It’s now the one-year anniversary of my Tarlov Cyst operation on 11th Sept 2009!
It has been a long and painful journey for me.
I first noticed that something was wrong in 1996 when I developed neck pain. My US doctor prescribed Soma, a muscle relaxant, and most of the pain went away, only to increase over time and travel down to the lower back.
I now wonder why this doctor did not try to diagnose the problem?
Finally, the pain got so bad that in 2003 I decided to see another doctor, Dr. Mark Rubin, in Phoenix, Arizona. His treatment was to give me steroid shots in the neck. They worked, and the pain in my neck disappeared—but not completely—and not for long.
By 2007, I was developing severe pains at the base of my spine. I was existing on Motrin, Aleve—anything I could find at Walgreen’s or CVS Pharmacy, including the wonderful Capsicum Pain relief roll-on, which I used all the time for my lower back.
On July 24, 2007, I went back to Dr. Mark Rubin, who had given me the steroid shots in the neck. He suggested that I get an MRI, which I did on the very next day. It was done by SimonMed, who bills themselves as “the largest and most advanced medical imaging provider in the Southwest.”
Back at Dr. Mark Rubin’s office, his assistant, who looked like a dud, checked the MRI in front of us, and had nothing to say. I have no idea if Dr. Rubin, himself, ever saw the MRI.
In any event, Dr. Rubin’s solution to the problem was to give me a series of four steroid injections into my lower spine for a cost of $4,100. This was at our personal expense as we were not insured.
Dr. Rubin’s spinal steroid injections relieved the pain for about three months—then it increased.
From that point on, I took whatever I could to relieve the pain. By the middle of 2009, were living in Mexicali, and I was taking steroid pills for the excruciating back pain—pills which caused me to bloat up like a balloon.
The MRI taken in Mexicali, showing the Tarlov cyst (arrow) - click to enlarge
By September of 2009, I had hit rock bottom, I was hopping around on my right leg, and using a cane to support my left leg which suffered from an intense pain which radiated down my leg from the base of my spine.
On September 3, 2009, I scheduled an appointment with a specialist in Mexicali, Mexico—Dr Carlos Maya.
Dr. Maya immediately prescribed an MRI which was done the next day, September 4, 2009, at Resonancia Magnetica in Mexicali.
The Mexicali MRI technician reported that I had a Tarlov cyst at the base of my spine!
SimonMeD 2007 MRI - clearly showing the Tarlov cyst (red arrow) - click to enlarge
Luckily, we had saved my old 2007 MRI from SimonMed. On it, the L3, L4, and L5 vertebrae were marked with circles indicating a possible herniated disk between L3 and L4.
What SimonMed failed to notice was something much more important – a Tarlov cyst (see the red arrow)!
With Dr. Maya’s explanation, even Jim and I could see the Tarlov cyst clearly on the old SimonMed 2007 MRI!
On the frame immediately to the right of where SimonMed marked the vertebrae, is a light oblong area – that is the Tarlov cyst – plain for anyone to see.
SimonMed had not marked it!
Mexicali 2009 MRI letter pointing out Tarlov cyst (red arrow) - click to enlarge
Thank God we came to Mexicali, and found a competent doctor, and an MRI service that was able to interpret their own MRIs—something that the expensive Dr. Rubin, and SimonMed were apparently unable to do—or did they even give a damn?
I can imagine how the actor Michael Douglas must feel, after numerous visits to his own US doctors who failed to diagnose the tumor in his throat! Michael Douglas, I am sure, gets the best medical care anyone can afford. How do you like that? No wonder his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones was furious! We pray that he will make a full recovery.
On September 11, 2009, I had a three-hour long surgery conducted by Dr. Maya with a neurosurgeon in attendance. They found not one, but two Tarlov cysts which they drained and treated. It was near my S1 spinal nerve.
I woke up from the operation with NO PAIN at all! How mind-boggling and awesome is that?
The lower back had gone away completely!
Now came the difficult part—the post-op! Dr. Maya ordered bed rest for four weeks to avoid scar tissue, and I obeyed.
This was unlike a certain US surgeon who “specializes” in Tarlov cysts, and who dopes his patients up with addicting Vicodin, and lets them move around immediately after the operation – generating scar tissue. I guess he wants to operate on them again (and again), or charge them for prescribing more opiates to feed their habit.
I was very lucky to have moved to Mexicali, and lucky to get the right surgeon, Dr Carlos Maya.
Who says medical care in the US is good? It is my Constitutional opinion that SimonMed didn’t do the job, and neither did the very expensive Dr. Mark Rubin.
With Jim’s fantastic dedication and help, the wounds from my operation healed completely. There were ups and downs, but the trend was always up.
One year after my Tarlov cyst surgery, I can walk without a cane, pain-free. I know that my S1 nerve will take time to regenerate. I don’t put a lot pressure on my left foot, and avoid carrying five pounds of anything!
