I got thinking the other day that it must be getting close to the time of year to pay for my medical insurance again. I got out my previous years stuff and sure enough it had to be paid before the end of March. I never use this insurance, I just have it in case something major happens, so I kind of forget about it for most of the year.
Friday morning I proceeded downtown to the office with my folder of documents in hand.
When I entered the office it looked like a confusing mess. The lady that usually sits at the desk and directs people to the correct window for their questions was missing.
One gentlemen waved me over to his line and told me the lady wasn't in today and that I should stand in line behind him. He was lined up for a different window than I usually go to for my payment forms and stuff so I asked him if this was the right line to do that. He didn't think so and directed me to the line that I had thought I should be in. Everyone was wandering around looking confused, it was kind of funny. I moved over to the line that I thought I should be in and stood and waited. The young fellow in front of me turned and asked me what I was there to do. I explained and he seemed to think that I should just go straight over to the counter. Hmm, that wasn't what I did last year, last year I had to line up at that window first and get papers before going to the counter. I always doubt my knowledge so took his advice and went over to the counter where I was informed that I needed to be in the line I had just left first. Too funny, I should go with my own ideas sometimes I guess. The young man ahead of my just grinned and shrugged.
When it was my turn, the gentleman behind the counter remembered me from other years and asked me how I had been. We did the usual pleasantries and then got down to business. He looked over my papers from last year, entered his data to get this years forms and hit "print". Nothing happened, he hit it again and waited, rolling his eyes as his stuff was in the line with everyone elses stuff to be printed. All the windows use the same printer. He waited, then the fellow working at the next window had a problem with his computer and his stuff wouldn't print. He asked for help, and they couldn't get it going. My papers were in the line behind his stuff so I waited also. After much eye rolling he grabbed his cup and said he was going to get a glass of water and the lady came over to work on his computer. She got his going and it printed out his stuff; but mine still wouldn't print. The fellow at my window re-arranged the paper in the feed, shut the machine off and still it wouldn't work, by then he and the fix it lady were standing around the printer and basically scratching their heads. We were joking back and forth about the machines, etc., and he asked the ladies to start dancing and maybe it would work. I told him then that he should close his eyes, turn around 3 times and then hit the machine hard and it would work. Amid much laughter from everyone he actually did it. Too funny. Finally the fix it lady came and sat down at his computer and tried to get it to work. We chatted as she played with the computer and she told me that she keeps all the machines in the office running, over 100 and that there are many problems with them every day. Eventually she got it to work, I thanked her, the worker thanked her and he handed me the forms to sign. Two different forms, 3 copies of each, all needing my signature. That done he told me to go to the guy at the counter and he would give me the forms to take to the bank to pay.
I wandered over to the counter and saw the husband of one of the ladies that works at our local mini market store so we had a chat while I waited. The counter fellow also remembered me from other years so we had to go through all the pleasantries again before he could print off my forms. That all done I headed off to the bank to pay, and then to a copy store for the required copies of the form. Back again to the office where I handed over my forms. They stamped them all, gave me back the original for my files and bada bing bada boom I am done for another year.
Start to finish about 2 hrs. with the majority of the time spent waiting on a recalcitrant printer. Pretty good and very simple renewal. It was also that easy last year so this year I thought something would have changed to make it so that I needed something else; but nope, easy peesy.
Done for another year.
In spite of the malfunctioning machines, it was actually a kind of nice morning, no one was angry, upset or yelling. Everyone was smiling, joking and just generally being pleasant. If you have to do paperwork and pay bills that type of attitude sure makes it easier to bear.
Just another day in Mexico. Gotta love it.
Minggu, 11 Maret 2012
Jumat, 09 Maret 2012
El Conejo en la Luna -- The Rabbit on the Moon
I was just reading some blogs that I follow on Google Reader and Linda Lou over on her blog was talking about the moon. Her blog reminded me of the other night.
