I have only a few more days in Costa Rica. Who knows when I'll be back, but I'm not having any difficulty leaving this time. I'm excited for cooler weather and for the things I want to do this summer in Utah...start a career in photography, date a great guy named James, get back into rowing, rock climbing, yoga at Snowbird with Nicole, Saturday farmer's markets, hiking in the canyons, swimming at my favorite lake, taking D'Ogee on bike rides and runs, planting a garden, festivals, gallery strolls, eating at Omar's, teaching raw food classes, catching up with family and friends, walks at the park, and a number of other favorite summer activities. I get excited just thinking about enjoying these things again.
In the meantime, I've been enjoying my last few days in the jungle. It was such an exciting experience for a while...so new and different that I was captivated for a long time. It's not so new and different anymore, though. Enduring extreme heat every day is getting old, and being limited in activities to walking to the beach every day...if I have the energy... has lost its novelty.
Fortunately, Menlha invited me to go on a two day road trip with her to see her friends Brigette and Fred who live in this incredibly beautiful house just south of Jaco. It's a new location for me and new people, so it was nice to have something to do for a couple of days. Brigette is an artist and makes these great bracelets which I had to buy for myself and then Menlha had the great idea of making one for D'Ogee's collar, so I picked out this beautiful blue pattern of beads and Brigette whipped up a new collar for my dog. Sometimes I am so tickled by the simplest things, but I'd already wanted to find some sort of unique collar for him from Costa Rica, so this was perfect...custom made just for my little guy. Menlha loved it so much, that she had one made for her dog, too.
Tomorrow is my last day at HDS. Then I will go to Avellanas on Sunday to visit some friends for 2 days until I fly home on Tuesday. I know good things are waiting for me at home. In fact, it's one of those rare times in my life when I feel like everything is going up. Why is that a rare feeling? Why does it make me a little bit nervous? What if life always seemed to be going well with only occasional disappointments instead of the other way around? I want my life to be like that from now on.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Dying of Heat
The time is approaching, I can feel it. It's almost time to leave the tropics and go back to the mountains. It's been perfect for me to be here this winter...to have this time to ground and get centered, connect with nature, love Menlha, and get my fill of the heat...the draining, energy-sucking heat that I was craving back in December. I never thought I would miss seasons and cooler weather. When people back home would start to get excited about the fall weather or the first signs of snow, I was cursing it. How could anyone get tired of the heat? I just didn't know, but now....I'm starting to get it!
It's so hot here I feel like one of those lethargic sloths I saw on the Caribbean coast when I visited last month. They literally move at a snail's pace, and who can blame them? I feel like it's everything in my power to get my lazy butt off of my hammock and up to the kitchen to get a drink. I barely exercise here because I have absolutely no energy. All I feel like doing is sleeping, and it's getting a little old. I'm really craving a good 4 mile run in some crisp, cool Utah weather. I can't even imagine doing that in this heat. I think I'm getting flabby. I try to do yoga or strength building exercises a little every day, and some days I get a good enough workout that I'm actually sore, but more often than not I'm just sitting there staring at the yoga map and wishing I wasn't so exhausted with heat.
One day I'll regret saying this, I know I will.... when I'm scraping ice off of my windshield and my lips are turning blue. Oh, if only I could just have a few days of cold to make me appreciate this heat again!
It's so hot here I feel like one of those lethargic sloths I saw on the Caribbean coast when I visited last month. They literally move at a snail's pace, and who can blame them? I feel like it's everything in my power to get my lazy butt off of my hammock and up to the kitchen to get a drink. I barely exercise here because I have absolutely no energy. All I feel like doing is sleeping, and it's getting a little old. I'm really craving a good 4 mile run in some crisp, cool Utah weather. I can't even imagine doing that in this heat. I think I'm getting flabby. I try to do yoga or strength building exercises a little every day, and some days I get a good enough workout that I'm actually sore, but more often than not I'm just sitting there staring at the yoga map and wishing I wasn't so exhausted with heat.
One day I'll regret saying this, I know I will.... when I'm scraping ice off of my windshield and my lips are turning blue. Oh, if only I could just have a few days of cold to make me appreciate this heat again!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Some People
Some people I just don't like in this world. Is it okay to just flat out not like someone? It seems like a very unenlightened, un-Christian thing to do. I'm sure if I had a bigger perspective I would see how these people I don't like are simply teachers in my life, loving spirits who have agreed to come to earth to push my buttons and further my progress along my spiritual path to godhood. Surely, one day, when I'm dead and/or enlightened and all knowledge revealed to me, I will thank these people who bugged the hell out of me here on Earth for the gifts they gave to me. And I will be overwhelmed with the love that they had for me that they were willing to accept the tragic position of being the ones to annoy, irritate, anger and crush me. What good friends, I will say, and it will all be worth it, and my irritations will flutter away on wings of butterflies transformed into paradisical glory.
