Don't tell the authorities, but I smuggled in some of my plants from home... I planted them last Saturday and look how happy they are, already!
Above: The wandering jew that I've had for a long time. From Shirl.
Above: My shamrock plant! Also from Shirl.
Background: C. has been living in Cabo for two weeks and one day.
Most exciting thing:
"Knowing that our house will be finished soon."
Newest thing you've learned:
"Everything takes time. "
Current thoughts on the Mexican Culture:
"I respect their work ethic. They work so much and so hard for so little."
Food issues/thoughts:
"No issues with the food. LOVE the sushi."
Job Thoughts:
"I'm just excited about my first sale...when that happens."
Overall thoughts:
"Thank goodness for my familiy down here. It helps."
What do you miss?:
"I miss my stuff...but, my car will be here soon. I also really miss my dog."
Overall Comments:
"I just can't wait to get into a routine and look forward to doing stuff on our house."
I bought bedding today.
Since C. & I have a fully-furnished house in Ohio, it's been kind of fun (and frustrating) knowing that we get to "start over" here in Cabo.
We've decided to do the minimalist thing. Why? Well, again - we have a fully-furnished four-bedroom house in Ohio.
So, I ordered the quilt, 2 shams and 2 euro pillows (square) and shams above - all in white. I'm excited to do a beachy, easy-living, clean, white thing in our house.
Not sure what accent color I want - but I'm thinking the walls in our bedroom will be grey-bluish.
www.westelm.com
Read more...
- The jeans that native women wear here are too tight.
- Way too tight.
- WAY too tight.
- I don't understand why the "up" escalators are on the left side. They should be on the right; in line with how we drive. On the RIGHT side of the road.
- The men, truly are short here. I feel for them.
- I'm sick of all of the available food. Bored with it, really.
- I love the weather. My sister told me that she can tell that "Spring has begun." (In January. COOL.)
- There's a lot (if not too much ) downtime here... Since I"m 100% unwilling to learn to surf, I need to find something else to do. (I miss running. And shopping on weekends at Target.)
- That's all for now.
My car, Lola (above)
C.'s car, Brutus (above)
My lip still kills and I wouldn't THINK of laughing or smiling... but I'm healing.
C. and I went through the house today - lookin' good.
We're going down to San Lucas to see "Night in the Museum" in Ingles and to buy a puzzle. :-) I love doing puzzles these days.
It's raining in Los Cabos.
What? Uh-huh. You heard it here.
COOL.
P.S. My lip still hurts. I'm healing though!
So yesterday my lips blew up.
Call it stress, sun burned lips or poor diet (of which I have all 3) -- no matter, my lips blew up. I have, at this very moment upwards of one gazillion (about 42) small, painful blisters on my bottom lip, a.k.a. "fever blisters."
My bottom lip has swollen to twice its normal size, and if I don't say so myself, I look pretty.
So last night, C. went to the farmacia after I self-diagnosed on webmd and purchased some medications for me. In the States, they would have been prescriptions, but not here in Me-he-coe.
This morning, my lip was larger.
We went to the Dr. Overall - we had chosen the right plan of action (self-diagnoses does work), and I was prescribed an anti-inflammatory. (For my big 'ole lip. Again, I look pretty.)
Costs of the care:
* Dr. Visit: $36.00 (USD)
* Total Medications (2 different pills, 1 topical): $125.00 (USD)
Not bad.
My fears were quelled and I'm happy to have the largest bottom lip in all of Los Cabos.
For those of you who would like to make a joke at my expense, do know that one of the medications I was given (the anti-inflammatory) is called, in español: Voltarén Retard.
hahahahahahahahahaha
One must always keep laughing. Even if it hurts one's lips.
(Sorry)
1. Sleep naked.
2. Walk around naked.
3. Watch T.V. naked.
4. Take my pants off when I come home from work. (A Toledo ritual)
5. Not lock every door when I'm in a room. (For fear that I am walked in on, while...you guessed it, I'm naked.)
Too much information? Too bad. :-) I'm a married 27-year-old woman. I can SO say this.
