Category: Initial post

Everywhere we drive in the city, parks divide the roadways. Most of them are absolutely stunning due to the care that is taken in their upkeep. Each park has different things growing in it as well- no two are the same. The flora here is mostly tropical in nature so there are huge rubber trees; ficus that are over 10 ft. tall, and pruned to different shapes and sizes; jade grows as a ground cover. The bougainvillea are the most stunning, with their brilliant reds, magentas, and oranges.

Our long term goal is to sell the apartment in a few years and buy a house. I want, more than most anything, to grow at least two different colored bougainvilleas. It has been a dream of mine from the very first time we came here. Maybe one day that dream will be realized as well. We are here, and that was the first dream realized.

Our longtime friend, Luis C., who happens to be a contractor (!!!, little did we know), came from Toluca, Mx., (an hour and a half away, depending on the traffic), to talk with us about the remodeling of our beautiful, new, luxury apartment. You all know that we purchased it this past month, knowing that we wanted to redo it “our way”. Well, originally, we had asked our cousin Marco, youngest brother to Juan, and Pepe, who is an engineer, if he knew someone who could help us with the renovation. He said he “knew a guy” that would do the floors well, and would not be not too expensive. We hopped on that like locusts on wheat! Little did we know that “the guy” was younger brother to Luis, but lives here in CDMX.

Fast forward to today- Luis, and his carpenter, Mario, brought samples of flooring, and countertops. OMG! The flooring we picked is a beautiful ceramic tile, 20″ x 20″, very pale, but white, marble-looking, and the countertops will be what is called Blue Pearl Granite, though it looks more black than blue. We have decided on medium-light oak cabinets in the kitchen, with glass inserts, and that go all the way to the ceiling. The ceramic tile will be on all flooring outside of the kitchen, (which is already white), including the bathrooms, and all 3 bedrooms.

We are completely redoing the bathrooms- the first bathroom, off the living room, will be handicapped accessible, in that we are expanding the door opening 7″ to accommodate a wheelchair, removing the large existing sink and vanity, and replacing it with a smaller, possibly angular, floating, corner sink; moving the toilet from front facing to facing the door so a wheelchair can come up along side of it; building a “wall” of what we call Saltillo block “behind” the toilet, as part of the shower, and removing the “lip” on the floor entrance to the shower, making it completely flush. (I will try to post before and after photos as things progress so it will make more sense.)

We are changing the flooring to match the rest of the house, the ceramic tile, but are, at this moment, leaving the dark brown tile that is currently in the showers. It is “corrugated”, so none of us will slip and fall when showering, we hope, plus it looks really nice with the dark brown “stripe” of tile around the walls. (I will show you, at some point.)

EVERYTHING is being gutted in the apartment except the stove and exhaust fan. Nothing will be the same when we are done with this “soon to be beauty”. And it will be us, the two of us, our ideas, our hopes and dreams, and it will be amazing.

I hope you stick around to see the magic happen.

Mexican sweet bread (pan dulce)? There is nothing on this good Earth like a fresh, mildly sweet pastry that is not so sickeningly sweet you only want to eat a few bites! When you have an opportunity to sit down with a cup of hot, fresh coffee, with or without caffeine, and a lovely piece of sweet bread, well, that there is a slice of Heaven on Earth baby.

There are dozens of different shapes, colors, and flavors from which to choose, but choose you must. At some point, you could try eating a different bread each time you had the opportunity, and that would definitely be a challenge, but one that most people here are willing to attempt. I, fortunately for me, much prefer a juicy steak, rib eye to be specific, or bacon. Who can resist bacon? Not me, for sure. But when the mood strikes me, and it does, every once in a blue moon, I like a small cupcake with cranberries and blueberries in it.

If you have not taken an opportunity to buy Mexican sweet bread at your nearest Mexican store, you really should. Your time and effort will be richly rewarded. You may even decide you like the subtlety of the Mexican sweet bread as opposed to the cloyingly sweet confections offered by Hostess, et. al. Let me know what you decide.

It is 11:00 am on Monday morning and my husband Ivan, his dad Juan, and I are sitting in the dentists office waiting to be seen. My father in law lost a tooth the end of last week and there is quite an opening there when he smiles. He would not want that, nor do we, so, here we are. Our dentist is a wonderful young woman, always a beautiful smile on her face! A smile you will always remember if you are fortunate enough to meet her!

This past Friday my husband had 3D radiographs of his mouth so we can start work on his dental implants. I do not believe I mentioned that Dr. Solis is also an Endoperiodonist, a surgeon who will do Ivan’s implants here in the office. He wants only a local anesthetic, and she is very confident that it will work just fine for him. He will need 4 posts implanted, 2 top front, and 2 top back. She feels he is an excellent candidate. We cannot wait. He does not like his upper denture plate and will not wear it because it makes him feel like he is choking. Who needs that? So, maybe by Christmas he will have the full, beautiful smile he always had.

