So, it is now a new year. Although most of our blog entries have followed a pattern of date, definition and short story we have decided to mix it up a bit from here on out. Don’t worry, we will continue with the short stories and definitions from time to time but honestly what kept us behind in our blogging was the amount of time it takes to write a decent short story for each experience. I will honestly try to get out 2 a week and then fill the other entries with more photos, thoughts, updates, etc. And don’t worry Kevin and Jess, I will follow up on previous stories such as the Tamale guy, who now has a name, and the continuous saga of Ms.C. Unfortunately I can only write about things that are happening in the now so the stories will grow as we experience them, but I really find it humorous that you guys want more.
We will break down 2007 in a different post, however we wanted to share with all of you how we spent the holidays in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Our very good friend, Stephanie, came to Mexico to spend the holidays with us.
It was incredibly nice to have another familiar face considering Andy and I have been in each other’s company pretty much 24 hours/day straight for the past 90 days. I think there is a reason why the retirement age is close to 65. Before then, the average couple would never make it to see retirement age if they had to spend every waking moment together. Honestly one, if not both, would end up dead. However, retire with your loved one at 65 is not so bad. In ten years you both can hardly remember what day it is let alone compute just how much 24 hours a day really is. In all seriousness, I think considering the nonstop Kirsten and Andy show, we have been doing more than amazing.
Christmas Eve day Steph, Andy and myself ventured out into town to do some last minute grocery shopping and taco eating before Christmas Tree and Presents Day. The air has been warm with an occasional crisp breeze so shorts have not been an option for me. Andy finds it extremely funny when we go out looking like we live in completely different parts of the world; he with a t-shirt and shorts on, me with a wool hat and ski pants. Steph lessened the gap by opting for long sleeves and jeans. We didn’t even make it off the last step out the front door before witnessing a somewhat disturbing scene.
“Oh my god! Is that Tyson’s body. . . . .flapping around. . . .without a head?” I cried confused and curious.
Steph snaked her head around mine to spy down the hill into our neighbors courtyard. Silence for 5 seconds. “I think that guy just chopped his head off.”
“Wow, that’s just a kitchen knife. Our knives are bigger than that,” Andy stated with absolutely no inflection. We continued to watch as the older gentleman with pitch black hair pushed his way through a wall of his children and grabbed yet another white rooster. He laid the neck across a bloody tree stump and arced back his left hand clenching the small knife.
“Absolutely not,” I said quickly changing my view from dead chickens to mountains yonder. Steph agreed with the choice not to watch, however Andy did not and quickly began giving audio commentary on the massacre.
“Oh, oooo. . . .oh my. . . . that knife if dull. Oh, he just wacked the neck three times before the head came off. And all his kids are just standing there, watching. Gross! Okay, let’s go,” and down the hill we went trying to forget about the headless chickens that we just saw hanging out in the driveway yesterday.
I smiled over in Andy’s direction,”Well, I guess we can safely say that their chickens are indeed NOT their pets, contrary to previous belief.”
We managed to drop off The Bourne Ultimatum at Blockbuster, pick up sesame oil and snow peas, catch up with the sausage guy before he closed and shovel 3 tacos a piece into our mouths in record time. We opted to walk home rather than bus it to burn off the bottles of wine from the night before. As we approached the bridge to cross into Caluso I noticed an extremely large crowd gathered around Los Arbolitos, a local 3 story restaurant. I could see a couple of ambulances and policeman but most of my view was obstructed. I saw a small hole between two men and peered through their legs. Feet and a sheet.
“Oh my God!” I cried for the second time that day. “Feet and a sheet. FEET AND A SHEET!!! There is a dead guy in the road. Oh my God! THERE IS A DEAD GUY RIGHT THERE AND EVERYONE IS JUST LOOKING!”
At first we thought that maybe he had been hit by a car or he was just old and happened to die on Christmas Eve, which was actually my preference. Andy was scouring the scene trying to solve the mystery. He looked up at the 3rd floor of the open restaurant. Nothing more had to be said. The iron gate was hanging by just a couple of bolts, there were bricks that had let go from the structure and the table and cloth were very close to the edge, as if someone was holding on for dear life. That man had fallen. We quickly took in what we wanted and continued walking home. I couldn’t stop the feet under a sheet image in my brain and Steph was just about speechless. Not necessarily the best day in Puerto Vallarta, but she couldn’t blame us for not giving her an authentic Mexican experience.
Later that evening we filled our Santa pinata with a crap ton of Mexican candy. I elected Andy to carry it because it was so flippin’ heavy.
