the alex chronicles

It's been almost two weeks since daughter Alex arrived to spend time here with us. We were so busy while she was here ~ going here and there, shopping, talking, reading, eating and sleeping ~ that I abandoned the Blog and concentrated on having a good time with her. On both Mondays of her visit we made our pilgrimage into Armeria to the tinagues as usual, and on both Sundays it was tacitos de lengue, her absolute favorite. We went up to Suchitlán Tuesday, stopping first at the exquisite little museum in Nogueres where there is a beautiful collection of pre-Columbian Colima dog statuary. There is also a thriving children's art school,

this being their latest display. Then on up to Los Portales, the lovely restaurant in the remaining gardens of an old coffee plantation. Chile relleno picadillo for me, half portion of birria de res for Mr. C., and both a picadillo and a queso relleno for Alex. I walked off without my blood testing machine which meant we had to go back on Friday to pick it up, so on the way home we stopped in Colima at Los Cronos for lunch.

On Wednesday we let Alex sleep in while we tore off to Manzanillo to renew our Mexican Ex-Pat passports, the FM-3. This is usually a month-long ordeal where we go in, fill out all the paper work, turn in some documents, pay the fee, then come back in a month to pick it up. But technology has invaded the immigration service big-time. We got everything done in 3 hours and walked out with our renewed documents. We won't have to show up again until next year. That evening Alex and I went off to the weekly domino game where she did herself proud. We had been playing every day since she arrived so both of us were in good shape to meet our opponents. Thursday the weather wasn't so hot so she spent the day in the hammock working her way through the stack of books I had left on the bedside table. Friday it was up to Colima and Suchitlán. To Dago's for dinner that evening. She got the whole weekly ritual as we live it here. Saturday and Sunday were also quiet.

A flurry of excitement on Monday, here in the casa. While writing a check to Alex to reimburse her for all the goodies she had brought at our request, I noticed that I was missing a notation in my check register. So I logged on to my bank account and, WOWZA! Someone had charged $896.10 worth of computer hard/software on my account! WTF?? Calls to the bank, calls to the credit card company, calls to PayPal (where the charge had been made). I think I have covered all the possible bases; card cancelled, affadavit signed and return swearing I didn't make the purchase. This is the first time this has happened to me. You hear about it but think the odds are so huge that you'll never be hit. Alas, my number (so to speak) came up. It will take about 30 days to settle this claim. Meanwhile, I hope the perp's computer has a complete melt-down.

Monday evening we went to the party over in the big yard at Neighbor and Mrs. Nelson's, just around the corner.

It was a pot-luck affair, starring tatemada pork stew, featuring rice, beans, handmade tortillas, salads (including Alex's best-ever cole slaw), lots of good snacks beforehand, and a couple of cakes and some really rich brownies for dessert. Music, laughter, good food, followed by swarms of mosquitoes that drove everybody home about 8:30.

Tuesday was departure day for Alex, and on her birthday, no less. Not the greatest gift I could possible think of, but the previous 10 days had been one big party! It was such a treat to have here here for 10 days, the longest vacation she's taken in years, and unencumbered by family or work or anything mildly distracting. Plenty of time to read and swing in the hammock and doze. No swimming though; too cold. And besides, big remodel going on over at Jack's casa so he emptied the pool. He's having a new roof put on the place. Believe me, it needs it. A massive undertaking that will last about 3 months, but at least when it's done big chunks of cement won't be falling from the ceilings onto guests sitting on the terraza. Tuesday afternoon we drove over to Manzanillo, got Alex checked in for her flight, hugged farewell, and came home.

It's mighty quiet around here, except for the jack hammer and sawing and noise of the rubble sliding down the chute into the waiting truck across the way at Jack's. And of course the racket coming from Javier's surf board emporium around the corner. This guy is a genius with fiberglass but Lord! such a din!

On Tuesday we are heading up to San Miguel de Allende for a week, then on to Patzcuaro where we have rented a little casita for an additional week. Home on the 16th just in time to greet our friend Liz who arrives from Baltimore to thaw out for a few days. It will be nice to be away from the beach for a bit although I know I will be eager to get back to the sand and the salt, even though there are all sorts of delightful things to see and do in those two cities. Come along with me and we'll share the adventure.

And now it's time for the opera.