Dear Friends and Family:
First of all, thank you all for your generosity and caring. We received so many donations and a lot of folks here in San Carlos, and as far away as Alamos (in southern Sonora), brought clothing and food to us. I even have a good friend in Colorado who offered to drive down with a van load of things with no hesitation whatsoever. Thanks Laura. Unfortunately, The Mexican Customs officers wouldn't let in any more used clothing but the gesture was momumental.
I just want to let you know what we have been able to do with the money we received from you. We have bought groceries for the men every week and a lot of Mexican business in Guaymas (the nearest large town) gave us big discounts. We were able to get the freshest fruits and vegetables. It's been wonderful.
The seasons change here in Sonora so it gets cool in the fall and winter. To most people it's winter now; high 70's in the day and 40's and 50's at night. It feels really cold. We were able to buy winter clothes for everyone at Woolworth's in Guaymas (yes, Woolworths is alive and well in Mexico). We also bought sweaters, scarves, gloves and jackets. We've had donations of blankets and sheets, personal items and books. With some of the money we were able to help the head nurse fix her car. It was swept away during the hurricane and floods and it's almost fixed now. The ladies who care for the men make $100 pesos per day (about $12 USD) and put their own needs on the back burner to help the men.
My group consists of me, Kristine Ladau and Bliss Cochrane; good friends of mine here in San Carlos who didn't hesitate to jump in and help. We do this all together and meet all the time to brainstorm. In two weeks the men are moving to a new building that needs a lot of work and we have a lot of donations waiting for that time; bags and boxes full of things for their new home. Currently, they are living in a ladie's retirement home run by nuns and though they are well cared for by their regular staff from Old El Cobijo, they have been asked to move elsewhere.
Probably the best gift of all is that we visit with the men and they are so interesting and wonderful. Some are in pretty good shape, some are blind and deaf. One of our favorites is Demitrius. He has lost part of both legs due to diabetes and complications but he is a character and always smiling. He loves to read. My friend, Nancy Harless (an author) sent me books in Spanish to give to him and he was thrilled. It proves that it's the little things in life that really matter, like your generosity. If I go on much longer I probably will cry. It is amazing and has opened my eyes to a lot of things in life that I didn't see clearly before. You won't see me discounting how good life is any time soon.
Anyway, this is just Chapter One. When they move it will be a new chapter and lots to do. Kristine, Bliss and I are committed to making it all work. El Cobijo also has other donors from time to time. Just last week I received four bags of clothes and a really nice electric heater from someone who had just built a new house - plus some cash. One night a man called me and asked me to meet him down at the Fruteria (the grocery store) and he handed me a wad of cash and said "I'm anonymous" and drove off. It was $3,000 pesos. Amazing. My firend in Phoenix, Chrissy, has a prayer wall that she just built and she prays for the men all the time. I think it helps.
Thank you so much for all you have done. I just wanted you to know what your money and good thoughts have done for El Cobijo. Kristine, Bliss and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Without your help this would not have been possible.
Peace and love,
Jan, Kris and Bliss
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Day of the Dead and Halloween
Since I've been in Mexico, I've come to appreciate Day of the Dead traditions. It's truly a celebration of life and a time set aside to spend time with loved ones that are gone. I've participated several times. This year I probably won't go to the local cemetary because I don't know anyone there but I'm thinking of setting up a small altar in our courtyard for some people that I miss and think of often. I miss my mother a lot. She would, ofcourse, be horrified if she were alive and I told her what I was going to do. She was a strict Episcopalian and I'm pretty sure she would have thought this practice to be sacrilegious which is defined as:
"when the sacrilegious offence is verbal, it is called blasphemy. "Sacrilege" originates from the Latin sacer, sacred, and legere, to steal, as in Roman times it referred to the plundering of temples and graves. By the time of Cicero, sacrilege had adopted a more expansive meaning, including verbal offences against religion and undignified treatment of sacred objects".
I think this definition is a little harsh and conservative because the practice of celebrating and remembering important people in your life appeals to me in a huge way and it's a positive and happy event. When you go to the cemetary (Pantheon) on Day of the Dead, it is filled with people talking and laughing with their dead friends and relatives. You hear music and people stop by to visit. There are photographs, candy, sometimes beer and tequila,lights and beautiful altars. It's colorful and lots of fun which is as it should be. Many times there are vendors at the entrance to the Pantheon selling candles and religious items as well as food and drink. I went a few years ago with my friend, Elvira, to visit her father and we spent three hours there laughing, crying and talking. I think it helps us deal with the pain especially when it involves a young person or an unnatural death. It's part of the culture here just as it's in the culture to place a cross or monument on a road to mark the place of a traffic fatality.
Since we live in a predominantly American/Canadian town it is really tied in with Halloween. We've heard that we'll have trick or treaters and we have candy for them. It's going to be a big night because there are also two costume parties to go to. My understanding is that Halloween is the day to remember the children and the next day is to honor adults. For me, my little altar will be a stage for reflection and a time for me to spend some time thinking and talking to my mother and some other important people that are gone. I hope to make it a personal tradition from now on. I am looking forward to it. I'm thinking my mother will forgive me for any blasphemy committed.
"when the sacrilegious offence is verbal, it is called blasphemy. "Sacrilege" originates from the Latin sacer, sacred, and legere, to steal, as in Roman times it referred to the plundering of temples and graves. By the time of Cicero, sacrilege had adopted a more expansive meaning, including verbal offences against religion and undignified treatment of sacred objects".
I think this definition is a little harsh and conservative because the practice of celebrating and remembering important people in your life appeals to me in a huge way and it's a positive and happy event. When you go to the cemetary (Pantheon) on Day of the Dead, it is filled with people talking and laughing with their dead friends and relatives. You hear music and people stop by to visit. There are photographs, candy, sometimes beer and tequila,lights and beautiful altars. It's colorful and lots of fun which is as it should be. Many times there are vendors at the entrance to the Pantheon selling candles and religious items as well as food and drink. I went a few years ago with my friend, Elvira, to visit her father and we spent three hours there laughing, crying and talking. I think it helps us deal with the pain especially when it involves a young person or an unnatural death. It's part of the culture here just as it's in the culture to place a cross or monument on a road to mark the place of a traffic fatality.
Since we live in a predominantly American/Canadian town it is really tied in with Halloween. We've heard that we'll have trick or treaters and we have candy for them. It's going to be a big night because there are also two costume parties to go to. My understanding is that Halloween is the day to remember the children and the next day is to honor adults. For me, my little altar will be a stage for reflection and a time for me to spend some time thinking and talking to my mother and some other important people that are gone. I hope to make it a personal tradition from now on. I am looking forward to it. I'm thinking my mother will forgive me for any blasphemy committed.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Blogger Action Day
Am I worried about global warming? Yes, I am. I am a baby boomer and when we were growing up most people didn't give a thought to the environment. When I think about it now, I feel guilty. To be honest, I was too busy being a teenager and young adult to care; too wrapped up in my own life. Global warming and damage to our environment caused by humans was not on my radar. I'm ashamed to say that, but I just didn't have wisdom then. Now, our kids have so much information available to them that they do have wisdom. They have the ability to question practices that are bad for the environment.
I just learned last year that drinking purified water out of plastic bottles is bad. We should be using glass instead. I think that my awareness began when cigarettes came with a printed warning on the pack. I believe we are in serious trouble at this point and I get frustrated because a lot of people refuse to accept that we have to do everything we can to stop or reverse global warming. Books have even been written that support the idea that there is no such thing as global warming. I don't think anyone can dispute that there is climate change occurring; the ozone layer is in bad shape; even humans emit personal pollution which adds to the deterioration of our environment. Did you know that if you eat less red meat your personal pollution goes down? I know that sounds funny but it's true. That was news to me. If you look up "global warming" on Google you will get nearly 30,000,000 pieces of data. That's a lot. I have faith that those of us who have freedom, as we do in the United States, know that we are in serious trouble; we have done things to contribute to global warning, but we still have an opportunity to stop it, even reverse it (according to data that I have read). Typically, in the United States, we do go all out to right a wrong, but we still have a long way to go. My biggest concern is the other countries that are huge polluters. Naturally, China comes to mind first; even Hong Kong suffers from horrible pollution, but all of this is another story.
The point I want to make is this: if we all do something now, we can make a difference. I have faith that the younger generations in the United States have the information that my generation missed, and they are already taking action and so are we. We are building a home in San Carlos, Mexico right now. Bruce designed it and, together, we made a lot of "green" choices. In fact, we did everything we could afford to do. Our decision to go in that direction was reinforced when we moved to San Carlos last May. Our rental house is completely electric; no gas whatsoever. It's expensive and inconvenient, especially during the many summer storms that take the power out. We're going to try and produce over 10 kilowats of power using solar panels. That's not quite enough to be totally off the grid because of the need for air conditioning in the summer. We're also building a rain water collection system. Our calculations show that we will be able to store approximately 30,000 liters if our rainy season is normal. We will have three tinacos (cisterns) to store the water. We'll have a series of filter systems to get the water as clean and bacteria free as possible. To do all of this, we've had to cut back on other things in the house, but not drastically. Right now, solar is expensive, but it won't always be that way. One thing we're not cutting out is the pool and the heater will be solar powered. It's very cool here in the winter and I want to be able to use the pool year round. I wish we had made these choices years ago, but the important thing is that we can do it now and we are proud of the design of our new home. It makes us feel good to have a home that's not hurting the environment.
I just learned last year that drinking purified water out of plastic bottles is bad. We should be using glass instead. I think that my awareness began when cigarettes came with a printed warning on the pack. I believe we are in serious trouble at this point and I get frustrated because a lot of people refuse to accept that we have to do everything we can to stop or reverse global warming. Books have even been written that support the idea that there is no such thing as global warming. I don't think anyone can dispute that there is climate change occurring; the ozone layer is in bad shape; even humans emit personal pollution which adds to the deterioration of our environment. Did you know that if you eat less red meat your personal pollution goes down? I know that sounds funny but it's true. That was news to me. If you look up "global warming" on Google you will get nearly 30,000,000 pieces of data. That's a lot. I have faith that those of us who have freedom, as we do in the United States, know that we are in serious trouble; we have done things to contribute to global warning, but we still have an opportunity to stop it, even reverse it (according to data that I have read). Typically, in the United States, we do go all out to right a wrong, but we still have a long way to go. My biggest concern is the other countries that are huge polluters. Naturally, China comes to mind first; even Hong Kong suffers from horrible pollution, but all of this is another story.
The point I want to make is this: if we all do something now, we can make a difference. I have faith that the younger generations in the United States have the information that my generation missed, and they are already taking action and so are we. We are building a home in San Carlos, Mexico right now. Bruce designed it and, together, we made a lot of "green" choices. In fact, we did everything we could afford to do. Our decision to go in that direction was reinforced when we moved to San Carlos last May. Our rental house is completely electric; no gas whatsoever. It's expensive and inconvenient, especially during the many summer storms that take the power out. We're going to try and produce over 10 kilowats of power using solar panels. That's not quite enough to be totally off the grid because of the need for air conditioning in the summer. We're also building a rain water collection system. Our calculations show that we will be able to store approximately 30,000 liters if our rainy season is normal. We will have three tinacos (cisterns) to store the water. We'll have a series of filter systems to get the water as clean and bacteria free as possible. To do all of this, we've had to cut back on other things in the house, but not drastically. Right now, solar is expensive, but it won't always be that way. One thing we're not cutting out is the pool and the heater will be solar powered. It's very cool here in the winter and I want to be able to use the pool year round. I wish we had made these choices years ago, but the important thing is that we can do it now and we are proud of the design of our new home. It makes us feel good to have a home that's not hurting the environment.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Swine Flu Vaccine
I got the following information from a naturopath trained in eastern medicine that Bruce and I go to and I wanted to share what he told his patients about swine flu vaccine. We love this man and he is very smart. He has helped us in many ways.
What he says about vaccinations:
SWINE FLU – PANDEMIC
TO VACCINATE OR NOT TO VACCINATE
By Richard Smithee, M.T.O.M.
Understanding what you are dealing with is of paramount importance to you, your family, and your community. Everything you are hearing in the news is not necessarily the facts, and in fact, may be completely untrue.
First you need to understand what is meant by the term “PANDEMIC;” it simply means a disease affecting the majority of the population of a large region, or one that is epidemic at the same time in many different parts of the world[i] An “EPIDEMIC,” is a disease which becomes widespread in a particular place at a particular time.[ii] The word pandemic comes from the Greek work of Pandemos, which means “universal.” In this context obesity and diabetes are both pandemic.
Let’s take this a step further to the word “PANDEMONIUM:” a state of utter confusion and uproar. And then let’s include the word to “PANDER,” to give active encouragement (to someone or something that should not be encouraged); or to provide gratification (for someone or something that should not be gratified); someone who encourages the vices or weaknesses of another.[iii] Now let’s get down to the facts.
1. KEEPING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE:
· 3,000 people a day worldwide die from malaria.
· 2,600 people a day in the U.S. die from preventable cardiovascular disease.[iv]
· 2,000 people a year in the U.S. die from taking aspirin.
· 38,000 children a day worldwide, die from starvation or preventable diseases.
· 40,000 people a year in the U.S. die from the common flu.
· 106,000 people a year in the U.S. die from taking prescription drugs, as prescribed.
· 2,216,000 people a year in the U.S. are hospitalized from taking prescription drugs as prescribed.[v]
· 552,000 people died in the U.S. from cancer in 2008, while 1.2 million were diagnosed with cancer.[vi]
· 75% of type II diabetics in the U.S. die from coronary events or stroke.[vii]
· In 1976 the Swine flu vaccine killed 25 in the U.S.
· 2003 the Bird flu killed 257 worldwide.
· 2004 lightning strikes and kills 1,170 people worldwide.
· 2009 the A(H1N1) Swine flu has killed 145 people worldwide through June 2009.[viii]
2. HISTORY OF FLUES AND VACCINES:
· 1918 the “Spanish flu” pandemic killed 20 million people worldwide. Today all H1N1 flu’s are descendants of the 1918 pandemic strain which mutates from year to year. This mutation process is why there is no vaccine available for this current hybrid flu strain.
· 1976 the “Swine flu” pandemic resulted in massive swine flu vaccinations leading to legal claims totaling $1.3 billion filed by thousands of victims who suffered paralysis from the vaccine. The vaccine was also blamed for 25 deaths. Several hundred people developed crippling Guillain-Barre Syndrome and healthy 20 year-olds became paraplegics after receiving the vaccine. More people died from the Swine flu vaccine than the Swine flu.
· 2003 the H5N1 “Bird flu” virus; President Bush predicted 2 million American would die as a result of the bird flu, but in fact the death toll was 257 worldwide.
· “Bird flu” fears were raised again in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Dr. Joseph Mercola wrote a New York Times bestselling book, The Bird Flu Hoax, in which he claimed a massive fraud designed to instill fear, and create wind-fall profits for various investors, politicians and the pharmaceutical industry. Bush administration officials owned massive amounts of stock in the drug companies that sold the “antiviral drugs.” “A dangerous legal loophole still exists which allows members of Congress and high-powered executive branch appointees to exploit “insider” knowledge of the financial industry in order to turn personal profit.”[ix]
· 2009: as of June 12th, 74 countries have officially reported 29,669 cases of influenza A(H1N1) and 145 deaths in the entire world from this illness. The US has had 13,217 confirmed cases, and 27 deaths. Mexico has had 108 deaths. If you want the latest numbers go to “Google Maps’ Swine Flu Tracker” or go to “World Health Organization’s Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response.”
