Out with the Old and In with the New

2009 has been an interesting year.  A good friend of mine told me it was going to be a "Big Wheel" year.  Boy was she right.

This past year has found me evaluting my life and my future. Good friends have died.  Good friends have struggled with health issues.  I have noticed that I am not getting any younger and I have more aches in my body than I care to admit to.  But overall, I am health, if not overweight.  Need to work on that one.  I know less BEER!

Relationships are tricky and just when you think you know what one is about you get the rug pulled out from under you and you just can't seem to find the road to forgiveness or to forgetting.  I think that forgiveness will be easier in the long run and I am working on it, but the not being able to forget about how it was is harder by far.

The boat pulpit got destroyed again this year and is now repaired and ready for service.  I am looking forward to blue seas and salt water and a little seclusion.

This year saw more of our cruising friends swallow the hook and become lubbers.  We are slowly drifting in that direction...I think?

We bought a Motor Home and that has reopened some doors of discovery.  We are spending more time in the States and we love the travel.  Can't see us settling down and living in a house.  We just like to take our home with us where-ever we go...be it land or sea.

I went to Spanish School this year and almost had a total break-down.  Thankfully Carole wouldn't let me be a slacker and it all worked out.  That was a wonderful week of just "girl" time.

I became addicted to my iTouch.  I love it...music, movies, wifi, books, addresses, games and more games.

I bought a Mac computer and started the road to switching from a PC to a Mac.  A little different, but all good. 

I got Facebooked!  Still not sure if that is a good thing or not.  Sometimes I like it, but sometimes it wastes my time.  Sometimes I find that it is like overhearing a conversation that you weren't suppose to and all it does is hurt your feelings.  On a different note I have reconnected with  old friends and met some new ones.  Thanks to a  meeting on Facebook we got a new tow dolly for the RV.

Because my sister, Helen and her husband, Einor store our car and RV we have got to spend more time with them.  That sure has been WONDERFUL.

My son, David married Lilly and that increased our family by two.  So welcome Lilly and Devonie to our family.  It is so good to see you happy, David.

My daughter, Sarah and Chris found each other.  I am excited.  Sarah seems happy.

Found out I am going to be a grandmother again. And just got off the phone with my step-son and he and the mother of his child just got married!

Cynthia is growing into a fine young woman.  Our grandsons Chance and Jake are growing like weeds.
Kelly is working and working.  Tina is moving.

So let the new year come and reveal all it has to offer.  We have 2 new daughter-in-laws and a new baby on the way and a new grand-daughter.  The year is full of promise.

So Happy New Year!  May your future be full of promise!

Cold, Driving and Beans

I have forgotten what it means to be cold.  For the first time in almost 7 years my feet are COLD!  I am wearing long sleeves!  I am wearing shoes with socks!

Driving again is always an adventure.  Now we have our lovely tow dolly to take our "dinghy" with us.  It works great and we don't worry about getting pooped.  We do worry about tailgaters.  I still feel like we are in shallow water when we go through big cities.

RV Parks are just like marinas.  There are welcome packets, events and activities and lots of advice givers.  Instead of sea stories you get road stories.  Fortunately for us we got one of the last three spaces at Davis Monthan AFB.  What a great place at the foothills of the Catalina Mountains.  The park is clean, the showers are hot and very private, the laundry is reasonable and the room is very clean.  The staff is friendly and helpful.


Some of you are aware of the Baked Bean shortage in Guatemala.  We have been looking for them for months and Roger and Carole on SV Androsian have not been able to find them.  Jim searches in Guatemala City for them with no luck.  Carole, you will be happy to know that there is no shortage in the USA.  They are everywhere I go to shop...even in the food stores at the gas stations!  Not to worry I will eat some for you.

Mom is taking good care of us.  Homemade dessert every night!  More Wii Fit in my future.

One Week and Counting

I can't believe that next Sunday at this time we will be riding up to Guatemala City.  Then it is just a wake up and we will be winging our way to the United States.

Christmas in the States? Wow, it has been nearly 8 years since we have been there for Christmas. Trying to get my head around cold weather, shopping, shopping, eating, eating, etc.  You get the picture.

