El Ojo del Lago - November 2014 by El Ojo del Lago

Saw you in the Ojo

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

Saw you in the Ojo

PUBLISHER

Richard Tingen

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Alejandro Grattan-DomĂnguez Tel: (01376) 765 3676, 765 2877 Fax: (01376) 765 3528 Associate Publisher David Tingen Graphic Design Roberto C. Rojas Sandra Hernandez Special Events Editor Sandy Olson Associate Editor Jim Tipton Contributing Editor Mark Sconce Drama Critic Michael Warren Art Critic Rob Mohr Roving Correspondent Dr. Lorin Swinehart Sales Managers Omar Medina Bruce Fraser 2IÂżFH 6HFUHWDU\ Rocio Madrigal 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 El Ojo del Lago aparece los primeros cinco dĂas de cada mes. (Distributed over WKH ÂżUVW ÂżYH GD\V RI HDFK PRQWK) &HUWLÂżFDGR GH /LFLWXG GH 7tWXOR &HUWLÂżFDGR GH /LFLWXG GH &RQWHQLGR

Index...

FEATURE ARTICLES

COVER STORY

0DJJLH 9DQ 2VWUDQG LV LQYLWHG WR WKH FRQÂżUPDWLRQ RI WKH \RXQJHVW VRQ RI KHU KRXVHNHHSHU -RVHÂżQD +DYLQJ UDUHO\ VWHSSHG LQWR a Catholic Church, Maggie sums up the experience by writing, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had such a pleasant day since my last divorce.â&#x20AC;?

HEALTH

Sally Myers writes about an important event soon to come to Ajijicâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about helping with the early detection of AIDS.

TAXING MATTERS

Dudley Baker, a former IRS agent, tries to explain what some consider inexplicable: U.S. tax law pertaining to assets held outside the United States by American citizens.

RELIGIOUS MATTERS

Carol Bowman travels to San Miguel de Allende for Holy Weekâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and among her many observations is one about why the wearing of high-heels seems obligatory for all the women in attendance.

POETRY

John Thomas Dodd writes a poem that will appeal to anyone who has ever been in loveâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which pretty much means all of us.

THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SHOWBIZ

Ed Tasca gives those â&#x20AC;&#x153;civiliansâ&#x20AC;? among our readers some idea of what one needs to do to enter the world of little-theater . . . and what one should never do!

Reserva al TĂtulo de Derechos de Autor 04-2011-103110024300-102 Control 14301. Permisos otorgados por la SecretarĂa de GobernaciĂłn (EXP. 1/432 â&#x20AC;&#x153;88â&#x20AC;?/5651 de 2 de junio de 1993) y SEP (Reserva 171.94 control 14301) del 15 de enero de 1994. DistribuciĂłn: Hidalgo 223 Chapala, Jalisco, MĂŠxico. All contents are fully protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without the written consent of El Ojo del Lago. Opinions expressed E\ WKH DXWKRUV GR QRW QHFHVVDULO\ UHĂ&#x20AC;HFW WKH 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.

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

COVER STORY

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Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Page

Anyone Train Dog

Front Row Center

Imprints

Uncommon Sense

Conservative Corner

Hearts at Work

Lakeside Living

Profiling Tepehua

Bridge by the Lake

Child of Month

Ghosts Among Us

Welcome to Mexico

LCS Newsletter

LAKESIDE LIVING

VOLUME 31 NUMBER 3

Saw you in the Ojo

Editor’s Page %\ $OHMDQGUR *UDWWDQ 'RPtQJXH] For more editorials, visit: http://thedarksideofthedream.com

The Biggest Little Man In Mexico

(

ote: Norberto Mejia recently passed away at a relatively young age. But what follows was first published about 14 years ago, and is re-run now as a tribute to one of the noblest men I have ever known. But to me, he will live forever as an example of what is best in the Mexican character— and so this is also a tribute to the local Mexican people, who have always welcomed we foreigners with open arms.) The first time I met Norberto Mejia in 1990, he reminded me of the noble native in Rudyard’s Kipling’s immortal poem, Gunga Din. Hurried (and often faulty) typecasting of just about everyone I meet is one of my many mental aberrations. Yet as I came to know Norberto better, my initial notion deepened into absolute conviction. Today, some ten years later, there is no man whom I am prouder to call my friend. Ironically, our friendship was first forged when I tried to take advantage of him. Prior to that, I had seen him dozens of times, but never given him more than a few seconds of my (alleged) valuable time. Seriously handicapped people usually give me a mild case of the willies, stemming (I suppose) from my befuddlement over how incredibly unfair fate can sometimes be. On this particular afternoon, I was already pretty upset, having grown desperate in trying to find a bed and breakfast place for the last three puppies one of my dogs had so thoughtfully presented me with the previous Christmas; and by now, having run out of gullible gringo prospects, I was reduced to trolling through the native population. But still no luck. Then I spotted Norberto, sitting on his little skateboard-like platform outside a local market in Ajijic. I swiftly stammered out my offer: many pesos if he would take the

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

7KH /DWH 1RUEHUWR 0HMLD DQG KLV grandson, Miguel

three puppies off my weary hands. The money would buy enough dog food until he could find them a good home. (This was before the advent of animal shelters here at Lakeside.) I knew of course that this was a semi-dastardly deal— for if he was unable to place the pups, their life-long maintenance cost would run far beyond my initial offer of compensation. Norberto readily agreed to these undernourished terms. But on one condition: I would have to give him a lift to his home in Jocotepec, as he could not take the dogs (albeit safely boxed) with him on the bus. I was not especially delighted, having assumed that the short jaunt to Joco would be filled with bitter reflections on life in general, and his own in particular. Norberto was obviously nearly destitute, and greatly handicapped by a severe physical disability. Yet not once over the course of our trip did he voice anything but the sunniest of statements about everything and everybody. He even poked gentle fun at his own deformity. The next pleasant surprise came when we reached his house, which was scarcely more than a covered enclosure that sat squeezed between two other dwellings, themselves little more than brick hovels. I had just gotten him down from my car and onto his tiny makeshift skateboard when it seemed half the small neighborhood mysteriously materialized. Kids came running toward us with those infectious smiles Mexican

children seem to be born with, and within moments some half-dozen adults joined their ranks. Everyone appeared greatly relieved that the crippled beggar had made it safely home. A 12th-century knight returning from battles abroad could not have received a more heartfelt welcome. In the months that followed, I found out much about him, yet things that the people in his neighborhood apparently had known for years. You see, it’s like this . . . My little friend is neither priest, pastor nor rabbi—yet I doubt anyone who has ever met him has not experienced a slight twinge of spiritual awakening. He is not a psychiatrist—yet rarely have I understood myself better than after spending a half hour in his company. He is not a financial counselor—but the insignificant amount of money I have given him has yielded an incredible return. He will never be a star of stage or screen—yet seldom have I encountered a more charismatic personality, or eyes that so artfully reflect the humanity inherent in every heart. He is no more than a few feet

tall—yet never have I seen any man’s children look upon their father with more pride and affection. He has never won a medal for bravery—yet to watch him attempt something so simple as getting on and off a car is to witness courage in its most sublime form. Finally, he is not a man with whom any of us would be eager to trade places— yet I have never met anyone who plays with more grace the lousy cards he was dealt. So the next time you see him outside the market at Plaza Bugambilias, do yourself a favor and make his acquaintance. His warm smile and cheery manner will prove worth far more than whatever you care to press into his palm. My friend is that rare soul who can sweeten the heart of just about everyone he meets— and for that reason, as well as a dozen others, I’ll close by paraphrasing the last line of Kipling’s unforgettable poem: You’re a better man than I, Norberto Mejia. Alejandro GrattanDominguez

Saw you in the Ojo

A BALLOON IN CACTUS UDQG %\ 0DJJLH 9DQ 2VWUDQG

arrive very early at the he he c aSan Antonio Tlayacach, pan Catholic Church, erfor the confirmation of Fery nando, youngest son of m my friend, Josefina. Noisily an-v-ticipating the auspicious arrivaal of The Bishop from Guadalaussaa jara, a local band blares Sousa marches in the church square, are e, where clusters of men smokily okkilyy enjoy the music. Families are busb tling into the church while seeing eeing to last minute clothing adjustments, in preparation for the holy sacrament about to be administered to their children. I am the only non-Mexican present. Reluctant to call attention to this, I plant myself demurely in one of the rear pews adjacent to which confession is uniquely being heard in a booth without a door. There kneels a penitent confiding his sins to the padre face-to-face, while two others await their turn, kneeling before closed windows at each side of the confessional. A beautiful 30-ish woman strides authoritatively down the center aisle, once-stylish grey dress billowing out behind her, high heels clicking the marble floor, long, black hair flying loose in her self-created breeze. Reverential whispers of, “The Choir Mistress,” alert me to her identity. She stage-whispers everyone in the front section of the church to move to the now-paltry number of empty seats in the rear, creating room for the impending arrival of the professional choir and the event’s participating children, with their families. No one complains at the mass eviction (no pun intended). All simply arise as one and shift to the rear of the church. Rosa Parks does not live here. As two displaced, ancient women approach my pew abreast, bent gray heads covered by black cobwebby mantillas, I begin the decisionmaking process as to which venerable grandmother I’ll surrender my seat to. Abruptly, another, younger woman falls into step with them, her red hair quite noticeable -- she is one of the few in church unfettered by headgear. She is also clothed in blazing red, a single spot of color

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

in in the otho erwise white erwise black and whit te socontained within ci ciety n the walls. cconfines co nfines of these holy wa Red Lady’s step quickens, she clips past them and draws rapidly closer to me. In a flash, she bursts her purse across the remaining three feet of rapidly diminishing area between us, for a rim shot into the space next to me. This is hurriedly followed by the silent landing of a wadded-up lacy blue handkerchief into the adjacent space, presumably reserving it for a tardy friend. When the antiquated matrons shuffle up seconds later, Red Lady literally blocks them from entering the pew by extending her arms, aircraft-like, across the entrance to it. The more wrinkled of the two señoras stops, looking baffled at the sudden absence of her target seat. Red Lady literally elbows her out of the way, and whiteknuckle- grips the sides of the pew, adroitly body-barring the entrance until the arrival of her friend, at whose coming she shunts the second crone aside. She plunges into the pew, hip-shoving her purse over to join the handkerchief beside it. I worsen matters by rising to offer one of the excluded biddies my place, but, in so doing, I block Red Lady’s dawdling friend from entering. This enables “my” old woman to grab the hand of her friend, tugging her into the pew, whereupon she sits heavily atop Red Lady’s hand, flattening it nicely. The Quixote-thin gent in the end seat has now been completely compressed. There are no other seats, so I stand, back against the wall, hapless firing squad victim, while Red Lady and her pew-less amiga volley barrages or withering glances. Onlookers in another crammed pew shift even closer together, nodding me to join them, simultaneously star-

ing Red Lady down. There seems no way I can avoid accepting their offer without being rude, so I squish meekly in, only to soon find someone’s huge thigh larding over mine. Not a swell feeling on this sweltering day. When the Choir Mistress turns her back to the congregation to tend to her official business, all the pew emigrants surge forward as one, returning to the front of the church. Boundlessly patient, she asks them to move to the rear over and over. They do, over and over. Exotic hand fans now go into motion, somewhat compensating for the temperature, which has risen to a sweaty degree. For some, it raises even higher at the late arrival of a nubile nymph, wearing the sole tight article of clothing in the church-- a white sweater, which no iron could make flat, once worn. Although the men present manage to keep their heads facing front, I can hear their eyeballs clicking over to the aisle down which she is wafting. One wife punches her husband so hard he makes an audible sound. Presently, the children and their families arrive and are placed in the empty front rows which our trusty Choir Mistress has fought so hard to defend. The professional musicians appear, stringed instruments in tow, together with members of the choir, at last ending what must have been an unpleasant side effect of the Choir mistress’ musical duties. As the band outside slowly concludes its brassy baying, drifting into silence one horn at a time, a golden crucifix appears in the doorway. It is held on high by ecclesiastical hands, and is followed by a series of priestclutched candles. Other hierarchs follow, hands clasped in prayer; all are dressed in embroidered white raiments. Now appears the mitered Bishop Himself. Resplendent In his white canonicals, he has been sent from Guadala-

jara expressly for these ceremonies. It is evident that everyone else was the Opening Act, as parishioners applaud his passing of each pew. The procession continues to the altar, and Mass proceeds, sprinkled with the most divine singing imaginable. If you multiplied the von Trapps and combined that harmony with 16th century madrigals, you’d come close. Better yet, find some angels. At the conclusion of the Mass, those in the congregation are asked to each turn to his neighbors and shake hands, as is the modern Roman Catholic custom. No one will shake Red Lady’s extended forelimb. The two old ladies she had attempted to exile give her such shriveling stares as I haven’t seen since last riding the subway. You know the look -eye- brows raised over hooded lids, nostrils flared, self-righteous mouth pursed into a Spaghetti-0, lapped hands firmly fisted together. And after such celestial serenading, too. I haven’t had such a pleasant day since my last divorce. Maggie Van Ostrand

Saw you in the Ojo

Anyone Can Train Their Dog %\ $UW +HVV artthedogguy@yahoo.com

Grandpa’s Dog Sense

any of us inherited a lot of our “dog learnin’” from Grandpa, or it seems as such since often Dad didn’t have the time or maybe experience to patiently share some of these important life skills with a young lad. I have to confess that some of these may date back to my childhood or perhaps were shared with me by another codger or two who grew up in the company of folks who had a passion for dogs. That’s part of my roots for which I am forever grateful. So what were some of Grandad’s pearl’s? When the dog barks bring him

in the house. Sure gets to the point and saves a lot of time arguing with the neighbor. If you don’t want the dog to chew up your riding boots, pick them up to where he can’t get at them. If you can’t do that leave the boots inside and put the dog outside. If you don’t want the dog to beg at the table, don’t EVER, EVER feed him even one little scrap at the table. Now this one I remember personally. As a kid during haying, or harvest my mom would often feed a dozen hungry men a sit down meal at noon and I can still hear that little woman politely remind that crew to wash up outside, hang your dusty hats out by the door and don’t feed the dogs at

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

the table. I’m old enough to not remember what I had for lunch yesterday but those lessons are etched in my mind. If you don’t want the dog to jump up don’t ever acknowledge him or even pet him when he jumps up. Pretend you’re a tree. No look, no touch, no talk. He reminded me of a little book by an old Scotsman who had trained everything from military and police dogs to herding dogs and this man said he never taught the Stay. His reasoning was he liked to keep things simple and why would you add a command when you had already told the dog to sit. Isn’t he supposed to stay in a sit until I tell him to do something else? If the dog is told to stand or to down, isn’t he supposed to keep standing or remain in the down position until he’s told to something else? Pretty hard to question that old boy’s logic. One of my favorites from his hunting dog prizes was “watch your dog’s tail to tell you when he’s onto birds and then focus on his nose ‘cause he’s telling you which way they’re running”. I throw that in for all my old bird hunting buddies who can remember the thrill of watching your dog get onto game.

I love this one because he took great delight in reminding us that the dog isn’t deaf so quit yelling at him. All you’re doing is getting your dog all confused and nervous. I’m sure there are plenty more gems but the point is Grandad didn’t have a bunch of books or the Internet or a battery of animal behaviorists but he sure had a ton of common sense and experience or maybe that’s just GOOD DOG SENSE. Art Hess

FRONT ROW CENTER *XHVW 5HYLHZ E\ %DUEDUD &OLSSLQJHU Bravo For Bedtime

udos to Director Roseann Wilshire, Assistant Director Arleen Pace, and the first-rate cast and crew for pulling off Norm Foster’s Bedtime Stories with only an unbelievable three weeks to get it together. Everyone rallied round the clock as they put together a different set, created new costumes, and re-designed the lighting and sound. Special credit must be given to all the performers who miraculously learned their lines in such a short period of time and to Roseann Wilshire and Arlene Pace for bringing Bedtime Stories to life. Norm Foster’s offering is a six-pack of over the top vignettes loaded with laughs for adult audiences. The first scene gives us a middle age couple played by Doug Pinkerton and Kathleen Morris who are priceless as the middle age couple having sex on the radio for $5000. Ed Tasca as the radio DJ gives a solid and stellar performance. The second sketch is about two old high school friends who reconnect and rekindle a moment from their past. Ken Yakiwchuk is the jaunty yet dying young man and Collette Clavadetscher his visitor, who is alternately touching and amusing as she recounts previous times. The third scene is a break-in robbery that leads to some unexpected bonding. Jamie Littlejohn plays the part of Davey, a clumsy thief. Disguised as a male, she has the audience wondering who the new actor is. She does a remarkable job and Michael Warren gives us a comical performance as her inept co-thief. The second act begins with Tommy Quick, a shock rocker, and one of his overly devoted fans. Littlejohn plays the aging male rock star with an instinctive flair and pazazz. Tina Leonard as the 19 year old fan is energetic and bubbly. It’s difficult to pinpoint one performance that outshines another but I can’t stop thinking of Kathleen Morris’s characterization of the scatterbrained accident-prone stripper. She is marvelous, and the physical shtick that she brings to the stage is hilarious and top notch. Ken Yakiwchuk is terrific as her sleazy strip joint boss. The final act takes us back to the beginning of the play and closes the bedroom adventure with Michael War-

ren and Chet Beewswager as delightful blundering furniture movers. Foster slickly weaves in several running gags throughout the play that hook the play together. He brings in the forgetful taxi cab driver at the end, skillfully portrayed by Judy Long. Stage manager Diane Jones kept everyone going as did assistant stage manager Karen Moebs and Richard Roche Producer. Set design by Dana Douin and Florette Schnelle with painting assistance from Roberta Hilleman. Richard Bansbach and crew Jon Kollin, Richard Thompson, David Bryen and Bryan Selesky re-did the set in a timely manner. Joan Warren was in charge of props. Sound was provided by Karen Lee, J.E. Jack and Hallie Shepherd. Lighting by Pierre Huot and Audrey Zikmund. Makeup Maryann Gibbard and Sandy Topazio and lastly wardrobe Wendy and Lorne Hamblin. Bedtime Stories is the most fun you’ll have in someone else’s bedroom. Coming to the main stage next month November 7th—16th is the Harold Pinter play Betrayal, a story of love and perfidy among the literati, directed by Neil Checkoway. Barbara Clippinger

Saw you in the Ojo 11

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tains were for two hundred years some of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prolific producers of minerals and precious metals. No surprise, then, that Spanish added the word PotosĂÂ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;? fortuneâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name when silver was first discovered, or that the image of a mine entrance flanked by two silver and two gold bars appears on the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coat of arms. Today mining only accounts for a fraction of the local economy.Â Only the deteriorating remnants of the American Smelting and Refining Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offices in the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Colonia de Los Gringos, and ghost towns like Â Cerro de San Pedro in the surrounding mountains testify to mining operations that continued until the Second World War. The metro area is now home to more than

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San Luis PotosĂ Unmasked

San Luis PotosĂ sits astride the highway that links Saltillo and Monterrey to MĂŠxico City, and completion of the most recent link in the Highway 80 toll road has cut the drive from Guadalajara to just under four hours. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve driven it dozens of times on the way to and from the States, stopping no longer than needed to grab a nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep at a roadside hotel, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve decided to begin seeing it one attractionÂ at a timeÂ with each new trip. It was impossible to resist choosing theÂ Museo Nacional de la Mascara â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the National Mask Museum â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as my first stop.Â Its collection numbers more than 25 thousand indigenous masks and dance costumes, most of Mexican origin.Â There are also a few 7HDWUR GH OD 3D] DQG 7HPSOR GHO &DUAsian masks, mainly from India. PHQ 3OD]D GH ODV $UPDV 6DQ /XLV San Luis is one of MĂŠxicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s colonial Silver 3RWRVt 0H[LFR Cities, and mines in the surrounding moun-

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

Marti Palace interior, San Luis PoWRVt 0H[LFR

2 million people, and mining has now been replaced by manufacturing, services, andÂ agriculture. Many foreign companies have been attracted by its new and massive multi-modal logistics center. Â San LuisÂ is theÂ only inland port in Mexico to be designated a Free Trade Zone. Founded only twenty-five years after the Spanish conquest of MĂŠxico, San Luis is one of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest cities and one rich in

historical tradition. In the 1860’s, it was for a time the seat of President Benito Juárez’s government during the French occupation of México. Fifty years later, Mexican patriot and president Francisco Madero was held there under arrest until his escape in 1910, when he called his countrymen to revolution with his Plan of San Luis. The colonial center is home to many beautiful and historically significant colonial buildings, and has been closed off to vehicular traffic. Only a couple of miles off the expressway, I park curbside at the Alameda Central, a public garden park that covers more than ten city blocks. From there it’s a walk of just one block past the Art Deco Cine Alameda to the Plaza del Carmen, and from there only two blocks further to the Plaza de las Armas. The museum is housed on the Plaza del Carmen in the magnificent “Marti Palace,” which was completed in 1897 as the residence of a prominent landowner and miner. After it passed from family ownership, the building was home to various federal government agencies until 1982, when it became the home of dance masks donated for public viewing by engineer and collector Victor Jose Moya. The Spanish tried unsuccessfully to ban the use of masks, which was a well-established part of ritual life in Mexico when they arrived. Most are made of wood, but it’s not uncommon to find others made from leather, wax, bone, cardboard, or paper mache. Their uses are varied, but they are almost always a part of ceremony and ritual, appearing most often in theatrical dance and processions. Priests used masks to incarnate deities, and warriors wore masks of predators like the jaguar and eagle warriors in the belief that they would be imbued with the animal’s strengths. Since Mexican Independence, mask traditions have continued to evolve into forms that depict Mexico’s history and popular cul-

ture. It’s taken me less than half a day to walk the Centro Historico and the museum, and it’s been a delightful break from a long road trip. For the next trip I’ve set my sights on the city’s The Museo del Centro Taurino Potosino (Potosí Bullfighting Museum), and its collection of bullfighting photographs, posters, clothing and equipment that once belonged to famous matadors Antonio Ramblés

Saw you in the Ojo 13

UUNCOMMON N C OM MM MON CCOMMON OM MM MON SSENSE ENSE %\ %LOO )UD\HU ELOOIUD\HU#JPDLO FRP FDR and Privacy

was watching the recent Ken Burns film “The Roosevelts” on PBS in September. Although I have always considered FDR one of my heroes and have read a number of biographies about him, I did learn a few new things. I knew he had a libido. I knew he deliberately mislead the public about our chances of entering the Second World War in the 1940 election. I knew that he would often choose the politically helpful course of action when Eleanor was urging him to choose the more moral or idealistic option. He was a superb politician and a successful leader. He was, like many successful leaders, self-absorbed, sometimes cruel and always shrewd. And I have always admired him and been fascinated by his presidency. We have visited Campobello and Hyde Park, and the wonderful Roosevelt Memorial in Washington D.C. Nevertheless, I don’t think I realized just what an amazing job he did, in active collusion with the Secret Service and the press, in minimizing his disability. Although it was always painful and sometimes risky, he managed to be filmed standing, shaking hands, always smiling, and never appearing to be an invalid. He never allowed photographs to be taken of him as he was being maneuvered in and out of vehicles, trains or ships. When he was filmed sitting, as he often was, it was in a car or in a chair of some sort, but never in a wheelchair. What struck me was the narrator’s comment that FDR would never be

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

%LOO )UD\HU elected today because the press would never keep such a disability secret. I am sure that is true, but the implications of that are staggering. Someone as heavy as William Howard Taft would never be elected either, nor would Abraham Lincoln, because he was ugly and had a squeaky voice! What has become of us? I think most (certainly not all) of us would agree that had FDR not been elected president, the world might be very different today. Even the reliably conservative George Will testified on the program that there have been only three presidents who have substantially and permanently changed the office and reach of the presidency: Washington, Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. The implications of this observation are troublesome. In our post-Marshall McLuhan media era, image is the most important factor in electing people to high office. Potential candidates must be good-looking, have a strong speaking voice, the illusion of an upright family, and probably be a Christian. Deists or atheists need not apply! The most disturbing reality may be that many potentially excellent leaders are not willing to put themselves forward as candidates. To do so requires a march into the meat grinder of media coverage. Political candidates lose all semblance of privacy, and must refrain from proposing anything substantive, measurable, controversial, or even honest, lest a damaging sound bite appear on a media outlet and go viral. Roosevelt, although he was a smart politician and kept much to himself, was able to propose and defend revolutionary and substantive ideas. He made mistakes but he did not face the kind of media furor that regularly arises today when a politician dares speak honestly. I know 2014 is not 1940. I am glad that we have an open and aggressive press. I understand that keeping presidential health secrets from the public can be deceptive and potentially harmful. But, for me, it’s a tremendous loss to realize that we could not elect an FDR today, but worse, that he would not even want to run.

