Dear Blog,

I am sitting in my apartment on a Tuesday night watching Ghosthunters, a reality show about a crew that investigates hauntings. Juan and I used to love to watch this show in Washington, and I just happened to come across it in Mexico. This was the last show I thought would come on down here, but I'll take it.

Monty is sleeping next to me on the couch, and he keeps farting. He is a pint-size little fellow, but he sure could clear a room with his flatulance. Right now, he is dreaming. His little paws are moving back and forth, as if he is running or something. Whenever my Sadi or Jesse did that, my mom always said they were dreaming about chasing rabbits. Considering the changes he is going through, however, I think he is dreaming about chasing a female dog. At least it gets him off my leg for a minute.

This afternoon, I discovered that I can watch The Hills on mtv.com for free. I had to catch up on my favorite guilty little pleasure, and I am glad to tell you that I have completely caught up! It's good to know what is going on in the world of rich kids in Los Angeles. I can't wait to chat with Elena about all the gossip.

Well, I am gonna take the dog for one last walk before bed. I'll write to you soon!

Love,
Jenny en la ciudad

Dear Blog,



I am sorry that I didn't write to you yesterday, but I was really tired when we got home from dinner. Yesterday morning, we took Monty to the vet for one of his last vaccines. We talked to our vet about 'the change,' and she suggested that we get him a large soft toy. The idea is that we ween him off my leg, and he gets to hump the toy instead. We are thinking of getting him a life-size female poodle, so he can live out all of his fantasies.

Last night, we ate dinner at Brassielisimo, a little Brazilian restaurant that has the best bread and beans and rice ever. They also have a band that plays, and Juan and I really like them. Every time we go, they have a new drummer. The one thing that remains constant is that the lead singer watches soccer as he sings--it's pretty funny. It was an enjoyable evening out, but I was all tuckered out when we got home, so I went to bed.

Today, I have just been cleaning and watching television. I love a lazy day! Later, I am going to go to the Superama to buy groceries for the week.

Much love,
Jenny en la ciudad

The Change

Dear Blog,

It seems that Monty is going through some adolescent changes. Last night, he humped my leg for the first time. I have to tell you that even when he humps, he looks cute. Juan and I just laughed at him--he makes us so proud.

After work, I went to dinner with Juan and his co-workers. I ate empanadas and steak, and it was quite delicious. After dinner, we came home and watched the debates. I won't write to you about politics, but I found the debate interesting, especially given the current economic situation.

I really don't have much else to report today, so I will try and do something really interesting tomorrow, so I can write to you about it.

Have a good night,
Jenny en la ciudad

Dear Blog,



Early this morning, before Juan walked Monty, I kept having dreams that he was peeing on me (Monty, not Juan). As you might have guessed, Monty gets the royal treatment and gets to sleep on the bed. He's never actually peed during the night, but it is still a recurring nightmare that I have. So, that was how my day began this morning.



After I finally got up and got dressed, I headed to work. Juan and I fought traffic and an empty tank of gas, but we made it on time. Every morning, we listen to a radio show called "Hoy por hoy." It is basically a Mexican news channel.



After I got to work, I prepared for my day. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I like to work one-on-one with the children and see how much they know. While I am working with one child, the other children draw or play a game or read a book or something. That is pretty much what I did at work.



Right now, it is raining in Mexico City. I am watching breaking news coverage of the financial crisis in the U.S. It seems like a real mess. Monty lost another tooth. He is starting to remind me of a toothless child that was in my kindergarten class when I was student teaching. I remember vividly when this poor child tried to bite into an apple and his gums just slid right across the surface of the apple. He gave me a pathetic look and said, "I can't." Well, Monty has lost 6 teeth now and has a little difficulty eating his hard food. I am sure that if he could talk, he would say, "I can't."



I think I will flip through all the cable channels now. I gotta get a feel for the programming down here.



Toodles,

Jenny en la ciudad

Dear Blog,

Now that I have internet access, I can write to you whenever I want. Right now, I am watching BBC news and listening to them talk about the economic crisis in the U.S. It sounds pretty bad.

I think that Monty is jealous of my computer. Ever since yesterday, I have had my laptop in my lap, instead of my beagle. Today, he even rested his head on my keypad. Poor guy can't compete with the Internet.

