Search Results for “dog” – Page 2 – Happier Than A Billionaire

7.6 EARTHQUAKE IN COSTA RICA

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Planters Cocktail Peanuts (12 ounces)—$4.50

I was wondering if I should write this post. It’s always anti-climactic when you hear about someone’s near death experience when you know that they are alive since they’re telling you the story in the first place. And talking about earthquakes could make any Californian yawn and possibly become catatonic right before your eyes. But I will share a little bit of what it felt like when the big 7.6 hit.

It’s common to have the earth rumble under your feet if you live in the Ring of Fire. A magnitude 4.0? Eating that funny smelling hot dog in the back of the freezer is more dangerous. But a magnitude 7.6?…this was different. I knew it the moment it started. I was absolutely certain the earth was opening up beneath my feet. (more…)

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:31-04:00 September 8th, 2012|Categories: Nature|Tags: earthquake, monkeys, trogon|23 Comments

I WANT A JOB IN TOURISM

Costa Rica Cost of Living Update: A Quart of Motor Oil— $15.18

As I look over the children’s’ assignments that are taped to the wall, one stands out. A ship drawn on the ocean with a bright orange sun shining in the corner. “I want to get a job in tourism,” it reads, signed by a boy named Justin. At such a young age, Justin already knows there are more opportunities available to him if he can learn computer skills and conversational English. He will raise himself out of poverty by going to his weekly classes at Opening Minds (Abriendo Mentes). Justin’s future will look different than his parents.

Drew Ragland had an idea three years ago. He noticed that many people in Potrero, Costa Rica were not getting the better paying jobs at nearby hotels and resorts. Since the local work force here was lacking in computer and English skills, hotels were hiring people from outside the area to fill the positions. Knowing that he had the ability to teach English, Drew set up a simple whiteboard in a small open air restaurant. He started writing English words on the board and people came to learn. Soon, he was teaching not only the adults but the children as well. (more…)

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:31-04:00 July 17th, 2012|Categories: Tourism|Tags: charity, opening minds, teaching English|29 Comments

MY HAIRY ALARM CLOCK

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Car insurance/registration- $190/year

It’s one of the hardest decisions to make when moving to Costa Rica. Would you rather live in the mountains or at the beach? Stare out across a green valley of rolling hills or at a turquoise sea? (more…)

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:35-04:00 December 21st, 2011|Categories: Nature|Tags: howler monkeys, marchamo, monkeys|24 Comments

BEACHES, FRIENDS, & PIRATE CAVES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pafAT26ABK4&feature=player_embedded
Costa Rica Cost of Living Update: Large lobster and shrimp platter served at a restaurant right on the beach-$30

Road trips are one of the best things to do in Costa Rica. It’s inevitable you will find something out of the ordinary, whether it be finding an artist’s pottery store on the side of the road, or just finding yourself stuck in the mud on the side of the road. Nevertheless, it always ends with a great story at the end of the day.

Today, we decide to check out some of the beaches in Guanacaste. We drive towards Playa Grande where we see a sign for Pirate’s Bay. (more…)

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:36-04:00 October 1st, 2011|Categories: Tourism|Tags: dogs, friends, Pirates, Playa Grande|20 Comments

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Landline phone bill that includes excellent DSL internet service-$45

As I sit here watching two baby monkeys wrestle one another outside my window, it reminds me how lucky I am, how rich I feel. It doesn’t cost me a dime and can’t imagine how a material object can replace the feeling I have now. My life (ironically… with less possessions than ever), is so abundantly full I can’t think of anything I want. So it got me thinking…how much is enough?

Why would a billionaire—someone with all the resources to live a life of insane privilege—steal another couple million. For example, take Tyco. That CEO made over 100 million dollars a year but had the company pay for his extravagant lifestyle. And it wasn’t just private jets with cute flight attendants serving chocolate covered strawberries. He went the extra mile. He had the company pay for a $6,000 shower curtain and a $15,000 dog umbrella stand. But just when I thought this guy really knows how to live, for his wife’s birthday (disguised as a shareholders meeting) the party featured an ice sculpture of the Statue of David urinating Stolichnaya vodka. I can do without that umbrella stand, but a urinating ice sculpture is as close to heaven as you are going to get in my opinion. (more…)

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:37-04:00 August 23rd, 2011|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: happiness, phone|33 Comments

“I THINK I NEED A DOCTOR”- AN INTRO TO COSTA RICAN HEALTH CARE

Costa Rica Costa Of Living Update: Three heads of garlic-90 cents

A lot has been going on behind the scenes at Happier Than A Billionaire. Unfortunately, there has been a few not so happy times. My husband needed hernia surgery and I chose not to write about it until I knew he would survive. I’m nice like that—I prefer to have my husband alive and well when I write about all the embarrassing things that happened to him while infirmed.