Saw you in the Ojo 15

THE CONSERVATIVE CORNER %\ 0DUWLWD 1RRQ

PA Clean Power Plan: All pain – no gain for American jobs and energy—A diverse coalition, has sprung up in opposition to the Clean Power Plan (CPP). Yet most people are unaware of the potential impacts or of the deadline for public comment. This week’s column was written to make it easy to add your voice. The CPP will radically alter the way electricity is generated in America. It is based on the discredited theory that climate change is a crisis caused by the use of fossil fuels emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It aims to reduce overall carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The combination of the CPP and previous regulation will shut down more than 40 percent of coalfueled generation—representing 10 percent of all electricity-generation capacity. What will this forced, premature elimination of America’s electric capacity do? The proposed EPA plan will seriously threaten America’s electric reliability—Unless the EPA backs down on its harsh regulations and coalfueled power plants get a reprieve, blackouts are almost guaranteed. During the 2014 “polar vortex” that crippled the U.S., the Northeast narrowly dodged severe blackouts that could have resulting in freezing deaths. Many of the power plants that produced that power are scheduled to be shuttered. This is before the projected closure of an additional 75 megawatts of coalfueled electricity generation due to the new regulations. If McCarthy was serious when, prior to the release of the proposed regulations, she stated: “Nothing we do can threaten reliability,” she’d withdraw this plan, as it will do just that. The proposed EPA plan will chase away more American industry While the CPP appears to be about forcing the power sector into reducing carbon-dioxide emissions, there are spillover impacts of higher electricity rates on overall economic activity—especially energy-intensive industries such as steel, manufacturing, and chemicals. America’s abundance of affordable, reliable energy provides businesses with a critical operating advantage in today’s intensely competitive global economy. If industry continues to leave the U.S., emissions will increase as companies move to

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

countries with cheaper energy due to lax environmental regulations. The proposed EPA plan will kill hundreds of thousands of jobs In late July, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) International President Edwin D. Hill said: “If these rules are implemented as written, dozens of coal plants will shut down and with no plans to replace them, tens of thousands of jobs will be lost and global carbon emissions will rise anyway.” Investor’s Business Daily reports: “The IBEW has now joined the United Mine Workers of America [UMWA], the Boilermakers and several other unions opposed to the new anticarbon rules.” The UMWA has estimated that the rule will result in 187,000 direct and indirect job losses. No wonder the economy is sluggish and the jobs picture continues to be bleak. The proposed EPA plan will cause harsh economic consequences while having virtually no impact on the reported goal of stopping global climate change—From increased energy costs to job losses, the CPP will further damage the economy. Carbon dioxide emissions from countries— such as China and India—are projected to grow by nine billion tons per year. Our reductions in 2030 would offset the equivalent of just 13.5 days of carbon-dioxide emissions from China alone. The CPP will become the definition of “all pain and no gain.” Take a few minutes now to add your comments: http://www2.epa. gov/carbon-pollution-standards/ how-comment-clean-power-planproposed-rule. Use the above suggestions, customize them as you please, and send them on to the EPA. For America to grow, we need energy that is effective, efficient, and economical, rather than that which is threatened by the EPA’s flood of excessive and burdensome regulations.

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World Aids Day Comes To Ajijic %\ 6DOO\ 0\HUV

hom among us has not been touched by AIDS, the most critical epidemic in recorded history?? At At a recent cocktail party, a comment was overheard: “AIDS? Hasn’t that been eradicated?” Would it surprise you to hear there are 34 million people in the world living with AIDS? In an effort to increase awareness about the dangers and prevention of HIV/AIDS, a group of dedicated Lakeside volunteers has formed to celebrate World AIDS Day in Ajijic, on Sunday, November 30th, and Monday, December 1st, 2014. Spearheaded by Bobby Lancaster and Dan Blackburn, the group is called AJIJIC CARES, which is an acronym for: COMUNIDAD/ACEPTACION RESPECTO/ESPERANZA/SALUD World AIDS Day was started in 1988 by James Bunn and Thomas Netter. They worked for the Global Program for AIDS, a division of the World Health Organization. The annual event is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS, show their support for those living with HIV/AIDS, provide education about the disease with regards to prevention and treatment, and commemorate those who have died. These are the same goals of the newly formed AJIJIC CARES organization. World AIDS Day was the firstever global health day, and a model to provide a focus on other diseases worldwide. Due to the success of World AIDS Day, the World Health Organization has developed other global health campaigns such as World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day,

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

World No More Tobacco Day, World Tuberculosis Day, World Malaria Day, and World Hepatitis Day. The red ribbon has become the universal symbol of awareness and support for those living with HIV/ AIDS. It was the first ribbon symbol, and it inspired later versions such as the pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness. It was designed in 1991 by twelve photographers, painters, film makers and costume designers who brainstormed in their shared gallery space in New York’s East Village. Their simple idea has become one of the most recognized symbols in the world. When the new committee was formed in Ajijic, they wondered what AIDS support services might be available in Guadalajara and discovered VIHAS DE VIDA. Bobby Lancaster said, “This group has given me a new found appreciation for the youth of today. They are dedicated, hardworking individuals committed to HIV/ AIDS education, prevention and support. Their services provide anonymous testing, counseling, and they are available to take people to doctor’s appointments and hospitals as needed. They have a unique outreach program designed for schools that includes flash cards as a teaching aid.” Currently, 80% of all HIV cases, in Jalisco, have progressed to the AIDS stage before detection. The community education provided by VIHAS DE VIDA encourages early detection and their support helps individuals and their loved ones live with HIV/AIDS on a day-to-day basis. They are working hand-in-hand with Ajijic CARES. Festivities will take place on the Ajijic Malecon November 30th and December 1st. The group plans to construct a 12-foot-tall red ribbon to display at the amphitheater. VIHAS DE VIDA will be on hand to distribute HIV/AIDS information and there will be local music and dancing. If you wish to pay tribute to someone special, feel free to bring messages, flowers or mementos to place by the sculpture. All are welcome and don’t forget to wear your red ribbon.

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Leftovers %\ -XG\ '\NVWUD %URZQ

hen my father died forty years ago, it was in Arizona, where my parents had been spending their winters for the past ten years. They maintained houses in two places, returning to South Dakota for the summers. But after my father died, my mother never again entered the house in the town where I’d grown up. Our family had scattered like fall leaves by then—my mother to Arizona, one sister to Iowa, another to Wyoming. Both the youngest and the only unmarried one, I had fallen the furthest from the family tree. I had just returned from Africa, and

so it fell to me to drive to South Dakota to pack up the house and to decide which pieces of our old life I might choose to build my new life upon and to dispose of the rest. My father’s accumulations were not ones to fill a house. There were whole barns and fields of him, but none that needed to be dealt with. All had been sold before and so what was to be sorted out was the house. In that house, the drapes and furniture and cushions and cupboards were mainly the remnants of my mother’s life: clothes and knickknacks, pots and pans, spice racks full of those limited flavors known to the family of my

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

youth—salt and pepper and spices necessary for recipes no more exotic than pumpkin pies, sage dressings and beef stews. Packing up my father was as easy as putting the few work clothes he’d left in South Dakota into boxes and driving them to the dump. It had been years since I had had the pleasure of throwing laden paper bags from the dirt road above over the heaps of garbage down below to see how far down they would sail, but I resisted that impulse this one last run to the dump, instead placing the bags full of my father’s work clothes neatly at the top for scavengers to find—the Sioux, or the large families for whom the small-town dump was an open-air Goodwill Industries. It was ten years after my father’s death before my mother ever returned again to South Dakota. By then, that house, rented out for years, had blown away in a tornado. Only the basement, bulldozed over and filled with dirt, contained the leftovers of our lives: the dolls, books, school papers and trophies. I’d left those private things stacked away on shelves—things too valuable to throw away, yet not valuable enough to carry away to our

new lives. I’ve been told that people from the town scavenged there, my friend from high school taking my books for her own children, my mother’s friend destroying the private papers. My brother-in-law had taken the safe away years before. But last year, when I went to clear out my oldest sister’s attic in Minnesota, I found the dolls I thought had been buried long ago--their hair tangled and their dresses torn—as though they had been played with by generations of little girls. Not the neat perfection of how we’d kept them ourselves, lined up on the headboard bookcases of our beds—but hair braided, cheeks streaked with rouge, eyes loose in their sockets, dresses mismatched and torn. Cisette’s bride dress stretched to fit over Jan’s curves. My sister’s doll’s bridesmaid dress on my doll. It felt a blasphemy to me. First, that my oldest sister would take her younger sisters’ dolls without telling us. Her dolls neatly preserved on shelves in her attic guest bedroom, ours had been jammed into boxes with their legs sticking out the top. And in her garbage can were the metal sides of my childhood doll-house, imprinted with curtains and rugs and windows, pried apart like a perfect symbol of my childhood. Being cast aside as leftovers twice is enough for even inanimate objects. Saved from my sister’s garbage and cut in half, the walls of my childhood fit exactly into an extra suitcase borrowed from a friend for the long trip to Mexico, where I now live. I’ll figure out a new life for them as room décor or the backgrounds of colossal collages that will include the dolls I’m also taking back with me. Mexico is the place where lots of us have come to reclaim ourselves and live again. So it is with objects, too. Leftovers and hand-me-downs have a value beyond their price tags. It is all those lives and memories that have soaked up into them. In a way, we are all hand-me-downs. It’s up to us to decide our value, depending upon the meaning that we choose to impart both to our new lives and these old objects. Leftovers make the most delicious meals, sometimes, and in Mexico, we know just how to spice them up. Judy Dykstra-Brown

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FATCA and FBAR – What’s the Big Deal? %\ 'XGOH\ 3LHUFH %DNHU http://CommonStockWarrants.com

have been an expat since 1999 and enjoy a great life living outside the United States. Not only am I an ex-pat but I am also a retired IRS agent with over 29 years of service before retiring in 1996. For much of my career with the IRS I was an IRS agent – team coordinator and the lead agent on the largest corporations in the world. I have not performed any tax work for hire since my retirement and my interests lie with my various financial related websites. As we get started let’s not forget that the tax system in the United States operates on what is referred to officially as ‘voluntary compliance’; reality is it actually operates on ‘fear.’ U.S. citizens and U.S. persons holding assets outside of the United States have two different required filings depending on the amount of dollars in question. FBAR is the Report for Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts and essentially comes into play if you have $10,000 or more outside of the United States. United States persons are required to file an FBAR if: The United States person had a financial interest in or signature authority over at least one financial account located outside of the United States; and The aggregate value of all foreign financial accounts exceeded $10,000 at any time during the calendar year reported. FATCA, The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act was presumably designed as a measure to crack down on money laundering and tax evaders who hide assets in offshore accounts. But the law is causing global scale headaches for banks and their clientele alike. Many Americans residing overseas are reporting banking lockout. Many foreign financial institutions have simply chosen to eliminate their U.S. citizen and U.S. person client base in order to minimize their exposure to FATCA reporting requirements, withholding fees and potential penalties, and frankly who can blame them.

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

“FATCA was passed in 2010 as part of the HIRE act. Starting July 1, 2014 foreign financial institutions (FFI) will be required by the U.S. government, under FATCA, to report information regarding accounts of all U.S. citizens (living in the United States and abroad), U.S. “persons,” green card holders and individuals holding certain U.S. investments to the IRS all their clients who are “U.S. persons”. FFI that do not become compliant will be subject to a 30 percent withholding on their U.S. investments when they are cashed in, which will directly impact FFI clients with U.S. holdings. FATCA also requires U.S. citizens who have foreign financial assets in excess of $50,000 (higher for bona fide residents overseas: $200,000 dollars for single filers and $400,000 dollars for joint filers – see the IRS website for more details) to report those assets every year on a new Form 8938 to be filed with the 1040 tax return….” Tax avoidance simply is making use of the current tax laws to one’s advantage while tax evasion is the intentional disregard for the laws, omission of income, overstating of expenses, in essence, fraud. Of course, income earned or gains derived in foreign countries are reportable as income on their U.S. tax returns even if those individuals do not receive statements from those foreign financial organizations similar to the 1099s in the United States. The FBAR requires you to report accounts that have over $10,000 in foreign accounts with a June 30 filing date. FATCA also kicks in with Form 8938 to be filed with the 1040 tax return for those having foreign financial assets in excess of $50,000. “To view this article in its entirety with hyperlinks, please go to http://commonstockwarrants. Dudley Pierce com/?p=57745” Baker

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%\ .DWK\ .RFKHV

he dictionary defines “independence” as: freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others. One of my favorite comedians, George Carlin, put it this way: “I do this real moron thing, it’s called thinking, and I’m not a very good American because I like to form my own opinions.” How about that magical feeling you got when you got your first twowheel bike – I remember feeling free – to fly down the street, go where I wanted to go – be independent! Or learning to ski – it felt like flying – I was, for few minutes at least, free from the earth’s pull of gravity – an independent and free spirit. Remember when you got your first car? Now THAT was independence! I got a sweet little powder blue Pontiac Tempest for my 16th birthday and felt on top of the world – I had wheels! I

was independent and could go anywhere I wanted! Then there was that first job and that first paycheck. Suddenly you could see that if you worked hard just maybe you could gain financial independence – you could provide for yourself and not have to rely on your parents, spouse, or anyone else to take care of you. I

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

agree with Denis Waitle when he said: “The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” So what exactly is this thing called “personal independence?” Independence means the freedom to separate ourselves from personal ideologies and intellectually challenge ourselves to see the full scope of an issue in order to find real solutions for the good of the whole. Independence means choosing to empower ourselves with the information to independently make up our own minds. Independence means creating a world society in which we can perceive nations through a satellite view, rather than a microscopic view, and make value judgments based on what’s good for the future, rather than the present. Independence means we have the freedom to pursue personal needs while choosing global motivations, and face the consequences of those actions, both wonderful and tragic, with the intent to learn, grow, and gain wisdom. True independence means recognizing that every type of thought and belief system has something to teach, to offer, and that if we learn from those in our world, our chances of creating real change for the betterment

of all increases exponentially. Independent thought is not popular — it is absolutely, pricelessly, rare. Nothing you read about in the papers or see on the television is independent. Whatever we take in from the popular media is regurgitated conventional knowledge. There is nothing independent about most of the world. This is a tragedy — independent thought is essential for progress. Conventional thinking moves us forward gradually at best (at worst it pushes us backwards). Independent thinking is required to achieve any substantial jump in performance. Using these five strategies you can develop your independent thinking ability. 1. Disconnect from sources of conventional thinking. Instead of plugging into your TV, PC, or library for answers, think for yourself first. Without cutting yourself off from the world, you can increase your capacity for independent thought by limiting the conventional opinion you absorb. 2. Immerse yourself in experiences that conflict with your current perspective. Instead of substituting a new conventional thought for the old one, deliberately seek out experiences that challenge your views. These experiences may exist in foreign cultures, unusual subcultures, or between the pages of a book you disagree with. The point is not to adopt a new train of thought, but to disrupt the conventional railroad. 3. Watch the process from a distance. Leaving your normal life behind can give you the freedom to see issues from another perspective. Watching the world instead of eating it up gives you the peace of mind to think for yourself. 4. Randomize your sensory inputs. Instead of visiting the same places, eating the same foods, and talking to the same people, you can actively pursue new experiences. 5. Practice disbelief. Without becoming a cynic, you can develop the habit of instinctively distrusting thoughts that rely on conventional wisdom. Instead of assuming that these “truths” are self evident, suspend judgment until you’ve have confirmed that there is reality behind the logic. Think independently and you create a world of limitless opportunity. But don’t take my word for it…find out for yourself. In the words of Coco Chanel, “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” Kathy Koches

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Hearts at Work $ &ROXPQ E\ -DPHV 7LSWRQ “Hug somebody today, somebody along life’s way….”

just read in a recent This Week magazine that there is a new Web app that helps you find a stranger “who will engage in no-strings-attached cuddling.” This is not about casual sex (although those apps exist as well we are told) but about finding people, often within walking distance of your house, who want to “hug, snuggle, or ‘spoon.’” The app even allows users to “rate the resulting cuddle and specify whether they prefer to be ‘big spoon’ or ‘little spoon.’” That simple old need to be hugged, even by strangers, now surfaces again, this time through our sophisticated electronic devices. Leo Buscalia, author of Love, is a personal favorite of mine. Sometimes referred to as “Dr. Love,” for years Leo was the foremost promoter of hugs. Leo liked to say “life is a banquet…but most poor fools are starving to death” for lack of touch, for lack of hugs. To the people rushing up to him after a lecture, he would often say, “You have to choose…do you want an autograph or a hug?” (Almost everyone chose a hug.) I think the world could use at least a few million Leo Buscalias right now. His solutions to life were simple: “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” He also cautions us that “Death…tells us not to waste time…. It tells us to tell each other right now that we love each other.” Decades ago I taught a two-day workshop on poetry at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan as in in-service workshop for elementary school teachers. Most of the participants were women, most were at least middle-age, some near the end of their careers. At the end of the second day all felt very close after so many hours of sharing their feelings through uncomplicated poetry. During our final hour, I

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

introduced them to the idea of “sacred sounds,” and I taught them several Sanskrit chants from ancient India which we then did together. I was surprised at how open and even eager all had become during our two days together. In the final hour we formed a circle, all fifteen of us, and joined our hands together. We began moving first clockwise and then counterclockwise as we chanted to a beautiful melody the ancient song of India, “Shree Ram, jai Ram, jai jai Ram,” which simplistically means “Praise God, praise God, praise praise God.” Ram, incidentally, is only one of various embodiments of deity, but a very important one associated with God energies here on earth. (Gandhi, after he is shot, falls to the ground uttering the word “Ram.”) And so for perhaps fifteen or twenty minutes we were mesmerized or awakened by this peaceful dance we did together, holding hands. Finally I parted hands with the person on my left and while still holding the hand of the person on my right I began turning inward, around and around, until the former circle had wound around me into a tight ball, everyone still singing. Another five or ten minutes passed before we somewhat reluctantly pulled apart to return to our individual selves. One of the teachers, a woman named Ethel, near retirement age—we had discovered the previous day she was a widow--was crying her heart out. I walked over to her and asked, “Ethel…what is the matter…are you OK.” Through her tears she blurted out, “That was the first time I have been hugged in ten years.” Jim Tipton

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If Liberalism is a mental disorder (treatable with facts and logic), then Conservatism must be a mental disease (also treatable with facts and logic).Â Throughout history, liberals have moved humanity forward while conservatives have opted for humanity to remain static.Â The very definitions of the two words says it all: liberal: one who is open to new behavior or opinions conservative: one who is averse to changeÂ Mel Goldberg gmel1936@yahoo.com Dear Sir: (A response to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dr. Savage Was Rightâ&#x20AC;?Â by Robert NipperÂ in September Ojo del Lago.) Mr. Nipperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s article lacks basic logic.Â He seems to believe that if one person whom he labels as Liberal (or even several people) say something, then everyone in the general group must accept it as true. He confuses words when he writes babies when he means fetuses. He claims that believing in civil rights for all means Liberals see murderers as folk heroes. He might take offense if I said all Conservatives believe the same as SarahÂ (â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can see Russia from my houseâ&#x20AC;?) Palin or David (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eliminate

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

health insurance - if you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to see a doctor, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t goâ&#x20AC;?) Brat.Â Last month Lynda Nunez complained in her letter to the editor about name-calling.Â I agreed and have written against the practice by both Liberals and Conservatives.Â Yet Mr. Nipper refers to our twice-elected President as a Pseudo-President. Would Lynda Nunez rail against Mr. Nipperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s terminology? On one point Mr. Nipper is correct. President Obama has indeed praised Castro.Â The confusion, Mr. Nipper, is that President Obama praised Julian Castro, 16th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

CORRECTION, PLEASE! ,Q RXU RELWXDU\ RI 9DOHULH Siegel on page 63 of our October issue, we erred in printing that it had EHHQ ZULWWHQ E\ %DUEDUD Harkness. Valâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter, 6KHOO\ 6LHJHO ZURWH WKH obit. We regret the error.

