UkuAdventures in Mexico: Cooking in Mexico!

Dear Blob,
Thessica is striking an show-offy balance between work, rest and socializing here. We've taken to working during siesta, which is roughly 2 - 5 and socializing in the evenings, mixed with our work-music-residency at Buster's bar. Tonight we entertained Burbank Larry, his galpal, Laura and her perfectly-mannered, adorable 11 year old son, Alejandro. Laura and Alejandro live across the street, in a 2 room concrete house with no stove and the newest neighborhood arrival, a Dryer! I'm sure they will be the envy of the block.

The slogan "Slaving over a Hot Stove" must have been coined in a similar geographical location as Barra de Navidad. Sweat running down my back & pooling in my panty, I cooked fresh Dorado and Linguido, an outrageously tasty sole-like fish, with dill, garlic, lime from the trees and my friend, butter. Accompanying was the Bounty of Mexico: mangoes, avocado, potatoes with queso-fresco & basil from the jardin, fresh tortillas, onion & pepper medley, salsa & of course, a pouchlet of limes for liberal squeezing. Mexicans eat an interesting mix of really fresh, unprocessed foods and total garbage-junk from the Oxxo, Mexican 711.

It's smugly-pleasing to saunter to the neighborhood market, Pelayo, purchase fresh eggs & queso Lupita (which I described to the Cheese Lady as quesadilla cheese) fresh tortillas from the Tortillaria, return home, pluck herbs from the garden and have plenty of Mexican time to whip up breakfast. No phone, no text, no meetings. I love those urban things, but nothing relaxes like a technology-free-ish vacation. The internet doesn't really count. She is a utilitarian tool for creative expression.

In other news, I will have to sugar 'n' dough detox when I return home. I would not recommend embarking on the Atkins or the Fat Flush while in Mexico.

Love The Ukulady
ps: I paid the gas bill at the Oxxo today. Utilities are paid at the Mini-Mart!
pps: We found out the Crabby was probably a land-crab, not a beach-hitchhiker. I wonder how it fared at sea...

UkuAdventures in Mexico: Fish, Schmooze & Popsicles!

Dear Blob,
It’s been a social couple of days, schmoozing with the Expats, being poured tequila from Tequila and making new friendsies. America Day, as the Canadians call July 4th, found Jessaly in Melaque at 2 birthday parties. Invited & chauffeured by Buster, I ate cake twice, finally swam in the perfect-temperature tropical ocean & shopped at Super Hawaiian, the largest grocery store nearish, which sells my favorite, imported fancy cheese!

It’s confusing to the expats that Thessica works. (The Ukulady's Day Job) Hawaii Carla informed us that Work is a 4-letter word around here. Regardless, I’ve been somewhat productive, cobbling together a routine, which needs to change. My usual work ‘n’ workout in the morning/run errands in the afternoon is not compatible with the climate or the tortilla store, which closes super early, a new discovery.

Today, after working all morning, marketing my Fundraising Campaign for my upcoming new album (Contribute here & get the album for free!), I introduced Jessica to Anusara yoga, practicing via the interweb.

An hour yoga practice in this climate is just about the only thing I can accomplish in the heatyheat day, aside from voraciously reading sociology books about Mexico. Eye on the Prize, I did manage to record harmonies for Flowerweek, as well as mistakenly running errands between 2 – 4, which was unbearably hot, hence the need for change. Work later, errands early…

I’m in love with the Fish Co-op! Interestingly buying groceries here is more expensive than eating out; except for Fish! Fish is ridiculously cheap and outrageously delicious! I purchased a satchel of giant shrimp for $2.50! We will live on Fish, mango limes ‘n’ avocados!

It is thrilling to have the laundress do my laundry for a mere $2.00! I adore Cheap Thrills!

In addition to working, we had our first dinner guest; Drummer Ian popped in for a visit, just in time to enjoy Delicious Fish with us. We met Fernando, the proudly-open neighborhood Meep dealer, who delivers shirtless, via bike. We enjoyed popsicles , running into ItalianSanFrancisco Mike, who invited us to his brother-in-law’s palatial mansion for Smoked Steaks on Sunday!

The day concluded with being reminded I’m on TV Tonight! No need to clarify Mexican or American. Old friends on the East Coast caught iKid with Brad Garrett, and via Facebook said Meeep! Ukulady, you are on TV Tonight!

Love The Ukulady

ps: I wish we could ship OC to the Tea Party HQ.
pps: The temperature returned to Hot today , Calour, as my new amigo, Pedro the tchotchke-salesman corrected me, not Caliente. Which is good for the carpet, bad for perkiness-factor.
pps: I heard Mexicans listening to MJ's Human Nature! Listening to people listening..