LC, casilly, vogel, Linda: hola!

The first two doses of CMF were fairly uneventful (always a good thing with a new chemo!) I'm totally digging the new schedule too -- with chemo given on weeks 1 & 2, that gives essentially 3 weeks of "rest" in between rounds (yeah - I know... it took me a minute to do that math right, but I essentially only use 7 days of the month between dose 1 & dose 2, leaving me with the rest of the month for recuperation, work, travel, visiting with friends, etc etc!)

On the docket for January was a Casill-family vacation with Mom, Dad, John, Mike and I. Despite the fact that we left on the only day we've had snow since October, Mike and I managed to make it out of Philly, through Denver and into sunny Puerto Vallarta (PV) as planned. Dad had arrived the day before (from China) and was waiting for us at the airport. John & Mom weren't as lucky -- they missed their connection in Houston and had to spend the night there.

We stayed in a villa about 45 minutes north of PV, near the small fishing town of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. The drive up to La Cruz was a bit sketchy at first, but once we got our bearings, I was delighted to be away from the tourist-infested craziness of Puerto Vallarta.

Highlights from our week in Mexico:
* the local craft market at the marina next to our Villa (fresh spinach & pine nut tamales... yum!)
* zip-lining with the whole family (watching mom have to get "rescued" on her first run)
* searching for Chico's or Chino's Hidden Paradise (didn't find them, but did find our own hidden paradise for lunch)
* mom sleeping through the scenic bus ride into the mountains to San Sebastian
* mom trying to give John away to our tour guide for San Sebastian
* whale watching and snorkeling at Marietas Islands
* hiking the "Jaguar" trail at the Botanical Gardens
* drinks at La Cliff
* guacamole, a bucket of coronas, sunset and dinner on the beach in Bucerias
* delicious food, lovely people, time with family and sunshine