UPDATE AFTER THE CHICAGO TRIP

Hi and Welcome back to the Global Community Park! I'm back from Chicago and glad to be in "paradise"again.  I still don't have my passport,but plan to get one for the next time I travel. In case you didn't read it yet, the Mexican Border is giving visitors a hard time when coming down without a passport. I've been using US documents but now I must get a passport to enter MX.

Here at the beach we were not affected by Hurricane Patricia, however some of my neighbors went to Acapulco six days before the hurricane hit. They kept us informed via email of their well being. 

They had to be evacuated from their respective resorts, but they said the Mexican government was very organized with keeping people save and sound. I was glad to hear it.

As for our community, the ocean level and the waves are high and I'm sure it's due to the hurricane. Our house is situated on the top of a hill so we were not affect by the high levels of the ocean. It looks eerie though. Just in time for Halloween. It's night time now so I can't get pictures (sorry I didn't think of that sooner) but I'll see how it looks tomorrow and share some pictures of it with you.  

As you know, I've changed my life goals from having things to enjoying experiences. One of those was accompanying my singer to Chicago as her ADA assistant. I enjoyed it so much. I got to go into the sound engineering booth and watch how they make the music tracks. There is so much involved in putting out one song! I also caught some once in a lifetime photos like the one below:

I wanted to put some pictures from our Chicago trip here. 

I know this isn't a landmark, but I like this movie and I found
the GHOSTBUSTERS CAR! I think they're using it in a
Halloween event. How cool! The power packs are were in the
back of the car.

Here's the license plate!

Here is Crystal getting ready to go into the studio to record

We DID IT! My singer and I got to Chicago! Now onto the
Holidays! What a wonderful accomplishment! Thank you
to everyone who helped us either by donating or sharing
our Go FUnd Me Campaign! We'll keep the campaign
but for this opportunity, we are very grateful. Now I will
continue my Community Park Posts as usual.

Well that's my post for now. I'm sure I'll share more of my pictures with you. I'll leave you with a view from the plane. ADIOS! UNTIL THE NEXT POST!

GLOBAL COMMUNITY PARK SHORT POST

Hi and welcome to our Global Community Park! I just typed a post and lost it to a computer gliche. 

Basically, I was sending out prayers to people all over who are experiencing hard times right now. And special prayers to those in Asia who are experiencing hard financial times and countries at war and people who find themselves in the unfamiliar role of being a refugee trying to find a new home.

Along with my new Global Community status, I've also downsized to being a minimalist.  I'm using this time at the beach to outfit myself with "off grid" accessories and emergency items. Once I return from Chicago, I'll be in the market for an RV as well. 

I realized that, taking my singer to Chicago (which we leave on Wednesday! YAY!) would have been much easier if I had an RV.  I could have taken 3 weeks and road tripped across the country toward Chicago. However, after much fundraising and budget planning, we are set to go.

When I return, I start my next project, which is budgeting out cash for my off grid items and next year, my RV. I also want to help my singer get gigs, so she can save and hire a PR person. Something she's lacking that would help her career take off. 

Thanks for your help and support in
getting my singer to Chicago!

Well, I'm making this post short, keeping you in tuned with my progress. I'll be posting pics and videos from my Chicago trip. 

Once again, my prayers go out to those out there who are struggling. We are TSA'ed everytime we cross any border. There are armed guards at the border crossing and at each toll booth as we drive further south. It's scary because it's new for people in the Americas.

Here are some pictures to remind us that we're gonna get through these times! Adios! Til my next post!

CHICAGO HERE WE COME! (Grant Park Fountain)

Enjoying the awesomeness of a sunset!


ADIOS!

WE LOST POWER YESTERDAY!

Hi and welcome back to the GLOBAL COMMUNITY PARK!

Just sending a post to announce that WE LOST ELECTRICITY yesterday!  These are the problems that sometimes come with living in this beautiful environment and community.

The electricity failed at 3pm PST and came back on at 12am PST.  During that time we lost phone service, lights, television and internet. One thing I always try and do is keep my computer charged so if we DO lose power, I can watch DVD's for entertainment until it comes back on.  But, yesterday I was caught with my battery power down! OH NO!! 

