ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - After several weeks here in Arroyo Seco, we decided to take a vacation to Sayulita, a not-so-small town north of Puerto Vallarta famous for surfing and at one time home to the author of the book 'Gringos in Paradise.'
Mike and Karen Schamel fly out of Puerto Vallarta Tuesday for the reaches of upstate New York and home. But before that, we will spend three days checking out the surfing, restaurants and famed nightlife.
Adm. Fox and Karen are already talking about salsa dance lessons for one of the nights.
Me? I'm taking my boogie boards and hope to not smash my toes on a rock like I did the last time I was there. It's a great surf beach but I am not sure I'll give that a try...
We will be staying at place call Casitas Tortugas in the penthouse. They don't call it the penthouse, but it is the top floor, has great verandas overlooking the town and is barely two blocks from the surf.
I'd call it a penthouse.
http://www.casitastortugas.com/the-25-bedroom-suite.html
Tonight the Pink Flamingo is having its first social event (and likely its only social event) by hosting the folks staying on the beach at the hotel. We will be firing up the stove in the palapa to make dinner and hope the mosquitos and no-see-ums that plague the beach right at dusk don't follow our amigos to town.
If so, we have some heavy duty fans to blow them out of town.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
February 13, 2012
February 12, 2012
The end of the rainbow, somewhere near Arroyo Seco
ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - If it hadn't been so damn muddy, I might have gone looking for the pot of gold at the end of rainbow yesterday. After a day of near-monsoon rains, we had a gorgeous rainbow at the end of the day, and an equally spectacular sunset.
I could almost hear the Mexican leprechauns cackling over the treasure.
So what do you do in a beach town on a rainy day?
Go to another beach town, of course.
With Mike and Karen Schamel we headed south to Barra de Navidad where we wandered through a few shops, stopped at the miracle store to pick up a few miracles and then had lunch at a favorite stop: Mexico Lindo.
Normally, I would not have a margarita with my 2 p.m. lunch, but it was raining, there was no rush to do anything, and the young Mexican woman bartending seems to be pretty professional while doing other folks' drinks.
They were great margaritas... And I am soooooo glad I didn't have two.
But after the drinks and fish fajitas for lunch, we took a foray on a panga out to the anchorage where cruising sailboats hang out. There were lots of boats, but because of the weather, most of the cruisers were hiding below in their cabins.
Still it was fun. And I have never seen so many pelicans on the water anywhere.
Today the weather is still on-again, off-again rain, but with patches of blue here and there.
The locals say we will be back to normal sunny beach/surf weather Monday.
But then, they said that yesterday, too.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I could almost hear the Mexican leprechauns cackling over the treasure.
So what do you do in a beach town on a rainy day?
Go to another beach town, of course.
With Mike and Karen Schamel we headed south to Barra de Navidad where we wandered through a few shops, stopped at the miracle store to pick up a few miracles and then had lunch at a favorite stop: Mexico Lindo.
Normally, I would not have a margarita with my 2 p.m. lunch, but it was raining, there was no rush to do anything, and the young Mexican woman bartending seems to be pretty professional while doing other folks' drinks.
They were great margaritas... And I am soooooo glad I didn't have two.
But after the drinks and fish fajitas for lunch, we took a foray on a panga out to the anchorage where cruising sailboats hang out. There were lots of boats, but because of the weather, most of the cruisers were hiding below in their cabins.
Still it was fun. And I have never seen so many pelicans on the water anywhere.
Today the weather is still on-again, off-again rain, but with patches of blue here and there.
The locals say we will be back to normal sunny beach/surf weather Monday.
But then, they said that yesterday, too.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
February 11, 2012
Rainy day II in Arroyo Seco - and the mud piles up
ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - We were awakened for the second night in a row by rain, this time accompanied by strong winds out of the south.
It reminded me of being anchored in Tenacatita Bay aboard Sabbatical and having the same thing happen some years back. One minute, you are in a paradise-like anchorage, the next, looking at a lee shore and hoping that your anchor is going to hold.
Last week we sold the Grey Goose Express I! Right now, it is in the possession of amigo and surfer dude Julian who is renovating it and will put it on his Arroyo Seco property as temporary housing.
He had asked to buy the Grey Goose for years and we caved in this year and sold it to him.