3. DESCRIPTION OF THE SWINE FLU:
The A(H1N1) is this year’s version of the H1N1 virus.
Symptoms include;
ü coughing
ü runny nose and/or sore throat
ü fever of more than 100 F, (37c)
ü joint aches
ü lack of appetite
ü severe headache
ü vomiting and/or diarrhea
ü lethargy
This version has never been seen before in either human or animal. So - where did it come from?
4. LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT TAMIFLU AND SWINE FLU VACCINATIONS:
The following are excerpts from a newsletter by Dr. Joseph Mercola; “Critical Alert: The Swine Flu Pandemic – Fact or Fiction?” and a newsletter by Jon Barron dated 8/03/2009; “Swine Flu – Midsummer Update.”
· Tamiflu, an antiviral drug – has been approved for treatment of uncomplicated influenza “type A” and “B” in children one year of age or older. It is also approved for use in adolescents and adults 13 years or older. Tamiflu can’t prevent the flu. It only lowers the viral load. It cannot prevent the spread of the disease, and it won’t stop illnesses that resemble the flu. It works by blocking a viral enzyme that helps the influenza virus invade cells in your respiratory tract.
· 20,000,000 doses of Tamiflu were bought by the U.S. government in October 2005, at a cost of $2 billion. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, (in the Bush administration) was the former president of Gilead Sciences the company that created Tamiflu along with Roche Pharmaceutical. Many political insiders of the Bush administration made millions in profits on this sale.[x]
· The manufacturer has confirmed that Tamiflu has a three year shelf life.
· Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has recently passed the SLEP (Shelf Life Extension Program) that allows for this drug, which expired in June 2009, to now expire in May 2011. They have also waived their standards on improperly stored Relenza and Tamiflu and deemed them safe and effective for use . . . even in infants.[xi]
· The batch of Tamiflu your doctor may be prescribing may be expired, and/or may not have been properly stored.
· Common side effects of Tamiflu: (These are very similar to the flu symptoms, you’re trying to avoid.)
ü Nausea/vomiting
ü Diarrhea
ü Headache
ü Dizziness
ü Fatigue
ü Cough
Serious side effects of Tamiflu:
ü Convulsions
ü Delirium/Delusions
ü Brain infections (which have lead to 14 deaths in children and teens)
· Tamiflu has been banned in Japan for use in children since 2007.
· Tamiflu, if taken as directed, can only reduce the duration of your influenza symptoms by 1 to 1 ½ days, according to the official data.
· Flu experts have no idea if the current “seasonal flu vaccine” would offer any protection against this new exotic Swine flu A(H1N1).
· “Swine flu vaccine” has no proven effectiveness and has a history of causing crippling neurologic disease. These vaccines are preserved by using thimerosal mercury. Mercury is a known neurotoxin![xii]
· The new “A(H1N1) Swine Flu vaccine” which is due on line in October 2009, will have had no testing in clinical trials to determine its safety and effectiveness. The public will be the guinea pigs. The Secretary of Health, Kathleen Sebelius, recently signed into law a grant of immunity for pharmaceutical companies; making them immune from lawsuits in the event of any adverse reactions to the Swine flu vaccine.[xiii] Are you feeling more confident now?
POLITICS – POWER AND PROFIT
5. WHERE DID THIS MYSTERIOUS ANIMAL/HUMAN FLU STRAIN COME FROM?
The question arises – How could a mixed animal-human mutant occur? Could it happen naturally? And who would stand to gain the most and have the ability to create such a condition?
Dr. Mercola states “The American pharmaceutical company Baxter International (remember this name) was under investigation for distributing the deadly avian flu virus to 18 different countries as part of a seasonal flu vaccine shipment.” . . . Was it “a deliberate attempt to start a pandemic? Reports say such a “mistake” would be virtually impossible under the security protocols of that virus.”
“The “H5N1 Bird Flu virus” on its own is not very airborne. However, when combined with “seasonal flu viruses,” which are more easily spread, the effect could be a potent, airborne, deadly, biological weapon. If this batch of live bird flu mixed with the seasonal flu viruses had reached the public, it could have resulted in dire consequences.”
“While it is morally unthinkable that a drug company would knowingly contaminate flu vaccines with a deadly flu virus, it is certainly not impossible.” A top scientist with the United Nations believes that Ebola, HIV/AIDS, and the current A-(H1N1) swine flu virus are all genetically-manufactured as military biological warfare agents.[xiv]
The U.S. Army criminal investigators are looking into the possibility that disease samples are missing from bio-labs at Fort Detrick – the same Army research lab from which the 2001 anthrax strain was released.
And who do you think got the government contract to make the new A(H1N1) vaccine? Well who else – Baxter International! How is your confidence level now?
WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?
UNDERSTANDING HEALTH AND DISEASE – YOUR BEST OPTION!
1. THE “GERM THEORY” vs. THE “INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT THEORY:”
Louis Pasteur, 1822 – 1895, was one of the first microbiologists, he developed the vaccines for cholera, anthrax and rabies; also the process of pasteurization. He also developed the “Germ Theory.” He viewed the body as a sterile machine that will operate properly until a foreign agent “germ” is introduced. From this theory came the concept that specific microbes produce a specific disease. In an attempt to destroy these intruders antibiotics, vaccines and other medicines are used, because, (according to the theory) no microbes, no disease. It is believed by these advocates that health is restored only if there are no germs present that might cause disease.[xv]
In contrast, Claude Bernard (1813-1878), was the founder of modern experimental physiology and one of the most famous French scientists of all time. His focus was on the “milieu interieur” (internal environment) and taught that microbes could not produce disease unless the body’s internal environment was out of balance or toxic.
The body is made up of many billions of living cells, each one a separate, tiny, living organism which needs to be individually sustained. If each individual cell receives the nutrition and oxygen it needs and has its personal waste products removed, it will be healthy. And if every cell in the body is healthy, then it follows the entire body will be healthy too. Thus, TOTAL HEALTH CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY FIRST ATTENDING TO INNER HEALTH.
The purity of the internal environment therefore depends on the quality of the blood and lymph and the vigor of the circulation, the cleansing action of the lymph being as important as its nourishing action. And, in turn, the quality of the blood is dependent primarily on the efficiency of the liver and kidneys and the quality of the food and water from which the body makes new blood. The condition of perfectly balanced body chemistry is called “homeostasis”, a term coined by the physiologist Walter Cannon, MD, Sc.D, of Harvard University.
If there are any deficiencies in nutrition, if there exists any form of pollution, or if there is inadequate oxygen or poor circulation or organ malfunction, the interior environment will suffer. The most common and most serious form of degradation is toxemia caused by improper diet, which exists because of excesses and the denaturing effect of cooking and the inclusion of harmful substances such as salt, condiments, and refined sugar, etc.
Toxemia can occur, not only through improper diet but through stress, lack of fresh air, sunshine, and exercise.
Bernard’s theory was ignored for more than 50 years. Renowned microbiologist, Rene Debous said;
“Most microbial diseases are caused by organisms present in the body of a normal individual. They become the cause of disease when a disturbance arises which upsets the equilibrium of the body.”
The evidence is clear today that both Bernard and Debous were correct as evidenced by the almost universal presence of all kinds of bacteria and viruses in people who are not suffering from diseases.
Louis Pasteur, father of the Germ Theory of Disease, just before his death in 1895, said “Bernard was right, the germ is nothing, and the milieu (internal environment) is everything.”[xvi]
2. PREVENTION vs. TREATMENT (Health vs. Disease):
Based on the protocols discussed above; Prevention is the proper care of the body through diet, nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress control. Maintaining homeostasis is the basis of healthcare prevention and treatment.
It is common knowledge among doctors that poor blood conditions accompany chronic diseases. When blood tests are made the blood is assessed for various chemical elements and a count is made of the red blood cells (erythrocytes) and white blood cells (leucocytes). A closer look of the blood under a microscope, reveals the blood is polluted and the red cells and blood platelets tend to stick together (aggregate), so the blood becomes sticky (high viscosity). The blood cannot carry oxygen properly and it cannot circulate properly. This may lead to increased blood pressure, and high platelet adhesion. The conventional medical training uses drugs to regulate blood pressure which does little or nothing to address the root problem of impurity and high viscosity of the blood. This then is the disease itself, and what they think is the disease is only a symptom of disturbed homeostasis. The more the blood deteriorates, the greater the number of microbes present, which then multiply not as the cause of the illness, but as a result of it.
Although medical drugs may sometimes provide relief from disease symptoms, in the long run they cause further deterioration of the interior environment which causes additional distress, the symptoms which are referred to as “side effects”. Then additional medicine is prescribed to counter the side effects, the vicious circle is complete. It is now recognized that iatrogenic disease (disease caused by medical treatment) is a major cause of death in the United States .[xvii]
Treatment protocol is treating a specific symptom once an ailment has occurred. A perfect example would be diabetes; through proper preventive care diabetes would not occur. A treatment protocol uses drugs to lower blood glucose and/or increase insulin production. Neither of which treats the underlying problem. By being proactive you can prevent or substantially reduce your risk of disease or infirmity.
3. WESTERN MEDICINE vs. EASTERN MEDICINE:
Traditional Western Medicine: The education, training, and protocol focuses on disease and symptoms and are highly dependent on specialists for various health problems, such as, cardiologist, oncologist, neurologist, etc. The treatment protocol is to reduce or eliminate symptoms, such as pain, inflammation, lowering blood pressure, etc. and rarely is directed at prevention or resolving the underlying problems. If you have a traumatic injury or need surgery this is the best treatment protocol once you have considered all your options and have been informed, and understand, the proposed treatment protocol, and the expected results.
Traditional Oriental Medicine: The education, training and protocol focuses on natural healthcare, prevention, wellness and balance. The word holistic refers to the treatment of the whole person; body, mind, spirit, and emotions. The main focus is on prevention, staying healthy and keeping the immune system strong. The proper food selection, drinking and bathing in pure water, breathing pure air, getting adequate exercise, relaxation, love, and having a positive mental attitude.
But most importantly are self empowerment, educating yourself on personal health goals and learning the tools on how to achieve vibrant health.
If you have a health challenge it is important to do everything you can to strengthen your body and your immune system and to remove toxins from your system. Understand all of your options! Will natural healthcare be the right approach for you? Consider trying the least invasive approach first, if possible. Or consider using both eastern and western protocols together to achieve your objectives.
4. PROTECT YOURSELF BY FOLLOWING NATURAL HEALTH PRINCIPALS:
Keep you immune system in optimal working order.
(a) Water is the single most important source of health. Your body is 70% water which is used for digestion and assimilation of food, it lubricates joints, lubricates the intestines to prevent constipation, flushes waste and toxins out of the body, reduces inflammation, regulates blood volume and blood pressure, facilitates breathing. The average person should drink 1 ½ to 2 liters of pure water daily.
(b) Vitamin D-3 is important and inexpensive, vitamin D is made naturally in the body when it is exposed to sunlight. But, because so many people are now avoiding the sun we have a major Vitamin D deficiency. Take 1000 IU of vitamin D-3 two to three times a day. Get natural sunlight directly on as much of your skin as possible for 15 to 20 minutes a day, preferably before 10:00 AM or after 3:00 PM when the sun is less intense. Do not use sun block or tanning lotion.
If you have flu like symptoms take up to 50,000 IU of vitamin D-3 for three days to treat the acute infection.
(c) Vitamin C 1000 mg take one, three times a day. If you begin feeling cold or flu symptoms increase this amount to 1000 mg every hour. If you begin to have diarrhea reduce the dosage until the diarrhea stops. If vitamin C upsets your stomach, you may want to buy a “buffered” form of vitamin C.
(d) Take a potent multivitamin and mineral supplement: Good quality, high potency supplements can help strengthen and protect your body and immune system. Get on, and stay on, a healthy nutritional program.
(e) Avoid sugar, processed foods and artificial sweeteners: Sugar decreases the immune system function almost immediately. One can of soda, can suppress your immune system by 50% for up to six hours. A strong immune system is the key to fighting off viruses and other illness. Read the food labels; ketchup is almost 30% sugar, fruit juices, cereals, even so called health foods are loaded with sugar. Other names for sugar are glucose, galactose, fructose, sucrose, maltose, lactose, modified corn syrup, grape juice. Sugar spikes insulin, contributes to obesity and diabetes, disturbs your hormone balance, leaches important minerals out of your system (especially calcium), can lead to food allergies, and increases your risk of cancer. Artificial sweeteners are toxic chemicals and may cause brain injury, tumors, senility and may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
(f) Get enough rest: If you are tired or your body is overly fatigued it will be harder to fight off the flu. Be sure to get enough quality, restful sleep.
(g) Reduce your Stress Levels: If stress becomes overwhelming, your body will be less able to fight off the flu and other illnesses. Stress weakens the immune system.
(h) Exercise: When you exercise, you increase your circulation and blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of finding an illness before it spreads.
(i) Take quality Omega-3 oil: Increase your intake of healthy and essential fats like omega-3 oils found in fish oil, krill oil, flax oil, or extra virgin olive oil, these are crucial to maintaining your health. Avoid damaged Omega-6 oils which are found in trans fats and in processed foods, such as, French fries, and margarine; these fats can seriously damage your immune response.
(j) Wash your hands: Washing your hands will decrease the risk of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth or other people.
(k) Eat garlic regularly: Garlic works like a broad-spectrum antibiotic against bacteria, virus, and protozoa in the body. Unlike antibiotics, no resistance can be built up so it is an absolutely safe product to use.
(l) Avoid hospitals and vaccinations: Stay away from hospitals unless you are having an emergency. Hospitals are prime breeding grounds for infections of all kinds, and could be one of the likeliest places you could be exposed to various infections. Vaccinations, when available, will not be tested with clinical trials, the public will be the test subjects. They may be ineffective and can lead to crippling paralysis like Guillain-Barre Syndrome or other serious side effects.
(m) Eat wholesome nutritional food; avoid eating in fast food restaurants, processed food, genetically modified food, micro waved food. As much as possible, eat fresh, live, locally grown foods. Imported foods (not locally grown) are gassed, sprayed and irradiated which kills all the natural enzymes. Commercially grown foods, like tomatoes, are picks several weeks before they are ripe. They may turn red, but they will never have the nutrients they lost by picking them too soon.
The following are excerpts by Dr. David Darbo from the book “Green Leaves of Barley – Nature’s Miracle Rejuvenator “by Dr. Mary Ruth Swope and David A. Darbo, M.D.
“I am NOT in any way criticizing the noble men and women who dedicate their lives to saving the lives of others. The hospitals in the U.S. are first-rate, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and staffed with skilled technicians, nurses and physicians.
In a medical emergency, there is nowhere on earth I’d rather be. It is necessary to act dramatically in crisis situations, and the medical profession is to be applauded for its skill in dealing with catastrophic illness. My hat is off to the established medical order within the context of crisis care. The problem is not how the medical system operates in its own context but how it fails to maintain health.”
For more information on the dangers of childhood vaccinations, sudden infant death syndrome, autism and other risk factors with vaccination, go to these web sites; www.wellnesschiro.com/physicians_group_end_mandatory_vaccines.htm and www.vaccinationdebate.com/web8.html.
...
What he says about vaccinations:
SWINE FLU – PANDEMIC
TO VACCINATE OR NOT TO VACCINATE
By Richard Smithee, M.T.O.M.
