pique a boo

The mood changed after the wedding, for several reasons. I think for Ryan & Kelsee, the tough stuff had been done. Their crazy idea of having friends & family attend a wedding in Mexico had been a success. And everyone else who had come for the wedding was suddenly in Mexico with nothing to do. Not at all a bad place to be. So the morning after the wedding, we went to the beach.

Jesse frolicked and I entertained myself by counting mosquito bites. I would (after coming back to the states and attending a blood drive) learn I was at (a slight) risk for Malaria. Quintana Roo (where our resort resides) is not considered a "safe" place. Malaria never crossed my mind when preparing for this trip. Then again, neither did mosquitoes. I have to wait a year from the date of my return to donate blood. That's fine. I'm rejected every other time anyway. This will just save me a trip.

Living the dream

I also got intimate with my camera, playing with its settings in an attempt to get artistic results.

First in black & white...

...and then in high color.

I joined Jesse in the water for a little while, but the waves were abusive. He was still having fun but I felt like I was under attack, getting walloped by a salty foe with ninja-like skills. Eventually we went to the pool, where the water was cold and the hot tub was colder. We found the rest of the group there and after watching some ridiculous games and making a few trips to the swim up bar, the dudes hatched a plan.





All flotation devices were irreparably harmed during the making of this memory.


The group broke for dinner. Back in our room I found the housekeeper had put the rose petals I pilfered from the reception to use. She totally earned her tip, based on towel creatures alone. But there was little time to appreciate it all. We had a football game to watch. It's not every year the Vikings get close to going to the Super Bowl. And there was no way a mostly Midwestern contingent was going to miss the game that decided it all.

Food. Communication. Booze.

The karaoke bar was re purposed for Americans that day. There was a projection screen and popcorn, although we could not order food. We watched the game with Mexican announcers, who seemed to be really into it. I'd say there were easily 40 people there to watch. And that made me smile. It was the second time in my life I had been out of the country for a major football event. It's like an instinctual calling; "you'll find your compatriots waiting for you." There are few people who can say they watched the Vikings send the Saints to the Super Bowl from a resort in Mexico. We are among that group and that makes me feel special.

One of my favorite things about Jesse is how much he loves water. Sure it presents a challenge when he doesn't understand my fear of drowning, but when he's alone in his element he has so much fun. I could watch him frolic forever. And that's mostly what I did that first afternoon on the beach. I brought books for reading and a notebook for writing but when presented with a moment to myself, I did neither. I just relaxed. It's as awesome as they say it is.

"Bring it."

Coatis. These little guys were in any wooded area on the resort. They look cute, but I never turned my back on them.

Judging by absolutely nothing at all, we decided it was time to find Ryan & Kelsee. Each building at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya has a concierge. We found ours, got their room number, and caught them "home," eating chicken nuggets. I wish I had taken a picture of the nuggets. They turned out to be among the best foods at the resort. I can't explain it. And I choose not to dissect it. I'm sure they wouldn't pass muster for the golden arches, but they were seasoned and they were good. And they were only available via room service. A delicious mystery wrapped in flour.

We chatted with Ryan & Kelsee until it was time to get our keys. During the walk to the front desk, we learned the restaurant that wasn't on our map was actually not part of our resort. Iberostar has three or four resorts lined up along the coast. Each resort has its own bracelet. Our bracelet allowed eating at all, drinking at most. The resort next door didn't allow children, which explains (at least to me) the retiree feel of the place.

Our room was perfect. It did not overlook the coast like in my vision but everything else was as I wanted. There was a happy towel-animal waiting for us. We had a patio (with hammock) and a bed that looked really comfortable. That last part turned out to be an illusion but at the time we were pleased. We unpacked and headed back down to the beach, because that's what one does at a resort.

We met the rest of the wedding part and during introductions I realized I didn't have my voice. I can only think of one other time when I've lost my voice and even now I'm not sure I'm not imagining that. In case you're wondering, it is indeed embarrassing to have to say "hi, nice to meet you. I don't normally sound like this" repeatedly. But my socializing / drinking / fun-having abilities were not affected.

We had dinner at a Japanese restaurant. That means sushi and teppanyaki for all. Jesse seemed to enjoy the sushi although he would later say it wasn't that good. He (and a lot of other people) would also order Saki and not like it. I stuck with margaritas. I saw no reason to be even more adventurous.

The fixings.

Part of the process.

The end result.

We wasted some time at a bar after dinner until the grand pirate show. Someone had enlisted our groom and while we had no idea what the show entailed, we knew it would be an embarrassing must-see event. We were right. Ryan and the other lucky pirates had to do a variety of physical stunts. There was a pillow fight. There was a Michael Jackson dance-off. There was beer drinking through a straw. There were push ups and there were sexy dances. In the end, a guy from Kansas City won. And he probably deserved it. I had never seen anyone drink beer through a straw as if it were lemonade.

Our final stop of our first night was at Galaxy, a Star Wars themed disco. I can't explain it. But it had something for everyone in our party and was therefore perfect. We drank and danced all night. I cannot convey how much fun I had. It was what some would call "a blast." Eventually we went home, ordered nuggets from room service & passed out. There was to be a wedding the next day.

We were dragged (kicking & screaming) to an all inclusive resort in Mexico.

Remember Ryan & (my one mention of) Kelsee? They got married this year in Riviera Maya. It was a small wedding & we made the guest list. Naturally we felt compelled to attend. We saved. We booked. We packed our bathing suits.

