Heaven

Last night we went back to the salsa club, but not to dance. They have several flat-screen TVs and always have sports playing, so I finally got to watch an NHL game. Hockey is my favorite sport but it's not very popular here in the land of sand and palm trees. We've seen a lot of basketball but I've been anxious to see my Detroit Red Wings.

While there were a lot of people in the restaurant, the bar was empty and we settled into our seats, directly between the Red Wings game to our right and the Detroit Pistons on our left. I don't know what genius did the scheduling, but the two Detroit teams' games have been at the exact same time. Even the halftimes/intermissions have been coordinated. I nearly got whiplash trying to watch both games.

As I sipped my drink, my body moved to the salsa music and I realized I was in heaven. My two teams in front of me, my handsome husband at my side, and a live salsa band five feet away. When the hockey game ended the bartender switched the TV to the Cubs game and when I told one of the waiters that's where we used to live, he smiled and said they were really spoiling me.

Unfortunately both Detroit teams lost, so maybe I shouldn't have watched. (I'm superstitious like that.) We only danced one song but it was a fast one, and fairly long, and we managed to draw attention from the tourists. The blond kid was playing with the band again, this time with a proper Mexican-style shirt, so I've decided he must live here.

Ibis has today off so we're spending the day poolside at my girlfriend's house. I go there at least once a week but because of his work schedule he's yet to swim at her place. I guess there are a few nice things about living in Mexico...

A Prodigy in Our Mix

We know our visiting friend from salsa dancing, so last night we went to the one place in town that has salsa every night. We arrived before the band but were assured they would start by 10:30pm. I was a little worried that would mean they'd arrive by then, but the equipment was already set up and they were singing before the scheduled start time.

The band had two drummers and two guitarists, one of whom was the lead singer. They wore coordinating teal short-sleeved button down shirts, white pants and white shoes, and called themselves the Blue Angels. Los Angeles Azules. As they were getting ready to start I noticed a teenager approach the stage and set down an instrument. Not very unusual, considering the surroundings, but he was blond, blue-eyed, and very white. And he wasn't wearing the Official Blue Angels attire.

(For those familiar, he looked exactly like my cousin Thom at that age.)

Now we were curious. He was there with two adults at the table next to ours but hovered near the stage. Just as the were about to begin, he unzipped the case and pulled out a violin.

"Oh cute, he's going to play a song with them," I thought.

Not quite.

Not only did he play the entire first set, he sang along! He looked so out of place; they were all dark with black hair and dark eyes, plus those matching outfits, and he wore a black t-shirt, jeans, and old Vans. But he rocked. I couldn't get over how comfortable he was up there. He couldn't have been more than fourteen years old but he seemed at home on this small stage in Mexico. He even had a couple solos.

We only stayed for the first two sets but I was impressed. This kid has found his talent at such a young age and is working it. Of course I was filled with a millions questions. How did he meet the band? How did they agree to play together? How did he learn all their songs? He appeared to be on vacation (I drew that conclusion from his translucent skin) so none of it makes sense to me.

We didn't dance many songs because it was so hot, but I didn't mind. This kid made my night.

I'm Getting There

Last night was fun. The club is on a roof deck so we spent the night dancing beneath the stars. Well, sort of. There is a roof, but it's all open-air so the breeze kept it cool. A new band plays every hour so we managed to see three acts before we left, including an incredible guitar player that made everyone want to cuddle with their sweetie.

My big adventure for today was going to the grocery store. Our car is still dead so we've been getting by on food from the market and the little store across the street. I've eaten more eggs, tostadas, and PBJ sandwiches in the past several weeks...

A couple weeks ago I walked to the Bodega (Walmart + groceries) - it's about 20 minutes away - then took the bus home. Unfortunately I didn't realize the bus driver would refuse to stop where I asked and instead keep driving all the way to the market, about six blocks out of my way. I was glad I didn't buy many heavy things, but my bags still nearly ripped my arms off by the time I trudged home.

Needless to say, I've been dreading a repeat and keep putting off another trip. That is, until this morning when my empty fridge echoed back my stomach's grumblings. I decided this was getting ridiculous and I ventured off the the store. (It was actually closer to noon; we did have a late night.)

When I finished shopping, I pushed my cart into the sun and instead of deflecting the hyper-active boys who always offer their help, I told them I needed a cab. They ran over to a man leaning on his car, then ran back and started grabbing my bags.

"Espera!" I told them to wait so I could first ask how much it would cost. I know they like to raise the prices when they see pale skin and blue eyes, so I tried my best to act like a local. The man told me the ride would cost 20 pesos, well within the amount Ibis had said was acceptable.

"Ok." I nodded at the boys.

As we rode the short distance home (it's much faster by car), the driver told me I speak Spanish very well. I had to explain where I live and apparently the lack of I live-o near the restaurant-o El Gabo impressed him. We chatted the whole way home and he even drove right into our parking lot.

I always wondered why so many people took cabs from the grocery store, since it seemed like an expensive way to get around, but 20 pesos is nothing. We paid more than that for one beer last night. And, he brought me right to my door. None of this I'm going to pretend I don't hear you and stop wherever I damn well please because you're saving 16 pesos attitude.

I'm beginning to wonder if we even need a car!



(I'm just kidding mom. Please still bring the alternator when you come to visit.)

