Janet's Birthday and New Years Eve

Janet's 63rd birthday began with coffee on the balcony and a gift of a horseback ride from Astrid's Ranch.  Astrid is a lovely Swiss lady who used to be the accountant for the now defunct Club Med out on Algodones Playa.  She bought the stable from them and now does a wonderful Tuesday morning 2 hr. ride for $25 each.  Our ride took us into the desert near where Catch 22 was filmed in 1960, through La Manga, the fishing camp, and back along the beach.

Our very own caballero with my horse, Tequila.  I couldn't
have gotten on or off without him! Yes, I really went
horseback riding!  I thought those days were over after
the hip replacement but I did really well!

Janet on Frijole in the desert.

Janet looking very pro on the beach

Is she a happy birthday girl or what?

Home for a quick shower and then a shrimp and margarita
day at the Salsa Beach Bar

Boo's gift to Janet was letting her hold him at lunch

Luis and Pedro singing and serving cake to Janet on the beach

Linda and Boo keeping the sun at bay.
Boo had a grand day swimming in the waves.

Back home for fireworks over the bay

Boo was the first in bed, exhausted and a little sandy and salty.

I made tortilla soup for dinner--another "chihuahua factor" story.  Because I couldn't find chicken broth here, I bought some stuff that I thought was like chicken bouillon only to discover it was about 99% salt!  We couldn't even eat the soup!  Then right after that we hear a loud knock on the door.  it was a 90 yr old man who regaled us with stories of his time in the Phillipines during the war.  We think he had a touch of dementia.  He was rescued by the other man at the door, who found the old man trying to scale a fence at the country club to access his condo.  Both were locked out of their condos (evidently, we are not the only ones).  They found us because they were looking for friends here and we were making enough noise so they just followed the sounds to our door.  Who knew!?!  Jim took them back into town to find friends who could help them.  It's always something around here.