t bring any containers with me. I’ll be back. They make fresh coconut cream on Thursdays. Jane, the owner, gave me a sample. I’ll be purchasing that too. I can just taste it with a vegetable curry.

Turns out Jane grew up in Waubeno, WI (not Waubena as I thought). Small world. I asked her what it was known for. She said, “Taverns.”

Barb stayed for lunch, and I served my first intentional vegan dish. It’s called Ikarian stew. I heard about it on a Rich Roll podcast about plant-based diets. Rich was interviewing Dan Buettner, writer for National Geographic and author of Blue Zones.

While doing his research he visited the Greek island of Ikaria. There he met Dr. Antonia Trichopoulou, a Mediterranean diet expert. He asked her how he could get the small American city of Albert Lea, Minnesota—famous for meatpacking—to eat more vegetables, He knew he had come to the right person. They were sitting at Thea’s Guesthouse, in front of one of her amazing spreads of Ikarian cuisine. Dr. Trichopoulou paused for a moment and then gestured to the food and said, “Feed them.”

Here’s the recipe:

Ikarian Longevity Stew Recipe

INGREDIENTS

1 cup dried black-eyed peas (or 8-ounce can, drained)
1⁄2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 large red onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 fennel bulb, chopped
1 large, firm ripe tomato, finely chopped
2 teaspoons tomato paste, diluted in 1⁄4 cup water
2 bay leaves
1 bunch dill, finely chopped
Salt (optional)

My modifications:  I added 1 cubed sweet potato, and topped it off with avocado, cilantro and my basil vinaigrette.

DIRECTIONS

If using dried black-eyed peas: Cover with water and bring to a boil for 1 minute.
Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for an hour.
Drain and rinse. (If using canned black-eyed peas, skip this step.)
In a large pot, heat half the olive oil over medium heat and cook the onion, garlic, and fennel, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 12 minutes.
Add the black-eyed peas and toss to coat with oil.
Add the tomato, tomato paste, and enough water to cover the beans by about an inch.
Add the bay leaves.
Bring pot to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until the black-eyed peas are about halfway cooked (if using dried peas).
Check after 40 minutes, but it may take over an hour.
If using canned, skip to next step after 10 minutes.
Add the chopped dill and season with salt to taste.
Continue cooking until the black-eyed peas are tender, about 20 minutes.
Remove from heat and pick out and discard the bay leaves.
Pour in remaining olive oil, stir, and serve.

Barb shocked me as she savored the stew and tried to discern a subtle flavor she was experiencing. I thought, if she gets this, I’m going to be very impressed. When she said, “licorice,” I almost fell over. That’s it! One of the main ingredients is fennel.

I feel fortunate to have arrived late to the plant-based-diet table. There are now so many great recipes and products available. I always thought it would be a chore. I remember a vegan friend, Sue Vincent, telling me that she found it to be an adventure. So, that’s how I’m approaching it. So far, so good.

Michele and I have been trying to get into the same workout room on the FitXR app on the Oculus. We’ve tried a couple of times without success. Tonight we’re going to try it again. Fingers crossed.

I had a visitor to the play area today. I gave her this beautiful Italian glass bead to get her started, but she wasn’t interested. She left. Now the question is, where is she?

I took a walk over to Valle Escondido a few days ago to visit Jon Arcuni. Jon was a former landlord. I was sorry to hear that his daughter passed away from an overdose. I expressed my condolences, and he responded, shaking his head, “Yeah, she was always a problem.” I am so conflicted about that response. My thoughts jump all over the place, so I just stop thinking about it. His coping skills are amazing.

I asked if he was still sitting watching Fox News all day. He said, “No, they’ve begun to lose credibility.” I didn’t know what he was talking about until Dan told me that Fox is losing faith in Trump. It all made sense then.

Rosa was there for my visit. She and Jon have developed a beautiful relationship. She is a Panamanian woman who nursed Jon back from the brink of Death’s door a number of years ago. She now takes care of him on a regular basis, and Jon, in turn, has adopted the entire family, putting them through school, helping with expenses. It is a loving win-win.

I had to turn down the position of secretary for Boquete Health and Hospice. It was tempting because it feels like a great way for me to be a contributing member of the community, but after I reviewed the projects I have planned to complete while I’m here, it just felt like too much. I told them I would reconsider in a month or so.

I’ve decided to try a plant-based diet while I’m here. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to try this, since I’m the only person I have to consider. I’ve been listening to some excellent podcasts lately. Here is a good one. I have just recently discovered Rich Roll. I like him a lot.

Speaking of food. This is an amazing taste sensation. It makes me want to cry right now knowing that it is off the list. It’s an asiago-jalapeño bagel with cream cheese and kumquat jam. I wonder what vegans use to get the sensation of cream cheese. It’s the same as with a nice thick Greek yogurt. I thought the word was umami, but now I’m not sure. Wow. Maybe this will not be an all-or-nothing proposition.

No, I know myself well enough to know that I’m all in for the next four months at least. It will be an interesting journey.

