Rob has a friend, or mascot, of sorts, who frequents the area behind our house in Costa Rica. We'll call him "Waldo" for the sake of this story. Rob is always quick to report his spotting of Waldo's comings and goings, his pleasure with the fact that our construction and subsequent activity in Waldo's habitat hasn't sent him packing. Rob and Waldo have forged some sort of bond. I guess it's a guy thing...
"Waldo" is an impressive specimen. He is a rather large male Ctenosaur, or Black Spiny-Tailed Iguana. Waldo is easily four feet long and boasts a pretty thick middle. In researching Waldo's kind for this blog, I learned that the Guinness Book of World Records lists the Ctenosaur's running speed as 21.7 miles per hour, qualifying it as the world's fastest lizard! I can vouch for some pretty fast departures from the back of the house, down the dirt path, and toward the back of the lot where Waldo inhabits a tree. Male Ctenosaurs are known to be very territorial. They make their homes in tree hollows or crevasses in rocks and spend the majority of their time basking, eating, and generally hanging out in an area within 50 meters of their home. From time to time, Waldo maxes out the far reaches of his territory to woo a female Ctenosaur living beneath the transformer box at the front of the lot, or to climb the Corteza Amarilla tree behind the house to munch on the golden blossoms. So, on the day I spotted Waldo basking on the driveway next to the car at the front of the house, I half expected him to turn and run before I took another step in his direction. He was pretty far afield in terms of his usual territory.
It was an afternoon in July and I was heading out to pick up Joan for a quick trip to Santa Cruz. I initially stopped dead in my tracks when I noticed Waldo next to the car. I took a big step forward, then paused to await his certain departure. Waldo didn't move. He held his ground. In fact, he turned toward me and bobbed his head, then froze. This was a different Waldo from the one I observed from the windows of the house. That Waldo always looked smaller in the distance, less threatening as he ran away from the house, hightailing it toward his distant tree. This Waldo appeared bigger, more colorful, seemingly boasting breeding colors. This didn't bode well.
Clearly, I've caught Waldo off-guard. Obviously, when I take one more little step in his direction he'll take off running... I step. He doesn't budge. Clearly, I have underestimated Waldo. One more step should do it. I step forward and Waldo turns toward the car and disappears beneath it in one fluid movement. Then, silence. Where's Waldo? In the wheel well? This was not in the homeowner's manual!
Now I'm thinking... this is really no different than the neighbor's cat or the pesky squirrel in the garage at home, right? I'll open the car door, get inside, and slam the door. Waldo will run off faster than I can say "Adios!" Door open, door closed... nothing. Door opened again, door slammed again... still nothing. Time to take it up a notch. I'll start the car. The sound of the engine turning over will send Waldo running. Key in ignition, key turned, engine on... nothing. I'll put the car in reverse and roll it slowly backward, just enough to motivate Waldo to drop out of the wheel well and take off. Brake on, car in Reverse, letting up off the brake, car easing backward... then a "thwacking" sound and commotion under the car that rocks the floorboard. "What the hell?!" I throw the car back into Park and sit. Nothing. Not a sound. Ignition off. Door open. I step (cautiously) out. Door closed. Door open. Door closed. Nothing.
There's a saying that there is a correlation between the prevalence of swear words in ones vocabulary and his or her intelligence, or lack thereof. This is the part of the story where my intelligence becomes seriously undermined by the flurry of obscenities that accompany my ensuing actions in trying to extract Waldo from under the hood of the car. I've taken the liberty of censoring myself in the re-telling of this tale.
I dialed Joan's cell number and she quickly answered with "Hey, what's up?" I explained that I was running a few minutes late, as I had a Spiny Iguana under my hood, and that this might take a few minutes, it being kind of a new situation and all... "Do you want us to come over?" she asked. "No. I think I've got it under control. I'll call you back." The wheels in my head were turning. While on the phone I had spotted a wooden broom stick on the front porch. A perfect pry bar!
