WryAwry

Yes. Well. The Drump approves, so? Tough. Get hip to the New World Order, or get left behind. Maybe you should invest in my new book, "How to Be a Reel American in Ten Easy Steps."

Only $9.99 Balboas.

(***Note: suitable for ALL the Americas.)

Awaiting the arrival of "Boundless" ...

Sorry, Bud. Just a generic ejaculation. I'm firmly in the camp that current events world-wide carry consequences and repercussions even for lotus-eating expats in paradisaical Chiriqui Province. The evidence of knee-jerk reactionary dialog manifests still on ... other .... "social" sites. Having been hobbled from opining, however insipidly or blabbermouthy, about hot-button issues that raise the ire of good folks feeling affected or afflicted gives me the mental equivalent of the "Jimmyleg". Perhaps I should try to keep the lid on the simmering pot or just pour it into a pressure-cooker and clamp the lid down tight and pray that the relief valve is functional.

I had hoped that utilizing the broader-range category implicit in the "Personal Musings" forum would not cause offense. I will, however, stipulate that evidence shows tender sensibilities afoot, and I can't help but chuckle at the irony of the proliferation of the very opinions, rants, outbursts, bust-ups, clashes, debates, disagreements, rhubarbs, wrestling matches, conflicts, quarrels, squabbles, donnybrooks, sparring matches, scuffles, melees, confrontations, affrays, brawls, tussles, clashes, rumbles, duels, scrimmages, altercations, ruckuses, dogfights, and other various and sundry intellectual free-for-all's that I personally was alleged to have occasionally instigated and which ultimately led to my own disqualification to participate in the day-to-day discourse now re-manifesting as the soup du jour in other places I yet lurk.

My feeling remains that, especially this time-of-year, when emotions can be tricky and can contribute to a variety of fevers and vapors, it is important to occasionally stop. And take a few deep breaths. And be grateful for the simple things. Health, or its recovery. Dear friends and family, and the love and happiness that they engender. Beauty and magic that, even when not smacking you in your face, are always present around that corner, or behind that door, or out that open window, or up in the heavens suspended by who-knows-what. And the unique gifts we have been given: charity, compassion, and empathy -- all of which have the incredible power to overwhelm the natural inclinations to focus on the differences we all have.

I find myself musing about these things, so off I go a-musing. Never to waste a long, windy, polysyllabic word when a diminutive one will prove sufficient ...

wry

Let's consider, for a moment, the parallel between the soul journey and the physical path. Forgive, if you will, the usage of "The Royal We" as the precept of this discussion. The mystery for each of us, no matter how we perceive ourselves, nor the method that caused us to have found ourselves at this particular place in this specific time, is the perpetual pursuit of the understanding of the origin and of the ultimate destination. From whence and to whither? How is it that I have found myself amongst these people, and who the hell do we think we are?

Forgetting the spark of the soul, it has been argued that we are mobile bags of water and guts that were cunningly (or accidentally!) designed to transport our big, impressive brains around to find chow and a warm place to sleep so that we might be strong enough to hump merrily and make lots of little copies of ourselves. Fair enough. The biological imperative is most ... compelling, and certainly applies to every animal, vegetable, and semi-sentient mineral like, say, your average politician. The biological imperative foments the family, the family increases exponentially into the extended family, which integrates into a tribe, which then busily describes a methodology for survival and sustainability. Tribes, by necessity, band together and align many individual differences in order to protect and defend themselves from THEM -- the evil ones -- the ones from more different, more alien tribes way outside the realms of decency, normality,  and all reason. THEY are soulless. OUR souls -- that divine spark bestowed upon us by the omniscient Highest Power -- are better. Our souls are "the best", because our HP can kick the flabby ass of any one of those "pretend" HP's that those evil outsiders have invented. Our souls are safe. Theirs? Not so much. As is well known, we will prevail, cuz Good always prevails over Evil. Those poor bastards are doomed, as they should be.

We link our arms, and arm our arms, and together we march, chanting catchy phrases, until we see, glistening in the distance, that Shining City on the Hill, where the Wisest of us reside and issue forth weighty edicts about Who, What, Where, When, and Why. We shower then with Goodness and Light and Shining Baubles and overflowing feed-troughs to enable them the latitude to thereby reward us with such gifts as we are probably not worthy of. Their largess is legendary, it may be said. For we are truly The Chosen. We are exceptional. We know naked power when we see it, and we hope and pray that it recognizes us as the dutiful souls we are, and that it treats us accordingly.

For it is the Soul Journey, in the end, that proves to be the most critical aspect of this game of life. It is our soul (!) purpose to gather our family unto our bosom, to prepare our compound with high, stout walls and a robust gate, to festoon our defenses with the Holy Concertina Wire (but not so densely that it obstructs the field of fire), and to carefully study the ways and means of mercifully and gently eradicating the viral cancer that we call the rest of humanity.

We know they're out there. Let's keep our eyes on the horizon, and our fingers close to the triggers. We must FIGHT for peace! Most closely aligned with our biological imperative is our moral imperative -- to utterly destroy infidels, or whatever you want to call 'em.

Please remember me when I get to Washington, you heathen ex-pats,

wryawry

(I'm wryawry, and I approve of this message.)

All that blather about a common, garden-variety gnashshoal.

Simply turn off every breaker in your panel and observe if the meter is still spinning. Ensure that electronics are properly shut-down first.

