We nearly lost Helio AGAIN today due to a series of poor choices. We spent nearly 4 hours washing clothes today in the wash basin and realized we needed more cable to hang the clothes to dry on. So, as Levi played with the stroller and I continued to pound the clothes on the washboard, Helio located some extra metal cable. He also found a metal ladder. He found a good location to attach the cable to and put the ladder up. Because he had been washing clothes, his feet were wet. What he did not realize when he put the ladder up is that he put it against another cable that had an electrical current running through it. He stepped onto the ladder and couldn’t let go. The whole time I was standing right next to him and didn’t have any idea what was going on. Finally the current threw him from the ladder and he landed on the ground. Seriously, the man needs a lesson in electricity and it’s flow. -Yet another close one.
We drove into Cuatla yesterday to have dinner with his dad and his dad’s girlfriend. Talk about needing to be flexible. I am so super glad that I wasn’t there with anyone from work bc I would have totally busted a gut laughing at the whole scenario. On our way there, we had to drive through the city, and bc I am rested was able to pay attention to my surroundings. I actually saw a guy with his hatchback open to his car, full display of keys and a machine to cut them. I turned to Helio and asked, “is he seriously cutting keys out of the back of his car?” Helio’s response, “Well, like I told you honey, you can set up business anywhere you want here” Wow- Our dinner included getting out of the truck, watching the girlfriend hide, then nervously put dinner together for us, she wouldn’t eat. They brought out a small plastic table and nestled it between Antonio’s car and Helio’s truck. Then they shooed away Capitan throughout the meal. His left side was painted this crazy purple something to keep him from eating his open sore. That was very appetizing. We ate dinner out next to the chickens, roosters, and a myriad of birds. I had a hard time putting it down but did my best not to be rude. I think they liked me by the time we left. I tried to take photos, but everything was very socially awkward. I looked very strange in my sparkly shirt, earrings, and high heels. I think the shoe shining kit I bought Antonio for Christmas- not such a good idea, he doesn’t wear shoes.
There are these little crosses that people make and put on their doors and windows. Helio said that it is a Catholic thing that they believe that one day of the year (of course, he doesn’t know which one) God lets go of the Devil and he is free to roam around. Therefore, one must put these little crosses on their doors and windows to prevent him from entering. Cute-
Helio and Levi finally have surround sound at our place. They are now really into watching movies- especially the new Ice Age movie. Very much like father, like son. I have to constantly yell- “very loud” I get them to turn it down for a moment but somehow it always gets louder.
Because I can’t get Levi to stand in a cold stream of water- I have decided it is best to put him in the 5 gallon bucket. I wait until it is warm outside and put him in the sun. I was able to wash his hair and get him very soapy that way. Thank goodness he is still little. See photos.
Today (Saturday) we will be going to a number of parties, we first will go to a party for Rafa’s Uncle- some sort of baptism. I wonder if they will hold it out by the laundry basin. Then we go to La Posada of Galileo. Galileo is a friend of Helio’s that I have heard about for years. La Posada is where people walk house to house and sing for candy. Kind of like Halloween- but I refuse to sing and I don’t really want any candy. I will do my best to be a good sport.
I got way too much sun yesterday and stand out even more now. I have to tell ya though, the attention is so nice. Yesterday when I left the Internet Café the lady who I have come to know on a small level, said “Gracias Bonita” -that will make me come back again. Seriously, I am so easy.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
12.21.06 Day 3, Mexico Trip 1
I took a shower on Thursday with a 5 gallon bucket. I had to heat up a pot of boiling water to add to the rest of the water. It was better than freezing in the shower but really- Helio could see how happy I was with the arrangement as he was walking by, he said, “well, it could be worse” As I was using the Lloyd’s container to dump water over my head and standing over the 5 gallon bucket to catch as much of it as possible so that I could use it again, I couldn’t help but think- “How, how could this get any worse” I guess, I should be thankful that there is water to heat up and a stove to heat the water on. Whatever-
It is official- I have nothing to do and I am bored. I have heard a thousand times how this is going to be good for me, I don’t really see it that way. I feel a bit stir crazy and like it is a waste of time to just sit. There is only so much you can talk about, then I would just prefer to work. When you have nothing to do, you are very likely not to be motivated to do anything (Helio- point and case). I am hoping to read my book for book club in the next couple days. And sit in the sun. Big goals bc I am big stuff.