Open the door. Pop the hood. Close the door. Nothing. (Here's the stupid part...) Carefully lift the hood and (really stupid part...) stick finger into crack below the hood to feel for the hood release lever. Push the hood release lever to lift the hood and (seemingly smarter plan...) lodge wooden broom handle under hood to use as a makeshift pry bar to lift hood in order to keep fingers clear of Ctenosaur teeth. Simple, right? Lift hood by leveraging with wooden broomstick to an open position... "Thawack-fffffth-shwack" resonates from under the hood as Waldo, nestled on top of the engine cover, spins a 180 and hunkers down onto the engine and I let out a "Holy sh#*!" and simultaneously drop the hood. Regroup. "Jeeeeeezus Christ Lizard!" No one is gonna believe this. I need a picture.
Walk to the house, unlock the gate, unlock the door, find the camera, exit the house, lock the door, lock the gate. Deep breath. Open the car door. Pop the hood. Close the car door. Carefully lift the hood and (some people just never learn...) stick finger into the crack below the hood to feel for the hood release and (really, really stupid part...) push the release lever again. Lodge wooden broom stick under hood and begin to pry to open position, then "thawaaaaaap-fffftht-thwack" and another wild spin as Waldo whips around a second time, sending me backward with a hood slam and a "Mother fu@k#r!" I forgot to take a picture.
Third time's a charm. Open door. Pop hood. Close door. Turn camera on. Grasp camera awkwardly in left hand. Lift hood. Stick finger (stupidly) into crack beneath hood. Push release lever. Wedge broomstick under hood. Lift camera to ready position. Leverage hood up with broomstick in one hand, arm shaking under weight of hood. "Hissssssss-fffffthwack" tail-whipping 360 commotion... Camera drops. "Fu@# mother fu@#er!" Hood slams. Waldo drops out from under the car and takes off at a velocity rivaling that record 21.7 miles per hour, bony knees and scaly clawed feet exaggeratedly peddling to propel him across the understory!
"Hey Joan. I'm on my way."
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Friday, July 3, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
"She's sooooo Gringa!"
It's easy to discern those of us who spend a chunk of time in Costa Rica each year from the rest of the crowd... How? Dinner table talk and casual conversations with other ex-patriots and part-time residents quickly turn to discussion of household moisture-control methods and insect eradication. "Damp Rid" refills and boxes of fabric softener outnumber articles of clothing in our checked baggage bound for Costa Rica. If you've ever hauled lighting fixtures or bathroom faucets over international borders, you know what I'm talking about! We are more preoccupied with smuggling household items and our familiar creature comforts into the country than we ever were about smuggling Cuban cigars or bottles of Lizano out! Times have changed, though. Generic refills for Damp Rid containers are now readily available in Auto Mercado and Kion, and for a fraction of the cost and inconvenience of buying them in the States and cramming them into our luggage. I can buy "Pledge" furniture polish in the local Costa Rican grocery store as easily as I can at home. Kion regularly stocks Wisconsin-made Johnsonville bratwurst, for crying out loud! But something else has changed, too. Some of the simplicity is gone.
My Tica friend laughs when she hears Americans lamenting the loss of easy access to favored stateside cleaning products or household items. "She's sooooo Gringa!" she says of the American woman who complains in her blog that she just can't buy a decent bed sheet in Costa Rica--one that doesn't pill when laundered... "and those lumpy pillows!" continues the American. After months of transporting our favorite "stuff" from the States it occurred to me: Costa Ricans have gotten along just fine, thank you, without all of our perceived necessities. They continually self-report a higher life satisfaction rating than Americans. For every prescription drug and over-the-counter pill I brought to Costa Rica from the U.S., a Tico acquaintance of mine can identify a similar remedy grown locally and culled from native Costa Rican plants or derived by mixing a couple of common household ingredients.
Simplicity. I am happy to report that my last couple of trips to Pura Vida have felt more relaxed. I'm a little less preoccupied with what I "need" and more content with what is readily and locally available in our second home. A Caprese salad. Mozzarella from Monteverde (purchased in Junquillal's mini-super), tomato from Tierra Pacifica's organic farm, and fresh aromatic basil from the plant at the side of the house (originally grown on Tierra Pacifica's organic farm!). Avocado, mango, and pineapple that never seem to go out of season in Costa Rica, but which I can rarely manage to find ripe when called for in a recipe in the States. Ask around Junquillal and you'll quickly find someone who makes fresh tortillas and empanadas, or has a recipe to share that features fresh local ingredients.
