My Latest Adventure

I love this photo. There is a lot going on. We can see the expressions on the faces of the Smiths as they are reacting to what they perceive as an attack on their identity.

Although the image is a bit disturbing, I find Smith’s Twitter comment hopeful: “got all dressed up to choose chaos.” Of course, the operative word here is “choose.”

I read this morning that the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences is launching an official inquiry into the incident. This is great news. I heard that over one billion people witnessed this event. If they also have the opportunity to witness an exploration of what it was that caused Smith to “choose chaos,” it can be an enlightening experience for many, many people.

I feel that the emphasis needs to be continually placed on “choose” and “choice” and any other iteration of this word. The good news is that Smith already used this word in his Twitter response.

As the Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl said, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.”

Right now, I choose to have faith that he will be able to explain what went on in his mind at that moment. The world is watching. He can be a role model for many.

In the 1939 film we watched Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. We are now watching in real time as Mr. Smith Awakens...or not…you never know.

A few more “thank yous” waiting for their beads.

#awakening #willsmith #cardmaking

Can you tell I don’t have anyone to talk to?

In response to Will Smith’s hitting Chris Rock, Sam Crosby, Sky News Contributor on the Paul Murray Show, said this. “C’mon it’s the most human reaction for a husband to defend his wife’s honor like that.”

I say, more’s the pity.  Crosby is intimating that it is normal or acceptable to express emotions with violence.  

Because this type of violent reactivity is common, even respected by some, does not mean it is acceptable or optimal. Violence begets violence. 

Violent behavior shows a lack of self-control and a lack of self-awareness, both of which Smith demonstrated. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” 

Again, I hope that Smith is reflecting on the value of this moment. 

As I’m sure millions of people are responding to the drama of last night’s Oscars, so am I. In case you don’t already know, in short, Chris Rock, as he was preparing to present an award, made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s baldness. Pinkett Smith apparently has an autoimmune condition which has caused her alopecia (baldness). Upon hearing the remark, Will Smith walked up onto the stage and slapped Chris Rock in the face.

Later, as Smith was accepting his award for King Richard, he apologized for his behavior and said, “love makes you do crazy things.”

I was saddened by this weak defense of his behavior. It is not love that makes us do crazy violent things, it is just the opposite, it is ego, identification with a story, one based in fear. It is ego, the weakest point on the spectrum of who we are that makes us do crazy things, not love, which is at the highest point of the spectrum.

Smith apparently believes in a story that tells him he must defend at all costs an idea of who he thinks he is. He talked about the character Richard Williams, father of the famous tennis stars, Serena and Venus Williams. Smith compared himself to Richard Williams, who believed in protecting others, especially people in his family, especially women.  What did he think he was protecting them from?

I am heartened to hear the media responses to Smith’s behavior, which were generally disparaging, citing lack of self control and the ultimate rejection of violence as an answer. The Oscars presentation is in many ways an opportunity, especially for young people, to view role models. Smith’s behavior is not something worth modeling.

However, I am also hopeful. I hope that this is not the end of Smith’s drama. This is an opportunity for him to see how his thoughts led to an episode of suffering, which resulted in a poor choice, but one which can also lead to an awakening. Choose again. Learn what it really means to choose from love.

I had a pretty lazy day today, recuperating from my evening with Barb and Murray. Barb is just back from her visit to the U.S. to visit her daughters. It was great to see her again. I made puttanesca for them again, and with that we had fresh tuna (raw) with Murray’s famous hot sauce, and some great wine. I spent the night and came back and did a bit of work on my cards and the blog.

I went to a new restaurant last week, once on Thursday for lunch with Sally and then again yesterday morning with the gang. The restaurant is called Taburete. The ambience is charming. I wish I could say the same for the food.

I saw this video today on the Boquete Community Group. Vaughn is one of the pickleball players I have met recently.

It’s a week of “lasts.” My last Tuesday Market, my last Trivia Tuesday, my last knitting group, my last cooking. Time to start thinking about packing and coming home. It was wonderful, but I’m ready.

