Army Ants, Lazy Cats, Clean Dogs & Tico Bingo

Today was a little different ... Roy, fixing to work on the new septic system, calls to me "baby, you need to look at this" ... as you know, I hear this alot!  Slipped on some sandals and walked out back to see what.  ARMY ANTS!  They are known in these parts as "cleaner" ants, as they swarm over the property, consuming all the stuff we DON'T want around ... dead bugs, live bugs if they can catch them, bug eggs, scorpions, ect.  These photos don't really show how MANY of them there were because they also bite and I didn't want that to happen twice!  Suffice it to say that the back of the house was BLACK!

Not really wanting to stick around to see if they swarmed INSIDE, we grabbed the dog  ... more on him later ... hopped in the "jumpzuki" and headed to Steve & Brenda's house.  Got as far as Soda San Luis and remembered that we needed to be home for Ferreteria Los Angeles to deliver materials, so, sigh, turned around and went back home.  By this time, the ants were all.over.the.place ... but it didn't last long, thankfully.  

When the army moved on, Roy decided that he could do a little septic excavation, and then discovered that he needed a few more plumbing parts, so off to Ferreteria I went, bought parts and came back home to bathe the (rather) stinky dog.  It was a "two man job", so I don't have photos, but we, together, got 'er done.  Wiley smells sooooo much better now and behaved better than expected!

Kiki, however, was totally underwhelmed by the whole thing.

The other day, our new acquaintance, Hymie, stopped by to sell us tickets to the local church fundraiser bingo game.  Now, I am NOT a bingo person, but WTF, so Brenda & I decided to go (the guys were TOTALLY not going to go with).  Grabbed a quick, post dog bath shower and off to la iglesia for fun & games.  

Bingo is a little different here as:  a) you had better know your numbers in spanish and b) they don't EVER say "B - 12", just doce (12).  Then, of course, when it is "4 corners", or whatever and you don't understand ... still fun and we were the only gringos (gringas) there!  I hear there is a really HOT game in San Juan from time to time which we will probably hit when it next happens.  

So, that's life "en el campo" today ... exciting, no?

Tenga Paz,

K

Frontline Spray

Due to a comment on last night's post, I thought I would post a link to assure everyone that I am not abusing the dog!

http://www.frontlineplus.com.au/media/pdf/fl_spray_app_guide.pdf

Where is this coming from? And doggie update

I am so glad that my our friends are following our "journey", but a girl has to wonder ... what the hell is UP with these 'stats'?!  In the last month, I seem to have had the following viewers :

Pageviews by Countries Entry Pageviews United States 365 Costa Rica 29 Pakistan 28 Russia 20 Germany 19 Nigeria 11 Indonesia 9 Ukraine 6 Czech Republic 5 Italy 5

Since I started this blog, the stats are:

United States	2672
Costa Rica	230
Germany	125
Canada	82
Russia	72
United Kingdom	50
Pakistan	28
Japan	14
Indonesia	11
Mexico	11

Really?  I mean, lots of US, CA & CR, which is to be expected, but  the rest of them ... WTF?????  Do they somehow think they have wandered onto a porn site or what?  I have a friend in Japan, OK!  Some in the UK ...  OK, Italy ... maybe, it's a gaming thing, but the others?  Pakistan?  Nigeria?  Russia?  Indonesia?  Really?  How do they get here ... are they really here ... I don't know enough about this "blog thingie" to know.  Anybody got a clue?

The Dog

The puppy is doing well.  Eat, shit, sleep!  Pretty much like any 4 month old baby!  Or, perhaps like all of us who don't work outside the home anymore!  We still haven't settled on a name, but that is forthcoming ... Thanks for your feedback!  Stay tuned.

Spent yet another bunch of $$ today for:  a) leash;  b) a squeaky ball;  c) a brush ("easy clean") and best of all ... an aerosol  bottle of "Frontline" for around $30 ... now, compare that with the single dose @ $15!  Don't know exactly why this product is clearly labeled " NOT REGISTERED FOR USE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", but it is.

Is this a typical product of our "nanny state", where some many most people can't read, therefore can't follow instructions on packaging, or just another symptom of our (US) kowtowing to big Pharma or what?  Six pumps of the bottle every TWO months ... three on the neck, three on the belly ... duh?!?!?!  Just sayin'.

