An uncertain day

Having sold my Condo In PuertoVallarta.  I thought I was settled for good in Sayulita. Was not to be.
I have just come back from San Francisco CA. where I was diagnosed with ALS. . How do I feel about this diagnosis. Well not good but not as bad as one might think. The Doctors give me 2 to 5 years and at my age, likely two. My muscles will deteriorate until I cannot breathe, eat or talk without machines. Never the less I don't feel angry or why me. I am just scared. . How will this play out..... My spectacularly beautiful and wonderful home for 15 years in Sayulita, I've put up for sale. Joel and I have bought a condo on flat ground in the restaurant area of Old Town PuertoVallarta. We bought the last 2 bedroom in this new building. The Oceana.. It's the perfect location for me. No stairs and close to everything. I have been feeling the effects of this illness for about a year.. I have constant cramps in my legs. The cramps are now moving up my arms, I eventually will not have use of any of my limbs. Then what? I have the best team of Doctors I believe possible. But they are in San Francisco and I am determined to live and die in PuertoVallarta. I can still travel to SF for monitoring but for how long and then what. I already need a wheel chair for travel. So many unknowns but for sure I will eventually need constant care. Joel has committed himself to me to see this through. Joel will have to give up work to care for me. I feel worse for him than for me. He has a very successful real estate career and giving it up will be hard, I will go to San Francisco in the middle of August for a current evaluation and get more of an idea how fast the disease is progressing. I will stay with my ex.(Michael) He will take me to all Dr.Appointments and help me get around and be sure I am safe. I feel so lucky to have Joel and Michael watching over me and caring. Believe me I love them, who could have a better family. Next update after I return from San Francisco.

Sayulita Afternoon

It's a beautiful day here in Sayulita again. A wonderful breeze is blowing through the house. Joel and I are going onto 5 years together. Time is passing so quickly. Since selling my condo in Puerto Vallarta I have spent much more time here in Sayulita. The "pueblo" is a bee hive of activity with tourists and their small children everywhere. It was busy the entire summer last year.... I have reached an advanced age where living in the house is too many stairs for me. Joel and I live in the Studio. I am amazed how easy it is for us. We are considering putting in an elevator up to the upper level and moving back up there. That remains to be seen. I think this year we will spend part of the summer in Mexico City. I have leased my San Francisco flat through the summer.  I finally got rid of my Lexus and bought a Rav 4. No cache but the perfect car for here. I had cataracts removed and replaced my eye lenses this year and can actually read without glasses. Amazing!. Now if I could only hear! I have been having problems walking lately. Doctors say it is not structural. So further tests will reveal the problem. Go to San Francisco later this week for the result of tests. I have no pain walking just that
my legs don't follow. :-(( I do feel good and I am optimistic about life. Did some traveling last year.
Joel, myself and my ex went on a trip to Russia. It was truly a great experience. I recommend everyone should see Russia. St. Petersburg and Moscow have such great history's. We traveled mostly be train. They have fast trains unlike the ancient trains in the USA. Can't remember how long it has been since I blogged. Joel and I went to Cuba before Trump started closing it down again. It's like a 50's time capsule. I would not recommend anyone go there just yet! I get 4 teeth transplants later this week. I will soon be the bionic man..... I am jumping all over the place but my thoughts are not as organized as they use to be....... As you can see no real news but I am still here and functioning. Life is good.

Lazy days in Sayulita

THIS WAS WRITTEN IN FEBRUARY AND NEVER COMPLETED. IT IS OUT OF  ORDER. It's cool and a little morning overcast but breezy and every window is open. It's now mid-season and
Sayulita is alive with activity. This little town has changed from the little quiet Village of 15 years
ago. Never the less the house is quiet and away from the madness of town. The ocean is very rough
and threatening this morning. I will finish this later if ever!!! 

