Saturday

Time to Seize the Day! Sun is shining, Energy is High!!

Mexico Shines!

We went to Playa del Carmen to see the sun, and we saw /observed a lot more. What a wonderful, but perplexing area, lots of major resorts, and therefore lots of money, supported by lots of people. On one side of the major highway was the coast line, with tons of overdone posh resorts, and on the other side little or nothing but vegetation and small cement buildings under the sun. The haves and the have nots.
The pictures: On the same street you have an electric police car being charged and a tower of light that made everyone smile and walk towards it. There are beautiful colors in the buildings, and yet signs that make you smile (a bagel during your massage?), and 2 beers and fish tacos for $6.
Then the Tulum Ruins (notice the corner face?) with the attached beach - take a dip while exploring the past!
Then on to Xel-Ha where you can go down the stairs to snorkel with the fish, eat ceviche (notice the octopus suckers?) or sit on the beach.
I was fascinated by transportation; palm fronds pressed into the cement walkways, cement seashells lining the highways, and clean big buses that showed movies during the rides. We also used the cheaper local mode of transportation- the collectivo vans, half the price of the regular big buses, and you just flagged them down on the side of the highway.

Some Walk, Some Ride

Went for a walk on the pier last night. People walking, biking, jogging, and some still holding on to the feel of summer. I love the surrounding world: watched the stunts at the skate park on the way home, while softball and a pick up basket ball game were going on in the hollow. Wonderful to be alive!

Homecoming

Homecoming was great, seniors gathered for a picnic lunch on the lawn, the weather was perfect, we won the game and everyone had a great time.
Is there any better way to spend a fall Friday? NO!

Freshman Float Building

It has been a blast; working these past 2 weeks with the freshman class. Building the float, designing T shirts, taking pictures and just eating (ice cream, pop corn, pizza!!!) and joking. Everyone is so new to high school, and full of questions. But the energy!!!! I am exhausted every night - and they are still ready to go!! I posted a lot of pictures here, and after tomorrow - the resulting float!

Southside Fall Gathering

So we have this ad hoc neighborhood association that gets together to eat and drink, protest the war (it seems only on Sundays in the winter during blizzards!), have traveling dinner feasts or exchange perennial plants in the spring/fall. We are all ages, from the 1year old to 94, and we all enjoyed the FIRE (since it went down to 51 degrees!). Last year we didn't even light the fire it was so warm. But it's a chance to meet new neighbors, catch up with the old ones; exclaim over renovations and improvements; and hug. And laughter - oh yes laughter - even because Connie missed the gathering AGAIN because her father wanted to visit his home land (Canada) one more time before he dies. The old conger - he's said that the last 4 years - and he's 95!!!!!! So Connie is making her 4th trip north - but you never know.....
But where else would you sit and chat for hours - since most people don't roam the streets and drop in to other people's porches ( Andy and I do:) I overheard two people comparing notes on living in Thailand; her brother lives there and his son travels there all the time. What a small world.
We are blest to be free and friendly.