Saw you in the Ojo
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El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
Saw you in the Ojo
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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 Jazmin Eliosa Special Events Editors Tod Jonson Barbara Clippinger Associate Editor Jim Tipton Contributing Editor Paul Jackson Contributing Editor Mark Sconce Drama Critic Michael Warren Art Critic Rob Mohr Sales Managers Omar Medina Bruce Fraser
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Index...
FEATURE ARTICLES
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COVER STORY
Herbert Piekow, our in-house historian, writes about the similarities and differences between Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa, the two men that forever changed the destiny of Mexico.
8 Dani Newcomb
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A MOVEABLE FEAST
(with apologies to Hemingway)
Gary Donaldson has seen and heard street theater in Mexico, but he will never forget hearing a man on a bus burst in an aria “that Pavorotti would have been hard pressed to follow.�
24 LITERARY HISTORY Lorin Swinehart thinks that a comparison between their attitudes to
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about the personalities of literary giants Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck.
44 HEARTBREAK IN MEXICO M.A. Porter recently lost a son to an accidental drug overdose, but found some consolation when she bonded with three other women who lived on her same block here in Ajijic.
56 BOOK REVIEW Alice Hathaway takes another look at Village in the Sun, a book now famous for its charmingly poignant view of Ajijic in the late 1940’s.
Reserva al TĂtulo de Derechos de Autor 04-2011-103110024300-102 Control 14301. Permisos otorgados por la SecretarĂa de GobernaciĂłn (EXP. 1/432 “88â€?/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 by the authors do not necessarily ! " $
nor are we responsible for the claims made by our advertisers. We welcome letters, which should include name, address and telephone number.
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COVER STORY
PUBLISHER
El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
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Editor’s Page
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Uncommon Sense
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Bridge by Lake
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Joyful Musings
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Welcome to Mexico
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Child of Month
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Anyone Train Dog
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Heart at Work
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La Vida Loca
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New Lease
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Thunder on Right
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Grapevine Expectations
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Front Row Center
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The Poet’s Niche
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Focus on Art
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LCS Newsletter
LAKESIDE LIVING
z DIRECTORY z
36 MAGNIFICENT MEXICO
VOLUME 28 NUMBER 9
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Editor’s Page By Alejandro Grattan-Dominguez A WONDERFUL WRITER—Once in Our Midst
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araphrasing Mr. Shakespeare, I come not to re-bury Jim Tuck, but to praise him. My reasons are twofold: his books The Holy War in Los Altos and John Reed and Pancho Villa. With regard to the first, I have rarely read non-fiction that had all the ingredients of excellent fiction: high drama, vivid characters, a momentous time in history, which quickens the heart, and satisfies the soul. To give you some idea of the majestic sweep of the book, it might be instructive to quote a bit of the material from its inside jacket. “Mexico’s Revolution brought a new Constitution in 1917, with repressive measures aimed against the Church. In bastions of Catholicism like the Los Altos area of Jalisco, the escalating enforcement of such laws was met with active resistance that grew into armed revolt. “Heroes and quislings, intrigues and betrayals, spirituality and machismo... all of these elements came into play during the drama that unfolded in Los Altos -and Jim Tuck captures them in a fast-paced style that truly provides engrossing reading. Here he has managed to bring to life not only the urgency of historical events, but also the personalities of its participants.” The book, in my opinion, bears some resemblance to Graham Green’s classic The Power and The Glory, but where the famed British novelist saw only persecution, duplicity and corruption, Jim Tuck also finds irony, humor and a sad condition common to all peoples, not just the Mexican. It is well known that Graham Green detested Mexico; it is here equally obvious that Jim Tuck loved it, though as a doting uncle might a troubled and troublesome young nephew, who for all his past foibles nevertheless has a brilliant future. I am reminded of a story I once heard about lreland, a country which, like Mexico, bears many scars. Both have lived under the tyranny of oppressors, both have deep if of-
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Jim Tuck ten strangling roots in the Catholic Church, and both still struggle to this day to overcome the dark shadows of their own negative perceptions about themselves. Anyway, back to the story: seems a visitor to Ireland, taking the measure of what some have called “The Fractured Emerald” remarked to his guide that he was at a loss to understand why the country had such a great and wide-spread reputation. lreland seemed to have little heavy industry, a blighted agricultural system, and nothing by the way of exceptional products. “What do you make here that gives Ireland such a reputation?” the visitor asked. “Ah, we manufacture characters,” the Irish guide replied. “And our exports are among the most interesting in the world.” The same, I think, can be said about Mexico. This nation without its people would surely seem one of God’s more poorly cast productions. And if you think this a truism that might be said about anyplace, I cite the case of the capital of France. Paris without the Parisians would seem nothing short of God’s own playground. About Mexico and Jim Tuck’s second book. It’s called John Reed and Pancho Villa, and is, in my opinion, an even better book than his story of the Cristeros. For this second book has in its starring cast two of the most spellbinding men of the 20th century. They were also a couple of its most quixotic, and both died mourning the death of revolutions they had given their lives for. Hence, theirs is the stuff of Greek tragedy, and in the author’s able and artful hands, the story reads like one. I have tried to analyze exactly what it is that gives this book its unique power. Certainly meticulous
research has laid a strong foundation, and a graceful, indeed often elegant style, has laced the story with great beauty. But there is more here than simply the craft of an accomplished wordsmith, a sturdier stuff to this literary edifice than just the standard brick and mortar which intensive research and a lyrical style have brought to the book. Jim Tuck’s secret, I suspect, lies in his approach to the material. Not content to let historical events and personalities speak for themselves, he resembles not so much a biographer as a highly intuitive detective. Time and again, he pursues various subtle and elusive clues in both the background and psychological makeup of Reed and Villa, trying to understand why they did what they did, and then reacted to what they had done in such honorable but lifethreatening and career-destroying ways. Such sleuthing methods have led the author to concentrate on a pair of elements which are the prime ingredients in all compelling characters who have led a larger than life existence: complications and contradictions. John Reed, the social dilettante and literary gadfly who found something akin to religion in the Russian Revolution, and then died deeply disillusioned when he discovered that there was no Worker’s Paradise in the USSR; Pancho Villa, the bandit and former meat butcher, who found fame and respectability in a popular cause, and then was murdered by fellow revolutionaries when he found it impossible to make his peace with some of the very people he had put in power. That both these quixotic and fascinating men once met in person must have been an event which most historians can never hope to adequately reconstruct, but Jim Tuck has given us such marvelous insights into their powerful person-
alities that is much more than most readers could ever hope to find in a single volume. (Note: Jim Tuck, a long-time, enormously popular Ojo columnist, passed away some years ago but his books can still be found in the Local Authors Section of the LCS library. Needless to say, we highly recommend all his books. But don’t take our word for it. The following quotes from two of America’s most famous literary figures speak for themselves.) “In retrospect it is hard to believe that a demagogue like Joe McCarthy could have intimidated the American people; but Jim Tuck’s compelling account of the alliance between McCarthy and William Randolph Hearst helps explain why so many normal Americans succumbed to panic nearly half a century ago and resorted to witch hunts and blacklists.” — Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. “Tuck’s sharp-eyed, relevant for today (alas) account of Joe McCarthy’s fling with the press is as fascinating to read as it is somber to brood upon.” — Gore Vidal Alejandro Grattan
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TWO MEN WH HO FO OREVE ER CHA ANGED D MEX XICO By Herbert W. Piekow
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miliano Zapata and Francisco “Pancho� Villa shared many things in their short lives, but more than anything they were men who saw and experienced the injustices in their homeland and gave their lives to change their country. Both men were revolutionaries, not politicians; in fact they both felt better leading men and women in battle than in fighting political battles. Both were born into small farming communities, whose inhabitants were mostly landless serfs working the lands of large haciendas where they worked as farm hands, functioned as slaves, and were officially treated as serfs.
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Zapata was from the southern part of Mexico while Villa´s home territory was the northern state of Chihuahua. Mexico is nearly as long as the US is wide and as diverse in topography, climate, natural resources and people. Both had some education and as teenagers, became the support for their families when their fathers died. Both men were drafted into military service but managed to complete only a portion of their terms. Zapata was a respected horse trainer and his commanding officer got him transferred to help train horses. Villa was arrested for stealing horses and forced to join the federal army. After several months he deserted because he murdered an of-
El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
ficer and stole the man´s horse. For as many similarities the two were also very different, Pancho Villa was a brash showman, while Emiliano Zapata was quieter and spoke in a high voice. He was known as a man of few words while Villa, who did not drink, could be both an unpredictable man of action as well as quite talkative. Both men enjoyed their women. Villa was reported to have married twenty six times and at his death his legitimate widow, Maria Luz Corral, had to contend with five other women who claimed to be Villa’s widow and wanted a part of his 25,000 acre ranch. Maria Luz graciously raised a couple of Villa’s other acknowledged children. She also gave birth to Villa’s only legitimate child, a daughter who died in infancy. Zapata had at least six children by various women; his wife quietly raised several of these children. Emiliano Zapata was born August 8, 1879; the ninth of ten children. He grew up in Morelos, southern Mexico and he spoke both Nuhuatl and Spanish. At17, Zapata became the support of his family when his father died. He married a local mestizo middle-class woman and together they farmed a small rancho. They were porfiristas or supporters of President Porfirio Diaz, who had governed Mexico for 35 years, at the expense of the poor and marginalized. In 1909, at the age of 30, Zapata was elected to the council of Anenecuilco, where his family had lived for several generations. The pueblo of approximately 90 families was typical of the turn of the century. The people had been dispossessed of their family properties by the Hacendados, large land owners. These actions were condoned by the president, who rewarded the wealthy at the expense and often lives of the ordinary people. Zapata organized and armed 80 men and forcefully reclaimed some of the appropriated farm land for the local people. An interesting note is that the land dispute was taken to the courts where a brave judge found in favor the indigenous farmers. This finding was one of many sparks that helped ignite a nearly decades-long Revolution. After Diaz went into exile in Paris, Zapata joined with Francisco Madero, whom he hoped would correct the land abuses. But Madero was a “man of promises� who tried to please everyone by doing nothing. Zapata was part of the 99% percent who were still impoverished and decided that in order to be have more equality and greater participation in the future, he would have to forcefully appropriate the large estates, his slogan being Tierra y Libertad, or Land and Liberty. He lacked basic military supplies but
was a natural leader. At first he waylaid landowners and merchants but could not confront the army, nor could he take and hold towns against the Federalistas. Although Zapata was disappointed in Madero because he did not live up to his promise of land reform, Zapata was even less enchanted by the dictator Huerta who in February 1913 had Madero assassinated and then installed himself in the Presidential office. Later Zapata and Villa along with other rebel leaders united forces against Huerta and by August 1914, Carranza, supported by Zapata and Villa, declared himself President. Huerta had fled to Spain and would later die in a Texas prison. There is a scene, taken from fact, in the movie Viva Zapata, where Zapata and Villa discuss who should sit in the Presidential chair. It is said that Villa sat uncomfortably in the chair but neither man felt qualified to lead the country. Both realized they were military leaders, not politicians. Zapata continued to organize his home state of Morelos and to implement both agrarian and land reforms. He was a popular, well-liked and respected figure. This disturbed the insecure President Carranza. When General Pablo GonzĂĄlez sent word he wanted to defect from President Carranza to aid the Zapatistas, Zapata agreed to a meeting with the General. When Zapata walked into the fortress at Chinameca, Morelos, he was saluted by an honor guard who immediately closed the fortress gates. Zapata and some of his aides were then murdered. He died as he would have wanted: “It is better to die on your feet than on your knees.â€? Pancho Villa also died a violent death at the hands of assassins. He was 45 years old in 1923 when he died in an ambush close to his ranch in Parral, Chihuahua. Villa was born June 5, 1879 and named Doroteo Arango ArĂĄmbula. No wonder he changed his name, not once but twice. He left his home state of Durango for Chihuahua after allegedly killing the hacienda owner who reportedly raped Villa´s younger sister. Some historians doubt this, but it does enhance a story and several of the movies use this story device as fact. After the killing Doroteo stole a horse and went north to the Sierra Madre Occidental; once in Chihuahua he joined a group of bandits and changed his name to Orango. He was caught stealing horses and through the intervention of Pablo Valenzuela, the buyer of Orango´s stolen horses, Orango was forced to join the federal army in lieu of execution. In 1903 he changed his name to Francisco “Pan-
cho” Villa after he killed an army officer stealing his horse. For the next seven years Pancho Villa alternated between banditry and more legitimate pursuits, such as mining and horse trading. When the Revolution broke out in 1910, Villa gathered his rough group of bandits to help Huerta, who at first supported Madero´s plan to change the distribution of wealth, land and political power for all Mexicans. General Huerta saw Villa as an ambitious competitor and accused him of stealing a horse and insubordination. Villa was saved from the firing squad through the intervention of President Madero. Later, with eight men, two pounds of coffee, two pounds of sugar and 500 hundred rounds of ammunition, Villa joined the rebellion against Huerta. Huerta was known as “La Cucaracha” because he was addicted to marijuana, cucaracha a nickname given to someone who smokes quantities of marijuana. He was also a hard-drinking man who began his day with a shot of sherry, two raw eggs and a glass of hard liquor. In the end the name of Villa has more recognition and more respect than that of the former President of Mexico. Villa was a great talker and by early 1914 he was able to assemble an army of both Mexican and expatriates from several countries. He was a showman who understood the importance of good press, financing and leadership. He forced assessments on hacienda owners, robbed trains and banks, held people hostage and in 1913 when he was governor of Chihuahua he printed money, as did most regional leaders of his time. For a fee he allowed journalists to accompany him on the battlefield. He was the first to make use of airplanes to observe troop movements and drop explosives onto enemies below. For 50% of the profits he allowed Hollywood to film his war tactics. These reels were used by the US army to study Villa´s strategies. For this article I twice watched Los
Rollos Perdidos de Pancho Villa, or The Lost Reels of Pancho Villa. Villa himself appears in four movies about his life and there were numerous movies about the man. The 1934 biopic Via Villa! was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. Some famous Hollywood actors have played the man, including Wallace Berry, who twice played Villa; others have been Alan Reed, Yul Brynner, Telly Savalas and Freddy Fender. Many in the US vilify Pancho Villa for his March 1916 raid on Columbus, New Mexico without understanding the cause. Villa and his army had been betrayed by a US munitions dealer who sold Villa defective guns and munitions. Intrigue was a part of Villa´s mystique. There are banking records that show in 1915, the Germans funded $340,000 to the Western Cartridge Company, a fact that both US President Wilson and Carranza used to besmirch Villa´s name. However, the Germans, who were building up for a European war, were looking for Mexican support against the US, whom they were sure would enter the coming war on the side of the British and French. Villa retired in 1920 to a 25,000 acre ranch that the Carranza government gave Villa for his services. The Mexican government also gave him 500,000 gold pesos to support the 50 guerrillas who remained with Villa as his personal body guard. However, July 20, 1923, Villa was assassinated when seven armed men pumped 40 bullets into his car, nine of which entered Villa´s body. Two body guards died and one was badly wounded. The unproven theory was that President Carranza feared the ever popular Villa would run for President. Both men are sometimes accused of being ruthless murderers; however this was a revolution and not a picnic. The Mexican Revolution began almost exactly eight years before the Russian Revolution and far fewer people were dead at the end in Mexico than perished in Russia.
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UUNCOMMON NCOM MM MON CCOMMON OM MM MON SSENSE ENSE ! " What Does the Left Get Right?
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ast month, in the interest of trying to bridge the partisan divide between liberals and conservatives, I explored what left wing thinkers concede that the right may be correct about. This was based on a series of articles for the New York Times by Thomas Edsall. Although the left-leaning thinkers were somewhat grudging in their positive assessment of some right wing ideas, it did, to my mind, demonstrate some possible areas of commonality which, some day, might lead to more productive political dialogue. This month, I’ll examine what the right wing thinkers admit that the left actually get right, including economic issues, fairness, the role of science, and the over-reach of the military establishment. Whereas the right tends to think of unbridled capitalism as a good thing, the left has been able to recognize that this is not always so, particularly for the working class. They identify very real dislocations caused by automation, globalization, and income inequality. They recognize that the federal government can play a useful role in mitigating the effects of unemployment. The conservatives see success or failure as an essential component of capitalism, but they are not sensitive to the real problems faced by the working class and the poor. The liberals understand this and often force the conservatives to deal with these issues. In terms of fairness, the left has traditionally understood the problems
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caused by racism, sexism, and other types of intolerance. They understand the enduring legacy of slavery and the lingering effects of institutional prejudice. For this reason, they stand behind Hispanics in their struggle for a fair immigration policy. They have supported civil rights and affirmative action for women and racial minorities. They generally recognize the contemporary civil rights struggle of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gender people. They are more welcoming than conservatives. As the conservative movement continues to be a predominantly white group, many conservative thinkers are concerned that if they don’t change this perception, the right wing will shrink in terms of population and, as a consequence, electoral relevance.    Another area in which the left is more progressive is in the role of science. Generally, those on the left see science as a neutral arbiter, and they do not as often apply ideological filters to their views of science. This is particularly true on the issue of climate change. What the left sees as a legitimate scientific warning, many on the right view as a hoax or as “chicken little� thinking. As the scientific community reaches more consensus on this, it is hurting the right. And finally, the left can see, more clearly, the limits of military and national security efforts by the US government. Those on the right are more apt to unquestioningly support the assessment of military and national security experts who support using military force around the world. The left is constitutionally more skeptical of the over extension of US forces abroad. In the view of many on the left, the Iraq war was a terrible overreach, and the Afghanistan war is a waste of money and blood. Ironically, the left takes seriously Republican President Dwight Eisenhower’s 1959 warning about the dangers of a growing military-industrial complex. Perhaps, someday, the good people on both sides will put aside the divisive hate speech and, once again, reach across the aisle to do the good work of the people they serve. Both the left and the right have some wisdom to offer!
BRIDGE BY THE LAKE
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t is generally accepted among bridge players that one should not deceive one’s partner. However, from time to time situations arise that just beg to be taken advantage of, where the risk of fooling partner is overridden by the potential gain if the opponents are similarly misled. Such was the case with this month’s deal played at the Lake Chapala Duplicate Bridge Club in Riberas. East and South both passed and when it was West’s turn he figured that North would probably have a worthwhile collection so it was time for a little “outside-the-box� thinking. Although he only held 10 high card points, he felt that it was necessary to stir things up a bit by purporting to have some strength. The favourable vulnerability certainly helped spur him to action. Although his partnership usually only opened 5 card majors and his first inclination was to bid 1 diamond, he felt that this would not interfere sufficiently with his opponents’ progress to finding their best fit. Therefore he started the proceedings by bidding 1 spade, at the same time planning to tell his partner that he had a club mixed in with his spades should a post-deal discussion arise. This turned out to have a significant effect on the opponent’s strategy. North had been planning to open 1 no trump if there had been three passes to him but with West’s foray into the auction he had his intentions derailed. As North did not hold a spade stopper, he could not overcall 1 no trump so he took the next best action by making a takeout double. East was equally in the dark con-
cerning her partner’s subterfuge so she innocently made the standard raise to 2 spades. This temporarily took South off the hook and he passed, as did West so the bidding came back to North who doubled again, showing a more than minimum hand and once more requesting South to show his best suit. East passed and South bid 3 clubs which finished the auction. West led the spade ace (ace from ace-king) and East played the two showing an odd number of cards. West continued with the spade king and then paused to consider his next move. If East had any club tricks coming to her, they could not go away so it looked like diamonds was the best possibility of gaining extra tricks. With this in mind, West led his fourth-best diamond 7 to East’s ace and when she returned the suit West scored his king for the last trick for the defense, holding the declarer to 9 tricks for a duplicate score of 110 match points. When the game had ended and the scores were posted, it turned out that at every other table the contract had been 1 no trump by North making precisely 8 tricks for a match point score of 120 match points. So West’s ploy had been an outstanding success as he had gained a complete “top� for his side by undertaking a little deception at the right time. And he didn’t have to even explain his lack of a fifth spade to his partner! Questions or comments: email: masson.ken@ gmail.com Ken Masson
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-R\IXO 0XVLQJV # $ % MA, LPC, MAC No Regrets
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t’s been said not to take life too seriously because no one gets out of it alive. It might also be said that none of us get through it without at least a few regrets. Taking life seriously enough while we still have time to learn from the regrets of those facing the end of their days might also be wise advice. Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. In talking with these patients, she identified several common themes that surfaced again and again. Ware thought the rest of us might learn from the clarity of vision that people appeared to have at the end of their lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog that garnered so much attention she put her observations into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as described by Ware: 1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.� This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.� 2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard. “This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.� 3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings. “Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.�
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. “Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.� 5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. “This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as them physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.� Make the most of every day by filling it with “why nots!� instead of “not yets,� and minimize your regrets by living each day to the fullest. In the wise words of Mark Twain: “Sing like no one’s listening, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like nobody’s watching, and live like its heaven on earth.� See if you can keep “if only� from being among your last thoughts. Editor’s Note: Joy is a practicing psychotherapist in Riberas. She can be contacted at joy@dunstan.org or 7654988. Check out her new website: http:// joydunstan.weebly.com.