I still cannot walk around a huge place like Wal-Mart and look for items, or stand for long periods of time, as the pressure gets to my S1 nerve. It’s not pain, just nerve discomfort coming from the S1 nerve that I feel now.
My current doctor, Martina Gallardo, a brilliant lady doctor in Mexicali (of course) has given me a clean bill of health.
She pressed every inch of my scar and spine, no pain…yeh! Dr Martina wants me to do simple leg lift exercises to strengthen my thigh muscles. I do them every night and it’s making a big difference. Hey, if it means I get slimmer thighs, then I’m there, with Jane Fonda!
These are very simple leg exercises; not the active physical therapy often recommended in the US which can only damage you after Tarlov surgery.
That’s where I am right now. I am not on any opiates; I still take my Lyrica, and Soma daily, along with Aleve or Motrin, when I need them.
My last post was about Miss Mexico, 22-year-old Jimena Navarrete Rosete of Guadalajara, won the Miss Universe title in Las Vegas. She was modeling since she was 15 years old – just old enough for her Quinceañera!
In Mexico, the tradition of a Quinceañera, or Quinceañero – 15 years old, when the family of a 15 year old girl or boy will give a great coming of age/bar mitzvah type of party. Nowadays, the family will ask their 15 year old whether they would like a Quinceañera or a trip overseas? Some girls or boys will choose the trip.
Hey—we were lucky enough to be invited to a Quinceañera! And here’s Jim’s video to prove it!
Usually the Quinceañera is for a girl. There is nothing like a Quinceañera, Mexican Style! No expense is spared! The parents of the girl will spend a good six months ahead to begin preparing for this huge party. Family friends will be notified with beautiful invitation cards. The mother has to organize all the dresses, not just for her daughter, but for herself and outfits for her daughter’s friends.
The Quinceañera dress
The venue for the Quinceañera has to be reserved a good six months in advance. In the old days the young girls wore white gowns, but now, any sensible color will do!
The Quinceañera dress can be just as expensive and unique as a wedding gown. Flowers and decorations are selected to match the color scheme of the festivities, which include a church service and a reception at which guests will be served dinner and there will be dancing for all in attendance.
We had the honor of being invited to a wonderful Quinceañera recently.
Jim, Matthew, and I were all dressed up in our Sunday best. First we attended a church service. The priest gave his sermon addressing the young girl directly, as her parents sat near to her. Then there was a communion.
After the church service everybody drove off to the venue where the big Quinceañera party was to be held. We were surprised to see that it was a huge ballroom!
All the tables and chairs were adorned in the same color palette of the young lady’s gown. There was a chocolate fountain – a big favorite with everyone. There were marshmallows, cookies, and whatever to dip into this huge chocolate fountain!
Chocolate fountain!
Of course, Jim and Matthew loved it. They kept going back for more chocolate! On one side of the ballroom sat the relatives of the father and on the other the relatives of the mother. The group included aunts, uncles, children, babies, distant relatives, and friends.
There was an open bar and we were served a delicious meal of pasta and roast beef followed by fresh fruits. After dinner it was time for the young lady for whom the Quinceañera was given to enter the ballroom in her beautiful ball gown. Her cousins and friends surround her in dresses of a similar color.
The entertainment began with the traditional father-daughter dance – and the tears flowed.
After dancing with her father he passed the Quinceañera girl to the chambelán de honor (man of honor) – our Quinceañera girl had two chambeláns de honor. This symbolizes the father letting go of his daughter as she is now of age. The Quinceañera girl will also exchange her flat-heeled shoes for high heels to signify that she is becoming a woman.
Symbolism and significance are very important. Gifts are also an important part of a Quinceañera tradition. They denote the young lady’s acceptance by the church, by God and by the congregation (her family and friends) as a woman. She wears a tiara as a sign of leaving childhood behind and facing the challenges that lay ahead and she is also presented with either a bracelet or ring (or both) representing the unending circle of life.
Earrings are a reminder to listen and pay heed to the word of God and the world around her, a cross or medallion signifies faith and a rosary or prayer book are religious resources to always remind the young lady to remember her devotion to God.
At a certain point, our Quinceañera girl and her friends put on dance costumes and gave us a great performance – they all looked liked professional dancers! We could have been in Las Vegas! Obviously they had done a lot of rehearsing.
Next, the rest of the relatives and friends got onto the dance floor and danced to a Tex-Mex bit! Everyone was doing the two-step – in sync! It was just fantastic. And everyone KNEW how to dance to the beat of the music.
The ballroom and the cake!
There was a huge cake in the same color theme as the young lady’s dress; it looked just like a wedding cake!
We found Matthew still at the chocolate fountain, where he had gobbled up his fill of delicious melting chocolate. Finally, Jim dragged him away. “Sit down, and stop eatin’ up the chocolate fountain, Matthew!” whispered Jim.
