Loss of memory of is just one of the banes of old age. Anyone over about 70 worries that one day they will wake up with Alzheimer's Disease. Very few do, but it is a worry. The inability to retain information is quite common in old people. It certainly is with me (okay, maybe drug and alcohol abuse contributed to my situation). I must carefully plan everything and make notes. I have already told you about my Day Timer Books. Maybe I wrote about this before (but I do not remember). This has a great effect on my ability to learn Spanish. The irregular verbs are murder. The conjugation of some borrow not a single letter from the infinitive. It is pure memory work (you can see my problem). Everything on the computer requires a password now. No way to remember all of them, so when I can I use the same ones (I know that is stupid, but so am I). If I write the password down, I can never find where I put it.
Bridge at 1:00 on Thursday is pretty much ingrained in my head, but other dates or appointments not written down, will probably be missed. I would never think of entering a store without a complete shopping list. The list cannot be done at one sitting. Every time I realize that I am running short or out of something, I must write it down on my list. Sometimes my "to do list" is carried over from day to day (sometimes for more than a week). As I told you, I am basically lazy and if it can be put off, it will be put off.
Whenever I plan on leaving the house, what ever I need to take with me will either be tossed on the comforter or lying on the corner of the small dinning table at the top of the stairs. I only have one pair of sandals with rubber soles. If it is raining, I must leave them also at the top of the stairs or I will forget to change out of my leather soled ones. Often as I reach the bottom of the stairs, I will think of something I forgot to take with me. If I already have something in my hand, half of the time I will lay down what ever is in my hand when I pick up the new object (leaving the former behind), It is not totally hopeless, but close. I usually leave the key in the lock on the inside so it is staring at me when I exit. This does not always work for me.
Last week I decided to visit a bar that is only a half block away from me. My favorite bar tender was off that night at my usual bar. Luckily a good friend of mine was sitting at the bar. He had been in Canada before I left and I had not seen him since my return. We had a nice chat and after my second beer, I said that I was going home. As I walked toward my apartment I reached in my pocket for the key. Not there! My cargo shorts have six or seven pockets, I checked all of them. I went back in the bar and looked on the floor under my bar stool. Nothing!
I explained to my friend about my lost key and that the only person who had an extra key was in California that week. My friend thought I had better call a lock smith. Then I noticed I had also forgotten to bring my phone. Whenever I plug it in to recharge, nine out of ten times I will leave it hanging on the wall plug. If it isn't on the table or on my bed cover, it will be left behind. I told him that I had left the windows open as it was a very warm night and if I had a ladder I might be able to reach the balcony. He suggested a lock smith again and said he would go get the number and left the bar. I wondered if maybe at his home he had the cell phone of a lock smith who worked after 9:00 at night.
He was gone a long time as I sipped on my third beer. Then the bar phone rang and the bar tender who speaks not a word of English handed me the phone. It was my friend who had a ladder and said to meet him at my apartment. I had to pay my bill and under the circumstances figured I should also pay my friends bill as well. He had obviously been at the bar a lot longer and it seemed to take forever for the bar tender to tally the bill. I would have said, "Hurry up please!" but since he did not know English I knew this would just delay the process.
When I got there my friend had what looked like a ladder off a fire truck that he said he got from his landlady. It barely reached the top of the balcony railing. He insisted on climbing up (well it is at least 20 years younger than I am). Shortly he opened the door with my keys in his hand (they were in the inside lock). I thanked him profusely and told him I was going to have an extra key made and give it to him as he only lives two blocks from me.
Another narrow escape for me due to the kindness of friends. It does make me rethink just how safe I am here since my windows are open all day for fresh air until I go to bed. Had the fish restaurant next door been open, I am sure one of them would have ventured over to ask what was going on. But the taco man across the street nor the dozen or so clients thought that a ladder to the second floor was anything unusual at all. Maybe in Mexico it is not that unusual.
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Monday, August 5, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
WELCOME TO MY WORLD
Yes, I am back from my medical sojourn to California. Let's just say that I am better and I think that will be the last that is said about my medical history (unless I change my mind).
Since most of my blog centers around the problems I encounter living here (and there are many), I decided to try to describe some of the more pleasant experiences of my life. If it sounds a little mundane and boring to you, well that is what the "problems' are for (to add some spice into my life). You do have to be tough and you must be open to new ways of living and experiencing life. It may not be for everyone, but at my advanced age, it suits me just fine. Many people ask me what I do all day, so I will take your through a typical day.
My morning begins with coffee and a cigarette on my balcony where I watch the early stirrings of life in Puerto Vallarta. People going off to work, little kids patiently wait for buses to take them to school (some are accompanied by their mothers). Most mornings a truck arrives full of freshly picked tomatoes, onions and peppers to sell them to the two restaurants on my street. Then a man arrives with one of those stick brooms and a scoop. He managed to get most of the leaves and the debris left over from the previous nights revelries. It is not as effective as the power hoses used in Paris, but it helps. If I am up quite early I will catch a homeless man carefully fold up a large piece of cardboard and place in the the V of the tree across the street. It was months before I realized why that piece of cardboard was always in the tree.
Later when I am capable of managing the 17 steps to my deck, I will finish my coffee up there, while checking on my potted plants (I now have 25 of them). A lot of my time is spent tending to all my plants and I do love them all. You may notice how my haliconia has grown and I took a photo of two new hibiscus plants whose blooms resemble camellias.
After freshening up a little, I will walk to two blocks to my coffee shop. It is nothing to look at and most people would just pass it by. But they have very good coffee and fresh organic food. They are also very pleasant and I know almost everyone who stops there. While sipping my iced latte, I plan my day (or days). I have a small "Day Timer" that I use and write everything down. Yes, I know that is very old fashioned. I should use an Ipod, or at least a Blackberry. You must realize that computers were not invented until I was already middle aged. I also make up shopping lists. Because of all the books I read, often I will walk another few blocks to another coffee shop that has a much wider selection of used books.
It is located next to Plaza Cardenas. Sometimes I will walk through the park on my way home. Last year the Garden Society replanted it. It will take another year, but after all the rain, it is looking pretty.
With my day planned I start off. If I need money (and too often I do), it is necessary to cross the river to the bank that is affiliated with my bank. It is also one of the safest ATM's in the area. Shopping means lots of stops. Guadalajara Pharmacy is good for most house hold supplies, but carries no produce (they do have a small deli, however). If you want fruit (I go through lots of bananas and they are cheap) there is a small store that sells fruit and nuts, but no vegetables. For those I either stop at Los Mercados (where the white people shop). It is more expensive but the produce is better than either the open market or the few items the corner Tiendas carry. About twice a month, I will have to take a bus to Walmart or Costco. If I buy more than my back pack will carry, I take a taxi home (about $5.00).
I read a lot and love my little reading area with my equipauli chairs and lamp table (sometimes I just lie in bed and read). Of course there is the gym. It seems that every few months, I have to start all over again. I try to go at least 3 times a week (usually 4, and sometimes 5). Every Thursday, I play duplicate bridge. It gets quite competitive during the season when we will have as many as 14 tables. I almost always have lunch out. I don't mind eating alone for lunch but do not like to for dinner. I will either eat something at home (sometimes take out) or something I have cooked, or just skip it if I had a late lunch. Yes, I do go to a bar most evenings, but limit myself to two drinks (at the bar anyway).
