First swim of 2015

First swim of the new year (2015)...

I just had to write at least a short post today and tell about the first swim, and the seal. We're having these warm winds; they're called the Santa Anas. Not sure why but warm wind is called that. It must have been 80 degrees here today! I sweat my butt off during my workout, which was half on the beach and half at the senior stretch.

Too bad I didn't have my camera on the beach this morning, but like I said I was dancing...well Everardo also came down to the beach to throw the ball for Sam & Hazel. We have one of those ball chuckers- long plastic sticks with a cup at the end to hold the ball and you can "chuck it" really far. It's great for me because I can't throw a tennis ball too far. Hazel can outrun Sam and any other dog I've ever seen on the beach (or anywhere else), so when I take them I throw a couple for her, then call her over and hold her collar while I "chuck" for Sam into the waves. Right as he's closing in on the ball I let Hazel go and she sprints out there like a bat outta hell and almost beats him to it! She sorta flattens out low to the ground when she's running like that- we've thought she was part coyote since we got her. I mean- it's possible, right? There are sooooo many stray dogs in Mexico and a lot of coyotes around here; we see them all the time and hear them every nite. She was a rescue puppy, and the rest of her litter looks nothing like her- and I believe a dog can have a litter with multiple fathers. (ok gotta google that- yep just looked it up!)

Anyway she actually caught a squirrel the other day! And how fast is a squirrel?? Everardo was out walking the dogs by the estuary and came around a corner and there she was with it in her mouth- he yelled at her and she dropped it.....yeah kinda freaked me out. Anyway this dog is fast! So you know in the pictures she is the smaller brown dog, right? Sam is the black lab.

Ok so Everardo is throwing the ball for them (he brings 2 and throws in 2 directions- why didn't I think of that!) and I am dancing and I look off to the right and see a lump which I think is a big pile of this sea weed stuff that comes with the tide and often is left behind, but then Hazel runs down there to check it out. Those piles of seaweed always smell good I guess because both dogs spend lots of time at them and then Sam usually leaves a calling card (pees on them) before trotting off to investigate something else...oh I gotta find the pictures from last summer when they found a live crab along the shore- ha ha! So when Hazel gets there, the pile is a young seal. I guess he was just sunning himself because he jumped right up when she got there. She was jumping around like when she wants Sam to play with her, so she wanted the seal to play. He didn't seem too distressed, didn't bark or anything but headed back to the water. She went too, and followed the seal into the surf. Everardo had run down there to make sure she didn't bother it, or try to bite it or anything- she didn't...but as she jumped a little wave coming into shore, the seal ducked into it and was gone. It was pretty cute, the whole thing. Later when we came down for the swim (ok I didn't swim...well I had the camera- that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it), Hazel ran right over to where the seal had gone into the water and stood there looking out- for her new friend I think!

Last summer when Bob the sea lion was hurt and we sat with him every day for a week, both dogs were really good with him. At one point Hazel and Bob touched noses. I think Sam & Hazel knew Bob the sea lion was hurt, and they were gentle. They sniffed and then sat quietly with me while I put water on Bob, and pet him and told him he'd be ok. At the end of the week he was ok, and went back to the ocean. Oh and the marine vetrinarian from the gov't who takes care of the marine wildlife came twice and gave him a shot...she was wonderful. But anyway the seals and sea lions are a part of our beach, the really sad part though is that we see alot of dead ones on the beach because the DAMN fishermen - the ones supporting the damn tuna rings, shoot them. They are not supposed to; it's against the law- but they do it anyway.

I've only seen a couple of whales this year, and really only the water spouting up. I think this month and next are the end for that for the year...so maybe I should start hanging out at the cliffs because they don't come into the bay too much- partly I think because it's not that deep, and the other part is again- the damn tuna rings. Once they finish raping this bay of all the bait fish, the tuna rings will move further south to destroy another eco system, and then it will take about 50 years for the bay to recover. Sad, isn't it?

