(Post 204 of 263)

Here we go again.

Most of the work that had been done has to be redone. First order of business was fixing the floor. That meant removing and redoing the “finish” coat.

The guys got started at about 9:45.

Progress by 10:45:

About 11:00:

And 11:45:

They worked to almost 6:30 PM, making sure to get the floor done all at once instead of section by section.

At this point, I thought they had goofed by leaving all their things on the counter. Nope. Time for a long break while this firmed up and then they would have to go back and apply the final skim coat.

Spoiler for an upcoming post for those who don’t watch the videos:

(Post 203 of 263)

Back in May, I wrote about major tax reforms in Mexico requiring me to get an RFC (tax ID number).

After taking my turn in the virtual line, I checked in only once or twice to see if the line was moving and then just went about my life. I woke up last week to an email that I now had an appointment to register for the RFC. I went through the steps to get into the appointment management system and learned that my appointment was for today, August 16th, at 10:15 a.m., perfect as that was going to be a day off.

I was told to bring the following documents, but it was not clear that they wanted originals and that I did not need to bring copies since they scan everything now. Still, it is better to be over prepared!

-printout of the PDF confirming your appointment

-CURP certificate (like bringing your SIN or SSN card)

-official Mexican ID (my permanent resident card (they were not interested in my CDN passport))

-proof of address (they took a printout of my last CFE bill as I brought a copy of my last JAPAY bill and the printout looked more like an original)

-a USB flash drive if you want to get an electronic signature at the same time (I got a brand-new one especially for this purpose)

The tax ID registration process was super efficient. I left home around 9:50 for my 10:15 appointment, arriving at 10:10 because the instructions said not to show up early. There was a very long queue of people who showed up for their own 10:15 appointment up to an hour early and had to stand outside in the heat. I went right up to a guard to see what the procedure was. She said, oh, you might as well just go in, and she waved me in, and then she called all the other 10:15s to go in.

I was then at the head of the queue for the initial processing inside and then at the head of the queue to be the first one of my cohort to get the paperwork done. I ended up starting the process at about 10:30. I was happy to have that short wait because the building is air-conditioned and I was able to cool down first.

I don’t even feel a little guilty about going ahead of everybody else because I followed the instructions. 😆🤷‍♀️

Getting the RFC was dead easy. I was expecting an interview about my fiscal situation to determine if I have any tax obligations to Mexico, but the clerk took it for granted that I do not. And I do not. I earn all my money out of the country and pay taxes to a country with which Mexico has a tax treaty, so I don’t even have to file a return here. This was confirmed in 2018 when I was dealing with SAT to get a refund from INM. So the hardest part of the whole thing was describing my house characteristics and exactly where it’s located and also getting my signatures to match. 😆

The clerk said I did not need an electronic signature, but since I was there, I opted to get one anyway as it is good for four years. I got sent to another area for that, with just a couple minutes’ wait. This was super high-tech as they electronically took my fingerprints, a photo, and even a retinal scan! Coming from a country that is still mismanaging its tax collection through an inadequate phone system and 40-year-old software, Mexico feels like it is managing its affairs in the 22nd century!

I was out of there by 11:30, so even with a stop for coffee, I was home exactly 2 hours after I left. Now, I’m ready for the inevitable request for an RFC by the bank and then by the attorneys when I do the house closing procedures next year. I’m also told I’ll need this number to purchase a car. I’m so happy I did it when I didn’t need it so that it doesn’t become a stress. I know some folks got blindsided by this requirement and had to go do the procedure in another state with shorter wait times!

(Post 202 of 263)

In May 2021 came exciting news that the ban on American potatoes was being rescinded and that real potatoes would soon be coming to Mexico! Now, I’m not much of a fan of potatoes, but that probably has something to do with just how bad are the little white Mexican potatoes. I do love a baked Russet, especially the crispy skin, and Russets are the potato of choice to make real (ie. Québécois-style) French fries.

I had an impromptu day off yesterday and still being kitchenless, I decided to do a Costco run to get easy-to-prepare items that would offer me more variety than what I can get at the supermarkets, like better quality/healthier cold cuts and salad mixes.

Look at what I found in the vegetable aisle!

This 10lb bag was only 152 pesos, the reasonable price a hint that it was not a one-off special item. It seemed like a lot of potatoes for one person who is not a big fan of potatoes, but I got on the Mérida Food Hunt group while I was waiting in the very long check-out queue and found a Danish gentleman who was happy to split a bag with me. I sent him my address while I endured the long wait for an Uber, and he was at my place about 20 minutes after I got home. Someone was craving real potatoes!

I promptly made my favourite coleslaw vinaigrette to coat a bag of kale coleslaw, then put four potatoes on to bake. Once they showed promise of getting soft (which was MUCh faster in the Cuisinart oven than in the gas oven!), I added a prepared pork roast the chef has never let me buy before. Everything was so delicious! I served the potato with Lurpak (Danish) butter, salt, pepper, and crema. I’ve been away from real sour cream so long now that I don’t even miss it. I just wish I’d had a little green onion also.

Very good pork roast, need to convince the chef to get it again.

I learned today that at least one Soriana is now carrying Idaho potatoes, so I suspect this product is about to go mainstream and will no longer be a black market item. I just need to learn how make cheese curds and beef gravy, invest in a fryer, and then I can open up a poutine restaurant! (I don’t even know if I’m being facetious about this — I do want to learn how to make those items, and if I pull it off, I know plenty of Quebecers here who would likely pay me for a real poutine a week… And soon as I see that I can get Russets consistently, I am going to get a fryer just to make French fries!)

(Post 201 of 263)

Things are not going well and many are back to square one.

One positive note is that where it was done correctly, the polished concrete is amazing and exactly what I was hoping for. I just wish it wasn’t a single square foot considering how much concrete was poured.

(Post 200 of 263 — that’s 200 posts I might not have written without your generosity in Bast’s time of need. Thank you again!)

Since there was enough purple paint left I was vetoed on repainting the whole under cabinet area. The guys like the purple against the yellow as much as I do!

There’s still so much to do, though…