That is the day the house will be turned over to us.
Then, the kitchen/bathrooms (hopefully) will be finished by March 15th.
YAY!
This is getting exciting!
Saturday was a lovely day in Los Cabos.
Craig and I hung out on my sister's roof garden for a while: me reading, him removing Christmas lights.
We then washed my car and visisted the three American places here: Office Depot, Home Depot & Costco.
He thinks he can live here now. :-)
Last night was lovely.
C. & I went to a new restaurant that we had never been to in San Jose: Casianos. (Click here for the website... totally cool.)
It was a five-course meal and the chef goes down to the market in the morning and then buys his supplies for the day. He then creates these amazing meals. You order nothing specific, they just bring it to you. (We just asked for no red meat or chicken.)
It was phenomenal. The service was fantastic and we had a super time.
When we got there, the waiter congratulated us on our honeymoon and at the end of the meal we were given a complimentary glass of champagne in honor of our recent marriage.
We were then asked if we'd like a ride back to our resort.
--
I love it here. :-)
Ok, let's be real. It's beautiful here. Right now? Probably 70-ish.
Yes, there's an ocean breeze.
Yes, it's chilly enough at night to require a coat.
Yes, yes, yes.
However, it is never cold enough here during the day to warrant the cold-weather clothing that many Los Cabo-ites insist on wearing.
Take for example two minutes ago. I look out of my window and see a native wearing a purple turtleneck sweater, long jeans and boots. Not three feet away from her is a Gringo on vacay wearing a white t-shirt, shorts, & flips.
She is dressed UNseasonably warmly.
He is dressed appropriately.
Friends, they force winter.
The front of the house where we're going to live.
My sister pointing to our powder room.
The Family room.
View from the downstairs dining room Window.
I'm good. Went to pilates on Tuesday, skipped it yesterday. Instead, C. & I started a puzzle with Chlo.
As far as life here goes - it's all good. It's so great to wake up and see C.
As far as his transition is going... he's taking it one step at at time. I feel for him. I know how frustrating it can be to start a new job and not really know what exactly you should be doing. Ugh. I was telling my sister yesterday, you couldn't pay me enough to go BACK and start this all over. Nope. No way.
(I must tell you. Today has been wonderful. I woke up with my husband HERE. He's starting his job today. All is well in the (my) world.)
Read more...
Background: C. has been living in Cabo for one full day. I think it'll be fun to track his thoughts regarding his move. Here we are:
Most exciting thing:
"Sleeping with my wife in the same bed." (Aw.)
Newest thing you've learned:
"How to drive in Mexico." (We made him learn to drive last night, on New Year's Eve... by himself. Awesome.)
Current thoughts on the Mexican Culture:
"I have none yet. I haven't really experienced anything. There was nothing open, due to the holiday." (We attempted to go to Home Depot, but it was closed.) "However, I saw a wonderful movie with the family at a very chaotic (busy) cinema."
Food issues/thoughts:
"I have none. Guacamole from Mega was great. I miss Silk Soy Milk."
Job Thoughts:
"I'm ready to begin. I'm a little anxious." (He starts tomorrow.)
Overall thoughts:
"I'm excited to begin 2007 in Mexico. Shake and bake."
What do you miss?:
"Routine. I miss the routine of working, our house, just having 'our stuff', etc." (He didn't say it, but I know he misses Nattie, too. And, not to worry - he'll have a routine in no time.)
What do you look forward to learning?:
"Some Spanglish."
What else are you looking forward to?:
"Great weather, fun times with the family and the other part I won't say." (Thank you, C.)
Ah yes, we rang in the Mexican new year last night.
We went to a dinner - a 9 courser - that blew. :-) It was pretty much gross. We left after the 4th course, or so. (The soup was cold and had a half-cooked ravioli in it. The lamb chops (ew) were cold. And, well... lamb chops.)