“I can’t help it. We should get one of those fountains for our home huh? We’ll have chocolate everyday!” smiled Matthew, with chocolate on the side of his mouth.
“Here’s a napkin; wipe off on that chocolate smudge, now why don’t you dance?” I asked.
“Dance? Oh no, no, no…I haven’t rehearsed my tango, you know, but I should, just like the people on Dancing with the Stars?” said Matthew. “What tango? Their doin’ the two-step.” whispered Jim.
“I will wait for the tango, Jim—I am not ready for my close-up…yet, Jim,” said Matthew with his head held high up.
“MaryAnn, give Matthew a slap behind his head now…quietly, we don’t want to cause a scene!” whispered an angry Jim.
“Matthew, you will perform your tango, when you are ready for your close-up, not to worry. Now we must all watch and behave,” I said. “Well, thank you MaryAnn. You certainly do understand me,” said Matthew.
As Matthew finished speaking, he brought out his famous white gloves.
“Where’ your top hat Matthew?” asked a red-faced Jim.
“I left it at home,” snapped Matthew.
“Stop it you two!” I hissed – and all calm settled in.
The party was going full swing, people were singing and dancing and hugging each other. And there we stood – three boring people.
As the Quinceañera came to a close, we finally said our good-byes to everyone, the party shifted into second gear. As we left, everyone was dancing around the beautiful young lady. She glowed so beautifully in her beautiful gown and tiara, with lovely face. I swear she looked just like the movie stars that were walking down the red carpet! Her parents were so proud of this moment.
Once we got home, Matthew said “I had the best time ever! For the next Quinceañera, I will be prepared. I have my dancing tuxedo in my trunk, top hat and all. Bit tight, but I will be ready,” smiled Matthew.
Jim and I had the most wonderful time at the Quinceañera, and we were very honored to have been invited! It is a privilege that few Americans get to see.
The next day, I chatted with Carmen on the phone, (mother of the lovely Quinceañera girl). She said, “We were so happy that you all came for the Quinceañera. We danced till the sun came up. It was a success and so perfect, I cried, my mother cried, and everyone was happy.”
Now, that’s what I call, a rip-roaring successful Quinceañera! Everyone here in Mexicali and Mexico really knows how to work hard and play hard. Their family traditions always revolve around “la familia.” That is the Mexican way!
We are Americans and have been living in the border town of Mexicali, the capital of Baja California since 2008. As far as we are concerned, Mexicali is a very peaceful city.
We chose Mexicali because it is next door to the US town of Calexico. It works for us, as we cross the border sometimes twice a month, to check our mail, do our shopping and eat at Denny’s, Golden Corral Restaurant, or Sizzler’s in El Centro. There is also Imperial Valley Mall just outside of El Centro. There, we get food for our pets and other items. There are all the big box stores in this mall.
Mexicali has a population of over one million. It is a wide-spread city with low-rise buildings. In our earlier postings, we have driven to San Felipe, down to the wine valley, where you can find Mexico’s best wines! We have eaten at a great seafood restaurant in Ensenada, and driven up to Tecate as well, and made more than one trip to Los Algodones.
Mexicali is what we call the city of Healthcare Nirvana! I had my successful Tarlov cyst operation here in Mexicali for a fraction of the price that the US healthcare would charge me. Very soon, Mexicali will be in the process of building a major medical center as the plans are already drawn up
When we decided to live in Mexicali, we selected a great area, just 165 feet from the US border. It’s great for us!
Even though we are safe and secure in Mexicali, the US State Department has listed several Mexican cities not to visit.
These are Ciudad Juarez which is the border town to El Paso, Texas, Tijuana, the border town to San Diego, Nogales, the border town to Nogales, Arizona, Nuevo Laredo, near the city of Laredo Texas.
You do not want to visit the border town of Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas.
At the moment, drug cartels are fighting for this route of entry into Texas. Jim and I have always said, so long as America has a demand for drugs, Mexican drug cartels are there to supply them—it’s a multibillion dollar business-on both sides of the border.
If you are not into the drug business, then you are fine.
There are over 1.2 million American and Canadian citizens living peaceful lives in Mexico.
Good places to visit are Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Cozumel, Mérida and the Mayan ruins in Yucatan, San Miguel de Allende (which is crawling with Americans) and the colonial cities of Guanajuato, Queretaro, Zacatecas.
Guadalajara is a very large city and growing larger by the minute. Stick to the central city tourist areas and the leafy upscale neighborhoods like the Zona Rosa.
A popular side-trip is past fields of blue agave to the town of Tequila, where tequila distilleries can be visited and the wares sampled from such famous brands as Cuervo and Herradura.
The Oaxaca coast is great, including beautiful, well-developed Huatulco, and the little surfing mecca of Puerto Escondido (a great place).
Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and the resorts that stretch between them are like a backyard for residents of the southwestern U.S. Thousands of Americans live there.
