tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115266782024-03-13T11:55:12.939-05:00billieblogThis is a personal blog where I will be writing about family, photography, cooking, gardening, living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and growing older. And maybe anything else that happens to interest me. You've been warned...but feel free to read along.Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.comBlogger1544125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-78845169066941028372013-03-12T15:10:00.001-05:002013-03-15T15:34:14.479-05:00FarewellBillieblog started in March 2005. Here it is eight years later and I am going to move on. I'll leave the blog up in case you want to come back and find a recipe or an entry about an event in San Miguel but it doesn't seem to suit me anymore. Although I included a lot of subjects in it, it was mostly about San Miguel de Allende and being an ex-pat. That is why so many of my readers found me and followed along from entry to entry. <br />
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As you might guess, the last 12 months have brought so many changes in my life and the changes didn't slow down after I lost Ned. In some ways they have accelarated. My life is not the same as it was eight years ago. <br />
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I want to thank each one of you who dropped by to read the blog and especially those who commented or sent me an email. You brought me great joy and to Ned as well. I am so grateful that I not only met you in cyberspace but some of you I met in person. Those friendships I will continue to nurture and hold dear. <br />
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As I have said before I have found that I like to write so I will continue to write and to do photography but I think it will be with a bit different focus. I'd like to invite you to come over an take a look at the new blog, <a href="http://billiemercersma.blogspot.mx/">Reservations for One</a>. <div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-11908434373428068432012-12-30T13:49:00.001-06:002012-12-30T21:49:52.363-06:00It Is My BirthdayYes, another year older. Seems to happen every year. But you know the old saying, 'It is better than the alternative.'<br />
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The last time I wrote on this blog, back at the end of November, I thought that I would start writing on a regular basis again. It did not happen, but I guess you have already figured that out. I went to Texas on December 2 and although I thought about writing a blog several times, it just didn't happen. It seems like writing the blog on the iPad is more difficult for me and that has something to do with the typing. I never watch my hands when I'm typing on the computer keyboard but with the iPad I do and watching my hands and using my brain to write must be more than I can handle. Now young people do not have this problem, not with tablets or smart phones. There is one interesting thing I found out, even though I had Ned's laptop in Houston, the only time I fired it up was to read something on a CD. The iPad was just more convenient to use for checking email and Facebook, etc. I was talking with some friends and they think that the iPad/tablets are making inroads on the sale of laptop computers.<br />
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While I was in Texas I did some shopping but it was very targeted shopping. I had a list and unless something exactly fit the requirements, I didn't buy except at Chico's which is now my favorite store. I saw friends and ate at some of my favorite places. I went to Port Aransas for a few days and made some more pictures for the project. Also went to Austin and saw Son #3 and family. While there I got to celebrate Susan's birthday, see Dexter take a Karate lesson, and hear Maxwell's rock band play a gig. We had a great Christmas. Christmas Eve I made oyster stew. I don't want to think about how much butter and cream were in the stew along with a gallon of oysters. And of course, I made jalapeno quiche for Christmas morning. I made six quiches but at least we had some left for the day after. Mike, Betsy and Gary were hosts to 20 people in the family for a sit-down formal dinner on Christmas night. It was a wonderful Christmas.<br />
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Tonight some friends made a birthday dinner for me and now it is time to think about 2013.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-66736475762610711952012-11-29T09:00:00.000-06:002012-11-29T09:00:02.756-06:00Strictly Speaking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1354146451906_92">I've lost some weight since I came back to San Miguel. Not enough that anyone would notice but still the trend line is going in the right direction. I can't say that I'm dieting but I've been eating more veggies and less animal protein and if I have been somewhere for comida I'll eat some fruit or a piece or two of cheese if I'm hungry later in the evening. I have some friends who are more or less evaluating a pretty strict diet....her more and him less...basically the diet that Bill Clinton is on because of his heart disease. This diet is featured in Sanjay Gupta's documentary <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Unn7LjFkI">The Last Heart Attack</a>. </span></div>
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<span>I've watched the video and it does encourage me to make some changes in what I eat. One night this week I had wild rice, sweet potatoes and broccoli. Ned would have asked where was the pork loin. Last night I had broccoli and a baked potato. Today I went with friends to the new restaurant at the Trinidad organic farm. I had a portabello, goat cheese and grilled zucchini sandwich and this beautiful salad of jicama, cucumber and red cabbage garnished with sesame seed and a light Thai dressing. </span></div>
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<span>Strictly Speaking, I'm not on the heart healthy diet because I haven't gone the No Fat, No Dairy, No Animal Protein of any kind route and I doubt I will but I'm feeling pretty good. The problem is I've been stuck at the same place on the scale now for a week. Oh, well, I like veggies. It isn't a problem to favor them so I think I'll stick with it a while although I'm not totally giving up meat or seafood everyday of the week. Not sure how that resolution will survive with family and all the Christmas festivities but I will report back on my veggie challenge. </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-83426323784821691482012-11-27T20:53:00.000-06:002012-11-27T20:57:26.145-06:00Saturday Morning Shopping<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here it is Wednesday. I started this blog on Saturday. That seems to be what is happening to the blog and why it has been almost two months since I wrote anything. I have something to write about but by the time I'm able to write it, the material is out of date. I don't know what is going to happen to the blog but on Saturday I saw a friend who encouraged me in an email later that day to keep writing.</div>
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<em>I think what I enjoy most about your blog is your appreciation of and commentary on quite ordinary aspects of daily living in Mexico and Mexican culture.</em> </div>
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That is nice, isn't it. Her comments certainly encourage me to keep up the blog even if I'm not quite timely with my entries. So here we go with Saturday..............</div>
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Saturday was a beautiful day so with the iPhone in my pocket I went over to the organic market. This market has grown and gets better every time I go to it. Certainly there is produce but also you will find breads, cheeses and prepared food like quiches</div>
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There are more people coming and I love all the food stands...a great place to eat desayuno or an early comida.<br />
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I bought some wonderful bread, arugula, sweet potato, dill and green onions. I would have bought more but it is just me at my house and I like to buy fresh produce every day or two.</div>
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I'm sorry but this description doesn't do the organic market justice. Yes, there are wonderful products but also it is the atmosphere. There are dogs on leashes, children sitting down in the grass with a snack to munch on, children running and playing, great conversations with the vendors, people at tables relaxing under the trees with their tacos, burritos or whatever they have bought, friends standing around just talking, pop-up bandas playing and singing for a little donation. It really makes you feel good to be there.<br />
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I left the market and decided to walk to a new store called Olio Fino that has recently opened. They sell a wide variety of olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Before I got there I saw some friends in Cafe Monet. They are leaving soon so we had a wonderful talk about our plans for the next six months. <br />
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When I was in Denver this summer I saw another olive oil and vinegar store. It was very grand and this new store in San Miguel is just as grand. Who knew there could be so many kinds of olive oils and vinegars....but there are. I am amazed that right here in San Miguel we have the very same kind of store. I needed some olive oil. After tasting several, I chose one. <br />
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As I walked home I thought about all of the food changes I've seen in San Miguel since we bought our house almost eleven years ago. But I'll save that discussion for another blog.
