Tag Archives: Costco

Jan14

Brrrr. It’s Cold.

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Brrrr. It’s Cold.

Apparently we are in the midst of a cold snap here in Aguascalientes. This morning I went to Costco wearing a long-sleeve top and a hoodie. The temperature was a balmy 59 degrees. The expected high today is only 70. But I won’t complain. Besides, who would listen?

Costco. Such a different array of products on the shelves and in the freezers here. But I have a small fridge and no freezer. The container of cottage cheese and the carton of hard-boiled eggs take up an entire shelf. And I have to leave room for the cheddar cheese. Those are my staples here in Mexico and is why I have a Costco membership. These items are always available whereas they aren’t usually stocked at other grocery stores here in Aguascalientes and definitely not at my tiendita. The cost of a Costco membership here is also less than half of what it is in the USA and it’s valid in every country.

I’ve started thinking about flights. I plan to head north after Easter. Usually the only stress is how long a layover. But now we have atmospheric rivers and bomb cyclones to contend with. Will LAX even be around in April? At the moment the relationship between Mexico and the USA is a little on the unsettling side. So that’s another stressor. And then there is the where should I go and where will I stay issue. However, seeing as this is all pretty much not in my control, I’m going to be mindful and enjoy my time in the sunshine.

Speaking of being mindful, I registered for a series of programs on Zoom offered by North Central Washington Libraries on this very topic. And my Sage Hills group began a Bible Study this month on Revelation. I also read books online on Libby. I’m so very thankful for the Internet.

The Wateke Weekends have begun again after the holidays. I was delighted to find those amazing cinnamon rolls again. This time I passed on the peanut butter and chocolate frostings and went for the cream cheese. Delicious!

Tomorrow is the tianguis on my street. I’m looking forward to buying some fresh fruit to go along with the cottage cheese. I’m still on the hunt for celery. I’ve only seen it once at the tianguis and Costco didn’t even have it today.

Conversation Club starts up again next week. We’ve had a long break and I hope the participants haven’t forgotten all their English. While it’s easy for me to practice my Spanish everywhere, opportunities to speak English are quite limited here.

I’ll close with this. Today is Wednesday. It’s also Humpday. And it’s the middle of the week. Monday and Tuesday we are climbing. We get to Wednesday and then begin the slide down to the weekend.

WTF? Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. So get your minds out of the gutter.

Have a great day!

Aug29

Not So Typical

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Not So Typical

While this past week has been a busy one, it has also been not so typical. But I’ll start with the weather. Way too hot and way too muggy. It started early this year and looks like it’s still going to be around for a while. No rain in sight, not around here. But last night there were quite a few lightning strikes in other parts of the state that triggered wildfires.

The USA had issued a Level 4 Do Not Travel advisory a couple of weeks ago to certain states in Mexico, one of them being Sinaloa. It looks like this will be the second winter in a row that I will be unable to visit with my Mexican family in Culiacan due to all the cartel activity and violence. And I fear for the safety of my five nietos.

Here in Washington I met a woman when I was doing volunteer work. She is currently going through an ugly divorce and has decided to change her name. Okay, I get that. Once I’m legally divorced I also might do that. But I doubt that I’d turn it into a three day reclaiming celebration involving wineries and parties. And there’s also the matter of the invitation to attend the official hearing at the Court House in Wenatchee. Nope. That’s a little too bizarre, even for me.

Last night I heard from a long lost friend in Mazatlan asking me to transfer money to her Mexican bank account. When I lived in Mazatlan I had helped her out before with a few pesos from time to time. After all, we used to bake some awesome brownies together back then.

Here’s another not so typical. Linda and I went to Costco earlier in the week and I didn’t buy a single thing. No groceries. No clothes. Not even a hot dog. Very unusual.

I was sitting sipping coffee out on the patio at Weeds in Cashmere yesterday when I struck up a conversation with two women from Quincy. They had a beautiful, exceptionally well-behaved dog with them. I’d love to have a dog again. But then there is the matter of my constant travels between countries that pretty much rules out pet ownership.

