Frisky baby Ratatouille! What does life hold in store??

That ’s right yesterday I delivered 2 kittens to their new home and family in Calgary. Two of the sweetest kittens you will ever meet and they were complete angels on the trip over. I even had to transfer in Houston and they took it all in stride purring the whole way. Fortunately, I own a Sherpa bag and was able to bring them in the cabin with me so I could keep them on my lap and pet them the whole way. Since they were under 6 months of age they could go into the same kennel too.

The trickiest part was when I had to take them out for the bag to go through the x-ray machine

Lefty thinking...what to bring, what to bring

but it was not problem and they were so sweet about it all.  They were in the kennel for over 12 hours and never lost their sense of humour.  They napped, purred, played with my earphones and took it all in stride.

Too much thinking and time for nap..

I was so happy to help out Coco’s Cat Rescue and would do it again in a heart beat.  They are a local non-profit, no kill cat rescue foundation located here in Playa del Carmen. Except I’m in Calgary right now as I just did the drop!  If you are ever able to help out just let us know. We work in conjunction with Coco’s and would love to hook you up.  They can always use the help.

We now have 2 new Mexicali Canadian kitties in Calgary! The first thing they did when

Resting before relocation!

they arrived in their new home…hit the litter and then the cat dish. They seemed right at home. It was so nice to be able to keep the brother and sister together. It was nice to be able to help out.  I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Especially now that I know that being a mule does not envolve  having to swallow kittens in a plastic bag to relocate.

Have a great day!

The folks warming up for night time festivities.

We tried to take our vehicle across on the car ferry, located

Take your car across on the ferry.

just south of Playa, but the weather wasn’t permitting. Once you are up to 4 people it costs the same to go across in your vehicle as it does to take the people ferry. Last  time I went on the people ferry it cost $140 pesos/person. Time before it was $120 pesos and time before it was…Having your own vehicle is a nice option so that you can tour the island at your leisure and maybe pack at cooler at the new Super Mega.

Evidently, the parades began simply with different families on the island dressing up and trying to outdo each other. This has now evolved into approximately 2 1/2 hours of parade floats sponsored by many businesses and organizations . On Fat Tuesday the parade goes on for 5 hours as it makes its way all the way up the street and back down the other.

Virgin Sacrifice - they asked me but I was busy

Many private yachts dock in the harbour taking in the festivities (I think I saw Thurston Howell III with Lovey), but my favourite was the Walt Disney cruise ship with the pictures of Mickey on her. She was yar.

We stayed right on the parade route in a hotel that had a great poolside bar where l taught the bartender how to make a mean Caesar. Just my way of trying to give back to society. Mmmm…

For the parade at night it is definitely better to get down and dirty on the streets. Try and collect as many beads as

These ae just kids

you can that are thrown at everyone all along the parade route by the float participants. But don’t spill your margarita. So much to think about.

Maybe practice at home before you arrive.  Balance margarita in one hand, while screaming your head off and jumping up and down so they’ll throw to you, and then catch the flying beads in the other. Did you spill? Take a gulp and try again. It’s always important to stay hydrated while exercising.

Eveyone and their chihuahua showed up

We even had or own mini-parade for the first time right here in Playa with about 5 floats. Who knows maybe it will catch on here and we can have our own Fat Tuesday celebration.

I can’t wait to go to Cozumel next year, but this time I will bring my tiara and neon pink boa. (Yes I actually have both as I think a girl should always be prepared) It won’t be my first barn dance though. I’ve grown.

Have a great day!

Bring on the dancing girls.

I really like this guy's hat

Another really nice hat.

Nice beads too

                                                                                                                                 

Pick a chair any chair

 

I have never seen this town so quiet. It is strange. Walmart, Mega, Sam’s & City Club are all conspicuously devoid of tourists with very few non-Mexicans out and about in them. Hotels in Playacar & Cancun have closed down; many that have remained open have closed off entire wings and have lain off most of their staff. Even the Gran Porto Real, located downtown in Playa, boasted only 25% occupancy last week. To do the math for you this equals more and more hungry kids as more and more families lose their jobs.

Otherwise normally busy restaurants on 5th Ave  have hung signs up on their doors saying, ‘Reopening in December’. And those are the lucky ones. Chains that can afford to pay the rent while having their doors closed.

Land sharks aren't only in Mexico

The rest will be forced to close their doors and lose all. This has and will continue to put many small and family owned shops and stores of all kinds out of business.

This media fueled crisis has caused more devastation to this area than any hurricane ever has. Flights have been cancelled & banned, wedding plans have been cancelled or changed, and the far reaching effects of the like have been devastating.  I would love to hear a positive story about plans that  are back on again.                                                             

Here's a different look for you to try

 Meanwhile, not one case of H1N1 has been reported in Playa, Puerto Aventuras, Tulum, Puerto Morelos or Cancun. We are all healthy as ever down here just hogging the beaches, enjoying no line-ups and soaking up the sun. 

2 x 1 Happy Hour

Everything is on sale right now and the flight bans have been lifted.

