Online, offline, Internet here, there and everywhere

NUEVO VALLARTA, NAYARIT, Mexico - The on-again, off-again, Finnegan of Internet service has been wreaking havoc on posting here and on the Tenacatita Bay Bugle (Tenacatita Bay Bugle link).

On the other hand, it has made it possible to ignore the keyboard, swim and generally enjoy the balmy weather that is Mexico this time of the year.

Admiral Fox and I made a quick foray to Arroyo Seco, where we opened up the place, which had been spit shined by our village amigos Chena and Chon. Somehow in our brief stay of a few days (which included runs to La Manzanilla and Melaque for food, gasoline and more dinero) we neglected to take any photos of the Pink Flamingo, though I did take a short video out on Playa Chica.

Arroyo Seco express to Dustin's

The trip was short because we went through various lockers in both trailers and the bodega to pull out items Dustin (and us) want/need in his new poolside casa.

Last night we barbecued steaks - only the third time our barbecue has been pressed into service since Arroyo Seco friends Jim and Vickie dragged it all the way from Texas for us.

What also came north was about six huge bags of dirty laundry, currently simmering in six washing machines in the laundromat here at Paradise Village.

Actually there are two more sacks sitting on the floor, too, but after dragging it all in, running back to the truck for the soap, buying the tokens for the machine, et al, I decided to take a break and head to the Vallarta Yacht Club for hydration.

Back at the house, Adm. Fox is patiently waiting for TelMex to arrive to hook up the telephone so we have reliable (?) internet service at Casa Dustin. He has been waiting for two weeks, with postponement after postponement.

And so it should come as no surprise that Sunday - when we left for four hours - someone showed up to install the phone. A Sunday. In Mexico.

Good grief.

But now, it's back to the washers. Arriba!

Sunset in La Manzanilla (at Figaro's restaurant) Friday night

Brace for impact! Getting ready to head back to the U.S.

PARADISE VILLAGE, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico - We shut down the Pink Flamingo in Arroyo Seco Sunday in a flurry of last-minute items from a much longer checklist:

Close slider on Grey Goose Express II

Empty black water tank and rinse (ugh!)

Turn off electricity to both trailers

Disconnect internet modem

Hook up Mexico telephone

Put Honda(s) in bodega

Turn off water pressure

Close windows tight

and

and

and...

But we still left before noon (my deadline) and were rocketing up the highway to spend three days here in Paradise Village Resort before boarding our flight Wednesday to get back to the wilds of upstate New York and Seneca Lake. Here in Paradise, we have pools, restaurants, a beach, and the best boogie-boarding in Mexico.  

Really.

The sojourn takes us by air from Puerto Vallarta to Phoenix, Ariz. (better double-check my immigration papers quick), then to Philadelphia, Penn. (where the airport staff in the City of Brotherly Love has lost touch with that sentiment), then on to the Elmira, New York airport and then a short drive to Valois.

We leave Puerto Vallarta at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and will arrive in Valois the following day at about 1:30 p.m.

Yup, a looooong trip. And if we are lucky it will be 60 degrees when we arrive at the lake house. If we are extremely lucky. Fire up that hot tub, rapido...


Paradise Village hotel, beach and marina

The few days here are partly to decompress, partly to watch some American television (i.e. Fox News) so my blood pressure can rise slowly to the level of an Orange Alert, but also to spend some time with Granddaughter Sasha Fox (and her parents, of course). If we can wrest the nearly two-year-old away from her parents today, we will take her to the beach where she and I will build some sand castles and perhaps do some boogie-boarding.

OK, she won't boogie-board, but she loves the water. And I am teaching her how to splash people. Hey, someone has to be in charge of her education.


Sasha at the beach

Still, it is very hard for me to leave Mexico, even knowing how many friends and family we have waiting in New York in California.

The last week in Arroyo Seco - shutdown issues aside - was great, with trips to the beach, trips into La Manzanilla for lunch and Palapa Joes and Figaro's, and a fabulous welcome home party for our amigo Jose Cuevas, better known in the village as Chapon.