I haven't had a very exciting day so far. Juan dropped me off at work around 8:30 this morning. I started my day in the toddler room. It is my week to do circle in the morning, so I greet the children as they come in. I sang some songs with the kiddies, did some fingerplays...you know, the usual. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at my school, one of the children brings lunch for everyone. Today, we enjoyed a well-balanced meal of donuts and fruit. The food pyramid would be proud.

After work, I took the pooch for a walk around the block. Monty is such a drama queen. When I get home, he cries and wiggles around for about 10 minutes. As he is doing this, he retrieves all of his toys (one by one) from his crate and carries them around with him. It's all about the drama.

Well, Juan and I are gonna go get some dinner. He's feeling like chicken fajitas.

Much love,
Jenny en la ciudad

It's a Miracle!

Dear Blog,

It's a Mexican miracle! I have the Internet! I have cable!

Now, I know that when I wrote you last, I told you that I was supposed to get cable and internet on Saturday. Well, Saturday came and went. Juan spent a good hour on the phone with some supervisor on Saturday morning, and she promised they would be at our apartment by 5. Shocking news: they never showed. After he called them again, they promised they would come 'first thing Monday morning.' Well, Monday came and went, but Cablevision never did. So, Juan talked to the supervisor's supervisor, and he told Juan they would come today. Well, it's a miracle! He didn't lie to us. Granted, they showed up late, but they showed up!!!!!!!

Now, I have over two hundred channels, including E! News. Right now, Juan is watching Fox News. I mean, did Bill O'Reilly really have to follw me to Mexico? As they say in Mexico, "Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay..."

In other exciting news, Monty has lost three teeth in the last two days. I am pretty sure that is normal. If not, he will end up toothless like the Deesh (R.I.P.). He is the cutest guy--I love him.

I am gonna watch t.v. now! I've missed you so much!!! I will write to you TOMORROW!

Love,
Jenny en la ciudad

Dear Blog,

As I am writing to you, I am typing with only one hand because Monty is asleep on my left arm. He is snoring, so I can't bare to wake the little guy--he's too cute. This weekend, we have been working on housetraing him--finally! You may or may not remember, but our vet told us not to walk him in the street till he got all his vaccines, so he has been peeing and pooing on our balcony for the past 4 weeks. Friday, however, he got his last shot for a while, so we have been walking him. He hasn't had an accident yet!

Since I wrote to you last, I haven't done too much. Yesterday, we went grocery shopping and just relaxed. I swept and mopped the entire apartment, cleaned the bathrooms, washed clothes, folded laundry, and cleaned the kitchen. I love cleaning--I always feel like I have accomplished so much when I am finished. We rented two movies from Blockbuster last night and ate a pizza from Domino's. We are so American.

I am so excited because my weekend is only half over! I have two more days to relax! On Monday night, we might try to head up to the Zocalo (the city's center) for the independence celebration.

If I don't write to you this week, then I will write to you on Saturday--fingers crossed--when Cablevision comes!!

Love,
Jenny en la ciudad

Dear Blog,

It's been so long! Guess what? I still don't have Internet, but I should have it on September 20, 2008 (so they say). We are having them come on a Saturday, since weekdays didn't seem to work out so well.

Remember how they cut off our electricity? Well, the power company still hasn't come to turn it back on. We have power, but we had to turn it on illegally. If we hadn't had the doorman in our building turn it on, we would have been without power for over two weeks now--unbelievable! And I thought they moved slow in the Low Country...

Last weekend, we went to Acapulco. We went with Juan's friend and stayed at his place. It was pretty hot and the place did not have air conditioning. It reminded me of the good old days of Asheville--we even had a window fan in our room. It rained a lot, but we were still able to go to the beach. I ate a coconut and got a massage without even leaving my armchair. That's how they do business in Mexico.

When we got back from Acapulco, our furniture was waiting for us in our apartment! I can finally take a nap and watch t.v. at the same time. When I have cable, I will be all set!

This weekend is Mexico's Independence Day, so we get Monday and Tuesday off! I will let you know all about it. I will probably go to Juan's office sometime over the weekend and write to you. I am not sure what we will do yet, but I just wanna rest.

Well, I gotta get going. I've missed you, Blog.

Love,
Jenny en la ciudad