tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33269942821193685962012-01-27T20:19:30.120-07:00Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.comBlogger9741100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-56715572019527809492012-01-27T08:30:00.000-07:002012-01-27T08:30:26.455-07:00

 A friend's in town and we've been having a high old time sightseeing.  We've fired up the old red pickup and every day's a new roadshow adventure.  Before we take off this morning for another fun-filled day, here's a glimpse of yesterday's fun.

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I think I've mentioned it before, but Bally Hoo's one of our favorite places to eat on Isla Mujeres.  The food's great, and the views from the table are even better, so what's not to love!  Here's a sampling of Bally Hoo views and dishes. The view from our favorite table. Fish and Chips Mexicana Baguette Breakfast plate including

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Today looks like another beautiful day in Arizona!  Most of our days on Isla Mujeres in November/December were also beautiful, so we took lots of neighborhood walks.  Here are a few more snapshots from the colonias. This corner tienda got a fresh coat of paint while we were on Isla! Oscar's El Varadero was just a few blocks north on Medina. Wonder what this

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-54919498868424250292012-01-20T10:06:00.000-07:002012-01-22T15:47:27.757-07:00

During our November/December trip to Isla Mujeres, Chedraui opened its new superstore on the island.  From the minute we arrived, all the buzz was about the approaching opening of the store.    One morning in early December when we were headed to the beach, we ran into our neighbors from the condo above us down on the corner.  They were walking to Chedraui because they'd heard by way of the

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-18526591954904045442012-01-19T10:32:00.000-07:002012-01-19T10:34:33.543-07:00

Last summer a friend called and asked me to come look at a piece of furniture she needed to get rid of quickly. She took me to one of the back bedrooms and showed me an old family desk that she'd kept through the years.  It was shockingly ugly with some kind of murky finish from one of those antiquing kits that people used in the 70's.   Truthfully, I had no interest in it but didn't want to

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-4339276987299623432012-01-17T10:26:00.000-07:002012-01-17T10:29:53.515-07:00

Over the past few years, the malecon on the eastern side of Isla Mujeres has been transformed into an art gallery.  Here are some recent shots from December. The walls have a fishy theme! I cut off the name under this bust, so I'm not sure who he is!  He's very distinguished! More sea life murals! A vendor displays his wares on the seawall. Men at work!  I'm not sure

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That would be the view from the left side of the taxi. Fooled ya! I bet you thought I was going to go off on one of my liberal rants. Recently when we were on Isla Mujeres, I turned on my Flip video camera in the taxi on the ride home from the beach. Unfortunately, I was sitting on the left side of the car, so I didn't get any video of the water or the boats on the right side.  But here's

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We spent a lot of time this trip walking the streets of the various colonias of Isla Mujeres.  One colonia runs into the other, and I don't know where Lol Beh ends and Miraflores begins.  And I have no clue if I'm in La Gloria or Canotal (or if I spelled any of those correctly), but I bet if a cab dropped me off on a random street, I'd know how to get where I was going!  Here are some photos

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No, on the afternoon of Thursday, December 8, we didn't take a walk in the rain.   We decided to walk to the Soggy Peso for one of those Soggy Cheeseburgers in Paradise!  We figured the walk might help burn off some of the burger. I snapped some photos along Medina as we were walking north from our location mid-island. Another iguana crossing sign in front of the orange Navy base.  I call it

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I took this video on Playa Norte in late November. Listen carefully and you can hear my friend, Coco Man, coming down the beach before you see him. Mama mia, mama mia, coconuts! Hola amigo! Coconuts, coconuts!  We've had a special relationship for years.  A friend of mine used to make a cat yowling sound when he'd pass on the beach and Coco Man would just laugh.  Later, when I'd be on the

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-62510197753840298622012-01-09T16:30:00.000-07:002012-01-09T16:59:29.822-07:00

You know how I love a good clothesline!  I think I can attribute that fascination to the lack of anything resembling that kind of local color at home!  We live in one of those homogenized white bread HOA neighborhoods (which are very hard to escape in the Phoenix area) where clotheslines are strictly forbidden. A rather boring world where petty people obsess and pick because a neighbor has pesky

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-76328754468848399272012-01-08T07:30:00.001-07:002012-01-08T09:54:06.839-07:00

I didn't realize it until this morning, but Saturday was all about Hawaii. We started out at a movie I'd been wanting to see -- The Descendants starring George Clooney. It was a tearjerker, but included scenes from Hanalei, Kauai, one of my all-time favorite beach destinations.  Click here for the movie trailer. After blowing my nose and drying my eyes (By the way, LOVED the movie!), we headed

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One evening as we were cruising down Hidalgo, a girl hung over the balcony at what I thought was a cantina appealing to Craig and our male friend to come up.  Yes, I'd heard about that cantina, but the female employees had never hung over the railing and talked to us before!  I passed it off on the bad economy. The next morning, we were having breakfast at Barlito directly across the street

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-78468902778245029732012-01-03T23:00:00.000-07:002012-01-04T05:53:07.864-07:00

We spent a lot of time along Medina this trip.  When Craig was scuba diving, I'd sit in my chair  under the palms along the malecon waiting for him to return.  When Playa Norte was too windy, we'd lounge on the beach across from Posada del Mar waiting for the sunset.  And when we needed a cab home, we'd walk down Medina to catch one to the colonias.   Along the way, I snapped a lot of photos.

