I called her Scottie after a couple of my closest friends, but refrained from calling her by that name once I very quickly found a permanent home for her, in Colorado (since her adoptive family planned to rename her).  She was to fly to Denver on March 22 in the company of dear friends who are, like me, passionate about helping alleviate the suffering of Playa del Carmen’s street animals.

On the day of her rescue, Scottie tested negative for the Parvo and Canine Distemper viruses, but the vet at Coco’s Cat Rescue let me know that she would have to be tested again for Distemper two weeks later, to rule out the possibility that she could have contracted the virus in the days before she left the perrera, which had recently had an outbreak.  A week later, I took Scottie to Coco’s again to get her first round of immunizations.  After taking her temperature and learning that she had had some gastrointestinal distress, the vet declined to give her the shots, telling me that we had to wait until she’d had her second Distemper test.

Mostly, she spent the next week right by my side, in bed or on the couch as I worked on my laptop.  She slept a lot and was lethargic, though I did my best to deny/defend/rationalize her lethargy when others commented on it.  She was never playful; she was never a puppy the way I know puppies to be.  Once or twice I caught her chewing on my laptop power cord and while I could not condone such behavior, I was delighted that she exhibited some signs of normal puppyhood.  I bought her a tug rope that was impossibly big for her, but she did half-heartedly chew on it once or twice when I waved it in front of her face, as if to appease me, to say, “Ok, lady, if this is what you want, I’ll chew the danged rope.”  My heart melted one morning to find she had, at some point during the night, pulled the stuffed chicken toy I’d bought her into her crate; her home base, secret fort, sacred space that was the first place she ran to feel safe, where she slept when she wasn’t sleeping next to me.

When she first came to me, she ate the way a drowning man reaches for a lifebuoy: Desperately, grasping. Even after a few days taught her that this food would come like clockwork, she still got excited each time I brought her bowl, and I would hide and peek around the corner to watch her eat, charmed beyond measure by the way she seemed so amazed at her good fortune to find such easily-gotten food, her tail wagging with every bite.

I did what I could to pretend she was not terminally ill.  I missed a scheduled vet appointment that would have confirmed the continuation of her fever and swollen glands.  Her diarrhea, probably my fault because I gave her food or a chewy treat she was not used to.  The roughening skin patches on her side that grew larger and more coarse, perhaps that was some mild infection I could treat with a topical ointment.  Anyway, what dog doesn’t get eye gunk, and you can hardly call a little runny nose on a dog something to worry about. The vet told me a week ago that coughing was a bad sign, which she had never done, so I was able to feel smug and triumphant all the way up until last night, when her coughing and sneezing awakened me a few times.

Today, Scottie tested positive for Distemper.  Lety, the caring, compassionate vet at Coco’s sadly, but honestly let me know how slim her odds for survival were, and what progressive stages of suffering this small creature would be in for should I choose not to humanely euthanize her.  I was a bawling, confused mess; I had focused my energies only so far as finding a way to let her go to the loving home that was waiting for her in Colorado, but never dreamed I would be the one faced with sending her to her death.  Scottie trusted me only as much as she had ever trusted any human, which is to say, not that much, but still she weakly wagged her tail and leaned her head into me as I held her against me for the last time.

I realize that I am distraught and that, as a result, my words are overwrought, and I’m not unmindful of the fact that some will say, Come on, she was a dog, and you only knew her for two weeks.  I can’t refute this—she was a dog and I only knew her for two weeks.

But I loved her.  Her short, mostly-traumatic life mattered, and she changed me.  I am too tired and wrung out to tell with any accuracy how important to my life was this little one who did not belong to me, so I will just give up and try to stop crying.

Sleep sweet, dear Scottie. Goodnight.

Each year, one of my dear friends, Maria, holds a ‘Let it Go’ ceremony on the last day of the year.  In the past, participants would write all over a helium balloon the things they wanted to ‘leave behind’ in the old year and not carry with them into the new year–things like anger, fear, heartbreak, what-have-you.  This year, we learned that balloons cause harm to marine life, so we decided instead to write lists of the things we would be letting go of and burn them, and like the mythical phoenix, our new resolve could rise from the ashes.

We gathered this morning at a small Mayan ruin in Playacar, on an incredibly gorgeous, sunny day across from the sparkling Caribbean Sea.  After a brief, but personal and touching ceremony, each of us burned our lists and let it all go.

