My Latest Adventure

I started my day with my calligraphy teacher, Ashok Giri of Mumbai. I just love saying that. Ash was able to partially diagnose my problem with hairlines. Ash is so good that he was able to tell that my issue was due to my ink (thank God it’s not me!!). So, tomorrow I’ll dilute it a bit and try again. Always something.

Just as I was finishing my class, Barb showed up. We chatted for a couple of hours and solved all the world problems…again. Barb is going through a very exciting transition in her life, moving back to the U.S. Barb has been here with her partner, Murray, for about 10 years. Barb has two adult daughters in the U.S., so, like many people who try to establish a lifestyle here, the pull of family (especially grandchildren), is strong. And, that is a good thing. Barb is a loving mom.

I walked to Super Dorado to pick up some supplies (TP and garbage bags not included in $450/month) as well as some ingredients for a dinner I’m making tomorrow night for Gloria and Trevor. I went back and forth from a lentil stew I’ve been conjuring in the slow cooker to a marinara with Italian sausage. I was hoping to find Italian sausage at Gago (across the highway from Super Dorado), but they didn’t have any. I did, however, find curry powder, so the lentil stew won. I’m also going to make hummus with pita and then bananas foster for dessert. I’ve been craving that since I got here. The bananas are exceptional. Now I just need walnuts.

I spent the rest of the afternoon working on cards and listening to an interview on Wisconsin Public Radio’s On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti. She interviewed both a retired colonel and a former prisoner. Here’s the link if you’re interested. It’s one of those that I want to listen to again. It’s ugly but necessary. Also, in my opinion, hopeful: I hear the U.S. military saying they’re sorry and victims possessing the ability to forgive and continue to see the heart in everyone.

So, I guess it was a heart kind of a day.

As I was making these cards today, I felt again that I have, what I call, the Henry Ford gene. I really enjoy having a system and doing all the steps. Interesting how this trait comes out in my artwork. Still feels funny to say “my artwork.”

I want to say thank you again to my friend, CathyAnne, who copied all seasons of The Seaside Hotel, as well as many other PBS programs, onto a thumb drive for me. I am so grateful. I can’t access my Passport account from here, and the Netflix and Amazon Prime offerings are very limited (legal stuff). So, I’m so happy now having this to look forward to at night, as well as the book I’m now reading Sooley by John Grisham. Next on the list is Never by Ken Follett.

Here are a few images from the Tuesday Market. It is a weekly market of indigenous, Panamanians and ex-pats alike. Beautiful fresh produce, baked goods, cheese, goat-milk yogurt, coffee, chocolate, oils, jewelry, crafts and much more. It is also an opportunity to socialize.

A couple more video clips of the Tuesday Market. Sorry about the Slo-Mo. I had no idea it was even an option.

I have passed this guy hundreds of times along the main road. I had no idea what he represented. I finally got up close, and I STILL don’t know. There is no explanation.

This car has been in this same spot since we first visited Boquete in 2008. I do not believe it has ever moved…horizontally anyhow.

An uninvited visitor to my room last night. I had to squirt him down with my Waterpik, put him in my yogurt-cup bug collector, and let him outside…where he (we) will be happier.

I just completed this piece for a friend here who was overlooked in my Christmas card delivery. I don’t think she’s reading the blog, but I’ll say again, “Sorry, Betty.”

I love the above quote from The Little Prince. It has taught me a lot.

I find it very interesting that my biggest mess here is in the word, “invisible.” So, you probably can’t see it. 🙂

I sat with Gloria and her nephew, Trevor (visiting from CO) , this morning to give lesson #1 in calligraphy. Considering what a beginner I am, it is a bit of a joke that I could be considered a teacher, but for someone who knows absolutely nothing…I can do that.

Taking this to bed with me tonight:

Dan gave me this bar of soap shortly before I left home. It is an unusual thing for him to do and, I thought, very sweet. He has asked me a couple of times if I’ve used it yet and thought of him. I had to say no. Today I took it out of its hiding place in my bathroom cart and decided that I will use it next time I need to. Now I’m wondering if there’s hot pepper in it or something. Think positive… He’s been watching After Life with Ricky Gervais. I know he gets very sentimental sometimes.

