Did you hear that? I don’t hear anything more than the songbirds trilling their heart-felt spring songs and I’m just a couple of blocks from the Wednesday tianguis (street market). There’s been a new, odd quiet in the streets of town all week.
Don’t get too literal; the water guy and the gas, garbage and Coca Cola trucks still rattle down the street like always, but aside from a few families walking to and from the market, it has been, practically peaceful here this week.
Maybe instead of the “slow season” for the lull that happens each year after the snowbirds fly north and events, concerts and meetings slow to a stop, we could concentrate on the delightful hush settling over us and rename this month “The Quiet Season.”
No matter what we call it, I like it. I even like the hot afternoons, now that I’ve learned to do energetic tasks, walking, cooking, and errands in the cool morning hours. By noon I’m back in the house with the doors and windows shuttered and shaded to keep out the heat of the day while I settle in for a session of calm endeavors best done sitting or reclining in the artificial breeze of a fan. The easy sway of a shaded hammock is a recommended second choice.
If these tips for happily surviving the heat of the day sound boring, remember this quote: “The cure for boredom is books. There is no cure for books.”
This winter while you’ve been keeping up with the constant rounds of concerts, art shows, parties and charitable events, the book publishers have been printing a wonderful selection of new stories – many by your favorite authors and more than a few extraordinary first efforts.
You can find lists of great new books compiled by your favorite personalities, magazines and newspapers just by doing a quick search on line with key words like “best books” and 2014. In another month these lists will be joined with the lighter summer fare, the “beach” or “vacation” reads.
What’s new and what’s good? Of course, everyone is talking about “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt. It’s the newest Pulitzer prize winner for fiction. The Huffington Post is touting “Frog Music” by Emma Donohue who also wrote “The Room”. Oprah likes Alice Hoffman’s newest, “The Museum of Extraordinary Things.”
Most of the 25 books in the current “New York Times” top selling list were written by authors that are already your favorites. Their top sellers are books in the news. You’ll be reading more about them for a long while to come. The first five, in order are: “Sycamore Row” by John Grisham, “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt, “The First Phone Call from Heaven” by perennial favorite Mitch Albom, “Command Authority” by Tom Clancy and “Cross my Heart” by James Patterson.
Completing the top ten are the newest offerings by Stephen King, Janet Evanovich, Michael Connelly, David Baldacci, and Dan Brown. No surprises there; in fact there are few surprises anywhere in the top 25.
Now, there’s no comparison between the New York Times or Huffington Post lists and my favorites from the 28 I’ve read this year. I keep a list of the books I read on the fascinating Goodreads.com site. It’s quick and easy to record your books and there are features for finding more books you are apt to like based on those you’ve listed. I particularly like their rating system – it’s more accurate and less influenced by friends and family than the ratings on sales sites such as Amazon.com.
My own current favorites feature an eclectic group of settings. This short list transported me from 19th century stories set in Iceland, the Southern United States, and a lighthouse in Australia to a “holler” in modern Appalachia, and a through-provoking moral dilemma of World War I Berlin. My favorite five (so far) are: “Burial Rites” by Hannah Kent, “The Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kid, “The Light between Oceans” by M. L. Stedman, “Funeral Dress” by Susan Gilmore Gregg and “City of Women” by David R. Gillham.
Many of this year’s top books already are on the “New” shelves in the Lake Chapala Society library. Hopefully during the upcoming weeks of the “Quiet Time” we’ll be able to feature some of the library’s recent acquisitions that are now in circulation.
These hot afternoons are the perfect time to lose ourselves in books; then we can find ourselves there, too. I noted a pertinent quip that read, “The only therapy most of us need is to be lost in a good book.”
Oh, did I mention that all of this blissful quiet will be temporarily shattered during the feast day of the construction workers which coincides with the May 3 Day of the Holy Cross. Once each of the teams of builders has shot off the skyrockets and held their party quiet will reign again.
Bilingual Toastmasters
The English session of the local Toastmasters group meets on Tuesday, May 6. The meeting a week later will be in Spanish.
At the recent advanced level contest in Guadalajara, local members Tim Schubert and Andrea Buenzli took first and third place respectively in the English presentations. Lakeside club member Beatrice Gallagher took first place in the Spanish presentations with another local member, Lucia Diaz, coming in second .
Members of the Lake Chapala Bilingual club will return to Guadalajara at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 3 for the next round of Toastmasters competition.
The club meets at the Loyala Institute of Chapala, (next to the Lakeside Little Theatre) at Allen Lloyd 151 in San Antonio Tlayacapan. For more information contact Tim Schubert at 766-0920 or Maureen Jones at 766-2338. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . or visit the website www.toastmasters.org.
