We Have Internet...Sorta

Sr. B figured out if we move the laptop into the bedroom, we get a better internet connection than in the dining room. Not fantastic, but quite a bit better. I'm hoping to make daily posts now.


We haven't been up to too much exciting. A group of us went for supper at a cool little restaurant called La Casa del Faro in Chicxulub. On Tuesdays, they offer all you can eat ribs and on Fridays, all you can eat fish and chips. We went on Saturday so missed out on both offers but we're planning on checking this out at some point.


This morning we had a couple of errands to run. We were standing at a corner, waiting to cross the street, when a little girl who looked to be about a year and half to two years old stumbled and fell, landing at my feet. I tried to catch her but she fell faster than my old joints could react. She looked up at me with a wounded look on her face. That look that says, "Why did you do that to me?" That look that says she blamed me. Oh dear. Poor baby didn't know it wasn't my fault. I just happened to be the first person she saw when she looked up. Luckily, she wasn't hurt. Good thing those little folks come rubberized.


Last night, before I went to bed, I noticed 4 !!! mosquitoes in our bedroom. Waaaaaay up on the 9 foot ceiling where we couldn't reach them. Rotters! So we both sprayed down with bugspray so we wouldn't get chewed during the night. I felt like I was camping. That Autan is fantastic at repelling mosquitoes but, egads! The stuff is practically toxic. You definitely don't want to breathe it in while you're spraying.


This afternoon was spent at the pool and the evening with neighbours Bindi and Owen.

Another Toasty Day

Today was unbelievably hot. Our thermometer said 38C in the shade. We heard it was 47C in Merida. I know it's hotter in the city but 47 just doesn't sound right.

We stayed home during the day. Sr B spent much of the afternoon the at the pool. I'm still nursing that sunburn so I stayed inside and did a bit of housework. It started peeling today so now I'm itchy.

A bunch of us went down to the Yakunah again and I'm still questioning whether or not there was any alcohol in my pina coladas. I don't think I'm going to order them anymore. Supper was delicious and the live band played a lot of music from the 50's and 60's.

I finally figured out that my trip to the dentist aggravated my TMJ issues. My jaw is stiff in the mornings. It takes me a few stretches to be able to open my mouth enough to eat breakfast. It's uncomfortable all day and I have a constant headache that runs down my temple to my jaw joint. I remember these symptoms when it was bothering me many years ago but it's been so long that I had forgotten.

There's a bleeping mosquito in the condo and it's decided that I'm on the menu tonight. Canadian mosquitoes prefer Sr B's blood. Mexican mosquitoes prefer mine. It's weird. Anyways, I'm sitting here armed with a fly swatter and a can of Raid. That thing WILL die before I go to bed.

HA! I just got it. Victory is mine!!!

Oh crap. Spoke too soon. There's another one.

Meeting Sharon Helgason

Today I had the pleasure of meeting Sharon Helgason, a dynamo who lives in Chicxulub. Sharon is involved with many programs whose goals are to improve life for the local people. Among them are the Food Bank in Chicxulub, education, the old folks' home, providing a monthly food package for about 90 families, Christmas hampers and a breakfast program.

This morning a group of us went to her house to wrap Christmas toys which will be distributed closer to Christmas. I forget how many gifts we wrapped but I think it was around 150.

I'm glad I went. It gave me a much better understanding of what's needed and what's not really practical. An example of an impractical toy is anything the requires batteries. While battery operated toys are very cool, batteries is an expense that many families just can't afford.

She also hosts a conversation hour where Spanish and English speakers can get together and learn each others' language. There was a meeting tonight and there will be another on Wednesday. I'm not sure if it's twice a week all the time or only through the winter. There was only one Spanish speaker there tonight but I was told that there are usually several.

It was fun and informative. I'm hoping to go again on Wed.

In unrelated news, we had a mosquito in the house last night. omg. That little bleeper was relentless. I had several bites before going to bed and received several more while I was trying to go to sleep. I finally couldn't take it anymore and got up. Armed with a fly swatter, I laid in wait for it. Victory was finally mine at 2:30am. But Ms Mosca managed to get 11 jabs in before meeting her demise.