I went to Grecia again early this morning because yesterday I forgot to get (of all things!!!) brown rice, potatoes and honey, all of which I was out of.
I was there by 8 and back by 10
Ate un “hamburguesa” (a hamburger to you gringos!) at Mercado Municipal and drank a Coca Cola. While I waited for those to be delivered, I took several pix of the mural in the market ’cause it’s sooo cool. It takes up an entire wall so I wasn’t able to get a panoramic view of it, unfortunately. It’s immense!
TWO NEW SHIRTS
Here’s a picture of one of the two shirts I bought yesterday. It’s very comfortable and fits me perfectly. Got it at Huracan, across the street from Mercado Municipal…
I got new shirts because, sadly, all of my white shirts have stains on them in various locations. I’m like Pigpen (the Charlie Brown character): every darn time I wear white, it seems, I manage to spill something that will not wash out! Plus, sunscreen, insect repellent, and sweat have stained every white collar I have, so I was down to only about four other shirt options. I’ve learned my lesson: “I’m a not buy any white clothes ever again!!!” (colloquially speaking).
I don’t know how in the heck Mark Twain managed to keep his white suits clean!!! He didn’t even have the luxury of electricity or washing machines!
I also got a bright yellow shirt, but it doesn’t photograph well off of me, so I won’t publish its image until the next time I put it on. Fair enough? When I wear it, I exactly match the yellow metal railings on the bus that I ride on! (I noticed that on the way home yesterday! LOL!!!)
Best of all, on the way home on the bus, I met up (for the second time) with a wonderful woman named Dina, who last week helped me and my cart off the bus at three corners.
Last week, we met on the bus and walked to her street together (about halfway to mine from three corners). She’s originally (or, at least most recently) from Houston and is bilingual. Her native language is Spanish but she is fluent in English; she worked as a caregiver at a retirement center for six years in Houston and that’s where she picked up most of her fluency, I gather.
Anyway, today we sat together on the bus on the way back home after she spotted me. Although she normally gets off the bus at three corners and walks up from there to her home, today she stayed on the bus when it diverted to Calle Rodriguez because we were having a great time talking and she had never taken the detour before (since she lives so close to three corners).
We chatted all the way. Her husband is from Costa Rica. They lived in urban Houston and moved here this past January.
Dina is super happy to be living in a rural area, now. It’s quite the change. Her daughter has three more years to go in college before she can move down.
Of course, I’m worried about Dina (and her Hispanic daughter) because she says she has to fly back to Houston this summer. Simply because they’re Hispanic, they’re at risk. It’s CRAZY that we even have to think like this, isn’t it? I hope it won’t be for much longer!
Anti-Gravity Chair
I reached out to Jon to see if he’s available to drive me to get an antigravity reclining chair at PriceSmart in Alajuela on any date in April. He called them; they said the closest one is in Escazu, which is 90 minutes away by car (traffic willing), so he’s checking to see if it can be shipped to Alajuela (about 2o minutes away). Either way, we’re planning to go get it one day next week. I hope it can be shipped to Alajuela. I hate stealing more of Jon’s precious time than I absolutely need to.
Vet Tomorrow
Tomorrow afternoon Deb is taking her kitty cat to Planet Exo to see if they can find out what’s ailing her. She’s awfully thin, off her feed, and is drinking a lot more water than usual, so Deb’s going to have her looked at.
It could be anything, from worms to dental issues to diabetes, based on the symptoms, so she wants to get her checked out. I’ll see what the vet there charges for a teeth cleaning, because Charli is certainly due for one. Mao has had her teeth cleaned before; Charli never has. They’re both about eight years old, so it’s certainly time!
I told Deb I’d be happy to ride along with her. Mao gets freaked out riding in a vehicle, so I gave Deb some calming treats to offer to her a couple hours before we go.
I’ll check to see if they have Bentonite cat litter while we’re there, too. If so, I’ll get some (so will Deb) and schlep the bags to our respective abodes when we get back. (They weigh 44 pounds each! not sure I’ll get hers up the stairs, but I can certainly get it into the garage or in the front door!)
I made soup again last night
Froze a lot of it. I’m going to be enjoying it for days to come. Bought more storage containers to go in the fridge and freezer, for that reason.
Up to Chapter Six in 1001 Pitfalls in Spanish now
Making good progress!
Hannah Kate will be seeing Karl Urban Again Soon
Hannah Kate is my honorary daughter (a kindred/much loved trans sojourner from Australia). She calls me Papa. She asked if I wanted anything from the convention they’ll be at (Gold Coast, I think it is). I said I can’t think of a thing.
The only Trek related thing I still own is my McCoy action figure and a few fridge magnets. I don’t even have a single copy of any of my De books (or any of my other books, for that matter. I have most of them on Kindle, but that’s all. I was an idiot not to bring copies of (at least) DeFOREST KELLEY UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, LET NO DAY DAWN THAT THE ANIMALS CANNOT SHARE (EXTENDED VERSION), AND WOMB MAN WITH ME but I gave them to a friend to donate to Tacoma area libraries. OH, WELL!!! I do have them on Kindle, so all is not lost!
Hannah Kate promises to say “hello and hugs” to Mr. Urban for me. I thanked her for that and asked her to give him my WhatsApp contact info and to let him know I have moved to Costa Rica (for safety’s sake and because I can afford to live a lot longer down here!) so he can call me if he ever feels the urge. (Hey, I can always dream, can’t I? I miss my precious, precious “Dr. McCoys channelers”!)
Guess that’s all the news that’s fit to print for now.