Politics in Mexico

While sitting on the bench in the jardin last week, the quiet and tranquility was changed as a group came by with whistles and baseball caps imprinted with the name of the Mayoral candidate and flags of the candidate's party.
It's fun to watch the process here as a bystander. To me it is as simple a way of politicking as it was when I was a small girl. Barbeques, bands, speeches and hand shaking.

This morning I have heard drums beating, horns blaring in centro so I assume that another candidate is having his last hurrah before elections tomorrow.

Since we as expats cannot comment or participate in this country's elections, I will simply say that may the best people win in all the categories from President on down to our new mayor.

I do have favorites but I won't divulge.

The lovely thing about the process in Mexico is that we only have to have all this hoopla, by law, for two months. Candidates could not "declare" til May 1st and start politicking. Signs couldn't go up etc..........isn't that refreshing?

The other thing I find interesting is that no liquor is sold today or tomorrow. Everyone is supposed to be clear headed and serious about voting. Isn't that an interesting philosophy?

Tomorrow is July 1st - Election Day in Mexico. Viva Mexico!

Turning the Calendar Page

It truly seems unreal that when I turn the page of the calendar in a few days that it will be July 2012. Half the year will be over and moving on into the last half. I won't say, "Where does time go?" but I sure am thinking that.

I like the feeling of turning the page and usually seeing 30 or 31 blank white boxes with no plans. I know by the time that month is over that there will not be many blank boxes. The curiosity of what lies ahead is always fun to contemplate. In a positive way.

I do know that there will be company coming in August - Steve of blogger fame at Mexpatriate in the Key of Steve. I think that's the title. I still have him down as Same Life - Different Location. Then Sue and Vandy of Galveston fame will arrive for a month. THAT is always a wild ride, literally. Others from the states are contemplating visits.

There will be birthdays, lunches, gardening and reading. NO plans to travel. Well maybe a few days in Patzcauro. I feel the call. I need a Patz fix. We'll see if that happens. BUT no big trips planned. I'm just kinda in a vegging state.

With the way the weather is everywhere else in the USA and most other places, this IS the best place to be.

By the way, with the humidity in Houston plumeria (the above photo) thrive. Not so much here. I do keep trying though.

July 2012, bring it on. Cool temps - good food - good friends - good times! What's not to like about that?

Which way is HOME? Houston or San Miguel de Allende, Mexico?

 
 
 

Delores Hidalgo, Mexico

This is a test. To see if script and photo will publish. I've been hassling for a week with trying to write a post that has both in it, only to be disappointed when the post disappears and only the photos show up. You know, I don't know what I'm doing.

So, here goes.

Delores Hidalgo is the Talavera Capital of Mexico. There is a different talavera that is made in Puebla that is more true to the original and is also much more expensive then that made in Delores Hidalgo. The government of Mexico controls where talavera can be made just as it used to control where tequila is made. I'm not sure if that is still true.

In the past, when I first started exporting to the USA, it was mostly wall tile, large painted pots and dishes that were available. The craft has expanded exponentially, to put it mildly. Much is sold in Mexico itself, but the majority is exported around the world.

Eighteen wheelers, many, many of them pull out of Delores each day either heading to a port destined for Europe or Asia or who knows where, while the rest head north to the USA and Canada. I say Delores is the town that NAFTA built.

But, that's not true. Delores Hidalgo is a very historic town that was part of the battle for freedom. It has a beautiful jardin or zocalo, whatever you prefer to call it. The church where the banner of the Virgin of Guadalupe was carried is maintained in pristine condition.

Back to the talavera. I had not been over to Delores in a few years. Not since I had helped some friends select tile for their home. Imagine my surprise when I saw these incredible ceramic Day of the Dead women filling a warehouse. Magnificent.

I started thinking of all the restaurants I had designed that would have looked fabulous with these in the decor. I thought of retailers I knew who absolutely would go bonkers over these brightly colored, fun women. I thought of friends who would do the same.

Instead I asked to have my photo taken with them in December as a lasting image of the ingenuity and creativity of the people of Mexico. They continue to capture the essence of their country.

Viva Mexico!

