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 |  The world from a short person's POV - not Australia or New Zealand. |
Random thoughts, pointed comments, and whatever else crosses my mind 
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| "The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is." C.S. Lewis Well, this is it. We will be heading to the airport around noon to catch our flight home. So we took the time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the Sea Side Cafe and a walk around the resort. Then back to our room to finish last-minute packing. The trouble with traveling to a summer destination from an early spring location and back again is wearing clothes that work in both locations. We had to wear long pants and layered tops when we left Dulles Int. (Happy airport, transportation, and room were well air-conditioned). Now we have to do the same going back and hope that it isn't too cold at Dulles Int. since we will have to walk to the bus and then the car to start our trip home (late at night). Since we had some time to kill before getting the van to the airport, we stopped at the Preferred Lounge for one last margarita and do our final check out. Check-out was simple and the van was right on time so we had plenty of time to get through customs and get our boarding passes. I highly recommend using the assistants at the airport to check you in and take care of your luggage. We breezed through the process in no time, gave our assistant $4.00 for his service and separated happily. Since we had to wait to board, we got lunch at Margaritaville Cafe in the airport. The prices were ridiculous but we shared a club sandwich (would have fed a family of 4) and one last margarita since we know we would not get anything else to eat until we got home (around midnight). The flight was uneventful, which is always a good thing in my mind. There were empty seats this time so we sat together without another person in our row. Getting through the airport was a breeze that we didn't expect. The worst part was the walk "forever" to get to customs since they had closed off most of the entrances. We didn't even have to stand in line to get to the customs window. They ask if we had traveled anywhere other than Mexico, like China or Italy. We said no, they took our picture and said good-bye. How simple was that !!! I have never been in and out of an airport so quickly with so little fuss. Since everything this day had been on time, we decided to stop off at my daughter's house to pick up Macy, our dog. Our son-in-law stayed up for us (daughter and granddaughter had to make an emergency trip to Indiana). Not sure who was happier at getting back together, Macy or my husband. Anyway, it was almost midnight before we walked in the door. Luggage unloaded, quick dog walk then off to bed. It was a wonderful trip that we very much enjoyed. It was sad to leave but will hold a lot of great memories of being in "paradise" for at least a few days. We are hopeful that we will be able to head back to Mexico or Costa Rico sometime next year. So for now, we are doing like most everyone else, "sheltering in place." Maybe that will be my next blog, what it is like living a different reality. |
| "Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted." John Lenon After reviewing our fourth day at Secrets Akumal, this quote from John Lenon put today into perspective. Some would say we wasted the day because we did not plan any activities or spend time touring sites outside the resort. A part of me felt the pull to plan and accomplish something but then again, it was a learning experience in and of itself just to let the day happen. So, after a leisurely breakfast at the Sea Side Cafe, we took a long walk through the resort to, of course, the Coco Cafe. The resort is quite large with meandering paths. We often had to ask staff how to get to a particular location or restaurant. The nice thing was even the groundskeepers knew where everything was and would give us directions or walk us to where we wanted to go. By now though, we knew the way to the Coco Cafe, one of our favorite stops anytime of the day. We sat outside next to the pound and visited with a woman from Leads, England. She told us that they will have to go through Paris to get back home and were worried that they would be made to quarantine for 14 days there. (I hope they made it home alright.) We did a little more shopping (need to consider space in our luggage), then headed back to our room to change for the beach. We really enjoyed spending time walking in the ocean and laying in the shade (I can't do direct sun) people watching. Then it was back to our room to change and look for a restaurant that served ceviche. We were told that the Market Cafe was the only one with this fish dish on the menu so we headed out to locate it. It took asking a few people for directions but we got there and were seated on the outside patio. This is a buffet-style restaurant with just too many choices...for me, that is. But I limited myself to ceviche, sushi, and chips served with champagne. Well, it is an all-inclusive resort and we are on vacation.  