7KH &RZEHOO 7UDVK 7UXFN %\ 7HUL 6D\D

t’s around 8:00 am. I am not a morning person so I’m still lying in bed. Behind my eyelids, I’m standing in a field of green grass, it’s a beautiful sunny day, there is a milk cow ambling towards me, her bell tinkling in the breeze. She begins to walk a little faster, butterflies flutter out of her way, the bell tinkles a little louder. The milk cow starts to trot, her udders swinging from side to side, her bell ringing more urgently. When I see her galloping at full speed, I think Damn! That cow is coming right at me! My eyes fly open and I awaken to the cowbell of the trash truck coming down my street. I jump out of bed realizing I forgot to put the trash out for them. I run downstairs while tying my robe around me. I grab a trash bag off the floor, the change off the counter and unlock the front door just as they are passing by. I hand the man the bag and the tip over our fence as he walks by following the truck. He nods and says, “Muchas Gracias” and gives the cowbell a few more shakes. In California, this scene is much different. It’s early morning, I’m still sleeping. Behind my eyelids, I’m standing on a sandy beach listening to the waves of the ocean. Watching the seagulls swoop in the air. The wind starts to whip my hair across my face and the waves become larger. It begins to rain hard, the rumble of the waves hitting the shore in full storm turns into the rumble of a diesel

engine as I open my eyes realizing it is the sound of the trash truck at my neighbor’s house. The hydraulic forks are dumping their trash bin into the back of the truck. I look out the window and see that I have forgotten to put the bin out by the curb. I run downstairs without my robe or slippers. Open the front door, grab the full trash bin and start rolling it down the driveway hoping that my neighbors had a double load this week, which will give me a few more seconds. Halfway there, the truck roars past and around the corner without slowing down. I turn around and drag the heavy bin back up the driveway. In Jalisco, Mexico, the trash truck comes by three to four times a week, and you pay only a tip. The cowbell guys in our neighborhood also wear Santa hats during the Christmas season which I think is adorable (extra tip). In California, you pay a ridiculous amount per month, and the truck comes by only once a week. Of course in either scenario, it’s a good idea to have your trash already out there for them to pick up. Or maybe I should start waking up earlier? Nah!

Teri Saya

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HIGH-HEELED PENANCE —In San Miguel de Allende %\ &DURO / %RZPDQ

he one-ton platform carrying the image of the Virgin Mary swayed on the shoulders of the 40 women bearing its burden, as they emerged from the massive doorway of the 500 year-old Templo Oratorio. A tear sliding down Mary’s porcelain cheek, representing her grief at the arrest and death of her son, Jesus, tugged at the hearts of the onlookers. Witnesses jammed El Centro, San Miguel de Allende, in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico to experience the most solemn of processions, El Silencio, The Holy Burial. The streets of this colonial gem had been readied for the processions that depict the biblical record of the peak of the Christian Calendar-Holy Week. 5PM, Good Friday. The sun had started to recede and the hush of the crowd awaiting the Virgin of Solitude to pass by them, created a deafening silence. White-gloved women, dressed completely in black with dark lace mantilla veils draped over their heads and brushing their shoulders, carried the largerthan-life figure of Mary as if she were made of glass. I watched the young, middle-aged and elderly women gingerly move with tenuous steps. My eyes darted down to their feet. They all wore black shoes; some stiletto, some wedged, some platform, but all high-heels. They struggled to lower the float to pass through the

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

arch at the entrance to the Temple. The Mother of Jesus teetered as a gust of wind kicked up and her image wavered from its anchor on the massive platform. The women’s ankles wobbled, as they attempted to regain sure footings. The group staggered forward, conveying the precious image down the steps and onto the uneven cobblestoned streets. Penance for the faithful comes at a high price. Carrying this heavy load shoulder-high through narrow streets and alleyways for blocks, for hours, exemplifies the spiritual burden of one’s sins. Wearing flat comfortable shoes would not demonstrate sufficient gratitude for God’s forgiveness or show enough atonement. As I watched these female penitents, Las Veronicas, wince with each step, a stiff echo of their devout devotion to the Virgin Mary swept over me. Processions personifying these religious pageantries have been celebrated throughout the world since the 16th Century. Holy Week observances in Seville, Spain, in Antigua, Guatemala and in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico draw travelers from all over the world. They come to see the reenactments of Christ’s final journey, beginning with the Last Supper and ending with the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. One does not have to be Catholic to be awed by the spectacle of flower covered platforms with lifesize figures positioned atop, advancing

through the streets on the shoulders of the faithful. In April, 2014, having experienced the drama of Semana Santa ( Holy Week) in Antigua, Guatemala several years earlier, we decided that San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, awarded the Reader’s Choice ‘best city in the world’ by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine in 2013, should be our next ‘Procession’ destination. Good Friday is devoted to the most solemn, memorable and dramatic processions. Throngs head out on foot, all converging on El Jardin, the ancient plaza,where the orange and pink canterra stone, neogothic Parróquia San Miguel de Arcangel steeples rise into the sky. This parish church, its style drawn from postcards of churches in Europe, was erected over the original 1600’s structure. La Parróquia, considered the symbol of San Miguel, throbs as the heart of this vibrant city. Every day, on every hour, the bells ring out from the towers, but eerily, on this one sacred Christian day, the bells remain silent. After Christ’s mock trial before Pontius Pilate, angelitos, young girls wearing all white, lead the way from the church courtyard. They toss aromatic herbs, chamomile and mint from their woven baskets to make a perfumed carpet for the sacred images to follow. During this procession, the single most emotional moment of the entire week takes place, the Holy Encounter. As the lofted image of Jesus meets the image of the Virgin Mary, with the aid of a mechanical lever, Jesus raises his head to meet the sorrowful eyes of his mother. The crowd’s silent reaction is profound. The pageantry, the tears of the faithful and the high-heeled penance images make a visit to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico during Holy Week one that will never fade from memory. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Carol L. Bowman

THE LAST TRAIN RIDE %\ *DEULHOOH Blair

Jaw tight, feral fear grips gut like hunted beast, He steps into the early light. With calm resolve, his ticket clamped in sweaty palm, He lets the work-bound crowd direct his path, His destination quite clear. The minutes drag, the platform is a blur. Not long and there’s the dragon’s roar, The sucked in air, the distant squeal of metal wheels Approaching from the tunnel’s womb. His mind goes dark. Dreamlike, with leaden feet and shallow breath, He steps into the void, oblivious of the shriek of brakes And gasping crowd. He’s reached his journey’s end. Eyes unseeing, expectant of that far-off light To guide him from the tunnel to eternal peace, He feels instead the cold, hard steel against his broken frame. He is alive! It’s not to be his last train ride.

THE OJO INTERNET MAILBOX (Wherein we publish some comments about our previous issues.)

A TRUE DOG STORY Sandy Ojo del Lago, do you do any fact checking? This story has been roundly denounced as false by Snopes and every other urban legend site. Sure it’s a great story, but it’s not true! The Canine Medal of Honor doesn’t even exist. I

like your magazine, but a little bit of journalistic integrity wouldn’t hurt. Our Editor Responds: You’re right, Sandy. We should have checked more closely. As a long-time dog lover, I must have gotten carried away by the story.

Saw you in the Ojo 31

Dear Sir: I picked up a copy of the August Ojo at Sandy’s Bookstore here in Guadalajara the other day and came across the article by Cindy Paul titled “Talk Like A Hoosier Pirate.” I sincerely hope that this article was written in jest and was not to be taken seriously as our newly arrived ex-pat friends from the USA and Canada certainly don’t need any additional incentives to forget about the idea of learning Spanish. I wonder where Ms. Paul got the idea that “Few Gringos possess the ear required to hear and pronounce a musical romance language.” I guess that I had better send a letter to the director of the language program at Georgia State University in Atlanta (my alma mater) and tell the university to quit sending summer students down to Guadalajara to study Spanish at the University of Guadalajara’s Center for Studies for Foreign Students (CEPE). According to Ms. Paul, most of these students are obviously wasting their time. And what is this “. . not being able to understand anything the teacher says in Spanish?” Haven’t you been listening in class, don’t you pay attention, don’t you do your homework? This statement is absolutely ridiculous. Unless, of course, you are the worst student in the world or have managed to team up with the worst teacher in the world. And, hey, what does all this mean about the Spanish classes that have been offered by the LCS for years? Are these poor students wasting their time also or by some miracle can they understand the instructor?

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

Having lived in the City of Guadalajara for 14 years and managed to gain a working knowledge of Spanish, my learning experience has been very positive. I started taking classes at the American Society in 2000, then moved on to the University of Guadalajara, the Vancouver Institute, two other private language schools, had a private tutor for a while and even worked on my Spanish with one of my English students. I don’t know why in the hell (pardon my French) I would have wanted any of my teachers to speak like a “Hoosier” or any other person other than someone who lives in Guadalajara. Certainly learning a foreign language is not easy, but at least all letters in the Spanish alphabet are always pronounced the same. And before you complain about how hard Spanish is, think of the poor Mexican students who are trying to deal with right, and write, and rite; or go and went and gone; and red and read (past tense). I would reckon that most ex-pats in Mexico carry a cell-phone that could have an English-Spanish dictionary added to it. The best way to start learning the language is to look up words you see on signs and on menus. My wife and I still use the language calculator we bought in Atlanta 16 years ago. We came across an unknown word today in a restaurant, as a matter of fact! Ever heard of a dish called “Alambre de Pollo?” Well the dish is “wire or strips of chicken”, is served at a place called Tomate on Avenida Chapultepec and is delicious! You should give this restaurant a try when next in the city. In short, I want to say to your readers not to be discouraged about learning Spanish. Of course you will be able to understand your teacher and as you start practicing your new vocabulary out in the Mexican world, the Mexican citizens will be very appreciative. Trust me, we get smiles and thanks for speaking Spanish in Guadalajara almost every day. And, most importantly, the ability to communicate in the native language makes your life here so much more pleasant and easier and fun! Sincerely, Karl M. Fromberg Guadalajara karlandpam@hotmail.com

Saw you in the Ojo 33

ear Sir:

Robert L. Nipper, in the October entry for his “The Conservative Corner,” says that Maurice Strong is “...a Communist...disguised as an environmentalist to destroy American industry.” The statement lacks credulity and any factual basis. It borders on defamation of character. It is like saying Mohandas Gandhi was disguised as an activist to destroy the British Empire. He also says “Maurice Strong is the creator of the sham called ‘Global Warming’” This is simply untrue. Dr. Strong’s credentials and achievements are far superior to those of both Robert Nipper and the fear-spreading Holly Swenson. Dr. Strong, now 85, is on The Privy Council, a group of personal consultants to the Canadian government on state and constitutional affairs; He has received The Order of Canada, an honor to recognize distinguished service to Canada through lifelong contributions: He has received The Order of Manitoba, the highest civilian honor conferred by the province of Manitoba; and he is also a Fellow of The Royal Society, a group of over 2000 distinguished men

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

and women from all branches of learning who act as a scientific advisors to the Canadian government. He was Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment; and from 1974 through the present, he has earned more honors and awards from more countries than I can list here, many for his environmental work. Using the epithet “Communist” is a throwback to the 1950s and a typical scare tactic from those who lack facts or reason. Perhaps progressives need a commentary column in the Ojo to offset the Tea Party’s rhetoric and outright lies. Or are Progressives to be relegated only to the “Dear Editor” section? Chad Olsen Chairman, Lakeside Progressives Our Editor Replies: Your last question is a reasonable one. However, since the overwhelming majority of our literary contributors can be classified as “Liberal,” or “Moderate,” we feel that the Progressive faction here at Lakeside is already well-represented in our magazine. Thanks for your interest in El Ojo del Lago.

Saw you in the Ojo 35

St S to op pY our Mo M oney ffr rom L iin niin ng Stop Your Money from Lining S om o meone Else’s Els lsse’ e’s Pockets Pockets Someone %\ $QGUHZ +DOODP

ou probably moved to Mexico for at least one of three reasons: the weather, the culture, or the low cost. Mexico is affordable. So your pensions go further. Many expats also have investments. But their money ignores sound investment principles. Let me introduce myself. I’m not a financial advisor. Instead, I’m a personal finance teacher, financial journalist and author of the bestselling finance book, Millionaire Teacher. I also write two personal finance columns. One is for Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail. For starters, you shouldn’t invest in actively managed mutual funds. I know… almost everyone does. And that’s a shame. Virtually every book or study discussing these products says the same thing. These are profitable for your advisor and his firm. But you make less. Warren Buffett says you should invest in low cost index funds. Economic Nobel Prize winners William F. Sharpe, Paul Samuelson, Daniel Kahneman, Merton Miller and Robert Merton all agree. Harvard’s endowment fund manager, Jack Meyer says, “The investment business is a giant scam. It deletes billions of dollars every year in transaction costs and fees…You should simply hold index funds.” Yale University’s endowment fund manager, David Swensen says, “The U.S. government should stop the mutual fund industry’s systemic exploitation of individual investors.” Canadian mutual funds are even worse. Don’t believe me? Google the opposite of what I’ve been saying: Actively managed funds beat index funds I

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

promise, it’s an eye-opener. Sadly, most of Lake Chapala’s fulltime and part-time residents hold actively managed funds. They make less money in tax-deferred accounts. In taxable accounts, they’re even worse. Your advisor isn’t the only person who loves these products. So does the taxman. I wrote The Global Expatriate’s Guide to Investing to show you one of two things. You could build a responsible portfolio of index funds. Or, you could find an ethical advisor to do it for you. The book is simply written. You won’t need any prior understanding about the stock market. Best of all, if you read it, you can stop people lining their pockets with your hard-earned money. (Ed. Note: Andrew Hallam is a recent resident of Chapala. His book, The Global Expatriate’s Guide to Investing can be purchased at all online booksellers, in both e-versions and hard copy. Readers should be advised that the Ojo neither endorses nor disputes the suggestions made in this article.)

Saw you in the Ojo 37

BUSTED! %\ 3LD .UDXV $LWNHQ piakrausaitken@gmail.com

t seemed so logical at the time. We had awakened in our snug mountaineer tent to the placid sound of rain on our canvas roof. Cozy. A great time to go back to sleep and wait, but a day of adventures in the Ozarks of Missouri awaited us and it was already 8:30. I stuck my head out on to the little porch provided by a canvas flap. Rain was falling in sheets. I could barely see the trees 100 feet away. The campsites near us had been vacated. Had they packed up before it started raining? “Everybody’s gone,” I announced to my husband. “I didn’t hear a thing.” “Confirming your history of being able to sleep through tornadoes,” he said drolly. “Well, you didn’t either,” I answered, not wanting to make it my fault that we were about to have a serious moisture problem, one way or another. Our options were limited. If followed our usual procedure, putting on our clothes, deflating our air mattress and rolling it up with our double-sleeping bag on the tailgate of our station wagon we, along with all our gear, would be soaked. And taking down the tent, normally a 15-minute procedure, in this downpour? Right. “Nobody’s around,” I offered. “Why don’t we just roll up our air mattress inside here, and you make a mad dash for the car, naked, and throw it in while I roll up the sleeping bag and I’ll follow. Then we can take down the tent as fast as we can, throw it into the car, get in, dry ourselves off, and put on our clothes. Who’s gonna know?” Having always been a bit shy about running around naked outdoors, he submitted an alternative. “Okay,” he said tentatively, “but you go first. The air mattress is smaller and will be easier for you to carry.” “Fine, I’ll go first. Give me the

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

car keys.” No clickers for opening doors then, it was keys only. We rolled it up. I crawled out and made a mad, muddy dash dressed only in my Birkenstock sandals, for the car. Key in trunk. Check. Throw open. Check. Throw in mattress roll. Check. Race back to tent. Check. Soaked, water running off my head like I’m in the shower. Drop to the little porch area. “Here, maybe you better take the sleeping bag too,” my husband’s voice said through the sounds of the storm, “if you come in here you’ll soak everything, including our clothes. I’ll follow and bring the clothes.” “Better idea,” I said, “Hand me the clothes. They are lighter. You bring the sleeping bag.” Clothes in hand, I looked at my husband’s face as he stuck his head out and contemplated what he was about to do. A smile spread across my face. He was not amused. I sprinted across the 50 feet to the car, threw the clothes in as he dropped the sleeping bag into the back seat, and we both headed back for the tent. “This is kinda fun,” I said a couple of minutes later, fully into the spirit of being drenched and alone in the wilds of a mountain forest as we started pulling up the tent stakes. “I’m going to remember how good this feels.” He managed a somewhat timid grin. I could see that the pleasure of feeling the warm rain pouring over his naked body as we worked together pulling down our tent was beginning to grow on him. Right up until the moment when the Ranger’s truck came around the corner, driving very slowly, about ten feet above our campsite. I stopped breathing. “Oh, crap,” my husband said, putting the tent between his genitals and the Ranger’s view. I was full view, front on, no place

to hide, holding tent stakes. Before either of us had time to think what to do, the Ranger called out cheerily, “You folks okay?” “Yes,” I yelled back. “Wet, but okay.” “Good,” he hollered. “Just checking.” And he drove off ve-e-e-r-r-y-y slowly. I started laughing. “That guy got his thrill for the day, didn’t he?” All my husband said as we threw the dripping remains of our tent into the back of our wagon, not folded, not put into its neat little 18” x 4” carrier case, just heaved in,

“And if he’s half a man, he’s going to go around the circle and drive back here to get a second view. Let’s go.” We’ll never know whether he did or not. We dried off, put on our clothes and headed for breakfast someplace in our future. But I was right. We never did forget that day. Pia Kraus Aitken

Saw you in the Ojo 39

Sandy Olson

Phone: 331-283-8529 Email: sandyzihua@hotmail.com

COMING EVENTS

%(75$<$/ÂŤ$'8/7(5< /,(6ÂŤ (9(1 ,1 $-,-,& The upcoming show at Lakeside Little Theatre is Betrayal by Nobel Prize-winning author Harold Pinter. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an intense drama about adultery and lies and the misremembered memories of love. Directed by Neal CheckoZD\, the play stars veteran Dave McIntosh as the husband and introduces two newcomers to the LLT stage â&#x20AC;&#x201C; -DFLQWD 6WULQJHU as his cheating wife Emma, and 5LFKDUG 9DUQH\ as his best friend and Emmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lover. Geoff Long From left: Dave McIntosh, Jacinta Stringer, also features as an Italian waiter. Richard Varney, Geoff Long You will not want to miss this fascinating play, with what is rumored to be an unusual set design. The show opens on November 7 and runs through November 16 except for Monday, November 10, when the theater is closed. 7LFNHWV DUH SHVRV %R[ 2IÂżFH KRXUV DUH DP WR QRRQ HYHU\ GD\ H[FHSW 6XQday beginning November 5, and also one hour before each performance. Alternatively, \RX FDQ UHVHUYH WLFNHWV E\ FDOOLQJ WKH ER[ RIÂżFH DW RU (PDLO WLFNHWV# lakesidelittletheatre.com A GREAT WAY TO SPEND AN AFTERNOON This coming Sunday, November 9 at 4, there will be a voice and guitar concert at the Old Train Station in Chapala. You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss this one. Soloist .DWLD 6DQFKH] has a beautiful soprano voice that blends extremely well with the classical guitar. She has been a soloist with the Jalisco State Opera Chorus for nearly 15 years. Katia also is the principal soloist with the Ensamble Siglos Pasados. Her accompanist -LP %\HUV has been involved with early music for a long time. They will perform songs of the Renaissance and Baroque eras. The Train Station is a great venue for this type of intimate music. The acoustics are wonderful. Admission is 100 pesos. MEET THE MOUNTAIN The video premiere of â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the Shadow of Mount Garciaâ&#x20AC;? will be at the Bugambilia 3OD]D 7KHDWHU LQ $MLMLF DW DQG RQ 7XHVGD\ 1RYHPEHU 7KLV LV D EHQHÂżW IRU WKH /&6 Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Program. The price of admission is 150 pesos. Tickets may be purchased at Diane Pearl Colecciones or at the theater. THIS IS A MUST SEE! A collection of works of a talented selection of artists will show at Galeria de Arte AXIXIC this Friday, November 7, from 3 to 8 at Rio Zula 1 and Ocampo in West Ajijic. This is a great chance to see some of our talented artists in one place. And cocktails! Botanas! Music! MUSIC HATH CHARMS We heard from -RKQ .HHOLQJ 9LYD 0XVLFD 3UHVLGHQW, about exciting musical offerings from now to the end of the year. 7KXUVGD\ 1RYHPEHU at 7.00 p.m. The Revueltas String Quartet with Diego Rojas and Cesar Huizar, violins, Manuel Olivares, viola, and Yalissa Cruz, cello. Program includes Rudo by Domingo Lobato, Five Novelettes by Glazunov and American Quartet by Dvorak. 7KXUVGD\ 'HFHPEHU , at 7.00 p.m. Christmas Concert with the Hermosillo family singers and their friends Hector Lopez and Paty Hernandez , back by popular demand. These concerts will be in the Auditorium at 4.00 p.m. Tickets are 200 pesos and will

be on sale at the Auditorium, Diane Pearl Colecciones, and LCS ticket booth Thursdays & Fridays 10-12. AND FURTHERMOREâ&#x20AC;Ś.. Viva will also be running a bus trip to each concert in the fall season of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra, alternately on Fridays (departure 4:30 p.m. with a stop at a nice restaurant), and on Sundays (departure 10:30 am).

