Whirlwind weeks

Wow, I haven't blogged in ages. Part of it was because we went to Canada for Christmas. I had a nice Christmas card that I was putting together with pictures of the gang here, but I never got it finished. Maybe next year.

Memory is hazy but here are the highlights of the last couple of weeks:

- Minina finally is almost as good as new. She must have broken a leg/foot or torn muscles or ligaments as she clung to the side of the house before taking a tumble. But she's doing well now, so that stress is gone.

- Bennie and Stefan made it here safely, and we spent some time together before we left for Canada. Oh yeah, one of those days was my birthday! Bennie treated me to a meal at La Bruja. Other than packing suitcases, I don't remember what else we did on my birthday. We reviewed all the ins and outs of the house and the animals. I forgot to tell him that Maya steals tomatoes and eats them so we have to hide them.

- We flew direct to Toronto on WestJet - my first time on that airline and I was impressed and will definitely fly them again. A much better price than Air Canada.

- Immigration in Canada pulled Miguel over for secondary questioning, despite the fact that he had a visa. They would not let me stay with him, so I waited for luggage while he answered a few questions - nothing he didn't understand, so in the end it wasn't a problem. But I was angry - what a way to welcome guests to your country - force them to get a visa and then delay them a little longer when they arrive. He took it in stride, says it's their job, which I guess it is...but it still made me mad.

- In Canada we shopped, we ate some of our favorite things there - Swiss Chalet, ribs, Greek food. We tried to go to my favorite Italian restaurant, The Capri, but found it gone - just a sign in the window "For Rent" and no indication if they'd moved. I have since found articles on the internet that indicate it was a sudden closing and there is legal action, so I'm hoping it is temporary. The Capri was in business 55 years, as long as I've been alive, and it was THE BEST Italian food.

- On Christmas Day I cooked a pot roast and a turkey. We ate the beef and saved the turkey for Boxing Day, the day my family comes to visit and feast. In the morning we watched Jen and Miko open gifts and then we drove down to see Niagara Falls in all its icy glory...

- On Boxing Day we did a little shopping before the family party - found some good bargains, and even better ones the day after, specifically Bath and Body Works - their lotion/spray/gel line of buy 3, get 3 free. So we bought 6 and got 6 free, and I smell wonderful - of jasmine. Back home for the party and I got lucky - Jen and my sister-in-law both had left-over pies, so I didn't have to make any. And since my sister and family couldn't come, I skipped making the ham, so it was a little easier to prepare, and there was plenty of food

- We were each allowed two suitcases and two carry-ons with WestJet, so I packed 8 bags of stuff - our clothes, and then stuff for the apartments and a few gifts for the kids here on Isla. I don't know how it all filled 8 bags, but it did, and nothing was over-weight.

- The morning we left Canada it was snowing, so I have pictures of Miguel standing in it - he likes me to take pictures of him standing in snow, but he never stands still - he is constantly moving his head and looking around and it's hard to ever get a good picture. But here's one...

- We arrived in Cancun and both were told to go through the Mexican residents line, so we were through in just a few minutes, collected our bags, called our friend Luis, and were off to the ferry. We were only home 5 minutes when the phone rang for Miguel and then Scott arrived with a cart of friends. Scott didn't stay and Miguel had to go over to the apartment as his sister had arrived from Oaxaca - with a large group in tow. And so it was a quick welcome home. Bennie and Stefan told me all about their stay and their adventures and when Miguel got back we went to La Bruja. Miguel spent the rest of the evening running around trying to get food for 9 people and figure out where they were going to sleep over at his property (not in the apartmens, they were rented). I didn't see it, but it sounds like they hung hammocks all over the place - including the kitchen. I'm glad I wasn't there, to be honest - too much commotion for me. And poor Miguel, he was not feeling well - sinus headache and runny nose - all he wanted to do was go to bed, but first he had to take care of his visitors.

- It comes in Threes. Bennie lost his camera in a taxi or on the bus. Stefan lost his crown off his tooth. And yesterday, after 12 loads of laundry, two of which were the comforters and bedspreads for the apartments, Miguel lost the bag off the back of the golf cart. It rolled off and when he went back for it, a woman told him that a lady came by in a moped and very quickly scooped the bag up off the street and made off with it. I'm not sure why anyone would pick up a bag of someone else's laundry, but she must have seen what it was and wanted it. $150 of bedding gone, and so...

- This morning, after a quick breakfast, we went to Cancun to try to replace the bedding. Costco no longer had the nice comforters, so my sage green color scheme in the Luna Studio is compromised with a lively navy blue with splashes of green and yellow. We went to every store we could, but really came up lame - cheap bedding that will fall apart after a few washings. I think a lot of Mexicans got comforters and blankets for Christmas - they just aren't to be found, especially in queen size. So I guess I'm in the market for something from Canada - I've already called Jen to go to Costco to see if they still have the comforters there in Canada.

- When Stefan called yesterday about his crown, I had to look in the couch, and under the couch. I don't know about you but there are things in there, and under there, that are sort of yucky. So since I had it all pulled out anyway, I did a total cleaning of the entire living room, including wiping down all the pillows and cushions on all the seating areas. I even cleaned the inside of the window screen because the Fabulosa I was using smelled great and I thought it would be a nice way to freshen the screen. So now the living room is done, on to the dining room.

- Our first guests at the B&B for 2010 arrive on Jan 2, and from then until the end of March we will be hopping. I am anxious for the good fruit to start coming in as winter fruit just doesn't do much for me. I am most interested in the yellow mango - it's been three months now, time for it to show up again on the shelves.

I guess that's all for now...have more but it will have to wait until next year. In the meantime...

Happy New Year to All!!