Sadly in the news is the report of poor treatment of Rachel Smith the United States representative for the Miss Universe Contest by some loco locals in the audience in Mexico City.

Without getting on my soap box about how ridiculous I might think of beauty pageants, I don’t think this is a good venue for a demonstration against the United States immigration policies. Certainly Rachel Smith has nothing to do with these policies.

It has been written here and many other places that expatriates in Mexico are not to get involved with Mexican politics. Of course in my no borders attitude I feel like I have a right to express my opinion whenever and wherever I choose and usually do.

That written I believe there are places and activities where one’s opinion is better kept to him self. This is mostly a matter of decorum. Miss Smith certainly shouldn’t be brought to discomfort for the errors of the country she represents at a beauty pageant.

The Mexican people don’t have a corner on rudeness. Generally people are less polite than any other time in my brief sixty year history. When I was a youth it wasn’t even polite to call an adult by their first name – remember that?

I don’t blame the Mexican people for their anger towards U.S. immigration policies. I worry that the Mexican Government will retaliate in some form(s) or another towards Americans in Mexico.

We personally have not felt any certain prejudice against us being from the United States while in Mexico. There are a couple of locals in our neighborhood that seem to not like us – but I think they are people that seem to have a general problem getting along with others and we are close enough to their center of discontent to feel their daggers.

In the last couple of years I feel that people in the United States have become prejudiced against Mexican people much like they were towards the American Indian when they stole all this land from them and later resented their imported black slaves when they wanted to share the freedom train.

It is difficult to embrace individuals that come from a group that behave badly even though they may not actually have those characteristics – I understand this on both sides of the border. Collective bad behavior is not easy to live down or to separate one’s self from – but I do and will continue down that road.

Yesterday my Blogging amigo Michael Dickson who elegantly waxes poetic on his must read Blog wrote a list titled. “Here are the only good reasons to move to this troubled land.” I can think of a few more and could easily generate my own list of good reasons to move from this troubled land – the good ol’ USA.

Many years ago a close friend of mine, Chester Powers, who has since past away wrote these lyrics that pretty much sum up how I feel about all this strife:

Love is but the song we sing,
And fear’s the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Know the dove is on the wing
And you need not know why

C’mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev’rybody get together
Try and love one another right now

Peace – Stay Tuned!

Since acquiring the new Canon camera my three plus year old desktop was starting to show its age – at least in the RAM department where it was sorely lacking at 512 mb. The other day on a rare outing, I went for it, and bought a new beefy desktop – major bells and whittles and hopefully good for another four years.

Since Wednesday I have been configuring the thing – no small task getting all our software, bookmarks and email accounts copied or installed from the other computer or CD’s.

I am sort of back – at least to the point where I can write a Blog on the new box. There are lots of things I haven’t tried yet – like the television tuner, TIVO, WIFI and burning CDs & DVDs.

What I am thoroughly enjoying is the 22 inch monitor. The aquarium screen saver is great. I think I will get a small box of fish food soon to have on hand near the monitor. They simply look like real fish All the real estate of this monitor is really a pleasure. I am seeing things in my photographs that I never saw before – amazing! Oh and not all good – but then some wonderful surprises as well.

The speed with which I can now edit photos is truly impressive as well as the image quality I get on the 22 inch monitor – color me happy!

This setup is a far cry from portable and the future is undetermined at this point. I am just enjoying the now – ‘will figure the rest of it out later.

We have had quite a variety of weather lately – sun – rain – hail – lightning & thunder – wind and calm; typical Colorado spring weather. While it reads tumultuous, it really is good – all of it. Yesterday was spectacular with a light rain in the evening. This morning I walked out to put some seed in the bird feeders where there were three deer milling around the yard. The air was fresh and clean. Once again I realized what a special place this is. We are lucky like that.

Julian is in his new rented condo preparing for his new job that starts in a couple of weeks. We are starting to box a few things up and move some of our clutter from the house in order to start showing it for sale in early June.

On another subject – SPAM – I hate it. I have some filters in place but perhaps not enough. This morning there was a SPAM advertisement selling an enhancement about which I would rather not go into detail. It read in part: “76 percent of women admit that they are dissatisfied with their partners sexual performance.”

Right here I am thinking if three quarters of women are unhappy with their partner’s performance perhaps their expectations are over the top? I mean if 5 or 10 percent are less than satisfied then perhaps guys in that group should look into whatever – but if that many are complaining it seems like they are in the impossible dream realm. And where do they get these statistics by the way?

