40 years ago today

I remember it as if it were yesterday. I graduated from Martin Spalding High School, Severn, Maryland 1971. There were 150 ladies graduating that day. It was one of those great days in one's life that closes one door and opens the next. I worked that summer at a department store to save up money for my big move to NYC to study fashion merchandising at Tobé Coburn School on Madison Avenue at 71st Street. While I was in school I lived at the East End Hotel for Women on East End Avenue at 78th street. Nice easy walk to school from there (weather permitting).

My brother Don came to my graduation which was really a special thing. I always thought that I annoyed Don because he was 20 years older than me, his children were my age, and we had little in common except we shared a Mom and a Dad. Now, looking back, I realize that I was important to him -- I was his baby sister! :-)

One of my high school friends and I have reconnected through Facebook and she's trying to organize a class reunion. I haven't gone to any of the others. I left Maryland the Sept following graduation and moved to NYC. I lived there for 4 years and then moved to Dallas, Texas where my Mom and Spence had moved in 1971. I never really kept in touch with any of my friends from HS, so it was nice when Nina Picciano found me on FB and we starting chatting. She's still living in the area, Washington D.C. so she's kept up with more old friends then me.

Anyway, just was thinking about what today was this morning and thought I'd jot down my thoughts.

1971 - Graduated High School, Maryland

1971-1974 - NYC

1974-1999 Dallas, Texas

1999 - Married, moved to Houston, Texas (and retired --wooohooo)

2005- moved to Ajijic, Mexico

Beach, Rain & Pink Eye

Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico 2011

We went to Mazatlan over Memorial Day weekend (it's not MD here though) with Marta & Lupe et al and stayed at the Riu Mazatlan -- one of our favorite all inclusive resorts.

I love this picture 'cause the sun is reflecting on the ocean. Taken from our 11th floor balcony at the Riu Mataztlan.

I think the Pacific Ocean is so beautiful because of the rock formations that come all the way to the edge of the beach.

1st Day after 1st Rain of the Season

Morning after the first rain of the season. Lots of wind -- blew over the table and chairs on our neighbors mirador. I'm going to chronicle the changes to our mountain as the rainy season progresss. I want to see how long it takes for the mountains to turn green starting from the first official rain (that's when the water is running down the streets from the mountain to the lake).

Pink Eye

How in the world did I get pink eye????? I didn't ever get it as a child (which is when I thought you got this kind of thing). My friend Judy, who's a nurse, asked me if I'd been swimming recently. I just got back from a weekend in Mazatlan and I did got swimming in the pool, but I've been to this resort many times before and have never gotten pink eye! The day we were leaving (Mon May 30) I woke up with swollen glands and sneezing (not like allergies though) so I took some antihistamine meds I never leave home without and the symptoms seemed to go away -- hahaha!

It's very gross. I woke up on Thursday morning, June 2nd with my left eye crusted over and I googled conjunctivitis and figured that was what I had -- it's the infection kind, not allergic conjunctivitis -- oh joy. So by that evening my left eye was swollen almost closed and my right eye was getting yellow crusties in it too. Went to see Dr. Lastra on Friday morning and he agreed that was what I had. Still have swollen glands and sneezing like a cold. Dr. L said I probably was getting a cold and it settled in my eye -- Eye Flu!

Now on antibiotic drops and ointment for 14 days, but that's not doing anything for my swollen glands or overall feeling of exhaustion. Haven't been sleeping well -- feel achy all over my body and I have a low-grade fever on and off during the day and night. YUCK!

One good thing, we had our first heavy rains last night. Cooled everything down about 10 degrees which has been very nice today.

it's 5:20 a.m.

and I can't sleep ------- so pissed off. I'm exhausted, my legs are jumpy and my feet are aching. What's going on. I leave in 5 hours for the airport to go to Houston and I want to sleep but I'm sitting in the living room looking at the computer. ARRRRGGGGGHHHHH

Food & Wine Festival in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo

We are having dinner at the Ixtapa Marina -- (L-R) Elizabeth, Pat, Kae, Joan and me

Having comida at Carmalita's in Zihuatanejo. This was a wonderful surprise we discovered from Rick Bayless who tweeted about finding this place. He told us about it at one of the events and Carmalita (in the purple blouse) was visited by many of us who attended the Food & Wine Festival. BEST real Mexican food I've ever eaten. Her recipes are from her Mom and Abeulita!

I had the pleasure of going to "Food & Wine" magazine's Food & Wine Festival in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo - 32 Tastes of Mexico the last week of March, 2011. I went with friends from Ajijic Pat Owens and Joan Brummitt, and a couple of Pat's friends from Seattle, Elizabeth and Kae.

Rick Bayless was the featured chef and we got to see him cook twice. He has the most amazing countenance and spirit ALL the time -- it is real, not forced. It was such fun to meet him and see him work. We ate some amazing food and drank wonderful new wines from Baja California.

