It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....around here. We put up our little tree here in the living room upstairs and there was actually enough decorations to put a few things in the kitchen as well. I did use one thing from the people who own this house; a small fake tree, like one foot tall with lights on it; I added a few balls to it and put it on the counter in the kitchen. The kitchen has an island, so you stand between it and the counter along the wall with the sink in it. Of course huge windows all along it, and outside there is a tall property wall, but they hung some metal sculptures of a big shrimp, fish, crab, it looks good. Lots of counter space. So this island is a long counter and has cabinets underneath on the inside, and the counter hangs over the edge on the other side so we put stools there for eating, and we did eat there when we first got here, but have migrated to the round kitchen table for some reason...Anyway at the far end of the counter I put the little tree with a couple of ornaments in front of it, little standing  stuffed reindeer and a santa. Then there a corner cabinet with shelves on the top behind the table and I put a couple of things there as well, and we bough a wreath at a segunda yesterday so the front door is good as well. The front door is exactly like the one we had in the house I grew up in. Solid bottom half and top half windows- like one big window with dividers so it looks like 9 little squares, 3 up and 3 across...with a nail in the middle for the wreath. JUST LIKE when I was a kid....so kinda cool.

Upstairs the tree is next to the tv and to the balcony door, on a small table so Hazel doesn't attack. 2 strings of lights and a ton of tinsel...it looks really pretty. I also set up our manger scene; it's so totally cool, I can't believe I'm the one who ended up with it! My parents started it in 1945 when they got married. The peices come from France, and each year they ordered more pieces. I think it's a complete set. I can't remember the name of the maker of the figurines, they're all hand painted and soooo detailed. Hopefully my sister Karen will read this and send me the name; when I visited her in Paris we saw a store that had figurines made by the same company- not sure why I didn't buy anything, except that I think they were different sets- maybe not even Christmas- like I said I gotta talk to my sister. My memory sucks! I really have CRS (can't remember shit). Anyway, when we were kids my mom would put it up, we weren't allowed to touch the pieces, and we would stand on the piano bench to look- we had a huge upright piano, this old thing that was so tall, and she put it up there. I loved looking at all the pieces; pointing out pieces each year, like the guy with the bear, the thief (a guy who had a knife at his side), the 3 kings, and one of them had a camel. The guy with a basket under his arm with a goose in it. All the figures unique. When my kids were little we'd go to her place and look at it, and I think, when she moved into assisted living- but maybe before that even, she gave it to me. Like I said I don't know why I got it, my little sister also lived nearby, but yipee I have it. I let my kids touch the pieces though, and they have favorite pieces too.

You know, when we were kids we had to put the tinsel on ONE STRAND AT A TIME!!! And you know what? At first I did the same thing when I moved out and had my own tree. It was ok, it was me putting on the tinsel. The other thing my mom did was, she'd let us decorate the tree, and then after we went to bed she's "fix it". When Drewy was little I did the same thing. And then I don't know what happened, maybe it was looking at other people's trees, but I realized the way my kids decorated the tree was perfect- it was beautiful because they did it. I learned it on Drew, cause she's 8 years older than her sister, so I went thru and figured out a lot before kid #2 ha ha. And I also let go of the "one strand at a time", too. Right now my tree is drowning in tinsel! And I did not put it on one strand at a time either, it's thick in places, but it's so shiny when the lights are on!!

I don't know if I wrote about this last year, but all the Christmas decorations make me think of family, but this time in a different, kinda ok way. I have these 3 little elves that were on our Christmas tree growing up, always way up by the top, and now they are so old, and falling apart I have to handle them very carefully. They are made of paper mache or something, and they are more than 50 years old, and about 2 inches long at the most, basically a little head and body like a bee. They used to have hooks from their little hats to hang them but the material had rotted so I put rubber bands around them to attch them to the tree. Those ornaments, remembering mom's rules about the tinsel, that stuff reminds me of my sisters and brothers. The manger scene reminds me mostly of my little sister, we probly climbed up to look together, and then also of my kids. Now I'm remembering my mom & dad cause after the tree was decorated, my dad would read a story out of the bible, when Jesus was born in the manger (and that's the only time of year we ever read the bible), then we'd go get our presents we had hidden in our rooms for each other and be sent to bed. I LOVED getting up Christmas morning, all my life. The Santa presents came during the night, and Santa always put candy canes on the tree. I carried on that tradition, and it didn't matter how old anybody was or what they believed to be true, but the Santa presents come out later, and the candy canes are added to the tree. These memories are nice, and comforting, and I'm ok with them. My mom and dad are gone, but not gone, I can feel them around me sometimes, both of the lately. I talk with my older sister and we email alot. On Thanksgiving I talked to both my sisters and my brother, and my daughter, the younger one is more elusive,,,,so I feel close to everybody. I read last year at this time on my blog and Drewy told me she didn't like to go on my street cause it made her sad. It killed me last year, and kinda a little bit right this minute...but the truth is she has a wonderful life, her own family and making her own traditions with her soon to be step daughter, Danica. I don't know why I say "soon to be". She's Danica's part time mommy right now. And they do artsy craftsy projects around holidays that they'll save and add to next year. We talked a couple of times this week and she told me about how the house is decorated and she's really excited about the Christmas party they're having next weekend.

This weekend they're taking part in an annual toy run for kids so they had to make their Christmas party next week. Anyway what I mean is I feel close to her even though we're far away. I hope she feels the same. I Christmas shopped online (again) at Harry and David mostly; really just for my girls, Everardo's daughter, our renters who are family to us, Rex (Drew's fiance), and Danica. For Danica I shopped on a different website and I hope she likes the games I chose. I thought they were pretty cool, and Drew says they play board games alot; she's 5 and in kindergarten so it was fun. I did actually get her something from H&D as well- a collection of hot chocolates in cute little tins she can use for other things in her new big girl room. She just moved into a much bigger bedroom now that the roommate from hell is gone and she's very excited. As for Elena, Everardo's 16 yr old, I think I remember she likes chocolate, and I got her a gift tower of different chocolates- truffles and other assorted goodies- I don't think she reads my blog so I'm not giving anything away. I sent Rex a gift box of meats, cheeses, and crackers; he's a big boy with a big appetite- maybe save it for the football games on New Years....Drew's is a tiny teapot with a little rose plant in it and some teas...crap I hope she doesn't read this before Christmas, but she's pretty busy so I'm probly good. Halla (my younger daughter) never reads this so no problem....hers is a gift tower of different candies and fruits....it might be the same as last year-ooops hope not. So I'm feeling Christmasy...hmmm yes I do miss my children, all the time, but it feels better somehow, like it's ok. I will always be close to Drew, our hearts are connected, and the distance between me and Halla, well it has nothing to do with miles, ya know? I'm trying really hard to have acceptance around it; to be ok, to just love her and when she wants have a relationship with me, well I'll be there, here. I'll be available. Right now I just have to let her be. She's 20, involved with her friends, her life...I just have to believe she'll find her way back to me and we'll be ok. That's my only choice and me being here or there doesn't affect this. So, in a way...I'm ok. My hubby just made me hot chocolate, my doggys are curled up...and the Christmas lights are blinking, it's nice.