In an hour or so, we will hop in the car with Mike and Karen Schamel of Hector and head south to Barra de Navidad and other points to see what there is to see on a rainy day. I haven't been to Barra since the hurricane and want to see what's left. Barra sustained a lot of damage from ocean surge - even losing a landmark restaurant called Seamaster's. Plus we will make a stop at the miracle store.
I'll explain another time.
In the meantime here in el rancho Arroyo Seco, the rain has soaked the ground and what was at first a nice respite from dusty streets is turning those streets into mudpies - serious mudpies. Inside the compound we now have a growing lake and even the chickens have taken cover.
Sylvia wearing her handmade Mexican raincoat...
The forecast is for clearing Sunday (we hope) and a return to normal sunny beach life. In the meantime we have been assembling rain gear for our Barra adventure.
More on Barra de Navidad, the miracle store, and how to make raincoats out of plastic bags later.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
It reminded me of being anchored in Tenacatita Bay aboard Sabbatical and having the same thing happen some years back. One minute, you are in a paradise-like anchorage, the next, looking at a lee shore and hoping that your anchor is going to hold.
Last week we sold the Grey Goose Express I! Right now, it is in the possession of amigo and surfer dude Julian who is renovating it and will put it on his Arroyo Seco property as temporary housing.
He had asked to buy the Grey Goose for years and we caved in this year and sold it to him.
In an hour or so, we will hop in the car with Mike and Karen Schamel of Hector and head south to Barra de Navidad and other points to see what there is to see on a rainy day. I haven't been to Barra since the hurricane and want to see what's left. Barra sustained a lot of damage from ocean surge - even losing a landmark restaurant called Seamaster's. Plus we will make a stop at the miracle store.
I'll explain another time.
In the meantime here in el rancho Arroyo Seco, the rain has soaked the ground and what was at first a nice respite from dusty streets is turning those streets into mudpies - serious mudpies. Inside the compound we now have a growing lake and even the chickens have taken cover.
Sylvia wearing her handmade Mexican raincoat...
The forecast is for clearing Sunday (we hope) and a return to normal sunny beach life. In the meantime we have been assembling rain gear for our Barra adventure.
More on Barra de Navidad, the miracle store, and how to make raincoats out of plastic bags later.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
February 10, 2012
A rainy day in Arroyo Seco - no, really - rain!
ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - We sat on a terrace overlooking Tenacatita Bay last night, remarking how the huge thunderclouds in the distance would have spelled rain for sure in upstate New York, smugly thinking that the clouds held nothing for us.
We were so wrong.
A few hours later, as we returned from a great dinner in La Manzanilla at Figaro's restaurant the rain began, with a slow pitter patter, followed by a little harder pounding.
And it rained all night and into this morning.
As I write this, the power has been knocked out (a very common occurrence when it rains) and the wind has started blowing, probably signaling that a high pressure weather front is moving through. It has already blown the lid off my water tank (which means climbing on the roof of the bodega) and sent other loose stuff flying about the property.
And when the sun does come back out, we can look forward to a serious blast of humidity and in a day or so, mosquitos.
Adm. Fox and Karen and Ginny have headed into La Manzanilla to the market there that on Friday sells all kinds of items: clothing, jewelry, even bootlegged DVDs of first-run movies in the U.S. Mike Schamel and I stayed behind - he's on the beach helping repair the fence around a turtle hatchery while I catch up on various writing projects, and, I suppose, getting my ladder out and replacing the airborne water tank lid.
The village farmers are ecstatic about the rain - it means their crops are likely to get a good boost. Rainwater seems to make things grow faster than well water for some reason.
On to the projects!
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
We were so wrong.
A few hours later, as we returned from a great dinner in La Manzanilla at Figaro's restaurant the rain began, with a slow pitter patter, followed by a little harder pounding.
And it rained all night and into this morning.
As I write this, the power has been knocked out (a very common occurrence when it rains) and the wind has started blowing, probably signaling that a high pressure weather front is moving through. It has already blown the lid off my water tank (which means climbing on the roof of the bodega) and sent other loose stuff flying about the property.
And when the sun does come back out, we can look forward to a serious blast of humidity and in a day or so, mosquitos.
Adm. Fox and Karen and Ginny have headed into La Manzanilla to the market there that on Friday sells all kinds of items: clothing, jewelry, even bootlegged DVDs of first-run movies in the U.S. Mike Schamel and I stayed behind - he's on the beach helping repair the fence around a turtle hatchery while I catch up on various writing projects, and, I suppose, getting my ladder out and replacing the airborne water tank lid.
