Nothing is inspiring me to blog right now. Xmas is not my favourite time of year so maybe I am just willing myself to get through it. Actually it is not so bad down here. There is not so much of the crazy commercialism that goes on NOTB unless you happen to spend your time at Walmart, which I don't.
I've also been suffering from a head cold for the last 5 days (probably brought down by a tourist!) so I've been laying low and listening to my body when it tells me I need to sleep, which is often. I haven't slept well the last two nights so today I was able to sleep for more than 2 hours without earplugs regardless of the construction noises next door. Now that's tired!
I'm more involved in the annual R.I.S.E. For Hope Fundraiser on February 18, 2006 and have been asked to Chair the Food and Beverage Committee. Not sure what I'm doing but I guess I'll figure it out! FYI, the benefit is being held this year at Marina Vallarta Golf Club and the price is $450 pesos. All food and beer/wine is included. Contact me for tickets.
That's it for now! Sorry it's so short but I'm feeling tired again. All the best to you and yours over the holiday season. Drive carefully and remember those less fortunate than you.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Friday, December 16, 2005
Warning About Internet Dating!!!
MAN DATES GAL ON INTERNET FOR SIX MONTHS -- AND IT TURNS OUT SHE'S HIS MOTHER!
Friday December 9, 2005
By Grace Green
MARSEILLES, France -- Skirt-chasing playboy Daniel Anceneaux spent weeks talking with a sensual woman on the Internet before arranging a romantic rendezvous at a remote beach -- and discovering that his on-line sweetie of six months was his own mother!
"I walked out on that dark beach thinking I was going to hook up with the girl of my dreams," the rattled bachelor later admitted. "And there she was, wearing white shorts and a pink tank top, just like she'd said she would.
"But when I got close, she turned around -- and we both got the shock of our lives. I mean, I didn't know what to say. All I could think was, 'Oh my God! it's Mama!' "
But the worst was yet to come. Just as the mortified mother and son realized the error of their ways, a patrolman passed by and cited them for visiting a restricted beach after dark.
"Danny and I were so flustered, we blurted out the whole story to the cop," recalled matronly mom Nicole, 52. "The policeman wrote a report, a local TV station got hold of it -- and the next thing we knew, our picture and our story was all over the 6 o'clock news. "People started pointing and laughing at us on the street -- and they haven't stopped laughing since."
The girl-crazy X-ray technician said he began flirting with normally straitlaced Nicole -- who lives six miles away in a Marseilles suburb -- while scouring the Internet for young ladies to put a little pizzazz in his life.
"Mom called herself Sweet Juliette and I called myself The Prince of Pleasure, and unfortunately, neither one of us had any idea who the other was," said flabbergasted Daniel.
"The conversations even got a little racy a couple of times.
"But I really started to fall for her, because there seemed to be a sensitive side that you don't see in many girls.
"She sent me poems she had written and told me about her dreams and desires, and it was really very romantic.
"The truth is, I got to see a side of my mom I'd never seen before. I'm grateful for that."
When starry-eyed Daniel asked Sweet Juliette to send him a picture, Nicole e-mailed him a photo of a curvy, half-clad cutie she'd scanned from a men's magazine.
"The girl in the picture was so beautiful, I begged Juliette to meet me on the beach -- and Mom said yes," he recalled. "Mom says she was falling for me, too, and she just wanted to meet me, even though she knew I'd be disappointed when I saw her.
"As for me, I figured I was going to find the girl of my dreams.
"I guess that's about as wrong as I've ever been."
Daniel admits he and his mother could do little but stammer and stutter around each other for days after their cyberspace exploits came to light. And his father Paul -- Nicole's husband of 27 years -- wasn't too happy when the story hit the news and his beer-drinking buddies made him the butt of their jokes.
"Dad was ticked for a while and he forbid Mom to talk to anybody on the Internet ever again," said embarrassed Daniel.
Friday December 9, 2005
By Grace Green
MARSEILLES, France -- Skirt-chasing playboy Daniel Anceneaux spent weeks talking with a sensual woman on the Internet before arranging a romantic rendezvous at a remote beach -- and discovering that his on-line sweetie of six months was his own mother!
"I walked out on that dark beach thinking I was going to hook up with the girl of my dreams," the rattled bachelor later admitted. "And there she was, wearing white shorts and a pink tank top, just like she'd said she would.