During lunch we visited with a couple from Ireland. We really had to pay attention to what they were saying because of their accent. I find it very interesting that so many people from Europe vacation in Mexico and other parts of the Carrabeian. Apparently, they can find really good travel deals.Back to the room for some reading then a dip in the pool, nap and time to change for dinner. We had this huge bathroom with double closets and a large ottoman that made all this changing easy. ( Obviously, I don't as a rule change three or four times a day on a regular basis)   Dinner tonight was in the Wine Cave where all the wines for the resort are housed. Being "winers" this was a real treat for us. The five-course meal was paired with different wines and the chef and the wine steward explained the reason for each pairing. We had bone marrow tacos for the appetizer. I would never have said that I would eat bone marrow but the taco was delicious. (We always try to eat something different when we travel.) The meal took two hours and we enjoyed every minute of it. By then we were ready to stop at our favorite cafe for a latte and head back to our room. Another day "wasted" in paradise. Well not really wasted in my mind. |
| "We have the capacity to receive messages from the stars and the songs of the night winds." Ruth St. Denis Today I got up early, very early (5:00 a.m.) and stepped outside onto the patio to experience early morning in Riveria Maya. The sky was like dark velvet and the stars and moon were like bright points of light reflected in the water of the swimming pool. I layed on one of the chaise lounges and drank in the calm beauty of the scene. I even dipped my foot in the pool to check out the temperature of the water (a little too chill for swimming). I'll wait until mid-afternoon to take a swim. I plan on this being my new routine while we are here. Breakfast was around 8:00 a.m. at the Sea Side Cafe, an open-air restaurant near our room. This cafe is reserved for breakfast only for preferred members. The rest of the day it is open for all guests. I love the breakfast here. There is always an abundance of fresh fruit and juices (I prefer the "green" juice). And this is where I learned to enjoy eggs benedict....so good! At nine, we met with the concierge assigned to assist us to review what was new with the Unlimited Vacation program. They are planning to go public soon. That will create more income and include new resorts in different locations with the possibility of different amenities as well. However, everything has been put on hold because of the coronavirus. They hope to be able to go public early next year. We really liked learning that it is possible to bring our dog to many of the facilities and that we have the flexibility of staying any time of year for as long as we like. Of course, it all depends on the availability of funds.  Next, we were off to get a coffee at the Coco Cafe, Ken's favorite and then do a little shopping with the gift coupons we received at our meeting. We bought tee shirts and a few gifts for family and promised to return with our leftover coupons. Now off to the beach to watch a volleyball game and dip our feet in the ocean. It also included a few drinks and a cup of snacks that we shared with the birds. Back to the room for a dip in our pool, and a short nap. By then it was time to shower and dress for dinner. As a special gift, we were given a private dinner by the main pool to include a Mexican wine selected just for us. The meal included an appetizer, soup, salad, main course (steak) and dessert. While all the food is delicious, the desserts are spectacular! Tonight it was a raspberry mouse wrapped in dark chocolate, yummy, yummy. Dinners like this one seem to take at least 2 hours to complete, so after dinner, we headed off for a long walk back to our room. (We received the shopping coupons and several special dinners as an anniversary gift since we were one of the 1st one thousand people to join.) Another great day in paradise and a few more left to enjoy!!! |
| "There is a role and function for beauty in our time." Tado Ando Not much planned for today so we decided to take advantage of an opportunity to visit another resort affiliated with Cirque de Solie. The resort itself was huge with wooden plank pathways through a natural jungle setting. We must have walked three miles by the time we left. Breakfast was at an open-air restaurant situated on a lagoon. This too was huge with a three-story wood beam ceiling. We sat at the edge of the lagoon and fed scraps to the birds (not really suppose to do that, but we did). It was a buffet breakfast and the food was amazing with fresh fruits and breads. While the resort was beautiful and the staff friendly, we decided it was just too big for us, though fun to check out. Arriving back at our home location we took the opportunity to check out the pool just outside our room before a quick nap and then dress for dinner. The resort has a number of restaurants with differing cuisines but for tonight we choose the Mexican style barbeque by the main pool. The entertainment for the night was Fire Dancers! I am glad that we didn't sit too close to the stage. {e Fire} Still it was a delicious, fun way to cap off another day in Paradise. *hart*. Now off to bed and plans for a day to spend relaxing on the beach. |
