Friday, February 27, 2009

Dancing in Her Shadows

I desperately try on Fridays to sit in the jardin for an hour or so just to watch "the world" in all its glory pass by or to see the innocent happenings of the children. I was not disappointed today.

My friend Angie and I were sitting and oooohing and aaaahing over a catalog of women's sexy clothes and contemplating what we would like to buy when a young man sat down on the wall and began to play his accordion - although I don't think that small instrument is an accordion - someone out there who is musically inclined correct me, por favor.

It is unusual for someone to sit down and just begin to play here. So that was a delight, and even more delightful was that his lilting voice was singing in French. Aaah, a language that is so seductive to my ear. He sang softly, but not too, and not many people paid any attention to him.
Then, this little girl appeared and started dancing spointaneously with her arms oustretched and it so touched my heart. That children are so uninhibited and so aware of their surroundings - while adults just kept on going spoke volumes to me. I sat captivated. Then finally I snapped to and got out the camera and caught her dancing not only to the music, but her shadows that she was watching carefully.
The highlight of my day, and it didn't cost a dime. Life is good.
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

A Short Trip on a Long Dusty Road

I love that in Mexico you NEVER know what to expect. I thought I was going to Mineral de Pozos for an Art Walk, but instead, all kinds of other things intrigued me. Such as this sink in the women's bathroom at the Hotel de Minas in Pozos. The hotel is a few years old, but built into and on top of ruins that were there from when this town was one of the leading producers of silver and gold over three hundred years ago. . It is now an almost abandoned mining town that has a group of dedicated gringoes trying to revive it. There motto is "the next San Miguel". I'm here to tell you that I doubt that will happen in my or my grandchildren's lifetime. However, it IS a photographer's dream for unique sights and scenes.
The facade of this old building is perfect as a "fixer upper" and you do see some of this still in San Miguel surprisingly. I love to peek in the empty windows or through the cracks in the doors. It would take a more dedicated person then I to restore one of these places.
Remember, I did this for a living and got PAID FOR IT!
This is a typical dusty road in Mineral de Pozas, dusty, uninhabited - perfect for a movie set actually. Almost all the streets in Pozos look like this, other then the main street.

A surprising sight at this art gallery was a trained crow. Who would ever think that was possible? This artist and gallery owner has lived in Pozos about five years. This is "his" crow. Guess there is a lot of time in Pozos for training crows..........making art and taking fabulous photos. Pozos is about 45 minutes from San Miguel and about 1000 ft elevation higher. The "light" is magnificent in this village.
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Monday, February 23, 2009

Fernando Montes de Oca Escuela

Across the dirt road from my house is the escuela primeria (primary school). It is a large, but nondescript school. However it is a GREAT landmark to give to a taxi driver to get to my house - they allllll know where it is. I love the sound of the handheld bell that rings to start and end school. And add to that the laughter and happy sounds of the kids and the whole place gets an A+ from me for a good neighbor award.

A month or so ago this new "architectural element" was added atop the entrance gate. It sure looked strange until this past week when a painter appeared, climbed up onto a ladder and gave the new element a purpose.
No pattern or line drawing was used, but this young man just stood on the ladder and free handed the illustration of Sr. Montes de Oca.
When I asked if I could take the photos, he answered me in English with "Sure". Don't you just love it?
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The "Blogger" Bench

Today I walked into the jardin and what to my wondering eyes did appear, fellow bloggers Billie, (BillieBlog) and Richard of (Gangs of San Miguel) and Richard's partner. Of course I had to join them where we sat and pealed with laughter at all manner of silly talk- probably fodder for future blogs.

The converstaion also turned to Theresa in Merida who is organizing the 2nd Annual Latin American Bloggers Meet and Greet. It should be a blast. The others are thinking of going - I won't as I'm hoping to be lolling on the Sea of Cortez. HEY, I'm determined to get to water, somewhere and I already have an airline ticket!

So, if you haven't already contacted Theresa, here's the way to do it. www.theresainmerida.blogspot.com OR by email theresainmerida@gmail.com Sounds like it will be such fun - the best part is to get to meet all the wild and wooly group who we all LOVE to read.

Someone record this Happening for me, ok?

Sunday, February 22, 2009

The BEST of Intentions

Does this ever happen to you? You start out to do one thing, several things intervene, and before you know it you're doing something totally different. That is what has happened to me today.

I had done a little research and was prepared to write about the places in Mexico that have impacted my life such as the butterfly sanctuaries and five other sites. Then, I read Billie's blog about her anniversary of having had her blog for so many years. That made me think (always a dangerous thing).

Then, as I was researching the dates that I had written about the six places I want to write about, I came across the blog I wrote in August 2008 about the fact that 4000 readers had seen the blog in the 18 months I had been writing. I was amazed - but NOT as amazed as today, just six months later to see that over 17,000 more have read the blog in the last six months. GOOD GRIEF that is beyond astonishing. Who the heck are you?

I write for the fun of it - not really thinking about who or how many read it - but those statistics are so intimidating that I'm going to have to rethink whether I need to get my act together or say, "What the heck!" What do you say?

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Happy FIRST Birthday Matilda

How can it possibly be one year since the newest addition to the family arrived? Well it is, and all are mighty happy to have her around. Now that she's walking, she's "developing her own personality" according to proud Dad, John. Oh, and she has been "signing" since about eight months when she could sign for milk, more and a couple of other things. Now she has added to her repertoire with more words. Isn't that so cool?

I would have more photos of her on her birthday blog, but the Gypsy Kids are off on a vacation at Steamboat Springs and I don't have any new photos (hint, hint).

Happy First Birthday Matilda Isabella............Grammy loves you!
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Tuesday, February 17, 2009

"Famous" or "Infamous" Questionaire

The blog I wrote about my theft - the first in thirty-five years - brought up all kinds of issues - that's a polite way of putting it. One of the fascinating things in those issues was who knew "who", worked with "who", met "who", or walked by "who". I wonder who is related to "who"?


So in the interest of hilarity, let's pursue this path. Write and tell your "who" stories. I'll start.


John Davidson, the singer and TV host and his lovely wife Rhonda rented the guest house here in San Miguel for a year. I LOVED having them here. Way cool people. Michael Grais who wrote "Poltergeist" and the "Baretta" TV series and many other things too numerous to mention, is a good friend who lives here. His wife Jennifer was backup singer for Jackson Browne. My nephew is married to Willie Nelson's niece. My sister-in-law was Elvis Presley's girlfriend before she married my brother. Hoyt Axton's widow, who lives in San Miguel, is one of my best buddies. She's a character.


That's just a few .............. now I want to hear from ya'll - alllllllll of you!

Monday, February 16, 2009

The "Cough Drop" Diet

How many calories could one actually consume on such a diet? I have no idea but that's pretty much what I have been doing - eating cough drops now for two months. This is a most uncomfortable way to shed 27 pounds. I don't recommend it.


Clothes are baggy - breath smells like eucalyptus - and even chocolate doesn't appeal to me.


BUT, there is the tantalizing idea that I could make a Million Dollars with a book on this diet along with tasty recipes. That is IF I could get on Oprah's Show.

Backing Up!

Wow, when I moved to Mexico, I could not back a car down a street. I could back up a little to parallel park, but not down a whole street. Now I can.


The first time it happened that I HAD to, I had turned on a dirt road to go to a friend's house - about eight years ago, and on the other side of the rise the road ended and it went straight down into a ravine. This was within the city limits of San Miguel! OMG, I freaked. I started backing up at about 1 MPH. There were deep ditches on both sides and a little tiny bridge just to add to the fun of it all.


I was a wreck when I pulled back onto the highway and went another way. I needed a drink when I got to my friend's house a longer way. But heck, now I can back up just like the taxicab drivers who take GREAT pleasure in backing up a block or two, at 20 mph.


I was reminded of this story this morning when I saw a van with Washington State plates on it going down Cuesta de San Jose where it had become one way and they were going the wrong way. There was a giant Coca-Cola truck and other trucks coming up the hill. I walked up to the driver and passenger, which were young gringoes and said "You'll have to back up the hill". The look of panic on both their faces reminded me of what I must have looked like lo those many back-ups ago.

"Dish"ing for Music

Well, without the cd's that I lost - which I also played on my cd player, I've turned to Dish Network. Don't get me wrong - I DO have other CD's - Cleo Laine, Earl Klugh, Ottmar Leibert and bunches of others BUT, anyway, I decided to see what is on Dish.

There is, in my opinion, a good blues station and a good one for classical music. Imagine my surprise when I found something new - well new to me. Texas Honky Tonk Music @ Willie's Place. Guess you can take the girl out of Texas but not the Texas honky tonk out of the girl.....as "they" say.

So, for the last couple of days I've been sunbathing, reading and listening to Texas Honky Tonk. Hey, this is my way of attempting to rest and get well, ,plus work on that tan I didn't get at the beach. I have to tell you what finally got to me, besides the good ole music, was the titles of so many of these songs.

