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I hate good-byes.  They are the worst.  That being said, it is so much easier to say good-bye when a “Hello!” follows almost immediately after.  The day Ryan dropped his parents off at the airport, our second wave of company arrived.  He picked up his aunts and we began a whole new round of fun!

Laurel (Lolly) and JoAmy are wonderfully inquisitive people and they are up for anything!  We began our adventures in Jocotepec.  This city of around 38,000 occupants is only a half-hour drive from Ajijic on the western shore of Lake Chapala.  After a very filling lunch, we enjoyed a leisurely stroll down the malecon where we observed the local wildlife and soaked up some sun.

I had unfortunately caught a cold in all of the excitement of our first wave of company.  Therefore, on the second day of their visit, Ryan took his aunts into Guadalajara while I stayed home to recover.  In addition to Centro Historico, including the large market, they ate some authentic tacos filled with all types of meats.  To my surprise, pork stomach (buche) seemed to be a hit.

Luckily for me, Lolly had brought some magical oregano oil and “breathe.”  These essential oils were amazing!  One drop of oregano oil at the back of my throat twice a day, coupled with the refreshing “breathe,” and I was all but cured.  It was the shortest cold I’ve ever had!

Now that I was seemingly fully recovered, we piled back into the car.  Our next adventure took us to Teuchitlan to see the circular pyramids of Los Guachimontones.  On the way we stopped at a cemetery that was still colorfully decorated for the Day of the Dead.  We even investigated some stacks of corn hulls.  Labor is so cheap in the area that all of the planting and harvesting is done by hand.

The day was surprisingly overcast when we arrived at Los Guachimontones.  This is a prehispanic archaeological site (possibly Aztec) that can be found just outside the town of Teuchitlan.  The circular stepped pyramids are located at the centers of what would have been building complexes also arranged in a unique circular fashion.  A ceremonial pole would have been placed at the top of the pyramids and was used to honor the wind God Ehecatl.

As luck would have it (whether good or bad), timing placed Laurel and JoAmy in Ajijic during USA election time.  Pinatas of Trump and Hillary could be purchased by the side of the road and signs reading “Our American friends, please support Mexico and vote for Hillary” were displayed on the sides of buildings.  When the big night arrived, they attended a Democrats Abroad Election Party and came home with some entertaining stories.

After the election, we took it easy for a day or two.  This gave Aunt JoAmy the opportunity to get in some bird watching.  Because Lake Chapala is the largest body of fresh water in Mexico, the surrounding areas are teeming with aquatic bird life.  She even found a humming bird’s nest in our back year and every day, she or Laurel would go out and check on how things were progressing.

Towards the end of their visit, we also took Laurel and JoAmy to Mazamitla.  This pretty little village town has a population of about 11,600 people.  It is located up in the mountains and is known as Mexico’s Switzerland.  In my opinion, this was one of the more scenic drives we’ve taken while in Jalicso and I enjoyed exploring this charmingly beautiful town with Ryan and his aunts.  It was a wonderful ending to a wonderful visit.  Thank you Laurel and JoAmy for coming to see us.  What a treat!

Ryan and I were recently lucky enough to have two waves of back to back company.  The first wave brought his parents from Wyoming.  This was the second time Matt and Sheree have visited us this year!  They came just in time for the Day of the Dead festivities.  We had them for a week and enjoyed every minute of it.

Our adventures began in Guadalajara.  After taking in some of Centro Historico, we took Matt and Sheree to try traditional tortas ahogadas (drowned sandwiches).  These sandwiches originated in Guadalajara and are now popular all over the state of Jalisco, and throughout other parts of Mexico as well.  Though they are messy (at least for me), they are very tasty.

On our way home, we stopped in Tlaquepaque and found that it was the place to be!  There were many altars and Catrina’s on display.  We walked the main drag taking everything in, and then I got thirsty!  Luckily, there were a lot of places to stop.  Sheree and I went into a restaurant and had a mother-daughter date.  She’s the best mother-in-law ever!

