We have heard Armando whistling and Gloria answers back. It appears that she is across the little bay and has been spotted by the locals. We are not inclined to go and get her. She and Armando were having problems and perhaps a cooling off period is in order. Inez and I agree that, Amor es "dificil" (love is difficult).
So we know that Gloria is alive and well. We shall see if she decides to come back and back a go of it with Armando.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Suspected FOWL Play!
Tragedy has struck Armando and Gloria....When I arrived for morning coffee today Gloria was MISSING! I must say that Armando was a very cool cucumber about the whole thing. There is much searching going on and several theories are being proposed.
That Little Green Heron certainly looked happy about the disappearance of Gloria. It was standing rather close this morning, with I do believe a sly grin on it's beak. The Grackles were no where to be found, perhaps they feel that they should stay as far away from the scene of the crime as possible as they are not well liked.
Edgar has not shown his face around either come to think of it. There are no tell-tell feathers or any signs of violence.
Did she just swim away? Did she walk back to her owners? Was she stolen? Did Armando run her off? Did she become dinner with a lovely orange sauce? We don't know and Armando isn't talking.
That Little Green Heron certainly looked happy about the disappearance of Gloria. It was standing rather close this morning, with I do believe a sly grin on it's beak. The Grackles were no where to be found, perhaps they feel that they should stay as far away from the scene of the crime as possible as they are not well liked.Edgar has not shown his face around either come to think of it. There are no tell-tell feathers or any signs of violence.
Did she just swim away? Did she walk back to her owners? Was she stolen? Did Armando run her off? Did she become dinner with a lovely orange sauce? We don't know and Armando isn't talking.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
LOVE is in the Air
Sometimes we humans just can't leave things alone. Armando our little black bellied whistling duck was lonely. We all knew he was lonely. We talked about it constantly in the restaurant. I know get a life! Anyway, Armando had his little green heron that was his friend and even Edgar the Egret was coming around. Edgar especially started coming around when Trish inadvertantly fed Edgar the remains of her pancakes.
There has been talk from day one that we should get a mate for Armando. We heard of a fellow in the village that had some ducks but he was unwilling to sell at any price. So we kept asking around and last week two youngsters showed up with duck in hand. After much debate about the sex of the new duck it was decided that it was a female. Enter Gloria.
Statistically arranged marriages last longer than the "we fell in love/lust marriages. " So we thought we were doing a good thing. Gloria is not the brightest bulb. She immediately started chasing poor Armando and talked incessantly. He finally jumped into the water to get away from Gloria. She followed...whistling all the while. Carmen, Inez and Fito assure me that even though Armando appears not to like Gloria and pecks her on the chest in a not to friendly manner that given time he will come around. Just like we humans according to Inez.
They do appear to be getting on better now. I must report though that the little green heron is distraught. He now sits on the bow pulpit of MiraMar and watches Gloria and Armando. He has lost his friend. I don't think that Gloria likes him much. May-be she is jealous of that previous relationship. How could he think it would last...they all be fowl but there are differences.
I wonder if Gloria and Armando will mate? Stay tuned!
There has been talk from day one that we should get a mate for Armando. We heard of a fellow in the village that had some ducks but he was unwilling to sell at any price. So we kept asking around and last week two youngsters showed up with duck in hand. After much debate about the sex of the new duck it was decided that it was a female. Enter Gloria.
Statistically arranged marriages last longer than the "we fell in love/lust marriages. " So we thought we were doing a good thing. Gloria is not the brightest bulb. She immediately started chasing poor Armando and talked incessantly. He finally jumped into the water to get away from Gloria. She followed...whistling all the while. Carmen, Inez and Fito assure me that even though Armando appears not to like Gloria and pecks her on the chest in a not to friendly manner that given time he will come around. Just like we humans according to Inez.They do appear to be getting on better now. I must report though that the little green heron is distraught. He now sits on the bow pulpit of MiraMar and watches Gloria and Armando. He has lost his friend. I don't think that Gloria likes him much. May-be she is jealous of that previous relationship. How could he think it would last...they all be fowl but there are differences.
I wonder if Gloria and Armando will mate? Stay tuned!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Eco Rio Benefit
Before I begin let me just get this fact out in the open. YES, I AM WORKING FOR JIM!
So my first big challenge was when Jim came to me and said, "I have been approached about doing a benefit for Eco Rio. They are a watch dog organization here on the river and help with our recent security issues. Oh, and you have 5 weeks to pull something together!"