The car radio is playing Christmas music every few songs and that's good- not ready for it all the time yet...we get some station out of San Diego that plays oldies (70's 80's) which is my favorite. This is the first time in a year and a half we've had any radio music in English. This weekend is a huge- maybe 5000 people AA convention in Ensennda, so we will be spending most of the weekend there...Everardo thinks that people we know from the meetings in Penasco will be there- I hope his friend Anna comes- and we will be telling them stay with us don't pay for a hotel, so we may have guests tomorrow and Sunday nite. I love conventions and in Spanish is fine, too. The feelings are the same, and there's always alot of fellowship, food, dances, and fun. Then Sunday nite we're going to Mama Bear's for dinner because she's gonna make macaroni and cheese....and.....wait for it.....it's gonna be my birthday dinner!

Yeah, my birthday is on Tuesday, but she's not open Tue and Wed. Monday is Meatloaf Monday so it has to be Sunday ha ha. Funny thing - I HATE meatloaf, so my best and worst food in the same conversation! It went like this- we stopped in so I could ask when the next time she was making macaroni and cheese. (we went there for dinner our first nite here and she talked about what she makes- and I remembered mac & cheese). So she said, "I don't know, I just make things when they come to me...unless you have a good reason", so I told her it was my birthday and she said that was a good reason. So Sunday it is.

ok merry christmas for now...la la la la la

Bahia de Todos Santos

Bahia de Todos Santos. Bay of All Saints, that's what this bay we live on is called. It's not a big bay, and on this side it's a much shorter trip to the open sea than the other side. Here we're about a 5 minute drive. From here I can see Ensenada across the water; and now I'm wondering how the highway north goes; I mean I know it goes along the coast, but right from Ensenada? The lights at nite are so pretty, and the sunsets are pretty cool as well. Most days we're on the beach with the dog's last walk of the day at sunset, since it's sooo early...5pm, but today I took them around noon. Sam chased the ball into the water until he could barely move, but Hazel took the cake by NOT coming when I called and running really far away. Twice. So we came back sooner than I would have cause I was mad at her ha ha. Actually I need one of those really short chairs, (easy to carry) so I can go down there and sit, read, or just watch the waves. Hmmm maybe just a towel huh? But it's hard for me to get the ball into the water when I'm back on the dry sand....

There was a guy out there with his 2 dogs; a golden retriever and something as big, but short hair, and white, so when they were near us it was cool with Sam, too. Anyway those 2 dogs just swim together, they just run out into the waves and hang out, out there. Sam used to do that back in Guerrero, well a little bit in Puerto Penasco as long as someone else was in the water. Here, when you're not throwing the ball for him, he just walks along at ankle (dog ankle) length in the water. This is an amazing beach; there's always a couple of people on it, but so far never alot. Of course we've been here 1 month, and November, probably not the biggest tourist month ha ha, but I don't know why, the weather has been beautiful.

I'm waiting to talk to my daughter right now. She's had the roommate from hell for the last year and this horrid woman was supposed to move out Saturday, but "victimed" her way into 2 more days and now is supposed to be gone today. My daughter has been pulling her hair out over it all, and hanging on by a thread today....so vamos a ver...

Last nite she was telling me all about her Christmas decorating in her house and yard, and is motivating me to get our decorations out. I don't have too much stuff; the Christmas before we left, so 2011, when I took our decorations down I had both daughters over to choose from mine to make their own collections; my younger one (Halla) still lives at home with her dad, but she can use them there, and then later when she moves out....Anyway it was so fun to hear Drewy telling me how she decorated her house, all the rooms, the stairs, the outside...ha ha she's me! I always loved how my mom decorated, even in little corners and the kitchen...Ok I just asked Everardo to bring in the stuff tomorrow morning before he takes off.

Today he finally met Senor Pablov, but unfortunately he told Everardo he has lots of work, but no money to pay...(see sorry smile), but to keep checking with him. Then later today when the water truck came he met another Pablov;  one of the sons. He told Everardo that his father said he worked for everything he had and that his sons had to do the same thing, so he got this water truck and now he's doing pretty good. He also said that he didn't think there were any houses for rent in the LaJolla by the beach, but that the one across the road had some land owned by a guy name Griffen or Griffth, and he had a couple of places. He said when people rent in this neighborhood, they never come back. Yeah...us too. So tomorrow he's going to try to find out what he can make working in the fields; he already found out that the place up the road that always has a sign needing people, it's produce and maybe packaging....but they only pay 130 pesos a day...and that's just not enough. He's probably also gonna try to see his friend again in Ensenada and find out what the scoop is there. It's not urgent, but we do need some income. Who knows if my lady will call me back or not...my fingers are still crossed (makes it hard to type) so we'll see.

Sam is starting to not like the house, either. He doesn't like the stairs. Especially when he runs hard at the beach, poor baby gets so stiff at the end of the day. Haha just like mommy. I hate the stairs as well. Sam will choose staying outside during the day rather than going up and down the stairs. Like this morning, he wanted to come in, then when I went back upstairs I noticed he wasn't behind me, so I went back down to the corner, (it's like 6 or 7 stairs, then turn then 8 or 9 more), and he was standing at the bottom, one paw on the bottom step. I asked him..what? He just kept looking at me, so I went down to him, and then he walked back to the door. That dog loves to be near us all the time, but he just doesn't want to climb the stairs. You know, even if we loved it here, we'd have to move for him. He's part of this family, and he needs to be comfy just like us....but luckily for him, I don't like stairs either.

It's getting dark and the lights are starting to come on across the water, and the sky is pink where it touches the land and the water in the distance. It's starting to get cooler, so I'll shut the door, but it's still nice. Poppi's gonna make chicken and beans, and I know we have avocado, cheese, and fresh tortillas so dinner will be yummy. Last nite I actually cooked, pork chops and scalloped potatoes. Poppi really liked it, even though he asked if I used all the potatoes and I said no (since it was from a box...), but we eat pretty early- I think we got in the habit back in Penasco when I had zumba at 6:30. It's been a nice day; I studied Spanish this morning for an hour and a half, then the beach, started a new book, yeah a nice day all around.

Mexico fun fact:
Actor Anthony Quinn was the first Mexican to win an Academy Award for his role in the 1952 movies Viva Zapata

Today is Saturday, 2 days after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was great. The turkey was great, the stuffing was great, the mashed potatoes and gray was great. Since I did not have Thanksgiving last year, I thought I was justified eating 2 full plates of food ha ha. Here it is 2 days later and I'm still kinda full. I mean I'm still eating, but I'm just not super hungry. I ate and ate and ate. There was no way I was gonna be able to eat dessert, but they were so nice and let me make a plate with a slice of everything to bring home. That was about 3pm, and about 8pm I split it all with Everardo. Yum. Well except maybe for the banna pudding stuff...it looked liked vanilla pudding with what I thought was vanilla wafers in it. Nope those were little brown pieces of banana. I mean I like banana, but not when I'm expecting something else. Know what I mean? But the pumpkin pie was amazing, and then there were 2 kinds of apple something, like apple crisp and apple crumb cake or something like that. Then cheesecake, too. So we had a little sampler plate....and it was goooood. We did a long beach walk inbetween dinner and dessert...

