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.

It's been a while - Ramblings

We are going to be grandparents again soon with a second grandson, Cameron. He will be coming any day now. Roy left yesterday to go to Houston to be on baby watch and to take care of Forrest when Cameron does come -- wanna have some normalcy for Forrest in the midst of the impending chaos.

As much as I love to see Roy walk into the airport and fly away (love, love, love having the house all to myself sometimes) I also really miss him not being here. I'm invited to another Baron family fiesta tomorrow afternoon, and I will miss Roy not being there with me. I can speak some Spanish and understand a bit more, but it's hard to go by myself. I feel like a bump on a log. But I know he would say to go, so I will do what is best for me and include myself in their party. Mama Chuy's sister from Santa Ana, CA is coming for a visit -- and they always invite us to join them. Such a wonderful family!

Spent the morning untangling yarn that Magda got into and winding it into balls. There were 3 skeins of yarn so it was a bit easier then I thought it would be because the skeins were still tied in several places so the mess was not so bad. Good thing I love this dog so much cause this is one of her favorite pass times -- messing with Mommy's yarn.

I've been reading a bit more this summer too. Finished "A Reliable Wife" and "Litte Bee" -- both great books, well written, character driven with lots of personal turmoil and conflict. Now I'm reading Ann Pachett's "Run" which I need to have finished by next Wed for another book group.

So far since the rainy season began on June 13th we've been having A LOT of rain. Today actually is a very pretty blue skies trimmed with cirrus cumulus clouds around the edges day. Enjoying my hummingbirds and other birds at the fountain and lots of beautiful flowers in the garden.

Beau is really not doing very well -- hasn't been for about a year now. Roy is struggling with saying goodbye to him and I have such sadness when I look into his eyes. I am watching our sweet, proud lab slowly dwindle away and it breaks my heart. About every other meal he proceeds to vomit up directly after eating (and Magda proceeds to clean up (yuck)) and he's not able to stand up and poop because his hips and legs are too weak to support him long enough in a stooped position for enough time to finish so we have lots and lots of accidents in the house now. He kind of walks and poops these days.

Roy's going to be up in Houston for probably 2 weeks and I'm thinking I may have Memo come by the house and check on Beau and get his opinion about letting him go. If it were my decision alone, I would have done it a while ago, but he was Roy's dog before I came along so I don't feel I can make that decision on my own. Maybe it will be easier for Roy, for me to do it, while he's gone...no se!

more later once Cameron arrives...

Thankful

Sorry, no pictures right now, just wanted to say again how thankful I am that my hubby has gotten to a doctor before some huge life altering event happened to him as well as the rest of his family and friends!

I am also thankful for my friends and family too. I am planning a trip North to visit family and friends in Dallas, Longview and Houston. I just wish I could stay longer -- it seems like a long time away from home when you're buying tickets, but when I get there I don't want to leave as quickly as the return home date arrives.

We had a nice thanksgiving dinner with friends from my Tuesday book group. We bought a pre-lit Christmas tree too which has been connected, plug in, fluffed, and is awaiting ornaments! I will take lots of pictures of the house once it's all decorated and will post them shortly.

Just wanted to say again home grateful I feel for my life here in Mexico and for my generous husband for providing me with a life of a princess! I have "heard" from many of you on Facebook that your thanksgivings were good too! I hope you have a fun time getting ready for the next big holiday -- Christmas! Be safe and well -- I am looking forward to seeing some of you in a short time!

Peace and love to you and yours...