Gone to the Dogs, and Other Animals

Lots of animal news.

Byron got fixed on Friday. Plus he had a little cosmetic surgery. The vet, un-asked, cut off his 2 front nipples! What an improvement! I almost asked if they could do it, but thought it was a little shallow of me. But they did look like half deflated ticks. Rather unattractive.

The reason we even noticed though was the drops of blood on his bed when we got home. Bobbi couldn't believe it and reconfirmed with the vet that that was what happened.

We were quite worried by the blood at first because the overall prognosis for Byron may be rather grim. The vet found an extra blob in his scrotum and thinks it may be some hideous, sexually transmitted disease, that humans can contract through blood. He hopes to have it tested, but Costa Ricans don't do the test for dogs, just cows and horses. So he talked about sending it to the US or getting a black market analysis here. If he does have this crud, it would explain his continued lack of appetite. If so, either he needs to get antibiotics for months and months or be put down.

On the hopeful front, he did eat a half can of dog food last night and another protion today. Even more exciting, Missy brought him stew made from all her leftovers from the past couple of months. She and Jim are leaving tomorrow and she wanted to coax Byron to eat. He did, I think. I plopped the gallon sized zip lock bag down for him and he dug in. When we returned from brunch at Bobbi and Tom's, half the bag was gone and Byron looks quite stuffed. We enjoyed a romp or two to the beach today and he even chased a stick.

While caring for Byron, I noticed a girl in the back yard trying to get my attention. She said she could hear a kitty crying in the bushes. I ran to get vichyssoise to coax it out, but she had grabbed it by the time I returned. She is thrilled, having wished for a cat for a long time. She's not sure how her boyfriend is going to deal with the addition. We introduced ourselves and I learned she is staying next door until June. Her mother owns a dress shop her and is helping for 6 months. I guessed it had to be the one at the Harmony Hotel. She was impressed that I could tell, but just looking at her elegant shift and lovely jewelry made it pretty apparent. It also explains the wonderful, flowing white walls recently installed on their porch, which we can see from our place.

Finally back on a pretty regular schedule with Elvira and Lesley, who are always happy to see me. They are getting more and more playful, hanging up side down from their tails, from my raised arm while playing with each other. Two more injured monkeys came in last week. The one I have seen was just a lump last Saturday. By Friday, he had been stiched up from tip to toes. Only the gaping wound around his neck and jaw line remain open. Big holes and lots of yucky puss. But he is very alert and eating and drinking voraciously. He was nearly killed by another young male, but was interrupted by some people. His eyes are so trusting and sweet.

I haven't seen the other monkey who is at the release station, far from the babies' safe house.
Bobbi shared some animal tales with me that I have to pass on.
One night, her dogs woke her with loud barking. She threw on some nightie and ran out to see what was happening. They had cornered something, so she beat them off the poor critter, to find a little porcupine. Hoping to save its life, she wanted to bring into a safe place. So she ripped off her nightie and carried him to safety. One of her friends thought she was trapesing through the jungle, naked, so she wouldn't get her clothes dirty. But no, she didn't want to be stuck full of needles. Unfortunately the poor little thing did not make it through the night.
Bobbi doesn't mind the smell of skunks, so didn't actively resist a trio moving into her house. But when they started chewing the seal around the oven, she decided it was time to throw them out. They had been living in the oven apparently and were using the broiler as a litter tray, which didn't even smell at all. She turned on the oven, hoping to get them to leave, to no avail. She then grabbed a broom and was sweeping them out. Of course, this was all in the middle of the night. And, of course, she was naked. And, the skunks were not interested in being swept away. So Bobbi had to wait for them to peek their noses out their entryway so she could get them. That took a while, so she lit up and waited. I love that image.
Bobbi and Missy were talking about what pisotes like to eat. They are the local raccoon type mammel that hunts nocturnally. They eat anything, it seems, except capers and lime jello. Bobbi found a mess in one of her clients house's. The pasotes had broken into their refrigerator.
Everything was gone but for the capers and jello, which was on the floor. Huge claw marks raked through the jello, directing the eye to the walls where they had flung the replulsive jiggly stuff.