I was waiting for the bus after my art class and happened to look up at the moon and I saw it, el conejo en la luna. I was so surprised that I turned to the lady waiting next to me at the bus stop and told her that I could see the rabbit on the moon. Naturally she looked at me like I was a crazy person; but smiled anyway; perhaps to placate la loca (crazy woman) ha ha.
Not long after we had moved to Mexico we were looking at the moon with our landlord and his then young grandson. I asked the grandson if he could see the man in the moon and he looked very puzzled. Our landlord explained to me that here they say that they can see a rabbit in the moon.
Well, after that any time I thought about it I looked; but could never really say that I saw the form of a rabbit in the shadows of the moon.
The other night I did finally see him. His head, his ears and his body, looking very rabbit like, as he should.
When I got home I told Roy and took him outside to show him. Roy treated me very much like the lady next to me at the bus stop.
So, have a look at the moon tonight and see if the rabbit appears for you, whether he does or not I am sure you will enjoy gazing it and you won't even need to wear your tinfoil hat as Mexico Bob can explain to you better than I can.
The above written about grandson is now about 11 yrs. old and today was selling chocolate bars, I imagine for school; but I didn't bother asking. I was on my way to the store for some groceries, with only a big bill in my pocket so I asked him if he had change. He assured me he did so I pulled out the 500 peso bill I had in my pocket. His aunt, grandpa and I had a good laugh at the look on his face when he saw what he was going to have to give change for. When I quit laughing I told him I would buy some when I got back from the store.
When I returned from the store he wasn't outside; but I figured he would catch up to me and sure enough about 10 minutes later he showed up at the door. I asked him how much the bars were and he told me they were 5 pesos each; BUT that today there was a special on and they were 4 for 20 pesos. He kept a straight face until I started laughing and told him his special wasn't very special. He said, "SHHHH" and then starting laughing too. I guess he was trying to get me back for the change thing earlier. What a kid !!
Life is good.
Enjoy your evening and keep smiling.
I was waiting for the bus after my art class and happened to look up at the moon and I saw it, el conejo en la luna. I was so surprised that I turned to the lady waiting next to me at the bus stop and told her that I could see the rabbit on the moon. Naturally she looked at me like I was a crazy person; but smiled anyway; perhaps to placate la loca (crazy woman) ha ha.
Not long after we had moved to Mexico we were looking at the moon with our landlord and his then young grandson. I asked the grandson if he could see the man in the moon and he looked very puzzled. Our landlord explained to me that here they say that they can see a rabbit in the moon.
Well, after that any time I thought about it I looked; but could never really say that I saw the form of a rabbit in the shadows of the moon.
The other night I did finally see him. His head, his ears and his body, looking very rabbit like, as he should.
When I got home I told Roy and took him outside to show him. Roy treated me very much like the lady next to me at the bus stop.
So, have a look at the moon tonight and see if the rabbit appears for you, whether he does or not I am sure you will enjoy gazing it and you won't even need to wear your tinfoil hat as Mexico Bob can explain to you better than I can.
The above written about grandson is now about 11 yrs. old and today was selling chocolate bars, I imagine for school; but I didn't bother asking. I was on my way to the store for some groceries, with only a big bill in my pocket so I asked him if he had change. He assured me he did so I pulled out the 500 peso bill I had in my pocket. His aunt, grandpa and I had a good laugh at the look on his face when he saw what he was going to have to give change for. When I quit laughing I told him I would buy some when I got back from the store.
When I returned from the store he wasn't outside; but I figured he would catch up to me and sure enough about 10 minutes later he showed up at the door. I asked him how much the bars were and he told me they were 5 pesos each; BUT that today there was a special on and they were 4 for 20 pesos. He kept a straight face until I started laughing and told him his special wasn't very special. He said, "SHHHH" and then starting laughing too. I guess he was trying to get me back for the change thing earlier. What a kid !!
Life is good.
Enjoy your evening and keep smiling.
