Breakfast at Kona.....let's grab a table!!

[luvdzne]

This is of the drive from Antigua to the Pacific ocean. I think she said it was about 2 hours or so.

They have palm trees

I think they went to the Monterrico beach I'll have to double check on that. It is a black sand beach that looks absolutely beautiful but a little on the dangerous side for the fair skinned. The sand gets it's color from the volcanos. I told her she should have brought a little of it home.

Would have been a beautiful picture without the fingers Brittany!!!

They were serenaded on the beach. I don't know if you can tell from these small pictures, but notice the old pop bottles on the table?

Brittany said they were chased by a pack of wild dogs and one had rabies because is had a crooked mouth with foam coming out of it. Notice they didn't get a picture.

 

[luvdzne]

Almost done! I think all that's left is the Mayan ruins and a few other things. I'll post those later. She has lots of pictures of that darn dog which I shall not post!


I asked her about the food and she said that Guatemalan food is a little like Mexican food but different. She didn't tell me what difference was. She said they also have lots of American foods there too like hamburgers and chicken. She said they drink lots of coffee and she averaged about 6 cups a day. I'm not sure how she slept and I can only imagine how wired she was.

Well I'd better get something done around here. This took a little more of my day than I'd planned.

 

[lindakmonty]

Hey guys!

wow Lesa...great pics. It looks like they had such a great time. And you didn't send $$ right away !! yeah, that dog was pretty cute though

yeah, pics of GWL would be great too. I bet Maddie really enjoyed that!!


School was great! I'm so excited! Still a darn headache, but I'm sure all the time in front of the pc doesn't help. I have a lot of homework already done tomorrow will be a long day though... 10:30-5:50! but...you'll have that .

Oh Maureen, I sure hope your foot is doing better. Yes, I do know how difficult it is to "try and stay off it"...like THAT is possiblethere are just times you HAVE to go to the restroom etc

Donna, thanks so much for the great mealsthey sure are wonderful!!

YM...yes one of my meds is Lyrica...I think I'm adjusting alright. I get those moments out of nowhere where I could just lay down and go to sleep though...
most common side effects:
dizziness
• blurry vision
• weight gain
• sleepiness
• trouble concentrating
• swelling of hands and feet
• dry mouth

and of coarse the celebrex has headaches as a side effectbut I'll take that over the foot pain any day! I really hope they will heal soon and I can go back to a NORMAL life and be able to walk all over wdw again w/o issues!!!
maybe I'll try the tylenol pm's too

How is ds doing? I sure hope he's doing alright w/his pain! I hope he's back to normal soon, I know this is just killin' him! Poor thing!! I'll be praying for him!

2x.... how's it going? still busy painting? do I need to come help ya?


I hope everyone is great! I better check and see if there is anything else I need to have done for tomorrowI'm excited to get this ball rolling

 

[dznymemories]

Lesa...thank you for taking the time to chase down the explanations for the various pictures. I did look at all of them but I had many questions about content. I told Britty that I was so very impressed with her pictures. She managed to give the feeling of the varied parts of the country as well as the family she was staying with. She does have her mother's eye for photography.

I am blown away by the "alfombra" art work. I followed the link you gave us so I could read more about it. It just seems so pure that these humble people put so much into expressing their love and respect for their religion. Can you imagine spending so much time and effort into making a piece of art, knowing that it would be stepped on and destroyed in a matter of hours?

Brittany gave me the same answer regarding the food....like Mexican but different???

I went back and looked at the pop bottles. How funny. I wonder if they have bottle returns or what they do with them. And did the Pepsi taste the same or was that "different" too?

Linda, good luck on starting longer hours for school. I hope you are able to keep your enthusiasm.
How is Mike? Have they done any more testing on him? I think of him all the time and hope that he is doing well.

Hi Donna, YM , 2X2 and anyone else.

Everything is the same with me. Fat and Sassy!!
The doctor called and I have an appointment next Wednesday for a "non-running stress test". From what I understand, they will inject something in me to stimulate the increased heart rate that you would get if you could run and kept increasing the pace. Since I cannot run this is the option I have. Frankly, the idea scares the you know what out of me!!
But I've been putting it off since last October and I'm not one to usually react that way.