Señor Rick Bayless at the Market to Table event

This sign was in the lobby of our hotel -- I didn't make this up!

We also got to tour through 3 new homes in Zihuatanejo in a very private gated community of four homes called Monte Cristo. Our taxi driver had to leave his driver's license at the gate when he came to pick us up to go back to our hotel.

Casa Conte - the couple who owned this house were from Orange County, CA and actually were here for the event.

Casa Tulum - view from the infinity pool overlooking Pacific Ocean

Casa Alegría master bedroom pool -- nice!

This house had 5 swimming pools, 5 bedrooms, an amazing outdoor living area facing the wide open Pacific Ocean, and 3 casitas. The "owner" was a really rich man from San Diego who has never been to the house, and according to the architect just sent him lots and lots of money to build and furnish the house. Can you say laundered money! That was our story about the house! These are 2 of the 5 pools! The one above is off the master bedroom and the one below is off the outdoor terraza/living room.

Because the house is built on top of a bill the breezes were strong! At each of the houses there was a different vineyard represented and lovely tapas.

Cameron's a big boy

such a sweet face!

They love to take baths together

Forrest is under the little table and Cameron is starting to get up on his hands and toes -- won't be long before he's mobile too. Forrest started to walk when he was 9 months old.

Lauren called to tell us that Cameron went to his pediatrician for his 6 months check-up and he is in the 95% for his weight and height. He is 6 months old and weighs 22.5 lbs -- his OLDER brother who is 2 1/2 years old weights 28 lbs. They are almost the same size and they wear the same size diapers. OMG!

I am going to Houston this weekend for a visit -- and I told Lauren I was going to bring a back brace so I can pick Cameron up and not hurt my back -- LOL! Can't wait to see them!

He's our chunky monkey!!!!!

Cameron is here

Awwww - what a face!

Our second grandson, Forrest's little brother, came to us on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 4:55pm -- 11 days before his "official" due date. By the way -- this is President Obama's birthday too little man!

He is perfect and muy guapo como su hermano y Papa! He looks a lot like Forrest, except his hair is dark brown like his mommy's hair was when she was born -- so it may be that Cameron will favor his Daddy's side of the family.

Forrest has been checked out and poked and is ready to come home. His Pediatrician said he's perfect too! And why not?!!!!! Papi (aka Roy) took Forrest to the hospital this morning to see his Mommy and meet Cameron. Lauren, Joesph and Cameron are supposed to be going home today and get started on a new adventure in all their lives.

Roy has been in town since last Thursday helping with Forrest and at their home while Lauren was at the hospital having Cameron. I know, from what Roy has told me, he's exhausted but thrilled to have had so much one on one time with Forrest. Taking care of a two year old takes lots of stamina! And Forrest is a very lucky boy to have gotten so much of Papi's undivided attention too!

I'm going to be going up for my visit next week around the 12th or 13th. They want to get home and get settled so we have agreed it would be better for me to wait a bit -- which I am happy to do.

Saying Adios to an old friend

This is our rental house on Aldama 2005 -- Beau, Susie and Rey

Christmas 2003

Beau in our casita where we lived while remolding was going on in the big house 2006

I said goodbye to our oldest dog, Beau, this morning. He has been getting worse and worse over the last year and Roy and I have been talking about when we would let him go. I was ready sooner then Roy, but hey you get there when you get there and I'm glad we had him for so long. Roy finally understood that Beau was suffering and we needed to be able to let him go and end his suffering. So today at 11:25 am, August 6, 2010 I said adios to an old and sweet, loving friend.

Beau took very good care of us while we lived in Bellaire, Texas. He loved to sit at the glass front door and wait to terrorize the mailmen when he came up to deliver mail. When we lived on Aldama, here in Ajijic, he loved to stand on the roof and command respect from the passersby. When we drove here to live, Beau was our "big black dog" who protected us from the crooked traffic police who tried to shake us down for money.

We will miss him and his fierce loyalty and love! Everyone needs to have a Beau in their lives and we are so grateful that he came into ours. I will miss you my friend.

We think Beau was maybe 16 years old. He was a lab/chow mix that Roy adopted from the Houston SPCA when Beau was 6 months old. Roy and I have been married for 11 1/2 years and I think that Beau came to live with Roy and Lauren when Lauren was 12 or 13 and she is 28 now -- so that puts Beau around 15-16 years old. That's a very long life for a big dog. AND he was never sick a day in his life.

Beau's hips started getting bad about a year ago until finally he wasn't able to get himself up when he fell down (which he was doing a lot towards the end). He lost his hearing a couple of years ago, which was a blessing because we live in a town that loves to shot off cohetes whenever there's a reason, e.g. a visit from La Virgen de Guadalupe, La Virgen de Zapopan, Las Fiestas de San Andres, La Virgen del Rosario, funerals, parades, birthdays, Las Chivas score a goal, you see what I mean. The doctor explained to me today the reason Beau walked around a lot (which was incredibly painful to watch) was because he was getting dementia.