Silly Dog and Street Entertainment!

Good Afternoon!

So we all know talking on your cell phone and driving is not a good idea. I think Mexico City has a special way of keeping you from doing that, besides creating all the hazardous driving conditions: there are street performers that do their schtick at red lights for all the cars, then go around collecting money. It's a little more creative than the people back home that hold out signs at intersections for money. We've seen clowns, jugglers, kids that stand on shoulders and dance/juggle...I figure this keeps your attention while you're sitting at a red light and keeps you from checking your phone as often! The picture below is of this guy that had his own routine set up, it was totally unique. We weren't sure what his motive was though, as he didn't appear to be asking for money or anything. He would just move to a different position out of the way as the light changed.

It looks like there are three people lined up...however, it was one guy (in the middle) and two dummies tied to him. He'd get in the middle of an intersection, and start dancing to some music playing on a stereo on the sidewalk that his friend was controlling. It was a pretty good routine!

So today is Thursday, and Corey gets home tomorrow afternoon. It's been me and Avery holding down the fort all week, and I must say, even though she's only 5 months old, she definitely has a protective streak in her when Corey is gone. It's as if she understands when Corey tells her to "take care of mom when I'm gone". She is much more alert to sounds, shadows, etc and barks a lot more when he's gone, as if she's protecting me. Sometimes, she takes it too far I think. Watch the video below and tell me what you think...

Until later!

Driving Tips from the Newcomers Club

Buenos Dias!

Yesterday (Friday), Corey and I went to our first Newcomers Club meeting. Newcomers is a club that is run by volunteers and organizes activities, crafts, tours, charity events, lunches, etc for the spouses of expatriates to participate in. Most of the members are women from the United States, and almost everyone speaks english. It's supposed to be a great way to meet friends and a great resource for finding things in Mexico. Everyone was super wonderful and nice, and I'm looking forward to some of the activities they had available. It will be nice to expand my world down here a little!

When we went to sign up for the club, we were given this bag with some books the Newcomers Club had put together as a guide for expatriate families. There was one information sheet in particular that caught our eye...it's called Basic Rules For Driving In Mexico City. Here are some of the bullet points, verbatim:

• Mexico City is often acclaimed as the most exciting city in the Americas in which to drive.
• When in doubt, accelerate.
• Taxicabs should always be given the right of way, unless you are bent on suicide.
• Never, ever stop for a pedestrian unless he flings himself under the wheels of your car.
• Learn to swerve abruptly. Mexico City is the home of slalom driving, thanks to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, which puts potholes in key locations to test drivers' reflexes and keeps them on their toes.
• Never get in the way of a car that needs extensive body work.
• Always look both ways when running a red light.
• It is tradition in Mexico City to honk your horn at cars that don't move the instant the light changes.
• Seeking eye contact with another driver revokes your right of way.
• Never pas on the left when you can pass on the right. Passing on sidewalks is also an option.
• In making a left turn from the right lane, employ the element of surprise. That is, do it as suddenly as possible, so as to stun other drivers. Crossing the entire 4 lanes of traffic in one block always gains respect and salutes.

Now, this list may seem meant to inspire laughs and be comical in nature, but the fact of the matter is these are all essentially true. This should give you an idea of why I have white knuckles every time we are driving to Wal-Mart 1.5 miles away :)

Let's see, I think this is about all that is new. Corey left today for Red Wing, he'll be home on Friday. It's the longest he's been away from Avery and the longest he's been traveling since April. Then he's home for 2.5 days, and leaves Monday (that's right, my birthday...) evening for another trip, this one to Peru, during which he'll be gone until Friday. Busy few weeks!

Until later,

A New Post!

Hello!

I'm sorry to my 8 declared followers for taking so long to post a new blog, I was waiting to get some photographs uploaded before I posted a new blog. BUT! Photos are up, and the blog may resume! We've just been hanging around the house, getting things unpacked. We've done a little bit of shopping for decorations and furniture that we need, slowly but surely the house is coming together!

We got the cable to work late last week, and to be honest, I haven't missed it. We've been watching a few episodes of Entourage or the Office a day usually, but we've gotten caught up on Entourage (any other suggestions for shows to follow? We know about Mad Men, are considering it...anything else?!) and we've seen the Office (all episodes) probably 10 times a piece. Anyways, point is, I think I can do just fine without TV. The other night, I FINALLY got Corey to play a game with me, instead of sit in front of the television at night. We played a game of Scrabble, and halfway through he mentioned that he was glad I got him to play, that he was enjoying it! Men out there...women know best! If you all know of any other great two person games, let me know! Corey will be home next week, and I'm going to send him with a list of things to get and bring back, so let me know about games!

Also, when we got our things, I got all my beads :) There are tons...I forget/don't realize how much I have! But I couldn't find the pliers that I use for making jewelry, so yesterday I found a craft store online that's not far from our house that we are going to go check out today. I'm so excited to be able to start creating again!

Now for the photo section!

Lillies are my favorite flower, and there are flower stands every few blocks around our house. Care to guess how much a large bouquet of crimson colored lillies cost? About $5. It's fantastic! Fresh flowers every week around our house!

Avery and I were sitting on a bench (part of our daily routine in the dog park, she loves the fresh air and people/dog watching!) in the dog park when we saw this HUGE dog. Every once in a while, you'll see some dog that seems more like a horse, they are so big. This one was skinny, non-horselike, but still, very tall. I wonder how you prevent dogs like this from picking food right off the counter/table?!

Every few blocks around the neighborhood, there are these bike stands, with all sorts of bikes for rent. We haven't entirely figured out how to get the card and use the system yet, but we will get it one of these days! It's a great way to get around the neighborhood when you get sick of walking!

The other day, Corey accompanied myself and Avery on a walk around Avenida Amsterdam, and we came across this "emergency vehicle". In case you can't see it, this old station wagon is called the "Love Ambulance" and is complete with lights and sirens and all! Parked outside the Magic Remedies shop...

And finally...my favorite photo. One day Corey and I were out walking and discovered this pet shop that sold these bones that are just GINORMOUS. We decided that our spoiled dog MUST have one. This is the second biggest bone they sell, and it's about a foot and a half or two feet long. Avery wasn't sure what to do with it at first, but she has it all figured out now! We got it for a joke, but she actually chews on it when we're upstairs hanging out! It should last her at least the rest of the time we're in Mexico, we think!

This is all for now, I'll post more soon! Thanks for reading, and let me know about the games and any great TV series!

Love,

Wednesday

Hello All!

We DID get our things yesterday, bright and early and RIGHT on time (how weird for Mexico?!) at 8:30 yesterday morning. The movers were gone by noon, and I was left with 30 boxes worth of things to put into place! Thankfully they took all the boxes, I was just left with the things inside! It's nice to have some things back, like photos and other decor, our bed sets and the towels I bought before we moved! Plus all the other kitchen utensils/appliances...now we're ALL moved in! At least with what we have now...we still need to get some furniture (we found dining chairs, we'll have those in a few weeks) like bedside tables, a bed frame for us, coffee tables, rugs, decorations, but I have a feeling we're going to go VERY slowly! Corey is going to take some convincing :)

Speaking of Corey, he had to leave EARLY this morning for an emergency work trip, he'll be gone til Friday afternoon. By which time, the six loads of laundry that came in the shipment in the form of towels will be done (at 5 hours running time each!) and the clothes from the shipment will all be put away, the dishes all done, and most things in their place. It will keep me busy, which is good. But for now, I am procrastinating. Which is so unlike me! I spent the morning going out running errands like looking at furniture stores (when the cat (Corey) is out, the mice (me) will play (or shop)!) and getting Avery a bigger dog bed (she's growing so much! She looks more and more like a dog every day, less like a puppy :( ) and some quick grocery shopping. Lots of walking! But, I think I came up with all those errands to put off unpacking.

I suppose I should get to it!

Also, GO VIKINGS! Welcome back Brett, glad to have ya!

Until later,

Photos and Home Furnishings

Good Afternoon All!

Update...WE GET OUR SHIPMENT TOMORROW!!! At least, that's what they tell us! So SO excited to have our own things back! ESPECIALLY our bed! Large and comfy! I'm looking forward to having towels in all of our bathrooms and the beds made and feeling like we are actually living in a home, rather than a shell. Then to start decorating! I'm getting excited to really start that!

I want to add a note regarding my last post when we announced that we are having the wedding in Minnesota...this does NOT mean that anyone who was going to come to the wedding now has an excuse not to visit (Ahem Rachel, pay attention!) If you were going to come for the wedding, now you get to come for vacation! I promise it's a really safe area, very pleasant, and for those of you that

want to we can do a few days in Mexico City and a few days in a beach town! So start planning those Mexico vacations!

Lastly, I've been getting into playing around on the computers with some photography tricks and photos, and I wanted to share one that is near and dear to my heart and Corey's heart! I posted the original photo (color) and my edited copy (black and white). I'll post more pictures later, for now the camera battery has to charge! Buenos Noches everyone!

Finally a New Post!

Hola!

I've been by Corey told that I am slacking in my posting responsibilities, so for that I apologize! We've recently been settling into a pleasant routine and loving life in Mexico. Every day I try to get Avery out on a walk, and I've discovered this great path around our neighborhood on a street called Amsterdam Avenue. It's about a mile and a half around, and it goes around in an oval; it used to be a horse racetrack. Now it's very pretty with trees and a nice stone path, with occasional fountains and everything. Some pictures are on the side.

Avery and I have also discovered a "dog park". It's actually called Parque Mexico, and it's about 3 blocks from our apartment, it's a great little walk for Avery and it's so peaceful. But when you first walk up, around noon on a weekday, what you see is over 100 dogs laying down, lined up. Seems this is the park that the dog walkers or dog trainers bring all their charges to. It's crazy, the dogs are so well behaved. Once in awhile you may here the occasional bark, but overall they are amazing to watch. Avery will never be that well trained, I am sure. When we get there, she and I sit on a bench and people/dog watch for 15 or 20 minutes. She loves it :) . I also posted some photos below of the dog park.

Lastly, news for everyone reading. Corey and I have decided to have our wedding in Minnesota next May. We are hoping for the date May 28th, which is the Saturday before Memorial Day, so everyone save the date! We'll get something more formal in the mail in the next few months, but in the meantime, start getting excited!

Now for the pictures!

The path around Amsterdam Avenue and one of the fountains.

These are some of the dogs all lined up!

Love to all!

Rental Car

A tip on living abroad:

It is my recommendation that you spend a few weeks getting to know the ways of the road, with a rental car. The other day we noticed one of the hubcaps missing, the rim of the wheel bent and the tire leaking air (for the record - no idea what happened!). We tried to go and swap the car for a replacement yesterday, but unfortunately they were closed. On the way home, Avery got a little car sick. OK - not a little, but a lot. All that in addition to a number of "close calls" on the road.

Finally today, we went and traded in our rented white Ford Focus, for a silver Ford Focus. Its like a new car again...I'll give it a few days.

I keep on thinking I can't wait for my permanent car, but then again maybe a rental for a few more weeks wouldn't be the end of the world.

The craziness isn't just me. Yesterday we saw a guy sitting in the engine of the car, appearing to be fixing something. Here is the kicker...the car was not parked...there was someone driving.

- Corey