Mexicans sometimes dump their dogs because they're sick, or pregnant, or because they've lost their job and can't afford to feed them. So do Americans. But here in the United States, there are hundreds of charitable organizations ready and willing to step in and rescue unwanted pets. In Mexico -- especially in small towns like Puerto Penasco -- its a different, and sadder story.

Enter Nancy Phelan. Nine years ago, Nancy came to Puerto Penasco to retire and soak up the sun. Instead, she became an animal advocate and founder of the Animal Adoption Center of Rocky Point. She rescues abandoned dogs and cats and finds them homes. At the moment, she's got 20 dogs and 40 cats in residence, and it costs her about $3000 a month just to feed them, not to mention medications for mange and tick fever. She survives on donations.

Here Bao and I are at Giuseppe's, hosting a book signing for Sea Changes. I donated all the profits to the Animal Adoption Center, but although Puerto Penasco is usually packed with Americans on Fourth of July weekend, this year was different. Sunday was Election Day in Mexico, and the State Government bans all alcohol sales for the entire weekend, which definitely put a damper on things as all of the bars and most of the restaurants were closed. Never mind. We'll try again on Thanksgiving -- or Turkey Day, as the Mexicans call it.

Meanwhile, if you want to know more about Nancy and her work, visit her website at http://www.rpaac.org/

We're resting and relaxing in Mexico.

Or I should say, Bao is resting and relaxing in Mexico. I am locked into a death struggle with Telmex, the Mexican telephone company. I have had an account with Telmex since last November, and when I moved into our new condo, I wanted a wireless internet connection. They made me buy a new telephone, but that was okay. They gave me a Infinitum modem, and an Infinitum installation disk (in Spanish) and a book of instructions (also in Spanish). Facilimente! it says.

Not true. There is nothing facilimente about it. It's fiendishly, frustratingly difficult, and nobody seems to be able to make it work, including several very nice, Spanish-speaking young men. There's a technical suppport number, but nobody on the other end speaks English. You're thinking, What does she expect? It's Mexico. Of course they speak Spanish.

But here's the thing. The United States is an English-speaking country, but if you're a Mexican living in America and you don't speak English, all you have to do is press one (or two) and voila! there's someone to speak to you -- in Spanish.

It's not fair.

But the sun is shining and the sea is blue. And sooner or later, it will get sorted. Happy Fourth of July, everybody!

Are we having fun yet?

Bao is exhausted, and I'm not far behind him. We drove to Prescott to
be on AM Arizona and did a book signing at a Barnes & Noble and then
drove back (nearly four hours each way) in time to do three radio
interviews.
I keep telling Bao it's harder on me than it is on him -- I'm the one
doing all the talking and driving. But Bao feels he has to stay awake
and pay attention, and as far as he's concerned, staying awake all day
is hard work!
I guess this is about as close as I'll ever get to being a celebrity,
and that's just as well. I like my quiet time. I can't imagine what it
would be like to live like this all the time, but I don't think either
of us would like it very much. We're both finding that a little bit of
limelight goes a long, long way.

In the Green Room

Our first live, TV interview to promote Sea Changes, on "Sonoran
Living" a morning show that broadcasts from Phoenix.
We were on last, after a cooking segment that featured grilled steak.
Bao was very good and lay quietly at my feet, not at all distracted by
the wonderful aroma of cooked meat emanating from across the studio.
Actually, he stole the show. The camera loved him. The camera always
does.
If you want to watch a clip of the interview, go to www.abc15.com and
click on the Living Section and then on the segment called, Surviving
Widowhood.
They call it the green room because the room in the old London Drury
Lane Theatre where actors waited to go on stage happened to be painted
green. Thought you'd like that factoid!

Friends are fun

We met Joan a couple of years ago, when we did our marathon trip to
northern Michigan, Canada and the northeast United States. Joan lives
in Williamstown. Now, there's a place I never thought I'd be passing
through again -- which just goes to show you.
We had a lovely, al fresco dinner. For once, it wasn't raining. And we
stayed at a totally charming little place, The Berkshires Motel. Quite
a change from the last time, when we stayed at a motel out of the AAA
guide and we both got fleas!

Sea Changes is a Best Seller

Yes! We made it! Sea Changes is officially a best-seller!
Now I can go out and buy hundreds those little round, gold stickers
that say "Best Seller" and affix them to the cover of Sea Changes.
What's that? You just had a look at the NY Times Bestseller list and
you didn't see Sea Changes?
I didn't actually say Sea Changes was a NY Times best seller, did I? I
just said it was a best seller, and it is. It was one of the five best-
selling paperbacks in New Canaan, last week. So there you go.
Bao --as you can see -- is unimpressed. Dogs only care about whether
or not it smells good.

Favorite Things

Bao and I each have our "favorite things" when we travel.
Bao's favorite things are cool, marble floor tiles in hotel lobbies
(he likes to roll on them) scrambled eggs and crispy bacon for
breakfast and the kingside beds at Sheraton hotels.
My favorite things are fresh brewed hot coffee, a free copy of USA
Today delivered to my room and the soap and body lotion at Sheraton
hotels.
So -- since we're enjoying a free Starwood night at the East Hartford
Sheraton -- I lashed out and ordered breakfast in bed and we've both
scored a trifecta!