DEC 2010

ITs been a really hectic couple of weeks, My office job is not exactly what I bought on for but I am grate ful at this point to have the job. I am working daily on figuring out the business I came here to do. Which is Chocolate, Flowers, and great wine and coffee. We have found several locations but they have fallen through, one was rent was outrageous great spot perfect to me, with a house above incredible possibilities, then the situations is this: the people live in USA old Islanders, the house has been vacant dying to be restored and brought back to life and I have the power and the vision to do it. THe issue is in reality, if I do this and spend lots to invest in it its all done they die or decide to sell? then what? They refused to come down on the rent, and the interior is only sheet rock, there is no electrical finished work, its all finish work that needs to be done, no bathrooms done its all like in the the last stages of remodle. TO ME PERFECT to make an example of what I can do to a place! and the location is sooooooooooo cool. WIth great walk by and all the cruise ship people come directly to that spot. We couldn't negociate nor do they want to, its been empty for years. The second place, got rented the day before I could talk to the guy, the third. ANOTHER GREAT LOCATION!! CORNER OF WEST END Going to WEST BAY, been empty for a number of years too. Large location with everything I need and a place to design the garden and add structures like I want. The interior is all wood some modifications have to be done and thats ok! the equipment is almost all there even the bar. Ok so we got to the second stage with this one, It is a Tall Italian guy strange looking, weird looking and acting, First we found out that he has these apartments in the back. People walk directly through this location and in the back of it to get to those apartments. We talked about that and I told him that has to be resolved, he tried to convince me of letting them come thru day and night with a gaurd I SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT! not if you have all kinds of things in there and where would you put them, every night, he told me I would have to pay for a new entrance to the apartments. I thought about it and figured out a solution to it , a side entrance which he already had a gate. Simply build some steps costing roughly $80 dollars. So I agreed, then I saw that it smelled like cat piss and caca everywhere I noticed alot of cats and asked who are all these cats belonging too??? he said mine! I Said 30 cats? he said yes i said what in the world??? I said well that is a huge problem I told him he needed to remove the cats he said don't touch the cats. ITS AN OBSESSION that many cats, told me he spends like 400 a month for cat food, I laughed! then he asked for a 6 grand deposit for nothing. Didn't go towards rent nothing. I LAUGHED AGAIN, Robber ok down right nutty robber. Sick shame too the location is gold. I wouldn't kill the cats, although my son said get a bb gun! spraying them water wont remove them they wil return and spray everything. He said if you remove my cats I will be depressed, and I think that the amount of rent I am asking for is not worth removing the cats! laughing again I thought wow what a stinking shame this is, Corner place has the right size the right rent, the right equipment the perfect location on a corner could be come a landmark, and all because of cats and well his deposit probably so he could go to Italy and ski. (He mention to me he was going in January to ski) So still in the same position, still need a car, still want to do what I have dreamed about for years. I WANT THIS TO HAPPEN, I see the place.... It has a cool front a garden that I designed with beautiful tables made from natural things, roots and wood trunks, glass tops and stone, lots of bamboo and lights, a water feature either in the corner or the center, Candles at night with coral art work that we have created from all the pieces and interesting things that wash up from the reef. When you walk it the colors are extreme from red on the bottom fading to chocolate at the top, a rounded bar with awesome stools, Lounging sofas in pretty colors, of hot pink and reds and chocolates, Fresh flowers abound in beautiful glass vases on glass tables made from nature. In fact there are sculptures that we made from wood, and articles of the sea. I REALLY INTERESTING PLACE AND FUN TO BE IN, the smell of the flowers fill the air, the coffee draws your attention and then the smell of chocolate. Imagine all that! wow... really sensual! I know I am capable again. All those years in the floral industry all those years of working 15 to 17 hours a day producing incredible designs and creations for hundreds of people, insures me that I am capable of doing this again only this time more refined, and with the addition of almost everything I love! AMOR Y PASSCIONE! the love of flowers, chocolate and coffee, the passion of wine and life. IT WILL HAPPEN ALL I KNOW IS I FEEL IT I SEE IT AND no matter how this looks, Im am keeping the dream... dreams can happen. HOW is not my place to know its to know I have this dream for many years but now its really clear as to what... and I know its going to come.. I am waiting for you amor with all my passion.

Its a beautiful day to wake up and hear the sounds of the tropical birds singing. Today is a good day, I went with a new friend/ client to the Cigar bar where I found several people I knew, eating all you could eat chicken wings and drinks. Its a good concept and it brings lots of people. Like a once a week dinner party with chicken Wings it was a really clear cool night. No wind no breeze just tropical feeling. Lots of people at the Cigar bar in West End. Interesting to me.. I ate and sat at the end alone looking out over the sea. The people ate drank and left ate drank and left, including my friend Clint. He left to meet someone so I stayed and finished the one beer I ordered. Came home t read emails and saw the new website sample that is not really what I was hoping for, in fact several disappointments last night in those emails, I'm hoping that today those disappointments turn into better results as the day go ons. One I don't know how to approach but I'm going to try.

So in a few days we will be back in Costa Rica, we have a Client there that wanted us to come and do the hotels for Christmas, plus I have an issue with my bank account there and it may be good to just once and for all close it out and with draw the money. Then begin an account here in order to move forward.

Life right now is good, I mean we still don't have TV nor radio but its all good. The sofas that were so scratchy and ugly I had slipped covered here in a micro fiber in suede. THEY DON'T HAVE SUCH THINGS AS SLIP COVERS HERE so I had to have someone sew them. Little spendy to be real but I'm happy to have it and I am happy to have her that knows how to do things be able to make a living and survive. Waldina is a good person and her helpers are great workers. Although don't expect to get it right away. I order like 3 months ago but finally last night it showed up. The sofas are beautiful now. Bone suede with bright orange throw pillows. Looks super! See there is another good thing!

Well not much more to say today I have to get ready I have an early morning event, and luncheon today. Hope it goes well!

Updates on Costa Rica coming.

MUY EMOTIONAL

I thought that yesterday was going to be an easy and great day, First I was suppose to be at work early because I had a meeting with three of the execs from Exxon. I had them at the hotel the day before doing a site tour on the property and dealing with there event issues. I thought It would be good to go in early and get the contract all ready to sign before they left. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I got up so early but stayed on the computer too long and was late missed the bus. I called my driver I have which is here on the Island called Alex, Alex was hung over because the night before was his surprise birthday Party, so never the less I was late in my eyes in going in. I finally arrived at 8:15. When I arrived I had a note that another client was coming in to sign and deposit. I printed out all the details of the events for the up coming week, since I am leaving to Go back to Costa Rica to do the Los Suenos Resort in Herradura Costa Rica. Los Suenos is fabulous man..! in that I was thinking hurry and get everything you can done and in order before you leave. So I did, I walked around handing out the schedules of the upcoming weeks events to the chef, the Restaurant manager, and the I.T. man. Then met up with the girls from Exxon. We went over a few things. The GM showed up in the Office to add his comments and then they left.

Early in the week he and I had a disagreement on something my boss wanted me to do in accordance to the dealings with Exxon. I won't go into the details but I felt strongly against doing something he ask me to do. I was not happy when I left his office and he knew it, just then someone had walked in and asked what was going on I mention this person exactly how I said it to him and she ran to tell him I said that. I'T wasn't anything I didn't tell him directly to his face and he knew I was against his idea. I Mean I know this guys my boss but people do have there own minds, maybe mine is different alright but I do have judgement and I was totally against what he was pretty much demanding me to do. I gave him my point which he closed his ears to, and then did what he ask me to do. In saying all this, the whole issue was invalid after yesterday but it continued to be a thorn in his side. I manage to close the deal with Exxon, Although I was told its easy to sell the place I am working at, nothing to do with me period, and that I was pretty much a number of bad things. This whole thing pist him off and credit was not giving to me in fact I went through roughly 30 or more minutes of brow beating, a little cussing was in there, and some slanted name calling. I sat calm, I hardly reacted, when I did it was distorted by his reactions. I am curious about this man? I wonder if he had issues in other places in USA? is that why hes here? I mean he does have good ideas, comes with experience. Although earlier in the week I was told what does age have to do with a job? this was in reflection to how I felt on this very same issue. I just feel that having experience in something does benefit you in solving issues or doing the task RIGHT? Well I just was beat to death by this yesterday I decided to leave early after that. I felt like the whole day was upside down. It should have been a day where I was told WOW good job thank you and I hope you have a great week while I am gone.

