I am watching TV and a guy just talked about how much of our security is based on finding metals, and that detection of newer bomb making materials is a problem.
He mentioned "bomb sniffing" dogs as one means. On our way through immigration/customs when entering Mexico two officers were walking though the airport with a dog. The dog came up to a bag Kelsey was carrying and "alerted". The police officer was very polite as he questioned Kelsey about what she had in the bag. It turned out that an apple was the culprit. You can't carry fresh fruit into Mexico and the dog knew there was an apple stuffed, along with a lot of other stuff, in her big bag.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Sept 23rd - Back in Missouri
We got home last night around 10 PM. The trip home was uneventful.
The photo below shows one of the burp bags that were stuck on the window of the shuttle. I'm not sure why they are there. The road from the airport to the resort was similar to an Interstate.
Victor, our tour leader, took our photo while down in the cavern.
This is a tree root down in the cavern, there were lots of them. There is no soil on the surface. The tree roots go down through the rock on the surface and then continue through the open space below until they find moisture. In this area the cavern the ceiling was probably 15 feet above the floor. These tree roots varied from not much bigger than a hair to 15 inches in diameter.
This is what the surface looks like.
Eating at the buffet at the resort.
At the resort.
Having a snack at the airport in Cancun, on our way home.
Our plane change in Dallas/Ft Worth was a little hectic. We got off the plane from Cancun, went through immigration, went to the baggage claim area to get the bags we had checked and then through customs. After that we went through security (they route you out of the secure area and then back in), took the shuttle train between terminals, and hurried to the gate. Only one person got on the plane after we did.
The air conditioning in our rooms at the resort kept them cool, but they stayed humid. Most of the places at the resort either did not have air conditioning, or it did not work very well. The buffet area was mostly open, to get some breeze through it. Birds regularly flew in to pick up scraps off the floor.
We were in such a hurry going through the airport at DFW that I didn't really notice having real air conditioning. I did when we got off the plane in Kansas City. Then, when we walked out of the terminal I thought I had stepped in to heaven, the temperature was about 70 degrees. Last night it may have gotten down into the high 40's.
We have had a local HVAC guy out several times trying to get our air conditioner/furnace fixed. (The furnace fan just comes on whenever it wants to.) Today he was here for over 5 hours and it still isn't fixed. He has replace a relay, at his suggestion I installed a new thermostat, today he put in a new control board and it still doesn't work. He is coming back tomorrow with a limit switch. The guy has a shop in in Centertown, and he has been here a long time. I like to spend money with local people if I can, but I won't be calling him again.
Weather here is supposed to great the next several days. I need to take advantage of it.
May God bless you and yours.
PS. Kelsey has a LOT of pictures on Facebook. Be sure to look at them if you use Facebook.
The photo below shows one of the burp bags that were stuck on the window of the shuttle. I'm not sure why they are there. The road from the airport to the resort was similar to an Interstate.
Victor, our tour leader, took our photo while down in the cavern.
This is a tree root down in the cavern, there were lots of them. There is no soil on the surface. The tree roots go down through the rock on the surface and then continue through the open space below until they find moisture. In this area the cavern the ceiling was probably 15 feet above the floor. These tree roots varied from not much bigger than a hair to 15 inches in diameter.
This is what the surface looks like.
Eating at the buffet at the resort.
At the resort.
Having a snack at the airport in Cancun, on our way home.
Our plane change in Dallas/Ft Worth was a little hectic. We got off the plane from Cancun, went through immigration, went to the baggage claim area to get the bags we had checked and then through customs. After that we went through security (they route you out of the secure area and then back in), took the shuttle train between terminals, and hurried to the gate. Only one person got on the plane after we did.
The air conditioning in our rooms at the resort kept them cool, but they stayed humid. Most of the places at the resort either did not have air conditioning, or it did not work very well. The buffet area was mostly open, to get some breeze through it. Birds regularly flew in to pick up scraps off the floor.
We were in such a hurry going through the airport at DFW that I didn't really notice having real air conditioning. I did when we got off the plane in Kansas City. Then, when we walked out of the terminal I thought I had stepped in to heaven, the temperature was about 70 degrees. Last night it may have gotten down into the high 40's.
We have had a local HVAC guy out several times trying to get our air conditioner/furnace fixed. (The furnace fan just comes on whenever it wants to.) Today he was here for over 5 hours and it still isn't fixed. He has replace a relay, at his suggestion I installed a new thermostat, today he put in a new control board and it still doesn't work. He is coming back tomorrow with a limit switch. The guy has a shop in in Centertown, and he has been here a long time. I like to spend money with local people if I can, but I won't be calling him again.
