My weekend

My weekend consisted of:
-going to the Ashes and Snow exhibit
-having a ward party friday night and not being in charge
-spending Saturday at an orphanage where we put in a new playground, planted flowers, painted all of the inside rooms, built and stained "cubbies" for the kids clothes, had a clown show for the kids, distributed quilts, and held babies - all part of the best Eagle Scout Project I've ever seen
-going out to dinner at "El Lago" (a fabulous restaurant on a lake) with dad-the-bad
-getting four dozen pink roses (two from dad-the-bad and one from my filipino friend) as well as a beautiful box made from oyster shell
-having a new ward member from Costa Rica over and listening to his conversion story
and
-receiving phone calls, chats, and blogs from my kids for my birthday, definintely the best part of my weekend (tied with going to dinner with dad-the-bad)

Ashes and Snow

Today I went with a friend to an exhibit that has been in Mexico City a couple months called "Ashes and Snow." It is an exhibition of photographs and three movies depicting people living in harmony with animals. The images depict a world that is "without beginning or end, here or there, past or present." The photos are amazing. The exhibit has been shown in Italy, NYC, California and Tokyo. If you want to see some amazing pictures (none of them superimposed or digitally collaged) go to ashesandsnow.com. Sorry, we weren't allowed to take pictures. You'll have to go to the website.

New Languages

I knew moving to Mexico would necessitate learning Spanish, what I didn't know was that I would have to learn "Utahn" as well. I have several friends from Utah who have introduced me to an interesting new language. A few examples:

"kid" - a term used for a friend, usually girlfriend. "Hey kid, have you been to the zocalo?"

"Lordy" - usually used during an "almost" collision in traffic. (Apparently, if you add a y you're not really taking the Lord's name in vain.)

"Well I'll be dipped!" - an expression of exasperation or surprise.

"Fer" - precedes an adjective to form a "complete sentence," such as "fer rude (most common), fer cute, fer gross," etc.

These are only a few. Please feel free to add to the list if you know any Utahns.

Any takers?

After my seven days in Hawaii, half of them alone, I decided the next time I go with dad on a "business trip" I'll take someone with me. Actually, the only future trip that interests me is the Cisco Summit conference in Paris in 2012.

Seven Days in Hawaii

Hawaii

Days 1 - 2

This is where I spent the first couple of days for several reasons:
I was sick
Dad-the-bad was "working"
It was raining

Two heavenly days of lying in bed feeling achy.




Day 3 - I got lost trying to find Pearl Harbor and ended up somewhere that looked like west Texas. In my defense - it was raining, I didn't have my glasses, and I was having coughing fits.


Day 4 - We made it to Pearl Harbor. This is the U.S.S. Missouri.









Day 4 - Spent all day visiting the Hawaii temple (beautiful!)

and the Polynesian Cultural Center
(amazing show!)












We returned to Waikiki late that night only to find our hotel was on fire! The street was blocked off, and several fire trucks surrounded the building.

So, we pretended we were patrons at the Marriott across the street and hung out there until it was safe to return. We weren't able to park the rental car at the hotel that night, however, which thrilled dad-the-bad because he saved $40 in hotel parking fees.



Day 5 was spent at church and hiking Diamondhead crater.









More hikes on Day 6 - beautiful waterfalls and breathtaking views






We wrapped it up on Day 7 with a trip to the North Shore and to
the Dole Pineapple plantation.
This is as close as we ever got to the beach.

Hawaii

Can you believe? I'm going to be in Hawaii in only three days!

Easter Weekend

We had a great time last weekend . . .







at the park . . .











at the zoo . . .















watching Devin sit up . . .
















having a great shower for Bethany . . .





and making rice krispy treats











Thanks to Ryan and Brianna for hosting the parties!

Beautiful!

The Jacaranda trees are beautiful this time of year! We run past this one every morning.

Easter Fun

This is the official Easter Fun Site for the Reed Family - minus two daughters who will be having fun in Spain and one daughter who is studying hard in Provo.

Friday- Trip to the zoo during the day. Everyone is invited.

Saturday- Easter egg hunt at Ryan's neighborhood park at 4pm. You have been assigned the following items to bring:
Mom and dad will provide sloppy joes and dessert
Bex and Shawn will provide chips
Ryan and Brianna will provide the hunt

Sunday - Easter Dinner - (Petersons are invited as well) Check with Ryan for the time.
Mom and dad: Ham, rolls
Bethany and Brandon: Salad
Ryan and Brianna: Funeral potatoes
Bex and Shawn: Dessert

Any other suggestions, please let us know! See some of you soon.
Fernash and Poodle - Have fun in Spain! Baby the Shady - I hope you get invited to grandma's.

Helpful Hints for driving in Mexico City

Helpful hint #1: If a policeman tries to pull you over because you've made an illegal turn, pretend you don't hear his siren, or honking and ignore the flashing lights. Stay in the heaviest traffic possible in the middle lane - especially if you are lost and don't know where to go anyway. He'll eventually give up and go away.

Helpful hint #2: How to tell if you are in heavy traffic - a) if you're on the periferico (major freeway) and people in the bus behind you are getting off and walking past your car to get in the bus ahead of you, the traffic is bad; or if that doesn't clue you in - b) if there are people standing in the middle of the freeway with portable stands selling chips and soda to weary drivers you are probably in heavy traffic.

Helpful hint #3: Always have a full or nearly full tank of gas. You never know when a relatively short journey can turn into a 2 1/2 hour event, causing undue stress on dad-the-bad, or whoever you may have waiting at home.

Stay tuned for more helpful hints as MomTheBomb discovers La Ciudad de Mexico.