The village farmers are ecstatic about the rain - it means their crops are likely to get a good boost. Rainwater seems to make things grow faster than well water for some reason.
On to the projects!
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
February 9, 2012
Three days of seafood and it's time for a change
ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - For three days, no, make that four days, we have had fabulous seafood meals, first in Puerto Vallarta and then at two restaurants here in Arroyo Seco.
A new restaurant opened a block back from the beach that is doing a great business by delivering meals to the hotel across the street where Karen and Mike Schamel and our amiga Ginny Tortarelli are staying.
The hotel (and 11-bedroom house, really) is full of guests and the deck grass area on the ocean side is the scene of a great cocktail party every night at puesta del sol.
After eating relatively healthy meals for two months, the sudden infusion of shrimp has been a little bit of a shock to my system.
Still, tonight we head into La Manzanilla for a dinner at Figaro's. My menu choice? Shrimp gambieri, of course.
Tomorrow I'll get back on the granola plan.
Below are two photos from the Pink Flamingo: one is the property at 8 a.m. this morning, the other is of one of scorpion removal team.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
A new restaurant opened a block back from the beach that is doing a great business by delivering meals to the hotel across the street where Karen and Mike Schamel and our amiga Ginny Tortarelli are staying.
The hotel (and 11-bedroom house, really) is full of guests and the deck grass area on the ocean side is the scene of a great cocktail party every night at puesta del sol.
After eating relatively healthy meals for two months, the sudden infusion of shrimp has been a little bit of a shock to my system.
Still, tonight we head into La Manzanilla for a dinner at Figaro's. My menu choice? Shrimp gambieri, of course.
Tomorrow I'll get back on the granola plan.
Below are two photos from the Pink Flamingo: one is the property at 8 a.m. this morning, the other is of one of scorpion removal team.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
February 8, 2012
The Internet line dies and is revived... Viva TelMex!
ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - After several days sans internet in the village, a heroic hombre from TelMex (the telephone and internet service provider) arrived at the internet cafe to get things going again, just moments ago.
Added to that miracle is that this blogging software works again and you have quite a week going.
In the meantime, Mike and Karen Schamel arrived last night, escaping the cold (this year not-so-cold) upstate New York winter.
And now we are off to Luis' Restaurant Las Brisas for a lunch of shrimp and beer, er, I mean cerveza.
Hasta pasta, amigos.
TelMex to the rescue in Arroyo Seco
-----------------------Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Added to that miracle is that this blogging software works again and you have quite a week going.
In the meantime, Mike and Karen Schamel arrived last night, escaping the cold (this year not-so-cold) upstate New York winter.
And now we are off to Luis' Restaurant Las Brisas for a lunch of shrimp and beer, er, I mean cerveza.
Hasta pasta, amigos.
TelMex to the rescue in Arroyo Seco
-----------------------Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
February 5, 2012
Seeing Angels right here in Nuevo Vallarta
NUEVO VALLARTA, Nayarit, Mexico - Admiral Fox and I barreled up Highway 200 today, leading a two-car caravan with Sasha and her mother right behind us all the way into Vallarta from Arroyo Seco.
Sasha and Camelia came down for a long weekend and by all measures, had a great time.
Sasha sleeping in the hammock with Grandma.
Sasha and Grandma head out to the beach on our quad.
We have a handful of errands to do here in the big city, including getting new photos for our Mexican visas (called an FM3).
We have been to two Walmarts and a Sam's Club (all of which normally do these photos). But no joy. Both Walmarts have machines not working and Sam's Club pleaded total ignorance that the photos were ever done in their shops.
Que lastima! Santo Crappo.
We did make it over to the aeropuerto just in time to pick up Ginny French of Boston, an amiga of Sylvia's from Corning College and who is coming to Arroyo Seco for a week of fun in the sun. She will be joined by our other amigos, Karen and Mike Schamel on Tuesday.
But we took Ginny right in for lunch from the airport - to Napolitos, of course, in the Paradise Village Mall. And yes, that's a margarita in Adm. Fox's hand...
Adm. Fox and Ginny at Napolitos in the Paradise Village mall
In our quest for photos today, we did have one quasi-miraculous encounter - at a Telcel cellular store of all places.
