BANKRUPT......and it's only the first month of 2014 in Mexico!

I so looked forward to this year.  I said I had a sense it was going to be the "best year ever".  Heaven help me if that is the case.  It has been a doozy of a month so far..........one that never needs to be repeated.

Oh the cold wasn't THAT bad.  Nor were the flowers that turned black on the roof.  No, it was something much more serious then that.

It started on January 1st.  There was a blog about it.  A, "who knows what size stone" passed into the never never land.  I've heard the old adage that a rolling stone gathers no moss.  I'm grateful for that.

Now, it seems there are many, many more stones.  No one told me the actual count but with a VERY serious look on his face, in the Ultrasound Room today, Dr. Barrera said, "There are MANY stones".  Upon my question, which was, "Are you kidding?", he gave me that look that only a doctor being questioned can give to a patient.   Actually, no comment said more then an answer.  Silence was not golden.

The brand new state-of-the art ultrasound machine, with its professional technician, scanned all it needed to and then gave a report, in Spanish, along with photos.  I saw no bambino.  To my mind that is the reason for an ultrasound.  Different point of view now.

So, now what.  A trip to Houston to see Dr. Who Knows.  Haven't been to a doctor in Houston in ten years, except the eye doctor.  Oh and those ya-hoos at Kingwood Hospital that nearly killed me.  They don't count.  Dr. Who Knows can  hopefully, laproscopically  remove the gallbladder.  Information is that "it's no big deal".  OK.....we'll see.

Then on a bright side, it occurred to me that I should make this a "3 for 1" special, the gallbladder, the cataract and the torn meniscus cartilage.  We'll see.  First things first.  If I scheduled this right it could only take a couple of weeks.....I've been told two days for recover of the gallbladder thing; two days for the cataract surgery and if memory serves me correctly about ten days recovery on the knee.  Sound good?

When?  Where? How? With Who?  I'm feeling a little emotionally bankrupt right now.

You  know how on Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak says"It is better to get the bankrupts over at the beginning of the game so you can go on to win?"  Well. maybe that is a good way to look at this.  Get the bad stuff over  at the beginning and have a WOO HOO year for the rest of 2014.  What do you think?  Any suggestions for a gallbladder doctor in Houston in the Medical Center?  All advice appreciated.

Mujer de la Basura - The woman of the garbage

She walks the colonia with dignity, friendliness and spunk.  She is the woman who collects garbage from residents who don't or can't stand on the street twice a week waiting for the garbage truck.

She comes to people's homes and collects their garbage and lugs it back to her house.  At that point she goes through the bags looking for reusable items.  I heard on the news just the other day that 40% of the food purchased in the USA is tossed in the trash or disposed of.  I find that an incredible statistic.  I sincerely doubt that  is the percentage in Mexico.

What I have noticed as I drive by the little house that the "Woman of the Garbage" and her two sons live in, is that she is now putting plastic containers on the roof with roots of plants that are now growing.  I bet by the end of the summer, she'll have a garden up there.

I'm sorry I don't know her name.  We exchange greetings or a wave each time we see each other.  I've noticed that one of her sons comes on Tuesdays to get garbage from my next door Mexican neighbors.  The boy is always cleanly dressed and apparently has just come home from school. He nods to me when he sees me.

When I first moved here an elderly woman, and I do mean elderly, would come to the house to get my garbage.  Josefina charged 5 pesos a week to pick it up from me twice a week.  I felt so guilty about this that I started carrying it down to the corner (the truck does not go past my house) so that she wouldn't have to do so.  Of course, in retrospect, I now realize I was taking money that she counted on.  I wasn't savvy enough at that point.  It's not an easy task to lug the bags down to the corner, wait for the truck and then hoist it up to the guy who is at least 8 feet away from you.  Finally, after about nine years of this, I decided I had had enough. Javier, the gardener now takes it for me.  Come to think of it though, I did enjoy smiling and talking to the other Mexicans who were down there too.  I was always the only gringo.

It's just another facet of life in Mexico where you do things that when you lived in the USA, you would never have even considered being a part of.  I used to think about that as I was hauling trash down the street. ""IF my friends in Houston could see me now" And, then I would chuckle. 

The Procession of the Mexican Cutter Ants

 We have lots of processions and parades in San Miguel de Allende.  Luckily only this one is inside the walls of my gardens.  It is no small feat for the cutter ants to march from wherever they begin to strip a plant of all of its leaves, and I do mean ALL, to the street where they take it down, underground to their ant homes.

I came home today to see this procession heading across the flagstone directly in front of my door to the casa.  It's an annual thing so I don't get excited.  I used to try to control them with ant poison, water or whatever means anyone would suggest.  However, I've learned over the years that these wily creatures WILL survive and I could die of frustration.

So now, I just step over them and go into the house.

Last year, a kind friend gave me five or six large oleander bushes to plant on the side wall of the garden.  In my mind I was thinking, "They're big; oleanders are poisonous; the ants won't touch them""   Au contrare  They had those shrubs deleafed in three days.  Every last one of them!  Add to that, any time they started to releaf, they stripped them again.  I checked today and they still have leaves.  I'm anxious to see if they forgot about them and will leave them alone this year.

When I asked my son, whose  first degree was as a wildlife biologist about this, here is what he told me.

