GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLFRIEND GATHERINGS

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Sister-Girlfriend MeetUp 2015 – Rejuvenating on the Mexican Riviera

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19358890863_986d684910_zBlue ocean waves.   Soft sandy beaches.  Sunny skies.  Mango Mojitos and Pina Coladas.   Gourmet meals and superb service.   Hot men with sexy “Os” at the end of their names (i.e., Julio, Eduardo, Alejandro, Francisco, Ricardo).   A beautiful resort with colorful manicured gardens, state-of-the art amenities and live entertainment.  Ancient ruins.   These were the ingredients that gave us the ultimate pleasure on the 2nd Sister-Girlfriend MeetUp in Playa del Carmen on the Mexican Riviera.

We were a small group but that did not diminish the rejuvenation, bonding, and laughter that we shared.    There was more interest in the event but there were some ladies that were concerned about traveling to Mexico due to the news media reports that we receive frequently here in the U.S.   However, I can tell you there was not one moment that I ever felt unsafe.    From the moment we arrived in the Cancun airport the service was superb, the service people were attentive, courteous, and helpful.    It remained the same until we departed the Cancun airport after the trip was over to return home.

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Our resort was FABULOUS!   I give high kudos to my travel agent (Brenda Johnson of Explosive Travels – http://www.explosivetravels.com) for her recommendation.   This resort far exceeded our expectations.   I was expecting the traditional Mexican hacienda styled resort that I had experienced in Acapulco (Fairmont Acapulco Princess) and Puerto Vallarta (Barcelo La Jolla de Mismaloya) but I was pleasantly surprised by the modern-style and clean lines of the Karisma Azul Fives Resort.   The décor of the common areas and villas were beautiful which really enhanced the comfy feeling of the resort.   We fell in love with the décor of the restroom in the lobby and I took a picture of one decorative item that I plan to have my handyman create for me.    Even though the resort was full to capacity I did not ever feel any common amenity was over-crowded.

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The information we gathered about the resort indicated that the food was gourmet class and we were not disappointed.   Every morsel I put in my mouth was scrumptious and the presentations on my plate were a work of art.

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We had 24 hour room service, a fully-stocked FREE mini-bar in our room, 7 restaurants onsite, and 2 cantinas to grab something quick.   There was also a wonderful coffee house where we could relax on comfy chairs and sofas to read/chat while we sipped coffee or tea.   All of the food venues were included in the vacation package so there was no extra cost.    During my everyday life, I seldom drink alcoholic beverages but when I am on vacation it is a different matter.   On this trip, I discovered Mango Mojitos and the rum in it was smooth yet potent.   My companions reported the same thing about their drinks.

The beach was all that I expected in the Caribbean.   It was a spectacular place for reading and relaxing.    The pool butlers brought us towels, drinks, and snacks as we reclined on our canopied lounger right on the beach.    We met some wonderful people on the beach and they were mostly from Europe and South America.

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There was also a great gym with state of the art equipment and exercise classes near the beach.   A couple of us enjoyed an early morning stretching class with an ocean view.    There were also wonderful paths between all of the villas and surrounding the resort which was great for walking and jogging.  One of the sister-girlfriends made a new friend walking on those paths.   Check him out!

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In addition to enjoying the resort, we felt safe enough to take a 6-hour roundtrip tour to the 7th wonder of the Modern world – Chichen Itza (http://www.chichenitza.com).  We all felt since we were so close it was worth it to experience the tour.  Along the route, we stopped and had lunch at an authentic Mayan village and visited a 200 feet deep Cenote.   For those who have never heard of a cenote (like me) it is an underground water source in the Mayan jungle.   If you saw the 2006 movie Apocalypto (directed by Mel Gibson), you will remember it.   There are thousands of them in the Mayan jungle.   None of us were daring enough to swim in the one we visited but some of the others on the tour did.   Click the following link to see the video of it.

Here are more pictures of the underground cenote.