Weather here is supposed to great the next several days. I need to take advantage of it.
May God bless you and yours.
PS. Kelsey has a LOT of pictures on Facebook. Be sure to look at them if you use Facebook.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Fri-Sept 19th - Sightseeing
Today we rented a 7 passenger (haha, maybe for 7 midgets) SUV and went sightseeing. The plan was to drive South to Tulum and see some Mayan ruins. It is about a 45 minute drive. We also thought we would stop along the way if we saw anything interesting.
Today's high was around 90, with a heat index of at least 96.
Doug & Anthony remembered touring a cavern when they were here some years ago. The entrance was right off the highway on which we were travelling. The "driveway" was 3 miles long and in about as good a condition as an old logging road. The tour guides told us it would be cool in the caverns. Down here cool is 80 plus degrees with 100% humidity. The walk through the caverns was interesting and informative. I'm sure we walked over 2 miles, up and down, winding through the cavern. There were quite a few places where it was all this old fat guy could do to bend over far enough to make it through some openings.
The place also had a lot of animals to look at.. On the way in they warned us about a monkey. They told us he would steal sunglasses & hats. The monkey was ona leash and the leash was attached to a long cable strung from ground level level up into a tree some distance away. Doug sat on a bench, while holding Kelsey. The monkey came down jumped on them, grabbed Doug's glasses and was back up into the trees in a flash. Anthony went and got one of the staff. He bribed or maybe threatened the monkey and he came down and gave the staff guy Doug's glasses.
By this time it was after q PM. We were all HOT, and hungry. We tried to find a restsurant with AC but finally gave up and had lunch at an open air place. My meal was tasteless and about 5 degrees warmer than my body temp. We decided we had enough sightseeing for the day and headed back to the resort. We all put on swim suits and went into the ocean. The ocean temp must be at least 85 degrees while the temperature if the water in the pools is like bath water. After some time in the water it was back to our rooms for showers and a nap, or in my case a blog posting.
May God bless you and yours.
Today's high was around 90, with a heat index of at least 96.
Doug & Anthony remembered touring a cavern when they were here some years ago. The entrance was right off the highway on which we were travelling. The "driveway" was 3 miles long and in about as good a condition as an old logging road. The tour guides told us it would be cool in the caverns. Down here cool is 80 plus degrees with 100% humidity. The walk through the caverns was interesting and informative. I'm sure we walked over 2 miles, up and down, winding through the cavern. There were quite a few places where it was all this old fat guy could do to bend over far enough to make it through some openings.
The place also had a lot of animals to look at.. On the way in they warned us about a monkey. They told us he would steal sunglasses & hats. The monkey was ona leash and the leash was attached to a long cable strung from ground level level up into a tree some distance away. Doug sat on a bench, while holding Kelsey. The monkey came down jumped on them, grabbed Doug's glasses and was back up into the trees in a flash. Anthony went and got one of the staff. He bribed or maybe threatened the monkey and he came down and gave the staff guy Doug's glasses.
By this time it was after q PM. We were all HOT, and hungry. We tried to find a restsurant with AC but finally gave up and had lunch at an open air place. My meal was tasteless and about 5 degrees warmer than my body temp. We decided we had enough sightseeing for the day and headed back to the resort. We all put on swim suits and went into the ocean. The ocean temp must be at least 85 degrees while the temperature if the water in the pools is like bath water. After some time in the water it was back to our rooms for showers and a nap, or in my case a blog posting.
May God bless you and yours.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Sept 17th - Playa del Carmen
We arrived at the PlayaReef yesterday at 1:30 PM. We met Doug & Anthony at the airport and all took the shuttle to the resort.
Our flights were good. I was a little concerned when we got on the shuttle and saw the barf bag dispensers, but the shuttle ride was fine. We are a little over an hours drive south of Cancun, right on the beach in Playa. The PlayaReef is good sized but only a small part of a MUCH larger, fenced in, complex.
It was HOT& HUMID yesterday & I mean miserable hot & humid. PRAISE GOD FOR AIR CONDITIONED ROOMS! The base level rooms here don't have AC. I can't even begin to understand how anyone could enjoy being here in a room without AC.
We ate lunch at the buffet and had supper at the Mexican restaurant. I wouldn't starve but the food was mediocre, at best. Everyone but me swam in the pools and the Gulf during the afternoon. I took a seista in my air conditioned room.
