Today We Celebrate!

We gather today, rather...this MORNING, to celebrate
Owen's 4th birthday, which is actually tomorrow.
But no matter, I hope that he always remembers that
MY birthday is exactly one week later! And I'll be
4 too! Um...yea, scratch that, make that 4-seven :\
(The above photo is, of course, from last year!)

He, Owen, recently split his eye open...jumpin' on
the bed. Well, he was jumping INto bed but like the
saying goes..."one fell off and broke his head."
Off to the emergency room for several stitches.
Unlike the staples he got in the back of his head
about 7 months ago...this boo boo is on his right
eyebrow, right up front...just like his aunt Sue-Sue ;)


Enjoy this beautiful day!

Here we go....

Okay, so I have had a TON of people wonder
if I'm ever going to blog again. In person,
on the phone, on facebook etc...even my sister,
who hasn't blogged since the first snowfall
in early November, wants to know when I'm going
to blog again. The answer is "yes" and I will
make every attempt to back into the everyday
routine. I secretly missed doing it but truth be
told, I enjoyed the break.

My first wedding of the season is today.
JoAnn and Rick are getting married at
Murphy's Landing in Shakopee in, what will be, my
first ever "period" wedding. The wedding party
will be dressed to reflect the period and the
wedding party and guests were encouraged to do the
same. I can't wait!

Yesterday I finally met Owen. He is the newborn
son of Kelly and Jeff Read. They have been waiting
for his arrival and this joy for a long time.
You see, they lost Alliah a year ago, December 8th,
at 29 weeks gestation. I was called in to photograph
her for NILMDTS and that is how we met.
A bond was formed and I am certain that this family
will be a part of my life forever!
Interestingly enough, his full name is Owen Patrick.
He is exactly 3 years and 51 weeks younger than
our Owen Patrick (my nephew). Both Owens have their
grandfather's first name as their middle name.
As you can imagine, my mouth dropped open when she
said "Owen Patrick". :D

These are just a sample of his first, official
photo session...I just aDORE him!






Lastly, today I want to share the new basement.
The images that are propped up along the ledge
will come down as I have some giant images on
their way to go up in their place.




Thanks for your patience.
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when I post a new blog you will be notified.
That way, mom, you don't have to check
10 times a day to see if I've blogged.

Have a great day.

Playa Friends.

Returning to Mexico each year has become such a joyous
part of our lives, Gary and I, so when we run into other
folks that share our love of the country, culture, people,
sounds etc...it just simply puts the pico on the taco!

This year we ran into Peter, Jarka and Charlie from New York.
They stay at Casa de Gopala, a couple blocks in, but would
come to the beach for the day at the Mimi!
Charlie is 7 now and we decided that we met them, first,
when Charlie was 5. She is too darn cute and I'm not kidding.






Here's a shot that her mom, Jarka, took on a road
trip to Cancun this year...I just love the perspective
Nice shot, Jarka!! Kudos!



Charlie and I swam a bit one afternoon and on their
last full day at the beach I arranged for a little beach,
send off music for them.



I can still hear the harp! ;)





Scott and Nicki are going to stay at the same hotel.
Oddly, before I knew that Peter's family was staying
there, I spotted this hotel on a walk with Gary one day
and went in and got information for Scott & Nicki.

Gary and I finally got to see Nedi and his family towards
the end of the trip...REALLY good to see them and know
that they are all doing well.



Talisman (4)


Jose Maria (8)


Indiana (almost 13)


Indiana and I exchanged e-mail addresses so that
we can keep in touch year round! I love this family!
They are so special to us and always will be.
Nedi is still looking for work and his wife, Verana,
is still working as a taxi driver in the Playa area.
I have her # if you want to call her directly for a
ride somewhere while you're down there! Tell her that
Susan & Gary sent you! :)

Laughter IS the best Medicine!

I'm finally out of my funk, catching up on all
sorts of stuff. I apologize for not blogging.
I thought in the meantime, I'd share this bit
that my Uncle Don sent to me. I think that Louis CK
is FABulous! Check out this YouTube clip.
I laughed my ASS off! I only wish it were longer!

Thank you to everyone who has called and e-mailed
to check in on me....I'm finally feeling like
myself again!

Daylight Savings!

I Hope you remembered to turn your clocks ahead today.
Or perhaps this is one of those Sundays where you secretly
wanted to miss Church!
"They" say we lose an hour today...hmmm, I feel as though
I've lost, like, 4 days! Still trying to shake this bug.

Home. Sick.

I brought something nasty home with me from
Playa. I've been in bed for 2 days...nearly 3.
I decided that maybe I should peel myself
out of the "sick" sheets, wash them and throw
myself in the shower in the hopes that I might
feel a little better. The jury is still out.

Gary and I had a fabulous time! I dove 6 times
and I am now an official SCUBA diver!! I can't
wait to go diving again!
Here's a couple of shots that Stan (a diver from
Oklahoma) took on our 80 foot dive at Tortuga
just south of Playa.



This is Katie (rt), she's from Moscow. Katie works
at the Abyss and did the first 2 of my 4 check out dives
which I arranged for through the Abyss Dive Center
before I left Minnesota.
She has the most precious accent, speaks perfect
English and has what I'd like to refer to as the greatest
"tank-side" manner. Super calm, very patient and overall,
top notch skills! Kudos to Dave Tomlinson, owner of
the Abyss, for finding such a gem!



I flipped quite a bit and will sift through
all the footage and post some of the fun in the
days to come. As for photos, I mostly shot with
my phone in the event that I could pick up
wifi around town and send images to this blog...
that didn't happen.

Gary brought along his Canon SD1100 and we shot
with that a ton too.
I guess I could have left both the laptop and my
camera gear at home after all....good to know for
future reference!

I passed on 2nd shooting the wedding on the 28th.
Why? I don't know...just did.

Oh, I almost forgot! In the middle of 5th Ave.
I ran into Tasha Herrgott and Kristi Kienholz!
2 of my colleagues from Minneapolis. They were
in Playa shooting a wedding! So cool to see them
there amidst all the crazy, night time bustle that
is Playa del Carmen! I hope I get to see some of
their pix soon!

The only bummer of it all was the fact that for
some strange reason, I was not able to connect
to the internet down there, so I thank my sister,
Anne, for making a couple of plugs for me in my
absence.

I have to say that writing all of this has made
me exhausted so I'm gonna go lay down.
I HATE being sick!

Muchas Mas, luego....