something wicked this way comes...

we've been experiencing about a week of 100 degree Fahrenheit weather.  Completely out of the normal range for here in Merida, for this time of year.  It's still February for crying out loud!

We were just talking yesterday, and we're going to have to stop making our own ice cubes early this year and start buying the bags if this keeps up!

my current state of affairs - TMI, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ ABOUT BODILY FUNCTIONS, TURN AWAY NOW!

This past Wednesday, the 6th I got sick, I mean really sick, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, yada, yada, you know, you've been there...

Then came the pain, headache, muscle ache, joint ache, gut cramps, more diarrhea. Come to find out many of these more debilitating symptoms were a result of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance caused by the expulsion of fluids.   So currently I am trying to recover from the dehydration and trying to quell the diarrhea -Treda has slowed down the D somewhat...and drinking lots of electrolyte solution, and taking lots of ibuprofen is helping with the other stuff.

This was also particularly disturbing because this was the day of my birthday girls lunch, some friends and I share December birthdays and we have a new, this would have been the third,  but now broken tradition of going to la Pigua, my favorite upscale seafood restaurant for lunch.  This was the first opportunity with all of us here together, and I missed it!   

Several discussions with the doctor makes him think this is viral gastroenteritis rather than food poisoning which makes me contagious.   

I came in contact with a carrier....who?  No way to know, in fact I could have gotten it from anyone, or anything touched by someone that I came in to contact with within 24 - 48 hours of Wednesday. 

Now just because you come in to contact doesn't mean you'll get it!  You are more likely to get it if you are susceptible and I was just getting over the flu that had lingered for just under five weeks so my system was weak. And unfortunately I am a finger biter, so my nasty grubby little fingers go in my mouth without conscious thought.  

I have been advised to avoid people and crowds right now to prevent spreading this.  Obviously I don't feel comfortable flying, for a number of reasons, first, is the immediate...."no can wait"....access to a bathroom and second and very very important is transmission.

So we had to cancel our trip, due to start Monday, to Puerto Vallarta. We have friends that winter there and were looking forward to seeing them. 

 I keep thinking other people wouldn't cancel their plans to keep from possibly infecting others, did I do the right thing?  I have and you have been on planes, trains, buses with people coughing up lungs, sneezing, spewing vile nasty germs, and people with other evilness that is not so obvious, so should I have cancelled??

But then once there, I would be so limited as to what I could go and do...in addition to the time with friends, one of my favorite things is to go to the botanic gardens, that would have been out.  as would have been a whale watching trip I was planning, so?????????

I'm feeling better, I can sit up, move around accomplish tasks with little or no pain thanks to ibuprofen.  The urgency is still there, but  with less frequency, although I'm not eating much and mostly boiled potatoes and carrots.

I think today will be the turning point, although I'm still apparently contagious, but only if I practice unsanitary habits, which I must admit I typically don't, and Tom and I disinfected much of the house the other day to help protect him and anyone that came by.  

Maybe I'll catch up on my blogging????????

just to pass the time of day!

In the previous post I alluded to a presentation Tom and I made at a local Colegio (College).


A few months ago, a young man we had met  several years ago showed up at our door.  He is in College and doesn't quite know what he wants to do with himself - his real love is dancing, but he doesn't see a way to make a decent income from that.


Anyway, his instructor gave him a challenge - see if you like teaching - so here he is asking if we will be his students so he can try it out.


Of course we said yes, -  we also tried to enlist some other friends, but travel and other commitments prevented them from participating.  Too bad really, because although having the weekly commitment to work around it was very educational, inspiring, and fun.  And now we have a new friend.


Anyway again, so for the past few months Isai has been coming to our house at least once, and sometimes twice a week for about 2 hours and has been teaching us Spanish.  He creates lesson plans on his laptop which he puts up on the table and we sit and discuss and learn; all of us.  He, like many young people here are so curious about our lives in the US, and in other countries too.


So much of our conversation centered around things we did as kids, childhood experiences, how did we do this, how did we know to do that, etc, etc.


OK - so 2 weeks ago he tells us his teacher would like to talk to us - we figure she wants our feedback on how he did.  Well we were wrong there, apparently he tells the class about our sessions, and us, and, and...


