Casi...

...un mes.

11/30/09

As frustrated as I have been that I have no music, it just occurred to me that I can just plug my ipod into my computer and play the 950 songs on there through these speakers. But really, how appropriate. Riders On The Storm came on a few minutes ago and the rain is definitely moving in here.

I was planning on going into town tomorrow, but it is sounding like it will be a hectic and rushed trip. I despise feeling rushed. Friday is another town day so I think I'll just go in that day and establish myself at the internet cafe.

One of the workers recently got an iPhone (which are actually not sold here, but had someone bring it to him from the states). Now unfortunately here the data transfer is quite slow. Possibly because the signal is bouncing off the water. I think he is realizing he made a poor choice in getting it. So he has just left it sitting in the kitchen here for the past few days. Earl has put his SIM card in it and has been using it. Accessing the internet is incredibly spotty and slow through the phone signal. But I have been able to check my e-mail a few times. It has made it a bit more bearable not having access to the internet. But still I miss a good connection and easier communication with the outside world. Oh well. So it goes. I'll survive.

Another advantage to not going in tomorrow is that the vet is coming. He is coming to take another look at Sweetie's leg. I can't remember if I talked about it earlier. It is thought that she was bitten by a Banana Spider which is related to the Brown Recluse. She has been obsessing with it and it seems to be getting larger now. The doctor is planning on putting her under anesthesia and taking some samples to check it out in greater depth. Probably a short trip, but likely still at least somewhat interesting.

I'm now reading The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins. I found it on a bookshelf here along with tons of other books. It is really quite interesting. Dawkins was explaining that he wrote it with the intent of it appealing the the layman as well as the professional.

Yesterday I set up the six observation cameras throughout the forest. The main hope is to catch pictures of predatory animals such as large cats. I have two near the compost heap, two on an old unused path, and two on a main animal path down the hill toward a stream. It will be interesting to see what we get pictures of. I have to go back out tomorrow to get GPS readings of where the cameras are.

12/02/09

Not to brag or anything, but I feel slightly weird writing the above date while sitting outside wearing only shorts. Maybe a little less bugs flying around my face and computer screen and I would be extremely comfortable. But lets not complain. I can hear the waves crashing softly on the beach. Bugs, frogs, and numerous other things making music all around. No sounds of cars, boats, or airplanes.

Now if I only had internet everything would be just dandy.

This may be possible in the near future...

Earl made a series of calls today to various people at I.C.E. I.C.E is the government-owned communications monopoly. They provide all of the landline, cellular, and internet services in Costa Rica. There used to be internet here at the sanctuary, but the modem fried and they were supposed to come a while ago to install a new one. It died about 2 ½ months ago. Left unharassed, they would likely not come until January or February. But today Earl made a few calls and made his point well understood. During dinner Earl received a call bearing good news. Someone (Francisco?) will be getting the equipment, testing it out on Friday and Saturday, and then installing it here on Tuesday. This time next week I will have internet at the sanctuary.

Ojala.

Maria, the volunteer who was here last week, is returning tomorrow. I think she'll be here just through the weekend. Carol has assigned us a project. We are going to the local high school to give a presentation on wildlife and this sanctuary. Throughout Thursday and Friday Maria and I are going to be making posters and such for this presentation. Good thing there is a girl to help or if left only to me, it might very well be a disaster. Just considering my handwriting and lack of organizational skills, that is.

We had a baby toucan delivered to us this morning. No further information. It was in a backpack and not looking terribly well. Earl says “It is a bad sign when a toucan doesn't try to bite you”. We brought it up and I went to go pull up some Pedialyte in a syringe and warm it up. By the time I pulled it up, the toucan was dead. Sorry to give depressing stories, but it all comes in the package.

Toucans. Nasty birds. Incredibly aggressive. Had to of had a good P.R. guy to get him on the Fruit Loop box. Anything they can fit in their bill they'll swallow. Fruit, seeds, snakes, eggs, other birds, small monkeys, etc. Completely omnivorous. I believe they eat their weight a day. An old worker here said that he saw a group of these attack and kill a howler monkey. They just fly in and use their beaks as spears until the prey falls out of the tree and then cut it up using their serrated, saw-like beak.

But yes, very pretty birds. Their skin color is green. You can see it around their eyes. Also they have blue feet.

Interesting to think that in 5 days I will have been in Costa Rica for 1 month. Left the states on November 7^th.

Time to go take another ice-cold shower...

12/4/09

I'm at the internet cafe in Puerto Jimenez now. Feels great to have internet at my fingertips. I'm going to keep this post short so I can upload pictures and get some skype in.



Mi Cabina. This if from the veranda on the front. My bed is inside the cage.





La cocina. This is where I spend a good majority of my day.


Leaf Cutter Ants.

Mas.

Pretty spider.


Una cucaracha grande!

My shower.


Max, the baby anteater.

Sweetie and Winkie.

My baby Bat Falcon. He has a broken wing.

I don't remember the name of the butterfly, but the inside of the wings are a beautiful vibrant blue.