I have been reading an Anne Rice book about the life of Christ (she does write some things that don't have vampires in them) and also having an ongoing dialogue with a writer amiga from Sayulita about everyday miracles and the likelihood that angels really do exist.
I am not sure the young ladies in the photo below qualify exactly, but still, it was fun getting my photo taken. Angels, right there in the Telcel store.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sasha and Camelia came down for a long weekend and by all measures, had a great time.
Sasha sleeping in the hammock with Grandma.
Sasha and Grandma head out to the beach on our quad.
We have a handful of errands to do here in the big city, including getting new photos for our Mexican visas (called an FM3).
We have been to two Walmarts and a Sam's Club (all of which normally do these photos). But no joy. Both Walmarts have machines not working and Sam's Club pleaded total ignorance that the photos were ever done in their shops.
Que lastima! Santo Crappo.
We did make it over to the aeropuerto just in time to pick up Ginny French of Boston, an amiga of Sylvia's from Corning College and who is coming to Arroyo Seco for a week of fun in the sun. She will be joined by our other amigos, Karen and Mike Schamel on Tuesday.
But we took Ginny right in for lunch from the airport - to Napolitos, of course, in the Paradise Village Mall. And yes, that's a margarita in Adm. Fox's hand...
Adm. Fox and Ginny at Napolitos in the Paradise Village mall
In our quest for photos today, we did have one quasi-miraculous encounter - at a Telcel cellular store of all places.
I have been reading an Anne Rice book about the life of Christ (she does write some things that don't have vampires in them) and also having an ongoing dialogue with a writer amiga from Sayulita about everyday miracles and the likelihood that angels really do exist.
I am not sure the young ladies in the photo below qualify exactly, but still, it was fun getting my photo taken. Angels, right there in the Telcel store.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
February 4, 2012
BlogPress returns, which means photos can go up again...
ARROYO SECO, Jalisco - By what divine intervention I don't know, but suddenly BlogPress came back online on my iPad and so...
I think if I ever have a long enough time I will write a full report on what it is like using an iPad as a primary computer.
The jury is still out, except on the weight issue - the iPad weighs so little I can carry it all day and not worry about it. This particular blog is being written outside of the Internet cafe here because the floor is being mopped.
It will be great to get my own connection at the Pink Flamingo so I can sit in the shade, sip tea (or other beverage) and write from there. Perhaps by Monday night - provided I can set up the Tel-Mex modem without incident.
This afternoon amigos Randy and Karen, Greg and Joni and cousin Lynn are going to descend on the village for a look at things. By then, granddaughter Sasha, her mother, and Sylvia will return from their La Manzanilla crocodile tour.
I told Sasha to be careful at the water's edge. A three-year-old would make a nice snack for those huge bull crocs in the La Manz laguna.
Randy and Karen and Lynn are staying in condo just up behind the Catholic Church in La Manz and have a commanding view of the bay - and the new neon cross that lights up the sky at night.
---Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I think if I ever have a long enough time I will write a full report on what it is like using an iPad as a primary computer.
The jury is still out, except on the weight issue - the iPad weighs so little I can carry it all day and not worry about it. This particular blog is being written outside of the Internet cafe here because the floor is being mopped.
It will be great to get my own connection at the Pink Flamingo so I can sit in the shade, sip tea (or other beverage) and write from there. Perhaps by Monday night - provided I can set up the Tel-Mex modem without incident.
This afternoon amigos Randy and Karen, Greg and Joni and cousin Lynn are going to descend on the village for a look at things. By then, granddaughter Sasha, her mother, and Sylvia will return from their La Manzanilla crocodile tour.
I told Sasha to be careful at the water's edge. A three-year-old would make a nice snack for those huge bull crocs in the La Manz laguna.
Randy and Karen and Lynn are staying in condo just up behind the Catholic Church in La Manz and have a commanding view of the bay - and the new neon cross that lights up the sky at night.
---Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
February 3, 2012
At the Arroyo Seco Internet cafe, waiting for Sasha Fox
ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - Sasha Fox and her mom are visiting here for a few days and Sasha just went toddling off with Grandma (Admiral Fox) to visit a neighbor who has a two year old.
I am posting - again - from the internet cafe here, but over the weekend we will be picking up a DSL modem in Puerto Vallarta so we don't have to rely so heavily on this tienda.
The people who own the store and internet service are nice enough, but at times it seems have the entire village is here, and the bandwidth simply can't handle any more wireless connections.