Selasa, 14 Februari 2012
Happy Valentines Day
Happy Valentines Day to all.
When we opened the curtains this morning we realized that LOVE is alive and well on our street. This was so cute that I couldn't resist taking a photo of it.
Basically it says I love you always Carlos and 10 days.
This is the weather we woke up to this morning. UGH chilly. The sun has come out now and it is clearing up.
Last evening we went to the photo exhibit at the Casa de la Cultura. The usual opening ceremonies, cutting the ribbon and then people enjoying the drinks and snacks to the music of a violin quartet. It was nice to see a good crowd. The Royal Court for Carnival was there as this was the kick off to the Arts and Cultural part of Carnival which precedes the rowdy part by a few days. There is a Ruta de Arte, or an art route/walk which basically means that there is artwork displayed in various locations during Carnival, some of which is also at the Auditorium.
Have a great day.
When we opened the curtains this morning we realized that LOVE is alive and well on our street. This was so cute that I couldn't resist taking a photo of it.
Basically it says I love you always Carlos and 10 days.
This is the weather we woke up to this morning. UGH chilly. The sun has come out now and it is clearing up.
Last evening we went to the photo exhibit at the Casa de la Cultura. The usual opening ceremonies, cutting the ribbon and then people enjoying the drinks and snacks to the music of a violin quartet. It was nice to see a good crowd. The Royal Court for Carnival was there as this was the kick off to the Arts and Cultural part of Carnival which precedes the rowdy part by a few days. There is a Ruta de Arte, or an art route/walk which basically means that there is artwork displayed in various locations during Carnival, some of which is also at the Auditorium.
Have a great day.
Senin, 13 Februari 2012
Monday Morning Errands
It is Monday so I guess it is the day for errands. I know it is Monday as the school a couple of blocks away always has their "civic Monday" events over the loudspeaker bright and early. They announce things, explain things to the children, play music and play games. We can hear it all and it is a nice beginning to the morning listening to the childrens laughter.
I have been needing to get a haircut for the last 2 weeks or so and it finally got to a point where I could no longer stand it so made the effort this morning. I walked down to our usual stylist but she was closed, I can never remember if she is open Mondays or not. I caught a bus and headed to the Casa de la Cultura where I wanted to order a couple of canvases from the fellow who works there in the mornings and does this as a sideline. I ordered 2 canvases from him, both 30 cm. x 38 cm. x 5 cm., lets see in inches they would be about 12 in. x 15 in. x 2 in., for a total cost of 120 pesos which is about $9.43 CAD., they will be ready for me on Wednesday.
I then wandered down the street and bought a liter of brush cleaner from a paint shop. I headed over to a miscellaneous store looking for gold oil paint; but, no hay, don't have it.
I continued down the street until I found a stylist who wasn't too busy and for 50 pesos, about $3.93 CAD got my haircut, naturally I also give a tip.
That done, I was almost at the mercado, (downtown market), so decided to see what my favorite veggie lady had today as I was out of all the stand by veggies.
She still has sweet corn, yum.
This is what I bought from her:
5 cobs of corn
4 potatoes
4 onions
7 carrots
11 tomatoes
a bunch of spinach.
The ladies usually have things bagged up in clear plastic bags and each bag is 10 pesos; the spinach was 5 pesos for the bunch. This makes it easier for everyone as the money works out evenly.
All this for a grand total of 55 pesos or about $4.32 CAD.
I gave the prices as I haven't done that for awhile and people are always curious as to how much things cost here. The veggie prices vary depending on what is in season, at the moment Tomatoes are cheap. Oranges are also in season now and the price is about 10 pesos for 3 kilos or about $ 0.79 (cents) for 6.6 pounds, which would be about $ 0.12 cents a pound.
Anyway that was my morning.