| "It is not light we need but fire. It is not the gentle shower, but thunder, We need the storm, the whirlwind,and the earthquake". Frederick Douglas With great relief, I can say that we have arrived in Mexico. The trip while it included some frustration... unexpected travel delays that made us take a later flight which then made us reschedule our ground transportation, actually went well. To be noted, you need to arrive at the airport more than an hour early to be sure you can check-in and board on time. Try to check-in online if at all possible to make the ticketing/boarding process work for you. Be sure to limit your baggage to make boarding easier for everyone. That is, decide what to take then rethink everything...do you need three or four pairs of shoes or will two work, how many outfits do you really need. One carry-on and one checked bag should work unless you are going for several months and then remember you will probably be able to do laundry along the way. (An interesting aside, our plane was full of passengers of all ages, some wearing masks but not many and they took them off to eat and drink. I guess it made them feel safer but I don't see how it could help much.) We finally arrived at the resort only about an hour later than planned. We were given a glass of champagne (I needed that by this time) and escorted to the preferred member check-in site. Had a light lunch at the bar there and then headed off to check out our room. Lunch included small appetizers and one bite desserts, and of course, any drink you could have the bartender make. Of course, it could be water, coffee or tea but we are on vacation  .By now it is late afternoon so we unpacked our luggage and put clothes and necessities away. We had plenty of closet and drawer space to play with. Now the issue will be remembering where we put things.  This room is considered an upgrade from the one we originally booked...automatic with our membership. Instead of a Junior Suite with two queen beds and a swim walk-out, we now have a larger room with one king bed and the swim-out pool is just this side of the beach. It is a lovely room full of light from the two sliders; we can feel the tropical breeze and hear the ocean waves. A short break to refresh then we will be heading off to dinner.The resort has a variety of restaurants, each with their own specialties. We chose the Bourdeaux, a French-style one. The restaurant was beautiful with black and white marble floors, red velvet-covered chairs and Toluse Le Trek-style pictures. The food and wine were excellent as well. They tend to serve 5-course dinners but the portions are such that you can manage to eat most of it without stuffing yourself. For a little humor, our waiter brought the "tiny" appetizer and informed us that it was the main course.  The food was excellent as well as the service. Then it was off to the outdoor lounge for a latte. It just so happened that there was a young man there playing the jazz sax. A great way to end our first day in Secrets Akumal, Mexico.It's getting late and I really need to call it a day, so more on our adventures tomorrow. |
| "...I have a thing for making lists. Oh man, nothing beats turning to a fresh, clean page in a notebook, taking out a nice pen, and starting a list. There's so much potential there. So much to do, so little time! So hey, why not spend some of that time making a list." Adam Christopher One week away from leaving on our trip to Mexico and I am in full-blown list-making mode. Since I too love making lists detailing everything about a project or event, I opened up a new section in my "everything" notebook, took out my best mechanical pencil and got down to it. I tend to write every "to do" down as it comes to me. Then I go back and put tasks in time/date order. I leave room under each item to more narrowly define the steps needed to accomplish the task. For example, I planned and confirmed all our travel plans before I hired a caregiver for my mother. Since my daughter was taking our dog for the week, I have to coordinate with her before finalizing our plans. Now that is all done and I feel much less stressed!! (Yes, we have been watching all the news about the coronavirus and bought travel insurance but do not see any reason to cancel our trip at this time.) Now for the lists which I actually enjoy doing. I tend to get very detailed so my lists can be quite long. Encluded in this list are all the daily activities as well as lists of items to pack and in what. I wrote in my desk calendar such items as a conference call with my financial advisor, grocery shopping for mother, dog grooming for our dog, visit from caregiver to acquaint her with the kitchen/laundry room and get her the house key, granddaughter's last gymnastics meet before States (even made room reservations for an overnight stay during States.) At this stage of the game, I tend to carry my notebook around with me to jot down any additional items I need to add to my lists. It seems the more items I list, the more items that come to mind that need to be listed. As I am writing this, I have thought of at least three more items to include and I have realized that I need to start sorting and organizing the "to do's" on my list. Always a good idea to write with a pencil with a good eraser.  