Tag Archives: USA

Jan16

Plans For A Crazy Day

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Plans For A Crazy Day

Today is one of those crazy days. My mind keeps wandering as I’m trying to focus on my writing. I’m working on the Epilogue now. And things haven’t exactly turned out the way I’d anticipated when I’d first started writing this book. And that’s okay. Plans don’t always work out.

Plans. My thoughts drift to the sermon the pastor gave last Sunday. It was all about plans and God’s plans for us. And I sometimes wonder about that. Why did I wind up in Aguascalientes? No ocean here. I don’t hang out with gringos. The art galleries and museums are nothing compared with those in Guadalajara. And then there’s Washington state. I keep being drawn back there. The lure of the mountains and life in the USA.

Yes. Life in the USA. I grew up hearing about how we were so lucky to be living in Canada. Such a great country. The way things are going right now, I don’t think it’s such a great country. Despite the political divide, I prefer my life in the USA. The big drawback to me is that my kids still live in Canada and don’t want to visit me in Washington or Mexico.

Back to plans. My TV has been doing weird things like freezing and no volume and no nothing today. So there goes that plan of watching a movie in Spanish in an attempt to improve my skills in that language. But I have been doing some texting in Spanish today so that helps.

Speaking of today, I had planned on going to the tianguis on my street today. But it’s almost 2:30 and I’ve missed it once again. Oh well, there’s always next week. And I really should take some pics.

Pics. I’m slowly but surely organizing all the pics I scanned when I was in Winnipeg last summer. My son has promised to send me a link so that I can share a few thousand with him.

My son. The other night I missed a video call from my daughter in Kelowna as I was doing a course online at that time. When I called her back, to my surprise my son and his girlfriend were there visiting from Winnipeg. My kids don’t exactly keep me updated on their travels. But it was so great to do a video call and see them all together. Only wish I could’ve been there with them.

Of course that was another long ago plan that never happened. My kids and I all living in the same city and seeing each other all the time. That was the way I grew up. But someone up above had a different plan for me.

Back to my plan for today. Back to my Epilogue. And I’m listening to The Rolling Stones in the background.

What’s your plan for today? And how is it working out for you?

Dec9

My Writing Goals For 2025

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My Writing Goals For 2025

It’s almost the end of December and that means 2024 is almost over. It’s time to set some goals for next year. I don’t do resolutions. I do goals. They’re more meaningful to me and I’m more likely to strive to achieve them.

First and foremost are my writing goals. When I’m here in Mexico, I have more time to write. More importantly I have more time to write without interruption. This means I sometimes boot up my laptop at midnight and write for a few hours. Breakfast can sometimes be at two in the afternoon or later. My time is my own.

I’ll start with the novel I’m writing. It’s actually turning into a trilogy. While there is some fine tuning I still have to do on all three parts, I’m into the homestretch now. My goal is to have this ready for publishing in the spring when I return up north. Then I need to decide which country to publish it in. My first two books were published in the USA but now I’m leaning towards having the next one published in Canada.

WordPress is presenting its annual bloganuary again this year. I’m going to attempt it. This means a writing prompt a day for thirty-one days. I won’t post all of them to my blog, but I do intend to post a few of the more interesting ones. Sometimes these writing prompts can be quite bizarre.

Another goal I have is to write in Spanish. Until now I have primarily been writing in English. My writing in Spanish tends to be on What’s App, Facebook and texts. While my main focus in Spanish has always been in speaking, I want to do some writing to improve my grammar rather than merely the exercises on Duolingo.

And when I’m not writing, I still have all those pics I scanned last summer that need to be organized………….

Dec3

Poinsettia

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Poinsettia

As I was scrolling through my newsfeed this morning, I found an article that was a refreshing change from politics and war. It was about the poinsettia and the story behind it. When I lived in Tlaquepaque, a school where I taught actually had a poinsettia tree growing out in the courtyard.

