Category: Initial post

There is a new cleaning lady, here at the house. And, gosh, can she clean!?!

Today is her third time here, and I have never seen a person clean like she does. She actually moves the furniture! (Obviously, not everyone does).

The first time she was here, last week, she washed the frosted glass window partition that separates the dinette from the actual dining room area. Then she moved all of eight chairs from around the dining room table, and swept the carpet underneath the table!!! She even swept and washed the patio!!! Who does this type of cleaning?

Pepe told me this morning that Adriana is a nurse. Well, no wonder! Now I understand. As a nurse, she understands the importance of cleaning, and how, in this time of germs, and bacteria, it is important to clean as much as possible, as well as possible. Arturo, (P&P’s #2 son, remember the party?) has been sick for a week with what sounds like bronchitis. And, two weeks ago, Juan, our cousin, was in bed for at least a week with a horrible cough.

I know- you hear this every year, but I will repeat it for you, again. Please, if you do nothing else this cold and flu season, WASH YOUR HANDS. Every time you cough, or sneeze, stop what you are doing, and wash them- well! This can save you, and those around you, from getting the flu.

I have gone many a year without getting sick, while others around me are hacking and coughing, forgetting to wash their hands. Those of you, my former coworkers, may remember me saying, “if you touched something, wash your hands. If you think touched something, wash your hands. If you are not sure if you touched something, wash your hands”. Seriously, you cannot go wrong washing your hands. It just may save your life someday.

Now that we are living in a country we do not know, we each keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in our purses, and wash our hands as soon as we leave any store, or building we have been in.

If you look online at the people society feels they need to remember as having passed away this past year, so many of them have died of “pulmonary complications from an infection of the lungs”. As we should all know by now, infections in the lungs are spread by coughing, and/or sneezing, which is then spread by the airborne droplets, which can, then, become surface infectants. Washing all surfaces, plus, of course, your hands, will help decrease the spread.

Enough sermon. It is just something I have been very passionate about for many years. Thanks for listening.

Enjoy the winter in peace, and good health. (WYH).

We recently left our favorite store, well, really, one of our favorites, Costco. As we were pulling up to the stop lights, we noticed several pylons, all around the crosswalks.

Normally, none of us would have said a thing, or, have taken notice, but, in looking down, in between said pylons, we noticed that the city workers were painting the crosswalks a beautiful orange, blue, green, and, yellow. The design is modern, and, coming across this surprise of colors, well, it just makes a person smile.

That has always been one of the biggest draws for me, coming here to live- the colors. The cars, here, for example, are all different shades of red, blue, green, turquoise, yellow, pink, and orange; not all black, or white, or grey. The houses, shops, restaurants are colorful as well. You cannot go one block, which contains ten to fifteen houses, and/ or shops, and/or restaurants, without walking, or driving passed a rainbow of colors.

At night, most of the these same buildings are illuminated, and now, especially since it is close to the holidays, they are lit with all types of Christmas lights. Stunning.

Colors here are essential, I believe. Everywhere you look, people are wearing brightly colored blouses, skirts, jackets, shoes, handbags- you get the idea. I believe, also, that the people that “appear” to have the least amount of worldly possessions have the most amount of color around them.

In the mercados, there are women that sit, and make colorful beaded items- bracelets, coin purses, earrings, book markers, all with the most beautiful, but tiny beads. And not a single one of them wears glasses. Amazing.

I know that, up North, there is only the color of Christmas, right now, and, as I recall, that would be enough. But not for me. I need color everyday, and as much as I can get. We have yet to find material for the cushions that will go on our couches, and chair. But, the real colors will be in the pillows we get that will go on the couches, etc.

Our bedding I actually bought purposely full of colors. One of the duvets I bought, this time last year, is actually called Belles Artes- the huge performing arts center here in downtown México City. How prophetic was that?

Enjoy all of the color you can, when you can. Let me know if they make you smile, too. Happy Holidays everyone.

There have been so many things we have purchased, online, of course, for the condo, that have been sent from the US. Now, since we discovered Amazon.com.mx.®️, and, MercadoLibre®️, we can get them here, and not pay the large shipping and handling charges. Not only those, but the prices of the items, themselves, are more expensive, sometimes, from Amazon.com®.

***I interrupt this post to let you all know we are moving next weekend, to be more precise- the eighteenth of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty!!! After an almost six month remodel, Luis texted us this morning, (09/01/20) that he will have the condo finished by the end of next week, that our table is finished, our bed is almost finished, and, possibly one, if not both Murphy beds will be finished very soon. We are going over to the condo this Saturday to put the window film on all of the windows, before the rooms fill up with totes, and boxes. We are both so excited, it will be hard to sleep. And, as I have my first appointment with Paty’s brother, Dr. Arturo Lara, (remember the Halloween photo of the guy with the saw through his head? That is Arturo), I do not want my blood pressure to be high. Ok. You have read the good news, now, back to the original post.***

So many things we took for granted, living in the States, that we now have to pay through the wazzoo to obtain. Salt, for example. We have enjoyed using Diamond Crystal®️salt, because it is flakes of salt, not grains, for many years. I ordered some from Amazon.com. They did not get delivered when they estimated they would, so I contacted the seller, only to be told it was being held up at the Customs office. Customs, here, wanted a certificate from the government here because this is considered a food item. Technically, it is a food item, and, you cannot bring food from the US into México, or, into the US from México.