When the official Day of the Dead arrived on November 2nd, we took Matt and Sheree to the cemetery in Ajijic to look at the decorated grave sites.  They were beautiful–so vibrant and full of color.  It was a very busy place and despite the fact that we were celebrating the dead, we found the cemetery to be teaming with life.  We had initially intended to join a tour but we ended up wandering around on our own.  There was plenty to see and we took our time.

Though the festivities had officially come to an end (or at least as much as they do in Mexico), our adventures were not yet over.  On their final day with us, we all ventured to the town of Tequila.  This World Heritage Site is the birthplace of “tequila.”  Tequila is made from the blue agave plant which is native to this area.  Once here we toured the Jose Cuervo Tequila Factory.  While the tour was very informative, Ryan was definitely the most impressed with the tequila tasting at the end.  I’m not much of a tequila girl, but I gave it my best effort, and so did Matt and Sheree.

Thank you Matt and Sheree for yet another great visit!  You’re the best!!!  We love you and we are so lucky to have you in our lives.

This year, when I woke on my 32nd birthday, I found that my husband had left me.  The good news was that I found him again in the living room.  He had woken up early and snuck out to buy me fresh flowers.  The flowers were beautiful, but he looked a little tired.  Apparently it’s hard to buy fresh flowers this time of the year at such an early hour and he’d had to walk clear across town to buy them.  How spoiled am I?

So he’d already earned brownie points, big time, but he took me out for breakfast never-the-less to my favorite breakfast joint.  The Waffle House has a huge selection of excellent waffles and pancakes, as well as many other more local items.  My day was already going great, but it got even better as I filled my belly with a mango smoothie and a heaping stack of chocolate pancakes (with fresh strawberries)!

Still, things were about to get even better.  Our landlords went out of town and asked us to house-sit for them.  They live in a huge house with a pool and have a six-month old Great Dane Puppy!  Not only did we upgrade, but I got a week’s worth of play dates out of the deal to boot, and it wasn’t even noon.

 

My good fortune continued into the afternoon when, for the first time since we moved to Ajijic, Ryan accompanied me to bingo.  He’s not a big fan, but he’s a great sport!   I got two free bingo packages out of the deal–1) because I brought a guest, and 2) because it was my birthday!

This year I had two birthday dinner celebrations.  The first had taken place the previous weekend.  My friend Jane’s birthday is the day before mine (on September 26th) and we got a group together and met at La Mision to celebrate.  They served excellent sangrias and surprised us with a birthday treat.  Then Jane and Frank and Andrea surprised me with gifts.  They spoiled me rotten!

My second birthday dinner took place after bingo on my birthday.  Ryan took me to eat at my favorite seafood restaurant in Chapala.  Cozumel has endless margaritas and excellent coconut shrimp.  After dinner, we wandered along the Chapala malecon and checked out the carnival rides.  This was the way we had had our first date (more than six years ago) and it brought back wonderful memories, as well as making new ones.  Thank you Ryan.  You are the best!

For me, there has never been anything quite as attractive as a sleek-coated, long-legged steed.  Aside from guys with Australian accents, horses are definitely my biggest weakness.  Going to a jumping show is like taking me to a candy store.  My friend Cheryl is the same way, although I can’t speak for her interest in Australians.

The day I jumped in the car with Cheryl and her husband Billy was an absolutely beautiful day and I enjoyed talking to them on the drive into Guadalajara.  My car had been broken for a while which really put a damper in my weekly riding plans with Cheryl and Jane.  We had a lot to catch up on.

When we arrived at the event, the facility blew my mind.  It was huge!  There were at least three large outdoor show arenas and two separate covered areas.  The stables were enormous.  There was a restaurant and a store.  Vendors were lined up and selling high quality riding gear.  The scene took my breath away.

But that was nothing compared to the horses.  Can I just say, “Wow!”  They were tall and debonair with braided manes, slick saddles, and wraps that wound around their long legs.  When they weren’t competing, they strutted around with their necks flexed and their tails swishing.  They had names like Papillon, Chintano, and Al Cett.

When they were jumping, I couldn’t take my eyes off their rippling muscles and their trailing tails.  They flew over those jumps like they were weightless.  There was nothing but one beautiful horse after another.  It was like I’d died and gone to heaven.