These lists include such things as Housework (laundry, clean pantry, and frig, clean floors, clean bathrooms, change bedding, water plants) Oh and I need to make cookies for granddaughter's meet on Sunday. Money Matters (conference call with my financial advisor, get travel money, make sure all bill payments are set up.) For us, bill payments come due on varying days of the month. Though we do all these payments online they are not all automatic so I need to make sure they are all set up to be paid on time. Packing (get summer clothes out of storage and "refresh", put outfits together including evening wear, coordinate outfits with accessories including shoes, make sure I have sunscreen, lotions, shampoos, etc. to include "wet ones" this trip, gather suitcase, carry-ons, packing bags). I know that I tend to overpack so once I have selected outfits, I take another look and try to put several away to wear another time. The trouble is, I like having options; several tops to wear with any given pair of capris or skirts. I do coordinate my jewelry and shoes with outfits, but here I am less likely to overdo it. All the jewelry I take comes from Mexico, gathered over several years and shoes include a pair of white and black walking shoes, pair of sandals for night and water shoes for walking on the beach. And of course, swimwear and cover-ups. We won't have a washer/dryer while we are gone so I take at least two suits and several cover-ups. Because I am so sensitive to the sun, I have to take several beach hats and a cap for swimming. I have new ones this year, so am excited to try them out. I have my "to do" lists itemized and my shopping list ready to take with me for one last trip to Wal-Mart so I think I am ready to move on with my day. Oh, I just finished washing a few pieces of clothing for our trip, and the groomer will be here later today to trim our dog, Macy's nails. I'll look over my "to do" list and shopping list one more time before we head out, but now I think it is time for a coffee break. Please keep reading....the real adventure is about to start!!! |
| "Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." Tony Robbins I guess that I would say that organizing and planning are needed to turn the invisible into the visible in my life. So, after working out where we were going (Akumal Resort, MX) when we were going (March 11-17) and how we were getting there (early flight out of Dulles with a scheduled ride to the resort), I was ready to start making all the other plans necessary. For those of you who don't have other family members or pets to consider, you are probably wondering what other plans...throw some clothes in a bag and go! The thing is, my elderly mother lives with us as well as our dog, Macy. We also committed to attending most of our granddaughter's gymnastics meets (January, February, March). Organizing for the care and scheduling the trip became almost a full time, though temporary job. First: I visited several websites and asked friends for recommendations for elderly care services. It didn't help that my mother didn't want anything to do with a plan to care for her. She still thinks that she would be fine to stay home alone but we have said that just isn't going to happen. We looked into respite care locally but decided that it would be too much of a change for her and too expensive. Friends suggested that we look into home health care since she only needs a little supervision and help with meal planning. These recommendations were very helpful since they came from people who had actually used the services. The best choice turned out to be someone in our immediate neighborhood who was recommended by a friend from our local dog park. Our dog, Macy has introduced us to a number of friendly, helpful people. (Actually, she has introduced us to most of our friends in the area!  )Second: I coordinated with my daughter for the care of Macy. We had to make sure that they would be home during the time that we would be gone. Then we had to plan a time to take Macy to stay with her "cousin" Roxy. Since our granddaughter has a meet the weekend before we leave, we will take Macy to her house the day before we leave. (They live an hour away from us so it takes more planning than just running her across the street.) Third: I am feeling much less stressed now that we have put in place care for my mother and for Macy. However, I still need to transition the house from winter to spring. I decorate seasonally and usually put winter decorations away just before Easter and re-decorate with "Spring" items. Just to give myself more planning time, I started a little early; besides, I am tired of winter and looking forward to Spring. And I am doing a rather thorough pre-spring cleaning since this is the first time I will have someone coming into my house on a daily basis while I am not there. I will be re-organizing the pantry and frig before I leave so that the caregiver will be able to find what she needs to prepare meals for my mother. Ok, so just writing all this out is making me tired. Time to move on to a new activity. But I am not finished organizing and planing so there will be more to come in the next day or two. |