I am finally sick, I am suffering what I believe they call Montezuma’s revenge. It was bound to happen. I have been only drinking soda (Coca Cola Light, not Diet Coke) none of the water. However, I think my body just couldn’t handle the 4 tacos I have eaten since arriving. We finally went to an “American” grocery store. And even in my illness, I was delighted. I found Jiff peanut butter, Fruit Loops, regular coffee (the stuff I sent down was decaf), creamer, and goat cheese. Helio makes great juice. He made some orange juice from the oranges we bought last night and it makes my insides say “Ah, normal”. I refuse to eat at the little stops along the road. I can’t handle anymore stomach cramping. I have also caught a cold. My head, throat, nose hurt, and I am achy all over. Some of that might be the food illness though too. I went to bed early Thursday night and feel a little better this morning (Friday).
We finally went swimming. It was a cute little place with all sorts of little pools and a slide. Helio wanted to go early in the day as we didn’t make it there the day before. So we were there at 9 am, by noon, I had to convince Helio it was ok not to stay there all day. Both he and Levi looked like they could just lay down on the ground and sleep. We went back to the house and they slept for about 3 hours. I took that time to wander around Jona- found a internet café -which was very dreary to sit in for an hour for the very loud Ranchero music and all the traffic that drives by with all their competing music. + the keyboard was more difficult than normal, I kept losing my connection, and the lighting- man the lighting.
From what I see, the Mexicans do not understand 3500K fluorescent lighting. Everything is super blue and very sad. I understand wanting to use fluorescent due to expense of running the lamps but there are options. I think this should be my personal crusade as I am here- to educate the masses on warm lighting options. While I am at it, maybe I can show them some furniture options other than the plastic stacking chairs. It just makes a room feel a little cozier to have warm soft lamp lighting and upholstered goods vs. a single 4100K fluorescent strip, plastic stacking furniture, and plastic table cloths, but then there is the expense of those options, I know.
There are two little girls that live in the same little complex as where we are staying. It appears there are 4 houses within the gated entry/courtyard. One’s name is Samantha she’s 9, the other little girl, Fernanda, she looks about 6. They are beautiful little girls, and so polite. They call me Senora and when I call Levi, they rush to me with him in their arms and say, “Tu mama, te habla, (your mom is calling you). Wow- so weird, I am an adult. Levi is totally playing them. Anytime I try to parent him, he runs to them and asks to be picked up so he can pretend cry. He hangs out by their door with one of the 3 balls we found in the yard and waits for them to come out. Then he drags them all over the place. That kid has no fear. And he is one with the ladies already. I am terrified that he is going to pull one of those big metal poles down on himself (had knocked them down like 3 times already- and this morning I was scolded by the lady who lives there how dangerous it is) They have these clothes lines that are low, they attach the clothes and then use these metal posts to get the line up higher above your head so you can walk under them. The posts aren’t attached to anything, they are long, with a 90 degree bend at each end and it is a matter of balance and gravity that keeps them up- not a good place for a 2-yr old to explore.
Helio finally washed the bedding I sent down a few months ago, I can imagine that the sleeping arrangement will only improve from here. Now, we too, have laundry all over the place. We bought a bar of laundry soap last night and it is so weird to watch Helio wash a big quilt by hand. It is true, I am seeing a lot of the habits that I saw at home but for real here. I will have to wait a day until it dries in the sun, but we are making progress. I am sick of waking up in the morning to my face planted on the bare mattress bc the sheets are so old they come off. I don’t know the people who lived here before- it all grosses me out a bit.
Helio is trying desperately to get Levi to talk. He is working on “Agua”. Levi isn’t getting it. But you can tell how he wants to talk; I just wish he made the connection. He is getting used to riding in the car without a car seat, I however, am not. It is a bit crazy that in the US where there are traffic laws that people abide by, the car seat is used more frequently, where here, the people drive like mad-men and nobody uses a car seat. If the roads were expanded to a 4 lane freeway, you wouldn’t have people trying to pass semis into on coming traffic. I hate it, and have to close my eyes a lot.
I can see why people don’t want to keep dogs as pets down here. They all look mangy. I wouldn’t want a dog like that living with me either. They just lay around in the sun all day and eat scraps. Totally like the movies.
The house is right next to what Helio calls “Centro” (downtown) which appears to me to be about 3 blocks long. They have a big festival there every night. I think it is for Las Posadas. There is music and dancing and kids rides- like a carnival. For some reason, I have had no interest in going.
I’m off to try to find something to fill my day up with. I will do my best not to write again too soon.
It is official- I have nothing to do and I am bored. I have heard a thousand times how this is going to be good for me, I don’t really see it that way. I feel a bit stir crazy and like it is a waste of time to just sit. There is only so much you can talk about, then I would just prefer to work. When you have nothing to do, you are very likely not to be motivated to do anything (Helio- point and case). I am hoping to read my book for book club in the next couple days. And sit in the sun. Big goals bc I am big stuff.