SAD THING IS: He has some sort of object of hate toward me,I have addressed it as something he told me twice about someone else and the association of this other person with me. Ok I'm not feeling sorry for myself but I have experience in this, For some reason I HAVE BEEN THE OBJECT OF A FEW PEOPLES HATRED and have used me as the object and purely innocent, is it the look I have, is it the fact that I am talented and a little smart and some are very jealous of this? My mother knew she saw that this happened many times in growing up, I was a excelling person, and some people have envy WHY? I have no harm in me toward anyone to be honest. If your decent to me and good me I am good to you, If your rude and mean and down right hateful I respond in a way that is defensive. NORMAL.

I may be a lot of things but one thing I'm not is a cancer, nor a poison to anything. I know what I see and yes it has to be hard to be in his place, but treating people with out regard, telling you what your not, insinuating that you are this or that, is not how to win over people. I mean I don't think I ever treated anyone that has worked for me like this. I'm so down trodden lately.. I mean I have literally got four huge contracts that are signing.. producing. What is it when one person finds anything to attack you?

I feel really badly over this situation and it continues to get worse, attack after attack, what he may not realize is other people see it and they feel bad for me. They come to me and pet me and touch me and said they don't understand. I tried to explain to one person who is nearest to me at work, that I have had this before. I realize not everyone can love you, but to be in fear, stress and worried daily about saying anything is not the way to live. I'M CAREFUL I HARDLY SPEAK TO THIS MAN, it doesn't matter I can say thank you that was nice and get a response from him " OH NOW YOUR SARCASTIC" when in reality I thought it was nice.

Never the less its not fun, yesterday was a freaky day, I was suppose to go and look at a location for the new business doing floral, chocolate and decor and coffee, We have been planning this for more than 6 months, the location fell through yesterday, 2 blow.. Yesterday thank god is yesterday!

Woke up early today to rain and dark dreary looking weather, when I was invited to go swimming and hang out with a new friend, she called me last night has a spa here called BAUN SUERTE beautiful place look it up in Roatan, but I guess maybe later if it clears up.

Well I am gonna try to stick it out there, do what I can keep producing and when I am ready walk. I Love people, we can try to love all of them some just won't accept you.

Sounds of Parrots squawking and our cat purring

Roosters crowing in the distance, birds cheerfully singing today. The Parrots are all alarmed I don't no why?? And a lonely little rooster I can hear down near the beach is crowing desperately to wake up the sleeping dead. Its pretty still today, although I can see from my balcony a bank of massive storm clouds full and billowing, moving towards me. The sky is clear above me and the sounds of little bugs and birds are quite clear today that all are happy that the winds and the rains have move away for a while.

Yesterday I woke to see one cruise ship and while I waited for a ride to go to Infinity Bay Resort, West Bay Roatan. I saw another one come easing in. They move so slow but so powerfully.

I mean its quite the thing to see early in the morning, or late at night all lit up like a floating hotel or giant resort. Some are up to 14 story's or more high. Its beautiful in the early morning. I remember when my father or my mother would tell me that it was so pretty in the early morning hours and I use to think wow thats nice, and who cares? Its only for old people! So I guess I have arrived at the old people stage.

I Just love the morning, reason is. Calm most of the time.. peaceful, no noise from the outside world. And nature seems to be very alive in the early morning. All are working on finding there breakfast, trying to live another day, simple life process. Arise, eat and play.

Wouldn't that be grand? I have work almost my whole life, since I was very young 13 I believe. And I am about to begin again a design business here in Roatan. I'm sorry its my passion, I know that if you love or have enjoyment in something that you do to make money, you will be successful. Its hard to predict life isn't it? I mean just when you think you understand something happens and it all changes! I wasn't confused when I decided to come here, I was clear about what I wanted to do, but now I see that the need for my Floral Art and design is more in need here as the other idea I had as well.

A little detail about the new business Idea I am working on! It has Just about EVERYTHING I LOVE ( Remember my theory If you love what you do or you have passion for what you do you will succeed)

Great Coffee:

Coffee has been a big role in my life since I was about 10, my father drank it weak, my mother drank it strong. ITALIANS LIKE STRONG but my dad hated it.. I love it strong. We always drank in the afternoon's in our demitasse. Tiny little cups with the strongest coffee you can imagine, lots of sugar and a little cream if you will.

Years ago the only people who know or drank this were Turkish, Italians, Spaniards, Israelis, and other middle eastern countries folk. But now its common everyone knows about coffee. Some of the best Coffee I have ever had in my life came from Central America, Living in Costa Rica was a blessing when it came to the Coffee, CHEAP AND DELICIOUS cause of the prevalent amount of farms there, Now I find that some of the Honduran Coffee can compete. They are not as good as marketing the Coffee here as in Costa Rica, but I am going to get my hand in that area soon.

Chocolates:

Always had a love for chocolate, In Costa Rica I visit a couple of farms where the cacao grows and saw the old process of the beans and roast and the way of centuries of developing the Chocolate. The form we use now is very processed, in compared to the real state of the orginal use. I found in Honduras, that the Orginally Chocolate was grown here,by the Mayans. Its a whole beautiful history about the chocolate and soon I am going to the area to meet some of the growers to find a source for the chocolate I want to sell in the new business, I already have some of the coffee connections and was told that theses same families also grow the cacao. In Copan where the Mayan ruins are. THAT SHOULD BE very interesting! Few weeks ago I did a big event at Infinity, When I was finished with the decor a lady came over and complemented. Come to find out she lives in Copan and has a Hotel there with the coffee fields. I thought that was amazing as I was thinking this, I needed to meet someone who could connect me and I drew this to me.

Plants and Fresh Flowers:

They are life, they add to our environment, bring joy and happiness, color and fragrance and memories. Well the connection for the Flowers is an old friend of mine Eric Shibata, we have been in Contact now for several months trying to develop a plan to bring the best of the world here to Roatan. The best Floral and plants... Fresh Flowers that make people happy, send them to the cruise ships, use them for weddings, adorn Conventions that sometimes are dry of color.

LIFE it spreads happiness.. and gives so much pleasure.

Wine:

It is the passion of life, Wine is a pleasure that only wine lovers understand, being introduce to wine as a young girl I know pretty much a lot about it and one thing I know it goes to your head fast! its a different feeling to be drunk on wine! Wine is a good complement to the chocolate and with some bits of cheese wow great snack, something that I am sure everyone will enjoy.

Wine adds depth to life and insight to many problems, Wine is a healer, wine is a thinking tool, wine is a body relaxer, Wine is a love inducer. I LOVE WINE

Still the quietness is abound, soon I will hear phones ringing, people yelling and doors crashing, as I enter the job. In a few months time the soft sounds of the morning will be with me for longer periods and then the after noon and evening will be filled with the sounds of people enjoying cappuccinos, wine, chocolate and the smell of gorgeous flowers.

Absolutely Beautiful!/ Amor's and Pasciones

Waking up to Cruise ship passing the vista

This morning the sound of people talking below woke me up at 5:30 or so. I got up just in time to see one of the four cruise ships coming into port today. Roatan is certainly becoming a destination place. REASON FOR moving quickly on the wedding industry here. I am working on the business AGAIN.. God don't I ever give up?? We have a gal name Tori she is American and is doing the bookkeeping, administration, and web work,when things get rolling here. Clint has been doing sales and is actually doing very well with it. He has made sure he is contacting hotels, resorts and more to get them to know we are available for the first Fresh Flower design company in the island. Not only fresh flowers but we want to do Chocolate dipped goodies, and great coffees. We don't need a location right now, the floral work will come first and we can do many events, weddings, hotels and more with out that store. But to have a nice place to visit and hang out here with that beauty behind it would be really interesting.

We have actually about four jobs lined up now! and I am working at the resort doing my Sales and Catering job selling the events, booking the events, regulating the events and designing the events. Its quite a job, and its not my passion. But it is helping me move in the direction I need to in order to make it happen here! I think it is going to be just fine and I finally found the right place to position myself.

