Keeping in touch with Jim

Walking through the streets of central Zihuatanejo (Centro), it is interesting to see the variety of electrical mishaps, makeshifts and make-do's. Here are just a few photos:       And there are soooo many more. (Title is in reference to the 1948 Humphrey Bogart movie; The Treasure of the Sierra Madre  in which the line is actually:  " Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges."   I love that movie.

Dick Clark 1929 - 2012 Rest in peace All my life people have told me that I remind them of Dick Clark.  I always felt that was a compliment of the highest order.  He was a driving force in the music industry and an integral part of our generation.  We will miss him.  

BEFORE Here are the before and after photos of the project on the rooftop. The cover will be invaluable this summer for protection from the intense sun and rain. It is now a pleasure to work upstairs even at midday. It has been a good Christmas day and we are happy. Karim and Andrea have been visiting for several days and we are all enjoying playing games on facebook and just being together in general. AFTER The dinner last night at Ivone's mothers house was a fine get together with lots of laughs, good company and excellent food. (L to R) Me, Ivone, Ruth, Andrea, Adi, Atenas, Malu, Agustin, Karim and Christopher.

Wow. It hardly seems possible but I have completed my first year here in Zihuatanejo. I don't count the month of April when I went back to Oregon because my heart and my mind were here with my love Ivone. Now as we are making headway on projects around the house I feel even more at home than I ever have before. We are making more plans even before these are finished and it is a joy for us both. The cover over the roof will be finished soon and the garden is coming along just fine. We will be making another trip to Mexico City in mid-December and I hope for some more good photo ops.

Sunday Oct 31 - a visit to the Diego Rivera Museum "Anahuacalli". It was designed by Diego Rivera and houses thousands of artifacts. http://www.museoanahuacalli.org.mx/ Tuesday Nov 2 - a visit to Toluca for the Feria del Alfeñique celebrating the dia de mue rtos http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfe%C3%B1ique_fair and later the bot anical garden. More photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimwalls9/ All in all, it was a wonderful trip.

Many months ago, when Ivone and I were first getting acquainted, she shared a song with me that was perfect for us and our meeting one another. The song is called Coincidir and our favorite version is by Guadalupe Pineda.  (the translation is difficult because the words don't always carry the meaning). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukydzrd9OmY     This is our song. Soy vecina de este mundo por un rato Y hoy coindice que también tú estas aquí Coincidencias tan extrañas de la vida Tantos siglos, tantos mundos, tanto espacio… y coincidir Si navego con la mente el universo O si quiero a mis ancestros retornar Agobiada me detengo y no imagino Tantos siglos, tantos mundos, tanto espacio… y coincidir Si en la noche me entretengo en las estrellas Y capturo la que empieza a florecer La sostengo entre las manos más que al alma Tantos siglos, tantos mundos, tanto espacio… y coincidir Si la vida se sostiene por instantes Y un instante es el momentos de existir Si tu vida es otro...

I have projects, ideas and plans. Ivone is pleased with my plans and ideas and I will move forward as time and money will allow. Below are the three project photos and one concept photo. I'm sure that all of this will change as time goes by but it is good to have something constructive to keep me busy. The pool at Cachacuaz needs a cover to protect it from debris and sun. Still working on ideas. The upstairs of the apartment needs to have the huge satellite dish removed and a cover over that area. Partly for sun protection of the living area and partly to have an open air area for the evenings. The third project, and my personal favorite, is the garden area. It just needs to be cleaned up and planters built for the first stage. Here is the actual and a concept photo.