Moving to Costa Rica. Again.

We have recently made the decision to move to Costa Rica.

I have made the decision to try to write for at least 10 minutes every night. Just ten minutes to sit down and write about how I feel. It will be interesting to see how this goes.

Every day I am speaking with my old friends from Costa Rica online, trying to uncover jobs and ways to become legal.

Every day I am trying to wallow in luxuries like AC.
Although, I am worried about re-acculturating. I know I am now spoiled but assume I will just readjust. I have never moved to Costa Rica with someone I love. This is going to be so much fun.

One of the main tasks I am working on right now is getting my car sold. I love this car, but there really is no economical way for me to pay it off with an interest rate that is through the roof. I love this car but trading it to move back to Costa Rica just seems like a no brainer.

If you look around my apartment the motif is definitely the beach. I think I have missed the simple lifestyle more than I really know.

The first time I went, I had no idea what to expect. But, I knew that even if the experience were to be a bad one, I would no doubt benefit from it. I had seven days to decide for sure and let the plane fly off without me.

This time we are going I am more than prepared but still nervous. Daily I am quietly deciding what to store, what to sell, and what to give away. I’ve missed the culture, the weather, and my friends so much. It is a completely different world over there. We are looking into getting a 3 month ticket this time for security. I already know I will not want to leave but it is good to know we can re-evaluate. I am interested to see how my boyfriend will adjust. Being that his family is from South Africa I am confident that he has the cultural readjustment gene necessary to acculturate.

Another weird conundrum I am in is losing weight! This may sound crazy but right now I am torn between going on a strict diet to look hot when I get to Costa Rica and saying F’ it, and enjoying all the things I know I will no longer have access to in CR.

I always seem to do this. Get the perfect apartment, a solid life and then I decide to start completely from scratch again with some huge life adjustment. Eh, Why not?

While I was living in Costa Rica was my loneliest point in my life. To go off on your own in a country where you don’t completely speak the language without the daily technological connections was soul changing. Everyone I knew from work lived far away. The only way to get a hold of them was to walk 6 blocks to a payphone with my little notebook of phone numbers and a calling card. Usually, no one could hangout because the busses quit running at 10. Video stores had the tiniest collections of English movies and tv shows. I had to keep myself occupied. I started writing. This was one of the quietest times of my life. Everyday I would stop at the video store and grab any English tv series. (mostly just old seasons of Desperate Housewives and Six Feet Under, which was too sad for me. I would grab a few beers and head home. 2 became 4 became 6. Then one day I was watching 40 Year Old Virgin in the kitched surrounded by about 8 beers when my roommate Isaura came home, laughed and gave me a high five. I was able to catch myself. After that I started drinking tea and writing at night. I don’t know why this was the only time I was able to make myself sit down and put my thoughts on paper. Its amazing to go back and read how I was feeling.

I am proud to say it is a rare breed that can pack up and try something completely different. I can’t understand when people question my decision. Usually, they can’t think of any cons and end up just saying, Eh, why not? But would never do it themselves.

Hopefully, this blog with not only serve to entertain and remind myself of what it was like to be adventurous when I am old but to give others and idea of what its like in the head of a person who is about to relocate to a different country.

Daily I am:
-Contemplating what to keep and what to store.
-Trying desperately to remember what I couldn’t get and missed most in CR and trying to figure out what I need to stock up on.
-Contemplating new personal goals: lose weight, journal, start an acrylic nail business, make business cards with contact info, continue to brand myself for job hunting to make myself irresistible to employers, trying to figure out how to get a work visa…
-researching books for my kindle
-trying to prepare matt mentally
-trying to convince people to come with
-contemplating stuff to buy here that you cant get over there at a reasonable price (mac air for writing?)
-make logo stickers for MNA

Last time I moved to Costa Rica was out of a crazy desperation “F, it! USA is trying to get rid of me, nothing is going well, I am quitting school and leaving!” Somehow, I made it back and finished my degree after living there for a year. If only I would have taken 10 minutes a day to write out what was going on daily. This time I am going to do it in hopes of inspiring others to just let loose and do something completely different if they have the chance. This time I am moving responsibly. I am taking my bills with me, trying to get residency or work visas, and I don’t have to come back to finish my degree! When I was on the road I got bored of writing down all I was doing because I was doing so much. This time I am hoping to get to know myself better and convey to anyone who reads this that you can change your life.