Ok so swimming this afternoon: Everardo took his fins and mask and dogs and headed in. Hazel came back pretty quick, but loyal Sam followed Poppi out there. The water was pretty cold- it may be summer warm here right now, but the ocean is still cold. He has a wet suit, 2 actually...one is called a farmer John or something like that- it's like overalls...no sleeves...like it needs a shirt. The other is a regular wetsuit except the legs and arms are short. But he thought he didn't need it ha ha. I don't know if the weather is going to be good from now on or not, it is only February after all, but I would be just fine is summer is here! So he swam some, then came back in and grabbed Hazel and took her out a ways, then she and Sam swam back in. Then our new next door neighbor showed up with her 2 puupies; one is about 4 months and the other is about 8 weeks. They watched Sam & Hazel in the water and they tried wading and then ran around- it was pretty cute. Then Everardo tried to teach them to fetch and that was pretty funny as well. Sharon (neighbor) told me the other day when Everardo went off down the beach with our dogs, her little one just trotted off behind him and never looked back! Yep that's my dog whisperer.

Earlier this afternoon I climbed into my hammock, read a little and snoozed a little- it does sound like summer doesn't it? The hammock is in the shade of the porch and actually I got a little cold...it's warm during the day but really gets cold at nite. But I was so happy to be reading outside. Another neighbor who lives a few houses away showed up with an armful of books by Harlan Coben who I am really hooked on right now and I had mentioned I really liked his books. This guy has about 500 books and has invited me to borrow all I want. This was great! I plan do make my way thru his books even though I have about 100 of my own I haven't read...maybe more. But I always like to read other people's books and then I always have some to read in case I need them. Sounds weird but it's exactly what this guy said too ha ha. If you love books you understand.

Yesterday I went to an AA meeting in Ensenada, on a boat that was in the original King Kong movie- pretty cool. They have it every week there but Wednesday mornings I am usually exercising. I strained my elbow though, and then in an effort to protect it I think I strained my shoulder ha ha. That was Monday on the bowflex, so I decided not to do my normal weights on Wed and my girlfriend had been after me to go to the "boat meeting" so I went. It was nice; so peaceful on the boat, it's in the harbor with a ton of other boats and right neat the cruise ship port and one was pulled in. But I got back on my exercise schedule today though, and that's when Hazel saw the seal. Well here's hoping summer has arrived in Baja! Viva (oh and I'll look for that photo of the dogs with the crab!)

Fish and other interesting things....

Fishing in Playa Ventura:

Sometimes it's fish.........and sometimes.......

It's lobster........yipee!

Tonite I was sooooo proud of myself! I made the most amazing dinner! Ok it's a salad but for me it's a huge deal to make something sooo good. Shrimp. Fresh shrimp, spinach leaves, goat cheese, cucumber, cauliflower, avocado.  I put 2 tablespoons of Italian dressing on the spinach and put it back in the fridge, then cut up the cucumber & avocado and threw it in. That's when I spotted the goat cheese. It was mushy, in basically a plastic bag tube- so I squeezed out 2 ounces 7 put it aside. Then, I steamed the cauliflower and the shrimp for 3 minutes each and took out the salad and dumped them in. I looked at the mush cheese and decided to make it into tiny balls and threw them in as I rolled them- so they kinda melted wherever the hit hot shrimp or cauliflower. Then we ate! OMG! It was soooooo good! And and and....it filled me up. It looked good and tasted amazing! Another great thing: 516 calories! Hmmm maybe I should have put a picture of my salad here eh? Too late I just finished it.

The thing is, for me to be creative with food, and to make something that looks so good and tastes good....hmmm maybe next time I should add pine nuts...of course more calories. The cool thing is that seafood is so good for you, and low cal. My wonderful hubby has been bringing home fresh cracked and cleaned crab for the past 2 or 3 weekends. He gets a half a kilo which I can split into 2 meals. He has been eating clams that he collects on the beach. I do not care for them- they're kind of rubbery and hard ha ha. He isn't fishing for the crab; he gets it from a pescaderia called Jesse's down the road. He brings me fresh shrimp and white fish fillets, too. I'm eating more seafood than I ever have before. The crab, when it's in the shell looks very different than the crab I am used to up in northern Calif. This crab has huge legs, really big around and long. I'm not sure how long the season is but I'm very happy. We haven't had much lobster, but that's ok. I love it best with melted butter ha ha which kinda messes up the whole low calorie thing, right? The shrimp can be made in a salad or with a big plate of veges. The crab I still prefer the same every time- in a salad, and the fish stand alone so with veges or maybe beans.

