He will succeed if he remains firm in principle and goes beyond selfish considerations to mingle freely with those who do not share his feelings, as well as those who do. - I Ching When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth andlove has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a timethey seem invincible but in the end, they always fall - think of it, ALWAYS. --Mahatma Gandhi 05-29-2003 10:39pm What a beautiful in Costa Rica today. I woke up around 7am this morning. The sun was shinning and the birds were singing. All was fine until the construction started on our neighbors roof. Yes great to be alive and kicking. It's great to wake up when it is nice and sunny outside. Especially after you are used to rainy days all of the time but this morning, I could have used an hour more of sleep. Now that I think about it though, I think that the construction workers did me a favor by waking me up since I did need to clean the house before Mai gets here. It would be rude of me to have her come to a filthy house. In other news, my date last night went fine. I am really not sure what to think about it but overall, I enjoyed myself and that is what matters. No rush, just fun. 05-28-2003 2:37pm Looks like Kris is still alive and kicking. I was finally able to get a hold of him last night and yes, he was with Karen at the beach. He told me that he was going to catch a flight back to Atlanta tomorrow and I told him, "Sweet, so let's go to this little party that Sopa is having tonight". I thought that it would be cool to go out and get reacquainted with the American girls we had previously met at the "Mas o Menos" grocery but Kris had other plans. He said that he was going to see if he could make it but when he told me that he was going to spend the night with Karen and go to the airport from her plane tomorrow I knew that I had lost him. If you read this Kris, does this little move you pulled remind you of anybody else? Hint, hint, hint!!!! Thus I ended up going there by myself and I am actually proud of myself for I controlled my alcohol intake and got plenty of sleep that night. Tonight, I am going to go out with Pamela and I will let my loyal readers know how it went tomorrow. Mai will be here tomorrow and I am still trying to figure out where to take her. So many places and so little time I tell you. Oh yes, since I am having a party Saturday night, I will go ahead and have the webcam on part of the time so if you cannot join us in Costa Rica then take a peak at how ticos party. I will have the webcam on at midnight Costa Rica time. 05-27-2003 10:24pm My friend kris from Atlanta is missing in action. I certainly hope that I will not be the one to have to tell his friends and family that he will not be coming back to Atlanta because I introduced him to a friend and because of that, he does not want to go home but wants to stay in Costa Rica for the rest of his life. No, I am not worried about him since I know he is in good hands with Karen but I do feel responsible for all of my guests that come here. What happens is that he calls me out of the blues after spending the night at Karen's house telling me that he will be going to the beach for a few days with Karen. I'm like, "cool. Have a great time and all. When are you coming back? I thought you were suppose to leave on Monday?" Kris just responds that it is no big deal and he will leave Tuesday. Hum, if alcohol has not killed all of my brain cells, I do believe that Tuesday is today. Still no word from him. You got to love the situation because it reminds me of my own situation the first time I came here. You see, the first time I came to Costa Rica was over a year ago for a vacation. The vacation changed from a 7 day vacation to a 10 day vacation and when we went to the airport to board our plane back to the U.S., we almost didn't leave because we forgot that we had to pay an airport tax of about $20 each and when we got to the ticket booth, we also had to pay the airline company to change our departure date. We looked a bit silly since we had spent most of our money earlier and we were trying to tell the lady to put X anmount on this card and X amount on this other credit card along with some wrinkled up U.S. dollars and colones. It was a mess and everybody at the ticket counter had a great time laughing at us but in the end, we were able to come up with enough money to get home. Is it not funny how sometimes you will just meet random people because of one word in a conversation you had with someone else? I was speaking to a friend about the "Matrix Reloaded" when all of a sudden this girl sitting not too far away from us says, "I love the Matrix, what did you think about it?" Next thing you know we are talking about the Matrix and the possible plot, mysteries, philosophy, and possible solutions to the movie and what will happen in the third part of the trilogy. In other news, I am still wondering whether Marita received my package yet. It is quite frustrating when you send something to someone and it never reaches its destination. I tihnk I will e-mail her today to find out. I also got an e-mail from my good friend from college Mai to finalize our plans. It is a definite yes that she will be coming down this Thursday and I just can't wait to see her again. I have not seen her since I moved to Costa Rica and it is always nice to see people from the "Old World" again. 