Grand Bahama Day 4

Ahhhh, today was wonderful. We slept in and had a liesurely breakfast - we have found that Zorba's (Greek Restaurant) is our favorite in the marketplace. We bought a couple of beach towels from the marketplace, got sandwich stuff and some fruit for our picnic. About 2pm we rented scooters again and went to Mayfield Beach. Our beautiful little secluded beach hideaway!
After learning our way around and getting comfortable on the scooter, it was a quick trip.
You have to check out the pictures...they should be on our site soon.

The beach was awesome, between two jetties and a rock reef, the shore had calm lapping waves. The water was warmer than the pool or ocean at the resort, probably because it is so shallow. It was so clear in an amazing shade of blue/green. We saw another stingray (we saw the first at our resort beach) but it didn't get too close so all was well. After splashing around, we had our picnic and laid on the beach relaxing - I can't say it enough - it was wonderful! We talked about making enough money to move somewhere like that and live a simple life.

As the tide started to come in, we scooted back to the resort by 6. Had a couple of final drinks from Neka in the Corner Bar and went back to the hotel to clean up and pack. Later we had dinner at the Corner Bistro (part of the Corner Bar) and said our goodbyes. Kelsey didn't make it out but from the night before, none of us were surprised!! Tony went to the Casino for a bit and I was able to watch little TV before I fell asleep.

Grand Bahama Day 3

Today was great fun!! We slept in a little, had breakfast in the marketplace and rented scooters for 4 hours. This was scary for me because I am not used to riding anything on two wheels but I tried it and it wasn't that hard - a little scary at first, but after about an hour, I was more used to the leaning and technique.
When I was more comfortable, we went all over the place. We found a little hidden beach called Mayfield Beach. There we met a man who has a 'giant Charlie' (full size/giant black schnauzer) named Rock. He took our picture on the jetty overlooking Mayfield Beach to one side and a marina inlet on the other. It was so beautiful!!
Then we ventured on to Xanadu Beach but bypassed it and ended up at Bahama Princess Beach. Very beautiful and bordered by lots of trees. After going West, we decided to go back East past our resort. We went to Taino Beach, an area called Smith Point. This is the home of the 'Fish Fry'. It is a small beach that has calm little waves. Beautiful during the day!

Neka & Kelsey picked us up from our hotel about 9:30 and we headed for the Fish Fry - which is really a street party the locals have every Wednesday. Some places do fry fish, but most people don't go to eat, they go to drink and dance and watch all the tourists party like it's 1999.
We had a blast!! I danced so much I could hardly move the next morning! I even got called out by the emcee - the white girl that can dance!! We got there a little before 10 and left between 1:30 and 2am! We took a disposable camera, so hopefully the pics will come out and we can share the scene with you all.

Grand Bahama Day 2

We slept really late!! Then just lounged around the room. We hung out at the beach at the resort for a few hours, then headed over to the marketplace for a light dinner. We ended up at the Corner Bar around 7 (after which we planned on going to the Casino). Neka was there and just after we arrived, Kelsey, another bartender who works there on the weekend, showed up to pick up his paycheck. Neka introduced us to him and we all ended up hanging out until they closed (11pm). The bar is on the corner of a small square where a DJ plays dance music, so it is a fun atmosphere and good people watching.

So we had fun drinking new fun stuff and made plans to go to the local 'Fish Fry' the next night. Just getting back to the room and crashing was all we could manage at that point.

Grand Bahama Day 1

We went to the breakfast buffet here on the resort and then wondered around getting the layout. We ventured to the Lacaya Marketplace across the street for the resort. It's full of shops, restuarants and bars. We found a little bar called 'The Corner Bar' to stop and have a drink. We met a really nice bartender named Neka and she was lots of fun to talk to. She was working the next day at 4 so we planned to go visit her again.
For dinner that night, we went back to the marketplace and had dinner at an Italian restuarant La Dolce Vida. Expensive, but good. The marketplace faces the marina, so it's a nice area to hang out.

Bahama Vaction!!

Just getting there....we had a few obstacles, but it was worth it! Once we got to Ft. Lauderdale, we got on a 19 seat plane with propellers to take the 30 minute trip over to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. Upon arriving to the tiny airport, we were delayed because apparently there is an 'Anthony Davis' that has done some very bad things in the Bahamas!! I was okay, but Tony has to wait until he was cleared by immigration and customs. He was on the 'Stop List' and his name did not have a code that identified his passport as not being the suspect they were looking for. So we made it and got to the hotel. They drive on the left side of the road and since they import their cars from the US, the steering wheel is on the left like we are used to - so that made it even weirder! We got to the resort and it's nice, actually three hotels on the same grounds so there are lots of amenities. We just wondered around the first night and grabbed dinner at one of the resort sports bar / restaurants. Happy Anniversary to Us!!!

Are You Superstitious??

There are enough things in this world to fear, but I have to admit that I do have a few things I am superstitious about....or maybe I'm just neurotic!?