I'm Back

Fought a tough battle with jungle fever, but I won. Helped by Bobbi, a doctor and some drugs, dear friends who plied me with soup and sauce (apple) and, of course, dear Andy.

Finally getting back to gaming, gardening and even eating.

The biggest addtiion to the garden is a new palm, the one with giant blue leaves. In a couple of years, it will be the facal point and unifying feature in the oasis on the other side of the pool from the lanai. I think it get at least as high as the brush behind it. Can hardly wait.

When I told my bridge partner that I had recoverd enough to dig the hole with an ax and adz and shovel, he replied that he never felt motivated enough to do such a thing. Credit where it is due: Andy did help me get the palm out of its huge pot and positioned in the hole, risking injuring his back.

While I was working back in the oasis I found a cement statue in the brush. He is the typical boy peeing. I dragged him closer to the lanai and stuck him amidst a vine, which will eventually cover all his missing parts.

The young man is to the left of the path to the pool.

This is how that garden looked on FEb. 14.

On the right of the path is the ruined urns feature. The next photo is how it looked on Valentine's day.

One of the treasures of that garden is the beginning of my bromiliad collection.Our dear friend Howie brought me a couple of treasures from his mountain retreat. I actually can't believe they are doing so well.

There are even a number of flourishing babies on the greener of the two types.

Surf's Up

Update: we lived, saw no tsunami. Details of exciting day later.
Andy took the 5:45 AM call from Jay of Section D to warn Bobbi about the tsunami that might be coming from the 8.8 earthuqake in Chile. Stunned, we groggily considered our options. First I called Bobbi and asked her how she would react to anything Jay from Section D might have to say. She answered that she was trying to reach Meno in San Jose to find out more about the tsunami.
(I love my babies the most in the world. Please never forget that you were the last thoughts I ever had. Didn't really consider calling you at this hour, but did think about calling Dad and Becky. Bambi would be the best shot though).
Hanging up, I asked Andy if we should do it one last time or get out the computer and follow the tsunami. We tossed back and forth many other very important, funny, funny options. Where to meet? Should we wake up Libby or let her die in peace? Would this interfer with the departure of the Olsons? Should I water the plants this morning? Should I go to my 6:30 AM meeting? How far up should we go to avoid the wave? SHould we bring our "documents" with us? Am rumaging through the important stuff bag to get mine before I leave for my meeting.
More later, God willing.

Libby

Hard to get a good shot of our friend, who loves the sand, water, air and sunsets. And great food.

Too bad we can't provide the other vital ingredients, TV, culture, news, etc.

I Thinkt Costa Rica May Becoming Green, Again

And maybe it really is returning to being green. ICE, the national electric company, seems to care about the plight of the monkeys. It has committed to insulating the wires and boxes throughout the American project in Nosara.
That is miles of rewiring. The first day I saw the ICE trucks and crews, I was amazed. Dozens of workers, 6 or 8 trucks and many, many ladders lined the main avenue. There is hope for the wildlife.

13 out of 15 monkeys died this week crossing to the other side of the road, so to speak.

ICE says it will insulate all of its electric cables. Please let that be true.

Though I love the orphans I don't want to see any more.

Craig, former Jefferson Starship Guitarist

Stupid camera failed again. No shot of the star, who was wonderful. Nothing we recognized, but lovely acoustic guitar. Brenda and Vicki are the monkey ladies. Brenda owns the Harbor Reef where this benefit took place.

Bobbi didn't make it cause Tom got caught in a log roll. Scraped and bloody, with possible broken ribs.

We are with Lili, of Mah Jong fame, her husband and Rick, who looks like a clone of Bobbi and me.

Libby used her hair dryer for the first time and felt wonderful.

The garden

Finally decided to spruce up the garden. Here is the first raking.