Socialists in California

Just read that a new bill (AB 756) has passed the Assembly in California and is now in the Senate for consideration which would forbid any instructional material (read textbooks) that exceeds 200 pages for grades K to 8. I guess we wouldn't want them to read any literature of any length or review any historical documents. Pretty soon we'll have to provide all the textbooks in comic book style.

Memorial Weekend

Welcome back from vacation - now start your engines! Sorry to use a Memorial Weekend metaphor from the Indianapolis 500, but the weekend was a mix to say the least.

Saturday after emptying suitcases and starting at least a few loads of wash, we dressed up in our wedding best and headed to Chris and Pattie Brown's son's (Jeremy) wedding in Orange. Jeremy married a gal whose family is from the Philippines and so the Catholic wedding had some interesting and for us, new, traditions. Like the gift of 13 silver and gold coins from groom to bride as a symbol that he will always care for her and provide for her and any future children, or the placing of a veil across both their shoulders to show they are now one.

The reception was held in the Embassy Suites in Garden Grove and included a sit down dinner after a period of appetizers and drinks. We really didn't know any one else at the wedding although we had met a few of Pattie's relatives once or twice before, but we had some enjoyable table conversations and tried our turns on the dance floor.

It was a full day with the mass beginning at 2 and we didn't even leave the dance until 9 and many were still dancing strong.

Sunday, I wasn't feeling that great so I ended up watching the 500 and Danica become the first woman to ever lead any laps at Indy and she came close to winning but she just didn't have enough fuel to go peddle to the metal, and she ended up 4th. Not bad for a 23 year old who barely weighs 100 pounds.

Today, we started the day with a champagne breakfast at the club, then we went down to Dana for an afternoon sail with Dennis and Gloria. It was a beautiful day although the wind wasn't very strong (according to Dennis, we should have been there Saturday when it was the best wind he's sailed our boat in) and we had a great three or four hours on the ocean.

Unfortunately, my vacation ends tomorrow and I return to a new office - at least I think I do - and the joy of unpacking!

Pics from Mexico

The view from our room's balcony

Infinity pool overlooking the bay

From the third night, we returned to these displays

On the walk to town - I love "Starbooks"

The friendly croc down the beach

Tor kicking back with a bucket of beers

Carolyn painting the scene, Franco observing

Club Intrawest from the sea

Long Ride Home

Friday was our final day in Zee but we managed to have a couple of hours down under a palapa on the beach before having to finish off the packing and check-out at two. Then we had a shared lunch by the pool before calling for the taxi and heading to the airport a little after 3.

Our flight was at five (at least the intended departure} and due to security, we should be there two hours early. NOT required in Zihuatanejo where I think they get six flights a day! It took all of fifteen minutes to check-in, pass through security, view all the shops and find out that the plane would be departing an hour late. We could have stayed at the Club another two hours!

Our flight home included a view of a volcano in Mexico that had erupted and was still spewing ash and cloud, an almost direct flight over Mission Viejo and the old El Toro marine base, and a heavy cloud/fog layer over LAX that required us to abort the first landing attempt and circle around for another attempt - this time it worked.

As we approached customs, Carolyn remembered she had put two limes in her bag and we heard that they if the dog found them, we'd be fined $100 per lime! We quickly found our luggage and disposed of them in the amnesty trash can before being arrested or fined.

Then it was through the international terminal and out to the curb to grab a bus to our parking spot. Then found the car and headed home down the freeway and to our dark home and very, very soft bed!

Home again and Gracie seems to have forgiven us.

Death by Iguana?

Thursday, we began a late morning stroll into town via the Hotel Irma and down to the beachside meandering walkway. There weren't many others walking along the coast, but up ahead, two Federales with M-16s slung over their shoulders also walked to town.

We noticed one of them pointing up in the air to the other. Was he pointing at the house on the rocks or the trees that were in front of the house? As we came nearer, he called out "iguana", "iguana", and we finally heard and saw what he was talking about. An iguana about a foot long was high in the tree almost camouflaged. I broke out my camera and as I stepped backwards, I stumble a bit and the rope handrail along the beach walkway hit me about butt high and stopped my stagger. If I had fallen, it was about six feet straight down onto a rocky outcropping, and five feet to my left or right, the rope handrails were non-existent. My guardian angel had saved me from death by iguana!

We strolled the rest of the way into town to purchase some vanilla for a few of Carolyn's friends and a spot more jewelry, because it was there and as a gift for the 'Queens'. We then headed back to the Club via taxi.