I did my last shopping for anything that will have to be cooked. I will miss the fresh produce and hum of the Tuesday Market.

Trivia was very underwhelming this week, at least in regard to the questions. I’m not even going to bother posting them here for you. Some were very arcane; no one got them right. Nancy and Betty were fit to be tied. I still enjoyed it. I love the ambience.

After Trivia we went to Tre Scalini for dinner. My first and last time there this year. It’s one of my favorites. I had the fettuccine with smoked salmon and chorizo. I’ve had it before, and I loved it. And then of course, there is always dessert!

I had an interesting “Boquete moment” this week. The other day, I was going out for my hike, and realized that my hiking pole was not where I usually leave it. I looked everywhere to no avail. I scanned my memory and guessed that I likely left it in a taxi when I was coming home with groceries.

I posted my dilemma on the Boquete Community Group Facebook page. Within minutes, a taxi drive answered that he would put out the word to his fellow drivers. Very shortly afterward, I received the message that my pole was located in George’s taxi. I was given George’s number, connected with him and made plans to meet in town the next day. I got the pole back safe and sound.

Cathy Doig stopped by today with the lease contract for the Glass Casita. All set for next year! Perhaps I will have fewer of this type of visitor who stopped by yesterday morning. He had the body of a Buick. Ugh!! But I managed to scoop him up and let him outside…where he belongs.

Today is Dan’s 65^th birthday.  Yay Medicare!!  I spoke with him for just a short time this morning, and then I lost my Internet connection.  He had dinner last night with our neighbors, Jay and Ann Lecher. Ann surprised him with a birthday tiramisu.  Sweet.

A few days ago, I was talking to Dan about how I wanted to celebrate my 70^th birthday.  I told him that in addition to walking the Camino, I was planning to do the Intuitive Painting retreat at the Christine Center during the first week in July.  I said that that should do it, unless there was something he wanted to do with me to celebrate.  “No,” he said, “I’m good.” 

And today’s play time was all about dandelions.  I started with the one on the top left and ended with the one on the bottom right. 

I have looked a couple of times, but walking has limited my searching. Today, I finally committed to finding Don Quike’s bakery. I knew the general area, but I kept getting it wrong. Today I even asked people nearby who didn’t know where it was. But I finally found him!

Don Quike has quickly built a reputation as the very best baker in Boquete, especially for his bagels. He was trained by Mort of Mort’s Kosher Bakery in Alto Boquete. I believe Mort is no longer with us (although the bakery is still there), and Don Quike has started a place of his own. The issue with many is that his hours seem to be sporadic. I asked him today, as I was buying my bagels, what his schedule is. He told me Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am to 3 pm. So, we’ll see.

My days are numbered here, but I am already looking forward to visiting his bakery next year.

This was my favorite email yesterday from Cathy Doig:

Hi Christine, 
The owner of Finca Wild Orchid, Mark Velci, has approved a 4 month lease (Dec through March, 2023) of the fully furnished Glass Casita at a rental rate of $825 monthly. 
The rent will include high speed internet & electricity. You will be responsible for refills on the propane gas tanks, as needed, which are $5.37 each. In a 4 month period I estimate you will need to refill 2 tanks. 
I will confirm the weekly cleaning and hopefully it will be no more than $25.
If these terms are acceptable I will draft a short term lease to secure the reservation for you. 
Cheers! 
Cathy

I am, as they say, “stoked. ” I didn’t mention in the initial blog about this place that it has a great kitchen with a six-burner stove and oven. I might even bring my copper pot down with me.

I just finished listening to this podcast with Soren Gordhamer of Wisdom 2.0 and Jon Kabat-Zinn. I choose to believe with my entire being in this perspective on what is happening in Ukraine.

Gloria’s sister, Angel, is here visiting from Cleveland. This evening we went to the Fishhouse for dinner. Never a disappointment. Angel and I both had the grouper with papaya/jalapeño salsa. Gloria had a fish sandwich.

Angel wanted to go out to listen to music, but the band at Boquete Brewhouse said they did not start playing until 9 pm (it was about 6:30). I don’t think so. Night-night.

