There's a Reason, that I'm Feeling so High, Must be the Season

I just returned from a long walk on the trails of Overland Park. The sunlight glinting through the canopy of trees above, heat bathing the ground below, the bees humming dreamily about the blooms, and a drip of sweat from my brow = a happy Raquel. No impending papers, final exams, or lack of time off can change the solace nature fills within me. If you read Savannah's blog, you will understand me when I say that I will be the coffee bean.

Ryan and I were fortunate enough to have some visitors this weekend, Tim and Cindy. We got our fair share of Blokus in, cooked steak out by the pool, and got to tour the botanical gardens in OP. It was a very nice weekend. The weather was sunny and in the low 80s every day so Ryan and I were happy they brought the WI weather with them. On Sunday morning, we went to Visitation Church in Kansas City and the priest told a story of a time when he was teaching some high school students and of one student in particular that was confrontational and never got his work done on time. The priest said he confronted the boy about his lack of work ethic and the boy told him, "man, you just need to Kbar." Kbar is apparently the new slang term for "kick back and relax". It helped remind me that no matter what stresses and responsibilities are thrown at you, sometimes all you need is to take a step back and K-bar. It was fitting for the weekend because that's exactly what we did, we K-barred :)

This week has also been one of transition. I sat in my last lecture at KCUMB on Tuesday. Half of my classmates are making their marks all over the country while the rest of us keep ground in Kansas City. It was a week of celebration as we are officially 3rd year medical students, but it was also a week of saying goodbye to friends we got so close to over the past two years. A bittersweet adieu. I will miss you guys! Pic below L to R: Alex, Ryan, me, Chris.


I had intended on presenting some of the major amendments proposed in new health care reform bill. However, I still do not have a firm grasp on the elements of it. It is difficult to research the contents and implications of the bill without getting bias, even from government websites. So, I'll just say I feel something needs to be done. We cannot keep living in a country where 40 million people are uninsured, that is just unacceptable. Is the plan Obama is proposing the panacea for health care in America? I don't think so. Does it have potential? Yes. Though there are some positive provisions in the current bill - including insurance for all and payment reform projects - the proposed legislation seems to miss the opportunity to help create higher-quality, more affordable health care for patients. We want health care access for all, but I don't think it should be at the expense of quality. I'm assuming most people don't want the hospitals and clinics to turn into a DMV-like system of care. It saddens me that the main argument supporters for and against the bill will argue surrounds issues of the almighty dollar. I personally feel greed is in control. I think both sides fail to wholly understand the other side, "fitting in the others' shoes" so to say. The ones who don't want the system to change have adequate health insurance, it's just a fact. I think about my little brother Joey and how the current system will fail him if for any reason he loses the insurance he is currently on. I will not accept that. Sorry for the political diversion and if I offend anyone by saying this. I have just been getting a lot of questions regarding it so I thought I'd throw it in. I am not opposed to criticism over my opinion.

I'm starting rotations in a week and a half! I am anxious and nervous about it but at the same time excited. I just hope I know what I am doing. God bless everyone.

♥ Raquel

Listening to: "Let your Love Flow" by The Bellamy Brothers ♪

Living for the Night

It amazes me that the 4th of July has come and gone yet again. It feels as life becomes this desperation for the next holiday, vacation, or simply weekend. Taking it one day at a time. As much as I love to go back home to Minnesota I loathe the drive. I wish airline tickets would go down so we could fly but for now it doesn't seem plausible. We always have fun anyway

We did the traditional 4th of July events again this year - golfing, delicious fish fry, fireworks, and relaxing - it never gets old. Ryan said he could eat fish from Osakis every day and not get sick of it, I find that hard to believe though :) Another thing that hasn't ceased to amuse me is how much my little brothers and sisters grow each time we come home. I feel I have missed out on so much with them.

I don't have much to report on the weekend, I guess. There's something about Osakis that always refreshes me, though. Going home brings me back to the place where I had no cares in the World, everyone knows my name, and neighbors out for walks stop by when they see cars in the driveway. Maybe it has nothing to do with Osakis at all, but all the ones I love who are there. The only bad part about the weekend was getting sick towards the end, it made for an interesting ride home. I'm feeling better now but still not 100%.