Rambling and ranting , past my bedtime ... Tenga Paz

K

Our newest addition, a vote & progress.

Saturday morning, early, I am just waking up when Roy calls to me "Baby, you've got to take a look at this". Now, this is not an uncommon thing to hear and I always look ... but this was really something to see.  This little guy was foraging in our compost pile for any little edible morsel.

Dirty dog

He could barely stand, was totally flea ridden & filthy, starving to death and we couldn't stand it.  We, of course, are NOT set up for a dog, but we fed him some leftover chicken & rice (it was supposed to be Roy's lunch), hauled out a cat bed (our cats prefer our bed, our chair or anything except a bona fide pet bed) and made him a nest.  I ran to the pulperia and bought some puppy food, although we didn't know at that point if he was a puppy or just small.  Couldn't let him in the house because a) fleas; b) possibility of heartworm and c) he had a real STANK goin' on.  By the next morning, he was walking a little better & eating more, but still we didn't know if the poor little guy would make it.

Monday I had a trip to Alajuela planned with some girlfriends and we had put it off way too many times (for one reason or another ... more on that later), so I went ahead, instead of cancelling, yet again, to take the waif to the vet.

Tuesday morning, shoved the pup in a cat carrier, hopped in the car and took off for the vet (who is great, but looks like he is about 20, or 12).  He checked out the dog, around 4 months old, no heartworm, but plenty of the other kind and, of course, fleas and malnutrition.  He kept the dog, bathed him, gave him his shots, wormed him and he was ready in a couple of hours.  Cost?  8,000 colones (around $16).  We then bought him special high protein food, vitamins, flea shampoo, treats, chew sticks & a collar.  Cost?  21,500 colones (around $43 ... sigh).  He looks SO much better & smells good too!  All he does at this point is eat, sleep and follow Roy around ... like a puppy!  Here is a shot from this morning.

Clean dog

Cute little guy, yes?  Coati nose, gremlin ears, overbite and VERY long legs.  Not at all aggressive toward "the girls", although he does growl a little bit when Kiki steals his food ... for now, we will fix that!  He certainly has added a new kink to our life ... did we want a dog?  No.  Could we help it?  No.  Can we wait till he gets a little meat on his bones?  No.  Me with a dog?  Really?  

Still haven't named him, which is where you all come in.  We've come up with a list of possible names, but can't decide.  Want to weigh in?  Please do!

Bandito - because of the mask
Mojito - because I LIKE them a LOT
Chewey (short for Chewbaca) - Just because
Astro - remember the Jetsons?
Einstein - because he is really smart
Farley - because he sorta looks like a Farley
Neo - because he is new ... also the Matrix
Indy - because he is independant ... also Indiana Jones
Obie - Wan Kenobi?
Lucky - because is is ... he survived alone & found suckers to adopt him
Mylo - don't know ... just like it
Navi - you know ... Avatar ... big ears
Radar - because he can zone in on food in a hurry
Dexter - because Roy likes it ... even tho that IS a fictional serial killer!
Paz - because it is Spanish for Peace

Help us out here in the comments.  All opinions will be considered, but no promises.  Other suggestions welcome, as well.

OK, reasons for cancelling trips to Alajuela?  Well, first, check engine and battery lights on ... hummm.  New belt, yes, but no change; rebuild alternator ... no new ones out there.  Then, on the WAY to Alajuela (a week ago) much shuddering, clanking, turning around and limping back to the mechanic for new U-joints!  All seems to be well at the moment, but it does always seem to be something!

The Project
Here is where we are so far.

The green board will get stucco, the post on the left is dual purpose:  support for gate rail and corner post for the "bodega" (storage space).  We are calling the guest quarters the bodega for permitting purposes ... much easier!  We are almost ready for concrete.  Roy built the gates (this shot doesn't show the back ones, which swing as opposed to roll).  Oh, and there is Roy's butt!  He is working on the guide and lock system for said gates as I type.

Roy is REALLY good at digging holes.  This is what he did in a couple of hours on Saturday morning.  Here is a shot of 1/2 of our new septic system

There will be two tanks, the other one hasn't been dug in yet ... 

Gotta do housework now ... ick!  When I am rich, I WILL hire a housekeeper!

Tenga Paz!

Kathleen