05-25-2003 3:27pm Wow, I finally saw "Matrix Reloaded" last night and it kicked ass!!!! After being out every night and getting drunk, I needed a break so I went to see the movie with Sopa, Joe-t, Nina, Kris, and karen. For those of you do not know these people, here is a quick introduction. Thus, if you ever do come and visit me in Costa Rica, you will already know who they are. The characters Sopa- A guy from Panama who is obsessed with how life is expressed. Joe-T- A tico guy who is not your average tico Nina- A tica chick Karen- The Peruvian connection who wants corporate power Kris- Friend from Atlanta that came to visit Now that we have been introduced, here is more or less what went down. Sopa, Joe-T, Nina, and I went to my house to do a bit of drinking before the start of the movie(Scheduled time, 11:45pm). Kris was at Karen's house but that is another story in itself. We were to meet Kris and Karen around 11:00pm at the theater and watch the movie together. So we are at my house drinking, watching the first Matrix and discussing the whole story/plot. yes, we were geeking out and we were so caught up in discusing the movie that next thing we know, we only have 15 minutes to make it to the theater. Actually, that is not quite correct because we actually called a cab to come and get us but the cab never did and by the time we realized that the cab was not going to show up, we only had 30 minutes to get to the theater(We wanted to get there early to get some good seats). We ended up calling another cab and after stuffing Sopa's backpack with beer we went down outside and waited on the street corner for the cab. We make it to the theater with 3 minutes to spare and we find Karen and Kris without a hitch!!! We get in the theater, and find some decents seats. Obviously not the best because we barely made it but good enough. We are located on the right row towards the center. Kris volunteers to get some snacks and the previews begin. YES, I am finally seeing the movie and I absorb every words and images that are said and seen. Yes, another scene from the movie The movie is over and we part company. I ended up going to karen's house with Kris to do a bit of talking and get a nightcap. Must have been a hell of a night cap because I wake up on there couch. I do not know if you have seen the movie or not burt if you have and didn't quite catch the conversation between "the architect" and "Neo" well here is a little present from me to you. For those who have not seen the movie, well, read it at your own risk. I now present, the script for the conversation that I found at this website: http://www.theantitrust.net/articles/viewarticle.php?articleid=108 The Architect - Hello, Neo. Neo - Who are you? The Architect - I am the Architect. I created the matrix. I've been waiting for you. You have many questions, and although the process has altered your consciousness, you remain irrevocably human. Ergo, some of my answers you will understand, and some of them you will not. Concordantly, while your first question may be the most pertinent, you may or may not realize it is also irrelevant. Neo - Why am I here? The Architect - Your life is the sum of a remainder of an unbalanced equation inherent to the programming of the matrix. You are the eventuality of an anomaly, which despite my sincerest efforts I have been unable to eliminate from what is otherwise a harmony of mathematical precision. While it remains a burden to sedulously avoid it, it is not unexpected, and thus not beyond a measure of control. Which has led you, inexorably, here. Neo - You haven't answered my question. The Architect - Quite right. Interesting. That was quicker than the others. *The responses of the other Ones appear on the monitors: "Others? What others? How many? Answer me!"* The Architect - The matrix is older than you know. I prefer counting from the emergence of one integral anomaly to the emergence of the next, in which case this is the sixth version. *Again, the responses of the other Ones appear on the monitors: "Five versions? Three? I've been lied too. This is bullshit."* Neo: There are only two possible explanations: either no one told me, or no one knows. The Architect - Precisely. As you are undoubtedly gathering, the anomaly's systemic, creating fluctuations in even the most simplistic equations. *Once again, the responses of the other Ones appear on the monitors: "You can't control me! F*ck you! I'm going to kill you! You can't make me do anything!