Summer Fun at Our House

Done!

This is my screen on Clientbase. All of my activities are DONE!


That sound you hear is a sigh of relief.

George Washington!

Today was 2nd Grade Wax Museum. Son chose George Washington as his historical figure. Isn't he great!?

Notes from Mexico

I'll post more about my trip later..but for right now let me just quickly say that MEXICO IS BACK. Occupancy is going up nicely at all the hotels we visited. The planes are full and things are getting closer to normal.

We had lots of fun and for now I just want to share two things.



This is my very good friend, Susan. She has been a vegetarian as long as I've known her. One day she started craving meat and is now an omnivore. I had to get a picture.



This is a catamaran that I had the joy of witnessing while we were eating dinner at El Dorado Maroma. We had FIVE weddings in the Riviera Maya this weekend. One of them had a special outing at Marina Maroma that happened at the same time I was there. What fun!

Gear Fest 2009

Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of the passing of my mom. For years, my sister Phyllis has said that she would come back to Texas so we could be together. True to her word, she came in Wednesday afternoon. Today all four siblings along with Daddy and his wife Jean are here together at my house having a lazy day in the rain.

We did go to Mom's grave this morning. Here we are trying to get a picture of the four of us.

Looking for a Vacation Value?

This year, the smartest travelers will take a vacation to Mexico. It is now common knowledge that the H1N1 hysteria was a massive overreaction. The lasting impact, however, is an opportunity for those smart enough to take advantage of it.

The resort areas of Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo have had fewer confirmed cases of the virus than most US states. At this point it looks like a traveler would stand a greater chance of contracting the mild virus by opting for a "Staycation" and visiting local attractions.

Occupancy at resorts are at record low levels. Nothing is crowded, the beaches are exactly as they are when you dream about them. There is no waiting at restaurants and it is easy to get spa appointments. The staff is attentive and especially glad to see you.

Have you ever felt like the media is more interested in grabbing headlines than honest reporting? It seems that was especially true for H1N1. My theory is that there are so many news outlets now with the Internet and with cable channels, that they compete to see who can make us feel more scared so that we are glued to them for updates that will ensure our survival. Sadly, there are victims.

The impact of the H1N1 overreaction is really being felt by the resort workers in Mexico. Some of the resort owners who own multiple resorts have elected to close some of them and shift all of the guests to the remaining resorts. The workers at the closed resorts are laid off until occupancy rises to the point that the resorts can re-open. These workers have families and children and mouths to feed just like you and me. They don't have the ability to draw unemployment insurance. They are just waiting to be able to go back to work. You can help just by taking a wonderful trip.

Lucky for you, prices on vacations to the resort areas of Cancun, Cozumel, the Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo are lower than we are likely to see again in my lifetime. I am seeing great resorts packaged for $399 vacations including air from various US gateways. I'm even seeing all inclusive vacations for as low as $299 including roundtrip air for budget resorts.

People ask me all the time about finding a "good deal" for their vacation. I always say the key to finding the best values in travel is to do what others don't want to do. This is the perfect example.

Daughter Dancing

Daughter's Dance Recital from Catherine Banks on Vimeo.

For grandparents, aunts and uncles. :-)

Oh NO They DIDN'T!

From an article on CNN.com

It's supposed to be one of the most popular days in the Mexican calendar.

But with Mexico City a ghost town, and schools across the country closed until at least Thursday to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus, the government has called off Cinco de Mayo celebrations nationwide.

I'm so incredulous I can hardly type.

First of all, most people in Mexico don't even celebrate Cinco de Mayo! From Wikipedia: Cinco de Mayo is a regional holiday in Mexico, primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla, with some limited recognition in other parts of Mexico. I have many friends who are Mexicans, they poke fun at us here in the states for making a big deal out of the "holiday".

My contempt for the media and their treatment of this whole H1N1 situation is not a secret. All along they've been inflating the story to the point of alarm. Now they're just making things up.

Be careful about who you choose to believe!

H1N1 - My Thoughts

1) It's the FLU. Who hasn't had the flu? The CDC is even reporting that H1N1 is actually quite a mild flu. Additionally, we now have anti virals that greatly reduce the duration and severity of symptoms. Additionally, they are reporting that there should be a vaccine available by the fall, when flu cases take an upswing here in North America. We're not fighting a flesh eating bacteria here. It's the FLU.

2) It's everywhere. You aren't protecting yourself by not traveling to the resort areas of Mexico. There has yet to be a single confirmed case in Quintana Roo (the state where Cancun, Cozumel and the Riviera Maya are located). The middle school down the street from our office is closed due to a confirmed case. It's right here in my town. Philip, Marty and Terrah traveled to the Riviera Maya this weekend. The only concession to the situation is that they screen people for symptoms upon arrival (they don't want anyone coming in and infecting people!) They also take your temperature with a simple swipe on your forehead before boarding your departure flight.

You've no doubt read about reports of people returning from Mexico and experiencing this mild influenza. What hasn't been reported consistently is where the people traveled and where they changed planes? I'm wondering if those people didn't have a change of plane in Mexico City.

3) It's a great time to travel! The resort destinations of Mexico are right now exactly as you wish them to be in your dreams. The beaches are not crowded, the people are even more welcoming than usual. They're so glad to see you, glad to share paradise with you. The deals that you will see right now are unlike anything you're likely to see again.

4) Don't follow the herd. I have been shocked to see how so many people are falling right in step and fearing exactly what the media machine tell them to be afraid of rather than thinking things through as individuals. It is in the media's best interest to keep you as afraid as possible. If you're feeling confident and happy, you won't be tuning and clicking in to see what the latest detail is of the story du jour. Last week it was the economy, this week it has been H1N1. What will it be next week?




Helpful Resources:
Peter Greenberg

Might as Well Panic

CNN.com - H1N1 is a Mild Flu