)ULGD\ 1RYHPEHU Opera: Carmen 6XQGD\ 1RYHPEHU Opera: Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Elisir dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Amore Note: prices may be higher for the two operas. )ULGD\ 'HFHPEHU Homage to Richard Strauss, Marco Parisotto, Conductor; Strauss: Salome op.54: Dance of the Seven Veils; ConFHUWR IRU +RUQ 1R LQ ( Ă&#x20AC;DW Major (Horn: Stefan Dohr of the BerlĂn Philharmonic); Ein Heldenleben, op.40 Tickets are $300 pesos for Viva members, and $400 pesos non-members, obtainable at the LCS Thursday and Friday, 10 to noon. For information phone Marshall Krantz 766-2834. MICHICIHUALLIâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;CAN YOU PRONOUNCE ,7" 7KLV \HDU WKH )HULD 0DHVWURV GHO $UWH WKHPH LV Âł&HOHEUDWLQJ WKH $OHEULMH Â´ ,W ZLOO WDNH SODFH 1RYHPEHU 7KH KRXUV DUH )ULGD\ Michicihualli by Artist Jesus DQG 6DWXUGD\ WR DQG 6XQGD\ IURP WR at the Club de Yates de Chapala. Lopez Vega The theme for 2014 will be Michicihualli, the Goddess of Lake Chapala. The Feria entered a giant alebrije of the goddess in the parade in Mexico City in October 2013. Michicihualli will be here in Chapala on November 14. The Feria parade starts around 7 pm on Madero Street in Chapala. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your chance to participate locally. HOPE FOR ABANDONED CHILDREN Âł52&. $1' 025(Â´ is a fundraiser on behalf of Hope for Abandoned Children, a home in Chapala that provides shelter and a family environment to seven children and youth ranging in ages from 6 to 23. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19 at La Huerta, (location of the Tuesday organic market). It kicks off the high season with great music from the 50s, V DQG V GDQFH FRQWHVWV UDIĂ&#x20AC;HV DQG awards for best hippie costumes. A cash bar and food for purchase will be available. The main objective of Hope for Abandoned Children is to provide a stable environment for the children while striving to keep them in school so they can become selfVXIÂżFLHQW RQFH WKH\ UHDFK DGXOWKRRG 7KHLU KRXVHPRWKHU (OYLD 0DUWLQH] SURYLGHV meals, laundry, personal hygiene instruction and, most important, the structure, emotional support and love these children need in order to thrive. Tickets for the event are 150 pesos and are available at Diane Pearlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, ISHOP & Mail (formerly Mail Boxes, Etc.), weekly markets, or by contacting Graciela Ducet at gducet@gmail.com. A TRIPLE HEADERâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;ART, THAT IS The next show at *DOHULD 6RO 0H[LFDQR, Colon 13 in Ajijic, on November 21, will feature three artists: master sculptor Robert Burns Wilson, painter and print maker Pat Apt, and photographer Paul Hart. Robert Burns Wilson is a sculptor of note whose bronze work is highly sought after. He LV UHWXUQLQJ IRU ZKDW PD\ EH KLV ÂżQDO VKRZ The intricate processes and detailed work inYROYHG DUH EHFRPLQJ PRUH GLIÂżFXOW WR DFKLHYH he claims. Pat Apt has been in Ajijic for over 20 yrs and has a distinctly unique style, in both her Sculptor Robert Burns Wilson oil paintings and her linoleum cut hand-pulled and Sol Mexicano Owner Lor- prints. Paul Hart is a retired Canadian who raine Farrow now lives in Ajijic. His photographic work por-

continued on page 48

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

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trays his love of nature, in combination with extensive travel. This show will predominantly show his landscapes scenes of Mexico. The opening reception will be on Friday, November 21, from 4 until 6. The show will be on display for three weeks. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss this chance to see a varied yet distinguished collection of art. 1$.(' 67$*( presents Ancestral Voices on November 21, 22 and 23. It is directed by /L] :KLWH 7KH VKRUW SOD\ LV VWDJHG DV D FRQFHUW ZRUN ZLWK ÂżYH SHUIRUPHUV VLWWLQJ RQ FKDLUV LQ IURQW RI PXVLF VWDQGV ZKHUH WKH\ÂśYH ODLG WKHLU VFULSWV 7KH ÂżYH are playing membersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, sonâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;of a rich WASP family in Buffalo NY between 1935 and 1942, with a brief coda from the 1960s. Cast members are $OOHQ 0F*LOO &DUROLQH 0F&RUPDFN )UHG .RHVOLQJ $P\ Friend, Don Challoner, Dick Yanko and Doreen Challoner Naked Stage is located at #10A Rio Bravo. Directions: west on the carretera from Ajijic, south on Rio Bravo, about two blocks down behind Danielâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant on the east side. Danielâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is open for lunch and dinner with a no host bar available at 3:00 p.m. 7KH ER[ RIÂżFH RSHQV DW DQG WKH VKRZ VWDUWV DW S P The email address for reservations: nakedstagereservations@gmail.com. Reservations guarantee a seat until 3:50, after which seats will be sold to those waiting without reservations. $,'6 $1' $-,-,& $MLMLF &$5(6 is launchLQJ WKH ÂżUVW ORFDO :RUOG AIDS Day on December 1. The committee, headed by %REE\ /DQFDVWHU and Dan Blackburn, has cited two primary goals for Ajijic World AIDS Day. The ÂżUVW LV WR UHPHPEHU WKRVH friends of Lakeside residents who have died of this disease. The second goal is to provide information on Ajijic CARES World AIDS Day Committee: the threat and prevention of Front row from left: Ken Jones, Diana Ayala and AIDS and to encourage the development of educational Bob Lewis. Back row from left: Bobby Lancastand support programs at er, Larry Simpson, Robin Lawrason, Jim Lloyd, Lakeside. Dan Blackburn, Dario MĂĄrquez and Bill Orovan. Additional volunteers Absent: Estella Hidalgo and Jaime Barbiery. are needed to help with this ÂżUVW $MLMLF :RUOG $,'6 'D\ HYHQW )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ :RUOG $,'6 'D\ LQ $MLMLF RU to volunteer to assist, contact Bobby Lancaster at bobby@danblackburndesigns.com or Diana Ayala at ognidi@hotmail.com. FASHION SHOWâ&#x20AC;ŚGREAT FOODâ&#x20AC;Ś DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T MISS IT! The news is that â&#x20AC;&#x153;everything old will be new againâ&#x20AC;? (tell that to my mirror) on December 3 at noon. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when The School for Special Children will be auctioning gently-worn or new clothing and footwear and accessories at a luncheon/ fashion show held in a beautiful private home on the mountainside in West Ajijic. Many new designer samples are included on the runway and in an auction. Lakeside ladies will model during the luncheon and auction and encourage the audience to up their bidding. The ticket price is 250 pesos, which includes a complimentary glass of wine, some surprising door prizes, and a delicious lunch catered by Leslie Martin and her staff in a lush garden setting with spectacular views. This fundraiser will help raise much needed money to build extra classrooms, Chef Leslie Martin with Assistant buy supplies, and provide money for maintenance and for the education of 80 Roscia additional children with special physical and/or learning problems. To reserve seating at the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything Old is New Againâ&#x20AC;? fashion show luncheon and live auction, contact Leslie Martin at (376) 766-3853 or Patricia Doran at inajijicpat@ yahoo.com. Tickets will go on sale for 300 pesos on Monday, December 1 at Diane Pearl Colecciones and Miaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boutique. They go fast, so get them early. :+$7Âś6 &22.,1* $7 -$/7(3(&

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

There are some nice events happening at -DOWHSHF &HQWUR (GXFDWLYR in December. Christmas is celebrated with food prepared and served by students who are fortunate to be enrolled in this Tecnico Universitario en Hoteleria. A dinner and OXQFKHRQ DUH IXQGUDLVHUV IRU WKH EHQHÂżW RI WKHVH students. On Wednesday, December 3 the school hosts a dinner: a no host bar at 6 pm and complimentary hors dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;oeuvres. At 7:15 7LPRWK\ * 5XII :HOFK directs â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Taste of Los Cantantes del Lago.â&#x20AC;? Dinner is served at 8. An auction follows. Donation is 600 pesos per person. The next day, Thursday, December 4 at noon, the luncheon starts with a no host bar at noon and complimentary hors dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;oeuvres. Los Cantantes perform at 1:15. Lunch is served at 2. There will also EH D UDIĂ&#x20AC;H 7KH GRQDWLRQ IRU WKH OXQFKHRQ LV Linda Buckthorp and Stupesos. Linda Buckthorp is the Community Facilitator dent Veronica Zoyla for Jaltepec Centro Educativo. Reservations can be made through buckthorplm@gmail.com or by calling Linda at 766-1631. OASIS CLOUD CAFE 2DVLV&ORXG &DIp hosts â&#x20AC;&#x153;Meet the Writers Luncheonsâ&#x20AC;? and other special events at their cafĂŠ in Riberas del Pilar at Calle San Luis #330. On December 3 Helena Romero will read from Spirits In The Shadows...Intriguing Ghosts Of Mexico. The book is a collection of ghost stories from various parts of Mexico. The social starts at 11:30, the readings at 12. Lunch follows. For reservations call 376-765-3516 or email info@oasiscloud.mx. LOS CANTANTES WINTER CONCERT The Los Cantantes del Lago holiday concert â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lakeside for the Holidaysâ&#x20AC;? will be presented at the Auditorio de la Ribera on Tuesday, December 9 at 7 pm and Wednesday, December 10 at 4 pm. The concert will feature a wide variety of holiday music, including a selection of classic carols arranged by Hermann Schroeder, Hanukkah songs and two arrangements by Mark Hayes - â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gloriaâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Variations on Jingle Bells.â&#x20AC;? Accompaniment will be piano, oboe, cello and violin. Tickets reservations can now be made on their new website, www.loscantantesdellago.com or you can purchase them directly from Diane Pearl Colecciones, Miaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Director Timothy G. Boutique or any Cantantes member. The ticket price is 250 pesos. Ruff Welch

ONGOING EVENTS

GROW YOUR OWNâ&#x20AC;Ś. â&#x20AC;Śvegetables, that is. The $MLMLF 2UJDQLF 9HJHWDEOH *URZHUV meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 10 at Azul Frida Restaurant, Carretera #61 in West Ajijic. The next meeting will be on November 12. New members are welcome. They can contact John McWilliams at mcwilliamsmx@gmail.com or by phone at 376-766-0620. ART SHOWS ON THE PLAZA Starting in October there will be an art show every third Sunday of the month on the Ajijic Plaza from 10 to 3, hosted by $MLMLF 6RFLHW\ RI WKH $UWV. What a nice way to spend the afternoon. COME AND SEE THE FUNNY DOG 7KH )XQQ\ 'RJ $UW 6WXGLR in Ajijic is holding open houses on Saturdays in October through December, from 12-2. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s located in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;comedic sculptured gardensâ&#x20AC;? of San Juan de Las Colinas #38, three blocks up the hill on Calle RevolucĂon. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a studio for music, art and theater. Tel. 766-4442. 648($.< :+((/ 5($',1*6 La Rueda, a coffee gallery in San Juan Cosala, stages monthly readings in English. They are held on WKH ÂżUVW :HGQHVGD\ RI HDFK PRQWK DW Readers in October were -HUHP\ 0RQURH 0DUJLH .HDQH 6DQGL *HOOHV &ROH -DFTXL 7UHLQHQ .HQQHWK 6DO]PDQ and Mario Tello. Those who want to read, or get more information, can contact Judy at 387-761-0281 or email her at jubob2@hotmail.com. The next reading will be on December 3.

Writer Jeremy Monroe

Saw you in the Ojo 49

PROFILING TEPEHUA %\ 0RRQ\HHQ .LQJ PRRQLH #\DKRR FRP

overty in Mexico, according to Wikipedia, is divided into two categories: moderate poverty or extreme poverty. As of 2013, Mexico’s Government estimated that 33% of the population live in moderate poverty, 9% extreme; that makes 42% of the total population live under the national poverty line. Some economists argue that four decades from now, Mexico will be among the five biggest economies in the world, along with China, USA, Japan and India. Meanwhile, back in the barrio, borders are being formed between the poverty stricken. One might think the shared poverty would bring the small barrios together; instead it splits them apart. Territorial rights take over, distrust and gangs form, even among the children. The pecking order of poverty is in place, and the dark skin, the less educated and the poorest of the poor are at the bottom. One of this author’s column’s on racism was not well-received by the older Mexicans, who refuse to admit its existence, but willingly admit it is more to do with class. Is there a difference? The younger generation admits and acknowledges there is racism, and that skin color matters. In May, 2014, Mexico City news paper “La Jornada” headlined an article that said that “Racism is so well established in Mexico, it is hidden.” You may

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

ask, since everyone in Mexico is Mestizo, how can there be racism? This takes us back to the Spaniards who brought their African slaves to Mexico with them, and left them all behind when the Spaniards were defeated. Colonies of Africans formed, keeping to themselves at first because of language and education. Then intermarrying with the local indigenous, and as migration took place they also intermarried with the Spaniard/Indigenous mix, not to mention the French, so hence Mestizo. After the revolution, Mexico emphasized their Indigenous and European past activity, passively eliminating its African one from popular consciousness. When Africans mixed with the Spanish and the Indigenous, it created an elaborate cast system based on heritage. Mestizo, Mulatto, Zambaigo, and Castizo which was considered white. Information on each to be found in Wikipedia. As there is so much information on this subject, the reader is urged to Google Afro-Mexican, fascinating reading in Wikipedia, and other publications. The mixed heritage in the barrio of Tepehua is quite clear, from the Spanish, French, Indigenous to the African, and the mixture of the cultures. If they could all recognize their heritage with pride, how rich the tapestry would be. It is said one day the world will all be a darker shade of pale. This is inevitable. From the Stone Age peoples have migrated; it used to take lifetimes for generations to move from one spot to another on foot. Now, migration is an airport away, so the rapid changes in societies around the world are very visible. It can be seen in one generation. Sadly it also promotes racial discrimination, because it is a sudden happening and doesn’t give people time to understand and integrate. But that day is surely coming when we are all equal under the sun. Moonyeen King. President of the Board for Tepehua.

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THE BUCKET LIST %\ .DWK\ .RFKHV

any of you have seen the movie The Bucket List starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. It is the story of two terminally ill men, corporate billionaire Edward Cole and working class mechanic Carter Chambers, who have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to leave it and before they die do all the things they have ever wanted to do according to their bucket list. In the process, both of them heal each other, become unlikely friends, and ultimately find joy in life. In the movie the two main characters were each told that they had one year left to live. But I say, “Don’t wait for such a radical deadline: set your own.” To paraphrase Mary Oliver, decide what it is that you want to do with your one wild and precious life. Would you like to climb up the Eiffel Tower? Have your paintings hanging in a gallery in New York City? Go to carnival at Rio de Janeiro? Helen Keller said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” Maybe you want to . . . 1. Learn to speak Spanish. 2. Drive Route 66 across the US. 3. Walk through a corn maze. 4. Ski in the Alps. 5. Ride a gondola in Venice.

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

6. See the Northern Lights. 7. Swim with the dolphins. 8. Visit a Renaissance fair. 9. Climb the Eiffel Tower. 10. Witness an eclipse. These are some of the things I have been able to cross off my “bucket list.” But there are lots, lots more things on my bucket list. I want to see all of the seven “new” wonders of the world. I’ve only seen two of them so far, the Coliseum in Rome and Chichen Itza in Mexico, but I still want to see Machu Picchu in Peru, Petra in Jordan, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, The Great Wall of China and The Taj Mahal in India. I want to go on safari in Kenya and see the great pyramids in Egypt, and the list goes on and on. But a bucket list isn’t always about skydiving or traveling the world. It’s about doing what matters. It’s about getting clear on the things that are most important to you – in all areas of your life – and taking action to pursue them. Here are a few phrases that you might want to put on your bucket list: 1. Quick, follow that car! 2. You can’t fire me, I quit! 3. I’ve been kicked out of better places than this! 4. You’ll never find anyone as good for you as I am, to believe in you as much as I do or love you as much! 5. Anyone else would have left you by now, but I’m sticking with you. 6. Go ahead, make my day! 7. Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn! 8. I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore! 9. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. 10. A martini: Shaken, not stirred. And my all time favorite, which I say to my husband all the time: We’ll always have Paris. I love the anonymous quote: “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid into home broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming - “Wow, what a ride!”

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The Real Medicine 'U -RVH 3HSH 9DOHQFLD pepe.plenitud@gmail.com

y initial medical education was based in the traditional one: Medicine School at the Universidad de Guadalajara; years after (1978) I decided to open a small assisted living facility just as an additional source of income. Someday I realized all the needs the elderly have, so I took a decision after a 30-day period, thinking on my real role in front of them and decided to leave behind me that part of my professional practice and focused my entire time on studying all phenomena regarding aging and all what’s around that natural process of the life. Now I want to share what I learned with the deepest and genuine purpose of improving your quality of life. Actual medicine offers a lot of options to those after the 65’s: especially quantity of life but quality of life. Advances of the science “steal” the real essence of the health providers. Doctors have the role of find out what’s the etiology of a “disease” in a patient (why “patient”?); once it’s supposed to be found, prescriptions follow: a long list of medications, a long list of “don’ts”, and something else: “don’t have strong emotions.” …Quality of life. Is it what doctors decide or is it our decision?

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Okay. If you go to a doctor because “something” is not right in your body: you let him know that you have a pain, a headache, cramps, or a thousand more symptoms: but have you thought that the so called “disease” can be caused by an internal imbalance? or perhaps an emotional conflict expressed by your body as a pain? Many non-medical (but with absolute credibility) studies have demonstrated that the human being is more labile to any kind of bacterial aggression when having feelings such as depression, anger, grudges, hate: the immune system becomes weak, so we provide the perfect soil to the illness to grow gloriously! I am sure that the body “talks” or even “screams” when an internal conflict exists, just that we attend or give more attention to the symptoms and none to the etiology or the origin of the sickness. In these lines I like to encourage you that before starting any medical treatment, rest in a bed a long while; close your eyes control your breathing rate…now visualize yourself in your favorite place of rest which may be the beach, the mountain, etc., and ask the affected part of your body to tell you what’s the problem, where does it come from…talk to that part of your body and ask permission to send positive thoughts, friendly messages, optimistic words…don’t put attention on the time this exercise takes… Then say thanks to the affected part, and say thanks to your body, your soul and your mind on helping you on this. Now, slowly visualize yourself coming back to your bed and say out loud “I am ok, healthy, happy and with no problem; I will open my eyes feeling extraordinary calmed, ready to jump to live every day as the best of my life; I am stronger that any health imbalance, because the real healer is IN me” “Illness is a conflict between the soul and the personality” —Bach

ZIPPING IN HALEAKALA %\ .DWLQD 3RQWLNHV

he brochure seemed wholesome enough. An older man pumps his fist high in the air and sports a gleeful expression as he swings through a forest-like background. The descriptions of the eco-adventure were all delightful in tone, promising fun, originality, and safety. The mention of my safety was the tipoff and should have caused me to reconsider the sport. My husband calls to make our appointment to fly through the trees. He provides our names and contact information, then casually puts his hand over the mouthpiece of the phone. “How much do you weigh?” he asks, as though this is a routine question. This may sound incredible, but I had no idea what I weighed. I got rid of my scale years ago. I pause and consider whether this is a life or death question. “Well”, I say with trepidation, “I am one hundred twenty something, give or take 10 pounds.” My husband is horrified. He met me when I weighed less than one hundred ten pounds. His hand still over the handset, his mouth drops open. “You must be kidding me!” I already hate that I’ve been roped into this misadventure. I think about the weight question all night long. The next morning, very early, we are the first adventurers to arrive at the ranch facility, high in the mountains of Haleakala, Hawaii. The staff is a group of young, rough types, with ruddy skin. I’m betting none of them ever wear sunscreen. We fill out all the insurance paperwork. Basically, it seems like there will be a good chance we will fall from the sky and end up unable to function as human beings or, in an unlikely but possible event, dead. And our heirs will not be able to get a nickel if this happens. We both sign dutifully that maiming and death are perfectly fine options for us on this bright and sunny morning. As soon as my husband is out of earshot I run up to a female worker. “Will I be weighing in this morn-

ing?” She looks me over quickly and answers that it won’t be necessary. I guess if I had said I weighed one hundred pounds, and then waddled in at two or three hundred pounds, this would have been an issue. Now it is time to review our harnesses. There are straps and buckles galore and a contraption on the webbing above our heads where clicking hooks will attach to the skyline. I wonder what the weight limits are, but I am somewhat consoled when we all use the same size harness. We have to wear helmets. I wonder what good this will do if we are plummeting hundreds of feet to the ground. I think I’d rather have a swift, headinjury death. After we cover safety procedures we go for our first jump. I watch as the guide attaches me, the fake daredevil soul, onto the thick metal cable. The cable is mounted between two towering, thick trees. He explains that I will run down a ramp, and jump off the cliff. I can see that we are many stories high above a canyon. My palms are perspiring and fear chokes me as I pause and look back at my fellow humans. I hold my breath and run, taking the final leap. I have never felt lonelier than this moment as my feet cut through air and I zip forward to the zinging sound of metal on metal, all alone and high above the earth.

