“Okay,”
Beth thought, “this is a bad idea.” Joe Berger was asleep beside
her, snoring in a regular, apparently contented rhythm. “I don’t
need a man in my life, right now or ever, as a matter of fact, but definitely
not now."
They
had dinner at a new place called Callejon de Gato, the Alley Cat, and
Beth thought the food, tapas, langostinos and meat balls, was pretty
good. Joe was attentive and complimentary and most importantly not
overly interested in real estate. Sure, he would like her to help him
find a “nice little, inexpensive condo in Casco,” like everybody
else. Nobody ever seemed to be looking for a horrible, big, expensive
place, but that seemed normal for the situation he claimed to be in.
But that was a point—there was something about the guy she didn’t
trust exactly; or quite believe; even though he didn’t seem to be
scamming her or trying to weasel his way into her operation or anything
remotely like that—he didn’t want to be a partner, in the business
at least; or that’s what she thought. Her judgment or sense of human
nature gave her just a hint that this guy wasn’t one hundred percent
honest or candid or aboveboard, whatever that meant.
For the last several years we have had summer art programs for the local kids in El Valle; each program has been about 8 weeks long. Last year, all the art projects were made with recycled materials, including the kids' carnaval masks and costumes. This year we had sponsorship from the Fundacion Parroquia de San Jose, and we were fortunate to have two teachers from the Museo de Arte Contemporano (MAC) in Panama City. The kids learned basic painting and color mixing, and employed those skills to make and paint their carnaval masks. It was such a delight to see the kids' creativity grow, and see their joy in achieving some really interesting work with novel approaches. In about a week, we will put up an exhibition of the kids' best work (as chosen by them) in the El Valle Library; we will post a note to let you know when the exhibition opens and how long it will run.
After twelve thousand kilometers, 18 border crossings, and a month in a mini-van with my wife and two dogs, I was at last floating in my pool in Panama.
The sound of the near-by Pacific Ocean waves soothed my weary soul, as I sipped white wine and listened to exotic birdcalls and other, less distinguishable, sounds. Truly, this was paradise found … or so I thought.
Introducing the
Playacommunity Players. A new comic strip brought to you by Playacommuntiy.Com.
The strip is
illustrated by Leo Lammie, who brilliantly brings our jokes to life through the
Expat characters of Bob and Jane, plus a cast of other characters who live
the life at the beachs in the expat community of Panama. Leo has been cartooning for the last
10 years.His work can be viewed at http://nisolnisal.com/,
The idea to do a
strip came from Craig Weincek, the author ofCasco Viejo: The Second Season . Craig has a slew of expat jokes up his
sleeve, so expect to see his humor in upcoming strips.
Click more to view
today's Playacommunity Players.
ARIES Venus zooms over into your sign granting you a lot of popularity, Aries. Enjoy the positive attention; people will be looking to you for inspiration and motivation. Romantically, you’re in an excellent place, if you’re single, you’ll find it easy to seduce and charm. Zoom into what’s going on behind the scenes and pay attention to the fine details. Luck is hidden, but it is there for you. If you dream about lottery numbers this is a great time to place a bet on them. Dig deeper to find buried treasure. There are some lessons to learn about love though; you’ll need to be very patient as you manoeuvre through various obstacles-- getting closer and closer to that elusive prize. At work, prepare for more challenges, ones that will take all of your charm to deal with. A boss expects miracles, and you have it in you to make these miracles happen but it will take some sweat and blood to make it all happen. Close partnerships could especially be tense, it’s best to avoid getting involved in political struggles if you can help it.
You've driven by it a hundred times. Your either looking forward to it or dreading it. But either way you know it's coming, the Coronado Mall. It's huge. It's changing the skyline of Coronado and it's going to change many of our lives here in Panama.
