Now It's Time ...

So sad...  It's soon time to say goodbye to Costa Rica and specifically our little piece of this small but abundant country.  I don't have an anecdote to relate.  I haven't felt motivated to blog.  But, then a butterfly fluttered through the house, the hummingbirds chased each other around the feeder, pelicans flew by over the beach, the iguanas chased each other around the lawn and a couple doves walked by the side of the deck;  all in the course of 30 seconds.

So, a list of what I've loved about being here.  Not in any particular order, since it's all good.

... The environment.
The density and diversity of plant and animal life in this part of the world is amazing.  We have bananas, limes, plantains, mangoes and much more food growing in the 4 acres that makes up Casa de Mike.  The flowers, who's names I am ignorant of are continuous and beautiful.  Daily, we observe more bird and mammal varieties passing through than we can count.  A wonderfully rich environment.

... Outdoor living space.

You've got to have the climate for this one and we've definitely got it here.  While it can be too hot during the day, with the fan on, the outdoor shower and trips to the beach, I've not been whining.  The kitchen is protected from any wind but is outside with a great fridge and a propane range.  All very comfortable.

... The casa.

We've been fortunate to have located in this house.  It's about 100 meters from the beach which is fronted by a very dusty road.  The house is close enough to have easy access to the beach but far enough from the road to keep us dust free.  Everything here is constructed to optimize outdoor living.  Exactly what you want in this beautiful environment.

... The beach

Tree lined and sandy, the beach is amazing.  The tide is quite severe here with a difference of about 8 feet between high and low tide.  We've found the good swimming spots and unless the tide is really low can enjoy a good dunk in the Pacific.  If the tide is low, we head to the "hot tub" and sit, surrounded by rocks, letting the tide push us around in our sandy surround.

... Ticos
The people here are great.  Friendly, proud and self assured they are a pleasure to deal with.  You don't find a lot of Costa Rican immigrants in Canada or the U.S.  They love their country and can succeed within it's borders, unlike many of their Central American neighbours.

... The food
Locally grown produce and seafood that is caught fresh daily means its easy to prepare delicious meals at home or enjoy great restaurant visits.  The chickens are all free range and their eggs are great.  Our little grocery stores are small and beef is not something they often stock but I've enjoyed some delicious steaks in the local restaurants.

... Monkeys

I could have covered these off under "environment" but they deserve their own spot.  We are related to these dudes so I find them as fascinating yet less irritating than my fellow homo sapiens.  The howlers are noisy, slow and prefer not being seen.  The capuchins (your basic organ grinder monkey) are active, fun to watch and more likely to engage with us.

And here's a list of things I've not liked.

... The Italian family's wolves
But they moved about a month ago so this list can now be considered empty.

I've enjoyed my time here.  In fact, more than I anticipated and am in no hurry to leave.  Duty and a return flight home calls.  There's also the 3 month maximum stay rule that Costa Rica imposes on visitors but a 3 day visit to Nicaragua is all it takes to reload for another 3 months.  Regardless, in a few more days, Jake, Tazy and I are homeward bound.  Earnest B. DeMille needs a new gig.  Help!!!!!!!

On The Control and Domestication of Humans (guest blog)

The local house cat, China, has requested I post this submission. (ebdm)

It is approaching the end of the current human residents' term here at Casa Empresso Catarina Olivantes de Sorba (my home). The humans have crudely named the house Casa de Mike and this correspondant, China Cat.

The current guests at the casa include a human male which I have named Lesser Tool, a human female which I have named Minor Minion and a black dog, which I have named Brainless Turd. After an initial period of surveillance I was able to determine the heirarchy of the group. While Brainless Turd initially appeared to be subjugated to the whims of the humans it became apparent over time that he had significant control and manipulated both Lesser Tool and Minor Minion to a great degree. Understanding the power relationships within the group I decided upon an appropriate plan of action and within the first week of occupation commenced putting this plan into effect.

I decided upon one of the stock plans for human domestication. Specifically, the "Four Step Basic Plan" as enunciated in that seminal work, Plans for Subjugation of Humans by His Eminence Rudolfo Guyana Haberoncay De Rigenfort, was chosen for this project. The four steps specified in the plan are:

1. Acceptance via cuteness and perceived submission
2. Demonstration of worthiness and skill
3. Disappearance
4. Reappearance and control

I am pleased with the implementation and results of the Four Step Basic Plan and provide details on each step in the following:

1. Acceptance via cuteness and perceived submission

This is stock process and we have all been well trained in it's deployment.  A conflicting factor in the process was the necessity to both avoid and expose myself to Brainless Turd.  Given the control he has over the humans their responses to my approaches was mitigated by their need to demonstrate their affection for Brainless Turd and to ensure that his position within the group was not compromised.  I recommend most highly the treatise Dummies Guide to the Subjugation of Dogs by Prince Lorenzo Himenez Edwardo De Silva III.  Prince Lorenzo provides clear guidelines on the reading of dog boundaries and how to move those boundaries through our force of presence.

