LABOR DAY in the U.S.A.

Today is NOT Labor Day in Costa Rica. Every morning, I wake to the distant sound of one lone banging hammer, up on the mountain. This is at 6:30 a.m. I think the steady pounding sound of that hammer is a roll-call for the other workers. By 7:00 a.m, the saws and grinders have joined in. This is everyday except Sunday and today is no exception. In Costa Rica, workers work a 10-hour day with an hour lunch, half-day on Saturday.

My "river rock project" is at a good stopping point which is a good thing because I lost my worker, Jose. ("Pura Vida") He returned to his regular job of glassing surfboards. The surf shop where he normally works, finally received the materials (foam board) to make new boards. Jose usually works at my house just on Saturdays to help me keep up with things, like cutting the grass. Today, I play Jose. I will be at the other end of the shovel relocating the pile of small rocks. Again, "poco por poco". I can do it, I've done it before.... but I may not be able to lift my arms later, so I'm posting on my blog now.

My grand idea was to learn to trade the stock market, move to Costa Rica and trade for a living. The market hasn't exactly co-operated and I've been stuck in some trades during the slow month of August. Today, the stock market is closed so I am freed from my t.v. (CNBC) and my computer. "Touristas" cannot work in Costa Rica so I thought the stock market would be a source of income.
I have applied for my C.R. residency so theoretically, I am a resident until my application is denied.
It won't be denied.
(check here later for my post on "Getting Residency")


I can legally work with a resident status as long as it's not a "salary wage". I have a little side project of supplying my local grocery with brownies. It's not very profitable, though. It's mostly a public service I provide for fellow U.S. chocolate lovers visiting and living here. I missed having brownies and figured others did too. They do and my fudge brownies, with chocolate icing and a cherry, sell well. I'm on the look-out for new recipes for brownies.

Well, there's a shovel waiting with my name on it and a pile of rocks beckoning to be spread. I grab my gloves and join the working class today.
Happy Labor Day to all.