Ruminations of an Expatriate

Garden Report 1.17

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

This morning, for the first time in almost two weeks, I felt well enough to return to the property for a couple hours of work, though I was moving slower than normal.

I am looking less pregnant each day, my gastrointestinal system is returning to normal operation, and my feet and ankles are returning to their normal sizes.

I knew the compost pile would need work as there would be lots of uncovered kitchen wastes. Additionally I wanted to cut the grass, clover, and weeds growing above the drain field. I was relieved that everything was all in order.

I had tidied up the compost pile when Raphael Sr. appeared and announced “it’s a miracle”. I brought him up to date on my medical travails and explained that I would be having surgery, followed by an undetermined period of recuperation. Monica, rather furtively, peeked her head out the door of their home while Raphael and I were talking. It wasn’t long, though, before she joined us. Raphael told me he had tried to send me an email to check on me but the message wouldn’t go through. Again, I feel so very fortunate to have ended up with such wonderful neighbors with such delightful children.

I was able to cut about a third of the drain field and add the cuttings to the compost pile between the various interruptions.

It wasn’t long before Fernanda showed up and began quizzing me about my medical condition, at one point poking my hernia, the bulge of which is clearly visible through my T-shirt. She insisted that I follow her on a tour of the garden, informed me that in my absence her mother I had picked a few ripe peppers, and we picked some nice carrots and a cucumber for her and her family. I assured Fernanda, and later her mother, that they are welcome to anything in the garden and compost pile. Cecilia and her mother like the sifted compost for potting soil.

A bit later Raphael Jr. returned from kindergarten, his first experience with school; changed his clothes; and came over toting his little shovel. As it turned out he took a greater interest in my machete and sickle, which he had not previous seen. I had to tell him twice that I did not want him playing with either.

Also today, just as soon I had parked up ran Yovannia (about 5), Irvine (about 7), and Diana (12) asking if they could wash my truck. I appointed Diana as “jefa”, as she has been honest with me; and told the children that I will pay only those children whom Diana tells me helped. I also reminded Irvine of the many times he has lied to me about washing my truck, reminded him that I do not trade with folks who are dishonest with me, and if Diana were not present I would not hire him.

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Surgery Report 1.3

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

I did indeed this morning meet with another surgeon, a very pleasant fellow working alone out of the front rooms of his home. Within five minutes the doctor provided me with more information of my condition than did the other surgeon in all of his fiddle farting around. He indicated that it is not my intestines poking through the hole in my muscle, rather it is the membrane which covers the muscle.

The doctor looked over my chest x-ray and the reports from the cardiologist and the lab. He indicated that we must wait about ten days for the surgery as my platelet count is a bit less than the standard and that the time it takes for my blood to coagulate is a bit longer than the standard.

The doctor prescribed a diuretic to help eliminate the liquids I’m retaining, which have me looking like I have a pretty good sized beer gut; tablets to help elevate my platelet count; and Advil Max for my lower back pain. The Advil has eliminated the pain. The previous surgeon had prescribed a completely ineffectual pain medicine, even when I took a double dose.

So I am feeling quite satisfied that I have found a surgeon who carefully explains things, who seems competent, who is pleasant to deal with, is not bedecked in gold jewelry, and who typed his prescription. The previous surgeon scribbled his indecipherable prescription.

If all goes according to plan, in ten days I will have surgery, for which the surgeon will employ a spinal block and which will require only a three hour stay in the hospital.

The it will be off to the Emerald Coast for a bit of recuperation.

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Surgery Report 1.1

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

I arrived this evening for my cardiological exam a bit before 6:30 and the attendant immediately showed me into the cardiologist’ exam room. The doctor’s assistant asked that I remove my shirt and lay down on the exam table.

The assistant began attaching electrocardiogram electrodes, one on each hand, one on each ankle, and about six in the region of my heart. She fired up the computer and in about five minutes had printed out the report for the doctor. The worst part of the procedure was the assistant ripping out chest hairs when pulling the electrodes off my chest.

I asked the doctor about the test results and he responded that I have the cardiovascular system of an 18 year old. His report to the surgeon indicates the surgeon may operate without cardiovascular complications and that there is less than a 1% risk of a heart attack.

Tomorrow morning it’s back to the laboratory without having eaten breakfast. I will then deliver the laboratory and cardiogram result to the surgeon and, hopefully, schedule the surgery.

This will be my first surgery since I was 6 or 7 during my folks’ multi-year quest to determine why it was I didn’t hear very well. During their quest I was dosed with quarts of nose and ear drops. A mad (not to mention a real dick head) radiologist even irradiated my ears. At one point the doctors’ advised removal of my tonsils and adenoids, thus my first surgery.

Later some doctor finally diagnosed the problem as fluid behind my ear drums. So again I was put under a general anesthesia, my ear drums were lanced, and for the first time in my young life I could hear normally.

I suppose I should report that my abdominal swelling continues to abate and each day I feel better

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A Very Pleasant Evening

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Last Friday I received a message from Sam, one of my fifteen devoted readers, who announced he was in town and asked if I’d like to meet for a beer. We agreed to meet the next afternoon at El Parque Juarez.