Ned Mercer - A true Southern gentle man

It is interesting how friendships evolve. Initially I met Billie. I don't think, at that time, she and Ned were here full time. That friendship grew. I visited them in Houston when I was up visiting.
We had not known each other when we all lived there. We met in San Miguel.

Eventually I met Ned and then always thought of them in "couple" terms. One completed the other. Lovely. Something I've aspired to have for many years.

Always total enjoyment to be with them. Always. A meal was always a time for good conversation, reminiscing and hearing about travels that Ned and Billie had taken all over Mexico and other places. Meeting their children just completed the picture - again, lovely.

I remember when they returned in 2009 from Ned's first cancer treatments. At least 100 people came to welcome them home to a wonderful party orchestrated by our dear friend Joe, who has since gone on to higher ground also. I wrote about this on 9/11/2009 in a blog that I think was entitled "Welcome home Billie and Ned".

Ned and Billie were gracious to all and thrilled and amazed at all the people there. I wasn't. They are much loved.

It's been a long three years. Good and bad. Moving forward one day at a time. Ned never giving up. Billie ALWAYS being there for her beloved Ned.

Billie eloquently said it all in her message to me. "Ned moved on to higher ground this morning".

Oh so true! I'll always miss that gentle man who I'm honored to have called a friend.

"Mi Espanol es muy malo"

Yesterday was a day of attempting to practice my Spanish.  It happened like this. Off I went to the mechanics "shop".  That is a very loose term as he is a "shade tree" mechanic.  No mechanic.  Other alternative was to go to the Pemex station and see if one or all of the attendants could fix the hood. I was driving around on the cobble stoned streets expecting at any moment that the hood would fly open. 

Thankfully it did not.  On my drive from the mechanics place to Pemex, I was practicing how I was going to explain, in Spanish, what the problem was and could they help me.  I start EVERY phrase with a Mexican with the phrase, "Mi Espanol es muy malo".  Then I ask, in Spanish, for them to talk very slowly.  They always smile at me.

I need no chastising for not being able to speak Spanish any better.  I always get by.  I have taken Spanish over a period of twenty years at least eight times.  A mental block is my explanation for this embarrassing fact.  Or maybe it's that my mother made me take Latin for four years of which I can't tell you a word or phrase of that either.  See, I'm language dyslexic.

I get to the station.  This exchange happens.  The attendant said he didn't speak any English or understand any, which was what I expected.  So I launched forward in Spanish, which I know was not grammatically correct, but he got my drift.

He lifted the hood.  He tried to fix it.  He tried slamming it.  To no avail.  Along came an elderly attendant who looked in, fiddled with some wires, told the first guy what to do.  Voila, it was fixed.  Time to fix - less then five minutes.  Time I worried about it, probably several hours.

I tipped the attendant.  Thanked him profusely.  Drove off as I saw him taking the tip and heading for the OXXO store for food.  I was happy.  He was happy.

All is well that ends well!

Needing to get "debugged"

Several things going on up on the hill for the last couple of days.  Some mysterious, others aggravating and all beginning to add up to exasperating.

First, two nights ago Velcro was out doing whatever Velcro does in late evenings.  She usually hangs out on the lower patio by my bedroom door waiting for me to turn off the light and get settled in bed.  THEN she shakes the screen and meows to come in.  I now see the humor in this after many times of being aggravated.

NOT this night.  I heard this low guttural growling.  It got louder and louder.  So loud that if I had opened the curtains or the door and seen a grizzly bear standing there, I wouldn't have been surprised just terrified.  I tried to figure what it was and gave up.  Then opened the door to let Velcro in and she scurried in.  This "creature" continued this for at least another hour. 

Did I get up, open the door wide, turn on the light and use the flashlight to see what it was?  Heck no.  I just wanted IT to go away.

It was back the next night.  I wondered if somehow the little black squirrel that drinks from the bird bath could possibly be THAT loud?  Then I remembered the coatamundi from several years ago that kept coming in through the fireplace.  Now that guy was big enough to be that loud.  Since we had cut the limb off the tree and it had no access to the fireplace, I figured he had moved on.