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UJLH .H UJL UJ J H . .HDQH .H D QH %\ 0DUJLH .HDQH

abel ab bell Bass Bas ass cheered ch heered d “wa“wa ahoo” as she boarded the plane bound for Las Vegas. “Five days of gambling! she thought, I don’t even mind wearing this stupid “Our Favorite Grandma” T shirt that came with my plane tickets.” She settled into her seat and opened a book, pretending to read so she wouldn’t have to talk with anyone. She was still marveling at winning the “Best Grandma” contest. She wasn’t a grandma at all. In fact, she despised kids, but she loved to gamble, so she entered the “Best Grandma Contest” advertised in the local Sunday paper. The winner would have five all inclusive days in Vegas, plus $1,000.00 dollars in cash. She signed the entry form ‘a caring neighbor who wishes to remain anonymous’, giving only her address and telephone number, just in case she won. Mabel looked like a grandma. She had bright blue eyes that could warm or wither, and a winning smile that she rarely used. She had been married, but in time realized she would prefer living alone. Why should she have to do for anyone else? So, when her maiden aunt died and bequeathed her house and possessions, to Mabel she left her husband and Oregon behind and moved to Arizona. One of her old neighbors wrote and told her that on the day she left, Mabel’s husband had a “Free At Last” party that went on for ten days - “one day for each miserable year of our marriage,” is what he said. “‘Well, good for him,” grumped Mabel, “ at least I didn’t have to clean up.” Within weeks of the move, Mabel bitterly regretted the bequest. She hadn’t known that her aunt lived in American suburbia; kids, dogs, cats and neighborhood picnics. Her new neighbors welcomed her with open arms, thinking she would be kind and fun loving like her aunt. They were in for a sad surprise. At the one and only picnic she attended, someone took a Polaroid picture of her, smiling and surrounded by children. She sent this in with her

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

entry. ccontest onttestt en entr n r y ‘‘Thank TTh han ankk Go God d itt didn’t show me pinching their little necks,’ she grinned. When children played in front of her house, Mabel yelled, shaking her fist and threatening them. The children started calling her “Big Mouth Bass” “Big mouth Bass? Halloween’s coming soon. I’ll put little fish hooks in their candy. I know some greedy brats will eat their candies before their parents examine them.” She was delighted to learn that the smart ass down the street hooked his lip. She got that yapping poodle next door, too. Rat poison “accidentally” fell into the hamburger she gave him for a treat. It didn’t kill him, but he was plenty sick and the owners kept him indoors. Soon she was left completely alone which was fine with her. Finally the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce called, telling her the name of the Grandma she submitted was one of five finalists. She was overjoyed. “May we ask your name,” asked the caller. “Um, Alice,” replied Mabel. “As the final step, Alice, we will come out to interview your neighbors, to get their opinions of Mrs. Bell. I know you wanted to remain anonymous, but your candidate is one of the finalists, so can we interview you?” “My dear, I’m sorry, but I’m leaving on vacation and will be away for a month.” Hanging up the phone, Mabel thought, “Well, that’s the end of that.” She knew once they talked with her neighbors, she didn’t have a chance. Two weeks later, she received a certified letter. She had won the “Best Grandma” contest. She was overwhelmed. She didn’t know how it happened but she was not about to turn down a free trip to Vegas. When the plane landed at McClaren Airport, Mabel looked out the window and saw a tall, tanned blonde standing by a white stretch limo with a banner along its side that read, “Wel-

come to Las Vegas Granny”. ‘Yick!!’ ‘Well, she thought, I’ll have to play along ‘til I get to the hotel. Besides, it isn’t every day I get to ride in a limo.’ Alighting from the plane, she flashed her sweetest smile. The blonde hugged her and gushed, “We are so happy to have you as our guest in Las Vegas, Granny. Every minute of your stay is planned. You’re scheduled in the children’s game rooms and playgrounds at four of our biggest casinos and you can have lunch with the kiddies,” “Game rooms? Playgrounds? Lunch?” croaked Mabel. “Yes,” replied the blond, “This contest is to promote our family vacations…it was all there in the fine print. When your neighbors heard about your itinerary Vegas, they laughed and cheered.” “I’ll bet” “Oh, yes. They told us how much you enjoy children, especially on Halloween, they said you always had special treats for the kiddies. So we’re having a Halloween party just for you and some of the kids from your neighborhood.” “Ha-ha- ahem – Halloween?” “We know it isn’t until next week but we wanted to do this for you. Your

neighbors sure love you. They said you are completely hooked on kids.” On the news that night the reporter said, Avery sad story just came in from Las Vegas. It seems that earlier today the winner of The Best Grandma Contest died of a heart attack. With us is a witness to this tragic event.” A beautiful blond stepped forward. “I had just finished telling her about the surprise Halloween party we had planned for her and some neighborhood kids, when she shrieked and keeled over. I guess the joy she felt was just too much for her.

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BRIDGE BY THE LAKE %\ .HQ 0DVVRQ

Many duplicate bridge players have adopted Roman Key Card Blackwood (RKCB) as their weapon of choice when investigating slams, and with good reason: it is a vast improvement on the gadget created by Easley Blackwood many decades ago. The original Blackwood convention used a bid of 4 no trump to ask for aces and, if the partnership held all four, 5 no trump to ask for kings. This was certainly a help in preventing a pair from bidding a small slam off 2 cashing aces but was found wanting in locating other cards which could be equally important to actually making a high-level contract. Thus was born RKCB, which adds the king of the agreed trump suit to the four aces to make 5 “key cards”. It also allows the partnership to investigate if they also hold the queen of trumps and, in some cases, specific kings. It would take up too much space to describe the entire convention here but if you would like to add this great tool to your arsenal, I would suggest that you visit http:// www.bridgebum.com/roman_key_ card_blackwood.php and learn why it has become so popular around the world. We favor the “1430” version. The diagrammed hand was played at the Lake Chapala Duplicate Bridge Club where one pair used RKCB to the max in arriving at an unbeatable grand slam. North dealt and opened 1 diamond to which South responded 1 heart. Although South held 21 high card points she did not feel the need to make a jump shift bid as a new suit by responder at the lowest level is 100% forcing by an unpassed hand and there was

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no need to crowd the bidding. However when North’s rebid was 2 hearts South knew that at least a small slam was highly likely so she launched into 4 no trump right away. North’s response of 5 clubs showed one or four keycards and since South herself held four it wasn’t rocket science to figure out that North held the diamond ace. But there was still work to do. South’s next bid of 5 diamonds was an extension of RKCB that all users may not be aware of: it asked specifically if North held the queen of the agreed trump suit, hearts. North’s next bid carried two crucial messages – 6 clubs not only confirmed he held her majesty but also the king of clubs (and by inference, likely shortness in spades). This was all the information South needed to land in the excellent contract of 7 hearts. There was very little to the play. Declarer won the opening lead in dummy with the club king, drew trumps in three rounds, played ace, king of spades and ruffed one spade in dummy and pitched a spade on the diamond king. This was the only pair of 13 who played that hand to bid and make 7 hearts that day. Once again it was shown that high card points alone do not guarantee success in the game of bridge. A good fit between the two hands was the essential feature in ensuring a triumph here. The judicious use of RKCB certainly helped this pair to a great score. Questions or comments: email: masson.ken@gmail. Ken Masson com

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FREEDOM’S ODD COUPLE By Jim Tuck

omparing world famous (or infamous) personages has long been a pastime of historians. Napoleon is compared to Caesar, Hitler or Stalin to Genghis Khan, Voltaire to H.L. Mencken. Yet comparison is inhibited by the fact that the subjects frequently lived in different times and under differing conditions. Eighteen centuries separated Caesar and Napoleon, seven Genghis Khan and Hitler/ Stalin, and two Voltaire and Mencken. Two contemporaries, who were every bit as much poster boys for enlightened political behavior as Hitler, Stalin, Caligula and Nero were not, were Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) and Benito Juarez (1806-1872). Outwardly they were a quintessential “odd couple,” as dissimilar in appearance and ethnic background as two people can be. Lincoln was tall and angular; Juarez short and stocky. Lincoln was of old American pioneer stock; Juarez was a full-blooded Zapotec Indian. As friends and enemies would learn, the differences between the two men were superficial. Both were born poor, cared more for political power than for riches, and both believed law was the best preparation for a political career. Though neither man could be called handsome, they both compensated for a lack of matinee idol looks by radiating an impressive command of presence and charisma. Lincoln’s greatest historical achieve-

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ment was in leading his country during a tragic civil war that was fought both to preserve the Union and end slavery. Juarez led Mexico during not one but two civil wars. The first was the 1858- 1861 War of Reform, when a Juarez-led liberal coalition triumphed over conservatives attempting to defend the privileges of the Church. The latter were particularly enraged by the Ley Juarez (the Juarez Law), legislation that restructured the judicial system to limit the authority of military and ecclesiastical courts, and by the liberal constitution of 1857. The second great internal conflict was the campaign Juarez led against the Habsburg archduke Maximilian, installed as puppet ruler of Mexico by French Emperor Napoleon III in 1864. That struggle ended in June 1867, when Maximilian and two leading conservative generals, Miguel Miram and Tomas Mejia, were captured and executed in Queretaro. Though Lincoln and Juarez never met personally, they formed a lifetime, long-distance mutual admiration society. Lincoln’s attitude toward Juarez was no doubt shaped by the friendly feeling he perennially entertained toward Mexico. Lincoln strongly opposed the U.S.-Mexican War of 1846-1848, characterizing it as “a war of conquest brought into existence to catch votes,” and adding that, “Mexico was in no way molesting or menacing the U.S.” While it is not known exactly when Juarez came to Lincoln’s attention, we do know that Lincoln was a strong Juarez supporter by 1857, eve of the Reform War. When Juarez was temporarily driven out of Mexico City by the conservatives, Lincoln sent him a message expressing hope “for the liberty of . . . your government and its people.” The bond between the two leaders was greatly strengthened during the American Civil War. In 1861, the year the Civil War began, Juarez was elected president of Mexico. The Reform War had bankrupted Mexico’s treasury and Juarez suspended debt payments to Mexico’s chief European creditors, France, Britain and Spain. The European powers organized a punitive expedition, seizing

Veracruz. But Britain and Spain pulled out when they learned of Napoleon III’s desire to install a puppet government in Mexico City. The French, defeated at Puebla in 1862, poured in reinforcements and captured Mexico City in 1863. Fleeing the capital, Juarez organized resistance in the north. Though Lincoln obviously had his hands full during the Civil War, he still did what he could to help Juarez. Union General Phil Sheridan wrote in his journal that, “we continued covertly supplying arms and munitions to the liberals, sending as many as 30,000 muskets from Baton Rouge alone.” To Sheridan came this order from General Grant, which of course originated from Lincoln: “Concentrate at all available points in the States an army strong enough to move against the invaders of Mexico.” Illustrative of how Juarez reciprocated Lincoln’s friendly attitude was his response to an ill-advised overture he received from the Confederate government. The South had sent a delegation, under John T. Pickett, to try and win over the Juaristas. Juarez sent the Confederates a message— to put it mildly—by throwing Pickett into a Mexico City jail for thirty days and then expelling him from the country. Though Lincoln was dead by 1867, the year Juarez vanquished Maximilian,

the initiatives he had put into place inexorably worked their way in ensuring victory for the Juaristas. Louis Napoleon had sympathized with the South, but growing Union power made him stop short of granting recognition to the Confederacy. In early 1867, with the Civil War over and the Union-backed Juaristas daily growing in strength, Napoleon III pulled his troops out of Mexico and left Maximilian to his fate. Perhaps the greatest dividend attained by the informal but highly effective alliance between Abraham Lincoln and Benito Juarez was the way it served to ease the bitterness felt by Mexicans because of the disastrous consequences of the US-Mexican War. (Ed. Note: In 1848, when war broke out between the United States and Mexico, both countries were governed by egomaniacal incompetents, Presidents Polk and Santa Anna. Yet little more than a decade later, Abraham Lincoln would assume the mantle of power north of the Rio Grande, Benito Juarez south of the river. Would two such great men have made the idiotic decisions that led to the Mexican-American War? Judge that for yourself—but mark my vote a resounding “No Way!”) Jim Tuck

Since We Talked Of Growing Old

I am slowly learning to take a swift look at the past & a sweet look at the future when I hold autumn against my senses when the air hangs with the aroma of fresh linen when all the roses are wearing raindrops I don’t suppose it matters that it has only been forever since we talked of growing old together - john thomas dodds

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CHILD

of the month

%\ 5LFK 3HWHUVHQ Vanesa V. R.

his is six-month old Vanesa, a newcomer to Niños Incapacitados. She lives in La Canacinta with her parents, Carla and Abraham. Carla works part-time in a cactus nursery and Abraham is a busboy at Ajijic Tango. Even though both are so young, they are very involved in their little girl’s care and treatment. Vanesa was born with Down Syndrome, of which we see a lot in Mexico. In the U.S. the ratio of children born with Down syndrome is approximately 1 in 690; here that ratio climbs to 1 in 450. Some people equate this difference with poor healthcare in general, and of course poor prenatal care. But, Down Syndrome has no connection to anything in either parent as it is a chromosomal defect and occurs at conception—the child has one extra chromosome, 47 instead of 46. This extra chromosome results in several identifying physical characteristics, among them, low muscle tone, a single crease across the palm of the hand, a slightly flattened facial profile and an upward slant to the eyes. Vanesa’s photo shows a couple of these characteristics. What is important to know is that the earlier treatment and oth-

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

er therapy are started, the better chance the child has of leading a more normal life. It is important to keep in mind that Down children are more like other children than they are different. Several health issues are associated with Down syndrome: heart defects, respiratory, vision and hearing problems, and thyroid problems. Vanesa suffers from a heart murmur which is being monitored by her doctors. She also is lactose intolerant and has to drink a special formula. The latter is one of the reasons her parents brought her to Niños Incapacitados—to assist them in purchasing this expensive milk substitute. So far Vanesa is doing very well and of course we hope this continues to be the case. At our last monthly meeting, she was happy and alert and rewarded us with several smiles and gurgles. If you would like to meet other children being helped by Niños Incapacitados, please attend our regular monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month in one of the meeting rooms at the Hotel Real de Chapala in La Floresta. Coffee and cookies at 10:00, meeting at 10:30. Bring a friend. You will learn how you can volunteer in many different ways and how your monetary support helps so much to assist needy families whose children suffer from a chronic and/or debilitating illness or condition.

Memories Of Michoacan %\ &DW *RQ]DOH]

wo young girls trudge down a dusty road in Michoacan, balancing pots of water on their heads. Both of them are so lovely, it makes your heart turn over, knowing that they, like their mothers and grandmothers before them, will marry at 14 or 15. Now they borrow their father’s rope and throw it over the high branch of an oak tree to make a swing, and offer to twirl me around. But the rope hurts my feet and we soon abandon this entertainment. Then the girls, who are named Lupita and Concha, climb a tree barefoot to point out a nest of birds. Over my protests, they hand me down the nest so I can see it up close. Their teenaged sisters are more sedate. They bring over fresh tortillas because they’re curious to see my tent. I admire their new clothes, which are as vivid as the bougainvilla that sprawls over the adobes. The truck which sells dresses has come to the pueblo and many of the young girls have new dresses. Some of the other clothes that are sold from the back of the truck are not permitted: torn jeans, tight shorts with lace trimmings—the Madonna influence. Their brothers ride horses, and now pass by in a swirl of dust, The horses are clean and shiny; unlike the boys, whose only concession to the solemnity of a Sunday funeral is to wear their best sombreros. I ask the boys who is the most macho and they reply that no one is stronger or better, that everyone is equal. Most of the Tarascans hereabouts embrace the traditional ways. The exemplary indio is one who doesn’t boast of his strength or good fortune for fear of exciting envy. Negative personal emotions are perceived as a danger to the entire community. Last night this belief was manifested at a wake in honor of a woman named Maria Concepción. Friends and relatives of the dead woman brought useful gifts to the immediate family. Esperanza gave a kilo of beans, Caterino brought maize, and Chuy gave a gift of a long length of

rope. This way, the bereaved would not feel envious of those whose relatives still live, and thus this delicate balance is maintained. We follow on foot to the church where María Concepciòn is laid to rest as simply as she had lived. Last week, trying to save Maria, a curandera had killed a pigeon, cut it length-wise, and laid it on Maria’s chest to attract the illness. Then she had pressed oak leaves to Maria’s temples to allay the raging fever. After the church ceremony, two mournful-looking men invite me to see a surprise. At the edge of the pueblo is the house of the former sheriff, where in a grove of oak trees he has built a still. The men say that tequila is so expensive, why buy it from a store when the agaves are so plentiful? In a large pit the cacti is cut up and mashed, then transferred to another stone-lined excavation to ferment under a tarpaulin. The entire area smells like smoke and the air is ripe with the odor of alcohol. In the final step, the mash is put into huge clay vessels and allowed to settle. Then it drips into other clay pots set over slowly burning logs of oak. Heat forces steam through copper coils where it condenses and becomes tequila. The ex-sheriff and his brothers raise their glasses. Rest in peace, Maria Concepción.

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%\ (G 7DVFD

o help you appreciate the art of the little theater, I want to share with you exactly what goes on behind the stage walls and into the corridors of the creative action itself. First, everything you see on the stage is fake, including the food, the drink, the plants and, in some cases, one or two of the actors. For example, in my first show, some of my hair came courtesy of shoe polish. Further, I was astounded at how thick my make-up had to be, so thick that I believe I looked, from the audience, to be digitally blurred. Caught on the street in such garishness, I could have been left for dead by skinheads. Anyway, here are a few things you might find interesting if you’re considering some new avocation to replace Sudoku. Memorizing lines. For most, me included, memorizing lines means reciting lines over and over and over and over, until everyone who lives with you suddenly starts hinting about taking long tours through Central America. You find yourself helplessly reciting and reciting everywhere. You’re talking to yourself all the time, sometimes so intensely you could actually trigger an intervention. Blocking. “Blocking” is the the-

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

ater’s term for assisting people in getting around the stage so that they aren’t bumping into one another or the furniture while they speak their lines. For example, the actor has to learn where he’s supposed to be on stage when he greets another actor. The line “Welcome, darling! Delighted to see you!” naturally has to be said at a place where the speaker can see and welcome his or her lover. If an actor is standing behind a potted nasturtium when he says this to the lover, the audience may forget the lover and start rooting for the nasturtium. Projecting. Everything you say on stage, you have to shout until you’re hoarse. Even a dying man’s sentiment, such as “I feel at peace now, my child.” needs to be screamed into another actor’s face, so that the guy who’s sleeping in the back of the theater not only hears you, but wakes with a start. Costuming. The biggest costume problem is: they aren’t washed or cleaned from performance to performance, so over the ten days of shows under torrid stage lights and nervous sweat, costumes can actually become microbial ecosystems and begin to decompose in mid performance. After the run of the show, I felt burying some costumes was really the humane thing to do. Backstage Etiquette. While the play unfolds onstage, backstage everyone is sitting nervously hushhush waiting for their next entrance. No one can speak, get in anyone’s way, do anything that might break another actor’s concentration. You go through a period vaguely similar to high school detention, but without the excitement. Then, suddenly, out of this zombie state, a waiting actor has to bound out from the wings chirping, “There’s No Business Like Show Business” and the audience has no clue the actor had just been slapped to full alert and shoved on stage by the ever-vigilant stage manager.

