Winning Strategies

Sunday in Playa Del Carmen

Another day in paradise.  Why did I ever leave San Diego?  One wonders such things as you wake up to the beach and the sand and the waves of the ocean humming to you outside your beachfront room.  Brandon is still studying and preparing for his open water certification.  Soon he will be a certified open water diver.  He has 2 more dives today before he tests for his certification.

The sun is bright and the weather warm.  Today we have to shop for souveniurs and whatnots to take back to Dallas.  We schedule a dinner for tonight at the Mexican restaurant and then go to relax on the beach.

Caleb is swimming, but trying to keep his ear dry because of his infection.  I have tried to logon to the internet to check my mail, to no avail.  The connectivity is not good.  I'm wondering if the lawyer completed my LLC filing and if I have a new company launched or not.  So much to do, so little time.

We are all turning dark brown in the bright sunlight and enjoying the rays of sun that warm every piece of exposed skin.  The pool is almost too warm to swim in, it feels more like bath water than a refreshing pool.  It is good to hang out with the kids and show them some attention.  How does life rush by us so fast wihout us noticing them changing?  It seems that their mannerisms and speech patterns have changed so much in the past year.

Life drifts by so quickly, that when we sit still for a period of a few hours without a watch to guide our time or a meeting or 'have to' event to drive our attention- we almost don't know what to do.  The slow pace begins to grow on us and - - - just when we start to love it- - - it is time to go home and re-pace ourselves; joining back into the hustle and bustle of our ever so busy lives.

Dinner at the Mexican restaurant is amazing.  The food melts in our mouths and we eat more calories than I'm sure we need in an entire day.  The boys have more Cocoa Loco's drinks and I still am not sure how to spell those (laugh).

Brandon and Michael head out to town to shop for gifts for home.  They plan to go to Senior Frogs and 'party' a bit.  (as much as a twelve year old is allowed to party).

The trip is over and we are winding down.  Back to the grind for us....(and for you too, huh?)

Saturday in Mexico

Brandon decides on Saturday that he wants to get his Open Water Diver certification.  It will require 3 more dives and a lot of theory in the pool and book work.  We tell him that it is his choice, and he decides to do it.  It is $350 more dollars (other than what we have already paid for his Friday dives) to get his certification.

He starts the day out at 8AM at the Dive shop for a theory lesson.  He then has a dive at 8:30 AM, more time in the pool, more theory, then another dive at 1:30.  He will then do a dive Sunday at 1:30 as well.

He has to read an entire Scuba Dive book, pass all the quizzes and tests and get his picture taken for the dive card.  He will spend the remainder of his trip getting his certification.  He is determined to do it.

I take Caleb to the doctor in the lobby and yes, he has an ear infection.  No more diving or swimming for him on this trip.  He is very disappointed.  But the doctor says that it is quite swollen and to stay away from the water for the remainder of the trip. 

Friday in Cozumel, Mexico

I've gotten behind on my blog since the internet connection was so crappy in Mexico. Laugh.

Today we are up at the crack of dawn and we meet at the dive shop for our day in

Cozumel.  We take a taxi to the downtown area of Playa Del Carmen, and then we ‘ferry’ over to Cozumel.  Once in Cozumel, we take a taxi to the Iberostar there. 

The pool at this resort is beautiful.  The feel of the resort is more like bungalows stacked along a beautiful beach.  There are much fewer people here and the atmosphere is more relaxed and less crazed.  I like it better than the Iberostar that we are staying at in Playa Del Carmen.  The dive shop is right on the beach and some of the best dive locations in the world are right here in Cozumel.  If we were to come back, we would be better off to chose this location.

The boys love it as well.  They make friends immediately.  Due to the smaller number of people here, the people are more friendly and easy to talk to.  The “Star Friends” here quickly get the boys in a beach volleyball game and then a pool basketball game.  There are less people, so at this resort the “Star Friends” encourage children participation, where at the other resort, it was more discouraged due the large number of guests.  It is much more quaint feeling. 

The beach buffet was good and the boys snacked at the buffet before we met at the Dive Shack at 1 PM for the dive.  Caleb was feeling better by now.  He had gotten a little motion sick on the ferry boat and had thrown up.

The boat takes us out to a beautiful location for the boys’ first Dives.  They are so excited, and I am so worried.  I will be snorkeling above them, so I will be able to see how they are doing.  Michael will be diving with them.  So I am a little less worried.

