tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047011245990258432024-03-14T01:02:37.946-07:00FEATHER RIDGEDAY-TO-DAY LIFE ON AN ISLAND IN THE CARIBBEAN
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KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESESGuanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.comBlogger245125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-63751042215899015342016-03-04T08:52:00.002-08:002016-03-04T08:52:14.218-08:00Time to Post Again<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I recently received a comment on my blog posted a year ago when I became a Great Grandmother from, of all things, an individual in India! That individual has inspired me to update my blog with the happenings in the past year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I kept this Blog going from 2007 when I described what it was like living on a somewhat isolated island. After 5-6 years there was not much more to say so I weaned off writing and last year only made the one post. So, here I am again, to bring you up-to-date.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is my Great Granddaughter, Charlotte Rose, celebrating her 1st birthday this March. Charlotte was a premature baby weighing in at under 2 lbs. She was a fighter and survived and is now 12 lbs. 5 oz., has 7 teeth and looks like her Daddy, Joshua. She is the happiest baby I've seen in a long time and just a little miracle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Next, Roland and Annette Rumm became Grandparents in February, 2016, when their son, Roland, and his wife, Julia, were blessed with a beautiful baby boy, Santiago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hXJlBG5rm3HK0wrQbYRdhaAXXQcLkYjB7FtsdvHYs2JnwAQ8hlRMKvmnAFgkAuloteddvB5o3Y0rB0yTxmNaoJhh2s5Wsbs5QrEJc44RQX7vQOznI8Txgp74mWUU4sNK4D8MhcF100oC/s1600/Satiago+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hXJlBG5rm3HK0wrQbYRdhaAXXQcLkYjB7FtsdvHYs2JnwAQ8hlRMKvmnAFgkAuloteddvB5o3Y0rB0yTxmNaoJhh2s5Wsbs5QrEJc44RQX7vQOznI8Txgp74mWUU4sNK4D8MhcF100oC/s400/Satiago+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Santiago and his parents should be returning to the island this week after a rest in La Ceiba. Congratulations to all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have reported on all the pets we have had over the years and we are still going strong with 3 dogs, 1 cat, 4 birds and a huge flock of hummingbirds at about 8 feeders! Our one cat, Ivey, is 18 years old and going blind. I decided I did not want her roaming the area at night (she has always been an outside cat) and, so, brought her into the house to live. That meant training her to a litter box. Ivey was use to relieving herself anywhere so this was a monumental task, but I was up to it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTJIg6WXaSsVhykUX6JCewkmgxSNoNOx37tu3eMJ7xxccNcGPsfutNcHl-ua1WsHBxC6krFUUhZ4wTvXes0CCHmgldMLyKvX6hwEmdEBZeGmNpEUCP8cdAoeJMVMoFVqUhEmsY9CzGkSF/s1600/P1010710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTJIg6WXaSsVhykUX6JCewkmgxSNoNOx37tu3eMJ7xxccNcGPsfutNcHl-ua1WsHBxC6krFUUhZ4wTvXes0CCHmgldMLyKvX6hwEmdEBZeGmNpEUCP8cdAoeJMVMoFVqUhEmsY9CzGkSF/s400/P1010710.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For the most part, but not always, Ivey uses the litter box but she still manages to relieve herself on my rugs. I finally decided that she would have to be confined to the front porch with a litter box. Surprise! She uses the one out there all the time, well, with a few mishaps. We bring her in during the day for a bit of loving and it seems to be working well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We have a new full-time vet on the island too: Dra. Julia Rumm. She has been practicing for over a year and we welcome her services. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We are presently in the process of re-painting the inside of the house. It is about time! After 19 years it needs some brightening up. We've completed the bathroom, are tackling the floor in their and will move on to other areas. I figure it will take most of this year to complete the task as it is a lot of work clearing out all the "stuff" we have accumulated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I don't know if I mentioned it in the past but the island built a new and more modern airport terminal. We once had a grass shack for years (very original and unique), the ultimate site of "Concourse B". A few years ago a concrete building was put up with the "thought" of using it as a terminal and ticket counter. Never took and the whole place ended up being storage for various construction materials. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJYXGtDacuXTRmX90d4AClOmx3ixdLtrl8wZd-qNKLUna0VVmOVDL4h_F9oTepiL9OlUI1uDArjVp7Zy8s2SLLVkGRit0VG_EY67dh8DUdZbwf0_WtM8SUSLaDkSRz-BxIuoBBBPPcVNs/s1600/old+airport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJYXGtDacuXTRmX90d4AClOmx3ixdLtrl8wZd-qNKLUna0VVmOVDL4h_F9oTepiL9OlUI1uDArjVp7Zy8s2SLLVkGRit0VG_EY67dh8DUdZbwf0_WtM8SUSLaDkSRz-BxIuoBBBPPcVNs/s640/old+airport.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> This is a photo of the old airport - pretty neat!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Finally, a new terminal was built which is very spacious, complete with bathrooms (!!!) and seating for passengers. A building was added to one side to be used as a tourist center but, unfortunately, we must have an influx of tourists to use it to the best of its ability. So, that sits unused as there are not funds to man the facility nor pay for the electrical power. Then, they decided to build a building on the other side, I guess to balance the structure out (?) and no one knows exactly what the purpose of that building will be. As yet it is not complete and if someone comes up with a use for it, maybe it will be finished. Meanwhile, one can wait in comfort now in the Harry Hunter Airport Terminal. Unfortunately, I cannot locate a photo of the new airport in my files, so you'll just have to come and see for yourself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There is a new DAN building near the airport terminal being outfitted with a decompression chamber. We don't know the completion schedule of this project nor who will man it but it is a much needed addition to the area. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As it goes, we have limited restaurants here on the island. Manati is still in operation with wonderful German food. Graham's has expanded their outdoor experience with a larger restaurant and a good menu. Some restaurants on the Cay (Bonacca) have come and gone and Nona's changed hands with Nyoon being the new owner. He made several changes in the outside dining area, closing it in and adding new furniture. A new eatery just opened; Rosalinida's which we hope to check out this week during our weekly shopping trip to the Cay. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RMrtHpKbovNDRIGrNmJ6dv-qj87OoRRBJ_uNw6OdHw74-HFB8OamvN_h5hWK5urkceta7aGoC67z9XtrdlfZTvfL1sWFYGtgYIoHg-mZwiqn-9S1IduoF-flymgeT95MGHrHtVx_KOSj/s1600/rosalindas+on+the+cay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RMrtHpKbovNDRIGrNmJ6dv-qj87OoRRBJ_uNw6OdHw74-HFB8OamvN_h5hWK5urkceta7aGoC67z9XtrdlfZTvfL1sWFYGtgYIoHg-mZwiqn-9S1IduoF-flymgeT95MGHrHtVx_KOSj/s400/rosalindas+on+the+cay.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We still have Bo's Island House Bar out on the water on the North side of the island and Shawn
and Lisa Holder's "Mi Casa Too" high up on a bluff overlooking the
water on the bight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mi Casa Too has wonderful island fare served in a beautiful atmosphere. This
should not be missed but I must warn you, it is a long walk up many 127 steps to reach this great view - but well worth it. There are so many photos of this really unique place and the two I have below don't do it full justice - you just have to go and see it in person.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzk4eU9GzdpkQS406c5NvpO9r1LYFDPeGtt7_v_GZFiSelfedE1mcge1uSInOPBMD70UxkpMACG-qLqMxnU0oyjgvoUiQupKNwjmhjpwYlSA_jckWCXrJGkyEH2U4woBTbZKsEkyyeI3ia/s1600/mi+casa+too+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzk4eU9GzdpkQS406c5NvpO9r1LYFDPeGtt7_v_GZFiSelfedE1mcge1uSInOPBMD70UxkpMACG-qLqMxnU0oyjgvoUiQupKNwjmhjpwYlSA_jckWCXrJGkyEH2U4woBTbZKsEkyyeI3ia/s400/mi+casa+too+view.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIixBbK5PsnDZ7PjeC5LGmZTpRtcJOsna_lli3TTlZnx2po65fk5KW2bp_A5GhRvM3MV9BVZgAjaQHMfAcd9PMNXU-H_DTk9-2bdaffAtqPAxd5h59BhY6R1WfTAuV2ppeoQjwOsM1tgH/s1600/mi+casa+too.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIixBbK5PsnDZ7PjeC5LGmZTpRtcJOsna_lli3TTlZnx2po65fk5KW2bp_A5GhRvM3MV9BVZgAjaQHMfAcd9PMNXU-H_DTk9-2bdaffAtqPAxd5h59BhY6R1WfTAuV2ppeoQjwOsM1tgH/s400/mi+casa+too.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Over the years Guanaja has improved. The people are more conscientious about the garbage and the island is cleaner because of it. We have a new library and computer center (computer center is aimed at the children) and our vegetable stands have increased considerably. We now get more types of vegetables than ever before and this past year we finally received fresh mushroom, leeks, snow peas and we have available quality lettuce from Roatan grown hydroponically. This may not seem earth shattering to those who live in the "land of plenty" but believe me, it is a big thing here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We also were graced with a visit from Robert Gallardo who, after years of research and live study, created a book: "Guide to the Birds of Honduras." If you are a bird lover, it would be a wonderful addition to your library. Just Google Robert Gallardo and you can order a copy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnggZi9fEuB-QtQLfcBwMlSIefXmzSkWLDKYk8qzpDpDf4Z-hWak7Y-waFYeOd5Yip2kVMpDI-7ujPdJowC0AUn7HhOIEjxKRvXnW0UvUdzs4mVUKR8peSmWDR6nHcc8RCvbhUbAXAkhYd/s1600/P1010598-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnggZi9fEuB-QtQLfcBwMlSIefXmzSkWLDKYk8qzpDpDf4Z-hWak7Y-waFYeOd5Yip2kVMpDI-7ujPdJowC0AUn7HhOIEjxKRvXnW0UvUdzs4mVUKR8peSmWDR6nHcc8RCvbhUbAXAkhYd/s400/P1010598-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Robert and his lovely wife are shown in the middle of this photograph.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Our internet service is more varied now with availability through a Tigo "stick" (Tigo is one of the local phone companies) which is inserted into the computer for those within range of the towers. A Mexican firm has recently offered service and, as always, we have the Hughes Network. Those in the more advanced countries may not be happy with the slow service we get but, hey, at least we get internet and we are happy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">More attention is being paid to conservation and the protection of our reefs. We now have areas where no fishing or spearing is allowed and they are regularly checked by locals and/or the Honduran Coast Guard which now has a base here. Guanaja is going green and we are really trying to improve our island and make it more beautiful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We were hit with a blight on the hibiscus bushes over the last couple of years. It is airborne from what I read but we are not sure of the exact cause; insects or some or air borne bacteria. Either way, a white mold develops on the plant and the leaves and flowers are diminished in size with the leaves curling up into tight fist-like appearance. We understand that this "blight" was not confined to just Guanaja but has appeared in several places around the world. We fought it for about two years and finally gave up and cut down the hibiscus plants in our front yard (saved two of them) and replaced them with minature Ixoria plants.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIX5SJ_bRQEIztquT7NjAPgJku0t0BCU8fzI3CjBMLl22r40BMrJcF0sACmpApJA_NdQACZfeu8zU128y9Bh1XG6dxjs0_uck2pcw1Tl_kC7Krwy3GH7jX0ACvYCJbmHfdga_d_CIKUy_j/s1600/Our+house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIX5SJ_bRQEIztquT7NjAPgJku0t0BCU8fzI3CjBMLl22r40BMrJcF0sACmpApJA_NdQACZfeu8zU128y9Bh1XG6dxjs0_uck2pcw1Tl_kC7Krwy3GH7jX0ACvYCJbmHfdga_d_CIKUy_j/s640/Our+house.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The bushes removed are the green ones you see directly in front of the porch. They were not flowering at the time but when they did we had white, pink, red and peach colored flowers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We now have two dentists in Guanaja; Dra. Jill Haylock and the most recent addition, Dra. Andrea LeviaM Wood. As Dra. Jill is only here part time so I recently went to Dra. Andrea with a problem. All my life I have had relatively small teeth - the size of teeth children have before they get in their adult teeth. Over the years the top teeth have worn down to the point, last year, that I didn't like to smile for photos. I went to Andrea to see about laminates and/or crowns for my upper front teeth. She took an impression of my teeth and between her and a dental technician in Tegucigalpa it was decided that I am too hard on my teeth and laminates would not be the way to go. So we went ahead with crowns. A month later I had a new smile, at a reasonable cost I might add, and am very happy with the results.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-cgk55hTTFQw1UByQAf2j2vKetKJZ58DRVkepFtDlQJVBgZ9t3Axsg0-ZTMoDFOqe8tyIbO0ML2SNNEwEPmpgwtslaJlzEV82xtGXiDhvpNFAN1FeesVSyyQC8hjS1dbA_dr1t6Rmm88/s1600/old+teeth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-cgk55hTTFQw1UByQAf2j2vKetKJZ58DRVkepFtDlQJVBgZ9t3Axsg0-ZTMoDFOqe8tyIbO0ML2SNNEwEPmpgwtslaJlzEV82xtGXiDhvpNFAN1FeesVSyyQC8hjS1dbA_dr1t6Rmm88/s320/old+teeth2.jpg" width="242" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Above, in 2013, you can just see my empty mouth and what appears to be a big hole in the top.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Below you can see my new smile! Quite a difference!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJ7dpbvBSW4XY3DgbCts4_o58asuyyH0rdt1FI_nESTG3_IT3XEecCsj_GO1vhrTYMm-IyUFyuU03cPWZnNPTzLobzkpc5yZin0zNgYfrh_oEzg1dJdNrrPlXNdM_NS5IOmSSas9GbRrq/s1600/new+teeth+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJ7dpbvBSW4XY3DgbCts4_o58asuyyH0rdt1FI_nESTG3_IT3XEecCsj_GO1vhrTYMm-IyUFyuU03cPWZnNPTzLobzkpc5yZin0zNgYfrh_oEzg1dJdNrrPlXNdM_NS5IOmSSas9GbRrq/s640/new+teeth+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The clinic on the Cay (Bonacca) has been updated and reorganized to work more efficiently. Banco Atlantida (the only bank on the island) revamped with new counters, new paint job and now chairs in the lobby for seating. Unfortunately 2 of the 4 tellers are gone and for a while we had only 1 teller which made for several hours of waiting in line! They have added a temporary teller bringing up the total to 2 but it still means long waits in the bank. We are hoping that they will find at least 2 tellers to bring the compliment up to 3 so that the work among them is more evenly distributed and the wait is less.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Roland Rumm has added a beautiful bed and breakfast at Roland's Garden House on the island. He and his lovely wife are great hosts and there is a variety of things to do with Roland: repealing the water fall of Guanaja, kayaking, snorkeling, bird watching<span style="font-size: x-small;">;</span> hiking and fishing and diving can be arranged. These are a few photos of Roland's lovely place:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> One of the views from Roland's porch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Guanaja has gone "green" meaning that the residents are being more conscientious about garbage, waste and disposal. The result is that there is less trash on the beaches, the streets of the Cay are kept swept and cleaned and there is an effort by the Municipal to eliminate plastic bags from the island. It is against the laws in Honduras to ship plastic bags and/or containers to the islands but everyone seems to turn a blind eye to that law. The Municipal has tried, unsuccessfuly, in the past to ban plastic bags but maybe this new effort will prove successful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The reefs are under a stricter control and attempts to curb harvesting conch and lobster around the island are being enforced. We hope this effort will bring our conch and lobster population, not to mention turtles and fish life, back up to good levels. Many volunteers around the island are keeping a lookout for illegal fishing/netting/spear fishing and have been successful in warding off would be thieves of the deep!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am sure there are things I have missed in this update but just wanted to post so everyone know that I'm still around and report on all the changes to the island!</span><br />
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<br />Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-45661635756814225282015-03-14T00:54:00.000-07:002015-03-14T00:54:31.025-07:00Many Firsts This YearWell, I'm back and want to report on the several "Firsts" of 2015.<br />
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I AM A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER!<br />
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My Grandson, Joshua, and his wife, Brandi, were delivered of their first child on February 23, 2015 and, according to the doctors, Charlotte Rose was 9 weeks early. If one checks weight charts she came in at 13 inches long and 1 lb. 9 oz. which is weight for a child 11 weeks early. Either way, overall she was and is a healthy baby. She is off a ventilator and breathing on her own with occasional help from oxygen. She took her first bottle today and as of this writing she is now up to a whopping 2 lbs.! She continues to be a little fighter and, hopefully, in a couple of months will be able to go home with her parents.<br />
Congratulations to Joshua and Brandi!<br />
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Another first on the island, a movie was filmed here. It was a sequel to a movie made a year or two ago and is a comedy. The title is "Un Loco Verano Catracho" or A Crazy Summer in Honduras - or something close to that. Filming was done in various spots around the island depicting underwater scenes, beach scenes, and the various adventures of a "farmer" taking a vacation with his city cousin on the island of Guanaja. It will be shown in theaters in Honduras this summer from what we understand.</div>
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Naturally this caused a lot of excitement around here. Since we have limited extra curricular activities anything new always brings out the islanders. One portion of the filming was done at Graham's Cay and so that day was a party day for all who wanted to attend The weather cooperated and many islanders turned out to be part of the filming or just to observe.</div>
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Next, the first cruise ship in a long time docked at Guanaja. The Ms. Serenissima docked just off the town of Bonacca on Feb. 10, 2015. The less than 100 passengers (it was a small cruise ship) were greeted by the Mayor, a band and guides to take them touring on the Cay, on hikes, snorkeling and a visit to Graham's Cay for relaxation. The Cay was spruced up, decorated and tables set out offering many items made locally for purchase. Due to the diligence of our Mayor, Surgeon Miller, Guanaja saw its first cruise ship with hopes that similar, smaller ships will grace our port.</div>
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Next, after a lot of work and a long time coming, Guanaja has their very own Library and Learning Center. Located near the Post Office on Bonacca, the new library opened with fan fare just a couple weeks ago. Many people have worked hard to make this library a success and I wish I had the names of all the people involved to share with you. Either way, good job folks and great to see a project like this get going on the island.</div>
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Of course this is the time of year to pay your property taxes as a 10% discount is offered for people paying early in the year. As taxes have increased the 10% savings should help out.</div>
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Next, the lion fish that have invaded our waters around the Bay Islands are turning out to be beneficial in that they are an excellent eating fish. While these fish are native to the Pacific and have no natural enemies they have proven not to be a good thing for our waters. With no predators they have the capability of destroying the fish life we have in our waters. They are very territorial and prolific. They can only be caught by spearing and there is an annual Lion Fish Festival held on Roatan for catching the most or biggest fish. Meanwhile on Guanaja, I have discovered the light, pleasant taste of these fish and if history repeats itself - we may eliminate this fish from our waters!</div>
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Lastly, this year has not been the best one for my husband and I. First our 18 year old inverter starting sparking and eventually went out. It did not go down alone however. It took our MAC hard drive, our laptop and my KichenAid mixer with it. The one thing we do not want to be without on the island is a computer. So, I contacted TechnoComp on the coast and with the aid of Joel we purchased a new Toshiba. Our new hard drive for the MAC arrives the first of April with friends returning to the island to spend a month of relaxation. Meanwhile, I am going through the stress of re-acquainting myself with the World of MicroSoft. I have found there is a lot of unnecessary icons on the 8.1 version which we do not need because of where we are located. This means these programs are running in the background taking up a lot of my limited bandwidth. So I am working on eliminating those programs that are of no use to us and streamlining the computer. Of course this is not without problems which in turn cause a great deal of stress when one has no one to turn too!</div>
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Our new inverter arrived and has since been installed. We luckily had a back-up inverter so no cease in sun shine electric power!</div>
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Finally, I don't remember if I had blogged that I became a Grandmother last Sept. 10, 2014 when my son, Randy, and his wife, Gina, brought into this world my darling Holly Juno.....my little Berry! Because they live in South Korea sending gifts is difficult at best from Guanaja. I did manage, however, to made the sweater and flip flops for my little girl and, hopefully, they will arrive within the month....maybe even before she out grows them!</div>
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Also, our Mayor is dedicated to developing tourism for the island. Last year a dive convention was held in Las Vegas and the Mayor and his wife, along with George of Clearwater Paradise Resort went and manned a booth dedicated to diving Guanaja. George did a bang up job on the booth and dedicated many hours promoting the pleasures of diving on our island. Lately the effort is bearing fruit as George and Ginger have seen a slight increase in their clientele. We just hope that this upswing continues to benefit everyone on the island.</div>
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So, although I haven't been blogging lately, I hope this brings some of you up to date on the activities of this year thus far.</div>