2. Demonstration of worthiness and skill

There is some overlap between step 1 and 2.  In fact, it is useful to deploy step 1 throughout the course of the training.  Humans have a notoriously short attention span and require reinforcement on a regular basis. 

 To demonstrate my worthiness as the controlling actor in the casa, I chose to capture and kill a house pest, in this case a Transandinomys talamancae (Talamancan Rice Rat).  After announcing my kill and gaining the attention of the humans I proceeded to spend the remainder of the night dismembering and dissecting the rodent.  Leaving the intact internal organs and spine of the talamancae in one location and moving the meat and remaining bones to another was somewhat painstaking but necessary. Humans are easily shocked and at this early stage of their training it is important to disturb their world view (see Archtype and Symbol, Creating Psychic Disturbances in Humans by His Holiness Gustav Rickard Semiastrillo Rupert). 

 By implementing this elegant technique the humans became much more pliable.  In a continuous state of uncertainty as to my intentions, they were also in a somewhat awed state as to my capabilities.  Given their current state of mind it was time to put step 3 into effect.

3. Disappearance

For a period of four days and nights I removed my person from contact with the humans.  Staying close, yet abstaining from contact I was able to observe their state of mind.  As each day passed the humans showed increasing concern as to my well-being.  Being simple-minded, they assumed that I was unable to look after myself in my own environment and as days passed took on more responsibility for my absence.  Their concern that Brainless Turd was implicated in my disappearance added to their psychic dissonance, increasing their pliability.

4. Reappearance and control

Choosing an opportune moment, I announced my return to the humans.  Unable to understand our language, it was amusing to see them joyfully greet me as I announced "greetings morons, your mistress returns".  My ration of food has been increased and I move about the house as I please.  Treats, such as leftover fish are now appearing at my dining table.  Brainless Turd has been subjugated and is a minor irritant not worth bothering with.

I hope this case study has been useful and I have made some small contribution to my readers.  I look forward to the next guests at my casa and trust they will be somewhat more challenging than the current occupants.

In fellowship for all Felidae, most cordially, Empresso Catarina Olivantes de Sorba.

Iguanas I Have Known

It's been a real pleasure to get to know some of our local iguanas.  They favour the largest trees as their homes and the trunk is their access point into the yard.  When they are about 6 feet from the ground, they pause and do a bit of head bobbing before descending to the yard.  I'm not sure what this waiting period before hitting the ground is about.  I suspect it's just a "hey, look at me" kind of thing since it has no apparent use in checking out and avoiding hawks, their natural enemy.  I don't think the poor buggers can even look up when they're descending the tree, so it's hit the ground and hope no ones waiting to eat me.

The first iguana we noticed was Daddy.  Daddy's a big guy with a serious row of spines on his back.  When Daddy walks by another iguana, the other guy makes a lot of room for the big guy.  Daddy is aloof and has always ignored us.  From his point of view, renters come and go but Daddy is a constant.

There's a couple of iguanas who travel in the gutter.  As they traverse the eaves their claws click,click along like a clockwork.  We figure these guys are the plumbers and have named them Walter and Hank.

A couple of the small guys hang out together quite a bit.  They play, jumping on each others back and seem to have a rollicking good time.  As I write this, up the tree they scramble, Jiblet chasing Giblet.  Or, perhaps the other way around, they kind of look the same.


The other iguanas include Tubby, Baby, Amos and Azul.  We started feeding Azul after he showed up on the step, interested in food.  Azul has taken to inviting himself into the house looking for us.  When we discover him in the house he determines that he's in foreign territory and scuttles off the deck, tumbling into the garden.  If we notice Azul on the step, he'll hang around until he considers that he's been properly fed, then, without a thank-you, he'll spin around and scuttle off.

I'm enjoying our iguana population and have learned a fair bit about them, including the fact that they have sharp little teeth.  Azul, though friendly, is not gentle.  I have decided to only feed him long bits of food from my hand after he attempted to take my finger along with the stubby bit of pineapple I was holding.

I'm hoping my one time "friend" hasn't acquired a taste for blood.

2009 Best Of Awards

I've been fortunate enough to have missed the majority of the 2009 best of awards.  Feeling a bit nostalgic for some popular North American culture, I've scanned the internet just to keep up.  The following is a summary of what I've found.  It seems, I've missed quite a lot.