The night was filled with GREAT dresses (my sister's and mine), good looking men (my husband) and odd drinks and a bit of drama thrown in for good measure.
However, I'm thrilled it's 2007!
Our Adventure
Friday, December 29th.
8 a.m. – Wake up
9-noon – cancel newspaper, cancel cable, go to bank, forward mail, prepare un-attached garage, enjoy McDonald’s breakfast, clean house (including sinks), set light timers, finished packing, turned off water.
Noon – The mother-in-law drops of her BF’s mustang in our garage.
12:15 – We drive to MIL’s to drop off both Jeeps (Lola and Brutus)
12:30 – En route to the lovely city of Detroit
1:00 – Arrive in the oldest terminal known to man – American
1:30 – Waiting for plane
2:15 – Allegedly supposed to board, flight delayed one hour
2: 48 – Time plane supposed to depart
3:15 – Actually boarded the plane
4:00 – Actually took off
6:00 – Diverted to Springfield, MO (Tornadoes and thunderstorms in Dallas). We sat on the plane, refueled and called American Airlines to check on the status of our connecting flight. Turns out, it was cancelled. We re-booked for Saturday a.m. at 9:15. The lovely woman at AA then connected us to a lovely woman at hotels.com who then booked us a room at the Hawthorne Suites at the Dallas airport.
**NOTE: We have not eaten since 10:15 a.m.
**NOTE: My favorite comment from C. after we were grounded waiting for the pilot telling us to tell us the plane, “Hey, do you think they’ll let us off this bird so we can get something to eat?”
7:00 – Plane takes off from Springfield, MO
**NOTE: Very bumpy, very uncomfortable, very death-like.
8:45 p.m. – Land in Dallas. (Took ENITRELY too long. We had to circle the airport numerous times, because some landing strips were closed.
9:00 p.m. – Waiting for our luggage at DFW
9:08 p.m. – Realize we ain’t getting’ our luggage.
9:15 p.m. – Talk to luggage counter princess, realize our luggage will be on the next a.m. flight.
**NOTE: We have no toiletries. Sweet.
**NOTE: We still haven’t eaten.
**NOTE: C. is carrying his laptop and in his bookbag are about 14 pairs of chones (boxers) and his iPod because he nearly forgot to pack his underpants in his checked baggage.
9:17 p.m. – Go outside to hail taxi
9:18 p.m. – Realize there is a severe taxi shortage.
9:25 p.m. – Finally get a taxi ( a Ford Taurus station wagon – haven’t been in one of those since 7th grade.)
9:30 p.m – Arrived at the Hawthorne Suites (right by the airport.) Cab fare: a mere $24.50. (For 2 miles.) HUH?
9:31 p.m. – Checked in. Received complimentary toothbrushes and toothpaste.
9:33 p.m. – Order pizza and cheese bread from Papa John’s. The phone answering whiz was so confused by the spelling of my name, he yelled, “I need help over here,” and proceeded to hand the phone to someone who had “more experience in taking orders.” We ordered. He then told us that the pizza would be in our hands in an hour and a half.
**NOTE: This was unacceptable. We had not eaten since 10 a.m.
9:42 p.m. – C. & I visit the “vending” machine and promptly purchase a bag of cheetos, a bag of chili-cheese fritos, and 2 mountain dews, respectively. These items served as our appetizer.
10:15 p.m. – Much to our surprise, the pizza arrives.
10:16 p.m.. – We “smash” the pizza and cheesebread.
10:30 p.m. – With little hygienic options, we brush our teeth and go to…bed… (what we do is our business.)
Saturday, December 30th
7:00 – Wake up call #1
7:01 – Wake up call #2
7:05 – My cell phone alarm goes off
7:07 – We dress in the same clothes as the previous day.
7:30 a.m. – Shuttle takes us, along with about 10 other luggage-less travelers to DFW. (Through friendly banter, we realize how lucky we were to receive some of the last complimentary toothbrushes and toothpastes.)
