El Ojo del Lago - December 2010

Saw you in the Ojo

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

Saw you in the Ojo

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FEATURE ARTICLES

Richard Tingen

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alejandro Grattan-Domínguez Tel: (01376) 765 3676, 765 2877 Fax: (01376) 765 3528 Associate Publisher David Tingen Graphic Design Roberto C. Rojas Jazmin Eliosa Special Events Editor Kay Davis Associate Editor Jim Tipton Contributing Editor Paul Jackson Drama Critic Michael Warren Art Critic Rob Mohr Staff Photographer Xill Fessenden Sales Manager Tania Medina (045) 33 1140 3570 ojodelago@gmail.com Office Secretary Iliana Oregel ADVERTISING OFFICE Av. Hidalgo # 223, Chapala Mon. thru Fri. 9am - 5pm Sat. 9am - 1pm Tel. 01 (376) 765 2877, 765 3676 Fax 01 (376) 765 3528 Send all correspondence, subscriptions or advertising to: El Ojo del Lago http://www.chapala.com ojodellago@prodigy.net.mx Ave. Hidalgo 223 (or Apartado 279), 45900 Chapala, Jalisco Tels.: (376) 765 3676, Fax 765 3528 PRINTING: El Debate

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COVER STORY

The late Mildred Boyd wrote this article about a man called Andres, but better known as “The Straw Man.” Andres is the third generation of his family in Ajijic to create artwork with straw, and commenced to learn the craft when he was only seven years old.

8 Cover by Dani Newcomb

14 MEXICAN ODDITIES Tom Clarkson has seen many unusual things in Mexico, some humorous, many which seem to perfectly capture the character of our adopted country.

24 NEW YEAR’S FUN Allen McGill looks in on a party boasting a guest list that is literally to die for— Oscar Wilde to Mae West, or from the sublime to the ridiculous.

34 ANIMALS & FRIENDS Julie D’Costa writes about the people who serve as volunteers with the Lakeside Wildlife Rescue organization.

72 FICTION Herbert Piekow remembers a weird encounter that happened one lovely late afternoon as he was sitting on a park bench in Guadalajara.

74 HUMOR IN THE RAW Gail Nott is invited to make her first visit to a nudist camp—and spends a great deal of her time staring up at either the sky, the ceiling or anywhere else other than what’s straight in front of her.

78 WRITERS CONFERENCE Harriet Hart brings us up to date on the 7th Annual Lake Chapala Writers Conference to be held on January 26, 27 and 28. The Conference has gotten better with each passing year.

El Ojo del Lago aparece los primeros cinco días de cada mes. (Out over the first five days of each month) Certificado de Licitud de Título 3693 Certificado de Licitud de Contenido 3117.

Reserva al Título de Derechos de Autor 04-2007-111412131300-102 Control 14301. Permisos otorgados por la Secretaría de Gobernación (EXP. 1/432 “88”/5651 de 2 de junio de 1993) y SEP (Reserva 171.94 control 14301) del 15 de enero de 1994.

Distribución: Hidalgo 223 Chapala, Jalisco, México.

All contents are fully protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without the written consent of El Ojo del Lago. Opinions expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Publisher or the Editor, nor are we responsible for the claims made by our advertisers. We welcome letters, which should include name, address and telephone number.

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COVER STORY

PUBLISHER

Index...

El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

COLUMNS THIS MONTH 6 10 12 13 16 18 20 22 26 30 32 36 42 44 60 62 64 68 70 80 82

Editor’s Page Bridge by Lake Uncommon Sense Joyful Musings Thunder on Right Wondrous Wildlife Faith and Fables World of Ours Stay Healthy Hearts at Work Welcome to Mexico Anyone Train Dog Lakeside Living Magnificent Mexico New Lease on Life Anita’s Animals Focus on Art Viva la Vida Loca Front Row Center Child of the Month LCS Newsletter

LAKESIDE LIVING

 DIRE C TOR Y 

42 MAGNIFICENT MEXICO

VOLUME 27 NUMBER 4

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Editor’s Page

By Alejandro Grattan-Dominguez

America: Tattered but not Destroyed

O

nce the most admired and influential country in the world, today it staggers from one crisis to the next. Granted that much of what ails it was brought on by a disastrous prior administration—but President Obama has not done enough in more than a year and a half in office to stem the bleeding.

There are, of course, many co-miscreants: Republicans more anxious in bringing Obama down than in helping the country, Democrats who opt-out because the president has not honored all the promises he made in his campaign, Tea Party Types who are big on catchy slogans but short on specific solutions. Caught in the middle are the American people that have rarely seemed so dispirited.

Discussing this with my friend (and Ojo columnist) Paul Jackson, he suggested that I read Conrad Black’s acclaimed biography FDR—Champion of Freedom. Black thinks FDR the most monumental figure of the 20th century, an opinion shared by dozens of famous biographers and historians.

What makes Black’s glowing appraisal different is that he is a Conservative who once owned and managed a media empire.

As most people know, Franklin Roosevelt came into office on the heels of the gravest economic depression in American history and later was at the helm through most of the Second World War, the costliest, bloodiest war in all of recorded history. Yet Roosevelt and the American people rose to the crisis in a way that inspired allies and stunned enemies.

In the lead-up to the war, its armed forces ranked 18th in total numbers. By the end of the Second World War, it had ten million men and women in uniform and had become the dominant military and industrial power in the entire world. It could never have been done, however, without an American home-front that had been inspired to rediscover the very best in its national character.

Little things stick in my mind. Ev-

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eryone shared in the sacrifice. Shoes had less leather, glasses less glass, faucets were made of cast iron instead of brass, bicycles could weigh no more than thirty-one pounds, fly swatters were made of wood, girdles went from rubber to whalebone, nylon went from women’s legs to parachutes, while war bonds, many promoted by film celebrities, sold in the hundreds of millions of dollars. New car dealers with nothing to sell turned their showrooms into skating rinks and storage areas, castor oil was used as a motor lubricant and even spider web thread saw duty as the cross hairs in gun sights.

Bigger things: almost every large industrial plant went into the production of weapons of war: Chrysler made the engines for the famous PT boats, Willys turned out Jeeps by the hundreds of thousands, Firestone Tires made tens of thousands of anti-aircraft guns, while Ford was rolling off the assembly line a brand-new B-24 bomber every sixtythree minutes.

Within less than two years, America was producing several times more war materiel than Germany and Japan combined. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the German Luftwaffe could get into the skies over Normandy only 319 planes—compared to almost 14,000 Allied aircraft.

What the US faced back then was far more critical than the challenges that confront it today—but if the country could summon the ingenuity, innovation, desire, cooperation and courage to do it then, why can’t it do so again?

After all, such attributes are embedded in the very DNA of the United States Alejandro Grattan of America.

FIRST ANGLO-AFGHAN WAR 1839~1842 (Is it really so different today?)

By Kenneth J Clarke Chapter Headings From his upcoming historical novel And Then There Was One

When a military commander like Muhammad Akbar Khan Leads the tribes to drive ferenghee’s1 beyond ‘Afghanistan, When the British politician thinks ‘is career must come first, ‘Tis a time when the conqueror’s bubble will topple down an’ burst.

Now, the Aghan tribesman, ‘e’s a soldier tried an’ true, When ‘e’s on the field of battle or discussin’ terms with you.

When ‘is negotiation lingers, ‘n’ ‘e asks ter shake your ‘and, T’is time ter count yer fingers, ‘n’ depart ‘is bloomin’ land.

When winter’s closin’ on you, an’ the chat seems near an end, When grub is disapearin’, an’ you think now ‘e’s your friend, It’s time to look around you ter see where you can go, Fer be sure that ‘e’s a soldier, who wants you dead, on Afghan snow Now death can be clean ‘n’ simple, like a bullet in the brain, Or it can linger slowly like frostbitten limbs, with pain That cruelly tears your soul apart as you march towards the gates; ‘Tis those of ‘ell I refer to, where I’ll go an’ meet me mates.

Now the Afghan, ‘e’ll send you on this march, without a doubt, As ‘e fires from far ‘is jezails2 an’ drives you on a rout.

The transition ‘twill come easy, from the Khyber down ter ‘ell, Fer ‘tis ‘ard ter tell the difference ‘till you finally ring that bell.

As you march right up ter Satan, your limbs froze numb fer sure, You’ll find that ‘ell, she’s better with ‘er warmer temperature.

When you shake ‘is ‘and an’ thank ‘im fer stokin’ all that ‘eat ‘E’ll then agree, the Afghan soldier, ‘e’s a devil ‘ard ter beat.

(Endnotes) 1 Ferenghee; Foreigner, derogatory term 2 Jezail; A long Afghan matchlock rifle

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The T he S Straw traw M Man an

By Mildred Boyd

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hough everyone calls him the Straw Man, Andres Mendoza is neither a character from The Wizard of Oz nor a fallacious argument set up only to be knocked down. Andres is a gifted, if somewhat unconventional, artist. Instead of brushes and paints he produces his masterpieces with beeswax and colorful straw. Andres is the third generation of his family to do this work. Both his grandfather and his mother were skilled in the art, which he began learning from them when he was only seven or eight years old.

The ancient art of straw painting, called Popote, has been practiced by the Indians for centuries. Originally, such paintings were used only in rites of fertility or hunting magic. Paintings and statues, songs and dances were all part of rituals performed to cause the plants to multiply and bring forth abundant harvests and to appease the spirits of game animals so that they would give themselves willingly to feed a grateful people.

Those rituals are an important part of many cultures even today.

Popote, however, is a dying art.

The reason is simple; while the techniques are similar to the bead and yarn paintings still done for religious rites and as souvenirs for tourists, preparing the materials for straw art is far more labor intensive and time consuming. Only the truly dedicated will bother when imported glass beads and acrylic yarns are readily available. So, like the wonderful feather mosaic work of the ancients, such work is seldom seen today. Andres admits ruefully that he knows of only one other person in Jalisco who still practices it.

Before Andres can begin to create he must first harvest both the straw and the natural materials required to produce dyes. Popote is the common broom straw that Mexican housewives and gardeners bind in bunches to make their brooms, and the best,

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according to Andres, comes from Zacatecas, but he usually harvests his supply nearer his home in Guadalajara. Unlike many grasses, it grows tall, straight and smooth, without joints and with very little variation in diameter. Properly dried and cut into dyeable lengths, this raw material is ready for the next step.

Andres obtains most of his dyes from plants but animals and insects contribute their share. For purple he uses the vivid bracts of the bougainvillea, blue comes from the fruit of the granseño tree and brown is made from the beans of either the mesquite or the hoesatchi. Yellow, however, comes from the bile of animals and the brilliant red is made from the crushed bodies of a small insect, the cochineal, which infests the prickly pear cactus. Sumac berries, onion skins, snakeweed and various other fruits, flowers and barks provide other hues as needed.

Most of these dyestuffs have been in use since pre-Columbian times to produce a brilliant array of colors for dyeing textiles, painting murals or illustrating codices.

Different methods are required to extract the coloring agents from such materials, most of them tedious in the extreme. The final step is the addition of a mordant to set the colors and make them permanent.

Again, there are many chemicals to do the job. Alum and various metallic salts are frequently used, but the most common—and certainly the most readily available—mordant is the combination of uric acid and ammonia found in human urine. Andres now has a brilliant array of fast colors which can be mixed to produce the entire spectrum. Lengths of straw are immersed in dye baths until the take on the desired intensity of color, and then set aside to dry.

All that is left is to prepare the “canvas.” Any thin, rigid material will do but Andres usually uses a heavy cardboard coated with smooth white

paper. The surface to be painted is coated with and adhesive material to hold the straw in place. Although unrefined beeswax is the traditional adhesive, Andres admits with a grin that he sometimes cheats a little by using gum Arabic to give a firmer grip.

At long last, Andres is ready to create. Using only his rainbow-hued bunches of straw, a very sharp knife and his innate talent, he creates landscapes, still-lives and portraits by positioning tiny pieces of straw on the prepared surface and cutting them to the desired length. He uses a subtle blending of colors to create shadows and depth and minute changes in direction to shape contours and give a sense of movement.

Every tiny piece is meticulously placed to achieve the desired effect and, viewed from a short distance, straight lines become curves, divisions disappear and it is difficult to tell a straw “painting� from one done in any other media.

Andres draws his inspiration from the lives and tales of his own people.

Humble village streets, grandiose church facades, lush gardens and laughing people going about their daily business wearing colorful clothing; all reflecting the charm of

Mexico.

A man rides down a cobblestoned street wearing a bright red poncho which swirls to the unsteady gait of his burro. Flowering vines cover blank walls with tree tops peeking over to hint of the beauty within, while men and women stop to talk while carrying their goods to market. Skylines are dominated by the tiled domes and bell towers of village churches and mountains loom in the distance. An old man sits comfortably leaning against a wall, legs outstretched. He seems to be taking a short nap instead of working on the new fishnet he holds in his hands.

He is wearing the traditional white shirt and short pants with bands of embroidery at wrist and knee, a striped poncho and straw sombrero, but his feet are bare. Aztec warriors wear jaguar skin cloaks and eagle headdresses into battle and pescadores cast their nets in the early light. Don Quijote and Sancho Panza engage in acts of derring-do and ladies stop to gossip on their way to mass.

Andres’ is represented in Ajijic by the Galeria Maestros del Arte located at 16th de Septiembre, #13

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BRIDGE B RIDGE B BY Y THE THE LAKE LAKE

By Ken Masson

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an you picture a bridge hand where you will likely make 6 No Trump if you bid it but go down if you only bid 3 No Trump? This month’s offering is such a paradox.

When it popped up recently on an on-line bridge site, I imagined how it might have been portrayed by the late Victor Mollo in his “Bridge in the Menagerie” series of books. Mollo was famous for imparting knowledge in a very entertaining fashion. Personalities such as the Hideous Hog, the Rueful Rabbit, Charlie the Chimp, Oscar the Owl, the Secretary Bird, and many others, abound in his books and are nicknamed after the animals they most resemble physically and psychologically and who caricaturize common archetypes of real-life bridge players.

The Hideous Hog and the Rueful Rabbit feature most prominently in Mollo’s writing as they are poles apart in bridge talent and social skills. HH is by far the club’s best player, but also an insufferable shark who seeks to humiliate opponents for their mistakes, while RR is a timid man who can barely hold his cards together and can’t always tell hearts from diamonds, but has such incredible luck that even the cards he accidently drops become the right ones.

I wondered how HH and RR would have handled this month’s hand at their weekly duplicate session and came up with this scenario: “What did you do on Board 18?” asked RR. “Board 18? Why would you ask about that” countered HH, “That was a nothing hand, I was in the routine 3 NT, West led the routine heart 10 and before I could draw a breath they took the routine 5 tricks and I was down one. Must be an average board, I assume. What

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did you do?”

“Well, er, I, er, was in 6 NT” stammered RR which drew hoots of derision from HH: “6NT indeed! How did you get to that ridiculous contract? Down 4, no doubt – well at least you will help my score in the comparisons.”

“Actually, I made a terrible mistake in the bidding – I accidently pulled the 2 No Trump card from the bidding box, instead of the 1 No Trump card. Naturally, my partner drove to slam.”

“Well, serves you right, then” said the Hog, mockingly, “Nothing like minus 400 to teach one to be careful in selecting the correct bid”.

“Plus 1440, I’m afraid - I made the contract” said the Rabbit, apologetically.

“How could you possibly make 6 No Trump? Didn’t you get a heart lead?”

“No. Charlie the Chimp led a diamond. I was now able to score 12 tricks with the aid of the spade finesse: 4 spades, 5 diamonds and 3 clubs. Actually, I could have taken 13 if I had finessed the 10 of Clubs, but I didn’t want to be greedy”.

“What luck!” roared HH. “What possessed the man to lead a diamond?”

“Well, he explained to his partner afterwards that you had told him never to underlead a King against a slam contract!”

If you see any Mollo books in libraries or used-book stores, I urge you to snap them up right away. You will be in for a very enjoyable read.

Questions or comments: email: masson. ken@gmail.com Ken Masson

By William Franklin

B

ack in the days of black and white TV, when it and I were young, I would hear my parents during a Playhouse 90 presentation (or something of the sort) exclaim, “Boy, can she act.” Or they would say, “Boy, can he act.” And I, being quite small, could not figure out why a perfectly good actor or actress should merit such attention from my mom and dad. I figured that there was acting and then there was really good acting and it was time I learned the difference. So I would ask my parents during just about every show since, “Can Lucy act. Can Matt Dillon act? Can Jack Webb act? Can Dennis the Menace act?”

And a funny thing would happen— my parents would start to wince whenever the question came up. It seems I always followed that question with a why or why not and, I will be damned, my folks didn’t have the slightest idea why someone could act or not. After 7000 questions and disappointing living room interviews, my parents couldn’t tell me what that thing was that made a good actor good or a bad actor bad. They and I didn’t have a clue. And another funny thing happened, their TV viewing comfort level started to fade. They started watching TV defensively, refraining from any pronouncements about a star’s ability and I knew then that I had taken some of the exuberance out of their previously confident TV viewing.

And another funny thing happened—my parents started enforcing my bedtime time, which previously was dependent on if I was sleepy, and now, before Naked City or Perry Mason even, I was supposed to go to bed.

So I really have not liked good actors ever since.

But this is not what I wanted to talk to you about. I just wanted to raise the question of how do you know when something is good (watch out) or bad, and if it is, should anyone dare mention it. So in order to avoid my parent’s syndrome of not having the slightest idea why they liked something, I thought it would behoove us to come up with criteria for the goodness of certain things.

Take harmonica playing for example. I think for a harmonica player to be good he should know how to play “Shenandoah.” And he should make you feel a little wistful while you are listening, and make you feel that rollin’ river. I surmise that if you are not

fe eeling that rollin’ river and at least feeling making some attempt to long to see it, emotionally at least, then that particular harmonica player does not merit a “Boy, can she play” or “Boy, can he play.” Or if the harmonica player is playing some jig and you find yourself still seated and not have one foot in the air high kicking like you’ve never high kicked before, then probably, no not probably, certainly, that’s not the kind of player we have in mind.

Or let’s say someone gets stupid and writes a novel. There is only one thing that can save a novel from two hundred pages of tedium. And that is if the villain is the most evil, dreadful, repulsive and mean-spirited jerk around.

To be reader-worthy, think Stalin on his worst day, torturing his buddy’s wife and then making his buddy bring him some coffee, or something pissy like that. Or, for example, have some working class Lothario seduce the rich, beautiful, innocent, generous-to-afault but crippled lady and steal all her money and then turn her out for some trashy thing that can walk. These are the kinds of things that make the reader crave turning pages until goodness triumphs and the reader can finally exclaim, “Boy, can she write” or “Boy, can he write.”

Then there is yo-yo playing. That is more obvious, even a playground child knows the art behind the yo-yo. If the expert can walk the dog, go around the world (and not knock anyone unconscious) and hold the string in two fingers like it’s a loom and he is doing some threading, then you have a yo-yo player.

So that is the concept. When evaluating something as abstract as acting or music or novel-making, the idea is to have some criteria that goes one step beyond mere endorsement. And be prepared to explain it to some kid.

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UUNCOMMON NCOMMON CCOMMON OMMON SSENSE ENSE

By Bill Frayer billfrayer@gmail.com

The Hubris of Modernity Bill Frayer

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n October, Václav Havel opened the Forum 2000 conference in Prague by observing its unsightly urban sprawl. He goes on to speculate why we are allowing our physical space, indeed our planet, to deteriorate so markedly. “We are living in the first atheistic civilization, in other words, a civilization that has lost its connection with the infinite and eternity. For that reason, it prefers shortterm profit to long-term profit. What is important is whether an investment will provide a return in ten or fifteen years; how it will affect the lives of our descendants in a hundred years is less important.”

By referring to our modern society as an “atheistic civilization,” he is not calling for a return to a medieval society dominated by religion and superstition. Rather, I think, he is suggesting that with our rejection of the infinite, we have become arrogant about our own abilities. “But with the cult of measurable profit, proven progress and visible usefulness, there disappears respect for mystery and along with it humble reverence for everything we shall never measure and know, not to mention the vexed question of the infinite and eternal, which were until recently the most important horizons of our actions. We have totally forgotten what all previous civilizations knew: that nothing is self-evident.”

Nothing, he suggests should be accepted because it is self-evident. So is it fair to suggest that we really do con-

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sider many things to be self-evident?

One example Havel uses is the current world financial crisis. The economic catastrophe caught most economists off guard, but it should not have. The economic prosperity of the previous decade was seen by the experts as a self-evident success of the free market system. Politicians removed regulations on business, particularly on Wall Street and the real estate market in the United States. To the economic elite, this growing economy was a self-evident result of capitalist free markets.

Very few professionals anticipated the crisis which occurred in 2008 with the collapse of Lehman Brothers in New York. Why? Havel suggests it was hubris, an overweening arrogance and self assuredness which blinds us to reality.

So, can this phenomenon of believing that truths are self-evident be applied to other aspects of contemporary life? Let’s look at a few other examples.

Politically, I think, most people accept their liberal or conservative views as self-evident. Most Liberals believe it is self-evident that the medical system would be more efficient and more fair if it was overseen, or even operated, by the government. Conservatives consider it self-evident that the free market is always more efficient and successful, even in health care. Most of us consider it obvious that technology is a good thing and that it will eventually solve many of our problems.

All of this hubris is a type of oversimplification and self-deception, I think. We want to believe the Enlightenment ideal that progress is good, that increased profits will benefit us all, and that if we win the lottery, we’ll be happier. That’s certainly self-evident.

Havel urges us to abandon the idea that anything is self-evident. “In all events, I am certain that our civilization is heading for catastrophe unless present-day humankind comes to its senses. And it can only come to its senses if it grapples with its short-sightedness, its stupid conviction of its omniscience and its swollen pride, which have been so deeply anchored in its thinking and actions.”

So what beliefs do you consider self evident? What makes you so sure?

Joyful Musings

By Joy Birnbach Dunstan, MA, LPC, MAC

How Sweet It Is!

’

T

is the se ason – for excesses of all sorts, especially sweets, as well as erratic schedules and irregular meals. All prime ingredients for hypoglycemia and its myriad effects on your body.

Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar falls below normal levels. It has multiple causes, but is often blamed on the sugar-laden American diet and is estimated by some physicians to affect over 20 million people in the United States. Skipping meals, high-sugar foods, and alcohol are common triggers. Other causes include caffeine, increased physical activity and certain medications. Diabetics are especially susceptible.

As a psychologist, I always consider overall lifestyle and eating habits because physical problems can have a powerful impact on the emotions.

Some major symptoms of hypoglycemia include mental confusion, fatigue, emotional instability, anxiety, and shakiness. According to some authorities, hypoglycemic individuals may experience more marital and family conflicts, have more accidents, and even commit suicide during an episode of low blood sugar.

Our body uses sugar as fuel to generate heat and energy. Glucose is the primary fuel for all muscle actions, and especially for our nerves and brain. The body likes to get its fuel in a steady, even supply. When we eat regular meals that include complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and breads, our body is happy and balanced.

When we eat food high in refined sugar, it is absorbed almost instantaneously, causing a sudden rush of glucose into the bloodstream. What goes up must come down, and this rapid increase in blood sugar is followed by a rapid decrease. Likewise, when we skip meals: with no nutritional input our blood sugar plummets.

With low blood sugar, a person’s energy and endurance levels decrease and emotional stability is lost. A hy-

poglycemic person will crave a quick pick-me-up. If they choose sweets, the blood sugar level will quickly go up, but it will just as quickly drop off, creating a vicious cycle. While their sugar level is high, they are hyperactive, energetic, and happy for a short time. Then they become exhausted, confused, and “bonkers” a short time later when there is the rapid drop in blood sugar level.

Studies have shown that caffeinated coffee increases hypoglycemia by stimulating the adrenal glands, which in turn affects the liver and the nervous system. Combining coffee and sugar is especially harmful, as are cola drinks due to the double-whammy of caffeine and sugar.

Alcohol is high in sugar and also induces hypoglycemia. All alcoholic beverages have the same general effect: while your liver is processing the alcohol you drink, it stops releasing glucose, the sugar that floats around in your bloodstream. This glucose-lowering effect can last for as long as eight to twelve hours after drinking. A hypoglycemic is particularly susceptible to becoming an alcoholic if they get caught in the vicious cycle of drinking to improve their sense of well-being with the initial buzz. When alcoholics stop drinking, they frequently substitute sweets because they are able to achieve a similar “high.”

It’s no wonder so many of us ride an emotional roller coaster during the holidays. Making healthy choices now and throughout the year is a good idea for everyone – not just those with blood sugar problems. Eat well to live well.

And don’t forget to check out my new book, Joyful Musings: Growing Up, Self-Discovery, and Reflections on Life North and South of the Border (available at Diane Pearl’s and Mia’s). Not only an interesting read, it also makes a great stocking stuffer. Happy holidays!

