Its a beautifull morning .....

Y ou know, when you buy something and it just "sits" there forever? It may happen with a book or magazine, or an accessory to anything that was never installed. How about a tool or exercise equipment? I had bought a can of asparagus tips, artichokes,  also some mushrooms and ,.. but then this ... "Oye que es esto? Como? espárragos ... hongos ... y  No puueess .. parala .. en lata? ..  Anda .. compra fresco y no ... " I was done. There was no room for compromise. So they just sat there. Until, ...  Hey Mama Mata !! How about some of this over the weekend? 

Around the Americas you will find that the same personal garment will have different names. Some easily understood others ...? Ajustadores vs, brassieres, calcetines vs. medias, cinto vs. correas, terno vs. traje, etc. As long as you are comfortable, that is all that matters.  Or is it? My brother Carlos in his latest emilio mentions  ... "La venta por $100 dolares del terno blanco, lo use una sola vez .." I sold him that suit. Is there a sense of regret?, remorse?, nostalgia?, gratitude? Lets get the facts ... I arrived in Hong Kong early December of 68 on R & R from Vietnam with plenty of information concerning lodging, female companionship and where to buy what. The tailor shop at the Imperial hotel in Kowloon was run by a Pakistani man. He was very good. First a drink .. any drink. Then, shirts? Endless variety of ready-made, half way or from scratch. Same with ties, vests, pants and suits. All deliver to your room by 9:00 am the following day. It was 6:30 Pm. Best...

Malvi called early this morning from the DC airport waiting to depart, she will joins us today for lunch. ... As I had  helped myself some fruit from La Tia next door .....  Hey girl when is the last time you had Nisperos ? ...    Ahh .. What? .....

We had a variety of ice cream vendors make their rounds in the neighborhood, some with push carts and others in tricycles. You could hear calls, bells or horns .. small horns. You could recognize some heladeros by the styled sound played in their cornetas . The pitch .. the wave of it all. Not all had it. The legend around Miraflores was "Pirata" , a one eye man with a black patch  that had been in the business all his life. I first saw him at  cine Leuro, he was not a thin person. At his age it must have been tough pedaling around. "How old is that man ? ... Older than dirt."   The call on weekends come from tamaleras . Mostly women, some men ... all black. Imagine starting early in the morning after cooking, a walk with a big basket of inventory. Those firm and distinctive voices:  "taaaamaaaaleeesss .. calientito los taaaamales" "humitassss  .. dulce las humitasss" "casera .. caserita .. los tamales ..  las humitas" !!! You have...

One important factor for success in life is how we face commitments. We may take on a task right on, sometimes delay and delay some more, or just don't get to it. The discipline to push yourself regularly and  "Do what you have to do. Now" is difficult to master. When the  commitment is a group goal then other factors come in to play. None easy. This is a paragraph on a news item from La Prensa, Panama: "Dos años y seis meses después de que la Concertación Nacional dejara en blanco y negro 163 metas y 483 estrategias y planes de acción para atacar problemas sociales, económicos y políticos que limitan el desarrollo del país, diversos actores de este diálogo concluyen en que no hay avances porque no se ha constituido un mecanismo de seguimiento de los acuerdos, y hace falta voluntad política."  Let's  be serious ...  Not even agreeing in how you will measure progress? ... this is dead. But why? ... We know why. "Y en todo esto que hay para mi?" ...

Walking around the poker room at the Venetian in my first visit to Vegas, I stopped to follow a $50 - $100  limit Hold em table. Big money. Then, I was advised of this other area for High rollers. Give me a break !! How much is high ... just more money? A lot more. Now I am witness to this final table of this high stakes tournament. It has been a long and demanding tourney. But, here we are ... Yes, as I look around the table ... there are 5 players left .... I can see that all stacks are about even. They saw the flop and the turn came and went, and everybody called a strong bet. No raises. The river card completed a mix board of color and rags. Right now you cannot discount anybody. Who may be ahead? Its really a tough guess. No clear tells right now. First, in the small blind is Malvi .... I am cheering for her, that is all I can do .... I think she does not have the "nuts", but ... will she check or raise?, She looks around ... Next to her is this lady that I think every...

Peru is now the world's second leading producer of silver, fifth of gold, and third of copper and zinc. It is truly a multi-mineral mining country, with many hundreds of ventures in the high Andes, in the eastern desert areas, and the jungle. One of the largest operations is in the town of Cerro de Pasco in the central mountains, where mineral in many forms has been transported by rail to the port of Callao for over a century. The Cerro de Pasco Corporation operated for many years, then Centromin took over, a Peruvian government controlled company. When reality led to privatization the Doe Run company was in control. It was not only the objective to be efficient in running a very complex and large set up, but you have no control over the fluctuations of world prices of minerals. There was an additional task, ... the town was truly contaminated and people were sick. Add the fact that minerals were found under land were people lived and what you have is a very difficult commer...

