The Cruise Ship is In!

So when you and your best canine friend have had a bad night, what better thing to do than go somewhere you’ve never been before, hang your head out the window, take lots of pictures, and let people pet you. (I’ll let you figure out for yourself which of those things I did, and which ones Frances did.)

We grabbed the stack of unwatched, overdue DVDs that were sitting by the TV, hopped in the car and headed out to return them to the Guaymas Blockbuster.

Guaymas is about 10 miles from here. That’s less distance than I had to drive to the post office back home, and yet Guaymas seems a world away. There is open space on the highway between San Carlos and Guaymas. The population of San Carlos is between four and five thousand with a large percentage being seasonally transient – that is American and Canadian snowbirds. Guaymas is an urban community on a bay that has a population of approximately 300,000.

I was feeling groggy and unenthused about the day as we drove. I realized it was a Wednesday, and remembered that there is an outdoor marketplace in the center of town on Wednesdays. Then I also remembered that today was to be the first day a cruise ship was to dock in Guaymas. The bay had been dredged to accommodate a boat of that size.

I dropped off the DVDs but had trouble getting out of the very crowded parking lot. A man smiled and stopped traffic so that I could get out, and from there the day just continued to get better.

I had no idea how to get to the marketplace or the marina, so I just picked a road at random and headed out to see where it would take us. I’ve learned that in the big picture, it’s almost impossible to get lost. Sometimes you make a wrong turn and it takes a little longer to get to a destination, but to get truly lost is rare. I remember as teenager I would ride my bike through the side streets of neighborhoods to see where they went, and was always disappointed when I inevitably ended up on a familiar main drag.

With that in mind, and with no particular destination or schedule, Frances and I set off to see what we could see. I will say that traffic in Guaymas is a little wilder than I’m used to. The lanes can be approximate. Huge unmarked speed bumps can appear out of nowhere. Construction vehicles seem to have the “ok” to drive in the wrong direction down the street. There are Stop Signs that are meant to be ignored because the traffic light for the same intersection is green. Definitely “heads up” driving.

I saw the street called Benito Juarez, after a favorite past president. Figuring it must be an important road, I turned right. Before long we saw the bay, some fishing boats and the construction of some new docks.



In the distance we could see the cruise ship. It is called Zaandam and is part of the Holland America Cruise Line. Once I got home I looked it up and in fact it's been coming into port since February so, this was not the FIRST one, but they have just begun coming to Guaymas.


We continued on thinking perhaps the road went all the way around Guaymas Bay. But when I saw the sign that said “Prohibido El Paso Solo Vehiculos Autorizados Recinto Naval Militar,” even with my poor Spanish I knew we were headed towards forbidden territory.


But there was nowhere to turn around so we headed there anyway. A smiling, armed guard stood waiting for me to approach in my car. “Hola!” I shouted. “I’m lost. I’m turning around.” He laughed and I laughed. I toyed with asking if he would let me take photos of some of the antiquated navy vessels, but I thought better of it.

We backtracked and again I chose a road at random. In nothing flat we were in the very crowded downtown center of Guaymas. Every block had a traffic cop. Ignore the traffic lights. And, uh, er, yes I was taking pictures while I was driving in downtown Guaymas but we were stopped a lot...


It think the best way to describe downtown Guaymas is to imagine how many USA downtowns would look if there had been no improvements to them since the 1950s. A few historic buildings line the horizon from some of the smaller docks.


Small rowboats sat on the sidewalk in front of apartments on the main road.


Pelicans hitched rides on delivery trucks.



Y’all will have to tell me when you get tired of pelican photos. I never seem to tire of them.

The streets are narrow and the parking is limited, but thanks to living in Placerville all these years my parallel parking skills are pretty good and I squeezed into a place in front of a police motorcycle right across the street from the market place.

Frances guarded the car whenever I hopped out to take a few quick photos.


I will continue our adventure in the next post as I want to make sure I get a least one post up before my laptop needs recharging here at the Iguana Coffee Shop - with live JAZZ - they even played Brubeck! But before signing off I will say that since our outing, Frances is eating, we’re catching up on our sleep, but I still have no Internet at the house. Poop! I fear that whoever's internet I was pirating, has left to avoid Semana Santa. Rats!