So the next day, Friday I went back to that little church outbuilding while Everardo went to Ensenada to find his friend to talk about the logisitcs of him selling stuff over there. He ended up not seeing him, but he did go see the old woman who had so proudly shown us her house, the day before we had to go back to Penasco on our first trip. She had been so proud of her magnificent place, and we were excited to see it, even though we looked at other places as we waited. Our plan atthat point was to rent from her for at least 6 months.....anyway that place was a hellhole! Trashed, cracked, broken, oh and with no stove, fridge or hot water heater...yeah I held back the tears in that one. Anyway, she thought it was a wonderful opportunity, so Everardo dropped in her store (she was a friend of Everardo's friend), and thanked her for her time, but said we decided to live outside the city. So that was nice.

 Ok so the reason I went back was that they were filling Christmas food baskets for the people who are struggling. I had seen in the local newsletter that people were doing this at the fire station, and they were doing the same thing at the church...and were going to feed us. I thought....oooh Thanksgiving leftovers, I might as well do it there. I had already planned to go help at the other place, so...Anyway it was a nice morning, they had set up a little assembly line- I had the corn flour- and they passed the boxes around the table. The table was in the middle of the room and there were shelves behind us with the food on them; white flour, corn flour, sugar, tunafish, dried soup, oil, beans, rice, the milk in the little box, and at the end, little knit hats. They told me that both places were making the same boxes, and then Senor Pablov was going to pick them all up and take them up into the hills around here and distribute them. Wow- this Pablov guy, I just keep on hearing so many good things about them. Well here's hoping we move to one of his camps.

It was a good feeling to get to be a part of that. I wanted to do something to say thank you for having us, but it ended up being another gift for me. Funny how that works.

I got to talk to my brother and my younger sister (and most of her kids) on the phone Thanksgiving, and to my other sister today. She and I talked for about an hour (thank you magic jack). She and her husband and their puppy dog are back in Key West Florida on their little boat for the winter- true snowbirds, right? It turns out that they, and my brother and his wife and us all moved right around the same time (actually my sister and I left on the same day). My brother moved to a town called Spring, Texas, and when I was talking to Drewy she told me she had a friend from there...yep small world. We went to Ensenada this morning after I talked to Karen on the phone and had enchiladas in the same little place as last week, and then went to the AA meeting where someone got a 35 year chip- wow. Then it was off to good old Wallmart for a few items- can't always go to Costco because I don't want the one million pack for everything...But I went to the frozen foods looking for frozen macaroni and cheese dinners, and- so sad- they don't carry frozen food like that. The most they have is frozen pizza. Really- good for them, just sad for me. They have so many other foods I've not had too much of over the past year and a half. No beach walk today, so tomorrow we'll do a long one. But we didn't get home until 3:30, then wanted to collapse for a little while, then doggys ate...then it was dark..man it's dark at 5pm. But I think after Dec 22 it will start getting lighter right? Like a minute a day ha ha.

Puerto Penasco didn't have daylight savings time, and Playa Ventura did, but we were only there June thru November...wait this is November, but I swear it was never dark at 5pm. Maybe it has to do with how far south it is. Mexico is a huge country. I think people don't realize how big it is, I mean people think of Mexico as hot, and the beach. But Mexico has sooo many terrains; tropics, deserts, mountains, and what do we call this area? To me it's "normal" ha ha. It's very much like California, not in the mountains, and California basically has mountains, coastal, and then the desert down the middle to Los Angeles. We always lived within about a half hour or less of the coast. And almost all of my life just north of San Francisco. So, fog in the mornings, warm days, cool nights. And it seems to be what it is here. Of course we've just been here a month, but we visited for a week in Sept and Oct; it was hotter, but not that humid hot of Penasco or Playa Ventura. The tropics are amazing. It's so green, and the iguanas, parrots, the vines, the fresh cheeses. But there seems to be fresh cheeses all over Mexico. Banana trees, and coconuts that we picked in our own yard, the water inside was so sweet. Lots of cows too as I remember. Skinny cows, skinny horses, and really skinny chickens ha ha. I'll always remember the tarantula fighting the chicken- and the chicken won. And the scorpions- they were small but I heard that the small ones were more poisonous. Luckily we never had a mishap with a scorpion but one night Rosa had to rush Moncie to the doctor cause she got stung. We saw one in our sink the very first day we were there, then one was in some laundry I had left on the floor, and then one was outside fighting with the little puppy from next door. He was barking at the scorpion and it was waving it's tail around, I was mesmerized and then Everardo squashed it.

When we got to Penasco I remember being told that they scorpions were really big there, and those and tics were everywhere. I don't know if the dirt outside our house had been treated at some point with some kind of poison, but Sam hardly got any tics, and everyone else would tell me their dogs got them constantly. We never had a scorpion either, not in the entire year, but I always wore shoes in the house at nite, and never put my hand into places I couldn't see. When we went to Morelia, Michocan it was up in the mountains. Mexico City is very high elevation. You know that's probably why I always felt like shit when I was there. I never thought about it until just now; but the few times I was there, I was either drinking and had horrible hangovers, or ate something that made me sick or at least feel crappy. And I didn't drink all that much. But now I realize I get sick from high elevation...I can't stand Colorado Springs, Colorado! Ok so I just opened another window and it says the highest elevation in Mexico City is 7300 feet and Colorado Springs is 7200! Funny, I thought I started getting sick at closer to 10,000 feet- ha ha I am so ignorant sometimes. Ok so anyway, Morelia is not as high, only about 6300 feet, but I still got short of breath more quickly than normal.

Anyway Morelia is a huge city, but very pretty. Much colder that the state of Guerrero of course, and when we visited in Sept (2012), it was the first time I had worn long pants or a jacket since we came to Mexico. The mountains in Mexico are so beautiful. We came to Mexico down thru Chihuahua and the mountains there were so pretty as well. Then traveling from Guerrero up north to Sonora we went thru mountains, then flat agricultural lands- I think that was Sinaloa. Lots and lots of agriculture in Mexico; alot right here in Baja, asparagus fields, lettuce, onions, etc.Mexico has 31 states and I think I've been in about 10, I'll look at the map and do a count. But Mexico just has so many side, so many charcters, so many foods, customs, traditions. I really came down unprepared...well except for the whole being married to a Mexican part ha ha! But the adventure has been so amazing and wonderful. Even the hard stuff, because when you come out the other end, well you're just...more. I mean, every experience enhances you, so you become "more".