Will miss Christmas at the marina with all our friends that we have here.  But am really looking forward to a full size tree.  (Daddy, I hope you are reading this.) The smells of baking cookies.  Making fudge and divinity.  Actually wearing a sweater!

But the thing I am most looking forward to is FAMILY!  We are so fortunate to be able to travel and see almost everyone. 

So we are planning and cleaning and getting the suitcases ready.  We are making our lists and checking them twice.

Giving Thanks

 It is so easy to complain.  My bill is wrong, I lost my job, my kids are in trouble, our country is in trouble, and the list goes on and on and on.

I am guilty of it too.  So with Thanksgiving tomorrow, it is time to reflect on what I have that is right and good.

I have my health
My kids are employed and doing well
My parents are healthy and independent
I have great siblings
My husband loves me
I have a roof over my head, food on the table, and clothes on my back
I have wonderful friends
I have the freedom to practice my faith
I have the freedom to travel
I have money in the bank (not a lot, but enough)
I have a safe place for my boat
I have a safe place for my RV

So as we begin the Holiday Season let us reflect on what is good and right.  If only for a little while.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The Bathrooms are a changing

Bathrooms and showers.  You never know what you are going to get when you travel or live in Central America.
Some people complain about the Bathrooms and Showers at Mario's.  I haven't minded them much.  Had worse in a marina in the States.  Korea was a slit in the floor for awhile.   The walls looked a little moldy sometimes, (it is the jungle), the electrical shower head bothered some, not me, and there are only two.  So during high season you may have to wait.  Waiting isn't that bad.  You wait at the pool and usually there is someone to talk to and the staff walk by, the birds are singing and the waves are lapping on the docks.

However, I must admit that I am pleased to say the the walls are being tiled!  Not only tiled, but with a border!  My friend, Israel, who I met 5 years ago is doing the job.  It looks great.  There will be two faucets...hot and cold.

Here are Israel and myself in the partially completed second shower. 

It is that time of year

The tide is high and so that means the grand exodus for deep draft boats has begun.

Pickings are slim here on the Rio.  A very quiet year.  Most people didn't stay with their boats.  We did stay with our boat and took advantage of some events here on the Rio Dulce.

Janet and Russ manage Tortugal Marina here on the river.  They have taken movie night to a new high.  A free launch ride, 2 pieces of pizza (the best on the river) and an outdoor theater.  What fun we have had with a double feature of Alfred Hitchcock's, Rear Window and North by Northwest.  I still can't believe that Eva Marie Saint was able to traverse Mount Rushmore in an A-Line skirt and high heels.
Just when I thought that I had died and gone to heaven with the pizza, we headed over yesterday to Tortugal for Sunday Breakfast Buffet.


Damn it Janet!  I love you.  All you can eat fresh fruit, cinnamon rolls, and coffee.  Then the good, I mean really good stuff came out.  Included in the cost was one mimosa, a gigantic piece of baked french toast with praline topping and a huge slice of homemade crab quiche!  I almost forgot, you also got a serving of toasted English muffins with smoked salmon and capers.

So the next time Tortugal has a Breakfast Buffet call in your reservation.  You won't be sorry.

Veteran's Day

Veteran's Day is a day for reflection.  For me there are personal ties to Veteran's Day.  I am a Disabled Veteran.  My husband is a Veteran.  My Father is a Veteran.  My Uncle George rests as a Veteran aboard the USS ARIZONA at Pearl Harbor.  My sister-in-law is a Veteran.  So many of our friends near and far are Veterans.

This year once again finds our fine young men and women fighting across the sea in foreign countries.  This year at Fort Hood, Texas one solider raised weapons against his fellow soldiers and we ask, WHY?

For every Mother, Father, Daughter, Son, Brother, or Sister who has watched "THE CAR" come down the street and hoped against hope that the car wouldn't stop at their door.  For every loved one who has stood at a grave flinching at the Twenty-one Gun Salute and had the Flag folded and handed to them, "On behalf of a grateful Nation..."  we should and must pause as a Grateful Nation for the ones who lay down their lives on our behalf.  For the ones that won't be home for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  For the ones the won't see first steps.  For the ones that won't walk daughters down the aisle or toast sons who wed.  For the one's that won't hold their grandchildren.  For all the ones that won't....so that we can.
Please take a moment and remember....