I have been needing to get a haircut for the last 2 weeks or so and it finally got to a point where I could no longer stand it so made the effort this morning. I walked down to our usual stylist but she was closed, I can never remember if she is open Mondays or not. I caught a bus and headed to the Casa de la Cultura where I wanted to order a couple of canvases from the fellow who works there in the mornings and does this as a sideline. I ordered 2 canvases from him, both 30 cm. x 38 cm. x 5 cm., lets see in inches they would be about 12 in. x 15 in. x 2 in., for a total cost of 120 pesos which is about $9.43 CAD., they will be ready for me on Wednesday.
I then wandered down the street and bought a liter of brush cleaner from a paint shop. I headed over to a miscellaneous store looking for gold oil paint; but, no hay, don't have it.
I continued down the street until I found a stylist who wasn't too busy and for 50 pesos, about $3.93 CAD got my haircut, naturally I also give a tip.
That done, I was almost at the mercado, (downtown market), so decided to see what my favorite veggie lady had today as I was out of all the stand by veggies.
She still has sweet corn, yum.
This is what I bought from her:
5 cobs of corn
4 potatoes
4 onions
7 carrots
11 tomatoes
a bunch of spinach.
The ladies usually have things bagged up in clear plastic bags and each bag is 10 pesos; the spinach was 5 pesos for the bunch. This makes it easier for everyone as the money works out evenly.
All this for a grand total of 55 pesos or about $4.32 CAD.
I gave the prices as I haven't done that for awhile and people are always curious as to how much things cost here. The veggie prices vary depending on what is in season, at the moment Tomatoes are cheap. Oranges are also in season now and the price is about 10 pesos for 3 kilos or about $ 0.79 (cents) for 6.6 pounds, which would be about $ 0.12 cents a pound.
Anyway that was my morning.
This evening I think we are going to the opening of a photo exhibit at the Casa de la Cultura. It is called Alas, Aletas, y Alegrias which means Fins, Wings and Happiness (or Joy). It is photos taken on or around the Sea of Cortes where we live so should be interesting. There will be drinks and snacks also I am sure, there usually is.
Jumat, 03 Februari 2012
Art Exhibition
On Tuesday evening the Casa de la Cultura held an "end of the course" exhibition. Artwork was on display and all of the music/singing students put on a concert for anyone interested in watching.
We didn't stay for the concert as we have been to them many times before, so I don't have any photos of the students performing what they learned.
I do have some photos of some of the artwork on display, the paintings were hung in the patio and there is some glare on some of them from the sun.
This was done by a young boy, it is of his grandpa. Pencil.
This one and the one of the violin were done by the same man. I love his work and think he is very talented. Both done in chalk pastels.
Watermelon in chalk pastels.
This was done by a young teenage girl, I think it was her first oil painting.
Both horses done in oils and the cherries are done in chalk pastels.
Hummingbird in oils.
Horses in oil.
We didn't stay for the concert as we have been to them many times before, so I don't have any photos of the students performing what they learned.
I do have some photos of some of the artwork on display, the paintings were hung in the patio and there is some glare on some of them from the sun.
This was done by a young boy, it is of his grandpa. Pencil.
This one and the one of the violin were done by the same man. I love his work and think he is very talented. Both done in chalk pastels.
Watermelon in chalk pastels.
This was done by a young teenage girl, I think it was her first oil painting.
Both horses done in oils and the cherries are done in chalk pastels.
Hummingbird in oils.
Horses in oil.
Selasa, 24 Januari 2012
A Slightly Smelly Post
On our corner of the street we are lucky enough to have a water shutoff point underground. I say lucky for this as we can easily see whenever the CEA (water company), guys come and shut off the valve when they are fixing a problem elsewhere and we can also see when they come back and turn it on. There have been times when they have forgotten the return trip to turn it back on; but someone has usually seen them shutting it off so they know what the problem is and call to get them to come and turn it on again. A good thing.
On the same corner; although not in the same spot, we also have a sewer manhole. If there is a problem the same CEA guys come and unplug it or snake it out. A while back there was a problem with it being plugged and it was backing up, not a good thing.