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<br />Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-16018973208152056912014-09-12T10:59:00.001-07:002014-09-12T10:59:12.522-07:00Just had to brag!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have, in the past, displayed a few of my crochet projects over the years and I'm sure that the majority of the people that read my blog will not be interested in this. However, this was such an unusual project that I had to take a photo and tell someone!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is called a Temair Throw and the pattern was free at LionBrand.com. Initially it was offered as one of their "projects of the month" and people were given 3 or 5 projects to select from and from the final voting the people at Lion Brand would then decide what project they would put on-line and assist people in making. This did not win. I guess because it is so unusual, looks very difficult and how many people want a throw like this?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, I wrote and asked them where I could find the pattern and ended up getting the pattern and bought their yarn (linen in color) to use.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I started this project almost 2 years ago. Now I must admit, I absolutely hate connecting motifs and prefer to make projects with as little "extra" work as possible. However, this was stunning (in my opinion) and I knew just who I could make it for.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actually crocheting the multi motifs was not that difficult and it went surprisingly fast and I was done in no time. I then laid them out to prepare to sew them together. That's when I got totally frustrated. It is a time consuming project and because these motifs were circles there was a lot more planning involved. I then put the project aside and just could not convince myself to return to it for a while. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The "while" turned into months and this year my friend (who is the recipient of this gift) asked if I would bring it to her when I made my trip to the States. I said, sure, don't worry, I will bring it. I did not tell her that it was languishing in my closet and that until the past two weeks I dreaded taking it out.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As it happened, when I took it out, the final parts of the throw went together beautifully and in less time than I thought. I had to make some alterations to the pattern merely because the way it was explained turned out to be much more difficult and I found an easier way. Also, after completing the tassels and cords I found that the cords were too long for my taste. The pattern called for 10 tassels which I felt was a little too much and I made 6. However, upon completion and when I laid it out to photograph it, I now feel that 10 tassels may be right. So, I will take my pattern and yarn to Florida, give it to my friend and if she wants, I'll make the extra 4 tassels.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, I, temporarily, am in the possession of a beautiful throw with a 3-dimensional look. I will pack it up and take it to the States and then comes the process of "plumping" up the various circles to achieve, again, the wonderful 3-D look they have.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am now sticking, basically, to much quicker projects but am very proud of this one. So here's a close-up of the center circle. The first photo is at an angle in order to see the 3-dimension quality. The second is a close up of the center circle.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-30618373126263900612014-08-21T10:48:00.002-07:002014-08-21T10:48:35.326-07:00You Just Can't Please Them!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Human nature is amazing - people can be so generous or so cheap. They can be polite or rude. They can either be caring or uncaring and they always wish they had hindsight! And sometimes the open their mouths without thinking!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">While vacationing, years ago, at Bayman Bay Club on Guanaja (no longer in existence), we had occasion to hear people complain about the most amazing things. For example: "I want a different room because I'm too close to the sea and the ocean noise is keeping me awake." or "Why don't you serve more beef instead of fish here?"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I recently stumbled upon these complaints posted by a rather famous travel company and think you will get a chuckle out of them:</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>1. "I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local convenience store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>2. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers in Puerto Vallarta to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time -- this should be banned."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>3. "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don't like spicy food."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our own swimsuits and towels. We assumed it would be included in the price."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>5. "The beach was too sandy. We had to clean everything when we returned to our room."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>6. "We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure. Your brochure shows the sand as white but it was more yellow."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>7. "They should not allow topless sunbathing on the beach. It was very distracting for my husband who just wanted to relax."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>8. "No-one told us there would be fish in the water. The children were scared."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>9. "Although the brochure said that there was a fully equipped kitchen, there was no egg-slicer in the drawers."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>10. "We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish . "</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>11. "The roads were uneven and bumpy, so we could not read the local guide book during the bus ride to the resort. Because of this, we were unaware of many things that would have made our holiday more fun."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>12. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England. It took the Americans only three hours to get home. This seems unfair."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>13. "I compared the size of our one-bedroom suite to our friends' three-bedroom and ours was significantly smaller."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>14. "The brochure stated: 'No hairdressers at the resort.' We're trainee hairdressers and we think they knew and made us wait longer for service."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>15. "When we were in Spain, there were too many Spanish people there. The receptionist spoke Spanish, the food was Spanish. No one told us that there would be so many foreigners."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>16. "We had to line up outside to catch the boat and there was no air-conditioning."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>17. "It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>18. "I was bitten by a mosquito. The brochure did not mention mosquitoes."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span>19. "My fiancee and I requested twin-beds when we booked, but instead we were placed in a room with a king bed. We now hold you responsible and want to be re-reimbursed for the fact that I became pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked."</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I am sure that you too have heard some crazy things come out of people's mouths and I am also certain that these are wonderful things for a comic routine!</span><br />
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<br />Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-83527262924709106382014-07-24T07:29:00.004-07:002014-07-24T07:40:39.490-07:00Conch Festival <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is time once again for a week-long celebration in Guanaja! Over the years the inhabitants of the island got better and better with planned activities, decorations and expanding the repertoire of the festival so that this year the Conch Festival just got better.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year is really special. Everyone is trying harder at being more creative and offering more in the way of entertainment and fun. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And this will be a year that the children get more out of the festival than in the past. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First of all, on the second day of the Festival there is a family day at Graham's Cay. Also, from what I hear there will be para-sailing demonstrations by some world class kiters, and of course, lots of food and entrainment. The 3rd and 4th day will see parades in various hamlets bringing out the children (and adults) dressed in costumes. Once again, even before September 15th (Independence day), the children will be making music on their drums.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To top this off, on Wed., July 30th, there will be lots to see, eat and experience. And, there will be special games for the children at Manati along with a new ride: the Twister. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Rumms' (managers of the Restaurant), came up with a brilliant and inspired ride for the children (and adults too). They erected a 50' pole (well anchored I must say) and from it suspended a cross beam by 4 ropes. The idea is that one person sits on either end and another person pulls the beam around the pole winding the ropes around the post. The "worker" pulls the beam to get them started and the riders start whirling around until they reach the bottom where the things begin to rewind and they have another go at getting dizzy. There are 3-legged races, bobbing for apples and many more games for the children. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There will be stands selling German Beer, sausages, pork, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">Spätzle</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"> a German homemade noodle, and potato salad. There will be a stand selling handcrafted items along with jams and Mango vinegar. And for sale will be a variety of plants, bags of potting soil and containers for those who delve in gardening. The big plus will be appearing</span>, Guillermo Anderson, Honduran Singer-Songwriter,and world-renowned famous music artist to entertain one and all. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the 31st on to Aug. 3rd, there will be more marching bands allowing the children to display their talents and a new addition, children's games on the Cay. The final day, the re-enactment of Christopher Columbus' landing, will include a skit portrayed by various children of the island in costume. Every year the skit gets more creative and interesting.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, we must remember, there will be "float parade" of boats decorated to arrive at Soldado Beach for the re-enactment.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, if you are bored and want some fun, entertainment and a good time, as they say in the South; "Come on down!"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-36363393226431247392014-07-09T14:18:00.001-07:002014-07-09T14:18:08.560-07:00Photo Book<object width="425" height="425" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="https://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"/><param name="flashvars" value="configXMLURL=https://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=https://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=2JaM3Ddu4J0M&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="quality" value="best"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><embed width="425" height="425" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="wrapper" quality="best" menu="false" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="configXMLURL=https://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=https://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=2JaM3Ddu4J0M&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true" src="https://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"></embed></object><p style="width:425px;margin-top:0;text-align:center;"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2JaM3Ddu4dB&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=115">Click here to view this photo book larger</a><div style="margin-top: 10px; width: 425px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books" style="color: #6666cc;">Click here</a> to create your own Shutterfly photo book.</div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=photobook&c2=blogger" /></p>Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-39331761230306162232014-06-07T10:29:00.001-07:002014-06-07T10:29:39.601-07:00The World of Beauty<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtKKQA5TMIFkxL5YOn6J94bvkpxvvCiLDf5tm08T_y-atxNSjsONS_16CjJUooWd2QevBbRVsuc48A68uKfPYxSBlNLJOkUXo1mUbEFiDhS3hRaNz2iWoFwXs94Vtq61fK9MOYEmXpDkx/s1600/IMG_9690.JPG"></a>I recently received some photos of baby porcupines and thought they were so adoreable! I mean who could not resist these cute little critters? </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzqVCr-h446P2wGfVqOd8Wz6uwisrUG8Geb9SSyAW7vSsoTg5PFavwDAMUfH6ECQMGLGy3vxupRV8WEfim3_qvTNTF7yWwMIyaYFmrE9pR1X9LBWr1ctUER9WOJeqeWCBtK5oCN5A2id1/s1600/mime-attachment.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzqVCr-h446P2wGfVqOd8Wz6uwisrUG8Geb9SSyAW7vSsoTg5PFavwDAMUfH6ECQMGLGy3vxupRV8WEfim3_qvTNTF7yWwMIyaYFmrE9pR1X9LBWr1ctUER9WOJeqeWCBtK5oCN5A2id1/s320/mime-attachment.jpg" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8XBOYid7-Ujhlv4qAUv46ODJSePm6JlWpMrcFBT3twm-Dqt69YvVlLeXOzJKRiqoeA77QeFiCu-RvWUsmx8IuuMeby1G5SJ8TybnPzVpgFsaZ_VkQ2_3gjalIOcc6j4PJfbRZswbNSsH/s1600/mime-attachment-2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8XBOYid7-Ujhlv4qAUv46ODJSePm6JlWpMrcFBT3twm-Dqt69YvVlLeXOzJKRiqoeA77QeFiCu-RvWUsmx8IuuMeby1G5SJ8TybnPzVpgFsaZ_VkQ2_3gjalIOcc6j4PJfbRZswbNSsH/s320/mime-attachment-2.jpg" /></a> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It brought to mind the little creature I spied in Kunzelsau, Germany in 2012 while having drinks with friends at a local wine cellar. There, crawling across the parking lot was a hedgehog. I have never seen one live and this was quite something for me. Evidentially the Germans adore these little creatures as you find carved images of them all over.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friend picked up the little rascal and held it while I took a photo. I guess this is like people seeing a hummingbird for the first time!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another first for me that year was eating a Chestnut. My friends and I attended a local fair and there we stumbled upon a stove where Chestnuts were roasting in the drawer of the unit.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Never having had a Chestnut we bought a bagful and I was delighted to find that they were a wonderful tasting, mild nut.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The thing I like about traveling - seeing the beauty of nature. Germans love their gardens and I must admit that they tend them with what is evidentially a loving passion. They have limited space with which to use for gardening, but every tiny corner is utilized:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While in Switzerland I saw the most beautiful pine trees that went up for over 150 feet in the air. There were wild flowers and all types of ground cover to investigate. The varieties were unlimited and breathtaking in color.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friends and I stumbled across some beautiful mushrooms and, because of their color, I was convinced that this was one of those that you should not eat.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even while visiting friends in Berlin, I noted that rooftops are not immune to gardens. Their entire rooftop was covered in various low growing plants and moss:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking of flowers, I am very lucky. When I have guests over for lunch, I just go out to the garden and collect a variety of lovely tropical flowers.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have orchids, hibiscus, lobster claw, Ixoria, ginger, periwinkle, Queen's wreath, Heliconia, etc. All of which make beautiful tropical arrangements with fern, ti or other various leaves. All of these arrangements would cost high dollars in the States but are mine for the taking.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The world is filled with beauty and wonder and we should revel in it daily!</span></div>
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Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-65072987370326144782014-06-07T09:54:00.000-07:002014-06-07T09:54:10.956-07:00Out-Dumbed!One of my husband's favorite observations is "If you can't outsmart them, out-dumb them!" All the world over this happens. You think you have made your point and, in effect, outsmarted the other person. Well, you are wrong. They will out-dumb you every time and they manage to turn it into an art.<br />
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It goes from subtle things like getting your assignment across, setting a deadline they agree to and then it is not done. Of course there are a million excuses for the lack of activity but, in fact, they have out dumbed you. They have lead you to believe they understand your instructions, agree with them and will accomplish the outcome in a timely manner. Not!<br />
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But there are other ways of out dumbing people. Take the government of Honduras. I have often said that the <u>only</u> way this country will pull itself up, make the lives of their people more productive and their country as well is to educate the people. But the government knows that educated people are just that! They are aware of what they deserve, what should be available to them, what improvements or changes should and can be made and they want more equality. <br />
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Out-dumb steps in. The government here offers education. Catchall: you must pay for all the books (of which there are few), you must buy ALL materials for the classroom, you must pay a fee at the beginning of the year (and I have no idea what this is for) and your children are required to learn whatever is taught them. Teachers are not paid on time and have low salaries. They sometimes go months without being paid Anyone can teach. If you have the equivalent of a High School Diploma (in spite of what your grades were), you can teach. There are no instructions given as to how to set up study plans, how to present the material, in fact how to actually teach effectively. No supplies are given, even minimal, to encourage the students to enjoy school and want to study as the teachers haven't a clue as to how to go about this.<br />
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The ultimate out-dumbing is occurring right now on the island. Evidently no one in the Department of Education is overseeing the distribution of lesson plans or materials to the schools, they simply send material on without review and tell the teacher you must teach this. The 6 year olds attending the public school presently on Bonacca are victims of this out-dumbing. Tegus has supplied material and a curriculum to teach to the 6-year old children, however, no one evidently bothered checked to see if this material was at their level. The material currently being taught to the 6-year olds is material that the 14 year old students might have. These children are told to go home and write a paragraph or two on the rights of women in Honduras. Remember, these children don't even know how to write, much less spell and cannot print their alphabet yet. They are told to write a paper on the top 3 tourist attraction areas in Honduras. These for children too poor to travel and never having seen a book about tourism in Honduras. Without the aid of a book, they are told to go home and draw a skeleton of the human bodies and point out the various parts and without any previous teaching! They are telling children on an island with, basically, one season all year round, to draw pictures depicting the seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. This to a group of children who never leave the island nor see a change in season and have not, so far, had access to any books depicting these. It gets much worse then this but I cannot recall all the over-the-head assignments given to the children. <br />
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This action is forcing Mothers to go to the Internet cafe to do research for their children in order to complete the daily assignments. They are printing out volumes of material to meet these needs and at a cost that they cannot afford. These are people who have little money to spare. The children are depressed and crying; they don't want to go to school because they cannot understand what is being taught. If you want your children to learn the alphabet in order to read, mothers must teach them at home. The younger children go to school from Noon to 6:30 p.m. at night and now 6 days a week; 4 hours on Saturday. So, spare time is in the late evening when they should be eating supper and going to bed, or receive help in the early hours of the morning when the mother must be getting everyone ready for the day and the older children off for the morning session of school.<br />
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Parents have complained to the teachers to no avail. The teacher simply brushes it off with "this is what they must learn." Evidently the teacher has no idea how to teach, what to teach and refuses to try and present material to the children at their level. So, what is happening? Due to the negligence and uncaring attitude in the school system, these children are being taught to hate learning while causing great financial problems to the parents plus forcing the children to produce assignments of which they have no comprehension. One way to "un-educate" the masses for sure. Out dumbed again.<br />
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Now, another example of out-dumbing. There is a law on the books of this country that NO plastic items (bags or soft drink bottles, etc.) can be shipped to the islands. In the past this was no problem as islanders went to the store with bags to carry their groceries in and bought some food items in glass containers. Well, with the introduction of those polluting plastic bags and fresco bottles, plastic hit the island in mass. Several years went by before the government passed the law and by then everyone was accustomed to using plastic. Attempts were made a few years back, but not very strenuously, by the Municipal to tax plastic bottles to pay for their ultimate collection, compaction and return to the coast. Plastic bags were banned but not very enthusiastically. People were use to them and would not do without them so the government turned a blind eye to the matter. The folks on the mainland passed a law but laid out no guidelines as how to enforce it! They left that up to the people knowing full well that people would not concern themselves with this issue when just feeding and clothing your family was first and foremost. The ordinary citizen had no way of "making" the government officials enforce their law and if the government was not worried, why should they?<br />