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Touring Chichen Itza was amazing.   We could not climb up the steps because it is no longer allowed.   It seemed some spring breakers spray painted it once with graffiti.   Also, some intoxicated persons fell to their deaths from the top.   So, it is now closed for climbing and exploring.    We had an excellent tour guide who was a wealth of information about the history of the Mayan people and human sacrifices at Chichen Itza.   Even though I am not good on long bus rides, it was worth a little discomfort to experience this historical tour as the ancient Mayans were a brillant people

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Overall, everything about this trip exceeded my expectations.   My companions expressed the same thoughts.   It was a wonderful setting to catch up and rejuvenate with your best friend.  We all agreed that we could easily return to Playa del Carmen and the Mexican Riviera at some point in the future.

Special Thanks to my sister-girlfriend, Laura Garza, for sharing some of her wonderful photos of our trip.

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July 4th – Happy 239th Birthday America!

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4th-of-july-american-independence-day-flyer_f1THcODuToday is the 239th year since the founding fathers boldly “declared” into existence my country that I love so dearly.   We were a fledgling group of colonies that banned together to battle the greatest empire of that day and now we stand as the greatest empire of this day.   The journey from that day to this one has been joyful and painful.    When we stand together and change the world we are joyful.   When we separate and are divided on an “-ism” there is pain.   The recent upheavals in our American society this past year alone is a glaring testimony to that fact.

In recent days, we all watched in horror in the aftermath of the deadly shooting of the nine victims in the historic Emanuel, A.M.E church in Charleston, S. C. where the shooter admitted he wanted to start a “race” war.   He worshipped with the victims.   He prayed with the victims.   He shot the victims because of their race.   Yet, what he intended to incite turned into just the opposite.  We, the people, rose up together as one against this heinous crime.  The Confederate flag, a symbol of the shooter and long associated with racial hatred, was removed from the state capitol of Alabama by the Governor in the heart of Dixie and major retailers will no longer sell the flags.    I believe many hearts were changed by this painful tragedy.

Our country is only as great as its citizens and the actions they employ because of their beliefs.   Because of recent actions, I believe the majority of us still believe in the words of our founding fathers when they wrote, “We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”   I believe that the majority of us still believe that we, the people, must always seek and must always strive to form a more perfect union with one another.   It is the American way.

We have lots to celebrate.   We stood on the brink of non-existence 239 years ago because the founding fathers were divided on the issue of slavery and the equality of African-Americans.  Yet, they found a way to unite and forge a democracy that would improve to allow us in this present day to have an African-American president – President Barack Obama.   Some of the modern world’s greatest inventions were created in our backyard.    An American was the first to walk on the moon.    Our military is the greatest on earth.  They have always stepped up, heroically, to defend our values and those of our allies abroad.    Yes, we have lots to celebrate.    So, let’s get to it!

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Happy 4th of July – Independence Day – to all my fellow Americans!

I love y’all!  (As we say down here in Texas).

Be For Real

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MaskLast week, I received an email with a notification that I had a new follower on Twitter.    The name of the new follower was John Legend.    I blinked when I saw the name.    I checked and it was his face on the profile.   I immediately clicked on the FOLLOW button to follow him, too.  I grabbed my cell phone and texted my fellow blogger/writer/sister-girlfriend to tell her the news.  Then I jumped up from my desk and did the happy dance around my home office.    Soon her reply came back, “You go, girl” and I was so thrilllllllllleeeeeeeeedddddddddd!

Then my rational mind kicked in.   My first thought was “Why is John Legend following me?”    My second thought was “What did I write that would interest him?”     So, I clicked on the link which took me to the twitter page of this John Legend and the first thing I noticed was that he only had about 6,700 followers.  (What the hell?)  Then I looked at his @twitterid which was a series of numbers and alphabets.   Even though he had pictures of John Legend on his profile I realized that my new follower was a fake, a bogus, and a sham.    I immediately clicked on the UNFOLLOW button.

With a bad taste in my mouth, I texted my fellow blogger/writer/sister-girlfriend to update her on the imitation John Legend.    She sympathized with me and told me to try to hold on to my “thrill” as long as I could.    I tried but the whole experience made me think about those people who go through life pretending to be something or someone else which sometimes wreak havoc on the lives of others.

A few days after my personal incident, I read the news about Rachel Dolezal.   The entire news story was really mind-boggling to me.

