Consultation with Contractor

Saturday October 7

Last night I had a sore throat.  I could feel a cold coming on.  In the evening I went out to a pharmacy to get throat lozenges.  My regular cough drops had run out.  Normally I cannot get through the night without a cough drop.  With this raspy throat coming on, I risk being up all night without throat relief.  I looked for Cepecil (which is medicated and brings immediate numbness to the throat) but that was not available.  I did get something a little more medicinal than Halls, with benzocaine. 

I found a place that does only salads, to my great relief.  It is a short walk, two minutes really, from my motel room.  For 95 pesos I get a heaping bowl of lettuce, three vegetables and two scoops of ‘protein’.  The latter could be egg, or cheese, or chicken your choice of five flavors.

I choose cubed beats, mushrooms, and carrots or broccoli.  I am trying different chicken flavors, but the pepper lemon one is a definite no-go, since it brings a strong taste of white pepper.  They serve it with saltines, and shake a generous portion of parmesan on top. 

I feel no need for supper after that lunch.  I did eat a slice of bread, just because; it will spoil if I don’t do more than a PBJ once a day.  And of course, the ever present banana.

Through the night I doctored myself with water, a vitamin C 1000 every four hours, and ibuprofen.  I am needing the ibuprofen through the day, which is rare for me.

 I don’t know how much pain is the cold and how much is the eye still hurting.

A fleet of Harley Davidsons and entourage arrived at the Motel today, at noon.  My next door neighbors, a hefty couple in black leather, are from Torreon.

I went out to Mr. Gonzalez’s office today.  Before leaving the motel I studied the route on Google maps, including looking at the photos of intersections.  I selected the option to view it offline, also.  I am using the Samsung for this, which has no phone service, only Wi-Fi. 

I got lost a few times, but not too badly.  I had memorized sign posts along the way. Until I came to the last leg of the journey; I pulled into a supermarket and called him.  He came and got me immediately, I had overshot the office by a few blocks.  The offline map failed me.

We discussed the fine points of the house project.  He will design the whole kitchen, but we will proceed with just a small part of it now.  Maybe next year I will have saved enough to finish it.

I asked him to hire Juan as one of the workers.  We tossed around some ideas for housing, so the guys could stay onsite.  I was chagrined at the thought of staying at a motel for another month; I suggested that once the tile and plaster was done, even without water and electricity I could stay in the house.  Then he suggested that his guys could stay in the house.  I could easily stay at Mike’s or Doug’s.

Doug is coming this weekend, and JoanMarie will be coming mid November.  But I think there is enough space for all of us. 

Moving money is a problem.  It is urgent that on Monday I seek out the ministry of Immigration and start enquiries into obtaining a residence permit.  In the meanwhile, I will have to consult with my bank and let them guide me as to how to receive cash.

For the immediate, I calculated that with the dollars I brought with me I could at least give Mr. Gonzales a down payment, and he could begin.  We concluded with arrangements, next weekend his men will start bringing out supplies so that all is ready for them to begin Monday morning.  He said it should take a month.  Groan.

On the drive home I had a much easier time of it.  Google maps must have laid out the shortest route, not necessarily the most direct.  I was on Avenida L. Cardenas headed towards 20 de Noviembre, where the motel is, when I smelled a familiar smell while stopped at the traffic light.  I put my nose to the air, looking in all directions to see where that burning smell was coming from.  Then I heard guys laughing in the red pickup to the left of me.  The guys noticed my looking.  Smiling, they said, ‘you want some?’  I nodded my head vigorously.  They said, ‘follow us’. 

I pulled behind them and drove for a few blocks, past 20 de Noviembre.  Finally they made a left turn into a narrow one-way street and pulled over.  I parked behind them, and took a 100 pesos note out of my pocket.  They were nice, clean cut looking guys.  My pesos bought me one very fat cigarette.  As we turned to go, one guy turned back towards me and offered me his business card.  The card advertises home remodeling and painting services.

I paid for three more nights; Sunday night will be my last.  I have arranged to meet Jhampa out at the compound Monday.  If I haven’t heard from Eddie before then regarding renting a house in Pozole, I will try to get a good price from the hotels or motels directly in Canatlan.  Since the eye doctors can’t do anything more for me, no need to stay in the city.