me time!

I am a big fan of "me time".  I mean, who isn't?  And, thanks to an understanding husband and a mother in law that loves the girls and will take them in a minutes notice if my head is about to explode from children-overload, I have a good amount of "me time".  I really think me time is the only way to secure some sanity!  Seriously!

Today was no exception.  Jorge, the girls and I went out for breakfast and then made a trip to a nearby town, Tepa, to do a bit of shopping.  When we got back into town, he dropped me off and took the girls to a friend's house.  The friend has kids and was having some sort of cookout, involving cooking some fish that he just caught.  The girls have gone with Jorge a couple of times, and I think it is nice for Jorge to have some time minus me! The girls play with the kids, and Jorge gets to socialize without having to worry about me.

For the past week and a half, every other night, we have been walking at night.  The girls have been enjoying it.  We go for about an hour.  Just enough to wear them out.  Emily usually asks to sit down at some point during our walk. Remember, she is the lazy girl!

So, today, I thought I would take a walk solo.  It has been a long time since I went on a walk.  I used to as my exercise.  But, since getting the Wii, that is how I exercise now.  It was such a great, peaceful walk!  It was a little warm outside, but the clouds offered some relief every once in a while.  And, there was a nice breeze.

Today is the day that everyone goes downtown to the Plaza!  Sunday is the day you dress up and people watch.  And, while I walk in an area where there isn't much of anything, there was NOBODY around.  It was awesome!  I took some pictures to show you.  Once I walk away from town, there really isn't much of anything around.  I didn't see anyone walking and saw only a handful of cars.


Here is a view after I walked a dirt road away from town.  You can see a nice, little part of Jalos.  Exciting, huh?!?

Another angle of the town.  This is just a small part, though. 

And, I just keep on going.  This dirt road goes out to land that isn't being used, a few houses, and lots of more nothing.  Walking in this area reminds me of the movie The Never Ending Story.  You know, where the nothingness takes over.  Except, here, the nothingness is a more positive nothingness.  Just miles and miles of undeveloped land. 

This is our rainy season right now.  Love the rain!  It makes everything green!  So, this is the best this place is going to look.  The rest of the year all of the green that you see is brown, dead stuff.  It is amazing how nature bounces back with a bit of water.

And, I took a picture of myself!  I was tired by this point, so this is the best smile you are going to get!

I really could have just kept walking.  I was tired and sweaty, but it was just so relaxing out in the middle of nowhere by myself.  I highly recommend doing this!

And, you know how places advertise their chickens as "free range".  Well, we have free range cows!  They are just like those cows in California.  Happy cows!  This one didn't appreciate me taking his picture.

I think I will add a solo walk to my exercise routine a few times a week.  I feel ready to tackle another week!

walking with cows

Yesterday I went on my usual walk.  I was minding my own business when a cow pops her head out of some bushes on the side of the road.  We casually walk past each other.

As I made my way back the cow had multiplied.

All of them were roaming free eating all the greenery that had popped up since all the rain.

Who needs a weed eater or lawn mower when you have some of these?

Happy mowing cows!

walking towards the rain

I didn't walk one time last week. That wicked cold of mine just wouldn't leave me alone and go away.

Today is actually the first day that I don't have to run to blow my nose or cough where it sounds like my lungs are going to bust out of my body.

The forecast calls for a thunderstorm here in Jalos today. And, it is much welcomed if it does come. The last few days it has felt hot here. The house has just been trapping the hot air inside.

Since I feel better today I wanted to get back into my routine of walking. I sort of missed doing it.

Today was a really nice walk. Right before I got ready to leave the sun was shinning brightly and I assumed I will be sweating a few minutes into the walk. Well, I was right.

But, I was walking towards this.


(This picture has not been edited. I downloaded it straight from my iphone.)

I kept thinking I should turn back, but decided to go for it. I did chicken out a little bit before my normal turn around point. Even so, the wind started up and the breeze was so wonderful!

I made it back with just a few drops falling on me. Other that the wind throwing dust in my eyes, it was a very pleasant walk.

routine makeover

Before I came back here to Mexico in the beginning of February people were asking me what I was planning on doing differently. Since the last time I was here for a long period of time I decided to move back to the US.

Well, without even having to physically do anything different my view of being here had kind of shifted. Pressures and stresses that were once there had floated away. Of course there are still negatives, but overall I just felt OK with it.

Part of what was going to be different was getting out of the house more often. For some reason I did do that. I was in the house all the time. Only leaving when Jorge would be here on the weekend and we would go to the grocery store. Not only do I lose my independence having to always depend on him taking me to the grocery store, it also makes me go stir crazy being in the house so much.

Sunday night I just had a rough time and decided there is no reason to not have a somewhat normal life here. Go to the store, take the girls places and have some time of my own out of this house.

A plan was made. You know me and my plans. Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons the girls go over to their Grandma R's house. During that time I am walking, for exercise and to get out in the sunshine.

Tuesday and Thursday mornings the girls and I get the car (Jorge walks to work...this is making him exercise too) and we go to the park. This lets the girls get out and run in the grass. It lets them run off some of that energy.

The park we go to is the only one I know of that has a nice green grass area. There are two old men that come and water the grass and feed the ducks. So, it is nice and clean AND the two days we have been there we are the only ones there. It was really nice.

This past week has felt more like a life. I get out of the house everyday and after only 3 days of walking I already feel better. I went from walking only 25 minutes and felt like dying the first day to walking 50 minutes and feeling really good, tired, but good the third day.

Here is the giant hill that I walk up and then down. This is a view from the top looking down.

And here is a view looking up. I have yet to walk straight up without stopping. Hopefully within the next few weeks I will be able to.

Here is the view from the top of the hill.

I turn off the paved and cobblestone roads to a dirt road that takes me away from the town.

I walk this road for a while and make a few turns and walk until the road stops. At the end of the road you can see the "castle" of Jalos and a large area of water.

Here is a house that is in the construction stage. And how long it has been like this is unknown. You only build what you have money for here. Loans are not a common practice.

And while there might not be any people living here, I was serenaded by a rooster that was taking up residence.

So, there you have it. My new plan and a small view of Jalos. Nothing much exciting, but at least I have things to look forward to now. Oh, and I even went to the grocery store on my own one of those days. It was nice to be doing it myself. I think things are looking up and hopefully my weight will go down!