January ‘98
*Additional notes may appear in italics after my mom’s initial journal entries.
A ladybug means you should check the comments at the bottom of the page to see what Mom has chimed in on after reading these!
January 1, 1998, Thursday
La Cruz
John varnished half of the cockpit.
We spent the day at Cruise Quarters watching football games – ended up eating ribs there. Samie is spending the night with Jena.
Another beautiful day in paradise!
January 2, Friday
La Cruz
John helped Bob on Samara I fix his leaky packing gland.
Spent most of the day at Cruise Quarters.
January 3, Saturday
John went in to Nuevo Vallarta with the hookah to help Kirby, Lena, put in a shaft.
Rest of the day was the same-‘ole’ same.
I couldn’t remember the diary/secret keeper until I looked it up. As soon as I saw the hands and crystal ball, I remembered, along with the faces you could attach to phone numbers. I was never able to use the secret sender feature since no one I knew had one, but I still had fun with it and I’m sure put in all the phone numbers I knew and whatever “secrets” in there I could think of. Also, quezzy = queasy, lol. I decided to keep my spelling and grammar errors ‘cause it’s cuter that way. 🙃
January 4, Sunday
La Cruz
Samie and John spent the afternoon at C.Q. – I stayed home and enjoyed quiet time. Jerry, Walk About, came over for dinner.
January 5, Monday
We went back to the dentist, Gina, this a.m. It only took 40 minutes to fit my permanent crowns – then in checking Samie’s teeth, she pulled one of her bottom baby molars. On Wednesday she’ll pull the other one and she needs to cut her gums on the top to let her eye teeth come in. That doesn’t sound fun.
Star Song, Steve and Molly, came into the anchorage this p.m. Jena is spending the night on the boat.
*I’d had all four of my baby eye teeth pulled back in the States before we ever moved onto the boat. I guess they’d wanted to stay put, as they didn’t fall out on their own like the rest of my baby teeth had. Fast forward to this point in time, Gina told us the top two adult eye teeth weren’t coming in due to an excess of cartilage or tissue in my gums that inhibited the teeth from breaking through the gums and growing in.
I think this was the only time Jena stayed overnight. We had a good time, as usual. We always had fun together!
January 6, Tuesday
This morning started off with some excitement. Sol Mar got their dinghy ripped off in the night. Fortunately, the Mexican Navy, P99, found the dinghy adrift out in the bay. The gas can, anchor and wheels were all there, only the 10hp motor was gone.
Jena and Samie had a great time, we didn’t go in until around 2 pm.
Miguel and his wife came out to look at the canvas. They took in the main cover and the side curtains to start with.
*When Mom said “ripped off”, I thought she meant like the weather was real snotty and the wind somehow tugged away the dinghy. Unfortunately, having motors stolen was a somewhat regular thing to have to watch out for. Sometimes boaters would hoist their dinghys halfway out of the water or bring them fully aboard to avoid theft. I wonder if Sol Mar was on the outskirts of the anchorage, making them somewhat of an easier target. At least they got the dinghy back and all their other equipment.
January 7, Wednesday
La Cruz
John went up to help Miguel and took the hooks off the old sail cover while Samie and I did school.
We went in to the dentist. Today she pulled the lower molar on the left bottom. Our thinking was it’s a baby tooth and will fall out soon (her top 2 did in the last month) but the x-rays show the permanent tooth coming in crooked – so out it came. The worst was when she had to cut a triangular shape out of Samie’s gums to allow her eye-teeth to come through. Her gums have so much cartilage that they would never break through. Poor Samie, (& Mom) she had tears coming down her cheeks. She’s on a prescription, Febrax, for swelling, pain and infection. 1 teaspoon every 8 hours for 3 days. She felt ok by the time we got back to La Cruz.
