Feburary 23rd - home again

Well ... here we are, staying at Jennifer's wonderful home in California for two weeks.
Things are pretty normal - (if we have ever been considered normal) Lyndsey came over to spend two nights with us and brought her dog George (woof) - we were so happy to see both of them. She spent time knitting - linking her new laptop to her old one transferring all of her files. She brought several baskets of laundry and lots of psychology books to read for homework. Jennifer is busy with teaching high school English - and it is softball season - translation? she is b.u.s.y. - Jennifer leaves the house early in the morning, teaches all day, then is the assistant coach for girls softball after school, then it is off to the gym and she is home around 8pm -exhausted - visits with us briefly before collapsing into bed - and does it all over again the next day. Where does she get all of her energy. She is a love to have us here, how many children really want their mom and dad bombarding their personal space - we love her.
We all four talk at the same time, drive each other a little crazy, love each other a lot and try to plan when the girls will fly to Europe to join us this summer.
We had two dinners together this week. The first night I made soft tacos (vegetarian style) the next night we had salad w/ goat cheese, almonds, red onions, and raisins with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. I cooked yams and home made minestrone soup along with several glasses of red wine - Lyndsey and I got really silly and made new voicemail recordings on our phones - I deleted mine the next day - oh my lord!
I am sure everyone has heard the term 'crazy busy' ... that is how I have felt this past week. We each have had several doctor appointments, I had to go to the doctor in San Francisco which is just too far away sometimes. Then to the Brazilian consulate in San Francisco to get tourist visas because we will be there one day. And with the visa comes the yellow fever shot. The shot is hard to find. Napa valley clinic was supposed to have it - we told the Brazilian consulate we would fax them our certificate of vaccine the next day - then we hit a steel wall. Finally after much telephoning I found a wonderful place called "Passport Health" (if anyone ever needs weird type of travel shots, they have a web site also) so we were able to get the yellow fever shot the next morning at the cost of $130.00 EACH. At least it is finished. So we faxed our yellow fever certificate off, designed business cards, took several trips to the State of California office in downtown Sacramento for David's retirement paperwork, went to the dentist, got prescriptions filled to bring to Europe for "just in case" we need them reasons, went to several banks for business, opened accounts to access while away. Some places in Europe don't take AMEX, or Visa, just cold hard cash - so we opened accounts to have banking options. All in all it has been a super busy week and we have only been home 6 days! Looking a wee bit forward to the big storm that is supposed to hit this afternoon - only because I have a large pot of soup simmering and we will be staying home all day.
Next week we leave for a stay in Northwest - Oregon & Washington - we hope to see the same whales migrating in Oregon that we saw in Mexico. We will have time to spend with Dave's folks in a condo on the beach. Dave's brother Don and his wife Joan will join us along with Dave's sister Alice and her husband Randy.
Reports to follow.

photos de la mexico~ Ole!

Dave buys some spicy peanuts from a local vendor in Cabo San Lucas

A painted wall mural in Cabo San Lucas -

My feet relaxing on the 6th floor balcony - watching the sunset in Puerto Vallarta

Sweethearts on Valentine's Day - Puerto Vallarta

Totally breathtaking sunset in Puerto Vallarta

week 6 - cabo san lucas -

this week was great. The weather was very warm and we went whale watching.

I have conflicted views about whale watching - I do not want to cause the whales any stress. The boat we went out on does not use any sonar to find the whales -

we looked for the whales to spout or breach.

The following is a song written by: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

"Wind on the Water"

Over the years you have been hunted, by the men who threw harpoons,

And in the long run he will kill you, just to feed the pets we raise,

put the flowers in your vase, and make the lipstick for your face.

Over the years you swam the ocean,

Following feelings of your own,

Now you are washed up on the shoreline,

I can see your body lie, It's a shame you have to die,

to put the shadow on our eye.

Maybe we'll go, Maybe we'll disappear, It's not that we don't know,

It's just that we don't want to care.

Under the bridges .. Over the foam ...

Wind on the water - Carry me home.

Nora Gail Notes: week 5 mex-of-the-e-co

Nora Gail Notes: week 5 mex-of-the-e-co

week 5 mex-of-the-e-co

bueno taco amigo,
let's just say the guacamole in Puerto Vallarta has me hooked like a crazy woman. I must go there every Thursday when we are in port - there is a bar by the pool, that overlooks the ocean at a resort that must give you 2 pounds of guacamole for $4.00 (U.S.) and it absolutly rocks my taste buds out of this world. They bring us chips too - now wait - I know you're thinking - big deal chips - but NO! These chips are crispy, salty, and a little bit thick and when you mound up the guacamole and then add some fresh salsa - oh my lord - I do not want to leave that plate of green creamy wonderous bliss.
Here are some photos from our last week in mexico - and if you want to find me - Thursdays I will be the woman with guacamole on my lips at La Torre`.
This week, we had fantastic table mates too - Sidney & Patrick from Canada, Frank & Nina from Boston and Gordon & Norma from Arizona - we had a superb time every evening.
much love & comment if you like to
- Nora & David

week 4 - Mexico

A self portrait in Puerto Vallarta

Cabo San Lucas with a ship

Above is a church in Mazatlan, below is a church in Puerto Vallarta.

This woman is a vendor with many hats on her head.

okay - call us whimps (whimps) - but we were so burnt out after our birthday week that this week was super low key. We didn't do too much. Took it easy - rested and relaxed.

We'rehaving a snafoo with our cell phones in Mexico - we can't seem to listen to our voicemails - so Dave called and got in a argument with sprint - umph - the Internet is fine so keep the emails flowing.

While we were in Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, we went into local Catholic churches. I wore a skirt so I wouldn't be considered rude and I tried to be modest and respectful in my photo taking.

I am going to post some photos from last week~

Until next Sunday ~your buddies, Nora and Dave