Just a thought…

The two stages of packing:

1) I have all week

2) OH SH*T

Welcome to the final days of winter! A few updates (and a pup-date) for you:

Rob arrived right on time yesterday in Puerto Vallarta, and as soon as he’d been attacked with kisses by the dogs, we headed over to our friends’ house to watch the Oscars. Lisa and I will be discussing the high- and low-lights this Thursday at gracefullyandfrankly.com. Don’t miss the dish!

Meantime, pal Kelita was fooling around with an app and came up with this imaginary red carpet shot of her and me. I wish the “girls” looked like this.

The dogs, by the way, are NOT in heat. Last week right here I told you I awoke stressed at a few little spots on a blanket; turns out they were just bites from a mosquito that made its way into the house. So we’ve bought more time before the gals go to meet their new boyfriends.

Fortunately, whomever they are paired with won’t be looking at their faces. I made a BIG mistake at the groomer’s on Friday and told them, yes, take everything down. But that included their puffy cheeks, which give a Havanese its charm. Now they look like little ruffians. Sure as my legs need shaving, it’ll grow back. Like I said, their boyfriends won’t care. Come to think of it, neither does my husband LOL.

Yes, we’re in the final days of my four-month stay in Nuevo Vallarta, aka Nuevo Nayarit, near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Last Sunday I had a wonderful day on the seaside Malecón downtown, including theatre and dinner in honour of International Women’s Day. Here we are from left: Kathryn, Kelita and me!

To the theatre: there’s a duo from Toronto (Dylan’s a teacher at Humber, Suba is a freelancer and both are heavily involved in choirs and choral groups throughout the GTA) that we saw and I have to tell you about them. Called FREEPLAY, their show is all about a cappella live looping. You’ve seen Ed Sheeran do it (albeit with a guitar): he records while he is singing and then performs to what he’s recorded, layering it again and again live on stage.

Suba and Dylan’s show is nothing short of magic: no lip-synching, no fakery, just astounding talent, incredible vocal ranges and percussive and instrument imitations/deliveries and a mesmerizing delivery of music ranging from the Beatles to Joni Mitchell. They’ve performed around the world and we just happened to luck into an intimate show at the Act2PV theatre cabaret lounge in the heart of the Zona Romántica. From bar performers to stage stars, if you’re going to Puerto Vallarta, do not miss what wonderful David and his staff at Act2PV have lined up every night of the week. I promise you’ll be entranced.

The week ahead will be filled with last-minute goodbyes and packing: we leave Thursday to return to Canada. After a wonderful night in our own bed, I have a morning appointment Friday with my hair dresser. After four months of doing my own roots and spray-colouring here and there, plus taking manicure scissors to bangs and long bits, it’s time to put my head back in the hands of an expert. Then that same day, we board the ferry to Pender Island and I’ll see our new cabin as “ours” for the very first time. Rob’s been working his backside off getting it ready, and I’ll share stories and pictures here next Monday.

I’ll miss Puerto Vallarta and the amazing women I’ve met along the way. Kelita’s fun  app rendered this one of me, Jeanne and Cathy (they’re both from Niagara-on-the-Lake and return home today).

I’ve already booked for a month here at a different spot in November to reconnect with friends here in Nuevo Vallarta, as well as to enjoy a respite from a rainier month on the Gulf Islands. Home to Canada for Christmas for the first time in years – so we shall see what that brings. I think we’re ready emotionally; like I said, we’ll see.

Thanks for being here through all of these winter adventures. I’ll carry home a lot of memories and your good thoughts as we return.