At the end of the day–after hours of ogling on my part–the winners were announced.  The horses were happy to get their goodies and they looked so pretty in their ribbons!  What a fun day.  Thank you Cheryl and Billy for letting me tag along!!!

Every September Ajijic celebrates the Globo Regatta to launch their week-long Independence Day festivities.  Ryan and I were told (by many people) that this was one event we did not want to miss.  Luckily we took their advice.  The regatta was a great event and as we had expected, it was well attended.  Both locals and ex-pats gathered in the “football” stadium on a beautiful Saturday afternoon with high hopes of having a good time.

As I understand it, many businesses sponsored a globo.  They were (usually) made out of tissue paper by someone who knew what they were doing.  While the event was scheduled to begin at 3 pm, it didn’t really get going until hours later.  I think one of the reasons for this delay may have been that a lot of the globos were made on sight.  While some of the globo sponsors were easy to identify, others remained more of a mystery.

Over the course of many hours, we all watched as these colorful globos were made (in some cases), filled, and then FINALLY launched.  Most of them flew, but many (especially the larger ones) burned up in mid-flight.  It was very exciting and we always had to be on the look-out for bits of burning paper to come crashing down on our heads.  The remaining burning particles of one unfortunate globo almost hit a power line!  Another landed in a tree.  All the while, young local boys were having a great time acting as “bomberitos.”  They would locate a crashed globo and make sure it wasn’t a fire hazard.  Between them and the strategically timed rainy season, everything seemed to remain under control.

Ryan and I left before dark but I’m sure that if we had stayed, things would have really taken off.  That seems to be the way things work.  Call us party poopers, but we were hot and tired and we’d been there since three.  All in all, it was a fun event that certainly kept us on our toes.

I originally created this blog when my husband and I started traveling around South America in 2014.  We did this for over a year, with an additional two month stop in Mexico.  Then we went home for two months to spend the holidays with our family and friends.  All of this you know.  What I haven’t yet told you was that I gained fifteen pounds in that two month span of family fun.  Yikes.

This happened for many reasons.  1) All of my favorite comfort foods that I’d been craving for over a year were once again available.  2) I bounced around between great cooks like my father and my mother-in-law.  3) I had many friends I wanted to catch up with, and what better way than by retreating out of the cold to stuff our faces at our favorite restaurants (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).  And finally 4) I have absolutely no self restraint, especially when it comes to food.   All of this led to a pair of designated sweat pants and a coat that wouldn’t zip.  I’m not kidding.

So when Ryan and I got back from Hawaii, which was the last stop on our Tour de Family, it was time to make some serious changes.  These included getting daily exercise which I would accomplish via walking, hiking, and jogging, and above all, undertaking a massive change in diet.  Bummer.

Let me just say that I have NEVER been good at dieting.  In fact, I’m absolutely lousy at denying myself the things that I desire the most.  Most often, this is food.  To put this in perspective, I had a panic attack in Ecuador after an experimental juicing fast.  When I switched to a low-carb diet for a few days in Argentina, I stayed in bed the whole time.

So when my sister-in-law Jill told me about her great experience with the Whole 30 program, I figured I’d give it a shot.  I read “It Starts with Food” by Melissa and Dallas Hartwig.  This first book was so thorough I didn’t even get to “The Whole 30” before committing to a thirty day trial.  My goal, besides losing some of the weight I’d gained, was to change my eating behavior.  Not only do I eat way too much, but I eat far too much crap, especially when I’m upset or bored.  I thought, if I could break my emotional dependency on food (especially sugar), I would be taking a very important step toward improving my health.  I also have a lot of strange health problems (possible IBS, endometriosis, and vasculitis) and I was curious how a change in diet might affect these.

I started by taking body measurements (not fun, but necessary) and with a trip to the grocery store.  Fortunately in Ajijic, I have access to a lot of inexpensive produce.  I found this to be very encouraging, although the recommended organic, “grass-fed,” and “free-range” categories were not as easy to come by.  But I made do.