I had to live without my visual stimulation! We did something

We didn't even have moonlight last night!

that we hadn't done in a while.  We all TALKED.  While chatting, it reminded me of when my kids were small and not always getting along, sometimes their friends would separate their interests, so they would annoy each other.  When it became unbearable to hear, I'd take them into the mountains camping. It was those times of fishing and sleeping in the tent that were the best!

I'd get them in an area where they had to depend upon each other. I'd tell them about when they were little my son would treat my daughter, the baby, like she was his baby. He was so protective of her. By the time the weekend was done, we were all friends again and more appreciative of each other's differences.

I got to relive that sort of experience yesterday.  It's been awhile since we all just sat around and talked.  I had an old time radio show saved on my tablet (which DID have a charge) called, "THE WHISTLER", it was a Christmas episode. We listened and enjoyed the radio play.

Camping holds fond memories!

Then I went out and looked up to the dark skies.
The sky was pitch black, were so many stars out. As I looked up I saw a shooting star. It was a special sight and one that I didn't expect.

Well the electricity is back today and I made a list of some of the things I need to buy in case of an emergency. Going to the store tomorrow to pick up the items. 

I can't believe ME the poster child for being prepared, was not prepared for the smallest emergency yesterday! Lucky for me, I had enough supplies, because I make a habit of prepping, so we were OK for last night. 

Well, wanted to share that with you.  Remember to always prepare for an emergency. You don't have to be a survivalist to take tiny precautions in case of a power shortage.

Thanks for reading and adios until my next post!

WHEN YOU FINALLY GET WHAT YOU WANT...

Hi and Welcome back to the Global Community Park!

I hope everyone read the post about the water being cleaned up in Mexico (disclaimer: drink it at your own risk), because the water is so clear and smells so good right now.  I'm using this time to fill up my water jugs as I treat my water before I drink it, so don't follow my lead, use your own judgment please!

water's clean in Mexico and tasting GOOD!

I just realized how happy I am right now.  Things aren't perfect but, I am very happy. I'm helping my singer get to Chicago on October 23rd for her in studio recording and to get her the PR Rep. she needs to become a success. I've decided that I want to support her emotionally and I'm helping her to get the professional career help that she deserves.

I thank the people who have donated money so far and I remind the rest of you that the campaign is ongoing (on this day, 4/24/2016 campaign is over, thank you all for your donations).  Your donations are what is enabling us to do this. We are short about 300 dollars USD, but I'm cutting into my personal budget to make this trip happen.  

Thanks to you, once again we are so close. The donation link will be on this page for those who'd still like to donate.

I wanted to do this post because I've noticed that WHEN YOU FINALLY GET WHAT YOU WANT... like I feel I have at this moment,  your mind becomes cleared to see what you need to do next. For example, the move down here helped me to get rid of the "stuff" that was cluttering up my space, my mind, and my life. I put most of it in storage and now, I'm ready to sell the storage stuff off.

I even plan to pack everything for the trip to Chicago into one small carry on bag (which I've NEVER done before).  I always travel with 2-3 bags and one carry on; especially because 3 people are going. But I'm learning pack it all into 1 bag and pack the luggage better.

Singer, Crystal Dennis, in the studio,in Chicago, recording.
Thanks to everyone who made this possible

I'm also so anxious to return home and jump into the holiday season.  The decorating and baking and celebrating. I'm trying to relax my mind and not get so anxious when major hurdles come up like the trip to Chicago. I habitually get caught up and can think of nothing else until the "hurdle" is jumped. As the date gets closer, I get crazier.  I didn't even remember, until I went to the grocery store yesterday, that Halloween is coming soon!

Crystal singing at The Manor
Retirement Home.

I must remind myself that these business trips with my singer are just beginning, I can't obsess over these events because there are more coming.  This is an important one but I'll be accompanying my singer on most trips.  If I stress, the trips won't be much fun.

I hope that you understand my message.  I have more to say but it can wait for another post. Let me know the changes you are making in your life also. I'd love to hear them. As promised, here is the link for my singer.

DONATE IF YOU CAN\

ADIOS UNTIL MY NEXT POST!

PLEASE, ENJOY CRYSTAL DENNIS'S LATEST YOUTUBE

UPLOAD! DONATE FOR THIS TALENTED

SINGER TO RECORD HER CD!

