Aesthetic

Self Portrait

This screen shot of my media pics, at a glance, are the most representative of my life at this moment.

I am taken back again. Over and over. Never disappointed at the changes in our lives; our world.

I came to Costa Rica to be an aesthetic and live with the Indians. That happened and it didn’t happen.

God gives and God takes away…I am not God.

I have a brain. I will assume that you have one as well. Artificial Intelligence is bizarre to say the least. No vision, no artistry, no spiritual connection.

Artificial

Burglars, Racism and WTF is Ornithology

As Talwan rants on his dead stacks, I am in the jungle experiencing life. I guess Tal uses 5 syllable words to impress students. Yeah he knows what a verb is. Good Lord. The pendulum swings. The dog barks. The cock crows. The monkeys howls. And in the meantime, apartheid raises its ugly head.

As I passed the pool, young kids were taking their diving instruction. I thought, is there some way to correct this problem? I paid for a Nicaraguan youth to have diving lessons with this group. The South African leader shuffled him into Cepia. I lost my 300 dollars. Would he have done that to a white child here. What! No Way! But a Nicaraguan is viewed as less than. Someone to be a mule. Carry a load.

It’s difficult to go up against. It can be strenuous and energy depleting work. But it’s also its own reward.

I did what I could. I let it go. I place it in the hands of the historians.

I am from Jacksonville FL. A place known for its mean and racial attitude. Past and present. But I don’t mind what anyone says. It is better now.

Yes, it was a conundrum. A terrible, horrible, vile existence in the south. But not all white people were bad and all black people lovely minstrels.

How’s that for a vocabulary. Nouns, verbs, predicates. Mercy me. I think I’ll write a song.

Burglars – people have been stealing since the beginning. We have break-ins here in Costa Rica all of the time. But somehow it’s suppose to be different here. Come to think of it. It is different here.

Pura vida.

Be a beautiful bird watcher.

As you soak in the beautiful colors. The vultures are behind you, sucking up your sh*t, amigo.

Pura vida.

The words are the same. The meaning different.

Costa Rica Life: Confronting a Burglar Without Borders

I opened my eyes to an unreal and dreaded scene. My mind was saying no, this is not happening. It is happening. Damn it – this is real. My husband was halfway across the room, machete in hand. My dog was perched at my feet, muscles pumped and barking ferociously.

A drug addicted young man, probably illegal, had opened our door and was coming into our house. A crime of opportunity. The door had been left unlocked.

He ran. But he didn’t get far.

Living in Costa Rica is a game of life. A gamble. Different. Either you can adapt or you can’t. Either you live scared or you don’t.

We’re fortunate he didn’t have a gun. He was a desperate, high, kid – someone that three weeks ago, my husband had bought food for. He had been in front of the grocery store; begging. And now he was helping himself to our space. Our home.

Since this “shitty blog” is my journal, I feel the need to document. I also feel the need to write more. But I also have to clean my burlap ceiling.

Come on down to Costa Rica….catch a fish…catch a burglar.

The boat could sink – you could get hurt.

I have to go. I have to clean my ceiling.

Creating a Fairy Tale Home: Embracing Innovation and Independence

We are working to make our home, a home again. Years ago we purchased this corner lot. It was God given. We shared it with another family, but now we are on our own. I am becoming innovative.

I always work to make my places look Fairy Tale. Who needs other’s reality when I can create my own.

I live on the edge of Mordor.

I am surrounded by traveling leprechauns and immigrant ghosts.

Together we live our best lives.

Where am I?

I lean my head back to view my burlap ceiling. Stapled and framed in blonde wood. Another artistic flair. Something different.

Just ask me about different. It has been the theme of my life.

I sent my, Who Am I post, to Sassy Silver Surfers. An over fifty ladies group, of women who surf.

Continue reading Where am I?

Authenticity in an Artificial World

I would like to write a normal post. But I don’t believe there is any such thing anymore. Why are my photos tagged screenshot?

I just had to delete a list of freeloaders on my widgets ( the directional columns on the left), I don’t know these people. I don’t want to know them. I don’t want to be a springboard for other people’s scams and marketing tactics. I pay for this blog. I pay for it to be free of advertisements.

