Tuesday, 24 December 2024: casa Colibri

 

Our car dilemma might just be clearing up.  We don’t have a car since we drove.  We agreed that we’d learn to navigate public transportation but that might have just been us talking smack.  They say the bus from Celestun to Merida takes two hours but we hear it is really more like three.  Aaargh!  Since we will be here such a short time this winter we really don’t want to spend the money to buy a car just now.  I don’t want the drama of the paperwork involved.  Aaargh again.  

We used the heck out of our rental car.  On the first trip, the car was filled to capacity with our luggage, dog food, cleaning supplies and non perishable items.  The second trip, the car was filled with foods that require refrigeration, plants and three new pumps.  When we got back to Celestun we found we had no water and this time it wasn’t because the municipal water supply was lacking.  The third trip was for a new tv since our old one seems to have bitten the dust.  Didn’t plan on that expense.  Netflix will air two NFL football games on Christmas Day and we want to be able to plant in front of the tube.  

And, speaking of football, the Packers ran over the Saints on Monday.  The crew was at Bostons to share in the revelry.  That locks in the playoffs for the Packers.  Vikings next week.  

We found a new hotel on the Paseo de Montejo, City Express.  Close to Boston's, Home Depot and Sam’s.  We stumbled across a great little Italian restaurant we will want to be sure to go back to La Trattoria.      

Justin has noted that before we had a car and no garage and now we have a garage and no car.  We may have found a short term solution.  Yesterday we got an Uber to bring us back to Celestun.  As I was getting in the car, the driver asked me if I’d be paying with the app or with cash.  When Justin got in the car I told him what the driver was offering.  We took him up on his offer of a price cut and then asked him if he’d be available for other “as needed” transportation.  Our wish list skyrocketed.  We asked Antonio to pick us up here in Celestun next Sunday to take us to town then pick us up on Monday for a few errands and a return trip.  Please, oh please.  I hope this works.  

Wednesday, 18 December 2024: Meson de La Luna Merida

Today was go. Finally.  After changing our flights three times, we were finally at the airport and ready to go.  I haven’t travelled by air much so some of this was totally new to me.  Justin and I rearranged items from our carry on to checked luggage in the middle of the floor before checking our bags.  I was not aware that I shouldn’t have my computer in my carry on.  I forgot to ask what about last month when I only had a carry on.  Then, we both were pulled to a screeching halt in security when we realized we’d forgotten to empty our water bottles.  I left Justin with all our stuff, took the water bottles outside to empty them and then got in line to go through security again.  Thankfully we had plenty of time.  When it was time to board we got on the plane to find that my carry on didn’t fit in the overhead bin.  I turned on my call button and after a reasonable wait I headed to the back of the plane to seek assistance.  The steward told my there was really no problem, they’d print a tag and send it to hold luggage.  Yes, that would be the same place they told me a shouldn’t have my computer that we’d just repacked in the middle of the terminal.  Wait at your seat he said we will collect the luggage when everyone is seated.  We were seated in row  Like a salmon swimming upstream I made my way from the rear of the aircraft back to row 15.  That worked until our seat mate showed up and of all things, he wanted to sit.  A different flight attendant told me to take the luggage to the rear of the plane.  Ok… here I go.  Now I am

at the back of the plane and the steward in leading the way toward the front.  It was quite a different trek as most people were seated.  I got my claim ticket and it was time go go, right?  No, not just yet.  They came over the PA system asking for the individual who had had difficulty in getting their luggage overhead to identify themselves.  Oh, that’s me I think and turn on my call button again.  A totally new flight attendant accompanied by a rather large perhaps security official look at me curiously and say they were looking for a man.  I gesture to Justin and say “yes, it was us.  Both of us.”  They mention something about pushing and now Justin and I are confused too.  They left, still confused.  We should have taken off by now.  Everyone is seated.  They’ve made all the announcements in both Spanish and English and we haven’t moved.  And we still haven’t moved.  Then they come over the PA and say that they are sorry for the delay but “we had a passenger who got hands with a flight attendant and he was denied passage”. They needed to find his traveling companion to take statements etc.  oh, well, that does change the picture.  And here I was offering “ that was me” and “ yes, that was us.”  There’s quite a difference between pushing a flight attendant and being handsy with a flight attendant.  Whew!  We were over an hour late in leaving.  Thank goodness we didn’t have any connections.  

