my dog is a racist

I actually had to verify the difference between bigot and racist -

according to Joncey via wikiAnswers 

• A racist is someone who believes in the superiority of one race over another, or who acts differently (usually negatively) towards a person or a group of people because of their race.  
• A bigot is a blinkered, narrow-minded person, usually also very intolerant and unable to see anyone else's point of view. People can be bigoted about things that have nothing to do with race, for example, religion or sexual orientation.
• All racists are bigots, but by no means are all bigots racist

I know my dog is a racist, and according to this definition she is also a bigot! 

She is afraid and aggressive against people with dark skin.  We have friends, lots of different color friends; she is wary with people she doesn't know that are light, but afraid and aggressive of dark skinned people.

You may remember - it was just at 2 years ago that we picked her up off the highway -
she was so young, too young to be harboring these tendencies, or perhaps not....

she looks like she could take your head off doesn't she?

Well when we have workers, typically maya, she is aggressive and barks at them.  We have to tell them to ignore her and she will stop; and she does eventually become friendly towards them, if they are here a few days.

When black friends come over, she reacts badly...

Just look at that face; hard to believe she could be that way - Right?

Today we went to the beach, Tech loves the beach - she loves to run in the sand, and she likes the water.  

After the beach we decided to stop for some lunch, and a cold beer sounded really nice - so we headed to the malecon at Progresso.  When in Progresso we typically stop and San Marino which offers beach side service.

And of course all the vendors wanted to sell us something - oh my gosh, she was horrible, barking, snarling, snapping...at least the vendors left us alone. 

The waiter was fabulous, and got an extra tip. We were going to leave after a beer and just eat when we got home,  I could tell he was concerned but he always approached slowly and so that she could see him coming - she didn't get used to him, but she at least didn't harass him, and we got to eat some ceviche!



 Oh my gosh - my dog is  racist!!!

Techie is cold

WARNING - Gratuitous Puppy Photos -

Avert your eyes if you don't like pictures of peoples kids pets

This morning when I got up, about 6:30am, I opened the back door to let the beasties out and checked the thermometer.    We have a thermometer out back, it indicated the temperature to be 58ºf/14ºc

.

Poor Techie is totally Yucateca - Here is her current favorite napping position.

Well that  is when she can't be under a cover with one of us!

It takes quite a bit of coercing to get her to even poke her head out!

I read today that some 20 more cold fronts (frentes frios) aer expected in this season - AAACCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

Tech update!

This has been Tech since Tuesday afternoon when we picked her up from the vet.  She got spayed Monday afternoon.  She's been quite lethargic.  We have been walking her in the yard to be sure she doesn't jump or run, or drag her stitches crossing the rock border walls.  She varies from stretched out like this to rolled up in the tightest ball I've ever seen her in.  This is actually the cats bed under a table....

Today she has some energy and wants to be out, as she normally is.  But not just yet...

Camina Con tu Mascota 2009

Every year AFAD (Albergue Franciscano del Animal Desprotegido) hosts a petwalk to help raise funds for their animal rescue shelter.

This is our first year with a mascota (pet) that we would consider to take on such an outing. The cats being so far above anything as pedestrian as a 'pet'walk.

So we gave Tech a bath yesterday, and bought her a new halter so her leash and halter are now color coordinated, and this AM bright and early we were off to do our part.

Here she is in the backseat, anxiously waiting to get there!

Registration tent with staff in orange AFAD shirtsWhat the #%@* is that? That's not a dog!
and it needs it's own referee?


Oh, there, that's more like it!


They're more my size!
After the walk, hanging out, making new friends.What a good puppy!

None of us got a good nights sleep last night since Tech caught a zorro, or opossum here in the Yucatan, about 3am. She has a very specific sound when she has actually caught or trapped something, and so when she woke us with that sound we were up and out. Since I wear jammies all I needed were flipflops, but Tom needed pants, flips, flashlight...

I got there first, saw the dead possum, called Tech off and carried her toward the house. I told Tom about the 'dead' possum, He understood what I meant was that it's dead, you get rid of it. I let Tech go and said, 'she'll show you where it is' and I followed them both out. Tech got to the 'spot', but kept going. The possum wasn't dead, it had just been playing possum. It was trying to get up the wall but Tech was on it again. I held her off so the possum could get to the top of the wall where Tom pushed it over the other side with a stick. Maybe that possum will think again about using our yard as a shortcut.

Add to that that Tom and I had gone to the botana bar with friends, and naturally had a few beers with the botanas. Then to another friends house for a few kick ass margaritas, before going out to dinner with more friends and having a few bottles of wine. Whew, retirement is rough!

Anyway, the petwalk was fun, we walked saw some friends, met some new folks, sweated out the beer, tequila, wine.....

Sometimes change isn't all that easy

I get quite a few email inquiries from people who read my blog and are thinking about moving here.

They frequently ask about retirement, especially about retirement in Mexico;

What is the cost of living there?

Where is a good area to buy a house?