We left San Francisco on a chilly January night, leaving our jackets behind. They would only slow us down. We had a 20 minute walk to a 30 minute train ride to our red-eye flight from San Francisco to Houston. We had exit row seats, which gave us great leg room. But I think the extra space opened us up to an extra draft. We were freezing for the entire flight. And then we were cold and grumpy at the start of our 3 hour layover.

We didn't want to eat. I had a cup of tea and packaged lemon juice that literally made me gag. It was nearly too uncomfortable to sleep. The seats against the window let in a draft. The armrests weren't quite tall enough for comfortable leaning. Our bags weren't quite full enough to be comfortable pillows. The seats weren't quite close enough for me to put my feet up across the aisle. And suddenly the sun was up, and we surrounded by a bunch of Texans ready to let loose in Cancun.

Lesson: always bring a blanket & neck pillow for traveling.

Flight attendants checked our passports and we were Cancun bound. We filled out all our customs forms, raced to the customs counter as soon as we exited the plane, and got through the Mexican border without incident.

We found our travel coordinator(s) who put us into a van with two other couples heading to different resorts in Riviera Maya. It was a full service shuttle bus, featuring beer. Jesse bought two because it seemed like the right thing to do - until he remembered we were going to an all-inclusive resort where the beer was free. He didn't need to spend $6 on two Coronas. Still, it was an experience to be had and he had it.

I think the drive took 20 - 30 minutes. I'm not sure because there was no clock and we had not turned on our phones. We were just about to be on vacation! We checked in to the resort (no card needed for incidentals) but our room wasn't ready. We were taken to a changing area, where we took off our pants and put on our bathing suits. We handed most of our belongings to strangers and that was it. After a train ride, flight, layover, flight and shuttle, we were on vacation.

You may remember my swim coach, Coach Becca. Turns out her goal in life was not to be just my swim coach. I know, I was surprised too. Becca wants to be a sports reporter. She loves sports. She loves reporting. I know nothing about the former and have no desire to do the latter. But Becca & I are different. And sometime after Christmas, she got a job as a sports reporter. So once again this business brought me a friend and took her away.

Becca left in late January. Jesse & I decided to take her out to dinner. He picked Palomino, which looks nothing like the website suggests. Palomino is known (at least in my circle) for having a great happy hour. So Jesse & I thought it only proper we show up early and sample. We sat outside, had some drinks and ordered three appetizers. It should have been noted the appetizers are built for sharing. We had potatoes Gorgonzola, brick oven roasted mussels, and king crab & artichoke dip. Jesse finished the mussels by his lonesome and therefore could not help me finish anything else. Everything was delicious and we were full just in time for dinner.

I know a woman named Tracy. Actually, I know three. The Tracy in question graduated from the The University of Alabama. She studied accounting and French and has a Toy Poodle named Jacques. When the the University of Alabama went to the BCS Championship this year, Tracy's crimson roots tingled and she had to go to Pasadena to watch the game. Her primary dog-sitter was in Hong Kong visiting family. Her secondary dog-sitter was in India, also visiting family. Tracy needed a person in America to help.

That is how Jesse & I came to dog sit.

Tracy asked me if we could watch Jacques for two days. I asked Jesse and -- after intense questions (doesn't he have to poop), he agreed. Tracy brought Jacques over on a Wednesday night. She established an emergency bathroom for him. She took out his favorite toy and his treats. He ran around sniffing and testing his speed. And when his back was turned, Tracy left. No hugs, no words, no advice. She slipped out as if he wouldn't notice, never doubting he would. He went up to the door and looked. And then he looked at me as if to ask if I would kindly let him out to follow. I acted like I didn't understand, and scooped him on to the couch. He sat without protest, but kept his eyes on the door until a better distraction (named Jesse) appeared.

Jesse tried to get to Jacques' "tough" side with some doggie roughhousing. Results were mixed. While Jacques did not growl or attack, he did exert his male dominance over a stuffed animal. So we saw who was boss. Bedtime came & it took about five seconds for Mr. dogs-belong-outside-and-not-on-the-furniture to say "we can let him up (onto the bed) can't we?" Jesse went on to justify it to himself with "he just came from the groomer," and "you're okay with that right?" I was and it happened. Jacques slept in bed with us, and was cozy.

There's not much else to report. We walked him. We fed him. We cuddled him. We had a taste of having a pet (or a child I guess) and decided we're not ready for either. Bama won and Tracy came home. Jacques left with all of his teeth & paws and without any obvious signs of trauma. Success.

2010 is here and as Joel told me in a text, "2010 will be contained." He was responding to my new organizational canisters but I think the sentiment can apply to anything. I made grandiose resolutions last year. I did not keep any of them. I made even fewer charitable donations than ever before in my adult life. I'm healthier, but I am not the svelte picture of health I wanted to be. My balance on one of those credit cards that were frozen (for only 6 months of the year) is only down $700. I can offer solid excuses. I was supporting two people with one income for a lot of last year. I allowed myself to soften & plump over the winter holidays. My overall debt is down significantly and I've gotten rid of one of those cards entirely. Still, I'm not where I wanted to be and while I am not pleased, I can't say I'm too unhappy. We had a lot of fun at the end of last year.

• We went a Pinata party / Art show
• I went to Burbank for a Christmas Party
• I made sweet potato pies (part two)
• I appeared in Fitness Magazine
• Of course there was Christmas
• I also turned 28 (part two, part three)