Magi Azul

Some months ago I decided that Casa Leon was not the name that I wanted for the house here on Isla Mujeres. I didn't want clients thinking a person named Leon owned the house. Leon in Spanish means lion, and at one point I was going to have a lion fountain spouting water into the pool. However the lion is gone along with the name. From Casa Leon, I pondered The Grotto - Beach House. I got mixed reactions. My father was appalled that I was going to name my house after a cave. I explained that grottoes were sometimes gardens and sometimes ornately decorated. Our house has so much stone work that the name really does fit well. However, as much as I had visions of candle light and monks in mysterious old ruins, I was afraid clients might have visions of cold, damp caves. And so I continued my quest for that name full of mystery and magic. While reading a foreign design magazine I ran across an article titled "Magi Azul." As soon as I saw that title I said, "Oh I love that!" And so Magi Azul - Caribe Beach House was born. My husband, Stan, then asked me, "What does that mean?" I said, "It means blue magic. Imagine the blue ocean, the blue sky and the magical beauty of it all." My husband, the consummate investigator, then does a web search and informs me that magic is magia in Spanish and that magi were wise men. I, however, was undeterred and a women with a passion. "It doesn't matter," I said. "It's a great name. The magi were star gazers, travelers and seekers of truth. It still works." Then I, the consummate researcher nerd, did a linguistic search and found that magi does indeed mean magic in Swedish! So all those visiting Swedes will know exactly what I mean! The rest of us will just think it's cool no matter what language it is. I tried to explain to Stan that it didn't have to have a specific definition. It is about the emotions the words evoke. The words even sound and feel beautiful rolling off your tongue. The g in Magi is pronounced like the g in genre (Maagjii Ahzzuul) Magi Azul. Didn't that feel good? So as house construction is coming to an end so is my search for a name I love. I have found it -
Magi Azul
~
Caribe Beach House.

Don't Worry -Be Happy

"Blessed are those who endure to the end..." After building this house in Mexico that scripture has new meaning. The stress level from design decision making has subsided since we are so close to being finished, and it has been replaced by a different kind of stress. The term "over budget" doesn't even begin to express the disparity between the allotted funds planned for this project and the actual cost. I pray I will have enough dinero to buy my light fixtures. I now understand why there are so many houses halfway done in Mexico.
The last house we built in Mexico took Stan 8 months to complete. By the time construction was over Stan was so disgusted with being ripped off and paying bribes that he decided he didn't want to live in Mexico anymore. He slapped a "Se Vende" (For Sale) sign in the yard, and we sold it without me even getting to spend a night in it completed. Now we are not to that point yet, but lets just say that I can't wait for this to be over.
Right now I am sitting in a folding chair flanked by bags of cement and stacks of stone tiles in my future living room while I babysit tile setters to make sure they get the pattern right. Actually Julian is working on the tiles today, and I have more confidence in him with tile than anyone. Panso, the stone setter, is working on the 2nd floor garden wall, and Jose, my fantastic finish guy, is working on the poolside garden wall. As I move my chair to the ocean front patio I whisper, "Calgon take me away." The wind on my face and the sound of the surf do the trick, and I begin to imagine what life will be like when all the bags of concrete and workers are gone. Of course, all our money will be gone too, but let's not think about that. I think I will paint a primitive sign on some drift wood that says, "Don't Worry - Be Happy." Anyway, for now I will just sit by these bags of cement and dream of the day that I am eating guacamole by my pool with Sophia begging me to play shark with her. It will be here before I know it.

