February 29, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Evenings.

When we first moved to Texas in 1964, what we loved above everything else were the evenings.  We could actually sit outside in the evenings and not put on a sweater.    Even in the summer, in Ontario, a jacket or sweater is required in the evenings.  But not in Texas in July.  No sweater required.  It seemed heavenly.

Tonight, Doreen and I sat on the balcony at 9:00 enjoying the warm air.  No sweater required.  We watched the lights on the fishing boats way out at sea.  And we listened to the crashing of the waves.  Every so often we could hear voices from the other balconies but the evening was peaceful and quiet.

Our evenings are the same.   Tonight,  Ken listened to a book while sitting on the bed.  Don was reading a book while Doreen watched a movie on her tablet.  I attended to my e mails.  Our home was silent.  This past week we have watched curling and this week we will watch a hockey game.  But most of the time, after dinner,  we read.  Every evening before retiring for the night, Ian would go onto the balcony all by himself and listen for the sound of the sea.  He was soaking it all up before he returned to Ottawa.  I bet he is missing that sound now.

Our evenings here in Mexico are not fancy or exciting but they are pleasant and enjoyable, and that is just fine with us..

February 28, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Lifestyle.

When we met with folks in San Antonio to update our estate plan, the two men we met commented that many people who are their clients all want to do what we do, which is to follow 80 degree weather and spend summers in Nova Scotia and winters in Mexico.  In the spring and fall we visit with family.    After we reviewed our financial situation with these experts they asked how we put our plan into place.   Many of their clients have much more money than us but seem unable to implement a plan.  We just laughed and said that we made decisions long ago.  Now we just run our program.

This week on the phone, I was asked by another money and insurance man if I would consider giving a seminar on how to put a retirement plan into place.   He said that everyone wants to do what we do in retirement, but they do not seem to know where to start.   And he commented that most people have a lot more money than we do but are still frozen in place.   Again I just laughed and suggested that I will be willing to talk to anyone but my days of running seminars are over.

But the whole thing is just like a jigsaw puzzle.  First you must think through what you want to be doing during retirement.  Then but  by bit,  assemble the pieces of the puzzle.  It is all so simple when you break it up into parts.   The lifestyle comes from your selections and choices, one by one.  Simple.  But not easy.  Just like building an office, you build the retirement you visualize, one decision at a time.  Simple but not easy.

February 27, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Grande Prairie, Alberta.

 The Scotties Curling Championship is being played at Grande Prairie, Alberta.  The facility looks lovely and the stands are full for each game.   You can tell from listening to the crowds that the fans are knowledgable about curling.   But Grande Prairie is 285 mies northwest of Edmonton which means it is cold.

Several years ago, I was in a hot tub at Paradise Village.  Several other folks sitting in the hot tub with me were from Grande Prairie so I asked them what was good about living in Grande Prairie.   In my mind, there were no reasons to live that far north, unless you had no choice,  but these folks set me straight.  They told me all the reasons why Grande Prairie was a wonderful place to live and to raise children.   Since that time, I had never again thought about Grande Prairie, until now.

Tonight while watching the semifinals of the curling, I looked up Grande Prairie.  I now know enough about the town to make a speech, or to bore my friends and relatives.   Trumpeter swans stop by on their way north so the city is often called the Swan City.  It is flat and it is cold.   The area surrounding the city has the furthest north agricultural area of any place in the world.  They have only 17 inches of precipitation along with 315 days of measurable sunshine in each year.  And they have a College.  The city is on the south side of The Peace River Region.

Clearly, this is an interesting place.  Now I want to go and look at it, but not in the winter.

February 26, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Curling.

Curling came late into my life.  Ten years ago, Ken and were in Nova Scotia when the Brier, the Canadian Championship,  was on TV.   At first we watched because we did not know the rules or the terminology.  Next we tried to figure out the strategy.  Soon we started to enjoy watching the game of curling.   The games are slow but the skill of the players is impressive and as the game progresses, you can see the purpose behind every shot.   But like everything else, the more you know about a game, the more interesting it is.

This week we have been watching The Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the Women's Canadian Championship.    We get a Canadian sports channel so we watch every match.  Doreen and I love it as the games have been played at a high level.  This morning, we watched as exciting as a game could be.  New Brunswick was playing Manitoba.  And N.B. won all through the game.  If Manitoba won, they would get into the 4 team playoff but at the 10th end, which is the last end, they were still down 2 points.  But on the last throw of the last stone, the Manitoba skip scored three points by knocking two N.B. stones out and putting her own in, thus winning the game.  It was very exciting.  

