Welcome to My Stairwell

An open door allowed this butterfly into my screened porch.  Efforts to herd the butterfly out the door were futile.  The butterfly was insistent on the direction it was going and only in that direction would it go.  The stupid bug met an unfortunate end, but not at my hand.

Recently I've completed a 29 foot bench on the ground floor.  It is two feet deep and features 16 feet of shelving.  This bench will support long items for a future long term project.  I've also completed the tool storage unit above the bench.  I have yet to complete bench lighting other than in the center.  For this there are four foot long LED lamps of the finest Chinese quality for $15 US each.  They feature connectors where the lamps can be daisy chained together.  This feature is important to me as I had outlets installed in the ceiling that were supposed to be switched to control the moveable ceiling lights.  The switched outlet feature was not incorporated so now the moveable ceiling lights must be controlled by plugging/unplugging from a bench wall outlet.  Daisy chaining reduces the number of wall outlets required.

   

Two ceiling fans are installed alongside the bench to improve the comfort level.  I purchased what I thought were extension cords, but turned out to be remote outlet switches.  They have a switch on the end of a 15 foot lead that switches power to a device plugged into the opposite end.  This opposite end also plugs into an outlet.  My ceiling fans plug into the ceiling outlets and are controlled by the happy accident of purchasing the remote outlet switches.  I think there are more such switches and available outlets in my future.

I met the lady who owns the lot across the street.  I inquired about removing the trees that block the breeze, but she was resistant.  I then sweetened the deal by offering to replace the trees with two palm trees.  She upped the ante by suggesting a row of palm trees along the road would be acceptable.  I am considering this arrangement and have made some initial enquiries as to what it might cost.  I've had a point in too many directions to pursue her written permission for my proposed number of tress and type at this time.

Her lot tends to have a marsh flavor, especially when it rains.  The rainy season tends to bring out more of the biting/stinging things that arise from stagnant waters.  Color me slathered in DEET and avoiding outdoor efforts during early morning/evening prime feeding times.  If a person can't tolerate insect bites or sweating, then Belize is not for you (written as I sit here shirtless and lumpy with bites).

The neighborhood has received a new water main.  Rumors suggested the new water main was in preparation for a paved road!  The water main was completed some weeks ago yet piles of dirt remain behind and no work crews are to be found.  One dirt pile prevents me from fully backing out of my gate, but this minor annoyance I can flip to a positive.  I've started whittling away at the offending pile to fill in places where water tends to pool.  It is doubtful that I'll ever make a significant dent in the pile's size, but available fill material is good to have around.   

There was some scrap left over from the bench build.  I had a light fixture that was never used and a motion sensor I ordered online, from these ingredients I built a stairwell lamp.  The shade shields the eyes while descending from the head of the stairs.  The 180° motion sensor is tilted so that it triggers when anyone crosses the head or foot of the stairs.  It hides behind the decorative facia below the lamp globe.  I'm not sure if I'm happy with the aesthetics, but the stairwell is more welcoming in the dark of night.

Got Mutt?

May 3rd, 2017 marks my first full year in Belize.  I'm getting my permanent residence application paperwork assembled after crossing the required year mark.  This process requires a physical and some blood tests.  I saw the doctor for $20 US and the blood tests were $35 US, likely I would still be saving for a while if paying out of pocket in the U.S.  Until permanent residency is granted (a process known to take years for some), I'll continue paying the $50 US per month visa fees.

It has been an eventful year with the establishment of a new home and a new circle of great friends.  I even took an unneeded, St. Patrick's Day, vacation to Caye Caulker with nine of these friends.  The stated vacation goals were to get a tattoo, get an STD and spend a night in jail.  One member of this all male troupe was sternly warned by his girlfriend not to come home with a tattoo.  No one managed to achieve any of the goals, maybe we'll do better next year.

For some reason, there is an unusual amount of amount of drama within the expat (immigrant) community.  Altering the apprentice president's words; I would say the US is not sending their best and brightest to Belize.  A neighbor is unhappy that I did not invite her to my "block party" (see Raging Success episode).  On three separate encounters she bitched me out and vowed to take vengeance on me.  What she doesn't know is that the "block party" was a gathering of only my friends and that within five minutes of meeting her husband I sincerely told him he was an ass.  I remain happy and evermore comfortable in the fact that an invitation was not extended to the nearby wackos.

As previously mentioned, shopping in Belize is like an Easter egg hunt and you are unlikely to come home with the golden egg.  I'd hoped to find a crew cab Japanese pickup, but these vehicles are popular here and are not common on the used market.  I've taken a gamble on a 1997 Chevrolet S10 extended cab pickup with an automatic transmission.

It was just imported from California with 72,000 miles and it runs well.  It is very basic without electric windows or electric door locks, but does have an operating air conditioner and radio.  It features some kind of rubbed out logo on the doors.  Later I learned that it is need of a steering idler arm that I will soon acquire and install.  There is some issue with the horn, dome light and cigarette lighter circuit that causes the fuse to blow.  Vehicle electrical problems can be more difficult to locate and correct than mechanical issues.   In my former stateside life I was accustom to automobiles intended for driving with great enthusiasm.  Driving here requires a dreary appliance that will surely disintegrate given the pounding issued by many unpaved potholed roads.