"But when I got close, she turned around -- and we both got the shock of our lives. I mean, I didn't know what to say. All I could think was, 'Oh my God! it's Mama!' "
But the worst was yet to come. Just as the mortified mother and son realized the error of their ways, a patrolman passed by and cited them for visiting a restricted beach after dark.
"Danny and I were so flustered, we blurted out the whole story to the cop," recalled matronly mom Nicole, 52. "The policeman wrote a report, a local TV station got hold of it -- and the next thing we knew, our picture and our story was all over the 6 o'clock news. "People started pointing and laughing at us on the street -- and they haven't stopped laughing since."
The girl-crazy X-ray technician said he began flirting with normally straitlaced Nicole -- who lives six miles away in a Marseilles suburb -- while scouring the Internet for young ladies to put a little pizzazz in his life.
"Mom called herself Sweet Juliette and I called myself The Prince of Pleasure, and unfortunately, neither one of us had any idea who the other was," said flabbergasted Daniel.
"The conversations even got a little racy a couple of times.
"But I really started to fall for her, because there seemed to be a sensitive side that you don't see in many girls.
"She sent me poems she had written and told me about her dreams and desires, and it was really very romantic.
"The truth is, I got to see a side of my mom I'd never seen before. I'm grateful for that."
When starry-eyed Daniel asked Sweet Juliette to send him a picture, Nicole e-mailed him a photo of a curvy, half-clad cutie she'd scanned from a men's magazine.
"The girl in the picture was so beautiful, I begged Juliette to meet me on the beach -- and Mom said yes," he recalled. "Mom says she was falling for me, too, and she just wanted to meet me, even though she knew I'd be disappointed when I saw her.
"As for me, I figured I was going to find the girl of my dreams.
"I guess that's about as wrong as I've ever been."
Daniel admits he and his mother could do little but stammer and stutter around each other for days after their cyberspace exploits came to light. And his father Paul -- Nicole's husband of 27 years -- wasn't too happy when the story hit the news and his beer-drinking buddies made him the butt of their jokes.
"Dad was ticked for a while and he forbid Mom to talk to anybody on the Internet ever again," said embarrassed Daniel.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
The Wedding -- Part Two
Once we were all gathered outside and all the photos had been taken, people started leaving for the hall which was in Zapopan, a suburb of Guad. Cliff and Leticia arranged with relatives and friends to ensure that all their Canadian guests had rides. Guess who we ended up with? JJ!!! He consulted with Leticia and others to make sure he knew where he was going before we all piled into his car. The drive took over 20 minutes because traffic was really bad in Guadalajara (Saturday!) but we finally reached out destination -- sort of. We knew we were in the right neighbourhood so when a parking spot loomed ahead, JJ did his best imitation of parallel parking, Mexican style. LOL Happy to have finally arrived, we all jumped out and starting walking away, looking for the hall. Martin found it in about 30 seconds.
The hall is hard to describe so I hope the photos turn out well. It was dark but welcoming, well lit with high ceilings and an old fashioned feel about it. Big mirrors and paintings adorned the walls, along with candle sconces festooned with royal blue ribbons and candles. In addition, the table were all set with glasses, cutlery and a huge centrepiece with flowers, ribbons and fresh pine branches for accent. Up on the wall was a huge Mexican flag next to a huge Canadian flag. I think Cliff mentioned that the Canadian flag was a little bit bigger and he seemed very proud of that fact. When we arrived, a few guests had trickled in but no one was drinking. Apparently they were all waiting for confirmation that the bride and groom were married "legally" at the civil ceremony (which I knew wasn't happening because of a screw up with the paperwork).
Taking matters into my own hands, I asked one of the waiters for a corkscrew. I had brought wine with me (at Cliffie's suggestion since none was being served at the wedding). A really, REALLY young waiter (I think he was 12 or 14 years old) returned with an ice bucket and proceeded to place my red wine into it. Heidi jumped up and grabbed the bottle back. Again, I explained that I needed at corkscrew which, truth be told, I didn't know how to say in Spanish so I said "the thing to open the bottle" which he apparently understood. Returning a few minutes later with a corkscrew, he again took the bottle and seemed puzzled at how to unwrap the outer layer around the neck and over the cork. Again, Heidi came to the rescue, grabbing the bottle and a knife, slitting the cover and ripping it off in one movement. The waiter stood by transfixed and handed over the corkscrew, finally deciding that we knew more than he did.