The pictures above are from when we lived down south, and I wasn't being careful about eating and so pigged out on lobster whenever it was available ha ha.

Ok new subject. I expected to be writing this last nite and talk about getting a driver's license here in Baja since I got one down south and one in Puerto Penasco, Sonora and the experiences were completely different. I heard here there was a written test! And possibly a driving test! No such thing the first 2 times. In fact the first time was nothing- hand over 200 pesos, they took my picture and 10 minutes later handed me a license- good for a year. In Penasco it was a huge hassle, I had to go to the red cross and have a blood test- which I was never given the results of so I still don't know my blood type...and then Everardo had a huge fight with them in the office because they were quite rude to me and tried to make it impossible for me to comply. They finally grudgingly gave me one- for 1 year they said (oh and no test of any kind- the hard time was about how long I lived in Mexico...our address, my visa...etc). The really funny thing is that yesterday afternoon and the way to the government office to apply, I put on my reader magnifiers & realized the license was for 2 years. We laughed pretty hard- Everardo pulled over to check it out for himself and we really laughed hard. They were such shits about it- and we paid for a 1 year lic....and it's for 2 years! So it's good until Aug of 2015. Ha! The other good thing is we didn't have to spend about 1000 pesos! I was going to take a picture of all 3 licenses...ah well- this summer. And as we were laughing we said- for us- 7 months from now- Aug? That's a lifetime away- who knows what we'll be doing? Moving to another part of Mexico? Going back to the states? Living right here?

We've now been here longer than anywhere else. We are starting year 2 in this trailer, and been in Baja for 16 months. And although it's winter, hopefully those 2 or 3 freezing cold weeks were it for that kind of cold. I'm still working out in tank tops and shorts. But it's cold at nite. I still sleep in a long johns shirt & sweat shirt, pajama pants & socks- but I have given up the wool socks I wore over the socks and the sweatshirt hood. In the evening we sometimes use the propane heater- it's weird how much longer it seems to last than when we used it in Penasco. If we sell the Playa Ventura house will we move to a better place? hmm probly not. Because to get this beach, we'd probably have to pay at least $500 U.S and why pay twice as much when this place gets more liveable all the time? I tell you, move to Mexico if you want to get down to basics- to find out what you can really live with and/or live without. I am sooo happy to have a new faucet in my bathroom! It's shiny...and clean...and then we got new faucets for the other bathroom and the kitchen! Awesome. Ha ha is that pathetic? That I am so happy for new faucets? Like I said, come to Mexico to see what you really need and all the things you don't need! A guy who lives a few houses away came by today to lend me a couple of books to read- I like that. I walked next door to see the woman who lives there to see if she wants to go to "senior stretch" with me. Ha ha I always laugh out loud when I call it that- or even write it! She's about my age, or actually maybe younger....she's a lawyer. Anyway the funny thing was she was walking towards out place at the same time.

I walked to her place out the back- on the beach side, and so did she so we met in the middle. She has 2 puppies, one about 4 months and one about 2 months so she has her hands full. She invited me for coffee which we had on her back porch watching the waves. She's the one who gave me the goat cheese because she bought too much. I was happy to accept it- thinking about looking up the calorie count ha ha. She's the one who told me about the jobs online- which I looked into- got intimidated and have let go of for now; I'm all about my English class and planning class activities and my exercise program..and now maybe even cooking? Whoa movin' too fast- ha ha ha ha I really am becoming Mexicana! I do want to talk to her about it a little bit more, and she was also talking about something she does that she makes something like $400 USD every time- it's lawyer stuff, but repetitious and when she told me about it she was saying how she could teach me, then split the fee with me since it's her accreditation as a lawyer that earns the fee (the work has to be done by a lawyer). I was thinking of telling her- shit! I'll take $100 and you can have $300 to entice her to take on the work. For me, $100 a shot is a hell of a lot more than I make now- which is ZERO. But I'll wait until I know her a little better. She asked me if I want to do this dvd workout with her- it's Jillian what's her name- the one who did Biggest Loser, but I guess is not on it anymore? Anyway it's a 90 program, and she has a huge living room with a tile floor (of course) that we could do it in. We looked at the package today; she has to find the book and I'll lend her a dvd player...but if we can agree to do it maybe at 1pm in the afternoons...I'm ready to give it a shot. And this way we would get to know each other a bit.