My friends, I wish you peace, love, prosperity and good health in this new year and may you find the strength to let go of the things that are weighing you down and holding you back from happiness and the things you want for your lives.  I believe in me and I believe in you, too.

It was a beautiful day to let go

The Lo gets a ride on Kat's strong shoulders

How many years have you seen, dear tree?

I got chills thinking of how many rituals and ceremonies these ruins have seen

Shawn lets go

Burn, baby, burn

Loretta lets go

Kat lets go

Maria lets go

My list was thoughtfully-created and well-burning.

Finally, I would like to leave you with one of my favorite poems by e.e.cummings:

let it go – the
smashed word broken
 open vow or the oath cracked length
wise – let it go it
was sworn to
go

let them go – the
truthful liars and
the false fair friends
and the boths and
neithers – you must let them go they
were born
to go

let all go – the
big small middling
tall bigger really
the biggest and all
things – let all go
dear

so comes love

I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to read Margie’s story.  So many of you passed along good wishes, wrote nice comments, and even sent some much appreciated donations to Coco’s Cat Rescue.  It warms my heart to know there are people all over the world caring about a poor street dog they’ve never met. A lot has happened in the week since the last blog, so we thought it was time to update everyone on the status of Russell’s foster menagerie.  *All photos credited to Russell Granger*

Rusty the Cat was lucky enough to find a home with Carboncitos’ famous ‘Jimmy Da Waiter.’ Rusty went to his new home already neutered and with his first round of vaccinations completed.  Things are a little bit less exciting around Russell’s house now that the puppies can no longer torture poor Rusty.

Sophia smiles to herself imagining her plan of attack as Rusty throws a disgusted side-eye

Rusty was glad to be adopted first--he never had a moment's peace with the pups

Russell was contacted soon after Margie’s first blog by our friend Deb and her boyfriend, Antonio.  They are a young couple with huge hearts who’ve already opened their home to a few kitties.  Fortunately, being raised around Rusty has meant these puppies are cool with cats.

Antonio, Deb, and The Puppy Formerly Known As Monkey (now Kaya)

Deb and Antonio visited Margie and the puppies and fell head-over-heels for little Monkey. After allowing Monkey a few more days under Margie’s tutelage, they picked up their little girl last Friday, renaming her “Kaya.” Monkey/Kaya went to her new home already spayed and with her first round of vaccinations–her new owners will hook up with Russell to keep her on the correct vaccination schedule.  Russell admitted that seeing Monkey go was bittersweet, but he felt good sending off a healthy, happy, well-adjusted puppy who will now have a wonderful new life with this young, energetic, and loving couple.

Margie and three of her puppies still need homes. All of them will go for their second round of vaccinations this week.  Russell has spent many hours with Margie and her puppies, giving them (for the first time in their lives) a stable, ordered home with a consistent routine, and the positive effect this is having on them is immediately obvious when watching them play and interact with each other.  Russell has trained them to sit and be calm before giving them their food, has done some leash training, and is now working on “stay.” This, combined with Margie’s gentle, but firm control is teaching them how to be great dogs.

Mama Margie correcting El Niño and Sophia

While all of the puppies are good and lovable dogs, they each have distinct personalities and differ from each other physically as well.

El Niño pondering

El Niño, the only boy of Margie’s remaining pups, has sleek, black, short fur and long legs–he’s like a lanky preteen basketball player.  When he first came to Russell’s house, he was one of the smallest and most timid, but now he’s full of piss and vinegar just like a rowdy little boy should be.  He was initially pretty vocal, but seems to be barking only when necessary now. He loves to scrap with his sisters over toys and rawhide bones and isn’t above playing with any unfortunate palmetto bug that comes his way.

Don't let this sweet, shy portrait fool you. Chiquita's a spitfire.

Chiquita was the runt of the litter and came to us scrawny and undernourished.  Chiquita has short brown and black fur and looks the most like her mama. Though still the smallest, she’s now filling out and has the most fire of all the puppies.  Margie seems to be taking special care with Chiquita, teaching her things she’s not yet showing the other pups.  So far, Chiquita seems to be the most highly developed mentally and the most mature.  She’s obedient and smart, but still playful and hilarious.  This girl holds her own and I have to admit that I have a real soft spot for Chiquita (what can I say, I always root for the underdog).