Yes, one day I will thank this man who feels it is his mission to get a reaction out of me, and so he'll push and push and push until I snap. I hope he's really proud of himself for being the cause of my anger and for accomplishing his mission here on Earth. He's done a very, very good job of it, and his reward in heaven will be very grand. Thank you for being such an ass and teaching me how to tell someone off when they've crossed my path. This is a very important lesson for me to learn, as I'm confident that without putting someone in their place now and then, I would be an emotionless, passionless empty shell that may as well be a blob of cement.
There's also the loving lady who constantly seeks to belittle me and compete with me. She thinks I'm her opponent and she has to beat me, but I'm not even playing her game. Ha ha...that's the funny thing. She's like a lone basketball player out on the court who thinks she's in the midst of an important game and she's the star player. She runs as hard as she can up and down the court, exhausting herself, shooting and making really awesome shots, looking around for her supportive fans to cheer her on. The weird thing is, she does have fans....but she doesn't have an opponent. There is no game, lady. I don't care if you make that shot or not! Her fans must be blind, too, cause they keep cheering her on.
Well, when I'm enlightened, I'll thank them for their good works. Until then, though, I'm maintaining my stand...there are some people I just don't like in this world. I wish they would stay out of my face.
Peace, Love and Charity.
Good night.
Yes, one day I will thank this man who feels it is his mission to get a reaction out of me, and so he'll push and push and push until I snap. I hope he's really proud of himself for being the cause of my anger and for accomplishing his mission here on Earth. He's done a very, very good job of it, and his reward in heaven will be very grand. Thank you for being such an ass and teaching me how to tell someone off when they've crossed my path. This is a very important lesson for me to learn, as I'm confident that without putting someone in their place now and then, I would be an emotionless, passionless empty shell that may as well be a blob of cement.
There's also the loving lady who constantly seeks to belittle me and compete with me. She thinks I'm her opponent and she has to beat me, but I'm not even playing her game. Ha ha...that's the funny thing. She's like a lone basketball player out on the court who thinks she's in the midst of an important game and she's the star player. She runs as hard as she can up and down the court, exhausting herself, shooting and making really awesome shots, looking around for her supportive fans to cheer her on. The weird thing is, she does have fans....but she doesn't have an opponent. There is no game, lady. I don't care if you make that shot or not! Her fans must be blind, too, cause they keep cheering her on.
Well, when I'm enlightened, I'll thank them for their good works. Until then, though, I'm maintaining my stand...there are some people I just don't like in this world. I wish they would stay out of my face.
Peace, Love and Charity.
Good night.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Caribbean Paradise!
This is a little tribute to my lovely friends Britta, Maren and Callie who traveled with me to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica last week. I can't even begin to describe all of the wonderful experiences we had! I've always heard that the Caribbean side is different than the Pacific, which seemed a bit incomprehensible being that it's all one big tropical third world country.
It was true, though. The Caribbean side can boast greener landscapes due to the increased rain, a greater variety of food including spicy Jamaican and Cajun coconut sauces, and a whole culture of black skinned rustifarians who love their dread-locks and live reggae music...a nice change from the loud "trance" music or old 80's tunes that the people on this side of the country seem to be in-love with. Blah.
Plus, traveling with friends felt like being on vacation...from a vacation! Of the many endeavors we had, I'd say the highlights were visiting the Cahuita National Park and being robbed by a monkey, sharing a giant red-snapper in ridiculously delicious sauces with my friends, discovering "Bread and Chocolate" (the name says it all), kayaking down a river and seeing crocodiles and sloths, bathing in the hot springs near Arenal, and enjoying tidbits at 5 different restaurants all in one day. Mmmmm.....
Here are some excerpts from our week in paradise set to some cheesy carribbean music...so appropriate:
It was true, though. The Caribbean side can boast greener landscapes due to the increased rain, a greater variety of food including spicy Jamaican and Cajun coconut sauces, and a whole culture of black skinned rustifarians who love their dread-locks and live reggae music...a nice change from the loud "trance" music or old 80's tunes that the people on this side of the country seem to be in-love with. Blah.
Plus, traveling with friends felt like being on vacation...from a vacation! Of the many endeavors we had, I'd say the highlights were visiting the Cahuita National Park and being robbed by a monkey, sharing a giant red-snapper in ridiculously delicious sauces with my friends, discovering "Bread and Chocolate" (the name says it all), kayaking down a river and seeing crocodiles and sloths, bathing in the hot springs near Arenal, and enjoying tidbits at 5 different restaurants all in one day. Mmmmm.....