"They don't eat the leaves.  They carry them below ground once the earth becomes warm enough for them to do so.  They use them to pad their nests in preparation for the rainy season."  Okay, the rainy season is five months away, at least! 

Then I started thinking of how slow they go.  How many of them there are.  How far a distance it is from plant to street.  Yup, about five months to get it wherever it is underground seems about right.

I'm just amazed and fascinated by this annual pilgrimage.  It's my way of waiting for the groundhog to come up to tell us if winter is over.  Here it's the cutter ants. I think they know when the earth is going to start warming.

By the way, last night was the first time since December that I haven't had to turn on the heater all night.

Isn't it incredible that something so tiny knows what's going on?  Knows what it has to do.  AND, gets it done without complaining.  Well, at least as far as I know, that is.

The other incredible thing to me is the fact that I have time to notice such things!

The "Gringo" Bench in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

The gringo bench in San Miguel is really not a bench at all but the concrete and cantera wall that surrounds the jardin on all four sides.  The side that this photo was taken, eons ago, is the first to get sun on a daily basis.  Especially in the winter when sun is muy importante.  People prefer the wall because the cantera warms up from the sun.  The decorative iron benches, not so much.

Rather then seeing a congregation of gringos as a negative, on the cold days, we are just glad to see everyone out of their cold houses and sunning in the jardin.  Conversations start, sometimes friendships are made, and even a lunch bunch or two is formed.  What's wrong with that?  Typically one doesn't see that many ex-pats around town, except when the weather is cold and we all head for that one spot.

I don't remember who took this photo.  I recognize quite a few of these former and current residents along with a few "snow birds",

I was reminded of this photo today because I can assure you that, with the abominable weather up north, the influx of snowbirds is in full force.

Walking into the organic market today to buy fresh quiche from the French woman and asparagus, if I could find any (didn't), I was truly astounded at how crowded it was with no one that I knew.  It was evident from the conversations surrounding me that they were visitors enjoying an experience.  The organic market is that and more.

Next I walked to a Fair of "Made in San Miguel" items.  Wholesalers, supposedly, who were exhibiting their goods.  Since I used to export, I wanted to see what would be there.  No photos were taken but I did see some unique, but extremely pricey for Mexico, items.  Of course the visitors don't know that and were buying items as fast as they could.  Good, our economy is happy to oblige.

So, from now til the end of April, the snowbirds, from wherever, will be hanging out here enjoying the weather, the food and the ability to walk everywhere in a safe and visually beautiful environment.

We welcome everyone.  The only downside is the amount of traffic - many vehicles with Alaska and points north for license plates!

Happily, I can always escape up the hill to my Casa Tranquilo  where the only sound is birds singing and the burro down the hill braying.  Happy days.........

Life Interrupts............In the Jardin

I had intended on writing on a whole different subject today along with another photo.  What happened here was just too good not to post about and to take a photo.

Here it is.  As I arrived in the jardin at about 11AM, I noticed quite a few groups of high school students on field trips, I presume. From where I don't know.  For years, when they arrive from Guanajuato or Leon, usually, they are practicing their English so they come up and inquire as to whether they can ask you questions in English.  It is quite fun and definitely a learning experience for both sides - me and the students.

As I sat on the wall, warming my body today, I saw a swarm of students walk up to this man who was dressed in a straw hat and bermuda shorts.  The typical tourist.  They asked if they could have their picture taken with him.  He had been sitting there reading his paper, but he broke into a large grin as the kids surrounded him for one photo after another.  As they left, I listened and each and every young person thanked him, in English, for allowing the photos.  It was priceless.

I waited a while and then walked over to talk to him.  I inquired if he was a Canadian since he was in bermuda shorts, but, in fact, he was from Northern Indiana.  He was tickled at the event with the kids.
We talked more.  Twenty years ago he and his wife, who worked for a company in Chicago, came down to manage a factory in San Miguel that made the little glass and brass enclosed cases to put decorative items or whatever in.  Then the Chinese saw them somewhere, copied them and started making them for pennies on the dollar.  Fifteen hundred families no longer had employment here when the factory closed because of the undercutting of the Chinese company.

This man and his wife returned to Chicago and Indiana, but continued to come down every year to enjoy San Miguel for a week or two.  Now, both retired, they spend a longer period of time here.

I remember when that started happening in Mexico.  Even the hand blown glasses with the blue rims were knocked off in China and the small factories in Mexico were forced to close.  Such a shame.  Part of it is not having the knowledge of how to design another product.  Part of it was not having the money to change in midstream.  Fast forward to now.  That business, for the most part, is back.  And, it's back in great numbers.

A friend of mine who is a consolidator in Tlaquepaque said their number one country to export to today is Italy followed by Australia.  Who knew?  I think it is magnificent.

The man and I talked a bit longer and then I joined friends to head out to lunch.  However, that brief conversation, with the man from Indiana, sparked a long forgotten memory for me today.  Along with a fun photo.

BRAVE

 There is a popular song out now by Sara Bareileus that each time I hear it and see the singer, I think of my daughter, Jennifer.  She was the bravest person that I have ever  known.  Today would have been her 52nd birthday.  However, she passed ten years ago this coming May.  Hard to believe.

It's not the words in this song particularly, it's the way that Sara delivers them.  Something about her reminds me very much of Jennifer.  It's her spunkiness and sensitivity among other things.

