Thursday, November 26, 2009
Turkey Day!
Here's hoping that all of you have a most enjoyable Thanksgiving celebration today. And please do pause to reflect a moment on what you are thankful for. I know I will.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
In The Lap Of Luxury
It's that time of year again. Time to celebrate what we are thankful for, and even more importantly, to roast that turkey! If you have one. Which by yesterday morning we did not.
So a trip over to Cancun was in order, like it or not. So I dragged my sick body out of bed at the ungodly hour of 6:30 am in order to catch the 8 am ferry across. And, yes, I do need that much time to get ready! But, thanks to my buddy Sue, this was going to be a special trip.
I've read many times on her blog about a taxi driver in Cancun they hire to chauffeur them around. Sounded like a good idea to me. We had lots of things to do and places to go and I am not up to driving just yet. So taking our car over was out of the question. And schlepping tons of packages from store to store was not the least bit appealing or practical either. So what to do? Sue to the rescue!
I emailed with Sue and she gave me the contact info for her driver, Luis. We made arrangements to meet him at the Ultramar ferry on the Cancun side and, for the mere sum of 100 pesos per hour ($7.90 US), he was ours for as long as we needed him.
Going to Sam's Club, Walmart and CostCo are not my favorite things to do. Especially all in one day. But with the help of Luis, it was almost enjoyable. It took us wherever we wanted to go, waited patiently for us as we negotiated each store and even loaded everything into the taxi for us. Sweet!
For my readers living on the island, or visitors here who need somebody to take them around Cancun, or even to the airport, I highly recommend this guy. He is dependable, trustworthy and just plain nice. One thing though, he doesn't speak English. But he is clever enough to dummy down his Spanish so communicating with him is not a chore at all. Should anybody be interested, give me a shout and I will tell you how to contact him.
So a trip over to Cancun was in order, like it or not. So I dragged my sick body out of bed at the ungodly hour of 6:30 am in order to catch the 8 am ferry across. And, yes, I do need that much time to get ready! But, thanks to my buddy Sue, this was going to be a special trip.
I've read many times on her blog about a taxi driver in Cancun they hire to chauffeur them around. Sounded like a good idea to me. We had lots of things to do and places to go and I am not up to driving just yet. So taking our car over was out of the question. And schlepping tons of packages from store to store was not the least bit appealing or practical either. So what to do? Sue to the rescue!
I emailed with Sue and she gave me the contact info for her driver, Luis. We made arrangements to meet him at the Ultramar ferry on the Cancun side and, for the mere sum of 100 pesos per hour ($7.90 US), he was ours for as long as we needed him.
Going to Sam's Club, Walmart and CostCo are not my favorite things to do. Especially all in one day. But with the help of Luis, it was almost enjoyable. It took us wherever we wanted to go, waited patiently for us as we negotiated each store and even loaded everything into the taxi for us. Sweet!
For my readers living on the island, or visitors here who need somebody to take them around Cancun, or even to the airport, I highly recommend this guy. He is dependable, trustworthy and just plain nice. One thing though, he doesn't speak English. But he is clever enough to dummy down his Spanish so communicating with him is not a chore at all. Should anybody be interested, give me a shout and I will tell you how to contact him.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Mexico Shots
Because I have been such a pessimist all week, here's something nice to end the week.
It's a shot from the tour boat going down the Sumedoro Canyon in Chiapas de Corzo, a village located right next door to Tuxla Guieterrez in Chiapas state.
It's a shot from the tour boat going down the Sumedoro Canyon in Chiapas de Corzo, a village located right next door to Tuxla Guieterrez in Chiapas state.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The Zocola
Our town square was bulldozed down and modernized, what, about 2 years ago now? Gone are the pavillion, the topiaries, the tree lined pathways, the benches for people to rest in the shade, the lovers benches where teenagers used to sit and hold hands and speak of who know what to each other, the food vendors, the families gathered in small groups, adults talking while the children ran and played.