Food for breakfast was better. You could get an omelet made to order.
Doug & Anthony got bikes and rode them to town. You can ask them about their locking up the bikes n town and not being able to unlock the lock. The ended up taking a taxi back to the resort. The rest of us spent time in be of the pools and Gulf.
Doesn't seem as miserably hot today. (Heat index is only 91 right now)I can sit outside for 45 minutes before sweat starts running down my belly & back. Lunch was better. I had a salad at the buffet, walked through and looked over the selection, and then went to the snack bar for hot dogs & fries.
Back in the room for a seista.
Our phones don't work here. After going over a day with no access to the Internet I broke down this morning and paid $7/day to gain access to the resorts WiFi, so we do have access to email. Haven't checked mine. This blog post is the first thing I've done.
(To be fair everyone else thinks the food is good.)
May God bless you and yours.
Our flights were good. I was a little concerned when we got on the shuttle and saw the barf bag dispensers, but the shuttle ride was fine. We are a little over an hours drive south of Cancun, right on the beach in Playa. The PlayaReef is good sized but only a small part of a MUCH larger, fenced in, complex.
It was HOT& HUMID yesterday & I mean miserable hot & humid. PRAISE GOD FOR AIR CONDITIONED ROOMS! The base level rooms here don't have AC. I can't even begin to understand how anyone could enjoy being here in a room without AC.
We ate lunch at the buffet and had supper at the Mexican restaurant. I wouldn't starve but the food was mediocre, at best. Everyone but me swam in the pools and the Gulf during the afternoon. I took a seista in my air conditioned room.
Food for breakfast was better. You could get an omelet made to order.
Doug & Anthony got bikes and rode them to town. You can ask them about their locking up the bikes n town and not being able to unlock the lock. The ended up taking a taxi back to the resort. The rest of us spent time in be of the pools and Gulf.
Doesn't seem as miserably hot today. (Heat index is only 91 right now)I can sit outside for 45 minutes before sweat starts running down my belly & back. Lunch was better. I had a salad at the buffet, walked through and looked over the selection, and then went to the snack bar for hot dogs & fries.
Back in the room for a seista.
Our phones don't work here. After going over a day with no access to the Internet I broke down this morning and paid $7/day to gain access to the resorts WiFi, so we do have access to email. Haven't checked mine. This blog post is the first thing I've done.
(To be fair everyone else thinks the food is good.)
May God bless you and yours.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Sept 12th - Back in MO
We drove back to Missouri last Friday, Sept 5th. Sure had a good time in Tennessee.
We had gotten some rain while we were gone and our lawn needed mowing. It takes me about 3 hours to mow when I mow all the little "patches" of lawn. We don't have such a huge amount to mow, but it seems that you are always turning to mow around something, or turning because the space is so irregular.
I met with a guy from church Wed morning. We both are interested in being better Christian men and we think our getting together often (weekly?) is one way we can help hold one another accountable. Most of the accountability centers around asking each other if we have been spending time in daily prayer and Bible reading. We also feel the need for more social interaction between church members. We are called to be a "body" and to be "of one mind". If Sunday morning is the only time we see one another we can hardly be the cohesive, caring group that Christ calls us to be. Far to often we forget that we are all sinners (I John 1:8-9). The difference is that those of us who have accepted Christ as our personal savior had/have our sins forgiven (Romans 6:23), also, we are supposed to be "in the light" and we have no excuse to keep on sinning, even though we all do. Those who have not accepted God's free gift of salvation have the excuse that they are still "in the dark". Enough sermonizing <grin>
Yesterday was my 4th trip to the YMCA, to exercise, since I have been going again. I hope I can keep it up because I need to be in better physical shape. I've done 50 minutes on the treadmill each time, walking 2.75-3.0 miles each time. I also spend an hour on different weight machines. I'm a little stiff and sore this morning, but I'm sure it will pay off in the long run. My goal is to go 2-3 days a week.
I cut up some logs, from a dead tree I had cut down earlier, and did some wood splitting. When the splitter quit, I hope because it was out of gas, I was already "out of gas" and was glad to stop.
We are finally getting some cooler weather, so cool that I fired up the wood boiler yesterday afternoon. I don't think it ever got up to 70 yesterday, and the overnight low was 53. We didn't need any heat last night, it is 69 in the house right now. We will want some starting today or tonight. Today's high/low is forecast to be 66/39 and tomorrows is 66/43. I much prefer these temperatures to highs in the high 80's.