Now If I can just manage the strange things that always happen on this Island!

We are excited about the possibilities here and happy to be here! is just incredible at times to be working right on the beach front with super white sand and crystal clear seas.

Today as I stated earlier we have four not two as normal or one, but four cruise ships coming in. I am going into work early because of my conference with the group I book from BASF. Executives from Central American division .Then work on another big bid for a group that is coming in Nov called Gesso. Its a gas corp. The cruisers will arrive at ten. I have to prepare and area for the group for lunch so they are private and have seats and food ahead of the crowd. But today would be wonderful to be able to get away and buy food and things I need. The HOUSE IS EMPTY NOTHING IN THE WORLD TO EAT PERIOD! its bare.

Very hard to get around when you don't have transportation. I keep saying that the truck I want is coming, it hasn't shown up yet! DANG IT I need a car so bad.. but at this time not enough money to make it happen. Three or more years with out a car, you think I would be use to it. I mean walking is fine I do a ton of it. But when you need to run across the island to buy food cause there is none here. It makes it really rough.

Ok Well progressing on the living situation, little by little its starting to look like someone who knows something about beauty lives here, the house is all blue inside, not pretty ugly washed blue over natural wood, We repainted the kitchen in a beautiful tourqose color with seats of bone and blue shell print at the bar, the living room is a disaster, scratchy sofas ugly fabric and just the style and form is uncomfortable. I NEED FURNITURE TOO! i DID HAVE this lady make slip covers but when we tried to use them they didn't fit and they were a brown color when I asked for bone or off white. So I have to call her and get her to take it back and remake it. SHE I M SURE WONT BE happy. I laughed when I saw they didn't fit and the color was weird. Pretty common in Central America! but hey maybe we will get it in the next 6 months after waiting three months for them.

Well just a quick post today have to run and get ready to work, fill my eyes with half naked people today hope some are pretty!

Island stories

Many Islands or tropical places seem to have great stories or histories. But this island of Roatan has some of the best.

I was told there is a mountain of skulls and bones somewhere here and that the islanders will not go anywhere near that place. Of course out of the fear of the site and the imaginings of what could have happened. It could be from the slaves or it may go back to the Mayans. Maybe brought ship loads of bodies here to dump where no one lived in those years? I don't know but I find that interesting and I want to go and see where it is. At times where I work at Infinity Bay Resort, which is on the West Bay at almost the end .. infinity.. I do feel strange things. Sometimes a strong heaviness when you walk the property. Sometimes I can feel forces that are pushing against you and then after I feel this something weird or bad happens. We had sequences of bad luck for days one time after I felt there were some sort of dragon spirits, or large Evil presence. I had walked through the long pool area to the back office where I work I felt so pressed down and being chased after. I looked around and thought ok weirdo.. stop thinking strange things. Changed my energy to thinking in the flowers the beauty of the place and moved my mind to a better level. But as I walked I still felt it.

Places or Locations that are centered nearer the equator, or there origin is in a particular position, what I mean is the island is in this position, it sits on top of Coral and crystal. Crystal is a conductor of energy as well as many other things are but the earth is matter and matter is formed energy. I guess my point is that strong vibrations, energies are easy to feel here.

Back to what I was saying: As I walked I kept thinking of really good things, and moving my mind to better subjects rather than noticing the pressure the heaviness that was actually there. WALKING THROUGH IT. When I got the office all hell was breaking loose. Arguing, things going wrong, lets just say the atmosphere in that office was terrible. I walked out walk to the housekeeping and talk with the supervisor there. He was very down, looked depressed. The sun was blasting, I didn't understand why?? what was going on with him? I took like two minutes to get away from that office. He told me "Marianna I don't know why I feel like this today but I feeling attacked, I feel heavy. I knew right then what I felt was real. It could be spiritual that feeling I felt. Something that floats over that property. Many things go wrong there in sequences, not really normal things. Most don't find the connection but I do!

I walked to the end of the property one day it belongs to Infinity the end of the Island. I felt worse when I got down there although this location is ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR LOCATIONS! I knew something was weird there.

I found out later that some of the owners of the land,( share holders) had gone to do little party you might say serious, and strange things had happened on the land. Even tried to enter this hole that is there and when ever anyone goes into the candles and or lights flash lights go out. Nothing can keep them on. Fires go out there.. SO that later in finding out some of these things which I will tell in another blog, I knew that all I felt here is real.

I believe in good and evil, Evil does exist everywhere, being aware of it is a good thing. Battling it is also a good thing! so that day I battled the evil that I felt and I conquered it. Occasionally I still feel something but who knows who's spirit remains in those areas, who knows the actually history of this property where I work? Maybe if anyone has the history of that particular part of the Island I can find out and understand what it is that sometimes controls things there?

Happy Holloween

Walking up here is a dream, every morning when I rise I look out my balcony to the sea to a view of beautiful trees, birds and the distant ocean. This place is through the history magical. I have read many of the history stories of the Island and you can find them on the net simply by googleing. Although they are relatively the same story some vary in details and facts.

But experiencing the Island with out knowing any of these facts is a real eye opener. Before I knew anything here about the History other than it was British founded, which is not true it was Christopher Columbus and his Spanish Galleons that were the orignators, or I personally think and believe it was the Mayans. Reason is there are areas here that resemble Meditation and prayer and war. It could be said that the Mayans came here to learn there SHAMAN knowledge, the Island has a presence of spirituality its clear to many people.

But this is my opinion in talking with some of the Islander's and folks who have been here for many years. For the most part, I have heard some very interesting stories in just the few months of living here. Not only have I heard stories but I have experienced some episodes that may be evidence of some of the tales that are told here.

My first experience was the very week I arrived. I decided to walk to the right of where I was staying which was Chili's, a small sort of cabina hotel.Lots of backpackers and divers stay there. Cheap and rustic,and I mean rustic.Beautiful gardens natural and jungle like. I took out going directly to the right. For some reason I just felt drawn to this, THIS IS THE TRUTH NOT MADE UP!

AS I walked I discovered many cool places, little bed and breakfast's Lilly Pond, a Brit and a Honduran that own that. I have since become friends with them. On past to the Half moon bay, around the bend to Lands end and onward. As I walk I approached a fork and took the center road. To my right was a turret, I recognized it from being in Ibiza where many pirates, and Spanish wars also took place. I saw it covered with some Trailing plants and really didn't pay much mind to it. I keep moving forward, seeing many homes, project of really nice and upscaled houses and apartments, not finished? I thought, another effect of the economy of course. Going farther I came upon a coral like area with a few trees growing in it, in passing this area an strange feeling came over me like a wall of force stopping you from passing strong energy.

I kept going but did put some thought into that part, I also had an imagination of people in that area. Moving down the road and around a small bend were more really nice houses one occupied and past that a point of the Island. It was dark and rough and big clumps of volcanic rock and coral mixed, as I walked the road way was embedded with white clumps of coral lots of different types. I looked to my left and there was a wall, a concrete wall with an opening in it and a small path leading to it. The wall obviously was a break I am sure even though the sea here is calm no waves because of the reef. The Reef is massive practically surrounds the whole Island and its filled with life. As I walked to it I entered the opening like a doorway but with out the door.

I could see some waves but not very big, small waves and lots of formations. People say that nature does strange things and that Plants and Rocks and nature can take on forms of human things or resemble things. In the moment I sat down I felt something but didn't know what it was. I looked out and stared and was thinking what this was like many years ago. I looked at all the rock formations and was fascinated with the shapes and effects. ROUGH HARD you can not touch it or walk on it. There was as small concret path that went to sea I mean small I walked to the very end of it and looked out, then turned. As I turned I looked into the rocks and began to see faces, lots of them. All forms and shapes and in terror, many of them sad and looking wild. SOME with mouths open and screaming. I shook my head looked again and I kept seeing them as if they were frozen in the rocks. I got fear at that moment, I picked myself up and left.. it was very close to sunset. I got out of there as fast as I could and walked past that same Coral Garden area.. feeling like something was drawing me that place.