You would never know that, looking at the above photo taken just before her little brother was born.  This photo was taken in December 1963.  The bassinet in the background was for John.  Little did we know that some day he would be the person to give LIFE to her through a bone marrow transplant.  That transplant along with the doctors at MD Anderson along with Jennifer's determination and braveness extended her life for 5 1/2 years.

 She was brave, but she was also the most gentle person that I have ever known.  I remember her kindergarten teacher, Ms. Richards remarking that Jennifer had an "aura" about her.  I always felt it as well.
Well, most of the time at least, as mothers and daughters do have their conflicts from time to time.  Those pale in comparison though to the wonderful times such as this photo above that I took of Jen.

Jen became a butterfly gardener after she recovered from her leukemia.  She and Christopher, her little son, would watch the metamorphosis of the butterfly coming out of the cocoon and then eventually flying away.
With her gentleness, often, the butterflies would land on her before taking off.  I SO love this photo.  It says a lot.  This was taken in 2002.

Twice Jen was able to fly to Cozumel.  Once with Christopher.  She loved it so much and she swam with the dolphins.  The doctors at MD Anderson freaked out each time that she did this as her cell counts both times were fluctuating dangerously low.  However, each time she swam with the dolphins, her cell counts zoomed back up.  There actually, last I heard, was a scientific research project ongoing at MDA on this phenomena.

Christopher is now 15.  He's a fine young man who reminds me very much of his mother in his gentleness and that great smile that she had with her "apple cheeks" as we called them.  He was much loved by her.

So today, as her mother, I honor her with all good positive energy and thoughts as I'm sure her sister and brother are doing as well.  She was a unique woman who inspired many, many people including the doctors at MD Anderson.

Happy Birthday Jennifer.  You are still much loved and are always in our thoughts.

Here's a Few to Share - Boxes and Boxes of Photos

 This past weekend I went through boxes and boxes of photos that were taken prior to purchasing a digital camera.  Lotsa old photos from my travels worldwide.  Including photos of Mexico in the 70's and thereafter. 

It will take time to scan the old photos into the computer using Adobe Photoshop, one by one.  But, I will.  Someone who reads the blog asked to see some old photos.  I was really amazed at some I have of the Lake Chapala area before there was hardly a village called Ajijic. Some others are of Mismaloya, south of Puerto Vallarta, when there were only two houses on the hillside and a few old palapas left over from the John Huston movie with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.  The year those were taken was 1978.  Amazing.

I also came across photos of the first restaurant that I designed and the last resort I designed.  Sooner or later I'll share all these with you.

Now, to these four that I'm sharing today.  This crucifix is embedded in the wall of a little house on Homobono which then becomes Cuesta de San Jose as it goes up the hill.  One day walking to the mercado I noticed that someone had inserted a white rose in a crack in the cross.  I stopped and snapped this photo.
This is one of my favorites.

 Speaking of Cuesta de San Jose, (the hill of St. Joseph), shown in this photo is a procession carrying the statue of St. Joseph to the little church farther up the hill.  Our processions and parades are seldom grand or expensive.  They are the citizens honoring or celebrating a saint's day or whatever.  I heard the drums at my house and headed down to the corner to see this procession.  This was taken at about 5PM, hence the shadows........Another of my favorite photos.  St. Joseph's Day is March 19th. I know that because my Dad's name was Joseph.

 Again, one evening I was on Canal headed somewhere when I looked up and saw the shadows and intensity of color on these buildings.  The year was 2004.  I took this photo and used it for my Christmas card that year.  It was taken in September.  Hence the Mexican flag and the decorations in anticipation of the festivities that month.

Although this photo looks posed, I can assure you it is not.  This woman used to sit on Allende daily to sell flowers.  As I came out of a shop one day, I could not resist taking this photo.  If I had any room left to hang one more thing, I would have this blown up and have it on the wall to enjoy daily.  She is so beautiful.

As I wrote last week, this is a photographer's paradise.  I think anyone would be hard pressed to take a bad photo.  It is such a joy to live somewhere that is so visually beautiful and poignant.

Interestingly, I wasn't out looking for things to photograph when I took these.  In fact, usually I'm trying to get my little digital camera or whatever I used to have out of my purse before the shot is gone.

Then I'm always so surprised when I get to see them on the computer screen these days.  What treasures!

Hope you enjoy them as well.

If and When You're Coming to Mexico ......Bring Earplugs

It was so long ago that someone gave me the advice to bring earplugs to Mexico that I had forgotten all about it.  However, yesterday while having lunch with a group of women, the topic of dogs barking in the night came up.  I first asked if they had earplugs.  I don't think anyone answered.  Then I asked if they had the phone numbers for the owners of the dogs.  No one did.  I suggested that they get the numbers and call the neighbors at 2AM when the dog is barking.  I have done that.  It works. By the second time of telephoning them while you are awake, they never leave the dog out again.

I also never travel anywhere in Mexico without earplugs.  The sounds one can hear if one does NOT have earplugs can be traffic, parties, fireworks, music, dogs, roosters (they do make their sounds all night), horses, cows, sheep and goats.  The latter happened to me when I stayed near Patzcuaro in the country once and there was a farm next door on the lake.  I had no idea animals such as cows,  horses, etc. made so much noise at night.  In went the earplugs.