I am sad because I found out I do not have any holidays or vacation for the next year. If I take a day off, I have to make it up! No Christmas or Thanksgiving break. We may be making short trips home or be celebrating holidays in Kansas City this year. It is just part of the sacrifice made for this career I am embarking myself on. We'll just have to see what happens. I have to get to my papers now, much better than studying for boards though...

♥ Raquel

P.S. I went and saw My Sister's Keeper with Mom, Grandma, Peyton, and her friend. It was good but exhausting. I spent most of the movie trying to keep myself from crying. Overall, a good story though.

Listening to: "People are Crazy" by Billy Currington

I Passed

Just thought I'd let everyone I got my Step I board scores back today and I passed! I am so happy. I feel I can move on now with life in general as the burden has been lifted from my shoulders. Thank you everyone for the support. I couldn't have done it without all of you and that's the honest truth.

God Bless,
♥ Raquel

Sound of Pulling Heaven Down

Happy summer everyone. Ryan and I are about the same as the last update. We were able to attend Red, White, and Boom here in KC last weekend. The bands that played early in the day related to the "tween" population more but we went to see Blue October, David Cook, and Matt Nathanson. By far my new favorite band is Blue October. I never thought I would like their kind of music. As quoted on Rhapsody "this Texas band walks the line between post-grunge Pearl Jam influences and modern rock with Dave Matthews emotion". I think I have made a fan out of Ryan as well. At the end of the concert we were able to see a Fireworks show which always screams summer. There's nothing better than a good concert and good company.

I have recently gotten it into my head that I want to read the best novels of all time. I started with none other than "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë. By all listings, this is the number one love story of all time. However, I have yet to grasp that light from it. Every character in the story is fatally flawed somehow. In order for me to enjoy a love story, I must be able to sympathize with the character. In my mind Catherine Earnshaw was a selfish snob. A friend of mine pointed out that what makes it such a good love story is that their only redeeming quality IS their love for each other. Can you imagine your only redeeming quality in life is your love for another person? I consider myself a sappy person, but that's pushing it. Overall, I found the story depressing, though the writing brilliant and for that I appreciate the book. Now, the book "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger is a beautiful love story where I could relate to the characters somewhat. Any suggestions for my next read? It doesn't have to be a love story...

I feel like Ryan and I have bragging rights nine months of the year in regards to the weather living in KC. However, that is certainly not the case in the summer. We have endured 110 degree heat indices the past week. Its hard to even catch a breath. I love seeing pictures of the beautiful summer up North so if you have any please share. It finally started to cool down today so we got a refreshing walk in this morning, it was so nice to breathe some fresh air.

There are no new updates on my Board exam results. My patience is near full capacity. I will let you know when I do. I pray every day I can bring good news.

Below is a picture of me with the plant from Grandma Linda in a new pot because it was getting too big for the last one. I am very proud of keeping it healthy and thriving for almost two years now. It has grown even since this picture was taken. I read that if given the right amount of space it could potentially get ten feet tall, I'm not sure if I believe that or not.

Below, me and two of my medical school companions. We were out celebrating A's upcoming wedding in August (left).

Sorry I don't have more to blog about. I've been working on my Econ paper a lot this weekend on airline ticket pricing. It has been a lot of work so far but I'm learning a ton, very interesting. Well, I guess I'll get going. Thanks for reading.

♥ Raquel

Listening to: "Overweight" by Blue October - this song makes me want to groove...

Please Forgive Me

Sorry it has been a while since a blog update. I have been done with boards for over two weeks and have just been enjoying my time. The past three months tested me in ways I was unprepared for. I was incessantly somber, generally unhappy, and perhaps characteristically crabby. I was pleasantly surprised that the minute I walked out of my board exam, that aura that enveloped me for so long was gone. Amazing. I was back. I only have two months of "summer" before rotations start and Ryan and I have made a vow to have a lot of fun. Last summer felt a bit lame to both of us (at least when we were in KC). Maybe it was because Ryan worked night shift or we were still getting accustomed to KC, I don't know. Last weekend we watched movies, played Blokus, went golfing, read books, and organized the apartment we have recently signed another year lease for. We are happily filling up our schedule this summer and are thrilled about it.

