Okay, the offer finally, after much delay, came in this afternoon. I need to sign and send it off, then there's a background check to make sure I'm not a criminal or drug addict, then it will be official! Will post accordingly as soon as I can. Thanks for all your good wishes. :-)

RR: Yes, and it's such a narrow range of temperatures to get that right weather, too!

Thanks, all! My dad saw the surgeon today and so far so good. May have a minor procedure Friday, but thus far it doesn't seem serious. Fingers crossed. (Job looks good - waiting for official paperwork next week, so sitting tight but feeling pretty good.)

RR: Yes, too bad the beauty of spring brings with it the misery of allergies! Sky: Hope your asthma is doing better. Not sure if we get more sensitive or not, but may be the case. As for food in Mexico, I've never gotten sick. Rinded fruit is generally safe. And cooked food in restaurants is safe. In San Miguel, they have so many Americans living there that you can have the ice in just about any restaurant. Tina used drops of I think iodine in the dishwashing water, plus we always had bottled water to drink. I was lucky to travel my first trip to Mexico with someone who went all the time - few basic rules, but much more food is safe than you think!

Thanks, RR. I'm getting better with much babying and attention. It really has been beautiful here this spring.

Thanks, Elisa! Glad you enjoyed the post. :-)

Marja-Leena: Thanks. And yes, it certainly has its challenges, and more and more of us self-employed it seems these days. (sigh) MM: Thank you. Pain's a bit tough today due to rather fitful sleeping last night; hopefully better tonight. So important. As for the PT work, I don't know yet how it will work - if hourly pay then longer hours would at least pay off, but if it's salary, yes I'll have to watch that I'm not working FT for PT pay!

Yes, there are a lot of cool things - we didn't get to see all of them (we were getting cold!), but will no doubt see them again over the course of the coming months.

Thanks, Lorianne. Hope you get through your deadline rush soon as well.

Thanks, all! The food was amazing. I should always eat so well. :-)

Beth: Glad you enjoyed them. I traveled just a bit elsewhere in Mexico and you do find fantastic murals everywhere it seems.

RR: Aren't they colorful? Heh, I did see Exit Through the Gift Shop and enjoyed it. I'm thinking the Mexican murals a probably more colorful - they do have quite the tradition of muralists. Marja-Leena: Glad you enjoyed them!

RR: Oh, glad to hear you're getting some sunshine there now, too. Today it was gloomy and chilly, but warmer weather and sunshine are due tomorrow. Sonia: Glad you enjoyed the photo! It is pretty wonderful - in spring, not so much in winter!

Happy big 5-0, Roberta! And you do rock, you know. You'll rock even more so at 50. Enjoy your birthday and the rest of the week!

Beth: Oh, I should have been more clear - the peach tree is not in the photo (it's here at my apartment in the 'burbs, not in the city) - that's a magnolia tree. But yes, it is gorgeous!

Thank you, Sonia. It's such a senseless thing, tragic indeed.

Thanks, Lucy. Beth: Thank you. Not sure if you saw any of the healing service today, but lots of good among the terrible. Obama made a very personal and uplifting speech. We will all come together.

Lorianne: Yes, like Christmas only... spring! RR: Thanks, yes we're safe. And things will go back to normal for most of us. Unfortunately people are no longer completely surprised when these things happen. And the point is to go on undeterred by these psychopaths. Joan: Thanks. Yes, a very tiny fraction, quite possibly just a couple of idiots like McVeigh and his buddies. We'll see.

Thanks, RR. It was a lovely vacation overall.

Thanks, all! I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I'd had time to savor the experiences more instead of cramming them in one after the other. But as a guest I didn't have much control over the agenda. (Marja-Leena, I know you know whereof I speak! Sensitives suffer from overload easily.) But I am grateful to my friend for hosting us in such a beautiful, warm place. It was good to get away after this tough winter.

Beth: Thanks for the link - wonderful images of San Miguel! Exactly how I remember it, and look forward to seeing again. MM: The Boston area version of the dive bar tends to refer to a run down place frequented by old alcoholic regulars, but is often overtaken by 20-somethings on weekends. The cake and hot chocolate were wonderful. :-)

Wow, happy 10th, Beth! So glad The Cassandra Pages is still here! What a long strange trip, no? ;-)

I love jacaranda! I first saw them in Hawaii in the 80s, then in Mexico in 2004 and 2005. The jacaranda and bougainvillea (buganvilla in Spanish) blooming along the colorful walls paint in San Miguel de Allende fill the photos I brought back those years.

Lorianne: Yeah, I noticed that tail right away! RR: The ducks never left Boston this winter, but there was enough water in the middle for them to hang out (and fish?) in. I never know where they take the pair of swans off to, but I'm sure the ducks are just as happy since the swans are rather mean.

Marja-Leena: It was very heavy stuff this time. Posting some snow pix soon... MM: Thanks! Glad you liked it.