Son Jeff's book signing tonight...wish him a good crowd and lots of fun.
Not much happening today...instead of trying to sell our trailer by ourselves, we listed it with a lady in the park, who lives here year round, and has been pretty successful selling units this year.
Good part for us...she looks after everything for a flat fee.
Jets game tonight
and so ends another great day in the Valley
more later...
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Wednesday March 28th
Boring stuff today...some painting...grocery shopping etc.
Last night young son Jeff and his girl Cat were at the Jets game...he got picked as the fan favorite and was up against a Don Cherry look alike. Jeff just stared for 20 seconds, then decided to dance like his life depended on it and won.
Now he and Cat get free pizza from pizza pizza for quite awhile...
Talking about Jeff...his other name is Broms the poet, but still my son and Dad is extremely proud of him as a man.
He is a prolific poetry writer and has just published his first book. It is selling all over the world and he just did a second printing after the first 300 copies sold out. Here is the cover, some snippets, and information about his first book signing at McNally Robinson.
For those of you in Winnipeg who might want to go...Jeff will be doing a book signing and reading in the Atrium at McNally Robinson BookSellers in the Grant Park Mall.
and so ends another great day in the Valley
more later....
Last night young son Jeff and his girl Cat were at the Jets game...he got picked as the fan favorite and was up against a Don Cherry look alike. Jeff just stared for 20 seconds, then decided to dance like his life depended on it and won.
Now he and Cat get free pizza from pizza pizza for quite awhile...
Talking about Jeff...his other name is Broms the poet, but still my son and Dad is extremely proud of him as a man.
He is a prolific poetry writer and has just published his first book. It is selling all over the world and he just did a second printing after the first 300 copies sold out. Here is the cover, some snippets, and information about his first book signing at McNally Robinson.
For those of you in Winnipeg who might want to go...Jeff will be doing a book signing and reading in the Atrium at McNally Robinson BookSellers in the Grant Park Mall.
and so ends another great day in the Valley
more later....
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Monday/Tuesday March 26/27th
Still recovering from the Quince on Monday...but we had to go to the Spectrum Store to get a new digital receiver for TV that comes from cable in the park. They are switching officially to digital on April 10th. I had ordered one online, but as usual Spectrum screwed things up and not only did it not come it wasn't listed to come.
We hate going to the Spectrum Store, there is usually a long wait as they only have one store to service a very large area and it contains many parks. Wasn't bad though about 15 minutes. Got the box...Spectrum has totally mishandled the whole digital conversion and virtually all of the employees will give you a different story.
Came home installed the box, and thought it was supposed to be an automated procedure to activate it. Forget that...had to talk to an agent who had to guide me through the process of resetting the box twice to get it activated. Apparently that is common for at 50 percent of the boxes.
Installed and working now, but a problem...the guy at the store asked if we turn off the power when we leave...I said yes...he said the box will go dormant in two weeks. I said I asked that when the so called expert came to a meeting at the park. He said good question...I said what is the good answer?
By the end he had decided we would just have to phone to have the box hit. The guy at the store said that would not work and it would have to be returned for another one.
I decided I will turn off all the electricity except for the living room, and that way the box will have power the whole time we are gone. Electricity costs will be extremely minimal and we have to pay fees of about $8/mth regardless.
Relaxation for the rest of the night
but still ends another great day in the Valley...
Tuesday morning...Katie and I went to the range to hit some golf balls. We are going to play golf on Sunday morning with our friends Bonnie and Al.
We hate going to the Spectrum Store, there is usually a long wait as they only have one store to service a very large area and it contains many parks. Wasn't bad though about 15 minutes. Got the box...Spectrum has totally mishandled the whole digital conversion and virtually all of the employees will give you a different story.
Came home installed the box, and thought it was supposed to be an automated procedure to activate it. Forget that...had to talk to an agent who had to guide me through the process of resetting the box twice to get it activated. Apparently that is common for at 50 percent of the boxes.
Installed and working now, but a problem...the guy at the store asked if we turn off the power when we leave...I said yes...he said the box will go dormant in two weeks. I said I asked that when the so called expert came to a meeting at the park. He said good question...I said what is the good answer?
By the end he had decided we would just have to phone to have the box hit. The guy at the store said that would not work and it would have to be returned for another one.
I decided I will turn off all the electricity except for the living room, and that way the box will have power the whole time we are gone. Electricity costs will be extremely minimal and we have to pay fees of about $8/mth regardless.
Relaxation for the rest of the night
but still ends another great day in the Valley...
Tuesday morning...Katie and I went to the range to hit some golf balls. We are going to play golf on Sunday morning with our friends Bonnie and Al.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Saturday March 24th Quinceanera Day
Wow....what a party!
I am likely going to have to post about the Quince over more than one day, and will just mark it continued...otherwise I will be spending the entire day working on it, converting videos, uploading etc. Don't really want to do that as Katie and I did not get to bed until 2 AM
It may even be a bit disjointed at times as things occur to both Katie and I. Well those are the excuses...now on with what really matters "Karelly's Quince".
