So Excited!

I leave on a real vacation tomorrow! I haven't had a real vacation since Feb. 2006!! I've gone out of town, back home to Minneapolis, but my mom's 94 (bless 'er), so it's not really a "vacation" - I always do stuff for her, and have the responsibilities of being the daughter home to "help out" - not that I'm complaining, I love Mom, she's a pistol at 94, and it's always fun. Just not a real vacation.

I'm flying out tomorrow to Isla Mujeres, a wee island off the coast of the Yucatan, out from Cancun. Rigel probably knows of it. Friends of mine are already down there - they've been going for 12 years, and know it really well, and know the people who run the hotel, all the bartenders and restaurant owners. It's just barely being discovered by people, so isn't quite a tourist mecca, and this time of year is sort of quiet. Just what I need after dressing models this week during crazy Fashion Week!

I'm ecstatic!! All packed, which is unusual for me. I have 2 fashion shows to dress today, then I have the evening to do last minute things, then I'm gone - outta here - exiting - in the morning! Yahoo!

Poor Larry. He soooooo knows something's up, and he's following me around with a mopey look on his face. My neighbor down the hall comes in to feed him and scoop out the litterbox, but she says she never sees him, which I totally understand. He's very shy about strangers, and will hide in the closet. She's decided it's best to just leave him there and not bother him or freak him out. He's used to her and he eats his food and does his business.... which is fine.

I'm picking him up and cuddling him alot this morning.

Ohmigosh! That would be so much fun!! (I'm staying at the Hotel Posada del Mar, in case you pop over there between 9/15 and 9/21.... )

Thanks, friends! I just got home from my last show, I'm all packed, Larry's staring at me and I'm having some extra white wine, just to calm me down!

Such a fun, wonderful time!!! Isla Mujeres is paradise! It hasn't been really, truly discovered yet by swarms of tourists, and it's still the off-season, so our hotel was pretty quiet, the beaches were not overly crowded, except the 16th was Mexican Independence Day, and since it was a Friday, lots of families were taking a 3-day weekend.

But Monday it was totally quiet, and I got to know the other people staying at the hotel - just 3 couples - and we'd have drinks together, then I'd go off for my dinner. Some wonderful restaurants and fantastic food. I drank too much, and ate alot, but I was on vacation! Hot and humid and sunny, but the water is always there - beautiful aqua water and white sand. *sigh* I want to go back right now!

I even learned how to stand-up paddle! Standing up on a surf-board, with a big paddle, and maneuvering your way around. Quite the challenge, but I did it! (Plus, the instructor was incredibly cute.)

Came home to the sad and shocking news that my neighbor and cat sitter had collapsed and died of a heart attack in the hallway the day before. This makes me so sad. She took such good care of Larry, always laughing at the fact that she never saw him. Her family is devastated. I've lost a friend, not only a cat sitter.

Catherine was the one waiting on the sidewalk for me in 2007, to tell me that my apartment had been destroyed by fire. She didn't want me going up and discovering it on my own. She took my hand, and after I looked at the wreckage, she took me into her apartment and gave me some water, some cheese, and then some wine, as I called my friends. I will miss her so much. We've been in this building and two doors away since mid-1976.

Catherine leaves a loving husband, a daughter, son, daughter-in-law and two beautiful granddaughters.

RIP, Catherine.

Thanks, all, for your kind words. Larry keeps looking at the door, and sitting in front of the door. It's very strange. He always hid when she came, but he must have gotten used to the door opening and food being left.

She did, actually. Apparently, she was coming back from going to the store, got off the elevator, and collapsed just as she turned the corner in the hallway, which is just steps away from our doors. There must have been alot of commotion, EMTs working on her. I'm sure Larry heard it all, and heard voices he recognized.

I went to the wake on Saturday, and it was so good seeing her family and friends gathering together, all the pictures, being able to talk to neighbors and mill around. It was actually healing for me, which, I guess, is sort of one of the purposes of a wake. Her family is very strong and very close-knit, so I'm sure they'll get through this by pulling together.

Funeral is this morning, and I've decided to attend, and go in late to work. People at my job won't mind, and I really want to pay my respects.

Once again, thanks for all your kind thoughts.