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Just yesterday this picture appeared on FaceBook:<br />
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Evidently the Municipal of Roatan is making a concerted effort to clean up their island knowing full well that getting rid of the garbage is of grave concern. Mountains and mountains daily of trash build up and soon there will be more trash than space to put it! So, their effort should be watched with great interest by those on Guanaja and Utila, even on the Mainland. I would hope that the citizens would keep close tabs on the progress and whether the new "law" is working. IF it does, and that is a big IF, then the same thing should happen on Guanaja. However, this needs to be expand to plastic bottles as well. You can go nowhere in the surrounding waters of the islands without seeing plastic soft drink bottles floating on the sea! Let's all hope that this succeeds and that the other islands take up the banner! </div>
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Maybe, just maybe we can outsmart them!</div>
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Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-43043109204398437972014-06-02T07:19:00.001-07:002014-06-02T07:19:56.971-07:00More Random Thoughts<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I guess I’m totally removed from the world. Heck, it’s “National Frozen Yogurt Month” and I can’t get yogurt here! Yes, I know, my friends on the island say, “Make your own.” But I barely have enough room in my refrigerator for all the necessities like chocolate, cheese, chocolate, wine, chicken! </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then I look at the news and tell myself, “You live on an island, on foreign soil, so why do you worry about what goes on around the world, especially in politics, because you can’t do anything from here!” I mean articles on “How to deal with on-the-road emergencies” and the fact that Justin Bieber said the “N” word, and which Hollywood star had her face/boobs lifted certainly are of no real interest to me. Then, of course there is the world of war and politics of which I have no say for the most part. Keeping up with politics on the island is of interest to me but, again, I have absolutely no say in what happens here. I just want to stay on the straight and narrow, keep my nose clean so to speak, and enjoy the people that live here. If I can help my community, I will.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As to World-Wide news; my friends say, read “alternative news”, listen to “alternative radio stations” instead of the local Fox, MSN, Newsum, CNET, etc. to get a more rounded opinion. And I think, “Why”? So what if I learn about all the bad things going on in the world or the things that I don’t quite agree with or get a slanted view? By listening, just what can I do from here? Voting is difficult at best when elections are held in the U.S. and then why would I vote in the local elections as I am not there to live with the consequences? Yes, the Presidential election year is important because I can then vote for someone that I think will help my country and the world. So, I think of the Maxine saying: </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I do read the news but don’t get upset with what is going on because it is the same thing year after year after year; just a repeat of the same problems. So, I focus on what is going on where I actually live. I focus on keeping in touch with people around me. I focus on one day at a time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now I like keeping up with recent medical news so that I am aware of strides made to improve one’s health. I like reading articles that take me back to yesteryear and reminiscing. I have no interest in automobile advancements, reading articles on how I can survive retirement (hey, I’m there and have been for 17 years so I guess I have survived), and I have very little interest in 10 obscure facts about Norma Jeane (a/k/a Marilyn Monroe).</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My focus - keeping informed with things that are relevant, enjoying life, helping others, keeping my house clean and my body exercised, reading, crocheting, sudoku, visiting, and planning my next vacation. Shallow huh? My center is my world and I think it is best if I concentrate on that since I do live on a remote island. I try to keep in touch with family as best I can as I miss the connection I cannot get just with e-mails. But, that is all I have so I keep writing them in order to know the things I’m missing out on! So, I think of cute things to send to my Grandchildren, like:</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Fact: In the future I'll tell my Grandson's that I am older than the internet. It will blow their minds forever!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Everyone says “we are living the good life” and I think, the good life is what you make it and we have just as many problems, on a smaller scale, as people all over the world. Think young, act young, be young, but remember “you are older than you will admit! HA.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">I'm not old</span>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">JUST</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">have been young for a long time!</span></span></div>
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Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-60981946183247744002014-06-01T11:07:00.000-07:002014-06-01T11:07:00.307-07:00Adding a photo to my "Miscellaneous" postI just noticed that the photo I copied of Cosmonaut Alex Gerst did not come through on my post so I am repeating the effort here after going through some "saving" techniques:<br />
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Just had to make sure everyone saw his gorgeous, happy face!</div>
<br />Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-49143687392352734892014-06-01T10:58:00.001-07:002014-06-01T11:04:25.777-07:00Miscellaneous<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is a blog with miscellaneous announcements and topics. So, here goes.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">First, Raphael Colontonio passed away in the U.S. about two weeks ago. Raphael and his wife, Mary, lived in Mangrove Bight for approximately 15 years and had to move back to the States two years ago because of Raphaael's ill health. Our condolences to Mary and his family. Rafael and Mary were the only "gringos" living in downtown Mangrove Bight in a small house up on pilings. Rafael was formerly a butcher and loved making sausages. Mary was into quilting and sewing crafts. Mike was not sure what</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 12px;"> </span></span>Raphael meant when he said Mary and he lived in a "cat house in Mangrove Bight" He added to the mystery when he described their house as a veritable "pussy palace." So, we visited them and found they had dozens of cats as pets and took in strays constantly! One could always count on seeing Raphael on Bonacca Cay on shopping day, standing against the wall at Sikaffy's and greeting everyone with a smile and small conversation. He will be missed.</span><br />
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Next, good news. Our local tourist dive hotel, Clearwater Paradise Resort (a/k/a CPR) received two awards for the second time in a row. The first was Trip Advisor's 2014 award for being one of the 10 hotels in Honduras for excellent customer service and the Trip Advisor Circle of Excellence Award. Congratulations to Ginger and George. I must also add that they have finished up apartment above the dive shop, added tank racks to their new 43' Wellcraft Portofino boat and the above-the-ground pool is complete with a deck, solar lights and lounges.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For those of you who want to see more of the boat or an update on CPR, please go to <u>http://www.clearwaterparadise.com/</u>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next, there was some excitement on the island about two weeks ago when<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span>the anti-drugas, dressed in masks and carrying m-16s, invaded Graham’s Place late in the day, unannounced. They made all the guests move outside while they held guns on everyone and then searched all the rooms and the grounds for several hours. They would not tell Graham who they were or what they were looking for and apparently did not have a warrant or would not show it. Graham found out the next morning who they were. Obviously, the guest were terrified. They did not find any trace of drugs anywhere. There was a panga (name for a local boat) at Grahams that had not run for several months, they said it was probably used to carry drugs and they seized it. Graham was totally upset by this intrusion and is in the process of getting a lawyer and filing a complaint.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We have some people arriving and leaving all the time on the island. Soon several people will be leaving either for the summer, a couple months or 6 weeks. We will miss them and look forward to their return. On the other hand, we have people arriving in June and July and short periods and some in August or September. We welcome Michael Glannegger back to Guanaja. So even though we have departures, we have arrivals which keep us up-to-date with what's going on in the outside world and new conversation!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I recently had to go to San Pedro Sula to see a new internist. My doctor had retired several years ago and the only doctor available to me at the time did not have a good grasp of English. When talking about my heart, even though I can get buy in Spanish, I prefer my native tongue so that I will be totally aware of what is being discussed. I have great praise for Hospital Cemesa and the new doctor, Dr. Jorge Martinez, who has an office in this complex. I was impressed with the doctor's enthusiasm for his line of work, his thoroughness, his excellent English, and the fact that he is well-informed. And, good news, he goes to La Ceiba twice a month so I won't have to make the long trip to San Pedro to see him. He also told me that a new hospital is in the process of being built in back of the present building. If you want to see an architectural rending of the building you can go to: <u>http://www.hcemesa.com/?lang=en</u>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dr. Martinez also informed me that they presently have the capability to install pace makers and/or defibrillators, along with other procedures and that they are making advancements all the time and updating their equipment and services.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A group of us are going to a new bar near Mangrove Bight this coming week to check it out. Run by a man called "Bully" it is on the beach and between Mangrove Bight and Susan's place.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The most excitement, however, was the launching of the Soyuz rocket from Russia. On board was a Russian <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">cosmonaut Max Surayev and German Alexander Gerst and American, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Reid Wiseman. This took place on Wed., May 28th and we were able to watch it at Manati Bar and Restaurant that afternoon. What was exciting was that the German cosmonaut, Alexander (Alex) Gerst is a childhood friend of Claus and Annette's son, Roland) and they (Claus and Annette) are good friends with his parents in </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Künzelsau<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545454;">.</span></em></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> I had met Alex and his Dad at various times when they visited the island and, so, we have been watching his progress for quite some time while he underwent training for the position. He speaks German, Russian (which he had to learn in 3 months!) and excellent English. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">The launch, flight and docking were all totally successful. This is a photo of Alex inside the ISS.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, congratulations to all the cosmonauts and their flawless journey so far.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, I read that the American cosmonaut had to pay $71,000,000.00 for his seat in the rocket. When one considers the expense that is incurred just building a rocket in the U.S., launching it, training, etc., this is probably a bargain-basement price.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was also happy to see how the three men got along together. They had great camaraderie, seemed very happy and comfortable together and because of their common interest (science) they were able to, in some respects, avoid the politics of this endeavor. We wish them much success. Oh, Roland (Claus and Annette's son) now has permission to e-mail Alex in space! All I can say is WOW!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And that's it for my update.</span></div>
Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-30547059832048292882014-05-24T11:14:00.001-07:002014-05-24T11:14:22.357-07:00Outside the Box!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I understand the importance of security in this dangerous world. I understand the rationale behind having identification, or a license to operate machinery, and for certificates of authenticity, i.e., a degree stating that an individual has completed sufficient courses and is competent in his or her chosen field. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What I do not understand is the inability of a country to not encourage their people to look "outside the box" when there are guidelines set down. Most guidelines are not set in stone. They are just that "guidelines" and some discretion must be shown by the individuals working within those guidelines.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What am I getting at? Mainly, the security one must go through at airports now a days. I accept this slight inconvenience and understand the necessity for it, but I also think that the people in Honduras at these checkpoints really don't understand fully what they are looking for or are able to use rationale in their searches.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Case in point. We are told that we cannot travel with bottles of liquids containing more than, I believe, 1.5 ounces. Fine. We are told that these objects must be placed in our suitcase and checked as baggage. Fine. We are told that we cannot carry guns or knives, which I am in total agreement with, and fingernail files or clippers, which I find a little far fetched. Yes, one can use a fingernail file to poke out the eye of someone and use it as a weapon, but the same can be said for a pencil or pen or knitting needle and none of these are banned. Now as to a fingernail clipper - sorry, I can't see anyone using it as a weapon and threatening to clip someone's nails off as dangerous. But, then, maybe the officials in security know something about fingernail clippers that I don't. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Everything, with the exception of aerosols and chemicals, weapons, etc. can be carried in our luggage. We can carry bottles of liquor, balsamic vinegar, bottles of hand lotion or shampoo, canned olives; anything not considered dangerous by securities' standards. HOWEVER, when I go to San Pedro Sula I always go to Los Andes, which is the Mecca for grocery shopping. They have just about everything I would want and even things I do not know about! They have things I can never get on the island and things that delight me when I can buy them. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We have, basically, three kinds of soup on the Island: Chicken noodle, vegetable and cream of mushroom. That's it. I can go to Los Andes and get at least 15-20 different types of soups, some of which I love to use in my recipes. Cream of Broccoli, Broccoli with Cheese, Nacho Cheese, Onion soup, etc. So, when I am in San Pedro I buy these soups as a treat for the special dishes I can otherwise not enjoy.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In April, my husband and I went to San Pedro to complete business and shop. I packed all grocery items in my suitcase and cold items, such a meat in cheese in a carry-on cooler bag. My luggage was checked and we proceeded to security and the waiting lounge. My carry-on cooler bag made it through with no problem and we patiently awaited the departure of our flight. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Imagine my surprise when I was approached not 5 minutes after getting into the lounge by a Sosa Airline employee telling me I would have to go open my luggage downstairs. He took me to the security area where 3 men were waiting. They asked me to open my suitcase, which I did, and they proceeded to search it. The man found the soup, looked at it (Cream of Broccoli) and said "You must open this." I could not believe my ears. I said, "Why?" He said that it was a liquid and I had to open it. I said it was not a liquid but a cream based soup and what were they expecting to find? He did not respond to my question, simply said that it must be opened. I told him I had a receipt from the store showing my purchase that very day and how could I seal up a can between the time I bought it and them finding it in my luggage? Of course he shrugged his shoulders and said I must open it. I then told him (and the policeman there) that this was totally ridiculous, it was a stupid request and that if they used their knowledge they would know that there was nothing wrong with the can of soup. It did not seem to matter that I had packed it in my suitcase with other liquids (which they never opened). They seemed indifferent as to which one of the 4 cans they had to open. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The can was one with a pop top and they managed, with difficulty, to open it. He looked at it and said it was ok. He never dumped the contents out, never probed the contents to see if something else was in there. He handed me the can and I said it is ruined now, what do you expect me to do with it? He just shrugged. Then, since the policeman had not shown his ability to rule over me, he asked if he could search my suitcase further. I said go ahead and do you want to search me to which he replied no. They completed their efforts, set the open can of soup aside and let me take the other 3 in the suitcase and I was allowed to return to the waiting area.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No one has ever produced a list to me of what, exactly, I can and cannot carry in my luggage except for a few notices posted about flammable items, chemicals, guns, etc. Now soup is considered dangerous? If this "liquid" was dangerous, why did they not check the cans of olives, the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> balsamic vinegar, the bottles of Triple Sec? I was told on my second trip just this past week (they opened another can of soup then too) that they had a list downstairs in the main terminal but no one offered to go get it for me. I had already pointed out to the airline personnel that I was carrying soup and canned olives and he placed them in a bag and took them to Security who, again, ultimately said I had to open one!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My question is: why can't they think "outside the box?" The items were packed in my suitcase where I had no access to them. I was taking nothing that was listed on their posters in the main terminal. Other items with "liquid" were not brought into question and only the soup which had a "pop top" opening was the target of their interest. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Can they not take my receipt as evidence that I had just bought the item? Can they not realize that I had no way of resealing a pop top can? And, lastly, why would anyone try to hide drugs, if that was what they were looking for, in one can of soup? Surely they must realize that if one's intent was to transport drugs for sale, a single can of soup would not contain much of anything and, besides, they never searched the contents.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Again, I realize that our security while flying is something we should all be concerned about. But let's use our heads people! If you are going to do a job and insist on opening a can of soup - well then search it and show me that you are really serious about this. Don't just do it because you are bored and must show your ability to control things. Do it because you actually fear that something illegal is going on. And, take into consideration that even though it is a "pop top" can, I have no access to it from inside the plane!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Think outside the box!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As a side note: the security in La Ceiba must have a different set of rules because they do not question soup as one of the items carried in a suitcase as they do in San Pedro Sula.</span>Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-14610493364830293512014-05-13T08:51:00.000-07:002014-05-13T08:51:20.087-07:00Are Changes in Sight?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First, I would like to announce that the fishing boat with 3 young men that left the island on Tuesday, May 6th, were finally located somewhere near Belize by the Belize Coast Guard! The young men went out on a particularly windy day last week and had not been heard from. Boats from the island searched the surrounding area for them with no luck.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Since we have had over a full week of really rough seas and high winds, everyone feared they may have encountered problems and either sunk or were capsized and were lost at sea. So, I am glad to report that they have been located. Upon reading the Belize News, the boys were dehydrated with associated illnesses and were in the hospital, otherwise they were in fairly good condition. It is not known when they will return to the island.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We still have no word on the fate of Matthew Zapata who was last reported in San Pedro Sula and has not been heard back from in a while. We are not clear as to when he arrived there or when he was to return or why he has not contacted his family. Needless to say it is feared that something has happened to him and the family is anxious.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But back to my topic. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the hopes of laying to rest our curiosity about what the new administration of the island has for it's future, my husband, Mike, and I met with the Mayor, Spurgeon Miller, on Monday. We had some concerns and wanted to get some input as to his ideas for the island.