No Coffee, No Workee

It's official, I think I'm addicted!

Yesterday we were out of coffee. 

Big deal!

It was! 

 I thought about coffee all day but couldn't seem to pull it together enough to either run to the Super for coffee grounds, or to go the 2 blocks to the quickie Super for a cup of their coffee.

I tried to accomplish any number of things but could only concentrate on easy, minimal resource required tasks!  Even some of those were more than I could do - so I had a nice long nap!

____________________________________________________________

Last evening on the way to a friends it was imperative to stop for a bag of coffee; I bought TWO!

Today, Joy of Joys! Coffee, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I was in bliss, my big ass honkin Starbucks mug, filled to the brim travelled with me all around the house doing this, doing that, out to the garden, doing this, doing that.

That first cup of coffee lasted me up till lunch time!   About 1pm I decided it was time to fix something - today is the day the housekeeper comes and I try to make something a little special, and different than the stuff she's used to.  She's very adventurous about food, only a few times have I made something she preferred not to finish, and one of those times I wouldn't eat it either; blech, it was a new recipe using the leaves of a plant growing outside the back door....hojas de santos, or something like that.  Pretty to look at, lovely to smell when rustled, but DO NOT eat it!

Horror!

Lamentably this morning a tragedy of unspeakable proportions occurred. My favorite coffee mug broke itself in the sink. Now trust it's not that the mug is/was from Starbucks that made it special, nor was it that it was a gift from our real estate agent when we sold our house in Colorado. It's specialness came from the fact that it held nearly 2 1/2 cups (18oz) of coffee. I could fill this baby up and still be working on it two hours later.

Oh I'm gonna miss that cup, and No, before you ask - it is not repairable.  It was in the sink and the big chef knife I was using slid off the counter and the hilt hit right into the bottom of the cup and took the bottom out in 3 large pieces.  Maybe I'll make it into a planter?????

This is, hiccup, was my mug, only with brown trim instead of red! 

I'm searching the internet for a suitable replacement,  this one might work!

Oh the tragedy, the horror - tomorrow a 'guest' mug!

a little tiny guest mug WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Cat-Nip Spay and Neuter Campaign

Today Tom and I assisted with a cat spay and neuter clinic.   

You can read about it here

Here you can see Tom taking special care of a cat in his charge!


Erich of InTheYucatan.com video'd the clininc - Now be advised he does show the surgical procedure, so don't watch if you don't want to see it!
http://www.intheyucatan.com/apps/videos/videos/show/10692545-planned-pethood-catnip-spay-and-neuter-clinic

Proclamation for an Animal Shelter near Progreso!

By the time we arrived, at 8:30 this morning, there was already quite a crowd;   Over the next 2 hours it grew, and diminished!

Today at the plaza municipal in Progreso, the Mayor of Progreso and the Governor of Yucatan were to have announced the donation of land AND the promise to build an Animal Shelter near Flamboyanes.

This is a landmark event, if it happened.  Unfortunately my Spanish is not top notch, and add to that listening to Spanish spoken over a loudspeaker I did not hear mention of the land or building.  I'll have to confer with friends to see if it was mentioned and if I did in fact miss it! 

While waiting (nearly 2 hours) for the Governor to arrive the crowd was entertained by traditional dancers, a pet parade, the Police Band, and people arriving with their pets.

There were tables set up where people could bring their pets and receive a free rabies vaccination.  It was a terrific attendance and many dogs and cats were vaccinated.  There were fancy breed dogs and just plain old regular dogs, there were whole families with their family pet or pets!

Pets came by all sorts of transport.  These puppies had bits of ribbon as collar and leash, and the green mesh bag held the family cat.  Don't be horrified or fearful, the bag is mesh and the young fellow was ver attentive, talking, stroking, being sure the kitty stayed calm.  These types of bags work very well because the injection can be given right through the mesh, keeping both cat and handlers safe.

And finally the Governor and dignitatries arrived, the crowd was there,  presentations and recognitions made,  

The Governor was recognized, but did not speak.

The Mayor of Progreso spoke

The Secretary of Health spoke

The Governor passed through the crowd, and when she departed in her entourage of shiny white vans the crowd quickly dispersed!

This would mark a significant event in that the State and Municipal Governments are noticing the problems of abused, abandoned, starving, and stray animals, and are making provision for their care.  Just the fact that they are now making the rabies vaccine available free of charge is a step.  The times they are a changin!

Costume Bicentennial Party

The Bicentennial Costume Party was Wednesday evening.  9pm start time.  I of course waited till the VERY last minute so we were a bit late getting there!

It was a lovely party, lots of friends in attendance, 3-piece band, dancing, pinata, snacks, midnight meal, etc

Our Host directive was to be

 IN COSTUME… Come dressed as anyone

       from Mexico’s past 200 years of history, entertainment, politics or…

the costumes were quite good!

We had don Miguel Hidalgo - with his groom

  don Miguel greeting the freedom fighters

 there were quite a few Adelitas

La Angel de la Independencia

 

a few luchadores showed up 

 
There were a  few Frieda's and of course Diego was in their attendance,  how could he stay away with so many beauties...

There was some fancy two-steppin going on

 

There was only one María de la Concepción Josefa Ortiz Magón de Domínguez in attendance

unfortunately she was on the move most of the evening doing what she did, passing messages, setting up assignations, and unifying the people for the great battle to come.  Therefore there is no foto of her costume, which I am told was quite good.

An update on some medical expenses

Many of you are concerned about medical expenses here in Merida.  And as I have just completed my annual gyn stuff - I will share with you the prices. 

This is pretty much just going to be reciting the test or procedure and the cost. 

