Our Art Opening

Matt finally finished the last of his murals in our terrace and everyone wanted to see.  On Saturday, August 16th we hosted an open house to view his work....but really just sounds like an excuse to have a party.  We had lots of fun with our friends and Matt received a lot of compliments....but unfortunately no commissions....such is the life of an artist.  Our friends Joe and Sharon presented Matt with a beret...every artist should wear a beret, right?  It was personalized with his name "MattVan Gough" so he's got a new nick name.  Much better than what this group calls me "vaquetona". We were playing Mexican train one day and I was kicking some butt.  Couldn't seem to loose.  Two of my Mexican friends, Ceci and Ana, started calling me vaquetona.  They said it sort of meant brat, but others I've asked said it's somewhere between a scoundrel or a cheat....hmmmm.  But I guess it's all in the delivery.  They usually say when they greet me "me preciosa vaqui", so it sounds nice, right?

Here's a mural I saw in San Miguel Allende.  I was hoping Matt was use this as an inspiration for his next work!`

Every September in Ajijic, one of the biggest events is the Globo Fest.  A globo is a balloon and for this fest it refers to miniature, homemade hot air balloons.  They are made from tissue paper, the heat comes from a basket under the balloon where a tee shirt soaked in kerosene is lit.  If all goes well, this contraption actually launches and drifts off before it falls somewhere in the mountains...and hopefully doesn't start a fire.  If all doesn't go well, it burns up at launch.  I understand there are hundreds of these globos and they are all launched from the soccer field.  The kids all love when a globo burns up during launch as they run and stomp out the fire.  No one ever said safety was a high priority in Mexico.  Mostly it's Mexicans that build globos, but Matt plans to build and launch one this year.  His friend Vern always has a globo in the fesitval so he's teaching Matt.  The past week or so they've been building a prototype and I was there for the test launch.  Kathleen and I of course celebrated the launch with jalapeno jamaica margaritas.

Sad news here.  On Monday, August 18th, Lola suddenly refused to eat.  Very unusual for this sweet girl.  On Thursday, after four days not eating, I took her to the vet and she ran blood work.  All Lola's liver function tests came back with terrible results.  The vet said her liver was so damaged there wasno treatment, and to just take her home and keep her comfortable.  Matt and I moped and cried for the rest of the week (OK I cried, Matt moped).  We tried to coax her to eat anything we could think of; occasionally she'd take a few bites but couldn't keep anything down.  Then miraculously Sunday she seemed a bit better.  I got her to eat some pieces of beef and she kept them down.  Monday I fixed her a stew of hamburger and rice and she actually ate a meal.  Right now she's eating chicken and rice.  Her jaundice is much better and she seems to be regaining her energy.  So we are cautiously hopeful.  The vet says to wait another week or so and we'll repeat the blood work.  If her results are improved we can maybe consider some treatment options.  So please, need prayers and good thoughts for our sweet Lola.