tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142310662024-03-07T15:52:59.006-07:00My Life in ChacalaThe writings of a year-round resident of Chacala about the day-to-day life in a small Mexican tourist and fishing beach village, in the state of Nayarit, Mexico. For photos and contact information about places to stay in Chacala, go to http://chacalabudgetrentals.blogspot.com. For other info about Chacala, go to http://chacalanayarit.blogspot.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger615125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-23622033168473472372009-01-13T00:01:00.001-07:002009-01-13T00:01:00.141-07:00Some last thoughtsWell this snuck up on me. I guess that is not to surprising as it is not something one happily looks forward to.<br /><br />Today is the day Andee found the strength to realize she needed help and got it. The day Andee's new friend looked at her and then looked at the stairs down from Andee's little house and said something like "there is no way I can get you down from here you are going to have do most of it." Andee pulled together the strength and marched down those stairs even though her body was failing her. Tomorrow is the day she realized that this was the end and she fought to stay in the little hospital and accept that end. This was woman that always found the strength needed when things when it was needed<br /><br />Yes she could also be a bitch (I am using her word here), headstrong, unwilling to change her mind, bigoted (mainly idiots and Gringos in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mexico</span>). She could hold a grudge like nobodies <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">business</span>. If she thought you where a fool you were cut off till you could prove yourself otherwise. She could say things that would cut you to the bone. She was good at figuring people out, it took time but she would get in there. Then if you pissed her off she could cut you down with just a few words.<br /><br />She would also open her home to those who needed her. Before me there were many children that she took in because there was no place else for them. I remember stories about them and in way I think of them as the older brothers and sisters that I never met. I have hear from a few since Andee died and hear a few more stories. I believe without her more than a few would not have made it or would have ended up even more messed up. Long before the Farm she helped run a facility for what we would now call <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">developmental</span> disabled kids in Florida. It almost killed how much she gave to those kids. Then she decided to have me, I won't go into detail but it was a very deliberate decision, with a focus that I wish other kids could have had. That same strength came into play and she made a life that surrounded me as I grew up. I think she gave up <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">allot</span> more than I will ever know to try and be the parent she wanted to be. Even in the end a cat found her that needed a home and Andee brought Gracie in.<br /><br />I say all the above as a reminder to all of us that Andee was a person with her good side and healthy bad side. Without both she would not have been the person I loved, some of you loved, and that pissed off <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">allot</span> of other people.<br /><br />In Andee's time in Mexico more and more of here <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">cognitive</span> facilities were slipping away. For me having grown up with her it was easy to see what she was losing even if others could not. I would have been sad or angry about this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">accept</span> for an odd thing. This was Andee are her happiest. I have come to think that this was the childhood that her never really felt she had. There she had no <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">responsibilities</span> that she did not choose, no need for much plans farther than the next part of the day. She was as free there as she had ever been I think. I wish to die so well when it comes.<br /><br />So remember her as the person that she was. Flawed in many ways. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Caring</span> of other with all her heart. Remember the good with the bad. I think that she would hate the memories to be a lie though incompleteness.<br /><br />I will leave the comments open for those that may wonder by.erikohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09463812280532352088noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-59272564148016203002009-01-12T23:27:00.007-07:002009-01-12T23:51:41.465-07:00A few pictures from the Spring eventThese are from the little event we had in Spokane this spring of 08. We snacked on the food other had brought. Someone brought pizza which made me laugh and realize it was the most appropriate thing that anyone could have brought besides the Cokes Those that wanted one had a glass bottle Coke from Mexico. In little groups we told stories about her. People meet each other for the first time and and were amazed at the breadth of the people there. Then we together said a few words of our feelings and memories. We did not dwell to long and thing that would have made here happy. Then we snacked some more. Think that even Andee would have enjoyed it. At least that there was some that she liked to eat.<br /><br />It went wonderfully. Plenty of people where there. It was a very happy event.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqtmYTyvWFJea-4WQekreRYrKZSUv7PPlGi8HBvrBMGEiavX_-ykE9q5XpuhBLvTCECbJKia9Kl7kkfmGiEMut3D2OFnQpB9iM5jPgg9TQg-t5GVXWeqtAd1d7Ww7_pZiG1OH/s1600-h/AndeeFarewell+026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqtmYTyvWFJea-4WQekreRYrKZSUv7PPlGi8HBvrBMGEiavX_-ykE9q5XpuhBLvTCECbJKia9Kl7kkfmGiEMut3D2OFnQpB9iM5jPgg9TQg-t5GVXWeqtAd1d7Ww7_pZiG1OH/s320/AndeeFarewell+026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290663534700828162" border="0" /></a><br />Some of the people and the some of the food<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8OPLlaSOvNN_HOZBol4TsCQEXv9zcw8VOi5gzOV6naI8Axl5JBx9Eoov_VVw5ljox_IM9WXkUKQ2PYd1KFGQwXcOQwnm7LmPJGrfdzS7_au_r5bJxCIBtcRQE0Z4atzsQ76e/s1600-h/AndeeFarewell+044.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8OPLlaSOvNN_HOZBol4TsCQEXv9zcw8VOi5gzOV6naI8Axl5JBx9Eoov_VVw5ljox_IM9WXkUKQ2PYd1KFGQwXcOQwnm7LmPJGrfdzS7_au_r5bJxCIBtcRQE0Z4atzsQ76e/s320/AndeeFarewell+044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290664041897285570" border="0" /></a><br />Some of the surviving Farm people<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcA18wXOS7d_nOoEUv2pNnRb4d-Og5_e2wSVt2I1v4j-xkJniUbKXQrzdBbVllZxp0U9PljV-ygIpz8jgHiS48NtFM-ZYKX-6FE13tkcdH-6svAOp3j22ltxBqYiLL1cthh509/s1600-h/AndeeFarewell+048.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcA18wXOS7d_nOoEUv2pNnRb4d-Og5_e2wSVt2I1v4j-xkJniUbKXQrzdBbVllZxp0U9PljV-ygIpz8jgHiS48NtFM-ZYKX-6FE13tkcdH-6svAOp3j22ltxBqYiLL1cthh509/s320/AndeeFarewell+048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290663751163945378" border="0" /></a><br />A flower from Russ and Dee's beautiful garden<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Photo credits to Russ<br /></div>erikohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09463812280532352088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-71329290476326443082008-06-01T21:03:00.001-06:002008-06-01T21:04:57.751-06:00Andee's farewell Saturday June 14th 1:00pmWell the time has come for those up north to say goodbye to Andee. In<br />many was this is for you all as I have had my say. What I would like<br />from this is for people to met up, have few snacks, tell some stories<br />and have enjoy the company. If others want add something else a I<br />pretty open to that. Just remember that Andee was a rather informal<br />person and in her last years came to require the truth from those<br />around her no rosy stories unless they are read roses.<br /><br />So here is the deal Russ and Dee, old friends, have volunteered their<br />house and weather bearing we will meet up at 1:00 for a bit of a<br />potluck.<br /><br />Here is what you can do:<br />-Well this is a potluck after all. What would Andee want to eat?<br />-Think if there is something that you would like to say.<br />-Plants not cut flowers. If you feel the need to bring flowers please<br />bring something that you can take home with you to plant.<br /><br />Here is what will be there:<br />-Some tables and chairs<br />-A couple of cases of real Mexican Coca Cola for a toast.<br />-Assorted picnic tableware<br />-me, Tom and Russ.<br /><br />Rough schedule:<br />1:00 People and can show up and snack/eat a bit<br />1:30 I'll make some introductions of the various areas of Andee's life if needed<br /> I'll say few things and then others can if they wish<br />2:00 Then people can chat for a while and eat some more.<br /><br />In the mean time I would ask you all to do something good for the kid,<br />cat or plant closest to you and have Coke.<br /><br />All of that said here is why I have not said anything about memorials.<br />We are each of us memorials for Andee. She effected each of us for<br />good or bad in many way and changed many of us. So we are each living<br />memorials of Andee just as those that we effect will be memorials for<br />us when we are gone, dead or just moved on to the next town or<br />country. This is a chance for celebrate Andee.<br /><br /><br />Contact me for the address and if you have any questionserikohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09463812280532352088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-12286470853624340502008-05-11T15:41:00.003-06:002008-05-11T15:51:21.265-06:00Mothers day<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mothers Day</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNv6YklahEg8MWVuitVfpSs9Nk8D2XYUbFgn0dUJ_OLsLK4Bds1pYZeRWz85E4vvy0kEMVg25pZv7PKfx2ep9xKYo2Wj0Lzbb0v0ws4gq7uMnldRwC55YvATGLdaxUWkrShVzx/s1600-h/lilac.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNv6YklahEg8MWVuitVfpSs9Nk8D2XYUbFgn0dUJ_OLsLK4Bds1pYZeRWz85E4vvy0kEMVg25pZv7PKfx2ep9xKYo2Wj0Lzbb0v0ws4gq7uMnldRwC55YvATGLdaxUWkrShVzx/s320/lilac.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199239116395823874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>erikohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09463812280532352088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-39009227937976890532008-04-07T22:31:00.003-06:002008-04-07T22:58:37.247-06:00Memorials and suchThere has been some talk floating about the ether about physical memorials for Andee. Things like tree's or trash cans for Chacala been talked about. I have stayed out of these discussion for a couple of reasons. The first is that these are the kinds of things people need to do when they lose someone and I am not going to begrudge them this (although my silence may have done this and for that I am sorry.) When Andee and I talked about this sort of thing of the years she was down in Mexico my basic understanding was that for Andee that once she was gone that was it. I do not think that she could have ever brought herself to understand the good effect that she had on others so she would have been surprised as the reaction her death got from those that knew her.