Day Twenty Two

It's raining again.  I'm beginning to relate to Noah; should I build an ark?

I went to the Avon Walk for a Cure this morning in Paseo Colon with Ileana and Jessica this morning.  Jess ran while Ileana and I walked.  It's always amazing to see how many people turn out, especially when most of them are in this vivid pink.  We saw Judy, Margaret, Monica, and a few other students at the end of the race.  Thank goodness that Alberto picked Ile, Jess and I up.  A bus would have been packed, and there wasn't a taxi in sight (surprisingly...) but, with Alberto driving, I made it home by 10:30 am, just in time for church!

I'm always impressed when someone from the Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM http://www.cbmin.org/cbm/home ) speaks.  No matter who it is, or where they're from, there is such a passion for people and for Christ in their words.  This morning, Mr. Guthrie spoke, not about his specific work, but about how we need to live a missional life.  Everything we do for others builds them up, and in turn, prepares the way for God to work in their lives.  I wish I could have been there, to ask some questions, and to have some lunch!  I miss lunch at church.

So now I'm listening to podcasts, trying to get my head around the plans for the week.  We're moving full throttle into holiday prep, and I'm excited, nervous, and beginning to be stressed.  December will be a busy two weeks, but then the six weeks of holidays will be fantastic.  Any one want to go to Panama with me?

Let's hope the rain stops so I can run up to the corner store.  Cassie will not be pleased if I don't go; we both need food!

Day Twenty

Yay, Friday!  It was a good day.  I was able to think flexibly, support a colleague, encourage an intern, and teach two new games to my grade one class.  I had fun at work today, and that's not something I can say every day.  Next week we start getting ready for the Christmas program, so this should be fun too.

This weekend I'm planning on going to a baby shower for a colleague.  It's a little strange, as we've already had a shower for the child (who isn't going to be there yet!) but this is apparently more of a fiesta.  It should be interesting if nothing else.  Also, Cassie comes home tomorrow, so I have to go pick up her food and such, along with some groceries for me.  Market day!  Sunday is the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, which starts at eight am.  All I'm asking is for sun.  It rained ALL day today, and just quit a few minutes ago.  At one point the rain began to look like snow, though it never piled up on the snow.  I wonder if we'll miss school because of rain again this year.  It sure seems possible at this point.

Anyhow, it's an early night for me, as tomorrow will be an early morning.  I'm going to try out all of my anti-itch lotions on my hand; something bit me while we were in Panama, and it's causing a good portion of my hand to itch uncontrollably.  It's even swollen.  I'm sure I'll live, but man, it's annoying.  Let's hope Goldbond is up to the challenge, because the Afterbite was useless.

Ciao!

Day Eighteen

Day one of parent/teacher conferences are over for another year.  It's a long afternoon of sitting in the gymnasium, hoping that all the parents who come see you are happy and thankful that you teach their child.  Or just hoping that parents visit you at all!  Today was a good one, I think.  No one seemed particularly upset about anything in particular.

I have hopes of putting up the pictures from Panama in the next few days.  It was a beautiful trip, so I want to share it, but the world is sort of upside down.  I present to the parents meeting tomorrow, then interviews all afternoon, possibly picking Cassie up tomorrow night, then stuff with Isella on Friday, a baby shower on Saturday, and the Avon Walk for the Cure on Sunday.  It never rains but it pours.

Anyhow, the presentation tomorrow should be taking my attention tonight.  More tomorrow!

I wish I wasn't such a procrastinator.

Day Fourteen

I'm here!  Jessica and I made it to Bocas del Toro this afternoon, right to our hotel by 3:30 Costa Rican time.  We made it across the border with no problems, other than a few snotty New Zealanders who were too good to talk to us.  We took the bus from San Jose to Sixaola at 6 this morning, walked across the border at noon, and officially entered Panama about 1 o'clock in the afternoon.  An insistent minivan driver took us to Almirante, and from there the water taxi took us to Bocas Town.  It's such a quaint little resort town; I fell in love with it at first sight.  Another taxi driver brought us to our hotel, after a bit of a tour, and then the lady at the front desk...couldn't find our reservation.  After a mild heart palpitations,  I found the reservation confirmation email in my inbox, showed it to her, and we were on the way.  We have a lovely room, nice and clean, and two beautiful beds complete with pillowtop covers and all.  We freshened up, explored a bit, and then went and treated ourselves to a pretty good meal at the restaurant over the water.

Now we're just chillin'.  We might be kindred spirits...we're both on our laptops, PC and Mac, waiting until it's a civilized hour to go to bed, and enjoying the lightning and thunder show.  Tomorrow is a trip to Bocas Town, hopefully some sun and a few more cocktails...  it's a wonderful life!

