Virtual Existence Time Machine

As a fiction writer I only use the real world as a reference/resource, and especially for speculative fiction. I happily go my own way expanding, altering, imagining... But these last few days, events in the real world are feeling more fictionalized than my imaginary worlds. Disappearing airliners, and 25 countries involved one way or another, have created a storm of television, internet and print words of speculation, accusation, reaction and directed propaganda. Right beside that is the mostly created situation in the Ukraine. Distractions abound. Serious threats and counter threats, government egos flaring to blind and impress. Where in all that is a thread of reality? I couldn't write such things, as they would be hard to believe and not justified as a solid story. Add to that the many layers of 'Climate Change', 'Currency Change', and Governmental manipulations by the G-pick a number. Our Human world is writhing and twisting with a million belief...

`    I don't know if there were 20,000, but certainly a few thousand converged on the Marion Jones Athletic field after marching from the Constitution Square. This was all part of a precursor for the International World Women's Day celebration, which will happen on March 8th.The band played, speeches were given. Some of the churches didn't approve and some women stayed away...and others came and had an inspiring time. The busses brought women from all over Belize. Mostly wearing orange T-shirts. It was a sea of orange when they converged. There were a few marching bands and drum groups. The sun burned hot and the smart ones carried umbrellas. This was a major step for a tiny country like Belize. We're proud of the strong women who made this happen. The ones who couldn't get off work still wore their orange T-shirts. We returned to the boat after a 30-hour working push to get one of the facilities ready for the Women's Day. On our way out, we had to wait for the...

I live on a boat in a marina. Under the boardwalk that borders the boat, ferry, and yacht moorings...live the iguanas. This is a very busy place with the massive ferries that transport the tourists from the cruise ships to the tourist village at Belize City; big fishing boats for visitor big-game fishing, many yachts of all sizes. All of them, including the tour buses and vans come and go all day long with people for the beach or restaurant or museum. They all walk the boardwalks. The iguanas are always there. Just under the greenery or flowering bushes, or close to the many drains that empty the parking from heavy rains. Each drain houses a large, alpha-iguana. The females and young ones have to take their chances under the heavy bushes that line the boardwalks. Most are quite bold and will not move until one is about six to eight feet away. If you approach slowly, they will move to safety slowly. When startled, they can move very fast. The biggest ones are about two fe...

Definitely we term it a 'boat' as it dwarfs beside the elite yachts moored up front in the marina. Some of them are so sleek and ultra-modern, but of course, they are not sail-driven. They have high powered engines and rush around at frightening speeds. . Between fuel and staff required, such vehicles only belong to the 1-5%, whoever they are. My boat, in that pre-dawn hour when I wake up is part of the living Earth. There is a very slight motion as the boat pulls against the ropes. Just enough to let you know that control has been given up to the ocean. The Caribbean is gentle with a tide that lifts and lowers about a foot in this season. There are sounds that become a background to life aboard. The overhead ropes hit the mast from a gust or breeze, slightly metallic. Steady wind brings a rhythmic, random pattern of rapping. The boat itself creaks a tiny bit from the various stresses. Then the sound of the hull rubbing against the bumpers along the wooden dock. Gr...

Moving back to Belize was a positive decision, but what would happen was a total unknown. We found welcoming friends, a very nice place to stay while we found our way. This was followed by instant projects that helped pay back for the kindness. Old skills are needed,and stage sets are created. The Rotary Club fundraiser production is a four-night sellout! Major decisions had to be made about what we wanted to do. The activity created around the stage-theater work, and the construction company, gave us the encouragement to stay in Belize City and specifically center ourselves at Old Belize in the Cucumber Beach Marina. The next decision came with the offer of a very reasonable purchase of a yacht (needs work) that we can live in at the Marina. We are cleaning and preparing to take the yacht out of dry-dock and put it back in the water. Immediately came the need to do the stage setting for the big Women's Day, empowerment event that is aiming at bringing together 20,000 women from ...

Now that I'm back in Belize, I know that many people out in the world say, "Where's that?" They sort of know that Mexico is south of Texas, but that's about all. Way back in the 1700's, Spain claimed all the land, but allowed the British to cut Logwood off and on for many years. Then in 1798, the Spanish attacked the settlement of Belize. The loggers, called Baymen, fought back. With the help of their slaves from Africa, they defeated the Spanish for the last time in the Battle of St. George's Caye. The Spanish retreated and never again tried to control Belize. The Mayans, however, did not give up. They were blocking the lucrative Mahogany business so the British were determined to drive them out. In 1867, the British Governor ruled that " No Indians will be at liberty to reside upon or occupy or cultivate any land without previous payment or engagement to pay rent whether to the Crown or the owner of the land ". Refugee...

WINTER IN BELIZE, And Whispers This is Climate Change for old folks . The months of December, January and maybe part of February are lovely with cool nights and temperate days. The sunshine is warm and feels good after being in air-conditioned cars and shops, which feel like some kind of cold-storage. I travel with a sweater. Then in this season, IT RAINS! Very intense, heavy rain that can soak you to the skin in 30 seconds. Some folks call it the 'rainy season'. But it doesn't rain every day. The benefit is that everything is green. Rich, vibrant green. Now let me tell you about our jungle experience yesterday. About five years ago we went to visit and photograph our friends' mother's original home. It is located maybe three miles from the main highway. The one-lane dirt road wound around and up a hill. The mother had passed away and the house was abandoned. There were some enormous trees close by and the brush was beginning to regain some height...