Haus, the general contractor, as well as retailers such as Super 99 and HSBC have done their homework. From Chame to Rio Hato there are approximately 50,000 residents. The builder is aware of the many condo projects going up in the area and with 10,000 vehicles passing the entrance to Coronado every weekend this is the place to build.
Sarah Booth is one amazing lady. I want to be just like her when I grow up.
Many of you probably already know Sarah or have at least heard of her. And if you don't know her you’re going to want to meet her. Sarah has an infectious personality. She loves life and it shows. You can't help but happy and excited when you are with her. She is always the life of the party. I posed some questions to Sarah recently, the owner of Panama Holiday Homes www.panamaholidayhomes.com , and thought that I would share her story with you.
El Rincon del Chef Restaurant is offering its clients a special promotion for March. Buy a Wrap and you'll have a soup of the day free. The promotion is available from Monday to Thursday (12:30pm-4:00pm) the entire month of March.
Please Save the Date, Saturday March13, 2010 is the 4th Annual Art in the Park (El Arte en el Parque) in the park of Penonome. Last year, 70 artists participated and 3 scholarships were awarded to worthy Art Students. This year the park will be filled with artists from all over Panama. The students who are participating in the scholarship contest will be separated from the professional artists. All works, however, will be for sale. One can shop for fine art with prices ranging from $30 to several thousand. This is a venue that artists and art lovers look forward to each year. As there are almost no venues in the interior for artists to show their work, this is a once a year opportunity for all! Thank you Ex-Pats for supporting this worthy cause and showing up each year for a fun event!
Heads up to photographers. There will be an Urban Photography Exhibit at Arco Chato in Casco Viejo from Thursday, March 11 to Sunday, March 14. Those wishing to exhibit can still submit their photos. Visit www.enteratepanama.com for entry forms and registration info. Photographers may submit up to ten photos in 8 by 10 format. Registration ends March 2.
In the article posted on the Panama Pacific Community News by Karyn Saunders on 2 December 2009 titled "Water, Water y Mas Agua!! ", Karyn points out that you need to hydrate yourself with water.
Are you drinking enough? What kind of water do you drink? There can be significant differences in the waters that are available to you.
Maureen Osmand is the winner of the beatiful "Berries and Birds" quilt done by The Panama Canal Quilters. Maureen is a resident of Coronado and she bought her winning ticket at The Coronado Equestrian Club Craft Fair last November. The quilt is hand appliqued and hand quilted. The proceeds will go to help support the educational needs of three young girls from El Espino area and other charitable organizations.
Games Night held on Thursday, February 11th, 2010 at the Coronado Country Club towers was awesome. We had over 50 attendees. Games that were played were Texas Hold Em, Mexican Train, Mahjong, Darts and there was also lots socializing which is a fun game in itself.
I would like to thank everyone very much for attending Games Night undraiser and everyone that purchased tickets but were unable to make it hat evening - thank you. A great way to start off our first games night for which all monies after expenses will go to help out the Women's Shelter in Bejuco. The amount raised after expenses was 902.77. The Texas Hold Em players donated $50.00 from their winnings which is included in the total amount raised. Thank you - Thank you.
I pride myself in being able to spot a scam a mile away. I have never fallen victim to those calls that tell you have won a vacation, but have to pay just a little a month, which is nothing compared to all this great vacation you won. Right! Nor have I ever been duped by the Ethiopian banker who wants your bank account to transfer a thousand million dollars into.
False password requests, bank letters, bring it on, you can’t fool me. I can see a liar a mile away, right through the fake smile, and unbeatable offer.
But, today I got reeled in. They failed to hook me completely, but they reeled me in nicely. Here’s what happened:
Living a block away from Panama's Carnaval has given me a new insight into this annual ritual of coronation of queens combined with music, dancing, and drinking. To be sure I attended Carnaval and had a good time. Also, every day during Carnaval, I walked down to the closest cyclone fence and police checkpoint, showed my ID, got patted down, and walked down the confetti littered street to El Rey for veggies, bread, arepa (we are really a Colombian household), meat, and milk. Each morning the confetti covering Via España reminded me of a dry Midwestern winter with wisps of snow tracing moving patterns along the asphalt of a small town main street. Then I would notice the palm tree next to Panafoto and the spell would be broken.