I then looked at the turret and a story came to my head. I knew in myself that is had some significance to the wars and slaves,MIND YOU I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE HISTORY OF THE ISLAND. I had returned twice to this area since and still felt the same feeling as originally.

What I found out is:

Pirates inhabited Roatan along with the Slaves that were forced to be here from the mining wars of Spain with the pirates. From what I was told the slaves were Caribbean, afro -Antillean they were forced from the Spaniards to come here to help with mining of the silver and gold that they wanted to bring back to Spain. The process of the transport of the slaves, was as other story told is that they were crudely shipped masses in small open boats, tied hands and ankles some five or more together. When they approached land they were tossed out to swim or to jump to land. Many of them were sick and hungry, some had no strength. In approaching the black Coral coastlines they were struck against them smashing maiming and even killing some. As they struggled with the sick, dead and injured tied together they tried to escape or to get to the land they were brought to.

It was told that the lives of those killed were stuck in the rocks. Some of the coastal areas here are treacherous and rough. Making it very difficult to climb upon. Once cut by this coral the wound takes many days even with a healthy body to heal. I can imagine how that must of looked and felt for those people. Thrusted to a island that they had no idea who or what they were going to face.

I have had some experiences here on the Island in the four months of living here that are not really scary but unexplainable to most people. Even one night while watching the stars on my roof top balcony, something with out form whizzed past me and Clint both, neither one of us saw it but we felt it and we heard it. IT WAS NOT A BIRD OR A BAT.. it was a strong force, later we looked up and saw in the clouds a head forming.. We both said lets go in.. and nothing more was said about that..

THERE IS MORE , many tales and stories, this island is rich in many things and spirits I believe are one. !! stay tuned for more

BEAUTIFUL OCT MORNING

Wow I got up early today just couldn't wait to get on the internet. I finally got a modem yesterday here in Roatan. I had a modem from USA long time ago but they want over a hundred dollars a month to use it. The modem they use here is a small chip that you insert in the computer a TIGO stick. Works great! I been doing with out Internet now for some four months in the house. I have it at Work but really can't access my blog, or Facebook or anything other than the work I have there because of shared files and computers.

The Infinity Bay has been a salvation, I'm so grateful that I have this job, for the fact that it has lifted a little burden off my back with some income. Although now My friend and assistant Clint is actually been going out and doing marketing for the business that I have done for some Thirty years.

Its doing well to be real with you, We have such great opportunity here in ROATAN! I think that the job I have is just a stone to step on to get to the real place I need to be in ROATAN.

I love the location of the resort, but as normal Corp jobs the people, and bosses are really something to deal with. ITS NOT USA and they keep trying to make it that way. REASON I AM NOT IN USA??? really sick of dealing with the politics and attitudes, and the lies of the typical mentality of them. I love the fact that I work in a beautiful tropical place, but now I am not even allowed to eat outside? AMERICAN WAYS OF NOT MIXING WITH THE CLIENTS, or maybe just one mans power?? Anyhow no complaints I am grateful!!! and pleased I can learn! SOON GOOD THINGS COMING!!! and I am open and ready for them.


Living in Roatan is surley different than COSTA RICA, many people speak English since this is a British founded Island, and the other two languages one of which Island talk is sometimes hard to understand but Im getting it now... funnyhow they can change there accent depending on who there talking to, Great to be here in many respects.

The down side of this place is, no shopping, no furniture places no Appliance places hard to find things period. AND ESPECIALLY hard to get around, with out a car its a challange. At least in Costa Rica we could ride the transit, and get to most places very inexpensively and fairly fast. Here no transit, taxis horrible, expensive and roads are few one around the whole island and some arterials. Where I live is above one popular area and its a little difficult to get through and into any other area. BUT ITS BEAUTIFUL! and the view to the sea is gorgeous, the night view of the stars from my balcony is astounding! its so clear and so full of stars. The Clouds seem to float in forms here, and in letters, last night it spelled out ROCK... WHAT??? yea it actually spelled out Rock... Strange happenings here on the Island, many spirits and energies that are evident to some and really strong and apparent to someone like me.

For example a friend of mine AMANDA, a SHAMANA has told me of stories of the slaves and how they were tossed out of the boats, and how the spirits of some of the past remain on this Island. Its quite interesting and appropriate for this up coming weekend!

The day is begun and I must get ready to go to the hotel, I have to walk about a mile to catch the transport bus so I have to run but stay tunned to the details on the history of this island and know that I am sensitive to the nature of it and the energy that exsist here. IN OTHER WORDS YOUR GOING TO GET A REALLY GOOD STORY that is worth the reading! have a good day!

See those bananas? They are called Apple Bananas, My god are they ever good. There short and stout, and full of flavor, I think Clint and I ate so many It made us strong! So beautiful now since the Rain has been pouring for days on end. We ate all those you see there and now another group is coming maybe this week if it gets warm again.

I am shocked really that is cools down so much, I am not use to this kind of weather. In fact I only have one little sweat shirt, no covered shoes, no sweaters or pants. One pair of jeans to speak of and you can't wear those every day! I went on my day off and bought the lobster I talked about I bought a pound of tails for 120 limperas, equal to about$6.30 cents. Is that high for Lobster? I got about four or more tails. And I bought big shrimps for $4.00. I tried to find a sweater or a pair of pants or a rain jacket but no one that I asked had anything like that in the little run down Coxen hole stores.

Swear to god as much as I dislike USA I think we need a Walmart here! I believe they would sell out daily.. I need so many things!!! simple things that most people do take for granted I am in dire need of. Perfume would be wonderful as well! NOT COMPLAINING I'm just being a girl right now.. I feel sorta neglected in the woman area. I use only soap in bar, I have the basic shampoo and conditioner, some lotion and thats it!!! One day off a week is hard to get things done... The bus system here is really hard its tiny little buses as I said previously and they stop every five seconds with people in people out taking hours to get half way to town.

Enough of that Complaining!!! on with life! Well I should say things are going well at Infinity Bay Resort. EXCEPT! for me is stressful, the burden of most of the sales are on me, but I just try to not stress relax let it flow and do what I can. I can't force people to sign but I try to encourage them.. What I really want is to be doing something creative as I been saying. I sure hope this comes soon! When you are an active person who has been creating things for the majority of your life, and your sitting in an office looking at the same walls everyday, or staring at a computer everyday is not a creative persons ideal. Yes I can do this, yes I can be good at it too.. but my real passion is MAKING THINGS BEAUTIFUL! EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL! Ya know recently I had someone I talk to on the phone tell me this" you sure do have lots of dreams" This person has been following this blog for some years now.. They mentioned a couple of circumstances that I wrote about. Saw me on Facebook and messaged me and gave me the phone to call so I did... I thought about this statement of their's, about the dreams. And I realized that some people have dreams but rarely follow after them. Some people like to call others who have dreams Dreamers.. as a bad connotation, some people don't ever have dreams. Then there are people who have great dreams, follow after them and make them come alive. Dreams are the things the give us motivation to do something and generally if you have a dream you can make it happen. It's those dreams that have creative many things in the whole world! So yes maybe I was born to be inventive and dream and make things happen.I thank this person for saying that and I know in time this dream will be alive once again.

We all have things we want, it may be fantasy?? but turning fantasy into fact your in the postion to build bigger and bigger fantasies. That is the creative process!!!

Well its been a week since I wrote on this blog, The rainy season has hit us now and we had a threat of a hurricane. That was a farce nothing happened, but the storms that came after have been very radical, lots of blasting wind knocking things down and raining like normal in the tropics. My friend and assistant is hating it I am finding it a refreshing from the blasting heat and sweltering waves of heat that hit you when you walk about.

Things have been busy at the Infinity Bay, lots of inquires keeping me busy writing out contracts and contacting people. I am finding that My Spanish is so much better having to read it constantly or daily and it is showing me that I find Spanish to be a beautiful language, some of the words in Spanish I like better than the words in English.

As far as the ideas of creating, its still going and in fact were making progress. My sales person is doing a good job contacting the right companies and resorts. I think its going to be doing very well before long.