Understanding what you are dealing with is of paramount importance to you, your family, and your community. Everything you are hearing in the news is not necessarily the facts, and in fact, may be completely untrue.
First you need to understand what is meant by the term “PANDEMIC;” it simply means a disease affecting the majority of the population of a large region, or one that is epidemic at the same time in many different parts of the world[i] An “EPIDEMIC,” is a disease which becomes widespread in a particular place at a particular time.[ii] The word pandemic comes from the Greek work of Pandemos, which means “universal.” In this context obesity and diabetes are both pandemic.
Let’s take this a step further to the word “PANDEMONIUM:” a state of utter confusion and uproar. And then let’s include the word to “PANDER,” to give active encouragement (to someone or something that should not be encouraged); or to provide gratification (for someone or something that should not be gratified); someone who encourages the vices or weaknesses of another.[iii] Now let’s get down to the facts.
1. KEEPING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE:
· 3,000 people a day worldwide die from malaria.
· 2,600 people a day in the U.S. die from preventable cardiovascular disease.[iv]
· 2,000 people a year in the U.S. die from taking aspirin.
· 38,000 children a day worldwide, die from starvation or preventable diseases.
· 40,000 people a year in the U.S. die from the common flu.
· 106,000 people a year in the U.S. die from taking prescription drugs, as prescribed.
· 2,216,000 people a year in the U.S. are hospitalized from taking prescription drugs as prescribed.[v]
· 552,000 people died in the U.S. from cancer in 2008, while 1.2 million were diagnosed with cancer.[vi]
· 75% of type II diabetics in the U.S. die from coronary events or stroke.[vii]
· In 1976 the Swine flu vaccine killed 25 in the U.S.
· 2003 the Bird flu killed 257 worldwide.
· 2004 lightning strikes and kills 1,170 people worldwide.
· 2009 the A(H1N1) Swine flu has killed 145 people worldwide through June 2009.[viii]
2. HISTORY OF FLUES AND VACCINES:
· 1918 the “Spanish flu” pandemic killed 20 million people worldwide. Today all H1N1 flu’s are descendants of the 1918 pandemic strain which mutates from year to year. This mutation process is why there is no vaccine available for this current hybrid flu strain.
· 1976 the “Swine flu” pandemic resulted in massive swine flu vaccinations leading to legal claims totaling $1.3 billion filed by thousands of victims who suffered paralysis from the vaccine. The vaccine was also blamed for 25 deaths. Several hundred people developed crippling Guillain-Barre Syndrome and healthy 20 year-olds became paraplegics after receiving the vaccine. More people died from the Swine flu vaccine than the Swine flu.
· 2003 the H5N1 “Bird flu” virus; President Bush predicted 2 million American would die as a result of the bird flu, but in fact the death toll was 257 worldwide.
· “Bird flu” fears were raised again in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Dr. Joseph Mercola wrote a New York Times bestselling book, The Bird Flu Hoax, in which he claimed a massive fraud designed to instill fear, and create wind-fall profits for various investors, politicians and the pharmaceutical industry. Bush administration officials owned massive amounts of stock in the drug companies that sold the “antiviral drugs.” “A dangerous legal loophole still exists which allows members of Congress and high-powered executive branch appointees to exploit “insider” knowledge of the financial industry in order to turn personal profit.”[ix]
· 2009: as of June 12th, 74 countries have officially reported 29,669 cases of influenza A(H1N1) and 145 deaths in the entire world from this illness. The US has had 13,217 confirmed cases, and 27 deaths. Mexico has had 108 deaths. If you want the latest numbers go to “Google Maps’ Swine Flu Tracker” or go to “World Health Organization’s Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response.”
3. DESCRIPTION OF THE SWINE FLU:
The A(H1N1) is this year’s version of the H1N1 virus.
Symptoms include;
ü coughing
ü runny nose and/or sore throat
ü fever of more than 100 F, (37c)
ü joint aches
ü lack of appetite
ü severe headache
ü vomiting and/or diarrhea
ü lethargy
This version has never been seen before in either human or animal. So - where did it come from?
4. LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT TAMIFLU AND SWINE FLU VACCINATIONS:
The following are excerpts from a newsletter by Dr. Joseph Mercola; “Critical Alert: The Swine Flu Pandemic – Fact or Fiction?” and a newsletter by Jon Barron dated 8/03/2009; “Swine Flu – Midsummer Update.”
· Tamiflu, an antiviral drug – has been approved for treatment of uncomplicated influenza “type A” and “B” in children one year of age or older. It is also approved for use in adolescents and adults 13 years or older. Tamiflu can’t prevent the flu. It only lowers the viral load. It cannot prevent the spread of the disease, and it won’t stop illnesses that resemble the flu. It works by blocking a viral enzyme that helps the influenza virus invade cells in your respiratory tract.
· 20,000,000 doses of Tamiflu were bought by the U.S. government in October 2005, at a cost of $2 billion. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, (in the Bush administration) was the former president of Gilead Sciences the company that created Tamiflu along with Roche Pharmaceutical. Many political insiders of the Bush administration made millions in profits on this sale.[x]
· The manufacturer has confirmed that Tamiflu has a three year shelf life.
· Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has recently passed the SLEP (Shelf Life Extension Program) that allows for this drug, which expired in June 2009, to now expire in May 2011. They have also waived their standards on improperly stored Relenza and Tamiflu and deemed them safe and effective for use . . . even in infants.[xi]
· The batch of Tamiflu your doctor may be prescribing may be expired, and/or may not have been properly stored.
· Common side effects of Tamiflu: (These are very similar to the flu symptoms, you’re trying to avoid.)
ü Nausea/vomiting
ü Diarrhea
ü Headache
ü Dizziness
ü Fatigue
ü Cough
Serious side effects of Tamiflu:
ü Convulsions
ü Delirium/Delusions
ü Brain infections (which have lead to 14 deaths in children and teens)
· Tamiflu has been banned in Japan for use in children since 2007.
· Tamiflu, if taken as directed, can only reduce the duration of your influenza symptoms by 1 to 1 ½ days, according to the official data.
· Flu experts have no idea if the current “seasonal flu vaccine” would offer any protection against this new exotic Swine flu A(H1N1).
· “Swine flu vaccine” has no proven effectiveness and has a history of causing crippling neurologic disease. These vaccines are preserved by using thimerosal mercury. Mercury is a known neurotoxin![xii]
· The new “A(H1N1) Swine Flu vaccine” which is due on line in October 2009, will have had no testing in clinical trials to determine its safety and effectiveness. The public will be the guinea pigs. The Secretary of Health, Kathleen Sebelius, recently signed into law a grant of immunity for pharmaceutical companies; making them immune from lawsuits in the event of any adverse reactions to the Swine flu vaccine.[xiii] Are you feeling more confident now?
POLITICS – POWER AND PROFIT
5. WHERE DID THIS MYSTERIOUS ANIMAL/HUMAN FLU STRAIN COME FROM?
The question arises – How could a mixed animal-human mutant occur? Could it happen naturally? And who would stand to gain the most and have the ability to create such a condition?
Dr. Mercola states “The American pharmaceutical company Baxter International (remember this name) was under investigation for distributing the deadly avian flu virus to 18 different countries as part of a seasonal flu vaccine shipment.” . . . Was it “a deliberate attempt to start a pandemic? Reports say such a “mistake” would be virtually impossible under the security protocols of that virus.”
“The “H5N1 Bird Flu virus” on its own is not very airborne. However, when combined with “seasonal flu viruses,” which are more easily spread, the effect could be a potent, airborne, deadly, biological weapon. If this batch of live bird flu mixed with the seasonal flu viruses had reached the public, it could have resulted in dire consequences.”
“While it is morally unthinkable that a drug company would knowingly contaminate flu vaccines with a deadly flu virus, it is certainly not impossible.” A top scientist with the United Nations believes that Ebola, HIV/AIDS, and the current A-(H1N1) swine flu virus are all genetically-manufactured as military biological warfare agents.[xiv]
The U.S. Army criminal investigators are looking into the possibility that disease samples are missing from bio-labs at Fort Detrick – the same Army research lab from which the 2001 anthrax strain was released.
And who do you think got the government contract to make the new A(H1N1) vaccine? Well who else – Baxter International! How is your confidence level now?
WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?
UNDERSTANDING HEALTH AND DISEASE – YOUR BEST OPTION!
1. THE “GERM THEORY” vs. THE “INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT THEORY:”
Louis Pasteur, 1822 – 1895, was one of the first microbiologists, he developed the vaccines for cholera, anthrax and rabies; also the process of pasteurization. He also developed the “Germ Theory.” He viewed the body as a sterile machine that will operate properly until a foreign agent “germ” is introduced. From this theory came the concept that specific microbes produce a specific disease. In an attempt to destroy these intruders antibiotics, vaccines and other medicines are used, because, (according to the theory) no microbes, no disease. It is believed by these advocates that health is restored only if there are no germs present that might cause disease.[xv]
In contrast, Claude Bernard (1813-1878), was the founder of modern experimental physiology and one of the most famous French scientists of all time. His focus was on the “milieu interieur” (internal environment) and taught that microbes could not produce disease unless the body’s internal environment was out of balance or toxic.
The body is made up of many billions of living cells, each one a separate, tiny, living organism which needs to be individually sustained. If each individual cell receives the nutrition and oxygen it needs and has its personal waste products removed, it will be healthy. And if every cell in the body is healthy, then it follows the entire body will be healthy too. Thus, TOTAL HEALTH CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY FIRST ATTENDING TO INNER HEALTH.
The purity of the internal environment therefore depends on the quality of the blood and lymph and the vigor of the circulation, the cleansing action of the lymph being as important as its nourishing action. And, in turn, the quality of the blood is dependent primarily on the efficiency of the liver and kidneys and the quality of the food and water from which the body makes new blood. The condition of perfectly balanced body chemistry is called “homeostasis”, a term coined by the physiologist Walter Cannon, MD, Sc.D, of Harvard University.
If there are any deficiencies in nutrition, if there exists any form of pollution, or if there is inadequate oxygen or poor circulation or organ malfunction, the interior environment will suffer. The most common and most serious form of degradation is toxemia caused by improper diet, which exists because of excesses and the denaturing effect of cooking and the inclusion of harmful substances such as salt, condiments, and refined sugar, etc.
Toxemia can occur, not only through improper diet but through stress, lack of fresh air, sunshine, and exercise.
Bernard’s theory was ignored for more than 50 years. Renowned microbiologist, Rene Debous said;
“Most microbial diseases are caused by organisms present in the body of a normal individual. They become the cause of disease when a disturbance arises which upsets the equilibrium of the body.”
The evidence is clear today that both Bernard and Debous were correct as evidenced by the almost universal presence of all kinds of bacteria and viruses in people who are not suffering from diseases.
Louis Pasteur, father of the Germ Theory of Disease, just before his death in 1895, said “Bernard was right, the germ is nothing, and the milieu (internal environment) is everything.”[xvi]
2. PREVENTION vs. TREATMENT (Health vs. Disease):
Based on the protocols discussed above; Prevention is the proper care of the body through diet, nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress control. Maintaining homeostasis is the basis of healthcare prevention and treatment.
It is common knowledge among doctors that poor blood conditions accompany chronic diseases. When blood tests are made the blood is assessed for various chemical elements and a count is made of the red blood cells (erythrocytes) and white blood cells (leucocytes). A closer look of the blood under a microscope, reveals the blood is polluted and the red cells and blood platelets tend to stick together (aggregate), so the blood becomes sticky (high viscosity). The blood cannot carry oxygen properly and it cannot circulate properly. This may lead to increased blood pressure, and high platelet adhesion. The conventional medical training uses drugs to regulate blood pressure which does little or nothing to address the root problem of impurity and high viscosity of the blood. This then is the disease itself, and what they think is the disease is only a symptom of disturbed homeostasis. The more the blood deteriorates, the greater the number of microbes present, which then multiply not as the cause of the illness, but as a result of it.
Although medical drugs may sometimes provide relief from disease symptoms, in the long run they cause further deterioration of the interior environment which causes additional distress, the symptoms which are referred to as “side effects”. Then additional medicine is prescribed to counter the side effects, the vicious circle is complete. It is now recognized that iatrogenic disease (disease caused by medical treatment) is a major cause of death in the United States .[xvii]
Treatment protocol is treating a specific symptom once an ailment has occurred. A perfect example would be diabetes; through proper preventive care diabetes would not occur. A treatment protocol uses drugs to lower blood glucose and/or increase insulin production. Neither of which treats the underlying problem. By being proactive you can prevent or substantially reduce your risk of disease or infirmity.
3. WESTERN MEDICINE vs. EASTERN MEDICINE:
Traditional Western Medicine: The education, training, and protocol focuses on disease and symptoms and are highly dependent on specialists for various health problems, such as, cardiologist, oncologist, neurologist, etc. The treatment protocol is to reduce or eliminate symptoms, such as pain, inflammation, lowering blood pressure, etc. and rarely is directed at prevention or resolving the underlying problems. If you have a traumatic injury or need surgery this is the best treatment protocol once you have considered all your options and have been informed, and understand, the proposed treatment protocol, and the expected results.
Traditional Oriental Medicine: The education, training and protocol focuses on natural healthcare, prevention, wellness and balance. The word holistic refers to the treatment of the whole person; body, mind, spirit, and emotions. The main focus is on prevention, staying healthy and keeping the immune system strong. The proper food selection, drinking and bathing in pure water, breathing pure air, getting adequate exercise, relaxation, love, and having a positive mental attitude.
But most importantly are self empowerment, educating yourself on personal health goals and learning the tools on how to achieve vibrant health.
If you have a health challenge it is important to do everything you can to strengthen your body and your immune system and to remove toxins from your system. Understand all of your options! Will natural healthcare be the right approach for you? Consider trying the least invasive approach first, if possible. Or consider using both eastern and western protocols together to achieve your objectives.
4. PROTECT YOURSELF BY FOLLOWING NATURAL HEALTH PRINCIPALS:
Keep you immune system in optimal working order.
(a) Water is the single most important source of health. Your body is 70% water which is used for digestion and assimilation of food, it lubricates joints, lubricates the intestines to prevent constipation, flushes waste and toxins out of the body, reduces inflammation, regulates blood volume and blood pressure, facilitates breathing. The average person should drink 1 ½ to 2 liters of pure water daily.
(b) Vitamin D-3 is important and inexpensive, vitamin D is made naturally in the body when it is exposed to sunlight. But, because so many people are now avoiding the sun we have a major Vitamin D deficiency. Take 1000 IU of vitamin D-3 two to three times a day. Get natural sunlight directly on as much of your skin as possible for 15 to 20 minutes a day, preferably before 10:00 AM or after 3:00 PM when the sun is less intense. Do not use sun block or tanning lotion.
If you have flu like symptoms take up to 50,000 IU of vitamin D-3 for three days to treat the acute infection.
(c) Vitamin C 1000 mg take one, three times a day. If you begin feeling cold or flu symptoms increase this amount to 1000 mg every hour. If you begin to have diarrhea reduce the dosage until the diarrhea stops. If vitamin C upsets your stomach, you may want to buy a “buffered” form of vitamin C.
(d) Take a potent multivitamin and mineral supplement: Good quality, high potency supplements can help strengthen and protect your body and immune system. Get on, and stay on, a healthy nutritional program.
