Thursday, April 23, 2009
Consarnit! !@#$%^&*()))(*&^%$#@
There has to be a secret that I don't know about to making a comment or following this blog. I've queried all my friends and just had one comment come through. No one has been able to follow the blog...it's still shows virgin territory. I suspect it is something I am not doing that has caused the problem. I'll have my computer expert take a look over the week-end.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Reasons I live in Panama
David to Puerto Armuelles
Last week I took a bus from my home in David, Panama to another town right on the Panama/Costa Rica border. The trip normally is an hour and a half on these Panamanian collective buses. The first leg, west on the Panamerican hiway was typical. The second leg, from Paso Canoes to Puerto Armuelles was very slow. A political rally, a bike race and what seemed like a hundred stops to let people off and pick up people. At one point, the bus stopped for what seemed no apparent reason. Then I saw this old man, very crippled, across the hiway. A young man (the attendent for the bus) walked across the hiway, held up on coming traffic and along with a youth of about 12, assisted the old man (who was using two broomstick handles for canes), across the hiway and into the bus. The person closesest to the door vacated her seat so the old man could sit close to the door. The driver drove toward our destination for about four miles, dropping off and picking up. He pulled into a Tienda (local grocery store) and stopped the bus. The driver, the attendant, the old man and the youth disembarked and went shopping for the old man's groceries. They were inside the store for perhaps 10 minutes. The grocery cashier made everyone wait while the old man fumbled with his money to pay for his purchases. Back in the bus, no one seemed upset or anxious. Nor did they think it was extraordinary. However, I was really surprised when the driver retraced his route and took the old man back to his house. The driver and attendant, along with the youth, carried the purchases right up to the door of the old man's house. The bus turned around and headed to Puerto Armulles, again. I asked the attendant if the old man was a relative of the driver. The answer was no. It's just how they treat the elderly here in Panama. Kiddingly I asked if they would do that for me, a gringo, when I got that old. The attendant nodded yes. The driver overheard my question and shouted it out to the rest of the 30 some passengers. It was reassuring to hear twenty some voices shout in unison, "Si, gringo." Es verdad! (Yes! That's the truth!).
This is just one of the thousands of reasons I love my adopted country. By the way, the elapsed time was 3 hours...double the norm. My return ride later in the day was a shade under one and a half hours. The price for my round trip? $4.10. The old man paid the minimum for a Jubilado, 30 cents.
Last week I took a bus from my home in David, Panama to another town right on the Panama/Costa Rica border. The trip normally is an hour and a half on these Panamanian collective buses. The first leg, west on the Panamerican hiway was typical. The second leg, from Paso Canoes to Puerto Armuelles was very slow. A political rally, a bike race and what seemed like a hundred stops to let people off and pick up people. At one point, the bus stopped for what seemed no apparent reason. Then I saw this old man, very crippled, across the hiway. A young man (the attendent for the bus) walked across the hiway, held up on coming traffic and along with a youth of about 12, assisted the old man (who was using two broomstick handles for canes), across the hiway and into the bus. The person closesest to the door vacated her seat so the old man could sit close to the door. The driver drove toward our destination for about four miles, dropping off and picking up. He pulled into a Tienda (local grocery store) and stopped the bus. The driver, the attendant, the old man and the youth disembarked and went shopping for the old man's groceries. They were inside the store for perhaps 10 minutes. The grocery cashier made everyone wait while the old man fumbled with his money to pay for his purchases. Back in the bus, no one seemed upset or anxious. Nor did they think it was extraordinary. However, I was really surprised when the driver retraced his route and took the old man back to his house. The driver and attendant, along with the youth, carried the purchases right up to the door of the old man's house. The bus turned around and headed to Puerto Armulles, again. I asked the attendant if the old man was a relative of the driver. The answer was no. It's just how they treat the elderly here in Panama. Kiddingly I asked if they would do that for me, a gringo, when I got that old. The attendant nodded yes. The driver overheard my question and shouted it out to the rest of the 30 some passengers. It was reassuring to hear twenty some voices shout in unison, "Si, gringo." Es verdad! (Yes! That's the truth!).