Mexico City, which is reputed to be dangerous, has a homicide rate of only nine for every 100,000 people, while Washington D.C. had a rate of more than 30 per 100,000-over three times higher.
Still, visitors to Mexico City should exercise the same precautions taken in any of the world’s big cities; sticking to busy, central areas and remaining aware of one’s surroundings. It’s very important to take only radio-issued taxis or taxis from official stands, and never the “libre” (independent) or Volkswagen cabs.
Don’t walk at night except short distances on busy streets. Mexico City is full of museums, art galleries and super restaurants. Most people include a visit nearby to the ruins of Teotihuacan, which are perfectly safe, with a visitor center and organized guides.
But back to Mexicali where we have never seen or experienced any violence in two and a half years of living here.
As far as we are concerned, we are very happy to live in Mexicali on our social security. We have discovered great restaurants to eat, and luckier—Mexican friends in Mexicali!
A reader sent in a query to me. He wanted to open a small factory for his sewing business and asked if Mexicali was safe.
The answer is a resounding YES. In Phoenix, he is paying $10 an hour for his employees – in Mexicali, it would be only $2 an hour.
Companies are now realizing that Mexico is a much better investment than Asia. Rising Chinese costs and higher shipping prices are part of the reason. Then there is China’s rampant piracy, risk of losing intellectual property, quality failures, and communication problems.
Also, China is just too far away.
Mexico is located on the U.S. border; goods can reach U.S. retailers and manufacturers in only two days rather than in five weeks from China.
In addition, in Mexico, business operations and practices are handled much like in the U.S.
Where is Mexicali?
Beijing’s Lenovo left China to open a plant in Mexico to make up to 5 million ThinkPad notebook PCs a year. Yes, manufacturing is even moving from China to Mexico!
Despite all of the drug war news happening in Tijuana, and Juarez, the Mexican maquiladoras-factories making goods for export-are not fleeing. Each day, 9,000 managers cross the Rio Grande safely from El Paso Texas, to the Juárez plants of Johnson Controls, Cummins, Emerson Electric, Delphi Automotive, and others.
MOVING TO MEXICALI
Mexicali, a city of close to 1 million, and the the capital of the Mexican state of Baja California, has been spared the violence of nearby Tijuana.
Baja California, and Mexicali are in Mexico’s Free Zone and are not considered parts of Mexico for customs purposes. In the Free Zone businesses may import goods duty free, except from other parts of Mexico.
Mexicali and Monterey are the two safest places for manufacturing in Mexico. Mexicali, however, holds a big advantage, because it is right smack on the border, close to both San Diego and Phoenix.
U.S. Interstate 8 is just seven miles from Mexicali, and U.S. Interstate 10 is only a few miles further north.
Rail service from Mexico crosses the Mexicali border into California and extends to San Diego and Los Angeles, with connections to all U.S. rail routes.
Air transport is also available from Mexicali’s International Airport, and from the Imperial Valley Airport 15 miles north across the border from Mexicali.
Things are so good in Mexicali, that David J. Hill, formerly with National Semiconductor, is leading the development of a 10,000-acre high-tech park called Silicon Border in Mexicali.
Factory jobs are moving from the U.S. to Mexico.
Kellogg’s new $100 million plant in Mexicali has 247,500 square feet – it is their 4th factory in Mexico. Kraft buys its taco shells from a factory in Mexicali owned by a subsidiary of PepsiCo.
Skyworks Employees in Mexicali
In Mexicali, Skyworks, a maker of semiconductors for mobile phones and PDAs, is adding 100 jobs to produce items they formerly made in Maryland. Skyworks originally considered relocating to China, but decided Mexico is actually cheaper because its skilled workforce is more efficient.
Yes, Mexicali is more efficient than China!
Mexicali is also attracting such high-tech industries as microelectronics, aerospace, and medical devices. Gulfstream has expanded its Mexicali facility to produce sections of executive jets. Honeywell, which has large manufacturing operations in Mexicali, has opened a $40 million center staffed with 300 of its engineers.
Honeywell in Mexicali
To further improve its manufacturing prowess, Mexico is studying successful business models in Asia, the U.S., and Europe. Mexico is also collaborating with universities and private industry to upgrade workforces, infrastructure, research and development programs.
In the past five years the Mexicali campus of Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) has doubled its engineering enrollment to 4,000.
UABC and CETYS Universidad, Mexicali’s top private university, recently added bachelor’s and graduate programs in aerospace engineering, microelectronics, bioengineering, radio frequency design, and renewable and clean energies.
Mexicali, itself, is a model of clean energy usage. It does not depend on fossil fuels to generate electricity, but has a huge 750 MW geothermal power plant site just 20 miles to the south of the city. Baja California even exports electrical energy to the U.S!
Fluency in English is a requirement. In fact, many residents of Mexicali are English speakers. Most of the movies in Mexicali are in English along with the TV.
