Monday

Has been busy these past few days. Rubin is back with us for a short time. He had some falling outs with his wife and they are no longer together. Yep! Those were some big falling outs with his wife. Marisha is back in Missouri. He has been making a good effort to find a job and I hope that, as in the past, this is not just the initial, let me impress you phase. We are taking this on a weekly basis and we will have a discussion with him on Wednesday on if he gets another week. He plans on staying here in Santa Cruz, and on that note.

Mike has called saying he does not know what to do. I figured it would come to this. I knew that once Mike heard that Rubin was here, Mike would want to make his way back to Santa Cruz. That will have to wait until Rubin finds a place here. I know that I could handle both of them living here at home.

Van and I are on our way to San Francisco. He helps me when it comes to the volunteer work I do for the center. We have a training to go to for an event coming up this weekend. The Diversity Center has a beverage booth at San Francisco Pride this year. We both volunteered for Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco last year and had a great time.

Written by Phillip on Monday, June 23, 2008 - Comments(0)

Monday

Early Monday morning and it is another cold one at that here in Dalhart, Texas. I got in Saturday evening and had a gathering of family at my sister and brother-in-law’s house. It was a bit overwhelming but nice, seeing everyone all at once, my immediate family that is.

Later that evening a few of us went to the hospital to see grandmother. She looked different from that last time i saw her at Kristan and Justin’s wedding. She was not awake much while I was in the room. Seeing my dad over my grandmother made me think of when it will be me standing over him or my mom some day, that made me sad.

It was nice to see grandmother go after all she has been through these past few years. She was suffering more and more as time went on.

I was so not ready for this visit but one that is always necessary in these situations. It is nice being able to do so. I miss being at home already. The returns home are always nice because I know who is there waiting for me.

Written by Phillip on Monday, March 17, 2008 - Comments(0)

Monday

Getting back into the swing of things here at home. Yesterday we made our first meal together. We started with a morning of orange juice for breakfast. Lunch was banana smoothies along with more bananas and greens. Later in the evening we had watermelon juice to start. Second course was tomato and basil soup and the third course was a green salad. Today was very similar to yesterdays breakfast, lunch ad dinner. The greens towards the end of the day today was tasting a bit to bland. I am having a tough time with this diet. Not enough to make me go out and eat bad stuff but enough to make me think that I may do that in the future. I hope not because I know it will make me sad, I really want to beat this skin condition that I have had since the age of 19.

Got up way to early this morning. I am feeling the drain.

Written by Phillip on Monday, February 25, 2008 - Comments(0)

Saturday

Getting ready for a good night sleep, other than getting up three times to relieve myself of all the liquid I consumed through the day and the fact that the bed is not so comfortable, a good night sleep. We were watching “300” again. I think that is my fifth or sixth time to watch that movie. I did not like it very much.

The day was an early one. We got up at 6:00am ready to eat breakfast at 7:00am and then head out for the day to the beach. For breakfast it was easy, I had watermelon. The van arrived to take us to the beach around 7:45am and it took us about two hours to get to the beach. It was nice to be able to get in the water and not get cold in two minutes. The water was saltier though. We were out there for a while with Thomas and Daniele, as well as Stelario and Marialba and I almost forgot that Bonnie was out there with us as well. Simon and Victiore were with our belongings. We were told not to leave our items alone. Before getting to the beach we had stopped off at a fruit stand to pick up fruit for lunch. I don’t think I ate enough but the fruit I picked tasted, I think they were pluots.

We ended up leaving the beach around one o’clock and got here to the retreat center around 3:00. Came back to the room and before I knew it, it was time for dinner. Dinner was set up in a buffet style and that was nice for a change. The salad I ended up making with tomatoes, mangoes, palmettos and salad with a yummy mango and tree tomato dressing.

Written by Phillip on Saturday, February 16, 2008 - Comments(0)

Thursday

Just got back from our daily hike, it was nice and part of it was off the beaten path. The off trail path took us to a swimming hole. Van and Grant of course were in it, the river that is. Simon joined them a bit later then Doug.

Breakfast was mostly cantaloupe. I did eat a bit of watermelon beforehand. Sat near Stephanie, Victoria, Simon and Samira for a short time, then she moved to the other table to join Doug, Roz and Fay.

It has been a nice experience getting to know these other people here at the retreat. Over the next week and half it will even be more so.