How about "Here I am in Dallas.........Where the Hell are You?" or "Sliding Off Silk Sheets" by Johnny Paycheck, just to name a couple. I mean I could go on and on. What I love about these songs is the lack of pretention and the humor or pathos whatever is called for. These kinds of things make me miss Texas - the simplicity of the Texas Hill Country where the best honky tonks are located.

So, don't be upset for me and the loss of my favorite cd's - I've moved on to other things.......Life is a new adventure EVERY day.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

First Theft in Thirty Five Years

I've been living or doing business in Mexico for thirty-five years and I had my first theft in the last couple of weeks. Much to my sadness and dismay. I evidently failed to lock the car one day or night, and lo and behold, while driving to the beach, I discovered that the book of CD's (my favorites) was gone. Upon checking other things, I found that the cell phone charger for the car was gone and some new brake pads that I had just brought back from the states for the car mechanic to install. Darn.

More then anything though, I was grateful that they had not damaged the interior of the car or taken the paperwork that was in the glove compartment.

I am sad that cd's that can't be replaced are gone. As I began, in my cleaning frenzy this week, to throw away the empty plastic cases I realized that the commerative cd from my class reunion in 2000 of those rock and roll songs we used to dance to was gone. Also an old Tish Hinojosa cd, Eva Cassidy who is deceased , an old, old Merle Haggard cd and my entire four cd series of Doo Wop Music. Yes, I do have an eclectic taste in music. I know I can track down these cds and replace them, but geez, how much trouble is that? I will really, really miss the Eva Cassidy cds. In my humble opinion she had the purest voice I've ever heard.

Oh well, just another lesson in the fact that possessions are temporary often in life.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

"Lady, you just speed it up or slow it down"

I was in a honky tonk, called "The Broken Spoke" a long time ago dancing and dancing. This kid about 19, I must have been in my late 30's asked me to dance. I said to him, "I'm not sure I know how to do this dance". His reply, "Lady, you just speed it up or slow it down". I have NEVER forgotten that. Good advice for dancing................and life.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Requiem for the Redhead

No, I didn't die, and no, I didn't select the title. It's a tongue in cheek last page article in this month's Smithsonian by Patricia McNamee Rosenberg.

It seems the Oxford Hair Foundation, owned by Proctor & Gamble, says that by the end of the century redheads will be extinct. Whoa is Me!

Did you know redheads are mutants? Thankfully I've never been called a "mutant" but now if I am, I'll understand.

I agree with the author, the world will be frightfully ordinary without redheads. Let's see, where is Jose Luis' phone number? The best colorist and hairdresser in San Miguel.

If you have a Smithsonian, read the article. It has no redeeming value other then to make you chuckle.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Spring Cleaning...........in February

I'm sorta confined to the house trying to get well and so little projects have been popping up for me to do. I decided to clean the bookshelves in my bedroom and get rid of books I've read, have no intention of reading or that are hopelessly out of date. Like the 1990 B & B Guide for the USA. I have cleaned all the drawers in the bathroom, kitchen and in the sideboard in the dining room. I've gone through old magazines and old recipes that I'll never cook. It's all going!

There is a second impetus for this cleaning frenzy. I've got company coming in March. A "Man".
Yes, my internet dating possibly has come to fruition. We'll see. I'm all atwitter. I even considered painting the bathroom and then stopped myself dead in my tracks when I remembered the story of the Senora who painted her whole apartment when a new beau was coming to visit..............It worked - they are happily married.

I'm not going into any details about "the man" - don't want to jinx it BUT, if all works out, I'll be shouting it from the rooftops. So, keep your fingers crossed, say a prayer, make an offering to the gods - I probably need all the help I can get!

HOPE springs eternal.

Monday, February 09, 2009

2009 San Miguel Calendar

Even before I moved to San Miguel, I always bought the San Miguel Garden Club calendar. The photos of street scenes and fiestas, not to mention unique photos, always were excellent. A committe reviewed those submitted and selected the best of the best. They sold well. For some unknown reason, the ladies of the garden club decided for 2009 that they would do postcards instead.

Enter the female business owners of San Miguel who decided to have their own calendar in a "cheesecake" fashion. Gutsy move, in my opinion. Many are friends. They are all hard working women. Tastefully done, tongue in cheek, some of the proceeds go to "organizations that work with the blind and vision impaired". For more information you can go to sightforsoreeyes@gmail.com if you wish to purchase a calendar. I, of course, bought one in support of the women.

Then, enter the outraged citizens, whoever they many be, who deluged the local newspaper saying it is pornography and presents a terrible image of San Miguel. Honestly people - get a life. It reminds me of the people who complained when the City of Houston used cowboys in their tourism literature, saying that it didn't give a "sophisticated" image of Houston. HA.