And since he is convalescing, he has less ability to reach the computer to read about it and less of a chance to yell at me for talking about him on my blog.

So here it goes. A three part story on my introduction into the Costa Rica health care system. Grab some popcorn and hug your Blue Shield card…it’s going to be a bumpy ride. (more…)

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:38-04:00 July 30th, 2011|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: doctors, hospitals, surgery|14 Comments

HECKLE & JECKLE IN MY BACKYARD

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Packet of 8 Hot Dogs-$2.70

I love to share pictures of the amazing wildlife in Costa Rica. At times, living here feels like a scene in a Disney movie: cute birds flying overhead, their tweets soaking the morning air with a renewing freshness.

But this bird —this beautiful bird— is a real S.O.B. His personality is aggressive, surly, and brazen. I want to smack that feather right off his head. And I would if I didn’t fear losing an eyeball.

He swoops down every morning and attacks my dog. He also shows up at restaurants, stealing food right off my fork and tearing sugar packets open with the ferocity of the Hulk. He’s not only a jerk but a show off as well.

He’s a White-throated Magpie-jay. (Coincidently, Heckle and Jeckle were magpies.) He’s on my watch-list. I always thought my first rumble in the jungle would be with a jaguar or venomous snake. Not with a bird that looks like he’s wearing a French military hat.

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:39-04:00 June 30th, 2011|Categories: Nature|Tags: bird|6 Comments

LOLA’S RESTAURANT…THIS ISN’T YOUR LOCAL APPLEBEE’S

Costa Rica Costa Of Living Update: Lunch for two on the beach while watching the surf roll in- under $20

I’m about to jump in a hammock but my full belly is making me especially lazy. There is a sleeping dog under a palm tree to my right, I’m sure his belly is full too. He’s as relaxed as I am right now.

Lola’s second restaurant is located at Playa Danta; their first at Playa Avellanas, south of Tamarindo. Playa Danta is the location of a new development called Las Catalinas, a place where each home has a small footprint so as to protect the natural beauty of the location. It is siesta time so everything is quiet here. Even the breeze whispers.

The owner of the restaurant introduces himself and we share our philosophy of living in Costa Rica. This was not his first profession, he purposely designed a different life for himself, one that gets him out of an office and into the sunshine. (more…)

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:55-04:00 March 21st, 2011|Categories: Tourism|Tags: playa danta, restaurant|14 Comments

DON’T GO HEAVY ON THE MUSTARD

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: 12 Ounce Bottle of French’s Deli Mustard- $5

My husband went shopping today and returned with the fancy American brand mustard. We rarely indulge in such extravagance, instead buying the yellow Costa Rican kind when possible. It is a fraction of the price (with a fraction of the taste) but much more affordable.

Unfortunately, today the store was out of the cheap stuff so we had to break the bank and buy the high falutin kind.

If you are at my house and you catch me eyeing you as you squeeze a strip of mustard on your hot dog, just remember I’m on a fixed income.

So don’t go heavy on the mustard. $$$

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:57-04:00 February 3rd, 2011|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: groceries|8 Comments

KRAMER WOULD MAKE A BETTER NEIGHBOR

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Visit to the veterinarian that includes an examination and several shots for a dog- $25. Consecutive visits for follow up shots- $6

Just as I am about to sit on the terrace and have my first cup of coffee the phone rings. It’s Dolores, and she is crying that one of her dogs was run over by a car.

She is crying that a car fatally hit one of her dogs. The bad news doesn’t surprise me. For someone who loves and rescues dogs, Dolores is pretty careless. She doesn’t use a leash, lead, or even confine her dogs to her yard. They run freely in the road, so this was bound to happen. In between the sobbing, she asks if Rob will help bury the dog. I turn to ask him, and as always, he agrees. Rob’s heart is as big as the ocean is deep. Even though he almost broke his leg saving her bird, he knows a sixty-year-old lady should not be digging a six-foot hole in sweltering heat. He has one stipulation: he does not want to see the dog. He just wants to do all the digging and get the hell out of there. She agrees, and I tell her we will be there after we get back from doing a few errands. (more…)

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:20:01-04:00 November 22nd, 2010|Categories: Neighbors|Tags: dolores|10 Comments

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Visit to the veterinarian that includes an examination and several shots for a dog- $25. Consecutive visits for follow up shots- $6

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