A Thief! A Thief!

do you ever look at some stars and think, is that star watching me?

Well, after we dropped off TJ at Rosa's, we went to A&R. We came out, and while passing the Rover, Matt put a bag of stuff in. We walked down to Casa Economica and Maya Tortilla. We took our time.

Upon our return, I noticed that the cooler was open. I asked Matt about it. He looked in the vehicle and noticed the back seat was down. We'd been robbed!

Matt went directly to the nearest grocery store, which we were kind of parked in front of, and asked to see the video. We backed up 15 minutes in time. The big screen 70" or 80"? It was HUGE and right at the entrance/exit of the store. A man behind a counter held the remote and lead the hunt.

I was a little off on the timing. We watched about a minute of video before Matt and I passed the frame. (as people passed in and out of the store, they stopped to watch the drama unfold) Soon after, some dude comes up. The folks in the store start shouting something. We think we hear, "that's their, that's theif." He casually watches the vehicle and looks around. More people arrive at the store and announce, "yeah, that's him. that's the guy." He then opens the door, grabs the bag and sets it out. He then returns to the vehicle, gets inside and after a bit, comes out. He get's in one last time and leaves. Everyone confirms it's the person they know, who's name is Steve, not thief.

After watching the video, we go toward the vehicle. I think Matt was ready to go look for the guy. Fortunately, the grocery store called the police. They found us down at the corner and told us that an officer would be coming soon. The officer was a real nice guy. He listened to us and the people at the store. He watched the video and agreed that it's Steve. Steve has a history of this sort of thing. Nobody knows Steve's last name. The officer told us to go file a report, and meet him down at the station. Matt told the officer that he liked his bike. It was some nice foreign shit. They agreed the bike was cool and we parted.

On the way to the police station, we had to stop and pick something up for our friend down the road. We saw his lady friend who gave us 2 bags of sweets to pass along. The lady confirmed that Steve is wearing a black shirt and is a thief. She encouraged us to have no sympathy for him. She's known him to steal a phone.

When we arrived at the police station, I suggested that I go to the library, while Matt file the report. He agreed. As he was in there, I returned books and sat outside to gather my thoughts. I wanted to read, but didn't have the patience. I really wanted to move. I thought that picking up the trash in the yard at the library would make me feel good, so I went in to ask if it was okay. As I was explaining to them why I wanted to do such a task, I mentioned "Steve." They said, "Steve is right around here somewhere! I think he's drunk." Having just encountered a ration of people who knew Steve without a last name, I thought it must be Steve. If that was him, I'd have to tell someone!

I went directly to the police station. I didn't want to encounter an angry thief, so I did not approach Steve. I walked into the least fungi shui looking joint ever. As soon as one enters, they are assaulted with rooms built out into the small entry. It's crowded too. I'm sure there were people sitting on top of each other to save space. I spoke to Matt directly, and in front of everyone. Three officers left to get the guy. They told Matt to stay inside. Peering out the window, we saw them lean down to get someone. I knew instantly, it was the wrong guy. I went outside and told them. The cops were already handcuffing him! I got the feeling I should move out of the scene, so I went back to the library, slightly embarrassed for just sicking the cops on some dude washing cars.

Next, Matt and I were both informed by the librarian, and the officer, that that guy is also "Steve" and he spends much of his time in the police station or in jail. There are actually two Steves with bad raps! Everyone had a little laugh about that. Except the Steve who got handcuffed. Poor guy. I hope they didn't rough him up too much.

Matt told me later that all the officers he dealt with were very easy to talk to. He said they were really busy too. The phone rang many times while he was filing the report. One call was an elderly woman in distress needing a ride to the hospital. The officer writes down the address, hangs up, and starts asking other officers about the ambulance situation. Another officer points to the wall where a scruffy list of phone numbers is taped to the wall just beneath the Burger Hut menu.

Oh. By the way. We were at one of my favorite restaurants the other day and a bus load of people in matching purple shirts came up. When we got a good look at the logo, it clearly read, "Police Drama Group." There was a happy/sad drama mask and a badge adorning the text. We pondered over what the police drama group might be doing, and joked that you'd think they get enough drama at their jobs. In any case, it is impressive, the number of roles some people will have in a community.

Of course, I can't help but think of Spoon River Anthology - the thief poem, which I usually do sympathize with. Then I remember that Steve didn't take any food. There are all the other characters too, living here. and, everywhere else too.

