I’m playing catch up here again because — when I haven’t been having fun out and about — I’ve been sitting here having fun studying Spanish. But it has all been delightful, so guess I’d better share it before I get so far behind that I give up writing this blog altogether.

 

(Yeah, like that’s gonna happen. As long as I’m breathing and have a functioning brain, I’ll keep this blog going, just maybe not every single day!)

 

On Wednesday

 

…Dale Garrison and I took the bus to Grecia to have Subway sandwiches and check on the status of his “seated cane” at my pharmacy. We wanted to see if the photo of his DIMEX card would get him free rides on the bus, too.  (The answer: no.  He has to have his DIMEX card in hand before he can ride free, but the bus is only 815 colones — about  $1.75 USD each way, so it isn’t even close to expensive!)

 

We hopped on the bus at about 8:35 and were in Grecia before 9.  We stopped first at the pharmacy since it was closest to where the bus parked. I figured if they had his seated cane in, he’d enjoy having it during our morning meanderings.

 

They didn’t have it, but they confirmed with Dale that the price is acceptable so they ordered it for him and said it will be here probably by Monday. (WOO HOO! Another reason for a trip in and another Subway sandwich next week!)

 

I didn’t walk around the soccer field yesterday because I knew we’d be walking quite a bit in town. I managed to put in 5467 steps by 5 pm that day. (I did more than I needed to today — Thursday — to make up for it. 8,557 so far!)

 

After leaving the pharmacy

 

…we headed up the block toward Subway. Before we walked past Mundo Magico, I stopped in briefly to see if they had mouthwash and skin lotion. They had the lotion but the area with mouthwash was completely empty, so I will get that next trip in. Dale looked for deodorant there, too, but didn’t find it, either. The entire body care section was being renovated, so the shelves were bare.

 

We walked from there to Subway and ordered almost identical meals. I knew all but two of the condiments in Spanish, so I ordered both sandwiches.  He added jalapenos and avocado to his sandwich but otherwise the sandwiches were identical: Parmesan oregano half sandwiches with provolone cheese, toasted, with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, olives, spinach and cucumbers.  (Oh, Dale had them hold the lettuce on his.) I had sweet mustard for the sauce; I don’t recall what Dale had put on his.

 

As we ate, Dale shared many tales about his upbringing and careers, all of which were riveting because he’s a great storyteller and very personable. He has had a seriously fascinating, frustrating, and fulfilling life. What a go-getter!

 

After leaving there, we crossed the street and made a beeline through the middle of Central Park

 

…toward Davidienda Bank so I could withdraw the April rent. Dale got some cash there, too, and then we went to Banco Nacional where I got 30K colones (about $60) for the feria and for lunch for the next two Fridays.

 

After that, I led Dale to the grocery store where I wanted to get a few things. He wanted to see their prices to see how they compared to where he and Crystal usually shop.  He said the two places have similar prices. That’s good!

 

Then we went through Mercado Municipal where I bought some boneless, skinless chicken and more cat food. I had a ton of “shrapnel” (Costa Rican coins) and the pet store offered to change them into bills for me, so they did that, leaving me feeling a lot lighter! Dale said if he’d known that was gonna happen, he’d have brought his can of coins, too! (There’s always next week when we go for Subway again and your cane, Dale!!!)

 

Then we checked when the next bus to San Isidro would leave. We found out we had about 20 minutes before we could board it, so I got some Pollolandia to take home for lunch and we both got a scoop of ice cream right there at the bus stop to enjoy while we waited for the bus door to open.

 

In no time flat, we were back on the bus.  It left soon after and we were both back at our respective homes about an hour later.

 

Normally, the trip back would have taken 40 minutes, but there was a long traffic jam on the way back, so it took us over an hour to get back.  No biggy. We just kept blabbing all the way back so we hardly noticed the passing time!

 

Alas, I forgot to take any pictures!  What a bimbo I am!

 

When I got back, I resumed my Spanish studies and took notes for about five hours (off and on).

 

This morning I walked around the soccer field seven times and then stopped at the panaderia on the way back to buy a doughnut and a pineapple croissant, and then at the pulperia to buy toilet paper, a liter of cola, and a small carton of ice cream. (Hey, I was down to 148 pounds this morning — I figured I could enjoy a few treats over the next few days!)

 

Then I came home, took a shower, trimmed my hair again (it needs to be colored soon although no one ever sees it, since it’s always under a hat!) and sat down to my studies.  I’m 20 pages away from having my THIRD Spanish book committed to spiral bound notebooks.

 

The handwriting of the lessons is making a huge difference in my lesson retention and progress.  I am dreaming long conversations in Spanish at night these days and picking up more of what I overhear when I’m out and about. It’s a process, but it’s working GREAT and I am loving every minute of it. So, onward and upward!

 

STILL No Response from Charles Schwab, Dammit!

 

Maybe I’ll reclaim my old phone number  (I asked Lisa to call it the other day to see if anyone else is using it, and no one is) and just get my RMD out of where my 401K is at now and worry about getting it moved later this year.  I’m about to go with Fidelity if I don’t hear back from Schwab pretty soon.

 

That’s all the news that’s fit to print for this time!