How can these poor, misguided souls be so monumentally stoo-pud? I mean, the Great Big Invisible White Man in the Sky whispers entreaties and directives straight into my pearl-like ears during every waking moment, and yet not a one of these folks has so much as asked for my advice and council, despite the fact that it is absolutely FREE! (Only $9.99 Balboas shipping and handling.)

This week's Webinar: "Anti-Muslim Fortification of Your Compound". Bulk rates available for concertina wire.

Remember, the GBIWMITS sez, "Get your tickets early!"

Altruistically,

wryawry

Questions for those who have most recently jumped thru the hoops. Anybody?

Hey, Phil,

First, get current, local recommendations and referrals for architects/builders. Excersize all due diligence prior to starting. Something that nearly nipped us was adherence to labor laws. Talk to your abogado about ensuring that everything is a lawful -- and SPECIFIC -- subcontract unless you want to find yourself an employer. Every detail should be in writing. Your expectations will be meaningless unless the specifics have been negotiated in writing in advance. Plan on supervising every trade for every step, and pay for nothing up front without specific performance guarantees. There seems to be an unfortunate tendency to take the money and run. If you can General your job vis-a-vis material requisition, you can be money ahead as long as you can effectively estimate quantities and critical-path scheduling.

It was long ago that I was involved with construction projects down there. Specific issues that I experienced were mostly structural: concrete and steel. Batch mixing was unheard of at the residential construction level, necessitating careful observance of continuous structural placement. I specified my own reinforcement schedules based on experience with an eye toward seismic integrity and comprehensive bonding. You may wish to consult with a structural engineer or at the least with an architect well-versed in structural elements. I saw projects with structural concrete lintels and beams poured over ensuing days with cold joints mid-span. Yi! 

As far as plumbing goes, it seemed routine to encase piping without pressure testing -- just stupid, in my experience. PEX water distribution had not happened yet, I'd be curious to know if this product is now available, as it should be. There also seemed to be a casual ignorance of venting drain lines. I wonder if mechanical air vents have been adopted down there yet. Plan for adequate surplus  water storage and treatment as necessary. It goes without saying that sanitary drainage should be very carefully -- and preferably professionally -- designed.

Undertake careful planning for anticipated electrical loads, and be prepared to ensure adequate outlets are designed-in. You may need specific professional planning for data/media cabling. Consider LED lighting and even small-scale 12v solar back-up lighting.

Lastly, personal security is really job one. Everything needs to be nailed-down until it's nailed-up, and contingency planning needs to be a priority in every step of your design work. Secured fuel tanks, secured power supply, secured storage, plenty of security lighting, defensible space, etc.

Enjoy the pursuit of the "Seven P 's".

Dav

The most effective weather device is the rock hanging on a string, according to my friend Noah Therway.

I manufactured all of my security bars out of AK-47s, The barrels are all bent so they are facing outward. There's a string that connects all the triggers. The ammo feeds from a ginormous hopper up in the attic. Preparation is key! (Also reasonably effective against swarms of mosquitoes, wasps, bees, and flying ants. Not particularly effective against snakes.)

Just another example of "The Seven P's",

wryawry

Yad ecin a halb.

Please establish six additional profiles for my other personalities.

signed,

wryawry and friends

It is reported that Marion Clamp has been released from Hospital -- may we presume upon her own recognizance?!?

Let the real healing begin!!

It is the good in this World that awaits you, Marion. Persevere!

Love,

Dav

.... and the continuance of joy into eternity to Diane and Elizabeth, celebrating their nuptials! 

May you each remain one another's treasure.

Fondly,

Dav

1 minute ago, JudyS said:

Too bad smart ass, sarcastic comments seem to have driven him away from CL.

Good golly, Miss Judy! Did you just call me a smart ass?!?!? 

I never said I was smart!

Dav

4 minutes ago, Gordon Bakke said:

Well this discussion has certainly gone all over the map.

Any info on repatriating to Botswana or Kamchatka?

This seems wholly unresolved. Whatever the issue is -- and I haven't even glanced at the link -- I'll be happy to mediate between the principals for a one-time fee of $9.99 Balboas. Each. Cash.

Making the Mariana Trench out of a pothole,

wryawry

As always, sincere gratitude to Mr. Don Ray Williams, not only for his continuing efforts on behalf of US expats -- indeed on behalf of every citizen in Chiriqui Province -- but also for his continuing, unselfish support of Marion and her daughter Deborah, and for keeping those of us so far away apprised of Marion's slow but steady improvement.

Thank you, DeeArrDub!

Speaking of cheese ....

I wonder if the Coriolis effect would cause that toilet to swirl counter-clockwise if it were South of the equator.

 Ning will focus on spotlighting its narrow definition of what is good, the innovative concept of closing the door on its own shallow definition of what is not, and stifling the unique. Enclosing the beauty of our town with an inchoate understanding of the good it has to offer; three or four people, select businesses, random places, confined human nature and not much more. Ning will strive to be all that both its members hope it to be and Ning will work hard to inculcate impressionable members to make Boquete a contained and carefully controlled place to live.

Can anyone tell me about .... cinnamon toast?

Sadde*ning.

Time to schedule a lube-job on your rocking chairs, old timers?

(P-p-pp-t-t-tt-TING! [hits spitoon])

I made it almost two years, until the hounds of circumstance began baying at my heels ... just another turned page in the oft-edited history book of life. You may all commence nodding knowingly and smiling sadly and sagely.

But you'd better keep on the lookout for those wily, sinister Canadians!

Guard the women,

wryawry