Sunny Day in Sayulita

It's a great day. The weather is getting hotter. Summer is just a couple of weeks away. The Jungle is becoming dry. The city is becoming quiet. Not as quiet as years past. Generally tourists drop off
in April. But they are still coming, at least until it gets very, very hot!! Air conditioner needed at night. Not much going on here with me. I am in good health. I am building a new wing on the house. 2 bedrooms and a bath. Same contractor and architect that built the house. So far it's going well. The car is finally becoming a problem. It's a 99 Lexus with 150,000 miles. It's been here in Mexico 12 years. It died in Guadalajara a month or so ago and Toyota couldn't fix it. No Lexus in Mexico. So I took it to a foreign car mechanic and he fixed it but it took quite a while. It's running fine again. That's the first real problem I've ever had with it. I think it's time for a new car. It's been extremely reliable, considering the beating it takes here in Mexico, with no real preventative maintenance. I still have made no real effort to sell the house. I basically like it here but It's more than I need. The two extra bedrooms will make it more sellable. Everybody wants a minimum of three bedrooms and 3 baths. So I will have that in the owners unit. Joel has been a great help with the construction. He has dealt with the permits etc.  I have been to California and Arizona a couple of times. I had a wonderful 80th birthday here in Sayulita. For the most part life is very quiet. Joel is anxious
to travel to the USA but a visa will be difficult unless we get a married. That's a scary word to me.
So we will see. Meanwhile life goes on......

Another day in the life

I'm here in Sayulita Mexico for the winter. Things are good. The weather is not so good today :-(( We are having stormy weather, waves crashing, wind and rain. It's very romantic but unfortunately I'm by myself today..... Joel is in Morelia and Veronica is off to Patsquaro. I am waiting for the internet guy to arrive. We have blazing fast internet here in Sayulita. A private company has installed fiber optic and I am in sight of their antenna. This is a big thing!! Telmex delivers 175 bps. Just barely enough to do anything. I didn't have much luck renting the apartment in San Francisco for the short term. I tried just before Christmas but came back here to Sayulita for the Holidays. Never like to miss the spectacular fireworks on the beach in PV. Then went back to SF and rented the apartment quickly. Timing I guess. I will be 80 this year and each time I reach a new threshold I think I'm finally old. But so many people around me are older and in great shape. So I guess I'm not THAT
old yet. When is old, old....I have a friend that is traveling around the world. I am anxious to join her for while this year. It's my goal for the year. She is just finishing Asia. Off to Africa next. I am selling my condo in PV. After commissions, an incredible high capital gain, I'll be lucky to get what I paid for it 10 years ago. Just too much trouble to keep. I am going to earnestly try harder to sell the house in Sayulita and then I plan to retire from any activity except staring at the walls (LOL) We'll see. I'm happy and in good health. the peso is at 15 to the dollar. What more could I want.

Cool breezes and the oceans roar.

It's a beautiful day here in Sayulita. Moving back into my studio apartment in Sayulita was a good move. I thought I missed the city (PV) but turns out I'm generally to lazy to go out anyway (lol) The weather has been so great this year, hey every year! The studio has far less steps and I'm slowly
shedding things not important. Far less is important these days! Soon I will only have a few old jeans and a bunch of ratty tee shirts. Perfect!! The only flaw in the summer was me backing my car into a cement post along my driveway. My car was out of commission for 3 months until it could be repaired.Things move at a slow pace here in Mexico!! Of course having a car not made or sold in Mexico didn't help. Veronica ferried me everywhere without complaint. She is a great friend. It's mid season and I am beginning to see friends plan for returning home, wherever that may be. Hard to believe another summer will end soon. My good friend Dee has left and will be going to Cambodia.  I am hopeful I can join her later in the year for a visit. This has been a wonderful summer of Music, good food and friends. Sayulita is changing drastically. Throngs of young families and surfers crowd the beach's and restaurants. Large villas are popping up on the hillsides. Still resisting large hotels and high rises it retains its small Mexican village feel. Neighbors and I have gotten together and trimmed trees this year so that my view is more awesome then ever.  I have spent more time down on the beach this year than usual. Not sunning just mesmerized by the ocean. Maybe I will go to La Playa today to watch the sunset, listen to Cuban music and have a mojito. Maybe not, there is always manana......

