Cruise Participation

Today we're in Mazatlan, with no plans. Everyone is still asleep, and the internet is up, so here I am with your cruise update.

We let the kids drag us to kareoke night on Tuesday. It was fun, some of the folks were truly, astoundingly, amazingly awful, which prompted Andrew to get up there and sing. He and Mali were the only kids there, so there was some surprise to see a kid on stage. He did pretty good, and the crowd loved him. He couldn't compete with the grandma singing Aretha Franklin.

The weather has been very warm down here. Wednesday we were out by the pool waiting for the party games to start. When we learned they were for adults only Andrew was unhappy, but he had no trouble signing Susy and me up for them. They divided us into teams and then poured beer down our throats, set us through synchronized swimming, then watched us stuff fruit in our swimsuits, including melons, pineapples, and a watermelon. Pretty bawdy stuff. Susy is now famous for having a pineapple sticking out of her top. Our team lost at the end in the balloon race, but we won a waterbottle, and a beer and a coke. The kids loved it.
We finally shipped the kids off to the kid activities for a mini-olympics and a movie. Susy and I entered the blackjack tournament. That was a mistake, and it gobbled up $60 before we came to our senses. Happily, Susy won it all back at the regular blackjack tables.

Yesterday was Puerto Vallarta. We took a tour to a tequila hacienda, which was educational and delicious. Andrew got to haggle for a bead lizard and Mali bought a hairclip for her friend.

Thanksgiving dinner was great. I had the traditional Thanksgiving Cod. Susy, Irene, and Melissa all opted for the turkey. EVERY single item on the menu had pumpkin in the description somewhere. I had to try three different desserts: the pie, a pumpkin cream brulee, and an apple and pumpkin struedel. The cream brulee was incredible. The pie was good too, but I let Mali finish mine off after she devoured hers. Then she attacked Susy's also. Andrew went for his second cheesecake of the cruise. I swear I could go for a week without food and be fine.