Instead we now have this warm, inviting piece of cement parking lot. Don't you just want to spend lots of time here sitting in the hot sun, visiting with friends and passing the time away?
The main church on the island forms the border on one of the sides. It, too, looks so inviting now. Beckoning you in to worship and find solace from life's problems. If not for the Virgin, one might think it is an office building. It used to be charming.
I will never forgive the past administration for ruining our town square like this.
Instead we now have this warm, inviting piece of cement parking lot. Don't you just want to spend lots of time here sitting in the hot sun, visiting with friends and passing the time away?
The main church on the island forms the border on one of the sides. It, too, looks so inviting now. Beckoning you in to worship and find solace from life's problems. If not for the Virgin, one might think it is an office building. It used to be charming.
I will never forgive the past administration for ruining our town square like this.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Random Shots
These shots were taken during our recent bout of bad weather. They really don't fit in anywhere else nor are they worthy of their own posting. But I did want to share them.
This is one of Isla's wild downtown cats. Most of them look fat and sassy like this. Mostly thanks to the efforts of one woman, Lupita. She is a shop owner downtown and regularly walks around at night leaving piles of cat food for them. Which she has purchased herself. She rarely accepts donations or offers of help. I recently heard that the Mayor sicked the police on her and told her to knock it off. I can't verify this, but the Mayor thinks that it looks awful for the tourists to see her feeding wild cats. Gives out a wrong image. Yup. I agree. It is just awful to see a kind, caring person doing something nice for the homeless animals. Just disgusting. (this is the same Mayor who won't allow food vendors in the Zocolo because the tourists would find it disgusting!!!)
We were sitting at Adelita's one dark and stormy night. I was able to get this shot of water pooling on the highly waxed table tops.
This is one of Isla's wild downtown cats. Most of them look fat and sassy like this. Mostly thanks to the efforts of one woman, Lupita. She is a shop owner downtown and regularly walks around at night leaving piles of cat food for them. Which she has purchased herself. She rarely accepts donations or offers of help. I recently heard that the Mayor sicked the police on her and told her to knock it off. I can't verify this, but the Mayor thinks that it looks awful for the tourists to see her feeding wild cats. Gives out a wrong image. Yup. I agree. It is just awful to see a kind, caring person doing something nice for the homeless animals. Just disgusting. (this is the same Mayor who won't allow food vendors in the Zocolo because the tourists would find it disgusting!!!)
We were sitting at Adelita's one dark and stormy night. I was able to get this shot of water pooling on the highly waxed table tops.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Impassable At Any Speed
Street repair and improvement is a necessary evil no matter what town, village or city you live in. And it is always going to inconvenience somebody. Mostly just the people in the immediate area of the improvement work, sometimes it spokes out to encompass neighborhoods. But there seems to be no halfway to the inconvenience recently created by our town leaders. They have now undertaken a project that severely inconveniences every citizen on this island. Or at least those that eat, need to see a doctor or want to go to church.
Just before the stormy days of IDA were upon us, the City started tearing up the street, the only street, that runs along the east side of downtown. It is the main route to get to the grocery store and the hospital, as well as numerous hotels and the central market. And they are not doing it block by block so traffic can continue to move about downtown. No. They are laying new sewage and drainage pipe while they have the street pulled up so (they say) they have to tear up the whole length of the street before they can do anything.
Here is a view looking north past Hotel Carmelina and the Hotel Frances Arlene. No traffic is allowed down this street all the way to the market.
But it's looking south that is the most annoying. Just past that ambulance parked in the road is the Hotel Rocamar and the curve that goes down past the basketball court, next to the church. Next to that ambulance is the entrance way to get to our only supermarket on the island. We have little tiendas scattered about, but downtown is our central grocery store.
