Arte en el Parque

One of the artifacts inside of the museum

Ciudad Juarez had an event called Arte en el Parque (Art in the Park) today at El Chamizal Park. I had been to El Chamizal Park a couple of types previously. Ulises and I decided to go, but when we arrived, we didn't really see anything interesting going on inside. Luckily, the festival was right by the Archeological Museum. We went inside. It is a really small building, but they have some interesting information and some interesting artifacts. Best of all, it was free! This may make me sound cheap, but I really do love free things. But then again, who doesn't?

Another artifact.  The artifacts are from
different regions around Mexico, not
just from the state of Chihuahua.

Ulises outside of the museum

After the museum, we walked around El Chamizal for a
little while.  Here I am amongst the green.  Though we angled
this photo so that you couldn't see the bald spots
in the grass.  But at least the trees are green!

Thumb Trouble and Concert

Smashed thumb

I went visiting teaching last.  It was good, though before we entered the first house, I shut my thumb in my car door.  I'm not really sure how that happened. And I didn't shut the door very hard, but my thumb immediately changed color.  It also began to throb . . . and continued throbbing during that visit and our other visit.  I thought I just needed to ice it, but the ice didn't make it feel better.  I decided to try to sleep it off, but the pain was so intense, that I kept waking up.  Finally around 12:30 this morning, I got up.  I researched online, and the only thing I read was that with this kind of problem, you need to put a hole in the nail to relieve the pressure and let the blood out.

Smashed thumb with hole

I read three different ways to do it: a pin, a very sharp knife, or a hot paperclip.  I first tried the pin, but even heating the pin didn't seem to work very well.  I tried a sharp knife, but it wouldn't stay in place well enough for me to slowly work my way through the nail.  So finally I got a paper clip and use the fire on my stove to heat it.  At first, it really hurt.  Then I realized that the trick is to not PRESS the paper clip end on the nail, but rather lightly and quickly TOUCH it to the nail. The heat seared the top layer off the nail, and then it is just a matter of repeating until it is the most of the way through the nail.  When it seemed like it was getting close to going through completely, I switched to a pin and slowly and gently pushed the pin through the last little layer.
Blood immediately started to flow.  It actually surprised me to see the blood flow, but I quickly dunked my thumb in some warm water with vinegar (I read to do that, as well).  I got as much blood to flow as possible. It was an instant relief.  I had to poke the hole with the pin a couple more times when the blood appeared to start clotting at the hole.  But finally I was able to sleep.

Waiting for the concert to begin

Work was normal, though my thumb kept bleeding off and on throughout the day.  After work, I went with Ulises to see Los Tigres del Norte play.  We met up with some co-workers at the show. The tickets said the show was supposed to begin at 7pm, but we were told the time had been changed to 8pm.  What we didn't realize was that 8pm did not actually mean that the first band would start playing at 8pm.  Two and a half hours later, the first opening band began playing.  It was really quite frustrating.  I told Ulises that if this was the U.S., this would never happen.  And the reason it would never happen is because people wouldn't allow it to happen.  People would start leaving and requesting their money back.  But not here.  Instead, most of the people didn't even start showing up until around 9 or 9:30.  The odd thing is, the Mana concert I went to was NOT like this.  Maybe Mana just values their fans more than Los Tigres del Norte do.
The first band was actually pretty awful, too.  The second band was better, but it was annoying to have to wait so long just to hear the band we came for.  Several of my co-workers left after the first band.  Los Tigres started playing around 11:30.  That is 3 1/2 hours after the show was supposed to start.  I've learned my lesson.  Los Tigres are a band much better to hear by CD.  That way YOU can choose when they start playing.

Ulises and I

Second band - crazy guy with a wig

And the show finally begins

Tigres del Norte

Presents

Cheesecake

I am still sick.  This infection is really kicking my butt.  I ended up going to the doctor in El Paso today because I wasn't getting any better and I was still having problems with a fever.  They tested me for strep and it came back negative, so they have no clue what the infection is.  Of course, the doctor said that may just be because I've been on antibiotics.  Now I have to take some other antibiotics . . . this time in pill form.
Ulises had to work (obviously he couldn't take the whole week off to be with me), but he brought me some presents to make me feel better.

Lily

Hospital Visit

So, I ended up going to the hospital last night because my fever would not stay under control.  They told me that I have a severe throat infection.  I assume it is probably strep throat.  The doctor proscribed an injection that I have to get every day for the next few days.  I got one last night, and tonight.  3 more days to go!
Needless to say, I didn't go to work today, either.  And what a way to end Valentine's Day!