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-51489648771562276172012-01-02T16:42:00.001-07:002012-01-02T16:45:12.339-07:00

With sunny days and highs in the 70's right now, Arizona's almost perfect!   Well . . . perfect except for the fact that's there's no ocean and no beach!  So maybe if I sit on the patio and put on some of my favorite palapa bar music, I can just shut my eyes and dream it. This was my favorite spot on Playa Norte.  Shady palms and a log to lean back on! Tarzan rents the umbrellas

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-7346125387471179152011-12-31T09:17:00.000-07:002011-12-31T09:17:36.640-07:00

There will be no list of New Year's resolutions for 2012!  Mine are always the same.  I usually struggle to keep them for the month of January, then fall off the wagon and roll down the hill. So instead of focusing on a list of tasks to be accomplished in 2012, maybe I should just focus on the many things in my life I'm content with right now.  I feel lucky!    Like Mary Chapin Carpenter (click

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-23045121188215844362011-12-28T20:41:00.000-07:002011-12-28T20:41:02.965-07:00

As some of you may know, Craig completed his Open Water Dive Certification on Isla Mujeres in December. After checking around, Craig chose to use Gilberto at Carey Dive Shop. Gilberto came highly recommended by a friend on the island, and Craig couldn't have been more pleased with his experience. If any of you are looking for diving instruction or just an Isla shop to dive with, Craig

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Sometimes I take living in Arizona for granted, but yesterday on Christmas Day while I was basking in the warm sun on a park bench watching hummingbirds hit the geraniums and petunias in the flower planters, I remembered family and friends were probably shivering in cold and snow back home in the Midwest.  As a good friend used to always say when we'd get together for holiday dinners on the

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-91672361539931210142011-12-25T10:00:00.000-07:002011-12-25T10:00:00.613-07:00

While I'm waiting to baste my ham once again with Meyer's Dark Rum, I thought I'd post a couple of videos from earlier this month on Isla.   Early December was hopping with action on the streets and in the zocalo.  Processions walked through the streets accompanied by bands or mariachis, locals danced in the square in traditional costumes, the church held first communions for girls and boys, and

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-87959638608385100782011-12-22T21:30:00.000-07:002011-12-22T20:43:44.263-07:00

I've heard about Fredy's baked shrimp on message boards for years, but somehow I'd never tried it! This trip, we met our favorite Canadians one Sunday night at Fredy's, and I ordered the baked shrimp.  OMG!  Everyone else at the table insisted on Fredy's signature pork chop, but they were all clamoring for samples of the baked shrimp.  Unfortunately, we were having so much fun, I forgot to take

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-48614997498378737212011-12-21T07:00:00.000-07:002011-12-21T12:02:09.429-07:00

  Sometimes I wonder if the food on Isla Mujeres really tastes that good, or if our taste buds are enhanced due to the fact that we're in paradise?  Well -- Qubano is definitely one restaurant on Isla Mujeres where the food is amazingly better than any of the similar offerings at home!  This trip we only managed to visit Qubano twice, but both times were simply delicious! Yum!

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-27290105147114095302011-12-20T09:07:00.000-07:002011-12-20T09:07:51.007-07:00

Feliz Navidad 2011 - making a free slideshow

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-90485772777196475602011-12-18T08:16:00.000-07:002011-12-18T08:16:40.064-07:00

 

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-49814907458017782562011-12-17T10:16:00.000-07:002011-12-17T10:16:29.663-07:00

Isla Mujeres seems to be an epicenter for crazy cars.  Whether it's invention born out of necessity, or just island flair, the island's a great place to snap photos of the many ways motors can be attached to wheels to provide transportation.  My all-time favorite was one I spotted in 2005 and haven't seen since.  A rather large man with long locks invented his own scooter made from a

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In early December, we started noticing the local kids out on Hidalgo with their decorated tree branches.   La Rama had begun!  The tradition puzzles me since I'm not fluent in Spanish, but basically it consists of kids decorating small Christmas trees or branches with tinsel and ornaments and singing a song for pesos.  I found a translation of the song online.  The La Rama verses go something

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 Actually, I wish it was Magic Monday so Scotty would beam me up and whisk me home.  It's a travel day and I don't look forward to it.  The party's over and it's time to go home.  I snapped photos all over the island yesterday, so I'll post a few before I start packing.    Need Nativity parts? We fear his fate is Christmas goose! Tiny Hidalgo table. Don't foul

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-86289842817568933582011-12-11T00:00:00.000-07:002011-12-11T05:46:20.029-07:00

 The mail must go through! One of my favorite Juarez doors. Saturday was a beautiful day at Avalon Cove. Just noticed this wreath today.  Fountain at Maria del Mar.  Another favorite Juarez door. View of the Avalon bridge.