I am finally sick, I am suffering what I believe they call Montezuma’s revenge. It was bound to happen. I have been only drinking soda (Coca Cola Light, not Diet Coke) none of the water. However, I think my body just couldn’t handle the 4 tacos I have eaten since arriving. We finally went to an “American” grocery store. And even in my illness, I was delighted. I found Jiff peanut butter, Fruit Loops, regular coffee (the stuff I sent down was decaf), creamer, and goat cheese. Helio makes great juice. He made some orange juice from the oranges we bought last night and it makes my insides say “Ah, normal”. I refuse to eat at the little stops along the road. I can’t handle anymore stomach cramping. I have also caught a cold. My head, throat, nose hurt, and I am achy all over. Some of that might be the food illness though too. I went to bed early Thursday night and feel a little better this morning (Friday).
We finally went swimming. It was a cute little place with all sorts of little pools and a slide. Helio wanted to go early in the day as we didn’t make it there the day before. So we were there at 9 am, by noon, I had to convince Helio it was ok not to stay there all day. Both he and Levi looked like they could just lay down on the ground and sleep. We went back to the house and they slept for about 3 hours. I took that time to wander around Jona- found a internet café -which was very dreary to sit in for an hour for the very loud Ranchero music and all the traffic that drives by with all their competing music. + the keyboard was more difficult than normal, I kept losing my connection, and the lighting- man the lighting.
From what I see, the Mexicans do not understand 3500K fluorescent lighting. Everything is super blue and very sad. I understand wanting to use fluorescent due to expense of running the lamps but there are options. I think this should be my personal crusade as I am here- to educate the masses on warm lighting options. While I am at it, maybe I can show them some furniture options other than the plastic stacking chairs. It just makes a room feel a little cozier to have warm soft lamp lighting and upholstered goods vs. a single 4100K fluorescent strip, plastic stacking furniture, and plastic table cloths, but then there is the expense of those options, I know.
There are two little girls that live in the same little complex as where we are staying. It appears there are 4 houses within the gated entry/courtyard. One’s name is Samantha she’s 9, the other little girl, Fernanda, she looks about 6. They are beautiful little girls, and so polite. They call me Senora and when I call Levi, they rush to me with him in their arms and say, “Tu mama, te habla, (your mom is calling you). Wow- so weird, I am an adult. Levi is totally playing them. Anytime I try to parent him, he runs to them and asks to be picked up so he can pretend cry. He hangs out by their door with one of the 3 balls we found in the yard and waits for them to come out. Then he drags them all over the place. That kid has no fear. And he is one with the ladies already. I am terrified that he is going to pull one of those big metal poles down on himself (had knocked them down like 3 times already- and this morning I was scolded by the lady who lives there how dangerous it is) They have these clothes lines that are low, they attach the clothes and then use these metal posts to get the line up higher above your head so you can walk under them. The posts aren’t attached to anything, they are long, with a 90 degree bend at each end and it is a matter of balance and gravity that keeps them up- not a good place for a 2-yr old to explore.
Helio finally washed the bedding I sent down a few months ago, I can imagine that the sleeping arrangement will only improve from here. Now, we too, have laundry all over the place. We bought a bar of laundry soap last night and it is so weird to watch Helio wash a big quilt by hand. It is true, I am seeing a lot of the habits that I saw at home but for real here. I will have to wait a day until it dries in the sun, but we are making progress. I am sick of waking up in the morning to my face planted on the bare mattress bc the sheets are so old they come off. I don’t know the people who lived here before- it all grosses me out a bit.
Helio is trying desperately to get Levi to talk. He is working on “Agua”. Levi isn’t getting it. But you can tell how he wants to talk; I just wish he made the connection. He is getting used to riding in the car without a car seat, I however, am not. It is a bit crazy that in the US where there are traffic laws that people abide by, the car seat is used more frequently, where here, the people drive like mad-men and nobody uses a car seat. If the roads were expanded to a 4 lane freeway, you wouldn’t have people trying to pass semis into on coming traffic. I hate it, and have to close my eyes a lot.
I can see why people don’t want to keep dogs as pets down here. They all look mangy. I wouldn’t want a dog like that living with me either. They just lay around in the sun all day and eat scraps. Totally like the movies.
The house is right next to what Helio calls “Centro” (downtown) which appears to me to be about 3 blocks long. They have a big festival there every night. I think it is for Las Posadas. There is music and dancing and kids rides- like a carnival. For some reason, I have had no interest in going.
I’m off to try to find something to fill my day up with. I will do my best not to write again too soon.
12.19.06 Day 1, Mexico Trip 1
Things I have learned since traveling to Mexico thus far:
1. I don’t want to live here
2. Every store looks like a gas station I would avoid back home.
3. You can get everything road side ranging from a full chicken dinner & beer to a Cantante (honestly, as we were driving on the “freeway” last night, I saw full families with little kids playing chicken trying to get across the freeway in the dark, 3 times Helio nearly hit someone, we also saw an old man walking alone in the dark with a guitar strapped to his back, totally from a movie. Helio said that they actually try to stop people and sing for money. There is also a decision you must make when purchasing your adult beverage of choice, do you want to pay the additional money for the deposit or do you have bottles at home that you can fill up.