*I grew an aversion to the dentist at an early age - my teeth were always quite crowded and it seemed like every time I went to the dentist they were determined to yank out more teeth to make room! I don’t remember too much about this particular dentist visit except for why she was doing what she was and that she was kind and gentle. I don’t remember the pain, of course I assume Novicaine or some other anesthetic was used - I was probably just scared and of course despite the numbing, you can always feel the pressure of whatever is going on. Eventually my eye teeth/canines would come out and forward, rather than down, meaning they protruded above the rest of my upper teeth. They would stay there for the next 3-4 years until we were prepping me for braces and they put in a expansion plate to make room in my upper jaw to bring my eye teeth down where they belong. It works by pushing apart the palatial bones in the upper jaw. I had to turn the key once or twice a day for a few weeks/months until there was a giant gap between my two front teeth. From there we moved to braces which brought the eye teeth down and pushed my front teeth back together. There was a LOT of movement and adjusting in just about two years and I had a bright new smile just in time for graduation. Hell, while we’re here, let’s take a tour through my toothy evolution with some photos:
1. November 1997, what looks like my eye teeth are actually not, there was just a lot of space between my incisors and premolars.
2. March 1999, you can clearly see where my eye teeth are hovering above the rest. The way they protruded would result in a couple holes in my lip over the years when I got hit in the face a couple of times (accidental circumstances - no fighting, lol). It was super painful, but thankfully the mouth is one of the quickest healing parts of our bodies!
3. Sometime probably in 2001 before we started working on my teeth. This one really shows how much different my jawline was before we expanded my upper palate.
4. Here is a mold of my teeth before we started - I’ll never forget the orthodontist’s face when he first checked out my teeth. Quite literally 😧! He said everything was so crowded, he really thought we were going to need to do oral surgery to make room. I also had a real bad under bite. Thankfully the expansion plate worked wonderfully - you can see exactly how much we widened my top palate - that gap started with nothing and this is where we left off after a few weeks/months, I don’t remember exactly how long.
5. My gap! 2002ish. I’m happy to say I never stopped smiling and was rarely embarrassed about my teeth. It just was what it was.
6. Braces, doing their thing. This was 2003, my Junior/Senior year in high school.
7. Finally, my pearly whites after all that work! Graduation night smiles, 2004. The last photo is with cutie patootie Schyler. It’s kinda crazy how much my jawline changed.
I would not go back to the dentist for 18 years, lol! And even then I only went because I had an infection where one of my wisdom teeth were growing in, so we yanked all those bad boys out. Like I said, every time I go, they take more teeth! 🤪 🐞
*Ok, back to our regularly scheduled programming! 🤪
January 8, Thursday
La Cruz
Happy B-day Danielle
Samie’s fine, mouth is tender, but ok.
John went to Miguel’s, they had the main cover all cut out. John and Steve, Star Song, cleaned Imagine’s boat bottom, $200 pesos each.
Once again, we spent a couple of hours at the “bar.”
Called Danielle – all is well.
*200 pesos would have been around 24 bucks at the time.
January 9, Friday
The last few mornings have been quite cool at around 65° and the afternoon north breeze is cool, even though it’s 78° or 80°. We would NEVER make it through a mountain winter again.
John helped Steve, Star Song, work on his boat. He also sanded down all the wood in the head so he can varnish.
I think he likes making a mess!
January 10, Saturday
Brent said it’s snowing in Alpine.
The Mexican authorities caught someone trying to steal a panga and are questioning them on the dinghy that was taken from Sol Mar. Samie spent the night at Jena’s. We had a spaghetti dinner at Star Song along with Summer Wind and Imagine.
January 11, Sunday
John put the 3rd coat of varnish on the wood in the head – sure is pretty.
Samie spent the day at the beach at Punta de Mita with Jena, Laura, Brandon and friends. We spend the day watching the games. Denver and Greenbay will go to the Superbowl.
Beautiful Sunset.
January 12, Monday
John varnished the woodwork and the railing that comes down the companionway. Little by little, he wants to re-do all of the wood inside.
