Archive | Uncategorized RSS feed for this section

Making Dreams Come True

5 Oct

Years ago when I was trying to find myself as a newly minted “baby” dyke, I attended numerous women’s only events. The Michigan Women’s Music Festival blew my mind as I spent a week camping with a few thousand women in the woods of northern Michigan. Sisters were doin’ it for themselves, and I was agog.

View of the main stage.

Locally in Austin we had weekend gatherings that I eagerly participated in. At one retreat I recall joining in for an opportunity to let my mind wander and imagine the life I’d like to create. Eyes closed we were led through a dreamlike visualization process. I came away with a clear vision of living in a community of women. I saw myself wrapped in a towel able to walk to swim. Swimming has always been important to me and a big contributing factor to picking Bacalar and this beautiful Laguna. This week I was up early and capturing the sunrise that is particularly lovely this time of year. Enjoy.

Up before dawn.
Do you feel the heat from that sun?
Such expressive clouds.
Practicing my stroke.

DOS TORTAS

Tags: , , , ,

La Presidenta

28 Sep

Last week was the celebration of 215 years of Mexican Independence. It coincides with our anniversary and one year since my accident.

Mexico’s presidenta Claudia Scheinbaum

For the first time, a woman led the ringing of the bell of independence in the central square of Mexico City to the cheers of thousands of people. The color guard was made up of women. Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first woman president, gave a powerful speech which included men and women, both indigenous and historical, who built this country. 

https://youtu.be/S3_w59vgV5U

She also welcomed migrants. Her approval rating is close to 80% and she has become a respected world leader. Mexico isn’t perfect but no country is. I am proud to call it home.

Zocalo in Mexico City

DOS TORTAS

Love At First Sight?

21 Sep

It was thirty-one years ago that she walked around the bar and into my life. Our friends nodded and smiled and knew it would never last. She was rough around the edges, not long out of the military. She smoked and drank and I did neither. I was twelve years older with three children. We both were still living with our exes. Not exactly a match made in heaven.

Our first Christmas 1994

And yet here we are, happier than ever, living our dream together. I’m not saying it hasn’t been work. We’ve learned to accept each other as we are, not tolerance but appreciation. There’s also the art of listening without feeling criticized and taking personal responsibility.

First Valentines Day 1995
Wedding photos 1999
Legal 2014

We have supported each other through major health crises, spending nights together in the hospital, even in one case, sleeping on the floor.

Back Surgery

All in all, it’s been a ride. Thirty-one years is worth celebrating. We certainly didn’t have a crystal ball that night in the bar when we laughed and flirted. If you’d have asked me if love at first sight existed I’d probably have scoffed. But ask me today, and I’d say yes, but it also takes a lot of damn work.

DOS TORTAS

Tags: , , , , , ,

When Did Thing Get So Weird

14 Sep

Two weeks ago I exchanged text messages with my sister-in-law and somehow the conversation went off the rails. She was angry, and probably didn’t appreciate me pointing it out to her LOL. I tried calling, thinking a conversation could clear up the misunderstanding. She did not answer and told me to “back off!”

My brother and I talk every weekend. It is an important relationship to me and I thought to him as well. It is now two weeks that he hasn’t taken my calls. This from the person who told me that if there is a problem, “people just need to talk it out.”

My mom surrounded by cousins and my brother.

I remember as a kid, going with my grandmother to visit her sister. They hadn’t spoken in years, long after either one of them remembered why. When my great aunt answered the door, there was a moment of, “what do YOU want?“ before they fell into each other’s arms with tears and mutual apologies.

My dynamo grandmother.

I don’t know what happened with my SIL. And I REALLY don’t know why my brother has gone silent. I have been sad and confused. I am far from perfect and if I say something hurtful or stupid, let’s talk it out.

At the same time, I will not let anyone steal my peace. As of today, I am done with the tears. If I have to, I will get on a plane and knock on their door. I don’t know how our relationships got to be so fragile. Maybe by the time this gets posted everything will be worked out. Fingers crossed.

