MeXscape

Pacifico and Lime

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:23:00 -0400

An ice-cold Pacifico and a Mazatlan sunset. There truly is nothing finer in this world. There is something magical about our local brew, and no where else on Earth does it taste as good. We used to drink Pacifico in Fort Worth, where it arrived world weary from it's travels across the border. It was a very fine beer even there, but here, at home, it is excellent. On a hot day when the sweat is trickling between your shoulder blades and into your bra, add a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lime, and its sublime.

Good Rain!

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:02:08 -0400

I know I complain, so I thought I should mention some of the things I love about all the rain. The field across from the house is in full bloom, which means it is covered with thousands of butterflies in glorious shades of red, orange, yellow, and white. The temperatures have been low enough for cozy socks and soup. And I certainly have had the time to get some pleasure reading done. But the very best thing about the rain has been the sunsets. I took this picture just a few minutes ago from our terrace:

Catching Up - A Long and Rambling Post About Everything and Nothing

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:56:41 -0400

It's been so long since we have talked! It's been a pretty rainy week here. It's been cloudy most of the time, and with the rain cooled air, I actually hunted out a pair of flannel pants, socks, and a robe. It got down to a chilly 78°F in the house. Okay, I also have the flu and was running a fever, but when normal room temperature is 86°F, 78 really is kinda cold.

Something Else to Read

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:30:44 -0400

I'm on a blogging break today, madly scrambling to catch up on work that has been impeded by lots of lightning and the consequential shut down of computers. But I think y'all should still have something to read. Nancy sent me a link to Elliott in Ajijic. I love this post. Elliott does such a wonderful job of capturing one of the things I love about Mexico. From Crazy Bad to Crazy Good

What a Beautiful Day!

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:21:38 -0400

Around 3:00 this morning, one heck of a thunderstorm blew through. The Spanish word for thunderstorm is one of the best words ever - tormenta. I think that sums it up pretty well. The wind was relentless and oh, the lighting. Not to mention the copious amounts of water that left us with some mop up to do this morning. What a gift the storm was!

Musical Ramblings

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:24:26 -0400

The musical scene in Mazatlan is not a highly varied one. It is dominated by banda, banda, and more banda. I am starting to develop an appreciation, if not an affection, for this music that mixes traditional Mexican sound with an entire brass section and an accordion, giving a very German oom pah pah flavor. The next largest segment of music is cover bands who do American 60's, 70's, and 80's rock. I have heard every possible variation of Hotel California. Sometimes, I think if I hear that song one more time, my ears may start to bleed. I am so hugely grateful for my satellite radio.

Ding Dong, the Meth Head's Gone

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:28:10 -0400

When we came home today, our neighbors were standing around outside. We have been waiting and watching for a chance to talk with them. We were hoping that we could make a last ditch appeal with them do something. What, I don't know. Maybe kick him out. I hadn't thought that far ahead. We were just waiting to see them outside because we didn't want to knock on the door and risk having Pepe answer. And they haven't been outside much lately.

And Yet So Far

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:39:54 -0400

The next morning, around 11:00, an old, dirty, beat up, red Tsuru with no license plates pulled up in front of Pepe's house. Our street is very narrow, and the car completely blocked access so no one could come or go. A man got out and started calling to Pepe. I just thought, "What now?"

So Close

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:31:30 -0400

The police who work our area are very conscientious men and women who are really trying to do their job. When we were robbed, the police reaction was immediate and thorough. They fanned out through the neighborhood, checked all the known fence places, rousted known bad actors, and really tried to recover our stuff and arrest the culprit using good, old-fashioned police work. Unfortunately, they are hindered in their jobs by a number of factors.

The Saga Continues...

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:00:53 -0400

One thing about living next to a meth head � life is never dull. For awhile, we tried to tell ourselves that he wasn't really back on the drugs, and he did indeed have sober stretches that lasted a week or more. But, although self delusion can be entertaining, it is not very helpful, and we finally admitted we were going to have to do something or come up with a coping strategy.

Robbery Redux

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:05:45 -0400

Most of you know that we were robbed last August. It was < a href="http://www.mexscape.net/Article73.html">a terrible and beautiful experience that taught us so much about our new country and our new neighbors. For a while it was like a raw, festering wound that kept us on our toes and never quite comfortable in our own home. It was like that hole left in your mouth when you lost one one of your baby teeth. No matter how hard you try to ignore it, your tongue continues to find that tender spot and explore it despite the pain. But eventually the pain fades, and a new tooth grows in its spot, so you don't even quite remember it was ever gone.

Be Careful What You Wish For...

