Yakuit

Sorry it's a bad shot, but do you recognize this little bottle ... yah chol ... is how it's pronounced ...?
but Yakuit is how it's spelt ! A spanish alphabet lesson right there !
It's like yogurt, but with more water and sugar .  Taste Great and Good for you too !!
They cost 6 pesos each, which is approx. .04 Canadian cents !

poem : Paradise

scorpions, spiders, mosquitoes, bats 
gekos lizards, skunks, some rats
crickets singing, giant bees,
roosters sleeping in the trees,
land crabs, termites, scrawny cats,
donkeys, horses, and their craps,

badgers, squirrels and little weasels,
mice and ticks , large flying beetles
armadillos, lots of frogs
cows and bulls, and barking dogs
butterflies and fire flies
dragon flies and fleas
ants of all description
are everywhere they please

every night's a " Grande Polka "
then up with dawn to get to Boca
burning garbage, burning gas,
i sure hope  i get back fast ... 

what makes you laugh ...

I saw the sun come up this morning.  First time for over 30 days, mas o menos !  Could that
possibly be a sign of better, drier days to come .... sooner than later ?  We are all ready...
If  it, ( it pertaining to everything; clothes, sheets, pillow, towels, books, furniture, roof, yard, ... etc.)  has not, molded,disintegrated, been eaten, become infested, caved in, washed out, rusted, and etc. well it'll probably make through another season !
  I didn't make out too bad this year. It seems to really hit a climax just at the first of the month, after a wet July and August, by September the dampness begins to permeate,
and there isn't much one can do, except buy a clothes dryer !!
I'm learning all the time. I thought since I was here I could leave the books out of plastic, and just do random checks, wrong.  Everything back in plastic now, with my favorites long packed away in the bodega. An artist's paint brush works well to paint diesel in the cracks of a bookcase ! Don't let any material that is too damp get dirty, that's where the mold starts to set in ....
Another new adventure was Lily, the cat that lives here , trying to pee.  Pouring driving rain, and she was in a state .  I dragged a flower pot as close to the door as possible, drained as much mud and water out of it as I could, set up the big sun umbrella over it, and tossed her in ... it worked, but we both got soaked anyway ... me more than her !  One other particularly bad morning, dark as can be, and the boys and Silencio are out bailing the boats, and in comes Vallarta Adventures, business as usual, almost .   We have been short on fish lately,
no fish at Pollo Bollo last week, first time I can remember, sometimes no ribs or chicken, but fish ??  The tuna is coming back, Mimi is making some for lunch today, and Julian gave Me little red snapper, ( no head please ) and it was scrumptious .... helped my stomach recover.
I also discovered a little magic drink ... the pronunciation is ... Yah - Cohl ... I don't know what's in it, but it began working right away, like an antacid.  Drink one once a week say the
elders, they cost 6 pesos .... more plastic garbage, but worth it . I will post a picture of one, and many of you will recognize it. All's well at the river I believe, but you're wet to high thigh
to cross.  There'll be people swimming today, the water is so warm, it's too funny.
I may have posted the following poem earlier on my blog, but i thought it deserves a repeat,
under the circumstances ....goodbye September ... hello gorgeous ...
very best regards one and all ...
k

seven days to go ....

Short & sweet today ,I'm sick, but happy !? Came on in the middle of the night last night, and
it felt like Dengee, which I'm sure I had 2 years ago, but today I feel a little better, so it's
"just " a little stomach flu, thankfully.  Should be back to close to " normal " tomorrow.
Maybe picked up a little something in the big city.
No power most of the day today, but coolish from all the rain we've had, so living without the fan wasn't too bad, but I was hot and cold all day anyway ! And no water, by which I mean the tank isn't filling, and it's down pretty low and my fix it man is in PV till Tuesday !
I was on the phone this morning with his son in law, but couldn't follow up with no power, and now it's too late.  There will be enough if I'm careful ... which means no laundry... again !
Ahh September, I will be glad to see you go ...the heavy rain either dislodged the line or clogged the line, and I'm not the only one ...
Ocean is as brown as I've ever seen, there are paddle boarders and kayakers but even the kids aren't swimming ... so that tells you something.  In PV the new rules of the new pier is no fishing, which is such a shame but I saw the other day the fisherman have got around that by fishing off the supports under the pier ... good for them !
Off to bed at 8;30  hope all of you are feeling fine and looking forward to cooler drier days ahead, not to mention a trip to Yelapa ...
We'll leave the light on for you ... if it's working !!
mas tarde
kelley

photos ...not for the bug sensitve

                                                                   summer line up

                                         scorpion whip ... losing it's skin ... in the banos

                                              spider having breakfast at my kitchen table

Happy September 16th

Mexican Independence Day ... 1810 - 2013 ....  !! Viva Mexico Viva !!
Unfortunately it is raining, the socked in Pacific Northwest kinda rain, so that will slow things down. The party is in Tuito, and there will be a few people who won't make it .... including me !  It isn't the first time this has happened in 213 years ....
We haven't lost power .... yet.  No thunder bolts with this storm, so we may be safe ?
Friday brought a heavy storm.  It felt like I was at a Led Zeppelin/ Metallica concert !
The light show didn't stop for over 2 hours, and the only accompaniment was the drum roll !
Power went off with the first note, at 11:00 pm , and stayed out till 3:00 pm Saturday.
One of Yelapa summer routines, unplugging and in plugging, fridge, phone, ifi, tv/stereo ....
I suppose this is the rain from Tropical Storm Manuel, dissipating just north/east of us. No unwelcome wind, just much needed rain.