I am going to get back to playing with my new computer now. Have a GREAT Holiday and Stay Tuned!

“The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.
Any fool can do it, there ain’t nothing to it.
Nobody knows how we got to the top of the hill.
But since we’re on our way down, we might as well enjoy the ride.”

The passage of time boggles my mind. My son is sixteen and yesterday he could be held in one hand. Cars cost twice what houses did when I was first buying in. Technology is moving so fast in time that I can no longer keep up. The baton has been past on to Julian.

My amigo Baja Terry Ward reached a milestone over the weekend – Happy seventieth my friend. We talked for a while yesterday about all kinds of things. About getting old, our sons, our wives and the quality of our lives. Hang on because it is quite a ride!

Later Terry sent me this link in an email. ‘Got me to thinking. See what you think.

“The secret of love is in opening up your heart.
It’s okay to feel afraid, but don’t let that stand in your way.
Cause anyone knows that love is the only road.
And since we’re only here for a while, might as well show some style. Give us a smile.

Isn’t it a lovely ride? Sliding down, gliding down,
try not to try too hard, it’s just a lovely ride.”

Lyrics in italics from “Secret o’ Life” by James Taylor. Stay Tuned!

It has been pretty hectic around Rancho Calypso for the past couple of days. Julian is making a career change. We were hoping he was going to come back to Colorado and then join us in Mexico to resume his freelance Flash programming career – but alas not to be. He was offered an excellent job and will remain in California. Six figure salaries and round figured girls have waylaid our son. He is his own person now, sad and happy we adjust to the aforementioned empty nest.

He is also moving so we are very busy monitoring, mentoring and musing about number one son’s life changes. We are reeling over the cost of living in Los Angeles. I recall how my own parents would worry each time I bought a house and they heard the price. We all get to an age, if we are lucky, where the costs of things simply boggle the mind. What with the cost of gas and avocadoes I was already in a head spin – but the kids rent – yikes.

We have had a lot of interest in Rancho Calypso and after the dust settles with a quick trip to meet up with Julian we are going to address the sale of it. We are fortunate that we have never left a place where we weren’t sad to lose it – our Earthship property is no exception. Our Mexico Campo, thanks to Harvey, is quite environmentally sound – it is easier in the milder climate. The Earthship has mastered the environment, more accurately the two work in concert in so many ways – such sweet music.

The solo parts may change but the music goes on beyond time. The beauty…the music…and life itself will go on beyond time but only if man comes to understand the urgency of preserving the land…the water…and the very air. Only if we find ways of correlating our needs with those of the earth will there be any time beyond now.

When we sell our Earthship we will miss the trees that flood our windows, trees that somehow stir a deep feeling within the heart…gracefully swaying to the music of the wind. Each tree playing its part to bring spring its delicacy of renewed life… to summer its cool shade…to autumn orchestrated colors…and to winter the grandeur of interlacing patterns against the skies and contrasting colors against the snow covered earth. I’ll stop here – we will miss Rancho Calypso as we move on to further adventures south of the border – Stay Tuned!

Spring Wild Flowers – All over the 20,000 acres of Red Creek Ranch!

Back in February I submitted a Blog entry that was mostly the words of David Guard, my Blog friend who is the President of America Families United (important Congressional news over there by the way). I thought David’s fine efforts and touching personal story were interesting and encouraged him to do a Blog – he was reticent. So I suggested he write a guest Blog that I could put up here – we collaborated and the result was that entry being picked up by Global Voices and later USA Today.

I have asked another friend to write a guest Blog. I take the liberty of calling Ed Portis my Blogging friend. Ed and I have a love for sailing and Mexico. He is a Political Science Professor at  Texas A&M and is just now in Xalapa – again.

Ed travels with his wife and dog. Each border crossing is an adventure. I wanted him to put his experience in a Blog in keeping with my effort to keep you all posted on that experience. Yesterday Ed SKYPED me to let me know he arrived safely and he submitted the following guest Blog report – oh boy a chance to grade the professor! But seriously, thank you Ed. Here is his submission:

When John suggested I write a guest blog on my return to Xalapa this summer, I told him I hoped to have nothing to write about, and I am pleased to report that my hopes were largely realized. Yet John indicated that his blogs containing information on travel always attract a significant number of readers (I have been one of them), and perhaps I can supplement or amplify the information John has previously provided on his experience on the same route from Texas to Veracruz. This is only the second time that my wife and I have driven to Mexico, and the first we have made with our dog, having lost our built-in dog and house sitters — unemployed children — to the real world.