This is just one of the thousands of reasons I love my adopted country. By the way, the elapsed time was 3 hours...double the norm. My return ride later in the day was a shade under one and a half hours. The price for my round trip? $4.10. The old man paid the minimum for a Jubilado, 30 cents.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
eBay is unhappy with me. (like I care?)
I received a swell piece of news yesterday. Ebay will not let me list anything that can be downloaded. Soooo, Partners is not available on their site.
If you would like to read "Partners", just add your name and e-mail to the follower section of this blog and I'll send off as an attachment. FREE!
If you would like to read "Partners", just add your name and e-mail to the follower section of this blog and I'll send off as an attachment. FREE!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Coming soon
Recently, I read a rough draft of a book written by an Ex-Pat friend of mine. It is a non-fiction book that delves into the cultures of Latin America. Not a guide book, but a comprehensive primer. The manuscript is going through the editing-structural cycle at this writing. I'm anxious for it to be available; hopefully on this site.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Synopsis for "Partners" by Robert Wayne
PARTNERS
a contemporary western novel
by
Robert Wayne
Riding partners, Curtis Dawson and RC Bellars, suddenly cast into the realities of modern life, strive to maintain their independent lifestyle. Unsuited for work other than livestock management, the out of work cowboys turn to prospecting for gold on the Mexican Border. Their new endeavor fails when the pair is ambushed by the infamous bandit, Malvado Rojo. Curtis and RC stumble and fumble through all manners of peril. They’re robbed, shot, beaten, kidnapped, and betrayed. Somehow they maintain their humor, and surprisingly find true love with women who were once considered forbidden fruit.
This fast paced action romance, laced with western mores, cowboy lingo, and bawdy humor, tests the infinite trust developed between two partners as they battle a crafty bandit and his gang, an incompetent and unscrupulous lawman, and their inner needs for independence.
Tag along as Curtis and RC morph from out of work cowhands into desperate and inept bounty hunters.
Robert Wayne writes from personal experience. As an ‘Army Brat,’ and adult vagabond, Mr. Wayne has lived an eclectic and adventurous life in many parts of the world. His maternal roots, a ranch in Eastern Oregon, contrasted and complimented his worldly upbringing. Journalist, Robert Wayne chronicles portions of his life experiences in a fictional format.
You may purchase an e-book version for $4.00 by contacting me by e-mail. bobhatting@gmail.com.
a contemporary western novel
by
Robert Wayne
Riding partners, Curtis Dawson and RC Bellars, suddenly cast into the realities of modern life, strive to maintain their independent lifestyle. Unsuited for work other than livestock management, the out of work cowboys turn to prospecting for gold on the Mexican Border. Their new endeavor fails when the pair is ambushed by the infamous bandit, Malvado Rojo. Curtis and RC stumble and fumble through all manners of peril. They’re robbed, shot, beaten, kidnapped, and betrayed. Somehow they maintain their humor, and surprisingly find true love with women who were once considered forbidden fruit.
This fast paced action romance, laced with western mores, cowboy lingo, and bawdy humor, tests the infinite trust developed between two partners as they battle a crafty bandit and his gang, an incompetent and unscrupulous lawman, and their inner needs for independence.
Tag along as Curtis and RC morph from out of work cowhands into desperate and inept bounty hunters.
Robert Wayne writes from personal experience. As an ‘Army Brat,’ and adult vagabond, Mr. Wayne has lived an eclectic and adventurous life in many parts of the world. His maternal roots, a ranch in Eastern Oregon, contrasted and complimented his worldly upbringing. Journalist, Robert Wayne chronicles portions of his life experiences in a fictional format.
You may purchase an e-book version for $4.00 by contacting me by e-mail. bobhatting@gmail.com.
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