Mexicali from California
Not only that, in Mexicali, you can drive a car with U.S. plates, and pay in dollars or pesos wherever you want – even at Mexicali’s Super Wal-Mart!
This is all due to Mexicali being in Mexico’s Free Zone.
With Calexico right across the border, most Americans would feel very much at home in Mexicali.
The drug cartels? Mexicali is extremely peaceful, with no apparent activity from any of the reputed drug cartels.
Mexicali "Shelter Plan" Site
For those who want to start small, and gain an easy manufacturing foothold in Mexico, space, and employees are ready and waiting in industrial parks, including Mexicali.
“Shelter plans” provide U.S. companies with ready-made manufacturing facilities complete with employees.
The Shelter Plan
The shelter plan provides foreign manufacturers with a fast start in manufacturing operations in Mexico without having to go through the process of setting up their own facility.
With the shelter plan, the risks of labor liability, ownership of facilities and legal presence in Mexico are avoided. Immediate start-up is possible with minimal costs, and there is flexibility to grow or shrink as needed. There is no long-term commitment, and no legal presence in Mexico is required for this.
It’s time for manufacturers targeting the U.S. market to take a hard look at Mexico – and especially at Mexicali.
Some time ago, I wrote a post, “How safe is Mexicali … and Mexico?” The post was prompted by a comment sent in by one of our readers, who was wondering if he would be safe in Mexico.
That’s a very fair question. My short answer at the time was “yes.”
Since then, I have had a number of direct emails to my inbox, asking, “Is Mexico safe?”
(A lot of folks write me direct.)
The latest such email was sent to me by a lady on 8/28/2009.
Hello MaryAnn:
I came across your website today for the first time and it motivated me to drop you a little e-mail. I found your lives interesting. I gathered that you are still discovering things in your local area. I was impressed with the winery you discovered. It seems like you’ve really adapted well to the lifestyle in Mexico. I think it’s wonderful. I’ve visited Mexico several times and really have enjoyed the hospitality and the simplicity of life there.
Is there any kind of fear on your part in regard to traveling throughout Mexico by car. From all that i read, it seems a bit scary to drive there. If you e-mail me, perhaps you could elaborate a bit about the general atmosphere as far as driving, auto insurance, what to do in case of an accident, etc etc.
Thanks for your story and great information.
(I withheld the lady’s very pretty name.)
My short answer on “Is Mexico safe” is still “yes.”
Jim and I have made some good Mexican friends in Mexicali. They tell us that we are safe in Mexico, because we are recognizable as Americans. It seems that crimes in Mexico against Americans have more severe consequences than crimes against Mexicans in Mexico.
While this may not seem just, our experience validates this safety for Americans.
When Americans do get into trouble in Mexico, they are usually Americans of Mexican origin. This is also unfair, but I guess they look more like Mexicans, and probably even speak Spanish very well, so folks mistake them for Mexicans.
Sure there is crime in Mexico, just like there is crime in the U.S., or anywhere.
I read that the U.S. sends $62 billion to Mexico for illegal drugs – that works out to close to $200 for every man, woman and child in the U. S. Just recently, I read that Mexico admits it has a problem with Mexican’s consuming illegal narcotics – at an estimate expense of $430 million per year. That works out to about four bucks per Mexican. The fact that Americans take 50 times more illegal drugs than Mexicans might show that America is not too safe.
It was just in the news that 16 Mexican drug cartel members were arrested – in Imperial, California.
I don’t want to sound anti-American here – Jim and I are very much American, and we hold our American values dearly.
Having said all that, everybody has to have some common sense for their own safety. Here’s what Jim and I think.
Baja California's Guadalupe Valley
We wouldn’t go to Tijuana, or Rosarito Beach. Ensenada is just fine, and you can get there without going through Tijuana or Rosarito Beach, by entering Mexico at Tecate. From there, you take the beautiful road through the Guadalupe Valley wine country, which I wrote about in another post.
From what we hear, but don’t know for sure, we wouldn’t want to spend time in Culiacán, or Ciudad Juarez.
We don’t drive a fancy car – just a truck with American plates, and we don’t buy dope or go to night clubs (things that can get you in with the wrong people).
Be sure your vehicle is insured. Traffic accidents are considered a criminal offense in Mexico. Without insurance to post your bond, you could wind up in jail. About Mexican drivers Jim just said, “Tell’em the only time I saw safe polite drivers was in Switzerland.”
Jim was stationed in Germany then. The only time Jim was any kind of a “jet setter” was when he was in the military.
We have now lived in Mexicali, Mexico for close to two wonderful years. We have never seen any crime being committed, or any arrests.
Use your common sense, and Mexico is as safe as the U.S. – maybe even safer.
Jim read this and says to tell you, “What MaryAnn says is OK - just like it always is.”
Jim and I still rent our home in Mexicali. We never really considering purchasing a place, because of the complications involved.
