It’s always minutea, isn’t it?

“H” inflammation of “E” the mucous “L” membranes of the nasal “M” cavity.  This is how I spend too many of my days, reading medical texts while spelling out words to Ellen.  It’s a wonder I don’t have all of it mixed up and now that I’m over 1/2 way through the course I think my brain is filling up.

I have been meaning to update forfreakingever but honestly, there is really nothing to say.  Nothing new to report; the boys are still sleeping all day (Jesse had a new record yesterday when he went to bed an hour after i had goten up (7:30am)), I am still wading through curriculum and choices, a new Waldorfy school opened up and luckilly, their tuition keeps me from even considering the place (minimum of $400/month/kid), sky is still brilliantly blue, water still impossibly tourquise and clouds still heavenly white.  The weather has been kind; no storms or hurricanes but we’re now at the part of the season that it really gets started.  So we keep watching and waiting.

Jamie and I have had some medical stuff going on and I had hoped to have had some answers before I even posted but it is taking forever for us to get to a clinic or a doctor.  And that is just so incredibly sad considering the bounty of opportunity we have here.  We can have a well-respected and recommended doctor make a housecall for $500 pesos (around $50USD and rising due to the dollar jumping off skyscrapers), we can hit a decent enough clinic (on Constituentes just off the carretera if anyone is interested; something with “Rosa” or “Ana” in the name) for $300MN/consultation, we can make an appointment at Hospiten (European and uber-expensive hospital in town) for $600MN/consult and I’m sure there are more options, but these are the ones we’ve tried and have been very satisfied with so far.  We will both probably need an MRI though, and we’re wondering why pay for a consult when we’ll need to pay again after the MRIs…  We had firm plans to hit Hospiten (for information and to make an appointment) this morning, then to the coffee lady (I’ve been a month on non-Coatepec beans and am DYING for my Cuban roast) and then to the Clinica but Ellen isn’t feeling well so Jamie begged off.  He really doesn’t like to go alone without his trusty translator.  I have been very dizzy for a good couple weeks now (thus the lack of updates) and kept thinking it would just go away.  That, combined with remembering that my eyesight is getting wonky (after an exam this Spring) makes me think an MRI might be in order.  Or a CT scan.  Jamie has an ass lump that we’re thinking is muscle related but Google makes us want an MRI of that too.  So between his ass and my head we’re really overdue.

What could a 6yo be saying when she wants you to tell her how to spell “completely boots”?

The kids decided a while ago, before the constant stomach issues (and as an aside, do you think it is possible they stem from a dirty water dispenser?  Jamie found crud in the water dispenser.  ugh) that they would rotate Sunday excursions between themselves by age.  The last excursion was Sissy’s turn and she wanted to go to the local (pay) cenote.  After seeing the crocs along our walk I have no desire to swim in our local (wild) cenotes.  Unfortunately, the cenotes are not free so she reconsidered and decided she’d rather go to our local beach.

Jamie and I have noticed during our exercise walks over the last week that a yellow rope had been strung across the road leading to the beach on our neighboring property (which we have always had permission to use) and wondered why.  Today we found out.  This beach is always deserted when we go and many of us go naked, but today, Mexican Sunday, we expected it to be crowded and took our suits.  To our surprise, the beach was empty but for one family and we couldn’t figure out how one little yellow rope would keep any self-respecting Mexican from simply lfiting the rope (as we did) and heading down the road.  A rope or even rocks blocking a road are no deterrent in Mexico.  The girls and i stripped down but Jamie (wisely as it turned out) kept his suit on.  It was absolutely lovely, the beach was calm (we’ve had an unusually windy summer this year) and we saw a GIGANTIC fish (long and skinny and, did I mention about a meter long?) and we could see forever.  I noticed that the family up the beach from us had left and thought it rather odd, to leave so early, but kept to the sea.  Soon afterward a security guard came up and yelled something from the beach.  I was certainly NOT going to head out and talk to him so I sent Jamie out.  He REALLY hates speaking Spanish and seemed a little put out that I didn’t take care of the situation.  The guy yelled something and I said, “OK” and Jamie finally went out to talk to him.  Turns out they’re discouaging people from using the beach.  Well, unless you live in PaaMul.  This guy is new but recognized some of the names of guards we know and Jamie told him our palapa number (well, the wrong one, but whatever) and I’m sure the guy has a great tale to tell the other guards about the naked family.  If this guy sticks around for winter he’ll get more than an eyefull of naked PaaMulians. 

Jamie’s family is dealing with some medical issues, so if you can keep them in your thoughts I’m sure they’ll really appreciate that.

So, you see?  Really, nothing but nothing is going on.  Hot, sultry dog days of summer.