Dog Adoption Clinic
The next Lakeside Spay and Neuter Center Adoption Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, May 3 at the Pet Care pet store on the Carretera next to Magaña Restaurant in Riberas del Pilar. This event, held on the first and third Saturdays of each month, brings adoptable puppies and adult dogs from the Ranch from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Lakeside Spay and Neuter receives a donation of ten percent of all sales of pet toys, food, and supplies on these adoptions days. If you make a purchase at other times, mention the Ranch and a donation will be made to help with the animals’ welfare.
Lakeside Presbyterian distributes proceeds
The Lakeside Presbyterian Church (LPC) distributed all of the proceeds from their recent annual bazaar to representatives of Lakeside charities on Sunday, April 27. Receiving funding for area groups were (from left): Silvia Flores, Centro de Desarrollo Jocotepec; Bill Friend, Los Niños de Chapala y Ajijic; Margy Kassier, Cruz Roja Mexicana; Rosie Mogseth, LPC Ministry Outreach Group; Mooney King, Tepehua Centro Comunitario; Becky and Bob Plinke, La Ola-Casa Hogar and LPC Pastor Ross Arnold. These LPC donations help a multitude of area residents in programs that support education, women’s health issues, food programs, homes and abused children and other forms of community outreach to those in need.
Dog Agility Training
Beginner and advanced dog agility classes are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 4. The classes will be held at the Free Spirit Play Park on Ramon Corona 166 in San Antonio Tlayacapan by trainers with ClickerPets Mexico.
The cost of the class is 200 pesos, and owners must contact Linda Hendy by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling (376) 106-1281to reserve a class space.
Spanish-language Classes
Peter Donaldson, director of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Spanish program, reminds residents that they must sign up immediately to attend the new term of classes. The program which uses the Warren Hardy Spanish Language Course is designed for adult students with summer classes held from Mondays from May 5 through June 21.
Several levels of learning are available as student progress in the program.
Last minute registration for the classes is possible and Lulu will be available to help determine the appropriate level for each student. Classes are 750 pesos.
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) offers a beginners’ three-week Introduction to Spanish series on Tuesdays. It includes learning the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary, and phrases for shopping, as well as other information on our area and the Mexican culture.
Each new three-week class session begins on the first Tuesday of the month. Classes are held each from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the LCS campus. Learning materials are provided with students paying a 175-peso tuition fee when they sign up at the LCS office between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekdays.
Soup & Salad
The ladies of the American Legion Auxiliary of Post 7 in Chapala are hosting a Soup and Salad Bar on Thursday, May 8. Tickets are 80 pesos and available in advance. Members who bring a dish will find that tickets are half price. The event begins with cocktails at 5 p.m. followed at 6 p.m. by the build-your-own salads and the soups. Bread, and ice cream sundaes for dessert will also be available. American Legion Post 7 is at Calle Morelos 114 in Chapala. Call (376) 765-2259 for more information.
LCS Bus Trips
The next shopping bus trip sponsored by the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) to the Galerias Mall in Guadalajara is scheduled for Thursday, May 15. This large mall includes a variety of stores such as Liverpool, Sears, Best Buy, Zara, Sephora, MasCota, Home Store and many smaller boutiques, as well as fine restaurants. Nearby are Costco, Sams, Mega and Walmart stores. The bus leaves from the sculpture at La Floresta at 9:30 a.m. and returns to Lakeside at 4 p.m. The price is 250 pesos. Sign up at LCS on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For those looking to do north of the border shopping, a trip is scheduled to leave on Sunday, May 4 for McAllen, Texas. The group will leave McAllen on Wednesday afternoon, May 7 and return to Ajijic early on Thursday, May 8.
The price is 7,000 pesos (527 dollars) per person for a double room and 8,700 pesos (655 dollars) for a single room. The cost includes the round trip on a deluxe bus, three nights at the Hampton Inn, breakfast on three mornings, and tips for the two drivers to and from McAllen. The bus takes the passengers to and from all of the McAllen shopping areas.
There is a non-refundable 1,000-peso deposit at the time of registration with the balance due in advance of the trip. Sign up weekdays at LCS between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Open Circle
Presenting the program at the Sunday, May 4 meeting of Open Circle will be inspirational speaker David Pisarra. In a talk entitled “Seeing our Flaws in a New Light,” Pisarra will discuss applying the critical light of truth, to imagined dark shadows and thereby releasing the fears that keep people held back.