They are putting in new sidewalk the length of the street. A good idea for those of who have to drive here. Tourists just don't seem to grasp the concept of not walking down the middle of the streets. I guess they allow that in Disneyland, so why not here? Before anybody says anything, there are existing sidewalks on every street here already. Tiny, uneven, unpleasant things, but they are there if tourists would like to step up on them and wait for traffic to clear. Maybe it would give them a second to consider their surroundings also and take their thumbs out of their asses for just a minute too.
As a driver, I am a bit concerned about the size of these sidewalks. As you can see from the forms already installed, there is not going to be much room for traffic as it is. And I will bet you anything, anything at all, that once this street is complete, people will park their motoscooters just as before or leave their car in the road while they run a quick errand. I'll let you know.
I guess I understand the need to do this and although I complain about the inconvenience, I do believe it is for the greater good. I just wish that if they were going to work on it, they would work on it. Why tear it all up and then go for days without a construction crew in sight?
TIM at his best.
Just before the stormy days of IDA were upon us, the City started tearing up the street, the only street, that runs along the east side of downtown. It is the main route to get to the grocery store and the hospital, as well as numerous hotels and the central market. And they are not doing it block by block so traffic can continue to move about downtown. No. They are laying new sewage and drainage pipe while they have the street pulled up so (they say) they have to tear up the whole length of the street before they can do anything.
Here is a view looking north past Hotel Carmelina and the Hotel Frances Arlene. No traffic is allowed down this street all the way to the market.
But it's looking south that is the most annoying. Just past that ambulance parked in the road is the Hotel Rocamar and the curve that goes down past the basketball court, next to the church. Next to that ambulance is the entrance way to get to our only supermarket on the island. We have little tiendas scattered about, but downtown is our central grocery store.
They are putting in new sidewalk the length of the street. A good idea for those of who have to drive here. Tourists just don't seem to grasp the concept of not walking down the middle of the streets. I guess they allow that in Disneyland, so why not here? Before anybody says anything, there are existing sidewalks on every street here already. Tiny, uneven, unpleasant things, but they are there if tourists would like to step up on them and wait for traffic to clear. Maybe it would give them a second to consider their surroundings also and take their thumbs out of their asses for just a minute too.
As a driver, I am a bit concerned about the size of these sidewalks. As you can see from the forms already installed, there is not going to be much room for traffic as it is. And I will bet you anything, anything at all, that once this street is complete, people will park their motoscooters just as before or leave their car in the road while they run a quick errand. I'll let you know.
I guess I understand the need to do this and although I complain about the inconvenience, I do believe it is for the greater good. I just wish that if they were going to work on it, they would work on it. Why tear it all up and then go for days without a construction crew in sight?
TIM at his best.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Improved Drainage
Part of the reasoning behind tearing up Avenue Hidalgo downtown was to improve the drainage of this street during big rain storms.
As you can see, the months of having to endure the street torn up was well worth the wait. It is so much better now.
As you can see, the months of having to endure the street torn up was well worth the wait. It is so much better now.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Zee Boat! Zee Boat!
Before everyone's thoughts and actions turned to Hurricane Ida last week, the beach recovery effort over in Cancun had started. There is an excellent post about it here.
During the hurricane preparations and rough seas, the boat disappeared. I have no idea where they may have anchored it. I was secetly hoping that the thing was pulled out to sea and sunk. With no people on it of course. But, alas, this morning the thing can once again be seen passing by my house on its' way out to sea to ruin even more of the seabed for our local fishermen.
It passes so close to shore that I can hear its' engines loudly pumping away.
And a close up view.
I understand very well the economic impact to Cancun with the loss of the beaches. Again. But how many times can our fragile aquatic ecosystem go through this? Sucking up the bottom of the ocean, upsetting fish, lobster and shrimp habitats. Messing with, and sometimes ruining, the economic status of our local fishermen. So that tourists in Cancun can have someplace to put their butts. I get very angry and emotional about this whole issue of plundering our ocean just to get that almighty tourist dollar.
