Friday, February 24, 2017

DOMINOES, HELEN'S PARTY, MEN'S HAPPY HOUR

       Well I maintained the lead for the first 11 rounds of Dominoes then in the round twelve Richard was up by one point...then 13, 14, and 15 I got beat bad to end up in last place the second week in a row.
 
       I did manage to pick-up the photos I had matted and they came out pretty good.  Now I have to figure out how to hang them on the wall.


       I left early today, while the maid cleaned the room I got a haircut, then walked over to Berlina to try the Strudel with Ice Cream and Cappuccino.  While I attempted to send a photo of my fantastic Cappuccino, my phone froze.  Just froze.  Could not use touch screen, turn off or delete or anything.
            I love my phone and was in a panic so went home after and contacted Google then plugged the phone in as if to charge it but no response.  Google was back to me in 5 minutes with options to cure the problem.  When I went to try them,the phone was fine again.  I scolded it good and sent it to it's room.
     Helen invited me to dinner so I took a walk over and met her at a new neighborhood restaurant where we split a pizza.



 She is excited about her move into a real nice home on the same property for her last month in Oaxaca.  She is having a welcome party for her friend Ginny on Sunday.
   
     Today I went shopping, hoping to pickup some ideas for hanging my photos on stucco walls. When I returned Deke, my photographer neighbor was just arriving.  He brought over some leftover Velcro hangers that he uses.  I had enough to hang one and it worked well.
UNTIL MATTING SEPARATED AND  FELL SO WILL HAVE TO RETURN ALL PHOTOS


    It's Sunday and I'm off to Office Depot to pick up more hangers for my photos. I am also buying a printer for my computer.  $20 is fair.  When I return I'll be ready for Helen's party.
    Well no hangers so I ordered them from the US and will be delivered next week.  The ink for my new $20 printer costs $68!!!
     Helen's party was nice.
MARGO GRAZING  AND GADI CONVERSING WITH HALINA'S NIECE FROM POLAND


RON GIVING ADVICE TO HALINA ON HOW TO SEPARATE THE PLATES

STILL GRAZING...STILL CONVERSING

SHARON WATCHES HELEN GET A MASSAGE

MORE CONVERSING WHILE BARBARA CHECKS OUT THE OASIS
 A great group of people from all over and good conversation...not to mention the Spanish Tortilla and Paella.
SPANISH TORTILLA  AND PAELLA 

OH YES...THE FRESH FIGS WITH PAPAYA
The house that she just moved into and will be in until she leaves, is really awesome.  Los Nogales is an Oasis in Oaxaca.



      I stopped by the church to atone for my President...on the way home.

   
COALITION OF MEXICAN AND AMERICAN BUSINESSES AGAINST TRUMP'S INSULTS
 The rest of the week was uneventful.  My mounted photo that I hung fell apart in two days so I returned them all to be redone.  They will be ready next week when my hangers arrive.

       The weather has been so nice in the Mornings and Evenings I went out to just walk around and ended up having Salmon at Tres Bistro.
 Got to see the owners battery operated bicycle like the one I bought.
   

  Wednesday evening was Men's Night at Casa Charles.  He got a puppy to keep him company and remodeled a bit to accommodate the dog and his neighbors.  It was one of the best Men's Night we had.  I think there were close to 18 people from Toronto , Fresno, Oaxaca, San Francisco, ...artists, Doctor, woodworker, college professor, retired lawyer...well the rest were all retired something...It was a fun evening.  I caught the bus home.

       Thursday,
RICHARD ADVISING BOB...BOB IGNORING RICHARD...MILTON STAYING OUT OF IT
 I made a come back at Dominoes and won our weekly tournament.
DAVID GLOATING
Then I visited an Art Gallery where two of the artists, that were at Casa Charles' the night before, were exhibiting their work.  

SELF PORTRAIT OF RICHARD THE WOODWORKER/ARTIST
        Today I just wandered the Llano Market after my Cafe at Cafe Barista's , then returned home.
      Tomorrow I will try and make the Opera, Ruskiska or something like that.
BEST DAMN COFFEE AND CHOCOLATE COOKIE

CACTI

MORE COLOR

WHERE I BUY PEANUT BUTTER, RELISH, TAHINI, MUSTARD, MUSHROOMS, MANGO MARMALADE, ETC.

MORE GREAT GRAFFITI ART

HAND EMBROIDERED SEE THROUGH CAMISOLE


BRILLIANT EXAMPLE OF MEXICAN RECYCLING...INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE BROKEN PLASTIC...THEY WIRE IT BACK TOGETHER...NO MONEY JUST IMPROVISING.

Friday, February 17, 2017

SUPER, SUPER BOWL , MONTE ALBAN, VALENTINE'S DAY

      I left to meet Don and show him my plans for my new TV table he was to custom make.  Pat, his lady was there and we chatted while discussing different version of my plan and finally came up with something I would be happy with.
PAT TRYING ON HER NEW NECKLACE
 Then Darcy, Pat's brother showed up all clean shaved and haircut to visit his Mother in Canada the next morning. He bought her a necklace as a gift and Canadian Steve showed up before it was time for SUPER BOWL.
      I left for Tres Bistro across the street but was early so I was the only person at the bar. Next came Alfredo the relief bartender and my friend. Then two nice ladies, Claudia and Jane from St Louis. Then Ron, my friend from West Virginia showed and I gave up my coffee for a Beer and some fresh made Guacamole to fortify myself.  Then Lynn showed with her husband Kurt who just arrived in town a day or two before. I started off with some Guacamole off the Superbowl Special Board.
TOSS UP BETWEEN TEXAS BRISKET AND LOBSTER ROLL

