Andre the Giant from The Princess Bride, “Hello Lady!”
“Look what I found—four white horses, and I figured there are four of us … if we ever found the Lady. Hello, Lady!”
~ Fezzik
As the sweet little Mexican nurse asked me, “what’s your problem, Lady?” The only voice I heard was that of Fezzik, one of my very favorite characters from one of my very favorite movies, The Princess Bride.
“Dave, I think Andre the Giant (he played Fezzik) is trapped in her little Mexican-nurse body,” I looked over and we both laughed.
Of course Dave immediately responded back with a wave and a, “Hello Lady!”
Looking earnestly our sweet nurse continued, “Lady, what’s the problem? Oh Lady! Where you hurt? You pregnant, Lady?”
I tried to answer. She clearly did not understand a word I was saying. The words, “My period should start today,” washed right through her. Even though my words made no sense my pain most definitely broke our language barrier. “Lady, you hurt?” Finally after trying so many different ways to explain that no, I do not think I am pregnant and my arm really hurts, I pointed at Dave and said, “He hablas Espanol.” Continue reading “I broke my arm in Mexican the saga continues: What’s your problem, Lady?”
Ok. . . So . . . In the last few weeks I broke my arm (or I think I broke my arm). There has been quite a debate about over it and I am learning that elbow fractures are tricky. In this time we also traveled to Mexico and since the “alleged” broken-arm incident I have not blogged. I am back to blogging. And today while I try to finish this post I have Tweeted, Facebooked and even checked out my new LinkedIn Connections (which I rarely do). Honestly, I am nervous to be blogging again. It has only been a few weeks and I have absolutely no idea why I am nervous. I have no reason to be nervous. Everyone who reads CrazyUS.com is always so cool. Weird. Wish me luck.
Sitting here in sunny San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico has me thinking. I keep thinking about why I started blogging more than ten years ago and why I starting blogging again a few months ago? I mean, I had affectively stopped blogging and moved on. What brought me back? Well, I missed the connection. I missed being a part of the blogging wonderland. I missed you. And when I returned I was blown away that people remembered who I am. Thank you! I was also blown away by all of the talent out there. Yes, there are a lot of talented people who have taken the bull by the horns and have become quite successful. When I see these people all I want to do is read their words, look at their pretty pictures and not compete for their space. Lately and maybe because I am PMSing on vacation, I have been thinking about this a lot.
Last night Dave and I talked about why I blog over dinner. He had the sea bass with saffron potatoes and I had chicken cooked in a banana leaf, with the most delicious homemade guacamole and homemade corn tortillas. My two yellow and one blue corn tortilla were so homemade that as we walked to our table, we walked by the cute little old Mexican lady who was cooking them on a tiny stove.
Bloody Lip and Two Chipped Front Teeth
I kept asking Dave, “Is it worth it? Really? The space is so saturated. I want to know what you think.” Dave is probably less committed than I am and because he has a long career based in High Tech he knows the realities of social media and beyond. There are so many blogs and other avenues of social media out there that I wonder if my blog should have a place or a space? Is it worth it? Is it worth the endless and excessive self-promoting? Is it worth it to make sure that you are not only Tweeting links to your blog, but you are also responding to Tweets and also Tweeting other interesting happenings? I go to Twitter and I am mobbed with links and shouts. I cannot figure out Pinterest and because I can’t I know I am missing some boat. Instagram is cool, yet I am not sure how I get folks to follow me. Ah, how do I get folks to follow me here or anywhere? Facebook is the only thing I think I have a handle on. I like the short posts. I like being able to upload pictures from wherever I am. I like the instant feedback and ensuing conversations. It was great letting folks know in a matter of seconds that son #2 smacked son#1’s face into the side of the pool which ened in son#1’s two front teeth being chipped. In seconds I posted the bloody evidence. In minutes we were talking about the chipped teeth. Geoff could comiserate. Wendy wondered if it was in Ms. Senich’s class? No. It was Miss Loefler’s class and whatever did happen to Ben Johnson? Stephanie and Jodi guessed it was son #2, especially when son#2 suggested he fly back to Utah on his own. They know our sons. Kyle, Dave, Eli & I were all feeling the love. Facebook is genius and sometimes I do think it is enough. Obviously so does Mark Zukerburg and that is why he is worth 250 gazallion times infinity dollars.
That is the big question. Since leaving blogging five years ago that question is so hard to answer and seems to get harder by the second. We all want people to come to our web sites. Is it worth it? What sets me apart? I don’t know if there is anything that does. There are great writers, designers and self-promoters out there. There are kind, interesting, daring, obnoxious and very cool people who are continually refining their strategy. I am impressed and in awe. I feel like my Grandma did when I was teaching her how to use our new cable remote all those years ago. “Grandma, push the green button to turn the tv on and this one is for the guide. If you click on the ok button it will take you to your channel.” I remember her responding in her thick Minnesota accent with something like, ” These remotes are confusing. It’s much easier to get up off your butt and turn the television on yourself.”
I want to write. I want to be read. In our easy access publishing world I wonder if the pay off will be worth the time I put in writing and then self-promoting. Is it? What do I have to say that sets me apart? Do people want to read my words? I sound vain. I do not feel vain. I feel lazy. If I am going to write I need a presence. I think I would have stopped last month if it had not been for Andrea, Amy, OtherB, Kevin, Robin, Michelle, Ben, Brenda, Sunny, Kim, Nino, SuefromSC, Wendy, Sara and everyone else who stops by. Most of you know me personally and have been gracious enough to leave a comment (even when I solicit one). Thank you!
