Friday, December 21, 2007

'tis the season

My all-time favorite seasonal song has been running through my head lately, so I did a quick search and found the video on YouTube.

Without further ado, enjoy!

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Argh! Time flies!

I've been promising myself I would get back in the habit of posting, but... well, it's been over a month, again. So for those few who actually check the site now and then, I apologize. I'm basically lazy when it comes to these things. In my defense I can only blame college classes, the early-onset of move related stress, and the lack of better excuses.

Snoozy dog
Today, though, Boots was just too cute to pass up. She hates cameras, so catching her asleep is almost the only way to get a picture. With no further ado, here are two pictures of Boots, sleeping on her downstairs dogbed, curled up with one of her toys.


Friday, October 26, 2007

Nifty story about nerdy celebs

Slashdot referred me to this story about nerdy celebrities. Some weren't a surprise (Tom Schulz of Boston fame, Danica McKellar, etc.), but it's a very interesting read. I found it reassuring, although the idea of Dolf Lundgren going to MIT on a Fullbright is simply mind boggling. The reference to Hedy Lamarr was probably the most surprising to me.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

It's been a month?!!

Time flies. Well I don't have much time tonight, but should post at least this much:
We're going to Albania next! Tirana here we come!

Going to Albania will entail learning Albanian, so we'll be in the US for 8-10 months after we leave Mexico next summer.

I've been very busy with school this semester, far more reading and studying required this semester than previously. I hope to get ahead soon and gain a little breathing room, but it's touch and go right now. Next semester looks like another minimum 14 credit hour semester, and I really should do 17-18 credits if at all possible. I will take few, if any, college courses while learning Albanian, so I need to get in what I can while I can. Next semester should leave me just a few math courses short of a degree in IT, and a couple more English classes short of a Certificate in Professional Writing (which I hope to grow into a degree in future). If all goes well I'll be able to complete the math courses while back in the States.

Anyway, I need to run and do some "pre-maid" cleaning: put away laundry I've washed this week, do the dishes I neglected to do earlier today, etc. I also need to try and keep Emily on track: she heads out for a Consulate visit to Durango tomorrow and needs to pack tonight.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

The Weird Juxtaposition That Is Monterrey
Two San Pedro municipal workers recently gave me yet another example of how this area is a bridge between Latin America and the US. I was walking the dog on the Calzada a few days ago. I passed a worker using a backpack leaf blower to clear the leaves and dust from the sidewalk, a scene I've witnessed countless times in the US. I reached the end of this branch of the "cross" (where the two Calzadas, del Valle and San Pedro, intersect) at the statue of David and turned back towards home.

A few minutes later I encountered another worker. This one was probably 15-20 years older and he was clearing the sidewalks with a large dead palm frond, sweeping it back and forth. I'd say this method was just as good for the leaves, seeds, and twigs, though probably not for any dust or dirt.

A few days later I saw this same older worker using a backpack leaf blower. Maybe he lost the rock-paper-scissors or coin toss that determined which worker got the gadget the first time around.

Modern and primitive, high tech and low tech, Hummers and donkey carts - this is Monterrey, Mexico.

P.S. I finally saw the tangerine sherbet colored Lamborghini that everyone told me about about a week ago. I can add that to all the Ferraris and Porsches I've seen tooling about. Have I mentioned that San Pedro has one of the highest per-capita incomes in Latin America?

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Multiple topics to cover this time, so I'll try to make each quick.

In Memoriam...
I heard on NPR today (we're members of WUWM, previously members of a DC-area station that gutted its news schedule for classical music, not that I have anything against classical music) that an author that held a warm spot in my heart, Madeleine L'engle, died Thursday at the age of 88. I fondly recall getting A Wrinkle in Time off one of those grade school book orders, reading it, and then heading to the Staunton Public Library to find more. It was science-fiction written for my age level that I didn't feel talked down to me. Without that book, how long would it have been before I learned the word tesseract? As with C.S. Lewis, faith colored Ms. L'Engle's works, but I honestly didn't even notice as a kid. Later I just didn't care; I loved the book, so why worry about the author's faith? I can only hope that there are other authors out there to carry the torch for our youth. She will be missed. The New York Times has a nice write up.

NPR has a several stories and interviews with her, as well as mentions of her works in various book lists.

Missed Opportunities
Last Friday, Emily had plans to see the Vienna Boys' Choir here in Monterrey. I was waiting for her to get home, knowing she'd have little time to change before heading out to dinner and the show with her co-workers, when she called. Her cell phone was dead and she was borrowing the phone of the woman who had just rear-ended her; said cell phone was also nearly dead so she had little time. She was fine, but they were waiting on the insurance people to arrive. She told me to pass a message on to the co-worker who was going to give her a ride to the show. I did so and waited anxiously for Emily to come home.

When she got home the first thing she had to do was call our insurance people. Since she had no functional cell phone, she had to wait until she got home. She called and we waited. The guy arrived, but took a long time to complete the paperwork. By the time he finished, it was too late for Emily to make the show. Here's the only thing she'll have to remember the show by:

$513 (pesos, about $50 US) down the drain. The only bright spot, if there is one, is that the bumper is likely to be replaced. That will also eliminate the scratches on it from two previous collisions, neither of which was our fault either and neither of which we were able to pursue at the time.