Mmmmm... Salsa

We're going dancing tonight! For those who know us, we used to be salsa-addicts but have slowly stopped going over the years. We've danced a couple times since moving here, but never at a proper club. There's a restaurant in town that has a 3-piece band but there's not much in the way of a salsa crowd.

One couple we've gotten to know over the past couple months invited us to join them at a real salsa club - they have a live band and everything. People who know how to dance go there so I may even get to dance with another partner. Don't get me wrong, I think it's clear by now I love my husband but it's nice to dance with different people now and then. I'm sure he feels the same way.

The only drawback is no one goes to this club until midnight at the earliest. This would have been fine back in the day but I've become a bit of a homebody and that is LATE! They know us well enough to suggest Ibis takes a nap in the evening so he'll last a couple more than half an hour. I don't plan on staying till the end - they said it sometimes goes till 7am - but I want at least a couple hours of quality time.

Now I have to go see if any of my dresses still fit...

Double Whammy

I've been hit again. Ed over at Upon Reflection tagged me yesterday, so I said I'd play along one more time. Since I already covered all the weird things about me (yeah right), this will be a bit of a stretch.

1. I attended my first posada last night. The hotel where Ibis is working had their holiday party last night and besides food, drinks & dancing, there was the traditional singing of the posada. It was explained to me as similar to carol singing, except they're paying tribute to Joseph and Mary as they searched for a place to stay before Jesus was born.

Since we were all in a large banquet hall, they asked half the people to go outside and the rest of us gathered near the entrance. Then we sang back and forth to candlelight. It was cool to participate in this tradition.

Afterwards we ate a lot and even managed to dance! I've had my salsa fix, finally! And yes, I was the only non-Mexican there.


2. I've killed about 30 ants this morning and lost a fight with a cockroach yesterday. I still don't know where he went and I'm nervous about where I'll find him.


3. I know the words to (almost) every New Kids on the Block song. Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh. Care to hear more?


4. I only have two front teeth on top, as opposed to the standard four most are born with. All my sharp teeth are closer to the front so when I bite my cheek, it bleeds.


5. I almost lost my eye as a child when a dog bit me in the face. You know that little bump on the inside corner? Yeah, he bit that. You can barely see the scars now.


And that's all for today! I'm not tagging anyone else because all the blogs I read have done this now. I could tag Kris and Turkey, but I'll leave it up to them to play along.

Temp: 82°
Humidity: 73%

I've Been Hit!

I am the latest victim in what can best be described as Blog Tag. Janna from Something She Wrote tagged me, and now I'm supposed to share five weird or otherwise unknown things about myself. Since my audience is a mix of people who've known me my entire life and those who don't even know what my voice sounds like, this may not be ground-breaking news for all of you.

1. I can salsa dance. Quite well, in fact. Strangers have come up and asked us if we A) are professionals (lol) or B) give lessons. We've tried giving lessons to his family but end up bickering about the best way to demonstrate a step, or "No, that's too confusing," and nothing much gets accomplished.

I started back in 2000 and met Ibis a few months later. He was in another relationship so we were friends long before our first date. For our first dance at our wedding we surprised everyone and danced to a country song, saving the salsa for later.


2. I am 5'1" and was a starter on my high school basketball team. I think that has more to do with the size of my school than my ability to dunk, but it was fun and I wouldn't trade that experience for all the public schools out there.

I went to a small boarding school with a total of 100 students. There were 25 people in my graduating class and only 30 girls in the entire school, so being among the five best players wasn't all that difficult.


3. I am a lotion and chapstick freak. I must have them with me - or close by - at all times. I can get through daily errands without lotion, and I often replace chapstick for a moisturizing lip gloss, but I'd claw my eyes out if I had to go an entire day without them.


4. I'm a little compulsive. I'm a neat-freak, worry-wart, counting-thing-in-threes type of person. I can't stand to let dishes sit in the sink for longer than it takes to eat a meal. I usually start washing them while Ibis brings the food to the table, and you can bet any I don't get to are soaking while we eat.

We don't have screens on the windows so a lot of dust comes in throughout the day. Now I sweep every morning after my run and before my shower. This is a new one for me - I don't mind sweeping but floors really aren't my thing. Until now.

My husband is a normal man and doesn't like putting his clothes away the moment they leave his body, so I do lighten up with his stuff. As long as it's all in one area (the guest bedroom) I try to leave him alone.

I do carry anti-bacterial gel with me, but we are in Mexico and things get pretty dirty. I've gotten better about compulsively doing things, but it's always in the back of my head.


5. I was once buried my a snowplow. My best friend Kris and I were in second grade (I think) and were enjoying one of about nine snowdays we had that year. We were walking from her house to mine and saw a huge snowplow off in the distance. Its spray covered the street and we ran back and forth as it came closer, not able to tell which side of the street it was on. (She tells the story that we WANTED the snow to hit us - I beg to differ) When it was too late to get out of the way we dove into the closest yard, our heads nestled between a row of pine trees, and the snow buried us. She thought I was dead for a minute but I was just contemplating life. ;)


Jenna, you're the only one I'm tagging because I don't know many bloggers and the few I do know have already played. I can't wait to read what you have to say!

Now that I've scared you all off, I need to go find my Chapstick.