This picture doesn't necessarily fit, but I couldn't resist, he's so cute. (Ryan on his birthday)

Right after my board exam Ryan and I headed to Wisconsin for the Memorial Day weekend. I discovered (of course in Wisconsin) my two new favorite drinks, New Moon with orange & cinnamon and Brandy slush's. The quintessential summer drinks. We got a lot of visiting and relaxing in. Nothing beats a bonfire at the VanderBloomen's up North in the summertime. As cliche as it may sound, I love spending time with my Wisconsin family and friends, regardless of their Packer loving habits. Sadly, we had to come back to KC to attend our responsibilities. It's no fun being a grown up sometimes. My summer courses are now in full swing. I also got my rotation schedule this week which I am psyched about. My first rotation is pediatrics in August. No, George Clooney will not be my preceptor. I was hoping though :)

Mom, Joey, and Grandpa C also came to KC early this week. Joey came down to see if he qualifies for a research study being done here for children with Type I diabetes. If he qualifies he may be spending some time here this summer. Joey, I'm so proud of you being such a trooper and never complaining. I love you!

This weekend has also been relaxing, which seems to be the new theme of our lives. No complaints from this girl. We went to a happy hour with some friends on Friday evening and I spent Saturday at the library with a good friend of mine. Last night Ryan and I also got to attend a Bryan Adams acoustic concert. Fabulous. I have been telling my fellow MBA'ers this week that Ryan and I were going to this concert and the most common response was, "what does he sing?". What?? I determined my classmates lack of enthusiasm over Bryan Adams when we got to the concert last night. Ryan and I were honestly the youngest people there. It fits me though, I have always had an older soul. I have never related to people my own age. Thank you everyone for the birthday money! I spent it on the concert and it did not disappoint. We had front row on the balcony which ended up being awesome seats. Ryan said it was the best concert he has ever been to, that's saying something. Bryan Adams talked a lot and sung with an acoustic guitar and at times a piano (and harmonica). His vocals are impressive. I do not think he missed a note. We had a good time.

Sorry I have been gone so long. Oh how I've missed thee. I hope to be blogging about our summer adventures periodically and to hear about yours. May the summer treat you well.

♥ Raquel and Ryan

PS. We just watched "New in Town" with Renee Zellwegger and it exaggerates winter in Minnesota, but we thought it was hilarious regardless.

PSS. Congratulations to the Leen family who will have another addition in December. I love you all!

The Big Day

"Now I lay me down to study,
I pray the Lord I won't go nutty;
And if I fail to learn this junk,
I pray the Lord that I won't flunk.

But if I do, don't pity me at all,
Just lay my bones in the study hall;
Tell my teacher I did my best
Then pile my books upon my chest.

Now I lay me down to rest,
I pray I'll pass tomorrow's test.
If I should die before I wake
That's one less test I'll have to take."

-As presented to me by my infamous Pathology Instructor, Dr. Friedlander on http://www.pathguy.com/

"Where there is love of medicine, there is love of humankind" - Hippocrates

Say a prayer for me tonight to get through my board exam tomorrow (no migraines) and do well enough so I never have to take it again. Thanks everyone!