Quick changes. Not surprisingly, for some actors, there’s the opposite of waiting around. These are the quick changes. Sometimes, a whole stage day will go by with a curtain closing and opening in 75 seconds of real time, and you will have to change from last evening’s tuxedo into your early morning tennis outfit within 60 seconds. This usually requires help from others. The challenge in such a rush is making sure the change is complete. So that you aren’t skipping out on stage “next morning” in whites and a tennis racket and still in your black socks and Italian loafers. Superstitions. Finally, most of you know that theater people are notoriously superstitious. The one familiar to most is that no actor must ever hail another actor with the expression, “Good luck,” however innocently the words may be uttered. Such a miscue it is believed will jinx the entire show. “Break a leg” is the proper expression. It derives from the manner in which actors centuries ago would bow in acceptance of applause. They would lean their torsos on crooked and crossed legs (much like a curtsey today) while the audience applauded. Legend has it that one popular actor had

received such a long and engaging ovation, requiring such a long and protracted bow, that he did indeed break his leg. And so the expression: “break a leg.” I made the mistake of blurting out “Good luck” just before a show. Everyone within hearing range flew into a panic. You’d think I’d said, “I may have an airborne infectious disease that causes blindness.” People who are normally emotionally-stable were whirling around in a frenzy, spinning three times and throwing salt over their shoulders, much of which landed in the eyes of other actors doing the same thing. Others were cowering in the corners of the green room squeezing their temples between their palms and sobbing. Still others rushed out for a cigarette and a chance to caress their Hamsa amulet. I was apologizing up and down for the mishap, but remained unheard and unforgiven for the remainder of the evening. But the question that kept popping into my mind all the while was, “Is this really how Shakespeare started?” Ed Tasca

Saw you in the Ojo 65

THE GHOSTS AMONG US %\ )UHG 0LWWDJ

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Great Agnosticâ&#x20AC;?

young man approached a guest in a hotel lobby. He told him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am traveling for a tobacco house and have been in very poor luck. I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t made a decent living for my wife and little family. Will you allow my firm to name a brand of cigars for you? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure they would sell like hot cakes.â&#x20AC;? The reply from the hotel guest was, â&#x20AC;&#x153;No objection, if you make it a good, honest cigar.â&#x20AC;? Whereupon the young man asked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once more, Colonel, will you give me a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sentimentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to accompany the brand?â&#x20AC;? The colonel replied, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Very well, how will this do: Let us smoke in this world, not in the next?â&#x20AC;? The young man went on his way rejoicing. Two years later, he came from New York to Washington to thank the colonel for his goodness. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The cigar has sold all over the country and my commissions have amounted to hundreds and hundreds of dollars; in fact, Colonel, you have put me on my feet and on the way to comfort and success in life.â&#x20AC;? Who was this man whose very name could make a successful career for a cigar representative? He was the most famous American you never heard of. He was Robert Ingersoll. He was a prodigy and became a lawyer at age 20. He was a voracious reader and had a photographic memory. He loved poetry and wrote memorable verse. Ingersoll was an abolitionist and fought in the Civil War as a colonel. And he was the greatest orator of the 19th century. His speaking appearances drew packed houses, with standing room only. Ingersoll was called â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Great Agnostic.â&#x20AC;? He worshipped only natural law, and completely rejected supernatural beliefs and religions based on them. People paid to hear him say this. Many preachers called him names like â&#x20AC;&#x153;barking dogâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;blasphemer.â&#x20AC;? The Republican Party of Illinois asked Ingersoll to run for governor. He would have been a shoo-in, but they required that he promise to refrain from any reference to his athe-

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

Robert Green Ingersoll

ism. He had long attacked Christian theology and told them he would not cease doing so and thereby compromise his integrity. In those days, the governorship of Illinois was an almost certain step to the presidency of the United States. Ingersoll said that he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand how one could live in possession of great wealth when thousands were starving. He had a huge income from his lectures and law practice. He gave the bulk of this to charity. Ingersoll loved his family and said a husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most important duty was the happiness of his wife and children. He was a fierce fighter for womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right to vote, although he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live to see it happen. He said that children are humans and should be treated as such. He thought the biblical â&#x20AC;&#x153;spare the rod and spoil the childâ&#x20AC;? was barbaric. He said any man who has to whip his children should not have children. The former slave, Frederick Douglass, was to speak in Peoria, Illinois, and confided to a white friend his fear that he would not be able to find lodging for a black person, and it was freezing cold. The white friend told him, I know a man who will take you in at any hour of the night. He is Robert Ingersoll. Douglass was able to find lodging, but was eager to meet such a man as Ingersoll. Douglass said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of all the great men of his personal acquaintance, there had been only two in whose presence he could be without the feeling that he was regarded as inferior to them â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Abraham Lincoln and Robert Ingersoll. Ingersoll was a friend of Walt

Whitman and delivered the eulogy for Whitman’s funeral. Mark Twain practically worshipped Ingersoll, as did Thomas Edison. And when Oscar Wilde came to America, he attended some lectures by Ingersoll and declared him “the most intelligent man in America.” When Ingersoll died, there were eulogies and obituaries all over the world, including Mexico. One of them said, “Ingersoll was doubtless known to more people than any other American. His death probably brought genuine grief to more hearts than has that of any other in-

dividual in our history. The eulogy at his funeral was titled “Ingersoll the Magnificent.” Robert Ingersoll reached more Americans than anybody until radio and television. He was the leading voice for the advancement of atheism, agnosticism, and free thought in 19th century America. It seems odd that he should be so forgotten in today’s history books – maybe a Bible Belt conspiracy hatched in Texas? Fred Mittag

%\ 5RQ .QLJKW QLJKW

h boy, oy, y the way y things have been going, I think we’ve all been in North h America Amer eric i a ic way too long. So I think w we e should all Move… On On the the count c un co untt of three… One…Two…THREE! wo… o…TH THRE REE! E! Hey! It’s good to be here! Stepping one step to the right, hey, it isn’t too bad here, d over h either. This week, I just got a brand new package of underwear. Yes, big news. And way down inside, right on the crotch, there’s a little sticker that says Inspected by Carol. I tell ya, I didn’t take it off. It gives a guy kind of a sense of confidence, to know that hey! It’s been inspected by Carol! I must have passed! Not only do I have one, it’s been inspected. And it’s been approved. By Carol. Who, by the way… she knows about these things. I thought it was kind of impressive. I like the little signs up in the windows of some of the cleaners and laundry shops. “Wacky Wednesday! 15% off Dry Cleaning”. I’m not sure I want anybody getting Wacky over my cleaning. ? Can’t you just see what’s going on in the back of that cleaners? “Ooh hoo-hoo-hoo! Shirts! Sweaters! Ooohh-hoo-hoo hoo! Brand new Stains!!! Bwoo-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaa….!” Brand new stains? Er, I could swear I didn’t put ‘em there…. Okay, another subject…Has anyone actually ever had that dessert, Death by Chocolate…? It really is testimony to how wonderful the taste of chocolate is. Isn’t it? I mean, you couldn’t put that name together with anything else on the menu. Would you

go into a restaurant and order Death by Broccoli ? “What happened to that guy p back there, kicked b ba over ove ov e in the chair?” “Oh him… yeah... Death by Paprika!” Actually that could never work for the name of an entrée. It sounds too much like a fashion designer fragrance. Cue the mysterioso violins: enter lanky black clad yet voluptuous woman: Announcer: “Death… by Paprika…” All these years have gone by, and they still don’t know who was responsible for putting all the anthrax in the mailboxes in the USA when that scare was running rampant. They never got the anthrax thing figured out or narrowed it down; it could have been Iraq, might’ve been Russia… Even CBS at the time had a new network drama, The Agency, and the very week of the anthrax break outs, on the TV show they had the CIA dealing with anthrax on the week’s episode. I remember thinking, now wait a minute… it takes about 12 weeks to produce a show in advance to its air date. Right? So I think I know who was sending out the anthrax. It was the CBS promotion department. info@chapala. tv Ron Knight

Saw you in the Ojo 67

Dear Sir: The cover to the September “OJO” says it all. I never write back “to the editor” of any periodical, but today I am moved. Loren Swinehart’s thoughtful piece followed by Jim Tipton’s are the best rebuttal I’ve seen to the heartless, MINDLESS outcries against the children seeking refuge across our borders, or should I say the borders of our mother country from which we have sought refuge. I recently read an on-line editorial about several youths, boys and girls

returned to San Pedro Sula by our immigration service. The boys were murdered and the girls forced into prostitution. As with so many editorials these days, the stories may have been apocryphal, BUT ONLY BARELY. “Must we stand at the top of the stairs and stare down to see if someone will reach out?” This issue of the “OJO” is one of the most thought-provoking I have read. Bob Drynan bdrynan2@gmail.com

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orty three years ago go o to you didn’t ask to know the sex of yo your urr soon-to-be-born child. N No, o, as back then the mystery of it aal allll w was ink or enough. To paint the room p pink carpet blue….and the matching carpet. Who cared? It was sufficient that my wife and I were happily expecting an addition in our old home, a revolutionary era farmhouse that was also a work in progress of a different kind. On June 3, 1971 my son, Jason, was born. We were among the first to name our son “Jason” at the time and were later surprised by the name’s growing popularity. It had been a difficult labor for my wife and so Jason was delivered with a head looking like it had been squeezed out of a toothpaste tube. His face was beet red but we loved him anyway! As a year and then two passed, and my son’s head became rounded, it became clear that he was a

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

f d llittle l guy. His mother h h d gifted had him reading at the age of two and I recall that one of his favorites was the “Babar, The Elephant” series. Because of his reading skills, Jason spoke in complete sentences and his appetite for information was insatiable. Being of nearly average intelligence myself, it was daunting to consider how many of my son’s future questions would go unanswered by me. I would soon learn that my concerns were legitimate. One bright autumn afternoon, we were having a tree removed from our front yard. The tree had slowly died and become a nuisance, difficult to mow around and constantly dropping dry, brown twigs into the grass. Jason was

standing on the living room sofa, looking through a window at the workmen sawing off limbs. I came up from behind him to check on the workmen’s progress for myself. I was holding onto his waist to keep his head from hitting the window as he bounced up and down….like all two year olds. Jason was asking about the demise of the tree but then, in a quick turn in our conversation, he asked me if all people die, like trees. Without overly thinking through his question, I quickly answered, “Yes.” And then, in a moment iced in my consciousness, my son, the child who had brightened my life immeasurably, turned slowly around to face me, no longer jumping. His innocent blue eyes looked up directly into mine. The freshness of his morning bath was in the surrounding air as these words tumbled from his mouth, slowly but thoughtfully. “Daddy, am I going to die too?” My body stiffened as the full impact of his question hit home. A two year old considering his own mortality as I, the thirty-two year old, with thoughts racing wildly and incoherently, sought out the right answer; the answer that wouldn’t disappoint or hurt. I knew a simple “yes” wouldn’t do for my precocious youngster. And neither would procrastination, the perennial parental punt against the winds of honesty and truth. And then suddenly, somehow bordering on the miraculous, I was blessed with an answer that was maybe true, maybe not. I breathed deeply and answered, “Yes, Jason, you are going to die one day…but it will probably be one hundred years from now. And you know that’s nearly forever.” His eyes brightened with understanding and a quiet satisfaction with my tortured reply. He turned back around to face the window

again as a tree branch came crashing onto the grass. I slapped him lightly on the back side and ambled toward the kitchen for a cup of coffee. I craved a shot of liquor but was already fairly numbed by the realization that although I was a lawyer in training at the time, I had never been asked a more difficult question by anyone. Jason visited with my wife Linda and me recently during a trip to the U.S. During that wonderful get together, I told him the story of his probing, problematical question. He was amused at his own two year old’s curiosity but, not surprisingly, he had another question for me. “Dad, why is it that you remembered this very brief incident that happened so long ago and told me about it today?” “Because,” I told him, “after a thirty-five year career in and out of court, facing judges, juries, and others with an interest in the justice system, your question remains, undoubtedly the toughest I ever had to answer! Jim Rambo

Saw you in the Ojo 69

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El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

n memory of my mother, who “sleeps” far from her beautiful and beloved Mexico. No one is disputing that we live in the era of information and technological innovation, but I never would have guessed that, thanks to them, my life was going to do a change of 180 degrees. My personal circumstances led me to want a change in my life. That is how, a year ago, I received my first email from Ajijic. The Octavio Paz International Institute, through its then Principal, Don Jose Luis de la Ossa, invited me to collaborate with them in their educational project. The challenge was great. Mexico always awoke in me a mysterious and deep attraction: It’s no coincidence my mother was Mexican. After a few moments of doubt, my decision was taken: My future was in Ajijic. My first step was to put forth the paperwork in order to obtain my Mexican nationality. Now, more than ever, my heart is divided between my beloved Spain and my beautiful Mexico. I arrived on a 28th of July, from Navia, with a suitcase full of fears and

hopes: the former were unfounded; the latter, plentiful to the brim. A town that is quaint and with a family atmosphere greeted me and took me in. Something that pleasantly surprised me was that, on my first morning out, people looked at me with a smile and said: “Good morning, have a nice day”. In a world dominated by the need to be somewhere and lack of communication, this was very gratifying and diminished my feelings of loneliness and distance from home. The charm of the town, with its colors, its plaza, its tianguis, also contributed to facilitate my adaptation period. And why not its lake! Your view gets lost in the horizon, and for me, personally (ignoring the distances), it reminds me of my beloved Cantabrico. They say that the Goddess Machis, since always, was in charge of protecting the people of this community. I hope that, now that I am a part of it, she keeps on doing so. (Ed. Note: Luján Martínez Suárez has a B.A. Hispanic Philology and is a Spanish Professor at the Instituto Internacional in Ajijic.)

Dear Sir, I am really appalled that you give someone like Robert Nipper a forum to spill all of his rage and rants. I know that you like to present two points of view and it never hurts circulation to stir up a bit of controversy. So, I do not mind if you have a conservative voice in the magazine, but I would hope it would be a measured one. This guy is the written equivalent of Glen Beck or worse. He spews filth and unsubstantiated lies without one iota of any back up research. He accuses Bill Clinton and Al Gore of being “cronies” (his word) with Gorbachov, says the Constitution will become void and we are ruining our school children by teaching them to be respectful of the environment. I could go on and on, but

his bizarre and unfounded rants aren’t worth any more of my time. He thinks that environmental sustain ability is a dirty word. Even if half of what he said were true, what would be the harm of environmental sustain ability? What is its end product? A cleaner environment! Somehow Nipper sees evil in greenery. We used to have a park in Chicago where all the paranoid nut cases could stand on a soap box and spew their preferred hate and rage. I think we should ship Nipper off there. Please do not give this man any more opportunity to vent through your magazine. Sincerely, Jill Fryer Ajijic

%\ 9LFWRULD 6FKPLGW

A Visit to the Farmacia (Republished by Request)

hile standing in one of those endless lines at a pharmacy in Guadalajara, I entertained myself by watching people. This pharmacy is attached to a small laboratory that manufactures a special medication my husband must have. But it is also a neighborhood pharmacy, stocked with basic necessities of a neighborhood pharmacy. Surrounded by Mexican families, I watched the people in front of me--a mother holding her infant in her arms, with her toddler son clinging to her leg. The woman standing with her, I assumed was her sister. They chatted back and forth, and the little boy stared up at me with his deep brown eyes as he held onto his mother’s jeans. He was obviously sick. He looked extremely tired, and had a

runny nose, which his mom would wipe for him. After what seemed an hour of waiting, they finally had their turn at the counter. The young mother gave over a prescription, and waited. The medicine was brought out. Then there was a discussion, and two containers of baby formula were pulled off the shelf. The cashier rang up the total. By this time, I was at the counter at the next station, and my order was in the process of being filled. I looked at her cash register, and could see the young mother going through her purse, and talking to her sister, who immediately began to dig through her own purse, and to check her pockets. Without knowing Spanish it was clear to me that there wasn’t enough money to pay for the order. One of the containers

of formula was returned, and the new total was given. Still there was not enough money. I looked at the mother’s face, and I could see her looking from her infant to her sick son. It was obvious to me that she was attempting the impossible. She was trying to choose between the needs of her infant, and her sick son. She could only pay for one, which shall it be? She turned away from me and spoke to her sister again. People in line seemed impatient. I looked at the cashier, and pointed to the formula and asked “¿Quanto?” “Seventy pesos” he replied. I pointed to my cashier and then at myself, and he understood immediately. My cashier rang up the order and he put the formula in the mother’s bag along with her son’s medication. He told her the new total and she looked surprised, and he nodded towards me. I just smiled, said “Buenas Tardes” and walked away quickly, so as not to embarrass her. I didn’t do it to make myself feel better, or to endear myself to a stranger. I did it because I could not stand to see a mother having to choose between the needs of her two children. For me, seventy pesos was a paltry sum, but for her, it was much more. I wondered, how often she had to make those kinds of choices? How hard it must be when the minimum wage is about $63 pesos per day, and

how very little that wage will buy for a family with growing children. We met again in the lot, where she came to me “Muchas Gracias,” she said, I answered with the only thing I knew to say. “Da nada.” I wish I could have told her more. As we drove out of the parking lot, everyone in her car waved to us. I think about them often, and wonder how they are doing. And I wonder how many families there are like hers, and who helps them? Victoria Schmidt

Saw you in the Ojo 71

HOW TEDDY TOOK PANAMA %\ 'DYLG $GDPVRQ +DUSHU 5HYLHZ %\ 0HO *ROGEHUJ

n exciting and fast paced novel of historical fiction by David Adamson Harper is a good read for anyone interested in the history of Panama and the Canal. This novel is especially appropriate because this year marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of the canal through the Isthmus of Panama, one of the great engineering marvels of the twentieth century. President Teddy Roosevelt devises a plan after the French failure to complete the canal through the Colombian territory of Panama. Teddy is frustrated when the Colombian senate fails to ratify the Hay-Herrán treaty in which the United States offers to pay Colombia for a permanent lease on the sixmile-wide strip across the isthmus. But Teddy also knows that Panama desires independence from Colombia. He reasons that if Panama were an independent nation, a new treaty for the building of the Canal might be possible. Teddy summons Jack Quinn, a New York lawyer, to the White house. Teddy offers Quinn, a former aide from his Rough Rider days in Cuba, the opportunity to become a secret service agent and go to Panama on a secret mission. Quinn is to hold meetings with the Panamanian rebels and tell them if they revolt, the U.S. Navy will assist their cause for independence. This secret support of the rebels sets in motion Teddy’s plan to have a new treaty and continue the canal work abandoned by the French. In addition to being a well-written novel, How Teddy Took Panama tells the story of the founding of the Republic of Panama, artfully interwoven with the fictional Quinn, who works with Philippe Bunau-Varilla to draft a new Canal treaty advantageous to the United States. Although under orders to keep Teddy’s involvement secret, Quinn falls in love with the beautiful Genoveva Arias de Ochoa. Unfortunately, she is the wife of the brutal Colonel Ochoa, the second in command of the Colombian army garrison in Panama, a man vehemently opposed to the rebellion. Quinn knows that Ochoa has to be silenced for the rebels to be successful, for Genoveva to

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

be free, and for the Panamanian Canal treaty to become reality. In a desperate bid to win Genoveva’s hand and also eliminate the Colombian threat to the rebels, Quinn challenges Ochoa to a duel. David Harper brings to life the exciting details of the meetings and the machinations both in the White House and among the founding fathers of the new Republic of Panama. Teddy is able to accomplish one of the great coups of the century without historians and journalists able to prove his involvement. The book also contains all the fascinating real-life details of the story of Philippe Bunau-Varilla, the Frenchman who becomes Foreign Minister of Panama and earns millions from the negotiated treaty between the new country of Panama and the United States. The intrigue and politics of Roosevelt’s success needs little embellishment, but Harper carefully weaves the subplot of the clandestine agent’s adventures involving bloodshed, passion and love. The book is well written, well researched, instructive and highly entertaining, a great period read that quickly pulls you in. Quinn cares for his newly adopted country. Like all honest heroes, he has his ghosts and skeletons. You feel for him as a person and a part of history despite knowing the outcome ahead of time. How Teddy Took Panama is available as a paperback and digitally through h t t p : / / w w w. amazon.com or www.howteddytookpanama.com. It is also available in paperback at Barnes and Noble website and locally at Diane Pearl’s. Mel Goldberg

ot very long ago, U.S. News and World Report, one of the major magazines in the United States, published a long article about the best retirement places in the entire world. Not surprisingly (to expats already down here!) Ajijic was listed as the Number One Destination! What follows was taken verbatim from the article. ___________________ Top Expat Community Pick #1: Ajijic, Mexico. Ajijic and the area around Lake Chapala, Mexico, hosts the most organized, developed expat community in the world. The Lake Chapala Society reports about 4,000 American and Canadian residents in Chapala proper. The Mexican government, meantime, estimates that nearly 20,000 expats reside full-time in the state of Jalisco, the region where Lake Chapala sits. In other words, the path has been cut. Moving here, you could slide into a way of life not dramatically different from the life you left behind in the States. You wouldn’t have to worry about learning the local language if you didn’t want to. You wouldn’t have to work to make a place for yourself among the local community, because this isn’t a “local” community. This is an entire community of nonlocals. You could wander into the restaurant down the street anytime and

find English-speaking companionship, someone to complain to about the bureaucracy at the Department of Immigration or the challenges of studying to take a driving test in Spanish. Retiring to Ajijic, you could make a very comfortable life for yourself in a place that’s exotic, beautiful, safe, and very affordable. Friends who have taken this path live comfortably on less than $50 per day (U.S. dollars), including housing, food, transportation, entertainment, and in-country travel. They eat well, play tennis, socialize, and travel comfortably. As they put it themselves, they want for nothing. Don’t misunderstand. Ajijic isn’t a retirement village. This isn’t Sun City South, at least not formally. This is a legitimate Mexican town that, over the past three decades, has attracted such a volume of foreign retirees that it’s become less Mexican and more foreign resident–friendly. ___________________ Of course, there are two schools of thought about this news: a) Bad because it means the foreign-population might get so overcrowded that the substructure cannot support it, or b) Good because it will greatly help the local Mexican economy. We here at the Ojo think the latter argument is the winner by a country kilometer.

Saw you in the Ojo 73

The Ojo Crossword

ACROSS 1 Measuring instrument 6 _ mater 10 Gets older 14 Religious teacher 15 Part of a house 16 Secondary 17 Picked a candidate 18 Sports channel 19 Ripped up 20 Agenda 21 Breed of dog 23 Lick 24 Bucks wives 26 Grimy 28 Ussr 31 Am not (slang) 32 Less than two 33 Capital of Zambia 36 Sailors 40 Beehive State 42 Boxer Muhammad 43 Rabbit 44 Dorothy´s dog 45 Inundate 48 Attach 49 Decorative needle case 51 Beginning 53 Famous inventor 56 Not out of 57 Bolted 58 Giant´s wife 61 Speak

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

65 Fifth book in the New Testament 67 Duke 68 Name 69 Popular stadium 70 Giant 71 Atop (2wrd.) 72 Make 73 Loch_ monster 74 African nation DOWN 1 Please respond 2 Absent without leave 3 Information 4 Adds to 5 Free of 6 Regions 7 Deprivation 8 Swabs 9 Memory loss 10 Inclined 11 Snarl 12 Spooky 13 Buy things 21 Boyfriend 22 Large weight unit 25 Lubricate 27 Annoying, like a bug bite 28 Groove 29 To 30 Place to sit down 31 Similar 34 Asian dress 35 Brew 37 Knocks (2 wds.) 38 Canal 39 Left 41 Garden tools 45 Underground prison 46 Pros opposites 47 Shelter 50 Also 52 Playing with 53 Take away 54 Country house 55 Bury 56 Islands 59 Storm 60 Goofs 62 Lawyer (abbr.) 63 Horse´s walking sound 64 Stored 66 _ Francisco 68 Foot extension

What Is Diabetic Retinopathy? %\ 'U *DEULHO 'HU\ 0'

t is a complication of diabetes that affects the eyes. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina). At first, diabetic retinopathy may cause no symptoms or only mild vision problems. Eventually, however, diabetic retinopathy can result in blindness. Diabetic retinopathy can develop in anyone who has type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. The longer you have diabetes, and the less controlled your blood sugar is, the more likely you are to develop diabetic retinopathy. In my experience as a practitioner, I have seen so many patients, being diabetic without knowing it. Only after having their pupils dilated was I able to diagnose diabetes retinopathy, where at the beginning of the disease only some peripheral blood vessels were damaged, and as the disease progresses the more central blood vessels get damaged causing non reversible permanent loss of vision. Advanced stage of the disease will attack the central blood vessels causing permanent blindness Advanced stage. Patient may

have lost 80 to 90% of the vision During all my years as a practitioner, I have heard people telling me â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thank god I do not wear glasses; therefore I do not need to see youâ&#x20AC;? And there is the biggest mistake that people do, because they do not have any visual problems, they do not have a yearly eye examination. Same analogy goes for the dentist, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do not have any teeth problems, and therefore I do not consult a dentistâ&#x20AC;? HOW TO AVOID DIABETES RETINOPATHY? Annual comprehensive visual analysis starting as young as teenagers. Annual physical examination by a general practitioner. Find out about family history of diabetes. Have a fungus photography as a reference to be compared on a yearly basis. Diabetic retinopathy, diagnosed at the first stage, can be treated. (Ed. Note: Dr. Gabriel Dery has retired from private practice and lives now in Ajijic, E-mail: dery2020@hotmail.com)

Left photo, patient has already lost vision Right photo, even though there is a big hemorrhage, the vision is still good, because the central (macula) is still intact

Saw you in the Ojo 75

â&#x20AC;&#x153;People Helping Peopleâ&#x20AC;?

The

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www.lakechapalasociety.com

Message From the President LCS Presents Educational Programs at Open &LUFOH RQ 6XQGD\ 1RYHPEHU

Have you ever thought about the impact educational opportunities have made on your life? Do you still remember that special teacher who ignited your interest or curiosity about a particular subject? How would your life be different today if you had not had those experiences? LCS has always strongly believed in the value of education and has actively sought funding to provide educational opportunities for the local Mexican community. Education reduces poverty and crime, improves the quality of life for individual families and the community at large. Education also provides channels to actualize oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full potential as a person of the world. At Open Circle on November 9 at 10:00 a.m. on the Neill James Patio, yours truly will be making a presentation on WKH Ă&#x20AC;DJ VKLS HGXFDWLRQ SURJUDPV /&6 RIIHUV WR WKH 0H[LFDQ community. I will be joined by students who have participated in these programs and who will share their stories. 6SHFLÂżFDOO\ ZH ZLOO WDON DERXW WKH &KLOGUHQÂśV $UW 3URJUDP English as a Second Language (ESL), the Biblioteca on Galeana #18 and the LCS student aid program. After the presentation you can browse our collection of used books for sale and shop at the Arts & Crafts Exhibits by local artists â&#x20AC;&#x201C; many of whom are graduates of the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Program. It should be a fun, interesting morning and we hope you will join us! Ben White, President

LCS Annual Arts and Crafts Fair

Winners of the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Contest, Neill James Legacy Artists, the LCS Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Show, and our Semi-Annual Used Book Sale will be at LCS on Saturday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday November 9, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. LCS President Ben White will be featured Sunday at Open Circle prior to the Arts and Crafts Fair. Admission to both events is free. Refreshments will be available. Artists who wish to participate in the Arts and Crafts Fair should contact Maria Huerta at 766 2940 by November 4 for more information. Space is limited.

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LCS is Powered by eSun

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

Thrift Store Computers Gardens Membership and more...

November 2014

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Many LCS members have read and heeded the suggestions made in last monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issue describing the necessary procedures surrounding death in Mexico. These requirements are different from those in other parts of the world. If you are not aware of the necessity of planning for such an event, here are some considerations to keep in mind if you do not have your affairs in order. Â&#x2021; ,I \RX GR QRW KDYH D GRFWRU DYDLODEOH WR VLJQ \RXU GHDWK FHUWLÂżFDWH the authorities may seal off your home. Your body may be taken to the morgue in Ocotlan and your survivors will have a complicated mess. â&#x20AC;˘ If you have not pre-arranged things with a funeral home, cremation, burial or transportation, whichever you desire, your survivors will have a complicated mess. â&#x20AC;˘ If you have no will and no heirs and own property or have assets in Mexico, or any other country your survivors will have a complicated mess. â&#x20AC;˘ If the authorities seal off your home because you have left a complicated mess, your pets will be sealed inside and a special application will have to be made to allow someone to go in once a day to feed them, just another complicated mess. Dying without oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s affairs in order creates major problems for those left with handling this responsibility. You can ensure that all will go smoothly by following the suggestions of the LCS Post Life Registry SURJUDP LQIRUPDWLRQ DYDLODEOH LQ WKH 6HUYLFH 2IÂżFH 9ROXQWHHUV RQ duty can answer your questions and provide you with guidance regarding this critical aspect of your life.

Casi Nuevo: We Want Your Stuff!

Donations of your stuff--furniture, household goods, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s items, etc, to Casi Nuevo allows us to use the proceeds to support our three important charities: â&#x20AC;˘ School for Special Children â&#x20AC;˘ Have Hammerâ&#x20AC;ŚWill Travel â&#x20AC;˘ LCS Educational Fund Not only do we want your stuff to turn into cash for these charities, we want to help change your stuff into cash for you. Casi Nuevo Consignment offers you 70%* of the price you set for your stuff. The rest goes to our charities. Our team will display your stuff, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll sit with your stuff all the hours we are open (10 a.m. to 3 p.m., MonSat), so you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll sell your stuff for you! (Be aware that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t accept or sell electronic stuff.) We want your stuff and we want you! Yes, we want volunteers to work at our shop because without you we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do anything with the stuff we get. We have no paid staff, so volunteers are the very lifeblood of our ability to do the good work we do. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be surprised how much fun you can have selling other peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stuff! Our hours DUH Ă&#x20AC;H[LEOH DQG ZH FDQ WUDLQ \RX LI \RX KDYH QR UHWDLO experience. And we want your money. Sorry to be so direct, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in business to support our charities. We have such a wonderful range of great stuff; youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want you to come by and shop with us. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be surprised at the great stuff you can get to replace the stuff you donate. And, oh, by the way, we can even handle Estate Sales when you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want any more of your stuff! Contact us at 106-2121 or at CasiNuevoAjijic@gmail. com, and we can make arrangements to get your stuff. Remember your stuff is good for us, good for you and great for the people we help! Thanks. *Subject to consignment terms. Ask in the shop for details.

LCS Spanish Classes :DUUHQ +DUG\ 6SDQLVK &ODVVHV

The next term of Warren Hardy Spanish Language Classes run from Monday, November 3rd through December 20th. The LCS Spanish program uses the Warren Hardy four-level language course designed for the adult student. Registration for these upcoming FODVVHV LV FXUUHQWO\ XQGHUZD\ DW WKH /&6 RIÂżFH weekdays. Sign-up will also by held Oct 27-31 from 11a.m. to 1p.m. at LCS at the blue umbrella patio. The instructor will be available to evaluate the level of instruction appropriate level for you. Classes are $750 pesos. The required text and additional support materials are also available. Introduction to Spanish: This is a casual class offered for the beginner that covers the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary and phrases to use about town and other useful information about Lakeside and Mexican culture. &ODVVHV DUH KHOG WKH ÂżUVW 7XHVGD\ RI WKH PRQWK DQG run for three weeks at the LCS campus from noon until 1:30 pm. Materials are provided and tuition is $175 pesos. 6LJQ XS DW WKH /&6 RIÂżFH IURP DP WR SP 0RQGD\ through Saturday. 766-1140. lakechapalasociety.com

New and Returning Activities for November

Costco returns to LCS November 11 and 12 for membership, renewals, and sales information at the Blus Umbrella Patio. Blood pressure screenings return to the fall schedule both Mondays and Fridays on the back patio. All three computer classes (All Things Android; iPad,iPod, iPhone; and All Things Tech) have merged and will meet Fridays from 9:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 11:30. Balance and Core, low-impact stretch, balance and core exercises will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-9:50 a.m. in the Gazebo. Contact Jackie Webb at jackieWebb0608 for more information. Bring a mat and have fun! 3OHDVH QRWH WLPH FKDQJH EHJLQQLQJ LQ 1RYHPEHU )LOP $ÂżFLRQDGRV ZLOO be every Thursday from 2-4:30. The continuing education Neill James Lecture Series returns to LCS on Tuesdays from 2-4 p.m in the Sala. The Lake Chapala History Club will meet Tuesday November 18 at 1:30 S P 7KH VXEMHFW LV Âł+LURVKLPDÂ´ D VWXG\ RI WKH ÂżUVW QXFOHDU ERPELQJ Important note: Information and arrangements for bus trips, sales of books, and donations to the kitty fund can now be made in the service RIÂżFH <RX FDQ SXUFKDVH RXU ZRQGHUIXO FKLOGUHQÂśV DUW FDUGV DW WKH /&6 Patio Cafe.

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:HGQHVGD\ 1RYHPEHU Galerias Mall includes Liverpool, Sears, Best Buy, specialty stores and food including Chiliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Krispy Kreme, Outback, with the new PF Chang and Cheesecake Factory. Also nearby WalMart, Sams, Costco and Mega. Depart from the sculpture in La Floresta at 9:30 a.m. Cost is 250 pesos. 7KXUVGD\ 1RYHPEHU %DVHEDOO *DPH Leave at 4 p.m. to see the Jalisco Charros play. Game time is 7 p.m. Return between midnight and 1 a.m. Cost 250 pesos for members and 275 pesos for nonmembers LQFOXGHV WKH EXV WULS DQG 9,3 2XWÂżHOG VHDWLQJ 'HSDUWXUH IURP WKH sculpture in La Floresta. )ULGD\ 1RYHPEHU Special trip to Galerias Mall. Annual three-day holiday shopping event, El Buen Fin, the equivalent of Black Friday QRUWK RI WKH ERUGHU DQG D ÂżUVW IRU XV /RWV RI DPD]LQJ VDOHV 'HSDUW IURP the sculpture in La Floresta at 9 a.m. Cost is 275 pesos. During this three-day holiday celebrating Revolution Day; prices are a little higher due to high demand. Please note: this trip departs at 9 a.m. Lots of trips are being planned for next year, including some of the favorites and a few new outings to be announced later.

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Our condolences to the friends and family of the late Dixie Vaughns. Dixie, was known for her baking, treating volunteers with samples every Thursday. She was a kind person who loved people and was an enthusiastic supporter of LCS, especially the LCS Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art and Student Aid programs. She will be missed. A donation of $500 USD has been made in Dixieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s honor, by Lizz Drummond for the LCS Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Program.

Report Crime!

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Couriers Needed

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to take the mail if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re traveling NOB. Our libraries need your continued support to bring videos and books from north of the border; if you can courier, contact us: library@lakechapalasociety.com - Thanks!

Saw you in the Ojo 77

NOVEMBER ACTIVITIES

*Open to the Public ** US Citizens (S) Sign in required (C) Membership card required &58= 52-$ Cruz Roja Sales Table M-F 10-1 CRIV Monthly Meeting 2nd W 2-5 +($/7+ ,1685$1&( IMSS & Immigration Services M+T 10-1 Met Life Health Insurance T+TH 11-2 San Javier TH Nov 20 10-12 +($/7+ /(*$/ 6(59,&(6 Balance and Core Becerra Immigration Blood Pressure Diabetes Screening (no sign up) DIF Hearing Aid Services (S) Loridans Legal Ministerio Publico Optometrist (S) Pharmaceutical Consultations Skin Cancer Screening (S) US Consulate

T&TH 9-9:50 F 10:30-1 M&F 10-12 2nd+3rd F 10-12 T 10-2 M+2nd+4th SAT 11-4 T 10-12 W Nov 5&19 10-12 TH 9-5 2nd+4th M 10-12 2nd + 4th W 10-12 Nov 12 W 10-12

LESSONS Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art SAT 10-12* Chidrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Reading Program SAT 9-10* Exercise M+W+F 9-10 HH Workshop Demo W 10-12* Intermediate Hatha Yoga T+ TH 2-3:30, SAT 1-2:30 Line Dancing T+TH 10-11:15 LIBRARIES Audio TH 10-12 Book & Video M-SAT 10-2 Library of Congress Books**/ Talking Books TH 10-12 Wilkes M-F 9:30-7, SAT 9:30-1 SOCIAL ACTIVITIES All Things Tech F 9:30-11:30 Bridge 4 Fun M+W 1-5 Conversaciones en EspaĂąol M 10-12 English/Spanish Conversation SAT 11-12 )LOP $ÂżFLRQDGRV 7+ )LOP $ÂżFLRQDGRV VW UG 7+ )LOP $ÂżFLRQDGRV QG WK /DVW 7+ Genealogy Forum Last M 2-4 History Club W 1:30-4 iStuff Discussion Group F 9:30-10:30 Mac OS 1st Mon 12-1 Mac User Group 3rd W 1-2 Needle Pushers T 10-12 Neill James Lecture Series T 2-4 Open Gaming (open to the public from 2) M 1-3:45* Pathways to Inner Peace SAT 2-3:30* Scottish Country Dancing TH 11:30-1:30 Scrabble M+F 12-2 TED Talks Learning Seminars begins T 11th 12-1:20 Tournament Scrabble T 12-2 Windows Discussion Group F 10:30-11:45 6(59,&( 6833257 *52836 Gamblers Anonymous W 11-1 Information Desk M-SAT 10-2 Lakeside AA M +TH 4-6 Open Circle SUN 10-12:30 SMART Recovery W 2:30-4:30 7,&.(7 6$/(6 0 )

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

VIDEO LIBRARY NEW ADDITIONS New for November See the Video Library bulletin board and the ELQGHUV RQ WKH FRXQWHU WR ÂżQG ÂżOPV RI LQWHUHVW This is a partial list of the new additions. Space considerations limit us to this abbreviated format. Please see the LCS web page or the green catalogs on the shelf outside the Video Library to get a full review of 20+ additions for November. Dogma %HQ $IĂ&#x20AC;HFN DQG 0DWW 'DPRQ Comedy Fracture #6714 Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling Crime 0\ /LIH DV D +RXVH #6696 Kevin Kline Hayden Christensen Drama Pollock #6699 Ed Harris and Marcia Gay Harden Biography Awakenings # 6701 Robert De Niro and Robin Williams Biography Author! Author! #6705 Al Pacino and Dyan Cannon Comedy If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been here, drop by the LCS Video Library. the volunteer on GXW\ FDQ KHOS \RX VHOHFW D ÂżOP IURP WKH PRUH WKDQ YLGHRV ZH KDYH available. If you have old tapes, we can transfer any of your VHS tapes to compact durable DVD discs at 50 pesos per tape. ,I WKHUHÂśV D ÂżOP \RXÂśYH QHYHU VHHQ RU RQH \RXÂśG OLNH WR VHH DJDLQ DVN WKH volunteer if we have it among our 4,000 video discs. If we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, jot down the title, your name and email address, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll let you know if and when we might add it to our inventory. We have many VHS tapes and a few DVDS for sale at only 5 pesos each.

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LCS is offering exciting new culinary art classes based on delicious authentic Mexican comida. These lunch classes will be your opportunity to learn more about Mexican food and culture in addition to enjoying your new-found cooking skills. Cost will be $300 pesos per student per class. Space is limited to 10 students. Interested? Sign up in the 6HUYLFH 2IÂżFH There will be three classes a week for four weeks based on three themes, each session covering a different aspect of authentic Mexican cuisine. 7KH 0RQGD\ 6HULHV 6RSDV 0H[LFDQDV November 10 Class One: Sopa de Tortilla Popular in each state. We will cover the importance of the ingredients and the ever-so-varied garnishes popular in several regions. November 17 Class Two: Sopa de Ajo from the Tlaxcala Region will be served with thick gorditas; December 1 Class Three: Sopa de Lima from the Yucatan December 8 Class Four: Sopa Mexicana de Elotes and Rajas. 7KH :HGQHVGD\ 6HULHV &RPLGD &RUULGD - From the Tianguis to Table We will meet at 10 a.m. at the tianguis and then walk to the kitchen each week to prepare a typical comida corrida with agua fresca, Sopa de Arroz and a Guisado. November 12 Class one: will be vegetarian - giving us a solid sampling of the many wonderful veggies available. November 19 Class Two: We will prepare a delicious chicken dish. December 3 Class Three: Puerco en Pipian; 'HFHPEHU &ODVV )RXU /HW V VHH ZKDW NLQG RI ÂżVK WKH tianguis offers us. 7KH 7KXUVGD\ 6HULHV %RWDQDV - So many appetizers! November 13 Class One: We'll introduce some easy things to do with corn masa. November 20 Class Two: Cantina Specials: queso fundido, potatoes, chiles poblano and longaniza; with a sampling of the nuts and seeds served in traditional cantinas December 4 Class Three: Enchiladas - Suizas Verdes and Rojos de Requeson y Pollo December 11 Class Four: Tacos and Tostadas - culinary feats galore.....

THURSDAY FILM AFICIONADOS /&6 0HPEHUV 2QO\ %ULQJ <RXU &DUG

$OO ÂżOPV VKRZQ LQ WKH 6DOD IURP S P No food No pets This Month: A Celebration of the Dance 1RYHPEHU S P (O $PRU %UXMR - Spain 1986 In a gypsy village, the fathers of Candela and Jose have promised WKHLU FKLOGUHQ LQ PDUULDJH WR HDFK RWKHU 7KLV JUHDW ÂżOP IHDWXUHV IDQWDVtic dancing, the gypsy view of love and life, and a wonderful musical score by Manuel De Falla. Nominated for an Academy Award for best IRUHLJQ ÂżOP 1RYHPEHU S P 6WULFWO\ %DOOURRP Australia 1993 An off-beat comedy about a male dancer who refuses to follow the accepted rules of ballroom dancing and creates his own style upsetting the dance establishment. 1RYHPEHU S P Shall We Dance? Japan 1996 A huge hit in Japan despite (or because of) its tacit criticisms of the restrictive aspects of Japanese culture. This romantic comedy will surely win your heart. 3OHDVH QRWH $OO ÂżOPV VWDUW DW S P IURP QRZ RQ LCS is closed November 27.

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LCS will sponsor an exhibition of work from our collection of seven decades of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art and a retrospective featuring more than a dozen local artists who attended the program as children. The exhibit ZLOO FRQWLQXH WKURXJK 7KXUVGD\ 1RYHPEHU RQ WKH VHFRQG Ă&#x20AC;RRU RI WKH Ajijic Cultural Centre. The CAP, started in 1954 by Neill James 60 years ago, has intimate ties to local Mexican artists, their galleries, and studios, and the Ajijic Cultural Centre. Many of our best known Mexican artists who attended the CAP as children are part of the CAP legacy. Among these legacy artists are: JosĂŠ Abarca, Antonio Cardenas, Efren Gonzales, Ricardo Gonzalez, Antonio LopĂŠz Vega, JesĂşs LopĂŠz Vega, Bruno Mariscal, Juan Navarro, Juan Olivarez, Lucia Padilla, Daniel Palma, Javier Ramos, Victor Romero, and Javier Zaragoza. The Ajijic Society of the Arts (ASA) has been major supporter of RXU SURJUDP RIIHULQJ ERWK ÂżQDQFLDO DVVLVWDQFH DQG YROXQWHHUV $6$ members provided invaluable help during our successful Summer Art Camp a few months ago. The Opening Reception is Sunday, October 26, 3 to 6 p.m. Exhibit hours are 9.a.m. 7 p.m.Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday & Sunday. See you there!

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LCS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President - Ben White (2016); Vice-President - Cate Howell (2015); Treasurer - Michael Searles (2015); Secretary - Carole Wolff (2016); Directors: Lois Cugini (2015); Ernest Gabbard (2016); Aurora Michel Galindo (2015); Fred Harland (2015); Keith Martin (2016); Pete Soderman (2016);

Executive Director - Terry Vidal

The LCS Newsletter is published monthly. Deadline for submissions is the 17th of the month preceding publication. News items may be e-mailed to Reba Mayo rebaelizabethhill@yahoo.com; cc to Terry Vidal tqv56431@yahoo.com Note: The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all submissions according to time, space availability and editorial decision.

