July 2007 Issue 55

INTRODUCTION

Summer and the hurricane season are here, and the tourists are still here too.  And, there is a fair amount of "Comings and Goings" as well.

Interestingly enough, there are no Mexico holidays in July to report.

IMPORTANT JULY FACTS

It was the month in which Julius Caesar was born.  The month Julius replaced Quintilis (quintus = five)-the fifth month in the early Roman calendar, which began with March before the Julian calendar instituted January as the start of the year. Unfortunately, Caesar himself was only able to enjoy one July during his life-the very first July, in 45 B.C.  The following year he was murdered on the Ides of March.

Cancer   June 22 - July 22
Leo - July 23 -August 21
July Birthstone:  Ruby

July Flower:  Larkspur

The larkspur, or Delphinium, is named for the shape of their flowers. The flower resembles the bottle - like nose of a dolphin. 

JULY BIRTHDAYS

Birthdays and Anniversaries     

2          Gerardo Dominguez
2          Isabel Schober
4          Amy Blattner
21        Priscilla Batting
22        Bud Blatner
25        Paula Humphreys
31        Gonzalo Arcila

There must be more than this.  Let's hear about YOUR birthday.

Missed June Birthdays and Anniversaries
10        Salvador Gutierrez Montesinos
?          Hans Schmitthenner and Joan Potenza Anniversary


21        Kathy Sonheim & Jim Farrell celebrate 2nd Anniversary in Boston with a lobster dinner at Legal Seafood on the waterfront
25        Janet White (Tricia Hayne's mom)
29        Bud & Alice 4^th Anniversary

THE ISS AND ATLANTIS SEEN OVER UXBRIDGE, MA

The International Space Station (ISS) and space shuttle Atlantis were seen over Uxbridge, Massachusetts on June 20^th, two days before the Atlantis landed at Edwards Air Force base in California, after a fourteen day mission servicing the ISS.  Both space craft were brightly illuminated, with Atlantis trailing the ISS by about 2 inches (relative from earth).

HST FLIES OVER AKUMAL ON JULY 3rd

In recognition of Ingrid & SteveC's, as well as Arlene & Richard Pargot's, return to Akumal, the HST (Hubble Space Telescope) is being diverted to fly directly over Akumal on Wednesday, July 3^rd at 8:30pm.  The HST will be flying out of the WNW heading towards the ESE, and it should be visible between 8:29 and 8:32pm.

INDEPENDENCE DAY (U.S.) JULY 4th

Independence Day is the national holiday of the United States of America, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

At the time of the signing the US consisted of 13 colonies under the rule of England's King George III.  There was growing unrest in the colonies concerning the taxes that had to be paid to England.  This was commonly referred to as "Taxation without Representation" as the colonists did not have any representation in the English Parliament and had no say in what went on.  As the unrest grew in the colonies, King George sent extra troops to help control any rebellion.  In 1774 the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to form the First Continental Congress.  The delegates were unhappy with England, but were not yet ready to declare war.

In April 1775, as the King's troops advanced on Concord, Massachusetts, Paul Revere would sound the alarm that "The British are coming, the British are coming" as he rode his horse through the late night streets.  The battle of Concord and its "shot heard round the world" would mark the unofficial beginning of the colonies war for Independence.

The following May, the colonies again sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. For almost a year the congress tried to work out its differences with England, again without formally declaring war.

By June 1776 their efforts had become hopeless and a committee was formed to compose a formal declaration of independence.  Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman.  Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft which was presented to the congress on June 28.  After various changes a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th.  Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration, 2 - Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No, Delaware undecided and New York abstained.

To make it official John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence.  It is said that John Hancock signed his name "with a great flourish" so "King George can read that without spectacles!"

The following day copies of the Declaration were distributed.  The first newspaper to print the Declaration was the Pennsylvania Evening Post on July 6, 1776.  On July 8th the Declaration had its first public reading in Philadelphia's Independence Square.  Twice that day the Declaration was read to cheering crowds and pealing church bells.  Even the bell in Independence Hall was rung.  The "Province Bell" would later be renamed "Liberty Bell" after its inscription - "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof."

And although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the 4th of July has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States independence.  The first Independence Day celebration took place the following year - July 4 1777.  By the early 1800s the traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were established as the way to celebrate America's birthday.  And although fireworks have been banned in most places because of their danger, most towns and cities usually have big firework displays for all to see and enjoy.

ROBIN'S BEST SHIRT AWARD JULY 4th

Come one, come all, to the Beach Bar, where we'll have a ball.

It's time for another "Best Shirt Award", which is held on the first Friday of each month during Happy Hour at the Lol Ha Beach Bar.  But this one is being moved up to Wednesday, July 4^th, because Mary Henderson is leaving for Spain and Russia on Friday, July 6^th.

This award is based on Robin's penchant for good, classy Beach Bar shirts, and his sister, Mary, is ready to once again be the judge and jury as she selects the "Best Shirt" worn by a male for July.  And, as we go to print the criteria are still somewhat nebulous, but it looks like "coolest", "neatest", and "most colorful" might garner a lot of brownie points.  