At the American Music Awards 19 year old Taylor Swift shocked the pundits by winning not only Favorite Country Female Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist but also Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist and to top it all off Artist of The Year.  Young Taylor graciously accepted her awards wearing a gown whose colour can best be described as not a colour.  Way to go Taylor!

The PWI Wrestler of The Year Award has gone to first time winner, Randy Orton.  Good job Randy!  Randy is the youngest WWE champion in history.  Orton is a proponent of the tombstone piledriver, a sensational move that usually ends the match in Randy's favour.  Randy received another award this year, the Fat Sack of Crap Award. Well done Randy!

Unfortunately, I was unable to catch the Time Person of The Year award.  As usual, Time Magazine made an interesting choice.  Who other than that man of the people, Ben Bernanke, the head of the U. S. Federal Reserve, was the big winner.  Great choice, Time!  Ben has an interesting history as an economist.  Some of his notable observations include:

• Lauding the security and value of derivatives (2005)
• Predicting long term growth in the U.S. economy (2006)
• Calling for cuts in social security and medicare (2009)

Atta-boy Ben, it looks like you've got the U.S. economy turned around and on the right path.

Continuing on with awards given to delusional personalities, I see that the 2009 PGA "Player" of the Year award has gone to Tiger Woods.  Tiger has obviously had a very successful 2009, though I've not noticed him playing much golf so far in 2010.  Perhaps he has been involved in the movie industry.  In a previous post I mentioned a movie playing on satellite, "Tiger's Got Wood".  Perhaps Tiger has just taken some time off from golf in order to extend his career in another direction.  Next year, who knows - perhaps there's an acting award in Tiger's future.  Good-luck Tiger!

I'm sure I've missed many more important awards this past year.  Fortunately, however there is an award winner just down the road from where we are living.  Between our casa and Cabuya there was an award winner in 2009.  The award for The Outstanding Tree of the Year (English article here) went to an enormous ficus tree.  It's located just across from the church about a kilometer from Cabuya.  I feel pretty lucky to be living so close to a celebrity.  Any time I'm in the mood I can walk up to the tree, touch it, even have a talk if we're in the mood.  Unlike most celebrities, the giant ficus has no grievance with my approach and will let me hang with him just as long as I like.

You've got to appreciate a country that chooses to single out a tree every year for celebrity.

A Visit To The Fishmonger

In Calgary, we might serve seafood one day every couple of weeks.  Western Canada is cattle country.  Pork and chicken is comparatively inexpensive and I suspect, heavily subsidized.  Here in Costa Rica, it's hard to find beef at the small town grocery stores and what you do find is a bit dodgy.  Seafood, however, is cheap and abundant.  Since I could throw a stone from the house to the Pacific it makes sense that we're consuming seafood 3 meals out of 4 and enjoying them all.  This is largely due to our local fisherman, Vin.

Vin (pronounced Bing) is about a 15 minute bike ride from us, on the edge of Cabuya.  Cabuya is a strange little village in that once you reach the sign announcing that you've arrived, it takes another 10 minutes to pedal through town.  That's not because it's a big place, it's just that everything is spaced out on acreages along the beach.  Thankfully, Vin is on our side of Cabuya which means I only sweat off one liter on my fish shopping bike ride.  It's easy to find Vin's if the sign that has been wedged between two branches in the hedge hasn't blown away.

Vin's shop is basically his home which is located on the beach.  If the door is open, there's fish for sale.  On each of my visits to Vin's I've encountered a different species for sale.  Whatever was caught that day is either laying out ready to be dressed or in the freezer cooling down.  Vin, his wife or son will tell you what's available.  I've tried to translate, with some success but at one level, it just doesn't matter.  It is always fresh and tasty.

So far we've had dorado (maui-maui), corbinetta (sea bass), loro (???) and an unpronounceable fish I bought yesterday as well as camerones (shrimp) and almejas (clams).  Vin loads a portion of his catch into a cooler secured on the back of his truck and delivers to the local restaurants.  If I visit Vin in the afternoon then travel into town I know what will be on the restaurant sign boards as the catch of the day.

Well, I've nothing humorous to pass on in this blog entry.  Being able to purchase seafood caught that morning and serve it for dinner has been a great experience.  It is something that we are removed from living in most large cities and something I know that I'll miss when I return home.

Both China and Azul have been venturing into Jake's space here in the casa, the beetle versus cat, pet evaluation is underway and there is an elderly topless German woman on the beach these days so there is a possibility of humour in a forthcoming entry.