* Neo - Choice. The problem is choice. *The scene cuts to Trinity fighting an agent, and then back to the Architect's room* The Architect - The first matrix I designed was quite naturally perfect, it was a work of art, flawless, sublime. A triumph equaled only by its monumental failure. The inevitability of its doom is as apparent to me now as a consequence of the imperfection inherent in every human being, thus I redesigned it based on your history to more accurately reflect the varying grotesqueries of your nature. However, I was again frustrated by failure. I have since come to understand that the answer eluded me because it required a lesser mind, or perhaps a mind less bound by the parameters of perfection. Thus, the answer was stumbled upon by another, an intuitive program, initially created to investigate certain aspects of the human psyche. If I am the father of the matrix, she would undoubtedly be its mother. Neo - The Oracle. The Architect - Please. As I was saying, she stumbled upon a solution whereby nearly 99.9% of all test subjects accepted the program, as long as they were given a choice, even if they were only aware of the choice at a near unconscious level. While this answer functioned, it was obviously fundamentally flawed, thus creating the otherwise contradictory systemic anomaly, that if left unchecked might threaten the system itself. Ergo, those that refused the program, while a minority, if unchecked, would constitute an escalating probability of disaster. Neo - This is about Zion. The Architect - You are here because Zion is about to be destroyed. Its every living inhabitant terminated, its entire existence eradicated. Neo - Bullshit. *The responses of the other Ones appear on the monitors: "Bullshit!"* The Architect - Denial is the most predictable of all human responses. But, rest assured, this will be the sixth time we have destroyed it, and we have become exceedingly efficient at it. *Scene cuts to Trinity fighting an agent, and then back to the Architects room.* The Architect - The function of the One is now to return to the source, allowing a temporary dissemination of the code you carry, reinserting the prime program. After which you will be required to select from the matrix 23 individuals, 16 female, 7 male, to rebuild Zion. Failure to comply with this process will result in a cataclysmic system crash killing everyone connected to the matrix, which coupled with the extermination of Zion will ultimately result in the extinction of the entire human race. Neo - You won't let it happen, you can't. You need human beings to survive. The Architect - There are levels of survival we are prepared to accept. However, the relevant issue is whether or not you are ready to accept the responsibility for the death of every human being in this world. *The Architect presses a button on a pen that he is holding, and images of people from all over the matrix appear on the monitors* The Architect - It is interesting reading your reactions. Your five predecessors were by design based on a similar predication, a contingent affirmation that was meant to create a profound attachment to the rest of your species, facilitating the function of the one. While the others experienced this in a very general way, your experience is far more specific. Vis-a-vis, love. *Images of Trinity fighting the agent from Neo's dream appear on the monitors* Neo - Trinity. The Architect - Apropos, she entered the matrix to save your life at the cost of her own. Neo - No! The Architect - Which brings us at last to the moment of truth, wherein the fundamental flaw is ultimately expressed, and the anomaly revealed as both beginning, and end. There are two doors. The door to your right leads to the source, and the salvation of Zion. The door to the left leads back to the matrix, to her, and to the end of your species. As you adequately put, the problem is choice. But we already know what you're going to do, don't we? Already I can see the chain reaction, the chemical precursors that signal the onset of emotion, designed specifically to overwhelm logic, and reason. An emotion that is already blinding you from the simple, and obvious truth: she is going to die, and there is nothing that you can do to stop it. *Neo walks to the door on his left* The Architect - Humph. Hope, it is the quintessential human delusion, simultaneously the source of your greatest strength, and your greatest weakness. Neo - If I were you, I would hope that we don't meet again. The Architect - We won't. End Scene 05-24-2003 10:14am Let me see if I can pick up from where I left off yesterday. So we are at the Mas o Menos and we end up bringing along with us three extra guests to the party along with a 12 pack of Imperial tall boys, 4 bottles of Smirnoff Ice and a liter of Smirnoff Vodka. Sopa is in the taxi and the meter is running. No problem because he is presently outside meeting the three Mas o Menos girls. Kris and I are done paying the grocery bill and head for the taxi. Sopa is still in the taxi and the three girls are still there. A good sign for tonight. The three girls(if they read this by the way, I hope the forgive