How Sweet It Is...
Emily found this recipe she wanted to try, but it required maple syrup. We found it at HEB, one of the two big grocery stores here, but it was expensive: $119 pesos ($11 US) for 100 ml. Today Emily found it at Costco. Here's the visual comparison:


The Kirkland syrup, also 100% pure maple, was $196 pesos ($19 US) for 1.89 liters. So, that would be nearly 19 times the size for about 66% more. I guess this means lots of pancakes in the next year, 'cause we're not moving it!

Friday, September 07, 2007

South Park Me

Curt is to blame for this one, both on a time-wasted and on the eyesore bit. First time with the South Park Studio, here is Neal in Mexico:




Air Mail - Mexican Style!!!

In the spring semester of this year, the college sent the exam package to the Mexico address for the Consulate. Admittedly my proctor probably put that on part of his correspondence, but the college sent the previous semester's exam package to the Brownsville, Texas, address. In any case, the package took perhaps eight weeks to make its way to Mexico. Lesson learned.

Unfortunately for regular ex-pats, this service is provided to US Government employees and family members only. I say this because we continue to get mail for the previous residents of our lovely house, an American family we met at a number of ASOMO events. Our first few weeks here, we arrived in July 2006, we didn't receive any mail for them, then we received a few letters, then a veritable flood, and then a long dry spell of nothing. Once we met them we would occasionally pass collected mail off to them, a mix of college alumni, retirement plan, bank, and credit card bills for the most part, along with months-late holiday cards. The husband said he once received an American Express bill six months after it was due.

We continue to receive their mail, although they moved back to the US (Michigan, I think) several months ago. We simply shred it, along with any convenience check offers we've received via US Mail in the past week. Recently we received two items which caught our attention (photo courtesy of Emily).


Note the two dates I've high-lighted: June 18 and July 16. Both envelopes arrived on Monday, September 3. You do the math. By any calculation, that's not speedy service. I almost forgot: the front of the envelopes were also marked "Priority." Maybe that was the problem: it simply wasn't a priority for the postman.

The postal system isn't as highly regarded as that in the US. Many companies here use couriers to deliver their bills rather than use the Mexican system. I'm not certain which of our bills come which way, but I've only seen our mailman once in the past year, so I don't think he's delivering the cable or phone bill, and possibly not the water, gas, or electric.

Hmm.... I'll have to think up a motto for the Mexican postal service. I realize the US Postal Service has no official creed, but the "unofficial motto" is: Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

Perhaps something like: There is no snow, but plenty of heat, and that or rain, or cerveza or tequila, or las chicas... I'll deliver it tomorrow, or maybe next week.


Monday, August 27, 2007

Theater Review - MM Cinemas, Paseo San Pedro

Saturday night Emily and I walked up to Paseo San Pedro, the ritzy mall near our home. The movie theater there was finally open, after several delays and great anticipation on our part. We can walk to this theater in about 15 minutes. The next closest is a 30+ minute walk, not to mention that they shut down the Bennigan's Express! (Last week we found this out when we planned a gringo meal at Bennigan's - with Guiness! - followed by air hockey and a movie, only to have the first part crushed.)

The new theater is all VIP-style, with comfortable leather reclining seats and, so we discovered after we sat down, delivery service from the concession stands. The prices appear excellent: two paninis and drinks for $125 (pesos, 10 or 11:1 exchange rate, so maybe $12 US). Tickets were 75 pesos each, with assigned seats. The theater still had that "new car" smell from the leather seats! The seats may be a bit less comfortable than some of the other theaters, but I think it will take more experimentation to be sure. I've volunteered for that onerous duty, considering that matinées cost 35 pesos. It's a high cost, but in the interest of reporting, I guess I'll just have to endure it, somehow.


Movie Review - "Knocked Up"

I was hesitant to see Knocked Up based on the previews I had seen. Its humor seemed too typical, too sophomoric for me. I had, however, already rejected the other comedic option, "License to Marry" based on the reviews at Rotten Tomatoes. Knocked Up had rather favorable reviews, so I gritted my teeth, slightly, and went. I realize this review may seem a little late, but the movie just opened here.

Although there were points where I was a bit disappointed with it, the movie was very funny and Emily and I both enjoyed it. The language is, of course, very adult. Nudity is mostly confined to clips from other films, although there is a bit of flesh during the earthquake scene. Sex isn't particularly graphic, certainly less so than many other films of this type and rating (R). Honestly, most of the sex scenes are also humorous, so that sort of deflates any potential eroticism. There's quite a lot of recreational drug use as well, so the film certainly earned its rating. I was pleased to see Harold Ramis in the film; he's always been a favorite of mine. I expect those of you who have been through pregnancy and childbirth will appreciate portions of the film even more than we did (Curt, Cheryl - this means you). I prefer to see big special effects films in theaters and comedies and dramas on DVD at home, but either way, Knocked Up is worth it.
Yet another critter

On Friday I tried repeatedly to get more pictures of the hummingbird, but he would have none of it. I also tried to get a picture of a nice butterfly, but that also proved problematic. After my last attempt with the hummingbird, I spotted something else of interest. Unfortunately there was a bit of a wind initially and the first shot isn't the best, but it gives you an idea of the color and why I spotted it in the first place.