Pete is a small dog, only 15 pounds, but he is hyperactive and given to barking at anything out of the ordinary. Consequently, it would be risky to try to smuggle him into a hotel room, and most Mexican hotels apparently are reluctant to permit pets. A braver person, or one close to fluent in Spanish, might have been willing to look around for an accommodating place, or perhaps negotiate a deal, but not me. The useful web-cite on pet friendly hotels in Mexico has only one listing on the Texas-Veracruz route and that is in Tampico. I found another possibility in Tampico on the Internet. Yet I wanted to get farther into Mexico than Tampico, and I did not relish the idea of looking up an address in a fairly large city, especially since I have a perfect record of getting lost in any Mexican city I have visited. So I was very pleased to find, again via the Internet, a place in Tuxpan that advertised their willingness to permit dogs, which I confirmed by email. A fellow subscriber to Mexicoconnect who lives in Tuxpan (“Ed and Fran”) provided a generally positive review of the place and excellent directions. So we were set; all we had to do was to get from the border to Tuxpan, a trip Ed of Tuxpan reliably told me would take about 10 hours.

Since we needed a full day on the road, the plan was to get a room in Harlingen, Texas, the day before, arriving in plenty of time to cross the border at the Friendship Bridge, otherwise known as Los Indios, and get our visas and car permit that afternoon. The office handling car permits does not open until 9:00 at this crossing, and I believe that they are closed on Sunday, requiring one to go to the busier crossing at Matamoras. Because we visited a friend in Kingsville, not all that far from Harlingen, we arrived before noon and proceeded directly to Los Indios. All the paper work is done at this crossing in one room, and we were the only people there. As a result, everything took less than a half hour, which from what I have read may be something of a record. Now we were faced with a decision, especially since they would not let us check into our room in Harlingen until 3:00. We could easily make it to Victoria and have a much more leisurely drive to Tuxpan the next day. But that would mean I would have to find a pet friendly hotel in Victoria, and if I failed the dog and I would have to sleep in the car. As I indicated, I am a cautious, even cowardly person, and we stayed in Harlingen. This might have been a more interesting report if I had done otherwise.

There are two ways one can get to Tampico. Last year, on the advice of acknowledgeable acquaintances, we stayed on highway 101, to and around Victoria. This is longer but the road is, except for a stretch near Tampico, excellent. I chose the second option this trip. The road (180) generally is not bad, but as is typical of Mexican highways it has no shoulders. Nonetheless, the traffic was very light for most of the way and we made good time for a typical Mexican highway. I made this choice simply out of curiosity, and next year I will probably opt for Victoria again.

Insofar as anything interesting happened, or at least almost happened, it happened in Tampico. John, as regular readers of this blog are aware, was shaken down twice for morditas by Tampico’s finest. Of course, as I understand it, John was driving a large pickup with an enormous camper attached, a combination which screams “gringo tourist”! Last year I had a car not sold in Mexico and based on John’s experience I was worried. This year I have a Honda CRV and did not fear being conspicuous. Yet as we reached the outskirts of Tampico, we encountered a series of topes (speed bumps) forcing everyone to slow down to a crawl. Two motorcycle cops and a police tow-truck were there, and the former were circling in and out of the traffic like vultures. I saw one of them pull over a car with Texas plates. I feared for a minute that the other was going to cut in behind me; instead he made his move a couple of cars down and I presume could not see my plates.

I was relieved, but then an even worse thing happened. My wife discovered that the dog had chewed his harness into three pieces and we could not find the spare we thought we had brought. Without the harness it would be extremely difficult to walk this dog without having him escape. I was upset and perhaps for this reason forgot that I was supposed to follow the signs to the airport rather than the more intuitive road to the centro. I did this correctly last year, even though after the airport has been passed one needs to make an unmarked right turn that will take you to the bridge to Veracruz, and I made the correct turn solely on a hunch. I was never off the track but I felt completely lost until I finally saw the bridge. Now I really was lost. Yet it turned out for the best, as the major thoroughfare we were on took us to a Walmart, where I was able to purchase a harness that we able to modify to fit the little jerk. I asked an older fellow serving as one of the attendants in the parking lot (I am never in need of the services of these people and never know whether I am supposed to tip them for doing nothing but pretending you need help backing up) for directions. “Derecho, derecho, derecho, …., were his exact words. I took his advice and we went through new Tampico to old Tampico, the major throughway (Hidalgo) turned into Altamira, both of which are on the stick figure map in the Guia Roji so I knew where I was, and on Altamira I spied an old and rather small sign on a wall directing us to the bridge. So if you get lost going through Tampico, look for Ave. Hidalgo (I suspect one cannot help eventually running into it) and stay on it. The route by the airport, however, is much faster, if you make the right turn.

