A little of this and that

So there has not been too much going on the last couple of weeks. Mostly just the normal day to day stuff. Javi is still here with me and off of work. They said he could possibly be having surgery this week but they dont give us a day, time, or directions. The way things work here at IMSS really sucks.

(Sorry I have not been able to give you any information Jackie, I know we wanted to try and get together this visit but I am not sure if that is going to be possible the way things are looking right now. I wish I knew more information, it is driving me crazy that I dont)

While Javi's been home he's turned into my personal trainer and is making me work out 3 days a week. He found me a track to run on a week after I told him I was not feeling good. We have been running three miles every time we go and doing other small workouts after. Recently I have been trying to do four miles, a little more everytime. I cant tell you how much better I feel about myself now. It is amazing what a little workout can do for my mind and stress levels. Not to mention my waistline. Yeaahhh. I might make my goal by the end of the year if I can keep up with my workouts.

On another note I have purchased my ticket to go back to the states. They believe my grandma will be having her surgery at the end of September or begining of October. So I will be traveling back on Sep 17.  My grandma is still being a trooper and staying strong, they have taken her off her radiation treatments so hopefully she will be having more good days.

I thought I would leave you all with a few pix from our last sunday night date en El Centro / La plaza. I will miss these when I leave.  Sorry my camera takes horrible pictures at night.

Catch of the day photos

Javi and his nephew took a fishing trip early this week and caught about 50 fish. They were not big but there was enough to feed all of us. So we packed up the car and stuffed all ten of us in our blazer and off we went. I can not remember the name of the town but, they had a very nice park with a play area for the kids and an extra area with exercise equipment.  We actually went in the middle of the day on wed. If we were back in the states something like this would most likely not happen. Over there events are usually done on weekends. That is one thing that I love, most of the family took a couple hours off from what they had to do and all gathered for a trip to the park.  It was a nice relaxing couple of hours to laugh, play and enjoy some great food.

These were a couple of the exercise tools.

Nice covered area to eat and cook the food.

Lots of space for many parties.

I caught Javi in his uniform while the boys were playing.

Some of the guys and the playground.

Half of the fish that we fried. Yummy!!

Cute pix of denise and Javi taking a walk.

View of the town from the park. I kind of wished we would drive around

and check out the town, but not enough time for everything.

I cant resist the pix of this little one.

Cant you people have a Normal conversation?

     So I have been back with Javi for two months now and some days I have to say are better than others. It is a big adjustment for me just being here first of all and then having to get used to all the new personalites in his family is a whole other issue. In all honesty they are not that bad and have accepted me and welcomed me into their home and we are very grateful for everything. The only thing that sometimes drives me crazy is the way that they talk to eachother. Even though I am not fluent in spanish yet I am able to figure out enough words to know what the conversation is about. The problem is the topic does not really matter to them.

     No matter the topic of conversation sometimes I can not tell if they are all in agreement with eachother or trying to up one another. I did not grow up with a loud competitve family. If we had a conversation and did not like or agree with what someone was saying usually we would just let it go or get it off our chest later with someone else instead of causing confrontations. Of course there as always disagreement but we did not raise our voices and yell at one another. In this house if they do not agree with what you say it is like they will keep yelling at eachother and fighting for what they think is right. Usually if I dont think Javi is right on a topic I will tell him how I feel or what I think and if he does not like my answer I just let it go until the truth actually comes out. It is so much more fun for me to throw it back in his face, than to sit there and argue with him about something.

            I learned this very early on after a few big fights with Javi. The biggest one I can remember is when we were lost somewhere up in the mountains. I think I have a pretty good sense of direction so when  Javi asked me which way I thought that we should go I told him that I had seen a sign and that we should turn left. Well since he had not seen the sign and thought he remembered going another way, of course we turned right. In the back of my mind I knew it was just not the direction we needed to be going but I let him take the wrong road just so I could laugh at him when he got even more lost.  Of course he was soo pissed when he had to turn around and go all the way back but if he chose not to take my advice it was not my fault right? So from then on I learned to say what I needed to say and if he did not agree with me I would just let it go until.... he he ... is this evil? I dont really care any more.