Can I get Velveeta Cheese there?

Do I really need to speak Spanish?

What do you do all day?

The cost of living is so dependent upon your needs, desires, and ability to adjust and adapt.

What I can live on may be completely different from what you can live on, and isn't it all subjective based on what your cost of living was where you came from...

And don't we all adjust to the amount of income we have...

Why do you ask me where is a good place to buy a house? Again, my needs, desires, likes, dislikes, etc are going to be so different from yours. I always tell people - plan to rent for a year before you decide; First to see if you still want to live here, and Second so you can get a feel for the community and decide for yourself if and where you want to settle in.

Velveeta Cheese - Is really just asking about familiar food things; sure there are a lot of familiar food items available here. But isn't part of the adventure of moving to a foreign country to breathe in the change, to become more than you were...You can probably get Velveeta here, but whay would you want to ... You can find quite a variety of USofA familiar products, but not quite so many convenience type things, premade things. So learn to make your own bisquick and pie crust mix. Drink Te Negro instead of Lipton, cut up your own carrot sticks, etc. You can buy chicken or porks chops on styrofoam trays, not all meat is sold hanging in open air markets, but that is where you get the freshest stuff!

Yes, you really need to speak spanish. Sure there are a lot of expats here that don't speak spanish. They manage. They have mostly other expat friends, and maybe a few mexican friends that have english. They can't have a conversation at the grocery store or park, they can't order their own gas for delivery, they can't call the phone company to complain that their service isn't working, they can't ...

What do we do all day? Depends on the day - Depends on your energy level - Depends on your interests - Depends on your ability to speak the language - Depends on your daring - Depends on you!

I love being here. Tom struggles sometimes. I'm more adaptable. He's a stickler for the way things should be. I had some spanish coming in, it's better now, but still not excellent. He had none, although he is now taking a class. I enjoy and for the most part appreciate the differences. He has a hard time sometimes with the logic of some of the differences. We struggle sometimes with the 24/7 togetherness. Tom had been retired a few years before we moved, I was still working. Now, we're together alot. In my opinion Couples really need outside interests with independent things to do.

It's a huge endeavor to move anywhere, but especially to a foreign country. It's a liberating experience. It's interesting to get a perspective on the USofA from other than inside the USofA.

Here in Merida we hear stories frequently of how the USofA is looked upon with great favor and appreciation. It has a lot more to do with the actions and kindness of individuals than through the actions of our government. A lot of USofA citizens come down to offer aid, support, assistance, and to provide opportunities. It's wonderful and heartwarming to hear the stories from elders in the small villages of how some group of USofA'ers came and built a school, or offered up medical care, or taught some agriculture, or did something that was received, appreciated, and remembered for many years...

OK, I'm starting to ramble, time to climb down and get to work - I am redesigning and rebuilding a garden that has been trampled and trodden by puppy and chickens.

And Now - Time for gratuitous puppy pictures

Techie on Sept 28, 2008

Techie on Jan 9, 2009

Yep, it is the same basket. And No, I could not get her inside to sit down!

Rain, and an update on animals!

Rain, Beautiful Rain

It's been so dry and now we've had rain 2 of the past 3 days. It's marvelous!

Some bloggers have mentioned they don't like seeing pictures of or hearing about others bloggers animals, Back out now if you want! Cuz what's coming are gratuitous pet pics!

Back in November I reported my acquisition of two peeps -

Well it's been two months and my how the chicks have grown.

They have become quite friendly, and not the least bit concerned about people, in fact we, people, mean food, and oh how they like to eat. Now the dog fears for her food source as the chicks will gang up and force her away from her bowl. It's definitly time to build that coop.

Orchids - Dig This!

Rhyncholaelia Digbyana that is -

I got blooms last year in December and January, and this year it is blooming in November. Could be the really cool nights we are having right now!

I have quite a few orchids with flower spikes, mostly the Schumbergkias. My Oeceoclades bloomed in September. I have quite a few that I have yet to accurately identify, so am eager for the blooming to begin.

Puppy Update - Corre went to live with Gary on September 19. Reports are that both are happy! I have avoided asking for a visit, just too difficult; But hear through mutual acquaintances that all seems to be well.

We had 2 people interested in Tech but both were unwilling to take her until all parasites were gone, which here in the tropics is practically impossible and is only effective with regular quarterly drugs. Even healthy dogs apparently require the quarterly maintenance drugs. Being from Colorado, the high desert, we never really had to deal with any of these issues so it's been a real learning experience. So anyway, with only ONE puppy in residence the dynamic changed tremendously and we've decided to not say 'Good-Bye' to Tech.

Somehow she seemed to know - Duh, just look at that face!

HUH?

Here she is helping Tom to clean papers from the file cabinet, She's the safety shredder.

Tech update

Tech - I can't beleive the change.

September 19 October 12


I just need to share the change in Tech, it's been tremendous. Many who saw her didn't think she'd survive, but survive she has, and with a cheerful playfulness that is amazing. Still looking for her a home.