Unfortunately, the corkscrew was broken -- the "screw" portion was about 1/2" long, not the usual 2" required to unplug the cork. Desperate for a drink, I shoved the broken corkscrew into the bottle, dislodging the cork down into the bottle and poured some wine into the tumblers provided. It was delicious! Thank you once again, Bob and Kathy K., who brought the wine to me from Vancouver, Washington. (www.classicalwines.com/bodegas/haza.htm) With respect to the booze at the wedding, Cliff was told that Leticia's family didn't drink (except tequila) so she was planning to provide one case of beer for the wedding. Cliff knew that there were going to be CANADIANS at the wedding (and Martin) and bought six more cases. He told me afterwards that there were only four beers left at the end of the night! LOL
We toasted and danced before we ate. The appetizers were Mexican and the main course was roast beef. We toasted and danced after we ate. In fact, we danced quite a bit and whatever calories I took in, I'm certain I danced out. We enjoyed meeting all of Leticia's friends, who insisted in coming over to our tables and introducing themselves to all of us. It was very sweet and really helped to bring the two cultures together. When they left the reception, they did the same thing so when we left, we followed their example and went to every table in the hall, hugging and kissing everyone goodbye. I think we got home around midnight. The highways and streets in Guadalajara were virtually deserted. I was surprised because everyone has been telling me how big the city is and how many people live there. Other than rush hour, late Saturday afternoon, I didn't really find it that busy, big or overwhelming. Actually, I found it rather underwhelming and it made me miss Toronto even more.
When we got back to the Motel Puerto Vallarta, all was quiet, save for the transport trucks zooming by. After we came in the door, I locked it and, noticing that the doorknob seemed kind of loose, I dragged one of the heavy wooden armchairs over in front of the door. Two seconds later, I could hear Martin doing the exact same thing in the room next door! After rubbing our tired feet and inserting our ear plugs, Heidi and I were ready for bed. The room was cold but we both slept like angels. Must have been all that dancing! LOL
The hall is hard to describe so I hope the photos turn out well. It was dark but welcoming, well lit with high ceilings and an old fashioned feel about it. Big mirrors and paintings adorned the walls, along with candle sconces festooned with royal blue ribbons and candles. In addition, the table were all set with glasses, cutlery and a huge centrepiece with flowers, ribbons and fresh pine branches for accent. Up on the wall was a huge Mexican flag next to a huge Canadian flag. I think Cliff mentioned that the Canadian flag was a little bit bigger and he seemed very proud of that fact. When we arrived, a few guests had trickled in but no one was drinking. Apparently they were all waiting for confirmation that the bride and groom were married "legally" at the civil ceremony (which I knew wasn't happening because of a screw up with the paperwork).
Taking matters into my own hands, I asked one of the waiters for a corkscrew. I had brought wine with me (at Cliffie's suggestion since none was being served at the wedding). A really, REALLY young waiter (I think he was 12 or 14 years old) returned with an ice bucket and proceeded to place my red wine into it. Heidi jumped up and grabbed the bottle back. Again, I explained that I needed at corkscrew which, truth be told, I didn't know how to say in Spanish so I said "the thing to open the bottle" which he apparently understood. Returning a few minutes later with a corkscrew, he again took the bottle and seemed puzzled at how to unwrap the outer layer around the neck and over the cork. Again, Heidi came to the rescue, grabbing the bottle and a knife, slitting the cover and ripping it off in one movement. The waiter stood by transfixed and handed over the corkscrew, finally deciding that we knew more than he did.
