Whatever Wednesday - Final Farewell

After the river cruise, we had lunch at an old hacienda.  After eating, we  had time to stroll the grounds. This big fella was hanging out in  the tree. Quite the iguana

Just some last looks at flora

Pretty colors

And Final sunset farewell to Costa Rica

I hope you've enjoyed my blog tour, and have the opportunity to visit the gorgeous friendly welcoming country of  Costa Rica

Adios, amigos
 

Monday Moments - Thriller

 Last day of April  was a dreary  blah day. I decided a movie could brighten the mood. Can't go wrong with  a Motown beat. Michael proved entertaining to me. This film covers the beginning of the Jackson 5 in Gary, Indiana. Little Michael is clearly the star - perfect pitch, soul, and a sadness/joy mix to his tiny demeanor. Coleman Domingo as Joseph Jackson, the  father, does a great job of showing the overbearing dad determined to use his sons for greater glory. He even uses the term "money machine" when referring to Michael. 

Sure enough, Berry Gordy, Motown founder hears and sees the magic in Michael and his brothers. They skyrocket.  The movie then pivots to Jaafar Jackson (yes, a relative of Michael) playing Michael as a teen, ready to move on from the J5. He has so much more to express. Jaafar does a very good job - the smile, the moves, the unique voice. The beat!  Off the Wall,  Billie Jean, Beat It, Thriller, the meteoric rise...

the Moon Walk dance! 

The movie shows the Pepsi commercial incident, the final J5 tour, and then the Thriller phenomenon. The movie alludes to Michael's weird childhood, the Neverland connection, etc., but doesn't go to the dark side. 

There have been other, better musical biographies but for $7 I escaped for two hours into good music. 

Finally Friday - River Cruise in Costa Rica

Nearing the end of our Costa Rica adventure.  A little river cruise

a heron of some sort

this is a line of bats sleeping.  They make it look like a snake on the tree.   Creepy!

Tough to spot the howler monkeys

Um, glad we were on the boat.  Crocodile!

Hope your nature encounters this weekend have less teeth.  

Happy May Day!
 

Whatever Wednesday - Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand

 Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand is part of a series. I bought this book at a library sale and did not realize it. However, it was easy enough to get the gist of the characters and story line of the Quinn family. Mitzi's home. Patrick's getting released from prison. Kevin and Isabelle are getting married. Bart's a prisoner  in Afghanistan and they all await hopeful news. 

cover blurb - An historic blizzard bears down on Nantucket. Before the snow clears, the Quinns will have to survive enough holiday intrigue to send anyone running for the spiked eggnog. 

This is amusing fluff romance reading. I needed a no brainer and Hilderbrand is consistent in her writing. I was entertained. 

Monday Moments - Uptown Girl

 Listen...can you hear Billy Joel's song Uptown Girl?   Sure enough, he wrote it about Christie Brinkley and she starred in the music video. Catchy little tune. 

Well, here's the whole scoop by Christie Brinkley herself in her memoir Uptown Girl. 

She was "discovered" outside a Paris phone booth in 1974.  From there, she launched into a meteoric modeling career and became one of the first supermodels. Modeling, movies (National Lampoon Vacation), sitcoms, Broadway (Chicago).  Christie Brinkley has been in the public eye for over fifty years.  Now she tells her story and extols an unwavering belief in the magic and mystery of life. (cover blurb)

Four tumultuous marriages includes the heartbreaking Billy Joel divorce. They are still friends. 

A near death helicopter crash.  Wow - that's quite a chapter.

This is a fun, interesting, entertaining memoir.  It's a mixed charmed life and harrowing relationships. She comes across as smart, intrigued with life, always up for adventure, and eager to learn. She laughs at herself and does write about her insecurities.  And she agrees she fell  for some bad guys along the way. (not Billy. He had his issues and she had to divorce him. But they stayed good parents to Alexa Ray. I believe her sincerity in those chapters.). 

Plenty of pictures included - damn  gorgeous.  Good memoir. 

Finally Friday - Beach Life

looks lovely, but a red flag was whipping.  Wicked undertow lurked.

Costa Rica resort life  - very spoiled

just waiting for a mojito

sunset dinner view

We have been back from Costa Rica for a month now. But the loveliness lingers

Hard to believe it's now almost end of April. We've been backyard prepping for summer. Some new landscaping by worker bees  is awesome and our backs don't hurt. The pool is warming up.   And here in Texas,  it's been festival time. Lots of music shows, fairs, and frivolity. We have to get it in now to beat the heat.  Hope you are having a spring fling!   Enjoy.
 