As we departed Sunday, our neighbor and amigo Chon closed the Pink Flamingo gates for us and I could tell he was ready to start cleaning and clearing the mess we left. I hadn't trimmed a bougainvillea or mowed the grass in weeks.

He promised that next season life would be mas tranquilo than this season and that we should not worry about anything (Mexico-wise) while we are in the U.S.

Except, he said, we should be very careful in the U.S. (his exact word was cuidado!) and be sure to come back home safely to Arroyo Seco.

Lo prometo, mi amigo, lo prometo.


Chena, Chapon, Brianda and Consuela


Sunset in La Manzanilla

Back in Sacramento after winning the US Airways luggage lottery

SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - Admiral Fox and I arrived back in Sacramento Wednesday night and won the luggage lottery, getting both of our checked 49.5 lb suitcases off our US Airways flight from Philadelphia.

While there was no movie on the plane, we were entertained for part of the 5-hour flight by a belligerent, middle-aged woman seated four rows ahead of us who was ticked off at the flight attendants (and life in general). She drank way too much and then - hold on tight - lit a cigarette while sitting in her window seat.

Yup, she puffed a couple of times before the flight attendants took away her lighter and smokes.

Perhaps more unbelievable, she simply walked off the plane and into the darkness in Sacramento. The betting on the plane was leaning heavily towards handcuffs and cops at the gate.

(NOTE TO THE ALMIGHTY: Please God, don't have that woman be a returning student who wants to study journalism at our university.)


CFA President Lillian Taiz

On our university campus Thursday, the talk was all about the 10 percent pay cut faculty and staff and are taking. University President Alex Gonzalez gave a speech in which he said times would be tough, but it was an 'opportunity to examine ways to operate more efficiently.'

Most faculty would like the pass on the opportunity, thank you very much.

The few students who attended the president's semester opening remarks - and whose fees have increased 32 percent this year - seemed pretty sanguine, perhaps more worried about the increases in book prices across the street at the bookstore.

Faculty heard a different story from California Faculty Association Lillian Taiz about how the furloughs were being implemented at all 23-campuses of the California State University and that there is a pressing need to let the public (and the students) know that these pay cuts will have consequences. Less pay, less work?

Perhaps.


Grey Goose II, last December

But there was good news late in the afternoon from an unlikely source: the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

I had received a bill for nearly $2,000 for re-registering the Grey Goose II Express trailer, the unit sitting safely (I hope) under a ramada in Arroyo Seco under the watchful eye of my neighbors Chena and Chon. The actual registration was $1,100 with the balance representing late fees charged because my mail had not caught up with me in time to send the DMV a notice of 'non-operation.'

It turned out my letter to the DMV - pleading the case that the trailer was not in California and thus was beyond the reach of the DMV - had been received and the trailer is off the books. It shows the trailer as being out of state and not subject to any state fees. (Woo-hoo!)

And that's a good thing. When the trailer title was transferred last year, the DMV clerk who entered the data made a math error and said the $9,000 trailer is valued at $900,000, and in order to get that changed, the trailer needs to be inspected, in California.

I think we'll keep it right where it sits in Arroyo Seco, Jalisco, Mexico.

Unless, of course, someone reading this would like to buy a nice barely used trailer for, say, a bargain price of $875,000. I'll even deliver it.

A boating trip in La Laguna - birds, fish, but no crocodiles

ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - Since arriving in December, I have wanted to check out the vast lagoon that borders the El Tecuan Hotel property, as well as the connecting rivers and channels that go all the way from here to La Veina and eventually the sailboat anchorage in Tenacatita Bay.

But today neighbor Chon convinced me to break out our two kayaks and rowboat for an expedition to the lagoon, a lagoon full of fish, with tons of birds, and as I can attest, some water snakes.

The locals say there are some crocodiles in the water, but not to worry, the biggest ones are much closer to Tenacatita Bay.

That was reassuring as I paddled in a kayak three inches off the surface of the water.