The poinsettia has its roots in Mexican culture, dating back to when the Aztecs used the red leaves to make dye and medicine for fevers.

Legend has it that this plant first bloomed after a battle near Taxco between Montezuma and the Chontales tribe. Apparently the Chontales were reluctant to pay their taxes. When the battle ended, the road to Taxco was a bloody one covered with dead warriors. Red flowers amazingly bloomed. The Aztecs believed that these flowers were sacred and that the souls of the dead returned as hummingbirds to drink from the petals.

There is another Mexican legend regarding poinsettias. Two very poor children wanted to bring a gift to Baby Jesus for the Christmas Eve service. But they had no money. An angel appeared and told them to pick some weeds and put them next to the Baby Jesus. They did and the weeds became beautiful red poinsettias.

Franciscan friars used poinsettias in their Christmas celebrations. They believed that the star-shaped leaves signified the Star of Bethlehem and that the red color was a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice.

How did the poinsettia arrive in the United States? Joel Poinsett was the first American ambassador to Mexico. He adored these beautiful flowers and in 1825 brought them to the USA. Hence the name poinsettia.

Poinsettias are synonymous with Christmas all around the globe. While the most popular color is red, there are also varieties in pink, white and yellow as well.

I recall buying poinsettia plants when I lived in Canada. They were always red and I was never successful in keeping them alive for more than a few weeks after Christmas. I kept them indoors due to the frigid temperatures outside, but obviously they thrive better outdoors in a warmer climate.

Nov26

A Different Pet Story

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A Different Pet Story

Where I’m from in Canada, people have some pretty standard pets. Dogs, cats, birds, fish, hamsters, turtles. It’s much the same in the USA but a little different here in Mexico. Iguanas, tarantulas and piranhas are just a few of the more common and unusual pets.

The other day I was having lunch with some of my Mexican friends here in Aguascalientes. Victor shared this story about a pet with me.

Victor was babysitting a pet for his nephew who was away. Unfortunately this pet passed away. Victor buried it out in the garden. Victor thought about replacing this pet but was unable to do so. It turns out that the pet in question was a porcupine.

I don’t know about you, but I have never heard of a pet porcupine before. And I don’t think a porcupine would be my first choice.

I’ll leave you to ponder that one.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mar14

Life 101

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Life 101

Life 101: Mental and Physical Self-Care. University of California, Irvine. That’s the course I’ve just started this month on Coursera. This week we’re discussing habits. We’re learning how to overcome bad habits and turn things around so that we form good habits. We’re learning how to look at our current life situation and interpret things in a more positive way than we have in the past. We’re learning how to strive for goals differently by considering the benefits of intrinsic motivation over extrinsic motivation.

The beauty of taking a course on Coursera is that I work at my own pace. Other courses I’ve done on Zoom demand that you be there on certain times and on certain days. With the nomadic lifestyle I follow, this is difficult and sometimes even impossible. Thankfully some of the writers’ workshops I attend on Zoom frequently send me recordings of the session and that is quite helpful.

Less than three weeks left until I fly back to Washington. I finally went down to Central yesterday and got my bus ticket to Puerto Vallarta. I have a hotel booked and I fly back up north to Wenatchee via Seattle on April 2nd. This winter went by way too fast.

I’ve been stockpiling meds as the cost here is about a third of what it is in the USA. I really don’t enjoy all these tedious last minute things to do before I leave. And I especially despise having to say goodbye to friends. It’s interesting the close relationships you develop with people although you’re only in a place for a few months.

And then there are other friends who have left Aguascalientes and are now living in other areas in Mexico as well as in the USA. But Aguascalientes has become home to me. I love my neighborhood and the delightful tiendas and papalerias. I have my favorite restaurants that haven’t changed much over the years. There are the familiar parks and streets that are comforting. However, I still look forward to the time I spend up north.

