Happy New Year Homebloys!

Some years fizzle out like the end of a sparkler, sudden and without climax. You look at them and think, "That's it?" Years later you might struggle to remember what happened during them. How does one forget 365 days? But it happens. 2008 will not be one of those years for me. It's not even gone yet and already it feels like taboo, the 13th floor to my elevator. Despite the wonderful things that happened this year, and because of the horrible ones, I say good-bye without a bit of remorse and more than just a little relief.

Thanks to everyone who stuck with me for another year. When I started this blog three years ago (December 8th, 2005), I had no idea how many amazing, talented and funny people I would meet. I had no idea that I'd still be blogging three years later either! A lot of you are more than just fellow bloggers now. I've met some of you in person. I've talked to some of you on the phone. We've shared heartbreaks and triumphs. I've watched your lives progress from the sidelines, a cheerleader until the end. For you, my friends, I wish a happy and safe New Year.

See you on the flipside. ;)

Holiday Hangover

I didn't get nearly enough sleep last night. This means I'm working on little more than a skull filled with Jell-O today. My brain is moving so slow, I just realized that I can have a thought, wait a few seconds, and then catch it on the other side as it processes. Neat. It's like slow motion baseball. But for the brain. And if my catcher was a one-armed blind person wearing cement shoes. I'm pretty sure a few thoughts have gone missing along the way too. I just had one involving lunch... which ended an hour and a half ago.

Christmas was wonderful. Hoop and I were completely spoiled. I got a new digital camera (Canon PowerShot SD880 IS), a GPS system for my car, Rollerblades, and two baby fruit trees (among other things). Hoop got a digital drawing tablet, video games, and the only DVD copy I could find of the 1986 classic movie "Rad". He asked me last night if I wanted to watch it again. But there's only so many Star Trek throwback jumpers I can stomach to see in one week. How was that ever cool?!

The Secret Santa goody bags on Christmas morning were NOT a hit. It was pretty disheartening, actually. Only four people out of the the ten we gave to acted appreciative. Four people took their bags without even a thank-you. One woman thought Hoop was planning on robbing her. One gentleman, a truck driver delivering fuel, turned his nose up at the present I was offering and asked, "What's in it?" real snottily. When I told him it was candy (not to mention a $5 gift card), he stepped back and glared at me. "Do I LOOK like I need candy?!"

Needless to say, I didn't give it to him after that. I'm not sure we're going to do this again next year. That kind of breaks my heart. Part of me wonders if maybe there's a reason those people were working on Christmas Day. Or perhaps people (as a whole, not you) are undeserving of kindness anymore. They're so unused to it, they don't know what to DO with it when they get it. But I don't want to believe that. Hoop's Uncle says that the only way to avoid punishment for kindness is to donate anonymously. So maybe we'll do that instead.

*Sigh*

Boogers.

What did you get/give/do for the Holidays?

Ho-To-The-Third-Power

(Click For A Larger Gigantic Image)

Weekly Words Challenge 66!

The words for this week were Naughty and Nice.

How did you interpret them?

Nice Ribbon


Naughty Ribbon


Nice Reindeer


Naughty Reindeer

These two were on a set of eight holiday reindeer plates my Grandparents gave us for Christmas.

Nice Award!

Given to me by a good friend in RL who happens to read this blog.

Naughty Puppy

Hoop was originally going to take a picture of ME in this lingerie for you. But then I asked him if that's what he really wanted, my scantily clad body all over the net. He then suggested we model it on the dog instead. She was more than willing. Hussy.

If you haven't joined the fun yet, go here for details. Don't forget, we also have a Flickr group for easy shareability. Plus, you get to find out the new words at least an hour earlier. Happy snapping!

REMINDER: The WWC will be closed for the holidays! Today is the last day for photo submissions until January 6th.