(e) Avoid sugar, processed foods and artificial sweeteners: Sugar decreases the immune system function almost immediately. One can of soda, can suppress your immune system by 50% for up to six hours. A strong immune system is the key to fighting off viruses and other illness. Read the food labels; ketchup is almost 30% sugar, fruit juices, cereals, even so called health foods are loaded with sugar. Other names for sugar are glucose, galactose, fructose, sucrose, maltose, lactose, modified corn syrup, grape juice. Sugar spikes insulin, contributes to obesity and diabetes, disturbs your hormone balance, leaches important minerals out of your system (especially calcium), can lead to food allergies, and increases your risk of cancer. Artificial sweeteners are toxic chemicals and may cause brain injury, tumors, senility and may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
(f) Get enough rest: If you are tired or your body is overly fatigued it will be harder to fight off the flu. Be sure to get enough quality, restful sleep.
(g) Reduce your Stress Levels: If stress becomes overwhelming, your body will be less able to fight off the flu and other illnesses. Stress weakens the immune system.
(h) Exercise: When you exercise, you increase your circulation and blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of finding an illness before it spreads.
(i) Take quality Omega-3 oil: Increase your intake of healthy and essential fats like omega-3 oils found in fish oil, krill oil, flax oil, or extra virgin olive oil, these are crucial to maintaining your health. Avoid damaged Omega-6 oils which are found in trans fats and in processed foods, such as, French fries, and margarine; these fats can seriously damage your immune response.
(j) Wash your hands: Washing your hands will decrease the risk of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth or other people.
(k) Eat garlic regularly: Garlic works like a broad-spectrum antibiotic against bacteria, virus, and protozoa in the body. Unlike antibiotics, no resistance can be built up so it is an absolutely safe product to use.
(l) Avoid hospitals and vaccinations: Stay away from hospitals unless you are having an emergency. Hospitals are prime breeding grounds for infections of all kinds, and could be one of the likeliest places you could be exposed to various infections. Vaccinations, when available, will not be tested with clinical trials, the public will be the test subjects. They may be ineffective and can lead to crippling paralysis like Guillain-Barre Syndrome or other serious side effects.
(m) Eat wholesome nutritional food; avoid eating in fast food restaurants, processed food, genetically modified food, micro waved food. As much as possible, eat fresh, live, locally grown foods. Imported foods (not locally grown) are gassed, sprayed and irradiated which kills all the natural enzymes. Commercially grown foods, like tomatoes, are picks several weeks before they are ripe. They may turn red, but they will never have the nutrients they lost by picking them too soon.
The following are excerpts by Dr. David Darbo from the book “Green Leaves of Barley – Nature’s Miracle Rejuvenator “by Dr. Mary Ruth Swope and David A. Darbo, M.D.
“I am NOT in any way criticizing the noble men and women who dedicate their lives to saving the lives of others. The hospitals in the U.S. are first-rate, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and staffed with skilled technicians, nurses and physicians.
In a medical emergency, there is nowhere on earth I’d rather be. It is necessary to act dramatically in crisis situations, and the medical profession is to be applauded for its skill in dealing with catastrophic illness. My hat is off to the established medical order within the context of crisis care. The problem is not how the medical system operates in its own context but how it fails to maintain health.”
For more information on the dangers of childhood vaccinations, sudden infant death syndrome, autism and other risk factors with vaccination, go to these web sites; www.wellnesschiro.com/physicians_group_end_mandatory_vaccines.htm and www.vaccinationdebate.com/web8.html.
...
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Shopping Day in Guaymas
Yesterday was a great girls' day in Guaymas. If you look hard enough you can find everything that you need and the language barrier gets less daunting when you put yourself out there and just try to speak Spanish. I picked my friend, Kris, up at around 11:0o and we drove into Guaymas. One lane of the main bridge in and out of San Carlos has reopened so it's a lot easier to get through town. You have to pay close attention because the detours change a lot. I have found myself on the wrong side of the median numerous times. The last time it happened I had to run the jeep over the median, through the shrubs and over the curb. I had no choice and I didn't do any damage.
Our other partner, Bliss, was unavailable because she publishes a book every year at this time and yesterday they went to press. Kris is a yoga teacher and she needed color copies of her brochure to hand out around town. We found the print shop that had been recommended (don't ask me how we found it). We went in and asked for pricing. The guy who was helping us said he couldn't do less than one thousand copies and we said "ok, how much". He said it was $210 pesos for 1,000 copies. That's seemed very inexpensive. We did this all in Spanish and we thought it was pretty impressive on our part. Then Kris handed him the brochure and he said "oh, it's more for two or three colors". We then realized that we were in a real print shop where they do actual typesetting, like for a newspaper. I don't even know if those still exist in the U.S. We excused ourselves then but it still might be in the running because the next place quoted 6 pesos per color copy. That comes out to about 80 cents - so around $80 USD for one hundred copies. I don't know why it's so expensive and why there isn't a Kinko's around. Kris might go with black and white and then she could pretty much do it for free. In any case, it's fun to find little businesses here and talk to the local people. I love it. It reminds of how it must have been back in the old days or in a small town in the U.S. before big business took over (like Kinko's). It's one of the things I love most about Mexico.
I knew I wanted to get some fresh fish so we headed towards the water to a fish store that had been recommended to Kris. Generally, the best fish comes in early in the morning and it was already past noon so all they had were shrimp. It's the beginning of shrimp season and they had the biggest, most beautiful shrimp I've ever seen. However, we didn't need any. Both Kris and I had shrimp from our local guy who comes around and delivers. We continued on towards the marina and we passed a fish vendor with a stand right near where the fishing boats come in. He had beautiful fresh fish, scallops and fresh crab. I bought a nice whitefish that is white and firm and I'm hoping it will taste like mahi mahi. We both bought some crabmeat too. It is so inexpensive here. I'll make crab cakes tonight.
We stopped for lunch at a big palapa restaurant that is very popular. I can't wait to take Bruce there. We were there before comida so it was empty. I had a fish taco made with mahi mahi and Kris had a crab tostada. It was absolutely delicious and the bill came to $72 pesos (about $6 USD) for both of us. We were right across from the water so we had a great view. Guaymas has an interesting waterfront and a very nice marina. It is definitely a working waterfront, not a tourist place. Mexico has some government run marinas that are nice, kind of similar to the ones run by the Canadian government. They are always cheaper than private marinas and I've heard the ones on this coast are well run. After great lunch and great conversation we left for our last few errands. There's nothing better than being with good friends and talking about anything you want to talk about. I love having girlfriends to goof around with. I swear it doesn't matter how old or young you are. There's just nothing like it. I wanted to show Kris a part of the waterfront that I didn't think she had seen yet. I found it one day when I was lost in Guaymas by taking a wrong turn at a "Y". It takes you out to a kind of inlet that has tiny islands covered with cacti and on the shore are ponga boats that belong to the local fishermen. On the right side of the road there are some really lovely and expensive Mexican homes surrounded by the desert hills that are so common here. It's a really beautiful section of town.
Kris and I finally wound our way back to Soriana, one of the mega marts in Guaymas and did some shopping. Their produce is fresh and we can't find anything great in town right now. However, that has changed today because Tony has reopened. Although I can get everything I need from Tony, I'll continue to go into Guaymas for the fresh fish and crabmeat. It's a lot cheaper and it's fun to stop and talk to the fish guy. So...that was our day in the big city. It was a great day.
Our other partner, Bliss, was unavailable because she publishes a book every year at this time and yesterday they went to press. Kris is a yoga teacher and she needed color copies of her brochure to hand out around town. We found the print shop that had been recommended (don't ask me how we found it). We went in and asked for pricing. The guy who was helping us said he couldn't do less than one thousand copies and we said "ok, how much". He said it was $210 pesos for 1,000 copies. That's seemed very inexpensive. We did this all in Spanish and we thought it was pretty impressive on our part. Then Kris handed him the brochure and he said "oh, it's more for two or three colors". We then realized that we were in a real print shop where they do actual typesetting, like for a newspaper. I don't even know if those still exist in the U.S. We excused ourselves then but it still might be in the running because the next place quoted 6 pesos per color copy. That comes out to about 80 cents - so around $80 USD for one hundred copies. I don't know why it's so expensive and why there isn't a Kinko's around. Kris might go with black and white and then she could pretty much do it for free. In any case, it's fun to find little businesses here and talk to the local people. I love it. It reminds of how it must have been back in the old days or in a small town in the U.S. before big business took over (like Kinko's). It's one of the things I love most about Mexico.
I knew I wanted to get some fresh fish so we headed towards the water to a fish store that had been recommended to Kris. Generally, the best fish comes in early in the morning and it was already past noon so all they had were shrimp. It's the beginning of shrimp season and they had the biggest, most beautiful shrimp I've ever seen. However, we didn't need any. Both Kris and I had shrimp from our local guy who comes around and delivers. We continued on towards the marina and we passed a fish vendor with a stand right near where the fishing boats come in. He had beautiful fresh fish, scallops and fresh crab. I bought a nice whitefish that is white and firm and I'm hoping it will taste like mahi mahi. We both bought some crabmeat too. It is so inexpensive here. I'll make crab cakes tonight.
We stopped for lunch at a big palapa restaurant that is very popular. I can't wait to take Bruce there. We were there before comida so it was empty. I had a fish taco made with mahi mahi and Kris had a crab tostada. It was absolutely delicious and the bill came to $72 pesos (about $6 USD) for both of us. We were right across from the water so we had a great view. Guaymas has an interesting waterfront and a very nice marina. It is definitely a working waterfront, not a tourist place. Mexico has some government run marinas that are nice, kind of similar to the ones run by the Canadian government. They are always cheaper than private marinas and I've heard the ones on this coast are well run. After great lunch and great conversation we left for our last few errands. There's nothing better than being with good friends and talking about anything you want to talk about. I love having girlfriends to goof around with. I swear it doesn't matter how old or young you are. There's just nothing like it. I wanted to show Kris a part of the waterfront that I didn't think she had seen yet. I found it one day when I was lost in Guaymas by taking a wrong turn at a "Y". It takes you out to a kind of inlet that has tiny islands covered with cacti and on the shore are ponga boats that belong to the local fishermen. On the right side of the road there are some really lovely and expensive Mexican homes surrounded by the desert hills that are so common here. It's a really beautiful section of town.
Kris and I finally wound our way back to Soriana, one of the mega marts in Guaymas and did some shopping. Their produce is fresh and we can't find anything great in town right now. However, that has changed today because Tony has reopened. Although I can get everything I need from Tony, I'll continue to go into Guaymas for the fresh fish and crabmeat. It's a lot cheaper and it's fun to stop and talk to the fish guy. So...that was our day in the big city. It was a great day.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Since the hurricane, life has been busy. We were expecting another tropical depression yesterday but it dissipated and went south. However, we are getting rain and low clouds. I don't see anything on the satellite images that explains the persistent rain we are having today and that mystifies me greatly. It is very tropical out and little bugs are flying everywhere. One town nearby, San Jose, was evacuated yesterday due to the impending storm because most of the people that live there lost their homes in the hurricane and are either living outdoors or in makeshift tents. The biggest thing I've learned since the hurricane is that the outpouring of help from the local people and the expats has been overwhelming. I've never seen anything like it. There are hundreds of people helping in San Carlos alone. There's even a movement to help all of the animals. All of this makes me glad we moved here. Everyone who knows us, knows that this is our second hurricane of personal consequence. The first was Hurricane Kenna in 2002. Bruce and I lived on the beach two hours north or Puerto Vallarta at Playa Las Tortugas and we fled to Tepic one hour before the hurricane hit. We lost all of our belongings on the first floor of our house but we didn't lose the house. It took us months to dig out and oddly, there was not a lot of support in that area. Many people in San Blas and neighboring areas were left homeless and there was a significant loss of life. It wasn't easy to recover from that, but we did.
I know that every year there are weather events all over the world that are catastrophic. Still, I don't understand what is going on right now with all of the typhoons, tsunamis, hurricanes; as well as the basic human misery caused by other humans. It just feels like there is something bigger than us hitting us over and over again. When I look at all of the humanitarian efforts around the world I wonder why we can't have world peace. If you take insane and unfounded hatred out of the mix, prejudice, bigotry and the rest of the ugly emotions, we really could have peace in the world. I'm not religious but sometimes I wonder if the catastrophes that are coming often these days are sending us a message. We tried to do it in the 60's, but we were labelled hippies and potheads. I wonder if we could try it again without the drugs. I am not feeling the love around the world. I guess I'd better get off of this subject or I will drive myself and my friends crazy. Still, if we could all do a couple of good and unselfish things every day life would be better for everyone. I hope it's not too late.
The men of El Cobijo are doing well. They are safe for now and can stay at the ladies' retirement home in Guaymas for three more months. At the end of that time they want to live in Guaymas (the city next to us) where they can get out more easily and be closer to the public health facility and farmacias etc. At this point, we are using donation money to buy supplies for them each week; mostly meat and chicken. There's a great butcher shop called VillaReal and they kindly give us a 30 percent discount. We are still getting great donations for them. One of my neighbors brought down a 25 pound bag of pancake mix and diabetic syrup. They love pancakes! Kris and I also discovered the local dollar store where everything is under 12 pesos. If you like to shop like we do, this is a great find. It's like the typical US dollar store only more fun with more random items that make us smile. This week we're going to put some energy into finding a good Mexican book store. There's one man who loves to read anything and everything. He has lost a leg to diabetes and his other leg is losing circulation so he's not in good shape but he is very happy all the time. We love him. We're going to try to find out more about each one of the men and we'll have plenty of time to do that. The one lady that lives there from El Cobijo is pretty out of it, but when she's awake she sings Cielito Lindo.
One bad thing that is happening right now in Guaymas is that lots of people have gotten very sick since the hurricane and they think it's from just breathing in the air pollution that happened after the hurricane. One friend of ours was sick in bed for a week with terrible symptoms. A lot of folks are hospitalized with this. Thankfully, it seems temporary.
Our wonderful grocer, Tony, has not been in town since the hurricane. We know he's coming back but we don't know when. We are all realizing how much we depend on Tony. Kris and I have been to a couple of wholesale warehouses since we've been out looking for supplies for El Cobijo and we have discovered how much work it is for Tony to get the freshest vegetables, fruits and meats. He has to go each day early in the morning to get everything he needs. We really miss Tony. The other stores in San Carlos just don't put the effort into buying fresh fruits and vegetables and getting rid of stock when it starts going bad like Tony does. We've heard that some of his refrigerators and coolers were damaged in the hurricane so I'm sure he's getting them repaired. The snow birds will be back soon too and I don't think Tony had any kind of a vacation last summer. We'll celebrate when Tony reopens. Tony is really our rock and if you think about it he helps us be less dependent on Guaymas for staples. If he were to run for office I would vote for him.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Soon I will get back to my usual blog, but for now, Hurricane Jimena and the relief effort has taken on a life of its own and it has taken me with it. We are working hard to help and it's a wonderful feeling. Below is a letter I wrote to friends and family asking for donations. It explains how I feel about El Cobijo.
Dear Friends and Family:
As you may or may not know, our area was hit on September 2nd and 3rd by a very serious hurricane (Hurricane Jimena) that did tremendous damage to our town, San Carlos, and the City of Guaymas, and especially the small Mexican towns in between. Bruce and I and Teddy and Niko are fine. We did lose our items in storage but that is nothing compared to the loss of homes and belongings that our neighbors suffered. The water came up to the roofs of most of the houses in the towns of Santa Clara, San Jose and Fatima and thousands of families lost their homes, cars and belongings. Everyone lost power and water and some towns still do not have safe water. We don't either but we can afford to have our cisterns filled by the water trucks. Many people are just living outside with nothing.