For the second shot, I managed to crouch down and get a more interesting angle. I'm rather pleased with this one. If you look carefully, you can even see the mantis's antennae.

Friday, August 24, 2007

A new semester begins...

Sigh. It's that time again. I've now started another semester, 14 hours at the moment with a possible additional 3 credit class to be added (although I doubt it). I have a Biology class (with lab), Advanced Composition (first term paper since 1988 - eek!), Intro to Programming (yeah... I've only taken, oh, two or three programming classes at THIS college plus several at JMU and yet I have to take "Intro"? What a wise use of my money and time!), Physical Geography (okay, this one is mostly fun for me, but it will transfer elsewhere), and (drum roll, please) Student Development 100. What's that, you ask? It's a required class for new college students, particularly online students. What's that you say? Why yes, I have taken 31 credit hours of online classes in the past year and probably half a dozen other online classes previously, plus a couple years of classes on campus. Did I mention that my cumulative GPA is currently 3.92? I think I have the basic concepts down, thanks.

Sigh. Stupid required classes! Of two advisors, one for IT and one for English, one said "No problem, I'll waive the Student Development requirement - you're obviously past that point." The other one said I could test out of the class... if I flew back and visited the campus. Yeah. It's cheaper to take the course.

One day soon I have to force myself to do something I pledged to do last semester... and over the summer: take a math assessment test. It's been so long since I've taken a college math course that it's required. Scary thought. I'll probably test at the "remedial middle school" level. Either way, Statistics and Advanced Calculus will prevent me from getting my degree for a while as I work my way *back* to that level of math competency. Of course there is a handy aspect to that: I have time to work on an English degree and improve my writing skills. After all, my dream is for IT to be the fall-back career.

Time to hit the books and Blackboard.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

One last post (for today)

I really only have time for one more quick post today, and then I really need to get some work done!

Bid List - Coming Soon!
We get our bid list next Monday. This will be the list of all available positions world-wide for which Emily can bid. We have to compose a list of our top 20 and submit them. We won't actually know where we're headed until October, with a departure of approximately July 2008. Everyone asks where we want to go. That's not an easy question. We have created a sort of "things we want" and "things we want to avoid" list, but not so much a "where we want to live" list. I've told Emily repeatedly that her career and happiness come first, me and the dog second and third (or perhaps that should be third and second). If serving in Iraq is what she wants and needs to do, I'll support her. If Canada is a better choice, I'll root for it. If she decides she really wants to learn Tagalog and serve in the Philippines, that's fine.

My only real need is for high-speed internet. It makes our lives so much easier and more enjoyable. We can keep in touch with friends and family via Vonage and email, take online college classes (we're both enrolled now), and order things online that we just can't find here. I listen to NPR on the web on a daily basis, both for news and music. Living without these opportunities would indeed be a step toward hardship. Don't get me wrong, I can live with less, but I'd much rather live without a lot of other things than internet at this point.

School update
I'm continuing to take classes toward a degree in Information Technology and a certificate in professional writing, which is likely to turn into an English degree down the road.

Emily has signed up for another graduate class. She has my pity. :-) This one only has one movie requirement (the last one had three): 12 Angry Men. I think I'll enjoy it.

Travel update
I'll be back in the States in October for a few days, but I haven't finalized my plans yet. I have a laboratory section for a Biology class on a Saturday and I will take the opportunity to visit friends and relatives while I'm back.

Writing update
I'm giving thought to participating in the National Novel Writing Month event this year. I'll have to watch my time carefully, though: school must come first. Even if I don't try it, I have committed to spending more time writing or reading books on writing (I have a small shelf of useful reference material) .

That's all I have time for today. As I've said before, and failed to do, I'm going to attempt to post more often. Honest!
Critter Updates

Periodically I try to throw a few "critter pix" up here and let you know what beasties we've spotted here recently.

Yesterday one of the neighborhood cats (I don't think he's feral, but can't be sure) came through the yard twice. You'd think after Boots chased him up the tree and out of the yard the first time he'd get the idea, but no. So, Boots chased him again. I haven't seen him today.

A couple months ago we had a problem with which I was very familiar while living in Manassas: baby robins. The robins here are a bit more drab than back home: no ruby breasts, just brown. They also seem to sing less, although their calls have a bit more of an exotic sound to me. In any case, a pair decided to have a nest in one of the trees in our yard. I have no problem with robins, so that's fine by me. One day Boots and I go out into the yard and what does she spy with her little eye? Birdies! Charge! Normal birds are not a problem. They are plenty fast to elude our old dog. Two of the three fledglings managed to fly up into the tree. The other did a 90 degree turn and flew across the yard and landed in the grass. Dumb birdie. Boots pretty much had it caught and I had to scold her to get her away from it. I then had to herd the blasted beast into the hedges where it could hide. Meanwhile the parents have started their strafing runs, so I have to watch my head.