This blog is also being written using a different software package. The BlogPress software simply refuses to function anymore - kind of like my washing machine now in the repair shop in Melaque.
The repair shop has a new main circuit board 'on order' to fix the machine.
On order. In Mexico.
I hope we get it back in time to put it back in storage.
In the meantime, today is a beach day with Sasha and dinner tonight in La Manzanilla with amigos Joanie and Greg from El Tuito at the famous Martine's restaurant.
(NOTE TO CAPTAIN: Limit yourself to two margaritas...)
More on how that works out tomorrow.
February 2, 2012
Trying out some new blogging software for the iPad
This is a test of the new blogging software, to replace Blogpress which has decided to simply stop working.
Santo Crappo!
January 28, 2012
A visit with granddaughter Sasha at Paradise Village
NUEVO VALLARTA, Jalisco, Mexico -- Adm. Fox and I zipped up the highway from Arroyo Seco Friday for a visit to Puerto Vallarta.
We wanted to visit granddaughter Sasha, but also had to pick up a few dozen things to fix hurricane damage and also simply get supplies for the season.
With Sasha on the Paradise Village beach
Until we were on the ground in Arroyo Seco for a day or so, we weren't sure how much time we were likely going to spend, Now it seems we will be there most of the remaining eight or so weeks we expect to be here south of the border.
One of our treasure hunts has been to find replacement toilet seats. Yup, toilet seats. In the hurricane last fall, both were smashed by falling roof tiles and need to be replaced.
In the U.S., simple. In Mexico, not so.
The toilets we bought are fancy, lo-flush units that are environmentally friendly in water usage but a big carbon footprint to try to replace. We checked three likely places in the area, none of which had anything that would fit.
It would seem crazy to have to replace a toilet to get a toilet seat, but, well, it is Mexico.
Beyond that, we need yellow, bug-light light bulbs, hardware for doors and some specialty foods that we can't get in Arroyo Seco, like good refried beans. What? Refried beans not available in Arroyo Seco? Well, some are, but the amount of lard in the cans makes them delicious but less than healthy.
No matter how the treasure hunt turns out today, we head back down the highway this afternoon. Sunday is lunch on the Arroyo Seco beach and perhaps a trip to Playa Chica where the Admiral and I spent a nice afternoon two days ago - the only people on the whole stretch of beach.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
We wanted to visit granddaughter Sasha, but also had to pick up a few dozen things to fix hurricane damage and also simply get supplies for the season.
With Sasha on the Paradise Village beach
Until we were on the ground in Arroyo Seco for a day or so, we weren't sure how much time we were likely going to spend, Now it seems we will be there most of the remaining eight or so weeks we expect to be here south of the border.
One of our treasure hunts has been to find replacement toilet seats. Yup, toilet seats. In the hurricane last fall, both were smashed by falling roof tiles and need to be replaced.
In the U.S., simple. In Mexico, not so.
The toilets we bought are fancy, lo-flush units that are environmentally friendly in water usage but a big carbon footprint to try to replace. We checked three likely places in the area, none of which had anything that would fit.
It would seem crazy to have to replace a toilet to get a toilet seat, but, well, it is Mexico.
Beyond that, we need yellow, bug-light light bulbs, hardware for doors and some specialty foods that we can't get in Arroyo Seco, like good refried beans. What? Refried beans not available in Arroyo Seco? Well, some are, but the amount of lard in the cans makes them delicious but less than healthy.
No matter how the treasure hunt turns out today, we head back down the highway this afternoon. Sunday is lunch on the Arroyo Seco beach and perhaps a trip to Playa Chica where the Admiral and I spent a nice afternoon two days ago - the only people on the whole stretch of beach.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
January 26, 2012
In Arroyo Seco, settling in until the Banderas Bay Regatta
ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - Admiral Fox and I have been working on getting the Pink Flamingo opened up for several days and are pretty close to getting things in order.
Miraculously, both the Honda quad and my Honda motorscooter turned over on the first try and seem to be running fine.
The telephone is out however, and Tel-Mex says the line is fine... It seems that during the hurricane last fall, all the lines went down and ours probably got connected to another house.
Trying to untangle that is proving to be a challenge.
Because of that, our Internet is being handled at an Internet cafe - brand new to Arroyo Seco this season.
