16/12/6

Linda and I just got back from the second party of the week. It sure is nice to be included in the festivities as part of the community. The local store moved next door to a new building, and they had a karaoke party on Thursday night. The fish store had one tonight, I don’t know why, and they served cerviche and deep fried pork rinds with quarado. Both had beer, although we bought most of what we drank.

We also went to two American Thanksgiving dinners. One was in San Jose, with Russ and Kattia, and the other was in Puntarenas, with our friends Bill and Linda at Casa San Francisco.

We have pretty well finished landscaping this lot, and cut down the trees on the next lot. I burned the branches and leaves, and gave the wood to Joaquin, who makes charcoal out of it. I saw Joaquin today, and mentioned that I hadn’t paid the sawyer. He told me he paid him because he wanted the wood. What a nice surprise, but I offered to pay half, about $16 for 8 hrs work.

Raz is not doing well. He is gaining a bit of weight back, but his hind legs are weak, and he has trouble walking. He has never complained about pain, so it is hard to know if he has any. I think we will have to put him down next week. That’s a hard decision to make, but I don’t want him to suffer. He sure has enjoyed his year here, anyway. He likes being with me all the time, and never liked it when I had to go to work. We have been practically constant companions here, and he has been very happy.

Christmas is only a week away, but it sure doesn’t feel like it here. This is the first year we will spend it without any family with us, although our neighbour Jim is coming for dinner. I probably won’t post before, so Merry Christmas to everyone, and a Happy New Year.