Don’t forget about the Nauti-Taco upstairs of La Plazita tomorrow.  Carlos is preparing the traditional dish I wrote about the other day and he’ll start serving at about noon, rather than 10:00 a.m.  The cost is $8.00 w/o wine and $10 w/wine.  Please come and help us celebrate the independence of Mexico by sharing in this feast.  At the same time, help a fellow businessman during these difficult times.  While you’re there (at La Plazita) we have a new wine and art gallery that has just opened and it looks very interesting and there’s a really cute hot pink dress that’s calling my name in the dress shop, as you enter.

Be sure and refresh your browser if you’re coming back to the Korner.  I’ve been adding things here and there, so if you simply bring the page up, it won’t have the revisions.  Feliz cumpliaños to Lizeth and Vanesia, my god daughter and her twin.  They both turned 20 today, although Vanesia turned 20 about 15 minutes before Lizeth.  This photo was taken at Shrimp Festival about 4 years ago.  From the left: Lizeth, me, Vanesia and my daughter, Desiree.

The rodeo celebration up at San Matias (on the road to Ensenada) begins today although many people go up on Friday and camp for the weekend.  This is a yearly event and I believe this year is an anniversary year. Update: Thank goodness I have my readers to let me know when I misspell a word and Mr.Ragtime sent this:

“San Matias (note proper spelling) can be a lot of fun.  Went with Sam a few times.   But beware of rain – it floods quite easily.  They have horse racing – almost pari mutuel.  Lots of betting.  All the kiddie rides – nightly music for dancing – food – cervesa, cervesa, cervesa – Take your camera – it’s only an hour’s drive”

Tonight at Rumors, Mac n Nan will be spinning away records and all your favorite Karaoke kings and queens will be there belting out the tunes. I believe that fun begins around 6:00 p.m.  DJ Mexico is spinning tunes at Pete’s Camp; Tavo’s Revolution at Georges; Derek Wille at Jollymon and there’s entertainment at Juanitos, but the name doesn’t pop into my little pea brain this morning.

Jollymon Regulars

I just wanted to make sure I scooped the latest news hot off the press.  Domingo and Jane were married on July 10 in Reno, the same day as Domingo’s birthday.  So the happy couple are coming home to settle back down in San Felipe, after flitting around the countryside for the last couple of years.  I first met Domingo when he was the head waiter at the Red Lobster, before El Dorado Ranch purchased it.  He was then at Juanito’s Cantina for many years, making his special drinks which he would light on fire and charming all the women.  I believe this is where the happy couple first met.  Jane was a Net member many moons ago.  Congratulations and felicidades and many more happy years together.  I met Double A, Jorge, my NBF, Shawnee and her hubby Bill out at Jollymon last night and Jane and Domingo were there. We had a very nice time. This is a photo of Domingo and Jane at the Pavillion a few years back.  Photo by Kat.

Agave Blues mixes Latin beats with rock and all kinds of new sounds and harmonies (new to me).  They were excellent.  I was home by 9:30 p.m. to be greeted by Petey yelling at me from inside the gate.  If you don’t believe me that my dog talks or at least his dog talk, ask Luis. Petey even talks back as though he must have the last word.  It’s really quite comical.  As always, please click the photo to enlarge.

I plan on posting more when I return from the Pavillion and points beyond to finish filming the walkabout we’re working on, but I made changes to Friday’s posting late in the afternoon, so you might want to give that a quick look through.  I forgot to mention when we had our little shrimp festival meeting here the other day, Sergio brought over some shrimp.  However, I didn’t eat it until later and it was “Shrimp Cordon Blue” and it was delicious.  Give it a try at La Vaquita Marina Restaurant. I didn’t take a photo of the shrimp because I was hungry and ate it quickly, however, these little beauties you can purchase from the little cart out in front of the public swimming pool.  It has chicken mole inside and they were really, really good and guess how much it costs?  Ten pesos.