When I first arrived in Mexico in 2010 I met several people in Mazatlan who had decided to leave Mexico and return to the USA. I really pondered that one until I reached year six living fulltime in Mexico. That first visit to Leavenworth in 2016 had an impact. I became a snowbird after that. And I have been blessed to enjoy the best of both worlds.

But it’s still hard to say Adios when it’s time to leave.

Feb29

February

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February

February may be a short month but it’s been a busy one. And it’s a leap year which means that today is a leap day. And I have only one month left until I fly back up north.

I was tutoring Emiliano yesterday and he told me that his classroom at school is haunted. I had to double check the translator on that one to make sure I heard him right. He told me that at night the chairs and desks move around. He says the windows and lockers open up too. Apparently a few years ago a student fell down the stairs as well. An interesting legend.

Texas is burning up. The state has set a record for the largest wildfire. Gusting winds are in the forecast. I wonder if it will spread to any neighboring states.

On the plus side once again a partial government shutdown has been averted. That makes me happy. Air traffic controllers were set to walk off the job along with many other workers. But I also wonder how long it’s possible to put these last minute short term deals together before all hell breaks loose.

Most of my Zoom meetings are done now. While the programs and classes I’ve attended have been interesting, they have also consumed way too many weeknights this month. And then there’s the task of reorganizing my notes and putting them in files. I’m looking forward to having more free time now for writing.

I went our for breakfast with my friend Gloria yesterday to celebrate her birthday. We went to one of my favorite neighborhood cafes where they actually prepare chilaquiles that are not too picante. I find that as I’ve grown older my body doesn’t enjoy spicy foods the way it used to.

On the topic of foods, a new restaurant opened up close by. I had the most delicious ribeye tacos and the guacamole was also amazing. Can’t wait to go back and try other items on the menu.

Movie of the week I watched in Spanish was The Sixth Sense. It was a lot more challenging than the English version I saw many years ago. But it’s still a great movie.

Time to practice Spanish with Duolingo.

Saludos!

Jan13

My Day Friday

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My Day Friday

I was born on a Friday and maybe that’s why Friday has always been my favorite day of the week. Even Friday the 13ths don’t get to me anymore.

But yesterday was not a typical Friday. It was far more exciting than the usual Friday.

Grandson number five was born in Culiacan yesterday! Mateo arrived in the morning and at night he was on his way home with his mom and dad to his four brothers. That is way too fast for me. I recall the one week hospital stays I had back in the 80s when my kids came along. It was nice to be pampered for a few days.

Yesterday Joanne took me to her hairdresser in Bosques. Betty isn’t Lisa and the salon isn’t Shears, but I am happy with what was done. It was three hours well spent and well worth the drive. And Joanne had her hair done too so we had a great visit as well. Bonus: The price was about a third of what it is in the USA too.

As it had finally warmed up yesterday, I was able to go for a longer walk when I got home. Inspiration hit and I got some writing done too, not just editing.

That was my day, Friday.

Nov17

Revolution Day

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Revolution Day

I doubt that I’ll be alive thirty years from now but it sure would be interesting to read all the history books at that time. I always found American history far more interesting than Canadian history. And now that I spend so much time here in Mexico, I have become more familiar with this country’s history.

November 20th is an official government holiday and is known as Dia de la Revolucion or Revolution Day. It commemorates the beginning of the Mexican Revolution back in 1910.

Diaz was an army general who served as president from 1876-1911. That’s a thirty-five year term. It’s not surprising that Mexicans felt that they needed a change. Madero, a wealthy landowner, ran against Diaz in the 1910 presidential election. However Diaz jailed Madero.

Madero escaped from jail and on October 6, 1910 he issued the Plan of San Luis Potosi, declaring the results of the 1910 election fraudulent and nullified them. He declared himself the provisional president and encouraged Mexicans to rise up against Diaz on November 20, 1910.

One of the results from the Mexican Revolution was that many Mexicans came up north to live in the United States as legal immigrants. Over one million Mexicans, some undocumented, made their way across the border. It wasn’t until four years later that a border patrol was created.