The sun, the bustle in the market, meeting friends on the street, trying something new, walking.....Saturday morning shopping.....it is one of the reasons I'll keep living here.
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-89822356099748633342012-11-22T19:46:00.000-06:002012-11-22T19:46:49.113-06:00Thanksgiving - 2012Such major changes have happened in my life this year that I have been thinking a lot about the things I have to be thankful for....and I find that there are many. <br />
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First and foremost is that I had Ned in my life for 58 years. He was such a gentle man who loved family, friends and a good time. I don't know of anyone who didn't like Ned. Together we raised three wonderful sons. I have so many precious memories of our life and I try to make that my focus not how much I miss him. <br />
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I have always thought my sons were special....well, maybe there were a few times when they were younger that I could have given them away if I could have found someone who would take them. Not any more. I'm keeping my "boys." They really pitched in and helped take care of Ned and are so supportive of me. I'll brag and say they are exceptional men and I'm so thankful for them. I'm thankful also for their wives and sons who did anything they could for us. I really have a great family. I can't imagine how I would have gotten through this last year without them. <br />
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Next on the list are my friends. If I had kept a list of all the things that my friends did for me during this past year it would be the size of a novel. <br />
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Mexico....I'm definitely thankful that I have my little house in San Miguel and I'm enriched everyday by living in here.<br />
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I'm thankful for my health. I know that at my age that feeling healthy and strong can change in a flash so I'm really trying to live in the moment and be greatful for each day.<br />
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Because I have all of these things, my life is rich and full and I am thankful.<br />
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The last couple of years we have been in Houston with Ned's sister for Thanksgiving. This year I'm staying put here in Mexico. A little later I'll meet some friends at a restaurant for the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. It seems a little funny that I'm not cooking today. The worst part of not cooking the big turkey dinner is that you don't have leftovers. Thanksgiving dinner is always soooo good the next day. I think restaurants could make a few extra bucks by having a "take-out box" for leftovers. I would definitely buy one.<br />
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To all my blogging friends, I hope you have a wonderful feast day with family and friends. <br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-71305588094585625252012-10-02T18:06:00.001-05:002012-10-02T18:10:10.953-05:00The Way to CookRemember the movie <strong>Julie and Julia</strong> about the young woman who decided to cook all the recipes in Julia Childs cookbook and that undertaking was juxtaposed off Meryl Streep's portrayal of the life of Julia Childs? I kept thinking about that movie last night while I prepared dinner for friends because I was using Childs book <strong>The Way to Cook</strong>. <br />
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I had a duck in the freezer that I wanted to cook. I have only cooked duck a couple of times and none of those times are recent....more like 15 or 20 years ago. I don't even remember how I cooked the duck. I have friends who are wonderful cooks and they are always up for an experiment. So I invited them over for the duck cooking experiment. <br />
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I could have just stuck the duck in the oven to roast but I wanted to do more than that. I mentioned to my friend that I needed a recipe for the duck and she said to look at <strong>The Way to Cook. </strong>Sure enough, Childs had several ways to cook a duck. I decided on the "steam/roast" method although I didn't have the big roasting pan with a rack. I really could have used those pieces of equipment but I made do although it was messier than I expected. She suggested separating the leg and wing joints from the body before you cook and then trussing the openings back together. I didn't do that but it became very apparent when we went to carve the duck that those instructions were a good idea.<br />
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Julia also recommended garnishing the duck platter with cooked prunes and apples, each cooked with separate recipes. But her recipes called for two pounds of prunes and eight to ten apples. Mmmm...the duck would only, at the most, serve four people. I couldn't see the three of us consuming two pounds of prunes or ten apples. Even my apple pie recipe only uses five or six apples. I cut those recipes in half.<br />
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In addition, I prepared wild rice and steamed broccoli. The duck was tender and moist in the legs as well as the breast, the skin was crispy and it really looked beautiful when it came out of the oven. Dessert was a dark chocolate mousse. <br />
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This was my first attempt at cooking for friends without Ned. Although he didn't do any of the cooking he was a great errand runner, patio cleaner, last minute dish washer, grill master and bartender. What I learned from this dinner party was to have the bar set up and designate the first guest to arrive as the bartender. Have the maid and maybe even the gardener come the day of the party. Make lists, get organized and get all the shopping done several days ahead of time. Small guest list. Informal party where people can sit at the bar or in the dining room while I finish off dinner or they can help dress the salad and pour water. Since the kitchen is open to the dining room just forget about the way the kitchen looks. It is what it is. The food is more important.<br />
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And the other thing I learned is that I still enjoy cooking and I like trying new recipes. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't work as well. Ned was always game to try anything I wanted to cook. So, I'm looking for guests who are willing to be a part of one of my cooking experiments. <div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-82883955268051177572012-09-30T09:00:00.000-05:002012-09-30T09:00:04.318-05:00A Different View of the FeriaFriday night I met up with some friends at the Feria, the county fair. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures that were very good of the rides, the carney or the lights but I was exercising my photo-eye.