Craig Weincek is writing a novel on line. This work in progress is being released on Playacommunity.Com and on Craig's own blog. The book is entitled Casco Viejo: The Second Season, and is obviously set in the old section of Panama City also known as Casco Antiquo, where Weincek has an apartment with his wife Betty and their rescued dog Lola. The Weinceks also have a house in Altos del Maria, where Craig does most of his writing.
“I really don’t know how it will turn out,” Weincek said recently, “but I’m trying to stick with ‘the creative process’ and let the characters develop naturally inspired by the setting, situations and what seems likely to happen next.”
The evening begins at 5pm for drinks and socializing. Once
again we are having door prizes. Three FABULOUS prizes, to be exact. Pick up
your ticket from me, when you arrive at the event. Remember you must be present
when your number is called, to receive your prize.
I know you've all been practicing your foot stomping and yee-haw-ing
over the last few weeks. As promised Line Dancing will be part of this month's event.
We are excited to have some experienced line dancers to lead the way. So if you
have never line danced before and always wanted to, the Expat West event on the
24th is your chance to kick up your heels.
We want to make sure that the restaurant is prepared for all
of those planning to join us for dinner, so that you can have a more enjoyable
evening. So, we created an RSVP form . If you are planning to eat at Rincon del Chef,
please let us know by sending in your RSVP asap!.
Remember the Chef's menu is listed on our site should you
wish to take a look before the event.
I look forward to seeing you all again and be sure to come
see me for your raffle ticket on Wednesday night.
Skip and Betty Doeringer are graciously co-ordinating the 3rd Annual Coronado Chili and Charity cook off. Mark your calendar and practice cooking. On February 20th at 5 pm the cook off, sponsored by Expats in cooperation with CSA, will give any interested party a shot at Pacific Coast chili bragging rights and a chance to help replenish the CSA charity fund.
The first two winners, Eldon “2008” and Skip “2009” will be there for another shot at the title. Do you have what it takes? There is room for eight chefs in the competition with one slot for an alternate. Sign up now. It is first come first serve.
-Why do we have big water tanks on our properties???
-Ever wonder what the water tank is for, or why some are way up in the air?
Unfortunately the water supplied by IDAAN (Instituto de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Nacionales or National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers) is less than consistent. Major fluctuations in pressure, and even complete water outages are common occurrences. A water tank can supply water to get through those times.
in General Conversation by louisebelisle, 09-03-10 23:21
For the last several years we have had summer art programs for the local kids in El Valle; each program has been about 8 weeks long. Last year, all the art projects were made with recycled materials, including the kids' carnaval masks and costumes. This year we had sponsorship from the Fundacion Parroquia de San Jose, and we were fortunate to have two teachers from the Museo de Arte Contemporano (MAC) in Panama City. The kids learned basic painting and color mixing, and employed those skills to make and paint their carnaval masks. It was such a delight to see the kids' creativity grow, and see their joy in achieving some really interesting work with novel approaches. In about a week, we will put up an exhibition of the kids' best work (as chosen by them) in the El Valle Library; we will post a note to let you know when the exhibition opens and how long it will run.
I’d finally made it. 
Venus zooms over into your sign granting you a lot of popularity, Aries. Enjoy the positive attention; people will be looking to you for inspiration and motivation. Romantically, you’re in an excellent place, if you’re single, you’ll find it easy to seduce and charm. Zoom into what’s going on behind the scenes and pay attention to the fine details. Luck is hidden, but it is there for you. If you dream about lottery numbers this is a great time to place a bet on them. Dig deeper to find buried treasure. There are some lessons to learn about love though; you’ll need to be very patient as you manoeuvre through various obstacles-- getting closer and closer to that elusive prize. At work, prepare for more challenges, ones that will take all of your charm to deal with. A boss expects miracles, and you have it in you to make these miracles happen but it will take some sweat and blood to make it all happen. Close partnerships could especially be tense, it’s best to avoid getting involved in political struggles if you can help it.