Ok, well I hope that we like here, long term. So far so good. I recognize the climate, the weather, and of course I have googled it and believe I know what to expect. A cold ocean is fine with me, it's also what I'm used to. I like living outside the city, but close- 20 minutes- so we can get things if we need or want to. Ha ha probably no more milk from a bucket- well maybe- I guess maybe what I'll do is not guess, not project, just see what comes next. I do like feeling that my kids may be more apt to visit here, I really want them to come because I think they'll really like it more than Penasco. I already know for sure that I like it better. Drewy wants to see Playa Ventura and I really want to take her down there at some point. My ex, their dad is thinking about taking his wife down there for a vacation, to experience it, and I think she'll like it. Maybe the kids could go with them...but it's an expensive ticket. I was thinking maybe when Drewy had a long vacation available, and we were living in a better camp so not worried about our stuff, and maybe have house/dog sitters because we will have gotten to know some people pretty well, to drive. We know we can do it in 3 days, and it is a pretty drive, and it would be a cool experience, also for me it would be a second time and I think I'd see more, be aware of more. I was thinking I should tell my ex they should look at driving to here, then flying because I saw a ticket from Tijuana to Acapulco for $200, and from San Francisco it's about $750....but I guess they'd have to figure out the gas to drive here...and maybe, just maybe I should stay out of their business ha ha. We're all friends, we have the kids in common, so it's important. And also my ex is a nice guy, we just didn't fit anymore, and I know I'm the one who changed...getting sober can do that. At 5 years sobriety I was not the same person, it is too bad, but I think we are both happier now, and happy for each other. His wife is really nice and I think they're really happy, and so I'm happy for them. Actually Everardo and Rana haven't met in person yet because she was in the Middle East before we left, so they've only chatted on Skype. But we're all adults....anyway enough of that, I just want my kids to come visit us in this new place. And honestly some of it is my ego because this place, this house (yeah the one we're not staying in after 6 months ha ha) is so much nicer than the Penasco house And who knows what's next!!

We have so much to explore here in Baja, and the future's lookin' pretty bright. Gonna get the Christmas stuff out in the next couple of days... I don't have too much but will probably just decorate upstairs since it's mostly where we live; maybe a couple of things in the kitchen.

Oh yeah I forgot to say, I'm trying to dance to the zumba music and don't remember most of the steps. But my instructor from Penasco is on facebook and I told her I needed a video of her class ha ha!! But now they're talking about making it for me!! Yippee....Of course getting to me will be the next interesting opportunity. ok Viva!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving...in the US

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and well, YIPPEE I get to have turkey and all the fixin's; I like to put my stuffing and mashed potatoes and turkey (I like the dark meat so love the leg) in a pile, add gravy and mush it all together, oh and with a buttered roll. I love those white square rolls you can buy in a huge bag- oh and I love the dutch crunch rolls! They were a staple at our Thanksgiving dinners growing up. My grandma G always brought them. My dad's mom. She was a shorty. And she was strong and independent. We had a nice grandma and a mean grandma- although actually they were both nice, she was just the one who didn't let us get away with murder ha ha. Anyway she brought the rolls. For years I looked for them and usually found them, I kinda don't remember when we stopped having them.

Tomorrow's dinner is a potluck which is always fun. Our friend Mike who invited us says there will be around 50+ people there, and that there's always enough food to stuff everyone and bring home leftovers! Did I say yipee?? Love the leftovers! The day after Thanksgiving is the best eating day! Using those rolls to make mashed potato stuffing turkey mini sandwiches, oh and add the gravy!  Last year we were still in Playa Ventura so nobody was celebrating Thanksgiving- it's just too far away. And of course- it's not a Mexican holiday. I thought about turkey and pined for pumpkin pie but it was not to be. We left Playa Ventura and traveled north to Penasco on Nov 30, so Thanksgiving had passed. Deb and Rick actually invited us for this year, but we were already leaving. On Sunday I made a reservation at a restaurant down the road who is serving Thanksgiving dinner, but then on Monday Mike showed up with a little invitation, which we gratefully accepted. We will meet some more local people and that's nice, and Thanksgiving is one of those holidays where it's nice to be in a group. Many many years ago I went to a restaurant with just one other person for Thanksgiving (yes a date) and I thought I'd enjoy it more; it was in some well known fancy restaurant in San Francisco and we stayed in a nice hotel, but it was not that great. Another year, when Drew was about 4 I think, after having turkey at my mom's, I went down to the alano club in San Rafael and served dinner to the local homeless people- now that felt good. I read that on Friday people here will be filling Christmas gift boxes next to the fire station and are inviting anyone to come down and help, so I think I'll try to do that, too.

We went over to Maneadero late this morning after I got to talk to Drewy for about an hour- gotta love love love magic jack, because Everardo has been fighting the flu for days. Today he conceded going to the doctor was a good idea and so we went. To see the doctor is 35 pesos (about $2.80USD) and 20 pesos ($1.60) to get an injection. The medicine for him was about 28 pesos- basically a penicillin (antibiotic) shot. I was starting to get a sore throat and chest, so she gave me some pills to take for 3 days for congestion along with my own shot to stop my runny nose and eyes ....so all in all we spent about $20. Not too bad eh? Everardo started feeling better right away and by late this afternoon was perfect. My pills are every 12 hours and since we got home a little past noon, I didn't want to take them until tonite..so we'll see. The truth is I sorta exaggerated my symptoms because I didn't want to wait until I was good and sick to do anything about it, and there was a pretty good chance in my mind I get at least as sick as Poppi since I'm kissing him, we often share water bottles, etc...And he almost never gets sick..I think I got sick right after we hit Playa Ventura, then again in Penasco, so it seems to be my way ha ha. Maybe I nipped this one in the bud.

Sam loved the beach this afternoon cause we went around 3:30 instead of closer to 4:30 like we have the past few days. It gets dark so early! And it cools off as well so we don't want Sam in the water- the problem is the only thing Sam wants is to BE IN the water! He is one happy dog. And he plays nice with Hazel, too. In fact they sometimes wear each other out playing. It's good, and pretty funny to watch because Hazel barks and turns circles and Sam lifts a paw to try and hold her down. He's such a good dog. And he takes watching the house very seriously; he knows it's his job. He's sacked out right now on the floor next to the couch, and Hazel is snuggled in a blanket next to Everardo on the couch, but when she gets bigger it will be no more furniture for Hazel. They still have to sleep outside until she gets housebroken, and she's coming along but I don't think she can make it all nite. Usually Everardo takes them out about 11pm, they lay on Sam's bed together and then Poppi puts the big blanket on them. Sam will stay under that blanket all nite, and Hazel is good at burrowing in next to him. Of course if someone drives up or other noises Sam is up and patrolling, in fact last nite I went down there about 11:45 and recovered him, and as I said, this place is pretty quiet so usually he's wrapped up for the nite. Once Hazel can hold it all nite they can both sleep inside, I like to have Sam sleeping near me. Poor guy, stuck sleeping outside cause of his new baby sister.

Luckily it doesn't get too cold, and if it does in the next couple of months then we'll figure out something else, but for now, it's working. Sam had a great swim today, going in over and over, and I can see he's a little stiff, ha ha he and I will both be happy when we move to a one story house!