Unfortunately, American TV did not cover this event so we didn't get the publicity that disasters so often get. Many people have stepped in to help. Our town, San Carlos, has a large population of people from Canada and the United States so of course we are all ok and in a position to help. Everyone is working day and night to help the people in the small towns. Rotary Club has brought in Shelter Boxes which contain tents, blankets water containers etc. Food is being prepared and distributed to all the families. I've heard that trucks have just started arriving from the United States with more supplies.
My particular focus is on El Cobijo, a residential home in San Jose, that houses 14 elderly men and one woman. They were caught in the hurricane and spent all night on the roof of the home having climbed/been carried up a rickety ladder to get there. These hardy souls spent the night on the roof in the raging winds with water lapping at the roof until they could be rescued in the morning by helicopter. We had no communication so no one knew what had happened to them. Bruce and I drove there in our four wheel drive jeep on the following Sunday with a carload of supplies and as we drove through San Jose our hearts sank and we both cried. We drove as close as we could to the home but the roads were out so we walked in. My heart was pounding. The homes were gone and beds, sinks, cars, every conceivable belonging from their houses were scattered everywhere. In a matter of hours their lives were shattered. We could do nothing but come home in shock.
Finally that night I found out that the men had been taken to the ladies retirement home which is run by the Catholic Sisters in Guaymas. They have no extra money and the men are going to be housed by donations from us. So far, two of us are pretty much doing the shopping and using our own funds to purchase items. We have received a couple of extremely generous donations that are keeping us going but we are talking long term. Kristine Ladau and I have made a long term commitment to help, probably at least a year or until the El Cobijo home is back to where it was before the hurricane. It has become our fulltime job. El Cobijo has always operated to their last peso but now they have less than nothing. These are very old men; some are blind and crippled and some get around fine. Many of them read. We became interested in El Cobijo when we first moved here in May. Having lost both of my own parents, I have always been committed to making sure older people are not just alone and forgotten. My sister and I promised my mother that we would stay with her when she was ill and we did. I feel strongly, that at the end of your life, you should not be alone. As you can see I feel very passionate about this.
There is a wonderful woman who has worked with these men for years. Her name is Luz Acosta and we have become good friends. Luz has been with the men day and night since the hurricane; everytime I see her she is running, hauling boxes, changing adult diapers and sweating. Her emotions are raw right now and she cries a lot because her heart is sad, but she also sees the light at the end of the tunnel. I am obviously writing to ask for your help. I have set up a Paypal account to help these people. All of the money will go to their care. Kristina and I will gladly continue to pay for our own gas and labor and time. If you can give any amount at all even $5.00 it would be a tremendous help. All you need to do is go to http://www.paypal.com/ and send money using my email address: janambrose@gmail.com. It's that simple; the account is linked to my US account in Seattle and I can send receipts as well. I have never done this before and I probably won't again. It's just so extremely important. The visible people who were hurt by the hurricane are getting help but the old people get forgotten because they can no longer speak for themselves. If you just can't give, then say a prayer for all the people who are suffering from this disaster. Thank you all so much.
With love and thanks,
Jan Ambrose and Kristina Ladau
Dear Friends and Family:
As you may or may not know, our area was hit on September 2nd and 3rd by a very serious hurricane (Hurricane Jimena) that did tremendous damage to our town, San Carlos, and the City of Guaymas, and especially the small Mexican towns in between. Bruce and I and Teddy and Niko are fine. We did lose our items in storage but that is nothing compared to the loss of homes and belongings that our neighbors suffered. The water came up to the roofs of most of the houses in the towns of Santa Clara, San Jose and Fatima and thousands of families lost their homes, cars and belongings. Everyone lost power and water and some towns still do not have safe water. We don't either but we can afford to have our cisterns filled by the water trucks. Many people are just living outside with nothing.
Unfortunately, American TV did not cover this event so we didn't get the publicity that disasters so often get. Many people have stepped in to help. Our town, San Carlos, has a large population of people from Canada and the United States so of course we are all ok and in a position to help. Everyone is working day and night to help the people in the small towns. Rotary Club has brought in Shelter Boxes which contain tents, blankets water containers etc. Food is being prepared and distributed to all the families. I've heard that trucks have just started arriving from the United States with more supplies.
My particular focus is on El Cobijo, a residential home in San Jose, that houses 14 elderly men and one woman. They were caught in the hurricane and spent all night on the roof of the home having climbed/been carried up a rickety ladder to get there. These hardy souls spent the night on the roof in the raging winds with water lapping at the roof until they could be rescued in the morning by helicopter. We had no communication so no one knew what had happened to them. Bruce and I drove there in our four wheel drive jeep on the following Sunday with a carload of supplies and as we drove through San Jose our hearts sank and we both cried. We drove as close as we could to the home but the roads were out so we walked in. My heart was pounding. The homes were gone and beds, sinks, cars, every conceivable belonging from their houses were scattered everywhere. In a matter of hours their lives were shattered. We could do nothing but come home in shock.
Finally that night I found out that the men had been taken to the ladies retirement home which is run by the Catholic Sisters in Guaymas. They have no extra money and the men are going to be housed by donations from us. So far, two of us are pretty much doing the shopping and using our own funds to purchase items. We have received a couple of extremely generous donations that are keeping us going but we are talking long term. Kristine Ladau and I have made a long term commitment to help, probably at least a year or until the El Cobijo home is back to where it was before the hurricane. It has become our fulltime job. El Cobijo has always operated to their last peso but now they have less than nothing. These are very old men; some are blind and crippled and some get around fine. Many of them read. We became interested in El Cobijo when we first moved here in May. Having lost both of my own parents, I have always been committed to making sure older people are not just alone and forgotten. My sister and I promised my mother that we would stay with her when she was ill and we did. I feel strongly, that at the end of your life, you should not be alone. As you can see I feel very passionate about this.
There is a wonderful woman who has worked with these men for years. Her name is Luz Acosta and we have become good friends. Luz has been with the men day and night since the hurricane; everytime I see her she is running, hauling boxes, changing adult diapers and sweating. Her emotions are raw right now and she cries a lot because her heart is sad, but she also sees the light at the end of the tunnel. I am obviously writing to ask for your help. I have set up a Paypal account to help these people. All of the money will go to their care. Kristina and I will gladly continue to pay for our own gas and labor and time. If you can give any amount at all even $5.00 it would be a tremendous help. All you need to do is go to http://www.paypal.com/ and send money using my email address: janambrose@gmail.com. It's that simple; the account is linked to my US account in Seattle and I can send receipts as well. I have never done this before and I probably won't again. It's just so extremely important. The visible people who were hurt by the hurricane are getting help but the old people get forgotten because they can no longer speak for themselves. If you just can't give, then say a prayer for all the people who are suffering from this disaster. Thank you all so much.
With love and thanks,
Jan Ambrose and Kristina Ladau
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The Story of El Cobijo by Martin Ruelas
I have found a full time job. I'm working for the residents of the Old Folks Home, El Cobijo to help them eat and go on with their lives. I feel happier than I have in a long time because I'm doing something that gives me great satisfaction. My background is in the helping field but the political aspects never agreed with me so I moved on, sadly. I'm opening a PayPal account right now and taking donations of food and clothing from my neighbors. There's a lot of work to do in our town. Everyone is in help mode right now, but this intense need by the people will go on for months. Everyone is willing to give time and money now, but it's the long term commitment that is worrisome.
The residents of El Cobijo are safe and sound at the Ladies Retirement Home in Guaymas. That's where they were taken as the water was rising to the roof of their home in San Jose. They only have two dormitory rooms there but it is clean and in a beautiful setting run by the Catholic Sisters. Can you imagine being 90+ years old, sick and pushed up a ladder to a roof during a raging hurricane with water rising all around you? Martin has been working each and every day to help the town of San Carlos, San Jose de Guaymas and Guaymas itself. The ladder is pictured above; yes the rickety wooden ladder.
By the way, I have visited the men and they are happy, clean and well fed. They love every single visitor. They are well loved by the ladies that take care of them and they crave human contact. Even though we have somewhat of a language barrier, the feelings are there and it's heartwarming. Why wouldn't I want to be involved in something like this? It's the most rewarding thing ever.
A friend of mine; a restauranteur and coffee maker here in San Carlos is working hard each day and night to help everyone and he has written the following story of El Cobijo. I think it captures the feeling of what is going on here. This is Martin's beautiful story:
I was yesterday at the Shelter Cobijo de San Jose de Guaymas.
I stop in my journey with shocking scenes of destroyed houses, was very sad and bitter see people taking their cars from the mud, and trying to find in the mud and dirt might find something, which was very sad to see that reality of that pile of mud and earth could be seen at a glance that nothing can be rescued, too many people were left homeless, with no furniture, no clothes and even worse than that without water to drink or something to eat, all with little effort and hard work had done so before the storm "Jimena" on that day than anyone expected, and nobody was afraid of the tremendous damage "Jimena" would leave in its wake, September 3, 2009 will be for all Residents of San Jose de Guaymas, Salvation, Empalme, Buenos Aires, Santa Clara, Ranchitos, Guaymas and many other nearby suburbs will be bitterly remembered by all.
Today, a record by the storm that struck in 1948 to Guaymas which was of 348 mm was exceeded with more than double for "Jimena" reaching the 711 mm.
In this sad story I met Fernando and Jose who cleaned up gradually inside of this building “El Cobijo of San Jose” told me the Odyssey who lived in person during this storm, "Jimena". They had too windy and raining in torrents and when they heard the sound of water coming toward his community people began to leave their homes and get on “El Cobijo of San Jose” roof. José has to hurry and start helping the elderly to climb the ceiling by a wooden staircase which was made right there with loose boards that had to see in the photos down below. In the mine time by curiosity Fernando went to the vicinity of the creek to check how big it was growing but apparently he fail to cross back and had to stay on the other side, hampering the work for Joseph to climb the ladder elders one by one.
Then we started to get people to seek refuge at “El Cobijo of San Jose” and these people helped Joseph to go to the elders at the ceiling. The water level rose steadily and people already in the roof of “El Cobijo of San Jose” from the ceiling began to see with sadness that the beds, dishes, clothes all the little they had was taken from his house and dragged by the water, this happen also to“El Cobijo of San Jose” lost everything and the same had been happening in every house in San Jose and “La Salvacion”, the streams growing by the minute, then at that time the most important thing was to save the lives of their loved ones any cost.
José mentioned that he saw a family that became trapped on the roof of his house and the water level was exceeded the level of the roof of their house and Jose had to break a copper tube for use as a means of rope and save them, thanks to this a lot of people were saved. Very strong winds knocked down electricity pylons and in total darkness were on the roof. The heavy rain and icy winds haunted by the lives of their young children, they have to break two of the four water tanks of asbestos with stones and bricks by a side and make a hole to put the children and thus could be protected by the impetuous of bad weather, rain and down winds that never before had felt, heart-wrenching moments, were alone in solitary confinement, without light, without telephones, cell phones had no signal left is whether his own fate.
But God is great and never abandoned even in total darkness were never lost hope or gave up, it was time to be together and support each other it was time to pray and ask our Our Father God to protect them and wanted to finish the rain, anguish heard the roar of cows, deer, horses and dogs washed away and the unfortunate animals who desperately fought for their lives.
They realized that there was nothing to do, only in wait until the storm ended, were hours of anguish never before seen anything like this, from Wednesday 2 September, rain beginning at 6 pm and end the day Friday at 6 am. A tremendous amount of water that fell incessantly for 36 hours 711 mm. more than twice what it rained in 1948.
The secret things belong to God our Father. Which unites us like brothers now to support what we are, that is our God the Father who loves to see, that we love each other and give thanks to all who have come together for this noble cause. What we have seen is actually a word that if we love, that if we want and we can do much, much more together one with another. Let us well.
God Bless you today and always. I love them all!
NOTE:
If something is left over at home please donate to the victims of these affected areas will not be wasted slush.
They need your donation, you can support them with:
Clothing, footwear, blankets, pillows, mattresses, cupboards, food, china, kitchenware, cleaning supplies, toiletries, refrigerators, stoves, tables, chairs, beds, wheelchairs, adult diapers, disposable, signs signaling, one UHF radio, medicine, and all you can donate.
Jose, Fernando and the director of “El Cobijo de San Jose” LuZ Acosta (Cellphone: 6221234910) We thank you very much.
I stop in my journey with shocking scenes of destroyed houses, was very sad and bitter see people taking their cars from the mud, and trying to find in the mud and dirt might find something, which was very sad to see that reality of that pile of mud and earth could be seen at a glance that nothing can be rescued, too many people were left homeless, with no furniture, no clothes and even worse than that without water to drink or something to eat, all with little effort and hard work had done so before the storm "Jimena" on that day than anyone expected, and nobody was afraid of the tremendous damage "Jimena" would leave in its wake, September 3, 2009 will be for all Residents of San Jose de Guaymas, Salvation, Empalme, Buenos Aires, Santa Clara, Ranchitos, Guaymas and many other nearby suburbs will be bitterly remembered by all.
Today, a record by the storm that struck in 1948 to Guaymas which was of 348 mm was exceeded with more than double for "Jimena" reaching the 711 mm.
In this sad story I met Fernando and Jose who cleaned up gradually inside of this building “El Cobijo of San Jose” told me the Odyssey who lived in person during this storm, "Jimena". They had too windy and raining in torrents and when they heard the sound of water coming toward his community people began to leave their homes and get on “El Cobijo of San Jose” roof. José has to hurry and start helping the elderly to climb the ceiling by a wooden staircase which was made right there with loose boards that had to see in the photos down below. In the mine time by curiosity Fernando went to the vicinity of the creek to check how big it was growing but apparently he fail to cross back and had to stay on the other side, hampering the work for Joseph to climb the ladder elders one by one.
Then we started to get people to seek refuge at “El Cobijo of San Jose” and these people helped Joseph to go to the elders at the ceiling. The water level rose steadily and people already in the roof of “El Cobijo of San Jose” from the ceiling began to see with sadness that the beds, dishes, clothes all the little they had was taken from his house and dragged by the water, this happen also to“El Cobijo of San Jose” lost everything and the same had been happening in every house in San Jose and “La Salvacion”, the streams growing by the minute, then at that time the most important thing was to save the lives of their loved ones any cost.
José mentioned that he saw a family that became trapped on the roof of his house and the water level was exceeded the level of the roof of their house and Jose had to break a copper tube for use as a means of rope and save them, thanks to this a lot of people were saved. Very strong winds knocked down electricity pylons and in total darkness were on the roof. The heavy rain and icy winds haunted by the lives of their young children, they have to break two of the four water tanks of asbestos with stones and bricks by a side and make a hole to put the children and thus could be protected by the impetuous of bad weather, rain and down winds that never before had felt, heart-wrenching moments, were alone in solitary confinement, without light, without telephones, cell phones had no signal left is whether his own fate.
But God is great and never abandoned even in total darkness were never lost hope or gave up, it was time to be together and support each other it was time to pray and ask our Our Father God to protect them and wanted to finish the rain, anguish heard the roar of cows, deer, horses and dogs washed away and the unfortunate animals who desperately fought for their lives.
