Random thoughts

The past little while I feel like I've got Bipolar Disorder. Up one day and down the next. Ugh. I know though, that I'm just incredibly stressed these days by a number of things going on, and that someday things will settle down and I'll be fine. You may have noticed by the topics I've been posting.

Anyway. While I was in the shower this morning, I got to thinking. I do a lot of thinking in the shower. It's a good place to stop and think.

I love the Playa del Carmen area, and could see us living there very happily. Real estate is expensive, but airfair is cheaper.

But then again, I'm so intrigued by the history and architecture etc of the Mazatlan area. Real estate is cheaper, but air fare is much more expensive.

Maybe someday we can afford to go to Mazatlan and check out that area.

Hmmm.... Food for thought.

Another though -

I have one more teacher's college application to fill out. I know very well that I haven't got a chance in hell of being accepted at this particular university, but I'd feel like I was cheating if didn't send in my application stuff anyway.

There is a school in Buffalo where I can apply as well if none of the schools I've applied to accepts me.

Another -

Sitka (Mike and Cynthia's pooch) found her way home, and I wonder if our beloved Chorney was up there in heaven guiding Sitka along her path and keeping an eye out on her. Regardless, I'm so happy that she's been brought home. What a great community in Guaymos!

8 Days and Counting

Our trip to Playa has really kind of crept up on us. I remember thinking "We still have 9 weeks before we go" and here we are at 8 days. Time flies! I mean seriously. This whole summer has just whipped by so far. Maybe I should stop wishing Monday to Friday away...

We've been mentally checking things off our to-do list, and list is getting rather short now. I'm sure there are other things we'll have to do, but these are the ones that are foremost on my mind right now.

• Buy US money
• Stock up on sun screen
• Find a kennel for Chorney
• Ask Meaghan's friend's mom if they will look after the hamster
• Get Meaghan new flip flops
• Finish reading my book for school so I can read something that I WANT TO READ!

I got a great list of cheap places to eat in Playa from http://www.playa.info/index.html . We're not rich and since there are 4 of us going this time we need to find ways of cutting down on costs while we're there. One of the wonderful members on the board had compiled an 8 page list of restaurants, mercado's, taco carts etc. I've printed it off and put it with the other info type stuff I'm bringing with us.

I've been in touch with the owners of the Plantation House, and recieved all the information needed from them. I'm looking forward to meeting them! She is from France and by coincidence, he is originally from a city about 30 minutes from here, which is where I lived when I first moved down here from northern Ontario. They seem like really nice, genuine people.

I found a webcam located at Playa Palms Beach so I've been watching the people go by on and off throughout the day. This morning I saw a guy taking a picture of 7 empty beach chairs. Why, I don't know... Seems like an odd thing to take pictures of, but that's just me. I would have turned around and taken a picture of the ocean!

This will probably be our last trip until after I finish teacher's college. There just won't be any money leftover for trips until I finish and actually start teaching, so we'll have to make the most of this one! I know that in about 3 or 4 months I'll be wanting to go again. Just have to keep myself in check and be responsible. Being responsible sucks.

Shocking Food

Well, still suffering with this damn cold, although I feel better today than I did yesterday.  I couldn't really sleep the past 3 nights, but slept like a log from about 6:30 til almost 10 this morning.  I guess tomorrow I'll have to get my butt back to work.  Boooo.

I had a conversation with a friend on the weekend.  We were talking about our kids etc., and I mentioned that my oldest, Mike, is graduating from high school in June, and that we were taking the kids to Playa del Carmen for a week in August as a gift to him for his graduation.  She was shocked, and I mean SHOCKED that we weren't going to stay at a resort!  She was completely freaked out about the food!!  Horrified, would be a better description.

What's that about anyway?  Do they serve different food at the resorts?  Is the food for the resorts shipped in from Canada or the States??  The issue of food never crossed my mind as something that someone would be concerned about.  I mean, I know that fruits and veggies have to be soaked before eating them if they don't have a skin, but other than that, I didn't think there was anything wrong with the food.  She was concerned about the "freshness", which kind of made me giggle.  I've seen pictures of the mercado's and considering that as Canadians we eat a lot of produce shipped in from the states that has been picked far before it was ripe, freshness was never a concern of mine.

I know....  There are a lot of misconceptions and untruths, but I figured she'd be worried about crime, or drugs, or theft..  certainly not the food.

Speaking of which, I made enchilada's a few days ago, and Mike cannot wait to try some authentic mexican ones when we get there!

Only 8 (or so) more weeks to go!!!

A slight change in the plan

My almost 18 year old son, has CHOSEN to go to summer school this year.  Chosen.  I never mentioned a thing about it.  He's graduating this year, but decided to return to high school for an extra year before going to university so that he can bring some of his marks up and take some extra classes.

Have I mentioned how incredibly proud I am of him?  Well, I am.  He's such a great kid.

So how does this change our plans?  Well, I had originally wanted to head to Playa in July for our week's vacation, but he'll be in summer school, so now we're looking at August.

I spoke to the owner (via email) of the Plantation House in Playa, and she seems like such an interesting and really nice person!  I can't wait to meet her this summer!

We're all looking forward to this trip.  For one thing, this will likely be the last "family" trip we take for quite some time.  With Mike getting older and university on the horizon for him, taking family trips is inevitably going to get lower and lower on his list of things to do.  For Ger and I, it will be a small taste of what life in Mexico would be like away from the big resorts.  And for Meaghan, it will be her first plane ride, her first trip away from Canada (except for crossing the border into New York).  I can't wait to watch her experience everything!

Bring on Playa!!!!!