Pisarra’s talk will showcase wry observations and personal stories to demonstrate how individuals can be their own worst enemies, and how to combat entrenched self-talk to awaken the inner strengths of the members of the audience and allow them to leave the meeting uplifted and with a greater realization of their strengths and abilities.
As a gay man who has confronted his own demons of body image, self-doubt and paralyzing fear, he has developed a gentle yet “smack you upside the head” style of motivation. By sharing how he overcame his roadblocks, audiences learn how to confront and overcome their own.
Open Circle meetings held at the rear patio of the Lake Chapala Society begin at 10 a.m. each Sunday with a social time over coffee, tea and sandwich bites. The presentation follows promptly at 10:30 a.m.
Universalist Universal
The message at the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Holocaust Remembrance Service on Sunday, May 4 will be “Despair is Not an Option.” A coffee and fellowship hour will follow.
The group meets every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Plaza de la Ribera, Rio Bravo 10A. For information, call 766-1458 or 765-7231.
Little Chapel by the Lake
During the 11:15 a.m. Sunday, May 4, interdenominational worship service of the Little Chapel by the Lake, Rev. Gene Raymer will deliver a message he has titled “Yes, but …,” Raymer maintains that Satan does not encourage Christians to confront God. In fact, Raymer says, Satan tried that and it didn’t turn out so well for him. Instead, Satan urges us to try to circumvent God’s will with “Yes, but ...” responses. Adam told God, “Yes, I ate the forbidden fruit, but it is because the woman you gave me told me to.”
Preceding the service will be a time of fellowship and refreshment with the Christ Church Lakeside congregation. The two congregations will join following the worship service for the monthly pot luck lunch.
The mid-week movie will be shown at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7. Beverages and snacks will be served during this week’s film, “Fireproof.”
Thursday, May 8, the ladies will meet at 1:30 p.m. at Pranzo for a fellowship luncheon.
The Little Chapel by the Lake is located on the north side of the Carretera in Chula Vista just east of the golf course. All Christian believers are warmly welcomed to all the activities of the Little Chapel by the Lake.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
The message this week at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church will be delivered by Fr. Michael Schirmacher, a retired priest from Puerto Vallarta who is substituting during the absence of Fr. Winston Welty. Schirmacher has considerable experience as an educator for hospital Chaplains, as well as serving two parishes in the United States and as a volunteer at Christ Church in Puerto Vallarta.
St. Andrew’s has resumed the “low season” summer schedule, with one service at 10 a.m. followed by a time of fellowship, welcome, and refreshment in the garden. The Children’s Sunday School begins at 9:45 a.m.
St. Andrew’s is located at Calle San Lucas 19, one block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar. All guests and visitors are welcome.
Christ Church Lakeside
Christ Church Lakeside will celebrate the Third Sunday of Easter in the 9:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, May 4, with Holy Communion from pre-sanctified elements. The theme of the message presented by Warden Jim Powers will be “Open Our Eyes, Lord.” Members are reminded that this service is the first in May and therefore a “Rice and Beans Sunday.”
The congregations of Christ Church and the Little Chapel share a common coffee fellowship time from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the Little Chapel by the Lake at Carretera 10 near Chula Vista. The congregation will join the Christ Church group for the monthly potluck luncheon following the Little Chapel’s morning service.
Deacon Rob Wells will begin the Tuesday, May 6, Bible study at 10 a.m. The group will resume their study on the gospel of Mark. All are welcome.
Center for Spiritual Living
“Chants of the World,” is the topic to be explored during the 5 p.m. Friday, May 9 meeting. During the discussion participants will examine the depth, beauty, and harmony of different spiritual traditions and explore if we are more alike than different.
A course for couples, “Build Healthy Relationships,” is held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. In these sessions participants discuss how to grow in relationships in order to have a fun and playful connection with each other, and to apply practical approaches to relationship problems. The class provides a non-judgmental space for this exploration with co-leaders Tim and Arlene Schubert. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information and to register.
The “Practicing Compassionate Communication” group will meet from 10:30 a.m. to nooon Wednesday, May 7. Learn to have satisfactory conversations with friends, partners, family, and those difficult people in your lives in a mindful and empathetic way.
The Thursday discussion group is sharing the book “A Thousand Names for Joy” by Byron Katie. The program begins with an optional meditation from 10 to 10:20 a.m. followed by group discussion from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
The Spanish-Language Group is studying The Five Gifts” from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays at 16 de Septiembre 30. All other activities are held at Nicolas Bravo 17 in Ajijic. For additional information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , call (376) 766-0920 or check the website at www.cslchapala.com.