I grew up in a tiny town in Illinois, left home at 18 after graduating from Zion Benton Township High School (Go ZeeBees!), joined the Army and moved to Missouri and South Korea, got out of the Army and moved to Chicago, went to college and became a grademonger, had two long term relationships, one bad and one good, broke my heart into 81,206 pieces and moved to Ireland, hated it and moved back to Chicago 4 months later. In my life so far I have been, among other things, a responsible oldest child, big sister, cheerleader, pissed-off nanny, housecleaner, lifeguard, depressed whiner, Girl Scout, third baseman, swim instructor, frustrated writer, heavy drinker, sometime liar, remorseful cheat, burger-flipper, college student, bartender, crappy friend, disgruntled soldier, property manager, and cocktail waitress. Oh, and I cry at the drop of a hat these days, even at commercials.
Now I live in a tourist beach town in Mexico and wish I could break myself of my 200 grams of gummy bears per day habit. Email me at: heatherinparadise@hotmail.com
January 2, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Heather - I know where Zion is, my mom was raised there. My family lived in Winthrop Harbor for something like 10 generations. My grandfather was run out of Zion for burning down a religious billboard! They kicked him out of the church and out of town.
You write really well and I enjoy your blog.
January 10, 2008 at 8:35 am
Hey, I just discovered your blog.. I LOVE IT. I am an ex-pat from Los Angeles who has been living in Playa Del Carmen for about 3 years. Just wanted to say hi.
January 16, 2008 at 5:47 pm
hi heatherinparadise,
my, but your quite the renaissance woman.
my complements on your blog. i’m not a big blogging fan and hardly ever find one that holds my interest.
i do empathize with your problems in the shoe department. i wear talle 31 and in ten years here i’ve never found a pair. it gets expensive traveling to the states just for shoes!
here’s to your unpretentiousness. =)
January 17, 2008 at 1:09 am
Hi Mike, I’m surprised I haven’t already met you, I’ve been here in Playa for about 3.5 years and it’s not THAT big of a town. Especially when you’re talking about expatriates! I just found your comment in the Spam filter section, I NEVER go in there, so not sure what compelled me to this time. Glad I did, thanks for reading my blog!
Hi Edward, thanks for the compliments! Where are you from, do you live here in Playa?
February 11, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Hi Heather
need you personal e-mail adress, its Gabi - the German one, who went to your x-mas party. We saw each other on Sunday at Kool
Besos
February 21, 2008 at 10:26 am
Since you don’t seem to have an email posted I will try this. If you send me an email from my blog (not a comment) I can tell you how I set up my camera for night photos. It’s not that hard.
February 21, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Hello Heather,
I have a blog with nice pictures from all over the world that people take when they are on holiday or just when they want to share the beauty of the place they are living in.
I saw some nice pictures that you took on whatatop, would you be ok to send me a few so I could add them on my blog?
I also offer you to put a link to your blog or any personal space before adding your photos !
My email is Yourbestworldspots@yahoo.com and the blog adress is http://yourbestworldspot.blogspot.com/, don’t hesitate to come and have a look!!
Hope to receive some news from you !
JB
March 3, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Heatherrrrr I have been wondering if/where you blogged. ugh. A comment you left me a while ago made me laugh so hard but the link didnt work. So glad to have found your blog!
April 30, 2008 at 11:41 am
Heather,
Hi I don’t know if you remember me or not but I am Danny’s cousin Tonia. Pleaes contact me talked with your mom and she said you were a travel agent and our family would like to book a trip to mexico and we heard you were the one to talk too…Please contact me tsawertailo at coilcraft dot com
Thanks Tonia
May 11, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I just wanted to say hello and if you ever want to chat just email me and I wil let you know how to contact me.
thank you
me
May 15, 2008 at 8:49 am
Holy crap Heather this is the first time I’m reading your “about me” section. Way coolio you are super special and shit! lol
May 19, 2008 at 12:17 am
Hedder….are you there? I am still here! Blog me a blog once in a while I worry about you. Gram
May 23, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Hi Heather,
I would like to stay at Zafiro in Tulum but I cannot find any contact info at all! Can you help me out on this? Nice blog and beautiful eyes!
Thanks so much,
Katie
May 29, 2008 at 12:14 am
Hey, Katie, I had Yuri’s card for Playa Zafiro, but I can’t find it ANYWHERE. I put it in some “safe place” and now I’m toast.
I will keep looking and get back to you ASAP.
August 5, 2008 at 7:32 pm
The wedding pictures are wonderful, and so is the picture of you and michael (a good looking couple)! I also enjoy reading your blog. My son’s girlfriend has a blog (frecklednest) and so that is two that I try and read every day!!!.
August 12, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Heather, Isn’t the blood rushing to your head?
September 6, 2008 at 4:47 pm
well, you know who i`am…
jejejjejejjej
and i hope to see you whe you get back from
chicago…
te mando mucho abrazos y besos…
bye….
October 11, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Hi there,
I actually stumbled across your blog, and glad I did. Very fun! Me and my wife had toyed with the idea (okay me mainly) of moving down to Mexico and after visiting Playa a few years back loved it. Anyways we too are avid VW fans (we have a 82 Diesel Westy). Take care, we really enjoyed the site!
Corey & Courtney (I know cute huh)
October 13, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Hi Corey And Courtney: That is cute, but I have married friends who are both named Dana, so it’s tough to top that! Are you a member of any Westy forums? I just joined one but haven’t spent too much time on it yet.
October 13, 2008 at 8:54 pm
That is tuff to top both witht he same name!!
I tried a Northwest based Westy club (wetwesties) since we live in Oregon, but mainly for the older group… Not that we have anything against that just not our style! Anyways, keep up the writing we have a good time looking through your site!
C & C
October 16, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Hey there great blog I am comming down 10/23 till 11/02 staying in cancun whats the weather like? Glad I saw your halloween stuff wasn’t sure about bringing costumes. I am feaking about the place I am staying (oasis cancun)read bad reviews but the stay is free won a contest. Can you give me any insight on this palce?
October 16, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Hi Al,
Thanks for checking in! Sorry, I’m not sure about Cancun, never stayed there in my life! You should be able to find some information on some of the Cancun message boards, I know there are some popular ones! Good luck and have a great trip.
November 24, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Hi! I love your blog. I have been following it for a couple of months and even my husband (who always thinks he’s too busy to read blogs LOL!)enjoys your writing and finds it very entertaining. I’m so happy I finally read your all about you so I know why I relate so well to your sense of humor…..we have alot in common. Keep up the great writing. I enjoy reading about your fun adventures and maybe one day I will get the courage to make a big move too or at least the mental ability to convince my husband.
CHEERS!
November 24, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Hi Brandlynn! Thanks for taking time to comment and for the kind words about my blog.
Since we have so much in common, I can only imagine that you’re hilarious, stunningly beautiful, and staggeringly talented, too.
(wow, I kept a straight face while typing that!!)
Welcome!