Next weekend, the Brier will begin so we will get to watch some more curling on TV.  Ken has suggested that watching curling is a little like watching paint dry but we have both learned to enjoy curling.  The winner of The Scotties represents Canada at the World championship but we can never watch the games in the US, so we must get our fill of curling in Mexico.  And we watch the scores on the internet.  My friend Mary thinks we are nuts to watch curling but we have learned to love it.  You can teach an old dog new tricks.

February 25, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Pool.

The pool is the social center of our condo.  It is the place where you meet and greet friends old and new.  Last year, because I never went to the pool, I did not see anyone but this season I am at the pool several afternoons a week.  Don and Doreen are following the practice of Ian and Rita of going early to reserve a Palapa, one of the thatched roof huts that provide shade.  They then spend the morning at the pool,  come up for lunch, then return for the afternoon, reading in the shade and the sun and getting in the pool to cool down.   I join them around 3:00.

This afternoon, I was sitting with Don and Doreen in the shade.  Don was reading.  Doreen stood up to go to the hot tub while I had just arrived.  A little man came over with his towel and asked if he could join us.  We assured him that he was welcome so he sat down at the bottom of the lounge chair that Doreen had been using.  He told us that he was sitting by himself waiting for his wife.  But she had not come, so he was lonely sitting alone.  He began to chat...and chat...and chat.  Poor Don never did get back to his book.  When his wife arrived, she sat in an adjacent lounge chair right beside Doreen while the little man moved to another chair on the other side of Don.  They were nice folks from Winnipeg and had been here 5 weeks.  We think they were both lonely as they certainly wanted to talk.

Once or twice during the afternoons I get in the water to do my exercises in the deep end.  I follow that by enjoying the hot tub.   Ken usually joins us around 4:00.   I am always surprised how pleasant it is to sit and do nothing and watch people at the pool.  Sometimes I even open my Kindle but most of the time I just look and talk and enjoy myself.  Life is grand here at Playa Royale, down by the pool.

February 24, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Health Update.

Today my blood was drawn and tested.  The results were e mailed to both me and to my Oncologist in Mississippi.  My blood counts continue to rise, although still not to normal levels.  The hospital across the street is efficient and pleasant so our system is working well.  We hope the Ibrance, the chemotherapy I take each evening,  is doing it's job on the breast cancer cells.  Ken hopes that it if is doing as good a job on my cancer as it is on my appetite I will soon be in good health.

What he means is that I have not only stopped losing weight but have also gained all the weight I had lost, so I look a lot better.  My hair is still short and fine and impossible.  Fortunately I am not vain because my hair looks ridiculous.  I can walk some distance but I can not walk quickly.

My legs give me problems with balance.  Neuropathy is alive and well in my body.  But I am walking and talking and enjoying life in Mexico.  And I can accomplish my tasks.  Today Doreen and I walked across the street to the hospital to have blood drawn, then walked down the road to the Mall to buy butter, and walked further down the road to the Hotel to have dollars exchanged to pesos.  After that, we had a cup of tea in the bar.  Instead of walking home we took the golf cart.  My tasks were complete.   Now the next update will be the scans which will be done in Mississippi on March 29.  Those results will really tell the tale.

February 23, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Comings and Goings.

Our special lunch today was held at the golf club.  Ian prefers it over all others.   We six took the shuttle and had a delightful lunch sitting watching the 18th hole.   In addition to having our last lunch with Rita and Ian, we also celebrated the arrival of Don and Doreen who came on Sunday.

Tonight we celebrated too.  Our neighbors arrived on Saturday from Kimberley, B.C., so we combined a last supper for Rita and Ian along with a welcome for Margaret and David and Don and Doreen.   The dinner was festive.   We served beef tenderloin, boiled new potatoes, carrots and salad. And we even had horseradish and gravy.  Entertaining for 8 in our condo is not easy and we have service for 8 which means we often run out of cutlery and dishes.  But no one minds....I think.

Margaret brought a dessert of fresh fruit and ice cream.  We had not seen Margaret and David for two full years as last winter we did not come to Playa Royale at the same time and the winter before,  Ken and I were on our cruises so were not here.  It was very nice to see them again.