They realized that there was nothing to do, only in wait until the storm ended, were hours of anguish never before seen anything like this, from Wednesday 2 September, rain beginning at 6 pm and end the day Friday at 6 am. A tremendous amount of water that fell incessantly for 36 hours 711 mm. more than twice what it rained in 1948.
The secret things belong to God our Father. Which unites us like brothers now to support what we are, that is our God the Father who loves to see, that we love each other and give thanks to all who have come together for this noble cause. What we have seen is actually a word that if we love, that if we want and we can do much, much more together one with another. Let us well.
God Bless you today and always. I love them all!
NOTE:
If something is left over at home please donate to the victims of these affected areas will not be wasted slush.
They need your donation, you can support them with:
Clothing, footwear, blankets, pillows, mattresses, cupboards, food, china, kitchenware, cleaning supplies, toiletries, refrigerators, stoves, tables, chairs, beds, wheelchairs, adult diapers, disposable, signs signaling, one UHF radio, medicine, and all you can donate.
Jose, Fernando and the director of “El Cobijo de San Jose” LuZ Acosta (Cellphone: 6221234910) We thank you very much.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Help People Recover From Hurricane Jimena
For those of you who read my blog and for my Facebook friends, here are some help efforts underway....if you live far away and can even give a little money that would be great. It's hard to picture what is going on here in Sonora if you can't see it and the US news and weather channels did not cover this hurricane at all. Bruce and I are very fortunate. We have plenty of food, electricity, water in our three tinakos. All is well here, but when we leave the hill, it's a different story.
There is also a paypal account sent up by George, the forum coordinator in San Carlos.
Thanks for reading. Here is a description of help needed posted on the San Carlos bulletin board:
Subject: Jimena Help!!
For those that don’t know, we are going to try to give out care packages to all needy families that were devastated by Jimena in San Carlos, San Jose, Santa Clara and Guaymas. We need LOTS of supplies to make that happen!!! In addition we will try to work on the immediate water needs by sending water trucks to affected areas. My goal is to help at LEAST 2,000 families. We need everyone’s help to make that happen. Even sending $1 will make that happen! If you don’t have $1, call 10 friends that have 10 dimes!!! I will try to summarize what I found out today.
Needs/Care packages: (somewhat in order)• Money-100% of the money will be used towards helping people.• Clorox – needed to clean and disinfect to prevent illness and disease• WATER!! - all kinds, for drinking and for cleaning• Milk- in cartons that are non-perishable (Lala)• Basic foods – rice, beans, canned food• SOAP –personal hygiene, toothpaste, tooth brushes, brushes, combs, hair ties for the girls, shaving cream, razors• Diapers• Kotex• Face masks• Basic medical needs• Clothes – shoes, underwear• Comforters – most lost their mattresses. Something to sleep on• Sheets• Dishes• Utensils• Furniture• Mattresses• School supplies• Any and all types of furniture
Fatima: (link to Google Maps)Darren went to Fatima and they seemed fairly organized. Many homes have been leveled. There is a central location that is currently housing approx 150 people. They served 350 meals last night. This central location can be used for a distribution center and I understand that they have police assistance so it is safe. They need all the above items. Did not yet receive any count as to how many households. They DO HAVE RUNNING WATER but only for a day or so. Darren has already purchased $4,000 pesos for immediate need food for them at a bulk store that donated 20 kilos of Beans and 20 Kilos of rice. (approx 40 lbs each). Darren is working directly with this center and will coordinating the delivery. He can respond to the number of households and will follow up with pictures.
San Jose: Google MapPJ, Shelly, Morgan and I went out to San Jose today and saw massive destruction. I was in tears when I saw the destruction. They DO NOT HAVE RUNNING WATER and I believe they are still waiting on electricity. I did not see any homes that were not affected. The San Jose area that includes La Salvacion and El Cuadrito has approximately 700 households. They need all of the above items. We will work with the Police department (Comisario) to distribute supplies. Also, important we need to pay for a water truck to deliver water to homes. Photos are attached. They had a lot of livestock that died and the chance of contamination in the ground water is high.
Santa Clara: Google MapI understand that Santa Clara is similar to San Jose. Charla’s father went there today but I haven’t yet received a report. Charla will be going there tomorrow morning. To give a full report.
San Carlos:There are several areas of need many roads are washed out and still without water. George will contact Mark & Miguel and will be working with them to access need. I think San Carlos will be more of a case by case basis. No doubt many areas will need the basic need, but I understand that some houses did not lose everything.
Other help and organizations:• We discovered that the government is paying people $150 pesos per day to clean up their house, roads or other homes.• A senator from Cd. Obregon (forgot name, will post later) had a crew giving out clothes and some rations. They are ready and willing to help with any aid. I will follow up and ask for matching donations.• Spoke with Pablo Audelo, there will be a MEETING TOMORROW WITH DIF at the San Carlos Plaza. Trying to coordinate efforts with other groups to help. I will meet them and will give feedback of combined efforts.• We will continue to make joint efforts to make our money and supplies go further. Hopefully we will get some matching funds from government organizations.
DROP OFF POINTS: (More to come… we’re just getting started)•
Tucson: Drop off points in Tucson - Desert Divers (Mike) and Risky Business (Eddie coordinating).•
Flagstaff: Woodland Self Storage (Tom@flagstaffstorage.com)1425 W Forest Meadows StFlagstaff, AZ 86001(928) 779-5066Get directions• Phoenix: Still working on more…..Home of Stephanie Holbrook 9451 W Mary Ann Dr Peoria, AZ (623) 910-1711 (stephanieholbrook@yahoo.com)
If you have any more ideas or people that can help either bring things to San Carlos or just GET THEM TO A DROP OFF Please let us know.
Right now we are trying to satisfy immediate need, there will be need for the next year. So if you know anyone coming this way.. ALL CARS SHOULD BE FULL OF SUPPLIES! And we need money. Donations of $1 are welcome. I will let Charla reply to all with the PayPal account. We will find a way to take donations if that is a problem. Just let me know. Also, there will be a rebuilding campaign. If you or your church group wants a project we can help coordinate.
Thanks to everyone for pitching in!!!
Tammi MillerERA San Carlos RealtyOffice (from US): (011-52) 622-226-2000Fax (from US): (011-52) 622-226-2121Vonage: 520-495-0020Cell (011-52) 622-197-0989Nextel: 62*14*26105tammisancarlos@gmail.com
Beyond that, we will take anything.
PayPal - Just set up. Donations will go towards those that need money, gas for deliveries, purchasing water, etc. email gcg@gadsbys.com for the link to PayPal
There is also a paypal account sent up by George, the forum coordinator in San Carlos.
Thanks for reading. Here is a description of help needed posted on the San Carlos bulletin board:
Subject: Jimena Help!!
For those that don’t know, we are going to try to give out care packages to all needy families that were devastated by Jimena in San Carlos, San Jose, Santa Clara and Guaymas. We need LOTS of supplies to make that happen!!! In addition we will try to work on the immediate water needs by sending water trucks to affected areas. My goal is to help at LEAST 2,000 families. We need everyone’s help to make that happen. Even sending $1 will make that happen! If you don’t have $1, call 10 friends that have 10 dimes!!! I will try to summarize what I found out today.
Needs/Care packages: (somewhat in order)• Money-100% of the money will be used towards helping people.• Clorox – needed to clean and disinfect to prevent illness and disease• WATER!! - all kinds, for drinking and for cleaning• Milk- in cartons that are non-perishable (Lala)• Basic foods – rice, beans, canned food• SOAP –personal hygiene, toothpaste, tooth brushes, brushes, combs, hair ties for the girls, shaving cream, razors• Diapers• Kotex• Face masks• Basic medical needs• Clothes – shoes, underwear• Comforters – most lost their mattresses. Something to sleep on• Sheets• Dishes• Utensils• Furniture• Mattresses• School supplies• Any and all types of furniture
Fatima: (link to Google Maps)Darren went to Fatima and they seemed fairly organized. Many homes have been leveled. There is a central location that is currently housing approx 150 people. They served 350 meals last night. This central location can be used for a distribution center and I understand that they have police assistance so it is safe. They need all the above items. Did not yet receive any count as to how many households. They DO HAVE RUNNING WATER but only for a day or so. Darren has already purchased $4,000 pesos for immediate need food for them at a bulk store that donated 20 kilos of Beans and 20 Kilos of rice. (approx 40 lbs each). Darren is working directly with this center and will coordinating the delivery. He can respond to the number of households and will follow up with pictures.
San Jose: Google MapPJ, Shelly, Morgan and I went out to San Jose today and saw massive destruction. I was in tears when I saw the destruction. They DO NOT HAVE RUNNING WATER and I believe they are still waiting on electricity. I did not see any homes that were not affected. The San Jose area that includes La Salvacion and El Cuadrito has approximately 700 households. They need all of the above items. We will work with the Police department (Comisario) to distribute supplies. Also, important we need to pay for a water truck to deliver water to homes. Photos are attached. They had a lot of livestock that died and the chance of contamination in the ground water is high.
Santa Clara: Google MapI understand that Santa Clara is similar to San Jose. Charla’s father went there today but I haven’t yet received a report. Charla will be going there tomorrow morning. To give a full report.
San Carlos:There are several areas of need many roads are washed out and still without water. George will contact Mark & Miguel and will be working with them to access need. I think San Carlos will be more of a case by case basis. No doubt many areas will need the basic need, but I understand that some houses did not lose everything.
Other help and organizations:• We discovered that the government is paying people $150 pesos per day to clean up their house, roads or other homes.• A senator from Cd. Obregon (forgot name, will post later) had a crew giving out clothes and some rations. They are ready and willing to help with any aid. I will follow up and ask for matching donations.• Spoke with Pablo Audelo, there will be a MEETING TOMORROW WITH DIF at the San Carlos Plaza. Trying to coordinate efforts with other groups to help. I will meet them and will give feedback of combined efforts.• We will continue to make joint efforts to make our money and supplies go further. Hopefully we will get some matching funds from government organizations.
DROP OFF POINTS: (More to come… we’re just getting started)•
Tucson: Drop off points in Tucson - Desert Divers (Mike) and Risky Business (Eddie coordinating).•
Flagstaff: Woodland Self Storage (Tom@flagstaffstorage.com)1425 W Forest Meadows StFlagstaff, AZ 86001(928) 779-5066Get directions• Phoenix: Still working on more…..Home of Stephanie Holbrook 9451 W Mary Ann Dr Peoria, AZ (623) 910-1711 (stephanieholbrook@yahoo.com)
If you have any more ideas or people that can help either bring things to San Carlos or just GET THEM TO A DROP OFF Please let us know.
Right now we are trying to satisfy immediate need, there will be need for the next year. So if you know anyone coming this way.. ALL CARS SHOULD BE FULL OF SUPPLIES! And we need money. Donations of $1 are welcome. I will let Charla reply to all with the PayPal account. We will find a way to take donations if that is a problem. Just let me know. Also, there will be a rebuilding campaign. If you or your church group wants a project we can help coordinate.
Thanks to everyone for pitching in!!!
Tammi MillerERA San Carlos RealtyOffice (from US): (011-52) 622-226-2000Fax (from US): (011-52) 622-226-2121Vonage: 520-495-0020Cell (011-52) 622-197-0989Nextel: 62*14*26105tammisancarlos@gmail.com
Beyond that, we will take anything.
PayPal - Just set up. Donations will go towards those that need money, gas for deliveries, purchasing water, etc. email gcg@gadsbys.com for the link to PayPal
Friday, August 28, 2009
Jan Meets Comandante Raymundo Mercado
Paulina is a kindergarten teacher in Guaymas. She house sits for us and takes care of Teddy and Niko while we are away from San Carlos. She is a wonderful and sweet person and she is incredibly responsible. She's also one of those people who sometimes gets in precarious situations because she is so sweet and responsible. Bruce and I were going on a short trip to Phoenix to do a couple of errands. We asked Paulina to come over on Friday afternoon so we could talk about the house and the pets. The Caracol (our neighborhood) is up on a hill in San Carlos and there is a gate that opens with a code during the day and a remote control after 7:00 P.M. It's a security device adopted by the Homeowners Association. Naturally, as in any town, there is some controversy over the gate, but overall it does keep the neighborhood more secure. We like it.
Paulina was having trouble getting the code to work so she called us. Bruce talked her through the process and we waited for her. Several minute passed and we were getting concerned about her when she called again. She was crying and said she had been in an accident down at the gate. We said we would be right there. We jumped in the car and raced to the bottom of the hill. The first thing we saw was a small, white compact car with the front bashed in badly. I jumped out of the car and the police were there. There were at least three of them talking to Paulina and the lady she hit. Everyone was fine. The lady in the other car had pulled up behind Paulina and, as a resident of the Caracol, she had a remote control that raises the gate. Paulina was already really nervous and when the gate went up she gunned the car and accidentally put it in reverse. I can completely understand how this happened.
Paulina had been at her aunt's house just before she came up to see us. Her aunt threw her the keys to a friends' Hummer and told her to go ahead and drive it. Paulina said she hesitated because it was so big and she hates driving borrowed cars. The good news about the Hummer is that the accident did NO damage to it whatsoever. The bad news is this; the Hummer demolished the front end of the other car, it belonged to an American and had US plates, the Mexican insurance had expired the week before, the owner was in Texas, and Paulina had no driver's license. This was bad, and under other circumstances (i.e. not being pretty and nice and charming) jail would be a possibility because here in Mexico you are guilty until proven innocent. That's just the way it works here and it's complicated. I have mixed feelings about it, but that's another story.
The lady whose car was hit was very nice and very understanding, though it was obvious she was upset and why wouldn't she be? She had just driven down from the States and was going up to her house. Her dog was with her and thankfully they were both fine. Bruce helped her unload her car filled with "stuff" and drove her to her house and unloaded her and her dog. Her car was going to be towed to the San Carlos police station. In the meantime I told the police that I would vouch for Paulina and I would go down to the police station with her. I did not want her to go to jail. One of the officers drove me up to our house to get my purse (in the Hummer) and off we all went to the police station. I could see that this man was loving the drive in the Hummer. In the meantime, Paulina was beside herself. She knew she was responsible and was willing to pay whatever it cost even if it took years. She had her paycheck with her from her teaching job. She makes about $600 US per month as a university educated teacher. Let me just add that this woman works hard, has several jobs and is so responsible in every way except for that driver's license thing. In her defense, it doesn't seem like getting a license is a priority here. After all most of the people have only been driving for a generation or two.
I am on my very best behavior with the police. I have learned in Mexico that being belligerent (even if you think something is really stupid) gets you nowhere although sometimes crying works a little. At this point, I know that my goal is to keep Paulina out of jail. I feel a little responsible for having her come up to the Caracol in the first place. I am doing my best to speak Spanish to the police. I know that shows respect and goes a long way with them. I understand most everything but my conversational skills are marginal. Still, I can put key words together and, in a pinch, I do pretty well. Paulina is a little calmer when we arrive at the station though she is pretty scared about the outcome. So am I, especially since I know several laws have been broken. The police are all saying that it really was an accident and that sounds really good. They're smiling a lot and being very friendly.