Because I just love a challenge and can be pretty focused when needed I accepted his challenge. Between Jim, Marco, the Board of Eco Rio and the absolutely fantastic staff here at Mario's Marina we pulled off a Silent Auction, Buffet, Live Music by the Sweet River Band, for 140 people! What a smashing success!
The Band was as HOT as it ever has been. The staff had a perfectly planned meal for 60-80 and when that number jumped exponentially they pulled out all the stops and kept on cooking. Trish jumped in behind the bar and then washed plates and silverware faster then I have ever seen it done. Mike and Judy off of SV Por Fin helped on two fronts, serving food and working the auction tables. I must also thank Michael and Cynthia for running the front gate and selling the Benefit T-shirts. Jim kept the evening going with Door Prize drawings and the occasional song. Marco proved that he has additional talents as well. Marco was in the kitchen cooking! I hope someone tells Mirna about this secret talent.
If you are interested in all the news articles please go to Rio Dulce Chisme
So when people may tell me "good job", I must tell them it wasn't me. It was all the wonderful people who stepped up to the plate. (I am very good at getting others to pitch it.) Thanks everyone YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB!
So my first big challenge was when Jim came to me and said, "I have been approached about doing a benefit for Eco Rio. They are a watch dog organization here on the river and help with our recent security issues. Oh, and you have 5 weeks to pull something together!"
Because I just love a challenge and can be pretty focused when needed I accepted his challenge. Between Jim, Marco, the Board of Eco Rio and the absolutely fantastic staff here at Mario's Marina we pulled off a Silent Auction, Buffet, Live Music by the Sweet River Band, for 140 people! What a smashing success!
The Band was as HOT as it ever has been. The staff had a perfectly planned meal for 60-80 and when that number jumped exponentially they pulled out all the stops and kept on cooking. Trish jumped in behind the bar and then washed plates and silverware faster then I have ever seen it done. Mike and Judy off of SV Por Fin helped on two fronts, serving food and working the auction tables. I must also thank Michael and Cynthia for running the front gate and selling the Benefit T-shirts. Jim kept the evening going with Door Prize drawings and the occasional song. Marco proved that he has additional talents as well. Marco was in the kitchen cooking! I hope someone tells Mirna about this secret talent.If you are interested in all the news articles please go to Rio Dulce Chisme
So when people may tell me "good job", I must tell them it wasn't me. It was all the wonderful people who stepped up to the plate. (I am very good at getting others to pitch it.) Thanks everyone YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Internet
Thus began the search for a different source for internet. Most of us who have been on the river for more than one season have what we all call disposible phones. They are pay as you go and you can get plain or fancy. Having a phone has allowed us to forward our Skype account to our Guatemalan phone and get cheap calls to and from the States and Europe. We love it. Now Mobile Internet has come to Tigo, which is our provider. I love it. The unit wasn't that expensive. You got one free month. It costs about $30 a month to have unlimited service. This means that we can still get new music for our ipods, download movies and surf the net to our hearts content.
Here are some interesting facts about Tigo.
TIGO Guatemala is the biggest subsidiary of TIGO in Central America with a base of more than 4 million subscribers
Here in Guatemala it has for competitors being one of the most competitive markets it competes against:
On August 29, 2008 TIGO launched their 3.5G data network operating on the HSDPA 850 MHz band, and is currently the only 3.5G network in Guatemala, as well as the one with least speed caps (a cap of 3.6Mbit/s has been set) while other networks (such as Claro) cap their network at around 1.5Mbit/s.
Wasn't that insightful? My point????? Because of Tigo I can Blog as much as I want. Lucky you.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Birds of a Feather...
Living in a marina really is like living in a floating trailer park. Some have single wides, some double wides and some have those new fangled modular things. In any event we all live in each other's pockets like it or not. We do tend to gather in like groups. There is the morning coffee crowd. The usual suspects start arriving between 0530 and 0600. The TV comes on and either its the History Channel or Discover Channel, but mostly it is CNN International.
Stragglers come in slowly and "Good Mornings" are exchanges. Conversations change like the direction of the wind. Sometimes it is mindless and sometimes it is heated and sometimes it is thought provoking. One thing you can always count on is a good belly laugh some time in the morning. Breakfast is shared and coffee drank and then slowly we all head back to our boats and our chores.