(10:45 AM Update: When I finally turned up the wood boiler thermostat (one thermostat controls the gas furnace and AC while another one controls the wood boiler) to get some heat I got nothing. I called the HVAC guys who have been out twice trying to repair the gas furnace & AC (they were supposed to get back to me with prices for a new "board" for the furnace after the last trip). The guy told me they had left the wood boiler thermostat disconnected while trying to figure out why we were having problems. I asked him if he could tell me what wires to connect he told me he would come out. After he connected the wires all seems to be well. But still no price on the new board. I guess it is good to know that local business is so overloaded with work that it takes them weeks to get a price for "board." In reality they forgot about it.)
Kathy had the downstairs carpets cleaned yesterday and is pleased with the way they cleaned up. I'm pleased because she was thinking that we needed to replace some of the carpet.
Lydia was here Wed, for the day. She and Grammy had tea and an Aunt Cindy's cookie for dessert, after lunch.
We had chili and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. You can see a little of the chili on her face, left of the cup. She LIKED the chili.
She was here a couple of hours last evening. Long enough for us to feed the fish and for her to monitor my firing up the wood boiler. We had Grandma Ruthie's potato soup for supper. She, and her Dad, really like it. Kathy sent some home with Kelsey, for Andy's supper.
If you ask Lydia where we all are going she will tell you Kansas City and on an airplane. We drive to Kansas City Monday afternoon, stay overnight and then fly to Cancun Tuesday. We will be staying at the Reef Playa, in Playa del Carmen http://www.thereefplayacar.com/
We fly back to Kansas City on Monday, Sept 22nd. I think both Kelsey & Andy and Doug & Anthony are having their cell phone service upgraded to "worldwide" service while we are down there.
A thought - the President and Secretary of State tell us that we are not at war, we are just punishing terrorists who have killed a couple of Americans. If this is so, if a couple of Americans are killed by a gang in London will they send in the jets to bomb the gang's headquarters? We do need to provide air power to support Iraqi and Kurdish ground troops but to say we are not at war is the same lie we heard when we were told that we weren't at war in Vietnam, or in the previous Iraq & Afghanistan wars.
May God bless you and yours.
We had gotten some rain while we were gone and our lawn needed mowing. It takes me about 3 hours to mow when I mow all the little "patches" of lawn. We don't have such a huge amount to mow, but it seems that you are always turning to mow around something, or turning because the space is so irregular.
I met with a guy from church Wed morning. We both are interested in being better Christian men and we think our getting together often (weekly?) is one way we can help hold one another accountable. Most of the accountability centers around asking each other if we have been spending time in daily prayer and Bible reading. We also feel the need for more social interaction between church members. We are called to be a "body" and to be "of one mind". If Sunday morning is the only time we see one another we can hardly be the cohesive, caring group that Christ calls us to be. Far to often we forget that we are all sinners (I John 1:8-9). The difference is that those of us who have accepted Christ as our personal savior had/have our sins forgiven (Romans 6:23), also, we are supposed to be "in the light" and we have no excuse to keep on sinning, even though we all do. Those who have not accepted God's free gift of salvation have the excuse that they are still "in the dark". Enough sermonizing <grin>
Yesterday was my 4th trip to the YMCA, to exercise, since I have been going again. I hope I can keep it up because I need to be in better physical shape. I've done 50 minutes on the treadmill each time, walking 2.75-3.0 miles each time. I also spend an hour on different weight machines. I'm a little stiff and sore this morning, but I'm sure it will pay off in the long run. My goal is to go 2-3 days a week.
I cut up some logs, from a dead tree I had cut down earlier, and did some wood splitting. When the splitter quit, I hope because it was out of gas, I was already "out of gas" and was glad to stop.
We are finally getting some cooler weather, so cool that I fired up the wood boiler yesterday afternoon. I don't think it ever got up to 70 yesterday, and the overnight low was 53. We didn't need any heat last night, it is 69 in the house right now. We will want some starting today or tonight. Today's high/low is forecast to be 66/39 and tomorrows is 66/43. I much prefer these temperatures to highs in the high 80's.
(10:45 AM Update: When I finally turned up the wood boiler thermostat (one thermostat controls the gas furnace and AC while another one controls the wood boiler) to get some heat I got nothing. I called the HVAC guys who have been out twice trying to repair the gas furnace & AC (they were supposed to get back to me with prices for a new "board" for the furnace after the last trip). The guy told me they had left the wood boiler thermostat disconnected while trying to figure out why we were having problems. I asked him if he could tell me what wires to connect he told me he would come out. After he connected the wires all seems to be well. But still no price on the new board. I guess it is good to know that local business is so overloaded with work that it takes them weeks to get a price for "board." In reality they forgot about it.)