On a planned trip to Veracruz City over the Christmas holidays, I was forewarned to be sure to bring earplugs.  Good piece of advice.  We were staying right on the jardin and the partying went on til about 4AM.  I would have been very grumpy, if not for my earplugs.  Many of the people I was traveling with were not so lucky.

Lots of people complain about the church bells that ring at least every hour, if not every fifteen minutes day and night, I think in San Miguel.  Actually, I've been here so long that I don't hear or notice them.  Well, I have to correct that statement.  When sitting on the bench in front of the Parroquia, one cannot even hear, talk or anything else when the bells are ringing.  Earplugs that close would not help.

The fireworks are the same thing.  IF they are going to set them off, it is usually at 6AM.  I might hear the first volley, but then I turn over and go back to sleep.  I'm used to them, finally.

Therefore, when packing for a trip, I never leave home without my earplugs.........or my camera.  Of course, they are readily available here in the house as well. You've been forewarned.  Happy travels.

IT Happened Again Yesterday

I was having lunch with a friend yesterday at Via Organica, here in San Miguel, when  an attractive woman approached our table.  She introduced herself and said that she reads the blog and has read it for quite a while.  It seems she just wanted me to know how much she has enjoyed it for all this time.

Touched by her comment, I asked her name and we chatted for a few minutes.  It's so lovely when someone takes the time to approach  to tell me something like that.  It happens often.  I continue to be amazed that people recognize me.  I, in my mind, have decided that I don't look anything like the blog photo so I should be incognito.  Obviously I'm wrong.

The first time someone approached me in public, almost thirty years ago, I was astounded.  A young woman walked up to me in the Galleria in Houston and spoke my name.  I assumed, incorrectly, that she was a former Girl Scout from one of my old troops.  You see, I was a Girl Scout leader for seven years.  Often a young woman would approach me and tell me who she was.  Of course, since most of those girls had been in the fourth grade when I knew them and now they were in their mid 20's, they looked nothing like they had as a child.  I, somehow, to them, still looked the same.

But, back to the incident with the young woman in the Galleria..  She approached me because she had been in a class that I had conducted as a guest lecture on restaurant and hotel design.  A student at the University of Houston Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, in fact, she had heard me speak more then once on various subjects.  She was effusive and complementary.  I was tongue tied and humbled by her gushing.  I couldn't even tell you what I said, other then to thank her very much for talking with me.

Since that day and after the many meetings with readers of the blog, I hope that I'm not still tongue tied and silly in my comments.  Believe me, I'm honored each and every time I'm approached.  Along with being astounded.

As I have said repeatedly in the past, "The blog has enriched my life in ways that I could not have possibly imagined." If it brings information or solace or happiness to a reader, that is just icing on the cake.

A Delightful Surprise!

Do you ever buy a book, or a DVD or CD with little expectations?  Then when you read, see or hear it, you're thrilled.

That is the case with Willie Nelson's cd, "To All The Girls".  It was given to me in November.  I have played and played it.  To my ear it is one of his best.  The music is duets with the likes of Dolly Parton, Miranda Lambert, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow and Emmylou Harris, to name a few.

Many of the songs I have never heard before.  One is Grandma's Hands with Mavis Staples and No Mas Amor with Alison Krauss.

It is absolutely delightful!  If you like Willie, and I do, along with all the others, you can't go wrong buying this cd.

Go  for it!  Happy days...........

Women on the Wall in Sunshine

I scurried out the door yesterday, with the wind blowing ninety miles an hour (an exaggeration) to take a photo of something that was in the sun.  Thinking that hopefully they were warmer then I.  At the time, little did I know that the temperature was going to drop "like a rock" before Thursday morning arrived.

When it is that windy here, we always know it is a front blowing in.  Having had that experience many times in Texas, it is expected.  The compass on the thermometer has been spinning for days.  First the wind was coming from the South, then the West, then the Northeast and finally due North.  The dreaded "Due North".

It was blowing in through the closed windows, under the doors and probably through the bricks since there is not plaster on the outside north wall.  Do you think adding plaster would make the house warmer?

I hoped that I was imagining the cold, but, no such luck.

When I awoke this morning, it was 25F!  Holy moly.  The good news was that the skies were azure blue with sunshine and NO wind.  Be grateful for little blessings!  By late this afternoon, the temperature had risen to 68 degrees F.  Forty-three degrees.

The only way to survive this kind of weather is layering.  At one point today I had four layers of clothing on.
Then as it warms up, it's take off time.  You can hear it all over the streets of San Miguel, "Take it off", "Take it off".  I'm just kidding.  However as you do look around people are shedding as the warmth increases.

Honestly, it's a boring thing when the most exciting thing going on in your life is the weather.

That's because almost everyone I know is at the beach and it is very quiet here except for the howling winds, the "vroom, vroom" of the motorcycle shop and the barking pit bull next door.

The BEACH is sounding better and better every hour of every day.

A Photographer's Paradise

I watch them, the photographers who come to San Miguel.  They want to capture the "light", kinda like I did in Paris.  They want the buildings, the sunsets, the street vendors, the festivals.  It's a rhapsody for them with the crescendo being that one favorite photo that speaks to their heart and photographic talent.