Day Thirteen

As I prepare for my trip to Panama tomorrow morning, I'm struck by how things have changed in the past twenty years.  Let's compare the packing lists:

Twenty Years Ago

• books and books and books
• colouring "stuff"
• paper
• more books
• gameboy and games
• discman (I think... it could have been my walkman...)
• cd's  (or tapes...I don't remember when I received my first discman)
• licorice
• juice boxes
• chips
• anything that would make my bag as heavy as possible.

Today's Packing List

• charged Ipod
• charged camera
• charged laptop
• charged Blackberry
• batteries, SD cards, cables
• portable external hard drive
• one book  (Third in the Millenium Trilogy)
• passport
• licorice  (some things never change! Thank you, Auntie Judy!)
• chips
• bottles of juice
• cookies!
• As little as necessary to be safe and travel "light" - it really has gotten lighter now that I'm not in my own vehicle!

It's very different traveling on your own.  For the past ten years, that's how I've done the majority of my traveling - Minneapolis, to Germany, to England, to Costa Rica.  I've been blessed with good friends to travel with in most of these countries, but I am excited about STARTING a journey with a friend.

Remember, it's a grand adventure.  Live it with all your heart!  

postscript:  Pictures will definitely follow.  

Day Twelve

Me voy a Panama a sabado!  I'm very excited.  Jessica and I are booked into an actual resort...no Nicaraguan craziness this holiday!  I'm sure there will be excitement and adventure, as our travel plans stop at the border with the bus we have tickets for.  After crossing the bridge on foot, we hope to catch one of the rumoured busses to Changuinola, then a water taxi to Bocas del Toro.  Cross your fingers this will all be as easy as everyone makes it sound.  We might even be able to get the taxi right to our hotel.  We'll see.  I've been excited all day, ok, since we booked the hotel yesterday.  Sleep was somewhat elusive.  Tonight may be tougher.

You see, Cassie left this afternoon for her spa weekend with the Zuniga-Owens family.  They have two kids, three cats and a dog.  It's a built-in exercise program for Cassie!  I miss her; I keep expecting her to come around the corner, stalking me.  She's in wonderful hands; this is the same family who cat-sat for me when I was home this summer.  Sometimes I think, no, I know I bore her.  Such is life!

Speaking of summer, it's winter here.  The rainy season and the inherent hurricane weather is very much upon us, though the promise is that it will clear up by tomorrow.  It's amazing to me that a country located in this part of the world, with the reputation that Costa Rica has, doesn't have the infrastructure to maintain it's roadways and such when it rains like this.  I mean, it does this EVERY YEAR...  I recognize that the country's GDP is lower than the province of Saskatchewan's, but still.  If I can predict some of these things already, maybe it's time to really examine the corruption and shoddy work going on.  I'm not a construction worker, but even I know cement isn't supposed to virtually dissolve.  Just sayin'.

All right, time to pack and do a final load of laundry.  I'll just pray that tomorrow is dryer, and that the clothes will dry...pray!

Oh, here's the link to the resort...eeeee!  www.hotelplayatortuga.com

Day Seven

I had a lovely chat with my Grandma Walter today.  She and I share a birthday, so it's always been pretty special.  This year, obviously we weren't together, but it felt like we were even further apart as I couldn't reach her.  She went into hospital Saturday with what the doctors think was a mild heart attack.  She's home on her own now, but it was a scare.

I was meant to go to a birthday party today, but Cassie woke me up by throwing up on the bedroom floor.  As it's the only carpeted floor in my apartment, it was Murphy's Law that had it happening there.  I don't know what she ate, or did, but I didn't want to leave her.  Sad, I know.  I put my plans on hold for a cat.  She's better now, so maybe she just knew I needed a day at home.  She's been a big suck all day.  I love cuddles.

I used the slow cooker Emily and Ryan left me.  I say left, rather than sold, as I can't remember if I did give them the money for it.  One of those confusions at the end of the school year in June.  So, Emily, Ryan, let me know, send me an address, and all that.  The rice turned out well (I know...way to start with a challenge ;) )  and I am one step ahead for next week.  I need to start eating more healthily, and less school cafeteria food.  It's good, but perhaps too good, and too easy.  I'll run out tomorrow and pick up some chicken and some veggies, and we'll be good.

A week today I'll be in Panama.  I may have to cheat and blog on paper while I'm gone.  I don't think I'll take my computer.  Perhaps there will be a coffee shop or something, but I doubt where we'll be staying will have wifi or anything.  We'll find out!

Still contemplating this past week.  Prayer would be appreciated.  I don't really like decisions.  Thanks a bunch.  Ta!