Mending - and Moving !

Thank you all for your kind comments during my sickest days.
Now that I have an ounce of energy, I am going to go ahead and move to Wordpress.
http://sporeflections.wordpress.com/

The folks who have moved there seem to like it: I too will give it a try.
I had hoped to have it all 'fabulous' and ready by now. Oh well, a work in progress it shall be.

Urs,
Urspo

Sick

I've been very sick the past 3 days; something I picked up in Costa Rica.
I feel very weak and dehydrated.
I'll get back to blogging when I feel better.
See you soon.
I hope to have changed to Wordpress by now, but this will have to wait.

Happy Blogday!

Today is my blog’s birthday. Spo-Reflections is 1 year old.




I am continually amazed at this journey. In January 2006, Michael of Temporary Trouble Spots conveyed his passion for writing on line. I like reading and writing, and his talks kindled a desire to write something as well. After a week’s hesitation, I began, not knowing what I was doing. It was one of the least thought out endeavors of my life.
For the first months no one knew about it. Michael told me that was typical, and to focus on writing for yourself, not to attract others. I took this sensible advice. I think it was in the summer I figured out how to post pictures. A few people started to leave a comment. I went to other blogs; they came to mine. To my delight people were reading me and returning to read more; to genuinely care what I was saying and doing.

In the end what I really got from this process was the introduction to a whole new type of friends. Although I have not met or spoken directly to any blogger (yet) I nevertheless count them as friends. I look forward to reading them. I am sad when they have a sorrow; I feel joy when something goes well for them.

I doubt I wrote anything of great literary worth in the past year. It has been mostly trivia and mawkish day to day thoughts. But the results of it was my ‘blogger buddies’ – 40 to 50 men and women which I would not barter for gold.

Spo-reflections evolved. Some people came, and went. I look forward to year #2
I hope it is as marvelous as the first.

Thank you dearies, for being part of my world.

If today is snorkeling it must be Wednesday.

Hohoho
Someone may become cross to have his photo posted, but I thought it a nice one. Ain't he a cutie?

I think it is Wednesday. The days all blur together, what with no newspaper/television and everyday's weather being the same.
Every morning a small troop of spider monkeys scampers around the hotel grounds, hoping to get something to eat. They love chips but nasty potato chips and Doritos are not good for them. We limit our offerings to bananas, which they love as well.

I believe Someone went to town with John, searching for a working ATM machine. We erred that we were going to rely on plastic; people want cash rather.
Doug is no doubt scrounging the countryside for critters. We haven't seen much of him since his equipment arrived.
The Other Michael has a bad back today, so I doped him up with some Motrin etc.
We wrote 20 postcards today. We'll see if they beat us home.
This afternoon we go on a cruise that includes snorkeling. I have snorkeled in many years. There will be a supper on board and a sunset into the Pacific Ocean. Oh what a life.

I hope all my blog buddies are doing OK. The connection here is spotty. So when I do 'connect' I use it to post rather than read. I hope it is not too "February" back home. Rumors are it is very cold especially in the Midwest. I wish I could send some of this heat your way.

It is the birthday of Charles Dickens: act accordingly!

Urs,
Urspo of Costa Rica.

Tuesday's Highlights

Today we six drove out of town to a canopy tour of the local jungle. Doug at Gossemer Tapestry
http://gtapestry.blogspot.com/ is sure to post better photos and more details. we hiked, and saw many butterflies, frogs, a few birds and no tarantulas.

Some of us were simply exhausted.

Afterwards, we went to the beach. The water is warm and the waves were fun to ride. We had a dissappointing pizza dinner. Tomorrow, we go on a day cruise to snorkel and see a sunset.

That's the summary of it. I am too pooped to post more!

Photo III

Someone say that this is an 'infinite' pool as it doesn't seem to have an end to it. The water sloshes over into a moat and apparently recirculates.
So far we have seen Spider Monkeys, several beautiful colourful birds, Vultures, Iguanas, Hawks, a Viper (dead), a 3 toed Sloth (not dead), and many insects. Douglas catches them in glass bottles called "Vaso Muerta". I am collecting postcards rather.

