Here's Sadie. Below Bravo stares malevolently from the overhead kitchen beam. 
Matilda Warthog (below) has found a place in my heart, while El Bandito (right) is calling on me to expand my horizons.
May 12, 2009
Hello from San Josecito de Uvita. The rains have started, the river is again robust, but the heat is still intense. The humidity is such that, even when the sun is out, I wonder how the air can hold it. I’m trying to keep sweat off the computer as I write.
First: a retraction: I called the noisy guaco a collared forest falcon. They look similar, but they’re different: the guaco is the laughing falcon.
Since I last wrote construction has begun on two bridges: both privately initiated. The Guillermo Nunez family has to negotiate two branches of the river to get to their home. The second branch, the one that’s not on the main road, is finally getting a bridge that will accommodate small cars. It’s a family initiative, and the work of Luis Nunez, who is a talented welder, has made the project possible. Bridges & More contributed $700 to this bridge.
The bridge to the Isidro Nunez farm has to span a much wider and deeper canyon, so has required professional engineers and a lot more funding. It too is progressing nicely. Bridges & More contributed $7000 to the I. Nunez Bridge. The reason for the large discrepancy in the amounts was that I heard nothing about the intentions to build the G. Nunez bridge until after we’d already given away almost all our money to the I. Nunez project. I’ve got photos of both bridges and I’ll post them on the blog.
Meanwhile the bridge that the municipality was supposed to have finished before the rainy season is in limbo because the Emergency Commission has undergone an emergency purging after the extent of its corruption was revealed. So, it’s the same old story the citizens have been getting for years: the funds are there, everything is ready to begin your bridge, but we wait only for (fill-in-the-blank) to be (approved-cleared up-attended to-WHATEVER!).
Here on the road things are changing. Property further down from where I live, near the school, has been chopped into little lots and much building is going on. The road, which underwent great improvements last year with installation of culverts and reinforcements to get rid of the necessity to drive through lots of creeks, is now suffering from lack of funds and is in danger of collapsing at one of the culvert sites where the money ran out before the project was finished, and is almost impassible during heavy rains at other sites. I feel like I’ve done what I can, and from now on will smile and give my money each year, and let others worry about it. I still have Matilda Warthog, who can get through just about anything!
After a very difficult pregnancy Beatiz Picado (and Ronny Duarte) gave birth by C-section to Pamela de los Angeles Duarte Picado at 7 months. Since Pamela’s birth complications have arisen and she has been operated on four times in the last two weeks. Today, after the doctors said she had no chance, she rallied, and they are going to operate again. Those of you who pray, please keep her in your prayers. And those who don’t please send light and good thoughts to all the family (Beatriz, Ronny, Fabiola, Samanta, and Pamela) who have been through great worry and displacement due to B’s need to be always near a hospital. I recently found their little dog wandering skinny and homeless, full of torcelos (larvae from Bot Flies that hatch in the flesh and devour it). He’s at the vet until his infections clear up, and I’ll bring him back to my house to stay at least until I leave at the end of May.
Speaking of dogs, my ferocious cat Bravo has had to adjust to a rambunctious puppy who arrived one night badly in need of food, affection, and a flea bath. She has stayed, been spayed, named (Sadie), and drives me crazy on a daily basis by being underfoot, jumping up, gnawing on everything, and just generally being a puppy. She appears to be half hound, half German Shepherd, and is very sweet natured. Alvin Nunez, my full-time worker, will watch her when I am not here. Who will watch Bravo is more of a problem, as Ticos all seem to be either allergic to or not fond of cats. You don’t see many around, and I think they’re mostly killed by dogs, owls, or larger cats such as ocelots and pumas. Anyway, Bravo has survived thanks to his fierce nature (Sadie though young already possesses a myriad of scars on her snout!), and is also rather sweet in his own grumpy way. Find Sadie and Bravo on the blog as well.
My car problems are at least temporarily solved: today I have two clean functioning cars in the garage that Alvin just expanded. I am knocking on wood as I write this, but the problematic Geo Tracker I bought has been traded back to the dealership for a smart little two-door bright red Tracker. It needed brakes, tires and a new timing belt, but hey, it’s got personality. I’ll put pictures of Matilda Warthog and the new guy (El Bandito) on the blog too.
Our most recent activity should have happened last week: a workshop for parents about the benefits of reading to their kids. We had a professor/author lined up months in advance and he seemed keen on doing it. Then I got an email cancelling his attendance. In spite of this, a small children’s library has been started at the school and the children are checking out books to take home at night for their parents to read to them.
San Josecito had a large crop of visitors from Cape Cod recently. Tom Fettig and Kristin Knowles have their house here, and they visited with their two recently adopted children Jack and Sasha, and also brought along my friends Karyn Morris and Ken Horton. Additionally Stefanie Matfield from the Cape also visited for a week. The pristine river behind my house was a big hit. Ken has promised to return and help me work on Matilda Warthog (I was going to sell her, but we’ve had a reconciliation and we’re both working on our issues), and Karyn has offered to do one fundraiser a year for Bridges & More.
I should mention that Karyn’s offer came in the wake of my telling her that I felt Bridges & More has accomplished a lot of what it set out to do, and that I am tired and thinking about dissolving the non-profit. It’s too much for me to try to do the field work here and the corporate and fund-raising work at home. I’m getting old enough to be confused at any rate, and having business and commitments in two countries is impossibly complicated. So Karyn’s offer is much appreciated, but I’m still not decided on just what I’ll do.
