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

Week 3 - Happy 50th Birthday

Nora and daughter Gigi rockin the birthday crowns

Nora and the gals rock the princess birthday crowns
Sally & Brian Swartz

Our Good friends - Kathleen gives Sonny a smooch at lunch - oooh baby

Aunt Joan, Uncle Don & Auntie Alice - smile - it's my birthday!




Nora and brother Alan - givin a smile

Nora & daughter Lili wear too much damn lipstick

Happy 50th Birthday to us!

wow what a wonderful week!

Last week Dave and I celebrated our 50th birthdays - I am January 23rd and he is January 24th - yes, the same year. My brother Alan is going to post a link to some photos, so be sure to look for them.

Dave totally surprised me by booking four villas in Newport beach that overlooked the ocean. We had many "surprise" visitors who dropped in during the week.

We were first surprised by Dave's brother Don and his wife Joan - they drove down with Dave's sister Alice - I had no idea anyone would be there and was 100% surprised.

On my actual birthday our daughter Lyndsey drove to La Habra and met at the house where my brother Alan and his wife Bonnie just moved into. All five of us went for dinner at the restaurant (Dal Rae) where my father worked. It was a great meal - I have many fond memories of eating dinner there, so for me it was a culinary delight and a real treat for the tastebuds.

We were able to meet a dear friend of mine, Cindy whom I have known from Sunday school through high school - and beyond - we went to dinner in Dana Point with her and her son Micheal.

Our good friends Sonny and Kathleen Flores flew down from northern California for the gala birthday bash week - friends really fill your heart with such love and kindness.





I think one of the biggest surprises was when I found out that our daughter Jennifer (Gigi) was flying in for our birthdays - it was a super thrill.

The evening that she flew in all three of us Roush women got very very silly and laughed a lot.

Our first date (1975) was with our buddies Brian and Sally - they also came to Newport for the celebration with their sons and spent two nights. We had some good walks down memory lane and did lots of catching up. We all played some mean games of air hockey too.

We ate, played games, stayed up late and partied like mini rock stars.

I want to thank all of our friends who tried to make it - and thank you to everyone who phoned to wish us a happy birthday - it really is what keeps the bonds of friendship alive.

Dave and I are back on a cruise ship now, bound for Mexico. I will do updates to this blog on Sundays - so keep looking & comment as often as you like!

Eat lots of Birthday Cake and best wishes!

Nora & Dave - the birthday kids

Week 2 - Mexico - 1-20-08

Hola from Mexico~
what a wonderful week - words can't really explain the beauty of Mexico. Cactus growing right next to the sand at the beach - totally amazing. I think our favorite ports have been Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta. In Cabo we took the bus again - this time was more relaxing since we knew where we were going - met a cool couple from L.A. on the bus and chatted with them. A local man got on at one stop played his guitar and sang a lovely song while we cruised along the highway - then he asked for tips - we gave him some pesos and he gave us a bible verse book mark - his guitar was an old nylon string but it sounded pretty good and was in tune.
we went to the same destination 'the coral baja'- had a great vegetarian lunch that consisted of absolutely no vegetables what so ever. then a nice walk on the beach - there were only a few people at the beach but the sun was pouring down and it was magic. we wrote birthday greetings in the sand to each other.

In Puerto Vallarta we walked to a little outdoor bar and had guacamole & chips with a Corona beer. Then we walked to the beach, watched the waves and the sunset. There were many vendors trying to sell us things - I did buy a grain of rice with my brothers name on it - how can someone be so dexterous as to actually write a name on a grain of rice? we sat on the sand until the sun was an orange ball sinking in the the ocean - then we leisurely walked back to our ship along the sand - we met a sweet young couple from Mexico City who took a photo of us together as the sun went down. Most all of the people we have encountered in Mexico have been so gracious and polite to us.
~Peace n Happiness, Tacos & Tequilla ~
your buddies, nora & dave

Mexico Week One - 1-13-08

Week one in Mexico was wonderful - it felt so good to be in the warmth of the sun.

Our first port was Cabo San Lucas - we walked into town where we took a city bus to Cabo San Jose which was 20 miles away. How crazy are we to get onto a bus in Mexico - we do not speak Spanish and the bus driver did not speak English - the only thing we knew was Cabo San Jose and that the cost would be about $2.50 American money. We we're trying to find a certain resort that we can rent rooms with via our condo club. The bus ride was about 30 minutes long and the driver stopped right in front of where we needed to be. So far, so good. The resort was beyond words beautiful. I will add photos later. But there was a great pool, hot tub, a swim up bar - lush tourist place. very nice, we had guacamole and chips - Dave had a local beer also. There were massages on the beach and horseback riding on the beach also. We are going back next week and have a studio room rented. Hopefully the bus won't freak me out so much next time.

We got a newspaper called "The Gringo News" super helpful tidbits on what every non native would want to know - like how to dial an 800 USA number on your cell phone - where to eat - just things that are useful.

next week we have some adventures planned. This week was spent mostly parlaying the groundwork for subsequent weeks of travel. I am afraid I will loose signal soon, since the ship is going out to sea - so ta ta for now. check back often and see how Nora learns to blog. Oh - thanks to my brother Alan who put our ships web cam up on the blog for everyone to link to.

audios amigos ~ nora & dave the Mexico travelers

Off We Go!

January 6, 2008

okay - this is the first official blog while away from home. we are on the Princess cruise ship in San Diego - soon we will head out to sea for Mexico - Cabo San Lucas - Mazatlan - and - Puerto Vallarta ~ I won't have to do dishes for a long time ~ I will miss cooking ~ I love cooking. Dave is thrilled to be on a ship again ~ I'll let you know how I feel in two weeks. Tomorrow is a sea day ... translation - read and relax.

Hasta La Vista Baby.

Jan. 5th

Hummm ... I am having a wee bit of trouble posting "normal" size photos ... my feet look extra large - don't you agree. okay - a few kinks to work out, but soon this should be all taken care of. Hang in there.

we're off to Mexico

tomorrow (Jan. 5th) we fly yo San Diego and take off on a cruise for Mexico.
I am not super in the know about blogs, but I will try to figure this out.
Photos and fun facts to follow ... I hope.

hasta la vista baby~ nora & david