The last time I communicated, we were just about ready to round Cabo Corrientes and enter Banderas Bay for a return to Puerto Vallarta to see the baby tigers, go to the beach and have my surgery. We were just going to stop overnight in La Cruz, at the north entrance of the bay to consult with a refrigeration man who had been recommended and get fuel. Well.....we are still here two weeks later. The refrigeration man used to live in Long Beach and had worked with the man who left us in this refrigeration mess. Since before we left Shoreline the wall behind our bed was always very wet.

We had the man back and he drilled some holes and blew in some more insulation, but it didn't improve. We left the US with two sheets of insulation between the mattress and the wall, drying everything each day as we made the bed. It has gotten progressively worse.

We now have had to cut large pieces out of our beautiful wood and removed the galley counter top to see what was happening. What we found was incredible There were holes in both the refrigerator and freezer boxes that he had not sealed (one very large one where the old compressor hose went). The newly added foam insulation was trapping all that moisture that was being produced by the condensation. It was quite a job to get it all out. Some of it looked like a snow cone. That was the only answer...to get all the insulation out and dry everything. You will see a funny picture in the gallery of the tool I devised from a fish gaff, a large screwdriver and a dagger saw (blades on both sides) all hooked together with duck tape to try to get to the places too deep/far for our arms. To keep from poking things, I kept a kitchen mitt on the unused portion. We were a sight to see around here, insulation dust everywhere. Now we await the new insulation, new insulated lids and the carpentry work to make her beautiful again. I would like to take that guy and get him to open his checkbook to pay for all this work that is having to be redone. Lessons learned. We are fortunate to have found out about it and taken care of it. In addition, I continue to glue down lifting edges of the non-skid up on the deck. Had to stop during this recent crisis, but will finish in a day or so. Bob continues to try to get the two screws out of the windless to service it.

I had my surgery. He put a bandage on that kept me from seeing the results, and also covered it well during all this insulation expose'. He took the stitches out day before yesterday but covered it again. I haven't seen it yet. I see him again tomorrow for the pathology reports to see if he got clear margins. Then an appointment to learn how to massage the scar. Can you believe that! Can't say enough about the medical care here. The surgery and all these appointments cost $350. I'll reserve judgment until I actually see the scar. I plan to take a picture of Dr. Rivera and his nurse to put on the blog. Cruising is not only a vacation...it is doing real life while living on a boat.

Speaking of real life, it was bound to happen...Bob got a terrible intestinal bug. He has never been sick since I have known him. This one took us both by surprise. All when we were sleeping on the salon settee and eating out of ice chests! He is still in bed today, but improved. His temperature is approaching normal. It h ad been very high. We had a cruising physician on our dock who gave us assistance. Others brought CIPRO, thermometer, chicken broth and offers of assistance. This really is a family. I got to play nurse. Now this is a role where I feel confident :-) He is a good patient and I'm glad he is getting better. Good to see him reading and relaxing even if it takes a Mexican Bug to get him down. The doctor says this can sometimes last a few days so we are further slowed down. That's why I had time to do the blog :-)

We are heading for the states in a week to see Bob's sister and her husband in Florida, where we get our residency issues completed. Then on to Las Vegas where Jacquelyn is opening in the lead in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. We will babysit Parker. We just got an adorable clip with Parker, hand over his heart, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. All this and he just turned 3...whew! We have missed our cruising friends while we have been here doing repairs and look forward to getting together with them again. The Reads will be leaving next week on the Puddle Jump. We are sorry not to be buddy boating with them. :-( We will see the Backuses in PV and the Watsons in La Paz. Friends are really the best part of this.

While we have been up to our eyeballs in insulation, La Cruz has been hosting large sailboat racing, "J" boat racing and windsurfing. There has been a lot of activity and beautiful boats in the marina. I'll include some pictures of them as well. Their President, Calderon came in a helicopter to shoot the opening gun aboard a beautiful power boat. Lots of excitement and lots of security. Enough automatic weapons for a war! There is one at the end of our dock at all times. Wish he would shoot the rat in the garbage area!.

Lastly a book that I would like to recommend. The Lemon Tree; an Arab and a Jew. Sandy Tolan, a graduate professor at Berkeley has written an incredible chronicle of the mideast Israel/Palestine conflict. It has always confused me and I feel much more empathy and understanding now. She tells the story (after interviewing the very people) of two families who actually lived in the same house (not at the same time) in Palestine (one Palestinian and one Jewish) after the Jews were relocated from Europe and given the land in Palestine for their new home (in Zion). The Palestinians were exiled. Reviewers of both cultures say it is fairly presented. Please read it. I would like to hear what you think.

An addendum:

I had my final doctor's appointment. A big surprise. He said that the pathologist (on examining a larger sample) no long believed it was melanoma, but something that looked much like it. The scar is healing well and I am fortunate. Thanks for all the good thoughts. Karyn