Another Snow Fall!

We actually had real snow today!  It was crazy looking out the window and seeing real snowflakes fall.  Everyone was really worried about the weather, not necessarily because they were worried about not being able to drive in it, but because they were worried about the OTHER people driving in it.  They really don't know how to handle this kind of weather down here.  There were talks of the border being closed.  I'm really glad they didn't do that.  I would have been upset if I had missed my flight because they freaked out about a little snow.  I forgot to take a picture before leaving Juarez, so this is a picture I managed to take on my way to the airport.  This was several hours after it had finished snowing and I think it had already started to melt a little.

Getting Ready to Leave



Ulises wrapping a present

Tonight one of my co-workers had a Holiday Chili party.  I took Ulises to that and we had a great time.  The food was good, the company was great, but I stayed way longer than I should have, especially considering I hadn't packed ANYTHING for my Christmas trip . . . . and I'm leaving work early tomorrow to make it to the airport.  So, after getting back, I then had to pack my things.  I hadn't wrapped the present I am taking with me, so that was first.  Ulises helped me with that.  But I was pretty much on my own from there on out.  Hopefully I didn't forget anything, and if I DID forget something, I sure hope it is something I can do without for the weekend.  Can't believe Christmas is almost here!

Applebees and a movie

Ulises at Applebees for the first time

This was kind of a weird weekend for me, but things seem to be back to normal.  Not really sure what was going on and I'm not going to go into details here.  But I ended up going out on a weeknight, what was I thinking?!?  Actually, I'm glad I went, even though I'll probably be exhausted tomorrow.

So Ulises and I went to Applebees.  It was funny because Ulises wanted Mexican food after we got there.  I told him, this is an American restaurant, there will be very limited Mexican food.  I think he liked what he got, though.

After that, we went to see a movie.  I'm not sure why we did that.  Perhaps we're just crazy, but it was nice to be out and doing something.  We saw the new Chipmunk movie (don't know what it's called in English).  It was in Spanish, of course, which was good for Ulises.  I don't think I missed anything, so it was fine for me as well.  Maybe I'll regret being out so late tomorrow, but for now, I'm happy.

Eating my garlic bread

Christmas shopping

Ulises eating a gordita de nata on the street.

I went Christmas shopping today with Ulises.  This morning I actually had to go get gas first, but then we went downtown.  We went shopping for a couple presents that I hadn't purchased yet.  We looked around, but nothing was really calling out to me.  I wanted something that screamed Mexico to me.  As we were walking down the street, I saw a man walking around with a blanket showing it to people in cars.  I saw it and thought, that is perfect!  Ulises called the guy over and we looked at it.  It had the Mayan calendar on it.  We asked how much it cost, and it sounded like a reasonable price to me, but I didn't have enough pesos to buy it and Ulises didn't have any.  So we had to go get some money.  We told the guy we would be back in 15 min and that we wanted to see any others that he had.

Eating food.  Why do I always want pictures of me
eating?

We walked quite a long distance to a grocery store to use an ATM.  After getting money, we headed back.  It had been a while by the time we made it back and I figured the guy thought we weren't coming back.  He told us as much when we saw him.  He had one other blanket with Moctezuma on it in a different color.  I liked them both and Ulises bargained to get a good deal for the two.  I'm giving one away and keeping the other for myself.  I'm giving away the one that reminds me most of Mexico.
I also managed to get the other present I was looking for and in the process I learned a word from the Tarahumaran people.  It means thank you.  I think it is something like matetaraVA (or something like that).
After looking around downtown, we decided we were hungry so we went to get something to eat.  Then we went to do some more shopping before heading back to my house to rest before my Holiday Open House.  We said we would go out when I got back, but that didn't happen.  That's ok, I'm really tired anyway.  I should probably get to sleep rather than going out.

The blanket I'm NOT giving away.  I like this
color, but the other design better.

Posada

Making dinner, Ulises is actually in the
kitchen cutting onion :)

This is a week of Posadas, meaning Christmas parties.  I had one on Tuesday, which was fun.  They had good food as well.  There was another Posada tonight, and I have one tomorrow as well.  I guess you can count Saturday as an upcoming Posada, though the hosts call it a Holiday Open House instead.
Anyway, so tonight Ulises and I went over to a friend's house.  There we made a food that I can't remember what it is called.  It involves lost of different meats (mainly different varieties of pork, including bacon and hotdogs) with other things for flavoring put in a tortilla and served with pico de gallo.  It was pretty good, despite being made of pork.  After eating, we had karaoke.  It was outside, so I was a little cold, but at least they had some English songs this time, so I didn't just have to pretend to sing a long.

Daniella and Vivi cutting meat

We also had a gift exchange.  I was given some chocolate.  I gave earrings to my friend.  We drew the names on Sunday for the gift giving.  It was a fun little activity.  Afterward, we had more karaoke.  Ulises particularly liked the karaoke.  I had no idea he enjoyed singing so much.  We were probably out late then we should have been, or rather I was probably out later than I should have been considering I have to work tomorrow.  But it was fun.  And since tomorrow was Friday, that means I don't have to worry about waking up early on Saturday.

The finished product (before the pico de gallo)

Karaoke!

For dessert we had marshmallows dipped
in chocolate, tasty, but a little too rich
for my tastes.