Home Repairs and Upgrades

Anyone who owns a home understands that they can represent significant challenges in one’s life. Whether it is repairs or the never ending upgrades (where you put your personal touch on the property), it all boils down to time, money and lessons learned.

The last three days we have been without a phone or internet. The phone challenge is easily overcome by use of cell phones. However, I never realized how addicted I’ve become to the internet until I didn’t have it.

I felt cut off from the world. Not only was I unable to check my email but what about the weather? My daily horoscope? The news? The stock market? (Although not watching the stock market only proved to reduce my stress levels over the last three days.) I couldn’t google a recipe for “Duck Tacos” which suddenly seemed very important. I hardly knew what to do with myself.

What did I do before the internet? I guess I read newspapers and watched the news on TV. However, I don’t get a newspaper now and I’m not sure on what satellite channel I’d find the news. (I’m sure it’s there, national and international, but I just never watch it.)

Telmex (the telephone monopoly in Mexico) finally found the property and ran all new lines from the street to the house, so I’m back in business, both phone and internet. I had to ask Rodrigo if it is customary to tip a telephone repair person. He said yes, something like 30 pesos ($3 USD) but this was a big job so I planned to give a little more. However, the repairman left so quickly that I didn’t have the opportunity. Later, while sitting on the patio, I saw something hanging from the trees in front. It was the old telephone line. He’d just left it dangling. So he didn’t deserve a tip anyway.

The most annoying upgrade in the last year was the septic system. There is nothing quite as motivating as having your own business coming back at you through your shower drain. This was especially frustrating because when I bought the house I upgraded the septic tank. I was told that I wouldn’t need to pay any attention to it for 20 years. (My sister in the U.S. hasn’t had to do anything to her system since it was installed 40 years ago.)

We had to move out and give the maid and gardener the time off. (One can’t exactly live in one’s home without access to a toilet, or expect your staff to work without one either.)

Our friends Bob and Karen graciously allowed us to stay in their beautiful vacation home. However, it wasn’t much of a vacation for us because we had to go back and forth every day to take care of the dogs. “Tomorrow,” the plumber kept telling us – every day. So each day we’d take one change of clothes and one meal, in anticipation that we would be able to move home the next day. This went on for nearly a week.

After much snaking and digging up of the yard, the plumber’s verdict was that the septic tank had been installed backwards. So after more digging and installing of leach lines, the landscaping devastated, we moved home.

Two days later, it happened again; crap in the shower.

The plumber returned. The only option was to tear up the bathroom floor; the new bathroom tile work that I put in during the initial house renovation. The problem was roots in the old cement drain under the house. (Might this have been the initial problem that, had it been diagnosed properly might have saved my landscaping and a couple thousand dollars? The plumber didn’t charge us for this repair. I think he might have been a little embarrassed.)

Then there was the roof upgrade. Heavy rains meant towels and buckets throughout the house. After two months of pounding from dawn until dusk, with dust and little chunks of concrete raining down inside the house, we’re dry.

Not done yet. Electrical upgrade. It was explained to me that our wires from the transformer to the house were too small. This is why, whenever one would flush the toilet and the water pressure pump would kick in, the lights would dim and the stereo would shut off. (Really annoying at parties.) Underground lines had to be run from the transformer at the end of the road, to the front of the property and then down the property to the house; and then from the house to the casita. We can now flush with no interruption to music and my electric bill appears to be cut in half.

Oh, and then there was the barbeque roof that collapsed; but I’ve already written about that.

So while the house isn’t feeling as much of a bargain as it did originally, I’m hoping that I’m nearly done with repairs and the future will only be upgrades.

These, plus the casita upgrade, have all totaled over $60,000 USD within the last 12 months. So if you don’t see me traveling for a while, you know why. Come visit – bring food.

Hopefully the creek won’t flood and reach the house during the rainy season.

A Bad Day for Dogs (and the people who love them)

A few days ago, BG, our new Newfoundland puppy, was diagnosed with Parvo virus. Rodrigo consulted with other veterinarians in town and all he could do was to put her on an IV solution and wait. We canceled our scheduled trip to Cuernavaca for Rodrigo’s parents’ 35th wedding anniversary and settled in to watch and wait.

Yesterday our maid Mari’s adult son, Oscar, came by the clinic with Mari’s younger son’s (Rafael’s) new puppy. Oscar explained that the puppy had fallen off the roof patio. Upon examining the dog, Rodrigo found that it had a fractured neck and he had no option but to put it down.

Oscar didn’t want to tell his mother and asked Rodrigo to do so. Rodrigo didn’t want to either and asked me. I thought about what I’d want to say, “Mari, I’m sorry to be the one to tell you but your dog fell off the roof patio and fractured her neck. Oscar took her to Rodrigo and she had to be put down. I’m terribly sorry, but if you want to leave early, please do so. I understand.” However, I thought about my limited Spanish. It would come out more like, “Mari, I’m sorry but your dog is dead. Oscar bring her to Rodrigo and Rodrigo dead her because of the roof.” This would of course, have to be accompanied by some gruesome gestures and it still wouldn’t be clear.

“No,” I told Rodrigo, “I don’t have the language skills. It’s Oscar’s responsibility. He can tell her when she gets home.”

Last night I had just gone to bed when Rodrigo came in to the bedroom in tears. “We’re losing her,” he said.

I got out of bed and we both went to the bodega (storage room) where BG was caged with her IV solution. Her breathing was shallow and she appeared to be in a coma. Her soft puppy fur gave no evidence of her suffering, and we stroked her with tears in our eyes. About an hour later she passed on.

Rodrigo went to the computer and sent the following, poignant story that has been circulating the internet, to his friends:

Dogs Purpose, (from a 6-year-old)

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in yourface to be pure ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shadytree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entirebody.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
Stop when you have had enough.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit closeby and nuzzle them gently.
Be always grateful for each new day.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY