Updates, Events and Milestones

We neglected to get pictures of our party. So, we'll just put up some random photos on this post.

This is an orchid that is just starting to spread her roots out on our palm tree.

Our voracious visitors.

These salt and pepper shakers given to us by our friend, D. Ann, were a big hit with the 7 month old at our Christmas party. Thanks D. Ann.


We seem to be surrounded by creative people. Marianna brought this delicate arrangement she had made to the party. We love it!

Ed's recovery from hernia repair surgery continues to go amazingly well. Very little pain or discomfort. Peggy still checks the incision peridically and announces that it's "beautiful"! The first checkup with the doctor was the 22nd. He said all is going well. Ed's allowed now to lift up to 10 kilos so he can get back to several house projects. A final checkup in early January and that should be it! We're very happy to have discovered Galenia Hospital in Cancun and its cadre of great physicians.

Our Christmas Open House was great fun. Typical of Cozumel, if the party is scheduled to start at 2PM, it really doesn't get going until 5PM! We were happy to see that so many folks came with their friends and extended families including grandkids and dogs. A good mix of adults, kids, Americans, Mexicans, 4 dogs and countless hummingbirds and banana quits. Our 27# turkey was the centerpiece and was cooked to perfection in the Mabe oven. We put it in at 6AM and by noon it was done. Based upon advice and council from our gourmet freinds, Dick and Gwen, we wrapped it in foil and then covered it with a half dozen towels and it sat for 2 hours. It stayed moist and hot. Rounding out the meal were mashed potatoes, stuffing, fresh green bean casserole, rolls from our favorite bakery, cranberry sauce, and key lime pie for dessert. Even the gravy, which in 25 years of holidays has never thickened for us, turned out perfectly! A crockpot full was consumed and scraped clean by the end of the party. Folks stayed until almost 9PM. Those who had worked on Christmas seemed grateful for the "all you can eat" buffet. The only thing that would have made the day better was to have our far flung family and friends here. To all of you, we wish you happiness and contentment this season!

A major milestone was attained on the 22nd. Our bank account received Ed's first Social Security retirement payment. Wow! Another round of tacos al pastor for everyone, our treat!

We talked to kids and grandkids on Christmas, Jamie G and family basking in a warm Broomfield, CO, Adrienne, et al in a much colder England, and the Jame B family in Texas. Everyone was enjoying the day, friends, family, and of course, kids all suffering from gift overload!

Life is truly good!

Hernia Repair

The nurse tried to get the hospital cap away from Ed before the picture but he was having none of it!

Ed really wanted the picture of his incision but Peggy thought this one was alot cuter!

After Peggy's successful vein surgery last year, Ed decided that this was the year to repair his small inguinal hernia. Great subject for the blog, no? Monday was the date of the surgery. We took the 6AM ferry over to Playa, the bus to Cancun and a cab to Galenia Hospital. Surgery took place about 11AM. Checking in about 9AM, we experienced the normal incorrect hospital billing (sounds like the US!) and on the third attempt, the bill was close enough to what we had been quoted. Seems the hospital had raised its prices and either didn't tell the doctor or the he just forgot. Either way, with that bill out of the way surgery took place. Surgery here is quite informal compared to the US. The doctor, anesthesiologist, nurse, assistants all laugh and joke in the operating room as Ed is wheeled in. Right before he was put to sleep Ed asked the surgeon (Doctor Barragan) for assurance that this was not his first hernia repair. He replied "Actually, it's my second. The first was about 5 years ago!" He looked around and said "I think the instruction book is here somewhere! Don't worry, I'll find it if I need it" Comforted, Ed was anesthetized. Surgery took about 45 minutes and recovery about an hour and a half. Then, off to a room where Peggy anxiously awaited. It was the same room where Peggy recovered. It felt like home! After giving out beerings to the nurses, we left the hospital about 5PM and took a cab to the bus station for the trip to Playa and then the ferry back to Cozumel at 7PM.

The results are pretty amazing. Very little pain or discomfort. No stitches on the incision, just the steri-strips. Ed's taking a mild pain reliever for 3 days and antibiotics for 4 days. Walking is no problem- just a bit slower. Doctor says full recovery in 2 weeks!

Peggy has been constantly checking the incision for signs of infection or inflamation. None.

Just like LBJ, Ed is offering to show his incision to everyone. So far, no takers, other than Peggy!