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-84670964798954570442011-12-10T08:13:00.001-07:002011-12-10T08:28:32.549-07:00

I'm looking out my window and this could be a fantastic beach day!  I was getting a little nutty after three more Norte days.  Keep your fingers crossed because I need a good swim before I leave for home! Be it ever so humble, it's got a lot of Christmas spirit! Who can resist a lavender door! Gorgeous blooms! My favorite neighborhood casa!  Can I have the

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-71696131476081707662011-12-09T06:09:00.001-07:002011-12-09T07:43:08.116-07:00

Only a few more days left of our month on Isla, so I thought I'd just post a few quick photos. I'm hoping the wind will die down a bit so we can spend some time on the beach today!

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-71211107469464488192011-12-08T06:02:00.001-07:002011-12-08T06:33:27.079-07:00

We've been wanting to eat at Pita Amore since last June, but out of sight, out of mind. And it seemed like whenever we thought about dining there, it was the wrong day or the wrong time.  Here's Craig posing in front back in June.  Its location is one of my favorite old buildings on the island, back on Guerrero just north of the square and supermercado.  And here's Pita Amore all lit

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Like Feliz Navidad! Christmas decorations are springing up all over the island, and religious processions go to and from the church daily. If you blink, you miss something! It's a great time of year to be on Isla!

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Sunday morning on our walk, we heard a familiar cry -- ta-ma-leeees -- ta-ma-leeees.  I'd been wanting to try a tamale ever since we arrived this trip, so curiosity got the best of me.  The guy had stopped his trike to sell to another man, so we rushed over to investigate. He spoke no English, we speak very little Spanish, so we indicated dos and he told us veinte.  And I stepped in with the

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I'm always trying to sneak photos of beach vendors, and the women who sell the Guatemalan handicrafts on Playa Norte are my favorite subjects. While visiting friends at their beach location at Maria del Mar yesterday, I finally decided to bite the bullet.  I dread haggling over price, but that seemed the best way to buy a purse I'd been wanting

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-53174614293824530832011-12-04T00:00:00.000-07:002011-12-03T23:11:55.371-07:00

Now appearing live on Hidalgo -- it's Mini Hula Hoop Girl!  She's adorable!

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Yesterday was Friday, so we headed over to The Soggy Peso in late afternoon for a plate of crispy beef tacos.  In the middle of all the frivolity, Craig turned to me and demanded (yes, he's a very demanding man) that I get photos of the sunset.  Actually, I'm very glad he pointed it out because it was a beauty!   And by the way, the crispy beef tacos were not soggy -- they were

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-66372233794180128512011-12-01T22:29:00.000-07:002011-12-02T08:28:03.787-07:00

It all started when Craig and I noticed these posters cropping up all over the island on utility poles.  Los Enanitos Toreros de Mexico.  Before long, a large group of us had plans to meet at the Plaza de Toros on Tuesday afternoon to see the bullfighters of small stature.  After all, how many times would we have the opportunity to view an event like that!  We decided we'd better go

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-14709497203334566362011-11-30T06:00:00.000-07:002011-11-29T22:24:37.893-07:00

 Okay, not to complain, but enough is enough!  Norte go away!  Tuesday was another no beach day, but we still managed to wedge in a full day of fun.  Here are some Tuesday highlights!   How cold is it, you ask?  Pitbulls in La Gloria are wearing t-shirts!   We walked all the way into town for lunch today.  Somewhere out there, we passed Bronco's infamous piano bar.  I had to snap a

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-90911275799555413672011-11-29T09:00:00.000-07:002011-11-29T08:06:11.276-07:00

What do you do on a Norte day when the cool wind and waves are a bit much for lounging at the beach?  Our day turned into one long progressive meal.  After cabbing into town, we headed to the market for some Huevos Mexicana. The market's very close to some good sea glass hunting, so our next stop was down below the malecon. Strolling back through town, I noticed Mogogua and

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 I've heard this is one of the oldest buildings on the island, but the paint is always fresh! Kitty has a wonderful lounge chair.  I bet she's not paying 100 pesos!    Aloha!  Prisma has a fleet of cute new carts. Dr. Simi doing meet and greet at Senor Frog's? Great slogan!  Where can I find the license plate?   That's amore!    My favorite gate

