Carlos Tellas, my driver in Cancun, and Sergio Rodriguez, my handyman, are both my right hand men. I tried to explain the concept to Sergio and he says, "So you have two right hands!" This brings me back to something my mother aid her whole life, that God possibly erred by not giving women four arms and hands. Quite possibly true, Mom. I couldn't have done what I did today without two right hands in addition to mine! The twin beds/day beds, will be delivered April 18. With requests for suites with a bed for toddlers or a visiting mother for a new retiree, it only made sense to upgrade the suites this way. So after a short rest, I will head to town to meet up with Al and Janette, and the folks from Portage County, Ohio. And I can shop in town for throws to made day beds out of the new beds. All in all, it should be a blast!
Elizabeth and Tom got more than a bargain cab fare to the airport. My cousin's husband Jeff also had a departing flight at the same time and he wanted to be kissed goodbye on the other side. So I called Carlos the taxista to pick up five at Puerto Juarez. Dianne, from the lower Florida Keys, and I were going to shop while he took the others to the airport. Sign of the cross not to get busted by the union for 5 in a car, off we went. First the short distance to Sam's Club. This was very interesting. My cousin has had anorexia for 35 years. She ran up to me with some prosciutto. "This is anorexic food! See how thin it is sliced?" So we bought anorexic food, another sheet set, diaper pads for Boca and were at the cash register when Carlos showed up. Chedraui! There, we shopped the imported food aisle and got miniature meringues. "They are just egg whites and sugar." But by 2pm, I was hungry. So we stopped at a food court, where Carlos and I had fish tacos and Di could load her ceviche whith fat burning chiles. The owner came by, saw her plate, and offered to replace the ceviche. No, I like it like that! Then we were done and heading home. "Do you want to be among Parrot Heads and have a margarita? I asked? Sure. So we got margaritas and an order of grilled wings to split. Yep, I am a very bad influence. Came home and put the food away and me, I went right to bed. Di had a cup of Dieter's Tea! No point in ruining a vacation with food.
Cancun yesterday, starting at 3pm. Carlos, the taxista, informed me some tejones have found a new home on Bonampark behind the gas station. Hopefully the mean lady won't poison the survivors! On we went to Sam's Club, where I was to meet Karina. We never hooked up and I looked around and took a membership. Overall, now I remember, I find it more useful that Costco. I got a 40 pack of bed covers/diapers for Boca's potty needs They had 400 count cotton sheets. No one else has 100 percent cotton sheets now. Not Costco, not Soriana, not Chedraui. I'd have rather had a higher threat count, but... So I got two sets and a stunningly rich sheet towels that I'll put into circulation - and steal back. They are great. But it was sad in there. The veggies were all rotting with an official expiration of today. I got some mozzarella cheese and a 24 pack of baby bagels. Then on to Soriana's. There, the vegetables were fresh, the meats looked good, I got deli ryes and I some plain Activia! Today is cheap produce day at Walmart; by the afternoon, Soriana will match prices on any special Walmart had. So, I think I'll just start every future outing at Sam's, got to Soriana and then Costco for it's walk it cooler, which was pretty bare last trip too. After whirlwind shopping, I went to see an insurance agent. I have applied to get a French major medical policy from AXA for my times in Mexico. $1400 annually, 5 percent co pay, no preferred providers. That's a health plan I can live with. And it has a $30,000 rider to airlift me back to Ohio should I develop something that can't be treated here. I just got to Puerto Juarez in time to catch the ferry. No McDonald's. So I stopped at Soggy Peso for a guacamole on my way home and met some old salts who live here now.