Had a real nice dinner this evening, they set up the tables on the upper part for couples, being that it is Valentine’s Day. Van and I had our own table together. Daniele had made decorations for the tables with hearts cut out of big leaves. They had great flower arrangements out on the table as well. For dinner we had orange juice in wine glasses. The second part of the meal we had a soup that made from tomatoes and pineapple. The last course was a stuffed red pepper on a bed of lettuce. The stuffing was made up of mango (yum, yum), tomato and cucumber. All I can say is Delicious.

Written by Phillip on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - Comments(0)

Wednesday

Yesterday we had a nice hike up to a hot spring. I was hesitant at first because the idea of getting into a hot spring in this temperature, not that it is real hot, but it did not seem right to me. When we got there and I got in the idea was fabulous. I did have some hesitations as well because of my psoriasis, but I remember Stephanie’s talk about it and how she felt about it, and how others would.

The banana smoothies we had when we got back were wonderful. Last night we had a tomato and orange juice combination and that was really good. The day before we had a soup that was a tomato and mango, which was really good and reminded me of tamales, the dough mostly, it was weird to taste that in the soup.

I did not apply lotions yesterday or today in the hopes that my eating here this next week will show some improvement in my skin. Right now it bothers me but I think I can deal with the irritation.

Remembering our walk day before yesterday on how Stelario has been making such a great effort to communicate with everyone.

Written by Phillip on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - Comments(0)

Tuesday

Another hike today, this one was a bit longer then yesterdays. Not sure if I want to go to the lecture today, not really a lecture yesterday but more like let’s hear Doug talk. The discussion after the lecture was interesting. It brought up the subject of DNA. How we have been given yet another reason as to why something might be wrong with us. Robbie, one of the interns here felt pretty strong about this subject and how we have been lead to believe it. Took more great pictures on our hike today, some of them came out sort of blurry but I think they will be ok once I can get them in a program to sharpen them up.

Today I am feeling ok. I came back to the room to see if I could sleep a little before the lecture. The food has been good and the company great.

Written by Phillip on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - Comments(0)

Monday

Just got back from a walk and took some great photos. Was about a two hour hike and we made it back just before lunch. I had my doubts about being able to eat just raw while here but the more I am here the more it feels so right. Today is cool in the shade and hot in the sun again. The humidity is about the same.
The people here are so down to earth. It has been a great experience thus far. I got a chance to play my flute this morning. I walked down to where the rock walls were, closer to the river. Such a nice sound of having the river near.

Written by Phillip on Monday, February 11, 2008 - Comments(0)

Sunday

Just finished with dinner, the mango juice was wonderful and the mangoes were to die for. The main part of the meal was good as well. I tomatoes were sun dried for just a little while to change their flavor and then mixed with red peppers. The chayote was ok; it was the base while the tomato and red pepper mixture was on top.
The weather is a bit humid as I guessed. The temperature is still nice. When we arrived, after a very bumpy ride, we had lunch for an hour and half. It was nice chatting with Kevin and Lennie. After lunch we had an orientation then a walk around the property. The pool here is surprisingly warm. The grounds around the pool area and the river bank were landscaped by the owner’s previous wife. She had rock paths and tables, birdbaths, benches and more made of rocks. Was really nice and it looked like old ruins.
The room we have is nice, with a view of the green lush mountain side. I can even hear the river now. Earlier today I was wondering where all the birds where, they were out later in the day. The plants here grow like crazy and very big. There was this neat plant at the top of the hill, near the gate that when you touch it, it’s leaves fold up. I had fun with those. The plant was called sensitive plant.

Written by Phillip on Sunday, February 10, 2008 - Comments(0)

Saturday

We made it Costa Rica alright. My sinus was giving me a heck of a time on the plane last night but is better today. I tried going to sleep but my nose would not let me. And plus the seats were a bit uncomfortable. We left the San Jose, CA airport last night around 8:30pm and arrived here, after a flight to Denver, Co, around 9:00am this morning. The flight itself was around seven hours.

I took a nap earlier but i still feel I could sleep another hour or so. The weather here has been nice, in the 70’s. San Jose, Costa Rica is not that impressive. From what one of the ladies said San Jose is not paradise. The retreat area however, is. We shall see tomorrow because we leave here early in the morning for a five hour bus ride to the retreat center.

Written by Phillip on Saturday, February 09, 2008 - Comments(0)