<br /><br />All of that said here is why, while I am happy that people want to do things, I am not taking part in any of it. We are each of us memorials for Andee. She effected each of us for good or bad in many way and changed many of us. So we are each living memorials of Andee just as those that we effect will be memorials for us when we are gone, dead or just moved on to the next town or country. <br /><br />So I try to add a little fearlessness in to my day. Trying things that would have hesitated at before for fear of embarrassment or danger. This summer if things go well I will go sailing out of sight of land and this scares me but I did not even blink when given the opportunity. Andee was riding a bus through Mexico when someone said "Hey you should go to Chacala" and look what happened with that. So my memorial is to be better at saying "Yes, why not" when something new comes up. Maybe it is not reaching out for something new but it is a step in that direction. I hope that any one reads that might try to find the something in themselves.<br /><br />As to the June 14 event what I am things is some thing simple in the park or a back yard. A bit of a potluck (fruit salad is a must), some good Mexican Coke (the carbonated stuff in a bottle)<br />, some words from whom ever wants to say some (I do), and some interesting conversations and stories about Andee.<br /><br /><br />thanks for your timeerikohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09463812280532352088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-72457336930003708602008-02-17T20:55:00.002-07:002008-02-17T21:07:13.477-07:00Just a little updateI have been a bit quite as of late. I had a little accident washing dishes and sliced a finger open. Some stitches and glue fixed that but make typing interesting.<br /><br />Things that I have said that I will do and have not yet done:<br /><ul><li>print out pictures of Andee for the ladies in Chacala. At this point I think that I will use the Picture Bliss sent me. It is the only in the picture posting that did not note who it was from. Sorry Bliss.</li><li>Get together more details about the June 14th thing. <br /></li><li>Reply to a number or messages for people about Andee. Sorry about that you have written. It is odd I can dispassionately deal with all the rental ones with ease but for those that were closer it is hard for me to even read them. I will get back to you.</li><li>Scan Photos of a younger Andee and post them. I have started looking thought the picture books but she did a good job purging herself from them.</li><li>Scan the drawing that she did. <br /></li></ul>Next weekend I am going to one of my step brothers weddings (it is true both ways) so I won't be doing much of the above in the next week but I will get to it all.<br /><br />Thanks all for your thoughts.erikohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09463812280532352088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-85483837273542761912008-02-07T14:15:00.001-07:002008-02-08T00:35:35.184-07:00About Gracie UPDATED<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0pGdWE7mf8i7Pe6xRRMs5QBj5ShcM-HbDnn7I1gl5JCzXjZ3YeLx9G8SWdUEh3f7suloHs9jbOGEIbB-pV8C5jlUWckL3A4Xv0bRs448tBZzvrMZHSlxHcsmVh44QnCiApbN/s1600-h/IMG_0514.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0pGdWE7mf8i7Pe6xRRMs5QBj5ShcM-HbDnn7I1gl5JCzXjZ3YeLx9G8SWdUEh3f7suloHs9jbOGEIbB-pV8C5jlUWckL3A4Xv0bRs448tBZzvrMZHSlxHcsmVh44QnCiApbN/s320/IMG_0514.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164351167140721154" border="0" /></a>UPDATE: I have heard from Gracies new ownee (as Gracie is of course the owner) and she tells me that Gracie is happily co-existing with two red-footed tortioses and a godson.<br /><br /><br />Some people have been asking about Gracie, Andee's cat. Until now I did not have good news or really any news . I do now have good news to tell you. But first I need to tell you the full story of why I did not have any news.<br /><br />When ever I look at my cat (Putty) I think about Gracie. I knew there was noway I could have gotten her home. It was just too overwhelming. It was selfish of me but I had made the decision going in that I was going to try to take care of the people and that Gracie was going to lose. While I was there Tom and I feed Gracie the food that Andee have left and a couple of can of tune that we had picked up on the way up from PVR. We both knew that things were probably going to get bad for her and our unspoken goal was to fatten her up as much as we could. The morning that we left I did something that I felt bad bad about doing but it was all that I could do for Gracie at that point. I put the bag of food at in front of the of the American that had come at Andee's call for help and gotten her to the hospital. She had already done so much for Andee and here I was asking her to do more. I really felt bad about doing that but it was all I could do for Gracie. My little pathetic excuses were that Gracie did not like men very much and would only grudgingly come near me when I was there down there in October and that my cat hates the very concept of other cats existing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzp-IviezvVLsqmNDnf-oWYgvxb7AmjmIFMsjiaASV50COkqlYG1l0gPV-TWj9RAEdrMeOe6yx1bZ8hYwCGq0kuZrCygb3-CYHXHKFT683axRFWP8khc1De45TVN3b_c5ryZo/s1600-h/IMG_7386.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzp-IviezvVLsqmNDnf-oWYgvxb7AmjmIFMsjiaASV50COkqlYG1l0gPV-TWj9RAEdrMeOe6yx1bZ8hYwCGq0kuZrCygb3-CYHXHKFT683axRFWP8khc1De45TVN3b_c5ryZo/s320/IMG_7386.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164351394773987874" border="0" /></a>This weekend I got a message from this person with news about Gracie and I want to share it. I am going to quote it here.<br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;">A few days after you left to return home, two women moved in next door to me at my room in Aurora's. They were from Denver. I told them all about Andee, her transition, and of course introduced them to Gracie. We were going to walk to town together. "Okay," I said. "But I need to feed Gracie first. Come with me. You cn see where she lives. I only feed her back at her house because I hope it gives her some measure of comfort that at least one thing hasn't changed. She cries every night for Andee." As we walked over to Andee's to feed Gracie, we talked. The women said that they were from Denver. So am I! What a coincidence. Well, now that you have met Gracie, if I could make all the arrangements, would you be willing to take Gracie with you on the plane and deliver her to the woman who runs the Cat Care Society? </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">"Sure," they said. "The woman who runs it lives down the block from us." Okay, you're it! How long are you here? "We leave Chacala in two days, back to the states in three."</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">"From Vallarta? What airlines?"</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">"Frontier." </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">"I'll find you," I said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">I had to spend that night in a different town. I left the women a note on the bag of cat food and said, "Would you please feed Gracie tonight and tomorrow morning?"</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">When I got back the next afternoon, the women had left me a note of good-bye with the name of the hotel they would be at in Vallarta.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">I looked up the policy online for Frontier Airlines - traveling with a pet. They also addressed bringing home a pet from a foreign country. Airline approved pet carrier, health certificate and rabies certificate from a vet, ticket to ride.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">I drove to La Penita and found a carrier at a vet's office but he explained that he was not certified to issue a certificate of health. Probably in Vallarta, he said. The day was getting away from me. The women would be flying from Vallarta the next day. Time was getting short. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">God bless the internet. It took a few hours but I actually found a woman down in Los Ayalas who does animal rescue. I emailed her, beginning with, "I need help and FAST!" Of the many emails I sent out, she was the only person who responded with, "I can help. Call me ASAP. She called a vet she works with in Bucerias, 12 miles north of Vallarta, who agreed to see Gracie and me at 10 am the next morning, normally his day off. The women's flight was at 3, check in at 1pm.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">Gracie had been my constant companion all week so I wasn't worried about catching her. Getting her into the carrier was more challenging. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">At 8 the next morning, after two failed attempts at getting her into the carrier, I thought, "I need a strategy."</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">I walked down to the market and bought a can of tuna. I got Gracie to come into my bathroom in my room at Aurora's with the tuna and a little bowl of milk. I sat on the floor and talked to her and stayed close to her while she ate the tuna and drank her milk. Then I let her walk back outside, purposely ignoring her. I was hoping she would pee and poop. My target time to leave was 9am. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">About 5 mins of 9, Gracie wandered back into my room and into the bathroom to see if I had given her any more tuna. Bless you, Gracie, I thought. I shut the bathroom door, picked up Gracie and the carrier. Facing her away from the carrier so she couldn't see it coming, I gently backed her into it as I set it down on the floor. I'll never know if it was the tuna, the milk, facing backwards instead of forward march or just the vibe that this is it, Gracie, your one big shot at a new home so don't blow it, but Gracie was calm and cooperative about being inserted into the carrier. Off we went in the truck to el veterinario in Bucerias.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">A half hour of examination, one rabies shot, a little collar with a bell and one leash later, Gracie and I were on our way to the airport. I had not been in contact with the women since they had left Chacala but I had their flight information. When they arrived at the Frontier check-in counter, I was waiting. I held up the carrier with Gracie, who was curled up safely inside, her eyes wide as she watched all the commotion around her in the airport. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">"I knew you'd be here," one of the women said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">"You bet," I said, "I brought your cat!"</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">The women then said that they had talked about it and had decided NOT to take Gracie to the Cat Care Society and my heart just broke. Instead, they explained that they had fallen in love with her during their time at Aurora's and they were SO GLAD I had found them at the airport because they had decided that if I showed up with Gracie, it was meant to be and they would take her home to live with them. I waited in line with them, bought Gracie a ticket to her new home and said, "Bye, sweet Gracie. Andee is very happy for you." I drove back to Chacala and cried when I saw Gracie's little dish on my bathroom floor.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">I just thought you'd want to know. Gracie got a good home.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">Blessings,</span></p> Sandie<br /><br /><br />This took a huge load of mind that I had not fully realized was there. I had made plans for what to do with Andee's things when this time came but I just did not know what to do with the Gracie. So I hoped that as with a lot of other things that happened in this process that the universe would provide and something good would happen. This is not my normal way of dealing with things but it was all that I could do.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3ZkL5Cvg7ZYstYRtS7oazrjw05dZMcnJj4uI6Pito2_L9m-1pqN5KPptyV0KVqPfqUV9RQh1EAhwCzB_on8NLv6R6MMRLhPGYcZQRml3-RbFq69sgeWTc-z4IAeXOiVapWw6/s1600-h/IMG_1014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3ZkL5Cvg7ZYstYRtS7oazrjw05dZMcnJj4uI6Pito2_L9m-1pqN5KPptyV0KVqPfqUV9RQh1EAhwCzB_on8NLv6R6MMRLhPGYcZQRml3-RbFq69sgeWTc-z4IAeXOiVapWw6/s320/IMG_1014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164354976776712754" border="0" /></a>Gracie had one batch of kitten before Andee got her altered. She was very proud to have found homes for all the kittens. I just want to reach out and rub there little bellies.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></span>erikohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09463812280532352088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-44748781947040781242008-01-27T18:33:00.001-07:002008-01-27T18:41:21.752-07:00The June event planWell really not much of a plan but a start. The basics are:<br />June 14 (a Saturday)<br />Afternoon<br />In Spokane, WA<br />Potluck with a focus on desserts<br /><br />Undetermined:<br />Actual location (I need to investigate park permits)<br />What we will do.<br /> There is some talk of dedicating a tree<br /><br />What I need from you all is some numbers. Send me an email with "Invite" as the subject and the names a count people coming. eriko@jumpsuit.orgerikohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09463812280532352088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-57439652896048746172008-01-20T19:28:00.000-07:002008-01-21T22:35:48.349-07:00It's about time for some pictures I think<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-4fkmMt8dFSvXAN3QH4FadYFkc-uHA6Bmdu2jqW8pcEW8Vlcm7thG6PqDRR5dRbWDvgSfoiPfkb5AsUWmshQa4bL5oz8HJnA_4iCXKrZvBk_W18AQdwXmFlImmEXaeoB6WuV2w/s1600-h/Andee+tongue.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-4fkmMt8dFSvXAN3QH4FadYFkc-uHA6Bmdu2jqW8pcEW8Vlcm7thG6PqDRR5dRbWDvgSfoiPfkb5AsUWmshQa4bL5oz8HJnA_4iCXKrZvBk_W18AQdwXmFlImmEXaeoB6WuV2w/s400/Andee+tongue.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157675019137864322" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"> Andee at her finest. Expressing her opinions about pictures of her.<br />Photo by: <span style="font-style: italic;">Allen Hardman</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYZm2XySoD7PMazTQWRXzZlw0zA9qoSP3ZS_Icq57dhOF0nGjz0ojeZB2fhMEvyAmeT8zixYE7l7RJR6P1BHTti-Xp5KZ4mDIb02QN0yt86iDZrJS5ZFjx9B6AQMOZIfXa0HgUg/s1600-h/NewYears,Chacala,LasVaras+021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYZm2XySoD7PMazTQWRXzZlw0zA9qoSP3ZS_Icq57dhOF0nGjz0ojeZB2fhMEvyAmeT8zixYE7l7RJR6P1BHTti-Xp5KZ4mDIb02QN0yt86iDZrJS5ZFjx9B6AQMOZIfXa0HgUg/s400/NewYears,Chacala,LasVaras+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157776474855330466" border="0" /></a>Photo by: <span style="font-style: italic;">Robert Quallie</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6lSNDQhcjHbxTqo1PRvSopaw-k4L6LeitFUhlPNJdLgE5YoNLWcgVqfglyHH1vF9Xg9ipPrI9uwEjaCH-LErN7ez2lLvD1pL8mBHkT0w2PdP7PcuYgRpQQAtJAGZi2SA8rhcxQ/s1600-h/DSCF0266.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6lSNDQhcjHbxTqo1PRvSopaw-k4L6LeitFUhlPNJdLgE5YoNLWcgVqfglyHH1vF9Xg9ipPrI9uwEjaCH-LErN7ez2lLvD1pL8mBHkT0w2PdP7PcuYgRpQQAtJAGZi2SA8rhcxQ/s400/DSCF0266.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157773769025933970" border="0" /></a>Photo by<br /><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><i>Roger G. Iverson</i></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><i>"</i></span>This picture was from Feb. 2005 one evening waiting for the sunset. As she refused to have her picture taken, I had to sneak this shot."</p><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfFz2hcXVa8KDC1bEqjPAhMFGF4Xgnhyphenhyphen_6h2HOvfQhToSLTOKH_acMff3DjzEwU70WECf01Djnm6mSslOBgpeuq9rIZu_QjXa1I7_iufHWvy5Q1H9Tz6zhLP3XnkLan8leLIxzw/s1600-h/Andee+in+street.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfFz2hcXVa8KDC1bEqjPAhMFGF4Xgnhyphenhyphen_6h2HOvfQhToSLTOKH_acMff3DjzEwU70WECf01Djnm6mSslOBgpeuq9rIZu_QjXa1I7_iufHWvy5Q1H9Tz6zhLP3XnkLan8leLIxzw/s400/Andee+in+street.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157674168734339682" border="0" /></a><br />Photo by: Diana & David</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lEX6PAp_tdFBoARXcCq1N5qd3hn7csoEEpqg2e71VlQmV7uz0v0-yzKXkSATV6ePolaqVQy_exyhclBzmLEk6J2v6gVc3hxWiG-aJy-lwYdBCibATWSTiPAMYp8QC23jh6rcPQ/s1600-h/20040116+chacala+%2819%29+andee.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lEX6PAp_tdFBoARXcCq1N5qd3hn7csoEEpqg2e71VlQmV7uz0v0-yzKXkSATV6ePolaqVQy_exyhclBzmLEk6J2v6gVc3hxWiG-aJy-lwYdBCibATWSTiPAMYp8QC23jh6rcPQ/s400/20040116+chacala+%2819%29+andee.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157674005525582418" border="0" /></a>Photo by: Diana & David<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGD57eUxzo8cQq5jdoSu0Cecg66Iy3RF3RROzGlZZVSjuTlqoY9tmHAUyO1nWebRe6eUBYQ5lj7QbjdDZ77P3G3pn5_9CVx1BKdj5QezwqlNAtaTWqTQtr6HI06yJytanr2B58/s1600-h/Mexico+218.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGD57eUxzo8cQq5jdoSu0Cecg66Iy3RF3RROzGlZZVSjuTlqoY9tmHAUyO1nWebRe6eUBYQ5lj7QbjdDZ77P3G3pn5_9CVx1BKdj5QezwqlNAtaTWqTQtr6HI06yJytanr2B58/s320/Mexico+218.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157951575706904658" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Taken March 2006<br />Photo by: Daly Mike</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As I have been collecting these pictures of her I frequently hear how many were sneaked or the result of her being cornered and unable to disappear. I do not think she every saw the light and life that shown through these pictures. I have older pictures, I think, of her in the things she gave be when she left for Mexico. Unless she removed her self for those also. I will post what I can fine this week.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-17821001918042238662008-01-20T13:27:00.000-07:002008-01-20T14:27:43.193-07:00Thank youI would like to publicly thank all those that have helped me in the last week. I will miss some of you that helpd and some of you I will never know that you did help. Some of you I did not know your names or they have disappeared in to the fog. Know that your actions are appreciated.<br /><br />There is no order to this list. Each and everyone has been important to me getting through this.<br /><br />Tom for with out a thought on hearing said get us tickets. For doing the hard work of cleaning out Andee's home and distributing her things. I know this must have been hard for because he needs to grieve to. His support made it possible for me to get things done. He is still grieving and one of my great regrets is that I do not really know how to help him do this.<br /><br />Russ and Dee for there support when I called them. I am sorry to say that I will be leaning on them once again come June.<br /><br />Bill and family for being to one to call me with the news. That it came from a voice that recognized meant so much. I have always feared getting that call. For picking up and dropping us of at the airport so that there was never a worry about how we were going to get there.<br /><br />The man at the funeral home that delivered her ashes to me at 11pm when I go to Chacala. For driving me to all the places that I needed to go and get the magic stamps and signatures so that I could get Andee's ashes back out here.<br /><br />They the man who explained that the town was not used to cremation and that they need some sort physical presence of her. This lead to my spreading some of her ashed in the water off of the beach that she loved. Now they can always she her there.<br /><br />Kate for keeping me updated on that monday about what was going on down there. For taking it in stride when I asked about funeral issues and understanding what I needed done. Most of all for translating for me so that I could tell those that I could otherwise only communicated with via tears the deepness on my thanks.<br /><br />Sandy for responding to Andee's call for help and getting her where she needed to be and staying with her a the hospital. It says something about each of them that they had only know each other for 11 days.<br /><br />Concha and Aurora because of them Andee did not die alone. She died with friends. For this alone I am in their debt. They also helped the town grieve for her by organizing a service for her. This was something that I was worried that I did know how to do. <br /><br />There are many other's some who lent me a shoulder to cry on, some who helped me take care of electronic details and other things. Those that have written to me about Andee and those that have posted wonderful stories about her. I have only begun to read these as it is hard for me.