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First, Mayor Miller is an educated island-born individual with a good grasp of English which certainly helps when trying to communicate. My husband and I have a fair grasp of Spanish and I can converse with doctors, bankers, shop keepers and locals in Spanish. I love Spanish; it is very descriptive and fairly easy to grasp. However, trying to be come bi-lingual at my age is difficult. Not impossible, it just take a lot more time. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mayor Miller met with us promptly at our appointed time. He is a very cordial young man who seemed to be on top of things. I questioned him about the Municipal Dock and my concerns with the problems that are facing it. This structure is fairly new having been completed a little over a year ago. We were much in need of a new dock and although it took longer than projected it is of sturdy concrete construction which we hope will stand the test of the sea. However, the design did not include any plans for smaller, local boats to use it for docking and/or parking when one has business in town. The large commercial boats that go to and from the Mainland weekly have no trouble docking there and off-loading but the height of the dock and the fact that the openings under it restricts use by small boats who wish to tie up. Presently there is a platform at the beginning of the dock where a few boats can tie up - maybe 3 or 4 minimum. More than that and it becomes a crowded, unsafe area. This is the only area where water taxis can drop off their clients and people can park to take care of whatever task they have in town that day. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As of a couple of weeks ago we have been told that no small boats can park at this platform. We are directed to park <u>beside</u> the dock which, because of the height of the structure and the openings, presents a huge problem to the safety of people and boats alike. Previously it was a "first come, first served" basis for parking at the platform. Now there is no parking. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I asked the Mayor what his plans were to correct this situation as, after all, it is a public dock. He said that as we spoke materials were being sought to build a wooden dock abutting the larger dock on the east side of the structure. Prices were being quoted and plans were being assembled to build this dock. He estimated that once everything was in place it should be completed in 30 days.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I suggested that he post a notice informing the local citizenry of the plans and the exact present restrictions for using the platform at dock; i.e., is parking allowed or is it merely a drop off? I felt that informing the public would be helpful. I also told him it would be constructive and informative if they would also post a notice informing the public-at-large that a parking dock is being considered and details be given regarding the final outcome of the plans. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He agreed that it was an idea worth considering. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My husband brought up the disparity in building permit fees and wanted to know if a fee structure could be established as in the past there seemed to be no set price and the opportunity for graft was great. The Mayor was informed that some individuals in the past have been charged as much as 150% more than other buildings in proportion to their overall size and function. The Mayor said there was a set rate on 1.5% per million lempiras for building permits and anything over that was not within legal limits. He said he would examine the records for past charges to establish if the legal limits had been overstepped.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next we inquired as to the status of the investigation regarding the attack on the night watchman at Dunbar Rock over a week ago. The building was reportedly broken into by 2 men who arrived in a boat. They attacked the 78 year old guard and stole food and a radio. It appears that whoever the perpetrators were they may have had keys as the freezer they entered was not broken into and the lock appears to have been opened with a key. The guard sustained 10 stitches to his head and got medical help by going to the room of two of the guests there at the time asking for help.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Mayor said there was an active investigation into the crime as it is suspected by some that it was an "inside" job and may have been done by disgruntled employees who had not been paid in some time. This fact, however, has to be researched to establish if it is true.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With regard to that topic, my husband asked if employers running a business and, therefore, having been issued an operating permit, can be held accountable and be made to pay their workers when wages are being withheld an inordinate length of time. Mike proposed that people withholding wages are creating a problem which may lead to stealing from the business or others by the employee just to sustain their daily lives because they are not being paid. We said this does not look good for the island in general if people are allowed to come, build a business and withhold salaries for whatever reason. A consideration should be given to pull their operating permit until they have rectified the problem and a fine charged for such deplorable actions. Upon proof that all employees have finally been paid and any outstanding debts cleared, they would be allowed to re-open their business. The Mayor showed interest in such action and said he would check further into the actions of what went on at Dunbar rock to see if proper steps could be taken to prevent occurrences that may have created this problem.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Mayor was advised by my husband that this is not the only case where employers are withholding wages and not because the employee is not doing the job. Why any employer in a viable business would delay normal employee salaries is open to everyone's speculation but seems un-productive. We asked if he could somehow check into this practice and take moves to correct it by fines or other restrictions.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mike then questioned the Mayor on environmental issues stating his concern for the hunting and retention of turtles in confined areas. It is against the law to interfere with turtles in any way, either by hunting, selling or keeping them in penned areas. The Mayor understands the environmental impact regarding sea life around the island and it is his desire to cooperate with restricting these actions and enforcing the law.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Mayor also said that special considerations are being sought to establish better ways of gathering needed construction materials such as sand and gravel. His Honor is looking into areas that can be used for these supplies without harming the environment or jeopardizing the shorelines of the island.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We can only hope that this administration will shed a new light on the face of Guanaja, helping rather than hindering its development. We realize that the Mayor has a tough job ahead of him which will take many hours of his time and important decisions. We wish him the best in his endeavor and hope that all citizens will be willing to work and assist him in making Guanaja more productive and a place that people will want to return to.</span>Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-47551752130763364242014-05-06T07:16:00.004-07:002014-05-06T07:16:44.604-07:00Can you believe what they say?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The world turns and promises are constantly made and broken. No matter where you go in the world it is difficult to actually believe what is being told to the citizens at large.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that will impose fines on people and organizations for swearing; books that contain swearing will require warning labels. Does this mean the Russians are so sensitive to swear words that he has created a law against them? What about the law that says a country voted to break away from the Soviet Union and become their own country and now, because a small minority of the overall population seem to think the Motherland needs to be a real part of their life, Big Brother steps back in saying "their" people are being mistreated and manages to get them back into "the fold". The people wanted out and now they are back in - who is to believe what anyone really wants?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I wanted to make French bread the other day and it was a total failure. Evidently the yeast had lost all its oomph! I had just bought new yeast about 2 months ago (maybe 3), kept it in the refrigerator and have used it several times. Well, it must have been at the very end of its shelf life (as most things purchased here are) and I did not realize it. So, the bread failed and the pizza dough, although it was OK and not FANTASTIC, and rose very little. We suffered through this and ate the whole thing! Most things here are beyond their shelf life and many times finding that date printed on the packaging is almost impossible. I mean, most of the medicine that is in the clinic (and relatively free) is way past its due date. Drug companies send their past-due stuff to third world countries and even though I have read that you can use a lot of the drugs almost 2 years past date, in this climate I would not trust that rule of thumb.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then, I went to town yesterday to make a bank deposit. Now, I pay taxes and, yes, I choose to live in a remote area where I have no access to local electricity, water or garbage service. This was my choice. I get nothing in return for this. Even when I need the police I have to pay them, pick them up and cart them around if they need to investigate a crime for me. The ONLY thing I see that gives me any entitlement from the payment of my taxes is I can park at the Municipal dock when I go to town, if I happen to want to park in that area when I have business to deal with on that end of the Cay. The Municipal dock is public property having been built by the Municipal, i.e., ultimately the taxes of the people. Same as the airport, it was built with funds that were contributed but, ultimately, it really belongs to the people as part of our tax structure. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now it appears I cannot park at the Municipal dock. I can drop off people but what am I to do with my boat on shopping day if there are no more areas to park (and they are becoming less and less)? Taxis, large boats that come from Savannah Bight and Mangrove Bight and now the Conch Festival "Pirate" boat is parked at the dock. Most of these boats are business ventures and make money by transporting people. They are allowed to park there. But we private citizens cannot park there. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When the dock was built no one seemed to think about the fact that this was a public dock and, as such, spaces should have been allowed and built to accommodate the hundreds of boats owned by the local people. These locally owned boats are nor longer then 15-20 feet and of standard height. The dock was built for commercial type boats and no thought was given to the locals who need parking with much smaller boats.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Have you ever tried to get up off your boat onto a dock that is at least 5 feet above your head with no way of gaining access to it? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have heard rumors that our new government is planning on building something to accommodate the vast majority of citizens. But with little funds in their budget I don't know when they will get that done. I mean the dock was suppose to have taken less than 6 months to build and took over a year! Things do not move quickly here and saying something will be built and actually seeing it started or completed can take years. Case in point - our airport. We now have a fine airport "terminal" and were content with that. The dock for that construction was inadequate from the get go and everyone could see that it would not provide sufficient parking for people coming to pick up or drop off. It took several years before they finally woke up, found the funds and built on extra dock area. So, we cannot believe what we are told, especially when it is time sensitive.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our residency cards must be renewed once a year and in order to do this we must return to La Ceiba (or wherever we applied for the card) and have a new card issued. It took them years just to figure out they needed to create a file folder on each individual so that when one returned, the process could be shortened by referring to the past file. Each year we had to bring copies of the same paperwork, 2 photos, a bank statement and get finger printed (guess our finger prints from the previous year were lost each year). Finally, a really diligent girl at the office started making files! It saved so much time and now we don't need to bring all that paperwork to dump on them any more. They even had a camera to take a new photo for the card! Well, the system ran into a problem last year. My husband and I didn't suffer with the problem as we got our cards renewed in April. Right after that, lo and behold, the camera stopped functioning, the machine to make the cards stopped working and the laminator was out of supplies to finish the job! This went on for over a year! After last April when one went to get a new card you were issued a piece of paper extending your residency for 90 days. This means you have to go back every 90 days and get it re-issued. There is no cost involved except for those that must fly there, stay in a hotel, eat and use taxis. I recently inquired of various people asking if we did not show up to renew the "extension" would we be fined? I have been told no, so I did not see a purpose for spending all that money to return to get an extension but, then, I need my paper to use for discounts and identification.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We all heard the rumors that because last year was a voting year the government in power did not want to spend any of the money in the budget that could be placed elsewhere else (in their pockets?) and so, new supplies were not purchased, machines were not repaired and nothing was updated until the government knew who was in charge for the next 4 years. I don't know if this was true but it sounds reasonable. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Supposedly now, as of this month, new machines have been delivered to La Ceiba and San Pedro but I hear they are still having problems and, for the most part, cards are being sent to be issued in Tegucigalpa. I guess the world over you really can't believe what you are told by the government.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With no newspaper on the island the only way one knows what is going on is word-of-mouth and we know how unreliable that is. But, that is how we survive here with rumors, tales, innuendos and a lot of guessing. One person will tell you what is "really going on" to find out that they heard it from someone who had no facts or, as word-of-mouth goes, unreliable.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I remember one time, many, many, many years ago, I made up a "newspaper" as a joke and the gist of it was just to have some fun. However, at the time I made a serious remark about the construction of a certain necessary piece of work (I will not say what but it was necessary) and noted that the construction did not appear to meet the necessary requirements in order to be fully serviceable and/or last. My husband's life was in construction and I worked by his side for many years so we both had a grasp on what would work and what had the potential for failure. So, it was not a wild guess or supposition on my part that produced my comments. I merely pointed out the fact that it was not of good design. Well, the backlash I got for making that comment and actually having the gumption to criticize was not well taken. Can't repeat what I was told but needless to say one must keep their thoughts to themselves in a foreign country as evidently, at least in the past, they did not want to be given any advice. Oh, the construction ultimately failed and fell down!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is true of humans that we don't like change and don't take advice well, sometimes even when we ask for it. But, when we ask questions it would be nice to know that whoever we are asking will tell us honestly that this is either their opinion, or they don't know, or they aren't sure or can direct us to someone who CAN help. I have discovered that many times here you are told what the other person THINKS you want to hear even if it is not true. Guess that is why they have the Mañana theory!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now, you can believe me or not; your choice. A minority of the people I have found who read my blogs read what they "think" I am saying and do not read the actual words. This is why I say "in my opinion" or that "I'm not sure it is true." These people will write and tell me that I should watch my words and get quite upset with what I have published. Yet, it is they inserting their own opinion into my blog and not actually reading my words. So, believe what you want, I'm just writing my opinion!</span></div>
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It has worked out well and here's some of the luscious tomatoes I've picked and am still picking:</div>
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Friends are happy when I share them with them and there is plenty to go around. I have found my parsley and chives do better in pots and it took three cuttings off the bottom of a stalk of celery to get the plant to start growing and it has finally started showing signs of life. Just hope it is not too hot to continue with it. The basil is always successful but with the dry season here watering is getting a little difficult as we collect and use rain water to refresh the plants!</div>
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My husband and I spent the first week of April in La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula getting 1) residency cards renewed and 2) U.S. Passports renewed at the U.S. Embassy. All in all, I don't really like working with any government as it usually involves foolish questions, a lot of paperwork and expense with delayed gratification. This time we could not get the actual residency card as for a year now the Immigration offices to renew the cards have not had either the machines to make the cards, the laminate to finish them, the cameras to take pictures or, if they had all of the above, it did not work. In 2013 we managed to hit them just right and got our card. The week after that everything all over the country took a nose dive and is just starting to come back but still hitting glitches.</div>
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The U.S. Embassy was fairly quick and painless although expensive. But, we did get our new passports in the allotted 3-4 weeks and now are good for 10 more years.</div>
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We did grocery shopping in both cities before we returned and the only incident was when the Security at San Pedro Sula airport decided that I had to open a can of Cream of Broccoli soup as it was suspicious. I had 4 cans of soup and argued with them that I had a receipt showing I just purchased the soup that very day and they were sealed. Nope, could not argue with them, they were set and they wanted the "pop top" on the can popped! I was not happy and won't repeat all the remarks I made to people who wear blinders and refuse to think out of the box. I opened one can and the man didn't even fish around in it looking for anything! Don't know what he expected to be in a can of cream of broccoli soup but whatever it was, he was satisfied when I had opened the can and the soup was ruined. Next time I plan on seeing a security officer in San Pedro before shopping to get a list of what I can and cannot buy to take back to Guanaja with me!</div>
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I finally found in La Ceiba a rattan chair to replace the one my dog destroyed (the parrot had a hand in the destruction too). It is almost impossible to find rattan furniture in Honduras and finally, at Muebles Ali, I hit the jackpot. Chose a chair and it was delivered the next week on the boat. I hope to get some of the fabric and have new cushions made for my old chair. He also says he can fix my other chair of which arms were chewed up by the dog, I just have to get it on the boat and to La Ceiba.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTI28HrNzVkeUvMhb4-btJOr15zeCYt1JGAtkN-jQRyxyKb0Ty5e7Va8TsRgWainR2TTU8fjeuUKatVT2C8yHaKDakrM6577bIR_VaOJtt_SAmjdLybOdyAlAwAMNZdgv4CiJCUm1Eu4zm/s1600/Rattan+Chair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTI28HrNzVkeUvMhb4-btJOr15zeCYt1JGAtkN-jQRyxyKb0Ty5e7Va8TsRgWainR2TTU8fjeuUKatVT2C8yHaKDakrM6577bIR_VaOJtt_SAmjdLybOdyAlAwAMNZdgv4CiJCUm1Eu4zm/s1600/Rattan+Chair.JPG" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
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Earlier this year I had my 30 year old Rattan Couch recovered with fabric I found in San Pedro Sula. A local here, Carlos, does a wonderful job and he did not fail me:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqnMiptGAaF7E4yrLMYMwO7zLxLWxVpjrQowBRB2pXd8AfINDDhmJ5vNkd_CcnB2NqkjdK2PPFkHl2n-eYuAup0AGncX15eC6DC9TYwLB54atkX7x-cDUxaZnVk5-9WEzFMJmD77XrOJI/s1600/Couch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqnMiptGAaF7E4yrLMYMwO7zLxLWxVpjrQowBRB2pXd8AfINDDhmJ5vNkd_CcnB2NqkjdK2PPFkHl2n-eYuAup0AGncX15eC6DC9TYwLB54atkX7x-cDUxaZnVk5-9WEzFMJmD77XrOJI/s1600/Couch.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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On May 1st my husband and I celebrated our 33 Wedding Anniversary and a small group all met up for lunch at George and Ginger's place (Clearwater Paradise). We had a wonderful lunch, as always, as Ginger is a great cook. A pleasant time and a beautiful day weather-wise. Sometimes it just all comes together!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbaA0UyFdY9L8c886v85uBgSorusns2Ipw7FbrGgqoJ0qJpjmU3wkJ_WrRnYWnzNK77Qb8jVe10ugRv2gaZocEDzxl2oLoYXSDmBzj97_EP98lUkaXybrCSj74Htly7JJs5SfA_9doUJV/s1600/Anniversary.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbaA0UyFdY9L8c886v85uBgSorusns2Ipw7FbrGgqoJ0qJpjmU3wkJ_WrRnYWnzNK77Qb8jVe10ugRv2gaZocEDzxl2oLoYXSDmBzj97_EP98lUkaXybrCSj74Htly7JJs5SfA_9doUJV/s1600/Anniversary.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Soon Conch Festival will be upon us and the island is getting ready for this event which takes place in July. Lots of activities and fun and beach time for all!</div>