Well, off to bed before Steve gets off work in the morning and finds me still in front of the computer.

 

[luvdzne]

Happy April 1st everyone!!!

Anyone have any plans for April Fools jokes? I'll have to think of some good ones before everyone gets home today.


Britt has been having some stomach pains on and off for the last few days. She was complaining again this morning and my I have myself convinced she picked up a parasite in Guatemala. I know, crazy! I told her to stay home so I could take her to the Dr but she said she couldn't because she looked really good today and needed to go to school. I swear no wonder I keep plucking gray hairs!!!


Lately I have been getting at least 4 or more scam phone calls a day. It's driving me crazy. I get calls wanting to buy my DVC that I sold last year, I've won I don't know how many cars, TVs, and various other prizes, I think I'm on my 50th warning that the warranty is up on my car.. I've tried not answering the phone, picking it up and just setting it down, yelling at them, reporting the numbers.....Well yesterday after the second call I pressed 1 to speak to someone, waited for the hello and then picked up Maddie's very loud and annoying party horn and blew that suckers ears off! The girls couldn't believe I did it and were rolling on the floor! Needless to say the guy hung up on me. I hope he calls back!!!


Linda good luck with your long school day! Here is some coffee with a little fruit to get you through the day!

 

[luvdzne]

I think I may have Britt do a report on Guatemala! The more I look things up I find this a very interesting place and want to know more!


I did talk to Fabiana's mom a little about the food before they left as I was a little afraid my picky daughter wouldn't have anything to eat. I didn't realize she would eat so much! If I remember correctly she said that there isn't really "Guatemalan food". It is a lot like Mexican but they don't eat it as spicy. I think maybe it is more salty. She said that you can find almost any type of food there such as American, French, Indian. They also eat a lot of fresh fruit. Corn is a huge staple there. She even told me about a hot corn drink. She said it is kind of thick and sweet. I looked it up and it's made from ground corn, barley, Cinnamon, and brown sugar. Sounds filling! I don't know if Britt tried that or not I'll have to ask her.

They stopped at the side of the road where a women was selling fresh corn and had lunch.

Then played with the cow. She said it was funny to watch the dog and cow play with each other.

I looked up more info on Semana Santa (Holy week) because I found it so beautiful and very interesting. From everything I've read about it, Semana Santa is Prime time to visit Guatemala and Britt was very fortunate to have been able to see some of it. I'm going to quote something I read from a website, this person gives a little detail into the procession.

The local processions commence Palm Sunday and are carried out on Good Friday, culminating in a candlelit Saturday night display under the full moon, and a finale on Easter Sunday. Townspeople stay up all night adorning the streets with carpets of designs in flower petals, colored sawdust and sand, pine needles and greenery.

On Good Friday a procession re-enacts the progress of Christ to the Cross. Garbed in purple robes, 80 men carry a three-ton platform bearing the figures through the streets in an eight-hour or longer walk, stopping at 20 stations for replacements for the load. Women and children follow with smaller floats. Once the design is trampled upon, it is swept up and another different one is carefully laid down by design.

Thousands of people from here and abroad gathered this year, lining the cobblestone roads, to observe the pageantry and pay tribute to this century-old tradition. Security was intensified with three different police squads manning every corner with rifles and hat and ready smiles.

A few more things I found interesting on the site. It kind of gave me a little more vision of where Britt went.

Guatemala is a magical destination. The heart of the Maya world -- it offers stunning scenery, intriguing archeological sites, ancient colonial cities, art, culture, a varied global cuisine, and a wealth of handicrafts for shoppers. Magnificent volcanic peaks, picturesque lakes, lush agricultural lands, scrubby desert, and rain forest thread the countryside. Besides its physical beauty, it is the incredible diversity of the land and its people that makes this country such a captivating holiday destination.