After landing in Merida we got our rental car for five days and headed to our hotel — Meson de La Luna.  I’d always wanted to stay here but since they are not pet friendly it wasn’t possible.  Just thinking about why I can stay here now makes me sad.  

Tuesday, 17 December 2024: Georgetown to Houston

We left Essex Lane about 7pm after a somewhat grueling day. But, we got it done. The house is ready for rental. Justin got the oil changed and tires rotated when he went out to buy a cover for our car; shes now tucked away to the side of the garage. We were ready to roll in our rental car. We left checks and keys with Lisa and were on our way to the Best Western near IAH. 

Saturday, 14 December 2024: Georgetown.

 I had a perfect day with Dellene. Dellene already had tickets for the Preservation Society of Georgetown holiday homes tour 2024.  She told Mike I got to go and that meant he couldn’t. He was ok with it thankfully.

Perfect day!!!   

Thursday, 12 December 2024: 316 Essex Lane. Georgetown Texas.

Green Bay woke up this morning to temps of -1’. Thank goodness we are not there to see it.

We were back in the car and headed down the highway by 9 am. It was a short night before a long day on the road.
We stopped for dinner at RibCrib in McAllister, Oklahoma; it was was most disappointing.

                                        We took time for a stretch at the visitors welcome center when we crossed the state line into Texas. We read about the 1931 Free bridge controversy; I continuing my goal of indoctrinating Justin into Texas history. He might say that I was bombarding him. Truth is I didn’t know this Red River trivia either.

We pulled in to our new house on Essex Lane safe and sound! 

Wednesday, 11 December 2024: on the road… finally!!!

It was 23’ and cloudy when we left Green Bay at 4pm.  Soon, my unfettered toes will be on a sandy beach.
We finished tarping the boat exactly as the noon whistle blew and the snow began falling. We finished loading, topped up with gas and a quick run through the car wash and we were rolling.

The only good thing about weather this cold is no bugs on the windshield. The only good thing. 
We stopped for the night in Springfield, Illinois.  I was determined that we would be in another state before we stopped.

No not my handiwork but an idea for later.

Thursday, 5 December 2024: Green Bay

The Packers loss to the Lions was so disappointing.  The Lions have truly been on fire and the Vikings are not far behind.  We are trying to get ready to leave but there is still time for football!

We’ve been ready to go for almost three weeks.  Except that we aren’t quite ready.  I’ve changed our flight three times. Thank goodness United doesn’t charge $300 for a change like they once did.  We’ve been working at the boat every single day to get the frame complete and to get the cover and tarps in place.  .  With temps dipping into double digits, we just can’t work very long.  We get up and with for the temps to be bearable and go work as long as we can.  Then we go to breakfast to warm up.  Back out there for as long as we can stand it, then warm up in the car and repeat.  Justin has had frost bitten fingers several times and he just can’t stay out there even with good gloves and hand warmers.  Me? I am a wienee and don’t want to be out there.  Some of our days are shorter than others — all are groundhog days. 

   

 

Just a few days ago I took this photo of 
an iris in our yard.  Even the plants are confused.

I’d never experienced a storm rolling as I did last Tuesday. I’ve watched rain storms roll in but this was a snow storm. The wind gusts shifted and within minutes we had two inches of snow on the ground. We were at the boat and it was a beast. 

Yesterday, Justin moved the ladder and left me stranded up top. I threw a roll of Saran Wrap at the car to get his attention but my attempt was for naught.

I would have told you that we’d eaten everything in the frig but I keep coming up with some pretty good dinners out of the freezer and pantry and, all this is without cooking.  Tomato bisque; ramen and gyoza; risotto; pasta.  Justin told Dellene we had only three eggs and mustard in the frig. She suggested we make deviled eggs. 

Monday, 18 November 2024: Hartung

Jeremy was with us for exactly one month   He arrived in Milwaukee in 18 October and he flew out of GreenBay back to Oklahoma City on 18 November. It was a month.   To quote Justin, “The Jeremy experiment was not a success.”  It will be a while before Justin and I can get past the last month… it will take more that a few words of apology and a few dollars of reimbursed expenses before we will be able to get to a point where we can smile. In addition to follow up and PT for his broken leg, Jeremy needs mental health support and he needs to address his alcoholism. I hope he finds the support he needs. Thank goodness all this surfaced before we left him in the house in Green Bay and we headed south to Mexico!  To quote Dellene, “ You spent four hundred dollars to get that man out of your house?”  My reply, “and I would have spent twice that amount.”

