Ok, I’m here.

I’m now back where I started a little under a year ago, and it’s like I never left. Same staff at the front desk, same room, same heat and situation, but let me back up and tell it from the beginning.

I started last week leaving Edmonton to Toronto via Air Canada. After the fiasco the day before, it continued to a subdued extent that day. The plane was late boarding, and then they said they had a mechanical issue. They needed to change the compass, of all things, so they gutted another plane and we were in the air a good hour and a half late. I just about missed the plane as I decided to go get something to eat, and while I was eating, they fixed it faster than they expected. Apparently they were paging me over the intercom but it is heard everywhere but the restaurants. As I was meandering back to the gate, a guy approached me and asked if I was who they were looking for, and looked very relieved when I said yes. The entire plane was waiting for little ole’ me. I shamefully took my seat, and waited another ten minutes before we moved.

By this time I had made calls and said I was going to be arriving around midnight in Toronto and of course we arrived early. So after I grabbed my bag, thinking how smart I was to have packed so lightly, I left the claim area and found no one waiting for me.

That was when I realised that I had no number to call, and no address for a cab. I guess I should have looked at the time, but I assumed that they had left already after getting tired of waiting, and I proceeded to do what I could to make my way there. After a series of expensive phone calls, I called good old Mom for their number, and she told me that they were on their way and that that was why they didn’t answer at the correct number directory assistance had given me.

My head hit the pillow again around 2 AM my time.

My visit was good, useful discussion was had, and the day in between flights was pleasant and uneventful.

Toronto to Newark was a little interesting as that was the first time I had taken a prop airplane by Continental. A short flight, a quick layover, and onto a bigger plane bound for Panama. Let me say that I’m glad my time in the states was short. Even minimal exposure to their culture is annoying.

The flight to Panama had me completely surrounded by Spanish people, and it was like I was already there. It was a choppy flight many times, and the pilot tried several different altitudes to remedy the situation, including dropping several thousand feet in less than 5 minutes. He must have been annoyed with it, but during that five minutes, the plane sounded like what a plane crash sounds like before it happens on TV.

We arrived in Panama a little early, being happy I knew my way and not to dawdle, I got through customs quickly, grabbed a cab into town, a room at the Hotel Latino, and after I awoke the next morning and had some breakfast, I grabbed a cab to the bus terminal.

I have to say, the bus ride from Panama to David is, and always has been, the most annoying part of the journey. I will be happy when they finally expand the airport in David to handle 737’s. I took Padafront for the first time, and will now remind myself to take the other buses. They are just better.

I have come to Panama this time to deal with my car. Basically to drive it back home as I had decided that it just wasn’t the right tool for the job down here, and in the back of my mind was considering pulling the pin on any plans to have something in Central America. I have put so much work into that car that to just sell it would be an immeasurable loss. As I watched the scenery out the window of the bus, I found myself falling in love with the place all over again, and it saddened me, feeling a mixture of failure and loss of a desired future at the same time.

I arrived in David around 8 PM and got a cab here, the Pension Costa Rica, got one of their better rooms, and smoked my first cigar in months. I guess I’m glad I only got the two of them as I don’t really want to start the habit again, but I enjoyed it just the same.

Not much has changed in David since I was here last. A few new buildings, a new casino, and a sprinkling of other small changes, but for the most part, everything is still where I left it. I had dinner at my favourite little spot (fried chicken, rice, and beans) for $1.50, and breakfast before going to get my car was $1.15 for scrambled eggs and ohaldra (fried bread).

Magda, bless her heart, gave me a ride all the way out to my car, which she didn’t have to do. I said I would take the bus from the corner, but wasn’t going to argue when she took the turn instead. I can honestly say I have at least found one good person in Panama.

Oh my poor car. Nobody cares about it like I do. I knew it was parked unprotected, but I didn’t realise it was put in a spot that got the sun the entire day. The tarp was torn as the sun had disintegrated it, my battery was dead because nobody started it, my stereo face-plate is missing so no music for me, and water had gotten into the trunk and soaked most everything. Fifty CD’s mouldy and rotten in the nice little box I had made for it. My Spanish/English dictionary had a nice green mould, there was a fucking cockroach under my cleaned, folded, seat cover blankets, standing water down one quarter panel, and well… it was just a mess. At least all my papers for the car were merely damp, but otherwise protected in a plastic container.

It will take some time to clean this mess and it can all be blamed on Ken, who, without his insistence on being able to drive my car around without a license and uninsured, my car would still be at his place parked in a car port with none of these problems. Time will dish out the meal he deserves, and from what I hear through the grapevine, he is only digging himself in deeper. I guess I should just be glad to be out from under his black cloud of bad karma.