At least once a week I will go to the beach. Many people just sit under the palapas, but I like to get some sun as well. I always have a few drinks and sometimes food. The water is shallow, but the surf can be rough, so normally I just walk from one end of the beach to the pier at the other end. Since it is summer and low season here, there are very few people on the beach (or anywhere else). The water now is warmer than bath water.
I have also started my Spanish lessons with a new tutor. For some reason he likes to give his lessons at the Page in the Sun Coffee Shop. Maybe he thinks all the book shelves are conducive to study. I pick up several books a week there and one day my tutor asked me how many books I read a week. I proudly told him that I read three or four books a week and he said, "And how many hours to you spend studying Spanish" OUCH!!
Whether I go out to a bar or dinner, I also begin (and end) my evenings up on my deck with a cocktail (or two). I recheck my plants and just love sitting there under my cabana. Now that we are getting the summer rains, I really love to sit there and watch the rain pour down around me. Yes, it is hot and humid during the summer months, but the rain does help a lot. In some ways I like summer better than winter for Puerto Vallarta does become a small little village. As I walk through the streets here, I will see someone I know on almost very block. It is a quiet simple life that suits me in my old age.
*********************************************
Since most of my blog centers around the problems I encounter living here (and there are many), I decided to try to describe some of the more pleasant experiences of my life. If it sounds a little mundane and boring to you, well that is what the "problems' are for (to add some spice into my life). You do have to be tough and you must be open to new ways of living and experiencing life. It may not be for everyone, but at my advanced age, it suits me just fine. Many people ask me what I do all day, so I will take your through a typical day.
My morning begins with coffee and a cigarette on my balcony where I watch the early stirrings of life in Puerto Vallarta. People going off to work, little kids patiently wait for buses to take them to school (some are accompanied by their mothers). Most mornings a truck arrives full of freshly picked tomatoes, onions and peppers to sell them to the two restaurants on my street. Then a man arrives with one of those stick brooms and a scoop. He managed to get most of the leaves and the debris left over from the previous nights revelries. It is not as effective as the power hoses used in Paris, but it helps. If I am up quite early I will catch a homeless man carefully fold up a large piece of cardboard and place in the the V of the tree across the street. It was months before I realized why that piece of cardboard was always in the tree.
Later when I am capable of managing the 17 steps to my deck, I will finish my coffee up there, while checking on my potted plants (I now have 25 of them). A lot of my time is spent tending to all my plants and I do love them all. You may notice how my haliconia has grown and I took a photo of two new hibiscus plants whose blooms resemble camellias.
After freshening up a little, I will walk to two blocks to my coffee shop. It is nothing to look at and most people would just pass it by. But they have very good coffee and fresh organic food. They are also very pleasant and I know almost everyone who stops there. While sipping my iced latte, I plan my day (or days). I have a small "Day Timer" that I use and write everything down. Yes, I know that is very old fashioned. I should use an Ipod, or at least a Blackberry. You must realize that computers were not invented until I was already middle aged. I also make up shopping lists. Because of all the books I read, often I will walk another few blocks to another coffee shop that has a much wider selection of used books.
It is located next to Plaza Cardenas. Sometimes I will walk through the park on my way home. Last year the Garden Society replanted it. It will take another year, but after all the rain, it is looking pretty.
With my day planned I start off. If I need money (and too often I do), it is necessary to cross the river to the bank that is affiliated with my bank. It is also one of the safest ATM's in the area. Shopping means lots of stops. Guadalajara Pharmacy is good for most house hold supplies, but carries no produce (they do have a small deli, however). If you want fruit (I go through lots of bananas and they are cheap) there is a small store that sells fruit and nuts, but no vegetables. For those I either stop at Los Mercados (where the white people shop). It is more expensive but the produce is better than either the open market or the few items the corner Tiendas carry. About twice a month, I will have to take a bus to Walmart or Costco. If I buy more than my back pack will carry, I take a taxi home (about $5.00).
I read a lot and love my little reading area with my equipauli chairs and lamp table (sometimes I just lie in bed and read). Of course there is the gym. It seems that every few months, I have to start all over again. I try to go at least 3 times a week (usually 4, and sometimes 5). Every Thursday, I play duplicate bridge. It gets quite competitive during the season when we will have as many as 14 tables. I almost always have lunch out. I don't mind eating alone for lunch but do not like to for dinner. I will either eat something at home (sometimes take out) or something I have cooked, or just skip it if I had a late lunch. Yes, I do go to a bar most evenings, but limit myself to two drinks (at the bar anyway).
At least once a week I will go to the beach. Many people just sit under the palapas, but I like to get some sun as well. I always have a few drinks and sometimes food. The water is shallow, but the surf can be rough, so normally I just walk from one end of the beach to the pier at the other end. Since it is summer and low season here, there are very few people on the beach (or anywhere else). The water now is warmer than bath water.
I have also started my Spanish lessons with a new tutor. For some reason he likes to give his lessons at the Page in the Sun Coffee Shop. Maybe he thinks all the book shelves are conducive to study. I pick up several books a week there and one day my tutor asked me how many books I read a week. I proudly told him that I read three or four books a week and he said, "And how many hours to you spend studying Spanish" OUCH!!
Whether I go out to a bar or dinner, I also begin (and end) my evenings up on my deck with a cocktail (or two). I recheck my plants and just love sitting there under my cabana. Now that we are getting the summer rains, I really love to sit there and watch the rain pour down around me. Yes, it is hot and humid during the summer months, but the rain does help a lot. In some ways I like summer better than winter for Puerto Vallarta does become a small little village. As I walk through the streets here, I will see someone I know on almost very block. It is a quiet simple life that suits me in my old age.
*********************************************
Sunday, July 7, 2013
MEDASIST RE-ASSESSED
You probably did not expect a new posting on Mexican Medicine so soon, did you. Well, neither did I, but these posts are written mostly as stuff happens. I also don't like to talk about my personal life and especially not my illnesses (too many old people do that). But this was too good to resist, so here I am again.
My stay at Medasist last December was about what was determined to be a bad attack on my pancreas. I do remember when I asked "How did this happen?" One of the doctor said it might have been caused by my gall bladder. When I was in the States the following March, I told my doctor but he did not seem to think that any further tests were necessary (HMO !!) I have had some very bad symptoms since (like really horrible pain) but not bad enough to go back to that hospital. Then the last time, I decided that I would have to return to the States and get a full physical. But first I needed something for the pain. I first went to the local clinic. She (yes, most of my doctors here are female) told me she was pretty sure it was not the pancreas, but my gall bladder. She gave me some medicine which helped a little, but in any case I felt I must get back to California.
I put a call into my doctor there (of course you don't get to speak to a doctor, just a nurse). I explained my problem and said I would like him to set up a meeting with a specialist. She said that he would have to exam me first before any referral and that might take a month. I told her that it was just not possible for me to wait a month just for the first appointment. Could she speak to the doctor and see if I could not get in right away to see a specialist? She said, "That is NOT the way it works !" (I think her name was Nurse Rachett.) That was on a Friday.
I tried again the following Monday and this time got a human who did speak to my doctor and came back with the number of a specialist. When I called to make an appointment I realized that this was The Fourth of July Week. Not only were there no empty seats on flights, but the doctors offices were closing on Wednesday. I went for the following week. This nurse was extremely helpful and pleasant and suggested that I try to get a hold of my insurance company so it would be preapproved. (Good Luck, I thought after my last experience with them) Then she also suggested that I have a sonogram done before flying off. Good idea ! I went to see my Dr. Lupita and she set it up for the following morning.
