Another Work Week and a Great Party!

Sometimes we all have "one of those days." June 15th started out as one. We have found that many times when people visit Mexico they forget how to act. When you work with people anywhere in the world you never know what is going to happen. But when they leave their home and go somewhere else where no one knows them it's really different. Doug and I sell real estate for a living, it is our profession, our bread and butter and normally it's a great life.........Then you run into one or two people who make appointments and never show up, or they just show up without an appointment. It sort of throws a wrench in things. We schedule appointments so that we can dedicate as much time as our clients need to show them the area and see if it would be a fit for them. Buying a home is serious business and we treat it as such. Would you just stop by your doctor or realtor and expect them to see you back home? Would you make appointments and not bother to call and cancel? Of course not, ahhhh but this is Mexico! It's all different here, right?
The beginning of this week was just a mish-mash of people coming and going, trying to fit them in. Our car broke down while were with clients and Sean had to come and tow us home, how embarrassing! Thank goodness his wife Susan was kind enough to lend us her car until ours came home from the shop. In the midst of mass confusion, Robert comes over and asks us to have a surprise birthday for Patrick, within the next 4 1/2 hours. OMG! Talk about a community coming together! I made a few phone calls and alot emails with the help of the Martha Stewart of Chelem, Susan, and somehow we pulled it off. Patrick has to be everyones favorite person, he is so kind and so funny, we had to do something for him. Without his sparkling wit and love of people the Bull Pen would not be where it is today! And Robert, we are not forgetting you either, we know without you there wouldn't be lights, fans or yummy mixed drinks!


So this is the start, some food and a few decorations.....

Robert leading the unaware Patrick to his suprise party.


Look how cute he is! How can you not love this guy?

And the birthday kisses start, first a Susan kiss.
Then a Barbara kiss,

Next a Doug hug.
Ut Oh a cake.....we all know what that means here in Chelem, not so happy now are ya Patrick?



The crowd watches......... and waits....................

The candles are lit........

Another mordita! Yeah!!!!!!!! Strawberries are good for the skin aren't they?


All cleaned up Patrick and Star laugh it off.

This crowd needs something beside liquid nutrition,
Barbara and Jorge work on getting the food ready
Patrick is ready for a Tanqueray and tonic not food! After all it is his birthday!


Looking at the crowd we saw people from Utah, Texas, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Mexico, Delaware and Canada
And a couple of my favorites from the Village Idiot Pub, Sean and Susan, really from British Columbia

All in all it was a great time, spent with great people. The harried work week was forgotten with the company of good friends. I am always surprised at what a strong, good group of expats we have here. We are building a new community in another country and it is unlike any other in the area. We are here for each other, we understand good times and bad times, but what we understand the most is the value of friendship. It's not always easy, it's not always fun, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

Until next time, chillin' in Chelem