Two's company, three's a crowd

Courtesy: Greg Lavaty (2003 - 2011), PBase.com

There is a new guest in the Blank household in San Jose: a Great Kiskadee and his mate have built a home right outside our window and are eagerly awaiting the birth of Baby Kiskadees. (At least, it's our best guess at what kind of bird they are.  A Google search for "yellow belly black white bird Costa Rica" pulled up several images, and this is the one that most resembles our new neighbors!)

The Great Kiskadee nest

Besides the photographic resemblance, the description on Wikipedia pretty much seems what we know about Mr. and Mrs. Kiskadee - "the Great Kiskadee is a common, noisy, and conspicuous bird." Every morning, we hear them chirping around the house, and they make their displeasure known when we walk outside our apartment to see the nest.  Most days, if they're not tending to their nest, they are keeping a watchful eye out (usually with one leery eye toward us) by perching on a cable above our house or flitting around on the rooftop.  Some days, if I exercise outside, several birds will fly around my head, watching to make sure I don't disturb the nest. Yesterday, one dive-bombed me while I was trying to stretch my way through a yoga video.  Lucky for me, they missed.  Blanks - 1, Birds - 0.

Mr. Kiskadee watching over his nest from his perch above our apartment

Despite their somewhat antagonistic approach to us (they didn't exactly bring over a casserole when they moved in!), we're starting to have fun with our new neighbors.  And I love the way Charles Darwin described their call: "the call is an exuberant BEE-tee-WEE; in Spanish-speaking countries it is often bien-te-veo ("I see you well!").  Love our little birdie friends!

John Daker sings!

Watching this video on Saturday morning is almost as fun as watching Saturday morning cartoons when I was a little kid.  Happy Saturday morning, everyone!  (Shout out to Chelcie Cusumano for the post!)

It's Friday, but Sunday's comin'

I told Brian earlier this morning that when we woke up today, I kept thinking of the words "Hallelujah, He is risen. Hallelujah, He is risen indeed!" And the song, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" circled in my mind over and over again.  But it was only Friday! Today wasn't the day to remember Christ's resurrection, but to give thanks for the awe-inspiring gift of His Son and the life-changing gift of salvation through His death on the cross.  


That's certainly something to be grateful for! But after watching this video from Pastor Tony Campolo in Philadelphia, I remembered that "it's only Friday, but Sunday's comin'!" Preach it, Brother Campolo!

Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?

Help! Has anyone seen the cookie monster in my house who's eating my super-special, extra-delicious dark chocolate and orange zest chocolate bar? Bit by bit, it seems to be disappearing.  


Here's what I started with the other day:

Here's what I found when I opened the cupboard today -- half the chocolate bar gone and this note:

The mystery deepens...

Live a little, laugh a lot

The downer of living outside of the U.S. - and in a country with basically no mail system - is that it takes about three months to get anything from Amazon.com. For realsies.  


The plus side is that I can find a lot of entertaining things online, including this excerpt from Tina Fey's new book, Bossypants.  

Courtesy: Reagan Arthur Books

It's called "A Mother's Prayer for Its Child."

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half and stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.  Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – and adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, for I will not have that shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.  “My mother did this for me once,”she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen.”

And for a second dose of amazing Tina Fey-ness, listen to or read her interview with Terry Gross on NPR's "Fresh Air."  Happy Tuesday!

Tango time

Courtesy: RedCultura.com

Over the past few days, a tango group called Fantasia de Tango had a tango festival here in San Jose.  Last night, a friend and I went to check out the Sunday evening performance; it was amazing! And for only 6,000 colones (about $12 USD), it was a great deal too.

Funny timing because on Saturday, I walked past a little cafe/dance studio about a block from our house and met the tango instructor who invited me over for a free class! After going to the performance last night, I think I might be inspired to try it. Who's with me? 

PS: I forgot to mention the cute little old man who, when the lights when up after the performance ended, serenaded the entire theater with the rest of the final song. And he got a standing ovation! Loved him.

Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos) in Costa Rica

Living in Costa Rica, and celebrating holidays like Christmas and Easter, has been interesting as we've learned a little bit more about the customs and rituals of the Catholic church here.

On Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos), I went down to the main cathedral in San Jose, Catedral Metropolitana, to watch a re-enactment of Jesus' procession into Jerusalem in the days leading up to His crucifixion.  The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, and the church bells were ringing; it was a beautiful day to remember this time in our history and what it meant for the world.  

Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos), San Jose, Costa Rica