Then I got cooking.  I am not much of a cook so luckily for me the rules were fairly basic and easy to follow.  Each meal I had to incorporate the right amounts of healthy fats (things like extra-virgin olive oil, coconut oil, clarified butter, or avocados) into my serving(s) of protein.  The rest of each meal was compromised almost entirely of vegetables.  I was allowed one to two servings of fruit a day and I drank hot tea and water.  Nothing fancy.

What I experienced during my Whole 30 trial was nothing remarkable.  Given the way I have been known to respond to diets, I considered this to be a good thing.  Here are the things I noticed.  During the first week, I caught a simple cold.  It was no big deal and I’m not sure how it related to the diet change, if at all, although some other participants reported similar experiences.  After the first week, I was no longer hungry between meals!  By the third week, I stopped waking up to pee in the middle of the night (I’m usually a 1-3 times a night kind of girl).

After 30 days of eating clean, I was finally allowed to weigh and remeasure myself.  I lost eight pounds which was less than I was hoping (my sister-in-law lost 15) and the differences in my measurements were unremarkable.  However, I wasn’t discouraged because it made so much sense and I felt pretty darn good.  Therefore, I decided to keep it up with some adjustments for convenience.    I still craved sugar, but that wasn’t much of a surprise given my addiction to it.  Here was my compromise.  For the next six months, I stuck pretty close to the Whole 30 diet at home.  However, I allowed myself to eat whatever I wanted when Ryan and I went out, usually about three times a week, and when we were on vacation.  This helped me to continue to lose weight slowly, over a period of time and not feel like I was denying myself too much (which tends to have massive side-effects).

I am happy to report that since I began the Whole 30 challenge back in February, I have lost twenty pounds!  This was after two vacations.  It’s still very much a two steps forward, one step back kind of process, but this has been my best experience by far when it comes to healthy eating.  I would recommend the Whole 30 to anyone.  It’s a very mold-able program and can lead to some great things.

One of my favorite things about living in Ajijic is its close proximity to an international airport.  For many people, this is no big deal.  But don’t forget that I grew up in Wyoming.  It was not uncommon to have to drive clear to Utah or Colorado to get a decent flight.  Now that I live so close to Guadalajara I have discovered that traveling home for special family events is not only feasible, but it’s fairly convenient.  When my cousin Makayla announced that she was getting married in June, I said, “We’ll be there!”

Makayla and Cruz picked a beautiful spot on her grandparents farm to get married.  This was the same place that he proposed and where my Aunt Lisa and Uncle Kelly are hoping to relocate once they’ve rebuilt the original homestead.  It was just beautiful.  But the bride put even this lovely venue to shame.  She could not have been more radiant.

Makayla and Cruz were married under a homemade arch overlooking the Columbia River.   Our Uncle Dan and Aunt Wendy had been given the honor of officiating the ceremony and they did an amazing job.  The whole thing was incredibly touching.  I particularly liked the bride and groom’s vows which were original and from the heart.  They even buried a time capsule to dig up in years to come.  I thought this was a really cool idea and one I’d never seen done before at a wedding.

Much of our family had traveled a good distance to attend the wedding.  My parents came from Oregon.  My sister’s family drove over from Lacey, which is near Olympia.  In addition, my brother and sister-in-law made the trip all the way from Wyoming.  We enjoyed the reception surrounded by family, homemade desserts, and plenty of dancing!  It was a beautiful celebration for a beautiful couple.  Makayla and Cruz, I wish you all the best!

My friend Tina is very involved with the children’s shelter in Jocotepec.  La Ola houses and cares not only for orphans, but for abused and abandoned children as well.  This nonprofit  organization, started in 2010 by Bob and Becky Plinke, provides the works (food, shelter, clothing, education, and above all else, LOVE).

It was because of Tina that I was able to help with (and attend) my very first quinceanera!  Quinceanera’s are a really big deal to many countries in South and Central America, as well as Mexico.  They celebrate a girl’s fifteenth birthday and announce her transition from childhood to young womanhood.  In short, a quinceanera is a girl’s “coming-out” party (or formal “debut”).

