Last Updated 2/28/03


We had a tiny bit of rain and some lightning the other night. I loved it . I miss the rain. With my current lifestyle , living here, I see very little rain as it begins in June and in Occidental, I return to sunny days there too! The last three days have been unbelievable ! Sunny and the Ocean has been like glass with the water as clear as I've ever seen it here. It's been torturous, not to be able to swim, due to my ear ! Here's a picture I took yesterday from Casa Del Sol.

I have a few days off from the construction. Emilio is in short supply here. We will continue on Monday or so, when he finishes his other job. The casa is really transforming. A funny coincidence. Emilio and his family lived in the same casa for a year. At that time they had 10 kids ! Makes my 4 seem like nothing ! Emilio is the oldest of 15 kids. The other coincidence is that we are building with the old yelapa style and so in a way we are restoring the casa, not just adding on.

I went to the doctor again and even though my ears are better, I still have the remainder of an infection. One more week till I can swim ! For the first time this season I have friends coming down to visit... I'm excited... Evan and Angeles and Kids and Patric and Bridget and kids... they are both staying right off the beach so it should be a quick and fun February. Vero and the Kids will move in here close to Valentines day. I cant wait ! I'm getting ready to update my Yelapa photos, so stay tuned...

Yelapa is real slow right now...sure I am happy to keep it all to myself but I worry for the locals.

2/9/03 What did I do this week? It's sort of hard to remember... I met up with a couple from Napa who read my page and had a nice visit... I never got to say goodbye..Adios Pam and Joe... Vivian , our 4yr. old had to go to the hospital in Vallarta. She had a bronchial problem and needed a nebulizer. Pretty sad scene.. a pediatric hospital...full of sick crying kids. After a full day there, Vivian is much better...

Well if the scorpions in Yelapa don't freak you then the Arlomo will. The bite of the Arlomo is bad. You may ask what is an Arlomo? Believe it or not ....no one really knows... Its sort of a fabled animal/insect. One type is as small as a nat and flies and another is like a glow worm with a little light on the tail. The other theory is that an Arlomo is a spider. Here in Yelapa, various bug bites occur daily. This one feels normal and then after a few hours and some itching/pain , it begins with a red ring around the bite. Then pain and swelling. Then it becomes cankerous. Very similar to the bite of a brown recluse spider. Next it turns black...More pain ect... The types of bite vary . One is very topical and the other is thought to burrow into the skin and go to the bone another type spreads to different parts of the body... Here's the tricky part...Modern Medicine cant treat it ! Last year a friend got bit and returned to Canada to treat it with no luck. This isn't the first time this has happened. Luckily in Yelapa there are three Curanderas "Medicine Women" who can treat it .They use various local herbs specifically for the Arlomo. A number of poultice's are made and applied over a period of weeks. I tell you all about this for knowledge and because someone close to me is dealing with a bad bite right now... I've researched a lot on the internet and I'm sending a picture to a doctor I respect in the states. If you have any pertinent information let me know... prevention of the Arlomo is to pray you don't get bit...

On to a sunnier note.. Yelapa is having great weather right now...jump on the plane and have a magical week...

I've been hanging with the Ryser Brothers lately. Christian , John and Morgan. It's hard to describe these guys. They are very special ,each in a different way. Very smart and present. I enjoy being around three brothers who enjoy and respect each other. They reside at the Casa Xipe Totec formally Ruby's, across from the beach and the lagoon. The site for a natural medicine clinic for many years. The terrain is one the coolest in Yelapa. It really is a mature, 2 acre Jungle Garden with a massive palapa and some smaller casita's. It is in the process of transferring ownership to some lucky sole...you can even find it on EBAY! I have fond memories of the property as Dianne and her Kids lived there for my first year in Yelapa. So if you got $100.000 + and want an amazing dream...here's your chance....

