Wow! Where did the time go?? Looks like I last updated in December, it's now July. Oops
So where am I at today? Well I'm 43 days from making the big move. I've slowly been selling stuff but need to really go through the house this weekend. I'll probably make a trip to the local MCC thrift store (both to drop off and see if I can find some cooler clothes). I've been buying some stuff but I'd like a couple more tops & bottoms.
I am planning on giving my notice at work either today or tomorrow. I'm hoping to convince the boss to let me work from home part time for half my wage now. We'll see what he says but I have a couple other positions in mind if he doesn't. It would be nice just to work part time but I'll work full time if I have to.
My kids have now all found places to rent (YAY!!) but they'll be in for a shock as their rent has included all utilities and food for a couple years. My youngest actually moved out at the beginning of July. She's living with her boyfriend in Steinbach. My son will be moving to Ste. Anne and my middle daughter will be moving to Mitchell. They'll only be 23kms apart so that's good. I'm hoping they stick together and help each other as needed.
As for my other half, he's not moving with me at this point. After our trip in April he decided he's not ready yet. He wants me to wait another year and I'm not willing to. Next year it would have been the same thing. He's had 10+ mths to get things in order. Yet in March went and financed a $40,000 truck. Do I ever anticipate he'll move? Nope. And I'm OK with that, I've always said I won't force him to move and I won't. He likes Mexico for a vacation but he'd hate living there. The plan so far is for him to come down for a week or two in November and then again in March/April and I'll be coming back next summer at some point and then he'll move sometime September-November. That changes weekly so we'll see.
My mom sent me a FB post for a vehicle. I don't anticipate needing one all the time but I don't like not having one available if I need it. Plus I'd like to see more of Mexico than just the PV area. I'd like to keep it under $2,000 CDN and this one was $1850 CDN but she just keeps stalling. Reading but not replying to messages, saying she'll call my mom and then doesn't so I think I'm going to move on. Ideally I'd like a Jeep of some sort, nothing too big. This one was a Dodge Durango so it would use more gas than I'd like.
The plan is to stay with my parents for a few months until I get a job and visa stuff out of the way. I'll be looking for a 2BR as I'd like to have a room for the kids when they come visit and 2BR are just a bit bigger. I'd like to keep it under 6,000 pesos which is about $445 CDN. I know rentals for that price are out there, just a matter of finding them once I'm there.
My mom is flying up on August 23rd and then we'll fly back together. My last day at work will be August 26th so that I have a few days to finish cleaning the house although I don't expect there to be much as my son is talking about moving out Aug 15 and my daughter Aug 1 or so. It'll work well so that I can really clean their rooms and not be rushed.
That's about it for now - 43 days to go!!
Thursday, 21 July 2016
Monday, 14 December 2015
More sorting and selling and planning
I've still been going through the house and taking pictures of stuff I know the kids won't want so I can sell things. I sold two items on the weekend and got $150 - YAY! It'll go into the savings account.
Speaking of savings account, now that I'm done with Christmas gifts, hopefully I'll be able to replenish said account. I also have 3 pays this month so that should help. At the end of December I'd like to have $1000+ in there.
I think I found a good business idea for PV, need to look into it further and check out the competition there. I know there's one similar business. Competition is good no? :-)
Winter doesn't seem to be in a rush to arrive this year (not that I'm complaining) - we can still see quite a bit of grass although we did get a little bit of snow Friday night.
I've finished my duolingo program but sure enough the next morning it said I need to practive 5...then in the afternoon it went to 9. I finished those and yep, you guessed it...yesterday it said I need to practice another 9. Sooo frustrating even though there's no such thing as too much practice. Now I'll get started on the program my mom bought me.
That's all for now...I'll leave you with this:
Speaking of savings account, now that I'm done with Christmas gifts, hopefully I'll be able to replenish said account. I also have 3 pays this month so that should help. At the end of December I'd like to have $1000+ in there.
I think I found a good business idea for PV, need to look into it further and check out the competition there. I know there's one similar business. Competition is good no? :-)
Winter doesn't seem to be in a rush to arrive this year (not that I'm complaining) - we can still see quite a bit of grass although we did get a little bit of snow Friday night.
I've finished my duolingo program but sure enough the next morning it said I need to practive 5...then in the afternoon it went to 9. I finished those and yep, you guessed it...yesterday it said I need to practice another 9. Sooo frustrating even though there's no such thing as too much practice. Now I'll get started on the program my mom bought me.
That's all for now...I'll leave you with this:
264 days!!!
Wednesday, 2 December 2015
More researching...
I started looking at what's involved with doing Payroll in Mexico. There's not much info out there but thanks to a FB group I have some info to read and I'll keep researching it.
Winter thankfully was short lived - at least the cold temps. This is the current forecast as of this morning, I'm not complaining!
My other half however is - he likes it when it's colder. Plus he's waiting for the lakes to freeze so he can get on the winter roads...I don't think it's looking good for this year. He'll have to find something else for now.