4. The Mexicans post signs for limiting speed but bc nobody cares about what is posted they put up additional speed bumps every mile or so- thus it takes a very long time to get to where you are going. There are rules/laws posted but it seems more like a suggestion unless the rule is enforced with a great big riffle. The gas stations are guarded by armed men. Helio says that the people rob them all the time bc they are the places that have the money. It took us from 5 AM leaving our house in Minneapolis- car ride from Ann, two airplanes, a train- to get to Mexico City, a 2- hour bus ride to Cuernavaca , a 20 minute taxi ride and a couple stops, and an hour car ride in the Blazer to Jonacatepec. We finally arrived in the house we are staying at 8 pm. Poor Levi- he was shot.
5. The house that we are staying would actually host a better party than our own house. Perhaps it has more to do with the lack of things I guess. There is laundry hanging everywhere down here.
6. The courtyard to this house is so super duper cute here. If I lived here this house would be “just adorable.” It just needs a little love, nobody has been here for about 5 years Helio said. You do have to wear shoes all the time, for the bugs that might want to bite you- inside and out.
7. I can survive sleeping without a fan. I did it last night but won’t do it tonight. I slept for like 8 hours, that is the most I have slept in maybe a month, without medication, and without getting up and wandering around in the night.
8. All of the tons of things that I crammed into his car before he left will serve me now. I do look like a ridiculous American with all of my things but I feel better having them. It does make me aware of how I am a bit demanding and want things. People don’t have roofs and I want more diamonds. Maybe I will settle a little.
9. Everything smells like chickens (cooked chickens and/or chicken droppings) or marijuana. So, I don’t regret for a minute that I brought a travel candle and incense. I know- so American.
10. Levi is handling all of this like a champ. We had a few meltdowns in the morning- he didn’t like checking in and going through security. He also did not like the last hour or so of our first flight. Our second flight was so much easier. He was tired and used to it by then. The bus ride, he just hung on his dad and watched movies, and the taxi ride, he wouldn’t stay out of the back window and was waving to everyone behind us. That made the scene of a crazy driver crashing into the back of the cabbie rush through my head every 10 seconds. People drive close here, honk a lot, and seem very anxious to get to where they are going, which I find ironic- When Levi saw his dad (he was a little mental going through customs) he didn’t hesitate for a minute. It was just like Helio had just come home from work, very normal.
11. I retract my statement to Ann about Helio didn’t get fat. After spending more than 10 minutes with him I noticed a larger stomach. I guess that is what you get when you use your dad’s wife for food and you AREN’T WORKING. He has gained about 5 pounds or so.
12. We are off today to buy light bulbs, food, get my fan and other gear I sent down a few months back. I will send pictures when we take some today. I am dying for a shower before I meet my father in law. (we didn’t make it to his house yesterday as the travel time was just too long) I hope that happens.
I love you all and wish that we had friends down here with us. I can see in Helio’s face how sad he is and lonely. He really has been cut off from his life as he has had in Minnesota. He honestly seems a little broken. I will do what I can with my “wifely” powers to fix it a little. I will write again soon. I am dying for some gossip from home.
1. I don’t want to live here
2. Every store looks like a gas station I would avoid back home.
3. You can get everything road side ranging from a full chicken dinner & beer to a Cantante (honestly, as we were driving on the “freeway” last night, I saw full families with little kids playing chicken trying to get across the freeway in the dark, 3 times Helio nearly hit someone, we also saw an old man walking alone in the dark with a guitar strapped to his back, totally from a movie. Helio said that they actually try to stop people and sing for money. There is also a decision you must make when purchasing your adult beverage of choice, do you want to pay the additional money for the deposit or do you have bottles at home that you can fill up.
4. The Mexicans post signs for limiting speed but bc nobody cares about what is posted they put up additional speed bumps every mile or so- thus it takes a very long time to get to where you are going. There are rules/laws posted but it seems more like a suggestion unless the rule is enforced with a great big riffle. The gas stations are guarded by armed men. Helio says that the people rob them all the time bc they are the places that have the money. It took us from 5 AM leaving our house in Minneapolis- car ride from Ann, two airplanes, a train- to get to Mexico City, a 2- hour bus ride to Cuernavaca , a 20 minute taxi ride and a couple stops, and an hour car ride in the Blazer to Jonacatepec. We finally arrived in the house we are staying at 8 pm. Poor Levi- he was shot.
5. The house that we are staying would actually host a better party than our own house. Perhaps it has more to do with the lack of things I guess. There is laundry hanging everywhere down here.