Speaking of interesting journeys. I have been experiencing a transition in my relationship with pain. I am astounded to discover how much power I have over this. Turns out it’s just another habit that I can change, just choosing another thought.

I have caught myself a couple of times. When I stand up from a table or desk, I find myself pressing on the table to take the load off my back. Or I have a little fear when I’m going to pick something up off the floor. “Knock it off!” I hear my mother saying. So, it’s just a matter of replacing that pathway.

Another good video:

I like Huberman. He’s a bit geeky funny. He likes to use medical terminology, but he has a hard time with the pronunciations. He makes me laugh. And that’s what it’s all about! I like when he says, “I hate to break it to you…”

A video of my Play Area to date:

Love a VR newbie.

I received a text from Leslie Hughes today. She is one of the Boquete Hospice coordinators. She asked if I would consider being their data person or the secretary. I told her I would have to give that some thought. As much as I want to be a contributory member of the community, I’m still feeling a bit overwhelmed with the projects I want to accomplish while I’m here. I’m mowing through the list, but I must be careful. Pondering.

Spent over an hour today dealing with Landmark’s new website. Trying to start working on taxes. Always a challenge waiting.

Made my own yogurt yesterday. Since Dan is not here, I have to make my own. It turned out okay. What Dan has discovered is that the best starter is a full-fat yogurt (10% is good). The 0% fat versions just don’t quite cut it. Even with straining (Greek yogurt), it doesn’t have the thick, creamy texture I love. I’ll have to look around. Here is a link to an easy-to-follow recipe.

https://www.liveeatlearn.com/greek-yogurt/

I pulled out the paints today. I have a couple of birthdays coming up here, and I want to get started on cards to donate to the church auction.

Today was the first sunny day I have had, so I decided to make a video of the outside. Actually, it turned into two videos.

As I said in the first video, I was hoping to sit out there this evening to do a bit of star gazing, which is one of the Soul Matters spiritual practice options; however, it has really clouded up again, so I may need to look at another option…just in case.

I met Gloria and Sally this morning at Tuesday market. The market is always fun. You never know whom you’re going to run into. I saw Beth, faithfully sitting in her place outside the market, where she has a table set up for Los Animales. She is a true animal lover. She reminds me of my friend, Bambi Kehler. They have truly found their passion in their love for animals.

I didn’t think of it until now, but I should have done a short video of the market. I’ve done it in the past. Well, there will be many Tuesdays to come.

We dropped Gloria off at the Haven (gym), and Sally brought me home where we sat and had a great visit. I had her try out the Meta Quest 2. Hilarious. Always is when a person tries it for the first time.

After I finish here, I plan to put the headset on again and try to figure out how Michele and I can do our boxing workout together in the same room. Not as easy as we thought. I’m finding the learning curve to be a bit choppy. Not sure if it’s me or them. I just have to get my system down. Right now so much is hit or miss. I need a manual!!

I’m going to do a beginner workout today. I was going to wait, but I changed my mind. I find that my newest adventure is learning more about chronic pain and how much of it is in our minds. After listening to just a few conversations online, I’m beginning to believe that my back pain stems back to an accident I had in 1978 in which I was hit by a car while riding my bike. I sustained a T12 fracture, which I’m now thinking is not that big of a deal, but I think that cognitively I’ve been protecting myself ever since. Although my current issue is due to an acute injury, I realize I’ve been dealing with back issues on and off since the accident. This will be a very interesting journey.

Ash sent me a text today with drills that he has designed for me. It looks like fun. I am so happy that I discovered a love for this art. While I am doing it, I feel such joy. I know that there is nothing else that I should be doing. Who knew?

Barb asked if I wanted to drive into David with her tomorrow. She has a medical appointment. Sounds good to me!

Today is only day three of my visit so far, and I have checked a number of things off my to-do list. I want to get “the work” out of the way so I can concentrate on playing.

The night before last, as I was falling asleep, I heard a thud followed by footsteps (pawsteps?) on the roof over my bed. The next morning I sent a message to Cathy and asked if it sounded crazy. She said absolutely not. This house is right on the edge of a ravine. There is a fence which separates the house from the ravine, but some of the trees that reach out over this house are rooted on the other side of the fence. She said it could have been a squirrel, an opposum, a sloth, a kotamunde (like a raccoon) or a large cat. I wish I would have seen it.

I received this lovely message from Ash, my calligraphy teacher, this morning after sending him my daily practice.

“Well how good to wake up to my morning seeing this. You have come a long way Christine. Pat your back and be proud! 👏👏”

I’ve also been working on getting my Meta Quest 2 set up. I tried it for just a little while yesterday. My back is about 90% better. I’ve decided to start one of the fitness programs at a beginner level and see how it goes. Sally is also lending me a book titled Pain Free by Peter Egoscue, which she said she and friends have found helpful.

I also watched this excellent video conversation between Dr. Rangan Chatterjee and pain specialist Howard Schubiner. with

With the Meta Quest, I was also experimenting with watching videos on YouTube that are made just for virtual reality (VR). I was watching a National Geographic video on elephants in Africa. At one point, I turned and looked to my right. There was a guy standing right next to me. Scared the shit out of me!