We went to our friend Charely's house in Progreso on the US side, around 5:30. Charely was ready, but her sister Dulce had to go to a birthday party first, so she didn't come with us, across the bridge to the church for the mass. We left our car at Charely's. We are so grateful to both Charely and her sister for always looking after us. They are so considerate, making sure we don't feel left out, with everyone speaking Spanish no matter where we go. The two of them speak very good English.
We got to the church just before Karelly arrived...perfect timing. It is a beautiful church inside as you will see from the pictures that Katie took. The whole mass was in Spanish, but I knew what was happening from my very early days as an Alter Boy. I was an Alter Boy when John Turner, then a prominent Member of Parliment got married at our church. I got $5 a lot in those days, and my picture in Bride's Magazine.
After the church, we left for the Hall, but first all the cars line up and drive through part of the town honking their horns continuously (tradition). You can see in one of the pictures, Karelly got emotional and Charely explained the priest was talking about family and for the parents to think about the job they did with their daughter.
We found out later, that most people invited to the Quince do not go to the church and only to the reception. You can see at the back of the altar on the wall, the woven wall hanging of Jesus on the cross...amazing!
Continued...
After the Church service, we went straight to the hall for the reception. Ahh...thank goodness the air conditioning is on, unlike the day before. The music DJ service was busy setting up their superstructure, with one guy on stilts, doing the wiring and the lighting at the top.
Not that many people at first...but slowly the place started to fill up, until in the end all the tables were full. The original plan was for supper to be between 8 and 9, and then dancing after...but I guess the caterers did not have the meal ready until around 9, when they brought in a large container covered in tin foil.
Erika made the decision that Karelly had waited long enough to be presented, so the plan changed to dancing first, eat later. I said to Charely that I can't dance if I'm not fed and she took me seriously until I told her I was just kidding. She will get to know me better.
then it was the time...So here it is folks...."The Dance"
Well that went rather well, if I do say so myself. Only trouble was stepping on Karelly's dress, very hard to avoid. We had done the practicing with her in blue jeans and runners. She is a very good dancer, and in the Quince dress you do not get the full effect of some of her moves, but she wanted to dance in her Quince dress, and why not, it is beautiful.
When we started our dance, I said "I love you" and she said "I love you too". A good start.
What follows will be some candid still shots that Katie took, she took 155 still shots the whole day, along with some videos.
more to come....
As the night progressed and the music with no ending continued...It was time for "The Carnival" a guy on stilts dressed as a robot and all lit up, and a girl also on stilts started to dress with everyone on the dance floor. Later on another guy with a yellow suit, a green mask, spats shoes, and a red hat joined. He was a really good dancer, but at the end of the night, I saw him to the side take the rubber mask off, and he was just dripping and could have filled a glass. When he put the mask back on he held it away from his face to get some air. I felt sorry for him, but he sure did a great job, as did the other two who never quit.
They also kept giving out props as things went on, lights for the girls heads, huge plastic glasses, boler hats, light bars etc.
I am just going to post random pictures and videos that Katie took...
more to come...
The offical Entrance
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvN1MXgadj-ogtNRpT85oEBeyVNDsg
Click on the links below to watch videos
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvN1MXgadj-ogtNWa28ENa_QlWNW2w
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvN1MXgadj-ogtNVtbSG58LN3zf7tQ
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvN1MXgadj-ogtNQmm8_cOnIi5RRKg
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvN1MXgadj-ogtNZlcHz1A7mo5VaTQ
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvN1MXgadj-ogtNU_Fnd3E1SSp9l1w
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvN1MXgadj-ogtNYW4JuNqg_IjBs_g
more to come
Right at midnight which was the time the hall was booked to, things started to wind down, Charely and Dulce and us decided not to wait for cake, so we said our goodbyes, and Dulce and Charely drove us back to her dad's place so we could get our car.
We gave them big hugs for looking after us, and then it was the 25 minute drive home. Katie and I watched some TV to unwind, and then it was off to bed around 2AM.
Sunday we suffered for that, and we just lounged and rested all day
and so ends another great day in the Valley/Mexico
more later...
I am likely going to have to post about the Quince over more than one day, and will just mark it continued...otherwise I will be spending the entire day working on it, converting videos, uploading etc. Don't really want to do that as Katie and I did not get to bed until 2 AM
It may even be a bit disjointed at times as things occur to both Katie and I. Well those are the excuses...now on with what really matters "Karelly's Quince".
We went to our friend Charely's house in Progreso on the US side, around 5:30. Charely was ready, but her sister Dulce had to go to a birthday party first, so she didn't come with us, across the bridge to the church for the mass. We left our car at Charely's. We are so grateful to both Charely and her sister for always looking after us. They are so considerate, making sure we don't feel left out, with everyone speaking Spanish no matter where we go. The two of them speak very good English.
We got to the church just before Karelly arrived...perfect timing. It is a beautiful church inside as you will see from the pictures that Katie took. The whole mass was in Spanish, but I knew what was happening from my very early days as an Alter Boy. I was an Alter Boy when John Turner, then a prominent Member of Parliment got married at our church. I got $5 a lot in those days, and my picture in Bride's Magazine.