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Down in an open spot two little boys were playing with a puppy. They were running around in circles and the puppy was chasing them. First one boy would run and then the other. The puppy was a busy puppy but he was enjoying the game. I asked the oldest boy to let me take a picture of his perro. He picked him up and brought him over. Little brother was not so sure about this crazy gringa with a camera. <br />
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I saw this little girl with her face painted. She was with her Mom. I asked for permission to photograph her and Mom said yes.
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Even the people who travel and work the fairs have to have clean clothes. I can't resist a clothes line either.
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So if you just saw these three images you probably would not guess I was at a Feria, but I was there. I was seeing it a little differently.
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-76373285539703810942012-09-22T10:30:00.001-05:002012-09-22T10:30:59.751-05:00Pigeon Wars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLenxRTyxwnbjQKnpeHwGtPqgQJKwjhAkfdzGCD04y2ChibuQUTKqWI9LR2JWaQG6UMU9WZFbwBXg1iSbGhNWwl4cXQRmtE8CtzcAJoNAesn1qVGyFMMO1CxjVpjkyyUA2rSS6dQ/s1600/cobblestones-rain-7591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLenxRTyxwnbjQKnpeHwGtPqgQJKwjhAkfdzGCD04y2ChibuQUTKqWI9LR2JWaQG6UMU9WZFbwBXg1iSbGhNWwl4cXQRmtE8CtzcAJoNAesn1qVGyFMMO1CxjVpjkyyUA2rSS6dQ/s400/cobblestones-rain-7591.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I've been back in San Miguel for a little less than three weeks and still looking for my groove. I feel pretty good about being here but at times I sure miss Ned who took care of lots of little things around the house. <br />
<br />
Every time we were gone for a while, pigeons would try to move in somewhere....the patio or one of the terraces. Ned was the great pigeon hunter. He didn't actually kill them but he tried a lot of ways to shoo them away and if he heard one he was out of his chair and running to the patio or terrace to shoot them with the water hose or wave a towel and holler at them. After some time of disturbing their roosting spots, they would move on. The pigeons had moved in again on the upper terrace. With some help, I now have all the roosting spots screened off. So far, so good. No pigeon poop on the terrace floor today.<br />
<br />
I think the problem is solved but I've been smiling for the last couple of days remembering how Ned looked flapping a towel and shouting "Shoo." <br />
<br />
This image....We had rain most of the night last Sunday. On Monday when I walked into town the streets were still wet. I love the reflections of the building and sky on the cobblestones. <div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-71711396532545955602012-09-13T10:17:00.001-05:002012-09-13T10:19:19.486-05:00Cooking for One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMQVrpKzGuBwQdoQ6qOZ7hRXf8TVh0ORCm3C2BNUwH2F-ZoEFEaP0fbc4UCFFmtGzGnfjTDuEkLy1tNCzRNVGKuOlABhyphenhyphenjhSzgLNAxIyjgGqv0iE2ktE8XmokvEuHXPv2aFuzgA/s1600/20120912_SMA-Centro_MG_7570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMQVrpKzGuBwQdoQ6qOZ7hRXf8TVh0ORCm3C2BNUwH2F-ZoEFEaP0fbc4UCFFmtGzGnfjTDuEkLy1tNCzRNVGKuOlABhyphenhyphenjhSzgLNAxIyjgGqv0iE2ktE8XmokvEuHXPv2aFuzgA/s320/20120912_SMA-Centro_MG_7570.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My friend in Chicago wanted to bring a car from Chicago to their second home in Houston and she didn't want to do the drive alone. It was in the late 80's and I was still traveling a lot. I had a trip that would take me to Chicago so rather than fly home, I drove back to Houston with Helen. <br />
<br />
Early in the morning we packed the car and Helen put all the road maps where she could get to them. This was back in the days before GPS. Helen liked to know where she was at all times. It made her feel secure and safe. Our plan was that we were going to drive to Pulaski Tennessee and spend the night with my cousin. Somehow there had been a miscommunication and my cousin had gone to a football game but she said for us to go to her Mother's house and we could get the key. Her Mother, my Aunt Lucille, was my favorite Aunt. Uncle Charlie had died a number of years before so she lived alone in an apartment in the center of Pulaski. It was in an old well-maintained building and had a wonderful spirit about it. I had driven from Texas to Tennessee several times to see her because she was getting up there in years. <br />
<br />
Helen and I drove to the apartment and knocked on the door. Aunt Lucille opened the door and greeted us like she had been expecting us for weeks. She had this great smile and a shy laugh. Soon she was asking us if we had eaten dinner. No, we hadn't but we were going to get a burger or something. No, no! She would not hear of it. She was immediately in the kitchen, taking stuff from the refrigerator and getting out pans. In about 15 minutes we sat down at the table set with china, napkins. There was meat....I can't remember if it was pork chops or meatloaf and at least three vegetables. Ice tea....it is the South. And then she even had a home made dessert. I seem to remember a slice of cake. I was amazed at the food she prepared for us. When I asked her if she had cooked for company she told me no. She had cooked it for her dinner. I've never forgotten that night because for the first time I realized that even when there is only one person to cook for that the food can be prepared at home and be delicious.<br />
<br />
Now since I'm cooking for one I've often thought of that night with Aunt Lucille and I have realized something just as important as having delicious food and that is, that the act of planning, purchasing and preparing the food is comforting and satisfying. Setting the table, even for one, with place mat, napkin and a little glass of wine feels good. Although I admit that the first time I sat at the table without Ned was very sad, it now comforts me. <br />
<br />
The picture at the top? Well I put that up because it is the first time I've used my big-girl camera in a while. I did use it when I was in Colorado but I don't think I shot anything worthwhile. Basically, my photo-eye hasn't been working since early May. I took the camera with me into town yesterday and exposed about six images. This graffiti caught my eye because of the red heart. We don't usually see objects among the graffiti. I hope this means my photo-eye is waking up. <div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-13684712414342922522012-09-08T21:31:00.000-05:002012-09-08T21:31:33.634-05:00It is Not a Coincidence!I'm not sure what to call this post but I have more stories about Ned taking care of me. <br />
<br />
The first one happened right after I arrived back in San Miguel on Sunday. One of the first things we always did shortly after we arrived was check out the phones and the Internet to see if they were working. I checked. Sure enough the Internet wasn't working which, of course, meant that the Vonage phone wasn't working either. The family had told me to let them know when I got here. I had no way to do that without a working Internet connection but some friends sent them an email so they wouldn't worry. It hasn't been that long ago that we didn't have Internet and Vonage and Skype and I guess several other technical marvels of connection but we do have them now. I can't begin to tell you how stranded I felt. Even worse is that I knew that Megacable was having problems and the stories from friends about not being able to reach Megacable by phone or having to go sit in their office for several hours before they could report a problem or waiting three or more days for a technician made me want to cry. <br />
