Livingthedreamwithdiana.com

Nope. Still not a go.

Did you have any thoughts that I could do this in only 2 visits to the INM? Surely not.

Now, after the 2nd visit, the government wants me to clarify that, having, unfortunately, signed our marriage license as Diana L. Nelson, my maiden name, I have to find a notary, with I have no idea what paperwork, to have them document that DLN, and I, are the same person.

It was the first marriage for me; I had no idea that I was supposed to sign my married name. Sue me. The license is 46 years old, next month. What am I supposed to do about it all these years later?

Anyway, we have to find a notary here, I have no idea where, but we will persevere, because that is what we do. All of the other paperwork was accepted, however. That was a miracle in itself.

So, I asked the nice young lady, why the license was acceptable for the issuance of my temporary residency 2 years ago, but not today. I was told she didn’t have access to what was filed 2 years ago. BS. All she had to do was look in my digital file, on her computer. Argh!!!

While we are scaring up a notary public, (sure wish I could still ask a former coworker, or go to the Administrator’s office at the hospital where I worked, and get this taken care of,) stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, and protect your loved ones.

Post script: I have 2 days worth of sunburn on my shoulders, arms, neck. Quite a dark red, especially for such a delicate member of the species such as myself. Good start on a tan however.

Pants on fire.

I had to stop reading Moby Dick. I couldn’t even begin reading Atlas Shrugged again. I went, instead, with Frank Herbert’s Dune.

Wise decision on my part.

Please, understand. Each of the books, classics by others determinations, is approximately 20-60 hours of listening commitment. To start a 60 hour book, such as the aforementioned Atlas Shrugged, and to get bogged down after only 2, or so, hours, leaves one a bit forlorn. Do I continue, and hope for the best; do I start something else, also hoping to get hooked?

I have discovered, after trying to listen to these 3 books, that it is heavily dependent on the reader of the book. I enjoy listening to British readers, most especially; male or female, equally. There are a couple of American readers, also, both male and female, that I enjoy; conversely, there are 2, in particular, that send me over the edge. We all know what a short distance that can be, at times.

I won’t mention their names, as I do not want to prejudice anyone’s desire to listen to the 2 of them. One male reader is one that I listened to some years ago, reading a series of dramatic espionage thrillers, and he excelled at them. Listening to this same voice reading Atlas Shrugged just didn’t cut it.

This same reader is reading a certain character in Dune, but, as there are several other readers, as well, I can tolerate his time at the microphone. But, just barely.

As the book is as interesting now, as it was when it was published, I have been able to go about my boring existence, listening, with interest, at the other planets, and solar systems, that make up the environment of Dune.

While I am traveling existentially, please, stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, and protect your loved ones.

I am listening to this “classic”, and, fairly soon, I am certain, I will, by the grace of the Almighty, understand …

Well, I am not really sure exactly what I am supposed to understand, but I have learned a ton, a small pun intended here, about the myriad differences in the whale species. Why I need to know these things, I have yet to understand. I am going to finish it, as I have only 24 hours, of the 31 hour book left. Then, on to Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand.

Actually, I started listening to Atlas Shrugged first, but almost cut my wrists. It is so incredibly “out there”, so “art deco”, so difficult for me to listen to that I had to switch it up, and decided on MD. Not sure how I ever got to this age without ever having read so many of said classics. Yet, here I am. Maybe it’s the reader.

I am determined. I am going to read/listen to as many classics as I can before I die. (Hoping that is far in the future, as I know there are several).

While I am struggling to listen to all of this culture, please, stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, and protect your loved ones.

It’s 4:38am.

I cannot sleep.

We went to bed hours ago. Neither of us could sleep. WTH?

So may nights we sit here, in front of our computers, watching videos on YouTube, Vimeo, Prime video, something.com. I have become like a reverse toy doll; when I am watching a show my eyes start to close, so I go to bed. As soon as I lie down, I am staring at the ceiling. What is up with that?

So, after staring up for an hour, or so, I get up and start the entire cycle again.

Usually, by 5 am, or so, I can finally fall asleep, only to get up around noon. What a waste of a day. I enjoy the mornings, and I miss having that quiet time to myself. Now, though, with an apartment teeming with people, that isn’t an option at the present.

Who knows what the future holds? I certainly don’t. We are enjoying the company for as long as they are willing to stay. Liz is recovering from the cesarean section she had last week, getting around quite well. Baby Brandon is nursing now, and has gained a bit of weight, though it is hard to tell as he is still engulfed in blankets.

Jesús, Gabi, Alicia, Ivan and I are all clicking along quite well. Time to get moving, and start the day. Have a great one. Stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, and protect your loved ones.

It came, and was gone without a single April fool’s day joke.

No pranks, no nothing. I do believe it was the second year of such a thing happening. It is, sometimes, the little things in our lives that define them. April fool’s day used to be one of those. No longer.