<br /><br />After I had got the call and had made the arrangements to get down to Chacala I had to leave the house to get keys made so that someone could come and take care of my cat. I leave the stereo on when I am gone to keep the cat company ( it's warm, she sits on it, it is her friend) a song by an Artist called Piney Gir came on called "Little Doggie". The artists has a link on her site where you can hear the song at <a href="http://www.pineygir.com/music">Piney Gir</a>. If you click the play link next to the track about half way down the page you can hear the song. I lay on the floor crying with my cat for quite a while after that. Yet another stranger who's kindness carries me though this even now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-8945267548372733522008-01-17T12:47:00.001-07:002008-01-20T23:47:24.042-07:00Thank for all the notesI have replied to some but it burning me out. I can only cry so much. If you do not hear back from be please know that I am reading everything but that I probably will not reply.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-9219136400270978162008-01-17T05:33:00.001-07:002008-01-17T06:31:02.150-07:00Just to let you knowFor probably some of the same reasons that Andee posted I feel the need to keep everyone updated about what is going on at day +3. As I write this it is about 72 hours since Andee's end. <br /><br />When she moved down to Chacala we knew that this is where her last moments would be. We did not know when it would be or what they would be like but this is where it would happen. The people that were with her in the end were friends both that had know her for years and some that she had meet days before. I am grateful that they were there and have told them so. They have told me directly and through my father of her last moments. As described I can only think that in the end she first fought the darkness and then choose to except on her on terms in the end. Accepting on her terms sound a lot like my Mother.<br /><br />After she died, as is traditional here, her friends stayed with the body till she was taken to the crematorium. Some one has commented that it seemed like the entire town of Chacala showed un Las Varas where she was. That would not would not surprise she was truly love here in her adopted home. They then held a church service for her. I am told it was beautiful but there are no pictures as everyone was so used to Andee being there for every important moment to take the picture that no one thought bring a camera. This is yet another whole that Andee will leave in the world. Andee would have loved the service were she not the focus of it. When I arrived I went to see the flowers and it was beautiful.<br /><br />Andee had left it to me what was to happen after her death. At that point she would not need her body any more and it was more important to take care of those that were still alive. I had discussed with her my plans for her the last time I was down here in October. My plan is/was to spread some of her ashes in the water at places that were significant to her in mine and others opinions. It is to my great embarrassment that Chacala it's was not initially one of those places. I can not imagine how I could do that. This is the most significant place in her life. This is where I think that she came closest to be at peace with herself. <br /><br />This morning I will go out on fishing boat and place some of the ashes in the water were they will continue to traveling on. Later in the afternoon I walk into the water at the beach and at some of her to the beach so that those that live here have a place stand and look and know that some part of her is still here. After that that want can sit around a have coke or a beer and eat chips and salsa. <br /><br />The rest of her ashes will be spread by myself and Tom in various other locations in the states. Sometimes after a gathering and sometimes just one or both of us. When there is an event I will post and let others know. <br /><br />Right now the stars are fading and and sun is casting it's light from behind me as I look out over the town and to the beach. The roosters have been crowing for a few hours and the town is slowly waking up. I know Andee will be missed by the people here and everywhere. I am sad that everyone did not have the chance to say good by to her that I did. Every time I came was just one more chance to say to say goodbye knowing that this could be the last time. Each was an extra visit that was precious because she could have easily already been gone. In October it was that last time. I will miss her. We will miss her. <br /><br />Remember this was her paradise and she got spend here last days, years. finding peace and happiness in herself. As I have said before what more could we wish for our self.<br /><br />Take care of yourself and in the mean time I would ask you all to do something good for the kid, cat or plant closest to you and have Coke. I think that she would like that.erikohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09463812280532352088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-16378030888570682802008-01-16T17:51:00.000-07:002008-01-16T17:54:51.345-07:00Sad News about Andee CarlssonHi I am Erik Ordway, Andee's son. This Sunday Andee passed away, most likely from a stroke. There, the easy part is over. <br /><br />I sent this out as an email this on Monday after I personally notified a the people that I could. I will try to find others to send this too but I would ask you to send it on to anyone that you think I missed.<br /><br />We should not feel to much sadness at this ending. We should fell happiness that Andee got to spend extra years, that she did not expect to be living, in what was to her a little paradise. She had many friends in the town, Chacala, and meet and gained friends for all over the world. Over the years Andee has touched and helped many of us in our lives. As I said to her more that once "I am who I am because of you and I am pretty happy with that." She tried to do good things to the world whether that was the glorious plants, the work she did with those that needed help, and just the people around her. <br /><br />Andee was a private person about her difficulties but I think that at this point she would want it known why she moved down to Mexico, if she did not well I am sure she would have forgiven me. For a few years before she left, to Mexico, she was having issues with her memory and this drove her find a place that she could live and not be to burdened by this. Chacala provided this place for her and allowed her to live her last years as had she wanted. We should all be so lucky.<br /><br />I will be traveling down to Mexico tomorrow (Tuesday) to take care of things. Tom my father and her ex-husband will be traveling with me. Andee largely left it up to me with what to do with her remains and I had discussed my plans with her on my trips down there. She will be cremated and we will spread some of the ashes there in Chacala. I also plan to spread some in a few locations in eastern Washington in the spring, some time around late June. <br /><br />As to celebrations we all know Andee would not want a big fuss to be made, we had to sneak birthdays parties on her after all. I do hope to arrange something for June when I spread the last of her ashes. I do not know what this will be or where but I will let people know. In the mean time I would ask you all to do something good for the kid, cat or plant closest to you and have Coke. I think that she would like that.<br /><br /><br /><br />To all of her blogger friends I will be updating her blogs in the next few days to let every one know. I plan to leave most of them online.<br /><br /><br />I can be reached at eriko@jumpsuit.org.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-52919522716550149342008-01-07T21:00:00.000-07:002008-01-07T20:06:29.772-07:00Renting in Chacala: Vacation and Long-term<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGzFvcdlOmOJ9ICMrc6jfl1aw1NsR584-fpbEIeVA7exN27Nrk_hK-iNtSe0erI41lybL8nCaAwgiqL1dfZuISVXEmmZwCB-GtOPL6OZLlGLu5Lp6jcz6ppWrMdt2lWRc64IU/s1600-h/aabeach.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119080219036923122" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGzFvcdlOmOJ9ICMrc6jfl1aw1NsR584-fpbEIeVA7exN27Nrk_hK-iNtSe0erI41lybL8nCaAwgiqL1dfZuISVXEmmZwCB-GtOPL6OZLlGLu5Lp6jcz6ppWrMdt2lWRc64IU/s400/aabeach.jpg" border="0" /></a>If you are thinking about coming to Chacala, you can check out these websites for rental info:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://chacalabudgetrentals.blogspot.com/">Chacala Rentals</a><br /><a href="http://www.chacalaescape.com/">Chacala Escape</a><br /><a href="http://www.majahua.com/">Majahua</a><br /><a href="http://www.casamonarca.com/">Casa Monarca</a><br /><a href="http://www.villacelestechacala.com/">Villa Celeste</a><br /><a href="http://www.casachacala.com/">Casa Chacala</a>.<br />There are other rentals with websites in Chacala.<br />Just Google "Chacala" "Rentals".<br />And this one for info about getting from the P.V. airport to Chacala. <a href="http://chacalanayarit.blogspot.com/">Chacala Nayarit.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-64789335171512487652008-01-04T16:49:00.000-07:002008-01-05T14:29:06.507-07:00Latin American Bloggers Get Together<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">The authors of two gringo in Mexico type blogs,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">Isla Guy, ( islagringo@yahoo.com )</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;"> and Canuck in Cancun ( cancuncanuck@hotmail.com)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;"> posted this announcement today:</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Announcing the first ever Latin America Blogger Meeting!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My friend and fellow blogger, CancunCanuck, and I (Isla Guy)invite all of you bloggers in Latin America to join us for a weekend of fun and chat here on Isla Mujeres! (yes, this does include Caye Caulker</span><span style="font-style: italic;">r and a certain La Gringa in Honduras!)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We are in the beginning planning stages but right now we think there will be a meet and greet reception on Friday, sightseeing, time at the beach, dinner and drinks (and maybe dancing!) on Saturday. There would be a farewell breakfast on Sunday for those of you that can bear to leave the island!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The proposed dates are April 17 - 19, 2008.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If anybody needs help with booking hotel rooms, just let me know. I will be glad to provide information on various hotels in all price ranges. I might even be able to swing a group discount if you all decide to stay at the same place.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">So shoot me an email if you are interested and I will keep you advised as to further details. As the RSVP’s come in, I will list on the sidebar who will be attending.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If you know of any bloggers who do not read one of our blogs, please pass the word on to them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Although this is more for we bloggers to get to know each other, lurkers are welcome too!