Standing in line at a pharmacy to get my medicine

Happy Valentines's Day

Our first Valentine's Day together and I woke up sick.  Well, to be honest, I started feeling sick yesterday afternoon at work.  Ulises didn't want to leave me at my house all day by myself feeling miserable, so he took the day off work to be with me.  He went to get me medicine in the middle of the day, and also had to sneak away to pick up my Valentine's Day gift.  It made me smile.

Sick with my Valentine's Day gift

Close up on the gift

Ulises - crazy

R 'n' U cookies

Flowers for Me

Ulises had to work last night at his second job.  His car was having trouble earlier, but yesterday one of his co-workers was able to get it working, so he was able to drive to work.  Early in the morning, he called me to see if I could come get him.  His car wouldn't start again.  He really just needed the tools I always carry in my car.  But afterwards, he gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  From what he told me, it sounds like he got them before he left work, so I don't think it was because he had to call me to come help him at 2:30 in the morning. :)

Bouquet of roses

Modified bouquet since it wouldn't fit
into my vase.  I had to put it in one of
my pitchers.

Same thing with Gizmo in the background

Sunday

Gizmo stuck

Today was Ulises's confirmation.  I went with him to church.  Afterwards, we came back to my house.  Lately I've been letting Gizmo go outside in the backyard.  I always shut the door afterwards because I don't want to let cold air/animals/dust into my house.  I also often forget that he's out there because I spend the majority of the time in my house upstairs.  When I remember Gizmo was outside, he had already decided he was not only ready to come in, but not willing to wait for me.  Instead, he got himself jammed between the screen and the bars on my door.
By the way, there is this bumper sticker that I've been wanting ever since I moved to Juarez.  It says Amor por Juarez (love for Juarez).  I'm the kind of person who tells everyone when I want something like this.  Yesterday it paid off because the missionaries knew where to buy one, so I finally got it!  Hooray!

Still stuck and feeling blue because instead of helping
him, I'm laughing and taking pictures.

Gizmo trying to say warm under Ulises's leg

Same thing

Amor por Juarez sticker

Baptism

Ulises and the Elders that first taught him

Ulises was baptized today!  It was pretty exciting.  He had invited some friends from work, so I met up with them at the Consulate to drive to the church.  We arrived on time . . . Ulises did not.  A little after noon, the missionaries asked me if Ulises was coming.  I called him and he said he was coming, he was just purchasing a while shirt.  I expected it to start on Mexican time, so I wasn't too worried. :)
The service was nice.  Afterwards, Ulises and I went to Soriana's to get food.  We had invited our friends over to my house for dinner, but only one person could make it.  But we still needed to get the food.  We went to Soriana's because Ulises's dad works there and he always gives us advice on the best meat to buy.
We returned to my house and cooked dinner, just in time for our friend to make it.  It was a nice day.

Ulises and I with the other Elders (from his ward)

Roses from Ulises - he gave me one on
Thursday and one on Friday

Dinner at My House

Molletes from McDonalds

Today was a busy day.  This morning I needed to take a friend to the airport, so I didn't really get to sleep in.  I also was invited to a rhythm fitness class that my friend was guest instructoring.  After taking my friend to the airport, I didn't have time to go home before the class, and I was starving.  Since I hadn't been to McDonalds yet in Mexico, I decided to stop by and see what interesting additions they had to the menu.  I was delighted to see molletes on the menu, so I ordered them.  If I had realized that instead of using the normal bread that they use for molletes, they put their molletes on english muffins, I would have thought twice.  It just wasn't as good as the real thing.  But at least I didn't faint during the class.

The rhythm fitness class was really fun.  It is kind of like aerobic dancing.  I really enjoyed it and it was a good work out.

After that, I went back home.  Ulises had invited one of our friends over to my house for dinner.  I invited one of our other friends to join us, but she wanted to get out and do something during the day as well.  We ended up going to central park to just walk around.  It was a lot of fun.

Then we stopped at my friend's house.  I needed to go get gas, so Ulises stayed to watch a football game, then when I got back, we went to get the food to prepare for dinner.  By that time, both of our friends were waiting in my house.  Ulises made up some meat, one of my friends made guacamole, and then I made a salad.  My other friend watched the game upstairs.  Making dinner together was fun, then we ate.  I really enjoyed tonight.  The friend that didn't help cook was nice enough to do the dishes at the end.