We are all trying to put the tragedy of last week behind us.  Things are not as I reported, but 
the only information I have our rumours and hear say and Yelapa tall  tales.  I'm sure the
Tuito Police have their top investigators on the case ! and I will pass on any facts that may
be released .... but don't hold your breath !
On a happy note, the new born who has been in hospital in Guadalajara is doing much better
after 2 operations, and may be home at the end of this month. 

It has been a quiet summer for parties, over all, no raves or etc. while I've been here.  I missed the Kinder party Friday morning, the kids all dressed up like the heroes and heroines, ready to fight for Independence.  I heard some took it very seriously, and much fun was had by all, and then lunch was served.  Well done P. and helpers !

All this heavy rain keeps the bugs away, even Scorpions pretty much hide out, although
there is a scorpion whip ( large scorpion killer ) hanging around in the banos yesterday and today.  Bats aren't flying through pooping the sofa, (  always in the same place, so I have to cover it up a night ! ) .  The latest thing waiting for me in the morning are little peanuts,
not peanuts but exactly like those mixed peanuts with the skin still on ??? No clue as to what or how, but i think it's gone now ... a rather large skunk a few nights ago, digging yet again
under the patio, so close to my bed !  You can't tell what's going on until you shine the flashlight directly, and always most unpleasant to discover a skunk ! but she didn't spray
at all, just got annoyed and finally left. C. re enforced the skunk barrier the next day, shelves
from refrigerators long dead and buried, they work pretty good !

There is work being done at the old Casa Imagination. Don't know exactly but it will definitely be a restaurant again, that's exciting news.  It looks like A&V from Shambala, so it
should be good, and great location, except for Gloria's Restaurant right next door.  Hopefully
there will be very different menus, and enough business to go around this high season.

The 9:30 taxi just left.  It is teaming rain.  The rain gear is large black plastic bags with head and arms cut out, and bare feet.  There are a few rain ponchos and slickers around, but mostly, less is more !  Only tourists on the boat, heading home with their luggage, also wrapped in black plastic bags.  They will still be wet by the time they get wherever they're going.  At least the ocean is as flat as a pancake ! My student called last night to cancel this week since she had a babysitting job at The Oasis, maybe people going to the parade in Tuito, or not ... in any case todays no day to go out anywhere, unless you have a plane to catch !   That means my paint job will have to wait one more day... that's life in the jungle !!
Instead I'll relax with the last 2 sections of my Globe & Mail, and soak in the moisture,
literally ...
love and peace to all ....  !! Viva Mexico !!
k

poem three : summer storm

summer storm

the ground rumbles

under my bed

true grit heading my way
 

down the canyon
 

rocks and bones shrink

in anticipation

earthquakes split the sky

snap me open like
a Beverly adjustment

                                                            munchkins climb my spine

one thousand two thousand

white blue yellow green

flashing zapping bolts

short circuit my world
 

 leave me breathless

                                                                              deaf
                                                                         temporarily

blind

 in one eye

poem two : night vision

night vision


in my wildest dreams i see
my man has turned to ice
while standing in the kictchen with
his hand around a knife
so i turn the oven heat
on high and
open up the door
then pour him in a bottle
from a puddle on the floor

he'll stay inside
a secret cupboard
high above my head
when he starts to
miss me simply
spill upon my bed

poem one : what makes me cry

Looking through my near completed collection of poems, I've discovered they are best
appreciated as a collection ... if you get my drift ....
There are a few that may speak on their own to someone, at least that's what I'm aiming for.
Prose and poetry that has come to me over my life so far, that I had no choice but to write down.  The next step, for me is to share, I hope you enjoy.

This poem was a challenge from the " Collected Wisdom " column in the Saturday edition of The Globe & Mail.  Why not give it a try ?



                                                            what makes me cry


                                                                        love

                                                                        hate

                                                                   how could
                                                                someone shoot
                                                                 John Lennon ? 
                                                                         
                                                                 saying hello
                                                               saying goodbye
                                                          train whistle at night
                                                            gone with the wind

                                                                      flying
                                                              into Vancouver
                                                                    flying out
                                                                Lake Superior
                                                                    red wine
                                                          God save the Queen
                                                                       and
                                                                     Yelapa

photos

                                           more beautiful sunsets from the condo in Vallarta

                                  more construction in Vallarta , right on the beach this time
                                                                         kinda sad ...