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5 " s."s. s/ "5 By Rosemary Dineen Reviewed by Patricia Hemingway
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osemary’s age, by her own admission, is 79, and the book’s 83 poems have all been written during the past two years of her life spent in Ajijic. The poems are primarily written in-the-moment. She reflects on a mosquito landing on her arm, or the maid who has become a dance partner, or the mud on her own shoes as she wanders into a church wedding. h Welcome to the Unknown might have been titled “Tapestry.â€? Some might say this is the book’s weakness: many poems a thin slice of a day’s life. I would suggest otherwise. Read the book from beginning to end, and what will emerge is a weaving together of images that play with one another in the mind of the reader and provide a thoughtful and original experience. Rosemary recently gave her first reading, and it was her humor that brought down the house. One of the salient qualities of her work, humor is expressed perfectly in “It’s Alright to Die.â€? Here is the chorus (meant to be sung): It’s alright to die./ Bodies come and bodies go./ It’s alright to die./ It just might make you feel better. Life and Death and New Beginning are two of the most powerful sections of Rosemary’s book. She speaks about the fall she took last year, cracking her pelvis, in “The Filly:â€? First out of the gate, yes I am./‌Fattened, toned, groomed. This is my moment./ I fall./ In
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one moment I become/ an old mare put out to pasture. In “Staying Alive,â€? her humor reemerges in a moment of crisis after the injury. In pain, stuck in traffic as her taxi breaks down, she writes: Vickie, the nurse from Ajijic/ comes to the rescue/ Spreads three floor mats over the stones/ for my transfer to her car./ Hospital gown, blue dotted/ One size fits all, unisex/‌flutters in the hot noon breeze./ Vickie’s goal is clear, keep Rosemary’s backside covered./ My thought: why don’t I moon all of Guadalajara. I sent Welcome to the Unknown as a birthday gift to my sisters (and I would recommend readers consider purchasing extra copies for friends and family). Here is a portion of my sister’s review: “What hope she gives to me, that I need not fear aging or change or uncertainty, quite as much as I used to.â€? (Ed. Note: The book is available at Diane Pearl’s and from the author for 150 pesos.)
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T
hese scenes come from a larger work in which a boy grows up in Nickson, a middle-sized Oklahoma town. Boys were pressured to play football, basketball, baseball, do the field events in track, hunt, fish, and work. You have to learn a lot of skills to grow up Okie.) Coach Ellis screams in my face, “For God’s sake Miller you can’t cross the line of scrimmage until the ball is snapped. You just cost us 5 yards. Gimme 15 push-ups.” I fear the coach’s words. I drag myself up with a mouthful of pulverized dirt as fine as the talcum powder deodorizing my shoes. I am not hurt so I take a defensive stance and wait. Coach scares me when he comes beside me. “Wait till the ball moves. Do not! Repeat, do not try to anticipate the snap count. That quarterback will get your jock.” On the next play I hold back for a one-count delay to confuse the blocker before crossing the line of scrimmage. I tackle the ball carrier hard. Coach yells, “You were slow Miller but you got him anyway. Good play.” Damn, my hand hurts. Behind me, coach yells, “Okay Miller, get on the offense at left end and see if you can catch the ball.” I go down and out on the first play and grab it for 8 yards. The second is across the middle and I grab that one for 10 yards, but the gang tackle hurts like hell. Tackling feels better than being tackled. The coach whistles the end
off practice. The code chipped in stone by the cavemen demands players to compete to make the first team, the starting lineup. Although I’m a sophomore, I want that position a senior has now. So I work my butt off during practice. My uncle Ed says I won’t make the starting lineup. The Friday morning Nickson Daily Telegraph lists me as a starter. The printed lineup in the paper isn’t a guarantee. I am still thrilled at the mention. Late Friday night when our bus returns to Nickson after our first victory against Muskogee Central, the cheerleaders hail us off the bus. While I am unloading my gear, Anne King surprises me. “Hey Miller, will you walk me home.” A junior cheerleader! What a surprise! “Sure. Just let me put my gear away.” On the way to her house she snuggles and holds my arm over her shoulder. When we arrive she turns to me and puts her face up. After an intense good night kiss, she whispers, “Call me tomorrow.” Walking home, I remember my sister’s prediction. “When you make the starting lineup those girls will be after you. Trust me.” Blocking, tackling, and receiving are critical skills. Maybe even kissing. You had to know a lot to grow up Okie. (To be continued)
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&
Travel Plans
I
’m planning a trip to the USA and dreading every moment of it. Oh sure, there are family members I look forward to seeing, and a special occasion my husband is really looking forward to. But I am not looking forward to the whole process of leaving here and going there. There are practical issues: Who will watch the animals while we are gone? Who will cover our volunteer responsibilities while we are gone? Plane reservations. How to get nine days of clothes for two people into one bag under 50# to avoid paying additional baggage fees? (This question definitely should be on an IQ test.) Oh, you used to be able to check one bag for free, but not anymore. Thank goodness we are going now, before we have to pay to bring aboard our carry-on bags. Then there are all the documents we have to carry, and the exact name matching on the plane reservation, two different kinds of currency, and paying $5 for a bottle of water and a breath mint on board. Of course, then there is my least favorite travel nemesis: TSA. I must remember to remove my nail clippers and nail file from my purse and prepare myself mentally for being either x-rayed, felt-up or stripped searched at the airports in the USA. Yup, I just look like a terrorist, don’t I? Darn, that reminds me about the card we have to find that says my husband has those implanted medical devises‌where did I put that? Transportation stateside is expensive. But the insurance costs almost as much as the car. And nope, we’re not going to discuss gas prices. Once we go through customs, plane changes and actually arrive at our destination, we deal with unpredictable weather, and pray we packed the right clothes. But there in the good old USA we get to deal, well, with the USA culture. You remember it don’t you? Where every-
one is compelled to schedule every moment of their waking day? Where cars fly by at incredible speeds, where the occupants are going to their important meetings, and appointments. Where people walk by you as if you are invisible. No one greets you in passing. No one will wish us “Good Morningâ€? or “Good Afternoonâ€? or “Good nightâ€? or “Go with God.â€? Then there are the conflicting priorities of all the people who want us to spend time with them while we are there. My husband wants a nice relaxed time away. Right, and I want world peace. I’m trying to balance the needs of all these people, their schedules and our schedule. When you haven’t been stateside in four years, everyone expects a visit. At least we’ve had offers of places to stay, so there won’t be hotel bills. On the other hand, there is that pesky little thing: our medical diets. Our wonderful medical doctor here in Mexico has both my husband and I on stringent diets for different medical conditions. And, well, between the two diets, there is hardly one food we have in common. And when I was complaining about baggage fees, did I forget to mention that the large suitcase under 50# is actually two bags? One large piece with another smaller suitcase inside for all the stuff we “haveâ€? to bring back from the USA that we can’t get here. (Note to self: Remember extra money at airport on return trip for additional baggage fees‌and pray for the green light.) We came to Mexico, in part, to escape the rat race. I’m not looking forward to experiencing it again. It would be so much easier to stay home! Only the power of love for those that were left behind could drag me from my Mexico, and only the love of my Mexico will keep me safe until I return back to her. Victoria Schmidt
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D
ear Sir: To Paul Jackson, I returned on March 31 from traveling in Australia and New Zealand during February and March. Consequently, I had not read your silly response to my factual comments on your column until April 1, appropriately. Certainly you should know gobblydegook, gibberish, and jiggerypokery since that is what you purport to be facts in your columns. You stoop to insult, something to which politicians often resort when they cannot dispute the truth. Your jibe, while humorous, is in poor taste for someone who claims to be a journalist. The conclusion to your foolish comments, threatening a well-aimed punch in the nose, reminded me of a quote by Isaac Asimov: violence is the last resort of the incompetent.
One last note, Mr. Jackson: I am referred to as Mel by my friends, among which you have no place. (Ed. Note: This brings to an end our part in a public disagreement between two men who are personal friends, as well as highly esteemed colleagues.)
CORRECTION In our March issue, we ran an article (page 77) entitled “Democracy in Venezuela” and inaccurately ascribed the piece to one “Floyd Crosby,” rather than the actual author, Kenneth G. Crosby. We also inexplicably deleted the following sentence, “Gabriel Hetland did his
Ph.D. thesis on Grassroots Democracy in Venezuela, and has an article with that title in the January 30 issue of The Nation.” Hetland’s article inspired Mr. Kenneth Crosby to write his own. We regret the error.
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CHILD
of the month
By Rich Petersen
Tadeo de Jesús Barajas Aceves
P
rograma pro Niños Incapacitados del Lago is pleased to present this sweet 4-month old little guy, Tadeo de Jesús Barajas Aceves. Tadeo is the youngest of three children and lives with his parents in Chapala. His mother, María Liliana (shown here) is a housewife and Dad, José Roberto works in construction. He has one sister and one brother, ages 6 and 3. If you look closely at Tadeo’s hands, you might notice that his fingers overlap each other and don’t straighten out in the usual way. This condition is known as “arthogryposis,” which means “curved joint,” normally in a fixed position. His little toes show the same anomaly. The condition is caused by anything that prevents those normal “kicks and shoves” of the fetus while in utero, thus also not allowing the joints the opportunity to move with full range of motion. This occurs very early in the child’s development, and the more limitation during pregnancy, the more severe the contractures will be at birth. Other causes involve abnormalities of the muscle structure and abnormalities of the nerves that connect to the muscles. Tadeo has already undergone several tests (electromyography) to check the function of his nerves, but so far nothing conclusive has turned up. Unfortunately he also suffered from some hours of lack of sufficient oxygen after being born, and so has to take anti-convulsive medications until this hopefully clears up. As if this weren’t enough, according to our medical doctor at Programa pro Niños Incapacitados del Lago, Dr. Carla Cueva, a geneticist, our little guy could also have what is known as “Edwards’ syndrome,” a genetic defect (chromosomal), also known as lack of the Trisomy 18 gene. Further testing is being done in this regard, and hopefully will be ruled out since Edwards’ syndrome can cause in a short life span.
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Tadeo for now is showing lots of improvement at his young age. His mother gives him daily physical therapy at home and she has just signed him up with Teletón, Mexico’s national physical and mental therapy clinic. Mom says he loves to hear sounds and music, but he doesn’t like to be touched very much or even have his hair combed. He is happiest when in almost constant motion. At our last meeting, we had to carry him around the room while talking about him so he would calm down…..and he did. His mother had a very happy moment the other day when Tadeo was able to hold/support his own bottle, without help from anyone. A good step. If you would like to learn more about us and our organization, please join us the second Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in one of the meeting rooms at the Hotel Real de Chapala in La Floresta. We always present one of “our” children prior to the business meeting. Please feel free to bring a friend. NOTE: Our last meeting of the year will be on May 10th as we do not meet during the summer months since so many of our Lakeside members and friends are traveling and not available. Our work continues, however, as we continue to see our parents and help them with the financial aspect of the medical bills for their children.
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OPERA ON THE BUS By Gary Donaldson
T
here is a certain serenity one feels from time to time when the universe opens itself up to you and shows you all of its possibilities. There are minute cracks in the seemingly perfect order of things. God and the universe are perpetual and harmonious bodies in motion, and occasionally they pause ever so briefly and allow us a glimpse into the stillness and vast, endless realms of opportunities to accomplish and construct nothing. These brief interludes serve to remind us that we should, and must allow peace and humor into our lives. It is not necessary to analyze it, nor find anything other than the willingness to accept the imperfections of all things and persons as perfection. Our input is neither solicited, nor needed. I believe God smiles and laughs as broadly as the smile of a clown’s bordering of white on red face make-up, whenever we accept our own limitations, and understand that our purpose here is one of fundamental selflessness, and an awareness of all that is good in the world. I believe this is joy. Recently I experienced my own divine revelation on a bus in an impoverished area in central Mexico, and if with your indulgence I would humbly relish the opportunity to share it. It is not uncommon for street artists to ride public transits, in the hopes of earning some pesos to put food on the table, so when a woman dressed as a clown got on
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at a stop, I wasn’t overly surprised. At the onset of our trip our beautiful and talented mirth maker was entertaining children, with balloon making and facial gestures only kids and the simple minded, (myself ) find amusing. It wasn’t until a couple of miles had passed that we would be fortunate enough to experience the hidden behind the make-up, true talents of our performer. Seemingly without provocation from anyone on our bus, our clown, our muse, our angel, burst into an aria Pavorotti would have been hard pressed to follow. All of the passengers on the bus, including our driver, and the small children, sat as quietly as church mice during a mid morning mass. Not an easy task for such a normally over enthusiastic, and overt people as Mexicans. As we listened without a sound the bus driver still continued to make his stops, and as people came on they passed through their world and into ours, and were also overcome and became quiet themselves. When the bus reached its stop, our clown departed and collected whatever money poor people could spare, and walked down the street as if she were on her way to visit the mayor. No one on the bus seemed to find this unusual, or out of the ordinary in any way, and they all left to go about whatever business they needed to deal with. It was only me that was taken by surprise, and I felt envious of their ability to experience this joy without muddying up the water by over thinking simply another moment in the day. The universe opened—and I was there.
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Anyone Can Train Their Dog ' ( artthedogguy@yahoo.com
No Secrets
A
while back I received a phone call from a lady who had a dog management question relative to transporting two dogs north. We discussed her questions and when we finished she said her friend had said, “If you talk to Art could you ask him about my problem with Chico?” It turns out Chico is a four- yearold miniature Schnauzer. The friend has had the dog since a puppy and they live alone with no other pets. The problem is the dog has recently urinated several times on the pillows on her bed. I asked if the dog had any signs of incontinence or appeared to strain while urinating or dribble following urinating. These can be signs of kidney problems and should be addressed by your Vet immediately. The answer was no to these questions which I suspected because the pattern of the urinating she suggested is almost always a psychological problem not physical. I went on to explain that when dogs start to suddenly urinate in the house when they had no previous history the usual cause is a change to the dog’s environment. Had there been house guests? Had someone visited with another pet that had the run of the house? Had furniture been re-arranged or replaced? You
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see dogs are not particularly comfortable with changes in their lives much like many people. They know where things are and they even have a tendency to “mark” the same trees or posts when out on their daily walks. When their environment is altered they will go about “reclaiming “ their space and possessions. If a visiting dog laid down by their master’s chair for an extended time and left a scent on the chair leg it is conceivable that a dog would feel he had to “mark” over the other smell in order to reclaim his chair and space. When your dog insists on marking every tree, bush, and post on the daily walk, he is telling the world of other dogs that he has “passed this way” and is leaving his mark. This is a roundabout way of explaining to the lady possibly why the dog urinated on the pillow. If he was accustomed to sleeping in that area and for whatever reason he was denied that privilege then he was simply reclaiming his territory. At this point the lady let out a shriek and laugh and proclaimed, “I knew she was seeing a new fellow, but I didn’t think she was sleeping with him.” Art Hess
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FIREARMS REVEAL LIV VES OF TWO LITERARY GIANTS $ " ) *
# .
I
n his recent biography, Hemingway’s Boat: Everything He Loved in Life and Lost, Paul Hendrickson reports an incident that occurred in 1934, while his subject was fishing with Archibald MacLeish. When the famous poet failed to hook a huge marlin, Hemingway became so enraged that he took down his shot gun and began killing terns. According to MacLeish, he took one on one barrel and the “grieving mate� with the other. Years later, Ma-
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cLeish said that the sight of the terns plopping into the water, two by two, was forever burned into his memory. The incident created a rupture in their friendship that never fully healed. Perhaps such an act of rage should not surprise those familiar with Hemingway. Part of the Hemingway myth is that after being wounded and nearly being killed on the Italian Front in World War I, he became a dealer of death, meting out that which he feared the most. Aboard his fishing
El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
boat Pilar, he would routinely massacre sharks with his submachine gun. In both his writing and his behavior, he seemed perpetually in competition with everyone else on earth, comparing his works to that of other writers in terms of a boxing match. While he defined courage as grace under pressure and extolled the bravery of matadors, his actions more often resemble those of a schoolyard bully or the knacker in a slaughterhouse. In 1960, while traveling crosscountry in his camper, reconnecting with America, a trek described so beautifully in his memoir Travels with Charlie, John Steinbeck tells of pausing along the highway in the Mohave Desert and spotting two coyotes lolling about in the noonday sun. Steinbeck trained his rifle on the pair, peering at them through his scope. Every instinct told him to fire, as he watched the coyotes, peacefully unaware of their position in his crosshairs. Coyotes were bad animals, he told himself, feeding upon wild quail and farmers’ chickens. After much inner debate, Steinbeck decided that he could not compel himself to destroy two such magnificent animals, that there were no quail and no chickens in the area anyway. He put his rifle away, set out two cans of dog food as a votive offering, and continued on his way, reminding himself of the old Chinese proverb that once you save a life you become responsible for everything that life does. This episode and others, described in such non-fiction works as Steinbeck’s Log from the Sea of Cortez, his memoir of a biological collecting expedition into the Gulf of California, reveal a man who possesses a reverence for life. Like his closest friend and confident the biologist Ed Rickett, Steinbeck the scientist could only justify taking a life for food or to improve man’s knowledge. These incidents may say more about the contrasting values of these two literary giants than all the
tomes written by critics and scholars. Hemingway penned some of the most memorable works of the twentieth century. His style has been mimicked by countless others. He captured the angst of the Lost Generation between the two world wars and created robust word pictures of fishing, hunting and wilderness sojourns. Yet, his angry, even cruel attacks upon his critics or those whom he regarded as weaker than himself unmask a troubling dark side. While Hemingway saw the savagery of the bullring as a metaphor for human existence, Steinbeck sometimes compared human activity to the life cycle of a Pacific tide pool. Hemingway, the blusterer, stands in contrast to Steinbeck, the marine biologist in many ways. Steinbeck’s novels exhibit respect for all life forms, a quest for ultimate truth, empathy for his fellow man. Steinbeck’s emphasis upon nonteleological thought illustrates his holistic view of nature. Such works as The Grapes of Wrath reveal him to be a compassionate spirit, barely able to admit to the possibility that humans may be morally flawed, and yet indignant in the face of injustices that point to such flaws. Behind the words of the novelist, the reader detects the mind of the philosopher. Many US soldiers in the European Theater of World War II came to regard Hemingway as a blowhard and a fraud. Steinbeck, on the other hand, slogged into battle as a war correspondent, a soldier among soldiers, earning the respect of those who knew him. Hemingway’s definition of courage has been tarnished by his death at his own hands. That a person possesses a great talent and uses it well, whether he is an artist, a schoolteacher or a catcher of stray dogs, implies no license for bad behavior. Long after their passing, the works of both men continue to pass the test of time, to sell and captivate new generations of readers.
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Hearts at Work ' # /
“This longing to be beautiful‌.â€?
