Day 555 - Super Sunny Day

What a glorious day it was! Wow! Stunning hot weather & not a cloud in the sky. Yeah! That's more like it! 


Jaco & I were meant to drive to Franschhoek to meet up with Carmen & Laura, two girlfriends from ships that I haven't seen for years. I was very excited to see them, but unfortunately, our destination included 12,000 other people wanting to see the Cheese Festival happening there. So, after a few Facebooks & phonecalls later, we made arrangements to meet on Tuesday in Hermanus. 


Not wanting to spend the day indoors, we spent it in the car. Just kidding. We drove down the road towards Caledon & stopped at a few wine farms, drove up the road past the dam & of course, I took a few photos along the way. It was an absolutely stunning day. Nice & hot, sunny... mmm. 


On our way back, we drove through an area called 'Vermont'. There were many beautiful homes. It was a nice, quiet neighbourhood. Plenty of real estate if you're looking! 


We made a quick stop at the house & then left for dinner out. We went to the Seafood Pavilion at the Marine Hotel. It is an upmarket restaurant & quite likely the only place open late on a Sunday night! Hermanus is funny that way! In any case, we had a wonderful meal - drinks & dessert. Our waiter was from Zimbabwe & we enjoyed a nice chat with him. I really like the Zimbabwean people. If only R. Mugabe would oh, I don't know, send an almond down the wrong tube or something like that! 


Apparently Brad Pitt stayed at the Hotel when he was here in 2004. He went shark cage diving & did a helicopter tour of the Cape. You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say I was a stalker. He had a place in Bragg Creek with Jenny Aniston, had baby Shiloh in Namibia & hung out in Hermanus. Either that or I'm just one step behind him in setting trends! He's already beat me to jewelry designing as well! 


Tomorrow Jaco & I start the detox with Health Nation & Dr. Singh. Oh boy. Will I stop the spin cycle once & for all? YES. This has to be it. This is it. So help me God & all the lumps & bumps in my body. Cancer or fat or otherwise. Amen.


xxxxChubby Maria

I LOVE this house. 

 Cheers!

 Chillaxin'

 The Sun Lounge

 Sun Lounge in the Marine Hotel

 Sun Lounge - check out the whale vertebrae on the wall

 Fresh flowers

 Trio of ice cream. Love the ice chunk it sat on. Very 'cool'.

 Malva pudding & ice cream! - Petro's is better! WAY better!

Stunning arrangement of proteas. (SA's official flower)

**Photos of the afternoon drive will come later. Nothing too exciting, so 

don't hold your breath!**

Day 523 - At Sea

Hmm. A fairly uneventful day. Did laundry. Packed a little. Tanned a little. Uncooked a little. That about sums it up!

I packed up the seeds & spices. I’m not sure how on Earth we’ll get them to SA just yet. It’s a fairly hefty weight! We’ll see! I washed the scuba gear for the last time & it’s drying out as I type.

I washed three loads of laundry, so there will only be a few things left to wash come Sunday.

Up on deck for one hour today, I found it quite windy. After I settled onto the only free lounger at the back of the ship, I tried to read. It was too windy & blew the pages all over. I tried to write postcards, but they were bent out of shape by the wind. I then resorted to playing solitaire on my iPod. When I finished, I looked up at the sky & my eyes were playing tricks on me. The moving clouds in the sky made the railing of the ship look like the back end of the ship was moving up, up, up into the sky! Maybe you had to be there, but it was pretty weird!

Lastly, I made walnut tacos tonight for dinner. Jaco likes the taco ‘meat’, so we both enjoyed a nice meal. I used the raw sundried olives & they gave a nice ‘cheese’ texture to the tacos. Shredded purple cabbage, sliced red peppers & sunflower sprouts all rolled up in a butter lettuce leaf. They were delicious! I was quite pleased with the flavor of the taco meat that I took it to the Medical Centre & Rebecca & Becky both tried it & gave it thumbs up! Becky is quite picky, so I was impressed that she actually liked it! Rebecca even had a second spoonful!

Tomorrow is Tortola & I’ll attempt to travel over to Virgin Gorda again to see the Baths. Here’s hoping I can find the ferry in time!

xxxxMaria

Day 396 - Passoporto

Thank goodness it has warmed up today & we are no longer the 2nd coldest place on Earth. There was actually some sunshine today! Vitamin D! Yay! The girls didn't even mind going outside to do their 'business'. 