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 I have to admit, living in the colonias this trip has been a big learning curve.  We've stayed away from El Centro many times, but usually on the water skirting the edge. This trip, we're right smack dab in the middle. For example, last night I laid in bed listening to a street of barking dogs, music and a loudspeaker from a beach club out on the bayside, a motorcycle

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Friday morning on the way to our secret sea glass hunting beach, we came across a work in progress.  We think it's a bullring for an event this next week. We suspect that because we've been seeing these posters all over town!   It translates to dwarf bullfighters of  Mexico (not exactly P.C. terminology N.O.B.).  Comic bullfighting with matadors of very short stature?   I'm

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-33119441623757087862011-11-25T08:00:00.001-07:002011-11-25T08:58:07.034-07:00

Thursday morning while I waited for Craig to get back from his dive, I snapped a few photos of the boats on Medina.  After sharing a panini at Barlito, we headed to Playa Norte.  I absolutely had to try out my new beach chair purchased at Costco in Cancun on Wednesday.  It's so comfortable!  We parked our gear under the palms in the usual spot at the west end of Maria del Mar.

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What a fantastic way to spend Thanksgiving Day!  Craig completed his open water dive certification today, and I lazed the day away in my beach chair on Playa Norte.  In another hour, we'll head into town to eat our Thanksgiving dinner at Jax.  Since we ate a seafood feast in Bucerias last Thanksgiving and had ham for Christmas, I'm overdue for that plate of turkey and fixin's!   After spending

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I got a little bored last night with no internet and made a slideshow with some of the photos I've taken so far. I'm back online (but I'm guessing it may not last).

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-49532177548524939832011-11-22T07:00:00.000-07:002011-11-22T06:03:01.388-07:00

Okay, I know the guy probably knows what he's doing, but it just looked a little risky.  Ha!  If I saw this at home, I'd dial 911.  : )

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-51707029526655021332011-11-21T12:30:00.000-07:002011-11-22T06:03:30.443-07:00

Returning from a long morning walk a few days ago, we noticed this beautiful pink bird next to the walkway across Salina Grande.  I literally gasped when I saw it! I was going to ask for help identifying this gorgeous bird, but this weekend we noticed a display in the zocalo set up in conjunction with the Caribbean Festival.  The paper maiche version of the real thing was displayed. 

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-24722721763006594782011-11-20T17:56:00.001-07:002011-11-20T18:17:53.628-07:00

One of my favorite breakfasts on Isla Mujeres is the BLT Baguette at Bally Hoo.   They add avocado for me and it is so good!  Friday morning after his first open water dive, Craig was famished, so we met on Medina and headed to Bally Hoo.The sandwich tasted wonderful.  We were sitting there enjoying the beautiful morning, watching the fishing boats.  Somewhere in the second half of the

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-52218518596914706242011-11-17T05:31:00.001-07:002011-11-17T05:46:19.471-07:00

Watch out for the happy crabs! From the tiny Scooter Store? Creepy!  Speeding iguanas!  Please take notice!  For all you mermaids who need your scales trimmed. Bringing in the conch.

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-52774570147812876192011-11-15T22:29:00.001-07:002011-11-15T22:51:16.571-07:00

It was a beautiful first day on Isla!  After waiting in the longest immigration and customs lines I've seen at Cancun airport, we finally arrived on Isla and quickly settled in.  Once we landed on the S.S. Ultramar, life was todo bien!  This morning after walking the long loop around Punta Sur and eating lunch at Bally Hoo with a friend, Craig and I threw down towels on Playa

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-8901336623606195472011-11-13T20:00:00.000-07:002011-11-13T20:15:26.766-07:00

We'll be up early tomorrow morning, and hopefully back on the island by early evening! We're packed and ready to go. Here's a rerun from June! Isla Mujeres June 2011 - slideshow dvd (To hear the music, scroll over the bottom left side of the slideshow and click on the mute slash.)

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-15280178584088635182011-11-10T07:35:00.001-07:002011-11-10T07:50:43.961-07:00

It's time to switch gears and get back into Isla mode. After a morning appointment and some errands, I must start throwing some clothes in piles and deciding what to pack for our upcoming trip!   Only a few more sleeps at home left.  Here are some favorite photos from our happy place -- Isla Mujeres!

