date night

i had such a great time having a 'date night' with joshua. what fun it is to have dinner made, fun tv shows to watch and wonderful company. we are going to have to have those evenings more often. i am grateful for good times with my man.

rodeo

once again, i was one of four 'whites' in a crowd. i love being the odd one out. tonight i went to the rodeo. it amounted to 4 different guys on 4 different bulls, (only one injury) a random dog, 5 guys on dancing horses and lots of beer. (mostly drunk by the guys on dancing horses). OH... and more banda music. i am thankful for the daily reminder... "i live in mexico. i am surrounded by mexicans. the US is not the center of the universe. But dancing horses just might be."

reflection

i am thankful for time and space to reflect and see things more clearly. what i miss... what i don't miss... what i want... what i don't want. enjoying the pause between moments.

comfort

i am thankful for having enough energy today to comfort someone that needed it. good luck matty.

hot shower

i am thankful for getting home before sunset and having a hot shower, pasta and a movie.

jenga

a great day... i am thankful for a great game of 'jenga' with selina and new friend valeri (7 years old) it was a wicked match and loads of fun on an evening sans puppy. i also had a beer with rick, my neighbor, that never goes out and saw some great music at 'red dragon'. ALSO... some amazing tacos at 'ivan's.' mom? i can't wait for you to try these amazing tacos. (pork with pineapple) and a random salsa move in the street.

bus ride

i am thankful for mexican bus rides. i was coming back from bucerias and the bus was packed! at one point the bus driver offered his lap. (smiling through his silver capped teeth) awesome! even though it was packed, everyone was smiling and we kept picking up more people. we followed a wobbly watermelon truck for a while. (convinced there were going to be melons dying all over the road.) then we followed a truck with a whole, quartered cow in the back. (skinned). beth... it was very fresh trunk meat, just baking in the sun and waiting for the perfect person to sell it to. (i thought i saw bob waiting at the bus stop in the next town. better check your freezer.)

avacados

i am forever thankful that i can get killer avacados, tomatoes and limes in the middle of winter. i can't think of a better dinner. YUM!!

mac and cheese

i am grateful for 'annie's' mac and cheese. that i didn't have to cook and was eaten while watching 'modern family'. it was a great evening. thank you!

peaceful

i am grateful for a peaceful day. it was possibly the nice walk or cleaning some boards at work... maybe the good sleep the night before. who knows.

just ask

i know the universe answers me... even when i don't ask out loud. "I NEED FRIENDS". today they appeared when i needed them. i had 7 people on my stoop showing love, interest and gratitude. and am so thankful for all of them. they brought me love from everyone... past, present and future. and i could feel that love and it felt good. i am grateful for life. with all it's twists and turns. "float more" "fear less" and savor the moment and i can hear the waves crashing. life IS good!!! every moment is perfect.

marilio

just when i think i've fooled everyone. and the reality is, i am having a bad day. and marilo brings me a treat from his restaurant. thank you marilio, for the lovely gesture, i am grateful for it.

other side

i am thankful for my walk up the north hill and the great view from there. peaceful, quiet and lovely change of perspective.

sellina

i had dinner at my friend, sellina's house. what a wonderful time with friends and lovely view of the town and sea. i am thankful for a wonderful time together with dear friends that put a smile on my face and bring me joy. (and remind me... "i live in paradise!")

san pancho

went over to san pancho this morning to see some of the surf competition. it was pretty cool to see some of our local guys make the finals. it was warm and sunny and lovely to sit on the beach with my friends and enjoy a new view after 3.5 months. i am thankful for other towns near by to check out. mexico is so beautiful!

cloudy

woke up to clouds today. what are those puffy white things in the sky? i am thankful for a cool morning with clouds.

sleep over

cori, gena and zoraya went home for the holidays. (to minnesota) and gena is driving the car down and cori and zoraya took a plane home. she wanted to know if i would have a sleep over for a couple of nights. it has been a lot of fun. (sans family for a couple of nights and having girl time in a king size bed) woo hoo! i am thankful for cori and sleep overs.

seth and jess

i know i am talking up my new friends... but they took me out to dinner tonight and i got some great family time and got to know my sister from another mother. (and my daughter to another mother) redheads... i am grateful for them and their loving nature and generosity.

jess and seth

i am thankful for my new friends... seth and jessica. they have been a joy to see everyday. i will miss them. dinner with them tomorrow will be great!

huh

tuesday, tuesday, tuesday... i am thankful for tuesdays. that is all i got for this one.

basque

today in the shop, a couple from the basque country came in. WOW! it was so cool to hear someone speak basque and for them to get so excited that i not only knew where that was, but had a tattoo, took language classes and grew up wanting to be basque. i am thankful for my new euskaldi friends that know when i say... "aupa! zer mo duz?" they have an appropriate response.

saturday

i am thankful for my puppy, again. she is getting so big so fast. my little marshmallow is turning into my little tank.

friday?

i am a little behind on my gratitude... but i am guessing that after a long night out with the girls, i am thankful for some sleep and lots of water.

alicia and bernice

what an amazing girl night. dancing, drinking, making new friends and staying out late. my hats off to two ladies that can shake it on the dance floor and melt hearts by the dozen. i am grateful for strong, loving women in my life!

kevin

today i had breakfast with my friend kevin. another lover of chilaquiles. i am thankful for my friend, kevin, who shares my love of this famous mexican breakfast dish... we are working on a rating system for all the chilaquile dishes in sayulita. right now we know of 6 restaurants that serve it and hope to have a review for all of them. it is good to have a project!

"Chilaquiles. Chee-lah-KEE-less! I mentioned I wanted to make chilaquiles to a Mexican friend the other day and you should have see the smile and look of rapture that came over his face. This is true Mexican comfort food, what your mom made you for breakfast when she had some stale tortillas that needed to get used up. Chilaquiles are basically corn tortilla pieces that are fried, cooked in salsa, and sprinkled with cheese. They are often served for breakfast with eggs and a side of beans."

paula

i am grateful for paula and our wonderful conversation in her shop. what a lovely woman. thanks again for new friendships and big smiles!

waves and a good year

i am thankful for a wonderful first 3 months in sayulita. we have had a very successful first 3 months at the shop. the dream is true. we are doing it. struggles and all.

beth

i am thankful for beth.
thank you for all your love and support. i miss you. if you were here, i can only imagine all the jokes and laughter you would bring to my mexican dream. what fun we would have. i can not wait to see you in march and give you the best side hug. seriously.

1 year

so i think i have made a post for everyday of the year 2010. (even though it says i have 361 entries) either way... i am thankful for my year long projects. i have done 2 years of a self portrait a day and a year of gratitude. i think i will continue with my thankfulness and see what project finds me next. thanks to all of you who read my blog... i hope you have seen the things in your life to be grateful for.

there will always be someone with less and always someone with more. so be happy with what you have and share what you can.

new year's eve

i am thankful for fireworks. joshua woke me up in time to walk down to the beach and see all the craziness in full swing. music, drunkenness and fireworks. they were so beautiful. right over our head and 'snowing' into the ocean. a year ago today... i couldn't have dreamed of being where i am right now. paradise!!