A
lmost twenty years ago I was wandering around southern Brazil. For several days I had been immersed in the mist and almost overpowering beauty of Iguazu Falls, actually a system of 275 waterfalls running over a mile and a half on the border of the Brazilian state of ParanĂĄ and the Argentine province of Missiones (the setting for a favorite movie, The Mission). Feeling high from all of that beauty, I then headed over to the beaches (there are actually forty two of them) on the Brazilian coast at Florianopolis. Again the beauty was almost overpowering, but this time it took the form of thousands of young Brazilian women, almost all wearing colorful thong bikinis. In Brazil the popular metaphor for these bikinis is fio dental (dental floss) and in Spanish speaking America, hilo dental. Well, being over fifty, all of those beautiful buttocks were actually making me feel faint, and so largely for survival, I stumbled along the sandy shore to a strand of beach where I thought I could catch my breath alone. But there, cavorting in the waves, was a woman, still young, skinny, with a less than ordinary face and body. No one would ever call her beautiful. I watched her a long time. Often she would look toward shore to see whether I was watching her. Sometimes she smiled. Some months later, I wrote these lines about that woman: I watched at low tide your breasts rise. I watched every effort that you made to be beautiful for me. Even though I was a stranger, your body moved for me alone, like the hope that moved behind the mirror that did not find you beautiful at all. As I studied her, I thought about her longings, about the longings all of us have; I suppose one even finds those longings in people the world agrees are beautiful. What a strange thing, this longing to be beautiful, the sweet pretense and secret weeping, the doubt inside that rose against the right you had to boldly wear that pink bikini
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El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
and walk alone on what you thought was beach deserted. At what age did you know— for certain—that you never would be beautiful, never shine yourself into the poems of lovers, never have the sultry bliss that beauty by itself can bring? Being given toward contemplating possibilities, I conjured up a fantasy about a life with this young Brazilian woman back in Colorado: I took you home in thought that moment by the sea and lived a life with you, your homely face casting its desire each winter night by candle, your body arched in clumsy grace and love. But I did not tell you this, I did not speak at all, pondering your sweet attempts to bend and search for shells, to move with all the sensual delight your awkward dreams could teach you. Now, months later, this autumn night in Colorado, I write this awkward poem for you—some clumsy art I struggle with—because that longing in you was so beautiful and pure you touched this tired heart. Always in search of the beautiful, that particular day I decided that that young woman, so filled with longing, so lonely, so left out simply because of her lack of ordinary beauty‌was where I found beauty on that day. Her longing to be beautiful was beautiful to me. I take a quiet pleasure in the thought that she was perhaps the only woman that day on those beaches of thousands of beautiful woman for whom a poem, a love poem of sorts, was written. Jim Tipton
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El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
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A NEW LEASE—on Life! # 0 1 % "'"% 02 % $"' " Am I Crazy? (Narcissistic Personality Disorder)
A
dear friend of mine recently dated a man who came very close to literally driving her crazy. This is a woman who is well respected in both her profession and her community, is one of the most levelheaded and together people I know, yet had to run far and quickly from this ill-fated relationship. It turned out that he had Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD); that is just one of the manifestations of what is better known as Borderline Personality Disorder. At least my friend could terminate the relationship fairly early on, but when a family member is afflicted you can’t just eliminate them from your life - you need to somehow deal with it without allowing yourself to be pulled into the vortex, thinking that maybe you are the crazy one—easier said than done.  Symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Mayo Clinic Website) t Believing that you are better than others t Fantasizing about power, success and attractiveness t Exaggerating your achievements or talents t Expecting constant praise and admiration t Believing that you’re special and acting accordingly t Failing to recognize other people’s emotions and feelings t Expecting others to go along with your ideas and plans t Taking advantage of others t Expressing disdain for those you feel are inferior t Being jealous of others t Believing that others are jealous of you t Trouble keeping healthy relationships t Setting unrealistic goals t Being easily hurt and rejected t Having a fragile self-esteem t Appearing as tough-minded or unemotional Another symptom of NPD is coming across as boastful or pretentious, often monopolizing conversations, having a sense of entitlement - insisting they have “the best� of everything, are always right and when challenged, fly into a rage (emotional dysregulation). Sadly, from a young age, kids with NPD are often
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El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
astised because it is thought that their chastised behaviors are done on purpose. People with NPD always blame the other - they rarely take responsibility for their actions. Family members are left puzzled and confused. Guilt and shame soon take over the family unit.  Often the most skilled therapists and psychiatrists do not recognize this disorder. Cause of Narcissistic Personality Disorder In recent years NPD is thought to be a complex mental health condition that is related to genetics, environment and possibly unresolved trauma in childhood. The problem is that often there are no outward visible signs and the individual is dismissed by therapists as being fine. The symptoms are reserved for those closest to them - usually family members and later in life, their spouses and/or partners. It is agreed however that regardless of the actual cause, the narcissist creates a flawless ‘false self’ which must be defended at all cost throughout their lifetime. There have been studies through brain imagery that have proven that the brains of those with Borderline Personality Disorder which is related to NPD are not operating at full capacity. Treatment Options Normally it is the families of people afflicted with NPD who seek help. There is that “aha!� moment when they discover for the first time that finally there is a valid reason for the strange and often aggressive behaviors of their loved ones. Because people who have NPD do not believe there is anything wrong they rarely seek help. If and when they do, it is because they realize that their lives are not functional, they feel generally unhappy and want to find out why. Light medication for the emotional dysregulation combined with long term Dialectical Behavior Therapy, changing the crazy-making behavior into a more focused, constructive approach to life is the only treatment choice for this issue.  Am I crazy? If you say so . . . Judit Rajhathy
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The Snowbird’s Lament ' (
What do you do for a whole six months, When you are in Mexico for the long Winter Season? We sigh deep sighs and roll our eyes When predictably asked this proverbial question. When first we see the Ajijic sun, The Welcome Back Season has just begun. Panteones come alive with Days of the Dead revelers. Casas have altars outside to their ancestors. Cohetes crack throughout our siestas To celebrate villages’ Saint’s Days Fiestas. The calendar’s full of dates throughout Navidad Our bistros, restaurantes and cafÊs are calidad. When you hear Feliz Aùo, New Year’s Season is here, And then Gung Hei Fat Choy around Chinese New Year. Now, you’re exhausted and you need a holiday, So it’s off to the beach to do nothing at all, all day. Three Kings’ Day parties and baby Jesus’ in cake. If you get one you’re hooked and tamales you’ll make. You must be the host, on Groundhog Day, For all of your friends, that’s the price you pay. Northern Lights Music Festival, Lakeside Little Theatre On Broadway or Hollywood it does not get much better. Many great performers like Ballet Folklórico Keep the lights burning brightly in our Auditorio. For personal growth, there is writing and painting. Photograph editing and digital scrapbooking. At the end of the day, swimming laps calms the brain. Sunsets from the mirador and meditation, the same. The northward migration will soon begin, The Farewell Season of parties fit in On our calendar pages which hang in tatters. Touch base with our friends. That’s all that matters. So what do we do during your Winter Season? I haven’t begun to give you a reason To come to Ajijic to see for yourself. There’s no time at all to sit on the shelf. Seven seasons we have, (now I sound like Yoda,) During your Winter Season, (and that’s not a loada.) Our darling nieta is all that we misses So spring takes us northward, just for her kisses.
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THU TH HUNDE DER ER ON ON TH THE HE RI RIG IGHT HT # . 1 . ! "
C
anadian-born entrepreneur Conrad Black contends that the inmates in American prisons shouldn’t even be there and that prisons should be “repair shops, not garbage dumps.� Teach prisoners a trade or upgrade their education so when they are released they’ll be able to get a job and not end up back in a cell. Fully 1% of Americans are behind bars - the highest rate of any western democracy - and Black contends 20% have been wrongly convicted, 20% are mentally ill and should be looked after rather than jailed, another 20% are “skid row� types who have nowhere else to go so commit crimes just to get a roof over their heads and three meals a day, and the remaining 40% are in the main grossly over-sentenced. The situation is a huge burden to the taxpayer, and a huge loss of potential talent.
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Paul Jackson So who is the aristocratic Black, who just about now is about to be released from prison in the USA for socalled white collar crime. Well, aside from being Canadian-born, he is a member of the British House of Lords, one of the wealthiest men in both Britain and Canada, and for a time operated the third largest newspaper chain in the world with 400 titles including the Chicago Sun-Times, the prestigious London Daily Telegraph, the Jerusalem Post, and he founded the high-brow National Post in Canada. He has also written acclaimed biographies on Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Richard Nixon, and along the way his companies owned such varied properties as a nation-wide supermarket chain, mining outfits, a bus line, and a building materials manufacturing company.
El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
Then in 2005 he ran up against the American justice system - or let’s say ‘injustice’ system - and was charged with 17 white collar crime offences but rather than take the easy way out and flee, believing in his absolute innocence, he spent an estimated $25 million of his personal future fighting the charges laid by overly-zealous prosecutors, and ended up being sentenced to more than six years in jail for ‘offences’ that would be perfectly legal in the Canadian or British business world. Not one of his shareholders in his various enterprises lost a penny. The ‘ins and outs’ of the story are so complex I can’t explain them here, through his trial, and his conviction later to the United States Supreme Court which, in 2010, in an unprecedented 9-0 ruling, started a process, also involving the U.S. Court of Appeal, under which all but two of the charges - one of mail fraud and one of obstruction of justice - were thrown out of the courts and Black finally ended up being sentenced to just 42 months, with half that time already served. But it was an awakening experience for him, and for his fellow inmates. In prison, he has basically used his substantial intellect to teach other prisoners how to upgrade their low educational skills and prepare for a
better life on the outside. When he was released on bail pending the Supreme Court move, his fellow prisoners, whom he had tutored, hugged him and cried with sadness to see him go. While - as he puts it, a “guest� of the USA government, he has been visited by friends such as former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, but has often proclaimed some of the most fascinating people he has ever met in his life are his fellow inmates, who have ranged from underworld crime bosses to those who just got unlucky and never stood a chance in life from day one. He receives hundreds of e-mails a week, and tries to answer them all, and still pens weekly columns for various news organizations. The bottom line though is Black’s contention prisons should be “repair shops and not garbage dumps� and my guess is prison reform will be the next major undertaking in his life. That a man of Black’s stature ended up behind bars - unrepentant in his claims of innocence, but with no personal bitterness - may well have some very positive endings for tens of thousands of the wrongly judged or just the unfortunate. We’ll all be better off for it, too.  paulconradjackson@gmail.com
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* . *7 4 8 +2# 57 % 3 in our lives, who usually cannot be replaced â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mom! Yes, if weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lucky, from the day weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re born, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no one who nurtures us, cares for us, and loves us every waking moment the way that our moms do. Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day should touch our hearts because we realize that it is through them that we arrived USA Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day on this planet and hopefully most of us have left a mark of some type behind of which to be proud. In the USA and Canada, Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day falls on May 13th this year, while in Mexico it falls on the same day each year. * 9; ; < <
date for celebrating this special day, unlike North Americans who celebrate it on the second Sunday of May. A mother bears a lot of pain and suffering while bringing her child to the world and continues %= >
Mexicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day her needs to make life painless and pleasing as possible for her child. MOTHERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Day! Such a day gives the child a chance to pay homage to that blessed soul who brought them into the world. $ <=th this
" > 9=?@, towards the end of the Civil War, the day was called Decoration Day. Families would go to the grave sites of fallen soldiers and friends to decorate their graves to honor them. By the 20th Century it was changed to Memorial Day and was extended to honor all Americans who have died in all wars while serving in the United States Armed Forces. We have that honor now to remember them. ' . ! brother (Arif East-Raza Chavez) and sister (Paola Albertine East-Raza Chavez) genuine ACT in Chapala that would be almost impossible to follow. Both are members of Chapalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous Alma Chavez and Paul East Raza family and both maintained the equivalent of an almost 4.0 average throughout high-school. To those of us who went to school ~~ some time ago ~~ that is a perfect score... PERFECT! Can you possibly imagine that anyone could top them? Amazing enough Arif, who is now in medical school, continues doing exceptionally well and Paola is determined to follow him. BRILLIANT STUDENTS INDEED. Speeding over to Theatre Row: Q)+W+2$ X > >2W / / 427 The May production for Naked Stage is the hilarious sometimes irreverent play
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El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Legendsâ&#x20AC;? written by James Kirwood of â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Chorus Lineâ&#x20AC;? fame and directed by our very own Barbara Clippinger. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Legendsâ&#x20AC;? is a story of two once bigtime movie stars who literally hated each other in real life. Now, many years later with old age and poverty staring them in the face, they are challenged to appear together on the stage in a new play which a young, ambitious producer hopes to put on Broadway. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do almost anything to get it there! The cast: Jeritza McCarter, Betty Lloyd Robinson, Tina Jones and Greg Clarke who are a delight. You can see it at the Naked Stage Readerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theatre on the afternoons of May 25, 26, and 27 in Plaza de la Ribera, Ajijic. Because of the enormous popularity of NSRT, reservations are a must, so please call Ann Pinkerton 766-5986. Recommended: HURRY! / 1 $ Z * <; at St. Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anglican Church, Riberas del Pilar, at 4:00 pm. Eduardo â&#x20AC;&#x153;Laloâ&#x20AC;? MuĂąoz-Zúùiga (baritone) and Timothy G. Ruff Welch, (piano) will present the concert sponsored by Los Cantantes
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those attending the International Choral Kathau ! "#$! % mixw (www.kathaumixw. org) in Powell River, BC this July. Sung in six languages (with translations) there will be works by Bach, Handel, Moleiro, Ravel, Bernstein, Wagner, Gershwin and several musical favorites. You & ) * ++
donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss this concert! Tickets are $180 pesos , and available at Diane Pearl Colecciones, by email: cantantesdellago@gmail.com , or at the door. Cash Bar at 3:00 pm and concert at 4:00 pm. ))/8 Q [ % 4 3 [
X spoof about menopause and Viagra cleverly passed out faux Viagra tablets during the show. Perhaps thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why the audience hit the Angel Terrace Bar to celebrate the closing of a wonderful \]^" 2 + 8 ) . )
/ 3 W )$+2 ANNIVERSARY is coming up rapidly, only a mere two years away. Name me anything else at Lakeside that has lived longer and more actively beyond 50 years? Congrats to LLT for hanging in there. Aprilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Applause Partyâ&#x20AC;? was yet another smashing success and a wonderful way to end the season for LLT. Suggestion: Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have a run off and repeat the most popular shows of LLT through the years to celebrate! We vote yes! 5+ 7 ) . 3 + / * " & per the request of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Dems Abroadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to do his excellent short play about FDR.â&#x20AC;Ś..and came back a star! That is not easy for most of us, but for Ed: kudos, salutes, applause, cheers, yelling and screaming, bravos, and damn youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re good! Ed starring as FDR: lookedand-sounded just like him. Speaking of the Roosevelts, his wife Eleanor, was just as famous as he was, and the following quotes of hers will give some of the reason why: Many people will walk in and out of your life, But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. To handle yourself, use your head; To handle others, use your heart.
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Saw you in the Ojo 37
38
El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
Saw you in the Ojo 39
Anger is only one letter short of danger. If someone betrays you once, it is their fault; If they betray you twice, it is your fault. Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, But beautiful old people are works of art. Learn from the mistakes of others. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live long enough to make them all yourself. Q
X / . 8 Harriet Hart, representing the Lake Chapala Writers Conference, was warmly welcomed by Larry Reeves at the April event of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Storytellers,â&#x20AC;? the group that presents readings of original !* [ \
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a generous donation of $2000 pesos. All donations and event proceeds go toward helping local Mexican children stay in school.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Storytellersâ&#x20AC;? invites you to be on hand Tuesday, June 12. This time the theme is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Erotica.â&#x20AC;? At LCS gazebo, 4 to 6 pm. The bar opens at 3:30. <@8 ' $ 3 4 . 8 to be presented by Lakeside Little Theatre (LLT) and lead by Dave McIntosh: Director of the LLT smash hit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;How The Other Half Loves "X Dave brings over 50 years of directorial experience to this workshop on the art and craft of stage directing. The workshop is open to aspiring as well as experienced directors, and will culminate in 4 live performances, June 27th -30th. Limited space, so please visit for more information ***" .
" for workshop schedule and registration requirements or contact Dave at davewin@shaw. ca *********************** $ 23/ > ( 0 1 8 @8;; " " The Spay & Neuter â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;company of humanitariansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for the protecting of animals is throwing a party to celebrate those who fought in Pueblo, Mexico so valiantly many years ago to save the Republic of Mexico. This is going to be an â&#x20AC;&#x153;all you can eatâ&#x20AC;? Mexican Buffet catered by Lakesideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s super chef Marcos. To carry off the spirit of this event, Lakesidersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Gudrun and Dryden Jones are bringing in a Mexican band, piĂąatas, and will support a cash bar. This once in a lifetime (up to now) event will take place in the Jonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; home in La Floresta on Paseo del Mirador #14. This celebration is totally meant to have fun and salute Mexico for the many different ways it has had to use to remain the glorious Republic it is. Ticket ($250. pesos) for this fun event will go towards feeding, housing, and medicals for wee animals. Handy Mail, Lighting Design (Bugambiliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Plaza), Friday (in the a.m. in front of Lloyds), 2nd Time Around, Brunoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Diane Pearl or Bagel & Coffee in West Ajijic. **************** '2/>_`+ 4>/( ' )' (7777 ) 3 j * 3 8 Do you have an item that you are uncertain of the history, value, or even what it is? Do you need an appraisal? Would it appeal to you to be in the local â&#x20AC;&#x153; '`kX '2/>_`+ 0 '$ ( 4â&#x20AC;?? On May 24th, 2012 the American Legion Post 7 in Chapala is having a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fauxâ&#x20AC;? Antiques Roadshow. No Charge attached! 8 98;; ! 8 * <8;; " " Burgers on the grill!! Appraisal Experts will be on hand for all items brought in this day! Currently seeking the following: Show guests with an item or collection (free [ 7x Looking for the top 20 hidden treasures. ! 8 y x ! ! 7
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El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
Look for further details and advertising about this fun event, Come have a burger, and watch the show, and see if you can guess the value. Is it â&#x20AC;&#x153;treasure or trashâ&#x20AC;?? ***************************** Our â&#x20AC;&#x153;AMERICAN BAND /'2$X ) W 2+7 The last ball dropped on April 18th when American Bandstand hero Dick Clark died at age 82. Clark will probably be missed more than any other single performing artist in this world. He was raised in Mt.Vernon, NY. He was an icon of enormous popularity and launched the careers for stars such as Diana Ross, Bill Hailey, The Jackson Five, Madonna, Chubby Checkers and many other â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;rock and rollâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stars on his famous TV show. He will also be remembered for 4 decades of hosting New Years Eve in Times Square, NYC There will be an empty space in our hearts for the vibrant and youthful Dick Clark who was an ambassador of pop culture. So â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rock Around the Clockâ&#x20AC;? Dick, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;So Longâ&#x20AC;?. His memory will live on and on and on. ****************** Here is a health hint which 8 ` ` +0 {" * !
7 0
* . 9" Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need Every day just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potas& ' ( . / . sium and Zinc. <" ^ &
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| [ | cumber, which is the best source of B vitamins and carbohydrates that can provide a quick pick-me-up which can last for hours. |" Try rubbing a cucumber slice over the mirror in your bathroom, it will to eliminate the fog. ]" Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. Chemicals in a cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drives garden pests crazy. @" A slice or two of cucumbers for tightening your skin along any problem area for fo a few minutes; the phytochemicals in the cucumber causes & * & $ % & | *
ing i the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles, too!!! ?" If you want to avoid a hangover or headache, eat a few cucumber slices before retiring and wake up refreshed, headc ache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and a electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients in your body! el ^" [ & & = & [ & ! &
Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by EuCu ropean trappers, traders/explores for quick meals to thwart off rop starvation. sta =" Want to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over ove the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine shi that not only looks great but also repels water. }" Â&#x20AC; _Â Â&#x201A;Â&#x201E; & [ %!
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along alo the problematic hinge: no squeak. See you next month with more of whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening! â&#x20AC;&#x153;A cheerful heart is good medicineâ&#x20AC;?