As it turned out, rather than beers, we opted for the Posodoro, a fine Italian restaurant in Centro with an extensive list of wines, mostly from Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, though there are also Italian and French wines. The wine may be purchased by the glass or bottle at very reasonable prices. For example, a very good Argentinian Malbec or Merlot may be purchased by the glass for $20 pesos, and a bottle may be had for $99 pesos. The food is also quite reasonably priced and quite good.

At any rate Sam and I enjoyed a bit of Italian food, few glasses of wine, and great conversation.

It was great to meet and talk with you Sam. I hope to get together again before you depart.

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Property Photos

Sunday, August 8th, 2010

Pamela asked for photos of my various property projects. So here you go Pam.

One doesn’t often encounter flowers as flamboyant as these. During my first visit to the property about a year ago I noticed these flowers, marked their location, and this Spring I dug the bulbs and planted them in the garden in compost enhanced soil. I will eventually separate the bulbs and plant them along the garden fence across the drain field from the garden, where I will also be planting the Azelas I’ve started from cuttings.

Here is a shot of the grass and clover I planted over the drain field. I bought a sprinkler and have found there is sufficient water pressure that I am able to water the entire garden and drain field from one central location, still having to throttle the spigot down to about a quarter turn so I don’t water the neighbor’s metal roof.

Here are the orchids I mounted on a small Encino Oak tree. The orchid at the far right, as you may see, is flowering.

Here are a couple shots of the drainage ditch I constructed, and for which my neighbors are thankful. The ditch has successfully intercepted the rainwater runoff from the roadway and the properties of a number of inconsiderate gringos up the hill. My neighbors have been putting up with water draining down through their hillside properties for the last ten years since the gringos up the hill built what the locals call “el castillo”. The house, in my opinion, is shockingly ostentatious.

Here, from left to right, are Angelica, Casandra, Jose Carlos, and Arturo who live amongst the extended family living next door to Cecilia, Raphael, Fernanda, Monica, and Raphael Jr. Arturo and Jose Carlos have helped me the last few days with a bit of regrading to prevent rainwater runoff from my property draining onto neighboring properties. They are all very polite and honest with me. The boys are very hard workers.

Here’s a closeup of Angelica. She asked me to make prints of the photos for her.

And one of Casandra, whom I had not met before today. She’s looking really forlorn.

I bought a couple of chisels and a three pound sledge hammer on my way to the property this morning, and began learning how to cut “piedra braza”, the volcanic rock ubiquitous here about, three large piles of which came with the property.

I trimmed enough rocks to construct a short stairway for Cecilia’s children to use to get up to my property without walking on the area I’ve been regrading and upon I will eventually plant grass and clover. Tomorrow I will build another stairway for the use of Arturo, Jose Carlos, Angelica, Casandra, and their family.

I’m getting the hang of it.

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General Property Report 1.03

Friday, August 6th, 2010

Yesterday I finished the drainage ditch intended to capture and redirect the storm water which runs down the roadway, both from rain which falls upon the road itself, but also runoff that is directed onto the roadway by inconsiderate up hill neighbors. Cecilia reports that it has significantly reduced the storm water draining downhill through her property, though she also indicated that there is still a bit of water from my property draining onto theirs.

So today I began cutting down about a foot high ridge remaining from the water main extension back fill, raking the rocks from the soil, and raking the soil to create a barrier to the water running onto Cecilia and Raphael’s property.

It wasn’t long before Arturo, part of the extended family living next to Cecilia and Raphael, and his friend Juan Carlos showed up. Both are really polite; and quite inquisitive, always asking what I’m up to and what is the purpose of whatever I’m doing.

The boys, looking to make a bit of money, asked if they could help. I indicated that I really didn’t need help, so they asked if they could wash my truck. I of course answered yes, but that they must tell Flor, about five, so she might help. Flor always asks if she may wash my truck, but as of late there have been no older children wishing to help her. So off the boys went to gather their buckets and enlist Flor.

A bit later the boys returned to report they had finished (they did a very good job) and I paid them their $5 pesos each. They hung around but it wasn’t long before one picked up the pick and the other the shovel; and they went to work. I provided a bit of instructions as to how I wanted things done and, in short order they had picked up the routine. Soon Raphael showed up with his little shovel and pitched in, with the older boys supervising him to keep him out of my way.

The three boys broke up the ridge of soil, picked out the stones and threw them into the pile I had going, and would fling the soil to me so I might rake it into place. They were really quite helpful.

Oh yeah, I’ve again contacted Posion Ivy. The ensuing rash is quite pervasive on my left arm, with only isolated patches on my right arm. Meanwhile my torn abdominal muscle is feeling much better.

If it ain’t one thing, it’s another.

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Garden Report 1.16

Saturday, July 31st, 2010

Just a bit of a garden round up. All-in-all, other than one raised bed, the garden hasn’t produced well, owing, I think, to the poor soil fertility. The incorporation of the compost I’ve produced, I hope, will increase the fertility of the other garden beds.