We drop off the boys fully laden in their scuba gear and under the water they go.  I realize that for a period of time, I am holding my breath without even realizing it.  I am worried sick about my babies scuba diving for the first time.  I put on my mask and snorkel and fins and launch out into the water.  The water is clear and the bluest blue you have even seen.  The temperature of the water is perfect.  It is a beautiful day.  Big puffy white clouds dot the sky.  The sun is shining brightly.  The water is a brilliant blue.  It looks like we are surrounded by a post card.

I swim over to the where the boys and Michael are diving.  They seem to be doing fine and I breath a little easier.  My mask is leaking a bit and I have salt water in my eyes and nose.  I go to the surface to empty the water from my mask.  The fish are beautiful, but I am a bit distracted with the boys diving not far away.  Lying on the top of the water, hearing only my breaths and the sounds of the waves, I savor the moment.  Oh for a few more moments like this in life.  Just  a few more chances to stop and savor the beautiful world that God made.  A chance to watch the fish swim by, and notice the assortment of colors and shapes.  A chance to watch them in their element, and see schools of fish swim by, each seemingly darting off to do something important.  Each of them off to do something, and I, I am floating with no where important to go, and nothing important to do.  I love it.

The boys come up from their first dive and they are elated.  The excitement is dripping from them.  They both loved their dive.  They feel a sense of accomplishment and wonder.  Their eyes are sparkling with discovery. 

We maneuver the boat to another location not too far away, and the boys suit up again for their 2^nd dive.  On this dive, I decide to stay on the boat and read.  It is peaceful and quiet and the sun is bright.  I lay out my towel and lye in the sparkling sun, basking it its brightness and savoring its warmth.

The trip back seemed long.  We took a boat to the habor, then boarded the ferry for the ride back to Playa Del Carmen.  Caleb got sick again on the boat and threw up again. 

They we got into a taxi and went back to the resort, arriving back at about 7 PM.  The boys were exhausted.

We went to bed early.  Caleb is complaining of ear pain, so we decide to take him to the doctor on Saturday.

Thursday in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Up and off for another day in paradise.  The weather has been really nice almost all of our stay here.  There is the occasional thunderstorm, but they blow through very quickly.

Tonight, Michael has signed up for a night dive.  The boys have a little cabin fever for hanging around the resort, so I sign us all up for an ATV ride today.  We will leave at 2:45 , arriving at the ATV tour place by 3:00.  For two hours we will tour around the jungle on ATVs and enjoy the scenery.

We spend the morning at the pool and sign up the boys for their dives on Friday.  They are getting very excited about them.  They start their theory today in the pool and begin learning about the necessities of scuba diving, breathing, and other critical pieces of information they will need to learn before they dive tomorrow in Cozumel.

Afternoon comes quickly and we take the taxi over to the ATV Tour place.  They are going to allow Brandon to drive his own ATV, so the drivers are Brandon, Michael and I.  Caleb is riding with Michael.  The trails are bumpy and the place is quite dusty.  We purchased hankerchiefs and have them around our faces like bandits.  At one point of the tour, we stop by a cave and go swimming in a natural pool.  The water is cool and refreshing and felt oh so good after a hot trail ride.

Brandon is in his element, he loves this.  He is a great driver and he even surprises me with the ease and adept way that he handles the bike.  It was all I could do to maneuver the three wheelers around the trails and he was pulling it off with ease.  It was a labor of love for me, as it isn’t my favorite thing in the world by far.

After the cool refreshing swim in the natural pool, we loaded back up on the bikes and headed to another cave.  We crawled down some tight stairs and checked out an old site where the Indians use to sacrifice to their gods.  The cave was cool and the scenery very interesting.

At last we boarded the bikes again and three wheeled out of the trails and back to the starting point.  On this part of the treck, Caleb rode with me.  I let him drive the bike a little and he did a great job of it.

I was ready for a massage and a hot tub, but both were not on the agenda.  The room we had didn’t even have a tub, only a shower, so even a bath was out of the question for me for the entire stay here.

Tonight Michael went for a night dive and the boys and I went to the Italian restaurant.  The food here was the best of any of the restaurants so far.  Caleb had lasagna and Brandon had fettucini.  I had a fish plate.  The appetizers and desserts were delicious.

The boys have discovered a new drink here called Cocoa Loco.  I don’t know why it has that name because it taste like coconut and nothing like chocolate.  So maybe it is spelled coco loco, for coconut. Who knows....