Internet Woes

I'm sitting at the Marina Terra Hotel outdoor cafe using the internet, because for the second day in a row I have been unable to get internet at the house. So, if my blogs and emails become a bit more sporadic that is why. Maybe it will fix itself who knows. I tried to signup for something called "Beach Hotspot" but it's not accepting me. I dunno... I worked for a couple of hours last night at a local restuarant called Tequilas. So I just wanted to let y'all know that if you don't here from me as regularly, that is why.

I'm a little worried about Frances. She has become cowering, clingy and anxious. She has refused to eat for 24 hours now, including the offering of ground beef for breakfast. She was restless all last night, and thus so was I.
We will take it slow and easy today and hope that tomorrow we have internet, hope we will have caught up on our rest, and hope our appetite is back. Actually the appetite part doesn't apply to me! hahaha

Think I'm going to go back home and take a nap with Frances now.

Bracing for Semana Santa

Since first arriving in San Carlos five weeks ago, I having been hearing about the throngs that will arrive during Semana Santa, also known as Easter Week.

Semana Santa is the name given to the entire week preceding Easter by many Christian sects including Roman Catholic and Orthodox. Semana Santa begins on Palm Sunday, followed by Holy Monday (sometimes call Fig Monday), Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday, sometimes called Spy Wednesday. Each day has a different observance depending on the denomination. Then, Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday – the day of the last supper - followed by Good Friday, Holy Saturday - a day of silence - and finally Easter Sunday.

According to all I have been told, the town of San Carlos becomes a “spring break” town during Semana Santa, beginning on the Thursday before Easter. Literally thousands of college students and young adults descend on the town for a long weekend of partying in a manner that has absolutely nothing to do with traditional Semana Santa. I have heard the San Carlos Semana Santa spoken of both with horror by the locals, and with delight, depending on their point of view and whether or not the individual stands to make any profit on the brief, excessive tourism. Either way, traffic becomes extremely congested. I have heard that last year it took four hours to get from one side of town to the other.

There is a bit of an added kink this year. Last September, Hurricane Jimena wiped out and collapsed major portions of the main road through town, including three bridges. Since we have been here, we have had to use detours as alternate routes to the main drag. The road builders have been working feverishly to finish the repairs on the road and bridges before Semana Santa.


In fact, I recently learned that the contractor in charge of the road repairs was told that if he did not have the road complete by Semana Santa, that he would be paid NOTHING. Nada. Zip.

The road builders are behind schedule. So as best as my non-mechanical brain understands it, here is what’s happening, in particular on the bridges. They have laid the pylons down for the foundation, but because time runs short, they are simply filling it with dirt and putting asphalt on top of the dirt (or leaving it just dirt, I’ve heard both ways.) Bottom line – they’re doing a quick fix so that there is a thoroughfare through town, because the detours would add to the congestion nightmare. They are also leaving the detours in place because not all of the lanes on the main road and bridges will be done. Maybe this will make it a bit easier for the locals to get through town.

Once Semana Santa is over, the contractor will dig up the temporary construction and re-do them as per whatever the specs are here in Mexico, supposedly making them earthquake proof, etc.

I understand a lot of the “locals” buy enough food and provisions so they don’t have to leave the house for four days… probably kind of like they did for Hurricane Jimena. As a precaution, today Frances and I went to the bank (with the parking lot that only goes one direction), the gas station (where I have to let an attendant pump the gas,) Tony’s produce stand, and the bottled water place where you bring in your own blue five gallon bottles. Their “sterilazation procedures” consistings of swishing a little soapy water around in the bottom of the bottle, quickly rinsing of the outside, and then filling it from a spigot that you assume(!) is some sort of purified water. Then they cap it and off you go.

And because Frances has been a bit stressed out lately, refusing to eat and being clingy, I've been taking her to the beach sometimes twice a day. Her favorite beach is Soldiers Estuary which we also call "Pilar" after the condo complex there. We park the car and walk the quarter to half mile to the estuary where the water is calmer and the birds reside.


Both the white and blue herons were hanging out there this morning.


