Sending you a virtual vacation :)

http://tacogirlblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/caye-caulker.html

enjoy

A few months back I started a blog on blogger site and the response has been overwhelmingly good. Since I started tracking in June, I have had 2223 visits and 912 unique visitors. It has been viewed in 5 countries so far and every state but Alaska. http://tacogirlblog.blogspot.com/ Going for world wide readership :)

Island life

We have some relatively last minute company coming tomorrow and needed to find something to make our cot a bit more comfortable.

Well that is easier said than done when you live on an island.

We measured the size we needed for our cot 30 across x 71 inches long.

The first solution that came to mind was to check a local store that makes nice covers for beach chairs. I knew they could make something decent. I called them up Monday and yes she could do something in time but it would cost us $200. Now I know they use good foam and special sun resistant fabric and so it would last long, but that price was still out of our budget.

So today we go off to check a few stores. War Paint had blow up mats but the sizing was a bit too big though the price was decent. Next stop Harmouch hardware. They had a better size blow up mattress even cheaper and we were set to buy it only they had no pump. We were going to buy a piece of foam from them but they would not cut it for us. Said they had never done that and did not know how.

By this point I new Paul was getting frustrated so I told him to go on home with the laundry and I would figure it out.

Onto Castillo’s I go. They had 3 inch foam there and were willing to cut it for me.

So guy helping me gets a ladder climbs up to top of racking to get my foam. He puts it on the floor right in the front area of the store and measures it nicely then he proceeds to start cutting it with his pocketknife. The first part cut off to make the length right was ok but a bit choppy.

Then he proceeded to measure the width and start cutting. A few guys came around offering suggestions and a smaller exacto knife which did not work. So back to the pocket knife and someone else started cutting (hacking) it.

Needless to say the foam looks like it was chewed by a dog.

Another guy that worked there came along and told them they should have been using a big size exacto knife.

They seemed to feel bad about it and offered to take it home for me in their truck. The original guy who was helping me rushed it out the door before I had even paid for it.

So off I go walking home thinking the foam will beat me there and Simon stops to give me a ride to pampered paws, which is 2 doors away from me.

Well Castillo’s truck pulls up in front of us by our place and bunch of guys on back hooting and hollering having a good old time.

So I get out of Simons cart and walk around their truck and there is guy who cut my foam with his pocket knife standing there holding my 2 pieces.

I thanked him and brought it upstairs. I had to laugh, and the whole experience cost me only $80 bzd.

January 3, 2007

Today is our 1-year anniversary here on the Island of Ambergris Caye off the coast of Belize.

Looking back through the year so much has happened. I do not remember off hand if I made any specific resolutions last year other than to enjoy life, which I certainly did.

We got a great apartment.
Started envision magazine.
Met tons of great people, made new friends.
Took a short adventure to Mexico to meet family.
Volunteered for Holy Cross School.
Applied for volunteer permits (still waiting).
Moved to end apartment right beside the one we were in (has 2 extra windows and we love it).
Closed down and ended shared house in Toronto.
Made plans to start a Tai Chi group when life was a little less busy (after holidays).


As we move into the New Year I want to…

Sort out or volunteer permits (can do that as of Jan 6)
Apply for our residency.
Continue to meet new people (I have a file of who is visiting when, and it is filling up fast)
Spread the word and make a bigger difference for Holy Cross school somehow
Travel more around Belize and neighbouring areas.
Exercise more
Eat healthier
Drink more water

Healthy Choices

Lately I have been thinking more so in terms of making healthy choices. To me this means, not only what I am choosing to put in my body, how I exercise or how I care for
my outer shell. It also means what I am thinking, where I go, and who I am spending time with. The whole shebang.

I have been paying closer attention to my feelings and the types of connections I am making with the people I am meeting. Sunday Paul and I were on our way out for a bite to eat with Keli and ran into Lara on the street, which led us to people watching at BC’s on the beach. It was like a mini movie interacting with everyone and watching what was happening. We met some really great people and listened to Dennis Wolfe’s band.

