Cafe Magana Again

Fish Tacos

The Cafe Magana has become a regular hang out for me. I read several books a week and watch a DVD almost every evening so this place is a paradise for me. It is like a used bookstore where you don't have to buy the books, just exchange them. Added benefit, the food is delicious.

Another House Sitting Job

I am going to be house sitting most of this month. First I go to a friend's house for one week and then I come back to my casita for a few days and then I go to another friend's house until the first week of October.  As usual, I am getting anxious about what to take with me today. I have managed to put everything in two bags. One is like a giant diaper bag. This will be a first for me, not taking a huge suitcase. I always take too much stuff with me. My attitude towards stuff has already been expressed on this blog. More is better.   I read an interesting book about getting rid of junk. It was titled, Clutter's Last Stand. The only thing I remember about it was his eighty percent law. He said that eighty percent of the things we have we don't use. I have experienced that over and over. Unfortunately, I never know which twenty percent I WILL use, so I take too much stuff with me. This makes me a terrible traveler.

I remember going to Thailand with a huge backpack that I couldn't even put on my back. I did some traveling but I was tied down with that backpack. I would go someplace and stay for weeks just so I didn't have to carry around that heavy stuff. But would I get rid of any of it? Of course not. I added to it with presents for everyone. Maybe one day I will visit Thailand again. But only if I can learn how to live with less STUFF....

Having familiar things around me makes me feel secure. I know, it is a false security and what it really does is limit my life. I am working on it. That is why I feel proud today that I am able to get everything in just two small bags.

I am going to miss Chico. The other day my landlord told me that if anything happens to him, Chico would be mine. Chico already thinks he lives in my casita. He sleeps here and spends all his time with me. He loves my landlord too. But he thinks I belong to him. Or he belongs to me. I had promised myself that I would never have another dog. It is too sad when they die. I also didn't want to be tied down. I thought I was so smart, living with a borrowed dog. It was the perfect solution. But it seems that my landlord and Chico have other ideas for me.  LOVE RULES.  

P.S. This photo doesn't include the two huge bags of food I have to take.

P.P.S.S. Or my computer. Come to think of it, this still is a lot of STUFF for only one week. I have to try harder next time.....

A Day Trip to Sayula

My friend Dale took me in his car to the town of Sayula. It is about 60 miles south of here. It took us  an hour and a half and the scenery was spectacular with clouds over the mountains and green fields. Sayula is a beautiful little town. During the time that we were visiting, I didn't encounter another expat.

There are a couple of upscale hotel/spas. They do massages and have steam rooms and pools. We went to see the famous knife factory. Ojeda knives have been in business since 1810. These are world famous knives. Some of the knives take an entire month to make. They let us visit the factory. What a treat.

Then we had lunch at one of the nice hotels and came back. We were home by four in the afternoon. You can get there by bus but it takes much longer. From here, you have to take the bus to Guadalajara and leave from the old bus station. But if you want a two day trip, that extra time spent on the bus wouldn't matter much. I really enjoyed getting out of my daily routines. I get stuck in ruts too easily. I hope to make more day trips soon, now that my ankle allows me to get around more.

The road to Sayula

Central Plaza

Central Plaza

Central Plaza

We got lost on this back road

Each knife has a different etching on it

Ojeda Knife Factory

Jose Ojeda, owner of factory

Practicing For Death

This morning I had a strange and clear dream. My father had died and a friend told me to call up a person at random and tell that person about his death as practice for when I have to call people I know. I dialed a number and asked for Julie.  Julie came to the phone. I told her that my father had died and she responded with great sympathy. Her voice was so distinctive and full of compassion that I felt as if I knew her. Yet, I had never in waking life heard her voice. I told her the funeral would be the next day and I asked her to come to it. She said she would. I hung up and then remembered that I hadn't given her a time or place for the funeral. 

I woke up wondering why it seems to be easier for strangers to be compassionate than our own families when it comes to the death of a loved one.  I know so many people, including myself, who have lost relationships with brothers and sisters when a parent died......  It made me sad to think of the old wounds but also encouraged me because strangers have been so loving to me through this blog.  Thank you......

Real de Chapala

 

Ceasar from La Bodega

My walk home

I hadn't been to the Real de Chapala to listen to my friends play for a long time. It was nice to see them again and sit under the huge trees listening to the music. I love this neighborhood. I love my life here.  I am a lucky woman.