I have been going snorkeling until the rain came, almost every Sunday. Hours and Hours in the sea, swimming and seeing the most beautiful reef! Wow so amazing the formations, the colors the fish the shapes of the coral. BRAIN CORAL IS WEIRD AND ITS ACTUALLY BIGGER THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE! I sometimes have a little fear when I am snorkeling come of the coral looks very dangerous and sometimes you get in a situation where the water is super shallow, so you scrape by hoping that you don't touch it with your body, your feet or your hands. In my case it could be my boobs..!!! I have seen massively huge Lobsters, You can not touch anything in the reef on this side which is where I live in West End, Nor in West bay. It is completely Protected.. so taking a lobster is out of the question! UNFORTUNATELY! They have to be one of the ugliest things in the sea aside from Octopus. Although I love to eat them both.. I would never dare to touch one. Ohhhhh then there is the sea cucumbers.. YUKKYITY YUK looks like something familiar and really black and ugly!

I love nature, I love my place I am living and so grateful I am here in ROATAN! I am in love again, in love with life... I feel alive once again but I do want my creative person to remain alive so I am seeking the way to develop her passion . Her love! and that is all about nature.

Being here is different than in other parts of Central America, the American, British influence, Garafunda, and European makes is a very interesting place.

I do miss the food from Costa Rica the fresh everything... although we do get similar product its not as plentiful, or available as in Costa Rica. I do miss my few friends, I have heard from a couple almost weekly so thats a nice feeling.

I have met lots of new people here making life very different. I am happy about many things and as I said grate ful. I know that I am here for some reason and the reason is coming.. I hope Im drawing it to me like I should and it manifests it self real soon!

Speaking of Lobster, Did you know Honduras is one of the major suppliers of Sea food in the world? and Lobsters are very prevalent So Guess what?? tomorrow on my day off I AM GOING BUY SOME LOBSTERS! its not expensive here I can afford it!!! Also Conch and if its fixed correctly its delicious! SEA FOOD YUMMMMMMMMmmm.. No more news as of now! Keep reading send me notes and let know what you think and if you want to visit Roatan just let me know!

Too much time between posts

Its just too much time between blogs that I feel like I lost touch with my own self. I been working so much that I hardly have time to enjoy life. I like the resort, its beautiful and the opportunity to meet many people could be huge. But I feel like I'm lost in the computer world and my creative genius is gone south. I been looking lots at Photos of my work of past years, and looking for new ideas in other Websites of Weddings and events and I feel I am getting inspired to break lose.

I mean not from Infinity Bay but to develop a lost art that supported me for so many years, it raised my two sons, bought me a home, cars and well pretty much sucked the life out of me too because I was doing everything in the business. Now I have a great game plan. Meaning this: I want to develop it in Roatan, There are no real designers here per say, I was a very high end Event designer, award winning and Now there is an opportunity for me do this again. But the plan is different as I said. I already have someone who is going to take care of customers, track the customers, deal with the orders, and help out in administration, I have a sales person, and plan to find a runner guy, someone who goes and gets products that I need for that specific event or party. Leaving me to do the pretty work.. I think its going to go very well, I will incorporate a new idea into it, dealing with Chocolate. I have the connection already in place and now its just getting the contracts and the clients and were off and running.

I know that it may sound wild, I have a job but this job is completely different than I thought I was being hired for. It is basically sales, phone, Computer, and numbers crunching numbers. I CAN DO IT AND I AM but the creative genius in me is sad. I think in life you have to do those things you love in order to succeed. I think its great I have this income and Its sure is helping in a new development stage.

But in reality the lack of time to enjoy life?? I mean I have one day a week to do things, and then its normally Sunday. Here on the Island Sunday almost everything is closed. ONE GROCERY STORE IS OPEN but It very far away and I still do not have a car. If this goes right I may have an option to lease a cool Toyota Tundra truck this is what I have been wanting for years. HOW I don't know I don't care I'm not worrying how all this is going to work out I am just keeping the idea in my head and going for things.

I will say this I am grate full for this job its just at 56 I think life should be a bit more fun. I have lots of fun in the last 7 years but lots of trudging, now perhaps with the right moves the right plan it could be better. If not GREAT.

Today is beautiful day the sun is out the wind is blowing its hot but not blazing hot. Tomorrow half a day here cleaning out this mess I work in, and finishing up one contract. Seems people are not signing as fast as I would want, I know the economy is showing me that its much more difficult to get them to agree than when I was in business before. But with events destination weddings its not that tough to sell, they need it I have it and I know how. FILL THE NEED you will succeed.

Have a great sunday

Now the job comes

Part of my garden under the house the house is three story That tree is planters palm and is about 35 or 40 feet tall

So we moved into the house, split the bills half and half and found that the whole house was painted blue inside, except the Bathrooms Mine is a weird monkey puke green or should I saw a slime green, and his is conch pink. The tiles are gorgeous not expensive ones a computer print but simulate rock. So soon on the agenda is painting, regardless of the colors its a cool place! BUT THERE IS A LOT OF BLUE the kitchen is cookie monster blue with really nice marble counter tops and stainless steel fridge, and black cook top. It could be a awesome set up done right.. But I'M GRATEFUL! SO GRATEFUL I Don't think anyone can imagine how Grateful I am? to be away from that filth and stink of apartment in JACO and to be away from the thickening Crime scene, the garbage that is out of hand now and the prices that are sky rocking in a surely down trodden economy? dose not make sense any more.

Roatan is beautiful, its really different, but beautiful. I think I am pretty lucky in many ways, I may not have a TV, or Radio or furniture or car or well for that matter much of anything... but Im so lucky to be living what I feel, and what I dream. So many people just talk, never put action in anything they imagine. But I learned that what ever you can dream of whatever you can imagine it is possible for it to become your reality. It doesn't have to be travel or living in an exotic place like I have been doing. It could be you want to open up a business? or you want to have a beautiful sofa, or you just want to do something different for yourself. Maybe your sick of your situation with your wife, or your husband and you always think in your head you wish you were alone or doing something completely different.. THEN MAKE IT HAPPEN. So you want o buy that diamond ring? and ask someone to marry you but your thinking how can I buy this my work will not provide that amount of money. Well think it enough and some how some way it will come to you how.. NO NOT BY ROBBING A BANK! I knew you were thinking that.. its just amazing how the mind is the inventor of anything you need and want. When you want something bad enough you can make it happen don't cry about I don't have this or that be grateful for what you have and it brings a lot more to you! So go one believe whatever it is your wanting right now to happen and I promise you it will!

I always wanted to live in a tropical place, I forever thought oh my god how I am not married, I dont have tons of money and that kept me from getting more.. Now in these past few years I have learned that you yourself have the power to do anything you set your mind to do. AMAZINGLY ENOUGH it comes.

The Job comes:

I had written lots of places before arriving here, also had written lots of places in Portland Oregon as well, No response from any one there but had lots of responses from people here. ( deciding factor on where I was going!) I had an interview with Carnival Cruise line to decorate the port for Christmas, so I went hopped on a bus, caught another bus that was free and headed out to French habor! I had a great interview with them and then headed back to West bay to see a new friend I met. I carried the portfolio with me When he saw some of my work he exlaimed! GO TALK TO THE GENERAL MANAGER RIGHT NOW. I said why? for events he said yes.. well in my mind I was saying cool this is just what I wanted to be doing sub contract for the bigger resorts.

I went the interview went well and in two days negotiated but it was the director of events at Infinity bay resort. Well! that was nice... lets see how this works out now. I have been here two months now and its very rough, not much organization, Im not just doing decor, Im actually selling the events, answering inquiries for rooms, and honey moons and trying to book conferences. We have a great facility and I believe in time I will do very well here.

Its a beautiful place and as I said I'm very grateful for the things that have come to me and are still coming! FUNNY Im still believing in the pickup truck I NEED THAT NOW MORE THAN ANYTHING! getting around this Island is not easy, in fact its worse than in Costa rica, the transit system is not really very good, the Taxis are Super expensive and things are not located near one another. No malls, only a tiny one, Three grocery stores but very far apart and lugging food home on the bus, and lugging up a steep hill then up three flights of stairs is surely getting me in better shape! BUT IM STILL NOT LOSING WEIGHT? anyhow this is the next thing that has to come to me soon! I need transportation! BAD so I hope this happens SUPER SOON THIS MONTH!