As part of my healthy choices I have been listening to the how to improve your luck cd. www.efflearn.com daily and I am finding it very useful for focus on what I am attracting, and cultivating feeling lucky daily.

I know that exercise is a missing ingredient for me so yesterday I tried to track down Master Lee yesterday to inquire about doing tai chi classes with him, but he was on a trip to Costa Maya. I was doing some falun and I found it difficult to stay motivated without being in a class. If Master Lee does not pan out I will have to make a better defined schedule for doing falun and stick to it.

In taking care of my outer shell (and inside), I recently got some medicinal grade coconut oil for my skin and I just love it. This stuff is so good you can use it topically and internally for skin, deodorant, hair, intestines, and thyroid to name a few. I am using it to help clear my rosacea as well as taking a few spoonfuls a day. Peter said it will take 3 months of use daily 3 x a day. In addition to using the oil, I have been giving focus to what results I am looking for as well.

The coconut oil feeds and tends to the right body bacteria that are our
natural partners in maintaining body and skin health. Probiotics, for the skin re-establishing proper skin ecology becoming natural working with our many tiny symbiotic partners. The coconut oil also supplies vital nutrients for the skin cells such as Vitamin E. (from my medicine man who makes the oil)

Coconut oil is probably one of the main reasons people in tropical climates can spend so much time in the sun and not suffer from skin cancer. Coconut oil has wonderful antioxidant properties that protect the skin from free radical damage. Also, when coconut oil is consumed and used topically on our skin, it helps our bodies absorb other nutrients more effectively as well, such as Vitamin E, another powerful antioxidant nutrient that protects the skin. (from internet)

It should be noted that when reports like this are made in our discussion group, invariably some will try using Virgin Coconut Oil exclusively as a sunscreen and go out and get burned! Some have even reported that sometimes the coconut oil works wonderfully as a sunscreen, while at other times they seem to get burned. It seems that the oils you put into your body are just as important as what you onto your body in regards to sun protection. We have found that if one eats foods loaded with polyunsaturated oils, generally they will burn more in the sun. It is theorized that when one eats foods cooked in polyunsaturated vegetable oils, often with trans fatty acids, that one is putting oxidized lipids into their skin tissue that are causing free radical damage, and more susceptible to burning in the sun. So if you just got done eating some french fries from a fast food restaurant, you may be more susceptible to sun burn! (from internet)

Best of all what could be better than smelling like coconut cream pie ha ha.

What a gorgeous day today. The sun is shining and there is a breeze on the balcony. It is putting me in a fabulous mood. I am feeling a bit restless siting here and ready to go for a walk about town. I will do so after I finish posting this blog and dealing with the bucket of laundry I have on the go.

I was missing blogging for a while now but was unable to because of travel.

Recently Paul and I had to make a trip back to Canada for 10 days to pack up our shared house that was ending there. What a crazy time that was. 4 days to sell everything off the other 6 to put things to order and visit everyone we wanted to see. (I counted we saw over 50 people in 10 days)

Day 1 & 2 we stabilized at Erin's house, set a plan of attack and then went downtown to put up sale signs that I had Decorated in Belize and finished at Erin's. (glitter glue Guadalupe and peace signs on colorful paper)

Days 3, 4, 5 & 6 sell it all off, Halloween night and begin packing process.

While we were selling stuff off, we did an open house and a lot of people came top see us which was great, My cousin Erin also through a fab Halloween party and that took care of seeing more people we wanted to. We had a donation tin out at the party for Holy Cross School and managed to collect $100

Other than the first day we were there, I think Paul would agree there was not a time that neither of us were not dead tired from it all. luckily we did not get into fights over anything. You know how it can be when you are both faced with a high pressure situation and lack of sleep, it is easy to get snappy. That was a good test to our relationship.