6. The courtyard to this house is so super duper cute here. If I lived here this house would be “just adorable.” It just needs a little love, nobody has been here for about 5 years Helio said. You do have to wear shoes all the time, for the bugs that might want to bite you- inside and out.
7. I can survive sleeping without a fan. I did it last night but won’t do it tonight. I slept for like 8 hours, that is the most I have slept in maybe a month, without medication, and without getting up and wandering around in the night.
8. All of the tons of things that I crammed into his car before he left will serve me now. I do look like a ridiculous American with all of my things but I feel better having them. It does make me aware of how I am a bit demanding and want things. People don’t have roofs and I want more diamonds. Maybe I will settle a little.
9. Everything smells like chickens (cooked chickens and/or chicken droppings) or marijuana. So, I don’t regret for a minute that I brought a travel candle and incense. I know- so American.
10. Levi is handling all of this like a champ. We had a few meltdowns in the morning- he didn’t like checking in and going through security. He also did not like the last hour or so of our first flight. Our second flight was so much easier. He was tired and used to it by then. The bus ride, he just hung on his dad and watched movies, and the taxi ride, he wouldn’t stay out of the back window and was waving to everyone behind us. That made the scene of a crazy driver crashing into the back of the cabbie rush through my head every 10 seconds. People drive close here, honk a lot, and seem very anxious to get to where they are going, which I find ironic- When Levi saw his dad (he was a little mental going through customs) he didn’t hesitate for a minute. It was just like Helio had just come home from work, very normal.
11. I retract my statement to Ann about Helio didn’t get fat. After spending more than 10 minutes with him I noticed a larger stomach. I guess that is what you get when you use your dad’s wife for food and you AREN’T WORKING. He has gained about 5 pounds or so.
12. We are off today to buy light bulbs, food, get my fan and other gear I sent down a few months back. I will send pictures when we take some today. I am dying for a shower before I meet my father in law. (we didn’t make it to his house yesterday as the travel time was just too long) I hope that happens.
I love you all and wish that we had friends down here with us. I can see in Helio’s face how sad he is and lonely. He really has been cut off from his life as he has had in Minnesota. He honestly seems a little broken. I will do what I can with my “wifely” powers to fix it a little. I will write again soon. I am dying for some gossip from home.
12.20.06 Day 2- Mexico trip 1
When I asked Helio why there were all those bottles turned upside down on the roofs of the houses he said, “Oh, well, that it to make the lighting hit somewhere other than your house” So I guess if you extend the rebar up from the columns of your house and you have some of those empty bottles laying around, you put them on the rebar- to avert the lighting. Whew- this is information I need to know and will implement as soon as possible.
There are kids everywhere here. Levi is having a blast. He always has someone to play with. It is amazing. I find that I feel a little more relaxed as well. When there are multiple kids running around and yelling, I don’t feel like I am the only one who has a nutty kid. Yes, I know it is normal and he is 2 but sometimes I just want him to sit still and not yell- like on the plane. He is so dirty though, bc there is no grass, there is a lot of dirt. -So as soon as I have cleaned him up, his hands and feet are covered in dirt again. And he tends to want to lay on the floor of any store or restaurant we go into. Which I can only imagine has not been cleaned in a while.
Helio succeeded in getting the bathroom door to close. However, he did not master the hot water. He did get the gas with the tank finally to the house and hooked up but only can get two burners on the stove to work and not the boiler for the shower to work. I think it is lime build up. There isn’t any plumbing into the kitchen. I go to the baptismal pool and collect water in a 5 gallon bucket and then use two small plastic bowls (the size of a Lloyd’s container) that I found in the yard and wash dishes that way. (I know dad, the soap, I am not sure it comes off with tepid water, I think of you every time I am trying to touch the glasses to make sure they aren’t slimey from the soap) I took a shower late yesterday- cold. It appears that I will be taking cold showers the whole time I am here at this house. I am trying to be a trooper about this. I could walk down the street to one of Helio’s family member’s houses to shower but then I really wouldn’t have any privacy. And they have too many birds, which makes the house smell like pee. I don’t like a house that smells like pee as I have had an unpleasant experience with that.
Rafa looks EXACTLY the same. And he remembers everything from 5 years ago when Helio and I met. He really likes my dad. He asks about him a lot. It is a little weird when you go over to someone’s house and everyone comes out of the back and asks you to sit down and they all line up and talk about your “guero” (whitey- Levi) Everywhere we go Levi is making friends with people. He is attracted to the kids with a ball or the ladies behind the counter that can give him candy. He has received so many kisses already. All the ladies down here have been falling over themselves to give him a squeeze. –my kind of man.