7:40 a.m. – Arrive at DRW to a HUGE line. C., who is my prince, sneaks into the business class international flight-self-serve computers to get our boarding passes. Within 5 minutes, we are out of the 2.6 mile line and in the 1.5 mile security checkpoint l ine.
7:58 a.m. – Security man berates Craig and wants him to take off his shirt.
7:59 a.m. – I kindly ask the same security man how he is, and tell him to have a lovely day. He smiles, says, “Thank you, you too.”
8:00 a.m. – We’re in line for McDonald’s breakfast (for the second day in a row.)
NOTE: Ther was no cheese on my biscuit – but I dealt. I’m learning flexibility.
8:30 a.m. – Meander to our gate to find that our flight has been DELAYED AGAIN. We’re not leaving at 9:15 a.m. – nope, we’re now leaving at 10:30 a.m. (Our pilot isn’t here, but the crew is. That’s a pickle, because they don’t know how to fly the plane.)
9:45 a.m. – C. and I sit and recap our “adventure” for later blogging purposes.
1:15 p.m. – Arrive in Cabo and are picked up by brother.
Awesome.
Things we’ve been thankful for during this travel:
• That while we were grounded in Springfield, we were not sitting near the lavatories.
• That we were sitting in the emergency exit seats for our 5-hour flight from Detroit to Dallas. Read: LOTS of leg room.
• That we were together.
• That the children on the plane were AMAZINGLY awesome, quiet and happy.
• That we finally ate.
• That we were able top re-schedule our glight while grounded in Springfield AND book a hotel.
Things we were thankful for.
Tomorrow I will throw my arms around his neck and kiss and hug him a million times over.
Today was a Monday. A Mexican Monday.
I woke up in a great mood - however, I realized yet again that the my personality is very dependent on the weather. For some reason it was overcast today, and dark...and well, I was also overcast and dark.
However, my mood shifted thanks to the little ray of light personified as my niece, Chloe. (I write about her on Two Pretzels in my ChloMo's). She's pretty great.
Chlo and I had a date tonight.
First, we went to Mega to pick up our current favorite cereals for breakfast. Me: honey nut cherrios, her Cocoa krispies. We also picked up a new coloring book and some new colored pencils for her so that she could be busy during my 8 p.m. pilates class.
So, we went to the 8 p.m. pilates class and it turned out to be a "private" lesson. (nice)
Best part of the evening: Chloe and I went to McDonald's and hung out. We sat at a "high table," shared french fries (ew) and a McFlurry (oreo) and played "war" with Christmas playing cards, then Go Fish.
We had a great time.
We discussed what she wanted to be when she grew up (the president or a teacher. She also said she'd be the president of the U.S., not Mexico...) and we also discussed important topics such as vacationing, whether or not I believed if her cousins would be on Santa's "naughty or nice list" and how I felt about Kwanza. (??? Apparently she likes Kwanzaa because she likes dridels. I think she's confused.)
Anway - it was a great night and I enjoyed every second of it.
It's these little moments that clearly convince me that I want to be a Mom.
Kids are gifts.
The woman who cleans our office has an interesting way of "vacuuming" the office carpet.
She sprays cleaner all over it (huh?) and then proceeds to sweep it.
With a broom.
Uh-huh.
Another one of those, "Only in Mexico" moments...
I know you don't want to hear the "countdown" everyday - but I must do it.
THREE more days, ya'll.
(I'm southern now.)
Get this, in four days - I'm going home to see my husband.
I cannot believe we're almost there. I cannot BELIEVE it.
Work...is going to be so hard this week. So hard.
Today was a 12-hour day.
I got home about 20 minutes ago, ate my favorite meal (waffles, a ton of butter and syrup) and am now going to go start on my FINAL ad of the night.
No complaints. I'm just tired.
I'm ready to catch my zzz's.
(This time next week I'll be home with my husband and dog.)