That may be about to change.
Mexico’s 1915 Constitution reads “Under no circumstances will foreigners be able to acquire direct ownership of land and waters within a zone of one hundred kilometers (62 miles) along the borders, and fifty kilometers (31 miles) along the shores.”
This is called the “restricted zone.”
In 1971, Mexico changed to law to allow foreigners to purchase real estate in the restricted zone by means of a renewable bank trust, or “fideicomiso.”
This was a step forward, but it still made it very complicated for foreigners to purchase real estate in the restricted zone.
A newly proposed constitutional amendment may now make it possible for foreigners to purchase restricted zone real estate directly, provided it is residential property.
Mexico had over 4,300,000 vacation properties in 2007 within the coastal regions, with nearly 70% of those belonging to foreigners.
If the constitutional amendment passes, it should be a bonanza for Americans who want to live in Mexico.
Here we are, all hunkered down in Mexicali because of the flu. For a couple of days, we just stayed home, but tonight we decided to take a drive around town.
Our first stop was at the neighborhood pharmacy. Jim went in to get flu masks, while Matthew and I waited in the truck. In no time, Jim was back. “They got nothin’ in there,” he said. “Told me to come back tomorrow morning, as they are all sold out.”
Jim continued, “I told them that, in Mexico City, folks were buying masks for two cents and selling them four bucks.”
“How stupid, Jim, – now they will pick up on your idea, and will take them from the store to sell. There’ll be none left for us,” I said.
Matthew said something, but with his white glove over his mouth, we couldn’t understand a word he said.
“Really,” said Jim. “Aw, shucks.”
Jim got in the truck and we drove around for a while in silence.
We headed downtown near the border crossing. The streets were deserted. Very few cars were around, and virtually no people.
“This looks terrible,” mumbled Matthew through his white glove. “What are we going to do?”
“We go by the pharmacy again in the morning, like they said,” answered Jim.
“And when they tell you they’re all out, because you gave them the idea to sell on their own – then what, Jim?” I asked.
Jim took a minute to think about that, and said, “Then, tomorrow, we’ll go to Calexico, and get the darn masks there.”
“But I heard that the U.S. Border patrol is taking everybody’s temperature,” said Matthew.
“So what,” I answered.
“So what,” said Matthew, taking his gloved hand away from his mouth and nearly screaming? “So what – so what if I have a slight temperature, and they quarantine me in some place like Gitmo?”
“Matthew, calm down,” said Jim, getting excited himself.
“Just look,” said Matthew, “we are in a ghost town – what is to become of us?”
Matthew returned his gloved hand to his mouth. “I’mm doo young do die,” came out the muffled words.
“No one’s going to die,” I yelled.
“Geez, I’m totally spooked by not seeing any cars, or people,” yelled Jim.
“Mmmf mfweee outa mthiss pflace,” shouted Matthew through his white glove.
“Careful Jim, you almost ran over that man,” I screamed.
“What man?” shouted Jim.
Near empty Wal-Mart
Matthew gave a muffled shriek through his white glove.
“Let, lets, go home,” I told Jim, trying to calm down.
“Good idea,” said Jim.
We headed back home through the dark and deserted streets. The air was a bit cool, and, I feared, laced here and there with flu virus. Will we make it?
Matthew calmed down a bit, and asked, “Will we make it?”
“Yeah, sure,” said Jim.
Until you’ve seen the deserted city, you will never understand the fear.
Three condemned people rode through the darkness on their way home to an unknown fate.
Yeah, just the begging of the end for your investors
While looking to re-locate to Mexico, Jim and I made several trips to Rosarito Beach. Although the weather was great, and we could get a place right on the ocean, Rosarito Beach was not for us.
Why? Because it was just to difficult to cross into the U.S. at the San Diego border crossing. More than once, we were blocked from getting on the off-ramp to San Diego by the Tijuana police.
Only when we paid them, like a hundred bucks, did they let us through.
Let me say right here, that Mexicali is NOTHING like Tijuana – I’ll be writing more on that real soon…
Trump Ocean Resort Baja - huh?
It was while driving down to Rosarito Beach that we first saw the huge billboard of Donald Trump’s face smiling down on us. He had super condos to sell. This was Donald Trump!
We visited the sales office, but it was deserted. Strange? We knew we couldn’t afford to buy, but still wanted to know the prices. We looked around and there was no evidence of any building being built.
So, it comes as no surprise to us that maybe there was going to be no Trump Tijuana condo project.
Get this.
Trump sold 188 units for $122 million the first day they were made available at a lavish San Diego event in December 2006. Even Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, gushed to the press, “I went out and saw this site, and I was blown away by it – From the minute I saw it, it was a deal I had to do.” Yeah, sure.
In October 2007, Daddy’s girl, Ivanka, assured buyers in a newsletter that all Trump projects were immune to a slowdown. “In characteristic Trump fashion, Trump Ocean Resort Baja will be the best of the best, and consequently always in demand,” she wrote. Daddy’s girl, for sure.