<br />
Ned was always the person who dealt with the cable company and when it was out he would start calling a little after 8 in the morning although the company didn't open until 9. Most of the time he managed to get through to someone before the office was officially open. I knew he had a number somewhere that would get him into the technical area instead of the general customer service area. But what was the number. Monday morning I looked in several places for the number. Then I just sat down at his desk and started talking to him. I opened one of the desk drawers and there on the top of everything was this faded cable bill from October, 2004 with numbers and notes scribbled on it. About 8:45 I started calling some of the numbers but never got an answer. <br />
<br />
Okay....it was looking like I would have to go sit at Megacable until I could report the outage but first I walked Carly. On the street behind our house I saw a Megacable truck and also a neighbor who speaks Spanish. I told him about my problem and he asked the technician if he would go check out the problem. The technician said he would have to call the office to get permission to go into the house. I could see a clipboard with pages of addresses for him to take care of and I didn't have much hope of him getting permission to help me. He stayed on the line for about 10 minutes with the office and then said that he had permission. I was overjoyed. He followed me to the house and after an hour I had a new cable modem and working Internet. The chances of that happening in less than 24 hours after I arrived in San Miguel are so remote that I knew Ned was still taking care of me.<br />
<br />
Another thing happened today. Last night I wanted to watch a DVD movie but when I went to put the movie in I realized that I didn't know how to work the remote to get it to play. I'm sure you men are shaking your heads and wondering what in the heck is the matter with me. Well, using the remote was Ned's job. My head was already full of Photoshop and Lightroom shortcuts and important stuff like that so I just never bothered to learn how to do it. I figured I would have to pay the guy who set up our dish, TV, DVD, etc., to come show me how. <br />
<br />
Nope, once again Ned was taking care of me. This afternoon there was a knock on the door and who was there? Richard, a friend who comes to San Miguel from time to time. He was here for a few days and I didn't even know he was in town. He had been to comida or somewhere and thought about me so he just stopped by and knocked on the door. I told Richard my sad tale about the remote. He took it and in about 30 seconds had it figured out. I wrote the sequence down and so tonight I can watch my movie.<br />
<br />
If you are thinking that these are just coincidences, you will never, ever convince me of that. I know from deep inside that it is Ned still watching out for me.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-41138296474341438302012-09-04T20:50:00.000-05:002012-09-05T08:26:10.234-05:00Taking Ned to MexicoThis blog is coming to you from San Miguel de Allende. Yes, I'm back. Arrived Sunday afternoon. The last few days in Houston were kind of crazy. I was worried about how to get most of my clothes that have collected in Houston over the last two years back to SMA. Would my two suitcases be overweight? What about my camera equipment? But my biggest worry last week was Ned's ashes. I wanted to bring some of his ashes to SMA.<br />
<br />
The Funeral Home told me that they had sent cremated remains back to Mexico and they would provide the proper documentation for Mexican customs. I received a sealed box, a death certificate in Spanish and a letter in Spanish stating that the deceased had no communicable diseases. Okay. But I was still worried. I know that "rules" change from location to location, from day to day and from agent to agent in Mexico. I could just envision Mexico confiscating Ned's ashes from me and who knows where they would end up. The last couple of nights I was in Houston I took sleeping pills!<br />
<br />
Okay, so I'm prepared for anything that might happen in Mexico. Little did I expect a problem North of the Border.<br />
<br />
I get to the security line and I found out that since I'm 75 years old, I don't have to take my shoes off. I don't like being old but not having to take your shoes off is an advantage. I dutifully load up the plastic trays with shoulder bag with Ned's ashes and a carry-on. I have to go through the scanner and then turn to collect my stuff. The security person tells me to move over to the table that they have to check out the shoulder bag. <br />
<br />
"Mam, what is in this bag?"<br />
That official police voice which means she will not tolerate any objection. <br />
"My purse, my Kindle and my husband's ashes."<br />
She takes the sealed box out of the suede bag provided by the Funeral Home.<br />
She wipes the inside of the bag with one of those explosive wipes.<br />
"Mam, I'm going to have to take this box for a special scan."<br />
She starts to walk away with the box.<br />
"Where are you taking my husband?"<br />
Tears start rolling down my cheeks.<br />
She gets a wire basket and puts the box in it.<br />
"Over here for the special scan."<br />
Now my nose is running and my breath is coming in hiccups.<br />
She is back in less than a minute and gently puts the box back in the suede bag.<br />
In a kind and gentle voice<br />
"Mam, I'm sorry for your loss."<br />
<br />
The flight was uneventful. In flight I fill out the entry form and the Custom Declarations form although I was not quite sure how to check it to declare Ned's ashes. I'm afraid if I don't tell them that I have the ashes and I get the red light that they will surely confiscate Ned's ashes. <br />
<br />
Now Mexican Immigration and Mexican Custom. No problems though immigration. I get a porter to help with the luggage. I get to the Customs Agent.<br />
<br />
"I'm not sure how I should fill out this Customs Declarations form but I have my husband's ashes."<br />
"You have your husband with you????"<br />
"No, my husband has died. I have his ashes with me and the paperwork to bring them into Mexico."<br />
"Oh, push the button."<br />
I pushed the button and got a green light. <br />
She said <br />
"Buenos Dias" and reached for the next person's Declarations form.<br />
The porter and I walked out with my luggage and Ned's ashes.<br />
<br />
I think that Ned is happy that at least a part of him is here in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, a place he loved dearly.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-32570998580772107922012-08-18T15:25:00.000-05:002012-08-18T15:26:45.990-05:00Looking for the Next AdventureAlthough the apartment looks like a cyclone blew through, I'm making progress at getting out of it and on my way back to San Miguel. The hardest part has been folding Ned's clothes and putting them in bags. Some people say that they want to keep their loved ones clothes because they can smell the scent of the person on the clothes. I sniffed and sniffed but I didn't smell Ned's scent at all. I was doing okay until I had to fold some cotton shirts and folding and smoothing them was like I was caressing him. By the time I finished gathering his things, I knew I could not take them to the Salvation Army. Thank goodness for Son #2. He came and got them and took care of that for me. <br />
<br />