So she asks us to come and speak about Innovation and Creativity, which seems to be something the students need help with.  Many here do things the way the parents have done things, there is not always a great deal of initiative to think, but wait, what if we do it this way, or try this, .... Thinking outside the box!


Also, something really missing for these young people is interaction with foreigners, and this was a huge thing - for us to come, and sit and talk and to offer them the experience of seeing that we too are just regular people, not to be feared or mystified by.


The instructor herself is a foreigner, she is from Northern Spain, so she indicated that for the students, it is their curiosity about other places that really sets them off and gets them motivated.  We started talking a little about cities in Spain, and in Mexico, and all the name crossovers; Merida, Valladolid, San Sebastian, etc, and about the pilgrimage roads - the students were mesmerized, and a bit awed, they hadn't realized - it was very cool!


We were invited to come back anytime, to feel as if the school is our house.  Really, I feel so honored!


Anyway, again, agian,  I really suggest any and all of my friends that are living in Countries not their own to go to a local school, college, university, any level, offer to come in and talk, just visit with the students - It's a fabulous experience for them, and for you!   Really!

Ants in my Pants!

So last night Jonna and I were talking about ants, she has both a swollen eye, and a big inflammation on her inner bicep.  She postulates that the teeny tiny ants get washed in to her pool when she is cleaning the patio, then when she is done she gets in to cool off and the ants bite her.


Well this morning I did a load of Landry and hung it out; white laundry.  I typically go out at intervals and shake hanging laundry to get some of the wrinkles out.


So I go out a few minutes ago and my panties are covered in teeny tiny brown ants, we sometimes call them sugar ants.  They are coming off the wall, along the clothes line, and down all over the clothes, and today the stuff closest to the wall are my panties,  Yipes, Ants in my Pants!

The big blow; turbonada; remolino; mini tornado

So yesterday we were surprised with a big blow, a turbonada, a remolino, a mini tornado.  Winds speeds were measured and reported at about 120k/h (low 70 mph)

I was telling someone this morning that we were a little accustomed to winds like that from having lived so long in Colorado.

Here however it is quite unusual.  And the 'what if' planning/precautions just don't exist.  Corrugated sheet metal or plastic laminate roofing that is baling wired to semi rigid structures just blows away.  Trees with no root structure are uprooted. Large limbs growing through utility wires...

Here at our house we are incredibly fortunate that we get little or no water in the house even during the most torrential downpours.  The rain associated with yesterdays wind was not excessive.

We have now identified a few areas of concern; where precaution needs to be addressed when confronted with high wind.  And hopefully, in the event of a hurricane we'll have a little warning.

I have several windchimes that now need to be restrung.  We have several plants that need to be weighted down or moved in the event of big winds, a few of my garden faery statutes were blown over and now suffer with broken wings.  But the biggest issue WAS the areca palms that bordered the fountain on the back wall of the pool.  I was standing there in the doorway, enjoying the cool that the winds were bringing, and pondering the potential damage that could occur when I suddenly saw the farthest potted palm start to twist and then just drop into the pool.

I just started laughing, then ran to grab the camera - who'd a thunk - so I'm standing there, seeing the lightening, hearing the thunder, pondering the wind when what to my wandering eye does appear, but Tom butt naked, we'll except for his dive mask, going in to the pool to get that palm out!

So as more lightening occurs and I am just flabbergasted, gob smacked, drop jawed, he went in to the frickin pool, during a lightening storm to get a plant out.  And trust me, it wasn't the plant he was worried about!

So, as he is underwater dragging the palm to the steps to get it out, he tells me later he feels a swish and stands up and looks about.  The other palm has been blown into the pool and just barely misses him. As easy as that wind moved these things, they are not light, he could have been seriously hurt.

So here you can see the remnants of the two broken pots. 

And notice he left the expensive sculpture there on the side of the pool.

I made a quick assessment and we suffered only a few branches down, but quite a mess of leaves and twigs and such that now needs to be cleaned up.