     The game started but the beginning looked bleak for New England.  The Falcons looked great and by the half time it was 3 to 24 in favor of Atlanta.
The restaurant was filling up with a line out the door.  The Super Bowl Specials looked good so I decided , after a half dozen Oysters
THE SAUCE IS NOT OUR COCKTAIL SAUCE BUT GOOD AS WERE THE OSTERS
to try the Texas Brisket of Beef..sorry...OK I'll try the Lobster Roll...sorry.  All specials were suspended by half time !  The kitchen was overwhelmed.
 I never saw this restaurant so busy ever. The owner came over and apologized .  I did understand having been a Chef and Owner so happily accepted his offer of a Mescal after my bartender also poured me an extra wine.  The game went into overtime and New England stepped up to the plate and walked away with another awesome win.  It was the most fantastic Super Bowl ever.
      I floated out of the restaurant and ran into the front man Saul at the door.  We chatted and I asked for a ride home.  He said he lost his car years ago trying to keep up and now rides a bike.  I told him I just bought an Electric battery powered bike and he showed me the Manager's Electric bike stored in the back. It was awesome.  A little more money than I paid but I haven't even seen my bike yet. It was supposed to be delivered this month.
   The Sunday bicycle riders were out.

 The city was booming.  I took a taxi home after one of the best evenings I've had in Oaxaca. Ron my friend is convinced that this is also where he will return to after years of searching for home in the winter.  Just like I did.


      Monday, Monday....Dinner with Sandra, Lynn, and her husband Kurt at the popular Quinque Restaurant.  I brought some box wine for us as they do not have a liquor license. Just after I arrived so did they.  It was a packed house so we ate upstairs. They had the Shrimp and I had the Fresh Shark.  It was all good but I forgot to take photos again.  I caught my friend Peter as he was finishing his dinner and enlisted him to take a photo of us.

    We wandered down the street to a Mescal Bar for a couple after dinner chasers.




  Today I hung the lantern that blew down when I opened the windows last week then sprayed for ants.
I walked down to a store that Deke told me about to Mat my photos but wandered to far and returned home.  Beautiful warm day with breeze coming through the open windows.  Fairly quiet today too. I'm going out to meet Sandra for a light dinner tonight at Importando.
FATHER CARRYING HIS SON WHILE WALKING THE DOGS WITH DAUGHTER


     Wednesday was a Concert at San Paulo.

INTENSE

 Sandra met me at the Cafe but when we arrived it was already standing room.  We decided to visit the Cacao Exhibit next door then returned just as the Pianist and Singer arrived on stage.  Richard showed up so the three of us held up the wall in case of a Earthquake but we were close and the acoustics were great.  As you can tell for yourself:   OPERA SINGER AT SAN PAULO

     We all went to Luna y Sol to get a bite to eat.  I had Spinach Lasagna which may not look good but was superb.



       Thurs was Dominoes at the library.  I was hoping to advance my standing with the new knowledge of stratagem that I learned last week, but that was not to be the case...perhaps I was too over overconfident like our President.  I broke all records for last place with over 500 points.
LANDLORD'S SHIPPING CHILE PEPPERS

        I licked my wounds the next day and dropped off the photos to be matted.  It was busy and I really didn't know what I was doing.  He spoke Spanish, I spoke English and I think I screwed up.  I should have studied up on Matting and complimentary colors, the colors of my walls, my condo, what room the photo was going in , where it would hang...I blew it...but stuck to my commitment as the cost...around $150 wasn't a lot for over 9 photos.
    I did drop my laundry off too. Sandra stopped by and we went to the Catedral for dinner.

SALMON STEAMED IN SPINACH WITH MUSSELS

SHRIMP TACOS

CORN POUND CAKE WITH ICE CREAM

    Saturday was light shopping to restock.  Some fresh eggs, tomatoes, real yogurt, Oranges, and back home.

    Sunday, Sandra was moving into her new Hotel so we met to tour Monte Alban.









 We took a taxi, spent a couple hours seeing the sites.  She climbed a lot and explored while I sat in the shade, took photos, and bought junk souvenirs for a lot of money while pretending I understood everything they said, when it fact I didn't. We returned back home then met that evening.

   Monday was shopping for Sandra before leaving. We met at the Hotel Restaurant and after breakfast we started with the Mescalaria, but no sale, then on to the tourists places.


 We were still going until about 2:30 when we visited Cabouche .  I ate the special while she had the salad before we called it a day.

 Sandra was going to visit Kurt and Lynn at their hotel and have a toast on the roof before leaving the next day.
     I was coming down with a cold so stayed home and to bed early.

   Valentine's Day and I agreed to deliver some balloons to two people at the library for Margie my Amiga back in Phoenix.  I felt better so stopped a lady walking in the street with balloons and purchased two Heart balloons for Nancy and Mari at the library.  After I made delivery I stopped to rest my legs and read when Lynn and Kurt stopped ,while walking by , to say hello.
    I went to the hardware store on the return home and bought some wall anchors and a drill bit to  hang my photos when I pick them up on Wednesday.

   Well I have to remember...this is Mexico.  First thing this morning I ran out to get the matted photos to hang...but they weren't ready.  So I played on my computer most of the day after arranging for Helen and I to meet and eat at the Berlina tonight.


    We had a nice meal and visit with both Gabriel and his wife Johanna from Germany. Great meal.

   Today I take down the table at Dominoes.