We're in the Money

Pretty obvious that the dollar is shrinking wouldn't ya say .

 I guess I wrote about the covid to soon....it's been a long three weeks and my recovery was slower and harder than I thought it would be. But , I'll save you the details and just say that old Guide #003 is back in the game and feeling 99 % , you know at my age it's always something....and that's why ( here's the unabashed sales pitch ) I have become friends with these wonderful ladies at Marina Spa.

Being a 100% guy my back hurts from time to time and massage therapy is not only a cool indulgence while in Mexico but I'm here to tell you it helps. Isabel, Martha and Tama know the way. I've known Martha for 15 years and when my back is at it's worst with the sciatica pain running down my legs she knows the pressure points and has helped me sooooo much....so Mazatlan peeps, give them a try. Marina Spa Camaron Sabalo # 1502 in the mini mall next to Henderson Meats , 669-225-6693 . And if you read this ladies, thank you for being so wonderful.

to quote Robert Earl Keen ' it feels good feeling good again' . I missed these morning's of watching night turn to day, being the first on the beach with every day bringing new hope, it's the same feeling I had every morning on the run down river for 37 years...wondering what would happen, anticipating. Before the moon sinks it feels like there's more light from different angles and it seems to ricochet around differently than a sunset....

I had a camera crisis. I brought two and they both gave up on me...it's been a kinda a bad karma mechanical run I've been on. But friends brought me a new Waterproof Lumix from North of the Border and I'm once again on the search for the unusual. I like this pic real good.

You've heard me speak of momentum many times . I firmly believe that when things are going good they continue, objects in motion tend to stay in motion. I started Monday with this nice little Paleta that is smaller than a real Snook which was to come later.  They are great eating but you need to get about one per person.

The next morning I was up by Dan's house before light. Just as I turned off my headlamp I got the jerk and knew it was a snapper. The rocks up there are way more covered than I've ever seen them and they just aren't holding the fish they usually do. These Snapper fight so different, they pull and try to go right back down to the rocks from which they came...Two days, two consumables.

Of course I hustled up to the same spot the next morning and nadda but as I sat on the Terrace reading a cool book about ocean Life Guards in California I could see the Pelicans hunting and the little white birds were signaling...It's kinda hard to throw at low tide and maybe a bit dangerous but me and my new friend Armando worked over the Toro's pretty good. The long skinny things the locals call Cheeto's. They have a soft moth and you only land every 3rd or 4th but they jump and are great sport.

So that brings us to this morning. My friend Tim Lockwood arrived and of course his first morning on the beach I knew exactly where he'd be. He was there of course and when I arrived we really visited and were unhurried about the fishing although we could both see bird activity and lots of baitfish along the foamy whitewater...perfect formula for Robalo. And it wasn't long before I had the pull, when I told Tim it was heavy he said it looked Snooky and he was right. The first one weighed over 12 pounds. Here's pic of me with one right before the release.

If we'd had more Team Xers around who knows how many we could have caught . Tim went at it methodically and missed a few and landed 2. I kept the first and then had a surf / sand release and then another release. I missed a couple and had one open his moth and just about got the lure but he and I both ran out of water, they were right on the shore, how we don't see the splash from their tail as they swim by I don't know. Pretty darn exciting....so tonight we'll have snook with The Lockwoods and and Sharon and Bill Radke from Slowdotna Alaska at Loco Loco's. They're are friends and with these larger fish I clean up the carcass real well and Javier's and Jamie's mother makes soup, it's surprising how much meat the fillet job and the collar leaves.

Ya'all come on back now, ya hear ?

The Covid Kid

 That sounds kinda catchy huh ?  Sorry for the pun as it's really all not that funny but Crisco sent me this video and I got to say....it was pretty darn chuckly as I recovered.

The day after Christmas I had a scratchy throat and just didn't feel right and after consulting with MP and convincing her that I really was sick we both decided to do as the CDC recommends and test for Covid. Well I got swabbed and forked up the 900 peso and went back to the condo where MP brought me the positive results news and grabbed another 900 peso for her test, which was negative. This scenario was exactly why we missed Mexico last year but being vaxed and boosted we figured it was a different game plan now....and it is. Our biggest two problems were keeping MP safe while I quarantined  and the unsettling feeling I had that if things got bad I was a long way from the health care I know although as the covid progressed I soon realized that it was a text book Omicron case and it was proceeding exactly like the CDC said it would.....here's pic of the meds.

The biggest two things are hydrate, hydrate and don't watch the news. I used a Mucinex type of expectorant as well as a liquid Ambroxol type...to sleep I took a Mexican type of NightQuil and used an effervescent type of High dose Vitamin C . We used Tylenol only a couple of times when my temp got well over a hundred but that was only one day of the four that I had symptoms...So I guess the best thing I can tell you is that everything you need to know is on the CDC webpage and the symptoms, treatment and effect of the virus was exactly as they say...and that was comforting to me.  Here's a pic of my view for 4 days . Thanks baby....

Naturally how I caught it is the 42 dollar question but you don't have to be a rocket scientist to look around this building and figure that with our open door policy to the public and overall dysfunction it was right here in my own backyard. This sign went up after I tested positive and it only says that visitors of which we have many with public restaurant and bar as well as tri weekyl yoga etc should be advised that masks are recomended.....yup....suggested. 

So it's a real life petri dish here at LaMarina Yacht and Tenis. People test here daily....only because they have to to jump the jet and go home and complain about the price. As I was sick and waiting to test one lady here told me it was all a ' scam'.  I'm the only one that has tested in hopes of not spreading. We have people here that keep their illness a secret ' I don't want people knowing'.....yikes !  But the worst part are the unbelievers who keep there non vaxed status to them selves and give ya catty remarks about what you should have done when you're sick. Within 10 minutes of my postive test everyone in this building new I had the covid and that's a good thing but it's aggravating to think I'm living with people who withhold the truth about the risk they bring to you by being non vaxed idiots. That's the thanks that people like us who try to do everything right and then endure 6 days alone in your room so you don't spread to them...hell of a world.  So my message to LaMarina is this....ya'all better wise up. I know you all think I gave it to myself but it don't work that way....So if you don't mind getting in the elevator with a realtor and his people with no masks you shouldn't mind 6 days at home alone....but you people probably wouldn't do that , would you ? Good luck .

As I fished this morning one of my Mexican friends wanted to talk as I released a Toro. I stopped him short and asked him to stay back as I've had the covid but until I test negative I don't want him to take any chances so keep away for awhile...he thanked me and said he must be very careful as it has brought so much sadness to his family already.......