Sunday, February 3rd, 2013

Great party last night at the neighbor’s house. It was her 40^th birthday. Her Husband Brad had it catered and there was fresh salsa and guacamole and paella. Yummy stuff! What a fun time was had by all! It’s easy to get to know people a little bit better at such a casual setting.

Then today was the Super Bowl party in the street. Karl set up a huge screen and had a projector for us to sit in the street and watch the game. Everyone brought a dish and the food was amazing….ribs, chicken legs, roasted potatoes, baked ziti, ham balls, pepperoni rolls, deviled eggs, chili, jalapeno poppers, and much more. Double yummy. We got a chance to meet some new people that we didn’t know and made new friends.

I bought Pete a mosquito repellent device called a Thermacell through Amazon. We used it at our Super Bowl block party. It repels mosquitos for 225 sq. ft (15 X 15) and it worked great!!! We were getting bit and I turned it on and I didn’t get a single bite after that. I didn’t see anyone else scratching or slapping either. So, it is highly recommended. I HATE mosquitoes.

Friday, Feb. 1st, 2013

Yea. Today is payday and I got my first raise in 3 years. Whoop Whoop.

I have a new cleaning lady today. Her name is Flora. That’s Flow-ruh in espanol. She is doing a really good job, but it’s hard not to be a little either displaced or in the way in such a small place.

Wed., Jan. 30th

Come on end of the month. I need a payday.

Shopping for electrical supplies with a girlfriend - why oh why do the guys send us to a Mexican electrical store where nobody speaks English? Oh yes. I know why. Because we were able to get just what they wanted and they didn’t have to go shopping. Then they can complain about how much shopping we do and how much money we spend. Hmmmmm.

We have a Senor named David (pronounced Dah veed) who lives at the end of our road. He has a mini market and is also a great woodworker and concrete guy. On Monday we asked if he would build us a shelf and a set of steps (I’m too short to get up on top of the house from the loft.) On Tuesday he delivered them. Wow. He did a great job! I’ thrilled with both of them. Of course I haven’t stained them yet, but maybe manana. He’s currently moving our mini palapa on the beach about 4 feet. A big project that took 6 guys to lift it. It’s a much better location!!!

This afternoon was my first time volunteering at a school in Playa del Carmen. We get a group of about 6 students in grades 1, 2, or 3. Then we are given materials to read a story to them. Girlfriend Jaime and I were both assigned to the First Grade. We were given a book that had about 20 words in it. A typical first grade reader. However, I knew there was no way I was going to keep them engaged for a hour. I’ll have to bring a bag of tricks next week. But it was fun.

I also volunteered to pick up another girl at the mall and take her with us. She was a young, very cool kinda girl. Short blonde hair and athletic. And her name was Credence….as she said….as in Credence Clearwater Revival. Cool. Different. It fits her.

Oh but I forgot to tell you. I couldn’t find the place. Because I had no directions. Someone was supposed to send me directions, but they didn’t. We stopped at an OXXO (mini mart) and asked for directions, but they didn’t know…so I pulled up behind a police car and he said follow him. However, here in Mexico, the police cars drive around with their lights flashing. So I had a police escort with flashing lights. And then we had a police car pull behind us, so I was kind the middle of a police sandwich. Wasn’t that nice. Really, people here are so very kind if you are kind to them. I guess it’s that way most everywhere.

There was quite a crowd at one of our neighbor’s palapa. (Dennis from Gary, Indiana) One of our other neighbors (Rich) stopped over to say hi and found him on the floor. It is possible that he had a stroke. Security was called, an ambulance was called. And his friends rallied together to go with him and to secure his belongings and palapa. That’s just the kind of community we have here. I know he feels better to know that things are being taken care of.

Update: Dennis’ wife, Peggy arrived yesterday. Dennis is not doing well at all. The doctors said he had a double stroke. He was taken to the hospital in Cancun. He has been able to open one eye and squeeze her hand, but he remains paralyzed on one side. It’s very sad to know how life can change in the blink of an eye.

And Dennis is probably alive only because a friend stopped by to say hi.

Sunday, Jan. 28, 2013

Today we made our first trip down to Yan Ten, our private beach. We dipped our toes in the water only.

Then we made our way back to Yan Ten for a weenie and marshmallow roast in the evening. Our neighbors plan a weenie roast each month on/around the full moon. What fun. And it’s always fun to spend time with friends.

Sat., Jan. 26th, 2013

Wow. Today started out cloudy, but turned into a perfect day on the beach. And I opted for a massage, too. I have never had such a good massage…and for $30 (plus tip).

Tonight is the charity auction at our restaurant for a school in a very poor rural area that our community helps support. Many people from Paamul donated items for the auction - such as paintings & jewelry. It should be fun. I imagine Pete will be busy trying to put my hand down when I try to bid. Though I’ve already put my name on one certain jewelry set in the silent auction. Keep your fingers crossed. Though I absolutely don’t need it. LOL.

Update: I didn’t win any bid….but that is okay. The auction made $4000+ for the school. My only contribution was a donated necklace and earring set. Maybe it provided a window.

Friday, Jan. 25th

The day started out very rainy…pouring rainy….just like yesterday. Boo. But by the evening if was beautiful. A full moon or nearly full moon on the beach. It couldn’t have been nicer for a party on the beach.

I made Italian beef in the crockpot. It wasn’t Chicago style Italian been, like Portillos or Buona, but it was pretty darned good. Instead of au jus, it made kind of a gravy. Weird, but very good. Had a few friends over for dinner and enjoyed the camaraderie.

Thurs., Jan. 24th, 2013

A long day with a trip to the airport, Home Depot, & Costco. And what did I get when I got home? Why’d ya buy so much food. Duh? Cause you always want me to cook and home and never go out to dinner. And you will only eat meat from Costco. And Costco is an hour and 20 minutes away. Grrrrr. I steamed a little bit because I really wanted to hear a “thank you for spending most of your day getting the stuff we need for our household”. Is that too much to ask?

He did relent and say how brilliant I was to be able to make sloppy joes’ (from scratch) in the toaster oven. I’m getting good at cooking everything in that little baby.

I hate this rainy day. My satellite keeps going out. I’m so tired I don’t know if I’ll last through a movie….but I think I’m willing to try.

Wed., Jan. 23rd

We went out to dinner at a sea food restaurant called La Pesca.

The food was great. The atmosphere was great. And the service was great. I had fish and pecan shrimp. I think I prefer coconut shrimp to pecan shrimp, even though I usually love pecans. Our friends had the whole lobster. Pete had a lobster tail. It's definitely not the same as Maine lobster, but it was okay. Okay is not worth the steep cost, though. I forgot my camera/phone, so no pictures. Boo.