Unfortunately, the corkscrew was broken -- the "screw" portion was about 1/2" long, not the usual 2" required to unplug the cork. Desperate for a drink, I shoved the broken corkscrew into the bottle, dislodging the cork down into the bottle and poured some wine into the tumblers provided. It was delicious! Thank you once again, Bob and Kathy K., who brought the wine to me from Vancouver, Washington. (www.classicalwines.com/bodegas/haza.htm) With respect to the booze at the wedding, Cliff was told that Leticia's family didn't drink (except tequila) so she was planning to provide one case of beer for the wedding. Cliff knew that there were going to be CANADIANS at the wedding (and Martin) and bought six more cases. He told me afterwards that there were only four beers left at the end of the night! LOL
We toasted and danced before we ate. The appetizers were Mexican and the main course was roast beef. We toasted and danced after we ate. In fact, we danced quite a bit and whatever calories I took in, I'm certain I danced out. We enjoyed meeting all of Leticia's friends, who insisted in coming over to our tables and introducing themselves to all of us. It was very sweet and really helped to bring the two cultures together. When they left the reception, they did the same thing so when we left, we followed their example and went to every table in the hall, hugging and kissing everyone goodbye. I think we got home around midnight. The highways and streets in Guadalajara were virtually deserted. I was surprised because everyone has been telling me how big the city is and how many people live there. Other than rush hour, late Saturday afternoon, I didn't really find it that busy, big or overwhelming. Actually, I found it rather underwhelming and it made me miss Toronto even more.
When we got back to the Motel Puerto Vallarta, all was quiet, save for the transport trucks zooming by. After we came in the door, I locked it and, noticing that the doorknob seemed kind of loose, I dragged one of the heavy wooden armchairs over in front of the door. Two seconds later, I could hear Martin doing the exact same thing in the room next door! After rubbing our tired feet and inserting our ear plugs, Heidi and I were ready for bed. The room was cold but we both slept like angels. Must have been all that dancing! LOL
The Wedding -- Part One
My friend Heidi was here for the week of November 18 to 25 and we went to a wedding in Guadalajara one day after her arrival. I've been trying to write this blog ever since! Our friends Martin and Missy were also in Vallarta for vacation and to attend the wedding, so the four of us rented a car from the Vallarta airport and drove to Guad together. FYI, the car was $125US (3 days, unlimited mileage), tolls were $540p and gas cost less than $50US. By comparison, the bus would have cost us $770p each return, so having the car was economical and fun. Plus we felt like we had more freedom of movement, and not having to rely on public transportation was a blessing.
It took us 4.5 hours to drive to Guad from here, after coffee and bagels for breakfast at Cafe du Soleil on Constitucion. The owner Amy was aware that we were coming in early so she was there, in spite of their car breaking down, to make us something to eat before the trip. Next time you are in Vallarta, check them out! They are on the block between Carranza and Cardenas. Open 7AM to 5PM. Great specialty coffees (regular too!), breakfast, lunch and sweets.
Anyway, after filling up our tummies, we hit the road around 7:30AM and arrived at the Motel Puerto Vallarta in Guadalajara around noon. The ride was uneventful save for my extreme car sickness. Oh well ... I've been suffering since I was a child and some things never change. LOL Other than the name, the motel was unforgettable. The price was right (only $330 pesos per room for double occupancy) but the rooms were dark and cold. I remember better showers in the barracks during my basic training and the walls were paper thin.
After a quick lunch at the mall next door, Heidi and I decided to look around. It was a novelty for us but we were both tired and still a little bit hung over from her "welcome to Mexico" drinks the night before so we decided a siesta was in order. We had arranged to meet everyone at the bar in the lobby of the hotel next door at 4PM. The wedding was at 5PM in a beautiful church downtown Guadalajara. Of course, I can't remember the name of it now and I could look it up on the invitation (which I kept) but suffice it to say that it was an old fashioned Catholic church with a lot of saints on the walls. The inside was lit with candles and festooned with calla lillies ... very beautiful.
When we arrived, Leticia was there, sitting in the backseat of a car outside the front of the church, waiting for her groom. Cliff was late and she wanted to know why. So I got on my cell phone to call him only to discover that his driver, who happened to be Leticia's cousin Jose or Jesus (or JJ as like to call him now!) was lost! You have to understand that JJ is native to Guadalajara. Jesus was supposed to pick Cliff up outside the hotel lobby and Jose was inside the hotel lobby, socializing with us. Imagine my surprise when I learned they were one and the same person! No wonder Cliff was miffed. Or maybe it was just pre-wedding jitters since Cliff is normally a pretty easy going guy.
Anyway, he finally arrived down the street from where Leticia was waiting for him and promptly lost his cell phone. So when I walked up to the car, he asked me to call him again so that he could find it. So I did -- twice. LOL I think he was a little discombobulated; it was an important day in his life. We all eventually made our way into the church and the wedding commenced, in English and Spanish. Typically, Catholic ceremonies last about an hour and this one was no exception. After the service, when most people had exited the church, a man pointed to my friend Missy and motioned for her to come up the altar. Being a good girl, she did and was given a huge flower arrangement to take to the reception hall.