The other day I went out to Lake Chelan with a friend from my writing group. Donna had grown up there decades ago and it was interesting seeing this area through her eyes. So many changes. Buildings torn down. High volume of tourist traffic. A street of condominiums where her grandparents’ house had once stood. Her childhood home gone. A very different view from the Lake Chelan that I’ve come to know in the past few years.

And now it’s Friday. I wonder if this will be a not so typical weekend too.

Jul31

Tsunami. Flash Flood. Cinnamon Buns. Gnomes. Costco. Yale.

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Tsunami. Flash Flood. Cinnamon Buns. Gnomes. Costco. Yale.

The week began with tsunami warnings for the coastal areas in Washington State. Flash flood warnings for the northern Cascades. Heavy rainfall in the northern part of the state. Hence the flash flood warnings. Hopefully no thunder boomers. Lightning tends to hit trees and start wildfires.

Tuesday morning. Stopped in at the Sure to Rise Bakery in Cashmere for a cinnamon bun. Strode down to the Spirit of America 9/11 Memorial for some quiet contemplation.

Gnomes. Cashmere is known for its gnomes. Pick up a brochure at the visitor center and go on a hunt for these creatures. I actually did that once. Now I just glance at them along with their cute little homes.

Did I say gnomes homes? On Tuesday afternoon I volunteered at a program at the library where I fired a glue gun for a couple of hours. Kids eagerly built homes for gnomes. This is an annual activity at the library that is always so well attended. There was an abundance of craft materials ranging from birchbark to feathers and everything in between. And these kids are all so creative!

I did it again. I signed up yesterday for another online course from Yale University. Psychology this time. The videos this week are all about the brain. Interesting and at the same time a little scary.

Extremely hot and muggy here in East Wenatchee. Rain early this morning. So far just isolated drizzle this afternoon. And the 90 plus degree heat wave is forecast to continue for another few days.

On a cloudy and gloomy afternoon it’s a good day to go out for lunch and then cruise through Costco. So we did. Fall clothes and Halloween decorations have no appeal to me, not where I go in October. But I do enjoy browsing. It brings back fond memories of when my kids and I used to decorate our house for Halloween.

Bye Bye July!

Jan22

Everything Is On Fire This Week

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Everything Is On Fire This Week

It all began on Monday with the inauguration of Donald Trump. And that has got my Mexican neighbors all fired up, not to mention all the Canadians and residents of other countries around the world.

Then there’s the other fires – the wildfires in California. Today I watched videos of brushfires surrounding the Fashion Valley Mall and Mission Valley Mall in San Diego. Those were two of my favorite malls when I was there.

Friends are asking me if I’m researching flights back to Washington yet. A lot can happen between now and May. Will LAX even be there? The winds around LA are kicking up again.

And now I’ll add something that will fire up my American friends. I renewed my Mexican Costco membership for a mere 529 pesos ($25 US). And yes, I use it in the USA and Canada.

All this fire and it’s only Wednesday.

Jul5

From One Extreme To Another

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From One Extreme To Another

I was in Winnipeg for two months. It rained at some point every single day and the temperatures were cool with the odd 70 degree sneaking in. Here in Washington it’s sunny and temperatures are in the 90s predicted to reach 100 in the next few days. I prefer to be here.

Last weekend I volunteered at a book sale in Cashmere on Founders Day for Friends of the Cashmere Library. We raised just under $1000, up from last year’s $600. The money goes towards funding the amazing programs this library offers. I’m actually registered for a woodburning coaster event this coming week. Other programs I’ve attended in the past have included such activities as pastels and painting with acrylics.

It was great to be back at my writers group the other day at the Wenatchee Senior Center. What a variety of writing was presented at this meeting! Members come from all walks of life as well as very different places. Poetry, memoirs, fiction, non-fiction……………it’s all here and the two hours flies by quickly.

