Saturday 1st December 2012…….a happy Birthday and a new president!!!

 

 

Once in a while a person comes into your life and a bond of friendship is struck and the friendship grows into something truly beautiful!!!

I am blessed to have a few of these friendships in my life.

One of them is Heather who along with her husband Kirby and the three boys took me into their hearts and their gorgeous home. Over the years we have become family and although I am on the road many months of the year we remain close and tight.

Thank you Heather for all you have done for me and it is with great joy I wish you a very happy Birthday…Love you…

 

I wrote the above on last year’s blog for this date and nothing has changed!!!!

 

Mexico's Enrique Pena Nieto inaugurated as president

 

Mr Pena Nieto said Mexico had "lost ground" in his party's 12-year absence from power

 

Enrique Pena Nieto has been sworn in as Mexico's new president, promising to boost economic growth and tackle drug-related violence.

"My government's first aim will be to bring peace to Mexico," he said.

Some 60,000 people were killed in drug-related violence during the rule of his predecessor, Felipe Calderon.

Security was tight in Mexico City for the inauguration earlier as petrol bomb-wielding protesters clashed with riot police who fired tear gas.

One protester was gravely injured after being hit with a tear gas canister.

The demonstrators are angry at what they say was vote-buying by the president's campaign, says the BBC's Will Grant in Mexico City.

They were also protesting more generally against the return to power of Mr Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) after a 12-year absence.

But in his inaugural speech at a ceremonial palace in the old city centre, Mr Pena Nieto said the state had "lost ground" since his party left power.

"Lawlessness and violence have robbed various parts of the country of peace and freedom," said the 46-year old.

Security issues

Earlier, amid a cacophonic trumpet fanfare, outgoing President Felipe Calderon handed a sash with the colours of the Mexican flag to Mr Pena Nieto at the city's Congress building.

All week in Mexico City, a ring of steel had been in place around the building ahead of the ceremony.

Only three women are in the 20-member cabinet named by president-elect Enrique Pena Nieto

It had created massive traffic jams in the already congested city as authorities tried to prevent protesters from gaining access to parliament.

Earlier, the new president, who is 46, named a 20-member cabinet.

His foreign minister will be Jose Antonio Meade, who was treasury minister in Mr Calderon's outgoing government.

Mr Pena Nieto spent his final days as president-elect in talks with leaders in the US and Canada, Mexico's partners in the regional trade organisation, Nafta.

The PRI governed without interruption for 71 years until 2000, and its opponents often accused it of being authoritarian and corrupt, and of having links to the drug cartels.

But during his election campaign Mr Pena Nieto was adamant the party had evolved.

 

"I can say categorically that in my government, there won't be any form of pact or agreement with organised crime," he told the BBC. "It's not the path nor the route to greater security for the Mexican people."

Earlier this month, he denied the PRI's return to power would be a return to the past. "It is not, because this is a different country," he said.

The new president has indicated he will focus on tackling extortion, kidnapping and murder, and he has drafted in support from Colombia's former top policeman.

The outgoing president is due to take up a position at Harvard University and maintains he has made Mexico safer.

But for many Mexicans, Mr Calderon's legacy as president is of an estimated 10,000 drug-related killings a year for the past six years

Taken from BBC website.

 

I know I sound like a broken record but Saturdays are the same… I have 2 hours of really good men’s doubles and then come home relax and have lunch watching a live English soccer game..today was a wild one 6 goals in 30 minutes…..I then dropped Catalina off at her bus and went to pick up Paola…she was ready and waiting for me and today we were going to the next town, Celaya,  where there are 2 Wal-Mart's and a Costco..I needed to try and return some items from a couple of weeks ago.

We had snacks on the drive and I was trying out my Spanish with Paola..she then started to draw and I did not know she was so good..this took her about 10 minutes!!!

We arrived at the first

and there was no problem returning all the items except the toaster oven which I realized  I purchased at the other Wal-Mart for a reason I could not understand they would not accept it here ..so off we went to the other Wal-Mart where after about 15 minutes they told me I think that I was 2 days over the 30 day limit so no refund…it is OK it will go into the garage sale I am having tomorrow.

Whenever we come to the house we both always take our shoes off and when we leave Paola always tries to wear my crocks…so today it was time for her to get her own so I treated her to a purple pair and she loves them.

From here we went to Costco where I stocked up on some frozen food and like all Costco they have a great fast food counter where Paola ordered a lovely couple slices of fresh pizza, a drink and we both got strawberry sundaes….and then headed home.

Such is the kindness of this beautiful 11 year old girl..she told me she was saving half of the sundae for her Mum and a slice of the pizza for her Brother…so much she teaches me about love and caring!!!!

At home she helped me sort out the stuff for the sale tomorrow and then I drove her home…yet another great time with her.

Tonight I priced all the stuff and ready to go tomorrow at 10am…do not know what sort of attendance I shall get but if I sell half the stuff I shall be happy.

A happy and safe weekend to you all!!!