For me, although I certainly don't consider myself a photographer but rather a picture taker, I like the everyday things.  I swear just walking down the hill, I see scads of opportunities for photos everywhere that I look.  In fact, I make myself stop and just enjoy without photographing many times.

Just the other day, I walked into the jardin to see the scene of the painters refreshing the side of the colonial building in close proximity to the Parroquia.  I had to sit down on the wall around the jardin to just watch this feat of balance and agility.

The wooden ladders sway as the men climb them.  They do go carefully.  For me, it would never be carefully enough.  It's like being at the circus watching the guys on the highwire.  Sheesh, it's scary.

First they scrape the building and then, by law, they must apply cal, which is an ancient formula, to the surface and then the paint.  Yup, by law, they have to apply cal.  I presume this is an old law.

It will take days if not weeks to paint the side of this building, four men at a time.

Then, as I got up off the wall and turned the corner toward the Parroquia, the hat vendor was taking a break from selling his hats and bracelets.  He was taking time to read the paper.  People often say that Mexicans don't read, but I often see them with small books tucked in their pockets or taking time, while eating their lunch, to read.  In fact, when I gave books to the primary school years ago, they were so proud that they set up a special room and then invited me over to see what they had accomplished.  I was very touched.  I continue to provide books to that school and to my grandchildren, of course.  Reading to me is a poor man's way of seeing the world.  I've been a reader since I was a small child.  I always had a book stuck in front of me.  Much to my mother's aggravation.  She didn't understand that it widened my horizons of life.

Bring your cameras and all your paraphenalia if you wish.  Come with open eyes.  Come to see the every day scenes or the spectacular scenes in the many, many festivals we have.  I promise, you'll NEVER be disappointed.  It is a photographer's paradise.

August: Osage County and American Hustle

Last week I walked to Juan's Cafe, where besides serving good food in a lovely courtyard setting, he also sells DVD's.  If you want the latest, before they even get to the movie theaters, Juan has them.  I don't ask questions as to how.........

I selected five - two of which were August: Osage County and American Hustle.  Juan has a list of the nominees for the Golden Globes and since these two were in the comedy category for awards, I expected to have funny movies.

Au contrare,  nothing could be farther from the truth. 

August: Osage County was about one of the most dysfunctional families that I've ever seen portrayed on the screen.  Sheesh.  From the boozing father to the drug addicted mother (Meryl Streep) to the daughter getting divorced to one who was having an affair with her brother...........it was something else. 

Now in defense of the daughter having an affair with her brother, she thought he was her cousin!  The third sister had a boyfriend who hit on the 14 year old daughter of the one getting a divorce.

The acting was extraordinary - especially Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.  But funny or even humorous, it was not. 

American Hustle had an excellent cast.  Two women that I wasn't familiar with that much and two key male actors.  It was a true story of how the government entrapped a bunch of politicians in New Jersey and felt they had benefitted the country by prosecuting them and jailing them.

The acting was quirky, with many twists and turns.  Take two beautiful women and a few erotic scenes plus
good acting and you have an award winner.  They proved it last night.

The third movie I watched that was nominated was The Butler.  Acting, again was excellent.  Story  was true and the real live footage incorporated into the movie, was interesting to see.

My neighbor, in the guest house, is from Zacatecas and 24 years old.  He was not aware of the civil rights struggle to that degree in the USA.  We had an fascinating conversation about it and his impressions.
Actually, I think he was shocked that in the USA, the land of the free, there were and are people still oppressed.  I assume he knows about his own countrymen being oppressed in America, but I don't think he new about the civil rights movement.

I've got more movies to watch.  Gravity, Saving Mr. Banks, Capt. Phillips and All Is Lost with Robert Redford.  If you're interested, I'll share my two cents worth when finished.  I still want to get Nebraska and Inside Llewelyn Davis.  I hope one of these has some uplifting, if not humorous feeling to it.

I was surprised at the Golden Globes last night in that the awards were spread out throughout several movies and not just one or two.  It was a delightful evening of seeing actors and actresses that I haven't seen in a while.

The Path to Simplicity

It wasn't an intended road.  At least now, looking back, it wasn't something I was yearning for at the time.

I was in Puerto Vallarta to restore a home built there in Gringo Gulch in 1955 by the first "white woman", (National Geographic's description), not mine.  Her name was Liz Rubey and she became the Grande Dame of PV for a very long time.  It was a much smaller town then and it was THE place to be.  With all the movie stars and film people hanging out there starting in the 60's.  Ahh, the stories those walls could have told.

Anyway, I went to oversee and handle the updating of the four bedroom house up on a hill overlooking Gringo Gulch.  It was an interesting time.  I arrived with one suitcase, assuming incorrectly that I would be there for a couple of weeks.  There was no electricity or telephone because the bills had not been paid.
I didn't know then what to do and decided I would leave the next day.  A dear neighbor, Laura Cardenas, who subsequently became a lifelong friend, assisted with the utilities, well the electricity, and I was back in business and did not leave.

I ended up there for six weeks with one suitcase, no telephone, no radio and no television. Also, no newspapers!  The year was 1992.  Internet was not even a thought.  Therefore I had no connection with just about anyone, unless they knocked on the door and yelled my name.  The door was down four flights of stairs at the street level.