The 13th/14th Century German theologian, Eckhart von Hochheim, aka Meister Eckhart, is quoted as saying, “If the only prayer you ever say in your life is ‘thank you,’ it’s enough.”

Picture these mounted on a pink card stock and then on a cream-colored card.

This morning Betty took me up Volcancito Road to Arco Iris, where she rented in years past. There are two casitas: a smaller one, which she rented, and then a larger one where Cathy and Larry (the managers) live now and have rented for eight years. The smaller one is already booked for next season, but it turns out that Cathy and Larry are going to move to another house across the street, so this larger casita is available.

I fell in love with it immediately and told Cathy, on the spot, that I wanted to rent it for four months next year. Not sure of the price yet, but she said it will likely be about $700 a month. That is only $200 more than what I’m paying now. It is so worth it. It doesn’t have an outside patio, but as you can see in the video, it is like being outside all the time. I can use that round table in the middle for my play station.

Also, they clean and treat for pests every week. Hallelujah!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Thank you again to my friend, Kathy Rutz, for suggesting these beads to me while we were at the Foundation for knitting the other day. She thought that I could use them on my cards, and she was right. I think they are very cute.

Not much else today. Although I listened to a very informative YouTube video today with two of my favorite thinkers, Russell Brand and Yuval Noah Harari. Harari addresses a group of college kids discussing the future of technology and the hacking of the human mind.

Technology and social medial are not going away, but we can be very conscious of how we use them and not let them use us. This will take a very heightened level of self-awareness.

Here is a shocking bit of information: The Internet will know a kid’s sexual orientation even before they do, based on how their eye movements respond to the screen. I’ve said it many times, I am so happy I don’t have kids. Such a huge job.

I’ve had a challenging couple of days dealing with the “wildlife” in my apartment. Night before last I noticed a very large cockroach flying above the window across from my bed. I was both creeped out and pissed off. I thought I had them under control with the Combat gel that Murray recommended. I was so upset that yesterday I posted somewhat of a tirade on my blog and then eventually took it down.

I went on the Boquete Community Group looking for another place. I was almost laughed back to Wisconsin when I said I wanted a place with no cockroaches. After digging a little deeper into the information on Combat, I discovered that it is indeed one of the best treatments, but it is not an overnight sensation. It takes a little while for the nest to be eliminated. But then it is effective for up to a year.

AND THEN!!!! (and this is the “Sorry” part) I made another move and put glue paper down outside one of my doors, thinking this would stop the huge spiders and cockroaches from creeping in under the door. What I did not think through was birds. I opened the door this afternoon to see how the paper was working, and there was a bird stuck to the paper. I felt so horrible. As I frantically tried to trim the glue strip from its claws, I soon realized that it was hopeless. I had to drown it. So, the bird kingdom is not happy with this gringa today.

I have now moved the glue strip to the inside of the door base.

Yesterday, in my emotional turmoil, I talked to Gloria about the possibility that I might not come back here next year because of the cockroaches and my needing to have a happier space to live in. I told her not to make any changes right now on my account. She was immediately responsive. She said that she has no problem with my treating the apartment for cockroaches in any way I want. She just doesn’t want to do it in her own space. I did not realize that. Gloria has agreed to have the entire place painted and put in the shelving that we had already planned.

She said she just wants me to be happy. She has a good heart. I feel like I am always walking a fine line of being unreasonable.

We also discussed that when I come down next year, I can fix up the place any way I want and deduct the cost from the rent. This now feels like a win-win. I can enjoy the place and not have to worry about packing things up and lugging them around.

Betty said that she would help me fix it up. I have a list of things I need, which I shared with her, and I will share with the rest of the group before I leave. During the coming months, they can keep an eye out for things as they shop.

I met Sandra Cripe and Laurie Collier at Mail Boxes, Etc. today to submit the final copy of the Being Prepared manual for production. So, that’s done. They would now like me to try producing a flyer for the class on April 20th.

Today’s fun:

I eventually put a blue wash over the two on the top left.