Bienvenidos a Casa Ingaso, Altos del Maria, Republic of Panama

• January
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• November

JANUARY 2010: “Happy New Year!”

(NOTE: Newcomers, who would like to get an idea of what this site is all about, would be well-advised to click on "2005 Pages" and read that introduction. Enjoy!)

First things first.
In this techno-crazy world, I don't know why anyone would want to mail anything, but for that one oddball out there, who just might, please note our change of address. The service we use to get Stateside mail has moved into larger facilities and the new address is in the left sidebar under the "MAIL" heading. Oh, and the "PMB PMA-10" is sacrosanct; don't leave home without it!
Okay, next things next. Seems parts of my last update offended some people; "too risque" was the phrase I heard most often. Well, I'm sorry if you were offended by anything I wrote. It was all meant to be in good fun. As for myself, not much offends me, so I tend to say whatever comes to mind, and according to some, it wasn't the first time I've gone too far. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure it won't be the last, either.
Which brings me to the middle thing: My Hat! What's up with that?, is a question I get from curious onlookers wondering why it constantly sits atop my head (I actually own six; they're just all the same). Well, it's no mystery; there are various reasons for my chapeau. One obviously being protection from the sun. After most of a lifetime spent on beaches in California, I've got the basal cell carcinomas and cancerous growths to show for it. TC calls me Barnacle Bob.
Another reason is grooming. I'd rather throw on the hat then worry about which cardinal point my thin thatch of hair is aimed at. We've all had bad hair days, but only the fortunate few get to deal with a bad hair life (hey, it could be a Broadway song: "It's a bad hair life, for us.") Whatever, I'm lucky that way.
The third reason for keeping a hat close at hand is insects. My hat is my brand of PID (Portable Insect Destroyer). I've become masterful at sweeping them out of the air, off the terrace, or out of the house with a quick backhand. Roxie and Tipper have chased many a rocketing bug only to discover the bugs are no longer providing their own locomotion.
"Shoot, that ain't no fun?"
But that's a few of the reasons why I wear a hat...oh, it also comes in handy for brushing off tables and chairs.

Okay, since we're in the vicinity we might as well scout around Ingaso and see what else we can find.
Without many photos, this gallery will cover a lot of ground, including a couple of holidays, but no animals. Due to some requests from parents of kids who like the furry ones, I've put together a gallery just for them. Unfortunately, it contains some rather sad information and pictures, so I hope the kids still enjoy.
Meantime, click on the sunset and "laissez les bon temps roulez!" (Let the good times roll!)

Ailing animals. It seems to be the season of visits to the vet. First, Mama-jama started sprouting crusty bumps on her nose, red sores between her toes, and hair loss across her back. I might be wrong, but I think it was the third vet who finally diagnosed it as fungus. I know, I know, I'll go ahead and say it just so you can forget it: "There's a fugus among us!"
It will take a long, tedious time to clear up Mama's fungi. A time full of pills, cleanings, antiseptic sprays, ointments and baths! And I know I'm forgetting two or three other treatments. Oh, and Mama-jama doesn't like any of it. But, we're just getting started!
Tipper and Bobo, both, got into fights wherein they came out on the losing end, so to speak. Tipper's took place in November, while Bobo's occurred four days before TC left for Europe. That left me holding the bag...and the syringe, and the sprays, and the pills, and the drops, and the ointments, and on and on and on.
Rather than me relive that nightmare, please click on Tipper and experience it for yourself!

And that brings us to our second New Year's Eve open house. Last year TC wanted professional fireworks, but we weren't sure what we would get, so we footed the bill. Since they were terrific, however, and the talk of Altos, we felt this year's attendees wouldn't mind contributing. And they didn't! Brian, our volunteer doorman/bouncer (he said, unfortunately, there was no one to "bounce") collected nearly two-thirds of the cost. Thank you all!
And thank you, Brian, the hardest working man in Altos!
Now, if you weren't there, this gallery will seem kinda dull, since it's mostly just people standing around smiling, drinking and having a good time. But, by now you know I'll do my best to liven things up, and the same as last year, we'll have several "contest" winners. Of course, no one knew they were in a contest, much less received any award...other than our magnanimous presence. (Like the rest of my life, these contests are solely in my head.)
Also, several people took pictures, and you can tell who by looking for their name in the page banner. So, without further ado, please hunker down, buckle in, click on the pretty picture...well, partially pretty, and brace for impact!
Oh, the last page links to the fireworks video.

Let's see, it was the 6th of December, if I correctly remember, when TC and three amigos traveled a package-deal to Italy—air, rental car, and rooms in a medieval castle included. Yes, I said "castle." Castello di Montegufoni to be exact, which sat in the middle of some beautiful Tuscan countryside. [Click the photo.]
Being winter and off-season (only Italians wherever our travelers went), the package was extremely reasonable, as long as you didn't mind being cold—which leaves me out! How cold? Well, the castle charged when you ran the heat. And that's why some very warm sleeping clothes were packed for the trip.
Seeing as TC has already combed through over 600 images and posted quite a few online, I'll leave this one to her. Here's the link to TC's Kodak Gallery album, so you can go there to see the pictures and read her comments:
Kodak Gallery link.

And that does it for this update. Hope you enjoyed it, weren't offended by anything, and keep it to yourself if you were!

“¡Prospero Año, Amigos!”

[click here for May's home page...]