Editor’s Note: Joy is a practicing psychotherapist in Riberas. She can be contacted at joy@dunstan.org or 7654988

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ONLY IN MEXICO (Perhaps)

By Tom Clarkson

A

ll in the same week might you experience: —While waiting for your muffler to get fixed, ending up playing with your mechanic’s children and a baby Tejón.

—Seeing a guy trimming his toenails with a foot and a half long machete.

—While enjoying a drink on a beach seeing a stampede of cattle race past pursued by men on horseback.

—Dogs welcomed with their owners in most restaurants and certainly those that are on the beach.

—Might you use the three words “burritos,”“banos” and “baracho” all in the same place – possibly in the same sentence.

—Could three guys named Jesus cut your hair, water your plants and clean your pool.

—Your doctor spending the first half an hour talking about your family, your tropical garden and mutually appreciated eating establishments before inquiring about your health.

—The realization that you should - at no time - expect any particular product

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ny to be at any specific store at any given time.

—A car coming toward you on a oneway street racing full-out in reverse.

—It not being considered abnormal conduct for someone sitting next to you in an outdoor beach palapa restaurant to pull a snake out of his knapsack and start playing with it.

—Can you drive down the road, note a Topes Sign, carefully slow down, only to find out none exists in the area marked, hence re-accelerating to cruising speed just in time to hit one larger than a ’49 Hudson that’s not marked nor painted yellow.

—It not surprising to walk into your bathroom and find it already occupied by a large green iguana.

—Total entertainment, during the red stop light, in the middle of town, by a juggler, fire eater or clown.

—Is any prominently placed clock on the wall in a bank or hospital not necessarily expected to be working.

Alignment Her presence, the lack of it, has allowed normality to surge back in, equalizing pressures, allowing horizons to be level. yet the sky however full of new configurations, cannot obscure reality, nor remnant-memories hidden there like distant clouds caught and held secure. so sometimes in the infinity, arrays appear, alignments, coincidences of scent, and softness, length of hair, warmth of arm, combining

generating pain in the shock of recognition.

By Robert Moore

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By Paul Jackson paulconradjackson@gmail.com paulconradjackson@gmail.co m

Paul Jackson

A

worry for some Democrats following their November debacle is they have no Franklin Delano Roosevelt or even a Bill Clinton in the wings, and for the Republicans it is they have no Ronald Reagan offstage waiting for a call for a starring role.

Yet despite the shellacking President Barack Obama took - lowest Democrat showing in the House of Representatives in six decades - it’s not exactly the Jimmy Carter era all over again.

So what happened to Obama’s handy win just two years ago and why have the demoralized Republicans now become so re-energized?

A pundit once said a politician can only take a country and its people as far as they want to go, and the United States is basically a slightly right-ofcenter nation, while Canada is generally a slightly left-of center nation. The Democrats under Obama obviously tried to take the country too far to the Left too quickly.

This said, former Canadian Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney - who won the two largest majority governments in his nation’s history declared real leadership involved doing what is right, not what is popular at any given time.

Yet eventually, Mulroney rolled the dice once too often, resigned amidst disastrous opinion polls, and saw the monolithic majorities he had built topple to just a pitiful two Conservative

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seats in the 308-seat House of Commons.

So what did Canadians think of the midterm campaign? Generally, Canadians whether Conservatives, Liberals or New Democrats (Socialist Party) found it bizarre, ridiculous and even frightening. Compared to American campaigns, elections in Canada must seem almost mundane.

Canadians of all stripes are appalled by the vast amounts of money American parties, candidates and special interest groups spend, and by the inflammatory language used.

As I mentioned previously, Canada has strict political financing rules, and stringent libel and human rights laws - known as ‘hate crimes’ - that tone down rhetoric considerably.

On political financing, no corporation, union, lobbyist, or special interest or advocacy group can give a dime to a political party. Only individuals can, and their contributions are limited to $1,100 in any given year. The bulk of a political party’s financing comes from the $1.75 federal subsidy each party gets for each vote they got in the previous election. Indeed, while special interest and advocacy groups are allowed to buy newspaper advertisements and TV commercials throughout the year, once a federal election is called - and Canadian campaigns last only a merciful six weeks - special interest and advocacy groups are banned from advertising at all. So no entity can

buy a party or candidate off.

Canadian libel laws are rigorously enforced - to call a politician a liar would get an opponent before the courts in swift time, and human rights laws mean it is an offence to ridicule or scorn anyone - whether in politics or not - due to their color, creed, sex, sexual orientation or age. Such restrictions calm down obnoxious debate considerably.

Now, on learning about Canadian political financing, libel and human rights laws many Americans - both on the Liberal-Left and Conservative Right - protest and claim the American Con-

stitution guarantees free speech. Well, so does the Canadian Constitution but the non-partisan Supreme Court of Canada has ruled free speech must be ‘responsible free speech’ and not inflammatory. With that, I agree.

My own bottom line as a Conservative, is two years ago Obama won the presidency fairly and squarely, and last month the Republicans won the House, several more Senate seats and governorships fairly and squarely, too. That’s how democracy works. We should all accept the people’s choices. paulconradjackson@gmail.com

Saw you in the Ojo 17

Wondrous Wildlife

By Vern and Lori Gieger

wildlifemexico@wildtravellers.org 765-4916

They Live Where Where??

M

exico has some amazing wildlife. Many species of mammals live near rivers and lakes. When we think of aquatic mammals we usually think of beavers, muskrats, or perhaps even raccoons but not this species. When most think of an opossum we think of the common opossum, or perhaps their cute tiny cousin the marmosa mexicana; but not an opossum that is aquatic. Mexico is home to the only living aquatic marsupial.

It is called the water opossum and is also the only living marsupial in

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which both sexes have a pouch. The water opossum has distinctive adaptations for its watery lifestyle. They have short, dense fur which is waterrepellent much like that of an otter.

Their broad hind feet are webbed like other aquatic animals, which give them great momentum through the water, moving with alternate strokes.

They also have a long tail that assists in swimming and is used much like a rudder.

Their physical appearance is much different also, their fur is a marbled grey and black pattern while the muzzle, and head are all

black; with the exception of a lighter colored band running across the forehead to the ears. The front feet are not webbed but rather used to feel for and grab prey as they swim.

Unlike the common opossum which will eat almost anything, the water opossums hunt for fish, crustaceans and other small aquatic animals.

Being a marsupial and at the same time an aquatic animal poses some challenges but, the water opossum has evolved a way to protect its young while swimming. The pouch has a strong ring of muscles and the pouch opens to the rear, unlike the common opossum’s. One might think of their pouch as a bit like a ziplock baggie nice and watertight, so the babies remain dry, even when the mother is totally submerged in water.

The male also has a pouch although not as watertight as the female’s; and it serves a completely different purpose, he places his genitalia in it before swimming. It is believed that this protects the family jewels so to speak, and is helpful in streamlining the opossum as well.

Water opossums den near waterways and river banks; they tend to have permanent dens, unlike their

cousins the common opossums which tend to be much more nomadic and follow the ever changing food source. About the only thing they seem to have in common besides both being opossums, is that they are both nocturnal; and they rear their young in much the same way, however the water opossums usually only have two to four young, whereas the common opossum may have up to 13.

The longevity of the water opossums is not known; in captivity the average lifespan is approximately three years. The water opossum is an anti-social loner. They are not listed as endangered. However, they are indeed rare, whether this is due to its nocturnal and mysterious way of living or their small pockets of populations. Even researchers can only guess. Their habitat range is from southern Mexico to Brazil in subtropical to tropical areas, near freshwater streams.

The weird, wondrous and extraordinary fauna we share this planet with certainly leaves one in awe.

Speaking of awe, congrats to Lakeside Spay and Neuter / Ranch, on reaching their 10,000th spay / neuter.

Saw you in the Ojo 19

OF FAITH AND FABLES

By Bob Haynes bzhaynes@gmail.com bzhaynes@gmail.co m

A Matter Of Perseverance

T

he Apostle Paul wrote these words in the third chapter of Philippians: “One thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above.” That is good advice for all of us, I think. The image of ‘straining toward what is ahead’ and “trying to reach the goal” is like the long-distance runner whose focus is on the finish line and that focus will provide the strength to persevere, one step at a time.

Paul’s using a long-distance runner as an example reminded me of an event that took place here in Austin last month. The event was the first-ever Half-Iron Man Competition in Austin… and hundreds of participants took part, among them Marci’s daughter Melanie and her husband Rommel.

Melanie is an excellent runner!

Rommel is fantastic on the bicycle.

When they enter events they don’t just do a few jogs around the block.

They train for things like Triathlon’s, and hundred mile bike races. The goal for both is to participate in a full Iron Man race…and perhaps even the Boston Marathon. The amount of effort it takes to prepare for such an

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event is huge.

For such an event you must be able to run, bike, and swim in competition with others, as well as competition with the clock. I am in awe of their physical stamina and even more in awe of their perseverance in getting ready for the race, and for how they concentrate on that race as it evolves. One thing’s for certain, in such a race, one does not try to “rest on their laurels.” To be serious about marathons, you must be willing to persevere in your training.

I believe Melanie’s story applies to those of us who are in the midst of experiencing the battle against cancer. It’s a long, hard road with lots of pitfalls and trials. In order to do battle we must put on all our armor – our minds, our bodies, and our spirit. We must also make it clear that our goal is to reach the time when the cancer is no longer there and along the way, give thanks for the additional time that the treatments have given us.

Paul seems to tell us to put our past mistakes, victories, and self-reliance behind. In order to persevere we must focus our attention and energy on the goal we have set before us. For the Christian that means running toward a Jesus-centered life and leaving our self-centered life behind.

Most of all, he would tell us to keep moving forward because in doing so your endurance will increase the harder and the farther you run.

So Paul’s description of the runner and the race is a good one for all of us no matter where we are in our life’s journey. It takes perseverance toward maturity in our faith with the ultimate goal being that God can work through us as we do his work.

That being said, we have a choice each and every day that we live. After all, we live in an awesome world. Let’s make it an awesome day. Peace to all and may God bless you. Live simply.

Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And, leave the rest to God. Shalom!

Saw you in the Ojo 21

THIS WORLD of OURS

By Bob Harwood bharwoodb@hotmail.com

O

ur time in Russia in September gave us new perspectives on yet another corner of this world of ours. The West has tended to focus myopically on the Cold War and Communist eras, brief blips in the complex history of a vast country fronting on three oceans and spanning nine time zones. We spent several days in St. Petersburg, Paris of the East, Venice of the North. Its Hermitage Museum houses 3,000,000 works of art with soaring gilded salons devoted individually to the most renowned artists of seemingly every period.

Then it was a superb performance of Giselle at the Bolshoi Ballet Theater and touring Pushkin Palace built for Peter The Great in the 17th century. Maintenance of its exquisitely decorated, still pristine salons required 1000 servants to maintain. Leisurely hours were spent exploring St. Petersburg on land and on a canal system reminiscent of Venice or Amsterdam.

Our river cruise boat hotel then bore us from St. Petersburg to Moscow through the Waterway of the Czars via Europe’s two largest lakes and a rivercanal system flanked by serene landscapes. Daily we had ample shore time to explore historic villages and towns, ancient monasteries, the magnificent golden domed cathedral of Uglich, other cathedrals with multiple domes in every color of the rainbow, or, on Kizhi Island, crafted entirely of wood.

Inside, superb artistry and, more than once, superb singers awaited us. We queued at canal locks with river cruise ships and commercial traffic from distant oceans.

We docked in Yaroslavl as it marked its 1000th anniversary by hosting world leaders for a political summit analogous to Switzerland’s Davos Economic Summit. Well-informed lecturers onboard shared the complex history of Russia from ancient times through successive waves of European nations vying for supremacy, the long reign of the Romanov Czars when seemingly all of Europe’s royal families were intermarried on into the comparatively brief

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Communist era with both its pluses and minuses for Russia’s citizens.

We must reexamine a variety of Western perspectives. Gorbachev, whom we idolized during the Cold War, has a very negative image in Russia while Putin, their current Prime Minister and former President, has the highest approval rating of any world leader. Yes, many of our nationals lost their lives on the Western Fronts and in Asia during World War II. And 6,000,000 Jews perished in the Holocaust. But Russia lost a massive 27,000,000 of its citizens as so much of Germany’s military might was deflected to the East.

And have we forgotten that it was Russia’s Yuri Gagarin who became the first man in outer space on April 12, 1961, prompting President Kennedy to create NASA and all that has followed?

Russia, rich in many natural resources vital to today’s global economy, warrants a commensurate place in global discourse.

In the pedestrian friendly heart of Moscow vast Red Square is in turn bordered by the Kremlin’s magnificent cathedrals rivaled only by the multicolored domes of renowned St. Basil’s just outside its walls.

We walked to classical musical performances in period theaters, to art galleries, to the multi storied open galleries of the Gum Department Store and in an open market displaying colorful Russian wares. The architecture everywhere is magnificent. Commuters utilize multilane highways or a sophisticated Metro whose underground terminal in Central Moscow is another tourist must. There escalators carried us deep into the bowels of the earth to a splendid gallery of exquisite art through which we passed to board our train.

Set aside stereotypes of Dr. Zhivago and the Cold War blip of the 20th century.

Put a St. Petersburg to Moscow river cruise on your Bucket List of “Must Do’s.”

Bob Harwood

Saw you in the Ojo 23

AN ALL-STAR NEW YEAR’S PARTY

By Allen McGill

J

ulius was struggling to keep the stern demeanor that everyone expected of him, but the clever repartee emanating from the stage was about to trigger his laugh reflex.

“Oscar, sit down and behave yourself,” he called out, then turned away, arranging his toga and pretending not to notice the exaggerated look of indignation darted at him from the long-haired, bow-tied Edwardian gentleman standing in the spotlight.

“Watch yourself,” Oscar taunted.

“Maybe you can give orders to your Egyptian queen, my dear, but don’t think you…” The rest of his words were drowned out by the burst of laughter from everyone in the ballroom, led in volume and duration by Julius himself.

The enormous room was filled to capacity with a clientele that had never been seen, and never would be seen, by anyone in the real world.

The powers that be had decided that only the VIP room of the IHFS (International Historical Figure Society) would be spacious and luxurious enough to house such a mélange of “stellar” celebrities.

The seating arrangements had created problems that even a highestpower intellect would find exasperating. Space had booked up immediately, of course, as soon as the telepsychic message had been transmitted.

Everyone who was anyone (and they were all someone) wanted to attend, to be seen. The Kennedy’s reserved a table, of course, as did the Borgias, the Mings, the Barrymores and the Hapsburgs...before a stop was put to private parties.

Centuries of relationships created endless seating problems: who to sit with whom, considering ex-spouses, lovers, descendents, monarchies, show people, whores, poofs, butches and classes. Calling-card shuffling was suggested and tried, until very early on sudden revelations came to light

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that rendered that idea impractical.

One table, for example, turned out to be peopled by all women, including Mae, Marilyn, Marie and Jayne, among others. Of course, Gertrude didn’t seem to mind, but she was outvoted by a great majority.

Oscar ended his introduction of Adam and Eve, at which time everyone began talking animatedly. A and E (as they were known to the in crowd) were not very interesting people. They had so little to talk about, except that they were everyone’s parents! And they’d been running that topic into the ground since the beginning of time, for God’s sake, boring everyone silly. They insisted on MC’ing every gathering, claiming it was their due.

And who could say no?

Oscar yielded the spotlight to them, and returned to take his seat between Alexander and Rock. Many wondered who had arranged that little ménage-a-trois. However, it was certainly much better planning than the Adolph-Moses tablemate screwup. Fortunately, that potential brouhaha ended before either sat down, Adolph swapping seats with Golda.

The evening progressed remarkably well, considering the egos present to such an overwhelming degree: Enrico sang, as did Judy, Pavlova danced, Socrates orated, Tiny uked and, as is said: “a good time was had by all.”

When the entertainment ended, the table-hopping began; incredibly beautiful, talented, learned, (once) wealthy, charismatic, influential, famous people strolled throughout the ballroom, charming, flirting, kissing and flattering everyone and anyone.

And some edged off the sidelines into the ante-rooms, doing the same with others out of view.

Casanova, whom many were watching, being aware of his “earthier” antics, made a show of trying to simultaneously “date” Bette and Joan (of Mommy, Dearest notoriety) on the

dance floor. It was later rumored that he did it on a dare but, aristocrat that he is, he denied it.

Garbo danced with Marlene to make Tyrone jealous, who simply turned around to dance with Marilyn, until Jack cut in, who wound up on the floor when Jackie cut in...with an uppercut. What a fun party.

Voltaire and Kublai stood off in a corner chatting, while Idi and Malcolm stayed aloof, looking suspicious of everyone.

Everything would have ended just fine, except that one nameless, inebriated person grabbed the mike and the spotlight to announce: “We’re going to have a contest. Whoever can convince the crowd that he or she is the most famous person in history, will be honored with the title: Illustrious Eternal Being.”

Well, the buzz started low, accompanied by little movement. But booze (and whatever) had been having its effect and the buzz grew in volume, slowly, beginning in the center of the dance floor where Casanova had suddenly landed flat on his back, with Bette and Joan squaring off above him.

Shortly after, Lancelot belted Rocky, Abe shoved George, Lizzie jabbed Lucretia and the Stalin cold-cocked the

Chairman. Then all hell broke loose: punches flew, hair was pulled, eyes poked and the screaming and yelling made the old days of nuclear war sound like a quiet celebration.

“HOLD IT, YOUSE GUYS!” a voice boomed throughout the room. The shock of someone actually yelling at this elite crowd startled each and every one into a stunned silence. “HEY, DIS IS A NOO YEAHS PARTY! YOUSE GUYS ARE ACTING LIKE A BUNCHA HOODS!” It was Bogie, putting on his best “mobster” accent.

The Godfather, standing next to him, wheezed, “Now, I want you to cut this crap out, you hear me? Or I’m going to be very upset with each and every one of you. I know who you are and where to find you. Capiche?”

Silence permeated the room for a full minute. Then, gradually, spaces began to appear as the guests quietly eased their way toward the exits, unspeaking and un-touching.

The party ended ever so much more calmly than any of the previous ones had. It just shows you that when you have a group of classy people at an affair, it pays to have a good bouncer handy. A well-behaved one, who knows how to handle people... like, diplomatically, ya know?

Saw you in the Ojo 25

STAY HEALTHY!

By J. Manuel Cordova, M. D.t mdjmcordova1204@yahoo.com mdjmcordova1204@yahoo.co m www.mdjmcordova.com www.mdjmcordova.co m 376-766-2777 Medicines, Compound’s Laws and the Truth.

PART I

J

AMA (The Journal of American Medical Association) published an eye-opening report in 1998 that 106,000 hospital patients die each year from adverse reactions caused by prescription drugs. Over-the-counter or non-prescription nonsteroidal (No Cortizone Derived) anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen) are responsible for about 16,000 deaths each year. In 2005, the FDA received more than 300,000 serious adverse event reports about drugs. In the same year, it received only 500 such reports about dietary supplements.

Regarding vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements, Dr. Stengler lists some of the well-designed clinical studies and research that demonstrate the effectiveness of: Omega-3 fatty acids from fish or fish oils or from supplements to improve cardiovascular disease outcomes and reduce cardiovascular disease risk (American Heart Association) and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (Archives of Neurology, July 2006).

Vitamin C and E to reduce mortality rates from heart disease and other causes. A National Institute of Aging study of over 11,000 people between the ages of 67 and 105 found that those who used supplements of vitamins C and E in various dosages had a 53% reduction in mortality from heart disease and a 42% reduction in all-cause mor-

tality, compared with non-users.

Vitamin E to reduce heart disease.

A Harvard study of more than 80,000 female nurses ages 34 to 59 found a 41% reduction in the risk of heart disease in those who had taken daily vitamin E supplements of 100 IU or more for at least two years. A study of almost 40,000 male health professionals ages 40 to 75 years found that those who took daily vitamin E supplements of at least 100 IU for at least two years experienced a 37% reduced risk of heart disease.

Vitamin E to delay progression of Alzheimer’s disease. One study of moderate-severity Alzheimer’s patients conducted at Columbia University in New York City showed that a very high dose of vitamin E (2,000 IU) delayed the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin D helps keep bones strong and may help prevent osteoporosis (National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements).

Glucosamine/chondroitin for arthritis. Research funded partially by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases found this supplement combination significantly reduced osteoarthritis pain in those who initially had moderate to severe pain.

Ginkgo biloba to manage or improve cognitive function in elderly and Alzheimer’s patients (MedlinePlus), and for normal tension glaucoma (Ophthalmology, February, 2003).

Will be continued....

Manuel Cordova

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Saw you in the Ojo 27

TONGUE-TIED

By Kelly Hayes-Raitt Iraq 2003

T

he one I want to wrap in my arms and bring home is Nebras. I didn’t even know her name when I return to Iraq, shortly after the assault on Baghdad. I am armed with only a photo of a beggar touching her nose with her tongue.

I had met her a few months before, when I’d traveled to Iraq with a women’s delegation, just five weeks before the U.S. bombings and invasion. Unfazed by impending disaster, the little girl, old enough to be in primary school, had begged for handouts in a popular market. I had taught her to touch her nose with her tongue. She had followed me around the souk nearly swallowing her tongue in laughter as she imitated my nose-touching stunt.

She was cold. The dirty scarf wrapped loosely around her neck neither protected her from the chill nor hid her calculating ability to work the shoppers. Without a translator, the most I gathered was a photo of a gleeful girl with laughing eyes and an incredibly acrobatic tongue.

When I return to Iraq five months later to find how war had touched the people who had so deeply touched me, translators are reluctant to take me to the souk. The mood in Baghdad has shifted; gunfire is heard nightly. The day before I am to leave, I canvass the cluttered shops, flashing the little girl’s photo.

“Yes, that’s Nebras.” Finally, a shopkeeper gives a name to the girl whose deep, brown eyes had humanized the smoldering CNN newscasts that absorbed my life back home. “But I haven’t seen her in a while. Not since before the war.”

I catch my breath. I had just learned Nebras’ name. She can’t be one of the thousands of nameless Iraqis we dismissively call “collateral damage.” I step out into the bright sunlight and my translator catches my arm.

“We need to leave,” he insists. The equally insistent gunfire across the river rattles my nerve. I feel conspicuous in the souk’s crowded narrow alleys. People dart, avoiding eye contact.

Shops close prematurely. Barricaded soldiers seem hyper-alert in the edgy heat. I stifle my creeping panic as we worm our way back to our car.

Suddenly, a commotion erupts behind me and I turn around to see

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a crowd of men shoving toward me. I freeze. The shopkeepers part, revealing the terrified eyes of a familiar elfish girl they drag toward me by the scruff of her T-shirt.

Nebras doesn’t recognize me at first. Not until I show her photos of herself does she smile. Backed against a shop facing a tight crowd of curious men, Nebras retreats shyly, studying her photo intently. I shoo back the men who had treated this beggar only as a nuisance and, kneeling before her, I ask the interpreter to tell her I had come from America to see her.

Without warning, the overwhelmed girl lunges forward and kisses me on the lips. We buy her an ice cream from a passing vendor. She unwraps it and holds it out to me. My defenses melt.

After two weeks of rigorous attention to all food and water that passed my lips, I lick the sweet street fare sacrificing my intestines to this little girl’s pleasure at hosting a visitor with all she can offer.

She’s an only child who doesn’t know her age. It was particularly ironic that we had met outside the Al Mustanseria University, the world’s oldest science college, built in 1233. This girl’s only education is learned navigating the streets.

I empty my purse of dinars, stuffing the oily bills into her plastic purse. She gleefully buys another ice cream for us to share.

Rumors that the American troops had closed bridges and jammed traffic make us jittery. Nebras escorts me out of the dicey souk, grabbing my hand and expertly keeping my skirt from being snagged by the ubiquitous wartime razor wire.

As we pass a store being repainted, she mentions it had been hit during the war’s initial attacks. She said she’d spent the long nights of the early bombings in a nearby mosque.

I hug her harder than I intended. I feel her wiry hair against my cheek, her grungy T-shirt against my shoulder, her warm, open heart so willing to accept mine.

And then I’m gone.

Saw you in the Ojo 29

Hearts at Work

By Guest Columnist Robert Kleffel

Relationships

I

[

n recent conversations, Ajijic resident Robert Kleffel has offered some useful insights regarding relationships, which I asked him to sharee with you here.—James Tipton] Most of us agree that having good health is critical for a sense of well-being. The second most important component in our lives is having good relationships with our friends and family. In the past 20 years, the science of Evolutionary Biology has explored how important relationships are in our lives. The basic idea here is that people who have strong relationships have a better chance of survival. Over hundreds of thousands of years, humans who did not have strong relationships were eliminated from the gene pool. Those who remained have a propensity, built into their genes, into their DNA, to develop useful relationships. Philosophers, thinkers and gurus have expressed thoughts on how to develop and maintain these relationships.

We have further evidence of how important relationships are when we realize that relationships form the basis of almost all literature, art, music, plays and operas. What is clear from all of these forms of expression is that relationships are problematic.

What is it that causes such difficulty in developing and maintaining good

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relationships?