I was working on this card today while listening to an interview with Rupert Spira, one of my favorite teachers. He talks about creativity and how it is a participation in bringing consciousness into the world.

I never thought of myself as creative. Creativity was something done by “the talented people,” like Rosalind Schmidt, in grade school. She always won the prize during “Let’s Draw.” The rest of us were judged as not quite good enough.

Spira says, “The process of creativity is being called into participation with the other. It’s bringing consciousness into the world.” I believe that the joy we experience in creating something is God saying, “You’re on the right track. That’s what I want from you. Thanks.” I feel great joy while making these cards and also thinking of the joy of giving them to friends and family.

Today I had my first experience with an ER. I got bit by a friend’s dog. Not mentioning any names, not necessary, she feels bad enough. The bite is not severe, but a Google search recommended seeing a doctor in any event; so I did. The amazing thing was the ER experience.

I called a taxi and just asked him to take me to the emergency clinic. He asked which one. I said I have no idea. I told him that I heard there was a clinic in town that was open 24 hours. So, he took me to what is known as the “public” clinic. He told me later he would never go there because you have to wait too long, but I was seen immediately. There was no one else there.

I simply cannot believe that the doctor visit was only $0.50, and the medicine $2.50. The guy who was checking me out, said, “Si, es Panamá.” Increíble!!

This one is for Mary. Remember I told you I have a long way to go with my calligraphy? This was my practice this morning. I met with my teacher. He said he loved the one that looks like a dog.

I cleaned up at the BHH training today. I won for best presentation: The History of BHH In 90 Seconds or Less. The prize was a bottle of wine. Just in time. I then won a prize for my score on the homework quiz. The prize was a bottle of wine. So, I’m being asked, “When’s the party?”

Dan sent me this email recently. “Below are the forecasted temperatures for Tuesday and Wednesday. Assuming one were to ski the warmest hours of the day (normally 1-3 pm), which day would be the better ski day? According to the National Weather Service’s wind chill calculator, the wind chill temperature would be 7 degrees warmer on Wednesday than Tuesday. “

I also was listening to Wisconsin Public Radio (love technology), and they said the windchill was forecasted to be -30.

Here is my response:

I had another lesson with Simos today regarding the photos in the blog. I noticed that the ones I posted of my latest watercolor cards were not very clear. So, Simos went over the photo-saving process with me again, step by step. We’ll see how they look today.

Well, the one on the right is still blurry, but I will have to chalk this up to “photographer error.” Simos recommended that I go back and edit all of the other photos I have inserted so far. Sorry, Simos, that is not likely to happen. I can be a bit compulsive, but I have my limits. I think that just reached one of them. Plus, I am finding that this blogging business takes a lot of time and commitment. Revising all the photos would go beyond its scheduled limitations. I have to leave here in 15 minutes to play Trivia.

Here are a couple of images from the Boquete Hospice training yesterday. John Ferguson gave an excellent talk on oxygen concentrators (Hi John!).

Tomorrow I have to give a 90-second presentation on the history of hospice. Wish me luck!

CHOX is one of the best chocolatiers in Boquete…in my humble opinion. Here is a “CHOX Moment.”

Starting my day as usual with a bit of calligraphy and coffee.

Gloria is still recuperating. She said her taste and smell do not seem affected, but her vision is not great.

Adriana sent a text this morning saying that Charlie was feeling chilled, so she called off the gathering this evening. She sent a photo. He looks “Covid-y.”

I walked into town this morning to pick up some supplies for us and to take a look at the last day of La Feria. A few images from my walk in:

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After my hike, I settled in with my cards. Here are some I have finished. They still need be mounted on cardstock.

I laughed to myself the other day when Gloria came over and suggested that I might like to try some of her aloe vera plants for my hair. “You have the type of hair that might benefit.”

Gloria has not been feeling well for about a week. Thursday night MINSA (Ministerio de Salud – health department) came and tested her. She had to pay $35. Now she has to quarantine for another week. People are much more jumpy here than at home. Friends were texting asking where she got it from; did I have symptoms; have I been vaccinated; do I plan to isolate? No, I do not plan to isolate. I also have not been within 10 feet of Gloria since she started having symptoms. So, I made sure I shared that with everyone, and now I have to make sure that we enforce this, so no one gets upset. Life in a pandemic. It’s tiring.