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I also must make note that a new Bed and Breakfast has opened up run by Roland Rumm. Located up the hill from Manati Restaurant, Roland's Garden Guesthouse is a lovely two story house with a beautiful view and lots to do. Roland has not been in business very long but is getting bookings at a steady rate and has been rated 4 out of 46 hotels in the Bay Islands! This is quite an accomplishment for such a new business and our hats are off to Roland. If you like a relaxed style, a great host, hiking, kayaking, diving, snorkeling all at a reasonable price, look him up. Lovely accommodations, breakfast and airport transport included. Check him out on-line. Go to: http://rolandsgardenguesthouse.com/</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeuHB0j5BSa_Yrkifw6yDrOBcU995oKV10bJCt-qRNC1t136ZubiVIbkhrCaKFmqA3Lu-LOhe1ImKKzZvopw-JynYbbHgewqNjmc2qIPXRXxL_xNslhQvuO4eo1o0c7102LVsmFVXOiDn/s1600/Roland+Gueshouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeuHB0j5BSa_Yrkifw6yDrOBcU995oKV10bJCt-qRNC1t136ZubiVIbkhrCaKFmqA3Lu-LOhe1ImKKzZvopw-JynYbbHgewqNjmc2qIPXRXxL_xNslhQvuO4eo1o0c7102LVsmFVXOiDn/s1600/Roland+Gueshouse.jpg" height="247" width="400" /></a></div>
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And now back to baking bread, reading and relaxing as it is Sunday!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-88605495742233743722014-03-01T10:45:00.004-08:002014-03-01T10:45:55.326-08:00My Favorite Time of YearIt's that time of year again, February through the end of May, when the weather is absolutely perfect; breezes during the day, calm seas and cool nights.<br />
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The Mango trees near my house are in bloom and the smell is absolutely marvelous, To me, a mixture of orange blossoms and jasmine, at least if my memory serves me right! And my orchids are starting to put out shoots and in about a month they will be in bloom.<br />
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I am truly blessed with an abundance of various flowers and plants and in spite of the soil of this island being very poor, somehow these plants have managed to adapt and thrive.<br />
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So, in celebration of this time of year and all the the beauty that is putting forth, I offer these photos.<br />
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First, when I look out my kitchen window, I am greeted by the sunshine colors of this croton and, in a month, I will be dazzled with the beauty of my orchids:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJpFYUteTKLq2sd-f-419pwcIZImb9-YO4Ccyme9B720LRHqnY2oYQriaiyZW9XNLNvz6vezadspHFd6VB33mkP57koAohjcK0SFj3NBQdUPcyGkpqssDggp0qTJVk7xJlSeTzZaCIGkU/s1600/Flowers+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJpFYUteTKLq2sd-f-419pwcIZImb9-YO4Ccyme9B720LRHqnY2oYQriaiyZW9XNLNvz6vezadspHFd6VB33mkP57koAohjcK0SFj3NBQdUPcyGkpqssDggp0qTJVk7xJlSeTzZaCIGkU/s1600/Flowers+1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This plant is a wonderful sunshine yellow and greets my eyes every morning.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhY1BgTbGXaWufPop_gng48Iwu4seTe7xYLG0PS8Oh60h6B8nbdYJ8PR7vG06FAVC6bVOAO7OFyvwB0G63qsdlRFOQBa5T38h7SN1CCYB4a096jSNlBJIvUjpaTT6kfw9-Nh1ebQq2HdWm/s1600/flowers+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhY1BgTbGXaWufPop_gng48Iwu4seTe7xYLG0PS8Oh60h6B8nbdYJ8PR7vG06FAVC6bVOAO7OFyvwB0G63qsdlRFOQBa5T38h7SN1CCYB4a096jSNlBJIvUjpaTT6kfw9-Nh1ebQq2HdWm/s1600/flowers+2.JPG" height="320" width="179" /></a></div>
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Orchids on the stalk and up close!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsUM3PKI_zObVbnWPxR7kgTk2F6ABN8LxxXSRZXeMK92jy8FVJrzTPCZwkjtFdNxdTbCQF6denrJv5qqQtmh2cchsHmZOtPr4OjBW96pzU47q9-yIdgXz3b1TDdlJPT15qtMmme-kVFF5/s1600/flowers+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsUM3PKI_zObVbnWPxR7kgTk2F6ABN8LxxXSRZXeMK92jy8FVJrzTPCZwkjtFdNxdTbCQF6denrJv5qqQtmh2cchsHmZOtPr4OjBW96pzU47q9-yIdgXz3b1TDdlJPT15qtMmme-kVFF5/s1600/flowers+3.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's a collage of flowers I have in my yard (and it still does not cover them all). I thought putting each individual flower up would take up too much time and space so created this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERHddGw_6NlkCV6sLhz3oCs0jHRgr_Fk6HohCr_8gYn6-IrLCVP2avWW5BnOcvS-_kGJrcB60EYpVomAEmDWCkOBYP4UoPxf0cn62ufk8QnAyHXfutlN0n9eVrbPMd2uSD4ngyh6pYhjD/s1600/collage+of+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERHddGw_6NlkCV6sLhz3oCs0jHRgr_Fk6HohCr_8gYn6-IrLCVP2avWW5BnOcvS-_kGJrcB60EYpVomAEmDWCkOBYP4UoPxf0cn62ufk8QnAyHXfutlN0n9eVrbPMd2uSD4ngyh6pYhjD/s1600/collage+of+flowers.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
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What is absolutely marvelous, when I give dinner parties I can go out in the garden and choose from so many varieties of tropical plants to make lovely arrangements. Even without any skills in arranging, the beauty comes forth.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqG5m0z6BgSR-YGdVx7E2Y0OvzVWexl7Olrerqo3-lzbCiaYxlbpEGa2s1XnMQ2BU2oJZWqXYUI5WmKYtBOI9HSn98MkJnzXGWf6j6ZUnW9SLmtRY6pSJ9ysxsSfr41oupa_HlUr8mCUZ/s1600/bouquet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqG5m0z6BgSR-YGdVx7E2Y0OvzVWexl7Olrerqo3-lzbCiaYxlbpEGa2s1XnMQ2BU2oJZWqXYUI5WmKYtBOI9HSn98MkJnzXGWf6j6ZUnW9SLmtRY6pSJ9ysxsSfr41oupa_HlUr8mCUZ/s1600/bouquet.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwo1jjqMylC8gChF-CfC65qgDXoWoFwMBOW1wwyRDBR-Udn_6EwpiwjjmfkQelb0RGqibDi9kiTbp1D5NliCCMjrJGnciOh9nRex_RTI2KI_wtLGbs1S398WaVRfkK-HVNPTvDPyVXHO7/s1600/arrangement+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwo1jjqMylC8gChF-CfC65qgDXoWoFwMBOW1wwyRDBR-Udn_6EwpiwjjmfkQelb0RGqibDi9kiTbp1D5NliCCMjrJGnciOh9nRex_RTI2KI_wtLGbs1S398WaVRfkK-HVNPTvDPyVXHO7/s1600/arrangement+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Just a group of many flowers ---</div>
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or a simple arrangement of two types of orchids:</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKo9OCwk54FpS7v79fPyFc71jSiVJACnpMV5txrTtWWY3Jpkh6oNMDr0bBen6uX70Man-BYB2DdGg7Tz8JBT555__uNxQUnb0ZymAYUSJAU4Hn6aL-DE70Qo2_WIyiP2kGsUT9Rzl7U3d/s1600/arrangement.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKo9OCwk54FpS7v79fPyFc71jSiVJACnpMV5txrTtWWY3Jpkh6oNMDr0bBen6uX70Man-BYB2DdGg7Tz8JBT555__uNxQUnb0ZymAYUSJAU4Hn6aL-DE70Qo2_WIyiP2kGsUT9Rzl7U3d/s1600/arrangement.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Flowers in full bloom are gorgeous and my favorite in my yard is what I call the Mango-colored hibiscus:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4H1qVMRE_WLnIS2pxDBNr5ZVTxsogaN6KEZ9eJ2WqJPX7iOnkF61l0dfvFWsHDldt2Xem9P7ALNWtRBnGA600w31RzdtXLsAbrHHPs3P5eavSCm6lT7eayzelXriyUDKGTYgwMeq3a9L/s1600/mango+hibiscus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4H1qVMRE_WLnIS2pxDBNr5ZVTxsogaN6KEZ9eJ2WqJPX7iOnkF61l0dfvFWsHDldt2Xem9P7ALNWtRBnGA600w31RzdtXLsAbrHHPs3P5eavSCm6lT7eayzelXriyUDKGTYgwMeq3a9L/s1600/mango+hibiscus.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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But flowers in full bloom fade fast, like the hibiscus. But even in their fading they prove to be interesting to photograph. Here is a "today" and a "tomorrow" photo:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSn7WYHvqcXud7q1c8vPyz_d81v_seFSlfp0-89P6w8QiRGwz25dFKzps_aPl7jaLv3NQvM1KYHf6wzI4j6nK8EoNdOvB3j8ZbyG3n1vtV864fqkxxptuuKxC2uuZdFHGxCasYn_w1hVNv/s1600/Today.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSn7WYHvqcXud7q1c8vPyz_d81v_seFSlfp0-89P6w8QiRGwz25dFKzps_aPl7jaLv3NQvM1KYHf6wzI4j6nK8EoNdOvB3j8ZbyG3n1vtV864fqkxxptuuKxC2uuZdFHGxCasYn_w1hVNv/s1600/Today.JPG" height="291" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Mt07Gt3KCKGDRF4OqwhToduj-75ak_gCHUEFFprwMIOpQ7b67nkmqvlQblYOEm7KuaTCPqmhNjpcoGLf1HdBLzhlLI8VoL6SCuFi3N9StiGaDK_edXkSq7UQf5K3qPhXzRtur3UpqWNs/s1600/Tomorrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Mt07Gt3KCKGDRF4OqwhToduj-75ak_gCHUEFFprwMIOpQ7b67nkmqvlQblYOEm7KuaTCPqmhNjpcoGLf1HdBLzhlLI8VoL6SCuFi3N9StiGaDK_edXkSq7UQf5K3qPhXzRtur3UpqWNs/s1600/Tomorrow.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pineapples too have wonderful colors and appear as a "flower" before it turns into a fruit:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFzco5NvBLveUD7Evp1PO_Klv2NPLq0lLhQjIb_qjMa0kbW1lqyJOx2lcV4Dwb90xEfkdBoCiXuywWXuE7mxZ0VCgPJRIE8gPJgQdATkHheJZNJ7rl6OJwU-AwWTyiBqPwgF0LVC96mem/s1600/pineapple+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFzco5NvBLveUD7Evp1PO_Klv2NPLq0lLhQjIb_qjMa0kbW1lqyJOx2lcV4Dwb90xEfkdBoCiXuywWXuE7mxZ0VCgPJRIE8gPJgQdATkHheJZNJ7rl6OJwU-AwWTyiBqPwgF0LVC96mem/s1600/pineapple+flower.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiwnqDf5NNXTUYqUWP7s3Yo_VNs27UkuJSk8hJUMoRODBFOngLORq9b_KboBXJQQFLdxvcwsyQ1XDLLGxf6VkXpaWtEFkqXgcxZthN6R6IYzwrAa3GtQUnSSA2IHpBOIflfsaAaCt0DKb/s1600/pineapple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiwnqDf5NNXTUYqUWP7s3Yo_VNs27UkuJSk8hJUMoRODBFOngLORq9b_KboBXJQQFLdxvcwsyQ1XDLLGxf6VkXpaWtEFkqXgcxZthN6R6IYzwrAa3GtQUnSSA2IHpBOIflfsaAaCt0DKb/s1600/pineapple.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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There is the Spanish Flag plant which has a lovely, complicated flower and the Ti Plant which blooms with simply a long stem and small white flowers:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95_ChAyhI4jBKym3sPb9Vl6mMIZFgIZ5a_tJV98qHOvxda1JS0tbOuLqGRugw1zCw4uYHOrH6sbMQ-qMu2DP7l0s2V22Ta3i2xyPa769R_J8UZdPi5sPNPcbfQvBRVFhwPZnPJ5_uuTc6/s1600/Spanish+flag+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95_ChAyhI4jBKym3sPb9Vl6mMIZFgIZ5a_tJV98qHOvxda1JS0tbOuLqGRugw1zCw4uYHOrH6sbMQ-qMu2DP7l0s2V22Ta3i2xyPa769R_J8UZdPi5sPNPcbfQvBRVFhwPZnPJ5_uuTc6/s1600/Spanish+flag+.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneONm_9Brnz3dHLvnl__RlUyR8Q8_aUGjB9Ko1q-1QgNnRws2yZaVR-z-cZtcAnLBN-qNMRPCoeG2ygIqWiCbZ5hdnavEMk8Lm5UU9oYtVmo6On6w_GqwQIzWNw8djdNluw7luuDULoTX/s1600/Ti+flowers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneONm_9Brnz3dHLvnl__RlUyR8Q8_aUGjB9Ko1q-1QgNnRws2yZaVR-z-cZtcAnLBN-qNMRPCoeG2ygIqWiCbZ5hdnavEMk8Lm5UU9oYtVmo6On6w_GqwQIzWNw8djdNluw7luuDULoTX/s1600/Ti+flowers.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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To dress up the outside of my walls on the house, I have added this lovely plant which rewards me with a constant flowering and little work!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5a-QTTGdHA5e06jEBxFeDOv_hsA90xgR6XjbMsFZ_UpPVbPUV_eTls89j1zDsODDny5BPH3ibM66XpyEB5fgHNlP3N3uyLUu7I35fT5wuG78LgT111I9cKxzLvHJgnafieV6LBjgvY9R/s1600/wall+flowers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5a-QTTGdHA5e06jEBxFeDOv_hsA90xgR6XjbMsFZ_UpPVbPUV_eTls89j1zDsODDny5BPH3ibM66XpyEB5fgHNlP3N3uyLUu7I35fT5wuG78LgT111I9cKxzLvHJgnafieV6LBjgvY9R/s1600/wall+flowers.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJk5gm50HaFmB2TMiFF9HAcJBtX7UBEIPq1QiksMo77F-swL5POd6wReL8Yx7RrVn05VYv8C3Vv0rUVIOfzh31dLrDA3BJJkexguW5HoWmO9qXDrzVcG5YtPLMNy82eGfFfxDkzbwXjUw/s1600/baskets+on+the+wall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJk5gm50HaFmB2TMiFF9HAcJBtX7UBEIPq1QiksMo77F-swL5POd6wReL8Yx7RrVn05VYv8C3Vv0rUVIOfzh31dLrDA3BJJkexguW5HoWmO9qXDrzVcG5YtPLMNy82eGfFfxDkzbwXjUw/s1600/baskets+on+the+wall.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Plus, I have planted a garden this year where our old wood pile sat for 16 years! I don't really expect much as, in the past, getting anything to grow was too much work, too much money and, in the end, only produced too many bugs. I have only parsley, cherry tomatoes (about 20 plants at present) along with basil presently in the garden. I do have a pot of mint on the porch along with several plants of chives and parsley. These plants I have found are easy to maintain and produce a small amount of useable herbs and/or tomatoes. I have had 3 Rosemary plants but she is a fickle plant and too much water has done her in every time. But I will try again!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3mIPiRtuZkvFbErSksDuij3XhSN9_Fiir0DyxNx2YRnkNNH4ib7MW1aHFlPmlRcwHuoi6i4EjTS1EU0PuiWwvGyuruUQ60n4maZBhKW7itWWbIBaWVXKyhwYmCpKCan046UlVNMd_uqH/s1600/Garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3mIPiRtuZkvFbErSksDuij3XhSN9_Fiir0DyxNx2YRnkNNH4ib7MW1aHFlPmlRcwHuoi6i4EjTS1EU0PuiWwvGyuruUQ60n4maZBhKW7itWWbIBaWVXKyhwYmCpKCan046UlVNMd_uqH/s1600/Garden.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also put flowers into my craft projects; some I put on envelopes or crocheted small "corsages" to attach to presents. This envelope went with a card I was asked to make to give to a couple embarking on the seas of matrimony. The "corsage" I attached to a wedding present for my Grandson went I attended his wedding a couple of years ago.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAWEHio4ZhRgMldpOzpQNrl8Af0_EuiH7ox6kao6Vh3xC4NGrwJdT81OUN7zaE_29dOnmHZ25JfMEGjDO0KAEwfmz5hCdhLnaUDjNTE9gmnkfQeA3jJqw76lfmknAd3jRTPa2G-WwhIRH/s1600/Wedding+envelope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAWEHio4ZhRgMldpOzpQNrl8Af0_EuiH7ox6kao6Vh3xC4NGrwJdT81OUN7zaE_29dOnmHZ25JfMEGjDO0KAEwfmz5hCdhLnaUDjNTE9gmnkfQeA3jJqw76lfmknAd3jRTPa2G-WwhIRH/s1600/Wedding+envelope.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mC6R5KY0X8lZGJJkohYPOPBLnGNiwFt5AlgMpVbCGxuqqZv9HPCh_7DN4OpHPTlsOjyw42bVDg5DSbzuuUgvpCi8_GH7mrn61wZ-WttaYLK8EHUpds0g4EMj07Xl6LmWlI6rTCFIl8SQ/s1600/corsage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mC6R5KY0X8lZGJJkohYPOPBLnGNiwFt5AlgMpVbCGxuqqZv9HPCh_7DN4OpHPTlsOjyw42bVDg5DSbzuuUgvpCi8_GH7mrn61wZ-WttaYLK8EHUpds0g4EMj07Xl6LmWlI6rTCFIl8SQ/s1600/corsage.JPG" height="320" width="274" /></a></div>
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I love to play around on the computer too with photos I've taken and can got some pretty interesting results when I "embossed" a photo and changed the color scheme:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10vLHaHd1SHmoYrUC8mr301EwMTwfALI4-HlS_1jfN5BI4O9KKwZMVt6hHMQ8Wv3AwB-XEKtGd5x4S-bsJM_99Nc9ygomf5QmBYWKcBlPtnM6PwvsJzoPLfWtaFTrrGI38KtHongFSQTF/s1600/embossed+lily+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10vLHaHd1SHmoYrUC8mr301EwMTwfALI4-HlS_1jfN5BI4O9KKwZMVt6hHMQ8Wv3AwB-XEKtGd5x4S-bsJM_99Nc9ygomf5QmBYWKcBlPtnM6PwvsJzoPLfWtaFTrrGI38KtHongFSQTF/s1600/embossed+lily+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfTl24unVMlvWrKILnpgClIBPJPjhrMAJUmiRYfTCKAPSGFl3bgTa9ThOZ8QFYBkwof0eGONtbCNtL-atbd3R5N1-y_mNZHvrFoMAtMxAFxDuCA5MP6N0j6XJeTuDm9wEg4GCoM30GvoS/s1600/embossed+lily+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfTl24unVMlvWrKILnpgClIBPJPjhrMAJUmiRYfTCKAPSGFl3bgTa9ThOZ8QFYBkwof0eGONtbCNtL-atbd3R5N1-y_mNZHvrFoMAtMxAFxDuCA5MP6N0j6XJeTuDm9wEg4GCoM30GvoS/s1600/embossed+lily+3.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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These were made from a photo of a Spider Lily which grows on the beach that I took many, many years ago.</div>
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There is such beauty in Nature, so get up out of your chair, turn off your TV and get outside and enjoy what Nature has to offer. You won't regret it.</div>
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Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-59030721061806955182014-02-16T08:25:00.000-08:002014-02-16T08:25:04.091-08:00Happy Battery Day Report III don't know what happened, but my most recent Blog, Happy Battery Day, did not seem to come out as it should have. I downloaded all the photos and they were all complete but when I looked at the published blog some photos did not appear to fully load, which should not have been the case.<br />
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So, all of you (the few that there are), please report back to me and let me know if you see all the photos in their entirety! This is really frustrating (but, guess where I am!) and I spent many hours putting that blog together. The majority of the time was spent downloading photos! Of course, my location should not be a factor as this is the internet, right???!!<br />
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Sorry, and I am just hoping that the appearance of incomplete photos is just a quirk and when the blog is delivered you will see them in their entirety.<br />
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Frustrated Blogger, SharonGuanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-53604935821708385132014-02-16T08:14:00.003-08:002014-02-16T08:14:53.747-08:00Happy Battery Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsJ1ejOeK5PPgqOquB4QbEZgAyoNCrH2YrfPKHbILbz2s93vFy9NOabK1AumOQ0VjE3k0zWcATNyVtc8BrnHVVxp_QKw3_TDStakE0s03Bbw5lTAwMDJmpamx3oQUfWfz9XtgowGtdBAZ/s1600/Palm+tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsJ1ejOeK5PPgqOquB4QbEZgAyoNCrH2YrfPKHbILbz2s93vFy9NOabK1AumOQ0VjE3k0zWcATNyVtc8BrnHVVxp_QKw3_TDStakE0s03Bbw5lTAwMDJmpamx3oQUfWfz9XtgowGtdBAZ/s1600/Palm+tree.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Valentine's Day and we finally have our new solar batteries and are ready to remove the old Fork Lift batteries of which there are 2 weighing 460 lbs. each to be replaced by 5 sealed AGM batteries weighing in at 168 lbs. a piece.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcfqEgASnJ7p0onzyh1V4AsEga5YBY1PZSWE5kiIdmV7_LgJgZm07Nt-pxRk_LStLMUGZe5Z9FXkefqBk9fLVZO2OzN-Ekk7yNwnQ7HP33BYq7npcqFwtUPpSGnG1-I_fVNrgYP9Cnnyy/s1600/batteries1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcfqEgASnJ7p0onzyh1V4AsEga5YBY1PZSWE5kiIdmV7_LgJgZm07Nt-pxRk_LStLMUGZe5Z9FXkefqBk9fLVZO2OzN-Ekk7yNwnQ7HP33BYq7npcqFwtUPpSGnG1-I_fVNrgYP9Cnnyy/s1600/batteries1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91D6uF-bv7YEQtKe8HzLeKAkTfqc2PCC-30pr52g83p5qfMtW_k7PCxuxicxDSfLR17hRmnISIPawCHx4bT094XgnIq5lln2Ajx8wIEYuJ51YRPmMctXCDLVMQeqBUdet-EobAobJqOxb/s1600/batteries2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91D6uF-bv7YEQtKe8HzLeKAkTfqc2PCC-30pr52g83p5qfMtW_k7PCxuxicxDSfLR17hRmnISIPawCHx4bT094XgnIq5lln2Ajx8wIEYuJ51YRPmMctXCDLVMQeqBUdet-EobAobJqOxb/s1600/batteries2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The top photo is of the batteries in the laundry area followed by a photo of the chain hoist that we used to lift each battery out and swing it around to face the back door where it would be taken down 3 stairs to the sidewalk running in back of the house. My husband hired 3 men for this task and with our permanent worker, Gregorio, we had sufficient manpower. After all, this island is all about muscle power!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The above batteries were to be replaced by these which are to be hooked together via cables attached to each battery and then to the inverter.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLboVF-4ujIiunvd7t7ZCm4mVunXLnbbbKMYoXt1uJofJDSt-mhrkWdZ4SV7BZCe3j6Ns5WWZU7STwQ6f_4lTRQGVQtCEb8xpZg3ObxJiw7o53eLAAKZUwjbR2JFPo4XXi9jFvS5OCR8GL/s1600/batteries3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLboVF-4ujIiunvd7t7ZCm4mVunXLnbbbKMYoXt1uJofJDSt-mhrkWdZ4SV7BZCe3j6Ns5WWZU7STwQ6f_4lTRQGVQtCEb8xpZg3ObxJiw7o53eLAAKZUwjbR2JFPo4XXi9jFvS5OCR8GL/s1600/batteries3.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLelN19lzKhLT4bh70FH7lKRvFIzemtrJ7Ia0qOSjlo2UdnCRPh5RtBJBooRP364Yv2aHi1Al2JgipvNv3jLjxw3nfkH2WHGXZYkimTFhTMN4yqZHmmxEJyByZAMhW6Vcu_txqGDM2fLsd/s1600/batteries4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLelN19lzKhLT4bh70FH7lKRvFIzemtrJ7Ia0qOSjlo2UdnCRPh5RtBJBooRP364Yv2aHi1Al2JgipvNv3jLjxw3nfkH2WHGXZYkimTFhTMN4yqZHmmxEJyByZAMhW6Vcu_txqGDM2fLsd/s1600/batteries4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first battery was finally moved into position and taken down the steps. I was concerned for one of the men's safety as he wore no shoes and all I could envision was the battery sliding down the initial ramp or falling on his toes when lowered to the sidewalk. Of course, as was pointed out to me, even with normal shoes on, if the battery would happen to land on a foot the injury would be the same! As it was, this, fortunately, did not happen.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHx29mrsBtb-BUe9hxmKZAep5XT_AuS400A_2dRbLlY0gYJi_b2GrYBw0wYg665WuJIB_GcmldnWUTieWLlRRDZrMzTPbG06cQ4Cve4ldZOQ0ZwtPDZpzapHpO6Wf68fWctqMBGfLT_mO/s1600/batteries6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHx29mrsBtb-BUe9hxmKZAep5XT_AuS400A_2dRbLlY0gYJi_b2GrYBw0wYg665WuJIB_GcmldnWUTieWLlRRDZrMzTPbG06cQ4Cve4ldZOQ0ZwtPDZpzapHpO6Wf68fWctqMBGfLT_mO/s1600/batteries6.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Round tubing was placed under the battery on a board to be used as rollers to facilitate getting it out the door and down the steps.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next the battery was put on a hand cart, secured with ropes which were used to help control the speed of the cart while on its downhill trip to the beach where it was finally maneuvered onto the dock.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The second battery was handled much in the same way and now we had two batteries ready to low into the large boat that Morgan, the boss, had for transport.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMb4OiRhoLn2c9J9HrrhZ7egfZzXyKAGYVyc_LPCbOYV7vUsGQ7YZZvHrLmkzaL1k8sCqev4WlV2xN-J1P-zK6akWTfx69lOIieWxMifkvgpema0S5Zx_2SS1VgDqORHc-2GtiDAOUCD2/s1600/batteries13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMb4OiRhoLn2c9J9HrrhZ7egfZzXyKAGYVyc_LPCbOYV7vUsGQ7YZZvHrLmkzaL1k8sCqev4WlV2xN-J1P-zK6akWTfx69lOIieWxMifkvgpema0S5Zx_2SS1VgDqORHc-2GtiDAOUCD2/s1600/batteries13.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Getting the batteries into the boat did not prove to be an easy task at all and with a lot of careful shoving, pulling and maneuvering both batteries were placed in the boat. Morgan is planning on finding someone who reclaims batteries, copper, aluminum, etc. and make a deal with him for the batteries.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next came time to bring up the five new batteries and set them in their proper placement. This is not an easy process as t<span class="Apple-style-span">he cables to each battery are quite stiff and the cramped area in which the new batteries were situated made connection a little difficult. Two batteries were to be set right side up, a board placed on top and the second set of two were turned upside down and staggered in a manner that the brackets would not touch and short circuit the batteries. A fifth battery will be placed on top of the stack of four and all connections finalized and hooked up to the inverter.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Naturally, being this far from the company that we bought the batteries from, we hoped all would be well. But, in checking the voltage on each battery my husband discovered that one of the batteries was at a lower voltage than it should have been which could have been caused by the battery sitting for any length of time or not being fully charged at the factory. We wrote the seller advising them of this problem and were asked to check the top of the battery for the seal showing the month and date codes and let them know what was picked. Unfortunately, again, none of the seals showed any month or date picked. We were then advised that the date should be etched in the top right hand corner of the battery. Sorry! No date was etched. We advised the seller and are awaiting their response. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In the meantime we were told to charge the battery for 24 hours! Duhh, these are batteries made for solar, we have solar and the sun does not shine even 10 hours a day right now! We certainly cannot run our generator for a full 24 hours so we also inquired as to whether or not we could do them in increments over 2-3 days to get the battery up to full charge. Again, we are awaiting their response.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">It is amazing how much power our old batteries had been losing over the last year. Initially they were set for a 20 year useage capability but we think that due to the circumstances of our moving, the environment and other factors, we managed to get 17 years use out of them. We are not complaining as they have paid for themselves several times over. We chose not to go with the same batteries this time mainly because of the weight and the difficulty in getting them into the house. We have noted that the new sealed batteries have a shelf life of 10-12 years and we are happy with that. The cost was lower, the weight less by 80 lbs. and unlike the previous batteries, these are sealed so we will not have to occasionally add water. Plus the total weight was between five batteries and not two which assisted in easier placement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This morning we woke up to an inverter which showed the batteries were all up to full power by 8:30 a.m.! We have been using the computer all morning with a cloudy sky and no sun and we still have plenty of energy. We now wake up and the batteries are still fully charged even after a day of use! Wow!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It took us almost 3 months to get the batteries. We ordered them in Dec. 2013 but there was a back order on them and they did not come in until mid-January, 2013. Finally they left Houston where they had been held up by bad weather in the Gulf. Then when they finally reached Port of Cortez in Honduras, two of the cranes for off-loading containers from the various ships were out of commission. Finally in February 2014 they were delivered to La Ceiba and we took shipment on February 13, 2014 on Guanaja. Hey, nothing new here - we expect delays and are very seldom disappointed. In fact, when something gets here on-time or before, we are totally surprised!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We have never regretted our choice to go solar and outside having to put forth a lot of dollars up front, we have saved many times over during our 17 years on the island.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So, while other were celebrating Valentine’s Day, we were celebrating New Battery Day!</span></div>