Around town there was considerably, a Huge, Ancient tree in parque Santiago blew over, and just yesterday morning I had stood in the shade of that tree waiting for a ride.  Very sad.
And Downtown looked quite like a war zone because of the narural debris, trash, and a LOT of the glass from the big window wall of the Ambassador Hotel (five stories of it) that blew out. The glass blew quite far! Several blocks around calle 59 were closed. And apparently it hailed! I've heard reports of hail, but saw no evidence of it here!
There was quite a bit of damage, and many trees and limbs down along Montejo, but by 11pm the crews had much of it brushed in to piles and were busy with the chainsaws and chippers to remove it.

Driving in Merida

Heather In Paradise posted a blog about her perceptions of things, the object of this perception for her was/is the sandwichon, read about it here


I was having this internal dialogue with myself just the other day.  Being from and having worked many years in Colorado I was accustomed to doing things considerably differently than I do the same things here.  For instance, and what got me thinking about this is/was driving.   


In and around Colorado many of the highways have speeds of up to 100mph.  In town speeds range from 25 to gosh, about 50 I guess.  I can't really remember.  But when we went somewhere we went fast! Period!


So the other day I was going somewhere here in town (Merida), and I started feeling like I was going really fast and I was wondering what/is my big hurry!  I looked down and I was doing 27mph. 27mph and I was telling myself to slow down.


Funny how things change!

Irrigation System Installation

So the irrigation/sprinkler/watering system and the sod have been installed. Things didn't go as well as we had hoped but it is now finished.  It's been a week and we've managed to keep the dogs out of all but a tiny bit of green space.

A week of cool, overcast, and moist temperatures has really worked to our benefit.  We spent QUITE a bit of time cleaning up the mud and dirt generated by the process.  The power washer is having issues again so all the patio space was cleaned by hand; Thank You Tom! 

We are worried that once we let the dogs back out they will be tracking in dirt again.  When the sod was installed they sprinkled dirt all over the top of the sod.  I mean pots of dirt ladel'ed out and strewn here and there.  I've never seen this done before, but Mr Professional Installer assured me it's the way it's done here. Although the last 2 times we had sod installed it wasn't done this way.  Ni Modos.

With the flamboyant tree topped, and the neem thinned I am hoping that this time there will be enough sun to allow the grass to live.

so here are some photos

the puppy 500 racetrack!

YOU CAN SEE THE PUPPY 500 RACETRACK IS FILLED IN

lucho libre puppy pit

a little different perspective but you can see the puppy lucho libre pit becoming green again!

So all in all - the system is in, we haven't been able to use it much due to the weather - I/we would have designed it a bit differently to avoid dry spots and 3-4 foot of overspray onto the patio.  We'd have used some angles and not all 360 heads, but we didn't want to do it!  es mi culpa!  it's in, it works, and it will be way easier for house and pet sitters.

cell phone dilemmas

Tom and I both have cellphones.  It's what we use here, well that and our VOIP number we use to call and be called from the States.


I am seriously pondering adding a landline through our cable provider.


Tom's phone, well it was our phone the first year we were here since we rarely went anywhere not together, was a gift; Cast off from a friend. So it is probably 8 or 9 years old.  Then I purchased a very budget cell phone.  Both have served us well.  I highly endorse Nokia.   


Both of our cellphones are experiencing age related symptoms.  The batteries no longer hold a charge, and all the numbers and letters have worn off the keypad on mine.

I want a smart phone, I'd love an iPhone, at least a 4 but the newest 4S would be uber cool.  How does one justify that expense? I am having a hard time.  I can get a Samsung smart phone for about 250US, the iPhone is 700+US.


OMG - the options and details on cellphones is staggering,  How does a rube make a decision????


I don't want a plan, I want to do pay-as-you go, I want to connect wi-fi, not 3G so unlocked, I want email, facebook, web search, camera-good camera, games, googlemaps, qwerty keyboard, pretty simple stuff really, but I also want touch screen.