Another highlight of the week for me was going back to Shears in Leavenworth to have my hair done. I know. There are salons in East Wenatchee. But Lisa knows my hair and I don’t mind going a few towns away every few weeks to pamper myself. Another bonus is that Linda and I pick up lunch at Dan’s and then go back to her place to visit and binge-watch Netflix.

And yes, I’ve been back to Costco a couple of times and we won’t even discuss clothes or the bag of Hershey kisses I bought. But I did pass on the dark chocolate sea salt caramels LOL.

Cashmere Valley Bank I am annoyed with you. I got a new debit card from my Canadian bank and you wouldn’t accept it at your ATM. But Numerica did. I guess I have a new favorite bank now.

Please pray for my friends in Mexico as Hurricane Beryl bears down on them today.

May4

I’m Here

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I’m Here

No, I’m not in Aguascalientes. No, I’m not in Washington. I’m here in Winnipeg. Except that we have Seattle weather here…..RAIN! And it’s cold. And I left my Columbia ski jacket in Washington.

Rita picked me up at the airport on Thursday and we went straight to VJ’s for lunch. Yep. VJ’s is always a must on my list when I come here. Best chili burgers anywhere!

When my kids were younger and in YBC I used to travel across town more than once a week as they bowled out of Windsor Lanes. How ironic that I’m now staying a mere five minute walk from there now. Of course my kids are no longer bowling and that alley house is no longer in existence.

Costco this morning. While I did find the granola I buy in Washington, protein bars were different. As were the cheese strings. And the yogurt. But I’m tough. It’s only for a month.

Laura, (my computer guru) and I went to Best Buy last night and I got a scanner. Now to connect with my son who is storing all the photo albums. I’m on a mission.

Here’s one from Alexa:

What’s the difference between a cat and a comma?

A cat has claws at the end of its paws and a comma is a pause at the end of a clause

Mar22

Food In The News

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Food In The News

In my determination to avoid reading all the negativity in world news, I decided to turn to reading about something on the lighter side when checking out the headlines.

Anyone who knows me is well aware that I’m a chocoholic. So I read with interest an article about Cadbury and two new chocolate bars on the horizon. Boasting larger chunks than Dairy Milk, both Nutty Praline Crisp and Caramel Nut Crunch sound delightful.

Costco is now offering ice cream in the food court. Chocolate, vanilla and twist. No idea if that’s here in Mexico now as I won’t be going to Costco again until I’m back in East Wenatchee next month.

Wendy’s—your new Frosty flavor doesn’t appeal to me although I have heard others say they are excited about it. Orange Creamsicle. I was never fond of that back in my childhood and always opted for Fudgsicles instead. And I will stick to ordering my chocolate Frosty.

Oreos. You are selling churro oreos? Okay, I’ll try them. But the real McCoy is the churros here in Mexico, especially the ones filled with cajeta or chocolate.

For nut lovers, Planters has some new nut duos that sound interesting. Cashews with Espresso Hazelnuts is the one that appeals most to me. Peppercorn pistachios with Parmesan Cashews comes second. In third place is Buffalo Cashews with Ranch Almonds.

Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Raisin bread has long been a favorite. The new flavor is Lemon Blueberry Swirl. I’m undecided about that one.

Subway is changing their drinks from Coca Cola to Pepsi. I rarely patronize Subway but will now avoid it as I prefer Coke.

On that note, I’m going out to find some ribeye tacos and guacamole.

Provecho!

Jan21

A Gringa Saturday

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A Gringa Saturday

Today I did something very uncharacteristic of me. I ventured into gringoland in the north area of Aguascalientes instead of walking around in Las Flores or in El Centro as I usually do on a Saturday. I spent the afternoon walking around in two very different places, along with Raul, Alethia and Emiliano.

Our first stop was Altaria. This is a huge indoor-outdoor mall which has grown considerably. The two landmark stores are Liverpool and Sears but there are other stores such as Bershka, Sephora, Sanborns and H&M to name just a few. There are also a multitude of restaurants such as Italiannis, La Creperia, and Chili’s. And of course you’ll find Cinnabon, Dairy Queen, Starbucks and the like. There is even a casino, movie theatres and quite a few banks. I heard lots of English spoken here today. Most gringos live in the north part of the city.