If only the story ended there, but no, this last little birdie didn't build up enough strength to fly UP into the tree for several days. Every day I'd have to be careful letting Boots out and periodically shoo the baby into safety. Our dog became rather neurotic. She was afraid of going outside and doing her business in the yard because she might get yelled at. She was thoroughly confused. Finally, after nearly a week, the baby managed to get up into the tree and out of our hair. Here's a snapshot of the darling little monster:


Interestingly enough, we had another nest in the same tree, but one I was never able to locate. Apparently the local hummingbirds built a nest in our yard. I was sure of this when I repeatedly spotted one or both parents perched in the tree over my head, "scolding" me with little "tsk tsk tsk" sounds. I did manage to get a few decent shots of both feeding and scolding. I'm actually rather proud these turned out. I've found that getting shots with a digital camera takes a bit more patience in some respects (re: blog posting about a butterfly (Oct. 26)). The delay between pushing the button and the actual picture sometimes means the difference between a good shot and a useless one. The actual, non-chopped-for-the-web shots include more background, particularly the flower.




Our other beasts are well known to just about everyone this time of year: cicadas. They have been emerging from the ground for a couple months, but more heavily in recent weeks. I've found the shells scattered around my patio, as well as wings from those unfortunate enough to be caught by the local birds. Here are a few shots, first of a few shells, then an "occupied" shell (tried for a before and after shot, but a bird snatched the un-emerged cicada while I was away), and finally an adult.




Thankfully I haven't had encounters with any scorpions or tarantulas, both of which have been reported by other consulate families here.
Evan Almighty

Emily and I went to see Evan Almighty (called Todo Poderoso here) recently. I'm not a big comedy film or (shudder) TV sitcom fan; I generally get annoyed with the stupidity of the plot lines and dialog. There are exceptions, but in general I avoid them. So it was with some slight trepidation that I went to this film. I had seen Bruce Almighty and enjoyed it, so I had some small hope.

I was pleasantly surprised. Although predictable in many parts, I found it very funny. As always, I found Morgan Freeman an absolute joy to watch. I can't think of a time I haven't enjoyed him on screen. I didn't find the religious message a massive, over-the-top bludgeon. It stuck to some very basic premises that few would find objectionable, other than the entire Old Testament Ark arc (so to speak) story. In summary, Emily and I recommend it.

My review of the VIP theater in Mall San Augustin, on the other hand, is not so good. We previously viewed Spider Man 3 in a VIP theater in another mall (Valle Oriente) and were impressed: leather reclining seats with foot-rests, small tables between groups of two seats, wide aisles, waiter service, etc. This theater had the seats and tables, but all food was sold in the lobby area. Admittedly it included a sushi counter, but not what we expected. (Don't ask me why sushi is so popular here. I have yet to figure it out.)

Our biggest complaint wasn't the seats, but the aisles: none were labeled! In order to find your seat (you purchase assigned seats in VIP theaters), you have to count the rows yourself! This resulted in a mild argument with a guy who was sitting in one of our seats. After recounting the rows a few times, he realized he was in the wrong spot, apologized, and moved. Heaven forbid you should walk into the theater when it's dark! Ridiculous!
Surreal Moment

Yesterday I accompanied Emily to an appointment. Sitting across from us in the doctor's waiting room was a man wearing what I've come to recognize as a uniform here: beige (occasionally OD green) vest (link to similar one) with pockets. That means he's likely a bodyguard/driver and definitely a paid personal employee. Sitting on the table next to him were three cell phones.

This was all fine, until I happened to notice the music playing in the background: the theme from The Godfather. No, I'm not kidding. A few minutes later a couple in their 50s or 60s emerged from the doctor's office and the guy in the vest immediately got up and left the room, no doubt to pull the car up.

I've seen these vests before, you see. While on our way home from the grocery store recently, we were passing through Centrito in San Pedro. Suddenly a car on our left stopped and a guy in a beige vest hopped out and hurried up onto the sidewalk in front of the juice bar. I then noticed that not only had that car double-parked, but another car had done so ahead of him. This was a case of the bodyguard (in a separate car) reacting to the employer's decision to stop for a drink. In all likelihood the employer was a local "narco" (drug trafficker), although it's possible he was simply one of the many wealthy people of San Pedro.

A few weeks ago a small group of us decided to visit what was reputedly a Swiss restaurant. Emily and I walked, as we do to any dinner or party we think is walkable (we can each have a drink, no parking issues, we need the exercise, etc.), and as we arrived we drew the hard stares of two guys in OD green vests. As we entered the restaurant, I spotted a third bodyguard. Our party discussed them, but we were never certain where their employer was. Best bet was the spa upstairs or one of the expensive furniture/decoration/kitchenware stores in the plaza. Given we were eating on Gringo time (before 8 or 9 PM), it was unlikely anyone in the restaurant.