Anyone want to do the research and tell me which is best to get - and for the best price - while still speaking to my geekiness that wants cool and fancy.   I hate shopping 


Anyone want to sell their used uber cool smart phone really cheap so they can buy the newest and coolest?

irrigation system installation - Day 1

Over a year ago I started talking about putting in an irrigation system.  It takes a bit over an hour to water the back garden with the hose.  Then there is the small garden outside the kitchen as well as the pots around the patio and pool.  Oh, and the small garden out front.  So you can see how, especially during the dry season this could take up quite a bit of time.  I actually enjoy the watering, most times, but sometimes not!

And 'so what' you might think, she's retired, what else does she have to do - Plenty! I have plenty to do!

Anyway, I can't now remember where I saw the ad, but I contacted Randy, from Natural Thangs - he came out looked the place over, and offered me an estimate.

Tom and I tend to be do-it-yourselfers. Some say we're a bit controlling and want want things done the way WE want them done!  Yes, I'd have to agree on that.  We are also organized and plan things out.  In fact about a year ago I measured out the garden and started a layout for where heads should go for coverage etc.  I just didn't know how to measure the water pressure to know length of line and run, etc. Without that knowledge how could I plan properly head placement, etc. So, I sort of sat this plan off and forgot, well I didn't forget, I just didn't follow through.

So back to Natural Thangs, I saw an ad, or comment, or photo, or something and gave them a call.

Randy - came, we talked over price, we struck a deal, a very loose deal.  We didn't follow our own counsel to others.  Get a detailed estimate and outline of exactly what is to be done. Nor did he provide a 'Design' for the sprinkler layout - but hey - TIM (This is Mexico) Things roll a bit differently here.   Add to that we gave him nearly 2/3 payment up front - again, against our counsel to others; 1/3 up front, 1/3 at halfway point, and 1/3 upon happy ending.

Anyway, Randy and his guys, 3 instead of the 2 he quoted, One guy for free?   Doubtful! all show up this AM ready to rock n roll.

So Randy and 3rd guy, Renee I think, start talking about heads and coverage, and how much of this that and the other thing.  They check the pressure of the water coming out of the hose, chat some more and then head out to buy their supplies.

Talking with Randy, we, Tom and I ask questions about stuff, what's he doing here, how's he doing that - he keeps saying he's a professional and has lots of experience and to trust him!  OK! That's why we're not doing it ourselves right?!

So the worker guys are trenching - the boss man is shopping - and I am sittin back, fat, dumb, and happy!

before trenching

They did get a fair amount done - check out these photos!

during - trenching

Well the photos are causing me some grief right now!  But Day 1, most of the trenching is done, some tube is laid, the sod and dirt have been delivered, still no design, and things have changed from the discussion this morning to what was done by afternoon.

Let's see what tomorrow brings!

A weekend cultural extravaganza!

Boy have I had a fun weekend -  On Friday I had the 2nd of my new Yoga classes.  Yes, yes, I know, me exercising, just doesn't seem right does it!  But yes! I am now attending a twice a week morning yoga class.   


In the evening there was a meeting at a local bookstore that sells English language books.  The bookstore also sells Spanish language books, and artisania, mainly from Oaxaca.


The current owner wants out, and the couple that are buying want to create a sort of Cultural Center, geared towards a predominantly English speaking customer base.  So we had a meeting; introductions were made, ideas outlined, and then we broke in to focus groups to outline some ideas and wishlist items.  There were groups for Book Club, Music, WorkShops, Lecture Series, I think, I could be wrong; I went with the Workshop Group.  We came up with quite a list, should be interesting to see what transpires.


Tom had a poker game that night and was using the car so I was on my own.  After the meeting I was strolling along and saw a dress I liked in a small shop and stopped in.  I did end up buying the dress, and found out the sales lady is a neighbor; she said she lives in La Ermita and mentioned a street not 5 blocks south of me.  Small World!


I then continued strolling and spotted several friends at a small streetside cafe, 'Vida Catrina', They invited me to join them and we visited for a while.  They had ordered food and it was really well presented, and according to the group the food was all good.