Meanwhile, Justin and I are emotionally and physically drained. We are trying to get everything done to leave.  We started several projects that must be finished before we leave.  Projects that would have gone much differently with three people, but… here we go.  

     

Friday, 18 October 2024: Hartung

Justin and I scrambled to get ready for Jeremy.  

Jeremy and Allison have been divorced for almost two years. He has been floundering.   Justin has kept in contact with him and we saw Jeremy in Tulsa maybe a year or so ago where he was living with his brother.  More recently he was living in Memphis with another brother and his mom.  He’s been struggling and we thought we could provide him with some stability to get his feet back on the ground.  He talked about going back to school.  Of course Justin and I would support that idea.  He’s got a lot of skills and he could help Justin tremendously not only at Hartung but also on the boat.  And then there is Mexico.  I’d been super happy to have Jeremy stay here over the summer and I’d be happy to have him I Mexico for a while too.  No matter where he stays, I think Justin will be a good influence on him.  And, he’s a good cook.  I’ll be fine to eat his cooking from time to time.

So Justin left to go meet him in Milwaukee; I changed the sheets on the bed and cooked dinner.  We will see what happens because he’s on a plane headed this way.

Thursday, 17 October 2024: Houston to Green Bay

Dellene came back Tuesday and she left Wednesday.  I was sick and puny.  I was no fun to be around at all.  Thankfully I doo not have COVID.   No matter, our time together is a true gift.  

On Wednesday, still feeling puny and having done everything I could at Essex, I drove to Houston and checked into my hotel.  My team came through for me while I was on the road.  Lisa got rid of the last of the boxes.  (Dellene had got them all free through Next Door and we sent them on to their next usefulness the same way.) Charles oversaw the switch out of the garbage cans.  I guess they think if you have a smaller house you only need smaller garbage cans.  Well I guess I am just trashy and I needed large cans.  Cate was in charge when the new frig was delivered.  It was dented and she refused delivery.  Now I need to reach out to Samsung to arrange another.  

Today I flew home to Green Bay.  Justin was waiting for me.  The frig was full, the sheets were clean.  I am glad to be home.  

Saturday, 12 October 2024: Essex Lane

The last few days have been crazy.  Dellene and I did take time for a trip to Audrey’s in Florence but they were closed.  

We packed and got ready for Alix and his crew on Wednesday.  They showed up bright and early and were ready to roll.  Those guys really do a good job.  Of course there were some hiccups, but all in all, We were lucky. 

Somewhere along the way Charles popped in to say hello.  Later Mark stopped by too. I  almost needed a roadmap to explain to Dellene who these people were who had just walked in to my house.  

Dellene headed back to Austin.  Lisa cleared her schedule and we spent Friday with more unpacking and getting settled.  

We did take time this morning to go back to Audrey’s and found dishes…yes, more dishes.  Now I have white square dinner plates, salad plates and a platter.  Eileen would be proud of me.  

Kristen brought lunch for all of us.  My first guests. Randall was playing golf so Kristen had two hours off.  If I was a really good friend I'd offer to sit with Randall so Kristen could so get a massage or something for herself.  But, I am selfish and I wanted to see her.   Our burgers were pretty good.  And fried okra to boot! 

Tuesday, 8 October 2024: Essex Lane

Dellene and I enjoyed breakfast at Jim’s.   I wanted grits and Jim’s was the place to go.  Then I was on my way to Sun City.  I felt like a traffic cop today.  Cluster with the keys to get into the house…cluster with the property management folks.  But then we got rolling.  

I visited the new house.  I think this is going to work!  Dellene joined me at Winter after a baby shower and she set into packing.  She worked like a trouper.  [Later she told me she was just being noisy and wanted to check out my stuff.  No matter, she packed and then unpacked and set up the entire kitchen.]

We decided we’d earned a break in the afternoon so we went to Audrey’s in Florence but they were closed.  It was a nice outing anyway.  

I took this photo of the shelves in the garage
so I'd know how to put it all back together in the new house.  

Monday, 7 October 2024: Merida to Houston to Austin

 

Today was a travel day for me and it started early.  Luis met me at at the airport at 5:00am to turn in the car then I was on to my flight.  We skirted hurricane Milton on the way into Houston  I'd learn later of the effects in Celestun.

I picked up my rental car and was on my way to Austin to see my Dellene.  She was babysitting 

Brewer;  Mike came home after work; dinner of chicken tetrazzini.  I was home.