The lunch crowd is thin right now. Many days of late it has only been Dragonheart. As many old timers return I think it will increase. Who knows. On occasion a Mah Jongg game starts exactly at 1300 hours. Please don't be late you know how long those games can be. Or may-be it is a Poker Game or Mexican Train.
Happy Hour starts at 1600 hours. Some come up and take a drink or two up to pool area and watch the game or a game show or a movie. The club crowd starts to gather closer to 1700 hours these days and you can find several playing a new dice game called "Farkle". It is mindless and purely luck, but it is a reason to get off the boat and stop what ever you were doing down below. Some time around 1800 hours the conversation turns to dinner. Those that are inclined to cook head back to their boats, some with drinks and others with a salad to go in a box. The rest order the special of the day or their personal favorite.
If it is Wednesday night you can count on a movie. We don't always agree on what or if we liked it, but it is there if you want it. Friday nights you can count on the Sweet River Band or Cayuco Club Karaoke. You tend to see the same people at their respective events.
All in all we like to be with people who like the same things we do and like to do the same things we do. No matter what you can always talk about anchors, sails, navigation, the latest stupid thing you did, exchange waypoints and charts or just shoot the shit about sailing.
So we tend to be Birds of a Feather that Flock Together. NOT SO our Black bellied Whistling Duck, Armando. Armando is confused. First off he lost his mate. These birds like swans mate for life. Secondly he has had his wings clipped and can not fly away to even try and find his own kind. The staff have adopted him and feed him and I must admit that we all watch him and are greatly amused by him and his antics. There is a large black Grackle that likes to torment Armando. The Grackle flies in and steals food and likes to hit Armando in the chest with his beak. Armando being young at first put up with the bully. But much to our surprise a small Green Heron has taken to protecting Armando from the Grackle. The local name for the Green Heron is a Maria Antoinette. So Armando and the little Maria Antoinette are amigos!
It appears that even birds of a different feather can learn to flock together.
Stragglers come in slowly and "Good Mornings" are exchanges. Conversations change like the direction of the wind. Sometimes it is mindless and sometimes it is heated and sometimes it is thought provoking. One thing you can always count on is a good belly laugh some time in the morning. Breakfast is shared and coffee drank and then slowly we all head back to our boats and our chores.
The lunch crowd is thin right now. Many days of late it has only been Dragonheart. As many old timers return I think it will increase. Who knows. On occasion a Mah Jongg game starts exactly at 1300 hours. Please don't be late you know how long those games can be. Or may-be it is a Poker Game or Mexican Train.
Happy Hour starts at 1600 hours. Some come up and take a drink or two up to pool area and watch the game or a game show or a movie. The club crowd starts to gather closer to 1700 hours these days and you can find several playing a new dice game called "Farkle". It is mindless and purely luck, but it is a reason to get off the boat and stop what ever you were doing down below. Some time around 1800 hours the conversation turns to dinner. Those that are inclined to cook head back to their boats, some with drinks and others with a salad to go in a box. The rest order the special of the day or their personal favorite.
If it is Wednesday night you can count on a movie. We don't always agree on what or if we liked it, but it is there if you want it. Friday nights you can count on the Sweet River Band or Cayuco Club Karaoke. You tend to see the same people at their respective events.
All in all we like to be with people who like the same things we do and like to do the same things we do. No matter what you can always talk about anchors, sails, navigation, the latest stupid thing you did, exchange waypoints and charts or just shoot the shit about sailing.
So we tend to be Birds of a Feather that Flock Together. NOT SO our Black bellied Whistling Duck, Armando. Armando is confused. First off he lost his mate. These birds like swans mate for life. Secondly he has had his wings clipped and can not fly away to even try and find his own kind. The staff have adopted him and feed him and I must admit that we all watch him and are greatly amused by him and his antics. There is a large black Grackle that likes to torment Armando. The Grackle flies in and steals food and likes to hit Armando in the chest with his beak. Armando being young at first put up with the bully. But much to our surprise a small Green Heron has taken to protecting Armando from the Grackle. The local name for the Green Heron is a Maria Antoinette. So Armando and the little Maria Antoinette are amigos!
It appears that even birds of a different feather can learn to flock together.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Day Sailing in Guatemala
Well I finally did it. Bought a little day sailor for the river. Trish and I took her out for her maiden voyage off Mario's Marina. It certainly was a fun time and reminded me how much I enjoy the sheer joy of having the wind move you across the water.
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