 Tomorrow, I will return the wheelchair to Marlin, the concierge.   It has served us well.   Rita and Ian will begin the long journey home to Ottawa.  We will miss them and wish them a safe journey.  Unfortunately, a storm is forecast for Toronto  so no telling when they will arrive.  They will fly to Toronto, then stay with Randy and Gaby before driving on to Ottawa.   Our life here is full of comings and goings.

February 22, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Don and Doreen.

Our house is full.  Rita and Ian are still here and Don and Doreen arrived yesterday.  Every bedroom and bathroom is full which is very nice.   I have always enjoyed a full house.   Company is no problem for me.   Soon we will return to a normal four because Rita and Ian must leave on Wednesday and return to Ottawa. We will miss our Madame La Chef and our Scullery Maid.

However, good times are in store because Doreen cooked dinner tonight.  We ate shell pasta with tomato sauce, salad and dark rye bread.  Fresh Mangos and banana bread for dessert.  Delicious.

After a good night sleep, Doreen and Don spent the day at the pool.  The winter in Toronto has not been terrible but they still are enjoying the 80 degrees and the sunshine.   The pool temperature is delightful too as it is heated and kept at 82 to 84, just the perfect temperature to cool you down but not cool enough to be chilly.  The hot tub is kept at 102.  Perfect.  We are delighted to have Don and Doreen here in Nuevo Vallarta and we look forward to their visit.

February 21, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Trolley.

Just when we were walking out of the Mall this morning, the Trolley drove by.  After a wave from me, and a request to help with the walker and wheel chair, we four clambered up, delighted to finally be able to take a ride.   We had walked to the Mexican restaurant in the Mall to have brunch, again walking in the line with me in the front, Ken next with the walker and last Ian pushing Rita in the wheelchair.  Ian stays behind Ken to be sure all is well, he being the only able bodied person in the group.

A young man who was a rider, the driver and Ian helped get the wheelchair and walker up onto the trolley.  It has a lift but it is broken.  Soon we sat and enjoyed the ride all over the property.  It is a lovely drive, even though the seats are hard and the trolley squeaks.  We four have wanted to take that ride ever since we had arrived.

A year ago, Rita reminded us,   we took the trip, but only once.    And it was a difficult ride.  This year was pure pleasure.  The driver let us out right in front of Playa Royale, pleased as punch that just as we began our walk home, the trolley arrived to allow us to take the ride.   Switching horses in mid street is sometimes a good thing.

February 20, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Blue Shrimp.

We four sat at the railing looking out at the lagoon and watched the array of wildlife on display.  Once again, we needed a birder.   A white bird patiently waited on the edge of the water catching his meal, entertaining us the whole time.  He was about the size of a cattle egret but they don't feed in water.   It was as pretty as a snowy egret and even had feathers on the back of his head, but it was about half the size.  And two diving ducks were fishing too.  They were small and very dark.  Definitely, we needed Alice Anne or Pat or Phyllis.

An Iguana entertained us by crawling on a log and finally jumped in to swim to shore.  The turtles were abundant.  But no crocodiles.

The Blue Shrimp is a new restaurant in Nuevo Vallarta.  It has been open for only a month.  The food is excellent and the decor elegant.   The only problem is the expensive but they are full every night so it must not be a problem.   Ken and I were fortunate because Rita and Ian took us for our late noon meal.  Some days you just get lucky.

February 19, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Cathy and Ted.

Rita met them at the pool.  Cathy spotted Rita's boot and came over to chat and offer sympathy.  Cathy had back troubles two weeks ago and spent three days in the hospital so she wanted to tell Rita how well she had been treated.  The next time I was at the pool, Rita introduced me to Cathy.  The next  day I met Ted, her husband.

The most interesting aspect of Cathy and Ted for me was that they spend 6 months of each year in Newfoundland.   Here you meet people from Michigan,  Alberta, and all places north but you never meet anyone from Newfoundland, so we invited them to our condo for cocktails.  Ted was born and raised in Newfoundland in a small town in the north.  His 4 sisters and their families still live in the same town.  When Ted and Cathy retired,  they renovated and expanded the house they have used over the years.  Now they live half the year in Portage Le Prairie, their home of many years,  and half the year in Newfoundland.  

