congratulations
Wednesday, January 9
Congratulations Edgar
Edgar successfully defended his Ph.D. today. He did part of his Ph.D. work in Germany with Wolfgang and I guess the German tradition is to make the new doctor a ridiculous hat. Here is Edgar showing off his hat that Woflgang and Ivan made him. Edgar's in-laws threw a very nice comida at their house after the defense. We were wined and dined with amazing food and beverages.
congratulations
congratulations
Tuesday, January 8
Impuestos and The Trash Black Market
After much consideration, I decided to make my home in Mexico really nice with beautiful handcrafted furniture that I will take back with me to the US. This means that when I move back to the US, I will have to hire movers. There is one piece of art work that I left back in the states when I drove down here because it was just too big to fit in my laundry basket, which was holding all of my other pieces of art. Once I decide that I would be hiring movers to move back to the US, I decided that I really wanted to have this one piece of art work with me while in Mexico. While home over Christmas, I sent the beautiful photo to myself. The packaging and the shipping cost me an arm and a leg but I decided to go ahead and send it anyway. . . Well FedEx called me yesterday to inform me that the Mexican government somehow thought that they needed to charge me a $40 importation tax (impuesto=tax) on this piece of art work. What? I crossed the border with a car full of things that should have been charged an importation tax and I didn't have to pay a cent. Now I get charge a $40 importation tax on something that shouldn't have an importation tax. Oh well, I guess it is the way things go in Mexico. Here is a lovely picture of my Bass Harbor, Maine photo with the expensive FedEx box it came in.
On another note. Yesterday was the first day that I was actually in charge of taking out my own trash (in the past, the construction workers took care of it while I was at work). This is how trash pick up works here. Trash pick up is a public service. The trucks drive through the neighborhoods with no specific schedule. The only way you know whether or not to bring your trash out into the street is if you hear the trash guys ringing their specific bell. At the sound of the the bell, the doors of every house open and out emerges your neighbors, that you never see otherwise, to gather on the corner with all of their trash (I never thought the only time the neighbors would get together would be over trash). Then I watched in amazement at what the trash guys do. I was told that there is no system for recycling here in Mexico, but this appears to be false. The trash guys tear open every single trash bag with their bare hands and separate out glass, cardboard, paper, and anything that looks like it might be able to be resold. Imagine that this was your job, to go through everyone elses trash all day long, everyday. Yuck! My guess is that if the trash guys know someone that runs a recycling business, they can bring the glass, cardboard, and paper to them. The money they receive probably goes directly to the trash guys. The trash guys probably also have friends that buy the resellable stuff from them and then turn it around and sell it in the markets. I guess you could call it the black market for trash.
On another note. Yesterday was the first day that I was actually in charge of taking out my own trash (in the past, the construction workers took care of it while I was at work). This is how trash pick up works here. Trash pick up is a public service. The trucks drive through the neighborhoods with no specific schedule. The only way you know whether or not to bring your trash out into the street is if you hear the trash guys ringing their specific bell. At the sound of the the bell, the doors of every house open and out emerges your neighbors, that you never see otherwise, to gather on the corner with all of their trash (I never thought the only time the neighbors would get together would be over trash). Then I watched in amazement at what the trash guys do. I was told that there is no system for recycling here in Mexico, but this appears to be false. The trash guys tear open every single trash bag with their bare hands and separate out glass, cardboard, paper, and anything that looks like it might be able to be resold. Imagine that this was your job, to go through everyone elses trash all day long, everyday. Yuck! My guess is that if the trash guys know someone that runs a recycling business, they can bring the glass, cardboard, and paper to them. The money they receive probably goes directly to the trash guys. The trash guys probably also have friends that buy the resellable stuff from them and then turn it around and sell it in the markets. I guess you could call it the black market for trash.
Saturday, January 5
Too Much To Do, No Time To Blog
Between buying lots of stuff (hot cereal, dried currants, non-chemical containing all purpose cleaner, spices, etc. just the normal things that are hard to find in Mexico City) and then getting everything packed to return to Mexico, I just haven't had much time on my hands to blog. I also haven't had anything interesting to blog about either.
