August 2013 trip to Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico

I was down to my last two pills so there was no way around it... had to make a trip to Ciudad Acuna to get my medication.  For those new to my blog, I do not have health insurance so I go to Mexico which is about five minutes from my mother's house provided there is no traffic or surprise ICE (U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement) stings at the International Bridge.

As luck would have it there was a sting today but it was different from others I have experienced.  Usually ICE stops you after you pay your toll at the bridge and question your reason for going to Mexico, ask you if you are carrying more than $10,000 U.S. dollars with you and if they so choose will search your vehicle. Mainly they are looking for weapons and/or ammunition.

Today the agents were right beside the toll booth operators but the agent I got did not ask me a thing or even spoke to me.  Do not know if to feel flattered that I do not look like a gun runner or sad that since I was in dad's old car...he probably thought I was a deadbeat who could not possibly have over $10,000 dollars on me...jajajajajaja...I will go with the former rather than the latter :D

Went to Gutierrez (a grocery store) and got my medication, I was surprised to see the pharmacist from Aurrera (owned by Wal-Mart) and whom I had not seen in about two years now working here.  This is also the store that sells the yummy chocolate cakes but I need a chocolate cake like I need a hole in the head...so today I passed on them.  Aren't you proud of me?

Gutierrez had so many specials today that I pretty much got everything on my list here.  I also went to Aurrera who do to their buying power usually have good prices but found their fruit and vegetables section to be rather high and with very little inventory, something unusual for them.

If you have to go grocery shopping in Mexico...I highly recommend you do so on a Monday or Tuesday. Since school started nationwide on Monday except for two states with worthless teachers who are always going on strike...I had a nice child free shopping experience.

The return trip to the U.S. took 35 minutes and it was HOT as dad's car has no air conditioning.  I think I surprised the agent by handing him the grocery store receipts to the two stores I shopped today.  He only asked me if I had other items with me that were not on the receipts and I told him NO.  He asked me to open my trunk and when I turned off the car to get off...remember my dad's car is a 1982 Fairmont...he told me I could stay in my vehicle and just took the keys and opened the trunk himself.

I apologize for not taking pictures but I misplaced my camera and did not find it until this evening :-(

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

May 2013 Return trip to Mexico

After just going to Mexico on Friday decided to make a return trip today.  Last Friday was primarily for my mother to go to the beauty shop and we really did not anticipate having to spend three hours there.  Live and learn...NEVER go to the beauty shop on a Friday or a weekend!

If you ever want to go to Mexico and not encounter long waiting lines on the international bridge or the stores...I highly recommend you go on a Monday.  Crossing both bridges today was a breeze and no down computers encountered today either.  Still wondering why the computers of the Customs offices of three countries...USA, Mexico and Canada...could all go down at the same time and practically all day Friday.

We hit three stores today Aurrera, Merco and Gutierrez.  We saw a marked jump on prices just from our visit three days ago.  All fruit and vegetables prices are through the roof in particular my serrano peppers...but they are still cheaper than at HEB.

Even my medication went up and they only had two boxes.  If you are new to my blog...I buy my medications in Mexico because I do not have medical insurance and also because it is 80 percent cheaper there.  I have found that if you buy prescription medication you get better prices in grocery stores than if you buy them in the tourist pharmacy section at the entrance of any border town.

At noon the dollar exchange rates down Exchange Alley were varied...

It has been my experience that either buying or selling dollars you get better rates in late afternoon after the stock market has closed...it was no different today.  Ended up with a very favorable rate for selling pesos at $12.00 Mexican pesos to one US dollar with my new friend at the furniture store/exchange house.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Love Letter

I know better than to go into town the day before Valentine’s Day especially to Wal-Mart or HEB.  However I had no choice.  Per the HEB pharmacy technician mom’s medication was to have arrived yesterday from San Antonio but they did not receive it until today.

It was a madhouse, you couldn’t even find a place to park and the lines were long…my respects to those poor cashiers who really work their tails off and have to put up with so much for so little pay.

I have still to figure out if this is a house, a business or the headquarters of some political party. This guy or gal always has some funny message often with double meaning painted on this piece of plywood.  Whoever they are, they have a good sense of humor, a quality I have always admired.

They even have handicap parking spot but I don't know if it is part of their humor?

Swung by the P.O. Box only to feel my blood pressure rising as soon as I spotted a “love letter” from my HOA in Houston.  Sure enough need to mow and edge my lawn.  Guess a trip back home is eminent.

For now gas is stable at $3.39 a gallon.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.