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Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-26645167285578310822014-02-02T10:09:00.003-08:002014-02-02T10:09:44.758-08:00Welcome 2014!Wow! Can you believe it? Just yesterday (now there's an old statement) we embraced the 21st century and were on to the world of 2000! I wonder if this is how the people felt when it turned to the year 1000?<br />
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Anyway, here on the island we were going through our regular weather cycle - the rainy season. This year I believe we had more rain filled days then normal but the end result - our island is SO GREEN! Heck, even Grant's peak was not longer the drab brown up to the top. The color green prevails everywhere.<br />
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I remember visiting my brother in Arizona one year and for as far as the eye could see it was brown, brown and more brown. As a matter of fact I thought I wrote about my trip but just can't seem to locate it in my archives. Not to worry, take my word for it the desert is brown. The buildings are brown. The cars were even drab colors. Not a speck of green. Well, besides a cactus or 300 which are still mostly brown! I like GREEN! Therefore, this season brought all shades of green imaginable. Of course waiting for the sun to come out and show off these glorious shades was something anxiously awaited.<br />
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Some friends and I made a couple of trips to the coast already this year to buy items we are in need of or just to get away. I will tell you this much, when living on a remote island we are appeased by the simplest of things. I looked high and low for Scotch Brand tape in La Ceiba. None to be found. Oh, finally I found a store with a clear roll of tape which one can use in place of the Scotch Brand but 1) it is not in a dispenser 2) it is hard to get off the roll and 3) when you do get it off it comes off in shreds. Well imagine my excitement when a friend recently went to the coast and came back exclaiming "Guess what I found in Ceiba?" None other than the much sought after Scotch Brand Tape!<br />
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Now, see how excited we were with this find! I had to put up a photo of the treasure! </div>
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Living here at least causes us to stop and really appreciate some of the wonderful things this word has to offer - and I don't mean just nature! We have Internet (which I would never, ever give up), we have e-Readers so that here on the island we can read up-to-date novels without having to wait for sailors or tourists to arrive and leave a worn out paperback (even though we thank you very, very much for these books). We have phones now (as much as I dislike the way people cannot seem to get them unglued from their ears in any locale) where it was simply VHF radio for communication. We have more variety of food stuffs to be purchased, thus making our diets even more healthy. The list goes on, but I think you get my drift.</div>
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Of course, on the downside we still are limited when it comes to parts for engines, various construction materials and tools and then, hey, they only carry Loveable brand bras in this country! Now, if you are a perky little teenager or young adult, these bras are wonderful. Bright, cheery, sexy but support - forget it. Most clothing is polyester and having something in 100% cotton is to be treasured.</div>
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To change gears here, the island elected a new Mayor who was installed last week. After many, many years (I believe some said 12 or 16) under the same party, our townspeople finally decided they were ready for a change. Mr. Spurgeon Steven Miller Molina is our new Mayor and has a lot of work ahead of him. From what I <u>hear</u> (and I stress the "hear" part) our Municipal is deeply in debt, past employees have been unpaid for the whole month of December and may not get paid for that work at all if they are dismissed, thievery is still mainly not investigated nor are the thieves prosecuted due to a lack of the proper Judge, taxes have been raised 3% and non-taxable food stuffs have now been reduced.</div>
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Of course problems of government are pretty much the same world-wide. Too little, too late, too much corruption and taxes are always rising with less and less being sent back in service to the community. Unfortunately, after living here for going on 17 years I have come to the conclusion, more and more recently, that the Government of Honduras has no interest whatsoever in their citizens. Those in high office do nothing to help their fellow man and it seems that their only goal is self-gain and enrichment for themselves. We have a hard-working people here, for the most part, who struggle daily and are constantly pushed down by bureaucracy. We just hope that with a "new" start for our little island problems can be addressed and solved or at least a more open-door policy will be put in place. So, good luck to Mayor Miller and we hope that he will be able to prioritize and solve some of our woes. </div>
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Next, we have seen new people arrive on the island in the way of new land owners and/or supervisors over presently-held property.</div>
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Just recently we had a party at our house welcoming the new caretakers (temporary) to Clark Cay, Steve and Julie, and some guests that were visiting Wilmont Bay, Forrest (and yes, he has heard all the jokes) and his wife Debbie.</div>
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We were also saying farewell to Selyna and Markus, Hanspico's daughter, She and her companion had been here for several months but were now returning to their studies in Germany. She is going for her Masters in Psychology and so will not be returning for at least another 2-3 years! Good luck to both of them and it was wonderful seeing these two young adults who have been a part of our lives for so long.</div>
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We were fortunate on the day of the party that we had wonderful sunny weather with fairly calm seas. The day before and the day after we had rain and overcast skies! It is really invigorating to greet new people on the island and we enjoy the contribution they give in the form of news, information and just exchanging insights about a variety of topics. Welcome and to those leaving, please return soon!</div>
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Meanwhile we are awaiting the delivery of new batteries for our solar system and we might quite possibly have to buy a new solar refrigerator. The old batteries are 17 years old and in spite of the projected 20 year life span we are pleased that we have gotten this far and are still happy that our choice was solar. Of course getting the two 450 lb. batteries out of their container and out of the house presents another challenge. A new set up with 5 new 150 lb. apiece batteries will replace the two fork-lift batteries and so while the weight will be less, it will be a lot of work. Our solar refrigerator may be losing its insulation base and, therefore, an big chunk of the budget will have to be used if we decide that now is the time. Either way, we are very happy we have solar and after seeing all the problems that are present on the island with Belco, we would do it again if presented with the choice!</div>
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So, we look forward to a good year and hope that it will be more beneficial to all people living on Guanaja. Good luck to those in charge and we will keep our hopes high.</div>
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Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-26887413220878523732013-12-03T07:20:00.001-08:002013-12-03T07:20:22.700-08:00Thanksgiving in RoatanWhat a week! Last week I turned 70 (not happy about that) and then the following week (Thanksgiving) my brother and his wife advised me that they planned on flying to Roatan to spend that week with me! WOW!<br />
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We have not had too many visitors come to our island to spend time with us. My daughter and her husband, my son, my two grandsons and a granddaughter all over a period of 16 years! Our island is not difficult to get to but if you have any health issues, it is not the place for some people. Unfortunately, my brother and his wife have had their share of health problems and I have had to discourage them from coming to Guanaja. Why? It would be very difficult just for them to get in and out of boats even in a calm sea. The time they chose for this visit is the season of our Northers when the wind picks up, rain falls and we have a lot of surge. So, mindful of that, they decided to go to Roatan. I immediately made plans to meet with them for the week.<br />
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The first photo is my brother, Danny and his wife and the second is me and my wonderful sister-in-law, Marion.</div>
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They found a good deal on the hotel Clarion Suites at Pineapple Villas. What a beautiful place that was! Five four-story buildings with 4 separate pools and a large lagoon. Two restaurants and a spa on the premises and shuttle service to and from the airport. Hey, we are on!</div>
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They arrived in Roatan on November 24th and I arrived on the 25th. They came from Arizona so it was an all day exercise. I came from Guanaja, just about 15 miles away and it took me 6 hours by plane! Lot of waiting in the airport. First flight from Guanaja left late (but that is nothing new) and then it left late from Ceiba and finally arrived on Roatan. I really hate sitting in airports for hours and hours. The metal chairs are really uncomfortable and once you get in the waiting room there is nothing in there to eat or drink. You can exit and buy food and beverages but then you have to go through the whole security thing again! Ugh. Anyway, I arrived and after another wait for the hotel shuttle I finally reached my destination.</div>
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It was a sunny day and the room they were given was gigantic. Hey - bigger than my house! A huge porch with a view of the pool:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSGF0DTMnQzOxmDk4SMSN5QnJveFa8be4x6T03gxyW_BkCO9Pj6mcYqAp8yECeWwkxunJlLL8Qkway-P4LhIoCJBabfqs4vRAfz0MdlAZ_m1DANaCNIftF6XswjIHUrwfaEZSpP0Cf11O/s1600/Roatan+pool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSGF0DTMnQzOxmDk4SMSN5QnJveFa8be4x6T03gxyW_BkCO9Pj6mcYqAp8yECeWwkxunJlLL8Qkway-P4LhIoCJBabfqs4vRAfz0MdlAZ_m1DANaCNIftF6XswjIHUrwfaEZSpP0Cf11O/s320/Roatan+pool.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Each of the 4 pools had special themes. This one centered around a rock formation (real, not fake) with waterfalls and a huge iguana on top:</div>
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Since I arrived after noon we visited for a while and then went to lunch at Herby's Sports Bar. They have great food with wonderful service. We swam in the pool that evening and had a day trip planned on Tues. on a Glass Bottom Boat.</div>
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WestBay Tours offered a glass bottom boat ride which my sister-in-law scheduled for us on Tuesday morning. They sent her an e-mail Mon. afternoon telling her to call them as the weather was starting to look like it might be bad and they wanted to know if we were still planning on going. Unfortunately they did not answer their phone any of the half-dozen times we tried during the day. We finally got them Tues. a.m. and they informed us that the boat had been moved from West Bay to Flower Bay and we were instructed to go there and be there by 11:00 a.m. We did and no one showed up. Boat was there but no crew. Tried calling again and as before, no answer. We finally reached them later in the day and they could give no reason as to why no one showed up. I, personally, think that when she checked on where the boat was going to be she forgot to tell them there would be customers coming! So, 1/2 of our day wasted. We did manage to stop at a wonderful Bulk Gourmet Shop and find many items one normally cannot find on the islands or the mainland. Since my husband's birthday is coming up I bought us two beautiful steaks and 6 hamburgers (the meat for hamburgers in this country leaves a lot to be desired). We had a lunch at a crepe restaurant, did some more shopping and returned to the hotel.</div>
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Due to the storm that passed over the islands, our weather was less than perfect Wed. through Friday. My sister-in-law and I took advantage of this and spent the afternoon at the Spa at the hotel having a massage, a facial and she a pedicure and manicure and for me a haircut. That was a disaster! I told the girl not to take too much off as my hair is already short and I did not want to look like a boy. Well, she just went wild and sheared me! But, as they say, the difference between a good haircut and a bad one is 2-3 weeks! Can't glue it back on so I'll have to live with it. The massage and facial were great and I highly recommend them.</div>
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We did manage to get in a trip to Anthony's Key on Thurs. for the Dolphin Beach Encounter. Rain and wind still present but since we were going to get wet anyway, what the heck. It was great and very educational. Hey - I can even tell how to distinguish a male from a female dolphin (if they will roll over for me)!.</div>
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We were in waist-deep water and keeping our balance was not easy with the surge, but we managed. The girl trainer worked with Maury the dolphin gave an educational talk. I learned some facts about dolphins that I did not know before. In total, there are 19 dolphins in a penned in area. It is a good sized area but still does not compete with the freedom in their natural habitat. I have mixed feelings about keeping the dolphins in penned areas or in captivity but see the educational advantages to humans. Of course, on the other hand, the disadvantages to the mammal are considered and it is hard to weigh those things considering the dolphins are well cared for as they are and the fact that they might otherwise run into more danger in the ocean makes it hard to stay on one side or the other. But, that is their home so I would tend to lean towards giving them freedom. This is not going to happen as many places around the world have fish in aquariums and in large pools for people to view and for their education in order to help the creatures of the sea. The handlers seemed to be well trained and well informed and I was glad to see that aspect.</div>
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There was an added plus to the experience. Anthony's Key provided photographers to take photos which could be purchased at the gift shop (a really nice place I might add). They would either send the photos via your e-mail or for an extra $10 put the photos along with stills of the area taken during better weather days on a thumb-drive.</div>
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Since the day of the dolphin encounter was Thanksgiving, we went back to the hotel, showered and dressed up for Thanksgiving dinner. And what a feast that was! Turkey, mashed potatoes and a great turkey gravy, toasted bread, scalloped corn, green beans and carrots, cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes to die for! Yumm. And a big plus: pumpkin pie with real whipped cream topping! No fuss, no muss, just sit down, order, eat and enjoy! Now that's a Thanksgiving I could get use to. The food was delicious and plentiful as you can see from this plate!</div>
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My visit at an end I prepared to leave on Friday morning, hopefully to return to Guanaja that same day. My flight was scheduled to leave at 11:30 a.m. and I was at the airport at about 10:30 a.m. The weather from Wed. on was bad with rain and wind; a typical Norther as we call it. Unfortunately rain many times on the islands and the Mainland cause the airports to close. Such was the case on this day and off and on all day either the airport on Roatan was closed or in La Ceiba. We finally took off at about 5:00 p.m. which meant there was no way I would catch a flight out to Guanaja. I spent the night in La Ceiba and was back at the airport on Sat. morning at 7:00 a.m. for a 8:30 a.m. flight. Little did I know but all day Friday and now, on Saturday, the winds were really blowing on Guanaja and all flights on Friday had been cancelled to the island. We were not allowed to take off in the morning and I had to stay at the airport all day until at last, at 4:15 p.m., we were advised that planes could not fly and land on Guanaja. Another night in a hotel was anticipated, plus flights usually do not go to the island on Sunday so it appeared that I was looking for a departure on Monday! With the back up the airline decided to fly on Sunday and we were informed while collecting our luggage that a flight was scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning and we were advised to be at the airport at 9:00 a.m. </div>
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To add insult to the whole 3 day experience, one pays an exit tax from the airport they depart from and when you make a transfer, as in La Ceiba, you are, effectively, "in transit". I was told Friday night that the tax I paid in Roatan would be rolled over to Saturday. Saturday I was told the same thing. However, on the day of my departure, Sunday, I was told that since I paid the tax effectively on Friday constituting a 3 day trip, I had to pay the tax. I went to the ticket counter and the gentleman there went to the tax office with me as he thought I had wrong information. The people at the tax counter reaffirmed that "in transit" covered only 2 days and since I was there longer (even though it was through no fault of mine) I had to pay. It doesn't cost much but it was the principal. I looked at the airline agent and said "No, you will pay my tax as I have incurred two nights stay in a hotel, taxi fares and meals and I will not pay a tax as I am still in transit." He agreed and paid the tax. </div>
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We took off at about 9:30 a.m. and had a fairly easy flight to the island. The landing, however, was tricky with strong cross winds still blowing. We made an approach to the runway but had to pull up and go around again. The second approach was successful and I was home. There were a lot of people in the airport waiting to leave and as a result there were approximately 4 flights that day! No wonder we on the island do not do a lot of "island hopping!"</div>
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My thanks to the wonderful staff at the Clarion Suites Hotel, to the great cab driver we had (Homer), to Anthony's Key for a thrilling experience and to the airlines for remaining cordial and helpful during this stressful return trip. Thanks to my brother and his lovely wife for flying those many miles to spend Thanksgiving with me and for the fun we had together. Thanks too for the items they brought for me and for re-introducing me to Roatan.</div>
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<br />Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-58880815522548113102013-11-23T07:42:00.001-08:002013-11-23T07:42:18.796-08:00Life is a Roller Coaster!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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We are at the end of November and where has the year gone? Honduran elections are this week and with it is the suspense of "will anything change?" I do not have a lot of faith in politicians as I think they are too far removed from reality! Just look at the U.S. and its huge debt. Do they stop spending? No. Do they make necessary and much needed cuts? No. Do they allow their politicians to live a much better life than the average citizen? Yes. Even so I am proud of my government and just wish that Honduras could look to the future - their children and provide them with a much needed and necessary education. They should start thinking of the future of their country and not their pocketbooks.</div>
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Ok - so, I became another year older this month and with that a friend said I now have the Wisdom of the Elders. But, what good will it do? Young people do not want to listen to their elders. I mean, when you were young did you want to listen to the stories or take seriously the advice of your elders? Probably not. So why should we expect our children to be any different? So much is happening in the world today and advances are being made at lightning speed. Wonders are being discovered and life is suppose to be getting better.</div>