But nothing I think, say or could do will change the inevitable. Sand will continue to be dredged from our ocean, carried to Cancun and sprayed on the beaches to once again enlarge them. Only to be repeated again in a couple of years because Mother Nature knows best. And she knows that Cancun has screwed itself with its' building plan (or lack thereof) and will never be able to sustain these artificially created beaches.
During the hurricane preparations and rough seas, the boat disappeared. I have no idea where they may have anchored it. I was secetly hoping that the thing was pulled out to sea and sunk. With no people on it of course. But, alas, this morning the thing can once again be seen passing by my house on its' way out to sea to ruin even more of the seabed for our local fishermen.
It passes so close to shore that I can hear its' engines loudly pumping away.
And a close up view.
I understand very well the economic impact to Cancun with the loss of the beaches. Again. But how many times can our fragile aquatic ecosystem go through this? Sucking up the bottom of the ocean, upsetting fish, lobster and shrimp habitats. Messing with, and sometimes ruining, the economic status of our local fishermen. So that tourists in Cancun can have someplace to put their butts. I get very angry and emotional about this whole issue of plundering our ocean just to get that almighty tourist dollar.
But nothing I think, say or could do will change the inevitable. Sand will continue to be dredged from our ocean, carried to Cancun and sprayed on the beaches to once again enlarge them. Only to be repeated again in a couple of years because Mother Nature knows best. And she knows that Cancun has screwed itself with its' building plan (or lack thereof) and will never be able to sustain these artificially created beaches.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Through The Maze Darkly
I have been having some health issues lately that are causing me to spend more than my fair share of time at our local hospital/clinic. I read on other people's blogs, especially those coming out of Merida, about what fine health care is available and how nice, efficient and thorough all the providers are. Let me tell you, that is not the case here. For example.....
Yesterday I had to have some blood drawn and give up a pee sample. Sounds easy enough. I knew from various people that before anything could happen, I had to go to the main window in the clinic and first pay for the procedures and produce a receipt. So here's how it went.
I handed the guy behind the window my paperwork. One piece for blood work, another for an x-ray I needed. He handed me back the x-ray and said I should pay later when the x-ray technician was there. "When will that be?" I asked. "He is here everyday at 9:00 am" he replied. (Lies, lies, all lies!)
I then paid 450 pesos ($34.60) for the blood work needed and headed over to the lab to give them some pee and blood. They asked me for my pee sample.
Me: I'm ready to give it to you. Where should I go?
Them: You need a cup.
Me: Ok.
Blank stares all around. Then finally they broke the silence.
Them: You need a cup.
Me: Ok. I don't have one.
Them: You have to go buy one.
Me: WTF! Then, out loud, Where do I buy a cup?
Them: In the hospital where you paid for the test.
Me: Really?
Them: Yes.
So my inner question was, why didn't this dude either give me or sell me a cup when he charged me for a urine test? He certainly knew that I was going to need one and that I didn't have one. So I trudge back next door and wait my turn for the window.
Me: I need a cup for a urine sample.
Him: We don't have any.
Me: You don't have any?!
Him: You have to go to the pharmacy in the grocery store and buy one.
Me: Ok. (internally seething by this point)
So I go to the grocery store, purchase my cup and return to the lab with it.
Them: You have to fill it.
Me: Ok.
Them: We don't have a bathroom here.
Me. That's ok. Just turn around. (they did not find this as highly amusing as I did!)
Them: You have to go back to the hospital and use their bathroom.
Me: Ok. (I say that a lot)
So back over to the hospital, locate the Men's room, pee in the cup, almost spill contents trying to get the lid back on, return to lab with it. They motion for me to put it on a table with about 18 other cups of pee. The table was starting to look like a piss buffet. They did not write on it or in anyway make an indication of who's pee it was. They motioned for me to take a seat at the blood removal table.
Them: Did you eat last night?
