Predaceous Diving Beetles

Every couple of days I find one or a few of these in my pool and the other day a big one so time to Google and find out what they are. My neighbors think all unfamiliar bugs are or could be dangerous and I've always scooped them out before they get here. Turns out they are all over the US, Canada and Mexico plus the rest of the world. I assume they live in all these rain water ponds around here and are attracted by my security lights near the pool.

Habitat and conservation:  These beetles prefer quiet water at the edges of ponds and streams, floating gently among weeds. Before diving, they trap air between their wings and body, prolonging their time under water. Because predaceous diving beetles are strong fliers, they can fly away to new water if the pond they are in dries up, or if electric lights lure them away from “home.” This is why water beetles are sometimes found in birdbaths and swimming pools.

There are many, many different species of beetles, including hundreds of different predaceous diving beetles. If you are having trouble identifying them, congratulate yourself if you can say for certain that it's "some kind of a beetle"!

The movie shows three mating attempts including the two species Acilius sulcatus and Acilius canaliculatus, where the first two attempts are followed by matings, while in the third the female escapes.

My mom in the day

Back when the family had a boat they used to go fishing in the Canadian San Juan Islands and even further north. Almost all that time I was in the Navy or living in California so never went with them. Today is Nancy's birthday and she's in a retirement home so no more fishing. 

The logistics of water and sewer

Very confusing working with the Municipio workers via the bungalow owner on the corner who also works for the Municipio and two lot owners who are not here via email. We heard at the last minute that if we buy the pipe they will run sewer up the road in front of the lots. This is just as I'm ready to call in a backhoe to dig for a water line. So we get the 8" sewer pipe and the water project goes on hold because you can't have two ditches on the road. 

Saturday was supposed to be the last day the workers could be there so a few people were getting frantic. That was simply bad info from the bungalow owner because when I showed up on Saturday the news was they will work until the work is finished. Now that makes sense!

Friday we were there to mark the water line and mark off the lot for the backhoe who might be able to trench for the wall foundation. We were just about finished when the workers showed up and started digging a registro in the middle of the intersection. I told the bungalow owner we could pull our cars out now so we could leave when we wanted and he just shrugged he shoulders and we were trapped for 2.5 hours. I finally asked the backhoe driver to smooth a path for us to one side and he did. Now we just wait until the sewer is finished and work on the water later

Incoming 12" sewer line

Registro on the corner

Us waiting in our trapped position

Time Zones in Mexico

Don't think I've seen a map before, only verbal descriptions

Found the map on TimeTemperature.com while looking for Daylight Savings info.  Can't ever remember the dates. It turns out it's not the same day every year and is different than the US. Mexico changes the last Sunday of October and the US changes the the first Sunday of November.

Sonora and Quintana Roo don't observe Daylight Savings Time and the first 20 KM's of border states change their clocks at the same time as the US. Sonora doesn't because Arizona doesn't. Quintana Roo dropped out when it changed Time Zones this year.

TimeTemperature.com

Nahima turns five

Strange that the neighbor kids didn't show up for this very good cake and pool time on a hot day. It was a small party with a big salad before the cake. Nahima blew out the one candle 3-4 times but it kept re-lighting. I finally pinched it with my fingers.  Lorena says she'll keep the candle for when Yari turns 15 in two years.

Nahima trying to blow out the candle

Cumpleaños

One candle is better than five

Birthday cake

Sawdust and Shrimp

Or the other way around -- just sounded right

A couple times a month we have a shrimp dinner and today is one. We were in Melaque checking on my water project and we decided today was it. Butter and garlic with shells (mantequilla con ajo con cascaras) ... a big YUM

A couple days ago Nahima was helping her Papi sand a board that is going to be a shelf in a small project he is working on in Jaluco. Hugo is a good teacher

Some people worry too much

This started out as helping the guys that built my house do the work on a project in Melaque this winter. All were in agreement but then I realized the lot had no water and all the paper work and actual work might delay construction by a week or two if we waited for the snowbirds to arrive. I volunteered to price it all out and that progressed to I would try to deal with the government and the water contract, arrange the backhoe and buy all the parts. This is not a simple connection because first we need 60+ meters of 2" pipe run from a block away before we connect to the lot.

So bit by bit it has been coming together. All the property papers and ID were faxed down from Canada. Money has been sent to my bank up north and the Delegacion says I have everything I need except an address. 

The Presta Nombre, who is in Seattle for a couple more weeks, worried that I needed a Carta de Poder (Power of Attorney) or at least a letter of permission to set this up.  I asked the Delegacion and they say none needed with all the paperwork I have. Then we have an address vs. Ejido lot number issue. I have no idea where the Presta Nombre came up with the idea that the address has to be the Ejido lot number but that is pure fantasy. I drove up and down the street trying to make sense of the house numbering and it makes exactly zero sense. The fact is people make up their own addresses mostly without even looking at what is next door. The adjoining lots on the papers are 74 and 76 so I said why not call it 75.  I could have picked anything but the Presta Nombre thinks I can't guess because lot number has to be the address. So I'll drive over to the Emiliano Zapata Ejido (El Ranchito) to double check the lot number just to calm the worrier.  I should have chosen 175 and stuck with it. Addresses are used for water contracts and the electric company and Ejidos could care less. You are a lot number to them.

A little over half of the 60 meters

Another Nahima day

Yesterday Burro was getting a bath in my outdoor sink and Nahima was helping

It was raining yesterday so I took her and mom to school but school was closed so no pictures. I took them again today to see inside the school and a foto or two. We arrived a few minutes past 9 and the gate is locked at 9 so we waited outside for awhile. Very impressed with the condition of the school.

Burro in the sink

Waiting for the gate to be unlocked

Kinder Patio

Only Nahima's class sitting outside. Other classes are in rooms