Saw you in the Ojo 41
GRAPE EXPECTATIONS 0 2 ~ Wine Blending
M
ost of us, who were raised in the New World, order wines by the varietal name such as Cabernet or Chardonnay. In Europe, wine buyers order by a place name such as Bordeaux knowing that they were buying a blended red wine with Cabernet Sauvignon as the dominate varietal grape. Traditional European vineyards have been blending for hundreds of years to produce consistency, balance and a great flavor. Blending wine is not primarily about hiding unfavorable characteristics; instead, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about combining certain varietal strengths to make a better wineâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;ultimatelyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;than any of the single varietal could be on their own. This is a lofty goal, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the foremost tests of a wine-makerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skill: can the wine-maker create a wine that is better than the sum of its parts? This requires an in-depth understanding of the distinct characteristics of each varietal. In Bordeaux the allowed blending grapes include cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, petite verdot and malbec. Each of these has specific traits and blending these traits, something great is born. Cabernet and Merlot usually serve as the base on which Bordeaux blends are made. The Cabernet is bold with naturally wild tannins, while the Merlot is typically softer and fruitier, making the wine much more approachable. Combined, the wine they create is more harmonious and better balanced. This basic concept, of combining varietals to create something better than any single varietal, is the basis of modern blended wines. Of course, there are historical reasons for blending as well. NEW WORLD BLENDING - Unlike Europe, the New World has no legal constraints on blending. The wine masters may use a combination of varietals in any proportion. Modern blending techniques typically take place long after harvest, in a more controlled environment where the winemaker can try a wide variety of different blending options before settling on the final blend. While there have been many wines produced of questionable quality, there are, however, new wine blends that have dramatically increased the number of great new wines for your palate to enjoy. The selected New World blends below have become very popular and enjoyed by many Lakeside wine aficionados.
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El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
Robert and Noemi BANROCK SHIRAZ/CABERNET SAUVIGNON $9.50 USD It is a full bodied red with bright plum, raspberry and blueberry fruit flavors. LAS MORAS CABERNET SAUVIGNON/SHIRAZ $11.30 USD Deep and intense with aromas of blackcurrant and ripe berries followed by licorice and chocolate. It has well balanced fruits and tannins with a soft and rich subtle round mouth feel. FINCA BELTRAN CHENIN/CHARDONNAY $6.55 USD A white wine with lively tropical aromas with deliciously creamy and slightly honeyed peach and pear flavors. Refreshingly crisp and made from certified organically grown grapes. FINCA BELTRAN TEMPRANILLO/ MALBEC $6.55 USD Light bodied, bursting with cherries, red fruits and a hint of spice - great value red from Mendoza Argentina. TRIO CONCHA Y TORO - CHARDONNAY/PINOT GRIGIO/PINOT BLANC $13.00 USD It exhibits an aromatic array of poached pear, melon, mineral, and peach leading to a dry wine with exceptional concentration and depth for its humble price TRIO CONCHA Y TORO MERLOT/ CARMENERE/CABERNET SAUVIGNON $13.50 USD Opaque purple, the nose delivers scents of scorched earth, violets, mineral, blackcurrant, plum, and blueberry. It is silky-textured and layered on the palate with lots of ripe fruit. Blend Your Own Wines Experiment by blending your own wines. If you have a Cabernet that has too much tannin for your own taste, add a Merlot to soften the taste â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you may love it. Two general rules to remember â&#x20AC;&#x201C; donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t add several different wines together or it will taste muddy. Most important, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try to improve a poor wine by adding a good wine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that trick never works. NoemĂ Paz licorespaz@hotmail.com Robert Kleffel bkleffel@hotmail.com
Saw you in the Ojo 43
Four Motherrs On The Block By M.A. P Porter orter
M
y so s n Jo son JJohn Joh ohn hn d died ied on ied ie on Janu Ja nuar ary ry 2 fr from from o a n acacca January an cide ident ntal o verd rdos dose e H e cidental overdose. He was only 31. He had a few drinks one night and then took a strong painkiller, and the combination of chemistry stopped his heart. He didn’t have much of either in his system, but the medical examiner said that the new opiates out there in the world of pharmaceuticals can not be mixed with even a little booze – he’s seen what happened to John more than he’d like. I’ve since learned of other mothers losing sons to an early death more than I’d like, too. But in the telling, I have also seen visions of hope and courage. When the call came in that the apartment manager had found John’s body, I collapsed in the garden, which was a surprise to me. I thought I was stronger than that, but apparently not. Not only that, but a loud keening emanated from my throat and it carried up over our high walls and out into the neighborhood. A few minutes later, we had some Mexican neighbors at the door, ringing to know what was the matter. My husband assured them that all was well (fibbing; not wanting to name it yet) and soon enough, we found ourselves in Colorado, attending memorials and settling John’s affairs. Twelve days later, we were back here where, painfully, everything reminds me of him because he loved Mexico. I hid out in my house for a few weeks but then decided to resume my walks. On my first outing, I passed by my neighbor Guadalupe and we exchanged polite greetings, as was usual – my Mexican neighbors and I are friendly, but we maintain the formalities of people with different cultures. This time, however, Guadalupe reached over and took my hand and asked specifically how I was doing. She knew – my gardener had told her. So, with my throat tightening, I explained. She responded, in Spanish, “Oh, it’s so hard to lose a son,” and
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El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
tthen th he en n told tol old me old me about abo abo bout the bou th th son that she ha sh had lo had llost, ost st, t, se eve ven n ye ear arss ago, workshe seven years pllac ace e accident, acci cid ident dent 24 yyears ears ea rs ol place old. “But God will help you. Only God can help. Everyone else, they try to comfort you, but they don’t understand how it is for a mother,” she said, smiling empathetically. A few days later, I ran into a gringa artist named Ruth who lives up the lane. She seemed not to have heard, so I told her about John. Her face fell. “Oh, that’s the worst thing ever. I lost my son two years ago, 52 years old. He’d been sick a long time. But listen …” she said as she embraced me, “what you do is, you just decide to keep on living anyway.” Her eyes bore meaning into mine. A few weeks on, I was in the loncheria at the end of my street. The owner, Maria, mentioned that she hadn’t seen me in a long time. So I told her why. She walked around the counter and put her arms on either side of mine. Then she told me about her son, automobile accident, 28 years old, gone now 11 years. She said, in Spanish, “You will never be the same. You are changed. But you can have a good life still. This is what your son wants. This is what God wants.” Then she pulled me into her arms and said, “Oh, I am so sorry that you must pass through this.” Indeed, it is unfair that we must pass through this, but we do. And as I occasion to watch these three mothers – my sisters in grief – on the streets, I notice that even though their hearts have been ripped apart and their minds run a torturous video loop of their sons’ lives from birth to the last time they were hugged, these women can still care for grandchildren, create inspiring art, and cook food meant for the gods. I see them able to smile and laugh and take pride in who they are as they participate in the joys of daily life. Miraculously, they are not destroyed. It feels as though angels are present, pointing me the way. I am grateful.
D
ear Sir: I am most upset that our president, as our US Constitution is set up, is not permitted to govern. We need an American Parliamentary Democracy, like in Canada, which will enable our elected leader to carry out his campaign promises. I have written a political essay/novel presenting many of our present political ills, while promoting Canada’s system of government as an excellent example for how the 99% can take back our government from the rule of money. I advocate an AMENDMENT to our Constitution that ‘Henceforth the United States shall be governed as an American Parliamentary Democracy.’ We would keep our Bill of Rights, and our House and Senate would become one legislative body. This change would be brought about by citizen committees in every state acquiring votes for a proposition to ratify the amendment, and then seeing that each state legislature places the proposition on the state ballot. If enough enthusiasm is generated
during the signature acquiring process, perhaps our present national legislators will see the writing on the wall and jump on the bandwagon to pass the amendment to change our system of government-prior to the fall election. Then the votes for ratification will bring about immediate implementation of the change, saving many years from the amendment process. What I see happening is this: Our present legislators will vote the amendment into law so that they can say this change in our government took place under ‘their watch.’ Myrna Shreve myrnashreve.com.
Grace By Loretta Downs
T
he Thanksgiving after my mother died, I sat at the dinner table and looked around at a dozen of my loved ones ranging from my 22-year-old godson, a Marine on his way to Iraq, to my 92-year-old aunt, the last living of my mother’s five siblings. As the head of the house said grace with the Serenity Prayer, I realized that one of us at this table will be the first to die, and one will be the last. In the next instant, I knew that I could be either. If I am the first to die, there are legal, financial and housekeeping matters I should attend to now. I want to help the loved ones who would be responsible for handling the massive amount of details following my demise. Driving home, I had another epiphany. What if I don’t die immediately? What if I’m injured in an accident or have a heart attack or other trauma that leaves me in a hospital on life support? What if my loved ones have to decide whether to connect me to or disconnect me from machines? Do they know my wishes? When I got home, I set Valentine’s Day as a deadline to complete the paperwork
required i d tto fformalize li my end-of-life d f lif wishih es, feeling more thankful for everyone in my life. By New Year’s Day, I had completed a Five Wishes healthcare power-of-attorney and living will form. I designated one loved one to follow my wishes and two as backups. The next time I saw them I had a conversation confirming my wishes in person, witnessed the document and gave them and my doctor a copy. Including my loved ones in death planning has brought us closer together. If I am the last to die, I will need the emotional strength to support those who pass away before me. I’ll need the spiritual strength to cope with the mounting losses over my own long life. There is no deadline for my death planning. It is now my way of life. As in the Serenity Prayer, I accept that there are things I cannot change and things I can. I’m still working on the wisdom part.
Saw you in the Ojo 45
!
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e should not casually stereotype any group. But inductive reasoning leads to the conclusion that conservatives are liars. The media reject that word, but “liar” is in the dictionary and its sturdy meaning is appropriate. There are the aggressive liars who are the leaders and the passive liars who are the followers. This arrangement allows for the maintenance of discipline. Republican votes in Congress are often 100%, mostly against President Obama, even at the expense of the working class and the economy. You will never hear a conservative express an original thought. Instead, their ideology determines the agenda and then their strategist, Frank Luntz,
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El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
goes to work to provide the vocabulary, labeling health-care reform as a “government takeover,” the estate tax as a “death tax,” etc. Luntz develops a set of “talking points” that every conservative memorizes and repeats, like a mantra. This mantra will be repeated at every press conference and propagated on Fox News. And then the followers repeat the talking points, too, with the same level of understanding as parrots. A recent creation of Luntz is the “war on religion.” With this framing, the requirement for the employer to include contraception under insurance plans for employees, such as in Catholic hospitals, is an “attack on religious freedom.” One would think that a nurse at a hospital should be a nurse, not a convert to Church dogma. One would think that President Obama’s compromise to require insurers to provide contraception, and exempt objecting employers, was brilliant in its simplicity. But, no. The Blunt-Rubio amendment would have allowed any employer to refuse coverage for employees on anything to which the employer has a moral or religious objection. Imagine having a Christian Scientist as your boss who doesn’t believe in any medical treatment at all! And Mitt Romney, after he said he was against the BluntRubio amendment, said assertively, “Of course I’m in favor of it.” Romney and Pinocchio are congenital liars, one with money, the other with a nose. Thankfully, it failed in the Senate, but Speaker John Boehner has vowed to continue the fight against contraception. The media, instead of saying liar, often use the word “spin.” One of the most galling examples of “spin” was when Republican Governor Bob McDonnell of Virginia justified his support for a bill designed to humiliate women wanting an abortion by first requiring a trans-vaginal probe. He said, “Every invasive procedure has an informed consent requirement.” In other words, a woman is free to refuse the state’s humiliation and she can carry her preg-
nancy to term. Since there’s no medical reason for the trans-vaginal probe for the purpose of abortion, it would make as much sense to require a doctor to extract a sample of semen from a man before he can be treated for prostate cancer by radiation. The sample of semen would have as much medical use as the vaginal probe, or, as many call it, “rape by the state.” Another big lie that became a “talking point” is that the trans-vaginal probe will help to “inform” the woman who is seeking an abortion. Inform her of what, exactly? She already knows she’s pregnant. What conservatives call a “war on religion,” others are calling a “war on women.” Lying is the triumph of conservative ideology over reason and ethics. Yes, that’s right. Arizona and Kansas, both red states, are trying to pass legislation that is called “Let Doctors Lie.” The idea is that if a doctor doesn’t believe in abortion because of his religious convictions, he is free to lie, even when he knows his patient will give birth to a baby with a devastating condition. The doctor can say everything is fine, and then when the parents receive their tragic surprise, they have no legal right to sue the doctor for lying to them. Republican liars frighten us with
sinister, “liberal” “government takeovers” and “government intrusions,” but when conservatives control a state government, they intrude into vaginas and take over women’s clinics. Ideology is the capacity to maintain one’s belief in spite of facts to the contrary. Religion is the capacity to believe something without the benefit of any facts at all. Conservatives are a calamitous hybrid of ideology and religion; hence, their disregard for truth. America deserves better. Fred Mittag
Saw you in the Ojo 47
FRONT ROW CENTER 4 Sex Please, We’re Sixty By Michael & Susan Parker Directed by Pat Carroll
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s the title suggests, this play is all about sex, menopause and little blue pills. It’s a farcical comedy set in the Rose Cottage B&B, somewhere in New England – not really a traditional farce, because a true farce would contain more misunderstandings, mistaken identities and confusion. Here there’s not much confusion, “Bud The Stud” wants sex, the ladies want romance, and most of the cast is over 60. Surely the setting must be a small town in Mexico! As Larry King was unable to direct the play, Pat Carroll – who was recently re-elected as President of LLT for a fifth consecutive 2-year term – took on the job of Director, and was fortunate to find a talented and experienced cast. Ray Himmelman plays “Bud (The Stud) Davis” with a permanent lecherous leer and some impressive acrobatics when Bud develops a back problem. I was concerned that Ray might really injure himself – however, all is well and he staggers back on stage with a fresh supply of little blue pills. Roseann Wilshere is excellent as the prudish and time-obsessed “Mrs Buttercup Stancliffe” who tries without success to prevent Bud from turning her B&B into his personal brothel. On the other hand she may reckon that Bud’s philandering is good for business. She herself indulges in amorous fantasies by reading steamy novels of the Harlequin genre, while at the same time fending off the clumsy advances of “Henry Mitchell” the local chemist. Roseann manages to make Mrs Stancliffe believable, and even sympathetic – a great piece of character acting. Zane Pumiglia plays the chemist with innocent enthusiasm. Every day for 20 years he brings flowers for Buttercup and proposes marriage, and every day she says she needs more time. Poor Henry! But interestingly on a recent trip to a foreign land he has come across a sort of squash or pepper that has the effect of increasing the libido of menopausal women. And by crushing this vegetable he has created a little blue pill that he needs to test on a human guinea-pig. His friend “Hillary Hudson” – charmingly played by Betty Lloyd Robinson – agrees to help him out.
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El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
Meanwhile, two other single women check into the hostelry and become targets of Bud’s lecherous advances. Georgette Richmond is rather sweet as “Victoria Ambrose” who writes the sort of steamy novels that Buttercup enjoys, but whose personal love life is lacking. Her passion is confined to her typewriter. And Candace Luciano is slinky and sexy as a southern belle “Charmaine Beauregard” who needs no help in the romance department. Candace delivers some delightful metaphors in true southern style – “He’s as busy as a one-legged man at a kick-butt competition”! Now here comes the big joke! The ladies switch Bud’s Viagra pills for Henry’s new blue pills, and the effect is alarming. The men develop menopausal symptoms – they cry, they have hot flashes, they feel bloated and they are moody and difficult. It’s hard to believe that an entire play can be built around this one comic idea – in fact it really doesn’t work. It’s a oneminute joke expanded to a lengthy 120 minutes. Pat Carroll and a very good cast do their best with this puerile material – all I can say is that the actors deserve a better play. A cheerful set was well designed by Roberta Hilleman, Sally Jo Bartlett was Assistant Director, Margo Eberly was Stage Manager and Peter Luciano was Assistant Stage Manager. Thanks to all for a job well done. So Season 47 is over, and I look forward to some better plays in Season 48. How the Other Half Loves was excellent in January, and the musical medley A Taste of Broadway in March was very enjoyable. And, as always, the acting and directing and backstage work was of a high professional standard. Tomorrow is another day! Michael Warren
Saw you in the Ojo 49
The Poets’ Niche By Mark Sconce msconce@gmail.com
Robert Frost (1874-1963)
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hen I consider his homely Yankee farmer persona and recollect his iconic New England themes (After Apple-picking, Mending Wall, The Last Mowing), I have to laugh that Robert Frost was born and mostly bred in San Francisco. But when the family moved to Massachusetts, Frost found himself and found his voice. He discovered a need to become a poet. By the 1920s, he was America’s most celebrated poet and with each new publication, his fame and honors (including four Pulitzer Prizes) increased. Do you remember that biting cold (one might say frosty) day when Frost assumed the podium at President John F. Kennedy’s swearing-in, January 20, 1961? In the day’s harsh sunlight, his eighty-six year-old eyes had difficulty reading the poem he had written for the august occasion. He decided instead to recite from memory the one we actually heard. And it’s just as well because the poem he originally composed for the event wasn’t nearly as meaningful and patriotic as The Gift Outright The land was ours before we were the land’s. She was our land more than a hundred years before we were her people. She was ours in Massachusetts, in Virginia. But we were England’s, still colonials, possessing what we still were unpossessed by; possessed by what we now no more possessed. Something we were withholding made us weak. Until we found out that it was ourselves we were withholding from our land of living, and forthwith found salvation in surrender. Such as we were we gave ourselves outright (The deed of gift was many deeds of war). To the land vaguely realizing westward, but still unstoried, artless, unenhanced, such as she was, such as she would become. *** Well, let’s just sit back, relax, and enjoy some vintage Frost. His first published poem My Butterfly included these lines: Thou didst not know, who tottered, wandering on high, That fate had made thee for the pleasure of the wind, With those great careless wings, Nor yet did I. And then you may want to walk out to the Pasture with Robert… I’m going out to fetch the little calf That’s standing by the mother. It’s so young It totters when she licks it with her tongue. I shan’t be gone long. You come too. Everyone knows these lines: My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near. The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. A farmer finishes an axe-handle, and Frost says: But now he brushed the shavings from his knee And stood the axe there on its horse’s hoof, Erect, but not without its waves, as when The snake stood up for evil in the Garden. ***
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Something there is that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t love a wall. *** The old dog barks backward without getting up. I can remember when he was a pup. The Span of Life *** I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. *** Some say the world will end in fire. Some say ice. From what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice is also great and would suffice. Mark Sconce
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Village Vignettes By Micki Wendt
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hile waiting for the bus at my corner, a young mama and her little boy, who had a small, slightly electronic toy, stood near me I smiled and said hola. Silently, the little boy wandered over and loaned me his little toy while he went to sit down on the ground to stare intently at some bugs crawling under the flowers beneath the tree, contented and happy. The bus arrived and we boarded. Taught by the teenage cowboys on our street, a couple of charritos (little cowboys) in full cowboy regalia, were playing with their lassos in front of my house. They proudly showed me a couple of their tricks which I gladly applauded. Later, one of them was spotted merrily chasing after a little dog trying to lasso it - but the little dog managed to escape. While standing at the carretera one day waiting to cross, decked out in my finest sparkly, spangly Huichol jewelry, three handsome young men drove by. In one split second, the driver leaned over and blew me a kiss off his fingertips, and the other two turned my way as if choreographed. Whizzing by, they never even had a chance to see me smile back. A little boy and girl, obviously fond of each other, were walking home from school, not holding hands or arm in arm, but patting each other’s heads while giggling rapturously. At a food stand at the San Andres Fiesta, two little boys howl, scream, and jump up and down with unrestrained excitement at the mere sight of a plate of
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food rotating inside a microwave oven. After much careful observation, it dawned on me that the whole point of the dancing horse events at the rodeos and parades is to see how long the charro can go without spilling the beer out of his can. The real virtuosos use the much more spill-likely transparent plastic cups which enable the onlooker to see exactly how much cerveza remains for the charro to drink afterwards. I think they time themselves by the intensity of their thirst. Before the malecon was built, the plaza used to be the living room of the people, especially in the dusky twilight after the long, hot, sun-baked days before the rainy season. It was like dying and going to heaven to experience the complete harmony and happiness of all the generations gathered together to visit or play – happy little kids running around, calm parents and grandparents looking on, teens and pre-teens promenading or pairing off, the regular four charros viejos relaxing on “their” bench, cheerful music and romantic singing drifting out from the cantinas….I wondered if or where such a scene could possibly still exist up north…maybe on a movie set—or only in your dreams? In a surreal dreamscape beyond the boundaries of night and day or awake and sleep, I think I hear a raucously cheerful brass band coming down the street in the cold and dark of the pre-dawn hours. There are intermittent fireworks announcing their arrival. Somehow I know they are heading to a big celebration at the church and the mood is very festive. But in the middle of the night? What’s happening? Where do they get all their energy? No drug can elicit this heavensent good cheer! Then I fully awaken and realize it wasn’t a dream at all! The San Andres Fiesta has started and I am so glad I am here and my dream is my reality…however, I still wonder how the bandas woke up at that hour in the days before alarm clocks… Finally…finally…the warm sun reappears and the breeze feels like the breath of the Goddess of the Lake…and I multiply this magical moment many, many times in my mind. And so goes the daily, delightful minutiae of life in Ajijic.