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-26024004324532351112011-11-08T20:04:00.000-07:002011-11-08T20:11:18.230-07:00

Craig and I have been trying to get in better shape lately with long morning walks and bike rides, so when we were in Sedona, we decided to take a little hike in the Bell Rock area. The plan was to limit the walk/hike to about an hour since I was feeling a little punk. We planned to pick up a local trail map on our way out of the hotel, but the concierge had them under lock and key and we

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-73373426819577315102011-11-07T09:24:00.004-07:002011-11-07T09:30:17.590-07:00

A post this last week on Notes from Paradise explained all about hermit crabs. I had no idea! By the way, if you haven't bookmarked this blog, you need to! Lynda's blog is listed on my sidebar, or you can click on this link: http://lynda-notesfromparadise.blogspot.com/2011/11/what-heck-is-that.html. The post made me wonder if a video I took in June of a hermit crab on the pool ledge at Luna

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-53180279923068237852011-11-05T07:49:00.002-07:002011-11-05T07:49:53.524-07:00

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-90005505086685340262011-11-04T08:10:00.000-07:002011-11-04T08:10:11.715-07:00

Okay, that title's a little misleading, but we'll see how many hits this post gets!  As always, one of the highlights of our road trip to the Sedona area was the food.  We found the coolest place to eat in Jerome, Arizona on our trip.   The Mile High Club! The Mile High Club, located in an historic building in downtown Jerome, features a retro airline theme.  Craig and I both

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-1389715017714118862011-11-03T19:08:00.000-07:002011-11-03T19:08:57.795-07:00

I'm so excited!  I finally figured out the problem with my slow blog page.  Maybe it wasn't painful for readers, but I could barely scroll down the page. I took Ann's advice and switched to Firefox.  It's a miracle!       This whirligig sculpture with the majestic Red Rocks in the background is my fave! The Big Clucker! A way out West!   I thought for sure I was

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-32707648062361185792011-11-02T14:19:00.001-07:002011-11-02T16:08:01.558-07:00

We've spent the last two days preparing for a roadtrip to the Midwest.  It was not a journey we wanted to make right now, but something cropped up last minute that required our presence in Kansas.  Specifically, there were buyers for my mother's house and it needed to be cleaned out pronto.  I was planning on switching my blog header to the vintage red Arizona truck and surprising blog readers

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-43859368002590028382011-11-01T08:48:00.000-07:002011-11-01T08:48:50.858-07:00

Perfect name for some houses. Laughing Pumpkins! Wish I could just pick up one of each! Nothing says Southwest like strings of peppers.     Just what every home needs.  A buffalo horn?

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-58782142496440188332011-10-31T08:55:00.001-07:002011-10-31T10:56:34.948-07:00

This morning, I got this message when I signed in on Blogger --Your browser is no longer supported by Blogger. Some parts of Blogger will not work and you may experience problems.  If you are having problems, try Google Chrome.   So evidently I was right -- Blogger did not like Internet Explorer 9.0.  Or maybe the notice was just a tricky warning generated by cookies? Since friends have suggested

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-48014502951448510672011-10-29T16:38:00.000-07:002011-10-29T16:38:45.487-07:00

It's been the week of computer glitches. First it was AOL email. Internet Explorer kept shutting down my AOL email. Since I'm a techno-genius (joke!), I just took a flying leap and upgraded to IE 9.0 in hopes that a newer version would cure the AOL fiasco. Nope! After a suggestion from a friend (thanks Frank!), I was able to follow instructions off the web and change my Internet Explorer

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-4428448555604414142011-10-28T18:55:00.000-07:002011-10-28T18:55:25.148-07:00

I wonder if I'm in Mexico!

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-58461127694876822232011-10-26T08:05:00.003-07:002011-10-26T08:14:49.264-07:00

The current hurricane has given me a few flashbacks about my little encounter a few years ago. I'm hoping Rina turns out much like Ida -- a fizzler. Best wishes to my favorite little island. I'm extremely impressed with the efficiency of this new administration and all the organization and prep that's taking place. Let's just hope it was all for naught and this Bad Girl turns out to be a

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-36978655020505062842011-10-25T06:00:00.000-07:002011-10-24T22:11:57.345-07:00

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-61377719133787646772011-10-23T21:35:00.007-07:002011-10-24T14:24:13.854-07:00

Tlaquepaque, in Sedona, may just be one of the most beautiful shopping areas I've ever wandered through. Built in the 70's, the info says it's patterned after a traditional Mexican village, but I can't say I've ever been in a village that looks quite like it. (Maybe I need to travel to more Mexican villages!) The merchandise tends to be quite pricey, but it's a gorgeous place to stroll, take

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-66717636037513871162011-10-22T11:00:00.000-07:002011-10-22T11:28:46.274-07:00

In Sedona this week, we visited one of our favorite shops while we were waiting to check into our hotel. The shop meanders forever, and back in a little corner, they have the most amazing rustic greenhouse room filled with succulents and cacti in interesting little pots. I wish I had a room like this in my house!I have a collection of interesting antique art pottery packed away in boxes in my