We lounged under a palapa for most of the day and Carolyn enjoyed a reflexology treatment on her lower legs. We left the pool area after 6:30 and freshened up with showers and a short nap for me (life is sooo exhausting down here).

We dined at the Zi restaurant here for the first time for dinner, and it was fantastic. Carolyn had steak and large prawns while I went for the steak. A good Italian wine (Luna di Luna) complimented our meal as we watched the sky slowly darken.

Today, Friday, we will reluctantly have to leave, but in the few hours left, we will spend more time enjoying the pool, a few cervasas, and the air - always the air.

Adios!!

The Air

The air here in Zihuatanejo at this time of year seems to mold to your body. It caresses the skin like a mother's touch or that of a sensitive lover. It flows over you, it is languid, it barely touches the hair on your skin.

It matters little whether it is during the day or late into the evening, here by the water, the tropical breeze flows slowly over you. There is no bite to the wind, no urging to cover up, just to relish its touch.

It often feels just a few degrees cooler than your body, enough to refresh, but not enough to startle. It is one of the nicest features of this Pacific retreat - pacific, a perfect word - peaceful, quiet, calm, enveloping.

We will come back again!!

Bucket of Beer

Another day on the beach began as we walked the long beach to our left as we look out over the bay. Just past Rossy's, we encountered four or five men hogtieing a rather large salt water crocodile (cocodila) that they had lured from the adjacent estuary to measure and catalogue. His snout was tied with a rope around a tree, and one gentlemen who probably weighed 200 lbs. was standing on his snout to force his mouth closed so it could be more firmly secured. A cloth was placed over the croc's eyes which appeared to quiet him and soon all four legs were tied as well. He was over 11'6"!!

Then we walked to the end of the beach and onto the rocks to make our way over to Playa los Gatas named for the whiskered sharks that populate the reef just off shore. After ten or fifteen minutes of scrambling over rocks, we entered the playa and row after row of beachside restaurants and beach chairs.

Every twenty paces another call would come for us to share in their spot on the beach (no charge for the chairs!), but we continued on towards the end until we met Franco. Another North American couple (actually from our club) enthusiastically endorsed the food so we laid down our towels and I ordered a Pacifico while Carolyn ordered a pina colada with rum.

Carolyn's drink came in a full pineapple decorated with other fruit and flowers while I was given an iced bucket of four beers! I felt like I was in one of those Corona ads. Then we ordered lunch which consisted of seven tacos, both red snapper and shrimp, with salsa, great guacamole, rice and chips. It was so much food that we didn't even finish it all.

Over several hours, we were able to finish off the bucket and start on a second while enjoying a conversation with Franco whose family grows tobacco locally and makes hand rolled cigars. So I had to have one, and actually bought another four to take back as a gift to a cigar aficionado friend of mine.

The water behind the reef was warm, probably in the 80s, and great for several swims we took. Around four, Franco helped us negotiate with one of his friends to take us directly back to the club by boat so we had a quick excursion across the bay.

I was a little short of funds, however, to pay for both the cigars and the boat ride, so the skipper waited patiently as made a dash up to the room and back to pay both him and Franco.

Then, it was back to the pool where we talked with Rob and Carol about other vacations and we got some sweet recommendations about villas in St. Maarten in the Caribbean. We have a new place on our list of future vacations.

Tonight, we're going to kick back (could we kick back anymore?) and enjoy the lingering sunset from our deck and perhaps a bottle of wine. Salud!

Is it Tuesday?

Monday was another day of sleeping in late and enjoying a tranquil wake up. Warm winds barely stirring over your skin as you sip coffee looking out over a beautiful bay. Perhaps a pastry to add to the morning repast.

Decided to head to Ixtapa this Monday a.m. (or was it noon already) as we headed by taxi around the headlands. We were dropped off at the open air mall which we found half closed and desolate of even tourists. We tried to obtain a few Rx's at the drugeria which Carolyn had failed to bring along in the correct number, but unfortunately even here they sometimes require prescriptions. After wandering a bit, we headed back to the flea market area and found a shop where Tshirts, shirts and baubles were purchased before we headed over to the beach.

The beach here is lined with high rise hotels, like a poor man's version of Miami or Kanaapali, but not nearly as picturesque as Zee. We walked along the beach with the black flags waving to keep all out of the surf (there were rips but it didn't look quite that bad) and then found a nice restaurant along the shore for lunch. We shared a sandwich and beverages and then decided we like ClubIntrawest better so we hailed a cab and went 'home'.

