Happy Easter

My favorite restaurant is in a little town called Bucerias, just outside Puerto Vallarta.  Mark's Restaurant has yet to disappointed.  If you are looking for gourmet meals with a twist, this is it!


Although we did not hunt for any easter eggs this year and we were very sad not to have Cadbury Mini eggs, we replaced our void with sinfully mouthwatering food.

 The only problem with Mark's is to decide what to order.  Do I get the Atun which I crave everyday with homemade noodles, cream sauce and wasabi, or do I try somethign new?

Hmmm, what to do?  What to do?

Then I remembered what mi esposo is for.  This is a story where  two souls become one.  When Mat knows what the plan will be even before I suggest it.  "Yes dear, you order the Tuna and what should I order?".  Oh bless his heart!  And now we are one.

What a perfect Easter Dinner!  Tuna on my end and Roast Duck with Sweet Potatoes on his.

For better picture quality change settings to 1080p.

For a quick hit of art and culture go for a little walk around the town .

 Easter Break here is equivalent to May long weekend in Saskatchewan.  Everyone and their dog pack up and head out for some camping along side the water's edge.

Eye of the Parasite

It's the eye of the tiger

It's the thrill of the fight
Rising up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor
Stalks his prey in the night
And he's watching us all
With the eye of the tiger

For those of you who know me well, know that my mind is never at a standstill.  I always have a song or a chant or a beat going through my head.  While others may think I am listening or am engaged in whatever is before me, the rest of you know that there’s a good chance my brain is multitasking.  Even right now as I type I can't quit singing in my head and rocking in my chair.

Today my song is a good one.  "Rising up to the challenge of our rival......."

I think I  have beaten the freeloaders who have been living off of my intestinal track.  After a 7 month battle I might just be coming out ahead.  Even if it is a photo finish it feels good.  In my head, I run up a huge flight of stairs and then start doing air punches while accumulating massive sweat stains in my light grey heavy terry cloth cotton sweat pant suit.  I use a white towel and my headband to catch any excess sweat that drop off me.  THAT, my friends, it how good I am starting to feel again. 


I am adding these pictures as scientific proof that I am not crazy.  Although no one likes to see themselves in a full frontal shot exposing their less then defined 6 pack I feel the need to share my obsessive proof.  My stomach issues did become obsessional.  I would start the day by takign measurements of my stomach, then I would take pictures, log my daily data and begin researching what might be going on.  I was grasping at straws so keeping track of my daily progression was the only way I could feel somewhat in control.  

earlier am

late in the day

evening

If you can believe it, this is how my stomach looked for the last 7 months and it is now starting to get back to normal.  I would go from a semi-normal stomach in the very early am's to a very painful and dissented stomach throughout the day.  So not only did my stomach get bigger and bigger but it would fluctuate up to 5 inches in a day.  By the end of the day it felt like a sausage casing waiting to explode open.   The good news is that I believe it is finally "winner, winner, chicken dinner" time.

"And the last known survivor......."

The tough part about being a winner is not letting it go to your head.  Mat keeps reminding me to take it one day at a time.  I have been disappointed in the past when I thought I found a solution to my problem, only to realize it was just a lion in sheep’s clothing.   So instead of going on a wild rampage of celebrations we are taking it one day at a time by enjoying some paddle board surfing.



























Our new love.  It looks so calm and relaxing, and it is, as long as you stay out of the waves.  But it’s hard to resist playing in the water. 

We start by a nice little paddle in the early morning, when the sun has just come up. No wind, no people, just you, the ocean and the bright sun warming you up. 

Catching your balance is not as easy as it looks but one can get the hang of it pretty quickly by keeping you paddle in the water and having a little rhythm.  Break time requires lying down on the board in the middle of the blue.  Talk about a surreal moment.

Break's over.  It's time to head out to the waves to learn how to ride one.  Same principle as surfing; read the wave, paddle, get low and hope you can fall with some grace and dignity.  Although, as I have learned, keeping grace and dignity may not be an option, so cross you fingers and hope no one is looking.  

And Everyone in Between

We have our desktop set on a random slideshow for our screen saver.  Every so ofter the screen flips to the various pictures we have taken over the years and it never fails to bring up good memories.  This time it spurred me to blog about more good times we had in the middle of our revolving visitors door.  Here's to the ones who kept us company after Christmas and before February break.
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Rolling with the Fiedellecks and Rislings has definitely ruined us when it comes to traveling! Carol, Gerry, Ed and Glenda sure know how to pick the best spots to set up shop, dine and sun bathe!  Thanks to them, gone are the days of 2 star hotels and low budget gigs.  Which also means that they will have the burden of having us tag along wherever they go.  Gerry, Carol, Glenda and Ed, come back!!! I beg of you.   We want tuna from Mark's!

Mat's family Inc. who never fail to wine and dine us!  Their top floor  condo over looks the city of PV on one side and the beach on the other.  And if your need a clearer view you can just call up the bell boy to come spritz your glasses and shine them up for you.  


Jackie and Dallas

I think that it was hard for anyone to get a word in edge wise with all the laughing we had this night.  Or as Dallas tells it, above my constant chattering.  I just couldn't stop,  I was way too over stimulated.


 I love this picture though. Its one of my favorites.  It's pure and simple.   It truly captures the beauty of  my long time friend, Jackboy, and as much as I hate to admit it,  the charm and wit of her husband Dally,  my arch nemesis.

Jackboy, Jody, Tara


A month before these guys arrived, Jody's mom was in PV on vacation.  She was walking along the beach when a wave jumped up, grabbed her glasses, pushed her over and left her blinded on the beach.


Image the surprise to us all, when Jody's meticulous detective skills found his mom's glasses on the beach.  It appears they washed up on shore with only a few scratches.  

Jackie and I hate Tara's 6 pack abs.  We think she would be a lot easier to like if she sported a beer belly like us!

Put it away Jody. Nobody wants to get hurt.

Gerry does one hell of a fish fry.  He fed the whole village with his catch of the day.

And I can not forgot to mention our nastiest visitors, who humbly made their home inside my stomach. They stayed with us for around 6 months.  I am desperately hoping that this time they have checked out for good, as my stomach is out of space and I can not afford maternity wear.


 There was one upside to my little visitors.  They provided me with the ease of using the fast lane at the grocery store, which is reserved for the elderly, the sick and the pregnant.    I indeed filled the sick quota and if anyone had any doubt they would just chalk it up to 5 months of pregnancy.  

I found out later that the reason for my visitors to stay so long was due to the optimal environment I provided for them. Apparently my high fiber, lean protein and abundant supply of green leafy vegetables diet, was an all inclusive vacation with an added fiesta that wouldn't stop rockin'.

  So , on the advice of a good friend of mine, who is also a health fanatic, I decided to trade in my old habits for new ones.  I tried the Carl's Jr. diet combined with the Resting Heart Rate Exercise Program.  Unfortunately for me, I lasted one day on this regimen......My natural dose of daily endorphins sent me into a full blown withdrawal attack.   So I had to go back to the Insanity Program.

Yes, it felt like, "ding, ding, ding, put a fork in it, I'm done!"

Sorry to dissapoint you all, but this is NOT the belly of someone who is carrying a baby.  Life form yes, baby NO.  Unfortunaley the life form(s) are parasites.  YUCK!  I know, tell me about it!  Can you imagine?  Just my luck!  A germ-aphob.´s worst nightmare on steriods.

Still had to go buy maternity wear, just to fit over my parisite bump.  Maybe, I could market a new brand of clothing.