So, I can now add these vests to the maid/nanny uniforms (some much like hospital scrubs, some more "maid-like") for quick reference. If you spot the vest, stay alert: at the very least there is someone wealthy and (at least in their own eyes) important in the area, possibly someone dangerous.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Goodbye, Mr. Nanas
For those of you who enjoy comic strips, I have sad news to annouce: Bo Nanas is no more.
Complete story here. It's one of half a dozen or so comical strips I read on Washington Post on a more-or-less daily basis. I will miss it.

Dear Blogiary, it has been far too long since my last confession... er, that is, posting. Now that my classes are wrapping up and I'll have a whopping couple or three weeks of time with no classes, it's about time I tried to get back into regular posting.

I have some hummingbird pix I'll post one day soon (honest). Apparently there's a nest in one of the trees in our yard, though I've never managed to spot it.

The weather here has been a bit cooler and considerably wetter than a year ago. We celebrated our 1 year in Mexico anniversary on July 13. We just celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary this past Friday.

Bidding Season begins (for us) very soon. Emily and I have discussed various places, priorities, and other criteria in determining our future home. It's complicated. More to follow, I promise.

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Hate the RIAA?
Although I don't approve of massive music file sharing services in general, I truly abhor the methods the RIAA has used to go after people on their hit list. They basically bully universities, utilities, ISPs, and others to reveal the identity of the person at a particular IP address. Thankfully they haven't won every case, but their deep pockets have enabled them to not only win some, but to simply scare many people into settlements.

Here's a link to an interesting article, it shows the politicians who have accepted money from the RIAA. The VA rep on the link, Goodelatte, doesn't cover my home district, but I did see both Obama and Clinton on the list. I went to their sites and sent them a request to return the money to the RIAA. I doubt it will have any effect whatsoever, but it felt good.

Like internet radio?
I recently contacted my US Senators and Congressman regarding the revised royalty payment rates that internet radio stations are currently obligated to pay. If you'd like to do the same, there are a number of sites that help streamline the process. Here's the one I used.

Personally I use streaming audio for NPR news, which wouldn't be impacted, but I also use it for streaming music from the same station, WUWM in Milwaukee. They have an awesome all-music stream as well as several all-music shows. I've already purchased at least two CDs for a band or singer I first heard there (Carbon Leaf - you can listen to full-length streams of several of their songs here; Brett Dennan - he looks nothing like I expected) and have added a number of others to my Amazon Wish List for future purchase. Occasionally I listen to other online stations, such as Radio Paradise. NPR has led me to a number of bands and singers, prior to commercial radio or TV: Norah Jones, Hem, various ethnic music, Tom Rush, and many others I can't think of now.

As for Carbon Leaf, why is it that I had to move to Mexico before I heard of this band? They're from Richmond, Virginia, and have toured around for many years. Guess I just didn't get out much.

Actually, now that I think about it, I really didn't get out much.

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Yes, I am still alive. I've simply been busy, not to mention lazy when it comes to this blog. On the off chance anyone still checks in from time to time, I'll throw a post up today dealing with political issues that have caught my attention.

1) NASA chief interview on NPR. My only response to this is WTF? (I apologize for the implied profanity, but nothing else truly fits.) Even his boss, our, ahem, beloved President, is apparently finally actually possibly maybe just maybe realizing that global warming/climate change isn't going away.

2)
NASA lead climate change scientist on NPR. Ah, the voice of reason. I particularly like his subdued "WTF?" reaction to the above interview. He'll probably lose his job for not being political enough, not covering the boss's behind, or complaining about budget cuts.

3) Phonemarks. Ah, the Democratic Party... I'd hoped for more from you. Alas, you are only human... no wait, are politicians human? Hmm. Well, anyway, it won't take a lot to lose the trust of the people and erode the gains made in the last round of elections.

Friends update: I finally got back in touch with my long-time friend, Sean. Rumors of his abduction by aliens were exaggerated, though not by much. Another friend, Brandon, is on the mend, having survived a brush with death following oral surgery. Yet another long-time friend, Jeff, continues to keep in touch. It's nice to catch up with people from time to time. I've emailed about the 20-year high school reunion, but haven't heard any details. Chances I'll go are nearly null, but I'd like to find out what's planned anyway.

School update: I've wrapped up two classes this semester (well, since I started classes on multiple dates, it's an odd sort of semester-session-unending-purgatory thing) with a few more to go. Grade-wise, I'm doing fine. Everything should be wrapped up in June, with one class possibly dragging into July. My goal is to have 2-4 weeks of blissful non-education in August before the fall semester begins.

Monterrey update:
The drug cartels continue to kill policemen. A recent assassination attempt failed. It's the closest yet to our house, only a few blocks away. Two cops were at an OXXO (convenience store chain) when the gunmen drove up and sprayed their car (and the store) with automatic weapons fire. I heard these were AR-15s (altered to full-auto), not the AK-47s used in some of the other attacks. The gunmen didn't succeed quickly so they fled, fearing getting trapped when the cops locked the area down. We didn't hear the shots, but our next-door neighbor did. Despite all the killings, it's had little impact on us. We don't see any big, obvious changes in traffic patterns or anything; maybe we're oblivious to it. The State Department has thus far decided that Monterrey isn't dangerous enough to warrant either evacuation or additional danger pay.