Needless to say, I was not to be deterred. I was fortunate enough to find the flaked salt on MercadoLibre®️ for only one arm, and one leg. Pumpkin pie filling- another luxury. Only had to sacrifice the other arm for that. The good news is that both were delivered in only three days.

So, going forward, we are making lists of things we need to buy in the States, when we return in August of next year. We are planning to bring an empty suitcase to fill with our bounty, contraband, same thing. It is too expensive to continue to buy the things we are used to having, and have them shipped down here. I suppose we could try to get used the similar things being sold here.

No, probably not!

Anyway, enough for tonight. It is getting late, and with the above insertion of information, it is going to take us awhile to relax enough to get to sleep. Thank you, all, for your care, and consideration for the events in our lives. I hope you still find this somewhat entertaining. And, since no one has left any comments on things you want me to find out about, I am going to continue with my daily rambles. Should you want to know something, in particular, just let me know. Soon, it sounds like, I will be sharing the “move experience” with you. That ought to be interesting, as nothing here ever goes the way you would imagine it should. Stay tuned.

I wanted to tell you about the dogs here. There are three breeds that are most popular- the ever present purse puppy, the tiny Chihuahua, the beautifully ugly dog, the English bulldog, and the cutest little grey, and silver, Schnauzers.

There are other “lesser” breeds, of course, but, when watching the dog walkers, those three breeds are the dogs we see the most. There is an occasional Golden Retriever, or, a Poodle, and, some of those, well, I think they look like a walking mop, but I cannot remember what they are called. There are a fair few of them, as well.

It amazes me just how many dogs there are here, living with their domesticated families. Plus, there are very few, as I think I mentioned in another post, rogue tribes of dogs here. It is rare to see a wild pack anywhere that we have been, at least. Thank the good Lord.

The other, fairly common dog, is the beagle. It is so cute to watch several of them, all leashed, and walking together. They appear to be at attention all the while they are walking. I suppose that is because they are pseudo hunting. They have that expectant look about them, that, in any second they will find “game” that they will be told to chase, or fetch, or whatever it is they are bred to do. Their heads are usually held high, when not sniffing the ground, and, as I mentioned, they are ready for anything.

The other thing I have noticed, is the lack of dog poo. I know I mentioned it in a prior, but for as many parks, and sidewalks, and, open ground, in general, the lack of poo is remarkable.

Well, I think you get the idea by now. I just needed to remark on the cleanliness of this huge city. There are very few places that we have been to that are not clean. Lots of pride in this city, for sure.

Forgive me if this a repeat but, I just want you to know that the pizzas here have no sauce. How can this be, I ask you?

No matter which brand of pizza you buy, you add the sauce you want, either from a packet, or, from a small, round, plastic container that has a lid.

This is how I was first introduced to “take out” bolognese sauce. The folks, here, put just about anything on their pies, too. In fact, yesterday, we had two pepperoni pizzas, from Little Cesars, on which I put a few drops of Maggi, the seasoning sauce. It was fantastic!!! I would never have thought to try it. I saw Pepe put some on his, so I tried one drop on a bite. I was hooked.

Of course, there are the packets of dried chili flakes, catsup, and, hot sauce, as well as Parmesan cheese. However, most large, five item pizzas go for one hundred pesos, or about five dollars. Must be the lack of tomato sauce.

So far, we have had pizzas from Domino’s and now Little Cesars. I think the crust at LC was better than D’s. Oh, I think we had Pizza Hut in between those two, and that is where we got the bolognese sauce. Amazing.

I did see, the last time we went to Sam’s Club, their pizzas have tomato sauce. How odd! And, you know Sam’s Club pizzas are huge, but here, only one hundred thirty pesos, (about six fifty) for one with the works. Cannot beat that with a spoon.

We had our BMW parked just across the street, on the corner, from the house here, since the first of January. Yesterday, we were going to go to the store, when Paty noticed the passenger side mirror was gone. Then, we all noticed that the grills, on either side of the front of the vehicle, the signature grills that show the BMW to be just that, were both gone. The mirror had been broken off, but the grills had, somehow, been removed more gently- probably to preserve their resale value. Bastards!

I hate the feeling of being violated! Here, however, it is usually nothing personal, like someone having it in for you. Here, it is just resale value. Fortunately, the amazing mechanics that have been helping us with the Mercedes, getting it in tip-top shape, are going to help us order, and replace, all of the items that were stolen. Bastards! (Not the mechanics, silly).

One of many good things about these guys, (the mechanics), is that they will do superb work, and do not charge us like the dealership would. So, for now, we can afford the Mercedes. When I start receiving my SS benefits again, we are going to trade in the Mercedes for another BMW, but this time, it will be a four door sedan, and probably a couple of years newer. Not sure on the last bit.