These are some pics of the skies here the last couple days.
Today it's crazy foggy and it hasn't lifted at all. The upside is the hoar frost on the trees. I'll try to take out my big camera later and see if I can get some better pics.
Winter thankfully was short lived - at least the cold temps. This is the current forecast as of this morning, I'm not complaining!
My other half however is - he likes it when it's colder. Plus he's waiting for the lakes to freeze so he can get on the winter roads...I don't think it's looking good for this year. He'll have to find something else for now.
These are some pics of the skies here the last couple days.
Today it's crazy foggy and it hasn't lifted at all. The upside is the hoar frost on the trees. I'll try to take out my big camera later and see if I can get some better pics.
It's rare that we can still see grass on Dec 2nd but this year we definitely still can. Very weird weather this year. This weekend we'll go pick out our Christmas Tree :-)
I'm still working on my Spanish, I need to start using it daily to get better. :-(
Friday, 20 November 2015
Winter has arrived
Most of the people who know me know how much I don't like winter. I don't mind the snow really, it's the cold I hate. Wind picked up Wednesday evening and a little while later it started snowing. Yesterday it was crazy windy. Unfortunately it will get worse than this picture at some point this winter. This isn't even close to a blizzard. Here's a picture of my road:
Our driveway is a little blown over this morning but still passable. I'll have to ask the landlord if the neighbors moved, I haven't seen them in weeks and it's their job to keep the driveway clear. They have a pick up so he doesn't usually have to clear it with his tractor.
This is supposed to be a mild winter for us - lets hope! Sunday it's supposed to get to 0 and Monday it's supposed to be +1...bye bye snow (for now anyway). Time to get some last minute winter stuff done this weekend. I have to put plastic over the windows that we opened in the summer and pick up misc stuff from outside. Both cars also need oil changes. I need to call about getting the septic tank emptied and how much it'll cost as well.
Then it's time to start looking for deals on airfare....get me outta here! lol I'll probably have to wait til I get my tax refund but I can dream can't I?
For the first time yesterday, someone didn't laugh or think I was stupid for wanting to make the move. It was nice to hear someone say 'sounds great. you can do it' :) I had asked for a 1 year Leave of Absence from work but it was denied. It's too long they said. Would have been nice to know if it doesn't work out, I have a job to come back to but such is life. Just means I have give 110% to make it work which I had planned on anyway.
That's all for now, que tenga un buen dia! (Have a good day!)
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| That dark spot in front of me is supposed to be a tree lol |
This is supposed to be a mild winter for us - lets hope! Sunday it's supposed to get to 0 and Monday it's supposed to be +1...bye bye snow (for now anyway). Time to get some last minute winter stuff done this weekend. I have to put plastic over the windows that we opened in the summer and pick up misc stuff from outside. Both cars also need oil changes. I need to call about getting the septic tank emptied and how much it'll cost as well.
Then it's time to start looking for deals on airfare....get me outta here! lol I'll probably have to wait til I get my tax refund but I can dream can't I?
For the first time yesterday, someone didn't laugh or think I was stupid for wanting to make the move. It was nice to hear someone say 'sounds great. you can do it' :) I had asked for a 1 year Leave of Absence from work but it was denied. It's too long they said. Would have been nice to know if it doesn't work out, I have a job to come back to but such is life. Just means I have give 110% to make it work which I had planned on anyway.
That's all for now, que tenga un buen dia! (Have a good day!)
Monday, 16 November 2015
Downsizing, Saving pennies and dreaming
Hola! Buenos dias.
I've opened a savings account so that I can start saving my pennies in an account that's not easy for me to access. I have a set amount I'd like to have in there (after selling anything the kids don't want) before I move. I have a list going of stuff I'd like to sell and how much I'd like to get for the item. Some of it needs to wait until closer to September but some stuff I'll start trying to sell now. I went through junk drawers this past weekend and threw out a bunch of stuff that I'm not even sure why I was hanging onto it. I've started saying to myself 'it's just stuff - do you really need it?'. Up next is the basement I think. I have some boxes and totes I've never looked in since we moved over a year ago as well as some small appliances that I don't really use. I'll also start going through my clothes and figure out what to do with such things as concert t-shirts that I just needed to have once upon a time. All I can do is shake my head lol
As for saving, I've cut out my $90+ a month from stopping at Tim Hortons daily - now I buy hot chocolate powder and bagels for less than $20 a month and I don't need to drive 18kms out of my way (so I also save quite a bit of gas) and save myself about 20 minutes a day. Win-win-win :-) Now to quit smoking. Which sounds easy to say but when you have 4 other people in the house that smoke...not so easy. :-( Although I impressed myself last week. I bought 4 packs on Nov 7th and I only opened the last pack on Nov 15. So 4 packs in 8 days...compared to a pack a day. The colder weather is good for one thing :-)
A lot of my Facebook feed is Puerto Vallarta stuff. Makes me smile yet makes me sad because I'm not there yet. Ticker Factory says 9 mths, 2 weeks and 2 days which equals 289 days. I think I'll add a couple countdowns on the page somewhere. I'm hoping to get there in March or April (maybe bring some stuff down that I know I'll want to keep). Flights are cheap in December but I just don't think I'll have enough saved by then. :-(
That's all for now, Hasta luego!