If we edit our own character, does that edited piece transfer to another spot in the universe?

Interview with myself

Sharon, it's been almost a month since you stopped working and you haven't posted anything. What's going on? 

Oh, not much. Just getting aquatinted to things again. Actually, I am writing a post on our utilities, and how we acquire water, sewer, trash, gas and power. It has a lot of details in it, so it's taking a while. Plus I have to do the photos. That bit always takes some time. Matt has prepared them, but I need to review and then see if I'm missing anything, etc.

So, how's the baby? 

She's great. She's been struggling with some teeth coming in, but I think the pain is waning. I recently decided that I couldn't possibly sleep with TJ and Matt in our econo-queen bed for any longer. She's quite big for a 19 month old.

She and I moved down to the fold down couch. It wasn't working either. She would roll off the bed, then wake and have to feed. If I tried to stop her, she would wake up and try to feed. If I was in her way, she'd wake up and feed.

Our house is limited in floor space, but I wanted to add another bed upstairs for her. Rather than buy something for this short term use, I decided to use one of our 2 cots. Turns out, it fits right between the bed and wall perfectly.  We engaged TJ in setting it up. She had a ball. Then when it was complete, she played on it forever. "New bed," we taught her to say. Quite the happy chicken.

And how’s Matt? 

He's good. He works quite hard to keep everything running. We enjoy our time as a little family lagoon-side in the bush.

The people want to know when your coming back. 

We don’t know for sure. We will definitely come visit as soon as possible. We miss our friends and family. I’d like to see my grandma again. We have a new baby in the family, and one on the way too! There’s lots of catching up to do all the way around.

So, are you getting what you want out of your experience? 

I guess so! Giving up the job has really opened my schedule now too, so I feel like we are finally getting to appreciate and experience life in a new way. Plus, the weather is great. We can work all day and not get too sweaty.

I can't say there's actually criteria that we're checking off a list, but we did have some goals in mind. We've accomplished many of them, let a few go to the wayside, and have a few more to do.

What’s next? 

Presently, I think I should do some work outside. The sky is overcast, it’s 80 degrees and rather pleasant. We’ll all probably start working in about an hour. Tetra will wake. We’ll eat, she’ll play a bit, and then probably go on a canoe ride. Next: dinner, books and bed in the New Bed. I can’t wait.

oh butterfly!

Let me tell you about butterflies. My grandma loved butterflies, and perhaps still does. She always had the most beautiful butterfly accessories for herself and her house: Decoupage magnets, silver pendants, delicately fashioned ornaments.

When I was young and traveled with grandma Dorothy, she would always detour to the butterfly enclosure. I remember being bothered by these detours. In fact, it may have been only one detour. But in my little mind, it seemed like 10 detours. I'm sure I pouted the whole way there, but I do remember being inside a beautiful greenhouse filled with colorful flowers and a variety of fluttering creatures. For once, grandma had taken me someplace that was pretty cool.

As the years passed, we continued to gift items decorated with butterflies. I don't know if she ever tired of them, as people often do with collections. I gave her a Lumi print with her name and a butterfly x-mas before last. She seems to like it.

The butterflies engage me now more than I could have predicted as a child. We saw the beautiful omnimax monarch movie last year. This year as we drove South, we were fortunate enough to cross paths with a gazillion monarchs as they trespassed Texas. Honestly. They were everywhere. We couldn't avoid running into them, lest we quit driving.

When we got to Belize, we considered travelling to other destinations in the country. I had heard of the butterfly places in San Ignacio. That's how we ended up at the Trek Stop. It was pretty cool. We had fun and learned alot. And that, I thought was the end of the butterflies in Belize tour.

Then, a few months later...

We started noticing a few more butterflies around the property. I remembered the gentlemen at Trek Stop mentioning that they would start coming through soon. We paid attention, and have seen at least 7 different kinds of butterflies on the property.

Earlier this week, there was a barrage of yellow wings fluttering through the orchard. Boy, was it a sight to see! We think they were yellow sulphurs and one other variety. They were headed South, quite directly. There were a few white ones too, who also seemed to be travelling with purpose.

I was reminded of the white swallow tail that I saw on the property during February 2013. At the time, I didn't know it was a butterfly, and mistook it for a bush fairy.