 This is the first time they have spent time in Playa Royale.  The rented for three weeks.  They liked it so much they rented a larger place until the end of March.  And they have booked  it again next year.   We enjoyed the drinks with them.  They are charming and energetic.  This summer, they had planned to visit Nova Scotia, which will include The South Shore, so we will see them this summer too.   You just never know who you will meet sitting by the pool.

February 18, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. A Topsy Turvy Day.

We four started out at !:00 to eat lunch at The Blue Shrimp restaurant, a new place that everyone tells us is good.   The concierge called to be sure it was open and to make our reservation.    Unfortunately, today it is not open for lunch.  We were all set to get in the cab with no place to go.   Instead, we decided to go to our favorite Italian restaurant, The Porto Bello.    When we arrived, we saw the trolley drive by.   We waved, and went in to eat.

Our dinner was delicious.  It was our thanks to Rita and Ian for coming to help.   Everything we like about The Porto Bello was in place.  We sat  by the railing and watched the boats and the pelicans.  Also the iguanas.  The  service was excellent as was the food.   After we ate, we walked along the canal and discovered several new bronze ships had been installed along the walkway.  At the end, we found a comfortable spot and waited for the trolley.  Twice during our meal we had seen the trolley drive by, so we felt sure it would come.

Unfortunately, after waiting 30 minutes, the trolley never appeared so we walked along to the taxi stand and got ourselves home.   Our day did not turn out as expected but was delightful non-the-less.  One day soon we will finally get to The Blue Shrimp.

February 17, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Shrimp.

Just like days of yore,  we four sat on the balcony and cleaned and ate shrimp one after another until they were all gone.    When we had peeled and eaten all the shrimp, we ate salad and sour dough bread.   Our dinner was delicious.

Rita had never boiled shrimp so we had to teach her how to do it.  In the morning at the market, Rita bought shrimp, the largest shrimp we had ever seen.  Her intention was to peel the shrimp, then sauté them in butter.  But we had no butter.   I came up with a better idea which was to boil the shrimp and have us peel our own shrimp as we ate, just as we had done years ago in Galveston, where we learned to love eating shrimp.

Growing up, we ate shrimp but the shrimp were always in a can and were always small.  In 1964, Ken and I moved to Galveston, Texas, which is on the Gulf Coast.  We quickly were taught how to cook and peel shrimp and we found that we could buy shrimp right from the shrimp boats.  We have been doing it ever since except now we buy the shrimp from the fish monger.    Last evening, the shrimp dinner was a reminder of happy times in addition to eating a wonderful meal made by Rita.  Life is good.

February 16, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Farmer's Market.

All kinds of interesting objects are for sale at The Farmer's Market.   Close to 100 tents are set up adjacent to the canal behind the new hospital and pharmacy, right across the street from our condominium.  You could buy fresh fish,  fruit, vegetables, bread and lots of dishes for lunches and desserts.   In addition to the fresh produce, vendors are selling the traditional objects one buys in Mexico, which is silver, pottery, clothes and woven objects.   Great variety is on display along with some remarkably beautiful handcrafted objects.   It was great fun wandering along looking at their wares.

We four walked over about 10:30 which was the perfect time as the line for the fish monger was short.  Rita had a long list of items to buy which included fish and shrimp along with fruit and vegetables.  My list was short.  I was to buy bread which I did.  In addition I bought honey and jam.  But I purchased no beautiful objects.   We are not in the buying mode.

I am so pleased the Farmer's Market is such a success.  People were pouring in and out with bags full of objects just purchased.  Last year was their first year here at this site.  This year the number of vendors must have more than doubled.   We four certainly enjoyed our visit.  By the time we got home at almost 12:30 we were hot and ready for the cool breeze on the balcony.  But we will definitely return.

February 15, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. A Walk.

Late in the afternoon, we decided to go for a walk.  Mornings are best for walking but Ken works on the computer in the morning and I read so we four decided to walk after the heat of  the day.  At noon, the sun is straight over head and is too warm for comfortable walking.   We left around 4:30.  Just as we were leaving, Ken asked me to be sure to bring my small black purse, which has pesos and credit cards and identification.  Up until then, no one said a word about eating dinner at a restaurant.  All four of us laughed because we know what Ken was thinking.

Our walk took us  toward the Hotel/Time share, which means we turn right out of our condo.  Right down the center of the boulevard is a walking/biking path so we use it.  The path is flat and smooth and shaded so is perfect for  walking.  As we arrived at the Hotel, we walked along the canal and saw the biggest iguana we have ever seen.  He looked like a monster.  And we saw brown pelicans fishing by the boats.  The Hotel was holding a Valentines Day Festival.  We admired the decorations but kept walking.