Since first arriving in San Carlos, Frances has enjoyed running through the Estuary water. Anyone who has been hiking with Frances over the years knows she hates being in the water. But now every day she gets to the estuary edge and looks at me for permission. I tell her to go swimming and she goes prancing ankle deep through the water. Lately she goes deeper everyday and today she was up to her neck at one point. I encouraged her to swim and she looked like she was very close to voluntarily going into deep water, but then didn't. She has a few weeks left and I have high hopes she will enjoy swimming yet before she leaves this planet. For no logical reason, that would make me really happy!



Afterwards we went to a place called Bananas for breakfast, where dogs are welcome.



We went back to the estuary to catch both the full moon and the sunset.



On the upside of Semana Santa, I hear there are Native American Deer Dancers roaming the streets and all kinds of booths and festivities up and down the main drag. It will be interesting to see. I wonder where on the spectrum I’ll stand with my opinion on Semana Santa in San Carlos when Easter is over. Certainly me ‘n Frances will at least have a walk down Semana Santa Way… Yes…

“Here Comes Semana Santa, Here Comes Semana Santa,
Right Down Semana Santa Way”…

(Sorry – had to do it.)

The Ice Cream House

There is a house a few doors down from Betsy's house that everyone has long referred to as "The Ice Cream House," so named because of several white domes that resemble soft, swirly ice cream cones. It is owned by a couple from Minnesota - Kathleen and Dick - who spend the winter months here in San Carlos.


The Ice Cream House is one of many custom homes here on the caricol. Kathleen invited us over a few evenings ago. Their living room leads out to an open air dining room, bar, swimming pool, and the same view of Shangrila Cove that we have - their view being south, ours being east.

But, there was a period of time when they had no view at all!

The Ice Cream House sits on the same cliff as the Berryhill home. Supposedly there is a law, or bylaw or something - in the home owner's association called the "rustic" or "rustica" provision, that forbids the building of homes on the lower part of the cliff. But about eight years ago, a lot was purchased and a huge home began to be constructed on the cliffs below. Truthfully, this house did not obstruct anyone's view. At least not initially anyway.


The man who bought the proper and was building the house, began dynamiting on his property. This went on for many months, maybe a year. Cracks appeared in the Berryhill house, and needless to say, marred the otherwise peaceful atmosphere of the neighborhood. I suspect that had there been no dynamiting, the neighbors may have let the construction go without a fuss. But now many of them gathered together and made trips to Hermosillo, the state capitol, to see what they could do legally to prevent the dynamiting.

Eventually they were successful in bringing the blasting to a halt. So! Now Mr. Dynamite is unhappy. His property goes up the cliff high enough so that it borders just a few feet in front of the Ice Cream House. He decides to construct a stone wall right agains the face of the Ice Cream House, so high that it reaches the roof of the second story of the Ice Cream House, completely blocking any view of the outdoors. Now when you looked out any window of the Ice Cream House, all you could see was this stone wall. This wall became known in the neighborhood as "The Spite Wall."

This matter is still in litigation, but apparently there has been enough resolution for the section in front of the Ice Cream House to come down. The remains of this portion of the stone wall lie in pieces on the cliff below the Ice Cream House, looking like a war zone.


There are additional rumours, which I have to say are exactly that, rumours. But because they make for good story telling I'm adding them to my tale with the disclaimer that they are "heresay." It is rumoured that Mr. Dynamite came down to Mexico because he was on the run from the state of Arizona for murdering his wife. Nice Guy! Further neighborhood info informs me that he sold the house to his brother, but his brother's wife hates San Carlos and hates the house and refuses to come here. In fact she has never been here. So this huge house sits on the cliff below us, empty, with a built in swimming pool overlooking Shangrila Bay, that has never been filled. No one has ever spent a night in this gigantic house. I believe it is for sale. We see an occasional maintenance worker walking around the roof. I'm tempted to go down the long, expensive driveway and walk around the grounds.

So that is the tale of the Ice Cream House. Don't you think it sounds like an old western ballad? I can hear it, the guitar strums an ominous A Minor or suspended chord. A deep crusty voice says something like, "This is the Saga of the Ice Cream House." The chorus has the words "boom boom" in it. Davy, are you reading this???

