Happy Hour at Casa Sirena

The Chica's were all invited to Casa Sirena for Happy Hour. What a treat. Steve is a wonderful Host and has such a beautiful Bed and Breakfast. He had just finished some major renovations. I will give you a picture tour.

The beautiful Statue by the roof top pool.


This picture almost looks like a postcard.


The main back garden area. We ended up down here instead of the roof top bar because of the high winds.


The New Roof Top Bar...Notice the wind blowing Steve's Shirt. What great views from this beautiful area.


Me and Steve.


Daniel, Kathryn and Steve


Steve had ChuCho's new CD "Bonanza" playing as background music and had invited ChuCho to come and sell his CD's. Here he is signing one of his first sales....I, of course, received the first CD!!


The Chica Group by the pool, with Daniel, Steve and ChuCho


Mother and Son...Serogate


The rooms are beautiful.



After the party at Casa Sirena we all went downtown to continue the party. I stopped at Bamboo to say hello to Rob.


Then we all met over at Faynes. Dr Salas was dancing and having a great time.


And Daniel was.....making new friends!!


It was another great day...full of more ab (laughing) work outs.

Day 2...Beaches and Bimbo Dogs

You may be asking, "What Happened to the rest of Waking up on Isla?" It was spent cleaning the apartment, fixing shower heads, water leaks, hanging medicine cabinets and wall decorations. (With the help of Steve the Plumber/all arourd handy man!!)

The next morning I recruited Jeri for my morning walk. We walked the whole airport strip, checked on a friends house and then headed back. On the way back we started by dodging a rain shower under a tree. Jeri is trying to figure out how to start some plants from cuttings. Caught her borrowing a few cuttings!!

We walked back, cutting down Juarez, behind the Navy Base.
Checked out the progress of the new CFE Electric Company Building

Decided to check out the New Yellow Hotel, that still has not opened up. (Get to it by going up the stairs to the old Navy Store Entrance). We did get a guided tour by a guy who may have been the job super.
View from one of the Penthouse Suite Balconies!

You can look right in to the Navy Base

Had a great view of the Car Ferry getting ready to pull in to dock.

The skies are clearing. Let's get some breakfast and hit the beach!!
The winds were still pretty strong, but we made the best out of it....with a few cervesas.
Laura and Wanda met us on the beach while we waited for Doris and Jan to arrive later in the afternoon. Kathryn was working and would be the welcoming committee.
After saying, "No Gracias" to many beach vendors, a little girl came by selling bracelets. How could I resist this little cutie?? I decided it was time to buy the girls friendship Ankle Bracklets.
Jeri

Laura

Wanda

And one for myself.

Yes, there are a few more I will have to buy on the next Chick Trip!!
When the clouds looked like they were ready to dump rain, we moved under the Palapa.
Kathryn, brought Jan and Doris down for the beginnings of an awesome "chick trip!" As the days progressed, more chicks arrived! Laughing and smiling would become a prerequisite for starting my day!!
Is this the traveling Bra???



After a few rounds of 2 X 1 Happy Hour Drinks at Playa Sol,

it was time to head off for some supper. We all decided to go to "Justicia Social", since a few had never eaten there.
On the way, the "Bombo Girls" were created!! (It's all Carl's fault). Sorry girls, but I have to repost the picture. Figure I don't need permission, since I posted it once already in another forum.

Dinner was awesome!! Red Snapper, whole, deep fried!!

Mapchick began documenting!!

After dinner, it's time to move the party to Miguel's Moonlite!! Look at this...No drinks???

Then it was off to Faynes to listen to Javi, with a sit in by ChuCho!!

Javi (My Good Friend)

Chucho...My Mexican Son

Alex..My Mexican Husband (There is a story behind that)

After the beginnings of many good times to come for the week, I recruited Wanda and Doris to walk the next morning with me.
We said our good nights and headed off to rest up for our next ab work out!!

Waking up on Isla Part 1

After a good night sleep I was up and ready for my walk. No arm weights, so it's time to improvise. Two large bottles of water from the mini super!! I'm off!! Through Centro, down Juarez, past the back side of the Navy Base and out the airport strip. Doing my arm exercises along the way, with two large bottles of water!

What a great morning to walk. Not too hot and it's not raining....yet!!
New Mosque looking building being build on East side of Airport Strip.


On the way back to the apartment, I decide to stop and take pictures of Centro Area and the New Malecon.
Statues to the South of The Hospital.