Daily Etsy Pick:
"I'm Sleeping With Stupid" Pillowcases
Braille Secrets (Expensive! But I like the idea)
"Sticks and Stones" Print

WTF Etsy?:
Original Handcut Silhouette
Sweaty Armpits Robot Pouch
Dirt Mall Disco Plaque
Commemorative Drawing (The longer you look at it, it's STILL ugly.)

Honeymoon: Day 4

Hoop says that I have to stop finishing the sentence, "Belize was nice..." with the words "...but there were no monkeys." Because it wasn't about the monkeys. But it was. It really was. I was disappointed the moment we stepped off the ferry. I don't know what I expected; lush rain forests and houses in the trees maybe? I know, I'm such a stupid white girl. What we got instead was an early morning wake-up, followed by a jostling crowd of people and a long dirty bus ride. You can't wander in Belize City like you would other ports of call. They give you two options: buy an excursion or stay on the boat.

Hoop and I bought the excursion where you *clears throat*, "Lie back on your tube and let the current take you down the river. Stop for a dip in one of the swimming holes. Emerge in a Mayan tomb site, Hubelna, overlooking the river. Enjoy a tropical feast served in the heart of the jungle." Pretty cool, huh? What they failed to mention (but do now, coincidentally) was that there would be an hour and a half drive to get to the river. But that was before our guide turned the bus around fifteen minutes into the ride to tell us that our excursion had been cancelled. He told us fifteen minutes later that he was joking.

No one laughed.

After we picked up our missing tourists, the real reason for turning around, we were on our way. Belize City was nothing short of shocking in its poverty. Most of the houses looked condemned, although the clotheslines outside indicated differently. The streets were narrow and flooded. The people were skinny and dirty. Graffiti was everywhere. I noticed immediately that it was all in English. Words like "Cunt" and "Puppy" were often painted on the same wall of a bus station. "And now we leave the good side of town" our guide announced as we crossed into a portion of the city that looked absolutely no different than the one we'd left.

We all stared at him, waiting for an indication that he was lying or joking. But he wasn't. Although I would never agree to such a long bus ride again, I did learn a few interesting things about Belize along the way. One, most Belizeans speak English! Their lineage is a cross between British, African (slaves) and Maya. Two, "Mayan" is the word for the language the Mayas spoke, not the people. Three, Mayas still exist! In Belize alone there are three remaining tribes. Their names are Yucatec, Kekchi, and Mopan. If you ever stumble across a Maya in Belize, the appropriate greeting would be "Hach ki'imak in wóol in wilikech."

Or you could just nod.

During the trip, our guide described to us some of the wildlife we might see. It was here that monkeys were mentioned. "What about crocodiles?" I whispered to Hoop. He quickly raised his hand to ask. "What about crocodiles, snakes, and piranhas?" The guide chuckled. "There are several poisonous snakes in Belize, but all of them are nocturnal. Although I know we have crocodiles, I've never seen any in this river. As for piranhas, we have some, but they're very little. They like to nibble on nipples." "For real?!" One nervous tourist blurted out. The guide gave a sly glance and said, "You better wear a shirt."

After the hour and a half bus ride, we were dropped off at a little house not far from the border of Guatemala. Guatemala. I'm not even kidding you. An older gentleman, the owner of the house, loaded us onto a trailer fixed with benches. Then he pulled us up the mountain with his tractor. His wife and three small children watched with curiosity from the open doorway as we left. I couldn't stop cracking up at the absurdity of it all. "This isn't at all what I expected!" I shouted at Hoop over the clank of metal and wood. "Do you really think they have piranhas?" He replied.

To be continued...

Black December

Back when I worked in retail, there were two words that were completely taboo to say. When spoken, these two words could chill the blood of every retail employee in earshot instantly. Those two words were... BLACK FRIDAY. To this day, hearing that phrase makes me shudder inwardly. Crazy things happen on Black Friday, unspeakable things. It's the one day a year that sweet old women can transform into vicious hand-slapping, discount-grabbing, monsters from Hell and no one will hold them accountable. Although maybe they should!