<br /><br />sounds like fun to me.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-42595019010412444162008-01-04T10:52:00.000-07:002008-01-04T16:29:39.462-07:00Sand Castles in ChacalaTonight an old Chacala friend arrived late in the evening. Via Trini & Cundo’s airport pickup. I wasn’t sure what time she was arriving, so I spent the early evening hanging around with some of the folks staying the Nueva Espana, watching for her arrival. Nueva Espana is a nice rental right across the way from Mirador, where my friend will be staying for two months.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQG4one9XNK7MsKM5MeOZaOmhMiuJzT-RYb7dstb_Q74HPv1P4rsF29JvKZuzzwyO7nswuZ4wIoLd-z_uN2zc2wF2S3Eou9tTSIzpt7XLTb6M2-7-uJgAEIO5zoqdXVxD48G-rg/s1600-h/sandcastle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQG4one9XNK7MsKM5MeOZaOmhMiuJzT-RYb7dstb_Q74HPv1P4rsF29JvKZuzzwyO7nswuZ4wIoLd-z_uN2zc2wF2S3Eou9tTSIzpt7XLTb6M2-7-uJgAEIO5zoqdXVxD48G-rg/s400/sandcastle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151684381573534194" border="0" /></a>“Chacala friend” means someone I only know in Chacala. This woman has been here two years previously, but this is her first time solo, and I wanted to welcome her. So I hung around the pool at Nueva Espana with a nice group of people. Two of the couples have been here before. And are here again for long stays. Two months or so.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnf5OeJW-OLPgUHuB6WhI6-XWYrxxDYNDN_JA1A9HD8bT3Qhz7ksL0D5rcbAecYhrADIT9BcBOFlhUME5k2LNOeH6UCUdJmlul-rSNCZYx7Yk2opyKj7eb8RoYwcLnTKb1OvSwg/s1600-h/sandcastle7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnf5OeJW-OLPgUHuB6WhI6-XWYrxxDYNDN_JA1A9HD8bT3Qhz7ksL0D5rcbAecYhrADIT9BcBOFlhUME5k2LNOeH6UCUdJmlul-rSNCZYx7Yk2opyKj7eb8RoYwcLnTKb1OvSwg/s400/sandcastle7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151684398753403442" border="0" /></a>The conversation was interesting. But I am kind of embarrassed and uncomfortable about part of it. There were some kind of semi-racist comments, or at least extreme stereotyping.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcIrTirnSiDxDAFl0JzuWVAwrn-kiOOcYa5YtR9sjNzbs_O04RQSbjizxmp8R23Z402_KAHdJpf0KrQfxejJQ5Rn3P3BjeW1ae_j1lUtywj2hVgkKGsbmxBLVtX-BJDoVX9TH-w/s1600-h/sandcastle2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcIrTirnSiDxDAFl0JzuWVAwrn-kiOOcYa5YtR9sjNzbs_O04RQSbjizxmp8R23Z402_KAHdJpf0KrQfxejJQ5Rn3P3BjeW1ae_j1lUtywj2hVgkKGsbmxBLVtX-BJDoVX9TH-w/s400/sandcastle2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151684385868501506" border="0" /></a>And I think I started the conversation when I mentioned how surprised I was when I first came to Chacala, and found that one group (nationality) of gringos have a kind of bad reputation here. I am embarrassed that I helped start the conversation, and that I seem to have absorbed, or accepted, this kind of stereotypical thinking about any group of people.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgjL_71xRF__Xgqta5Q_vJpPw8mXYyC2TI33DS1Ht_prDpGgn_x1kzlfSI6ww6DDjozibP2jptF1D4VsgL6L_0HTG4YqhUWbYg1L9ReIf0bRRQ539yHMszVdpzq0WhcmOWpAIvg/s1600-h/sandcastle4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgjL_71xRF__Xgqta5Q_vJpPw8mXYyC2TI33DS1Ht_prDpGgn_x1kzlfSI6ww6DDjozibP2jptF1D4VsgL6L_0HTG4YqhUWbYg1L9ReIf0bRRQ539yHMszVdpzq0WhcmOWpAIvg/s400/sandcastle4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151684390163468818" border="0" /></a>It feels kind of crummy and I am surprised at myself. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uTVzX2U7Zx8qACW2nhlXmKysxVO2lSJcTHQcWRW1A6c57WXTfBB4S3LYVQm9G5xuULrMGOFtkAohAV-m-ngPv7U1RBkG-oO7EyBg_5dPgFeFA9J1Q_fCmuCG7Bn4WY9wVWQIbg/s1600-h/sandcastle5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uTVzX2U7Zx8qACW2nhlXmKysxVO2lSJcTHQcWRW1A6c57WXTfBB4S3LYVQm9G5xuULrMGOFtkAohAV-m-ngPv7U1RBkG-oO7EyBg_5dPgFeFA9J1Q_fCmuCG7Bn4WY9wVWQIbg/s400/sandcastle5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151684394458436130" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-64317654695905155932008-01-03T07:09:00.000-07:002008-01-04T16:28:32.522-07:00Around Sunset in ChacalaMy goal for today is to notice when I am making a leap from my assumptions into action. Usually verbal, sometimes actual actions. It's easy for me to see other people making wild-a..... assumptions, thinking there know what's going on, but not really having a clue.<br /><br />It's harder for me to see that quality in myself. But I know I do it all the time. Chacala is good for me in two ways.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF3j1GIlny9VJkFjT9aKj9KrkwvoZl7unos1E-crfix3Ti-IYzmUHASDtbB5Y_UPfBQLzMxbjA3LY8zR9YqgFu-gJkPcIw5kPIwLJSa0OAcokzH1O5zSpYGgR11mYYHuXSNEfmg/s1600-h/sun2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF3j1GIlny9VJkFjT9aKj9KrkwvoZl7unos1E-crfix3Ti-IYzmUHASDtbB5Y_UPfBQLzMxbjA3LY8zR9YqgFu-gJkPcIw5kPIwLJSa0OAcokzH1O5zSpYGgR11mYYHuXSNEfmg/s400/sun2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151253806807142786" border="0" /></a>One, I can see that old truism that what you can often see in others what you don't like in yourself. I have lots of opportunities here to experience myself identfying the qualities I don't like in myself in other people.<br /><br />I have a great object lesson about making assumptions and acting on them, right here in Chacala. There is someone who comes down to Chacala in the winter who's assumption-to-action stuff just annoys me to death. Well, I hope not to death. But I really have a hard time with the stories she makes up about me, and spreads around. After four years of this sh.... it's getting really old. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUh_0l29ufCdM1FSGSV6820p9IjmUQi3qSNJ0SrYt5sGhEmLEYW6WSMV7FGWOv3LwApm_c0thuU20JR8ISGf3DT2EeEQtHEjN-NWgdpeD6Q_qgRpt2ZFlmgIRHTjq6VcGw3bX5Nw/s1600-h/sun5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUh_0l29ufCdM1FSGSV6820p9IjmUQi3qSNJ0SrYt5sGhEmLEYW6WSMV7FGWOv3LwApm_c0thuU20JR8ISGf3DT2EeEQtHEjN-NWgdpeD6Q_qgRpt2ZFlmgIRHTjq6VcGw3bX5Nw/s400/sun5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151253815397077410" border="0" /></a>Another good thing about Chacala, for me, is there isn't much going on and it's harder to distract myself from my everyday experiences. No movies. TV, newspaper, driving around somewhere, shopping for more than four or five items (milk, rolls, fruit, tortillas and toilet paper mostly.<br /><br />The pace is slow here, and there's more time to reflect on my interactions with other people, and their impact on me. And how about how my daily life fits into the life of Chacala. It's obvious immediately if I skip a day of picking up trash on the road in front of my place. Or on the little section of the beach I have adopted for trash pickup. I used to work most of the beach. But no more. Partly because more people are doing it now.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCj9OHGCXoqBpzC5yfU7WDvckZY2FXyTD7X-JEjyDzAOqRyRoealSxeRooJsjGrVodM8HYHXIoLi6JAcYHnLYiHxZIiLwIlG5OqnWEDDcVRWzZvutJjNLWZZy4pEye0k-6dzc0A/s1600-h/sun1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCj9OHGCXoqBpzC5yfU7WDvckZY2FXyTD7X-JEjyDzAOqRyRoealSxeRooJsjGrVodM8HYHXIoLi6JAcYHnLYiHxZIiLwIlG5OqnWEDDcVRWzZvutJjNLWZZy4pEye0k-6dzc0A/s400/sun1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151253806807142770" border="0" /></a>One of the downsides of living in a small town is that sometimes it's hard to avoid people I don't want to deal with. But usually I manage to do it without much effort. There are a few winter people around here who I haven't actually interacted with in many months, or even years.<br /><br />I usually do regular life stuff most of the day ( ooking, dishes, laundry, a little house cleaning, gardening, email, helping renters find a place, reading, drawing, and so on).<br />After a late lunch and a nap and checking emails, I usually do errands around town: visiting, doing reservations, shopping, take photos, visiting some more, walking on the beach, hanging around and so on.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3l1VqsqcSMbLFBavkwFvE51eFbbahJRrY1WQy0n-NBK8HI_PzWYMxCHFa0Koo9IFXm2Uvn4Doiz9k29YvfomKz3U9EoNw6JlllJKnxoK1nFNy3U726vI2Z03Fqm4mfSvKWwIsTw/s1600-h/sun4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3l1VqsqcSMbLFBavkwFvE51eFbbahJRrY1WQy0n-NBK8HI_PzWYMxCHFa0Koo9IFXm2Uvn4Doiz9k29YvfomKz3U9EoNw6JlllJKnxoK1nFNy3U726vI2Z03Fqm4mfSvKWwIsTw/s400/sun4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151253811102110098" border="0" /></a>So I am usually on the beach around sunset. I get to practice sunset photos a lot. Lately I have mostly been noticing how the light of the sunset shines of people and things. I don't really know how to take good photos of this phenomena, but I really enjoy how it looks.<br />Especially when the sun is shining on kids and on people faces.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTRBGkVGugdL_ndkBS8tp9-eoi3brrQfwlvOd7rFXtUKKSjRFaHCRU6yafLVqXn0uW7cFWo1XXTMge-ryjsa6WwVQo3afkdSYmd0-4ssSBQYBeN-cFOIG-F_RZN1cX8b6fhmhKg/s1600-h/sun8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTRBGkVGugdL_ndkBS8tp9-eoi3brrQfwlvOd7rFXtUKKSjRFaHCRU6yafLVqXn0uW7cFWo1XXTMge-ryjsa6WwVQo3afkdSYmd0-4ssSBQYBeN-cFOIG-F_RZN1cX8b6fhmhKg/s400/sun8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151253179741917522" border="0" /></a>I think kids get a burst of energy right at sunset, playing harder and wilder than ever.<br />And concentrating harder on their projects. Hoping the sun will stay up a little longer, I think.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNl2T6_akMJzBkklV5OqXdog1hGnxAALTpRI4GNG0q8Eyzr3gSUJYznoCsDGTpYapdKvxozezCoK9rv8tPWSwqDsMaUMwz6MwC26Oc9JgCv7RtjLQP9ZQzo1o3L583qORBWxrDA/s1600-h/sun7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNl2T6_akMJzBkklV5OqXdog1hGnxAALTpRI4GNG0q8Eyzr3gSUJYznoCsDGTpYapdKvxozezCoK9rv8tPWSwqDsMaUMwz6MwC26Oc9JgCv7RtjLQP9ZQzo1o3L583qORBWxrDA/s400/sun7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151253188331852130" border="0" /></a>I love sunsets in Chacala. Almost every night there is a beautiful, glowing sunset.<br />Most of the time people are swimming in the water until dark. Or after dark.<br /><br />I usually take my camera with me when I go down to the beach in the late afternoon.<br />I still haven't figured out about shooting sunsets, but I am having lots of fun learning.<br /><br />There are still lots of visitors here, mostly families who have driven here or taken one of the tourist buses. Often they travel in the bus all night, arriving at dawn from a cities in Central Mexico.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKIp0bY-EutdUyqKfFBrfqAB6gpC8X5QastU1nP9HIxJ_cp9IgirRAtKnTPh0nc2dff3qME7sierSdQ6y5WTzmg4AiFuAhZGK088feMBvjjnkEyUjsofWeKfAFWkywEF4FPWlWw/s1600-h/sun11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKIp0bY-EutdUyqKfFBrfqAB6gpC8X5QastU1nP9HIxJ_cp9IgirRAtKnTPh0nc2dff3qME7sierSdQ6y5WTzmg4AiFuAhZGK088feMBvjjnkEyUjsofWeKfAFWkywEF4FPWlWw/s400/sun11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151253166857015586" border="0" /></a>The kids are out playing in the sand until it's too dark to see.