We got to Tuxpan about 5:30. I mention this because if one is making this trip and there is any chance of insufficient daylight left to reach Tuxpan (estimate at least two hours after Tampico), stay in Tampico. The last half of this segment (after Naranjos) would be hell at night. Heavy local traffic, frequent and often unmarked topes, winding, hilly road that in a few parts is in bad shape.

Tuxpan is a nice place, and I highly recommend the Hotel Plaza Palmas, especially of course if you have a dog or two. As we were leaving the hotel the next morning, we pulled behind a police car driving at slow speed with its blue and red lights on. They may have seen us emerge and decided to give us an escort since when we reached the turnoff for the bridge (well marked) he indicated I should turn with his direction signals. Tuxpan and Tampico, a tale of two police departments? Be this as it may, the drive to Xalapa from Tuxpan is relatively easy. Driving in Xalapa, however, is another story.

Ed Portis

Thanks Ed your grade will be posted on the board in the mudroom here at Rancho Calypso. I tried to get Marvin (my friend and Xalapa resident) and Ed connected, but alas Marvin is in the States right now; in fact he will be here at Rancho Calypso before returning to Mexico. But, Ed did get out to visit Jim and Mindy last week. Jim is feeling better. We all are in hopes of seeing him back on the Blogging trail soon.

We are enjoying a fresh spring rain since yesterday afternoon here at Rancho Calypso, a good time to get caught up on computer things staying dry and warm in the Earthship. I had to throw in a photo of the blue flowers that are all over the 20,000 acre ranch, called Red Creek Ranch, that Rancho Calypso is part of. Those in the photo are aligned to our fence just outside our Earthship door.

Warm coffee and an early morning serenade from the local vocal talent – the myriad of birds (apparently a finely misting rain is no deterrent – is tough duty- but hey, somebody has to do it. Stay Tuned!

Sharing Treats (ENLARGE)

I am a big fan of wildlife. Sadly in Mexico there isn’t nearly as much as there is here in Colorado. It is surprising in that the environment in our part of Veracruz seems so inviting to wildlife – lush and green.

I have devoted a lot of time and Internet electrons sharing my pleasure of wildlife by way of photos. I am disappointed that my wonderful new camera only has about a 3X magnification – this is quite limiting for capturing images of skitterish wild creatures. But, also it is merely a matter of saving the funds to buy an appropriate lens – in the mean time it bothers me, as our time is limited here.

I have posted a lot of photos of deer, elk, antelope, rabbits, bobcats, squirrels and chipmunks, and of course birds of all varieties. Probably to the boredom of my readers – but then I am here in part to entertain myself.

We do not have any pets. Being a pet lover this seems odd; but there is a reason to this behind this, a couple actually. By not owning dog(s) or cat(s) we have a great deal of wildlife that visit us knowing they are safe from these domestic threats. I have been tempted and recently wrote about a box full of yellow lab puppies that were crying out to me – but I did resist.

Not long ago we had a chipmunk in the house. We thought we had a daytime mouse scurrying around the house – put out some traps and after three failed attempts one whapped the little chipmunk – I was shocked and saddened. The good news is that the little fellow survived after I took him outside and cared for him a bit – after showing signs of gratitude he ran off (at that point I really felt guilty being thanked for care after I had set those traps).

There are not as many rabbits around as we have had in the past years. I think this is in part because we have a bobcat that must have figured out this was a prime spot for rarebit. Also we had a wet winter and Spring so they have lots of alternative resources this year.

But the reason for all that pet preamble has to do with birds. For years we owned pet birds. A few years ago I bought a beautiful macaw that joined our Senegal parrot and cockatiel. He was a marvelous specimen and became my very good friend – so much so that after a time I became quite guilty about his incarceration. Anita and I talked a lot about the possessing of these wild birds. In the end our guilt coupled with the problems of getting birds across borders caused us to sell and gave away our beloved pet birds. It simply was a cruel to love these wild creatures that were spending most of their lives behind bars. We had one of those birds for 25 years – the separation was not easy.

