"Straight out of modor.."

It was inevitable it was coming.. "His eyes were.. rapey?  If that makes sense".

:-)

Happy friday!

Be kind to yourself.

I came across the link to this video on FB yesterday, watched it and sobbed the entire time... I then proceeded to share the link with my bestie, who also sobbed the entire time..

Please take a few minutes to watch the video.. It's a great reminder that we need to start being a little kinder to ourselves :-)  ♥

Throwing caution to the wind

*WARNING* My throwing caution to the wind may cause some of you to shudder at the "WHAT IF..." possibilities.. but hey, there were none so just read on..

By nature, I am VERY much not someone who 'throws caution to the wind', so to speak.

I am a planner.  Correction, I am an over planner.  I am a worrier.  I always keep one foot on the ground.  Before attempting dangerous activities, friends will actually ask for my opinion as I am 'the voice of reason.'...

HOWEVER, my trip to Mazatlan was all about myself doing things that I hadn't done before.  Livin' it up a little..... so here is my back story:

I am a HUGE fan of Instagram.  I post photos VERY often and spend a good deal of time perusing other peoples photos. 

A few months back, I began searching the hashtag #Mazatlan.  This was basically done for  my own pleasure of seeing photos of my beloved vacay location.  I ended up following a person (I wasn't even sure if it was a male or female as their photos were many landscape photos and no clear selfies) as I just adored their photos.  They followed me back.  The person, a fellow who I will call J, ended up asking if I wanted to add him on FB.  I did and left it that.  Basically all of his FB posts were in Spanish, so I didn't really communicate with him at all..

That brings me to my trip.

Having my IPhone with me on the trip, I used the free Wifi EVERYWHERE to post photos of myself/my trip as I was there....  I received a message from J asking if I was in Mazatlan.  I replied confirming my location.  He responded asking if I wanted to meet up that afternoon.  He offered to show me around and maybe take some photos.  (That sounds so creepy when I type it)

Uhhhhh.  Meet a stranger who I met off Instagram in a foreign country where I am travelling alone?  Nooooo thank you, not for me.

I politely responded I wouldn't 'have time', but thanks for the offer!  He asked again if I was interesting in maybe meeting up the following afternoon.

I decided to be honest and straight out TOLD him that I was not really sure that meeting up with a stranger was a safe thing to do, and I was hesitant because of that.  Nothing against HIM, just being safe.

He replied saying he understood, and how about THIS:  He works as a lawyer for the city, in their town hall which is directly across the the cathedral.  He offered that I could meet him AT his work (a public place) at 2:30 (he was done work at 3) where he would show me around town hall then take me on a little walking tour around the downtown area.

THIS is where I decided to throw caution to the wind!  Meeting in a public GOVERNMENT building in the middle of the day.  It's a tad unsafe, but still safe.. if that makes sense.

I replied that that would be great.  I added that I needed to be heading back to my hotel around 4:30ish - I figured that gave me a window to escape if this dude ended up being a creepo.

So, I hopped on a bus and made my way downtown.. I went early to look at the cathedral (man, just as beautiful as I remembered!) and shop the Central market... then I met up with J.

Throwing caution to the wind was a great idea!  He showed me around the town hall (which was cool in itself), and took me around downtown and the north end of the malecon:

 

 

A really cool restaurant (that has live jazz music) in the downtown area - you can see the roof is open.  Apparently it's just AMAZING at night when you can look up and see the stars.

 

A young girl dressed up taking photos before her quinceanera (for her 15th birthday, I suppose you could look at it like a barmitzva in the Jewish religion) along the malecon

 

 

 

One of the statues along the malecon - J snapped me 'hitching a ride' and I snapped him getting the drivers view down the malecon.

One of the artifacts at the museum

 

 

Finally we stopped at one of the hotels which has an AMAZING rooftop pool/bar for a drink.  The view was PHENOMENAL!

At that time, it was just after 4:30 so I said goodbye to my new friend and headed back 'home'....

Not to say that I would recommend meeting strangers off the Internet randomly.  Don't get me wrong - I'm not naive.. but sometimes it's not a bad idea to throw caution to the wind!

It's coming!

I promise I will be posting a blog SOON about my trip to Mazatlan! 

I've just been rather busy with work, Easter and getting back into the swing of the things!

It's coming!  Really :-)

Bi*ch, please.

No, I am not going to discuss my trip YET.. well, I am actually here to discuss something that happened ON my trip, which caused a little kink in the road.

So, a little while back I briefly mentioned, without going into details, that I had a falling out with a very close friend of mine.

Without going into massive details again, I will just say:  This friend and I have known each other/been friends since we were about 12 years old.  We've travelled a lot together.  I was regularly invited to family functions (Her mom is one of 10 children so her family is MASSIVE and get togethers often mean renting a hall).  I was present for the birth of her daughter; who also has my name as her middle name.  She is one of the few people who know EVERY secret I have, and vise versa.

Basically, we were VERY close. 

My friend is also VERY hot tempered and hard headed.  Over the years, she has lost many friends due to these rather negative qualities.. Myself, being a mellow person by nature, dealt with it.  It could be uncomfortable at times when say, her and her hubby would get into a screaming match in front of me and oh, ask me who I felt was right... (FYI, pointing down the hall and saying: "HEY look, shiny things!!" is a valid answer).. but I dealt.

Over the past year, this friend did some really mean and crappy things to other people, that bordered on psychotic.  She also did some mean and crappy things to me.