Ode to September

Good Monday morning ... We have had rain every day this month, some days all day, light to heavy, but constant ... keeps things really cool, keeps the bugs away somewhat too, so that's all great, would be nice to get a laundry down sometime in the near future .... my water tank hasn't been filling for the last few days , so that doesn't make laundry too promising fro today, although it is filling up slowly this morning. 
So ironic that there is so much rain, but it causes a lot of havoc with all the mangara lines getting compromised by falling rocks and mud slides .... if it's not one thing ....
At least I have a phone to call the repair man !!
Lots of Tuna in the sea, and Dorado.  The bait aren't flying around the bay anymore, not like they were...the new moon brought us such calm seas, very quiet and very dark .... power was out on the point for 4 days, same old problem out there with an old transformer ... but so far so good in town for power, only those 2 second outages that shut down your wifi, disconnect your telephone, etc.  No skype service most of yesterday with such a heavy cloud cover ... out to Pollo Bollo for a scrumptious dinner, mashed potatoes and rice on Sunday !!
The big news around here this week is very sad and tragic.
My next door neighbours woke up to a body on their front porch yesterday, a dead body !
The man is not from here, I have very few details.  It was a random act of violence, the man died from machete wounds, maybe was followed / chased down the hill from Chacala ?
There was a big party in the village Saturday night, maybe someone saw something ? 
We may never know, but the cops are coming in by the boatloads today. I anticipate they will come by and ask me if I heard or saw anything, which I didn't.  Gracias A Dios !!
A sad reminder that no matter how far away we feel from the " real " world here in Yelapa, it
isn't that far away ....
My new student is remarkable, and very motivated.  I found out it cost 1,660.00 $ pesos for
one semester of school, then there are minimal costs for books, but I calculate $ 500.00 usd
would put someone through school for one year.  That would include a small payment for
room & board in Pv and taxi $$ back home on weekends and a food allowance too.
Maybe fundraising is in my future ??  Vamos a ver ....
First coat of paint at Mimi's !! I took a before picture, but can't post it until I have the after shot.  Still a ways to go ...
Gearing up for Independence Day on the 16th .  All the festivities will take place in Tuito.
There will be some tourists around, mostly in PV , but hopefully a small shot in the arm for the business around here too...a sunny day would help !!
Going to keep this short.  I hear the police next door !! and I must prepare my lesson for today !  Stay tuned for poems and pictures ...
until then ... may September continue to be kind to us ... but let us do our laundry !!
much muchness to you all .... call you later Dad !!

xox
k

photos

                                              Nicole spells Happy on the Sunshine Coast

                  Log Cabin lower floor vacation rental by owner.com  if you ever want to visit ..

                                                                       Our Captain

September Finale

It's not raining everyday to cool things off, but i'm not complaining ... it's sticky gooey hot,
during the day at least.  Puerto Vallarta is nice, but you can't beat the swinging bed in the yelapa breeze.  I took the hoe and the big tooth rake down to clean the rocks from the old
root canal ... treacherous getting home.  Path maintenance said Bev, and she gave me a pat on the back ... nice ...

I have been taking photos, stay tuned next week ...

One of the local families has a newborn baby in the hospital in Guadalajara.  He has survived two operations so far, so everyone is hoping for the best .
We also lost a young man who made his presence known around here ... he worked hard at the resort close by, and was my neighbour for a time , he made a lot of friends ...
He died in Yosemite, California.  Gone too soon.

We are settling into September.  Quiet.  No one around, until the September 16th fiesta begins ... don't know exactly what party this is, but the flags are flying already !

The best place to catch up is the taxi.  Still a lot of people coming and going, to visit family
and the dentist !  Not sure how many full time residents .. northerners i mean ... take a guess
at 20 ??

I have a new ESL student tomorrow, I hope she shows up. She's 18 years old and ready to go
to College/University in PV, but saving for the funds.  It's going to take a long time !
I asked her to bring me a detailed list of what it cost to attend for a year.  It's too late this
year, but maybe down the road a group of us can support one or two ..... vamos a ver ...

I finally have a dentist i love, in the right location, it's perfect.  Lots of Yelapa people use her
and I'm so glad I checked her out !  What is it around here that if one is a dentist, the whole family are dentists ... they really take it seriously and make a fine life.
This woman has her family practice in the original house her father built 50 years ago ....
when they moved out of Old Town .... imagine.   She was 8 years old.

It isn't the same Puerto Vallarta, that goes without saying, but more and more time I am there it feels more and more like Cancun.  There is new construction right on the beach in front of the condo ... right on the beach , while buildings are falling down empty around us !
Go figure.

It's going to be a quiet month, but will check in every week with some updates and photos.

Sitting pretty at 21 degrees at 10:00 pm.  Lightening over PV.  Not too many bugs, ie.
scorpions, but skunks on the move, a family last night and the toads are getting friendly ...

I'm trying to keep up on the news, Happy Labor Day weekend ...
Have a good time at the PNE everybody ! 

xxoo
k