Pet Evaluation I - Dog Versus Iguana

This is the first in a series of pet evaluation postings.  Many of us have pets.  Typically, very little evaluation goes into what species of pet is the most appropriate for the pet owner, particularly when the locale of the pet's home is taken into consideration.

This evaluation will be based on the following criteria:

1. Cost of ownership
2. Amiability
3. Feeding
4. Pet's ability to do chores - help out
5. Fun - just how much fun can you have with the little fellow?
6. Deference.  I know this is egocentric but I want that damned pet's respect!
7. Tractability.  How easy is it to train this critter?
8. X Factor - not sure what this is.  I'll just use it to manipulate the final score.

Each criteria will be given a score in the range 0.0 to 1.0.  Very scientific and I am certain that if you live in the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica this will give an unequivocal result which anyone considering either a dog or an iguana as a pet can have complete confidence in.

We have recently adopted a pet iguana.  Actually, we had nothing much to do with it since the creature just showed up and started begging for food.  Regardless, I now have some experience with the suitability of the iguana as a pet.  Our iguana has a blue hue and so we've aptly named him (her?) Azul.

Azul's competition in this evaluation is Jake.  Jake is a black labrador retriever who has been around for eleven years, so we know this guy pretty well.  I'm confident we can fairly evaluate Jake's suitability as a pet.

The evaluation:

1. Cost of ownership

This one is a no-brainer.  Azul may be a purebred iguana but his cost is zero.  Jake is a purebred labrador retriever and they're not cheap.

Score:          Jake: 0.2             Azul: 1.0

2. Amiability

Jake is one of your more amiable dogs.  Basically, a 105 pound lap dog.  Azul, though friendly by iguana standards has never nuzzled my leg nor put his head on my lap.

Score:          Jake: 1.0             Azul: 0.2

3. Feeding

We buy Jake his food, even here in Costa Rica.  Bags and bags of it.  He gets the odd table scrap but we don't want to upset his delicate digestion.  When presented with food harvested from the jungle, Jake will only eat the banana.  Azul will eat the banana, the banana skin and any leaf or stick adhering to the banana.  Basically, Azul has eaten anything I've offered him.  

If Jake missed even one of his two daily meals he lets me know about it.  He won't go off looking to find something himself.  Azul can be ignored for weeks and he goes about harvesting his own meals.  I don't want to know what he's been eating.  He's the clear winner on this one.

Score:          Jake: 0.2             Azul: 1.0

4. Chores - help out

Neither creature is really strong in this category.  Jake, in fact is useless.  When asked to run to the store for groceries, he just ignores me even though there would be a nice treat for him.   Azul, though next to useless, occasionally will clean out the eavestrough (though it might be one of his brothers).

Score:          Jake: 0.0             Azul: 0.1

5. Fun

Here's where Jake shines, at least when he's in the mood.  Stick retrieval, ball tossing or swimming with me, the guy can be a real pleasure.  Azul, on the other hand will grovel for food in his reptilian way, which is basically giving you that cold sideways stare.  He does scuttle around nicely if tossed a tasty piece of banana and can be amusing when frightened.

Score:          Jake: 0.8             Azul: 0.2

6. Deference.  

This one is both closer and more difficult to judge.  Jake can show deference if I shout loudly enough or threaten to withhold food.  Usually, however, he gives that hooded eye look, sulks and ignores me after I try letting him know who's boss.  With Azul, it's harder to know.  He might just be afraid I'll catch him and roast him for dinner but he will scuttle off and act scared if I stomp my foot.

Score:          Jake: 0.5             Azul: 0.6

7. Tractability  

Another tough one.  Both these creatures can be trained.  Particularly if there is food involved somewhere in the equation.  In Azul's favour, I always thought iguanas were fairly dumb.  Not in this guys case.  He climbs the steps looking for grub the minute I show up in the morning.  Jake is no slouch either and will retrieve and drop a ball within 10 meters of my feet when he's in the mood.

Score:          Jake: 0.6             Azul: 0.4

8. X Factor  

Azul is a new friend and he's got that new friend cache.  I don't know his foibles yet so am quite forgiving.  Jake is a faithful friend, so will score some faithful friend points.  He also has the advantage of returning to Canada with me, so it's best I not piss him off.

Score:          Jake: 0.8             Azul: 0.5

To summarize:

Criteria	Jake	Azul
1. Cost of ownership	0.2	1.0
2. Amiability	1.0	0.2
3. Feeding	0.2	1.0
4. Chores	0.0	0.1
5. Fun	0.8	0.2
6. Deference	0.5	0.6
7. Tractability	0.6	0.4
8. X Factor	0.8	0.5
Total	4.1	4.0

Whew!  Now, that was a close one.  Who would have thought?

