Apr24

It’s About Time!

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It’s About Time!

Okay. I’ve had more than a two week break from posting. Time to write again.

I’ve been in Winnipeg for over a week. Bus trip to Puerto Vallarta went smoothly; missed the farmers’ blockades. And my WestJet flight actually went and was a direct flight as promised. No snow on the ground when we landed. But the following morning there was snow on the ground and it was cold. But I’m tough. Off I went to the hairdresser on Friday so I could feel human again.

The highlight of my visit has been seeing my son. An accountant, he is up to his eyeballs in work until April 30th. I did not expect to see him until sometime in May. However my amazing friend Donna insisted that we stop by his office anyways. His firm moved since I was last in Winnipeg. Their new offices were a mere 3 blocks away from the hairdresser. But it was after 5 and the elevator and stairwells were locked off. I was disappointed, but as usual when life throws me curve balls, I shrug it off and deal with it.

On Monday Donna was moving me from her place to my friend Rita’s. We made a detour to Kyle’s office. And I got to see him!!!! He gave me a tour of the new offices which occupy the entire third floor of the building. I was most impressed with the size and the numerous windows in his own personal office. Did I feel guilty about disturbing him at work? Nope! I haven’t seen him in 2 years. And I have to add that I love him and am so incredibly proud of him.

It’s now Friday and I’m pet sitting. Rita is in Toronto this weekend visiting her kids. As I look out the window at the gloomy sky, I wonder if the snow will return this weekend as forecasted. The temperature has already plummeted. 75 yesterday and only 48 today.

Time for some herbal tea. If I were still in Mexico I’d be drinking Suerox.

Apr9

Everything Will Be Okay

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Everything Will Be Okay

The summer of 1970. So many memories come flooding back. I recall standing in line at Sam The Record Man in Toronto eager to purchase the newly released Beatles album, Let It Be. It was also the first day it was being sold in stores in Canada. One song in particular fast became my favorite– Across The Universe. The chorus became my mantra–nothing’s gonna change my world.

But how wrong that proved to be. My entire world was turned upside down in the months that followed and the summer of 1971 was not the one I had envisioned.

I was supposed to be traveling through Europe with a guy I’d met from New York. But I became ill over the winter and my doctor refused to give me the the required vaccinations for travel. So there went Europe. My dad also suffered his first heart attack. And I wound up going to summer school because I’d had to drop out of college that year when I’d been sick.

Decades later I’ve come to the conclusion that nothing’s gonna change my world is just a fallacy. It seems like something is always changing. My life is far from predictable. I know how I want things to go, but whether or not they actually go that way is another matter.

But a lot of great things have happened when life has thrown curve balls at me. I’ve had exciting adventures and met incredible people. Change can be good.

Next week I leave Aguascalientes. And I’m traveling to somewhere that is definitely not my first choice. I’m not flying out of or into my preferred airports. No, everything has changed this spring. I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone. I’m not sure exactly where I’ll be. I know where I want to be and what I want to be doing. But I hold onto the belief that everything will be okay.

Nothing’s gonna change my world is a fairy tale, not reality. But I still love the song.

This will also be my last post for a while until I figure out where I’ll be and what I’ll be doing.

Cheerio!

Apr1

April And Me

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April And Me

Today is April 1, April Fool’s Day. My most memorable one was back in 1980, the day I found out I was pregnant with my first child. So that’s what all the nausea was about. Not stomach flu after all. And I was blessed with it morning, noon and night, except for the time when I was admitted to hospital for a threatened miscarriage and hooked up to an IV. Miraculously the nausea disappeared for a few days. Of course the doctors and nurses attributed it to the fact that I was miscarrying.. But we showed them, didn’t we Kyle? All that nausea along with mandatory bed rest and nine months later I gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Just tell me I can’t do something and then watch me do it.

In Mexico, April Fool’s Day happens on December 28 and is known as Dia De Los Santos Inocentes. This day dates back to biblical times when King Herod ordered the murder of innocent children. But as the years went by, it evolved into a day of mischief and pranks. The first trick my students played on me involved candy. They often brought me different types of Mexican candy to try. And they knew I didn’t like anything hot or spicy. That day, hidden at the center of that tasty hard candy was—you guessed it—-a mouth burning and eye watering hot chili flavored morsel.