In getting out of the apartment I've made the decision not to keep any of my furniture. Of course, we had gotten rid of most things when we moved to SMA full time but I still had some upholstered pieces for the living room and also some Chippendale dining room chairs. When or if I come back to Houston, I'll most likely buy a high-rise condo. <br />
<br />
I've come to realize that I am in a different place and stuff I've had for 30 or 40 years just doesn't seem to fit me anymore. And if I put it in a condo, it will look like some of the pictures I see of condos that are for sale on the Houston Area Realtors website.....Like the condo owner is an older person(s) who downsized but their life is still the same. I know, my life is not the same. <br />
<br />
This week also included a trip to San Antonio to meet up with friends who gave Carly a ride back to San Miguel. It was really hard to let her go. She has been my comfort and companion since Ned died. From San Antonio I dropped off a photograph that will be in a show in Johnson City and then on to Austin to see Son #3 and family. I was fortunate enough to hear Maxwell, 12 year old grandson, play with his new band. The band was good and he was great on the drums. He just gets better and better every time I hear him.<br />
<br />
While discussing with Son #3 some of my thoughts about what I was doing as well as some of the doubts, He told me to rent the animated movie UP. It is about a man who met his wife when they were young kids and she always had the dream of taking off on an adventure. Life goes on and they were never able to save the money to fulfill her dream before she died. He is pressed down with grief but circumstances force him out of his rut and he is off on the adventure they always dreamed about. Son #3 talked to me about moving forward and going on to new adventures. When did my "baby" become so wise and insightful?<br />
<br />
Son #1 has told me that I should go do anything I want to do. Parachute out of a plane. Travel anywhere. I don't have to worry about Ned or any of them. Live my life to the fullest. What a wonderful blessing my three sons are.<br />
<br />
So this next week my nephew who just bought a new house will come and take a bunch of stuff. The movers will come and take boxes to storage and deliver the furniture to the Guild Shop. I'll move over to Son #1's house. Then I'm off with friends to Port Aransas for a few days and I'll try to do some more photography for the PortA project. Back in Houston for a day or two of last minute shopping, storing the car and then I'll fly to San Miguel and look for my next adventure. <div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-34472655712768475922012-08-09T19:52:00.000-05:002012-08-09T19:52:22.751-05:00I Can Do ItThis week on CBS the Sunday Morning News program had a segment about living alone.<br />
<br />
One out of every seven Americans lives alone.<br />
About 30% of them are over 65 years old.<br />
Women living alone do better than men.<br />
<br />
In my whole life I have never lived alone although I've always treasured time alone. When I was working the only time I had at home was at nights and on the weekends. Of course, there was always someone around. I have to confess that sometimes I would call into work on a weekday and say I was sick, so I could have a day at home <strong>alone</strong> just to putter around. Maybe take on a project. Maybe do nothing important at all. But that time alone at home was comforting and healing.<br />
<br />
It is different now. I am one out of every seven Americans who lives alone. This is a different <strong>alone </strong>than what I wanted years ago when I was working and raising kids. Then I just wanted a little "piece" of being alone. What I have now is yards and yards of alone and I have to find my way to cut those yards into little pieces and remake a life. I'm not writing this to make anyone feel sad for me. It is just the way it is. The thing that I keep thinking about is how many fabulous women I know who live alone and have full and exciting lives. They can be my pattern for how to cut up all the yards of alone-ness and put the pieces back together into a warm and rewarding life.<br />
<br />
Last night I went to bed feeling overwhelmed with all I have to do from now on by myself, alone, I woke up this morning and again I thought about my friends who have done amazing things <strong>alone</strong>. If they can do it, I can do it. I will do it!<br />
<br />
And the first thing on the list is no small task.....wrap up the apartment and business here in Houston and get Carly and me back to San Miguel. I can do it!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-21056344555807600342012-08-01T18:00:00.000-05:002012-08-01T18:00:03.988-05:00Ned Is Still Taking Care of MeI'm doing all the things you have to do when you lose a husband. See the Accountant, the Attorney, take care of financial matters. <br />
<br />
Monday when I saw the Attorney about the Will. She asked me for the original copy of the Will. I was sure it was in the safe deposit box. The problem is that I have not been able to find the key for the box. Ned always brought it but I had looked and looked, in his "man" purse, suitcases and briefcases. No key. So I had called the bank to find out how I went about getting the box opened and I was going to pay to have it done this week. All afternoon on Monday, I was thinking about the key and "talking" to Ned. And by the way, I talk to Ned a lot. Monday night I had the urge to go look one more time in the briefcases. I went through the first one and just as I was about to put it down I realized that there was a concealed zippered pocked inside another pocket. I unzipped it and there was the safe deposit key.<br />
<br />
Tuesday I went to the bank and opened the safe deposit box. There were all the legal papers that I needed both here and in Mexico.<br />
<br />
I think Ned is still watching out for me.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-61744365066813268632012-07-31T19:48:00.000-05:002012-07-31T19:48:42.842-05:00Ned Mercer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMfIgKhDbGVvykEfAcJer0TVEwSAs_ntK58xEoxUryh0s104wauicZZtDQPDz5-V660loaT6QxB5RTNjMmaSv6cUpbtLhhB1n7mD9F4D34QXJ-_G3_3uXJjFHHk2Iikh9z2RKhA/s1600/20110304_untitled20110304_Senior+of+the+Conquest_MG_0239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMfIgKhDbGVvykEfAcJer0TVEwSAs_ntK58xEoxUryh0s104wauicZZtDQPDz5-V660loaT6QxB5RTNjMmaSv6cUpbtLhhB1n7mD9F4D34QXJ-_G3_3uXJjFHHk2Iikh9z2RKhA/s320/20110304_untitled20110304_Senior+of+the+Conquest_MG_0239.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I think that everyone knows that my dear Ned passed away June 23, 2012. Just in case there are some of my blog readers who didn't know, I want to share with you what I shared on Facebook.<br />
<br />
Rest in Peace<br />
Ned Mercer<br />
October 19, 1936 to June 23, 2012<br />
<br />
A few days before he died Ned and I had this conversation.....<br />
<br />
<em>Ned - You know what I dreamed last night?</em><br />
<br />
<em>Me - No, what did you dream?</em><br />
<br />
<em>Ned - I dreamed that this trapeze (the apparatus he pulled up on to get out of bed) and all the ceiling was covered with flowers.</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em>Me - What kind of flowers?</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em>Ned - All colors, beautiful flowers.</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em>Me - That sounds really beautiful.</em><br />
<br />
I helped him get back in bed for a nap. I couldn't say anything else. Just kissed him on the forehead.<br />
Ned has moved on to higher ground where the beautiful flowers are.<br />
<br />
