Fuel spill feared for Llanitos

The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) reports that the shipping company responsible for the ship "Los Llanitos" stranded on the borders of the states of Jalisco and Colima after Hurricane "Patricia", started the installation of barriers containment to prevent spillage of 11,484 liters of oil and 489 m3 of diesel on the ship in their fuel tanks.

Plans are also under way to remove both oil and diesel in case the ship breaks up. It's not likely the ship will ever move again.

Hurricane Patricia claims a ship on Isla Navidad

Patricia claimed a whole lot of palapa and lamina roofs, almost all outside signage including businesses and highway, many ramadas and awnings and some lessor buildings. This ship is definitely the largest object moved by the wind.

Barra de Navidad

The 215 meter / 705 foot long, 71665 dwt (dead weight tons or metric tons or 2200 pounds) bulk carrier Los Llanitos ran aground in Pacific Ocean near Barra de Navidad, Mexico. The Los Llanitos had left Manzanillo one day before Hurricane Patricia approached, but had been blown ashore unable to withstand the strong winds by the hurricane. The bulker went ashore and sustained severe hull damage as it’s hull dragged along the rocky shoreline. The engine room and several sections of the hold suffered water ingress. Fuel tanks were also ruptured releasing pollution along the shore. Authorities were alerted and a Mexican Navy helicopter was dispatched to the scene. The helicopter rescued 19 of the 27 crew on board with the remaining crew voluntarily staying. No reports of injuries. Reports state the vessel was directed by port authorities to depart rather be in port when the hurricane made landfall. Later reports state the Los Llanitos has suffered a large crack in the hull which may result in the vessel being scrapped.

Will the wind blow it down

My crazy neighbor snowbird Canadian built this monstrosity saying he wanted a Canadian looking home, not a Mexican one. That also includes sloping roofs that slant toward the neighbor on the other side and this year he wants to slant one toward my property. I complained to Obras Publicas and they never came out to look. He also has windows opening directly onto two properties. Part of the problem is engineers only worry about foundations and not roofs or windows.

Anyway the only thing that monstrosity did for me was block my view of sunsets. We haven't had a storm this year to test his aerodynamics and with hurricane Patricia on our doorstep we might find out if his wing flies away. I just hope it stay in his yard and doesn't damage other people properties

The monster next door

Hurricane Patricia expected to be a CAT 4 on our doorstep

Friday update ...

...PATRICIA...
...THE STRONGEST EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC HURRICANE ON RECORD...
...HEADING FOR POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC LANDFALL IN SOUTHWESTERN
MEXICO LATER TODAY...

English is difficult

There was a Junta (parent teacher meeting) yesterday for Yari in Secondaria. Yari averages a 9 in all her classes but she got a 7 in English this quarter. Parents very unhappy and promise nothing for Christmas. She came over early this morning I think because Mom sent her but for computer use only. She said her problems are in class ... not homework ... but she was using Google Translate. If pronunciation in class is the problem we're going to have to figure out a way to practice. She is shy just to ask but also to show how difficult it is for her.

Yari in back with school friends

Nahima's birthday present to me

She brought it over this morning on way to Kinder

A frowny mood

Got some rain coming

Both Weather Underground and NOAA agree on timing, strength and direction so we may not escape the rest of the season with no serious weather. Many are hoping for just a little rain to battle this 90 degrees and 85% humidity. The last week or so I haven't had to do anything to be soaking in sweat when away from my house fans.

Tropical Depression TWENTY-E

50 knots is above Tropical Storm level

Hope they've over estimated on that

NOAA

Weather Underground

This was a quiz on Facebook

What are these?

Manzanita de Coco -or- Coconut Apple

They grow inside

I wondered why you never see them in fresh coconut and with a little research I find they only grow in older coconuts. Leave a coconut full of water (milk) sit for 8-10 months and these will grow. They are popular in Colima and Michoacan.

Get ready to be confused

Get ready to be confused between this and ten peso coin. I assume they will be similar in size like the last twenty peso coin.

Les presentamos la nueva moneda de 20 pesos que conmemora el centenario de la Fuerza Aérea Mexicana y que pronto estará en circulación. 

Banco de México

We introduce the new currency of 20 pesos commemorating the centennial of the Mexican Air Force and will soon be in circulation. 

Banco de Mexico

Just had to do it

That was a three level Almendra and if you are familiar with that kind of Mexican Almond tree you know what I mean by three levels. It was almost up to my incoming electric and up against the wall if I didn't keep cutting. Main problem with against he wall was ants like Almendras and they would go up the wall rather than climb the truck of the tree.

The other thing is Almendras are extremely dirty trees and are constantly dropping fruit and leaves.  I've been paying a neighbor to help keep it clean but I'm lucky if they come over once a week and it really needed every other day.

The final problem was local kids like the Almonds and if they were not climbing the tree they were hitting. it with sticks or rocks. Kids falling 3 meters onto the cement sidewalk is not something I need. Then they have to mash them with rocks on my sidewalk to get to the nut.  Tons or work, makes a huge mess and stains my sidewalk purple .... and then they might draw on the wall.

Just called my neighbor Juan with a chain saw and it took him 20 minutes including cutting it up on the ground. BTW .... these Almonds are nothing like North of the Border Almonds I'm used to

No mas Almendra 

Little rain and then too much

I say too much because if this rain keeps up I may refuse to drive to school tomorrow. The roads were already terrible and I'm not going to be using my car as a boat. It started raining in the middle of last night and hasn't stopped. Someday I'm going to get a rain gauge but for the moment my pool is over 2 inches fuller. Someone suggested this is the remains of Hurricane Marty but I'm pretty sure Marty is long gone

According to ConAgua it is remains of Marty

CURRENT SITUATION: Zone instability, remnants of "Marty", now with 10% potential for cyclone development in 48 hours.

ConAgua Web Site