At the end of the Hotel is the Mexican restaurant.   The sun was setting and the evening was glorious.  We four decided to have dinner.  We sat outside and enjoyed the warm air and ate our delicious food, which included dessert.  By the end of dinner, we were too weary to walk home so we asked to be returned to our condo in a golf cart.  We were tired but happy when we arrived home at 9:00.  What started out as a little walk ended up as a full excursion.  It was fun.

February 14, 2015. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Elevators.

When the elevator door opens, I get out, even if I am on the wrong floor.    I am not alone in having this habit.  This afternoon, we four were in the elevator along with two other men.  They stopped at the 3rd floor and Ian got out with Rita in the wheel chair.  I hollered at him and pushed the button to hold the door open and eventually he figured what we were saying and got back in so we could all continue down to the 1st floor.

This morning, I went down to have documents scanned and e mailed at our concierge, Marlin.   She is a nice lady so we chatted a bit and then I headed up to our condo, all the while looking at the forms.  I pushed the button for our floor and got in.  I was alone.  When the doors opened, I got out and walked down the balcony to our unit.  When I arrived, I noted that the door was locked.  I had left the bolt open and did not take a key.   I knocked gently on the door.  Then I knocked again but harder.  No one came.  Next I went back to the buzzer and rang it twice.  And I rang it again, but all to no avail.  No one would come and let me in.

Finally, my brain clicked into gear.  I was on the 5th floor.  Fortunately, no one was home at 501.  When I went back to the elevator and pushed the correct button 7, I found the door with the dead bolt left open so I could just walk in at 701.   Everyone was home waiting for me.

Once I did the same thing at a hotel.  I was giving a talk the next day and had gone down for dinner but when I got to my room, my electronic key card would not work.  Then I realized that I was at the wrong room and on the wrong floor so back I went to the front desk to ask for the number of my room.  That took some explaining but was easily fixed.  They did wonder about me I bet.   Now I must remember to look before I get out of the elevator.  Next time I will.

February 13, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Salmon.

There are folks in the world who do not like to eat salmon...but not me.   Salmon is my favorite fish.  My family lived in Vancouver from 1948 to 1953.    When the salmon was running, my Father would go to the dock and buy a large salmon right off the boat from the fisherman, which meant that the fish was fresh.  My Mother would bake the whole thing, wrapped in cheese cloth and we ate it that night for dinner.  It was delicious.  I have been eating salmon ever since, but never fresh right off the boat.

Before the arrival of ice and refrigerated trucks and boats, the only time we could eat salmon was out of a can.  I have friends who still prefer canned salmon.   But now we can obtain fresh salmon everywhere, thanks to ice and fish farmers.   Salmon is affordable too.

The Mega has an excellent fish department so when we shopped, I bought a large salmon and put it in the freezer.  Tonight, Rita prepared an early Valentines Day dinner of salmon, potatoes, carrots and salad.  It was a superb dinner.  We have enough left over for a lunch for salmon salad sandwiches, plus four pieces for another dinner.  This salmon was Pacific salmon and it tasted great.  I feel fortunate to be able to obtain good salmon any time of the year and in any place I live, because I love eating salmon, perhaps because my Father brought the fresh caught salmon home for dinner, all those years ago.

February 12, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Pool People.

Every person sitting around the pool is interesting, if you know enough about them.  Rita is a friendly soul and chats with people who stop to comment on her boot/cast,  but who mostly want to relate their travails with a broken leg.    She and Ian have spent quite a bit of time by the pool,  and have made friends.   This afternoon I spent all afternoon with them so I got to meet some of them.

One couple from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba,  live there for six months and the rest of the year at a tiny town in Newfoundland.  His 4 sisters and their families  still live there.  Since retirement 5 years ago they have driven and taken the ferry,  but starting this year, they will leave a car in their garage and begin flying.  This is the first winter they have been at Playa Royale.  They came expecting to stay 3 weeks but they changed their plans and will be here until the end of March.  They have already booked here next year.   The wife was born and raised in Manitoba but she loves Newfoundland.  The husband went west to work in the mines and ended up in Manitoba.  This summer they have planned a driving trip around Nova Scotia and have already selected the south shore as one of the areas they will visit.