Come and get it while it’s hot…or cold.

Basking in the sunset's glow!

Different things to do in Playa. Fly somewhere close like Cuba.

My first communist experience…different. Did enjoy seeing the Canadian flag flying above the oil rigs though. Had no idea we did business with them or that they even had oil for that matter. Shocking! I am unaware of a foreign current event. And I try so hard to keep up with the news.

 But I had heard the important stuff like they have beautiful beaches and the food sucks. It had been about 7 years

since my husband had been there and

Hard to get a good shot in the cab!

he said it has come a long way baby. We did pack along our own Mexican hot sauce though figuring that might help things out and surprisingly they actually had some there. We stayed in an all-inclusive in Veradera and it was good for Cuba, I understand, but paled in comparison to a Mexican resort, no contest. The rooms were pretty nice though and we even had some really tasty meals. Their fresh bread was to die for hot everyday and they had tons of delicious seafood. No steaks for us beef loving Albertans that’s for sure. Moo.

Where we stayed

The biggest difference was when we would order stuff (like a diet coke or agua for example) from the beach bar and they would say, ‘We are out.’ Or like when they had no power and couldn’t cook a burger for us or when they allotted only 3 french fries / burger. Perhaps they watched the movie ‘Supersize Me’ and were watching out for our health. They also have no chips or nachos in Cuba. I always crave salt with my beach drinks, it was hell well…on a beach suntanning while drinking. You know that kind of hell. One last food mention and I’ll shut up about it…don’t go to Cuba for chocolate, pack a Hershey bar if you must. I never realized how much emphasis I

placed on good food during my vacation time until I just wrote this. Evidently it is so. But I am spoiled I love the food

Golf course with a view

in Mexico. Hell let’s just say it out loud. I love food. Period.

  However, I really enjoyed the different experience and would go back. Bag of chips and a chocolate bar and I’ll be all set. The cool thing was it was like walking back into the past. All the 1950 cars were blowing me away. They were very common and many were still in  pristine condition with new paint jobs making them look brand new. We had to be transferred from Havana to Veradera as

Can't you picture Al Capone here?

we booked a last minute get away from Cancun so we had to take whatever was available.

  I don’t know if it was my imagination or

Best seat in the house.

if I have just been living in happy Mexico for too long, but I felt an overall sadness to the people. People weren’t as quick with a smile as they are on the streets of Playa. In the resort, if you were tipping, absolutely they were smiling and most spoke English. I also must mention the incredible live music. Man those guys were musicians and could they sing. Big bands too with all the instruments. I tried to get a picture of one of them but all were blurry. They moved too fast!

 It’s also the first place I had ever been

Coolest Dudes!

to that when people were speaking English you could pretty much bet they were Canadian. They weren’t American at any rate, except a very few that we met. Mostly missionaries in the airports and one lad who knew he was caught before he even got back on the plane and was talking about his court date when he got back to the States.

 We saw a couple of Al Capone’s houses that were amazing and now have been turned into hotels or restaurants or restaurants in hotels. We also saw a lot of smart Canadians and it was obvious

This was the sky every night...breathtaking.

that it wasn’t their first barn dance. They brought along huuuuge plastic insulated mugs to order their drinks in. We had to order our drinks in bulk as they served them in micro-mini plastic glasses. Word to the wise, bring a big plastic beer mug. You’ll love me for it.

 So I have saved the best for last…the sunsets. Like I have never seen. Absolutely worth the trip! Pictures say it all. The ocean was lovely too and I do want to go back as I was only there a few days and need to return when I

My favourite vacation destination...breathtaking.

have a week. The history was fascinating there. (OK what’s up with the font changes? It must be the ghost of blogs past. It wasn’t me…computers…yet another area that challenges me. I have a list.)

But my bottom line is that really there’s no place I could go with Paul and not have a good time. Not possible. He is my vacation. He makes it all worthwhile.

 Happy Birthday Honey! xox

Evidently, one of the symptoms of swine flu is an uncontrollable urge to have sex in the mud. Well, and haven’t we seen a lot of that lately here in Playa. This really explains a lot. If I was you I’d book a trip here right now to witness this once in a lifetime phenomenon. Mamitas in the mud. You have to see it with your own eyes to believe it…it is truly freakishly exciting. Strangely, we have also received several reports now of many people purposely trying to catch the virus. Mexican officials fear that this new crazed “mud sex” will reach pandemic proportions.

It Was This Kid!

More importantly, we have also been informed that the Mexican scientists have finally pinpointed the source.

Yes it is true, Mexican scientists have finally pinpointed the source. Evidently, the child’s parents were preoccupied having sex in the mud and were unaware of their child’s whereabouts. Strangely this was even before they had caught the virus from their little pig licker.

Only goes to reinforce the old adage that fact can be stranger than fiction.

Have yourselves a great day!

Mom Kickin' Up the Rug with Cousin Rob-the-Bob

I have been blessed in this lifetime with not one but two Moms. Both have offered me their best motherly support and love when I have needed it the most. My relationship with each is unique and I am happy that I do not have to choose between them.