Needless to say the last five weeks have been very emotional and incredible difficult. I certainly have not felt like writing in this blog. And I'm not sure what the future of the blog is but yesterday something happened that I thought I should write about. I'm not making any promises but maybe.........<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-32429151757276604612012-05-13T11:19:00.000-05:002012-05-13T11:21:10.063-05:00Port Aransas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NvwhLS1QW6xweD1EnJHi82qKnTlsmJf-8XyM4-Pa4XesBJAnhbH-K2vEUSCePmWPb3fO4NWchNT_rTiPwz-3ZZBG8q9smGdH0P59_qjV3HjBHfpJVqNI5HDS-AzwPVxtqWpwxA/s1600/PortA-1712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NvwhLS1QW6xweD1EnJHi82qKnTlsmJf-8XyM4-Pa4XesBJAnhbH-K2vEUSCePmWPb3fO4NWchNT_rTiPwz-3ZZBG8q9smGdH0P59_qjV3HjBHfpJVqNI5HDS-AzwPVxtqWpwxA/s320/PortA-1712.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I have to admit.....we have been doing a little partying. Port Aransas on Mustang Island just off the coast of Texas in the Gulf of Mexico. There were a few reasons to go. First, we needed a little vacation but secondly I'm still working on the Port Aransas Project of making some black and white images to combine with log entries that Ned's family kept back in the 1860-1870s. For those I used my big girl camera but for fun I shot some stuff with the iPhone and the Hipstamatic app. If you want to see the Hipsta images take a look <a href="http://www.pbase.com/billie_mercer/iphone_port_aransas">here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-45862308905262443152012-05-07T16:18:00.000-05:002012-05-13T11:21:55.395-05:00Shocking LanguageYou know, I try to keep up with the times with technology, current events, and language. I listen to the grandkids and try to grab on to a few of the phrases they use. I read books, see movies. I'm with it. I'm hip. But there is one word whose current usage just hits me the wrong way......bitch.<br />
<br />
I knew bitch was a female dog or if you called someone a bitch it was an insult, a pejorative usually considered profane. But then I started hearing young women using it to each other, not as an insult but as a kind of back handed compliment. When I heard it used like that I was very uncomfortable. Okay so the language was changing but I could never use the word bitch that way and certainly not with a friend of my generation. Actually not with any generation I might have a conversation with.<br />
<br />
I'm appalled that there are currently two television sit-coms, that while the actual word Bitch isn't in the title, it is implied, and everyone understands that "B" means Bitch. The first is a take off of the book <a href="http://www.thewrap.com/tv/column-post/gcbs-good-christian-bitches-inspiration-well-good-and-gossipy-christian-bitches-35912">Good Christian Bitches</a>. The network decided to call it GCB. Kind of cover up the Christian and Bitches relationship. And the other is <a href="http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/dont-trust-the-b-in-apartment-23/">Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23</a>.<br />
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So, friends, it looks like I <strong>am</strong> falling behind the times. Becoming one of the older generation who sit around and grump about the younger generation who are going to hell in an handbasket.<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-39515445541727449742012-05-04T17:12:00.000-05:002012-05-07T16:20:00.044-05:00Farmer's Market on Airline Road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week we went to Houston's Farmer's Market. It has been near downtown on Airline Road forever and ever. It isn't an organic market and it isn't what it use to be at least not the public part. But for me it is still pretty special. It is in a huge building and out back are covered stalls. But what is in the building are huge 24 by 72" sided tables. Each one holds one kind, at the most two kinds of vegetables. They also have some shelves of canned and preserved fruits, salsas and vegetables. Not canned by Del Monte or one of the big food companies but canned by small regional kitchens. It isn't hermetically sealed and air conditioned. Instead it is cooled by giant fans. I love that fresh produce smell. </div>
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Okay, you may be thinking, why do you drive across town to go there when you have two grocery stores right near your apartment. There are several reasons. The first is that it reminds me of the mercados in San Miguel that I'm missing. Of course, since I've been going to the Farmer's Market on Airline for 40 years...maybe longer...it could be that the mercados in San Miguel remind me of home. Whichever way it works, this Farmer's Market makes me happy with its abundance, color and smells.</div>
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The second reason is I like to pick out each tomato, or okra, or ear of corn or cucumber. More and more in the grocery stores, food is getting packaged----four ears of shucked corn in a styrofoam box and wrapped in plastic, little plastic tubs of cut up melon and fruit, a plastic box of okra. I've never liked the prepackaged produce but now that we are starting to hear more about what can leach out of the plastic and into our bodies I like it even less. <br />
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While we were picking out okra, we struck up a conversation with another man who was also picking out okra. And that is the third reason I like shopping at the Farmer's Market.....community. The conversation was about what we were going to cook with the okra which of course led to talking about gumbo. He made my mouth water when he said that he had some crabs to put in his gumbo. It isn't unusual at all for a conversation to start up while you fill your bag, "My, these tomatoes sure look good." "Yes, they are. I think I'll make up a pot of tomato sauce." "That would be good. How do you make yours?" And so it goes. <br />
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I always see a lot of stately black women shopping there with their baskets filled with okra, greens, tomatoes, peas......Oh, I wish they would take me home with them. I know that I would have a meal filled with soul. <br />
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And the fourth reason I shop there is because they have produce that I can't find in the grocery stores. This week they had purple hull peas, lima beans, speckled butter beans, and pinto beans. They were blanched and frozen, just like I would do them if I bought a bushel of beans and shelled them. They are not the same as Swanson frozen black-eyed peas and they certainly taste differently than dried beans and peas. Have you ever eaten fresh pinto beans? They are so fabulous, the same with the speckled butter beans, fabulous. If I hit the market at the right time during May, I might be able to buy a bushel of fresh pinto beans and shell them like I use to do but that was back when we were a family of five. It isn't practical for just the two of us. So I'm really grateful to find them already shelled and frozen. <br />
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One other thing I love about this market, Food Trucks. I know that these days food trucks are the IN thing. As long as I have been going to the Farmer's Market on Airline, there have been food trucks and they have all had some kind of Mexican street food. We try to time our trips there so we can eat from one of them. <br />