Today I am getting a hair cut, nothing drastic, just normal maintenance I would say. Some people think this is a bad idea, like cutting your hair when it's a full moon. I don't think or lives are in tune with dates on a calendar, but they are affected by the magnetism of the Earth. Our bodies are affected by the moon cycles and tides and air pressure.

But if it's just a date, then why do people act so crazy? Is it all coincidence and just manifestations in our minds that bad stuff will happen on this particular date?

There are a lot more traffic accidents today, but then again it's friday, more people are off work and the weather is bad - slick streets. The personal wackiness I have experienced today was in the elevator - everytime the doors would open all the buttons for the next floors would not stay lit, so each time it opened (3 times before I got off) we have to repush our floor buttons. Weird!

So good luck to everyone today!!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Say What?!?!

Okay this is pretty trivial...
Why do people talk on their cell phone in the bathroom?
I understand we are all technology junkies (as a matter of fact I am typing this from my iPhone while I am waiting at the pharmacy) but seriously?

In my office building the entire floor shares a bathroom. One evening while I was in there a lady came in from the company next door talking on the phone - it was a business call!!! She was talking about getting something together to send out that night (apparently it was so important she felt she could not stop to pee). She went to the bathroom, flushed and everything all while on the phone with some guy!!

Another time someone was already in there when I came in, talking on the phone. Laughing and joking while she was doing her business!

I can't imagine a call that could not wait a couple of minutes...But if u don't mind hearing the evacuation of human excrement and multiple flushing sounds from everyone who comes in, then maybe you were the person these people are talking to.

I can't say I have not gone while on the phone in the privacy of my own home but not in a public bathroom and certainly not on a professional call!

Yah yah I know there are better thing to think about but its irritating when it happens

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Happy Birthday Brother

No only is this Marty's 35th birthday, it is also a gorgeous spring day in H-Town! I am so glad I left the office for lunch today (most days I don't). The sun is warm and there is just enough of a breeze.

I hope everyone can take a small moment to breathe deep, be outside and appreciate this day. There is so much bullshit in our lives, so many meaningless possessions, so much that we all take for granted - it is wonderful that I found this space & time to be able to reflect and be greatful.

There are many more days as I get older that I feel like I understand less of the world - people are nuts!! And being wound tighter than a geisha's bun, many days I don't have patience for many people, which causes frustration and stress.

But days like today make all that disappear. So as soon as you can, step outside turn your head up to the heavans and soak up some vitamin D for a few minutes!! It does a body (& mind) good!!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Watching my Diet

Today I embarked on the all too familiar journey of weight loss. It has been a struggle most of my life and once again I am focusing on making better habits. Thanks to my mom I know how to eat well balanced meals and I like almost all veggies, so that isn't the hard part. What I struggle with is my love for good food!! And since I am not picky, good food is everywhere.

But this time might be different, if I can stay focused, because I am heading towards a life altering experience. Pregnancy. Hopefully later this year (and thirty pounds lighter) I will be able to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy.

And a large part of being healthy is getting enough rest, so with that I bid you good night.

God bless you all, especially Eli & Joey Bonura, twin baby boys fighting for a healthy life.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Birthday Come and Gone

Another year down, another year begun...this will be a big one!

I actually didn't get depressed this year near my birthday (a plus) and I had a great party at home with friends. I think I am finally getting to a point in my life when I am happy about who I am (and my life) and I don't need the acceptance or approval from people in my life who I will never get it from anyway. I have to thank my Dad for that, although it's really weird, since he has been gone I feel like I have changed a lot, for the better. When he died I have thought so much about him and what he taught me, his life and his passion. He had bad times and good times but no matter what he looked at things in a positive way - even if it was only for show. He always told me that it doesn't matter what other people think - do what makes me happy. It might seem silly now, but not until he was gone did I understand so much of what he was telling me and all the things he tried to teach me over the years. So really it's been a big year already!

Anyway, back to the birthday party - FYI Pot Luck Appetizers was a great idea!! And of course Tony got my surprise cake and this year it was amazing - as always!
Yep that is giant sushi rolls - or at least it appears that way - those are all little cakes and the base is a cake. Of course it's the decedant white cake with amaretto butter cream icing from Who Made the Cake! by Nadine Moon. I get one every year and each time Tony comes up with a new idea to surprise me.

For Valentine's Day weekend we took a trip to Vegas and that was really great! The first night we saw Zumanity which was fun. The next two days we gambled a lot, did well at the Blackjack table and the slots. We met some fun ladies that were in town with a convention and we stayed at a blackjack table with them at the MGM for 5 1/2 hours! In the end we can home with some of our gambling budget (instead of losing the budget and then some). Didn't do much else but we did finally make it to the M&M World store this time!! I didn't think it would be 4 stories but they put their initials and characters on everything!! We hope to make it back to Vegas at least one more time this year...