I know that I have greatly benefited by having had two such different and wonderful women contribute to my growth and development. I couldn’t have asked for a better deal. God is smiling on me. I hope today that he is smiling on you and your mothers too.             

Mom Singing for her Supper

 Have a great one and don’t forget to call Mom, whoever that may be in your life.

Mom with Kids Gettin' Ready for Santa

Below is a note that I have copied and included from, Cindy the yearly organizer of this Christmas donation event!

Thanks to the help of my many clients, family and friends we have contritbuted to the success of this year’s event.

All toll we made it to the school this year with 10 bikes and many nap sacks and larger toys to be raffled off to the kids.

As a matter of fact ,so many toys were collected this year that the neighbouring kindergarten was included in on the

Cutie Petutie Who Won Bike Donated By Dad & Mom

gift receiving. Very cool and a great experience we will never forget being a part of. We are very grateful to Cindy for organizing and allowing us to be a part of this happy event.

Note from Cindy:

We made our final visit to the school this year and had lots of fun.   We took a lot of supplies, toner cartridges, copy paper, dry erase supplies, etc.   Paul (Paamulian) came along to do his magic show again.   As he entered the schoolyard, all the children started chanting Mago, Mago, Mago.  

After he entertained them, 2 young girls who had been given hula hoops and attended the hula hoop training given by Brenda (Paamulian), gave us a little show.  One was able to get on her knees and continue to wiggle and the other walked around while hula hooping.  It was really cute. You could tell they had been practicing.  Maybe next year we can get some real Hula Hoops from the States or Canada. 

Hoola Hoop Show

After the show we were shown the new uniforms which will include a blue golf shirt with the school logo on it and either a skirt or pair of navy pants.  Instead of buying the skirts and pants they are having them made in Carrillo.
 
Thanks to everyone that helped out this year with donations and time.  It was another successful year and lots of fun.                                                                          

 Cindy                                                                                                                                           

New Uniforms for Kids

We look forward to next year and hope we will have  continued success.   

Paul Working His Magic On The Kids

One of Cindy’s goals for next year, is to purchase new desks for the kids. The ones they are presently using are out of date and in need of much repair.

I know that we will do our best to help out. 

Dad on Candy Cane Patrol

Some Older Girls

Honourary Texan Mugshot Picture

Morris made it safely to Texas and has had quite a busy first few days. He has been to the vet’s, received all of his vaccinations, and been pronounced feline leukemia free.  This disease is very prevelant here in Playa.  It is as if he has moved to the Land of Oz where he has had a clip, clip here and a scrub, scrub there. He has new toys to play with and has finally learned to use the litter pan! Here he was trained to be a dog and he was quite good at it. He simply meowed at the door everytime he wanted to go potty. He is quite a smart boy. It was discovered that he has a flea allergy though and this explained the constant scratching,

Romantico Morris Dancing in the Moonlight

sores and hairloss he experienced living on the streets here in Playa. My cat Mo is still screaming at the front door for Morris to come back and play with him. I am so happy for the opportunity he now has for a happier life. Miracles happen every day and for a short time he was a miracle in our little world. We miss you Morris. All the best!

( Many thanks to all who were involved in this project and to Morris’ Texan Angel. She made it possible.)

Isla Mujures Catamaran Day Trip!

Where is it?

We all dream of it. One day… I’m gonna quit this job, I’m gonna leave this rat race, I’m gonna leave this cold weather behind.

We plan for it, we save for it, we talk about it, we laugh about it, we plot big time with our friends and families and drink margaritas.

But where is it really?

Is it in Mexico? Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cancun, Playa del Carmen.

Last Tuesday at 4am I got the call on my cell phone. Fight or flight I was instantly awake. Didn’t even have to look to see who it was. I knew. Why else does the phone ring at 4am?

“Brenda I think your father is having a stroke!” the frantic words screamed by my Mom jolted through my body.

Then the begging begins while hopping around the bedroom looking for clothes to throw on, “Please God just let him be alive until I get there. Please God just let him be alive when I get there. Please God…”

He seizured for 15 minutes and was unconscious for 10 more. When he awoke he didn’t know anyone. Thank God for the neighbours. Thank God he awoke.

The ambulance took him to the first hospital and then onto the next in Cancun 12 hours later the same day. In one day he received more care and attention and testing (MRI, CAT scan, EEG, X-rays, blood work, liver testing etc) than he had received in Canada in the past 3 years. Minus the seizure, this wasn’t our first experience of this nature with Dad.

Ironically, we had to return to Paradise to get a diagnosis. So for my Dad & Mom maybe this is the place.

But for me, in that moment, it was wrapped up tightly in the heart of my father. The heart I prayed would keep beating. They say “home is where the heart is”. After this experience I would like to add that Paradise is where your heart is too.

All of the Caribbean white sand, aqua marine crystal clear water, golden sunshine, and Jimmy Buffet songs don’t amount to a hill of beans without the people you love to share them with.

When you’re done reading this blog, I hope you will go find your own Paradise. Tell them you love them.