Shopping trip/ESL/Life

Alex didn't have school today, so we decided to take a field trip to Tonala, Mexico. It is basically a city that has a TON of pottery, furniture, and just about anything that you could want for your house, decor wise. It is about a 45 min drive from our house in San Antonio. The walls are looking pretty bare, so we were looking for strictly bargain merchandise, so that when we left this house, it could all just stay here. We found a bunch of Sun/Moon combos for $3 each, and gecko's for $2.5 each. It was a lot of fun, but when we got home, we hung up what we bought, and wished we would have bought more. We really liked the gecko's and Alex and Alan loved the ones we hung in their rooms. It did give the place a bit more color. We couldn't believe the deals we got. We are planning a return trip in a month or so. While we were there, we ate lunch at a taco stand. Joe got a few pictures. This was actually one of the nicer ones. We got gordita's. We had never eaten these at a "stand" before, and they were excellent. The kids liked the potato/cheese ones the best, as did I. They are nothing like Taco Bell. They actually reminded us of the perrogies we ate this summer in PA. Just not fried in grease. We wished we would have ordered more after we had eaten them. 10 gorditas and a coke were $8. I know this sounds cheap, but the pop is always the most expensive thing. We have decided to just order one pop and all share. We could always get something else to drink cheaper elsewhere. You can get freshed squeezed juice or fruit just about anywhere for about $1. Viva Mexico!!! I thinking we could eat just about anything, anywhere, and not be sick. Anyway, Alan was still a bit hungry, so I got him his favorite, bag of cheetos! (Thanks Deb and Brian for introducing him to those!) Joe has a video of the boy eating. He eats more than me easily, and is just 17 months. He is heavy. He was chunky when he was a baby, now he's just heavy. Joe and I found a Thai food buffet here for $3.80 per person. (Imagine egg rolls made with tortillas, but the chicken wings are good!) We take Alan with us, and he looks small, so they don't charge us for him. If they only knew. We will only be able to get away with if for a while longer I'm guessing. When they find out how much the boy eats, they may charge us extra.

Not much else has happened in the past few days. Just life. I have my ESL class twice a week, and I have been teaching with another teacher, but I will be getting my own class in January. The guy who is teaching that one is going to India! I guess Mexico wasn't quite cheap enough. So far I enjoy it a bunch. I have actually learned a lot of Spanish. I have been trying to learn the Spanish equivalents with each class. I am going to write an article about the class and send it to the local "free" paper. They have two pages of English each week, and are looking for articles to fill them. Joe and I are going to start writing about different stuff in the area, and see if we can get "published".

Joe did get invited to a cock fight on Sunday. We walk past this guys yard every day, and tonight he was holding one of his roosters (he has about 15). He waived at us and said, "come on in." We did! He had some beautiful birds, and was telling us that he was planning a "match", but it would be quick (5-10 min) because the Policia might show up. Anyway, the lucky bird might have his debute this weekend. At least will will know what all the commotion is at the end of the block if it goes off. The guy was very friendly and spoke pretty good English. He said he lived in Vegas for a while. Too hot though, so came back here. He is now a gardener.

I may have a job making potato salad and cole slaw for a guy that runs a BBQ stand. He is one guy by himself, and he smokes ribs and chicken on this little grill, and then sells what he has until it is all gone. So far his business is just starting, but he needs someone to make his sides. I am going to make him some samples and see what happens. It could turn out to be something big if his business does well. It could also be nothing, so we will see what happens.

The attached pictures are of us at the taco stand, my ESL class, and Alex's new "french" braid hairdoo. Not much to work with there!!!! She is so proud! Until next time.......