Wheee! I’ve had a fun few days. It’s time to catch you up on them!

 

Was able to help two friends, have lunch with friends, and more!

 

It doesn’t get much better than this!

 

A Couple Nights Ago…

 

I received an unexpected text from “Mao” (Mauricio, the English language teacher in Sarchi‘). He asked if I would mind audiorecording twenty dollar amounts from $100,000 to over 100,000,000 so he could have them spoken by a native English speaker for his class.  I said, “Sure! Happy to help!”

 

About 20 minutes later, I sent him the audio. He texted back to ask if I could do them again without using “and.”  (So, for example, instead of the usual way that I say, “One hundred thousand dollars and twenty seven cents,”  say, “One hundred thousand dollars, twenty seven cents.”

 

THAT was a challenge

 

…because I was so used to saying “and” where the period would be in 100,000.27.  It took me two more times to get through the audiofile without messing up and using “and” in those places, but I finally did it. He was very happy.  I told him I love helping him whenever I can. And I do!  It feels great when I can contribute in any way here in Costa Rica!

 

I think he is going to practice saying the dollar amounts without a Spanish accent. If he can’t, he can always use the audiorecording and play it for the students.

 

The Second Help

 

I will be dog-sitting for my neighbors when they fly to France on a two-week vacation this summer. They don’t trust their pup or their place with strangers, and they know how much I love animals, so they asked me if I would do the honors.  I was quick to say, “Yes, of course!”  I need to ask my landlady if I can bring the dog here at night to sleepover with Charli and me.  If not, I will probably sleep over with the dog every other night and be here for Charli on the other nights.

 

They’re also planning to get some hens and a rooster before they go on vacation, and I said I’ll be happy to care for them while they’re away, too.   I miss my chickens like crazy, and I love the sound of a rooster, so I am looking forward to the two-week “gig” as a dog-sitter and chicken rancher!

 

Autumn McKenzie Got the Susanna Reel

 

…a day or so ago and has already posted a “dirty” copy of it on YouTube (one she took from it using her camcorder). She is going to have the original reel digitized and will post a “clean” copy later.  I’m so glad it’s in great hands now, and that it was still in good enough shape to digitize. It’s almost 90 years old!

 

She asked what she owes me for this one-of-a-kind original reel.  We elected to “pay it forward” by donating $$$ to The North Shore Animal League and Shambala (Shambala.org); both are charities that De and Carolyn supported while they were alive.  Shambala is where my serval son Deaken stayed for 15 months when I first moved to Hollywood to land a job and where the Kelleys got their first chance to meet him in 1991:

 

 

So, that reached a very satisfying conclusion!

 

Chatted with Hannah McCrane for about 15 minutes a few days ago

 

Hannah, as you may recall, was my co-host on EVER NEW, the podcast we did for two years about four years ago.  We connect via What’s App on average every couple of months so I can catch up on her doings.  (She can always catch up with my doings on this blog but since she doesn’t have a blog, I can’t reciprocate in the same way!)

 

Knee Glitch

 

About a week ago, my left knee started hurting in one spot.  I don’t know if I twisted it unknowingly, or what, but it has taken this long for it to start feeling okay when I walk.

 

At first, I thought it might be a touch of arthritis, because walking even just a little bit “cured” the pain, but then it got a little worse, and it swelled a little (rather like water on the knee), and walking didn’t relieve it.

 

This morning, I notice a big change in the right direction, so I hope this will be the end of it. I need to remain 100% ambulatory!  Not all buses have a wheelchair option, so I was going to go get the anomaly checked out if it didn’t correct itself pretty darn soon!

 

Yesterday I Walked Down to My Neighbors for Lunch

 

We had a great time during the two and a half hours I was there. Their dog (the one I’ll be babysitting) jumped up and sat beside me several different times, wanting me to pet her, so she’s compeletely comfortable with me now.

 

My neighbors crockpotted some chicken and mixed vegetables for lunch.  It was super yummy and I ate more than my fair share.  Couldn’t get enough of those veggies, and the chicken was just right, too…

 

My neighbors and I have so much in common

 

I’ll be attending their Thanksgiving Day event this year when that comes around.  I’ll be bringing whipped cream, sodas, and other items to complement what they’ll be preparing that day. They’re a terrific part of my “Costa Rican Family”!

 

The New Fence and Relocated Gate Went In Yesterday

 

 

The new fence is the black one on the left in these images

 

They look terrific! The gate took three or four days to go in because the workers had to set the posts into concrete and allow it to age and firm up sufficiently so that they could hang the heavy gate panels without cracking it.

 

It Has Been A Little Warm Up Here the Past Couple Days 

 

By warm, I mean 82 degrees F (which can feel like 91 in the sun at 65% humidity). Up at this altitude, there is nearly always a nice breeze wafting through, though, and having two fans in this lower, ground-floor apartment keeps this place feeling just perfect.

 

So, I haven’t had a “too hot” day at this altitude even once.  And the heat of the day happens only the last couple hours before sunset, at which time the temperature plummets into the mid 70’s within a half hour.  So, I picked the right microclimate for myself; that’s for sure!

 

My BP and Pulse Are Perfect

 

I keep an eye on my blood pressure regularly.  (My kidney doc insisted!) My BP is rarely much above 118/56 (sometimes it’s 123/56 or a bit higher when I don’t sit still for two minutes before taking it) and my pulse (at rest) is 60 beats per minute. Ya can’t get much more “picture perfect” for a 75 year old than this!

 

My legs never swell down here.  I’m in the best shape of my adult life.  I expected this to happen here, and to lose weight. It’s super cool to have had it actually happen, though! I weight 147 in the morning (nude), and stay well hydrated and nutritionally bolstered, so my body doesn’t struggle to course correct for bad nutritional decisions.

 

I eat a typical tico diet most of the time: rice and black beans with something added for variety: mixed nuts, a little butter sometimes, lettuce, celery, mushrooms, corn, Lizano sauce, crockpotted chicken soup, or whatever else I have on hand that can be added. I’m never bored with the food: it’s so delicious and nutritious, that I rarely get “comfort food”/junk food cravings at all.

 

I guess that’s all for this time!

 

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

to all the amazing mothers out there!

 

(You know who you are — admit it!)