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMlPgnaSp6pdY5yf-q8nzDiJ07MwuYR2pVgu8f_2kMrEmXJLtXBHNPdoSda3jgazOJU8ANhGa7di-7iPIL5r78gEG6CzxSk1SXVbFnep20fR0eykJ10ed_3e-MSd9NTqWtwmTSQ/s1600-h/sun10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMlPgnaSp6pdY5yf-q8nzDiJ07MwuYR2pVgu8f_2kMrEmXJLtXBHNPdoSda3jgazOJU8ANhGa7di-7iPIL5r78gEG6CzxSk1SXVbFnep20fR0eykJ10ed_3e-MSd9NTqWtwmTSQ/s400/sun10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151253171151982898" border="0" /></a>After four or five days of temperatures in the70's it's a relief to be back in the mid 80F again. At 3pm it was 88F here. That will warm up the water again too, I assume.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-72756111301042066412008-01-03T07:01:00.000-07:002008-01-04T16:18:34.371-07:00Boy in ChacalaMany of the children in Chacala are amazingly gifted at making toys out of almost anything. And creating games with natural objects.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFM77HFSJ_7fx1c-9ogqA6-8daf3OT4pBQ5IiIAOwFGyrqOe59s5wQW8ZP5KWyYM8QCGObJW3oHQqRNyt42qXC08KlLiA535hYPPlu-6bAiDfUiZ4H3Xq6xKEz1F8m5wF_zyXiaQ/s1600-h/boytoy1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFM77HFSJ_7fx1c-9ogqA6-8daf3OT4pBQ5IiIAOwFGyrqOe59s5wQW8ZP5KWyYM8QCGObJW3oHQqRNyt42qXC08KlLiA535hYPPlu-6bAiDfUiZ4H3Xq6xKEz1F8m5wF_zyXiaQ/s400/boytoy1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151250877639446754" border="0" /></a>But sometimes the kids play with "real " toys. This bowling set was at the Biblioteca, at the after-school program. This sweet boy spent more than an hour playing with this "official toy", made of plastic. He arranged and rearranged the pins. Never actually used them for bowling.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtV6Si-FBhiwOvoD3sNnJJLAz9uoVhwkFQRH9m69oxyB51loAMqy39xjm5fCDOmVy6lwPGXUXfLEu5qvUe0pmemjiNyRLD3_iI47IlvNyv5sEjzwgQbkQZf5KHc81mtGzX1gPwzw/s1600-h/boytoy2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtV6Si-FBhiwOvoD3sNnJJLAz9uoVhwkFQRH9m69oxyB51loAMqy39xjm5fCDOmVy6lwPGXUXfLEu5qvUe0pmemjiNyRLD3_iI47IlvNyv5sEjzwgQbkQZf5KHc81mtGzX1gPwzw/s400/boytoy2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151250881934414066" border="0" /></a>I think he liked the colors and the order of the placing the pins in different patterns.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivd-hbfNXhVq4wqlM5AYcQU3KbiKcuI63CJRmyiZ4E-vri9_kllFkOnbGssO1R_KgNCCZ68kHnher0Xw1wPdzYqvA_5Qo7cm_6CellMjFAoOHhL_Ms3GdD9N0Od3LDDA7eBbwew/s1600-h/boytoy5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivd-hbfNXhVq4wqlM5AYcQU3KbiKcuI63CJRmyiZ4E-vri9_kllFkOnbGssO1R_KgNCCZ68kHnher0Xw1wPdzYqvA_5Qo7cm_6CellMjFAoOHhL_Ms3GdD9N0Od3LDDA7eBbwew/s400/boytoy5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151250886229381378" border="0" /></a>There were kids running all around him and he never lost his focus on his project, even for a minute.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyG1s3o4Rj0DnpyYVrqOPzIiG-646QWWbaNLNjfiNKtYtF2Gvx9mrofA9dvA2Er7OMowzgsYm56a7QShLwM1Yf1DxgaFQkVnS4vXVo_K6Isx_0QVVKOos5dvKA7_Yc6jyLoAJoLQ/s1600-h/boy3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyG1s3o4Rj0DnpyYVrqOPzIiG-646QWWbaNLNjfiNKtYtF2Gvx9mrofA9dvA2Er7OMowzgsYm56a7QShLwM1Yf1DxgaFQkVnS4vXVo_K6Isx_0QVVKOos5dvKA7_Yc6jyLoAJoLQ/s400/boy3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151250894819315986" border="0" /></a>I feel to lucky to be around so many kids, and to watch them grow from infants to Kindergarten and from Primary to teenagers, and from teenagers to young adults.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-73611068776440370472008-01-01T20:30:00.002-07:002008-01-07T10:36:49.428-07:00Views From the Hill at the South End of Chacala BayChristmas Day I took a walk up the hill at the south end of Chacala. A couple of the gates that are normally closed were open, so it was an easy walk. I have already written about my walk, but I wanted to show some photos, now that I am back in the photo posting business.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEPlotZaE_u7kMjy2KhDWdQ4gZ0NVcjyn3hWlxA1QpGP-tTXqHdIdYD1WRcY1ySzJXLssH9S-g-UeVeZbDvppvHwAU1wSnhwMTaXl7G3F1m6tbA_QaDUJnYkpfnwwboExzEsGSw/s1600-h/aw8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEPlotZaE_u7kMjy2KhDWdQ4gZ0NVcjyn3hWlxA1QpGP-tTXqHdIdYD1WRcY1ySzJXLssH9S-g-UeVeZbDvppvHwAU1wSnhwMTaXl7G3F1m6tbA_QaDUJnYkpfnwwboExzEsGSw/s400/aw8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150719083378790530" border="0" /></a>A view of Playa Chacala from the hillside.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPdNKK5Tj4Irw6JcrwtsD-hEQZ5cCvSWfbhFwfc1Z6Hbvm-tC7FGi03RtBYfCevh9Vk4zVq4zmCzXwnf29XTNK3WA948Y7O-8nWSJ2jthKBcIl7QCS-38FaGvZFKPKX365-GJLg/s1600-h/aw2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPdNKK5Tj4Irw6JcrwtsD-hEQZ5cCvSWfbhFwfc1Z6Hbvm-tC7FGi03RtBYfCevh9Vk4zVq4zmCzXwnf29XTNK3WA948Y7O-8nWSJ2jthKBcIl7QCS-38FaGvZFKPKX365-GJLg/s400/aw2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150717245132787778" border="0" /></a>These are shots of partially completed buildings partway up the hillside at the south end of the beach. There are two other buildings along the hillside. Two different owners.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA88tzRvFW9KefDQJ9BV7RUrqRsXp-r76N4_xJ_siI9Ah5b8tVm955alG3BbT1uVzJNOJDgdeDSSiRqn506tY7jt0Zyz223tbs3VOIl_YDaF_0dFtGD0XU_Oz9OaLOHkR3MfNPQ/s1600-h/aw4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA88tzRvFW9KefDQJ9BV7RUrqRsXp-r76N4_xJ_siI9Ah5b8tVm955alG3BbT1uVzJNOJDgdeDSSiRqn506tY7jt0Zyz223tbs3VOIl_YDaF_0dFtGD0XU_Oz9OaLOHkR3MfNPQ/s400/aw4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150717249427755090" border="0" /></a>This is a view from the hillside into the area above the paved road.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcV80lUTw1gfwfNBz03f3E17-2abrtzzLche5_2euUQsx0C-1uA3iCdcSzjfvbLxX2CXTj7XVDWZf3oOp5D5iGDQqE2jPq_snPLqdKPZZkfVMN9-GFlfKOVmfsu4rvWsayJQbSug/s1600-h/aw6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcV80lUTw1gfwfNBz03f3E17-2abrtzzLche5_2euUQsx0C-1uA3iCdcSzjfvbLxX2CXTj7XVDWZf3oOp5D5iGDQqE2jPq_snPLqdKPZZkfVMN9-GFlfKOVmfsu4rvWsayJQbSug/s400/aw6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150717253722722402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VvNoLDqy2CU2vh70rnhoutj7MKZ18hWVmVQ2VMWifu5Vmycd8e_GEWBUL_vuMrG5W5ieyVinDQjLBeRbrLYf9S_b5DwO5wjErkjoTv62Ff5OgV5gXihsX4LS3p7yDmGaxv5-kA/s1600-h/aw9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VvNoLDqy2CU2vh70rnhoutj7MKZ18hWVmVQ2VMWifu5Vmycd8e_GEWBUL_vuMrG5W5ieyVinDQjLBeRbrLYf9S_b5DwO5wjErkjoTv62Ff5OgV5gXihsX4LS3p7yDmGaxv5-kA/s400/aw9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150719087673757842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXMnXXhhhCr1vFascdA6ckIT403tjKr9h8wHaD0hOMN2Y3Ci8A5JfJvIQ2IeXsPC_WnGkX-0WTU38miYBO52A9If3yB8ALWOsiBPKIM4R-om2SZu-N2qpCZ_r-5uoRoftacEBZA/s1600-h/aw10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXMnXXhhhCr1vFascdA6ckIT403tjKr9h8wHaD0hOMN2Y3Ci8A5JfJvIQ2IeXsPC_WnGkX-0WTU38miYBO52A9If3yB8ALWOsiBPKIM4R-om2SZu-N2qpCZ_r-5uoRoftacEBZA/s400/aw10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150719091968725154" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-80790305999096819152008-01-01T14:35:00.000-07:002008-01-07T10:37:55.016-07:00Wandering Around Chacala, Showing RentalsI had a kind of nice morning, walking around Chacala with a friend who was looking at long-term rental possibilities here. I met the out-of-town owner of one of the new, but not completed rentals in town. It will probably be ready next Fall, according to the owner. It looks like it's almost completed, except for doors, windows, and, apparently, air conditioning, and some finish work.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fw8LGNHinIZzPm6SPNsgLxDkf-nNpbzgSbe3WVsKk9SigTySEOF_WVTiQe2PBJGNwqQwExvhBS9Dyfi4bUe7tTJx0V5WTT5DMPtEw7dKoA1GGPgUd7dA3ohnxBWhTV39v6kdNA/s1600-h/aab3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fw8LGNHinIZzPm6SPNsgLxDkf-nNpbzgSbe3WVsKk9SigTySEOF_WVTiQe2PBJGNwqQwExvhBS9Dyfi4bUe7tTJx0V5WTT5DMPtEw7dKoA1GGPgUd7dA3ohnxBWhTV39v6kdNA/s400/aab3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150647894295859186" border="0" /></a>The owner started talking about a building that is being constructed behind his place. Mostly about what he was going do to gain needed privacy on his building. With screens made of thing branches and other natural looking sceens. The new building has glass windows and doors that look right into his place.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFIvfkmnwxOnpXAxXET9WHa_t1V3fc7P2kPmTmk9QdEjYUdaLvAGmKaN2LR1On2jOYRfAaZQiE6_ABZK_HA9H24OePBXwif5HukrUXH6PxEnj1l_XeL5qIxej-IHkQyaXvsVGRw/s1600-h/aab1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFIvfkmnwxOnpXAxXET9WHa_t1V3fc7P2kPmTmk9QdEjYUdaLvAGmKaN2LR1On2jOYRfAaZQiE6_ABZK_HA9H24OePBXwif5HukrUXH6PxEnj1l_XeL5qIxej-IHkQyaXvsVGRw/s400/aab1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150647885705924562" border="0" /></a>We spent some time at Nueva Espana (above) too, which seems to be especially pleasant this year. Six rental units with kitchens and three double beds. The water in the pool was perfectly clean and clear. And the palms are big enough now to shade the seating area, at least part of the time. I don't like the concept of swimming pools in general, but this one looked pretty inviting. One thing that trouble me about pools is how owners seems to drain the chemical laden water from their pools right out onto the street. There are six pools in Chacala now, plus 13 million pools (slight exaggeration) in the development.<br /><br />We went by Pablo's rental and vacation home below the Bibliotecha. A second story is being constructed. I have somone who was interested in renting the house. We had a plan to meet with Pablo at 9am but he wasn't there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLNcLPF5FWrFm9AYICLdk_x2x4Q_KTj_nWpK1YHGR8sO5xWePdytt4hvtGEkKxA25LXUghMFeMerCV0310y_L9wfrWLgDct7-jekLj18OWWfuyxrDP14ZeoFu2Wl8oo_gyGYWfw/s1600-h/aab2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLNcLPF5FWrFm9AYICLdk_x2x4Q_KTj_nWpK1YHGR8sO5xWePdytt4hvtGEkKxA25LXUghMFeMerCV0310y_L9wfrWLgDct7-jekLj18OWWfuyxrDP14ZeoFu2Wl8oo_gyGYWfw/s400/aab2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150647890000891874" border="0" /></a>This is a new underground water storage tank at a construction site. One side is for clean water and the other for sewage. Whatever.<br /><br />Elezar's White House is looking very nice these days. Elezar is down in Chacala for several months and taking care of things. And making some cosmetic improvements.<br /><br />A family from Quebec rented one of the upstairs rooms at Elezar's for a few days. And a gringo couple is arriving in a few days for a two month stay. The view has been kind of blocked by some fast growing trees, but it's still has a nice big shady patio. It's an odd setup. The two large bedroom/bath units share the patio. There's a stove and fridge and large table with chairs on the patio, with dishwashing "facilities" downstairs in the front "yard".