correction

Well, I can never seem to get Dad's bday date right but I do know that Mom and Dad have been married for 34 years. You see, the math is actually quite simple...one wedding night + misc days + 9 months = me!

K.

How many years?

Lori's math isn't so great these days. Kim can probably correct her on the amount of years we have been married. Thanks a million though Lori. It's nice to know miles and miles may separate us, however, you do still think of your Mom & Dad. Thanks again.

The exam.....hard, difficult, long, nerve racking....I think I might have to admit I'm too old to sink any more info into this fossilized brain. Well, I don't want to dwell on the out-come, however, I have found out the next NACOR will be held in February 2010. I can always get my license then.

Happy Annivesary!

How many years is that now? 33?? Congrats. Geez... I can barely get through that many years of life in general. So... congrats on yet another year of service! Hahahah.

Mom, I hear you wrote your exam. How was it? When will you know your grade?

There are apparently 10 different people/groups that are named in the document and they each need a copy of it. Why not photocopy with the signatures on it... I dunno...

You've always heard about how Mexico is slow, and a little behind the times. Before we moved here we never really had a good appreciation for how good we had it in Canada. It really can upset the balance of your life when absolutely EVERYTHING takes longer than it should, or isn't done right. So, its taking some time to adjust and just let go of all expectations.

Also, we watched an HBO documentary show about some real hillbillies. Wow.... if you ever feel bad about where you are at in life... just watch a show about hillbillies. Again, really makes you appreciate your life, your opportunities, your brains, money, family, and most importantly... your TEETH!

Business here for us is just fine and dandy. Emails are still a little slow but we are still getting regular bookings. Busy for all of July, then August is completely dead and September is pretty dry too. Not a wedding or request to be had in August. That is rainy season and apparently nobody wants a wedding in the rain... go figure. We're not worried as we have enough work in the months surrounding. We will have lots of time to brush up on our photoshop skills, thats for sure!

OMG

seriously?? 12 copies. what are they gonna do with all of them? everything seems soooo difficult there!

i was thinking about your mortgage payment complications. what if you get a visa or m/c account (instead of using paypal). will they charge less? or let you take it out in USD at least? could save you at least one charge if they do. i think it would be something to look into (if you hadn't thought of it already).

have you guys been busy? things starting to pick up in Mexico?

anyways family.....i don't really have much to tell you besides.....we need some rain!!!!

Carpel tunnel syndrom

Stopped in at the Lawyers office yesterday to sign "some" papers.

When we purchased our condo there was a tax for about 5,500USD. We've since learned that this tax is actually illegal. If you fight it out at the courts, you can get it back. If you don't protest within 15 business days you "agree" to pay it and cannot get it back. So, with some luck, and lawyers who want a cut of the cash, we found out about this. 5G!!! Thank god someone told us. Anyway, we go to the lawyers office to sign papers... and walk out with some really sore wrists about an hour and a half later. We originally thought it was a joke... but it wasn't... we signed every page, of a 29 page document... So... thats not bad enough??? Nope, its not... we had to sign 12 copies of it. Each and every single page!

Oh how the Mexicans love their paper work! I am thinking of getting a stamp with my siggy.

Happy Fathers Day!

Happy fathers day Dad! Hope the day treats you well. We'll turn Skype on today.... you guys should log in and see if we can chat.

Remember when your favorite cookies were those "ruffles"? Those chocolate covered coconut cookies??? And I made that ruffle tree in school for you on fathers day? I didn't realize until now how awesome that would be to have your favorite treat growing on trees!!! Yum!

Anyway, hope to catch you on Skype today. Love you.

HUMMMMMMMM........

Here's a suggestion. Everything is payable in CASH to you and whatever currency you want. I know sounds easy. Frustrating, however, there must be some solution. I was in awe, just following all the transactions. Have your neighbors figured out a way of doing this logically?

Oh my.... that hurts...

Today has been a rough day struggling with how things are done, or not done, in Mexico. We're trying to pay our mortgage. Whats that you say???? No problem, set up automatic withdrawls?? Nice try. No such thing here. Transfer online to the mortgage account?? Ha, another good try. How about post dated cheques??? Actually, I just thought of that... I wonder if that will work. anyway....

Here is what we go thru to make a payment on our mortgage:

- collect money from our wedding photography clients. They give us USD into our Paypal account. Where Paypal takes 3% of this just for using the service.

- withdraw from Paypal account into CAD account. Paypal will not let us withdraw into US dollar account (because we are canadians). So we pay the exchange to canadian dollars which they take about 2% of

- remove pesos from bank machine. Where CAD bank dings us on exchange and service fees. Make that 3 service fees of 5 dollars because the bank machine limit is $500 per transaction. That is, IF it decides to spit out money. No worries... it will always debit the account... but sometimes runs into technical difficulties dispensing money.

- take pesos to the bank, stand in line to exchange them back to original currency of USD, where yet a 3rd bank will ding us on currency exchange

- stand in another line, where we will apply a payment to our mortgage. be sure to get a receipt!!

- scan proof of our payment

- send proof to our mortgage specialist that we have made the payment before the due date.

This is not a joke. This is real life, every day mexico. Don't try to give me suggestions because we've run through them all.... over hours and hours.

We do have a possible solution with involves an actual USD bank account. That will take another couple months to setup and test. We'll keep you posted....

and another thing.....