One problem is status. In the precivilization eras, humans survived and prospered not only by having close relationships but also by having high status. Tribal chiefs, expert hunters, and even craftsmen had high status, thus giving them control over others; and when trouble came they were the survivors who were still around to propagate the species.

Gaining high status, however, can be destructive to relationships. Politicians, businessmen and the wealthy use other people to gain their status that allows them to control others. In a book entitled The Moral Animal by Robert Wright, the author illustrates how most people spend a lot of time propping up their status. A local example is the “border promotion” phenomenon. We tend to exaggerate our importance, our accomplishments, our contacts and our wealth in the hope that this will improve our status. Another form of status enhancement is to tear down other people’s status in the hope that we will stand out. Put-downs and malicious gossip cause great harm to others and are destructive to relationships.

There is a true sense in which our behavior is being directed by our evolutionary development. What is very interesting is that we are unaware that we are being directed.

The classic example is our desire for sex. Very few people have sex for the purpose of having children. In fact, having children is usually the last thing that they want. But evolution’s plan is to get females pregnant to insure the survival of the species.

In relationships, evolutionary imperatives are in conflict with what is best for relationships. For example, the evolutionary imperative to gain high status often comes into conflict with trusting relationships. When we tear down others, we are not often aware of why we do it. “The devil made us do it.”

In the case of sexual intercourse, our bodies give us the pleasure of the big “O.” In good relationships, superior in many ways to the evolution-driven sexual intercourse, we get a relaxing sense of well-being that contributes to our happiness.

Studies have shown that people who have strong trusting relationships are healthier, live longer and are happier. Studies at the University of California show that thanking, forgiving and giving to others build strong relationships.

If we are aware that our evolutionary imperatives are trying to get us to do things that are destructive to quality relationships, we may be able to stop the “devil” within us. One of the best-known quotes from the Bible and—in actual practice—most ignored is: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” This is a simple and sound formula for maintaining strong healthy relationships, and strong relationships are the key to your personal happiness.

Saw you in the Ojo 31

By Victoria Schmidt

CFE and Me

L

ike most residents of Mexico, I don’t worry that much about crime, I live in fear of only one thing: the CFE bill. Every-other month, I held my breath hoping that we came in under the limit so that we didn’t end up in the dreaded DAC tariff level. Recently, we crossed the threshold for some inexplicable reason, and our bill tripled.

Trying to find the culprit isn’t easy.

We went to our rental company and asked to have our meter checked. They asked about our electricity guzzling appliances. We have no explanation… other than the old refrigerator. During the hot months, we run fans. No heaters in the cooler months. They said we should “wait.”

Another thing I don’t understand is the rationale about the tariff. If there is a threshold of 500-kilowatts, then the usage exceeds the 500-kilowatt limit, everything over that wattage should be charged at the tariff rate. But nope, go over that limit, and the entire bill is charged at the higher tariff rate…not just any kilowatts over 500.

The topic of the electricity cost inevitably comes up wherever ex-pats gather. Everyone has cost-saving ideas.

Everyone has suggestions and advice on how to save. Myself, I run around the house turning off lights, receivers, and anything electrical I can find…and our bill is still high.

There was one gentleman on a web board who knows the watts or volts

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used by each and every appliance he owns. Me? I don’t know the difference between watts or volts--except CFE charges by the watt. The goal is to stay under the 500-kilowatt limit for the billing cycle. We have yet to do that.

The other mystery is my bill. Where is it? Why do I never get it? It never shows up at our home. My rental agency just goes and gets a copy of the bill.

They know what my bill is before I do.

If CFE can read the meter, why can’t they deliver a bill?

If I did get a bill, I would take it to the CFE headquarters and talk to a representative, but I have heard horror stories from those that try. I’ve been told that they will come out and check the meter, but if they find no problem with the meter, then CFE charges for the trip. Of course, then there is that little matter of waiting for them to show up when they say they will be there “mañana.”

People have advised me to find a “good electrician” whom I can trust, and have him go through the house and make sure it is properly wired and make sure that I don’t have hungry appliances. Right. A good electrician I can trust. That was hard to find in the USA where I could call and ask all kinds of questions before I hired someone.

Here? Well, I have to hope that someone I know and trust has a great reference for me.

Keep in mind; I know that there is a problem with my electricity. Why? Because the lamp in our living room is constantly changing its brightness… all by itself. It goes from bright to dull to bright again. So, yes, I need to find that electrician. But what if the house needs rewiring? Who will pay for that?

My landlord? The rental company?

Yah, I hear the laughter too.

And once I find the problem, and correct the problem.

I must wait an entire year, or six billing cycles in order for CFE to take me off the dreaded DAC rate.

See why I think CFE is totally scary?

Victoria Schmidt

Saw you in the Ojo 33

THE WILD BUNCH

By Julie D’Costa

T

here is a Wild Bunch in the Lakeside area that you will want to know about. These are intelligent folks, keenly observant and well -informed. They are also well connected and work closely with officials at the state and federal levels.

These folks are the Lakeside Wildlife Rescue team and their mission is twofold: to rescue, rehabilitate and release wild animals that get into trouble; and to educate the local community on the value and importance of protecting our local fauna, whether on the endangered list or not. They have what amounts to a

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small zoo, where they nurture and care for displaced and injured animals until they can be rehabilitated and released back into the wild.

They work with all kinds of animals: birds of all kinds including falcons and eagles; local indigenous animals such as deer, possums, skunks, raccoons, foxes, an armadillo, iguanas, coati mundis, and a magnificent ocelot that was released some time ago; a wild boar; snakes of all kinds – from the ubiquitous and indigenous corn snakes to a seven foot python; alligators and turtles; and scorpions from all over the world.

They have a significant impact on

the community. As part of their mission of educating the public, they take their menagerie to the people - wherever they may be. They can be found at the most unlikely places: in school classrooms, at public functions like the Chili Cookoff, at the Lake Chapala Society, and on street corners.

They come with cages, boxes, perches and pools filled with all sorts of critters of all shapes and sizes, colors and varieties. And they provide a unique opportunity for all of us to see and touch animals that ordinarily we would rarely if ever encounter in the course of our normal lives: In these situations, they are aided by the innate curiosity of all of us to see and touch our fellow wild creatures. Imagine you are walking along the malecon in Chapala and come across this menagerie in front of city hall. What kinds of reactions might you see?

A very small portion of people turn and walk away. The vast majority are drawn to the scene with a sense of wonder and awe. They are drawn by the opportunity to experience the animals first hand and many feel compelled to experience the animals through touch.

This is how attitudes are changed.

Education is so important for all of us. You may not know that in Mexico it is a federal crime to possess, transport, buy, sell, or kill any wild animal that is considered endemic, under special protection, threatened, or in danger of extinction, or to otherwise cause damage to the genetic pool. Depending upon the species involved, penalties are: 1 to 9 years in prison, as well as fines up to $2,341,000.00 pesos (approximately $200,000 USD), as well as possible deportation for non-Mexican citizens. Tough measures if you ask me. However, given that many endemic species are in serious trouble or in danger of extinction, one can understand their position.

The Lakeside Wildlife Rescue team is made up of 100% volunteers. No one receives a penny. They rely exclusively on donations for food, medicine and care of animals, for cages, flyers, bumper stickers, and signs.

So the next time you see the Lakeside Wildlife Rescue crew and their wonderful critters, go up close and experience the wonder of our natural wildlife. You will be glad you did.

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Anyone A nyone C Can an Train Train n Their Their rD Dog og

By Art Hess arthedogguy@yahoo.com

Introducing A New Dog

W

hen introducing and/ or meeting new dogs, there two basic requirements: space and loose leashes, both of which most people fail to include. First, let’s consider space. Dogs aren’t a lot unlike people. They get along with most others of their breed but with some others they need a little more time.

If we put two people in an elevator, they may hit it off but most likely they would feel uncomfortable and prefer to be some other place. If we put these two strangers on a football field where only the food and water were in a common space, the chances are these same two people would gradually get to

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know one another and become comfortable sharing their environment with one another.

Dogs aren’t a whole lot different. If we jam them together in a small space like a carport or small yard for example and then shove them nose to nose and say “Here’s your new buddy,” there’s every reason for them to be less than excited about this forced meeting. To make matters worse most people will be nervous themselves and will wind the leash around their wrist until the poor dog has no wiggle room.

Dogs want the option to leave the area when things become strange and different and the problem is when we tighten that leash up like a fiddle string,

El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

we completely remove the flight optio tion and poor peace loving Buddy’s au auto pilot kicks in. His mind goes from flight to defense and when he can’t get any slack or maneuver space out of the leash he goes from defense to offense.

This is when he appears to become aggressive and the handler proceeds to yell and jerk on the strangulating leash and all hell breaks loose and the mutual gathering ceremony goes head first into the proverbial crapper. So lots of space, completely loose leashes so the dogs can get to know one another on their terms and take your time.

Okay, now the dogs decide they’ll give it a shot and you say okay this is going to work so new dog can stay and everything will work itself out.

It’s not uncommon when we introduce a new dog to a multi pet environment we will experience some difficulties with minor spats or anxiety situations like unusual urinating and marking in the house or the existing dog going off his food and sulking and a myriad of other problems. The first and most important thing is to focus ALL of your affection and attention on the EXISTING animal for 6 to 10 days if you can hold out that long. It’s the existing dog who is having his environment and his entire world invaded. He

needs the assurance that everything is going to be okay and he isn’t losing anything.

Remember, the new dog doesn’t know you or the new environment so he has no preconceived notions about what to expect or what is expected of him. Don’t worry about hurting his feelings because he’ll get lots of loving and attention after the settling period passes.

Loose Leashes!

Art Hess

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The Aztlan Kid

By RM Krakoff Review by Harriet Hart

A

uthor R.M. Krakoff describes his third novel The Aztlan Kid: Estranged Man in a Strange Land as an “alternative history/action/adventure novel.” In it he rewrites the history of Mexico.

The Aztlan Nation did not succumb to the onslaught of Cortez in 1519.

Instead, it pushed the conquistadors back to the sea; they’d burned their ships and had no means of escape so were captured, imprisoned and killed.

Cortez was executed.

Having survived the Spanish attempt at conquest, the Aztlan Nation developed into a flourishing culture with a government that placed the welfare of its citizenry first. By 2010, the Mexica Empire is one of the largest, richest nations on earth with borders that range north to Oregon, east to Louisiana and south to Honduras whereas the USA has only 44 states.

The Aztlans isolate themselves, practicing economic nationalism and avoiding external conflict with their non- interventionist military policy.

They keep a highly skilled army and navy in case of an attempted invasion by their nearest neighbour to the north.

The Appendix provides a fictional time line beginning with the Nahuatl speaking peoples settling in Mexico in the 6th century and outlining their subsequent accomplishments: devel-

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

oping a sewage system for Europe in 1855, inventing the first telephone switchboard in 1893 and sending the first unmanned space probe to reach the moon in 1959.

As the novel opens, protagonist Tototl, a biotechnologist working on a method of growing food on Mars, arrives in New York City to attend a United Nations conference. We see America through his eyes: dangerous, unhealthy, crowded and polluted. Tototl is under CIA surveillance, watched by novice CIA agent, Ollin. Nicknamed Oso, the Aztlan Bear, he defected from the Aztlan Nation because it banned the consumption of alcohol. Oso possesses no political ideals and is untroubled by ethical concerns. He’s here for the beer.

Krakoff is at his best narrating the cloak and dagger, hero versus villain chase and encounter scenes. The plot is vast and furious, the outcomes uncertain. He creates likeable and believable main characters: the handsome Mexican scientist, the lovely Lika and the intrepid Amoxtli who is determined to save their lives. Krakoff is equally gifted at painting his villains: the despicable CIA agent and the ruthless hired killer, former Green Beret Colonel Schwartz, dispatched in case Agent Oso fails.

This novel would make a great action flick with its fast moving plot and sustained conflict. It’s a quick read, perfect for air travel or the doctor’s waiting room and will have you on the edge of your seat.

Krakoff ’s “alternate history” is really a critique of current US society and political system. His satire laced with humour provides food for serious thought. Could there be a government on Earth that puts its citizens first? Will there be a space race to colonize Mars because we’ve trashed this planet with our greed and aggression?

To find out, buy The Aztlan Kid, available at Diane Pearl’s Collecion on Colon in Ajijic. The novel is also available on Kindle.

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PERRY’S P ERRY’S ABSURD ABSURD IDEA IDEA

By Lourdes Cardenas (Courtesy of The El Paso Times)

G

overnor Rick Perry ‘ss statement support-ing the idea of send-ing U.S. troops to help Mexico co fight the drug cartels will create te controversy on the other side of the border. It is ironic that Perry erry made that statement exactly one day before Mexicans will celebrate brate the centennial of the revolution n that ended up the 26-year dictatorship hip of General Porfirio Díaz.

Mexicans do not have good memories of U.S. interventions. You need only to mention the 1846-1848 U.S-Mexico War–when Mexico lost a big part of its territory–to provoke a complete rejection of any idea of American intervention.

Historically, Mexicans have not viewed American intervention as support for the people (el pueblo). When they have come into the country, Americans have supported the interests of private companies or they have backed politicians hated by the people.

In 1906, for example, when Porfirio Diaz was still in power, American troops came into the country to help the dictator to crush a miners’ strike in Cananea, Sonora.

The mine, Cananea Consolidated Copper Company, was owned by William C. Greene, who asked for help from the government of Arizona. In response to his petition, the government sent a group of rangers to protect the company’s facilities and to quell the unrest.

In doing so, the rangers were actively

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

i n volved in the killing of several of the rebel miners. The Cananea strike is considered a precursor to the Revolution.

Eight years later, U.S. troops invaded again, this time to occupy Veracruz and to reject the government of Victoriano Huerta, which, by the way, came into power due to the assistance of the infamous US Ambassador Henry Lane Wilson. The U.S intervention in Veracruz lasted six months. And again, in 1916, U.S. troops were sent to Mexico to pursue Pancho Villa, who had dared to invade the US through Columbus, Nuevo Mexico. General Brigadier John J. Pershing was appointed by President Wilson to lead an army of 4,800 troops on a punitive expedition into Mexico.

However, the mission failed.

The problems that Mexico is facing now are totally different from the ones that prevailed during the revolution, but the America’s special interests in Mexico are as strong as they were during the 20th Century. Shared concerns such as immigration, border security, trade, investment, flow of capital,

among others, could explain Perry’s suggestion about sending troops to Mexico. Mexicans are very concerned about the violence of the drug war and they want a solution to the problem, but that doesn’t mean that they support a foreign intervention of troops, although they would support more American involvement in terms of training and financial help.

Last August, the Pew Research Center released a survey that showed that 78 percent of Mexicans favor the US providing training to Mexican police and military personnel.

“A smaller majority (57%) favors the U.S. providing money and weapons to Mexican police and military personnel, down slightly from 63% last year…

Opposition to the deployment of U.S. troops in Mexico has also increased from an already high 59% last year to 67% in the current survey.”

The Pew survey also showed that the support for American assistance to Mexican forces tends to be strongest in northern Mexico, where the violence has affected people more directly and dramatically. Mexico and the US have been working together to fight drug trafficking because this is a problem that concerns and affects both countries. As we know, through the Merida Initiative the US is helping Mexico with

over $1.3 billion for police professionalization, judicial and prison reform, border security, intelligence and many other issues.

Furthermore, according to Mexican magazine Proceso, the US has already established a bi-national center of intelligence in Mexico, from where agents from the CIA, DEA, ATF and the Pentagon are already investigating drug trafficking organizations and organized crime.

If the US is already helping Mexico and getting involved in the drug war –through training, research, intelligence and resources–why would Perry voice such an absurd idea?

(Ed. Note: Governor Perry is famous for making fatuous statements, viz. his call for Texas to secede from the Union.

This is more than stupid, it is deeply offensive. Perry seems to have forgotten a war in which hundreds of thousands of brave Americans fought and died over this very issue. Perry also seems to have overlooked the fact that if such a secession came to pass, all federal military installations and financial assistance would quickly vanish, causing Texas to immediately thereafter declare bankruptcy. This all makes me wonder how my beloved home-state of Texas can elect such mentally-challenged politicians. AG)

Saw you in the Ojo 41

Phone: (376) 766-4774 or 765-3676 to leave messages Email: kdavis987@gmail.com PAST EVENTS: Jill Flyer entered a contest for black and white photos in The Premiere photo magazine in the US, appropriately called B & W Magazine. One of the images sent was selected for a Merit Award. The image will appear in Special Issue #80 of the magazine which arrives on US newsstands the first week of December. Now the challenge is getting them here to Lake Chapala.

Nonetheless, we congratulate her for her winning entry.

In October the Rotary Club of Generaciones, Jill Flyer’s award Ajijic named Bob Salvatore “Mr. winning B & W photo Rotarian Ajijic” in recognition of his tireless efforts on behalf of Rotary International. Mr. Salvatore served as Rotary Club Ajijic’s president from July 2009 through July 2010. The local Rotary is one of the few English-speaking Rotaries in Mexico, serving the community since 2002.

For information visit the website at www.rotaryajijic.com or stop by the Rotary Table at LCS on Mondays from 10 – 12.

At their November meeting, the Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic featured Italian food. Winners were: Category A: 1st Place: Pam Ladd – Italian Sausage Cheese Strata, Bechemal Sauce Second: Linda Fossi – Italian Flag Chicken Third: Patrick Winn – Melanzane (Eggplant) Alla Parmigiana Category B: 1st Place: Phil Posner – Apple Cannoli Bob Salvatore accepts plaque with Brandy Cream Sauce for Rotary service from VP Second: Kenee Campo – Zuccotto with Sandra Loridans Amaretto Sauce Third: Roberta Hilleman – Almond and Pistachio Biscotti People’s Choice Winners:

Roberta Hilleman, Kenee Campo, Phil Posner

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Category A: Pam Ladd – Italian Sausage Cheese Strata, Bechamel Sauce Category B: Joann Nash – White Chocolate Tiramisu Trifle, Spiced Peaches All who would like to join in learning about, preparing, and enjoying good food are encouraged to call Patrick Winn at 766-4842. He can also be reached by email at patriciowinn@hotmail.com, and would be delighted to invite those interested to come as his guest.

In November Feria Maestros del Arte was here for the 9th Annual Exposiciόn at Club de Yates Chapala (Chapala Yacht Club). This yearly art show promotes the rapidly disappearing folk and indigenous art Feria rebozo demonstration of Mexico. Artists come from all corners of the country. In addition to the 72 artists’ craftsmanship, highlights at this year’s show included tequila tasting, a daily fashion show, music and a rebozo (scarf) spectacle. The trick in wearing the rebozo is to accent or contrast the rebozo color with the outfit, then tie and sometimes twist the rebozo for different effects, e.g. cover one shoulder or both.

In November there were two book readings & signings. One was a poetry reading by four local poets, each in a different style and yet all were beautiful. The reading was held at Sol Mexicano at Colon #13, a gallery with a delightful back patio. The second reading was

by Jay White, a local writer of humor, primarily.

His reading was held at Casa del Sol, a B&B set right in town and offering great coffee.

These are the books for your Christmas list: Jim Tipton’s three books of tanka (short) poetry in both English and Spanish, Judy Dykstra-Brown’s Prairie Moths (about growing up in a rural area), Margaret Van Every’s A Pillow Stuffed With Diamonds (impressions of Mexico in the tanka style), Michael Warren’s A Particular Blue (a mix of poetry), and Jay White’s Havoc in Judy Dykstra-Brown Motion (short stories). All are available through Diane Pearl’s Colecciones at Colon & Ocampo and at Coffee & Bagels on the carretera just west of the traffic light at Juárez. Also look for these at the book store at Bugambilias Plaza and various coffee shops where books are sold. All are good reading.

In November Jay Koppelman, photographer, opened a new gallery called Salon 18, located at #18 Colon, phone 766 - 3745. The photos feature scenes from Lake Chapala and San Juan de Allende plus those from his travels in South America. Jay has also prepared a gorgeous book of photos from his experiences in Mexico. The book is called The Through Line – A Journey from Darkness into Life in Mexico ($250 pesos).

See his blog at thethroughline.wordpress. com or email archonimages@hotmail.com.

EVENTS TO COME: On December 4, 10 – 5, St. Andrew’s Outreach Regalorama will hold the mother of all garage sales at Calle San Lucas #19, Riberas del Pilar. Find treasures and fashions, yummy homemade baked goods, jams, pickles, candles too. The tea room Woman in Hat offers coffee or tea and scones for refreshment, spaghetti for heartier appetites, and there’s a 50/50 raffle. It’s always a fun day with proceeds to help Lakeside charities.

On December 6 Lakeside Friends of the Animals are holding “An Evening in Casablanca” at Restaurant Four in Ajijic. The restaurant will be turned into Rick’s Café Americain from the movie, complete with decor and music from the 1940s. Many of those attending will wear clothing representative of that era.

Lakeside Friends of the Animals provides funding to individuals and some animal welfare organizations who help cats and dogs here at Lakeside, with special emphasis on assisting Mexicans of limited means.

December 12 – 13 will be the Los Cantantes Christmas songfest on Sunday at 3 p.m. and Monday at 7 p.m. at the Auditorio in La Floresta. The performance features an 8-piece brass plus percussion orchestra. Tickets are available at LCS Tick-

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

Saw you in the Ojo 43

W hen the first Bishop ar-

rived in Michoacan he found his new diocese in chaos—the people demoralized, their rulers dead, their fields and shops destroyed and their trade disrupted. Nuno de Guzman, self styled King of the Tarascans, had indulged in a rampage of torturing and killing before fleeing to spread his particular brand of devastation further in Jalisco.

Don Vasco de Quiroga faced the formidable task of trying to pacify, to say nothing of convert, a sullen populace utterly disenchanted with anything Spanish.

He began by feeding the hungry, founding schools and hospitals

and, more important, shoring up the shattered economy. It is said that he defied his king and risked a death penalty by importing young olive trees from Spain to provide a new industry. He also supported reestablishment of old crafts and brought European artisans to teach new and improved ones. To avoid competition for the same limited markets, he encouraged each village to specialize in one particular craft or product. Weavers and stone carvers, potters and metal workers—all the skilled craftsmen answered his call.

The love and reverence in which the people hold Don Vasco’ memory and the stunning variety of crafts they still produce are ample evidence of his success.

Tzintzuntzan This village with the singing name that

means “where the hummingbirds are” was once the capital of the great Purepecha empire and the site of the first cathedral, though that was later moved to Patzcuaro.

It specializes in pottery with a creamy white glaze decorated with simple line drawings in black. The drawings, often crudely done but always charming, reflect the major local industry and show fish, boats or fishermen wielding the graceful butterfly nets that have become the trademark of Lake Patzcuaro.

Capula Capula’s artisans are also ceramicists but their products bear little resemblance to the simple wares of Tzintzuntzan. Again, the subject is often fish but the execution is far more sophisticated. Against a warm brown background, usually with a scrolled border of bright blue or green, very lifelike fish swim vigourously. The whole central motif is then stippled with thousands of tiny dots in a creamy beige much like a pointillist painting.

Santa Clara del Cobre The craftsmen of the Purepecha were already noted for metallurgical skills far in advance of their neighbors. There is even speculation that their remote ancestors brought the knowledge with them from far-away Peru. Naturally, a village called Saint Clara of the Copper (now a National Historical Monument) chose working with that metal as its spe-

cialty. Today, the sound of metal being hammered into shape reverberates through streets lined with shops selling a profusion of gleaming ornamental and utilitarian articles that will, with age, acquire the lovely mellow patina shown here.

Paracho In the mountainous areas of Michoacan there are unexpected villages of wooden houses with steep roofs and sweeping eaves that would look more at home in Switzerland than in Mexico.

Paracho is just such a village and its craft specialty is equally surprising. If you have ever wondered where all those fancy guitars come from, this is the place.

The lovingly crafted instruments produced here have earned an international reputation for both quality of workmanship and musical tone.

Uruapan Craftsmen here are skilled in the exacting art of lacquer ware.

This requires the application of many coats of brilliant lacquer ending with the b a c k g ro u n d color. The design is then developed by carefully cutting away overlying layers to reveal the desired color. Though the final product is well worth the effort, the process is so delicate and time consuming that it is in danger of dying out. Much of the work found in Uruapan today is simply painted. Only a few craftsmen cling to the old ways to produce masterpieces of color and texture such as this hexagonal tray.

San Jose de Gracias This is where skilled potters specialize in

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

Saw you in the Ojo 47

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

pineapple pots, so called because in shape and texture they vaguely resemble that fruit. A few of these very elaborate pots even wear a golden brown glaze. Traditionally, however, they are a vivid green. The texture is achieved by appliqueing thin bits of clay to the basic form and lids are often in the shape of spiked foliage. Designed to serve pulque, they were originally quite large and were often equipped with matching cups hung on hooks. The collection shown here is only a sample of the many sizes and shapes produced today.