Samie and John went in for a while – I stayed home.
Star Song and Summer Wind both left at 4 pm, heading south.
*Dad did such a great job at keeping The Star so beautiful! Both my parents taught me a lot about taking good care of my things by way of their regular care and maintenance. It’s such a rewarding labor of love to take care of our things and our living spaces.
January 13, Tuesday
La Cruz
There were 2 dolphins in the anchorage this a.m.
Samie did the math and grammar test today – A’s.
John went in and sewed the hooks on the main sail cover – we have it up now – she is pretty!
I took 1 step too many putting the dink off the beach and got soaked to the waist – funny!
Those drop-offs can be real sassy sometimes! One minute you’re touching bottom and the next, you’re taking an impromptu swim!
January 14, Wednesday
Samie did good on today’s testing – science, 100%, Geography, -1.
Shine and Goon called.
January 15, Thursday
We woke up to a big swell, 4 to 6 feet, rolling in and it lasted all day. There were 5 or 6 boats anchored more inside, as the day wore on, they all moved out where we are and beyond. There are some huge breakers hitting the beaches. It’s quite a sight to watch all the boats disappear behind a swell, then come up way on top of it.
There were some tourist or charter boats anchored out on the SW point. It must have been too lumpy for sailing or anchoring out at the island.
John spent the whole day with Miguel working on the canvas. Samie was bored out of her mind because she spent the whole day at home. It was only 58° this a.m. but warmed up nicely at 82°. It’s 7:30 pm and I can still feel the boat “sailing” on over the swells. At least they’re not as big as the 12-footers we had in Manzanillo 2 years ago.
*It’s a bit of a creepy visual, but I LOVE how a large swell can come between you and another boat - how one second they are in full view, and the next you can only see part of their mast! It’s both kind of scary and exhilarating at the same time! See the video below for an idea of what that can look like!
*I’ve said it before, but I miss hearing the HAM radio nets and conversations. Searching the airwaves for friends out in the South Pacific, listening for updates on emergency situations or just listening for basic weather updates. Always in the morning at the crack of dawn and in the evenings after dinner time.
January 16, Friday
La Cruz
Talking to Star Song on 3.838 this a.m. we found out that 3 dinghies were stollen last night. Lena, Transition, and Sea Ya – all dinks were found up in the river, but of course no motors.
Then, on Chubasco net we heard that traveling by land on the baja, two vehicles were held up and robbed, another one, they stole the pickup and killed two young men. It’s getting like the States down here.
Ron from Amistad (we have never met them), who was in a car wreck on Christmas Eve and had a punctured lung and has been in the hospital since, died today.
We now have the mizzen sail cover on the boat. She’s really looking pretty. Miguel and wife came out to measure the cockpit cover, but it was pretty rolly and will have to come back. The huge swells did calm down some today, but it’s still rolly.
*Wow, rough day in the news here, which was thankfully pretty rare. We never met Ron from Amistad, but his was a name we heard a lot - so sad that he passed away, I wonder if he had family with him.
*Below, just a calm, lazy day - feeding the birds in beautiful La Cruz. Summer Wind in the background on the right.
January 17, Saturday
Samie went in to Jena’s early and Brandon took them to the bowling alley game room in P.V. They were gone until around 3 pm.
John cleaned the deck and the filthy water line.
It was cloudy and dead calm all day. The swell is way down and the bay is like glass. One of those laid-back days with a good book.
Miguel and Verna came out to finish measuring the dodger cover. I spent a couple hours visiting with Rosa – I sure enjoy her company.
Jena is spending the night and the girls are hyper and giggly.
*I’m surprised I don’t remember this day with Jena and Brandon! I know we had a blast. Cute, Jena did get to come sleep over again! We always had the best time.
January 18, Sunday
La Cruz
John painted the “roll-bar” and cradle for the main boom. All the canvas work should be done by the end of the week.