So we have no pets – but some really good friends in the nature around us. It is also said that one should let nature takes its course and not feed the wildlife. But we put out water and treats as merely special favors rather than their necessary sustenance. OK maybe this is interfering but it gives us an opportunity to enjoy them at house edge and they still remain free.

Our bedroom on the upper level of our earthship functions as almost every living situation save that of the kitchen and of course the bathroom. I have a long teakwood table that serves as my computer and desktop workspace. We also have a small sofa and a television – so it is an all-encompassing room. I usually awake before Anita and go to the computer to read email and often start a Blog entry – like today. The long teak table sits just behind the south-facing windows that are floor to ceiling. In the middle there is a wonderful Velux window that opens out. Beyond the windows is the rooftop of the first floor with solar panels and a couple chimney stacks as well as a couple of bubble dome skylights. Beyond this is a hill top covered with beautiful trees and most often sunlit blue skies.

Many times I have visitors near the Velux window, curious birds, squirrels, chipmunks, lizards, mice and even an occasional dog or cow (a story for another time). So my visitors often come right up to the window probably drawn by the sounds emanating. But a very odd situation has started to occur.

One or two of the birds that enjoy the water and treats we put out often comes to the window. They sit on the draw rope that extends the window outwards. Sometimes when they sit there I am reminded to go down and put feed out – just their being there sort of gets my attention to that. Like Pavlov’s dog I get up from whatever I am doing, walk downstairs, load a ladle of seeds and take it to the front yard feeder – nothing-unusual there.

Lately I have been thinking that perhaps there is a connection with the birds showing up right there three feet from my face peering in the window. It seems to happen at the same time in the morning, and then there is the fact that it happens when I haven’t put food out yet. Like a light bulb turning on in my head it dawned on me that perhaps these wild birds are actually coming to the window to remind me about the feeder – could that be possible?

This morning a beautiful little bird that I think I recognized as coming to the window regularly showed up. I jumped up from behind the desk and went down to supply seeds to the feeder. Returning to the kitchen I looked out to the feeder and there in the center was the friendly bird from the window. Obviously this little fellow had figured out what it takes to get feed in that dish – how amazing is this connection between man and bird.

The birds are a special lot, smart, beautiful and resourceful. I am constantly amazed at the connections I have gained with wildlife. Respecting their freedom and yet enjoying a very special connection is a wonderful thing. What was I writing about all people being the same? Moments like this assure me that I am truly blessed. Stay Tuned!

No I don’t have it – quite the contrary he wrote by way of his calloused finger tips – there is still a LOT to say. 485 entries – 250,000 words and counting. Today is the 2-year anniversary of this Blog. Taking the fact that the average book on Amazon is 77,000 words this Blog is 3.25 average books. So now you might be asking so what do I do in my spare time having written the equivalent of 3 plus books in the last two years? The short answer is travel back and forth to Mexico to gather Blog fodder.

During this time with the help of a few others I have also started a Forum based on living in Veracruz, Mexico.

Some of my entries have been published on Global Voices (The world is talking. Are you listening?). Emanating from the hallowed halls of Harvard Law School Global Voices is described as, “your guide to the most interesting conversations, information, and ideas appearing around the world on various forms of participatory media….”

It is coincidental and fitting that the previous Blog entry was selected by Global Voices. Maybe the Blog gods were thinking I might be considering giving all this up after two years?

A couple of my entries actually made it to newspapers like USA Today. Keeping things in balance I have had my share of detractors as well, even a threat or two and certainly a number of people that haven’t always agreed with my opinions.

Back in March my blogging amiga Billie had her Blog’s two-year anniversary. She had written 698 posts! I am behind on that but mine tend to be wordier than hers and more opinioned. The truth is it is fairly easy to determine whether it is a male or female writer that is behind the electronic screen. Don’t you think?

I try to comply with some self-imposed standards of writing. An example would be to keep the word count per entry to less than 1000. I am not always successful with that – yesterday’s entry was 1254 word (oops!).

As to who reads this stuff – well I no longer expose numbers as I have been accused of bloviating on that subject. As another of my Blog amigas Jonna so aptly writes, “You know, I blog too and occasionally I rant about things that I know my 3 readers are probably not interested in. That’s what blogging is about though right? A platform for those of us who bother to write about whatever we feel like putting out there. If it entertains you to write it, then it is worthwhile.” I couldn’t agree more.