Sophia is the best kind of gorgeous girl--oblivious to her own beauty

Sophia is the great beauty in the bunch.  She was the fattest pup by far when she came to us, a big fuzzy black mush of a dollface.  She’s still a good size, but is not fat, and has revealed herself to be a true lovebug.  She can hold her own and play like the others, but is the first one to find a quiet corner and chill out when it’s time to relax.  She loves affection and rolls over onto her back for a belly rub as soon as you get a hand near her.  With her fuzzy, soft fur, white chest markings, and dark chocolate eyes, we have voted Sophia most likely to find herself wearing rhinestone and jewel-studded pink clothing in her new home.  She’s fabulous, darling.

Margie is, quite simply, the coolest cucumber around

Ah, Margie, Margie, Margie.  It’s hard to put Margie into words.  She’s laidback, loving, sweet, and totally chill, but at the same time loyal and protective.  She has a surprisingly startling bark for such a small dog, but only barks when necessary to alert us to some disturbance in the street.  Margie gets along with everyone, be they human, dog, or cat and has a calming presence.  Her tenacity in surviving the street, poor treatment, and the devastating illness that should have killed her perfectly illustrates the true grit and strong heart she has.  Margie is smart, brave, and wise.  It will be hard for me to let Margie go, and if it was at all possible for me to have another dog, I would keep her myself.  As it stands, it is very important to me to find the perfect home for Margie; this special dog deserves the best.  While I love all the puppies, it’s Margie I will cry about when she goes.

Margie rules

If any of you are interested in adopting Margie, Chiquita, Sophia, or El Niño, please let us know.  Cross-border adoptions into the US or Canada are possible and easy; Coco’s Cat Rescue has generously offered to help us ensure all the paperwork is handled and we will help find a “mule” to fly your baby home to you.  What a conversation-starter would these rescued Mexican puppies be, verdad?

By the way, in case I didn’t make it clear in my descriptions of the puppies, ALL of them are great with children (and Margie, too).

Pretty Perla Peppered With Puppies

On Day 3 of Margie’s illness, the vet was astounded by her amazing response to his treatment.  She even began to eat again.  To our surprise, Dr. Eduardo let us know that Margie could ‘come home’ and continue her treatment with several medications and proper care. Dr. Eduardo said the hole in her stomach had closed over and that she would no longer require surgery to close it.  Russell and I picked Margie up that evening; I was completely bowled over by the transformation in the state of her.  While still obviously weak and very ill, Margie could walk and wag her tail when two days prior she had been the very picture of death.

Dr. Eduardo applying frontline to Margie just before we took her home. The bandage from her IV had to remain on a long time, as her blood was not clotting properly.

Russell assumed responsibility for Margie’s hospital stay and opened his home to both her and her four remaining puppies (in the interim, another puppy had gone ‘missing’ from the chicken coop).  The night we brought Margie home, she rested in Russell’s air-conditioned bedroom (she had to be kept apart from her litter for a while) and we spent hours picking hundreds of ticks from the puppies’ tiny bodies, bathed and dried them, and petted them as they drifted comfortably to sleep.

Play time the day after bathing and frontline

The puppies demanded some time on the Russell Playground

Russell, Tomas, Tomas’ cousin, and I banded together (with the invaluable help of Coco’s), vowing to get these puppies healthy and find them forever homes.  Russell is caring for Margie and the puppies in his home, giving meds several times a day, feeding all five, and mopping up lots of puppy pee.  He’s begun basic behavioral training with them, as well.  Tomas and his cousin spent hours putting up wire fencing around the gate so neither the pups nor Margie could escape and be harmed by cars or poisonous garbage.  As for me, I have committed to helping Margie, her puppies, and Rusty the Cat get adopted, which is why I am writing this blog.

The Great Mop String Tug of War Incident of July, 2011

Monkey, about to chomp on Chiquita's tail

After a week of rest, Margie was reunited with her litter, though we have to keep a close eye on them to ensure they do not nurse (Margie is still on medication).  Margie’s wonderful mothering instincts are no worse for the wear; she still keeps her little ones and Rusty the Cat in line with her laid back, but firm manner.

Keeping an eye on Rusty and the as-yet-unnamed black fluffalumpagus

Looks like someone just broke open a piñata full of dog kibble

Yesterday, Coco’s picked up the puppies to perform their sterilizations to ensure none of them will be responsible for adding to the already overwhelming stray animal population in Playa del Carmen.  The puppies also received  their first round of required immunizations; once these immunizations are complete, they will be healthy, strong, and ready to bless some lucky humans’ lives with their love. Margie, too, will be vaccinated and spayed as soon as she is strong enough to withstand the operation.