In a few days I will post photos of the house so stay tuned

Friday Sunset Barge Party

This is Captain Perry's Barge Bar Near my house
Mayan Stone Carvings at the Hotel in Tegus

As I was saying in the last blog, Getting here was literally a miracle, The one thing that really freaked my beak was the airport when we left Teguchigalpa was so cold in the morning that I was shivering to death not use to the airconditioning being so cold so early. I had my Purse, my computer and when the call came for boarding I was the first seat in this small 15 or so passenger plane. I jumped up and boarded the plane was half full when they went to close the port.

My foot was actually on the port as its part of the floor in the first seat. They shut it and slammed my toes into the port. I jumped and yelped, they opened it and let me loose. Fortunately my foot was ok just a little red and painful. The flight was short and nice one hour or so. I watched out the window as we flew beautiful sites of Honduras below and then we came to the sea. The Caribbean is so beautiful from the sky or the ground. The colors range from 7 shades of blue. Deep to pale to clear blue. As we passed La Cieba I could begin to see the islands in the distance.

I have been to Roatan before so I knew which one was my destination. Watching as we approached I began to smile, knowing that a new adventure awaited me. The feeling of excited filled my head and my heart and joy was inside of me before we landed.

The unknown to most presents fear, but for me it brings excitement to know I will be discovering all sorts of new ideas, places, foods, ways of transportation and living.

We disembarked, waited for the luggage. The small and quiet airport was with out many arrivals, it was early almost 8:00 am. We were five of the 15 waiting on the luggage, when it arrived I realized I was missing something??????? I searched and I looked I ran back out to the tar mac and then ask the young Islanders that were unloading the plane if they saw a black case with my Computer??? No they said

Oh my I was such in a hurry to board I left it at the airport in Teguchigalpa. Now I really was panicking. Reason everything in the computer? it was my only form of communication too. It had my Magic jack in it my information, Birth certificate and more, copies of passport lots of important documents. MAN I WAS UPSET, I went right away to the desk of the airlines, and Asked if they could call and see if it was still there or if someone had picked it up. I described to the lady what it looked like and what was inside. She made the call and yes someone had picked it up who worked in the airport. THANK GOD!! the next day the flew it in for me at no charge and took extra special care of it! Wow that was a relief.

So on our way to West end which is where I wanted to land we had a taxi, of course seeing we just got off the plane they figured dumb Tourists. I spoke Only Spanish to him and he asked me where are you from. I explained I Just came from Costa Rica and I lived there and was planning on living here in Roatan now. He didn't care he still charged us some 25 dollars to take us to west end.

West end is the beach front with all the shops, restaurants,Bars, Discotechs and life! lots of dive shops and souvenir shops. Its a nice little community not much like Jaco but still a community where you can walk to places, so my thoughts were that being with out a car this would be best for now. Close to things being able to get out and meet people and communicate in order to learn more about the Island.

NOW I live in West End, as I said in the second week after we stayed at Chilis, which by the way is a back packers heaven, Super simple rustic pretty surroundings, but WOW IS IT A MOSQUITO BOG! my god We got ate alive, the owner has this idea that leaving all the cuttings from the plants and the rotting fruit is good for the plants, in reality if it was on a compost pile and decomposed and then put on the plants yeah! but To leave it all over, number one it is messy, number two the water and moisture stays and collects in the leaves and rotting fruit, making it very attractive for lots of bugs, and mosquitos, and san cudos. TINY LITTLE PESTILENCE, that bite like lions. Number three the water that drains off the washer that runs daily is sitting on top of the ground in one main area that breeds the mosquitos. So YEAH after almost two weeks there I was nothing but bites and the rustic part of it had gotten to me to no extent. They gave us a big cabin, rough wood floors, clapboard walls with cracks, even the floor you could see the ground below. No paint just rough on the feet too. Well we thought we were alone in this cabin, my friend and I Clint. My long time assistant and good friend. ( NOT A BOY FRIEND MORE LIKE MY SON) when one day they sent these middle eastern boys they came walking in late at night and stomped into the space and just making all kinds of noise, I was shocked? I thought well how come they the check in people didn't say you will have someone staying in the cabin with you and give us warning? It was a bit scary because we were both relaxed I was laying in the hammock in my surrong, and sitting in a small chair just relaxing late at night around 11:00. WEIRD SITUATION! they scared me I had my purse out who knows who they were? Not to mention we were in the back of the back of the back of the property the last cabin in the jungle, it could be anyone?? So that spurred me to find a place like NOW We just asked around and someone gave us a number of this woman named Harmony.

We went Snorkeling and that was so fun! I have been before Clint never. He struggled fighting the water and the fins until I just stopped him and explained how to float become as thought your part of the water and let your body relax and the water will take you on a journey. He practiced a while then he got it some but still struggling. I kept going, I went far saw so many fish, sea flowers, brain coral, coral of every variety. Fan coral and Many Urchins, Puffer fish, huge angel fish, Lion fish and the most beautiful Red and brown poka dot fish??? Wow what an experience. We have been snorkeling ever since that day once a week at least.

Well that next day we found the house perfect, both of us wrote a list and didn't show each other the list. We wrote what we wanted and what the house we felt look like. He described blue, I said wood, I said great views he said quiet, me too with out dogs. In fact the list was almost identical. Well in a hour we packed up went in a taxi to see the house met the guy and signed on the dot. It was the perfect house everything we described. WE both have been drawing things into our life, My assistant Clint has not believed that I could do this so I been having read a couple of book's that I have and still read and it helps in changing your energies and bringing positive things and in fact all things you desire into your life! MORE TO COME

Roatan Life and Working

Statue out front of the Mayan Hotel


Roatan Beach front West bay
Well, I manage to sell everything in about two weeks time and make enough to get the tickets to fly to Roatan and to rent a hotel and look for a house.So I packed up what I could take in Three suitcases and only kept a few choice items that meant something to me. Such as

Photos of my children and one of my good friend Sharon and I

My Italian cooking utensils

My mortar and pistils, one my son made me the other was from Italy

Two pewter mirrors, one from Nicaragua, the other Costa Rica

My new coffee maker

A bar set Paul Brown bought me that is chrome

all my capuccino cups from Italy ones my mother had made for me as a little girl

The rest some fabrics, and a few clothes,

Three pairs of shoes, makeup the clothes didn't amount to much

I caught a bus to San Jose Costa Rica, the problem was the night before we had a little celebration with some of my close friends, Orfa, Helen, Joey, Eida and one other. I drank four glasses of wine, these days I just cant drink.. More than two glasses and I am sick the next day or have a horrible head ache. But I felt really good! and happy with my old Friends so I didn't care nor did it hit me that I was over the limit.

Staying at Ofra that night I got up early our bus to San jose left at 5:00 in order for us to arrive at the airport at 8:00 to fly out at 10:00. Well the whole windy bus ride was too much I ended up vomiting the whole way. Two and half hours of vomiting and deathly ill.

When we arrived at the airport I could barely stand I was so weak. I looked I'm sure like living hell. I stumbled in dragging all three suitcases, a carry on a computer and a heavy purse. Hit the tax station to pay your fees to leave the country, the gal at the station ask me if I was sick, she must have notified the clerks at the counter because when I manage to drag my carcase over to the check in, they immediately ask me what I was sick with. I simply said I got car sick and had vomited all the way from Jaco.

So they would not let me in until I felt better, which was about half an hour. I finally came back to check in and they passed me through.

Boarded the plane:

I first flew into Teguchigalpa Honduras, this is the Capital of Honduras its located in the center of this hilly range, the plane actually has to fly in circles three times to land. That was fun after being car sick for several hours. I almost thought I was going there again! But I held tight and made the landing and disembarked. We grabbed a taxi after bargaining with the airlines for a ticket to Roatan. They didn't have any thing open so we had to stay for two days in Tegus in order to get a flight out to Roatan.