It seems so surreal and far away now. Imagine 4 days to deal with 39 years of stuff and cold weather. I was not sure I could do it but we managed and had some good friends helping us through the process. Pretty much the only time I left the house was to go to get food from rice bowl or Sushi place. Not much time to stop and think about what should go where and what I could keep, so I was just prepared to let it all go. To help me do this I had to keep focused on the goal which was not being attached to my stuff and being able to turn it into a lap top and hopefully a new digital camera as well.

The last day of our sale, there was quite a lot of things left, and so I said just put it out on the street for people to take. Once we started doing thatthe vultures set in lol. People were quite happy to be getting such good deals, that helped make it easier. That night we were packing up,but had to stop as it was going in circles. We decided it would be best to have a fresh start in the morning. That meant delaying plans and not being able to go to my mom's house, but she understood and we promised we would make time to meet up with her and Norm.

Days 7 & 8 clearing out of the house, doctors visit, and off to the farm and back

Next day My cousin came with us to help us attack the packing situation. It looked like a bomb exploded in the packing room. Patrick also showed up to get a few things I was leaving for him. Lucky for that as we needed his help to get everything to Mississauga as our cherokee was too full. I was able to book in at the doc around the corner as well and we just kept checking with them as to when they were ready for me. I would have gone crazy if I had to sit in the waiting room.

While Paul was checking down the road about a change of address, he managed to find a lap top for me to look at. (we had some picked out from fliers my brother brought us but I was not really wanting to deal with too much choice) I went with Paul to sigh the change of address forms, and check out the lap top. I did not think it was the right one, but reminded him I wanted to get a cordless mouse across the road. We got to talking with the guy and he has a great deal on an acer with a built in web cam, it was perfect and so easy.

We managed to get cleared out of the house, and headed back to Erin's to unload before going to Paul's parents farm. It was nice to spend time there and get to see everyone. But the trip was short and we had to keep going. We drove back to Erin's the next night and saw Paul's brother and gf along the way. Was great to meet her and her son.

Day 9 Seeing everyone we could last minute, ohip office, and final packing

Last day in Canada we managed to meet up with my mom and Norm and Erin's mom and brother for lunch. Then pulled an all nighter with Erin re-packing us again to make it all fit. We had to leave for airport at 4 am.

Sadly I could not get my wooden folding laundry rack in (a very useful item here) but we managed ok overall.

Day 10 early flight back to the Island

 
Reading back over what I wrote it does not even really begin to describe the events thoughts and feelings of those 10 days. I am glad I was able to get something out though as I needed to release it. I wish he had a bit more time as I totally missed getting to walk around our neighborhood and china town. Will have to save that for another trip.

Oct 23, 2006

Less than 24 h till we go to Canada.

I am trying to get in as much enjoyment of the Island before we go. I can honestly say I am not ready to leave and that is a great feeling. I Just love it here. Paul says same.

Yesterday we went to Paul and Cindy’s and had a great bbq. The moved to a new place right on the lagoon. They got a great deal and their place is really nice. Made us think about looking at what is available when slow season hits. We could see barracuda , crabs and other fish in the water. We also caught a beautiful sunset. Paul says he often feels like he is looking at a painting here. It was one of those moments in life where time stood still for a while. Cindy’s neighbour Bob loaned her his golf cart to drive us home, so we got a bit of preparation for being in vehicles lol. Paul said semi jokingly he dos not want to drive on the highway and will take the long way to places when in Canada. I do not think people totally understand how different life is here till they are able to experience something like this first hand.

We went to Island Perk this morning after paying a few bills and dropping off laundry. First bills for our new apartment and we were quite pleased both water and hydro were $20 bzd each and change (½ that for American) We met someone at Island Perk who just sold their house in the states moved here with his wife. I am not surprised how many people come here and fall in love and end up moving here or visiting again and again.

I was going back into town to get the laundry and decided to take the beach. I could not help stopping to walk in the water for a bit, it was so warm like a bath. I was wishing I had my suit on and could go for a swim.

I am watching spongebob and waiting for Paul to get home so we can go to the school and drop some more school supplies off and go for lunch on the beach. Got 6 of 15 things crossed off our to do list.

An island adventure.