Real pinatas are NOT made of paper mache but rather clay. This is a bit dangerous in my mind. Let’s all review the custom of cracking open a pinata shall we? We blindfold small children, give them a long hard stick or rod and have them attack a hanging thing made of hard heavy clay. Hmmmmmmmm.
The reason for the filling of the pinata is because it was our Christmas gift to the Refugio Infantil, a local orphanage that I have been volunteering my photographic services at for the past month. They were having a Navidad dinner for their children and invited us to participate. Steph, Andy, Ms.C and I all went to help out.
For some reason we didn’t take a photo of Steph with the kids? Hmmmm, I don’t know why. Sorry Steph.
Following our time at the Orphanage we headed downtown to have Christmas Eve dinner at our favorite restaurant, Brasil. It is a traditional Brazilian churrascaria, meaning that the meat is cooked on giant skewers and then carved tableside. I loved eating out when I was studying in Brasil and it was just a enjoyable experiencing it was my friends over the holidays.
After very full bellies, a bottle of red and a long winters nap we arose Christmas morning happy, healthy and ready to get our drink on. I had made Swedish Coffee Bread the night before and was in the middle of making Biscuits and Gravy when Steph began stirring the Bloody Marys. Ms.C stumbled down to partake in the heart attack breakfast and mind numbing cocktails and we all just enjoyed how unusually quiet Paso Ancho was. Andy had found an All Christmas Music webstream so it didn’t feel so different than being at home.
Following breakfast Ms.C left to pick up her ex husband at the airport and we decided to open up our presents. It was wonderful and my only complaint was that my family was not here to celebrate with us. Below are some of our favorite gifts from the morning.
Steph and her shooting/Mexican Hat/Booze Combo
notice the full bloody Mary to my right and cat to my front
Andy opening up my favorite gift to him. . . .
For those of you who read the blog. . . . YES! those are dead fish, under a pillow with the lost numbers across it. My favorite online company ZAZZLE makes the most awesome custom TShirts. You provide the image they do the rest.
Here are just a few more of our favorites:
custom jewelry from my Mom: check out Heartfelt Creations by Candice
a beautiful necklace from Andy made with all local shells:
a TWITCH that you can blame all things on like lost socks, burnt dinner, late deadlines, PMS, bank overdraft, etc. Mom got it from the Wesleyan Potters Show.
Swedish Napkins:
I have fallen in love with this series of terribly UGLY stpaintings, from Andy. Does anyone know who the artist is? We can not figure it out.
a beautiful head scarf from Stephanie:
A SWISS PRO knife from the Chambers:
the world’s largest crossword puzzle from me:
another one from me, The Real Latin Book:
A chakra from my little cousins, that they made themselves:
And finally, my family pulls names every year for Christmas. This year my cousin Taylor, 15 and 3/4, had me and made sure that I had my gift on Christmas day. He sent me 2 cds of his favorite music from the bands DISPATCH and STATE RADIO.
Once we finished opening all of our gifts it was to the kitchen for Steph, Andy and I. We had decided to invite a bunch of people over for food around 3 and had planned on 12-15 for dinner. Unfortunately we forget that we are in Mexico and getting people to make a commitment to anything is nearly impossible and only 6 showed up. However, we still had to get all the food ready for our guests, no matter how big or small the list was. Because we were in a foreign country, without family, Andy and I agreed that to compensate we would design a menu based entirely around our FAVORITE foods, regardless of how they worked together. What made it on the table? Shrimp cocktail, stuffed mushrooms, crockpot meatballs, spicy corn chowder, Chicken Lo Mein and Whole Red Snapper. I attempted to make my famous Carrot Cake but we do not own measuring tools of any kind, we only have a giant toaster oven and I was trying to bake in a thin metal pan. Needless to say I had to let go of the cake and not feel bad about it’s sloppy, slippery consistency.
Ms.C and Mr.Ex were the first to arrive already slightly smelling of the bar. Ms.C handed me an unopened bottle of Tequila and a log of bread. Mr.Ex, whose long grey hair and heavy wrinkles aged him at only about 60 after the many years as a musician were factored in, was extremely excited to be a part of our little fiesta. It took all of 43 seconds before the first shot was suggested.
“Alright everyone, I didn’t bring this bottle over to just sit here,” squeaked Ms.C twisting off the gold cap.
I shook my head with a “thanks but no thanks.”
Steph and Andy smiled and shrugged to one another initiating the beginning of a very long night. We had no idea what we were in for, and I don’t think Ms.C or Mr.Ex did either.
. . . . . . . . to be continued.
He had been nervous for the last 43 hours, ever since the secretary informed him, “No Andrew. It is not necessary that we get the last recommendations. You will receive your decision in the mail by the end of the week.”
