AMS to IST: December 2017

Christmas Eve Eve, 12.23.2017

It's cold and sunny in Seattle this year - but it's gonna snow on Xmas Eve!

To us Mexicanos, 31*F is reason enough to stay in bed until noon. Since Myrtle went away 2 weeks ago, our goal has been to sleep until Hora Feliz, then get up and start drinking. Lucy refuses to move anyway.

My Sis made that cozy

Altho our latest trip ended Oct. 11, the journey never really ends, does it - so it seems like a good point to take one more look at a momentous year. Disculpe for boring reruns.

* In January, we were off to Gay Paree, for Pamela's 70th b-day with the Fake Children. Many expensive dinners, frozen toes, forgotten museums, and lost Happy Hours.

Never gets old

* We spent extra wonderful time there with our German amigas Lisa and Doris, then flew to Seville for 2 weeks in Andalusia - it's already been documented in the photos, but these trips get better with time. You forget all the crap, start raving about how beautiful it was, and send your friends off to be tortured too.

Best Castle

Aschaffenberg Coal Shute

Cheery German Breakfast Message

* After returning to Vallarta on Valentine's Day, our time got eaten up with endless home repairs - rot never sleeps in the tropics - and various activities one can never remember when someone asks, 'So what exactly do you spend your time doing down there?' (Probably, the same shite you do up here.) It was broken up by a dental vacation by our great friend Mr. Kelly. And, after conferring with John Huston's muse - I joined our condo board. Yee-haw.

Huston in the park

* In June I got antsy (ok - Pamela did, and told me to get a plane ticket) - I flew back to Seattle for 2 weeks. From whence I took a road trip to Idaho with an amigo, to bring Big Jim Moscrip's ashes back to Priest Lake, ID, where he was born. Beautiful full moon around 2am, and I kinda felt honored to finally take him home after 9 years. A great drive across WA, and loop back down the Columbia River Gorge, one of the most scenic U.S. roads ever.

Priest Lake

Frank's Diner - a good reason to go to Spokane

German Car

* We returned north in early August in order to attend Donn's (Fake Son) #50 in Kansas City, and luckily were there for the full eclipse. Naturally, it was overcast, so we only got the Munster's version.

Me and Owen, without LSD

Pretty K.C. Girl

However Donn's soiree was fabulous, and worth every one of the million pesos we spent on gifts and travel. Ok, on travel. Pamela says, "Kansas City has never looked better." Oh-oh.

* Of course, we left for Milan right after that in Sept., for our momentous Viking barge trip up the Danube, and tremendous car trip thru Bavaria, and stupendous flight on Emirates Airlines back to NYC, and my unforgettable #50 H.S. reunion. In spite of the hyperbole, we had a blast on the boat thanks to the KIWI friends we made, and in Germany thanks to our hosts Lisa and Doris, and all their gracious friends. The road trip thru Bavaria was seriously beautiful.

Boat trash in Nurenburg

Germans (Lisa and Pamela) behind the wheel

Casa Doris

That's as big as it gets

Hoops in Munich

* I overlooked friends in NYC, Doug and John and David Hewitt, with whom we stayed and/or hung out with in the City. Driving up to Torrington CT for the reunion was a rite of passage that is still sinking in - I reconnected with a couple old friends that made the whole trip worthwhile, and we stayed with my Sister Maureen and her lovable Esposo. We also drove over to Ithaca to see a dear friend from the K.C. years. All I can say is, gettin' old, it's weird...