Me: Yes.
Them: What did you have?
Me: Cheeseburger.
Them: We can't take your blood today. You have to have a cholesterol test and you can't eat the night before. You have to come back tomorrow. And your pee sample today is no good either.
Me: *&%)jd#&%^!!!!!
Them: Don't eat tonight and take a sample cup home with you. We have to have the first pee of the morning.
So, why had my doctor, or anybody else I encountered along the way, not told me any of this? Needless to say, the pee sample that I had managed to give them was not the first one of the morning so if they had tested it, would the results have been valid? I think I was most angry about having to buy my own pee sample cup.
So this morning I diligently peed in the cup at home and took it with me. I went back to the lab and it took all of 3.5 minutes to get everything done. Knowing the proper procedure certainly speeds up the process.
By the way, it took me two days to get the x-ray done. I won't even go into what a drama that was!
Yesterday I had to have some blood drawn and give up a pee sample. Sounds easy enough. I knew from various people that before anything could happen, I had to go to the main window in the clinic and first pay for the procedures and produce a receipt. So here's how it went.
I handed the guy behind the window my paperwork. One piece for blood work, another for an x-ray I needed. He handed me back the x-ray and said I should pay later when the x-ray technician was there. "When will that be?" I asked. "He is here everyday at 9:00 am" he replied. (Lies, lies, all lies!)
I then paid 450 pesos ($34.60) for the blood work needed and headed over to the lab to give them some pee and blood. They asked me for my pee sample.
Me: I'm ready to give it to you. Where should I go?
Them: You need a cup.
Me: Ok.
Blank stares all around. Then finally they broke the silence.
Them: You need a cup.
Me: Ok. I don't have one.
Them: You have to go buy one.
Me: WTF! Then, out loud, Where do I buy a cup?
Them: In the hospital where you paid for the test.
Me: Really?
Them: Yes.
So my inner question was, why didn't this dude either give me or sell me a cup when he charged me for a urine test? He certainly knew that I was going to need one and that I didn't have one. So I trudge back next door and wait my turn for the window.
Me: I need a cup for a urine sample.
Him: We don't have any.
Me: You don't have any?!
Him: You have to go to the pharmacy in the grocery store and buy one.
Me: Ok. (internally seething by this point)
So I go to the grocery store, purchase my cup and return to the lab with it.
Them: You have to fill it.
Me: Ok.
Them: We don't have a bathroom here.
Me. That's ok. Just turn around. (they did not find this as highly amusing as I did!)
Them: You have to go back to the hospital and use their bathroom.
Me: Ok. (I say that a lot)
So back over to the hospital, locate the Men's room, pee in the cup, almost spill contents trying to get the lid back on, return to lab with it. They motion for me to put it on a table with about 18 other cups of pee. The table was starting to look like a piss buffet. They did not write on it or in anyway make an indication of who's pee it was. They motioned for me to take a seat at the blood removal table.
Them: Did you eat last night?
Me: Yes.
Them: What did you have?
Me: Cheeseburger.
Them: We can't take your blood today. You have to have a cholesterol test and you can't eat the night before. You have to come back tomorrow. And your pee sample today is no good either.
Me: *&%)jd#&%^!!!!!
Them: Don't eat tonight and take a sample cup home with you. We have to have the first pee of the morning.
So, why had my doctor, or anybody else I encountered along the way, not told me any of this? Needless to say, the pee sample that I had managed to give them was not the first one of the morning so if they had tested it, would the results have been valid? I think I was most angry about having to buy my own pee sample cup.
So this morning I diligently peed in the cup at home and took it with me. I went back to the lab and it took all of 3.5 minutes to get everything done. Knowing the proper procedure certainly speeds up the process.
By the way, it took me two days to get the x-ray done. I won't even go into what a drama that was!
Monday, November 09, 2009
If IDA Known Yesterday
I think it is safe to say that Hurricane IDA was a non-event here on the island. We got more weather from her in the days preceeding her arrival than we did on Sunday.
