It's almost Christmas!

Susan has arrived or her monthly December visit... and I'm about to leave to visit my family in California and Denver.  Fortunately she's been here enough that she can navigate PV on her own.

 Lots of fun things going on as 'The Season' has started...run into old returning friends daily...more activities than I have time to go to (not to mention parties). Last night we saw The Rocky Horror Show at The Palm which was a kick--since I've been a fan of both the movie and the play I was in heaven having it come to Puerto Vallarta. I had my first short story published and it is available on Amazon....I'll write more about that later and post a link so that you can buy a copy (I'll even autograph it next time I see you!). Since I'm a crazy love-it Amazon shopper I will be listing some of my favorite shopping recommendations so stay tuned. If we are 'friends' on Facebook you will also see my more up-to-date comings and goings.

Last summer saw me at a fabulous birthday party in Beverly Hills...we were not allowed to discuss it in the media but it was amazing...no cameras allowed either. Snoop Dogg entertained, Charlie Sheen also did a funny roast of our host who was celebrating his 40th birthday. I am told that we can now post some pics of the party so as soon as I get some I will post them...again, stay tuned.

I'm very excited about my January trip to Park City, Utah where I will finally attend The Sundance Film Festival--can't wait! Looks like I'll be able to choose my movies on Tuesday. JOBS will premier there so I hope to get tixs for that one along with some of the documentaries.  Crossing my fingers that I get to see some great ones!

Got to run...another party tonight...life in PV is still the best!

P.S. Have to tell you about my cruise but that's for another time

Off Subject:

Last October I took a trip to Bangkok with my oldest son, Peter. I created a photo book for him in remembrance of our trip. Just got a $10 Cupocity coupon so decided I needed a book for myself so here it is....BTW it was a wonderful trip...got to fly business class on Korean Airline's new "Dream Liner" and it was a dream! note: give the album a few seconds to load...

Click here to view this photo book larger

Create a gorgeous, high quality wedding photo album at Shutterfly.com.

Did You Think I had Disappeared?

I just checked my blog and yes, it's been a l-o-n-g time since I updated you. 

We just completed what we call "The Season" and the town has quieted down. The slower pace is lovely for a change but it is not as slow as I'd thought it would be. My regular Mah Jongg group that meets at Lindo Mar Resort won't start up again until the fall so now I am meeting with a group at The Sea Monkey...both places are on the beach and have delightful views, nice food  and breezes.

I have also started an intense language class. It lasts 3 weeks and is exhausting. Three hours three times a week and about 4 hours of homework daily. Not a lot of time for anything else. 

I't heating up here so I finally decided to have my car windows tinted--what a difference that makes! I had it done yesterday so the car needs to be in the sun (not parked in my garage) so I'm going to a movie and also parking myself and my homework book in a coffee shop--that should keep the car outside for awhile.

Those of you who have been following my divorce--although it's been over for a long time most of it is finally over with the exception of the properties Ed tricked me into putting loans in my name after consulting with an attorney (unbeknownst to me) and paying himself back for a loan (on properties that he claimed to be his separate property!) his mother made...never mind that my mother made a loan which he chose not to pay back to me. Karma gets you every time and I think it is catching up with him. If you have become his friend on Facebook or LinkedIn you might want to rethink that--just my 2 cents!

As for life here it remains beautiful. The sunsets are amazing, the new friends I've made are wonderful, There's a beautiful view every day from my condo. The pool is at it's best. Friends from Monterey and Los Angeles have been coming to PV and it's nice to have them see my place and enjoy a meal and catch up with them.

Now I'm planning a trip to LA, San Francisco and Denver. In LA I am going to an amazing party but that's for another blog.

Another Season, Another Reason....

I am sitting in my with my computer on my lap, AC on, no TV (too bad as this is the week with all the new programs)....the nightly tropical rain started and knocked out my television (it's a dish). When the rains start I know that tomorrow the weather will be cooler since the humidity will be lowered by the rain.

Checking my email I find emails from my seasonal friends who are back or will be soon so 'The Season' is starting! Within the next week or two some of the restaurants that closed for the summer will reopen. Bingo dates are being set, parties are being planned and (yay!) I'll have my first mah jongg game in months!