Patzcuaro Tarascan women are noted for their fine needlework. Their ancient costume of falda and huipile, still widely worn, is lavishly embroidered in a brilliant array of colors. Since each village has its own special patterns and motifs, the expert can not only tell at a glance where a garment came from, but, quite often, name the family of the woman who produced it. Many earn extra money by producing items like this handsome re b o z o w h i c h , though traditional in execution, are specifically designed for the tourist trade.

Tocuaro Masks have always played an important part in Mexican life and the artisans of Tocuaro have long been noted for their skill in carving and painting the wooden likenesses of saints and demons, heroes and villains

used in the historical dramas, morality plays and comic shenanigans which enliven every fiesta. Especially popular in Michoacan is the Los Viejitos dance in which boys don wrinkled, toothless masks and act the part of little old men whose shuffling antics always include a great deal of hilarious horseplay.

Erongaricuaro Many village craftsmen work with wood, producing beautifully carved furniture, doors and screens as well as hand turned wooden bowls and statues of everything from horses to saints.

Erongaricuaro, once known for its textiles, now boasts a small factory and does a thriving business making fine furniture for export to the States.

The elaborate mirror frame shown here, though actually from Patzcuaro, is typical of the lovely pieces produced in obscure back yard workshops all over Michoacan.

glee, are typical of the whimsical humor displayed in their work.

cluding the decidedly “unholy� family, sporting horns instead of halos. These delightfully demonic motor-cyclists, cruising along with expressions of fiendish

Ocumicho Though the villagers of Ocumicho practice an ancient craft, their subject matter is definitely post conquest. Local legend has it that one of the local potters wryly remarked that, since, according to the priests, they were all going to hell anyway, they might as well choose devils as their specialty. And devils it is; devils alone brandishing pitchforks, devils in groups engaged in various extremely unlikely activities, even diabolic nativities with everyone, in-

Saw you in the Ojo 49

ets Etc. 10 – 12 (M – F) or from any Los Cantantes member. You can also contact Viva! La Musica’s Rosemary Keeling at 766 – 1801. This is going to be a fantastic concert – it certainly was last year.

December 13 will be a super Holiday Cocktail Supper Party to celebrate Love in Action and their work with children. All are invited to enjoy fabulous food, an open bar, music and entertainment, in a beautiful private residence in Ajijic, thanks to the generosity of the benefactors. All proceeds will go to the Love in Action Center. Tickets are $1000 pesos and limited to 200. Make your reservations early through Bettina Rigby at 766 – 0149 or bettinarigby@hotmail.com or Dixie Topham at 766 – 5987 or dixielt@gmail.com. You can read more about the facility at www.loveinactioncenter.org.

On December 16 at 5 p.m. Libby Townsend will hold her annual Christmas party to benefit the indigenous Tarahumara of Copper Canyon at her home located at Calle Ocampo 98, #2 at Seis Esquinas (Six Corners) in Ajijic. Tickets are $100 pesos each and can be purchased at the Guadalajara Reporter office in Plaza Bugam- Casablanca Night at #4 bilias next to El Torito Super Market, Addiction

by Jose Melendrez on Ajijic’s main plaza or by calling 766 – 1167. All proceeds go to purchasing medicines and blankets for the free Tarahumara children’s hospital in Creel, Chihuahua.

The winter is cold and the need is great. Come drink, snack and be merry while you save a life.

On January 1 at 1 p.m. Cruz Roja will start the 2nd annual Polar Bear Swim on the Chapala malecon in front of the Beer Garden.

Several hardy souls have already signed up to participate and sponsors are being lined up. At 2 p.m. following the “chilly dip”, there will be a raffle draw. Prizes are $20,000 pesos, $10,000 pesos and $5,000 pesos.

All swimmers will be rewarded with specially designed T-shirts and there will be prizes Los Cantantes Christmas poster awarded in a variety of categories. The name of the participant who gathers the most pledges will be inscribed on the Cruz Roja Polar Bear Trophy. For more information, to register for the swim, and to get pledge sheets, contact any of the following Cruz Roja Chapala volunteers: Pancho Deriger at 765 – 6455, Charlie Klestadt on his cell phone 331 – 445 – 2136, or Don Fraser at 766 – 4990.

Mulitple Events: #13 - The American Legion post #7 schedule for December: Sundays: 12 – 3 p.m. Legion grill burgers Dec 1.....9 – 9:45 a.m. – US Consulate (Note new hours!)

Dec 3.....8 – 1 p.m. – Yard Sale Dec 5.....8 a.m. – 10th Annual Arts & Crafts (no grill this Sunday!)

Polar Bear Dec 17.....3 p.m. – Movie: Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Plunge – Yikes!

Christmas Special Dec 18.....3 p.m. – Maple Leaf Club (Canadian Day) Dec 21.....4 p.m. – Fish Fry Dec 25.....closed – Merry Christmas!

Dec 31.....2 p.m. – Shrimp Boil (all you can eat) For information, call 765 – 2259 or www.americanlegionchapalapost7.org The Lake Chapala Society Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at 10 a.m. on December 14, 2010 at the LCS grounds. The AGM will be followed by an Extraordinary Meeting (EM) at 12 noon, the purpose of which is for the membership to vote on the New Constitution which may be viewed online at www.lakechapalasociety. org.

The LCS Singles Mix & Match group has a December 14 Lake Panorama Party on an excursion boat launch scheduled for 2 p.m. It will be a three hour voyage offering spectacular views and guided commentary. Passengers can enjoy food catered by

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Ruben’s Restaurant and unlimited free drinks for one all-inclusive price of $260 pesos per person. The boat will return to the pier about 5 p.m. A minimum of 40 persons is required, so early sign-up is essential. For further information, log onto lcmixnmatch@yahoogroups.com or email inajijicpat@yahoo.com.

Lakeside Little Theatre news: The third show of Season 46 of the LLT is Ken Ludwig’s farce Lend Me a Tenor. Roger Tredway directs this rollicking comedy about the biggest night of opera in Cleveland’s history – and the mistaken identity and unmistakable mayhem that ensues. Performances run from December 11 – 19.

The LLT is calling for plays for Season 47, 2011 – 2012. Interested directors should please provide details of experience and a copy of up to three scripts: one comedy, one drama, and a third in the genre of choice. Deadline is noon on January 10, 2011.

If you would like to volunteer behind the scenes, the LLT is always looking for people to train in lighting, sound, wardrobe, props, make-up, stage managing and other positions. Contact Don Chaloner at 766 – 1975 or email at 77dondo@gmail.com.

MAS MUSICA (Music Appreciation Society) performances will be at the Auditorio de la Ribera in La Floresta. The scheduled season is: Dec. 14 – Chris Wilshire and his 18 piece Chamber Orchestra will delight guests with unforgettable performances of Corelli, Grieg, Holst, and Copeland Jan. 13 – Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra, Guadalajara’s world-class symphony with an “Enchanted Evening in Paris – 1910” Feb. 15 – Bob Milne, Ragtime and Jazz piano virtuoso and historian, is sure to hold us spellbound during this final exciting event of the concert season MAS MUSICA is always happy to welcome new volunteers to help with ticket sales, hospitality and other concert related duties. Please contact Beverly at 765 – 6409, bjely49@hotmail.com. Also, refer to web site MASajijic.com.

Open Circle meets at the back patio of the Lake Chapala Society each Sunday morning at 10:15 for mini-sandwiches and coffee followed by a speaker who talks on the topic of the day. No products are sold, and no religion is touted.

Dec. 5 Phil Shepherd – In My Soul I am Free (spiritualism) Dec. 12 Patsy Krakoff – New Brain Scan Technology Revelations Dec. 19 Susan Miller – a holiday musical perspective Dec. 26 Alicia Makinajian December 7, 8, 9 & 10 at 3 p.m. The Naked Stage presents its 2nd Annual Xmas Turkey with Hams, a loony Ajijic Christmas party.

Come all ye faithful – unfaithful also welcome. The Naked Stage is now at Teatro Penqueño, located on the north side of the carretera just west of Pemex. Reservations are a must! Donations: $80 pesos. Call 765 – 2530 or email thenakedstagegroup@gmail.com.

VIVA! LA MUSICA Bus trips to the ‘Live from the Met’ Opera series at Teatro Diana: Dec 11 – Don Carlo (Verdi) show at 11:30 a.m., bus leaves at 10 a.m.

Jan 8 – La Fanciulla del West (Puccini) at noon, bus at 10:30 a.m.

Feb 26 – Iphigene en Tauride (Gluck) at noon, bus at 10:30 a.m.

Mar 19 – Lucio di Lammermoor (Donizetti) at 11 a.m., Xmas Turkey with bus at 9:30 Hams at Naked Stage Apr 9 – Le Comte Orcy (Rossini) at noon, bus leaves at 10:30 a.m.

Apr 23 – Capriccio (R. Strauss) at noon, bus leaves at 10:30 a.m.

Apr 30 – Il Trovatore (Verdi) at noon, bus leaves at 10:30 a.m.

May 14 – Die Walkure (Wagner) at 11 a.m., bus leaves at 9:30 a.m.

Contact Marshall Krantz at 766 – 2834. Tickets cost $300 pesos for members, $350 pesos for non-members.

Viva Members 2011 Season Kick-off Party also invites non-members for January 16, 2011, 4 – 6 p.m. Roseann Wilshere has graciously opened her home for the party.

This is a wonderful time to make new musical friends and renew old acquaintances! Renew your membership or bring your 2011 membership card. Friends and nonmembers are welcome to attend for $200 pesos.

Don Carlo by Verdi

Saw you in the Ojo 51

Books, Books, Books!

B

uy your Christmas presents early this year, and give something that will enrich the lives of everyone who loves Mexico. Choose from three unique portraits of life in days gone by...

VILLAGE IN THE SUN (200 pesos) is a warm-hearted description of life on the shores of Lake Chapala in the years immediately after the war, in the days when a car was an event.

HOUSE IN THE SUN (200 pesos) is a colorful description of life at the Old Posada in Ajijic, which used to be the kind of Bed & Breakfast they don’t make any more.

CANDELARIA’S COOKBOOK (100 pesos) is an eccentric collection of recipes unlike any other, featuring a Mexican cook and her traditional specialities. It will delight armchair foodies and adventurous chefs in equal measure.

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

This delightful assortment of oddities can be bought from: THE LAKE CHAPALA SOCIETY, 16 de Septiembre #16A, Ajijic, Jalisco.

LIBROS Y REVISTAS DE CHAPALA, Madero #230, Chapala, Jalisco BOOK STORE, Libros y Revistas de Chapala, Carretera Ote. #54, Interior No. 2, Ajijic, Jalisco.

LA NUEVA POSADA, Donato Guerra #9, Ajijic, Jalisco Proceeds from the sale of these books go to sponsor worthy students in San Antonio, Tlay who need some financial help.

Saw you in the Ojo 53

CANADIANS FIGHT BACK!

T

he flood of Ameri-can liberals als sneaking across the bord border rd derr into Canada has intentensified in the past week, eek ee k sparking calls for increased patrols to stop the illegal immigration. The recent actions of the Tea Party are prompting an exodus among leftleaning citizens who fear they’ll soon be required to hunt, pray, and to agree with Bill O’Reilly and Glenn Beck.

Canadian border farmers say it’s not uncommon to see dozens of sociology professors, animal-rights activists and Unitarians crossing their fields at night.

“I went out to milk the cows the other day, and there was a Hollywood producer huddled in the barn,” said Manitoba farmer Red Greenfield, whose acreage borders North Dakota.

The producer was cold, exhausted and hungry. He asked me if I could spare a latte and some free-range chicken.

When I said I didn’t have any, he left before I even got a chance to show him my screenplay, eh?”

In an effort to stop the illegal aliens, Greenfield erected higher fences, but the liberals scaled them. He then installed loudspeakers that blared Rush Limbaugh across the fields. “Not real effective,” he said. “The liberals still got through and Rush annoyed the cows so

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

much that they wouldn’t give any milk.”

Officials are particularly concerned about smugglers who meet liberals near the Canadian border, pack them into Volvo station wagons and drive them across the border where they are simply left to fend for themselves.” A lot of these people are not prepared for our rugged conditions,” an Ontario border patrolman said. “I found one carload without a single bottle of imported drinking water. They did have a nice little Napa Valley Cabernet, though.”

When liberals are caught, they’re sent back across the border, often wailing loudly that they fear retribution from conservatives. Rumors have been circulating about plans to build re-education camps where liberals will be forced to drink domestic beer and watch NASCAR races.

In recent days, liberals have turned to ingenious ways of crossing the border. Some have been disguised as senior citizens taking a bus trip to buy cheap Canadian prescription drugs.

After catching half a dozen young vegans in powdered wig disguises, Canadian immigration authorities began stopping buses and quizzing the supposed senior citizens about Perry Como and Rosemary Clooney to prove that they were alive in the ‘50s. “If they can’t identify the accordion player on The Lawrence Welk Show, we become very suspicious about their age,” an official said.

Canadian citizens have complained that the illegal immigrants are creating an organic-broccoli shortage and are renting all the Michael Moore movies.

“I feel sorry for American liberals, but the Canadian economy just can’t support them.” an Ottawa resident said.

“How many art-history majors does one country need?”

Saw you in the Ojo 55

THREE PLACES AT ONCE Or Be Careful What You u Wish For

By Julie Elizabeth Mignard

T

he soft ruffle of silk lay ay y gleaming across Bettytttylou’s wrinkled palm. It was was wa three things at once. “If only I could db be e three things at once,” she was thinking. kin ng.

It was a lovely lavender blue, periwinwin inkle maybe, and wherever the soft gathers bent it, it shimmered a brilliant turquoise, the color of a peacock’s breast, yet it was totally transparent.

“This is the material for the bridesmaids’ dresses, Gramma, I hope you haven’t bought your dress yet, because it needs to be able to match this for the pictures.” And on and on the self-absorbed letter went. How could Claudia possibly have chosen October 12 for her wedding? The exact date of the annual NNN Gala.

“My last year as President, this just could not be happening!” And now this phone call about Daddy, they need me to empty his apartment before the first of November. The apartment he moved into seventy-five years ago in Manhattan, her childhood home. Claudia’s wedding on Maui. My LIFE in Mexico.

This just cannot be happening. “I wish I could just be here and in Maui and in NYC in October!”

“Here I spend months at a time never hearing from anybody, missing my granddaughter, not hearing boo from Daddy. I have to work at being with people around here. That’s why I joined the NNN in the first place, without commitments it was just too easy to sit around alone and read books, pet the cats, TV and all that.

I’d forget I was in Mexico, not see

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

anyo yon ne but ut the the e gardener garde ene nerr for fo days at a anyone tim me, an nd no n w, N OW – w hy ffor or God G od’ss time, and now, NOW why God’s sake can’t these things spread out over the year? A nice June wedding, selling the apartment in January?

Oh no. I get my moment to shine, this year the NNN was going to be bowled over by my brilliance. I was never going to have to call people and try to arrange a lunch again. They were going to be calling ME! Now what?

Either my Granddaughter is going to hate me or my Daddy is going to have everything put out on the street by strangers, or I am back to square one in the social life of just one more single woman in the community. Three places, I need to be three places at once.”

Shoving the phone aside, Bettylou turned back to her wine. It was just out of reach on the opposite corner of the table. Starting to heft her ample padding, Bettylou stretched across the wide glass tabletop reaching for her favorite wine glass. She startled violently as the forgotten silk fluttering down slid into her view. The top-heavy wine glass went crashing to the floor.

Bettylou’s center of gravity reached the point of no return, her considerable mass smashing her face first into the broken glass and spilled wine immediately followed by a huge crash as gravity and floor tiles combined to bounce the custom-made table into flying swords of lethal glittering glass shards.

Two days later the maid had a nasty surprise.

And so, Bettylou got her wish. On October 12, her friends at the NNN all agreed that it was the best Gala ever as they sprinkled one third of Bettylou’s ashes into the sea. Her Granddaughter honored her at the wedding by adorning her urn with the beautiful silk and her favorite flowers and tearfully toasted her as the best Grandma anyone ever had. The last one third of her ashes in a brown cardboard box got put out on the street in Manhattan by strangers, along with everything else from seventy-five years of her forgotten life.

Saw you in the Ojo 57

SELF-ESTEEM

CHECK

By Bill Franklin

I

think it’s time to o check my self-es-teem. Self-esteem,, g if you haven’t been paying attention lately, takes on reall significance the momentt d yours is on the line. And sad to say, like a pain or headache you didn’t know you had, it comes on line the moment someone brings it up, (much as I’m doing now). But don’t be alarmed. If your personal esteem isn’t up to snuff, I have ways to get around the high standards you’ve probably set for yourself.

I know I have gotten around all the standards I started out with and I’m proud to say, lowering my standards has been one of my crowning achievements. To get around the curse of high standards it helps to borrow a few concepts from Christianity.

You don’t have to be a Christian to rip off some of their golden nuggets, take the best and sweep away the rest, as I like to say. Thankfully, I had a friend who was Christian and he filled me in on some vital info about God that I was lacking.

I asked him, “Why in the heck should God love me?” What have I done to deserve all that good God love?” He answered me with a doctrine I actually like and so I thought well, finally, the universe is giving me a deal. I couldn’t beat this at the swap meet. He said because of grace, I didn’t actually need to earn God’s love, God loves me in spite of myself and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.

His love is free, undeserved and there for the taking.

This is my kind of love. No matter how down on my luck I am, no matter how selfish and self-absorbed I am and no matter that I’ve never helped a flood victim, God thinks I am OK enough to be gifted with his love. (I always equate God’s love with the fact that there are billions and billions of stars. Somehow in my infantile, illogical thinking self, anybody that is into billions and billions of stars and stuff, should not leave me out.) I may not deserve heaven (according to the doctrine) but I am way cool with God and with some luck could be purgatory bound at least.

Purgatory I assume to be a cut above living in El Centro in the summer or being broke in Vegas just

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when I think my slot machine is going to hit. Hell, I should think, is reserved for history’s complete jerks, guys like Hitler and Stalin, Mao or the worst of the creepy Mongol horde. Plus “Blue Duck,” if you happen to have read Lonesome Dove.

So here is the concept as it applies to self-esteem. You (or I) have been harboring the notion that your appreciation of yourself is tied to achievement. But wait a minute, God doesn’t think so. He thinks what you’re up to doesn’t matter. He loves you anyway.

Like your parents or Billy Joel, he loves you just the way you are. You could be the village idiot and it is all the same to God. This gives your self-esteem a leg up. Now you don’t have to be so fancy. You don’t need so much money for example. You can get drunk more.

You can take that afternoon nap and still be square with the universe.

I used to think that if I sang real good and played the guitar and got a good crowd and they liked it and tossed some money in my pauper’s guitar case, I would have high selfesteem. And of course it worked. I felt great about it. But I realize now that I didn’t need to go to all that trouble.

And later in life, when singing in the street began to seem odd and too beggarly, I thought I should stretch a bit and teach school. So I bent myself all out of shape and taught school for years and felt semi-horrible. And I achieved and achieved and, true to the code, I asked myself, “what does it profit a Franklin to make all this little money and lose his soul to the school board.” So I took up tennis.

Because I was good at tennis in the sense that I didn’t care if I won and frequently didn’t, my self-esteem soared. But again, after conferring with my friend the Christian, I realized that tennis and teaching and singing were very shallow ways to approve of myself. Instead I decided I approve of myself because I am looking good, way good, perfectly good, plastered right there, hung maybe, basking in the cross hairs of God’s image.

Saw you in the Ojo 59

A NEW LEASE— —on Life! f

By Judit Rajhathy, B.A., RNCP, D.Ac. What Price...Beauty!

W

hen you look in the mirror and that reflection no longer matches who you are inside, it is time . . . time for what? Yep you guessed it - time for some facial rejuvenation! Vanity? Of course! We only live once...so why not? But what are the criteria for a successful outcome? As many of you know, I have researched cosmetic surgery for the past four years and not only have I attended numerous consults but have followed many people through their surgical experiences. Soon it will be my turn and I want the best with the best.

Safety is number one priority. And what constitutes safety?

1. Having extensive blood work and a checkup with a cardiologist is of utmost importance to make sure the patient is in excellent health.

2. Being brutally honest with your surgeon - you must report whether you drink alcohol, smoke or take analgesics on a regular basis because this can affect the anesthetic as well as the surgical procedure.

3. Type of anesthetic used - conscious I.V. sedation is far safer than a general anesthetic.

4. Duration of the surgery - many surgeons operate with a partner primarily to cut the surgical time in half.

Face-lifts often take only three hours versus eight hours. This reduces the risk greatly since the longer the surgery the greater the health risk.

Having a backup is also important should anything happen to the primary surgeon.

Techniques and Precision Cosmetic surgery is more of an art

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

than a science. Over the years, I have seen some far from perfect work. My main complaint has to do with visible cuts instead of following natural folds and creases. I have even heard cosmetic surgeons blaming the patient for having poor skin texture when it is they who have made a mess! This is unacceptable. A good surgeon’s cuts follow the natural folds and lines. He also uses fat injections to reduce deep lines and to fill the lips so they look full and youthful.

It is important to know that although a facelift will improve many saggy areas it will not erase wrinkles - those would be treated at a later date with a laser.

The gold standard in face-lift techniques is the SMAS method (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System) which focuses on the thin underlying connective tissue layer of the skin. It is much safer than older methods in which muscles were cut, thereby increasing risk of nerve damage.

Important Tidbits!

If you want to look like you did in your twenties you are dreaming. In fact with those kind of expectations a good surgeon would not even consider you as a patient. But he would give you a fresher more youthful appearance, turning back the clock a good eight-ten years.

His goal is to give a rejuvenated natural look steering far away from the “I just had a face-lift” pulled look.

You really need to be at your desired weight before considering cosmetic facial surgery. Why? Because just as your body expands and contracts so does your face- -and if after a face lift you decide to lose weight, the new tightness will quickly become more sag. If that isn’t motivation to get in shape, tell me what is - and see you at the gym!

Judit is the owner of Change of Pace Fitness Center, central Ajijic. She can be reached at 766-5800 or email: rajhathy@ gmail.com.

Judit Rajhathy

Letter to the Editor

D

ear Sir: Religion can be both frustrating and amusing.

Some Protestant groups, with frightful fervor, resist the science of biology and geology. There is nothing more criminal to education than the Christian Right that dominates the Texas State Board of Education. They sabotage science and history in school textbooks by dismissing evolution and Thomas Jefferson.

But neither is the foolishness of religion without humor. The Church finally gave Copernicus a proper Catholic funeral mass after banning him for several centuries. He died in 1543, almost 470 years ago. The Church embraced him (and his work) in May of 2010.

The Catholic Church is outrun only by snails and glaciers. Guadalajara is more advanced, having long celebrated Copernicus by naming a city street after him.

I rejoice that I have lived long enough to see Copernicus given a proper Catholic funeral celebration.

His own patience in this was no doubt helped by his understanding of the movements of celestial bodies.

Copernicus had been restless in an unmarked place. DNA testing of his bones matched a lock of his hair that had been left in a book, thus providing positive identity. His resting place is now beneath the floor of a cathedral in Poland, after his remains were blessed with holy water by the highest-ranking clergy of that country. There was an honor guard for the mass. A black granite tombstone now identifies him as the founder of the heliocentric theory. The tombstone is decorated with a golden sun encircled by six planets, no doubt those of which he was aware in his time. Oh, and they include the Earth.

The Church interpreted Holy Scrip-

ure e tto o pl plac acce th he Ea EEarth rth rt h an and d hu huma man ma n be be-ture place the human ings in the center of the universe, with the Sun revolving around the Earth.

Copernicus died two months after his work was published, so he avoided a heresy trial. The Church placed his work on their list of forbidden books, however.

Galileo came along and continued the work of Copernicus, and was tried for heresy. He recanted and thereby escaped burning at the stake, but he was put under house arrest for the rest of his life.

Galileo was rehabilitated in 1992

by Pope John Paul II when he acknowledged that the Church had erred in condemning Galileo for asserting that the Earth revolves around the Sun. Now Copernicus has finally got his turn at rehabilitation, and after so many centuries, it’s not likely that either Galileo or Copernicus would quibble over the 18 years difference in their restoration to Catholic respectability. But I privately wonder whether in the intervening centuries their souls have not switched to the Lutheran side.

The Church has now advanced from its hoary and venerable theology to agree with the heliocentric theory, meaning that the Sun is the center of the universe. The Republican Party is divided by an internal struggle over which of them is conservative enough.

When it comes to conservative values, Republicans would do well to take a lesson from the Catholic Church.

Fred Mittag Villas de San Pablo

Saw you in the Ojo 61

Anita’s Animals

By Jackie Kellum

Anita Strehlow

Y

es, there is an Anita of Anita’s Animals. Anita Strehlow came from Germany to Mexico in 1966, and has been involved in cat/dog rescue for the last 20 plus years. For some readers this is new information, for others it may be re-familiarization of things you already know.

