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PANAMÁ PHONE:
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APRIL 2012: “Fresh Starts & New Years...”
Yeah, yeah, I can hear you: "The first update of 2012, and not only is it three months late, but there's no frickin' fireworks!?!? What a gyp!!"
Sorry to disappoint those of you anticipating another New Year's bash, but we took the year off. We sat home, alone, watching a Foyle's War marathon (a BBC series about a detective during WWII, starring Michael Kitchen). And not until 9 pm did we discover that—"Ay carumba!"—we had no champagne!
"Yes! We have no more bubbly. We have no more bubbly, today!"
So, no party for us.
[Click the image for a larger version...]
But, at midnight, we stepped outside to watch the fireworks, and there were lots of them: here in the valley, in the nearby communities, and even huge professional displays down by the coast. Unfortunately, our burgeoning trees blocked the majority of fireworks in Altos. Still, we got a taste, and then went to bed, content and comfortable with our old fogeyism.
And, as an added bonus, the next morning you wouldn't believe how relieved we were to not face the usual colossal clean-up. We hope everyone had a happy New Year's—even if it is 2012, a date that lives in infamy...
Okay, as promised, our first gallery shows the film crew that visited us to shoot TV spots, as well as still photographs to be used in Altos del Maria advertising.
Several years ago, we also volunteered our home for advertising purposes, and just four or five people showed up. This time, however, five vehicles carrying tons of equipment, plus twenty people invaded Casa Ingaso! But not before a helicopter, flying so low and close that water from the pool was blown up on our office windows, took the aerial view video (we'd love to see the rest of that footage).
All that remains for you to do is click on the photo. And, remember, the link on the last page, the page with the TV ad, will bring you back here. "Enjoy!"
We might not have celebrated New Year's Eve in the usual way, but since last we talked, other events have occurred in their normal fashion. For instance, the annual holiday arts & crafts show-cum-bake sale.
I might be wrong—which is a talent of mine—but I'm pretty sure this is the third time Connie and TC have sold their wares at the show. It's held at the Coronado Equestrian Club, and this year not only were the girls hawking sundry goodies, but also their famed felted "bowls."
Click on the image for that and other events...
Okay, just to mix things up a little, lets look at some cats, man. Through no conscious effort of our own (which is always true where I'm concerned), pictures of cute, little kitties tend to pile up around here. I'll have you know that I culled quite a few for this gallery, yet there were still enough left to make this gallery.
If you're a cat lover, you won't mind the time, especially since the cats are part and parcel to our experience of life here. If you're not a cat lover, you can always click on the next gallery...but your soul might shrivel in return.
Jo came up with the idea for our next gallery. Not the gallery itself, but the event that made it possible: an Altos Garden Tour.
In brainstorming...wait, he's British, so make that: During a well-oiled cogitation over charitable fund-raising ideas, he focused on his garden and wondered whether it held any possibilities. His next move was brilliant: he called TC.
Together, they organized Altos first annual (?) charity garden tour, with viewers buying tickets to walk through six different gardens (hey, walking through gardens here is not as easy as it sounds).
The tour was a success, raising a low, four-figured amount to be meted out in monthly allotments to some ultra-needy local families. And, Kenya proved ideally suited as the distributor of funds, as she's been working in this area for some time. So, all in all, the tour was a winner, and not in small part to contributors from outside Altos, some of whom drove friends all the way out from Panama City. (You know who you are—Tammy and Gustavo.)
So, a hearty thank you to everyone who participated, especially those opening their gardens: Jo and Rosa, Leland and Janece, Audrey and José, Connie and Bob, Ursula and Dieter, and last but most definitely not least (especially in my book) TC.
Also, kudos to several gardeners and photographers who contributed photos, with an especial thank you going out to Tammy and Peter. "THANKS!"
Well, if this photo is beginning to look familiar, that's because for quite some time now there's been one like it every year. It's (say it with me): "BEACH WEEK!"
And here's our not-quite-ready-for-primetime ladies, once again posing for the obligatory snapshot...well, at least standing in a reasonable facsimile of a line?
"It was like trying to teach cats to play piano!"
At any rate, there weren't as many beach week photos as in the past, possibly due to the stupor that overcomes anyone staying at Villa Marina...
Nonetheless, click on that gaggle of girlies!
Next, and more recently, TC has volunteered at a couple of spay clinics held in nearby villages. Two groups hold these events, "Spay Panama" and a local one called, "Spay the Strays."
Click the image for a larger version; plus here's a link with some info and articles: Spay the Strays.
Click here for pictures from the latest clinic TC attended. (Scroll down a bit, then click on the large image to start the slideshow.)
TC is what's called a "taxi", meaning she helps carry unconscious animals from station to station. She tends to fall in love with the puppies, so I'm expecting a surprise one of these days. I said, expecting, not wanting!
I wonder whether Mama-jama would like a small companion to torment, since she no longer has to deal with the constant bullying of Bobo?
You didn't think I was gonna let you off that easily now, did ya, punk?
Nope, you still have to wade through a passel of pictures depicting life here at good ol' Casa Ingaso. And you thought it was almost over.
"SUCKER!"
And the gauntlet will be even more gruesome than you can imagine, because there's not one, but two photos of me to negotiate. "Eh, eh, eh...."
Did I mentally hear you say, "OUCH!"
Oh well, if you want to see the rest of the shots, you'll have to click on me.
Yeah, yeah, sometimes life sucks. Just quit your griping and do it, all right!?!?
Hey, you made it, you made it! Don't worry, you'll feel better once the vertigo stops....
“ˇVaya con tacos, Amigos!”
[click here for our next update...]