We soon found our 'regular' spots poolside and enjoyed the sun and warm water while I finished reading my second book of the vacation. After that, we invited Bill and Louise over for appetizers at our condo and again headed down the beach for dinner. This one was excellent and it stayed down for all concerned, too.

Today, we waved to Bill and Louise from our patio as they headed back to Portland after a four day excursion and we ended up under the palapas and the shade. I began reading Jekyl and Hyde to Carolyn and also began reading the first few chapters of Prof. MacCloud's treatise on Christianity. I've found the chapters well-written and informative.

Then Carolyn and I wandered about 30 feet to our right and both had massages just off the beach! I think I might have actually fallen asleep for a brief moment. VERY RELAXING! Then Carolyn picked out color for both toes and fingernails.

This evening we headed back to Zee for dinner at Tamales where we enjoyed a sampler plate of beef enchiladas with mole sauce, chile relleno, quesedilla with chicken, and a pork tamale. We're stuffed and well fed.

Hope this isn't too hard for you who have little access to Mexican food, but we'll eat in your honor.

Sunday in Paradise

We continue to wake late and enjoy the luxury of sleeping in. We began our day with coffee and the pastries purchased in town. Then put on our swim suits and took our books down to the pool.

It was warm but not quite as humid and we enjoyed the cervazas and micheladas (beer and ice with lime and the glass rimmed with salt) at the swim up bar or by our lounge chairs. I finished off The Chosen and began another book while Carolyn sketched and watercolored various scenes looking out on the bay. We met some Canadians including a relocated Scot and shared tales of our experiences at other Clubs while we kept wet by dipping in the pool. A great long day of just relaxing.

Bill and Louise ended up at the pool near the end of the afternoon and we were invited to share in appetizers and beverages at their room. We brought fresh chips and salsa we had purchased while they provided beer and wine that a departing couple had left them. Then off down the beach to enjoy another dinner. The girls had coconut shrimp (they were huge!) in mango sauce while I had chile rellano. We then took a cab into town to check out the Sunday evening happenings.

A Mexican clown was holding court near the beach, but his jokes were untranslatable by us and we soon headed down to check out various markets. It was after nine, and many of the shops were closed or closing, but Carolyn found a few in which to wander. Then back to the club where we got Carlos to show us the three bedroom suite that sits high atop the complex with wonderful panoramic views of the bay and city. It would be a great place for three couples to share if you don't mind a rigorous hike!

Unfortunately, either the mango sauce or something didn't sit well with Carolyn and around midnight she lost her dinner. Not a pleasant way to keep the weight down. But thankfully, this morning she awoke feeling much better.

Arriving in Zihuatanejo

We left home around 7 a.m. Friday morning so that we would arrive in time for our 10:45 flight with time for the security checks and traffic. Of course, it only took us an hour or less in Friday-lite traffic to arrive at the off-airport parking, and the shuttle had us to Alaska Air within ten minutes. After being denied a kiosk boarding ticket, we stood in line for a bit at customer service and were soon in another line to have our bags x-rayed. With all that, we were up in the boarding area with an hour and a half to spare, even before the flight was delayed by 45 minutes.

With the two hour time change, we arrived in Zee about 4:30, grabbed a taxi and headed to the Club. At Playa la Ropa, the taxi turned into the large palm sculptured gates and down the rather steep drive to the Club reception area. We were truly surprised at how tropical and open and nice the whole Club appeared and the staff welcomed us as warmly as the staff of the Ritz had welcomed us in Bali. After checking in, Carlos shouldered Carolyn's bag and grabbed my duffel as he climbed the two flights of stairs to our one bedroom condo while he mentioned to me that he can always tell the woman's bag! Our condo has a view over the reception area towards the bay and we can see parasails and boats plying the ocean. Sliding doors with great louvered shutters open fully to allow a view from our bed past the living area to the deck which has two great lounge chairs, an outside eating area, and a dipping pool with cool water (no jets).

We unpacked quickly and then headed down to the Zi bar to have an adult beverage (taking the service elevator by mistake instead of the stairway) to find ourselves the only couple in the place with the exception of the wait staff! But soon a few more couples found their way (several from the same flight) and we began talking to one couple seated at an adjacent table. It didn't take much time before we joined tables with Bill and Louise and started sharing stories. Bill and Louise have around 400 kids! They do foster care for abused and neglected infants in the Portland area, and Bill, after a twenty-five year career as a cop, is now in the travel business.