What a particularly interesting and beautiful creature, the butterfly is. They will always remind me of my grandmother, and what a nice association that is to have! I hope that you too take any opportunity you get to visit a butterfly sanctuary, farm, atrium, or other location. One’s own heart can’t help but flutter when surrounded by such grace and determination.

Here is a photo of a yellow sulpher, along with some other things that are similar in color.

  

  

It's Raining, It's Pouring

On days like these, I would follow our black lab, Lightning into the laundry room and curl up until the lightning and thunder passed. I was much younger then.

It's still terrifying to hear the rumble and see the flashes... especially at night, and in a new house. The house leaked quite a bit on the SE side, especially when the wind blew sideways. And every time the thunder rumbled, the house shook.

I started out in the RV, which sways quite a bit in a rough storm like this. The giant bamboo booster tower is tied to the RV and it pulls the vehicle in all directions. It's quite like being on boat in bad weather! I lasted about a half hour, but my bones started to tremble, so I moved to the house.

Tetra was still asleep, and had been sleeping since we got home from town around 7:30. I honestly wanted to just curl up with her, but knew I would sleep better if I finished some aspect of work. So, I set up my old laptop by the bed so I could do both. Matt joined us in bed, and we fell asleep quite easily.

Speaking of wind and laptops - if you hadn't heard, I had to send in the new computer for repair. It was Friday. The day was calm, calm, calm. I sat at the table at the palapa working on the laptop. The wifi, I had placed in the hammock. A giant gust of wind came, and I heard the wifi drop. Matt and I locked eyes, and he gave me the look I give him when the baby drops; the "you know you could have prevented that" look. I raced for the wifi, lest it drop in the lagoon. Next gust of wind. Computer down. It tumbled and rolled. It was a terrifying sight. There was silence. They waited for me to curse, but I did not.

I let it rest. We ate breakfast. I tried it again and it worked except for a glitch on the right of the screen. Over the next few days, the display deteriorated. I copied the essential files to a flash drive on Matt's recommendation. Less than an hour later, the machine was done.

I sent it to Ava on Monday, and Apple is sending Ava a box for repair. It's a convoluted system because Belize is not a big Apple market, and there are no resources for repair, including mailing service. So, hopefully it can be fixed, and hopefully, my little 2006 MacBook will keep me going until then.

So - the rain is here - the baby is good - the work is good, but the tools are broke - the house is good, but the plumbing is shabby - the dogs are wet, and I met a baby iguana yesterday.

END.

Seasons Change

The water is calm, and has been calm since the rainy season began on June 1^st. We’ve been observing lots of changes after the shift in the season. One of my favorites was the hatching of the fairies. I also love watching the black cat birds (although they were active before the season too). The flamboyant tree went into bloom right before the rains, and watching the storms pass is always a joy.

When the first big rain came, on the first day of rainy season, I had just started my walk with Tetra to the front bathroom. The rain had calmed quite a bit, and I took her into the bathroom with me. While inside, I noticed a few small flying creatures which I had never seen before.

When we exited, I noticed they were all around us! …tiny creatures with long narrow wings, fluttering around as if dancing, socializing, and enjoying a sense of freedom. I told Tetra they were fairies, but I don’t think she was nearly as moved as I was.

Soon after, Matt approached and said, “There are these awful bugs flying everywhere around the RV!” He looked them up, and consulted Luciano. Sources suggest that they are termite queens or ‘wood lice’ queens. Regardless, I think they’re beautiful to watch and insist they must be related to fairies.

The black cat birds are described in our 101 Birds of Belize book as “secretive,” yet, we see them daily in the clearing by the cabana. There have been as many as 4 females and one male. The dance the male performs is quite a sight. He poofs out his feathers and puffs them a few times. Eventually, he may jump into the air and hover over the female for a good length of time. Then he returns to the ground and makes one circle, pivoting from the female at about a 3’ radius. We never see any copulation after that, but it’s quite a fun dance!

Our Flamboyant tree has minimal leaves, which are thin and fernlike. It produces giant pods of seeds, and a gazillion persimmon colored flowers. It is one of the most flowery trees I have ever seen, and is quite a sight to see.

And, in regards to the weather… well, I’ve always enjoyed watching the weather. It gives me a sense of motion, of motivation. I may have mentioned that I feel I can see the Earth move at Honey Camp. The clouds and lightning roll past above, as the water flows below and the trees blow all around.

