An old adage says "necessity is the mother of invention" to which I'd like to add "and laziness (efficiency) is the father".<< MORE >>

So, here I am trapped like a rat in my own casa - how could this happen? << MORE >>

As I've said before, "ah Mexico, the adventure that just keeps giving - and giving - and (enough giving already!)".<< MORE >>

You know it occurs to me that maybe I should clear up some commonly held misconceptions about retiring in opulent splendor in Mexico.While it's true that when you rent a palatial estate in Mexico it comes with a maid, gardener and at least two cats - especially the "at least" two cats thing because like rabbits they seem to multiply? - I now seem to have more. You might also assume the lap of luxury would include electricity for your every whim, hot and cold running water miraculously flowing from faucets etc. - all of which ain't automatic I find. And while refrigerators are common, if the electrico ain't on - YOU CAN'T OPEN THE DOOR AND LET THE COLD OUT!<< MORE >>

As our current crop of mis-elected fools in DC are fond of saying "never waste a good crisis", not exactly what you want to hear from elected officials, but it can be applied at a local level to good effect, and coupled with the "Mexican experience" an adventure is sure to occur. << MORE >>

It's the 4th of July and no matter where you are in the world it's a day for Americans, and others, to celebrate freedom. It's also a day to think back over 4th of July's past.<< MORE >>

Today's Garfield cartoon is perfect, it's in the ongoing scenario of "we're bachelors baby" and some of the foibles of single guys. Jon looks down at the table and blows, he and Garfield are totally engulfed in a cloud of dust, he says "I think it's time to dust" and Garfield says "is it July again already?" This perfectly describes Casa Abuelo because as documented it's dusty for 8 months and anything more serious than a cursory dusting is a total waste of time, time that is better spent doing something really really necessary and productive like organizing the sock drawer for instance. Hey, I still wear them once in a while in the "winter" so they need to be organized and immediately accessible.<< MORE >>

Yes, it's official (at least in my book) the rainy season is here a month early this year. How can I tell you ask? - simple, we only have prolonged power outages during the rainy season and at the moment it's been off for over 12 hours. About 9:15 last night everything "blinked" out and about 2 seconds later I heard the big bang in the distance telling me a transformer had exploded, either that or we're under attack by Islamo-fascists. << MORE >>

Ok, so I'm in a contentious mood this morning and I'm finding any reason I can NOT to study my Spanish, so I'll use this time to gently disagree with a couple of things life has dealt me. << MORE >>

It's that magical time of the year when migrations occur and many things change, the most noticeable is the annual northern migration of the white haired (and in some cases hairless) Canadian Snowbirds to their ancestral hermitages. Each year the frigid winds of Fall drive them in droves to the sunny shores of Lake Chapala where they spend the Winter sunning themselves while shopping in places like Tonala and eating in local restaurants punctuated by trips to explore neighboring curiosities and purchasing Mexican artifacts they dutifully carry back to the northland in the Spring.<< MORE >>