Being VERY brave, I used the overhead light, the flashlight and had my big soft robe and socks on just in case something jumped at me.  Aren't I brave?  I saw nothing.  I didn't rattle the fern in the planters or anything.  I just thought whatever it was would be standing there.  NADA.

It wasn't back last night - thank goodness.

Aggravating is the fact that I have a "bug" in Microsoft Script Editor and my computer guru can't get here til Monday to work her magic.  I've tried but as usual, failed miserably since I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing.

One other aggravation and then I'll stop.  Last night, for the first time in eleven years, someone tried to open the hood of my car.  It had just finished raining.  The alarm went off.  I flew up the stairs (in my socks) and ran out on the rainsoaked stone walk, opened the gate and of course, whoever it was was probably ten blocks away since the alarm is so loud with flashing lights and all.  So, I pulled the car into the garden for the night.  This morning I tried, again having no idea what I'm doing, to open the hood and reclose it.
I actually, I hate to admit this, opened the hood for the first time in my life and then slammed it like the service station attendants do when they finish.  It didn't close tightly.  Darn.  Mechanic who works on the car is not answering his cell so I'm practicing patience as I write this diatribe.

Now, the next time someone asks me what life is like in Mexico, should I tell them no different then the USA or should I just smile a knowing smile?

Tallship "Elissa" - Galveston, Texas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Galveston, Oh Galveston

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fifty Shades of Grey

I just had to see what all the fuss was about.  This book, or "erotic romance" as it says on the cover has caused such a stir in the world of female readers, librarians and religious groups that you would think D.H. Lawrence had written it.

The fact that it is a New York Times bestseller and has been for quite a while also has stirred the hornet's nest.  Curiosity and wanting to know what the heck was in this book caused me to buy a copy when I saw it
on the shelf at Kroger's.  Of all places.  Something that is supposed to be xxxx rated right next to the beets!
The irony didn't escape me.

Kroger's was my last shopping trip before heading back to Mexico.  With list in hand I whizzed up and down aisles buying those things that I and others here in San Miguel were wanting to have back in Mexico.  The book was not on the list.

The next day I arrived in Laredo.  Temps 108 degrees.  Staying in the room.  Nothing to do.  Start reading the book.  Oh my. 

The premise is that a young newly graduated college student accidentally meets one of the most successful and rich men in the USA.  He is sexually experienced.  She is not - in fact, is still a virgin.  It goes from there.
Explicit sex scenes.  Subjects that I had to Google to find out what they meant.  Oh my.  Some of it brought back delicious memories.

Nothing however, in my opinion, to cause it not to be on library shelves.  Probably not in schools. 

Unbeknownst to me, it is a trilogy.  This book ended right in the middle of a "scene".  Everyone says you have to read all three.  Hmmmm.  Curiosity?  Maybe.  Will I spend the money?  Probably not.

The one thing this book makes perfectly clear.  Women like to read sexy novels.  Just like men.  It's about time the world knows it.

Might be eye-opening for men too.  Enjoy!

Locos, no photos and Father's Day...........

The "locos" parade is today.  I've written about it in past years because it is singularly a parade that only happens in San Miguel.  Although this parade always looks like a "spontaneous happening" it is actually planned by cuadros.  Like the groups that plan the Mardi Gras parades in the USA!  Colorful costumes, thrown candy, music, dance and outrageous costumes are the norm. There are also floats.

Many men dress up like women.  Others, both men and women dress like politicians and everything else your imagination can think of. 

The parade began in the 19th century as a way to celebrate the harvest of oranges by the orchard workers. 
It has now morphed into a combination of many saints days that happen in May and June.  Saints that I had never heard of until moving here.  This from a former Catholic school girl. 

It is definitely a "Let the Good Times Roll" kinda parade that has already started and will go on til this evening.  These people have stamina.  Interestingly it is usually hotter then heck on this day but actually today is overcast and quite cool.  The parade and cavorting may go on til night in this case.

The reason I have not posted photos in so long is aggravating.  First, there is a problem on the laptop that I took to the states so I couldn't download while on my trip.  Secondly, my phone service and internet went down on Friday afternoon for no good reason.  I had downloaded the photos to my desktop which is now not useable.  I'm on the laptop using my neighbor's wireless connection but still can't access photos.  Aaargh.