You've driven by it a hundred times. Your either looking forward to it or dreading it. But either way you know it's coming, the Coronado Mall. It's huge. It's changing the skyline of Coronado and it's going to change many of our lives here in Panama. 
Sarah Booth is one amazing lady. I want to be just like her when I grow up. 
Please Save the Date, Saturday March13, 2010 is the 4th Annual Art in the Park (El Arte en el Parque) in the park of Penonome. Last year, 70 artists participated and 3 scholarships were awarded to worthy Art Students. This year the park will be filled with artists from all over Panama. The students who are participating in the scholarship contest will be separated from the professional artists. All works, however, will be for sale. One can shop for fine art with prices ranging from $30 to several thousand. This is a venue that artists and art lovers look forward to each year. As there are almost no venues in the interior for artists to show their work, this is a once a year opportunity for all! Thank you Ex-Pats for supporting this worthy cause and showing up each year for a fun event!
Heads up to photographers. There will be an Urban Photography Exhibit at Arco Chato in Casco Viejo from Thursday, March 11 to Sunday, March 14. Those wishing to exhibit can still submit their photos. Visit www.enteratepanama.com for entry forms and registration info. Photographers may submit up to ten photos in 8 by 10 format. Registration ends March 2.
In the article posted on the Panama Pacific Community News by Karyn Saunders on 2 December 2009 titled "
Maureen Osmand is the winner of the beatiful "Berries and Birds" quilt done by The Panama Canal Quilters. Maureen is a resident of Coronado and she bought her winning ticket at The Coronado Equestrian Club Craft Fair last November. The quilt is hand appliqued and hand quilted. The proceeds will go to help support the educational needs of three young girls from El Espino area and other charitable organizations.
Surprise yourself!.Take a break from your daily routine, golf, books. Bring your visitors or friends and come have some fun!
Games Night held on Thursday, February 11th, 2010 at the Coronado Country Club towers was awesome. We had over 50 attendees. Games that were played were Texas Hold Em, Mexican Train, Mahjong, Darts and there was also lots socializing which is a fun game in itself.
I pride myself in being able to spot a scam a mile away. I have never fallen victim to those calls that tell you have won a vacation, but have to pay just a little a month, which is nothing compared to all this great vacation you won. Right! Nor have I ever been duped by the Ethiopian banker who wants your bank account to transfer a thousand million dollars into. 
Living a block away from Panama's Carnaval has given me a new insight into this annual ritual of coronation of queens combined with music, dancing, and drinking. To be sure I attended Carnaval and had a good time. Also, every day during Carnaval, I walked down to the closest cyclone fence and police checkpoint, showed my ID, got patted down, and walked down the confetti littered street to El Rey for veggies, bread, arepa (we are really a Colombian household), meat, and milk. Each morning the confetti covering Via España reminded me of a dry Midwestern winter with wisps of snow tracing moving patterns along the asphalt of a small town main street. Then I would notice the palm tree next to Panafoto and the spell would be broken.
Craig Weincek is writing a novel on line. This work in progress is being released on Playacommunity.Com and on Craig's own 
Just a quick reminder! Check your calendars and make sure
that you are booked in for the 
Skip and Betty Doeringer are graciously co-ordinating the 3rd Annual Coronado Chili and Charity cook off. Mark your calendar and practice cooking. On February 20th at 5 pm the cook off, sponsored by Expats in cooperation with CSA, will give any interested party a shot at Pacific Coast chili bragging rights and a chance to help replenish the CSA charity fund.
-Why do we have big water tanks on our properties???