If you are here reading this – I am flattered and honored that you would take the time to stop by and read the ramblings of this mad man.

I am sure I have more to write about Mexico, Anita’s and my adopted Country. I am assuming that most of you beyond my immediate family are here for just that. On that subject Billie writes:

” I’ve done some reading about how to make a blog more interesting and how to increase readership. There is a list of things I could do….like make the blog have a single focus. Living in Mexico or Photography. I could split the blog into two blogs. I could change the name of it to something more catchy that would get more hits from a search. I could become more aware of key words and tags. I could be better about commenting on other people’s blogs. But…..that sounds like work. That sounds like competition. And I don’t think that would make my blogging more satisfying.”

Again I agree with her statements as she reviewed her two-year anniversary. Reflecting on the last two years of entries, I don’t feel a need to make changes in the way I operate. Maybe some effort to be a better writer couldn’t hurt?

The weather in Colorado is spectacular right now, my new Canon SLR is scheduled to arrive today – so my photos should get better in quality – I will leave the expert photo composition to Billie and John Paul.

Now embarking on the third year of Viva Veracruz makes me thankful for the friends and enemies I have gained through this medium. And to suggest >>> Please Stay Tuned!

It seems that one’s personal and possessions safety is more in jeopardy than ever these days. There are web sites that exist for no other reason than to warn us about an area where there may be greater dangers.

When the United States issues travel advisory warnings people listen. A couple times when I have been in Brownsville getting ready to cross into Mexico I have read US travel advise that has inflamed the Mexican Government.

Unfortunately like most issues a negative advisory real or perceived has financial impact to the subject country. Once while waiting in the Border Offices of Mexico I read a headline in a Spanish Newspaper reporting that the US had over emphasized certain dangers in Mexico that were now causing financial distress or in other words reducing the influx of tourist dollars. The article went on to suggest that the US is not all that safe itself and perhaps there was a little too much kettle calling the pot black going on.

If I had a list of the ten most oft asked questions about Mexico – I know this one would be in that list (this from a recent email from a Blog reader):

“… While visiting there [Xalapa], I felt quite safe walking around the city and in the outskirts of the city even though I was usually carrying a couple thousand in camera equipment with me. My concern is more for cases of breaking and entering – do all homes there need the bars on the windows?”

Is Mexico safe? You have been there. What has been your experience? Of course this is a complex question. Usually my initial response is, “I feel safer in Mexico than I feel in most parts of the United States.” This is a generalization to help reduce concern; but is it a fair response? I would have to say yes, but it is not enough of an answer I think. I would like to ask, “How do you feel about that answer? Did it give you any real comfort? And if it did was this appropriate?

In a couple of days I will be writing a Blog entry relating to the fact that it is now two years since I started all this. But, this Blog didn’t start at the first trip alone into the East side of Mexico. It certainly didn’t begin at my first entry into Mexico (which happened more years ago than I want to talk about).

I wish I had taken notes and had been doing this Blog when I first entered Mexico in January of 2005. That entry was five months before this Blog. Again not anywhere near my first trip into Mexico – but I was alone and exploring the possibilities of an entirely new area of Mexico. I was going to a place where no one spoke English and many of the rules and experiences were totally foreign. I would have liked to capture on paper some of the fear and trepidation that I felt during that time.

In short order I went from a frightened novice to a sage advisor – chiefly because I had done it. I am a storyteller and willing to tell anyone wanting to listen (and to some perhaps not wanting to hear it) about my experience.

I can tell you that there were some scary moments in the beginning. I haven’t always been the most cautious explorer. In my life I have been lost in the woods. I have found myself in dangerous circumstances alone while scuba diving in the ocean. If you have ever sailed before do you remember the first time you were beyond visibly seeing any land? That moment when you have to rely on conditions other than the ones you had prior come to trust? I have ventured into situations and places where wiser men would not have tread. When we venture beyond our personal comfort zone we must be prepared for the unknown.

After a couple of trips into the eastern side of Mexico I was giving advice and taking on the roll of “wagon master”; perhaps too soon? But now I have made quite a few trips and believe I have some good advice about this very important subject – this may be why you are here.

One’s personal safety has two very distinct qualities. The first and more obvious relates to specific areas. Like any country safety is regional from large scale to a microclimate of security and well-being. The second relates to how you generally deal with your security as it relates to the conditions around you. How prepared are you to insure your safety? How confident are you about your being prepared for a multitude of survival and safety conditions?

