Domingo 18 - Sabado 24 Noviembre 2012. (Dom 18th) Sunday was rather
slow around here. More small projects about the house. Dark cool
day. Temperature here seems cool when not above 75ºF during the day time,
although we are not complaining, considering that daytime temps in
Anacortes now are 20º to 30ºF lower than this. Most days this week
were cloudy with some rain and some sun. Has not kept us quietly
indoors though.
(Lun 19th) Looked out the
kitchen window this morning and saw a family with a young boy all
decked out in his straw hat, toy rifle and fake beard. Children get
dressed up for today's Revolution Day celebration. Girls wear
special dresses typical of 100 years ago. We put pictures of them in
last year's blog. Actually we walked into town later, only to
discover that we were there either too late or too early for the
formal celebration in front of city hall. Town was pretty empty.
Wonder when we will ever get the proper timing for special events.
It was easier last winter when we lived but a couple blocks town
center, the park, in our little apartment, where we could hear the
happenings in town, usually accompanied by music or some loud
announcements on the city's p/a system.
We walked home past the floral market
stalls. At the first stall we bargained a bit for a large fuchsia,
and the owner lowered the price to 50 instead of 60 pesos; we said
we'd come back. We walked on to check out the other stalls. Found a
large pot with three plants of verbena and one other plant, for 60
pesos. In the next stall was a large hanging petunia, but the shop
was closed. At another shop we decided to buy one other fuchsia,
which needs to expand yet, and the sales lady said 60 pesos for it.
Carmen gave her unhappy look as Dan spoke to the clerk, so we took it
for 50 pesos. Then, when we got back to first shop for the large
fuchsia, another person, a young man, was tending shop, and he would
not sell the plant for less than the 60 pesos, so we walked home
without it. Total spent today, 110 pesos or $8.36 US. We had heard
that plants were really expensive here, but instead found them to be
maybe half the US price.
(Mar 20th) This day we
walked back into town again to go to hardware and pay our water and
electricity bills. Did not take the camera, knowing that the holiday
was celebrated the previous day, so there would be nothing happening
this day. Wrong again. Blocks and blocks (at least ten) of children
from all the local schools parading in their school uniforms. Some
with marching bands. Some in outfits of years gone by. Some doing
acts along the way. Thankful that we got to see this.
We did in fact pay our bills today.
The electric company could not explain why our bill had not been
delivered to us. Should come every two months. Cost about US$22 for
two months for all the time we have owned the house now, since
mid-July. Our water bill is another story. We had received a notice
with our bill, telling us that we could get 10% off the bill by
paying in advance for a the full year ahead. We planned to do this.
However, when Dan talked to the clerk, he asked what we needed to do
to qualify for the other special rate, for retired people. The clerk
asked to see our proof (a copy of Dan's INM card was sufficient),
and then gave us 50% off for paying now for the coming year. Our
water and sewer therefore cost us a whole US$1.25 US per month for
now until the end of 2013, paid in advance.
Again we walked past the florerías at Fortín's in-town floral market. This time we bought the large fuchsia for 50 pesos, plus three good sized petunias for 60 pesos from the little lady who sold us the verbena. Walked on home and took Gardi out front with us, and Carmen planted all flowers, while Dan worked on a panel to hide the cat potty box, to put in front of the fireplace where the box sits. Gardi managed to pull hard on his leash and his breakaway collar pulled apart. Time for a new one. We hung the plants from the beams along the front porch outer edge. They make us feel even more at home.
Carmen got brave again, and answered
the door bell. Was a small boy, selling some homemade food. Carmen
explained that she did not speak Spanish, and no gracias. He
piped up and told her that was okay, he spoke English!
(Mie 21st) Dan drove us
into Córdoba today. We drove on some cobblestoned streets. Not too
many of those here in this city, but we have seen many further west,
especially in the towns that are preserved as colonial cities.
First we stopped by Walmart and did
some quick shopping. Next went to the IMSS clinic for Dan to pick up
the results of last week's ultrasound. It wasn't in the office where
he could have gotten it the next day, after the test, and they sent
him to various offices with no luck finding it. After waiting in the
jefe's office a while, he excused himself, explaining that he had to
get Carmen to an appointment and he would return later.
On we went to the dentist to do a root
canal for Carmen. The endodontist's opinion was that a root canal
would not be the best treatment in this case, but that an extraction
was called for. Another dental surgeon for mouth rehabilitation was
recommended, but two blocks away and after a phone call, we were able
to get in with him in an hour. Though only two blocks, we thought it
best to drive, in case Carmen was feeling bad when leaving. We were
expecting this tooth to be pulled after a three weeks of antibiotics
not totally working.
