Domingo 07 – Sabado 13 Oct 2012. (Sun 07th) Big laundry
today, since there will be none done tomorrow, since our moving van
load from the US is to be delivered. We also included the curtains
found in the laundry building (cuarto de servicio), which can
be adapted to go over kitchen windows. Carmen thinks she might use
some of the colorful cloth purchased for pillow covers, in the US,
along with this white, for the kitchen. Dan is seeming doubtful.
The kitchen window is made up of four framed panes. The center two slide
sideways and meet together in the middle; the outer two are fixed.
Now seems as if the center two would look quite chipper with cafe
curtains in cheerful yellow flowers. All other curtains that came
with the house downstairs are white of a muslin texture (nothing
curtained upstairs, but the dowels that would hang them are there). Carmen
has gone outside at night to be sure nothing can be seen thru them.
She just can't believe her eyes. Nothing can be seen thru these
white curtains. How can that be? Once our sewing machine has been
unboxed, all the curtains in the house will be rebuilt to fit our new
way of hanging them. All the rest of the windows in the house hinge at the sides and join,
without a stile, in a lap joint at the center; a full width 1¼”
dowel along the window lintel held the curtains hanging down inside.
Opening the windows was difficult, since the curtain got in the way.
Dan came up with a way to mount 1/2” diameter curtain rod lengths,
held off each window frame with adapted plumbing elbows...so we can
open windows the way we like, without interference from the curtains,
which now ride on the hinged windows themselves.
We painted a coat of vinyl sealer
(sellador) and three coats of Comex white paint in laundry
room where the washer-dryer stack will be, and also in the living
room TV area. Again, like Anacortes, our house has all white walls.
While we do love the Mexican standard brightly colored walls, we just
apparently like white better, at least for inside. All the walls in
the house were other colors, but were painted white when the former
owner was trying the sell the place—the white, contrasted with all
the wood in the house, really felt good to us when we first saw it.
A brand new 3” paint brush fell totally apart (purchased in US,
perhaps made in China?). Big hunks of bristles just fell out! Never
saw that happen before, maybe the Mexican brushes will last longer?
While Carmen painted, Dan bustled about moving things about getting
ready for delivery. Also he printed off a copy of our packing list,
to use as a checklist
About 1pm Frank & Ania showed up to
help unpack. They thought our delivery was today. They invited us to
come over at 5pm, to play a board game or whatever. When we drove
over there, we found that Tim & Tamara, neighbors of F&A from
Coscomatepec, were also there. They have extensive avocado
plantation and farm product thing going. She is Mexican-German and
he is from New York state, and has lived here for 15 years. Probably
for Carmen, all spoke English, and the evening was spent in pleasant
conversation. Back home by 7:30pm. Hard to sleep with the
excitement of our goods being delivered the next morning.
(Mon 08th) Cloudy day. Dan
just knew that it would be pouring down rain when the movers arrived,
though after searching the sky from all directions from the second
floor windows, Carmen assured him it would clear off. Dan did not
believe her – but, she was right this time. We were tempted to
stay in bed til eight AM, but got up at seven, had breakfast, and low
and behold, the truck arrived at eight! Since we had been told they
would be here between nine and ten, we expected them about eleven –
since it is well known that Mexico time is always late. We had to do
some hustling...finish with dirty dishes, take clothes lines down, etc.
By the time they got the truck where they wanted it, we were huffing
and puffing, but ready. Three guys, Vicente, Mario & José Luís
were with the truck. We were mightily impressed with this crew. They
worked with us, unlike the crew in the US. Carmen checked everything
off her list and they checked it off theirs, as it came off the
truck. She told them - in español (yes, note the small 'e'), which
room to take the boxes to, and Dan was in the house directing and
carrying some if the items in. It was hard work for three guys
shifting the liftvan crates (7x7x4) around in the truck, since the
side door was too narrow and only one could be emptied at a time, and
had to be lined up with the single door. This truck had smaller
dimensions than the truck the liftvans were put onto at our Anacortes
house. They had been sent out with a hydraulic pallet jack on the
truck, but with no dolly or ramp! It slowed them down dealing with
the unnumbered and duplicate numbers on many items, and they
expressed frustration with the US team had which been sloppy with its
work. We did give them cold beverages a couple times. We offered
beers when the job was finished but they all refused and went with
water or pop. Nor did they smoke (all three on the US crew did, and
smoking breaks ate up some work time). They were here at 8AM, and
pulled out at 12:45PM with no breaks. As each liftvan, which by
itself weighed 300 pounds or so, was emptied, they moved it from out
front of the house where they did the unloading, around the corner to
our backyard. We had moved our car out of there for this purpose,
and the five empty crates filled up the space with no room to put in
the car for the night. The plan is to use the plywood and 2x4s they
were constructed of.
Dan finished off the day with
unwrapping, and putting together the living room futon couches and
long table. Our furniture colors and material designs look really
good next to the stone wall. Carmen concentrated on starting to
unpack in the kitchen. Oh yes, we were exhausted by day's end.
(Tues 09th) Sore from
unloading previous day. Oh horrors, Dan found that the printer had
leaked inside its bag, inside the box, which apparently had not
ridden down here with the top side up. There was lots of
cleanup with Qtips and paper towels. Pretty much took the morning.
Wanted to send our ballots for the 06 November election by email,
using the scanner function on the printer, but found we could not
since the scan program is not on our netbook. Have to wait until the
office computer is set up. Hammer-drilled and inserted wood plugs
(taquetes) into the holes to mount the medicine cabinet in
lower lavatory. Dan found various tools he needed (wonderbar,
crowbar, etc.) and started taking apart two of the liftvans. Many
people stopped and asked the gringo if he had a use for the plywood
or would consider selling it. If so – they would like some. We
stacked the plywood, after denailing and destapling, on the front porch.