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But, is it? I look around our island and see unemployment, thievery, basic needs not being met and the main income of the island, tourism, has fallen drastically. Now, the local electrical company may go under and what are the majority of the people on the island to do if they hardly have money for food let alone buy a generator to generate their own power? The people of this island think if they build a road from one end of the island to the other it will make their lives better and attract tourists. But, if you don't have the amenities to go with that road that attracts tourists, what good will it do? Hondurans are not known for maintenance and who would maintain a road once it is built? Right now there is a hole at the end of the airport runway which goes untended to. The local government, from all reports, is responsible for the upkeep up of the runway and claims they have no money to fix it! So, I guess we will wait for the airlines to announce they will not land here until the situation is remedied. Why do we have to wait until the worse scenario comes along?</div>
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The education in Honduras is appalling; it does not meet basic standards and when the children finish school, what do they have to look forward to? A job at a fast food chain? A job as a teacher who does not get paid for months? A job where if the local government leaders do not agree with what the individual is suppose to be able to by law so that individual is prevented from doing his legal job? </div>
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Life for an islander is hard. Life here for a retiree is easier but expensive. The law is ineffectual and very little is done to stop the on-going thievery or prosecute the thieves. Drugs are still present with many people taking the stand that the money coming in from drugs helps the islanders. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is nothing to spend your money on here on the island - no luxuries and if you are bringing in a lot of money people generally want nicer things in their lives. People are spending more money on drugs, committing crimes to get the money and are not part of a "responsible" community contributing to the island. Drugs drag the community down.</div>
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There seems to be no law forcing a builder to guarantee the completion of any project they may begin. Thus, we have "ruins" all over the island. Areas that are partially built up and then the forest is allowed to grow back over them. Hotels that once were productive are left to the elements and to people stripping them of their material. So many construction projects are started and never even reach the half way point leaving a blight on the looks of the island. This practice should be stopped and there are way to guarantee that it does not happen, but who will put those plans into effect and who will enforce them?</div>
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I have not blogged in quite a while as I did not have much more to say about the island. It is still beautiful and I enjoy living here but things are not getting better. Things have stagnated and seem to be going backwards. I ask myself, is this happening all over the world? With my limited communication and intel from the outside world, I do not know but I suspect that in many places all over the world there is an uneasiness about people who are becoming disgruntled. So, it is not entirely a phenomena in just this part of the world.</div>
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I can only hope that, as in the past, things will change. People will become wiser and take more pride in their communities. People will start being concerned about their neighbors and will no longer tolerate lawlessness. One can wish can't they?</div>
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Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-16299487188041284752013-11-02T09:37:00.000-07:002013-11-02T09:37:50.557-07:00Lights Out for The Island?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i><b>I may be setting myself up for some hate mail, but I think that what has transpired on the Island in the past week is something that I should pass on to people, especially those who own property here but do not live here full time.</b></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i><b>First of all, I was not at the meeting but depended upon various people to appraise me of what occurred. Some people took notes; others, well it was from the recollections. I am reprinting what I sent out to several people in an e-mail the day of the meeting, October 24, 2013.</b></i></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"For those who did not attend today's meeting of the Board of Directors of Belco, nor live here full time and have no input into the problems facing the island, I offer this e-mail as a "catch up" if you will on the status of the island's electric company, Belco.<br /><br />A meeting was held on the Cay this morning by the Board of Directors of Belco to announce that if they are unable to formulate a plan or come up with money to achieve their proposed goals, then the electric company will be in bankruptcy come this December and will close their business.<br /><br />Apparently, according to the individual heading of the meeting, Belco has been in dire straits since 2004. Ever since Mitch they have been struggling but, things really started to fall apart about 2004. They are convinced that their purchase of two large generators some time between 2004 and 2007 was a big mistake. At the time they felt electrical consumption would rise with new businesses opening on the island and the possibility of tourism picking up, along with the fact that 3 fish plants were operating at the time. None of these predictions came to fruition along with the closing of the fish plants. I instead of an increase in electrical output, there has been a decline in consumption. Costs have risen and in spite of the fact that there is a fuel surcharge on the electrical bills representing an absorption of the rising costs of fuel, the company is looking at bankruptcy.<br /><br />They admitted that they are approximately LPS. 19,000,000.00 in debt to Banco Atlantid and have the owners have been unable to honor their debit. They proposed at the meeting that an account be set up with the Credit Union and anyone willing to come to their aid could deposit money into this account. The account would be used to buy a smaller generator to supplement one of the two large ones presently supplying electricity to the island. According to my sources, nothing was said about what their plans were for the unused large generator that they feel now is unnecessary. They said that even running the one large generator was not be cost effective and, thus, it necessitates the need to purchase a smaller generator. They stated that this account would be monitored by the Credit Union and that as soon as Belco began to make a profit from their business those who deposited money in the Credit Union (similar, I guess to owning shares but nothing was mentioned about the method to accomplish this feat), would be paid back the money they "invested." Nothing was mentioned about any possible sale of the one large remaining generator they have no need for.<br /><br />There were no flow sheets, no reporting as to how money has been handled, no accounting as to how this situation came to be; just a request that people present lend a hand and loan them money.<br /><br />Of course I ask the following questions, which have since been reflected by foreigners and Islanders alike:<br /><br />1. Why did they wait until two months before the announcement that they might have to close the business doors in December that they needed help?<br /><br />2. Will the books of the company be open for anyone investing so that their business dealings can be monitored to see that the inflow of new money and the subsequent control of credits and debits to rebuild the company will enable them to repay investors?<br /><br />3. If they owe the bank approximately Lps. 19,000,000.00, does that not indicate that the bank would be first in line to any profits gained by the company starting up again and thus delaying any pay back to investors? What projections are available as to a timetable for pay back to the bank and subsequently to investors?<br /><br />4. No time table was given for this pay back and no flow charts were submitted to show the possible influx of cash a new generator would bring and/or a table of projected electrical consumption to support the purchase of this generator. Nothing was shown to indicate what the present electrical consumption is and/or projected future consumption of electricity.<br /><br />5. No information was given as to the possibility of new management or the enlisting of someone who could review their bookkeeping records and correct any present spending that may have contributed to this problem.<br /><br />6. No explanation was given as to why the fuel surcharge, which is continually rising, has not paid for the fuel consumption or fuel costs each month.<br /><br />7. Nothing was said about how they planned to collect on all the outstanding bills owed to the company and do it in an effective manner.<br /><br />8. No other sources of electrical power were discussed and, apparently, some gentlemen from the mainland who are interested in getting solar and wind energy to the island, did not show up for this meeting.<br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> Apparently, at one point in the meeting, it was stated that they would not address various inquiries as to how the status of the company had reached this point of decline and it was made clear that this was merely a meeting to ask for people to "invest". Yet, nothing was said as to what the invested money would represent in the way of stocks in the company; i.e., how much the shares would be worth individually."</span></b><div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">No reports have been forthcoming as to the success of the meeting but it was stated this past week that several individuals were aware that the Board of Directors had left for San Pedro Sula/Tegucigalpa to find investors. Several people have made various suggestions from allowing the Belco Board to go bankruptcy and relinquish their hold on the company so that new management can take over, if such investors for a new company are found. </span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Going co-op has been suggested where everyone using electricity would have a stake in the business. Quite possibly the electric users in Guanaja could ask for a meeting with the Belco Board and Banco Atlantida to see if this reorganization could be accomplished voluntarily and without interrupting the electrical service. Belco and Banco Atlantida would have to agree along with the majority of the electrical users. As a co-op, everyone having an electric mete<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">r would get a share and a vote to elect a Board of Directors who would then hire a manager to run the company and make PUBLIC reports to the shareholders as to the rate charged and dividends. </span></span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Some people have suggested that the island copy Utila and go with a pre-paid electric program where the power one uses is paid for in advance. When the meter showing the amount of purchase indicates that there is no money, the power shuts off. Of course the problem of organizing, finding money, finding solid people to run the company will be a huge undertaking.</span></span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">From an islander, the following was submitted:</span></span></i></b><br />
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<span style="color: black;">"Thanks for forwarding these Email. Its hard to get things accomplish in Guanaja, because we always see the mistakes, but much of the time we don't contribute to fix them; we don't stand for one common goal as a community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">We don't set a vision for the future of our Island, we elect people which can't see any further than the point of their nose, and the sad part is that they don't take any advice [from] those people who might know something about the problem. We have our priorities all messed up; First the Lord, Second our family, Third our friends, Fourth our community, Fifth our country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Guanaja is sinking, we all agree on this. There are no jobs, there is no industry, there is no money, and we belive that someone from outside is going to fix these problems. When we elect a leader is to lead the community in the right path. There was L26,000,000 given [during] Mel's Government to Guanaja Municipality [and] not 1 penny was used for wind, or solar energy, this is the same person that was reelected. He only had to use half of the money for this purpose, and in a short time this would be a income for our local government. There is a law in Honduras that if you can produce energy cheaper than what it is costing the company, they have to buy it from you. If this had been done we would not be in this problem. I ask the question, what is going to happen when the big oil companies decide they want $200 a barrel of oil? It is going to happen! Are we ready for it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">This is the first meeting BELCO had and there [were] a lot of questions that need to be answered. And note was taken, to be able to answer them, Belco is going to have [to have] another meeting .... and call in a second meeting with the potential investors, to give them answers to their questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Of 70 people that were invited about 25 were there and some were not in the list, I guarantee you if the generator went of for 24 hours it would have been a different story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">As a grope united with one purpose it can be achieved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>We are divided, by politics and lead by fools. What can be achieved with this combination?" </b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><i>As you can see from an Islander writing the above comments, it is not only those non-citizens who believe something must be done. More information is needed; the Board needs to present their accounting records, facts and figures in order for anyone to take seriously the thought of investing.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><i>It must be added that there is a division on how much is owed to Banco Atlantida. Reports from the meeting (in notes taken by an individual) stated Lps. 19,000,000.00. Others claim they were told Lps. 9,500,000.00. All in all, no matter what is owed, it is a huge amount and the fact that the Board chose not to face the problem years ago and waited until the eleventh hour to advise the populace of the dire situation was, in my opinion, irresponsible.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><i>Again, the above comments were made by Islanders and foreigners alike. So if someone wants to criticize me, you should first take into consideration that the population of Guanaja has been left in the dark - and will be in more ways than one.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><i>Another thought: If the phone towers have no power - there will be no cell phone usage on the island!</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><i>We will be hit twice!</i></b></span><br />
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Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-34722834689145200422013-08-31T10:28:00.003-07:002013-08-31T10:28:56.487-07:00More Updates for 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ok - for those who want me to continue, for those that have a passing interest and for those who are curious - here's another update for early 2013.</div>
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As I said earlier, we lost two dogs and acquired a new puppy, Desiree, and a feral cat, Smokey (I did mention Smokey did I not?). Smokey was the second of two feral cats that have "adopted" us. The first one, Spook, I wrote about a while back. He lasted with us less than a week and died of unknown causes. Smokey showed up a few months ago and was very weary. He slept on top of the garden house with one of our other cats and came down to feed when we put a dish of food out. Eventually he became accustomed to our daily routine and in no time blended in with our other pets. As for Desiree, being a puppy the two older dogs wanted nothing to do with this rambuncious, playful character. However, Smokey and her hit it off immediately. They would literally chase each other around the yard taking turns as to who would chase who. Desiree would bite her on the ears, on the head, on his legs and private parts which Smokey took in stride. When he became tired of it he would rise up, growl and the chase would ensue.</div>
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Smokey was around for about 4-5 months (maybe more) and was a wonderful addition to our family of pets. However, on August 2nd, a Friday, as we placed out food in the food bowls, Smokey was no where to be found. He did not return the next day for his morning meal and 4 weeks passed without a sight of him. I would like to report that he returned safe and sound but he did not. We have no idea what happened to him, where he went or why. </div>
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On April 21, 2013 one of the island Icons passed away. Capt. Albert L. Veverica died at the age of 85. Capt. Al had been in declining health for several years and the last 6 months he went downhill quickly. He lived in Guanaja for over 40years contributing greatly to improvements on the island. He made it possible for people to get from one side of the island to the other by digging out the canal that runs by the airport. He contributed to the building of buildings on the Cay and was one of the first people visitors saw when arriving on the island. He was a great story teller embellishing his life experiences and entertaining all walks of life who visited the island with his charisma. He was survived by 4 sons and 2 daughters, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is fondly remembered and is greatly missed.</div>
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Next, I must report the birthday celebration of Jimmy Springer who turned 75 this month. Friends helped him celebrate with a beautiful cake that his wife commissioned by a woman living in Mangrove Bight. Happy Birthday Jim!</div>
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I am late reporting that Joan and David are now Grandparents. Sadie was born just one year ago in Alaska and was able to visit her Grandparents for Christmas in 2012. She is an adorable child and we all had fun cooing and smiling at her. Her Mom and Dad are expecting another child this October. Our best to all of them and wishes for a healthy baby once again.</div>
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Conch Festival VI was celebrated this month on the island with week-long activities culminating with a boat flotilla to Soldado Beach with a re-enactment of Christopher Columbus' landing on the island. This year there was a big blow out at Manati and Klaus and Annette (along with friends) even contributed to the boat flotilla by decorating a boat with various flags of nations around the world. Good weather and great fun that week.</div>
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One of the strangest things that happened in our house was the appearance of a huge termite nest upstairs in my craft room. I had been absent from my crafts for quite a while and a few months ago went upstairs to gather up some supplies. Found this huge nest - only part of it is shown. It was built up on a plastic 3 drawer container and went down to the baseboard. After removing it we discovered that the whole underside of the oak table had been eaten away and was not salvageable. My husband had built the table and it provide me with a good work base for years. Termites are a real problem on the island and they move quickly as this nest was built in probably a matter of a week or a little more.</div>
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My husband has been idle with his camera lately but managed to snap a photo of this rather large spider which had lost one of his 8 legs! I'm just glad it was outside the house. We have tarantulas and scorpions in the bodega which he discovers and relocates periodically.</div>
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While this may a partial update on what is happening at FeatherRidge, I cannot promise any weekly reports. I know I have more news I want to share but am drawing a blank at the moment. So, be patient and I'll try to post something more before the year's end. I do want to post about my son's recent wedding in the Philippines and hope to do that soon.</div>