The eye passed by us at 65 miles out to sea. Since her hurricane strength winds were only extending out for 14 miles, we got none of that. TS winds were reaching out for 114 miles, but we got none of them either. Just a drizzle. The kind of rain that makes you put your windshield wipers on intermittent.
Anticipating big things to come yesterday afternoon, we headed out in the morning to do some exploring and take some pictures. Glad I did. So here is some of what we saw.
First we headed to the NaBalam/Avalon Cove beach. See that big rock off to the left. Just a few short weeks ago I was out there snorkeling. Gives me the shivers to look at it now.
The post in the middle of the water is usually sticking out of the sand. The surge was quite high in this area.
The bridge over to the Avalon. The same day I was at that rock, I snorkeled under this frightening thing. Even more frightening now! If you look closely, you can see that the water was exploding under the bridge and coming up through the boards.
And here is where it exited.
As a reminder, and before you move on, I wanted to remind you of what North Beach looked like last week before all this started.
The approach to North Beach on Sunday.
This is basically the same shot as the sunny one above.
We then drove to the other end of the island. This is the view from South Point. Which is also the most easterly point in Mexico.
Looking north towards my house.
You've heard me talk about Crocodile Rock before. It is my barometer of how high the water is getting. Only at high tide does the water normally even touch the tip of this rock. 
And the surge coming in. Earlier in the day it was actually much higher. I took these pictures especially for my friend, Kelly, so she could see what is happening to it. We share the same joy over watching this rock!
The eye passed by us at 65 miles out to sea. Since her hurricane strength winds were only extending out for 14 miles, we got none of that. TS winds were reaching out for 114 miles, but we got none of them either. Just a drizzle. The kind of rain that makes you put your windshield wipers on intermittent.
Anticipating big things to come yesterday afternoon, we headed out in the morning to do some exploring and take some pictures. Glad I did. So here is some of what we saw.
First we headed to the NaBalam/Avalon Cove beach. See that big rock off to the left. Just a few short weeks ago I was out there snorkeling. Gives me the shivers to look at it now.
The post in the middle of the water is usually sticking out of the sand. The surge was quite high in this area.
The bridge over to the Avalon. The same day I was at that rock, I snorkeled under this frightening thing. Even more frightening now! If you look closely, you can see that the water was exploding under the bridge and coming up through the boards.
And here is where it exited.
As a reminder, and before you move on, I wanted to remind you of what North Beach looked like last week before all this started.
The approach to North Beach on Sunday.
This is basically the same shot as the sunny one above.
This shot I took for my friend, CancunCanuck, over in Cancun. This is her favorite spot to swim when she comes over to the island. (see blog sidebar to visit her site)
We then drove to the other end of the island. This is the view from South Point. Which is also the most easterly point in Mexico.
Looking north towards my house.
You've heard me talk about Crocodile Rock before. It is my barometer of how high the water is getting. Only at high tide does the water normally even touch the tip of this rock.
Here it is as the surge is receding.
And the surge coming in. Earlier in the day it was actually much higher. I took these pictures especially for my friend, Kelly, so she could see what is happening to it. We share the same joy over watching this rock!
As this week goes on, I'll be posting some of the pictures I took before the Hurricane actually got here. Much more rain and interesting streets. So, as Juan Calypso would say, Stay Tuned!
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Come And Get Us!
Preparations for IDA are now either completed or well under way. Yesterday was a busy day.
We got the cabana almost all battened down. Furniture is up on blocks, plastic furniture placed inside and one of the three windows is now covered with plywood. They would all be done except the battery pack on my portable drill ran out of juice. Will put up the remaining two this morning. I'm not that afraid of flying debris hitting the windows. The windows are aluminum and as anybody who lives here knows, it is impossible to install them leakproof. Don't ask.