Whatever Wednesday - Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

 Nineteen year old Hai is ready to jump off a bridge.  Grazina, an elderly immigrant widow, calls him down. She's developing dementia. He's full of despair with no options. In  The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong, these two lost souls forge a path.  

cover blurb Over the course of a year, the unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond, one built on empathy, spiritual reckoning, and heartbreak, with the power to transform Hai's relationship to himself, his  family, and a community on  the brink. 

Love, labor, and loneliness can be the bedrock of  American life. It's hard to live on the fringes. Sometimes a chosen family can save a soul. 

This book can be a tough  read at times. The characters are rather haunting, and Hai often does not  make good choices. I was frustrated with him.  The author, Vuong, has a rich style and good descriptions. 

p. 282  Hai is talking to his cousin  "Touch me. Go ahead. That's it. Everything else, what I do, what I've gone, the goals and promises, they're all, like, ghosts. My ghost is in pieces. It's all over the place, caught in all the spots where I snagged myself. You get it?"

The Emperor of Gladness was interesting. I'm glad I read it, but...it's challenging.

Monday Moments - Costa Rica - Yes there's more

After hiking, it was time to kick up the feet poolside.  What a view!

Then, later a sunset view from our room

Peaceful

Can you hear some monkeys howling?

 Next morning, we hit the road early.  At this pitstop - a scarlet Macaw    Pretty tame and used to showing off for the tourists. 

Finally Friday - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

 Finally Friday.  

Well, many Fridays ago, while in Costa Rica I finally finished reading The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. Amongst friends, this was THE book of  the season.  I was on  the library list forever. And, of course, it was ready for me a day before our trip. Turned out to be a wonderful read. I kept  the pages turning and it helped the four hour  flight time zoom. 

cover blurb - Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of her world and her place in it.  She writes to her brother, her best friend, to Joan Didion, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter. 

As the reader, we learn about Sybil and her life. The ebb and flow offers questions, sometimes  answers, and we slowly see a life story build. The writing has verve, shows strong character, and is delightfully precise with a touch of whimsy. 

This book is a gem - shows the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime.  (cover blurb)

As a letter writer myself, I truly appreciated the author's skill in navigating Sybil's life via this form of communication. 

The Correspondent is a MUST READ.   Super duper!!!

Whatever Wednesday - Monteverde - More hikes

Another jungle adventure

Now we're in the Cloud Forest. The pictures might not show the difference, but in person, this area had different trees, plants, and vibe. 

As you can see, Ray even wore a jacket.  There was always a light mist, even in bright sunshine

so lush

The bright green in the middle of the picture is a Quezal - a treat of a bird to see.  My phone doesn't take super  duper close ups.  But we got to look through our guide's telescope. So cool.  Yellow beak. Tufted hair.  colorful underbelly feathers. 
 

Monday Moments - Costa Rican Miscellaneous

We had a free lunch period. Enjoyed a tasty burger and then walked the town square.  

I always like church steeple photos - dramatic sky

I'll stop for a colorful mural

Back to our  rooms and decorations adorned the beds

and we weren't on a cruise ship!

 

Finally Friday - Costa Rica - Mistic Park

Another day of adventure.  Do you like heights?  Mistic park features hanging bridges in a jungle
 

Are you tired of seeing lush greenery?

unique trees?

Ray crossing the bridge - what's on  the other side?

We lucked out with weather. The sky and clouds are fantastic

Always a volcano in the distance

Whatever Wednesday - Random Costa Rica

Never did see a sloth, so I settled for this fella as my photo op
 

Traffic jam  - Costa Rica style.  It was time to move  the cows

Fun restaurant/bar.   Basically -what happens, happens (I think)

A very tame parrot

Ray - ready for another feeding with a view.  

And shout out  today to my brother, David.  Happy Birthday!!  

Monday Moments - Costa Rica - Biological Reserve

Costa Rica has a huge biological reserve program and a lot of national parks.  We enjoyed another hike and my eyes are always drawn to the bird of paradise

Look closely under the middle frond. That's a "Jesus Lizard" - so  named because he sorta walks on  water. 

Lush greenery

 Are you ready to hike?