To summarize, the dog is a better choice for those considering a pet here in Costa Rica.  However, if cost of ownership is the overriding consideration, you might just consider the iguana.

Stay tuned for the next issue in this series:
Dog versus Beetle.

MORE EXCITING IMAGES HERE

Juegos Olímpicos de Invierno

Patriot that I am, I insisted that the Vancouver Olympics opening ceremonies were an event we must celebrate. And by celebrate I didn't mean sitting on the sofa with an Imperial, and a bowl of popcorn watching a grainy feed on my laptop.  No siree!  It's big screen, sports bar time!

We stroll into Montezuma.  There's a "sports bar" in town with a big screen TV.  I've watched some live soccer (okay, futbol) on that screen and know of what I speak.  This is the Olympics we're talking about after all, they are bound to be lined up for that one.  A nice 40 minute stroll and we're asking the pleasant greeter, "you guys are showing the Vancouver opening ceremonies right?".  He quickly shifts his deer in the headlights look to his welcoming look.  "No amigo, Friday night is movie night.  We'll be showing a movie on the big screen.  Try Chicos."

Chicos has a not so big screen which unfortunately is broken.  The bar gal comes up with a solution.  "The pizza place next door".  A quick look reveals a 19 inch TV stuck high on the wall and two plastic chairs next to the pizza oven.  This isn't encouraging.  I wouldn't survive the heat even if they could find a channel that carried the Winter Olympics.  That one word, winter, reveals where my planning was something less than razor sharp.  Winter has no cache here.

"Let's try Cabuya.  The round bar".  The round bar is your tipico bar.  It's the basic yurt structure with a thatched roof, open on all sides. "This will be fun.  Let's celebrate the Olympics"!

I see Max's pirate taxi parked in front of Chico's right next to a real, licensed taxi.  A quick check at the bar and Taxi Luis ("see that guy in the black cap") is pointed out to me.  Luis is engaged with Max and a couple of other gentlemen in a friendly card game.  I negotiate a departure time of twenty minutes with Luis, who, judging from his meager stack of bills doesn't seem to be doing that well.  We've time for a cervesa and get primed for our big screen experience in Cabuya.

Twenty minutes later I'm standing next to Luis who, based on the  healthy stack of bills on the table, has recovered and is now doing very well.  Luis is not much interested in going anywhere right now.  Ever the entrepreneur, however, he signals a faithful sidekick who disappears for a minute and returns with our new driver.  That's efficiency for you.

We happily backtrack, past our place and arrive in Cabuya 25 minutes before showtime.  After determing that the bartender is happy to put the Olympics on we purchase a beer and head across the street for some dinner.  The bar doesn't serve food, so obligingly the restaurant doesn't serve beer.  Now that's cooperation.

Across the street from the round bar is Lila's, a local cafe.  Lila's is the sort of place without a menu.  Basically, you eat what Lila is cooking.  Tonight we're in luck.  Fish, french fries and salad!  I haven't seen a french fry in over a month.  Exciting!

We head back to the round bar to negotiate the TV and our seating arrangements.  Staff and patrons are obligingly clicking through the satellite channels.  There seem to be a few good movie channels on satellite.  Hey, I've not seen "Tiger's Got Wood".  I like sports movies.  I'll come back some day and check it out.  Until then, it's Winter Olympics time.  Or, maybe not.  Well, more to the point; not!  It seems satellite carriers in this part of the world don't have a lot of interest in the Winter Olympics.

We negotiate a cab.  No problem.  Fabien the bartender gets Geraldo his buddy to find some guy who has a car who will show up in 30 minutes.  Back to Lila's and our food appears at the table.  Delicious!  We step out onto the street and Geraldo waves to Mr. Taxi who magically appears from around the corner.  On the road again; direction home.

I position the laptop on the coffee table and start surfing.  Vancouver Olympics site ... watch online ... Costa Rica ... there it is!  It takes a few minutes to figure out that I have to click the "aumentar button" to get full screen but soon we're in TV mode.  The Moldovans are just marching into the stadium.  We get to see that flashy Romanian flag, the Russians, the Americanos and those sturdy HBC clad Canadian athletes.  The picture isn't half bad and the Spanish commentators keep their interruptions mercifully brief.  Add to that I don't understand whatever inanities they are spouting and everything is just fine.

I guess we really didn't miss much.  Add in a tour of the bar scene in this part of the world, a great meal and the chance to meet a couple new taxi drivers and it turned out to be an excellent evening.  I just wish I could have caught our national anthem...