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-63868609260419910982011-10-20T07:02:00.004-07:002011-10-20T09:03:56.679-07:00

As always, yesterday we arrived too early to check into our hotel in Sedona, so we decided to waste (that probably would be Craig's choice of verb?) some time in one of the local shopping areas. Just when I thought I'd switched gears from beach to desert high country, one of the first shops I passed had beads and shells on display. Two of my favorite things!I couldn't leave without making a small

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-27509075664056073952011-10-19T06:00:00.000-07:002011-10-19T06:34:23.253-07:00

First of all, my apologies if any of these photos are repeats on the blog. I get very confused because I also post on Facebook when I'm traveling and can't remember what's been posted where!We're headed up north this week on a roadtrip to experience fall in Arizona. Red rocks, autumn leaves, and desert vistas! I wanted to post a few more random photos from the Florida trip since I'll be switching

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-13591297402191428672011-10-18T10:25:00.003-07:002011-10-18T10:53:00.552-07:00

I almost got a little verklempt this morning when my two-year old Oster blender died. Nothing like the sound of a screeching blender with stripped gears to brighten up a morning. Another one bites the dust! We've lived here five years, and I think we've now killed three blenders.Here's something amazing. I just inserted our latest blender pitcher into a 37-year old blender base (it was called an

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-9909932786225215452011-10-17T08:10:00.000-07:002011-10-17T08:10:41.609-07:00

We're still having very unseasonable weather here in the Phoenix. It's starting to feel like the endless summer. Craig and I really don't mind because 90-something actually feels wonderful after 115 degrees, and the heat wave allows us to extend the pool season. Yesterday, the pool felt a little chilly to me, but Craig and I laughed that the mid-80 degree temp would be ideal for most people. I'm

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-59902452492154446172011-10-14T19:43:00.006-07:002011-10-14T20:08:02.703-07:00

Early one morning while walking the beach, we noticed the inhabitants of a neighboring cottage had been busy! It looked like they'd had their own little sand sculpture competition! They were all a little worse for the wear since they'd weathered footprints and some tide.This vintage plane is my favorite! Gators seemed to be a popular theme. Go figure -- Florida Gators!Here's another

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-19564422315891681662011-10-12T21:12:00.004-07:002011-10-12T21:40:16.786-07:00

I didn't actually take this photo. The manager of the condo complex where we stayed on Anna Maria snapped it with her phone late one afternoon on the beach and posted it on their Facebook page. It kind of looks like Craig is either the chosen one, or ready to be beamed up to the mother ship.Craig's love for fishing was reawakened on the Florida trip. He spent a lot of early mornings and evenings

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-4993255276228558552011-10-11T23:45:00.005-07:002011-10-11T23:56:13.227-07:00

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-24319389912036751512011-10-10T13:39:00.003-07:002011-10-10T14:00:41.117-07:00

Until Santa emerges from the outhouse!Okay, let me explain. Craig and I just got back from a Walmart trip to pick up some groceries. As we were strolling through the produce section, we saw the sign that said Only 75 more shopping days till Christmas! Nothing profound about that! Retailers have been pushing Christmas before Halloween for years. Then Craig said, Oh my God Becky. Look UP!There, on

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-77911957537127092372011-10-09T08:00:00.000-07:002011-10-09T08:02:11.163-07:00

Our fifth year anniversary of life here in Phoenix recently came and went with no fanfare. In an ideal world, especially since Craig's now retired, we'd do some evaluating and decide whether this is the place we truly want to spend the rest of our lives. But in the real world (Phoenix was just named number 1 in percentage of empty abandoned houses), we're here to stay until real estate prices

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-79984124039533651362011-10-06T16:05:00.003-07:002011-10-06T16:17:54.361-07:00

Here's a little video of the beach in front of the condo where we stayed at Club Bamboo on Anna Maria Island. The view had me mesmerized from dawn to dusk. I used a Flip software option called Magic Movie to condense five longer videos down into one short clip.

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-63989186755337190932011-10-05T06:40:00.000-07:002011-10-05T06:40:03.681-07:00

In answer to the question Did you find any seaglass?, this is as close as I came to seaglass on this Florida trip. A pair of sea glass-es! They even had barnacles encrusted on them.I'm always happy if sand surprises me with those little pieces of tumbled glass, but I wasn't disappointed because I'd researched online and found out this area of Florida was seaglass challenged. The beach was

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-80100703080336021962011-10-04T09:45:00.000-07:002011-10-04T09:49:59.834-07:00

Remember the one attraction I wanted to make sure I saw in the Sarasota area while we were there? As my dad used to say, we were a day late and a dollar short in our quest to visit the Ringling mansion, Ca'd'Zan, last week.We made the drive into Sarasota on Tuesday morning only to find out the mansion was closed because a Jennifer Lopez movie was being filmed there. We could have paid the hefty

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-27228564209475829902011-10-03T06:23:00.002-07:002011-10-03T06:24:44.684-07:00

When I showed Craig this photo, he immediately suggested one of his favorite country western songs for the post title -- It's Hard to Kiss the Lips. Ever heard the song? Click here!Craig insists the bird on the right HAS to be female! I'm guessing the bird on the left is male. (He has that tuned out look.) HA!Women are from Venus, men are from Mars!

