Tag Archives: what’s app

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?

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………….

Oct6

So What?!

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Monday, Monday. Facebook down. What’s App not working. Didn’t bother checking Instagram.

It certainly made for a quieter day. No constant pings and dings of notifications on my phone. I actually spent very little time on my phone.

Here in Mexico What’s App is a lifeline to many. I’ve met a lot of people who just put 50 pesos at a time on their phone. They don’t have a phone plan like I do.

For 200 pesos a month, less than $10 US, I have unlimited talking and texting as well as long distance to the USA and Canada. Some data is included ans all social media is also free.

Without a phone plan, What’s App that runs off WiFi is free, so that is a very popular option for those who do not have a plan.

Therefore a lot of people were impacted when everything went down on Monday. Their pesos on their phones would not stretch quite as far.

I find it interesting that phone plans here are so reasonably priced. In the USA a similar plan with AT&T costs me $40. Canada was even more expensive the last time I was there.

While buying cell phones is far more expensive in Mexico, using them is definitely much more affordable here.

Mar29

My New Virtual World

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My New Virtual World

Social distancing. Physical distancing. Self-isolating. Self-quarantine. Common buzz words we all live with today.

I’m a people person. I like to be with people. I like to do things with people. I like to go places with people. I like to wander in and out of shops conversing with the locals.

Here I am in Mexico in the mist of this COVID-19 madness where I spend most of the time by myself. And my virtual world has become more important lately.

I confess I spend much less time on Facebook. Too much negativity and misinformation. However I do share my blog posts every other day. And I respond to private messages. But when I want the facts about the virus I check the Mayo Clinic website. I also participate in discussion groups on this site too.

On Sundays I no longer go to church. Instead I tune in online to Church of the Rock in Winnipeg.

And new this past week…. Pastor Kent of Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene is offering an online Bible study on Wednesdays. And I have partnered with my friend Becky in Indiana to further discuss what is presented each week.

And then there is What’s App, Instagram and Twitter. But I refuse to Zoom.

I do try to limit my time in this virtual world. I have my writing, coloring and daily walks to occupy my time. I also spend much more time on the phone with friends. I was even interviewed by a Winnipeg Free Press journalist on the phone a couple of weeks back.

But I miss the in-person contact. I wonder how much longer I will have to just be content with only my virtual world.