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Focus on Art 0 ! "
Falling or Diving: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Deep Playâ&#x20AC;? with Antonio Lopez Vega
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y goal is to discover unseen worlds - to explore rather than exploit as many artists do.â&#x20AC;? Antonioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comment reminded me of the challenge all artists face: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do I paint to sell, or do I paint to reach new insights and understandings of what it means to be human, to push through the boundaries of current conventions and modes to expand awareness, as the significant artists of every age have done?â&#x20AC;? Cutting edge art changes our perspective on culture. For example, the movie Ridicule (1996) artfully revealed social injustice fed by the decadent callousness of those in power in France in the years leading up to the French revolution. And Susan Philipsz, who won the coveted Turner Prize, singing â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lowlands Awayâ&#x20AC;? - a song about death - under bridges in London, revealed the cold absence of life in Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;big brother is watching youâ&#x20AC;? society. In my discussions with Antonio, we considered what an artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breakthrough response to political issues in the Americas might be, and how artists might express realities beyond current understandings of life and culture. Diane Ackerman, who teaches creativity at Cornell University, believes concentration on a single goal, closing down mental noise, being absorbed in the act of creation, and control of the
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medium are essential to enable an artist to get in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;flowâ&#x20AC;? or into a state of â&#x20AC;&#x153;deep play,â&#x20AC;? in which the cognitive brain gives up control, freeing the whole person to experience a break-through creative moment. dianeackerman.com Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET which measures body functions) researchers have discovered that in moments of deep play the brain functions decrease as the artist focuses on the creative act. The brain relaxes and ceases to function as the center of control. Artists in the flow move into psychological spaces where they are willing to take risks as critical analysis is suspended. Scientists are convinced that our heart and other organs, and perhaps our entire cellular structure, respond as a second brain that works beyond conscious thought. Carl Jung, considering the creativity of an artist, wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The schizophrenic and the artist are like two people going to the bottom of a river, one falling and the other diving.â&#x20AC;? Jung understood that a schizophrenicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s autonomic state mirrors the looseness essential to the creative artist. Susan Perry, in Writing in Flow, and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, in Flow, believe that creative people go into a state of â&#x20AC;&#x153;super thinkingâ&#x20AC;? in which the whole body becomes the responsive agent, and in which originality becomes a matter of being oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique self rather
than endeavoring to be original. The key is the artist’s emphatic vision based on their core awareness. www.bunnyape.com Artists are not double agents crossing between art and society, rather the artist’s agency presents society with alternative memories and histories. This means they take an indirect route when engaging important social issues. Caught up in an emotionally cathartic experience an artist may be unable to express transparently what they perceive. Instead they may revert to metaphor and analogy as the agents of their creative efforts. In the “flow”, Antonio endeavors to incorporate both his state of being and his experience in his art. “To expand my awareness, I explored a variety of 20th C entury movements including magic realism which incorporated symbols indigenous to Mexico. My wood rendition of MIchi-ciuhalli (Lake-spirit) in the plaza of Ajijic is a clear example.” Hungry to explore the world, An-
tonio fled Ajijic to study and teach in San Miguel. Later he worked with archeologists at Chi-Chen-Itza reassembling Maya stone sculptures. Mature, and back at Lakeside, Antonio now turns mystical stories into art while incorporating new techniques (such as combining Beeswax and linseed oil) to heighten luminosity in his paintings. (Photo) Working at the cutting edge of art history, Antonio’s works are provocative and stimulate introspective consideration of the world we live in. Antonio’s paintings are on sale at Mi Mexico, Morelos #8, Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico. Rob Mohr
Saw you in the Ojo 55
VILLAGE IN THE SUN By Dane Chandos Book Review by Alice Hathaway
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n old favorite is back in print! That’s the good news. The bad news may be that only 1,000 copies of the paperback edition were printed. They are selling fast at 75 pesos ($10 US) and may be all gone before the demand is satisfied. Village In The Sun was written seventy years ago when Ajijic was a much smaller community than it is today. A cluster of adobe residences along its single main street housed the families of fishermen whose wooden canoes plied the lake to seine for whitefish, charales and catfish. The book describes in vivid, loving detail the people and place where an outsider came to live shortly after the second World War. The author’s word-pictures present a scrapbook of lakeside life through all seasons of the year in a time when the road from Chapala to Jocotepec was a muddy trail with washouts in the rainy season. Ice was delivered by bus from Guadalajara, dropped off beside the road and left in the sun. It was often easier to travel on public transportation by launch than to drive a private car on the unpaved roads. The structure of the novel is that of a monthly journal during the year when the gringo narrator was settling into permanent residence in Ajijic, a predominantly lndian village on the north shore of Lake Chapala in
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Central Mexico. Starting in the summer rainy season, he takes the reader through the greening of the mountains, a storm that washed away a widow’s adobe house, and his purchase of lakefront property owned by an extended family that had inherited parcels from grandfather to sons to children, with each division cutting the land into ever smaller pieces. When the land negotiations were accomplished, construction of his house, with a local contractor using traditional techniques and available materials, took the rest of the year to complete. Seasonal weather changes and annual festivals come and go with delightful attention to detail. The book ends in May during the hottest month of the year, the driest and the dustiest. “It is the time when everything seems to go slowly, the men and the animals and the hours.” During these twelve months, we meet a wonderful cast of characters with whom the author interacted in various ways. Candeleria, his cook, “scampers”
about her kitchen; her compadre’s sister-in-law, Aurora, who did the laundry, “limped out of the house with a big washing basket on her tousled head.” Shy Nieves, the servant girl who lived down the street “had the thin nose with the eagle bend that gives the purer-blooded Indios an aristocratic look, and skin the color of golden tobacco.” Cayetano, hardly more than a boy, made himself indispensable, first in the garden, then as butler, bartender and negotiator. And dignified old Bernabe, the builder, added syllables in the middle of his words to make them longer and more impressive. Dialog in chapter after chapter captures the cadence and grammar of the Spanish language as it was spoken by the lndians in Ajijic. Chandos translated the words in the order in which they were spoken, so the sentence structure is that of a foreign language. When he asked the child, Modesta, why she needed an empty bottle, she spoke in a breathless spate: “Pues, you see, señor, we had another but unfortunately I let it fall very lightly and it broke itself to me...” When Primitivo blushed over some infraction, his friend said, “Look, now he’s in the oven.” And when old Remedios was hauled out of the well
where she had fallen, she scolded 40year old Candelaria, “Why do you upset yourself so, little daughter? I want my breakfast. And I want steak.” Much has changed in Ajijic during the time since the book was written. Gringos from all over the world have nearly overtaken the native population. Housing has spread up the hills where gardens of corn, beans and squash used to grow. Fishing is no longer the major occupation of men—they are more apt to be gardeners tending flower beds for foreigners than repairing nets. And the house that suffered the most damage in a water-spout a couple of years ago was not an adobe hovel near the lake, but that of residents at the top of Tempisque. Their wall was undercut by a diverted stream, and their jaccuzi tumbled into the channel. Older residents and newcomers alike will enjoy reading and rereading Village In The Sun. Those of us who had to check the book out of the library whenever foreign visitors arrived, are pleased to be able to have a copy of our own. The library’s originals had all disappeared, anyway. With this reissue, we can keep a copy on the bedside table in our guest rooms. Until someone decides to take it home, that is.
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DO YOU LOVE YOU UR PETS? By Cameron Peters
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e know you do. You probably think of them as family. Perhaps they sleep cuddled next to you at night. Perhaps they fill the empty space left by having children and grandchildren who live too far away. When you were raising your children, you made certain that if anything happened to you, they were provided for. Won’t you do the same for your pets? They’re as helpless and vulnerable as children. There are very simple steps each one of us can take to protect our furry family. Before you bring a new animal into your life, consider its likely lifespan and the amount of exercise it will need. If you’re older or infirm, perhaps it’s not such a good idea to get a Labrador Retriever puppy. Many older animals need affection more than exercise and it’s much harder for them to find homes. Consider giving them a chance. They’ll be so grateful. In your wallet, make sure you have an “In Case of Emergency” contact person who has immediate access to your home and gated community (if applicable). Someone has to care for your pets right away. Your daughter in Montreal won’t do. Choose your contact person carefully. Does that person have the time and dedication to feed, medicate, walk and do anything else your pet requires? If not, your contact
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person needs to have contact information for someone who does. In your home, in an obvious location (for example, your refrigerator door), post feeding, medication and other important pet information. You might include the names and contact information for pet-sitters and/or kennels acceptable to you. Be sure to include contact information for your pet’s veterinarian. How will you pay for your pet’s needs? Food, veterinarian, kennel, transportation – whatever arises, it will cost money. Consider opening a small joint bank account with your trusted contact person. You’ll need to determine the projected cost of your pet’s needs. For example, if you know in advance that you’ll be hospitalized for a week for elective surgery and then you’ll require a month or so of physical therapy, it’s easy to make and pay for arrangements in advance or deposit sufficient money in a joint account to cover your pet’s expenses while you’re laid up. Remember, costs escalate over time and you’ll have to make certain you’ve set enough aside. In case of emergency, permanent disability or death, you’ll want to set enough aside to cover for whatever you wish for your animals for the rest of their lives. What will happen to your pet if you cannot care for it long term? Your contact person must have clear instructions and sufficient funds to follow them. In the event of your long term incapacity or death, do you want your pet euthanized, taken to a local no-kill shelter, or transported in or out of Mexico to family or sanctuaries elsewhere? Be realistic. Please do not assume that it will somehow all work out. Be informed. Visit the local shelters. Can you see your beloved pet living in one? Lakeside Friends of the Animals can help. Through our Pet-Post Life Planning Program, we can help you create a plan for your pets, arrange interim care, arrange transportation and/ or assist in finding a permanent home for your pets. For more information, please contact Cameron Peters, (376) 766-4341 or zo-onna@hotmail.com.
TEN THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON’T TELL YOU! Courtesy of Glenda Roman
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Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator. 2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier. 3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids have out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have. 4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it. 5. If it snows while you’re out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway. 6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I
can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy. 7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom - and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too. 8. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door - understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather. 9. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don’t take me up on it.) 10. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.
Saw you in the Ojo 59
West Texas Titillation By Mike Miller
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f you’ve ever passed by Fort Stockton, in west Texas on Interstate 10, you may not remember because it’s not a very big place. Just eight thousand residents, more or less, a little north of the big bend in the Rio Grande River. I remember it because I stopped there on a cross country drive back in 2007. It was suppertime, and the first place I saw was the Comanche Springs Restaurant next to a sprawling truck-top. Pickup trucks and cars filled the parking lot, usually signs of decent roadside food,and a couple dozen big rigs rested on the perimeter around the diesel pumps. Cigarette smoke filled the place, with clouds hanging over tables and booths of diners. The counter near the kitchen had a little less haze, and that’s where I headed. More than sixty men and women were eating and smoking, talking and laughing, mostly wearing jeans and work shirts with cowboy hats or baseball caps. One woman with a ponytail wore a Tshirt with a catchy phrase stretched tight across her ample breasts: “Ask Me About My Nipples.” She and her table of friends were still smoking and talking and laughing and sipping coffee when I finished my chicken-fried steak and headed for the door. Sometimes a writer can get away with a question other people never ask, so I stuck out my hand and introduced myself to her and the big fella sitting next to her. “I couldn’t help noticing your T-shirt so I decided to ask,” I said to her. “It might
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turn into a little story.” “A lot of people notice it,” she said, with a laugh. “Oil field people know what it means: short pieces of pipe with male threads on both ends—nipples, we call them.” The big fella laughed, too, adding it was one of her favorite shirts, helping promote a local business that supplies nipples to the oil industry. They invited me to pull up a chair and I did. They gave me a crash course in the history of the Yates Oil Field, fourteen miles south of Fort Stockton, discovered in 1926. It’s one of the largest and most productive oil fields in the United States, covering forty-one square miles. In the early days, they said, so much crude leaked from the wells it contaminated the Pecos River and workers recovered over three million barrels just by skimming the river every day. At its peak in 1929, they said, one uncontrolled gusher spewed out a world record of more than two-hundred-thousand barrels in one day. But Texans like to brag, and I was skeptical. “America has enough oil to last forever, if we get to drill for it,” they said. “Yates already produced a billion barrels, with another billion still in the ground.” That sounded like more Texas bragging, so I looked it up that night in my motel. Everything is right there on the Internet—maybe that’s where they got some of their information, or maybe Wikipedia got it from folks in Fort Stockton. If you’re ever in west Texas, passing through on I-10, think about stopping at Fort Stockton and eating at the Comanche Springs Restaurant. It’s been around since 1870, some say, after the Army built seven forts along the Comanche Trail from San Antonio to El Paso. Nowadays it’s open 24/7 with good food and great coffee. The locals don’t care much for government regulations on a lot of things, and they ignore no-smoking laws. But they’re friendly folks, and talkative. They take a lot of pride in their oil field, restaurant, and the remnants of the old fort. They’re proud of other things too, like the world’s largest statue of a roadrunner nicknamed “Paisano Pete” that welcomes visitors to the downtown area. And they’re really proud of their nipples.
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The Ojo Crossword
ACROSS 1 Supply with workers 6 Torah table 10 Opposed 14 Head 15 Cheese 16 Raccoon’s nickname 17 Artery 18 Malaria 19 Gas burner 20 Decay, like metal 21 Nosing 23 Rive 24 Looked 26 Give a shot 28 Hits the puck in 31 Decorative needle case 32 Fish 33 Scandinavian nation 36 Wire projection 40 Lotion ingredient 42 Highs 43 Native ruler 44 Artist Chagall 45 Prompt 48 Poem of praise 49 Cornet 51 Tugged 53 Make it yourself pizza brand 56 Murky 57 Kimono sash 58 Carton (2wds.) 61 Infant
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65 Compass point 67 Disease 68 BB player Kareem __ Jabar 69 Capital of Norway 70 Writer Bombeck 71 Consecrate 72 Sports event 73 Representatives 74 Eyesight, for example DOWN 1 Former wound 2 Thousand (abbr.) 3 Ventilates 4 Feet Chain 5 Future Farmers of America (abr.) 6 Goatee 7 Nervous 8 Island 9 Feature 10 Genius 11 “__ Dame” 12 Medicinal drink & 21 Mexican money 22 African antelope 25 Japanese money 27 Match 28 Fraud 29 Pop 30 Scent 31 Move carefully 34 Smash 35 Word per minute 37 Insane 38 Sit in a car 39 III ___ 41 Reverberate 45 Trip 46 Wildcat 47 Wild ox 50 Roberto’s yes 52 Half a byte 53 Chest 54 Overly fat 55 Christian scripture 56 Tiny amounts 59 Vice president Al __ 60 Demote 62 City in Yemen 63 Kiss 64 Otherwise 66 Drunk 68 Abdominal muscles (abbr.)
Saw you in the Ojo 63
AA- Meets daily at 10:00 am. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 4 pm. Marcos Castellanos 51-A. 766-5961. Meets every Wednesday 8 am for breakfast at La Nueva Posada. www.aalakechapala.org '' ) . Â&#x20AC; M+TH 4-6 Gazebo at the Lake Chapala Society. www.aalakechapala.org '' 4 - TH 10:30-12 Sala at the Lake Chapala Society. www.aalakechapala.org A COURSE IN MIRACLES- Meets on Saturday at 2:00 at # 17 B Nicholas Bravo. For information email: clarecgearhart@gmail.com '>0 0 + ' >'/> 2 '2'$' };] 4>2WÂ&#x20AC; September to April meet the 2nd Thursday 4pm-6pm at La Nueva Posada. John Prichard 766-1876 '#>#> _`>)/ W`>)$ - Meets second Tuesday monthly at 10 am. Guests & New Members Welcome. ajijicguild@gmail.com '#>#> 0' )+ )` Â&#x20AC; Tuesdays and Thursdays noon-3 pm at LCS Ken Gosh Pavilion. Dan Stark 766-0411. '#>#> 40>/+0 3 W0 ` Â&#x20AC; Meets 1st and 3rd Fridays at 10 am. Nueva Posada. Coffee. Meeting followed by lunch at the Nueva Posada. AXIXIC MASONIC LODGE #31- Meets 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at LCS 5:00pm. Contact the Secretary at (387) 7610017 for details. AL-ANON- Step study, M 4:30-5:30 Ken Gosh Pavilion at the Lake Chapala Society AL-ANON- Sat. 10 am, Club 12, Marcos Castellanos 51-A, Ajijic Contact (376) 766-5975. AMERICAN LEGION OF CHAPALA POST- #7 General Membership meets 11 am 2nd Thursday. Tel: 765-2259. ' +0> '2 )+W> 2% 0'2 " &')+2/>2+ / } Â&#x20AC; (Fitoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant in Riberas Del Pilar) 3rd Wednesday. Additional info Call Vince 765-7299. AMIGOS INTERNACIONALES- Every Wednesday 6 to 8 pm, Nueva Posada; informal friendly group meet to make new friends. ' >W $+) )'W '" "Â&#x20AC; Working to improve the ecology. See www.amigosdelago.org or contact us at info@amigosdelago.org. AMITIES FRANCOPHONES- Meets every 3rd Saturday at 1 pm contact: Roland and Camille at 766-0149. rvanhoudt@prodigy.net.mx. ANIMAL SHELTER- Provide shelter and new homes for dogs and cats. Tel: 765-5514. '2>/'3 '2> ') Â&#x20AC; Free loving dogs and cats. call (01 387) 761-0500. www.anitasanimals.com. ASA- Ajijic Society of the Arts. Meets every 1st Monday of the month at Nueva Posada, 10 am. '0$'/ y'1 1 0 $ ! ' / xÂ&#x20AC; Theraphy dog visits & Children Reading to Dogs program. Julianna Rose 766-5025, rotariojrose@gmail.com BARBERSHOP MIXED CHORUS- Meets Mondays 10 a.m. Lake Chapala Baptist Church. Contact Audrey 387-761-0204 or Don 376-766-2521. BRIDGE AT OLD POSADA- Monday 1:15 check in. Mary Andrews 766-2489. BRITISH SOCIETY- Lunch meeting the 1st Saturday of each month, 1pm at Manix Rest. 765-4786, chapalainn@prodigy.net.mx. CARD & DOMINO CLUB- Wednesday, Friday & Sunday. Call for times. We will teach; make friends! Tel. 766-4253, Cell: (045) 33-1295-6485. '2'$>'2 )` )' + (' ')'Â&#x20AC; 2nd Wednesday of month, Sept. through April. Social hour: 3:00 pm, program 4:00 pm. CASA DE ANCIANOS- Provides support for elderly citizens, 765-2497. ' ' $+ )' ' > /'$ '0' 2>Â&#x2020; 2 '2 +0"Â&#x20AC; Provides funds, obtain cancer treatments. www.casadelaamistad.org.mx. 01-55-3000-6900, 766-2612 +2/0 $+ $+ '00 )) '#>#> - Provides family planning and reproductive health education. 766-1679. (>)> Â&#x20AC; Providing a carnival for residents raising charitable funds, 763-5038. DAR- (Guadalajara)- Daughters of the American Revolution, meets monthly Sep. through June. Cell:333-897-0660 or Tel: (376) 766-2284. DAR- (At Lakeside)- THOMAS PAINE CHAPTER meets every 3 Wednesday at 12:30 noon, September thru June. Tel: 766-2981 or 762-0834. DEMOCRATS- Meets 2nd Thursday 4pm at La Nueva Posada EASTERN STAR ESTRELLA DEL LAGO CHAPTER #10- 1st Wed. at 1:00 pm at Hotel Monte Carlo. 766-3785, www.oesestrelladellago.org. + 0W'2> '0 +/Â&#x20AC; Tuesdays,10 am-12-30pm, Centro Laguna Mall at carretera and libramiento. + '2 '0Â&#x20AC; For information about HU Chants and Dream Workshops please call Penny White.766 1230 FRIENDS OF VILLA INFANTIL (FOVI)- Financial support for children: www.friendsofvillainfantil.org. Lisa Le: (387) 761-0002, lisale888@gmail.com GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS- Wednesday 11:30-1:30 Ken Gosh Pavilion at the Lake Chapala Society GARDEN CLUB- Meets the 3rd. Wednesday 11 am for lunch at La Nueva Posada. GARDEN GUILD- promoting the interest in the development of local gardens with an accent on the exotic species available in central Mexico. GERMAN MEETING- 2nd Thursday, 1:00 pm. La Nueva Posada. Call Thea 765-2442 or Werner 763-5446. W )$+2 /0>2W )' + (' ')'% '" "Â&#x20AC; Rehearsals at auditorio de la Floresta. Tuesday & Friday, 3-6 pm. HASH HOUSE HARRIERS- Every Saturday at 8:30 am at La Nueva Posada. HUMANE EDUCATION ALLIANCE (HEA)- Fostering ethical treatment of animals. John Marshall, 766-1170, alianzaeducacionhumnitaria@hotmail.com #`2> 0 )+'W`+ $+ W`'$')'#'0' '" "Â&#x20AC; Av. San Francisco #3332. ligagdl2@prodigy.net.mx, Guadalajara, Jal. Tel. (33) 3121-0887. )' + (' ')' $` )> '/+ 0>$W+ )` Â&#x20AC; Meets every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 1:15 p.m.. www.chapalabridge.com. )' + (' ')' W'0$+2 )` - Garden tours and meeting 3rd Wed at Nueva Posada for lunch and program. sandy_feldmann@yahoo.com. )' + (' ')' W0++2 W0 ` Â&#x2030; > ! & ! % ; *$ > | & ; *
>$ Â&#x160;Â&#x201E;Â&#x201E; [ | & & | % )' + (' ')' (0>2+ )` "Â&#x20AC; Meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 1 pm in the Nueva Posada. Denny Strole (376) 766-0485 )' + (' ')' >+/5 Â&#x20AC; ) Â&#x20AC; 16 de Sep. # 16-A Ajijic, Open Monday - Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm. www.lakechapalasociety.org. 766-1140. )' + >$+ `2>/5 '4'0$ Â&#x2030; _ ! %% * !* & [ \ % Â&#x2030; Â&#x2039; Â&#x2039; )' + >$+ 0>+2$ /(+ '2> ') Â&#x20AC; For information contact John at 766-1170 or visit our website www.lakesidefriendsoftheanimals.org )' + >$+ )'`W(/+0 )` Â&#x20AC; Meets every Wed. from 9 am - 9:40 beginning September 29. For information call Charlene 766-0884. )' + >$+ )>//)+ /(+'/0+ '" .- Balanced theatrical entertainment, English-speaking, 765-5942. )' + >$+ ( ) 0 /(+ $+' Â&#x20AC; The 4th of each month. Nueva Posada 10:30 am. Call 766-2280, www.lakesideschoolforthedeaf.org. )' + >$+ ` ' /+' '0/5Â&#x20AC; Meeting 2nd Tuesday at 4pm, Sunrise Restaurant, Carretera, San Antonio Tlayacapan )' + >$+ 4>)$)> + 0+ `+ Â&#x2C6; 0+(' >)>/'/> 2Â&#x20AC; Rescue & rehabilitation of wild animals. 765-4916. )' + '5 '2$ 2+`/+0 +2/0 '" "Â&#x20AC; Provides shelter and helps curtail the over-population of animals. 766-3813. LCS EDUCATION CENTER- Provides classes in language and other topics for both Anglo and Mexican community. 766-0499. LCS STUDENT AID FUNDÂ&#x2030; || *$
& | & % Â&#x2030;Â&#x201E; LITTLE BLUE SCHOOLHOUSEÂ&#x2030;
!