I continued my strolling and ended up in Paisaje de Revolucion, which is a breezeway of sorts between the cathedral and the Macay Museum.  This breezeway has just recently undergone some remodeling and now has a covered translucent open end roof.  Here I stumbled upon the tail end of a dance performance by a contemporary Cuban Dance Troup. They are here performing as a part of the Festival of the City, a month long cornucopia of cultural events.  I really enjoyed the dancing.  Here is the dance troupe info -

Compañía de Cuba de Danza Contemporánea ENDEDAN´S

So by now it's getting on to 11PM and I head home.  Yes, I walked most of the way, I did catch a bus at 67 x 62 y 64.  And yes I felt completely safe and comfortable.


Then on Saturday, there were a variety of everyday detail kinds of things, sweep the floor, load of laundry, grocery store, pay CFE (electric), blah, blah, blah.  And  again, Tom was using the car so I was on foot.  I should have taken a regular taxi home from the grocery, I normally get a trici-taxi but as I was walking out the store doors I saw all of them pulling off, drat and damnation.  I really did have too much stuff, and now my shoulders and elbows are a bit sore!


Tom ended up getting home a bit later than I had anticipated and one thing led to another and by the time we realized it it was 7pm.  I told him about the Dance Troup and since they were only playing the 2 nights.  He decided he wanted to see them so we walked up to Amaro for dinner. Amaro is one of our favorite places, the food is consistently good, Tom loves their margaritas, and I am a sucker for their sangria.  They have a great variety of vegetarian dishes, but they also serve beef, pork, chicken, fish, and seafood as well, a little something for everyone. Seating is mainly al fresco in the large courtyard of this converted colonial style mansion which also happens to be the birthplace of Andres Quintana Roo; AND starting anywhere between 8 and 10PM they have musicians. This particular Saturday was a guitarrist,/singer named Tony.  He's really quite good, plays lots of traditional and contemporary Trova music, romantic ballads, etc.  It was a shame to leave him but we had to get to the dance performance.




OKAY, so off we head after dinner towards the paisaje and we stroll past and great several friends, always fun! 


So here are some photos of the dancers, they were performing, among other things, a contemporary adaptation of La Carmen.

 I REALLY hate seeing the porta-potties as the background, 

and I thought the jumbo screen was a bit distracting

oye, this guy could fly, he was very talented!

OKAY, so after the dancers we, yes tonight it was Tom and I, walked to the bus stop and took the bus home together.


So Sunday I have a ticket for the symphony, and Tom has a seat reserved at a friends for football.


Our internet was down most of the morning so I couldn't get to an email for the phone number to call Trish who had my ticket - so luckily she lives only about 3 1/2 blocks away.  I walk up, get my ticket, accept the offer of a ride, as yes, you guessed it, Tom is using the car again.  Although he did offer to walk and give me the car today!


Anyway,  the symphony today was FABULOUS!    This link will take you to todays program
Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and Strauss.  Fabulous! 

How can you not enjoy being in this building, it is beautiful!

So after the concert I start walking about a bit and run in to friends Jorge and Joanna and we decide to go for some lunch, or first choice was packed so decided to try the Vida Catrina, none of us had been.

This is one of the entries, not very fetching is it!

but look what you see when you get inside!

el mariachi loco!  or are they los mariachis locos?

tamarind chicken,   deelish!

 chile stuffed with picadillo and queso de bolo

and Jorge's Special Order, fettuccine with shrimp in garlic wine sauce.

all super tasty, and wine is 2 for 1 at lunch, SCORE!!!!

We each liked our food and I think we'll each go back again sometime!

OK, now I'm feeling fine, I have had lunch with 2 of my favorite people, and I've had 2 glasses of wine!  and I am back on the street.  I take a shortcut through the park and what do I find, a performance by a singer named Beatriz, who has an amazing voice by the way!

And I stop in at a pharmacy and pick up my prescription for the antibiotics for my tooth infection which I still have done nothing about scheduling for the tooth repair.

And then I make my way back to my trusty bus stop.  From my house to the plaza grande, or Plaza de la Independencia is about 18 blocks, to get to the bus stop that comes in to my neighborhood you must walk to within 8 blocks, silly eh.  But that short ride sure helps out on the way home!

So here I sit, Tom is still at football, dogs are fed, birds are in, I've made a followup appointment about the irrigation system and sod I want installed, It's been a very good day! Maybe I'll go watch a movie!

