How do you spend your first birthday in Panama?
- Wake up to an email box overflowing with Facebook greetings, ecards, and messages. Even my Italian teacher from a couple years ago sent me good wishes. I think the best surprise was from my old office. They all gathered together for a photo and posted it on Facebook.
I worked with some great people, and seeing all my old friends put a big smile on my face. You don’t always think about how many friends you have until they all write to you on the same day! - Go check the yard. Things are looking good. Take pictures of a little spider on the table, which was a little challenging because he kept jumping on the camera.
- See more of those mysterious birds in the trees.
The Paisanas, aka Gray headed Chachalaca (Ortalis cinereiceps)
- Meet your new blogging friends from Boquete who were doing errands in David. Go for a walk in the woods by the house.
- See another poison dart frog.
The frog is way up there in the banana trees!
This beautiful frog was very small so it was hard to get clear photos.
Someone had to go behind the banana tree so he would come back over on our side.
What a beautiful little frog!
- Go out for a really nice lunch with our friends.
- Go to the fish market with our friends and find them fully stocked with all kinds of yummy fish.
- Come home to more messages from well wishing friends.
- Watch the spider from the “curves” photo challenge build a new web and stash insects in the lampshade.
- Go to the river! Take photos of everything.
It is so rainy and humid the walkway is green.
The forest is green. Even the tree trunks are green!
Ahh, the river 🙂 There sure is a lot more water now!
- Answer the doorbell because my friend and neighbor came to wish me a happy birthday. Find out the name of those birds I couldn’t identify. Find out that the car tag that says July 2012 doesn’t expire until July 2013. Find out that her husband would be happy to check our brake that is squeaking.
- Take a warm shower with my best friend. I rarely use the hot water but it started raining, and the cool air coming through the window really cooled me off. A warm shower felt really nice. The best friend was the best part 🙂
- Cook the fish from the fish market and a head of broccoli. Watch a DVD of Boston Legal while eating dinner and drinking a Balboa beer. Have fresh, sweet pineapple for dessert.
- Talk with both of my daughters on Skype – at the same time! My younger daughter and her husband are visiting my older daughter. The baby is growing like a weed. He who was 6 1/2 pounds is now close to 10 pounds! Demand that they post more pictures of the baby.
- Watch a little more TV, and then come back to the desk to answer blog comments, emails, and birthday greetings.
- Start working on a blog post until husband yells MOVE YOUR FEET!!!! Look down to see a scorpion between my feet. Move back quickly. Stop husband from killing it. Take photos and videos. Put scorpion in a jar.
The scorpion on the floor, in the light of a flashlight!
Joel’s video –
- Make a stiff drink. Apologize to the desk lamp spider for grabbing the lamp and ruining his web. Resume writing the blog post and reviewing associated photos.
- Read some blog posts until sleepy enough to go to bed. Shake out the sheets before climbing into bed!
I’d say that all in all, it was an excellent birthday. And, don’t forget the birthday rule: However many years you are old, you can celebrate for that many days on either side of your birthday. So, let the fun continue!
El alacrán – my new word of the day (scorpion)
The Panama Adventure 
Happy Birthday to You! I hope we celebrate many more together, you’re the BEST!!!
XO,
Your Husband
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Thank you! I am definitely planning on it. We are having way too much fun to quit now.
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Happy birthday … !!!
I have to wait two more days …
Saturday’s party. 😉
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Happy Birthday to you too, and have a wonderful party!
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Two hours … : D
Thank you very much ….
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Seems like a good one to me. Feliz cumpleanos.
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Yep, for sure, and gracias 🙂
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Happy birthday Kris! Here’s my long distance dedication to both of you: http://youtu.be/8j4R_uyX_U0
Hugs,
Michelle
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😀 I love it! Thank you!
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¡Feliz cumpleaños! Not so sure about the scorpion in the jar thing though… 🙂
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Gracias 🙂 It’s out of the jar now though, and dead. Joel wanted to keep it, and I wanted to toss it into the woods. He won.
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Umm, so, he’s starting a collection? Interesting critters scorpions. Eric wanted to know more about them so last week we did some reading. This time of year we definitely see more. 😦
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Apparently he is. I will have to read up on them too. I’d never seen one before these two and if they are going to spend time with us, I want to know about them.
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I’m with Indacampo on the scorpion thing, but other than that, it sounds like it was a lovely day. Happy Belated Birthday!
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It sure gave us something to talk about, and to be thankful about that it didn’t sting me. Yes, it was a good day 🙂
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Wishing you Birthday greetings! & many more…. sounds like it was the best kind of day! Love seeing the river photo. xo
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Thank you! it was 🙂 I love the river too and can’t go without my camera.
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Oh Boy!! Happy Happy Birthday my new friend!! What a nice little scorpian who came to wish you a Happy Birthday!! YUCK! I THINK shaking our your sheets was a really good idea!! It sounds like your day was really good!! We just me Cindy an David tonight, another kindred spirit! Cheers to you my friend!! Hugs!!
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Thank you! You just never know what is going to happen around here 😀 I’m glad you met Cindy and Dave. It’s interesting how you have been on such parallel paths so it must have been fun to get together.
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That sounds like the best bday in the annals of all bdays!!!! May the year until your next one be just as fun!
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Yep, a good day for sure! Thanks for the good wishes, and the fun will continue 😉
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Sounds like you had a great birthday! Minus the scorpion, but the shower with your best friend more than made up for it, I’m sure. 🙂
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I did, and since I didn’t get stung it was even very interesting to see the scorpion.
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As we consider a move to Panama as well, I have been enjoying your blog. Happy birthday! Today happens to be mine as well. Best wishes to you and your husband in your adventure!
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Happy Birthday to YOU! Maybe you’ll celebrate your next one here 🙂
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Feliz cumpleaños, Kris!
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Gracias amigo 🙂
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I love this post!!! Happy belated birthday. You have a great hubby that saved you from the scorpion!
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Thank you! and yes for sure. I could have easily kicked off my shoes, or kicked the scorpion, or did something that wouldn’t have turned out so well.
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