I hope all my American family and friends have a nice Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow. I know Drewy and Rex and my soon to be granddaughter, and her half brother are all going to my ex's and that some other family is coming as well so it will be a houseful. My younger daughter Halla lives with her dad and his wife; I haven't spoken to her but in our house friends of the kids were always welcome on Thanksgiving, so I know they will all have a good time. It's nice to have a good relationship with ex's because we share kids, and who knows,  maybe next year we'll all be together. These days there are so many "blended" families...I mean it's too bad so many people get divorced, but if we can be good to each other, remember that at some point we liked each other ha ha, then we can all gain. I mean kids, even adult kids, can always use as much love as we all can give them. Everardo talked with his cousin/sister Anna tonite and then I chatted with her for a few minutes. They are also in northern Ca, and planning to come visit us in a couple, maybe 3 weeks. Yippee again. Hmmm maybe there's some way Drewy could come with them...well if she'd be comfortable driving down with them...oooh maybe even Elena- no she has school. Well and Drewy is in this (f'ing) holding pattern waiting to get her externship. Boston Reed has sucked at this part, it's been about 2 months and she found the externship location herself. Now this one might not come thru and she'll be depending on them, and they haven't done shit for her. Oh one thing- they did fire the counselor who was supposed to be finding her a placement- apparently he was dropping the ball with other students as well, maybe all the students from her class is what she's starting to hear. But she is determined and it will work out. I want to end this on a high note, so let's see...turkey legs, mashed potatoes, peas, stuffing, gravy gravy gravy..pumpkin pie, whipped cream, ice cream....yummmmmm

Shortest job in history! When I went in this morning, I was let go. I'm disappointed but ok, I mean I only worked there 2 days. What happened was that she spent the weekend re-evaluating how she is going to move forward with this new venture. She thought this new computer program, which is really an application with alot of input required as well as constant updating, AFTER you decide how you want to utilize it. She hired me because once this new system starts getting her all these new leads, she'll need someone to field calls, to update status's, to weed thru her email, to input data. She is looking for an assistant, not a partner. So she is taking a step back, and going in a different direction and believes her need for an assitant is a couple of months out. She also said her plan is to call me back. She showed me another website used for attracting virtual assistants and within a couple of hours of placing her ad, she got 7 responses. And they were from around the world; India, Bangladesh and other 3rd world locations where they would accept $2, 3, 4 or 5 dollars an hour. Now this is for a different job function than she wanted for me. She has decided to build the infrastructure and then as it begins to come together, as her pipeline begins to fill, then she'll need an assistant. Ha ha now the pressure is back on Poppi for a job! Ok just kidding, but I was not looking; I just happen to see her posting and decided to answer.

She is a very nice woman. She kept apologizing to me and hugged me at the end. She said she plans to call me back, and I hope that's true, but if not, that's ok, too. She said she like me and she thinks I'm fun...ha ha I hadn't even gotten started with my terrible jokes. One funny thing- this morning Everardo and I were talking and I said I'd worn long sleeves both days I worked and at my interview...I thought I'd let her love me before she saw my tattoos. He said- who cares! And I almost wore a 3/4 sleeve sweater, but it was kinda cold and my hair was wet, so I wore a long sleeve flannel over my shirt. I wonder, if I had worn the 3/4 sleeve and then was let go, would I wonder if it was the tattoos? Naaaa. When I got laid off from Teltronics after a year I went over and over it, trying to figure out why it was me- even though a bunch of people were laid off, and my job had basically been created for me...same thing when I did the contract job at this other place for 3 months, and I wanted to apply for a perm position in Engineering; an engineer I knew encourage me to apply, but when I went to HR she wouldn't even let me apply; she told me senior staff didn't like me. I still has 3 days to go on my contract, but I was so surprised, I went back to my desk, then tried to see my boss who I knew liked me...he wasn't around, so I wrote him a nice note, copied HR and left. I made myself nuts trying to figure it out. Well my boss got fired 3 days later, and the best I can figure out is because he hired me and they hated him....ah well. Anyway I do make an impression ha ha! People usually either really like me or really dislike me. Although I would say that as I get older (wait I'm always 29), that I try to be a little more middle of the road..sometimes I'm better at it than others ha ha. It's like as I like me better, I don't have to make you wrong, or convince you of anything about me.

The weekend was beautiful here!  On Saturday we took the doggys to the beach early cause we wanted to go to Ensenada to find the English speaking meeting they have on the wknd and we found it. I ended up chatting this woman who's husband was in a wet suit and standing on a paddle board out in the water. They own a place in the camp next door and come down one wknd a month and then for a couple weeks on vacation every year with plans to retire here in a few years. I pointed out to the point and asked if she knew what all those ships were doing; I thought maybe they had to wait their turn to go into the port at Ensenada. But only a few were boats, they were tuna boats, And the big rings we had seen when driving along the cliffs are tuna rings. The things I saw that I thought were like freight cars and assumed they were on a barge, were actually these things they lower around the tuna rings to keep the seals away and they go down about 50 feet. She told me 2 Japanese companies and 1 Mexican company have the rights out there to fish for the tuna. Getting the tuna to the table in a restaurant in Japan is less than 24 hours! So I guess they keep them alive in those rings and the "harvest" them. I see some googling for info in my near future ha ha. Apparently this place and only one other in the world (yes- the WORLD) is where they do this. It has to do with the cold current...I mean I'm sure tuna is fished for elsewhere but these 2 places are THE places where they can do it at this level. Pretty interesting, right? Makes my mouth water for some sushi...tuna, yellowtail, salmon...mmmm. Anyway while I was chatting Poppi tired out Sam & Hazel so we could take off for Ensenada.

 We went to Ensenada and found the place. Not too many street signs in Ensenada, and directions are always about landmarks...this was find Carl's Jr on the main street (Reforma) and then go behind it. It was pretty far, but we spotted it, and went up to the next light so we could swing behind it. We found it pretty easily, it was upstairs in a long cement building. Not alot of people, but alot of good sobreity, so a good meeting, glad we came. So,  downstairs from it was a little hole in the wall restaurant and I'm telling you- THE BEST enchiladas I EVER had! Now I don't like them picoso (spicy) so she left it out of mine except for a tiny bit. I chose chicken but could have had pork or carne asada. That's one thing- I'm glad we're so close to Ensenada for all the little places to eat, the trucks, corner stands....here the food is expensive, and many of the eaterys are not run or even staffed by Mexicans. This is an American enclave. You could probably deal with just English speakers if you wanted to. We went to this restaurant the other nite and the food was pretty crappy- I think I wrote about it already, so I'll just return to my point about eating in Ensenada. It's nice that it's close, but doesn't really spill over into here. I think driving it's less than 20 minutes to get to Reforma, and that's where Costco and Wallmart are, a big movie theater; alot of consumer businesses. Sort of runs along the top or the back, of the city. At the bottom, or the front is the waterfront, the hotels and touristy stuff. We can see it in the distance from here. This coast line kind of does a half cirlce inward, so we are at the south end and can see Ensenada almost at the north end. I keep forgetting I want to look up the name of this bay we're on. We found a great taco place the first time we came over to house hunt, and now we have this new place. Everardo had a soup and he really liked it. It had veggies and meat in it, it was clear I think, and he loves it. And that 18-20 minute drive will drop to below 15 once the road construction is completed.
When you drop down out of Ensenada- and I say that cause as you leave, the road goes down a big sloping hill, you go straight for a while and then come to a big Y. If you go to the right you go out towards us, and then past us, maybe 10 minutes driving is the Bufadora and the road ends there. So you don't get traffic near us that isn't out here for a reason. If you take the left fork, you go thru Maneadero and continue south thru Baja. The Bufadora is a huge blow hole, and kinda cool, ok very cool. You kind of get mesmerized watching the water flow in and out. You park and then walk thru a mini malecon packed with booths on both sides, and then come down to a viewing spot. I guess it's a pretty big tourist attraction, hence the road construction. We haven't done any exploring in Maneadero yet; but I suspect we'll find good food, and less expensive there as well since it's a Mexican community. Right next next to that Y, is an open air market on the weekends, on Sundays for sure and I think on Saturdays.