Perched at the top of the Central American Isthmus below the Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala cover 42,000 square miles, an area comparable to Ohio and home to 9 million people. It borders Mexico to the North, El Salvador and Honduras to the South, the Pacific Ocean to the West and the Caribbean Sea and Belize to the East.

Two-thirds of the country is mountainous, with the main mountain chains in the southwest forming a string of volcanoes, many exceeding 11,000 feet.

Rainforest, bush, and swamps in the North yields timber and chewing gum. The fertile plains of the Pacific and Caribbean are used for cattle, sugar cane, cotton and fruit plantations. The economy is primarily agricultural with coffee, cotton, sugar, bananas, and beef leading exports. Corn and beans, the staple diet, are cultivated at all altitudes. Tourism is a primary money maker.

Well I've bored you guys enough for one day! I'll post the end of the photos later tonight or tomorrow.

 

[luvdzne]

Lesa...thank you for taking the time to chase down the explanations for the various pictures. I did look at all of them but I had many questions about content. I told Britty that I was so very impressed with her pictures. She managed to give the feeling of the varied parts of the country as well as the family she was staying with. She does have her mother's eye for photography.

I am blown away by the "alfombra" art work. I followed the link you gave us so I could read more about it. It just seems so pure that these humble people put so much into expressing their love and respect for their religion. Can you imagine spending so much time and effort into making a piece of art, knowing that it would be stepped on and destroyed in a matter of hours?

Brittany gave me the same answer regarding the food....like Mexican but different???

I went back and looked at the pop bottles. How funny. I wonder if they have bottle returns or what they do with them. And did the Pepsi taste the same or was that "different" too?

Linda, good luck on starting longer hours for school. I hope you are able to keep your enthusiasm.
How is Mike? Have they done any more testing on him? I think of him all the time and hope that he is doing well.

Hi Donna, YM , 2X2 and anyone else.

Everything is the same with me. Fat and Sassy!!
The doctor called and I have an appointment next Wednesday for a "non-running stress test". From what I understand, they will inject something in me to stimulate the increased heart rate that you would get if you could run and kept increasing the pace. Since I cannot run this is the option I have. Frankly, the idea scares the you know what out of me!!
But I've been putting it off since last October and I'm not one to usually react that way.

Well, off to bed before Steve gets off work in the morning and finds me still in front of the computer.

This place seems so "Old World" it's hard to imagine. It defiantly not a place I would have ever thought I would want to go. I was very impressed with her pictures. There are a few she took that I wish she took more because I wanted to see more of the details. I was afraid she would come home with a lot of pictures of her and Fabi (she did that with the dog) and not enough of what she actually saw. I showed her pictures before she left hoping she would get the idea of what to take and she did a very good job. I do wish she would have done a small journal so she could remember more of what the pictures were. Can't complain though, I think I learned more of the mysterious place she went by looking the stuff up myself.

She didn't complain of how the pop tasted but I'll have to ask.

The alfombra is something I could spend all day looking at. It looks so beautiful and the amount of work that went into making each one I can't imagine. I'm sure they each have meaning behind them.

 

[YourMajesty]

Just wanted to pop in and say a quick hello!

Lesa...thanks for sharing Britt's pictures...they are wonderful!

Hi Linda...thanks for letting me know how the side effects of the Lyrica. Yuck, the Celebrex gives you headaches...and they are better than the foot pain. I sure hope your foot heals too! Is it mostly nerve or ligament pain?

Hey Donna...yikes, never look at the nutrition information on anything that has anything to do with ice cream. Isn't it awful. How is Gary doing this week?

DS is doing better with the pain in his knee. He has really cut back on the activity which has helped. He took ibuprofen for about a week as needed but he hasn't ask for any this week. Oh Lesa, I made cupckes for dinner tonight for April Fools...they were meatloaf in a cupcake wrapper with mashed potatoes on top that I made pink with some food color. I got it from a family fun website.

 

[DonnaLeah]

Good morning, everyone!!


Been kind of busy the last couple of days with basketball, menu planning and trip cancelling. I sure hope I didn't mess up my Rapid Rewards flight through SouthWest. It's showing a credit of $2.50??


