I still haven’t spoken with the Dowager Duchess. It’s the pits. I’m so grateful to Linda for phoning her (and getting through) yesterday. I’ve tried again and again today and I go right to voice mail. This could mean, I suppose: a) There’s just too much communication traffic between here and there; b) The Duchess is on the phone; c) The Duchess forgot to turn the phone back on; or d) The Duchess didn’t charge the phone before the storm. I did speak again with my brother last night to let him know Linda had gotten through to the Duchess and she was fine. Sure hope the power gets turned back on soon! There’ll be no trick-or-treating in those buildings tonight. Twenty-four floors of darkness.
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| OSCAR IS OUR HALF-SPANISH/HALF-U.S.AMERICAN NEIGHBOR WHO LIVES A FEW BLOCKS AWAY. AT BREAKFAST THIS MORNING, HE WAS DRESSED AS A PENGUIN. |
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| ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT OSCAR AND HE SMILES. I TRIED TO GET HIM TO CAST ONE IN MY DIRECTION, BUT HE WOULDN’T TAKE HIS EYES OFF VANESSA. UNDERSTANDABLE. |
Halloween is not huge business here in Sevilla. But they’re trying. There are parties around town. Some kids are in costume. I’m sure there’ll be a collection of costumed, drunk college students (non-Spaniards), just like last year. One good thing is that El Sanedrín is hosting a concert again starting around midnight and Teré is the featured performer. Last year was the first time I had ever heard her sing. We were just becoming friends at the time. She’s amazing (in every way). Her voice is as sweet (and powerful) as her personality. So, San Geraldo has promised to take either one very long siesta this afternoon or two short ones. Anything to ensure he’s wide awake to take in the show. I can’t wait (which I learned shouldn’t be translated literally into Spanish). When I once said to Teré “I can’t wait” (“No puedo esperar”), she asked me to explain the expression because in Spanish it means exactly that: I couldn’t wait and I therefore wasn’t going to.
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| SAN GERALDO MADE PLUM COBBLER YESTERDAY. NOT TOO SWEET, SLIGHTLY TART, AND TOTALLY DELICIOUS. JUST LIKE HIM. |
The temperature this morning while we had breakfast outside was 13C/55F. Today has only gotten up to 20C/68F. Downright nippy! It’s a good thing a beautiful lap blanket arrived from my blogging friend YONKS. I won it one day because I visited her fascinating blog and commented during the giveaway. The blanket is beautiful. Dudo loves it. So I think I might have a battle on my hands. I’ve got to protect it from cat hair — and claws! Oh yeah, and then there’s San Geraldo to contend with. I probably should just give it up now. I can already picture San Geraldo sitting in his comfy chair in the living room, covered in the new blanket, with Dudo on his lap.
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| “HMMM. SOFT.” |
Very nice blanket! And very nice idea.
I do hope you get to speak with your mother soon. It has been crazy here. We have internet again, still no power but I have a generator so we're fine. Much devastation in NJ and NY. Last year Irene ravaged us here in VT, we were without roads and power for over month. Sandy wasn't that way here, lots of wind and downed trees for us, but not too bad at all. Crazy stuff.
The plum cobbler sounds perfect – not too sweet, slightly tart. Chris is wondering if San Geraldo might share that recipe.
Sending good thoughts that you'll connect with your mother soon.
Victor:
I'm sure San Geraldo will be happy to share the recipe. I'll get it and will send it to you. Hope your power has been restored!
Scratch-n-sniff would be the second best thing on internet, and it has NO calories!
Peter:
I won't ask what the first best thing on the internet is!
That would burn calories! *wink*
Hope you hear from your mother soon. Isn't it funny how she probably worried about your where-abouts for years… now it's your turn 😉 Really, though, I always believe no news is good news.
At the risk of overstepping here, I think you should have someone physically check on your mom. Depending on exactly where, the power outages may not be fixed soon. The weather may be getting cold. Food will be going bad. living without power means being cut off from information and communication. I am worried for her and I don't even know her or you, personally. Hope she is safe.
People are out on the streets and coffee shops charging their devices. There are no subways. New Jersey and Long Island are even worse.
Access NBC Nightly News via internet if you can. The pictures are unbelievable. I think this is at least comparable to Katrina.
Oh you poor thing! You must be freezing!!! Good thing you two have that new blanket to share!!
I always hated it when my father's phone kept ringing and ringing, or busy signal when I knew he was home…only to find out that the battery was dead or the receiver was off the hook slightly. It will be good I am sure when you finally 'get' her.
Jim:
OK, we had breakfast outside again today. No jackets! But we had to stay under the awning because it's a drizzly day.
SO looking forward to hearing the Dowager Duchess's voice one of these days soon! Jerry is no different with his mobile phone!
Are saint's bones low calorie, sugar free? I sure hope so.
Stephen:
Fat-free. Sugar-free. NO calories. And they taste heavenly. Unfortunately, I never did get any. I'll have to see if anyone still has some around. If not, I'll at least tell you what they're made of. (Admittedly, there's sugar, maybe spice, but certainly everything nice.)
FYI
http://www.towleroad.com/2012/10/updates-on-nyc-outages-and-services-hurricane-sandy.html
Frank:
Thanks! I have been obsessing at these sites for days!
Happy All Hallow's Eve!!
Spo:
Thanks. Time for me to get caught up on your doings!
It sounds like everyone is helping each other out during the blackout. I hope you hear from your mom very soon so you can relax.
I think Dudo just wants the ribbon!
Hope you get to talk to the Duchess soon!
Jenners:
Dudo likes the ribbon (he had just discovered it at the time of that photo), but he LOVES the blanket. I think he may have smelled Dianne's cat!