Cozumel - What to do?

decisions. decisions. decisions. this decision involves what to do on our excursion in cozumel. i would love to see the ruins at tulum but the actual time there is only 1 1/2 hours. the rest consists of 5 1/2 hours of boat/bus travel. i have found that there are ruins on cozumel but they are not on a scale as the ruins of tulum. the catch is that the ruins are accessible only by atv or dune buggy (not high on my list of ways of travel).

the other option is a day on a secluded beach - me and the bf - at an all-inclusive resort. i'm really torn. i've never been to mexico and this is the opportunty of a lifetime. who knows when i could see the ruins again. but by the same token who knows when the bf and i will have access to a secluded beach again.

22 days and counting.

Cozumel

In a very short time I will be going on my first cruise. As part of the cruise I will be able to visit Cozumel, Mexico - another first since I have never been out of the country. To say I am excited is an understatement. I honestly do not know where to start. I've been looking at the excursions available and I'm torn. A day at an all-inclusive resort where we can relax or several hours by boat and car to the ruins of Tolum for a visit that will amount to approximately 2 hours. I would love to see the Mayan Pyramids but I do not want to be in a car and boat all day. It isn't as if we can't go back later but I honestly do not know which to choose.

And then there is the cruise itself. What excites me most is the view I will have of the night sky at sea. No light pollution. Just the moon and the stars and the reflections on the water. I've been reading reviews of our ship and it sounds like the right ship for a first cruise - not too big but big enough to have a lot to do. I'm worried about what I will wear though. During the day I will be fine but I do know I need at least one formal dress and I don't have anything.

2008 is quickly coming to a close. overall it has been a very good year. i didn't reach all my goals for the year but i did make a lot of progress. i did complete the 5k. i didn't run it all (ran about 1/3 to 1/2 of it). i did manage to land a very good job that i am quite happy in. my bf and i will have been living together almost a year. i stage managed several great shows and had an awesome part in another show. i completed an acting class that was very productive. the best part of my year? the bf. together for over two years now. he's the best part of my life.

disappointments:

news/national
the stupidity of the american people in electing a socialist president and disguising it under the umbrella of racism/civil rights. elections are not about the color of skin or the importance of the first this or that. instead they should be about the best choice for the american people.

the stupidity of the sitting president in encouraging the nationalization of the banking, mortgage and auto industries. up to this point i've not had an issue with dubya but these choices were incredibly stupid for a so-called republican.

the ever-growing national debt that is financed by china.


personal
not reaching my weight goal
not getting op's crap out of my house
a certain relationship in my family - can someone really be that blind? shouldn't the "i'm married but i only want to date you if you want to marry me" be a clue that something is not quite right with a person
not reaching my savings goal

sadness
losing my grandfather. i miss you terribly pappaw. things aren't the same without you.



delights!!!!
the new job
watching my niece and my bf's niece grow older
watching my nephews grow into responsible young men
my theatre family
new friendships
the bf (of course)


so, with the exception of the idiot relationship and the loss of my pappaw it has been a good year overall. the other disappointments (while annoying) really do not matter so much in the long run.

i will have new goals for next year soon.

Product Review - ClickArt 950,000 v2 - It SUCKS!

one of my "side jobs" is writing articles for a site. as part of that project i wanted to spif up (do people still say that) my articles with images so i ordered broderbund's clickart 950,000 v2. i've had the product almost three weeks and have yet to see an image using the product. i cannot search the images through the installe program. i've used the help menu and tried to use the website (fyi the customer service link brings up "page not found). i've used broderbund products in the past and realize they are crude and basic but i've never had this sort of problem before.

considering i can manage illustrator with no problem and maneauver through cad you'd think a basic graphics program would be a breeze. not the case.


final thought: this is going back for a refund.

scrooge or no scrooge

in the past i've really been a scrooge when it comes to christmas. the whole holiday season (which starts in SEPTEMBER now) is far too commercial for my tastes. in addition i hate all the stress and family dynamics that come with the holiday season. quite honestly, for most of my adult life i haven't even put up a christmas tree.

all that started changing just over two years ago when i met my bf. he loves the holidays. he plans ahead for his gifts and is usually done shopping by thanksgiving. he puts a lot of thoughts into gifts. your first impression of him would probably be that he doesn't really listen to much of what you say. but when you watch him pick out gifts you realize exactly how much he listens and sees in the lives of those around him. i have honestly never seen someone who could pick out the perfect gift for anyone repeatidly. he also has traditions. movies and christmas shows that must be watched. family events that happen. nothing is last minute.

since meeting him i've begun putting up a tree. i try to plan my gifts a little more ahead than in the past (we are three weeks from christmas and may shopping is approximately 25% complete. we're even sending our first "couple" christmas cards this year...complete with our super sweet "couple" photo.

the problem is old habits are hard to break. how do you go from hating christmas, hating the pressur of gifts and family gatherings and all the infighting that brings to loving christmas and living the true meaning of the holiday?

i don't know. all i know is that i'm no longer the scrooge i was.