Yes, it's been a very good day!

2012 FM2 Renewal

On 5 December 2011 Tom and I arrived at INM (Immigration) to turn in our paperwork for our annual migratory document renewal.  All the paperwork had been filled out online and printed.  We had all the copies we needed of the stuff we needed. We had our photos; 3 front views, 2 side views, no makeup, eyeglasses, or jewelry, against a white background.   After about a 45 minute wait to get through  the line to sign in the guard informed us that they were at days capacity and that we COULD wait, but probably WOULDN'T get in. I must say I did appreciate his advice.

On 9 December 2011 Tom and I arrived once again at immigration with the same packet of info, but this time we were there an hour and a half BEFORE they even open and sat on the street in a line waiting for admittance.  At 9, they open the gates and we file in to the checkin line.  No problems today.   We wait, while I wait in line Tom walks to the bank and makes our renewal fee payments; for 2011 it was 2801pesos each! We get in, we turn in our info, well sort of.  Our proof of income were the  quarterly statements from our retirement fund that show how much we get each month.  NOPE They want to see how much we put in the bank each month.   OKAY - race home - jump through hoops, get what they want from the internet and race back - Good thing we have a car, eh?  So we get everything turned in and are told to check back after the holidays, and here that means AFTER the first week in January.

Well the second week in January we were busy with the Spay n Neuter Campaign.  So about the 13th or 14th I check online and there it is - the message that says to present ourselves at the office.  So Friday 13 January 2012 we again position ourselves on the street in front of INM and hour and a half early to wait in the line for them to open.   Once we get to the check in line it takes 2 minutes for them to look us up and tell us we have an appointment at 10am on the 16th.   Great!

On the 16th I go to INM at the appointed hour and get the process started, we get completely through my set of paperwork.  Last step is to affix the photos and then laminate the card.  Our photos are precisely what was asked, EXCEPT that they were from differing photo sessions so the clothing was different. NO GOOD, WON'T DO!  Must have new photos.

So Tuesday we go to Wal-Mart, get the photos we needed taken, and while we wait we manage to spend 1450pesos.  As we are entering Immigration we run into a friend and the fee if you turn in your paperwork in January for the same renewal is now 34XXpesos!

Now Monday, when I left, the young lady, Alicia, told me when I return to come directly to her. SO! We get to Immigration and approach the young lady who had just the day previous told me to return directly to her and she tells me we must wait in the lobby/seating area. OK fine!  After about 20ish minutes they call my name, as I get ready to stand the guy doing the name calling asks me for my photos,which I give him and he tells me to wait where I am.  He does however take Tom with him.  In just a few minutes, less than 10, Tom is back with his card in hand.  I must continue to wait - I suspect that this could have something to do with my reaction the day previous when I was told the photos weren't going to work (and here I thought I had masked my feelings so well).  Anyway, so I wait a bit more, then a just a short while longer, and then in a few more minutes, out comes the name caller guy with my card.  EUREKA!   Legal for another year!

So now it is about 1pm, and it is WAY past lunch time, so off we go to Centro to get lunch at Marlin Azul; now why did we choose Marlin Azul; because it is a block from the building where we can pay our taxes.  You might think we are pushing our luck, but no, we walk in, approach the cashier with last years statement, she does some keyboard clicking tells us how much, we pay, and then go eat some fabulous fish and drink a few beers.

Then home for about 2 hours and off to the fun-filled dental experience I wrote about earlier!

But we did go out for a great meal with friends later in the evening, and I probably wouldn't have had I had any type of dental surgery or procedure!

So see things happen for a reason!

¿Qué pasa?

Qué Pasa, roughly means What's Up? What's Happening?

So what's been up with me!  Well -

The 3rd Annual Spay n Neuter Campaign organized by Planned Pethood just ended.  It was 4 days at 2 different locations here in Merida, and 2 days in Progreso.  It was/is a fabulous event in which to be involved.

I just wrote a 'WrapUp, Thank You' report and posted it on the YAPA blog, you can read that here!