Make it a good one,
♥ Raquel

I Go Back Part III

February 09, 2004

I have been slacking off on my journal entries. College came up on me like a freight train. Before I knew it, the first semester was over. I feel like I have nothing to show for it except for the completion of Calculus I. Nothing exciting happened. I went to football games, watched movies with my best bud Kacie, did a lot of homework, and did research in the lab which I love. 2nd semester of freshman year has started differently. I came back here (Minneapolis) looking forward to what the future was going to bring and to just have some fun at the request of my wonderful mom. She's was right, of course. The first weekend I decided to go out with Kacie and after an hour, someone came out of nowhere... Ryan. It was like God was answering my prayers and giving me a new chance. He is so wonderful. We clicked right away. God truly amazes me. I don't deserve someone as wonderful as Ryan but he's here now and I hope he isn't going anywhere anytime soon. He took me out for coffee on our first date and it has just gotten better from there. Last night the most wonderful thing happened, he kissed me for the first time. It was amazing, weird, wonderful... no words can explain. I am so excited for the possibilities. Only God knows what tomorrow will bring.

May 14, 2004

I'm moving out of my dorm tomorrow. As I sit here watching Where the Heart Is in my empty room I am consumed by my thoughts. I have changed so much and I feel that with leaving Minneapolis I will also be leaving behind my newfound independence. I know it will still be there but I'll have to adjust to living at home again. I will miss the smell of my room, the new people I met, walking to class in the mobs of people, my evenings spent with Kacie, and Ryan. Wow, I cannot imagine what I will do an entire summer without him. I have fallen, hard. I truly love him and that scares me. I will miss him this summer, but it will probably be a good thing. As I depart tomorrow, I may have welled up eyes but mostly I want to remember that I loved it here and that the Fall will come sooner than I know it. On a positive note, I have a new baby brother that I get to meet tomorrow. Thank goodness his name is not Sue-pak, I can't believe I fell for that one...


May 9, 2009

Happy early Mother's Day!

Thank you....

Mom, for being the one I can talk to about ANYTHING, showing me that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to, and being one of my best friends. I am honored to be your daughter.

Grandma L, for your steadfast and unconditional love. I would not be the woman I am today without your influence. Oh, and apparently for passing on your green thumb to me :)

Grandma D, for your thought provoking conversation and showing me the importance of knowing where I come from.

Grandma J, for treating my like your true Granddaughter from the beginning, it has meant so much.

Nancy, for your constant encouragement and ability to make me laugh no matter the circumstance.

Cindy, for giving me the beautiful man you raised and for always understanding.

Mamie, for your stories, they always brighten my day.

Savannah, for being the best friend and sister I could ever ask for.

♥ Raq

I Go Back Part Deux

February 25, 2003

I cannot believe how fast time goes! When basketball started, my life got hectic. We head to playoffs in TWO DAYS! I love basketball but am ready for a break so I have time to write my college English papers, Ugh. The action never ends though. We ended our regular season with an 18-6 record... I had a whopping 28 points all year, Pathetic! Now we have prom to worry about. I am going with Luke and I know I will have fun with him, he is a good guy. I can't wait to pick out my dress! I have finalized my decision to go to the U of M in Minneapolis for college next year. It was a very difficult decision to make but one I ended up making instinctively. It'll all work out. I will miss the high school scene and SAVANNAH! I don't know what I will do without her. I will cherish the time we have this summer together. Remember to NEVER SETTLE, Raq. You have too much to offer to let go of your dreams. That's all for now!

June 22, 2003

School's out, party's over, and summer has begun! Sadly, I missed state golf by two strokes. Lately, I have been working at the golf course and Buck point as well as coaching summer rec golf. I am currently preparing for college, getting into a good exercise routine, reading, and purchasing the essentials. It is overwhelming. I hope the cities will be a good home for me and that I like it there. My prayer is that I face everything in life with confidence and with the Lord as my guide. I pray I look to Him for comfort, peace, and answers. He shall lead me to the right path if I follow his Word. Whether that leads me into obstetrics or around the World I hope it brings me happiness!

April 28, 2009

I just thought I would share a couple more with you! My entries were not consistent but it is still interesting to go back and read them. Nothing much new to report I guess. I have logged 140 hours of study the past two weeks so that has pretty much occupied my time. As requested by my dentist I am supposed to share the importance of Fluoride mouth rinses. I had six cavities in November and decided to try the rinses instead of spending $700 on fillings to see what happened. Well, just last week I went in again and 5 have disappeared!! That's right, they're gone. My one cavity was $80 to fill... quite the savings if you ask me. So the moral of the story, get some ACT Fluoride mouthwash and you'll have whiter teeth and less bacteria in your mouth :) Sorry if this sounds silly but it was the excitement of my week. Ha. I hope the Spring is treating all of you well and that I come out of hibernation soon. Thanks for all of the support.