Rafa has asked me to cook- lasagna. I don’t remember cooking it for him and Helio but I guess I did so I will do it again. Helio wants some American food badly. I will have to get some other utensils like a pan to cook things in before I can actually accomplish that. I promised that I would cook bunches of American food in excess so Helio has a ton to eat after I leave too. I am a food pusher even in Mexico.
Helio’s dad’s house- wow. See photos. No wonder Helio has been so sad. Really, there isn’t a place to talk on the phone. The house comes complete with the kitchen outside, a rooster den, a lame dog with an open bleeding sore on his back hind leg named “Capitan” -Captain, and a curtain for a door. Very dreary. I am trying to convince him to either stay at the place we are staying at right now or go to Cancun when we leave. Very sad there.
We are off to swim. I am hoping to make it to Playa Azul next week after Christmas. Jona- don’t know how long I can do it.
There are kids everywhere here. Levi is having a blast. He always has someone to play with. It is amazing. I find that I feel a little more relaxed as well. When there are multiple kids running around and yelling, I don’t feel like I am the only one who has a nutty kid. Yes, I know it is normal and he is 2 but sometimes I just want him to sit still and not yell- like on the plane. He is so dirty though, bc there is no grass, there is a lot of dirt. -So as soon as I have cleaned him up, his hands and feet are covered in dirt again. And he tends to want to lay on the floor of any store or restaurant we go into. Which I can only imagine has not been cleaned in a while.
Helio succeeded in getting the bathroom door to close. However, he did not master the hot water. He did get the gas with the tank finally to the house and hooked up but only can get two burners on the stove to work and not the boiler for the shower to work. I think it is lime build up. There isn’t any plumbing into the kitchen. I go to the baptismal pool and collect water in a 5 gallon bucket and then use two small plastic bowls (the size of a Lloyd’s container) that I found in the yard and wash dishes that way. (I know dad, the soap, I am not sure it comes off with tepid water, I think of you every time I am trying to touch the glasses to make sure they aren’t slimey from the soap) I took a shower late yesterday- cold. It appears that I will be taking cold showers the whole time I am here at this house. I am trying to be a trooper about this. I could walk down the street to one of Helio’s family member’s houses to shower but then I really wouldn’t have any privacy. And they have too many birds, which makes the house smell like pee. I don’t like a house that smells like pee as I have had an unpleasant experience with that.
Rafa looks EXACTLY the same. And he remembers everything from 5 years ago when Helio and I met. He really likes my dad. He asks about him a lot. It is a little weird when you go over to someone’s house and everyone comes out of the back and asks you to sit down and they all line up and talk about your “guero” (whitey- Levi) Everywhere we go Levi is making friends with people. He is attracted to the kids with a ball or the ladies behind the counter that can give him candy. He has received so many kisses already. All the ladies down here have been falling over themselves to give him a squeeze. –my kind of man.
Rafa has asked me to cook- lasagna. I don’t remember cooking it for him and Helio but I guess I did so I will do it again. Helio wants some American food badly. I will have to get some other utensils like a pan to cook things in before I can actually accomplish that. I promised that I would cook bunches of American food in excess so Helio has a ton to eat after I leave too. I am a food pusher even in Mexico.
Helio’s dad’s house- wow. See photos. No wonder Helio has been so sad. Really, there isn’t a place to talk on the phone. The house comes complete with the kitchen outside, a rooster den, a lame dog with an open bleeding sore on his back hind leg named “Capitan” -Captain, and a curtain for a door. Very dreary. I am trying to convince him to either stay at the place we are staying at right now or go to Cancun when we leave. Very sad there.
We are off to swim. I am hoping to make it to Playa Azul next week after Christmas. Jona- don’t know how long I can do it.
mexican entries
Because I can't get my act together and have been amiss in postings, I thought I would reissue the journal entries that prompted the need for a blog. These entries are from our (Levi and my) trips to Mexico to visit Helio while he was trapped there during the immigration process. I apologize for the lameness and lack of new things to read but worth putting it all in one location.
Monday, November 17, 2008
in the lower regions
Helio destroyed the basement last April. Or rather I should say it was the beginning of dismantling piece by piece my laundry and storage areas. With one closet and a half total in our whole house, the basement has been a necessary storage area, especially for the little boy clothes as Levi grows out of them. First he started by tearing down the half built non-legal qualifying bedroom. Then he tore down our “nazi shower” as my Irish friend likes to call it. It was one of those temporary plastic gigs that had outlived its purpose within the first year of our living here. By the time he took it down it had a sway and a dangerous lean. It was not something that I could prop a foot up on to shave a leg or have a quick romp with my husband in. It was slimey, dark, and decorated with fasteners which evolved to orange rust spots.