I'm frantically trying to organize all of my passport papers for tomorrow. I am applying for a name change, to my married name, so I need to submit a new application, not just a renewal. Here's hoping the lines aren't too long tomorrow! I need to get crackin' on it, as I don't want to be left at the last minute frantically trying to get it done when the Doctors have given me the green light to head for the skies & seas! Hooray! I can smell the jet fuel & taste the salty sea air! BRING IT ON!!!! Three rounds to go & the biggest hurdle of life is finally over with!

Tomorrow is Opt-Out day in the States. I'm anxious to know how it will go. I'm feeling very passionate about the backscatter machines & the aggressive pat downs. I am hoping the Americans will make an impact on the TSA. 

I'm going to post all of the wig photos at the end & have a little vote to see which ones make the cut as Top Three... I hope you'll cast a vote & have a say as to whether or not I look completely ridiculous or totally fashionable! :oP

xxxxMV&O

Meet Jennifer

Day 206 - Unka Jer Visits

Today my Mom's brother, Jerry, visited. He has had a whirlwind of change in his life in the past year or so. He became a Yoga Instructor, sold his home in Saskatoon, traveled across Canada last summer, moved to Golden & recently started up his own business... Driftwood Carriage Ride, Co.. I'm excited for him! It's awesome to see someone follow their dreams & have the perseverance & happiness that he does along the way. 


Unka Jer, as he has revamped 'Uncle Jerry', had arrived late last night & this morning, Mom made us breakfast. Fresh Toast a la Kim style. She used coconut milk along with a splash of almond milk & vanilla, dipped the french toast (sprouted grain bread) in shredded coconut before she fried it & then put fresh pineapple, mango & strawberry on top with a hint of mint. Yummy! (don't forget the maple syrup on top!)


Uncle Jerry has a marvellous sense of humour & it doesn't take long to get things rolling. He had a lot to do in the city (sorry, my dog is TOTALLY snoring as I type this), so Mom went along to visit & keep him company. I stayed home & enjoyed the GLORIOUS sunshine we had today. 


Valentina was at home with me, so I pulled the lounger around the sunny side of the house, took out a good book & settled in for some vitamin D. I could hear the phone ringing inside the house, but luckily I had taken the cordless outside with me. Hello? Hello? Why don't I hear anything? Argh! Mom changed phones & I had brought out the old one that was plugged into my room! I could hear the caller phoning again, but there was no way I could do the 50 yard dash & still get to the new phone. I walked inside & sure enough, it was Jaco. Seeing as I can't call him back, I was pretty bummed when he didn't call again. :o( I wandered back outside for a bit more sunshine & reading before it cooled off too much.


Yes, it was a quiet day, but I am grateful for it! I am enjoying every minute to rest & recuperate. No stress, plenty of rest & catching up on the blog! 


Sleep well!
Maria & Valentina
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Tropical French Toast

Scrumptious!

Unka Jer & his 'iBag'

Tweet Pea like vitamin D too!

Tweet Pea catching up on her rest too!

Day 199 - Mother's Day... Awhhhhh!

We're not talking a lot of sleep here folks. My mother decided to pull an all-nighter yesterday. Her favourite Uncle sadly passed away & she didn't want to miss the funeral. This meant driving to central Saskatchewan & back in the same day. Yup. 1100+kms. She arrived home at 0430, expecting to leave for Wainwright at 0900. 

I didn't want to wake her, as I knew what a full day & night's drive is like & what you feel like after it's finally over with. But, come 1230, I figured I better wake her up if we were going to go at all. 

In true Mom fashion, she freaked out at the time & quickly got ready. I, on the other hand, was not so speedy. Hey, I was up half the night worrying about her! We left at nearly 1500, just as the snow began to fall. We had hail, rain, sun & snow within the first 20 minutes of driving. She wanted to turn around & go another time, I insisted we go. 

Where were we going? What's so special about Wainwright? Isn't today Mother's Day? Precisely! We were going to get a sister for Valentina! This one would be Mom's dog! Double the trouble, double the fun! 

Roxie, the lady I bought Valentina from, has had severe health issues for the past while & didn't have the energy to get rid of the pups, which were a whoopsie in any case. She had a female pup that she wanted to give to Mom awhile back, but Mom wasn't sure. Apparently she knew how bad I wanted her to have the pup, so she said yes. She decided to surprise me & tell me the news when I arrived home.