Whew, talk about adjustment.  IF I needed to call the USA, I walked to a place where I could use a phone to call.  My friend, John Horton came down with remodeling supplies and was there for a few weeks helping and coordinating some things with me.  I now wonder how in the world that job ever was completed.  Oh, and the cost of materials and all new furnishings - a little over $3000.  I'd post photos but for some reason Picasa is goofing up and I can't get them to load to Blogspot right now.

The lesson, though, from that six weeks of living out of a suitcase, without benefit of communication, was that I came home and saw  my world from a whole new perspective.  I was aghast when I looked in the TWO huge full closets of clothes.  I was distressed at the din of noise from the TV, radio, phones ringing and just the constant assault of something that had to be done, "Right now!"

One of my clients even commented about it.  He said that he didn't want me going back to Mexico while their building was being built because I moved at a slower pace!  Really?

Shortly after returning, quite by accident, I read a book where the woman lived on $6000 a year.  She traveled everywhere as an air courier or had her travels paid for as she was a writer of travel stories.  In this book she said she had six changes of clothes. She said that since there were seven days in the week, she needed six outfits and could launder them on the seventh day.  RADICAL.

That book and my experience in Puerto Vallarta was the beginning of turning me from a "Material Girl" to someone who finally had the courage to leave the world of consumerism.

My trip to San Miguel was spontaneous in 1999.  I came with a group of five women who had not been to Mexico previously. I of course had and somehow, without me knowing, had been designated "The Leader".
Suffice to say, at that point it was not a pleasant experience.  The good thing, of course, is that I finally saw
San Miguel.  I didn't fall in love with it at first sight as so many other people do.  In fact, the next time I came back I said I was never coming back as it was February and freezing.

However, a subsequent trip in 2000 for six weeks with a friend was the turning point.  By then I had changed substantially and was ready for a simple life.  Still, I thought I would work til 2005.  Destiny had another idea.

When the opportunity arose for me to sell my firm, I didn't hesitate a second.  Pretty much the same with selling my house.  If I did both of those, why not sell everything - except art and books?  I did.

Regrets, no.  Do I miss any of that stuff?  No. I don't even remember what 90% of it was at the time. Would I do it over again and sell everything?  Indeed.  It was the most free I have ever felt before or since.

The journey to this life has had its ups and downs,  not because of the move or the life of simplicity.  The ups and downs had to do with the loss of those I loved, but Mexico has been a good place for solace, solitude and recovery.

This past couple of weeks, after putting all the Christmas stuff away, I've been looking around and wanting to clean out drawers, the closet and downsize some more.  I feel a giant garage sale coming.  As soon as it warms up.  More folk art, clothes, kitchen stuff.  I don't really need this much any more.

It IS a great feeling!  Maybe I'll downsize to the point that I could live on a boat or in an RV.  Hmm, that's an interesting thought!  Stay tuned.

Needing Less and Missing Nothing

This is a quote from John Scherber,  an author living in San Miguel.  He's a prolific writer with many published books.  This quote came from an article he wrote for a publication.  Before I forget,  John has a new book out, "Into the Heart of Mexico: Expatriates Find Themselves Off the Beaten Path".  It's about those ex-pats who choose to live where few other ex-pats go.  I know it will be an interesting read.
John has offered to write a guest blog for Babsblog and I look forward, eagerly, to his ruminations and writings.

But, back to the quote.  It has resonated with me since I read it.  That one sentence really is a statement about those of us who have found solace in living in this country, without the need for consumerism.

It's kind of ironic that I write this blog today after having just written about the new mixed use development going up north of Queretaro in Juriquilla.  However, chances are I'll go once to see the development and most likely not return.  I'm definitely NOT a shopper, except for necessities.

It strikes me each time I return to the USA.  I see things that either I've never heard of or seen before or things I just haven't thought about in a long time.  I see many, many things that are not available in Mexico or if they are, I have no idea where I would find them.

Whereas the USA is dependent on consumerism for their economy, I doubt, but could be wrong, that Mexico is not.  Rather, Mexico exports a lot to other countries, not only the USA.  Of course, the USA exports too.  I see the lines and lines of 18 wheelers at the International Bridge each time I cross the border.
But, this post isn't really about import and export.  It's more about contentment and compromise.

"Needing less" is amazing to me.  Since I have lived for thirteen years with only one closet (and the storage space under my bed), I've learned that I certainly need fewer clothes.

Since I have a tiny kitchen and only one cabinet for storing foodstuffs, I've learned that I don't need to have a closet as a pantry.

I've learned that I can find books at garage sales or mostly in exchanges with friends for free. And, of course, the clothes I need are purchased mostly at the tianguis.

It's kind of part of the adventure of living in a foreign country.  To figure out what you HAVE TO HAVE, which isn't as much for sure, and then figure out where to find it. 

However, here is the burning question of the day.  And, yes, I admit it. I'm missing cool whip. "Is it possible to find cool whip anywhere in Mexico?"  I have a zillion recipes that call for it, but, no cool whip.  See, life is so simple here!  Right now, the only thing I can think of that I'm missing is cool whip...........ha.

Antea Lifestyle Center, Queretaro, Mexico

The mixed-use development known as Antea Lifestyle Center broke ground in 2011 north of Queretaro near Juriquilla.  It is quite an endeavor and will be the largest mall in Mexico and second largest in Latin America when completed the end of 2014.