Canadians are everywhere here.   One very nice couple are from Winnipeg which is very cold right now.  Another man from the hot tub lives in Kamloops.  When I tell people I come from Mississippi they seem puzzled because everyone else comes from the north.  And I don't seem to speak southern.

Our afternoon sitting by the pool was a delight, topped off by a margarita.  We actually did not go up until after 6.  The people at the pool kept us entertained.

February 11, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Dinner at Noon.

Our favorite meal is eating dinner at noon.  We like to eat our largest amount of food early in the afternoon.  Then at the supper time we just pick out something easy from the fridge with everyone looking out for themselves.  Today we hit the jackpot.  We ate the best meal in a restaurant since arriving in Mexico.  And it all came as a big surprise.

Our excursion today was to walk to the Yacht Club for lunch.  Ken and I had eaten lunch there with Robbie and Joyce and we wanted Rita and Ian to see the boats at the marina.   I was ready to order something for a light lunch but when I heard Ken order Mojoenlins, I asked him where that was on the menu.   I had not even seen it but after looking it over, I ordered it too.  Rita too.   Ian ordered a hamburger.

The food was a long time coming but when it came, three large stone round containers full of meat and sauce and vegetables were put in front of each of us.   I have no clue what was in the sauce but it was delicious and very Mexican.  We ate chicken, beef, fish, shrimp and smoked sausage, along with avacado, onions and green peppers.  And lots of them.   We three ate and ate and ate.  And we enjoyed every bite.

We were so full we took the shuttle from Paradise Village back to Playa Royale.  Walking home in the heat would have been difficult.  All four of us took a rest and congratulated ourselves on eating our dinner at noon.

February 10, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Job Description.

Ian's task is self appointed.  He has elected to clean the kitchen after dinner, which includes loading the dishwasher and scrubbing the pots and pans.  And he clears the dishes from the table.  According to Ian, his job description is narrow.  It does not include cooking at all and he does not serve dessert.  He also takes the trash to the chute.  No one asked Ian to perform these very useful jobs but he announced that he had selected these tasks for himself and he would prefer that no one try to intrude onto his responsibilities.  We laughed and assured him that we would leave the jobs to him.

Ken has named him The Scullery Maid, so that is what he calls himself.   I must say that having a Scullery Maid in the house is a huge asset.  I never knew we needed one until now.

Last year, when Rita and Ian were in the ocean, Rita had the topof her bathing suit pulled off in the high waves.   Fortunately, they found it.  Before they came this year, their daughter Renee took Rita shopping and bought her two new bathing suits, so no mishaps could occur this year.  Of course, Rita is in an air cast and can not go into the ocean but she is enjoying the new bathing suits while sitting around the pool, all thanks to Renee.   The bathing suits have stayed right in place and look lovely.  Hat's off to Renee.

February 9, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Richard.

We all know that dying is as much a part of life as being born.  But somehow or another, when someone you know and love dies,  it comes as a surprise, and you are shocked and saddened.  The sentiments are selfish.  I want to be able to have another conversation with Richard, but that will never happen again because our friend Richard died last evening at home in Houston.

Richard was ready to leave this world.  He always said that he had accomplished everything he had wanted in this life so he was not fighting to stay alive.  He put the details of his life in order and organized his affairs in such a way so Marilyn will be able to carry out his wishes without hassle.  The past few weeks of his life were without any pain but he was fading away and last evening he died.  We will miss him.  He was interested and interesting and we had many long spirited conversations.  Both Ken and I are grateful to have known Richard and to have had him a part of our life.    We are sad that he has died even though we know he would disagree with us.  He was ready.

Now we celebrate his life and be grateful and fortunate to have known him, our friend Richard.

February 8, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Ken.

We keep clothes in the locker here in Playa Royale so we come with a back pack and wear the clothes we left.   Ken tried on a pair of shorts which immediately fell to the floor.  That pair of shorts was put into the back of the drawer.  The next pair he tried on stayed up, until he moved,  when they also fell to the floor.  Clearly, in the year, Ken had lost a lot of weight.  Finally he found two pair of shorts that would stay up without using suspenders, so those are the ones he wears all the time.   He brought shorts with him which he used at The Hard Rock Hotel, but they require suspenders and he does not wish to wear them here in this casual atmosphere.