What about those household cleaning products we can't live without? There's good news and bad news. The good news is Tide, Purex, Lysol and all the other name brand detergents we buy in the U.S. now line the shelves of the Jumbo and Auto Mercado in Costa Rica. The bad news is they are just as harmful to the environment in Costa Rica as they are in the U.S. In fact, phosphates and detergents in many cleaning products are less regulated in Costa Rica than at home, so ingredients may differ in seemingly-identical products. Remember all the commotion about lead content in toys and other products imported to the U.S. from China in recent years? Check out some of the goods in variety stores in Santa Cruz. Products made in China easily outnumber those made in Costa Rica. Items that are banned from store shelves at home are readily available in Costa Rica. What to do? Buy gifts and toys that are Costa Rican made or grown... like banana paper note pads, hand-embroidered bookmarks, Costa Rican fair trade coffees, soaps and candles that incorporate local herbs and coffee beans. More and more products made in Costa Rica support local artisans or communities, are sustainable, and made from renewable or recycled resources. The prices are great, too, especially if purchased directly from the community or artist rather than from a pricey tourist trap in bigger towns. Your money stays in Costa Rica but you still take a piece of Costa Rica home!
When life gives you lemons... make cleaning products! Vinegar, baking soda, citrus juices like lemon and orange, lavender, and other herbs are all readily available and can be combined to create non-toxic cleaning products and deodorizers for your Costa Rican home. Benefits include less packaging waste from store-bought products, less exposure to chemical allergens, and less harm to household pets (and mosquito and ant-eating geckos!). Start slowly... Commit to making one small change at a time. I've found it gets easier once you start.
I'll leave you with one suggestion. Reduce. There's no shortage of plastic waste in Junquillal and throughout Costa Rica. Plastic grocery bags are everywhere, including along the roadside and on the beach. They pose a danger to turtles and other marine life, as well as to land-dwelling animals, if chewed and swallowed or should the animal become entangled. If you pack one "must have" item from home, make it a reusable poly-pro or fabric grocery or tote bag. They range from 99 cents to $1.50 and can be found everywhere from your local grocery to Trader Joe's or Target. My 99 cent Trader Joe's bag made approximately 5 round-trips as a carry-on bag from the U.S. before it was coveted by a friend in Junquillal. She liked the floral pattern on the bag and now uses it for hauling her own stuff. Rob invested in a set of "Eco Silk" brand fabric bags at home that take virtually no storage space but can be reused continuously. We bought a second set for the Costa Rica house. They can be carried with us to the mini-super or to Santa Cruz for our groceries and purchases in lieu of plastic store-provided bags. I would guess we save an average of 3-5 plastic bags per grocery trip. That's a few less bags that might end up in a landfill or on the roadside.
With many new houses nearing completion in Tierra Pacifica, it will become easier to share our resources and ideas to improve our community's sustainability! This goes for household hints and ideas, resources for local labor and food, and more. Why recreate the wheel when there is a good chance one of your neighbors has been there, done that, and learned a little along the way!
Pura Vida!
Dana
My Tica friend laughs when she hears Americans lamenting the loss of easy access to favored stateside cleaning products or household items. "She's sooooo Gringa!" she says of the American woman who complains in her blog that she just can't buy a decent bed sheet in Costa Rica--one that doesn't pill when laundered... "and those lumpy pillows!" continues the American. After months of transporting our favorite "stuff" from the States it occurred to me: Costa Ricans have gotten along just fine, thank you, without all of our perceived necessities. They continually self-report a higher life satisfaction rating than Americans. For every prescription drug and over-the-counter pill I brought to Costa Rica from the U.S., a Tico acquaintance of mine can identify a similar remedy grown locally and culled from native Costa Rican plants or derived by mixing a couple of common household ingredients.
Simplicity. I am happy to report that my last couple of trips to Pura Vida have felt more relaxed. I'm a little less preoccupied with what I "need" and more content with what is readily and locally available in our second home. A Caprese salad. Mozzarella from Monteverde (purchased in Junquillal's mini-super), tomato from Tierra Pacifica's organic farm, and fresh aromatic basil from the plant at the side of the house (originally grown on Tierra Pacifica's organic farm!). Avocado, mango, and pineapple that never seem to go out of season in Costa Rica, but which I can rarely manage to find ripe when called for in a recipe in the States. Ask around Junquillal and you'll quickly find someone who makes fresh tortillas and empanadas, or has a recipe to share that features fresh local ingredients.