The developers are Grupo Sordo Madaleno.  I know nothing about this group but I'm sure they are similar to Hines Interests who developed The Galleria in Houston and then other locations around the world.  Ironically, Hines has a major commercial park in the Queretaro area, not far from this new development.

I was involved in designing a couple of mixed use developments in Jacksonville, Florida.  It is definitely the wave of the future.  The one I worked on was a marina,  condo housing, a 63 story highrise, a boutique grocery store, beauty salon, etc etc etc.  The project was called Berkman Plaza.  After completion, it was sold for a hefty profit,  I don't know if it is still called by that name.

The good news about this mixed-use development is that it will bring 2000 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs to the area.

Included in the development will be close to 160 stores, most high end.  Also 4000 apartments, 2 hotels, office space, and a hospital, just to name a few.  It is a 10 year project.  The first phase opened in November 2013 with some shops and a couple of fast food restaurants.

Some of the stores that will be in the mall are Prada, Liverpool, Lacoste, Armani, Chanel, Zara, Sears, Dolce and Gabbana, Burberry, H&M, Hollister, Versace, Calvin Klein, Converse and Banana Republic.

 Something for everyone. Sears in Mexico is equal to a Dillard's.  Much more high end then in the USA.  The above list is projected to all be open by the end of 2014.

It is located about 30 minutes from San Miguel de Allende and 15 minutes from the centro of Queretaro.

I've also been told that a huge Walmart Center will open across the freeway from Antea.  Truly something for everyone, in all price ranges.

Yesterday our Koffee Klatch group was talking about the new center.  We were hoping that Wendy's and Target would come to Mexico as well.  In Queretaro there is already Domino's, IHOP, Applebee's, Chili's,
Burger King, McDonald's, KFC, Dairy Queen, Walmart, Home Depot and Office Depot!  There are probably more American chains that I don't even know about.  These are the ones I've heard about.

In the "Olden Days", like thirteen years ago, we all went to Queretaro to shop at Costco, Walmart, Alladino's and Sam's because the grocery shopping in San Miguel was atrocious.  Our typical day was to do our grocery shopping, go to Chili's and then go to a movie.  We didn't have a decent movie theater here in San Miguel either.  Now we do, along with good restaurants.

In fact, I haven't been to Queretaro, which is 45 minutes away, in about two or three years.  I will, however, go to see the new Antea Lifestyle Center, some day.........If you wish to see the interesting architecture of this new development, just type in Antea Lifestyle Center in your Search Engine and choose from the many websites or watch the You Tube video.

Mexico is growing and changing, as I write!

IT began yesterday............

As I looked at the webcam yesterday, I noticed fewer people in the jardin.  Still there were families taking photos in front of the tree with the Parroquia in the background.  However, it was NOT wall to wall people, anymore.

Today when I looked at the webcam before I left the house, I noticed that the fence was no longer around the tree along with all the decorations that had been on the ground. The big mojigangas (large walking creatures with a person inside) were no longer in attendance either.

Progress is being made to return the town to tranquility and serenity.  

The tourists have, for the most part, left.  The kids all return to school tomorrow.  The streets are passable again.  Even the "round about" or glorieta, as we call it, was not backed up with cars trying to circle to exit onto another road.  It has been a "keystone cop" operation for the last three weeks.

Hopefully by this time next year the current administration will have figured out a way to handle all the traffic and people in a different manner so that the quality of life is maintained.

It certainly didn't seem like San Miguel.  It seemed more like Grand Central Station this season.

IF you want to keep up with the shenanigans of San Miguel or just to see all that goes on from dawn to dark, from the comfort of wherever you are,  just put Live Webcam in San Miguel de Allende in your Search Engine.  The website will come up. You can bookmark it and watch in amazement at the pigeons and the people along with all the other activities that make life in Mexico so surreal.

I FINALLY Got to Be There!

Ýesterday was a spectacular day in more ways then one.  The weather was spectacular and 70F degrees!  The sky was blue and we were all happy about THAT!

This photo is the grounds at the Real de Minas Hotel here in San Miguel where Sebastian's FOURTH birthday took place.

As I arrived, there were Matilda and Sebastian on the trampoline having a great time.

Sebastian could hardly contain himself.  He WANTED to open his presents!  Finally, allowed to open one until the rest of the kids arrived, he was ecstatic about his Max Steel moving robot.  He was over the moon.  He, by himself, figured out how to make him work and carried this thing, that was almost as big as him, around all day.

Here he's showing me Max Steel, whose arms extend, among other things.

Presents.  More and more presents.

Sebastian, just like every child, loves opening presents.

He and his Dad figuring out how to make something work.

A tent!  OMgosh, a tent!  As soon as it was put together, they both scurried with their toys to the tent.
I know many, many hours of fun will be had inside this tent.

When my kids were little, they would make tents all over the house with sheets and blankets. I believe they spent one quarter of their lives as wee ones, playing inside their makeshift tents.  Sometimes they were up for a month at a time......now this little tent assembled in minutes!

Sebastian got more tools for his Bob the Builder tool belt.  Here he's showing me his tape measure which fits on his belt just like Daddy's does.

Love this picture!  Sebastian's best friend and Sebastian had a little squabble.  John is mediating.