Casa Iguana is transforming once again !...I should be done with my current project by this weekend. Rafa, one of the masters of the Machete, worked for a few days this week and totally cleared my terrain and cut back growth around the new casa that had been there for years. I have such respect for a machete....what a tool, in the right hands. Tomorrow Emilio returns ! As I write this a big wind from the south is blowing through my palapa and strong enough to shake it ! I wonder what tomorrow has to offer?

I almost forgot, today as I was walking down my hill, I ran into Jacob Rich from Sebastopol. He is currently studying in Guadalajara and was visiting Yelapa for a day. We had just enough time to eat a meal at Veronica's and off he went to catch his boat. Tiny World Connection !

2/14/03 I'm not stupid... but my memory fails me occasionally. Chances are I wont forget my anniversary of Valentines day. Yes... I announce my marriage to Veronica and the Kids. I had arranged with my mom to send down a family ring with my friends who recently visited. I could hardly wait to give it to her and to formally propose to her. Valentines Day arrived and in the night I got a rare chance to take a walk with her on the beach. I started to speak words of love to her. For some unknown reason it was hard to get down on my knee. But I did, as I continued to try to think of my words in spanish. As I did she listened but asked me to get up, as she didn't like talking to me from that angle. I explained of our custom and a tear rolled off her eye. So at the the mouth of the Rio Tuito, pretty darn close to a full moon on Valentines day, We formally began our live together. In three days the family moves into my casa, Even if we hadn't gotten married a custom in Yelapa is that when you live together, you are married, in the communities big eye's. We have to take care of some papers and then we will have a small wedding in the local church. I am Happy!!!!!

2/20/03 My simple little life has been busy. I have actually been working long full days with just a few breaks. I haven't done that in a long time! Even worse is that my friends are here visiting and I've had very little time to visit with them. Tonight is the first night Veronica and the Kid's are here living at the casa. The transition was real smooth. Veronica is a pro mom. It was great to do the final touches with her and make the beds in the new casita. I was lucky enough to have enough sheets and blankets for all three beds. The casita looks great and I'm so glad to have the project basically completed. Casa Iguana is full of life ! I have a bunch of stories I'm writing now to finish off this quick month of February.