8 - Pilates at 8 today. It was good even thought it was Camilla and not Mara.
72 - Was the temperature today as I was driving home from work.
7 - days until I see my husband, dog, family, friends, home, etc.
12 - more days until Christmas. Insane.
3 - more days until I can wear my red shoes again. (To the Christmas party, of course. If I should so decide.)
7 - The entirely too early time that I have to get up tomorrow in order to go to the Sales Meeting.
Going to bed.
Lata.
(Again, I go to bed pleased. Everything is falling into place.)
Everything is falling into place
This morning my sister and I went over to the original condo/home/area/neighborhood/development that we originally looked at a while ago and picked one out that will be ready in January!
T. (my sister) is buying the whole thing and renting it to us. (This is so awesome, since we're already paying on our home in Ohio. Renting is a good option for us.)
It will be a shell -- needing painting, a kitchen, you name it -- but it will be ready for us to start working on it, etc. How fun!
I'm so excited!
It's a 3-bedroom (I think, it was), 2.5 bathroom home that is just lovely. Perfect for the three (Me, C. & Nattie). Yay!
Boy... I'm starting to feel much better about everything. I know it sounds trite, but this really is such a great Christmas so far. It's all coming together.
THANK YOU T.!
(To put this into perspective for you, finding a home in San Jose is impossible. It's nearly impossible. Aside from knocking on people's doors asking them to move out, there is NOTHING available. So, this -- this purchase by mi hermana is SUCH a blessing, such a worry now dealt with. So cool. Sweet.)
It's becoming finalized.
C. put his 2 weeks in today! His boss responded very kindly. His last day will be Monday, December 25th.
Merry Christmas. :-)
Ten.
These 10 fuzzy chicks illustrate just how many more days I will be alone.
After more than 125 days apart - C. and I are nearing the finish line. We're almost there.
I know I talk about this incessantly, but I just am so pleased that soon I will be waking up to my best friend again.
No more ga-jillion phone calls.
No more sad nights.
No more loneliness for both us.
No more international commuting.
No more flying solo.
I cannot believe that soon we'll be together.
This "sign" is painted on the ground of the parking lot at a San Lucas grocery store. $10 million dollars to anyone who has any idea of what it means.
What, in your estimation, is it trying to communicate to drivers? (It totally looks like something from LOST having to do with the Dharma Initiative.)
This is why no one really knows how to drive in Mexico.
C. and I decided to not do the "Christmas Tree" thing this year in Ohio.
Quite frankly, it's just too difficult.
I get home on the 21st and we leave on the 28th -- not enough time to buy a tree, put it up, wait for it to "fall," decorate it...then take it all back down again. Nah, not this year.
On that same note, I am SO not in the Christmas spirit. At all. It's just so weird when it's December 10th and it was nearly 80 or so today. Not.In.It.At.All.
Getting my car washed for 40 pesos (about $4) in the Mega parking lot while I grocery shop.I layed in the sun today.
On December 9th.
Awesome.
(L to R: Litle girl I don't know, Marianna, Chloe, Elphaba)
(The gorgeous scenery at the school where the meet was located.)
(The parking lot/gym area where the meet was held.)
Two more weeks will I sleep alone.
Then I will be in my home on the 22nd.
Then I will be with my husband (where I belong) for the rest of our lives. (Barring neither of us decides to move to another country, thus starting another 5-month long separation.)
Amazing.
I can't believe we've almost been living apart from one another for 5 months.
It's flown by and dragged on.
It's been depressing and exciting.
It's been exhilarating and scary.
It's tested us, pushed us and has solidified one thing:
I love him, love him, love him. Without him I'm not as strong as I thought I was.
He's allowed me to try something new. To live "independently," to go after my dreams. To do what I needed to do. He's let me be me.
He's exactly what I had inscribed on his wedding band - He's my everything.
He's comforted me through tears over the phone. He's taken care of every last detail of our "Ohio lives" so that I could concentrate on starting this chapter. He's trusted me, loved me, and believed in me.