We are summoned into the the Comandante's office. He seems nice and introduces himself as "Comandante Raymundo Mercado". He has three phones; two cell phones and an office phone. One of them has a siren as its ringtone. He begins to interview Paulina and finds out that he knows her family in Guaymas. This is really good too. He has been a policeman here for 27 years and has worked as a bartender in San Carlos off and on for many years. He doesn't do it anymore because his wife wants him home. First of all, he issues Paulina a temporary driver's license dated a few weeks earlier. He lets us know that it's illegal for a Mexican national to be driving a US plated car without written permission so that will need to be cleared up. Paulina's aunt needs to get in touch with her friend and get permission faxed down from Texas. It turns out that two of Paulina's uncles have a body shop and mechanical shop. They will be able to fix the other car. This can all be worked out between the two parties. Everything is looking very positive and in the long run it all worked out. Paulina got her driver's license, she drove my jeep with written permission while I was gone and she doesn't have to use all of her money to fix the other car. She took great care of Teddy and Niko and she was much calmer when we returned. Unfortunately, the night before we arrived home, she and Teddy were out on the back terrace and a skunk approached. Paulina ran and Teddy wanted to play with the skunk so he got sprayed. Other than that, things went well.
The San Carlos Police were very nice. Comandante Raymundo and I became friends. While Paulina was out getting her belongings from the Hummer we had a good talk. He and I are about the same age. He doesn't speak much English. He couldn't get over that I am a grandmother. He asked me if I like to dance. Oh my. He did know where to draw the line though. Though Mexican men are usually pretty chauvinistic, they are generally very respectful of women and they appreciate women (at least until they marry them). Bruce had called while Paulina and I were in his office and I asked the Comandante if Bruce should come down. He said no need. He also said I reminded him of his wife. He called her the Pantera Negra (black panther) and he put his fingers out while making a grrrrring sound. I nearly fell out of my chair. That was a good one. That was the end of our encounter. He walked us out and told Paulina not to worry, shook my hand and told me to come back anytime and the police would watch our house with vigilance. Paulina was to come back the following morning at 10 to meet with the lady in the white car and iron things out. Her uncles were coming too. When I see the police around town now they honk and wave and turn their lights on. They know me and I think they like me. I feel very safe and I'm honestly glad they are around. I like them too.
Paulina was having trouble getting the code to work so she called us. Bruce talked her through the process and we waited for her. Several minute passed and we were getting concerned about her when she called again. She was crying and said she had been in an accident down at the gate. We said we would be right there. We jumped in the car and raced to the bottom of the hill. The first thing we saw was a small, white compact car with the front bashed in badly. I jumped out of the car and the police were there. There were at least three of them talking to Paulina and the lady she hit. Everyone was fine. The lady in the other car had pulled up behind Paulina and, as a resident of the Caracol, she had a remote control that raises the gate. Paulina was already really nervous and when the gate went up she gunned the car and accidentally put it in reverse. I can completely understand how this happened.
Paulina had been at her aunt's house just before she came up to see us. Her aunt threw her the keys to a friends' Hummer and told her to go ahead and drive it. Paulina said she hesitated because it was so big and she hates driving borrowed cars. The good news about the Hummer is that the accident did NO damage to it whatsoever. The bad news is this; the Hummer demolished the front end of the other car, it belonged to an American and had US plates, the Mexican insurance had expired the week before, the owner was in Texas, and Paulina had no driver's license. This was bad, and under other circumstances (i.e. not being pretty and nice and charming) jail would be a possibility because here in Mexico you are guilty until proven innocent. That's just the way it works here and it's complicated. I have mixed feelings about it, but that's another story.
The lady whose car was hit was very nice and very understanding, though it was obvious she was upset and why wouldn't she be? She had just driven down from the States and was going up to her house. Her dog was with her and thankfully they were both fine. Bruce helped her unload her car filled with "stuff" and drove her to her house and unloaded her and her dog. Her car was going to be towed to the San Carlos police station. In the meantime I told the police that I would vouch for Paulina and I would go down to the police station with her. I did not want her to go to jail. One of the officers drove me up to our house to get my purse (in the Hummer) and off we all went to the police station. I could see that this man was loving the drive in the Hummer. In the meantime, Paulina was beside herself. She knew she was responsible and was willing to pay whatever it cost even if it took years. She had her paycheck with her from her teaching job. She makes about $600 US per month as a university educated teacher. Let me just add that this woman works hard, has several jobs and is so responsible in every way except for that driver's license thing. In her defense, it doesn't seem like getting a license is a priority here. After all most of the people have only been driving for a generation or two.
I am on my very best behavior with the police. I have learned in Mexico that being belligerent (even if you think something is really stupid) gets you nowhere although sometimes crying works a little. At this point, I know that my goal is to keep Paulina out of jail. I feel a little responsible for having her come up to the Caracol in the first place. I am doing my best to speak Spanish to the police. I know that shows respect and goes a long way with them. I understand most everything but my conversational skills are marginal. Still, I can put key words together and, in a pinch, I do pretty well. Paulina is a little calmer when we arrive at the station though she is pretty scared about the outcome. So am I, especially since I know several laws have been broken. The police are all saying that it really was an accident and that sounds really good. They're smiling a lot and being very friendly.
We are summoned into the the Comandante's office. He seems nice and introduces himself as "Comandante Raymundo Mercado". He has three phones; two cell phones and an office phone. One of them has a siren as its ringtone. He begins to interview Paulina and finds out that he knows her family in Guaymas. This is really good too. He has been a policeman here for 27 years and has worked as a bartender in San Carlos off and on for many years. He doesn't do it anymore because his wife wants him home. First of all, he issues Paulina a temporary driver's license dated a few weeks earlier. He lets us know that it's illegal for a Mexican national to be driving a US plated car without written permission so that will need to be cleared up. Paulina's aunt needs to get in touch with her friend and get permission faxed down from Texas. It turns out that two of Paulina's uncles have a body shop and mechanical shop. They will be able to fix the other car. This can all be worked out between the two parties. Everything is looking very positive and in the long run it all worked out. Paulina got her driver's license, she drove my jeep with written permission while I was gone and she doesn't have to use all of her money to fix the other car. She took great care of Teddy and Niko and she was much calmer when we returned. Unfortunately, the night before we arrived home, she and Teddy were out on the back terrace and a skunk approached. Paulina ran and Teddy wanted to play with the skunk so he got sprayed. Other than that, things went well.
The San Carlos Police were very nice. Comandante Raymundo and I became friends. While Paulina was out getting her belongings from the Hummer we had a good talk. He and I are about the same age. He doesn't speak much English. He couldn't get over that I am a grandmother. He asked me if I like to dance. Oh my. He did know where to draw the line though. Though Mexican men are usually pretty chauvinistic, they are generally very respectful of women and they appreciate women (at least until they marry them). Bruce had called while Paulina and I were in his office and I asked the Comandante if Bruce should come down. He said no need. He also said I reminded him of his wife. He called her the Pantera Negra (black panther) and he put his fingers out while making a grrrrring sound. I nearly fell out of my chair. That was a good one. That was the end of our encounter. He walked us out and told Paulina not to worry, shook my hand and told me to come back anytime and the police would watch our house with vigilance. Paulina was to come back the following morning at 10 to meet with the lady in the white car and iron things out. Her uncles were coming too. When I see the police around town now they honk and wave and turn their lights on. They know me and I think they like me. I feel very safe and I'm honestly glad they are around. I like them too.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Wednesday
Today is one of those days when I especially love and appreciate being here in Mexico; San Carlos in particular. I am a U.S. citizen and I love my country and always will. However, after being saturated with reactions to the health care town hall meetings throughout the U.S. yesterday, it was especially nice to be here where I can take myself away from the chaos and misinformation. My friend, Chrissy said that people are losing their minds over this and she's right. My son, Tommy thinks that the extremes on both the left and right have gone overboard and he is right. I'm hoping that "we" in the middle of both sides can have a voice. It was hard to hear people yelling unreasonable and uninformed opinions on the news shows. The Mexican people don't understand the politics in the U.S. They are confused by our society. Great health care does exist here as well as not so great. I have observed that no matter what happens here in Mexico, people still love life and for the most part they make the best of what they have. It also warms my heart to see how families here treat each other. Family is everything here and there's a lot of laughter even in the face of extreme poverty
We had a wonderful storm last night and lots of rain, thunder and lightning. It was a treat and this morning it was a little cooler. The mountain across the bay gets greener each time it rains. Bruce and I also went and signed our land trust this morning which brings us closer to construction of our house. This particular transaction can take a long time so we feel some relief in getting it done. These signings are always kind of formal, like all legal transactions in Mexico. You always go into a conference room, sit down, exchange pleasantries and sign, sign, sign. Then Bruce went home and I got a pedicure...now I know it sounds like I'm a real princess obsessed with my hair, nails and toes, but honestly the spa gave me a free pedicure because I wrote a recommendation for them on our local internet bulletin board and, well, I have had a couple of things done to my hair and nails. Let's face it, it's cheap enough here to do things that I almost never did in the U.S. I always have a good time at Chocolate' (the spa) too. The women who work there are really fun and they have great stories. They are also listeners and I find that really refreshing. In spite of our cultures, we all have a lot in common. There are many things that are the same everywhere just because we are women. We all have the same stories.
To top off the day, the shrimp guy stopped by with the most beautiful shrimp ever; one kilo for $100 pesos. That solves the dinner problem. The last couple of days I haven't really been inspired and cooked because I felt I needed to. I think the shrimp acquisition has given me a lift. Senor Camaron said he "might" come by tomorrow with lobster. I have never cooked lobster. We'll see (if he shows up and how I cook it).
Monday, August 10, 2009
BFFs
Our dear friends, Jake and Sharon, just left for the airport to head back over to Santa Rosalia in a twin engine, eight seater, Cessna. Accompanying them is their cat, Lillie (Lupe), four small bags and an empty gas can. Their boat "JAKE" is in the marina in Santa Rosalia and they are anxious to get back to her and back out on the water. They came over about two weeks ago so we could take care of Lillie while they went down to Zihuatanejo for a family reunion. Jake's sister and husband picked them up here in San Carlos for the trip south.
It took them just three days to get from here to Zihuatanejo. They took an interesting route, one that I would love to try. Bruce and I have driven all the way up the coast from Acapulco and it felt like it took forever though it only took three days from Acapulco to Puerto Vallarta. It's a beautiful drive, especially through the coast of Michoacan. The coastline is spectacular though the driving is a bit slow (and God forbid there should be an accident which brings traffic to a halt indefinitely).
Jake and Sharon drove the autopista to Tepic, cut over to Guadalajara and drove down the inland route through the mountains, past Paracho and Zamora and on to Zihuatanejo. They were on the road for three full days but that is very fast. Bruce and I are going to do that sometime. On this route you pass through the mountains that take you to a piece of Mexico that a lot of people don't get to experience. It is really special. There are small mountain peaks and it gets very cold at night in the pine forests. Everything around Paracho is made of wood and the people wear coats and sweaters late in the day. It's wonderful and if you have some time you should stop in Paracho and check out the guitars. It's the guitar capital of Mexico. People come from all over the world to have guitars made and, as you can imagine, the guitars are a fraction of the regular price. In Paracho, beautiful shawls are hand made in wool. They are usually blue and black. The pottery there is also very different; a lot is glazed a beautiful bright green. It's a fantastic experience. I'm told the road now that heads over the the coast is nice and wide and well maintained so I look forward to a trip down there.
Back to Jake and Sharon; they had a good time with family in Zihuatanejo and decided to leave early and take the bus back to Guaymas. Jake was told it was a 24 hour trip on Estrella Blanca, a really nice bus, with good air conditioning, snacks on board and movies. When they got to the bus depot in Zihuatanejo, the Estrella Blanca wasn't there so they had to take the Sonora Norte, a less substantial bus....but still it had air conditioning and movies. They are such good sports, truly and they will try anything once. After all they are boaters; they are retired and have no real schedule. They are living the dream. Well, I guess this particular bus took the libre (free) road the entire way. From Zihuatanejo to Puerto Vallarta, it's mostly a two lane road anyway, but after that there are a lot of stretches of autopista (freeway) that are very nice. Apparently, the bathrooms were not quite usable (no water) and food opportunities were fleeting. The bus stopped in every tiny town imaginable. Still they are good sports. They showed a couple of movies; most notably Cantiflas movies. Cantinflas is a folk hero in Mexico, one of the first great comedians and actors to become world famous. I think he was on the Ed Sullivan Show way back in the 50s or 60s. On the buses, there are no headphones, the movie just blasts and reverberates throughout the bus. I guess at one point Cantinflas' face was frozen on the screen for quite a while and the TV was just above Jake's head so it was hard for him to sleep while Cantinflas was staring at him. Still, they are good sports!
They called us from Mazatlan at about 4:00 PM and thought they would be a few hours late...which of course was fine with us. We realized they would arrive after midnight so we thought we would just go to bed at our regular time and wait for their call. We both fell asleep on top of the covers; I was still dressed. I slept fitfully all night. I kept waking up and looking at the clock. Then at about 4:30 I got up because I was a little worried. Jake has a Mexican cell phone and I tried calling; no answer. We were about to go into Guaymas and look around for them (I had visions of them there with a dead cell phone and no way to get up to San Carlos). Well a few minutes later, the phone rang and they were in a taxi heading to San Carlos. Bruce went down to the gate to meet them and they finally arrived here. They were fine. Sharon looked like she was in shock and they were both really tired. Nothing special happened except that they had to take the Sonora Norte instead of the Estrella Blanca. Everyone who travels around Mexico knows that there are all kinds of inspection points (especially for buses). There are the army checkpoints looking for contraband, the fruit and vegetable inspections and the federales. These can happen several times in each state. Sometimes you get off the bus, sometimes you don't, but it takes a long time.....so long story short it took about 32 hours instead of 24 and there were no snacks and drinks served and no decent bathroom, but there were movies and there was air conditioning. As the weekend went on we heard more and more funny stories about the bus, but it was a little too fresh in their minds to be really funny yet. That will come with time.
Many people in Mexico travel by bus. It's usually the most economical and they run often. I have taken the bus twice; a round trip from Mexico to Cuernavaca. I was on the Estrella Blanca and the bus was beautiful. I had a little pillow, blanket; there was a bus attendant who served drinks and snacks and several little TVs. It was wonderful. I didn't check out the bathroom but I'm thinking it was probably OK. The lesson here is - hold out for the white star of Mexico!
Jake and Sharon flew back to Santa Rosalia this morning with Lillie and all of their stuff. We had a fantastic weekend together here in San Carlos. We've been friends since we were boat neighbors at Shilshole Marina in Seattle. Boat neighbors are very special because we had our own little community and always helped each other out. We moved in 2001 and they left on their boating adventure in 2007. They visited us in Mexico every year and they are usually our first guests wherever we end up in Mexico. They're pretty young to be retired and they are loving the boating life here in Mexico. It's wonderful to see good friends doing what they planned; boating in paradise....with little side trips now and then. I know them and I know they will get on a bus again though they might wait for the White Star!
It took them just three days to get from here to Zihuatanejo. They took an interesting route, one that I would love to try. Bruce and I have driven all the way up the coast from Acapulco and it felt like it took forever though it only took three days from Acapulco to Puerto Vallarta. It's a beautiful drive, especially through the coast of Michoacan. The coastline is spectacular though the driving is a bit slow (and God forbid there should be an accident which brings traffic to a halt indefinitely).