I feel a little like Superwoman, having survived nine hours of errands in Cancun yesterday. Oh, the jury was still out regarding my survival in the pre-dawn hours. But there's nothing like a line of thunderstorms to define you! I am well and my larder is stocked. I am making spaghetti sauce this morning with the Italian sausage, hamburger and tomato products I got. I have plans to steam asparagus and brussel sprouts and put them in the freezer. Lots of good buys out there! I got a pool test kit finally. No more tongue pH! 200 count tall kitchen trash bags, good for three more years! Boca got a bed she actually used last night. Please, can I put my chin on your ankles during siesta, she seemed to ask. Getting her to the bed was easier with a new squeaky. Yes, we are spoiled! The lawyer took my papers and money for visa renewal. I should have my F-ing document in 10 days. I go back for my original passport and visa booklet Friday. Carlos continues to be a fabulous escort, appeared at check out in time to bad and load his station wagon for the ease of the baggage handlers. We took a break after three stores for lunch at Mercado 28, where I mistook El Cejas's brother for him. Honest mistake. Boy, do they have eyebrows! Afterward, it was on to Home Depot, where I got new lights to frame the house, pool equipment and insecticide. One of the stops along the way way Soriana, where I got rye bread! The rare items, brussel sprouts and asparagus, will get steamed and frozen today, also. I also found a can of cherry pie filling at Commercial Mexicana. Never before! Right now, it looks to be rainy all day. What a blessing to have the holiday shopping out of the way! Boca slept half the night in her new bed, realzing her days with chin draped over my ankles are coming to an end. A sqeaky toy eases the transition!
I won't go on about the accountant who can't do things on time. He can be easily replaced. But Isla Mujeres only has one bank, an HSBC branch. When I got my Mexican economic stimulus refund, the notice said I could take it to my local bank, specifically HSBC, to collect the 1312 pesos. In small print it said this notice expires July 31 but is valid for 180 days. It was delivered August 5. I took it to the bank a couple weeks ago and they looked, sniffed, held it up to the air. Nope. It's expired. I said there's an 800 there for you to call. Well, only the manager has that phone privilege. She was impatient with the automated menu and suddenly said, "No, It has expired. You have to go to the tax office and get another piece of paper." So yesterday morning found me in Cancun at the Hacienda. SAT. The Mexican IRS. What's up? I told them as they mouthed the words "valid for another 180 days." Here's what they told me to do: Go to the HSBC branch next door to us. If you have any problems, come back. Well, it took all to 30 seconds, got my refund and walked out to meet Carlos, my cabbie, who was checking out something similar for his retired father. Anyway. We're off! Next to Dr. Yupit, the neurologist and internist, who took care of me at Galenia Hospital in June. Here's the labs. I'm still tired, can sleep all the time. My feet swell. A recent visitor is on gabapentin too and her hands and feet swell. Well, he gave me something with that AND a pain killer that swells feet also to try. Two nights. I gave it to my favorite insomniac when I got home. But for the edema, he put me on a calcium channel blocker till my BP normalizes from the steriods. Six weeks, he reckons. Took it before bed last night and all is well. So Carlos and I were off. Called Mary Ann. She'd meet us in front of the internet cafe across from Ricardo's hospital and next to Chedraui. There she was! A skinny sight for sore eyes. She's lost weight, who thought that was possible, during the six weeks her husband has been sick with H1N1 flu. He's lost weight, too, mostly from really healthy eating: Boiled chicken, carrots and chayote every day for breakfast. When he threatened to puke, they changed it. He got huevos Mexicanos yesterday. Two days before his release. Yeah yeah. We expected him to be release yesterday. But it it is Mexico! To fatten Mary Ann up, Carlos and I took her to El Cejas in Mercado 28. She had shrimp ceviche. The first this summer. Carlos and I had our usual. He and Mary Ann were the team that checked me into Galenia. Walmart had 20 peso a kilo avacadoes (less than half the going rate) and Angus on sale. Costco had Ghirardeli brownie mix, mushroom ravioli and filled my presription. Oh girls, I'm ready for your arrival on the first. Woohoo!
Carlos Tellas, my driver in Cancun, and Sergio Rodriguez, my handyman, are both my right hand men. I tried to explain the concept to Sergio and he says, "So you have two right hands!"