They came and tried to unplug it manually, (you couldn't pay me enough to do this job). As an aside, they always show up in their uniform outfits and they are clean as can be, when they are done their dirty job they are still as clean as can be. How do they do it???
Anyway they couldn't get it unplugged so they called in the big gun.
THE PUMPER TRUCK.
The unit arrived and did their thing and then left. Problem solved, right? Nope, a short while later it was bubbling over again. The truck returned, did its thing, went down to the next corner and did the same thing and left again. A short while later, same old, same old. They returned again, by this time it was getting dark, and they continued working. They worked until almost 10 PM until they finally got it working again to their satisfaction. Our neighbourhood is an older one, developed probably in the 1960's I was told and we have lots of big trees with lots of big tree roots. Apparently the roots had gotten into the pipes and some of the pipes had collapsed/broken or whatever so it was a fairly big job.
They stayed with it until it was working again. Kudos to them.
The guys with the pump out truck.
Hmmmm, I wonder if there is a 12 step program for bloggers who are so desperate for blogging material that they video a sewer being pumped out.
On the same corner; although not in the same spot, we also have a sewer manhole. If there is a problem the same CEA guys come and unplug it or snake it out. A while back there was a problem with it being plugged and it was backing up, not a good thing.
They came and tried to unplug it manually, (you couldn't pay me enough to do this job). As an aside, they always show up in their uniform outfits and they are clean as can be, when they are done their dirty job they are still as clean as can be. How do they do it???
Anyway they couldn't get it unplugged so they called in the big gun.
THE PUMPER TRUCK.
The unit arrived and did their thing and then left. Problem solved, right? Nope, a short while later it was bubbling over again. The truck returned, did its thing, went down to the next corner and did the same thing and left again. A short while later, same old, same old. They returned again, by this time it was getting dark, and they continued working. They worked until almost 10 PM until they finally got it working again to their satisfaction. Our neighbourhood is an older one, developed probably in the 1960's I was told and we have lots of big trees with lots of big tree roots. Apparently the roots had gotten into the pipes and some of the pipes had collapsed/broken or whatever so it was a fairly big job.
They stayed with it until it was working again. Kudos to them.
The guys with the pump out truck.
Hmmmm, I wonder if there is a 12 step program for bloggers who are so desperate for blogging material that they video a sewer being pumped out.
Minggu, 22 Januari 2012
House Construction # 6
The landlords sons new house is coming along. They finished putting up the walls for the second floor and then got it ready to pour the roof. I was gone when they poured the roof for the first floor or the floor for the second floor whichever you want to call it. Roy told me that they did it with a traditional pour using lots of men and labour. This time they decided to get the cement truck along with the truck with the long arm on it for sending the cement right up to the roof. This is more costly; but results in a faster, better pour with no seams to leak, hopefully.
They still had quite a few guys to work; but it was much easier for them than carrying 5 gallon pails of cement up to the third level. This way they just had to spread and smooth it out.
The guys ready to go.
The arm truck which is connected to the cement truck.
Getting to work.
They still had quite a few guys to work; but it was much easier for them than carrying 5 gallon pails of cement up to the third level. This way they just had to spread and smooth it out.
The guys ready to go.
The arm truck which is connected to the cement truck.
Getting to work.
Jumat, 20 Januari 2012
Lazy Blogger and Computer Woes
It seems that the longer I am away from the blog the harder it is to come back. I am getting really lazy about blogging, I just the "new" has definitely worn off after blogging since May of 2005.
The last week or so has been interesting for me computer wise. My computer decided that it was tired and kept shutting off and turning on, it wasn't the power source, so off it went to the hospital. The fellow thought he had fixed it; but he hadn't. I had been tossing around the idea of getting a new one for awhile now as that one I had purchased in 2004 and other than adding an extra 1 GB of RAM and spending a few dollars here and there on it, it didn't owe me anything.
