Author: iagardener55

Well, I went to see Dr. Arturo the other day. (You should know him by now- he is Paty’s brother, the doctor). I had a few things I wanted to talk to him about, to get his help with, is more the truth. I want to lose the fifteen kilos I already told you about; I want help with a “diet” to get started; I would like a “happy pill” for awhile, until we get moved and settled. This has really taken a toll on both of us, but, me, being the weaker half, admitted that I do not sleep much, and certainly not more than two hours at a time. I drink too much. I cry at every episode of whatever show I am watching, even when there is nothing about which to cry. My weight is out of control, and I just want to move to our own place. Wah wah wah. Boo hoo.

Of course, my blood pressure was up, (he took it twice, but would not tell me either time what it was), which I totally expected. He, too, wants me to lose said fifteen kilos, but over the next six months to one year, not in the next six weeks. As I am actually shrinking in height, (I lost one half inch in the past year and a half), I really need to be much more aware of how much weight I have gained. (Though I hardly need to be told- I see myself, every morning, in the full length mirror, staring at me when I get out of bed- every morning. (Definitely not having one of those things in the bedroom, to begin with, anyway)!

So, the good doctor ordered every blood test necessary, and appropriate for my age, and activity level, a UA, a chest X-ray, and, an Ultrasound of my upper abdomen, (I convert everything I eat, lately, to abdominal gas, thank you very much).

Paty took me, this morning, to the Laboratório, a very clean, and brightly lit building, that has a ton of educational information, in simple, easy to read signs, on every wall, plenty of plastic chairs, on which to sit, and bathrooms, nicely designated, so you have no doubt which one you need to use.

Once registered, and the exams paid for, (thirteen hundred pesos, or sixty five dollars for everything), I had the chest X-ray. After I had changes into the thin, white paper “top” that is open in the back, I stood, with my back against the freezing cold X-ray plate, shivering, because none of these rooms are heated in any way, and was told to turn around, and to put my chest up against the plate!!! Are you kidding me, I thought? Evidently not, because she then told me to hold my breath, and do not move, for what seemed like forever! Then, it was done. I got redressed, and away we went- down the hall, for some more torture.

So, now, we go around the corner, to the rooms where someone is going to draw my blood. I gave my blood to a young man with the lightest touch of any phlebotomist ever to have drawn my blood. Of course, he had to comment on how small my veins were, to Paty. I told them both that it was the only small thing on me, and I really needed to have that one thing. He chuckled. He did not realize that I was a popsicle.

Then, we got to sit in the hallway, outside of the three Ultrasound exam rooms, for about forty five minutes, while, having only physician available to read the scans, the area was starting to get crowded- people were not happy about having to wait so long. Eventually, however, after another ten minutes, or so, a second technician came, so they were able to run two rooms. The rest of us were taken care of promptly.

The results of the Ultrasound, you ask? Well, it is confidential, so, if I told you, I would have to kill each of you. Suffice it to say, I need to lose the weight we talked about, get more exercise, and eat better. Also, no more Tequila, except on Fridays. Have to go to Berlín!

Post script: fun fact. Now that I have just passed the one year post cataract extraction phase, I am, once again, without glasses! My eyes, just a week, or two ago, started working in harmony, like Dr. Borisuth and I had talked about, before having the surgeries. For about a week prior to this manifestation, I was having difficulty reading, and driving, with the glasses I had made here. (That was in an early post), so I stopped wearing them, and was only using reading glasses. Now, I do not wear my distance glasses at all, and only need the reading glasses to read the menus in Spanish. Yay!

We were at our favorite market, the Mercado Sector Popular, (henceforth to be known, simply, as “El Mercado”), having just eaten a late lunch, after having strolled around a bit, buying avocados, and limes, from our favorited vendor, when we “happened” upon a couple selling some indoor plants. Of course we have gone by this same stall each, and every time we have gone to the market, but, I digress.

The couple was sitting at their small card table, loaded with cut flowers of all varieties, and colors, eating what appeared to be their lunch as well, when we stopped to inquire about some beautiful Sansevieria, or Mother in Laws tongue, Snake plant, etc. There were several half gallon plastic bags, about eight inches in diameter, and were filled with these three to four feet tall Sansevierias, that had to be five years old or older. Ivan asked her how much she wanted for the largest one, and she replied eighty pesos, four dollars. Score!

Ivan asked me if I wanted them, to which I immediately replied in the affirmative! Of course! (After which followed a quick “the look”. You know the one I mean- the one that says “did you really need to ask” look). Whomever was running her stall the other day wanted one hundred pesos, or five dollars. If we had not been so busy the other day, I would have bought them then. Fortunately for us, we waited. However, we have already decided to return to her stall, introduce ourselves, and, hopefully, with the new acquaintance, buy more of her plants. We will see.