Internet cafe - Arroyo Seco style
The good part is that our iPads work here wireless so we don't even take up space from the villagers who are becoming quite Internet savvy.
We also have made a foray into La Manzanilla for meals at both Fiesta Mexicana and our favorite hangout, Palapa Joes. Manana it will be a fast trip to Puerto Vallarta to pick up supplies some furniture, and see granddaughter Sasha (now three and a half years old).
The beachside restaurant, Fiesta Mexicana
The village remains Arroyo Seco with few changes, a new tienda here, a surf shop opened on the way to Playa Chica.
And as soon as I get the hammocks strung, all will be good for this afternoon.
The beach at La Manzanilla
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Miraculously, both the Honda quad and my Honda motorscooter turned over on the first try and seem to be running fine.
The telephone is out however, and Tel-Mex says the line is fine... It seems that during the hurricane last fall, all the lines went down and ours probably got connected to another house.
Trying to untangle that is proving to be a challenge.
Because of that, our Internet is being handled at an Internet cafe - brand new to Arroyo Seco this season.
Internet cafe - Arroyo Seco style
The good part is that our iPads work here wireless so we don't even take up space from the villagers who are becoming quite Internet savvy.
We also have made a foray into La Manzanilla for meals at both Fiesta Mexicana and our favorite hangout, Palapa Joes. Manana it will be a fast trip to Puerto Vallarta to pick up supplies some furniture, and see granddaughter Sasha (now three and a half years old).
The beachside restaurant, Fiesta Mexicana
The village remains Arroyo Seco with few changes, a new tienda here, a surf shop opened on the way to Playa Chica.
And as soon as I get the hammocks strung, all will be good for this afternoon.
The beach at La Manzanilla
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
January 22, 2012
On the way back to Mexico, one day out
ON BOARD Virgin America FLT 27 - We are cruising at 450 mph over Colorado on our way to SF where I intend to get a good night's sleep before finishing this sojourn Sunday in Puerto Vallarta.
Most people reading this already know that I have been in the US since Wednesday attending the wake and funeral of my older brother.
And most know that his death came as an unexpected shock - a crashing heart attack at a medical appointment.
Such events have strange effects on people and it will be some time before I can put words to how I feel and how the trajectory of my life is now changed.
At the moment? Stuck in memories of growing up with flashes of an adult older brother.
My thanks to the many friends who send me messages of support and condolence. All were - and are - greatly appreciated.
In typical writer fashion, I wrote a column about Tony's passing for the newspaper I now work with in my semi-retirement.
It helped, for the moment.
I hope that some time with Sylvia in the sunshine in Mexico works, too.
Below are a couple of weather photos from NY today just as I was leaving. Mexico is definitely the right place for me to be for a lot of reasons, weather included.
In front of my sister Anne's house in Hewlett
The backyard at Anne's
Runways at JFK
On Virgin America Flight
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Most people reading this already know that I have been in the US since Wednesday attending the wake and funeral of my older brother.
And most know that his death came as an unexpected shock - a crashing heart attack at a medical appointment.
Such events have strange effects on people and it will be some time before I can put words to how I feel and how the trajectory of my life is now changed.
At the moment? Stuck in memories of growing up with flashes of an adult older brother.
My thanks to the many friends who send me messages of support and condolence. All were - and are - greatly appreciated.
In typical writer fashion, I wrote a column about Tony's passing for the newspaper I now work with in my semi-retirement.
It helped, for the moment.
I hope that some time with Sylvia in the sunshine in Mexico works, too.
Below are a couple of weather photos from NY today just as I was leaving. Mexico is definitely the right place for me to be for a lot of reasons, weather included.
In front of my sister Anne's house in Hewlett
The backyard at Anne's
Runways at JFK
On Virgin America Flight
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
January 15, 2012
In Nuevo Vallarta at the Vallarta Yacht Club...aaaaahhhhh
Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico - We landed early shuffled over to get our wheels and have already checked out our temporary digs aboard a 40-foot Passport sailboat.
Temps in the low 80s, some change in 36 hours.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Temps in the low 80s, some change in 36 hours.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
First impression of Virgin Air plane - it's a bloody spaceship
ON THE TARMAC ABOARD VIRGIN FLIGHT - It might just be the weariness of yesterday's US Airways flights, but this plane is like a bloodily spaceship.
