Second September trip to Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico

Post for Tuesday September 9, 2014

Another out-of-date sequence post as I experienced computer problems last week. As you know I went to Ciudad Acuna on September 2nd. http://terlinguadreams.blogspot.com/2014/09/september-2014-trip-to-ciudad-acuna.html  I had a lot of errands to run but the most important one was to go see the doctor.

My Mexican doctor is very popular and the majority of his clients are from the US.  Being that it had been Labor Day weekend, many of his out-of-town patients had taken that opportunity and come to consult him. He had worked that weekend and unbeknownst to me decided to take a few days off, as was relayed to me by his receptionist.

I wasn't exactly happy about it since I had fasted and been super good at watching what I ate...but what could I do?  A return trip was in order but for the following week or September 9th to be exact.  Again I fasted and watched my diet so my labs would be half way decent.

Decorations for the upcoming 204th Independence
Day celebration were up all over the city.

When I got there, I noticed there were available parking spaces but did not give it much thought. You guess it...he wasn't there!!! He had decided to take some days off and would not be consulting till Friday and Saturday.  I do not go to Mexico on weekends let alone on national holidays. Mexico celebrates the anniversary of its 204th Independence on September 16th (sorry to disappoint those who thought it was Cinco de Mayo) but since it falls on a Tuesday this year...all the festivities were going to be held on the weekend.

Note to self:  invest in an International long distance card :(

My medication ran out at the end of August and I wanted to see how much it had helped. The good thing is that in Mexico you can go to a laboratory and order all the tests you want without a doctors order.  I had fasted twice and was not about to fast for a third time.  I even ate oatmeal...I HATE oatmeal...it looks like vomit, it has the consistency of vomit and though I have never tasted vomit...I am sure that is what it would taste like!

It takes four hours to get the results as I was not planning on a return trip specially not in these high temperatures.  So what can I do to kill four hours? Decided to go to Plaza Bella Mall...its main client is Bodegas Aurrera (owned by Walmart).

Saw this rather uncommon washer dryer combination.  I have never seen one like this before. It sells for $3190.00 Mexican pesos or $255.20 USD.

This is a Hisense washer/dryer combo
Not much information on the internet other
than it is Chinese...great price though.

Thought this pink washing machine was cute. It sold for $2429.00 Mexican pesos or $194.32 American dollars.

These small stoves would be perfect for a little cabin in Terlingua :)

$2.990.00 divided by $12.50 exchange rate equals $239.20 USD.

The big stores Gutierrez, Soriana, Bodegas Aurrera, Merco are located in the newer North part of the city where the maquiladoras and the new sub-divisions for the maquiladora workers are located.

The entrance to Ciudad Acuna is where the tourist district is and where businesses that cater to tourists are located, including my doctor's office and the laboratories. I somehow took a wrong turn and got lost for a while.  Not a big deal really got to see another part of the city I was not familiar with.

I liked the way they used this suspended canopy to shelter their car in the alley.

Picked up my labs and again in Mexico you can discuss your results with the laboratory personnel unlike in the US where they tell you to discuss it with your personal physician.

I was not too happy with the numbers, as a matter of fact I did better before I began taking all these medications. Will have to give it some real good thought as to what I plan to do but one thing for sure...no more statins for me!

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Not the best of days

As I mentioned Friday when I took mother to get pre-registered at the hospital...I like to get this done before and not the day of, as there is always some computer glitch or problem that surfaces its ugly head.  Today was not the exception...they could not find her paperwork!  I was given a number instead and they would use that rather than her name.

I thought it was only my mother but I soon saw that they did this to all those that arrived.  Down computers again?  They just spent a bundle remodeling their facilities maybe they should of spent part of it on a new computer system?

Mother was scheduled for a CT and had to fast since 10:00 p.m. last night but she started at 8:00 p.m.   Her appointment was for 9:30 a.m. but of course she was not called until 10:45 a.m.  My mother is elderly and started feeling bad early this morning as she had to drink that white chalk like substance.  She was left to fast for 14 hours 45 minutes but it wasn't until we got home at noon that she was able to finally eat something. What is wrong with this picture?

They called her number and I went to the front desk and the technician asked me "why I had not given them the medications mother takes"...I told her "because you did not ask me"...to which she replied " Yes, I did"...I wanted to punch her because she was calling me a liar and where was she going to write it?  They did not have her paperwork!

As if that was not enough, earlier after I had dropped mother off in the front door I went to park the car.  Was making my way back to the hospital when I decided to stop and take a picture of the entrance.  That is when I noticed this well dressed lady with her fancy purse and laptop bag looking at me.  She purposely stopped and waited for me.

She asked me what news media I was with because she was not aware of anyone coming to take pictures.  I was going to have a cow if this woman told me that I could not take a picture of the outside of a PUBLIC hospital !!!

She was polite but very inquisitive and prying....you all know how I feel about prying strangers...GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!   I wanted so bad to tell her the article I was photographing for was going to appear in the Terlingua Dreams Times!  Was she perhaps the Public Relations Director for the hospital?  Who knows, who cares....she was a PIA!

So as you can see...it was not the best of days.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.