Fun in Florida! - I'll let the pics speak for themselves! :D

Se' moi!

Not sure if I've been missed or not, but the silence is due to my being on a visa trip - nothing else really! I'm also on a wanna-be vacation which has been rather fun (yeigh!) and I've been spoiled majorly by the Lord with so many extra special blessings to make this trip special.

First I flew off to SoCal for a weekend of fun. Met old friends, bummed out, went to a B-day party, spent a day in Baja wine-tasting and snacking (there was so much food - I can't believe it), went to the Science Museum and watched an Imax film (as the kids kept saying "we're flying", each time we flew over the Nile River - in the documentary). I had to back out of the flight simulator though, didn't have enough food in my stomach to go for that ride, so opted to hang out with Kenny (4, who also didn't want to ride the simulator), only to find him sitting in front of a computer game. Tsk, tsk, tsk...

I've now been in Florida for the past 9 days, hanging out with my Aunt, who is such a cool person. We've been to the beach, swam, got sun burnt (yes, that would be me), went to a nature park, saw aligators and the likes, and even went hunting for shark's teeth on Venice beach. - And yes, I got quite a few, thank you very much. ;)

The icing was to have my dear friend Loana visit for 3 days. So much to catch up with, it seems every time we meet we end up getting mega jaw workout jabbering away. - It was so sad her visit was so short, it's so true how fun times fly by so quickly.

And today I'm off to SoCal again, to spend another weekend with friends, pick up stuff, and head back to good ol' Mexico City. I doubt I'll get around to blogging till I get back to Mexico City, but I'll post some pics to try to describe all I've been up to.

It's been nice though...you know, wannabe vacations are always fun. Hope no one's missing me too much. (Yeah right! - HA!)

When it rains it pours!

Yesterday was a whopper of a day, I must say! I heard of 4 deaths. - Can you imagine? I only posted about Cesco as he's the one that was nearest and dearest, but to all those that are grieving, I'm praying for you!

On the other hand, I know all those that passed on are now happier where they are, so I don't want to ruin their fun and joy by being all mopey. It's our loss, their gain!

Death takes our loved ones--
We are bowed in grief. For whom?
Are we not selfish?
A mourner weeps for himself,
The dead know nought of sorrow.
--Margaret E. Bruner

So true! And likewise, I will rejoice for their promotion! They're now graduated to greater things and awesome rewards. - I'm sure of it

News came that you were dead. I did not believe a word of it.
I knew that at that moment you were more alive than I am now.

For there is no death. No. Not for the Christian!
There is only an honourable discharge from the battles of life,
A promotion to Heavenly officership,
That glorious moment to step forward
And hear the Great Commander-in-Chief say,
"Well done, good and faithful soldier!
Come, enter into your Eternal reward"!

There is no death. Not for the Christian.
Only the soul's blessed release from dark prison.
Only a passage out of that prison into a palace.
Only a golden key that unlocks the treasures of Eternity.

No, my friend, you are not dead.
You will be alive when the mountains are gone.
--Alive when the rivers cease their running toward the sea!
You have gone higher, that is all.
Out of this old mud shack, into a house that is immortal,
A body that no enemy can attack!
"Dust thou art, to dust thou shalt return"
Was not spoken of the spirit.
You don't really die, you just keep on living,
And go straight into the presence of the Lord!

I weep, dear friend, because I miss you.
If I were unselfish I would be rejoicing with you,
Thanking God that you are with Him!
Thanking God that your troubles are over!
No more crying, no more pain, no more sorrow,
Nothing but eternal happiness in Heaven forever!

Yes, we are so selfish about death,
We count our grief far more than your joy!
We go to the grave of a friend, saying, "A man is dead".
But angels throng about him saying, "A man is born!"
So for now, farewell, my friend!
We shall meet again!

Francesco! - I'll miss you!

This post is dedicated to a very, very, very special friend who I just heard went to be with the Lord in a car accident. He leaves behind his lovely wife, and their 4 kids - the last 2 are twin boys that were born a few months ago.

Cesco, you were a special friend - I loved our debates and arguments, and I will honestly miss hearing from you. I know this only means you can do more from the Other Side, but you will be missed. - A lot.