What about those household cleaning products we can't live without? There's good news and bad news. The good news is Tide, Purex, Lysol and all the other name brand detergents we buy in the U.S. now line the shelves of the Jumbo and Auto Mercado in Costa Rica. The bad news is they are just as harmful to the environment in Costa Rica as they are in the U.S. In fact, phosphates and detergents in many cleaning products are less regulated in Costa Rica than at home, so ingredients may differ in seemingly-identical products. Remember all the commotion about lead content in toys and other products imported to the U.S. from China in recent years? Check out some of the goods in variety stores in Santa Cruz. Products made in China easily outnumber those made in Costa Rica. Items that are banned from store shelves at home are readily available in Costa Rica. What to do? Buy gifts and toys that are Costa Rican made or grown... like banana paper note pads, hand-embroidered bookmarks, Costa Rican fair trade coffees, soaps and candles that incorporate local herbs and coffee beans. More and more products made in Costa Rica support local artisans or communities, are sustainable, and made from renewable or recycled resources. The prices are great, too, especially if purchased directly from the community or artist rather than from a pricey tourist trap in bigger towns. Your money stays in Costa Rica but you still take a piece of Costa Rica home!
When life gives you lemons... make cleaning products! Vinegar, baking soda, citrus juices like lemon and orange, lavender, and other herbs are all readily available and can be combined to create non-toxic cleaning products and deodorizers for your Costa Rican home. Benefits include less packaging waste from store-bought products, less exposure to chemical allergens, and less harm to household pets (and mosquito and ant-eating geckos!). Start slowly... Commit to making one small change at a time. I've found it gets easier once you start.
I'll leave you with one suggestion. Reduce. There's no shortage of plastic waste in Junquillal and throughout Costa Rica. Plastic grocery bags are everywhere, including along the roadside and on the beach. They pose a danger to turtles and other marine life, as well as to land-dwelling animals, if chewed and swallowed or should the animal become entangled. If you pack one "must have" item from home, make it a reusable poly-pro or fabric grocery or tote bag. They range from 99 cents to $1.50 and can be found everywhere from your local grocery to Trader Joe's or Target. My 99 cent Trader Joe's bag made approximately 5 round-trips as a carry-on bag from the U.S. before it was coveted by a friend in Junquillal. She liked the floral pattern on the bag and now uses it for hauling her own stuff. Rob invested in a set of "Eco Silk" brand fabric bags at home that take virtually no storage space but can be reused continuously. We bought a second set for the Costa Rica house. They can be carried with us to the mini-super or to Santa Cruz for our groceries and purchases in lieu of plastic store-provided bags. I would guess we save an average of 3-5 plastic bags per grocery trip. That's a few less bags that might end up in a landfill or on the roadside.
With many new houses nearing completion in Tierra Pacifica, it will become easier to share our resources and ideas to improve our community's sustainability! This goes for household hints and ideas, resources for local labor and food, and more. Why recreate the wheel when there is a good chance one of your neighbors has been there, done that, and learned a little along the way!
Pura Vida!
Dana
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Tierra Pacifica HOA Directory Coming Soon!
The "Tierra Pacifica HOA Directory" is in the works! Joan, our HOA President, solicited lot owner input a while back in order to help us compile a directory of HOA members. This is a voluntary listing for the purpose of information and networking. Only those HOA members in good standing who submitted their information will be included. In addition, the directory will only be distributed to those who submitted their information. It's not too late to be included. If you would like to add your information to the soon-to-be-released directory, you may submit your information to me directly at: dakaleta@sbcglobal.net
Information to be included: Lot number; owner name(s); co-owner name(s), if applicable; children's names and ages; hometown; e-mail address; and phone number(s) (home and in Costa Rica, if applicable). *Note: We did not solicit this information previously, but now ask that you consider including the following with your submission: House constructed on lot? yes/no; house available for rent? yes/no; owner(s) job title (and business contact information, if desired); any other relevant information you would like to have included.
