We All Go Haywire At Times And If We Don't, Maybe We Ought To

Yesterday was National Coffee Day. It came right after National Strawberry Cream Pie Day. I hope that National Crème Brûlée Day is right around the corner.

I hate acronyms, but I accept them. You can’t work for the U.S. Peace Corps and not accept (if not embrace) the acronym. I know thousands, truly. But the portmanteau is an entirely different matter. And if you can’t define portmanteau without Google, you’re probably today’s target audience. Now I will accept brunch, and possibly even smog. But there I draw the line. Labradoodle. Really?! It is too difficult to explain that your dog’s sire and dam are a Labrador retriever and a poodle? And don’t get me started on text/blog/Facebook abbreviations. PGOC, really? How utterly unromantic. Whatever happened to beautifully written prose? Were Hemingway alive today, he’d kill himself.

Then God Be Blessed, It Is The Blessèd Sun

Just another monkey Monday. Our troupes seem to have their weekly staff meetings near our home on Monday. Today was no exception with a troupe of at least 20 coming very, very close.

So, I’d like to tell you the story of how our 17-pound terrier caught and killed one of the deadliest snakes in Central America; but such was not the case. I’d also like to tell you the story of my first successful experience with laminated dough here in Costa Rica. Sadly, I cannot.

I want to eat my cake and have it, too. I want to embrace all things Costa Rica (including snake names), yet I want to retain enough U.S. mindedness to celebrate National Strawberry Cream Pie Day, which is today.

The Code Is More Of What You’d Call a Guideline Than Actual Rules

You know what makes me completely bonkers? . . . besides the fact that humidity is already oxidizing the copper. Okay, silly question, and I left myself wide open with that one. Just leave the sarcasm to me. What makes me bonkers is that one of the best-ever pirate lines contains poor grammar. I know, I know . . . I’m still on that pirate-thing. In pirate-speak one may simply use be in any conjugation of the to be verb (ye be, she be, he be, they be, we be). This should make me crazy; but I’m totally okay with it and find myself using it year-round, especially with Jill The Pill.

Never Trust A Sailor On Dry Land

Let's move quickly through some very important business. 

 G'mar Chatimah Tovah. And I'll leave that to you to Google.

We've chosen for the title of today's post a quote from the lovely film, Atonement, based on the brilliant novel by Ian McEwan.

No, I never name film names in my posts, but for this most important day of atonement, I felt it important to mention the film lest you not recognize the quote . . . and it fits with the tale of our pirate festivities. I should add that it seems a tad disrespectful to talk of food and parties, but it's I, so ye be not surprised, right? Thus, on to the tale of what's happened of late in Costa Rica.

Saturday was International Talk Like A Pirate Day, and I believe that our little celebration did not disappoint. All of our friends were in attendance (save and except our beloved Donna and Kat, who were out of the country). Then there were the friends who brought new and delightful friends. I lost count of the guests, and certainly lost track of the names. One day I'll see one of these new friends at the Pali and have no idea of his/her name. But such a minor faux pas will surely be forgiven considering the grog-effect. At least no furniture or unwilling guests went overboard into the pool.

Holy Mackerel. What Goes On Here?

September. There’s a lot happening on the planet. Hajj comes soon; Oktoberfest begins Saturday. Saturday is also International Talk Like A Pirate Day (always 19 September), and yes, we have quite a party planned.

Today, however, is especially important. September 15 is Independence Day for Costa Rica as well as Mexico and other Latin American countries. This is the date when Costa Rica celebrates its independence from Spain.

September 15!

Think Fourth of July in the U.S. It's a big deal. The celebration here actually began days ago as the Torch of Freedom made its way through the country, arriving yesterday in Cartago, the original Capital of Costa Rica. Think Olympics torch.

Last night children in cities and villages across the country held parades just after sunset with their illuminated and hand-crafted faroles. The farol commemorates Maria Dolores Bedoya, who carried a lantern through the streets of Guatemala on the evening of 14 September 1821, urging residents to support independence. 

Carpe Diem. Seize The Day, Boys. Make Your Lives Extraordinary

I’m going to order the Secret Boy Handbook. . . except that it’s a closely-guarded secret, and no one (aside from a boy) knows how to get their hands on the Handbook. It can't be found on Amazon . . . it's not the Scout book. The Secret Handbook contains myriad boy secrets. And I know that they’re closely guarded because Rusty will occasionally reveal a boy secret . . . perhaps after watching me struggle with a task for hours . . . perhaps after struggling for years! For instance: did you know that cleans-up with soap and water refers not merely to skin but to paint brushes? This was a life-changing revelation of what I believe to be a boy-only secret.

Tell Four Footmen To Call Me In Time For Lunch, Will You?

Anyone recall how this blog began? I do. It was ongoing tedium -- how we purchased an inexpensive home in Costa Rica for far below $200,000 and intended to retire rather early (well, no early retirement for Rusty, but such was my intention) . . . living a semi-luxurious lifestyle (pool, ocean-view, great friends, monkeys, beaches) . . . and all for about $2,000 per month.