RETURN OF THE MUSE
No, we have not fallen off the planet or sought asylum in Mexico. Mrs.T the resident muse has been in a distressed and depressed state for about a month. She explains what happened below. Thus her stories have been neglected since the beginning of December; now she is more or less back into the swing of things. We enjoyed the usual fireworks on New Year's Eve and launched a couple of Chinese lanterns. The first week of the year saw the departure of the first wave of Canadians and the arrival of the second group, most of whom will be here for at least a couple of months. January first we had an unusual torrential rain. And it has been a tad cool a few days here and there. But we mostly have been just going about the normal business of living and enjoying life. Here is R's latest:
After I broke my leg on the trip to swim with the whale sharks some of you might have wondered what I would do next. Well the truth is I broke a rib trying to learn to paddleboard. Actually I was able to get standing up on the paddle board four times. And I have a picture to prove it. Unfortunately I fell off three times, hence the broken rib. This was not, I will admit, my most successful venture. However looking on the bright side I did have two very nice young men trying to help me. (Wisely I did not try to explain the physics involved. –dt)
It did not hurt too much at first but it kept getting worse so I went to see Dr. Victor. Dr. Victor felt around a bit and said my rib was broken. Dan was very pleased to hear that because he, Dan - also known as The Voodoo Doctor (long story, but TVD is usually correct on his diagnoses -dt) - had told me my rib was broken while I maintained it was just a strain. Dr. Victor hooked me up to his machine. It showed that in spite of the pain my blood pressure was quite low. I have always been rather proud of my low blood pressure. This may seem a little odd but if people can be proud of their intelligence or good looks, why can't I be proud of my blood pressure!? You have to play the cards you are dealt, I say. But I digress. His machine also said that my oxygen was very low.
"Are you a smoker?" Dr. Victor asked disapprovingly.
"No," I replied.
"Did you used to smoke?" he inquired.
"No."
"Why do you think your oxygen is so low?" Dr. Victor asked.
"Because I am not breathing," I replied.
"Why are you not breathing?" he questioned.
"Because it hurts to breathe," I replied with unassailable logic.
"Well you had better start breathing more or else you will fall over and that will hurt worse!" Dr. Victor replied firmly. Sigh!! Our friend Daphne (We are happy you are feeling better. –dt) maintains that you get better more quickly with Dr. Victor because he gives you hugs and kisses before you go. She quite possibly is right.
I have not yet decided whether I should try again. I have gotten quite a bit of advice on this subject, much of it concerning acting my age (About 12, do you think? (On a good day. –dt) Or were they speaking chronologically?) Was it Mark Twain who said if at first you don't succeed try, try, again, and then quit, there is no need to make a complete fool of yourself!? (Actually it was William Claude Dunkenfield, aka W.C. Fields: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it." -dt)
Moving on, I saw some therapy dogs on television and I told Dan that maybe I needed a therapy dog. Dan, ever supportive said I could have a therapy iguana. Well, Okay!
Paddleboarding attempts:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9151458@N07/sets/72157632507226740/
Last Friday when I went diving I heard the whales singing. We did not see them until later when we came up. But you could hear that there were several different whales singing together. I cannot help but wonder what they were saying. So there I was hanging out underwater trying not to breathe - when you breathe you cannot hear the whales for your own bubbles - totally entranced! I had the urge to sing back, but if you open your mouth your regulator would come out - not a good thing because that is what you breathe with. Have you noticed that breathing figures heavily in all these events? Perhaps if we could breathe osmosisically our lives would be more fulfilling. Just a thought.
We were diving on the South side of the bay at a place called Majahuita. As we prepared for our first dive a tribe of coatimundis came out of the jungle. They climbed down on the rocks at the side of the ocean and were catching and eating crabs that were climbing up the rocks. Coatimundis are kind of like a cross between monkeys, raccoons and anteaters. Very neat animals. The tide was very low and a lot of rocks were exposed. Thank you moon! Tomorrow perhaps I will walk on the beach.
We have been watching the unusual weather many of you are experiencing. We hope you are staying warm and cozy.
Dan and Rebecca
www.casa-de-terrible.blogspot.com