Our Cooking Group once again decided to cook for the Vets and Volunteers.  We've done this before to rave reviews.  We must be getting good because we shaved an hour off our prep time.  And again, there has been great response to the food we made.  I also did the Volunteer Coordination, and worked 2 days of the Clinics.  I am so out of shape - I do enjoy my lethargic sedentary life, but boy when I do get involved in something physical it takes its toll.

It was a tremendously rewarding experience for all involved.

And last week our housekeeper stopped by and quit!  OUCH!  Apparently her kids, ages 10 and 16 are needing a bit more parental supervision as their grades, and health are suffering.   Fine, whatever....No, I'm being intentionally snarky.  I understand that er kids come before cleaning my house.  But she's been here 3 years.  So I now need to find another housekeeper.

So I've been cleaning - ugh!  again, that sedentary lifestyle and physical activity just don't mix.

I've been trying to finish up with our annual immigration document renewal - my last appointment to pick up our docs, or so I thought, was this am.   NO! NOT! Didn't happen.  Our pictures, 3 full front, and 2 right side were not all in the same clothes. THE SAME CLOTHES!!!!  @^%@#)*$#@&$#,  so we need to get a new set of photos taken.   Whatever, Ni Modos!

I'm looking for a Ropero (aka Wardrobe) to use as a linen closet.  Right now I use plastic boxes, and they are stacked in the Guest Room, well actually they are all over the bed because that way they don't have to be moved every week for cleaning, Not an attractive look!

I need to get the garden paths laid with sod again, yes again!  The dogs use the pathways as a racetrack, and no - I don't want rock or cement, I only want grass!

I had a bunch of email communications with Belkin over a Surge Suppressor that BURNED up - in the end they asked for my address here and said they were going to send me a replacement - well it ended up at a friends house in the US. Great, more email communication with a Customer Service rep that doesn't or can't read my emails.  Yes, intentional snarkiness !!!!

I really need to get off my duff and find a car, something quite small and economical, an Atos, or Chevy, or Ka.

Oye, Too much to do, to much going on - Think I'll go read a book!

Tomorrow is Another Day!

the m&m face off!

So Tom and I went to the movie theater today. 

We saw the new Mission Impossible movie.  It was very good, action packed but not overly gorey or bloody.  


We bought our regular, to share,  large popcorn, ginormous soda, and a package of m&m peanuts.


We're sitting there and Tom hands me an m&m, I look at it and it is brown, I pull a face and Tom wants to know - What???


PUHLEEEESE!   We all know that in Flavor - yellow and green are the best, followed by orange, then reds are borderline, and with the blue and brown, well why bother, they just aren't very good at all!

Tom then pulled a face, ate the brown one and gave me a yellow!

ah, the smell of electrical burn in the morning...

First - Merry Christmas to All!




Now, on to my story - So yesterday morning, we were preparing to start on some out of the house activities and we heard an odd, yet intuitively known, deep toned pop and hiss. We both turned and zombie walked into the office and straight to the desk, another deep toned pop and hiss and the smell of electrical burn intensified.

The super duper high watt voltage suppressor electrical strip, in to which the laptop, desk lamp, TV, and dvd player were plugged ceased to suppress.

We started by switching the strip off, then pulling the the plug for the strip out of the wall, and then disconnecting the appliances.

Tom tore the strip apart and the inside was charred inside.
Good thing we were close to the office and heard all this as it was starting.

So, all my tec/geek/electronics friends - just what is a good quality, yet reasonably priced surge protector for electronics equipment?

So what we had was a Belkin SurgeMaster 2950 joule Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor,
model F9G930-10


in doing some research I have discovered it was subject to a recall a few years ago because the plastic case separates, but nothing about it spontaneously combusting.

The Green Movement

A friend sent me this as an email -

I like the message and thought I'd pass it on.

Especially, now that I am turning into an 'old' person, and am a conspicuous consumer!

Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."

• She was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.
• Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over.So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
• We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every storeand office building.
• We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.
• Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind.
• We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days.
• Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young ladyis right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day.
• Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember, not a screen the size of the state of Montana .
• In the kitchen,we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.
• When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
• Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power.
• We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then.
• We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.
• We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razorblades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then.
• Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service.
• We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances.
• And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 20,200 kilometers (12,552 mi) miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

funny how you just get used to things a certain way...