| Â&#x2030; Â&#x152;Â&#x152;Â&#x2039; ) 2>2 $+ (' ')' 5 '#>#> % ' Providing educational scholarships to Lakeside children 376-765-7032, www.lakesideninos.org. LOVE IN ACTION- Shelter for abused and abandoned children. For volunteers and donations. Anabel Frutos 765-7409, cell: 331-351 7826. MAS- Music Appreciation Society. Concerts from fall to spring. Classical music and dance concerts. For info call Kathleen Phelps, 766-0010. MISION SAN PABLO- Helping 60 orphaned children ages 2-14 yrs, Bonnie Shrall - Bonnie@shrall.com #766-0009. www.misionsanpablo.org. 2'&5 )+'W`+% )' + (' ')' `2 >)Â&#x20AC; Meets the third Saturday for lunch at 1 pm, Manix Rest. 766 4750 or 766-1848. NEEDLE PUSHERS- Sew dresses, knit or chet sweaters for local kids. Every Tues. 10 am at LCS. Gay Westmoreland - 765-5607. 2>Â&#x2020; >2 ' ' >/'$ $+) )'W % ' "Â&#x20AC; Assisting Lakeside disabled children www.programaninos.org , 766-2201. 2>Â&#x2020; 5 # &+2+ '0'&'2Â&#x20AC; Delivers foodstuffs and used clothing to orphanage in San Juan. Call Reuben Varela, 01-387-761-0828. OPEN CIRCLE- Fostering body, mind & spirit, every Sunday at the LCS from 10 am to 12 noon. 765-3402 or frankdburton@yahoo.com. +0'/> 2 ' > 2 0 '2 '2/ 2> ` >/ (+2"Â&#x20AC; Located at 4 Jesus Garcia in San Antonio Tlayacapan. Tom Music, phone number: 331 547 2726, tmusic3856@yahoo.com. OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS- Every Tuesday & Friday 12 pm at Marcos Castellanos 51-A, in Upper Ajijic. Tel: 376-766-5975 or 766-1626. ' >)'W0 y >0' `) ` /+ "xÂ&#x20AC; Helping Handicapped Children Through the Magic of Horses. Saturdays 8-2. www.pasosmilagrosos.com" RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS- Meets 1st Wednesday at 1:30-4 Gazebo at the Lake Chapala Society. New members welcome. 0 /'05 )` '#>#> Â&#x20AC; Tuesdays. Fellowship at 12:30 p.m., meeting at 1:00 p.m., Hacienda Ajijic Steakhouse, Carr. Ajijic Pte #268-7. www.rotaryajijic.org. ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION- Meets the 3rd Tuesday each month @ 2:30 pm, Bar Tomas, Chapala. Contact rclchapala@gmail.com or 376-765-2602. '>)>2W )' + (' ')'Â&#x20AC; Meets for lunch/drinks-1 pm the 1st Thursday Club Nautico in La Floresta, www.sailinglakechapala.com '2 '2/ 2> /)'5' ' '2 y '/x +k '/ "Â&#x20AC; Meets last Saturday of the month 6pm, at Cenaduria de Elvira, #127 Ramon Corona, San Antonio SCIENCE OF MIND STUDY GROUP- Discussion Tuesday at 10:30 AM, Nicolas Bravo #17 Ajijic; contact Rev. Tim at 766-0920 or tim@revdoctim.com. />' '2 2 0/(+02 )>W(/ '22`') ` > + />&')Â&#x20AC; For details please visit: www.scotiabanknorthernlightsmusicfestival.com THE GENEALOGY FORUM- Meets monthly on the fourth Monday in the Sala at LCS, from 2:00 to 3:45. TOASTMASTERS LAGO DE CHAPALA BILINGUAL GROUP- Meets Tuesdays 6 to 7:30 pm at Rubenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grill. For info; Tim at 766-0920 or Maureen 766-2338. email tim@revdoctim.com `&' Â&#x20AC; `
Â&#x2030;& ' y)
) . " "xÂ&#x20AC; Sue Torres, 766-2932 or Lynn Hanson 766-2660. VIVA LA MUSICA - Bus trips to the symphony, summer concert series, call Rosemay Keeling 766-1801. www.ajijicviva.org. VOLLEYBALL IN CHAPALA- At Cristiania park Tues., Thurs., Sat. mornings at 10, 333-502-1264. VOLUNTEER HEALTH RESOURCE GROUP- Meeting last Saturday of each month at LCS in sala, 10:30. & )`2/++0 /(+ 0`Â&#x160; 0 #'- Sponsors fund raising events and provides administrative and support services to the Delegation. y2 /+8 > ! % " 8 ^?@Â&#x20AC;<=^^x
64
El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
All Saints Lutheran Church Worship Service 11:00 am 4600 Avenida Tepeyac, Guad. Tel. (01 333) 121-6741. Abundant Life Assembly of God Carr. 140 next to Mail Boxes etc, Tel: 766-5615. Center For Spiritual Living Celebration Service, 5pm Fridays, Nicolas Bravo #17 Ajijic. (376) 766-0920 or tim@revdoctim.com. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Services in English and Spanish, 10 am, Riberas del Pilar Bishop Wyvell Tel. (376) 765-7067, Bishopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residence (376) 766-1532. Church of the Holy Spirit Services Sun. 10 am, Albaro Obregon #119, Chapala Tel. (376) 7654210. Christ Church Anglican Fellowship Eucarist 10am upstairs in Manix Restaurant Ocampo #57 Ajijic. Rev. Danny Borkowski at (376) 766-2495 or Jim Powers t (387) 761-0017 Grace Baptist Church 5th Sun. Evening service 6 pm, Pedro Buzeta No. 970, Guad. Tel. (013) 641-1685. Lake Chapala Baptist Church Mid-week service, 9:30 am, worship service, 10:45 am. Santa Margarita #147, Riberas del Pilar, Tel. (376) 765-2925, 765-3329. www.lakechapalabaptist.com. 7th Day Adventist meet at Camino Real #84 in La Floresta, 9:30 am, Potluck follows, Tel: 7665708 Little Chapel by the Lake Sun. services 11 am, Chula Vista,. Jal, Tel. (376) 763-1551. Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation Santa Margarita 113, Riberas del Pilar, Tel: 765-6968. For information and service times, please call Pres. Elliot Gould. contact us@ lakechapalajews.com. Web site: www. lakechapalajews.com. Lakeside Fellowship Sun. worship 11 am, Javier Mina #49 Ajijic, Tel. (376) 766-0795. Lakeside Presbyterian Church Worship-Sunday 10 am; Bible Study-Friday 10 am; Hidalgo 231A, Carr. Chapala/Joco; Riberas del Pilar Tel. Pastor Ross Arnold at 376-766-1238, or Norm Pifer at 376-766-0616 Website at www.chapalalakesidepresbyterian. org Saint Andrew´s Anglican Church Calle San. Lucas 19, Riberas del Pilar, Sunday 2 services, 9 a.m & 11 a.m. Rev. Winston W. Welty Tel: 765-3926. www.standrewsriberas. com San Andres Catholic Church Services 9:00 am. Ajijic, 766-0922. St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catholic Church Between Av. Vallarta & Av. Lazaro Cardenas, Guad. Sun. 11am. (013) 121-8131. The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Meets Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Sta. Margarita #113 in Riberas del Pilar (on the SW corner of Santa Clara) For additional information call 766-1119 or email to '&% %. We are a Welcoming Congregation www.lcuuf.org
&
LAKE /HAPALA SOCIETY
News
May 2012
.....AND THE SURVEY SAYS! In May of last year, the LCS Board of Directors formed the Ad-hoc Membership Committee charged with analyzing membership issues including membership categories, renewal, programs/services and recruitment. To better understand the membership experience and what programs and services the LCS should strengthen or offer in the future, a survey was formulated to collect opinions from current and past members, and never members. Space for comments at the end of each group of questions offered a broader understanding of the responses, and in many cases, cast light on issues not addressed in the survey. The responses have been sorted and distributed to the respective LCS chairpersons. Over the next few months the committees will be analyzing the comments and reporting back to membership in the % * > Â&#x2018; | ! !%
!* > ; %! | %% > Â&#x2019;
Â
proposed recommendations . Survey response Rate The response rate went beyond expectations and provided solid background information from current LCS members. The survey provided a wealth of data for the LCS committees to analyze more thoroughly in the weeks, months and even years ahead. The LCS received 707 questionnaires and of that number 485 were current members, 193 were past members, and 29 from never members. Current member responses Most of the current member responses were submitted by those who have been LCS members for 3-10 years (145 responses ) and likely be knowledgeable of LCS services and programs. Couples made up 57.1% of these responses; and single members made up 42.5%. Membership services When members were asked what services they were most likely to utilize, and with what frequency, they responded:
More results will be in the next LCS Newsletter. Comments or questions? Please e-mail Ben White at ajijicbenitoblanco@gmail.com
Volunteers Are Priceless- Celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Day: Volunteers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get paid, not because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re worthless, but because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re priceless. Thank you to the many LCS volunteers who make it possible for LCS to be so important to all of us. A special thanks to Mary Alice Sargent, organizer of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gathering, LCS volunteer par excellence for so many years, and our new Volunteer Coordinator... who will continue to support the volunteers who make LCS what it is. So today we try to let you know how much we appreciate all that you do. We know only too well that we often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. But today we recognize that silent gratitude isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t much use to anyone. To honour those who recognize that although we make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give... that the purpose of life is not to be happy, but to matter, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all... that you shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go through life with a catcherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mitt on both hands...you need to be able to throw something back... that although nobody can do everything, everyone can do something. So why not act knowing that what you do makes a difference. It does. So, and in closing, and on behalf of the whole LCS community, and certainly of the board, thanks, and thanks. Fred Harland, LCS Vice President
www.lakechapalasociety.org
Saw you in the Ojo 65
Casi Nuevo Thrift Shop News: A volunteer speaks â&#x20AC;?Hi, my name is Marty and I volunteer once a week at Casi Nuevo (almost new) Thrift Store on the corner with the red door in Riberas across from the 7/11. We have now become a consignment store for all of your furnishings and household items - where you the donor receives 70% of the sale. I knew about our charities: School for the Deaf and Children with Special Needs, Have Hammers.... Will Travel and LCS Community Education Program, but had never been to any of them. So, I decided visits were in order. A couple of us went to Have Hammers... Will Travel in Ajijic. We observed classes of 10 to 14 year-olds making serving trays out of wood. It was wonderful to see such young hands so eager to accomplish beautiful carvings with such pride. The teacher was incredibly impressive with his masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledge of woodworking and his emphasis on safety. Next month I plan to visit LCSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Wilkes Education Center so I will have an even better understanding of just why I am volunteering. My experiences have given me and my fellow volunteers renewed interest and energy when working at our little thrift store. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great to meet new people and practice my Spanish, which is well and good, but the real reward was the actual experience of knowing how the sales I make once a week are being used. This has been an incredible learning experience for me. Please visit our store on the carreterra in Riberas and see for yourself how many people support our charities through their donations.â&#x20AC;?
'
According to our cat wrangler, there is good news about the kitty situation. Cinderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operation went very well and she is able to see much better... so much so that she is now hassling the other cats, a real role reversal. So far, we have 750 pesos in the kitty (so to speak), but we need to bring that number up to 1,000 pesos for cat food, care and comfort. Contributions may be at the Cruz Roja table or >
66
El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
Library Update Many of you who participated in the recent online survey had questions or concerns about the library and its operations, so we will be updating our activities in this column monthly. What happens to books donated to the library? Donations form over half of our collections, but all donations are not created equal. When you donate, several things are set in motion. The workroom staff evaluates each donation by age, condition, and whether it is a duplicate of an existing title. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a classic, we usually keep it unless we have a copy. If not, it goes into the â&#x20AC;&#x153;accessioningâ&#x20AC;? process where we enter it into the library database, attach barcode numbers, spine labels, and date-due slips. We may keep a duplicate title as a back-up copy since popular titles do wear out. Older books are often added to our collection, but if they are related to medical issues or other topics where new research renders them outdated, they are usually sold at our semi-annual book sales or through the reading room. We have to be selective as to what we keep; we have limited space and want to use it in the most effective way.In the past year, we added an average of over 200 new titles to the library collection each month. Books we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep are sold or donated to other educational programs. here at lakeside. We appreciate donations at any time.
SPANISH CLASSES The next seven week term of Spanish language classes begins on Monday, May 7th. LCS uses the Warren Hardy Spanish language course designed for the adult reader. Register at LCS on Tuesdays and Fridays, between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, and on the blue umbrella patio on Monday, April 30 through Friday, May 4, between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Class schedules, LCS membership requirements, tuition, policies and materials needed, as well as additional information is on the LCS website at www. LakeChapalaSociety.org. or call 766-1140
CAN-AM FUND RAISER CAN USE A LITTLE HELP The Can-Am Fundraiser is in the planning stage and needs your help. Our celebration is scheduled to take place on July 3rd between 10 am and 4 pm. The fundraising committee needs committed volunteers who can work on this project part of May, and June and through July. The criteria: adequate computer and printer skills, possible prior experience in event planning, decorating, budgets, and writing publicity articles.
VIDEO LIBRARY NEWS
MAY ACTIVITIES *OPEN TO PUBLIC
** US CITIZENS
0`Â&#x160; 0 #' Â&#x2039; Cruz Roja Sales Table M â&#x20AC;&#x201C;F 10-1 Cruz Roja Monthly Meeting 1st W 1:30-4 (+')/( >2 `0'2 + Â&#x2039; IMSS M+T 10-1 NYLife/Seguros Monterrey Insurance T+TH 11-2 (+')/( Â&#x2C6; )+W') +0&> + Â&#x2039; Becerra Immigration F 10-12 Blood Pressure M+F 10-12 Blood Sugar Screenings 2nd+3rd F 10-12 Hearing Services M & 2nd+ 4th SAT 11-3 Sign-up Information Desk M-SAT 10-2 Loridans Legal T 10-12 Optometrist TH 9-4 Sign-up Skin Cancer Screening 2nd+4th W 10-12 $ Sign-up US Consulate 1st W 10:30-12:30 Sign up 10AM Vida Alarms T 10-2 LESSONS Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art SAT 10-12 * Country Line Dancing T+TH 10-11:15 Exercise M+W+F 9-10 Have Hammers T 10-12+ TH 3-5 * Intermediate Hatha Yoga T+TH+SAT 2- 3:45 Spanish Conversations M 10-12 Grammar Required LIBRARIES Audio TH 10-12 Book & Video M-SAT 10-2 Talking Books US Library of Congress TH 10-12 ** SOCIAL ACTIVITIES Beginnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Digital Camera W 12-1 Computer Windows Club F 10:30-11:45 Discussion Group W12-1:30 Dreams Class TH 1-2:30 Everyday Mindfulness M 10:30-12 ^ % Â&#x2018; Â&#x201D;
Â&#x2022; Â&#x2039;Â&#x2030;Â&#x2039; ^ % Â&#x2018; Â&#x2039; Â&#x2013;Â&#x201A; Â&#x2013; Â&#x2022; Â&#x2039;Â&#x2030;Â&#x201A; Genealogy Last M 2-4 iPad/iPod/iPhone F 9:30-10:30 Mac OS 1st M 12-1:30 Mac User 3rd W 3-4:30 Mah-Jonng F 10-2:30 Needle Pushers T 10-11:45 Scrabble M+F 12-2 Singing for the Brain M 2-3 * Storytellers 2nd T 3-6 * Tournament Scrabble T 12-2 +0&> + Â&#x2C6; ` 0/ W0 ` Â&#x2039; AA Lakeside M+TH 4:30-6 AA Women TH 10:30-12 AL-Anon/Al-aTeen M 4:00-5:30 Gamblers Anonymous W 11-1 Green Group 1st T 3-4:30 MS Support Group 3rd W 3-4:30 NiĂąoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s de Chapala /Ajijic F 10-2 Open Circle SUN 10-12:15 /> +/ ')+ Â&#x20AC; 9;Â&#x20AC;9< Â&#x2039;
New additions for May BOARDWALK EMPIRE Is set in the Prohibition era of the 1920s. It is the story of Enoch â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nuckyâ&#x20AC;? Thompson, treasurer of Atlantic County, New Jersey. Based in Atlantic City, Nucky draws the attention of the federal government because of his political contacts, his relationships with mobsters, a lavish
operations that plague the area. HBO Series NO END IN SIGHT decisions made in the spring of 2003 - and the backgrounds of those making decisions - immediately following the overthrow of Saddam. KNOCKED UP This simple story makes an entertaining comedy. Ben Stone meets Alison Scott at a bar; they get drunk and have a little fun afterward, then part ways until a few weeks later, when Alison discovers sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pregnant. Lots of great laughs and a lot of heart spread throughout. MY WEEK WITH MARILYN ! " Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe. While Olivier struggles with the blonde # intrigued by her. To his star-struck delight, MM invites him into her private world for a week, where she struggles with her fame, her beauty and her desire to be a great actress. Dramatic foreign thriller THE SKIN I LIVE IN starring Antonio Bandares, is
a type of synthetic skin that withstands any kind of damage. His guinea pig: a mysterious and volatile woman who holds the key to his obsession. English sub-titles HUGO An orphan boy living in the walls of a train station in 1930s Paris $
he uses to keep the station clocks running. The only thing that he has left to connect him to his dead father is an automaton (mechanical man) that only % it contains. PERSUASION Despite true love, Royal Navy Captain Wentworth, a suitor for the hand of Anne, daughter of Sir Walter Elliot, was haughtily turned
& ' stressed baronet, now rents his estate to Wentworthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brother-in-law, Admiral Croft, so that he can afford a fashionable, cheaper residence in trendy Bath. The former lovers meet again on the estate, but neither dares admit their feelings until it seems too late. %
; *
>
web page and in the white catalogs at the Video Library. We will be happy to transfer your VHS tapes to DVD discs.