Mexico Time

I should know this after 15 years, but it continues to amaze and annoy me. On a video I recently heard, "Is it possible to be astonished, but not surprised?" I would have to answer, " Si, Senor." Even my pastor (who is Mexican by the way) refers to time here as "Mexican time" and "American time." Mexican time is epitomized in the word "manana." It is an elusive term that is always in the future and never present tense. American time is generally in comparison - on time. I was raised with the ethical principle that 5 minutes early was on time, on time was late and 5 minutes late was VERY late. In Mexico this slogan is not even in the stratosphere. In Mexico "I'll be back in 2 hours" means "I'll be back in 2 days (if you are lucky.") "I'll be there manana" means, "I'll be there in one to two weeks." If they say they will be there next week, you are really screwed, because that means at least 2 weeks; and if they are a carpenter it means 2 months and still don't hold your breath!
I was dressing for my Taebo class that was "scheduled" to start at 8 am. About 7:45 I was packing up my gear to get to class by 8. I was packing the latest novel I was reading, so that I could fill the time till 8:20 when class would actually start. My husband said, "Why do you bother to get there early, when you know it will not start on time?" "It's principle," I say. In fact, I am not sure that the word "appointment" means the same thing when translated into Spanish. Yesterday we waited for a pool contractor to get a bid on a pool we want constructed at our home. In a weak, hurting economy, he never showed up for his "appointment."
Having whined and complained about this, I will say that although punctuality may not be the forte of the Mexican culture; there are other noble qualities I must note that make up for their transgression in tardiness. A Mexican will spend his last 300 pesos (if he has them) on a costume for his child for the local Spring festival. A Mexican will serve you the only lobster, while he eats fish. A Mexican will honor his mother and father. A Mexican will not leave church without kissing you, and saying, "Dios te vendiga (God bless you)," at least once and very possibly twice. I guess punctuality is not everything. In fact, here in Mexico I always feel good about myself. I have not always been the paragon of punctuality in the U.S., but here I am always early - by Mexico time that is. So as long as I pack a new novel in my purse, I just consider it an enrichment to my literary education. That being said, "I will write again manana - that means one to two weeks by Mexico time!"

Footprints

Where do I begin? My architect and contractor, Lucy, had to have emergency surgery and could not come to work for 2 weeks. Her husband, Sergio, who is also an engineer along with Stan and myself have been trying to be at the site to supervise matters. At the same time we moved out of our dumpy apartment (no small feat after a year of living here) into a luxury condo that is heaven on earth for me right now. It was just what I needed this last leg of our race. It is so nice to have a washing machine and not smell mildew on everything. I love the kitchen here. I have counter space, a full size refrigerator and an oven! I can plug more than one appliance in without the electricity going off, I do not have to mop up water in the apartment after every rain and I do not have to sit directly in front of an oscillating fan 24/7. The grounds are gorgeous, the view is stunning, and the A/C is delicious!
Last week the crew had to rip up 1/3 of the MBR that they had laid improperly. Two of the three bedrooms so far have had to have tiles ripped up because the pattern was off. Now however, they seem to grasp what we want. We still watch them, but now it seems we don't have to correct them so much. The stonework is gorgeous, especially the wall behind the pool. The aluminum window manufacturers have installed doors and windows downstairs on the ocean side. They have not passed Stan's splash test yet, but hopefully they will eventually. He tosses water on the outside of the windows, and if it leaks in he figures it isn't sealed well enough. When you get horizontal rain on the ocean you must have well sealed windows.
The carpenters are beginning to bring wood work over. I am excited to see the cabinet and closet doors. Hopefully we will have Lucy back with us when we begin the kitchen and patio/pool area. We have had a building site for so long, it is hard to imagine it finished and habitable. But hopefully in a couple months we will have reached our goal. Until then we are rejoicing in our new condo, admiring progress made, and praying for Lucy's full recuperation. We are thankful for God's grace and provision and are in awe of how He paves the way before us. It seems that what ever is thrown our way, God is somehow making it a blessing. And so I am learning to focus not on the obstacle, but on the One who always provides a way through it. Looking back I can see His footprints in the sand. I know it's a corny ending - but since we are on an island it seems apropos.

