Babbie November 2004

November 2004

This was the month of the presidential election. The blow was soften by the coming together of friends and comrades, but unless the various recounts uncover frauds too big to ignore, we can look forward to an extended stay in the White House by the Little Buckaroo pretending to be Peter the Great.

November 26

Things began looking up later in the month, when we took the kids and grandkids to Puerto Vallarta for Thanksgiving. We met Aaron, Ara, Evie, and Henry at LAX and flew together from there to Mexico. Both Evie and Henry enjoyed watching the planes at the airport.

November 27

Once we settled in at the Krystal resort in Puerto Vallarta, however, the kids found other activities to amuse them.


"Yay! Look at me."	"I don't get it. Am I missing something? Is this the fun part?"

And just in case you were worried, we've been getting plenty to eat.

November 28

Today, in addition to pools, we added the ocean and the beach. When Sheila and I were here in January, we got the impression that this was not a reasonable option. Evidently we were wrong.

November 29

Went swimming in the pools again (ho hum) and then we went into Old Town Puerto Vallarta. In case you've forgotten, Puerto Vallarta really arrived on the tourist destination map as a consequence of the Burton-Taylor movie, "The Night of the Iguana." Here's a taste of the town, including the pelicans and the amazing statues along the Malecon (beachwalk). More exciting news: I was finally able to get on the internet. Yeah, yeah, I know what you're saying with a sneer, but it's what lets me upload these messages and pictures for your edification and enjoyment, yadda, yadda, yadda. The reports that I would be able to connect from the room were exaggerated, but there is an Internet Cafe on the grounds that is even open sometimes. I gather they have to wait for the fleas and/or mosquitos to show up. They were there in full force during my maiden connect. Next time, I am going to try the wireless option, which would let me connect from the area just outside the cafe. Although I can use my own computer, I am not able to use my normal mail program, which has all my email addresses. As a result, I will not be as communicative as normal, which may not be a bad thing.

November 30

This morning's big adventure involved a trip on the African Queen, a replica of the vessel of the same name which carried Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn in the movie of the same name. (Talk about your coincidences!) We chugged around the harbor and up some seemingly uncharted streams in search of wildlife: vultures, dolphins, pelicans, iguanas, and crocodiles. That's right: crocodiles. Swimming was optional. It all reminded me of some warning signs I've come across over the years. They kind of speak for themselves.
What a marvelous bird is the pelican. Its beak holds more than its bellycan. (Ogden Nash)	The lizard time forgot.
"Drop in anytime."	"Who's for lunch?"

The evening was a change of pace from the morning adventure. For dinner we went to a Fiesta. The food was good, the entertainment entertaining, and the general spirit was lively and happy.

It was a bit noisy. I SAID IT WAS A BIT NOISY. Since I'm as deaf as a bat (or whatever animal we malign as hard of hearing) (not bats, obviously) in such environments, I spent the evening pretty shell-shocked and nodding approvingly as people probably said things like, "My mother was just eaten by crocodiles" or "My wife just ran off with the carnival's bearded lady." I'd simply nod and mouth, "That's great. I'm happy to hear that."

Both Evie and Henry turned out to be party animals, dancing the night away. Evie had a shot at a pinata, and did us proud. It always makes me misty to see a sweet little girl beat something to death with a stick.

And all of us got silly balloon hats. Yeah, all of us.

So, that's how we ended the month: with vicious reptiles, Lord-of-the-Flies violence, and silly balloon hats. In a theater-of-the-absurd sort of way, it somehow seemed appropriate for the month that extended The Little Buckaroo's stay in the White House.

See you next month. . .still in Mexico. Hasta la vista, Babbie.
(The Governator made me say that.)