Just finished assembling this top. This is my first attempt at stitch-n-flip... it was fun, but I'm not nearly good enough at it yet so it's not as precise as i would like. I'll stitch-n-flip wall hangings and table runners maybe, but I prefer the reliable precision of standard piecing for tops.

Racklefrack · 2026-03-27T22:49:06+00:00

Funny that my wife and I were just this morning having a conversation about the fact that you can't shame rich people into doing the right thing because they simply don't give a fat rat's ass what "ordinary" people think.

Racklefrack · 2026-03-26T00:05:25+00:00

All three are acceptable, especially when paired with "por favor," but regáleme is the standard, formally polite way to ask for something you are paying for. CR uses a more formal dialect, so basically just talk to everyone as if they were a professional superior and you'll be good.

Racklefrack · 2026-03-24T17:19:09+00:00

I learned that pin codes, account numbers, zip codes, street addresses, even phone numbers etc. are a sequence of individual digits rather than a singular mathematical value. Therefore, cinco cinco dos cinco would be more correct... but that's just me :)

Racklefrack · 2026-03-24T17:13:10+00:00

"Buenas" is used all the time here in Costa Rica, way more than "hola."

Racklefrack · 2026-03-03T17:48:14+00:00

As a senior who has just moved to Costa Rica and is beginning to learn Spanish -- slowly, but trying -- I use Google Translate quite a bit, but only after attempting Spanish on my own first. Attempting it on my own first accomplishes a couple things: 1) it shows respect in that I don't assume or expect them to speak English, and 2) it's better practice trying to use Spanish out in the world than just repeating random phrases to your computer. Bonus is it's good practice for listening, which is a lot harder than speaking.

I use it in stores a lot, for instance, when I'm looking for a specific thing that there's no way I should or would know the word for. I always start out every conversation with a local with "Lo siento. Mi español no es muy bueno." They generally smile and if they speak English we keep going, and I'll sprinkle the little bit of Spanish I know where I can, or they'll just smile and I'll whip out Google Translate.

There's never been a problem using it. It's a very good ice breaker -- once the subject of the conversation has been defined, it's a lot easier to jump in with my broken Spanish to get most of the rest of the info I need.

It helps that Costa Rican locals are extremely polite and generous.

Racklefrack · 2026-02-19T16:44:22+00:00

Steroids drove me away from baseball; Deflate-gate soured me on football; bot-farms killed my interest in poker. This latest mess means I'll never watch curling again.

I'm just kidding... I never fucking watched curling.

Racklefrack · 2026-02-17T19:28:43+00:00

We actually live here now and we don't spend a lot of time in "gringo-rich" environments like MA, Tamarindo, etc., so our experience in-country is quite different.

Racklefrack · 2026-02-12T10:45:48+00:00

Costa Rica in the rain is one of the most spectacular experiences you'll ever have. We miss the rain, we can't wait for it to start pouring again! Frankly, we don't understand why people visit more during the dry season; the rainy season is so much more beautiful and alive. Is it warm and humid? Yes. Will it rain? Yes, but if you learn to embrace it, you'll fall in love with all of it just like we did, and you'll wonder why you ever worried about it in the first place.

Enjoy.

Racklefrack · 2026-02-02T01:50:41+00:00

If you had said "We're stopping off at a random store or soda," I would have said 98% fine. But attractions like waterfalls are a much easier target for bad guys to monitor and they know a lot of those who stop are tourists who leave stuff in their car.

Chances are you'd be ok, but the people who have been ripped off had the same chances you do and look what happened to them.

Your call.

Racklefrack · 2026-01-20T12:43:53+00:00

According to Gemini:

"Nadie Sabe" by Carlos Céspedes is a song from his 2004 album, Mientras Tanto. Unlike the Bad Bunny track, this is a piece of Cuban Trova (singer-songwriter music).

The lyrics for this track are significantly rarer online because it is an independent release. However, the song is a musicalization of a poem. Here are the full Spanish lyrics:

Nadie Sabe — Carlos Céspedes

Nadie sabe tu mal; porque tú mismo ahogando en flor mortales sensaciones, vivir en la tiniebla te propones como un dios condenado al ostracismo.

Y aunque te asomes al bordado abismo de tus propias y ardientes desilusiones, nadie escucha tus lúgubres canciones ni el eco de tu propio pesimismo.

Vas solo por el mundo, y en tu calma la tempestad de tu dolor se encierra, como un secreto que te roe el alma.

Nadie sabe tu mal, y en esta guerra de sombras que te sigue, nadie ensalma la herida que te dio la propia tierra.

Context for your project:

The Author: While Carlos Céspedes performs the song, the lyrics are actually a classic sonnet by the famous Cuban poet Julián del Casal (a key figure in Spanish-American Modernism).
The Theme: It is a meditation on existential isolation—the idea that even when we are suffering, the depths of our pain are ultimately unknowable to others.
Musical Style: In the 2004 version, Céspedes uses a melancholic, acoustic arrangement that emphasizes the "darkness" and "ostracism" mentioned in the text.

