From Dentro del Jardin to hambre!

The trip to Cancun had two agendas: get photos for our visas and shop for our rental properties. I had contracted a Cancun cabbie to take us to a studio, shop and return to pick up photos. It was power shopping to the ultimate degree.
First, the photo studio. Sue mumbled something about it being in a neighborhood that Miguel said wasn't safe. Carlos the cabbie said not to worry.
We posed, we left. On to Sam's Club, in and out in record time. But Sue was very happy she found a lamp set. I got HP printer cartridges, white towels and some foodstuffs.
On to Walmart, where I got a 1 pesos bottle of sweet low cal French. A whole lot more, but when you get something for a peso, it's news! Wayne had told us about a crazy sale earlier in the week and this must have been a leftover.
On to Costco, where Sue got cat food and I a lighted Christmas spray. And then our hambre kicked in. Gotta eat before we go. We asked Carlos to join us, but he had eaten in the Walmart cafeteria.
We had a discount pharmacy stop. And then, we learned the full worth of Carlos. It was drizzling and he went into the photo shop for us. Not done.
Cruising the block, he pointed to transvestite beauty salons. Good looking chics! And at an intersection, said this is where the pick pocketing and purse snatching happens. I said that guy over there looks like a suspect.
"He is working. See the guy on the other side of the street? He spots the easy victims and gives him signals. Necklaces, open purses, wallets inching out of pockets. It's over before the victim knows." And he pulled up in front of the studio and went in for us. Mission accomplished.
Carlos helped the baggage handler get our things sorted and packed on to a luggage dollie in the rain. Sue gave me her hombro again: Hombre, hombro, hambre. Work on theses words, folks!
Came the ferry, came to Isla, and when we got off, the baggage handlers were working about 4 shopper clients and we had to stay on the dock.
Sometime after coming home, Donna Jane came with a bag of tofu and condiments she got by mistake and later I notice the Christmas spray was missing.
A call to UltraMar settled found it and I pick it up in the afternoon. They also have a bag of someone's new clothes.
And Lora doggie dog, in the pet carrier - good for her as she had overworked her injured ankle - was so happy with a new flavor of dog food that she didn't notice a new bag of rawhide. She's a good, but stupid, doggie dog.
Eriso was upset at the rains pushing him behind schedule. To ease his angst a big, I gave him a jar of chili arbol and two cans of tomatoes. Chilis always ease his upsets!

Survival Mode

Oh, the rains won't kill me! I like them a lot, actually. It's the US style schedule I have for the rest of the week that worries me.
After a great outing to Cancun yesterday - including lawyer and WalMart in inclement weather, I am faced with cleaning, reorganizing, laying a new rug, meeting with the accountant today, and then starting tomorrow - tuning and painting the generator by Mundo, lawyer again, Home Depot with Ricardo and then on Friday, Mexican IRS with Costco as the cherry on top. Actually, 24 meters of fiber optic lights for Christmas!
It's traveling on the ferry in rains with documents that gets to you. And also, there's the issue of laundry, personal stuff, drying during the rains!
Well, yesterday's trip was remarkable! Mauricio Mendoza took about 20 minutes time to create a strategy that I had over-prepared for. Since he was late getting here, Jose had to go in with me rather than check out the nearby Home Depot. Then, it was on to POWER SHOP!
I took a motorized cart, and since I had just been in there in the last few days, I led the way. He had a cart and the two of use were quite a site. Having him keep up with me reminded me of walking Lora with the golf cart. Andale!
First stop, the 12 peso store. Everything at least 66 percent cheaper than elsewhere in the store. He got hangers and a couple drinking glass. I got a two collander set and roasting bags.
Then, the main event. Look for curtains and floor mats for Jose. Well, he didn't have measurements, but saw anything from adaptable synthetic shower curtains to blinds to regular curtains. He'll be back.
He was also shopping, allegedly, for his little sister who turns 15 on the 15th. No big party. The family is chipping in to buy her a scooter for school and job commuting. So I'm point to the tire guages, Armor All, helmets. He comes up with a $6 box of chocolate. Cute.
I stock up on a 24 pack of TP for the apartments, some paper towels, dog chews and cheese, again, cheese. More ricotta.
We munch our way through food testers and Jose concludes he is starving. First, grab that pomegranate juice for Miguel, here - taste a green bean, no there's no bean inside, and cash out. On to the McDonald's, where he wants the double Big Mac. Who knew!
He tells me that with the relish I sent back the day before, every staff person at Miguel's Moon LIte had beef burgers with tarter sauce and talked about how it could be improved. Cheese Whiz and jalapeno relish and you have "special sauce!" Yes, or a simple tartar sauce great for seafood. Maybe add capers and chilis. A keeper! Yippee!
I had gotten a new area rug for the living room. Last year's stock...for $20 and agreed to give Jose my other one, nice, but with a Lora upchuck stain I promised to have out by this morning. He is more than thrilled. This years rugs are going for double the price.
We high tail it back. The phrase of the day is "Like clockwork."
I handled the isla Mujeres parking lot and he the baggage handlers. I drop him off at home and go to Miguel's for a celebratory pomogranite beverage.
Jose shows up and asks if he can go around the corner. He is carrying the box of chocolate.
So, it's not for his sister? Jaja. He has a girl he has been courting. Little devil. I hope he wins her over.
But he LIED TO ME! Oh well.
A quickd stop at La Justicia, where I talk with Jorge's dad while waiting on a $6 fish dinner I intend to split as guilt food with Lora, since she still has the ear fungus and was in the carrier all day without AC.
When I got home, it was raining again and I had stuff and the area rug. Federico ran over and quickly loaded me into the house. And then I collapsed into a siesta that took me through the night! And Lora, she just can't get over having an inventory of so many rawhide chews! She is a good doggie dog!
And now, to mix up some gentian violet and vinegar water to wash her ears out. Yep, this is paradise all right.
PS....the 12 Peso store also netted me a pair of "Palin readers." I therefore am ready for Halloween.





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