Waterfollies!! Columbia River, Washington

Waterfollies is the biggest event in the Tricities in Washington! Boat races and airshows entertained people along the banks of the Columbia River for three days. We had a great time and picked volunteers out of the crowd to swim in the river with our water resistant phone!

Road Trip to The Gorge, Washingon – Scary Vantage Motel

So after the crazy street team meet up my partner Jared flew home for vacation and Sophia took his spot. We started our 3 day journey to Vantage, Wa for The Creation Festival at The Gorge.

When we finally got there it was pitch black out side, we had been driving in the middle no where for about 2 hours with no people or street lights, and pulled up to this tiny motel where we rented a house next to the trailer park. Very Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

We were terrified:

We attacked each closet door with a case knife and mace.

When the sun came up on our day of it wasn’t so bad! We went to the Columbia River and had lunch at a café then went swimming!!

After that we fought with charcoal to get it to light resorting to boy scout style grass and burning paper towels. When this didn’t work we went and bout the type where you light the bad on fire!! Worked well!

The next day we did our event at The Gorge. Beautiful. Then we headed out to Kennewick, Wa for Waterfollies!!!

Street Teams UNITE!! Vegas Style!

Every once in a while, there is a very rare brief moment that happens in time: VzW STREET TEAMS END UP IN THE SAME CITY. ..

This is the story of what happens . ..

When we first found out two teams were going to over lap in the same city at the same hotel we were excited. When we found out three old school members were joining for the fun . . .we were ready to party.

First, we hit up happy hour to play some hilarious drinking games. The results of what happened that happy hour can not be released as they are too hilarious to describe. Can you imagine? A group of people who are hired to be funny, outgoing, and entertain get together with some cheap booze? Our powers combined!!!!

After this session we broke up and some of us decided to go get more booze and food.

The results were me getting carted to the hotel next door in a shopping cart!

Viva las STREET TEAMS!

LMFAO and Lil Jon @ Tao -Las Vegas!!!

After complaining all day I was going to miss LMFAO and Lil Jon in Phoenix Friday I found out they were playing in Vegas at Tao that Saturday!!!

So after the event that evening I called up my girl Krystal and she said she already had a table there. So I got ready and planned to meet her. When I showed up they VIP-ed me in and escorted me down to VIP to the table. It was right next to LMFAO’s table. I watch their dalies on youtube and love their music! I was excited. Krystal had to leave so I just partied with other random LMFAO people. I enjoyed the show and on the way back to their booth I grabbed a picture with them, Lil Jon, Shwayze, and the Bikini Girl. Hah!

Q from their crew remembered me from the Tuscon show so we partied a little together before I left. Towards the end when it was clearing out I realized I was at the same booth as Lil Jon. He was just standing there and said, “Yeaaahhh, You want some Patron?” I looked around like ME??? (Ok he didn’t say YYEAAAHH but that would have been cool HAHHAHA) the lady filled up my cup and he topped me off with Patron out of his blinged out Patron bottle. Man. Best night ever!

Extreme AutoFest/ Frankie J – Reno, NV

Finally, an event up my alley! When I found out we were doing a car show in Reno, NV. I was excited. When I found out we were hosting a meet and greet with latin heart throb Frankie J, I was ecstatic! Our set up was one of the main attractions with a Verizon Wireless Evo onsite. On the main stage they had the contest winners, B-boy battles, and local hip hop performances all day!

We had a DJ at our booth, the two Verizon cars and Jared and I entertaining everyone for hours. After Frankie J performed he came to our event site for the signing. Some staff and I restrained and organized the line of fans. Frankie was super cordial and sweet to every one of his fans.

We were all staying at the Grand Sierra Casino Resort. After the event was over I ran into Frankie J in the lobby and got to take a couple of pictures with him! I met up with a couple of my B-Boy friends and he took me to a little spot downtown where the DJ from our booth was spinning.