Diving, Doctors and "The Mexican Promotion"

Betsy and I were at the beach for sunset a couple of days ago. The sun set behind Mt. Tetakawi, there were clouds in the sky and it was gorgeous. We stayed until Venus made her appearance as the Evening Star, and got some beautiful pictures.




After my snorkel trip three weeks ago, I took the plunge and signed up for the Scuba Certification course at Gary's Dive Shop. I had signed up once before a few years ago in Sacramento but got a sinus infection and had to cancel. In California the certification is either at Folsom Lake, Lake Tahoe or Monterey. Here it's... here! Prettier underwater scenery, warmer waters and private one to one instruction.

Unfortunately when I filled out the health questionaire that is required to be allowed to scuba dive, I answered "yes" to a couple of minor questions. So I had to visit a local doctor and have a brief exam and have him sign off on my certificate.

Dr. Canale is raved about and loved here in San Carlos. I made an appointment with him and I saw him on Thursday afternoon. Dr. Canale is a general practitioner and - in my opinion - practices both the art and science of medicine in the way it should be practiced, by addressing the overall patient. Dr. Canale was very intuitive as well.

I have a couple of minor health issues that I know could disqualify me from diving and I was hoping to keep them a secret. He took my pulse and my blood pressure, and used nothing fancier than a stethoscope and a flashlight (for my eyes), and found all of my secrets including my chronic sinuses, vertigo, anxiety and grinding my teeth.

I thought I had a case of "swimmer's ear" as it has been three weeks since I've been able to clear my right ear. It turns out that it's NOT swimmer's ear. Dr. Canale described the symptoms of swimmers ear and - nope - that's sure not what I have. It turns out my problem is a combination of sinuses and TMJ! The extreme pain I feel for several days in the area below my ear has nothing to do with my ear - it's my jaw being out of alignment, and biting down onto a breathing apparatus used for snorkeling or diving, is what causes the extreme pain. Bummer! So I can expect that to happen every time I snorkel or dive? That's not fun. He did some things that demonstrated to me this was an accurate diagnosis and it made sense. I don't get this pain when I do lap swimming, only when I snorkel. Rats!

He ended up signing off on my health certificate, but with some warnings. If my ear does not clear up, I cannot dive deeper than about 10 feet or I could blow out my eardrum.

Now to another side of the coin. There is an expression I've heard since being here called "The Mexican Promotion." While it is certainly not the majority of people - it is not unheard of for people in a variety of fields but most notably the medical and veterinary professions - to come to Mexico and pass themselves off as something they're not. Someone may have worked in a vet clinic in the USA and pass themselves off as a vet... that kind of thing... giving themselves a "promotion" - or a "Mexican Promotion." This information has already come in handy at least once!

It's sort of like me and Betsy saying we're "writers" when people ask what we do here, although I have taken to saying that I'm "pretending to be a writer" since other than this blog, I don't seem to be doing all that much with my project.


Hmmm... I wonder what I can pretend to be today!... Frances already has monopolized the "Princess" role. I know! I'll be a Pelican!

La Manga Kayak Trip

When the alarm went off on my iphone yesterday morning to get me up for the bi-weekly San Carlos Sea Farers kayak trip, I came close to staying in bed. I'm so glad that twenty minutes later I changed my mind. What a great trip.

This informal kayaking group is sponsored by the San Carlos Yacht Club, although you don't have to be a member of the Yacht club to kayak with them. If you don't have your own kayak, a fellow named Brian will deliver a kayak to you anywhere in the area and at some point will catch up with you so you can pay him.

The group met at a coffee and bagle place at the Marina called Barracuda Bob's. I got my bagle - as per FAA guidelines for motion sicknes (haha) - took ginger tablets and met about twenty new folks. The first people I met were from Pollock Pines! That's happened before. The first time I went to Roatan Honduras I sat down for lunch on the first day I was there, and the fellow at my table was from - Pollock Pines! Small world.