Example:
Lot #12: "Casa Kaleta"
Rob and Dana Kaleta (Claire, 16; Robert, 18)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
rkaleta@sbcglobal.net (Rob); dakaleta@sbcglobal.net (Dana)
(414) 961-1622 (US home); (506) 8353-5699 (CR cell)
house constructed; private rentals
Rob: university administrator
Dana: environmental educator
Don't forget: Make your plans to attend the HOA Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 22nd at 9:00 am at Club Arbol.
Do you plan to attend the HOA Annual Meeting? Comment in response to this post to let others know you plan to attend! Plans for a casual HOA member gathering are in the works for those in attendance. RSVP to help us anticipate numbers.
NOTE related to reading this blog: Follow new posts on this blog easily, without having to look up the URL every time you want to check for new posts. Simply click on the word "Follow" on the right hand side of the screen under the heading "HOA Members/Blog followers" and sign up. Your personal info can be kept hidden, but you will receive an e-mail notification with each new blog entry.
Want to comment on a post? Simply click on the word "Comment" after the related post and type in your personal comments. Once you post your comments, they will be moderated (to ensure that no spam enters the blog and that comments were posted by an actual HOA member), then posted.
Don't forget to send those "Tierra Pacifica HOA Directory" submissions today!
Pura Vida!
Dana Kaleta
Tierra Pacifica HOA Secretary
Information to be included: Lot number; owner name(s); co-owner name(s), if applicable; children's names and ages; hometown; e-mail address; and phone number(s) (home and in Costa Rica, if applicable). *Note: We did not solicit this information previously, but now ask that you consider including the following with your submission: House constructed on lot? yes/no; house available for rent? yes/no; owner(s) job title (and business contact information, if desired); any other relevant information you would like to have included.
Example:
Lot #12: "Casa Kaleta"
Rob and Dana Kaleta (Claire, 16; Robert, 18)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
rkaleta@sbcglobal.net (Rob); dakaleta@sbcglobal.net (Dana)
(414) 961-1622 (US home); (506) 8353-5699 (CR cell)
house constructed; private rentals
Rob: university administrator
Dana: environmental educator
Don't forget: Make your plans to attend the HOA Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 22nd at 9:00 am at Club Arbol.
Do you plan to attend the HOA Annual Meeting? Comment in response to this post to let others know you plan to attend! Plans for a casual HOA member gathering are in the works for those in attendance. RSVP to help us anticipate numbers.
NOTE related to reading this blog: Follow new posts on this blog easily, without having to look up the URL every time you want to check for new posts. Simply click on the word "Follow" on the right hand side of the screen under the heading "HOA Members/Blog followers" and sign up. Your personal info can be kept hidden, but you will receive an e-mail notification with each new blog entry.
Want to comment on a post? Simply click on the word "Comment" after the related post and type in your personal comments. Once you post your comments, they will be moderated (to ensure that no spam enters the blog and that comments were posted by an actual HOA member), then posted.
Don't forget to send those "Tierra Pacifica HOA Directory" submissions today!
Pura Vida!
Dana Kaleta
Tierra Pacifica HOA Secretary
Saturday, January 10, 2009
About this blog...
Welcome to the Tierra Pacifica HOA Blog! This link is only being sent to active members of the Tierra Pacifica HOA (property owners who have actually closed on their lots and are HOA fee-paying members). Why another blog? I was searching for a tool that could be utilized by the HOA Board to convey info to HOA members, as well as a means for members to communicate with one another and to network. Members can choose to follow the blog anonymously or openly, so their personal info need not be shared.
The existent blog posted by Steve McKnight is tied to the general Tierra Pacifica website. The site is maintained by the developers and acts as a marketing tool, so numerous folks have access. It's a great resource and a great link to the Tierra Pacifica "big picture" and related info posted by Steve. This blog is an effort to provide a separate, private venue for us as HOA members to share info that is more pertinent to the day-to-day operations and concerns of current property and home owners. It also lets us make posts and comments to one another and allows you to comment on blogs that the HOA Board posts from time to time. I view it as a way to connect to let others know when you will be in Tierra Pacifica or in Playa Junquillal, to network and get others' opinions on local services and business needs (landscaping, property management, rental opportunities, local dining), and other uses as we see fit.
