Little Kevin's birthday is Thursday, he will turn 24.  Amazing - my babies are growing up.  We all went last night to have pizza and cake and watch him open presents.  Because he had a bad sprain from playing football Thursday, he is in an aircast so Charlie was helping him put up the Christmas lights outside when we arrived.  Hmmmmmmm - I still have Christmas lights to be hung.  Where's Charlie, I need a word with him.......  Anyway, we had fun. 

 

 

 

 

We had such a wonderful 4 days off for the holiday I really didn't want it to end.  Of course it was busy, but it was a good busy.  And..I fell asleep after Thanksgiving dinner and everyone decided to let me sleep and they did the dishes.  Now how good can that get?

 

I feel like I haven't been here for so long.  From the time I returned to Cancun and even now I have been so busy.  With the holidays and out of town visitors and catching up on cleaning and shopping and catching up at work, there isn't enough hours in the day.

 

Daniel's mom arrived on Wednesday at about 2:00.  It was so great to see her with Eric.  She hadn't seen him since he was about 4 months old.  Almost a year.  Although we sent pictures and talked on the phone, nothing can compare to actually seeing him.  I'm so glad I invited her.

 

My San Diego Chargers are still winning!  I was a little nervous towards the end of yesterday's game.  They play Kansas City in a few weeks -- they lost to them last time, but I do not believe they plan to again.  Sorry Cindi!

 

Well - Thanksgiving is over and we are heading towards Christmas.  Guess I'll figure out a new theme here, but before I do that, I'm going visiting.  Being as nosy as I am, I want to see what everyone has been doing.  I really, really hate to miss anything and besides, I'm afraid if I don't update and visit, people will lose interest and not visit me anymore. 

 

Scot (my co-worker)sent me the following to get even with all the women things I send him.  He's say's it's the "male Maxine" --

 

Things just don't slow down here.  Work is very busy - catching up from vacation is done, but it's busy on top of that, so I've barely any time of my own. 

 

We are having Daniels mom here from Florida for Thanksgiving, so we are preparing the upstairs guest room for her.  That room used to be the boys room (they each had it at one time or another) -- need I say more?  New paint job needed (how many coats cover magic marker written where mom couldn't see it) and a few little wholes in the sheetrock from wrestling and such (which I did see and they were grounded like crazy for).  I'm cleaning everything in sight as well as planning the menu and shopping.  It seems like my vacation was just getting me ready for it all.

 

On a more humerous note, Nikki and I were driving behind a pickup truck this morning and we saw a pink ribbon bumper sticker for breat cancer on the bumper.  It said "Save the ta ta's"  Nikki and I laughed so hard.  Hey - at least he was supporting the cause. 

 

I'm upset that I haven't had the time to get around and say hello to everyone I want to.  Everytime I start to get going on my firends list, I get busy and end up abandoning it.  Forgive me if I haven't been to visit yet - I am anxious to get back on track and see what is new with everyone.

I've deceided to take a little while and visit my space.  I really would like to get the chance to visit and catch up with everyone, but I'll see what happens.  Today is Friday, boss is out and I'm almost caught up so maybe I can have my way.

 

Aha - so you all want stories huh?  Most of the pictures of myself are on the girls camera's and we all know a picture tells a thousand stories.  Well, lets see, we had a Mexican Dancer and a Bartop Dancer.  Not saying who was the dancer on top of the bar.

 

I was surprised that we did so much the day we arrived.  By the time we checked into our room it was 3:00.  Next time we do this (it was decided every 5 years we would get together like this) we are staying in the states.  Between going through US security and Customs both, we spent enough time in lines to grow older.  What a hassle.  We had dinner, a bunch of drinks and walked around to scope things out.  That place sure is huge.  More drinks and then we were all so tired we went back to the rooms to sleep and get reaady for the next day.

 

I was up at my usual 5:00 and what a beautiful sunrise.  I hopped the balcony fence and walked along the beach and took pictures.  It was a beautiful start to a wonderful day.  We packed so many things into such a short time.  We went Kayacking and laughed so hard I could not stand up enough to get back on the kayack after we got stuck on the sandbar.  Jeannie couldn't help - she was laughing too hard - um and I almost got an oar in the head.  We spent almost a whole day by the pool and the poolside bar (the stools are right in the water).  We were very sunburned and slightly loopy going back to our room to change to eat.  Ooops - almost made it to the room.  Stopped at a nice little patio area for a before dinner drink.  Stuck to chair.  Giggled alot.