Sayulita Days

It's been beautiful here today (everyday!) The ocean is so calm. I write this blog so seldom that I need to explain that I moved back here to Sayulita from PV  I plan to spend my winters here from now on. I have had a spectacular two weeks. I visited a small town in Michoacan to see my friend Joel. I went with 4 other guys, young entrepreneurs from the US living in PV. They each have their own start-up companies and I met them through Joel who works with them. Joel is quite phenomenal having come from Coahuyana and a poor family with 7 siblings. The guys mainly went to look at the most beautiful beach I have seen, totally unspoiled. They are working with some guy who owns much of it and wants to develop it. Gay people are totally accepted in Coahuyana, a little shocking at how accepted. Joel played in a soccer tournament with a gay team. Nelly queens and all. There is a gay bar on the town square (OMG) Some drag queen sang a Donna Summers tune on a stage and the straight crowd went wild. The MC for the contest for King and Queen of Coahuyana was openly gay and funny. I went to a cock fight, drank a yucca milk shake and went to the most dangerous and stupendous fireworks I have ever seen. This town only has a population of aprox 3500 and not a white face to be seen, and they sure have fun!! So all in all it was quite a trip. Here in San Pancho one of the founders and a producer of Cirque du Soleil lives. He organized and put together a show with all the school children of San Pancho. It was truly heartwarming (a word I never use!) and a real first class production. I am always amazed at the people that have settled in San Pancho. I am looking forward to summer and San Francisco. Although I am not as anxious to leave here as I have been in the past, but when it gets hot that will change.

A foggy day in San Francisco, CA

It's turning fall here and I am beginning to think about returning to Mexico for the winter. I have enjoyed San Francisco so much this summer I thought I would never want to leave. The very first cold day and I want to leave NOW (lol) In some ways it was a mixed summer. I missed my class reunion (60yrs!!) because of my health. Also I was not up to joining Veronica in Europe. I feel good now and had a nice visit in Bend Oregon with my brother and his wife Dana. So life is good. I see my life changing and I am slipping into old age without any regret or unhappiness. to be continued.....

Just another great day!

I am here in Sayulita Mexico. It's unusual for me to be here at this time of the year. Usually I think it is too hot but this year I have hung around and I have enjoyed the heat sticking to me along with my clothes. I am using the outdoor jacuzzi (sans heat) to cool off. The house here is situated and built to take advantage of the ocean breezes so pretty nice.  Drove down to Oaxaca
with my friend Veronica and spent about 3 weeks there. It was a very exciting adventure and drive. Oaxaca is a very large city, but with a very exciting history and population. Of all the cities I have been in Mexico I think I like Oaxaca the best. It seems many of the crafts of Mexico come from the Oaxaca and surrounding areas. The weather is also very pleasant. Lots of afternoon rains and overcast days taking the edge off the heat. It is not humid so it can be very comfortable and a nice refuge from Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita in the summer. I am here in Sayulita to get the house ready for the summer rains. I will be living in Puerto Vallarta again when I return from the US next season. I will leave for the US probably in a couple of weeks. I enjoy Sayulita but prefer to live in Puerto Vallarta. More variety of things to do and eat!! The weather is so great today. Wonderful breeze blowing through the house. Never the less I look forward to getting back to San Francisco.

A typical day in Puerto Vallarta

Got up late this beautiful bright sunny morning. I spent all night watching a netfilx series House of Cards on my iphone. Some of these series on Netflix are addicting and I watch an entire season in a night. I have been here in Mexico since November but have traveled to the USA a couple times. I am pretty much torn between San Francisco and Puerto Vallarta, fortunately I don't have to choose I can enjoy them both. Soon it will be Semana Santa here in Mexico and the streets will be filled with festivities celebrating the The Last Days of Christ. It starts the March 25, and goes through Easter Sunday. I confine myself to mainly here in old town. I've seen all the Virgin Marys I can stand for this lifetime. They will be parading them every night down in the main street. One good thing is there will be lots of good food being sold on the plaza. Living here in Puerto Vallarta has proved to be more fun than Sayulita. I need now to find a decent place to live. My little condo here isn't cutting it. I want to see the ocean when I open my eyes in the morning. I need to go to L.A. in a few days to see my grandson. I always enjoy L.A. Right now I guess I will take a walk down the beach and get a
yogurt. All is well :-))

What a day....