Saw you in the Ojo 79

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

Saw you in the Ojo 81

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EMERGENCY NUMBERS

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- ALTA RETINA - Dr. Rigoberto Rios Leรณn Ophthalmic Surgeon Tel: 766-1521 3DJ - CASITA MONTAร A MEDICAL CENTER Tel: -766-5513 3DJ - CASITA MONTAร A MEDICAL SANCTUARY AND BEAUTY SPA Tel: 766-5513 3DJ - CHAPALA MED Tel: 765-7777, Cell: 33-3950-9414 3DJ &/,1,&$ < )$50$&,$ 0$6.$5$6 Tel: 765-4805 3DJ - DERMATOLOGIST Tel: 766-1198, 765-2400 3DJ '(50,.$ 'HUPDWRORJLF &HQWHU Tel: 766-2500 3DJ - DOCTOR PINTO OPTICAS Tel: 765-7793 3DJ '5 )(51$1'2 35,(*2 3ULPDU\ &DUH )DPLO\ 'RFWRU Tel: -766-5513 3DJ

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Cell 33-1005-9129 3DJ - EAGER & ASOCIADOS Tel: (376) 766 1917, 1918 3DJ - FOR SALE BY OWNER Cell: (045) 33-3149-9415 3DJ - FOR SALE BY OWNER Cell. 33-3488-2773, 765-7629 3DJ - FOR SALE BY OWNER Tel: 106-0862 3DJ - FOR SALE BY OWNER Tel: 765-7749 3DJ - GERARDO MEDINA Cell. 331-121-7034 3DJ - GEORGETTE RICHMOND Tel: 766-2077 3DJ - MPR REAL ESTATE Tel: (315) 351-5167 3DJ - NOÃ&#x2030; LOPEZ Cell: 331-047-9607 3DJ - RAUL GONZALEZ Cell: 33-1437-0925 3DJ - SANDI ALLIN BRISCOE Tel: 765-2484 3DJ - VISTA ALEGRE Tel: 766-4867 3DJ - VISTA LAGO Tel. (33) 3616 4536, 3125 6363 3DJ

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5(67$85$176 &$)(6 5(67$85$17( Tel: 766-1360 3DJ - ADELITA Tel: 766-0097 3DJ $-,-,& 7$1*2 Tel: 766-2458 3DJ - ARILEO Tel: 106-1627 3DJ - BOARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HOUSE Tel: 331-123-8603 3DJ - BRUNOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Tel: 766-1674 3DJ &$)( 3$5,6 3DJ - CASA FUERTE Tels: 3639-6474 / 81 3DJ '(/, Tel: 766-1569 3DJ - GO LE CLUB Cell: (045) 33-3502-6555 3DJ -$60,1(Â¶6 &ODVVLF ,QGLD Tel: 766-2636 3DJ -$5',1 '( 1,1(77( Tel: 766-4905 3DJ - HOSTERIA DEL ARTE Tel: 33-1410-1707 3DJ - HUERTO CAFÃ&#x2030; Tel: 108-0843 3DJ - LA CASA DEL WAFFLE Tel: 766-1946 3DJ - LA HACIENDA DE DON PEDRO Tel: 766-4906 3DJ - LA NONA Cell: 33-1130-9584 3DJ - LA NUEVA POSADA Tel: 766-1444, 766-2049 3DJ Â³ /$ 7$9(51$Â´'(, 48$7752 025, Tel: 766-2848 3DJ - LA UNA Tel: 766-2072 3DJ - LOS MOLLETES Tel: 766-4296 3DJ - LOS TELARES Tel:766-0428 3DJ - MANGIA MIA Cell. 331-398-8939 3DJ - MANIX Tel: 766-0061 3DJ 0(621 '21 48,-27( Tel: 766-5388 3DJ 0$48,1$ 3DJ - MOMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DELI & RESTAURANT Tel: 765-5719 3DJ - PANINO Tel: 766 3822 3DJ - PERRYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

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The Ojo Crossword

Saw you in the Ojo 83

CARS

FOR SALE: Mexican Plated car, Red Nissan Altima High 2.5 Model. 4 cylinders 2.500 CC Sunroof, 5 places, very economic gas consumption, great car for a very low price $90,000 Pesos / $6,950 USD, call me 376106 0666 or cell 33 37191351 Martin. FOR SALE: White Mercedes ML350. 6 cylinders 3.500 CC Sunroof 5 places, very economic gas consumption, great car for a very low price $125,000 pesos, call me 3767662430 or cell 3312833206 Rainer. FOR SALE: Motorhome. 56000 original miles, Air conditioner, Generator, Sink, Shower, Bed, Toilet, Stove, Microwave and Kitchenette. Price: $4,000 USD. FOR SALE: Nissan Altima SL 2006. Mexican 4 cylinder, full loaded car, leather, cheap on gas. Price: $103,000 pesos. Call: 331-269-2696. FOR SALE: One owner Malibu 4 cylinder engine, luxury car, new Michelin tires. Price: $165,000 pesos. Call: 331269-2696. FOR SALE: Mercedez Smart For Two 2011, all dealer services, new tires, 3 Cylinder cheap on gas, Price: $133,500 pesos. Call: 331-269-2696. FOR SALE: 2005 Stratus, this is a high millage RT Turbo 4 cylinder that is perfect inside and out. Has Auto stick transmission (goes both ways). Mexican plated. Price: $60, 000 pesos. Call Adrian at his cell: 331-3880191.

COMPUTERS

FOR SALE: 19â&#x20AC;? Widescreen LCD. Picture is clear and sharp regardless of resolution and the glossy screen makes for better text readability & less eyestrain. Price: $690.00 pesos. Call: 376-7664260. FOR SALE: 2 PK PG-240XL CL241XL Ink Cartridges for Canon PIXMA MG3520 MX532 MX479 Printer. Price: $200.00 pesos. Call: 376-766-4260. FOR SALE: Four LCD computer monitors, Dell 17â&#x20AC;? 1280 x 1024 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; $600 pesos. Samsung 17â&#x20AC;? 1280 x 1024 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$600 pesos. Acer 19â&#x20AC;? 1366 x 768 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; $600 pesos. Dell 15â&#x20AC;? 1024 x 768 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; $400 pesos. $2,000 pesos for all 4. Call: 765-3516 hanesda@gmail.com. FOR SALE: Desktop computer/17â&#x20AC;? LCD. 4 Monitors. Almost new desktop computer with a 17â&#x20AC;? LCD monitor, English keyboard, and mouse. Windows 7 Ultimate (English) AMD quad core cpu 8gb ram 80gb hard drive DVD/CD reader/writer. English keyboard. Mouse. Nice Dell 17â&#x20AC;? LCD 1,280 x 1,024. Price: $3,500 pesos. Call: 765-3516. FOR SALE: CaseTek (USA made) Leather Messenger Bag/Laptop Case. Measures: 17â&#x20AC;? wide by 13â&#x20AC;? tall. Fits up to a 16â&#x20AC;? diagonal screen laptop. Has a velcro divider that allows to â&#x20AC;&#x153;snug upâ&#x20AC;? the ÂżW RI D VPDOOHU ODSWRS =LSSHUV ZRUN JUHDW This bag is in good structural condition. Original shoulder strap. Has a total of 4

compartments. Price: $200.00 pesos. FOR SALE: Laptop Backpack. Premium Mobile Edge USED Black Backpack in good condition. Superior Safety Cellâ&#x201E;˘ computer protection compartment. Dedicated padded tablet/iPad pocket. 3DGGHG SRFNHWV IRU &'V 3'$ DQG ÂżOHV Media Pocket for iPods/MP3 player w/ headphone Sound Port. Cool-Meshâ&#x201E;˘ ventilated back panel. Detachable cell SKRQH SRFNHW +HDY\ 'XW\ 'XUD Ă&#x20AC;H[Â&#x152; ÂżWWLQJV (= $FFHVV WLFNHW SRFNHW 5HĂ&#x20AC;HFtive safety stitching. 1680 Denier Ballistic Nylon. Price: $350.00 pesos. FOR SALE: LAPTOP. Includes WinGRZV 8OWLPDWH 2IÂżFH :RUG Excel, and PowerPoint) and extra power cord. Price: $400 US. Call: 376-7663120. FOR SALE: Printer cartridges. 2 HP printer cartridges 122 tricolor new 250p. HP printer cartridge new 75 XL tricolor. 200p. price: Varied $200-$250 pesos.

PETS & SUPPLIES

WANTED: Desperately need Dog Sitter for Christmas Mine Cancelled! small sweet loving little dog! Dec. 19-27 Any references? Please Help! FREE: Good home for Stetson, 90 lb ODS GRJ 6WLOO HQHUJHWLF DQG QHHGV D ÂżUP hand and no other male dogs ... loving, loves to ride in cars, housetrained, crate trained. AKC champion lines. Handsome dude for the right home. spschools_711@ yahoo.com pictures available ... moving to Chapala and need to downsize. FREE: Good home for red/white parti standard poodle. Preferably a single woman who wants Patty to lay at her feet while reading/watching TV. Housebroken, loving AKC registered. Moving to Chapala spschools_711@yahoo.com. FOR SALE: WAHL Rechargeable 13 Piece Pet Grooming Kit. Includes self sharpening blade, combs, charger, mirror, blade oil, carrying case, and instructional DVD. Price: $500.00 pesos. FREE: Two Cats Free To A Good Home. Cats are brother and sister. Both cats are declawed and neutered. These are my Momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cats and she has fallen twice because the cats are underfoot. Looking for a good home for these guys.

GENERAL MERCHANDISE

FOR SALE: Sony KDS-60 Inch HDTV/Yamaha YSP 100 Surround Sound Bar, and Phase Technology HV-1200 Subwoofer for Sound Bar. All 3 pieces for $975 US or $13,065 MX Pesos. FOR SALE: Shaw Receiver. DSR 315 with remote cleared for $500p. Call: 765-4590. FOR SALE: Nice heavy duty quilting frame $250p. Call: 333-904-2463. FOR SALE: Nice briefcase for sale new $100usd used $600p. With combo. Call: 333-904-2463. FOR SALE: Yellow Costco Mop Bucket. In excellent shape Costco Yellow Mop Bucket, Price: $999p used $500p. 333-904-2463. FOR SALE: Tall Ficus tree $350p in a

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014

pot. Call: 333-904-2463. FOR SALE: Round Table + 5 chairs painted really nice table top. $5,000p. Call: 333-904-2463. FOR SALE: Nice Rod iron glass top table that seats 6 for only $9,000p. Call: 333-904-2463. FOR SALE: Two rattan reclining loungers. 32â&#x20AC;? wide & approx 6 ft long. Cushions in excellent condition, used very little - too big for our house. Price: $1,000 each. Call: 376-108-0215. FOR SALE: For Holiday and other events: Lovely glass punch bowl with 18 cups. Wonderful for large gatherings, hospitality rooms, parties, schools and churches. Includes ladle and base to elevate bowl. Price: $520 MXP. Call: 376766-1213. FOR SALE: Almost new Columbia 300 series White Dot deep amber/gold tones marbleized ball. Very nice-looking and weighs approximately 14 pounds (or a little less). Of course, the holes can be re-drilled. Price: $250 MXP. Call: 376766-1213. FOR SALE: Two 150 watt Techno outdoor lights. One needs bulb. $300 pesos for both. FOR SALE: 2008 Kawasaki Versys 650 with 31,000 miles well maintained and with Jalisco plates. $75,000 MXN. FOR SALE: Wheelchair Like new. Price: $175.00 FOR SALE: Portable Oxygen Concentrator with 2 batteries, car adapter and 2 carrying cases. Price: $350.00. FOR SALE: Oxygen Concentrator by ,QYDFDUH FRQWUROV WR / ZLWK KXPLGLÂżHU Purchased in March. Price: $750.00 WANTED: Surveyors tripod for Wild theodolite. Condition unimportant. Please call. 376-108-0215. FOR SALE: Janome Serger My Lock 203. Standard accessories Instruction book. Foot controller. Price: $2,600 pesos. FOR SALE: Metzeler Tourance Front Tire 110/80-19 with 1500 miles, like new condition. Will easily go 10,000 miles. Price: $1,800 MXN OBO FOR SALE: Great Computer/Printer Cart custom made by â&#x20AC;&#x153;Have Hammersâ&#x20AC;?. Cart on wheels for easy access to any room. Price: $500 pesos. FOR SALE: Fruit Painting 39â&#x20AC;?W x 32â&#x20AC;? H. Price: $300p. Call: 331-762-7717. FOR SALE: Swivel bar stools - 49â&#x20AC;?H to top of chair back, 34â&#x20AC;?H to seat, for the 2 is $1500p. Call: 331-762-7717. FOR SALE: Dining Room Set 6 Chairs. Glass dining table with beveled glass - 71â&#x20AC;?L x 47â&#x20AC;? W $8,000p FOR SALE: Beautiful Hickory high backed maroon leather chair. Rarely used so in good condition. Very high end furniture. Price: $1,000 pesos. FOR SALE: Bicycle carrier for one or two bikes. Mounts on rear mount spare tire eg. CRV. Price: $400 pesos. FOR SALE: Bed end bench upholstered piece quality furniture has slip cover. Price: $200 USD. FOR SALE: 6DPVXQJ Â´ Ă&#x20AC;DW VFUHHQ

only three years old like new used four weeks every year HDMI ready great deal. Price: $3,500 pesos. WANTED: &RWWRQ Ă&#x20AC;DQQHO VKHHWV Queen size. gently used. any color. any info on buying new appreciated. call 7664106 FOR SALE: Kitchen utensils, towels, shaw direct dish, other household stuff. Call: 376-766-3377. WANTED: Looking for a massage table, preferably portable. Call 376-7665941 or email FOR SALE: Like new reciprocal stationary bike, weight bench, assorted dumbbells and bars, rubber workout mats and much more. FOR SALE: under counter dishwasher in good condition, Price: $1,500 pesos OBO. FOR SALE: Good running wood chipper leaf shredder, Blades recently replaced. Create your own mulch and compost. Good for your plants and the planet. Price: $3,500 pesos. Call: 376-766-1132. WANTED: Looking for a good condition, used washing machine. Not particular about features, or how it looks, just want something that works well. Call: 376-766-0353. WANTED: Looking for a good condition, used refrigerator. Must be energy efÂżFLHQW VR QRW PRUH WKDQ D IHZ \HDUV ROG I am not particular about extra features. No more than 42 inches wide (105 cm). Call: 376-766-0353. WANTED: Looking to buy a cassette tape player or preferably a combination cassette tape/CD player in good condition. FOR SALE: Super practical pocket high impact aluminum Lantern with 9 leds ultraviolet light.10 cms large, 3 cms diameter. Detect false money bills, scorpions, Ă&#x20AC;XLGV RQ FORWKHV PRXVH RULQD EORRG rests; tickets passports and ids authenticity; and more. Needs 3 AAA batteries included. Also include security strap. 30 days warranty on manufacturing defects. Shipments out of Guadalajara to be negotiated. Price: $150. FOR SALE: Roland Digital Piano EP.5. Power adapter, pedal damper, music stand, midi connection, tuner, extra VSHDNHU RXWOHWV ÂżYH RFWDYH UDQJH 5HJXlar piano, electronic piano, vibraphone, organ, strings settings and volume control. Price: $225 USD or equivalent pesos. FOR SALE: Inversion Table. Relieve back pain ease stress imSURYH MRLQW KHDOWK LQFUHDVH Ă&#x20AC;H[LELOLW\ LPSURYH ÂżWQHVV DQG EXLOG FRUH VWUHQJWK Price: $1,100 pesos. Call: 376-766-4260. FOR SALE: Shaw Direct (Star Choice) 505 HD receiver and URC 551 remote. Both are perfect working order. The receiver was just deactivated and ready to be reactivated on another account. Price: $1,200 pesos. FOR SALE: Two Wilson Tennis Racquets. Hammer system 5.8 and 7.4. In very good condition. Price: $500 pesos each. Cal: 045-331-382-4771.

FOR SALE: Oil Painting from Local Artist. This oil painting was created by an Ajijic artist: Lytte in 2007. It is unframed and in perfect condition. Price: $2,000 pesos. WANTED: Looking for Shaw Direct 75E elliptical dish with LNB. Do not want 60E dish. FOR SALE: 2 IKEA Billy bookcases, four shelves adjustable, centre shelf Âż[HG %LUFK FRORXU Âś Â´ [ Â´ DQG Âś Â´ [ 24â&#x20AC;? $2000 pesos for both. Small computer desk, very attractive. Black and tan wood. $800 pesos. Handmade wooden music stand $200 pesos. Metal stand for power tools 29â&#x20AC;? high, top 9â&#x20AC;? x 18â&#x20AC;? $150 pesos. Contact me at cortay5245@ gmail.com. FOR SALE: Portable Massage Chair, 4 rollers rolling and shiatsu on the Upper back, Lower back and Full back. Massage selectable, vibration massage on buttocks. Pictures on request. Price: $$500 pesos OBO. Call: 045-331-3824771. FOR SALE: Yukon Advanced Optics 7HOHVFRSH [ ÂżHOG GHJUHHV ft.at 1000 yards. Four years old. Comes with original instructions, carry case, neck/body holder and adjustable stand. Like new - only 4 yrs. old. Pictures on request. Price: $2,000 pesos OBO. Call: 045-331-382-4771. FOR SALE: Hand held luggage scale. Price $91 pesos. Call: 765-7629 afternoons. FOR SALE: Slightly used free weights. 2-5lb weights $190 pesos pair. 2-3lb weights $95 pesos pair. All 4 weights $285 pesos. Call: 765-7629 afternoons. FOR SALE: Zojirushi Home Bakery.

Makes great bread and pizza dough. Works great outer case is a little discolored. Price: $350 pesos. FOR SALE: Philip juicer. Great for squeezing oranges lines and lemons. Almost new. Price: $80 pesos. FOR SALE: Felt Red hat with feathers has original price tag of $75usd only $200p. Call: 765-4590. WANTED: Does anybody have one of those Sony Beta Videocassette Recorders that were popular in the 80Â´s in good, fair or working condition that you are not using and want to sell or give away? I still want to see my old videocassettes and need this appliance for that. Call Rick: 766-4804 or email me. FOR SALE: 2 Bar Stools. Fine pair of Mexican handcrafted wrought iron and leather bar stools with seat backs; 30â&#x20AC;?H. Price: $200 usd/pr. Call: 333-487-0868. FOR SALE: Dining Table and Chairs. Reproduction of Italian vintage pedestal table with distressed top and ornately decorated base; 4 upholstered comfortable armchairs. Table D- 4ft. Price: 800usd. Call: 333-487-0868. FOR SALE: Antique Mahogany Chair. Beautiful and Comfortable upholstered seat and back barrel chair; circa 1900; matching fabric side table coverLQJ DQG ODUJH Ă&#x20AC;RRU SLOORZV 3ULFH USD. Call: 333-487-0868. FOR SALE: Henredon Queen Bed Unit; campaign collection; dual side dressers with top shelves and bottom drawers; mirrored back; Gardner mattress/ box spring. Pecan wood/ solid brass hardware. Price: $2,500 USD. Call: 333-487-0868. FOR SALE: Semi-Professional Canon Camera SX510HS rarely used al-

most new condition. Have complete with manual case and all. I am open to offers. Price: $4,000 pesos. Call: 3824-8958. FOR SALE: Jewelry armoire furniture piece...openable top with sections and mirror, 2 doors with necklace hangers, draws below one lockable with key. wood, nice for storage of jewelry or what have you $1,500 pesos. Can see by appt. at my home. Lovely item and practical. They have in Guad. for $3,000 plus pesos and not even as nice. FOR SALE: Nearly new ToolCraft 2500W portable gas generator; purchased in July & used approx. 30-hrs. Has two 110V plug outlets. Starts very easily with pull-chord & runs perfectly. Price: $4,600.00 pesos OBO. FOR SALE: Ladies Golf Clubs. Ladies Pro Gear golf clubs (graphite shafts) with a bag for $600 pesos. There is a driver, 3 and 5 woods, and 4,5,6,7,8,9 irons plus putter and wedge. Price: $600 pesos. Call Donna at 766-4636. FOR SALE: Small Whirlpool up-right freezer. Like new. Used only 3 days. Price: $2,500.00 Cell: 331-446-1709. WANTED: Looking for a wooden cased mantle clock with nice chimes. FOR SALE: Christmas tree prelit, 7â&#x20AC;&#x2122; tall in stand, excellent condition; $2,500pesos; miscellaneous Christmas ornaments in storage cases, $1,000 pesos. 10% of sale goes to charity. FOR SALE: 3 Piece Hartman luggage set, $2,800 pesos; 2 Samsonite 29â&#x20AC;? spinner suitcases, bought in June this year (used once), $3,800 pesos; Golf Travel Bag black, $1,000 pesos. 10% of sales will go to charity. FOR SALE: Bedding & Blow up Mattress. Queen size comforter set in

chocolate brown, NOT from Wal-Mart. ,QFOXGHV FRPIRUWHU GXVW UXIĂ&#x20AC;H (XUR pillows & 2 shams, 2 small pillow shams. Price: $3,300 pesos & $1,000 pesos. FOR SALE: Bushnell Ensign Binoculars with case. Price: $1,000 pesos. FOR SALE: Tools: Drills, Sanders, Grinder. Makita Cordless Drill with battery charger and 2 new batteries; 1 Black & Decker Sanders; Black & Decker Power Drill; and Truper Grinder. All in working condition. Price: Negotiable. FOR SALE: 1 Queen sized bed (like new) $5,000 p. 1 Brown leather recliner (like new) $5,000 p. Cell: 331-527-3194. FOR SALE: This is Ironstone (Pottery) service for 12 in burnt orange with beaded black octagon shaped rims from NOB. Includes serving pieces. Each place setting has dinner plate, luncheon (or dessert or salad) plate, soup or cereal or ice cream bowl, cup and saucer. All pieces are still available when needed. This service is dishwasher and microwave proof. Price: $2,995 MXN. Call: 376-766-1213. WANTED: Want to buy a chipper/ shredder, gas or electric. Call: 766-1132. FOR SALE: Water Heater. Cinsa de Paso 6 liters purchased June 22, 2014. :RUNV ÂżQH EXW WRR VPDOO DQG WRR IDU IURP my gas tank to work correctly. Price: $1,900 pesos. Call: 376-766-0944. FOR SALE: Pool table 8 foot regulation. New cloth + vinyl cover 48 snooker balls with rack , 2 sets of 8 balls like new made in Belgium with rack + regulation board and 3 lights on a bar + more Price $1,200 USD.

Saw you in the Ojo 85

El Ojo del Lago / November 2014