Just the Facts, Ma'am

(or Sir)

It's still cold but yesterday was above freezing so a lot of the ice melted.  Victor cleared the sidewalks around the house...  the last huge chunk of ice slid off the roof of our car.... it's not nearly so treacherous out there.

It's count down week for me and Bill. We're down to 4 days before we leave for Costa Rica.  This time we'll be gone 3 months...  but I don't think packing is much different whether you're gone 3 weeks or 3 months.  

I had my annual physical this week.  Routine...  all is well.  Last year I got a flu shot for the first time, and had no reaction, so decided to get one again this year.  It had been 10 years since my last tetanus shot and since I'm such a klutz and I don't know about medical facilities where we'll be, I got a booster.  So with a shot in each arm, they've been kind of sore.  Bill got a tetanus booster as well....  better to be safe than sorry.

My laptop got some serious viruses when we were in Baltimore in October.  I took it to Staples when we got back to Ohio.  They got rid of the virus and also McAfee (virus protection) and put a different virus protection program on.  Since then we left Ohio and are in Texas.  I kept getting messages from McAfee that I needed to install updates.  Hmmm...  this doesn't seem right.  Yesterday we went to Staples in Granbury with computer in hand.  Guess what?  The virus program I paid for had never been installed.  I had to leave my laptop but should be able to pick it up today.  Good thing we did this before the weekend as we're leaving Monday.  I'm using my "backup" laptop today...  it's come in handy more than once!

I've been a pill counter lately...  usually I have no problem getting a "vacation" prescription refilled, but since I had no refills left on any of my 3 prescriptions, and my doctor appointment wasn't until this past week, I meticulously counted out 15 weeks of meds to make sure I wouldn't run out.  I hate taking any medication, but I love the quality of life that they give me... sooooooo.....  a person does what a person has to do.....

We've lived in Costa Rica before and while it is considered a Third World Country, it's pretty high up there on the amenities list...  we've been to shopping malls that would rival any in the USA...  even those with upscale stores.  But we're not going to the San Jose area this time and not sure what will be available along the coastal area.  I don't have to take 3 months worth of things like shampoo or toothpaste...  just enough to get us by until we get oriented.  

However, if this area is like before, while a huge variety of foods is available, seasonings and spices may not be.  I have my bottles of  "Mrs Dash Extra Spicy Southwest Seasoning"...  and my packets of Goya seasonings for fish.  Black beans and rice are the staples...  and that's fine...  but we like a little "pizzaz" added.

It's the electronic gadgets that we use everyday that would be hard to replace there.  Our Kindles... both Bill & I have one; my cameras ... yes, I'll take 2; or laptops; binoculars; GPS.... of course I hope to do some geocaching; and all the extra batteries, chargers; cables and accessories.

Things like reading glasses, sunglasses, batteries for my hearing aids.....  just stuff you use every day without giving it a thought.

I haven't even begun packing yet...  I'll take the luggage over to our daughter's house and pack there...  I usually have to rearrange things a couple of times to distribute the weight evenly.  We still have a few days left...  guess I'll check my list and get busy.

That's All For Today!