Writing a sailing blog when I'm not sailing is hard to do. And writing for Jimi, who's sailing without me, is even harder.
I figured I'd simply give you updates the best I can while Jimi and I are apart.
I arrived in McAllen, Texas on January 10th; The weather, my first week here, was cold and wet, dropping to the 30's at night and highs of 40's some days. Crazy, as all I brought was warm weather clothes. I guess it's not normal for the area. My second week I was happy when we reached the 80's with a lite breeze - the weather outdoors was absolutely beautiful.
Here are pictures of my room, (aka tiny apartment) while I'm here.
The living room looking in from the front door.
Looking into the living room and front door from the kitchen.
The dining table and desk.
This is the bathroom, just off the kitchen.
The kitchen from the living room.
Looking in the bedroom from the door.
Rest of the bedroom.
My car is a Toyota Corolla. When I turn my phone's bluetooth on, my car talks to me. It tells me when I have a new text message, reads it to me and lets me reply with voice recognition. Ok, so I really miss Jimi, but I have to say being here does have it's perks and I'm very much enjoying them. I enjoy working again with my once long time co-workers, managing the accounting department for Cencorp and being in the office. And for those who know me well, you've probably figured that I'm deep in many craft projects.
I enrolled in a cooking class at the McAllen Culinary Academy. We meet every Wednesday night for five Wednesdays. We're learning the correct cutting, preparation and presentation for a five course meal. Our first week we learned the correct way to hold a chef's knife, what kind of knife to have, how to cut many different fruits and vegetables and made three salads including the dressings from scratch. At the end of each class we eat what we've prepared. Our second week, using many of the skills from our first class, we made three homemade soups. They were all delicious. I look forward to next week's class. In the end I'll have a certificate, which will help with the next journey Jimi and I are planning. If you don't know what it is, we'll announce it in the coming months.
Jimi is doing well. He's been in the Bay Islands of Roatan, Honduras since my last update. On Wednesday morning of this week, he left. I've received three spot updates from him, which you can also see on the "Where Are We?" tab of our blog. He checked in at 6pm Wednesday evening, 6am Thursday morning and at 3:30am Friday morning. His last check in indicates he's arrived and anchored in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. After sailing for nearly 48 hours straight, I'm sure he's resting now. And I'm hoping he'll be able to find some internet and make contact with me.
Sadly, my uncle Jim passed away this past Wednesday morning. I'm so glad I was able to see him in December before coming to Texas. I missed my aunt's funeral a year and a half ago because we were unreachable in the Caribbean; I'm thankful I'm here now. I'll be driving to Kansas/Nebraska for the services and to be with my loved ones. It's about a 16 hour drive. After work today, I'll drive as far as San Antonio and stay the night with lifetime friends, the Goetzke family. Saturday morning, I'll leave early and drive the remaining 13 hours.
The viewing is Sunday and funeral services are Monday afternoon. I plan to be back by Wednesday night for my cooking class.
Where in the world are Jimi and
Lorie? It’s been more than three months since you’ve heard from us. As you read
what we’ve been up to, you’ll understand why.
Earlier in the year we purchased
flights from San Pedro Sula, Honduras to Denver, Colorado. We’d spend seven weeks
in the U.S. visiting family and attending two major events. Our trip getting to
the airport in Honduras was quite an adventure that will be amusing to tell you
about.
We bought bus tickets to take
us from Rio Dulce, Guatemala all the way to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. It was a
five hour bus ride. When the bus arrived and we boarded...there were no empty
seats. We had to stand in the middle isle with a dozen people . We stood for
the 45 minute ride to Morales; it was hot, exhausting and uncomfortable. My
arms and legs burned as I tried to hold on from the swaying turns of the bus,
while holding two heavy bags. I couldn’t even let go long enough to put the
bags down. Jimi and I could only laugh when sweat dripped off his arm onto the
lady in the seat below us….embarrasing.