I once witnessed a lady beat her friend over the head with a handbag because she thought she was going to grab the same pair of shoes as her. Other years were marked by shoe throwing, shoe shoving, and shoe stealing. As you might have guessed, I worked in a shoe store. At the end of the day, a large group of mall employees would meet out back for a cigarette and to share "war" stories. It was horrible. Fortunately, the madness only lasted for one day. Although the mess lasted for seven. I was glad to leave Black Friday behind the day I left retail.

Little did I know, there was a beer industry equivalent, and this one lasts for 31 days! December is, by far, the worst month to work beer. Most people think it's July, but it's not. On top of Christmas and New Years, there are all the in between parties. It's the end of the year, the end of the month, and the end of a Quarter. More employees (mostly upper management) are on vacation. Traffic is worse. All these factors bunch up to make one long stretch of never-ending work. No matter how much sleep I get (or coffee I drink), I still get home ready to crash out.

So if I've been quiet lately, you know why. It's not because I don't care.

It's because every second of free time I have is being used to plot ways to sneak into the beer vat.

Weekly Words Challenge 65!

The words for this week were Pine and Contribute.

How did you interpret them?

Pine Tree

You know what's even less fun than decorating your own tree? Decorating someone else's... on your lunch. I just keep repeating the phrase, "Job security".

That's our guard pooch. He's making sure no one steals the Christmas tree, yo.

Contribute
I meant to take a picture of all the supplies Hoop and I bought for the Secret Santa gifts this year. But things have been crazy at work. I never quite got around to it. Every year, we (Hoop, the boys and I) climb into the car on Christmas morning and deliver goody bags to all the people who have to work for the holiday. I think it's horrible that corporations like CVS and Walgreens take their employees away from their families just so idiots who didn't do their shopping in time can get last minute gifts. Do everyone a favor, don't buy anything on Christmas day!

(Random Photos)

Bored At The ER


Crusty, The Hushpuppy Man


The words for next week are:
Naughty
and
Nice

If you haven't joined the fun yet, go here for details. Don't forget, we also have a Flickr group for easy shareability. Plus, you get to find out the new words at least an hour earlier. Happy snapping!

REMINDER: The WWC will be closing down for the holidays! December 23rd will be the last day for photo submissions until January 6th.

Daily Etsy Pick:
Wizard Of Oz Ornaments (Too bad they're so pricey!)

WTF Etsy?:
Redneck Christmas Lights
Hand sewn Kidneys
CaR Litter Bag (Apparently I can't read so good)
Large Silver Arm Ornament
Fish Monster Bone Barrette
Fetus Ashtray

Bring On The Eggnog

This weekend was interesting, to say the least. My family came over to the house Saturday evening, following a birthday party for my Mom at a nearby restaurant. When Hoop opened the door to let them in, a tiny bird flew in too. From the way my brother's girlfriend was screaming, you would have thought it was a pterodactyl. I eventually caught the poor thing in one of our hanging cooking pots. Its heart was practically humming against my hand as I took it outside. When I opened my fingers it paused, almost in disbelief, before shooting straight up into the black sky.

Sunday, Hoop and I took my brothers Christmas shopping. All was going well until we went into the sports store. We were just about to leave when Big Bit (the 16 yr. old) came limping up to me and said he'd gotten cut on a stationary bicycle. It wasn't a cut though, it was a gash. Our next stop was the local hospital. Three hours and six stitches later, we were more than ready to call it a day. There's only so much weather channel a person can take. Although, people watching was at its finest. I saw three broken hands, two injured eyes, and a wood chopping injury. Ouch.

