SUNSHINE-Beautiful Sunshine

Today has been absolutely wonderful. It must be in the eighties but there is a nice breeze. We went out on the deck chairs this morning. You have to go out early to get a the best deck chairs. We had breakfast and I have been in the deck chair most of the day except for lunch. Donna went swimming and had a massage on the beach. Her neck had a kink in it from sleeping wrong, she thinks.

Yesterday was a very stormy day. If you think it rains in Seattle you should see it here. The wind blows so hard and the rain just comes down in sheets. We did take a taxi yesterday before it started raining so hard. We just paid the driver to take us around for two hours so we could see some of the city. We did go by the small tombs but didn't get out. Everything was pretty wet and muddy. Tomorrow we might get the taxi and just go out to the small tombs.

Yesterday we decided to eat at the little cafe down on the beach. It was between storms. We thought it was clearing up but we were wrong. We just started eating and the sky opened up. The waiter had to move our table back and then the water started covering the floor. We had both come down in our tennis shoes (big mistake) so we took off our shoes. The waitress gave us an umbrella and Donna kept our shoes under the umbrella and guarded them with her life. If our shoes had gotten wet, they would mold before they ever got dry. It was a long way back to the hotel and I was not covered very much with the umbrella. I was soaked clear through. My clothes were dripping. I was not uncomfortable because the rain was so warm. Donna saved our shoes and that was what was important.

Dinner was in the convention room last night. It was a cowboy theme and there was a nice show after dinner.

Tonight we go to the fancy dining room. You have to make reservations. Our dinner time is 7pm. Everyone says the food is great. We have to wear dresses or nice slacks. Donna and I are wearing dresses and our nice sandals. Again we have to go outside to get to this restaurant, but you eat inside. I hope the weather holds because if we get caught in a storm we will look like drowned rats.

I can hardly believe tomorrow will be our last full day. We have to leave Thursday morning. Even with the storms this has been a great vacation. This is a real tropical paradise. It is warm all year around. The water is so blue and I will always remember how the sand feels. It is like walking in talcum powder.

What to do when it is raining

I decided to stay in the room and read my Kindle, and Donna thought that she would like to go check out the gym.`


She started down the stairs...
and kept going - 67 stairs in all!
After 20 minutes on the treadmill, it was back up all 67 steps, across the entry to the hotel, back across the lobby, and finally to the elevators to our room. I think the stairs would have been a good enough workout.

Trouble in Paradise

I am enjoying the sun and reading my kindle

After a rainy night the day started off with sunshine. We went out to the pool area, read, and took a nap. Donna woke me from a sound sleep to tell me it was raining. I was already getting wet!

Donna took a video yesterday, of the rain when it started. After a very rainy night, we thought we would be able to enjoy the sunshine, but as you can see below, the sun did not stay around long enough.

I am not sure this video really shows how stormy it is.

Donna talked to a gentleman that said he has been coming off and on for over 20 years at this time of the year, and this is only the second time he has seen weather like this.

It is hard to explain how humid it is here. Our hotel has beautiful marble floors, but they tend to be cold. If you open the patio door for even just a moment, the moisture in the air condenses and the floor is covered with water. The stafff is busy all day long drying the floors to prevent the marble from being so slippery. Our clothes will not dry in our room.

We are really having a good time, and Donna was busy swimming in the rain and the wind. She said that once she was wet, the rain did not make any difference. The water is really warm, and the pool was not very crowded.

It is still paradise in Cancun.

Found Summer!

After a long flight to Cancun, we arrived at our beautiful hotel. I did very well on the plane, and I am really walking better than I thought that I would.

We checked out the Hotel, and then we had a Caribbean buffet for dinner. Room service is included in our package, but so far we have not used it. We went to the bar and had diet cokes. The waiter kept asking us if we wanted Tequila, but we decided to pass. :)

Yesterday, Donna tormented me by making me walk all the way to the ocean. The sand was very, very soft, and felt good under my feet. Then she made me stand near the water, and a big wave came up over my feet, and I hollered.

This morning, after sleeping in leisurely, we went to breakfast. There was too much to choose from, but we made decisions and enjoyed.

After breakfast, we went to the pool area, and read, slept and soaked in the sun. Donna went in the pool several times, and I even went in the Hot tub. which was not hot, but just a nice whirlpool. Then it was time for lunch - what a busy day! After lunch it rained on us, but it was a very warm rain. We did have to stop reading so that our kindles would not get wet. Such challenges.