In Morales, we
switched buses and this time we did get seats. However, they were in the very
back, next to the bathroom. Some sort of fluid ran under and around our feet
andthe
smell from the toilet was often overwhelming. When Jimi noticed the fluid he
picked up my backpack, but it was too late. The bottom was quite wet. I smelled
it and I think it was just water. When the bus stopped, workers would carry
five gallon jugs of water to the bathroom for the toilet. Neither one of us
ever used the toilet, so we’re not sure of its inner workings. Hmmm
The bus stopped twice: once to check out of Guatemala and once
to check in to Honduras. Honduras was skeptical to let us in because our visa's
expired in 15 days, but we convinced the guy we were leaving on an airplane the
following day.
When we finally arrived at the bus terminal in San Pedro Sula,
our hotel guy, Louis, was waiting for us. Finally, we were safely tucked in our hotel in the most dangerous non-war
zone city in the world with an average of 3 murders per day. That doesn't stop us though, we ventured out
that evening by walking eight or so blocks to the mall. Inside the mall there
was no telling we were in another country. We grabbed something to eat at the
food court and walked back to the hotel.
We had a bit of a hiccup
the next morning. Since we reserved the hotel with a credit card, we assumed we
could pay with a credit card. That was not the case and we didn't have enough
cash. It didn't matter too much though; Louis took us to the airport the next
morning where there was an ATM and while the ATM was only in Spanish, Louis
assisted Jimi.
We had to go through
several check points including security to get to our gate and at this point I
told Jimi I would not rest until we were on that United Airlines flight and in
the air…and finally we were on the plane. We flew to Houston where we cleared immigration
and customs like it never happened. Then we flew to Denver where Jenn and Joel
were waiting for us.
It was 11 pm, so we
drove to our friend, Juraj’s house for some shut eye. The next day we drove six
hours to Nebraska where my parents live. So, three long tiring days dealing
with launches, buses, taxis, planes, trams and automobiles and we finally made
it. However, it wasn't time to relax yet.
I’d been remotely
planning a party for my parents 50th wedding anniversary for the
better of a year and now we were down to the wire. We had appetizers,
drinks, cake and cupcakes to make and the reception room to decorate all in two
days. My parents decided to renew their
wedding vows just prior to the party. For the first time in her life, my mother wore a
wedding dress; it was such a special time for all of us. Jimi was to take pictures
of the event, but moments before the start of the ceremony his camera quit
working correctly and we didn’t have a spare with us. It's sad because my parents deserved to have some photos of the event.
Here’s a short video Jimi and I put together for the reception.
The week after the
anniversary party I was non-stop busy with making Jenn and Joel’s wedding
invitations. We needed to get them out before Jimi and I would leave for Denver
on the 31st. It was close, but I did it.
Our next event was
for Jimi and I to attend the Nine Health Fair in Denver Colorado. We’d
pre-registered and had to be there on a specific date. Since we are self
insured, we had to take advantage of this free to low cost check up. We were
checked from head to toe including all of our blood work and both came out
healthy and free of any concerns. The following day we met with some friends at
Old Chicago in Longmont. It was great to see them!
Very special friend Viktoria and her daughter, Grace. Love them!
Months earlier the
company Jimi and I had worked for before sailing contacted me to see if I would
be willing to work for them through the winter. Jimi and I put a lot of thought
in to it and decided we could really use the income. This meant I needed to
fly to Texas to get set up and while I was in McAllen, Texas for a week, Jimi
stayed in Denver with our friend Juraj.
My trip went well. I
got my old cell phone number back, a laptop and all the tools I needed. We negotiated
that I would work remotely from
Kansas/Nebraska through rest of the year and then fly to McAllen, where the
company would put me up in a hotel for a couple of months or until I was done
working.
When I got back to
Denver, Jimi and I went to a nice dinner celebrating our 3rd wedding
anniversary. I almost feel cheated saying it’s only our third, since we've been
together for what seems like forever – 8 years as a couple and then another six
years prior to that as friends and co-workers.
When we got back to
Nebraska, Jenn and I had a lot of planning to do for the wedding. I made the table decorations, two kinds of favors, the cupcakes and more while working full time.