Best wishes to all for a lovely spring,
Pura Vida,
Elizabeth
Hello from San Josecito de Uvita. The rains have started, the river is again robust, but the heat is still intense. The humidity is such that, even when the sun is out, I wonder how the air can hold it. I’m trying to keep sweat off the computer as I write.
First: a retraction: I called the noisy guaco a collared forest falcon. They look similar, but they’re different: the guaco is the laughing falcon.
Since I last wrote construction has begun on two bridges: both privately initiated. The Guillermo Nunez family has to negotiate two branches of the river to get to their home. The second branch, the one that’s not on the main road, is finally getting a bridge that will accommodate small cars. It’s a family initiative, and the work of Luis Nunez, who is a talented welder, has made the project possible. Bridges & More contributed $700 to this bridge.
The bridge to the Isidro Nunez farm has to span a much wider and deeper canyon, so has required professional engineers and a lot more funding. It too is progressing nicely. Bridges & More contributed $7000 to the I. Nunez Bridge. The reason for the large discrepancy in the amounts was that I heard nothing about the intentions to build the G. Nunez bridge until after we’d already given away almost all our money to the I. Nunez project. I’ve got photos of both bridges and I’ll post them on the blog.
Meanwhile the bridge that the municipality was supposed to have finished before the rainy season is in limbo because the Emergency Commission has undergone an emergency purging after the extent of its corruption was revealed. So, it’s the same old story the citizens have been getting for years: the funds are there, everything is ready to begin your bridge, but we wait only for (fill-in-the-blank) to be (approved-cleared up-attended to-WHATEVER!).
Here on the road things are changing. Property further down from where I live, near the school, has been chopped into little lots and much building is going on. The road, which underwent great improvements last year with installation of culverts and reinforcements to get rid of the necessity to drive through lots of creeks, is now suffering from lack of funds and is in danger of collapsing at one of the culvert sites where the money ran out before the project was finished, and is almost impassible during heavy rains at other sites. I feel like I’ve done what I can, and from now on will smile and give my money each year, and let others worry about it. I still have Matilda Warthog, who can get through just about anything!
After a very difficult pregnancy Beatiz Picado (and Ronny Duarte) gave birth by C-section to Pamela de los Angeles Duarte Picado at 7 months. Since Pamela’s birth complications have arisen and she has been operated on four times in the last two weeks. Today, after the doctors said she had no chance, she rallied, and they are going to operate again. Those of you who pray, please keep her in your prayers. And those who don’t please send light and good thoughts to all the family (Beatriz, Ronny, Fabiola, Samanta, and Pamela) who have been through great worry and displacement due to B’s need to be always near a hospital. I recently found their little dog wandering skinny and homeless, full of torcelos (larvae from Bot Flies that hatch in the flesh and devour it). He’s at the vet until his infections clear up, and I’ll bring him back to my house to stay at least until I leave at the end of May.
Speaking of dogs, my ferocious cat Bravo has had to adjust to a rambunctious puppy who arrived one night badly in need of food, affection, and a flea bath. She has stayed, been spayed, named (Sadie), and drives me crazy on a daily basis by being underfoot, jumping up, gnawing on everything, and just generally being a puppy. She appears to be half hound, half German Shepherd, and is very sweet natured. Alvin Nunez, my full-time worker, will watch her when I am not here. Who will watch Bravo is more of a problem, as Ticos all seem to be either allergic to or not fond of cats. You don’t see many around, and I think they’re mostly killed by dogs, owls, or larger cats such as ocelots and pumas. Anyway, Bravo has survived thanks to his fierce nature (Sadie though young already possesses a myriad of scars on her snout!), and is also rather sweet in his own grumpy way. Find Sadie and Bravo on the blog as well.
My car problems are at least temporarily solved: today I have two clean functioning cars in the garage that Alvin just expanded. I am knocking on wood as I write this, but the problematic Geo Tracker I bought has been traded back to the dealership for a smart little two-door bright red Tracker. It needed brakes, tires and a new timing belt, but hey, it’s got personality. I’ll put pictures of Matilda Warthog and the new guy (El Bandito) on the blog too.
Our most recent activity should have happened last week: a workshop for parents about the benefits of reading to their kids. We had a professor/author lined up months in advance and he seemed keen on doing it. Then I got an email cancelling his attendance. In spite of this, a small children’s library has been started at the school and the children are checking out books to take home at night for their parents to read to them.
San Josecito had a large crop of visitors from Cape Cod recently. Tom Fettig and Kristin Knowles have their house here, and they visited with their two recently adopted children Jack and Sasha, and also brought along my friends Karyn Morris and Ken Horton. Additionally Stefanie Matfield from the Cape also visited for a week. The pristine river behind my house was a big hit. Ken has promised to return and help me work on Matilda Warthog (I was going to sell her, but we’ve had a reconciliation and we’re both working on our issues), and Karyn has offered to do one fundraiser a year for Bridges & More.
I should mention that Karyn’s offer came in the wake of my telling her that I felt Bridges & More has accomplished a lot of what it set out to do, and that I am tired and thinking about dissolving the non-profit. It’s too much for me to try to do the field work here and the corporate and fund-raising work at home. I’m getting old enough to be confused at any rate, and having business and commitments in two countries is impossibly complicated. So Karyn’s offer is much appreciated, but I’m still not decided on just what I’ll do.
Best wishes to all for a lovely spring,
Pura Vida,
Elizabeth
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