I’ve had a couple of good radish crops and lots of cucumbers. The various chile peppers are producing well and the papaya trees are growing well. The carrots are doing well, but they’re growing in the one fertile bed. The growth of the one watermelon which set is stalled at about three inches in diameter. Though the cauliflowers leaves look as though they’ve been shot with a shot gun, thanks to the various worms feasting on them, they are now developing little cauliflowers.

The grass and clover I planted over the drain field are doing really well. The grass is now about six inches high and the clover plants are sprouting their secondary leaves. The cuttings of the grass and clover will really help in my composting efforts, which heretofore have been deficient in fresh green materials. I will be planting other areas of the property to grass and clover, though I will need to fence the planted areas to prevent the roaming chickens and turkeys from eating the seeds.

All-in-all, I am satisfied with the gardening progress I’ve made and believe that as time goes by and I incorporate more and more compost into the garden beds my gardening pursuits will be more successful. Really, though, I need some chickens.

Poco a poco, as they say here.

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Four Years In Xalapa

Saturday, July 31st, 2010

Today marks the end of my fourth year in Xalapa.

Estoy muy contento.

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General Property Report 1.02

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

I haven’t been reporting lately as to my property development projects as there really hasn’t been anything to report. It’s been too wet.

My work has also been hindered by four days of gastrointestinal distress; and though now recovered, I am a bit weak from not eating much. I’m don’t know the source of the distress but suspect it might have been related to the eight sugar cookies I ate in short order Friday afternoon shortly after removing them from the oven.

Since my last report, a week ago, I visited the property briefly on Saturday to incorporate my, and my future neighbor Eileen’s, organic wastes into the compost pile; and today and yesterday.

Yesterday and this morning were partly sunny so I was able to continue excavating the drainage ditch aimed at capturing and redirecting the rain water run off from the access roadway so it will no longer drain downhill through the neighboring hillside properties nor through my garden. Though it really is to muddy to get much done.

Cecilia reported that the runoff through her property has been greatly reduced, though there remains runoff from my property, so I will need to do a bit of regrading.

Yesterday, after I’d been digging for a couple of hours the kids showed up. Raphael brought his own short, flat bladed shovel with which to help. Monica, as usual, looked on, taking everything thing in but not saying much. Fernanda, on the other hand, brought her school bag full of her third grade workbooks which she pulled out and began flipping through the pages while providing a continuous commentary. She will begin fourth grade in mid-August.

I have successfully trained the kids to not throw their trash on the ground but to deposit it in the ever present lona. They also noticed that I pick up and put in the lona pieces of glass I encounter, so now they bring me pieces they happen upon. Likewise they learned that I collect Obsidian I happen upon so they bring me any pieces they find. I had explained to them that the Obsidian was used as tools by ancient people.

I am now working at training the kids to not kill every insect, except butterflies, they come upon. I have explained to them that we don’t know what type of insect will emerge from the caterpillars and larva, and that it might be a beautiful butterfly. Today Raphael spotted a caterpillar, hollered at me to look, and then asked if he should kill it. I, of course, responded that he should not kill it; and again explained that caterpillars change into insects and probably into good insects. He told me he understood.

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Mexican Immigration Goes High Tech

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

I discovered today that the procedures of the Instituto Nacional de Migración for obtaining and renewing visas has gone electronic.

Since I’ve been here the procedure has been that one takes photos, original and copies of one’s passport and whichever visa one used to enter the country, a copy of evidence of one’s domicile, evidence of funds equivalent to $1,500. per month for the coming year, and bank receipts as evidence of payment of the requisite fees. Assuming all is in order one returns in a week to pick up one’s visa booklet.

Today I accompanied a couple of gringos to the immigration office to translate. One of the fellows has lived here for ten years and has made little effort to learn the language, thus I have told him that no more will I translate for him. The other fellow has, with the exception of last year, lived here six months a year for 8 or 10 years.

I learned that anyone wishing to apply for any type of visa must now fill out a form at the web site of the Instituto Nacional de Migración, that now one need only provide photos; copies of the pages of one’s passport which contain the photo, name, number, and etc. and pages with any sort of visa stamp, as well as presenting the original; copies of the similar pages in one’s existing visa, as well as presenting the original; evidence that has the required funds or income (I print copies of bank statements off the various banks internet sites); and all must be covered by a letter soliciting the desired visa and an explanation of why one wished to obtain the particular visa.

I also learned that the little visa booklet is no more. Now a laminated wallet card is issued, which I think is a great improvement as a card in the wallet is harder to lose.

The fellow who was helping us spoke some English; meticulously explained everything, beyond necessity; and even corrected my Spanish grammar in the letter of solicitation I had drafted for my part time neighbor, who for some reason was quite nervous, to the point that the immigration agent helping us repeatedly assured my neighbor that all was well and to please relax.

My full time neighbor, attended to by another agent, may have appeared to some as being really nervous, but it was just the daily case of DTs.

I can report that I maintained my patience, though I have very little for such willful self-disablement.

Meanwhile the rain continues, quite heavy at times this morning.

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