Hello Everyone!!I'm back from Playa ... and looking forward to catching up on all that has been happening in 'Blog-land'. Here are a couple of pics from our trip (top pic is me on my five year anniversary of my breast cancer dx - pic by Jackie - and bottom pic is of our group in front of our Hotel - Los Itzaes - pic from Jackie's camera). To see more (many, many more - ha ha) ... please go to:
http://www.thegreatescapeweb.com
Also - if you are interested in a trip to Clearwater Beach with other Bloggettes (and maybe Bloggers) - please fill out the Clearwater Trip Survey on that same website. There are also Message Boards for Playa and Clearwater - so feel free to add your comments there as well!
Thanks! And Enjoy the Pics!!
Brenda aka ClickGirl
25 comments:
Wow! Can't believe it has been so long since I've been actively Blogging!
Thanks to all of you who have left messages and who have offered well wishes about our trip to Mexico.
How the heck has everyone been? Look forward to getting back into things again!
Later!
Brenda
Great photos of your trip, Brenda! Of course, I had to go to the library to see them--dial-up at home. LOL
Seeing your pix made me want to go back to Mexico. I lived and worked there at various times over the years, but it's been nearly 9 years since my last extended stay.
It was nice seeing all of you having so much fun.
Best,
Dale in Tucson
Thanks Dale!
Playa was such a great little town ... and we were just about a block from 5th Avenue - where there was a very long stretch of streets blocked off (probably a few miles in length) and hundreds of little shops and restaurants and interesting people to be seen. And it was fun spending time with Joe, Rafael, Steve and Diane - and a couple of others - and hearing what it was like to live there part-time or full-time. I was a bit envious. : )
I had not been to Playa before - but had been to Cozumel and Acapulco ... and nearby Belize and Guatemala - and on every one of those trips, I really enjoyed the areas and trips. And, ironically, I knew that the company that I worked for just went International - with our first office being in Cancun. What I didn't know until I returned - was that two other offices were just opening in Playa - and that was announced while I was down there. Wish I had known - and I would have made a little visit to their Hotels. : ) I'm thinking that they should let me go work down there for a while. : ) I do have to say though, that London is probably my very favorite place. I could easily live there. : ) And I actually love Israel and Egypt too. Those places get to me. All of that history and just such a different culture. Okay - I love 'everywhere'! : )
Sorry about the dial-up thing. I was thinking about going back in and saving all of the photos as smaller files and then replacing each shot (to free up space - and maybe help the download time) - but it took me almost three weeks to do it the first time around - so I doubt that I will have time to do that. But - I did learn a lot. : ) This was the first time that I did a site with so many photos. So - lesson learned!
Thanks for taking the time check out the pics ... and to write. Hope all is well with you.
Take care,
Brenda
I wouldn't bother with the photos Brenda. They are great as they are. It will just take some patience for people looking without a high speed connection.
I hope your transition back to the work-a-day world goes well! LOL
Dale
Pics-they were great- came up pretty quickly for me.
I am coming to CHI last weekend in Apr. for a wedding. Will come in early or stay late if anyone wants to meet. Let me know ASAP because I would like to make reservations before I leave the country Apr. 5 -17th. Could I interest anyone in going to JORDAN 4/9-11? Need that ASAP too. I didn't plan all this traveling. It just happened that way.
Congratulations on your 5 year anniversary, Brenda! My sister goes in for a mastectomy on Apr 4 but it looks good to be simply a "scoop." Then she'll have reconstructive surgery immediately AND will get the other breast redone to match. So..I tell her to look on the bright side - she's getting a boob job out of it. LOL Anyway, you are a great role model for those women who are facing breast cancer now. Here's to another 50 years!
Hi Brenda
I love your pictures...there are so many of them! I don't have dial up and they still took some time to upload but well worth the wait.
Thanks for sharing them with all of us and welcome back to blog land...we missed you.