2/23/03 Kindness in the world. As I already told you I was lucky enough to receive the wonderful gift of a washing machine delivered to an hour or so from Puerto Vallarta. Let me explain for you all why a washing machine is important. When you think of Yelapa, many are attracted to it's old world charm. But the recent coming of electricity has done wonders for saving time. Huge amounts of time can be saved, not to mention the level of energy and endurance that is needed to wash clothes for a family of six. I once attempted to do my wash by myself. It's hard to imagine how hard it is, not to mention how bad it smelled after I finished. It is an art. The other point is that the washing machines here in mexico are shit. They don't have the cogs to move the clothes , just a vibrating base on the bottom of the machine. With that info out of the way... Jen and Michael leave Sebastopol on a 2000 mile trek with vacation on their minds and my new but used machine in the back of their car. About four days later they safely arrive in San Pancho. The big day comes. Myself , Veronica, Yael and Vivian head off to recover our treasure. The seas are calm so our boat ride to Boca was smooth. About an hour north of Vallarta , we arrive in San Pancho. It was quite a contrast to Yelapa. What really stood out were the huge white casa's. Lots of them. Our mission was to find Casa Melissa. We followed the directions given to us by Ann. Close but no tortilla... We almost got stuck as my clutch is about to go out and my chinook wouldn't make it up steep hills. I headed out on foot searching the white community. Jim, Ann's Boyfriend vibed us out and found the car and set us in the right direction. Casa Melissa was quite a sight ! A grand casa with an infinity pool, tennis court and a massive view of the Pacific Ocean. As we attempted the hill to the casa, which was successful, there sat the washer. It was at that moment that I figured out that I had forgotten which appliance was the heavy one. Was the washer or dryer the heavy one? How was I going to get this beast back to Yelapa ? Well I showed all the confidence I could muster. We'll throw it on the top of the chinook, strap it down and cruise. We got it up there and realized the first problem. The fiberglass roof was very close to caving in. I really had no other choice. We would have to make due. I figured if the roof caved in, the washer would land on the bed and would be fine and I would build a new roof for the camper, priorities must be made. We visited only a ratatito and headed for Yelapa. We made it down the driveway and to the main road. The roof began creaking , muttering its last words. Veronica suggested that we get some wood for supports. Great idea, but where ? She pointed to two manual laborers on the side of the road. We stopped she got out and explained we needed help. Without a second of hesitance, they were ready! The problem was no one had a machete. Using the leverage of a post they broke off some tree limbs and hoped up on the top of the car and lifted the machine and put in our new support system. After many thanks and offers for paying for their help, which they declined, we headed down the road with a new confidence ! All was good till we hit Vallarta. The washer had shifted and the roof was whimpering again. You see at my weight climbing onto the roof would be real bad... for the roof... so once again Veronica to the rescue. She asks this man for help. Once again , instantly ready. the funny thing was this man was dressed in all white and my car hasn't been washed in four months. Not fazing him, he climbed carefully onto the roof and adjusted the supports and went on his way. I sat wondering of the same situation in the states. Would we be ready to help someone at the drop of a hat ? I don't think so. Amazing Mexico! We stopped and enjoyed a round of tacos and decided to spend the night at Tortilla Flats. Mostly because the next leg of the trip was real hard and because I would have my first chance to spend the night with Veronica sola, well with only two kids but to us it still was a honeymoon. The next morning we headed for a few errands and to the Los Muertos Dock. The other grand task of getting sponge/foam for the beds turned out to take a lot longer than expected as the tienda owner had a bad leg and so the task of measuring the sponge and cutting it took over an hour which made the rush to the boat even more intense. It was then that luck smacked me up side my head. I found a dolly at a hotel and borrowed it and with assistance of another passerby I wheeled the washer to our awaiting water taxi. Within minutes the boat ,washer and the three sponges headed with my family to Yelapa. I had to park my car and take another boat from Boca... When I arrived back at home ... all had gone smoothly and our cargodor, Ceasar had met the washer and supplies at the pier and with another friend they performed the amazing and death defying feat of hand carrying it all up the hill to our casa for a little cash. The washer has been running for days. We are washing so much right now. So much has been waiting to be cleaned. So ends the tale of the voyage of the washing machine and the kindness of many who helped us have the cleanest clothes in town.

2/28/03 Most nights in the past , when leaving the casa of Vero's Family, I have to walk pass by a casa fiercely guarded by dogs. In my past , I have been a bit tripped out by dogs but with my Yelapa experience under my belt , it is much easier. Usually they just bark and growl. Occasionally with the multi levels of the property they will somewhat surround me. I deal with it by using the old trick of bending over as to pick up a rock ... it usually works ... well this night I was a bit timid since the night prior was a bit tricky to pass. I quietly crept pass the casa. Great ! No dogs tonight ! I happily walked to the first tienda where I saw a pile of cardboard. Cool , as I need a bunch for a project. I took the first piece and then the second. All the sudden the leader of the pack jumped out from under the pile, fast asleep! To say the least, we were both startled ! I looked him in the eyes and ran ! My new plan has been to make friends with the dogs during the day. It seems that they are fine during the day, when they aren't on duty. A little gift of food goes a long way... ojala...