<br /><br />I got to see the inside of the little red cottage right above the Malecon this morning. It's wonderful, but apparently it's never rented. It has real furniture and a nice tiled kitchen and bath. Bedroom and living room. The bedroom has a lovely ocean view. But the main eating area is outside, up a few steps, where there's a big table and a nice outdoor kitchen. Really cool. In my next life I am going to buy it. Just kidding.<br /><br />I think the water is warming up again. The water is clear and lovely, and there are still a lot of families in town, camping and staying in the rentals. This week after New Year's is pretty popular with folks from Guadalajara and other towns within about four hours driving distance.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_hyphenhyphensxvcvMC7D5zAnwOL8K-QdWnoYmoUwbn7sOenq8ctVEX2Iwzmmat2BoycsNnSsg4KmMLe0fZUjfuPIS2IZKSnNU6tKuVRB1CGvRagXfvXHFmGCPMPfVWosGhMblXAxedtSkQ/s1600-h/aab5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_hyphenhyphensxvcvMC7D5zAnwOL8K-QdWnoYmoUwbn7sOenq8ctVEX2Iwzmmat2BoycsNnSsg4KmMLe0fZUjfuPIS2IZKSnNU6tKuVRB1CGvRagXfvXHFmGCPMPfVWosGhMblXAxedtSkQ/s400/aab5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150647894295859202" border="0" /></a>The hotel next door had an incredibly loud band with singer-gone-crazy with a microphone last night. From 9pm until 3am. I don't know how the guests stood it. I think it's the first time the place looked pretty busy. I hope guests knew what they were letting themselves in for. The cement wall of my room, which faces the hotel (80 feet away), was sort of vibrating. The sound (notice I didn't say music) was sooo loud.<br /><br />Lots of fireworks too. Luckily I brought some earplugs down with me when I first came to Chacala. And my son recently brought me some new ones, so I could sleep. Of course, I was up half the night playing with my new computer. And then awake at 5am. Back to the internet. What an addict. Got all my photos downloaded from my camera. Now I have to delete all the crummy ones. About 85% probably.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB0ekxM_lbFDbe__35b7SEzSkS9MjVjwXimy55Ut-fvvumxuDt4sjeW852YupOA3v-oWFA1rfHIdvd_RhyphenhyphenCvPS58mgP6_XAR770ZbTdr3IzSDEyEytRx-hQXpfLKcDBrTt6-P5w/s1600-h/aab6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB0ekxM_lbFDbe__35b7SEzSkS9MjVjwXimy55Ut-fvvumxuDt4sjeW852YupOA3v-oWFA1rfHIdvd_RhyphenhyphenCvPS58mgP6_XAR770ZbTdr3IzSDEyEytRx-hQXpfLKcDBrTt6-P5w/s400/aab6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150647898590826514" border="0" /></a>I never got a chance to post photos of this year's Christmas Eve Posada. It ended at Casa Monarca, with two lovely pinatas. Sarai had made both of them, and they were really beautiful. She sells that at her porch store next door to Trini's. In case you are looking for a pinata.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPspWu_4onw1JFn2N01FaglItiXlXYpyIEO74aM8F7qilcEweXtIOfo80_56tP429Q43yM94FIE3ecozJGHcldeCWHuMSJfraJ8P08JkgYlicqBW5pg8x4ADLjkc4ywq7vkrNARg/s1600-h/aab7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPspWu_4onw1JFn2N01FaglItiXlXYpyIEO74aM8F7qilcEweXtIOfo80_56tP429Q43yM94FIE3ecozJGHcldeCWHuMSJfraJ8P08JkgYlicqBW5pg8x4ADLjkc4ywq7vkrNARg/s400/aab7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150648113339191330" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-37226190401228002102007-12-31T20:25:00.001-07:002007-12-31T22:01:06.061-07:00A New Computer For Me, in Chacala<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1MPBxYlJOX_AkLNRwq5ErvcICAkx900DWOmxfApOFhNcJhl9n3s7_-PgtjO7al9L2TRh2toG_GuWSQm4kYwVWQRHGOPq8jVo4aWwbweB5Wc5ZwZyvQcCv-urIrI4Bo2mSuZlhg/s1600-h/wave.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1MPBxYlJOX_AkLNRwq5ErvcICAkx900DWOmxfApOFhNcJhl9n3s7_-PgtjO7al9L2TRh2toG_GuWSQm4kYwVWQRHGOPq8jVo4aWwbweB5Wc5ZwZyvQcCv-urIrI4Bo2mSuZlhg/s400/wave.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150366981959864226" border="0" /></a>Bill and Mary arrived today for their third winter visit to Chacala. They were accompanied by their precious dog, Spike/Clavo. As a bi-lingual dog, he responds his name in both languages. They were also accompanied by my new computer. They picked it up in Olympia, and drove it down. Pretty good service. I am really happy.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33dECwkiClHNwTot5QdVal6JTSwjIoMj3phQ9sqU5alNQE2XRFCyypK9-TabjEVKKBVsB_ogcKmzfYqFfX6X_LvGkWOhlmpmjaolsrtZL2IvuIrF1sHKVBn3d59t40nsu7oJ2Ew/s1600-h/palapa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33dECwkiClHNwTot5QdVal6JTSwjIoMj3phQ9sqU5alNQE2XRFCyypK9-TabjEVKKBVsB_ogcKmzfYqFfX6X_LvGkWOhlmpmjaolsrtZL2IvuIrF1sHKVBn3d59t40nsu7oJ2Ew/s400/palapa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150367750759010242" border="0" /></a>I am all hooked up and on-line from home. But tomorrow I am going to have to figure out how to have both my wonderful neighbor family's new computer plus my computer both hooked up to the internet. Using their Telmex phone line and one modem. And the computers are about 125 feet apart. I think I am going to end up interneting from their laundry palapa, at least for now. But we'll see.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFofKUTdPdV2T3uZBu2uAUxsanSQGwu5tah4SEsI1ki209qAjkD_kLEgGAYLXDdUeeV7-tVYyWRCKU5eBiIIVmyUT2QA3qmvtptL2QkuHbBv5MQQrwBihVCBW8_P8FL7C_tYtWA/s1600-h/balloon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFofKUTdPdV2T3uZBu2uAUxsanSQGwu5tah4SEsI1ki209qAjkD_kLEgGAYLXDdUeeV7-tVYyWRCKU5eBiIIVmyUT2QA3qmvtptL2QkuHbBv5MQQrwBihVCBW8_P8FL7C_tYtWA/s400/balloon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150366939010191202" border="0" /></a>Anyway, I am too tired to write. So I am going to download photos from my camera, and go to bed. It's New Years Eve and I have a couple of appealing invitations, but I am tooooo tired. Long long day.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqk2qkbSZgr2orSFeX5dGAEbFNFVDUF_fZhVa5WEG_o9_lH20ckXXTuMWubr1n-JjvJXNRQ6pM3G4zc1QI2aR6JiV6D-hEqrA7aF-krLotyIBSOqENvzMk5zOAQOMoOksdt8oy8g/s1600-h/towels.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqk2qkbSZgr2orSFeX5dGAEbFNFVDUF_fZhVa5WEG_o9_lH20ckXXTuMWubr1n-JjvJXNRQ6pM3G4zc1QI2aR6JiV6D-hEqrA7aF-krLotyIBSOqENvzMk5zOAQOMoOksdt8oy8g/s400/towels.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150366977664896898" border="0" /></a>My genius son managed to transfer everything from my self-destructed computer to this one, so I am really content and feeling good. Hope everyone else is too.<br /><br />The photo below is what Chacala's beach (and probably every beach in Mexico) looks like during the week between Christmas and New Years. The two weeks around Palm and Easter Sundays, that is, Semana Santa.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLTRvFmB81ZBXDhf09e9fHb-QkDMwLg0D-luC253GlNmBPudh7m6vqebCJVFY0PX97yHxPIasv9TtMthF5kgDMNQ26yegiW4x0u_kR-cNUebbWdzT5qXSOGozM_I12cLkqntRcA/s1600-h/IMG_2799.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLTRvFmB81ZBXDhf09e9fHb-QkDMwLg0D-luC253GlNmBPudh7m6vqebCJVFY0PX97yHxPIasv9TtMthF5kgDMNQ26yegiW4x0u_kR-cNUebbWdzT5qXSOGozM_I12cLkqntRcA/s400/IMG_2799.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150367750759010226" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-11864422600588229872007-12-29T09:58:00.000-07:002008-01-07T10:51:38.346-07:00Warm and Lovely Sunny ChacalaIf you are interested in textiles in Mexico, take a look at this series of short videos about different textiles and their weavers. <a href="http://mexico_culture.blip.tv/">http://mexico_culture.blip.tv/</a><br /><br /><br />The videos were made by Bob , the man who has spent years and years exploring Mexico and learning about the textiles-weaving of Indio-indigenous groups all over Mexico.<br />His website is <a href="http://www.mexicantextiles.com/">Mexican Textiles</a>.<br /><br />The weather seems to have turned warm again after about four or five nights in the low low sixties. Looking really beautiful here today. The ocean water has been a little cool, but I bet is will be warmer today.<br /><br />I used to think I was the only person in Chacala who hates the ugly stuff that´s going up around here. But it turns out other people seem to feel that same way. Local and gringo. People arestarting to be more open with their feelings about some of the changes around here.<br /><br />My new computer might arrive Monday, or probably Tuesday. Then I have to figure out a new way to be hooked up. I am hoping this new computer has a stronger wireless card, but it´s not likely. I am going to PV tomorrow to look around for a modem-router (?) thingie that might send a stronger wireless signal. Or maybe my son will send one down. We´ll see how this works out I guess.<br /><br />There was a big quinceneria party at Pelicanos, a restuarant on the beach last night. Really nice, with a great band and nice decorations and delicious cake. My taste and tolerance for music seems to be changing. More open minded I guess.<br /><br />The beach is much cleaner than last year. Still not clean, but much better. I have the impression more people are taking responsibility for picking up their own and other people´s trash. Pretty neat.<br /><br />This winter is just zipping by. I was at Nuevo Espana last night for a few minutes. It´s a nice little six unit place with a pool and units with room for six or so people, and decent little kitchens, etc. At the moment if looked liked most of the units were rented by gringos. Nice group of people, mostly Canadians. Some had read this and said nice things. It´s still odd for me to meet people who read thing. It´s kind of fun and kind of embarassing. There´s a teacher here right now who is Irish. He has a beautiful little son, who is wonderful. I am in love with the boy. He told me the ocean was "lovely". I just loved that.<br /><br />I am off to my place to wait for the Coke truck and cook delicious things.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-85156019457995994772007-12-26T18:42:00.000-07:002008-01-07T10:47:54.077-07:00The Day Afternoon Christmas, and All Thru ChacalaI am not really a Christmas person, but Chacala has kind of changed me in that regard.<br />Yesterday was a really nice day for me. The weather was great. And lots of nice people were arriving to set up camp on the beach. Most people in Mexico, at least in this area, seem to celebrate at home with family on Christmas Eve, and then come down to the beach on Christmas Day or the next day. Town is pretty happy and cheerful and somewhat crowded right now.<br /><br />I had a lovely Christmas Eve dinner at Aurora´s. Her Mom and Uncle were there too and we laughed and laughed and laughed.