I promise lots of photos soon. Last but surely not least - HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.  I thought about this a lot yesterday.  About the men I know as fathers.  My own, of course.  My grandfather who I had very little interaction with but observed.  Uncles.  My son and son-in-laws.  And others.

There are as many different kinds of dads as there are men is my conclusion.  Those that leave a lasting impression, hopefully from their good works and involvement with their children. 

Men who I have known, who do without, so their children can have the things that they feel are important for them.  Love, security, education, a good life. 

My son is a prime example.  For over a year he has not been able to live with his children   There is not a minute of any day or night that he is not concerned and worrying about their welfare.  He has basically given up having a life of his own, stayed in Mexico, not been able to make the kind of living that he is capable of, to be here for his children.  He is the ultimate dad.  He lives for the times he can show love and kindness to them. 

With that said, I honor those men who are fathers and those who want to be.   "Happy Father's Day"

Time Passed Quickly

Last week went by in a whiz.  This time last week I was at my friend Martha's.  From there I went to my daughter's house to help her move and then to my brother and sister-in-law's house for a short couple of days visit, back to daughters and then by Wednesday night I was in Laredo.  Ready to cross home to Mexico.  It was 108 degrees at 8PM in Laredo.  I stayed in the air conditioned room plotting my escape the following day to cooler temperatures and little traffic.

On the news that evening was a State Dept warning telling all American citizens not to travel in Mexico because there might be a retaliation for shutting down a horse farm operation in Oklahoma!  Really?  How preposterous.  Ridiculous.  Do they think news travels fast in Mexico?  Do they think they read the US news?  Honestly, just ludicrous.  

I headed out in my usual fashion the next morning.  Having the car checked at the Shell station on Hwy 35 which has one of the few attendants left in America, I think.  He checks the tires, water, fluids, etc.  Very serious when I tell him I'm driving nine hours alone to San Miguel.  They always tell me to have a good journey.......always? 

Next I pay $3.00 to US Customs to leave the USA.  Then cross the Rio Grande - the scene for some of sadness or elation.  As I come up to Mexican customs I always enter the "do not declare" lane.  One can either get a green light which means you don't have to stop to be inspected or the red light which means a conversation and possible search.

I always speak English - an advantage for me.  For them, believe it or not, most agents do not speak any English even though they are less then three miles from the USA.  The conversation is, "Where are you going?"  I tell them home to San Miguel de Allende.  The name of the town always elicits a smile.  Then they ask if I have anything to declare and I say, "No".  Then they ask if I will open the back of the SUV.  They look in and then tell me to have a good journey.

Off I go.  Next stop is at about sixteen miles where they ask for my document that shows I have permission to be in Mexico.  My FM-3.  Then they smile after looking at it and wish me a good journey.  Now my heart is full of happiness as I know in an hour or so I will be seeing mountains and vast amounts of wildflowers

Little traffic, fabulous  toll roads.  These roads are four lane divided highways all the way..........

Music is playing - this trip Merle Haggard, Leon Redbone, Norah Jones, Steely Dan, The Platters, and many more.  Usually I listen to books on tape but this trip I just wanted to rethink some things and enjoy the views.

Animals I saw grazing next to the road this trip - lots of horses, goats, sheep, burros, cows and a few stray dogs here and there.  Why do the shepherds always graze their goats right up to the road?  I decided because it is on an incline.  Any other thoughts?  A few animals crossing the road - especially cows.  Can you imagine driving at night and hitting one of those?  THAT is why people don't drive at night.  Open range.

Next thing I know I'm making the turn at the San Miguel exit onto a 2 lane road through the most beautiful farmland where broccoli, mushrooms, cabbage, onions, asparagus and who knows what else grow.  Much for export, some for us.  The mushroom farm is all grown for Whole Foods in the USA.  Farther north I drove through apple orchards and lots of potato farms.

As I get closer to the house, a steep, steep decline on the cobblestoned road tells me that the next turn will be my street.  As I look up San Miguel is displayed in all its glory and my heart flips.  Always my heart flips.