Then the Taxi driver took us to what I had looked up on line and it was in the most dangerous part of the city. I said NO the moment I saw it so I asked him nicely just take me to a safe and good place. We ended up at the Mayan Hotel beautiful! practically five star. I got a nice suite top floor, when I looked out my window it was about dusk, there was a huge statue of Jesus like in Rio starring at me down at my room. Massive statue with arms extended. I felt protected, then I looked below and there was hundreds of houses stacked against each other covering the hillsides, next to the statue was a giant sign that was lit up saying COCA COLA! so Jesus loves Coca cola I thought?? Pretty funny really.. but such a cool site when it was dark and all the lights of the city were down below with the towering savior above.

We spent the two days site seeing, going to a very cosmopolitan mall, where I was surely impressed that Not many Americans or Costa Ricans know how sophisticated the Hondurans are?? SHOCKED really reminded me of things I saw in California USA in Beverly Hills. Very upscaled, So I bought just a few little things that I could fit in my carry on, a pewter shell plate, small for jewelry. A pair of white shorts, a white long flowing dress for the beach, some sandals. Now that I am here on the Island my sorry I didn't buy more. Not a whole lot here to shop, no household items, no stores to buy accessories for the home, No real good clothing stores or cheap ones at fact. No shoes. All the shoes are plastic, flat sandals, ITS AN ISLAND everyone wears flip flops. So it was a little shocking Coxen hole the main city here is something out of the old west. Dirt roads, all beaten down clapboard buildings, houses on stilts, run down broken down buildings with people living in them and selling things out of them. But the great thing is! The cruise ships, lots and lots of cruise ships every week. The ports are spectacular! the shops in the ports expensive but nice.

I manage in the two months I been here to get around but it AIN'T EASY wow!!!!

Without a car really tough. One main road, most things are located in or near Coxen hole, or French Harbor. I have only discovered a few places.. reason is.. I found a house beautiful house and I moved in the second week I was here and in that second week I manage to get a job a very large resort. MORE TO COME!

New Life new adventures!

Life is different here, As moving To Roatan renewed my energy. The choice was balanced by a friend of mine that had moved here in the first part of April. She hadn't planned on moving here but fell in love with Roatan, bought a business like that! and then just came back to Costa Rica and packed up and moved. SMART LADY! soooooooo about a month or so later she emailed me and said Marianna I am thinking about remodeling this little Ice cream Shop called Caribbean Creamery. The first person I thought of is you. She said I am not going to spend a whole lot of money but I am willing to pay your airfare, and a little bit for you to do it. I thought about it for like three or four weeks, I had a project going so I couldn't just up and leave. I did some research and checked out hundreds of photos of Roatan, and read lots and lots on the Island before going. I booked my flight, long flight by the way from Costa Rica costing about 500 dollars. Came in and was not that impressed right away. But when we got to her house and I saw the area she bought in I thought to myself my god this would be perfect for a business I have had in my head for some three years.

I didn't have much time to look around, since I worked pretty hard long hours to finish up in a weeks time. The last day she gave me money for he water taxi and I took a few hours before I flew out to check some things out. I went out in the taxi in the clean, clear Carribe.. My God was it ever so preciously beautiful. The driver ask me if I wanted to snorkel out there, I said yes but I didn't have the 50 bucks for the rental of the mask, flippers and snorkel. He opened the cabinet on the boat and showed me he had tons of them. So I took one took off my dress, which my bikini was on under it and put it on and dove in .

The water was cooler than Costa Rica and way cleaner, I swam a ways to a point near the end of West Bay.( Which is where I am at now) there is a point its all lava very strange formations. I swam and came near it as I know from my past snorkeling experiences, that most fish hang out in that area. Well the water there appeared to shallow but it was a mistake. It was deep deep deep.. I looked down and saw huge fish, Seriously HUGE! and it scared me so bad that I began to breath really hard in the snorkel. I swam fast as I could, faster and faster.. scared as hell! Got the boat and they guy was laughing hard. I said in Spanish what? he asked are you afraid? I said yes he said why? I said cause I saw something huge and I have no idea what it was.. he said was it shark? I said I didn't take the time to identify it I just ran in the water pretty much! he was laughing so hard I said get me in the boat.. I flipped my flippers as hard as I could getting up some what then only to sink back down.

I kept kicking and kicking but couldn't get my self up enough to get in the boat, he suggested use the motor on the back, but I took one look at that blade and the fear that was in me and SAID NOOOOOOOOOOOOO no way! With my luck I would cut my leg or foot off, bad enough I have a bad foot that constantly hurts, there was no way In the world I would step on that. So he helped pull me in laughing the whole time while I was practically hitting him to shut up.

I laid on the floor of the boat exhausted and he was still smiling. He told me not to be afraid but I couldn't help it that was the first time in my life I felt fear like that, well I lie maybe the second time the first time was when I was kayaking and a shark came up to my kayak an swam right along next to me for the longest way.. but anyhow! We drove around the Island I saw how beautiful the sites were and the homes the mansions, and the poor areas the ghettos, the Beaches and hillsides, with forests and jungle mixed and I thought, hmm I could find some kind of work I'm sure in ROATAN.

So he dropped me off on the beach in front of Banana Rama, a lady came up to me asking for massage, I said come and get me in a hour. I wanted to swim more before I left so I swam, she came back to retrieve me, and then did the massage right in the sand on a sirroung. It was good not great, but my body was so tired from painting and fixing for a week that anything would have felt good.

A touch is needed on the human body and rarely do I get touched so I was loving it!!!

Then I loaded up my things and flew back to Costa Rica, thinking all the time about Roatan and how could I get there how much money would I need? and what could I do. NEVER REINVENT THE WHEEL. Do what you love have passion in what you do and success will come to you! thats what I heard in my little now blond head.( brunette for years age has cause me to die it blond) So it was weeks of thinking and planning and putting out the energy to the world, and to my friends that I would be moving to a place that is unique in the world! ROATAN

Moving on

Well I was right about Moving on, the things and the life in Jaco became so miserable, the crime so high and the tourisum low. Rates of crime higher than I could remember, the shot two people the weekend before I left in the place I always would frequent to dance, then I made up my Mind to seek out a better option. I friend of mine had bought a small shop in Roatan Island Honduras, beautiful tropical Carribean Island with calm seas. She wrote me to come and remodle her little ice cream shop I thought about it and decided that would be a good idea. I went spent a week and fell in love with Roatan. At that Time when I returned to Costa Rica the incidents were getting worse, I had one small contract doing a landscape and building a outdoor kitchen and bar and an outdoor shower for a client from Cananda, I was thinking the whole time I wanted to move, weather it was back to USA with my sons, or somewhere More tropical and safe that could be more supportive of my work and I could exsist a little better.
We finished the job in a month, it was not easy. We hauled all the tools on the bus, I woke up early every day drug things to the bus stop, in dirty clothes for work in the garden, Picked up all my workers on the way in the bus and paid there way. We rode for miles to an area Called bejuco. This is right near Parrita, that is outside of quepos near Manuel Antonio. Tiny little beach town, everyday walking from the bus more than two miles to the house in the heat early dawn hours, finishing at 2 or 3 walking back the two miles with the guys. Now remember I am a hands on person, besides with out me the guys hardly work. So I dug and pick axed, and hauled and lifted and planted right along with them.
ONE MONTH OF THIS, missing the bus now and then having to wait for hours in a dirty stinky four walled bus stand in the heat, garbage every where.. I thought each day my god if people really knew what I do to exsist, sometimes I would have flash backs of the life I had before, the hard work in the floral and event business but how glamorous and beautiful it was I would find myself remember events and reliving them as to not see the situation I was in. The lady we worked for, found me on Facebook Marianna Love, she found out I did all kinds of things and hired me site unseen on Facebook!!! THANK GOD FOR HER DENISE! she let me be creative and was so kind to us, when she finally came to see the work was in shock! loved it and me and all of us. She treated me like an angel. She saw how hard I worked and was amazed that I had the stamina to keep doing it, I told her sometimes in distress you keep going no matter, that I was happy to be working and I was glad she trusted me.
We bonded and Im so happy she came from Facebook into my life.

So I told her I was thinking of moving to Roatan she was curious, but I didn't give her details of when or how.
When we finished I made a goal, I told Clint my friend and life time assistant, that I was going to sell everything and move to USA or Roatan, depending on what happened. I would wait 6 weeks to try to find more work and if in that time I didn't I had to leave, I had to get out of Jaco or I would be dead soon. Not just the threats or the style of life but the work and the lack of work the lack of food and money was scaring me and practically distroyed me.

