Feeling Hot Hot Hot

and pretty much loving it, I mean how often does it get to 88 degrees in San Francisco proper? Not often my little poisson, not often. So I am digging it in spite of my peeling skin thanks to the Belizean sun and the 15 spf, see it dawned on me that I was using 30 spf in Maui last year thus the differnce in tanning results. NOT that I sat out, laid out or stood out in the sun on purpose at ANY time, we just walked everywhere in San Perro Echao as opposed to driving everywhere in Maui (which is a necessity, I fear).
So I'm about to head outside and catch some lunchtime sunshine,albeit in the shade and I'll have my Paradise Gold broad spectrum 30 sunscreen with me. I have no idea how old this is or how effective it will be but at least I won't be out there nekkid!

* Olmec mask/head says "get back inside Mexican cracker woman!"

Back from Belize

Here is my general take on San Pedro, Belize:
San Pedro is a very interesting island, on one side (the non-ocean side) you have golf carts, vans and old trucks crowding the tiny cobble stone streets, loads of new construction, dilapidated buildings and houses, stray dogs, smelly sewers, dust, trash and noise. On the ocean side, facing their spectacular reef you have palm trees and warm tropical breezes, white sandy beaches, clear waters as far as the eye can see, luxury condos and hotels, the docks with their palapas, restaurants, strolling locals and tourists, trash, time share folx and stray dogs. We dubbed San Pedro – San Perro Echado (or slang- “echao”) which means chillin’ dog because everywhere you looked (almost) there was a dog chillin’ in the shade - and really can you blame 'em?
The snorkeling was spectacular, we tried to scuba dive but freaked out, I mean the trial run wasn’t in a pool it was in the ocean – a bit scary!! We may still take some classes in San Francisco and see if it’s something we’ll take to, I’m perfectly happy with snorkeling. There’s this one place called Hol Chan (little channel) and it was loaded with every type of fish you can imagine: groupers, tangs, damsels, barracuda (eeek!), eagle rays, sting rays, nurse sharks, we even saw a huge green moray eel! Grumpy but gorgeous! The guide we were with this time had been going to this same spot for years so he knew the sharks and rays by sight at one point he picked up a nurse shark and had us all pet it – pretty cool. Same with the rays, I have to say though, Alfonso, the guide, is a bit mad but it works for him...
It was extremely hot and humid, we averaged 95 degrees with 75% humidity, yeah, bike riding came to a sudden halt the second day we attempted it, we were soaked within minutes and all I wanted to do was come back to the condo and shower...again!
The trip to Lamanai to see the Mayan ruins was amazing, we saw howler monkeys there and Rafael saw a Toucan – I was too busy checking out the monkeys, wah! Overall it was a great vacation, relaxing, active and we got to see LOST! Priorities!!!
I would return only would like to hit Kauai and parts of Mexico first.
PS: Thanks to the stowaways in the luggage, you're behavior was exemplary - but why is Johnny Depp so bruised?

Listen to the Auctioneer

In Ambergris Caye there is going to be an auction to benefit one of their local elementary schools (the building of a computer lab), the event takes place on May 3rd and I'm donating this piece called May Flowers (Flores de Mayo), it's my first acrylic using the "smooshing" technique. "Smooshing", yeah, I think that's the official term!

So those of you in the luggage, hate to be a nagger, but mind the acrylics!!

So looking forward to the airport shuttle pick up at 3 am, actually just hoping I can fall asleep on the way to Houston and not be a complete wreck upon arrival at the final destination: San Pedro! (It's San Francisco - Houston - Belize City - San Pedro) Nothing a Belikin and some yummy food won't cure, right? Right!
I'll blog at ya when we get back, May 9th.
Besos,