Three puppies in various stages of recovery – Chiquita sleeping off anesthesia, El Niño groggily snacking, and Monkey snooping around her crate, fully awake.

As I sit here and write this story, I find myself reeling at how much has happened in such a short period of time and I feel blessed to have borne witness to the miracle that was Margie’s recovery.  I am convinced that the reason she recovered, at least in part, is because on some level she knew there was a vet who refused to give up on her and people who cared that she was born and wanted desperately for her to live.  After all, isn’t being wanted as important to the sustenance of the soul as food and water is to the body?

This is what requited love looks like.

After a week in Russell’s care, the puppies are happy, clean, playful little characters that live for feeding times and love to torture Rusty the Cat. Rusty the Cat plays with the puppies, incredibly tolerant of their puppy exuberance and friendly nips.  Margie’s eyes are bright and she’s got most of her spunk and energy back already.

Family

Russell says that dogs and cats are domesticated animals, not meant to be roaming  the streets fending for themselves.  While doing all this work has been a learning opportunity and rewarding experience for him, he finds it also proves the need for global education regarding pet care.

As Antoine de St. Exupery’s fox says in the book The Little Prince, Men have forgotten this truth…but you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.

So chill, she doesn't even mind when Rusty eats her food.

If you are interested in adopting Miracle Margie, Rusty the Cat, or any of the Wonder Puppies, please let us know.  We think it would be cool if Margie and Rusty could be adopted together; they have a great relationship.  International adoptions are possible and easy; we will ensure the process is streamlined and no hassle.

Rusty: "I'm crushing your head." Margie: "Shut it, Cat."

That was exhausting. Let's rest.

Russell has absorbed the expense of caring for these animals as a gift to Margie and her family, and is not asking for donations to defray these costs. If you would like to make a donation to help other animals, however, please feel free to donate to Coco’s Cat Rescue, with a note explaining that your donation is in honor of “Russell’s puppies.”

If you need Veterinary care in Playa del Carmen, please consider supporting Dr. Eduardo Cardenas of Hospipet, Blvd. Colosio, Mz 1 Lot 37, Col, Santa Fe.  Phone (984) 873-0000 or (984) 109-4473

This is not the last you’ll hear about Margie, her puppies, and Rusty the Cat.  I plan to document this experience and post photos of the animals until each of them has a home.

**all photos credited to Russell Granger**

Right around the same time, a scrawny, orange and white tabby cat started showing up, too.  Margie got along great with the stray cat, whom I named Rusty for his coloring as well as his penchant for being a troublemaker (every Rusty I’ve ever known has been a handful).  I began to imagine that Russell was a topic of conversation amongst the street animal population of the Ejido:  Hey, man, go visit that gringo in the yellow house—he’ll feed you!

A couple of months passed and it became obvious that Margie was pregnant.  When she showed up one day noticeably thinner, we realized she’d given birth. We presumed the litter was with the ‘owners,’ as we had not seen any of the puppies.

Margie's first time inside Russell's house; after giving birth

Margie brings Russell a couple of birthday gifts a day early on June 21

On June 21, Margie brought two of her puppies over to Russell’s house, then left, nipping and barking at the puppies to prevent them from leaving.  I believe that Margie was trying to ‘gift’ her puppies to him, in an effort to save them. Here and there, Margie began bringing puppies covered with fleas and ticks, taking them away, then showing up again, sometimes alone just to eat and rest, and other times with a pup or two in tow.

Margie, her pup, and Rusty the Cat all get along great

Russell decided to talk to Margie’s owner to see if there was some way he could help get the dogs healthy and find good homes for them.  He agreed to allow Russell to get Margie and the puppies bathed, de-parasited, and de-ticked.  Margie had seven puppies in her litter, all of which were living in a chicken coop, surrounded by and eating feces.  One of the puppies had recently gone missing and never returned.

Russell called Coco’s Cat Rescue; while their primary focus is on spaying/neutering Playa del Carmen’s stray and feral cat population and re-homing kittens, they are a compassionate organization and when needed or asked get involved with dog rescues as well.  Cryss from Coco’s came out, brought Margie and her six puppies in to the clinic to bathe them, pick ticks, and give them anti-parasite meds, helped by Russell, his neighbor Tomas, and Tomas’ cousin.  Tomas fell in love with one of the puppies and adopted it right away.  The rest of the puppies and Margie were returned to the owner.