for for always calling them the three girls), are talking to Sopa and are still reluctant about going to the party while Sopa is giving us the evil eye because the three girls just played a joke on him. It looks like Sopa was patiently waiting in the cab when one of the girl went up to him after we told her to look for him outside. Geing a very friendly person, she went up to the cab and said, "George, remember me from two nights ago?" and then the other two girls chipped in and acted like they knew him from that night. Let's just say that it left Sopa a bit confused since he had no idea how to react. I do believe that it did make him feel popular and wondering what the heck he did two nights ago. All of us are now outside the Mas o Menos discussing the reasons as to why the three chicks should go to the party and after a bit of dealing and wheeling, we get a second cab and all of us head to the party. I have never been there but I do have the directions written down and the other cab is following us. Kris and I in one and the three girls and Sopa in the other. Really not much and very much to say about what happened at the party. We arrived, drank more then we needed to and went home. I suppose it was a regular pary were you meet new people, stuff gets spilled on the floor, people fall on the floor, people spray each other with beer, every half hour someone decides that a toast is needed and tequilla shots are being passed around, and someone decided to take the rabbits outs of the cage and play with them. Yes, did I mention that they had rabbits there? No comments about anything else and no, I am not sure when we left the party. I can however tell you that you we weren't the first to leave and we weren't the last to leave. the next day, I was feeling like shit and people could tell. For some odd reason, everyone that came close to me said that I smelled like a brewry. As to this girl I am very interested in(weird don't you think that I could ever be interested in someone for something other then sex?) things are doing well. Anyway, the next day was spent in pain. Kris spent part of the day with Sandra while I was doing my stuff. Oh yeah, did mention that my tooth was throbbing in pain the whole day because of a stupid accident at the party which involved me trying to do some acrobatics? Yes, I was drunk. Plans for the night, go to a birthday party even though the girl's birthday is not until Monday. The place is at "El Pueblo" at a dance club called, "Ebony". El Pueblo for those who do not know what it is El Pueblo is a kind of old fort that has been turned into an array of shops, bars, and night clubs. Once you go in it is a maze inside and it is quite easy to get lost in. More to come. I am still feeling the alcohol in my system and it is a good thing that I Kris only comes every couple of months otherwise, I would be dead. 05-23-2003 8:27pm Kris arrived yesterday from Atlanta and boy did we ever celebrate his first night in town. I knew that he was coming today but for some odd reason I wasn't thinking quite right that day and thought he would be arriving around 5pm rather then around noon. With that in mind, I went to the office and then went to the mall with Derek to eat. I wasn't too worried about not really knowing when Kris would be coming to town since he knows where I live and still had the key to the place from his last trip to Costa Rica. So there I was eating when all of a sudden, I saw this guy wearing a t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. Thinking it was Kris I yelled out, "Kris!" and sure enough, it was him. Now, I was actually waiting on this girl to show up to eat with me but she got held up at the pharmacy and by the time she was done there, she had to go to work but it actually worked out alright since I got to run into Kris. Yes, I know I am babbling and my story does not have a head nor a tail but that is because I am a bit dazed and confused today. It was a fun night but I am paying for it today. I had been invited to Pamela's party that night and I knew that karen was going to be there and since Karen and Kris knew each other I thought it would be cool to go there. However, before we got there, we grabbed George AKA "Sopa" and first headed to calle la Margura to get warmed up. I mean, you can't go to a party at the exact time that it starts and be considered cool if you know what I mean... So we had a few shots and a few beers and headed to the "Mas a Menos" which is a local chain of grocery stores to get some alcohol. George stayed in the cab while kris and I went in to get some beverages. As we were walking down the aisle we were maybe being a bit loud because we heard a female voice saying, "Damn Americans". Obviously I turned around and it was three American chicks. Being cool guys and all we started talking to them and after a bit of pursuading, we talked them into going to the party with us. will write more later. I need to go and get ready to go out again. 