5C's Que Pasa

Once again we hosted a group of musicians this past Monday. A great time was had by all. Apparently I had such a wonderful time that I inflamed that same tendon behind my problem knee.  I was doing just fine or so I thought but it wasn’t until all was said and done that I went ouch!  I guess I stood too much.  I don’t think that I walked anymore than I usually do in a day but just to stand around is apparently an issue.

This is just the appetizers. We later refilled these same tables with the main part of the meal.  We were prepared for the largest gathering this year of about 35 people but we we did have a few cancellations.

That is Rob Lamonica on the left, a major driving force for blues and jazz here in Mazatlan, see below for some info on his talents; next to him is Tom who is instrumental in bringing in top notch musicians this winter. Next to him in the blue shirt is Mitch Woods, an American modern day boogie-woogie, jump blues and jazz pianist and singer. Since the early 1980s he has been touring and recording with his band, the Rocket 88s. Woods calls his music, “rock-a-boogie,” and with his backing band has retrospectively provided a 1940s and 1950s jump blues style.  Next is Henry, a Canadian now living in Kamloops.  See below re his bio. Next to me on the right is Rick Reed from the wold famous Paul Butterfield Blues Band/Canned Heat and more who is performing all winter here with Rob Lamonica.  Lots of very special talent.

I ( Rob Lamonica ) have been playing piano for over 35 years, professionally for 20. I play most styles, blues/rock/pop/jazz/etc. I have been involved with live music and bands for over 20 years. I’ve toured all across the US and part of Canada as well. In 2002, I was the CMA (Country Music Association) Instrumentalist of the Year, an international annual competition held outside Nashville. (yes, I play country, too, hehe!) Recently, I have spent the last 10 years playing in Mazatlan, Mexico. I play 7 nights a week in high season (winter, 6 months or so), up to ten shows a week playing for everything from Bed and Breakfast brunches to hosting jazz/rock jams with other professional players here. In the summers, I gig in Manitoba where I have great connections musically. I play there as well every night I’m available. I’ve also done alot of studio work, and have 13 albums I am currently recorded on in circulation, though many of those are my own music.

Henry Small’s performances have been reviewed as nothing less than stunning. His voice and his electric violin must be seen and heard to be believed. He is truly one of a kind and a legend in Canadian rock.

Henry’s career has spanned more than 40 years in the music industry and has enjoyed many successes including writing, recording and touring with the likes of John Entwistle of The Who, Burton Cummings of The Guess Who and, of course, his legendary tenure with Prism and his #1 hit single “Don’t Let Him Know” written by Bryan Adams from the album SMALL CHANGE that also earned him a gold record.

Adding to that, Henry has done soundtracks for movies, has made several national television concert appearances and continues to write, record and produce his own solo CD projects. Most recently he’s recorded two new tracks titled “How Gently You Roll” and “Big Woman Blues”

Tom and Mandy create these Monday afternoon events here on the Isla to give the musicians a chance to relax and sit and enjoy each others company.  Mandy always cooks shrimp, this time she added whole lobsters as well as lobster tails.

There I am standing yet again. I also served quite a bit of wine this time and just kept an eye on things on the food tables, replenishing ice at the drinks table, etc.

That is Howard on the left, another very talented Canadian musician. See below for the link to his bio. Rob in the middle and Mitch on the end who had just come back from a swim.

Click here to read about Howard who is a great sax player and has many other musical talents.

Thanks goodness for Darwin, a fellow RVer. He pitched in with everything from carrying chairs and tables and even his BBQ.  Thank you Darwin for helping to create such a special afternoon.

Yummy shrimp.

…and lobster.

Time to eat.

Because of my surgery and recovery time, I missed seeing Henry play. It was so very special to have him right here in our own yard. That is his lovely wife Tracy beside him.

We had a bit of music.  Sometimes we do and sometimes we don’t.  It depends on the musicians.

Rick and Colin.

We ended the afternoon with some magic performed by Steve, a friend of Mandy and Tom’s.

It was an excellent afternoon and so worth the effort to help put this together.  Octavio came by Tuesday morning and informed me that my pain was due to the tendon issue.  So I spent most of Tuesday resting and alternating heat and ice.  But Wednesday turned out to be another busy day for us.  Stay tuned…..