One more note about plants. The majority of our windows face the West, while our bedroom faces the South, so we will have a lot of sunshine throughout the day, into the evening. This should be paradise to some beautiful house plants. I cannot wait to decorate with them. Here, they are so inexpensive, comparatively speaking. When we get to decorating, if our internet is not up to standards yet, I will show you photos on Messenger.

You may be wondering what that means, so, give me a moment to explain.

Laika (LIE- ca, like the camera manufacturer) is a rescue dog, and as cute as they come. She is five months old, blonde, and, is about as smart as a stone- at the moment, that is. Let me take license to say, however, that she is exactly what this house/family needs.

She is awake, in the morning, before anyone, except P&P, Ivan, or me, and is running around, downstairs, searching for something, but just what that is, she has no clue. She has been in this house for a very short time, but already has everyone, except Enrique, smiling, and throwing her toy for her to chase. (Enrique is a big guy, and, I think he intimidates her, so she spends the first few minutes, of each of his visits, barking a warning to everyone).

Did I mention that she is a dog, rescued from death, by Arturo? I am unsure, at the moment, of the details, but, you should see her. She has captured everyone’s heart, she is so full of life. You cannot help but smile when she comes into your line of sight, she is so dang cute.

She is definitely Arturo’s dog, because she turns herself inside out when he gets home from work, or she sees him in the morning. Really, it is the same reaction no matter when she see him. She knows a good person when she sees one. Maybe she is not such a stone, huh?!

Has anyone else had enough of a full inbox of messages from websites you have never heard of, much less subscribed to?

While, I, for one, have five different email addresses, each with its own content. One is for “General” information, one is for paying bills, etc., one is for buying things online, one is for family business, and one is for all of my hobbies. To say that, at least, three of these addresses receive upwards of fifty to one hundred notifications daily, is more than I can stand.

So, how did I solve this problem? While my husband was still sleeping, recently, I spent one hour, and twenty minutes opening each, individual website, scrolling to the bottom, and, unsubscribing to each site. As I was doing this, I noticed that I had been subscribed to different sites under the “umbrella”, if you will, of a parent website.

There was no point in receiving the latest coupon/discount for Texas Roadhouse, QVC, or Grove Collaborative, as they do not ship internationally. And, when one receives this many emails in a day, something has to change. Anyway, I now have five, almost completely, empty email addresses. It is quite liberating, I will say.

Post script: a very Happy Birthday to Paty, who is just entering the next best decade of her life. Many, many more comadre. 😘

Oh, my golly gosh! My hands have become Emory boards (limas de uñas). The weather has completely changed in the past two weeks- colder, not cooler, at night, and my hands are the barometer of that change.

To say that my whole body needs lotion is the understatement of this new year. Up North, this change usually happened around the middle of September. But with the weather, here, so warm, until two weeks ago, it is just now happening. But, right now, it is happening with a vengeance. Do I really care? Not much. Well, that is not entirely true. I care enough to notice that they are actually starting to hurt, and burn, with the dryness. Poor Diana. I knew that is what you were thinking. And, thank you for it 😉

I have started using Ivan’s Aquaphor, which is more of an ointment than anything. And it lasts quite a while. If I did not feel the need to wash my hands every thirty minutes, it seems, maybe they would not be quite so dry. You can take the nurse out of the operating room but you cannot make her forget her skill set.

I do not, honestly, think I can explain in words how happy we are here. I thought, at first, that it would be difficult for me to adjust- to the different language, altitude, customs. But it has not been difficult at all.

Hopefully, by the time you read this, we will be in the condo. I will write a special post for when that happens, to be sure.

Today I sent a couple of photos of our new table. It is absolutely exactly what we wanted. For awhile it will be folded, alongside the wall as you come into the condo. When we have a “dinner”, with family over, we will pull it over to the rectangle portion of inlaid tile.

The kitchen cabinets want only their glass fronts, and the granite countertop needs to be sanded at the junctions- it has a bit too much adhesive at the moment. The WC accessible bathroom needs two small pieces of tile flooring, and that will be that, in there. The appliances need to be hooked up, and checked to be in working order, then we can, officially, move in. Getting closer, every day. Stay tuned.

I will try to describe this amazing market, because it is where we will be going to buy all of our perishables- meats, vegetables, fruits, flowers, spices, herbs, and, hopefully, some small plants.