 

I think the most memorable part of the trip was swimming with the dolphins.  Some of us picked the foot push (where the dolphins push you on the bottom of your foot and glide you across the water) but I chose the dorsal swim where I held them by their dorsal fin and they swam me between them.  What a rush -- and they are so gentle.  Even when they jump up and kiss your cheek.  We had a video made of that, but since we all were in the water with them, we didn't get any pictures on our camera's.  We did get 8X10's which I will try to scan and put here.  Or somewhere where I can link you to see them.  I have one where the dolphin looks like he is whispering in my hear and I'm laughing and the other where I'm shaking his fins as he is standing.

 

We did do alot more and all of our dining adventures were an event in itself.  Our shopping trip into River Maya was an adventure (bar dancing of all things), and haggling prices and losing each other in the maze of shops.  We came out alive though.

 

There will be more stories as the pictures come in from the girls.  Meanwhile, boss decided to come to work so I must do my job.  Also I want to get my visiting started.  I know I must have alot to catch up on with all of you.

 

 

There is not much to blog about today - and I'm trying to get all this work done so I can go on vacation with nothing on my mind left from work.  I figured Hearts tried my Apple Cider donut receipe, so I thought maybe she would like my Fruit Cake Receipe.  Read very carefully cause it's kind of tricky.   Meanwhile I will be back tomorrow to say goodbye --hey - I noticed that Cancun has some sunshine now rather than all rain drops.  Yipee!

Fruit Cake

1 Cup Water
1 Cup Butter
1 Cup Sugar
4 Large Eggs
2 Cups Dried Fruit
1 teas. Baking Soda
1 teas. Salt
1 teas. Watkins Vanilla Extract  
1 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Cups of Flour
1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
1 Cup Chopped Nuts
1 Gallon Wine

Sample the wine to check for quality.

Take a large bowl.

Check the wine again to make sure that it is of the highest quality.

Pour 1 level cup and drink.

Repeat if you're not sure.

Turn on the electric mixer and beat 1 cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.

Add 1 tsp. sugar and beat again.

Make sure the wine is still okay. Cry another tup.

Turn off the mixer.

Break two legs and add to the bowl along with some Watkins Vanilla Extract and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.

Mix on the turner.

If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers, pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the wine again to check for tonsisticity.

Next sift 2 cups of salt, or something. Who cares.

Check the wine.

Now sift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.

Add 1 table. Spoon. Of sugar or flour or something. Whatever you can find.

Grease the oven.

Turn the cake pan to 350 degrees.

Don't forget to beat off the turner.

Throw one bowl out the window.

Check the wine again. Go to bed.

Who the heck likes fruitcake anyway?

 

 

 

You are all suggesting a bathing suit???  And Hearts and Ladybug actually mentioned a bikini!  Ummm...picture a big man in a Speedo.  Viola!  "MADUKES!"

     

I went to the tanning booth at the gym the other day and got a look at myself in the full length mirror.  I now bring a blanket with me to cover the mirror.  But I do like the idea of drinking enough so I don't care what people are saying.  Now there's a plan.  My luck I would get those pictures of the inside of a Mexican jail that Skip wants so bad.  I just saw a sun pop up in the Sunday weather of Cancun.  We will see what happens.  This weekend will be spent getting ready.  I have a 5:00 haircut appointment and I plan on packing this weekend.  It's not as if I need my summer clothes now.  Then all I need to do is throw together my toiletries, and I'm off.

 

I wish I had brought my camera with me today, so I could take a picture of the view outside my window as I sit here.  It's so beautiful.  The big tree in front is all yellow and green and the tree behind it is orange.  Across the street is a landscaping supply business and their bushes and such are neatly trimmed and green and full.  In the distance are more trees visible over the roofs and the sky is a pretty blue with dark gray clouds mixing with white clouds.  I'm so lucky to  have this view.  It's just as beautiful in the spring.  and when it snows all I can see are mountains of white. (Not so crazy about that though)...  

 

I hope you all have a great weekend.  I'm getting ready to head home and I'll probably pop on here some morning this weekend as I have been too excited to get much sleep lately.  I have all these "to do" lists going on in my head.  Ta-ta for now!

 

 

 

Take a minute If you'd like - go to Rhiane's Space and wish her a Happy Birthday! 

 

 

  
Well, I keep watching the Cancun weather and it isn't looking good folks.  It has raindrops right up till Sunday so far.  Hopefully it will clear by Thursday.  I mean it's been like that for 2 weeks.  It can't rain much longer can it.  I would hate to spend my whole vacation in the bar!  LOL! Just kidding -- or am I?