When to act and when to wait – isn’t that the rub?  In relationships as in life we have to make decisions all the time.  From the mundane, what’s for supper? To the serious, should I take this new job?  For some people decision-making seems to be easy, while others seem to struggle with even minor decisions…

Frankly I think we all struggle, no matter our style.  What often trips us up is ourselves – our egos.  We think everything is about us whether we want to admit or not.  People are rude to you, not the rest of the crowd.  She/he is taking it out on only you.  You take things personally, even while you try to laugh it off…Sound familiar?

Since we are in the midst of mercury retrograde, this is a great time to work on discernment.  Why?  Things are going wrong. Communications, travel, and messages are all messed up.  Thus creating perfect opportunities to take life personally with offenses – real or imagined.

Therefore when these offenses, a.k.a. opportunities come your way (and they will!), I invite you to do the opposite of your ‘normal’ response.  If you traditionally speak your mind, keep quiet.  Yet if you are usually, ‘mum is the word’ – now is the time to find your voice.  You’ll be surprised with your results.

The only way you learn discernment is through living – being the idiot in some moments and stunningly brilliant in others.  I’ve tried to avoid the idiot-side during this mercury retrograde by using the opposite technique in conflicts and/or odd situations – keep quiet and wait for others to come to me.  Honestly I’ve been astounded by what I’ve learned.  Maybe you will too, give it a try…

When you are on your path, you are always creating a better today.  Moments bound together by the desire to live more fully.  Until the spark, the magic that pulls it all together.  The stars align. 

Sometimes you can’t see what you are building until you get there.  Yet you are drawn down the path.  Guided by a light inside, guided by your heart. 

I invite you to listen to your heart.  The bold and the seekers know this is where peace, joy and laughter dwell forever…Where is your heart guiding you?

When you change the way you look at things, things change.

…Kicking my a$$.  Let’s see – my computer has melted down, the battery on my car died, the heat in our home won’t turn on anymore, suddenly my email works sporadically and insult to injury, the person I am to travel to Belize with next week is stuck in Europe under a volcanic cloud.  Where is my bed that I can hide under until May 11^th? 

The planet mercury doesn’t actually travel backwards in the sky – it just appears to be.  Mercury retrograde can throw communication, travel, mail, appointments, commerce and perception all into chaos.  Your car may break down.  You may forget appointments.  Have many, many miscommunications.  Ex-boyfriends/girlfriends may show up.  Old issues could arise in your relationships…

Although this can be a trying time (at least for me it has been!), it can also be one of transformation.  Opportunities present to resolve old issues, it’s a great time to work on long-term projects and often there are surprise contacts from long-lost friends.  Gratefully know this is temporary, in couple weeks mercury will be moving forward again.  So best bet, just roll with and have a sense of humor.  Heck, I got a new computer!

I became an owlaholic about a month ago, when the first eggs hatched.  Molly takes care of her 4 four chicks in a man-made owl box roughly the size of two shoeboxes.  Carlos, the gentleman who built the box also installed day and night cameras.  The cameras are on 24/7 and the feed flows directly to upstream – this is reality TV.  You cannot believe it.

Molly once ate an entire rabbit in one gulp.  Yes, you read me right, one gulp.  McGee, the male only shows up at night and he is the provider…mice, rabbits, moles, whatever – if it’s moving, fair game.  Like clock-work, after nightfall he shows up, drops the food, occasionally hops on Molly for all of 5 seconds and is gone.  Slam, bam, thank you Molly.  Then the show really begins, with all the hungry mouths, feathers flying and frustrated squawking, I am hooked. 

There is something soothing about quietly witnessing this cycle of life.  Molly didn’t need to read any books.  McGee shows up.  He doesn’t require post-its to remember to bring supper – he’s bringing supper, lots of it, all night. 

Simple, keep it simple.

We are back from our vacation in Dominical, Costa Rica and ever so happy with the trip.  Here are a few recommendations and reviews…

Lodging – We spent most of our time at Manu Villas and our last night at Hotel Grano de Oro in San Jose.  Both were superb. 

At Manu, we stayed in the tree house – just magical. The owner Alex and his amazing wife Grace, the private chef/masseuse attended to our meals and wants.  Frankly we have never eaten and slept so well on vacation.  Manu Villas are located just outside the hip surf town of Dominical.  You will need a 4×4, but isn’t that part of the adventure?

Hotel Grano de Oro is a charming old world hotel.  It feels very European with heavy wood and an abundance of water fountains ting-tingling their own gentle rhythms.  The rooms are well-appointed with comfy beds and the food is good.  Gratefully, their airport shuttle is easy and safe as well.

To read:

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

This book is excellent, except for the ending – which, in a word, sucked.  The novel follows two Chinese sisters born into a privileged life in Shanghai.  They were girls with big dreams, beautiful girls…Unfortunately, all was lost to their father’s gambling debts, including their futures – they had been committed to arranged marriages.  Luckily the sisters married brothers; hence their paths were forever entwined – for better and for worse.

The novel is a fascinating glimpse into Chinese culture, history and astrology.  Quickly you attach to the characters, making this book a page-turner.  However the ending, or I should say, the non-ending, basically stops right in the middle of the drama.  To say this is unsatisfying is an understatement, but does this negate the hundreds of pages of compelling storyline?  Not sure…

Nature Girl – Carl Hiaasen

Can you ever go wrong with a Hiaasen book on vacation?  Doubt it.  This book is a riot.  Ridiculously amusing and memorable characters abound throughout the Florida Everglades as Honey Santana – a single mother, has gone off her meds.  

Honestly, she is reacting oddly to the bad behaviors of the men around her…Honey has her own hilarious style of justice that certainly is a fun ride, if not necessarily legal.  Between the outlaw Indian Sammy Tigertail; a wandering ghost; a drug-induced, hand-bandaged, pervert stalker; a shiny, fast-talking telemarketer; and an ex-husband, well, things certainly aren’t dull in the Everglades.  Enjoy the laughs!

The Charlemagne Pursuit by Steve Berry

An easy thriller focused around Cotton Malone and the mystery surrounding his father’s death on a nuclear submarine in 1971.  All the crew members died.  They were on a secret mission and US government lied to keep it hidden.

But the secret gets out and Cotton discovers the cover-up.  Why?  What unfolds is a high- stakes chase including the strange clues found in Charlemagne’s tomb, Nazi exploration, rogue officers and corruption at the very highest levels of the US Navy. 

A word of caution, I started reading this book in the morning and could not put it down until the last page had been read late that night.  Just saying, best to not start reading 9pm…

What not to read while staying in the jungle…The Lost City of Z by David Grann

Although my husband enjoyed this book immensely, let’s remember this is a book about a man getting lost on the Amazon.  By the last night, my husband has us was sleeping behind full netting just in case one of the big bugs flies in to plant a parasite that can eat your…ok, you get the picture? 

Great read to be read in bright light and lots of soap, not in an open villa amid the jungle.  Frankly we saw bugs over three inches long, imaginations do run wild…

Yes I returned from the beach a week ago, but my computer decided to get very sick with what was described to me as the worst of the worst virus…Hence I am becoming a MAC user this weekend!  Please bare with me until next week when I resuming writing my blog again.  Thanks for your understanding and I look forward to sharing some fun stories with you next week…Peace be with you.