There is another market, offering similar items for sale, however, it is much larger, and has way too many people in it. This market, however, is about three kilometers from our condo, and has everything perishable we need. Everything is colorful, bright, happy. And who does not want to shop in that kind of atmosphere?

Side note: Enrique showed us a restaurant inside the market Popular, that serves the best food we have encountered yet. Did I mention that it is incredibly affordable? The other day I had a plate of Enchiladas de pollo en Mole Rojo, that cost me forty five pesos, or two dollars and short change. I also ordered a Lemonade with Chia, that was a full liter, for, I think, less than twenty pesos, or one dollar. We were all so full when we were finished, it was a long walk, (two blocks), back to the car. 😂

It is amazing just how important your car’s battery is, is it not? Without a fully charged battery, you can go nowhere in your car. How easily we take these things for granted.

We had gotten ready to go to Costco recently, went outside, got in the Mercedes, turned the key, and sat there, staring at the dashboard in utter silence. Ivan turned the key again- nothing. What?!?

It has been years since we had a vehicle that did not start. It is so frustrating!! I want to get in it, and see if my key will start it. Of course not. (I was sure that my key would magically start it, but, alas, it did not. I really knew it would not- but I was trying to be hopeful).

Well, Ivan has a super duper charger that should have us going fairly quickly. Stay tuned.

He tried charging it with two different chargers to no effect. Then, he tried jumping it with Marcos car- nada. Lastly, and miraculously it worked, he jumped the battery with one of Juan’s Mercedes. Yay.

So now, we are on our way to AutoZone to have them check, and replace (more than likely) the battery. It only had a four year guarantee so it is probably time. By for now.

Post script: We did not go to AutoZone, Marco took us to Runsa Auto parts, and they checked the battery.

“Change is inevitable, and, necessary, like the seasons Mr. Palmer. I suggest you embrace it.” NCIS: Season 9, episode 6 – “Thirst”.

I was watching an episode of NCIS, on New Year’s day, when those words were uttered from the mouth of the esteemed Dr. Mallard, aka Ducky, to his young, plucky, assistant Jimmy Palmer. It made me think of all of the changes that are coming soon, with this new year. Also, about, how, for our own piece of mind, we should try to embrace those changes.

Sometimes, however, that is easier said than done, We, each of us, accept changes differently. Some go kicking, and screaming, into it, while others quietly acquiesce. (I have been wanting to use the word acquiesce from the start 😂).

I, for one, will not try to tell you how to accept change, as we are all adults here, and, as such, have our own minds. It is solely yours choice to make. Whatever changes befall you, however, I suggest you do whatever research you need to do to made the decisions you need to make, weighing all of the pros and cons, and then, with the facts in your possession, make the needed change(s).

If you are interested in finding a new place to work, check out everything you need to know about the place in order to make an intelligent decision. Do not make the leap solely on someone else’s information. That usually leads to someone being disenchanted in the end. No, do your own research, get the facts, then look at all options.

Side note– Sorry, but I am so distracted at the moment. One of Ivan’s uncle’s stopped by the house earlier, and after the ritual welcoming hug, and quick peck on the cheek, his cologne is still on me. We love him dearly, however, his cologne is overwhelming me still, and it has been at least an hour now. Wow!

Synopsis- do not be afraid of change. As Ducky said, (and you know you can trust Ducky), it is not only inevitable, but necessary. I hope each of you finds the means necessary to make the best changes that need to be made in your life. Let me know what challenges you are facing this year. Peace, and tranquility, are my hopes for all of you.

So many times, when we are outside, we end up people watching. With close to nine million people here, in México City alone, there are plenty to see.

They come in every shape, size, color, and, creed. Tall, short, thin, heavy, black, brown, and a few of us “güeras”, (pronounced gwehr-ahs). That is what I am considered. And there are not many of us here.

A couple of weeks ago, we were walking through Zapamundi, the mall that houses Soriana, our favorite grocery store. As we passed this group of people, who were waiting to get into the Asian restaurant, a woman, about my age, with the same color skin, and, hair, turned around, and smiled at me. I smiled in return. We both had to be thinking the same thing- “nice to see another güera, for goodness sake”.

Fortunately, I have had no trouble adjusting to a different culture, this time. When we moved to Houston, I was twenty seven, and there were enough güeros to get by. But, in nineteen eighty six, we moved to Laredo, TX – I was done for. I cried for the first six months we were there. The culture shock was more than I could manage.

Not anymore. Now, we enjoy going out, sitting on a short wall, say, while our car is being washed, just watching what people are doing. It is so much more fun, now that I have so much more life experience. I cannot get enough.