Dear Diary,
We had a wonderful sunny spring weekend. Yesterday we went to a nearby castle where I am arranging a meeting that will take place right after we return from Florida. It was converted into a hotel with meeting facilities. A wonderful place! After looking a the meeting rooms and discussing some details we went outside and had a cup of coffee in the sun.
Today, I went to this strange trade show we have every year in our little town. Their are showing everything from cars to insurances, cooking pots, building material like roofs, doors - you name it. Well... We got cheap tickets and it's a good occasion to meet some people. Anyway, after that we met Stefan at a café in the middle of town - more sun!
And now it's just one week - next Sunday this time we will be on the plane on our way to Atlanta and then Florida!
Babs, I am very sorry to hear that. I do hope that you will be fine soon and will be able to go to the mountains with your grandson. You are in my thoughts and I will keep my fingers crossed for you (or as we say in Germany - I will press my thumbs!) Please let us know how you are doing.
Babs, crossing all fingers and toes. Get on the mend soon.
Dear Diary,
Things are busy around here!
Packing, cleaning, storing, looking for someone to take the apartment, selling everything, two trips to CT within a week, whew!
Met a good person to take the place. Getting the assignment of lease papers signed and squared away in the next couple days. Sold all our furniture. Reserved an SUV. Going to load it up next Sunday with boxes and bags. Anything that doesn't fit has been or will be shipped, sold, or thrown away.
We're going to Texas!
Wish I could visit Boston again before we go, but it just doesn't look possible.
We have made so much progress on this place since we decided to leave. It's amazing. (Why are we leaving? No jobs here. And I just don't like this city. Not homey to me. Too polluted and crowded and pushy. So we're going where the air is cleaner, there's open space, and there is a job market. Austin!)
We don't have a place to live yet, but when we do (and when we have furniture again) there will be a housewarming event and/or Gathering. Old friends from Boston are invited if you can get there!
Dear Babs,
My thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery! Hope you get to spend lots of good outdoorsy time with the little guy, unhindered by health problems.
We made our first trip up to the weekend cottage I've rented from my friends Piedad and Jose that is located up in Dapa. It's up in the mountains a half hour from our house in Cali and is deliciously cool with temperatures in upper sixties to seventies compared to the constant eighty-five and up down here in the valley. My new wife having lived her whole life down in steamy Cali had to wear two pile jackets and wrap a comforter around her legs in the evening to cope with the "cold". We took a cab up as it was our first time finding our way on our own. The driver agreed to fifteen thousand pesos ( about $5) but got progressively more upset as we wound around and around up the mountain his Renault barely up to the task. When we finally got to the pueblo about a minute before he was about to tell us to get out I gave him a twenty to shut him up and we got out. He probably wanted double.
The countryside around Dapa (which consists of two general/grocery stores and a house where a lady sells arepas) is a mixture of small fincas (farms) and cloud forest. This is not a poor mountain pueblo though. The surrounding fincas are quite posh and quite a few residents commute to Cali in private cars. There are a lot more new Landcruisers than "50s era Willys. Not only is it cool and lush up there it is a birdwatching paradise. One little tamarindo tree just outside our door was loaded with about five Blackburnian Warblers with brilliant orange throats. I had to back up to focus the binocholars they were so close. I'd guess in another week or two they'll be winging thier way north to the US. Strictly tropical were two Turquoise-Browed Mot Mots and a Toucan sp. I saw on a walk along a forest road. I've hung a hummingbird feeder outside the window. By next weekend they should have found it and I expect I'll add to the list of three hummer species I already have visiting the feeder in Cali.
The cottage (which I'm renting for $86 a month, furnished and utilities included) is a guest house on about a two acre finca. The grounds are one great flower garden that also includes a trout pond fruit trees of all kinds and vegatable gardens cultivated by the campasino family who live in several rooms of the main house. The place is a ten minute walk from the two stores that sell foodstuffs so it couldn't be more convenient.
To Return to Cali we walked about twenty minutes including a final steep climb to an intersection where the "collectivos" and "jeeps" pass every twenty minutes. The trip down only cost $1.50 for the two of us and the jeep let us off a block from our house. I'm looking forward to many return trips but we'll have catch the public transport to go up next time and skip the taxis.
pitter,
I loveeeeee your posts.
Love Life
Dear Diary,
It's been a while since I've posted here. The main topic I've previously posted on was my love life (or lack thereof!). So here's an update.
My interest in J, the French woman you may remember from previous posts, has decreased slightly. Not because I like her any less, just because I don't think it'll lead anywhere. We'll be friends - have fun when we see each other - but not try to kick off a long distance relationship from a basis of next to nothing!
So, you may ask, am I feeling down? Not really.
A slight sadness showed itself on Sunday, after I woke up and considered J's leaving party the night before (she returns to Paris next w/e).
However, I have had a slight dalliance in the last few weeks with a friend of a friend. While I don't see us dating, it's always nice to know there's interest there.
Moreover (not a word you read online very often!), I was asked out last Thursday by a very attractive woman, again a friend of a friend. I'll be seeing her tomorrow night - we'll see what transpires. For the record, I'll refer to her as "S" on this forum. I'll have to start keeping a key, or should that be "legend", given the mythical aspects of my relationships!
I have a carpenter coming to my flat tonight to assess laying a new wooden floor and putting in some shelving, etc. to tidy the place up.
Take care, a2k'ers, KP
Hi kitchenpete,
Ever consider looking for a female carpenter?
Trailblazer
Thank you Maple, I very much enjoy yours too.
Oh Babs, I'm so sorry to hear of your health problems. Fingers and toes crossed for it to be innocuous and for you to spend many happy hours in the wilderness with your grandson.
I also hope you will be able to attend the Florida gathering.
Marycat, good luck with your move and with finding good jobs in Austin.
Pitter, your description of the mountain cottage was luscious! I was right there with you and your wife, enjoying the birds and the gardens.
KP, as always, your love life is fascinating. You should save your posts and put them into book form; they'd be perfect for a television series. Good luck with 'S.'
DD, I hit 60 years old today. It seems unbelievable, as I feel so good and lead an active life--I guess 60 just sounds old.
Our son was here from Boston last week. It was such a pleasure to have his company and to leave all the tragic news behind for a few days. Sam, our dog, adores him and was always in a state of "Let's go!" while Matt was here.
Before he came, one of his paintings was accepted in a juried art show in Boston. The painting they wanted him to show wasn't one he particularly likes, but he was very excited and felt that he got good response from the crowd.
The weather here in northern Florida has been beautiful. I love watching the pelicans skim the waves, just inches above the water. Their grace in flight is magical, yet when they dive for fish, they look like kamikazi (sp?) pilots, diving straight down, crashing into the water. With their long beaks, they look like isosocles triangles with wings. Probably my favorite bird in the world.
Diane
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Diaaaannnneeeee
Happy birthdaaaayyyy tooooo yoooouuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/size]
Happy belated birthday, Diane! That calls for a party! In Florida! :-)
Diane !! Happy b'day to you !! Shall I send my painter over as yr bday present ???
Happy Birthday Diane indeed!!!!