Volunteers needed for LCS Maintenance and
Help! We need volunteers for gardening, painting, basic plumbing and/or electrical work, and general clean-up. Can you volunteer for few hours to maintain and beautify the LCS grounds and facilities? Please contact Mark Schwimmer at markschwimmer@yahoo.com for more details.
Saw you in the Ojo 67
FILM AFICIONADOS Thursdays in May ALL FILMS IN THE SALA LCS MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED NO DOGS ALLOWED 3 May-12:00 Noon EVEN THE RAIN (Tambien La Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2030; Â&#x2039;Â&#x201E; Â&#x2122; \ Â&#x2019; Â&#x2039;Â&#x201E;Â&#x201E;Â&#x201E; Â&#x2018; % %
a powerful message-the weak must be strong to survive. Spanish with English subtitles. 10 May- 2:00 pm. PATAGONIA- 2010 The action takes place in Wales and Patagonia. The story of two women; one searching for her past, the other her future. Welsh with English subtitles. 17 May- 12:00 Noon. MONSIEUR LAZHAR- 2012 Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language ^ % %$ %
* ; $
much to say about education and growing up. French with English subtitles. 24 May- 2:00 pm. I WISH (KISEKI)- 2012 ] | % * & ! Â&#x161;Â&#x161; ! <
yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Academy Award nominations. Young brothers are separated by divorce. Koichiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only wish is for his family to be reunited. Japanese with English subtitles. 31 May-2:00 pm. MOMMY IS AT THE HAIRDRESSER 2008 Â&#x2122; Â&#x201E;\ % Â&#x2030; &
that the adult world is not what she expected in this coming of age story. French with English subtitles.
REMEMBER LCS will be closed Tuesday, May 1 LABOR DAY
W $ The Lake Chapala Society is offering monthly games days free for its membership. Non-members will also be able to sign up and play for a fee of 20 pesos per day. So, whatever your leisure Â&#x203A; %
| ! & % Â&#x2DC;$ * \
% &
you like. Show up Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and choose among Texas Hold-â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Em, Mexican Train, Scrabble, Rummy Q, Hand & Foot, or try your luck at darts in the Ken Gosh room. Additional games, including Blackjack, will be added if there appears to be enough interest. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know the games; volunteers will be on hand to teach you. This is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, learn new games and make new Â&#x2122; & % ! * $ & Â&#x2030; |
sheets available for the next round. A no-host bar will be open offering Bloody Marys, beer and wine. The LCS grounds will be open as usual for all the regular Saturday programs and services, as well as the El Patio coffee and snack bar. Next Saturday Games Day dates are May 19, June 23, and August 18. (No Games Day in July) ^ % % $ [ > [
contact Patricia Doran at 766-0794.
Storytellers Say Thanks The Storytellers group has received a donation of $2,000 pesos for the Jim Collumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Education Fund from the Lake Chapala Writersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference. Harriet Hart, representing the Writersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference, presented this generous and much appreciated donation at the April program. Storytellers, the group that sponsors the popular monthly & & !* [ \ !
$
donates all of its proceeds to the Jim Collumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Education Fund. Please note: there will be no Storytellers event in May. Storytellersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; next presentation will be Tuesday, June 12, in the LCS gazebo, from 4 to 6 pm. The theme this time will be â&#x20AC;&#x153;Erotica.â&#x20AC;? Bar opens 3:30 pm. Look for details in this column next month.
/(+ )' + (' ')' >+/5% '" " 9? \9?Â&#x20AC;'% '1 1 % # ) 8 y|^?x ^??Â&#x20AC;99]; Â&#x20AC; $ %
| ; * Â&#x153; > *$ Â&#x201E; Â&#x2018;; Â&#x2039; ; Â? | Â&#x152; ;
LCS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Â&#x20AC; ( * y<;9]xÂ&#x152; & Â&#x20AC; Â&#x20AC; ( y<;9|x / Â&#x20AC; ( y<;9|xÂ&#x152; Â&#x20AC; # 0 y<;9]x $ Â&#x20AC; y<;9]xÂ&#x152; $ Â&#x20AC; ) ! y<;9|xÂ&#x152; $ Â&#x20AC; ' W y<;9|xÂ&#x152; $ Â&#x20AC; ( * y<;9|xÂ&#x152; $ Â&#x20AC; ' $" ( . y<;9]xÂ&#x152; $ Â&#x20AC; 4 y<;9|xÂ&#x152; $ Â&#x20AC; + . y<;9]xÂ&#x152; $ Â&#x20AC; y<;9]xÂ&#x152; $ Â&#x20AC; 4 y<;9|xÂ&#x152; +[ $ Â&#x20AC; / & * THE LCS NEWSLETTER IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY. * Deadline for submissions is the 17th of the month preceding publication. * News items can be e-mailed to + / 4 5 & 6 ' 7
8<=>?5 & * Note: The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all submissions. * Articles and/or calendar of events will be included according to time, space availability and editorial decision.
68
El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
Saw you in the Ojo 69
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Service
***" " "
DIRECTORY
- PERMANENT EYE LINER Tel: 765-3502
'$&+0/> >2W +) # $+) )'W Tel. 765-3676
!8 9@
+$ 0+' ' /
')'0 + `0>/5 5 /+ - VIDA ALARMS Tel: 766-3500
!8 @9
') ( )> '2 25 ` - ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Tel: 766-5961
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- CASA DEL SOL Tel: 766-0050 - CASA TRES LEONES Cell: (045) 331-350-6764 &>))' '2 0'2 >
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/ 0+ > + >0+ - SANDI Tel: 01 (33) 3121-0863
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- BELLA FLORES EXPORTS AUTO SALES Tel. (951)7428117 !8 @@ - LINEA PROFESIONAL Tel. 766-2555, Fax. 766-0066 !8 <?
- FOLIATTI CASINO
- AUTOMATIC GARAGE DOOR OPENERS Tel: 766-4973 !8 <;
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W5 32 )' + Tel: 766 1278 >/ 4+)) Tel: 766-4404, Cell. 331-149-7271 /'2$ > + Cell: (045) 33-3814-5913
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- BLUE MOON Tel: 766-0937 - CARMEN Cell: (045) 33-1092-7411 #' + $ 2 ') 2 Tel: 766-4073 2+4 ) /`$> Tel: 766-6000
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El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
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('0$4'0+ / 0+ - FERRETERIA Y TLAPALERIA GALVEZ Tel: 766-0880, Fax: 766-2440 Pag: 74 - REAL ORTEGA-Hardware for Carpenters Tel: 765-7556 Pag: 47
(+')/( - SAVIA Tel: 766-0087 4+>W(/ 4'/ (+0 Tel: 01-800-710-3378
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>2 `0'2 + - EDGAR CEDEÑO - MEXICO PROTECT Cell: (045) 33-3106-6982 !8 9? )' + (' ')'>2 `0'2 +" !8 @< -O&A Tel: 766-0152, 766-3508 !8 <@ )+4> '2$ )+4> Tel: (310) 399-0800, (800) 966-6830 !8 ]= '0 +0 >2 `0'2 + +0&> + Cell: (33) 3809-7116 !8 <; - PROTEXPLAN U.S. Toll Free 1-800-608-5743 Mexico Toll Free 01-800-681-6730 !8 @? - TIOCORP Tel: 766-3978 !8 <]
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+$> ') +0&> + - AESTHETIC PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE `0W+05 $ " W Tel: 766-4435, (33) 3630-1946 !8 9< )>2> ' 5 '0 ' >' ' '0' Tel: 765-4805, 765-5827 !8 @} - DERMATOLOGIST Tel: 766-1198, 765-2400 !8 |< $+0 > ' Dermatologic Center Tel: 766-2500 !8 << - DOCTOR GEORGE Tel: 766-4435 Pag: 30 $0'" '0/(' 0" '))+ /+0 0'2 Cell: (045) 333-408-0951 Pag: 17 - ENDOSCOPY ASSOCIATES Cell: 766-5851 !8 <| - HOSPITAL ANGELES DEL CARMEN Tel: (01) 3813-0042 !8 ;= - INTEGRITY Tel: 766-4435 !8 9< - ISILAB Tel: 766-1164 Pag: 43 )' + (' ')' ( > + Tel: 765-7777 !8 @] - PLASTIC SURGERY RIVERA CHAPALA Cell: (045) 331-265-5075 !8 @;
- ALL IN ONE REAL ESTATE SERVICE Tel: 766-1161 !8 ;@ - ALMA NIEMBRO Cell: 331 212 9553 !8 <9 - ARELLANO Tel: 766-4696 Pag: 19 +&" #+'2 +)) % $
!8 @< +2/`05 <9 Tel: 766-2612 Pag: 31 - CHULA VISTA NORTE Tel: 766-2177 Cell: (045) 33-3841-8867 Pag: 13 - CHAVEZ REALTY & SERVICES Tel: 766-5481 !8 <} )$4+)) '2 +0 (' ')' 0+')/5 Tel: 766-1152, 766-3369 Fax: 766-2124, Tels: 765-2877 Fax: 765-3528 !8 ^? $+0+ /0+&+/('2 Cell: 333 100 2660 !8 <9 - EL DORADO Tel: 766-4525 !8 ;< 0 ')+ 5 42+0 Tel: 766-1660 !8 @? - GEORGETTE RICHMOND Tel: 766-2077 Pag: 11 - HAMACAS Tel: 766-2099 !8 ;< - INTERCASA Tel: 765-7553 !8 |@ - LOS MEZQUITES Tel: 765-3676 Pag: 41 - MEXICO PROPERTY RESOURCES Tel: (315) 351-7489 Pag: 44 50 23 +k> Cell: 331-364-6524 !8 @] - PABLO CABRAL Tel: 766-2612, Cell: 33-1424-1667 Pag: 31 +/+0 /" # (2 Tel: 765-3676 !8 <= - PRIMAVERA DEL MAR Tel: (33) 3642-4370 Pag: 41 - RAUL GONZALEZ Cell: 33-1437-0925 Pag: 03 - SARA ARREOLA Cell: 331-438-8489 !8 << - VERONIQUE FONTAGNOL Tel: (045) 333 115 1130 Pag: 31
&+0 0+2/') 0 +0/5 '2'W+ +2/ - BALDERAS Tel: 01 (33) 3810-4859 )' + (' ')' &>2W Tel: 766-5008 /0 4(>/+ &+0 Tel: 766-4049
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('0 ' >+ - FARMACIA CRISTINA Tel: 766-1501 - FARMACIA EXPRESS II '0 ' >' ' '0' Tel/Fax: 765-5827 - FARMACIA MORELOS Tel: 765-4002
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Pag: 33
' ' 'W+ ('0)>+3 ' 'W+ Cell: (045) 331-044-4834 - HYDROPOOL Tel: 766-4030 #' >2 ' Tel: 766-3468 - RESPIRO SPA Tel: (045) 33-3157-7790 - SPACIO ANGELICAL Tel: 766-0955 - TERMAL COSALA Tel: 01 (387) 761-0494 - TOTAL BODY CARE Tel: 766-3379
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- LA CASA NOSTRA Tel: 765-3824 - LA VALENTINA Tel: 766-5179 - SHANGRI-LA Tel: 766-1359 - THE BLUE HOUSE Tel: 766-3558
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- AIMAR Tel: 766-0801
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Pag: 17
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- CHAPALA TREE SERVICE Tel: 762-0602
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The Ojo Crossword
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)$4+)) '2 +0 (' ')' 0+')/5 Tel: 766-1152, movile: (045) 33-1175-9632 !8 ^? # 0W+ / 00+ !8 <? Tel: 766-3737 - FOR RENT !8 @= Tel: 765-6867 - LA MANZANILLA OCEAN FRONT CONDOS Tel: 315-351-5014 Pag: 73 - MANZANILLO VACATION RENTALS Tel: (314) 100-6773 or (314) 125-2817 !8 @= - RENTAL CENTER !8 @= Tel: 765-3838 - RENTAL LOCATERS Pag: 47 Tel: 766-5202 - SANTANA RENTALS Cell: 315-104-3283, Pag: 44 - VILLAS DEL SOL Tel: 766-1152 !8 @]
Tel: 01 (33) 3615-4952 Pag: 49 # )'2$' Tel: 315-351-5449 !8 ?9 )' $+W' $+ '#>#> Tel. 766-1002 !8 ?; - LA NUEVA POSADA Tel: 766-1444, 766-2049 Pag: 03 - “ LA TAVERNA”DEI QUATTRO MORI Tel: 766-2848 !8 9= - LOS TELARES Tel: 766-0428 !8 9@ - MANIX Tel: 766-0061 Pag: 19 - MOM´S DELI & RESTAURANT Tel: 765-5719 Pag: 09 - NUMBER FOUR Tel: 766-1360 !8 <| - PANINO Tel: 766-3822 !8 <; - PIZZERIA TOSCANA Tel: 765-6996 !8 ]@ - RISTORANTE DI AURORA Tel: 766-4013 !8 @? - T INDEPENDENCIA Tel: 766-1197 !8 @} /' '0 ' Tel: 766-1588 Pag: 47 - THE SECRET GARDEN Tel: 766-5213 !8 |< - THE SCORE SPORTS BAR Cell: 331-789-5937 !8 <} - TOMAS Tel: 765-3897 !8 @| / 253 Tel: 766-1614, 766-4069 !8 <| /4 2 Tel: 766-5089 !8 ?^ - YVES Tel: 766-3565 !8 @}
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'#>#> /'2W Tel: 766-2458 !8 ?9 - ASPORTO ITALIANO DA MARIA Cell: (045) 331-142-4154 !8 9= - BAYA BISTRO Tel: 766-2845 !8 @^ 0+2$'3 Tel: 765-2987 !8 ?; ' ' $+) 4' )+ Tel: 766-1946 Pag: 03 $'&>$3 ' + Tel: 766-2341 !8 ?= +) #'0$>2 $+ 2>2+//+ Tel. 766-4905 !8 <? - EL FIGÓN Tel. 766-5468 !8 ?= - GO LE CLUB Cell: (045) 33-3502-6555 Pag: 33 - IL DUOMO
Saw you in the Ojo 71
CARS (13) For Sale: Ford F350 Super Duty Supercab. Mint, 6.8L V10, Gas, Auto, 4x4, Leather, loaded, AC works great, good tires, brakes, exhaust, US plates, year 2000, mileage 136,000. Price: $6000. Contact: Neil Williams. For Sale: ATV cargo trailer. Year 2002, wheels are new, v-nose and has removable shelving. Price: $4,200 USD. Contact: Sheila Dickinson. 4'2/+$: SUV in excellent condition, Jeep/Ford/Toyota, 2003/2004/2005 with low mileage and Mexican plates. Call: (331) 1155173. For Sale: 2005 Ford Five Hundred. Comfortable, elegant and gives you 9.6 km/ lt. Willing to trade for a smaller car. Price: 80,000 MXP. Call: 3310707872 For Sale: 2003 Honda Element. Mexican plate Honda Element. Price: $110,000 MXP. Email: mluvian12@hotmail.com or Call: (376) 766 5423. For Sale: 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650. Great bike for around town or cruising Mexico on road or off road. Comes with saddle bags and brand new spare front tire. Price: $3,900 USD. Call: 333 408 8727 or Email: dannollart@gmail.com. For Sale: 2006 Jeep Liberty. Excellent condition, all paper work is in order, taxes have been paid for 2012 and is Mexican plated. Price: $138,000 MXP. Call: (376) 7661604. For Sale: Dodge Neon, 1998, 4 door, automatic, a/c, am/fm stereo, excellent maintenance, in great condition, easy on the pocketbook. Price: $3,200 U.S.D. or peso equiv. Call: 01 (387) 763 2962. 4 : Nissan, Toyota, or Mazda. Wanted immediately pick-up truck in good condition. Not too old. Call: (376) 766 4456, (376) 766 4087, 3312303374 or 3311383193. For Sale: 2011 Cargo Boss. Great on gas, 300cc gas motor, electric carrier in rear, signal lights, 55 km per hour Cargo, 300 kgs, electric winch, auto transmission, 4 speeds, 4 wheel drive. Like new! Price: $73,000 pesos. Call: (376) 766 4086. For Sale: 1996 Ford Taurus 4 Door Sedan. Mexican plates/Taxes & emission paid for 2012, brand new battery, 68,900 miles. Price: $2,900 U.S.D. or equivalent in pesos. Call: (045) 3313876470 or (045) 3331726556. FOR SALE: Mercury Villager, 7 passenger van, automatic, A/C blows cold, low mileage, cloth interior, clean, one owner, U.S. plated. Call: 331-470-6608. FOR SALE: 2007 Hyundai Tiburon SE model, top of the line, 6 spd, barely broken in, under 32,000 miles, US plated, beautiful condition. $11,500 USD. MUST SEE! Call: 765-7629. FOR SALE: 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 4 door, excellent condition, mileage 47,300. Price: $6,000 USD. E-mail: il3queen@yahoo.com.
COMPUTERS For Sale: 2 MAJICJACK, new, never activated, 1 standard, 1 MJ PLUS, you choose your phone number when registering, really cheap international calls, pay-asyou-go. Price: Standard $49 and Plus $69 USD. Contact: JP.
72
For SaleÂ&#x160; & ! &
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cameras. Change bag essential for chang & % $ & |
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development, with light proof sleeves for your arms and spacious inside pouch to work in. Price: $350 pesos. Call: (376) 766 3025. For Sale: Computer desk. Can hold 15â&#x20AC;? monitor, maybe larger, pull out keyboard, desk area for writing, bottom shelf for tower, upper shelf to hold printer & another general utility shelf, on rollers for easy moving. Price: $450 pesos. Call: (376) 766 3025. For Sale: Hewlett-Packard G4050 Scan jet. Bought new in 2008, scans photos, slides and documents. Price: $1,000 pesos or best offer. Call: (376) 768 1722. FOR SALE: Lexmark - 310 Series Photo Jet printer New and has manual and all paperwork, $600 pesos. Call: 765-4590. FOR SALE: New black ink cartridge, open by mistake. HP C6602A $100 pesos Call: Lorena at 765-3676.