As I walked back to the "Sea Wall" I sat and watched to waves, trying to guess when they would break. The wind is picking up today....again and it looks like it could rain at any time.

When inspecting the new lamp posts on the Walkway, I notice how the salt air has already corroded the metal posts. They are only about 6 months old!! Being a Contractor, my mind starts thinking of better materials that could have been used for these posts. (Brick, stone, etc.)
View to the South, towards the RocaMar

View to the North towards the now closed Perla Del Caribe

The benches along the walk-way are very nice and great places to enjoy the ocean, except for one thing......They should face the water!! Oh well, With my feet dangling over the edge of the wall, I sit and enjoy the sounds of the waves crashing and the smell of the sea air.
I would normally be down by the water in search of shells or sea glass, but the waves are crashing to close and high to risk it today. Instead, I will just enjoy the moment.
After my quiet solitude, I stroll back to the apartment, make some coffee and finish unpacking, start some cleaning and organizing. Steve the plumber and handyman extroidinaire, is going to come over today and help me with some projects....He doesn't even know what he is in for!!
I decide to go and have coffee with Steve and Jeri and call Biggy B. This becomes my morning routine.
La Vida Dulce Casitas. Two newly remodeled suites in the Centro area. Suite Number two is towards the back, away from the street.
The living room has a big couch, dining room table, TV area.

Kitchenette has a toaster, coffee pot, Microwave/Pizza oven, refrigerator, and is complete with dishes.

Off of the kitchen is a 1/2 Bath with sink and toilet.

The bedroom has a queen size bed, A/C, dresser and night stands

The full bathroom has double sinks and toilet and a full closet area

And a seperate room with shower area.

Unit Number one is on the street side. This is the unit I stayed in on my two night extension!! I never heard any noise from the street!!
kitchenette has snack bar/eating area complete with bar stools.

Living room has Couch, Chair, TV area


Bedroom, again complete with Queen Size Pillowtop Mattress, Dresser and Nightstands, A/C. Closet area for the room is in the bedroom.

Full Bathroom with Shower, sink, toilet and shelves for keeping all the necessities.


Outside of the units they have a sitting area for guests with shelves of books, a phone for free calls to the US, Canada, Landlines to England and Ireland. There is an entry door from the street, which is locked every night. The room entry doors are inside of this gate.

Steve and Jeri are on-site managers and do all of their own cleaning, etc., so security is not an issue at all!!

After coffee and the tour of La Vida Dulce Casitas, it's time to get back to my own apartment and get some work done!!

Part 2 Coming!!

I'm Going Home!!

I finally packed on Tuesday, the day before leaving for Isla. Two bags, one weighing 70 pounds!! (Must of been that heavy Super Mega Bottle of Teeth Whitening Listerine for....you know who you are!!LOL) Good thing was, only one small bag came back with me!
Our flight down was smooth and I had a nice window seat. I, who cannot sleep on planes, fell asleep for a little while. I had a connection in Memphis, which also went smooth.
Upon take off from Memphis we had a very sick passenger with an air sickness bag, that looked like it was a little late, spending most of the flight in the bathroom.
When Immigration in Cancun spotted him in line, they pulled him out and took him to a seperate room. I spotted his wife, alone, at baggage claim. Don't know if they took him to the hospital.
Green light, thank goodness!! Don't know if I would be able to rezip that 70 pound bag!!
Outside, Jeri and Steve were waiting to pick me up!! We stopped and shopped at Costco. Anejo, check. Coca Light, check. Off to the car ferry.
The streets of Cancun were still showing signs of flooding from all the rain.
Our ride across on the car ferry!! This little guy was waiting patiently for a scrap of food from the vehicle in front of us.

Cheers to being back Mi Amiga!!


I watched Jeri and Steve as we passed by Isla and I wondered what they were thinking after almost one year of packing up and moving to Isla.


I just love these two!!


The sky's still looked like they were going to dump at any minute, but we did get lucky and were able to sit up top the whole time.

Here is a picture story of the Isla Coast when you arrive by Car Ferry.






We dropped my bags and groceries off at the apartment and then over to Jeri and Steve's to unload their parcels and relax with an Anejo and Coca Light!!

I went back to the apartment to unpack and get settled. Would be back later. We had a big supper planned for my home coming!!

Later, the grill master, Steve, started the grill while Jeri, the next Paula Dean, made awesome garlic potatoes.