Trump’s investors had put down deposits mounting to $32.2 million to reserve their condos.
Would you buy a glass of water from this man?
Hopes for living the Trump life in a beautiful condo has now turned into anger and disbelief as the Trump Ocean Resort Baja plan has collapsed, leaving little more than a hole in the ground. Investors were told last month their money was spent and they won’t get a penny of their $32.2 million back. Jim said, “Shucks, I could dig a hole like that for a lot less than $32.2 million.”
Didn’t those deposits go into some sort of escrow account? Isn’t that California real estate law? Or is the Donald too big to fail, like some of those big banks.
Trump sounds like another Bernie Madoff.
A single mother in Los Angeles lost $200,000 – a Los Angeles businessman lost a deposit of more than $1 million on four Trump units, including two penthouses.
These are tough times for Trump. His casino company, Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc., filed for bankruptcy last month. He also has a lawsuit to avoid paying his debts on his hotel in Chicago.
It is unfortunate when people see the face of Donald Trump on a billboard, and just hand over hundreds of thousands of dollars for an invisible condo. Their money is gone and I wonder if Donald Trump, himself, a savvy businessman, got a bite of that huge sum of money?
Maybe – maybe not. Maybe Trump is not the savvy guy he appears to be. After all, he didn’t make his money – he inherited it from his Daddy, Fred Trump. In fact, as soon as Trump got out of college he went to work for Daddy – just like Ivanka went to work for Daddy.
Donald Drumpf?
Trump’s last name isn’t even “Trump.” Originally it was “Drumpf.”
“How’d you like to live in Drumpf Towers, or hi, my name is Ivanka Drumpf” Jim laughed.
Jim looks down on people who change their names. The reason is that Jim’s last name, and mine now, is “Dogooder.” A lot of people like to make fun of our last name. Back in school, one of the kids called Jim “dog odor.” Jim disassembled that guy real fast.
The way our name should be pronounced is not “Do Gooder,” but “Dagudder.” That’s very important to Jim.
Sometimes he jokes, “Hell, why didn’t I think of changing my last name to “De Gouderrre,” like I was some kind’a French nobleman or something.”
Jim and I are just ordinary folk, and are not impressed by the big names of the wealthy. As Jim says, “Don’t he put his pants on one leg at a time?”
Is Donald Trump the Bernie Madoff of invisible high end properties in Tijuana and elsewhere?
Normally I don’t get into the news, but the arrest of Edward Chrisman, 88, and his grandson, Gary Chrisman Jr, 40, deserves comment. Jim and I are not political types, and we don’t live in some quaint town with cobblestones, or in a resort. We live peacefully among Mexicans in Mexicali.
In the case of the Chrisman’s, we are not taking sides, but are only trying to explain how things work in Mexico.
Mexicans are very polite people. They always greet you with buenos dias, or buenas tardes, depending on whether it is before, or after noon. They always say goodbye, and they show, and expect, respect. Mexicans respect and take care of their elderly. In a Mexican restaurant, there are always families present with three generations – grandparents, parents, and children – a sight not often seen in the U.S.
No matter who you are in Mexico, you are given respect, and this extends to manual laborers, shop girls, and even ladies of the night. Mexicans are especially respectful of their womenfolk. In Mexico, you add your mother’s maiden name after your own last name. Joaquín Guzmán Loera’s father’s last name would be Guzmán, and Loera would be his mother’s last (maiden) name.
[Mr. Guzmán Loera, AKA El Chapo (shorty) Guzmán is the head of the Sinaloa Drug Cartel. The Mexican police raided his house in March 2007 and confiscated $205 million dollars cash - yes, $205 million in cash! More on him in an upcoming post.]
Jim is very careful when he photographs Mexicans, other than our friends. He never takes close-ups, where the person can be easily identified. Mexicans do not like to be photographed for many reasons. A colorfully dressed Mexican lady, selling wares on the street does not want to be photographed for fear of appearing in a post card – which would be embarrassing to her.
Mexicans don’t even like their houses to be photographed.
Wherever we go in Mexico, we have been treated with courtesy and respect. The Mexicans really appreciate it when they realize that we respect their politeness. It may be a small thing, but when you pay in Mexico, you don’t just slap the money down on the counter. You place the money directly in the cashier’s hand. A small matter, but one which conveys respect.
Edward & Gary Chrisman
The Chrismans were arrested by the Mexican police on January 8, in Los Algodones. In Mexico, which follows French law, you are guilty until proven innocent, which is why the Chrismans remain in jail.
Jim and I make frequent trips to Los Algodones, for prescription drugs, eyeglasses, and to enjoy the restaurants. Los Algodonas is only seven miles from Yuma, Arizona, and makes its living by catering to Americans.