It's my "welcome home" after a good journey

NEVER enough time..........

I've been in the Houston area since mid May.  Time has flown by with very little "down" time.  A few hours at the most.  Friends to visit, grandchildren to enjoy, family to visit, shopping to do for those things we can't get in Mexico, time on the freeways. Then there are phone calls to friends that you wish you had time to see but alas, there is never enough time.

It's a "catch 22" situation.  No matter how hard you try, there is never enough time to do it all.  I always leave, in part reluctantly, but also in part ready to go back to a routine.

That is where I find myself today.  At my brother and sister-in-law's house spending a couple of nights with them.  Each minute I sit here relaxing, enjoying the pool, I know that there are things I need to be doing.  Groceries to buy.  Things to purchase on behalf of friends in San Miguel.  So much, so little time.

Hopefully I'll be heading to the border this week and home safely in my own home in San Miguel before week's end.....Wish me well.

Spending time and money...on the freeways

In San Miguel I hardly ever use my car so the cost of gas doesn't matter.  It costs me 400pesos, about $32 US.to fill up the tank.  I do this about every two months.

Since I've been in Texas for three weeks I've had to fill the tank four times at a cost of $65US each time.  You do the math. 

I've spent so much time going from one side of the city to the other - 75 + miles.  Yes, Houston is spread out.
Thankfully it has good freeways as long as you travel at off times. 

Today as I headed out I smelled freshly mowed grass.  One of my favorite fragrances.  So to while the time away as I drove I thought of other things I love the fragrance of.  Here are some:  Gardenias, magnolias, a baby's skin, the sea, rain, freshly ground coffee, and coconut tanning oil, pine and eucalyptus trees.

Next thing I knew, since I had removed myself mentally from the tedious task of driving, I was at my destination.

It's a GIRL thing!

IF you look at the photo to the right of what I'm writing, I don't look like that at this time.  WHAT?  Nope.  I have been overcome with humidity.  HIGH humidity.  The kind you only find in the South, I hope. 

It frizzles your hair. It makes your bangs, if you have those, go awry.  It is a monster of epic proportions for a woman who cares what she looks like when she goes out.  Oh, you do look good when you go out the door.  But five minutes later, you don't.  I had forgotten how humidity used to be the bane of my existence.  It is once again as I attempt to go about here in HOT Houston.

I've become so spoiled in San Miguel.  One fixes one's hair.  One puts on one's makeup.  One dresses nicely and it stays that way...........NOT here.  Did I mention that you can go out in nicely pressed clothes and within five minutes look like you slept in them for days?  YUP, its true.

The only good thing about it as so many have said in an attempt at humor,  "It's good for your skin".  I don't think so cause it feels to me like my skin is sliding down my face along with the makeup and the hair that is falling.

Like I said, "It's a GIRL thing".  See men how lucky you are? - No hair, no makeup and who cares if your clothes are a little wrinkled.  It's a "manly" thing, right    "Fiddlesticks", I say.

WAITING FOR THE RAIN

Every year by the first of May, all eyes in San Miguel are on the sky watching and hoping for rain clouds. This year, amazingly, there has been rain throughout the year so far.  I say amazingly because usually we have no rain from the end of September til mid June.

Having lived almost all my life in the South where rain was not a problem, I was baffled my first year in the semi-arid climate of the Bajio to hear people talk about when it would rain.  How much it would rain?  How long would it rain?  In Texas, if there was a shower, we just hoped we would not be inundated with 6 inches in a few hours.  Truly.

In fact when a tropical depression came in in 1979 we had 42 inches of rain in 24 hours.  The damage of flooded homes, floating cars and 18 wheelers and boats in people's yards was the norm for that episode.

I actually got excited the other day when driving to my daughter's house in Kingwood, north of Houston, to see storm clouds in hopes of seeing a REAL rainstorm.  Nope, just showers.  Not a "gully washer" as we like to say in this area.

Now I await also the rain in San Miguel so I know the dust is gone.  I know that the temps have gone from highs in the 90's to back in the low 80's and then I'll cross the border and head back to San Miguel.

The weather in San Miguel cannot be beat in the summer and fall.  I cannot say that for Texas.