Couldn't have asked for a better dinner!! We ate in one of the new La Vida Dulce Casitas!! More on that later!!

I met ChuCho downtown later and listened to two of my favorite musicians while having a night cap.
ChuCho tickling the keyboard to welcome me home!!

Javier and ChuCho Jamming together!!


I think my day has been full!! It is time to head off to dream land. I forgot to mention that I had lost over 20 pounds since my last visit to Isla. Tomorrow morning will be up and on my walk, to keep those pounds off!!

Answered Prayers

First, let me express my heartfelt gratitude and thanks, for all of your support, emails, thoughts, prayers and honesty.

As I stated before, this is not the first time that depression has affected my life, but the outcome will be different.

Jeremy is now on the road to recovery, with medication, therapy and a wonderful support system.

In less than a week I have seen big changes in not only him, but in our family. We have grown closer, talk more and do more activites together. Maybe this was a wake up call for all of us. We sometimes let life get in the way, as an excuse for our time restraints and lack of "family" time. No more, I say!!

Jeremy now wakes up every morning feeling more refreshed, more alert and happier to start his day. The doctor stated that the medication would work in three steps.
Right away it would help him to feel more alert and help him concentrate. After three weeks he would feel a "waking up and the clouds would feel lifted." After six to twelve weeks "life starts to be fun." She did state that it is not a "Happy Pill" and that he would have to be honest with all of us about how he is feeling so that we can regulate the medication, if need be. (Jeremy is a very good actor) I really think, as his mom, that he truly wants to feel better. I don't have to tell him to take his pill twice a day, he does this on his own.

Jeremy is a big writer and poet. I have decided to share with all of you some of his writings and poetry. Some of his writings are from times that he has been really down and I think writing is what saved him. At first, I wanted to analyze his writings, now I just want to enjoy them. I know that he will go on in life to be a great writer in some capacity.

After this post, I will be working on my Isla Reports. After all, we will be back to Isla in just over a month!!

So, here as a premier, is one of Jeremy's Poems. I hope you all enjoy.

Bitter-Sweet
By Jeremy Lamonica

My days as of late have been bitter-sweet,
Tomorrow I'm very afraid to meet.
Though my own life becomes better,
My Family's happiness grows lesser.
What sort of curse has been cast on me,
That could create such cruelty?
Why must such pain be put on them?
Why Can't I suffer instead of them?
Please, make me as a lightning rod,
Thrust into the storm.
Maybe then they won't be struck,
And instead I will be torn.
I don't care, whatever the cost,
I'll pay the price, if my life be lost.
Just make things better,,
Even if your price is me.
I would pay it a thousand times,
if only to stop their agony.
Please....
I beg of thee...
I beg of thee

Dealing with Depression

First, to update all my friends and fellow bloggers, Jeremy is on the road to being treated for depression. If you have been following my blog, you are aware that depression runs in his family, on his biological fathers side. His biological father committed suicide when Jeremy was 2 years old. His father lived with untreated depression.
These past few days have been some of the toughest of my life. No mom wants to watch their child go through this pain. A pain that cannot be understood by a person who does not suffer from "Clinical Depression."
The memories of the day my first husband committed suicide were brought to the surface. The pain I felt for my kids the day their father chose to leave them. The pain of knowing that the battle his father fought is one that Jeremy may be fighting the rest of his life.
Knowing the days when Jeremy laughs and jokes and smiles are some of the happiest days.
Joshua, Jeremy's older brother and my eldest son, was six when his father take took his life. After Tuesday night, Joshua took on the role of Jeremy's protector. He has always protected Jeremy as a big brother would, but now....it is as if his mission is to make sure Jeremy is better. How proud can I be of him? I do not think words can explain!!
Biggy B is doing so well dealing with all of this. He does not understand "Clinical Depression" but, he has always been the boys dad and loves them so much. I know that he will do anything and everything to protect them and I know it is killing him inside to watch this happen.
I know this may be pretty in depth for some of you, but I have always been a pretty open person. One way for me to cope is to write. (Jeremy gets that from me)
Our support system is tremendous.
I want to thank you all for your comments, your support and your emails. I know that we will get through this.

Due to a family emergency

I had every intention to start blogging today about my trip to Isla but, due to a family emergency with my youngest son, this blog will have to wait.
Please pray for Jeremy's well being and for my strength, as a mom, to get me through and to do everything in my power to help my son.
My life, as I know it, is going into a holding pattern for a little while.
Thank you all.