Update: There is an update below on the time for Derek Wille tomorrow night at Jollymon, so please take note.  This is a footnote to the story about the newly acquired water truck which was donated to the City of San Felipe’s Fire Department.  The Rotary Club of Stockton are ones who originally donated the truck and the San Felipe Rotary Club donated $1,800 to transport it from Stockton to San Felipe in January, 2009.  I just received Bob McDonald’s comment on the Korner, so I will let him tell you in his own words:

“Hi Kat. The following is a bit more history about the Water truck the San Felipe Fire Department just received.  In about November 2008, David Perez Tejada of the Mexicali Industrial Rotary club introduced Don Barry, a member of the Stockton California Rotary Club to members of the San Felipe Rotary Club. Don’s Club had just received a 1977 GMC, 5,000 gallon Fire Tender water truck from their local rural fire district. He said that if San Felipe could use it we could have it.  They also had an ambulance which they donated to us and that ambulance has been in service at the San Felipe Cruz Roja since June 2009.  The Stockton Club may have donated the truck, but the San Felipe club paid a vehicle hauler $1,800 to transport the truck to a storage yard in El Centro. The donated truck arrived in El Centro in January, 2009.  The Mexican Federal Aduana initially required an import fee of I believe it was $3,800. Mexicali could not afford the amount and tried to negotiate the cost. In the mean time, the Mexican Federal Government ruled that older vehicles could not be imported because they did not meet safety and environmental requirements. As a 1977 it was within the prohibited time frame.

Eventually Jorge Aranda, the State of Baja Sub-Sectary of Social Development received the vehicle documentation. Due to the earthquake, the Federal Government eased the importation restrictions and through Lic. Aranda’s assistance and assistance from Fernando Rivera, chief of the Mexicali Fire Department the truck made it into Mexico. The money paid actually went to the land owner where the truck was stored.  As best as I can recall, here is a list of some of the other people involved:  David Perez Tejada of the Mexicali Industrial Rotary Club who made the original introductions.  Don Barry, member and Susan Drake, President of the Stockton Rotary Club who made the original offer to donate.  The Board of the 2008 / 2009 San Felipe Rotary Club, Michele MacDonald, President, who accepted the donation and provided the funds to transport.  Andres Vera of the Mexicali Municipal Government for putting up with literally hundreds of my phone calls pushing for the importation. I believe he was as frustrated I was at the import problems.  Hazael Sierra, Delagado, who was first to say YES, San Felipe can use the truck.”

So, hats off to the Stockton Rotary as well as the San Felipe Rotary and every one else involved for helping our community once again.  And thank you to Bob McDonald (owner of La Plazita and San Felipe Salt) for bringing this part of the saga to my attention.  Speaking of the San Felipe Rotary, Sergio was telling me that they have been very supportive financially of our local American Football Team, El Tiburones, and the team, their parents and the coaches appreciates the support.  By the way, the first game (pre-season) is in September, but the actual season starts in Ocotober.  Look at the size of this well fed but very dead mouse.  He’s been enjoying a good life while with this world, but these two were numbers 7 and 8 out of 10 caught.  I know, gross!

It’s Friday and what a great day so far.  I meant to post earlier, but as always, I was lying.  I’m kidding, of course, but it does take some time and concentration and with the phones and other interruptions, I am just now getting to it and it’s 1:53 p.m.  I was outside talking to Shawnee and Bill Bowden, who incidentally just brought down a grip of stuff for the fire department (Bill is a former firefighter) and another load of clothing and toys for the special needs school.  These are two very cool people who have taken it upon themselves to help the community so my hats are off to the Bowdens and they are now in the “St. Kay Club”, along with Debbie and Dale Moore.

Tomorrow night, Saturday, August 21, the ever so elegant and talented Derek Wille will be performing at the Jollymon Bar out north across from the gas station.  His repertoire includes classical jazz and he sings.  His show begins around 5:00 until 9:00 and you can click here for more details in our Events Section.  I believe this is a continuing gig, but if not, I’ll let you know.  You can also hear Derek on Friday nights at the Jollymon, on keyboard and vocals with San Felipe’s own “Agave Blues“.  I believe the fun starts at around 6:30 at least I’m meeting some people at that time.  If you get hungry, there’s good pizza next door.  Tavo’s Revolution does not know if they are playing at George’s yet, and will not know for sure until 5:30, so your guess is as good as mine.  They will be playing Saturday night.