I was excited to meet the little pooch! She was going to be a lot of work, as she is nearly 6 months old & hasn't had any obedience training. Adding to the fact that she would soon be leaving her 'nest' & joining a home with a new dog, a giant cat & 2 women! She was in for a real culture shock! 

Thankfully the weather improved shortly after we left. The clouds were threatening, but we drove out of anything wet! The #2 hwy was a zoo! It was packed! I was happy to pull off at Wetaskiwin & head east. The traffic was much gentler - to say the least! 

Previously Mom had chosen Annie as a name for the dog. I talked to hear about it & we decided that Annie wasn't such a suitable name. Her niece had a dog by the same name, as does my friend, Roxy, who visits often. I could see the ensuing confusion. So we discussed name after name after name. I went through the Spanish & Italian words on my iTouch. Sadly they were mostly words for eating out & shopping, so that didn't help much! I forgot the Afrikaans dictionary at home, but even if I had brought it with, I wouldn't have known how to pronounce it in any case! We scanned the Atlas on the iPod... nothing. Finally I said, 'How about Ocean?' Mom said, in an unconvincing, 'Yeah'. Then I thought of a ship I once knew, 'How about Oceana?' Then Mom has her 'Anna' namesake & it's a funky name to boot! 'Yeah!' Mom liked it! 

Okay. Done! Oceana it is. We were about 3 kms out of Wainwright at this point! Uh-oh! She needs a middle name! Quick! Come up with something! Well, it's May, Mother's Day, how about 'Oceana May'? I can hear your eyes rolling... But it suits her! Just put on your best southern drawl & you've got the name down pat! :o)

We didn't get to Roxie's until 2000. Cohby answered the door & I could hear heaps of barking going on. Their GIANT Retriever, Lucky, was barking away. Cohby put Lucky into his kennel, but Lucky's head was sticking out the top! As Lucky barked away, I thought I'll just take Valentina over & he can meet her. I've never seen a Retriever tap dance! His feet were going a million miles a minute, clicking away on the kennel floor - it was priceless! Cohby then decided to put Lucky outside, but that was no small task! Lucky pretty much dragged Cohby out the door! He is a big dog! I think both Mom & I couldn't have handled him as well as Cohby did! Well done!

And then there was Oceana. Roxie brought her out & she wanted nothing to do with us. She played with Valentina & ran to Cohby & Roxie, but not Mom, nor I. We were there for an hour or so, visiting & just spending time with Oceana. Pretty soon it was time to go, so Mom scooped up Oceana & she clung to Mom like she'd known her all her life. And that was it. They were bonded!

I'm pretty sure Cohby was sad to see the puppy go, as I don't think the mother is having any more, but I told him to be sure & visit this summer. The dogs will be waiting for him! I'll be waiting for him & Roxie! :o) I know they'll remember him!

We stopped at Boston Pizza for a quick take away bite & then it was back on the road again. Traffic was much lighter this hour of the day & we took a new trail across the north end of Calgary - Stony Trail. It was super quick & easy to get from North Deerfoot to Hwy #1. Perfect! We got home about 0300. I was beat. A headache was settling in as we arrived home, so here's hoping it's gone tomorrow... I'm about done with headaches!

Sleep well! Valentina is snoring as I type! xxxx

Maria, Valentina, Nonna & Introducing... Oceana May

Good afternoon, this is your 1230 wake up...

Okay, I'm actually speechless at what to write for this one. Insert what you will...

Roxie, Cohby, Valentina & Oceana. She's much friendlier than she looks in this photo! :o) Valentina still has her pretty face!

Day 197 - The Journey Home

Forgive me if I'm not too excited to be coming home. I'm leaving my husband, getting off a luxury cruise ship, leaving the warm weather of the Caribbean & heading home to snow & 6 months of chemo. Yay.


I was up early & in the shower before Jaco was up. That's a rarity! I had to disembark by 0915. Luckily they were running behind, so it actually gave Jaco & I a chance to say goodbye. We hugged & hugged & kissed & kissed & hugged some more. It was awful. I'm getting really tired of saying goodbye. I have such a wonderful husband & all I ever seem to do is say goodbye to him. What's that about? 


After he left, I called the photo lab. Galina, AKA Gorjus Galina, was embarking today. I met Galina on the Star in South America. She is a STUNNING lass from Bulgaria & her personality matches her smile. To my happiness, she came to the dining room where I was waiting to leave & we had a quick visit before I had to go. It was wonderful to see her! My heart was a little happier after having just said goodbye to Jaco. 