April 5th is also my mom’s birthday. She would have been 114 or 113 this year, depending if you go by the date on her birth certificate or the date on mine. I found the discrepancy a few years ago when I had my birth certificate translated from English into Spanish. I also found other errors on my birth certificate too. I’d never really examined it that thoroughly before.

This year Easter will be celebrated on April 5th. The small Catholic church down the street has four different services listed that day. As I’m not Catholic, I’m completely ignorant when it comes the why or what of these services. I’ll most likely attend an afternoon or evening one, as I usually tend to sleep later in the morning.

And now back to April 1st, today. CFE thought it would be fun to play a joke on us today. We had a power outage. Annoying. We also had one in the middle of the night. So I think maybe I’ll upload this post before we get a third one today.

Happy Passover to those who celebrate.

Happy Easter to those who celebrate. He Is Risen!

Mar24

Ghosts………..Fantasmas

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Ghosts………..Fantasmas

As a child I grew up watching Caspar The Friendly Ghost on TV. I may even have read a comic book or two. And I believe that I may have dressed up as a ghost one year on Halloween. But believe in them? That they haunt people? That they are evil?

While I thoroughly enjoyed the movie E.T. as well as the TV program Alf, this wasn’t real life. The characters were created to entice audiences to the cinema or to view TV and increase ratings. And then there was I See People Who Are Dead from The Sixth Sense. Again, an attempt to lure people to the cinema.

Years ago on Day of the Dead I went with a friend to a cemetery in Guadalajara at night. My students were skeptical. “Teacher, be careful. It is dangerous. The ghosts are not nice.” They were serious. They were actually frightened and feared for my safety. However, my friend and I left the cemetery that night unscathed. We actually laughed at the eerie sounds such as creaking doors and clanking chains. We were amused by the spectacle of ghosts flitting about in the cemetery and disappearing behind brick walls. Amazing what special effects can do!

Last winter, Emiliano and his friends created a podcast for his middle school class. The subject—fantasmas(ghosts). He informed me that there was a ghost that haunted his school. At night the building was locked up tight. In the morning, often furniture was moved, windows were opened and various objects strewn about. Interesting.

Here in Mexico it is very common that people believe in ghosts. I’ve lived in several places in Mexico and have heard that phrase often. And I heard it once again at Conversation Club last week. This group is comprised of adults and last week all present were in their 50s. One of them remarked that two ghosts haunted the house he lived in. Another stated that he had seen strange things in the sky at night and had taken photos of them. However not all of these objects were visible in the photos.

Given my background in psychology, one of the members asked me point blank if I believe in ghosts and the supernatural. It’s true that I have read articles and watched documentaries. But I am not convinced. I have not had any type of personal experience, unless you count the night at the cemetery in Guadalajara. And I did not feel any drastic change in temperature, or any sudden breeze in the air, as others have reported. I have never seen a flying saucer in the sky nor seen an extraterrestrial creature.

But is it time to delve into this and do more research? Hmmmmm.

Mar19

Changes

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Changes

It was a tough decision to figure out where to go this spring. It usually isn’t. And it’s never easy to say goodbye to people either. But it is that time of year again. So I booked a flight and I know where I’m going. The big unknown is how long I’ll be there. And where I’ll be going after.

I don’t enjoy traveling anymore. And this year especially I’m glad I won’t be traveling during spring break. I made that mistake a few years ago long before TSA agents were going without pay, and it was crazy enough back then. The photos I’ve seen of airports today are unnerving. They’re like scenes out of a bad movie. Cancellations due to inclement weather only add to the chaos.

I’m also contemplating taking a break from social media for a while. I keep getting bombarded with questions. When are you leaving? Where are you going? How long will you be gone? When will I see you again? And of course that gets me thinking at how reliant I’ve become on social media. And that’s probably not a good thing. It’s far too easy to text than to talk. But at least I text a fair amount in Spanish so that’s a plus.