Jake and Sharon drove the autopista to Tepic, cut over to Guadalajara and drove down the inland route through the mountains, past Paracho and Zamora and on to Zihuatanejo. They were on the road for three full days but that is very fast. Bruce and I are going to do that sometime. On this route you pass through the mountains that take you to a piece of Mexico that a lot of people don't get to experience. It is really special. There are small mountain peaks and it gets very cold at night in the pine forests. Everything around Paracho is made of wood and the people wear coats and sweaters late in the day. It's wonderful and if you have some time you should stop in Paracho and check out the guitars. It's the guitar capital of Mexico. People come from all over the world to have guitars made and, as you can imagine, the guitars are a fraction of the regular price. In Paracho, beautiful shawls are hand made in wool. They are usually blue and black. The pottery there is also very different; a lot is glazed a beautiful bright green. It's a fantastic experience. I'm told the road now that heads over the the coast is nice and wide and well maintained so I look forward to a trip down there.
Back to Jake and Sharon; they had a good time with family in Zihuatanejo and decided to leave early and take the bus back to Guaymas. Jake was told it was a 24 hour trip on Estrella Blanca, a really nice bus, with good air conditioning, snacks on board and movies. When they got to the bus depot in Zihuatanejo, the Estrella Blanca wasn't there so they had to take the Sonora Norte, a less substantial bus....but still it had air conditioning and movies. They are such good sports, truly and they will try anything once. After all they are boaters; they are retired and have no real schedule. They are living the dream. Well, I guess this particular bus took the libre (free) road the entire way. From Zihuatanejo to Puerto Vallarta, it's mostly a two lane road anyway, but after that there are a lot of stretches of autopista (freeway) that are very nice. Apparently, the bathrooms were not quite usable (no water) and food opportunities were fleeting. The bus stopped in every tiny town imaginable. Still they are good sports. They showed a couple of movies; most notably Cantiflas movies. Cantinflas is a folk hero in Mexico, one of the first great comedians and actors to become world famous. I think he was on the Ed Sullivan Show way back in the 50s or 60s. On the buses, there are no headphones, the movie just blasts and reverberates throughout the bus. I guess at one point Cantinflas' face was frozen on the screen for quite a while and the TV was just above Jake's head so it was hard for him to sleep while Cantinflas was staring at him. Still, they are good sports!
They called us from Mazatlan at about 4:00 PM and thought they would be a few hours late...which of course was fine with us. We realized they would arrive after midnight so we thought we would just go to bed at our regular time and wait for their call. We both fell asleep on top of the covers; I was still dressed. I slept fitfully all night. I kept waking up and looking at the clock. Then at about 4:30 I got up because I was a little worried. Jake has a Mexican cell phone and I tried calling; no answer. We were about to go into Guaymas and look around for them (I had visions of them there with a dead cell phone and no way to get up to San Carlos). Well a few minutes later, the phone rang and they were in a taxi heading to San Carlos. Bruce went down to the gate to meet them and they finally arrived here. They were fine. Sharon looked like she was in shock and they were both really tired. Nothing special happened except that they had to take the Sonora Norte instead of the Estrella Blanca. Everyone who travels around Mexico knows that there are all kinds of inspection points (especially for buses). There are the army checkpoints looking for contraband, the fruit and vegetable inspections and the federales. These can happen several times in each state. Sometimes you get off the bus, sometimes you don't, but it takes a long time.....so long story short it took about 32 hours instead of 24 and there were no snacks and drinks served and no decent bathroom, but there were movies and there was air conditioning. As the weekend went on we heard more and more funny stories about the bus, but it was a little too fresh in their minds to be really funny yet. That will come with time.
Many people in Mexico travel by bus. It's usually the most economical and they run often. I have taken the bus twice; a round trip from Mexico to Cuernavaca. I was on the Estrella Blanca and the bus was beautiful. I had a little pillow, blanket; there was a bus attendant who served drinks and snacks and several little TVs. It was wonderful. I didn't check out the bathroom but I'm thinking it was probably OK. The lesson here is - hold out for the white star of Mexico!
Jake and Sharon flew back to Santa Rosalia this morning with Lillie and all of their stuff. We had a fantastic weekend together here in San Carlos. We've been friends since we were boat neighbors at Shilshole Marina in Seattle. Boat neighbors are very special because we had our own little community and always helped each other out. We moved in 2001 and they left on their boating adventure in 2007. They visited us in Mexico every year and they are usually our first guests wherever we end up in Mexico. They're pretty young to be retired and they are loving the boating life here in Mexico. It's wonderful to see good friends doing what they planned; boating in paradise....with little side trips now and then. I know them and I know they will get on a bus again though they might wait for the White Star!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Foreign Relations and Construction Estimates
I feel so relieved today and at least half of it is because Euna Lee and Laura Ling are being freed from North Korea. I have thought of them each and every day since they were captured by the North Koreans and I've been so worried that there was a possibility of a tragic outcome. I don't believe for a second that these women crossed the border on purpose and I think our apologies were made to appease their very psycho leader, Kim. Still, I understand why the apology was made. We had no choice.
Obviously, our President gave the go ahead to Bill Clinton to get involved and this has been in the works for a long time. He is a great diplomat and I don't believe there's a living person more qualified and charismatic than Bill when it comes to negotiations and statesmanship. I apologize to all of the Bush fans out there, but I think when it came to foreign relations he was a disaster. He just didn't have that skill set. I think Laura had it, but he did not, and a lot of our foreign relationships suffered as a result. It's one thing to snap your teammates on the ass with a towel. That's what I think of when I think of Bush reaching out and building relationships. It doesn't work like that in foreign cultures.
I have spent some time thinking about the fear and despair Laura and Euna must have been feeling. North Korea has always been so unpredictable - I mean what country sets off nuclear weapons and then laughs in our face. It will be very interesting to see the news coverage of Bill and these two brave women coming home.
On another positive note, We got the estimate for the building of our house today and it was and is a great estimate. It includes nearly everything (except the pizza oven) and we are thrilled. Our contractor is a good communicator and has tons of experience. His three daughters all work in his office and we like them. It's like night and day compared to our first contractor. We should break ground this month. It is a huge relief. Oh - and if anyone reading this has pizza oven advice or experience please let me know. I know it can be built and I want it in the kitchen!
Obviously, our President gave the go ahead to Bill Clinton to get involved and this has been in the works for a long time. He is a great diplomat and I don't believe there's a living person more qualified and charismatic than Bill when it comes to negotiations and statesmanship. I apologize to all of the Bush fans out there, but I think when it came to foreign relations he was a disaster. He just didn't have that skill set. I think Laura had it, but he did not, and a lot of our foreign relationships suffered as a result. It's one thing to snap your teammates on the ass with a towel. That's what I think of when I think of Bush reaching out and building relationships. It doesn't work like that in foreign cultures.
I have spent some time thinking about the fear and despair Laura and Euna must have been feeling. North Korea has always been so unpredictable - I mean what country sets off nuclear weapons and then laughs in our face. It will be very interesting to see the news coverage of Bill and these two brave women coming home.
On another positive note, We got the estimate for the building of our house today and it was and is a great estimate. It includes nearly everything (except the pizza oven) and we are thrilled. Our contractor is a good communicator and has tons of experience. His three daughters all work in his office and we like them. It's like night and day compared to our first contractor. We should break ground this month. It is a huge relief. Oh - and if anyone reading this has pizza oven advice or experience please let me know. I know it can be built and I want it in the kitchen!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Blah
Haven't felt much like writing this past week. It's been a gloomy one for me and sometimes I have to retreat when this happens. Life is good by all appearances but there are certain things that affect me deeply and the major one is when my family and friends are in pain. I found out early in the week that a very old friend from Seattle who I spent some really important and pivotal points in my life with had died from the very thing that he fought for so many years, drugs and alcohol. He had many successes but the addiction was always so strong. He left two grown kids and a wife (one of my oldest and dearest friends). It's really their pain that I feel, but the addiction brought them down too.....not personally, but through their dad. They are a strong family and they will be ok. They had already separated somewhat from the addiction. You really have to if you are going to survive. The bright light in all this is that I reconnected with my old friend and that feels really good. I don't think either one of us have really changed much in the last ten years and we're going to spend some time together in September. My friend's life was literally torn apart in the last three years by her husband's addiction and she put physical distance between them, but still after 26 years of marriage there's a lot of pain.
I believe that I've just felt grief this past week and it's going to take a little time to regroup. I did what I usually do when I feel down, got my hair done. Sounds superficial but it did make me feel better. I get a lot of comfort from being at home with Bruce and Teddy and Niko. I love our life together and can't wait to get started on the house. We're getting really close now. I need to make plans to see my boys and grandkids. I miss them so much. I want them to share this beautiful place with me. My sister is coming down soon too, for the first time. It will be so much fun. I can't wait to show her San Carlos. I just know she's going to love it here and that's why I want her to get here soon. I can see her painting the mountains. The mountains here are so her style!
We had a wonderful storm Friday night; lots of wind and thunder and lightning and surprise, surprise, rain. Rain started pouring through the front door. That's really good to know so we can have the big towels ready for rainy season. The storms really do come out of nowhere here. I can see where it can be dangerous boating. You definitely need to be prepared.
So now I'm back in the groove. I really have to try harder to turn off my mind, but after all these years, I don't think I can, but life does go on and it is good.
I believe that I've just felt grief this past week and it's going to take a little time to regroup. I did what I usually do when I feel down, got my hair done. Sounds superficial but it did make me feel better. I get a lot of comfort from being at home with Bruce and Teddy and Niko. I love our life together and can't wait to get started on the house. We're getting really close now. I need to make plans to see my boys and grandkids. I miss them so much. I want them to share this beautiful place with me. My sister is coming down soon too, for the first time. It will be so much fun. I can't wait to show her San Carlos. I just know she's going to love it here and that's why I want her to get here soon. I can see her painting the mountains. The mountains here are so her style!
We had a wonderful storm Friday night; lots of wind and thunder and lightning and surprise, surprise, rain. Rain started pouring through the front door. That's really good to know so we can have the big towels ready for rainy season. The storms really do come out of nowhere here. I can see where it can be dangerous boating. You definitely need to be prepared.
So now I'm back in the groove. I really have to try harder to turn off my mind, but after all these years, I don't think I can, but life does go on and it is good.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
A Good Day
Today was a nice day of communicating. First of all, I had a nice visit with my friend, Bliss, at our local coffee house which included some pie (apple, pecan and a take home blueberry for Bruce) and delicious coffee - just two cool chicks on the loose on a Thursday morning. It's fun to have the luxury of coffee with a friend and companionship and conversation with another woman. I didn't do that enough in Sayulita.
I didn't sleep well last night because we had a big thunder and lightning storm, the first big one of the season and I was excited; I didn't want to miss it. It just went on and on and we got some great rain which really cooled things off. Niko was on the bed with us and Teddy was almost under the bed, but he did ok. He's generally pretty ok when he's near us. It was really cozy, but I didn't get a lot of sleep.
When I got home Bruce was busy in his office, as he has an actual job, so I presented him with his pie and he was happy. Of course, we're both on diets, a sort of Scarsdale diet which really means cutting down on the white carbohydrates and eating healthy, healthy, healthy and smaller portions. We both need to lose weight and get ourselves in good shape. Bruce is doing better than I am. It seems that I have to work up to the concept of a diet and really feel good about it. I know I can do it. I was really tired so I flipped on the TV in the bedroom and there was a James Lee Burke movie on (one of my favorite mystery authors) so I watched for a while and had a little rest. Alec Baldwin was playing the Dave Robichaux character and it was great, plus I love the bayou setting. I had a nice rest and felt much better after that. It just seems so luxurious to be able to do that without feeling guilty.
I did some kitchen cleanup and laundry, answered some great emails, talked to my sister, Laurie, about her coming down and the changes in her life. I can't wait for her to come down and see San Carlos. I can't wait for her to see the mountain in person. She's a wonderful artist and I know she'll get some inspiration here. I so want her to just take it all in and then paint it plus I miss her so much and our great laughter together.
Out of the blue, I got a call from a guy from Phoenix who is starting a deli here. He's the guy I was defending on the San Carlos forum and we've become friends. We had a great talk about the new deli coming here in the fall. He is a great character and I think his business will do really well in San Carlos. We also need another great character here in San Carlos to add to the mix. I'm still trying to figure out why there is petty terrorism going on in the forum. Actually, I'll never figure it out so I haven't gone there since my run in with Bombero. I've decided if I need a shrink I'll make an appointment.
One of the highlights of the day was that Bruce talked to another contractor here who I think we're going to use for our house. We thought we had someone, but the price just kept going up and up and the communication wasn't happening like we had hoped. We were supposed to break ground this month. The creativity wasn't there with the original contractors either. Our first instinct was to go with the contractor we talked to today, but we took a different turn at first for a variety of reasons. I can tell this is going to work much better and I'm excited (finally) to work with someone who seems to understand what we really want (and care). It's a long story of course, but I was getting worried because things just weren't flowing with the first contractor. Everything boils down to honesty and communication. It turned out to be a really good day and then I went out and threw Teddy's toy for him. You should see the moon over the mountain and the stars. It's unbelievably gorgeous.
I didn't sleep well last night because we had a big thunder and lightning storm, the first big one of the season and I was excited; I didn't want to miss it. It just went on and on and we got some great rain which really cooled things off. Niko was on the bed with us and Teddy was almost under the bed, but he did ok. He's generally pretty ok when he's near us. It was really cozy, but I didn't get a lot of sleep.
When I got home Bruce was busy in his office, as he has an actual job, so I presented him with his pie and he was happy. Of course, we're both on diets, a sort of Scarsdale diet which really means cutting down on the white carbohydrates and eating healthy, healthy, healthy and smaller portions. We both need to lose weight and get ourselves in good shape. Bruce is doing better than I am. It seems that I have to work up to the concept of a diet and really feel good about it. I know I can do it. I was really tired so I flipped on the TV in the bedroom and there was a James Lee Burke movie on (one of my favorite mystery authors) so I watched for a while and had a little rest. Alec Baldwin was playing the Dave Robichaux character and it was great, plus I love the bayou setting. I had a nice rest and felt much better after that. It just seems so luxurious to be able to do that without feeling guilty.
I did some kitchen cleanup and laundry, answered some great emails, talked to my sister, Laurie, about her coming down and the changes in her life. I can't wait for her to come down and see San Carlos. I can't wait for her to see the mountain in person. She's a wonderful artist and I know she'll get some inspiration here. I so want her to just take it all in and then paint it plus I miss her so much and our great laughter together.
Out of the blue, I got a call from a guy from Phoenix who is starting a deli here. He's the guy I was defending on the San Carlos forum and we've become friends. We had a great talk about the new deli coming here in the fall. He is a great character and I think his business will do really well in San Carlos. We also need another great character here in San Carlos to add to the mix. I'm still trying to figure out why there is petty terrorism going on in the forum. Actually, I'll never figure it out so I haven't gone there since my run in with Bombero. I've decided if I need a shrink I'll make an appointment.
One of the highlights of the day was that Bruce talked to another contractor here who I think we're going to use for our house. We thought we had someone, but the price just kept going up and up and the communication wasn't happening like we had hoped. We were supposed to break ground this month. The creativity wasn't there with the original contractors either. Our first instinct was to go with the contractor we talked to today, but we took a different turn at first for a variety of reasons. I can tell this is going to work much better and I'm excited (finally) to work with someone who seems to understand what we really want (and care). It's a long story of course, but I was getting worried because things just weren't flowing with the first contractor. Everything boils down to honesty and communication. It turned out to be a really good day and then I went out and threw Teddy's toy for him. You should see the moon over the mountain and the stars. It's unbelievably gorgeous.
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