Tomorrow I’m having dinner with a conservative bunch; I’m not expecting the same response. It’s early Omicron days here. I think things will calm down once more people contract it and recover from it, as has happened in the U.S. I also think that the numbers are much higher here than reported because people are simply not being tested. I told Gloria last Sunday that if she were in the U.S. she would already be at the testing station. Instead, she had to wait to get someone to come here to test her.

I did take a dish over today, and Gloria left this nice card outside my room. (No idea why my phone insists on taking videos instead of photos.)

I especially like the last line. It reminded me of Auntie Toula kissing me good night one night. She held my face in her hands and said, “Thank you for being you.” What sweeter sentiment can one share with another?

So, again, something’s up with my phone. I did take a few photos this morning, but they are nowhere to be found. Barb and Debra came at 7:30 this morning, and we went on a hike not too far from my house. It was about 6.5 miles round trip. Perfect weather, about 70 degrees, sunny and not too windy. Happy I took my walking poles. Lots of things to tangle the ankles, and also a creek to cross. Poles are invaluable for this.

Debra just returned from Quito, Ecuador where she and her partner, Pascual, have a B&B. She has a home here that she shares with Pascual that is supposedly quite amazing: lots of flowers, animals, and life off the grid… I’d love to see it. Hopefully we can do that before she and I both leave in April. She is planning to return to Canada to be with a daughter. Long story. I’m hoping to get a photo of her. She looks like Lee Remick. Pascual looks like Gerard Depardieu (whom I used to like until I googled for the spelling of his name) but he’s not here, so no photo of him.

I spent the rest of the day with a bit of calligraphy, bubble.io, a bit of cooking, and working on my cards. I’m going to post some soon.

I also owe a deep debt of gratitude to my friend, Pewaukee Cathy. I call her that because her name is CathyAnne Schulte, and her family owned Schulte’s Landscaping in Pewaukee. The building is still there. She hasn’t been back for years. The family no longer owns it. So…I owe her a debt of gratitude because she copied onto a thumb drive a LOT of PBS videos. It is one thing I really miss here. Cathy is a TV junkie, and she likes many of the same things I do, so she has them on her computer. Today I was able to catch up on one of my favorites that I started to binge on at home – The Seaside Hotel. I highly recommend it.

Tomorrow is the last day of La Feria, the annual flower festival in Boquete. I’ll walk down and get some photos – if my phone cooperates.

I walked into town today so that I could drop off a couple of cards at the Boquete Library. Mail can be dropped off there from 10:30 to 12:00 on Thursdays. So, I finally got Joe’s card in the mail as well as another card, which I will not elaborate on because I do not want to ruin the surprise.

I also opened an account at RedNBblue, so I can order things from Amazon. I forgot to bring my bone folder. I must have a bone folder. I also ordered the luscious gold ink I used for my Christmas cards. Some things are just better done in gold, or as Ash said today, “This lovely vermillion.” Ash Giri is my calligraphy teacher in Mumbai. I love saying that. My two-hour lesson consists of watching him perform the strokes and explain each movement. It is a beautiful sight to behold. I love technology.

I am making progress with the bubble.io database program. I have actually gotten to the point where I will soon begin constructing a “Data Type,” which is synonymous with Excel’s “Page” in a workbook. Then there are Fields (Columns) and Things (Rows). Kind of strange, but I’m having fun learning. The tutorial on Udemy is excellent. The instructor works quickly, but he explains everything while he is doing it, and it’s repetitious, so I’m beginning to get it.

I received an email today from Chris McCall, the main programmer on the project. He was checking on my progress and then asked me if I could write, and would I be willing to write up “the notes” for the program. I told him we would have to have a discussion as to exactly what that would entail. Maybe down the line. Right now, it still feels like a good balance.

I will likely be seeing him in person soon. Hospice is having their volunteer training next week Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9-3 p.m. I thought at first I was meant to pick a day, but I was informed that it is all three days. It will be good to have a thorough understanding of the operation. They are growing very quickly (because there are so many aging expats here), so I feel it is a good expenditure of my time – my contribution to the community.