Today, Ken showered and wanted a new pair of shorts but his only clean pair was in the dryer so he dug a little deeper and found a pair of gym shorts that would stay up, as long as he did not suck in his stomach.  We four walked out for lunch.  It was nip and tuck as to whether or not his shorts would stay up on his hips.  Our walk went well.  The food was excellent at the little restaurant that sits right by the street.  And we were able to walk home with no mishap with Ken's shorts.   We decided that we needed to fatten that man up or buy him more shorts.   Good thing Ken has a good sense of humor.

February 7, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Super Bowl.

Fifty years ago Ken and I watched the first Super Bowl.   We had no television so we were invited to our friends the Ittman's home to watch the game and eat dinner.  This was in the year BC, Before  Children, when we lived in Galveston, Texas.   Since that time to now, we have dutifully  watched every game.  We have been to  big parties and to small parties and we have watched the game by ourselves at home.   Some parties have been fancy and some simple but we have enjoyed them all although we prefer small to big and simple to fancy.   But tonight, we four enjoyed the game at home.

Our own Super Bowl Party today consisted of setting up our goodies on the coffee table so we could help ourselves.  As we ate an ample brunch, our food was simple;  a variety of cheeses, crackers, cut fresh vegetables of peppers, carrots and cucumbers, and a big bowl of grapes.  Our feast was delicious and delightful in addition to being easy.

The game was interesting too.  Last week I predicted the Broncos would win as they seem more motivated and I thought that the Panthers might have the jitters..  And their defense demolished New England and did the same with the Panthers.   We four did not really care who would win but we all kind of hoped that Denver would win so Payton Manning could retire.  We have enjoyed the football season.  Now we will turn to hockey.

February 6, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Rita.

Rita is in charge of our kitchen.  Fortunately, she likes to cook.  And she claims that cooking for four people is better than cooking for two, so she is happy looking after us.  During my life time, I have done a lot of cooking but I have cooked because I needed to prepare a meal for my  family or friends, not that I loved to cook. so I have never really understood when people tell me they love to cook.  Ken and I feel fortunate that Rita loves to cook because we enjoy the meals she prepares for us.

Yesterday Rita was off duty.  We were served a wonderful breakfast at the sales presentation and we went out to dinner but today Rita was back on duty.   For breakfast and lunch we four look after our own meals but at dinner, Rita did all the preparation;  chicken, pasta, cauliflower and salad.  Her salads are superb and plentiful.  We eat a salad with every meal.  She wants to make us healthy.

Tomorrow, Ian is taking Rita to 10:00 mass.  When she gets home, she will cook us bacon and pancakes for our Sunday brunch, which is another example of her loving care.   We are lucky to have cousins who are not only kind but also competent.  Hat's off to Rita who is looking after us so well here in Mexico.

February 5, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Another Excursion.

The arrangements we made with the young man on Tuesday worked perfectly, except it worked better.  In exchange for driving us and our groceries home, we agreed to attend a sales presentation on Friday.   We were to meet him outside our gate at 9:00.   All four of us were to get into his old small car but this morning a van arrived which made everything easier.  Both the walker and the wheelchair came with us.  On Tuesday we were told that the presentation was just down the road from us.  It turned out to be on the other side of the canal, along from the Mayan Palace.  All four of us laughed.

Today we learned a lot of things that had been going on right under our nose.  A new theme park is under construction, in partnership with the Vidanta Company  and Cirque de Soleit.  The new towers being sold now are being sold as 4 week packages.  In other words, as fractional ownership only.  The suites are elegant and spacious and are on 325 acres of land.  We had no idea what was going on just across the canal.  When the big theme park will open, projected in 2018, that part of Nuevo Vallarta will be changed dramatically.  Our eyes were open.  We all four enjoyed our visit to Vidanta.  It is a fancy place.  But we still prefer our Playa Royale.

February 4, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. My Day.

The only productive things I did today was prepare my own breakfast and lunch.  The rest of the day I did nothing.  Tonight at 10:00 pm I am wearing the same nightshirt and bathrobe I was wearing this morning.  I am partial to my robe as I bought it for $2. at the Library Thrift Shop in Harper, Texas.  How they can stay in business selling me a nice robe for $2. I do not know.   But perhaps it is because I actually bought two which cost another $2.  My robe is not fancy and should not be worn all day.