But soon enough, it was time to go. Ronel came to my rescue & helped me with my luggage straight through to the taxi cab's door. What a sweetheart. Ronel is the Medical Steward who also helps keep the cabin neat & tidy! Luckily we were swept through a quick line. Sometimes it pays to be Canadian in a slew of British passengers! :o)


And then I was off. I had a bit of a wait in the airport, but thankfully it wasn't long before the Westjet folks showed up to take away my luggage. I visited with a Surgeon from Toronto who specializes in retina surgeries. Wow! While I was visiting with him, I spotted my friends from Pennsylvania from the ship! We said our farewells & I lugged my stuff onto the scale. I was 1/2 a lb under on one case & spot on the money on the other. That's 25 lbs over spot on the money... $50. Told ya. :o)


Luggage free, I grabbed some lunch & ate outside. The bench I sat on was concrete & it was so hot from the sun, I had to put my scarf under my butt because it was actually causing me pain - it was that hot! I took Valentina down one level & let her roam around on a grassy patch so she could get a bit of exercise & have a potty break before the flights. 


I then came inside to call Jaco. Today was his big day at the fertility clinic. I was so nervous he wouldn't make it to his appointment in time & the chances of ever having a mini-wee running around one day would be shot. Thankfully he was there & everything was in order. He said the people were really nice & he was enjoying the medical/scientific side of things. 


During my flight, I ended up sitting next to a lady from Ontario. She was heading home to celebrate her parents 65th wedding anniversary! She is a semi-retired events planner, so she had organized a big To-Do for them. The local newspaper & TV crews were going to stop by & an Italian radio station was going to do an interview. The were Italian - I knew I liked her from the beginning! How fun!


Westjet had told me I would sit behind the bulkhead with Valentina, but when I checked in online, I had no idea where the bulkhead was, so I just picked a seat. When I boarded, I went to the seat I had selected & got settled. (row 22) I had no sooner settled in when the Attendant came by & told me they had a seat for me in the front. Sigh. Okay. I haul my stuff all the way to the front of the plane. I was grateful for the seat, but would have appreciated being told a little sooner! Oh well. I'll know to ask for the next flight.


Next flight. Nope. Sorry. Dogs are in rows 21 & 22. I asked if that was where they put service dogs. She told me to wait until everyone had boarded & then we'd see if there were any bulkhead seats available. Luckily there was a lady who couldn't use the arm tray in the front, so she gladly took my seat in row 18. That left me in the front. But then the Attendants said I couldn't sit there with my dog. I explained that I had done so on the previous flight & I had been told I would have a bulkhead seat on both flights. They said 'All dogs are in rows 21 & 22'. I said, 'Even Service Dogs?' & showed them Valentina's card. It was like I'd slapped them across the face. They instantly apologized & said, 'Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, yes, this is where you sit.' Done. Thank you very much.


While I was in TO, I asked at information if there was a spot for dogs to relieve themselves. No. NO?! What do you mean, no? Is there seriously no grass anywhere at the Toronto airport? No. Now that is a crying shame. I'm sure I'm not the only person to travel through Toronto with a dog! Hmpf. Shows how much they know. I walk out the arrivals door & lo & behold... Across the road is a nice chunk of grass, trees, & shrubs. No where to go, huh? Yeesh. I had a notion to leave them a 'donation', but I didn't! I did, however, let them know where it was located when I came back inside! They didn't look overly impressed. 


On this flight, I sat next to a man whose eyes didn't really stay together & he prayed out loud the entire time they were doing the safety announcements & the Captain was speaking. I was slightly nervous. I was listening for the words, 'Allah, Allah, Allah', but didn't hear them. He went to sleep after his prayers were over. I'm typing this after I've landed, so nothing horrible happened, but it was creepy nonetheless! 


Naturally, Mom was late picking me up, but when she did arrive, oh boy! Valentina was pretty excited to see her! She went crazy! She whined most of the way home & didn't want to sit on my lap, only Nonna's lap! 


I was horrified to see snow on the ground. It made me want to cry. Oh please, send me back to the land of heat & sunshine. I could feel the vitamin D deficiency settling in already! I prayed that it would be melting & gone by morning!


What a day. I'm home, safe & sound & I suppose that's all that matters. 


xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Maria & Valentina

Ronel has a 3 month old baby back home. That he's NEVER EVEN SEEN! :o( 45 days to go!

Contemplate is frozen!

to.snow.es

NeverLate made it through the snow!