So that six week mark came, I was tyring to find work I had a job for a bar I spent hours on the design working with this guy from Canada but he failed to come through and in fact shorted me of the money he owed me for the time and design, the interpetations, the sourcing and more. So I said Im not waiting on him Im moving on.

I placed and add daily on Facebook I talk to people, I chated on msn, I posted on Craigslist and with in Two and half weeks I had sold everything I owned including some of my clothes and shoes and even all my plants, 17 orchids, huge large Potted palms beautiful outdoor furniture I designed, Even my paintings I painted. I had very little left

Only three suitcases I could bring on the flight. I contacted several places in Roatan and I got immediate response. From several resorts for Wedding designer and events, and from Carnival Cruise line to help with Decor for the ports. So I thought ok thats positive, nothing from Portland or Vancouver area where I was thinking to return. In fact I got lots of negative responses and the thought of going back to gray days, rain constant, buying a huge new wardrobe of heavy clothes and boots, and facing bronchitus yearly was not exactly my idea of my retirement.

Soooooo I chose Roatan, And wow what a flight and experience before that So stay tuned I plan on catching everyone up and I hope you enjoy these adventures, they are true to life, many times I dont tell all the really bad things because Its so sad or depressing that people would not believe it true but as for NOW I HAVE MOVED ON TO ROATAN HONDURAS

TIME PASSES ON TO THE NEXT

As time past things calmed down but the same thugs are on the streets, threatening and bullying and robbing. I stayed away I didn't go out at night for months and months. I been trying at that point to get jobs outside of Jaco. I manage finally to land a couple of landscape jobs and do those very well, working early in the morning to afternoon. Stopping at 1 since the heat is so horrendous! Can't work past 1:00 pm. Coming home exhausted. I work right along with the workers, hauling out trees, and chopping, pick axing, and cutting pruning more. Load after truck load of materials and finally after a month of work we finished the beautiful landscape in Faro Escondido. A house sitting on top of a ledge of the sea cliff and below a private beach. I stayed away from anyone in the town so not to have any issues. For months I did with out TV, and the things that were stolen from me. I never had enough money to replace anything so just did with out. Then after I finished Faro I landed a job in Bejuco mind you months have past with no work what so ever. Doing with very little, and making it. Hard but I did it!! In the mean time I met up with a foreigner from Canada, Strange man , lets just say hes a lawyer, and knows how to get his way( so he thinks) or pushes to get his way always. He was ordering me around on the internet to do this and do that, and demanding I find the things he needed to do this so called business he wanted to start. He heard about me through a client and saw the work in a Condo I did was impressed I guess? and Then wanted to meet me. We met up and he ask if I could help him get this business together. So I dilgently worked on it for 6 months, never did he send money, I asked him several times to put money in my bank with the report of what I have accomplished and and sending him all the information he would demand from me. After about 5 months he said he was coming back and would pay me when he arrived. During this time I was doing a landscape job in Bejuco for a beautiful lady and I was enjoying making her place pretty for her. He showed up one week and requested, or should I say again demanded that I take time with him while he was here. So I left Clint in charge at the job site with the two other guys I had working and I went with this man for four or five days to do what he needed. He doesn't speak Spanish and has no clue how Costa Rica operates. So I was assisting him in everything you can think of from finding Attorney's, paper work, materials, leases, sites,design, and just everything you can imagine( still no payment) I asked him the second day I was chaufering him around if he would please pay me for the past work and now. He agreed to pay but I never saw the money. Getting more frustrated with him as he is a super difficult man to work with I bit my tongue and kept going with the hopes that in the end I would have this Design job of doing his new so called Piano bar of all things in Jaco? I invited him over to my other clients house to see the work, eat with us and find out more about me. Even though he had me do all these things for him he still was questioning my abilities, and my character? ok I was about at my end with this CHARACTER, MEET ALL KINDS HERE IN JACO WOW! he came and My client the woman did not like him and told me to be carefull. Finally Embarrassed at him from some of the things he said and did to me and my friends. I was ready for him to leave. He asked me to drive him to the airport and return his car. STILL NO PAYMENT, I told him then you must pay me today, well he missed his flight and we rushed back to get another one he was successful at finding a flight from his agent that books everything for him. Returned the car and at that moment I said please pay he said well I don't have time. I knew that the Airport had an ATM and I litereally walked him to the ATM and helped him get me money, but it was less than half that I ask for and then he left. I waited for weeks for him to deposit the rest finally after me bugging he sent through western union some cash but still short 160 dollars. He sent a proposal to my friend on the lease pretty much demanding she do all the remodle that is his responsiblity, and lower the rent and more and more. And then wrote me a letter after she responded and said NO to everything, this guy writes me to straigthen out the mess, I wrote back saying there is no mess and its between you and the lady with the space. PEOPLE! so after hearing this I gave up ON JACO AND COSTA RICA I Made a new plan. I can not suffer this anymore. I had another so called job fall through at the same time. After all that I figured this is enough enough enough. I had an idea that came to me about three years ago and thought ok maybe this is the time to move on this

Part three Threats

So from that day on I did not leave the house at night at all when before I would walk down town since it is close have a cappucino talk with people sit at my friends coffee shop and simply watch people. Or go out to dinner, and dance go to Monkey bar or one of the other places to dance. It has been more than nine months or so that I have not done any of that. I would see them on the streets passing in there black windowed cars, there is one he has red rims on a black car, hes a biggie hes been here a long time smashed the legs of transvestes here to get them off the streets, of course probably paid by the Beatle bar to do that so it would not effect the business. The other is from limon, so three to five guys here that do all the same thing. Control the streets with drugs and do most of the crimes here. Its been a rough year, hardly any work. Although I been in a postive frame and getting little jobs here and there. I Did manage to do Los Suenos this past Christmas but the budget was ridiculous for a huge resort, even though they lend help for me, and fed me and picked me up and dropped me off with their private bus service. But Seriously it wasn't enough money took me 6 days and when I finished it I flew out to USA and stayed with my son and his new girlfriend for two months and just cooked up a storm. When I returned the woman that lived next store was still at it. Clint my assistant and good friend was here all along he came in November. He told me that She partied constant while Iwas away. Well it was the second day I was here.
The party went on from the middle of night till late that afternoon but not with out trouble.
About ten am, I saw many Columbian girls and some Columbian guys and some really bad people I have seen out and in the streets. The big black man was there too, they were all out on the balcony in front of my place. The balcony is a two person wide and very long. I have a sofa out there cute in zebra and lots of big pots and plants everywhere. Well~~~~~~~ it went like this they were drunk and of course using drugs. They all sat on the rail and on my sofa and then began to talk about me.. lies she made up all kinds of lies they began kicking my window. Drugs and alcohol causes people do such horrible things and to inocent people too. I was frightened and scared I closed the blind. Mind you I woke up to this, I got low on the floor and went to the side of the apartment where no windows or doors where. I saw the lady that lives below the owner of the girl nexts door apartment. She banged on the door they had gone in and they began to fight. Then another woman and two other girls went down stairs and they began to fight. It was s huge womans brawl.. but strong not like AMERICAN WOMEN I MEAN MEANNNNNNNNNNNN women.. ok her and Angelica fist fought and she told her to get out of the apartment and to shut the music up. Then the shit hit the fan, some guy came out and began shooting. I heard gun shots I called the police they came in many cars Angelica called the police I think at the same time. More came but the idiots didn't even know how to manage the guns they had. The fumbled about dropping a big automatic gun. When someone next door through the trees fired on one of the police, he didnt know what to do. It was awefull I laid on the floor scared and trembling. Then the people little by little left but only after threating her and shaking fists at my apartment. Mind you I did nothing its just the type of people ok not good.. hour past, the police came again every hour for three days the police came and then I suggested to Angelica put up a camera to watch who comes in a out of here so she did. That caused a rukus, then came the eviction. But the girl didn't move she kept making more parties untill about three months later finally moved out wow what I day of celebration but from those day forward I was carefull not to be out alone not to walk at night and not to be near the street.

More tomorrow