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So now you know why I drive across town to shop at the old Framer's Market on Airline. <br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-50201512484882827502012-04-29T11:22:00.000-05:002012-04-30T07:57:27.208-05:00The Fast Lane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you have been wondering where I have been, I have been in the Fast Lane. We flew into Housto for Ned's check up a few days after I wrote the last blog entry. That started a series of tests which showed that Ned's cancer is still around. We flew back to San Miguel, gathered up the car and the dog and drove back to Houston so that Ned could start another round of radiation. Actually it was two rounds of radiation. One for the spots in the brain and another for a spot in his shoulder. I'm telling you he has had so much radiation I may start to glow in the dark just from sleeping with him. </div>
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Radiation took up the whole day because we had to go to one place for the shoulder and another for the brain. The high tech machines could have an issue one day and would have to be recalibrated or whatever they do to them and so we did not have a fixed schedule. In fact, Tuesday of the second week was typical. Tuesday morning at the brain location we were given the schedule for Wednesday which included the weekly visit with the doctor. By the time we arrived at the shoulder radiation location, it had been changed.<br />
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But the good news is that Ned is feeling better AND he is eating again.</div>
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While we are hanging out here we may take some day-trips or even get back to Port Aransas for a few days so I can do some more photography there. In the meantime I have been doing some photography here. One day I headed over to an older part of Houston and took a few photographs. I'm not working on a "project" but getting out does exercise my foto-eye.</div>
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This building was built by Gus Koschany in 1936 as his mechanic shop. It is on a large corner lot with a house. The house faces one way and the shop faces the other direction on the side street. While I was photographing the building the lady who lives next door came out and we chatted for a while about the neighborhood. I love that photography sometimes helps me make a connection with people that I never would in any other way. </div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-12102296719989600082012-03-13T17:41:00.000-05:002012-03-13T17:41:59.194-05:00My Life With the iPhone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So far I've made a gazillion bad images with the iPhone. It is so easy to play with the apps, especially ones like Hipstamatic and Instamatic. Then you can download other apps that are just cameras or you can use a ton of photoshop-type apps on an image. It is fun. I think I must be addicted to playing with all the photo apps like some people are with playing Angry Birds on the iPhone. <br />
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A few days ago I started to play with a new "camera" in the Hipstamatic application and it has been leading me in an interesting direction, small still lifes in my home. The iPhone is perfect for this. So many times I see a still life but the big girl camera is upstairs and I'm downstairs. The iPhone is always with me. I don't have to think, can I stop what I'm doing and go get the big camera. I just pull out the iPhone and snap.<br />
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I'm so easy to entertain these days....as long as I have my iPhone.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-50460486033916065432012-03-03T16:42:00.000-06:002012-03-03T16:42:03.758-06:00Our Lord of the Conquest II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wrote about <a href="http://www.billiemercer.blogspot.com/2011/03/our-lord-of-conquest.html">El Señor de la Conquista</a> last March. None of that celebration has changed except maybe it is bigger than last year. We heard the drumming throughout the day and last night we went into town for dinner and a walk around the Jardin. Just as we stepped out of the restaurant we were greeted by this troup of dancers heading away from the Jardin. It was dark. they were backlit and moving. I raised the camera and hit the shutter button. I am not sure how much I like the blurry image but I think as a stand alone image it does have a mysterious quality.<br />
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After the dancers passed us, we walked into the Jardin, stopped at the ice cream store and then sat on a bench eating our ice cream and watching everything that was going on around us. The Jardin was packed, the streets still had drummers and dancers and all along the edge of the Jardin were food stands doing a good business. It was a blaze of color, smells, sounds and swirls of Mexican people. I hope the thrill of being in San Miguel never goes away. <br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-56019592995071071802012-02-28T16:39:00.000-06:002012-02-28T16:39:57.868-06:00Getting an FM3 Is Easier and Easier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is that time of year again. Time to renew my FM3 which allows me to live in San Miguel de Allende. It is getting easier and easier. On Monday morning we went to the the building you see at the top, El Escritorio Publico which is across the street from th Instituto Nacional de Migración. All I had to take was my passport and my current FM3 card. They took my picture. Asked me some questions so they could type up the paperwork and then gave me the paper to take to the bank to pay the fee for the Mexican Government.<br />
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We left the Escrito, got back in the car and drove to the Bank. Now this was the one hitch we had in the whole procedure. The bank we went to no longer collected these funds for the Mexican Government, so we had to drive to another Bank across the street. There wasn't a line and it didn't take but a few minutes to pay the fee. <br />
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Back on the Libramiento, the San Miguel beltway, to the Escritorio. He had all our papers typed up. I signed in three places. He put the papers in a folder. We walked across the street to the Migración office, took a number and sat down to wait our turn. The wait was the longest delay but there were two people sitting at the desk who brought in stacks of renewal forms for those Gringos who hire someone else to do this job for them. When it was our turn we went to the desk, turned in our paper and we were out of there...beginning to end....in about 2 hours. <br />
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Migración had given us a receipt for the papers and they said we could follow the progress on line at such and such address but our new FM3 card would be ready today....just one day after reapplying. Sure enough, Ned checked on line for it this morning and it was ready.<br />
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The immigration laws have changed in Mexico but they are not fully implemented. We had heard that after two years with an FM2 you "might" be eligible for Permanente Inmigrado status. We asked the officer who was helping us. He said that yes, the law had changed but they did not know how it would be implemented and under some circumstances you could apply for Permanente Inmigrado status after 2 years with an FM2 but he had no idea what those circumstances would be. Maybe next year at this time it will be settled and I'll start on the way to becoming a Permanente Inmigrado in Mexico.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-60083255165035061452012-02-12T14:17:00.000-06:002012-02-12T14:17:00.121-06:00The Weather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Rain and more rain. That is what it has done ever since we arrived back in San Miguel on Thursday. This was taken just about an hour ago when I took Carly for a walk . . . in the rain, of course. Behind those houses at the end of the street we should be seeing the mountains that surround San Miguel but instead all we can see are the low hanging clouds. It is chilly too. The weatherman is saying it could be Tuesday before we get a break.<br />