We spent several hours on shore. It got up to 88° today.
Goon called, they’re checking airline prices to fly in here in March - $260 - $340, wow!
January 19, Monday
John helped Miguel again today. While Samie was at Tarn’s (Jena was in P.V. with Brandon) her bike was stolen from in front of his house in broad daylight – shit!
It was late, so we ate at Cruise Quarters.
*Here is the type of bike we had. It was stainless steel and could fold up to stow away on the boat. I loved having that thing!
My journal entry clearly displays my feelings on the stolen bike, lol. What a tough little 10-year-old I thought I was! 🐞
January 20, Tuesday
Happy B-day Janell.
John rode into P.V. with Miguel and cambioed (exchanged) money. Later, Miguel and Verna came out to measure for the cockpit cover. We got the jib back on with the new color – looking good!
Talked to Lori in Barra, she said Chris scraped off all the slime from the ramp – so I should hurry down before it grows back and I slip again! That’s where and why I broke my arm last year.
January 21, Wednesday
John started on the floors today. Our bedroom was first, the sanding wasn’t too much of a mess and it sure looks nice. He put 2 coats of polyurethane down. I guess I’ll tolerate the sanding so the floor can look like new!
Spent a couple hours at C.Q. We got mail today – letters and a 5x7 picture of Michael and Peggy – so nice. What beautiful kids.
On the way back to the boat, there were 2 dolphins swimming with us for a bit. One was so close we could have touched it – cool!
Miguel and Verna came out again, this time they got the measurements.
Beautiful sunset.
The last 3 days we have had the “Banderas Bay Blow”, 15-20k – SW – oh joy! NOT!
January 22, Thursday
Still in La Cruz
John sanded and varnished the hallway and galley this a.m. So to get to our room or the head, we had to crawl through the aft hatch. Of course, if I’m blocked from the “norm” then I find myself heading back there even more.
John went up to Miguel’s while Samie and I stayed at Rosa’s. She had us inside for a plate of shrimp and rice. It was extra nice to visit the house rather than the bar, and lunch was wonderful. I’ll miss her when we’re gone.
The SW swells picked back up again, the wind only blew lightly today, but tonight it is really rolly. Makes me remember San Benedicto last year. I fixed fried pork chops, papas and gravy which was rather tricky in the side-to-side roll-about.
Oh – when we left the beach to come home, because of the swells, we got a dink full of water when we failed to get out far enough, fast enough. What a sandy, salty mess. 3 bags of food stuff all sandy, I had to rinse everything including the sticks of butter. The joys of the beach!
*It’s funny how we can experience life so differently within the same general spaces. This would have been one of Mom’s few times in the house - whereas I spent a generous amount of my time there with Jena! So many afternoons making lunches with Jena (Cup ‘O’ Noodles and microwaved Parmesan cheese tostadas, lol), watching satellite TV in the living room with the huge, comfy couch, watching Rocko’s Modern Life, and sometimes going over her school work together. 🐞
January 23, Friday
John did the main salon floor today. We bought $300 pesos of meat today to fill the freezer back up. Other than 2 chickens and 8 steaks we bought in Mazatlan, everything else was from San Carlos – pretty good, it really does hold a lot.
Lee from Papagayo is here by land in a camper. John saw him in town for a bit. Glo is flying to P.V. on 2/3, then they’ll drive down to Tenacatita.
Samie stayed at Jena’s.
January 24, Saturday
Finally, John is finished with all the floors. They look so pretty – just like new! Paint of any kind gives me a headache that won’t quit and it’s been 4 days – I’m glad it’s done.
Samie spent the whole day at Jena’s. We went in around 1 pm until 4:30 – the usual.
