MeXscape

Almost no one uses the mail system here. All of our bills are hand delivered. There is practically no direct mail marketing. When someone has a sales circular or flyer to distribute, they hire people to stand at busy intersections and hand them out to passing motorists. Some people refuse them, but I always eagerly stick my hand out the window when it's my turn. The ads are a good basic Spanish lesson and a great way to find out about small stores in the area.

I woke up this morning much earlier than I wanted, but Tasha was well rested and refreshed and ready to play. Not in a particularly good mood, I sat at my desk and gazed out the window at a leaden ocean and slate sky, an indifferent start to the day that matched my mood. My hand wandered around my desk until it found my ChapStick. I started to put some on and that's when I realized something was definitely wrong.

I have fans! Who knew? Yes, I know this site is read. I have a counter on each article so every visitor can tell how popular each one is. The fact that the counter has anything to count is evidence that people are at least clicking on the articles. But I don't get a lot of comments, so its easy to think my only readers are friends and family.

I love this time of year in Mazatlan. It is just now starting to get truly warm, with the afternoons getting hot enough to make you sweat, promising future mysteries like a tentative, clumsy first kiss. The heat has been enough to drive most of the gringo tourists and snow birds back north. The city has heaved a huge, collective sigh of relief and let its hair down.

Every time we think we are doing well with our Spanish, something happens to humble us. We do pretty well most days, which is what starts to make us think we are stellar students of the Spanish language. But really, most of the times we are speaking Spanish, we are in control of the situation and dictate the flow of the conversation, which means we are usually shopping or eating out.