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Famous actress coming to SMA

That all folks, for now. Not everyone in San Miguel wears rugs.  Not everyone in San Miguel is retired.  Not everyone in San Miguel is happy.

This is a book is about an expat who lived in San Miguel,  didn’t wear rugs nor do all the silly things I write about in my blog.  He actually spent time getting to know the people who live in San Miguel – the ‘real’ sanmiguelense.

I enjoyed this book for several reason.  First is it about San Miguel.  As you read and see a reference to the Blue Door Bakery, you are taken back to San Miguel and walking past the Blue Door Bakery.   The references are those places, those who live in San Miguel, know or knew.

Secondly it is about a part of San Miguel that I had seen from afar,  heard about but had never experienced.  Most of the people in the book are wrestling with real issues and not pretending they are living in Paradise surrounded by infantilized  Mexicans.

Thirdly I laughed as I read parts, in particular the conejo story.

However this is not Guide Book about San Miguel.  It is about ‘real’ people who live there from the perspective on someone who ‘went native’.  He actually learned to speak Spanish and had Mexican girlfriends.

What I found the most interesting is that Rick was as lost in San Miguel as all those souls who come to San Miguel to find meaning but that he found it in a different way.  He didn’t decorate, or take up art, or play golf or become a social slut, however he did find something.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to know about the ‘real’ San Miguel and not the San Miguel created by those who wear rugs, live in big houses and hire the ‘real’ people.

You can find his book on his website

or get  it on Amazon Entrepreneurs either have a product they have created and look for a market that needs that product or see an opportunity and find a product for that market.

There is a river that flows through San Miguel. Most of us called it the Stinky River.

One business person didn’t see a Stinky River but an opportunity. Put it in a bottle and sell it as either an Elixir of Youth or an new Organic Product. Canadians and Americans are often confused by Australians and Brits.  We sound the same.

But there are three differences



Spelling neighbr and cheque

When I saw the license plate I said.

Look Canadians neighbours out of Canada  Eh?

I use American spelling on this blog as I don’t want people to have to grab a dictionary, Eh! The Hobo is a powerful image.

Tramps and hobos are commonly lumped together, but in their own sight they are sharply differentiated. A hobo or bo is simply a migratory laborer; he may take some longish holidays, but soon or late he returns to work. A tramp never works if it can be avoided; he simply travels. Lower than either is the bum, who neither works nor travels, save when impelled to motion by the police.[3] Is this a San Miguel Hobo? Tangled Yarn

My great fear as a child is that some maiden aunt would knit something for me to wear. What she thought was cute was often something she would wear and not something an eight year old would wear.

So when that present from Aunt Leah would arrive in the mail it would be placed under the Christmas tree. Everyday I would look at it and hope it was not something she had knitted for me.

When I visited her I would have to wear said item. So I would often hope to see her yarns in a state such as this where it would be impossible to untangle the mess and knit me a scarf. Tangled Yarn Hat

One day in the Jardin I looked up and images of Aunt Leah came to mind.

Someone had taken the tangled yarn and simply put it on her head.

At the moment, I was thankful Aunt Leah has passed on. Being artistic is a burden as I found out in my stint as an artist in San Miguel

It is not just about the art you make but how you express your artistic self in non artistic ways. Every beginning artist want people to know by looking at them that they are an artist.

So careful attention is paid to what an artist wears.

So today, Joanie has decided to carry a purse that screams artist.