I let it warm up and charge the battery for a while just to see if anything happened, and nothing did… at first. But as I was driving away up the hill towards Dave’s place, the Alt light came on. Now what?? Fine, I can make it to Dave’s and look at it there. A little later, the Temp light came on. Fuk. Well, that would explain the smell of burning rubber. The fan belt had gone.

So, there I was, engine shut off, slowing to a stop, and not a single tree in sight for shade. I spotted just ONE a little farther up ahead and decided to risk it by starting her up again enough to get myself underneath it. Pop the hood, and sure enough, no fan belt. The one that busted drove both the water pump and the alternator.

Because it had been sitting for so long without being started, the pulleys had rusted where they were worn smooth and shiny. Now, they were rough and scaly and they chewed through that old belt in no time. I’m so glad I had about ten spare belts in the car, a tool set, and shade – o blessed shade – to do the repair.

On to Dave’s. His place has gone through some major changes. He just took delivery of a 40′ container which he plans on making into a low rental house. I think he’s crazy, but kept it to myself. He has about 25 pigs, the same amount of lamb, a turkey, and fields of a certain type of cane that they love to eat. The smell isn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be, and during my little visit we had to chase 4 pigs that had escaped their electric enclosure. I never thought I would be doing that!! It was actually fun and took my mind off of things for a while. I left my car stands and jack at Dave’s place saying that if I ever had a place of my own I’d be back to claim them. As far as I am concerned, they are his now.

The moon is full and my thoughts turned to gold as it is usually stupid around this time. A visit to the internet cafe and I rest assured that for now I will just not try to play this market at all. It suks because I sure could use some money flowing in for a change.

I am sitting on the fence about whether to drive my car back now or to store it with a friend who will do so for $25/month. From the sounds of it, it still won’t be covered, so I don’t know…. decisions… It is just about the last thing I expected when I came down here. I have been all set in my mind to pull the pin in Panama. Now, all is in chaos. I should be used to this by now.

On the one hand, it would sure be easier to store it for some time and return when things are better for me. On the other hand, the gas price and conditions are very good right now to make the drive back before things get worse. I would much prefer to do this after news has been released from my company.

The morning will help me decide.

Tomorrow, I have to deal with the leaky tire I have on the car. It is becoming an absolute pain. My first course of action is to put in a tube, as repairs are only temporary. Then, I should look for new tires. I have issues with my corporations to deal with: the bearer shares, yearly taxes, yearly fee, and it still doesn’t have a bank account. So in reality, it is of no use or benefit to me whatsoever, just big plans drawn up in better times.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.

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Today, Sunday the 11th, I awoke a little earlier, gladly getting used to the time change a bit, and headed out to first see if my tire had held air overnight. As luck would have it, it had, so I made a mental note of the tire position, and went to coffee up. I haven’t been drinking coffee regularly for a while now, but I find that it sure helps with the mornings right now.

I had breakfast right across the street, and what I thought was a little bit of beef turned out to be liver and onions, so my breakfast turned out to be liver and onions with two ojaldras. It’s been a loooooong time since I have put liver in my mouth. It was palatable, but no more than that.

I then head out to fill my tire and noticed a nice little area with some shade I could use to do some of the work needed to dry out the trunk of the car. It took a few hours, first laying things out in the sun, then doing some work on my rusty carburetor. The choke was seized, so I had to dismantle it and use some motor oil to free it up. After a little work, it seemed to be ok, but it doesn’t start right just yet. I will have to look at it more closely tomorrow morning in the light.

I turned the car so the trunk was facing the sun, and for the most part, I think I got it fairly dry now. I sure hope the heat killed that cockroach! I ended up throwing out a few more things: an old tote bag, some plastic bags, and other odds and ends that weren’t worth keeping anymore. The more I look at this car, the more I wonder just what it would take to keep anything looking nice down here for long. You sure can’t go any length of time without regular use and maintenance.

Back to the Costa Rica for a shower and then went hunting for this place Dave had told me about for used tires. I found it quickly, and will have to return tomorrow when they are open to see just what they have. I’m thinking 4 used tires and with tubes put in each one. Should make them more reliable, but that is another thought to sleep on.

After that I thought I would go searching for a can of WD40 to spray on everything that needed it so I went to the Do It Center to find that a can of that was going for over 6 buks! Wow, they know how to screw people at the Do It Center. Forget that, I went back into town and bought a can of 3 in 1 spray at the Romero for 2 buks. I soaked the outside of the carb with it, and then started it up and sprayed some straight down her throat to clean out the carb a bit. Seemed to work ok. So far.

Beforehand, while I was looking in another store, I ran into Zack drinking a coffee, so I stopped and said hello and shot the shit for a bit. Good to see some old faces, but he was pretty much the same bullshit artist. Said he sailed round to the Mediterranean this year and told me stories about a 6000 Euro lunch on an island out there… and 120 dollars for a hair cut. I guess things are a little cheaper here.