On the homefront, plastic furniture has been stowed, plants put in safe places and the boards are waiting to go up on the ocean facing windows. The wind will drive the upcoming rain through every little crack it can find in the windows. Better to have them covered to help deflect as much water as possible.
I was somewhat surprised yesterday to find the grocery store so deserted. No panic. Not many shoppers. Nobody stocking up. I imagine today will be different though. Interestingly, the only area of the store almost depleted of product was the potato chip/snack aisle. Probably all snatched up by tourists as the only portable food source they know!
I think we are in between leading bands of IDA at the moment. Waves are cresting out front at around 5-6 feet but only the foamy surge makes it to shore. I can see a bit of blue appearing on the horizon this morning. A welcome sight. We have a constant wind. Not a breeze but nothing to be concerned about at this point. (until I try to carry large pieces of plywood later!)
The eye of IDA is due to pass us sometime around 1pm tomorrow. I hope so. Most of these storms hit us during the night. I hate not being able to see what is going on.
So, not to worry. We are doing fine and are well prepared for anything that IDA brings our way. Have a nice weekend. I'm sure mine will be interesting!
We got the cabana almost all battened down. Furniture is up on blocks, plastic furniture placed inside and one of the three windows is now covered with plywood. They would all be done except the battery pack on my portable drill ran out of juice. Will put up the remaining two this morning. I'm not that afraid of flying debris hitting the windows. The windows are aluminum and as anybody who lives here knows, it is impossible to install them leakproof. Don't ask.
On the homefront, plastic furniture has been stowed, plants put in safe places and the boards are waiting to go up on the ocean facing windows. The wind will drive the upcoming rain through every little crack it can find in the windows. Better to have them covered to help deflect as much water as possible.
I was somewhat surprised yesterday to find the grocery store so deserted. No panic. Not many shoppers. Nobody stocking up. I imagine today will be different though. Interestingly, the only area of the store almost depleted of product was the potato chip/snack aisle. Probably all snatched up by tourists as the only portable food source they know!
I think we are in between leading bands of IDA at the moment. Waves are cresting out front at around 5-6 feet but only the foamy surge makes it to shore. I can see a bit of blue appearing on the horizon this morning. A welcome sight. We have a constant wind. Not a breeze but nothing to be concerned about at this point. (until I try to carry large pieces of plywood later!)
The eye of IDA is due to pass us sometime around 1pm tomorrow. I hope so. Most of these storms hit us during the night. I hate not being able to see what is going on.
So, not to worry. We are doing fine and are well prepared for anything that IDA brings our way. Have a nice weekend. I'm sure mine will be interesting!
Friday, November 06, 2009
Time To Get Started
When I heard yesterday that IDA was going to be a tropical storm or depression, not a hurricane, when she passes by, I stopped worrying a bit. Silly me.
Most, if not all of, the forecasts I have been following show the eye passing us within 20 miles. That means that it might as well be passing right over us. Whether it be TS intensity winds or Hurricane winds, we will get the full force of them. I woke up this morning to a reminder of just what that means.
I woke up at 6 am to driving rain and thundering winds sweeping past the house. Before I could get to all the windows, the furniture and floors near the windows were soaked. Because of the direction of the wind, I could leave the back windows facing the patio open. I watched as a gust came through and picked up my plastic patio furniture and sent it sliding across the cement floor. Potted plants tipped over. And this is only the leading edge. The main winds and rains have yet to reach us.
Once this wave passed, I was able to actually see out the front windows and door. I was shocked by the change in the ocean. What had been large swells yesterday are now furious waves. Maybe only 3-4 feet at this point, but crashing with a warning of what is yet to come. And we are experiencing storm surge. Nothing to be concerned about yet but another indication that one better take this event seriously.
I guess I know what this day holds in store for me. Getting two houses ready to take the upcoming onslaught. Now if I could just find the cats, I would be happy.