I’ve seriously down-sized my newsfeeds. I’m beginning to understand why my parents never wanted me to watch the newscasts on TV when I was a child. And I’m thankful that my kids are grown and adults now. I sure wouldn’t want to be raising kids in today’s world. As a child my biggest worry back then was if we were going to have a fire drill at school with snow on the ground. And the only snow day I recall was the blizzard in 1966 that crippled the entire city of Winnipeg.

I wonder what the history books will say years from now. Will there even be books as we know them? Or will they be digital? What will classrooms look like? Better yet, will there even be classrooms? As it is, I take a fair number of courses online and I listen to audiobooks.

Change is why my life is far from boring and doesn’t lack for adventure. I may be a Boomer, but I don’t live there now.

Mar12

Thursday

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Thursday

Thursday is the tianguis on my street. I enjoy strolling through this market and engaging in conversation with the vendors. It’s an excellent way to practice speaking Spanish. And of course I buy fruit and vegetables. I’m always fascinated by all the used clothing and occasionally I discover a treasure, such as a Liz Claiborne in a petite size in excellent condition. But more often than not, I pass on the clothing. Sometimes I sit on a plastic stool around a table with several others, feasting on tacos pastor or tacos bistek.

From the tianguis I head toward Chavez to the panaderia and the chicken rosticeria. I pass by the elementary school where parents impatiently wait for their children to be dismissed. Numerous vendors fill the sidewalk displaying after-school snacks. Tables are filled with candy, gum, potato chips and sodas. Mexicans love their sugar.

I think back to when I was in elementary school in Winnipeg, Canada. There were no vendors selling junk food back then. The only one I remember is Pop Kelly who would park his truck outside my junior high school on Friday afternoons and sell popcorn. And that one little bag would last throughout the one mile walk home.

I returned home as it’s siesta time. Not really. I just want to get out of the sun and heat for a while. Although rain is in the forecast, at the moment there isn’t a single cloud in the sky.

Time to listen to an audiobook, in English. Thank you Libby and North Central Washington Libraries.

Enjoy your day!

Mar4

Stuck In My Head

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Stuck In My Head

Good afternoon! It’s a balmy 80 degrees headed for a high of 85 degrees today. And I’ve had this song stuck in my head since I got up early this morning. The Lonely Goatherd. It’s from The sound of Music, a delightful musical I see every summer up in the hills at the amphitheater in Leavenworth.

I had planned on walking down to the pharmacy, but we know what Robbie Burns says about plans. So I’ll leave that task for another day. Besides, I have a Bible Study this afternoon and a student coming after that. But I am going to walk down to the chicken rosticeria in a few minutes before it gets too hot.

The above was on Monday. And it’s now Wednesday, Humpday.

Monday night there was a Shelter In Place. No. Not here in Aguascalientes. Not even in Mexico. This one was back in East Wenatchee, Washington in my neighborhood.

Last night was Conversation Club. This is a group I facilitate for adults who want to improve their English skills. We meet at 5 pm Mexican time and are usually done by 6:30 or 7 at the latest. But last night we went for almost 5 hours! It was really amazing and most gratifying for me. Topics of conversation ranged from bereavement to broken bones to health insurance to music to cruising to meditation and more.

My order for capirotada was just confirmed on What’s App. I can’t wait until she brings it on Friday! Up north my favorite bread pudding usually has pecans and a caramel sauce. But down here the Mexican version available during Lent is my favorite.

Tomorrow is Thursday and that means there is a tianguis on my street. I will go in search of pineapple, watermelon and other fruit. And of course I will browse through the clothes, knick-knacks, jewelry and other miscellaneous items.

I registered for another online program with NCW. This one is related to Women’s History Month. And this coming Sunday does mark International Women’s Day.

I’ve been reading about the controversy in Canada right now about changing the clocks in spring and fall. We don’t change the clocks here in Mexico. That makes it less confusing. I hope Canada does away with it too.

How is your humpday going?

Feb24

Tuesday February 24 2026

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Tuesday February 24 2026

Earlier this morning I walked down to my new favorite gordita stand. As I ate my shredded beef gordita and sipped my agua (today’s flavor is mango), I watched the children playing outside at the elementary school. I saw people stroll by carrying bags of produce and baking. The fruit store is next door and the bakery is down the street. I noticed a man selling burritos on his motorcycle. People lined up at a taco stand across the street.

Although Aguascalientes has a population of close to 1 million, my neighborhood of Las Flores feels more like one of the sleepy little towns I’ve traveled through in the years since I first started coming to Mexico in the winter. Walking the streets here is safe, day or night. People are friendly and greet you with Buneos Dias, Buenas Tardes or Buenas Noches. My neighbors sit outside every day greeting everyone who walks by.

I adore the quaint tiendas. It is so different from filling a shopping cart at Costco or Walmart. I often go into my corner tiendita and buy 1 tomato or 1 potato. I can buy 1 bolillo or 1 pastry. A frequent purchase is 1 egg and 2 strips of bacon on mornings when I’m so inclined.

There is a small gift shop down the street. For less than one dollar, she giftwraps with colorful tissues and shiny bows. Her little tienda boasts everything from children’s toys to women’s handbags. Even when I just go in to visit and browse something always catches my eye and I often leave carrying a treasure in my hand.

And then I think of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. And I think of ICE running through my neighborhood in East Wenatchee. And I think of my hometown of Winnipeg, notoriously labelled as the murder capital of Canada.

And I think of how blessed I am to be living in Aguascalientes today.

Feb22

Sunday February 22 2026

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Sunday February 22 2026

So I’m sitting here wondering why I haven’t heard a word from Canada while the USA has been quick to issue warnings and provide updates on Cartel activity today. Oh, wait! I forgot! Canada is always in the shadow and takes a while to catch on whenever there’s a crisis.

Please pray for everyone in Jalisco, especially Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. Here in Aguascalientes it’s quite tranquil as I write this. I was out for a walk earlier. Restaurants and shops all open as usual. A typical day here in my neighborhood.

I have the Olympic figure skating on in the background. I missed the Canada USA hockey game earlier. Maybe the Guatemala channel might show it later on. Another hockey game that went to overtime. But they actually streamed some bobsleigh finals this morning. First time I’ve seen it on TV and not just on You Tube.

This is a short post but I wanted to let everyone know that I’m okay.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Feb16

This Week in February

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This Week in February

Has anyone else been glued to the TV lately? It all started with the Super Bowl last weekend. And now it’s the Winter Olympics. It’s been exciting seeing so many new world records set. These athletes have incredible determination and drive. I can only imagine the grueling training and other sacrifices made in order to qualify and participate in this event.

Yes, there’s been the usual complaints about judges and accusations about cheating. Athletes have been disqualified over petty little things. Politics has reared it’s ugly head. But there’s been a lot more positive things going on.

It was interesting to see that Mexico sent a delegation this year. Both men and women had a presence in Alpine skiing as well as in cross-country skiing. Donovan Carrillo skated his heart out in the men’s single event. Sarah Schleper set a record as not only the oldest Alpine skier but she is also skiing alongside her son.

Years ago I never enjoyed watching the figure skaters. I always worried that they’d fall and screw up their routines. But now I find it quite relaxing compared with watching some of the other sports. Serious injuries involving broken bones have occurred in skiing and in the halfpipe. There have been many crashes in the speedskating races. But I still marvel at those competing in these events, especially the halfpipe and the big air. And I have always enjoyed watching the luge and bobsleds.

Aside from sports and my usual English teaching this week, seeing as the mindfulness series has ended I’m starting a new program with a church in Canada tonight. This one deals with bridging broken bonds. It deals with avoiding and healing estrangement with adult children. This is always a hot topic of conversation with friends and I’m curious to see how Rick Warren approaches this.

And now I’m going to be mindful. I’m putting away my computer and I’m going to turn on my TV to watch the Winter Olympics. By the way, I’m watching it in Spanish on a channel our of Guatemala.