Well here I am in the Amstel Amon Hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica with a frog killer. I'm not sure how I feel about that. It's not like the killings were his fault. It is the rainy season and that apparently brings those little hoppers out onto the roadways where you can see their little white bellies as they hop-hop-hop-SPLAT-oops - run in front of a car. I have just never been in a situation where the roadkill is frogs. Squirrels, opossums, but not frogs. This is a new experience.

We went to Tabacon Hot Springs this weekend, which was as beautiful as it was the first time I saw it. We were actually able to see the volcano and saw and heard it erupt various times. Normally the cone of the volcano is covered in clouds and so it is difficult to see the ash (during the day) and the lava (at night). We were able to see both (I just did not get a picture at night), which was very lucky and cool.

I am supposed to travel around with Joseph while he is working this week, but it seems like that is going to be complicated, so I am going to probably take off for a day or two, maybe to Manuel Antonio National Park. It is supposed to be very beautiful and since there are so many things to do here, I need to take advantage and get out there and see things.

Well I don't know how I am ever going to be ready to leave. So many days counting down and now I am reduced to the last minute scramble. It will be fun. It will be worth it. Almost out of here. I fly out tomorrow night.

Well, for Mother's Day, Lily told me that she wished that my mother was her mother, that way we could be sisters. I think that was a compliment. Joaquin gave me a card that touted my many virtues. He thinks I am funny and he likes it when I play with him and when I take him places.

We had a good day. We had brunch at the Hawthorne Street Cafe and then wandered up and down the street and browsed in the stores. Lily really enjoyed kneeling at the altar in the Goddess Gallery, while I perused the various packages of "spells" they have for sale. They have one that will turn an enemy to a friend (but you can't do it the 3rd day after a full moon) and even one that will help you get a job. Joaquin preferred playing the gong, the thumb piano and the pan flute he found at Gifts from Afar. And Joseph wandered along smoking a cigar and got absorbed in a biography of Che Guevara.

It was a beautiful day to be out and about in the sunshine with my loved ones.

Nell Anne on the zipline in
Monteverde
Costa Rica

I've been reminded there are 7 days to go...

Here's my little scuba diver.

Certified on 05-07-06.

14 days...

Ok. I am back. Sort of. I have been avoiding my blog because I have not been in a bloggy mood. Things have sucked a bit, but I need to get over it and move on. (Insert self-motivating crap cliche here.) So I will start with a countdown. I am going to be working my ass off for the next two weeks, so I need something to look forward to, and I think that this will just about do it. 16 days and counting until I am here....