EARTHQUAKES

Man oh man do I hate earthquakes! The first earthquake I had the privilege of being part of was when I was a kid in California, of course. It was early in the morning and I thought my older brother was shaking my bed. I woke up and looked around the bed and figured out it was not him. Then I heard talking and headed into the hall, where my mom was telling us to stand in the doorways. I was pretty scared.

We have had a few small tremors since moving to Costa Rica, but the biggie came in January. Me and the girls were laying in my bed talking and the girlies were running around playing. Suddenly everything was rocking and rolling and I freaked out. I was unfortunately not calm and yelled at everyone to get in the doorways. We did have a quick moment of worry for Jeo who was working out on the front porch.

Hubby was at the airport and said everyone freaked out around him. He had just been told his flight did not have room for him and if he had been thinking quickly he would have told them, "that is what happens when you don't get me on my flight". But instead he just stood and watched everyone running around the airport screaming.

So when I see all the earthquakes going around us I feel for these people. How scary to be not only part of a earthquake, but then on top of it you have the tsunami that follows. I have had a prayer in my heart all day for the people of Samoa as well as Indonesia. What a horrible time for these people.

Our power went out for a short time tonight and I realized that we are the most unprepared Mormons I know! I mean I could not even find a candle. I have been part of these earthquakes and still I am not prepared for anything. Something to work on along with my garden!

BABIES AND PARTIES

I have realized that one of the main things I miss about no more babies, is no more baby showers! I remember with fondness the cute table settings, placement card holders and the great gifts for the party goers. My last baby shower was a doozy! My friend had it for me and there were the cutest baby shower favors as well as tons of pink clothes.

My friends had gone all out because we all knew I was not having any more children and had barely survived this one. Everyone had asked me what I needed and I told them all "pink clothes". I had been the lucky recipient of three boys in a row and was very excited to finally get a baby girl.

The fanciest baby shower I ever went to was one thrown by a friend in Flagstaff. She went all out, and I mean all out. She had cooked for days and had a huge spread of food. The games were a hoot. My favorite was one me and my daughter won. You had to cut a string the length of the mommys belly. It was so fun to see how short and how long some people cut it.

Here in Costa Rica we are always searching for an excuse for a party. I have been thinking about a party for my daughter once she is pg. The only problem I am having is, is it appropriate to have a baby shower for a surrogate mom? I mean we could all bring gifts for the mommy, as the baby will be going to Europe to be born and live. I have seen on one web site lots of gifts for moms, like pedicure sets and pretty pajamas and etc. I guess I will have to check on a miss manners site to see if it is kosher.

GARDEN TIME

Today I decided it was time to put in a garden. We had a little plot, but I decided to turn the rest of the backyard into a garden. It is not a very big backyard and I have lots of food I want to try and grow here in Costa Rica and see how it does.

I believe the biggest problem will come in the form of crawly things. The bugs will surely give me a run for my money, as the cutter ants have already proven. They can clean out a whole plant in one day, or night.

I am planning on tomatoes, squash, onions, garlic, peppers, and potatoes. Of course I also have to plant some watermelons and strawberries for the baby. That should about fill up the whole backyard, we will see.

Another problem here is the birds. Even though we have a closed in backyard the birdies fly in through the rails and will demolish any seedlings. I am thinking about using mosquito nets to cover the baby plants to protect them from the birds, I will see about that also.

All in all we will have to see how gardening in Costa Rica goes.

BROWN AND STRINGY

There is a "Peanuts" episode where someone calls Snoopy "fuzzy face". He goes around all day trying to figure out why someone would call him that and what they meant. I know I should not, but I am doing the same thing.

Talking to my Mother, who can throw around terms faster than you can turn your head. She is telling me that she showed my pics from Facebook to my aunt. She said my aunt did not believe it was me. Just could not believe that was Robbie.

My mother responded in classic mom style, "she has just never seen you looking so brown and stringy". Now I am going around shaking my head and figure out what someone means when they call you "brown and stringy". Somehow I don't think it is a good thing, and I should just not even try and figure out what it means because it is not good, of that much I am sure.

COSTA RICA RAINS

Yeah it finally started raining again. We were getting so worried. The guy at the fruit stand told hubby that they were looking at drought because of the lack of rain. The food is always going up at an alarming rate. Like I have said prices have doubled since we moved here three years ago.

There are more than drought problems with no rain. There is the problem of no electricity. Once we get to the end of dry season, around March or April we will start having rolling blackouts. If we watched the news we would know when they are coming, but we always miss the memo and get caught unawares.

One night baby and I were walking home in our old, rather scary neighborhood and all the sudden solid dark. I mean think about it, power out in the whole country! I just grabbed her hand and stood still for a minute to let my eyes adjust. Suddenly right in my ear I heard someone say "buenos noches mi amor". I immediately jumped out in front of a taxi and got in. There was even someone in it, but the driver let us in.
Scary.

This year our Spanish will be better, we will have plenty of flashlights, and we will be ready!!!