I've opened a savings account so that I can start saving my pennies in an account that's not easy for me to access. I have a set amount I'd like to have in there (after selling anything the kids don't want) before I move. I have a list going of stuff I'd like to sell and how much I'd like to get for the item. Some of it needs to wait until closer to September but some stuff I'll start trying to sell now. I went through junk drawers this past weekend and threw out a bunch of stuff that I'm not even sure why I was hanging onto it. I've started saying to myself 'it's just stuff - do you really need it?'. Up next is the basement I think. I have some boxes and totes I've never looked in since we moved over a year ago as well as some small appliances that I don't really use. I'll also start going through my clothes and figure out what to do with such things as concert t-shirts that I just needed to have once upon a time. All I can do is shake my head lol
As for saving, I've cut out my $90+ a month from stopping at Tim Hortons daily - now I buy hot chocolate powder and bagels for less than $20 a month and I don't need to drive 18kms out of my way (so I also save quite a bit of gas) and save myself about 20 minutes a day. Win-win-win :-) Now to quit smoking. Which sounds easy to say but when you have 4 other people in the house that smoke...not so easy. :-( Although I impressed myself last week. I bought 4 packs on Nov 7th and I only opened the last pack on Nov 15. So 4 packs in 8 days...compared to a pack a day. The colder weather is good for one thing :-)
A lot of my Facebook feed is Puerto Vallarta stuff. Makes me smile yet makes me sad because I'm not there yet. Ticker Factory says 9 mths, 2 weeks and 2 days which equals 289 days. I think I'll add a couple countdowns on the page somewhere. I'm hoping to get there in March or April (maybe bring some stuff down that I know I'll want to keep). Flights are cheap in December but I just don't think I'll have enough saved by then. :-(
That's all for now, Hasta luego!
Wednesday, 4 November 2015
Some of my pictures of PV over the years
I'm sure I've taken well over 15,000 pictures. Some make it to Facebook or my walls and others I just keep as momentos. Here are a few of them in no particular order:
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| Cool view from the airplane |
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| My daughter Tamara and her bestfriend Autumn |
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| Hate to be behind this truck if a few fall off lol |
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| My daddy |
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| Singer on horseback at the resort - he even had a portable speaker and microphone! |
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| How these don't all melt in the sun, I have no idea but they're yummy |
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| You won't see them not smiling :-) |
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| The muffin man - those are heavy to carry around all day on your head! |
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| Pirate Ship & the sunset |
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| PV sunsets are so bright and I can never see enough of them |
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| Sergio - what he sells changes every few years lol |
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| View of the Sierra Madre mountains from the Pacific Ocean |
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| Horse & rider at sunset |
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| They've removed this sign for some reason, I like it |
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| Rotisserie chickens cooking - no windows and safety guards here |
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| Senor Fox & I with my personalized MB License plate - he's from Steinbach as well |
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| Mike & Brenda - awesome friends we met there in 2010 |
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| Eric & Aurora - they've been great to me |
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| Ostrich anyone? LOL |
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| The colors of Mexico |
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| Would hate to meet him in the wild... |
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| 5 tacos for 35 pesos....can't beat that! |
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| Awwww... |
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| Playing with tigers was a dream come true for me |
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| Fresh salsa...my daughter makes it just as good here in MB |
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| Yikes...hope he has a good grip! |
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| Good friends! |
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| More colors...love it |
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| Lucy! She sells genuine silver - does braids...she's awesome! |
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| My son Cody feeding the giraffe |
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| And then the monkeys wanted his water bottle |
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| Here in MB, this is illegal...but not in Mexico |
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| Fresh fruit & veggies anyone? |
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| <3 the best sunsets I tell ya! |
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| My son with some of the waiters at the Friendly |
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| Policia...pretty sure these ones help with traffic & tourists |
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| More colors... |
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| Our Lady of Guadalupe Church |
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| This is a Mexican ritual - they do this several times a day for donations |
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| The more the merrier? :-) |
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| Manual labour is the norm here...not often will you see machines doing work men can do |
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| Iguana...we saw LOTS this day |
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| Old Mexico meets new Mexico? |
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| The girls with beach performers..50 pesos to take the picture lol |
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| Dream come true for them too |
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| Playing in a small river by Mismaloya |
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| These guys were in the driveway to the hotel...just wandering around |
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| Me - Apr 2015 |
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| Kerry (my boyfriend) and I :-) |
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| Kerry |
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