Saturday, we slept in late and then headed to the pool to enjoy the great temperatures and more than a few cervesas at the swim up bar. About mid-afternoon, we walked up the road and then down to the seaside walk as we went into Zihuatanejo for a little shopping. We entered several shops in the open market and then into a more exclusive store where Carolyn bought some jewelry, then it was off to the Super-mercado by taxi to buy staples for the week (beer, pastries, tortillas, chips, tequila, etc.) and then we grabbed another taxi for the ride back to the Club. We unloaded our stuff and Carlos helped take all the groceries to our room.

A message was blinking and answering it, Bill and Louise were asking us to join them for drinks and then dinner at one of the restaurants on the beach. About that time Carolyn discovered her bag with the jewelry was missing and must have been left in the cab. We hurried down to reception and Carlos told us not to worry, they had the cab number but he didn't have a radio so they would have to rely on other drivers to locate him and get him to return to the club. Carolyn was distressed, but we met up with Bill and Louise and headed out for a late dinner. Rossy's was practically shut down, but served us our late dinner and Carolyn and Bill both enjoyed their red snapper even though it came with head and eyes intact.

Then we walked the half mile back to the club and Carlos met us near the pool area in the golf cart to take us up the hill. His head was bowed as if they had been unable to find the cab driver, then he smiled and said he had paid a bounty to another cab driver and paid a reward to our driver for returning the goods (after threatening him with the loss of his taxi license) and he had the jewelry in his possession! Carolyn was so grateful and he reluctantly took another tip for his efforts.

A full day and thankfully a good day. More warm days in paradise are expected!!

Headin' South

Tomorrow morning, Carolyn and I head to Zihuatanejo, Mexico, for a week's worth of R&R at our new Club Intrawest resort set on the Pacific ocean. We plan to read a lot, get too much sun, enjoy margaritaville and explore. It's likely we won't post or check email while we're away so we'll just have to learn to wait patiently like in the old days when you had to wait for snail mail.

Hope your week will be enjoyable as well. Adios!

Boat Weekend

Dennis and I had planned our boat's move down to Dana Point like the battle plan it was. Full auxiliary gas cans to make sure we had enough fuel. Food and plenty of water in case the sail or cruise took longer than we thought. Sun tan lotion, jackets, binoculars, etc, etc.

Carolyn and I drove down to the Costco at Crown Valley and met Dennis and Steve who then drove with us up to the Sea Scout base in Newport. We arrived at 9:30 under a sunny sky and transported all of our gear to the boat. Both of them really liked the re-staining and varnishing job I had done on the cabin door. By 10, as Carolyn waved from the dock and headed back home, we headed out of the harbor under power.

As we approached Balboa Island, our clear skies began to turn to fog which blanketed the coast for the next three hours or so. So with no wind and calm seas, we motored down the coast using Dennis' rough estimate of the proper compass heading he had gleaned from a road map. We checked our speed indicator which steadily showed 3.8 mph and based on the mileage it takes us to go via PCH from Newport to Dana, we thought we'd be cruising for five hours or so. And, we had told Carolyn and Gloria that we probably arrive around 3 p.m.

A little before 1 p.m., the fog along the coast lifted enough so we could see a bit of the shoreline. Steve and I saw a long stretch of beach, but the fog hadn't cleared enough vertically to show structures or topography higher than about twenty feet. Thinking about the coastline, we thought there were only a few long stretches of beach, like Crystal Cove beach, which we knew we must have passed, and then the Strand, just short of Dana. Suddenly, the Headlands appeared and then the harbor breakwater! It had only taken three hours to make the trip for the Journey so our mileage or our speed were definitely off. We were quite glad the fog had lifted or otherwise we might have ended up off of Pendleton.

Besides deciding that a GPS is one of our first needed purchases, we called our wives via cellphone to meet us in at our slip, but we couldn't get a hold of Carolyn as she didn't have her cell with her. Steve handled our entry into the marina and he recovered nicely after we sent him down the wrong row of boats, but we made it.

Carolyn got home about that time and picked up her messages, called us, and hurried down to join Gloria and Sharon, Steve's wife. She brought champagne and snacks, so we celebrated our boat's new home and the fact that we didn't end up in Mexico or beached in Laguna. And then we took Journey out for a sail off of Dana with moderate winds and clear skies.