My doctor here was also concerned for I was turning jaundiced. I called back to the specialist to say that I did have an appointment for a sonogram and mentioned I was now jaundiced. She asked a lot of other questions, left the phone and came back and said I should speak to my primary care doctor. I did not call him, but apparently she did and he called me to say that I should not risk the flight and to have to surgery done in Mexico immediately. In some ways this was a relief, if I could talk the hospital into waiting six months for my insurance .to pay anything. I decided to call my insurance company There were about 6 numbers on my card, but sadly it is all push button phone. If you keep insisting on speaking to someone, you get the same woman who has nothing to do with the insurance company but is paid to answer medical questions. After I wound up with her three times from three different numbers, I gave up.
At 8;30 the following morning they were all ready for me, a nurse took some blood, then a technician led me to a room for the sonogram. His English was quite limited, but he did understand when I asked if he could see a stone in my gall bladder. He said "No stone, gall bladder good" Somehow this was not good news to me. I tried to ask what was wrong and he mentioned "grasse" or fat on my kidney.
Then he proclaimed that I had two kidneys (like this was supposed to make me feel better). Then he asked me to wait ten minutes and he took me to another room where they put me through a CT Scan. No one could explain why or what was going on and I was told that I could not see Dr. Lupita until 1:00 when the test results would be back.
The lab tests showed that my pancreas and gall bladder with were within normal range. The liver count was slightly elevated (not a surprise), but nothing else unusual. The CT Scan and sonogram showed no stones in the gall bladder. So basically they have no clue what has called my illness. The doctor proudly pushed the result (all in Spanish) in front of me like I should be pleased. I was not.
This should have been good news, but I wanted an answer. So I decided there was nothing to do but to fly back home and have a complete physical done there. I had the results of my tests faxed to my doctor (unfortunately in Spanish) but hopefully he can figure it. So I booked a one way flight for the following week. All my doctors are on vacation this week. The first chance I had to call was Monday. At one doctor's office I left a message for an appointment and made an appointment to see my primary care doctor. The first office called back to say my doctor was out of the country until August. Then a nurse for my primary care doctor called to say that it was still risky for me to travel and the doctor suggested I stay here for more tests. MORE TESTS ?? I had blood tests, a sonogram, a CT Scan, (all of which the hospital said they faxed to him. What more did he want. I called back and said, "Tell the doctor I am coming anyway.
My friend here said, "Well, it is good they found nothing wrong with you" My answer was "Just because they found nothing wrong doesn't mean there isn't. I still feel like SHIT and I have no intention of finish my declining years in pain and misery. I don't care if I am old !¨" So off I go California. Stay tuned but it may be a while before another posting..
*****************************************++
My stay at Medasist last December was about what was determined to be a bad attack on my pancreas. I do remember when I asked "How did this happen?" One of the doctor said it might have been caused by my gall bladder. When I was in the States the following March, I told my doctor but he did not seem to think that any further tests were necessary (HMO !!) I have had some very bad symptoms since (like really horrible pain) but not bad enough to go back to that hospital. Then the last time, I decided that I would have to return to the States and get a full physical. But first I needed something for the pain. I first went to the local clinic. She (yes, most of my doctors here are female) told me she was pretty sure it was not the pancreas, but my gall bladder. She gave me some medicine which helped a little, but in any case I felt I must get back to California.
I put a call into my doctor there (of course you don't get to speak to a doctor, just a nurse). I explained my problem and said I would like him to set up a meeting with a specialist. She said that he would have to exam me first before any referral and that might take a month. I told her that it was just not possible for me to wait a month just for the first appointment. Could she speak to the doctor and see if I could not get in right away to see a specialist? She said, "That is NOT the way it works !" (I think her name was Nurse Rachett.) That was on a Friday.
I tried again the following Monday and this time got a human who did speak to my doctor and came back with the number of a specialist. When I called to make an appointment I realized that this was The Fourth of July Week. Not only were there no empty seats on flights, but the doctors offices were closing on Wednesday. I went for the following week. This nurse was extremely helpful and pleasant and suggested that I try to get a hold of my insurance company so it would be preapproved. (Good Luck, I thought after my last experience with them) Then she also suggested that I have a sonogram done before flying off. Good idea ! I went to see my Dr. Lupita and she set it up for the following morning.
My doctor here was also concerned for I was turning jaundiced. I called back to the specialist to say that I did have an appointment for a sonogram and mentioned I was now jaundiced. She asked a lot of other questions, left the phone and came back and said I should speak to my primary care doctor. I did not call him, but apparently she did and he called me to say that I should not risk the flight and to have to surgery done in Mexico immediately. In some ways this was a relief, if I could talk the hospital into waiting six months for my insurance .to pay anything. I decided to call my insurance company There were about 6 numbers on my card, but sadly it is all push button phone. If you keep insisting on speaking to someone, you get the same woman who has nothing to do with the insurance company but is paid to answer medical questions. After I wound up with her three times from three different numbers, I gave up.
At 8;30 the following morning they were all ready for me, a nurse took some blood, then a technician led me to a room for the sonogram. His English was quite limited, but he did understand when I asked if he could see a stone in my gall bladder. He said "No stone, gall bladder good" Somehow this was not good news to me. I tried to ask what was wrong and he mentioned "grasse" or fat on my kidney.
Then he proclaimed that I had two kidneys (like this was supposed to make me feel better). Then he asked me to wait ten minutes and he took me to another room where they put me through a CT Scan. No one could explain why or what was going on and I was told that I could not see Dr. Lupita until 1:00 when the test results would be back.
The lab tests showed that my pancreas and gall bladder with were within normal range. The liver count was slightly elevated (not a surprise), but nothing else unusual. The CT Scan and sonogram showed no stones in the gall bladder. So basically they have no clue what has called my illness. The doctor proudly pushed the result (all in Spanish) in front of me like I should be pleased. I was not.
This should have been good news, but I wanted an answer. So I decided there was nothing to do but to fly back home and have a complete physical done there. I had the results of my tests faxed to my doctor (unfortunately in Spanish) but hopefully he can figure it. So I booked a one way flight for the following week. All my doctors are on vacation this week. The first chance I had to call was Monday. At one doctor's office I left a message for an appointment and made an appointment to see my primary care doctor. The first office called back to say my doctor was out of the country until August. Then a nurse for my primary care doctor called to say that it was still risky for me to travel and the doctor suggested I stay here for more tests. MORE TESTS ?? I had blood tests, a sonogram, a CT Scan, (all of which the hospital said they faxed to him. What more did he want. I called back and said, "Tell the doctor I am coming anyway.
My friend here said, "Well, it is good they found nothing wrong with you" My answer was "Just because they found nothing wrong doesn't mean there isn't. I still feel like SHIT and I have no intention of finish my declining years in pain and misery. I don't care if I am old !¨" So off I go California. Stay tuned but it may be a while before another posting..
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Saturday, June 22, 2013
MEXICO AND COMPUTERS UGH!!
By now you know that my knowledge of computers is minuscule (plus, I am really dumb). What I do know is that one cannot live today without a computer, especially if you are living in a foreign country. Make that country Mexico and the problems multiply. You cannot do much on a computer without internet and in Mexico, it is sort of hit or miss. Sometimes it goes out completely. Normally just for a few hours except when I had that fight with Telecable over my bill and I was without internet for days. Even when you do have it, it is sometimes too light a signal, so when I am using my Magic Jack for international calls you sometimes get every other word, or it just dies mid sentence.