Now what should I do? What do you want me to say? Yes, I am a people pleaser and in all honesty if I simply wanted to journal I would keep my words offline.
“If you could write like Bill Bryson, you would be really successful.” Dave said to me as he read by the pool.
Next to him I sat,
looking at the ocean. I thought for a second and in my vacation haze I responded,
“I’m not sure how to take that, but I would like to think I can write and who wouldn’t want to be successful?”
Sitting next to Dave and looking at the ocean
“He is a travel writer and he is really funny.” Dave continued.
“I like to think I am funny and I love to travel. Maybe there is hope for me yet.” I laughed or laughed as much as I could in the mid day heat. I looked to my left and saw Kyle reading one of my favorites: Gary Larson. “I could pull off a little Far Side, couldn’t I?” I thought.
Kyle reading the Far Side
Dave kept reading and so did Kyle. I looked over and noticed Eli to the right of Dave. Covered with his shirt, the boys had spent the morning at the beach and then swimming in the pool.
Easy E at the pool
Somehow our day came to this moment, the four of us each lying in a lovely beach chair reading, staring at the ocean or wrapping a shirt around our head. The moment was divine and the moment was brief. Soon Eli, Kyle & I decided we were hungry and I had to pee. We promised to bring Kyle a snack (we didn’t) and Eli and I went on a little adventure. We found the baños below the pool walked back to our room. We could not get into the room because it was being cleaned so we decided to check out the tennis courts. Back in the hotel courtyard Eli looked up,
“Hey Mom, look. It’s the cleaning lady. I think she is done.”
We walked back to our room and decided to change plans. Dave and I would take a long (and it was long) walk on the beach while Kyle and Eli cooled off and hung out in the room. Best part: there would be snacks. Eli and I walked a different way back, asked Kyle & Dave to pack up their things and follow us because we had a plan. We did. They were settled in the room and Dave and I were off. . .
Little Cove on our Beach Walk
We lucked into this hotel. It is not what I had picked and I am glad. Do you like deals? We like deals. What happened is that Dave saw a Groupon for the Welk Resort. Coincidentally I had also decided I wanted to stay at the Welk Resort. Within hours the Groupon was sold out. Dave was discouraged and so was I. I was willing to pay full price for the Welk, but when I called they had no availability. Dave asked me to call the Groupon folks and I took it a step further and called the Welk People. No. I could not get the Groupon deal, but if I would be willing to listen to a Timeshare Presentation (yes, that is what I said), a timeshare presentation, then I could stay at a participating hotel (The Westin or the Hilton). We have Gold Status at the Hilton (you could too) and with Gold Status we get things like room upgrades (if available), free internet, kids eat free and treats. I have been very happy with this particular Hilton Deal.
Eli’s Kid’s Eat Free Adult-Size Cheesecake
See, Dave has always been a deal guy. For years our friends always say something like, “I am sure Dave has a coupon for that.” He probably does. His Happenings Book is not far and we always skim the Park Record for two-fers doing the Shoulder Season. We have always used coupons and any combinations of discounts. It is how we roll. Some think this is shameful and most think it is awesome. Dave recently upped the ante with the online Travel Deal Market. With all these new travel deal website I need to understand, I must admit that I have been confused and I have been slow. Dave often comes home telling me new credit cards he has signed up for and how if you spend such and such amount each month you will get something like a billion Delta Miles. It is pretty awesome and I am grateful he is on top of things.
I was hesitant to take the Groupon route. Look, the last time we went to Mexico (2009), I had VRBO’ed what looked like an amazing place in Playa Del Carmen and come to find it was the biggest Bait and Switch ever. Our first twenty-fours consisted of Tenacious Me getting us and our friends into a new place. Yes, and after $100 cash was stolen from my wallet, the three other adults were beaten down and the boys cried a lot, we (I) achieved our beautiful and lovely infinity-pool success. Sure, I wore the Playa Del Carmen folks down and secured not one, but two brand new condos, but I was skeptical. If I ever went to Mexico again, I wanted to know what I was getting into. A Timeshare presentation attached to the heels of a Groupon deal seemed a big giant fat risk.
And I am here to tell you that sometimes these risks are worth taking. I would stay at this hotel again. I would pay full price. I love it. I love the beach. I love our room. I love the little chocolatey treats they bring to our room (for being gold members), I love Mexican Doug (Hector, our waiter), I love the pool and I love having this time with my family. Yes, and we also used frequent flyer miles to pay for our trip (you could too). The deals are out there. No one is paying for me to say these things. I have no sponsor, but I should. Ok, Dave should. Hilton, Delta and the Happenings People, you need to sponsor my husband. I am just saying.
PS: And here is how you can play it. You can either (a.) brag to all of our friends about your fancy shmancy Mexican Vacation or (b.) tell your friends about the killer deal you got to stay at the fancy foo-foo resort. Either way, you win.
Hola from sunny and slightly cooler Mexico. I apologize for my short hiatus. Last week I was packing and now we are here. I keep thinking I will have time to post and then the sunny vacation days get away from us. Tomorrow we are just hanging out and I plan on taking time to tell you all about our trip to lovely Baja California Sur.
Picture Gallery
Buenas tardes!
More to come! Happy to be here and simultaneously miss you! [hugs]