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-69324861702258856052011-10-02T04:00:00.000-07:002011-10-01T18:53:06.695-07:00

We're headed back to dry Phoenix on Sunday. It'll be a complete shock not falling asleep to the pounding waves after 11 nights here at the beach. We're also sad to leave because a cool wave just came through Florida bringing wonderful temps and low humidity. That being said, all good things must usually come to an end. We're anxious to spring Saby from the pound and get our own house back in

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-63111538861665049162011-10-01T06:00:00.001-07:002011-10-01T06:07:25.337-07:00

Wednesday was moving day! Plop plop fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is! I won't bore you with the details of the scam on the first condo, but let's just say we couldn't get out of there fast enough after our pre-paid week was up. It wasn't the rental we booked, and we ended up calling it the duct tape condo. It's the first place we've ever stayed with plastic and duct tape covering missing tiles

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-57773201100943240582011-09-30T05:30:00.001-07:002011-09-30T05:42:45.492-07:00

Cue Creedence Clearwater Revival. We found the ultimate down home dock restaurant with the best Gulf seafood in the area! Believe me, we've tested a good portion of the menu and it's all been to die for!This is the joint we were looking for when we stumbled into Cortez Kitchen earlier in the trip. The next day, I mapped Star Fish Seafood online and we found it. And . . . we've made many visits

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-40161322689429403752011-09-29T04:40:00.001-07:002011-09-29T04:44:48.664-07:00

An artist has painted slogans all over the picnic tables at our favorite dock joint. From the silly -- wish you were beer. To more serious slogans like seas the day . . . the tide always changes.And my favorite! We never die. We become the waves in the sea, the sand on the beach. Life sweet life!

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-24679458242401516092011-09-28T06:04:00.000-07:002011-09-27T18:53:25.922-07:00

to go back in the water, some guy gets attacked by a shark while you're on vacation.Craig came home from fishing at the Rod and Reel Pier yesterday with the tale of a shark attack that happened this weekend off Anna Maria Island. The guys at the Rod and Reel were buzzing because the victim was brought to shore there at the pier after the attack. And it was the talk of the town at the restaurant

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-82663658002632274482011-09-27T04:40:00.000-07:002011-09-27T04:43:29.369-07:00

Yesterday, we woke to crashing thunder and stormy skies. So much so that I quickly pulled up NOAA on my laptop to make sure there was nothing too tropical and stormy on the horizon. All is well, and we're loving the weather! The thunder and lightning, deep blue skies, and crashing waves are a great break from the monotony of Phoenix heat and sun.We spent the morning shelling at the southern tip

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-28430411381582571652011-09-25T14:55:00.008-07:002011-09-25T15:52:13.115-07:00

When I showed Craig the online photos of Anna Maria Island the first time, he said, No way that sand's going to be almost white, and no way the water will be that color of blue. It's the Gulf! But he was wrong. It's not as clear or as pretty as the Caribbean, but it's still gorgeous! I'm up early at first light to see whether the clouds will be pink or peach. We come across all kinds of birds on

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-11129130523079154822011-09-24T19:07:00.007-07:002011-09-24T19:50:36.201-07:00

Yesterday, in a quest to consume more greasy fried seafood at dock restaurants, we set off for the historic fishing village of Cortez. We drove round in circles trying to find a restaurant I'd read about on Trip Advisor. Finally we saw a lot of cars in front of a different dockside joint, the Cortez Kitchen, and decided to give that one a try instead.After taking a glance at some of the

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-62310271335997762792011-09-23T12:48:00.006-07:002011-09-23T13:08:29.552-07:00

To: MomThe food here on Anna Maria Island (unlike the slop at Girl Scout Camp) is very tastey! The sand is white and the Gulf water is warm. Met a man at the pool this morning who looks exactly like a geriatric version of Bobby Hill (King of the Hill), and he sounds just like Robert Duvall.P.S. After my diet of the past few days (fried shrimp, fried fish and chips, and more fried fried fried), I

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-66870755322218744402011-09-22T10:09:00.004-07:002011-09-22T10:49:55.534-07:00

We got off to a bit of a rocky start upon arrival last night (I'll explain more after the trip, but the problem involved a bait and switch on our rental booking). After a nice sunset dinner at a restaurant down the beach, we decided to just forgeddabout it. Nothing to be done, but it chips away at my faith in mankind. Sunset from the table. After some spectacular lightning last night, we woke up

