The Costa Rica Adventure- The First Two Days

My latest journey turned out to be an adventure right from the beginning. From missed plane connection to flying to Nicaragua, to my bag not making it to San Jose for two day...it was to date the best adventure of my life! I didn't realize just how much my spirit needed this type of trip! I left early on Saturday morning and didn't get to Puravida until after 8pm. With only my carry on bag and a really great room, I remember saying to myself how happy I was to be there. At breakfast Sunday morning I bought two new people, Leah and Nick, bought a tank top at the gift shop and took a yoga class. I think Sunday was the only really quiet day as all the others during the trip were on the go. Christmas Eve was a beautiful day from midnight to midnight. I woke up really, really early and looked out of the window to see stars and planets. I say planets since two of the stars were pulsing and brighter than the other stars. They had to be planets...which ones I don't know. After admiring the universe for a bit, I took a hot shower, felt the water on my skin; felt the positive energy of the day to come. It felt as beautiful as I did in my skin. By 5am, I walked to the mediation tower and climbed the steep ladder. The view from above made me witness to the gorgeous full moon casting a blanket of white light down over me. I started listening to the Christmas Travel project songs friends and loved ones selected. Appropriately, as if the universe timed it, "Trial by Fire" played. I looked up at the moon and said out loud, "Hello Mr. Moon. Can I talk to you". And I did. Around 5:30am the sun started its ascent. As the darkness faded and the sun started to flood the sky with pinkish-reddish light, the moon was still behind me in the West memorizing me. It was a spectacular view. Full moon, soon to be bright sun opposing. I watched sunrise and also thought that at least somewhere at that very moment, someone else is doing the same thing. Witnessing the same joy. At breakfast, I met four others, Max, Eve, and Diane, and Mike. We were all headed on the same excursion to see the Waterfalls. It was rainy and obviously wet in the higher elevations. I did have to buy a poncho since mine was in my luggage which had yet to arrive in San Jose (it was in San Salvador somewhere). The hike into the falls was strenuous but fun and exciting not to mention very romantic and scenic. I feel truly blessed to have been witness to alot nature offered for viewing. The rushing waterfall "el blanco agua" as one sign stated was spectacular. Kind of reminded me of a purer version of Niagara Falls. A great site to see. The hike out of the site was strenuous as well. All the steps we took going down we had to take to get back up! Needless to say it took some time getting back to the bus but I made it. LOL. Even with the poncho I, like all the others, was wet. When I got back to my room (which did I mention was beautiful...Kiva Room with huge windows overlooking the valley and mountains, private balcony, semi living room, king sized bed, and great bathroom) I took a much needed hot shower! LOL. I felt that cold dampness that one could only feel from being out in the cold and wet. About an hour later I was warm again and dressed for dinner. After I got my plate and sat with my new friends, I was surprised with a cake and candles! Haven't had that in God only knows how long. It was a great cake too...chocolate with a raspberry filling, white icing, and personalized writing in red. Whoever made it put a lot of love into it. It tasted great! Annabel, my new three year old friend, said she liked the cake too! LOL. She came to dinner about 15 minutes too late to help me blow out the candles. When dinner was over, I headed to the Trance Dance program I signed up for. Turns out I was the only one who signed up for Nicole's session. She surprised me by telling me that my session would be free for me! How sweet of her. The trance dance was very sensual and again that feeling of freeness. As we went through the traditional yoga moves, the trance dance allowed for modifying and feeling. Listening to the music and moving my body however it felt fit was very liberating to me. We were dancing away for almost two hours! Later I would find out from Cindy and Leah that they peeked in and were jealous at how much fun Nicole and I were having dancing away. I told them they should have joined it as it was fun! I closed out Monday with a sense of how happy I am to be me. It was a great day to celebrate my life. I had a good birthday. Christmas Day turned out to be even more exciting. More tomorrow. LOL.

WWJD

With every new year brings new challenges, new joys, new sadness, just...newness. In the past hour, I have literally felt my blood pressure surge while feeling the disconnect of what will soon be the end of another friendship. You would think planning something as simple as a baby shower would be well...simple. So far this has been anything except that. I really feel the couple involved should have thrown their own shower and I would have been happy just being a guest. There's nothing like planning a party where at every step of the way one is being micromanaged. I don't like being micromanaged. That look never suits me in any circumstance.

Since I was raised properly, I will finish out my commitment and get everything organized for the party...and then...i'm done...literally and figuratively. Done with others and their bad behavior. I'm sure that's what Jesus would want me to do. While i'm no devil...i'm no saint either. It frustrates me when I put so much time, energy, and good intentions into a project, only for others to attempt to step all over my feelings and basically not care that their actions hurt me? Patient does not mean pushover people! I'm very patient. I am far from being a pushover! I really am pissed off right now. I don't know who i'm madder at...the guest who invited another guest who will no doubt cause a problem with me or the expected mom for not saying something about the situation to that guest since I am her friend and the guest is not. I feel more angry at the mom to be. Knowing what the situation is, she would rather have it that I cannot enjoy anything and that I just pretend to be happy for her sake. Screw that. What makes her think that just because she's pregnant, only her feelings count??? Since i'm a lady, i'll reserve some of the choice words that are rambling in my head and not write them out.

The funny thing is there's nobody around to vent to as is always the case. I guess it's good that I can take care of myself. Good thing I just came back from what so far has been one of my best vacations to date. Not sure if that's a good thing considering I went by myself. I'm going to say it was a good thing. I met so many people and forced myself not to be inhibited and that was such a freeing process! I'll tell more about the trip in a separate post. As for the upcoming shower...i'll be very happy when it comes and goes. My last committed obligation to anyone. All of my friends don't realize just how out of touch I will be. Many probably won't even notice a thing. While my goal is not to be anti-social, I feel that at this point in my life, I need to be surrounded by people who can at least make an effort to keep me in their lives. Friendship is a two way street. O.K. I feel a bit calmer now that I know what i'm going to do about the party situation. BTW...HAPPY NEW YEAR! Here's to a great 2008!

What An Adventure

I can't believe a week has passed and I am but a mere few hours from headed back to work after having the time of my life so far on vacation! I literally cried yesterday because I still wanted to be anywhere but home! I had a fantastic adventure in Costa Rica. Since it's late, I'll have to expand tomorrow. Let's just say my body still hurts (in a good way) from all of the activity and I can't wait to get my pictures developed (definitely need to get a new digital camera for the next trek). O.K. more in the morning.