My mom, sister, Marie, and I ready for a big shopping day.
It snowed!
We had a thanksgiving
dinner at Jenn’s house on Sunday the 23rd with Joel’s kids and Jennifer.
It was nice.
Then Jimi and I left
Wednesday late afternoon for Round Lake, Illinois. We spent the Thanksgiving
holiday with his brother and family. We couldn't have been more pleased to
see how much our great nephew and niece have grown. Saturday we drove to
Manchester, Michigan to spend an overnight with Jimi’s dad and then Sunday we
headed out. On the way we stopped in Peoria, Illinois to pay respects to Jimi’s
mom in the cemetery. We arrived back to my parents house at 5 am Monday morning.
Our Neice, Tracy and great neice, Sophia.
Our great nephew, Tommy Jr.
By this time is was December
and the wedding was only a week and a half away. There was a lot to be done,
therefore we were non-stop. Jimi made
another trip to Denver to pick up my son, Daniel and his girlfriend, Christina.
Daniel and Christina were able to spend four days with us – a fantastic
blessing.
A fun night with Jimi, Joel, Jenn, Daniel and Christina. My immediate family complete!
Then Jimi built an
arch out of small tree branches that turned out to be phenomenal. The hall
where the ceremony was held couldn't have been more perfect. Jimi performed
the ceremony, Jenn and Joel each had two attendants, a flower girl and a ring
bearer. Six cars full of people came out from Colorado, some from Tennessee and
California. Jennifer and Joel are truly blessed to have each other and such
great family and friends. The ceremony and the reception were magical and a
huge success. Jimi and I are very happy for them and welcome Joel to the family
with open arms.
Me and my children.
Two days after the
wedding we drove to Denver, so Jimi could fly back to Honduras. He left on
December 16th and while we’ve been a part before, this one really hit
me hard. I’ve been very emotional since he left and struggling with my decision
of staying. Regardless, I stayed in Colorado for the week with my long time and
best friend, Melody. My last night in Colorado I stayed with my long-long time
girlfriend, Brenda.
Now that all that
other stuff was out of the way and off my plate, it was crunch time to get
ready for Christmas. I had exactly four days to finish my craft project Christmas
presents and get everything wrapped.
Jenn and I
Monday night we (mom, Marie and I) were up until 3 am, the next night we got to bed early at 1 am and
on Christmas Eve bedtime landed at 2 am. I was so excited about being home for
Christmas, I wanted everything to be special and perfect. I didn't get some of
my projects finished and some others weren't really up to my standards, but I
was so happy to be there that I let them slide. With all that said Christmas day
I was hit hard with a throbbing stuffy head; as the day wore on it was apparent I was sick.
My niece, Jacque, and I goofing around with sock monkeys Christmas
morning.
To make things worse, the day after Christmas my
cat, Molly who was almost 19 years old went in to kidney failure and I had to
put her down. My daughter was five years old when we got her as a kitten and my
son was three. Molly was a child of mine and a wonderful boat cat. Jimi and I
are very sad losing her.
Molly sitting in the forward companion way on our boat.
Rest in peace my beloved Molly
Amongst the Christmas
cheer, illnesses and loss of Molly, the Saturday before Christmas a small
kitten ran up to me on two separate occasions while walking outside. For the
next three days this little baby starred in at us through the sliding glass
door. Finally mom and I gave in and brought the little tyke in doors. She’s
such a happy little girl. I brought her to Jenn’s house in Norton and found her
a wonderful home.
I was scheduled to
fly to McAllen, Texas on Sunday, January 4th, but with my head cold
I postponed it until I am well.
Jimi’s arrival to the
Rio Dulce was delayed when one of his checked bags was lost in Mexico. It took
a couple of days, but he finally received it intact. He arrived back to Sanbel
and immediately began preparing for his departure from Guatemala. He is now in
Roatan, the Bay Islands of Honduras keeping busy and doing well.
Between with two of
us, we’ll keep you updated with our whereabouts and future plans.