Holiday dinners

This past week we were treated to, count them, TWO wonderful holiday dinners. The first was served under the dome at the home of Dick and Gwen. We were invited yet once again to their villa for a scrumptious meal. Dick and Gwen had gone to Italy this summer and came back with some fantastic ideas about Italian dining. Nine of us sat in their jungle garden and were treated to a four course dinner of antipasto, homemade spinach pasta, pan fried Angus rib eye steak encrusted with dried wild mushrooms served on a bed of mashed leeks and finished off with Gwen's dynamite cheesecake -all of this while tasting the great (we're not talking our usual boxed variety here) wines mainly from Italy. We had been given just one job to do for this dinner and that was to bring a nice Italian wine. Well, Spain's close isn't it? I do seem to be able to remember to bring our bags to the store but I keep forgetting about those dang reading glasses! So, we brought a fine bottle of Spanish wine.



Last night we were invited to our friend Jorge's condo where he and his girlfriend (from Boston) had prepared roast turkey, dressing, broccoli and cheese casserole, mashed potatoes, cornbread, cranberry sauce and tiramisu for dessert. Amazing that it came out of his small kitchen. Before Kristen the most food we saw in Jorge's house was a bag of chips, some eggs, a six pack of Barrilito beer and maybe a bottle of vodka! No living room furniture. A bed only. Eating was a stand-up affair. Now, there's a living room set, dining room table, a stove, and kitchen cabinets! We joined Jorge's mother and sister, visiting from Mexico City, his friend Paul and daughter, brother Carlos with his wife and daughter, and mutual friend Socrates and his new squeeze, Nancy from Montreal. A true feast! Everything was great. Stuffed, we were glad for the mile or so walk home.



A quick word about Jorge's condo. About 5 years ago Jorge bought this 2 bedroom unit in a building of perhaps 18 units and within 6 months decided that condo living wasn't for him. He decided to give it back. The owner had financed it for him. Jorge signed all the papers and went back to the condo, awaiting his eviction notice which never came. So, he has been living there for these past 5 years free of rent. Now, apparantly he can pay the last 5 year's real estate taxes (maybe a total of $250 US) and he then can claim ownership! Squatters rights at their best! Viva Mexico!

Christmas and marketing strategies

Christmas has come into full swing here - poinsettias are now ringing the palm trees on the boulevards, the North Pole village has been set up in the Palacio Municipal Park, kids are singing ramas at our front gate each evening (pictures to follow), holiday dinners abound and Christmas is prominent in the stores.

Tiny poinsettias adorning the garden instead of our table! The blue, of course, is one of our hammocks from which we enjoy the festive view!

While huge pyramids of Sol beer have been constructed in the grocery store with the Sol "girls" romanticizing their product (again, photo to follow), Baxter Beering Company's marketing strategist has sprung into action. Upon our return here, we discovered an overabundance of inventory (nearly 100 pairs of beerings)! Our summer intern (Edwin's wife Marianna) returned them to us along with our share of her sales- $5! We promptly spent the $5 on more inventory! Beering marketing specialist and co-President, Peggy has gone to work on marketing schemes (Shaklee, watch out!). It had become clear that the many pairs sitting on the kitchen counter hindered meal preparation and, in addition, were not jumping off the counter into anxious customer's hands. Inspiration struck when yet another empty 12 pack of Sol beer was making its way to the recycle bin which unfortunately now is synonymous with our trash (recycling has sadly been abandoned by the island). Keeping up with the company's philosophy of going to literally no expense, Peggy devised a display system using the empty caja. This new display will certainly help our network of retailers and if we could fit the box under a trench coat, we could compete with the time share salesmen on the square.

All's quiet on the Mexican Front

After arriving with a large bag of Christmas gifts for underprivileged kids here on the island, the Hempstead Baxters really got into the life down here. They all especially loved their time with Edwin and his family. Edwin's ancestors were one of the original families who settled in Cozumel in 1848. His grandparents have lived in the same house for about 60 years. Edwin together with his wife, Marianna and daughter, Abril, live in back of that house. The extended family also has a house in the southern part of the island at Cedral. Each May, they are part of a big festival down there that features lots of food and drink.

Edwin is putting out delicious ceviche at a Cozumel fixture - El Ferito Cocteleria, owned by his parents. It's just around the corner from our house.

At almost 3 years old, Abril loved adding Cody to the mix of her cousin playmates.




There was never enough time to explore the ocean's shore. Cody loved hunting for all kinds of crabs, watching the schools of minnows and identifying the larger fish he had seen in Grandpa's fish identification book.

It was fun to see the Baxters relax and enjoy! It sure is quiet without them.

A happy sunset!

Texas Baxters in Cozumel!

Jamie, Kelley and Cody have gotten right into the swing of things down here! We have just enough time to post a few pictures but not much text because we are VERY busy.

Watching circling vultures way up high.

A pretty nice place to do homework!

On our way to the other side. The dogs are just a little excited.

The Baxters got right into getting trashy on the other side!

Looking for hermit crabs.