Kathy had the downstairs carpets cleaned yesterday and is pleased with the way they cleaned up. I'm pleased because she was thinking that we needed to replace some of the carpet.
Lydia was here Wed, for the day. She and Grammy had tea and an Aunt Cindy's cookie for dessert, after lunch.
She was here a couple of hours last evening. Long enough for us to feed the fish and for her to monitor my firing up the wood boiler. We had Grandma Ruthie's potato soup for supper. She, and her Dad, really like it. Kathy sent some home with Kelsey, for Andy's supper.
If you ask Lydia where we all are going she will tell you Kansas City and on an airplane. We drive to Kansas City Monday afternoon, stay overnight and then fly to Cancun Tuesday. We will be staying at the Reef Playa, in Playa del Carmen http://www.thereefplayacar.com/
We fly back to Kansas City on Monday, Sept 22nd. I think both Kelsey & Andy and Doug & Anthony are having their cell phone service upgraded to "worldwide" service while we are down there.
A thought - the President and Secretary of State tell us that we are not at war, we are just punishing terrorists who have killed a couple of Americans. If this is so, if a couple of Americans are killed by a gang in London will they send in the jets to bomb the gang's headquarters? We do need to provide air power to support Iraqi and Kurdish ground troops but to say we are not at war is the same lie we heard when we were told that we weren't at war in Vietnam, or in the previous Iraq & Afghanistan wars.
May God bless you and yours.
Monday, September 1, 2014
Sept 1st - Still in TN
Kathy and I are still enjoying our time in Tennessee. We went to church at Cumberland Fellowship Sunday. We normally we go there when we are here. It seems to be a GREAT place to go to church. The Pastor delivered a good message, as usual. One of his statements that stuck in my mind was that most Christians are "educated far above their level of obedience". I think that is true for me. I know a lot more about being a Christian than I put into action.
Kathy has been cooking, cleaning and helping to get Wendy's double wide ready for viewing by prospective buyers. I've been cutting brush and wood.
Last time I was here I cut down a tree that I was afraid might fall on the motor home during a storm. While I was gone the top broke out of one of the other trees in the "clump". I cut it, and another tree in the "clump" down.
One of the trees was tall enough that we had to move the motor home over into the yard. I had cleaned up the top of the tree and we had moved the motor home back onto the driveway in the photo below.
I hauled the wood down to Tom's and split it in the afternoon.
About 3-4 hours is all the "work" I can handle in this warm weather. On the other hand it occurred to me today that I should be so thankful that I am healthy enough to be able to work 3-4 hours in the heat. All to often I am not nearly thankful enough for all my many blessings.
This afternoon we made reservations for a month long stay at the Alabama campground were we stayed last year. It is near Gulf Shores. We are supposed to "check in" on Dec 8th. After our stay there the plan is to "wander" down the Gulf coast to the near Surfside Beach, Texas. It is on the Gulf, almost due south of Houston. "Good Lord willing, and the creek don't rise" we plan on being there for Marissa & Ryan's wedding Feb 21, 2015.
May God bless you and yours.
Kathy has been cooking, cleaning and helping to get Wendy's double wide ready for viewing by prospective buyers. I've been cutting brush and wood.
Last time I was here I cut down a tree that I was afraid might fall on the motor home during a storm. While I was gone the top broke out of one of the other trees in the "clump". I cut it, and another tree in the "clump" down.
One of the trees was tall enough that we had to move the motor home over into the yard. I had cleaned up the top of the tree and we had moved the motor home back onto the driveway in the photo below.
I hauled the wood down to Tom's and split it in the afternoon.
About 3-4 hours is all the "work" I can handle in this warm weather. On the other hand it occurred to me today that I should be so thankful that I am healthy enough to be able to work 3-4 hours in the heat. All to often I am not nearly thankful enough for all my many blessings.
This afternoon we made reservations for a month long stay at the Alabama campground were we stayed last year. It is near Gulf Shores. We are supposed to "check in" on Dec 8th. After our stay there the plan is to "wander" down the Gulf coast to the near Surfside Beach, Texas. It is on the Gulf, almost due south of Houston. "Good Lord willing, and the creek don't rise" we plan on being there for Marissa & Ryan's wedding Feb 21, 2015.
May God bless you and yours.
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