I need a computer for communication with the outside world, both email and my Magic Jack phone. It is also essential financially. I check my accounts, move funds, pay bills and of course there is my blog (my baby). It started as a means for friends of mine around to keep up with what and how I was doing in Mexico. To my amazement, I have picked up readers all over the world. Who ever you are in Brazil, Alaska, and Russia that reads this stuff, I would appreciate it if you would send me a message. My email address is lagunalary@aol.com . I really did not know how I could survive without a computer. I was about to find out.
The past few weeks have been hot. We are still waiting for the heavy rains. One day last week, I used the computer in the morning working on a still unfinished blog. Some take me a month; this one I will knock out in a few days. I had bridge that day and suddenly had to shower and leave for bridge. I forgot and left the computer on. Elvis happened to stop by (forgetting that it was my bridge day), I thought I would be home shortly, but bridge went on, and on, and on. He wound up waiting an hour for me to get home. By the time he left, I just had time to change to go out to dinner with Patty. We finished dinner late and she came by here for one more glass of wine (maybe two). By the time she left I was really drunk, but did have the presence of mind to shut off the computer. It has been on in a very hot room for 14 to 15 hours.
The following morning I tried to turn it back on, but just got a black screen. I left it running hoping something would pop up later. When I got back to it, it was really hot and still a black screen. I unplugged it and put it near a window on its side to cool it off. When that did not work, I stuck it in the refrigerator (not very long, really) Still nothing. I called a friend of mine and he said maybe I needed a new fan underneath (mine died a long time ago) and to get some compressed air to clean the vents. But I decided to take it immediately to the computer store who fixed it the last time it overheated (last summer). The shop is about 12 blocks away and when I got there the steel door had been raised about a foot off the sidewalk and a fan was set under it. I yelled, but no one answered. There were three numbers on the door to call in case it was closed. No one answered the first two numbers and someone's mother answered the third number. In her broken English, I got the impression that her son was at school, but she would call him and have him get back to me. I went across the street to one of my favorite restaurants that I seldom visit because it is so far from my home. I had just seated myself in a lovely patio of trees and flowers and ordered an ice tea (while still studying the menu). My phone rang and it was the computer guy who told me to go back across the street and yell under the door or just bang on the door as someone sleeps in the back.
Finally a tall bald American man appeared and said, ¨´Yes, What do you want¨" I explained my problem to which he said he knew nothing about computers, but the computer guy usually arrives between 10 and 12. It was now 11:00. I told him I would be across the street having lunch and would try later. By that time the door was fully open and another American was seated at a desk, He said that he too knew nothing about computers, but "Cheynne" should be there between 1:00 and 3:00. I left my number and asked that he call me. In the meanwhile I took the bus to Office Depot and bought a new fan and a can of that compressed air. I tried both and turned the computer back on and sure enough I had a screen. I was thrilled for about 15 minutes and then it died again. I tried the spray can (no one told me that you have to give one squirt in the air to get rid of the water before turning it on the computer), so some water did go through the vents. The computer guy did call and say he would be there the following day sometime between 10:00 and 12:00.
It remained dead. The following morning I called to explain that I would be there a little after noon as I had a Spanish class at 11:00. Sure enough he was there. He asked it I had taken the back off yet. My first thought was to say "Are you crazy?" but instead just answered NO! He played with it for a while and pronounced that it looked like the video card was fried. He could fix it, but it would cost almost as much as a new computer and would still be an old damaged machine. He gave me a list of what I needed for a new computer and then told me "Do not get Windows 8, you must find an old Windows 7", He said that if the mother board was still intact, he could transfer all my information and systems to a flash drive and install it in my new computer. He wanted 250 pesos for the flash drive, but said if I gave him my old computer he would not charge for the transfer. He sounded like a deal to me.
My friend had just purchased a brand new car a few days earlier and I was pretty sure he would be out tooling around in it. I called and asked if he would be anywhere near a Wal Mart or an Office Depot. He said they were just on their way to Costco and would pick me up on the way. We went first to Costco. I was shocked to find that they were not buying anything but a hot dog and a pizza (One of the little luxuries of having a car, I guess). .Costco had no Windows 7 computers and neither did Office Depot. Walmart had two models with Windows 7. (I never did find out if Windows 8 is a bad system, or if it was not compatible with my old one).
You would think an old model would be on sale, but no, instead they were offering a gift of some sort of electronic device. I had no idea what it was and knew I would never figure out how to use it, so I offered it to my friend who drove me there. I selected what I thought was the better of the two and the girl wrote something down on a pink pad and told me to pay at the cashier. Armed with the receipt, the girl left for the back of the store. We waited at least 45 minutes for her to return. She had to find a guard with a key to get to the warehouse (Was it in Guadalajara?). My friend dropped me back at the computer store. No one answered any of the three numbers, but it was still open and I left it with the tall bald guy who lives there.
To my amazement the kid (he is just 17) called to say it was ready before 11:00 the next morning.. What I did not realize is that he wanted another 800 pesos to "format" it. Nothing to do but pay it. When I got it home, I first had to get my internet to recognize the computer. It wanted a security code. If I ever had one, I did not remember. I called Telecable and for all the awful (but true) things I have said about them, I got an English speaking person within 5 minutes. He told me to type "1" twenty six times as the security code (Is that dumb or what!). At that point my computer wanted me to register myself. I struggled with it for half an hour and also realized that I had no icon for AOL or Magic Jack. I called the kid, but no answer, so I called another computer guy who was recommended to me. He spoke perfect English and said he would have someone there in ten minutes (maybe 20). Unfortunately the guy he sent spoke a little English consisted of "HELLO, how are YOU" I tried to explain my problem (he had to check with his boss) and finally I got my AOL (in English) and Magic Jack (or so I thought). Another 300 pesos and he was gone. By that time I was sick of the whole scenario and decided to go to a bar and get very drunk.
The next morning I turned it on and decided it was time to check email and my Magic Jack messages. I then discovered that I had no sound. I suddenly realized that the computer had never utter a word. No tune when you turn in on and no "You've got Mail!!" I knew enough to check the speakers and had them at high volume. It also had a mute, but it was off. I called the first kid and he had no idea and said I would have to bring in down to him. Twelve blocks each way in the hot sun! It seems that if you press function and F10 it mutes the entire computer. Who knew?? Happily I took it home, but when I connected Magic Jack I found that the phone still had no sound. I found "menu" and got to the sound controls and finally I can hear on my phone.
It will be a while before I figure out this Mexican key board. It has an extra letter "ñ" and the punctuation marks are in strange places. Some are under letters and instead of the capital key, you use a special key marked "Alt Gr" (who knows?) There may be errors in the postings, but then none of them are perfect. Besides all the hassle and trips to the computer shop, it is the cost that really upset me, but it could have been worse. What if I had lost everything on my old computer. Not only photos, but I have about 600 pages of two unfinished (and as yet unpublished) novels. I had Carbonite that is supposed to save all your information, but none of the computer guys here seemed to know anything about it. If Pamela is still reading my blog (she tried to teach me all about computers over 20 years ago) she will not be surprised to learn that decades later computers are just as confusing and frustrating to me as they ever were.
!
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I need a computer for communication with the outside world, both email and my Magic Jack phone. It is also essential financially. I check my accounts, move funds, pay bills and of course there is my blog (my baby). It started as a means for friends of mine around to keep up with what and how I was doing in Mexico. To my amazement, I have picked up readers all over the world. Who ever you are in Brazil, Alaska, and Russia that reads this stuff, I would appreciate it if you would send me a message. My email address is lagunalary@aol.com . I really did not know how I could survive without a computer. I was about to find out.
