An afternoon at Sirenitas

Bob and his wife are down from Ajijic and we planned to meet at Viva Maria on the beach but they were closed. We walked over to Sirenitas, my old favorite. Bob wanted the music so here's the band. The accordion player is my neighbor in Pinal. Love his accordion. 

Pump goes again

I wasn't going to give up on the pool this early in the year and the only thing I could work with was the switch. I already changed the motor last year. Pretty easy change but I had no idea what the problem was. The motor was sealed but the switch wasn't. 

Last year a neighbor had a pool just like mine but her crazy kids tore a big hole in the side and it was not repairable. My pump stopped and she offered hers. I switched the motors and that was it. That was after a pump mechanic told me it was totally sealed and nothing I could do.She also had a hose and I needed one.

Just change 3 wire connections and a securing bracket and was good to go. I think I messed up the moisture seal but keeping the switch under the palapa and some duct tape should last for the rest of the year. It's lasted 3 years and the main problem with these pools is access to parts.

Flautas de pollo

Lorena is cooking for our small local Primaria this week. Monday was Flautas de Pollo .... 3 for 10 pesos. Earnings are partly for her and part for the school. She's using my stove rather than cooking on a wood fire. The bottom foto was mine and sadly the kids just get the basic Flauta.

Today she had help from another mom and her daughter making Salchipulpos (hot dog octopus). The foto is just an example and hers had no face. Too much work. Served in a bowl with crema and catsup. Both meals are meant to fill the kids up and not particularly healthy.

Botflies in Mexico

This is the larvae of course 

The fly is just a good sized ugly fly. Everyone said the eggs are transferred by mosquitoes but I see no reason why the fly itself couldn't inject the egg. I got mine in Belize and hear they drive all the grazing animals crazy. I don't doubt it at all as I went through the 6-8 week growth period with one in my scalp.

Went to one doctor in Seattle and he said it's just a little red. Went back and he said it's just a little bump. Went back again and my doctor had moved to another clinic. Another doctor and we started over. Neither had any idea and didn't ask about my travels. When the larvae get bigger they feel like someone is sticking pins in your skin .... usually at night making it hard to sleep. After 2 days with a hot towel it finally popped out. I took it to Swedish hospital  emergency and they had no clue. Mine was gray and not brown like above. That experience was unpleasant enough to make me hesitate to return to southern Mexico.

Botflies are obligate parasites of vertebrates: their larvae must undergo development inside a warm-blooded host. Epidemiology and Ecology: The distribution of Dermatobia hominis botfly includes Mexico, Central and South America. In the U.S., cases usually occur in travelers who have visited endemic areas

Bot Flies, aka Torsalo or Dermatobia hominis

Vote Absentee Expats in Mexico

Voting assistance for Service members, their families, and overseas citizens

Some people are complaining about how complicated using this site is but they just passed me off to Washington State and it seemed pretty simple.  I got my submission received email within 20 minutes. They give you the option to receive your ballot via Email so I'm not sure what a voter registration card will be for

WA Online Voter Registration System

Your voter registration information has been submitted to your county for processing. You’ll receive your voter registration card in the mail and will be able to see your registration information at www.myvote.wa.gov when processing is complete.

Federal Voting Assistance Program

Tropical Storm Newton come and gone

Rain Gauges

I put these out Sunday afternoon and took the foto this morning. The pool was also overflowing so I'd estimate maybe another 2-3 inches over night. Lost power for most of Sunday night but it came back on early in the morning. Last night I woke up from the cold. I turned off all the fans and got a blanket. Very strange for this time of year. We had some wind damage as well.

Tropical Storm Newton did become a hurricane and looks like it might be making life miserable in Baja California. Will probably have some rain for Arizona.

First storm of the season ?

Well, the first that will directly affect us. Lots of storms and a few hurricanes but all well offshore. This has possibly the driest summer in the 10+ year I've been here. Hopefully this will dry out the surrounding farmland so more crops will be planted. We'll find out in the next few days.

From NOAA

Regardless of development, gusty winds and heavy rains causing flash floods and mud slides are expected in coastal portions of the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima, Jalisco and Nayarit this weekend into early next week. Interests in these areas and Baja California Sur should monitor the progress of this disturbance.

United States Embassy Mexico City
Security Message for U.S. Citizens:
Severe Weather in Mexico
September 3, 2016

The U.S. Embassy cautions U.S. citizens that severe weather is expected to bring gusty winds and very heavy rains to southwestern Mexico. Total rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches with isolated totals up to 15 inches are expected through the weekend into early next week over the southern Mexican states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima, Jalisco, and Nayarit. These rains could result in life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.