Why would anyone want to assume an identity that is not their own?    What type of compulsion would motivate one to attempt it?    How long can one wear such a mask?

The one thing we all know is life is short.    The older you get the shorter it seems.   You reach a point where it is time out for “bullshiggity” in your personal realm.   You embrace who you are and what you are about in life.    Hopefully, we all make it to that point and can be an encouraging example to others to do the same.

The best thing you can do for you, your loved ones, and the society you live in is to just be for real and avoid those who are not.

QUESTION(S):

How do you feel about phony people?

The Best Thing In Life #14 – Wanderlust

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Woman with travel cases.I am afflicted with wanderlust.  It is a malady I embrace with all of the passion within me.   Merriam-Webster defines wanderlust as “a strong longing for or impulse towards wandering” which adequately describes my affliction.

It started when I was young and read about beautiful faraway places.    I dreamed of those places and placed myself there mentally.   I soon realized I had inherited this affliction from my father who always talked about his life in Baltimore while in the army, his travels to New York and to sunny southern California.    This was an extraordinary achievement for a country boy who grew up in east Texas and traveled to these places when African-Americans were not welcomed everywhere.

Our family vacations consisted of road trips to visit relatives in Dallas which is an adventure driving through east Texas where the trees are so thick you have to “pump in daylight” as my father described it.  We also had a road trip to Los Angeles once before the interstate (I-10) was enhanced and that required driving across Texas (Houston to El Paso) which is still a notable feat.   As kids, we loved taking these steps out of our everyday lives to enjoy something different.  My father’s favorite statement to us was, “See the world!”   His command gave my wanderlust power even though my rational mind sometimes thought it was impossible.

Then life happened.   Responsibility grabbed me.   The pursuit of material things engulfed me.  Life, responsibility, and pursuit became the antidote to my beloved affliction.   I was able to subdue wanderlust and navigate apathetically through the daily grind.   It all blew up when my father died.

Believe it or not, sometimes losing a person you truly love motivates you.   The physical removal of that person from your presence can make your dreams leap from your pillow into reality.   I decided to incorporate those things I loved about my Dad into my life.  I allowed wanderlust to explode within me.   The impossible became possible.

I made a bucket list of all the places I had read and dreamed about.    I started traveling to those places to experience a slice of life there.    I encouraged my family and friends to join me.   Sometimes I would go alone.   A sense of satisfaction always filled me when I returned home.   For a few months, the normal routine of life would be bearable – until I did that first internet search on the next place on my bucket list.   My bucket list is a “living” document and I think I will run out of life before I see all of the places that call to my heart.

Wanderlust has fueled many wonderful adventures for me.   Wanderlust has brought me loving friends, beautiful vistas  and memorable experiences.    Wanderlust is a welcomed affliction in my life.

 

QUESTION(S):

Have you ever been affected by wanderlust?

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Greta Grypp – Report #5

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SuperChgWomanIf I had to define my eating management actions for the month of May it would be the month of “making the better bad choice” at restaurants.   May was a very social month for me and many of my meals were prepared by others.   Temptation was strong and I did succumb a few times but I did not revert totally back to my old eating habits.   In other words, I did not “blow out” all of my tires.

Once an analogy was told to me by a nutritionist regarding those times when one deviates from their eating plan.    I was told to consider it like having a flat tire.   When we are driving our car and have a flat tire we do not shoot out the other 3 tires.  We fix the one that is flat and get back on the road.    I followed that theory this month while celebrating Sister-Girlfriends Sunday Brunch, Mothers’ Day dinner, network dinner with colleagues, and road-tripping to Austin.

The results were good.   Even though my expectations were to maintain the same weight for the month I was able to lose 3 lbs. more by the end of the month.   My total weight lost as of this post is 22 lbs. and the month of “better bad choices” is over.  Greta has reminded me that it is not totally about the number on the scale but the goal IS to make healthier food choices.    Those choices are limited when the meals are not self-prepared.

So, for June, I have cranked up my kitchen again.   I have pulled out the pots and pans.  I have my grocery list ready for the trip to Whole Foods.    I am on the hunt for some new wholesome recipes.    Next month should be interesting.

 

QUESTION(S):

How do you stay on track while eating out socially?