Last weekend a group of 10 of us took the first yacht trip of the season. We started with mimosas at a local private yacht club and then sailed to a private beach for breakfast...live jazz played on the top deck....wonderful!. My seasick pills worked and I had a great time with my friends, Patty, Ginger, Amy and one of Patty's visitors...a perfect day and a perfect way to get into the feel of the end of summer.

Road Trip! San Miguel de Allende

Shawn's mother (from Carmel) is thinking of moving to San Miguel de Allende so she has taken a beautiful home plus casita for the summer in San Miguel to try out the house which was #1 on her list when we were there. Shawn and Sandeep are spending the summer there (getting away from the heat of Puerto Vallarta) and they invited Dana and I to join them for a week. What a week it was! We took a day trip to Leon (the shoe capital of Mexico!!!) where we looked at hundreds of shoes...then off to Guanajuato. We did a few other day trips from SM but the best of all was SM which is a beautiful colonial city with a European flair.

Did I buy anything? Not much but did get a couple of pretty pots to put on my deck and put herbs in. Dana and I each bought a molcajate which it turns out is going to be a pain to season! If you click on the word molcajate you'll see for yourself.

All the stores and homes in San Miguel are painted beautiful colors. Businesses cannot put up big nor lighted signs so a place like Starbucks has "Starbucks" written with small letters outside it's beautiful wooden door (the doors in San Miguel are stunning). Inside of the doors one finds beautiful fountains and gardens--in fact there was a book I almost bought "Behind the Walls of San Miguel de Allende". None of the pictures did the place justice so I passed on buying it.

Since San Miguel is at an elevation of 6K feet it and the weather is similar to Monterey's it was a real treat to get out of humid Puerto Vallarta. We attended a party before we left an I met some interesting folks--perhaps I will house sit for them sometime next summer when the heat is too hot here--who knows!

Friend Patty babysat Armani and my condo . Armani acted a bit distant when I returned but he's back to normal again and follows me everywhere. After returning to PV I've had a few sick days, Dana fell while getting her picture taken--got bruised and Patty fell by her fountain and had a couple of days in bed....nice that we all had a good week before that! Will post more pics later.

Paramount Bay Night Out

Photos of a Paramount Bay night out in Puerto Vallarta. I live in a condo named Paramount Bay (BTW note: My ex-husband, Ed Rockower, and his attorney, David Parnie, monitor my blog and feel that because I post positive and fun events in my life and do not mention of any medical or stressful things in my life that I have no problems and I should not have fun EVER!).

Tonight several of us went to the local shopping center to see a flamenco dance display (note to Ed Rockower and David Parnie: it was free). After the show we went to a favorite restaurant, Pepe's. It is great to be back in PV and to reconnect with friends. Weather here is not as hot as it can be in PV. Loving being back in my own bed

Fun night.

Summer's Here!!!!

Summer's here...or at least it's beginning since it's heating up (I am very thankful for the pool). I head for California soon to see my doctors and to deal with some personal business--during this trip I plan to throw in some visits with family and friends--I'm firming up my schedule now.

Recently PV had what is called "Restaurant Week" in which three course menus were offered by some of the top restaurants here for either $18 or $28 (approximate exchange rates). I was able to sample some great menus (one was in Richard Burton's old home--beautiful).

Soon our rainy season will start. Somehow the rains (and they are notyhing like we had in California...they are torrential with loud booms that follow huge bolts of lightning--quite a show...like, I said nothing like I'd ever experienced in California). During this time TV often goes out so I've been stockpiling DVD's to watch during this time...my friend, Lary (yes, with one "L") is spending a few months in San Francisco so he's told me that I will have his large DVD collection to watch during this time. The funny (to me) thing about our rain is that it seems to always start at 6pm as if the weather knew we're done with our essential trips during the day and are ok with staying in during the night. Now that I've experienced a couple of rainy seasons I am looking forward to this one. There is something nice about being tucked in safe and sound during the booms and flashes.

Since what is known as the high season is over the fun begins for those of us who live full time in PV. Things slow down and we have time to enjoy more time with friends, we find parking spaces more easily, events for locals take place like afternoons in air-conditioned theatres-- a nice time to sit back, slow down and enjoy this paradise!