In a better place

I am in a happier place than I was two weeks ago.  I've lost stamina due to the infection that I had.  Fitness day at the dojang was a joke.  The two family dinners have come and gone.  I WILL have to work the branch store, but since it is a fait acompli will move on.  I invited my friend, who I have known for 30 years, to lunch.  It was very pleasant.  She focuses  on whether or not she is going to get a third soda from the waitress, walking with her cane, and chips and soda from the grocery store.  She does not care to listen to my problems.  However, she certainly does not gossip, nor does she demean.   As a matter of fact, I overheard her tell a staff member at the club, that I "am so sweet!"  It was a sunshiny, coolish day... a perfect day to enjoy the company of a woman who I think of as a little sister.  Advent begins on Sunday.  I needed new pink and purple candles, but the store did not have them, so ended up with 3 burgundy and 1 white.  Guadate Sunday will be white this year!  Why not, really?  Am doing flea eliminations.  Buddha, the cat, came in with fleas and transferred them to brothers and sisters.  So off to the store to buy flea drops, flea comp and flea shampoo.  I vacuum the carpet and upholstery, upstair and downstair every day.  When I comb out Buddha, I wear my winter jacket and one glove, so that when he gets angry and swipes, he will not draw blood.  Spoke with hubby's cardiologist and am not overly worried about the small vessel spasms.  Exercise should help new vessels to grow. 

Uplifting

I returned from Church today, and my husband was listening to the evangelist Joel Osteen.  It was providential, because his subject today was "thinking positively about oneself.'' No more, "I'm too fat!  I'm not pretty!  I'm disorganized!"  How appropriate for me today.  Someone I loved demeaned me for days.  The same person gossips with my hairdresser about me.  A family member called me "bitter" and a friend commented that my writing "seems unfinished."  But Joel told a story about a student who was told to set his sights low as he didn't have much intelligence.  And so the man did, working at the same factory job for many years.  Eventually, the company closed and he moved on to apply at a new company.  As part of the hiring process, the employee had to take an IQ test.  He scored highest of anyone in the factory's 63 history!  So this man started his own company and went on to patent two devices.   Now my boss has affirmed me in every way, "You can do anything you set your mind to!"  So, tho, the past couple weeks have been bruising and derimental, I will put them behind me and carry on.

Thinking

Difficult work, getting my head in order.  Last night, my husband and I watched the movie "Twelve Wishes."  As a result of the wishes, a woman's life turned upside down.  In the end she discovered that by thinking about other people, she received everything she wanted and needed.  Perhaps it is good advice, because it forces one to think of other things besides oneself.  Too much introverted thinking can cause my head to hurt.  I realized also that I have not been getting any exercise.  Need to get those endomorphins hopping to offset the gloomy, grey weather.

Removing myself from negativity

I am trying to figure out my options.  At least Thanksgiving dinnner for my husband's side of the family is behind me  now.  The event was "meals on wheels" as we transported turkey and trimmings to my nephew's house.  Very strange working in a foreign kitchen. However we had enough food for 24 people and to date, no one has had the deathly illness that felled ten of us last year.  I have to work at the branch store.  I was not invited to contribute my thoughts to the store set up.  The owner called me into the office remarking that my coworker is the manager and that I am the "consultant."  I dislike the long hours and the conflict between yoga, hapkido and work.  Bossiness and negativity bruises me and  herein lies the biggest problem.  Am thinking of removing myself from the source of bossiness and negativity.  I have thought for a second about Christmas.  Will start with a list and progress from there.

My Head

Ideas are swirling round and round
Need to get my feet back on the ground.
It doesn't help that I've been ill
And had to take an antibiotic pill.
Life's too short to put up with folk
Who think of me as a joke.
Folks who control, reprimand and boss
To associate with them is MY loss.
I should tell them how I feel
And achieve an even keel.
Work too is up in the air
I really don't want to work there
In the outpost far away
And spend many a day.
Don't want to put up with criticism any more
Anxious to try yoga where the score
Is encouragement and praise and benefit.
My dad is not feeling well
A diagnosis will tell
If it is something serious.
Hubby too is having pain
After hospital stay and appointments again.
But getting back to the beginning of this rant
To associate with people who stress me, I can't.

Costa Rica! Me gusta mucho!

 I returned early Tuesday am from my Costa Rican adventure!  Nine days in the beautiful country of cloud forests, volcanoes, coffee plantations, churches, jungles and wonderful, helpful people!  I landed at Juan Santamaria airport in San Jose, a modern airport.  From there, I took a taxi ride to San Rafael de Heredia where my villa was located.  A quick tour of
San Rafael and then dinner at El Barco de los Mariscos.   I enjoyed the delicately blended flavors of sopa de mariscos and cinamaron con arroz.  On Monday, we took the bus to Santa Barbara and then a taxi to Finca Rosa Blanca, a cofee plantation.  I tromped through the coffee, wild iris, and banana trees and learned about the making of coffee.  Then back to the Finca to taste test coffee.  The next day, we took a taxi to the Museo de Cultura Popular and toured the home and gardens of a former president.  Wednesday, we drove to Cartago to see the beautiful iglesia and tour the Lenkester gardens.  Very peaceful in the jardines of bromelias and Japanese garden.  Thursday...a drive up the mountain, through the cloud forest to Volcan Arenal.  We stopped to dine at Los Lagos and I bought a richly colored painting of a bespectacled owl.  Driving to the volcano, we climbed to the scenic lookout, but it was raining, so we couldn't see much.  My daughter and I climbed the lava trail and were rewarded at the top with a panoramic view.  Monkeys were next on our list, so we drove to Manuel Antonio National Park where I dipped my feet in the Pacific Ocean underneath the starlit sky.  We spent the night at the International Backpackers Hostel.  At 5:30am, the dawn became alive with the sound of howler monkeys and jungle birds.  In the park, we watched curiously as monkeys leaped and played in the trees.  Sunday I attended Mass at Iglesia San Rafael and walked through the outdoor market.  We took the bus to Heredia where I shopped and purchased some items.   Home now, but I will always remember this wonderful exciting country!

Costa Rica! Starting at bottom...view from Finca Rosa Blanca coffee plantation, San Rafael de Heredia, Lenkester Garden Cartago, On the way to Manuel Antonio National Park