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.

Freshman Fun

What fun, getting ready for Homecoming! Every day I take a picture of the freshmen who help work on our float, and then it goes on the school video announcements all day! The kids are crazy and fun - I don't know what the float will look like, but we are getting to know a lot of the freshmen! (and we eat also!!!!!)
So the Homecoming theme is Voyages Around the World -- and the freshmen choose IRELAND. :) We might ask Mr McGee to be on our float!
Any ideas? anyone out there???

Summer is Slowing

The milestones of Summer: Dairy Treat's last day. The ritual of being there the first and last day of the season seems to have flown too fast this year. Maybe we should join all the people who sprawl on the grass, sit on the benches or sleep next to their spouses while the river slowly slides by. I love the trend of people just sitting or bringing their chairs to the river side and watching the world walk or float by. Slowing down.....

Greek Weddings

We went to a Greek wedding; 2 couples drove from Michigan to Pittsburgh to join in the celebration of a wedding. It was awesome! The wedding ceremony was 45 minutes of symbolism: including having the bride and groom walk around the alter, led by the Father. Showing that the first steps in your married life is with the church leading you. The crowns on the heads show the unity of the marriage, and that you both strengthen each other. It was a joyous, significant wedding; and made us all thankful that we were sitting with ones we love.

School Starts

Wow, school has started, with more than the normal challenges for some. The class of 2011 has a new state-wide requirement (seen on the shirts).
I have questions about the blanket formula set for all. What about those who are much more creative than mathematical? Our school seems to be the place to be; we have added 41 new students in the first 2 weeks. Classes are filled, more than we would like. But as a family grows bigger, you just can't tell some they have to live elsewhere.... or that we won't adopt them:)

Retirement for Some

So a whole bunch of friends got together and celebrated the first couple who are 'setting out' of the world of work. Dang, how lucky is that; to still be young and active, with the one you love, and have fun ALL DAY (and night!)
Good thing I love my job!

August Storms

We went sailing, and raced back to the dock just before the lightning started. The world is beautiful!

Land Yachting

I bid on a motor home last year at a fundraiser, so we and another couple went "Land Yachting". They usually take us on their boat, so we 'sailed' off on wheels. Wheels that were 30 feet long! Andy was the master at the wheel, and we really didn't kill or maim anything. We explored 3 campgrounds, each with it's own uniqueness (but all on Lake Michigan).

Orchard Beach, north of Manistee, was great, mixture of tents and RV's, clean restrooms, shade trees and a beautiful beach. We could bike into Manistee for icecream - round trip only 10 miles.

Nordhouse Dunes was the best, remote, primitive, with biking trails through the woods. We spent hours exploring on our bikes. I had never done any 'off roading' on my bike. We even went geocaching and discovered a hidden public beach. We never would have found itif it wasn't for tracking the geocache. This was Sheryll's first find:)

We ended at Mears State Park, a really RV packed spot; but again we could experience what it's all about. Again the beach was awesome. And the best - we could walk into Pentwater for dinner and live jazz!

Lisa Leaves, Brett's Birthday,Coast Guard Party

The sun is hot, and the activities never stop! Between beach and golf, a few other things happened.

Lisa stopped for a last visit, and we found the perfect carry on that Aniken could 'ride' from terminal to terminal.

Then I took the easy way to celebrate Brett's birthday; we took him and Jamie to breakfast in the CG Cutter Mackinaw.

Saturday we had a small party on the front lawn for parade watching.

Whew, it's fun during the CG Festival!

Kid's Day Parade

Andy and I organize the GH Coast Guard Kid's parade, and this year was another great experience!

Thanks to a great group of volunteers (some who wore costumes) the parade went on without any major hitches.

Over 1000 children lined the streets and everybody smiled!!

Storms

I meant to put pictures of the storm we had, but kept forgetting. God and all is awe! some.