Sunday, after church, we met Dennis at the slip to work on the hand rails and other exposed teak. Dennis and I sanded, then taped off the hand rails, and then stained them the first coat and Carolyn wiped off the stain (and the occassional spill). We left after about two and half hours with the woodwork looking quite a bit better. Dennis is planning to stain them again and then varnish them this week or weekend as we'll be leaving for Zihuatanejo on Friday.

Now all I have to remember is to put on more sunscreen as all of us got our share of being burned this weekend!

Birthday Weekend

I left work early Friday, taking an unofficial two hour birthday leave, so I could get home around four to pick up Carolyn and drive down to the Blue Lantern Inn in Dana Point for a short birthday break. Carolyn had arranged both the hotel and dinner and the weather cooperated with blue skies and temperate temps.

We had a nice first floor room just off the lobby, but it was private and quiet and had a small patio with a view to Cannon's and the north end of the marina. We enjoyed a glass or two of white wine with a few appetizers in the late afternoon, and then after a quick nap for me, we dressed and walked over to Luciano's for a great Italian dinner. Carolyn had secured the most private two-person table and the pasta and wine and conversation were all incredible. A very nice almost-birthday dinner.

We returned to the Inn to watch a silly movie, In Laws, and relish a great bed with soft sheets and the smell of the ocean in the air. We were able to sleep in and then enjoyed a B&B breakfast on the patio with bright sun and a slight breeze. Thankfully, we didn't have to check out until noon, so we were able to appreciate the view overlooking the harbor.

For whatever reason, I wasn't feeling that great when we got home so we took to bed for a nap and a book read. I powered through a murder mystery that Lisa had given me around Christmas, and then I got a surprise call from Ashley around 5:30. Obviously, Ash and Bryce keep different hours from us as it was 1:30 in the morning in Edinburgh, and they had just come in from a 'pub crawl' with friends. Where did we go wrong! (just kidding) But we had a good conversation catching up on their current plans and ours, and it was just good to hear her laugh at my bad puns/jokes and she just seemed happy. I like that!

Sunday, Lisa, Katie, Carolyn and I went over to Trader Joes to make a picnic lunch before Wanda met us at our house and then we headed down to the boat for a sail in Newport harbor. It was pretty cloudy over Lake Forest when we left and I was thinking it might be pretty blustery at the beach, but the closer we got, the fewer clouds there were and the sunnier it got. We took all of our lunch onboard and ate salads and sandwiches and fruit with a glass of champagne before leaving the dock.

As we sailed down the harbor, I let Katie try her hand on the tiller and she did quite well sailing us under a beam reach almost the entire way down towards the jetty. At that point, I asked it they wanted to go out in the ocean to which the replied affirmatively, so the Journey made her first excursion into the ocean with me at the helm. We sailed down the coast a bit, and just off Big Corona, two porpoises leapt out of the water only 20 yards to our port! That was cool. We continued down to the Crystal Cove area and then headed back to the harbor with a nice breeze and relatively calm seas.

It was a great four hours on the water and everyone enjoyed the sail. It was a wonderful Mother's Day and we all came back a little more relaxed and some of us a bit more sunburned!

UPDATE: I just spoke with Dennis who said their family had just arrived at Big Corona on Sunday for a Mother's Day picnic when they saw us (their boat) heading out the jetty! Pretty funny and we couldn't have planned it better.

We're Moving to Dana!

Not our house, but our boat! This last weekend Dennis Hughes and I drove up to Wilmington to the Lighthouse Marina to check out a temporary slip opportunity as the Sea Scouts were making strong comments about us leaving our current Newport home.

Barbara, the Lighthouse owner, had interviewed both Dennis and myself over the phone to make sure we'd be a good fit for her marina. It was sort of like being interviewed to rent a room in someone's home. But Barbara liked us well enough and we signed up for a minimum two month stay at her marina and we'd planned for a very long Saturday (May 14) to motor/sail the boat up the coast to her new temporary berth.

But Dennis made an agreement with Barbara to not cash our check until today, to give us time to a final check with the Dana marina to see where we were on the waiting list. On Saturday, I think we had moved from 15th to 9th as slips became available at the first of the month and those on the waiting list could either pony up the cash or forgo their place in line. Dennis called Tuesday and we were now number 2! And they were still calling those on the waiting list.

Dennis went down to the harbor personally today and the answer is that we have a slip!! So in ten days, we'll only have to sail from Newport to Dana Point rather than the forty miles or so that it was up to the LA harbor. We've found a home! And, I think Barbara will get a bouquet of flowers!