Lesa.....I think you may have to go to Guatemala the next time Britt has a opportunity. The Old world culture is very interesting.
I had to chuckle that Britt is now considered an expert on guys. I don't think you have anything to worry about.
Don't you just love those annoying telephone calls. I'm not home that much, but we get several a day at the cleaners.


Maureen......I can definitely understand your concern about your tests, but I'm sure you will be monitored very closely. Take care of yourself.


Linda.....How are the first few days of school going? It's so exciting that you are finally on your way to acheiving your goal!!


YourMajesty......I just couldn't believe that carb count on ice cream!! It's almost as high as the cereal I eat.
That's great news that your DS hasn't asked for any ibuprofen!
Your meatloaf cupcakes sound adorable!! I wonder if I could eat pink mashed potatoes??
Gary's glucose levels were decreasing, but rose a little yesterday morning. It's very frustrating; he has really been watching his food intake.


Hello to everyone!! Have to get moving!!

I baked some fresh muffins to get us going this morning.

I hope you all have a Thoroughly Wonderful Thursday!!

 

[luvdzne]

Good morning!

YM I saw the meatloaf cupcakes and thought of making them What did the kids think? I'm glad your DS is doing better.


Donna I think you need to get one of those horns to keep by the phone at work. I didn't get a single call yesterday!

Well around noon yesterday Britt had a fever and her stomach hurt really bad. I guess Fabi has been sick too. I got her in the Drs and he freaked me out by saying he thought it was Hep A. and she picked it up in Guatemala. So I had to drive her to the hospital for blood work and then wait for several hours to get the results. Her liver came back fine so no it's not Hep A. Now we have to figure out if she picked up something else there because of the stomach cramping. I guess she started cramping in Guatemala but didn't say anything. Or it could just be good old fashion influenza which is what I would go with if she had not just gotten back from Guatemala.

 

[luvdzne]

Mayan Ruins

Brittany said they had just had some kind of ceremony here. That is why there are flowers.

 

[dznymemories]

Lesa...I laughed out loud at poor sick Brittany having to go to school anyway because she "looked good" that day!!! Honestly, these kids..they sure keep you on your toes.

I don't blame you for thinking of a parasite right away. I thought the same thing as I was reading it. But thank goodness that it wasn't hepatitis A. This might be a dumb question, but might it be the change in drinking water? Please let us know if you learn anything or if she continues being sick.

Well, good news from me!!! The foot specialist moved my appointment up to this afternoon and I just got back. The black area is just the remains of bruising on the area of the heel where the rod was inserted. There is so little
padding there anymore. He cut away a little around it and put a fitted gel-like pad in the heel area of my shoe. I go back in 4 weeks for him to see how that is working. Unfortunately you cannot "fatten up" the bottom of your foot so we will just have to try solutions until we find something that works for me.

It is just a beautiful, sunny, warm day here. I really need to get out before the weather changes tomorrow.

Hope you are all having a good day too

Maureen

 

[luvdzne]

I thought these pictures she took were beautiful

This first one is my favorite. I'm going to print it out and frame it.

She said they were stuck here on the road for close to a half hour because of an avalanche.

I wish this was a little clearer, but it is still beautiful. They were driving and this woman was walking down the side of the road.

 

[luvdzne]

Lesa...I laughed out loud at poor sick Brittany having to go to school anyway because she "looked good" that day!!! Honestly, these kids..they sure keep you on your toes.

I don't blame you for thinking of a parasite right away. I thought the same thing as I was reading it. But thank goodness that it wasn't hepatitis A. This might be a dumb question, but might it be the change in drinking water? Please let us know if you learn anything or if she continues being sick.

Well, good news from me!!! The foot specialist moved my appointment up to this afternoon and I just got back. The black area is just the remains of bruising on the area of the heel where the rod was inserted. There is so little
padding there anymore. He cut away a little around it and put a fitted gel-like pad in the heel area of my shoe. I go back in 4 weeks for him to see how that is working. Unfortunately you cannot "fatten up" the bottom of your foot so we will just have to try solutions until we find something that works for me.