One thing I can say I took from my relationship with my ex is that I no longer will allow people to walk all over me and get away with it.  If you hurt me, I will tell you.  I will not be malicious about it, nor will I hold a grudge, but I will tell you.

Things came to a blow when the friend, another friend and I were to get together for a gals night to watch re-runs of Grey's and the friend ended up ditching me.   She was apparently mad that the week prior I had taken the time during the episode to answer a few texts/email rather than watch the show in it's entirety.  So she decided to ditch me... and post pictures on FB of her and the other friend hanging out.

I ended up telling her that her behaviour hurt my feelings and it was a crappy thing to do.

WELL, friend did not take to this kindly.  She in turn sent me some VERY rude emails telling me I am a horrible friend (?) and if it wasn't for her, and her alone, we wouldn't even BE friends.  She came up with some crazy calculation of how much money she believes me she has saved me over the years seeing her for my haircuts.  (?!).. She was malicious.

She then decided to send my sister some crazy and rude emails where she berated me and accused me of STEALING from her. 

Now, my sister is not a push over.  My sister is VERY strong willed and can have a fiery temper as well.  She tore a strip off of Friend... No one hurts her baby sis :-)

Friend admitted to lying about the stealing - this was her pathetic childish way of trying to get attention/'win'... Funny, I also recall her telling me two co-workers who ended up leaving her shop 'stole' from her... But I digress...

I remained very civil in these emails.  I'm not stupid.  I chose my words VERY carefully, so there were not things spoken that I would be unable to take back...  Even though I was very hurt by her horrible words, I chose to be an adult.

I eventually refused to reply to her BS and we stopped speaking.  During a holiday party at another friends home, she would not look me in the eye and her hubby shot me dirty looks all night.. That was the last time we saw each other...

I have chosen to not say anything negative to other people about her, other than to my bff who this friend has also done some VERY horrible things to (they no longer speak either), since this happened.  I am not like that..  Why fuel a fire?  When people ask, I explain we had an argument and she did not take well to me calling her out.  Anyone who knows her is not surprised.. She has a bad rep.

So to the point of my blog - I get to Mexico and meet up with my friend, D, there.  D has met Friend and her hubs (but have not spoken since last year)... D basically asks what happened with us, as he has noticed she and I no longer post on each others FB, no photos, etc.. I give my usual speech about the argument.  Forwhatever reason (3 beers?) I also mentioned that she has been trying to tell people lies about me - stealing, using them, etc..  He mentioned he does not trust her.  He also mentioned other people who have met her there have described her as "evil".   Eep!  Not how I would want myself thought of!

Simple.  That same night I take a photo of myself and my friend D out and post it on FB.

D mentions later that the next day he received a FB message from Friend.  Long and short of it, I found out that Friend is trying to tell D that they saw I am out in Mex and I am trying to USE him (for money?) and he should be cautious.

Seriously bitch?  She sunk THAT low.

Fortunately, D is not stupid.  D and I are in regular contact and he knows what kind of person I am.  He saw I was not asking ANYTHING of him out there other than some of his time to visit when he was free.  I was slightly worried he would believe her craziness, but again, actions speak louder than words...

Fortunately we had had the convo about her pulling this BS BEFORE she pulled attempted to pull it on him.  I am very thankful for that occurring in the times it did - it basically solidified what I told him..

I was LIVID.  This is a 33 yr old mother of three children.  C'mon.  Grow the f**k up.  20 yrs of friendship and she is going to attempt to ruin my holiday with lies?  That is beyond pathetic.

Karma, that's all I will say!

My trip

I have returned!

This is going to be a shorter post!

I have spent the past 2 days since I returned home trying to organize myself with unpacking, laundry, picking up packages I missed while gone (I am pretty sure every time I go away I miss deliveries.  It's a conspiracy), groceries, etc..  I pretty much need another holiday from my holiday hah

So despite my 7 hour delay in Calgary on the way TO Mazatlan (I seriously cried a little in the bathroom at the airport I was so frustrated and bored) it was a very wonderful trip!

There is something to be said about travelling alone!

I do not tend to adjust well to time changes, so seeing at it was a 2 hour difference, I was up by 5:30/6 am every morning.. I took that time to use the wonderful WIFI to check emails/FB/etc.. THEN, rather than go to a restaurant to eat, I walked about 10 minutes to the local Megamart (basically like a Super Walmart) to buy fresh fruit, yogurt and maybe a muffin.  I took that back and ate breakfast by the pool before venturing off on my morning walk.

I seriously walked for miles and miles and miles.  It was amazing!

I think travelling by myself allowed me the opportunity to venture out on foot more than I would have had I been with other people.  I know my way around the GZ of Mazatlan like the back of my hand now.  I took a bus downtown without getting lost hah.  I relaxed.  I did what I wanted WHEN I wanted.  The days were mostly spent sightseeing by myself, and I met up with my friend in the evenings.. It was ideal!

I didn't get a chance to do EVERYTHING I was hoping to do, but I did a lot.  Photos and deets will come soon :-)

Delays

Here I sit in the Calgary airport.... For the past 3 1/2 hours.

My plane is stuck in Vancouver being repaired - resulting in an estimated 7 hour delay.

SEVEN HOUR DELAY!! Did I mention I was up at 2:45 am to be at the airport on time?

**sob** that means IF we actually leave on time, I won't get into Maz until 6:30 pm.. Customs & drive - hotel by 7:30... Meaning almost my entire day shot :-(

So far not so good!!