We caravaned out to Del Sol Beach. You get there by driving out to Soggy Peso Beach, but when the paved road dead ends, you continue down the dirt road to get to Del Sol Beach. It is here we launched our boats. I was far from the only one who did NOT wear a life jacket. As Fern - the head of the kayak club - said, "well you swim can't you?" Yes thank you!


The water was fairly calm for out departure. I decided to take my camera on this trip. Again, so glad I did. The skill level of the kayakers ran the spectrum from very experienced to first time kayakers. I think I consider myself an advanced beginner. Today was a short easy trip to the small fishing village of La Manga, where we would have lunch at La Manga Restaurant. This group is casual enough that you don't have to stick together like glue. While the majority of the kayakers stuck together for a leisurely paddle directly to our destination, a handful of us - including me - paddled around to the other side of the point into slightly rougher but very scenic waters.

It was in the rougher waters I decided to make my first attempt at photography from a kayak. It's probably not the smartest move I've made. But, although I was bobbing in about two foot waves, I managed to get a few nonblurry pix.


And although I was risking dropping my camera in the water, as someone who has never been able to read a book - or even a map - in a moving car - I think the fact I was actually able to keep my balance in the waves and snap a few shots gives testament to my improving motion sickness dilemma.


After a bit we renegade kayakers turned back and joined the rest of the group. Lest anyone fear for our safety, the lifeguards were on duty in full force. A small motor boat was anchored about twenty feet from shore with a full contingent of pelicans on board and at attention, overseeing our activities and at the ready should anyone need a rescue,

while a couple of pelicans at the rear of the boat checked over the motor to make sure it was in good working condition.

We docked on a small beach in La Manga and walked about 1/4 mile to the restaurant.


The village of La Manga is extremely rustic. There appear to be maybe twenty houses maximum, made out of various building materials. Everything from rusty tin, to concrete. There is no running water here.


While it is true that after a lifetime of living in the high standards of my western lifestyle that I would find it difficult to live in such a crude, and sometimes unsanitary living situation, I nonetheless found the simplicity and lack of legal mandates and building codes very rejuvinating.


Having recently unloaded about 50% of my own possessions with a hope of making my life much simpler, the village felt refreshing. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if the residents themselves felt differently, possibly wishing they had more of what I have in the way of living conveniences.


I DO fully recognize that my simplistic view of La Manga fishing village is based more on idealism than reality, but nonetheless, that's the effect it had on me when I was there yesterday.

The La Manga Restaurant serves mainly seafood items, in fact I don't recall seeing any other kind of meat on the menu. Large tubs filled with cold salt water held freshly caught clams.


Some of the menu items were unfamiliar, and offered no description as to what they were. So when two fellas in the group ordered a seafood stew that was first heated and then served in an elevated bowl made of volcanic lava, we were all curious and even envious. I plan to go back to La Manga this weekend sometime and have this stew. I can't recall the name of it but I'll tell you after I've tasted it!


La Manga Restaurant is open air, plastic chairs and tables, excellent seafood and of course, dogs are welcome.



The La Manga Restaurant does not serve alcohol, so a volunteer from the Yacht Club drove down a cooler of beer at the appointed hour, 11:00am... I thought it was kind of funny but whatever... A few of us tossed our crumbs to the large flocks of seagulls on the rocks below.


Since I've been in San Carlos I haven't had any bad food at the restaurants, but up until the past few days it's mostly fallen into a mediocre category and been a little disappointing. But after the Cotton Club and La Manga, I'm now happy that I've found a couple of places that I had hoped to find.

We returned to our kayaks for the trip back to Del Sol Beach. The winds had kicked up now and the waters were much choppier. We found ourselves in 2-3 foot waves at times. This might not sound very big if you're body surfing, but in a tippy kayak - especially for the beginners - it was a bit more than some had bargained for. I kayaked alongside Fern - the group leader - for much of the trip back. She knew I was refreshing my skills and reminded me of a few "dont's" on the return trip. A couple of times for a few seconds I thought I may be in over my head, but I focused and took it one stroke at a time, and in the end kind of enjoyed it. I almost tipped once but pulled m;yself back up.