Nietas

Lately I've been buying costume jewelry from street vendors for my granddaughters. I really don't know why, other than I'm a sucker for the little kids selling them, and that I have the two most adorable granddaughters on the face of the earth, and they love girly things. (I also have an incredibly cute grandson, but since I would like to maintain my friendship with his father, I don't buy him jewelry.) But last night the little trinkets came in handy when I needed props for a program we were putting on at church. Thanks Mabel and Caroline.

Walmart

Today while shopping at Walmart some sort of siren went off. As most people were ignoring it, I thought nothing of it - until a police officer came up to me and asked me to leave the store. Since he had a gun and I did not, I complied. On the way out I asked him why he was making me leave, and he responded that there was a fire. Outside with the other people who had been ushered out I found out it was just a fire drill. Big difference. Can you hear my sigh of relief?

Magnificent Monarchs

The mountains of Mexico are the nesting grounds of the monarch butterfly. Each winter in mid-november, millions of monarchs migrate from the Great Lakes area to central Mexico. They return in mid-march, although different butterflies, as the lifespan of the monarch is only six weeks. Scientists have not figured out how they know to go to the exact same spot every year. They nest in the branches of tall fir trees, which bow under their burden and give them the appearance of orange leaves. They flutter through the sky in a blizzard of orange and black. We made a trip to see them today. The pictures below do not do them justice. It is truly a spectacular sight!

These aren't leaves - they're butterflies - millions of them. You can see how the trees bow under their weight.

This is a picture of the flurry of butterflies. Beautiful!

For $10 (US) you can rent a horse to hike up the mountain and for $6 more a guide to show you the best butterfly spots.

Truly, one of the hidden treasures of Mexico!

Getting lost

When I arrived in Mexico City a friend of mine told me the only way to get to know your way around is to get lost alot and find your way home. I'm doing a very good job getting to know my way around Mexico City - and it works!

Notification

Interesting fact about Mexico City: The only thing required for a driver's license here is that you pay a fee. There is no written, oral, driving competency, vision screening, or literacy exam. You simply pay the fee and they give you a driver's license - which explains alot!

Feed The Women

The third monday of each month a handful of women in Mexico City get together at Ora Hernandez's home to cook a hot meal for 200 poor elderly women. The volunteers represent as many as ten different countries, including Greece, The Netherlands, India, Thailand, The Phillipines, and of course, those of us from the good old US. After cooking the meal, we take it over to a Catholic church and serve the hungry women. Ora has been organizing this effort for the past twelve years.

After the meal, every woman who has had a birthday during the month is honored with a small gift and cake. Everyone sings "Las mananitas", the official birthday song of Mexico. (Ora is the lady in the white apron.)

Meet Perla. Although she speaks only a Phillipino dialect with very little English and no Spanish, she comes every month and can out-work any of us. She also crochets six coasters for every single woman in our church unit (ward) for their birthday. And she is the first to volunteer her famous Phillipine noodle dish when somebody needs a meal brought in. She is my hero!

VALENTINES

Yesterday was Valentines and my husband told me he was giving me a "hair appointment" for Valentines. Which I already had planned myself. So I was a little disappointed - until he came home with a lovely box filled with foot care items - fragrant salts, lotions, and soaps. And he gave me a foot massage with them. That was the best Valentines ever!

More car trouble!

The other night I was sure my car had either developed a seizure disorder, or had had a spell put on it by one of the witches in Tepoztlan. I tried to drive home after being out with a friend and my car wouldn´t let me in. Each time I tried to enter, it started honking at me, lights blinking - then sirens would go off. The entire street was peering out their windows wondering whose car this American lady was trying to steal. The unlock button on my remote did nothing. My husband couldn´t figure it out either. Well not at first.

Turns out I had an extra remote in the deep abyss of my purse which I had inadvertently set off when I tripped and fell on my purse. It was to a "second alarm system" the car had that I didn´t know about. Oops!

Top ten things I learned in Cuernavaca

10. Although I may be a good guesser on exams, I am not an advanced spanish student.
9. There are two kinds of students in Cuernavaca; young college students and nearly dead. And
then there was me.
8. You have to be careful explaining medical terms in spanish.
7. Las mañanitas (the birthday song of Mexico)
6. That they call Cuernavaca "The city of eternal spring" but it actually means cow´s horn.
5. How to make mole (a mixture of chicken, chocolate, and picante sauce, with other extraneous spices; in my opinion a shameful waste of chocolate calories.)
4. How to spread your food around your plate so it looks like you´ve eaten more than you have.
3. That even though the large freeway sign says "Periferico Norte" with an arrow pointing in that direction, doesn´t necessarily mean that periferico norte is in that direction. Sometimes they take 4 or 5 years (or longer) to take signs down after they´ve put them up for a detour.
2. That there are lots of brujas (witches) in Tepoztlan.
1. The meaning of the word golpe (dent) - Always pay for parking in Tepoztlan.




Me and Vanessa (my favorite classmate) in front of the "alternative medicine" display

Me making mole at our cooking class

My friends from University of Utah - Dan, Jessica, Jake and Jordan.

Beautiful view of Tepoztlan from atop the pyramids.

Mi familia mexicana - Roberto ( they gave him beer with his meals), rebecca, me and Perla (my mexican "mama")

Funny Story

Yesterday I drove with some students from the University of Utah to Tepoztlan to view the pyramids, which happen to be on top of a mountain. I parked my car at the bottom along a cobblestone street and we hiked up the mountain. (It´s beautiful, by the way) We returned a couple of hours later and there was a note on my windshield as follows:

Si no tiene para el estacionamiento, espero que tenga
para arreglar el golpe.
Gracias.

¿Que pasó?

The first person to figure out what happened will receive an Amazon.com gift certificate or a free souvenier from Tepoztlan, whichever you prefer. (It does help if you know spanish, but a dictionary would do.)