It was a bit of a windy day.  We gave up on any more candles other then one which was blown out in a second.  I didn't even get a photo of it!  However, Matilda had her eye on a better prize.  One of the two maraschino cherries on top of the cake for decoration.

Sebastian was the first to hit the pinata.  Mati followed.  Do you see all the candy on the ground?
She really walloped that pinata with the pinata stick.  This was followed by all the kids
swarming in for the treats.

This was the first birthday that I was able to share with Sebastian.  I'm always at the beach by this time of year.  This year I decided that I wanted to be here for this and other things, but, most importantly Sebastian's  birthday.  It doesn't seem possible that he is already four years old.

It was a memorable and fun experience, to put it mildly.

To top it all off, last evening the sky was lit in blue, pink, gold and purple hues in the sunset.
This  photo of peace and serenity ended my day as I took this photo from up on the roof terrace.

Aaah, life is good.

Jardin Bench Space in Jardin in San Miguel de Allende

The pictures taken here were taken on December 18th before the COLD weather arrived in town.

There is a direct correlation between bench occupancy and cold weather.
You would think that there would be less people if it is cold.  However, the opposite is true.

Our houses are stone walls with no insulation.  When I say NO, I'm not kidding. It seems counter-intuitive to go outside to warm up.  That's exactly what we do!

If you look at the webcam and see the jardin benches and the wall in front of the jardin covered with people, there are three reasons that it would be that way.

(1) It's freezing inside our houses and we want sunshine (hopefully) and some warmth.
(2) Some houses are tiny and you HAVE to get out from time to time.
(3) There is going to be an event on the streets.  A desfile (parade), procession or something that the Mexican population knows is going to happen and we gringoes are astonished about.
(4) It's a place to meet people and find someone to go to lunch with.

I laugh when I look at the webcam and see the same people on the benches at about 11:30 each day.  I see them from the warmth of my house, which after many years, I have figured out how to keep warm.
Well, at least a few rooms!

Today is one of those days.  It started out at 43F and is supposed to get up to 66F.  IF the clouds went away, the intensity of the sun would feel wonderful. 

Unfortunately it doesn't look like the clouds are going anywhere.

I will NOT be on the bench today!

New Year's Day Ruminations!

Every year, since I was a young girl, I approach New Year's Day with my mother's message ringing in my ears.It was, "Whatever you do on New Year's Day, you'll be doing the rest of the year".  Therefore, she didn't want to cook, do laundry or any menial things in an attempt, she said, to prevent her having to do those things all year long.  Now, of course, I realize that it was her way of getting a day off.

So, I awoke yesterday thinking I would sit on the bed and watch the Rose Bowl Parade.  I had made the cornbread dressing the day before along with the dessert for our meal later in the day.  All I had to do was season the pechuga de pavo  (turkey breast) and put it in my little oven.  My son refers to it as my Easy Bake Oven like little girls used to play with.  It IS a slight bit bigger.  I also needed to boil the red potatoes, season the black eyed peas and heat up the English peas.  Simple tasks.  I could make this meal almost blind-folded, I've done it so many times.  Even had cranberry sauce.  A once a year pleasure.

I lasted on the bed watching the Rose Bowl Parade for maybe five minutes.  Other things to do.
When I finally got to watch the Rose Bowl Parade, it was a synopsis after it was over.  Oh well, maybe next year.

This meal had been intended for a group of people.  Two who had traveled down from Texas.  Others who had no place else to go.  The two from Texas headed home sooner then expected.  The locals, for one reason or the other, changed their plans and it ended up that my son and I had a delightful meal, alone, where we could talk and relax.

It was a delicious meal and good conversation, if I do say so myself.  It's strange to have a meal with just two  people as in past years that kind of meal always had at least fourteen or fifteen or more around my table.  That was back in the USA.  I do miss the big family gatherings, but at this point, I think they need to be at someone else's house.  The oven thing is one reason as I have to cook for days due to only being able to put one thing in there at a time.  This adventure is no longer fun.........

Then, all of a sudden, out of the blue, something happened yesterday that was unexpected and unpredictable.  I was standing in the kitchen, putting leftovers in containers when I was struck with such an intense pain that I headed downstairs to the bano.

It intensified.  It was wrapped around my stomach as though I was going to give birth to an alien through my stomach.  Believe me, I would have done, so if it would have relieved the pain.  I quietly laid on the bed waiting to see if it was going to go up my back or across my chest.  It did not.  Finally called John downstairs, and said we might need to call an ambulance but that I wanted to see if the pain subsided.
Needless to say, he was freaked out.  I've never called an ambulance in my life.  Plus my kids always talk about how high of a threshold for pain I have.  Which I do.

Finally, with the pain staying only in my stomach area, I knew I wasn't having a heart attack.  When it finally subsided after about forty-five minutes, I was relieved.  It came back but, was more localized, not as strong and it was on my right side.  Then I knew what it was. I had passed a gallstone.  Lordy, let me just say, it was more painful then childbirth!

I'm fine now.  I'm just hoping and praying that since this happened to me on New Year's Day that that doesn't mean that I have to go through that again in 2014, or ever again, to be sure.  And yes, I do have an appointment with Dr. Barrera today just to confirm my self diagnosis.  I have no residual effects today.

I do admit I'm moving slower today.  Maybe THAT is the lesson to begin 2014.

SLOW DOWN.