From now on, April 1st will be just that; the 1st day of April, heralding the dawning of Spring. Down here, it means the heat is coming. Yesterday’s high was 28ºC; I tried, unsuccessfully, not to convert it to Fahrenheit. I saw, briefly, the 82º and about stripped naked.

Oh, I wouldn’t do that; not with an apartment full of people. But I did give it serious consideration.

Today, well at the moment, it is only 23º; I am starting to “glow”.

We have to go to Costco in a bit, and I get to drive. Lucky me. It has been about 2 years since I have driven. I can’t wait. Oh, that reminds me; in order to be placed on our bank account, I have to have a drivers license from here in México. Another thing to add to our list of things to do.

In the meantime, you know what to do. So keep doing it. Stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, and protect your loved ones.

Lately, I have regained my interest in buying things that can be reused.

While still in the States, most anyone that knew me knew I abhorred the total waste to which we, as a society, have become desensitized. Disposable plastic bags, plastic bottles, cans, boxes, Kleenex, ziplock bags, just to name a few.

So, a few months ago, I ordered close to two dozen pretty, decorative, washable handkerchiefs, online, from EBay and have started using them, just the other day. Reusable silicone sealable bags, reusable BPA free plastic locking containers for food storage, reusable glass bottles, smaller sized for my kombucha. Hopefully, little by little, I can reduce our carbon footprint.

I forgot to mention the reusable, washable “cotton” pads. Each pad can be used and rehashed 1750 times. Incredible. They are pretty stiff when you first pick them up, but once moisture is applied, they act just like the disposable kind. Next up, the reusable cotton swabs.

If you are interested in finding out more about the reusable items just mentioned, I believe I found the website on Instagram, called Last Object. Obviously, you can find them at lastobject.com. Hope you give some of the items a try.

Until you do, please, stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, and protect your loved ones.

This will be short but undoubtedly sweet.

Just watch.

Isn’t he just the sweetest little guy you have seen lately? He is such a good baby. When he cries, which is rarely, he sounds like a large cat. Pretty funny. Gabi is enjoying him as well. We all are.

He weighed 2.525 kilos at birth, and seems to be doing just fine. He is getting used to his mommy, trying his best to get the hang of nursing from her breast, but is not always successful. I told Liz that he will get the hang of it, given a bit more time. In theory, he had 3 more weeks to go, but the Ob-Gyn at the hospital said she needed to deliver when she did. They are both doing well, and we hope, and pray, that continues.

However, he does have a good pair of lungs on him. In fact, last week, I was asked to give Liz an injection of Dexamethazone 8mg., prescribed by her physician, to strengthen Brandon’s lungs. I do believe it worked. Not to mention the fact that she said it was the most painless injection she had ever had. Once a nurse……

I will keep you all posted as he/they continue to stay here, with us. While we see how he does, stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, and protect your loved ones.

Baby Brandon is doing very well on day 3.

I am going to find out from Liz, or Jesús just how much he weighed, but he looks to be much the same size as our daughter, Elisha, was when she was born. She weighed only 61 ounces, or 1.71 kilos. Brandon looks about the same. Still with all of the small hairs on his face, just like she had. It is like looking back in time.

When he cries, he sounds like a large cat, though he’s really just a wee small bairn. Yes, I am almost finished listening to the entire Outlander series.

He is nursing well, not terrific, but he’s learning. I will post photos as I can, but currently he is deep inside a cocoon of blankets. Down here, that is what they do. I have never seen the like before, but this is what they are used to doing. So be it. Liz’ mom, Alicia, is here, to help her, for the next 3 weeks.

Not much else to tell you, except they, and we, are all doing well at present. Stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, and protect your loved ones.

By the time most of you read this, Brandon will be born.

He is due to come in to the world around 9:20-9:30 today. Now. Right now.

Jesús and Lizbeth told us last evening that she will be admitted to the hospital at 7:00am; that she will give birth by cesarean section at 9:00am. By the time most of you read this, he should be a beautiful healthy baby boy. I will let you know tomorrow his stats. PLEASE! Pray for Jesús and Liz as this, their third baby, comes into the world.

You may recall that last December, Liz delivered a still born baby girl, Lupita. Now, she is going to deliver a beautiful boy, whose name will be Brandon, having nothing whatsoever to do with the pseudonym being give to the current President of the United States: Joseph Biden.

This little guy will be what he will be; and we will help him, and them, in every way possible in the coming years.

When we have a photo of Brandon, I will post it. But, please, say a prayer for Liz and Jesús. The medical facilities here are not the same as in the US. Things are very different here. We can’t go to the hospital to see her, or the baby; only Jesús can go. Liz’s mom, Alicia, will be here tomorrow, at some time. Even she can’t see Liz, her only daughter.

Until we get Liz, and Brandon home, here, with us, stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, and protect your loved ones.