It took us 4.5 hours to drive to Guad from here, after coffee and bagels for breakfast at Cafe du Soleil on Constitucion. The owner Amy was aware that we were coming in early so she was there, in spite of their car breaking down, to make us something to eat before the trip. Next time you are in Vallarta, check them out! They are on the block between Carranza and Cardenas. Open 7AM to 5PM. Great specialty coffees (regular too!), breakfast, lunch and sweets.
Anyway, after filling up our tummies, we hit the road around 7:30AM and arrived at the Motel Puerto Vallarta in Guadalajara around noon. The ride was uneventful save for my extreme car sickness. Oh well ... I've been suffering since I was a child and some things never change. LOL Other than the name, the motel was unforgettable. The price was right (only $330 pesos per room for double occupancy) but the rooms were dark and cold. I remember better showers in the barracks during my basic training and the walls were paper thin.
After a quick lunch at the mall next door, Heidi and I decided to look around. It was a novelty for us but we were both tired and still a little bit hung over from her "welcome to Mexico" drinks the night before so we decided a siesta was in order. We had arranged to meet everyone at the bar in the lobby of the hotel next door at 4PM. The wedding was at 5PM in a beautiful church downtown Guadalajara. Of course, I can't remember the name of it now and I could look it up on the invitation (which I kept) but suffice it to say that it was an old fashioned Catholic church with a lot of saints on the walls. The inside was lit with candles and festooned with calla lillies ... very beautiful.
When we arrived, Leticia was there, sitting in the backseat of a car outside the front of the church, waiting for her groom. Cliff was late and she wanted to know why. So I got on my cell phone to call him only to discover that his driver, who happened to be Leticia's cousin Jose or Jesus (or JJ as like to call him now!) was lost! You have to understand that JJ is native to Guadalajara. Jesus was supposed to pick Cliff up outside the hotel lobby and Jose was inside the hotel lobby, socializing with us. Imagine my surprise when I learned they were one and the same person! No wonder Cliff was miffed. Or maybe it was just pre-wedding jitters since Cliff is normally a pretty easy going guy.
Anyway, he finally arrived down the street from where Leticia was waiting for him and promptly lost his cell phone. So when I walked up to the car, he asked me to call him again so that he could find it. So I did -- twice. LOL I think he was a little discombobulated; it was an important day in his life. We all eventually made our way into the church and the wedding commenced, in English and Spanish. Typically, Catholic ceremonies last about an hour and this one was no exception. After the service, when most people had exited the church, a man pointed to my friend Missy and motioned for her to come up the altar. Being a good girl, she did and was given a huge flower arrangement to take to the reception hall.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Who ... Me?
I am re-evaluating my favourite horoscope site in view of yesterday's prediction:
'Stop worrying, relax and enjoy yourself. That's an order. Do as you're told.' Er... Well, then, OK, I take it back. I have no right, as your astrologer, to start speaking like an army sergeant-major... but, then, I notice that, lately, you have been surprisingly acquiescent in the face of bullying behaviour. Some people keep criticising you, others keep insisting that you do as they suggest. Partly because you want to be nice, partly because you lack confidence, you are tempted to agree with them all. Don't you dare!'
That doesn't sound like me, AT ALL!!! LOL
It's going to be a busy week for me. On Monday, I had lunch with the "girls" at Chiles. We try to do this every Monday in order to catch up on the previous week's events, gossip, bitch about men, etc. A lot of fun but only if you're a girl. Then Monday night, we finally had the auction for Bob, the gentleman who passed away earlier this year. Lynnda Lucas, the owner of Que?Pasa, cleaned out Bob's apartment and organized his belongings so that they could be sold to help cover the medical expenses incurred during his hospital stay. Anyway, I didn't do much but I was happy to participate. After the auction, a girlfriend and I met another friend at the Cine Bahia to see Vanity Fair, starring Reese Witherspoon. We all enjoyed it but the few Mexicans in the theatre walked out half way through. Maybe it was the heavy British accents ...
