Don't Panic, breath through your nose.

That's what my buddy Geno used to say when things went to defecon 4. As I type this I'm using one hand, kinda difficult and slow. I'm a little screwed up and I'll get to that part in a sec...but the big news is, I didn't panic Geno, at least not that you'd notice...to much.

Last week my friends and team mates went to the wall trying to help me catch that big Robalo that I want so badly, we've been traveling to Dimas 40 miles from here..  I had him hooked on Friday and brought him to the rocks and as I planned on how to gaff or lift him he escaped, about a 15 pounder. For me the fish seem to win a lot. But as a team we had a couple great days,that's a pic of Slah with a huge Corvina and a nice Robalo...maybe even the one that spat my hook. Thanks for the extra effort Slah. And ya know, I'll just keep that same goal and carry over to 2014, no worries.

Mazatlan has a lot going on, including the worlds tallest natural lighthouse at 157 meters, about 500 feet. We hike that baby once a year or so so and Monday was a bit blustery on the beach so away we went. This hike is ultra cool, the pic of the steps and the drop off will give you feel for what its like. I have the feeling that N.O.B. they'd have a guard rail right about there. Breath taking for sure.

So we reach the summit (hehehe) and we're taking in the views. Its just stunning, you have the metropolitan area to you north  and the wilderness of Isla De Piedra to the south. I even spot a huge bait ball and with the zoom of my Lumix camera I get the shot.

This next pic is the reason for it all. With today's electronics I don't know how many mariners really use the light but I'd bet dollars to donuts it makes you feel good just to see it as you make your night time passage. Just to know, people are out there, they're watching, they care.

We'd just met a nice couple from Alberta and had them snap this pic.

And I was telling them a story about a spring snow storm that me and MP got stuck in at White Court Alberta in 1978 and talking with my hands like I do when I felt it. I'd collided with a bee and he left his stinger in me on the first joint of my left ring finger. When I was a kid my mom always emphasised to me just how allergic to bees I was but I figured it was another one of her ways to help me feel special. Well, she's right and I'm wrong. MP pulled the stinger out and told me " don't panic", I didn't have my epi-pen with me. We retreat from the faro and head home, its the darnest thing, its aching pretty good and then it just stops. When we get home theres no swelling and I'm pain free. I convince myself that my finger skin is to tough for the stinger or that MP got it out so fast that I dodged the bullet. So I elected to not use my epi-pen and save it for a 'bad' sting. I played music that night (Monday) for the building and seemed to have no problems.

The next morning MP was off on here Tour of Homes with the girls. My finger was a little sore and that's about all. I took an antihistamine and as we needed just a few last things I went to the store for us. It's just astounding, here's a pic of what 330 pesos ( about 27 bucks) will buy you at Soriana, our favorite grocery store.

Through the day the finger got a little redder and a a little stiff and sore but no biggy. We had a pot luck supper, I donated 200 peso's to our weekly poker game and went to bed. I woke up to this:

Yikes, don't panic...Ernie tells me its blood poisoning. If it weren't my left hand I wouldn't be so worried, I've never seen a 3 fingered guitar picker and I'm already struggling through playing with a pinky that has the muscle separated from pulling my anchor. I've got a lot going through my mind. One thing all of us that stay here for extended periods think about is our strategy should things go bad. One thing I know about Mexico is that you can buy anything so I'd always thought I'd take large American green to the airport and jump the first jet if I had to. Its bad enough that the finger looks this way but as MP and I discuss it we notice that I also have swelling in my hand.

I just have a feeling. I know a gal named Elena that works at Pharmacy Moderna, she's got great English and is just a caring  neat person. So I figure we'll just ask Elena whats best to do....she takes one look at it and trying not to be to horrified says we need a doctor for sure, now. She makes a call for us and I end up at Dr. Libia Zulema Paez Garcia's place. I'd have gotten a pic or two but I really wasn't thinking blog at the time, sorry. She was positive and upbeat. Cleaned the wound that was beginning to seep pretty good and then gave me a huge antihistamine by injection right into the ol glutamous maximus. Then she prescribed an antibiotic and it was back to Elena to fill it. So...if you ever need Pharmacy help in Mexico go to this one,DO NOT go to the touristy pharmacy that advertises Viagra and sleeping pills.

So I think I'm on the mend. At least I feel better knowing that something has been done. We'll keep an eye on it and hopefully I'll be able to fish next week, one last chance for that elusive Robalo, not to mention my life long guitar project. We should be just fine...I hope....and I didn't panic Geno, I really didn't.