JACO!!! Surfers paradise.....

Jaco is a very interesing beach town. We were lucky enough to get invited along by Matt, John, and John's mother, Joan who is visiting from Boise, Idaho. Jaco is the closest beach town to San Jose and a surfer's paradise. The town runs for about a mile or so along the beach and is typical of such a place. There are the usual souvenir shops, day trip offers, surfboards and apparel and amazingly a great variety of good restaurants. When I first started coming to Jaco, it was a very small, un-developed place and I loved it. It has been a couple of years since being in Jaco and it has changed with high rises, KFC's, Subway, and lots of other "imported" crap. But to my surprise, it has not lost it's origianl charm-yet. Hopefully it won't.

This weekend was cooler, a bit drier and quiet - tourist season has not begun yet, but look out December when they arrive by the plane loads...it gets B-U-S-Y and prices go way up. Anyway, great place to check out and maybe spent a night, but if you are visiting Costa Rica and want to experience alot of variety and more authentic Costa Rican culture, then there are other places with just as much or more to offer. This is actually Punta Leona....beautiful beach!!

Jaco Beach

One of the high rises being built. Progress can be good....the town is cleaner and a bit more manicured than before.

Going to surf.....

Happy Camper??

Now that's advertising to catch the eye!!

Wild Scarlet McCaws in the trees above where we camped on the beach for the day. SO COOL!

Nice Beach-scape

Lump on a log....hahaha

Dennis beachcombing

Matt, Dennis and Joan

Dennis, Matt and Joan at one of our favorite restaurants. John was just never around for a photo.

We all had a great time!!

NUNSENSE!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/manuelmatarrita/NUNSENSE

Check out the link above to see more of the Nuns on stage and in action!

(You may have to cut and paste it into your browser.)

As you know, I have been busy with this production of NUNSENSE and it have been a blast!! These ladies and gentlemen have worked their patooties off learning dialoge, songs, jokes, skits, dance steps and all that goes with this type of theatre. I have learned alot from everyone and this has been a pleasure, a challenge and enlightening in many ways. I always wanted to work in theatre and here it is!!

Cast and crew: Back row is Alonso Saavedra, our piano player. He is aspiring to be a concert pianist and I think he will make it. Great guy! Dorothy Allison our director and mentor, Bob Allison, Music Director.
The Nuns are: Pilar Saavedra-Vela as Sister Mary Amnesia, Lindsy Gutierrez as Sister Mary Leo, Shelia Morrison as Sister Robert Ann and Stacy Chamblin as Reverand Mother, Sister Mary Regina. Down front is Sherrie Robinson our Choreographer and Kathryn Smith as Sister Mary Hubert. Great group of folks!!
Jim Trollinger, our drummer with Sherrie. His talent made a big difference in our musical numbers. Thanks, Jim!!

Morgan O'Boyle, my sound and tech man. We didn't get a photo of Paulino, my light guy, but without these two, the show would not have been half as good! I am grateful to have had them to do what they did and teach me more than I thought I ever wanted to know about lights and sound. My hat is off to these guys!

Two of the cutest Nuns you will ever know. This is Ann Antkiw and Lisa DeFuso our intermission Bingo Nuns!! They did a great job!!

This has been a fabulous experience for me!

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way.....

If you think the U.S.A. is guilty of "rushing" Christmas, just come on down here and we'll take a shopping tour of the PriceSmart (Costco or Sam's in the U.S.A.) and we can start picking out Christmas Decorations. Yep, you read it here first. Christmas Decoration are already on display not only at PriceSmart, but also Aliss. We were in there yesterday and saw them ourselves. Now, they don't have Halloween and Thanksgiving to buffer the Christmas crunch, but holy-moly....Christmas in August??!!! I actually should have blogged this two weeks ago when we first saw the PriceSmart displays. Oh well.....
Now this brings me to Mother's Day in Costa Rica. It is celebrated on August 15 - no matter the day of the week and it is a Federal Holiday....they shut down!! Not bad. Other than that, it is the typical Mother's Day along with flowers, lunches and various appliances go on sale.
Commerce is commerce.....
Have a happy day!