With all that, I’ve not even mentioned the butterflies, which are varied and frequent, or the house, which is coming along.

Yes – we are sleeping there now, and it feels sooooo nice.

Catastrophe

I woke suddenly, and not knowing why. Then I heard his faint cry. Or – more like a “RAWRE----RAWRE----REAAAWR!”

“no, no, no, no” was all I could muster, as I jumped up. I saw Matt was just waking too. He was nearly out the door, jumping over me. He was able to say what I was thinking, “flashlight!” We continued to hear Jack struggle.

I jumped back over the bed (surely rustling up Tetra). I grabbed the spotlight and brought it to the door. Nothing! The light wasn’t working.

“Get the next one! On the stove!” he shouted. I reached there. Jack’s noises stopped. The battery was dead.  - - - -

I finally found another one that worked.

We called and searched for long time. I had to pull TJ out of bed because she was upset we had left. She searched with us.

Finally, we went back inside. In silence. The girl went back to sleep. Matt said he heard a big animal, maybe dog size, trot right past him in the darkness—right after Jack stopped making noise.

We couldn’t sleep. Matt was clearly upset---going over the many things that made it right for the predator: unfinished fence; our dogs were away by the front cabana with the guests; didn’t latch the screen door; didn’t grab a flashlight fast enough; didn’t make enough loud noise to scare off the predator; etc., etc..

I sat at the back door for a while. I went back to bed. There were no answers. I could see his big eyes. I tried to imagine what happened.

Eventually, the tears came. How could I have let this happen? Why is the world so risky? Is he gone? How will I go on? (you get the picture)

Matt and I held each other. Both so confused and defeated.

I went to blow my nose for a second time, and thought I saw the shadow of an animal. Was I hallucinating? I looked closer. It was a cat? It was Jack?!?!?!?

I couldn’t believe it. This was like the craziest shared dream ever. Cat cries. Cat dies. Cat lives. All in pitch black darkness.

Of course, we showered him with affection, and Matt cursed a bit at him.

Note: I can’t get over how completely blind humans are at night. It’s something I never thought about as much when electricity was so abundant. Living with minimal power is a real eye-opener.

May is coming and going

We recently decided that the end of May is the absolute deadline for the house to be finished. This news seemed to surprise Luciano at first, but after an hour of pleading our case, I think we convinced him that we were serious.

The next day we arranged for Tito and Tony to come and put flooring on the ceiling. They've been at it for a few days, working on contract, and they're doing a great job. The old crew is currently working on the veranda, and that flooring is almost done too. Luciano was on task to find someone to do the bathroom. From what I've heard there's really no one available right now, so it might be the next thing we put Tito and Tony on.

We are really determined to get in by the end of the month. Matt has even been spending time on the house--getting the numbering off the wood, and helping the workers. Our current lifestyle is tolerable, but it's just not what we had in mind at this point in our lives.

We have been fortunate to see a lot of fun nature happenings, including bird mating dances, egrets  mating, sugar swimming like a fool, and all sorts of crazy looking bugs. I even found one dragonfly who's wings never properly opened. We spent the day together and I got to look at it's big round eyeballs for a long time. That was actually super fun for me: staring into his eyes and wondering what it was thinking, if it was scared, if I can help it… turns out I couldn't really help it, unless it enjoyed sitting on my hair as I walked around... so it could at least get the feeling of flying before it died. I don't know what happened to it. It was on my hair for quite some time, but one time I checked and it was gone.

Tetra is doing great. She continues to be a silly little girl, and she continues to test our patience when she runs away with something in her mouth, or throws her fork on the floor. Our parental goals include getting her to sleep without her mother, and better nutrition through solids. As soon as we move into the house, we're gonna rock that potty.

Tetra has a small vocabulary including the words doggie, baba, mama, dada, papa, bamboo, bike, boat. She's working on coconut, mango and bullet (as in bullet tree).

I'm afraid I can't post any photos at the moment because I have lost my iPhone usb jack, but I encourage you to continue to reference Matt's photo uploads.

Speaking of Matt - he is so determined to get the house done that every day, he spends a minimum of 2 hours working on the house. Without guests, he spends more time. It's quite moving for me to see. I know he despises manual labor, but his efforts mean a lot to the crew and to his family. :)