Mexico-

Hmmmmmmm.  Today rates an A+ for relaxation and sun.  The boys and I are up early to hit the sun and the sand for a day at the beach.  About an hour after we arrive, a rain storm blows in- and in true tropical fashion it rains sideways for about 15 minutes until we are soaked through and through.  Then the sun comes out and it is beautiful again.  This only happens in the tropics.

The boys made sand castles and swam in the pool and jumped between the pool and the waves.  We took the kayaks out and watched the shoreline from afar.

The boys practiced with scuba gear in the pool preparing for their dives this week.  Caleb is elated that he is going to go in the ocean for his first dive.  The food is good and the weather hot hot hot.  There are monkeys at the resort, peacocks, giant turtles, lizzards, tucans, and all sorts of flying birds.

My mind is still aflutter with all that I have to do- the book, the business, my job, the kids, my mind is moving so quickly trying to figure it all out.  It will work out, somehow.

We all look very tanned already and we have only spent one and 1/2 days in the sun.  The sun is very bright here.  I had to carry the PC to the lobby again to send another file.  Slowly but surely, I'm getting my responsibilities done.

The magic show last night was incredible.  I'll never figure out how those magicians put knives through those gals and make birds appear out of thin air.  It was amazing.  Brandon is so cute, he is at that age that he is noticing girls.  He wanted to ask one to dance but was too shy.  It is really sweet.

I hope that all of you are living your life to the fullest.  I challenge each of you reading this, and there are a few- my stats show about 70 log in a day- - - to stop and smell the roses, hug your wife/husband/kids/mother- - twice today.  Kiss your spouse a L O N G kiss that lasts at least 4 minutes.... (that ought to surprise them, huh?)- - - and
DO ONE THING THAT YOU have been putting off- - something that will make someone else smile!!!!

have a great day

B

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

We boarded a flight early this morning on American to fly away to Playa Del Carmen Mexico.  It is only about 2 1/2 hours to get to Cancun, and then another hour to get to Playa Del Carmen.  The beach is beautiful.  Weather is hot and muggy.  The boys swam around the pool today and Brandon checked out chicks.  It is hard to believe that at 12 (almost 13), that is the pastime of the day.

Life has seemingly moved SO QUICKLY of late.  It is like watching a speedboat in front of my eyes.  It is almost a blurr, it moves so fast.  I hardly notice the motion anymore.  The book cover is done and it looks great.  I'm excited about the book coming out.  I met this fabulous lady named Nancy Barry who lives here in Dallas.  She has a book out and is a motivational speaker.  She has agreed to A.  help me with ideas for marketing my book, and B. to come speak to the ladies at Perot Systems.

Oh, I probably haven't blogged this yet, but the women's group at Perot systems was approved.  We have exec level approval to move forward.  Exciting stuff.

I hired a lawyer last week to complete the LLC for me.  I will use this as the structure for my book, speaking engagements, and consulting engagements.  I'm using Bethany Williams Enterprises, LLC for the launching business.  SO much to do and so little time.  How did Bill Gates get it all done.  Laugh.  OK- I'm not comparing myself to Bill Gates, I just can't believe he accomplished all in a mere 24 hours a day.  Surely he figured out some way to get more than 24 hours out of the day.

They boys were squirrly today.  I guess sitting for a long time on a flight, then on a bus makes for squirrly children.  The Iberostar Tucan is a gorgeous resort.  Our room faces the ocean and the water is the bluest of blue.  I didn't even read today.  I sat staring at the blue water  - it might even be the gulf I'm staring at (laugh)- where is a map when you need one?  Do you remember the last time you were bored?  I don't.  I can't think of a moment in the last 2 years when I felt even a twinge of boredom.  I wouldn't mind a little boredom in my life.   SMILE.

The lobby is about 1/2 mile from the water front and my room.  The ONLY connectivity is in the lobby.  Michael just rode a little golf cart all the way to the room, grabbed my computer and road all the way back so I could upload a file I needed to get to the office.  On a scale of 1 to 100, trying to connect to the internet here in Mexico rates a 99 on the DIFFICULTY scale.  So, if you see me blogging every day, that means I'm stuck in a lobby working and NOT playing.  grin grin.

I love to write.  So, something is wrong with my life when I don't get to write at all.  I need to re-prioritize.  Re think my order of my life and re-do some things.

All for today.

Hopefully, you will hear from me soon.