Here are some excerpts from our week in paradise set to some cheesy carribbean music...so appropriate:
Sunday, January 17, 2010
It's been a long time since I've felt like someone really didn't like me. I mean, I'm sure there are people who don't really care for me, or who just simply don't find me interesting. You can't be everyone's best friend, I realized years ago. And so, if I don't connect with someone or our personalities clash, I usually just disassociate from them and don't have to deal with it.
In a 10 acre space in the middle of the jungle, however, I have no place else to go when personality differences arise, and so I get to experience that feeling of being excluded, not connecting with a group, and facing the subtle jabs of someone who has issues with me.
At first, it brought up lots of insecurities....is there something wrong with me? Am I too ugly or boring or stupid for these people? I mulled over that for about a week and then realized, no, it's not true. I just simply don't connect and whatever issues I'm feeling from this other person are really her own being projected onto me for some reason. And so, I became content in my independence, doing my own thing and interacting cordially and politely when necessary. I still felt her jabs come up, however. One time I nearly exploded, but somehow managed to dispute her accusations gracefully.
I could say I don't know why she has issues with me, but deep down, I think I do know. It just seems so ridiculous and juvenile, though, it's hard to admit. At home, I am always astounded by the quality of women that surround me. I hear some women say that they prefer male friends because women can be so catty and jealous and competitive with each other, but the women in my life just aren't that way. They are beautiful and smart and sincere and honest and supportive and on and on and on....
Catty women? That's for Jr. High, right?
Well, whatever. Interesting that all of this surfaced yesterday and then something else came up today to make me look at my own issues with a different person. Life always has a way of turning things around on ya, doesn't it?
At least I have a valid reason to be bitter towards this person! haha (my attempt to justify and make me feel better) I thought I had cleared it with him, but the fact that he's now here with his wife is killing me! I don't think I could see her and even be cordial without gushing over with fakeness and resentment. I've never even met her! She did nothing to me! He was the one that lied about her to me. I've tried and tried and tried to let it go..done everything I can think of, and just when I think I don't care, bam! I find out they're in town staying just up the road from me and want to come visit, and I swear I'd rather slash myself with razors...or better yet, slash him with razors. Ahhh!!! I'm so un-enlightened.
I sure hope I don't run into them. I'd feel horribly immature giving her the cold shoulder before kneeing him in the groin and running away.
In a 10 acre space in the middle of the jungle, however, I have no place else to go when personality differences arise, and so I get to experience that feeling of being excluded, not connecting with a group, and facing the subtle jabs of someone who has issues with me.
At first, it brought up lots of insecurities....is there something wrong with me? Am I too ugly or boring or stupid for these people? I mulled over that for about a week and then realized, no, it's not true. I just simply don't connect and whatever issues I'm feeling from this other person are really her own being projected onto me for some reason. And so, I became content in my independence, doing my own thing and interacting cordially and politely when necessary. I still felt her jabs come up, however. One time I nearly exploded, but somehow managed to dispute her accusations gracefully.
I could say I don't know why she has issues with me, but deep down, I think I do know. It just seems so ridiculous and juvenile, though, it's hard to admit. At home, I am always astounded by the quality of women that surround me. I hear some women say that they prefer male friends because women can be so catty and jealous and competitive with each other, but the women in my life just aren't that way. They are beautiful and smart and sincere and honest and supportive and on and on and on....
Catty women? That's for Jr. High, right?
Well, whatever. Interesting that all of this surfaced yesterday and then something else came up today to make me look at my own issues with a different person. Life always has a way of turning things around on ya, doesn't it?
At least I have a valid reason to be bitter towards this person! haha (my attempt to justify and make me feel better) I thought I had cleared it with him, but the fact that he's now here with his wife is killing me! I don't think I could see her and even be cordial without gushing over with fakeness and resentment. I've never even met her! She did nothing to me! He was the one that lied about her to me. I've tried and tried and tried to let it go..done everything I can think of, and just when I think I don't care, bam! I find out they're in town staying just up the road from me and want to come visit, and I swear I'd rather slash myself with razors...or better yet, slash him with razors. Ahhh!!! I'm so un-enlightened.
I sure hope I don't run into them. I'd feel horribly immature giving her the cold shoulder before kneeing him in the groin and running away.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
FAJITAS
Veggies:
3 large carrots, julienne
2 zucchini, julienne
1 Cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 onion, sliced
3 red peppers, sliced
Marinate in:
1/4 Cup olive oil
1/4 Cup lemon juice
1 tsp sea salt
2 Tbs chili powder
1 Tbs cumin
1 Tbs paprika
2 Tbs dried oregano
2 Tbs thyme
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cayenne
Let veggies marinate for 2-3 hours. Put into lettuce to make a wrap and top with guacamole.
Friday, January 15, 2010
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