It's Labor Day and the city is bustling with tourists. I went to the Dolores park today on my daily walk. It was crowded with what the city is all about, diversity. The gays holding the high ground of the park, sunning and laughing and having a carefree good time. Further down the park in the newly estabilshed childrens play area, the sounds of screeching children running and playing. Lower yet down the park are the straights having their picnics and lots of live good music. Dogs, dogs everywhere all just enjoying the nice weather. On my way back I wanted a Starbucks Iced Moca but they are closed for remodeling. So I went to Phil Z's. Holy s--t, the coffe must have coke or meth or something in it, I have been wired ever since. No wonder it's so popular..........The streets around the Castro are full of foreign tourists. It seems most are French. I was dragged by Veronica to the Paul Gaultier exhibit at the Legion of Honor a couple of weeks ago. I was blown away at how exciting it was. I was mesmerized by the live talking robots. I literally couldn't be sure which were live and which were robots. Turns out all models were robots. Some times it's good to expand your horizons. Veronica and friends keep me out there when I would more likely be inclined to sit at home or go out to see an occasional Super hero movie..Starting to think about the return to Sayulita, Mexico for the coming winter. It's amazing, I am always ready to return to San Franciso and equally ready to go back to Mexico when the seasons change. The spell checks not working, bummer. Life is tough (LOL)

San francisco days

I have been home from Mexico now for nearly 2 months and have had few thoughts of Mexico. That will change as the weather gets cooler (LOL) So many things to do and see in San Francisco. I have enjoyed again the food, where else can you get chocolate covered licorice (yummy yummy)  I have taken to cooking and just enjoying the apartment. As I get older I tend to want to stay in more. I sold my car for lack of use so now I have to look for ways to entertain myself within the confines of the city. Yesterday I went to the Mission Bay block party. There was lots of live entertainment with a full free outdoor circus. The circus was so creative in such a small venue. The full range, acrobats, tightrope walkers, clowns, etc. The weather was perfect and the local food was sooo good. I  saw Batman on Saturday. Great entertainment! So nasty the killings in Colorado :-((  My health is good but it turns out I have a incurable condition with my lungs. Veronica came up to SF to take me to the doctors a couple of weeks ago for a bronchoscopy. Turns out I have lung scaring from long ago that bacteria keeps attacking. It has happened 4 times since last Thanksgiving, each time requiring antibiotics. As long as I am on antibiotics I'm OK. More later on this.  As you can see not much going on in my life at the moment and I kinda like it that way!

Another day in Puerto Vallarta

I'm still in Puerto Vallarta. It's been a wonderful couple of months. I don't seem to miss my house in Sayulita much. So many things going on here. Semana Santa came and went. I pretty much hid out in the house and avoided the crush of people. Literally a sea of people on the Malecon and on the beaches. The World Economic Forum was held here and played havoc on the city. Navy destroyers sitting out in the water. Gun carrying soldiers everywhere, helicopters over head and the south end of the Malacon closed to everyone. A great stage was built on the Malecon and great performances were given and all off limits to the likes of me and anyone else, strictly a private party. The weather is getting warmer and I'm thinking more of leaving soon for San Francisco but who knows I might spend the summer here in PV watching the sun set while soaking in the pool. Life is good......

