I’m not thrilled with with either of my image-capturing devices (smartphone or digital cam). They don’t capture good zoomed images…

But this bird appeared minutes ago and it was gorgeous. I just don’t know what kind it is. I hope Laurie Barron can identify it.

UPDATE

 

It’s a squirrel cucoo. Laurie Barron and Brooke Bishop both confirmed it. Thank you, dears!

 

Frustrating Day — Courtesy of BECU in the US of A

 

Jeez… I just tried to update my credit union about my rental address.

 

For two hours.

 

It still isn’t done.

 

BECU sent me a docusign form to complete but the fields won’t accept Costa Rica postal codes or phone numbers because they only accept US-style fields; that is, they insist on a ten-digit phone number and a five digit zip code.

 

So I chatted with a representative — two representatives — three representatives for at least an hour and finally said screw it. They can keep the Villas Escondidas info on file. If they want the updated  info, they can enter it themselves. I gave it to them.

 

They said I could mail them the info, but CR isn’t mailing anything to the US because of T-Wrecks tariffs at the moment.  And if I can do that, why the heck can’t I just give them the info without trying to make a document work that won’t?

 

Then they said I could fax them the info. I don’t have access to a fax. And again, if it’s that easy, why can’t I just give them the info and have them enter it?

 

This is the first time since I got here that I ran up against red tape that just doesn’t make any sense to me.  The last rep said she’ll let the document folks know about the trouble I’m having with those fields so they can troubleshoot it.

 

Then she suggested I keep trying.

 

I said nope. I’m done, unless she gets back to me to tell me the document folks got it done and I can do it reliably the first time.

 

Two and a half hours on this task is just ludicrous. It should have taken three minutes, max.

 

Now I need to sit back and relax.  Get back the pura vida vibe.

 

Tranquilo, baby!

 

In Other, Far Happier News…

 

My refrigerator and pantry are filled with (mostly) good-for me food. I did splurge and get a Sarsaparilla (which starts with a Z down here!) soda pop today after my mountain goat workout. (Hey, I earned that sucker!)

 

I’ve been watching a Spanish-language wildlife series with English subtitles beneath the episodes so I can start immersing myself in the language even when I’m at home and not out and about. I was kind of suprised by how much of it I understood without having to look at the subtitles, but the difference in sentence structure can sure throw me for a loop. I think that’s what trips me up when I converse with Ticos, too… the sentence structure.

 

It will take time, but I’m determined to figure it out and get better, week after week!