I talked to a few of the computer sales places in town and got the best price from our regular service guys so decided to order a new one. In the meantime I got them to pull the extra 1 GB RAM out of my old one and put it into Roys old PC which still worked; but was so slow it drove me insane. While I waited for my new one I used that one.
The new one arrived at the delivery place supposedly; but when the fellow went to pick it up it was no where to be found, so he called and ordered another one. This one arrived late Saturday night and he brought it over on Sunday to set it up. After he left I downloaded Skype and my VOIP phone service that I use and I couldn't get the headphones and mic. to work in the front panel. I called him back and he came and tried and he couldn't get it working either. He took it to his shop and ended up going back to Hermosillo for them to get it working.
He came back with it last night about 7 PM and it is all working now. He told me that for some reason those connections on the front had been de-activated, he had no idea why.
Anyway it is all working good now so I have no excuses left.
What I bought was this:
Processor: Core 3- 540 64 bits dual core 3.06 GHZ
RAM: 4GB
Hard Drive: 500 GB
And all the other usual stuff.
I stayed with a PC as I don't have as much faith in the durability of a laptop and we have one already that we can travel with if we want to. I stayed with my old monitor for now.
I probably could have gotten it cheaper if I would have gone shopping in a bigger center; but when you do that you are adding all the other costs onto it anyway so you may as well buy at home IMO.
Anyway I am sure someone will wonder what the cost was, it was 6,500 pesos or more or less $ 496.08 CAD. I have no idea if that is a horrible price or a good one; but it is what it is.
I am also glad I bought from them as they are usually good with their service and also make house calls for 100 pesos, about $7.63 CAD. If they can't fix the problem at your home they take it to the shop and then return it. The house call covers the return part also.
So that has been what I have been up to lately computer wise.
The last week or so has been interesting for me computer wise. My computer decided that it was tired and kept shutting off and turning on, it wasn't the power source, so off it went to the hospital. The fellow thought he had fixed it; but he hadn't. I had been tossing around the idea of getting a new one for awhile now as that one I had purchased in 2004 and other than adding an extra 1 GB of RAM and spending a few dollars here and there on it, it didn't owe me anything.
I talked to a few of the computer sales places in town and got the best price from our regular service guys so decided to order a new one. In the meantime I got them to pull the extra 1 GB RAM out of my old one and put it into Roys old PC which still worked; but was so slow it drove me insane. While I waited for my new one I used that one.
The new one arrived at the delivery place supposedly; but when the fellow went to pick it up it was no where to be found, so he called and ordered another one. This one arrived late Saturday night and he brought it over on Sunday to set it up. After he left I downloaded Skype and my VOIP phone service that I use and I couldn't get the headphones and mic. to work in the front panel. I called him back and he came and tried and he couldn't get it working either. He took it to his shop and ended up going back to Hermosillo for them to get it working.
He came back with it last night about 7 PM and it is all working now. He told me that for some reason those connections on the front had been de-activated, he had no idea why.
Anyway it is all working good now so I have no excuses left.
What I bought was this:
Processor: Core 3- 540 64 bits dual core 3.06 GHZ
RAM: 4GB
Hard Drive: 500 GB
And all the other usual stuff.
I stayed with a PC as I don't have as much faith in the durability of a laptop and we have one already that we can travel with if we want to. I stayed with my old monitor for now.
I probably could have gotten it cheaper if I would have gone shopping in a bigger center; but when you do that you are adding all the other costs onto it anyway so you may as well buy at home IMO.
Anyway I am sure someone will wonder what the cost was, it was 6,500 pesos or more or less $ 496.08 CAD. I have no idea if that is a horrible price or a good one; but it is what it is.
I am also glad I bought from them as they are usually good with their service and also make house calls for 100 pesos, about $7.63 CAD. If they can't fix the problem at your home they take it to the shop and then return it. The house call covers the return part also.
So that has been what I have been up to lately computer wise.
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