Another day in Puerto Vallarta

I have been staying in my PV condo for the last 3 weeks. It's so much different from the house in Sayulita. I love it here!!  Everything is within walking distance and mucho restaurants of all sizes. I thought I would just sneak in and spend a quiet month here but so many of the PV gang are still hanging around (LOL) that already I have more social life than I expected. Julia, from San Pancho stayed the night last weekend and we went together to the yearly neighborhood party on the roof of the condo. The entire neighborhood is gringo. I guess that's why they call it Gringo Gulch! Hector from Sayulita is coming for a night this weekend. I walk along the newly redone Malicon (beautiful, think Miami) everynight. Lots of entainment. I looked at a new Condo being built on the water just above the beach at the blue chairs (a local term for Gay Beach) literally steps to the beach and right in the Zona Romantica. I am so tempted to buy but I already own 3 properties in Mexico. I think something has to go before I buy something more :-((  I don't want to put all my huevos in one Mexico!! This is going to be short as I have to go to the Airport and pick up Veronica who is returning from 2 weeks in San Diego. The weather has been somewhat cooler this year. Many overcast days and some rain but still warm and nice. Perfectly clear warm day today......

Not just another day.

Took my walk early this morning into town. Past the primary school with hordes of children being dropped off by their parents. Loads of pickup trucks loaded with workers going to the various building projects here. This little town is very much alive......It's been a little muggy lately. Veronica (Gypsy Vero) is fully moved in downstairs. It appears she brought an entire house hold of goods, she wants to feel at home, so she brought it with her! It's a pleasure to have her here. She went to the Penita market and over to Rincon Guayabitas today, taking her friend Fred with her. He is visiting from Phoenix. We all, including Julia, went out to Don Pato's ( open mic)  night before last and I spent yesterday and today recouping. 4 cubre libras for me.....Today I caught iguanas fornicating  on the lot next to mine, they have no shame (picture enclosed) look close you will see them. A little green female and a large gold male on top. I have been throwing my banana peels and anything bio degradable on the lot next door, hmm, maybe I should stop, ya think!, I might attract a Boa or something worse than iguanas. Veronica saw a good size snake on the road the other night, OMG can you imagine the horror (LOL). We do live in a jungle. The sun is setting now and is so beautiful. I hate to keep saying that but It's true.  The variety of food here in Sayulita has improved dramatically in the last couple of years. Tomorrow I and the usual suspects are going to Don Chow's for Chinese and then somewhere to hear Gino play. Gino is a local gringo that plays somewhere almost every night. He is a favorite of Veronica's so we are all trotted out occasionally to see him. Veronica is kinda the ring leader. She who must be obeyed.... Enough of this drivel.....I wish everyone a very happy 2012

Another great day

The shrimp boats are out in the water and surfers are bobbing around and waiting for the next big one. The weather is a little overcast but warm and nice. Lots of activity around. Fernando is painting the rails on the deck and Angeles is cleaning the kitchen after my spurt of cooking yesterday. I made oatmeal cookies, and fried some chicken. I have started cooking more since I got back from San Francisco after Thanksgiving. I guess I realize how much I miss USA food. So I am generating my own. Hector called from Mexico City and he is coming back to Sayulita Tuesday, good news. Today was my birthday and received lots of Happy Birthday wishes. Not going out for a dinner tonight with friends as I still am a little under the weather. A little chest infection and some antibiotics, and I'm feeling better. My friend Dee called to say she is leaving Belize and going to the oil fields of N.Dakota. She worked in the oil fields of Alaska and can drive big rigs. She is following the money, she's got gumption as Grandma Moody use to say. My friend Veronica is gallivanting all around S. California and plans to arrive here in January when she will rent my Studio. I picked up Julia at the airport the other day so the old Riviera Nayarit gang is slowing returning.  Me I am just sitting around enjoying the beautiful weather. Today I guess I will study some Spanish and catch up on the political scene.