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-60157533669647273502011-09-20T16:19:00.003-07:002011-09-20T17:53:40.232-07:00

The other day I mentioned to someone that I'd never been to Florida. They couldn't believe it! But yes, it's true. The dirty little secret is that I was always left behind.Craig visited the state many times in his former corporate life, but for some reason, when he would win the award trips where they took their spouses along, we always ended up in Bermuda, Arizona, or California instead of Marco

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-90791767070565232522011-09-19T07:00:00.000-07:002011-09-18T22:18:04.963-07:00

Someone's got it made in the shade!

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-44485804765524480492011-09-18T10:04:00.002-07:002011-09-18T10:09:20.842-07:00

I'm guilty in the first degree of posting very little lately.Blame it on the Nook. Blame it on the constant stream of repairmen we've had over for coffee this past week. (Wash machine, big-ass refrigerator, garbage disposal, reverse osmosis system, etc..., etc....) Blame it on the flu shot (the medical assistant was a stabber!). Blame it on John Grisham. I was awake half the night on Thursday

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-43712978967512450862011-09-14T06:30:00.010-07:002011-09-15T11:08:12.937-07:00

Last night I went to sleep with the window open listening to the sounds of thunder and rain. Ahhhhhhhhh. I guess only people who live in Phoenix would understand what a luxury that is! We've had four evenings in a row of lightning, wind, and smaller rain amounts. The temps yesterday evening on our 6 p.m. Saby walk had fallen to a chilly 79 degrees! I think I can safely say now that a corner has

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-40407308857288513952011-09-13T19:54:00.007-07:002011-09-13T20:12:48.578-07:00

Only seven more days until we leave for Florida. We can't wait to get our toes in some white sand! Here are two shots of Playa Norte in June, one from below and one from on high!

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-52076587036919637142011-09-12T07:57:00.011-07:002011-09-12T10:13:12.874-07:00

The frost isn't on the pumpkin yet (despite the fact that I was almost waylaid by that pumpkin pie in Costco last week), but the season's changing here in Phoenix. After a record string of days over 110, the temps finally dipped last week to daytime highs below 100. It's still 99 degrees, but we'll take it!Over the weekend, the atmosphere exploded with huge monsoonal lightning storms every night,

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-51660183873163008692011-09-09T17:02:00.008-07:002011-09-09T20:27:12.392-07:00

I'm still trying to weed through leftover photos from our June Isla trip. The orange's in these photos below remind me of the large pumpkin pie at Costco yesterday. We were trying to decide on something for dinner and a fall urge hit me! We could just eat pumpkin pie instead of dinner. Why bother with the first course when the last course has more than enough calories?Don't get excited. The

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-19467276704469262842011-09-07T06:00:00.000-07:002011-09-07T06:23:14.381-07:00

Posting for me lately has been like pulling teeth! My interests have been elsewhere. I might as well fess up. I've reverted to old childhood habits this summer.Way back then, my summer days could be summarized in a list that went something like this -- swimming lessons at the pool, eat, ride bike back to the pool, swim, ride bike home, ride bike to library, stop at drugstore for a cherry ice,

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-57262678798020906282011-09-05T21:36:00.004-07:002011-09-05T22:18:53.219-07:00

Elsewhere, Labor Day signals the end of summer. Here -- not so much! But I do see a trend towards more tolerable temps developing here in our area with a high of only 103 predicted for tomorrow.Here's something bizarre. It's still in the 100's and we actually covered the pool this afternoon. With overnight temps dipping into the lo 80's and high 70's now, the water's getting a tad too cool for my

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-56418303484651935212011-09-02T09:00:00.002-07:002011-09-02T09:09:05.640-07:00

I read a theory in the newspaper this week that anger in people increases with heat. Ya think? No wonder I'm composing a rant of the day everyday! I'll finally admit it. We're sick of the heat! We're not flooding and we're not on fire, so I guess we're lucky. Craig got up in the middle of the night to look out because it sounded like rain pelting the side of the house. Not! It was another big

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-15379171299558168522011-08-31T08:29:00.003-07:002011-08-31T09:29:02.238-07:00

I must apologize for being lackadaisical about the blog lately. We're in between adventures, and I'm not particularly inspired with any new photos or tales. Yesterday, we realized if we were going to take advantage of our frequent flier miles to score a free ticket this winter, we needed to act. We'd been on the fence for a few months trying to decide on a new destination. We're not abandoning

Life's a Beach!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17604678027403810586noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326994282119368596.post-75422788492006530092011-08-29T07:30:00.000-07:002011-08-29T07:34:22.277-07:00

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