We had to land in the surf. I haven't done that since my last sea kayaking lesson at Half Moon Bay about eight years ago. If you're not familiar with ocean kayaking, even once you've got your boat onto the sand, if there is even as much as an inch or two of surf under you, you can get into trouble. Two of the kayaks collided on shore. One of the kayakers hit her head but was apparently OK. Another came in sideways and needed some assistance. Fern reminded to go in straight and I remembered that I should paddle hard and aggressively. I had a clean landing! Yeah! No assistance needed!

I'm ready to go out again, but will think twice about taking my camera if I want to continue playing in choppy waters. The entire outing was really great. Plan to go again soon.

Soggy Peso Sunday

Well it seems I'm a bit behind in my blogging. Last weekend was very busy. Saturday was the fabulous boat ride I've already written about. Sunday I caught up on housework and laundry and then headed out to Soggy Peso Beach.

On the boat ride we learned that Janice and Adele were planning to go to Soggy Peso on Sunday as well. Janice had seen a turquoise ring she wanted to buy. So we arranged to meet them there at 3:00pm. I took Frances and Betsy took Scout. The man from the boat ride, also showed up with his little dog Foxy, a cute little brown and blonde wire haired fox like dog he found on a beach somewhere. We believe Foxy and Scout are now in a "relationship."


A six piece band played blues, and a lot of covers by The Doors, Pink Floyd and Creedence Clearwater. They were good and it was the first music I've heard since I've been here that I thought was of decent quality, although the style of music was too heavy for the taste of some in our group.


As the afternoon wore on, more and more people showed up that knew each other and we were constantly adding chairs to our little table.


The lady on the far left of the table - Kathleen - decided to invite everyone over to her house that evening. She lives just a few doors down from Betsy in a house everyone refers to as "The Ice Cream House" due to it's interesting shape and design. The house has an interesting history as well and I want to tell about it, but I want to include some photos too and I'm out of camera batteries, so maybe later today I'll write a second short blog about the Ice Cream House.

But first, dinner at the adjacent restaurant called The Cotton Club. This is the restaurant where the waiter named Ricardo had introduced himself to me last week and hoped I would eat there. It turns out it's a brand new restaurant. It had only been open for two weeks. The interior decor has a lot of white, and includes a few beds.


Although there was a bit of a mixup with out waiter, the restaurant was very apologetic and sent over a complimentary banana flambe (which I didn't eat, haha). But I have to say, the food was WONDERFUL!!! Not only the best I've had here in San Carlos, but some of the best I've had anywhere in some time. I had sesame tuna and didn't know you could make tuna taste that way. I will absolutely be going back to this restaurant two or three more times before I leave.

The three of us were a bit late arriving at Kathleen's house due to the delay at the Cotton Club, but once there we enjoyed each others talents in the form of singing, dancing, music, poetry.

We came home pooped. Monday it was back to Yoga, writing, and a routine.

A Life Long Problem

As I hoped, last week I finished the first round editing of an incomplete manuscript. After a busy, social weekend, I began again yesterday to work on my story and spent several hours making corrections. In between I went to Yoga class, and spent the afternoon with Frances at the beach alternately walking and reading and laughing out loud at the antics of pelicans, blue herons and cranes. I've been catching myself with a large grin on my face when I'm around the ocean and her creatures.

Frances and I have taken to walking about a half mile down the beach and we now have a favorite place to plop down. Frances naps or watches the pelicans, while I either read or work on my Coyote Story. We sit four or five feet from the waters edge. Yesterday Frances dozed with her back to the water. The tide was coming in. Over the course of an hour I watched it slowly creep towards her butt until it was only inches away. I smiled and wondered if it would catch her offguard but with moments to spare she noticed, stood up, and indicated to me that it was time to walk a little further down the beach!

I'm pleased to have settled in now with some focus regarding my writing project and am happy for some alone time. The past couple of weeks have presented a few situations that have always been challenging for me for as long as I can remember.

I have a distinct memory from kindergarten. The teacher wanted us to play a game of some sort. I thought the game was stupid and refused to participate. The rest of the class was thoroughly enjoying this dumb game. I was the only hold out. The teacher finally became frustrated with me and yanked my arm hard enough that it hurt, and forced me into the game (where I continued to be uncooperative because I still thought it was stupid.)