With all the diversity of music in Latin America, you will have a challenge pinpointing "D Best", of Folk, Traditional, Contemporary or Modern , in any country or any .preference, but you can always select Cuba as an icon of diversity and talent in music. This from the web: "The Buena Vista Social Club was a members club in Havana, Cuba that held dances and musical activities, becoming a popular location for musicians to meet and play during the 1940s. In the 1990s, nearly 50 years after the club was closed, it inspired a recording made by Cuban musician Juan de Marcos González and American guitarist Ry Cooder with traditional Cuban musicians, some of whom were veterans who had performed at the club during the height of its popularity.The recording became an international success, and the ensemble was encouraged to perform with a full line-up in Amsterdam in 1998". The "Buena Vista Social Club" album was ranked 260 on Rolling Stone magazine'...

Could you read the saying of the title and write a couple of lines about its meaning and background? How about ten lines ? OK, translation, meaning and background .... "Broken heart ...town-crier he becomes" A reference for a "pregonero" in US historical terms would be the town-crier hired by a town council to tell the news, the laws, in every corner. Of this proverb meaning ... "Aquel que sufrió un desengaño, una traición, un amor no correspondido,   lo divulga a todo el mundo" Here I want to reference not on the emotional relationship of this saying, but on the "pregon" aspect of the street vendors shouting their wares or services in my San Antonio neighborhood in Lima. A few weeks ago with Mama Mata!! ... we were reminiscing of the diversity available in mid-upper neighborhoods. There was that social aspect, as these peddlers were people of modest means that provided a very important service. I recognize now, how daring,tough an...

I have been so disappointed and disgusted how people in power abuse their authority for their own benefit or group or interest. That is a reality to be expected if we always use "Authority" and "Power" interchangeably. Especially in government. Although, one thing is to Lead and another to Influence , we always mainly focus in the Legitimacy of such authority for justification of any and all actions. "Ese Man es un bravo ... de los buenos !! Esta en todas!! .. Por eso es El Jefe" If the legitimacy of any authority is legal, or traditional, or charismatic, I expect that Authority to have equal Responsibility . That is a challenge to the way we hold people accountable, in everything we do we accommodate our position of results. Even the variety of approaches by Geo-social differences .. In the southern hemisphere .. "Jefecito .. es la primera vez .. no paso nada .." "No es para tanto .. no exageren .. No jodan !!" "A cualquiera...

When defining or categorizing an action, an opinion, a task or just a memory, you reflect on the initial step, the most challenging, the important one, the oldest ....... the first one !! We have and view a list of comparisons everyday, real success is to deal with "number one " !! Books on management deal extensively with priorities. The business of sports is tied to the best result. Politicians know their initial mission is to raise funds, not laws to be authored or passed. Selecting our course is most of the time selfish. Sometimes forced. The obvious for some is challenged by others. Not all "Firsts" have to be serious. Memory of relationships come forward ...... "Ay mi hijita .... ese primer enamorado no servia !!?? Era un vago, y lo unico que hacia era parar en la bodega de la esquina .. " How about that first trip, auto accident, movie, book, dog, friend or neighborhood. Drunk ... lost something .... first time you heard about it ..... so many ...

One time a customer buying a car insisted that he wanted an "additional discount" from the available quote. The manager said: I am at $ 1.00 over cost .... Where do you want me to go? 50 cents over?  ... There is a limit to everything. In Santiago de Veraguas this business offers copies for 2 cents ... A prize war could take this to ..... a penny?

I was amazed of the number of bikes available for home delivery

This joint located on the Pan American hwy does have the best tasting chicken. No real BBQ around here, just grilling, they do have a decent seasoning. Now, how do you feel about meats just hanging in the open prior to grilling ? I did not get sick ..... Ta´Bueno As many bread stores as Santiago has you would think that it will be tough to find the best, but not really: Its Santa Librada hands down. The pastry in the provinces is not sophisticated, nevertheless this store has a variety of decent bread at fair prices. Ta´Bueno How do you feel about a laundry service that not only looses your clothing but blames you !!!. The lady said that she can remember that I was missing one sock: " Vino Viuda " , How about my other 2 pairs, my 3 shorts and my favorite polo shirt.... ? Give me a break !! Avoid this ....... business ? Ta´ pal´ gato

For all you Gringos hanging around the beaches or lost by the mountains, when you need to renew your visa in Santiago this is the office that will take care of your business. If I could I would post this in Dutch, German and French, there are a lot of you here, how did you find us ?

A picture is a thousand words. Yes, you better believe it. Here we have next to each other; A shop that repairs motors, an evangelical temple of the Assemblies of God and, a place that will provide food and drinks, properly named " The meanest scoundrel" .