Tomas, his cousin, and Cryss from Coco's all pitch in to wash puppies

Cryss from Coco's Cat Rescue has a way with animals

Puppies getting clean

Margie looks thoroughly unimpressed with this whole new 'bath' thing

Sleepy clean puppy

So sweet and yummy I want to eat him up!

Another week or so went by, without marked improvement in how Margie and the puppies lived.  On the morning of July 5, Tomas discovered Margie lying in Russell’s driveway, desperately sick, unable to walk, and panting heavily.  Margie had eaten bad fish from someone’s garbage and one of the fish bones had punctured a hole in her stomach, poisoning her blood.  It turned out that she suffered from Erlichea, a blood-borne tick disease that worsened the effects of the poison and lowered her blood platelets so drastically that her blood could not coagulate, so she just bled and bled internally.  She had a terrible infection and a high fever.

Tomas and Russell took her to a vet recommended by Coco’s, Dr. Eduardo Cardenas of Hospipet .  The doctor gravely informed them that Margie’s condition was very serious and that she would likely require an expensive and risky surgery to save her life.  When he put Margie on his examining table, hundreds of fleas and ticks started ‘abandoning ship,’ which he explained was a sure sign that she was dying (as ticks know their free lunch is about to dry up).   He concluded that she was in far too bad a condition to survive surgery; in fact, he honestly stated that her chances of surviving the night were slim and he would reevaluate her condition the next day. She vomited repeatedly; according to Dr. Eduardo, her blood was dark black in color.  At one point, Margie fell unconscious for 30 minutes, whereupon Dr. Eduardo gave her Gelafundin to revive her.  This, he said, saved her life. He then gave her an IV in each of her front legs, medication for her severe pain, and made her as comfortable as possible.

Tomas informed the owner that Margie was gravely ill, required a lot of veterinary care, and would likely die.  The owner admitted he could not care for her and relinquished responsibility for both Margie and her puppies.

**to be continued tomorrow**

I didn’t want to blog about it for a number of reasons.  First, I didn’t want to scare people who love me.  Second, with a fledgling business, I did not want to alienate potential or current clients who might stumble across this blog and not want to work with me.  Although I have always done what I can to keep my professional life OFF this blog, I’m not obtuse enough not to know how easy it is to find me with a google search.  Finally, the worthlessness and despair I felt was so complete as to render any attempts at trying to make sense of it moot, and I could not then and still cannot find the words to describe how bad I felt.

Long time readers of this blog already know that in the last year, I’ve made a number of major life changes, with extremely positive results.  I am, and have been for almost a year, the happiest I have ever been.  While I still struggle from time to time with depression, I recognize the signs now and can quickly mend the things that are amiss and change my thought patterns to feel better.  Recently, it occurred to me that for the first time in my life, I know myself to be a happy person who sometimes gets sad, and not a sad person who is only occasionally happy.  The incredibly positive change this self-realization has effected in my life cannot be overstated.

All of this said, in the last month I have struggled mightily with insomnia, which for me is often a precursor to slipping into a depression.  Several nights ago, when it was five am and I still had not been able to close my eyes without being visited by the Shrieking Weasels of Impending Doom, I decided to do some research on a life-affirming movement I’d heard about a few years ago:  The Free Hugs Campaign.

In 2004, a man who identifies himself as Juan Mann found himself in his hometown of Sydney, Australia, after a number of years living in another country.  He arrived back “home” with only a suitcase of clothes, a world of cares, and a sense of disconnection with the life he’d once lived there.  Landing at the airport with no one to greet him, he found himself looking longingly at other travelers around him who were laughing and hugging their arriving loved ones.  He wished  he had someone to hug him.

In this moment of isolation and despair was born a revolutionary idea.  Juan Mann “set up shop” in a busy Sydney outdoor mall, holding aloft a large, hand-lettered sign that said “FREE HUGS.”  Then he just waited for someone to take him up on his offer.  At first, people laughed at him, stared, and whispered.  Eventually, an older woman came up, told him she was having a terrible day as her dog had just died that morning, on the first anniversary of her daughter’s death.  She needed a hug, and Juan had a hug to give.  It didn’t take long for others to follow suit, and naturally such a subversive idea (What??  You’re not selling anything?  There’s no catch, just a free hug?) caught people’s attention.