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<br />Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-34222590106412920252013-08-24T11:48:00.001-07:002013-08-24T11:48:18.741-07:00Update for 2013<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I mentioned in 2012 that I was not going to blog anymore as I felt all the subjects I could pass on to people about Island living had been said.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That being true, for the most part, I did my "final" blog in May about the telephones here. However, I decided to do an update due to the fact that a handful of people (and they weren't even friends or known to me!) have asked me not to stop as they enjoy reading about life on the island. So, to honor those few that made the request, I will at least publish this update which I started as a "draft" in 2013. Sorry for the delay.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I should start from where I left off so as not to confuse people as opposed to jumping around like a jackrabbit, which is my normal speed. Much of what I will write here will just relate to happenings other than island life. I will cover my trips, my crafts, some comments on living in Honduras and my pets. So, here goes.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First of all, in June my Grandson, Joshua, and his lovely fiancé decided to join in wedlock in her hometown just outside Richmond, Indiana on the 10th of June 2012. I flew up there from Florida where I was visiting with friends and drove from Dayton, Ohio. My daughter, Tami, also flew in the day after me and together we attended a lovely outdoor ceremony at the home of the Bride. It was the first time I had met Brandice and her family. They have a lovely farm and a perfect spot for the wedding. The weather couldn't have been better and we had a wonderful time. Congratulations Josh and Brandi. Of course they have been married a year now and Josh has become a Policeman, they have acquired a dog and moved to a new home.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">After the wedding I flew up to Minnesota as I had arranged, through the help of my cousin, Mike, to have a small family reunion. Out of 8 children on my Father’s side of the family only two sisters are still living; Aunt Margie and Aunt Betty. Both are spry women in their 80’s and in relatively good health. Margie has been a widower for more years than I can count and Betty and her husband, Leo, are still in love and active with square dancing, tennis, trips to Florida and Arizona and entertaining their children and grandchildren.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">We all met at a lovely restaurant outside Minneapolis and in spite of the fact that it was a week day, several of my cousins were able to attend. My brother and his wife were there along with my brother’s daughter and her husband. We talked about old times, had some good laughs along with good food. Photos were snapped and I can honestly say it was one of the real highlights of my trip. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">My brother then drove me up into Northern Minnesota where I spent a few days with him in his home. While there I managed to look up a girlfriend of mine with whom I attended high school (1959-1961). She and I have remained close and correspond as often as distance allows. She is not overly enthusiastic about computers and, therefore, our letters are few and far between. Carol and her husband, Jim, met up with us at a restaurant and after a light lunch we returned to their lovely lakeside home. It was a wonderful day and a great visit and I’m so glad I was able to reunite with her.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">My brother drove me back to Minneapolis where I spent the night with my cousin, David, before flying on to Florida and returning to Guanaja. David and I were years apart as cousins and it was nice to finally learn more about him, his family and his life. Thanks to David and his wife for putting me up and showing me a lovely evening. The only black spot on the trip was that somewhere during the time I was being driven back to Minneapolis from Northern Minnesota, someone had managed to get my credit card information and charge about $400+ to my account. Luckily I discovered it right away and notified my credit card company who promptly cancelled my cards and reissued new cards. I did not have to pay for these fraudulent charges which was a blessing but it is such a hassle to get new cards and puts a crimp in one's travels.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I returned to the island where things were as usual. June is generally very pleasant here and 2012 was no exception. The only difference in the weather this year was that the rains we usually experience in October through mid-January did not appear until the first of Janaury. This made traveling to and from Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas dinners and celebrating New Year's Eve much more pleasant. But, I get ahead of myself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">In September I flew to Germany and spent several days with friends in Rotenburg un der Fulda in Northern Germany. I had been here before and my hosts had more to show me. It was a visit filled with fantastic sights. Especially wonderful was Bergpark Wilhelmshohe in Kassel. This remarkable park has rose gardens, miles of beautiful walking paths and a couple of castles and an octagon shaped building at the top of the hill that is remarkable. The entire octagon structure, which is the center point of the park, with the statue, stands about 212 feet. The statue of Hercules at the top stands about 25 feet tall and made up of single, embossed copper sheets on a wrought iron frame. The Statue took 16 years to build and can be seen as far away as the town of Kassel which lies at the foot of the Park.</span></span><br />
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E</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">very first Saturday of the months of June, July, August and September this event takes place during the evening with lights of different colors illuminating the water, the fountain and the different monuments. Every time about 350.000 liters (92,000 gallons) of water are needed and visitors can follow the water's way starting from the Hercules monument and ending at the big lake of the castle Wilhelmshöhe. The water runs down the cascades, the Steinhöfer's waterfall, the devil's bridge, until it tumbles down the aqueduct before finally arriving at the lake of the castle where a fountain of about 50 meters ends the spectacle. This whole system relies on natural pressure from reservoirs and underground pipes whose locks are opened manually. This system has been in place for more than 300 years.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">This is truly a spectacle to see and I would highly recommend it to any travelers visiting Germany.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I then took a train to Berlin where my Yoga teacher in Guanaja, Anke, and her husband, Bernd, provided a lovely room for me in their home. Their apartment building was once in the Eastern part of Berlin and much renovation had to be done after the wall came down. The area they live in is a bustling community with apartments, shops, restaurants and a transit system that is convenient and efficient. We did a 9 mile bicycle tour of Berlin where my hosts pointed out some of the special sights of Berlin. I had been to Berlin in 2009 but had seen only the buildings in the “Western” part of Berlin so this was a treat. We also did a 3 hour boat tour of the River Spree. It was a lovely fall day and a great way to take a relaxed overview of the city. On my last day Anke’s Mother, Gerta, and I were ushered to a local museum where we took in a 360° panorama of the ancient city of Pergamon. This was an incredible mural about 5 stories high which has to be seen to appreciated. It was simply breathtaking. The whole undertaking was created from the mind of Yadesar Asisi. It was the last days of this spectacle in Berlin but soon to follow will be a panorama of the Berlin wall as it was before it was torn down.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unfortunately, again, my credit card was compromised with a whopping $600-$700 charge from Zimbabwe made. My credit card company were on their toes, caught the charge and cancelled my cards! Made for an inconvenience but my host, Bernd, loaned me Euros for the remainder of my trip. Thanks Bernd and Anke. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Leaving Berlin I continued by train on to Künzelsau the home of Annette and Klaus who run Manati the German restaurant on Guanaja. Their daughter was pregnant with her second child which was due to be born any minute after my arrival in Künzelsau. The weather had held out for my whole trip and in spite of a few chilly and overcast days while here, it was really beautiful. I visited friends I had made on the island when they came to visit Klaus and Annette, picked grapes in a vineyard. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The day was damp for picking grapes but I wanted the experience. We were set to the task of picking purple grapes, which are much easier to locate than green ones on the vine. The people were from around the area and hard working, fun, friendly souls. At lunch they set up tables in the vineyard and provided typical German fare of ham loaf, potato salad, bread and wine - lots of it. We worked on into the afternoon and I was really glad to see the work day come to an end. Picking is not so hard or even the bending - it’s the standing on a hill at a slant that will ruin your back! Thanks to the owner, my friend, Molie, for allowing me the experience of picking grapes. He also runs an excellent restaurant where we had a fantastic meal.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I got to visit little Riko who was born about 3 days after my arrival. He arrived healthy and sound and is a beautiful baby. Congratulations to Judith, Daniel and Erik. Riko is a lot bigger now and doing well being watched over by his Mom, Dad and Erik who is of course, growing by leaps and bounds.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had wonderful meals, went to a couple of fairs, shopped in town, saw some unusual house ornaments and furniture and saw my first hedgehog! I sampled chestnuts that had been roasted over a fire for the first time and lots and lots of wonderful German wine.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I left Germany to return to the island filled with wonderful memories. When I returned home I took up my Yoga again but in about a month’s time I discovered small discomfort with my left knee. After procrastinating, I finally went to the coast and had a CT Scan. It was discovered that I had a torn meniscus and surgery would be required. I scheduled an appointment with my surgeon in San Pedro Sula, Dr. Saybe, and in less than one week (the end of October) I had my successful surgery and was back home with no pain and just some physical therapy to keep me busy. All was going well and I had no problems with the knee. But........</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">As I mentioned at the beginning, Oct.-Dec. did not produce the normal amount of rain and we had more sunshine than we normally do in those months. However, it did rain and several days saw from 5-7” of liquid sunshine. The sidewalk in back of our house receives all the drainage running down hill and thus is the recipient of a lot of clay which the rain washes down to the sea. Our sidewalk is very slippery and so I was being extra cautious when I had to walk out there. It just so happened, one month almost to the day of my surgery, I stepped off the back steps and as I placed my foot on the slick sidewalk, it went out from under me and I fell on my left leg! First thought was I</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">hope I haven’t done something to my knee. I lay there with my leg under me and what pain! I had sprained my ankle!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Lucky for me the wind was not blowing because if it had neither my husband nor or worker would have heard me screaming for help; one was at the boat dock and the other high on the hill behind the house. As it was, after a couple of good yells they both came running. I could not walk and they had to almost carry me into the house. I immediately put ice on the ankle and kept it up most of the day. So, here I was, back at square one, my knee just about healed and I could walk and now I could not walk because of my ankle. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Thanksgiving was on its way and even on an Honduran island this feast is celebrated, at least by those who either have family in the U.S., are dual citizens or have spent time up there. Turkeys come into Sikaffy’s and Wood’s store and we all look forward to a big feast. My friend, Linda was preparing to move back to Texas and so gave me all her cans of pumpkin as that was something one cannot find here. My Thanksgiving meal is not complete with out my famous pumpkin bread and I had plenty now to make and give as gifts. Sadly this year there was no canned cranberry sauce so I had to use my imagination and I made some up from dried, frozen cranberries I had on hand. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">We had about 10 people at the house and everything went like clock work for once. The meal was great and everyone enjoyed themselves. PLUS the weather cooperated which is a big happening here on a holiday. No one arrived soaking wet and the seas were calm. About the same thing can be said for December; mild, sunny and calm seas. We celebrated as always at Manati where two beautiful turkeys were cooked on the outside oven by Klaus. Good job Klaus! We jumped right into New Year's Eve confident that the weather would hold. It did and my husband and I took our boat around to the other side of the island to celebrate with George, Ginger, David and Joan. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">his is something we rarely do as we try to be home by dark, especially when we go to the “other” side. We are just not as familiar with the reefs over there and with no “big” town or homes on the hillside to light the way, it is DARK!. Again, we brought appetizers and George and Ginger fixed a delightfull small meal for us as we had really pigged out on the appetizers. We did leave about 11 p.m. as the day had been a long one. Nevertheless, we had a wonderful time ushering in 2013 (even if we left before it was ushered in) and thank our companions for a great time.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">All this time I had been busy with my crafts, making presents for people and trying to come up with new ideas for gifts. I discovered Origami and found some great instructions on line in order to make a variety of little boxes to contain small trinkets for people. I still did some crocheting and got a few table runners made for Annette's gift.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">January arrived and with it rain and more rain. The whole month we saw little of Mr. Sun but the yard and garden thrived. In the meantime, about the 2nd week of January I came down with bronchitis. I am susceptible to this and had it about 12-13 years ago. I was really sick then and so I was on my guard. In spite of this I suffered for 4 weeks and the coughing was wearing me down. I had no energy and this was the worse part for me as I am always a go-go-go person. I read up about it on the internet and since 90% of bronchitis cases are viral and I had no way of running a blood test here to determine whether it was bacterial or viral, I treated it with hot tea with lemon and honey, hot, hot showers on my chest followed by slathering my chest with Vicks, taking aspirin, and lots of rest which was forced upon me. The 4th week my ear started aching and I had a sore throat so I went to see the doctor on the Cay to see what she would advise. She gave me something for my sinus and a mild spectrum antibiotic to take. Everything finally worked and I bounced back.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">In the meantime I must report that our 14 year old dog, Nod, passed on. She had been bad for a few months but nothing we could not control with occasional drugs. One day, however, I heard a thump on the stairs. Apparently her legs gave out and she fell down the last two stairs off the porch. We brought her up and laid her down but she could not stand up on her back legs. We watched over her for more than an hour and finally decided that this was it for her. My husband dug her grave and had to put her down. I really hate this and we now have 7 pets in our little pet cemetery. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Then, one of our dogs, Desi (the brother to Lucy) had decided that he did not want to live with us anymore. Desi loved to run and be free. He hated to be locked on the porch when we go somewhere and the minute we let him out, he is off. He runs up to the hills where there is a farm with cattle, chickens, another puppy and horses. They do not feed him there and he will be gone for at least 2 weeks at a time. About that time, Lucy and CocoNut go off and bring him home. We feed him like a King, keep him over night, give him a meal in the morning and let him out. Off he goes not to return until one of the dogs goes to get him. He was a beautiful, sleek dog, with a beautiful body. He is now skin and bones and has an infection in his ear and ticks. We treated the infection and kept him locked on the porch. With medication and feeding he returned to normal but with his penuche for roving we decided to return him to Susan, his original owner, and she found a home in La Ceiba for him. But, she insisted we take one of her puppies so we now have Desiree:</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I think I'll end here and report more on Desiree and happenings on the island in 2013 in another blog.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704701124599025843.post-40303700440275574022012-05-27T11:56:00.001-07:002012-05-27T11:56:16.660-07:00Hooked on Phones!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapCcV9XtM2GA6mk4SpTGcxgF3j67XC6WMvnwozVBqXjjfDkyG-sZGP-a34ndZwWwK9rmyFsAh3bXg1SuS4pER6zkpK4tJyXDn6_FiWC6bgNy21WgDqb57F22CofsxByO276ysYJIz_pHj/s1600/my+phone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapCcV9XtM2GA6mk4SpTGcxgF3j67XC6WMvnwozVBqXjjfDkyG-sZGP-a34ndZwWwK9rmyFsAh3bXg1SuS4pER6zkpK4tJyXDn6_FiWC6bgNy21WgDqb57F22CofsxByO276ysYJIz_pHj/s320/my+phone.JPG" width="179" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When we came to the island getting a telephone was difficult. There just were not enough lines to go around so one had to wait until a phone number opened up. Of course then you only had HonduTel to work with and if you lived in an area with access to their lines, it was still difficult at best and almost impossible if you did not have access.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">About 6 years ago or so (more or less), cellular phones came to the island! What an innovation! While we had all connected with our VHFs and depended upon that for a source of communication we now had access to cell phones. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It took us a while before my husband and I broke down and bought a phone giving up our VHF connection. Of course here on the island we have to buy minutes and these are sold at many of the stores around town. At first the cards were small but manageable and of readable size. Suddenly, one day, TIGO, in their infinite wisdom to save money (?) decided to downsize the card and now it is 1"x1". Of of course this means it is much easier to lose and to read those scratched off numbers which one must input into the phone. Then there is always the problem of being in the middle of a conversation and having no idea that you are almost out of minutes and bam, the conversation is ended. You keep talking thinking you are still connected and then suddenly realize that that other end of the line has been disconnected and there is a vast void out there.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Of course, there are times when you have minutes available but evidentially TIGO or some other power decides that “Hey, you’ve talked long enough” and the line goes dead for no reason at all. And calling is not always that easy. Sometimes you will get a message that there is no access, but if you are persistent and keep on entering the number in various ways you will get through. Sometime, for no reason, you seem to be out of reach of the tower’s band width even though you are in the same spot where you’ve made hundreds of calls. Then there are always those blackouts; unexplainable happenings wherein we get no signal even though we have enough bar codes for strength indicated.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">One becomes accustomed to these inconveniences; after all, we are now in step with the modern world and we have communication at our fingertips so we must take the good with the bad. This along with the internet has made our lives so much easier.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Of course, once they have you hooked they do all sorts of stuff. Like, make your old phone obsolete either by the way it functions or it looks. People are constantly scrambling to upgrade their phone for who knows what reason. I prefer to stick with what I have; it works so why spend more money? Then, since we live on the ocean, many phones are lost over the side of the boat!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">If they can't get you with that well then the "World At Large" decided that in order to control terrorists, people running drugs and/or kidnappers everyone must now register their cell phone. Ok I say - what's the big deal? We are offered the option of registering on-line so I do. It is a little time consuming and redundant because they got all this information when I bought the phone and the number, but what the heck, in the name of safety and our future well being (?) I'll go along. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Then they announce that while you can register on-line, they have decided that you MUST go into a TIGO office to present your I.D. and complete registration. Well, this is just great. Here we are, on an island and no TIGO office or representative to take our information. This means each person must spend about $200 to fly to the mainland and register! What the really, really poor people are going to do is beyond me. I for one go the coast twice a year; once for a yearly medical checkup and secondly to renew my residency and get blood work done at the clinic. I'm not about to spend money to fly over just to register my phone!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">We did have until May 15th as the deadline to accomplish this registration but then the government or whoever is in charge decided to extend the deadline. One source said we now had until December 2012, another source said July 15, 2012 and finally, from what I hear, we have until June 15, 2012!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Plus, I was just reading the other day on our Honduran Living Group the following:</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">"[</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">I] went to Tigo at the mall in La Ceiba last week. I had already registered my # online but was also told that I needed to come in. My friend had also added some time onto my # a few days before and I had only been away for 2 mos. Regardless, although they accepted my registration and my friend's $$ (no refunds!), they had already "recycled" my number. The young man assisting me told me that chips will now automatically be recycled every two months if they have no activity.</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />Upon trying to buy a new chip, it turned out that they are having a lot of problems with the chips and the first 2 did not even work. Finally I was able to get my phone working but it took quite a while.<br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />For those of us who travel back and forth, I guess this means that now, in addition to trying to keep our #s active, we will have to continually go to Tigo to register NEW numbers! Agh! Just another day in Honduras . . . . <br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" />Never gave this much thought before but I wonder how far away we are from world-wide, low-cost cell phone service?"</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">So, now I'm reading that if you don't use your phone for two months, they take away your number which means we must go through the whole process again! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">I'm sorry, but this is complete madness. The "government" (or whoever is in charge of this action) says that if a terrorist/drug runner/kidnapper uses your phone in a crime, you are responsible because it is your phone! Yeah, like they are going to enforce that law! Hey, they don't enforce the laws against stealing, breaking of environmental laws, murder, child abuse, trespassing, land stealing - so why should they enforce this one? And if your phone is stolen and you live on an island with no representative or in some remote area and can't get to a TIGO representative to report it and a crime is committed, what then?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">This all may work in the "real" advanced countries but just ain't gonna work here. It is simply a real inconvenience not to mention a huge expense on the people that do not have access to a representative! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">What can we do however? Luckily for me I registered my "travel phone" in Ceiba when we were there for our residency renewal in April and am fortunately going to leave soon to attend my Grandson's wedding in Indiana. On the way out of the country I will be in San Pedro Sula and I can register my phone then. But what of all the unfortunate people that can't afford it or live too far to make the long trek to a village/town/city where they can register?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span>Guanaja Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05988022509539015923noreply@blogger.com2