Most, if not all of, the forecasts I have been following show the eye passing us within 20 miles. That means that it might as well be passing right over us. Whether it be TS intensity winds or Hurricane winds, we will get the full force of them. I woke up this morning to a reminder of just what that means.
I woke up at 6 am to driving rain and thundering winds sweeping past the house. Before I could get to all the windows, the furniture and floors near the windows were soaked. Because of the direction of the wind, I could leave the back windows facing the patio open. I watched as a gust came through and picked up my plastic patio furniture and sent it sliding across the cement floor. Potted plants tipped over. And this is only the leading edge. The main winds and rains have yet to reach us.
Once this wave passed, I was able to actually see out the front windows and door. I was shocked by the change in the ocean. What had been large swells yesterday are now furious waves. Maybe only 3-4 feet at this point, but crashing with a warning of what is yet to come. And we are experiencing storm surge. Nothing to be concerned about yet but another indication that one better take this event seriously.
I guess I know what this day holds in store for me. Getting two houses ready to take the upcoming onslaught. Now if I could just find the cats, I would be happy.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
I'm Back!
Well, that was a scary few days for me. The thought of not being able to recover information from my laptop almost had me taking to my sickbed!
Thanks to all of you for your wonderful advice. Especially to the primary source of my being able to now have my old laptop back, working like brand new. My island friend Zina informed me of a guy here on the island who fixes laptops. Within 24 hours of taking it to him, I have it back and not only does it work again, it is spotlessly clean!
The problem was more or less what I thought it was and what Steve mentioned. Water and salt. The air is so full of salt right here in front of the ocean that it had clogged up a lot of my connections with salt corrosion. There was also a fair amount of condensation inside, which had to be dried with a hair dryer! All that even though I keep this baby pretty securely covered when not in use. It is a loosing battle against the salt here.
So I hope to be back to regular blogging next Monday. Right now my time is being taken up with transferring stuff off this computer that I want to save and have access to and watching Hurricane Ida. Even if it passes us a Tropical Storm, the eye is expected to be only 20 miles from Cancun. I think we are going to have to board up just like for a hurricane. Winds could reach 75 miles per hour.
The fun never ends in paradise!
Thanks to all of you for your wonderful advice. Especially to the primary source of my being able to now have my old laptop back, working like brand new. My island friend Zina informed me of a guy here on the island who fixes laptops. Within 24 hours of taking it to him, I have it back and not only does it work again, it is spotlessly clean!
The problem was more or less what I thought it was and what Steve mentioned. Water and salt. The air is so full of salt right here in front of the ocean that it had clogged up a lot of my connections with salt corrosion. There was also a fair amount of condensation inside, which had to be dried with a hair dryer! All that even though I keep this baby pretty securely covered when not in use. It is a loosing battle against the salt here.
So I hope to be back to regular blogging next Monday. Right now my time is being taken up with transferring stuff off this computer that I want to save and have access to and watching Hurricane Ida. Even if it passes us a Tropical Storm, the eye is expected to be only 20 miles from Cancun. I think we are going to have to board up just like for a hurricane. Winds could reach 75 miles per hour.
The fun never ends in paradise!
Monday, November 02, 2009
Disgustingly Bad News
Looks like this will be the last post from me for awhile. The on/off button on my laptop has finally given up the ghost and will not allow me to turn my computer on. I won't even mention how upset I am that I do not have a backup that contains my most recent pictures and documents and downloads. I could just scream.
At any rate, the next time somebody is coming down that will be able to bring me a new laptop is after Thanksgiving. Guess that will have to do.
So unless some kind of miracle occurs, I will not be updating this blog again until after Thanksgiving, or November 26. See you all then!
At any rate, the next time somebody is coming down that will be able to bring me a new laptop is after Thanksgiving. Guess that will have to do.
So unless some kind of miracle occurs, I will not be updating this blog again until after Thanksgiving, or November 26. See you all then!
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