It has been an 8 month process but the project has progressed to 5 channels of cut away concrete and piles of dirty tools. There are gaping holes of dirt in the basement. We have always had a bug problem in our 1932 home but now we have canvassed the area with an open invitation for those creepy crawlies to make our home their permanent domain. We have everything they need- free passage to the outside via a dark, damp basement and left over food on the stove.
Last week I thought I had the problem solved. I thought, heck with it, I am just going to put this bad boy on the market and get the hell out. Today fear set in. What if it’s impossible to sell, what if I am rejected by the credit markets, what if the car finally dies like it has been trying to do for 18 months and I don’t have a dollar to fix it.
Last weekend we spent time with my mom and dad up in Duluth. My dad finally could not take it anymore. He has patiently asked about the basement as long as the project has been going on. We have all the fixtures needed, just not the confidence to attach them to the plumbing pipes. He offered to come down for a week over Christmas to finally finish the job. So, maybe finishing it out can be Helio’s project for the winter, I can pay off my baby, and then look at putting it on the market this coming spring. I need more space. I am constantly shouting for everyone to stop touching me. So, Merry Christmas to me, my dad is giving me an out.
It has been an 8 month process but the project has progressed to 5 channels of cut away concrete and piles of dirty tools. There are gaping holes of dirt in the basement. We have always had a bug problem in our 1932 home but now we have canvassed the area with an open invitation for those creepy crawlies to make our home their permanent domain. We have everything they need- free passage to the outside via a dark, damp basement and left over food on the stove.
Last week I thought I had the problem solved. I thought, heck with it, I am just going to put this bad boy on the market and get the hell out. Today fear set in. What if it’s impossible to sell, what if I am rejected by the credit markets, what if the car finally dies like it has been trying to do for 18 months and I don’t have a dollar to fix it.
Last weekend we spent time with my mom and dad up in Duluth. My dad finally could not take it anymore. He has patiently asked about the basement as long as the project has been going on. We have all the fixtures needed, just not the confidence to attach them to the plumbing pipes. He offered to come down for a week over Christmas to finally finish the job. So, maybe finishing it out can be Helio’s project for the winter, I can pay off my baby, and then look at putting it on the market this coming spring. I need more space. I am constantly shouting for everyone to stop touching me. So, Merry Christmas to me, my dad is giving me an out.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
the orchard alone
I went to the apple orchard finally. All of last fall I told myself that I would take Levi there and it never happened. So, last Saturday I put both the boys in the car and took off for the day without the husband factor. I went out towards the Western suburbs. I once had a boyfriend (who hated me that is another story though) who lived out in that general area so I felt nostalgic for the area again.
In my most recent garage sale-ing I had picked up another map book. Helio constantly takes mine out of the car and never returns it. It has been one of many sore subjects between us for years. So, with my map book and a cell phone I thought if I just started driving I would find a good apple picking location. I expected low levels of crowds, wandering animals and all the apples one could eat for a nominal fee. What I encountered was multiple car lots yet nowhere to park, massive crowds of people, and fees for all things- including viewing the goats and chickens behind cages.
I found a place to park way in the back up on a grassy hill and thought, eh?...looks fine to me. So, I took the boys out, put Dante in a front of my body carrier and did my best to shout at Levi to keep him out of traffic on the short walk to the orchard. As soon as we arrived we got onto a tractor pulled trailer to get a tour of the grounds. The whole time I kept thinking, I am going to burn up my baby’s face because he had neither sun screen nor hat and we are in direct sunlight. Next was a corn maze, a spendy corn maze. Growing up in northern Minnesota, I have a hard time stomaching $6.75 per person to walk through corn but I did it because Levi wanted to. However, his enthusiasm lasted about 8 minutes.
I quickly realized that if I wanted to use the facilities it was just not going to happen. I have a fundamental principle against using port-a-potty (and-all-over-the-interior-and-now-all-over-me) I am not one to shy away from tasks that are a bit difficult with kids. Using a mobile bathroom station with a toddler who can’t help but touch everything and an infant who is hanging off the front of me is not one of the tasks that I canjust take a deep breath and talk myself into. I had to decline for myself. Levi on the other hand, needed to pee. I told him to go in by himself and I looked the other way. What did it matter? There was pee all over inside anyway. I just could not deal with cramming the three of us in there. I still shudder thinking about it. He fell out of the plastic peeing station with his pants and underwear around his ankles. Quietly I said, “Levi, hurry up, pull those pants up, people are looking”. I couldn’t lean over to help- the baby would have fallen on the ground. Again, I should have maybe considered the stroller.