If you tell me you have a pioneering spirit and move through life without any fears – I tell you that you are kidding me or yourself or both of us. Because fear is like pain it is a signal to pay attention to something.

Honestly I think my generalization about the safety in our part of Mexico is realistic – but they are in fact nothing more than generalizations. I have given more specific advice – really. But often it is the short answer that is given or required.

As example of more specific advice, it is almost universally suggested to not drive on Mexican highways at night. I think that is an over used generalization – I have dispensed different advice on that suggesting that there are methods where one can travel at night safely. I reported that I got behind a transport truck of some sort, one that maintained a speed I could deal with and trusted that the driver in that vehicle knew the roads well enough to slow for the undocumented topes and little towns that encountered in the dark of night alone would probably be a bad thing. But then I know a lot of people that don’t like to travel at night on US highways for any number of logical reasons that are specific to their comfort zone.

We have had no problem with theft of our houses, vehicle or person in Mexico. But, we know others that have had major problems in these categories. Ours hasn’t been all luck, but maybe there is some in there? We installed bars on the only first floor window of our Casita in Ursulo Galvan – but some of that was due to the fact we wanted to leave the window open – this because of humidity problems with closed-up spaces – thus the bars were a good idea to leave something open and yet inaccessible for anything other than air.

Perhaps our things are safer in part by the way we relate with the people around us or by the qualities of the small community – or all these things cumulatively? It is certainly a more complex answer than what a few lines or comments can cover. I think I am going to start a topic in the Viva Veracruz Forum asking what others do to help insure their safety and feelings of well being in Mexico or anywhere for that matter – but certainly as it relates to Mexico traveling and living.

If any of you have considered my rather broad strokes on this subject –that – and not as informative as you had hoped for – you have but to ask. I certainly want to give good advice and not paint a rosy picture that doesn’t truly exist – so we can work on this. Stay Tuned!

It is a lazy Sunday morning. A day after Cinco de Mayo and the birdbaths are frozen over; Colorado is crisp even in May. But we are warm inside our comfortable Earthship listening to Sirius Coffee House and drinking some smooth Coatepec Coffee. We had a late night that began with the big fight and ended with an hour plus conversation with Julian about cameras, lenses and the fight results.

Many years ago I was often mesmerized by the Ali fights –violent yet artful dances. Every since Howard Cosell denounced professional boxing in 1982 after a brutal, one-sided fight between Larry Holmes and Randall “Tex” Cobb I have pretty much abandoned the “sport.” But, all the hoop-la and free pay per view ticket to the De La Hoya – Mayweather fight could not be resisted.

These days an appearance by Muhammad Ali nearly brings me to tears remembering the vital, courageous human being he was once and now seeing what he has been reduced to from too many battles. A true story: I was in New York City having lunch at the New York Athletic Club in the early 70’s (that 1970’s) when I came upon Cosell and Ali in the lobby. I sized up Muhammad Ali. At that moment I thought here in “real life” he’s not so big. I had consumed a few cocktails. Looking back I guess they fueled my boldness to walk right up to Ali and look into his eyes. There eye to eye, toe to toe, I smiled and said, “Champ I have always thought of you as bigger and tougher looking” – he was pretty. He got that infectious smile he had and put up his huge fists. Assuming the position he tortured the air with a short burst coupled with the Ali shuffle. I backed way off giving the legend a fearful smile and a wide berth. We were about the same height, but those huge fists were like giant bear paws. Ali and Cosell walked away and I was left with that indelible memory.

So my neighbor and friend Manny, Anita and I watched the two 12 round prelim fights and of course the big dance – 36 rounds, yikes. The report is the main event was lack luster. The four gladiators in the two preliminary matches ended up looking like they all had been in a fight – for sure. Not so much Oscar de La Hoya and just a few face bulges for the winner “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather; neither looked particularly pretty. Both left with their honor in tact and enough money for 40 people to comfortably retire. I hope they both do – but then lets get real – they won’t.

Hope you all had a great Cinco de Mayo. Stay Tuned!

My two closest professional photographer confidants have expertly advised me on a proper camera that falls within our limited budget. Billie and John Paul both suggested the same camera; with all the choices these days this is surprising – what is it they say about great minds thinking a like?