On Tuesday, the weather was cool (25C) and cloudy so I didn't go to the beach. I dicked around at home all day and then met some ladies for dinner at Daquiri Dick's. We are trying to do this at least once a week, usually on a Monday or Tuesday night, and pick a different restaurant every week. Next week we're going to Mezza Luna so if you're interested in joining us sometime, send me an email! Today is another cool, cloudy day so again, no beach for me! I went to the bank and then stopped at a pub just over the bridge called Cary's and met the owner, Cary. Nice guy from Colorado who has a very nice place! Once I've eaten there, I'll let you know what I think. He says he does a fantastic filet mignon on the grill for only 135 pesos so we'll see ...
Tomorrow, I'm out at the Refugio for our first meeting of all the volunteers who want to be involved with the fundraiser in February. Now that I'm not working, I have more time to spare so I am looking forward to doing this again. I worked too much last year to do anything except participate in the Viva Diva fashion show. Then tomorrow night, I am taking some first timers downtown to view the processions to the Church. And then we will be partaking in the food offered by the street vendors -- tamales, pozole, churros, etc. YUM! Can't wait!
Anyway, that's it for now. Sorry it's just a quickie but my hands are still sore.
'Stop worrying, relax and enjoy yourself. That's an order. Do as you're told.' Er... Well, then, OK, I take it back. I have no right, as your astrologer, to start speaking like an army sergeant-major... but, then, I notice that, lately, you have been surprisingly acquiescent in the face of bullying behaviour. Some people keep criticising you, others keep insisting that you do as they suggest. Partly because you want to be nice, partly because you lack confidence, you are tempted to agree with them all. Don't you dare!'
That doesn't sound like me, AT ALL!!! LOL
It's going to be a busy week for me. On Monday, I had lunch with the "girls" at Chiles. We try to do this every Monday in order to catch up on the previous week's events, gossip, bitch about men, etc. A lot of fun but only if you're a girl. Then Monday night, we finally had the auction for Bob, the gentleman who passed away earlier this year. Lynnda Lucas, the owner of Que?Pasa, cleaned out Bob's apartment and organized his belongings so that they could be sold to help cover the medical expenses incurred during his hospital stay. Anyway, I didn't do much but I was happy to participate. After the auction, a girlfriend and I met another friend at the Cine Bahia to see Vanity Fair, starring Reese Witherspoon. We all enjoyed it but the few Mexicans in the theatre walked out half way through. Maybe it was the heavy British accents ...
On Tuesday, the weather was cool (25C) and cloudy so I didn't go to the beach. I dicked around at home all day and then met some ladies for dinner at Daquiri Dick's. We are trying to do this at least once a week, usually on a Monday or Tuesday night, and pick a different restaurant every week. Next week we're going to Mezza Luna so if you're interested in joining us sometime, send me an email! Today is another cool, cloudy day so again, no beach for me! I went to the bank and then stopped at a pub just over the bridge called Cary's and met the owner, Cary. Nice guy from Colorado who has a very nice place! Once I've eaten there, I'll let you know what I think. He says he does a fantastic filet mignon on the grill for only 135 pesos so we'll see ...
Tomorrow, I'm out at the Refugio for our first meeting of all the volunteers who want to be involved with the fundraiser in February. Now that I'm not working, I have more time to spare so I am looking forward to doing this again. I worked too much last year to do anything except participate in the Viva Diva fashion show. Then tomorrow night, I am taking some first timers downtown to view the processions to the Church. And then we will be partaking in the food offered by the street vendors -- tamales, pozole, churros, etc. YUM! Can't wait!
Anyway, that's it for now. Sorry it's just a quickie but my hands are still sore.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
I'm All Blogged Down
I don't know if anyone's noticed that I haven't been blogging a lot lately. I have any number of excuses but the main one is I am trying to avoid using the computer in order to spare my hands, arms and neck. I am still experiencing pain, aches, tingles, etc. in my upper extremities. It seems to worsen the more I use the computer. *sigh* So I tend to go in spurts and starts -- checking my email, posting on the Vallarta Scene bulletin board, checking my bank balance and then signing off. Anyway, I apologize to anyone who keeps checking here for new blogs. I've been working on a long blog/trip report of my trip to Guadalajara but so far, it isn't finished. Stay tuned for that one! Hopefully, I will have photos to go with it soon.