Need to make my flight reservations by midnight, Mon. so if folks could get back to me, re getting together in CHI end of April, would appreciate it.
Woops, went off before I meant it to...Besides the usual great stuff in CHI the Pomeii exhibit is going on. I am pretty game for most stuff. Now I'm done I think.
Welcome back Brenda.
The pictures were awesome. I am so jelous. I love Clearwater Beach. Keep in touch with the dates, so maybe we can get Dale in from AZ too. I am busy being back to work after a year off playing and traveling. And as is my way, I took a job that requires 6 days a week. I can't seem to slow down. But I love the challenge.
Have an awesome day everyone.
Carol
Hello all,
As one of the "Great Escape" members that went to Playa I can truly say that it was eventful! I want to thank you for those wonderful photos and all the hard work you went to getting them online. I loved being with the fun gals that went along and we sure did have a great time including the celebration of Brenda's 5 year anniversary. Go girl!
Missing all of you.
Hugs,
Chandra
Hey Everyone!!
I just made a few 'fixes' to the Adventurous Hearts website (including a great new shot of Leslie!).
Check it out at this Link:
TheAdventurousHearts
Hope everyone is doing well!!
Warm regards,
Brenda
Hi Brenda, thx for putting up the recent photo of me - nothing like looking at an old "fat" photo when you know you don't look like that anymore! LOL
Anyway, just wanted to let you (and anyone else who's interested) know that my sister had her mastectomy and reconstruction yesterday. It was a 5-6 hour operation and she was feeling VERY sick this morning (vomiting and crying from the grief and relief of it all). But, she's improved vastly and they're sending her home this afternoon (can you believe it!!!) to rest and recuperate there. Thankfully, one of her sons will stay for 2 days and the other son will be there each day checking on her. Also, she has a whole network of friends who will come by daily plus there will be a day nurse in attendance, too. So, thank you Brenda for being such a great example for others and thank you to all who have remembered Robin in their prayers. The worry was not so much the cancer, but the fact that because of her heart problems she might not have made it through the surgery. So thank you thank you thank you everyone for letting me share this with you.
Hi Leslie.
Thanks so much for sharing about your sister, Robin. My heart SO goes out to her! And I know that 'grief thing'. It is something that is very hard to go through - and I have to admit that I still miss the part of me that I lost. It's not just body parts - but a huge part of your sexuality as well. So - please pass on to Robin - that she will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. It is a long battle and journey - but she is so fortunate to have you - and family and friends. That support network is invaluable!
I was also sick after all of my surgical procedures (8 in a year and a half). I got sick from the anesthesia and pain killers - and we finally learned after the second surgery (and my sis having to pull the car over on the way home) - that it made sense to bring towels and a little bucket with us - for the return trip home. But I always felt better - later - the next day. Thank heavens for crackers and tea! : )
I was only in the hospital one night also. They are calling that 'drive-by (or is it drive-in?) Mastectomy's' - because the Docs say you are going to be in 3-4 days ... and then you are released the next day. Scary - but I was glad to be home instead. Of course, my sis is a nurse. : )
If your sister has trouble getting out of bed (I literally was flat on my back and was crying the first night - because I couldn't even sit up) - I discovered that if I wedged my heel in between the bottom and top mattress on the bed and folded my arms across my chest, I could use my leg to pull my upper body up (because you can not use your arms to pull yourself up - at all! And - even if you could physically do it - the pain is too great to manage that). I was so excited to be able to sit up though. My family didn't understand - because they said they were there to help me - but I felt so scared and helpless - when I couldn't even sit up. So - pass that on to Robin - if she has that problem. And just tell her to take it easy ... and allow herself the time it takes to heal.
You take care too, Leslie. And know that you are in my prayers also!