<br /><br />Lots of gringo faces and lots of vendors selling everything you can imagine. I was given some lovely gifts by Dona Lupe and by Marta, and some other local folks. Really nice and things I really like and wanted. I will send photos later.<br /><br />First thing in the morning, Christmas Day, I took a walk up the hill at the south end of the beach. I was curious about the buildings going up there. I thought there were two but there are three. Kind of perched on the cliff.<br /><br />There has been a lot of work done up there. Some of it's kind of strange and seems odd to me. Someone has built a huge gate across the road you walk-drive on to get to the volcano meadow and then on to beautiful little beach one cove south of Chacala. Since the road was there way way before that eijido land was sold for development it seems odd that someone would put a huge metal gate up. It was open, but,....... That road is access to the orchards up there and a lot of property.<br /><br />Plus, someone is building tall and medium height stone walls on either side of the road. The walls block access to the fruit orchards that have been there for a long time. It´s hard to imagine why someone would do that. Fruit orchards, and food production versus vacation homes for rich people? Forget it.<br /><br />Anyway, got home after visiting with Dona Lupe , made brownies and fruit salad for a dinner at the lovely new home of some Canadians who are now living in Chacala full time. Washed clothes,<br />took a nap and shower and when up the road to the party my gringo neighbors were putting on.<br /><br />The food was really really good. I ate much too much and had a very nice time. I had to leave early to meet some new renters staying at a first-time rental. By the time I had finished with that and been hijacked by Marta (to give me my great gift) it was too late to go back to the party.<br /><br />By the time I got home I was feeling pretty sick again. Mostly it is just a deep chest cold now.<br />A Dad from Guadalajara and his two early teen sons are staying downstairs this week. Very nice but their dog is a pain. Every time I went to sleep either the dog or the raccoons would show up on my patio. Plus insane barking by the dog. I finally put in my earplugs and feel asleep.<br /><br />R and M loaned me a great book called "Oaxaca Journal" by Oliver Sacks. I loved it. It was about his ten day trip to Oaxaca with a group searching for Ferns. I really enjoyed it. I am getting to read better quality books these days. Definite lifestyle improvement.<br /><br />My son is helping me figure out how to have both my and Aurora´s computers work off the same phone line and modem. I am getting excited to be getting my computer back in less that a week. I hope.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-2003275470793132112007-12-24T11:01:00.000-07:002008-01-07T10:47:15.513-07:00Changes in Chacala, This YearI am trying to think of all the changes that have happened in Chacala this year. At least the changes I know about.<br /><br />There have been some deaths. The beloved Mother of Laur died just recently. And also Maria-Palia, who died this summer. I miss her. She was the tiny lady who carried heavy loads around town on her head. And was also busy doing something. Often artistic things for Day of the Dead and Guadalupe and San Rafael Day. I am surprised how often I think I see her out of the corner of my eye. But when I look there is no one there. Or it´s someone else. There were several other deaths that I don´t know much about<br /><br />Two younger men from Las Varas died in a one-car turnover right before the turnoff to Playa Chacala. The turn onto the beach road. There is a small altar/shrine set up in their memory right near where it happened.<br /><br />There has been an interesting change in who is driving. Ever since I got to Chacala<br />I have been amazed to see ten year old boys driving pìckups around town. Never girls. Just boys. But times are changing around here. At the first Posada, last week, a sedan filled will little kids was being driven by a local 11 year old girl. She was delivering the kids to the Pinata and treats part of the Posada.<br /><br />Then, last night and then again this morning I saw Erika, Aurora´s lovely daugther, driving the family pickup somewhere. Her younger sister was riding shotgun. I love seeing girls driving, but it scares me to know how little training they get. But, maybe the younger you start driving the better. I don´t know.<br /><br />Lots of remodeling has gone on this year. Majahua has a new addition, including office space and a bar with several new terraces. The place next to Beatriz´s, the place next to Sarai´s store, Gracia´s all have projecsts going on. Mar de Jade seems to be building an apartment, a studio space, and an outside area for something. Not sure what. More projects include Pablo`s from Guadalajara´s house below the Bibliotecho, Laura´s three new small rentals (intended as monthly rentals), Angeles two new units, both with kitchens now, and Antonia´s new kitchen addition to her downstairs unit are all ready to rent. The lovely new gringo home right above the hotel is complete now, and a new smaller place is being built by a Guadalajara man next door has the basics up. Three (at least) gringos are building on the hillside above the paved road, and another gringo couple is building behind the new red two story rental, over the water. Oscar and his bride, Adrienna, are starting their new place on the Mirador property, and Berta´s lovely new rental´s rentals are open for business. Lots going on.<br /><br />The new town water system has been going for about 16 months now. With only a few short downtimes when the well pump was stolen (twice), and various other problems surfaced. Including the Development somehow getting access to Chacala´s water. For their swimming pools and lawns, I guess. Who knows. I love having clean decent water to fill the tinaco with for at least six hours every day. It feels so luxurious.<br /><br />There seem to be routine patrols by the police now. With so many strangers coming into town on the constructions crews it´s hard for local people to keep track of who should be around and who shouldn´t. The tourists generally stay down on the beach. The level of thievery is lower than last year, when a little den of theives from Las Varas came down to Chacala a couple of times,and got way with stuff. But they were caught quickly. I think there was only one instance of a break-in this year. At a empty gringo home. There may have been something else but I haven´t heard about it. I wouldn´t be surprised if some construction materials have been removed from building sites.......<br /><br />The entire town keeps getting cleaner and cleaner. Including the beach. The kids are still picking up trash once a week, and posting signs requesting tourists put their trash in the new containers. Seems to be working.<br /><br />The Bibliotecho now has DSL, so the computers there now run at normal speed, and everyone seems to be happy with that. The Bibliotecho is closed until after New Years. I think it´s so Viki, the Adminstrator, can have a well-deserved vacation.<br /><br />The Posada has bene lovely this year. Tonight is the last night. The Church has been painted and redecorated. Juanito made some lovely displays for Guadalupe Day and Feliz Navided.<br /><br />There are two new teachers at the school, and most adults and kids seem to be okay with them. Isaac is running the After-School program again this year and the kids seem to be enthusiastic about him. The Kinder is now on it´s 3rd or 4th teacher already this year. We will see what happens when school starts again on the 7th of January.<br /><br />The schoolyard around the Primaria and Bibliotecho, looks great. Clean and tidy. At the kinder too. I haven´t been over to the Tele-Secundaria lately, so I don´t know how that looks.<br /><br />It seems to be a little cooler in the evening and night than other years, but I still am not wearing long plants or a long sleeved shirt. I DO have a blanket on my bed though.<br /><br />There are a bunch of Christmas Eve eating options around here, and some Christmas Day events too. I am talking about special dinners, etc. When I first came here there were no Christmas lights or trees, but they are all over now.<br /><br />Anyway. The beach looks great. Clean everyday. Lots of fruit stands, and vendors with good things to eat.<br /><br />I personally don´t care for Christmas, but it´s fun to watch what goes on around here.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231066.post-72622569096998924322007-12-20T11:38:00.000-07:002008-01-07T10:48:36.070-07:00Changing in ChacalaSince I have now being living in Chacala for four years and five days, I thought I should take a look and see if I can notice ways that I am different from when I arrived here in Mexico.<br /><br />I know one thing is that my level of appreciation for the gift of being alive has increased 10,000 %. Maybe more. I am continually aware of how beautiful each moment is. Of course, there are some annoying moments, usually annoying people, but mostly I love most of every day of this life.<br /><br />The environment, nature, the surroundings are so lovely and amazing. The plants have to most amazing life force. They just keep growing, no matter what. And the sky is so blue and the sun so bright. And the animals are right here, around us. Every though I am afraid of the Apaches (raccoon looking animals) who visit my patio every night, I appreciate their cleverness and creativity. In getting into my place. And if I wasn´t scared of them I would probably have named the two little guys by now.<br /><br />There are birds all around. Every morning I see new birds. And right now I am seeing whales swimming by almost every day. And butterflies flitting.<br /><br />I seem to be in synch with the collectivos these days and never ever have to wait more than a couple of minutes. I have nice worker neighbors staying downstairs. The Dad is very handy at fixing things and the son and a friend are fun to have around. Too bad there´s not enough water for all of us unless I fill the water tank on the roof twice a day. It´s too small.<br /><br />More weird stuff is going on the with buildings and destroying Nature around Chacala. Plants, trees, vegetable stripped off hillsides, leaving ugly barren messes. Inappropriate buildings. Whatever.<br /><br />It´s still a lovely place to live, and every day brings new and different things.<br /><br />I rode into Las Varas this am in the collectivo filled with ladies going to their class at the hospital. I think it´s a menopause class but I am not sure. Everyone was dressed up and bouncing around. We joked around about me going, but I said I was past all that. They thought that was funny.<br /><br />The driver turned on some dance music and we all bounced around, dancing to the music, while sitting. Very happy and joyful. I love those moments.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1