The Mexican police say that Gary Jr tried to pay young girls to pose nude for photos. Neither Jim nor I would ever ask a Mexican, especially a stranger, for a photo, payment or no payment. It’s just not done in Mexico.
Since their arrest, the Chrismans have been in a Mexicali prison. It seems strange to us that Edward Chrisman, the grandfather who was also arrested, as it is maintained he was simply sitting outside in his truck.
The Chrisman family says the men are innocent. The family said Gary Jr. stopped at a convenience store for a soda and, while there, asked a mother if he could take photos of her daughters. He’d been taking photos of Mexican culture all day with a new camera. The mother granted permission and he gave her $25. He snapped head shots of the two fully-clothed girls and left the store. Edward Chrisman, the grandfather, never even went into the store.
The girls from Los Algodones
Our local television station right across the border, in Calexico, California, KSWT, Channel 13 reported a different version, as the girls accusing Gary Jr have come forward to tell their side of the story. The girls, who both speak perfect English, allege that not only did Gary Jr. ask them to pose nude for the pictures, but that he also pulled a knife on them. They allege further that Gary Jr positioned one of them on a couch and opened up her legs, and when she went to kick him he pulled a knife.
Pictures seized from Gary Jr’s camera are in the police report obtained by KSWT News 13. All the pictures included in the report are tasteful. But the report says Gary Jr and his grandfather have caused trouble in the past. KSWT talked with the Chrisman family. They say the charges are bogus. The family says neither of the men have criminal records.
I have no idea where the truth might be. Jim and I find that if you are polite and circumspect in Mexico, you will get on fine with everybody.
Jim and I, now that we are retired, are beginning – just beginning – to learn how to relax. Tequila and margaritas are part of our decompression program from a hectic life of work in the U.S.
Tequila
Tequila
Tequila is a national treasure in Mexico. For centuries it has been made and produced, primarily in the surroundings of Tequila, a town 30 miles from Guadalajara, Mexico’s second largest city.
Contrary to what many believe, tequila is NOT made from cactus, but from agave (which surprisingly is a member of the lily family).
The use of the “piña” (literally pineapple) or heart of the agave plant goes back to prehistoric times, when the piña was cooked and sold as a candy. It was the Spaniards who thought of using the sugars in the plant to create alcohol. The Astecs had Tequila in a milder fermented form. When the Spanish came, they added their knowledge of distillation, and called it Tequila, naming it for the town of its origin.
Tequila is a serious business in Mexico, and for it to be called Tequila, the drink has to have 51% of blue agave.
Here’s a little history lesson.
Agave fields
The king of Spain gave a parcel of land to Jose’ Antonio de Cuervo in the 1700s, to grow the blue agaves. Hence, “Tequila Cuervo” was born! To this day, Tequila Cuervo is the leading Tequila producer in the world.
The Mexican way to drink Tequila, is called a Bandera as the drink combination has three colors of the Mexican flag – red, white, and green. This takes three shot glasses – one with tequila (white), one with the reddish sangrita (red) and a third with the greenish juice of the key lime (green)–which are the colors of the Mexican flag (or bandera). Sangrita is a tangy mixture of tomato and orange juices, usually spiked with hot chiles and lime juice.
On to Margaritas!
Rita Hayworth
The margarita got its name from Rita Hayworth, whose real name was Margarita Cansino. As a teenager, Margarita Cansino worked as a dancer at the Foreign Club, in Tijuana, where she supposedly inspired a bartender. Rita Hayworth was not Mexican, but a girl from Brooklyn, with a Spanish father, and an Irish mother.
Here is a great margarita recipe that is easy to make.
Serves 4
2 oz. Lime Juice
12 oz. Sweet N Sour (a mixer made of lemon or lime juice and sugar syrup. It is an important part of many cocktails)
6 oz. Jose Cuervo Tequila
2 oz. Triple Sec
3/4 tsp. sugar
2 -2 1/2 cups of ice
Put the ice in the blender then add the ingredients. You might have to adjust the amount of ice you use depending how thick you like your margaritas. Play with this until you get the consistency that you like.
If your guests like salt, rub the rim of a margarita glass with lime and dip in margarita salt (a course grained sea salt), or just plain salt will do.
If you were planning on serving a lot of margaritas at your party, you might want to premix your ingredients with the following margarita recipe. Then all you have to do is add ice to the blender and then pour in your premix. This will allow you to mix a batch of margaritas very quickly and easily.
Serves a crowd
2 liters of Jose Cuervo Tequila
1 liter Triple Sec
2 liters of Sweet N Sour
1 bottle of lime juice (Like Roses lime juice)
1/4 cup sugar
coarse grained margarita salt, if you can get it, or just plain salt
slices of lime
Mix the above with a wisk to mix in the sugar. Pour the margarita mix back into the bottles you just emptied. Refrigerate, and you’re good to go. When it’s margarita time, fill you blender ¾ full with ice, and pour in the mix.
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