Warm regards,
Brenda
P.S. I just celebrated my 56th B'Day yesterday - which is another of my '5 year celebrations' that I am doing this whole year! A fifth birthday after being diagnosed. : ) Next ... is September ... 5 year Anniversary or my Chemo. : )
Hey Everyone! I have a little 'tip' for any one who tries to post a long message - then loses it! I just had that happen to me ... with Leslie's post. I spent all of this time writing this heartfelt comment to her - and when I hit 'publish' - I got an error message. I was sick! It's getting late - and I didn't think I'd be able to re-create what I had written - and I was frustrated. So ... I decided to try to hit 'Back' on the tool bar - then 'Refresh'. It actually worked - and took the page back to an earlier version of my post! So ... Yeah!! Try that - next time you lose a post. I also copied it immediately into a word doc - just in case it didn't work. : )
Have a great day!!
Brenda
hi, to Clickgirl and All!!
Tried to leave you a note on Franny's site, but something not cooperating this AM.
What a great new Pic of you here, and I had forgotten about your friend Dave who owns property here in NC. You better come to see me whenever you can.
Some of the ladies we met in Chicago are supposed to come to High Point,NC right away, looking forward to that. Lynn from Sacremento and Rosaline from Canada.
I am working on my floating cabin on the Lake Fontana, getting ready for company this summer, Come on Down!!!!!Love to All!!Cath
hi brenda,
welcome back from your vacations and to blogland. you've definitely been missed, but i'm glad you had a great time.
thanks for being so open in sharing about your cancer experience. it helps to know. my brother has finished all of his chemo & had to do 6 weeks of radiation for 1 min a day every day. he should be finished next week, i believe. he's been doing pretty good. his scan was clear after his chemo, but the dr wanted him to do the radiation as added protection.
i haven't had a chance to look at the vacation pics yet, but will get to them real soon. thanks for sharing.
blessings,
sylvia
BRENDA, That was so sweet of you to share such an intimate experience with everyone. Thanks.
Ditto for the tip. It's so frustrating when you spend time etc. & then lose what you've written.
I also like the new photo.
Sylvia, Glad to hear your brother is doing well. Here's to continued
good news.
Where have all the bloggettes gone?
Hello? Anybody home?
Again, will be in Chicago this weekend @ the Drake @ a wedding. Would love to meet any of the blogettes.
Happy Mother's Day, Brenda! Have a great day!
hi brenda, where are you? away on vacation again, or perhaps on job travels? just thought i'd pop over for a visit and see what's going on. doesn't seem like too much. have you gone off and gotten married, and perhaps you're on your loooooooong honeymoon. anyway, just wanted to say hi. hi.
and to the spammer, david martin, what does not being aware of the room temperature and sounds have to do with someone wanting a college degree? all they have to do is look at the thermostat for the room temp and google for info re sounds. that would not be my desire or passion for wanting a college degree.
really hope all is well brenda.
sylvia
Brenda, Hope you have only temporarily disappeared & will contact the faithful when you decide to come out & play again. It's a drag to check the blog - silence is deafening - & not find ANYONE @ home.
All the best,
Ada
hi brenda, i remember you previously mentioned (few comments up) that your job had gone international and opened an office in cancun. perhaps that's where you are. hopefuly so, and you're so busy with work that you just haven't had time to stop in. we just want to make sure everything's ok with you. write soon. we miss you on the blogs.
sylvia
hi brenda, so glad to have heard from you and to know that all is going well. i know you'll join back in when you get a chance. congrats to you and your family on the new births and upcoming new births. also, congrats on your son's upcoming wedding.
i think about you and your testimony about when you had cancer and how sick you were. i remember you sharing about just sitting in the house for a long time. God truly has brought life back into your life. i'm so glad you're out and about, here and there and everywhere. isn't it good to have some place to go, and people to do things with?
sylvia
Sorry to have not responded for so long! I won't try to go back and catch up - just offer apologies for being away so long! And many thanks for all of the kind comments. It means a lot to know I've been missed!
Warm regards,
Brenda
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