Nonna & Valentina

Just a little unpacking & rearranging to do!

Out for the count!

Day 196 - Last Day At Sea

The packing is finally complete. The last of the deliveries has been made & I am exhausted. I spent the day running around & trying to fit every last thing into the suitcases & still keeping them underweight. If my new scale is correct, I'm 25 lbs over on one case & just under the wire on the other. 25 lbs gives me a $50 fee, whereas another bag is a $75 fee. One of these days I'll be underweight! 


Jaco was busy as ever, so it was a long day for him too. We hardly saw each other all day, which really bites, as it is our last day together for awhile. I will try to come back in a few weeks, but I'm not sure what lies ahead of me as far as treatments & such. Fingers crossed I will get to see him again soon!


Today was another stunning day outside. I made it a priority to get out on deck for a bit. I'm glad I did, as while I was out, a few dolphins were swimming alongside the ship & it was quite the sight! I've seen pods of dolphins before leaping out of the water, but these dolphins were AWESOME! They were flying out of the water, doing backflips & twists, they were really having a blast! It was fantastic to watch! I was excited! When I had dinner at the bar again & David was there, I asked him if he saw the dolphins. His reply: 'Dolphins? What's so exciting about dolphins? They're just gay sharks!' Okay. Never mind. I thought they were exciting!


Several people stopped by to see Valentina, as I had her tied to the lounger so we could both get some fresh air. One lady came by & visited for nearly an hour! She was a breast cancer survivor & filled me in on her experience. It was nice to visit with her. Another fellow stopped by to tell me of his neighbours sausage dog, Otto. Apparently Otto is quite the character!


I gave Eddie his photos, Johnny his edited ones from the shoot, collected my photos from the cruises & delivered thank you cards to all the appropriate parties! Jaco & I bought a Spa Certificate for Kirsty, the gal who organized all of Valentina's trips ashore. She was a real miracle worker, as I didn't expect Valentina to be allowed off much. 


I took Valentina around the ship to say farewell to the friends she had made throughout her 3 weeks onboard. We visited the Spa, the photo gallery & of course, the shops. I think she easily could have stayed onboard & become the ship's mascot! We'll have to go back again, as she never got to visit the Bridge. Next time! 


Finally, the day was through & it was only the three of us. We enjoyed our last evening together & dreaded the morning to come.


Sleep well & be grateful that you have the ones you love close by & if you don't, they're only a phone call away.


Maria, Jaco & Valentina
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Tired of packing

My Man & my Tweet Pea

Snoozin' with Papa

Crap photo of a dolphin, but the best I could get with my Point & Shoot!

Goodbye kisses for Daniela!

Thanks Kirsty for the trips to the beach!

Thanks Melissa for keeping us safe @ sea!

More cuddles for the Security Team!

The sun sets on my holidays.

Goodbye kisses for Eddie

Upside down dreaming wiener dog

Do you mind? I'm trying to get a little shuteye before the flight?

Day 195 - At Sea With A N. Irish Twist!

Well, no more land for this Ship Chick. It's all sea until I disembark. Now comes the fun part of packing. You'd think after 7 years of traveling I would have it down to a science. Well, in a way, I suppose I do. Although my science is generally overweight! :o)


I slept late & decided to grab a quick bite to eat in the buffet before I headed outside to catch some Vitamin D. Unbeknownst to me, I would meet one of the funniest people ever. He was sitting at the bar talking with Eddie. His name is David & he is from Northern Ireland. It's a crackin' great accent & the only reason I was able to pick it up today was that I had spoken with Dr. Dowdall this morning. Dr. Dowdall is from Ireland, of which, David reassured me, is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. He quipped, 'Your Doctor's Protestant'. Okay. Means little to me, I know there is a lot of strife in N. Ireland, but otherwise, I only love the people I meet from there! 


David was the most sarcastic & quick-witted person I have ever encountered. When Eddie introduced me to David, I did the usual small talk. 'So are you enjoying your cruise?'
'Heavens NO! I can't wait for this one to end & the Americans to come onboard. Then I'll have some real fun.'
'Oh.'
He proceeded to tell me of a fellow passenger who, while in the lift with his wife & David, commented on the wrinkles in David's shirt. 'Don't you press the wrinkles out of your shirts?'
David's response: 'Don't you press the wrinkles out of your wife's face before you go out?'
The couple promptly got out of the lift at the next floor.