It was then that I returned to the Hospedaje and parked the car. Shower number two, a smoke, and just sat and relaxed for a bit. I did a pseudo “work out” in my room, and was glad to know that it was possible. I’ve been doing well in that regard for the past few months and don’t want to see all the gains go to waste just because I took too much time off. I’m getting good now at ignoring hunger pangs, as I want to lose some of my “winter weight”, but by the time 5 rolled around, I was ready for some supper. I ate at the same place as yesterday for $1.50, and left full again. Chicken, beans, rice, and pasta salad. Not bad.

The hottest part of the day here seems to be around 6-7 PM. The wind dies down some and as things “cool” the humidity rises, so around 6:30 I went out for a walk and thought I would check out what was playing at the theatre. Two hours in an air conditioned theater to watch a new movie for $3.50 seemed like a good idea. As luck would have it, The Day the Earth Stood Still was playing at 7 PM. Just enough time to go back to the room and get a shirt if I got too cold.

The movie was not much like the original, but basically a story of hope for the human race. That seems to be a common enough theme these days. Hope, but not before near destruction. I consider it “conditioning” by TPTB for things that are coming, and am very glad indeed to be well ahead of the curve in that regard.

When I walked out of the theater, the humidity was gone, and it was quite pleasant again. What a smart boy am I. I hope there are enough movies worth watching to keep me entertained this way for a bit. I pulled the car off the street, and sat for a smoke on the balcony.

Tomorrow, I go up the hill for an AA meeting, hopefully meeting up with Keith. That has a lot of variables, so best not to think too much about it but only towards positive results. If I’m awake early enough, I’ll check out the tires for sale, and give Angulo a call to see about my bearer shares. That should be interesting. At least his secretary is cute. Mmmmm.

That is about all for today. Looking at it now, it was a good day, and I got things that needed doing done. I going to go for a walk with my laptop right now and see if it is true that the school down the street is a WI-FI hot spot. That would be nice.

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Monday said to me “Sleep in!”, so so much for getting up earlier to look into getting tires this morning. Instead, I had just enough time to have a morning shower, get in the car, and drive up the hill to Boquete for the AA meeting there and a meeting with Keith.

The meeting had ballooned to about 20 people from the regular 6-8 of earlier this year. It was good to see many old faces – literally speaking – as I was surrounded by grey haired retirees who had settled into the region, and of course, they made me read. It was good to feel their genuine concern for me. It is alien, but comfortable.

Talking with several of them after the meeting, I found I wasn’t the only one that had taken a beating in the markets over the year, but my answer was that it wasn’t my right arm, so it wasn’t really serious. Lots had questions about Ken, and I tried to steer clear of badmouthing him, but I think most understand the nature of my problems with him. His reputation in the area has backed my actions far better than the details of my disagreement ever could. Deriding him would only shed a bad light on me, but honestly, I sure felt like it.

Keith took me to his home in Alto Boquete and from what I could see and tell about the man, I will be storing my car there for some months. If there is one thing that my life has taught me well, it is to accurately judge the character of a man through body language and other subtleties. I think he will store it under his car port, out of the rain, but in the wind. This will be better because a car cover would beat the paint right off of my car with the wind up there, and it also tends to keep any moisture in. So, all in all, a success in that regard, and relief with things left unattended back home. This is the deciding factor, not so much spending money I can ill afford at this time.

I now have to think of what to do next. Last night, I was thinking that if all should go well, I would just book a return flight to Canada, and take a trip to Boca Chica again to get some sun. This now seems like the most likely plan, but it will have to be after I get a tube put in that leaky tire. Seems I’m always messing with something or other with that car. I will have to catch Lee, the owner here, to raid his library once again. Any time at Boca Brava is best spent with reading material.

It turns out here was a hotspot at the school after all! Great news. The internet cafes here charge one price for their terminals, and a higher price for just a LAN line, and there aren’t many that have that option available. It is just sooo much easier to navigate from your own desktop without all the firewalls that drag a system down. Not only that, but to trade or get access to my platform, I need to use my own laptop. I asked why it was more and got some lame excuse about needing special equipment… bla bla bla. It’s just a gringo tax, plain and simple. Well, no more. I would pay to use their service otherwise, but when it is free elsewhere, and their motivation is greed, I’d just as soon not reward that effort. So later today I will trundle on down there again and post this to my blog. In fact, why not do that now?

Oh yeah, I’m achy and sore from my little “work-out” yesterday. Different exercises than I am used to, and definitely different muscle groups. Ouch… but good.

Ok, it’s not the school, but just down the street from it. Now I know.