Our next stop was Costco. It was time to renew my membership and buy some cheddar cheese. Yes, that’s why I have a membership. Costco is the one place you can find cheddar cheese regularly. Occasionally I’ve seen it at HEB, but Costco is the most reliable. A bonus is that the cost of a membership is about $25 US while up in Washington it’s $65 US. And I can use my card all over the USA and Canada.

A few hours later I’m back in my own neighborhood, comforted by the hum of voices speaking Spanish.

Mar1

Mi Tienda……My Corner Store

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Mi Tienda……My Corner Store

When I was a child growing up in River Heights, there were no large grocery stores in our neighborhood. The big chain stores were all located a car ride away and didn’t arrive in our area until the 60s. Until then there was a small grocery store a couple of blocks away on Grant that my mom went to occasionally. I don’t recall the name of the store but I remember going in there often just to buy popsicles or dixie cups. The owner knew just about everyone in the neighborhood.

Up in Washington, I frequent Costco, Safeway, Winnco and Walmart. I’ve been back in Mexico for almost six months and haven’t been to Walmart yet and only went to Costco once to renew my membership and buy cheddar cheese. There’s this tiny store on the corner of my street where I can buy everything from nail polish remover to onions to beer and everything in between.

And I don’t have to buy in quantity either. If I crave a bigger breakfast, I can buy one egg, two strips of bacon and a bolillo. I don’t have to buy a dozen eggs, a package of bacon and a loaf of bread. I’ve seen people go in there and buy one Tylenol or one tea bag. Even that River Heights grocery store wasn’t this convenient back in the 60s.

The interesting thing is that there are at least a half dozen more tiendas within a three block radius of where I live. They all carry an incredible amount of inventory. None of them had toilet paper shortages during Covid. My neighbors tell me they’ve all been around for years.

Later this month I’m going back to Washington and I won’t have the luxury of a corner grocery store. Instead it will be a full shopping cart. Reverse culture shock means I’ll also actually have to plan menus. No more satisfying my cravings on a whim by a few short steps to the corner.

On that note, I think I’ll head out and pick up an apple and a couple of slices of cheese for a snack.

Happy Humpday!

Feb1

Here Comes February 2nd

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Here Comes February 2nd

Who here remembers the sitcom Room 222? I recall watching it around 1970ish. Teaching has sure changed since back then. Of course the whole world has changed.

So the other day I went on an old sitcom binge. Unfortunately all were in English. But it was fun! Different Strokes, Facts of Life, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, Three’s Company and a few more.

February 2nd is coming up. Groundhog Day up in the north. Here in Mexico it’s Dia de la Candelaria. Back on King’s Day when we had the Rosca, small plastic figures of the baby Jesus were hidden in the bread. Legend is that whoever finds them brings the tamales on February 2nd. Carole, if you’re reading this, are you bringing them to a party in Toronto?

I had a great time at Costco earlier in the week. My friends in Washington tease me when I tell them I have a membership solely to be able to buy Cheddar cheese. The stores near me have a variety of Mexican cheese but Costco is the only place with the Cheddar.

It’s getting hot again. 80s this week. Looking at the pics my friends post of snow cools me off though. I don’t miss the snow.

I start a new class online tomorrow. It will probably be the last one this winter. Once I get back to Washington fitness classes and training will occupy much of my time. And of course I’m looking forward to seeing all my friends too.

My characters are still talking to me so I’m still focused on my writing. I finally have my timeline all straightened out and that was a rather tedious task.

Constitution Day is coming up this weekend. It’s always interesting keeping up with holidays in three different countries, especially when they don’t always coincide. My province in Canada has Louis Riel day later in the month while the USA celebrates Washington’s birthday. They’re all good excuses for a long weekend.

Happy Humpday!