Our February calendar photo is another collage of our very special trip to Venice two years ago.

We had such a great time in our ten days there.  For certain we will be returning at some time in our future. But first there we need to visit some other places.

We continue to have mostly cloudy days with cooler temps.  This is one of those years that we get every now and then. The great part is that it cools down at night to around 55F, perfect sleeping weather.

Since I have started using the weights I have not felt as good with some twinges and a constant dull ache. Yesterday we had the new group of musicians over again ( photos next post ) and I overdid it in standing. We were a larger group of about thirty people.  I was very careful about not doing the stairs too much but just by standing and checking the food prep and table set ups and supervising this and that not to mention filling wine glasses etc., well I ended up standing more than I should have.  Today Octavio told me that I have once again inflamed the tendon behind my knee.  So no more weights for a few days.  Plus I am using a mix of ice and heat now.

We are committed to one more Monday afternoon and then we are done.  We did ask for and got some help for yesterday but I will need to relinquish control and sit back and do nothing for next Monday and ask for a bunch more help.  Colin told me that he would put me in a pen like we did with the dogs.  I can’t image being caged like that and not free to move.  Now I know how a dog feels in a pen or cage.

Outside the entrance.

Last Saturday Colin went to see the traveling hypnotist.  We both saw him about 8 or 10 years back.  A fun show but I was not up to climbing bleachers. Colin gathered up a few friends and off he went.  The performance  was under a big tent, the show has been here for almost two weeks.  It was scheduled to start at 8PM and in true  Mexican fashion did not start until almost 9:15PM.  Colin had left at 7:30PM and did not got back until just after midnight.

The first hour was slapstick comedy.  It did not matter that you could not understand Spanish. Just by the acting you got the gist of what was going on.  Colin said that it reminded him of Red Skelton. Good clean fun.

After a brief intermission the hypnotist came on.  Colin says it was the same guy that we saw years ago.  He also says the next year he is going to go see him twice. He treat Ismael and his wife to the show and they just loved it and laughed and laughed and laughed.

The fellow on the floor with his legs up is having a baby.

The hypnotist had roughly ten folks on the stage.  At one point he told them that they were Chinese and had them speak in that language. Hilarious. Then they had to eat a bowl of noodles 😛 .   Later some were asked to be a politician giving a speech.  A very fun evening for a mere 25 pesos/1.78 CAD/1.34USD each.

Colin has finished washing and waxing the RV.  However the roof is a mess.  We have a fibreglass roof but over the years is it slowly starting to give us some white residue when it rains.  We clean it annually but he decided to power wash it last week.  What a difference.

Rather amazing at the detail that came out after the power washing.

He is very happy with how it turned out.

Next step is to wax the roof with Turtle Wax.

Meanwhile weights have been added to my rehab routine. Hard to believe that I have already had ten physio sessions. As of this weekend I am five weeks post op.  I was fortunate  to be able to borrow the weight on the left from Patrick a, long time blog reader who now winters here on the Isla. It is the perfect ankle weight in that you can add or remove weights from 1 – 5 lbs.  The weight on my left leg ( borrowed from an RVer here in RV1 ), my good leg, is a sold four pounder but it works.

Up and down, over and over, 90 reps per day over three sessions.  My routine takes about an hour three times per day.  However I am still only doing 15 minute walks twice per day in the gravel parking lot.

But overall I can tell that I am doing much better.

Lucky biker got a ride!

A few days ago we were surprised with visitors from back home.  Literally from home, they live two doors to the right.  They had mentioned that they may come to Mazatlan for a few weeks. We even got an email asking about the travel insurance company that we use.  Suddenly here they were on our door step.  I was inside finishing up my exercises so it took me a while to get dressed and out the door.

After a long while I suggested that we go for lunch. Here we are at the Tiki Bar. We had a great visit with Kelly and Jack and everyone enjoyed their meals. I gave their margarita another try and no go. Guess I will have to give those up.

We had new neighbours across the road from us for a few nights. Interesting set up. It appears that she is working on her hooping skills.  She had four more hoops to her left which she used very briefly. They are on their way down to Belize.

This was one of the plants that the ants half demolished but it has come back.  We haven’t had an invasion now for about two weeks.  Fingers crossed that they have moved on.