I am getting a signal to shut down... More later...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I am getting a signal to shut down... More later...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Flying Virgin Airlines today - not the US Airways experience, I bet
San Francisco Airport - Adm. Fox and I are having a very civilized breakfast in the Virgin America terminal, from which we will zoom out to PV in about an hour.
Compared to most airport terminals, this place is a tiny slice of heaven.
Even the TSA people were polite as we came thru security.
Very Eco-friendly here - not a plate or cup looks like they are plastic or - gasp - styrofoam.
In about 4-5 hours, I expect to be sitting on the deck of a sailboat in Nuevo Vallarta, planning Monday's adventures.
More on that, if el Internet cooperates...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Compared to most airport terminals, this place is a tiny slice of heaven.
Even the TSA people were polite as we came thru security.
Very Eco-friendly here - not a plate or cup looks like they are plastic or - gasp - styrofoam.
In about 4-5 hours, I expect to be sitting on the deck of a sailboat in Nuevo Vallarta, planning Monday's adventures.
More on that, if el Internet cooperates...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
January 14, 2012
Halfway to SF after watching the movie 'Contagion'
AT 32,000 FEET aboard U.S. Airways - One recommended must-see movie is 'Contagion.'
Matt Damon, Judd Law, Gwyneth Paltow - great acting and a suspenseful script.
But it might not be the best choice for viewing while locked in a plane with several hundred people, many of whom seem to be hacking and wheezing with sounds remarkably like those dying of a nearly unstoppable virus in the movie.
I am wearing a handkerchief over my mouth and nose, wondering if I should inoculate with a vodka tonic or three.
Of course that would likely make the megadoses of Keflex that I am taking less effective. The dermatologist took a chunk out of my shoulder Tuesday but may have let some infection in at the same time. The Keflex 750 mg per dose - is supposed to take care of the swelling. Maybe there will be a little left over to guard against the plague on this airliner.
On second thought, perhaps I should ring for one of the attendants gossiping in the back and get some hydration gong - pronto!!!
Oh madame!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Matt Damon, Judd Law, Gwyneth Paltow - great acting and a suspenseful script.
But it might not be the best choice for viewing while locked in a plane with several hundred people, many of whom seem to be hacking and wheezing with sounds remarkably like those dying of a nearly unstoppable virus in the movie.
I am wearing a handkerchief over my mouth and nose, wondering if I should inoculate with a vodka tonic or three.
Of course that would likely make the megadoses of Keflex that I am taking less effective. The dermatologist took a chunk out of my shoulder Tuesday but may have let some infection in at the same time. The Keflex 750 mg per dose - is supposed to take care of the swelling. Maybe there will be a little left over to guard against the plague on this airliner.
On second thought, perhaps I should ring for one of the attendants gossiping in the back and get some hydration gong - pronto!!!
Oh madame!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
16,000 feet aboard a de-iced small jet
NEAR Philadelphia - We sat on the runway for 20 minutes getting the plane de-iced, listening to lots of weather chatter from the other passengers.
My stitches are still achy from the security scan...guess I will be more careful tomorrow in SF as we come back through.
The flight tomorrow is on Virgin America, not quite the space flight that Virgin has planned for this decade, but it is a direct to PV where Captain Bob O'Hara will pick us up in our Toyota Tundra.
Tonight in SF we will celebrate Dylan's birthday - an event we almost always miss because most years we have been in Mexico for a month by now.
More from the ground...my index finger is sore from tapping this screen.
My stitches are still achy from the security scan...guess I will be more careful tomorrow in SF as we come back through.
The flight tomorrow is on Virgin America, not quite the space flight that Virgin has planned for this decade, but it is a direct to PV where Captain Bob O'Hara will pick us up in our Toyota Tundra.
Tonight in SF we will celebrate Dylan's birthday - an event we almost always miss because most years we have been in Mexico for a month by now.
More from the ground...my index finger is sore from tapping this screen.
Heading west to SF, then south to PV
Elmira, NY - the snow is coming down steady here and security tight as always.
The stitches in my shoulder still hurt from having to put my hands on my head in the body scanner.
But I feel soooo much safer.
More on the odyssey '10 Weeks in Mexico' when we hit the Philly airport and my wireless keyboard is at hand.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
The stitches in my shoulder still hurt from having to put my hands on my head in the body scanner.
But I feel soooo much safer.
More on the odyssey '10 Weeks in Mexico' when we hit the Philly airport and my wireless keyboard is at hand.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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