| If you can't describe what you are doing as a process, you don't know what you are doing." W. Edward Deming As is probably obvious from my other Blogs, I like, no, need to feel organized with most all that I do. I am a planner by nature; not a spontaneous person at all. So, I have decided to share this Travel Journal from the beginning to the end. I hope you will enjoy and maybe, even pick up a few pointers, especially if you are a planner like me. Beginning: My husband introduced me to the Riveria Maya Mexico area several years ago. He had worked in Mexico and countries in South America for a number of years before retiring and wanted to expand my horizons...in hopes that I would want to spend more time in the "South." We have been to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic but we prefer the area between Cancun and Tulum in Mexico. We keep saying that we will try Chilli or Peru since my husband still has friends there but that remains to be seen. That kind of trip will take much more planning than I am willing to do for now. On our second visit to Cancun, we decided to invest in a vacation program for all-inclusive stays at 4-star resorts. We have stayed at several and thoroughly enjoyed each one. We have taken advantage of their excellent hospitality and opportunities to visit other sites in the area. They make planning daily events and other excursions easy and you know you will always end your day in a lovely, well-maintained suite with at least an ocean view. So this year, we are traveling once again to the Riveria Maya area of Mexico; leaving March 11 and returning March 17. I hope to someday go for a longer stay but we scheduled this time to fit between our granddaughter's gymnastics meets. It took me a few days and several spreadsheets to figure this out and then there was working with the resort and the airline to make sure we could fit everything into a plan that worked for us. Yes, this is where the real planning started: I laid out all of my granddaughter's meet schedules over a 3-month calendar then selected a week in February that would work for us, but then the resort didn't have the room I wanted available, so back to the spreadsheet. We worked with the resort to select a week in March that would work for her meet schedule and room availability. Fortunately booking the flight was not as difficult or time-consuming since we booked early. But it does take planning and coordination to travel under these circumstances. Now that we knew where we were going, when we were going and how we were going to get there, I started working out all the other details required to make this trip happen but that is for the next installment in this Travel Journal. |
| "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." Mark Twain Here is a good New Year's question for you: How much clutter can pile up when there is the option to hide it? If you are the only one who uses the pantry or laundry room or storage under the stairs do you just toss and cram until nothing else fits or you have to spend most of the day looking for an extra blanket or suitcase? Remember, clutter is clutter no matter where it goes. Maybe you don't have a weekend to dedicate to organizing your closet "again." Or the Konmari Method may not be the one for you if it is hard for you to consider if each item you touch brings you joy, or if you basically have no trouble donating or letting go of items. So what is your particular issue? How do you resist the temptation to purchase all those deep discounted sale items after the holidays? You need more than an organizing plan. You need to take stock of your lifestyle, how you want to live your life. The environment you create in your home, the way you dress (does it have to be the latest, trendy fashion), how you spend your time all contribute to your sense of well being. We all differ in the number of things we need around us and the way they are organized in order to be happy and feel good about ourselves. For me, I need order and calm with a routine that incorporates the regular daily/weekly 'to do's." I like looking at my calendar often to plan and review weekly/monthly activities. I can get very detailed about such things. My husband, not so much. Still, our house/life functions relatively smoothly. People are different. Spend some time and get to know yourself and what is important to you; what makes you happy. Organizing is underrated in the big scheme of things, or is it? If this is always at the bottom of your priorities, think again. In reality, time doesn't get freed up, nothing gets done and you don't find any spare time until you get your life under control. You don't have to be obsessive about having a place for everything and everything in its place or constantly reviewing your schedule or list of "to-dos". You can take minimal steps that will help in a big way. For starters, review your lifestyle and pinpoint what isn't working for you. Now, what do you need to change what isn't working? Do you need to learn to organize (there are a lot of "helps" out there, including my blog)? Do you need to plan better? Why not use a desk calendar with a space for writing down goals and "to-do list." Take a few minutes before going to bed to review these items and write down your plans for the next day. Be sure to plan for long-term events like vacations and recurring payments. Take a good look at all your stuff. Do you really need 20 pairs of shoes and 10 handbags, or 6 sets of dishes or all the magazines