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

Anita’s Animals is a small cat and dog no-kill sanctuary, situated half way up the road to the Raquet Club in San Juan Cosala. It is not a fancy place, but it is a safe haven full of love and caring for cats and dogs that are brought to Anita. Her unspoken mission in life, although it may not have started out that way, is to provide shelter, food and medical care for those unfortunate cats and dogs that were abandoned and/or abused by human society. On any given day, there may be 30 – 40 kittens/ cats, and 30- 45 puppies/dogs in residence. This past “puppy and kitten season” has been

particularly high and extended, creating a higher population.

Anita currently has approximately 120 kittens/cats and about 70-75 puppies/dogs. Anita strongly believes in cat/dog population control via spaying & neutering. However, she will not turn away a pregnant mother that is close to delivering her young, so the rescued mother will not have her babies alone and in harm’s way. Anita will spay those mothers at the right time so they will not perpetuate more unwanted off -spring. A cat or dog that comes to Anita’s will be cared for until adopted into a loving family and forever home.

Anita is not a person who has a sanctuary and only spends several hours a day there – she lives there.

The cats and dogs she cares for live at her house in their own rooming accommodations, right next to her unpretentious living quarters. The cats/ dogs have indoor housing at night time to keep them warm, dry and safe.

In the daytime, they spend their time in a communal setting. Anita has a few modestly paid dedicated helpers who work six days a week, 4 -6 hours a day, providing her assistance with the general work such feeding, kennel cleaning, transporting to Veterinarian appointments, picking up dona-

tions when requested, responding to a phone call for help in rescuing and picking up a cat or dog, etc.

Anita is at the Wednesday Ajijic open-market/tianguis each week, rain or shine. When most of us are turning over in our beds at 6AM, Anita is already set up at the market ready for work. Her stand has available donated used paperback books, clothing and a variety of other things. Please consider Anita when you are “spring house cleaning.” Donations obtained from the “sale” of these items pays for this cat/dog rescue work. Anita frequently has kittens and puppies with her that are available for free adoption. Older / larger cats/dogs are not allowed at the market, but they can be seen when visiting her sanctuary, 7 days a week: 9A-2PM and 4P – 6PM. Phone # 387-761-0500. Adoptions are free with the expectation that the new “parents” will give them a loving home and care for life. If new parents offer a donation, it is gladly accepted and will be used for the next cat or dog that no doubt will arrive shortly.

Stop by and meet Anita at the Ajijic market or visit her sanctuary. Better yet, go home with a life long companion, who will never stop rewarding you for your decision.

Saw you in the Ojo 63

Focus on Art

By Rob Mohr

Jay Koppelman: A Journey from Darkness into Life

F

rom his early success as an actor in The Lion in Winter with the Banyan Professional Theatre in Sarasota Florida, to Romeo and Juliet at the Kennedy Center in Washington, and in several movies including, The Fanatical Teachings of Julian Tau (2000) and The Accountant (2000), Jay Koppelman, unable to find work, entered a downward spiral that left him deeply depressed, homeless, and living out of a car on the streets of Sarasota and New York. “I lost my capacity to love what was once loved.”

Remembering hiking in Mexico as a youth, and the uncritical support of his father in Ajijic, Jay escaped to Mexico where with the help of a professional counselor and discovery of his father’s new camera, he began to heal. Through the lens of his father´s “transformative” camera he began to focus on the world outside of himself. “Seeing beyond myself, I came alive again.”

Jay soon realized that there are no dead ends, and, digging deep, he began to forge his remarkable life as an artist/photographer. Seven years later his powerful and evocative photographs taken in Mexico grace his new book The Through Line, A Journey From Darkness into Life, and

recent photographs taken during a three-month journey through Ecuador, on exhibit in Veronica Navarro´s Studio 18 (18 Colon, Ajijic) further demonstrate Jay’s maturity as an artist. Many attending the opening were excited by Jay’s consummate ability to reveal what is seldom seen.

While the trend in contemporary photography is to manipulate the image, Jay’s photographs, in contrast, capture the moment and bring into focus the intrinsic aesthetic (the truth) he finds in his subject. “Photography is my way of exploring life - not following rules or doing what others do, but holding fast to my desire to capture the ‘grittiness’ of the subject.” Jay´s adept vision enables unity between the subjects and the viewer through the photograph.

For example, the dog peering out from under the horse (exhibition) reaches out and pulls the viewer into the world of the photograph.

Being open and vulnerable and seeing past the mask people wear are keys to his art. In his photograph, Quechua Kids, as in Renaissance paintings, the textiles covering the young girls become a masterful visual element in the work.

The sweeping curve of the hooded head-covering of the child on the

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

W

e are very pleased to announce that Rob Mohr has joined our staff as Resident Art Critic. Rob is especially qualified for this position. He has an MFA, taught Fine Arts (painting, drawing and aesthetics) at the University of Cincinnati, University of South Carolina and Western NC University. He painted and studied in Manhattan and later served as Faculty Artist in Residence at the University of Georgia.

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

Mr. Mohr hass exhibited his works ks in many One Man n Shows in New York, Atlanta, ta and throughout the Southeast, and has won awards for his paintings and drawings in many national art exhibitions. His book on The Arts at Black Mountain College was published by East Tennessee University Press. Rob has had stories and poems published in national and international journals.

Welcome, Rob!

left is echoed perfectly by the curve of the bread she eats. Equally refined, is the graceful downward curve of the shawl over the shoulders of the child to the right. The positioning of the children is in perfect balance providing the viewer with a classically composed portrait of stunning beauty. Jays Photos of indigenous children rival highly acclaimed photos by Lisa Aviva Diamond of Peruvian children and Barbi Reed’s of Tibetan Children.

Haunting and pungent works like “Wet Dreams” (p14) evoke an eternal stillness while conveying a sense of mystery created by the ethereal lighting. The fisherman in his boat, with oars extended - on what appears to be dry land (actually Lirio) - looks inward as several boats move across the lake. The full moon in the upper left punctuates the mood creating a dark, ambiguous reality.

A composed, well-dressed girl sitting in a tall doorway (P99) conveys a similar feeling of absolute calm.

Other ‘lakescapes’ like Cormorants Roosting (p62) - where the single tree filled with cormorants to the left works as a counter to the group of bird filled trees on the right - and the knurled tree with a heron

perched on top (P92), are reminiscent of the stark serenity of photographic landscapes by Ansel Adams (1902-1984). In both works, composition and details reveal a quicksilver lake frozen in time.

Jay’s “Double Photo of Shuar Children” is one of the most satisfying and playful photos in the exhibition at Studio 18. The upper panel which reveals a group of children standing serenely on a log, is juxtaposed against the lower panel which reveals an outbreak of sheer joy as the children leap in to the river. Both mood and content are perfect mated in this compelling photograph making these astounding children forever part of the viewer’s memory.

Jay Koppelman’s life as an actor, his subsequent rediscovery of the world around him, his tenacious hold on life, his willingness to take risks, his personal search for beauty, and his innate awareness of the essential elements of his art, work with synergistic unity to affirm the growing stature of this photographic artist.

Rob Mohr

Saw you in the Ojo 65

Refugio De Maria Fiction by James Tipton

I

t was so dry in recent years that all of the pregnant women in the Sonoran village of Refugio de María worried that their sons would never grow to be as tall as their fathers. It was because of this they watched with concern the village dwarf, Niño de Dios, walk around Refugio de María on little bowed legs.

His mother, Araceli, had named him Niño de Dios because he was hardly a human child at all, and he was not in any reasonable visible sense her niño, nor the niño of the proud man she had married, a man who had headed north forever only a few minutes after his son was born.

As Niño de Dios grew he was generally tolerated by the adults, and even loved by some, but he suffered as all suffer who are not normal in the way the world demands.

One afternoon, when Niño de Dios was already in his late teens, with the full-sized head of a rather handsome man but with short arms and legs and the body of a dwarf, several of the young men who were strong but undeveloped in their hearts decided to tease him. They began tossing him back and forth like a bale of hay. The young women of the village watched in horror.

Soon Niño de Dios lay in the dust.

A few drops of rain began to fall. He gathered himself up and onto his feet and announced to his torturers surrounding him that in doing this they

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

d ccursed urs rsed ed R Refugio efugio gio de de María, Marí Ma ríaa and and that tha hatt had the rain, so badly needed, would now ve on to another village, where a move child of God might be better treated.

The rain suddenly stopped.

Though his mother was no longer there to help him, Niño de Dios now felt his own strength. Araceli had made the final journey five years earlier. Hopefully, thought Niño de Dios, she was now in that highly desirable section of Heaven reserved for the Mothers of Dwarfs.

That same spring Niño de Dios, around the time of Lent, began dressing up as God, wearing a white robe, a rather clean one at that, and a belt of braided leather. When those undeveloped young men gathered again to harass him, Niño de Dios bounded up the few steps of the little church and announced to the village that he had been born into Refugio de María to challenge them, to test their love for Him, for God. Blasphemy for sure, but the older villagers warned those young men not to bother him further. The villagers were worried, though, or disgusted, or irritated, or ashamed, and they began to ignore Niño de Dios. Wives who formerly had made sure he had ample food and who gave him a few pesos to run simple errands, no longer

opened their doors to him; and husbands, who had formerly helped him up onto their horses—his favorite delight in the world—no longer looked at him.

But certainly the most uncomfortable event in Refugio de María that spring was when Serafina’s beautiful daughter Esperanza, who was as perfect in body as Niño de Dios was not, fell in love with him. Indeed, had his handsome head been placed upon the body of a normal man, the whole village might have been in love with Niño de Dios.

Since he had been a tiny boy, Niño de Dios had often been seen following Esperanza around the village. But now it was often Esperanza who followed Niño de Dios. Every evening, they could be seen on the steps of the church, his head resting sweetly in her lap as she sang to him.

Why Esperanza fell in love with the dwarf was anyone’s guess. Some speculated that Niño de Dios possessed secret powers, perhaps dark ones. Others thought that indeed, he might be a Child of God, a gift to the village. Still others, largely young women, whispered that his manly qualities might extend far beyond his beautiful head.

At any rate, as the angels brushed the earth with their wings, turning it to autumn, one thing was soon evident: Esperanza was pregnant. The husbands (more than one of whom would like to have had Esperanza at his heels) began to gather in the evenings at the Modelorama to drink Sol and to discuss what was the most responsible, and manly, thing to do.

Some said “Kill the little monster, or saint, or whatever he is,” while others, more moderate, cautioned, “Remember, he is, after all, the father of her child, and who else would have her now?” Still others said “Because he claims to be God he should be killed,” to which yet others replied, “But haven’t we always been told to

be Godlike?”

The night they gathered together at the plaza to make their final decision, one of the old wives informed them that no one had seen Niño de Dios, nor Esperanza, since dawn.

They couldn’t go far on foot. Had they simply vanished? Had they been set upon by some demented or jealous villager? One of the elders informed them that the only two fine horses in the village as well as the silver communion cup that had served Refugio de María for more than two centuries had also disappeared.

The angels brushed the earth again and autumn turned to winter.

Still there was no rain. And no Esperanza and no Niño de Dios. And now it was the Holy Season, and the Fiesta de Guadalupe, and then the nine days before Christmas. Serafina wept as she remembered when Esperanza, as a little girl, had been chosen to play María and ride around the village on a donkey led by a little boy. That had been so long ago.

Now it was Noche Buena…Christmas Eve. Tonight all of Refugio de María were gathered at the plaza, watching the Heavens and hoping for their return.

Saw you in the Ojo 67

SERGIO DRUMOND is an artist, theologian and writer. Born in Brazil, he worked in Europe and Asia as a book illustrator, cartoonist, painter and animator. He also lived in the Philippines, Japan, and Thailand, teaching art as well as helping NGOs with social and relief work. He and his wife, Cynthia, live at Lakeside. For commission painting and other artwork please contact him at: https://sites.google.com/site/ sdrumondart/ Email: sdrumond777@gmail.com Ed. Note: Sergio’s cartoons are done especially for the Ojo and will be run on a monthly basis. Welcome, Sergio!

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

Sergio Drumond

Saw you in the Ojo 69

FRONT ROW CENTER

By Michael Warren Blithe Spirit

By Noel Coward Directed by Shirley Appelbaum

T

his is a beautifully staged and professional revival of Noel Coward’s classic “improbable farce” of 1941, featuring connubial love and haunting from beyond the grave. The joke of the play is that the suave novelist “Charles Condomine” unwittingly summons the spirit of his dead first wife “Elvira,” much to the annoyance of his brittle second wife “Ruth.” It’s bigamy with a difference, and confusion abounds since it appears that only Charles can see and chat to Elvira. Though the play’s social attitudes now seem dated and misogynistic, we can still enjoy the smooth dialogue and the digs at phony mediums and spiritualist mumbo-jumbo.

David McIntosh (a newcomer to the LLT stage) plays Charles with considerable skill and an occasional flash of asperity. The play requires him to be a charming foil to the more colorful female characters, and he succeeds so well that in the end we hope that the unfortunate Charles will be happy to be rid of both his wives. The playful and seductive Elvira is well portrayed by Diana Rowland, who floats around the stage in a diaphanous gown. It’s a fun part, and she gets the most out of her humorous lines – for example when she reminisces about playing backgammon with Genghis Khan on “the other side.” Meanwhile Katie B. Goode (in her first full LLT production) has to be snippy as Ruth, who is distinctly unimpressed by Elvira’s return. This is a less sympathetic, but very important role, and Katie handles it well – being in turn a disciplinarian with the maid, an elegant hostess and a jealous wife.

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

The highlight of the evening is Jeritza McCarter’s performance as the medium “Madame Arcati.” This is a role entirely suited to Jeritza’s comic talents, and she plays it exactly right, that is to say she plays it straight as an eccentric and slightly loony character.

The play lights up as soon as she appears in a glittery shawl and spangled tennis shoes, speaking of ectoplasm and of “Daphne,” her child control on the other side. Initially her incantations fail to bring Elvira back, but then “Edith” the maid peeks in and this seems to make a difference. Joan Lowy – another newcomer to the LLT stage – does well in a minor role as Edith, bustling in and out with trays (which must have been precarious) and finally appearing in pajamas and goofy slippers to assist in banishing the ghosts of Elvira and Ruth.

John Foster and Kathleen Morris are also entirely believable in supporting roles as “Dr and Mrs Bradman.”

With the help of a talented cast, Shirley Appelbaum has brought off a triumph with this production, her first at Lakeside. I fancy the ghost (or perhaps the ectoplasm) of Noel Coward was hovering in the wings! The period costumes and delightfully decorated set were straight out of the 1940s. I should also mention the very clever and believable special effects – technically this is a difficult play, and it succeeded brilliantly. One small point – I wondered why the curtain was never closed. With such an attractive set, the initial impact would have been greater if it had been revealed as a wonderful surprise at the opening of the play. But this is a quibble - overall it was a smooth and very professional production, and I congratulate Shirley Appelbaum and the whole cast and crew with a special nod to Stage Managers Kathleen Neal and Win McIntosh. I look forward next month to another farcical comedy Lend Me A Tenor,

by Ken Ludwig, which opens on December 11th.

Michael Warren

Saw you in the Ojo 71

Cocktails With Nefertiti

By Herbert W. Piekow

T

he first thing I noticed about her was the leopard spotted blouse and the way the spots moved on her ample breasts as she maneuvered towards where I sat alone enjoying my evening cocktail on Chapultepec Avenue. Most evenings, when I am in my Guadalajara apartment, I like to sit on the stone benches on Chapultepec where I can feel the vibrancy of the city and observe the people and traffic. After making eye contact, she approached, as I knew she would; I noticed the spots on her skirt were darker brown than the almost orange spots of her blouse and I surmised the two pieces had definitely been purchased independently from one another, but worn with pride.

I stood, she extended her hand; “My name is Nefertiti, like the Queen of Egypt.” I thought of responding by saying something like, “You’re not the first queen I’ve met,” but instead was surprised by her firm grip and whiff of good perfume as we touched right cheeks.

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“Vamos a sentarnos!” I said indicating a spot on the bench for us to sit.

“I am from Tijuana,” she volunteered. “Where are you from?”

I didn’t know if she wondered about my obvious accent, which a Mexican woman recently described as, “pretty,” or if Nefertiti wanted to know my whole history. We chatted a little, she crossed her legs, pulled the printed nylon skirt above, her thick knees, kicked off one of her dark brown high heeled shoes and said; “I would like a drink, if you bring me one.”

I took a sip from my nearly empty tumbler. “I only have tequila, vodka and Squirt.”

“Whatever you drink,” she said and

pointed an index finger with a silver ring towards my glass. Her wrists looked to be stronger and thicker than mine. I stood, took my glass and assured her I would return, “muy pronto.” As I locked the apartment complex gate behind me I looked to where Nefertiti sat with her slightly hunched back facing my building and I wondered whatever have I done?

I thought about making a couple of quesadillas, but in the interest of time cut up some imported goat cheese and opened a foiled packet of Saladitas which I arranged on a plate; mixed our drinks, put a couple of napkins on the tray and left the apartment wondering if I would drink alone, or get to know more of Nefertiti.

She sat with her still crossed legs, hands folded, lady-like in her lap and a smile on her face. Her lower teeth were a shade darker than her looser fitting uppers. “I’m glad you came back,” she said, and reached for a proffered drink on the round rattan serving tray.

I didn’t know where to begin, as I felt I’d already encouraged her friendship with my hospitality. “What brings you to Guadalajara from Tijuana?” My question was more to fill the silence and a polite way to gain knowledge of my guest.

“My daughter is sick, she is in the hospital,” she said as she swallowed

half her drink.

Everyone on the street corner always has a sick child with liver orkidney failure, I thought, not at all surprised by her response.

“She has failure of the riñon.” A pained look crossed her heavily made up face.

“I am very sorry,” my words seemed as false as my concern. I wondered which would come first, a request for money or a sip of her drink.

She wrapped her fingers with their blunt, but red polished nails, around the tumbler, the ice clinked, she sipped at the tequila and Squirt before saying, “I’m clean.”

“That’s nice.” It’s been years since I’ve slept with a woman and had no inclination to do so now.

“I need $300 pesos for my rent.” She spoke quickly probably realizing I was not going to allow her to earn anything through trade.

“I’ll do what I can,” I said, handing her some pesos from my wallet. I have always tried to be charitable to those in need, just as Jesus and the Prophet Mohammed instructed. With a gracious smile Nefertiti accepted less than her stated needs; she finished her cocktail and rose to leave. I rose to wish her well, we embraced for our goodbyes and as we brushed cheeks I thought, Nefertiti needs a shave.

Saw you in the Ojo 73

GRINGAS G RINGAS & G GUACAMOLE UACAMOLE

By Gail Nott

Nudist Camp Etiquette

O

ne should always be open to new experiences. So, when my friend, Rick, invited me to spend the next Saturday at a nudist camp in Central Florida, I agreed without a moment’s hesitation. A hectic work-week allowed me little time to reflect upon my decision. Denial is a wonderful gift that the conscious mind offers us and I wallowed in it.

Saturday morning I was frantic over what to wear! I discarded bathing suit after bathing suit, lamenting that they were all stretched out and faded. Then realization crept in, I was going to be wearing the oldest and most worn suit I owned: my birthday suit. Denial wormed its way back in and I was faced with the next fashion challenge. How do you accessorize nudity: pearl earrings or gold hoops; which sandals, subdued or flashy sunglasses? I opted for the pearl studs, hoping to appear chic.

For the two- hour drive to the nudist camp, Rick and I gossiped, chatted and listened to music. Rick was trying to put me at ease, which I thought was thoughtful but unnecessary. After all, I was a sophisticated career woman with few inhibitions about nudity; I was a veteran of the sexual wars.

As we drove through the manned security gates, I glanced to my right and gasped. My God, there was a bare butt staring back at me through the window. Whatever happened to common decency? I reassured myself that

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when we registered at the office, everyone would be dressed. Crossing the threshold, my eyes quickly riveted to the ceiling; the room was filled with naked people. Sliding my sunglasses firmly onto the bridge of my nose, I felt repulsed at this lack of discrimination.

These people would show their bodies to anyone.

Rick was giving off soft chuckles as he led me to the dressing, uh, undressing area. Fortunately, no one was in the room as I darted behind the curtain of a stall. I took deep breaths, lecturing myself that I was an adult and reasonably worldly. Still dressed, I poked my head from behind the curtain upon hearing my name called. “Gail, you have been in there half an hour.” “If you don’t come out, I am coming in for you.”

Okay, sunglasses in place, check; beach towel wrapped tightly around me, check; book, suntan oil, sandals, check. I could do this. I sprinted out of the stall and onto the first vacant lounge chair, congratulating myself on my bravery. The feeling of smugness quickly dissipated as Rick reminded me this was a nudist camp and staying wrapped in a towel was unacceptable.

Struggling to unwrap the towel while lying flat, I inched it to the ground. My

sunglasses were my sole link to invisibility. Rick, stretched out full length, naked no less, was soaking up the sun.

I couldn’t miss the grin on his face.

Rick had been a long-time member of the nudist camp and people continually stopped by to say hello. My vision became blurry from looking into the sun. As hands were extended in greeting, too late I realized I was reaching toward the most personal parts of their anatomy. How did one handle this situation? Miss Manners never covered decorum at a nudist camp in any of her books.

Rick suggested I might be more comfortable in the pool. Trying to appear nonchalant, I sauntered from my chair and walked off the edge of the pool into ten feet of water. Immediately, I sank to the bottom. Panicking, I began grabbing arms, legs, uh, whatever was available to speed my way to the surface. Grasping the pool’s edge, coughing and sputtering, I spotted a pair of bare feet in front of me. The lifeguard stooped down, oh my God! “Ma’am, intimate contact with other swimmers is strictly forbidden.”

Over the loudspeaker came the announcement that lunch was being served in the dining room. Rick informed me that towels were required. I felt that I had just been given a reprieve

and encased myself like an Italian sausage with the towel. As we entered, row upon row of bare behinds came into view. I turned searchingly toward Rick. “Towels are required for hygienic reasons; you have to sit on them.”

The menu included hot sandwiches, soups and salads. The visual image of my luncheon companions spooning hot soup across their naked laps made me wince. I chose a salad; Eve had used a little foliage in the Garden of Eden. Shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cucumber pieces and onion rings dispelled my illusion.

By late afternoon and two double Scotch, I congratulated myself on how adventuresome and uninhibited I had become. I began to realize that “behind” the nudity were people of all ages, sizes, races and nationalities. Many Europeans lived at the camp for extended periods and others spent weekends with their young children, as a retreat from hectic nine to five lives. Nudity was most certainly an equalizer.

Rick asked me if I would like to visit again. My close friend and confidante, denial, reappeared and I said yes. Complacent, I entered the dressing area for the ride home. As I hooked, zippered and buttoned I experienced excruciating pain. Oh God, I had forgotten to use sun-screen.

Saw you in the Ojo 75

The Ojo Crossword

ACROSS 1 Stack of paper 5 Sea jewel 10 Gets older 14 Women’s magazine 15 Analyze properties 16 Selsct 17 French design/crest (2hyphens) 19 Cheese 20 Distress call 21 Strong rope fiber 23 Igniter 26 Concerning 28 Escudo 31 Poisonous snake 32 Buyer 33 Mr. 34 Coast 37 Cat’s nickname 39 Knife 40 Sports channel 42 Comforter 45 Asteroid like 49 Dined 50 Badly 53 Wing 54 Possessive pronoun 55 Chasm 56 Country poem 58 Antics 60 Some 61 Blintz 63 Slanted font 69 Use a rocking chair 70 Break up 71 Musical symbol 72 Lawyer (abbr.)

73 Maples 74 Destination DOWN 1 Game official 2 Wing 3 Lager

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

4 River 5 Part of a football player’s gear 6 Compass point 7 American sign language 8 Elevated 9 “Jurassic Park” dinosaurs’ need 10 At sea 11 Atheistic 12 Epoch 13 Short-term memory 18 Fish eggs 22 Dry grassy land 23 Foreign Agricultural Service 24 Avail 25 Resort hotel 26 Air (prefix) 27 North northeast 29 Bro.’s sibling 30 Whoop 32 Volume (abbr.)

35 South by east 36 Heating pad (2 wds.)

38 Spanish “one” 40 Snaky fish 41 Eye infection 42 Morse code dash 43 Southwestern Indian 44 Judge’s decree 45 Mr..’s wife 46 Visible light 47 Queasy 48 California (abbr.)

51 Musician 52 Shellfish 56 Incorporated (abbr.)

57 Wilting 59 Murky 60 Ventilates 61 Lingerie 62 Oodles 64 Avenue 65 Downwind 66 San Diego attraction 67 Airport abbr.

68 Delaware

Saw you in the Ojo 77

Are Writers Born Or Made?

By y Harriet Harr et Hart Hart

M

ary Rosenblum is a fiction and science fiction mystery writer who published her first story in 1990 and her first novel The Drylands in 1993. It won the Compton Book Award for Best First Novel and since then she has penned seven more.

From 1992 to 2002, she wrote the Gardening Mysteries series under her maiden name, Mary Freeman.

As a result, she has two sets of loyal followers: the ones who devour her mysteries and those who eat up her science fiction.

