For this Memorial Day I want to thank all the servicemen and women, past and present, who have proudly represented the United States of America here and abroad. Their duty and actions have and are still a tribute to all that is right and whole. To all that is good for fellow man, woman and child in this country and the world. Simply put - the protection from evil and defenders of our country and democracy. As the world changes ever more rapidly, we can always count on our men and women in uniform to continue the great traditions of duty as those who have done so in the past. Every man and woman that has put on this great nation's uniform has and is still saying that "we are willing to give our lives for our country". No other words can state so clearly what wearing the uniform represents. And yet, there are no words, in any language, that can ever describe the debt of gratitude we have to such fine and dedicated people.

Semper Fidelis

 

 

En este dia del recuerdo de los veteranos fallecidos, deseo agradecer a todos los hombres y mujeres, pasado y presente, que han representado con orgullo los Estados Unidos de América aquí y en el exterior.  Su deber y acciones todavía tienen y son un tributo a todo a lo que es correcto y bueno.  A todo que es bueno para el hombre, la mujer y el niño y su hermano ser humano de este país y del mundo.  Puesto simplemente - la protección contra el mal y defensores de nuestro país y democracia.  Mientras que el mundo cambia cada vez mas rapido, podemos contar siempre en nuestros hombres y mujeres en uniforme para continuar las grandes tradiciones del deber tal como los antecedentes han hecho en el pasado.  Cada hombre y mujer que se haya puesto el uniforme de esta gran nación tiene y todavía está diciendo que "estamos dispuestos a dar nuestras vidas para nuestro país".  Ningunas otras palabras podran indicar tan claramente lo que representa en ponerse el uniforme.  Tampoco hay palabras, en ninguna lengua, que podra describir la magnitud de la gratitud que les tenemos a esta gente tan rectos y dedicados.

 

Semper Fidelis

Figure I had better put some funny ha ha stuff up. Been a bit

 

During training exercises, the lieutenant who was driving down a muddy back road encountered another car stuck in the mud with a red-faced colonel at the wheel. "Your jeep stuck, sir?" asked the lieutenant as he pulled alongside. "Nope," replied the colonel, coming over and handing him the keys, "Yours is."

 

Having just moved into his new office, a pompous, new colonel was sitting at his desk when an airman knocked on the door. Conscious of his new position,the colonel quickly picked up the phone, told the airman to enter, then said into the phone, "Yes, General, I'll be seeing him this afternoon and I'll pass along your message. In the meantime, thank you for your good wishes, sir." Feeling as though he had sufficiently impressed the young enlisted man, he asked, "What do you want?" "Nothing important, sir," the airman replied, "I'm just here to hook up your telephone."

 

On some air bases the Air Force is on one side of the field and civilian
aircraft use the other side of the field, with the control tower in the
middle. One day the tower received a call from an aircraft asking, "What time is it?"
The tower responded, "Who is calling?" The aircraft replied, "What
difference does it make?" The tower replied "It makes a lot of
difference. If it is an American Airlines flight, it is 3 o'clock. If it is an Air Force plane, it is 1500 hours. If it is a Navy aircraft, it is 6 bells. If it is an Army aircraft, the big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is on the 3. If it is a Marine Corps aircraft, it's Thursday afternoon and 120 minutes to"Happy Hour".

 

Officer: "Soldier, do you have change for a dollar?"
Soldier: "Sure, buddy."
Officer: "That's no way to address an officer! Now let's try it again!"
Officer: "Soldier. Do you have change for a dollar?"
Soldier: "No, SIR!"

 

A Navy Chief and an Admiral were sitting in the barbershop. They were both just getting finished with their shaves, when the barbers reached for some after-shave to slap on their faces. The admiral shouted, "Hey, don't put that stuff on me! My wife will think I've been in a whorehouse!" The chief turned to his barber and said, "Go ahead and put it on. My wife doesn't know what the inside of a whorehouse smells like."