♥ R

I Go Back Part I

August 21, 2002

"Here I am trying to keep a daily journal of my life. Since I will be starting my senior year [of high school] in 13 days, I thought it would be AWESOME to be able to go back and remember everything. My summer has been pointless, yet relaxing. I was proud of myself today because I went on a run! It wasn't easy but it made me just want to run faster. It was just me and the road ahead and it felt great. Lord, please help me remember to cherish my last year of high school."

September 21, 2002

"I'm currently sitting on my bed with my Harvard shirt on listening to 'The Good Stuff' by Kenny Chesney thinking nothing could be any better. I just got out of the hot tub and feel relaxed. It was the big Homecoming week at school. After we beat Browerville in football (yeah!) Savannah and I had people over at our house for a bonfire and we had a lot of fun. I sat in the hot tube with J and D for a while but when I got out it seemed like everyone left. Sav, Jon, Luke, and I stayed up until 2 AM talking around the bonfire, I had a blast. The next day I worked and then Savannah and I drove to LP to see Marit and Olivia. Sav and I also got ready at Val's before the dance (which rocked by the way), I didn't want it to end. I danced until pains in my side took over me. I screamed, swung, and jumped with some of my Bestest :)

This morning I woke up late and was very tired for College English. After lunch, the tennis team drove to Pequot for a match. Des and I lost in a tie breaker. It was our last pizza at Rapperty's ever and I got kind of sad. Des and I talked the whole way home about college and life. It all scares me - applying to colleges and leaving home. Madison or Twin Cities? When I came home tonight I sat in the hot tub with Savannah and we watched all the shooting stars talking about what we will do next year. It will all work out in the end no matter what either of us chooses. I'll listen to Delilah, maybe that will inspire me."

I forgot that I wrote in a journal in high school. If this is boring for you, I apologize. It is just funny to me how circumstances change but the core of a person doesn't. I couldn't believe reading it again how much I am still the same. I still find my inspiration in the small things. Like they say, some things never change. Thanks for reading. Trust me, this is not the end :)

♥ R

Goodbye Apathy

Sorry it has been a while since I have updated, things have been a little hectic. Right now I'm updating on my 1 hour lunch break from board studying. I have successfully completed all of my 2nd year sections in medical school! Yay! I made it :) Currently I have 11-14 hours of studying a day scheduled for Boards until May 21st so if I don't return a phone call right away or go on Skype much I apologize. I will be very happy when these are over. I appreciate everyone's support so much. Thank you all as well for the birthday cards and gifts, I feel very loved ♥

I have decided to get rid of my bad attitude. I have never felt as bogged down with different stresses as I have the past 2 months. However, I WILL keep a positive outlook on things. Help me keep me on track with this... call me out on my negativity please. The last thing the world needs is another cynic. I woke up this morning to a Hallmark card, some flowers, and a new candle for my bathroom from my husband just to let me know how much he loves me and that he is rooting for me. I am so lucky! Thank you Ry, I love you.


I am also happy Ry and I were able to take a last minute trip to Osakis for Easter. Sometimes it is harder to go home (especially for only two days) because it makes me realize how much I miss everyone. Plus, there's just never enough time. I felt like I spent a whole day thinking "I'm finally home" and the other day saying goodbye. However, any time spent with family is worth it in my book. As my dad said if you wait for the perfect time to go home, you will never get there. What prompted this desire to go home was Joey being diagnosed with Type I Diabetes two weeks before. It was hard to watch him go through that. No eleven year old deserves to go through this (or any child for that matter). However, to give him and all my siblings a big hug and a kiss made the 18 hours of driving all worth it! Sorry if I kept you awake talking to me Peyton :0) I also got suckered into playing in the Alumni Tournament ... it was fun but man was I sore. I'll survive. We also got to see T, C, and M in Minneapolis for a coffee break on our way home which was nice.