05-20-2003 1:59pm Yesterday, I spent most of my day at home. I did spend some town downtown and took some pictures but the stupid batteries in my camera went dead and I lost all of my pictures. Oh how I hate and love modern technology. I noticed as well that I added the below picture to my site sometimes last night or in the early morning. How interesting for I did not really remember doing that. Let us see if I can try to put the pieces together as to what happened last night.< Pamela. I am suppose to call her tomorrow I was home last night watching G.I. Jane when all of a sudden I heard Derek yelling at me from outside. Curiosity got the better of me when I could also hear a bunch of voices so I went to the balcony to see what was going on. Well, it looks like the circus just let out and Derek was bringing the strays home. Next thing I know, we have a party going on. Yeah, these people were at our house Hum, I wonder who had the camera Ok, perhaps it was not a party since it was just a small group of us drinking and shooting the breeze. However, when the police came to our doorstep it was then that I considered it a party. I mean, this is Costa Rica I am talking about where anything goes and you know it must be pretty bad if the cops start to show up for being too loud. I am not certain if that is a good thing or not but we are kind of used to having the cops show up everytime we have a party so we knew how to handle the situation with the usual, "gee, I'm sorry I didn't realize it was so late" and "yes officer, we will turn the music down" as well as, "you look thirsty, how about a beer?". As to the party itself, it was decent. Not too rowdy nor too boring. I got to meet some interesting people and had a few decent conversations. All I know know is that I have a lot of cleaning up to do. Good thing I had nothing planned for today because I just woke up a couple of hours ago and now, I am going to spend the next couple of hourse cleaning the house. To protect the innocents, No names are needed What is all of that stuff on my coffee table? Other then that, still dark and gloomy outside. Well, not too dark but dark enough for it to be gloomy. On that note, I am off to clean the house. 05-19-2003 5:19pm What a dreary day in Costa Rica. It started out as a great day for it was warm and sunny but all of a sudden, the weather has turned into a grey and hazy. This is the second rainy season I am experiencing in Costa Rica and I must say that this second one is different then the first. You see, for the first rainy season, it was like clockwork. Sunny in the morning and around noon, it would rain for perhaps an hour and the sune would come out again. Now, it just rains whenever it feels like it. This brings me to my second point about missing a few modern common place appliances in the U.S. I am in dire need of a drying machine. Not just because that stupid semi-automatic tico machine stretches all of my clothes but also because it dries things faster. Tico washing machine Tico clothes washing area I had to wash my bed sheets today and as I woke up, I thought that it was the perfect day to do it. The sun was getting higher in the sky while at the same time emitting a warmth that would dry my sheets in but a few hours. It was perfect. However, after I had placed the sheets in the spinner, (the spinner is the part that you can see on the picture on the right side of the machine. What it does is spin whatever you put in it and the spinning takes most of the water out of the clothes) it started to rain and cool of. My sheets are now hanging on the balcony and I am dearly hoping that they will be dry by the time I decide to go to bed. That part is partially my fault since I only have one change of sheets and well, both sets are dirty. Yes, it means that if they do not dry by the time I go to bed, I will be sleeping without sheets and that is most uncomfortable. It looks like this month will be busy with guests. They are both from Atlanta and one will be coming for Memorial Day while the other will be more or less coming right after he goes back to Atlanta. Good thing that my roommate bought a grill last week. Now we will have the chance to use it for more then just a couple of people. The first guest, Kris, I now exactly what we will be going together cause we are both guys and he has already been here before so I am certain that he already knows what he wants to do. As to Mai, the other guest, not exactly sure what kind of trouble I will drag her into with me. He He He, if you read this Mai, you will not be the same when you go back to the U.S. Yesterday, I also received two phone calls from the U.S. Wow, that is a record for me to get more then one phone call from the U.S. on the same day. One was from someone I had not spoken with since I left Atlanta and the other from my dear friend Mai. Karen wanted to see what was going on with me and to make sure that I go to her wedding in July and the other one to also see how I am doing and to confirm the dates she will be coming down to Costa Rica.