• 30Dec

  Even bloggers take a holiday break!

  maz odds + ends, our new home 3 Comments

  It seems like a lot of the blogs I read have been sporadic in their postings for the last week or so. I took a bit of a break myself.

  But that doesn’t mean that nothing has been going on! So I thought this post could be a random one about odds and ends.

  Friends - We are really loving Mazatlan for the new friends we have met. Over the last couple of weeks we have had several dinners out with nice people, we’ve been to a party, celebrated Christmas dinner with neighbors and friends, and have had many random and wonderful interactions that will probably lead to even more friendships.

  Spanish - Paul has been taking Spanish classes for several weeks – two classes per week. He is learning a ton and people are commenting on how well he speaks. I really can’t believe the frequency of compliments he receives. I start classes in January with the same teacher. It is true that just living here you can’t help but have your Spanish improve but the discipline of classes will be just what I need to finally get out of the present tense.

  New Year’s traditions – Paul and I always like to spend New Years by ourselves…for me it is the best to start the new year with your spouse – to talk about goals and to toast the new year without a lot of craziness. I don’t know if we’ll do that tomorrow or not…there will without a doubt be a lot going on in Centro if we want to just walk out the door. But I plan on sweeping the dirt out the front door and wearing maybe both red AND yellow underwear just to go along with tradition. We’ll probably skip walking the suitcase out and back in because we are happy to stay right here for now! (red underwear is for love and yellow is for money) I was going to buy grapes today so that we could make our twelve wishes but unfortunately they didn’t look very good so I passed.

  Weather - I would have never believed that I would comment that I was freezing when it was sixty degrees! But “frente frio No. 18″ has been a cold one. It has warmed up most days into the low 70’s, but once the sun is down the temperature drops into the 50’s-60’s. Our houses are concrete and brick, and our house doesn’t even have windows in a couple of rooms so the breeze whips through. And no, our house doesn’t have a heater! I tried to buy an extra blanket over the last couple of days as I went from store to store and there are just no “regular” blankets to be had. They are all puffy sort of bedspread things – why is that? Locals say it has never been this cold here.

  Tourists - The beach is a popular place to spend Christmas/New Years holidays, and we have noticed that most of the tourists in town are Mexican. It gives a different feel to all the tourist spots. There are lots of out of state license plates.

  House Projects – The courtyard is still ALMOST done. We got caught in the Christmas/New Years slowdown but the only things left to do are little punch list things. We absolutely love the courtyard, and as soon as we feel ready to take pictures will post the last set. The interior painting is done, and wonderful. We were pretty nervous about some of our color choices, but we should have trusted ourselves because they turned out great. I’ll post pictures of those soon, too.

  House cleaning – Construction projects mean dust and dirt tracked throughout the house. Mainly by the dust drifting throughout our mostly open house but also by the dogs and us as we move through rooms that were a mess. So with the end of these projects came cleaning! I have vacuumed and mopped a couple of times but we really kicked ass today! I vacuumed the whole house and mopped top to bottom. Paul hosed down the courtyard and back yard, swept the garage and mopped the laundry room. Now we can actually walk around without leaving dusty footprints everywhere.

  Small victories – We installed a wireless doorbell at the front gate. I know, it only took ten minutes so why did we wait so long? Now we can close our front doors if we want privacy or to cut down on dust coming off the street. We had to keep the doors open so we could hear people call out when the came over. Sheesh.

  Happy surprise – I noticed my pants were a little loose and found I had lost 8 pounds in the three months we’ve been here. We walk a lot more, and I have basically quit snacking, but still I was surprised. And happy!

  What’s up next – We expect our dining room table and chairs and a bookcase/desk to arrive next week. We’re going to get going (that’s the royal WE) repairing some exterior concrete problems and repaint the outside. And we hope to get to the tile store to select some tile for a couple of places in the kitchen.

  But the most important thing up next is that it will be a new year! Have a great holiday, everyone, and see you in 2008!

  
• 22Dec

  Just about done!

  maz house 3 Comments

  
  We are very near the end of both our courtyard project and the interior painting. So, we asked the architect a couple of weeks ago what day and time would be good for an end-of-project thank you party. He said yesterday (Friday) at 5 pm would be good.

  The work that remains to be done is a bit of painting and the final fix-up of the planting beds. Also the electrician needs to put in the lights in the planter and complete the wiring for the fountain. The cantera stone fountain is also missing one part of the outside rim. So as you can tell, there is enough to keep people busy today (Saturday.)

  The bummer was that the guys had really done everything they could by about 3 pm. Then they busied themselves sweeping again and again and even watering plants in the back yard! It was pretty deadly, since we had arranged for carne asada tacos and more to be ready at 4:30. Sheesh! They wandered around, we wandered around, and FINALLY the food was ready!

  We started in with the beer around 4 pm, and Paul and I worried that the food we ordered to feed 20 would be 4 times too much. As the project wound down, fewer and fewer guys were necessary every day. But the beer and some music got the festive atmosphere started and when it got closer to 5 a lot of the other guys who had worked here most of the time arrived, along with the landscapers, a painter, and the electricians.

  The food was wonderful. Carne asada both plain and with a bunch of other stuff, (4 kilos total), rice, refried beans, tortillas and salsas. I cut up fruit and jicama and cucumbers and limes. When all was said and done we have just enough to offer to Marco the interior painter for lunch today, as he wasn’t able to make the party.

  I put together some sentences I wanted to convey to the guys and wrote them out on paper. (I got some assistance from my son Adam with the wording) So in the middle of the meal I cleared my throat and told them how much I appreciated their talent, their attention to detail, and the way they worked as a team. I also said some other stuff, but not too much.

  The picture above was taken before everyone had arrived…I was embarrassed to take any more pictures as the evening went on, but it was a milestone for us – figuring out how to show our appreciation in keeping with local tradition but still being ourselves.

  
• 21Dec

  It’s personal here

  maz people, our new life 4 Comments

  I read an article yesterday about a coffee shop in Washington State where many people chose to pay for the vehicle behind them in the drive through lane. It got a lot of attention as a “good news” item.

  I think most people are kind – and most enjoy doing nice things for others. Paying for the person behind you is a very nice thing to do. Unexpected generosity is wonderful. I wholly endorse the idea.

  But.

  You knew there had to be a But, didn’t you?

  I think the thing I really love about Mexico is that it is personal and face to face.

  Examples:

  There is a lot of fast food here, but it is cut up fruit in a cup, tacos, baked potatoes, tortas, liquados, etc. You’re not issued a number. You stand there and talk to the people as they make the food and inquire as to your choice of salsas or whatever to go with it. I should mention when we were at the Papas Locos (Crazy Potatoes) place on Zaragoza that cars pull up in the left lane next to the cart…order through their window…and chat with the owners as their food is made. They just put on their blinkers and people drive around them. No problem.

  At the end of a construction project (today for us) you buy carnitas or tacos and beer and coke and have a celebration meal with the construction crew. You stand around talking (and for us that is still tough) and face to face tell them all that you appreciate what their excellent work means to you.

  I can’t really think of more examples this morning – but I think you get the idea. I like the face to face way of life and am happy that I no longer go to a drive through for any of my transactions…and if I give to people it is also face to face.

  

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