Weather update: It's been wetter and a bit cooler
than I expected for the last month or so. The last few days are more what I expected: sunny and highs in the 90s.

Critter update: I've seen fewer lizards (anoles and house geckos) than I expected to see based on last year. Hopefully they'll return; we have too many mosquitos. A dove was out on our patio and I let Boots out to chase it (she gets to chase far fewer critters here). Unfortunately it was a fledgling, which I didn't know at the time, and couldn't get away. Boots seemed just as surprised to catch it as I was. She didn't injure it and I called her away and back inside. I then shooed it along until I could catch it and place it in the tree by the patio. It remained there for several hours, gradually working its way higher until it finally fluttered off onto the roof and beyond. Here's a picture:

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Movie Reviews

Emily and I recently saw two movies: Music & Lyrics and 300.

On my birthday Sunday before last, Emily and I walked to MM Cinemas to watch "Music & Lyrics." We first played a few games of air hockey, then hustled up to the Bennigan's Express for a couple Guinesses and some potato skins. (Ain't livin' in Mexico tough?) The taters were a bit overdone, but they came out quickly as requested. The Guiness was wonderful, after probably a year without one. (We've spotted Guiness here occasionally, but it's even more expensive than back home. We usually settle for Leon, but snag Negra Modelo when we find it.)

As for the film, given the cast and what little I knew of the plot, I hoped it wouldn't be a truly dumb comedy. Don't get me wrong - there are a number of romantic comedies I have enjoyed (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, Joe vs. the Volcano, and plenty of others). I'm just not into most of the comedies, movie or TV, that make it these days. Thankfully, this movie was not in the latter category. Emily and I enjoyed it. It was witty, fun, and we had a blast. A particular scene I enjoyed was near the end. Parents with their kids at the concert were a bit stunned at the revealing outfit worn by the performer. The mother was trying to hide the little girl's eyes, meanwhile the father and son were practically drooling. I'm not a parent, but I understand it totally. Good luck, all those friends with kids.

During the movie we heard thunder and thought it was in the film, until we heard it again. We emerged from the movie to find a deluge, with lots of thunder and lightning. We trudged next door to the supermarket, hoping to spot a taxi. After a bit we gave up and started walking. We soon encountered a taxi, which proceeded to head towards home at a blistering 10-15 mph, with fogged windows. We got out around the corner from our house and had to splash through ankle-deep runoff to get inside. Joy of joys, the courtyard between the maid's quarters and the laundry was flooded. I waded out and cleared the drain. Fun stuff.

Last Saturday we went to see "300"... in IMAX. I held out to see it in IMAX. I figured, why not? So, I saw all the gore and blood on the Largest Movie Screen in Mexico and heard the *thunks* of limbs being severed in all the clarity provided by 12,000 watts of surround sound. The theater has wider aisles than back the States (easier for people to get by) and comfortable seats.

As for the film, I enjoyed it. I know there were huge historical inaccuracies, which I'll have to research and find the truth of some day. I also wasn't crazy about some of the CGI, such as the wolf early in the film. It just looked BAD as far as I'm concerned. I found the NPR reviewer's comments about the "manly men" valid. I seriously doubt the Spartan men routinely went about and into battle bare-chested. I also agreed with the reviewer that some of the effects were a bit over-done. Personally, I don't think the headless torsos and severed heads added much to the film. On the realism front, it's just not all that easy to sever limbs or heads with a sword. Anyone who's chopped the head off a chicken (which I've done) or butchered an animal (with which I've assisted) knows that a knife or even an axe doesn't easily sever bone. It takes some effort. In the thick of the battle it's unlikely a warrior would have the necessary time to get sufficient force behind his blow to accomplish such a severance. If so, he'd likely be unprepared for attack/defense or off-balance. Note: I won't claim to be an expert in this, but it just seems to be common sense to me.

That said, I did enjoy it overall. I'm a sucker for fantasy, mythology, history, war - this was all of the above. It's definitely not for the kiddies, but if you enjoy bloody fight films, you might like this one.

The best part for me is that it's another example of what can be done in film today. Films such as the LOTR movies, Harry Potter, Narnia, Star Wars, and many others have proven we have the capability to pull off nearly anything. Now that Disney has optioned Edgar Rice Burrough's John Carter of Mars series, I'm having dreams of mighty, six-armed green warriors, ferocious giant white apes, and gorgeous princesses on the big screen. I'd honestly be happy with animated, but they can definitely pull it off in live-action these days.

Here's a scan of the ticket stubs. Note the circled prices are in Mexican pesos, which are about 10-11:1. I'll gladly pay $5 for a film or $7 for an IMAX. That's way better than back in DC!

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Birdie season
The local birds are definitely nesting. I've observed courtship behavior in the great-tailed grackles (much more pleasant than their smaller cousins back home in VA). The doves continue their coo-fests. Mated pairs of what I think are greater kiskadees (or something with nearly identical markings) visit the yard regularly. I heard a mockingbird for the first time this evening, a pleasant reminder of home. Best of all, I've spotted a hummingbird nearly every day for the last week. I guess that means it's officially spring. Spring also means a return to regular lawn-mowing and hedge-trimming (both of which I need to do).

Boots would argue that the best part is she has more birdies to chase, but she's a dog. What do you expect?

Monday, March 12, 2007

Sudden shifts in the weather
Here's what I got on my Google home page this morning:
It appears it'll be a bit brisk hereabouts! (And, no, it's not displaying Celsius.)


An hour or so later, the correct forecast showed up.

Right now, it's about 74 degrees and overcast under a very white sky. Not dark and dreary enough to be seriously depressing, but not exactly inspiring, either. The only distinguishable clouds are on the mountain, where they shroud the upper half, scudding along like wayward sheep.

Monday, March 05, 2007

Emily's off to Merida
I dropped Emily off at the airport this morning. She's headed out to Merida (down on the Yucatan) as part of the US presence for the upcoming Presidential visit. She probably won't see, let alone meet, any of the dignitaries, given the number of people involved and a no doubt busy schedule. I expect she'll work a lot, socialize very little, and take full advantage of the hotel room's bath tub.

(Apparently there was a study or news article here many years ago stating that tubs were less hygienic than showers. As a result, there are very few tubs in the housing pool here. Emily really misses her tub time.)

So, me and Boots have nearly two weeks alone, followed by one day with Emily, followed by another flight, this one back to visit her parents. I have lots of class work to do, several exams to take, and plenty of other things to keep me out of trouble. Still, it's going to be quiet for a while.
Emily makes the news!
Okay, not really. A case Emily was involved with made the local news recently. Often Emily's day is composed of replacing passports, visiting US citizens in Mexican prisons, or trying to explain to the nice, but unqualified applicant, that she can't approve his visa. Other times she has to deal with things like this:
My San Antonio site story
My San Antonio site story - updated.
Dallas News
Dallas - Fort Worth ABC affiliate story

It was a long night. She worked late and stressed over the incident all evening. Privacy concerns prevent her from discussing details, but it was a very sad incident.

Background and terms:
  • Visas are for non-US citizens only
  • New babies of American Citizens apply at the consulate for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad - CRBAs - as proof of the child's citizenship and to serve as a birth certificate in the US
  • CRBA's are the "seed" citizenship document and can be used to cross the land border or obtain a passport. Because of the importance of this seed document, CRBA applications are closely scrutinized.
While I was trying to dig up any additional news coverage, I stumbled across this article on the California Family Law Blog. The situation appears to be similar.

Friday, March 02, 2007

Brain Man
I hit the following link off a completely unrelated story and found it fascinating. They're from 60 Minutes and focus on "Brain Man." After watching those segments, I turned to Google and found a few more at the Discover/Science channel. Now I'll have to hunt down the documentary about him....

I do hope that the scientific and medical establishments keep track of this guy (to the extent he wants it). I also hope he finds his "true calling" in life. Perhaps he'll be the one to make a huge breakthrough in compression algorithms or encryption. The potential is there.

On a completely unrelated note, I stopped by the Consulate this afternoon to get my Hepatitis-B booster shot. My pretty yellow shot record is now complete... until the next post.

Thursday, March 01, 2007


And you thought it was cold in the States!
I was cleaning up my computer desktop and came across this one; I'd forgotten all about it. There was something wrong with whatever weather site Google was using (wunderground.com, I think) on January 8, 2007. It's not quite as bad as the forecast discussed on NPR a while back. Apparently San Jose, CA, was set for a record low back in December: -30,000 F. Still, this was an eye-opener for someone enjoying the Mexican climate.

Meanwhile, it's in the mid-70s now, with a predicted high of 86 or so. The orange tree next door is starting to bloom (caught a whiff of it this morning) and one down the street is so fragrant you can smell it from up to half a block away. The doves must be starting to breed: it's a non-stop coo-fest from dawn to dusk, not that I mind. As long as I don't find lost chicks in the yard, like the robins back in VA every spring, I have nothing against the birdies.

Yesterday I mowed the grass and watered the lawn for the first time this year; the hedges and other plants are watered every other day or so, at least until we get some more rain. My hedges are completely out of control. I hope to get around to cutting them this weekend. I'll get some before-and-after shots and post them up.

Saturday, February 24, 2007


Local critter

Emily and I had a fall friend, one I wouldn't object to seeing again. Apparently it's a Spiny Orb Weaver, an arachnid. It has a hard, yellow and black shell, sort of like a crab.

Our only problem was when it built its web in a spot where Boots or one of us would walk into it. Apparently it caught on and stopped that. It stayed around until the weather got too rainy in the fall, then disappeared.
Christmas bargain

Emily and I went to one of the local grocery stores during the holidays. I spotted something in the liquor section and had to buy it. I simply couldn't pass up a "Lord of War" DVD (a movie I wanted to see) and a liter bottle of Don Pedro Brandy (not bad stuff) for 100 pesos (less than US $10).

There were some other movies as well, but how many 1L bottles of brandy do I *really* need? (That was Emily's argument, not mine; I admit she had a point, maybe.)

We finally watched the movie a few days ago. We enjoyed it. There is a brief Don Pedro ad before the movie starts, but other than that, it's the original movie. If they do this next Christmas, I might stock up and bring the extra bottles back to the States as gifts.
Christmas in Monterrey is noisy!
Mexicans enjoy celebrating holidays with fireworks. Starting Christmas Eve we heard firecrackers (some little, but mostly big, like M-80s), bottle rockets, and other loud things. We were told to expect it at midnight, but no one waited that long. Eventually it quieted down somewhat, allowing Boots, our fearless dog (ha!), to allow us to sleep. This didn't last long, since the midnight Mass crowd got home about 2 AM and promptly ignited their fireworks... in the empty lot across the street from our house... until about 3:30.


Here's Emily with her low-key fireworks (the legal kind).

We did NOT get up early to open presents. In fact, we didn't open them until around noon. I'm holding an item Emily really wanted: a hand-held bug zapper. I'm sure she'll put it to good use once the mosquitoes return.

Here's the fabulous chicken Emily baked for our Christmas dinner.


Boots even got a special treat. Emily took leftover egg yolks (from cardamom bread - yum!) and whipped up a sort of quiche. Eggs, meat, cheese - Boots' favorite food groups!

Here's a picture of a special cake (rosca de reyes) made for the holidays (New Years, in particular). It's mildly sweet, has bits of fruit around the outside, and hidden somewhere inside is a small, plastic toy (a baby). It's considered good luck to find it. More details on this page.
Walk pix
Here are a few pictures Emily took on a recent walk we took with Boots.

This is a monument at "our" end of the Calzada del Valle. It was presented by a group, the Italy-Mexico League or something like that. (Now that I've forgotten, I'll have to look at the plaque again.) The globe lights up green at night.

Here's our favorite pedestrian overpass on Calzada San Pedro. It's quite attractive. Those are the peaks of Chipinque in the background.

This is from the overpass of Calzada San Pedro, probably a mile from our house. In this view we're looking southwest down Lazaro Cardenes, a major street. This is looking in the general direction of Saltillo.


This shot is of a local lawn ornament/statuary shop (although they have other art work inside). Yes, the statue is covered in Christmas balls for the holidays (gone now). During major futbol (soccer) season, he'll often sport the colors of a team. And, yes, those are Beatles statues. I don't know why, but the locals seem to like the Abbey Road cover shot, which they alter. Don't ask why, given the small population of Indian and SE Asian people locally, but there are a lot of Hindu and Buddhist statues and figures available in local shops. There are also several Egyptian-themed shops. Just another little mystery.

Here's a shot of Boots on the walk. She rarely holds still for a shot - camera bad! Scary!

Here's a shot of Mitras, a small mountain on the outskirts of Monterrey. It's been used heavily for aggregate for construction, so it's missing chunks. I'll have to dig and see if I have any more shots of it.
Ah, warm days are here again!
By 10 AM it was 77 degrees and warming. By 11:30, 80. I saw my first butterfly of the year today. The geckos continue to appear nightly on the porch and I spotted this year's first anole last week.

I'm taking a little time off my classes today to catch up on some posts. Bear with me, some of this stuff will date back to Christmas! Better late than never, right?

Meanwhile, here's the view from my desk in the den. It's not much, which is a large part of why we chose this room for the den, as opposed to the guest bedroom. That room looks out over our yard and has a tree in it, not the neighbors' roof.

Friday, February 23, 2007

Time flies.

Actually, I've found it more-or-less has two speeds: when you need the time or you're not paying attention, it zips; when you really just want the staff meeting to be over, it slogs along, seemingly in defiance of mighty Entropy.

So, I looked up yesterday and the tree has leaves, not just buds. This is the same area, although I couldn't pick out the exact branch, as my last posting, some 18 days ago.

I am quite swamped in my classes now. I'm running behind in one class, holding my own in two others, with two more starting in a couple weeks (and one, thankfully, ending around the same time). Problem: NVCC hasn't delivered the exams to my proctor. I know there were some delays due to severe weather in the US in the last couple weeks, but it didn't take two weeks last semester.

On the plus side, I did get my copy of Jessica Mae Stover's newest publication: Greyfeather Catch. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but hope to soon. Thanks for the prompt delivery, Jess!

Monday, February 05, 2007

It was a long, cold winter....

But apparently it's now spring! Yes, the picture tells the story. I still have leaves falling from my trees, but Emily noticed new leaves and blooms are beginning to open. I'm down to mowing about once every four to six weeks, but I expect that to pick up as the temperatures rise.

Meanwhile, it's been in the upper 50s today. I must admit I feel sorry for the wife of one of Emily's co-workers, who is teaching at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee this semester. With wind chill, it's about 15 below today.

For those (few) out there who read this space, I apologize for the long absence - and had NO idea it had been so long! I will endeavor to do better this year. With three separate class start dates this semester, and four different end dates, not to mention an additional three credits (17!), I will be even busier. I will be better organized, however, so I hope to devote more time to this space.