Photo II

in case we have guests, they can always stay in the hammock on outside our Room #3.
Here is Doug, our friends John and Michael, and Urs Truly, out sight-seeing.
We are looking at the volcano. Doug is looking for butterflies.

Some Photos I

This is the view of our bed and breakfast.

Look, no tarantulas!

Greetings from Central America!

Hola!
We are finally at our destination, a resort called La Plantacion AKA Big Ruby's, in Quecops Costa Rica. I am happy to see there is internet status; soon I can post some photos. Meanwhile the story so far -
Someone and I arrived in San Jose better off than Doug and the other 3. Doug is sure to talk about it in his own blog; not only was their flight completely screwed up - their luggage remains lost! Can you imagine? Day #3 still dressed in the same Midwest clothes! We all hope the luggage arrives tonight.
Yesterday we four spent an all day tour to an active volcano. It is rather stunning to watch a mountain belch red liquid/rumble and spew steam. In contrast - we watched this from a hot springs resort at the base, bathing in very hot waters heated by the volanco. What an experience to sit under a waterfall with hot water pouring on top of you.
The money is the colon; ~ 500 colones = 1 dollar. We need not have bothered to convert our cash or learn Spanish as (so far) the locals prefer dollars and want to speak English.
Today we took a puddle jumper to the Pacific coast. It is much warmer here on the coast. It is 30 degrees Celsius and the humidity is high.
I sit on a veranda overlooking a jungle. I have a hammock.
Well, I am sure to post some photos after we finally unpack. I have a week to DO NOTHING and I quite looking forward to it.
Urs,
Ur-Spo of Costa Rica
P.S. so far no tarantulas.

Hasta Luega Amigos

Well Spo-fans, I am off to Costa Rica until mid February.
A group of merry lads, headed by intrepid Scoutmaster Doug (of Gossamer Tapestry) arrives from the bleak Midwest this afternoon.
Someone and I board the same flight for a 5 hour jaunt to San Jose.

Tomorrow we have an all day excursion to see an active volcano.
On Sunday we fly to Quepos, to spend a week on the Pacific Ocean at Big Ruby’s B&B.
What an adventure.
And what a break for me. This will be the first time in 6 years I will turn off the phone/pager. I have ‘cover’ docs when I go on vacation but I carry my cell phone – and there is always a call or two from the office. On this holiday, I can let the world spin without me.

I am bringing my lab top as I hope to keep in contact and post my thoughts.
However, if internet is not available, this may be my last entry until mid February.

Please check in at Gossamer Tapestry. Doug is far more clever than I at taking and posting pictures. Being the nature expert he will tell you more about what we are doing.
I am fortunate to be traveling with him.

So, I will be thinking of you all, hoping all is well.
I will really miss checking in on you.

Be Well Enough.

I Miss Them

In the past month I have seen a half dozen of my favorite blogs decide to take a break from writing. I don’t know if this is common for blogs to open and shut or take breaks. I hope ‘taking a break’is not a euphemism for stopping forever. A few actually announced they were stopping. Maybe they will come back someday. The announced reasons are boredom or ‘lack of anything else to say’. Good enough reasons to stop writing. It is one thing to endure a boring job but a boring hobby makes no sense. I support people discarding past times that have no more joy.
Still, I hope they do not feel they were uninteresting or what they had to say was unimportant.

It makes me very sad to see folks go away. I’ve been wondering why this effects me so. I haven’t met any of the men and women of blog-land; I have never talked to them. All the same, these virtual friends are important to me. To see them depart is losing people I find special.

I guess I am being selfish. I want them back. But it is beyond my control and ultimately not my decision. I can only wish them luck and let them know I find them and their writings marvelous.

I live with hope that with waiting (and I am good at that) some of them will return, refreshed and with more to say.
Meanwhile the lighthouse is lit, to guide the ships on their paths – or to bring them some day back to harbor.