Family life is hard but rewarding. Its new knowledge for me. I've had some family living experience but not with four multi-aged kids. Even my fifteen years of working with kids hasn't helped that much! All in all , we are doing great for the first week of living together. I am so happy to spend the days with Veronica and the kids at the casa. We are all getting accustomed to each other. The biggest problem so far is the kids falling out of bed. LuzClarita fell the first two nights and hard. I am getting grayer by the night as I wake to the sound of a thud and a child's cry. I am trying to get more wood to construct stronger barriers. The other problem are the scorpions. Even though we fumigated and cleaned the palapa roof thoroughly, we have found three large scorpions in the new casita. The casita hasn't been lived in for years, so there is a process you go through to eliminate your chances of face to face visits. We continue in that process by fumigating again and burning any palapa nearby the casa. Last night Yael, asleep in our bed fell out and landed on the floor.This morning when making the bed, we discovered a scorpion crushed on the floor by his fall ! He is ok. Tomorrow will be a busy day ! Life in Yelapa can definitely be a challenge, but well worth it.

Arlomo update ... my friend has finally started getting better from her bite of the mysterious bug. This came after much experimentation. As I told you there are seven different types of herbs that are used to cure it, along with seven types of bites. She tried many different combinations of herbs and applications both hot and cold. Daily injections of antibiotics were also needed. She finally narrowed it down to one herb . That was the ticket. The worst had to be the day they needed to clean the sore out by scraping it clean to remove the eggs that lay in the sore/bite. A towel was wrapped around her head and twisted from behind to help her manage the pain. It hurt me to watch. So now a month into this , she is finally starting to walk and the redness is going away. The bite is still bigger than a quarter but cleaner than before, showing signs of wanting to heal. The curandera that visited the other day says she still has two weeks to go.

A certain friend visiting from the states/canada made me think this last week. He made a joke/comment that I had too much stuff at my casa. Was it my ping pong table? the small microwave that I asked him to deliver to me from the states for warming tortillas ,all at once? My computer? Anyway ... I'm a sensitive guy at times ... I really feel that you can rough it here in Yelapa, if you choose. This is my first year with electricity. I truly enjoyed not having it but I also really enjoy having it now! and of course you can never go backwards. I'm so lucky to have the things I have here. Especially now with my family. Actually, I can think of a bunch of things I still want. A kiddie pool for the kids during summer, a blender, a DSL line, just kidding on that one. I look forward to the next chinook- load of stuff I bring to my little paradise. Plus I thoroughly enjoy and miss going to the swap meet in Sebastopol every sunday morning to find my treasures.

I tell this next story in the name of knowledge. I go to buy propane the other day. I endure the task of carrying, even the empty canister. I pay and during the transaction I put the change into my pocket and concentrate on getting the now amazingly heavy canister back to my casa. Later that night, I notice that I was given the wrong change for the gas, I'm owed another 100 pesos = $10.00. I sheepishly tell Veronica. I know that I should immediately go back and settle this . But it's 9:00pm ! I just couldn't muster up enough energy to do it . Manana .... well early the next morning , just after sunrise, the 80 yr. old husband of the proprietress shows up at my casa. He has never visited before, so I ask him what's up? He tells me he has little money and is old and needs work and is ready now... all at once my chance to ask him for my 100 pesos had collapsed. I just couldn't do it or have him work. So on his way he went. It was a cheap lesson. Count your change... I was amazed at the skill of this con though. Overcharging me was only one half and the second half delivered the next morning. Actually I'm honored to have been taken by this master. As they say here in Yelapa ...Buen Negotio! I think my total now is about $2100.00 for loss here... and I'm sure there will be more.

What an unbelievably fast February ! Only two months to go, this season! I hate the thought of being away from my family for months ! But the big picture is more important ... And what about the current state of the USA? I definitely don't want to get stuck there ! Here in Yelapa, I feel safe ! Who wants to bother us here?

I am going to try and concentrate more on Yelapa and less on my life, here on my site, the next months. My level of privacy and my family isn't the same. Remember a guarded secret in Yelapa is worth Gold !

I still haven't found the time to work on the new batch of photos but I will soon ... stay tuned !

It is really great when friends come to visit in Yelapa, and it's even better when they have a great time. Evan , Angeles , Poloma, Sonja and Arlo made the best of their vacation. Heres a bunch of pictures of their trip, including fiestas in Chacala and Ixtlahuahuey.