On Sunday there was this bike ride (maybe it was a race) from Ensenada to the Bufadora, probably an hour and a half each way (guess). There were about 300 riders and it was cool to see them going by. There was a pit stop for water here in Punta Banda, and they were taking donations of foodstuffs for a senior's home in Ensenada. So we donated some toilet paper, toothpaste and some cans of tuna...stuff we had in the house.
So we went to the open air market after that and bought fresh veggies and fruit for the week. The veggies are really really cheap, but I guess that's to be expected since this is an agricultural area. We eat there as well. A little taqueria on the back row with head tacos..really good; we've been to this market twice and that little place was packed both times. In the late afternoon we went to the beach and took a long walk, longer than usual and really enjoyed it. Yeah, walking on the beach every day is hard work, but somebody's gotta do it right? ha ha.

Tomorrow Mike is supposed to come and he and Everardo will fix the roof, and the front gate which has also crapped out. It's a wide metal gate with both sides swinging out and where one side connects to the wall by bolts thru a piece of wood, has come off. For me it's a cumbersome gate, and I look forward to not having it- I mean when we find another place to live. On Sunday afternoon we took a drive (before the beach) with the dogs and looked in a couple of other camps and saw some cute places. I think the Pablov family owns at least 2 other one besides La Joya and so far I continue to hear good things about them and their campos......

Oh, one more things. So I went to zumba this morning at 8; didn't mind paying since I had a job ah aha. But- it was terrible!! One 2 people besides me altho' they said usually it's about 10. The instructor was awful. Not like dancing at all. No booty shakin', no dancing, no excitement. I guess it was an ok aerobics class, but not even a very good one of those. I was thinking during it about writing this tonite ha ha, not realizing I'd be jobless in a few minutes. But job or no job that was not a class I'll return to.There's a free exercise class I heard about that I'll try tomorrow, but so bummed about the zumba. Maybe I can find out about the free one in Ensenada...maybe if the time works out I won't mind driving...oh but every day? Hmm ah well, I have the music so...never know what comes next, right?

Mexico fun fact:
The North Atlantic Free Trade Association (NAFTA) was created in 1994 to encourage trade among the United States, Canada, and Mexico. But NAFTA has largely failed to lift Mexico out of poverty due to Mexico's repeated economic crises, a weak public education system, government corruption, and Mexico's inability to enforce the rule of law.

Got the job! Oh and it's raining...

Interesting couple of days. I got hired by the woman who owns her own real estate company and suddenly I know more about real estate than I ever did before ha ha. This company is almost virtual, and altho' we're here in Baja, the business is in Washington and Oregon. And kinda interesting- an "a la carte" menu so the buyer can have full service, minimum service and all the things in between. There's a dashboard website to be learned and on my first day today I already attended a conf call/webinar training session. Part of what I'll do is utilize social media (FB, twitter, LinkedIN, learn how to optimize the web to get search engines to choose our sites, and at some point in the future I may even manage agents remotely.... Like I said, it's pretty interesting; and the woman is also pretty interesting. Very strong, independent, smart...entrepreneurial. Oh and we work from her home, which is on a cliff overlooking the Pacific, so all in all I'm pretty happy, pretty grateful. 20 hours a week- not sure if it would turn into more, but equally not sure I'd want to do more than that. 10am -2pm. Perfect, of course now I have to get off my lazy butt and go to the only zumba close enough to make sense for me. It's costs $$, just 300 pesos a month (about $24USD), 3 days a week. I could justify paying for it when I have an elliptical, and all the music from zumba in Penasco, and could make up my own routines....but if I have a little money, well then I may just have to check it out...but not until Monday ha ha...tomorrow is Friday so...

So it started raining a couple of hours ago, lightly at first and then pretty hard just for a little while. I heard that old familiar I'm in Mexico so the roof has gotta be leaking drip drip drip. We were both online with the tv on as well so didn't notice at first. If it had dripped anywhere else we probably wouldn't have heard it, but right onto the tv and the little table it's on. Wow- in Playa Ventura it rained in the bedroom, alot, and a little bit in the living room. In Puerto Penasco it was the bedroom and the kitchen, so just one spot in the living room ain't too bad ha ha! I sent an email before I started this post, to the real estate lady we rent thru, and since the maintenance guy has been here almost every day since we moved in, I'm sure getting him here tomorrow will not be a problem. Hmmm, maybe it happened because he finished the plumbing issues yesterday...yep 3 toilets all workin'...and I am still not sure if we have a septic tank or not. And it might be the "open type" where there are big rocks on the bottom and cement walls and a top....the water under the ground comes in and...well they never fill up because it washes away thru the rocks and gravel...hmmm yuck. Everardo and Mike dug trenches all around the house trying to follow the pipes...but what I know right now is I can go to the bathroom upstairs and downstairs, and that's what I wanted. It's a done deal that we will only be here 6 months tops.

This house is huge, and while maybe that would be ok, why pay so much when we could have a house the size of the Penasco house, with an ocean view and a yard for less, maybe half...Plus these neighborhood issues. Yesterday some feds were here looking for clues from our neighbor's robbery last week, and they are after a young guy (reportedly a druggie & a drug dealer) who used to live here, and is back, or is kinda back....anyway Everardo talked to one of the feds and the guy said, you guys should look for a different campo. ha ha yeah ya think? And it doesn't feel scary. It's very quiet, most of the houses are empty or seasonal. But as I talk to other people around here it seems that other areas are not like this, in fact it's almost funny; when they ask where we live and we say Agua Caliente campo..they always say "oh", or silence and then "oh". Anyway the fed gave Everardo his personal cell number if we ever have an emergency. Yeah...hmmm well hope we never feel the need, right? My job is in another neighborhood and it has places as well. It's kinda down a cliff, and when it is truly the rainy season I wonder if these people have trouble getting in and out of their places? The driveway to Diane's house is cement except at the very top so I'm ok there, but it looks like the rest of the little roads going down are all dirt. But I know of at least 6 or 8 other campos and we have 5 months to look- well Nov isn't even over so more than 5 months.