Mary says her writing began before she could actually write, when she was a bored little girl forced to accompany her mother on shopping trips: “I entertained myself by making up stories about escapades of imaginary creatures in the fascinating universe that existed at the floor level of Kaufmann’s and Gimbels.” At school, she was not encouraged by her teachers: “You had to be born a writer, apparently, and I lacked the scarlet W on the forehead.” It wasn’t until much later that she began writing her stories down, but once she got rolling there was no stopping her.

Mary teaches at The Long Ridge Writers Group, an online/by mail writing school where she recently

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

designed the Long Ridge Novel desiign desi de gn gned Nove course with Pam Kelly Kelly. She also teaches at workshops and conferences, most recently the Willamette Writers Conference held in Portland, Oregon, in August 2010.

“I love each new student,” Mary says. Each one is a new adventure and I do my best, in our time together, to make that student as strong in his or her ability as I can.” Mary Rosenblum will lead two sessions titled: Revisions: Strengthen Your Voice (the nuts and bolts of editing) and Publishing Today: Idea to Audience (a survival guide for authors confused by today’s digital world).

Mary will be joined by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni, who has been likened to a young John Grisham and called “the undisputed king of the legal thriller.” He has written five best selling novels in this genre: Bodily Harm, Wrongful Death, The Cyanide Canary, The Jury Master and Damage Control.

Robert Dugoni graduated in Journalism from Stanford University, worked for a time as a reporter, returned to university to study law and practiced his new profession until his love of writing won out and he quit to become a full time novelist. He is an experienced and

dynamic public speaker whose topics for the lakeside conference are: Bringing Your Writing to Life and Creating Memorable Characters.

Lakeside writers can learn from these two professionals by attending the 7th Annual Writers Conference which will be held January 26th – 28th at the Hotel Real de Chapala.

Conference organizers guarantee that even if you were not born a writer and lack the W on your forehead, you can still improve your skills.

This year there will be two new features: registrants can have their work critiqued by retired creative writing teacher Jay White on January 27th from 7 till 9:30 p.m., and a sales table will be set up for registrants with books to sell. Conference planners are resurrecting last year’s hilarious worst sentence contest.

You can register at Diane Pearl’s Gallery on the corner of Colon and Ocampo or at the Friday Writers Group at La Nueva Posada or by contacting Kay Davis at kdavis@ gmail.com. The cost is $950 pesos before Christmas, $1150 after, and includes four sessions, two lunches plus coffee and snacks.

From A Pair of Sconces Every year at Christmas time, Consider all the verse and rhyme Recited, written, heard and sungThe verses roll right off your tongue.

And so today yule not see Kringle Rhyming with a single jingle.

Instead, we’re sending hope and cheers Meant to last down through the years.

Yet come next year we both may find A deep felt need to get behind A push to versify in rhyme The thoughts we have at Christmas time.

But for now, let’s wish you well Merry Christmas!

Mark & Lell

Saw you in the Ojo 79

CHILD

of the month

By Rich Petersen

Alan José Bravo Alvizo

Y

ou can’t tell from the photo, but seven-year old Alan Bravo Alvizo is sitting in his red wheelchair because he is unable to walk. Alan was born with a form of cerebral paralysis (also known as cerebral palsy) that renders him unable to control his lower extremities or support himself while standing without additional support.

Alan was the product of a normal pregnancy until the sixth month when he and a twin brother were born quite prematurely. His brother did not survive, unfortunately; this is a common occurrence when cerebral paralysis is involved.

Alan lives in Ixtlahuacán with his parents, Karla and Roberto. His mother is a housewife and his father works as a delivery driver for a company in Guadalajara. They have no other children.

Alan has a “form” of cerebral paralysis because this motor deficit can occur in one or more places in the body.

Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the motor control centers of the developing brain and can occur during pregnancy, during childbirth or after birth up to about age three.

This results in limitation in movement and is often accompanied by disturbances of sensation, depth perception and other sight-based perceptual problems, communication ability, and sometimes even cognition; sometimes a form of CP may be accompanied by epilepsy. CP, no matter what the type, is often accompanied by secondary musculoskeletal problems, and there is no known cure.

Fortunately for Alan, however, he only lacks the muscle control of his lower extremities and has none of the other problems mentioned above.

He is a bright boy as you can see in the photo, very good in school and always with a ready smile. He and his father play at “boxing” and Alan loves to watch basketball. And while

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

Alan of course can’t run a soccer ball down the field, he is good enough as a goalie that his friends let him play that position! Kudos to his friends and to his parents for allowing him to participate with other kids his age. This is of utmost importance to the social development of a child with cerebral palsy.

Niños Incapacitados has been paying for Alan’s twice weekly therapy sessions as well as transportation costs to and from Guadalajara; also for a leg brace and several medications. Recently Alan was treated with an injection of botox to help relax the muscles in his legs. As you may recall, botox is now being used in this way to alleviate spasticity and contractures.

We at Niños Incapacitados were delighted to meet Alan and his mother at our last meeting and to have him tell us “thank you” in quite good English. By the way, his mother let us know that Alan had told her the night before he was to be at our meeting that he wanted to “look very nice” and dressed up for us----and he did.

To meet other of “our” children and to learn more about what Niños Incapacitados does, please join us the second Thursday of each month for our members’ meeting. 10:00 a.m. at the Hotel Real de Chapala in La Floresta.

A special and continued THANK YOU to all of you who have donated to our “Sustaining Niños” pledge program which allows us to continue helping sick children here at Lakeside.

AA- Meets daily at 10:00 am. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 4 pm. Marcos Castellanos 51-A. 766-5961. Meets every Wednesday 8 am for breakfast at La Nueva Posada.

ACÁ- Teaches youths, families sustainable agriculture, Joco and Jaltepec. Meet 14th of month. For more Information 387 763-1568.

A COURSE IN MIRACLES- Saturday 2:00 pm 16 Sept #34, Unit 6, 766-4882 No charge. Ongoing.

AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION OF CANADA 904 WING- from September to April we meet the 2nd Thursday 2pm at La Nueva Posada. Contact Don Slimman 765-4141.

AJIJIC QUILT GUILD - Meets second Tuesday monthly at 12 noon. Guests & New Members Welcome. ajijicguild@gmail.com AJIJIC SCRABBLE CLUB- Tuesdays and Thursdays noon-3 pm at LCS Ken Gosh Pavilion. Dan Stark 766-0411.

AJIJIC WRITERS’ GROUP- Meets 1st and 3rd Fridays at 10 am. New Posada. Coffee. Meeting followed by lunch at the New Posada.

AXIXIC MASONIC LODGE #31- Meets 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at 5:00 pm. Contact the secretary at 763-5346 for details.

AL-ANON- Step study, Monday 6 pm, Lake Chapala Society, 16 de Septiembre & Marcos Castellanos Ajijic, Rear Gate. Contact (376)766-5975 AL-ANON- Sat. 10 am, Club 12, Marcos Castellanos 51-A, Ajijic Contact (376) 766-5975.

AMERICAN LEGION OF CHAPALA POST- #7 General Membership meets 11 am 2nd Thursday. Tel: 765-2259.

AMIGOS INTERNACIONALES- Every Wednesday 6 to 8 pm, Nueva Posada; informal friendly group meet to make new friends.

AMIGOS DEL LAGO A.C.- Working to improve the ecology. See www.amigosdelago.org or contact us at info@amigosdelago.org.

AMITIES FRANCOPHONES- Meets every 3rd Saturday at 1 pm contact: Roland and Camille at 766-0149. rvanhoudt@prodigy.net.mx.

ANIMAL SHELTER- Provide shelter and new homes for dogs and cats. Tel: 765-5514.

ANITA’S ANIMALS- Free loving dogs and cats. call (01 387) 761-0500. www.anitasanimals.com.

ASA- Ajijic Society of the Arts. Meets every 1st Monday of the month at Nueva Posada, 10 am.

ARDAT- (Ajijic Rotary Dog Assisted Therapy), therapy dog visits and education to prevent animal abuse. Juliananna Rose (376) 766-5025.

BRIDGE AT OLD POSADA- Monday 1:15 check in. Mary Andrews 766-2489.

BRITISH SOCIETY- Lunch meeting the 1st Saturday of each month, 1pm at Manix Rest. 765-4786, chapalainn@prodigy.net.mx.

CARD & DOMINO CLUB- Wednesday, Friday & Sunday. Call for times. We will teach; make friends! Tel. 766-4253, Cell: (045) 33-1295-6485.

CANADIAN CLUB OF LAKE CHAPALA- Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, September through April. Social hour: 3:00 pm, program 4:00 pm. Visit www.canadianclubmx.com.

CASA DE ANCIANOS- Provides support for elderly citizens, 765-2497.

CENTRO DE DESARROLLO AJIJIC- Provides family planning and reproductive health education. 766-1679.

CHILI COOK OFF- Providing a carnival for residents raising charitable funds, 763-5038.

DAR- (Guadalajara)- Daughters of the American Revolution, meets monthly Sep. through June. Cell:333-897-0660 or Tel: (376) 766-2284.

DAR- (At Lakeside)- THOMAS PAINE CHAPTER meets every 3 Wednesday at 12:30 noon, September thru June. Tel: 766-2981 or 762-0834.

EASTERN STAR ESTRELLA DEL LAGO CHAPTER #10- 1st Wed. at 1:00 pm at Hotel Monte Carlo. 766-3785, www.oesestrelladellago.org.

E.R.I.C.- Provides support for the construction and renovation of educational buildings. 766-2866.

DEMOCRATS- Meets 2nd Thursday 4pm at La Nueva Posada FRIENDS OF VILLA INFANTIL (FOVI)- Provides financial support for children: www.friendsofvillainfantil.org. Contact Lisa Le: (387) 761-0002 or email : lisale888@gmail.com GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS- GA Meeting held every Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 PM in the Doctor’s office at the Lake Chapala Society - Charlie K. at cell: 331-445-2136.

GARDEN CLUB- Meets the 3rd. Wednesday 11 am for lunch at La Nueva Posada.

GARDEN GUILD- promoting the interest in the development of local gardens with an accent on the exotic species available in central Mexico.

GERMAN MEETING- 2nd Thursday, 1:00 pm. La Nueva Posada. Call Thea 765-2442 or Werner 763-5446.

GOLDEN STRINGS OF LAKE CHAPALA, A.C.- Rehearsals at auditorio de la Floresta. Tuesday & Friday, 3-6 pm.

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS- Every Saturday at 8:30 am at La Nueva Posada.

IRISH- Meet 2nd Monday 4pm for lunch at La Nueva Posada.

JUNIOR LEAGUE DE GUADALAJARA A.C.- Av. San Francisco #3332. ligagdl2@prodigy.net.mx, Guadalajara, Jal. Tel. (33) 3121-0887.

LAKE CHAPALA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB- Meets every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 1:15 p.m.. www.chapalabridge.com.

LAKE CHAPALA GARDEN CLUB- Gardening at Lakeside with garden tours and meeting 3rd Wed of every month at Nueva Posada for noon lunch and program. Contact sandy_feldmann@yahoo.com.

LAKE CHAPALA GREEN GROUP- Sustainable living for a better tomorrow. Meets first Tuesday of each month, September through May. Lake Chapala Society, 3:00. Everyone is welcome. www.lakechapalagreengroup.com.

LAKE CHAPALA SHRINE CLUB.- Meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 1 pm in the Nueva Posada. Perry King at (376) 763-5126.

LAKE CHAPALA SOCIETY - LCS- 16 de Sep. # 16-A Ajijic, Open Monday - Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm. www.lakechapalasociety.org. 766-1140.

LAKESIDE COMMUNITY AWARDS- We benefit all the community by honoring lakeside’s most talented. 766-3232.

LAKESIDE FRIENDS OF THE ANIMALS- Board meets 3rd Thursday at 2:15 every month. info@lakesideanimalfriends.org.

LAKESIDE LAUGHTER CLUB- Meets every Wed. from 9 am - 9:40 beginning September 29. For information call Charlene 766-0884.

LAKESIDE LITTLE THEATRE A.C.- Balanced theatrical entertainment, English-speaking, 765-5942.

LAKESIDE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF- The 4th of each month. Nueva Posada 10:30 am. Call 766-2280, www.lakesideschoolforthedeaf.org.

LAKESIDE WILDLIFE RESCUE & REHABILITATION- Rescue & rehabilitation of wild animals. 765-4916.

LAKE SPAY AND NEUTER CENTR A.C.- Provides shelter and helps curtail the over-population of animals. 766-3813.

LCS EDUCATION CENTER- Provides classes in language and other topics for both Anglo and Mexican community. 766-0499.

LCS STUDENT AID FUND- Provides financial support to area students to enroll in university, vocational and high school program. 766-0716.

LINK- Assisting foreign community. Desk at Lake Chapala Society-Monday, 10 am-noon.

LITTLE BLUE SCHOOLHOUSE- Provides financial assistance for students at school for disabled children in Chapala 766-1552.

LOS NINOS DE CHAPALA Y AJIJIC, AC Providing educational scholarships to Lakeside children 376-765-7032, www.lakesideninos.org.

LOVE IN ACTION- Shelter for abused and abandoned children. For volunteers and donations. Anabel Frutos 765-7409, cell: 331-351 7826.

MAS- Music Appreciation Society. Concerts from fall to spring. Classical music and dance concerts. For info call Beverly Denton, 765-6409.

MISION SAN PABLO- Helping 60 orphaned children ages 2-14 yrs, Bonnie Shrall - Bonnie@shrall.com #766-0009. www.misionsanpablo.org.

NAVY LEAGUE, LAKE CHAPALA COUNCIL- Meets the third Saturday for lunch at 1 pm, Manix Rest. 766 4750 or 766-1848.

NEEDLE PUSHERS- Sew dresses, knit or chet sweaters for local kids. Every Tues. 10 am at LCS. Call Gay at 766-2902.

NIÑOS Y JOVENES CARAVAN- Delivers foodstuffs and used clothing to orphanage in San Juan. Call Reuben Varela, 01-387-761-0828.

OPEN CIRCLE- Fostering body, mind & spirit, every Sunday at the LCS from 10 am to 12 noon. 765-3402 or frankdburton@yahoo.com.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS- Every Tuesday & Friday 12 pm at Marcos Castellanos 51-A, in Upper Ajijic. Tel: 766-2575 or 766-1626.

PROGRAMA PRO NIÑOS INCAPACITADOS DEL LAGO AC.- Assisting Lakeside disabled children www.programaninos.org , 763-5010.

PASOS MILAGROSOS (MIRACULOUS STEPS.)- Helping Handicapped Children Through the Magic of Horses. Saturdays 8-2. www. pasosmilagrosos.com.

RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS- Meets 1st Wednesday at 2:00 pm at the Sala LCS. New members welcome.

ROTARY CLUB OF AJIJIC- Meets every Tuesday at 1:00 pm at Hotel Real de Chapala. Contact at 766-3302. www.rotaryajijic.com.

SCIENCE OF MIND STUDY GROUP- Discussion group every Tuesday at 10 AM Lake Chapala Center for Spiritual Living at Nicolas Bravo #17 Ajijic; contact Rev. Tim at 766-0920 or tim@revdoctim.com.

THE GENEALOGY FORUM- Meets monthly on the fourth Monday in the Sala at LCS, from 2:00 to 3:45.

UVA - University/Vocational Assistance (Little Chapel by the Lake a.c.)- Sue Torres, 766-2932 or Lynn Hanson 766-2660.

VIVA LA MUSICA - Bus trips to the symphony, summer concert series, call Rosemay Keeling 766-1801. www.ajijicviva.org.

VOLLEYBALL IN CHAPALA- At Cristiania park Tues., Thurs., Sat. mornings at 10, 333-502-1264.

VOLUNTEER HEALTH RESOURCE GROUP- Meeting last Saturday of each month at LCS in sala, 10:30.

VOLUNTEERS OF THE CRUZ ROJA- Sponsors fund raising events and provides administrative and support services to the Delegation.

(NOTE: If there is any change in the above, please advise us so that corrections may be made. Call: 765-2877)

All Saints Lutheran Church Worship Service 11:00 am 4600 Avenida Tepeyac, Guad.

Tel. (01 333) 121-6741.

Abundant Life Assembly of God Carr. 140 next to Mail Boxes etc, Tel: 766-5615.

Center For Spiritual Living Celebration Service, 5pm Fridays, Nicolas Bravo #17 Ajijic. 766-9020 or tim@revdoctim.com.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Services in English and Spanish, 10 am, Riberas del Pilar Bishop Wyvell Tel. (376) 765-7067, Bishop’s residence (376) 766-1532.

Church of the Holy Spirit Services Sun. 10 am, Albaro Obregon #119, Chapala Tel. (376) 765-4210.

Grace Baptist Church 5th Sun. Evening service 6 pm, Pedro Buzeta No. 970, Guad. Tel. (013) 641-1685.

Lake Chapala Baptist Church Mid-week service, 9:30 am, worship service, 10:45 am. Santa Margarita #147, Riberas del Pilar, Tel. (376) 765-2925, 765-3329. www.lakechapalabaptist.com.

7th Day Adventist meet at Camino Real #84 in La Floresta, 9:30 am, Potluck follows, Tel: 766-5708 Little Chapel by the Lake Sun. services 11 am, Chula Vista,. Jal, Tel. (376) 763-1551.

Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation Santa Margarita 113, Riberas del Pilar, Tel: 765-6968. For information and service times, please call Pres. Elliot Gould. contact us@lakechapalajews.com. Web site: www. lakechapalajews.com.

Lakeside Fellowship Sun. worship 11 am, Javier Mina #49 Ajijic, Tel. (376) 766-0795.

Lakeside Presbyterian Church Worship-Sunday 10 am; Bible StudyFriday 10 am; Hidalgo 231A, Carr.

Chapala/Joco; Riberas del Pilar Tel. Pastor Ross Arnold at 376-7661238, or Norm Pifer at 376-766-0616 Website at www.chapalalakesidepresbyterian.org Saint Andrew´s Anglican Church Calle San. Lucas 19, Riberas del Pilar, Sunday 2 services, 9 am & 11 am. www. standrewsriberas.com San Andres Catholic Church Services 9:00 am. Ajijic, 766-0922.

St. John’s Catholic Church Between Av. Vallarta & Av. Lazaro Cardenas, Guad.

Sun. 11am. (013) 121-8131.

The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets Sundays at 10:30 a.m. at the Jewish Community Center behind Mateos in Riberas del Pilar (Santa Margarita 113). For additional information call Steve at 766-5507 or email: trudycrippen@gmail.com. Check out our website at www.lcuuf.org.

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The

LAKE CHAPALA SOCIETY

News PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

The proposed new LCS Constitution has been released for your review and will be ready for your vote at the extraordinary meeting called for that purpose on Tuesday, December 14. Let me review with you some of the important reasons that this new governing document deserves your vote. First, as you’ve probably heard many times now, we currently have four active governing documents dating back to our first constitution drafted in 1979 and including the most recent amendments to the bylaws in 2002. Much of the history and objectives of LCS are embodied in these documents, but they have become cumbersome and convoluted as one change has come on top of another. It is now necessary to dig through these multiple layers to solve questions of governance as they arise. The new constitution includes all of the objectives of the founders of LCS and brings them together with modern concepts in easy to understand language so that LCS can continue to operate and grow.

There is so much going on right now it is hard to get my thoughts together. The number one order of business has been to prepare a new constitution for ratification by the membership. Howard’s article emphasizes the work that has been done, and why. I would like to state that having worked in non-profits north of the border my entire professional life, the document at hand is of paramount importance. The constitution of a non-profit is its cornerstone.

The proposed constitution will give LCS the foundation it needs to succeed in the future. Please read it, and vote for it; LCS needs it.

We’ve listened to the comments and criticisms and have reviewed and improved upon last year’s draft in many ways. For instance there is now a direct reference to our libraries and a commitment to meet our communities’ needs. Types of memberships are more clearly defined and any proposed changes in the future will have to be ratified by the membership. Other responsibilities of the members and the board are now clearly stated. The establishment of a quorum and what constitutes a majority vote have been better defined. Staggered terms for board members have been reestablished to insure a smooth continuity of governance in the future. The position of Executive Director has been permanently established so that the operations of LCS will continue to be managed in a professional manner. References to Mexican law have been clarified.

The work to develop this new constitution was taken on by a group of dedicated volunteers who worked countless hours to draft and refine the document. In addition to your president and executive director, the team included Hebina Hood, Beverly Gardner, Education Director Mary Alice Sargent, Vice President Fred Harland and Audit and Advisory Committee Chair Keith Martin. As the team neared the completion of its task, it circulated a draft to a wider circle of members seeking comments which were then integrated into the final proposal.

Please take the time to read and understand this constitution and vote for its adoption on December 14th. The future of LCS is in your hands.

Howard Feldstein A PDF of the proposed Constitution can be found at: http://www.lakechapalasociety.org/

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

2011 will bring significant changes to LCS. The most visible one will be the integration of a common computerized membership, library, and video system. Similar to coping with four constitutions and consolidating them into one, the new system will take three separate databases and unify them into a single package. As with any change this one has its pros and cons. The cons include: volunteers having to learn a new computer program, consolidating family members into a single membership number, and any untold number of glitches and failures. However the pros will allow LCS to manage all of its affairs more efficiently. Members will be able to post their wish-lists to the library or video on line. Eventually we may have a reservation system. Daily reports and financial accountability will enter the modern age. The service desk will scan membership cards assuring that only members are receiving membership-only services. Bring your membership card! Though I look forward to its implementation, it is a huge undertaking, consuming a lot of my time.

A new policy will go into effect in January. It is meant to protect members from exposure to unprincipled business practices. In 2011, all for-profit entities, individuals or businesses, will be required to have on file, in the office, documents attesting to their credentials and legality for conducting said business in Mexico. They will also be required to provide, at all times, an evaluation instrument for you to fill out and take to the office. Access to LCS members will only be allowed through ongoing positive evaluation by LCS members. As the year goes on, additional policies will be implemented, all aimed at providing fair and consistent service to our membership.

Computer classes are back on the menu in 2011. With a newly fitted computer lab at the Wilkes Education Center, LCS will begin offering a limited number of computer classes to LCS members.

There will be a nominal charge for the classes. Next month’s newsletter will have more details. Presently, we’re still looking for qualified volunteer teachers. Intro to computers, Intro to the Internet and Intro to Productivity Software will be offered. Email Bert Slocombe at slocomberector@live.com if you’re interested.

LCS News DECEMBER EVENTS LIBRARIES Book & Video M-SAT 10-2 Talking Book TH 10-1 MEDICAL/HEALTH INSURANCE Blood Pressure M+F 10-12 Cruz Roja Sales Table M –F 10-12:30 Cruz Roja Monthly Meeting 1st W 2-4 Hearing Aids M & 2nd + 4th SAT 11-3:00 Sign-up IMSS M+T 10-1 NYLife/Seguros Monterrey Insurance T+TH 11-2 Optometrist TH 9-5:30 Sign-up Skin Cancer 2nd + 4th W 10–12 Sign –up TioCorp Bupa & Plan Seguros M 10:30-1 INFORMATION Ajijic Rotary Club M 10-12 Becerra Immigration F 10-1 Information Desk M-SAT 10-2 LINK M 10-12 Loridan Legal T 10-12 Los Niño’s de Chapala /Ajijic F 10:00-1:30 US Consulate 1st W 10:30-12:30 Sign up 10AM LESSONS Children’s Art SAT 9:30-12 Country Line Dancing T+TH 10-11:30,Show LCS card Exercise M+W+F 9-10 Have Hammers Workshop M 10-12:15, F 3:30-5:30 Intermediate Hatha Yoga T+TH+SAT 2-3:30 Spanish Conversation Club T 10:30-12 No Registration Storytelling Class TH 11-12 Tai Chi Chuan Exercise W 10-11 SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AA Lakeside M+TH 4-6 AA Women TH 10:30-12 AL-Anon/Al-aTeen M 6-7 Beginner’s Camera W 12-1 Computer Linux Class F 9:30-10:30 Computer Windows Club F 10:30-11:45 Creative Writer’s Group M 2-4 (Closed group) Digital Camera Club W 10:30-12 Discussion Group W 12-1:30 Film Aficionados 2nd+ 4th+ Last TH 2-4:30 Gamblers Anonymous W 12-1 Genealogy Last M 2-4 Great Books 1st + 3rd TH 2-4 (Closed group) Green Group 1st T 3-4:30 Green Transition in Action 2nd M 11-1:30 Lakeside Friends of Animals 1st TH 2-3:30 Learning Seminars T 12-2 Mac OS 1st M 12-1:30 Mac User 3rd W 3-4:30 Mah Jonng F 10-3:30 Masonic Lodge #31 2nd + 4th W 4:30-8, 4th T 3-4:30 Music Jam W 2-3 Needle Pushers T 10-12 Open Circle SUN 10:00-12:15 Scrabble M+F 12-2 Singles Mix & Match 1st W 5-8 Singing Singles M+W 2-3:30 Tournament Scrabble T+TH 12-3

December 2010 LCS SPANISH TEACHER PROFILES Sra. Lourdes Ramos LCS’ Warren Hardy Spanish teacher, known to family, friends, and acquaintances as LuLu says her students show an enormous interest in learning the Spanish language and Mexican culture, resulting in a challenging and gratifying experience for all - “after working hard for 6 months the students can communicate and have basic conversation. Congratulations to all my students. Your great effort will bring you success in learning Spanish.