    In this house they all think they are right about everything, there is always something to be said and no matter what you say you are WRONG. It is kind of amazing to me that they can not just talk in a normal tone and have an actual conversation. After the first wrong thing is said someone's voice is raised and then it turns into an argument.  I have confronted Javi on this and after they are done with the topic of conversation  he will say " oh we were not fighting"

         I think the biggest problem is my suegra she has such a loud kind of screaching voice that when she talks to everyone it seems as though she is yelling at you. Some mornings she comes out of her room so quiet and then once she gets annoyed out comes the voice. Other days it is like she comes out of the room like a raging bull ready to attack anyone that comes in her way.  To me it is hilarious beacuase it is different every day. I just stay quiet and do whatever I need to do. It is not worth my time or stress level to sit there and listen to all their ranting. This has definetly shown me how much patience I never knew I had. For me to just walk away from them and tune them out is a lot.

        Sometimes I am proven wrong though, which in this case is a very good thing.When  everyones voices start to rise and everyone is talking at once I just think oh here we go again, now what are they fighting about, someone will start to laugh and then they just start making fun of eachother. Eventually I will be able to understand every word and what each person thinks but even then I will stay out of it because what it all comes down to is that if everyone thinks they are right what is the point. I will keep my normal tone of a conversation and know in the back of my mind that everyone has their own oppinions right or wrong. Or I will just do what I do with javi and wait for my moment to gloat because deep down I know I am right... he he... maybe I do fit in to his family.

A litte bit about me n you

I really liked the challenge that we had recently about the seven posts, it was great how everyone joined in and I  have been thinking about doing something similiar but asnwering questions about ourselves . To me it is just another way to learn more about eachother and maybe meet some new expats while we are at it.

1. How long have you been with your husband?

I have been with Javi for about four and half years now.

2. Can you remember one funny miscommunication because of language barriers?
On our second date I mentioned to Javi that I was tired after the long day at work and school,
He says to me " why dont you just drink some mustard"
"Um excuse me". (thinking that is just nasty, is this some mexican home remedy I dont know about?)
After grossing out for awhile I finally figured out he was trying to tell me to drink a monster energy drink. OHHH. Ooops!


3. What state / and or city have you relocated to?

  Jalisco


4. Do you and your hubby have any children, How old?

We do not have any children together yet, but I do have a stepson who is 6 and half years old.


5. What is one things thing that your blogger friends dont know about you?

I have a really bad habit of bitting my nails when I am nervous or bored.


5. What are some of your favorite hobbies or past times?

I love to bake and cant keep my nose out of my books or my kindle.


6. How did you stumble upon the blogging community?

I actually typed americans living in mexico and found Amanda's Borders Aside and was hooked I knew immediately that this was something I needed to do for myself and I am so grateful for it.


7. Have you learned something new about yourself during this whole process that has changed all of our lives?

I never knew I could be this strong, I always acted like I was but never really believed it deep down. Patience is also something I have found  in myself because the way things are done in Mexico well you might as well assume whatever it is you are waiting for will take a week instead of a day.


8. Something that you love about Mexico and something that you cant stand or miss living without.

I miss that I dont have all the sweets that I crave and sometimes I miss driving around by myself. There is just no way to cruz around the town with all the motos, topes, pedestrians or just ignorant people. One more thing that annoys me THE DUST but no changing that! I do love that no matter how little people have here they are just genuinely happy and I love learning about the culture and just enjoying life.


9. Did you know your in-laws before moving and has it been a big adjutment being closer to them?

I had only spoken to my suegra a couple times on the phone, not any real long conversations because the lack of my spanish skills, but now I am living in the same house with them. It has been hard not having a lot of quiet moments to myself which I 've learned I need and the conversations are not long and entailed yet but at least I understand when she asks me to do something or a ? about my family.


10. If you were going back to the states next week where is the first place you would go, of course after seeing your family?

I would go to target and wal-mart and eat out at red robin's and wendy's I miss having a great chicken sandwhich

If you want to join please leave a link to your post here.