Carmen finished unpacking kitchen. Was almost dark by the time we
unpacked our smaller Sony LCD TV and watched “Lassie”
w/Peter O'Toole. Exhausted, and more sore.
(Wed 10th) Dan went out
back and disassembled two more crates. Really strenuous work. And
yes, the sun was in full swing. He left one up for outdoor temporary
staging/storage. We maneuvered the final liftvan so that there is
again room for laundry to be hung outside, and to park the Focus in
the backyard again. More itemss unpacked--Carmen is happy to see her
dustmop again. They do not seem to be sold here. Where to put
everything? Had we purchased everything down here instead of
bringing all our items in with the furniture, we at least would be
able to find a spot in the house for them as they came home with us
little by little. Who would think that we had so much, in spite of
leaving some behind? Of course we knew we had enough of everything
to last us another lifetime. Carmen blames Ania for bringing so much
kitchen stuff. Ania assured her that she would want everything she
had for the kitchen, that Carmen had planned to leave behind. So now
– where to find the appropriate spot for such things?
(Thu 11th) Took a needed
break from the unpacking chores and drove into Córdoba, stopping at
El Clavo and to buy some yellow carpenters glue. We had found this
before at Metalurve, but in containers that were waaaay too large for
our use. Then Walmart for cat litter (bought several brands this
time to see which Carmen preferred to clean up after it was used).
Kitties seem happy with all brands thankfully. Carmen does not like
the odor of her favorite brand, Scoop Away, as is available here, and
she has not found the un-perfumed type here yet. Also bought a four
foot mirror for the downstairs half bath door. No groceries here as
we knew we'd go on today to the Chedraui at Plaza Crystal mall.
Tried to find the Madera en Torno shop in east Córdoba hoping for
wood trim. We did encounter lots more one way streets and streets
being worked on and therefore blocked off, but we eventually located
the shop, in an otherwise residential area. But, no simple trim in
stock, just turned spindles and cabinet parts. Dan is doing great
learning how to maneuver on the streets in the city. Carmen is
learning how to read the street signs, and find the upcoming topes
and huecos (speedbumps and potholes) for Dan. We do make
quite a team.
At the Chedraui store we got some
fruit, vegetables and some good breads & cheeses. Found some
herb breads from their bakery, and some loaves with nuts and raisins.
Will definitely buy these again. The breads here in various
bakeries are so very good and varied – why bake? Actually Carmen's
homemade bread is different so she will still bake occasionally. We
found some delicious smoked Mexican cheese, plus a couple others that
we have not yet tried. It is good to know that we can spend more on
specialties here in this country, since it is overall less than half
the cost to live here. Prices are going up here, as in US. Today we
found that the eggs have gone from US$0.10 to 0.12 each, and the
meats have gone up to some now US$3.00 a pound, with fewer at US$2.59
a pound. This is true of all cuts of meats, unlike such varied
prices for cuts NoB. Also bought four sealable rolling bins that
will fit on shelves and perhaps under new queen bed frame we'll have
built later. Back too late to visit sheet metal shop, since it is
one of the many places that closes between 2-4. How do we know?
Yep, we got there during that time. Just never know which places
will be closed and which open. Best to assume all close for the two
hours, except Walmart and Chedraui of course, which are similar
stores. Bakeries seem not to close either, but of course, remember
that fresh baked goods here do not come out until afternoon. Home to
more unpacking. Finished up this day with a movie on TV. There
seems always to be something in English, if one browses the upper
channels carefully..
(Fri 12th) This morn Dan
cut up a sheet of plywood and built temporary shelves for tools along
wall of dining room, supported by some of those double-size milk
crates we brought. The 30+ sheets of 1/2” plywood we'll get from
the liftvans are not in the best condition, especially from the two
vans that seem to have been around the world a couple times. But
even cutting off the outside edges where they have been stapled and
nailed (some of which pulled thru in breaking them down), there will
be something useful from each piece. Dan then happily unpacked his
tools. Having the right tool at the right time is important to a
tool guy, and he can't really imagine making the move down here
without his collection, some of which would be hard to replace here.
As he has to have his tools nearby, so does Carmen feel about her
small appliances, cooking utensils and kitchen tools.
(Sat 13th) Walked into
town, stopping first at Frank's obra, but no one was there. Got
caught there by a short rain, and glad to have a roof over our heads.
Did pick up the lock that we had a key made for. We have had
several locks remade by a very good locksmith. Next we stopped by the
PintuSayer paint store, where we were told our order would not be
there for another week. It was coming in from Mexico City, since the
local distributor was out of what we had ordered. Walked home a
little damp, since it had been raining most of our time out and
everyplace in town does not have an overhang over the sidewalk. After
our mid-afternoon dinner, Dan drilled ¼ inch holes in the wall and
set taquetes to affix his desk structure to wall in office.
This is the homemade corner desk he had in Anacortes, taken apart and
shipped flat in pieces in the liftvans. Set up desktop and 2-drawer
file cabinets which provide some of the support. Carmen did more
unpacking. The unpacking is not the hard part. In fact it is rather
like Xmas. It is the finding a place to store everything that takes
patience and redoing several times to get it right. We are finding
out that Carmen is not the only impatient one in this family. But,
every day we make progress and this house is becoming more a home and
not a warehouse full of boxes.