We Mexicans appreciate and value your efforts. It is admirable.”

Noemé Laffitte Noemé’s motto is bi-social, bi-lingual, and bi-focused! Her class includes local tours to numerous points of interest that teach you how to use your language skills where it matters - on the street!

Noemé is looking forward to her second year as LCS’ Spanish Conversation teacher.

Rich Petersen Rich teaches Intro to Spanish, which includes pronunciation, basic grammar and vocabulary, preparing students for LuLu’s Level 1. In his 6th year, Rich works year round, but takes a break in April, August and December. Students enjoy his informal approach and the classes’ openness to questions on language and culture.

LCS’ Spanish classes - for members only.

The Intro class is a four-week session for $150 pesos per person, materials included. Class meets on Thursdays from 12 to 1:30, in the Gazebo.

The Warren Hardy classes (Levels 1-4) are seven-week sessions and we offer 6 sessions each year. These classes take place in the Wilkes Education Center (WEC) and cost $600 pesos per session. Materials are not included. Classes are twice a week, one and a half hours each.

Schedules are announced the week prior to each session.

The Conversation class follows the same schedule as the Warren Hardy classes. It costs $400 pesos per session and there may be an additional fee for materials. The first class is at the WEC, but Noemé hosts the rest in her home. Classes are once a week and the schedule is announced the week prior to each session.

TICKET SALES M-F 10-12:30

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LCS News

December 2010 Notice

The Lake Chapala Society A.C. Annual General Meeting (AGM) 10:00 AM, Tuesday, December 14, 2010 16 de septiembre #16-A Ajijic, Jalisco Mexico 45920 AGENDA 1.

Call to Order 2.

Establishment of Quorum 3.

Adoption of Agenda 4.

Adoption of Minutes 5.

President’s Report 6.

Finance Report 7.

Ratification of Appointed Board Members 8.

Adjournment

Notice The Lake Chapala Society A.C. Extraordinary Meeting (EM) 12:00 PM, Tuesday, December 14, 2010 16 de septiembre #16-A Ajijic, Jalisco Mexico 45920 AGENDA 1.

Call to Order 2.

Establishment of Quorum 3.

Adoption of Agenda 4.

Vote for New Constitution 5.

Adjournment A PDF of the proposed Constitution can be found at: http://www.lakechapalasociety.org/

To All of our Members, families and friends

LCS LEARNING SEMINARS Tues. December 7, Noon, chaired by Fred Harland featuring (via a TED internet podcast) John Francis with a moving and inspiring presentation – “Walking the Earth to Save the Planet.” Seeing a major oil spill in the San Francisco Bay in 1971 led Francis to make radical changes in his life. He gave up talking and riding in vehicles for 17 years. His courageous journey sends us a message to make our best effort to get a better world.

Tues. December 21, Noon, chaired by Fred Harland featuring (via a TED internet podcast) “Jill Bolte Taylor’s Stroke of Insight.”

Taylor was a neuroscientist working at Harvard’s brain research center when she had a blood clot in her left brain, became aware of her right brain and “experienced nirvana”. Her message is that this experience of deep contentment “is part of the capacity of the human mind.” And that people can choose to live a more peaceful, spiritual life by sidestepping their left brain.

POST LIFE PLEASE Come in and sign-your post life documents, we have a back-log of unsigned originals. You know who you are if you have filled in a post life form in the last 6 months.... THANKS!

LCS DIRECTORY It’s not too late if you still want to advertise in the LCS 2011 Directory.

Color ads (prices in pesos) come with free yellow page ad: Full Page - $5000 1 /2 page - $2750 1 /4 page - $1650 Yellow pages - $500 for five lines.

Contact Smart Mktg., for details and ad specs at 766-4200 ask for Marianne Carlson. The deadline is looming!

Do you have staff? If so, don’t forget to pay them Mexico’s Christmas bonus the “Aguinaldo” this month (it’s the law)!

To calculate, take their weekly pay, divide it by 7, then multiply the result by 15.

Pay it by December 20.

Example: weekly pay = $1000 pesos, so, 1000/7 = 142.86, 142.86*15 = 2142.9 so the bonus is $2143 pesos!

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

REMINDER - It’s time to renew your membership. If you want to be listed in the 2011 Directory you will need to renew by December 15.

TRANSFER your old VHS to DVD A service offered in the Video Library ONLY 50 pesos each!

GREENTRANSITIONS IN ACTION PRES-

SINGLES MIX & MATCH GROUP

ENTS:

TWO DECEMBER EVENTS:

December 13 at 11:30 AM in the Sala “THE MOST EXCELLENT DYING OF THEODORE JACK HECKELMAN” an award-winning film on the subjects of Conscious Dying and Home Death Care (some scenes shot in Ajijic).

Discussion to follow with Linda Bergh, Psychologist and Founding Member of the Minnesota Threshold Network and Louraisha Shaw, local Reiki Teacher (Reiki for Palliative Care).

LCS will be closed on Saturday 12/25, for Christmas Friday 12/31, for new years eve ‘Tis the Season to Donate to the Casi Nuevo Thrift Shop.

WED., DECEMBER 1 - “SOCIALIZER/HAPPY HOUR” TUES., DECEMBER 14 - “LAKE PANORAMA PARTY’ December 1 - “Singles Socializer”, on the back patio from 5 to 7 PM. A unique opportunity for Lakesiders to meet and greet other singles, enjoy botanas and a Happy Hour. Afterwards, the get-together continues at a nearby restaurant.

December 14 - “Lake Panorama Party” excursion boat launches from the Ajijic Pier at 2 PM, for a 3-hour voyage offering spectacular views and guided commentary at points of special interest. Passengers will enjoy catered food and unlimited free drinks for the all-inclusive price of $260 pesos per person. The boat will return to the Ajijic Pier at approximately 5 PM. A minimum of 40 passengers is required. Sign-up in the LCS office.

For further information, log onto lcsmixnmatch@ yahoogroups.com, or email inajijicpat@yahoo.com.

FILM AFICIONADOS Films and discussion 2nd, 4th and last Thursday in the Sala at 2 PM THERE WILL BE THREE FILMS THIS MONTH ON THE BIG SCREEN December 9 - TUYA’S MARRIAGE- 2006- China/Mongolia, 85 mins.

Set in Mongolia, this romantic drama follows Tuya’s journey as she tries to find a man who loves her enough to take care of her children and disabled ex-husband.

December 23 - A CHRISTMAS TALE- 2008- France, 145 mins.

Holiday special! An artfully unconventional tale about the members of a dysfunctional family who come together for an animosityfilled Christmas reunion. This Cannes Film Festival top award winner features an all-star cast.

December 30 - ME AND ORSON WELLES- 2009- USA, 114 mins.

Set back in the days of the old Mercury Theatre, this new film, directed by Richard Linklater, gives us a slice of the larger-than-life super-talent that was Orson Welles.

For LCS members to get on the Film Aficionado email list to receive notices and reviews of upcoming showings you can email:

mak1939@gmail.com

LAKE CHAPALA SOCIETY

16 de Septiembre #16-A, Ajijic, Jalisco LCS Main Office: 766-1140 Office, Information and other services open Monday – Saturday, 10 to 2. Grounds are open until 5.

LCS BOARD OF DIRECTORS President - Howard Feldstein Vice-President - Fred Harland Secretary - Lynn Bishop Sr. Director 1 - Tod Jonson Sr. Director 2 - Vacant Sr. Director 3 - Sharon Smith LCS Education Director - Mary Alice Sargent Executive Director - Terry Vidal

◊ THE LCS NEWSLETTER IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY. ◊ DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS THE 17TH OF THE MONTH PRECEDING PUBLICATION. ◊ NEWS ITEMS CAN BE EMAILED TO BRIDGET DARBY, BRIDGET98USA@YAHOO.COM.

NOTE: THE EDITORIAL STAFF RESERVES THE RIGHT TO COMPLETE EDITING PRIVILEGES. ARTICLES AND/OR CALENDAR EVENTS WILL BE INCLUDED ACCORDING TO TIME, SPACE AVAILABILITY AND EDITORIAL DECISION ON THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE INFORMATION FOR INCLUSION.

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Service

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

www.tel.chapala.com

DIRECTORY * ADVERTISING - EL OJO DEL LAGO Tel. 765-3676

* AIR LINES - AEROMEXICO Tel: 01-800-021-4000

Pag: 31

* ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Tel: 766-5961

Pag: 79

* ANIMAL CLINICS/PET SHOP - ANIMAL CARE Tel: 766-3062 - DEE’S PET CARE Tel: 762-1646 - FURRY FRIENDS Tel: 765-5431 - PET SHOP - SALUD ANIMAL Tel: 766-1009

Pag: 73 Pag: 82 Pag: 83 Pag: 73 Pag: 84

* ART CLASSES - AJIJIC ART HOUSE Tel: 766-1578

Pag: 41

* ART GALLERIES/HANDCRAFTS - CATHY CHALVIGNAC Tel: 766-1153 - DIANE PEARL COLECCIONES Tel: 766-5683 - EL PALOMAR Tel: 01 (33) 3635-5247 - ENGLISH GREETING CARDS - SOL MEXICANO Tel: 766-0734 - STONEWARE POTTERY Tel: 765-6382 - THE AJIJIC ART HOUSE Tel: 765-5097

Pag: 71 Pag: 29 Pag: 73 Pag: 60 Pag: 31 Pag: 62 Pag: 76

* AUTOMATIC DOORS - AUTOMATIC GARAGE DOOR OPENERS Tel: 766 - 4973, Cell: (045) 33-3157- 6536 Pag: 85

* AUTOMOTIVE - GRUPO OLMESA Cell: (045) 33-3806-9231 - LINEA PROFESIONAL Tel. 766-2555, Fax. 766-0066 - RON YOUNG-MECHANIC Tel: 765-6387

Pag: 71 Pag: 17 Pag: 83

* BANK INVESTMENT - ACTINVER Tel. 766-3110 - INTERCAM Tel: 766-5978 - MULTIVA Tel: 766-2499 -O&A Tel: 766-4481

Pag: 21 Pag: 25 Pag: 45 Pag: 23

* BAKERY - BRENDA’S BAKERY BOUTIQUE Tel: 765-2987

Pag: 26

* BEAUTY - AFRODITA Tel: 766-6187 - ANGEL ESTRADA Tel: 766-4666 - ELIA NAVARRO GOMEZ Tel. 766-2323 - MARY KAY Tel: 765-7654 - NEW LOOK STUDIO Tel: 766-6000

* BED & BREAKFAST - CASA DE LAS FLORES

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Pag: 61

Tel: 766-5493 - CASA DEL SOL Tel: 766-0050 - CASA TRES LEONES Cell: (045) 331-350-6764 - CASITA MONTAÑA Tel: 766-5513

Pag: 67 Pag: 55 Pag: 75 Pag: 70 Pag: 69

Pag: 07 Pag: 17 Pag: 39

* BEER & LIQUOR STORES - BETO’S WINE & LIQUOR Tel: 766-5420, Cell (045) 333-507-3024 - MODELORAMA Tel: 766-2678, 765-2055

Pag: 20 Pag: 66

* BLINDS AND CURTAINS - HUNTER DOUGLAS Tel: 766-0026

Pag: 27

- C.D. MARÍA LUISA LUIS VILLA Tel/Fax: 766-2428 - C.D. SANDRA ANAYA MORA Tel: 765-3502, 765-5444 - DENTAL EXPRESS Cell: (045) 331-121-6518 - DRA. ANGELICA ALDANA LEMA DDS Tel. 765-5364 - DRA. DOLORES RUSSELL D.D.S. Tel: 766-2881, 766-0075 Cell: (045) 333-108-7727 - DR. ALBERTO DON OLIVERA Tels: 765-4838, 765-4805 - DR. FRANCISCO CONTRERAS Tel: 765-5757 - DR. HECTOR HARO, DDS. Tel: 765-3193, 765-6974

Pag: 19 Pag: 17 Pag: 29 Pag: 10 Pag: 07 Pag: 18 Pag: 20 Pag: 12

* ELEVATORS

* BOUTIQUE / CLOTHING STORES - ARATI Tel: 766-0130 - CUGINIS OPUS BOUTIQUE Tel/Fax: 766-1790 - FIAGA BOUTIQUE Tel: 766-1816 - LA BELLA VIDA Tel: 766-5131 - LEATHER GALLERY Tel: 766-2845

Pag: 17 Pag: 03 Pag: 32, 84 Pag: 27 Pag: 32

* CEILING FANS - VENTILADORES DEL OCCIDENTE Tel/Fax: (33) 3631-6619, 3634-9982

- CUSTOM MADE HOME ELEVATORS Cell: (045) 33-1234-5867

Pag: 68

* FITNESS CENTER - CHANGE OF PACE Tel: 766-5800 - FITWELL Cell: (045) 331-149-7271 - SPINING Cell: (045) 33-1266-6857

Pag: 32, 60 Pag: 41 Pag: 30

* FINANCIAL SERVICES Pag: 06

- LAKE CHAPALA BAPTIST CHURCH Tel: 765-2925 Pag: 52, 72

- LAKESIDE FINANCIAL ADVISOR DAVID LESNICK CFP CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Fax: 001(623) 327-1277 Pag: 15 - LAKESIDE MORTGAGE CONSULTANTS Tel: 766-2914 Pag: 62

* CLEANING SERVICE

* FLOWER SHOP

* CHURCHES

- HIDROTECNIA INDUSTRIAL S.A. Tel: 01-800-134-4376 Pag: 75 - PROFESSIONAL WINDOW WASHING Tel: 765-4507 Pag: 70 - ORIENTAL RUGS CLEANING Tel: 3625 8456 Pag: 56

* COMMUNICATIONS - MAILBOXES, ETC. Tel: 766-0647, Fax: 766-0775 761-0363, Fax: 761-0364

Pag: 23

* COMPUTING SERVICES - CAFE INTERNET AJIJIC Tel: 766-3626 - COMPUTERLAND Tel. 765-7595 - NEW WORLD TECHNOLOGY Tel. 766-4343

Pag: 13 Pag: 55 Pag: 66

COPY CENTER - PAPELERIA TRINIDAD Tel: 766-2400

Pag: 34

* CONSTRUCTION - ARELLANO Tel: 766-4696 Pag: 46, 47 - CABO DO MUNDO- INTERIOR DESIGN Tel: 766-0026 Pag: 27 - CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING Tel: 766-3626 Pag: 13 - FMC Tel: 766-3596 Pag: 36 - HOMESERVICES Tel: 766-1569 Pag: 41 - TEKNOVENTANAS Tel: 01-800-581-0957 Pag: 52 - WARWICK CONSTRUCTION Tel: 765-2224 Cell. (045) 331-135-0763 Pag: 15

* DENTISTS - AJIJIC DENTAL Tel: 766-3682

El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

Pag: 15

- CRISANTEMO ROJO Tel: 766-4030

Pag: 29

* FUMIGATION/PESTS - FUMIGA Tel: 762-0078, (045) 33-1155-7059 - FUMI-TECH Tel: 766-1946, Cell. (045) 333-369-3737 - MOSQUITO TRAP Tel: (376) 765 5973

Pag: 68 Pag: 85 Pag: 84

* FURNITURE

766-1760 765-4444 766-5555

* HOME APPLIANCES - ELECTROVENTA Tel: 765-2222

Pag: 33

* HOTELS / SUITES - ADOBE WALLS INN Tel: 766-1296 - CASA BLANCA Tel: 766-1500 - CASA HUMBOLDT Tel: 01-55-5568-0871 - COCONUTS BY THE SEA Cell: 315.100.8899 - HOTEL AJIJIC Tel: 766-0383 - HOTEL LA CASONA Tel: 01-800-700-8877 - HOTEL LA ESTANCIA Tel: 766-0717 - ISLA DORADO Tel. 01-800-777-6060 - LA MISION Tel: 322-222-7104, 322-222-4822 - LA NUEVA POSADA Tel: 766-1444, Fax: 766-2049 - LOS CROTOS Tel: 764-0067 - MIS AMORES Tels: 766-4640, 4641, 4642 - PALMA REAL Tel: 01-800-777-1515 - QUINTA DON JOSE Tel: 01-800-700-2223 - VILLA BORDEAUX Tel. (01-387) 761-0494

Pag: 27 Pag: 69 Pag: 24 Pag: 16 Pag: 45 Pag: 65 Pag: 51 Pag: 69 Pag: 52 Pag: 03 Pag: 58 Pag: 64 Pag: 57 Pag: 26 Pag: 55

* INSURANCE - EDGAR CEDEÑO - MEXICO PROTECT Cell: (045) 33-3106-6982 Pag: 34 - LLOYD Tel: 766-0152, 766-3508 Pag: 23 - RACHEL’S INSURANCE Tel: 765-4316 Pag: 55

* INTERIOR DESIGN - ELEMENTS Tel: 766-5826 - HOME DESIGN Tel: 765-5649 - JAIMAH Tel: 01(33) 3825-3019, (322) 22 121 98

- MAGO’S OFFICE Tel: 765-3640

Pag: 27 Pag: 53 Pag: 38

Pag: 12

* HARDWARE STORES - FERRETERIA Y TLAPALERIA GALVEZ Tel: 766-0880, Fax: 766-2440 Pag: 89

* HEALTH - MEDICAL BIOMAGNETISM AND NUTRITION Tel: (387) 763-0448 Pag: 54 - YOGA OM Tel: 766-0523 Pag: 83

* HEARING AIDS Pag: 82

Pag: 08

* LIGHTING & DECORATION - LIGHTING & DESIGN CENTER Tel. 766-3506

Pag: 20

* MALL / PLAZA - CENTRO LAGUNA Tel: 01 (33) 3560-2670 - PLAZA INTERLAGO

* GARDENING

- LAKESIDE HEARING SERVICES Cell. (045) 33-1511-4088

066 765-2308, 765-2553 766-3615

LEGAL SERVICES

- ARDEN MEXICO Tel: 765-3540 Pag: 43 - FROM THE HEART OF THE EARTH Tel: (33) 3657-5682 Pag: 59 - INTERIOR & FURNITURE -RICARDO FERNANDEZ Tel: 766-4331 Pag: 33 - TEMPUR Tel: (52) 333-629-5919, 333-629-5961 Pag: 33 - VIGOLARI Tel: 765-5649 Pag: 53

- L & R WATER GARDENS Tel: 766-4386

EMERGENCY HOTLINE AMBULANCE - CRUZ ROJA FIRE DEPARTMENT POLICE Ajijic Chapala La Floresta

Pag: 91 Pag: 40

* MEAT/POULTRY/CHEESE - PURITAN POULTRY Tel: 765-4399 - TONY’S Tel: 766-1614, 766-4069

Pag: 66 Pag: 14

* MEDICAL SERVICES - BERNARDO LANCASTER JONES MD Tel: 765-7777/ (78) (79) Pag: 55 - CASITA MONTAÑA Tel: 766-5513 Pag: 39 - DERMATOLOGIST Tel: 766-1198, 765-2400 Pag: 73 - DERMIKA Dermatologic Center Dra. Monica Ramos Tel: 766-2500 Pag: 22 - DR. FERNANDO PRIEGO Tel: 765-7777 Pag: 82 - DRA. MARTHA R. BALLESTEROS FRANCO

Cell: (045) 333-408-0951 Pag: 19 - HOSPITAL ANGELES DEL CARMEN Tel: (01) 3813-0042 Pag: 08 - INTERNAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST & GERIATRICS Dr. J. Manuel Cordova Tel: 766-2777 Pag: 16 - ISILAB Tel: 766-1164 Pag: 30 - PINTO OPTICAS Tel: 765-7793 Pag: 14 - QUALITY CARE Toll-free: 1-877-775-4380, 331-086-4369 Pag: 40 - RED CROSS Tel: 765-2308 - SURGERY HOST Tel: 766-3145 Pag: 51

* MOVERS - BALDERAS Tel: 01 (33) 3810-4859 - LAKE CHAPALA MOVING Tel: 766-5008 - SEYMI Tel: 01 (33) 3603-0000, 3603-0256 - STROM- WHITE MOVERS Tel: 766-4049

Pag: 09 Pag: 14 Pag: 10 Pag: 15

* MUSIC/THEATRE - THE NAKED STAGE READER’S THEATRE Tel: 765-2530 Pag: 57

* PERSONAL ASSISTANCE - JUSTUS HAUSER Tel: 763-5333, Fax: 763-5335 Emergencies: 01 (33) 3441-8223 Pag: 05 - NEWCOMERS ILSE HOFFMANN Cell: 33-3157-2541, Ilse40@megared.net.mx www.mexicoadventure.com/chapala/guadalajara.htm Tel: 01 (33) 3647-3912

* PHARMACIES - FARMACIA CRISTINA Tel: 766-1501 - FARMACIA EXPRESS II - FARMACIA MASKARAS Tel/Fax: 765-5827 - FARMACIA MORELOS Tel: 765-4002 - FARMACIA UNICA Tel: 766-0523

Pag: 83 Pag: 17 Pag: 85 Pag: 76 Pag: 75

* PHOTOGRAPHY - MARTHA HERRERA-Professional Photography Cell: (044) 333-952-3416 Pag: 30

* PODIATRIST - DR. ARTURO DANIEL SANZ Tel: 765-7777

Pag: 82

- FOR SALE BY OWNER Tel: 765-7749 - FOR SALE BY OWNER Tel: 766-5991 - FOR SALE BY OWNER Tel: 766-5907 - FOR SALE BY OWNER Tel: 766-5779 - FOR SALE BY OWNER Tel: 766-1660 - FOR SALE BY OWNER Tel: 765-2222 - FOR SALE BY OWNER Tel: 01 (33) 3563-3690 - FOR SALE BY OWNER Tel: 766-5429 - GEORGETTE RICHMOND Tel: 766-2129, 766-2077 - HACIENDA LA CANACINTA Tel: 766-4971 - JAVIER GONZÁLEZ Cell: (045) 33-1443-2143 - LLOYD REAL ESTATE AJIJIC Tel: 766-3508 - MANZANILLO REAL ESTATE Tel: (314) 120-3878 - MICHEL BUREAU Cell. (045) 333-129-3322, Home: (376) 765-2973 - MIGUEL R. ROMAN Tel: 765-6557 - MONTAÑO REALTY Tel: 766-1134 - MYRON’S MEXICO Cell: 33-1065-7688 - PETER ST. JOHN Tel: 765-3676 - RAUL GONZALEZ Cell: 33-1437-0925

Pag: 68 Pag: 36 Pag: 76 Pag: 74 Pag: 38 Pag: 72 Pag: 64 Pag: 78 Pag: 13 Pag: 71 Pag: 71 Pag: 23

Pag: 69 Pag: 67 Pag: 52 Pag: 58 Pag: 32

- COLDWELLBANKER CHAPALA REALTY Tel: 766-1152, movile: (045) 33-1175-9632 Pag: 80 - FOR RENT Tel: 766-3799 Pag: 78 - FOR RENT Tel: 33-3813 3413 Pag: 76 - HACIENDA LA CANACINTA Tel: 766-4971 Pag: 71 - RIBERA RENTAL CENTER Tel: 765-3838 Pag: 70 - ROMA Tel: 766-3163 Pag: 12 - SANTANA RENTALS Cell: 315-104-3283, Pag: 67

* REPAIRS/ MAINTENANCE Pag: 84 Pag: 84

* RESTAURANTS/CAFES/CLUBS

- EQUIPMENT AND POOL MAINTENANCE Tel: 766-1617 Pag: 28 - HOMESERVICES Tel: 766-1569 Pag: 57 - TECNO AQUA Tel: 766-3730, 766-3731 Pag: 71

- AJIJIC TANGO Tel: 766-2458 Pag: 70 - ALFREDO’S CALIFORNIA Tel: 765-2245 Pag: 84 - CASA DEL WAFFLE Tel: 766-1946 Pag: 03 - MONTAÑA CAFE Tel: 766-5513 Pag: 39 - CHAC-LAN Tel: (387) 761-0111, 761-0326 Pag: 48 - CHILI BANG BAR Tel: 766-1919 Pag: 25 - COFFEE & BAGELS Tel: 766-0664 Pag: 52 - DAVID’S CAFE Tel: 766-2341 Pag: 83 - EL JARDIN DE NINETTE Tel. 766-4905 Pag: 64 - GO LE CLUB Cell: (045) 33-3502-6555 Pag: 35 - JOLANDAS Tel: 315-351-5449 Pag: 65 - LA BODEGA DE AJIJIC Tel: 766-1002 Pag: 75 - LA NUEVA POSADA Tel: 766-1444, 766-2049 Pag: 03 - “LA TAVERNA” DEI QUATTRO MORI Tel: 766 2848 Pag: 33 - LA VITA BELLA Cell: 33-3476-6577 Pag: 48 - LAS CABALLERIZAS COXALA Tel: 766-0744 Pag: 48 - LAURENT CUISINE Tel: 766-1500 Pag: 58 - LOS OTATES Tel: 766-5051 Pag: 90 - LOS TELARES Tel: 766-0428 Pag: 63 - MANIX Tel: 766-0061 Pag: 31, 65 - MOM´S DELI & RESTAURANT Tel: 765-5719 Pag: 16