We walked into Dr. Augusto Soley's
office and what a surprise we had. The dentist was a tall good
looking happily smiling black man. We had guessed that he might be
from Panama since he looks typical of peoples there, and also he had
some handicraft from the San Blas Islands on the wall of his waiting
room. Black people are relatively rare here. Dan explained that
Carmen did not speak Spanish, and Dr. Soley smiled and said, in
English, that was okay since he could manage in English. Carmen was
very happy with this turn of events. He is from Panama, got
his dentistry degree in Puebla and married a mexicana he met while he
was in dental school.
After a thorough exam, he had time to
take impressions for a bridge with two crowns that will replace the
tooth. Also there is too little bone to safely put an implant in,
which was also the reason that the root canal and crown process
wouldn't have worked. One of the problems with scleroderma is bone
loss in the jaw. Will take two more appointments to finalize this
process, and no time without a visible tooth there. The doctor took
time to explain it all very thoroughly, along with restoration
process images on his computer of other procedures that he has done.
Most enjoyably interesting man to talk to. The implant Carmen had a
year ago in US took a full year and the cost was six times what it
would have cost here.
We have checked several places for cat
collars today, with no luck. Compared to dogs, cats get short shrift
here. Stores typically have great selection of dog toys, dog treats,
leashes and collars, and yet the cat section just is only stocked
with basic food, and if one is lucky, some litter. For lunch we
stopped at the chinese buffet near Chedraui, and also bought a few
chinese paper lanterns to see if we can dress up our middle-of
the-ceiling bare bulbs. Turns out they only fit on the lights
suspended on wires, and not on the flat single bare bulb socket
ceiling fixture found in most of the downstairs rooms. Returning to
IMSS, we were happy to find they had located the test results, which
Dan picked up. One more stop, at Metalurve, for some plumbing
fittings, paint and masonry cutting wheels for the angle grinder.
The trip home on the boulevard (the road between Córdoba and Fortín)
was slow due to most lanes being closed due to repaving.
(Jue 22nd) Had to go into
town again to the ATM to start building up our cash for payment for
the dentist. Today we noticed a tall tree type bush, covered with
daisy-like flowers. Some of these bush-trees are white daisies and
some are yellow. We see new plants every time we walk. On our way
home we saw Josefina, Alex's mother. She was chatting with some
folks, where we were trying to get someones attention so that we
could pay for a pineapple we were holding. She sent the clerk over.
This really large pineapple, larger than we have seen sold in markets
back in mainland US, cost US$0.75. We walked a few paces down the
street with Josefina and then she crossed over, while we walked on
straight to check on our paint. Of course it was not here. Crossed
the street to see Josefina carrying her cooler plus dragging a well
constructed grocery cart along. We waited for her and helped her out
for a few blocks. She stopped at the supermarket and we came on
home. Nice to be able to help others.
Upon arriving home, we found our second
mail delivery waiting in our mail box. Took 28 days this time. Dan
spent the rest of today trying to straighten out credit card
companies, and a replacement on an HP computer monitor.
(Vie 23rd) Cosme was here
for some time. We thought he was just going to bring us some
fertilizer for the orchids, which is hard to find here. Nope! He
showed up with three more unusual orchids. Yes he did show us how to
care for orchids and anthuriums. Also he dug around our other plants
and highly fertilized them for us. Used all the fertilizer he
brought. He will come back next April and fertilize again. Carmen
told him in no uncertain terms that we would not buy any more orchids
from him. To which he replied that she had told him that she wanted
one of every type flower, so he was bringing us one of each type
orchid he had. Hmmph.
(Sab 24th) Got a call and
an email from Frank at 7:30am saying they were going to their cabin
on the mountain near Coscomatepec this day or Sunday, and would we
like to go along? Could not be today because of dental appointment,
but we'd love to go Sunday.
Carmen spent a couple hours in the most
comfortable dental chair, having teeth prepped for the big pull next
week. Two side teeth were ground to take the bridge. Dan spent a
moment in the chair also – just to let the dentist take a look at
something he might get done. On the drive home, we shopped at
Walmart. Also stopped at Metalurve, one of the few hardware stores
one can browse around pulling purchases from the shelves into your
shopping cart. Home Depot, when it opens soon, will be some
competition.