Friday's Holiday Meme

1. What was the best present you've ever received?
For Christmas- An entire set of model horses. I was eleven. All my friends had them. I'd been pining after a set of my own for months. My Mom and I had carefully picked these out for my cousins, so I'd thought. But in the end, they turned out to be for me!
Other- The first year Hoop and I were together, he bought me a digital camera. I'd been using his for about three months when it died. I felt horrible and offered to replace it. But instead, he bought ME one. It was totally unexpected and more expensive than I'm comfortable admitting. By far, it was the most thoughtful gift he could have given me.

2. What was the worst?
A set of chipped angel-head butter spreaders that were obviously used.

3. What is something you really want this year for yourself?
Books.

4. What is something you really want this year for someone else?
A Vita-Mix juicer for my Mom. Unfortunately, it's WAY out of price range.

5. What's your favorite Christmas memory?
When my brothers were very young, they would get up at the crack of dawn and run screaming through the house that Santa had come. I miss that excitement. Christmas is always lovely. I have my family. We have our health. But there's something special about Christmas through the eyes of a child.

Let us know if you participated!

Daily Hoop Conversation:
Tink: Are you hot?
Hoop: Am I hot?
Tink: Yeah.
Hoop: No. I'd need to lose 20 pounds and get some sun first.
Tink: Oh-kay... So I take it you DON'T want me to turn on the fan then?

How was your weekend?

There's Snow In Hell Today

I've decided to create a meme.

No, I'm not drunk.

It a SEASONAL meme, OK? I was feeling Christmasy. So here's the deal. I'm not going to make you partake in this. But if you do, I promise to tell Santa that you've been very good this year (even though I know the truth). That's right, the big guy and I are close friends. I helped him cover up that drunk driving scandal a few years ago involving Blitzen and that old lady from down the lane, Grandma something-or-other. Well, you're just going to have to believe me.

Here we go.

Answer these questions here or on your own blog with a link to it in the comment section.

1. What was the best present you've ever received?
2. What was the worst?
3. What is something you really want this year for yourself?
4. What is something you really want this year for someone else?
5. What's your favorite Christmas memory?

For those who don't celebrate Christmas but would still like to participate, feel free to substitute the holiday with another or a birthday. I'll post my answers on Monday.

Have a great and safe weekend Homebloys!

Honeymoon: Day 3 (Continued)

(Click for larger pictures or visit my Flickr page.)

I didn't think we were going to make it to the Mayan ruins in time. We had two hours left until we were due back on the boat, and we weren't even sure where we were in relation to it. "We can make it!" Hoop yelled over his shoulder as we flew across bumpy roads butted by blue water and palm tree forests. I leaned forward to reply and was instantly hit in the mouth by his tears. I turned to rest my head on his shoulder instead and watched as the wind whipped the water from his eyes and out to sea. A short time later I was roused by the sight of more scooters. Some of them were being ridden by other tourists.

You could tell they were tourists because they, like us, were wearing helmets. Cozumel locals apparently don't believe in helmets... or weight limits... or physics. At one point I saw a four person family piled on one bike. They flew down the street as if something softer than concrete were below them. The Father was up front driving while the Mother was seated on the back juggling their two small children. The smallest, still in diapers, balanced on her arm like it was a beam. I tried not to think about them later, to imagine what fate that kind of lifestyle could bring them. But it haunts me still.

One hour and thirty minutes until departure, Hoop and I finally rode up on the main gate for the Mayan ruins. What we didn't realize was that the road beyond the gate was filled with potholes, fallen tree limbs, and about three miles long. I closed my eyes through most of it.

That's not it. But it sure FELT like it! This is a picture of the original walking path to the main temple. I can't remember the function of most of these buildings. Some were temples. Others were houses. The ones below were decorative, if I remember correctly.




A couple pictures of us...



Hoop claimed this one for himself.

These are my favorites...