I have a small inclination I will not have much to blog about in the coming 6 weeks, nor will I have anything exciting to talk about. However, I have recovered an old blog and journal I used to write in and I plan to randomly post excerpts from those in the coming weeks. Not many people have read these and I thought it would be interesting to do some reflecting.

Keep a lookout for my reminiscent blogs in the near future-
♥ R

Current Music: "Leap of Faith" by Lionel Cartwright

I'm a LOT Past Little Rock

So, I just got back from my five days in Little Rock, AR. I went there with some classmates of mine to attend a conference for school. We learned a lot of new osteopathic techniques but all in all the trip was MISERABLE!! I am going to keep this blog short as I have a heaping pile of things to catch up on. Below is one of the instructors showing us a new technique for pregnant women.

If you haven't noticed, I try to keep most things in my blog positive. However, I do not have much positive to say about this trip. There was more drama between the girls than I ever had to deal with even in middle school! I couldn't believe it. You'd think as medical students we would have tact and respect for each other but that is unfortunately not the case. As much as I appreciate the guidance and new techniques I learned, I don't think the trip was worth it. I also had a hard time dealing with the fact that I had to listen to girls scream at each other about frivolous matters while J was sick in the hospital. There are more important things in life to worry about. J, I hope you feel better and I love you!

I did get to see the Clinton Library, however. It is definitely something to see.

Sorry I did not delve further into the weekend but frankly, I don't want to remember it. I'm glad there were some girls along that kept my sanity intact and were a shoulder to cry on. You are the best!

♥ R

Just You and I : PV Part II

On one of our free days, with the suggestion from a local Puerto Vallartan, Ry and I took a water taxi to a beach called Yelapa 40 minutes South of PV. A solitudinous beach was awaiting our arrival as it is not accessible by land. It was utterly breathtaking. Yelapa beach sits deep within a cove and its perimeter is surrounded by jungle. The water was a bright blue and parasailing was in high order. However, among such beauty, was a palpable indigence. This was evident throughout PV as well. I wondered if the millions of tourists that embrace PV every year choose to ignore this sad reality. Ry and got a chance to walk through the neighborhood of the people who lived in Yelapa on our trek to the waterfall one mile off the beach. Most of the homes had no windows or doors (some no roof), the flooring was obviously a mixture of cement and mud, and the clothing was hanging outside the house on a line held up by two trees. I don't deny the fact America has its share of poverty, but it is not like in Mexico. From my perspective, the disparity between the wealthy and the poor was much greater there, an obsolete middle class. You'd think with all the tourism, the economy would be better but the problem is every market is saturated. There are too many taxi drivers, more necklaces than will ever be sold, and empty money cups for the homeless. It broke my heart. However, I know nothing different. What seems an impoverished and unlivable world for me is simply their reality. As I said in my previous blog, they live a life with much fewer means that us, but in the end seem to be happy. As my dad says, happiness is defined within. It is a choice that is not influenced by the external influences in one's life. It would ring true in this case.

Sorry for the digression. We spent the rest of the day on the beach (our only full day on the beach) sipping Corona's, eating chips and salsa, and getting our feet wet in the water. It was more relaxing than downtown because of the lack of people. The Fodor's book was a lifesaver on our trip and I found myself gravitating to it often to see what our next adventure would be. As I was reading about Yelapa in Fodor's, Chiggy and her delicious homemade pies was mentioned as a highlight. Not one minute after I read that, Chiggy was behind us offering her warm coconut and chocolate pie. Now, when most of the vendors approached us on the beach throughout our trip we politely said, "No, gracias", but in this instance we decided to purchase the pie. Fodor's had it right, seemingly just when we needed her, Chiggy greeted us with her warm, delicious homemade pie :)

The majority of the 2nd half of our trip was spent at the time share resort my dad and N gave us to use. It was fun to experience both aspects of things. Neither Ry or I are "beach bum" type of people. The one time we decided to sit around the pool and sunbathe we were bored after thirty minutes and ended up doing something else. It was fun, however, to sit in the pool at the resort after everyone went off for dinner. We enjoyed the pool after dark under the starlit sky. It was as if we had the whole pool to ourselves. Plus it was right off the ocean so that was an added bonus.