A local band, Sick Puppies, was moved by Juan’s mission and presented him with a video they’d made of his Free Hug footage set to one of their songs.  This video became an internet sensation, spawning Free Hug Campaigns in dozens of countries all over the world.

Here you can watch the “original” Free Hugs video:

And here is one of my favorites of the “copycat” Free Hugs Campaigns, in New York City:

What does all of this have to do with me and my story of depression?  Perhaps nothing more than an epiphany that we are all more alike than we are different, and that it is vitally important that we connect with each other and help each other get through lives that can at times be difficult, lonely, or filled with hopelessness.  We must be there for one another both in sadness and in joy.

Every year, International Free Hugs Day is held on the first Saturday in July.  This year, it is July 3, which is incidentally the day before my 6 year anniversary of living in Mexico.  I will be showing my gratitude and love for my adopted country by participating in Free Hugs Day in Playa del Carmen on July 3, offering free hugs to Mexican locals, ex-pats, and international tourists alike.

I would love it if some of my friends would join me, but if they won’t, I will go it alone.  If you can’t be in Playa del Carmen on July 3, consider participating in the Free Hugs Campaign in your own town.

Anyone from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum (or anywhere in the area!) who’d like to give out some free hugs with me on July 3 can contact me via this website.  My email address is under the “About Me” tab.

I love you.

Today I went in search of a song to make some sense of the grief and sorrow I have been feeling the last few days on behalf of a good friend, and this song appeared; like Jack’s magic beans it grew a beanstalk that I was able to climb up high to get the bigger picture.

“Do you Realize” by The Flaming Lips

This song reminded me that “life goes fast,” and that rather than wait until it’s almost over to tell people how I feel, I should let them know all along, in the midst of life and for no other reason and with no other agenda apart from letting them know they are loved.

And so I am here to tell you that I love you.

If you have wiped a child’s runny nose, mooed when driving past cows, sung a song in public to your best friend even though you have the world’s worst singing voice, or given up a seat on a bus to a pregnant woman, I love you.

If you have ever made a fool of yourself dancing at a wedding reception, used the word “emancipated” in place of of “emaciated,” or written an entire record of songs to win back the love of your life, I love you.

If you have accidentally farted in church or in class, slipped on ice and fallen down, realized at the end of the day that your shirt is on inside out, or gotten caught picking your nose, I love you.

If you have cried in movies, patiently listened to an elderly person’s story though you’ve already heard it many times, stood up to a bully, or admitted you were wrong when you were wrong, I love you.

If you have looked into the cancer-ravaged, age-spotted face of your grandmother and told her she was beautiful, and really did find her beautiful, I love you.

If you have worn a hideous sweater your mom gave you because you don’t have the heart to tell her how much you hate it, I love you.

If you have complimented a stranger for no reason, I love you.

If you have ever loved a dog so much you knew when it was time to let her go, even if you weren’t yet ready, I love you.

Do you realize what I am telling you?  I love you.

I said I love you.

Kiss deserved every accolade and prize they won that night…they were fantastic.  Costumes totally homemade with bits and pieces of various items (tubing, garden hose), covered in lots of glitter and spray paint.  Phenomenal job, guys.

I thought my costume turned out pretty well, too…it sure was a handful of hours and two burned-out glue guns to get all those feathers onto the fan.  Kudos to my friend Anita, who brought me 100 peacock tail feathers and the blue wig; all the rest was scrounged up here.  I was lucky enough to win the Best Female Costume contest at Luna Blue Bar, 500 pesos!! I also won a free dive with Abyss Dive Shop from La Ranita Bar (but I don’t dive, is anyone interested?).

I am so naughty…the look on Centaur Corbin’s face cracks me UP.

I just love how Playenses really get into their costumes.

Dick in a Box

I was kind of trapped outside most of the bars…the tail was great, but I think I’ll go with something easier to manage next year.

If you’d like to learn more about the history and current mission/goals of the Riviera Maya Bomberos organization, here is a video of the incomparable Comandante/Director Brian Borjesson

Thanks again, from the bottom of my heart, for your continued support of the Riviera Maya Bomberos.  Hopefully we will never need them, but it’s reassuring to know we’ve got them on our side.

In the meantime, enjoy my friends’ new video. It cracked me up.

Local H, Machine Shed Wrestling