I hope that every one of you had a joyful Christmas holiday and that all will enjoy a great and safe New Year. I can only wish and hope that each of us will get the opportunity in the coming year to visit, hug and enjoy each other. I am still in the US although my heart remains in the Yucatan. I have not spent much time at my home; I'm still vacationing! I will pursue gainful employment after the first of the year. Please update your new books and devises with my info (that's the same) so that we will [View Full Entry]

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Thanksgiving leftovers are finally gone and you've begun daily cooking for your family. Now it's time to prepare for the Christmas holiday. Time lines for the following began the day after Thanksgiving but are now beginning in earnest: * Address and mail the Christmas cards that were purchased from the half off, half off sale last January. * Search, but do not find, the gifts bought in July and August and hidden. They are probably in the same area with the gifts you haven't found in years. * Make list of everything to repurchase. * Call local florist to schedule deliv [View Full Entry]

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Being a Southern Woman is not for Wimps Preface Because of time constraints, this reflection will catch you up to date and fast forward through activities leading to the holiday dinner. I have years of experience in the preparations of holiday dinners. Weather is not to be considered. You simply cannot make plans based on temperature. Mother Nature can be tricky. As a mother, she must have some lingering hostilities regarding her past holiday family dinner gatherings. 1 month prior * Select and purchase Thanksgiving greeting cards for 50 of your dearest family members, inc [View Full Entry]

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I have not spent much time at my house. I'm still on vacation. Will soon get serious about looking for work though. I wish y'all a very happy Thanksgiving. Please be safe in your travels. In line with the season, I am publishing another blog after this that is something that I have published elsewhere. I will not send it to your emails. If you would like to review it, please go to www.travelblog.org/bloggers/pattusa. I will try very hard to stay home some in December and organize a get together for us before everything gets too hectic. Let me know if [View Full Entry]

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And back at my house. Been scooting around Texas since I landed last week. Let me hear from y'all! Want a Halloween party or does everyone already have one to go to? Will start sending out my resume on Monday (sigh), so time later may be limited. Love y'all ! I have had so much fun this year!!!!!! [View Full Entry]

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And I didn't buy more cameras. Don't know if my last week in the Yucatan will leave me time to take pictures. I'm a very busy Texan trying to soak up all the fun I can on these last days of a real vacation! Enjoy! [View Full Entry]

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Today is Mexico's Independence Day. If you read a lot on line like I do, even the 'official' sites sometimes give conflicting information. That is the case with Independence Day. Most say September 15, others the 16th, 1810. This, apparently, is when the true rebellion began, but the treaty was not signed until August of 1824. Enough with the history. This is a cause for a major party!! Everywhere there will be parties! Downtown has been setting up for days now and Governor Ivonne Ortega is to appear on the second floor of the Governor's Palace on the big plaza at [View Full Entry]

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I found info on the roundabout pictured previously. It is called the Monument of the Mother Country, el Monumento a la Patria. I remember now from the tour guide that the whole country is depicted in little squares on the bottom of the monument in individual blocks showing the Mexico states and the nation's history (I can decipher a little more of my scribbling). The research I did this weekend said that as the 'Stroll Montejo' was being built in sections, this monument was designed in the 'imagination' of Yucatecos architechs, Manuel and Max Amábilis, father and son, in 1944 and [View Full Entry]

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Regardless of our individual opinions of immigration, war and our involvement, local politics and all the rest, please take a moment to reflect on the horror, recovery and healing after the attack by fanatics six years ago this date. Let's not judge all of one race, sex, religion or culture by the acts of few. My prayers are with all this date and always. [View Full Entry]

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Susie, Amy and I took an expensive (grin - it was less than $7 US) tour of Merida by tour bus and it was a wonderful adventure. So very much history here in this very old city. It was a 2 hour trip with a 15 minute break and we rode in a trolley of sorts. We were introduced to an avenue full of universities (this town is FULL of them) and medical facilities, a 1600's cathedral that is the largest in the Americas, a crucifix on a church that is the largest in the world, the remaining 3 arches of [View Full Entry]

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