Family,

I forgot to tell y'all that I'll be going to a Rascal Flatts concert on Sunday. It will be a good time. I'm going with this lady that is friends with April. Then early in the morning I'm leaving for Florida. Yup you heard it. The lady that I work for (Michelle) is bringing her kids to Destin FL and they're driving there. So, she asked if Heather (a neighbor) and I wanted to go with. So we are. We rented a condo on the beach. Supposed to be pretty nice. I'm pretty sure I'll be pretty tired for the drive there so I'm just gonna hang out in the very back and have a little nappy nap. We'll be leaving here at 4 or 5 am and i think its a 9.5 hour drive. then we come home sometime on friday. We'll be driving through some states that I've never been to (including a quick stop in New Orleans, LA). Mom, I'll send you the info on the place we're staying at.

Bye now.

Conster

Staying Straight

So many questions. Did you know in Canada we have to put up with snow and legalized marijuana? Haha. Your so funny.

Just a Question?????

Mom and Dad.....

were you guys high on something this morning when you posted to the blog? like really? i'm serious!!!!

Connie

NEW IDEAS

Dad needs "pposom" soap or another suggestion is cook it for Sisqo. Or even better, Grannie, time to make some "pposm" soup". Yummy.

HUNTING?

Is this Houston Style? Baited deer in your own backyard! What the heck. Sounds like the Beverly Hills Hillbillies with the Clampetts was true afterall. I'm assuming Gavin & his buddy got themselves a "pposum". Making any vittals out of it Connie? Seriously though, this actually is your yard and Gavin is having fun...doesn't have to go far for huntin' now.

Houston Updates

Well, there are none! hahaha. Tricked ya!

But seriously, snow???? in JUNE???!?! that is not cool....well it is because its snow, but not cool because its June....know what I mean?!?!

Gavin is gone to some fishing tourney in Mategorda Bay. I'm sure he had the best time ever. I'll post some pics of his fish when he gets home.

We're hoping that mid-late September we will be driving to Calgary to pick up the trailer. Fingers crossed. I can't wait to get the trailer here so I can go camping again!!! My gosh, besides the two nights out with Kim and Bill last summer, I think its been like 3 years!!!

Oh, Gavin has a new-found backyard hobby. He bought a deer stand and put it along the back fence. So he sets out bait and goes out there when it gets dark and he hunts raccoons, possums, and other little critters. Fun times.....for him!!

The pool has been nice and warm these days. Would be nice if we could get a bit of rain once in a while though. The grass is nice and green....oh and we set up a badminton court in our backyard as well. Its pretty fun playing. PJ and I setup all the lines to a regulation size court!! You break a sweat quite quickly as its about 32 degrees out while you're playing (and also no wind). Still have lots of yard left......don't know what to do with it yet....maybe a football field! kidding!

Well, I think thats about all from our neck of the woods.

Brrrr

Oh no.... snow. I've been hearing about it but I really didn't feel the pain until I saw the picture. Ew... Alberta... snow... JUNE!!! That is not nice. I was going to post a picture of sand... or maybe humidity on the van windows.... or the A/C blasted... or something like that.... But that wouldn't be very nice.

Ps. Cortinas are half way up and looking FANtastic! It was well worth the 8 trips to the telas/material store.

TODAY#!#!#!

It's here! It's back! It's white! It's cold! It's icy! It's also Lincoln's giveaway. Looks like he left it here in Canada a little longer than expected.

New Attitude?

Sounds like there's no stress in that part of the country. Glad to hear the curtains actually fit! The Spanish must be not so bad. (better than my English on that last sentence).
Guess what or who I saw today? Don't know his name but I believe he is the tallest man in Canada....I'm sure he was 8 feet tall...really...no exaggerating!!! And this was at work so it wasn't the wine giving me any illusions. Haha, anyways that was the excitement of the day.

Small cebrations every day

We are now working at having absolutely no expectations. So... in that case... our expectations will likely be exceeded each and every day. Today... we got curtains!!! In the right length AND width. Few extra seams than we hoped for but you can't tell anyway. Hung up our first set today. Quiet the job when you don't have the right tools, or screws or have a clue what that is up in the ceiling (techo). By the way, hardware store is.... ferreteria. We happened to be driving past one as we looked up the word in the English/Spanish dictionary. Anyway, cortinas are up, looking good, and giving us some privacy... finally. I will take a pic when they are all done.

EXCITING!#!#!#!#

Wow! Can't believe you have the FM3's ALREADY. I can see you and Lincoln are besides yourself.....the excitement is in your eyes. Reminds me of when you graduated from the College. We're happy for you. Now you can really start your business. Don't get to use to the Mexican lifesyle or shooting an afternoon wedding during the Siesta Time could prove to be difficult. HaHa!

Still waiting for the "cortinas"? They sure aren't in any hurry, are they? Maybe they have a surprise they don't want to tell you about...hopefully it isn't the bill. Anyways congratulations, looks like we just might have to place to stay if and when we go to Mexico. Bye bye. Luv Ya. M & D.

Paaaarty....

I suppose that is one way to look at it!! Since we aren't sure when to celebrate... we should just celebrate EACH and EVERY small victory...!!! whoohoo!

Nothing to celebrate yet today. Went to pick up our cortinas for about the 5th time. I'm pretty sure Julio is playing with us now. The last couple times we show up he just keeps saying "manana". Tomorrow. Then he explains to us that it takes 5 days, and he counts it out, Lunes, Martes, Viernes.... Bla bla bla.... But we KNOW what he told us when we left and now he changes the story. Plus... he doesn't even go to check if they're done or not. I think if he just doesn't feel like dealing with us... he just tells us to come back later. And of course..... we do.

Yeah!!

NOW YOU'RE LEGAL!! party time!!! its cheap enough!!!