Ry had planned a whale watching tour for the two of us well before we got to PV because they book early. It was our earliest morning of the week, 8 AM. We were there at 8 AM sharp and guess what... we were the only ones on time... again. However, I got my fill of entertainment due to the whale vertebrae on display. I was obsessed with this massive thing. I attribute this to my love of osteopathic medicine. For those of you who don't know, osteopathic medicine is an alternative forms of medicine much having to do with the structural integrity of the musculoskeletal system. This part of my curriculum is on top of learning all the pertinent "medical science" stuff. I plan to give you more of a lowdown on this in the future. If you have more questions just ask me but for now I will keep on the topic of our trip! After they pried me away from the vertebrae, we were off to find some whales. This was an awesome experience. We saw two male whales fighting and a mommy and her baby swimming together. As fun as it was to watch them my only complaint (most of you are probably saying, "your only complaint?", and you're probably right, it wasn't my ONLY complaint!) was that the whales didn't come up to breathe very often. Every time we'd see them come up to the surface to breathe and flip around a bit, they would dive back down for 10-15 minutes. The most fantastic part of the whole experience, though, was listening to the whales sing. Apparently they develop "phrases" they repeat over and over to deliver messages to other whales in their area. Pirates of the old days thought this singing was coming from the mermaids below, hence the myth. It was spectacular. It was as if they were trying to tell us a story, though we had no idea what it was. Whatever it was, I'm sure it was interesting.

One of the last adventures we did were the Los Veraños Canopy Tours. I would have to say this was my favorite part of the trip. The premise is to soar high over the natural landscape on a cable line and harness supporting you. When we first got there I got nervous, however, that maybe is what made it more fun in the end. The harness they put on wrapped around the thighs and waist. When looking at it I thought, wow this thin piece of fabric held together by thread will be holding me 180 meters in the air while flying across a river... Best not to think about it. All I can say was this did NOT disappoint. Not only were the views gorgeous but the guides were a lot of fun. I think they especially liked me because I have a memorable Spanish name, none of them forgot it. As I reached the highest, longest, and fastest cable of the tour one of the guides asked me if I wanted to ride across backwards with him. My instinct told me no but my adventurous side said yes! They hooked me to the line backwards while the guide hooked himself facing forward. He took a leap and we were off. As we launched, he told me to let go of my safety bars. What, are you nuts?

I was brought back in time to when I was a nine year old little girl that was terrified of ALL amusement rides. At that time, my dad tricked me onto a roller coaster at the Great America Six Flags near Chicago. I kicked and screamed until they strapped me in the coaster. Once we started riding, though, I gradually opened my eyes and felt free, as if there was nothing in this world I couldn't do.

Snap back. The guide asked me again to let go and this time I did it. However, not only did I let go of my safety handles but I flipped myself backwards until my hands and head were pointed to the ground. I was flying (upside down)! It was the most exhilarating thing I have ever done. I was free. As I reached the end of the 400 meter cable, another guide caught me and said, "Miss Raquel, you must have come from heaven, because you fly like an angel." I'm sure it was just a one-liner he tells everyone, but even if for just a moment, I truly felt like one. It was so much fun, I did it one more time.

I apologize for this blog getting long. I guess that is why I split it into two parts. I also wanted to say that though the Canopy Tour was my favorite adventure of the trip, by far the best part was spending it with my husband. I never knew two people could be so similar yet so different at the same time. He is one of the most understanding people in my life. Who else would put up with my whining and complaining all the time? I sometimes ask God what I did to deserve such a wonderful man. When it comes down to it, I don't think I did anything, I just got lucky. Ry, I can't wait for our next adventure together. I love you!