The rest of the day other than eating I was either reading or looking out to sea looking for whales.  The day was beautiful with the sun causing the sun sparkle on the water.  I love  to spend the day reading as I get to figuratively travel all around the world and in every age, all without leaving my own home.  I was reading back copies of The Weekly Standard.  I especially enjoy their book reviews.  And I read an article about Tacitus, the Roman historian.

Ken spent two hours at the computer this morning but I did nothing except drink coffee and read.  Rita made dinner while Ian cleaned the kitchen.  I on the other hand, did nothing...and loved every minute of my day.

February 3, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Dentist.

Two year ago I went to the dentist.  Mexico is a place where lots of people get their dental work done and for several years, Ken and I have had our teeth cleaned in Nuevo Vallarta.   Years ago,  I was stunned to find that the technology in Mexico was ahead of my dentist in Bethesda so Ken and I started doing all his dental work in Mexico.  Today when we were in the waiting room,  a stream of people came in to make appointments.  Clearly, the dentist here is staying busy.

Today, Ken and I had our teeth cleaned at the same time.  It was all very fancy, side by side in the sparkling white office being attended to by masked ladies using high tech equipment.  Finally I was well enough to visit the dentist so this morning we both had our teeth cleaned.  Even though I had not been to the dentist for two years my teeth were in good condition so I need no more work done on my teeth.  Ken on the other hand has another appointment with the dentist to have three cracked fillings repaired.  He will go on Tuesday.

The dental hygienist cleaned my teeth with an ultra sound.  No more scraping.  When she had removed all the plaque, she polished my teeth.  The whole thing took just over 30 minutes and was painless.  Tomorrow, Rita and Ian have appointments.  I will be interested to hear from them if their experience was good.  Certainly for all of us it will be cheaper than at home.  Hat's off to the Mexican dentists for giving us such good, high tech service.

February 2, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Ride Home.

Rita, Ian and I went shopping today at the Mega.  All went well until we were ready to come home.  Each of us had a list of items to buy.  We were to meet for coffee, each with our full cart.   The grocery store was crowded and when we finally checked out and met at the coffee shop, we realized that a regular size taxi would not hold all our groceries so we discussed our options.

Much to my dismay, I saw a long line waiting for a taxi.  I hate waiting in line, so as we were waiting to exit the store, I asked a young man if there was another way to get a taxi.  He was a salesman for one of the time share companies so he made a deal with me.  He offered to drive us and our groceries home to Playa Royale if we would attend a 90 minute time share presentation on Friday morning, which would include breakfast.  Well.  That was too good a deal to turn down.  Our time here is worth nothing and he will give us 2000 pesos in addition to the transportation home.  You can see that I was desperate.

When the salesman got his car, we noted to our dismay that his car was old and small.  He was able to fit all our groceries in his car if we three squeezed into the back seat.  The only problem was the weight.  Every time we ran over a speed bump, the bottom of his car scraped.  Between Mega and home there were at least 15 speed bumps.  What a noise.  He slowed way down over the bumps and a swooshing sound came from his car.  I felt sure we were going to get stuck in his car with all our groceries.  But we did get home and he helped us load the carts to get the groceries upstairs.  We three giggled all the way home.  Now we must keep our side of the bargain and attend on Friday which will be a first time share presentation for Rita and Ian.  Our ride home today was one for the records.

February 1, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. An Excursion.

The afternoon was lovely.  Just after 4:00,  Rita and Ian had talked to their grandchildren on the iPad picture.  Then we four decided to take a walk.  Before we knew it, we had walked all the way to the Fajita Republic restaurant, which was the longest distance we have taken in that direction.  On the way back home we were so pleased with ourselves that we stopped at Ciao for a drink and an appetizer.   I was ahead of everyone else so I ordered.  

The restaurant was totally open so it was pleasant as twilight appeared and the lights appeared.  Our intention was to return home for dinner but we weighed the pros and cons of eating out or going home and finally settled on eating at the restaurant, for no good reason other than the fact that we were enjoying ourselves.   The weather was perfect for sitting outside and we were feeling smug after speaking to the Ottawa family.

The old man who owns the restaurants came by to give us each a tangerine.  We had not seen him last year but he looked great.  And he was pleased to see us too.  This was the first time we have had dinner at Ciao, which just opened two years ago.   The food was excellent and we enjoyed our dinner.  We thought we were just going for a walk but ended up with a full blown evening excursion.  A good time was had by all.