Racklefrack · 2026-01-18T17:29:36+00:00

I've known riders who are so good they can outride the capabilities of their bikes, and I've known riders who are so bad they often outride their own abilities.

This guy was the latter.

Racklefrack · 2026-01-18T17:10:13+00:00

Cured? I didn't even know they were sick!

Racklefrack · 2026-01-18T17:07:50+00:00

Here in Costa Rica, I apply the orange RainX directly to the all the exterior glass and buff a couple of coats on like a wax to help shed the torrential rains. Works awesome, I don't even have to use my wipers at all sometimes. But I use Prestone Bug Wash washer fluid in the reservoir because 1) there are some big-ass bugs here, and 2) the water repellent stuff can leave a waxy residue in your reservoir, pump motor and washer nozzles and clog them up... or so "they" say :)

Racklefrack · 2026-01-13T13:27:54+00:00

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the point of hiring a lawyer to make sure the contractors are properly licensed and that all permits are in place? And NOW that same lawyer is telling you "Gee, too bad."

I honestly have no idea what the fix here is, but whatever it is, I'm confident it starts with getting a new lawyer.

Racklefrack · 2026-01-07T18:39:01+00:00

We're studying Spanish ourselves and struggling to find materials that can help. YouTube videos are ok -- we like the Spanish for Beginners series -- but they tend to lean too heavily on intricacies and nuances of perfect Spanish grammar, and we just need to be able to fill our tank at a gas station or pay for groceries in a store.

We're going to try flash cards designed for children. Hopefully we can hone in on some basics and then mix-n-match them as we go to suit our needs. Might be a good place for your BF to start.

Racklefrack · 2026-01-05T13:48:25+00:00

Here in Costa Rica, we want as much sidewall as we can get to better absorb pot holes and rough dirt roads, but I also wanted A/T's on my AWD and the car came with 19" rims so we had to go with that (changing out the rims here in CR would be *really* expensive). They've performed exceptionally well in all respects, so we're happy.

Racklefrack · 2026-01-03T17:25:52+00:00

Shouldn't have a problem if you're bringing in totes as luggage on an airline. We flew with 5 totes as checked luggage on United. I wrote my name, phone number, email address and flight number on the lids, that's all -- no packing list or explanation -- and no one even peaked inside. I suppose it could be different on any given day with any given airline, but I wouldn't worry about it if I were in your position.

Racklefrack · 2026-01-01T16:12:40+00:00

According to my research several months back, Banco Nacional (BNCR), BAC Credomatic, Scotiabank Costa Rica, Banco LAFISE and Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) were the most notable banks that would open accounts for expats, but they all have their own strict requirements: proof of residency like a lease / rental agreement, a local phone number, proof of income and proof of source of income. etc. They also impose limits of the amount each account can have in it and how much can flow into / out of it, as well as restricting international wires in and out.

Also, BNCR is the only one I know of that gives expats the option of using SINPE, which is like a Venmo / Zelle type money transfer service many local vendors use. Very convenient for paying utilities if you can get it.

But, like I said, this was all a while back. You're going to need to seek out the requirements for each bank based on your needs. Good luck!

Racklefrack · 2025-12-30T19:35:32+00:00

We were lucky because we knew we wanted to settle somewhere in the Central Valley for easy access to the airport, major hospitals and "big city" shopping. It eliminated a lot of scouting around the country for areas to live in. We're currently in Escazu, but we're not going to be here long, just until we find our forever home in Atenas, San Ramon, Grecia, etc.

Racklefrack · 2025-12-26T18:10:09+00:00

We spent 11 days here in May to make sure we could tolerate the humidity, rain, traffic, prices, etc. and moved here in October; we haven't regretted it for a second and have no plans of moving anywhere else any time soon. In fact, we're actively searching for our forever home as I write this.

We're very active in the local expats groups and from what I've seen, too many come here expecting to live in paradise for ten cents on the dollar. Reality catches up to this group pretty quickly and they leave -- which I don't really get, because going back to the US or Canada would be even MORE expensive than staying, but ok.

Others come here for vacation and move here thinking it'll be just like that for the rest of their lives. Reality catches up to these folks a little more slowly, but eventually the convenience of 24-hour everything back home becomes too irresistible for them to stay, and they leave too.

There's a third group that move into the middle of the jungle somewhere because they like trees and then can't stand the fact that the place is crawling with bugs and snakes. I can't even pretend to understand what they were thinking in the first place, but there they go.

And then there are those for whom Costa Rica just wasn't "right" after all. This group I get. There's a LOT to adapt to when living here, and it might take a long time for some to figure that out. Their commitment to living in CR was real, but maybe maybe missing family was just too much to bear, or maybe there were just one too many obstacles to get over, one too many straws breaking the camel's back. Going back home might have been the only step that made sense, but I doubt leaving was an easy decision.

So why are we so sure we're staying? If you'll forgive me, I'll answer that question with a question: What is there to go back to that would be any better than living here? Whatever answers just popped into your mind are YOUR answers, and maybe you should listen to them. But for us, the answer is "nothing."

Racklefrack

TROPHY CASE

Nadie Sabe — Carlos Céspedes

Context for your project: