Monthly Archives: September 2023

Sep30

Tedious Tasks

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Tedious Tasks

Just over a week left and so many last minute things to do.

For example, Crumbl Cookies opened up in Wenatchee last week and we just had to try them out. Yep. Made the mistake of looking at the website and was drooling. There are six flavors and we opted for a box of four to share including milk chocolate chip, pink velvet, brookie and banana cream pie. Cookie butter white chip and pumpkin cheesecake will be for next time.

Then there was the day Linda and I continued our binge watching of The Lincoln Lawyer. Only three episodes left and those are coming up on Wednesday afternoon. When I’m in Mexico I watch very little TV and it’s primarily in Spanish not in English.

Charlene and I finally got to the golf club for lunch again. It was a rainy day in Leavenworth but the view and the food are excellent. Somehow that wound up being a three hour lunch. But it will be our last one until I return in April.

And of course I had to visit my tree in Cashmere. The leaves are just starting to change color but I doubt that the red maple will be in its full fall glory before I leave next week. That’s okay. I have wonderful friends who visit my tree and send me pics when I’m in Mexico.

On a more serious note, I spent all day yesterday sorting through documents, packing up artwork, going through clothes, deciding on what jewelry to leave and what to take as well as bubble wrapping some breakables. One of my leave suitcases is fully packed. Yes, I now have two suitcases that I leave. The first year I came here all I left behind was a ski jacket. I’ve accumulated a lot more since 2016. And I travel with only one suitcase and a backpack.

Today’s projects include organizing passwords, online banking and buying travel health for Mexico. Next comes figuring out how to burn music to my laptop and back it up on a drive. Then I can leave the external disc drive and all the CDs behind. While I do adore Spotify, there are some things that just aren’t available. And they’re not on You Tube either.

Que tengas un buen fin de semana!

Sep24

Trapped or Ministry

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Trapped or Ministry

Last Sunday Pastor Mike began a new series called Trapped. It was enlightening and definitely merited more introspection. So naturally Steve and I got into a discussion about the traps in our lives, and if they really were traps. We concluded that what often appears to be a trap can instead result in the opportunity to become a ministry.

I’m a firm believer that people come into our lives for a reason. And I also feel that I have ventured down a path that was predestined for me, although I do find myself occasionally straying off to the side. I always have been a bit of a rebel. It’s a lot to ponder. Why do I live where I live? Why do I do what I do? Is it a trap that has turned into a ministry? Can it fluctuate between the two? Dare I stray further?”

I often wonder what keeps drawing me back to Washington instead of snowbirding back to Canada. There can only be one answer to that. If you’re a believer you’ll get it. And if you are not a believer there’s no way you’ll understand it. The same holds true for why I have chosen to return to Aguascalientes during the winter months.

While it’s still a nomadic lifestyle it now has a twist. I’ve been coming to Washington since 2016 and to Aguascalientes since 2019. Before that, at the three or four year mark I’d move on. But now I’ve more or less settled in two places….Washington state and Aguascalientes.

The wanderlust has waned. I don’t get quite as excited about traveling and exploring new places. But on the same token I’m not prepared to call only one place “home” just yet. It’s actually kind of fun having more than one home although it can be a challenge when dealing with Immigration in three countries.

But what makes a home a home are the people. And I’ve been blessed with many amazing people in my life whom I consider to be much more than just friends. They’re my family. And I tell them they’re stuck with me now. Apparently they don’t mind and feel the same way. I can’t tell you how great it is to have family in three countries…my native country and the two countries I now live in. It really resonated when I found myself seeking asylum in two foreign countries during Covid. And although things have calmed down considerably, my appreciation for my extended family grows more every single day.

When life throws a curve ball my way, my attitude determines the perspective. Is it a truly a trap? Or is it an opportunity for a ministry?

Time to lighten things up. We’re headed out to see My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.

Sep20

Countdown

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Countdown

Less than three weeks and I’ll be back in Mexico. I finally booked flights the other day. While I prefer to fly inland to Guadalajara, the direct flight to Puerto Vallarta from Sea-Tac caught my eye. A bonus is that I can fly out of Pangborn here in Wenatchee so I can avoid TSA at Sea-Tac. Now we just hope there is no hurricane barreling up the coast.

This morning was my last writers’ group meeting until April. I’m really going to miss this group while I’m gone. I know. I’ve said that before. But everyone is such a great source of encouragement and inspiration. Two of our members are currently on the verge of publishing books. New people are coming to our meetings and our membership is growing. And we all write in such a variety of genres too. Today’s pieces ranged from science to memoirs and everything in between.

I spent the weekend with friends in Leavenworth. On the agenda was binge-watching Virgin River. This season isn’t quite as riveting but it is addictive nonetheless. Now I need to finish off the second season of Lincoln Lawyer and I’ll be ready to head south. In Mexico I tend to watch very little TV. When I do watch, it’s primarily in Spanish. Many of the programs and movies I watch are geared towards kids. I’ve never been able to get into the soaps that people recommend for practicing vocabulary and grammar. Of course I’ve never really gotten into soaps at all up here. The only exception is Guiding Light. I got hooked on that when I was pregnant and on bedrest and watched it until the show was cancelled back in 2009.

Today is a rather dreary rainy day and I think fall is here. The timing is actually perfect because I need to sort through clothes and decide what to take to Mexico. So I’ve gingerly moved my fall clothes to the front of my wardrobe along with some warmer hoodies. It will be hotter flying into Puerto Vallarta than into Guadalajara so I’ll have to figure that one out. Footwear will be easy. I’ll have to choose between pairs of New Balance. I think back to the days when I had a walk-in closet with shelves full of shoes. Now it’s just tennis shoes and sandals.

I registered for an online writers’ workshop out of New York. It happens next week and I remembered to put a reminder on my calendar for it. The topic is about writing powerful emotions. Now I just keep my fingers crossed that a conflict with the time won’t arise. New York is three hours ahead of Washington. I am sent a copy of the recording if I do miss it but doing it live is always better.

The Autumn Leaf Festival happens this weekend in Leavenworth. I’m debating going to the parade on Saturday but that will depend on the weather. I’m not quite sure how she does it, but Alexa seems to forecast better than the local weather apps. I’ll have to check with her later.

Happy Humpday!

Sep15

No I Haven’t Yet

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No I Haven’t Yet

It’s crunch time but I still haven’t booked any flights. I’ve been too busy doing other things. Of course yesterday I did take a cursory glance at available flights but decided to delay the frustration a while longer.

My granddaughter Madeline started kindergarten this week. We did a video call yesterday and she looked very tired. She goes to day care after kindergarten so it’s a long day. And she has finally given up her afternoon nap. As I recall her mother gave up that afternoon nap when she was just a few months old. Very different. But Madeline is doing the same activities her mother did at her age – ballet, swimming lessons and Sparks. Seems like just yesterday….

On Monday I volunteered at the 9/11 service at Spirit of America in Cashmere. When I first came to Washington state back in 2016, this was one of the first places I checked out. And I’m amazed at how many Washingtonians I’ve met who have never been here. I’ve brought friends here for the first time. And many have never actually even attended the event on September 11th.

This has also been the week for Mexican food. I normally don’t eat Mexican much while I’m up here. After all, I get the real thing when I’m down south in the winter. But on Sunday after church we went out for Mexican. And on Tuesday after Tai Chi we checked out a new restaurant. My favorite restaurant in Cashmere just opened up a place in Wenatchee. How convenient!

I have my story for writers’ group done and printed and it’s a week ahead of time. Bittersweet though. It will be the last meeting I attend before I head back to Mexico. We come from all walks of life and the talent in this group is amazing. I will miss our discussions over lunch and will attempt to keep in touch by email. But it won’t be the same.

Today I got a ride home from Tai Chi with new friends who have led quite an interesting life. Originally from California, they came here back in the eighties with two very young children. When they retired, they traveled by motorhome and motorcycle for five years. Did they ever have adventures!

Time to visit Duolingo.

Hasta luego!

Sep9

It’s Friday Again

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It’s Friday Again

I really should be practicing Spanish on Duolingo or researching flights to Mexico but I’ve been in writing mode most of the day. This morning I actually slept in despite the fact that there is a war zone outside my window. They’re putting in new water pipes and the whole street is torn up and there are piles of dirt everywhere. There are also at least a half dozen pieces of heavy equipment clogging up the street. But that extra hour of sleep was most conducive to writing today.

I sorted through mounds of poetry I found when I was back in Canada last month. Apparently I used to write a lot of it. But somehow I stopped when I got pregnant with my son and then I never wrote another word after. And I still don’t write poetry. I wrote exactly one poem about fifteen years ago for an artifact for one of my college courses.

This afternoon I wrote a story about my experience renewing my passport this summer. It needs some editing and then will be ready to present to my next writers’ group meeting. I’m really going to miss this group when I’m in Mexico over the winter. I plan on keeping in touch with some of the members. We always go out to lunch after the meeting where we continue our discussions. I will really miss those while I’m gone.

Yesterday was Chelan County Fair. My American friends tease me because I still get excited about going to a county fair. They all grew up with them but I never had that experience. I love looking at the animals and fruits and vegetables and quilts all vying for ribbons. However, I must admit that I’ve tried funnel cake and don’t see what all the fuss is about. Just give me a good old American Hershey bar and I’m happy.

I watched TV for a while today which I don’t do often unless bingeing on Lincoln Lawyer or Virgin River with friends. Today was two episodes of The Rifleman. Both were from 1960 in the days of black and white. Chuck Connors was very young back then and the story lines were corny. And the shows are a little on the violent side with lots of shooting and killing. But back in the day those were considered fine for kids to watch. Brace yourselves… I’ve mentioned before that I was a tomboy but I actually had a cap gun which was one of my favorite toys growing up. Toys? Hmmmm.

Duolingo is calling.

Have a great weekend!

Sep1

Friday, My Day

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Friday, My Day

This morning I was lazing in bed with coffee playing word games on my tablet, music by Phil Wickham in the background. It’s the first chance I’ve had to do that since I returned from Canada. Usually I’m up and out the door early. Saturday was Waterville, Sunday was church, on Monday I was out with Ann, on Tuesday I had a workshop with my writers’ group and then Tai Chi, on Wednesday I was off to Linda’s in Leavenworth and yesterday I was off to Leavenworth to teach a fitness class and then back to Wenatchee for Tai Chi. It’s so nice to have one day this week with absolutely nothing on the calendar.

Of course there are things I need to do today, among them online banking and catching up on emails. I also need to come up with something for my writers’ group meeting next week. And it’s also time to start checking out flights back to Mexico. So much for nothing on the calendar today.

My street looks like a war zone. New water pipes are being installed. Piles of dirt and heavy equipment make traveling down the street an obstacle course. They’ve been at it since back in May. We have the same two seasons here in Washington that they do in Winnipeg…..winter and construction.

Linda and I have been binge watching The Lincoln Lawyer. Last night I caught an old episode of Perry Mason. Those were the days when lawyers actually got innocent people off rather than getting guilty people off on technicalities. Our world has changed.

I’ve been watching the crazy weather and have pretty much decided to stay away from the coastal airports when I fly back to Mexico next month. I’m leaning towards Guadalajara again. I detest Mexico City anyways and have been reading about all the expected cancellations due to cutbacks on the number of daily flights allowed. I’ve been in Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta when there have been hurricanes and it wasn’t fun.

Have a safe and enjoyable long weekend!