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:36:47 -0400

When we woke up at 7:30 yesterday morning, we noticed it was really dark for that time of day. It was just starting to rain. It's very unusual for it to rain during the day here. Mazatlan usually abides by the rulebook for Paradise and restricts the rain to the night time hours. No big deal. On the rare occasions it does rain during the day here, absent a hurricane, it is always a gentle rain shower. Did I say always? I guess I should add � until today.

Another Beautiful Day in Paradise

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:51:29 -0400

I am sitting here at my desk gazing out at the sun glinting off the deep topaz Pacific, creating diamonds in my vision. The ocean stretches to fill my view, meeting a sky so bright and blue it could have been delivered by Tiffany's. The recent rains have turned the three islands into verdant hills that bisect my view. Up close, the waves gently crash on the shore, creating an impossibly white foam that contrasts with the deep golden sand. A fresh ocean breeze sends the palm fronds to swaying and tickles the hair on my neck. It's another perfect day here in paradise, and I'm sick of it.

Opening a Mexican Bank Account

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:32:27 -0400

We have been avoiding opening a Mexican bank account. Everyone we have talked to has told us it is a long, grueling process that takes most of a day. I certainly didn't want anything to do with that. I have much better things to do with my time than sit in a bank all day, thank you. And really, we have gotten along just fine without one. All our money is in an American bank account that we access through an ATM without problems. In fact, our bank charges us no fees to use any ATM anywhere in the world, so keeping our American bank account has been a very practical and economical choice. Until now.

Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:36:44 -0400

Joss Whedon, the king of camp, my hero and the most under appreciated man in television, has done it again. If you are not watching Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, you are really, really missing out. It's vintage superhero camp in three easy-to-digest webisodes, and you can watch for free at drhorrible.com.

Busy Busy Busy

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:41:16 -0400

I know I have been a bad blogger lately. My posts have been sporadic at best. Even this doesn't really qualify as a post; it is an excuse for not posting. I am truly sorry, internet. But the good news is that my lack of posting is due to an upswing in our new business. It seems that word has finally gotten out that I am the best web developer in all of Mazatlan. Well, okay, good enough to talk to. And that means I have had a lot of meetings, which as I mentioned before, take hours.

Porn 2 Go

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:15:51 -0400

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.

Invasion

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:55:29 -0400

When we woke up this morning, our house had been utterly invaded by great, winged waspy things. Gross. I don't know where they came from, or even what they are, but I do know they were everywhere: hallways, kitchen, dining room, living room, office, even the garage. The only place they hadn't infiltrated was our bedroom, thank god. I'm not sure I could have ever recovered from waking up with giant bugs in my bed.

The Necessary Room

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:17:56 -0400

It's funny how we are taught from a very young age that it is not appropriate to talk about going to the bathroom, like its some dark secret. People who will happily tell you about their sexual escapades will still revert to euphemisms when referring to using the bathroom. Crazy. So why am I breaking with social norms, and talking about that most taboo of subjects? Because the procedure is different here. Or, at least, people believe it is.

An Interview with...Me!

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:27:15 -0400

I was completely surprised and delighted to find an email in my inbox requesting an interview. The requester came across this very site and thought it was well done and entertaining. Of course, he had me at hello, the compliments were really unnecessary, but nice nonetheless. In case you are wondering, I said yes.

My Candidate for Most Disturbing Thing Ever

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:35:14 -0400

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.

Keeping Our Cool

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:51:16 -0400

Summer is on its way. The temperature is up. The humidity is definitely up. Comments about the weather are starting to change from observations to complaints. But really, its not too bad...yet. And the warmth is far preferable to the butt puckering cold we suffered through in the winter. I think it's still quite pleasant, and anyone who has been here for any amount of time has developed some very good coping mechanisms.

Doing Business the Mexican Way

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:03:55 -0400

I have had my own business for a number of years. Mostly, because I am really awful at working for other people. Just ask my Dad. But that's another post. We'll just call the business decision a choice of necessity. And you know what? I have gotten pretty good at this independent business woman thing.

Computer Woes

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:22:03 -0400

We knew it was going to happen. In the front of my brain it was inevitable. But in the back of my brain where all my secret desires and my belief that I am immune to the foibles of the real world live, I harbored the faith that my computer would be perfectly immune from the extreme environment where we now live. Alas, it is not so.

What's to Eat?

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:10:24 -0400

We're starting to get into that time of year where cooking becomes a task too onerous to consider. Two days ago, the humidity shot up suddenly, making it feel 10 degrees warmer. It's still comfortable if you keep your activity level low, which for me is usually pretty easy. I am a web developer and spend 80% of my awake time sitting in front of my computer. But even low level activity is guaranteed to bring a good sweat, and going into the kitchen and firing up a couple of burners or the oven is a trip to the second ring of hell.