As a final note, Ry and I have a request. We LOVED PV so much and would love to go back someday. However, next time we would like to go with a group of people! If interested, let us know :) Sorry to disappoint Jeff, but there were no arrests... on this trip at least!

♥ R

On the Coast of Somewhere Beautiful : PV Part I

Flying into Puerto Vallarta's Gustavo Diaz Ordaz airport, we could feel the energy. We unloaded the plane directly onto the asphalt with the mountains on the horizon and the smell of the lush salt air greeting us. Neither of us had ever been to Mexico so naturally we were excited to get out and explore. Little did we know that getting from point A to point B was going to be a bigger ordeal than originally planned. I'm certain all the taxi drivers get irritated with "us American's" as we explain to them where we want to go (in English, of course). Luckily we had printed off a map of where we needed to go with the directions written in Spanish and the route clearly marked with a blue line. Though, the taxi driver was looking at it like he still had NO idea where we needed to go. So, Ry being his helpful self and finally putting his high school Spanish to good use points to the map and says, "Agua, Agua". The man looked at him like he was crazy. Ry was trying to point out to this poor man the "blue" line on the map that led to our destination but in actuality he was saying "water." Blue in Spanish is "azul", not "agua"... The taxi driver thought Ry was telling him we were staying on the water. Luckily, we eventually made it to where we needed to be and it was worth the wait. The oddity of getting around in PV is the paved roads directly intersect the hand lain cobblestone streets and the pedestrians are often old men wearing sombreros riding a burro laden down with five gallon plastic pails filled with rocks. It was quite the scene. I told Ry that day to not speak Spanish to the taxi drivers anymore unless he was absolutely certain about what he was telling them, oh Ry.


We discovered the "secret" place of PV, The Cheeky Monkey. It is right on the Malecon with spectacular views and... $1 ice cold Corona's served with a lime. In our 7 days in PV, there were no other places we found where the beer was such a good deal so we made it a point to go back. The Cheeky Monkey to me was PV personified. No one there is in a hurry. In fact, I'm not sure ANYTHING was on time. If a boat was scheduled to leave at 8AM, it probably didn't leave the dock until 9, 10 o'clock. Starbuck's even opened over an hour late! I think we (American's) often get caught up into our schedules and deadlines too much. Life is so much simpler in PV. They don't have the most luxurious living situations, but all of them seem happy. They must know something we don't. And though the bill didn't come until three hours after we sat down, it made it all the more relaxing.


Ry and I also got a chance to attend Mass at the Cathedral in the Zona Romantica of PV. What made the experience so exemplary was the Mass was given in English and Spanish. To worship with people who don't even speak the same language as you was memorable. Plus, the church was beautiful. Some of the decor they had displayed you would never see here in America. The portrayal of Jesus was much more graphic, yet it felt more realistic. What an amazing experience!


I think Ry might argue one of his favorite memories of the trip was watching the Mariachi band on the Malecon Sunday night. We discovered that the people of PV use Sunday night as they're "going out" night. The Malecon was hopping with people. Ry and I were rushing to make the start of the concert by 6. Needless to say we were on time but the concert didn't start until 7:30, it all goes back to what I said before, nobody is in a hurry in PV! The band was superb; I felt like I was listening to classic Mexicana music with an old-world charm. And, if you can't tell, we not only were serenaded by the band, but had the soft sounds of the ocean waves crashing on the rocks in the background. Heaven :)

One cannot mention PV without mentioning THE FOOD. I can honestly say I have never experienced quite the cuisine. I may be biased due to my love of cilantro and guacamole, however. Not only was the food delectable and reasonably priced, but the presentation was exquisite. My favorite restuarant I must say was Pipi's (below). They served the most big and tasty margaritas I have ever had and a waiter made the guacamole right in front of us. However, this place was crazy. A three-man band went around singing at different tables (My fav "La Bamba"), a table of Spring Break ridden college students had tequila shots poured into their mouths from the bottle, and each table was served by six different waiters throughout the meal. It was exhausting, but delicious.

Part I complete. Part II coming soon...

♥ R