Tom and I have been buying our coffee from Cafe Organico for several years now. If you are in the area (Mérida) it is located on Calle 33D por 72(Ave. Reforma), in the Centro Comercial Colón.

We always get the Italian Roast (tostado italiano), and very fine grind (molido fino). The italian roast is their darkest roast. Well about a month ago their grinder broke. They were bringing in bags of already ground coffee, or you could always buy the whole beans and grind it yourself (why didn't I think of that?)

We happened in one day when they were out of our roast, so instead of thinking it through and buying the beans, I do have a grinder, somewhere! I said no problem, we'll come back. We, I don't often go up to where the cafe organico is so we ended up completely out of coffee. No problem, I ran, walked, well actually I drove the 6 or so blocks to Chedraui and bought some coffee there; Chedraui brand, their Gourmet selection. It ended up on the compost pile. Guacala!

We went without coffee a few days, then I bought some Gravat, which is what a bunch of people here use. Neither Tom nor I ever finished a full cup, and we pitched nearly a full 12cup pot everyday.

We are used to and enjoy our Organic, Chiapan grown, Italian Roast, fine grind coffee.

We happened to be up in that area the other day running errands and we stopped in - the grinder is fixed, the container was full of italian roast beans, we have coffee, and we are very happy.

We drained the full pot yesterday - it was a very good day!

They do deliver, I even have the number, 9999252831, so someone tell me - why don't I just call and get it delivered?????? Add to that "Way up There" is maybe 3 miles???? GEEEEESHHHHHH!

In Other Words: Merida - a literary magazine

There are a lot of Writers here in Merida!  

Some of them wrote before they came here, others have found the time since coming here to write.

As you can tell if you have been reading my blog for a a while, I am not a Writer.  I can write, but I am not a Writer.

A Group of local Writers have recently started a new online literary magazine called  

In Other Words: Merida

check it out!  

and if you too are a Writer, they are inviting you to participate.

Manguera - what this word really means!

OK, so I have these 2 dogs, one of whom is still a puppy, doing all the standard puppy stuff....Which has included chewing the end off the hose so many times that the hose no longer reaches the netherlands of the back yard!

The bamboo out back has been especially hard hit by the lack of watering - so to rectify that situation, and until I design and have installed a sprinkler/watering system we bought one of those huge clear plastic pvc tube hoses that "everyone" (kind of like saying "they") says is the best

I can only think that the people that recommend them do not do their own watering.  

OMG, that thing is killing me, it's like wrestling a 30 ft python, or at least what I imagine wrestling a 30 ft python would be like

It is heavy and unwieldy (is that a word?) and I end up soaked head to toe.  But man o man does it put out the water!

Here in Merida they call a hose a manguera, I don't know what they call it in the rest of Mexico. 

OK, so let's look at this word - Man Guera - Man, self explanatory (well in English it is),  and Guera which means war or fight in Spanish...

So what this means is that a MAN is supposed to be FIGHTING with this hose, Not Me!

Thought for the Day!

Life is not the way it's supposed to be... It's the way it is

It's the way we cope with it that makes the difference.

I saw this somewhere recently, 

can't remember where, and don't know by whom!  

regardless, me likey!

Birth of a New Tradition

My mom recently sent me an email, actually a SPAM email as it instructs you to send it to all your friends.  I was taken with part of the underlying content.  That of supporting local business.  This particular email is aimed at slamming foreign made goods, particularly Asian made goods.  But the underlying concept is GREAT!  

Instead of buying mass produced and imported goods, support your local businesses, even though many Chains, whether Grocery, Restaurant, Mechanic, Beautician, or Department Store go a long way toward support of,  and employ many in your community, perhaps your local small business owner can use your help too!  It doesn't matter if you live in North Carolina as she does, or in Ecuador, or Bangladesh, or Merida Mexico as I do.  Buy from and support your local community.  

Tis the season.  

 

I am including most of that email message here should you care to read!  It could be quite generic if you replace Asian and China or Chinese with Foreign Made, and American with My local Community.  I like the underlying message.

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.