MEXICO'S WATER PROBLEM IS FIXED

Hi! and Welcome back to the GLOBAL COMMUNITY PARK!

Yesterday I told you about the water problem in Mexico! Today the problem is fixed and there is 
clear water again. Now I guess everyone is warned about drinking the water in MX but I drink it all the time.  I always treat my water with drops of bleach per gallon no matter where I am. Mexico is not different.  But right now in MX the water is super clear! I have a side by side picture 
for you to see.

This was the water I showed you as it was at 4:00pm PST
yesterday

Here is the same glass (also untouched) with the water problem
fixed as of 9:00am PST this morning.

When I went to the store today, the water machines were empty. Now I'm filling my gallons with water again and treating the water with chlorine bleach.  I'm going to store more that I did before.  

We only used up 7.5 of the 15 gallons or so that I

had stored away.  I'm glad that I prepare for emergencies and I can't wait to add more to my emergency prepping.

Well I just wanted to keep ya posted on the water sitch! 

Check ya later!

THE WATER IN MEXICO TODAY!

HI! A quick note for our Global Community today!

The water is not good in MX today so be careful drinking water across the border! I don't know what caused it but here it is! A picture is worth a thousand words!

This is an untouched pic of the water that was taken around 4:00pm today


The water company here is working on the water problem and it should be fixed soon.  

I had a feeling the water was having problems, so, I filled 6 ten liter bottles with water over the past 2 days. 

Because I followed my "gut feeling", we have about 15 gallons of  water to use until the problem is fixed.  

ALWAYS PREPARE FOR AN EMERGENCY! 

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HAPPENING!

Hi! Welcome to the GLOBAL COMMUNITY PARK!

What's been happening in our Global Community! So many events going on in the world today.  I've added day trading to my list of the many things I try to accomplish while down here.  I have a stock market account that I haven't used in 3 years. It's been locked until now and I just reactivated it so now. I have to do some verification process before i can access funds (plus, I no longer have the same bank account).  Anyway, I'm researching the stocks that I'd like to invest in in the meantime. 

I've also been studying about the bitcoin, which has been growing in popularity. I have a monetary exchange APP on my tablet and the BITCOIN has just been added to the list. My next goal is learning to mine BITCOIN (s?). I'd like to buy a cheap computer just to mine the coins.  I hear they're the money of the future and we'll be able to purchase through the internet using the BITCOIN system.  But back to the question of this post. The world has been crazy this week (crazier than usual),  The Pope's visit and the words of Donald Trump had the country in a "tizzie".

WARNING ....SUBJECT .....SWITCH......

I enjoyed the SuperMoon Eclipse on Sunday. I thought it was gonna be a large red moon but my camera just took a regular moon pic.  Here is a picture of my moon.  How weird is that! If you notice, I've switched to a lighter subject than the state of the world.

Lots of things going on.

I haven't been going out of my expat community lately. I went to the corner store within the complex and bought some necessary items like milk and bread, eggs and the like. I noticed that a restaurant that opened the first week I was here is now closing down.  I guess the economy is effecting even "paradise".

Recently, I've been looking at rentals in other countries like Thailand and Costa Rica. I can rent a beautiful house with a swimming pool in Thailand for just 412 USD a month, and one in Costa Rica for about the same price, Don't misunderstand, I love it here in paradise and plan on staying here a bit longer but, I'm getting my passport this week and this has opened up my mind to the possibility of becoming a truly global citizen.

I'm just saying......

Well I'm nearing the end of this post and I'd like to remind everyone about the Go Fund Me Campaign for Crystal Dennis.  We are now, $549.00 USD away from her getting to record her CD in Chicago, Ill USA and we have until October 23rd complete the campaign. 

Please show your support for this Blind Celtic Crossover artist and help her to launch her singing career.  If you saw her on the street holding a tin can and begging for money, I trust that you'd donate to the can. 

Well here she is asking for help with her career and for help keeping her dignity. Can you offer a donation for this? 

If your answer is "yes", then go to her Go Fund Me Campaign page and help her get to Chicago to record that CD! Click on the button below. 

After you donate, please share the link with your friends and family, social media group, coworkers, and other organizations.

In spite of all the craziness in this world, stay positive, stay happy! AND Adios! till my next post!!