It has taken decades, but I have at least partially learned how to "play nice with others" and to allow others to enjoy what they enjoy and sometimes even cordially join in the reindeer games even if they're not my cup of tea. Because, I have also learned that it is more frequent than not, that I see and/or hear things differently than "most." And yet we humans are social creatures, so even though I often feel like Mr. Spock from Star Trek, trying to figure out what makes people do what they do, I have to make at least some efforts to play along if I don't want to be completely isolated. Over the decades this has entailedI fighting off feelings of being "the freak" when I become aware that my perceptions do not match anyone elses in the room. But I have also found that when I have held with my honest observations, that again, more often than not, they remain true, at least for me.

But there are scenarios I still struggle with. One is when other's insist, or expect me to have the same opinion. For instance, let's say you and I are at Marie Callendar's Restaurant and you order banana cream pie. I've never liked bananas. Ever. Therefore it stands to reason, that I don't like banana cream pie. However, I am perfectly happy with you thoroughly enjoying your banana cream pie. Until you insist that I like it too. Or think I'm crazy because I don't. Or try to twist my arm. Or become offended. Or take it personally. Or regale me ad nauseum with how wonderful the thing is that I don't like. Enjoy your pie please! And no I don't want a bite!

Then... sometimes that old "feeling like a freak" thing starts to sneak in. What's wrong with me? Why don't I like what other's like? Why don't I see, hear, taste or perceive things like everyone else in the room?

So I step back a bit, take a few deep breaths, and try not to put myself in those positions again for as long as it takes to regain perspective and confidence, until I recoup and regroup my thoughts.

I paint my scenario today with broad brush strokes of course. No one has tried to force me to eat banana cream pie haha. The last time I had a banana cream pie in my hand it's target was the face of a friend who was celebrating his 65th birthday. My birthday surprise for him was a pie in the face, which of course I got right back in my face within seconds... too funny!

So this week, Miss Frances, Mr. Coyote, the beach and my mandolin are going to get some extra attention while I fortify myself for a world that sometimes expects me to be someone I'm not. My retreat will just be for a couple of days... because I'm going out with the Kayak Group on Thursday, weather providing... hopefully there won't be too many strong opinions about kayaking. If there are, I'll just go back to kayaking alone. Because I truly love it! And don't really much care if anyone else does or not.

So I promise to keep trying new things and experiencing what others enjoy. But be forewarned, that while I want others to like what they like, and I'm trying to learn to be more tactful, my perceptions are often just different. I'll continue trying to harness my overly analytical and critical nature. But just know that If you ask me point blank what I think about something, I will probably tell you.

Teehee

Peaches and Spring

Happy First Day of Spring, also known as Spring Equinox or Vernal Equinox, a day when there is an equal amount of light and darkness on the entire planet. Everywhere on the globe gets 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness today. After today the Northern Hemisphere days start to get longer than the nights and vice versa in the Southern Hemisphere.

So it's the first day of spring, and all of the gardens in San Carlos are blooming nicely, including ours.



Even my lobelia are alive and well.

Betsy's friends Janice and Adele - who we went out to dinner with a few days ago - invited us to join them today for a boat ride on Janice's boat "Peaches." Peaches is a 55 foot three level boat. Janice and her husband Ron were Peach farmers, hence the name. Janice would provide breakfast. Betsy and I were in charge of bringing lunch.

So Friday was shopping day. Our food shopping trips always begin at a place called "Tony's."


Tony's began as a mobile vegetable stand many years ago. Tony would drive his truck around the neighborhood, selling fresh produce. His market has now evolved into a portable outdoor stand.


Tony's kind of reminds me of a produce stand called "Bud's" where Mom used to shop when we were kids. We go to Tony's first, and what we can't get there we get at the regular stores. Now that Tony is stationary he also carries items like eggs and dairy in a couple of small refrigerated cases. There are half a dozen large ice chests containing fresh shrimp, fish, meat and cold spinach and lettuce. A few bread items are also available and occasionally fresh flowers. A young female German Shepherd hangs out at Tony's. We've become good friends.

Another frequent shopping stop is at Sagitarria.


