Happy Thanksgiving!

No cooking for us today. Mel and Anna invited us for a Canadian/Mexican Thanksgiving tonight. Last year Holly and Kara were the Thanksgiving instigators/cooks and we hosted the meal for a large group at our condo. Today was a half day of classes at Libertad, but Harry and I took the day off, both feeling a bit under the weather. All I have to do is make Jello for tonight's feast so I can just lay low. Tomorrow the kids have the day off and teacher meetings are planned. I plan to feign illness even if I am feeling better. Just am not the dedicated teacher I once was.

I started my Spanish lessons this week with my very own teacher. Marilena is from Uruguay. I had two classes this week and we pretty much spoke only Spanish. Sometimes I think her accent is hard for me, although not as hard as the accent of my Colombian relatives. I am very enthusiastic about the lessons, but I realize my goal to speak Spanish fluently will never happen. I may eventually be able to get by, but only get by. A new waitress at our neighborhood restaurant approached me yesterday with the idea that we should get together and help each other with our respective languages. I have also decided I need to force myself to speak Spanish with all my native speaker friends/co-workers, even if I feel stupid. Last night I took my own advice when I went to the movies with Mary Ellen and Anna. I joined in their Spanish conversation as much as I could. We went to see that vampire flick, Half Moon, (Twilight Series) all the kids are crazy about nowadays, even here in Mexico. It was quite fun!

Alexis will be arriving in Mexico a week from Saturday. (The new Costco blow-up bed is ready.) She is coming without Curtis, having decided to break up with him a couple weeks ago. They have been together for 6 years. Curtis and Lexi came down last year and we all had a great time. Pat and Bill were here then too and all the guys went out fishing. We ate fish for months. This is going to be a difficult transition, for her and for me as well. I love Curtis very much. When Lex and I talked yesterday we laughed about the single Sex and the City girls and all their trials looking for the right guy in the big apple. My advice to her was to start looking seriously for Mr. Big! A really good mother would not be giving her daughter such advice! Ah well....

Keep those emails and photos coming my way.