It is just a beautiful, sunny, warm day here. I really need to get out before the weather changes tomorrow.

Hope you are all having a good day too

Maureen

When I picked her up I told her she didn't look so hot anymore! My first thought was the corn. She said they drank mostly bottled water. The water in Guatemala City isn't filtered but supposably Antigua is. Still though she said that they drank bottle water or pop with no ice. They did drink a lot of coffee so who knows about the water in that. She is feeling a little better now but her stomach is still bothering her. I'm giving her those probiotic pills so hopefully that will help. The Dr is staying on top of it though calling to see how she is doing.

That is good news about your foot! Can you put those corn pads over the area to pad it a little or would that cause too much rubbing?

Well David called and he has to go out of town for 4 days next week for work. It's going to stink because Maddie never does good when he's gone. I'm in for one heck of a week.

 

[luvdzne]

This was a zoo they stopped at.

These dogs look so sad!

There is a casa de oracion (House of Prayer) at the zoo.

 

[lindakmonty]

Hey guys! just wanted to peek in quick... omg... BUSY BUSY talk about homework I know I can do it, I just have to stay disciplined!!

I hope everyone is wonderful

I sure hope they give Mike relief soonhe came home in TEARS today...and he is SOOOO not one to let someone see that. makes you feel so helpless

I'll definitely catch up tomorrow...take care guys!!

 

[YourMajesty]

Hey guys! just wanted to peek in quick... omg... BUSY BUSY talk about homework I know I can do it, I just have to stay disciplined!!

I hope everyone is wonderful

I sure hope they give Mike relief soonhe came home in TEARS today...and he is SOOOO not one to let someone see that. makes you feel so helpless

I'll definitely catch up tomorrow...take care guys!!

Yes, Linda you can do it! I'm sorry to hear about Mike I hope they find something to help. Is he still trying to avoid surgery?

Hey Donna...those muffins looked pretty healthy...good job! Carbs aren't the only thing ice cream is high in. Wow... they need to get the credit fixed.

Lesa... I hope everything is ok with Brittany. I've really enjoyed her pictures. Good luck with Maddie next week while dad is gone.

Well kids...I can't keep my eyes open. Have a great Friday!

 

[DonnaLeah]

Good morning and Happy Friday!!


Maureen.....I'm glad that your foot is being taken care of and a little sooner than expected.


Linda......Good luck with the homework, but I'm sure you will be able to handle it.
Sorry to hear about Mike, I hope he gets some help soon.


Lesa......I'm still enjoying the pics of Guatemala. The zoo pictures were very interesting, too.


YourMajesty.....I think the $2.50 credit that is showing is for an airport fee that I had to pay. At least, I hope that's it.



How about a little french toast this morning? Notice the healthy melon in the background.

I hope you all have a Fantasmic Friday!!!

 

[luvdzne]

Mornin'!


DH's trip got canceled! It was going to cost us a pretty penny for him to go because he didn't have enough clothes to take. Since his work went to business casual he got rid of a lot of his suits and the ones he still has he sorta outgrew.

Britt was feeling good enough to go to school today. I didn't get a chance to ask how her stomach was feeling. Hopefully better. I talked to my Aunt last night, she told me if she wasn't better to have her tested for giardia. She said when they were in China adopting their second dd that is what they brought home. Hopefully she just caught a bug at the airport.

Linda I'm so sorry Mike is suffering so much! I hope they find something to help him soon. Were you able to get all your homework done? You can do it! How is Kenny's love life?


Donna Maddie loved the breakfast this morning. Her 2 most favorite things are french toast and melon. Now she wants me to go to the store and buy some melon.

Happy Friday!

 

[lindakmonty]

Lesa...thank you for taking the time to chase down the explanations for the various pictures.

Linda, good luck on starting longer hours for school. I hope you are able to keep your enthusiasm.
How is Mike? Have they done any more testing on him? I think of him all the time and hope that he is doing well.