This shop is owned and run by Terry and Pilar - part of Betsy's extended family. This shop is for the fun things - clothing, candles and interior decor. It's the biggest and most fun shop in town.


Betsy and I enjoy visiting with Terri and Pilar as much as we do the shopping. They are always happy to answer our questions about local stores and events. In the photo below, Betsy and Pilar chat, laugh and catch up on news. Today we bought a couple of candles for the table.


Betsy and I went to lunch at Charlie's Rock. I had Marlin Tacos - which were okay. I was not yet brave enough to try the octopus tacos. Maybe later. Charlie's Rock is right on the waterfront and like many restaurants, only has three walls. The fourth, missing wall faces the beach. We sat at a bar looking out onto the water.


Oh yes. Dogs are welcome.


From there I went to Soldier's Estuary with Frances, where for the
third day in a row we met two female cattle dogs who were camping with their human on the beach. Frances has their number and likes to tease them when they are tied up.

On the way home from the beach I suddenly found myself in traffic that had come to a stop for a kindergarten parade celebrating the first day of spring. All of the children were dressed as flowers, bees and butterflies.


There were two children designated King and Queen of Spring and they road in the front car - a VW with a sun roof. The King and Queen stood with their crowned heads peaking out of the sun roof, waving to the crowd.


I spoke with a smiling policeman who was very happy to be doing Spring Equinox duties as opposed to his law enforcement brothers a couple of hundred miles north who are fighting the drug cartel wars. For those who expressed concern for my safety about the recent drug cartel violence, I will assure you that I have no plans to hangout at consulate offices. And while true, I must eventually cross the border to return to the USA, I have faced greater dangers when I worked in outdoor pet vaccination clinics in the parkings lots of South Stockton! But seriously folks, I'll bet there's been murders in your town this week too. As usual, it is much overblown by both the media and the state department. We use common sense and take moderate precautions and let it go at that.

On Friday night Betsy and I prepared all kinds of luncheon food for the boat ride. This morning we were at the marina for our 8:00am departure.


I took ginger and that is all. I decided no matter what, I was not going to take any motion sickness drugs. I did eat a bagle as per the FAA recommendation.

As I said previously, the boat Peaches is a 55 foot, three level boat. It is white with red trim.


We departed shortly after 8am, and cruised around the bay for the next four hours. I was able to see some new ocean and mountain scenery.


Janice served a breakfast of fruit, yogurt, pastry and coffee. Adele is a poet and writer and midway through the trip was inspired to write a new piece about the universal subject of Love. She graciously shared this lovely heartfelt piece of writing with us when it was completed. Betsy followed up by reading a humourous story she wrote earlier this week about "The Scaliwag Gang". The Scaliwag Gang is "based on a true event." It is an elaboration on a fight between her four male dogs a few nights ago. (Frances thought it all "oh so boring.")

The rest of the trip was spent enjoying the view whilst visiting and chatting, fishing,


or just putting our feet up and relaxing.


This boat ride was a very sentimental trip for Janice as it is likely her last trip on Peaches, the boat she and her late husband Ron owned together. She is selling it now so if you know anyone interested... I was honored to be invited to ride on Peaches on this finale voyage.


We ate so much food for breakfast that none of us were hungry for the lunch Betsy and I had prepared. So I think Betsy and I are now set with food for the next week. That's not such a bad thing! Less time in the kitchen - yay!

Obviously the fact that I ate so well indicates that I did not get seasick! Yay! After 3 hours I felt myself starting to yawn and feel a little out of sorts, so I went and sat in the sun on the back of the boat and let the ocean spray dampen my queasiness while I watched the birds and mountains go by. I arrived home feeling great. I was not able to go to the interior of the boat however, until it had docked. That would have done me in I think. But I consider the day a success as moving one step closer to eliminating this nuisance of a problem.

Back home, Betsy headed out for a family event, and I settled into my upstairs writing space to do some Blogging.



The Marina Terra Beach & Hotel below us commenced with the usual Saturday Night dance band until midnight. As we headed to bed on this first day of Spring, 2010, we were treated to a brief fireworks display from the beach hotel, bringing the Equinox celebration to a close.