A Beautiful Sunday Morning.....

There is sun shining, a soft, cool breeze and the sounds of people singing at the church in the distance. You just can hear the chants - a very calming sound.
Well, we are one week from opening "Nunsense" and I am ready and I know the ladies playing the nuns are. This has been a great experience. If I had it to do over again, I would have majored in theatre. But, the bright side is, I'm majoring in theatre now.....you gotta love it!!
We have been putting hours upon hours in to rehearse, get lights set, blocking the stage movements, (and doing it again to get it right) painting walls, cars, counters, etc. You won't believe we turned the dark, gray and black stage into a bright, happy diner/gymnasium. If you get time, look up "Nunsense" on YouTube; there are some pretty good clips from the broadway show on that website.
Dennis is doing well. Working hard and managing the troops at this place of employment.
I am worried about that storm "Gustav". Looks like a terrible storm to hit the Gulf Coast again and I am praying for all concerned there. Let's hope for the best and people will use common sense this time.
How about McCain's choice for a running mate?! A very intelligent strategy. This is going to be a very interesting election year. I wonder if the election booths are tamper proof this time and the U.S.A doesn't have to go through the embarrassement of the past Bush elections. Let's hope so....
Well, I will keep you posted as to what is happening....All is good and well!
Arnie

Still here....

Hey,
Well, I haven't been on any trips to speak of lately and to share with you. But....I have been busy, that's for sure.
As you may know, I am stage manager for a production of "NUNSENSE" here in Costa Rica, being produced by The Little Theater Group. It is alot of fun and alot of work, too. I have learned so much about doing this type of work. I often wondered what it would have been like to go into theatre instead of the Navy.....well, the time in the military certainly paid off and I really don't have any complaints about how things have turned out.
Anyway, we did go to a very interesting production of "FAUST" by the Costa Rica Opera Company. While it was beautifully staged, it was very hard to follow the scenes being played on stage and the story being sung. While I am not sure I "liked" it, it was so very artsy-fartsy it was hard not to, at least, appreciate it.
Then there are our weekly and bi-weekly get-togethers. We love to gather at someone's house, cook, have wine, and usually watch a movie.....Sunday night at Ray's it was "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane". Great old movie with Bette Davis and Joan Crawford that still holds up today, especially on the "suspense and creepy (distrubing)" aspects of this type of movie. I highly recommend it.
Well, that about catchs you up. Hopefully, I will have some great stuff to blog about as the show progresses and we have Opening Night!
See ya later!
Arnie

TAP!!

My friend, Frank Kelly, from New York, shared a video a while back with the Nicholas Brothers dancing up a storm. I love tap and frankly, who doesn't?!
I hope you enjoy these clips, too.

We have been getting busier and busier with the production of NUNSENSE. What a great show! If it plays locally to you, please make the effort to go see it. Lots of laughs and fun. Our "Nuns" are a great cast of gals who certainly have the heart and soul to do this - not to mention the talent.
I have been learning to Stage Manage with this show. What a big job it is...even bigger than directing, but I am enjoying myself and thank goodness, I am not the director. They have too many things to think about.
All is well in my world for now. Take care and blog soon!!

New Arrivals to Costa Rica

Well, they finally got here!! Rob, Jennifer, Nicko, and Henry Horshman from Wilmington, N.C.
These folks are some of the best people you could come across. We were neighbors in Wilmington and always had get-togethers, dinner parties, theme parties and nice long sits in rocking chairs on the front porch. It had been their dream for years to finally move to Costa Rica and the dream has manifested!! Welcome, welcome, welcome!!
They are living in Atenas. A little mountain town known for its climate - "the best in the world" according to National Geographic Magazine.
So we go to visit on Saturday and attend a welcome party given for them by the locals. We ate, sang karoke (not me...didn't want to break up the party!), danced and caught up with the latest news. Everybody had a good time. We are so glad they are here!

Rob, cool dude!

Nicko, starting first grade and new adventures.

Jennifer with Henry, he's the shy one!

Jennifer, Henry and Nicko

Jennifer, great gal!!