When we came down here this past April, the temperature was a balmy, and I do mean balmy, 89 – 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Locals were going around with down vests on, some with scarves, full length slacks. I personally thought I was going to explode from the heat. I wore as little clothing as I could get by with legally. Now that we are here, once again, and it is August, it gets as high as 80* in the afternoon, (I cannot find the degree symbol so I am making do with the asterisk. Sue me.) but once 6 pm. rolls around, and it starts raining, which it does almost every evening, the temperature is kind enough to drop into the 60’s. Thank the good Lord.

I know I do not need to tell you that I have my fan with me- electric in the house, and handheld every place else. Anyone that knows me knows how much I dislike perspiring. (I have been known to muse about how wonderful it would be to be able to lose a certain amount of weight just through perspiration. I also know that this type of weight loss will never work for me. The fans!). But every day, like clockwork, it has rained for upwards of 30 minutes to as much as all night drizzles. I cannot get enough of it. I have always loved the rain, and if thunder, and lightening tag along, so much the better. Would I want to live in a rainy climate all year long? Not a bit. But, for a few months, every year? Well, that is one of the reasons I signed on.

I am discovering that there are about a gazillion ways to get around this city, and even more opportunities to have a car accident. I must commend the drivers here in CDMX for their uncanny ability to weave in and out of the continuous ebb and flow of the traffic here. It never seems to stop yet there are remarkably very few accidents. To my recollection, I believe we have only come upon one accident in the several weeks we have been here. It makes me laugh to think of those drivers, in the Midwest, where we used to live, that can not even merge courteously. To think of allowing the person in the lane next to you to come over into your lane, in front of you, baffles the Midwestern driver. Here, it is second nature. It gets everyone where they needed to be 20 minutes ago. Red lights are long, green lights are short, and there really is no yellow, except as a caution.

Of all of the popular stores we have been to, and with 5 or 6 different family members driving, each has his or her own route that is taken. None of them goes the same way as any other family member. It is comical, really. We are trying to find our way to these stores, then, just as we memorize a route, someone goes a different way. We always get there eventually, and we get home again.

Today it is 61º F., which is 2º warmer than yesterday. Who are they kidding? It is just as hot today as it was yesterday, I swear!! I was told that October through February are actually going to be what I consider “cold”. I will just say that I am looking forward to having to put on a second, or, dare I suggest it, a third layer of clothing. My supply of no-sleeves is dwindling as the beauties have not been moved yet. They still sit, quietly, in the garage, awaiting transportation to their humble places of honor. I try not to notice them as I walk by them several times daily. They appear anxious, as I am sure they are excited about getting settled in to their new home. I certainly am anxious for them to get there, for sure. Until that wonderful moment I remain waiting patiently.

Wow. Just wanted to say how much I have wanted to do something like this for, gosh, I’m not really sure how long. Long enough to feel pretty certain that it is not something I will want to stop any time soon. If that works for you too, them I am glad I started this. Some posts may be rambles, but if you know me at all, then rambling is what you should really be expecting. If the contents somehow match the title, then I have accomplished what I set out to do. If not, better luck in the next post. 😉

Really, no matter how you look at things, if you are above ground, life is good. And being above ground means certain things are expected of you. Make your bed in the morning, and brush your teeth after you have showered. Eat a decent, homemade breakfast, hopefully not something from the drive through. Pay your bills on time. Be courteous to those that help you in your day-to-day activities. Think the best of the people you encounter because you do not know what their circumstances are.

My husband drove us, in our newest car, to the local Home Depot this morning, halfway across town, in and out of CDMX traffic. And an excellent job of driving he did I will be the first to say!! Driving here is unlike anywhere we have ever lived before. Most of the thoroughfares here are 4-6 lanes of traffic, each person deciding which lane they want to be in, at speeds that would make my hair grey if it was not already thus!! But he held his own like he had been living here all of his life. True, it is Sunday traffic, which is quite a bit less than weekdays, but he knew exactly where he was going, and how he was going to get us there and home again.

I am much more relaxed knowing he has been able to pay attention to those driving us around while I have been relegated to the back seat. (Not to worry for me. It is the safest place in the car. Especially in this city.) Soon, however, I will need to take my turn driving but I believe I will wait until I have had some front seat exposure. The speed bumps in this town are frequent, and quite significant. To run over them at more than a 2-5 mph clip is to wreck the bottom of your vehicle.

My father in law, Juan, is out walking with his nephew, our cousin, Juan, in whose home we currently reside. They do the same route most every day, as they have for the past 2 months. Mind you, my father in law is 91 and in the best of heath, and his nephew is in his 60’s, wheelchair bound, though in pretty good health himself. They have a great time, Juan pushing Juan, and travel about 3+ kilometers, talking all the while, resting when Juan Sr. is a little winded. Then they watch the traffic go by, and enjoy the sunshine, as there is sunshine most everyday, until around 7pm. About that time, we get a downpour which lasts usually less than 30 minutes, and cools the temperature down for some beautiful sleeping weather.

It is so amazing to be above ground. Life is to be enjoyed.