The weather has been rainy and gloomy here in Portland. Too awful for me to walk to the swimming pool. Yesterday I was stuck in the house all day. I had called the washing machine repair man to fix their machine but then it started working again. I called him back and canceled. He forgot that I had cancelled and showed up at my door at eleven in the morning.That was just two hours after I had talked with him on the phone to cancel. (His day wasn't going any better than mine.)
I almost let him in just to have some company but then I realized it would cost fifty five dollars for a brief chat with a stranger. What would we talk about that was worth fifty five dollars? (That is the cost of his diagnostic visit.) So I reluctantly sent him on his way. I didn't talk with anyone else all day long. The two housemates never showed up. Or else they did and I didn't see them in this big house.
I am doing my best not to get depressed but not doing a very good job of it.
My driver's license expired several years ago so I can't drive the car in the driveway. The bus stop is too far to walk to in this awful weather. I spent part of the afternoon looking through my photos. I needed to remind myself that I do have a life. It is just somewhere else. Not here. Now I understand why solitary confinement is such an awful punishment for people in prison.
The two dogs here don't talk back to me so the conversation quickly goes flat. What I did mostly was to eat. And eat. And eat. Not good. I looked at the weather forecast for the next week. We are going to have some sun tomorrow but not the rest of the week. I thought this was summer!
I received an e mail from my landlord saying that during the last storm in Ajijic he lost electricity for thirty six hours. That means no water either. He was going to a friend's house to shower. So, things could be worse. I could be back there in rain with no water or electricity. At least I have that here. I can flush my toilet here. I should be grateful for the little things. Okay, I have to admit that I am depressed. Probably best if I don't write on this blog until I get out of this state of mind.
Pat, don't be depressed. Just think what you're going back to!! I still like reading your posts even if you say you're depressed. Is this your son's house?
ReplyDeleteHI Lorrie, Thanks for the encouragement. Yes, it is my son's house. P
DeleteAhh, it's okay. Don't stop writing. Sitting in the rain with no company and no way to get out and about could be a little depressing. But, try to enjoy your solitude for a couple of days. Maybe a good book and eating will occupy you until the sun returns.
ReplyDeleteThank you Connie. P
DeleteYup, the weather here in Portland is the pits, but it will get better. Too bad you gave up your driver's license. It's not easy to get around without a car in the states. Perhaps one of the housemates could take you to the DMV so you can take the test and get a license. You need proof of citizenship tho.. Do you have a US passport? Maybe that's all you'll need. Might be worth checking out while you're here.
ReplyDeleteHi Donna, Thanks for writing. I doubt if I could even pass a driver's test. It has been too long since I have been behind the wheel. Also, I have no desire to ever drive again. The sun finally came out and I walked to the pool. I feel much better now. P
DeleteHang in there...when in Portland I enjoy just riding the Metro trains to the ends of the lines and people watching. A jump off the train to walk the Zoo and park is cool too.
ReplyDeleteContinue to enjoy the little things. I am happy here in Alaska for the summer with unlimited cold cold water from the tap...no ice needed and little things like flushing the paper! My Mexico family at the house in Jalisco are suffering from the heat and humidity and the start of the rainy season thunder storms and power outs too!
Hi Sancho, Thanks for reading my blog and commenting. You are a long ways from home. You are right, hot and humid isn't much better than overcast and rainy. P
DeleteSummer in June? Not yet. At least, not in Oregon. We had rain on Rose Festival week as far back as I can remember. Of course, my idea of a perfect day is 55 degrees, gray skies, and a steady mist.
ReplyDeleteDon't you have a Mexican driver's license? You could certainly rely on it to take the car out. Or how about a taxi? There are endless things to do in downtown Portland.
We have had three days of heat index in excess of 100. I would gladly trade places with you. Instead, I am going out to face the heat.
Hi Steve, Good to hear from you again. Yes, your weather sounds worse than it is here. The sun finally came out this afternoon. I feel much better. I don't have a Mexican driver's license. I haven't driven since I gave away my car when I moved to Mexico all those years ago. I don't want to ever drive again. Thanks for writing. p
DeleteI agree with Connie! A good book would make the time fly by...
ReplyDeleteKaren in VA
Hi Karen, Thanks for writing. Yes, I did finish reading a good book today. And in the afternoon sun. It was really nice. p
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing how quickly our minds can send us soaring down to the pits of depression? Really amazing. We did not lose electricity during the last rain storm - we lost it early this morning about 6am with no rain in sight. I woke up because the fan stopped running, then I checked the light switch and no lights. Decided to go to the market at La Huerta and we got ready with no power for the shower to pump, and no warm water anyway. Just as we were leaving the house, the power came back on about 10:30. Who knows why. The power was off on the whole street (don't know where else), but it was interesting how quiet it was - no neighbor's radio or TV. Watch some American TV - certainly better than the TV in Ajijic. Look up Portlandia......very odd show set in Portland, of course.
Your friend in Ajijic,
Pat
Hi Pat, Thanks for writing. Yes, the rainy season in Ajijic is NOT my favorite time of the year because of all the power outages. I will see if I can get that program, Portlandia, on my son's I pad. Thanks for the suggestion. p
DeleteHello Patricia, You have at least two Connies that follow your blog. I would add my "profile" if I knew how! I live in Issaquah,Wa. I've been to Lake Chapala 2 or 3 times and loved it. Wanted to move there too, wasn't brave enough to do it alone. I also get lonely and bored some times. Reading,watching a movie or traveling all over on the computer save me. Also I love to cook
ReplyDeleteand that is entertainment to me. Our weather is like Portland----too gray and rainy too often for me too. Pease don't quit writing!!! Connie II
Hi Connie II, I don't know how you can put your profile on this site either. My son set it up for me and he is the expert. He is in England or maybe Turkey by now. Thanks for writing. I feel much better. The sun is out and it is beautiful here this afternoon. P
DeleteCurl up with some hot tea and some feel good movies - maybe make hot chocolate! I guess what you really know now is Mexico is home and the dreary Pacific Northwest weather can be very depressing (I live on Vancouver Island and we have been having the same weather pattern).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouraging comment. The sun is out today. I hope you are getting some sunshine too. P
DeleteI sympathize with you Pat, a chilly and drizzly summer in the NW can really wear you down-- especially if you're coming from somewhere it's always sunny. We joke that summer in Seattle doesn't officially begin until July 5th, when the weather has finished ruining your 4th of July picnic. But after that, it's amazing.
ReplyDeleteWhile you're in Portland you should definitely take the light rail downtown and check out all the great food carts that have sprung up all around downtown Portland. It's really turned into a foodie's paradise in the last couple of years.
JimS.
Seattle
Hi JimS. Sounds like a good plan. If I can get myself to walk down the long hill. P
Delete