I had enough of price gouging and manning the boys alone so we headed out. I got everyone in their car seats and stripped down to the last layer of clothing as I was dripping in sweat from carrying Dante around in the warm autumn sun. I placed my new bag of honey crisps in the passenger seat for a snack once we hit the open road, took a cleansing breath, and put the car in drive. As I tried to climb the hill, my tires spun and I went nowhere. I put it in reverse then drive again, using a bit more speed to get up the slope. This time, the tires spun more rapidly, thus kicking up mud all over the cars near me. I scanned the area. Nobody was approaching. I looked behind me. Mud. All. Over. I did my best to get away from the scene as quickly as possible while not hitting other apple orchard go-ers. I thought that I had made a clean get away until I made it out on the paved road. As I increased in speed, mud flew everywhere- now spraying pedestrians, not cars. I kept saying, “oh my God, oh my God…” I didn’t know what to do. I had to move the car out of the road but in order to do so, I sprayed everyone with the mess I had just accumulated up under my wheel wells. I decided it best to just look forward and make a go of it. Pretend you see nothing and the problem goes away…
I have been waiting for nearly 4.5 years for Levi to be able to answer the following question- “What is your name little boy” and Saturday was the day it happened. We were on the back of the flat trailer with benches where the guy sitting next to Levi asked this very question. Levi to my surprise and small tear said “Evi”! It was the small victory of that day. All the unpleasantness of not being able to pee for hours and paying nearly $40 to look at trees was worth it to hear him finally say it. I do not think I will be going back to that apple orchard. I must find a new one and maybe the next time, I will bring a companion and a stroller.
In my most recent garage sale-ing I had picked up another map book. Helio constantly takes mine out of the car and never returns it. It has been one of many sore subjects between us for years. So, with my map book and a cell phone I thought if I just started driving I would find a good apple picking location. I expected low levels of crowds, wandering animals and all the apples one could eat for a nominal fee. What I encountered was multiple car lots yet nowhere to park, massive crowds of people, and fees for all things- including viewing the goats and chickens behind cages.
I found a place to park way in the back up on a grassy hill and thought, eh?...looks fine to me. So, I took the boys out, put Dante in a front of my body carrier and did my best to shout at Levi to keep him out of traffic on the short walk to the orchard. As soon as we arrived we got onto a tractor pulled trailer to get a tour of the grounds. The whole time I kept thinking, I am going to burn up my baby’s face because he had neither sun screen nor hat and we are in direct sunlight. Next was a corn maze, a spendy corn maze. Growing up in northern Minnesota, I have a hard time stomaching $6.75 per person to walk through corn but I did it because Levi wanted to. However, his enthusiasm lasted about 8 minutes.
I quickly realized that if I wanted to use the facilities it was just not going to happen. I have a fundamental principle against using port-a-potty (and-all-over-the-interior-and-now-all-over-me) I am not one to shy away from tasks that are a bit difficult with kids. Using a mobile bathroom station with a toddler who can’t help but touch everything and an infant who is hanging off the front of me is not one of the tasks that I canjust take a deep breath and talk myself into. I had to decline for myself. Levi on the other hand, needed to pee. I told him to go in by himself and I looked the other way. What did it matter? There was pee all over inside anyway. I just could not deal with cramming the three of us in there. I still shudder thinking about it. He fell out of the plastic peeing station with his pants and underwear around his ankles. Quietly I said, “Levi, hurry up, pull those pants up, people are looking”. I couldn’t lean over to help- the baby would have fallen on the ground. Again, I should have maybe considered the stroller.
I had enough of price gouging and manning the boys alone so we headed out. I got everyone in their car seats and stripped down to the last layer of clothing as I was dripping in sweat from carrying Dante around in the warm autumn sun. I placed my new bag of honey crisps in the passenger seat for a snack once we hit the open road, took a cleansing breath, and put the car in drive. As I tried to climb the hill, my tires spun and I went nowhere. I put it in reverse then drive again, using a bit more speed to get up the slope. This time, the tires spun more rapidly, thus kicking up mud all over the cars near me. I scanned the area. Nobody was approaching. I looked behind me. Mud. All. Over. I did my best to get away from the scene as quickly as possible while not hitting other apple orchard go-ers. I thought that I had made a clean get away until I made it out on the paved road. As I increased in speed, mud flew everywhere- now spraying pedestrians, not cars. I kept saying, “oh my God, oh my God…” I didn’t know what to do. I had to move the car out of the road but in order to do so, I sprayed everyone with the mess I had just accumulated up under my wheel wells. I decided it best to just look forward and make a go of it. Pretend you see nothing and the problem goes away…
I have been waiting for nearly 4.5 years for Levi to be able to answer the following question- “What is your name little boy” and Saturday was the day it happened. We were on the back of the flat trailer with benches where the guy sitting next to Levi asked this very question. Levi to my surprise and small tear said “Evi”! It was the small victory of that day. All the unpleasantness of not being able to pee for hours and paying nearly $40 to look at trees was worth it to hear him finally say it. I do not think I will be going back to that apple orchard. I must find a new one and maybe the next time, I will bring a companion and a stroller.
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