The entire time we were walking, Hoop kept freaking out about the mosquitoes. He was convinced he was going to get Malaria. Fortunately, another family of tourists ahead of us had bug repellent. I only wish they'd had annoying-tourist repellent too. Once we started talking to them, we just couldn't shake them. The daughter spent the next half hour complaining about their cruise ship. Finally, Hoop and I ducked behind a ruin and then ran off in the opposite direction. I had suggested knocking the girl unconscious with an ancient Mayan pillar. But we decided we didn't want to spend the rest of our honeymoon jailed in Mexico.

After the ruins, Hoop and I flew back on our little yellow scooter in the direction we believed our cruise ship was. After avoiding three near accidents (Cozumel locals apparently don't believe in traffic signals either), we got back to the port with ten minutes to spare. The guy at the scooter depot practically yanked us off the bike as we pulled in. We had just enough time to grab souvenir stickers and run to the dock. Overall, it was an amazing adventure. Cozumel was hands down my favorite port. Hoop disagrees. But then again, he was the one driving. All I had to do was close my eyes and try not to hyperventilate.

The next stop was Belize, which was amazing for entirely different reasons.

More on that soon... Well, soon-ish.

Post 667

Please pardon this interruption.

I just noticed that my WWC post for today made my post total 666. So instead of commenting in that post, you should comment in this one, just to be safe. As for those who already commented there... I'm sorry; you're doomed.

I'm just kidding.

Or am I?

No, I am.

Weekly Words Challenge 64!

The words for this week were Mature and Immature.

How did you interpret them?

Mature

Look at us acting all growed up.

Immature

Eh, it couldn't last. I call this one, "Touched By a Statue".

Mature

As in "Mature Content". Look at those boobies!

Immature

Silly statue. He forgot where he put his cup!

(Other Random Photos)

Totally Misleading

This was supposed to feed two. Two what, I'm not sure. Maybe Hobbits?

Sand Snowman


Another Cozumel Beach Picture

Now I'm just rubbing it in.

(Towel Animals From the Cruise)

Towel Monkey

This guy was hanging from our ceiling.

Towel Elephant


Towel... Dog?


The words for next week are:
Pine (As in "pine for" or "pine tree")
and
Contribute

If you haven't joined the fun yet, go here for details. Don't forget, we also have a Flickr group for easy shareability. Plus, you get to find out the new words at least an hour earlier. Happy snapping!

ANNOUNCEMENT: The WWC will be closing down for the holidays! December 23rd will be the last day for photo submissions until January 6th. In the meantime, I'll put up a discussion post about where we want to take the WWC in 2009. No, I don't mean Hawaii. But that would be nice.

Daily Etsy Pick:
"Wrong Turn Somewhere" Print
Homemade Marshmallows
Bear Vs. Robot Passport Case

WTF Etsy?:
Crocheted Toilet Paper Scarf
Milkweed Mouse (Check out the Teasel Bat too)
Big Baby Head (Omg, this one had me crying!)

Pshhhhh.

That's the sound my head makes before exploding.

I had a nice long post in mind for today. Then I got sucked into a two hour meeting with no signs of stopping... or coffee. Who the hell throws a two hour meeting without coffee? Before all that was the weekend, during which my computer went "thbt" and I went "Noooooooo!" This was followed by Hoop staying up for six hours last night saving all our documents so he could reload Windows. I was so nervous that I was going to lose everything, I dreamt I chewed my fingers off. Chewed. Them. OFF. So, if you're wondering about my honeymoon update (now three weeks late), it's coming. Just not today.

Daily Hoop Conversation:
(On the phone.)
Tink: Are you out of the doctor's office yet?
Hoop: Yup.
Tink: So, they took your blood-
Hoop: -and gave me a Tetanus shot.
Tink: Did they tell you anything?
Hoop: They said I was a superior human being.

Tomorrow: The WWC!

How was your weekend?

Good-Bye November

I haven't done one of these since Chris died.

It just felt like the right time.