So step away from the computer if this doesn't interest you!

OK - gyn visit and exam, 500   YES ALL prices will be in pesos

pap smear lab expense, 150

mammography and sonogram of breasts including axilas (armpits), I do like the way axilas sounds so much better than armpits! This is a package price for the two studies so I can't give you one or the other, 1502.

Because of my past with cancer I now alternate - one year a sonograph of the pelvic region, one year cancer markers checked through blood work.  This year was blood work, so to have a CA 125 was 669, and CA 15.3 was 669, which are ovaries and breasts respectively.

And just for general grins and giggles I get some extra bloodwork done, and a urine test as well.

general exam of urine, 75

the blood chemestry with cholesterol and triglycerides, 376 - this test included glucose, urea, uric nitrogen, creatina, and uric acid as well.

And then there was the Biometria Hematica test, 111.  I'm not sure what all this stuff is, and my spanish to english translation will not be accurate...

oh hell, I'm not typing all this stuff in - hemoglobin,  a bunch of xxxocites (eritrocitos), platelets, plaquetes, hemacrits, linfocites, leucocites,.... there are about 25 things listed.

All these tests were performed at Star Medica which is one of the newer medical facilities here in Merida.  With our Health Insurance policy we get discounts on Hospital Services.  With my particular policy I can't actually be admitted to Star Medica but I can get the discount on the tests and lab services.
My gyn, dra Catalina Aldana has her office there, in the consultorio wing, so it's quite handy.  For the blood and urine work I can just step up to the counter show them the sheet from the dr with what is needed and get it drawn right then and there with results back at 5 if you have the blood drawn early (I was drawn at 12:30), else the next day.  For the mammo and sonograph I did call ahead and make the appointment.

So just about 4000pesos and a succesful 19th year free of cancer woohoo!

Did you know there is a vaccine that prevents, YES PREVENTS, your daughters from getting Cervical Cancer? 

Here is info presented by the Mayo Clinic! 

Don't mess around with their lives, get them the vaccine!

a cure for high blood pressure

It has been positively identified that having a pet 

is good for your health!

Once again friend Nancy has been gifted by her neighborhoods cat population with kittens born on her service porch.   You may remember a kitten I posted earlier this year.      

    These three kittens were born the first week in August - Nancy has just removed them from their mother and is in the process of box training, identifying their sex,  and socializing them.   

Oh my gosh they are cuties.  

 

The siamese looking  with the dark ears has longish hair, 

and look at those painted toes.  

The smaller siamese looking has butter creme 

colored tiger stripes on its sugar colored legs.  

 

 

And the tiger calico is just gorgeous.

Contact Nancy at:

local Merida landline 285-2244

 Telcel celular 999-146-1842

or a US number (Vonage) that rings here in Merida 503-533-5884

ayudame porfa! Help Me Please!

We've been invited to a party to celebrate Mexico's  Bicentennial. 

photo from Time Life


It's a Costume Party - 

We were instructed -

… Come dressed as anyone

       from Mexico’s past 200 years of history, entertainment, politics or…

GASP!!!

I need HELP!!!   I don't do costumes, heck I can barely pull together a 'look'.

I don't even own a sombrero, or cheesy black handlebar mustache, so what's a girl to do?

I am drawn to Maria de la Concepción Josefa Ortiz Magón de Domínguez.

Doña Josefa was a conspirator and supporter of the Mexican War of Independence, who fought for independence against Spain, in the early 19th century. She is frequently referred to as "La Corregidora".

Doña Josefa developed an early sympathy for the Amerindian, mestizo and the criollo community who were oppressed by the Spanish colonial government. Amerindian people were oppressed; mestizos and criollos were often seen as second-class citizens and were relegated to secondary roles in the administration of the colony.

But GEESH, how do you pull off this look????

Purpura Plastika

I've posted about Purpura Plastika before, it seems time to do it once again!

click the sentence above to see the previous post

Purpura Plastika,(PPK) was created by a group of young artists with the intention of teaching Expressive Awareness through Art to children, women and older adults in special situations.  All suffering from some form of disability, terminal illness, violence, neglect, or other kind of abuse.

Created under the premise that art is in and of itself a natural therapy, and realizing that art is capable of transforming the quality of a persons life.  These workshops seek to serve as a channel for transformation, through the use of cerebral gymnastics, art therapy, music therapy, breathing exercises, group meditation, self awareness and improvement, and other techniques that assist in liberating the stress and to nurture in an ideal way creativity   The participants use techniques directed to achieving an emotional catharsis, they learn to take control of their emotions, making them tangible, giving them the ability to express them in a graphical way.  This ability to take control of and express ones emotions allows them to own their experiences and to transmute these experiences and harmful feelings into controlled emotions allowing for personal growth and improvement.

As the holidays approach, and as you prepare for your trips to Merida, remember this amazing project.  Go to their website, pick up some of the art supplies listed toss them in to your bag.   


There are also ways to donate money on their webpage.  Although PPK receives some grants and assistance it is the artists themselves, and the volunteers that provide the bulk of the funding required to keep this project going.


If you live here in Merida or stay here for several months at a time there aer other ways you can help; participate in a workshop, help with advertising or project management, help a child understand a colorwheel.  Contact one of the artists listed on the webpage, see what you can do!

Also, if you access the PPK webpage and then go to the Library you will find art by the artists themselves.  You can continue to support the project by buying artist work as well. 


And remember to check in on their events for the ability to purchase the kids art.  


If you go to my previous post on PPK you'll see examples of pieces we've purchased both from kids, and from 2 of the artists.


I think you'll find this to be a fulfilling adventure!