After the church, we left for the Hall, but first all the cars line up and drive through part of the town honking their horns continuously (tradition). You can see in one of the pictures, Karelly got emotional and Charely explained the priest was talking about family and for the parents to think about the job they did with their daughter.
We found out later, that most people invited to the Quince do not go to the church and only to the reception. You can see at the back of the altar on the wall, the woven wall hanging of Jesus on the cross...amazing!
Continued...
After the Church service, we went straight to the hall for the reception. Ahh...thank goodness the air conditioning is on, unlike the day before. The music DJ service was busy setting up their superstructure, with one guy on stilts, doing the wiring and the lighting at the top.
Not that many people at first...but slowly the place started to fill up, until in the end all the tables were full. The original plan was for supper to be between 8 and 9, and then dancing after...but I guess the caterers did not have the meal ready until around 9, when they brought in a large container covered in tin foil.
Erika made the decision that Karelly had waited long enough to be presented, so the plan changed to dancing first, eat later. I said to Charely that I can't dance if I'm not fed and she took me seriously until I told her I was just kidding. She will get to know me better.
then it was the time...So here it is folks...."The Dance"
Well that went rather well, if I do say so myself. Only trouble was stepping on Karelly's dress, very hard to avoid. We had done the practicing with her in blue jeans and runners. She is a very good dancer, and in the Quince dress you do not get the full effect of some of her moves, but she wanted to dance in her Quince dress, and why not, it is beautiful.
When we started our dance, I said "I love you" and she said "I love you too". A good start.
What follows will be some candid still shots that Katie took, she took 155 still shots the whole day, along with some videos.
 |
| This is Eric...the youngest that we sponsor...he is a fun kid...along with his date for the night |
 |
| Standing by the dessert table...with Karelly's Eiffel tower as the centrepiece |
 |
| just a cute little one |
 |
| some more little ones with their own dance |
 |
| Our friend Charely and yours truly and our tripod ready for the dance |
 |
| speaks for itself |
 |
| Karelly making her first entrance with Mom and Dad |
 |
| The boys...who spend a lot of time supporting her for the dance |
 |
| Karelly and Dad |
The last doll is another one of those traditional symbols that packs a great deal of meaning. The last doll, or ultima muneca, represents the quinceanera leaving behind her childhood and the toys of a young girl in exchange for more grown-up interests fitting a young woman. The last doll can be given by the padrinos or parents.
At the reception, it is tradition for the quinceanera to give her doll to a younger sister or cousin. She may also pass her doll to her mother if she has no younger family member to receive it. Another tradition that some quinceanera's add is the tossing of the childhood doll to the young girls at the party. It is a custom that the Karelly receive her last doll from her father.
 |
| The family...Livy who is 11 is on the right |
 |
| Livario's Dentist who practices in Nuevo Progreso for 8 years. He was educated in Monterrey and that education for a dentist is said to be better than the USA. Livario introduced him to us, and we had a nice chat, he is a very nice guy. |
 |
| Erika's sister Katty and her little one Derrick |
 |
| Karelly's friends |
 |
| Karelly along with our friends Charely and her sister Dulce |
 |
| Karelly and Jorge (the choreographer) |
more to come....
As the night progressed and the music with no ending continued...It was time for "The Carnival" a guy on stilts dressed as a robot and all lit up, and a girl also on stilts started to dress with everyone on the dance floor. Later on another guy with a yellow suit, a green mask, spats shoes, and a red hat joined. He was a really good dancer, but at the end of the night, I saw him to the side take the rubber mask off, and he was just dripping and could have filled a glass. When he put the mask back on he held it away from his face to get some air. I felt sorry for him, but he sure did a great job, as did the other two who never quit.
They also kept giving out props as things went on, lights for the girls heads, huge plastic glasses, boler hats, light bars etc.
I am just going to post random pictures and videos that Katie took...
more to come...
The offical Entrance
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvN1MXgadj-ogtNRpT85oEBeyVNDsg
Click on the links below to watch videos
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvN1MXgadj-ogtNWa28ENa_QlWNW2w
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvN1MXgadj-ogtNVtbSG58LN3zf7tQ
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvN1MXgadj-ogtNQmm8_cOnIi5RRKg
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvN1MXgadj-ogtNZlcHz1A7mo5VaTQ
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvN1MXgadj-ogtNU_Fnd3E1SSp9l1w
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvN1MXgadj-ogtNYW4JuNqg_IjBs_g
more to come
Right at midnight which was the time the hall was booked to, things started to wind down, Charely and Dulce and us decided not to wait for cake, so we said our goodbyes, and Dulce and Charely drove us back to her dad's place so we could get our car.
We gave them big hugs for looking after us, and then it was the 25 minute drive home. Katie and I watched some TV to unwind, and then it was off to bed around 2AM.
Sunday we suffered for that, and we just lounged and rested all day
and so ends another great day in the Valley/Mexico
more later...
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