It's funny down here, people are different- I mean well I know people are people...but what makes someone move down here, especially alone and not knowing anybody? I mean I moved with my husband, and it totally helps that he's Mexican. And yes, this is just a couple hours from the border so it's not as huge as say- when we moved down near Acapulco- there are a lot of Americans here. Lots and lots of seniors. They seem to be in a couple of groups; one group is here because they can't afford to live in the U.S., everything here is cheaper, from rent to medical care, to car insurance, everything. The other group is retired with money. They have the really nice houses and cars, housekeepers and gardeners....hang out in the local restaurants and bars.... And then from both groups there are a couple of types: the type that never learns a word of Spanish, "tolerates" ha ha all the Mexicans- have US expectations of everything. The other type actually live in Mexico- try new foods, try to learn the language, embrace the culture, treasure their surroundings.

In Peansco there were alot of people running from the law. A guy we knew was wanted and we heard after we left that the US came down and got him and he's in prison for something like 20 years and he was in his 30's. He was a nice kid- but irresponsible as hell- grow up daddio! He didn't and I guess the feds were happy to hand him over. I just heard the other day that in Ensenada there are about 10 rehabs for the rich and famous...mostly for druggies- that they give their incoming clients drugs that let them float instead of going thru withdrawals to avoid the pain...Not FDA approved so can't be done in the states- but here- no problem. I had heard there was a rehab like that just down our road- one for the really rich & famous so now hearing that Ensenada is the place for actors and singers needing it, I guess it's probably true...hmmm I'll have to wander down that way and see what I can see ha ha. Oh that reminds me- tomorrow I'm going to an AA meeting on a boat that was in the original King Kong movie! Pretty cool eh? I know the woman who owns it...I just haven't been to that meeting cause on Wednesday mornings I have my workout. But yesterday I strained my elbow, and I think hurt my shoulder trying to baby my elbow so now my entire arm- well the joints anyway are really sore, so I decided I can take a day off.

Oh and next week I'm going with a bunch of AA women to the hot springs which are about a 40 minute drive from here, for a "retreat" day. So that experience will be something to write about here- the hot springs not the AA portion....Anyway it's interesting to see why or how people come to live in Mexico...and I look forward to getting to know my neighbor a little better- hopefully anyway ha ha.


Oh and today I hit 41 pounds! That's a big yipee for me. There's a guy at the AA meeting in Ensenada who is about 70 I think, and he's starting an exercise new eating program like mine so we're kinda email buddies to give each other encouragement. It's nice to do a "buddy system" right? So even though I hurt my shoulder & elbow I worked out today...danced and then senior stretch :)
And Thursday I'll take the neighbor with me. Next week I'll skip exercise on Thurs, but have decided it's ok if I skip one day during a given week. Tomorrow I'll go up to Ensenada for the boat meeting, then home, then off to the meditation meeting (every other Wed afternoon), then home to grab my stuff for English class at 5:30. Wow busy life eh? I'll make up for it by spending Thurs afternoon reading or walking on the beach. Today I read, then when I went to see the neighbor I went with her to take her puppies to the vet in the next town....a little laundry....then the day seems to slip away ha ha. I do spend Mon-Fri until noon exercising though so it's afternoons....

I am very happy right now. English class is awesome! I am loving it- the class flies by each time. Meditation, working out, eating smarter....talking to the universe from my beach chair...soon it will be warm enough for my hammock.....yeah what's not to be happy about? viva!