Jocie's Blog

When you picture someone in P.V. your mind probably conjures up the hotels along the beach.   Or, it drifts to the high rises and condos near the waters edge or clinging to the sides of the mountains that surround the place.   These places are full of people on holidays.   They are taking time from their ‘real’ life, and just hanging out.. drinking in the view as they sip on a ‘cervasa’ or margarita.   I don’t live there. When I decided to spend time here, it was because I literally didn’t have anywhere else to go.   With no job or any idea on what I want to do next, I started looking for cheap, warm places.   I needed somewhere I could just hang for a bit without the commitment of a long-term lease or a work commitment.   Unbeknownst to my siblings, (yes… they have gotten under my skin) I take my responsibilities very seriously, and.. I seriously don’t want any right now.   So, I took on a really small, I guess what they would call ...

Just such an alter here in Puerto Vallarta Last year around this time I was visiting my grandchildren in Nelson.  My mother had just passed away and I was rather shocked when I walked into their family room to find a bit of an alter and my mother's picture smiling up at me. There was her photo along with one of dad and Stephanie's father along with other family members that had passed, surrounded by candles and flowers. This fellow is about three stories high! It took me by surprise. As I gazed upon the picture of my smiling parents, Abby came up beside me, grabbed my hand quite happily, laughed and said "don't be sad grandma.. she is in the 'Land of the Remembered', and then skipped off to play with her sister. "The Land of the Remembered?" I asked my son. And together as a family we watched the movie "The Book of Life". My immediate family are not so good at dealing with death. We had lost a sister when we were qu...

I went for a walk along the Malecon again this morning.   I was   up early, finally getting back into old habits , and eager to get out before it got too hot. It is only four blocks to the beach from here.. and then a couple more to the start of this beautiful walkway along the water’s edge.   There is lots to look at.   The street has been closed off for the better part of it, leaving room for all sorts of people to meander about.   You can walk on the smooth Malecon itself, or meander along the cobblestone street, which is a bit trickier. People walk their dogs, joggers jog, walkers walk.   There are all sorts of people , some on crutches.. grandparents with their little ones, even the odd tourist.   The shop owners are getting ready for their day: huddling together in little groups drinking coffee and chatting.   Time is just sitting still for a bit before the noise starts all over again.  I walked quickly this morning.   ...

So I have been working on story-boarding James and the Crocodile.   It is a story I have been working on for a few years now.   You would think something so simple would not take such a long time to complete.. but even an illustrated children’s book is a lot more complicated than it looks.   Writing it is one thing.   But that is only the start.   Then there is the polishing..   making sure that it reads well.   That the characters are clear.   I have to find that perfect start and then of course.. the perfect solution.   And all the bits in between need to connect.. every word has to be perfect.   Then I edit.   And write again and edit again.   Then I find other people to edit.   Then I read it out loud to any audience I can find.. children, other teachers, family or friends.   Anyone that will listen basically.   I have got to the stage where I figure the story is okay.. now it needs to b...

It is October now and the candy-man lives just outside my door.  He packs up his cart in the dawning hours of the afternoon, opens the big metal gate that leads out to the street, and pedals off to sell his wares to the tourists of Puerto Vallarta.   I have been up for hours now.  It is cooler in the morning and I can get to writing in the comfort of the morning air… although I do have to turn on the AC now and again..  it is hot and humid and my hair is doing crazy shit! It was just a few days ago that I was waking up to the smell of snow in the air in the Kootenays and the changing colors of fall.  Maisy would often be snoozing right at my door.. waiting to be let out.  In September I spent two weeks in a tent.. waking to the sounds of people packing up, making coffee.. taking their tents down or starting up their motor homes.  The world was covered in red dust In August  I spent two weeks listening to the cr...