Because of the wonderful technology we have, Donna has been able to talk to Laif in Egypt, and Debbie, Jennie & Sophie in SLC, and then Richard in Renton.

There is a Mayan ruin a little less than 1 mile from our hotel, and we will take a taxi to see it. It is right on the hotel strip, Donna saw it on the way to the hotel. It will be easier for me to take the taxi, and Debbie remembers how much I loved the taxis in Washington DC.

We are getting ready to back downstairs to read and enjoy the sun. Then it will be time for dinner. We will check in later to let you know how our day is going.

PACKED AND READY TO GO

We are all packed and ready for our trip. Donna had a half day of school today. She should be home at least by noon. We will be spending the night at Debbie's and then going to the airport Friday. It will be a very short night. We have to be at the airport about 3:30am. I am really looking forward to it. We will park in the airport which will make it much easier on me. I am not going to take my walker so we will see how that goes. Donna is my paid assistant so it is her job to take care of me.


Jennie made a comment on my last blog about how good it was that I am still so active. I know I have slowed down a lot but when I really think about it I am so lucky that I can still do so much. I never dreamed I would be taking vacations. For years I never had the money to go anywhere and after that I spent years being a caregiver. I am not complaining. I really have had a good life and have lived to see grandchildren and great-grandchildren. My next great-granddaughter will be Jennie's. I am sure she will be just as cute as Sophie.

So we are off to the land of sunshine. It will be in the eighties all week. There is a chance of some rain or thunderstorms. If it rains it will feel like a warm shower since even the night temperatures will be between 75 and 78 degrees. I LOVE warm climates.

My story is that when the stork was delivering me he was on the way to California but got lost and dropped me off in Montana. Washington is a whole lot better than Montana. I guess I will just have to visit warm climates when I get a chance. If everything works out for Diane in Atlanta we are planning on visiting her.

GRADUATION PARTY FOR ERIK

Finally I am writing again. It has been so hectic around here for weeks. Last Saturday we went to Erik's graduation party in Renton. Debbie and Kent do just a great job entertaining. Steven and Janet and their children were there too. There must have been close to 50 people at the party. Now "little" Erik is all grown up and will be heading to college in the Fall and then off on a mission. It was so nice to see everyone. We had a very nice time. Now I am madly trying to get things ready for our trip to Cancun. Donna has been having school and meetings and today a picnic so I am trying to get the things ready that I can. Laif is in Egypt on business. Donna and Laif having been skyping back and forth. Laif says the Mediterran sea is just absolutely beautiful. Donna and I are leaving for Cancun on June 24th and will be back the 30th. Then Steven and Janet and their children will be up here July lst and stay until the 5th.

JUST CATCHING UP ON WHAT IS HAPPENING

The top picture is one I took of a Sunset and near the top is a tiny black dot which is a Helicopter. The picture below is of a wild canary on the right hand corner of the planter. There is a pair of them that come almost daily. Also, almost daily, a beautiful Hummingbird comes by. He takes a sip or two out of the feeder several times and then is off.

Last week I was really sick with Bronchitis. I went to the doctor and she gave me antibiotics and cough syrup. It is always the same. My lungs are clear. It just settles in my Bronchial tubes. I didn't use to get it but about the last 3 years I keep getting it. Other than that I really don't have any problems.

Yesterday Donna went on a whale watching cruise with some of her school kids. She had to drive to Port Townsend. When she was ready to go home she had such a painful thumb on her right hand that she couldn't even turn the car on or put the car in gear. She managed with her left hand. By the time she got home it was too late to go to the doctor.

Today Donna had school and she did manage to get a substitute to come in at 10:00am. I had to get up at 6am to take her to school and then I picked her up a little after 10 and she had a doctor appointment at 11am. The doctor gave her a cortisone shot and then a perscription to help with the pain. She had a blood test to see if it might be Gout and also an x-ray. The doctor thinks it is probably just Arthritis but Donna is going to be seeing a hand specialist.

Donna had a meeting at the Church this evening. Her thumb is feeling better. I was going to take her but she said she could drive. She still used her left hand to start the car and put it in gear. At least it is Thursday and now Laif will be able to take care of her.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day here. I got really ambitious. I went to Penney's to get a perm. Afterward I stopped at the shoe store in the same shopping area and bought another pair of everyday shoes and a very comfortable pair of sandals for our trip to Cancun.