Please note: I am maintaining this blog spot and making posts voluntarily, as a way to help us build community within Tierra Pacifica. That being said, I want to respect everyone's privacy, so please let me know if you do not want me to use your name or last name. I commented on some coming's and going's below, just to let HOA members know that Tierra Pacifica has been bustling with activity these last couple of months. I also want to use this blog to represent the interests of the group as a whole, so feel free to e-mail with comments or things you would like to see discussed. This is a new site and can only be improved with your input. A blog is just that... I will write things I hope are of interest to others. No one should feel obligated to read the blogs. They are totally subjective in nature. As this site develops, I hope to add more objective HOA Board information and a feedback forum, but I'm still exploring software limitations and capacity. My kids are the technologically-abled in this household, so I have a learning curve ahead of me!
I invite you to e-mail me directly if you have info to share. I can post on your behalf until I figure out a way to moderate posts from within the site. My direct e-mail address is:
dakaleta@sbcglobal.net
How to use this blog: The most recent blog entry appears at the top of the page. If you would like to read the blogs in order of their posting date, start from the bottom of the page. If you choose to become a "Follower" of this blog, you can opt to receive a notification when a new blog entry is posted. Oh, and by the way... If you know a better way to do all of this, please let me know. I'm a novice!
Note: The views, opinions, blog content, etc. on this site reflect my personal opinions and views and do not represent a position by the Tierra Pacifica HOA Board, its members, or individuals associated with Tierra Pacifica. I apologize, in advance, for any content that may be incorrectly reported and I will do my best to correct any misinformation as I am made aware of it.
Now, let's blog!
Pura Vida!
Dana Kaleta
Tierra Pacifica HOA Secretary
"Casa Kaleta"
The existent blog posted by Steve McKnight is tied to the general Tierra Pacifica website. The site is maintained by the developers and acts as a marketing tool, so numerous folks have access. It's a great resource and a great link to the Tierra Pacifica "big picture" and related info posted by Steve. This blog is an effort to provide a separate, private venue for us as HOA members to share info that is more pertinent to the day-to-day operations and concerns of current property and home owners. It also lets us make posts and comments to one another and allows you to comment on blogs that the HOA Board posts from time to time. I view it as a way to connect to let others know when you will be in Tierra Pacifica or in Playa Junquillal, to network and get others' opinions on local services and business needs (landscaping, property management, rental opportunities, local dining), and other uses as we see fit.
Please note: I am maintaining this blog spot and making posts voluntarily, as a way to help us build community within Tierra Pacifica. That being said, I want to respect everyone's privacy, so please let me know if you do not want me to use your name or last name. I commented on some coming's and going's below, just to let HOA members know that Tierra Pacifica has been bustling with activity these last couple of months. I also want to use this blog to represent the interests of the group as a whole, so feel free to e-mail with comments or things you would like to see discussed. This is a new site and can only be improved with your input. A blog is just that... I will write things I hope are of interest to others. No one should feel obligated to read the blogs. They are totally subjective in nature. As this site develops, I hope to add more objective HOA Board information and a feedback forum, but I'm still exploring software limitations and capacity. My kids are the technologically-abled in this household, so I have a learning curve ahead of me!
I invite you to e-mail me directly if you have info to share. I can post on your behalf until I figure out a way to moderate posts from within the site. My direct e-mail address is:
dakaleta@sbcglobal.net
How to use this blog: The most recent blog entry appears at the top of the page. If you would like to read the blogs in order of their posting date, start from the bottom of the page. If you choose to become a "Follower" of this blog, you can opt to receive a notification when a new blog entry is posted. Oh, and by the way... If you know a better way to do all of this, please let me know. I'm a novice!
Note: The views, opinions, blog content, etc. on this site reflect my personal opinions and views and do not represent a position by the Tierra Pacifica HOA Board, its members, or individuals associated with Tierra Pacifica. I apologize, in advance, for any content that may be incorrectly reported and I will do my best to correct any misinformation as I am made aware of it.
Now, let's blog!
Pura Vida!
Dana Kaleta
Tierra Pacifica HOA Secretary
"Casa Kaleta"
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