you have collected over the last 4 years? What about all the "collectables" from trips or gifts you don't need or use or even like? Pairing down can be a very freeing experience, but more about that later. Here are a few helpful reminders to get you started: Make your bed when you get up. It helps put everything in order and creates a more positive attitude to start your day off right. (Just for fun, pick a positive word for the day; like gratitude, joy, or blessings and use it often, even if just to yourself.) Create zones to maximize space in each area. You need designated areas for things so they don't end up all over. This leads to spaces being minimized rather than maximized. Use appropriate storage containers like the new thin hangers for clothing or containers for specialized items like dishes, trays, etc. It is well worth the money to find the right type of storage container for the items you want to keep. Baskets are always good to keep in the family room or anywhere else items tend to collect. When you straighten the room put miscellaneous items in a basket then help them find their rightful home (family members should help.) Throws or blankets can be folded and kept in a basket. These are quick helps to make a room appear more organized. Yes, enough is enough, even for this blog. I hope you will keep reading and commenting. It is always appreciated. |
| "Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe As much as we love our holiday decorations they only stay on display for a while. (I leave some up at least through March since they can also work for winter and Valentine's Day.) How do you store the things you want to save for next year? If your answer involves throwing everything into a box, you might want to re-think your storage strategy. Decorating a Christmas tree is fun until it is time to put everything back in storage. Suggestion: Purchase a container with individual slots for each ornament. You can check out stores like Wal Mart, Home Depot, At Home, Lowes for these. They are relatively inexpensive and make putting decorations away easy. You'll be glad you used them next year when you find all your ornaments unbroken and in one place. Just make sure you consider the shape and size as well as the number of ornaments you need to store when purchasing these boxes. There are stackable ones and ones that fit on a shelve or under a bed, so give some consideration to where you will store them. There are also bags and boxes for holding string lights. These are specifically made to hold lights together in a neat, orderly way. The ones that work like a spool of thread can also be used for garland and tinsel. (If you have cats and/or small children you might want to consider not using tinsel.) And of course, there is the need to store that faux Christmas tree so it can be used next year. The original box they come in really doesn't work long term. Make sure you get the bag large enough for your tree. You may have to do some checking around to find stores that still have these after Christmas. If not in the stores, you may be able to find one on-line. (I have found that you can find almost anything online now.) Gift wrap, whether you are a gift wrap hoarder or just buy a few rolls at the beginning of the season, storing will go much easier when you use a designated storage container. Some even have storage pockets for gift bags, bows, and tissue paper. They can be stored upright, hung in a closet or slid under a bed. Throwing a wreath in a large garbage bag might do the job but a storage container made specifically for wreaths will do a much better job protecting your decor. Wreaths are one of the more expensive holiday decorations so why not store them properly to protect them for use from year to year. What to do with the rest of your holiday decor? Basic plastic storage bins to the rescue. You can even get them big enough to hold deflated yard decorations. It is best if they are clear so you can quickly see what is inside. It is also very helpful to label them, especially if you have someone help you decorate. Make sure you store candles in separate boxes in a cool, dry location that is easy to access if you plan to use them for different occasions. It works better if you plan an hour or so of uninterrupted time to put everything away. This is also a very good time to look at all these decorations and decide what you really want to keep and what you could give away or gift to someone else (especially if they are just starting out.) Sometimes our taste in decor changes or our living/storage space grows smaller or we just get tired of trying to use the same items year after year, right? So now is the time to do the work, declutter and reorganize. HAPPY PACKING, HAPPY NEW YEAR!! |
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Fire dancers!!! Wow! What fun! You really are in Paradise! So happy you for you! 
But I wish I loved it. That would be SO HANDY! So, I've been working on positive self-talk regarding cleaning. I smile when I say these things and I say them out loud if I'm alone or in my head if I'm not. I say things like, "I love to clean. Cleaning is fun. Cleaning makes me happy. I enjoy a tidy space." Blah, blah, blah...
). 
I'm the prime example of someone who needed her own advice over 40 years ago.