The June award for "Best Shirt" went to Bud Blatner, who brought in a questionable entry from Philadelphia.  See Best Shirt for more photos.

WHAT'S NEW AROUND TOWN?

 CANCUN

Terminal 3 has been open at the Cancun International Airport for well over a month now, and early experiences are very favorable.  Terminal 3 is located to the left (North) of Terminal 2, and the entrance roads are clearly marked.  A small parking lot is also there.

            Terminal 3 seems to be home to the American carriers, like Alaska, American Airlines, ATA, Continental, Delta, Frontier, NWA, Spirit, US3000, USAir, and United, among others.  Many of the signs and announcements (very clear) are in English.

            Immigration is down on the left end of the terminal behind the Convenience Store, and the very friendly official we met on our departure spoke excellent English; his wife is American and he has lived in the US.

Once past Security and inside the departure lounge, there is a huge Duty Free Shop and numerous known name restaurants (Haagen Das, Johnny Rocket, Domino Pizza, Hard Rock Cafe, and Air Margaritaville).

 Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, the operator of nine Mexican airports, said it opened a third terminal at its Cancun Airport at a cost of approximately $100 million.  The new terminal will double passenger capacity at Mexico's second-busiest airport, which last year welcomed some 9.8 million air passengers.  The new terminal has 84 check-in counters and 11 departure gates and features state-of-the-art security.  Including the new terminal, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste has spent $786 million upgrading and expanding its Cancun Airport.  The company is also planning to invest $56 million to build a second runway at the airport.

FULL MOON, JULY 29th

Full Buck Moon on July 29^th, at 7:48pm AST.

July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur.  

This month's goes by many names, such as "Mead" Moon.  It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, for the reason that thunderstorms are most frequent during this time.  Another name for this month's Moon was the Full Hay Moon.

COMINGS AND GOINGS

            The pace continues as we head into July.

 Comings:

• Hugh Maynard is back for his extended school vacation.
• Bud & Alice Blatner returned to Akumal in June.
• Gary & Oveta Vardell were back in South Akumal.
• Macon & Susan Gravlee are becoming commuters, as they were back again.
• Ron Stern came back for a very short visit.
• Kari Brown of Lake Tahoe, California was here for two weeks.
• Paul Sanchez-Navarro's sister and  family were visiting for a spell.
• Mike Cook, owner in Playa Caribe, was around town for couple of weeks.
• Gary Sparks, owner in Playa Caribe, was in town for a few days late in June.
• Lydia Pontius was in town in mid-June.
• Linda Morgan's brother, Brad, visited for a week or so.
• Cheryl and Pat Reagan were about for a week or so.
• Bob Mulgrew has returned from Iowa, driving a very sharp looking new vehicle!
• Hans Schmitthenner and Joan Potenza return to Mi Casa del Mar between June 23 to July 3 to celebrate their 25^th wedding anniversary.
• Richard & Arlene Pargot return again on July 3^rd.
• Paula, Ellie and Katie Humphreys return to Las Cascadas on July 10, and Neil follows on the 12^th.
• Allyson & John Sheffield return on July 16 or 17 for a shorter than usual visit.

 Goings:

 Mary Henderson, Bud Blatner, Mike Cook, and Kari went to Holbox to swim with the whale sharks in early June.

 Gabriella Herbert went north to Ohio in mid-June to play golf.

Linda Tate returned to California for her daughter’s graduation.

Annette Bartsch went to Europe, including Turkey, for an extended visit.

John McCallum was in Canada for 3 weeks.

Bud & Alice Blatner took a short trip to Guatemala in June, and then they return to Philly in July.

Salvador has returned to Minnesota for an extended stay.

Kazue & Beniko Schober returned to Japan on June 28 for a summer vacation.

Rhett Schober reportedly has returned to Colorado.

On July 6^th Mary Henderson heads of to Spain and an exciting 12 day / 11 night Moscow to St. Petersburg, Russia River Cruise on Viking River Cruises.

Not really "GONE", but Bart & Jennifer Smith moved to their new house in Rancho San Martin.

HAVING A HARD TIME LEARNING SPANISH? - Part II

Let's face it - English is a crazy language.

There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple.

English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France.

Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted.  But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea, nor is it a pig.

 And why is it that writers write, but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce, and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth?  One goose, 2 geese, so why not one moose, 2 meese?  One index, 2 indices? 

 Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend?  If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

 If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught?  If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?  Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.  In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?  Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?  Have noses that run and feet that smell?

 How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?  You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

 English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all.  That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

 Why doesn't "Buick" rhyme with "quick"

 Thanks to Renne Gower

EVENTS

The only Akumal "Event" was the Best Shirt Award, and that has been reported.

 There was an off-site "Event" held in Vienna, Austria and supported by Denny & Diane Mahan, but this has not been recorded or reported.  The "Event" was the 2^nd Akumal/Atlanta - Austria Ryder Cup held over the second week of June.  Needless to say, The Akumal/Atlanta team returned to Atlanta with the Ryder Cup trophy.

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