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Last night we ordered Chinese food delivery rather than venture out. Tonight, we still don't want to go out so I had to get something in the pantry. I had some chicken breasts in the freezer and planned to walk down to the mercado to get something to go with it. I got bundled up during a lull in the rain but by the time I opened the door to step out . . . you guessed it, rain again. So we went to the tienda on the corner hoping that they might have some veggie to go with the chicken. They had some carrots, tomato, onion and cucumber. Yea! I can make a meal with that.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-56176927858007421632012-02-11T12:30:00.000-06:002012-02-11T12:31:24.095-06:00Bookmaking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last month I made a couple of books. Not serious books but just testing the waters. Blurb has come out with a plug-in for Adobe Lightroom 3 and even better the Adobe Lightroom 4 Beta has a module that connects directly with Blurb. I won't go into all the details about how it all works but I'll just say it makes the bookmaking process even easier. Not cheaper but easier.
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The first book is a notebook. I dropped in about 14 images along with about 100 lined pages to write on. I like to have a little notebook around that I can take to doctor's visits, to jot down some trivia that I don't want to lose....stuff like that. This book has black and white images and the images look better than I expected on the matte paper. However, I would definitely change the text on the cover.<br />
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The images for the second book, A January Walk Along Buffalo Bayou, was made with the iPhone one day when I went for a walk along Buffalo Bayou in Houston. They are pretty much just straight images. It is a tiny book, 7x7 inches, 14 pages, 28 images, softcover. I didn't do any of the things I know to do to color manage the printing and yet it is really, really close to what I see on my monitor....and the images were made with the iPhone 4s. The camera on that phone surprises me!<br />
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Blurb's business model, and maybe the business model of most other print-on-demand publishers is interesting. They don't actually print the book, they subcontract it out. If I order a book today it might come from a printer in Chicago and if I order another one next week it could come from a printer in Portland. If Blurb keeps all their subcontractors on a tight leash with color management, the photographer may never know the difference. Take a look behind the scenes at a <a href="http://www.blurb.com/video_stories/behind_the_scenes">Blurb book being printed</a>. <br />
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It is pretty amazing that I can order just one copy of a book. And there is a level of vanity that kicks in when you hold a book in your hand for which you did the photographs, editing, sequencing, and design. Yes, I felt a little bit of vanity until I looked back at some other Blurb photography books. I'm still a novice bookmaker.<br />
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If you want to see these two books<br />
<a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/2379271/36b3d93e11a60548c7f2e77b92a3df1c938b3114">2012 Notebook</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/2380885/f264678234a197bf1952c6c51b25c92c05160efb">A January Walk Along Buffalo Bayou</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11526678.post-62368931733728838592012-02-01T09:42:00.000-06:002012-02-01T11:10:42.402-06:00You Do Not Meet the Qualifying CriteriaI know it has only been a month since I turned 75 but does being 75 years old put some mark on your forehead that says OLD in the United States. <br />
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We are in Houston for some medical stuff. It seems like ever since we got out of immigration we have been treated differently. When we boarded the bus to go the central car rental place the driver jumped out to help us with our luggage. That wasn't so different but when we arrived at the car terminal by the time we stood up the driver was at my elbow, past all the other people in the front of the bus, to help us. We were sitting right by our luggage and we could easily have gotten it and stepped off the bus. No, no. He took my elbow and help me and then Ned step down off the bus and then handed us our luggage. Okay....so that is his job but it just seemed a little over the top. I've had the driver help me before but this just seemed different.<br />
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We did the paperwork for the car and headed out to the parking area to find it. In Houston there is a two level garage for all the car rental agencies. Just as we stepped out the door we looked at the signs to see which level our car rental agency was on. A man who came out right behind us stopped to ask if he could help us. If he had had a car rental logo on his shirt that would have been one thing but he was just another person going out to get his rental car. Okay.....so why did he stop to help us? Did we really look that lost?<br />
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There were several other instances of people jumping in to help. Enough so, that Ned and I were laughing about it. Then came the incident with Best Buy. <br />
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I bought my iPhone from Best Buy and the person helping me was very knowledgeable and very nice. So when they sent an email asking me to participate in a survey because I was a recent customer, I clicked okay even though I don't usually do surveys. The first question they asked was, How old are you? I clicked 75. The next thing that pops up on the screen is: <strong>Thank you for your willingness to take part. Unfortunately you do not meet the qualifying criteria on this occasion. Thank you for your time. </strong>Seventy-five years old is too damn old for Best Buy to be interested in my experience in their store. Man, that is cold, really cold.<br />
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Yesterday I had a colonoscopy. Yuck! After it was over, the doctor said everything looked okay and no polyps so unless I had a problem, I didn't need to schedule another colonoscopy since I was 75. So what gives? If you are over 75 you will probably die of something else before you would colon cancer? On the other hand I had already told Ned that I wasn't going to go through the prep for a colonoscopy ever again. <br />
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Maybe I just need to change my attitude. If having an OLD sign on my forehead means I don't have to have any more colonoscopies and makes the younger people run around and do things for me, I should just just sit back and enjoy old age.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Copyright (c) Billie Mercer
2012 All rights reserved</div>Billie Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17826454938577230499noreply@blogger.com8