In 1917, a new constitution put limits on the number of terms politicians could serve. It also introduced new labor laws that included abolishing child labor.

Yes, Mexico has its own colorful history.

Aug25

Why do you blog?

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Why do you blog?

Why do you blog? This was one of the writing prompts on WordPress this week. I decided to give it some thought.

I was living in Guadalajara when I started blogging on WordPress. Two of my housemates, Sean and Omar, were computer geeks and helped me get set up. Both of them were working remotely while living in Mexico for a while.

Before I started my blog, I used to send out mass emails to friends I’d left behind in Winnipeg. But now that I was living and teaching in Mexico, I found myself keeping in touch with others I’d taught with or lived with over the years. It’s true that a one-liner on Facebook got the word out and was easier than writing emails, but I could write in more detail in a blog.

I also used to include a lot of photos in my blog posts. I do a fair amount of traveling and there are always new museums, art galleries and parks to explore wherever I go. I made a lot of new friends and we often went on adventures together. But that changed when Covid arrived.

My blog posts became more introspective when I sought asylum in Mexico in March of 2020 when my FMM expired. I had given up my work visa when I retired back in 2016 so I was now counting my 180 days again. When I finally made it to Leavenworth at the end of September, I had a lot more freedom and fewer restrictions. Life was a lot more normal than it had been in Mexico. I was able to be vaccinated and was able to obtain medication I required that had not been available in Mexico.

My 180 in the USA was almost up in March of 2021. Do I go to Canada and pay $2000 for a two night hotel stay in isolation and then have nowhere to live once I got out? Do I go back to Mexico and take my chances in a third world country during a pandemic? Thank you to the CDC for coming to the rescue and issuing a level 4 travel advisory against travel to Canada. I retained an attorney and successfully sought asylum in the USA.

It’s now 2023 and I’m pretty much back on track with winters in Mexico and the other six months in the USA and Canada. But my blog posts are very different than the ones I wrote when I initially began the blog on WordPress. One featured photo and more writing. I write about life rather than travel. I occasionally write about family. I still tend to shy away from politics and religion.

I can’t remember the last time I sent out a mass email. Instead I encourage people to read my blog. I have followers around the globe and am grateful for all your support. I’m not the least bit interested in making money from this blog although I know several people who do just that.

I blog because I enjoy writing. I blog to give others some insight into my nomadic lifestyle. I blog in the hope that what I write may impact someone else’s life. I blog for me and I blog for you.

May27

Memorial Day

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Memorial Day

In the USA, Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May in remembrance of those who lost their lives while in the U.S. Military. Quite frankly, I expected people to swarm the cemeteries but that just doesn’t seem to be the case. Most people don’t work and it’s a popular day for barbecues and parades. I decided that it’s time to learn more about the history of Memorial Day.

The first public ceremony held to honor soldiers killed in battle was back in 431 B.C. This took place in Greece after the Peloponnesian War.

One of the first Memorial Day events held in the USA was back in 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War was over and newly freed slaves had good reason to celebrate.

The original name was Decoration Day as soldiers’ graves were decorated with American flags and flowers. Those honored were soldiers who lost their lives in World War I.

Union General John A. Logan called for May 30, 1868 to be an official day of remembrance. It didn’t signify the date of any particular battle but was to honor those who died in all wars.

In 1950 Congress passed a resolution asking the President to issue a proclamation that Americans should observe Memorial Day as a day for prayer of permanent peace.

In 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May and provided a three day weekend for federal employees. However it did not become an official federal holiday until 1971.

In 2000 President Bill Clinton signed the National Moment of Remembrance Act. At 3 pm on Memorial Day Americans were asked to observe a moment of silence.

Flags are displayed at half-staff until noon. The flag is then raised to full-staff.

Another tradition is that the President place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a site honoring all who died fighting for their country. The President also delivers a speech.

That’s today’s American History lesson.

Have A Great Sunday!