Welcome to the crowd!

ME:

I didn't leave my place yesterday and still haven't today. But I will!

Ate a lunch of sliced potatos, diced papaya, ground beef mixed with chopped garlic and sweet red pepper ...and a bit of sunflower oil. Wasn't worth a picture but it did taste good.

Found a place at facebook that has pictures of Costa Rican food. I should submit some of mine!

In other earth-shattering news: My verdolaga (Portulaca oleracea) has 22 blooms today (9 yellow; I now have three plants).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_oleracea

Quiet: except for the loud church and that wasn't too bad this morning. Clear: as no chance of rain and we are getting dusty. Warm: as always.

I have someone coming to visit on Friday. Clear and dry will work well with his plans. However, he will have to prepare for the cold as he intends to climb Chirripó. At over 3.800 m it ain't warm.

Movie: (How to train your dragon) "Cómo entrenar un dragón" was quite enjoyable.

http://www.dreamworksdragons.com/

A youth called Hiccough? All types of dragons. A big-bad-dragon... Hiccough's friendly dragon is awesome! At the end they all live happily-eve-after. Gives the concept of dragon-riders a whole new meaning.

...depression.

ME:

Actually cooked up a picadillo of green beans and hamburger, then picadillo of papaya and hamburger. It's a picadillo day. (Picadillo = chopped up ...kinda...)

Last night's slaughter did not make for a good night. Been there, done that ...so many times in my life. I'm dealing with it better. but today? Wish I were back in Montana or 1991... yeah, that was a good year.

So I'm not going to do much. I should walk into town. Who knows who'll I'll meet. Last night talked to Luis who at the age of 22 seems to be more "with it" than the average Tico. He actually reads! May want to be a psychologist some day. This amazes me.

He sells on the streets the pastries that his sister makes. Means he is very poor. Like Carlos who sells honey. Lots of poor young under-educated Ticos.

Not easy being young and poor anywhere.

Me? When I was young I was also clueless. That too is upsetting me these days.

...no fue bien...

ME:

I was sliced and diced at the workshop tonight. Quite sliced.

I know what to do in the future as far as my writing in Spanish is concerned. It's just very difficult and means a lot of work and prolly not sharing anything until I am certain it is polished.

If I cry over anything it will be how hard it is to express oneself in another language no matter how much one learns it. I fear withdrawal... and I feel it coming on. I don't want to be 21 again and struck dumb. Nor do I want to be numb. Both are possible. Neither is advisable.

Today wasn't the best of days.

But ...saw the agent for the apt., ate a sopa negra (black soup = black beans blended in a broth) with two eggs. Very tasty and very good. Saw Ilena at market. (Mis)spoke with Adonis. Met Luis. Saw Warner.

Bought another verdulaga (yellow this time) and a terra cotta pot. Bought ground beef.

So, yes, it wasn't all bad.

But... I still want to crawl into my cave... and not come out.

Caimito: "The Star Apple is a native of the Greater Antilles, including Jamaica, and was introduced from these islands to the rest of the tropical world. When cut crossways, the fruit reveals a star-shaped pattern. Star Apple is frequently combined with oranges and condensed milk to form a dessert called 'Matrimony'."

From: http://www.tntisland.com/fruits.html

De Wikipedia en español: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysophyllum_cainito

ME:

So I bought a caimate. Cut it open. Gave it the evil eye. Spoon in hand, dug into it.

I liked it.

Since it cost me over $1, I was going to try it regardless. I was concerned it would be too acid. It was more custardy and I ate from the white center towards the soft purple edge until only the harder rind and skin remained.

Then like a good boy, I set the rest out for the birds and squirrels. Never know what they might like.

Soon I should put out a bowl of water. It's getting dry.

In other snews: bought a hand of bananas, a mesh of oranges, a mango. But... that was sooooo yesterday. Need to get my butt to the farmer's market to get the rest of what I need for the week.

Watched "Back to the Future #3" this morning. Catching up on movies I've never seen! But after awhile TV does bore me. Thank God for "The Big Bang Theory".

Washed my cloth shower curtain. Cleaned the landing. Heated up cooked rice for breakfast. WOW! Is my life exciting...

When I go to market today:

carrots, camote, ñampí ... and whatever else. Need to find someone who speaks French (preferably as a native).

Peace out.

K

ME:

Back to blogging instead of mere twitter...

Internet is back up and my computer is actually communicating with it.

Mostly hanging around today. I'll get depressed if I think too much about what I'm not doing. Even those days when I get out and about I don't do much.

Yesterday took the bus up to La Piedra. It stayed there about 20 minutes then came down. Cost me about $3 and over 3 hours. The road is treacherous in places especially between Rivas and Pueblo Nuevo. Maybe someday I'll visit Alaska. It's a 30 minute walk uphill from where the bus turns around. Took pictures and now need to replace SD card as my camera is full.

Swept, mopped, cooked some rice (with chayote tierna). Men came over to clear out the garden. Much better, but I wish they would have been less zealous with the rabo de leon. No more hummingbirds...

Big wash was yesterday. Big trip to market tomorrow. Today is Wednesday ...isn't it?

Some progress on finding French speakers as a woman from France (around my age) will be visiting in February. She speaks little English or Spanish.

Slowly making other connections to people who have places to rent or know the valley well.

Slowly...

Money? Doing well! Depession? Rising... Weight? Going down! Energy? Not really... Mental, emotional? Eh... Physical? Still problems with my shoulder.

So life is going fairly well right now. I'd be calling on Skype, but had poor connections this morning. Later...

Quick entry to not waste time nor money. I'm fine (define fine...). Still no internet at my place. Seems 1st floor might have it and second floor not... Will check that later when I get back.

Anyhoo, keeping up on facebook; although, FB ain't good for sharing the meat... There ain't been much meat.

So no news, just s'news.

Peace.