Back to reality...sadly

Well after nearly a month in paradise I guess it had to end. Just for now though as we have every intention to find a long term residence here upon retirement! The last week was great fun having our friends there with us but we missed Tommy when he left on Sunday. We finished our time though with some great diving and some great food. Our favorite island restaurant by far is Wild Mango's - which our cutie little island pooch is named after. We also tried some new things like a trip to the Palapa bar north of the bridge which was great and a cool local hangout called Waruguma which was a no frills atmosphere with some killer food including an enormous lobster burrito and ladies making Papusa's outside for $1.25 US each! Wish I'd taken pics of that but Waruguma is a place where we will return. We ended our week with some tropical stormy weather but that didn't dampen our spirits or our desire to stay. If it weren't for Tommy and the dogs and Hazel and how much we missed them we might never have come back! Back to reality now and a lost bag courtesy of Delta who seemingly doesn't care enough to really look for it. Hope to see it by week's end when my family arrives for a visit!

Palapa Bar

Drew climbs tall coconut trees

outside our condo view from pier

we missed diving with dolphins by about 3 minutes! So bummed!

David the Belizean dog whisperer

Ozzy - our pet Iguana at Grand Colony!

Jen gets her hair braided on the last day there

Lotsa hair... but one hour later...

Voila!

last dinner at Wild Mango's with friends! Stacy and me

Baby Mango is finally home in Michigan and doing very well. Happy to be a Michigan dog and getting to know her brothers

2 weeks down one to go...

Well we've been on our island paradise for exactly 17 days now. Tommy got here a week ago Friday and it's been non-stop ever since. Starting with the FAB (Furry Animal Ball), daily trips to SAGA to help with the animals and to walk the dogs in Fort Dog, diving and general fun and relaxation. He left on the 9 am Tropic flight this morning and we've all been pretty blue today. Add to it a tropical storm and even the island is sad to see him go. We have less than a week left here and will be coming home with one more family member - a cutie little island "potlicker" puppy that Jen managed to convince us to bring into the family. Not without much turmoil and heavy thinking about how she would integrate with the already established family of 2 dogs and a cat. God help us 3 dogs - not sure what we're thinking but it's too late now.  She's already a Hoke. Mango Hoke to be exact! More later as the week progresses.

kids at Saga working us over hard for this little face

Yay!!! Tommy arrives on Tropic Air for 9 days

Furry Animal Ball with my 2 favorite men in skirts!

Family photo op

at Tacklebox for 4th of July party

I could get used to driving a golf cart versus a car (except when it rains)

Drew's birthday barbeque party

Drew is chillin at the dive shop waiting to go out

Uh oh... Hoke looks like he's caving!!

Here come the Best's off their Tropic flight!

the Hoke family transport

how they roll in San Pedro! This is the San Pedro "Dog whisperer" and his pupils for the morning walk on the beach!

new laptop for Saga courtesy of a wonderful Friend of the Humane Society, Mark Nelson!

Hmmmm - still deciding but how can we say no to this face???

Oh yeah - the Best's brought an FAA approved carrier down with them from Michigan. I guess she's a Hoke now! Wonder if she'll remember he brief life as an island dog...

The Fat daddy version of "Chicken"

Chicken on Steroids!

Drew completes one of the tasks on his shirt - 

"Climb tall coconut trees"

fun times at Lime

Lobsterfest rescheduled at Caye Caulker due to Tropical Storm Alex - lucky us!!

getting smoothies and a Mango Mojito!

Alert the media!!!! Tommy Hoke is eating and liking lobster now!!!

all worn out after a long day

sweet little face. Mango Hoke is now official!

SAGA and Chicken drop Wednesdays

Well we're on day 5 plus of our 3 week adventure here. The girls, Jen and Maddie, have been going to the Humane Society every day to volunteer. They've loved on the kittens, pulled ticks off of puppies and bathed them and walked the older dogs in Fort Dog. Jen is working us hard to bring an island dog home and Maddie has apparently already succeeded in convincing her mother. The question is... how much can Tommy Hoke resist the constant daily pleading from a 10 year old girl? I'll tell you this much, she's wearing ME down! Then yesterday and today were wonderful chill days by the pool followed by a beach barbecue on our front patio then hopping in the golf cart and heading out to the Pier for the World Famous Chicken Drop! You bet a Belizean dollar on a square or several squares and if you're lucky enough to have the chicken relieve itself on your square you win a hundred bucks! We didn't win but we won drinks which was cool enough. All of the kids have been collecting about a zillion hermit crabs on the beach but I've discovered that Belizean hermit crabs are not nearly as pleasant as North Carolina hermit crabs. The Belizean crabs PINCH! Anyway, onto more adventures tomorrow. All day catamaran cruise and snorkel to Caye Caulker weather permitting.

Wild Mango's for dinner

Jen and Maddie love on the kitties at the Humane Society

the girls are all ready for the chicken drop!

first ya gotta shake the chicken around and around...

then you have to blow on it's butt! Drew was the honorary butt blower

then drop it in the pen

whatever number it poops on is the big winner of $100 Belize!!