In degrees Celsius, it was four degrees this morning- that is forty degrees Fahrenheit, to you folks. I am hereby declaring it officially cold.

In fact, it is cold enough that, day before yesterday, Ivan went out to the garage, found, and, brought in, one of our space heaters, and, put it in Juan’s room, (our cousin). He had had the forethought, the other day, to buy three more space heaters, (we have two more that we brought with us, out in a tote, somewhere in the garage), on Amazon.com.mx, that were, fortunately, delivered yesterday. We got to use them last night, in fact. I do believe that everyone got to sleep in the comfort of upwards of seventy four degrees Fahrenheit.

It has been getting increasingly colder over the past weeks. I was content at only being chilly, until yesterday. Now that it is reaching only into the forties, and, fifties during the day, the house, being all cement, stone, and tile, has absorbed all of the cold, and is not giving off any heat, anywhere.

Coming down, every morning, to the dining room area, I sit at the dining room table, to type my posts. I must tell you that today, quite honestly, I am having a bit of difficulty typing, my hands are so cold. (I have no idea where my fingerless mittens are at the moment, but have every intention of looking for them later in the day).

There is no central heating, or cooling, in México, so one has to have a space heater in order to have any heat at all. Do I even need to discuss showering in this cold? No? Good. I did not think so. Thank you.

Unfortunately, for the three of us, we only have our summer wardrobe available to us, as we had no idea we would not, already, be in the condo. The rest of our clothes are in the totes, in the freezing garage! Ivan and I did just go to Costco, yesterday, and bought some warmer clothes for Juan, Ivan’s dad. Nothing like the long underwear, sweaters, etc., that he had in Bettendorf, for sure. We will have to make do until we get to the condo.

I think I will try to convince Pepe to start another fire in the fireplace, like the one we had on New Years Eve. It was gorgeous, not to mention warm.

And, here I thought I was never going to get cold. Hah!

We are here, in her office, La Dentista Solis, two days before Christmas. Not very many people we know, anymore, work this close to the holidays. She, however, is one.

Ivan is getting his bottom teeth finished in anticipation of the top implant. Should be ready by the end of the year, or shortly after the beginning of the new year. And, that will be that. He will be able to chew real food again. I cannot wait.

Post script: we are going to the dentist this morning, and, hopefully, all will be a “go” for the implants on the top. I will let you know when we return.

Second post script: all is a “go”, but Ivan needs to wait three more months, to make sure the posts, that will hold the implant, are securely imbedded in his bone. So, it looks like April will be the month.

Down here, no matter where you are, or, where you go, if you look closely enough, you will see someone cleaning something.

I was in the car, a few weeks ago, waiting for Ivan to fill a prescription, and, when I glanced to the left, (I was in the drivers seat), I saw a young man, up on a short, ladder, like one used in the kitchen. And, in his hand, he had, what appeared to be, a cleaning cloth.

I could just see him as he was wiping a portion of wall that was stainless steel. There was no one else around- the small, garage size “restaurant” had no customers at that moment. Instead of sitting in a chair, on his phone, he was doing what needed to be done- work! Earning a day’s pay for a day worked. It probably will not be much, but it will be something. Not everyone down here has a job. Not everyone down here wants a job.

When I happened to look at the next restaurant, just to the left of the one above, low, and behold, two women were doing a similar thing- one was sweeping the floor, and the other, wiping down the stainless steel countertops. Amazing.

I did not work very many places in my life, not once I became a nurse, and started working as a nurse, that is. But the places I have worked, well, it took a lot to get people to clean anything, myself included.

We always had an excuse- “so and so was supposed to clean that, it was her turn, not mine”. Or, “I just cleaned that the other day”. Better than that was the excuse “it looks clean enough to me”.

Now, my sisters will both tell you that, after dinner, when it was time for dishes, I frequently developed a bladder the size of an acorn! Dishes were never my forte. Now, I rather enjoy that immediate satisfaction of seeing a sink full of dirty dishes, after only a few, short minutes, become a drainer full of sparkling clean dishes.

Here, if you want to keep whatever job you have, busboy, cook, cleaning lady, you do the work that needs doing- you certainly do not complain about having to do it. There are plenty of people trying to eek out a living here, so, if you are not interested in doing your job, someone is waiting to do it instead of you.

When you are at the bar, and all else fails, dancing, drinking water, going to the bathroom, drink coffee.

I cannot tell you how many times this has, in a small way, helped me out of a cantina.

Ok, so, it does not work every time. Actually, it rarely works. Water is your best bet, really. But, who wants to drink water at a bar? Especially down here. Coffee, at least, has been heated sufficiently to kill whatever germs there may have been, if they did not filter the water.

Okay, if I must say it, for those of you that do not drink, (really, what is your problem?), not drinking is the best option. You will have no trouble leaving the bar, or driving home. But, also, you probably will not have as much fun as I do. 😂

If all else fails, make sure your “support” is sober enough to walk behind you, and carry your sorry self out of the bar. 🙂