My other whiney-assed problem (if you're still listening) is the construction workers next door. They are renovating the three storey building on the corner. And by "renovating", I mean knocking down walls, jack hammering concrete floors, ripping out re-bar, etc. Imagine a lot of banging, pounding, drilling, tile cutting, buzz sawing, etc. All that I can handle because it is part of the construction process but lately, the workers have decided they need MUSIC to swing their hammers by so ... someone brought in a boombox. Again, that in itself is not too bad. I don't mind a little music. HOWEVER, I do draw the line at ear-splitting banda music from 8AM to 6PM, seven days a week (yes, they're working Sundays too!). It's so loud, I keep checking my ears to make sure they are not bleeding. I can't read. I can't write. I can't take a siesta. I can't listen to my own music. I can't watch TV. I can't talk on the phone. I can hardly hear myself think!
I tried to call my landlord to see if there was anything he could do but he couldn't hear me over the music! So I might have to call in the "big guns". My friend "Big Greg" is a big, African American ex-pat who happens to be totally fluent in "construction worker" Spanish. LOL I'm going to ask him to be my enforcer for a day and have a casual chat with those guys!
I don't know if I mentioned in a past blog about one my bestest gal pals and fellow Goddess, Heidi, shaved her head for charity. They had a big campaign for The United Way at the law firm where she works and someone came up with the idea that some of the lawyers should offer to shave their heads in order to raise some money. Heidi has always wanted to shave her head (who hasn't?) and jumped into the fray. After raising over $700 for the cause, some political SNAFU resulted in the "shave off" being called off. But Heidi was undaunted! With all that money for charity at stake, she decided to go ahead with her plan and went downstairs to the barber shop in her office tower, downtown Toronto, and told him to "take it all off". The barber, at first, wasn't sure she was serious but after she explained the situation, he agreed and started buzzing away. Somehow the Toronto Star got wind of the story and ran it as part of an article on charitable acts. They called it a "hair raising" way to raise money. And while in Vallarta last month, my hairdresser bleached her hair an incredible plantinum blonde!
Anyway, her 15 minutes of fame has now expired so I just wanted to give her another public pat on the back for doing such a fabulous thing. Well done amiga!!! You're such a Goddess.
My other whiney-assed problem (if you're still listening) is the construction workers next door. They are renovating the three storey building on the corner. And by "renovating", I mean knocking down walls, jack hammering concrete floors, ripping out re-bar, etc. Imagine a lot of banging, pounding, drilling, tile cutting, buzz sawing, etc. All that I can handle because it is part of the construction process but lately, the workers have decided they need MUSIC to swing their hammers by so ... someone brought in a boombox. Again, that in itself is not too bad. I don't mind a little music. HOWEVER, I do draw the line at ear-splitting banda music from 8AM to 6PM, seven days a week (yes, they're working Sundays too!). It's so loud, I keep checking my ears to make sure they are not bleeding. I can't read. I can't write. I can't take a siesta. I can't listen to my own music. I can't watch TV. I can't talk on the phone. I can hardly hear myself think!
I tried to call my landlord to see if there was anything he could do but he couldn't hear me over the music! So I might have to call in the "big guns". My friend "Big Greg" is a big, African American ex-pat who happens to be totally fluent in "construction worker" Spanish. LOL I'm going to ask him to be my enforcer for a day and have a casual chat with those guys!
I don't know if I mentioned in a past blog about one my bestest gal pals and fellow Goddess, Heidi, shaved her head for charity. They had a big campaign for The United Way at the law firm where she works and someone came up with the idea that some of the lawyers should offer to shave their heads in order to raise some money. Heidi has always wanted to shave her head (who hasn't?) and jumped into the fray. After raising over $700 for the cause, some political SNAFU resulted in the "shave off" being called off. But Heidi was undaunted! With all that money for charity at stake, she decided to go ahead with her plan and went downstairs to the barber shop in her office tower, downtown Toronto, and told him to "take it all off". The barber, at first, wasn't sure she was serious but after she explained the situation, he agreed and started buzzing away. Somehow the Toronto Star got wind of the story and ran it as part of an article on charitable acts. They called it a "hair raising" way to raise money. And while in Vallarta last month, my hairdresser bleached her hair an incredible plantinum blonde!
Anyway, her 15 minutes of fame has now expired so I just wanted to give her another public pat on the back for doing such a fabulous thing. Well done amiga!!! You're such a Goddess.
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