MAZ, FAR - Feliz Ano Nuevo, Blizzard Warnings and Slumdog ROCKS

Happy New Year! I will have to catch up to my camera which seems to be missing temporarily upon my return from my quick trip to Mazatlan. On December 31, 2008, last year, I flew to Mazatlan to celebrate New Year's Eve with 11 friends. I began 2009 in Mexico and might end it there this year too. We had a blast. Art, former chef 16 years, now Accountant rolling the dough....prepared a feast. Lobster Thermidore, Shirmp Scampi, Beef Wellington (yes, I had to pass on the beef.....), green beans, potatoes and "Summer Pudding" from the English folks next door. Art and Diana have a home just north of Mazatlan on the ocean. The lobster and shrimp were swimming around just the day before and no idea about the cow, however!

Art and Diana are about 300 yards south of the most "prestigious place" to rejuvenate in Sinaola, Mexico called Oceanica. http://www.oceanica.com.mx/ The pictures of the beach are real and the property. If you see the scrolling line at the bottom of the weblink, you'll recognize this as THE Betty Ford Clinic of Mexico...in fact, you'll notice an endorsement from Betty in the Mission Statement. Too many happy hours? We have just the spot to hang out!

I spent 7 quick days lounging, doing a "spa day"at AromaSpa in the historic district, celebrating the sunset with happy hour, buying shrimp again from the "shrimp ladies", and cheering on the Venados baseball team who are in their playoffs. Pictures forthcoming.... AromaSpa has their own unique Feng Shui going on as evidenced in the picture. It was very clean, but the "timber" hanging about in various rooms might punch out an eye, beware. http://www.aromaspa.ws/Home_Page.php

Upon return to the US and work, I stuck myself at the PC non stop for 3 days such that a massage was in order to work out the kinks! I did a little biking on the bike path at 45 degrees a couple days, avoiding the mountains for another week til all the tourists return to their homes. Saturday I went to see "The Reader" and "Gran Torino" - "make my day, Clint". Classic Clint, rough, heartwarming, and so very classic if you have grown up in the midwest and had a father or uncle who served in the Korean War - maybe a little too over the top, but yet I did get a little teary eyed at the end.

On The Reader, I did love it. It's a "see" on the list. I have to catch up and see Frost/Nixon, Revolutionary Road (on the fence) and Benjamin Button. I'm holding out on Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler. I mean the guy can't even do a decent TV interview after winning the big award tonight - give me a break. He says he doesn't even watch his own films til about 5 years after they are out....ughh.

I arrived tonight in Fargo, ND (yes Sunday night...) and turned the TV on to cheer on Slumdog Millionaire and it's winnings at the Golden Globes tonight - YIPPEEE!!!!! After that glee moment was over, I turned to the Weather Channel with it's soothing Muzak music as I watched the Blizzard move slowly, repeat slowly west toward Fargo, scheduled to arrive about 2am with 30mph winds (yes, imagine the movie....) and continue through tomorrow. All I want to do is hope the bank shows up and I don't have to come back; then hope the storm stops by 3 to 4pm so my 7pm plane can leave and I can end up in Seattle tomorrow night!