Such a talented man, you learnt everything you put your mind to. Guitar, computers, photography...I guess the Lord wanted to use your many talents up There!

Pris, I'm praying for you, my dear friend! My heart and tears are with you! Please let me know if there's anything I can do! ILY!

Farewell, dear friend, I'm sure we haven't seen or heard the last from you. - Do keep in touch!

10 days!

That's how long its been since I last posted. - Wow! Where did those days go? I know what I was doing, but I can't believe it's been 10 days. Awesome!
 
The quick updates are:
 

• We went through a major power cut in which we were without electricity for at least 15 hours. (And in my attempts at not being on my lonesome self I hung out with an FGA woman who spooked me out with her ghost and big spider stories. SCARY!) I then had to go back to my "separate" room and try to be brave. - And kill a huge spider right above my bed. Go figure!

• I had a strange tummy bug for 4 days...though I'm better. TG, didn't want to lose any more weight.

• I'm out of quarantine. (Yeigh!) - And our Home is too. We didn't get mumps! Whew!

• I've managed to prove to myself yet again that I'm NOT addicted to coffee. (Though I love the stuff.)  I didn't drink it for like 3 days when sick, and though I started again (we have this delightful coffee these days - I can't resist) when our electricity was cut out went the coffee makers, and I survived - just fine actually. (Yup, NO headaches!) I was tempted to use my espresso machine but alas, our huge industrial kitchen gas stoves would have burnt my baby, and the gas in the kitchenette was out, so voila', we were on a fast. I can't say the rest of the addicts here did too well though. - Most folks were wandering around a bit zombieish, headaches were a common complaint...poor things.

 
And yes, that's about it! (Seeing as I know you don't want to hear of all the usual work, work, work part.)
 
I'm off Wednesday morning for a visa trip so perhaps I'll have some pics and tales to tell then, we shall see. ;)
 
In the meanwhile, I'm off to bed. Ciao to all!

Ladies and Gentlemen....

.....the airport!

I thought you might enjoy seeing where I went today! - Yet again! ;)

We have a Christmas tree!!!

I opted to drop the whole "day" thing, so forget about quarantine, I'll tell you if and when I'm insane. K? (Not sure that's reassuring, but it's all I've got to work with. Heh - Where's Jason's "cooler corner of our asylum" when one needs it?)

On to the REAL topic of today's blog; I don't know if you guys think this is as whacko as I do, but unless this is something that happens at your place too, this is the earliest Christmas tree I've ever seen go up. (And NOT the ones you see in stores! Those guys do anything for advertizement - we ain't advertizing to anyone.)

If there was a Family Guinness Book of Records, I'd say we take the prize. - Ladies and Gentlmene, our Christmas tree, and HUGE wreath, is up! In fact, it's been up since the 30th of October!!! (I know, this is delayed blogging, but I've been confined to the other side of the property, remember? - So I only noticed it recently.)

I'm not sure if we were trying to perhaps distract from the "Halloween" side of things or if someone just got trigger happy (Christmas was REALLY in someone's bones), or if perhaps they just didn't have space for it in storage, but really...I almost feel embarrassed. Gulps! I guess that means I have to start thinking of what to get people for Christmas. Yikes!

I know what I want... ;)

Day 6, 7 and...are there more?

I see my resolve to keep this up isn't quite working, but...well, not much to say anyways, so no sweat.

I'm cleared, by the way. No one's gotten the mumps, and seeing as I haven't been around anyone "contagious", I'm cleared too. Yeigh! Now I just need to find a way to survive the boredome/lonesomeness that comes with being on the opposite end of the property from everyone else. :(

Our visitors are gone, so that's rough too. I seriously doubt sanity will remain - sure, I can dig into work (a.k.a. dig my own grave) but I don't think that's the right thing. HELP!!!

Today was WnR - thankfully one of the girls that has had mumps already hung out with me, and we went in to see "Zorro - Part 2"...heh...yes, I went to see Antonio Banderas. I just found out he's a Leo, oh man, Leo men are so fun. (Way too easy to manipulate, just make them believe they're the king of the forest and you have them wrapped around your pinky.) Sigh...big help that is to me with him, but yes...we're all allowed to daydream. Right? ;)