OK so armed with a belief that the Canon Rebel Xti was indeed the camera to get off I went to the wilds of Ebay. It is a place of wolves and sheep, and more wolves. I often call it EEK-BAYING! By now we all pretty much know that Ebay is a wild place to try and find a camera or a computer.

Anita and I have been members of Ebay nearly since its inception. We would have been better off buying Ebay stock in the beginning instead of buying and selling in wild commerce cyber space. Mostly Ebay has been good to us.

When I did a search on the camera name and model there were nearly 3000 auctions – I then narrowed it down by selecting the category of Cameras ONLY in an attempt to avoid camera accessories. This narrowed things down to 800+ auctions.

It should be noted that there are clever sellers that sell accessories in that category in order to get attention – it mostly just makes me angry that they do this and further inspires me to NOT buy from such vendors.

I think out of the nearly 900 auctions 99% of them were camera dealers rather than individuals. But, then why would anyone sell his or her used Canon Xti? The answer apparently is they wouldn’t.

Cutting to the chase, because this could get very long, I found a New York vendor with more than a quarter of a million Ebay Credit credentials selling this camera in a number of packages. I felt some security in that this outfit had well over 99% approval rating with 266,000 comments and growing as you watched. They run about 1000 auctions at a time.

I did due diligence as again cameras and computers are two of the major areas of crooked deals within Ebay. I mean honestly I checked these guys out and decided I would bid on a certain package that was attractive for the money.

It all sounds good so far – right – wrong! There was a particular anomaly to the auction package I wanted – a discrepancy in the bonus items (six or four?). Now I am not stupid (I expressed this at some point in our negotiation – because it came to my needing to let them know this).

I won’t bore you with the details other than to write that a great deal of effort seemed to have gone into an effort to confuse and finally deceive me. It should be noted that the bonus items included in these packages are usually junk and the quoted price value is often 5 times over what you can get he stuff for – I knew this but still wanted the extra battery. I am sure it isn’t a Canon factory battery – regardless I wanted it and the 4 gigabyte flash card.

I wrote three emails and missed two auctions closing in a 24-hour period waiting for the outfit to clarify the discrepancy. Finally I bid anyway assuming for the best (I know this wasn’t smart). I won the auction and immediately went after the truth.

This is where it really got interesting. The lengths that these people went to for not actually answering my question were nothing short of the expertise politicians use to skirt issues. They assured me in two emails that I would get what was described in the auction. This after two emails explaining that the auction stated two different bonus packages.

I started to get mad and researched my redemptive options including The Federal Trade Commission – oh sure on that front. Regardless I made threats and demands in no uncertain terms. I spent a good part of the day yesterday trying to reason with these unreasonable people.

This morning John Paul wrote suggesting that he had spent two hours advising me about what to buy and had since received no indication as to what I was doing. I wrote an explanation and showed him the auction. He wrote that I was nit picking (my words not his) and it was a good deal regardless of the minor confusion and ultimate deduction of two “bonus” items.

I wrote back that I had taken up the gauntlet on the basis of principle rather than solely for the difference in value. Doing something for the principle of the thing equates to most as merely a waste of time and stomach acids. But John Paul knows me pretty well and realizes I have more time than money and also that I can be as hard to get off as a frightened cat clinging to your back.

Julian, my son, and other source of sympathetic ear, suggested that he could have made enough money in the time I had spent on the issue to buy two of the cameras – while this is all true – I have my principals (and a whole lot less income to take this position).

Because I DO listen to John Paul and my son, AND I really wanted the camera regardless (after all Billie had recommended it as well) I decided to pay for the item to be in a position where I would at least know I was going to get the camera; worse case without the two bonuses. Moments after paying I received this email:

Thank you for your email. We are truly sorry for the errors with the auction site, and for the missing items…. We are going to send the card reader and extra battery to you with the packaging, upon receipt of payment, as a good will gesture. It is our fault that the information was listed incorrectly, and we have since corrected the matter. If there’s any other question, please feel free to email us.

Regards, Matthew

Oh my gosh it worked! Was it worth it – hmm. A new 10 mega pixel camera will certainly make my Blog photos better (and maybe bigger files?). I doubt that John Paul or Julian would say it was worth the time and trouble – but I honestly feel like the principle involved is important. If we don’t call these people on issues like this then things will continue to deteriorate in the world of ECommerce. Could I call it a sense of duty? Just keeping the dishonest a little less so and looking for a deal. Stay Tuned for better photos!