*Poor Mom and her migraines! And this was long before she had medicine strong enough to knock them out - for years she was at their mercy for stretches up to 4 days at a time. 😩She used to tell me that it would feel better if she could take a mallet to the head in order to relieve the pressure/pain. I started getting them in my mid-20s and I don’t know how she did it all that time on the boat with no relief. Mine only ever lasted 4-6 hours - I can’t imagine day after day of the intense light/sound/smell sensitivity and the added nausea that can kick in on top of the searing pain radiating through your skull. As the years went on I learned to help however I could, which was mainly by way of neck and shoulder massages to help ease some of the gathering tension as the days went on. Also - we would discover that I can tell when she’s going to get a migraine - apparently her body gives off some type of scent that I started to notice when she would get migraines. I’m the only one who picks up on it and it took years for me to make the connection, but we tested it a few years back, and she started feeling the migraine about 20 minutes after I noticed the scent. Wild, right?! 🐞
January 25, Sunday
Happy B-day Grace.
Great news! We got our bike back! Felipe saw it yesterday and knew where it was – some fishermen had it. John was in town this a.m. on his way to the judge’s when he saw it, so he followed it and showed 10 men a picture of it and said he was taking it back or he would get the police – they let him take it.
We went in for the Super Bowl game, but spent the first half at Miguel and Verna’s, it’s her birthday. The game was a good one – ended up Denver 31, Green Bay 24.
*Woohoo! Got the bike back. Glad it wasn’t a big ordeal. I’m sure I was SO excited.
January 27, Tuesday
Whoops – I forgot yesterday. Miguel and Verna came out and fit the top of the cockpit cover and put the snaps on. Other than that, it was the same-ole-same.
Bob, Miss Teak II, called today, they plan on leaving Mazatlan Saturday and making a few stops on their way here. But then I’ve heard that before! At this rate, we’ll be long gone and not see them until our return trip.
🐞
January 28, Wednesday
John sewed all the hooks on the staysail cover. He says they are really working hard to finish up with the side curtains.
Spent the afternoon at C.Q. Talked to Lee, Papagayo, for a while.
Samie has her hammock strung up on the front deck and tonight she rolled out of it – funny – she’s ok.
The swells are rolling in again – not real big, but it’s making the beach landing and takeoffs a little tricky and wet.
*😆I’ll bet that was a comical sight, falling out of the hammock - I wonder if I was trying to get out and things went awry, or what?! Too funny. 🐞
January 29, Thursday
John put 15 more gallons of fuel in the boat, that’s 30 total to fill her up after the sail to the island and the generator running for the last 5 weeks.
Felipe got us 6 really good steaks from his supplier in P.V. We started the process of stocking up on food.
Miguel and Verna came out for a couple of hours to fit the dodger covers. They’ll be back in the morning – it got dark.
January 30, Friday
Slow morning – Miguel and Verna didn’t come back out until noon and by then we were rock’en around in the swell and chop from the 15-18k of breeze. They worked until around 2, when he dropped a part overboard that goes to the tool that puts the snaps on. So, John got out the hookah, etc. and dove around for 15-20 minutes – but no luck. So, we called it a day. Hopefully he can find the part in P.V.
Beautiful sunset again tonight.
January 31, Saturday
I spent the morning making a crossword puzzle for Rosa, it all had to do with the cruising friends, Pat and Laura, Alegria, Deann, Bob and Tarn, Samara I, us, and of course Rosa, Blair, Jena, Suzanna, Lupe and Cruise Quarters. It came out really cute – but was quite a job. Anyway, I was making it for her birthday which is February 16th, but we’ll be gone.
The boats are all really roll’en around out here – the swell has picked up again, so we spent several hours at C.Q. It’s getting to be a hassle getting in and out, waiting for the 3 minutes of smaller sets. Some of these swells are 5-6 footers and breaking just inside the break wall.
Samie spent the night at Jena’s.
*Mom did an AMAZING job putting together this crossword puzzle! I wouldn’t even know where to begin! Mom sent me a copy of this the other day and I was able to solve most of it, but there were a few things and names that I didn’t remember. 🐞