Everardo went to talk to a guy who hires and owns a couple of campos but hasn't caught up with the guy yet. But we keep meeting people and getting other leads, other insights. Last nite we met 3 people for dinner at a local restaurant, Baja Mamas. American food and very unimpressive. It's like an American's local watering hole, and I guess if I was drunk I might think the food was good. Mama is a nice old lady who walks around and chats (American) and apparently you can bring your dog in with you. There's a bar and in between the bar and the dining tables there's 2 guys, one plays at a time, guitar, one doing 50's songs in English and the other doing old Mexican ballads in Spanish. Ok, but so loud you have to yell to talk at your table- not my cup of tea. But again if I was drunk it would probly be fine ha ha. (since I haven't had a drink in almost 13 years, that's probly not going to happen, and Everardo didn't like it either so we probly won't go back). And oh yeah it was expensive. But our next door neighbor, Will wanted us to go and meet some of his friends. It was being on the island of misfit toys! Will is about 80 something but I would have guessed early 70's. He talks alot (lotta that going around) We met his friend Anna who talked the entire time and was right about everything! Just ask her. And told us to come to her house on the weekend.....then there was this other really old guy named Mac and he's moving down here to a campo down the road, into a 2 bedroom 2 bath furnished house for $350 USD- so I want to check THAT out. He has trouble getting around so Poppi gave him his phone number so we can run errands for him if he needs help. After that we came up the road towards home but stopped at another place that really was like a storage locker with the door up and it was a little restaurant, better prices but not sure I'd eat there- and again American food. Mostly we eat at home and if we go out, we go for tacos or carnitas- or some kind of Mexican food. The owner there looked like a tweaker and he and Will started gossiping about the family that own our campo cause he lives there, too- but down at the end by the entrance. Will was trying to be nice and introduce us around. We really appreciate that...that being said, well, ok when I stop laughing here.... we will probly never go to either place. But Will is an old man who lives alone and this is his social life, they talked about alot of people and he stayed after we left. He lives next door, but really only sleeps there. He hasn't had electricity in 10 years...oh or water. But he has another house in the next campo that he lives in during the day. But he says the bedroom and bed are too small- he's very tall and a bit wide, so he sleeps here. He is a character!

My migraine and panic attacks really wiped me out and I can't believe it's Thursday nite, cause I was sick on Sunday and don't really know where the rest of the days went. The damn panic attacks- I have to tell myself to let them go. Even right now I can feel it on the edge of my...my consciousness I guess, a little breeze of the cold fear that grabs me when they come, but sitting off to the side of me, like invisible fog. It just pushed at me, that's why I'm talking about it. Yesterday I did a little research of my own blog and found out that this year 2013, I had migraines 3 times, and all 3 times they were preceded by panic attacks. May 23rd, Aug 2, and now Nov. In Aug and Nov the migraines made me throw up, in May I felt sick but didn't puke, so does that mean they're getting worse? In Playa Ventura I only remember one migraine, and I didn't get sick, but it lasted a couple of days- this was before we found out about the shots. But I had panic attacks without migraines...I think it's new they come together. Or new this year anyway. I have to talk away the panic, or pray them away. I don't talk to my spiritual side as much since I've been here; just haven't worked it out yet cause I like to talk out loud...so I just have to get my rhythm back. But this week I have been sleeping almost on top of poor Poppi, but he is an amazing guy- and always tells me to wake him up if one starts...or before it starts if I feel it coming on. I still believe they are simply chemical imbalances that occur sometimes via stress, maybe sometimes in my body, they just build up. I've had them a long long time. But I hate this feeling of them just outside my reach...and having a funny taste in my mouth. But I've googled it a zillion times from every angle, and it just is what it is. See and writing this has pushed it away. Ok enough.

One more thing about the new job. The real estate is all in the states (Wa & Ore), except for one section where she has some in Baja. It's listed under retirement properties or something like that. I read the blub and noticed right away she tried to address the issue of crime/safety in Mexico- which I totally understand, I mean people are just so ignorant. The US gov't wants to keep it's dollars! If you watch, they start putting out all the travel advisories about how dangerous Mexico is right before major holidays so you won't go. I mean I'm more afraid in Oakland Ca than I've ever been anywhere in Mexico. There are bad people and bad places everywhere. Use your head, think...ok off my soapbox. Anyway I thought it was a mistake to even use the word crime- it's the first word that jumped off the page at me, and when I remarked about it, she responded very positively- she liked my thought process. So before I came onto this website I rewrote her blurb- just that one paragraph and left out the word crime all together and emailed it to her, so I'm excited to see what she thinks.

Well the rain has stopped and it's getting late...for a work nite ha ha ha haha.

Mexico fun fact:
In 1994, a group of Mexican peasants and farmers called the Zapatistas (named after Emiliano Zapata) started another revolt to highlight the differences between the rich and poor.

Jobs & houses...oh and hot sand

I have a job interview! Yipee!! Luckily even though I'd like to get it, I don't care if I don't. 20 hours a week would be perfect, not much money...but I keep saying I don't need much....ok ok I need a little. So she emailed me this morning and I was pretty surprised cause she was interviewing a "girl" this morning that was a computer WHIZ and wanted half the money I want....(wow half). I thought it was interesting that she said a girl, that's why I put quote marks around it. I mean unless she's under 21...I'd say a young lady or young woman if I was speaking to someone I didn't know...hmmm she probably is really young, and probably Mexican and doesn't need money, but could use the experience. Oh and maybe this woman I'm going to interview with is older than I'm thinking she is....who knows who knows...the cool thing (for me) is that this girl can't give her 20 hours a week-hmm maybe she's in school- so Diane wants to talk to me about the job. Did I say yipee??

I'm so glad I was honest with her when we talked on the phone. I know excel & power point, but haven't used them for a few years; well excel just for personal stuff like when I was job hunting in the states, or figuring out tasks when doing some home project; creating our original list of household things in categories for moving to Mexico as cost effectively as possible...but I am good, I used a computer to do my job for the past 30+ years. And she also needs a voice on the phone good with customers- and this I EXCEL at at! I am so good with customers! Vendors as well. So vamos a ver eh? Like I said we chatted on the phone once and now she wants to get together soon; she wasn't feeling well today so said she'd get back to me. That's fine with me; we ran around alot this morning cause I had a migraine that brought me to my knees on Sunday, and after the shot, slept all day.

 Yesterday I was still wiped out. Hopefully that's it for migraines for a few months, usually 2 a year, but sometimes 3. I bet if I look back thru these blog posts I can find the last time...I do think it was twice before this year cause I got the shot in Penasco twice I think. In Playa Ventura I had 1, but I didn't know about the shot then and I just suffered for 2 or 3 days. This one sucked extra cause along with it I got panic attacks; my other 2 or 3 times a year fun thing. But as of this morning I think I'm all good. Woke up early, we went out early-8am and I had McDonald's for breakfast in Ensenada- big mistake...not McDonalds, but ordering off my own menu of always having an egg mcmuffin with cheese and ham....and oj, I went with Everardo and had scrambled eggs and pancakes..sorry folks I wouldn't recommend it! But we ran our errands, and when we got home, Mike the maintenance guy was here.