November Hit Statistics:
1. The top referrers were Mama Tulip and Knight.
2. The most used search term was, "Carmeltoe."
3. The most mature search term was, "transvistite vajina photo." Vajina!
4. The stupidest search term was, "What does two-for-one special mean?"
5. My favorite search term was "shrinking brother."
6. These search terms are just disturbing: "what would the really scary elf look like" and "metal monsters carrying off garden gnome".
7. The highest hit post (267) was on November 25th, the day after I posted Bachelorette Party/Wedding updates.

30 Quirks For 30 Days:
1. I fall in love with things that inevitably get discontinued.
2. Which is why I usually don't confess to loving new things.
3. List of discontinued loves- "Firefly" (TV show), "Dead Like Me" (TV show), Total's Vanilla Almond cereal, Orbitz (that weird 90's drink with balls in it), Dunk-a-roos, "Pushing Daisies" (TV show), B&BW's Sunflower lotion, Wendy's Fish Sandwich, Wendy's pitas, toys made out of metal, stirrup pants.
4. OK, I was just kidding about the pants. But still.
5. I yawn every time I pass a cop on the road...
6. ...a result of my brain kicking on "look busy" mode, I think.
7. Some days I wake up and want everything to be suddenly different.
8. Like I'll have the urge to get high, or learn how to play the piano, or chop off all my hair and dye it red.
9. Sometimes it's more spectacular, like standing on my desk and screaming or breaking out in a badass dance routine.
10. Some days I'll look at my lunch (it's soup, it's always soup) and say aloud, "What the fuck am I eating old people food for?"
11. I hate being responsible.
12. But I'm just so damn good at it.
13. The smell of almond extract turns me on.
14. If you say, "This statement is a lie," and it is, isn't that the truth?
15. When I was fifteen, I started writing a memoir.
16. Just saying that sentence cracks me up.
17. How come fictional characters are almost never as pathetic as real ones?
18. I used to have a favorite color; but I don't anymore.
19. But, I would like to know who made me start liking pink against my will.
20. I come up with all kinds of unique diets in my daydreams.
21. There's one where you eat with nothing but chopsticks.
22. In another, you have to perform a trick for all your meals, like a dog.
23. Sometimes I think I've developed Adult ADD; possibly out of boredom.
24. Why don't they make a camera that takes pictures of things exactly how we see them?
25. I love pocket-sized toiletries.
26. Crap! I said I loved something again.
27. I can't delete it because then the Cosmos will think I'm trying to hide it.
28. Maybe I can counter it by saying I love something I really don't?
29. I love Macaroni-and-Cheese.
30. I love Ryan Seacrest.
*31. I love wedgies.
*32. The song Hoop and I danced to during our wedding was "Write You A Song" by the White T's.
*33. That was my secret song for us before Hoop proposed.
*34. Surprisingly, when I asked him to pick a song for us (out of a lineup of ten), he picked that song too.

BTW: That first picture in Tuesday's post is of condiment cups. Get your minds out of the gutter! ;)

Weekly Words Challenge 63!

The words for this week were Abundance and Thanks.

How did you interpret them?

Abundance

This probably would have been more suitable for next week's words. Hoop giggles every time he sees it. I have no idea why. ;)

Many Thanks For...

...A Healthy Family Tree


...An Afternoon Wine-Down


...A Great Place To Live


...A Man Who Makes Me Laugh

This is Hoop's idea of rainy day wear.

(Other random photos)

House Reflection


Parrots In Flight

Everyone kept telling me they existed. But until Thanksgiving, I'd never actually seen wild parrots in Northern Florida. I'm still waiting on the monkeys.

Parrots In A Tree


A Little Bird Told Me


My Head In The Clouds...

...and my feet on the ground.

Cowboy Hat


The words for next week are:
Mature
and
Immature

If you haven't joined the fun yet, go here for details. Don't forget, we also have a Flickr group for easy shareability. Plus, you get to find out the new words at least an hour earlier. Happy snapping!

P.S. I've started a new thread on Flickr with ideas for 2009 word themes. Stop by and deposit your two cents!