The next day I enjoyed the hotels lucious pool with a bar and a DJ. Most importantly, I found a floaty and just paddled around the pool with the DJ from the event and had a great time. My ideal day off! He showed me around Reno where I found the best Pho ever after having eaten at the worst one in the world the day before. We went down to the river and put our feet in the water, found an apple tree and tried one, then I headed home to rest before driving to the next city!

Pride Festival, Las Vegas -My favorite event!

I found some old pictures I wanted to post really quick! The Pride Festival in Las Vegas was my favorite! At the end everyone was downloading music at our event site and dancing to E-40 after a breaking/dancing contest I started. Right before they shut us down I jumped on top of the truck with the mic and got them to chant Verizon! Live marketing at its best!  Sigh . Memories!

Master Cleanse: Day 7

I am on day 7 of the Master Cleanse. I have fought through this first week and I am so proud and looking forward to sharing this wonderful cleanse with everone I know that suffers from symptoms of years of bad eating stuck to the inside of their bodies.

I went to Whole Foods yesterday with the intent of buying the rest of the lemons and Grade B Syrup for the last for days of the cleanse. My partner was driving so I started looking at non food items as to not tempt myself.

I found a diet journal which I intend to use for my new (as close as possible to) raw veggie diet to prolong the effects of this master cleanse. I started looking at book and found one about a Juicing Fast. I flipped through it and there was a whole section on coming off of a fast and what foods are best to eat when. This has been the thing I am most worried about; coming off the diet and wasting all my hard work fasting by returning to the same eating habits and further polluting my body.

Apparently, all the crap we eat in processed foods gets stored in fat because it takes so long to break down. This cleanse is a detox that breaks away and eliminates all this out of your intestines and colon also elminating cravings since its not in your body any more.

I was reading that book when a store clerk chimed in on his own fasting and recommended some books to read. Just then I found a book written about the Master Cleanse fast I am on! It had all sorts of testimonials from people who had done it and it was written by someone who has done the cleanse several times!

What a relief!

Everything I have been going through is in there! Its great to know I am doing things right and am properly detoxing my body!

The first three days were the hardest. I was lethargic, no energy, starving and having cravings. They say you can distinguish actual craving from hungry by what you are craving. If you are craving SAD (Standard American Diet: meat, dairy, 100% cooked food, no raw veggies, very few if any raw fruits) like hamburgers, pizza, junk food or fried food etc its because your body is eliminating the leftovers that are not digested in your intestines. If you are craving fresh fruits and veggies you are truly hungry. I had both cravings and hunger. Recently I have been craving cottage cheese with cherry tomatoes! Great! The first few days I did want stuff that is bad for you which is great because that means my body was getting rid of that stuff! This is going to make the switch to eating clean and healthy much easier!

Other things they mentioned:

I am feeling cold a lot when I am usually hot. The  cleanse temporarely lowers your metabolism which gives you chills.

It cleanses all your organs and glands so senses become much more intest. I can smell everything! I can smell people! Its aweful. Clean people around me that usually don’t have a smell are stinky. I can smell halitosis everywhere! The theater was terrible!

I have dreams I cheat on the cleanse then am super happy when I wake up and am still going strong.

The tea gave me a few night cramps in my stomach but that was good because it must have been breaking up some bad stuff!

I am starting to feel lively and energetic! Im finally cleaning my body!

I have also lost a noticeable 6lbs!

They say the 7th day is one of the hardest! I am determent to get through it!

More to come!

Javier Solis * GEMINI * P.O. Box 8102 * Portland, OR 97207
Tel. +1.503.740.9100

Haunting Investigtion Hotel San Carlos Day 1

On our way to Phoenix I threw out the idea to my partner, Jared, of staying in a haunted hotel. When we googled it Hotel San Carlos was the first to come up. I watch a ton of paranormal shows and have read a lot of Sylvia Brown books.  I am a nerd who has always been interested but never had the balls to actually stay somewhere that is notoriously haunted. http://alphainventions.com/

What spurred this interest was driving through Death Valley. It was windey with cliffs that plummet. We decided to climb up on the Death Valley sign to take pitures. I noticed two orbs near Jared that are in similar spots in each picture. I would assume if it were dust they would move or not be in the next photo. Lemme know what you think:

There is an orb by my hand. What do you think?