The past few weeks have been hot. We are still waiting for the heavy rains. One day last week, I used the computer in the morning working on a still unfinished blog. Some take me a month; this one I will knock out in a few days. I had bridge that day and suddenly had to shower and leave for bridge. I forgot and left the computer on. Elvis happened to stop by (forgetting that it was my bridge day), I thought I would be home shortly, but bridge went on, and on, and on. He wound up waiting an hour for me to get home. By the time he left, I just had time to change to go out to dinner with Patty. We finished dinner late and she came by here for one more glass of wine (maybe two). By the time she left I was really drunk, but did have the presence of mind to shut off the computer. It has been on in a very hot room for 14 to 15 hours.
The following morning I tried to turn it back on, but just got a black screen. I left it running hoping something would pop up later. When I got back to it, it was really hot and still a black screen. I unplugged it and put it near a window on its side to cool it off. When that did not work, I stuck it in the refrigerator (not very long, really) Still nothing. I called a friend of mine and he said maybe I needed a new fan underneath (mine died a long time ago) and to get some compressed air to clean the vents. But I decided to take it immediately to the computer store who fixed it the last time it overheated (last summer). The shop is about 12 blocks away and when I got there the steel door had been raised about a foot off the sidewalk and a fan was set under it. I yelled, but no one answered. There were three numbers on the door to call in case it was closed. No one answered the first two numbers and someone's mother answered the third number. In her broken English, I got the impression that her son was at school, but she would call him and have him get back to me. I went across the street to one of my favorite restaurants that I seldom visit because it is so far from my home. I had just seated myself in a lovely patio of trees and flowers and ordered an ice tea (while still studying the menu). My phone rang and it was the computer guy who told me to go back across the street and yell under the door or just bang on the door as someone sleeps in the back.
Finally a tall bald American man appeared and said, ¨´Yes, What do you want¨" I explained my problem to which he said he knew nothing about computers, but the computer guy usually arrives between 10 and 12. It was now 11:00. I told him I would be across the street having lunch and would try later. By that time the door was fully open and another American was seated at a desk, He said that he too knew nothing about computers, but "Cheynne" should be there between 1:00 and 3:00. I left my number and asked that he call me. In the meanwhile I took the bus to Office Depot and bought a new fan and a can of that compressed air. I tried both and turned the computer back on and sure enough I had a screen. I was thrilled for about 15 minutes and then it died again. I tried the spray can (no one told me that you have to give one squirt in the air to get rid of the water before turning it on the computer), so some water did go through the vents. The computer guy did call and say he would be there the following day sometime between 10:00 and 12:00.
It remained dead. The following morning I called to explain that I would be there a little after noon as I had a Spanish class at 11:00. Sure enough he was there. He asked it I had taken the back off yet. My first thought was to say "Are you crazy?" but instead just answered NO! He played with it for a while and pronounced that it looked like the video card was fried. He could fix it, but it would cost almost as much as a new computer and would still be an old damaged machine. He gave me a list of what I needed for a new computer and then told me "Do not get Windows 8, you must find an old Windows 7", He said that if the mother board was still intact, he could transfer all my information and systems to a flash drive and install it in my new computer. He wanted 250 pesos for the flash drive, but said if I gave him my old computer he would not charge for the transfer. He sounded like a deal to me.
My friend had just purchased a brand new car a few days earlier and I was pretty sure he would be out tooling around in it. I called and asked if he would be anywhere near a Wal Mart or an Office Depot. He said they were just on their way to Costco and would pick me up on the way. We went first to Costco. I was shocked to find that they were not buying anything but a hot dog and a pizza (One of the little luxuries of having a car, I guess). .Costco had no Windows 7 computers and neither did Office Depot. Walmart had two models with Windows 7. (I never did find out if Windows 8 is a bad system, or if it was not compatible with my old one).
You would think an old model would be on sale, but no, instead they were offering a gift of some sort of electronic device. I had no idea what it was and knew I would never figure out how to use it, so I offered it to my friend who drove me there. I selected what I thought was the better of the two and the girl wrote something down on a pink pad and told me to pay at the cashier. Armed with the receipt, the girl left for the back of the store. We waited at least 45 minutes for her to return. She had to find a guard with a key to get to the warehouse (Was it in Guadalajara?). My friend dropped me back at the computer store. No one answered any of the three numbers, but it was still open and I left it with the tall bald guy who lives there.
To my amazement the kid (he is just 17) called to say it was ready before 11:00 the next morning.. What I did not realize is that he wanted another 800 pesos to "format" it. Nothing to do but pay it. When I got it home, I first had to get my internet to recognize the computer. It wanted a security code. If I ever had one, I did not remember. I called Telecable and for all the awful (but true) things I have said about them, I got an English speaking person within 5 minutes. He told me to type "1" twenty six times as the security code (Is that dumb or what!). At that point my computer wanted me to register myself. I struggled with it for half an hour and also realized that I had no icon for AOL or Magic Jack. I called the kid, but no answer, so I called another computer guy who was recommended to me. He spoke perfect English and said he would have someone there in ten minutes (maybe 20). Unfortunately the guy he sent spoke a little English consisted of "HELLO, how are YOU" I tried to explain my problem (he had to check with his boss) and finally I got my AOL (in English) and Magic Jack (or so I thought). Another 300 pesos and he was gone. By that time I was sick of the whole scenario and decided to go to a bar and get very drunk.
The next morning I turned it on and decided it was time to check email and my Magic Jack messages. I then discovered that I had no sound. I suddenly realized that the computer had never utter a word. No tune when you turn in on and no "You've got Mail!!" I knew enough to check the speakers and had them at high volume. It also had a mute, but it was off. I called the first kid and he had no idea and said I would have to bring in down to him. Twelve blocks each way in the hot sun! It seems that if you press function and F10 it mutes the entire computer. Who knew?? Happily I took it home, but when I connected Magic Jack I found that the phone still had no sound. I found "menu" and got to the sound controls and finally I can hear on my phone.
It will be a while before I figure out this Mexican key board. It has an extra letter "ñ" and the punctuation marks are in strange places. Some are under letters and instead of the capital key, you use a special key marked "Alt Gr" (who knows?) There may be errors in the postings, but then none of them are perfect. Besides all the hassle and trips to the computer shop, it is the cost that really upset me, but it could have been worse. What if I had lost everything on my old computer. Not only photos, but I have about 600 pages of two unfinished (and as yet unpublished) novels. I had Carbonite that is supposed to save all your information, but none of the computer guys here seemed to know anything about it. If Pamela is still reading my blog (she tried to teach me all about computers over 20 years ago) she will not be surprised to learn that decades later computers are just as confusing and frustrating to me as they ever were.
!
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Saturday, June 1, 2013
MEXICAN MEDICINE
The first question people ask of me when they hear (to their horror) that I actually live full time in Mexico is,
"What do you do about medical problems?" You may be surprised to hear my answer, "It is wonderful. but the problem is you have to pay for it yourself". Luckily it is cheap compared to the United States (all medicine is cheap compared to the United States!). Without divulging much about my personal life (you may have noted that I do not!), I will say that I have had the occasion to visit a hospital here a couple of times.