This office for a developer advertises payments of $ 37.50, it does not mention the terms but its not unusual that quotes are provided for periods known as ... " quincenas ", that is every 15 days. Not to be confused with the ¨bubba¨ plan in the US of 13 payments per year. Here you have a modest home at a modest price. This insurance outfit advertise that they will insurance everything that is insurable. Now should I take that as: Complete service of policies available in this country or, will insurance anything as long as your premium is high enough to cover our risk. This independent agency has been in business for a long time and I am sure they will accommodate your needs. This one is special for those individuals or business owners that deal with compliance codes anywhere in the world. What you see here laying against the wall is cable conections from the power source to the building. Not any building, this is a full size super market.

If I could have a guest blogger to contribute an entry it would be for this one. You see it relates to bullfighting, and waitresses ...? A good friend in Miami, Mr. Bolas or Toñin that is, is a true ¨aficionado¨ who not only would understand the title but add with vivid detail to its meaning. Now in Panama you do not have bullfighting as we all know it; Here in regional fairs they will ride or chase a bull in a made up ring with people standing or sitting on fences, drinking, drinking a lot. The real thing takes place in two or three countries in South America and of course in Spain. ¨ Oye tu patita Bolas donde está ? ¨ ¨Allí ....." ¨Donde no lo veo ... en que tendido ? " " No allá .. en el medio del ruedo ... con Zileri ... y El Juli" There is a pass, or trick for you non purists, that matadors perform and it is called: Del Desprecio, now literally this could mean Despise, but I would qualify this on a more softer fashion. Looking away from the beast. The matador ...

When conducting any real estate transaction and you want to be assured that the final, definite word and blessing has been handled, the " Escritura " will come to this place. Your peace of mind is here.

If you can understand this word you have been around Latin America for a while, if you can pronounce it with no distinguishable accent you been around too long. Mostly used on the western seaboard of South America it denotes something that is; Beyond any doubt, without question, real, almost a fact, don't even doubt it, etc. Allow me a few samples ..... It is impajaritable that outside of Panama City 50% of lawyers cannot give you decent legal advice. The other 50% cannot spell " Consejo legal ". It is impajaritable that when you contact a lawyer he feels that all your business can be handle properly and without delay. Three weeks later you know how they make their living ..... "Bueno vea usted ... Esta coma cambia el sentido del documento, la cosa esta dificil, a ver déjeme ver la Ley"... Sir, you assured me that this was a simple legal procedure ..   "Si, pero eso fue antes de ver este acento , a ver si hablo con el Licenciado".... I t is impaj...

You can find signs all over the city concerning the protection of green areas, trees and the environment as a whole. You see messages on walls at schools or government buildings. You also can find detail instructions with good intentions as the one below. Not much of a green area but .... there it is. On the other side of this coin you have a scene that develops every weekend within 2 blocks of the club known as Coiba . Young people will hang around outside the locale and chat and drink. You will find no effort by the club , authorities or more important these man and women, that pollute empty containers and bottles , with complete disregard to all. Nobody assumes responsibility for this. It will stay on the ground for days. Even until the next gathering. No BS.

After cutting and re-cutting, logs are brought to side roads where loading is done by hand, which is certainly no easy task, to a small truck that will then unload to containers that will head to port. The weight of teak is specially heavy because of their water content.

I have been told by my lady that I am not being informative in my notes. Now I love my wife and will do everything she requests. After 28 years, how can I say no !! It will not be fair. OK. This is the main entrance to Escuela Normal Juan Demostenes Arosemena, school for underprivileged young girls in Santiago. It has a beautiful entrance and that style that will always be in style. This school was established almost 70 years ago with the purpose of preparing young women in high school age to be teachers, it provides room and board for over 150 young ladies. This structure has been refurbished many times with an special effort to retain its original personality. I hope that this receives that seal of approval from my partner and I would not be accused of being ¨ chabacano ¨, and looking for ¨cats with 5 legs¨ when there are none. I feel better now. Oh ... did I show the picture at the back of this building. I have not seen this quality wire since 68 at the stockade near Saigon. I do ...

This is what dictates the value of teak, the heart of it. Of course the greater the size and the older the plantation, the more quality and value that you will have. This is a small tree with a circumference around 65cm and a core of about 16 years. Once a tree has come down it is trimmed of side branches and it is ¨picada¨ in sections of 2.20 meters of length. This is whats convenient for loading, shipping and for use by the buyer.

Around town you will always find interesting comparisons to every day life in the US. Here is a notice at a building in Santiago where some of the Courtrooms are located. It notifies all and all: No firearms allowed, it makes sense. They will not allow mini skirts or t-shirts with a low cut. I know, how small the mini ?, and about those shirts is it the shirt or those big ¨ tatas ¨. Also, no caps, no hats, short pants and sandals. This last item handles ¨ campesinos ¨and Americans alike. Judges are just a true symbol of conservatism, ethics and true morals. ¨ andaaaaa !!!¨ Here it is, what do you mean what ? Its a Chevy man. A true model of things to come in the US ? I would say that this vehicle is built in Korea around a Suzuki model that has been around for a while. It looked to me that this work / delivery unit for a local cable company can handle its mission. Now can it handle that big " bubba " that is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 235 lbs ? It better, its coming.