- 1ST CHOICE HOMES LAKESIDE Tel: 765-2484 Pag: 63 - ADALBERTO PONCE Cell: 331 303 7764 Pag: 34 - AJIJIC HOME INSPECTIONS Tel: 766-2836 Pag: 10 - AJIJIC REAL ESTATE Tel: 766-2077, Fax: 766-2331 Pag: 03 - ALL IN ONE REAL ESTATE SERVICE Tel: 766-1161 Pag: 05 - AMBAR Tel: 766-4300 Pag: 37 - ARELLANO Tel: 766-4696 Pag: 46, 47 - BEV. & JEAN COFELL Home Tel. 766-5332 Office Tel. 765-3676 Pag: 56 - COLDWELL BANKER CHAPALA REALTY Tel: 766-1152, 766-3369 Fax: 766-2124, Tels: 765-2877 Fax: 765-3528 Pag: 92 - CHULA VISTA NORTE Tel: 766-2177 Cell: (045) 33-3841-8867 Pag: 61 - EL DORADO Tel: 766-0040 Pag: 02 - ESFERA INMOBILIARIA Tel: 01-800-466-3733 Pag: 28 - FOR SALE BY OWNER Tel: (387) 763-1974 Pag: 28 - FOR SALE BY OWNER Tel: 766-5124 Pag: 85 - FOR SALE BY OWNER Cell: (045) 33-1469-7664 Pag: 74

- LA CASA NOSTRA Tel: 765-4187, Fax: 765-5815

Pag: 06

RV RESORT - CRUZ MARIA Tel: 01-327-275-0009

Pag: 54

- AJIJIC ELECTRONICS S.A. DE C.V. Tel/Fax: 766-1117, 766-3371 - SATELLITE SERVICE Tel: 765-2648

Pag: 19 Pag: 73

Pag: 75 Pag: 68 Pag: 61 Pag: 39 Pag: 29 Pag: 27 Pag: 48 Pag: 18 Pag: 35 Pag: 29 Pag: 55

- PROFESSIONAL REHABILITATION Tel: 766-5563

Pag: 19

- CHARTER CLUB TOURS Tel: 766-1777 - GRUPO TURISTICO AXIXIC Tel: 766-5255

Pag: 09, 11 Pag: 34

* TREE SERVICE Pag: 54

- CHAPALA TREE SERVICE Tel: 762-0602

Pag: 85

* WATER

* SECURITY SYSTEMS - S.O.S.E Tel: 765-4921

- BODY SENSE CLINIC Tel: 766-6080 - CHARLIE’S MASSAGE Cell: (045) 331-044-4834 - GOLDEN AGE Tel: 766-3989 - HAPPINESS GARDEN Tel: 766-5513 - HYDROPOOL Tel: 766-4030 - LA BELLA VIDA Tel: 766-5131 - MONTE COXALA Tel: (387) 761-0111, 761-0326 - RESPIRO SPA Tel: (045) 33-3157-7790 - SUNDANCE SPAS Tel: (33) 3613-22-14 - TOTAL BODY CARE Tel: 766-3379 - VILLA BORDEAUX Tel. (01-387) 761-0494

* TOURS

* SCHOOLS - CHAPALA LEARNING CENTER Tel: 765-5498

* SPA / MASSAGE

* THERAPISTS

* SATELLITES/ T.V.

Pag: 51

* POOL MAINTENANCE

* REAL ESTATE

* RETIREMENT/REST/NURSING HOMES

Pag: 45

* RENTALS/PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

- SERVICIO BELTRÁN Tel: 765-3949 - WATCH & CLOCKS Tel: 765 5190, Cell: (045) 33-1331-9226

- NUMBER FOUR Tel: 766-1360 Pag: 23, 27 - PANINO Tel: 766-3822 Pag: 18 - RISTORANTE DI AURORA Tel. 766-4013Cell. (044) 33 1265 7900 Pag: 20 - SIMPLY THAI Tel: 766-5665 Pag: 60 - SUBWAY Pag: 90 - SPANISH PAELLA Tel: 766-2225 Pag: 58 - TABARKA Tel: 766-1588 Pag: 57 - TOMAS Tel: 765-3897 Pag: 51 - TONY’S Tel: 766-1614, 766-4069 Pag: 14 - TRATTORIA DI AXIXIC Tel :766-3796 Pag: 56

Pag: 74

* SELF STORAGE - SELF STORAGE-BODEGAS CHAPALA Tel: 766-0661, Tel/Fax: 766-1045 Pag: 31

- HI-FLO SYSTEMS Tel: 766-2903 - IRRIGATION SYSTEMS Tel. (33) 3135 3645 - TECNO AQUA Tel: 766-3730, 766-3731

Pag: 22 Pag: 35 Pag: 71

* SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS - FRIENDS OF VILLA INFANTIL Tel: 387 761-0002 Pag: 24 - EL BAZAR DE LOS NIÑOS Tel: 765-3147 Pag: 82 - LAKE CHAPALA SOCIETY Tel: 766-1140 Pag: 82-83 - LAKESIDE SPAY & NEUTER CENTER, A.C. Tel: 766-3813

* SOLAR ENERGY - ESUN Tel: 766-2319

Pag: 26

SAW YOUIN T HE OJO The Ojo Crossword

Saw you in the Ojo 87

CARS

FOR SALE : Priced to Sell. This car was driven down from US in July of 2010.

It has been legalized in Mexico. 2x2 5.2 liter engine. $95,000 pesos. Contact: Donnie Glover FOR SLE: 2005 Ford Taurus, runs good, needs some body work, $67,000 pesos or USD Call John (376)765-6613 FOR SALE: trailer 4x8 utility trailer Ont Canada plated. With full spare tire. Only used once to Ship stuff here. Real nice and new. Fully enclosed. Lock included. $22,000 pesos. Call Mike at 765-7494.

FOR SALE: 1998 Volkswagen Bug 40mpg, 4 new tires. Reblt generator. New tune up. Emission-tested. 40kpg. Jalisco plates. $2,400 USD. Call: 766-0059 FOR SALE: Honda Civic 2004, Car is in excellent condition. Mexican plated.

103,000 pesos Call: 333-480-6686 FOR SALE: 1992 Isuzu Rodeo, US plated, v/6, 5 speed. $1200 USD or OBO. Call: 331-218-9649 FOR SALE: 1991 4 Cyl. Ford Escord Hatchback. Mexico Plated and runs great, no rust, body needs repair of dents, 14,000 pesos. Call 331-218-9649 FOR SALE: 2003 Ford Focus Station Wagon excellent operating condition, low gas mileage great AC. Mexican plated. Call: Bill 01-427-271-1041

COMPUTERS

FOR SALE: CD disk burner, good condition, with disk and manual $50USD, Call: John Whiley 7653824 FOR SALE: Google reviews; excellent machine, AMD Turion 64, dual core processor, 2 GB DDR2 memory, 15.4 WXGA HD HP, Widescreen, Wireless/WiFi, 256MB, 160GB Hard Drive, 1.3 Megapixel Webcam, $4000 more info Call: (376)7656348 FOR SALE: Casio portable keyboard (CT360)w/adjustable stand + hard case lightly used, excellent condition, $2500 pesos. Call Lee Borden @ 331-439-7918 FOR SALE: Lenovo IBM notebook and tablet x61t, HDD: 320 GB, Memory: 4 GB, OS: Windows Vista, Fingerprint reading 12.1’ screen Wacom, enabled pen (with good sensitivity for art) 8 cell battery, Seminew. 800 USD. Call: 331-545-8569 FOR SALE: Four foot (4´) semi-new Satellite Antenna with pedestal. $1,000 pesos. (33) 3632-5723 FOR SALE: 200 Watts digital AM/ FM Receiver, brand new, still in Box, with remote control. Bought by mistake in the States last month. 80 USD. Call: Ingrid Hill at 766-5779 FOR SALE: Desktop computer with keyboard. Very good...lightly used with Windows XP Home Edition upgrade (with certificate of authenticity). Hard drive cleaned by professional, guaranteed. 200 USD. Call: Dennis at 766-5322 FOR SALE: Magicjack, call unlimited to the United States and Canada. Price 60.00 includes one full year of service, renewal for the next year is only 19.95 for as long as you own the magicjack. Call: (376)765-2326

PETS & SUPPLIESLooking for a home 4 1/2 year old neutered weimarainer, stellar athlete and super guard dog. High energy but very sweet. Not at all aggressive.

88

Seeks good home. Call or email 766-1929 or findcareylucas@hotmail.com

GENERAL MERCHANDISE

FOR SALE: Tinaco: Black vessel

by ROBLAST 250 Liter. Has spout for dispensing of water. Bought 1 year ago, $580 pesos. Contact: Yolanda Mc Gaughey UPCAMING SALE December 3rd and 4th a sale at 16 de Septiembre #53A, Ajijic.

Here you will find that special Christmas gift, or an item for your home that is exceptional.

The sale will be held from 10 am to 3 pm both days.

FOR SALE: Great Christmas Gift, 4 person portiable hutub, $22,950 pesos or UDS Call John (376)765-6613 BAZAAR/GARAGE Sale December 4th and 5th 9am to 2pm. Asia Silk Clothing, Carpets, Solar lights, DVD’s Tools and Miscellaneous gifts for Christmas. 5 de Febrero, Ajijic(corner of Robertos Restaurant and Emilio Zapata 2 blocks) Call Sonny at 766-5966 FOR SALE: Kitchen aid american refrigerator used excellent condition stainless, two doors water-ice. More information. 331-401-4026 FOR SALE: Kingsize mattress with base $2,500 pesos gently used and less than 2 years old. Call Mike at 765-7494 to view.

WANTED: need a used cargo trailer size 6-10 or 6-12 foot. Contact: Vince Gravel FOR SALE: DVD Recorder and Player (LG). Like new, hardly used, perfect working condition. Silver and black. $750 pesos. arjay333@gmail.com or call 766-3103.

FOR SALE: One wooden coffee table 47 inches X 31 1/2 inches with a glass insert 33inches X 20 1/2 inches. Height is 16 inches 850 pesos. Two wooden end tables with wood mosaic top. 27 1/2 inches square X 18 inches high. $300 pesos each. Call: 765 5138 WANTED: I am looking for a used piano in very good condition. Please call Jerry at 387-761-0050 or email me at haljerry@ yahoo.com.

FOR SALE: new portable dishwasher $2800 pesos. Contact: Beatriz Siliceo FOR SALE: Used wheelchair, very good condition. 15 inch wide seat. Asking $1500 pesos. Call 376-765-7430 FOR SALE: Mexican Queen Sized Mattress $500 pesos. Call: 7664474 WANTED: Stainless Steel top Work Bench. Two or three shelves. Will pay $1000 pesos-$2000 pesos. Call: 766-4474 FOR SALE: White Wooden Desk. $500 pesos 4’x3’aprx.Orig Computer Desk Lockable draw. Needs paint. Call: 7664474 FOR SALE: Glass top Bar Counter $1500pesos/$120usd. Thick Glass inlay top white 2x2 wooden frame two lower shelves 6’x2’2”approx. Call: 766-4474 FOR SALE: Stainless Steel Top Prep Table. Great work bench, $2000 pesos/$160USD. Call: 766-4474 FOR SALE: Tan foldout couch, $2,000 pesos/$160 USD. Solid corduroy like fabric.

Call: 766-4474 WANTED: Need to borrrow a car seat for baby 5 Months. 10 days only nov. 26th to dec 6. Call Mike Mutter at 765-7494 Canadian gent.

El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

FOR SALE: Dish Network Model 311 Receiver. New. Never used. $1,500 pesos.

Call Mike 766-4510 FOR SALE: 4 foot satellite antenna with Dish Pro LNB. 2 years old in good working condition. $1,500 pesos. Call Mike 7664510 FOR SALE: Sony camcorder in excellent condition with spare cartridge and manual. $85. Call: 765-3824 WANTED: Would like someone to share a mailbox from Sol y Luna Logistics with me.

Laredo address, e-mail me at: miendo@ yahoo.com or info@ajijicnews.com FOR SALE:Black GE Profile 21.6 Refrigerator/Freezer $2,900 pesos or best offer. Please email me at gary0131@yahoo. com or call me 765-7196 FOR SALE: Sharp television 26 inch, not H.D.$ 1,000 pesos. Call: 765-7494 FOR SALE: Titleist 690CB forged irons 3-PW, steel shaft, $1500; full set custom clubs with bag $1000; Cobra SS driver3-5 woods, graphite shafts $1500; Cobra Baffler 29 deg. utility graphite $500; hard shell travel case $300; assorted putters. All prices in pesos. Call: (376) 765-7045 FOR SALE: Dining table very solid “Rustico” made in beautiful Mexican style with six chairs (2 with side arms supports) catalog price new: 16,000 pesos for 7,000 pesos or best offer. Call: (387) 76 1-0190 FOR SALE: Kiss my Tears Away by William Schrader Fall of a Sparrow by Richard Vath North Star Pilgrim by Ed Vlahov all like new in excellent condition.$100 pesos. Call: (387) 76 1-0190 FOR SALE: 1000 single, size “0” empty vegetarian capsules used for filling your own vitamin and herb supplements. Holds 400 to 500 mgs. OTHERWISE NOT AVAILABLE LAKESIDE. $300 pesos. Contact: Betty Rogers FOR SALE: 10 Disposable dust bags.

Fits Eureka models series 200, 600, 1400, 1900, 2000,4000 (excluding 4300 to 4600), 5000 (excluding 5180 to 5190 and 5700 to 5800). OTHERWISE NOT AVAILABLE LAKESIDE. $200pesos. Contact: Betty Rogers FOR SALE: Pottery Barn “Westport” Sectional Sofa. Loveseat, Corner, single and ottoman, retails $3000+, only needs new slipcovers. New PB covers available on Ebay, or Oscar quoted $3000 pesos for custom made. Call: 766 3239 FOR SALE: Large (4ft) stained glass pool table light, new condition, $1500 pesos.

Call Lee Borden @ 331-439-7918 FOR SALE: Hitachi amplifier/recorder lot of bells + whistles old but works well, $600 pesos. Call Lee Borden @ 331-4397918 FOR SALE: Pevey bass guitar w/soft gig bag,with stand very good condition, $1700 pesos. Call Lee Borden @ 331-4397918 FOR SALE : Master massage table portable w/carryings case + adjustable height + head rest excellent condition, $1500 pesos. Call Lee Borden @ 331-4397918 FOR SALE : American Queen Sized “Sealy” water/foam filled floatation system w/twin heaters $2000 pesos. Call Lee Borden @ 331-439-7918 FOR SALE: Ladies Wilson starter set of golf clubs suitable for beginner. Includes

cart and bag. IRONS 4 through 9 plus sandwedge and pitching wedge, WOODS 1, 3 and 5 plus putter. ONLY 1250 pesos!!

Phone 766 1412 WANTED: Looking for a used patio umbrella table and umbrella with weighted base. Don’t need chairs. Call: 765-6382.

FOR SALE: E-Power was designed to provide Negative Potential Energy with High Frequency Energy. $6500 pesos. Call: (376) 766- 0093 FOR SALE: Gorrilla Brand2 ea. - Steel storage racks, can be converted to work benches. Each one measures 18” X 48” X 72” and has 5 shelves. $85 US. Call: (376) 766-3212 FOR SALE: Octagon poker table with slots for chips. Removable base. 4 double cup holder small tables. Painted lines on table. Green covered. Nice table. $2,500 pesos. Call: Mike at 765-7494 FOR SALE: Kingsize mattress with base $2,500 pesos gently used and less than 2 years old. Call Mike at 765-7494 FOR SALE: Magic Chef range Model CLR 2430 ANW 4 burners with center grill.

White. Two shelves in oven. Mabe hood. $5,000 pesos.Call: Gary or Jean 765-5149 FOR SALE: 1 ea. - 6’ long X 30” wide folding table. $65 US. 3 ea. - 8’ long X 30” wide folding tables $ 85 US each. Call: (376) 766-3212 FOR SALE: 3 ea. Queensize Aero beds. $35 US Call: (376) 766-3212 FOR SALE: 2 - Natural Plywood cabinets for display and storage. Bottom half has three separate compartments for storage with doors, and top half has three display shelves. Great condition. $100 USd each. Call 766-3212.

FOR SALE: Slightly Used Odyssey 2-Ball Mid-Size Long Putter w/cover.

Trained & ready to give you the best putting achievement of your life. Call: Aivars at 7662225.

FOR SALE: Double Steam and Espresso Outputs. Restaurant Quality.

Excellent condition. Mod Cafe 2M120/2 see www.lapavoni.com/model.asp?id=313, ours has double steamers and comes with la Pavoni Coffee Grinder. $34,700 pesos/$2,800 USD. Call: 766-4474 FOR SALE: 16 Cu.Ft Glass door freezer Excellent condition Restaurant Quality $9,000 pesos. See www.tor-reyrefrigeration.com/freezers/index.htm for specs. Call: 766-4474 WANTED: Need in December or January. 25’ or longer “Trailer” (pull along) to set up on our property here. Good condition.

Tires need only to be good enough to get it “home”. e-mail: doslocos9@gmail.com FOR SALE: 2 Maj Jongg Sets. One: 1960’s bakelite w/152 tiles + 5 racks w/chip holders + carrying case. US$165.00. The other: 1960’s vintage plastic set w/144 tiles + 4 wooden racks. $90 USD. Call: Amy at 766-2225.

FOR SALE: Travel Golf Bag on wheels, used 1 time. Dark blue in color. $300 pesos.

Call: James Hill at 766-5779 FOR SALE: Commercial Pressure Washer 3500 psi gas powered portable on tires. Wand Jet nozzle with 75 ft. pressure hose & 50 ft of water hose, excellent condition. 7000 pesos. Call: Bill 01-427271-1041 FOR SALE: General Instrument Navigo

receiver, remote and cables $450 pesos All deactivated and ready to use. Motorola DSR207 receiver with remote and cables $700 pesos Call: 766-1942.

WANTED: Want to Buy 12-String Acoustic Guitar. New or Used. Private Party or Dealer. Must be in Good Condition.

Please contact Raphael by phone or e-mail.

376-766-2771 or doslocos9@gmail.com FOR SALE: 1998 Susuki, V-Twin- 805 cc Maruader only 15 k, original miles like brand new, excellent conditions, Jalisco plates. $4,500.00 USD. Call: Erendira Mena at 765-2191 FOR SALE: Used 1X - Portable projector w/sound and portable movie screen. Can easily be connected to DVD Player, or Gaming Consoles for large viewing. Excellent sound quality. Great for outdoor patio entertaining. $350 USD Call Dale 766-3207 FOR SALE: Almost new SONY VHS recorder/player with remote control. Includes several new blank VHS cassette tapes and the complete Marx Brothers collection. $100 USD. (33) 3632-5723 FOR SALE: Denon turntable with diamond cartridge. Very good condition.

Both originally cost $350. Includes 100 good-brand vinyl records… half are classic music. Accept reasonable offer. (33) 36325723 FOR SALE: Small 600 watt Honda Generator. Ideal for power emergencies. $2,000 pesos. (33) 3632-5723 WANTED: Someone to share Star Choice (Shaw) programming. Must have satellite dish and receiver. I currently spend $57 U.S./mo., would like to share the cost.

Call 766-3025 & we can discuss program packages.

FOR SALE: Tracker Tundra 20 Really nice boat, 20ft long, capacity up to 9 people,

GPS fishfinder $280,000 or 25,000 USD. e-mail with any questions! juliana109@ hotmail.com WANTED: Looking for Martina Cole books. Contact: Mike Mutter FOR SALE: Pimsleur spanish audio cassettes, 16 double sided tapes, learn spanish with the pimsleur method.

Negotiable but asking 800 pesos. Contact: Diane Ward FOR SALE: LG DVD player and recorder, plays dvd, cd’s, USB, MP3, WMA, JPEG files, connects to digital camcorders, records TV programs, manual in English/ Spanish, nearly new. Asking 750 pesos.

Contact: Diane Ward FOR SALE: Good condition 5,300kms.

Custom Dinamo 2009 Chopper 150CC white & red, 18,000 pesos. Call: 333-9528531 FOR SALE: Level 1 and Level 2 Spanish Now!. These are the popular Barron’s Textbook/Workbook in like new condition. List at 37.94 USD for both. My price 150 pesos or 12 USD for both. James Tipton 765-7689 FOR SALE: The Appeal by John Grisham, list $27.95US; Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, list 29.99 USD. These are all Hardcover First Editions. Will sell each for 120 pesos or 10 USD. James Tipton, 765-7689 FOR SALE: Energizer Industrial 9-Volt batteries to run a dog silencer, before we received the batteries we hard wired it. This is $20p for one. Expiration is 2013. Call: Julie Hensley at 765-4590 FOR SALE: Dark wood china cabinet with six-sided star cutouts. Looks Moorish in design rather than traditional Mexican rustic. Measures 68” high x 33” wide x 181/2” deep. $1,500 pesos. Call Terry at 7652601.

FOR SALE: Rustic Mexican buffet, dark wood. Measures 79” wide x 34” high x 191/2” deep. $1,000 pesos. Call Terry at 7652601.

FOR SALE: Rustic Mexican china cabinet. Measures 72” high x 35-1/2” wide x 16-1/2” deep. $1,000 pesos. Call Terry at 765-2601.

FOR SALE: Very rustic coffee table (looks to be made from an old door).

Measures 72” long. $200 pesos. Call Terry at 765-2601.

FOR SALE: Dark wood rustic Mexican dining table. Rectangular, comfortably seats eight. Measures 85” long, 38” wide, 29” high.

Tabletop surface is 1-1/2” thick dark wood. $1,700 pesos. Call Terry at 765-2601.

FOR SALE: Rustic Mexican bar cabinet.

Measures 35” wide, 34” high, 17-1/2: deep. $500 pesos. Call Terry at 765-2601.

FOR SALE: Rustic Mexican bookshelf with drawers. dark wood. Three shelves on top with four drawers below. Measures 72” high, 34” wide, 16” deep. $1,000 pesos.

Call Terry at 765-2601.

FOR SALE: Rustic Mexican cabinet.

Two shelves with amber glass doors and carved wooden owls, drop-down desktop and three drawers below. Measures 72” high, 35-1/2” wide, 18” deep. $1,500 pesos.

Call Terry at 765-2601.

FOR SALE: Large rustic wood trunk with curved top (like for pirate treasure). $600 pesos. Call Terry at 765-2601.

FOR SALE: Several wrought iron rustic chandelier light fixtures with four glass globes. $400 pesos each. Call Terry at 7652601.

FOR SALE: 19” Magnavox color TV with remote. Works well. $1,000 pesos.

Call Terry at 765-2601.

FOR SALE: Serta double bed.

Mattress, boxspring and metal base on

wheels. Lightly used. $1,000 pesos. Call Terry at 765-2601.

FOR SALE: Two louvered wood doors, 81” high, 22” wide. $100 pesos each. Call Terry at 765-2601.

FOR SALE: New in bag Surefit loveseat slipcover. Sage green and gold textured stripe pattern. $250 pesos. Call Terry at 765-2601.

FOR SALE: Several cookbooks, including hardcover Barefoot Contessa At Home and Barefoot Contessa Parties! $35 pesos each. Softcover Rachel Ray’s 30 Minute Meals 2. $25 pesos. Softcover Rick Bayless Salsas That Cook. $20 pesos.

Also books featuring fish, Asian, French, shrimp, lowfat, etc. $10-$20 pesos each.

Call Terry at 765-2601.

COLLECTABLES

FOR SALE: 10 Lladró figurines (glazed) in perfect condition, $2,400 - 5,500 pesos each. Call: Brian Stockman at 766-2230 FOR SALE: Sweets book indexed catalog and building construction Dated 1906. $500 pesos. Contact: Frank Raimo FOR SALE: Packet of 50 beautiful unused Mexican commemorative postage stamps. Perfect to start your collection of Mexican stamps or to send back north as a special (and easy-to-mail) gift. Jim Tipton 765-7689.

FOR SALE: Two World War II US mess kits (1943 Leyse), in fine condition. A perfect gift for that old veteran, that young camper, or for the collector who likes unusual items of historical value. Only $100 pesos each.

Call Jim Tipton at 765-7689.

FOR SALE: I have hundreds of duplicates of 19th and 20th century Mexican stamps, both new and used, for sale. (Also lots of Peru and Chile). Call: James Tipton at 765-7689.

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El Ojo del Lago / December 2010

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