La laguna near Arroyo Seco

The Google Earth satellite shot above does not do justice to this body of water. The island in the middle is quite large, but didn't seem to have any easily accessible spots for me to climb out of my kayak to explore.

Capt. Sanders Lamont, Chon, and his son Danni were members of the expedition, in the rowboat and our second kayak. We checked out much of the shoreline but had to battle some very strong winds to get back to where we had parked the truck.

(NOTE TO EXPEDITION LEADERS: Don't go too far downwind in a kayak.)

On my next foray, I will grab the kayak that is dry inside so I can carry my cameras. Today I could barely keep the splashing water out of my open beer can.


Linda Mandala, the Admiral and Chon with the 'new' barbecue

Before we headed out on the lagoon expedition, neighbors Chena and Chon cooked us a fabulous meal of fresh fish - on a grill Chon made out of some extra bricks I had on the property. The fish was part of a mini-cooking seminar Chena has been putting on for Pat Lamont and Admiral Fox. Yesterday, the lesson was on making enchiladas - from scratch.

I believe I was still a little stuffed from yesterday's lesson when we started gulping down fish hot off the grill today.


In 15 minutes - comida

Most mornings start with chores like watering, laundry and sweeping the ever-dusty palapa. But two days ago we came out to a very pleasant surprise - our very-sick dog (Capitan) had walked from his house on the hill down to the Pink Flamingo, wandering in through our open gates.

He was hungry - a good sign. But he also seemed genuinely happy to see us, not just the food.

His progress has been remarkable and those of us who though he was a lost cause are having to eat our words.

At least in-between bites of enchilada and fresh fish.


Capitan comes a callin'

Three days of painting and Voila! - a colorful bodega and banos

ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - The speed with which the weeks are flying by - before the Admiral and I fly back to New York - is astounding. But so is the speed with which projects are being completed.

The Great Sod-On Project was done in four days. And thanks to the hard work of our amigo Francisco and his nephew Danni, the bodega, banos and showers are all a lovely yellowish-gold color - in just three days.


The proud painters


Putting on the finishing touches

Painting new concrete requires application of a sealer, then some primer and finally the paint itself. To be sure that the yellowish-gold buildings remain, well, yellowish-gold, the Admiral insisted on a second coat, which went on very fast. By 7 p.m. Tuesday, the job was done, within the three-day time frame Francisco insisted it could be finished.

We had our doubts about that, but hoped for a miracle.

The other miracle - besides the speed - is that this is Easter Week, generally a vacation time for families. We were very lucky to get our amigos to do the work... As they left last night, they were laying plans for the balance of Holy Week - and it did not include any more painting projects for anyone.


Soaking the grass before the sun gets high in the sky

The photo above shows the bodega, sans pintura, and also the sprinkler hard at work, soaking the new sod. Before I turn on the sprinkler, I go around soaking the sod by hand to make sure all the edges are wet. The evenings have been cool - below 70 degrees even! - and so the morning dew helps with getting some moisture down.

Will the sod take root and become a great place to place bocce? It should, and probably today neighbor Chon will come over with another trailer of 2000 liters of water to give it a good dousing.

And as I was out working this morning, watering by hand, I started dreaming of an automatic sprinkler system - the next project after Easter I suppose, along with several loads of gravel for the driveways and walkways.


A neighbor surveys the painting project

The Great Sod-On Project in Arroyo Seco is complete

ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - It was a loooong four days, but that was all The Great Sod-On Project took from start to finish. That included going to buy the bricks and concrete, digging for the retaining areas, bringing in topsoil and Friday, picking up three big truckloads of sod and, finally getting it down on the ground.

Oh, and watering. Lots of watering.

And that was all accomplished with three or four guys working, depending on what others things were going on in the village.


The finished product

The transformation from dustbowl to green was so dramatic, people in the village stopped by the gate and peered in to ooooh and aaaah. The children are dying to come in and run around on the grass ... Maybe later, right now the priority is water, water, water while the sod puts down some roots.