When I arrived at La Ola for Zaire’s quinceanera, I found a crew already busy at work.  The ladies in the kitchen had been working for days to prepare enough food for all the children and the guests.  The children were all dressed in their finest.  There was a hair station, as well as a make-up station.  There was also a coloring station.  I bounced back and forth between helping the kids make thank you cards for some of the guests who had made especially generous donations and helping the decorating committee.

When I met Zaire, I was instantly impressed by what a lovely young lady she appeared to be.  Although she was quiet, I could tell how excited she was on her big day.  She made a point to introduce herself and thank me for helping.  She was surrounded by friends who could’t have been more happy to help celebrate her special moment.  Before long, they whisked Zaire away so that she could change at a nearby residence and have a very special entrance.

When she returned, her guests were all assembled and eagerly anticipating her arrival.  She looked beautiful.  Aside from her flowing pink dress, she wore  a radiant smile.  She was carrying a small doll and a gentleman took her and danced her to the center of the dance floor.  Once there, she was seated and then a couple of the little girls ran forward and snatched the doll away, which represented the end of her childhood.

Over the next couple of hours, everyone enjoyed food and exchanged pleasantries.  Zaire and her attendants had rehearsed a dance and they performed it for all to see.  Everyone watched happily and I could see the little girls who would one day have a quinceanera of their own light up with excitement.  It was a very enjoyable day for all, although none as much as Zaire.  What a beautiful, sweet young woman.  Look out world, here she comes!

Birthday number four is a very special occasion for young people.  It will likely be the first birthday that any of them might actually remember in years to come.  More importantly, when done properly, a child’s fourth birthday is a moment when the whole world conspires to prove that life IS in fact all about them.

What better way of celebrating this important right of passage than with a princess party!  When my niece Ruby turned four on May second, a princess party was exactly what she got, courtesy of Great-Grandma Geri and Grandma Kathi.  Not only was there cake and face painting and a pile of presents just waiting to be opened, but there were costumes to go along with all the fabulous decorations as well.

Once everyone was properly dressed, Mom (aka Grandma Kathi to the guest of honor) assigned parts in an entirely original play to be performed on the spot.  In this play, Princess Ruby’s birthday cake is stolen by an evil (and hungry) giant and she must go on a quest in order to retrieve it.  I am proud to report that I was assigned the role of the magical seamstress cat.  Meow!

Luckily like all fairy tales, this play had a happy ending and Princess Ruby was able to successfully retrieve her stolen birthday cake.  I think it’s safe to say that her fourth birthday was one she will most likely never forget.  Good job Great-Grandma Geri and Grandma Kathi.  All hail Princess Ruby!  Long may she reign.

If I have learned one thing thus far it is that life is full of surprises.  Some are good and some are bad, while others can only be described as heartbreaking.  In 2013, my Grandpa Jerry was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Anyone who knew him would have said he was as healthy as a horse.  He was walking five miles every day right up until his diagnosis.  Yet his skin had suddenly turned a strange tint of yellow and thus my grandmother insisted he get checked out.

He survived the Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) which is a feat in itself.  All the while my grandmother, who is the strongest person that I know, ran around with his high school football number printed on her clothing.  “Number thirty-four is going to kick cancer’s ass,” she would insist.  The rest of us followed suit.  She was the perfect cheer-leader until he relapsed in 2014.  Then she became the perfect care-giver.

Grandpa Jerry passed away last year when Ryan and I were in Argentina.  He did not want a memorial service so instead, much of our family met the first Sunday in May to run the Bloomsday race in his honor.  Grandpa Jerry loved Bloomsday.  He would often start out with the walkers but this wouldn’t last long.  Every year a burst of competition would hit him and he would suddenly break from the pack.  The last thing you would see was his numbered back disappearing into the crowd.

When my family met for Bloomsday this year, the mood was surprisingly light and celebratory.  Whether this was a result of grandma, ever the cheerleader, or something else, I can never be sure.  But I like to think that he was there with his back cracking hugs and his fantastic laugh.  I like to think that he was pushing us ever closer to the finish line, keeping smiles on our faces.  He was there with us all along, every step of the way, even though he may have reached the finish line ahead of us.