Articles 2010

HOW RUGS GET SOLD By Margaret Van Every   José the rug vendor by the side of the road will tell you he comes from Oaxaca where his family raises the sheep, dyes the wool, and weaves the rugs.   Pick your favorite, says he, gesturing at myriad rugs of clashing hues, stacked and hanging, […]

In Ajijic   Where everyone’s from South Dakota Except my neighbors, Jim and Rhoda.   Where anytime you hear a WOOF! You cast your gaze upon a roof.   Where gringos mangle Spanish I– No tengo dance—forgive the pun.   Where burros saben mas que tu, And several even sound like you.   Where anytime

TROPICAL GUILT By Scott Richards   It was a moonless night with only the stars to guide us. The uneven path was fraught with peril at every turn. Mangy dogs half wild from hunger and dangerously insane from the three hundred years of inbreeding prowled the underbrush growling and snapping at the wind. Thankfully we

A PENNY CHANGED THE WORLD By C Jordan English   Get a buzz-cut, and move to Dodge! I experienced an earth shattering epiphany during the wee hours of Sunday after a restless night. I keep my TV clicker by the bed so I can flick the tube on if I prefer alien-world input. For once,

GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER A Book Review of Robert Krakoff’s Die Laughing By Harriet Hart 200 Pesos at Diane Pearl Colleciones   By day Ajijic resident Rob Krakoff is an entrepreneur, but by night he indulges his secret passion – writing fiction. Die Laughing, his debut novel, poses the burning question: “Can a lonesome loser

Mexico Gets No Respect! By Dr. Richard Rhoda   “What images or thoughts come to mind when people hear the word Mexico?” To most gringos, Mexico is associated with illegal immigrants, drug wars, fabulous beach resorts, tacos & tequila, deserts & cactus, bargain prices, third world poverty, Carlos Slim (the world’s richest person), swine flu,

Welcome to Mexico By Victoria Schmidt Maid Self-Defense   There is nothing more individualistic than one’s home. Even while renting a furnished home, the occupants imprint their own environment. I’m a person who prefers angles to straight lines. I like my book shelves organized with the books lined up, and stacked one upon the other,

CHILD of the month By Rich Petersen Irma Janet Rivera Puga   This young lady with the beautiful smile is 13-year old Irma Janet Rivera Puga, known at home as “Janet.” Janet lives with her parents, Irma and José, in San Antonio Tlayacapan; she is the youngest of four children all of whom still live

A NEW LEASE—on Life! By Judit Rajhathy, B.A., RNCP, D.Ac. Sick Because Of My Teeth?   Did you kno0w that gum disease is linked to heart disease and stroke? Research also suggests that there may be a link between periodontal (gum) disease and other health conditions such as chronic inflammation, diabetes, respiratory disease, pregnancy problems,

GRINGAS & GUACAMOLE By Gail Nott Baja Fruit Flies   Two of the post-pubescent Federales approached the car, motioning with their guns for me to pull to the left. As I checked the rear and side mirrors, I noticed there were no other cars, either stopped or entering the checkpoint. A pile of sandbags to