DOS TORTAS

Addendum…I spoke with my brother today. I won’t go into details, but it was apparently a big misunderstanding on my part. While I don’t buy it, I’m willing to drop the subject. Such weird times we live in.

Tags: , ,

Una Obra De Arte – A Work Of Art

7 Sep

When our air conditioner went out last week, we contacted Mario who had done all the original electrical work on our house. He had worked with a handful of laborers to bring our vision of a home in Mexico into existence.

My favorite spot. Doors lead to our bedroom.
Hand woven Oaxacan rug hangs over our bed.

We hadn’t seen Mario in a while and he brought his wife to see our obra de arte, work of art. Watching his excitement at showing her around his work, gave me new eyes. Living in this house, I sometimes forget how beautiful it is.

Bathroom mural.
More of the bathroom mural.
Back gate with artist made angel ironwork.

I find that many houses in the US are beige, gray, black, white and brown with the occasional touch of color being a turquoise throw pillow. I find neutrality boring. Our house has blue floors! It was one of those risks that could have been a disaster but turned into a WOW. We forget how striking it is because, well, we live here.

Light fixtures.

Thank you Mario for reminding us what an obra de arte, work of art we live in.

Can you tell I love DOTD (Day of the Dead)?
A lovely day today.

DOS TORTAS

Tags: , , ,

Come In – But I Don’t Have Pants On

31 Aug

We were looking for a house sitter and found a friend. Whenever we leave our home in Mexico, we must find a house sitter, someone to care for the dogs and manage the house. Michelle was recommended after she had visited Bacalar last year. We found a real treasure.

Wannabe influencer.

We have had mixed results with previous house sitters. Walking out the door and handing the keys to the house and car to a virtual stranger is not without anxiety and consequences. We have been lucky and any damage over the last twelve years has been repairable.

Michelle added fun to anything she touched.

On several occasions we have found folks who have continued to be friends and returned to hang out on the lake and play with the dogs. But none like Michelle.

This crazy woman fit right into our quirky lives and we will miss her. We became “sisters” and Lisa’s mom became Mom to another daughter. Even the dogs have a new “Auntie Michelle.” She left on Friday with a promise to return. The house already feels empty.

Lisa’s Aunt Linda is also visiting.

Thank you Michelle for coming into our lives and being someone to talk to, a swimming companion, a dish washer, a sous chef and friend to Lisa’s mom. You have added laughter and companionship that we didn’t know we needed.

DOS TORTAS

Tags: , , , ,

This Week In Bacalar

24 Aug

I started back to physical therapy this week after six weeks of traveling and minimal exercise. The immediate goal is to walk without a limp and be able to step into my shorts one leg at a time. I’m coming up on a year since my accident and it’s time to kick the healing process into high gear.

Bathroom mirror selfie.

My physical therapist told me that in order to build muscle and improve balance, I need to work out HARD with weights and it’s going to hurt.

Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge

He isn’t wrong. I hurt from my hair to my toes and I’m not even back at the gym yet. We hauled exercise equipment down from the States to Mexico and it’s been put to good use.

Our friends from Austin. This was my first outing after the accident. I was in a wheelchair.

I can now walk stairs, stepping one leg after the other, rather than relying on my uninjured side to do the heavy lifting. Hurray for small improvements, especially considering I only began walking with a cane the end of January. Thanks for all your encouragement and support. Little things make a difference.

DOS TORTAS

Tags: , , ,

Return To The Jungle

17 Aug

As we wended our way back to our little jungle paradise, Lisa and I were both supremely happy to be back in Mexico. The US is exhausting and insane. We can deal with our broken mini-split air conditioner and the assortment of challenges that show up daily in Mexico, better than the drama going on in Texas, Washington DC, Alaska and every corner of the country.

This week I went to a Tuesday-night sketching group that has been resurrected in Bacalar. It was so much fun. I’ve been watching portrait drawing on YouTube and itching to be challenged.