Come to find out, this hotel is the Third Most haunted. Here are some explanations I found as to why it is haunted:

In Phoenix, the San Carlos Hotel is reported to be an actively haunted place. The hotel was built in the 1920’s on the site of the first elementary school in Phoenix. Some believe the place is so haunted because of a well that was dug for the school in 1874. This well tapped into a spring that had been considered sacred by the Native Americans for centuries. The well still operates in the hotel basement today. Has this attracted the ghosts to the site? One resident spirit is that of Leone Jensen, who committed suicide here in 1928 by jumping off the roof of the seven-story building. She is encountered as a white, cloudy figure who is often accompanied by an eerie moaning noise. And she is not alone…. the noisy ghosts of three young boys have been reported running through the halls and the inexplicable sounds of children playing are sometimes heard coming from within empty rooms. (http://www.prairieghosts.com/azho tels.html)

Here are the tid bits I understand from readin several articles and talking to hotel staff:

Leona Jensen was dating a bellboy from a different hotel. There was a bad break up. She left a suicide note, dressed up in a white dress and jumped off the roof in 1928 right after the hotel opened. She stayed in room 720. We booked that room and room 721. The front desk girl said that people will call and ask her to tell the children to quit playing in the hallway when there are no children checked in. I read this is probably the three kids that drowned in the well when this site was a school. It was also an indian burial ground. A random cool thing about the hotel is that it still uses well water. Its the only building in Phoenix that doesn’t use city water. Yum. Taste like dead kids.

This is a website of investigator that did more than just snap pictures .. very interesting  . .check it out http://www.ghosthaunting.com/html/san_carlos.html   Amazing.

I simply went through and snapped some digital pictures with a 12.0 mega pixel camera.

That site says the most active places were the 7th floor and the 5th floor. This was very accurate. Almost 1 out of ever 5 or 6 photographs had an orb in it. . Check these out and tell me what you think.

I would take two or three pictures in a row to make sure anything that showed up wasn’t a glare or anything.

At one point, I tried doing what they do on TV. I unscrewed a flash light to where if you tapped it it would blink when the connectors touched. I told it to use our energy to tap the flash light and make it come on. It did more thank just tap it. It started out off, went to dim, then was super bright. At this point I was more than freaked out and was taking picture after picture hoping to capture an orb in the photo. There was no orb in any of the photos that I could see. I am not sure why. Maybe somehow the flashlight turned itself on? If you have any idea why this might be please let me know.

The other freaky thing that happened was that on the 5th floor my camera kept flashing red like it was about to die. I was like “Crap” lets go charge it. When I got back to the 7th floor it was full again. This happened twice. It’s said that ghost suck energy out of anything to try to manifest into an apparition. I would have peed myself.

There is an orb by my hand. What do you think?

Takin’ over the West Coast! Playing catch up on posts!!

I have been really lazing posting my happening. Once you get used to a city you kind of get into a routine. Arizona= I go salsa dancing. Vegas= I go out or just chill in the hot tub with friends. All day= doing events and guerilla promotions! Holla! Some people swore I’d get sick of constantly being on the road. Nope. I freakin’ love it.

I love meeting new people.

I love switching cities constantly.

I love that someone makes my bed every day.

I love dancing with whole groups of different people.

I love finding out history on each city and checking out haunted places.

I love driving.

No really, I love driving.

I love doing events and keeping people attention.

I love keeping awesome company.

I hate packing.

I hate gaining road weight.

I hate not saving money.

HA! Fuck it. Totally worth it!! hahahaha

Ready to rock out with my glock out.

I am going to post about my Seis De Mayo, my El Paso water slide adventures, my UFC trainer and going to the fight, my Abluquerque DJ and playing poker with sugar packets and partying,the Taylor Swift concert, and my Vegas underware model and hauntings and the 500ft roller coaster.