We went to Pedro’s last night to celebrate. Paul finished the magazine and we had made plans to meet LIttleEngine / Christine who was visiting here from Toronto. She stopped by our apt during the day to drop off some school supplies she had brought for Holly Cross and we decided to meet at Pedro’s for Pizza.

Little did we know what kind of debauchery was going to happen.

It all started on the way there as we became puddle jumpers going down the back road to Pedro’s. We hit a really big one and I was slowly going around it on a patch of greenery. Paul bypassed me and I decided it was better to try the other side of the road near he fence. Well he kept right on going and all of a sudden he was one leg up to his knee in mud. He pulled his foot out and had to go hunting for his shoe.

We could not stop laughing. By that point I was safely on the other side and ready to keep on trucking. Paul found his shoe and we kept going, but due to the mud being slippery his flip flop ended up breaking lol. We ran into Cindy outside of Pedro’s and she was just coming back from delivering a pizza. She sent Paul upstairs to clean off using the inn shower.

After that we had a nice time with Christine and chatted a bit. Then Cindy’s Paul turned up and Christine left not long after as she had early morning snorkelling planned.

Now here is where it gets interesting….

Pretty much right after she left the power went out so we were not going anywhere. If you saw how dark it is out that way with now power and roads full of big mud holes you would know that ordering another round was the best option lol. Walter got the generator going so we were able to get music and some light. I went to see outside and the night sky along with the fireflies was magnificent.

After power was returned. There ended up being 6 of us left. Walter was about to go but since his birthday was today Cindy called him back for a drink well that is when the mayhem began. Jagermeister started flowing (thank God I will not touch the stuff) and we were all dancing. Walter took his hat off and we all got to see (for the first time) his amazing 36 inch natty dreads.

So many hilarious things happened I cannot even begin to tell them all. I will say that it was a fab time, we did not make it to bed till 4:30 this morning after a nice walk home along the beach. I love living here.

Happy Birthday Walter, see you tonight at your party.

It was a great time Mikaila. When you come here we will take you to Pedros for some yummy thin crust pizza. www.backpackersbelize.com

Sept 20 2006
9:38 am cst

Last night we went back to the belikin party and got more peel and eat shrimp yum. Afterwards I heard some noise and could see fireworks from our veranda so I booted it down to the beach to enjoy the show. We are having independence day celebrations here all week and it is nice to enjoy the fun. I can hear the kids in central park I will head down in a minute with camera and see what is happening.

I just finished doing first 4 movements in Fa Gong. Although I have only practiced this technique a few times, I notice a difference already. I can feel the energy that doing the exercises generates in my body, especially in my palms. I also notice an effect of enhanced clarity and receiving more messages.

Today I was not so into it, my mind was wandering, it was / is very hot and  it was hard to concentrate. I did the best I could to finish up the 4 exercises and though I found it hard to be fully present, I could still feel the energy flow.

Sending a shout out to Will for sending me dvd and cd rom. Very timely for me to be practicing Fa Gong right now as I needed to add some conscious movement to my daily list.

Keeping a Daily Checklist is a simple yet effective tool to help you stay focused and motivated.

To print a copy of envision daily checklist please go to  http://www.envisionyourfuture.com/focuschecklist.html

September 16 2006 4:33 pm cst Reef clean up was fun I saw so many cool fish. Managed to get a couple of bags of garbage. Duck diving to the bottom every time I saw a bottle or something that needed to be cleaned up. http://www.projectaware.org/ On the way home I saw a big starfish (dinner plate size) in the water near Ramone’s that was so cool. Someone helped swim it out a bit as it was way to close to shore. I am wondering if it was not well, apparently the couple that was there had tried to help it get farther out yesterday as well. Afterwards I popped into town to see how much was collected from all the dive shops. There was a fair bit piled up. Sad though to know there is so much more garbage that needs to be cleaned up. I always see so much when walking along the beach. Tonight is the big Pirate party at the pier lounge. We have our costumes ready and I am getting excited. It will be a great time, especially now that we are getting to know more people here.