Love and Hate

I hate Mexico.... and I love it. . I've been so stressed/excited/busy/pissed/preoccupied...all at the exact same moment....These last two weeks have been tough.
My parents have been in town... and they cant exactly get around by themselves. However, when they are here, its great because:

1. Because there is always food in the fridge.
2. The extra help with the kiddos.
3. We get to do all the cheesy touristy stuff.

This last sunday, we headed out to Magdalena and Tequila. Yup, to try tequila. Not that I was objecting or anything. We headed out to some little tequila ranch, La Confrandia... or something like that. My parents had already been to Cuervo, so that one was out. We got a little liquored up, and off we went. Hubby was a show off and tried to do the whole harvesting a f'in agave. The tickets were 130 pesos, but included the bus ride over and back, tour, variety of tequila tastings, and dinner. The dinner was worth it alone. While we were waiting for the bus ride back, we took a variety of all those cheesy Mexican photos that you always wanted to take, but never had the huevos.








Next, a few weary travelers headed into our tattoo shop...heard of hubby and came for a tattoo.... quite a few tattoos. They were hella cool. It felt so good to speak English and talk to someone with the same mentalidad. So off we went... spent a few nights hanging out at our local IRISH pub....(believe it or not, there are a sh*tload of pubs in this town) and a couple bars. I don't know how we did it, but we ended up with a hangover and a couple of cool ass pillows.




Hmmm.... Work... vendors are horrible here and stick to a time schedule all their own... but when they are ready, they expect your attention/payment pronto. Sales have been down since an electrical wire, I guess, rubbed against a tree branch, popped and set the branch on fire in front of my shop. Firemen came... just to stop traffic to the street and watch it burn. Nonetheless, it stopped ALL traffic and blew all our power. Bummer.




**Note. Not actual photo... but same idea.
Even worse,(Im updating a little late), but my kids witnessed one of the crazy mexican drivers slam his car into the rear of another. He came out bleeding all down his face and shirt... Hubby jumped out of the car to help the guy out. Kiddos were really freaked out and couldn't stop thinking about it all night. NOW they understand why Im so addiment about seatbelts.


I also am searching for a new employee. My last one didn't understand why it was a bad thing to not show up to work one day.... then have your brother call in sick for you AFTER you were supposed to be there, the next. He didn't understand why you cant have your friends or your boyfriend hang out all day at the shop. But he threw a temper tantrum and stopped coming in. Its best for us both. Now that I know what it's like to have an employee, I'll have a better understanding of what to put up with and what not, what to ask, and how to get it done. Breakups are usually hard...sniffle sniffle... but I'm sure I'll get over it.




Hubby also has the added pressure now of helping throw the Mexico City Tattoo Show, which I'll be one of the judges... AND the Guadalajara Show. Hard part is that they come right in a row.... with our tattoo shop anniversary on the side.... with a huge party, dj, live band and all. This is going to be a headache.... especially since we're trying to bring that American/Urban Tattoo style down to Mexico...with full body airbrushing, skateboards shows, bands, booty shaking contests, old cars tricked out, raffles, DIFFERENT vendors, a higher quality of work,rockabilly and pinstriping shows and graffiti demonstrators. We are trying to show that tattoos don't revolve around metalheads and flesh hangings.... there is a variety of interests. Try finding all that in Mexico... OR Try bringing that down to Mexico. Even the tattoo artists are scared to come down here in fear of kidnapping.


Hubby and I had that *talk* last night. He talked... I listened/zoned off. He asked me if I was happy here. Seriously? I didn't answer 'cuz he never stopped talking and knew that I wouldn't. What am I gonna say? He said that I am paying too much attention to my business and not the kids...I'm on the computer too much...THEN I replied... Nope. I haven't been on blogger in over a week. But it didn't matter...he's scared I'm gonna go back.


I want to and I don't... all at once. The whole love and hate thing. My hubby and I reversed places. I am now going through what he went through as a child in another country. Im on a tourist permit, illegally working here in Mexico. How strange. I'm illegal. I cant speak to people... the customs are difficult to understand, the social *rules*, hard to adhere to. But I love him dearly and I think this change will benefit our family. I think I'm stressing so much because I want to pick up where we left off.... comfortable. I hate starting from scratch. He tells me that I need to be more realistic. You can't accomplish 7 years worth of work in a day... but I dream.. and that's my problem. I want more. Bad thing is, I'm a horrible mom. I try to make more money and more opportunity to benefit my kids and give them what they want.... instead of spending quality time with them.... the one thing that I promised that i would do more of. Damn. and now, thanks to my EX employee, I have to spend 9 hours a day in my shop... meaning my kids spend all their free time in my hubby's shop. I hope this will get better soon. I'm running out of patience.