Let me begin by talking about the Mexicans or Nationals as they are called here. For the most part, they do not trust doctors or hospitals and if possible, will self mediate. There may even be witch doctors or shamans here. You can't go two blocks in Puerto Vallarta without passing some sort of pharmacy. There are three kinds. We have the ones that dispense prescriptions drugs (with no prescriptions necessary), and the Farmacias Similares that sell sort of unauthorized generic drugs or maybe just similar in chemical compounds but produced in kitchens. They are much cheaper. You can buy a Viagra like pill for about $2.00 (or so I have been told, I really would not know!) Most popular with the Nationals are the homeopathic pharmacies. They sell herbs, lotions and concoctions that have been used here for centuries (maybe even thousands of years). Although most of my Mexican friends swear by them, I have so far stuck to the drugs I know (and I know a lot of them!).
The doctors are wonderful and all I have met speak perfect English. There is a woman here in Puerto Vallarta by the name of Pamela who disperses medical advice by email. She will answer medical questions or can refer you to a doctor or hospital. She knows every English speaking doctor here and will even make the appointment for you and email you a map to their office. This is of no cost to you. Now she may get a kick back or referral fee from the doctor or hospital, but it is free to us. She has recommended a dermatologist, podiatrist and a heart doctor to me. All were excellent and quite reasonable. I had three skin cancers removed and one had to be cut out and sent to a lab for analysis. I had to go back for the results and to have stitches removed and I think the total bill was about $100.00. I think Pamela may have first sent me to Dr. Lupita at the hospital a few blocks away, but then everyone I know goes to her, so maybe someone else did. She is so good she is authorized or approved by several medical insurance companies in the U.S. (just not by mine = more on that later) She is my regular doctor for "whatever":.
The hospitals are as clean, orderly and neat as any you will find anywhere. In fact my hospital room (yes I did spend a few days there) was as nice as any I have been in. It was a large private room with a large window with a nice view, a T.V., dresser, a few chairs and a large tile bathroom. Nurses were on call in less than a minute and most spoke some English. They were all very kind and extremely accommodating. Of course once I was up and wandering the halls I found that there was only one other patient on my floor.
After my first visit to emergency, I discovered the "Clinicas" They are always next to a small pharmacy. You just walk in to the pharmacy, make an appointment and go next door and sit in a chair until someone comes out and calls you. Sometimes I am the first one there and sometimes there will be six to ten people waiting (I walk on and come back later). My first visit there was when someone told me about the vitamin B shots they got there. Vitamin B is supposed to give you energy and strength and when I was worn out by one of my moves, I stopped by. The shot cost 20 pesos (maybe $1.50). You have to buy the medication and I think a weeks worth of shots might have been $30 or $40.00. Many such medications come already in disposable syringes. At first I thought I needed my FM3 card (or residency card) but since then no one has ever asked for it. I thought that they must be government sponsored, but I was told that they are privately funded. Whatever, it is nice for us "poor people".
Mexican Nationals who is gainfully employed are also covered by a sort of Medicare program (except they have no co-pay). They do have very powerful unions here that promote most of these programs. If the National is not employed (farmers, poor people, etc) they can still get medical help by other government financed clinicls. The medical service is pretty bad there I am told. They have to wait for hours and usually there are no specialist and sometimes they don't have the necessary medication.
You may recall my bad fall a couple of years ago went I was first taken to Emergency ("Fear of Falling"), well I wound back up in emergency last November. I was hospitalized for five days. No surgery and other than pain killers, no costly drugs (that I know of) but I was on an IV. When I was finally told I could go back home, I wondered about the bill. I gave them the information on my insurance in the U.S. Yes, I am definitely old enough for Medicare, but I elected to go with an HMO (with smaller co-pays) They did ask me for a down payment of 20,000 pesos. I never saw the final bill from the hospital, nor did I see one from the two doctors that attended me.
The nice lady who handles payments, was very helpful and rather attractive. His name is Esmarelda (a pretty name too). She contacted my insurance company and at first was told that everything could be handled by email. she said she would take care of it. This turned out not to be true. She called me back into her office for my insurance company was now telling her that they would only deal directly with me. They would not only accept a claim by email, but had forms that they would only mail to my address in the U.S. This took about two weeks. I had Donna pick them up and she had to UPS them to me. This took another week. Esmarelda filled out the forms (with some help from me) and submitted the claim. We were told it would take four to six weeks. They admitted receiving the claim on January 11th and for months there was no action at all. Finally they did contact me to ask for copies of all the tests the hospital had performed (I do not know why the hospital did not send them before). Luckily I had already forwarded them to my primary care doctor in the States. Then they needed proof of the payment I had made so I scanned my bank statement and sent that off.
Nothing happened and no one would return my calls. Finally I got through and found that they had settled it and the checks had been sent to my address in the U.S. I sent Donna off again and she found two checks, but no explanation of how much they allowed nor any mention of the money I had already paid the hospital. I knew how much they sent in dollars, I just did not know what I owed in pesos, so I was off to see Esmarelad again. All this took five months. I was shocked at the bill they expected me to pay. It was far higher than I had expected and much less than what the insurance company sent me. Esmarelda set up a meeting with the hospital administrator. After going over all the charges, the major bill was from the specialist who did finally come to the emergency room and then saw me each day I was in the hospital. His bill was more than I would have expected in the U.S. We went round and round and then I said, " Look, I would like to settle this now, but if you prefer, you can work with my insurance company for another six months" That is when he said that he thought they could settle for the amount the insurance company sent. They does leave me stuck with the 20,000 pesos that I already paid (four months rent for me!)
The "specialist" had way over charged (maybe because I was an American, maybe because I had insurance). He finally agreed to lower the bill somewhat (I will not be gong back to him). Dr. Lupita who stopped by every day to see me never submitted a bill at all. We agreed to an amount in pesos, but it still left me stuck with the 20,000 pesos. Maybe I should have haggled longer, maybe I should have just stone walled them and refused to pay. What could they do to me? Well, maybe a lot since I am a guest in a foreign country. I have to look on the bright side. At least my insurance company did pay most of it.
*************************
"What do you do about medical problems?" You may be surprised to hear my answer, "It is wonderful. but the problem is you have to pay for it yourself". Luckily it is cheap compared to the United States (all medicine is cheap compared to the United States!). Without divulging much about my personal life (you may have noted that I do not!), I will say that I have had the occasion to visit a hospital here a couple of times.
Let me begin by talking about the Mexicans or Nationals as they are called here. For the most part, they do not trust doctors or hospitals and if possible, will self mediate. There may even be witch doctors or shamans here. You can't go two blocks in Puerto Vallarta without passing some sort of pharmacy. There are three kinds. We have the ones that dispense prescriptions drugs (with no prescriptions necessary), and the Farmacias Similares that sell sort of unauthorized generic drugs or maybe just similar in chemical compounds but produced in kitchens. They are much cheaper. You can buy a Viagra like pill for about $2.00 (or so I have been told, I really would not know!) Most popular with the Nationals are the homeopathic pharmacies. They sell herbs, lotions and concoctions that have been used here for centuries (maybe even thousands of years). Although most of my Mexican friends swear by them, I have so far stuck to the drugs I know (and I know a lot of them!).