I'll say it again: I love him, love him, love him.
On Saturday I was at the office doing some work (I'm a loser) and my sister called me to tell me to go to one of the two gas stations in San Jose because the rumor around town was that we were out of gas.
(We rely on Semi tanker trucks to bring us our gas and if they're delayed, well, then we have no gas.)
So, off I went.
Check out the line.
It took my sister an hour.
It took me about 25 minutes. Totally an adults' version of a piñata beating -- hurry up, cut in front of other cars! Try to be first! They're SO good at creating lines. I was up to get gas and of course, a truck cut in front of me. I'd say he was 2 cm. from hitting me. I (for some reason) honked and yelled at him. (I was kinda worried that he was was going to kill me afterwards, but I'm totally alive and well.)
:-)
Chocolate.
Ok, so all of the chocolate that comes to our stores is trucked in. It's a long, long drive. In an semi.
During that time the most rancid thing happens: the chocolate melts, re-solidifies into a weird waxy mess - and then is put on the shelves of our grocery stores for all of us to buy and "enjoy."
Case in point:
I recently purchased a bag of Hershey Kisses. Why? I need chocolate randomly throughout my day. The bag is a flippin' crap shoot. Sometimes, there are chocolate "kisses" (more like waxy blobs) that are completely OUT of the foil. Other times, the chocolate has turned this odd white color. (And it's milk chocolate.)
Ugh.
How does a Gringa get a not-re-melted, hard-as-a-rock piece of milk chocolate?
All is just fine.
The weather has turned, there's been some crazy wind at night -- but it's sleep-with-the-windows open weather.
Still no place to live.
Put an ad in the paper today to sell my car.
C. & I are getting through our list of "to do's". That's positive.
I haven't done ANY Christmas shopping and I'm thinking about skipping dealing with that this year. I have no time. And when I get home, I DO NOT want to be spending my 2 days before Christmas at the flippin' mall.
Ok.
Going to bed.
1. For my two new office plants that I potted today.
2. For my Cabo family.
3. For the distance to soon be quelled.
4. For the new year.
5. For new beginnings.
6. For wine.
7. For new shoes.
I loathe when people complain about how busy they are. Can't stand it. "How are you?" "Swamped." Shush. Get over yourself. EVERYONE is busy.
However, since this is my blog and I can do with it what I want, I'd like to expand on the list of "To Do's" that is involved with the transition from Toledo, Ohio to Los Cabos, B.C.S. Mexico.
At this particular juncture, the husband and I are emailing back and forth a "To Do" list (one for him, one for me) that we both are commenting on, updating, writing notes about, etc. It's getting nuts.
Some of the things we must do BEFORE we move here after CHRISTMAS:
I love it when the temperature "dips" to about 75 or 80 during the day and the locals wear turtlenecks, sweatshirts and sweaters and I'm still wearing sandles and sleeveless clothes.
I'm eternally stuck in July and I love it.
My sister (with whom I live) and her BFF left for San Diego today. I am here with Chloe, VeggieBurger and Marianna. (Brother B. leaves for T-town tomorrow a.m.) So, it's me and the kids until Friday afternoon/evening.
Anywho, Mena (the all-espanol speaking housekeeper-o-my-sister) pointed out when I got home (in Spanish, of course) that Riley (the semi-delayed intelligence-wise puppy rottweiler) ate poinsettias (I think that's poisonous) and that we're out of food.
So, she wrote me a grocery list. In Spanish. FUN! It's like a high-school Spanish class project. Here is what is said:
While C. was here, we did several things that are "new" to me and I am proud of them, so I shall record them here.
Ok, so this is both a sad and exciting day.
Sad, because my best friend just left. Again. And, because we won't see eachother again for a month. Ugh.
Exciting, because we're getting closer to our end. We're almost there.
**Sigh**
This has been a very long four, going on five, months.
Posts
All Comments