I swear he's been working on our toilets since we moved in. And I can't believe this is week 4! We're still supposed to go downstairs for number 2, but honestly the last couple of days I just didn't care- and fortunately it was all fine. So today we get home and he's stomping around pissed off- the new toilet for upstairs is defective, leaking water on the floor and down the pipe onto our front porch...no not yucky cause it's just water. He was here about 3 hours I'm guessing and in the end we have the original toilet ha ha...ok so back to running downstairs.

Anyway back to yesterday afternoon. About 4pm we decided to take the dogs to the beach. One or both of us try to take them for a long walk every afternoon, even if we walked in the morning by the estuary. But that road is often busy, not super busy, but with 2 dogs- one of which does not mind, chases floating pieces of paper, or flower, or simply the wins itself, and the other has only the water on his mind so is pushing pushing is to walk faster....anyway the beach has been winning out. Plus even when we do go to the estuary we cross over to the beach for the walk back, and Sam loves loves loves the beach. Hazel simply loves loves loves whatever Sam is doing. Ok so we turned left instead of right when we hit the beach. We discovered this Saturday morning actually- that there's a hot water spring right there in the sand. I always kick off my shoes as we hit the firmer sand, and I noticed almost absently, that the sand was really warm. When I noticed it, I had been thinking about the sun, except that it was early. Then I walked in a little bit of water where it seemed the tide was going out but still water hanging way up the beach, and it was warm, too. Then I saw a puddle, like someone had dug a small hole that I could stand in with both feet. Wow! The water was too hot to stand in! As we walked a little further we saw a guy with a shovel digging a hole and the lady was sitting in the hole. I realized I had seen that the other day. Yeah a "duh moment" You know how people have a lightbulb moment, well mine is simply "duh". I guess that's why my campo (neighborhhod) is called Agua Caliente (hot water)...duh! So yesterday we walked that way again and found the warm water, and Sam chased the ball. But it was getting cold, and we only thru it on the beach- he was actually ok with it- kind of a surprise, but maybe he remembers he gets cold when we get home. We towel him off but he has to stay outside for a while.

So this guy is walking towards us from further down the beach. As he gets closer we recognize him with his 2 chihuahuas. We've seen him a couple of other times and just say hi, and try to catch Hazel who wants to play with them; oneof them is very interested in Sam who can't be bothered with yet another tiny dog, and the other runs with Hazel so it's win win. We chat with him yesterday, well mostly Poppi cause it's all in Spanish but I talk a little and understand a little (ha ha), and he tells us where he lives, in the campo next to ours and there, you don't pay electric. Then he tells Poppi that he works for the guy who owns that campo and that he can probably get a job over there. Wow- so we both get leads on jobs! Everardo's would probably be full time- but only 8 hours a day, not 12 like alot of jobs around here. So he's going to go over there tomorrow morning. They talked alot about houses for rent around here. We pay alot. He told us about a guy who rents big mobile homes- you know like the double wides?? Ha ha I can finally be trailer trash! Ok sorry, actually my mom lived in a double wide mobile home for about 20 years after my dad died, and it was a nice place. A really nice park, and a nice living space, huge with a family room, a living room, a dining room, huge kitchen and even a sunken tub in the master bath. The guy lives (I think) in this castle down the road back towards Maneadero on the edge of the estuary. You can see the castle from the road and I think you can rent it for a special occasion, for the night, ect. Anyway this is the guy who owns the trailers, and apparently he has them in several locations. We're going to see him. And Vladmir (the guy on the beach with the chihuahuas) also told us that houses rent from about $200-350USD. We're gonna start looking around.

Yes we've just been here going on 4 weeks, and we did sign a 6 month lease. And I do love this house. But the truth is, it's HUGE. The living room and master bedroom are about the size of the Penasco house. We have nice views, but so do lots of places. I probably wrote about it before we got here, that we just wanted to fins somewhere to rent so we'd be here, and then we could take our time looking around. It took me these 3.5 weeks to realize that Everardo is right- this house is way too big for us...for the money. And really, it's worth $500 a month, we just don't need so much house. And for me- I hate stairs, I do not want to live in a 2 story house. I grew up in a 1 story house, and then lived with stairs for years and then back to 1 story and that's what I like. It's funny, my Drewy has lived almost her entire life in 2 story homes and she likes them- it's what she knows. Bedroom go upstairs. Me, cozy is good. In fact Everardo thought our Petaluma house was too big, less than 1300 sq feet, but I thought it was just right. This is much bigger than that. Of course maybe I just hate the kitchen being way downstairs when I want to snack! It is also the campo. I wrote about the devil woman, and she has so many brothers & sisters and nephews and and and...add to that some of them are drug addicts and maybe dealers....and there's so many empty houses in here. And wherever we are in town, a restaurant or the beach or even a meeting, I hear that air sucked in "oh"..awkward silence.."well be careful there..." I mean I'm not scared or anything, the devil woman is just a bitch, and the hearing about houses being robbed have always been when nobody is home, so I'm not concerned for my safety. And usually the dogs are here if we're not (ok except for beach walks), and they are a good deterrent. We don't go out much at nite. So I'm not worried about that, more that it's just sort of isolated. The fact is we're almost for sure gonna move at 6 months- the house is big and we pay high rent. But it could even happen sooner; I mean if we find somewhere we like better-house and neighborhood, we might just break the lease. The problem with that of course is losing the security deposit of $500, so we'll just have to see. But you know what, when Poppi said that to me, that maybe we just let go of that deposit if it's for the right place, I felt a huge relief. We have options, and that immediately makes it easier, even to stay. And the family that owns at least 2 and maybe more of the other campos- we heard so many good things about them, everybody loves them...anyway options options.

So it's been an interesting few days. And my journey continues of thinking I want something, getting it, and finding out the grass wasn't greener ha ha. But we knew when we called this lady we'd be looking possibly at more expensive places, and this was the last place, almost an afterthought on her part it felt like to me. Maybe because it was more than we wanted to pay, maybe because she hadn't rented it out before-which I didn't know at the time. The people want to sell (but want way too much), and just started to rent it out, which I guess is why Maintenance Mike calls it a nightmare ha ha. He was working with the electrical before we got here, and told us the lights started working the day before we got here ha ha! And I know I complained about what we had to clean up with regards to their clothes, bedsheets, etc. We shall see what tomorrow brings; Everardo will go check out the job front with this guy, and maybe that woman will contact me tomorrow for that second interview. ooooh if even one of us works I can justify paying for zumba- another tentative yipee. I downloaded all the zumba music Erika gave me from Penasco onto my laptop and my phone, and I think I could probably pick 45 min to an hour of it and make up my own routine- but I do love exercising with a group in a class..