In My World…PV

The other day Dolores and I took the SUV and went shopping for several miscellaneous items, including the upcoming week’s supply of groceries for our household of two.  Our first stop was the local jeweler to pick up my watch left earlier for a new battery and to drop off Dolores watch for the same treatment.  Per local custom I double-parked in front of the store while Dolores went inside for the transactions.  In the following 10 minutes, a total of 29 buses and nine taxis whizzed past, the buses all traveling in small convoys of 4-6 vehicles.  Some stopped just ahead of me to pick up or disgorge passengers while the others raced past to the next opportunity.  While this did happen on an arterial it was not a major arterial.  By the time Dolores got into the car a group of 3 more were bearing down on me.  Not wanting to be “tail-end-Charlie” I rushed ahead, barely making the stoplight two blocks away and finally wound up at the Emiliano Zapata Market where we buy all the needed farm fresh veggies and fruit while visiting with the locals and expats also browsing for “take-homes.” The remainder of our shopping is done in the north end of town at the Big Box stores, e.g., Costco, SAM’s, Wal-Mart, and Mega, primarily due to the fact that you can never find all your items at 1 or 2 stores.  If our shopping is completed by mid-day we’ll often stop at a local resturaunt, for pasta, a pizza, salad, etc. and a “cold-one.”  The event consumes approximately 4-5 hours each time.  After storing everything in place the “retiring” part of retirement occurs, the early evening nap for another1 ½ hours. It’s more of the same when we go shopping for Dolores Essence of Cuisine Cooking School classes that have just started for the 2015 – 2016 Season. www.essenceofcuisine.com ----------------------------- Dolores daughter Christine came to visit on November 30th and will be staying with us for the month of December while she performs her one woman show at PV Act II Theatre venue.  Her opening show was Thursday night December 6th.  The following is one of the many reviews she received. Gary Beck CHRISTINE DEAVER - "SHOWGIRL" DEC 9,13,16,20,23,27,30 at 9:30PM, DEC 10, 17,19,24,26 at 7:30PM Christine Deaver arrived in town for her debut and from the opening night, we knew we were blessed to have such talent in our midst. This miraculous season continues all over the area. Almost no one in the audience had a clue as to what to expect from this artist and delightfully, we witnessed a top performer who made us laugh and admire her vocal talents. Her mother is famed cooking class extraordinaire Dolores Brittingham, who was present with her husband Robert, so there was pattering from the stage, some funny familial jabs, from Christine towards her Mother. She has performed in cabarets and theater and debuted in Palm Springs with a show and CD entitled "Showgirl". Flowing out in front of us, bedazzling looking, she blasted into "Everybody's Girl" [from "Steel Pier"] with a huge voice, hitting the upper regions of all the notes. She shows magnificent acting prowess, from her body movements to facial expressions to humorous ad libs. It was obvious from the start, this lady possesses a vast range of entertainment. "That's how you open a show" she said and after what we were presented, one had to believe. She had some very funny monologues to which we could relate. Her rapport with the crowd was casual, friendly and hilarious, including the guests who were dragged on stage resulting in marvelous comic skits. "Long John Blues" is an old jazzy number which is a double entendre about going to her dentist to have her cavity filled. Christine took this song and wrapped it around her body, sultry, sexy and naughty but never vulgar singing of the blues. There existed no doubt that this woman is fabulous. She is a trained singer, dancer, actress and natural comedienne. Now that is a rare combination of talents. "All this for a couple hundred pesos!" she exclaimed and we nodded in agreement. She is sly, devious, clever and wildly funny, but then she glides into a strong heart-felt luscious ballad and shows us another side of her capabilities. "All About That Bass" made famous by Meghan Trainor was perfect for Christine's persona and vocal prowess. The lyrics are amusing, with the crowd howling with laughter, stomping and clapping in joy. She had all of us in her magical control, and we loved it. The song list allowed her to change her demeanor from joyous to funny to serious, and she left us begging for more [Otra!], so a return visit is definitely on the calendar. Act II Entertainment - Red Room Insurgentes 300 (corner of Basilio Badillo and Insurgentes), second floor Southside/Zona Romántica Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco Tel 322-222-1512 www.actiientertainment.com info@actiientertainment.com Gary R.Beck Puerto Vallarta, JAL. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Puerto_Vallarta_OldTown_SouthSide More of Beck's Best: Theater, Cabaret and More!

The Summer visit to the Northlands and Return

Arrived back home in Puerto Vallarta last week (Thursday) after a brief, busy, and event filled visit to the PNW during August-September-October. 

The morning after arrival in Seattle/Lynnwood, WA I tentatively approached our Infiniti QX4 SUV, re-attached the battery leads, said a quick prayer and turned the key for the starter.  Within seconds the engine was running smoothly.  Drove it 10 miles on the freeway then took it in for its emission testing.  Viola!  It passed and I was free to motor on to renew my License tabs and be legal on the road once again.  Not bad for a car that had been sitting quietly for approximately 10 months.  The next couple of days were busy doing the normal startup; establishing a new telephone/broadband internet service, car insurance upgrade, Newspaper service, emailing friends our new tele.#, buying groceries, opening/refreshing the condo, and reconnecting with family.  Normal?  Yes; however, we’ve finally got it down pat -almost.  

The visit had many highlights plus one “biggie”, the first marriage of one of my three grandsons to a beautiful lady.  That took place towards the end of our visit and they are now touring Ireland on their “honeymoon” trip.

We returned to Puerto Vallarta, MX just over a week ago to join our friends, “Pabo” (Patti and Bob Parigini), in order to participate in the local celebration of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) which is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout the country and acknowledged around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey.  Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas, honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts. Visitors also leave possessions of the deceased at the graves.  This is held November 1 and 2, right after our Halloween celebration on October 31^st.  In the past we normally returned to Puerto Vallarta during the first week of November, missing the celebration.  Pabo had arranged a visit to a private home, the cemetery, followed by lunch and networking with our fellow participants.  The day more than  meet all of our expectations!

 

The rest of the time has been filled with getting the computers reset and fine-tuned, the condo reopened, the utilities and other miscellaneous maintenance tasks completed, and getting back in touch with our friends, acquaintances, and the local community.  It’s good to be home.