The Pack(ing) Pack

Packed, unpacked, re-packed. Looks like the watercolors won’t get too squashed but you never know with Shonna, Anna, Kate and Johnny D in there? “Mind those boots lad!”
We placed a bright post it note on the front door with the word “PASSPORTS” on it because you know, it’s our first time out of the country together and it would be very easy and very possible to forget them. I’ve been to Mexico and Canada, but Rafael hasn’t, well except for Cabo which he compared to San Diego. I was actually surprised he picked Belize this time and reminded him that it was called the British Honduras at one point and that most everyone is going to speak English. Will he compare San Pedro to a low end Santa Monica or Venice Beach? I can only wonder. It’s funny, I try to pack light and the goal is to only bring a carry-on bag but with the TSA restrictions regarding lotions and gels, etc. honey, it’s impossible. So the check in bags are really our gym bags full of sunscreen, insect repellant, toiletries and shoes by the way Rafael is such a shoe whore, I think he needs an intervention!
One and a half working days, one and a half...all of those in the luggage, no worries warm chai and magic cookies are on the way.

Nine days...

Happy that we're in the single digit countdown to Belize, happy that I'm going to donate a painting for the Cinco de Mayo fundraiser in Ambergris Caye and happy that the woman who owns the condo we're staying in bought West of the Fields. I'm taking both paintings with me in my carryon, that's going to be interesting. Crumpled art - the next hot trend!
Still my happiness is tinged with a bit of sadness because one of my good friend's marriage is falling apart, because of the situation with the building I'm living in, because C&C are moving out...sigh. It's ying/yang in action isn't it? It's balance, it's the way of things, it's life. I keep pulling tarot cards for an insight on the building situation and The Hermit has made several appearances and refuses to relinquish his hold. So I meditate and I take all that I know about my rights, I print out images of Hestia and Durga and place them in the hallways and corridors of the building and ask them to protect our homes from eviction, TIC and condo conversion. I've even asked Kali to protects us, and you know Kali doesn't hesitate. It's difficult to leave it up to the higher powers, to Durga, Hestia and Kali but I must trust in them and trust that we are sent fair and kind landlords that have seen and read the fliers from the SF Tenants Board plastered in the stairwell...and regarding my friend's marriage, I think all the fight has gone from her and he's being too passive...it's a complicatedly BAD situation involving a 13 year old child that allegedly is his and all the extras that go along with that, you can imagine.
So I rejoice that there are only nine days left before I leave and I hope the case of Belikin beer I've ordered to be ready in our room upon arrival will ease the sadness I feel for those still thick in the struggle.

More like GREAT granny panties!

Sometimes when I wear the Vicky Secret chonis (in Mexico we call underwear chonis – and the word is unisex by the way) with skirts I get the VPLs and interesting bumps and bulges (and not the sexy kind like those wild and crazy chech brothers, I’m the wrong sex to begin with so let’s not go down that path) so I needed to buy a couple of briefs that come waist high and have the normal leg openings, no thigh high cut this time around. I found a 3 pack of Fruit of the Loom for Her on sale and since the packet was sealed I took it on faith that by having the outside label read “Women’s brief, size 7” I’d be ok. Well, let me tell you when I went to wash the 3 chonis, my jaw hit the floor, these weren’t just granny panties, they were at least Great granny panties! Woooh! I never saw so much pink in one garment in my life, they’re massive yet I decided to proceed with the wash and see if they would shrink (a lot!). Alas, they didn’t, so I tried them on, funny mirror image looking back at me “You are NEVER wearing these to the gym” I told myself, it was almost as bad as seeing women in the gym in thongs getting ready to go work out, honestly, aren’t they afraid of slicing themselves in half??
I grabbed a skirt and pulled it on over the massive pink cotton wonder – hmmmm no panty lines, and you know what? They’re pretty comfortable, hmmmmm, yes, yes, as long as I keep them out of sight, put my gym shorts on UNDER my skirt before taking it off, I think me and my new, pink, Great granny chonis will get along just fine.

Things that make you go "FECK!"

Bullet point list of things that are making me shout "FECK" or "FRAK" (for you Battlestar Galactica fans):

• Our building is being sold
• My landlord wants to talk to me
• My good friends Carolyn and Cheryl that live underneath us just told me they are moving out
• My period came a week early this means I'll be on my period in Belize
• I'll miss Marty Willson-Piper because I'll be in Belize (this has me whispering a soft "frak" as opposed to screaming a big fat "FRAK"
• LOST is moving to 10pm