We'll see if the Garden Club returns next year with their scenes of San Miguel - albeit not quite as fleshy, oops flashy. AND how many women line up to be in the next "ladies" calendar.
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Sunday, February 08, 2009

Whooping Cough

This story is stranger then fiction. Today is the first I've heard that whooping cough is still around. I always knew there is a vaccine for a baby called DPT - the P standing for Pertussin which is whooping cough. I assumed that whooping cough had been eradicated.

So, imagine my surprise when my niece, Dr. Extraordinare, told me that her brother's girlfriend had just come back from Colorado with the exact same cough I have had. Wow, coincidence? So, Dr. E did some checking in Colorado and found out there is an "outbreak" of whooping cough in Colorado.

She said I think that's what you have. Me, always being the investigative type, put into my search engine "whooping cough" and sat dumbfounded at the site I found, where they even had a "sound" file of the sound of the cough.

Exactamente - that's it! That's what I have had for almost 8 weeks. Thankfully, it is almost gone. The exact symptons of coughing and feeling as though you are suffocating, among other gross things. Yes, I had pneumonia too as a result and the torn muscles....from whooping cough.

I sure wish those "dingbats" at the hospital had figured that out and told me. How could my niece "get it" and $36,000 worth of tests and treatment didn't? In addition, I've been so worried because this "thing" hasn't gone away. Now I read that the time can be at least 7 or 8 weeks. If I had only known.

All I can say is, without a doubt, this has been one of the biggest messes I've ever been involved in...... Anyone who doesn't think our US medical system isn't broken, should talk to me!

Saturday, February 07, 2009

These shoes are made for walkin'

IT happened yesterday, one tiny step, which thrilled the "Gypsy Kids" beyond words. Now today four more and before long she'll be racing around the house. But, ahhh, those first few tenative steps are such a milestone! I remember each and every one of my children's first steps and their significance.

So now as the proud Grammy, I look forward to seeing this miracle of life.
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Friday, February 06, 2009

Noise in the 'Hood

With apologies to Calypso, where today on his blog I commented that I don't have noise in my hood. I must confess TODAY I do............and I have had a bit off and on for a couple of weeks. I had forgotten. For you see, when the primary school lets out every day, there are a few dedicated new bugle players and one drummer trying desperately to be instrument players - not musicians.

There must be three or four bugle players. Very funny. They remind me of the kid in my son's Boy Scout troop who was the designated bugle player and was so shy that he played taps and every other bit of musicthing from behind the bathroom door of their boy scout hut. THAT's what this group sounds like - shy, scared to death kids, but DETERMINED.

The noise certainly doesn't bother me because they only practice for about 45 minutes. Every now and then the drummer chimes in but never does it sound like he was supposed to do so.

Hopefully whatever they are practicing for isn't going to happen for a very long time!

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Short Trip - Looooong Story

I won't bore you with the details but I never got to the beach. Again, there have been obstacles, and for once I realized the Universe is trying to tell me somthing - Melaque is NOT in the cards for this year. Accept it. This time a month ago, I was just getting out of the hospital and determined to get to the beach and then that faded. This too will fade....

I'm back in San Miguel. I'm not at the beach. I've put the Capt Morgan's back on the shelf and the cocktail mixer too. Another time, another place.

Great and I hear it's going to be 32 tonight. Oy vey.

I do have to tell you that I so love driving the roads of Mexico - really, well the cuotas. I saw two trucks of pigs going to market and recited the nursery rhyme to myself. I saw a shepherd with a herd of white sheep - so fluffy in Jalisco state. And wonder of wonders, I saw about forty people on the side of the road cleaning up the trash from the huge pilgrimage to San Juan de Lagos recently. They had trucks stationed over a long swath of road to put all the trash in - first time I've ever seen that. And the vistas always mesmerize me.

So, although I didn't get the BIG prize of the beach, I still had a nice drive along the way. So be it.

Sunday, February 01, 2009

SURPRISE! I'm off again............

I know, I know I just got back, but the opportunity has arrived to head to the beach! My gypsy soul said, "Of course, get going!" I'm not totally well - still coughing some at night - but I think that the sea air, pina coladas and a lobster or two will heal alllllllllll that ails me.


I'm also going to try to hook up with First Mate and the Captain in Barra de Navidad or Melaque, if possible. We'll see.


I have no idea how long I'll be gone but I'll keep you posted from down the road. Oh, and of course, I'm not forgetting my new cocktail mixer - so I can shake it on the beach.


Life IS a beach!