I See the Light

There is finally light at the end of the long, long tunnel. We still have quite some way to go, but I can see a glimmer of light in the distance! The stress was quite high at the beginning stages of finish work, but it seems to be tapering off. Most of the larger issues have been resolved. I now love my multi-tono stone floors, and we have begun the process of grouting them. Now the big challenge is making sure the workers get all the concrete off without leaving that concrete haze so common in Mexico. This is no small task. We put 3 coats of sealer on the stone prior to grouting, but they are so pitted and textured that it is still difficult to get them clean. Stan, Lucy and I, all get in there with sponges to try to help. The guys are really trying hard. But you still have to keep watching them. They will finish one room just the way you like it, and then go onto the next one and revert to their old way of doing things. Por ejemplo (For example), you would think after I say, "Rodundo esquinas porfavor (rounded corners please,)" over 100 times in the past 6 months that they would understand that I want ALL the edges in the house rounded. Just when you think they have it there is a new worker on site that doesn't know the mantra. What's really funny is listening to me trying to explain a design change when Lucy is not there to translate. I have learned that when they nod and say. "Si." That does not mean they understand. But I would not trade our crew for any other. They are hard working, have the patience of Job, and are very good at what they do.
Next week we are having to move out of our flat we have been renting for the past 6 months because someone else has reserved it. God in His mercy has provided a luxury condo for us to stay in. The past 6 months have been what I call Caribbean camping - no A/C, no washer (except for a tub), no hot water. Everything in our old flat is rusted and broken; but I won't complain too much, because we have gorgeous views and wonderful breezes. It also makes me appreciate modern conveniences now that I will have them soon. I am counting the days until we move into our new place. Now that our return trip has been postponed because of construction, Gramma Fauscett is coming to visit us. We are happy we will have a nice place for her to stay while she is here. Well I'm off to the lot to check grouting and admire the stone wall they just finished in the master bedroom. Today is Saturday, and the workers only work half a day; so that means I get half a day off too. So it is time for some poolside R&R with Sophie. Adios amigos!

Lost in Translation

It has been a trying week. My last blog that I could not print was titled "Pissed." Now you know why I didn't publish it. I have debated on the basis of being true to my subject matter that my previous blog should indeed be printed. But I detest whiners, complainers and nit-pickers, and I don't want to join that rabble. However there is a valid argument and good correlation between nit-pickers and excellence. Unfortunately I don't know if you can be one without being the other. I prefer to call it attention to detail! (Spoken like a true nit-picker.)
My first challenge this week was perfecting a lime paint color with my husband, who gruelingly mixed and remixed paint himself until his lime blistered fingers could take no more. After "a little more yellow," "a little less gray," "no, a little less yellow" - he finally said, "It's perfect," out of sheer exhaustion. My husband went from "I like warmth," to saying a silver gray-white was perfect. I DID want a cool-toned wall, but not that cool. But I am nit-picking now. So I am acquiescing to pale dove gray walls. Believe me it could be worse.
Then there was the utter gut-wrenching despair when our sun-bleached wood planks for a loft floor got stained rustic red. It's a long and complicated story as to how this happened. But needless to say our rustic red floor has now been sanded down again. But now because of the rustic red fiasco, my husband wants to paint the cabinets clear. I am horrified that we may end up with yellow streaked cabinets and have the knotty-pine look. So now between my husband,our architect and myself there is an emotional Bermuda triangle.
But the piece de resistance was our "multi-tono" floor. When I saw the sample I was told it was multi-tono gris (my translation - various shades of gray.) This is where my title "Lost in Translation" comes in. I did not know that the sample floor I was looking at was unsealed and that most unsealed stone floors look grayish. And wouldn't you know that the one tile my husband put water on was gray, so I thought it was great. Stan was complaining, I mean expounding, that he did not want a floor that looked like gray concrete, so I jumped on the "multi-tonal gris" verbage to get my husband to see the light and agree to my beautiful, soft gray floors. Little did I know that I would end up with burgundy, terracotta, pink, white, and almost no gray in my floor. Then whenever I spoke to my architect I was sure to emphasize "multi-tonal gris." But somehow the gris got left out of the translation. Anyway I am now trying to come to terms with the utter abolition of the word monochromatic in my design scheme. I am trying to convince myself that the varied hues ( I can't bear to say the term "tones") of stone will add a "hint" of color to the rooms.
Anyway I think I have begun wallowing in whining and complaining.
I could go on, but I won't. Monday in my journal I wrote Romans 5:3-4, "...we glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulations produce perseverance, and perseverance, character; and character, hope." Well I hope and do believe that I will make it through this "tribulation" and in the mean time I am really developing perseverance and character. I also have to sit back and say, "If your biggest problem is that the stone tiles in your Caribbean home are not gray enough, then you have it pretty good." I guess I can't complain, whine or nitpick too much. I need to accept the fact that when you are an American in Mexico, some things are just going to get lost in translation.