A whale of a day

Back in Sayulita after a quick Thanksgiving in San Francisco. It was a short trip encompassing some business, some pleasure. My brother and his wife came to SF for dinner. It was very nice. :-)) The weather is again perfect with the ocean being quite rough and noisy last night. The birds are in full noise, large yellow, blue and of coarse  the Chacalacka's. (hehe) I'm sure I spelled that wrong. Of course the little bugs are in full force too! They come in too many sizes, shapes and colors to even begin to describe. My Architect and friend Hector is in Mexico getting ready for surgery. He had a small cancerous growth on his ear. He says it's cold in Mexico City!  Went to Mega and Wal-mart  (yes we have both within 20 minutes) today with my renters, Bic and Roni, looking for decent binoculars for whale watching. We didn't find any :-(( The whales are out there, I saw a spout about 20 minutes ago. I got this nasty cold from jumping to San Francisco and back to Sayulita in 5 days. So this blog may be a little blah, like I feel today. But I don't want to lose my blog space so I have to put something here......the sun is about to set, what a sight!!  Hasta luego amigos.

A new season a new day

Here I am once again in Sayulita.  When I get here it's always so beautiful. That humid air I feel when I get off the plane says hey we're back in the jungle...my personal jungle is so green and full of birds etc. An architect is building a house adjacent to mine. She said my jungle was gorgeous and hoped I would never destroy it. Well I am one of the few that built my house without decimating the landscape first. Like she did!! The city had a very slow summer and the locals for once are hot for work. Americans are afraid of Mexico, they don't want to come here, hmmm I don't want to go to Oakland, California for fear for my life. Parts of San Francisco aren't that safe either. I guess it's just a mind set. The house fared well as the summer was mild. Fernando was on top of everything. My friends and neighbors are filtering in. Lots of welcome back dinners' and after noon beers at the beach. It's hard to be a recluse. I am sitting here with every window open and enjoying a nice breeze off the ocean. Netflix streaming has come to Mexico, awesome, best new thing so far this year......our own Pemex should be open soon as well. Could things be better??

Carmel Valley Weekend

Drove to Carmel Valley to visit my friend Gypsy Vero for the weekend. She has a lovely little private home in the woods on a mountain side. She had a little gathering of friends. Poets, Writers, Artists of all sorts, neighbors, old friends and the such. We sat on the deck and insulted one another with relish and enjoyed it immensely. V cooked all the food. It was a gourmet delight :-))   My brother Jimmy and his wife Dana were there. They joined right in. Dana is photo buff so she took many pictures. My brother and Dana arrived in Carmel Valley in an RV. He rented it and drove from Sacramento to see if this was a viable way to travel. It was a nifty (that is a 50's term) van. Quite not what I expected. Lots of space, great layout and nicely decorated, very tasteful.(LOL) And the cat loved it! So a good time was had by all. I am back here in San Francisco starting to pack up to return to Sayulita, Mexico. It's been a busy summer, and over all too soon. I am a little sad to leave SF but I will get into the swing of things quickly in Sayulita. All my Sayulita friends will be returning from all over the USA for winter on the Nayarit Riviera.....  I think I have my San Francisco apartment leased for the winter months. I will know tomorrow, if so I will need to get out of here and return home to Sayulita very soon! Adios San Francisco,  Bienvenido Mexico.

A foggy day in San Francisco

I have been back from Sayulita, Mexico about a month now. The weather has been good until this week, it has been miserable. Cold, windy, foggy, drizzly etc. It's good tho to be back. My friend Gypsy Vero (see her blog) from Carmel Valley visited along with Fred from Arizona. We went to see the Picasso exhibit at the De Young and out for Dim Sum. I miss the food when I am in Mexico. Since I have been back I have had good ole American  food, along with  Indian, Italian, Chinese, Thai, etc and I haven't even left the neighborhood. A new large whole foods like store (Mollie Stone) opened within a block, so now I bop down for all my organic foods, yeah like I'm an organic food nut (LOL) besides I can't afford 2.69 for my Greek yogurts. I can get the same at the mission Asian markets for 1.09. Am I getting cheap in my old age? But hey convenience is worth something, I think.... I am always bitching about the prices in Mexico but the prices here are absolutely astounding. I got my car washed down the block and it was 21 bucks, only 10 bucks last year. Hey there is inflation going on. The dishwasher went out yesterday and I was complaining how it's practically new, then I checked the warranty and its 6 years old, where has the time gone, but still I would expect at least 10 years on appliances. Things are good here and it is nice to be back.......