Tag Archives: Walmart

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!

Feb7

Sunday

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Sunday

It’s Sunday again. If I were in Aguascalientes I’d be going to the small church around the corner. But that was a year ago, before Covid. This year I do church online. And that’s okay too. Yesterday’s rain has now turned to snow.

I think back to Sundays of other years. I spent a fair amount of time in bowling alleys with my kids. When the kids were grown my ex and I often went out for brunch with friends. When my marriage ended I taught aquatic classes on Sunday mornings.

And then I moved to Culiacan. Sundays were non- teaching days so parks and museums were on the agenda. When I lived in Irapuato I went to church with friends. When I lived in Guadalajara Isaias and I traveled to numerous small towns in Jalisco on the weekends. When I lived in Mazatlan I went to church and out for brunch with friends. Then I often walked along the malecon. In San Ciro there was only a Catholic church so I did more touristy things.

For the past few months I’ve added a blog post on Sundays. I write about my life, my thoughts and feelings. I often include photos. And I never really have an agenda of what I should write about next.

I’ve taken a break from working on my book. My imaginary friends aren’t speaking to me very much. When they do, it’s just nothing I want to run with. Instead I have found other things to occupy my time. There has to be more to life than Netflix.

A 500 piece puzzle dominates the dining room table, a Christmas gift from my friend Joyce. It’s been years since I’ve done a puzzle. This one is a scene from England complete with double decker buses.

I learned how to bait rodent traps this week. My friend Steve has a pest control business and I helped him out one afternoon. Apparently rats, mice and voles are quite active in Washington state.

I had my hair cut the other day. No more long hair. It’s now in a short bob. Thank you to Lisa at Shears here in Leavenworth. No need to travel to Wenatchee for a style anymore.

I actually did go into Wenatchee yesterday with Ann. Walmart and Macy’s. I also had a lovely long walk. 50 degrees and sunshine in February. Very different from the brutal winters on the Canadian prairies.

Yes. I still play Candy Crush. But I play Candy Crush Friends now, not Candy Crush saga. I also play word games.

I still color. I’m enjoying the Thomas Kinkade coloring book. I’m learning how to blend colors with pencils and water now, although I still adore my gel pens.

Google Duo has become a good friend. Video calls with my grandkids are treasures, although I hope that someday virtual hugs and kisses will be replaced by in-person ones.

I read a lot too. It’s nice to have a library close by with books written in  English. Although the library is closed, curbside pickup is available for books reserved on-line.

Another good friend is Duolingo. I don’t want to forget my Spanish as I do intend to return to Mexico when it is safe to travel again. Oh how I miss traveling!

Time to tune in to Church of the Rock in Winnipeg.

Happy Sunday!

Feb2

This Week in AGS

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This Week in AGS

It’s been a busy week. I haven’t had much time for blogging. I’ve been visiting museums and admiring churches. Of course there was an unexpected side trip to Walmart………… 

On Saturday I went to the Plaza Tecnologia in search of a new battery for my phone. Oh oh! I couldn’t find one. A building filled with booths and no-one had the one I needed.

On Sunday I was delighted to find a Christian church right around the corner from where I’m staying. A handful of the congregants also spoke English although the service was in Spanish. My Spanish is really getting a workout this winter.

On Monday my destination was Walmart. I was on a mission to buy a new phone. And I did. And I am still playing with it and trying to adapt to all the new features. It’s only been two years since I bought my last phone. Quite amazing how there have been so many changes.

On Tuesday I dropped my laundry off at the lavenderia and discovered a lovely cafe close to where I’m staying. I then went to Centro to explore the Casa de la Cultura. I must admit that the art there was not really to my liking, but it was definitely different.

On Wednesday I decided it was time for a road trip. I headed to Leon, Guadajuato. I had been there briefly eight years ago en route to Irapuato. Leon was the closest airport. I spent part of the day in the historic Centro area visiting the Cathedral and other churches. I then browsed through the Zona de Piel. Leon is known for its leather and I was happy to find a new fanny pack as my old one was disintegrating.

On Thursday I was back to visiting museums and churches. The museum was dedicated to a famous artist here in Mexico, Jose Guadalupe Posada. The museum is located adjacent to the Templo del Encino, a beautiful church.

Today I enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Loncheria Fer, owned by my friend Fernando. It was leisurely and three hours passed by quickly. Fernando has been a wealth of information about Aguascalientes and his cousin Raul manages the hotel where I’m staying.

Throw in phone calls to my family and friends in Canada and the USA, sorting through photos and learning to use my new phone, the days have flown. I’ve also had some interesting conversations with locals at the park and other places. I’m quite surprised at how many have been to Canada and even knew where Winnipeg is.

I’m staying in tonight and resting up for tomorrow. The planned agenda is two museums and a church. That will put me at the halfway mark for visiting museums in this city.