PETS & SUPPLIES For Sale: Dog/Cat Carrier. Used once, airline approved 11â&#x20AC;? Wide, 16 1/2â&#x20AC;? Long 10â&#x20AC;? high and in perfect condition. Price: $350 pesos. Call: (376) 765 4590. For Sale: No concrete pond. Dismantling a garden pond -- approx 10ft by 8 ft. Have all the accessories required, com| * %$ & Â&#x160; Â&#x17E; $Â&#x152;Â&#x201E;Â&#x201E;
pesos. Please contact Annie Archive for full details. For Sale: Beautiful Puppy for Adoption. He needs a name and a good home. He plays well with our dog and from all ap| ! % %|
for the lucky owner. Contact: Ron Natale. Position Desired: House/pet sitting. Reliable local woman will care for your house and pets as if they were her own. Local references available. Price: $200 pesos per day. Contact: Email anitawikum@ netscape.net or call (376) 765 6314. For Sale: Transporter for small cats or dogs, has sanitary bottom for travel, metal door, etc. Price: $300 obo. Call: (045) 3331166755. Position Desired: Pet/House sitting. Mature, responsible retired couple. Would love to help you when you go on vacation, business by caring for your pets and home. Need to plan ahead, and would need assignment of at least 4 weeks. References will be provided. For Sale: Cute Yorkshire Terrier puppy. AKC registered, veterinary checked and is of good temperament and careful disposition. Contact: Beryl Johnson. For Sale: Rusty orange Tabby cat needs a new home. Leaving Chapala, great | *$ <
% ; & ment community which does not allow animals. Please help. Contact: Joe Slaiman. For Sale: Standard poodle puppies. 8 weeks old, 50 lbs, AKC with fantastic dispositions and smart. Will bring them to the lake area for you to meet/pictures. Price: $400 U.S.D. Call: (044) 3421001861. FOR SALE: Perro Aztecas! No hair, no allergies and no hair around the house to clean up. Small dog, perfect companion, sweetest there is. Contact: Oscar Olivares. FOR SALE: Large Airline style Dog
El Ojo del Lago / May 2012
crate, heavy duty plastic/resin material in beige with chrome door. Approximately 2 1/2â&#x20AC;&#x2122; wide & high, 3â&#x20AC;&#x2122; long. Price: $700 pesos. Contact: Sherry Hudson. For Sale: 3 Yorkshire Terrier puppies 4 months old with vaccines. Price: $6000 MXP. Contact: Angelica Solorzano. FOR SALE: Baby African Grey Parrot excellent domestic pet is considered the most intelligent parrot. Price: $25,000 pesos. Contact: Antonio Perez (only Spanish).
GENERAL MERCHANDISE For Sale: Pasta Maker and Fondue Pot. Atlas pasta maker made in Italy, has | | | &
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noodle attachment Price: $300 pesos. Rival electric fondue pot with forks. Price: $120 pesos. Call: (387) 761 0259. For Sale: I bought interior paint in the wrong colors and now have 3 full buckets, plus 1 ½ bucket full available for sale. Price: $ 1300 pesos for all buckets or $ 400 pesos each and the ½ bucket at $250 pesos. Contact: Rosemond Mitchell For Sale: Magnet Mattress Pad. Magnetic travel mattress pad for single a bed. Price: $750 MXP. Call: (376) 763 5187. For Sale: Respironics CPAP Sleep Apnea Machine. Price: $500 MXP. Call: (376) 763 5187. For Sale: 760H Kodak carousel projector with 12 slide trays. Price: $300 pesos. Call: (376) 763 5187. For Sale: Portable Room-sized Swamp Cooler from Home Depot. No reasonable offer refused. Call: (376) 763 5187. For Sale: Wardrobe completely closed in, white canvas with a touch of blue. 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122; high, 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;3â&#x20AC;&#x2122;wide, 1â&#x20AC;&#x2122;7â&#x20AC;?depth, has two clear, plastic zipper doors. Inside at one side are pockets for 6 pairs of shoes. Call: (376) 766 5344. For Sale: Panasonic Family size Microwave oven. This microwave oven is large and could be used for a restaurant. Inside measures 15.5 x 16 inches with huge glass plate, black outside, white inside. Price: $550 pesos. Contact: Heika Bennett. For Sale: Star Choice/Shaw Receivers. These are the 401 series, all used and work great with remotes. Price: $500 pesos. Call: (376) 765 4590. For Sale: Great Gelato place. With beer and wine license included, half a block from Ajijic´s malecon, great location. Price: $9 k USD. Call: (376) 766 6007. For Sale: Freezer upright display for sale 73â&#x20AC;? high , 28â&#x20AC;? across, 25â&#x20AC;? deep 5.11â&#x20AC;? high brand new, never used one year warranty it has a button to save electricity. Call: (376) 766 38 62 and 331 302 70 35. For Sale: Large stainless steel barbecue for built in. Warming ovens and one side for griddle. lava rock and 1- 20 lb., tank included. Price: $3,000 pesos. Contact: Sandi Briscoe. For Sale: 50-inch Round Table, 5 Chairs. Beautiful custom made iron outdoor or indoor set. Cushions are red and gold stripe umbrella. Price: $7000 pesos. Email: glrooney@gmail.com For Sale: American Encyclopedia. Copy rights 1958 to 1962. 30 volumes, an encyclopedia, world atlas and 2 dictionaries. Good condition. Original cost $1,000 USD. Price: $2,000 pesos. Call: (376) 765
2407. For Sale: 20 inch Samsung TV with built in VHS VCR, older style TV with remote. Price: $500 pesos. Call: (376) 766 4105. Position Desired: Black TV stand on casters, TV sits on top, one shelf for receiver or DVD, 2 doors on bottom, 28 inches wide, 16 inches deep, 26 inches high. Price: $300 pesos. Call: (376) 766 4105. For Sale: Ketomed US equivalent, ke Â&#x161; Â&#x2039;Â&#x; Â&#x2030; Â&#x201A; Â&#x161; ! Â&#x160;
$250 pesos/bottle. Call: (376) 765 7629. For Sale: Easy Outdoor Shade Awnings. Brand new in box, never used 8 feet wide x 7 feet high, blocks 80% of the sun. Have 4 for sale. Price: $3,300 pesos each. Call: (376) 766 5686. For Sale: Dish Television receiver. Paid $400 pesos 4 months ago. Price: $175. Call: (376) 766 2902. For Sale: King Size Bed. Excellent quality, almost new, with pillow top and box spring with legs, extremely comfortable and comes with warranty. Only 4 months old!!! Call: (376) 766 2902. For Sale: Brand New electric scooter never used. Fire engine red lights and horn comes with hydraulic lift and ramps. Call: (376) 766 4456, (376) 766 4087 and (376) 766 2066. For Sale: Various Tools. Bench vice 75mm, clamp on, swivel base $300 pesos, drop forged steel wedges, 2 for $100 pesos, long handle shovel, $90 pesos, pitch fork $70 pesos, shop light w. 50ft. cord $100 pesos, (2) Garden Hoses 50 ft. long, $150 pesos each, tool box $70 pesos, heavy duty rope 2 for $30 pesos. Contact: Dorothea Boucher. For Sale: Roof Sealer and membrane. Price: $2,000 pesos. Call: (376) 766 7008. For Sale: Kitchen Items. Bread maker, juicer, stoves (5 large burners and 2 small burners), small fridge, small dog crate, pots, pans, sheets, etc. Call: (045) 3331166755. For Sale: Nice 5 burner stove with huge oven, looks good, black, has comal and broiler, need to sell this week. Price: $2,500. Call: (045) 3331166755. For Sale: Pacemaker Monitor ECG Transmitter Medtronic works over your telephone to your doctor. Set of wrist Electrodes. Contact: Dorothea Boucher. Price $ 200 pesos. For Sale: Garmin Nuvi 750 GPS, 4.3inch display includes North America and Mexico, has the latest maps, Spanish dictionary, language assistance, audio book features, millions of points of interest (POIs) like hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, ATMs, etc. MSRP. Price: $319 USD. Call: (376) 7635086. 4 : Ladies golf clubs for right hand ladies 3-5 & 7 golf club woods, large heads. Contact: George. For Sale: BBQ Rotisserie. Ron Popeil rotisserie oven, with all the accessories, in good condition, includes recipe book. Price: $100. Call: (376) 766 5682. For Sale: Aluminum cargo trailer, new tires, heavy duty chains and hitch cable for lights and brake controller. Price: $4200 USD. Call: (045) 331-709-0901 or (376) 763 5107. For Sale: DSR207 star choice receiver (not HD) complete with remote and con-
necting cable to TV. Price: $750 pesos. Call: (376) 766 4105. For Sale: VCR, RCA, VHS, VCR, complete with remote. Price: $200 pesos. Call: (376) 766 4105. For Sale: Quarter violin in excellent condition is only missing 1 string. Price: $1500 pesos. Call: (376) 765 5523. For Sale: Mans bicycle (black with basket) good condition with gears, easy ride. Price: $900 pesos. Contact: Stephen Stokes. For Sale: Bench with large extension, bar, weights (150 LBS). Price: $1600 pesos. Call: (376) 765 5523. For Sale: JVC THL1 surround sound system, works perfectly, includes remote and original manual. Price: $75. Contact: Alex Chartier. For Sale: New, fun, costume jewelry! I have necklaces and bracelets, some with real stones and some with shells. Call: (376) 766-3025. Price: $100 to $200 pesos. For Sale: White wood cabinet with shelves in excellent condition white cabinet, closed cabinet doors with some open shelves and one larger counter type shelf. Price: $1,800 OBO. Call: (376) 766 3025. For Sale: Wrought Iron Gate with single door, black with frame. Frame size - 85â&#x20AC;? X 48â&#x20AC;? or 2.16m X 1.2m Price: $500 pesos. Â&#x160; Â?  For Sale: Dining table with 6 chairs, in good condition. Price: $2,100 pesos. Call: (376) 766 5544. For Sale: Bunk beds twin/double combo, upper twin, bottom is double but can be used as twin may also be used separately with caps for corners, barely used, bedding available, wooden pecan colored. Price: $5,000 pesos. Call: (376) 765 4172. For Sale: Wireless Security Alarm System. A wireless home security alarm system with remote control. Price: $4,000 pesos or $5,000 pesos if installed. Call: (045) 331-330-1050. For Sale: Voice-activated micro-cassette recorder includes 3 micro-cassettes (2 never opened), earpiece, and original instruction booklet. Price: $300. Call: (376) 766 3580. For Sale: AM/FM/SW/LW Portable radio, very lightweight, good for remote location use, etc. Price: $500 pesos. Call: (376) 766 3580. For Sale: 3 toilet covers, wood, white/ beige, brand new, still in Home Depot box. Price: $150 pesos each. Contact: Dorothea Boucher. For Sale: Slimline refrigerator, 12 cu ft, white, in excellent condition, 26â&#x20AC;? wide. Price: $1800 pesos. Contact: Sandi Briscoe. For Sale: Orthopedic Equipment, hand/ wrist wood excerciser $20 pesos, 2 Orthopedic Patient walker belts $100 pesos each, foot exerciser, wood from Finland $200 pesos. Contact: Dorothea Boucher. For Sale: 2 yr old fridge (18 sq. ft) for $4,500 pesos and marble table with 4 chairs for $4000 pesos. Call: (378) 763 3000. For Sale: Long range phones. Works up to 40KM. Base unit connects to your home phone. Has 2 mobile units. Uses Yagi directional antenna. Price: $2,500 or best reasonable offer. Call: (376)765 6348. For Sale: Iron Skillets. 3 Iron Skillets, large, medium, small. Price: $25 USD or equivalent in Pesos. Contact: Ron Zunk. For Sale: Impact Wrench. ½ inch standard duty, 3 Quick-connect studs and 12 Piece Impact Socket Set. Paid $200, make offer in USD or equivalent. Contact: Ron Zunk. For Sale: Surge Guard Voltage Regulator. Model 10175 120V/240V 50 AMP, monitor and control electric voltage, can ! %
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tric breaker box to protect the entire home. Paid $750, make offer in USD or equivalent in Pesos. Contac: Ron Zunk. For Sale: Ford E450 Super Duty 6.8L Engine, 2 Air Filters - Part No FA1632, 1 Fuel Filter - Part No FF686 or G6593. Price: $7 USD or $80 pesos each. Contact: Ron Zunk. For Sale: Micro quiet 4000 Generator Model # 4KYFA26100K SPEC K, 3 Air Filters - Part No 140-3280, 1 Fuel Filter - Part No 149-2456. Price: $7 USD or $80 pesos each. Contact: Ron Zunk. For Sale: Craft Wakeboard-Ski Boat. 1983 Pleasure craft engine, customized and restored, Mexican plated and nationalized, 1000 amp sound system, includes almost new trailer. Price: $7,500 pesos. Call: (376) 766 1718. Contact: JP. For SaleÂ&#x160; Â&#x20AC; > || Â&#x2022;
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paper, post-its, pens, staples, staplers, calculators, paper clips, notepads etc.). Come and make an offer. For Sale: High-quality CYCLONE exercise machine, low-no impact on joints. In excellent condition, though timer needs replacing. Price: $50 USD. Contact: JP. For Sale: Moving sell. 52â&#x20AC;? TV, 4 recliner leather theater group, Henredon bedroom set with therapeutic mattress, rosewood china hutch, tables, lamps, granite dining set & more. Call: (376) 765 2326 for private showing. For Sale: 2 Ocean kayaks + safety equip. well-used, never damaged, complete with paddles and safety equipment. Price: $500 USD each. Contact: JP. For Sale: Golf Carry Bag. Light Golf Carry Bag. Can also double as a travel bag. Excellent Condition. Price: $400 pesos. Call: (376) 765 7787. For Sale: Nokia e5. Perfect condition w/charger and hands free ear piece/microphone. Too complicated for me and my big & Â&#x160; Â&#x17E; $ÂĄ Â&#x152; | Â&#x160; Â&#x203A; Â&#x2DC;
765 6348. For Sale: Spanish Language Books. Price: $25 to $100 pesos. Contact: Linda Dutton. For Sale: 2011 ISLO Motorcycle. Has only 300 KM on it. Mexican plated. Great bike for around Lakeside. Like New no Problems. Price: $1200 US or Mexican equivalent. May trade. Call: 3311710816. For Sale: 35 inch Display Table. Price: $300 pesos. Call: (376) 765 4035. For Sale: Curio Cabinet. Enclosed beige metal curio cabinet 20in x 20in x 69.5in tall. 3 glass shelves and glass door. Price: $700 pesos. Call: (376) 765 4035. For Sale: 17.5 oz Sugar Free Chocolate Syrup. Price: $545 pesos. Call: (376) 765 4035. For Sale: Work table. Table with shelf underneath, white, sturdy, L-4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, W-2â&#x20AC;&#x2122;4â&#x20AC;?, H-2â&#x20AC;&#x2122;4â&#x20AC;?. Price: $400 pesos. Contact: Priscilla Greer. For Sale: A brand new electric scooter comes complete with hydraulic lift and %| $ & $ &
horn. Scooter functional and ready to ride. Price: $2000 pesos. Call: (376) 766 4456 or (045) 33113833193. For Sale: Clipper Marine Day Sailor seats 6. 7.5 hp Mercury. Retractable keel. Trailer w/new tires 2009, registered for Lake Chapala and in very good condition. Price: $3,200 USD. Call: (045) 331.499.9942. For Sale: Older exercise bike - works !
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; % el 978. Price: $500 pesos. Call: (045) 331 351 1220. For Sale: Ladies- Alien never, complete w/carry bag. Price: $300 USD. Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dunlop used, complete w/carry bag & travel bag. Price: $450 USD. Call: (045) 331 351 1220. For Sale: high capacity water heater.
CAL-O-REX Extreme Gas, on demand, double boiler water heater model L15XAR delivers 15 liters of hot water per minute. Price: $1,000 pesos. Call: (376) 766 2794. 4 : Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking for a retro 1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (or earlier) Ashtray (usually black glass) that sits on a chrome stand. Contact: Laim Lowe. For Sale: Bio-shaker compact. Price: $2,000.00. Call: (376) 766 1833. 4 : VHS player good condition used/new with remote and possibly instruction booklet. Call: (376) 765 5627. For Sale: Complete Dish Network System. Watch live TV while recording on other TV, or watch one pre-recorded show while recording two others. Whole system less than one year old. Price: $500 USD. Call: (376) 766 4843. FOR SALE: Shaw HD Receiver. Shaw receiver. HD and 3D ready, never been used. Remote included. Price: $2000 pesos. Call: (376) 766 4872. FOR SALE: Camera. Sony Cyber shot DSC-F828 with Carl Zeiss lens. C/w lithium ion battery, 4 x 128mb memory sticks and leather carry case. Excellent condition. Price: $225 USD. Contact: Walter Corol. FOR SALE: Camera. Nikon Coolpix > Â&#x201E; Â&#x20AC;
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memory card, 2 extra Nikon lithium ion batteries and carry case. Like new. Price: $150 USD. Contact: Walter Corol. FOR SALE: Electric Heater. DeLonghi "_ Â&#x152;Â&#x201E; $ Â&#x2030;
technology, almost new, 1500 watts. Price: $350 pesos. Call: (376) 766 3210. FOR SALE: Lighted 2-way makeup mirror. Double-sided makeup mirror, normal/magnifying, back lit. Price: $200 pesos. Contact: Jane Holdren. FOR SALE: Two stackable shoe racks, 22â&#x20AC;? long. Price: $100 pesos for both. Contact: Jane Holdren. FOR SALE: Two - Expandable Shoe Racks. Two shoe racks, expand from 24â&#x20AC;? long to 40â&#x20AC;? long. Price: $200 pesos for both. Contact: Jane Holdren. FOR SALE: Pet Safe Aluminum dog door. Brand new, still in its box. For dogs from 1 - 100 pounds. Flap size is 10 1/4â&#x20AC;? by 16 1/4â&#x20AC;?. Price: $850 pesos. Contact: Jane Holdren. FOR SALE: Very nice side table with two drawers and a bottom shelve. Color & & *
Width 46â&#x20AC;? or 116 cm, deep 17â&#x20AC;? or 42cm, height 30â&#x20AC;? or 77cm. Price: $1500 pesos. Call: (376) 766 4154. FOR SALE: Beds. Matrimonial (double) mattress and base, never used. Price: $2500 pesos. Queen mattress and base, great condition. Price: $3300 pesos. Call: (376) 766 2268. FOR SALE: Countertop dishwasher,
still in box, brought from Canada. Danby countertop dishwasher, white w/ stainless steel interior & spray arm. Holds service for 4, quick connect to faucet. Price: $225 USD. Contact: Sherry Hudson. FOR SALE: Vintage pine armoire (Mexican ropero) has 3 doors, unique piece of old Mexican folk art.24â&#x20AC;?d X 60â&#x20AC;? w X 6â&#x20AC;&#x2122; h. Price: $8000 pesos or $600 USD. Contact: Sherry Hudson. FOR SALE: Counter Top Oven. Defrost, broil, slow cook, rotisserie, bake. Includes grill/griddle top, dust cover, baking sheets, wire racks, rotisserie basket, handle. Measures 17 wide X 12 deep X 12 tall. Price: $1000 pesos. Call: (376)766 3212. FOR SALE: A never used 3 wheeler scooter comes complete with hydraulic lift and ramps. $2000 OBO. Call: (376) 766 4456 or email to view ssnnkenn7@aol.com. 4'2/+$: Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Outdoor Rec Equipment. I am looking for a swing set, jungle gym, monkey bars, teeter-totter, etc. for my back yard. Contact: Barbara Colbert. FOR SALE: 2 smaller sized golf bags that will double as a travel bag and a golf carry bag, excellent condition. Price: $400 pesos each. Contact: Barbara Garding. FOR SALE: Clear glass table top VG Cond. Round 51 1/4â&#x20AC;? OD x 12mm TK c/w 1 1/2â&#x20AC;? beveled edge. Price: $1500 pesos. Call: 333-444-7868. FOR SALE: Large solar water heater. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a 340 lt., 30 tube unit suitable for family of 8 using a pressurized water system. Original manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s warranty. Price: $1225 USD. Contact: Walter Corol. FOR SALE: Cold water dispenser, Kelvinator electric, holds large bottle. Price: $500 pesos. Call 01 (387) 763-2962
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