It's amazing what you can get away with when you have an accent! I tell ya! Sarcasm aside, David was a wonderful man to visit with. He had heart surgery not so long ago, had lost his Mum & worked as a fantastic Hairstylist. He claimed that N. Ireland had a huge amount of cancer patients. He offered me wonderful advice on my hair. It falls out around day 18. When it comes back, just shave it again - a few times. Otherwise it's coarse & wiry. And forget the bloody bandana! Everybody knows you're bald, be proud!


Eventually an hour had passed & I was still sitting at the bar visiting. My sunshine hours were quickly fading, so I said farewell to the boys & headed outside. On my way out, I bumped into Michael & David, the husbands of the 2 couples I'd met the other day in Grenada. The wives were shopping & the gentlemen were just chillin' out in the shade. I chitchatted with them a little & then found my spot in the sun. Ooooh, but I do love the feeling of being warm! It just feels so good! I soaked up the sun for an hour or so - don't worry, it was after 1600 when I went out, so the sun wasn't too strong. :o)


Jaco & I were going to go for dinner tonight, as it was the last formal & tomorrow night I was sure to be packing. However, as always, Jaco seems to get crazy busy every time I have to leave. I hardly saw him today! Thankfully we had a few hours in the evening to share. 


So much for packing today! Where does the time go?!? I guess it will have to be tomorrow! Wish me luck! xxxxx


Maria, Jaco & Valentina

David from Northern Ireland

Michael & David

Last little bit of Vitamin D before the frostbite hits me!

Enjoying our toys!

Only one last salty sunset left after tonight!

Jaco was holding her toy from beneath the blanket & it drove her crazy that she couldn't get it!

Dig! Dig! Dig!

Day 167 - Finally! We Venture Out!

I did my hair! Yup, it looked pretty good, if I do say so! I didn't manage to back comb it like Priscila did, but it stayed under! The buses were so full at the clinic, we needed a 4th bus! Things are really getting busy now! 


It was a beautiful sunny day & I gladly soaked up the Vitamin D! I love the warmth & I hope it's here to stay! I even managed to get a bit of a sandal tan!


Today was a relatively quick day across the border after treatments & I decided I would muster up the courage to go out. I decided to visit Las Americas, the outlet mall, as it is close by & would only be a short distance home if I became too tired. 


Valentina & I boarded the bus & away we went. I noted the Travelodge on our way. Some of the patients at the Clinic have been staying there. It is only $37/night! They don't offer a shuttle service, so this would mean getting to the border on my own & then to the clinic & back on my own. A steal of a deal on the room, but I'm not sure if it's a great idea when I'm on my own. 


Once we found the outlet mall, it was fun to stroll around & check out what was new in the shops since my last visit. It brought back many memories of Laura & I visiting the best shops & finding the best deals! **Snif** It just isn't the same without her! :o( 


I tried on a sexxy pair of sunglasses, but they were the most expensive ones in the shop - go figure! I put them down & thought, 'Nope, not today.' I looked around the shop at the other shades & by the time I made it back around to 'my pair', a lady had bought them! I asked if he had more, but that was it! He sent me to their other location & they had them, but the arms were wobbly. The clerk assured me they had a 2 year warranty & I could send them in for repair. Why would I pay that much money only to have to send them away for ?? months??!! Crazy!!!


The shop I bought my Ugg boots from on my previous trip was open & the clerk even remembered me! Laura & I had been in & tried on some scarves. He remembered her too & asked how she was doing. It really makes you feel special when someone recognizes you months later & you thought they'd quickly forget who you were.


I kept thinking of my girlfriends as I was shopping - kids clothes for the Mom's, Banana Republic for Milla (she would have freaked right out - it was so cheap!), Coach for all the handbag lovers... 


I ended up stopping at Achiote's for some chicken sopes to go. It was already dark & I needed to get home. My feet were talking to me by now! I waited & waited & waited for the bus. Finally it came & I made my way home.


To my delight, Jenn was online when I checked my messages. We enjoyed a brilliant Skype chat & I'm missing her a lot! Her triathlon training is going fantastic! She's going to ace it! I'm so proud of her!


Anyhow, off to bed... Tomorrow is a busy day...
Love & hugs,
Maria & Valentina
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Patiently waiting in the shuttle to cross the border.

Little Old Mexican Lady In Really Big Sombrero.

I send my dog out to play in traffic while I go to McDonald's. (This statement is entirely FALSE!)

Valentina's beloved green ball. She dug it out of my purse today.