More Liana

President-elect López Obrador announced on 29 September 2018) at a press conference in Pachuca, Hidalgo that Seguro Popular will not exist after November 30, 2018. The day President López Obrador takes office (1 December 2018), Seguro Popular is gone. https://regeneracion.mx/desaparecera-seguro-popular-ni-es-seguro-ni-es-popular-amlo/

Harry, one doesn't 'register to vote'. Once a person has Mexican citizenship, the person needs to go to the nearest INE office (there's one in Jocotepec) to apply for a credencial--a national photo identification card that is the ID needed in order to vote and to identify oneself as a Mexican citizen. Mexican citizens are asked to show that ID many more times than one might think and it's important to carry it with us at all times. Usually one goes to the INE to apply for it and then returns approximately 2 weeks later to pick it up. In order to apply, one needs to take the Acta de Naturalización and a comprobante de domicilio to the INE. There's no charge for the credencial, and no party affiliation is involved.

Your link is broken, here are a couple of my photos till yours is back on line.

I live in Col. Del Valle Tlacoquemécatl in Mexico City and a camote/plátano seller comes down my street fairly often. I feel so happy when I hear the blast of the steam whistle--I know that the old traditions live on. The knife sharpener passes by, too, with his pan pipe; the scrap metal truck comes by several times a day with its loudspeaker blaring, the harmonium player stands on the street corner with his wonderful tunes pouring out of the organ, and the church bells in the tiny church in the park near me peal the Angelus at noon. In the middle of this huge city, I feel the pulse of Mexico and its small-town past that keep the rhythm of the days.

Does don Toribio still roll cigars in front of SuperLake? People said his were great.

I just have to THINK about ordering something from Amazon.com.mx and two hours later the delivery man rings my doorbell. "You thought about this? Here it is." Not true, but close enough. The Amazon.com.mx delivery speed is lightning-fast. Next-day service sometimes, two-day service normal. Great here in Mexico City. Who woulda thunk?

The correct way to use the pila is exactly what you said: only the plastic cup or bowl should enter the clean water. When I was first living in Mexico, I lived in a house where there was no running water other than one cold-water faucet for the pila, outside in the dirt-floor patio. We used the pila for everything: washing dishes, washing clothing, washing hands, filling a bucket with cold water to warm in the sun so that we could bathe--and only the cup ever touched the water in the storage side of the pila.

To each his/her own.

Cada quien...

I bought a WENDY brand queen size mattress about 15 years ago in Guadalajara. I buy my sheets in the USA. They always fit perfectly. And my WENDY mattress is still fabulous, best mattress I've ever owned.

Voyeur, from the French, is more common if the Tom is peeping for secret sexual pleasure.

Ummm...I have a lavadero, which I use daily, in my laundry room in my 8th floor apartment in Mexico City. There is NOTHING like a lavadero to get one's clothes super-clean, to wash cleaning rags and mops, and to rinse out things you don't want to drip all over, like the measuring top of a bottle of detergent. I have running water, a washer/dryer, and sewage lines--and need I say it isn't rural here in the middle of the Gran Tenochtitlán.

At the times when I've hired a new household employee, I make a list of the duties that person is supposed to accomplish during the course of a day, talk with the new employee about the items on the list and give him or her a copy. Then I put the list up on the refrigerator so the new employee can refer to it as needed. After a week or two, when the employee no longer needs to refer to the list, I take the list off the refrigerator and keep my copy. Both the employee and I know what work has to be done, nobody has a surprise and nobody has a problem. If the employee forgets something for a week or so, I'll remind him/her. As for the rest of the legalities (vacation, aguinaldo, legal holidays), I follow labor law. My employee and I have a work relationship, friendly with one another but nothing more.

The most common Mexican term for one's female domestic help is muchacha. No, it isn't "politically correct". But it is what's used. Try thinking of it in the same way one calls a waiter joven, regardless of his age.

If you decide to let your housekeeper go and hire Spring Clean, remember that because you are firing her without cause, you are liable under Mexican Labor Law to pay her a finiquito. You'll need to figure out (based on labor law) exactly how much that is.

I'm sorry to hear this, Happy. I hope your other option is wonderful.

An update re this year-old post: as everyone knows, during the last year or so, the cost of everything has skyrocketed. Some of us really feel the pinch, others not so much, some not all. About a month ago I had one of those lightbulb-going-on moments: your housekeeper has to feel the pinch, she needs a raise. I'd been paying her the going rate (400 pesos/day) for a long time. I upped her salary to 500 pesos a day. She's happier, I'm happier.

Beatriz de la Garza, bilingual tour guide extraordinaire. She knows everything there is to know about Guadalajara and is a super-interesting person. 01-33-‭3615 2030 and beatrizdlg@yahoo.com ‬

Thanks for the memory-jog, pappy! I used to see that sign all the time and loved it. Do you know Paquita La Del Barrio, the iconic Mexican singer? "Rata de dos Patas" is one of her most famous songs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9obV__MFMaY

Telmex has reported that this outage affects the entire country and into the USA. Even the Telmex telephone lines aren't working. Some people are reporting that Infinitum comes up and lasts a few minutes and then goes back down. I doubt that this is much consolation, but it's not just you folks at Lakeside who are affected.

Joco, thanks for taking the time to look this up. As in many things, this is yet another that differs from place to place. At the Farmacia Similares in Mexico City where I shop, a prescription is required. YMMV.

Joco, one also needs a prescription for any controlled substance--whether it's something very strong for pain relief or whether it's a psychotropic drug taken for a mental health issue. Farmacia Similares does indeed sell controlled substances, including psychotropics.

Amanda mentioned that she has Asperger's Syndrome and doesn't make friends easily. Maybe one or more of you who have responded would like to meet Amanda for coffee. Amanda, I live in Mexico City so can't meet you. Best wishes in making new friends at Lakeside!

If you use Facebook, take a look at their FB page. Lots more much better looking furniture there. https://www.facebook.com/MarqCó-by-Covadonga-Hernandez-301094829937842/

I really like the designs that this Mexico City company produces. I've seen (and sat on and slept on) the furniture; the quality is excellent. http://marqco.com/beta/