I got back to Mexico City on Thursday night. My very nice friends Ivan and Carolina where there to greet me, scared shitless Endo after flying, and my 3 bags. Since then, I've been doing household projects. Today, I spent the entire day installing a potable water system. Perhaps this might be interesting to some, so I thought I would blog about it.
I have a major issue with buying bottled water, especially in the US where potable water is ubiquitous. It just doesn't make sense to use loads of petroleum to not only manufacture all the plastic bottles, but then to transport these bottles full of a free commodity for miles upon miles? Come on people, buy a reusable water bottle and fill it up at any of the many potable water taps in the US. Now here in Mexico it is a little more complicated, but I am hoping with my new water purification system I will not have to buy any bottled water when I am home in the city.
. . . First step though is getting the system to work correctly. I am not exactly there yet (Notice the bucket under the sink. Yup, I've got a leak). I may have to hire a plumber to clean up my work. I'll keep you posted.
I got back to Mexico City on Thursday night. My very nice friends Ivan and Carolina where there to greet me, scared shitless Endo after flying, and my 3 bags. Since then, I've been doing household projects. Today, I spent the entire day installing a potable water system. Perhaps this might be interesting to some, so I thought I would blog about it.
I have a major issue with buying bottled water, especially in the US where potable water is ubiquitous. It just doesn't make sense to use loads of petroleum to not only manufacture all the plastic bottles, but then to transport these bottles full of a free commodity for miles upon miles? Come on people, buy a reusable water bottle and fill it up at any of the many potable water taps in the US. Now here in Mexico it is a little more complicated, but I am hoping with my new water purification system I will not have to buy any bottled water when I am home in the city.. . . First step though is getting the system to work correctly. I am not exactly there yet (Notice the bucket under the sink. Yup, I've got a leak). I may have to hire a plumber to clean up my work. I'll keep you posted.
Monday, December 31
Let It Snow
It just keeps snowing here and the temps are chilly. Rather than fighting the weather, I embrace it. Yesterday my dad, Endo, Shoshoni, and I braved the elements to get in a little backcountry skiing.
My dad and Shishoni breaking trail.
The dogs definitely enjoyed themselves despite having snow frozen faces, snow clumps in their paws, and Endo getting a small cut on his leg by the edge of a ski (a regular occurrence when backcountry skiing with the dogs).
My dad and Shishoni breaking trail.
The dogs definitely enjoyed themselves despite having snow frozen faces, snow clumps in their paws, and Endo getting a small cut on his leg by the edge of a ski (a regular occurrence when backcountry skiing with the dogs).
Wednesday, December 26
White Christmas
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas . . . Oh wait, pinch me, I don't think I was dreaming. It is not often that you wake up to cold temps and beautiful snow falling on Christmas morning, but that is exactly what happened yesterday at 15344 Gold Hill Rd.
After eating a yummy breakfast and opening presents my mom, dad, and I headed out for a cross country ski. It was beautiful.
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas too!
After eating a yummy breakfast and opening presents my mom, dad, and I headed out for a cross country ski. It was beautiful.
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas too!
Thursday, December 20
Home for the Holidays
My mom and I decorated the Christmas tree tonight.
Endo was spotted trying out for the role of Max, the dog in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, on Broadway. The only problem is that after 10 seconds, Endo prefers to tear the antlers to pieces rather than wear them. Needless to say, he won't be appearing in any Broadway shows in his life time.
Sunday, December 16
Not just for Spring Break
Most of us are familiar with a "yard" of beer from our spring break days as teenagers in Cancun. These guys decided to use the "yard" to celebrate the end of the year. In the picture are Edgar (a graduate student of Michel's who will defend his PhD on January 9th), Wolfgang (Michel's postdoc), and Michel.On another note, I will be heading back to Colorado for a couple weeks tomorrow morning. I am hoping to get in a lot of good skiing and some fresh air.
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