In the beginning, I wrote about being free of alcohol and I was loaded down with Vodka ads. I couldn’t have that.

I have never participated on this site to try and make money. And I darn sure don’t need a machine to do my writing for me. I don’t need a machine to create art or to play music. Sorry y’all but I am bored to tears when you are on stage musically masturbating with your gadgets. And then it all sounds the same. Every song. No soul.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE is taking over.

Many have jumped on board. The blog posts are often appalling.

Continue reading Authenticity in an Artificial World

Violent Peace

Daily writing prompt
What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?

Through the years having miles of conversations concerning peace and violence, people would always bring up Ghandi. I would have to inform them he did not win India through 100% peace. He was told to give up or the British were going to slaughter a community and that they did. When this massacre became public things changed. What is wrong with people? What is the inhumane nature of humanity about? It cannot be ignored. We all must choose our paths daily. I do. It’s been a long walk.

Billy Jack, Walking Tall and My Name is Nobody are movies I frequented in my youth. Just to be asked this question has flooded my mind with childhood/teenage memories.

At one time, I knew the entire script of Billy Jack. I was enamored with the idea of pacifism. – I was expressing peace daily. Expounding on the concept of peace. As I pontificated on peace one day, my brother grabbed me and beat me up. He said that was to assure me; I was not a pacifist. I do not speak to my brother anymore. It took many years to break that familial tie, but I finally did it. I was also a runaway. I related to the kids, in Jane’s camp. There was such an underground world of care back at that time. I do not regret any of my adventures. Except for maybe not being able to make it on my own, and having to come home. I hope to enroll at the Universidad de Paz in Costa Rica, this August. I am and always have been in pursuit of peace.

Bufford Pusser in Walking Tall had similar characteristics as Billy Jack. Billy Jack was an avenger. So was Bufford. He stood up for the disadvantaged. He took names and he kicked ass. One low life m-fer at a time. Greed and corruption had taken over his Tennessee home town, whilst he was away prize fighting. When he came home, he didn’t recognize his neighborhood. Gambling and prostitution had taken over. He became the local sheriff/peacemaker. Bufford walked with a big stick and beat the hell out of the low crawling, scumbag, vermin that had infested his peaceful hill. The tragic thing was the bad guys in an attempt to assassinate Bufford, with a long range rifle, killed his wife. And they will die and go to hell for that. Walking Tall was based on a true story.

My Name is Nobody started out with a guy, in a mountain stream, catching fish with his hands. Then he was in a saloon. He drew six guns and slapped a guy in the face, faster than lightening. Pow, pow, pow! Nobody was “an out of touch with reality” character. It was a spaghetti western/comedy. I was in the eleventh grade and I would drive myself and my sister to the theatre. We would laugh hysterically. I wanted be like Nobody. Sling and slap. M-fer, you are going down. I despise the dog pile of life. And I don’t like being at the bottom. I have had to scrap and scrape in my life. These movies were cathartic for me. – Henry Fonda who played in this movie was asked, who is faster than the fastest gunslinger in town and his reply was “Nobody.” Hence, Nobody showed up to save the day.

I watched those movies fifty and over years ago. I am going to watch them again. If my information concerning these movies is incorrect, get over it. I don’t want to fight about it. Look them up and read about them. Watch them. They are great movies. I wrote this from memory. And what a special memory this has been.

It’s funny – I checked AI for feedback on my writing. I have to laugh. — Beware of the new corruption. There is zero way to fight back.

Get an Education

Daily writing prompt
What advice would you give to your teenage self?

I would advise my younger self to go to college. I would tell her that all the hell of her life will fall away on the green. She will finally be home, in academia. College is not like high school. Your life will take root and you will bloom.

Believe in yourself. Trust me. I know.

The Highly Unusual

Daily writing prompt
Who are your favorite people to be around?

Characters in Carl Hiaasen novels. All of them. Miscreants and law abiding. Rich and poor. They are all in Florida and like people I have known in my life. But these folk are in the book and removed from reality. My preferred habitation.

* this photo is one I posted in my instagram @everydaypaparraza – yes that is Flea. Bass player for Red Hot Chili Peppers and my friend Ellen Zoe Golden. Miami journalist turned New York publicist.