 

"Well," snarled the tough old Navy Chief to the bewildered Seaman. "I suppose after you get discharged from the Navy, you'll just be waiting for me to die so you can come and piss on my grave." "Not me, Chief !" the Seaman replied. "Once I get out of the Navy, I'm never going to stand in line again !"

"Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other peoples sins, but delights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure in whatever comes."

 

El amor es siempre paciente y bueno.  Nunca es celoso.  El amor nunca es presumido o jactancioso .  Nunca es grosero o egoísta.  No toma ofensa y no es resentido.  El amor no toma ningún placer en otros pecados de la gente, sino encanta la verdad.  Es siempre listo para excusar, confiar, esperar, y aguantar en lo que viene.

Some pics of our trip to Manuel National Park, Costa Rica

Unas fotos de nuestro dia en el Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

 

PURA VIDA !

 

Origin and Species Unknown

 

 

On the road to Quepos we stopped by to feed the Crocodiles off this bridge...

En el camino hacia Quepos, decidimos parar y darle comida a los cocodrilos..

 

 

 

 

Looking out from the bridge...seems innocent and peaceful, right ?...heh !

Mirando a la distancia,el rio aparanta muy inocente y tranquilo, no ? ja !

 

 

 

 

..and now for the pics of the park...

..y ahora las fotos del parque..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Bamboo imported from Asia...some government program to see if this bamboo would flourish in the jungles of Costa Rica.

Esto es Bamboo traido desde asia por un programa del gobierno hace anos atraz para ver si el bamboo Asiatico podra sostenerse en Costa Rica.

 

 

Some pics from our hotel "El Parador" ..totally awesome

Unas fotos desde nuestro hotel...totalmente increible

 

 

There will be plenty more pictures to follow. We will organize the 700 or so pictures that we (actually Willy or "memo") took and be sure to have them here for all to see.

Estas son unas fotos preliminarias. Tenemos como 700 fotos de este viaje(la majoria tomados por mu hermano Guillermo o "memo") y los vamos organizarlos para presentarlos aqui para que todos ustedes los vean.

 

PURA VIDA !

 

Shhh.....go ahead.....insert the soundtrack into your mind for this image. I'm there manana

Beach in the morning - Jose Barbera

Playa al Amanecer - Jose Barbera

 

 

I hear what everyone says and yeah I understand....just gimme time to "absorb" it. Eventually I'll come around..one way or another. Easier said than done.

Time

Posting sometimes is cool and the options for posting are great...sometimes I want to just post some things and "let it out" here...then sometimes I think about it and try to work it out within me. Words fail sometimes..and that's good too.  I read some sites here and I am impressed and humbled by the amazing writing and thinking of the Xanga members. Some complex and deep and some inspiring and some...well..you get the idea. All of which make for learning how to look and think about things differently. More dimensions,perspectives,angles on things.

Still...sometimes you just want to "feel" it out first. Whatever it is that's on your mind. Then write about it when you're  good and ready to. Not so must as to impress but rather to just communicate and let "be". I wonder if you know what I mean.

Thanks

Caribbean Delight - by Michael Hallinan

Placer Caribeno - por Michael Hallinan

 

Kinda makes you wonder why people bitch about things here :

 

New York TIMES NEWS TRACKER
   
  Topics 
Alerts  
 
  Dominican Republic

20 Domiinicans Lost at Sea
By REUTERS

Published: January 27, 2004

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, Jan. 26 — Twenty Dominican migrants trying to get to Puerto Rico are missing at sea after their boat capsized on Saturday, and there is little chance they will be found alive, the Dominican authorities said Monday.

Three people from the boat were rescued over the weekend, and Dominican Navy vessels were searching for more survivors from the wreck off the east coast of the Dominican Republic.

The boat, with 23 people on board, left Saturday morning from near Boca de Yuma, about 80 miles east of the capital, Santo Domingo. The boat capsized about 20 miles east of Boca de Yuma.

United States Coast Guard figures indicate a rise in the number of Dominican migrants intercepted by the agency in recent months.