Everything is the same with me. Fat and Sassy!!
The doctor called and I have an appointment next Wednesday for a "non-running stress test". From what I understand, they will inject something in me to stimulate the increased heart rate that you would get if you could run and kept increasing the pace. Since I cannot run this is the option I have. Frankly, the idea scares the you know what out of me!!
But I've been putting it off since last October and I'm not one to usually react that way.

Well, off to bed before Steve gets off work in the morning and finds me still in front of the computer.

Yes, the explanations are wonderful! I love knowing the history and information about where I go and what I see. Gives me a much better sense of appreciation for sure.

ThanksI'm sure trying! I really try to have a good attitude about everything, very optomistic I guess. I just keep my eye on that finish line
oh, poor Mike! I feel so bad for him. yesterday he hurt like never in his life, for him to be in tears, I KNEW it was so bad. His college is about 10-15 minutes from our house and his uncle lives right in the middle of that..he said he almost stopped there and called me to come get himthat is just not like him at alllll. I knew it was really bad when as soon as the Dr. office opened, he called and told them and asked for an appt. Bad thing is, they take forever to get anything done

yeah, that test would scare me too!!
fat and sassythat is too cute!

Anyone have any plans for April Fools jokes? I'll have to think of some good ones before everyone gets home today.

she looked really good today and needed to go to school

waited for the hello and then picked up Maddie's very loud and annoying party horn and blew that suckers ears off!
Linda good luck with your long school day! Here is some coffee with a little fruit to get you through the day!

yeah...my first day of microbiology...our professor has to talk w/a microphone b/c the jackhammers outside on the reconstructionand he's telling us all our info on slides and explaining everything..he says you have to learn all these diseases by next week plus a quiz on everything we covered todaythe next slide....APRIL FOOLS we have a quiz on everything...BUT the diseases... that helps for sure... I didn't want to memorize over 50 diseases!! yet anyway!!

she looked good todaythat is too funny! I sure hope she is ok though!! that can sure be scary!!

I can just see you blowing that horn in their earI need one of those too!

thanks, you're greatI needed too!!

I think I may have Britt do a report on Guatemala! The more I look things up I find this a very interesting place and want to know more!

Kenny did a repprt and took to school on our cruise. I made him write down everything we did every few days. it was great! Sounds like she could make a really good scrapbook of their trip!!!

This place seems so "Old World" it's hard to imagine. It defiantly not a place I would have ever thought I would want to go. I was very impressed with her pictures. There are a few she took that I wish she took more because I wanted to see more of the details. I was afraid she would come home with a lot of pictures of her and Fabi (she did that with the dog) and not enough of what she actually saw. I showed her pictures before she left hoping she would get the idea of what to take and she did a very good job. I do wish she would have done a small journal so she could remember more of what the pictures were. Can't complain though, I think I learned more of the mysterious place she went by looking the stuff up myself.

I had to look it up too...didn't realize how close it was to Cozumel and Caymans...just west.... I love the mountains/volcanoes etc... and their culture looks so interesting. Their religious ceremonies looked so interestin too!

Hi Linda...thanks for letting me know how the side effects of the Lyrica. Yuck, the Celebrex gives you headaches...and they are better than the foot pain. I sure hope your foot heals too! Is it mostly nerve or ligament pain?

DS is doing better with the pain in his knee. He has really cut back on the activity which has helped. He took ibuprofen for about a week as needed but he hasn't ask for any this week. Oh Lesa, I made cupckes for dinner tonight for April Fools...they were meatloaf in a cupcake wrapper with mashed potatoes on top that I made pink with some food color. I got it from a family fun website.

yeah, I shouldn't have googled tendon inflammation in footlooks like if not rested properly, could be a long term issue. builds scar tissue etc...so I'm going to talk to the dr. and see what else I can do. I saw some things you can do at home...whatever works! I want to get back to normal asap!!! just so hard to NOT WALK!!!

glad to hear ds is doing much better! omg the cupcakes sound hilariousMike and Kenny would have just died