January 14, 2007

Many years ago, when I realized that I would have to send in all my work to the Tribune by internet when I had to go out of town (to my former home town in the Great White North - Montreal), I purchased a little Toshiba laptop / notebook, whatever you want to call it.

It served me well, until the night prior to my departure last September, when it suffered a mild heart attack. I left without it, giving instructions to my house sitter to notify our technician so that he might fix it while I was gone. In Montreal, I was lucky to find a beautiful HP on sale, at half price.

The HP worked fine, until last Friday …after 7 p.m. of course, when all the businesses close down ‘till Monday. As do plumbers, electricians, doctors, etc. In other words, anyone whose help you might need, sometimes desperately, when unpredicted events happen - and they always do happen after “business” hours, n’est-ce-pas?

On Monday, the technician came to check out another little problem -with my desktop monitor- and I showed him the laptop. He immediately said, “You’ll have to get it back to Canada,” in a most omniscient tone. I told him to forget it and get back to the desktop. Silly man.

I googled HP, found their support web site, logged on “live” with a very nice lady somewhere in India (I think), and she fixed the problem in less than 3 minutes. So there. Now everyone’s happy and I’m sure the “technician” would be very offended if I told him what I did …without even going back to Canada.

I realize that my entire diatribe last week centered on my adventure into the wilderness of Lomas del Coapinole, and for that I beg your forgiveness, dear reader.

I had intended to chat with you about various things, including the circus that’s in town, the Barley Circus. Do you think the owners just wanted to roll Barnum and Bailey into one?

Regardless, I learned that it is the biggest circus in Mexico. I haven’t gone to see its show, but as I drove by there a number of times, I did notice that the animals appeared to be well fed, even though they are caged nearly all day long - which I still consider to be an aberration. However, I was wondering… what do the hippos do? I don’t know about you, but whenever I see those amphibious descendants of the prehistoric era, I always visualize the dancing hippos clad in pink tutus in Disney’s Fantasia… I found out later, from friends who have toddlers and who did go to the circus, that children ride the hippos. Fun for the kids, not so great for the hippos that spend hours wallowing in the mud in nature and have no such pleasure here…

I hope that you all spent a fabulous Christmas and New Year’s Eve. My little group went to Bruce’s Back Alley Bistro to take advantage of his Christmas specials. The place was full and we definitely got much more worth than the final bill. But then, Bruce has always been known for his succulent dishes and more-than-generous portions.

Then we spent New Year’s Eve at La Petite France. As always, great food, excellent service, and fabulous live music entertainment. I can never say enough about the ambiance in that place. We decided to leave early so that we might watch the fireworks at midnight from the home of a friend who lives up on the hill in the middle of town. Well, that was not to be. The traffic was horrendous, and we encountered more than one stalled car. Coincidentally -or not- each and every one of them was stalled right in the middle of an intersection, causing all sorts of tie-ups. You would think that some kind souls would help move them out of the way, but no. By the time we got to our friend’s place, the show was over. I hear say that it was beautiful.

Looking back, this new year has started in a most wonderful fashion for me, despite a cold whose origin I’m still trying to figure out. It’s not so much all the great restaurants we visited, but rather, as Silvia writes in her superb review of Gilles LeFort’s École de Cuisine in this issue, the company one is with. When you can look around, acknowledge, and be grateful for the fact that your companions are truly FRIENDS, that is much more important in the grand scheme of things than the bounty set before you on any plate. At least that’s what I’ve been feeling lately.
On different occasions, with different friends, I got to relish Bill Carballo’s new delicacies at Barcelona Tapas (where the Marigalante’s nightly fireworks always evoke oohs and aahs from newcomers to our town), and the fabulous Huachinango entero -with lots of garlic and fresh veggies- at Langostinos for lunch one day.

On the occasion of my birthday last Tuesday, I was invited to the River Café where Willie and Lobo were performing. I just love those guys. First saw them when they were performing at Mamma Mia’s a decade ago. I have all their CDs, but I seldom get to hear them live, especially recently. It was a perfect evening. The company, the food, the music, the setting, the clear night sky filled with sparkling stars… We were seated at one of the tables directly beneath a big leafy tree, overlooking the peaceful Rio Cuale, candles all around… What beauty!

And to think that so many people save all year round just to be able to come here for a one or two-week holiday! We who have chosen to live here and those lucky enough to have been born here …are blessed indeed. Despite all the not-so-great news we read in the daily papers, we have it better than so many… so many.

Am I getting maudlin? I apologize. It must be old age… I’m sure to get back to my cynical, sarcastic, criticizing self soon, once the glow of these last few weeks wears off.

In the meantime, I absolutely must make time to go see the “Bob Fosse” production at the Santa Barbara Theater. It’s gotten to the point where I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t seen it yet. All those I know who have seen it, have raved about it.

I’ve also made a promise to myself to get out to those gorgeous Botanical Gardens soon. I haven’t been there in a while, and every time I do, there is something new, something to make them even more enchanting than before. At the risk of repeating myself: we who are here are so very blessed! (The wind chill brings the temperature down to 30 degrees below zero in Edmonton as I write this… brrrrr!)

Getting back to our slightly warmer climes and all of this town’s attractions, there are the art walks, and I do want to go out to see those awesome whales again… Can you believe that amazing photo on our cover this week? That’s Astrid’s super shot!

I wish you all happiness and health and beautiful sunshiny days with clear starlit nights. Take care of each other and do share your good fortune with the less fortunate ones. Remember your chambermaid and your waiter and the porter at the airport. I say this because now, more than ever, they need your consideration. The buses have raised their fares as of the beginning of the year. For a family with three children where both parents work, this could translate into an additional expense of $240. pesos per month, if not more. And the minimum wage in this state is around $45 pesos a day! You do the math.

Until next time, a most happy belated birthday to all my fellow Capricorns out there, especially my good friends Bob Kistner, Wayne McLeod and Sudy Coy. Hasta luego. pvmom04@yahoo.com