All sketches done with my non-dominant (left) hand. Timed 3 -15 min

When I travel, I like to carry an art journal. Sketching in the park, and a quick drawing of Lisa’s 90 year old Aunt Edna (who follows my blog) are lovely ways to remember a trip. I also like to doodle, in the airport, on a bus or wherever I get bored with scrolling.

Doodles are great for relaxation.
Aunt Edna lives outside of Portland

Try it.

DOS TORTAS

Tags: , , , ,

I Guess We Still Got It Going On

10 Aug

Whenever we travel, my caffeine addicted wife has to find out where she can get her morning fix. Many hotels have those cute little coffee makers in the room but our basic digs in Portland did not.

Our coffee haunt in Portlandia.

So every morning she got up early to tootle across the street only to return with two fist fulls of large coffees for our morning pick-me-up. On our last morning, my lovely announced upon her return, “I think the barista was hitting on me,” That got my attention and of course I wanted all the deets.

The use of a tried and true pickup line gave it away. “Are you here alone?” We had a good laugh, noting that the wedding ring and two cups of coffee was not a deterrent. I have seen both men and women flirt and/or hit on her over the years. Mostly she is pretty oblivious to how hot she is, having been happily coupled for thirty years.

When we first moved onto our property.
She hasn’t aged a bit.

In Austin a few days later we were meeting our niece for dinner. Lisa dropped me off in front of the restaurant and went to park the car. I sat at a tiny table next to two young men, MUCH younger than me. One of them struck up a conversation telling me that he liked my “look”. I didn’t realize that I had a look, but my orange, tiger patterned cane must be the newest fashion statement.

If you are an Instagramer you would know that the latest trend on social media is age disparate couples both homo and hetero. Some have 20-30 years between them. Lisa and I have twelve. Now I don’t really think the guy was hitting on me, but who knows. Maybe I also still have somethin going 😂 on.

DOS TORTAS

Tags: , , ,

A Few Of My Favorite Things

3 Aug

Sometimes I don’t notice a pattern until it hits me in the head or kicks me in the butt. The pattern I saw during our recent visit to Portland, in the US Pacific Northwest was neither of those things, but a pleasant aha.

Flowers galore.

I like farmer’s markets! My favorite was in Amsterdam which was made all the better by the surprise of it. It was huge, blocks and blocks of vendors, happy people, delicious fragrances and flowers. There is nothing like a beautiful day to people watch. And we found it in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Cuypt Market (stock photo)
A talented community group.

Portland did not disappoint. The day was stellar with music in the air, dogs to meet and food to sample. I love talking to the farmers who present their wares a bit anxiously, hoping to sell out. It makes paying ten dollars for a bag of granola almost worth it.

Freshly picked and organic.

In Amsterdam we pigged out on apple pie. In Portland it was blueberry scones. As our travels continue, we landed this week in Austin where it is currently 100 degrees (38). I’m not sure whose idea it was to go to Texas in August but I don’t think we’ll be hitting up any markets this weekend.

Portlanders are so artistic
I guess we’re going to hell.
Mobile art.

Farmer’s markets are such a sensory experience. Whether Amsterdam, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Northern California or Portland, Oregon, you will find me wandering and taking in the tastes and smells, tapping my toes to the music and appreciating local charm, just one of my favorite things.

DOS TORTAS

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →

Emilie Vardaman

travel and random thoughts

A Dead Kennedy

: A journal of a very slooow marathon swimmer

The Soulful Word

Intuitive copywriter + creative director: word whispering magic for personal brands

View From Casita Colibrí

gringa musings from a rooftop terrace in Oaxaca

Your Hand in Mind

Musings of a human factors engineer after her brain was released...

Adventures with LoLo

Surviving Yucatan

Smoothing out Mexico's rough spots.

Surviving Mexico

Adventures and Disasters

Perking the Pansies

Jack Scott's random ramblings

WordPress.com News

The latest news on WordPress.com and the WordPress community.