The title of this episode may give some the impression that I've adopted a dog.  I may never get past the talking stage on this matter as I prefer to keep my life simple and unencumbered by obligations to another creature.  The careful observer will notice that front is Cheverolet and the tailgate is GMC so I could have something of a mutt on my hands.  Many vehicles imported here are from the salvage market and I'm reasonably certain that is the case here.  I paid $6,000 US and, from my limited search, this is about what these pickups are going for with more miles in the U.S.  It has good tires all around so I may have done an OK deal.

Should I ever have more than one visitor at a time some will be pleasured with a ride in the jump seats.  The alternative is a ride in the pickup bed as is often seen in Belize, but it is said to be illegal.  It is about 80 miles South to the airport from Corozal and about an hour ride to interesting points West of the airport.  I'm sure my intrepid visitors will manage.  At this point I've only taken it nine miles out of town.  I need to burn a few more miles to convince myself it is a reliable vehicle for extending my explorations.  

Future visitors will now have a place to sit and sleep with the addition of a new sleeper couch.  Six footers will drape over the edges if they tend to sleep in the fully extended mode.  Prior to this addition, the alternates were a single plastic chair and a leaky air bed that gently lowers a person to the floor overnight.  

For $25 US I've purchased a used ugly table and three chairs.  I will get the third chair later in the week as well as two small used end tables, both acquired for $15 US.

The roadway in front of the house has been torn up to replace the water main.  The upside is that the potholes were more or less eliminated before the rain started.  The newly churned earth has turned the road into a rutted slippery muddy mess.  Snow driving skills are useful in these conditions.  It is rumored this work is in preparation for paving.  The downside to this rumor is that I will no longer be able to fix the potholes that are sure to develop.  I will have to find an alternative home for all the rocks I've been harvesting from my lot leveling work. 

On night after an evening of beers from the night before, a friend produced a receipt and stated I had been sold to him.  He planned to sell me to a local girl for a red bicycle and two packs of cigarettes.  Another friend offered to sweeten the deal by throwing in three blue pills so she could try me out before closing the deal the following day.  If the bicycle prove to be unacceptable, I would then be sold to the glue factory if the Mennonites wouldn't offer a better deal.  I'm not glue yet so something must be working out with the Mennonites.  Life in a straw hat and suspenders can't be all bad.

Raging Success

The living room nook sports the latest example of an Early American Crate style bookcase.  I had to reduce the size of my library in the move from the states.  I couldn't part with the few examples of my father's woodwork gracing the top shelf or my brother's artwork above.



A bicycle remains my only means of transportation, limiting the size and the number of the things I can transport home.  A friend was kind enough to take me on a shopping expedition to obtain the things I needed to keep the weeds down and to terraform the yard.



The above image does not convey the lumpy yard state that forms mosquito breeding pools when it rains.  The soil is marl which is used for road paving in these parts.  It is very hard when dry and a slippery mud when wet.   In an effort to restore my boyish frame, I spend the early mornings with a pick knocking down the high points and moving marl to the low areas.  The marl breaks out in chunks that must be broken down in order to gauge if a flatter surface is achieved.  This process produces a harvest of rocks that will need a future home.

I've made some leveling progress in the boat slip area where the iguanas hang out.  They are attracted to the loosened soil and dig holes in the flatten area.  It could be that they are nesting and I'll soon have an iguana farm on my hands.  I can't train the iguanas not to dig holes, I can only hope that it rains then dries out so the digging will stop.



It was time for a housewarming party!  Here my friend Colin shills for Belikin beer.  Do you feel a sudden thirst coming on?



Everyone gravitated to the front deck.  Some seats were better than others.



Shoes were removed to protect the new wood floor.  I hope everyone got home with the correct shoes!

Seina entertains the crowd with charades.

A housewarming gift purchased on the Island of Women, Mexico.  It is something I may never wear, but will hang with my drying clothes for the enjoyment of those driving by.  I still hope for a Trump pinata!

A little rest and they were back at it.

Good job, all the practice paid off!

Morning fog explained

I have to say the housewarming was a raging success!  

The aftermath

Finishing Touches

In the last episode I whined a bit about waiting for various persons to show up at undefined times and dates to complete aspects of the house.  My house hostageship is over for the finishing touches have been completed.

The fence ironwork and gates are installed.  This image taken from across the street dresses up the fact that the yard is largely barren and a recent herbicide application will make it more so.

By a stroke of luck I've found a bathroom mirror that works well with the cabinet.  Now I'm better able to judge when I need a hair cut, a better shave or if I'm aging well.  Speaking of aging, I felt a bit celebratory in applying for my Social Security benefits.  The boost in income may help furnish the items missing in the next image and enable broader exploration of my new surroundings.  My bubble may burst if the hog wild, Pee Party, train wreck actions in the U.S. continues to implement stated goals (i.g. privatize Social Security).  I won't dwell on that and if someone is offended by such a remark I certainly will not apologize!

A new towel rack provides a place to store items and turns the awkward corner sink, next to the electrical outlet, into a more livable arrangement.

I'm highly pleased to have the floor installed!  At last I'm able to unpack my remaining belongings and hang a few pictures on the walls.  It is also a delight to, once again, have an actual garbage can!  In the meantime I'll continue to lust after a second plastic chair for the shop or in the event that I have a visitor.

My shipping crates are being recycled into home furnishings.  This shelving unit serves as my "dresser".  I call it, Early American Crate style furnishings.  Previously my clothes were kept off the floor by resting on suitcases.  I'm sure to produce more examples of these initial furnishings.