Daily Etsy Pick:
"I'm So Confused!" Character Light
Reusable Finger Ring Sizer Genius!
Handpainted Koi Shoes

WTF Etsy?:
2-Headed Duck Fawn WHY?
Cowboy Boot Sideburns
"Box Of Rocks" Mixed Media Art

Honeymoon: Day 3

I had good intentions of posting Friday. Then I lapsed into a turkey coma. I tried to type, but all that would come out was, "UGH." Work pretty much paid me to stare at my screen that day. I think I've finally digested that second helping of mashed potatoes though. So, we're OK. Without further delay, may I present to you day three of the honeymoon. Sweet Jebus, this has got to be the longest recap ever!

(Click for larger pictures or visit my Flickr page.)

I'm a planner. I don't mind being spontaneous, as long as it's what we've planned on being. It's an oxymoron (oxymora if you want to be picky), I know. But think about it. If you can plan on being lazy, why can't you plan on being spontaneous too? I'm game, as long as I don't have to make the decisions once we get there. Hoop and I arrived at Cozumel on Wednesday. Straight off the boat, people were ardently trying to sell us things. Hoop weaved around vendors holding bright signs and shouting things like, "Come here! I have something to show you!"

We pushed our way to the street before Hoop turned to me and said, "Wanna grab a scooter?" "Sure," I shrugged. The guy behind the kiosk took our money and handed over two pint-sized helmets and the keys to a bright yellow "Tucan". "The speed limit is 40ish," he mumbled to me as Hoop took an experimental drive around the parking lot. I hopped in behind him and away we went. There are a few things you should know before driving in Cozumel. One, no one obeys the speed limit. Everyone drives 80mph (130km), including the scooters.


(Scooter For Two)


(Palm Tree Beach)

Two, people will jump out in front of your moving vehicle in order to sell you things, like sculptures of people fornicating on seashells or timeshares. Three, "Topes" means speed bump and not "boobs", which is what the symbol on their sign looks like. You can imagine Hoop's disappointment when we finally figured that out; especially since we were looking too hard to notice that we should slow down. Our first stop on the scooter was a snorkel shack. A couple of Hoop's gambling buddies were already there and invited us to attend a wedding on the island for one of our cruisemates.

Having had our fill of weddings already, Hoop and I politely declined and then sped away for our own private getaway. It was at the next snorkel shack that things got a little hairy. Hoop kept asking me what I wanted to do. "As if I've actually been here before? I don't know, snorkel?" "Yes, but do you want to go on our own or in a group or somewhere else?" That's where the whole spontaneity thing from before comes in. Don't throw out the idea of plans and then expect me to make them last minute. After a bit of unfun snipping at each other, we decided to snorkel alone.

The beaches in Cozumel are fascinating. There isn't much sand. Mostly, it's made up of broken coral and shell. I wanted to haul it away by the handful. After an hour of fish-gazing, Hoop and I hopped back on the scooter for the next destination. Along the way we stopped at a little store for drinks and queso chips. As with everyone else, the kids behind the counter tried to con us out of money. Hoop stared at the 20 pesos in the cashier's hand, 16 pesos (about $1.70) short of what we were owed, before going back to the scooter for exact change. The chips were fantastic though. I wish they made that flavor back in the states!


(Chip Break)

The next stop, about an hour later, was a little Reggae bar halfway down the island. We ordered Coronas and sat in the shade for a bit staring at all the graffiti. It covered every surface of the place, including the floor and ceiling. In the distance you could see a lighthouse. Before and after that was nothing but empty beach and wild palms. It was awesome. I never wanted to leave...


(Reggae Bar)


(Reggae Bar Graffiti)


(Parrot)


(Posing On The Beach)


(Cozumel Beach)


(More Cozumel Beach)


(Wild Palms)

Tomorrow: WWC
Wednesday: Cozumel (Part Two), Mayan Ruins.