The doctors are wonderful and all I have met speak perfect English. There is a woman here in Puerto Vallarta by the name of Pamela who disperses medical advice by email. She will answer medical questions or can refer you to a doctor or hospital. She knows every English speaking doctor here and will even make the appointment for you and email you a map to their office. This is of no cost to you. Now she may get a kick back or referral fee from the doctor or hospital, but it is free to us. She has recommended a dermatologist, podiatrist and a heart doctor to me. All were excellent and quite reasonable. I had three skin cancers removed and one had to be cut out and sent to a lab for analysis. I had to go back for the results and to have stitches removed and I think the total bill was about $100.00. I think Pamela may have first sent me to Dr. Lupita at the hospital a few blocks away, but then everyone I know goes to her, so maybe someone else did. She is so good she is authorized or approved by several medical insurance companies in the U.S. (just not by mine = more on that later) She is my regular doctor for "whatever":.
The hospitals are as clean, orderly and neat as any you will find anywhere. In fact my hospital room (yes I did spend a few days there) was as nice as any I have been in. It was a large private room with a large window with a nice view, a T.V., dresser, a few chairs and a large tile bathroom. Nurses were on call in less than a minute and most spoke some English. They were all very kind and extremely accommodating. Of course once I was up and wandering the halls I found that there was only one other patient on my floor.
After my first visit to emergency, I discovered the "Clinicas" They are always next to a small pharmacy. You just walk in to the pharmacy, make an appointment and go next door and sit in a chair until someone comes out and calls you. Sometimes I am the first one there and sometimes there will be six to ten people waiting (I walk on and come back later). My first visit there was when someone told me about the vitamin B shots they got there. Vitamin B is supposed to give you energy and strength and when I was worn out by one of my moves, I stopped by. The shot cost 20 pesos (maybe $1.50). You have to buy the medication and I think a weeks worth of shots might have been $30 or $40.00. Many such medications come already in disposable syringes. At first I thought I needed my FM3 card (or residency card) but since then no one has ever asked for it. I thought that they must be government sponsored, but I was told that they are privately funded. Whatever, it is nice for us "poor people".
Mexican Nationals who is gainfully employed are also covered by a sort of Medicare program (except they have no co-pay). They do have very powerful unions here that promote most of these programs. If the National is not employed (farmers, poor people, etc) they can still get medical help by other government financed clinicls. The medical service is pretty bad there I am told. They have to wait for hours and usually there are no specialist and sometimes they don't have the necessary medication.
You may recall my bad fall a couple of years ago went I was first taken to Emergency ("Fear of Falling"), well I wound back up in emergency last November. I was hospitalized for five days. No surgery and other than pain killers, no costly drugs (that I know of) but I was on an IV. When I was finally told I could go back home, I wondered about the bill. I gave them the information on my insurance in the U.S. Yes, I am definitely old enough for Medicare, but I elected to go with an HMO (with smaller co-pays) They did ask me for a down payment of 20,000 pesos. I never saw the final bill from the hospital, nor did I see one from the two doctors that attended me.
The nice lady who handles payments, was very helpful and rather attractive. His name is Esmarelda (a pretty name too). She contacted my insurance company and at first was told that everything could be handled by email. she said she would take care of it. This turned out not to be true. She called me back into her office for my insurance company was now telling her that they would only deal directly with me. They would not only accept a claim by email, but had forms that they would only mail to my address in the U.S. This took about two weeks. I had Donna pick them up and she had to UPS them to me. This took another week. Esmarelda filled out the forms (with some help from me) and submitted the claim. We were told it would take four to six weeks. They admitted receiving the claim on January 11th and for months there was no action at all. Finally they did contact me to ask for copies of all the tests the hospital had performed (I do not know why the hospital did not send them before). Luckily I had already forwarded them to my primary care doctor in the States. Then they needed proof of the payment I had made so I scanned my bank statement and sent that off.
Nothing happened and no one would return my calls. Finally I got through and found that they had settled it and the checks had been sent to my address in the U.S. I sent Donna off again and she found two checks, but no explanation of how much they allowed nor any mention of the money I had already paid the hospital. I knew how much they sent in dollars, I just did not know what I owed in pesos, so I was off to see Esmarelad again. All this took five months. I was shocked at the bill they expected me to pay. It was far higher than I had expected and much less than what the insurance company sent me. Esmarelda set up a meeting with the hospital administrator. After going over all the charges, the major bill was from the specialist who did finally come to the emergency room and then saw me each day I was in the hospital. His bill was more than I would have expected in the U.S. We went round and round and then I said, " Look, I would like to settle this now, but if you prefer, you can work with my insurance company for another six months" That is when he said that he thought they could settle for the amount the insurance company sent. They does leave me stuck with the 20,000 pesos that I already paid (four months rent for me!)
The "specialist" had way over charged (maybe because I was an American, maybe because I had insurance). He finally agreed to lower the bill somewhat (I will not be gong back to him). Dr. Lupita who stopped by every day to see me never submitted a bill at all. We agreed to an amount in pesos, but it still left me stuck with the 20,000 pesos. Maybe I should have haggled longer, maybe I should have just stone walled them and refused to pay. What could they do to me? Well, maybe a lot since I am a guest in a foreign country. I have to look on the bright side. At least my insurance company did pay most of it.
*************************
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
IT'S A JUNGLE OUT THERE
Behind my building is a block wide vacant lot. There are the remains of what must have been a couple of small brick or adobe houses, but no one lives there except the cats. Many people here complain about the roosters that crow at dawn every morning. If there ever were chickens out there, the cats long ago took care of them. Of course with those G.D. bells, who would notice a rooster. If you ignore all the junk that has been dumped in the lot (including an old truck), all you see is a jungle of trees and vines. Once the summer rains start, it will be much prettier as the rain washes all the dust away. I kind of like it because it means no neighbors. It also affords me a clear view of the mountains. A strange jungle vine crawled up the wall from three stories below that I have trained across the beam on my cabana. It is growing out of a crack in concrete. Since it has not rained since October, I have no idea how it lives at all, but I am hoping it will have some kind of flower on it before it dies.
There are a couple of huge mango trees, a couple of lime trees and some papaya trees as well. Unfortunately the area is completely walled in by ten foot brick walls. so I can't get to the fruit. There are iron gates at each end which would open on to the two streets, but they are always locked. One day I saw two kids somehow wiggle through the wrought iron gates into the property. One climbed the mango tree which must be 40 feet tall and either ;picked and threw down the fruit, or just knocked if off the branches.
It is all owned by the Rizo family who own my building as well as huge blocks of land all over the South Side (south of the River Caule). Rumor has it that they are property poor. They either won't sell, or ask too much money for the land. Some of it may be tied up in legal battles, as my apartment is actually owned by a woman who has been dead for ten years.
You may recall my story of the cat who ate my coffee cake from a few months ago. Now that summer is coming I have started leaving the guest bedroom window open for the cool breezes that waft down from the mountains. Yes, I am occasionally visited by one of the cats. I have not seen him (or her) but I periodically have to clean the dirty paw prints off the wall below the window. I could just close my door and turn on the air conditioning, but I am trying to keep my electric bill low. It has been running about 250 pesos a month (about $20.00) as opposed to the 7,000 bill I got at my previous apartment. Only a small animal could crawl through the wrought iron grill and the cats don't seem to do any damage anyway.
One night I got up to pee. I leave a small night light plugged in so in my sleep (or drunken condition) I don't miss the ten inch step going into my bathroom. I suddenly became aware of something black and large just a few inches from my toe. Slowly I backed up and switched on the lights. There was a hairy spider almost as large as my hand. People have told me that it is not a tarantula, but it is a very scary looking creature. It too must have crawled in through the open window. I carefully removed one sandal and tried to swat it. I could not believe how fast it could climb up the tile wall. Then as I continued to swat at it, I found that it could also jump.