We have the only grass area in the village. Our amigos Jim & Vicki (who live out on the beach) have some sod in place, too. In fact, it was their sod that gave us the idea to cover up the ground with grass. But we had about a square meter left over which we gave to neighbor Chon - who supervised the entire project. With Chon's talents with plants and all things flora, I suspect he will have a lush lawn at his house in no time.


Preparing for the sod


Loading up the sod

The piece de resistance was when Chon's son Danni arrived with a trailer loaded with water tanks. In a few minutes, the entire 2500 liters was splashed on, giving the sod a good start.

The palm trees are planted and very, very thirsty

ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - The relocated palm trees and the new palm trees have all been safely tucked into the rich soil here, and now are screaming for water.

Ever hear a palm tree scream?

I haven't either, but they make me feel so guilty just looking at them. Neighbor Chon and I are hauling water and setting up a drip irrigation system. The big trees need a lot of water to survive the move and without it won't make it.

So today, we are dripping and hauling, hauling and dripping.


Transplanted palms outside the back wall on Calle Sin Nombre


New palms inside the fence

After Chon and the workmen dismissed the idea of using the quad and trailer to haul the trees around, they moved a few with the handtruck and suddenly the quad and trailer were pressed into service to move the trees.

I learned from Chon that if you are hauling a very heavy load with a quad, be sure to go very slow and put the quad in 4-wheel drive. It's a lot easier on the engine and transmission.

Local knowledge saves the day here, every day.


Quad gets pressed into service

We also had a nasty surprise when moving two palms on the trailer side of the palapa - fleas. The workmen jumped around like they were doing a St. Vitus dance when they moved the last three woven straw mats we had on the property.

They sprayed the ground liberally with Raid and said the problem was solved. But after thinking about it for about, oh, 10 seconds, I hauled the mats out behind the wall, sprayed them with a good dose of diesel, and burned them (and any fleas and eggs, I hope).


Burning out the last of the flea army

All through the morning, Chon's youngest daughter Juliette stayed with me and helped move the quad around. She's almost big enough to start driving a quad and was eyeballing the controls a lot. But I think I will let her dad teach her how to drive a quad with his less powerful unit.

But if she asks me to drive our quad, well, it will be very hard to say no.


Juliette with her favorite palm

We go to war with 'las pulgas' in Arroyo Seco

ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - We returned home from Puerto Vallarta tired, but happy to see that our neighbors - the best neighbors in the world - had done their magic again and cleaned everything, even going so far as to rearrange our outdoor kitchen so it made more sense, organizational.

But as soon as we arrived, Chena and Chon ran across the street and told us it was war - war with las pulgas.

War with fleas!


Enemy combatant

It seems that when the exterminator did his magic a few days before, he managed to wake up every sleeping flea in the property (a last set of living presents from the late Lucky Dog) but not kill them. Earlier on the day we arrived home, when they started cleaning, Chena and Chon had to avoid several areas (favorite sleeping spots of the dog) because there were literally hundreds of the little bastards. And then can jump about 18 inches off the ground.

Chena and Chon - and their children - all got chewed up some before we came home and Chon said it was time to go to the nuclear option, Mexican-style.

That nuclear option was to spray gasoline on the ground, light it on fire, and fry the damned fleas right in the ground. The other reason for the gas was to get rid of any eggs that were likely in the dirt.

I doubt the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would have approved of the maneuver, but it worked - at least outdoors. Our trailer (the Grey Goose Express II) had a light infestation, so I went in with two cans of Mexican Raid blazing in either hand to route out the miscreants. Watching all those Clint Eastwood westerns paid off as I sprayed to the left, then the right, dropping fleas like, well, fleas.

I did wear a bandana soaked with water as protection, though it took a very long hot shower to get the smell out of my nose.

This morning the trailer was flea-free. And as luck would have it, the original Grey Goose Express did not have any fleas yesterday and provided us with safe shelter to sleep, while we waited for the poison to abate in our normal digs.

Here's some footage from Battlefield Arroyo Seco.