Walking in the park

Basketball Game

Tonight we went to see a professional basketball game.  It was the start of the season and the Ciudad Juarez team (named the Indios) was playing against the Indios of Saucelio (not sure how to spell that).  It was supposed to start at 6:00 and since it was basically a consulate event (not that we put it on, but it was to take the kids that participate in the basketball clinics to see their coach play - he plays on the Juarez professional team) we left from the consulate around 5:30.

Los Indios de Ciudad Juarez practicing

Imagine our surprise when the game didn't start until after 8:00.  The other team didn't even show up until just before 8:00 and they took their sweet time to walk across the auditorium and go down to the locker rooms to change.  They started the program just after that, but it was mainly filled with talking.  Then the dance shows began.  Finally the game.  I'm not much of a sports fan, but I have to admit that this game was fun to watch.  Ulises came with, and he doesn't like basketball, but other than getting angry about the way fouls are given in the event of an attempted charge, he said he really enjoyed it as well.  The Juarez team lost in the end, though not by much.  I think they were just tired because they were there more than 2 hours before the other team.  Oh well.

Kids welcoming John, they love this guy who is from
the British Virgin Islands and works with the Consulate's
Basketball clinics as a coach

Introductory dancers

More dance

Tacos



Ulises and his dad



Tonight we went to get some meat from the Soriana's where Ulises's dad works.  I'm not really sure why we did that when there is still meat left over from Saturday, but what can you do?  We went to his dad's work because he works as a butcher and we figured he would know what the best meat was.

When we got back, Ulises made tacos.  I have to say, it was really good.  I was surprised at how good it was, even though I've had tacos and I like tacos.  These were possibly the best tacos I've ever had.

A la Mexicana, because the colors are the same as
the Mexican flag

Washing dishes, its only fair that I clean
when Ulises cooks, right?

Giving away food

Ulises with his nephew, Packers fan?

We still have lots of food left over from our dinner on Saturday.  We gave some food away to one of my guards, and then Ulises's brother-in-law and sister stopped by.  Gizmo was terrified of their little son.  He's about a year and a half.  At first I thought that was the first time he had seen a little kid, but I'm not sure.  My cousin used to come over when I was at school and bring his little son, but his son couldn't walk at the time, and since my cousin's wife has allegies, I always shut Gizmo in my room.  It's possible that he never actually saw my cousins's son.  In any event, Gizmo ran from Ulises's nephew.  And of course, being a little kid, he was really interested in Gizmo.  He followed him upstairs.  Eventually I pulled Gizmo out and had him gently pet Gizmo.  My cat still wasn't convinced.

Gizmo ran away, but still wanted to be able
to see this strange creature known as a
toddler.

Lazy Day

Ulises holding my purse in the park

I did basically nothing all day today.  Slept in, ate breakfast, slept some more, and generally just relaxed.  This evening Ulises and I went back to the place we were going to go for our anniversary.  They had the park all lit up.  They also gave us a couple tickets to get a free drink that I remember what it is called.  It was a hot drink.  It was good, but we only got one of the drinks and though we shared it, I was sick of it by the end.  Still it was fun.

Afterwards we stopped by to see Ulises's brother-in-law and his sister.  We were there for a little bit.  The funny thing was that their son kept staring at me the whole time.  I guess he's starting to get used to me because the first time I met him he was really timid.

Lights spell paz (peace)

Santa going down the chimney

Me directing a choir of animals

Ulises with some fighting bears . . . ok, they were actually
skating, but I thought they were fighting at first.

Ciudad Juarez

The lit park

Airport

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

My cut finger the day after - started bleeding again this
morning.

Today was a pretty relaxed day.  We went to a new ward today for church (the one that Ulises SHOULD go to based on where he lives).  I really liked it.  They were super welcoming and seemed very excited to see new faces.  And the church building is very close to Ulises's house.

After church, we came back to my house.  I slept while Ulises washed all the dishes from the day before.  Then when he was done, we watched Its a Wonderful Life.  I hadn't had time to watch ANY Christmas movies prior to Christmas, so I wanted to watch something.  We didn't manage to finish it, though, before we had to go to the airport to pick up a couple of friends.  We brought them back to my house to make them eat some of our leftovers.  They were more than happy to oblige.  Then we went to my friend's house to watch the football game that she had recorded that morning.  It was a pretty good game, and I don't really care about football.

Gizmo sleeping, he was sleeping with me at first, but I
think he got really hot and moved to the other bean
bag chair.

Eating leftovers, yum!