If I hadn't been half asleep, maybe I would have been too cautious to continue going after it. But then on the other hand I do not think I could have slept knowing that thing was crawling around in my apartment. I finally got it, but not before grabbing my camera and getting a picture to it. I also carried in my yard stick to show how big it was. After knocking it down and crunching it again with my sandal, I got some bug spray and finished him off. Oddly, I went right back to sleep, leaving the carcass to be carried out the following morning.
I have previously commented on how surprised I am, at the lack of insects here. Now I know that we not only have iguanas here eating them, but huge spiders as well. Yes, the window is still open Perhaps I like living dangerously. It seems that all my life I have tempted fate, but I am still here!
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There are a couple of huge mango trees, a couple of lime trees and some papaya trees as well. Unfortunately the area is completely walled in by ten foot brick walls. so I can't get to the fruit. There are iron gates at each end which would open on to the two streets, but they are always locked. One day I saw two kids somehow wiggle through the wrought iron gates into the property. One climbed the mango tree which must be 40 feet tall and either ;picked and threw down the fruit, or just knocked if off the branches.
It is all owned by the Rizo family who own my building as well as huge blocks of land all over the South Side (south of the River Caule). Rumor has it that they are property poor. They either won't sell, or ask too much money for the land. Some of it may be tied up in legal battles, as my apartment is actually owned by a woman who has been dead for ten years.
You may recall my story of the cat who ate my coffee cake from a few months ago. Now that summer is coming I have started leaving the guest bedroom window open for the cool breezes that waft down from the mountains. Yes, I am occasionally visited by one of the cats. I have not seen him (or her) but I periodically have to clean the dirty paw prints off the wall below the window. I could just close my door and turn on the air conditioning, but I am trying to keep my electric bill low. It has been running about 250 pesos a month (about $20.00) as opposed to the 7,000 bill I got at my previous apartment. Only a small animal could crawl through the wrought iron grill and the cats don't seem to do any damage anyway.
One night I got up to pee. I leave a small night light plugged in so in my sleep (or drunken condition) I don't miss the ten inch step going into my bathroom. I suddenly became aware of something black and large just a few inches from my toe. Slowly I backed up and switched on the lights. There was a hairy spider almost as large as my hand. People have told me that it is not a tarantula, but it is a very scary looking creature. It too must have crawled in through the open window. I carefully removed one sandal and tried to swat it. I could not believe how fast it could climb up the tile wall. Then as I continued to swat at it, I found that it could also jump.
If I hadn't been half asleep, maybe I would have been too cautious to continue going after it. But then on the other hand I do not think I could have slept knowing that thing was crawling around in my apartment. I finally got it, but not before grabbing my camera and getting a picture to it. I also carried in my yard stick to show how big it was. After knocking it down and crunching it again with my sandal, I got some bug spray and finished him off. Oddly, I went right back to sleep, leaving the carcass to be carried out the following morning.
I have previously commented on how surprised I am, at the lack of insects here. Now I know that we not only have iguanas here eating them, but huge spiders as well. Yes, the window is still open Perhaps I like living dangerously. It seems that all my life I have tempted fate, but I am still here!
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Tuesday, May 7, 2013
LA PARROQUIA DE LA SANTA CRUZ
As Mexican churches go, this one has to be the ugliest that I have ever seen. It looks more like a fire station house or a warehouse than a church, other than the fairly attractive Italianate bell tower. Who knows what the architect had in mind, or maybe it really was a fire house and they just added the tower to it. The interior looks more like a regular Mexican church with all the plaster sculpture along the walls, but even the alter is very plain. You have to picture it without all the flowers that were brought in just for the celebration.
Every church in Mexico has its own patron saint. My church's saint is Santa Cruz (who ever that may be) and is celebrated the first week of May (and what a celebration it is). About a week before, each morning I would find more carnival like kids rides being dropped on my street. Eventually the whole street was closed to traffic. It is a really Big Deal here (much to my chagrin and discomfort). It must have a large following for the church is packed to overflowing for each service every day (or maybe they are all the same people). They have celebrations all year (when those G.D. bells clang away), one was at 3:00 in the morning. I have no idea what it was about either. Sometimes there is a wedding. Only at very big wedding do they ring all the bells (it must depend on how much money they give the priest).
It started on a Friday night when I heard Indians drums beating. There was a group of people dressed in feathers and capes doing some sort of a dance outside the cathedral doors. Then they all marched in. What the Indian dancers had to do with the saint will remain another mystery. The next time a larger group lined up out side chanting and all carrying flowers. Then the Indians came back and did their dance before the service every night (lots of drums and noise). The Catholic Church in Mexico is a mixture of pagan rituals and superstitions.
Every night for seven days, the carnival rides were open. Directly below my balcony was the Ferris wheel. I actually enjoyed watching the kids on the dozen or so rides, even though many of them scream a lot. What really bothered me (other than the bells and cannon blast) was the loud speaker blasting away directly at my bedroom. I think they are supposed to cut it off at 11:00 at night, but they do not (sleeping pills help a lot). I was amused by the cotton candy man. He had what looked like a round barbeque with a gas jet in the center. Some how strings of candy are blown up through it. He just holds a stick over the hole and in a minute it is a big stick of cotton candy. Of course what misses the stick is just blown up into the air. You can just grab a piece, if you are so inclined.
The big day was the 3rd of May (I think the saint's birthday) which occurred on the following Friday. There were huge crowds in the streets and four blocks in both directions were blocked off. In front of the church they set up a strange looking edifice that looked like it was made of steel and bamboo. Later that night is sudden rose to a height of three stories. It was the fire works display. I invited two friends over to watch it and my what a night it was. All the bells going and the cannon blasts. Booths had bee n set up for blocks selling trinkets or food. (That is my friend Filipe in front of the food court). Also lots of little stands were set up for different types of gambling (no one cares here). We waited forever and finally some time after 11:00 at night they started the fireworks. The tower was rigged with spinning wheels that were set off one at a time. Then it finally reached to top and Roman candles went off into the sky. Sorry, but with my camera all I got was a big white blur for the final bust of fire.
The sparks and fire fell back into the crowds and actually ignited some dead vines growing on the roof of the restaurant across from the church. Bells, cannon blasts and rockets went on for a long time. It was nice being able to watch it all from three stories above the streets. The kids loved it. One night my favorite bar tender (and very good friend) Filipe, brought over his little boy. He is only 18 months old and quite a handful for the mother (whom Filipe never married). Another couple came with them and she too was pregnant, and unmarried. They often never marry the mothers of their children. Although I must say that Filipe is a wonderful father. He is also just an all around good guy. He has been a great help to me ever since I moved here. He helped with all my moves and handles things like translating with government agencies and utility companies. After little Ian had his fill of the rides they all came up for some beers. I am glad they were not here for the final night because the crowds were so huge and I think all the noise would have frightened little Ian.
The morning after the big night I awoke to find all the rides were gone. I guess it is easier to move them in the middle of the night with less traffic. Shortly a man arrived and swept up all the debris and you would never have known anything had gone on. It was entertaining, but if it went on all month, I would have to move. As it is I only have to put up with the constant bell ringing. A half hour before each service the bells ring 22 times. then fifteen minutes later 24 bells, and finally at the beginning of the service 26 bells. Do not ask why so many bells, no one knows. Much of Mexico is a mystery (maybe that is why I find living here so interesting).
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